A Photo Is Worth A Thousand Blushes

6c - Angels and Vampires

The lovely cover featured and made for this story is by ChloePrice5. Thank you!

"Gabriel?" I asked once my rear was situated in the dressing room chair and a comb was applied to my hair.

"Yeah?"

"Was that a dog collar hanging from Kota's hand when we passed him downstairs?"

Gabriel snickered, making him pause in his strokes through my hair. "Yeah. It was."

"Max doesn't wear collars like that, does he?" I scanned my numerous memories of the golden retriever, trying to recall just what the dog wore around his neck to indicate he was owned and domesticated by the Lee family. I was fairly certain it was a wide strip of hunter green nylon and not the thick, black strap of leather with spikes in even intervals along its length dangling from Kota's fingers.

"Nope!" Gabriel let the P pop dramatically. His reflection showed a wicked grin upon his lips. "Kota is so far out of his element, it's comical. I wish we could be down there right now to watch him sweat this out."

"What do you mean?" I asked as I eyed his black glasses folded neatly and sitting upon the top of the dressing table among the various brushes, compacts, and palettes of colors. He had to be wearing his contacts again.

"Our dear Leader is playing Sub today."

"Sub?" Apparently, I had a lot more to learn on this mission. The terminology was still going straight over my head.

The comb slapped against Gabriel's thigh as he huffed. "God damn shit, Sang. You're too innocent. And now I have to be the one to spoil it." He started sectioning my hair and held one portion straight up toward the ceiling. He continued to answer me as he ran the comb the opposite direction than intended, from the middle of the strands toward the roots. "Sub is short for submissive. It's a BDSM term, usually paired with its opposite, Dominant. What those mean is that the Dom-"

"Mr. Coleman!" Mr. Blackbourne's commanding tone interrupted the explanation. I jumped in my seat, startled. He stood at the top the stairs and entered. "Now is not the time nor the place for such lessons. Please let Miss Sorenson keep what innocence she has until the end of the job before you go corrupting her."

I knew what BDSM stood for and had a vague idea as to what it entailed, and to think Gabriel was about to share some of its intricacies with me made my skin flush pink once more.

Mr. Blackbourne entered the dressing area and strode over to the lighted table Gabriel and I were at, grabbing the bottle of baby oil. He made eye contact with me through the mirror. "If you are interested in such topics, Miss Sorenson, I can make arrangements to acquaint you with the lifestyle at a later time." I could not read the expression on his face, but his eyes were twinkling silver through his glasses.

"Mr. B!" Gabriel gasped. "You're not propositioning her, are you?"

My violin teacher cleared his throat and adjusted the knot of his tie, almost like a tic showing his was uncomfortable with something. "No. I am merely ensuring any of her curiosity she may have will be led down a safe path."

"Mmhmm. Be glad I like you, Mr. B, or I'd totally call bullshit on you." Gabriel continued to comb more sections of my hair the wrong direction, making my hair look like a nest. "No baby oil for Kota, by the way. He was already powdered up. His order is for matte."

Mr. Blackbourne nudged his glasses further up his nose after he readjusted the quarter full bottle of oil in his grip. "Indeed. I'm holding onto this for Miss Sorenson." He nodded quickly to both me and Gabriel before turning and heading back down the stairs. I caught a glimpse of the millimeter smile grace one side of his lips before he pivoted out of view.