Don’t touch her.

Don’t do anything that could be misconstrued.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” he lied. “Just perhaps clean the bathrooms a bit more. All right?”

She nodded. “I will. You’re sure you want me to stay on?”

“Of course we do. I won’t hear of you leaving.”

To his shock, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him. He stood there, frozen.

Well, there was one part of him that wasn’t frozen. His cock was standing at attention. He had to step away before she noticed.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She took a giant step back. “I didn’t mean to be inappropriate.”

“That’s quite all right. No harm done.”

No harm done?

Really?

“I do need to ask how you feel about possibly seeing me at the club? Do you think it will be awkward? I was going to go tomorrow night . . .”

Because every night this week, he found himself jerking off while imagining her face. And it disgusted him.

So he was hoping the club would help.

“Oh no, don’t worry about that. I no longer belong to the club.” She waved her hand in the air.

“You don’t? What happened?”

“I didn’t want to be punished, so I walked out.” She shrugged. “No big deal.”

But it was. Because Club Slade was arguably the best and safest BDSM club in London. So where was she going to go?

“I want to know the name of the next club you intend to join,” he ordered.

“What? Why?” She blinked at him.

“I need to make sure that it is safe for you. You can’t be too careful as an unattached sub.”

And he wasn’t sure that she was all that good at looking after herself.

“You shouldn’t have been wandering around alone the other night. There are some clubs that would not only allow thatbut encourage it. That leaves you vulnerable to someone taking advantage of you. That can’t happen.”

“Why would you care?” Her eyes were wide with surprise.

“You work for me,” he said gruffly. “And I care about your safety, Pet.”

He did not just say that.

Her eyes grew even wider, her breathing became faster.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. “That was completely inappropriate, and I understand if you wish to leave. I will of course give you the final two weeks of pay but you do not have to return.”

“Why would you do that?” she asked.