Sophie Oak - Siren in Bloom

He might be one of the oldest freshmen around, but it was past time to make a choice about his future, and he wasn’t going to just be a guy who stood in the way of bullets. He was going to push himself, be better, for his wife, his brother, his future family.

“I think I can handle you sponging off me for a while,” Leo said, his smile wide. “Besides, you’ll find that Julian blows up from time to time and then he cools down and passes out the bonuses. I’ve saved a lot of money over the years. And Shelley is serious about her business. Julian is going to give her a sterling recommendation. She might be the primary breadwinner. You could get that degree and find yourself playing Mr. Mom.”

He would do it with joy in his heart. And then he remembered what he’d just done. “I think it could be a while before she talks to me again.”

“I doubt it. I think she’s waiting somewhere to yell at you right now.”

Julian Lodge stalked through the crowd, his face a mask of frustration. He walked right up to Wolf and Leo and pointed a single finger. “Do you understand the wretched evening I’ve had? First that fucking senator shows up with four—count them—four body guards. I had to vet four extra men because Senator Cross is a paranoid idiot, and if I didn’t owe his father a favor, I would have told him to go to hell.”

Wolf wasn’t sure what this had to do with him. He sent his brother a questioning look.

“Julian hates politicians for the most part, and he really hates surprises.” Leo stood watching his boss like this was just a normal part of the day.

Julian’s eyes narrowed. “And then someone decides to explode a ticking time bomb in our midst. I don’t know if I like this new therapy via scene, Leo. But worst of all, I just heard a ridiculous tale of a sub gone wild. Tell me what I just heard is a ridiculously overblown rumor.”

Leo looked over at Wolf. “This would be one of those times I told you about.”

Julian turned on Wolf. He could feel a definite chill coming off his boss. “You are an idiot and you’re fired.”

Wolf opened his mouth to protest. He needed the job, at least part time. Leo held out a hand.

“Let him throw his fit.”

Julian’s face turned a nice shade of red. “Fit? Fit, Leo? You were supposed to publically punish your submissive who created complete chaos with her disobedience. You were not supposed to allow her to turn into the BDSM version of Spartacus. And you.” Those silver eyes turned back to Wolf. “You signed a contract with her. I set this up. I paired you off. Do you think you know better than me? Have you been doing this longer than me? You’re a fucking embryo, Wolf. Did you think you could pass around your submissive? Do you think you can make a gift of her?”

“No, sir.” Wolf simply was going to agree with everything Julian said. Julian Lodge in a rage was really something to see. And Leo didn’t seem to think anyone was going to actually die. Wolf knew he’d fucked up. He could take his medicine, and if that meant he got fired, he’d find another job.

“She’s a human being. You understand that, right? We use the term ‘slave’ in a nonliteral fashion. Should I give you a history lesson?”

“No, sir. I understand. No passing off my sub. If it helps at all, my brother’s already kicked my ass, and I get the feeling Shelley is going to want a piece of me, too.”

Julian stopped. “Then you’ve sorted this out? You’re staying with her?”

Wolf smiled slightly. “I intend to grovel, Mr. Lodge.”

Julian made a gagging sound. “Well, if you must, but not in public. And you two better get her on that stage and soon. Tomorrow night at the very latest. I expect a red ass on that sub. Otherwise all of the subs will decide to throw a temper tantrum every time they don’t get what they want.”

Wolf rather thought Shelley had thrown more than a temper tantrum. She’d fought for what she needed. It made him proud of the woman he loved.

Julian took a deep breath. “I’ll allow it since this was what I had planned all along.”

“Manipulative son of a bitch,” Leo said, but there was affection in the words.

“Yes, that is on my resume.” Julian straightened his suit. “Well, my work here is done. I will get back to Logan.”

Leo cleared his throat as Julian turned.

“Damn it, Leo, I didn’t fire you,” Julian complained, never once turning around.

Leo shook his head. “No, you just manipulated me into a position where I have a sub, a brother to put through school, and more than likely, a few babies in the next couple of years, which was really your plan all along. You just can’t go into the whole ‘dad thing’ all alone, can you? You have to pull the rest of us in with you. Tell me something, Julian, who’s next?”

Julian sighed. “Ben and Chase. I found a lovely sub for them. She works out at Danielle’s spa. I’m going to bring her to The Club in a month or two. My child is going to need peers. I will import some if I have to, but I would rather keep it in the family, so to speak.”

Julian started to walk away again, and Leo once more cleared his throat.

“Damn it, Leo. Fine. Five percent.”

“Ten percent, and I don’t mention this to Ben and Chase.”

Julian’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Ten percent. And you’re a bastard, Leo. See that your brother behaves from now on. Wolf, you’re rehired. No raise for you until you prove you can handle your sub. Come along now and join Logan and myself. Shelley needs time to cool off or I fear she will potentially cut your brother’s balls off, and that would cut my chances in half. I expect children, Leo, and soon.”

Julian walked away. Leo smiled over at Wolf. “That’s how you handle the boss.”

Julian wasn’t his main problem. “Tell me how to handle our woman instead.”

Leo frowned. “That could be much trickier. Let’s grab a beer and talk about this. First off, we need better jewelry.”

Wolf frowned, but he could handle it now. And he wouldn’t be alone. He had his brother as backup. He followed Leo up to the bar where Julian and Logan were waiting. And somewhere upstairs was his wife. Oh, she might fight him on it now, but he would win.

He settled into the well-appointed booth beside Leo, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged.

Shelley forced her feet to move toward the condo. Kitten walked beside her, a blankly serene look on her face. She appeared to be somewhere in her mid-twenties. She didn’t seem to be madly in love with the Dom who’d held her leash most of the evening. She seemed more comfortable with Chase Dawson than anything else.

The big Dom walked behind her and Kitten. He’d unhooked the leash from her collar the minute they had exited the club portion of the building. He’d been nice enough to grab a robe for Shelley to wear, but he hadn’t said much, his mind seemingly somewhere else.

They reached the door to the condo, and Chase swiped a card through the keycard lock.

She walked in with Kitten and wondered if she shouldn’t pack.

No, damn it. She wasn’t going to run away without a fight.

“Why don’t you go and get changed, Shelley,” Chase offered. “I don’t know what’s going on with your Masters, but they could be a while.”

They were fighting. She hated that. The last thing she’d wanted to do was come between them—well, in a nonphysical way. “You can go ahead and leave, Chase. I’ll lock the doors.”

Chase stood there in the middle of the living room looking at her like she’d said something stupid.

She shrugged. “Okay. Stay, then. But I’m going to change and then I’m making hot chocolate. I need comfort food.”