Page 43 of How May I Please You

“Because he’s not my sub,” I snip.

I don't mean to aim any aggression toward her, but the sudden change of mood has me quickly irked.

“No, he’s just your boss who tells you what to do every day.”

Fire blazes inside of me, fueled by Journey’s attitude and how fast this night went south. At this point, I’m ready to flip the table and go off on anybody within earshot.

How about a fire?

But I can’t do that. My only option is to end it here before it goes any further.

“Journey, get up right now. We’re leaving,” I announce, standing up to speed along the process. “Trey, thanks for dinner. Have a good night.”

“Seriously, Evan?” Trey questions.

“Yes … seriously. I’ll see you at work. Journey, get the fuck up. Let’s go. Now.”

Journey stares at Trey as I place my hand on her arm and pull her up. It takes everything in me not to place a hand around her throat and force her to obey, which is exactly why I hate being in public. She continues looking back at Trey even as I lead her out the door.

Once we’re outside and walking back to the truck, anger and frustration wafts off both of us. Neither of us speaks, but I know that once we’re back behind closed doors, we’re going to have plenty to discuss.

chapter

twenty-six

“He’s my friend, Journey.”

“Okay, so that means you let him talk to you however he pleases?”

“No, and I didn't,” I reply as I slam the door behind us. We step into the living room and face each other, two opponents arming themselves for battle. “Trey let the alcohol get to him, which is why I told him to relax with how he was talking to me. But I was the one who fucked up, alright? I shouldn't have said anything about Cain at all. It’s my fault.”

“Now you're defending him?” Journey says, frowning hard. “I don't understand what’s wrong with you, Evan. He spoke to you like you were a child. He chastised you for speaking ill of the man who used to verbally abuse you at work every day before you met me. Then he followed that by acting as though he is now your bully, because he tells you what to do all the time. He's your boss every day, all day. Is that it?”

“Journey, I love you so much it fucking hurts, but you're pushing it. I want you to have a voice and be as strong-minded as I know you are even though you are my submissive, but don't forget who you're talking to.”

“You're my Dom, right?”

“You’re goddamn right.”

“So you’ll put me in check? Punish me if I go too far? If I disrespect you?”

“Of course I fucking will, and don't ever forget it.”

“But you have nothing more for Trey than a few words? Put me in my place but let him walk all over you? How does that work?”

“I didn't let him walk all over me,” I yell, taking two steps closer to Journey. “You don't know what you're talking about. Now sit the fuck down and listen.” Journey stands there, truly pushing her luck by acting like a brat, but I am in no mood for bratty fucking behavior. “Sit. Down. Now. I’ve told you a million times, Journey, you belong to me. You do as I tell you, and I have been as patient with you as I can possibly be, but you are pissing me the fuck off. Sit down or there will be consequences unlike anything in your worst nightmares. Sit!”

Sit your ass down before I grab you by the throat and force you down. You’ll turn every shade of blue before I let you go, because that is what you deserve. That is what you have earned.

Journey swallows hard, defiant despite herself. But she sits.

I take a deep breath and try to calm the voice inside my head. I see the mist in her eyes, but I don't let it deter me.

“I know how you feel about me,” I begin again, calmer now. “I know you love me, and I know that you and I are not like the people we are surrounded by every day. We don't stand for disrespect. I’d liquify someone in a vat of acid before I stand by and watch you be treated poorly, and I know you’d do the same for me. But Trey is a friend, and friends have disagreements from time to time. He, out of all the people in this world that I can’t stand, gets a bit of a longer leash. I’ll try to talk it out with him, and you're going to have to accept that. In fact, you don't have a fucking choice. Do you understand me? Let it fucking go. I’ll deal with it myself.”

The room goes silent as we look at each other. Journey tries to maintain eye contact, but eventually her eyes fall to the floor.

Exactly where they should be when dealing with her Dom.

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