Apt [Running to Love 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Allyson Young

Andrew?”
    “They’re older, for one thing. And I think they see our younger members as being contaminated by the sense of entitlement that’s becoming common.” The big Dom laughed and shrugged at the same time. “I don’t see why the two can’t mix, personally, and lead to a positive outcome, but that’s the way of it. And quite frankly, our two clubs have always supported one another, if in different ways. I’d like to see that continue, as would Kyle.”
    Dave figured he knew what that meant. It made sense to have a connection with law enforcement, not corrupt law enforcement, but this was a business that tended to walk the fringes of society, and a balance was good. Effective, too. And Unleashed clearly had moneyed members. “Makes sense.”
    “Ah, another man of few words, ’Stair. I like him. So, I’ll drop the word in some open ears after tonight, and you can expect contact almost immediately.”
    It was apparent Andrew had expected this outcome and that it would be no surprise to his membership, or at least a part of his membership. Alistair would enlighten their own members shortly, if he knew his friend, and Dave didn’t anticipate any issues. In fact, he rather looked forward to the change, another sign that he was expanding his horizons and joining the real world. Well, maybe not the real world as some people would view it, but it was definitely part of his world. Even if Fiona wasn’t in it.
    “Now come into the Club proper. There’s several scenes being played out tonight, and I’m actually taking part, if you’d like to attend. My new little sub pushed me this week, and it’s time she was presented publicly. I suspect she has exhibitionistic tendencies behind her shyness, and I intend to exploit them tonight.”
    “You’re training again?” Alistair sounded surprised.
    Dave checked Andrew’s left hand, and sure enough, there was a wide gold band on his ring finger. Married. Committed. His wife must be one of those twenty-four-seven subs if Andrew was working with subs and she was okay with it.
    “I am. Elaine is enceinte once again. I keep telling myself this is our last, but she loves children so much and is such a wonderful mother that I can’t deny her. But I will not play when she is pregnant, and she knows it. Normally I simply run Unleashed and monitor, but I recently had a young woman present herself, and I found I couldn’t turn her training over to just anyone.”
    “Jackie would kill me.” Alistair’s tone was dry but certain, and Dave picked up on suppressed mirth too.
    “Oh, I assure you it is simply training. No sex of any kind. I reward her of course, but Elaine, too, would make my life hell if I took anything for myself! She actually met this little one and has approved of my role. We’ve even had her over for dinner, and she has cared for our children on occasion. Elaine believes the girl needs this badly, seeing as her self-esteem was battered and her sense of self-worth damaged by someone she believed to have loved her. She actually thought herself lacking intelligence for misreading the situation and for loving him. I’m correcting a minor setback in that regard tonight, actually.”
    Dave warmed to the older man. This then could be his role in the future, seeing as he’d probably screwed himself out of the one he could have had. Fiona would have come home from Scotland by now and have figured out that her feelings for him were confused with love, or she’d have found someone over there. She hadn’t responded to his note, and he had to accept it. He could now help women who didn’t feel positive about themselves, ones who were reeling from unacceptable treatment by an asshole. Yup, he could walk a mile in those shoes.
    “We’ll catch up with you, Andrew.”
    Dave nodded his agreement as well.
     
    * * * *
     
    Fiona paced nervously around the room where she awaited Master Andrew. She wore a short silk robe and nothing else. Not even shoes. She was both