Page 21 of Daddy's Princess

“Actually, give me a double shot of tequila in my margarita tonight.”

All conversation at the table ceases. I can actually feel four sets of eyes staring at me, five if you include the surprised look Carlos is giving me. “And add an order of queso to my usual as well.”

It takes half a second for Candace to attack. Did I compare Candace to a bloodhound? I was wrong. She’s like a shark that just got the scent of blood, and I’m the wounded animal. “What’s wrong?”

I’m incredibly grateful for my foresight. There was no doubt in my mind that Candace would interrogate me once she realized something was up with me, so I spent the train ride formulating a plan on what I would say. “Had a horrible day.”

Candace bumps my shoulder with hers. “Tell Auntie Candace all about it.”

“Just Britney being Britney.” I shrug.

“That bitch!” Candace doesn’t even need me to tell her specifics, she knows how horrible Britney is. This isn’t the first time I’ve vented about my co-worker. “You need to stand up to that skank. Quit letting her take advantage of you!”

Candace is very, very anti-Britney. Well, she’s anti-anyone who takes advantage of me. She thinks I’m too passive-aggressive and nice. She isn’t wrong. I’m a total people pleaser… probably why it upsets me so much that my mom is never happy with me. I remember my snarky responses to Mr. Titan this morning and wonder what Candace would say to that.

“I just don’t want to create a hostile work environment.”

Candace’s response is cut off when my new best friend Carlos brings our drinks. I take a sip of my drink and wince at the strong taste of cheap tequila. The second sip goes down smoother. By the fourth sip, my tongue is completely numb to the alcohol, and all I can taste is strawberry goodness.

Ten minutes and two tacos later, Candace is back to giving me the side-eye. “Tell me what’s really bugging you.”

“Nothing!” I say too quickly, then polish off the rest of my margarita and motion to Carlos for a refill.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Jen laughs. “She really is.”

“Remember that time we tried to get into Onyx with fake ids and Sugar about had a heart attack when the bouncer carded her?” Nikki asks.

“In all fairness,” I say with as much attitude as I can muster, “Candace got me the world’s worst fake id. The woman was in her sixties and looked nothing like me!”

Alice giggles. “This is true. Those were the worst ids ever. He had to know they were all fake.”

“We’re getting off-topic here,” Candace turns her full attention to me again, “Spill your guts.”

“There’s nothing to spill.”

Jen’s eyes narrow and her red-painted lips tip up into a wicked smile. “It’s a man.”

Candace tips her head to the side and studies me carefully. I can feel my heart beating wildly. Is it getting hot in here? My face feels flush. Probably just the alcohol…

“Is it about the guy you played with last night?”

I groan when everyone gasps and starts staring at me like I’m some kind of science experiment. “Sheesh, I know it’s been a while, but is it really that shocking that a dom would want to play with me?”

Alice’s intrigue disappears as her sympathetic nature takes over. “Oh, honey, that’s not why we’re shocked. Half the doms at B&B want to play with you, it’s just that ever since… Well, it’s just been a while since you’ve wanted to play.”

She’s not wrong. Until last night, I had wondered if I would ever be attracted to another dominant again. I don’t know if it’s the tequila or if it’s that I’m ready to admit some hard truths, but what happened with Cody made me question if I even wanted to be a submissive anymore. Our relationship wasn’t long, but it had a powerful impact on my psyche.

Last night, Oliver blew right past my fears and reluctance and showed me what I have been missing all these months. He gave me back a piece of myself that I thought was broken forever. Unfortunately, he also has me questioning my stance on keeping things completely casual. How did I go from ambivalent about being dominated to having the hottest night of my life to wanting more than just that one night?

It’s got to be some kind of voodoo.

“It’s not what you think.” I take a drink of my newly refilled glass.Thank you, Carlos.“I met Mr. Titan today.”

Candace’s eyes are practically bulging while she percolates on that little tidbit of information. “Mr. Titan. As in, Oliver Titan, sexiest man in the city, Oliver Titan?”

Except he’s more like the sexiest man in the universe. Oh, and the dominant who managed to reconnect me with my submissive side. “Yeah. Him.”

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