Page 40 of The Shame Game

James held out a hand for Amanda, drawing her to his side. “And if anyone gives you any grief about sitting, tell them to see me or Cade.”

A hint of nerves crept into Olivia’s voice. “Can someone let my Sir know?”

“Cade already has,” James said, his voice softening at the obvious worry in her pretty hazel eyes. “He’ll be by to check on you after his dungeon monitor shift is over.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.” James smiled at her, then looked down at Amanda. “Ready?”

“For what?”

He grinned. “For whatever I want.”

Amanda just sighed. “Yes, Sir. See you later, Olivia.”

“Bye.”

James tugged her away, bending to murmur to her. “She’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think Kyle is taking very good care of her,” Amanda whispered back.

“It’s not our business, Amanda,” he began, then sighed. “But I think you’re right.”

“What do we do?”

“Not much we can do, except keep an eye on them.”

“Cade was pissed earlier,” Amanda told him as they wove through the milling crowd. “He was trying hard not to show it, but he was.”

“He’d like to tear Kyle into small pieces and launch him into space,” James returned. “You know how protective he can be. Although I have to say, he’s taking it a bit far this time.”

Amanda pursed her lips. She had her own ideas about where that protective urge was coming from, but again she kept those thoughts to herself.

“Kyle’s not a bad guy,” James went on. “I just don’t think they’re a good fit.”

“Me neither. Maybe we should introduce her to some other Doms, see if—”

“Stop right there,” James interrupted, and drew her to a halt. “Olivia is collared to Kyle.”

“I know, but—”

“And unless she’s in danger,” he continued, “you are not to interfere. Understood?”

She frowned. “Define interfere. Can I talk to her? Ask her if she’s okay, if she’s happy?”

“Of course you can. Being her friend is always acceptable. However,” he said, a thread of steel coming into his tone, “trying to fix her up with someone else while she’s still collared is not. And don’t pretend you don’t know the difference.”

She sighed. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. Now, are you ready to get started?”

Amanda glanced around, blinking when she realized they were standing in the corner of the room set up for medical scenes. An exam table sat in front of her. “We’re doing a medical scene?”

“No, we’re doing a humiliation scene, using the medical table. Strip.”

She began shedding her clothes, folding them into a neat pile close to the wall where they wouldn’t be in the way. While she was getting naked—and trying not to think of just what kind of humiliation scene would need an exam table—James picked up a bottle of cleaner and sprayed down the table. It was most likely unnecessary, Amanda knew, as all the equipment was cleaned when it was set up, but James liked to be thorough.

He tossed the paper towels into the trash can nearby, then stepped forward and laid his hands on her shoulders. “All right?”

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