Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Law
Since Olivia had taken over managing Marquis, which was closed on Mondays, she was the perfect person to keep him company. Especially if everyone wanted to make sure he wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t be. They would all trust her to make sure he didn’t.
It was definitely tempting. He had a feeling reaching into the upper cabinets to get himself a coffee cup was on the ‘no-no’ list, even though he was using his right hand. Thankfully, it was his dominant hand, but no one seemed to care about that. And it did hurt.
Fucking everything hurt.
Without Iris to distract him, it seemed to hurt even more.
By the time Olivia showed up with lunch for him, so he didn’t have to prepare anything one-handed, he was actually relieved to hear the knock on his door. He wasn’t prepared to open it and find her and Julie on the other side of it—not one Dominatrix, but two.
“How did I get so lucky to merit a visit from both of you?” he asked as he stepped back to let them in, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “I’m not that bad of a patient.”
They laughed as Olivia set the bag she was carrying down on his kitchen table, and Julie sat on one of the chairs. Outside of Stronghold and Marquis, they were both more relaxed in dress and demeanor.
Olivia’s red hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she was wearing jean shorts with a green shirt that was fitted but not too tight.
Next to her, Julie looked even less imposing, and not just because she was so much shorter than Olivia.
Her hair was in two low ponytails resting on her shoulders, and she was wearing a black sundress with bright sunflowers decorating it.
If she walked into Stronghold like that, the Daddy Doms would come running before they realized their mistake.
“I didn’t have any clients scheduled for today and wanted to talk to you about Cassidy,” Julie explained, grinning. “And to see how you’re doing, of course.”
“Ah, I see where your real priorities are,” he replied, laughing.
He didn’t take offense—Cassidy was where his priorities were as well.
He’d already called the prosecutor's office and talked to Diego, who had been happy to do him the favor of not immediately pressing charges. He wasn’t surprised Julie had been apprised of the situation—it was likely Cassidy would end up as one of her clients.
He didn’t know what the woman’s situation was, but if Patrick didn’t end up paying for her therapy, he knew Julie would move earth and heaven to get an abused sub the help they needed. “How is she?”
If anyone knew, it would be these two.
“She’s doing pretty well, all things considered. We spent a good chunk of yesterday with her,” Olivia said. Of course, they had. Law wasn’t the least bit surprised. “Thankfully, they hadn’t moved in together yet, though apparently, he’d been pushing her to.”
Law whistled low and shook his head as he sat at the table with Julie. It was odd to be sitting and watching Olivia getting out dishes and utensils, but he knew she wouldn’t accept his help. Heck, attempting to help would probably get him her best Domme look and an order to sit his ass down.
As much as sitting by his own choice grated, being scolded would be way worse.
“Was he abusing her before?”
“Emotionally, I believe, and some verbal, but according to her, Saturday night was the first time he’d really stepped out of line,” Julie said. “I’m surprised he escalated so quickly and in public. I think he might have been pushing her to see how far she would let him go.”
“Fucking shitgibbon,” Olivia muttered, setting a dish down with a little too much force and a loud clang. She winced and glanced apologetically at Law. He just shook his head. He’d probably have done the same thing.
“Had they been to the club before?”
“Yes, and trust me, Patrick is shitting ferrets over how Douchebag Don managed to fly under the radar.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Law had to smile at Olivia’s use of Iris’ insult for the asshole. It looked like that one was probably going to stick.
“I pointed out it’s not like abusers show their true colors right away. They’re good at fooling people. If they weren’t, life would be a lot easier. Plus, they joined as an experienced couple, which meant he had them under the observation of a Dungeon Monitor the first few times they played.”
Standard operating procedures for those in an experienced kink relationship who joined Stronghold was they didn’t plan on scening with anyone outside of the relationship.
Law didn’t blame Patrick. They had plenty of safeguards in place, and every once in a while, an asshole would make it through, but he had every faith they wouldn’t last long. Just like Don hadn’t.
Patrick didn’t hold back on kicking an abuser to the curb, though he was also invested in educating those who were intent on being good dominants but made a mistake here and there.
If Don hadn’t been so belligerent, if he had shown any remorse or understanding, he might have been given a second chance, though he would have definitely had to go through the Dominance class before he was allowed to play on the floor again.
They couldn’t save everyone but did the best they could. He knew it would be cold comfort to Patrick, who was even more of a control freak than Law was. He anticipated there would be some changes made to how those with experience and in a relationship were vetted when they applied.
They chatted over lunch. Julie wanted to know what Law knew about Cassidy and the altercation. He was able to give her a good rundown on what happened from both his and Iris’ perspectives, which should help her when talking to Cassidy.
Eventually, Olivia leaned back in her chair and pinned him with her gaze.
“How are things going with you and Iris?” She wasn’t the only one curious. Julie leaned her chin on her hands, staring at him just as intently.
Law made a face at them, but he knew Olivia was asking with good intentions. She was a mother hen to the single submissives in the club, and even more so with Iris because she was good friends with Andrew.
“Good.” He popped the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth.
The two women stared at him as if he might crack if they stayed silent long enough. Finally, Olivia tilted her head questioningly.
“Just good? No issues. No problems. You’re in love and ready to sail off into the sunset and live happily ever after? Congratulations, this might be the first time this has happened to me.” Her tone was more amused than anything else, but Law still found himself bristling.
“I didn’t say I was in love or that I was ready for… that.”
“For what? Happily-ever-after?” Olivia’s gaze sharpened. “So, you’re starting a serious relationship with Iris, but you haven’t thought about where it might lead? She wants marriage, babies…”
“She doesn’t know that she wants kids.” He snapped out the words in reaction. Iris had said something to him in passing, but he hadn’t realized it was a test until Olivia grinned at him.
