“We need to go shopping,” I shouted loud enough for Alana to hear me over the racket she was making in the closet arraigning my things.

Seconds later she stood in the wide mouth of the doorway. Tablet in hand and eyes wide as a curious baby experiencing a new sensation, waiting for me to add to her ‘Get Hollis’ list.

“Put the tablet away.” I waved off.

We were past that now. For the past week and half, she’d been sharing my bed. The sex was incredible, limited—I loved dick too much to give it up. But I was enjoying our time together. I liked most the nights we spent wrapped up in each other’s arms talking about all sorts of shit.

It was unlike me to want to cuddle, to share my deepest thoughts and dreams. Alana coaxed my secrets out, got into my head without prying. I began to see her as more than a fair-weather lover and, wouldn’t you know it, a friend.

We weren’t ‘going together’. In the morning after our first night, and with clearer heads, we had a more meaningful conversation about our expectations. We both decided up front that a relationship in the conventional sense would never work between us, and we should keep it light and sexy. Something I wish Bash had gotten through his thick head.

Shit, all three of us could be having fun and keeping it sexy together. One of Alana’s biggest fantasies was being in a threesome. If Bash played ball, I could definitely give that to her. Alana had never been with a man. She wasn’t against it; it just wouldn’t be her first choice. So maybe I’d have to nix that idea and find another woman.

“What was it you wanted me to get, Mistress?”

“Alana, we’ve been over this.”

“I like calling you Mistress,” she pouted.

Yes, the demanding temptress I’d caught glimpse of our first time together had crawled back into hiding. What I had on my hand was a submissive brat who wanted to be in service to me.

I was not a Dom, and she’d never been a sub to anyone, so in this, we were both learning, playing by our own rules.

“Don’t pout,” I cajoled.

She brightened up, flashing a big white smile. “What do you need?”

“I don’t need anything.” I jumped up and pushed to the edge of my bed. “Calista’s birthday is when again?”

“End of October.”

Real scare queen, that one. “It’s a masquerade isn’t it.” She nodded. “Well, I don’ have a costume.”

“Oh.” Alana let out a little chuckle. “No worries; Master had your gowns ordered weeks ago.”

“Gowns?”

“He wasn’t sure what you’d like.”

Right, this from the man who had given her a file on me as thick as the bible and had ordered her to study it, in order to anticipate my needs.

“What about for Morana’s spring ball?” I was itching to get out and do something, even if it was to go and buy a chocolate bar. “Do I have a dress for that?”

The mansion was tomb quiet during the day and a hive of activity as soon as dusk cloaked the sky in grey. 

“Yep, it should be here in a few days for fitting.”

“Jeez Alana, I’m going crazy looking at these walls.”

“We could go for a ride.”

By ride she meant the go-kart track Papa built on the property. I’d seen it, done it a thousand times and it no longer held any appeal to me.

“Boring.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “We could go horseback riding.”

She ducked her head, already knowing my answer. Horses were pretty to look at, but there was no way in hell I was going to get on their backs and trust I wouldn’t end up with my neck broken or paralyzed for life.

“What about you, is there something you want to do?”

Her eyes bugged at the suggestion. “N-no. Oh, n-no.” She sputtered.

“Oh, come on. My treat, swear. Anything you want. Where do you hang for fun, when you’re not working?”

“I usually stick close to home,” she mumbled, cheeks flaming red.

“God.” I groaned, seconds away from doing something impulsive.

I needed stimulation. Excitement. As I was tempted to scream for the hell of it.

Alana nibbled on her bottom lip, deep in thought. She looked from me to the closed double doors and back, as if she suspected someone was on the other side listening in on our conversation.

“Well,” she began inching closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “There is…” shaking her, she quickly changed her mind. “I shouldn’t.”

“Tell me or I’m telling Papa Knight you’re mean to me and it’s not working out between us.”

Say nothing. I’m aware, I’m ridiculous.

Snapping her mouth shut, Alana huffed. “That’s not fair.”

“Allie baby, life’s not fair. Now spill.”

Releasing her breath, she slumped down on the bed next to me. “I’ve always wanted to go clubbing.”

“Say less.” I jumped up, excited. “I know just the place.”

Hopping off the bed Alana followed me into the closet. “Really?” She bit her lip falling silent in thought again.

I sized her up and did some mental calculation. She was about six inches taller than my five-three frame. So, I skipped the pants section and veered straight to a rack of maxi dresses.

Other than our height difference we were roughly the same size. Maybe we’d run into a little trouble with the bust, I thought as I flicked through the dresses. My breasts were considerably larger than hers. Never mind being a staunch member of the itty-bitty community, my girl had a behind that’d stop traffic.

“There’s just one thing,” she said straightening her spine as I placed a dress up against her frame.

“Nah,” I dismissed, and tossed the dress, not liking the colour on her. “What’s the thing?” I pressed, reaching for another.

Alana hurried to pick up the dress off the bench where it landed and hung it up. I would learn to be more considerate.

“We have to be back by midnight.”

“Girl the best party don’t pop off until after midnight.”

“Hollis, promise me.”

She’s nineteen, Hollis, I reminded myself. Of course she had a curfew. Which meant club Heat, my original plan, was out of the question. I pulled her to me, palmed her ass and kissed her until she was blushing for something entirely different.

“What was that for?” she breathed out.

“For being so damned cute.” I stepped back and resumed my quest to find her a cunty outfit. “Alright Cinderella, I promise. Midnight, we’re out of there.”

“No.” She giggled at my antics, walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. She pressed her warm body into my back. “We’re home by midnight.”

Not a problem. I knew just the place for us to get into a little trouble.