At Your Service: Tammer Read Free Page A

read her daily Joel calendar since he’d left.
    “Hey, kitten. How are you?” Joel asked, his image pixelated and grainy, his voice tired.
    “Quite frankly, My Liege, I’m a bit perplexed,” Nina answered, glancing at Tammer who seemed to be enjoying her discomfort way too much.
    “So I take it your surprise arrived?” The edges of his lips curled before his words caught up with his mouth.
    “Yes, he did.” Nina crossed her arms and twisted her nose up.
    “Are you not happy with him?”
    “I’m not exactly unhappy with him, I’m unhappy with the… situation . I mean really, My Liege…a service ?” Hoping Tammer didn’t tattle on her for not knowing he was coming in the first place, Nina pouted. Pouting always worked, at least to an extent. Now would be a good time for it to work. “You didn’t even discuss this with me. This is absolutely not like you at all.”
    “No, I didn’t discuss it with you,” Joel admitted. “I have my reasons, kitten. However, I’ve had several meetings with Tammer since I made my decision and I wouldn’t have allowed him near you if I didn’t think he was trustworthy or that he would be to your liking. He’s definitely to my liking. Where is he by the way? You didn’t try to make him leave, did you?”
    “I’m right here,” Tammer answered, standing and coming to hover over Nina’s left shoulder. “And yes, she did. By way of the MPs. She mistook me for a, what was it you said, sweetheart? A not very smart gun for hire? And oh, yes, that was after she opened the door to me without so much as a moment’s hesitation thinking I might be a Thin Mint toting Girl Scout.” Tammer chuckled, snatching the Joel calendar from beneath Nina’s elbow and holding it up where Joel could plainly see it. “She apparently hasn’t checked this since you’ve been gone.”
    After Joel composed himself following a good hearty laugh at Nina’s expense, his expression became completely serious. “It’s certainly unfortunate your first meeting with Tammer has to be a punishment rather than a pleasure,” he growled, although Nina doubted his sincerity in his dissatisfaction with her. He seemed to be entirely too thrilled with the situation.
    “Yeah, right,” she snapped.
    “Kitten, I’m entirely serious,” Joel said, his voice unwavering and his eyes steady. “Tammer, make that two punishments.”
    “My Liege,” Nina gasped as realization struck. “You have never allowed another to punish me. For that matter, you’ve never allowed me to play with another while you’re away. Are there any rules at all? Or is that out the window along with everything else I’ve become accustomed to?”
    “No, I’ve never allowed another to punish you or shared you outside my presence, but I am now. Beginning tonight, Tammer’s in charge while I’m away. What he says goes. There are only three restrictions. No kissing on the mouth, he can’t come inside you, and he has to be out of our bed before the sun comes up. Anything else is to be decided between the two of you.”
    “And what if I say no?” Nina demanded, her heart thundering her body’s protest of this insane plan.
    “I’m Your Liege, kitten. Say no. What was the first rule I established before I collared you?” Joel said, twisting his wedding band around his finger then steepling his fingers under his chin.
    “I would never say no. I would always at least try what you asked of me before asking for reprieve or further negotiation.” Recollecting her acquiescence, she wished now she’d have asked reprieve then. “My Liege,” she gritted out as an afterthought.
    “Do you really want to risk the consequences?
    Nina didn’t answer, just sat with her eyes averted and her nostrils flaring with every frustrated breath.
    “Nina? Answer me now,” Joel bellowed.
    “No, My Liege. I don’t wish to risk…” Her voice hitched over the lump swelling in her throat. “I don’t wish to risk it.”
    “I don’t wish you to