“Not all the women have Doms, baby,” I inform her gently. “There are subs who are single, the same as there are Doms who are as well. It’s not a requirement to be in a couple in order to be a member.”
Her face falls at that, and she looks to the floor. “I guess… I just thought…”
“That I was off-limits while I was at the club?”
“Well, yeah.” She pouts, and it’s so adorable I decide to put her out of her misery, even though it means it’ll be another point in her favor.
“I am, goddess. Not only because subs do not approach Doms but wait to be courted by them instead, but because I belong to someone else, and I’ve made that known for a year,” I tell her, reaching out to drag my knuckles gently along her jawline.
She visibly melts, her head tilting toward my hand, and she lifts her dreamy eyes to mine. Yep, worth losing this battle just to see her look at me that way.
But the look doesn’t last long, because she perks up with her second argument. “Ha! See? Those bitches at the strip club don’t have any rules holding them back, and it’s not like they’d care if you’re taken. Look how Crystal acted at the gym while you were there, rubbing her big ole titties all over you. Nope. Not happening.” She shakes her head. “And two, I’m twenty-seven years old. I don’t need you holding my hand and walking me into my workplace like I’m a kindergartener and it’s my first day of school, Dad.”
She’s right. I know she’s right. I can’t very well be doing everything in my power to teach her how to gain confidence and be independent and then not let her go to work on her own. I would be the world’s biggest hypocrite, sending completely mixed signals, and confuse the hell out of her by not letting her practice what I’m preaching to her.
“Fine,” I state. “But let’s make a deal. We won’t go full kindergarten mode, but at least let’s go junior high mode and let me drop you off and pick you up. And I promise not to make you kiss me goodbye in front of all of you friends.” My shoulders droop.
She smiles widely, stepping up to me and molding her front to mine. “That sounds like a deal. But I’m definitely kissing you goodbye in front of all my friends, because you’re the hot daddy, and I’ve gotta mark my territory,” she purrs.
“Mm, Daddy, huh?” I smirk, leaning down to nip her bottom lip.
She nods slowly, batting her lashes. “Doctor Sir Daddy,” she teases huskily, squeezing her tits together. And then she bursts into a fit of giggles as she spins away from me.A few hours later, Astrid strolls into my study, no longer dressed in her workout clothes but instead in a pair of skinny jeans that fit her like a second skin and a T-shirt that says Just Wing It—Life, Eyeliner, Everything. Her makeup is intricate but lovely on her beautiful face.
“You going somewhere, goddess?” I ask, setting down my pen and leaning back in my desk chair to give her my full attention.
“Oh, ya know. Just work,” she says cheerfully with a little hop. “I talked to Crystal. She said they want me to start tonight, since it’s Saturday and it’s their busiest night. Can’t let them work that pole with their makeup makin’ them look like clowns, Neil.”
I sigh. “Well, that was faster than I expected. But I guess if you’re comfortable with it, there’s no reason not to go ahead and start.”
She nods, circling my desk, taking hold of the back of my chair, and spinning it so she can sit in my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck, and my hand comes down to rest on her thigh. “I think I’ll be fine, since I’ll know a few of the girls there. I mean, I’m not close friends with them or anything, but at least they’ll be familiar faces.”
I give her a nod, pride swelling in my chest at the same time a knot of… something, jealousy? No, not really. I’m just bummed I have to give up time with her on a Saturday night.
“What time do we leave?” I ask, looking at my watch.
“I have to be there by six, and Google says it takes about thirty minutes to get there. I’d like to be there a little early in case I have to fill out any paperwork or something,” she replies.
“That gives us about an hour before we need to go. How about… we leave now, and we can stop somewhere and eat dinner to celebrate your new job?” I offer, secretly crossing my fingers. In the entire year she’s lived here, including this week that our relationship changed, we’ve never been out to dinner together except if we were going to one of the guys’ houses for a get-together. It’s not enough time to really take her on an actual date, but it would be a good first step toward getting her more comfortable in public so I can eventually treat her to a night on the town.