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

she doesn’t

find a stand-in for

sir. I'd rather be at

“As you wish.”

*****

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

Aaahhh…

wants to. Can you make

course, James.” Francis fixes

to decide if I’m the cause of Kirstie’s

*****

tap at my door. I

“Come in, Kirstie.”

down. “Thank you for making the time to see me, Mr

as she leaves, I close the door behind her. “Kirstie, we’re friends. And I have the

hanging, she nods, winding

What now?

no fucking good at this

Start at the beginning, whatever it

Nope…

Wrong…

myself, instead waving her across to the

her, pour the

Should I call Charlotte?

Kirstie starts

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

As she knows…

eyes slant up

How we met…

threesome at the

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

“Get it?”

really

begin to see where

Ryan…

up again. I try a gentle

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 you, or if you find it distasteful… you’re the

know that, but Ryan... Could you maybe talk to him?

a Dom and his sub? That's

she nods.

tell me what he

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

Crucified with embarrassment.

life here, Kirstie? Or are we in sexual

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

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

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

sweating, she says, “He gets off on having sex

right for him. He can be

really in public. Parking lots, elevators. Places

taking you too far,

eyes red-rimmed, meet

Shit…

a safe word that can't be used

understand. He thinks… James, you and Charlotte have been together for a while. Was there ever a time, maybe