Free TheOneandOnly by Tori Carson Page B

remembering their time in the shower. Had she
looked like that? Like just one of many women dropping to serve him? She
couldn’t watch.
    She went to the opposite end of the bar and pulled a water
bottle from the fridge below the counter. Trying not to hear their exchange,
she started a conversation with the man without a wristband.
    “Hi. I’m Michelle. I’m the new bartender. Can I get you
anything else?” Though she tried with all her might, she couldn’t keep her eyes
from straying to Sean. Tears pooled in her eyes as he patted Stella’s head.
    “Don’t mind me, darlin’. I’ll probably sit here most of the
night, nurse a few drinks and watch the action. I’m Master Luke. Me and my
subbie have been members since the place opened.” He cleared his throat before
continuing. “Lisa passed away a few months ago from cancer. The house is too
quiet without her. I come here most nights and shoot the shit with friends. If
I need something I’ll let you know, darlin’.”
    She patted his hand and moved away giving him some privacy.
When she glanced back at Sean he was motioning for her to come to him. For the
first time, she was reluctant. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another
member came up to the bar near the exit and she gladly went to him first. She
chatted with him longer than she normally would have, hoping to stall before
having to face Sean.
    Within moments, Sean was standing beside the member and
shaking his hand.
    “Master David, I see you’ve met our new bartender,
Michelle.” Sean reached across the counter to her arm and slid his hand down to
hers, linking their fingers.
    “Good move, Master Sean. She’s much easier on the eyes and
she knows how to mix a drink. Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Last week,
I was watching your scene with Stella. That was really hot. What kind of…”
    What the fuck? Hadn’t Sean made a point of telling
her he hadn’t scened with anyone in months. Michelle’s stomach dropped and she
pulled away from Sean. “Excuse me, gentleman.” She practically ran to the other
end of the bar.
    Well, now she understood the cold shoulder from Stella.
    Michelle ran her hand along the collar Sean had given her.
She didn’t remember seeing one on Stella. She shook her head, furious at
herself. What the hell did that matter? She wasn’t competing for any man and
she did not share.
    The lights suddenly flashed, then returned to normal.
Spotlights lit the stage area and Steven stood front and center. It was hard to
hear him from the bar, but she caught enough words to understand he was about
to give a demonstration. When a naked girl, bound by leather cuffs, walked onto
the stage, Michelle turned away. Was there no place she could get a reprieve?
    Sean came up behind her from inside the serving area. He had
his arm around her waist as he led her to the far wall. The counter blocked her
in on one side and his arm on the other. She couldn’t steady her breathing.
Part of her wanted to lean against him and be held and another wanted to duck
under his arm and get away.
    “Why are you avoiding me?” He sounded stern, angry even.
    “I have a job to do and you’re keeping me from it.” She couldn’t
look him in the eye. Tears were too close to the surface. Damn it, why did she
turn into a blubbering water fountain when she was tired?
    “I don’t give a fuck who wants a drink. I want to know
what’s wrong.”
    He was whispering in her ear, for which she was eternally
grateful. No one needed to be privy to their discussion. She put her hand over
her stomach and tried to settle it down. The last thing she needed was to be
sick. “Now is not the time to go into this. Let me get through this evening,
please.” She hated hearing the whine in her voice.
    Sean held her chin between the knuckle of his index finger
and his thumb. He did that often when he wanted her to meet his gaze. She
allowed him to tilt her face upward, but refused to look at him. She kept her
eyes