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, but no

business if she doesn’t

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

sir. I'd rather

“As you wish.”

*****

later, Francis 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 today?

Aaahhh…

can come up now if she wants

fixes a gimlet eye

I’m the cause of

*****

at my door. I left it standing open,

“Come in, Kirstie.”

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

brings the coffee, but as she leaves, I close the door behind her. “Kirstie, we’re friends. And I have the feeling this is a ‘James’

hanging, she nods, winding her

What now?

no fucking good at this sort of

you sit down. Start at the beginning, whatever it is.” I gesture to

Nope…

Wrong…

her across to the

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

Should I call Charlotte?

Kirstie starts

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

As she knows…

slant

How we met…

threesome at

rules. How it works. You

“Get it?”

mean, you really

begin to see where this

Ryan…

dries up again. I try a gentle prompt.

to this. He... He thinks he's completely in charge and

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

you know that, but Ryan... Could you

a Dom and his sub? That's

nods. “I

tell me what he

“It's...” But her words

Crucified with embarrassment.

here, Kirstie?

again, tears running furrows through

Ah, fuck….

Weeping women…

Francis?

No…

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

and sweating, she says, “He gets off

him. He can

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

he's taking you too far, you simply

looks up and her eyes

Shit…

word that can't

time, maybe in your early days when…?” Her hand rises to her mouth as though cutting her own question short. “Sorry,” she