Beneath the Scars (Masters of the Shadowlands #13)(128)

“Hmm. Maybe.” Back at the Highlands. Where she’d been fired. Shaking her head, Josie followed.

Well, at least she was dressed to be a customer. And hey, she looked pretty damn good, too. Her faux black leather bralette pushed up her small breasts to create rather impressive cleavage. Her wide-legged black velvet pants and black stilettos added a touch of sophistication. “You know, I wish Holt could have seen me. I look pretty sexy.”

“You do.” Rainie grinned. “Although, I’ve noticed two-thirds of our work is wasted on a guy. They get the overall impression—oooo, cleavage. Oh, short skirts. Red lips. But it takes another woman to notice things like the way your gold choker matches your earrings and your nail polish.”

Zuri nodded a fashion-buyer’s approval. “The gold and black combination is very classy.”

“Holt gave me the choker and earrings last night.” Josie ran her fingers over the necklace. “He said he wanted to remind me of who my Dom is.” Then he’d reinforced his words in the most intimate way possible.

“Masters are so possessive. That’s why my Dragon Doms gave me this bracelet.” Zuri lifted her wrist. The diamond-studded cuff-style bracelet was shaped like a dragon.

“Yep, that’s why.” Max walked over, tilted Zuri’s head up, and planted a kiss on her lips. “So remember that and behave yourself, princess. I’ll be back for you later.”

“Behave? Pffft.” Laughing, Zuri linked her arm with Josie’s, grabbed Rainie’s hand, and pulled them toward the door.

As they walked in, Josie tried to view the place as a customer. The room felt like an old English library with dark wood tables and leather furniture. The left wall with the gas fireplace was aged red brick. Behind the bar, shelf after shelf of gleaming bottles climbed to the ceiling. A rolling ladder made it possible for bartenders to access the top shelves.

“They’re here!”

At the cheering from the right, Josie stopped dead. She turned.

The round table held…women from the Shadowlands. Josie glanced at Zuri and Rainie. “Uh… Am I crashing a party or something?”

All Zuri’d said was that she and Rainie were taking Josie out on Thursday night. For drinks.

“It’s not a party.” Zuri tugged her forward. “The Shadowkittens try to go out every month or so for rowdy times.”

Shadowkittens. The word referred to the submissives and slaves of the official Shadowland Masters. Josie blinked. Holt was a Master which meant…she was one of the Shadowkittens. Warmth spilled through her like the first sip of aged whisky.

The table held exactly three empty chairs. They’d been expected. Rainie and Zuri sat down on Josie’s right beside brunette, bubbly Sally who’d been at Anne’s barbecue with her two Doms.

Andrea, Cullen’s submissive, was across the table. “We’re so glad you could make it.”

On Josie’s left was redheaded Linda, Master Sam’s woman. She patted Josie’s hand. “You’re looking much better. Did everything get resolved?”

“It did—thanks partly to your advice.” Josie gave her a grateful smile. “You know, having trouble with a man is bad enough, but adding my son into the mix made it awful.”

“You’re right. A child can add a whole new level of distress to arguments.” Across the table, Kari looked at Josie with obvious worry. “Two children would be even worse. Maybe Dan and I don’t want another baby.”

“You have a good point.” It might make for a bumpy ride, but Josie still wanted to give Holt a baby or two. Smiling, she asked Jessica, “How about you? Are you and Master Z planning another child? Sophia’s simply adorable.”

“When did you meet Sophia?” Rainie asked Josie. “Wait, I know.” She pointed at Jessica. “You’re starting her out real early in the Shadowlands. Doing Domme training.”

“Sophia has the Domme attitude already. No training needed.” Jessica laughed. “Josie met our small bundle of trouble last weekend when Anne brought baby Wyatt to visit. Josie ran upstairs to see them before her shift.”

Josie snorted. “And that was a mistake. When I was late getting back downstairs to the bar, Master Nolan had to fill in, and he wasn’t pleased.”

As the table of women made sympathetic sounds, Josie shook her head at the memory…

She had raised the pass-through and stopped just inside the bar space. Holt was pouring a beer for someone. She smiled. Would there ever come a time when her heart didn’t do a happy spin at the sight of him?

Unfortunately, another Master was also behind the bar. Master Nolan. Doing her job. Because she hadn’t been here. She felt a stab of guilt.

Nolan gave her a hard stare. “You’re late, sugar.”

“I’m so sorry.” With a different Master, she’d have tried a funny rejoinder, but this Dom kind of scared her. Instead, she employed one of Carson’s techniques—blame the authorities. “It’s Mistress Anne’s fault. She was in a bad mood and wanted advice on how to breast-feed when holding down a job. She wouldn’t let me leave until I explained everything.” Josie shook her head. “I’ve heard stories about her, and…I didn’t want her annoyed with me.”

Master Nolan’s expression didn’t change, but his black eyes lit with amusement. “Probably a wise choice, although now I’m annoyed with you.”