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“The liquor license just came through, and I have yet to order the really good stuff. It’s not the expensive reserve you normally drink, but it’ll still do the job,” he joked. After he poured us each three fingers, I took the glass and downed it in one shot without even flinching. Matteo’s eyebrows went up. “Wow. Last I checked, bourbon was supposed to be sipped. This woman must have really gotten to you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to comment. He took the glass and refilled it, but I pushed it away.

“I don’t want anymore.”

I was annoyed. Aggravated. Frustrated for so many reasons, but I couldn’t pinpoint what was bothering me the most. The last thing I needed was another drink.

“Alright. Then what do you want? Besides the bella donna,” he added, reminding me of just how beautiful Krystina truly was.

I eyed him ruefully, trying to determine how much I wanted him to know. Matteo and I had a business arrangement, but first and foremost, he was a longtime friend. He was a keen observer, and he was smart. I knew I could count on him to cut out the bullshit and give it to me straight.

“She bugs me, Matt,” I admitted. He started choking on the swallow of drink he had just taken.

“Come again?” he asked incredulously.

“I want her, but she fights me every step of the way. Normally I’d just say forget it and move on, but I can’t with her. The more she pushes, the more I want her.”

“I can see why you do. She’s young and smokin’ hot. What’s your dilemma?”

“She’s…” I struggled with putting my thoughts into words, which was another oddity for me. “She’s work. She’s stubborn and snappy. Strong, yet she seems fragile. I don’t know…”

“So that’s it. For once, you can’t weasel your way into someone’s head,” Matteo said with an easy laugh.

“No, it’s more than that. I haven’t figured it out yet. I get the impression she’s got a story. A past. I just don’t know what it is.”

“Well, let me give you some advice then. She’s not for you, man. She doesn’t strike me as the type to be into your thing. She seems too innocente. You’d better be careful with that,” he warned.

Matteo had hit the nail squarely on the head. Krystina was captivating, so much so I found myself paralyzed with lust, fantasizing about her almost to the point of obsession. However, the look of total disbelief that had come over her face when I’d told her I was a Dominant said she wasn’t worldly to my more unconventional ways.

“I’m not a fucking moron, Matt. But I don’t think she’s that innocent,” I told him, trying to convince myself as much as him. “She just needs training, that’s all.”

“Why would you want the hassle when you can just hit one of your clubs? There are plenty of willing subs there.”

I frowned at that, as I had been asking myself the same question for days. If I had a bug to get out of my system, Club O was the simple solution. The exclusive BDSM nightclub would have a plethora of submissive women ready to play. And it was safe. The women there appreciated the need for discretion.

“That’s just it. I don’t want just another sub.”

“Si, si. But you must remember, Krystina may not be willing. Have you thought of that, my friend? Have you told her what you are?”

“I did. She wasn’t the most receptive, but I could sway her easily enough,” I said with a shrug.

“You are like an ape. Such arrogance you have.” Matteo chuckled, shaking his head.

“An ape? Coming from a hairy Italian?”

“Ah, now you only wish you had this chest! I am a natural Dominant! All the ladies bow to me!” Matteo began beating his chest like a gorilla, ready to exert his power.

“Yeah, right! You—a Dominant! You don’t have the balls for it. Not enough confidence,” I goaded. However, another thought came to mind, interrupting our wisecracks and causing me to sober.

“What?” Matteo asked after seeing my change of face.

“If this were all about confidence, it would be easy. But the situation is more complicated than that.”

“How so?”

“Krystina questions everything. And I mean everything. That alone will make her a terrible sub. She won’t be easy to train, that’s for sure,” I paused and eyed the second bourbon Matteo had poured for me. Changing my mind, I reached for it and sipped it slowly for a minute before continuing. “The subject of my parents came up tonight. It was by pure happenstance, but I practically bit her head off to stop her questions. I’m sure I only succeeded in creating more.”

“If you are going to see this woman regularly, your background is going to come up. You won’t be able to keep it buried.”