Chapter 33: The Couch Talk

-Molly's POV-

I followed Scott into the club, trying to keep my eyes on the ground. When Jean-Pierre brought me in, he had made it clear that subs were required to keep their eyes and heads down. It bothered me, but with this being only my second time here, I didn't want to rock the boat... at least not yet.
I was so busy trying to look sweet and demure that I almost ran into Scott's back when he stopped suddenly. Startled, I looked up to see what was going on.
The walkway was blocked by a large man with dirty blonde hair. He was dressed in ripped jeans and an odd, out-of-place flannel shirt. There was a kindness in his eyes along with a spark of mischievousness that gave him a bit of a boy look, making his age hard to guess. He seemed to be in his early thirties based on the lines on his tanned face.
"Scott, are you going to introduce me? Or have you suddenly decided to keep your sub silent and absolutely obedient?" the man spoke loudly to be heard over the music and ambient noise of a crowded club.
I was startled for a moment at his American accent with a slight twang in it.
Scott looked back at me in surprise, and I quickly dropped my eyes once more. Obviously, this man was someone Scott knew very well, and I didn't want to embarrass him by being disobedient.
"I wouldn't ever describe Molly as silent and obedient. So I must have gotten her mixed up with someone else's sub," Scott teased.
"Definitely not one of mine," the man played along. "Mine tend to be much more clingy and wouldn't stand to be walking behind me rather than snuggled in my arms."
I felt embarrassment twist in my gut. I didn't enjoy their teasing and felt a bit of shame about my behavior. Even though I had been trying to be on my best behavior.
My back stiffened, and whatever desire I had to be obedient went out the door.
Narrowing my eyes at them, I told them silently how much I did not appreciate their teasing. The man raised his eyebrows at me as if questioning the intelligence of my actions. Scott, however, had one corner of his mouth cocked up in a slight grin. That only served to irritate me more. I felt as if he wasn't taking me seriously. I folded my arms over my chest and lifted my chin slightly.
"It sounds to me as if you both prefer silly, simpering girls that fawn all over you and give you a nice little ego boost," I commented in a haughty tone.
Scott gave a slight snort, but the other man's frown deepened. Then he turned to Scott, ignoring me completely.
"I understand what you mean now. Quite a bite on this little one. I'll come back a little later after you've explained everything to your sub," the man said before giving me a pointed look and walking off.
I felt a flush of guilt. If Scott wasn't upset with me before, he surely must be now.
"Let's sit on the couch," Scott suggested, startling me a bit.
"I'm sorry," I began as he cupped my elbow and led me to the seating area.
Scott sat down and pulled me into his lap as he had promised. I went willingly, eager for some comfort. I had been trying hard to be the perfect sub for him. But my damned mouth got in the way again. I leaned into him and tried not to wallow.
"I'm sorry," I apologized again. "I didn't mean to upset your friend."
"I know, and Noah understood that you're new as well," Scott tried to reassure me. "Noah and I have vastly different tastes in women. I enjoy your sharp tongue at times. You have great wit, and I have enjoyed our... conversations." Scott chuckled, punctuating his words.
"I thought subs were supposed to be quiet and demure... even a bit--"
"Simpering," Scott supplied with a smile.
I flushed and hid my face in his shoulder. I was embarrassed at how I had spoken to them in my irritated state. They had been teasing, after all. It wasn't like they were purposely being rude.
"I'm sorry," I repeated once more.
"Shhh, it's okay. I kind of poked at you a bit. You were not being yourself, and I found it a bit uncomfortable. So I poked at you to bring out the real Molly," he admitted.
I sat up quickly and gave him a slightly irritated surprise look.
"Are you seriously telling me you picked on me just so I would snap at you?" I asked in disbelief.
"Well, why did you suddenly go quiet and all... subservient?" he countered.
"Because... well... to be honest, when Jean-Pierre brought me... he..." I broke off as I realized what my mistake was.
I was going by what JEAN-PIERRE had required of me. He was not the kind of Dom I wanted, so why would I try to be the kind of sub he wanted?
"What did he say?" Scott pushed.
He sounded slightly upset. It was as if he already knew what my answer would be... and absolutely hated it. I really didn't want to finish my sentence, but it sounded like one of those questions Scott would expect an answer to.
"Jean-Pierre told me I was to quietly walk through, keep my eyes down and not talk to anyone unless he said I could," I told him. "I was to be seen, not heard."
Scott looked off in the distance, staring at the scene that was going on in front of us. If I hadn't noticed that his eyes were slightly out of focus, I might have assumed he was more interested in what was happening than our conversation.
I put my hand on his chest to bring him back to me. His eyes were hard and a bit angry when he looked at me. For a moment, I reeled back, feeling the power of his anger as if it was pointed at me. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. When he looked at me this time, the anger was gone.
"I'm sorry, baby girl. I'm not upset with you at all. I'm pissed off at that asshole for making you feel like an object. Just so I can be sure... you don't wish to be seen like that?" he asked.
I shook my head adamantly. "No. I didn't like it. It made me feel like I was beneath him. I hated it."
"I want you to know that is completely wrong. You are not less than I. Without our beautiful subs, Dom's are nothing but bossy, overbearing men that can get a little whiny without someone to take care of," he said with a wink.
I couldn't help but giggle at him. His words gave me a renewed sense of confidence and made my heart melt for him. I didn't want to, but something inside me was starting to warm to him in a way I really didn't expect... and was really starting to worry me.