She kept petting his hair.

After a bit he rested his face against her shin and sighed.

“Is there something I can assist you with, Mistress B?” Knox said coldly behind her.

Dex’s head snapped up. He glared at Knox. “We don’t need security, so back off.”

Knox grabbed him by the arm and hauled him up. “Remember who you’re talking to. Learn your place. And I guarantee you it is not at her feet. Are we clear?”

He jerked out of Knox’s hold. “I go when Mistress B tells me to go.”

Both men looked at her.

How could she be mad at Knox for defending his territory? He’d told her he wouldn’t stand for any other submissive putting his hands on her and Dex had been touching her. She’d touched him first, but Dex knew the rules. But Dex didn’t know she and Knox were together, so who was in the wrong here?

“Dex, I hope I helped you tonight. You’re excused.”

“Thank you, Mistress B. If there’s ever anything I can do for you—”

“There isn’t,” Knox snarled. “Get gone before I toss you out.”

Dex stormed away.

Shiori gave Knox her back, trying to control her amusement and the rapid beating of her heart from Knox’s display of possession. It sent a thrill through her that Knox watched out for her even when she wasn’t expecting it.

This is Knox you’re talking about. He’s the chest-beating, don’t-touch-my-woman kind of man. You should’ve expected even more than that.

Knox didn’t touch her, but he scooted in close enough behind her that his breath fanned her hair and she could practically feel the tension vibrating from him.

He said, “Are you mad, Mistress?”

She slowly turned around.

He didn’t move a muscle, so her knees bumped into his hard thighs. He stayed in rest position. His chest was heaving, his neck and jaw muscles were tight, color dotted his cheekbones, and his eyes were icy.

“I don’t know if mad is accurate. If we were out as a Domme and sub, then your reaction to Dex at my feet would be acceptable. Since you’re not wearing my collar, yet I know who you are to me and who I am to you, I don’t know what to do—if anything at all. Dex did take a liberty, but it was more as an impulsive thank-you than him trying to get me to play with him.”

“I misread the situation, then?”

“Yes. But like I said, it’s difficult to be angry with you when you were only doing what you thought was best for me.”

His eyes softened. “I’m all about ensuring your needs are met and any threat is dealt with quickly.”

“Thank you. But I’m fine.”

“Mighty fine.” His burning-hot gaze started at the tips of her lavender Louboutins and moved up her bare legs, past the dark purple sequined miniskirt, and the black silk sleeveless wrap shirt, to the delicate gold-colored sequin mask. “You’re beyond compare tonight.”

“I look forward to the session.”

Knox picked up her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “Me also. See you down there.”

Shiori didn’t spin back around until after that fantastic ass was gone from view. When she faced the bar, Merrick stood right in front of her. “Master Merrick.”

“Mistress B. You’re assisting Knox this evening?”

“I hear he’s excellent with a whip. I wanted to see for myself.”

“Just don’t ask him to demonstrate on you, because he won’t.”

“I know.”

“I assumed you did.” His smile turned guarded. “Interesting display earlier.”

“A misunderstanding easily remedied.”

“Have you brought Knox to heel yet?”

Her gaze narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Merrick waved her off. “Knox spoke to me. Being called out as submissive caused more questions than denial about being a submissive.”

“He still questions it. We’re working on it. In private. He’s not ready for public acknowledgment.” She stirred the ice cubes in her glass. “I don’t know if he ever will be.”

“I can’t say as I blame him.”

“Can you explain that?”

“Most men are subservient to women—they just won’t admit it. Most men do whatever it takes to make their wives or partners happy in the hopes it’ll get them laid more often. Women have the sacred pussy. They are in control.”

“Nice philosophy.”

He shrugged. “It’s true. Knox is a former soldier. He’s a martial-arts instructor. He is the kind of man the term alpha male was invented for. He may kiss your feet in private, but chances are slim he will in public. Why? Because it’s personal, it makes him vulnerable, and he’d have to deal with judgmental assholes thinking he’s weak for doing . . . exactly what other men are doing. But they don’t call it submissive behavior—those men call it caring for and protecting their women.”