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.”

little longer, but

she doesn’t

go home? I'll find a

sir. I'd rather be at

“As you wish.”

*****

around my office door. “James, I have Kirstie on from downstairs. She's asking if

Aaahhh…

she wants to. Can you make coffee for

fixes a gimlet eye

decide if I’m the

*****

than five minutes, there is a timid tap at

“Come in, Kirstie.”

still with her face down. “Thank you for making the time to see me,

“Kirstie, we’re

she nods,

What now?

fucking good at this sort of

it is.” I gesture to the chair opposite mine over

Nope…

Wrong…

waving her across to the low

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

Should I call Charlotte?

Kirstie

thing 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 for

As she knows…

eyes slant up to

How we met…

threesome at

rules. How

“Get it?”

mean, you really understand

see where this

Ryan…

up again. I try a

He... He thinks

agreed to. That's not the rules of the game.

that, but Ryan... Could

interfere in the relationship between a Dom and his

she nods. “I

me what he is

But her words dry

Crucified with embarrassment.

here, Kirstie?

she starts crying again, tears running furrows through

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

how you and I met, there can't be too many taboos in what we can

says, “He gets off on having sex in

him. He can

really in public. Parking lots, elevators. Places we could

you too far, you simply

her eyes

Shit…

safe word that can't be used

thinks… James, you and Charlotte have 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 short. “Sorry,” she mumbles. “I