“Don’t be sorry, it weakens your masculine bravado.”
This made him sit up and stare. “Okay then I’m not sorry.”
“I know. You just said that to be polite.” This kind of sparring was common between them. Few people, particularly women, felt comfortable talking back to a man with such obvious authority and control issues, but Alice had no problem talking back to anyone. “Besides, I’ve seen that all myself.”
He peered at her directly. “Doesn’t surprise me.” And he went back to his reading.
“I mean that. Like seriously,” she persisted. “I know the lifestyle… cause I’m kind of on the fringes of it myself.” He had no desire to hear this, but she seemed determined to explain. “My roommate was collared by this master in New York. Real bad ass if you ask me. Anyway, leave your toys all over the
