Page 32 of Doctoring Dolly

Without a word, Quincy stood and rounded the desk to stand where he could see the computer monitor. Master Derek then returned his attention to the screen. Dolly was not sure what to do as the two men read about her alter ego. The alter ego she rarely talked about.

Quincy finally returned to his seat beside her. This time he took her hand and held it between his. When she looked into his face, she saw that his expression had shifted from anger to what she thought might have been pride.

Learning the truth of Dolly’s reason to be at the Ranch stunned Quincy, but after seeing her published works on the screen, he wondered how he could intervene with Derek on her behalf. Yes, she had kept information from them both, but it was with the best of intentions.

He wondered if he could talk Derek into holding off on punishment until after they had checked out her work. The last thing he wanted was to lose the woman who was filling his heart and soul in a way even Janine had not.

Glancing between Dolly and Derek, he found them having a stare down. He could see her fear growing, while Derek looked more and more contemplative as the silence between them extended to an uncomfortable length.

Dolly broke the charged silence first. With a deep, sad sigh, she said, “If you’ll allow me enough time to rearrange my flight and get a taxi, I’ll leave. I promise I won’t say anything about the Ranch or anyone here. Ever.”

“No.”

He could feel her trembling, but Derek’s single word stopped even that.

“No, Sir?”

“No. You came here for an education, and as long as you pay penance for keeping this hidden from us, I’d like you to finish that education.”

“Pay penance, Sir?”

“Yes, you will be punished for lying about why you came to Rawhide. I just need some time to figure out what the punishment should be. But I will say it is going to be something that will include everyone you’ve spent time with while you’ve been here. I want you to spend the day and make a list of everyone you’ve encountered or spoken to. If you don’t know their names, find them, and learn them. Then, you and Master Quincy will return here at three o’clock and we will discuss what your punishment will be.”

Derek then turned to him. “Is this acceptable to you? After all, you are the one who appears most in her notes.”

Quincy nodded. “Sounds good to me. I would also like to take over the rest of her education. Personally.”

Derek studied him for a moment before asking, “You’ll take full responsibility for her?”

“Yes.”

“Sounds very appropriate,” Master Derek agreed with a smile. “And you, Miss Dolly? Do agree to these terms for staying at the Ranch?”

CHAPTER 18

Dolly was amazed the man was offering her a chance to approve his plan. “Yes, Master Derek, it all sounds fair to me. Thank you for not just kicking me out.”

Master Derek gave her a look she could not decipher. “You might rethink that once you learn what your punishment will be. But that can wait until this afternoon.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Though she wanted her notebook back, she decided to wait until later to ask for it. Standing, she quickly left his office from the same door she had entered.

In the lobby, she stopped short and when Quincy walked into her, she tripped and would have fallen to the floor if a strong arm had not wrapped around her middle and pulled her back up again.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Umm, to breakfast? And to get started on the list?”

Though she knew her answers came as questions, at the moment she was not sure of anything. For the first time in her life, she had told another person what she did for a living without a computer screen between them. Master Derek had not kicked her to the street, and Quincy had just agreed to continue teaching her about BDSM. Had she fallen into some alternative universe overnight?

“And you were going without me? Didn’t you hear me take responsibility for you in there?”

“Umm, yes, Sir.”

“That means you don’t leave my sight until three o’clock this afternoon,” Quincy released her, but wrapped one big hand around the back of her neck, tethering them together.

“Not even to use the bathroom?”

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