Two Loves for Alex by Claire Thompson Page B

right index finger with some kind of insignia engraved into it. Maybe , Alex thought fancifully, he’s a Spanish duke or something . His bearing was certainly aristocratic.
    Something made her glance up at his face and she blushed hotly to realize he was watching her with dark, penetrating eyes. To her relief he turned from her back to Liam. She hoped no one had observed her blush. “I have a few things out in the car. I would be glad to demonstrate later. Perhaps on this slave? Is she yours?”
    Liam put his arm around Alex and squeezed her shoulder. “Yes. She belongs to me and Daniel.” To Alex he added, “This is Matthew and his sub Phillip.”
    Anthony interjected, “And Daniel is…?”
    “My partner,” Liam supplied. “And my sub.”
    Anthony raised his eyebrows. “You permit your sub to own another? Forgive me but isn’t that most unusual?”
    Liam shrugged. “I don’t know. It works for us. Daniel has some dominant impulses of his own and Alex here meets our needs.”
    Anthony’s mouth smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I would never permit a sub such license. My slaves belong to me—they give themselves one hundred percent to me, body, soul and heart. The very idea of allowing them such liberty is, forgive me, absurd.”
    A tiny whisper of warning sounded in Alex’s head but she was too distracted by the men’s conversation to pay attention. One side of Liam’s mouth turned down and he shrugged. “For you, perhaps. Above all, Daniel and I are partners. We do what works for us.”
    Matthew intervened with a nervous laugh. “Don’t mind Anthony, Liam. He’s a great whip maker but sometimes he takes himself a little too seriously.”
    After a moment’s hesitation Anthony nodded and offered a thin smile. “Forgive me for imposing my views. I confess I’m a traditionalist in this regard. I take the gift of submission very seriously.”
    “As do I,” Liam said. Alex could sense the tension beneath their interchange. She was relieved when Matthew said, “Hey. Let’s get this party started. Anthony, why don’t you go get some of those whips of yours and we can have a little demo? Phillip was uppity with me on the way here. I’m sure he’s ready to atone in front of Liam and all his guests, aren’t you, Phil?”
    “Yes, Sir,” Phillip answered in a soft, feminine voice that belied his muscular build.
    Alex noticed the crowd had thinned out some. She scanned the room for Daniel but didn’t see him. Apparently of the same mind, Liam said, “Go see if Daniel’s in the kitchen. He’s trying to stay out of it but he just can’t resist getting involved with the food.”
    His tone was affectionate though he added, “I may just whip that out of him. He’s supposed to be on display, not working behind the scenes. When you find him come to the playroom. I think Matthew’s idea to get this party started is an excellent one.”
    He pointed Alex toward the kitchen and patted her bottom. With a flurry of butterflies fluttering in her stomach she went in search of Daniel. Liam meanwhile went up the stairs with Matthew and Phillip behind him.
    Liam was right—Alex found Daniel talking to one of the caterers, a tall man of about forty who was squirting whipped cream onto custard and fruit tarts artfully arranged on silver trays.
    Alex’s heart caught in her throat as she looked at Daniel. He was so handsome with his tawny blond hair falling over his eyes and his tan, strong body offset by the white silk pants. She had a sudden fantasy of hurling herself into his arms and impaling herself on his perfect cock.
    Instead she came to stand beside him. “Excuse me, Daniel. Liam wants us upstairs.”
    “What? Oh right. Excuse me,” he said to the caterer, who nodded. Daniel grabbed two cold flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Alex. She sipped it, enjoying the delicate flavor and the warmth it created in her blood. It was her third glass on an empty stomach—she’d been