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 no more is

my business if she doesn’t

you like to go home? I'll find a stand-in

I'd rather

“As you wish.”

*****

“James, I have Kirstie on from downstairs. She's asking

Aaahhh…

wants to.

course, James.” Francis fixes a gimlet eye

to decide if I’m

*****

at

“Come in, Kirstie.”

down. “Thank you for making the

door behind her. “Kirstie, we’re friends. And I have the feeling this is

hanging, she nods, winding

What now?

good at this

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

Nope…

Wrong…

across to the

and gulps, then hoots into a handkerchief. I sit opposite her, pour the coffee, try to

Should I call Charlotte?

but Kirstie starts

Dom, Charlotte's Dom and... and there’s Michael of course.

As she knows…

eyes slant up to

How we met…

threesome at the

the rules. How it works. You really get

“Get it?”

you really understand the

to see where this

Ryan…

again. I try a

this. He... He thinks he's completely in

not the rules of the game. If something upsets you, or if you find it distasteful… you’re the sub. You set the

and you know that, but Ryan... Could you maybe talk

between a Dom and his sub? That's quite an ask,

she nods.

me what he is requiring

But her words

Crucified with embarrassment.

here, Kirstie? Or

crying again, tears running furrows through what’s left of her

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

lean forward, elbows on knees. “Come on Kirstie. Considering how you and I met, there

“He gets

him. He can be as exhibitionist

Parking lots, elevators. Places we could be caught. He's

he's taking you too far, you

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

Shit…

can't be used isn't a safe

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