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Good He needed so desire He lifted the glass to her in tribute “To—what’s your name?”
She shook her head, tracing the rough edge of her collar “We aren’t supposed to tell our nairl if you like, or slave”
“I don’t want to call you girl or slave”
“Please, it’s not allowed I need lanced over her shoulder at the stone-faced bouncers lining the walls “We’re not supposed to talk to any custo, unless you pay”
“Fine Go I don’t want to get you in trouble”
Jason watched herif the extra also applied to her Was she one of the girls orked in the back rooerous and depressing, but at the same time
Extra Just a bit extra Let go of control and do so reckless, just this once Had she looked hopeful, then disappointed when he sent her away? Was he only i it?
He sipped his drink, wincing at the sharp, dry taste It was like vodka, but stronger, more viscous He couldn’t decide if he liked it or not As he nursed the clear, cold har, the audience grew , and soe
Jason didn’t say anything His uy, and usually had a pretty high tolerance for alcohol, but a few sips of the har had his skin flushing and his head whirling The alcohol hit hied He stared at the couple onstage, irritated to find thees in the corners were blurs, the voices around hie
He’d only had a few sips…hadn’t he? Where was his slave girl? He needed her If he passed out here, alone, ould happen to hie of panic, she was there, touching his elbow
“Master? I brought you this”
She held out another drink He eyed it suspiciously “Is that soda water?”
“Yes, Master Mongolian spirits are very strong Perhaps that drink does not agree with you?”
She leaned down and peered into his eyes He subdued the urge to grab her, his lifeline to the world “You drugged me”
“No, Master I swear, it’s the har They told th but this will be better” She looked around, a furtive glance “Please Just wait a few moments and the effects will pass”
He hoped to God she was right, because he wasn’t feeling so hot at the ave her the other one “Thank you”
“Yes, Master”
He stayed upright long enough for her to leave, then leaned on his elbows and sipped the sparkling water When he finished, she brought hihts and h all of this, the waitress hovered and flitted, watching hiain
“Thank you for saving me,” he said the next time she came to his table “If I’d drunk much more of that, I’d have been under the table”
She wouldn’t olia, alcoholism is a serious probleh proof?”
“Yes, proof Alcohol content At any rate, thank you for protecting me from myself”
“You’re welco less potent?”
“I think I’ht” But he didn’t want her to leave He didn’t want her to go off and ignore hireat”
Up on stage, thebench, her skirt tossed up and over her back When his waitress turned to go, he stopped her with a sound
“Are you ever in the shows?”
She turned back “No, Master”
“But you wear a collar”
“I have to”
He felt disappointment “You don’t do this in real life? Fetish? BDSM?”
“I ae, where the Frenchher ass beaten by the schoolmaster “Just not like this”
“H comment”
He heard her soft intake of breath She stared into his eyes and he saw so Just as quickly, the revelation was shuttered “I’ You’re certain you are better from the drink?”
Yes, he was better Tooache “I’m totally better” He lowered his voice “I wish you’d tell me your name”
She wanted to He could tell she wanted to He wasn’tlooks, her attraction She fluttered her eyes closed “I can’t I’ water”
She moved away just as a customer across the room stood and beckoned her with a sharp voice Even when she went to him, the old
er er and scolded her
Jason didn’t knohat the man said to her, but heads turned toward theized to the custo to ss over As Jason watched, they nodded to the coirl toward the back
His girl Why did he think of her that way? Because she’d been calling hi else?
It didn’tthe for the corner where the three heavies surrounded her They barked at her in a rough strea toward the tables and then toward the place he’d sat
“What’s going on?” he asked
She turned to hiry because they wanted et you drunk, take advantage of you and get your money, because you’re American—”
One of the men pressed a palm over her mouth to muffle her words No, that wasn’t okay with Jason, not at all He knocked the guy’s hand away fro at each other
“Don’t touch her,” Jason said, even though he doubted the guy could understand hi touch her like that”
The bouncer tried to knock hiry But before he could give the guy the beating he deserved, an ar hi thrown out That was fair, but he wasn’t leaving until he knew she’d be all right He cast a wild look over his shoulder, but she was gone Where had they taken her? “Let go of led to free hie had stopped