Thistle was determined heading into Carnal. Archer had given her a break for the day after their night together to get himself readjusted. She had used it to think over things. She was getting tired of these major events happening in her life without having a semblance of control. So, when he summoned her to the club, she decided to get some back.
She arrived an hour early, greeting the ever-cheerful Milo out front. But she didn't beeline for Archer's office. No, she went straight to the bar. She found the gaggle of bartenders and got her plan into motion. If she was going to be part of this pack she was going to get to know every member on some level. No matter how long it took.
So, she talked. Rayne was about to break up with her boyfriend since he didn't like her working at Carnal. Lennox was deep into his master's degree in chemical engineering. In the staging room she found Ms. Marie who gushed about her first grandbaby. She listened to it all knowing each connection made her a little less reliant on Archer in this new world.
She finished by greeting Archer's door guard, a massive bear called Rory. She had never spoken to him and he turned out to be a complete softy. He talked about his two daughters and wife so much that she was almost late. With five minutes to spare she finally entered Archer's office.
He was at his desk which was no surprise. What was surprising was the rather large bull sitting in the lounge area fiddling with some tools. She was curious but took her position on her knees in front of his desk.
"Greeting Master, may I be of use to you?" She asked as properly as she could muster. There were other parts to her new game plan.
Archer looked over at Thistle and got up walking in front of her.
"Evening pet. I saw that you were running all over the club for the last hour."
"Yes, Master." She was not teasing or coy, just matching the dynamic he insisted on when at the club. She was starting to learn the two sides of Archer and how to handle them.
"What were you up to?"
"Greeting people and just talking, Master."
She could see him clench his jaw. He wasn't enjoying her new submissive act. He liked her bratty side as he was able to outmaneuver her with ease. Not anymore. Besides there was company, she couldn't embarrass him in front of company.
"You learn anything?" The edge was in his voice, as if he could break through the act to find her weak spot.
"Nothing worth mentioning to you, Master. I was getting to know the pack I'm part of now."
His jaw loosened as his smirk returned. That wasn't good. It meant he had found his move, gotten the upper hand.
"Then I should introduce you to Steph, another member of the pack." He gestured to the bull that gave too cute of a wave for someone as intimidating as him.
"Hey." Steph said.
"Hi, sir." She replied, keeping up her role until she figured out what Archer's game was. She didn't have to wait long as Archer carried on speaking.
"Steph here is a talented body piercer. He'll be piercing your ears today." Archer said in a voice that oozed smugness.
But for Thistle, ice tore through her veins. She had just told Archer about her fear of needles. Now he was ordering her to do this. Was the nice guy act a cruel trick to get ammo to break her. Had the jokes and conversations hidden the monster underneath? Perhaps the Archer outside of work was never the real him but this was?
"Master.... I told you recently that I'm scared of needles." She stammered out, a mixture of fear and betrayal making her eyes water.
"You did." He agreed, showing he remembered their talk.
"Then why are you making me do this?"
"Why?" Archer said, playing up the word. He snatched a paper off his desk and held it up. She recognized it, her list of hard limits she filled out on her first day.
"I told you to take this seriously, to put all your hard limits. But I don't see your fear of needles on here. You clearly half assed it. This is the first safety net for your health both mentally and physically. It guides my decisions. And since you took it so haphazardly, I figured you would want to get your ears pierced and face your fear."
He got louder the longer he spoke, and she started shaking. She had seen him in so many different ways during their few days together but never mad. She had fucked up bad.
"I'm sorry." She muttered.
"You're sorry now because it's coming back to bite you in the ass. Do you know how horrified I was to find out I could have done something to hurt you? I trusted you and this list and you broke that trust."
The anger had vanished as quickly as it had risen. There was only concern there now. She could see the fear now. She glanced at Steph who awkwardly watched on. Funny enough she loved how piercings looked and had always wanted them. But could never face her fear. Perhaps it was time to do that, offer an apology that meant something.
"If I willingly get my ears pierced, will it suffice as an apology?" She asked, unable to meet his eyes.
"It will go a long way to healing the trust that has been damaged. But you will still be punished. You need to have this lesson grilled into you. I told you that communication was key on our first day. It seems you need a sterner reminder. If you refuse, then I...I cannot see you continuing in this role."
It would be over? Would that mean it all would be? She would be kicked out of a world she had just gotten a taste for? No more dinners or store visits? The mark on her neck a reminder for nothing? She didn't even dare ask. There was only one path forward for her. She would take whatever he deemed fit her crime.
"I understand, Master. I'll take the punishment." She offered, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
Archer studied her and nodded. "Good. Steph, she's all yours."
"Right miss if you would sit here." He patted a chair so out of place it clearly was brought in just for this. She slumped her shoulders as she rose before heading over. She had not felt this level of shame since her school days. She took her seat, not daring to look at Steph or his tools. Hearing him fiddle was enough to get her to shake once more.
"Now I know you're scared of needles but a lot of my clients are. I promise you don't even have to look as I work." He started in a voice that would be soothing in any other context. "All you will feel is a pinch just like this."
Two fingers squished her ear making her jolt. But not from pain, just surprise. It wasn't bad. No worse than claws digging into her hips or raking her chest. If she couldn't see the needle, then perhaps she could do this. Her wobbly knees said otherwise.
"Now Miss, is there anything you want in particular?"
