Page 21 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions (Till Death Do Us Part #7)

Chapter Eleven

Mal

Master Kade was not what I was expecting.

I knew his reputation, but I had been picturing a guy more like me.

Tall, broad shouldered, and chiseled jaw.

Pretty sure Dr. Lopez, the shrink that worked with my department, would have something to say about the fact that I had placed my sexy owl’s Dominant friend as a near replica of myself in my head, but Dr. Lopez wasn’t here so I could ignore that fact.

Master Kade was older than me by a decade or more.

His ash blonde hair was cut short, almost like a military cut.

He was compactly muscular with beefy arms and stood at five-eleven.

His eyes were cold, like a cat’s. When he looked at my sexy owl, I did not see affection, nor did that coldness lessen. He was too…withdrawn.

I didn’t like it.

“Dani,” he snapped, “let’s go.”

When she stepped forward, obeying the order without question or hesitation, every protective instinct inside me screamed. He was not her Master. He did not get to order her around and she did not have to obey.

I stepped between them, putting my back to her.

I crossed my arms over my chest, widening my stance.

My gut screamed at me that Master Kade knew how to fight, and he wouldn’t go down easily.

I hoped it wouldn’t come to that, though.

This was the most convenient club to my house, and I did like the place.

But it was just a place. She was a person.

“She does not have to go with you if she doesn’t want to,” I told him sternly.

Rather than get defensive though, something akin to amusement crossed his face. But it was off. Like Master Kade knew a secret that I did not.

I did not like that look. It was arrogant and condescending. It was a look a suspect usually gave me when he thought he was about to get away with something.

“Dani,” Master Kade repeated, even though he was looking directly at me, “let’s go.”

I felt movement behind me and put my arm out to block her.

Since I doubted I would get anywhere with this asshole, I turned my attention to my sexy owl.

Fuck, I didn’t even know her name—because there was no way I was believing it was actually ‘Dani’—but I did know that I did not want her to leave, especially not with this prick.

“You don’t have to leave with him,” I assured her. “I would like you to stay with me. I want the chance to talk to you.”

Her cool blue eyes widened and her breath caught. “You do?”

I nodded honestly.

She bit her lip, indecision clear on her face.

When she looked around me, I did not stop her, but I also made sure I was still between her and the arrogant prick the employees here claimed was her friend.

“The poles are closed,” she told him. “I need…something. I thought alcohol might do it, but it was gross.”

Fuck me if that statement didn’t make me want to chuckle. I held back though, picking up on what she wasn’t saying. She’d come here to dance, but the deflowering ceremony had interrupted her plans. She needed something.

Something only a Dom could give her. A different instinct surged forward, one that was dying to diagnose this little owl, to analyze and find the root of all her worries, to help her let herself free and soar …

I wanted nothing more in that moment than to lay claim to this sexy owl behind me. It was a possession I’d never felt before because I didn’t want to just dominate her. I wanted to own her.

“Then fuck him, but make it fast. We need to go.”

My eyes flew from my little owl’s to the conceited Master in front of me. “Do not tell her who she can or cannot fuck.”

“You need to step away from her,” Master Kade said, speaking to me for the first time. “Your collar is not around her throat, and therefore, she is none of your business.”

“Neither is yours!” I argued, my voice rising.

Someone approached us. “Is there a problem here, gentlemen?” a heavily accented Italian voice asked.

I turned to see Valentino, and recalled Joey saying earlier that Master Kade and Valentino were friends.

“Master Valentino,” I said respectfully. He did own the place and he was an experienced Dom in his own right. I’d never seen him with a sub, but he participated in demonstrations and was often Dungeon Master for group events.

“Master Mal,” he answered with the same respect. Without looking at Kade, he turned to the sexy owl behind me. “Dani, are you all right?”

“Yes, Sir,” she replied. “I came to dance, but the poles are closed.”

“I’m sorry, sweetling. This party has been reserved for a while. I did warn Master Kade to tell you several times.”

From the look on Kade’s face out of the corner of my eye, he had told her.

I couldn’t quite figure out the dynamic between Kade and my little owl.

It wasn’t paternal or fraternal. It certainly wasn’t romantic.

I wasn’t even sure Kade liked her, because there was nothing in his expression that hinted at fondness, but I was picking up on maybe a responsibility of some sort.

I desperately wanted to learn more, but not from him.

“I got my dates mixed up,” she mumbled, the cutest little blush painting her cheeks under the black feathered mask.

Affectionately, Valentino reached out and touched her blonde hair that I was sure was fake.

“Is there something else I can do for you, get for you? What is it you need, little one?” She looked away, down at the floor, and shrugged.

Valentino watched her for a moment before lowering his hand and turning towards me.

“Master Mal, is there a reason you’re blocking Dani from leaving? ”

“I was not keeping her from doing anything,” I stressed, not needing to get in trouble for questionable consent. “I was merely expressing that she did not need to leave with Master Kade if she did not wish to.”

“Ah,” Valentino nodded as if he understood.

“I don’t believe the two of you have met before.

Master Kade, this is Master Mal. Master Mal, this is Master Kade.

There is no need to cause a disturbance before my club even opens for the night when the two of you are after the same thing.

” Valentino looked to my little owl and his voice softened, “Forgive me, sweetheart. May I explain your situation?”

My pretty little owl looked up, her eyes going from Kade to me, before she knelt down at Valentino’s feet. She sat back in a relaxed pose, her hands palm-up on her knees, and her head bowed. “Please. Thank you, Sir.”

Christ, her voice was so small. I wanted to cover her with my body and never let this tainted world touch her. To bring her so much pleasure that she would never know sadness again.

Valentino reached out to pat her on her head while looking at me. “Master Kade and Dani are not contracted. However, Master Kade does look out for her. Dani has very specific needs, and not every Dom is right for her. Master Kade ensures Dani is well looked after and protected.”

“Specific needs?” I questioned, because I’d seen nothing of the sort the night we’d met. I’d walked right up to her and she’d submitted so perfectly.

“Her hard limits are her own,” Valentino said sternly, a slight warning in his voice. “Master Kade is Dani’s friend and mentor. You will respect their relationship.”

Fucking hell.

I couldn’t call her ‘Dani’. It felt so wrong.

Instead, I said softly, “Little Owl?” I waited, hoping.

Slowly, she lifted her eyes up to me. “I’ve wronged you twice this night.

You have my sincerest apology. I let my excitement over finally seeing you again get the better of me.

I am not standing in your way of leaving, nor will I stop you if it is your desire to go, but I do wish you’d stay. ”

Heat flared in her eyes, and fuck, I wanted to stoke that fire. To make it burn bright and hot.

She looked behind her at the stage where I’d fucked her two weeks ago. Finally, she said, “I can’t stay. I can’t be here for a deflowering.”

Fuck, I was an asshole. I should let her go. I should ask her to meet me another day. I should ask her for her number, or hell, even her name. But I didn’t do any of that. Because I was selfish, and I couldn’t stand the idea of letting this little owl go.

“Come upstairs with me. I’ll reserve a room for us.”