“Ah, so you have talked about it.”
“Well… I… we… not seriously. We’re going with the flow.” He knew he sounded defensive. He felt defensive. It wasn’t often someone got under his skin, but Olivia made an art out of needling people and getting them to admit things they didn’t want to.
Julie and Olivia burst out laughing.
Law crossed his arms over his chest, trying not to scowl or feel like they were laughing at him. Except they were, but he wouldn’t take it personally because even as he’d said the words out loud, he’d known how ludicrous it sounded.
“Since when,”—Julie was laughing so hard, she had to gasp out the words through her laughter—“have you ever… gone with the… flow?” Her voice actually cracked on the last word, which made Olivia laugh even harder and lean sideways as though her muscles could no longer hold her up, putting her in serious danger of tipping over onto the floor.
Law almost wanted to see it happen but didn’t want to encourage them.
“I can go with the flow if I want to. It’s working.”
“Oh… oh, honey…” Olivia wiped away the tears that gathering under her eyes.
“Law. Seriously. You are completely incapable of going with the flow. You’re letting Iris stay here with you indefinitely.
Whether you’ve admitted it to yourself, your brain has already done a risk assessment and decided it was worth it.
You’re halfway in love if you’re not already there, and I would be willing to bet, within a year, you’ll be engaged.
” She looked at Julie, who was nodding. “Don’t suppose you’d want to take that bet. ”
“Hell, no, I’m not giving my money to you that easily,” Julie scoffed.
Law opened his mouth to tell them he wasn’t in love with Iris, he wasn’t anywhere near falling in love with her because it was far too soon, and he didn’t have those feelings for her.
He closed his mouth because… well… shit.
Iris
The difference between heading home to Law versus heading home to Noelle was stark.
There was no unhappy churning in her gut, no bracing for what might be thrown at her when she opened the door, no mentally preparing herself for an encounter.
She hadn’t realized she did all that before going home until she didn’t have to.
She was actually excited about the end of the day, eager to rush from her job to her car and head out instead of dreading it. She hadn’t realized how much she’d dreaded it until, again, she didn’t have to.
She was so high on anticipation and happiness, when she opened the door, she called out in true ‘I love Lucy’ fashion.
“Honey, I’m home!”
Looking up from his spot on the couch, Law laughed, and Whiskers hissed from her spot on his lap. She looked as if she’d been enjoying being petted, but since her peace had been disturbed, she jumped up and stalked off down the hallway with her tail in the air.
“Oops,” Iris said sheepishly as she watched the cat stalk off. She set down her purse on the table by the door.
“Don’t mind her. She’ll be back in five minutes to say hello.” Law was grinning, so Iris figured he wasn’t too upset about Whiskers’ abrupt departure.
Unable to contain her joy to end her day in a place where someone was happy to see her, and she didn’t have to pick apart words for hidden meanings, Iris bounced over to say hello. Law winced but pulled her onto his lap.
“Law!” Iris squirmed but was afraid to move around too much because she didn’t want to accidentally hurt him. She wasn’t pressed against his arm in the sling, but she was definitely brushing against it with every move she made. “I’m going to hurt you.”
“It’s worth the pain.” He used a deep, gruff voice that wasn’t his own as though he was trying to sound extra manly, and Iris cracked up.
Playful Law was still a surprise each and every time, and she didn’t think she would ever get tired of seeing him.
Now that she knew more about him, she had to wonder if this was who he used to be.
It didn’t matter, though. She liked him as he was—stern and bossy most of the time with a hidden playful side.
Like a grumpy cinnamon roll.
The thought made her giggle again.
“Kiss me.”
Huffing, Iris shook her head and gingerly bent to kiss him. Was it awkward? Yes. Would it have been easier if she’d been standing instead of on his lap? Absolutely.
That didn’t stop Law from running his hand up her back to her neck and holding her in place, so he could kiss her the way he wanted instead of delicately as she was trying to kiss him. Which was pretty freaking hot, even if it made her worry she was hurting him.
Slowly, she relaxed into it since he didn’t seem to be in pain. The hard bulge forming against her side indicated that at least one part of him was feeling just fine.
When he flinched, Iris tried to jump up and pull away, but his hand was still wrapped around the back of her neck, so he ended up coming with her before resisting.
She fell back against him, and he groaned before gritting his teeth against the clear pain he was in.
Iris squeaked as she was dropped to the floor, immediately getting on her knees, her hands on his thighs as she peered up at him in horror.
“Shit! I’m sorry… Shit. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just give me a sec,” Law gritted out between his teeth.
He was panting for breath but otherwise seemed okay.
Iris’ hands moved of their own accord, rubbing up and down his thighs, trying to soothe him.
The steady motion soothed her as well, and her racing heart began to slow as she watched him relax.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, leaning back against the chair.
“Better?” she asked, peering up at him worriedly. He didn’t look too ashen, but that had clearly hurt.
“Better.” Nodding and letting out a long, slow breath seemed to relax him even more. A smile quirking the side of his mouth, he tilted his head and lifted an eyebrow. “You know, if you really want to make it better while you’re down there…”
Despite everything, Iris laughed again. If he was making jokes, hopefully, that meant he wasn’t in too much pain.
Though, it turned out he wasn’t joking so much.
It was the first time Iris had to be careful giving a blowjob.
She didn’t want him moving around too much, so it took a little longer than usual, but he didn’t seem to mind.
Neither did she. When he took her back to his room afterward, he plugged her and used a vibrator to bring her to her own exuberant orgasm.