Especially because, despite how satisfying last night’s scene had been, he wasn’t exactly emotionally satisfied with where they were. After she’d left that morning, he’d ended up going out to Target and getting a couple of things to spruce up his living room, but even while he’d been shopping he hadn’t been able to rid himself of the nagging itch on the back of his neck. He wanted more than a club relationship with her, and although a club relationship was the first step, he wasn’t sure she wanted more from him.

Or, at least, he wasn’t sure she would let herself have more with him. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked her to dinner before the club, but people had to eat, right? He hadn’t realized a small suggestion of dinner would make her back off so quickly.

And now they were on opposite sides of a bar table, with their friends. Ellie was smiling and laughing and having a good time, but she was also all the way over there. Michael couldn’t keep his eyes off of her, especially when she’d squirm on her seat, glance at him, and then drop her eyes as she blushed, and he knew she was feeling the plug he’d inserted as soon as she’d arrived. That or the lingering soreness, which she’d told him she was still feeling, even though her ass was back to its usual creamy color. She’d worn a short flippy skirt with a dark red corset which pushed her breasts up like a shelf, protecting her nipples from rubbing while giving him far too much ivory skin to admire and fantasize about marking.

The collar on her neck gave him the right to do what he wished in the club, but when she’d chosen to sit across from him, he’d decided not to push it and do what he really wanted - which was tuck her under his arm like Jared had done with Leigh, or sit her on his lap, like Liam with Hilary, or stand behind her seat, like Adam with Angel. Fortunately, everyone else was off scening or hadn’t made it out tonight, so he only had three couples to compare him and Ellie to and be jealous of.

When Ellie and Hilary decided they needed to go to the bathroom, Angel leaned over and poked him in the arm. Michael looked down at her and raised his eyebrow. He’d been working on trying to get her to remember to be more respectful with him in the club, but it was a work in progress. She had trouble remembering it with everyone though, so at least it wasn’t just him.

“Yes, Pest?”