Curiosity got the better of The Mistress and with a quick kiss, she sent her Little Miss on her way. Alone with Robert at last, she lounged back in the black-and-gold embroidered armchair, crossed one booted ankle over her bare thigh and waited for him to speak.

He clearly sensed her interest in him and withheld his words as he sat across from her on the low sofa by the quietly burning fireplace. A handsome man in his forties, he looked just enough like Denzel Washington that The Mistress rather hoped she was wrong about the whole Dom thing. Robert was new to The Mistress, but he must not have been new to Kingsley to be inside the inner sanctum.

“I’ve heard of you,” Robert said as he clasped his large, well-manicured hands by his knees.

“Who hasn’t?” The Mistress asked, giving him a smile.

He didn’t take the bait and flirt or flatter her. Her estimation of him, already fairly high, inched up further.

“My name is Robert Bruce. I need your help.”

“My name is Mistress Nora. I sell help.”

“I can pay.”

“I know you can. Otherwise King wouldn’t have let you in the door. Let’s talk about the situation first. I’ll write up the invoice later.”

Robert sighed and sat back on the sofa. A tall man, he carried himself with dignity, but still The Mistress sensed a struggle within him. Men often came to her at war with their consciences. Society had taught them, and rightly so in most instances, to never lay a hand on a woman. So when dark desires crept into their dreams, desires to tie up a woman and flog her or spank her, beat her and bruise her even as she begged for more...they came to The Mistress for absolution. Absolution wasn’t her area. But she could show them how to throw a flogger like a pro and that was the next best thing.

“I’m married,” Robert finally said.

“My sympathies.”

He laughed then, a rich warm laugh, and The Mistress wrinkled her nose at him by way of apology.

“I actually like being married, Mistress. Love it even.”

“Fascinating. You’re here because of your wife?”

“Yes, she...she’s something, my Cara.” The smile left his mouth and moved to his ebony eyes. The Mistress saw love in that smile, love in those eyes. Married and in love? The Mistress was half-tempted to take a blood sample from the man and send it to the labs.

“She must be to put that rise in your Levi’s.”

Robert sat up straighter and gave The Mistress a wide-eyed stare.

“Don’t worry, Robert. If there aren’t at least three men in this house at any one time walking around with full erections, Kingsley calls a staff meeting. You love your wife. She must be incredibly beautiful to get you in a manly way by just thinking about her. I might have to meet this woman.”

“I want you to meet her.” Robert pulled one of the gold pillows across his lap. “I can’t really bring her here. Not yet anyway.”