Page 111 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

“Drew’s views on dealing with submissives are controversial,” Bull admits. “But I’m not sure they’re wrong. We talk a lot about giving submissives what they need instead of what they want. That’s what his alpha theory is, just taken to the next level.”

I put my shaving supplies away. It’s not the best shave I’ve ever given myself but in my defense, between our conversation and meeting Bull’s eyes in the mirror, I’m a little fucking distracted. I’m lucky I don’t have any serious nicks. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I go to sit on the bench with him.

“Tell me about this alpha theory,” I say. “I haven’t heard it.”

“Drew says he can figure out what a submissive needs after a few scenes and going through a series of questions. Then he comes up with a plan to help the submissive reach and exceed their submission goals by giving them what they need instead of what they say they want. It’s ... it’s not crazy.”

No, it’s not crazy. It’s what I’ve done with every one of my subs, including Emily. As I struggle to find the differencebetween my approach and Drew’s—because I won’t share anything with someone whohunts our subs in a fucking pack—I latch on to that feeling of Daddyness.

“Does he do it out of a place of love or out of a place of manipulation to force the subs to give him what he wants?”

Bull’s mouth hangs open after my question. He shuts it with a snap.

“It’s fucking cold of you to question a brother Dom’s motives after you’ve turned this club upside down so you can play with your submissive the way you want.”

“If you’d sat with Shannie and Annabelle and seen how hurt and betrayed they feel by Drew’s alpha theory in practice, you wouldn’t say that.”

Bull tips his head from side to side until his neck cracks. “I don’t know what’s going on with Annabelle. I don’t know much about her past the fact that she’s damn new. You, of all people, know that the club can be a shock at first to subs who have only submitted at play parties and shit like that. Blunts isn’t a play party?—”

“Agreed,” I say.

“But I’ve heard about the thing with Shannie,” Bull continues. “One of her submission goals was to submit to two Doms at the same time. Drew brought guests into that scene—which was anopenscene—to help her get over the hurdle. Hart told him she’s been struggling with it for months. Drew primed his guests and they did exactly what he asked of them. They distracted her enough to get her out of her head. They gave her what she needed. Hart says it was a successful scene.”

“Shannie doesn’t think so. She was so intimidated by their presence and chanting that she won’t scene with anyone but Rob again. She doesn’t feel anyone else can protect her. And if anyone’s going to get her out of her head, it should be her Doms,not rando guests whose training and experience none of us have evaluated.”

“Drew evaluated them,” Bull objects. “They’re all experienced Doms.”

“They’re not members. Drew left them in that room with Shannie?—”

“And two Blunts Doms. They weren’t unsupervised or anything like that.”

“Shannie felt it devolved into a mob mentality. She was frightened.”

“But it worked. Sometimes it’s frightening to be pushed past a limit. Youknowthat. I just—I hear what you’re saying, Lo. I really do. I’m just not sure you’re right.”

“You won’t vote to expel them, or even suspend them?”

Bull looks down at his feet again. “Not on what you’ve told me so far.”

I rest my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for being honest with me.”

Bull sighs. “I hate this.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

“I’ve always considered you a friend. One of my best friends at the club. You were the third call I made after we got Kiki’s diagnosis. How the fuck did we end up here?”

I squeeze his shoulder gently. “I’m sorry for causing strife within the club. I want us all to be friends. It’s a gut punch hearing you question my motives. Please believe I’m trying to protect our submissives.”

“I know you are.” He snorts. “I’ve just connected the dots, you know. You’ve always been a Daddy Dom. You were just daddying our entire roster of house submissives. Now you’re daddying one littleandour entire roster of house submissives.”

I hold my hands up. “You’re probably right.”

“We need you, Lo,” Bull says. “Whatever the fuck happens, don’t let anyone railroad you out of this club.”

“Not a chance.” Theo’s voice breaks into our tête-à-tête.

I lift my head. Theo’s leaning against the wall separating the changing area from the showers with a towel slung over his shoulder and everything else on display. He’s gotten some new tattoos.

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