A Dom is Forever (Masters and Mercenaries #3)(75)

“Not for long, love. The floors in the private rooms are better for your knees, but this is symbolic.”

Avery placed her hands on her thighs, palms up and spread her legs wide.

“I like the corset, Avery. It fits perfectly.”

She couldn’t help it. She snorted a little.

Lee’s hands tangled in her hair, pulling her head up so she met his eyes. “What was that?”

“Well, it’s a little ridiculous, Lee. It’s obviously too small,” she replied. She wished she’d taken a little thought with her words because his face darkened.

“You didn’t tell me she was a brat.” Lee’s friend stared down at her, disapproval plain on his handsome face.

“That’s because I didn’t realize she was one.”

Brat. Damn. She hadn’t meant to be. She’d meant to be self-deprecating. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to explain that I’m a little too fat for this corset.”

Eve sighed though she didn’t move at all.

“Did you just call yourself fat?” Liam asked, his jaw dropping slightly.

She was getting into so much trouble. “I was just being realistic. Tell me you never thought it.”

“I don’t think it now, and I won’t listen to you say it. I bought that corset because I wanted to show off my gorgeous sub, and you are acting like a brat in front of my friends. I told you that your behavior reflects on me. One of my jobs is to make sure you understand you’re beautiful and desirable, and you just let another Dom know that I haven’t been doing my job. Take my hand and get up.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t require an apology. I require obedience or you can safe word out.”

Humiliation swept through her system. She’d just been trying to be funny.

No. No, she hadn’t. She’d thought she could distance herself if she called herself fat. She’d been doing it for years. She’d claimed she was being funny or realistic when the truth was it took real actual bravery to see the beauty in her own body because so many people didn’t. So many people were waiting to tear her down, but did that mean she should do it first—or should she stand up for herself? Maybe no one could see how pretty she was until she believed it herself.

“I’m sorry,” she said with more confidence this time.

Lee wasn’t listening. “I told you I don’t require your apology.”

“I wasn’t apologizing to you. I was apologizing to me.”

He stopped, his eyes softening. He knelt down. “Are you being honest, love?”

She nodded. Eve had been trying to tell her. She’d lain in a bed for years, and every single day she’d vowed that she would walk. She’d believed, but now she wasn’t giving herself the same courtesy she’d given her legs. She couldn’t be truly beautiful if she didn’t believe, and this man was giving her the chance to find that power. “Yes, I am. And now I’m ready to get up. I’m not going to say my safe word, Lee. I want to be here. I need to be here.”

“I need to be here, too,” Liam vowed. “Avery, no matter what anyone thinks, I think you’re gorgeous and you look amazingly hot tonight. It isn’t too tight. It’s perfect, and when we’re in this club or any other club, you’re going to wear what I want you to wear and you’re going to understand that I picked it because I want to see you in it. Are you worried about what other people will think?”

“Yes, but I’m trying not to because the truth is you’re the only one who counts. You’re the one I want to please so no one else matters.”

“Thank you, love. That’s what I want.” He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.

“So we don’t have to do the punishment thing?” Maybe she’d talked her way out of it.

Liam shook his head. “Oh, no, we’re absolutely going to do that. We were going to start the evening watching my friends scene, but now I think the shoe is on the other foot. Alex, can you secure us a spanking bench?”

She bit her bottom lip. She’d read about spanking benches. She’d looked them up on the Internet. It looked like she was about to get very well acquainted with one.

“I’m sure I can make that happen,” Alex replied. “You can use the space I reserved for Eve and myself.”

Eve’s head turned slightly, her lips turned up in a little smile. Told you, she mouthed.

“Up.” Lee stood, holding his hand out.

She took it this time. She’d come here for a reason, and it hadn’t been to put herself down. In the days she’d been with Lee, she’d become so much more confident. Why had she just screwed up royally? She was dressing better, feeling sexy and alive. Why had she just fallen back into that old pattern?

Because of that phone call. Because she was still hiding so much from him. She’d told him about Madison, but she hadn’t pulled out the pictures, hadn’t made her baby real to him. She was still keeping her distance.

“What’s wrong?” Liam asked.

She put on a sunny smile. Baby steps. She’d take baby steps and pray they eventually got her to her destination. “Nothing. I’m good. Well, I’m going to be okay, though I suspect my backside is going to be a little red.”