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.”

longer,

business if she doesn’t want to

I'll find a

sir. I'd rather be

“As you wish.”

*****

I have Kirstie on from downstairs. She's asking if you could spare her a

Aaahhh…

come up now if she wants to. Can you make coffee

course, James.” Francis fixes a gimlet

I’m the

*****

less than five minutes, there is a timid tap at my door. I left it standing open, but she

“Come in, Kirstie.”

her face down. “Thank you for making the time to

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

she nods,

What now?

at this sort of

beginning, whatever it is.” I gesture to the chair opposite

Nope…

Wrong…

waving her across to the low seating by the coffee table, overlooking

opposite her, pour the

Should I call Charlotte?

but Kirstie starts

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

As she knows…

slant

How we met…

at

you know the rules. How it works. You really get

“Get it?”

you really understand the Dom/sub

see where this might be

Ryan…

up again. I

He's new to this. He... He thinks

you are unwilling to; that you haven't agreed to. That's not the rules of the game. If something upsets

know that, but Ryan... Could

to interfere in the relationship between a Dom and his sub? That's quite

nods.

what he is requiring that

But her

Crucified with embarrassment.

here, Kirstie? Or are

crying again, tears running furrows through what’s left

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

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

“He gets off on

for him. He

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

you

up and her eyes red-rimmed, meet mine. “He

Shit…

word that can't be

ever a time, maybe in your early days when…?” Her hand rises to her mouth as though cutting her own question