Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

I’m crossing the floor of the lobby, thinking about the ongoing groundworks of D-site and trying to decide whether to tackle the east or the west side first. I’m not truly paying attention to my surroundings.

“Morning, Kirstie.”

“Good morning Mr Alexanders.”

*Jab elevator panel*

Lay land drains first to the east side?

Enable access via the west?

Or wait for the circular route to connect from the bridge?

Where’s that damn lift?

…

…

Reverse mental gears….

Kirstie…

Too much make-up…

Swollen eyes…

Trying not to be too obvious about it, I turn to take a better look at her. Even from the rear…

… slumping in her seat…

Not like her…

The elevator bings, but I ignore it, strolling back to the desk.

“Kirstie, is everything alright?”

“I'm fine, Mr Alexanders. Thank you for asking.”

She's painted on her business face, but as she speaks, she doesn’t look at me, keeping her eyes turned down. One thing I like about Kirstie is that she looks you in the eye…

Usually…

I take her chin in thumb and forefinger. “I expect you to look at me when I speak, Ms Jamieson...” But I cut myself short. Under the makeup she's caked on, her eyes are puffy.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m fine.”

“No, you're not. You look terrible. Is it something I can help with?”

“No sir, it's... personal…”

I wait, giving her a silence to fill.

A flush rises up her neck, vanishing under the makeup line before it hits her face. “My sister, Erin is falling out with Ben....”

Not Ben again….

He really doesn't have the hang of people…

Why would that upset Kirstie so much?

“... so I have her crying on my shoulder and Ryan...” She stalls.

“Yes? Ryan…?”

Staring down at her desktop, “Nothing.”

a little longer, but

she doesn’t want to

home? I'll find a stand-in

I'd rather be at

“As you wish.”

*****

pops her head around my office door. “James, I have Kirstie on from downstairs. She's asking if you could spare her a few minutes sometime

Aaahhh…

come up now if she wants to. Can

fixes a gimlet eye

to decide if I’m the cause of

*****

at my door. I left it standing open, but she

“Come in, Kirstie.”

her face down. “Thank you for making the

close the door behind her. “Kirstie, we’re friends. And I have the feeling this is a ‘James’ moment, not a ‘Mr

she nods,

What now?

at this sort

the beginning, whatever it is.” I gesture to

Nope…

Wrong…

correct myself, instead waving her across to the low seating by the coffee table,

I sit opposite her, pour the coffee, try to make myself busy while she gets

Should I call Charlotte?

Kirstie

is... You're a Dom, Charlotte's Dom and... and there’s Michael of course. You always seem so happy together. And, well, you've been doing this

As she knows…

eyes slant up to

How we met…

threesome at the

know the rules. How it works. You really get

“Get it?”

really

see where this

Ryan…

dries up again. I

to this. He... He thinks he's

are not required to do anything you are unwilling to; that you haven't agreed to. That's not the rules of the game. If

but Ryan... Could you maybe

interfere in the relationship between a

she nods.

me what he is

swallows, squirming. “It's...” But her

Crucified with embarrassment.

here, Kirstie? Or are we in

running

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

“Come on Kirstie. Considering how you and I met, there can't be too many taboos in

“He gets off on having

right for him. He can be

in public. Parking lots, elevators. Places we could be caught.

he's taking you

eyes red-rimmed, meet mine. “He

Shit…

a safe word that can't be used

been together for a while. Was there ever a time, maybe in your early days when…?” Her hand rises to her mouth as though cutting her own question