Page 46 of Rogue Royal
“I want you to come with me tonight.”
“What? Where?”
“We’re going to visit a sub.”
Mav shook his head. “You shouldn’t be doing it when there’s a recent photo, Your Highness.”
“Fuck the ‘Your Highness’ crap, Mav. We’ve been closer than many people get. If you can’t call me Douglas in private, we have no hope.”
Mav sighed. “I have never called you Douglas anywhere except in my head.”
“Well, start.”
Mav transferred his gaze to the tablet in his hand, and he fiddled with the cover. “I don’t think visiting a sub is a good idea at the minute.”
“It’s the only way you’ll see what I see. Otherwise, you’ll use it as an excuse to push me further away than you already have. I want…” Douglas wandered towards him, stopping the sofa’s length away. “I want more than I’m allowed, and it’s not fucking fair.”
Mav didn’t know what Douglas was talking about. “What do you want?”
Douglas shook his head, staring off to the side. “Doesn’t matter. It’s out of reach, even for me.”
Mav traced Douglas’s features with his gaze. His posture wasn’t as straight as it usually was, and his demeanour screamed “leave me alone.” Mav had no idea what to do or think.
“I’ll pick you up at eleven.” Douglas stormed away, crossing into his bedroom and shut the door.
The physical barrier between them caused an ache in Mav’s chest, and he rubbed at it distractedly. Visiting a sub was the last thing Douglas should do, but Mav didn’t have it in him to stop it from happening. He was curious about them and wanted to see what Douglas was so worried about.
Mav retreated to his own room, sitting in front of his laptop and staring at the photo. He picked up his phone when it rang, answering before he’d checked who it was.
“Maverick. I see you have another problem on your hands. If you can’t do the job, I’m going to have to rethink your role with the company. I know plenty of people who would kill to be in your shoes.”
Bert’s nasal tone irritated him beyond belief, and he clenched his jaw. “I’m sure many would, but they also wouldn’t put up with as much shit as you give me.” He knew the minute he’d spoken, he’d made a mistake.
“After everything I’ve done for you and your father, this is how you treat me? I’m sure Ron would love to know how you’ve been behaving. He’d be mortified by how you speak to me.”
Mav raked his fingers through his hair. “Dad doesn’t need to know anything. I’m sorry, Bert. I’ve had a trying day.” Apologising pained him, but he refused to cause problems for his father. Despite being old enough to take care of himself, his father would not easily find another job at his age.
“Regardless, you don’t take it out on me. You’re using a lot of your chances, Maverick. Be sure to temper your words in the future. Sort out this problem quickly; otherwise, it won’t just be your job on the line.”
The phone went silent, and Mav pulled it from his ear. He laid it on the table instead of throwing it across the room like he wanted. Once more, his gaze caught on the photograph. Mav couldn’t decide what his head was telling him.
Did Douglas have a heart of gold, or did he use anyone and anything to get what he wanted?
****
Chapter 17
Douglas
Douglas waited in the car outside of Mav’s building that night, Eric and another bodyguard in the car behind as was routine when he visited the subs. His tinted windows wouldn’t show who was inside, especially as he’d turned off the interior lights; therefore, when Mav opened the door, the light wouldn’t illuminate who was picking him up.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and gazed at his surroundings while he tried to bury the feelings of inadequacy. When he’d closed the door behind himself that morning, blocking Mav out, his chest had ached, and he’d had trouble swallowing. Trust was important for Douglas, not only in the BDSM lifestyle but everywhere. He wanted to be trustworthy and kind and caring and helpful. The media, as well as his parents and Mav, saw him as the opposite.
Huffing a laugh, Douglas shook his head. He didn’t know why it upset him. After all, the whole point of the visits was to check on the subs and not show what he was doing. The visit the previous night had been the first where the media had found him before he’d left the property. They had identified none of the other subs. Previously, the photographers had found him as he’d raced to his car, which was always parked a distance away from the sub’s house.
He’d been in touch with Xan this morning and apologised. Xan had said it was fine and explained he’d told his Dom he’d asked for a private lesson as a surprise for him. Luckily, Xan knew a few things he could use. It had never been his intention to cause problems for the subs, but if it did, he’d have to figure out a better way of speaking to them without their Masters being present.
The passenger door opened, startling him, and Mav climbed in. No words were spoken, and as soon as Mav had clicked his seatbelt into place, Douglas drove towards their destination. Parking several streets away, he switched off the engine, listening to the clicking as it cooled.
