Page 3 of The Boss

“It feels good.”

“Looks good, too.”Brett grinned.“Your boy will love it.”

“I’m not looking for a boy.”

“You forget who you’re talking to.I know you better than you know yourself.”

“Whatever.”I shrugged.“It might be over before it begins.I expect he’ll do a runner when he finds out who his play date is.”

“He’ll come around.He’s skittish, but he wants this.And from what you told me, he wants you.”

“Maybe I’m reading too much into it.”

Brett frowned.“Nobody can read people like you.That’s why you’re such a great lawyer.Anyway, you won’t know unless you make a move.”

Brett was right.He usually was.I’d thought about this long and hard before asking Brett to intervene and send Aaron a pass to the club.It was the best way to arrange a personal meeting.If I was wrong and Aaron was not into the scene, it would avoid the embarrassment of a face-to-face overture.Aaron could ignore the invitation and life would go on.But I was right, and here we were.It was still an awkward situation, considering our work relationship, but I was counting on it being worth the challenge.Still, I hesitated.

“Well, go on then, Max.Make it happen.”

“Wish me luck.”

He winked and pointed at the door.“Break a leg.”

“Let’s hope not.”

I walked over to Room Three, stood at the closed door, and took a few deep breaths.Whenever I entered a dungeon, I left my identity behind.Tonight was a little different.Aaron knew exactly who I was and I was hoping that wouldn’t get in the way.This could be a terrible mistake, but I had to take the chance.Seeing Aaron every day didn’t leave me much choice.The way he looked at me with his hungry eyes made me nuts.I had to have him.

Stop stalling.

I took another breath and when I crossed the threshold, I was no longer Maxwell Barnes, Esquire.I was Master.

Aaron had his back to me, studying the handcuffs and chains hanging on the wall.

“See anything you like?”

Aaron turned and his shocked expression said it all.He kept opening and shutting his mouth like a fish out of water.I smiled inside.A fish about to be hooked.

“What is this?Some kind of joke?A test?”

“No.It is what it is.A play date.”

“Nice.So, you hired me to be the boss’s plaything.Fuck you.”Aaron crossed the room, passed me, and headed for the door.

“Wait.”

Even in his angry state, Aaron couldn’t help obeying.He froze in mid-stride.

“Look at me.Please.”I waited for him to turn around.I saw need in his eyes, and it was a potent aphrodisiac.It was what I’d been missing.I needed to be needed.Fulfillment was in my grasp, and I was determined not to fuck it up.“Just hear me out.”

“Are you going to fire me if I don’t?”

“This has nothing to do with your job.Whether you leave or you stay, business goes on as usual in the office.”I sat in one of the two leather chairs in the room and motioned him to the other.

“I’m not staying,” he said stiffly.

“You had a reason for coming here.If you really wanted to leave, you’d be gone already.Have a seat.Please.”

I breathed a sigh of relief when Aaron finally sat, and I chose my words carefully.“I want to explain why I arranged this meeting, and why I had to use deception to get you here.First, I wasn’t sure you were in the scene and I wanted to spare us both the embarrassment if you weren’t.Second, I wasn’t sure you’d come if you knew you were meeting me.You’re a private person.So am I.As a rule, I keep my personal life separate from work.”