Page 40 of Dominate Me

“Um...sorry. This isn’t the time or the place. But your choker is beautiful.” Her fingertips grazed the metal and her eyes went soft. When she ran her fingers over the metal, down her throat, almost caressing herself, a warm sensation trickled down my spine.

“What about it?” She leaned forward on the bar, a gleam in her eyes I couldn’t miss.

I matched her pose and glanced around to see if we’d be interrupted. “Is it a collar?”

Before I could tell myself to shut up, I continued. “I saw the lock at the back. And well...I’m new...God, this is embarrassing.”

She scanned the bar before coming back to me with a soft smile. “Am I right?” I asked.

Instead of answering my question, she held her hand out over the bar. “I’m Gabby. You are?”

“Haley,” I answered, sliding my hand against hers. She shook it once and let go of my hand.

“You’re right.” She smiled, touching her collar once more before she looked over her shoulder and down the bar. “Hey, Paul! I’m taking five, okay?”

I assumed Paul was the bartender at the other end, a big, burly man with tats running down both arms. “You got it, G.”

My eyes flickered to the metal “G” insignia on the wall behind the bar and back at the woman still smiling at me.

“This is your place?”

She smiled, showing a mouthful of white teeth. “Used to be my dad’s—George—before he passed a few years ago. I took it over. It’s only fortuitous my name also starts with a G.”

“But you’re a slave,” I said, my voice awed.

Gabby threw her head back and laughed. “Get the drinks to your friend and I’ll meet you there. She’s looking a little concerned.”

Oops. I turned on my feet and quickly moved back to the booth where I’d deserted Anya. “I’m so sorry,” I said as I slid into the booth and gave her one of the beers.

“What took you so long?”

“The woman...she’s the owner...but get this.” I leaned forward so I could whisper-shout in her ear. “She’s a slave. I saw her collar and got curious and I’m so sorry, Anya.” Remorse filled me. I was changing, and I was doing it quickly, and not only that but so much of our friendship had recently become about my new life.

Tonight was supposed to be our night out and I was making it all about me.

“I’m a horrible friend,” I said.

Anya rolled her eyes. “Shut up. What happened?”

I gestured toward Gabby who was now headed in our direction. “She’s wearing a choker, but it’s really a collar and signifies that she’s a slave.”

Anya’s mouth went slack. I had told her a lot about the BDSM lifestyle as I was researching so she knew the term.

For some reason, I had never thought I’d run into anyone “normal” out in public. I scolded myself. The people who hung out in sex clubs and dungeons had to do something for a life outside the sexy walls of Luminous.

“Hi, I’m Gabby,” Gabby said, as she reached our booth. As friendly as she’d been to me, she was to Anya, too, with a gracious smile and a hand held out.

“Anya, nice to meet you.”

“Do you mind if I join you two for a minute? Bar’s packed and two of our servers called in sick tonight, but I’d love to talk to you while I can.”

I flashed wide, questioning eyes to Anya. This had to be her call.

“Of course,” she replied.

I slid over and gave Gabby room to sit next to me.

“You seem surprised that I can be a slave and own a business,” she said, getting right to her point. “And you said you’re new. I assume to the lifestyle?”

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