Free Lyon on a Leash by Erosa Knowles Page B

were rude, dismissive stares, bewildered looks, and even thoughtful gazes. It seemed Madame Bree had been on the money about the feelings floating around.
    No matter. He folded to his knees and held the plate for his Mistress to partake at her leisure.
    Her gaze searched his, questioning him first. She must have been watching him at the table. “Everything okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He nodded, knowing he spoke honestly. Those who were upset would have to get over it.
    “I told you there’s some jealous busybodies here. They didn’t like being shown up like that,” Mistress Em said.
    “Okay, okay,” his Mistress said, her voice tense. “I’m not going to apologize for spending my money. That’s what this is all about.”
    “Normally when one of us bids hard, the others back off. Seems you don’t know how things work around here.”
    Marcus tensed at the anger in Mistress Angel’s tone.
    “Tough shit,” his Mistress shot back. Leaning forward in her chair, she pushed his hand, and the plate, aside. “It’s a damn auction. I don’t know you or the unwritten rules. Not that it would’ve mattered. I wanted him so I placed the high bid. You didn’t, so get the fuck over it. He is mine. End of the damn story.”
    Marcus stood in shock. Not at Mistress Angel—she’d acted true to form—but at his Mistress. His cock throbbed in appreciation of the fact she didn’t take any shit.
    “You won’t last around here if you don’t learn the rules.” Mistress Angel stalked closer to his Mistress.
    She stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t give a damn about you or your rules or lasting around here. I got what I came to get.” Her tone said she was done with the conversation.
    He stood and placed the plate on the table behind them.
    There was a tense silence. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Madame Chertier heading in their direction. When she drew close, Angel conceded.
    “I noticed that. At any rate, congrats. He’s one of the good ones.” Mistress Angel looked at him.
    Nostrils flaring, he returned her stare. Her eyes widened at bit before she turned away. The way she challenged his Mistress pissed him off.
    “Is everything all right here?” Madame Chertier asked in her no-nonsense tone.
    “Yes.” Angel nodded and took a step back, pulling her long, blond tresses over her shoulder as though she could hide her part in the confrontation.
    “Yes, he is special. One thing you should know.” Instead of responding to Madame Chertier’s question, his Mistress waited until Angel returned her stare. “I. Never. Share. Whatever, if anything, you had with Marcus before, will never happen again.”
    “You don’t allow others to top your sub?” Em asked, surprised.
    Marcus listened closely.
    “The only person I might allow to top him would be Marguerite. Even then, it’d have to be a special reason.”
    Mistress Em nodded. “I can see that, since she trained you.”
    “Trained her? What are you talking about?” Mistress Angel asked, looking at all of them.
    Marcus wanted to know the answer himself. He had no idea who Marguerite was.
    Madame Bree answered. “Rose was trained as a Professional by Kay. Mistress Kay in Tennessee.”
    Professional? As in Dominatrix ? His lips pressed tightly together as he fought to hold back his shock. She’d said she had been in the lifestyle but he didn’t realize it was as a professional. That was awesome. While he’d been silently congratulating himself on how lucky he was, other Dommes were coming over to his Mistress to meet her.
    One of the newer ones, in a red and black corset, black latex pants, and high-heeled boots, walked over smiling. “I’m Goddess Melinda. How is Kay? I haven’t seen her since she did a needle-play training session for our group in Austin a few years ago.”
    “She’s well. She wanted to be here but had some personal things come up. Nice to meet you, Goddess Melinda,” Vera said, taking her hand.
    He watched as