Page 26 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions

He touched my cheek. “Good girl. Each time we meet, I want you to tell me something about yourself.” His lips twitched, but not quite a smile. “Try to limit how many ‘favorite foods’ you have, Little Owl.”

My cheeks heated. “What about you, Sir? What’s something about you?”

“Well, not many people around here know this, but I work in law enforcement. I’m an FBI agent.”

Damn. I couldn’t tell him I already knew that. I felt disappointed, like I’d wasted a limited question. “That sounds very exciting.”

“It’s more boring than I care to admit, but it has its moments. Are you ready to go upstairs?”

Anticipation replaced my disappointment. “Yes, Sir.”

“Forgive my oversight. Do you need to change first?”

I glanced down myself at my mesh tunic and jeans. “No, Sir. With your permission, I’ll remove my shirt once upstairs, but I won’t need to remove anything else.”

“Very well. You will follow behind me by three steps, on my right. Hands behind your back, chin down. We will be going upstairs and you may hold the rail if you need to.”

I didn’t, but I appreciated the stipulation. “Yes, Sir.”

“And, Little Owl?” I looked up again, waiting. “I will never tell younotto take your clothes off.”

I smiled up at him, unable to help the lighthearted feeling inside me.

I tried to follow behind as close to the required three steps as I could. I’d never gone through traditional training, like walking protocols. My submission was so unique and specific to my needs that I’d never been involved in a scene or even served a Dom. I was as amateurish as they came. Nerves started to make my belly quake.

Master Mal was obviously an experienced Dom. He knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted. That confidence is what drew me to him when he’d approached me on stage two weeks ago, and it still affected me now. More than that, he wasn’t demeaning in his domination. Hell,he’dapologizedto me. He’d tried to stand between me and Jason. Mind, that was probably more suicidal than he’d ever realize, but he’d still done it.

One, two, three… I counted inside my head as I followed. I hoped the rhythm would help to calm me. Did he realize just how inexperienced I was? Should I tell him?

I barely even noticed Jason as we passed him in the hall. Despite that he had his cock down Noah’s throat, to the point where Noah was a blubbering, gasping mess, Jason still put his hand out and snagged my knives from my belt in a swift motionthat neither Noah nor Master Mal picked up on. I barely even felt it, it was so quick.

Once inside the room, Master Mal said, “You may look up now. You need to work on your walking pose. Are you out of practice or have you never done it before?”

“Never done it before, Sir,” I admitted.

“I require it of my submissive, but we’ll discuss that later.” He held out his large hand. “Your shirt, Little Owl.”

I removed the mesh shirt and handed it over to him. In just my bra, jeans, and boots, I took a moment to look around the room. I’d never known Valentino kept a private dancing pole up here. I might have asked Jason to reserve it on a nightly basis otherwise.

Two speakers were on a shelf behind the cushioned seating. I saw what looked like a note attached to one. “Sir,” I pointed, wanting to make sure he saw it.

Master Mal looked behind himself and then walked over to the note. “It says to call the security office when you’re ready to start. They have your playlist ready.”

“May I take a drink of water before I begin?”

“You may. Bring me one as well. I want you to drink a full bottle while I call down to the security desk.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Minutes later,Earned Itby The Weeknd came over the speakers. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed the music to take me over. Let the entire world fall away and simplywas. I was no longer a killer, no longer a victim or a survivor, no longer a fighter. I was justme, a leaf in the wind, a snowflake in the breeze.

I wasfree.

Chapter Fifteen

Mal

“Ooh,looks like someone got laid last night,” a voice cooed as I walked into the bullpen the next morning.

---