“Samantha,” Stanton said again, with a dangerous undertone. “I never gave you permission to speak to another Dom.”
Dex let his contempt show in his expression and held it until Stanton finally raised his gaze to his. Understanding finally dawned on the man’s face. “Who the hell are you, and why are you speaking to my sub?”
Dex was considering what response to give when Stanton’s gaze moved off to the side. Dex turned to see Kate barreling forward, unsteady on her feet, but looking like a woman with a mission.
Stanton opened his arms, mistakenly thinking Kate was rushing into them. Dex could only smile when Kate clenched her fists and pulled back her arm as she neared the clueless man.
When he’d found Kate with Balkins, she had looked mad enough to punch Stanton the next time she saw him, but Dex hadn’t thought she would actually do it, especially not in front of the entire club.
Kate dropped to her knees in front of Stanton, and using all her strength, she punched Mark Stanton in the crotch.
Stanton dropped like a stone, bellowing, and cradling his injured balls. Kate pushed to her feet, still unsteady, but anger radiated from her in nearly visible waves.
“Just because I agreed to play a few scenes with you does not mean you own me, and doesn’t give you the right to pass me around like your personal toy. Don’t ever come near me again.”
Stanton reached out to grab one of Kate’s legs, but before Dex could step in, Kate jumped back out of the man’s reach.
Dex captured Kate, picking her up easily and holding her against his body as she struggled against his hold. “It’s all right,” he whispered, hoping she heard him and calmed down.
The unmistakable flash of a camera caught Dex’s attention, but when he turned his head in that direction, he couldn’t tell who in the large crowd had taken the picture. No photos were allowed inside the club, since most people didn’t want it known that they were into the fetish lifestyle.
Dex was sure there had been more pictures taken than the one he had seen, and he was just as sure that tomorrow’s papers would feature them prominently. Stanton was a big name in business, and while it would only boost his company’s stock, it would be a personal embarrassment.
Dex loomed over the man, who was now sitting up but still looking a little green from the pain. He resisted the urge to throttle Stanton.
He needed to make clear his claim on Kate, without alienating every other Dom in the club. “Kate is now my sub. I will make sure she is punished appropriately for striking another Dom. Beyond that, she is under my protection.” He worked hard to soften his glare at the waste of skin in front of him, even as Stanton struggled to his feet with a murderous look on his face.
“Who the hell are you? She assaulted me in front of the entire dungeon. I’ll do with her what she deserves.”
Dex waited while Stanton straightened to his full height, which was still a good six to eight inches shorter than him, and did his best to stare Dex down.
Dex met and held the hostile gaze, tension crackling between them until finally, Stanton’s gaze slid away.
“Kate is now my sub, and I will punish her for this infraction. I expect you to steer clear of her.” He figured Kate would object to his direct possession of her in front of everyone. Instead, she relaxed in his arms, resting her head against his chest.
Stanton bristled at being told what to do, and Dex knew he shouldn’t have antagonized the man. He still needed information from him. But he wouldn’t leave Kate without protection. He would find another way to get what he needed to determine Stanton’s involvement in the plot.
“Then I expect you to stay away from my subs,” Stanton shot back, while casting a lethal glare toward Samantha.
Dex let out a slow breath, trying for calm before he spoke. “As for Samantha, I spoke to her. She didn’t initiate the conversation. I’m new to The Dungeon and was asking if she had seen Master Ralston. Nothing more.”
Stanton looked away as if realizing that Dex would not be cowed by who he was or what he thought he could do to him. “Samantha,” he growled. “Come to me.”
Samantha bolted forward, a contrite look on her face as she stood slumped in front of Stanton.
“Meet me in play area four in ten minutes for your punishment. Don’t be late.”
Dex wished he could stay and make sure Samantha was all right, but he needed to take care of Kate, who was now coming down from yet another surge of adrenaline in a short time frame.
Master Ralston stepped close, surprising Dex, since he hadn’t noticed the man. He said only loud enough so Dex and Kate could hear him, “I’ll make sure Samantha is all right. You see to Kate.”
Dex nodded, grateful for the assurance that Samantha would be looked after. Maybe Ralston and his dungeon could be salvaged after all.
For now, he needed to take Kate home so she could get some rest and recover from the evening.