Page 53 of Thor

She nodded, squaring her shoulders slightly. "Ready."

I opened the door to find Duke and Mia waiting, their welcoming smiles genuine. Diesel's tail thumped against the floor at the sight of new company, but he stayed obediently at Mia's feet.

After stiff introductions and handshakes, Mia made good on her promise and suggested they take some girl time, throwing me a look that clearly said "make yourself scarce." It wasn't a request I'd take from many people, but Mia had earned her place in our weird family.

"Give them space," Duke murmured, steering me toward the small bar in the corner of the conference room. "Mia knows what she's doing."

I reluctantly allowed myself to be guided away, but kept my position where I could still glimpse the women through the partially open door. Duke's knowing smirk told me I wasn't being subtle.

In the lounge, Mia poured tea from an elegant pot into delicate cups. She handed one to Mandy, who accepted it with a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"She's nervous," I muttered, more to myself than to Duke.

"Of course she is," he replied, pulling out two crystal tumblers from a cabinet beneath the bar. "She's about to lay out her deepest needs to a man built like a Norse berserker."

I shot him a glare, but there was no heat behind it. He wasn't wrong.

Through the doorway, I watched as Mia said something that made Mandy's eyes widen in surprise. Then Mandy laughed—a genuine sound that transformed her face from polite mask to authentic joy. Whatever ice had existed between them cracked, and the conversation visibly shifted to something more intimate.

What struck me was Diesel's behavior. The German Shepherd had been laying at Mia's feet initially, but as the women talked, he'd slowly inched closer to Mandy. Now he rested his massive head on her feet, looking up at her with soulful brown eyes. Mia noticed and smiled, saying something that made Mandy reach down to tentatively stroke the dog's head.

"Diesel's chosen her," Duke observed, sliding a whiskey toward me. "He knows."

"Knows what?" I asked, accepting the drink.

Duke's expression was knowing. "He can sense Littles. It's like he can smell the vulnerability—the part of them that needs protection."

I sipped the whiskey, letting the smooth burn distract me from the surge of protectiveness I felt watching Mandy gradually relax under Mia's guidance and Diesel's silent acceptance.

"She's good for you," Duke observed quietly, leaning against the bar. "Never seen you this centered."

The observation caught me off guard. Duke wasn't one for personal comments unless they affected club business. But he was right. Since Mandy had come into my life, the rage that had always simmered beneath my surface had quieted. I still did my job—still protected the club with the same ferocity—but the constant storm inside me had calmed.

I nodded as I accepted the drink. "She sees me."

Duke understood completely. His eyes drifted to Mia, softening in a way few people ever witnessed. "Like Mia with me. Changed my life when she stopped being afraid of what she needed."

Our conversation shifted to the contract details, with Duke offering insights from his own experience. He kept his voice low, respecting the privacy of what we discussed despite being alone in the room.

"The boundaries are the foundation," he emphasized, turning his glass in a slow circle on the bar top. "Clear lines, clear consequences, clear rewards. But flexibility matters too."

I listened intently, grateful for his guidance.

"Don't overwhelm her with rules at first," he continued. "Start with the essential ones—the ones that directly affect her safety and wellbeing. The fun stuff can come later, once she's comfortable in the dynamic."

"What about punishments?" I asked, the word feeling strange on my tongue when associated with Mandy.

Duke's expression grew serious. "They need to fit her, not you. What works for Mia might terrify Mandy. And remember—punishment isn't about your satisfaction. It's about her growth and security."

I nodded, absorbing his words. "And the Little space stuff? The age regression?"

A smile touched the corner of Duke's mouth. "That's where the real trust happens. When Mia first went into her Little space with me . . ." He shook his head, something soft and almost reverent in his expression. "It's a gift, Thor. One you never fucking deserve, but you work every day to be worthy of it."

The weight of that responsibility settled on my shoulders—not unwelcome, but sobering. What Mandy was offering wasn't just submission or sex. It was her most vulnerable self, the core that she kept hidden from the world.

"I won't fuck this up," I said quietly, determination hardening my voice.

Duke clapped me on the shoulder, his grip firm. "I know. That's why I'm helping instead of warning you away from her."

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