The next evening, Dominic’s black sedan pulled up to Marcus Hale’s sleek glass-and-steel penthouse. Aria sat beside him in the passenger seat, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She wore the cream silk blouse and black pencil skirt Dominic had chosen for her earlier that afternoon. The outfit felt elegant, but her stomach was tight with nerves.
Dominic reached over and rested his hand on her thigh. “You don’t have to impress anyone tonight. Just stay close to me.”
“I will, Master.”
Marcus greeted them at the door with a wide smile and an open bottle of wine. “Dominic. Aria. Right on time. Come in.”
The penthouse was all clean lines and modern furniture, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Elena, Marcus’s sub, stood a few steps behind him in a fitted red dress, eyes low
