Controlling Interest by Francesca Hawley Read Free Book Online Page B

apology away. Tor was a little embarrassed, but
he wasn’t going to apologize for jacking off when he was alone in his office.
    “Come in here and sit down. Now.”
    She did his bidding and looked startled when she sat down
without a word of protest. Tor smiled, his cock tingling because of her
obedience. It was hot to have her obey him, but… But they had to deal with this
thing with his mother and they had to deal with it now. He wasn’t going to
fight her disapproval for the next six months.
    “We need to talk about the club, Mouse.”
    “Tor, look, I’m sorry. I meant to ask questions and offer
suggestions about the business. I wasn’t questioning you or your management of
the place.”
    He leaned back. “The business is me. I’m the business.”
    “This business isn’t you. It isn’t a person. It’s a thing .”
    He shook his head. How could he make her understand? “This
was my first business right out of college. I had my parents’ support and
mother helped me with the funding, but it was my baby. It rose or fell
with my management. My efforts. For you to come in here with nothing but
disapproval…”
    “I don’t disapprove of everything.”
    “No? Just what do you approve of?”
    “The location is awesome. I love the way it’s decorated. The
contemporary design fits the building. The place seems really cutting edge, you
know?”
    He smiled. “Thanks, but you dislike more than you like.”
    “Don’t you want me to be honest?”
    Tor frowned and looked down at his hands. “Yes. Actually I
do. There are few enough people I know who’ll be honest with me, even when it
hurts.”
    “Well, let me be one of those people.” She leaned forward
and reached out to touch his hand. “Just because I ask a question or offer a
differing opinion doesn’t mean I think less of you . What I have to say
is about the business. Not about you.” She pulled her hand away and he wished
she hadn’t. He met her earnest gaze.
    “I get that.”
    “And I want to be able to share my opinions honestly. I
don’t want to enforce things because I have controlling interest in this club.
I want us to discuss things with one another, and if changes get made, we do it
together. With consensus.”
    “I’m a Dom. I don’t do consensus. I do command.”
    She laughed. “Well, Mister Dom, it’s time to learn
cooperation. Didn’t your mother teach you how to share your toys?”
    “I never share my toys.” Tor grinned wickedly at her,
flirting to see how she’d respond.
    “Never?” She blushed, but there was definitely awareness
there. Awareness of him.
    “Well, almost never. But when I own something…”
    “Or someone?”
    “Or someone ,” he nodded, “then my toy belongs to me .
And I don’t share.”
    Color bloomed in her cheeks and he liked it. He liked the
way she responded to his teasing and flirting. God, he wanted her, but he
wanted Mouse combined with Miss Squeak’s submissiveness. Now that would be the
perfect woman for him.
    She cleared her throat. “For the next six months, you have
to share the club. So let’s call a truce. For your sanity and mine.”
    “All right. But damn it—what kind of agenda did Mother put
in motion?”
    “Agenda?” Her voice squeaked.
    Damn, that was fucking odd. And familiar. But no… He shook
his head then turned his gaze on her. “Yes, agenda. What kind of laundry list
did she give you?”
    “List? I don’t know anything about a list.” Squeaky again,
and he could see by her expression she was lying through her teeth.
    “Mouse, if you want me to trust you, then quit lying to me.”
    She rubbed her hands on her skirt. “Okay.”
    “Okay, what?”
    “She gave me a list. Regine said it was my job to weed out
the truths from the lies.”
    He held out his hand. “Hand it over.”
    “I don’t think I should.”
    “Damn it, Mouse, did she forbid you to let me see it?”
    She tilted her head. Why did he have to love that? It was
so…cute. And he hated cute.