stirrings of jealousy.
“Mom, you saw me yesterday.” He dipped his head to kiss the cheek she offered.
Lydia congratulated herself on her instincts, but that feeling of pride dimmed as she remembered her position. Wilder’s mother was her boss. How did she feel about the woman on her son’s arm? How much did she know about the particulars of the nonwish that had created this situation?
“I know, dear, but something about seeing you dressed like this makes me feel so proud. My baby boy in a tuxedo. You swore you’d never wear one, you know, and now you look so much like your father. If he could see you now, he’d get a tear in his eye and blame it on the weather.” Raw pain flashed across her face.
If ever there was a time to step away and give two people a private moment, it was now. She released Wilder’s arm as he reached for his mother. He hugged her tight.
She allowed it for a moment before pushing him away. “Introduce me to your submissive.”
A place deep inside Lydia shriveled up, and her blood fled her extremities, leaving her a little weak-kneed. Her parents didn’t know a thing about her kinky side, yet Wilder’s mother didn’t bat an eyelash. Given the nature of the family business, she should have expected Mrs. Burke’s calm acceptance, but she hadn’t.
“Mom, this is Lydia O’Neill. Pet, this is my mother, Macy Burke. Say hello.”
Lydia straightened her spine and forced a smile, hoping to hell she didn’t look as stupid as she felt. Her previous Masters had never introduced her to their families. She had no point of reference for this event. “Hello, Mrs. Burke. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Burke laughed and cupped Lydia’s face in her hands. “You are just as beautiful and proud as your picture indicated. I can see my Wilder is going to have his hands full with you. Don’t be so nervous, and call me Macy.”
“Thank you, Macy. I’ll try.” She ignored the part about Wilder having his hands full. Having his mother comment openly didn’t exactly put her at ease.
Macy snagged a flute of champagne from a passing tray and handed it over. “This might help you loosen up. You’ll find everyone at Oasis open and honest, Lydia. I’m hoping you’ll fit right in with this wonderful crew.”
Lydia accepted the glass and sipped the cool liquid. It slid down her throat smoothly. “Thank you.”
WILDER WATCHED THE polite interchange with mixed emotions. He normally went out of his way to avoid introducing women he liked to his mother. When the board had planned the welcome party last month, he hadn’t thought anything about bringing a submissive woman to a company cocktail party. After all, he hadn’t planned to do anything more than top her, and he hadn’t seen her file, which meant she had been a nameless, faceless submissive. While he usually liked the women he topped, he had never felt the need to push for more than friendship.
He had expected his mother to gush. His mother liked people, and she considered herself the unofficial welcoming committee for submissives new to Oasis. He’d watched her take women under her wing for years. Each had that scared, anxious look about them, but by the time Macy Burke had finished with them, they’d been formidable submissives, comfortable with themselves and their desires.
When he first met Lydia, she hadn’t been uncomfortable with her submissive side. Sure, she had wanted to suspend the dynamic of their association tonight. She wasn’t used to the open acceptance at Oasis. He had thought she would loosen up quickly, but that didn’t seem to be the case. What had happened in the last eight years to change her?
He lifted his hand and rested his fingertips against the small of her back to remind her that he was there. Perhaps she would find the gesture reassuring, but he did it because he couldn’t keep himself from physical contact. His mother lifted one carefully sculpted eyebrow at him, but she didn’t comment.
“Mom, you saw me yesterday.” He dipped his head to kiss the cheek she offered.
Lydia congratulated herself on her instincts, but that feeling of pride dimmed as she remembered her position. Wilder’s mother was her boss. How did she feel about the woman on her son’s arm? How much did she know about the particulars of the nonwish that had created this situation?
“I know, dear, but something about seeing you dressed like this makes me feel so proud. My baby boy in a tuxedo. You swore you’d never wear one, you know, and now you look so much like your father. If he could see you now, he’d get a tear in his eye and blame it on the weather.” Raw pain flashed across her face.
If ever there was a time to step away and give two people a private moment, it was now. She released Wilder’s arm as he reached for his mother. He hugged her tight.
She allowed it for a moment before pushing him away. “Introduce me to your submissive.”
A place deep inside Lydia shriveled up, and her blood fled her extremities, leaving her a little weak-kneed. Her parents didn’t know a thing about her kinky side, yet Wilder’s mother didn’t bat an eyelash. Given the nature of the family business, she should have expected Mrs. Burke’s calm acceptance, but she hadn’t.
“Mom, this is Lydia O’Neill. Pet, this is my mother, Macy Burke. Say hello.”
Lydia straightened her spine and forced a smile, hoping to hell she didn’t look as stupid as she felt. Her previous Masters had never introduced her to their families. She had no point of reference for this event. “Hello, Mrs. Burke. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Burke laughed and cupped Lydia’s face in her hands. “You are just as beautiful and proud as your picture indicated. I can see my Wilder is going to have his hands full with you. Don’t be so nervous, and call me Macy.”
“Thank you, Macy. I’ll try.” She ignored the part about Wilder having his hands full. Having his mother comment openly didn’t exactly put her at ease.
Macy snagged a flute of champagne from a passing tray and handed it over. “This might help you loosen up. You’ll find everyone at Oasis open and honest, Lydia. I’m hoping you’ll fit right in with this wonderful crew.”
Lydia accepted the glass and sipped the cool liquid. It slid down her throat smoothly. “Thank you.”
WILDER WATCHED THE polite interchange with mixed emotions. He normally went out of his way to avoid introducing women he liked to his mother. When the board had planned the welcome party last month, he hadn’t thought anything about bringing a submissive woman to a company cocktail party. After all, he hadn’t planned to do anything more than top her, and he hadn’t seen her file, which meant she had been a nameless, faceless submissive. While he usually liked the women he topped, he had never felt the need to push for more than friendship.
He had expected his mother to gush. His mother liked people, and she considered herself the unofficial welcoming committee for submissives new to Oasis. He’d watched her take women under her wing for years. Each had that scared, anxious look about them, but by the time Macy Burke had finished with them, they’d been formidable submissives, comfortable with themselves and their desires.
When he first met Lydia, she hadn’t been uncomfortable with her submissive side. Sure, she had wanted to suspend the dynamic of their association tonight. She wasn’t used to the open acceptance at Oasis. He had thought she would loosen up quickly, but that didn’t seem to be the case. What had happened in the last eight years to change her?
He lifted his hand and rested his fingertips against the small of her back to remind her that he was there. Perhaps she would find the gesture reassuring, but he did it because he couldn’t keep himself from physical contact. His mother lifted one carefully sculpted eyebrow at him, but she didn’t comment.
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