“I understand completely.”
“Have him come see me this evening at seven. I’ll have his name added to the list downstairs.”
After shaking hands and leaving, I couldn’t get Finn off my mind. I could have opted for a private relationship without ever bringing the Club into it, but it hadn’t felt right. As his boss, especially given our age difference, it felt to me that going through the Club and formalizing our relationship would help level the playing field to some degree. With a formal contract between us, the lines would be clear. Finn would be protected, and so would I. Within that, we would then be free to pursue a relationship.
Just thinking of what might develop made me as hard as a rock. I readjusted myself inside my slacks. There would be time for that later. Now, we were arriving back at the firm, and I had to find an opportunity to speak to Finn, to present my proposal to him. I felt some degree of confidence he would accept based solely on how eager to please he had been at work thus far.
I checked my watch as I rode the elevator to the top floor. It was nearing the time Finn normally left in the afternoon. As the doors whooshed open, I strode purposefully to Gabby’s office.
“Send Finn into my office for a few minutes, please.”
She glanced up with a smile. “Right away, boss man.”
I entered the office and chose a seat on the couch near the fireplace. I didn’t want to hold this conversation either at my desk or across the conference table. It needed to be more intimate. I needed Finn to understand that our relationship would be changing.
His footsteps were light, hesitant as he approached me.
“You wanted to see me, Tamsin?” His ever-changing hazel eyes had gone a little dark with worry.
I gestured to the space next to me. “Join me, Finn.”
He perched at the far corner, as though afraid.
“Thank you again for the massage you gave me,” I began quietly. His head jerked my way. I had surprised him. “I got the feeling last night that there’s something going on here between the two of us.”
Finn’s eyes widened in alarm. “I’m so sorry. I’ve tried not to make it obvious...to make you uncomfortable.”
I turned slightly sideways and stretched my arm along the back of the couch. “Far from it, Finn. I’m interested and want to pursue it, but you see how difficult that would be as we currently are. You’re an intern here. Jones and I are the managing partners.”
Finn turned completely toward me now, his eyes wide with worry. “Do...do you want me to quit?”
I shook my head and smiled at him reassuringly. “Not at all. You’re doing a fine job. Gabby adores you, as does everyone else. Let me explain. I am a member of a very exclusive club. It’s called the Billionaire Club. Have you heard of it?”
“Rumors, but nothing concrete.”
“It’s a place for gentlemen of certain financial means, but also for men who prefer a certain type of relationship.”
“With men?” Finn’s voice was soft but curious.
“Yes. But there’s more to it than that. The Club and its patrons take care of their consorts...emotionally, professionally, and financially. The relationships we seek out deal with dominance and submission.”
Finn’s eyes widened even further if that were possible. “Like you told me about with the bondage?”
“Not necessarily. What actually transpires in a relationship is carefully negotiated between a dom and his sub. Of course the exchange of power is central to this type of relationship. As I told you, I’m a dom. My job is to give my submissive what he needs to be the best he can be. Sex is often a part of that, but you are not obligated to sleep with me. There are other benefits, though, that would help make your life easier, if you’re interested.”
“How does the Club fit into this? Would our relationship take place there?” There was curiosity rather than revulsion in his gaze, and my confidence grew that he would accept.
“Monsieur can explain more of that to you. I have made an appointment for you with him. He is the one who will make sure that all your needs and desires are spelled out in the contract. My job is to fulfill that. If this is not something you’re interested in, if you’re not interested in me, then all you have to do is not keep that appointment. No matter your decision, Finn, your job here is safe. If you choose not to pursue it, then we need never mention it again. It’s up to you.”
During the course of our conversation, Finn had eased back from his uneasy perch, gradually turning toward me and moving closer. No matter what was going on in his head, his subconscious was sending out signals that he was interested.
“This is a lot to take in, Tamsin,” he murmured. His luscious lips were slightly parted, his expression earnest. “I need to think about it. What time is the appointment?”
“Seven.” I handed him the card with the address. “They will have your name at the front desk so you will be granted access to the Club’s elevator.”
Finn took the card, his delicate hands trembling ever so slightly. After staring at it a moment, he tucked it into his pants pocket, momentarily drawing my gaze to his lap and the fairly obvious hard-on he had.
No, my boy definitely was not indifferent. He would be so beautiful following my directions, and I would see that he experienced more pleasure than he thought himself capable of.
I raised my gaze to his face and the adorable blush coloring his cheeks.
“Thank you, sir,” he whispered and then surprised the hell out of me by leaning in to press a soft kiss against my lips. I resisted the temptation to pull him in closer and more fully explore his passion.
Now was not the time.
Finn pulled back, eyes wide again. “I...I...”
I chuckled. “Go home, Finn.”
He fled. I stood and walked into my bathroom, shutting the door behind me before easing my hand down the front of my slacks. Now was the time to take care of this.
9
Finn
My head was spinning as I took the bus home. All this information about a club and being taken care of was overwhelming, and it struck me as being a little too much charity. As I rode home I was both pleased by Tamsin’s interest in me and uncertain of just how I fit into that equation.
When I walked in the front door of the house, Simon greeted me, a dish towel over his shoulder. “Hey, Finn. How’s it going?”
The house was quiet. “Pretty good. Where is everyone?”
I kind of wanted to talk to him but not with everyone else around. Simon was really the only friend I had. Right now, I needed some advice, not smart-ass remarks.
“At the Riverfront Festival. I’ve got to work later, so I decided to just chill here.”
I followed him into the kitchen and leaned a hip on the counter as he finished wiping the sink. “You ever heard of the Billionaire Club?”
“A few things. Mostly rumors.”
As I replayed my conversation this afternoon with Tamsin, Simon’s eyes widened.
“He wants you to become a Consort. So you’d be like his boyfriend?”
“It sounds more involved than that. I guess more like a mistress. Hell, I don’t know.”
“What time’s this appointment?”