But tonight she hadn’t had a choice.
She spotted him over by the bar. At over six feet tall, he was hard to miss. As usual he was impeccably dressed in a pressed, blue shirt and black pants. He kept his dark hair short. His deep blue eyes could be warm or arctic, depending on his mood.
Alex didn’t have to yell or intimidate to get his way. A few chosen words, along with a look and subs fell at his feet.
Humiliatingly, she’d been one of those subs. She still grew embarrassed when she remembered how she’d thrown herself at him. He’d tried to be kind when he’d rejected her, but it had still been mortifying. Things hadn’t been the same between them since. She felt awkward and tongue-tied whenever he was around, the memory of his rejection playing through her mind.
At least he was too much of a gentleman to gossip about her. It was bad enough that the two of them knew he’d rejected her.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Tara hated feeling like she’d disappointed Alex. He had this look that could make her feel like a child again, being pulled into her father’s study because of a disappointing report card.
She made her way over to where he stood talking to Nate, one of the other Doms.
“Hello, little one,” Nate said with a wink.
“Hello, Sir,” she replied before turning to Alex. “Master Alex, I’m reporting for my shift.”
“You’re seven minutes late, Tara,” Alex informed her. “What have you got to say for yourself?”
Pedantic bastard.
“Umm, sorry, Sir?”
Nate chuckled. “You’re going to have to attempt to sound more sincere if you want to save your butt.”
She sent him a glare. He just laughed harder.
“Tara,” Alex reprimanded her. “Look at me.”
She gazed up at Alex and he frowned as he studied her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Sir.”
“I don’t like being lied to,” he said warningly. “You’re never late. You look pale and tired.”
She lowered her gaze to his chest, away from those inquisitive eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m late and that my appearance offends you,” she said stiffly. “Next time I’ll do a better job with my make-up.”
He growled. Nate whistled and she looked up to find him shaking his head in disappointment.
“Wrong answer,” Nate said.
“Get to work,” Alex ordered while Nate studied her. “Tilly’s been covering your area. After your shift you’re to come find me.”
He turned away abruptly and she looked after him in surprise.
“What bit his butt?” she muttered to herself, completely forgetting that Nate was standing there.
“I’d say it was a disobedient little sub.”
She bit her lip. “I apologized for being late and I wasn’t being disobedient.”
Nate snorted. “You know, there are times when I wonder if you truly are submissive or whether you just play at it.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“When someone is topping you, you have all the right moves, you say all the right things, but I’ve been watching you and your head is never really in it. You keep a part of yourself back.”