Page 30 of Submissive Lies

-Sure. Whatever. I am so done with you…-

After Steve moved off, I took out my phone, checking it one more time. Fuck. Nothing. I decided to take another approach.

Hey, it’s me. Tried calling you a couple of times. You must be pretty busy. Could you give me a call when you can? Or if you’re slammed, just shoot me a text. Thanks! :-)

I hit SEND and then stared at my phone for a moment. This was odd. Thomas was usually very prompt about returning calls. Maybe he’d gotten pulled into an emergency or something and hadn’t had time to call back. I was certain he’d at least be able to shoot me a text. I wished he’d done it by now, but maybe he hadn’t gotten my voicemails yet. I pushed down anxiety that was making a concerted effort to claw its way forward. I wasn’t going to fall prey to that. I shoved the phone into my bag. He’d call me. I knew he would. I just needed to be patient, and not freak out.

I took a quick walk around the booth to see where we were before the scheduled stopping point for the night. Steve’s prediction about their progress proved true. My personal feelings about him aside, he’d done a better job with the crew than Mitch ever had, and that was saying something. I had never been displeased with Mitch and the way he handled things, and I knew the local guys here had loved him, but there was no denying that Steve had really pulled the guys together and gotten the booth further along than expected. At the end of the shift, Steve gathered the crew together at the table.

“Everything looking okay, Ms. Boyd?” Steve turned to me, asking the question in a quiet, serious tone. He scanned the booth space, making a final quick assessment of the exhibit before his gaze came back to mine. The chatter from the crew tapered off as all eyes focused on me, awaiting my judgment.

“You guys did fantastic. You really did. I am very happy.”

There were big grins from the crew arrayed in front of me, including Steve. I caught the small nod of thanks directed my way before he turned to Keith and the rest of the crew.

“Thanks, guys. You kicked ass today. You keep making me look good, maybe Marty won’t can me after all.”

There was laughter and good-natured ribbing directed towards him at the comment. He shook hands with each of the men as they grabbed their toolboxes and headed off, drifting out of the booth.

“Back at 7:30, Keith.” Steve clapped his assistant on the shoulder.

Keith gave a brisk nod and glanced around. “Yep. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t have this knocked out tomorrow.”

“I like the sound of that. We get this booth squared away in less than eight tomorrow, might even make the client happy.” Steve’s easy grin, and the humor that suffused his voice made his appreciation clear.

Even Keith, who to this point had maintained a serious look throughout the day, cracked a smile. “Let’s hope so.” Keith shook Steve’s hand and then gathered his tools and moved across the hall.

Steve watched as Keith walked away, and then it was just the two of us left in the booth. He turned towards me.

“Are you satisfied with the progress today, Ms. Boyd?”

“Please. I told you to call me Jen.”

His eyes narrowed, and the smile changed ever so slightly. It was… different. It was still good, but… different in a way that sent a tiny shiver up my spine.

“Very well, Jen.” Now his voice had changed. It was a subtle shift in tone, the timbre less warm, traces of a more dominant quality woven through his words. A rush of blood thrummed in my ears, pulse thumping to his inflection as he continued. “You didn’t answer my question, however.”

My breath hitched as he stepped towards me. Close to me. He canted his head, giving his look an almost challenging vibe. “Are you pleased with how things are right now?”

And here we go.

-Goddammit, you haven’t even talked to Thomas yet. Listen, don’t do this, okay? It’s not too late to stop this. Nip it in the bud.-

Pretend that there’s nothing going on here? I thought you were the one telling me to stop lying to myself.

-You know exactly what I am talking about!-

Yes. I do.

In response, I lowered my eyes, letting my gaze slip down the length of him until I stopped at his feet.

“Yes, sir.” Boom.

“I want you to have dinner with me tonight.”

My head snapped up. The invitation was more command than question. It was a daring, provocative tone that made my knees tremble and my legs feel rubbery. I was slipping into my old headspace, dropping back into behaviors I hadn’t acted on in almost a year. As I stared into those cool gray eyes, my mind and body leapt at the chance.

Eager. Hungry.

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