Free Taming the Enforcer’s Flirt by Charlie Richards Page B

to think him angry, he reached up and flipped on the light. “Hey,” he murmured, filling the tense silence. “I’m glad you found your way back.”
    “Yeah, uh…Gus showed me the way.” Cornelius wrapped his arms around his torso, his gaze lowered to the floor. “I would have been back sooner, but I fell asleep.”
    “It’s fine,” he responded, which wasn’t completely true. “I’m just glad you’re back.” That was true, however.
    Silence descended as Cornelius nodded slowly. Einan racked his brain for the right thing to say.
    “I guess we need to talk,” Cornelius said.
    Just as Einan stated, “You need to talk to me instead of running all the time.”
    Cornelius flushed. “Yeah, sorry about that.” He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.
    “I apologize for not asking more questions and just yelling and insisting on my way,” Einan offered. He knew it took two people to argue.
    His mate’s jaw sagged open. His eyes rounded. After a second, he blinked and snapped it back shut.
    Okay, not the reaction Einan had expected. A memory clicked. “That’s the second time you’ve acted shocked when I apologized,” he realized.
    “Doms don’t apologize. I—” Cornelius shook his head, scowling. “I don’t understand the rules.”
    Einan stilled at his mate’s softly spoken words. Oh. Oh, shit. Cornelius was a submissive. Yeah, he’d recognized that in the bedroom, but did he expect to continue the lifestyle out of the bedroom, too?
    But, he doesn’t act submissive in public.
    Then, Einan remembered the way Cornelius smiled, lowering his gaze and flirting while watching through his lashes, a submissive move, watching and gauging how another reacted and adjusting his behavior accordingly. Subtly, he moved away from another’s touch so as not to offend but also didn’t invite someone to be too friendly.
    Even as his mate had appeared outgoing and flirtatious, he’d still given off subtle clues to his real self.
    How could I have missed it?
    At least now he knew how to fix it.
    Holding out his hand, Einan gently ordered, “Come here, pretty mate.”
    Cornelius hesitated just an instant, then crossed to his side and took his hand. All it took was a glance toward the floor and a squeeze of his mate’s hand and the rhino shifter smoothly knelt at his feet. Fucking sexy and scary all at the same time. Other clues, now that Einan knew what to look for, told of past abuses.
    If I find him, I will kill him!
    Schooling his emotions, Einan smiled down at his mate. “My sweet Cornelius, the only rules are what we make. First, stop running from me.” He softened his reprimand with a quiet crooning tone and a quick press of his lips to his mate’s. “Second, you need to tell me when something is wrong. I can’t help you and care for you if I don’t know there’s a problem.”
    “Yes, sir,” Cornelius instantly whispered.
    “Rule three, don’t call me sir . I’m your mate, not your master,” Einan quickly explained. “Call me mate or Einan . You are fully capable of independent thought, and if you feel the need, do it.”
    “Yes…Einan.” Cornelius peered up at him through his lashes, a shy smile playing about the corners of his lips. “Will you…if you need to punish me, please give me warning first,” he suddenly blurted, almost begged.
    Einan’s jaw clenched at the insinuation and struggled against the growl of anger bubbling up his chest—not at Cornelius, but at whoever had caused his mate such self-doubt.
    Although he could school his features, Einan couldn’t control his scent. Cornelius shivered and bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked for anything,” he quickly muttered.
    Knowing this was his mate’s true personality, submissive, beat-down, sent a fresh wave of anger crashing through him. Hating how Cornelius trembled, and hating that he caused it, however unintentionally, Einan lunged at the shifter. His mate squeaked in alarm, his entire