Once they were gone, I tried to pry my fingers away, but Alex patted my hand with his other one and refused to budge. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had simply held my hand. It freaked me the fuck out.

A waitress appeared at the table, clearly trained not to make an imbecile of herself in front of famous people because she looked bored as she said, “Would you ladies like a drink? Mr. Chase, another?”

Asha was frantically texting and shook her head without looking up.

“Sweetheart, you must be thirsty after that cake? Or maybe you’d prefer to just finish my beer for me too?”

“I don’t need anything, thanks. Would it be possible for us to move into the shade, though?” I asked the waitress.

“Sure, let me see what I can do.”

“Are you going to burst into flames in the sunlight?” Alex said with mock alarm.

“No, I’m just used to meetings being conducted indoors, so I didn’t think to wear sunscreen on my arms. I’ll burn. We can’t all look like Greek gods.”

The difference between us was comical. I had black hair and skin so pale it was basically translucent. His hair was surfer blonde and he had the kind of deep tan I’d fantasized about as a teen until I came to understand that instead of tanning, I just turned purple, peeled, and went back to being pasty white.

Asha’s phone rang and she said, “I’m sorry. I’ve been waiting for this producer to call me back and I really need to catch her. You two relax and chat for a bit and I’ll be right back.” She stepped away from the table and began her ritual of pacing and talking a million miles an hour again.

“What were you saying about me being a god?” Alex Chase preened.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of his beer, subconsciously noting he liked a stout. When I looked up from setting it back on the table, I froze for a split second. Maximilian Gates, my former client and the director of Crown of Swords had just walked in and was about to sit with his companion at the table nearby. I knew without looking at him the moment he’d noticed me sitting there. I could feel his eyes on my skin.

I’d known I might see him again if I went through with this agreement, but I hadn’t expected to be caught off guard and was surprised by how hard it was not to react.

I’d still been a Switch the last time I saw him, back when I’d been allowed to take both dominant and submissive sessions. It had been a few years, but I would never forget his face. I could’ve simply ignored or winked at most of my clients and gone about my business, but not with him. Max had his membership to The Key Club permanently revoked because I’d used the panic button with him.