Page 31 of High Roller

“I highly doubt that. I’m not exactly her favorite person right now, Grace. What does it matter if I do?”

She shrugs. “You’re aware of my feelings for you. I would rather not take care of your lovers.”

That she blatantly admits to having feelings for me also catches me off guard. That’s been happening a lot lately, and I don’t like it.

“I don’t mix business and pleasure, Grace. No matter how gorgeous you are.”

She chews her bottom lip and nods. “I understand. I’m sorry for saying anything.”

“She’s not my lover.”

Blowing out a long breath, she nods. “OK. I believe you. I’ll help you when I can. But I’m starting classes again next month, so if she’s still here then, you’ll have to ask one of the others for help.”

I squeeze her thigh, and she smiles. “I’m proud of you for going back to school, butterfly.”

She beams again, and I wonder if it’s time to ask one of the others to take over as her Dom at the club. The submissives who wear our pins are not sexual with us generally speaking. The exceptions being Zara, Skylar, and Bellamy, but I occasionally fuck one of my subs. For some reason, it never seems right to do that with Grace. Not because I’m not attracted to her. She’s gorgeous even though she doesn’t always believe it. But there’s something special about her and I’m convinced if I introduce her to the things I like in the kink world, she would run screaming from the room.

Lili, on the other hand, I want to make scream.

Jesus, I’m a bastard.

“I wouldn’t have gone back without you encouraging it,” she whispers.

How fucked up is it that I want to kiss her right now?

I shake my head and stand. “You did this all on your own, Grace. Take the credit.”

When she nods, I offer her my hand. “Let’s have a quick chat about our demo and get back out there. We’ve got a good crowd and I’m looking forward to showing everyone what a good little pincushion you are for me.”

“Yes, Master Victor,” she murmurs, standing.

As we walk, she smiles at me. “I did like hearing Lili yell at you.”

I reach out and tug a fist full of her hair. “Watch it, little girl. I just let you out of a punishment. I can always change my mind.”

She giggles but sobers quickly and I shake my head, trying to keep the smirk from my lips and failing.

“Before I forget, Lili has asked if she can watch our scene.”

Grace twists a curl around her finger as a slow smile spreads across her face. “I would like that.”

Back in the main dungeon, I send Gracie to the bar to fetch us both bottles of water, and then we take them to my playroom. One of four specially curated rooms hosted by one of the owners of the club. My room tends to be… loud. The sadists flock to my space, and the screams and moans of pleasure and pain combined are almost soothing for me. It occurs to me to wonder what Gracie thinks of my space. We’ve never talked about it before. I know a little about her kinks, but she’s not like some of the other women who are submissives here. Gracie followed me from college, and didn’t go through the same screening process other members do.

“How many classes are you taking for your first semester?” I ask, unsure why I’m trying to make small talk.

“Just two to start. I thought about going full time, but I didn’t get all the financial aid I was hoping for, and I don’t want to take out loans.”

“Don’t take on loans. Two is a good start. You don’t have to be in a rush.”

“Yes, but I want to get my RN license as soon as possible. I love you guys, but I don’t want to work in a sandwich shop my entire life.”

With a nod, I reach out and tousle her hair. “I don’t blame you, and we would never expect that of you. But you’ll always have a place here. Hope you know that.”

She frowns. “You’re being nice tonight. Why is that?”

“Are you complaining?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

“No, Sir,” she says with a quick shake of her head.

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