Page 168 of Their Famous Dominant (Office Intrigue Duet 4)
Unable to resist touching her, I moved in closer, putting my arm over her shoulder.
“I just… I need to know that the job is real. That I’m not being offered it because they owe you a favor or something.”
Master smiled. “They don’t owe me any favors. And I don’t owe them.” He sighed. “Look, I’ll admit that I looked for a door into your life. Believe it or not, Mercedes isn’t all that forthcoming when it comes to pairing up her friends. So, yes, I did some research into you, found out you were in contract law. And yes, I might’ve been the one to bring you up to Landon and Langston.”
I could feel the tension increase in Clarissa’s shoulders. She didn’t like where this was going.
“But…” Trent took both of her hands in his. “When I mentioned you, it wasn’t to see if they needed your services. I actually told them about you as a casual reference. We were talking about submissives, sunshine. Not business. I might’ve said I had my eye on a pretty auburn-haired girl who had caught my eye.”
Clarissa inhaled sharply and I couldn’t resist smiling. I’d never seen Master quite so … open. He had relaxed these past few weeks since the three of us had settled in. Much more recently since they’d solved the mystery of who had broken in to my apartment and Clarissa’s house. I’d go so far as to say Master was more serene than I’d ever seen him.
Sure, that could’ve been because he was now immersed in a new business venture and this was where he thrived. He had goals and objectives and he worked well when those parameters were outlined.
But there was something else.
And I knew it had everything to do with me and Clarissa.
“So, no, I didn’t offer up your services. I mentioned what you did for a living. Coincidentally, they were already looking to venture down this path. While not everyone’s in the market for your services, they are.”
“I agree,” she said, her voice soft. “Of all businesses, they could use my help.”
He smiled. “This job and everything they’re offering … that’s about you. I’ve kept my nose out of it because you don’t need my help, Clarissa. You shine all on your own. Don’t think for a second that this has anything to do with me.” His eyes cut to me briefly before returning to her. “And just so you both know, I go where you go. I don’t care where that is or for what reason. This is where I belong.” He motioned toward the room. “Not in this apartment, not in this building. Not even in this city.” He reached for her hands again. “I belong here with the two of you. And that’s the only place I intend to be. Everything else in my life is now secondary.”
Okay, I could admit, my chest felt a little tight and there were some emotions I wasn’t used to feeling stirring somewhere deep. I hadn’t expected Master to say that. I was used to him being a lone wolf, everyone else revolving around his orbit. To have him say those things, it was—
“I love you both,” Master announced.
And now it was hard to breathe.
Clarissa sobbed suddenly, then threw her arms around him. “I love you, too,” she mumbled into his neck.
I sat there, slightly bewildered, more than a little shocked by this revelation.
Not disappointed by any means, but honestly, I had never expected to hear those words from him. Sure, I might’ve fantasized that one day it would come up—perhaps I would admit it or even Clarissa—and Master would reciprocate in some way. But for him to throw that out there all on his own…?
“I won’t push you, Clarissa,” Master continued. “I want you to do what’s best for you. And I’ll be right there by your side. Whatever you need.”
When she turned to me, I froze.
“I love you, too. Both of you. That’s all I need.” Clarissa’s arms came around my neck and I stared at Master. I knew he could see the emotion on my face because I was never good at hiding anything. Not from him.
Suddenly, Clarissa jumped up from between us. I rocked back into the couch while Master caught himself on the coffee table.
“Where are you going?” he asked as he got to his feet.
“I’ve got a call to make,” she said quickly. “I’ve got a job to accept. And friends to call. And I need to tell my mom. She’ll want to come visit. She’ll want to eat Giordano’s pizza because you’re right, Troy. There’s nothing like it.”
With that, she darted down the hall to the bedroom.
I stared after her, dumbfounded. As though I’d been leveled by a tornado. It wasn’t until Master took a seat beside me, his big body blocking my view, that I focused on him.
