Page 7 of Rebellion

Tate licked his bottom lip and looked at me with new interest in his eyes. He wasn’t rejecting my idea outright. That was a good sign.

“Well. That’s a fascinating idea.” He glanced over to Dominic and rubbed his chin. “Why don’t you and your harem come on down to Austin and spend a week at the Red Ranch with me. I’m sure we’d have a great time and test the idea out.”

Umm. I hadn’t actually thought he’d take me up on the offer so quickly. Gray would not like me trotting off to the Red Ranch any more than the Asylum.

Although there was something about this place that had him very reticent. He’d once offered to take me to any other club besides here, so maybe a week in a galaxy far far away would be good for the two of us.

Yeah. This could be the break with him I’d been hoping for. We could jet on down to Texas and start a whole new chapter together.

The more I thought about it, the more excited I was.

Tate took my silence for caution and anted up something more.

“If the week goes well, I could offer you an apprenticeship. Work with me for say, six months or a year. You’d learn all the ins and outs and back ins of the business and the lifestyle. Anything your pretty little heart desires.”

That was a lot faster timeline than Gray’s six months just to train me in the ninja ways of BDSM before I even got to start in on the business side of it. This was perfect. Even if it would take some serious cajoling to convince Gray go along with it, he would. Right?

Just as I was about to agree, I spotted a familiar cranky-pants man stopping to talk to Jim. The rat. I glared at Dominic too. One or the other had tattled on me.

“What?” He shrugged and didn’t deny anything.

“You called Gray.” I was prepared for the consequences of being at the Asylum without him, but if he was here now it was going to throw a truckload of wrenches into the works before I could even reveal my brilliant new plan to him.

“What? He’s here? Now? Please put your clothes back on.” Dominic scanned the club and held my dress out to me.

Too late.

Gray walked right up to us and stood about five millimeters from me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Sneaking out behind your back. Probably not the right way to start the conversation. He was already pissed and that made my own hackles rise. I was already plotting my retaliation for his heavy handedness I could see coming. I certainly had learned how to do that lately.

“Making arrangements with Mr. Hall to visit his sex ranch and learn all about pony play. He said I could ride him later.” I put on my most innocent, angelic voice and batted my eyelashes at the Gray tornado. I did not want to have another screaming match with him, especially here at the club and in front of our saving grace. I couldn’t stand him raining on my pony parade.

“Hi, Tate Hall.” Tate stuck out his hand to Gray. It only took two of Gray’s huffed breaths for him to pull it back.

“Your Dom?” Tate asked me.

“Tate Hall meet Grayson Baker. He’s my something all right.”

“She. Is. Mine.”

I’m pretty sure flames shot out of his mouth.

Tate put his hands up and scooted his chair back. “All right cave man, don’t get all riled up. We’re just talking. I haven’t touched her.”

I rolled my eyes. I looked over at Tate. “Sorry about him. Excuse us for a minute.”

I grabbed Gray’s elbow and pulled him ten yards away to a dark corner. I wondered if all clubs had dark corners like this and how I could get Gray into more of them. They were very handy for having dark assignations. Or fights with my not boyfriend/lover/Dom.

“What are you doing with scum like that?” he snarled.

“He’s actually really nice. He offered to show me around his club and let me see his back end.”

“I bet he did.”

“That’s not what I meant. He’s offered me an apprenticeship to learn how to become a real Dominatrix. It’s the perfect solution.”

“You don’t think that’s a little bit convenient?”

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