Stephen smiled as he listened to Adrian. Who knew his husband could be a diplomat on occasion. He pulled Adrian closer for a kiss, smiling the entire time. "Love you," he whispered, before turning around.
"This is exactly why we don't do it. Whatever he might gain isn't worth what we'd lose," Stephen told Midori.
"There is nothing wrong with good manners, and I thought you knew a thing or two about them." She hit her slave with the crap and he stopped, kneeling again. "He was standing, for heaven's sake. Two Masters are sitting here, and he needs you to tell him to sit down, and he should be kneeling anyway."
Stephen started to laugh. "I see that it's not what we gain that you care about, but the fact that he disrespected you." He sat up, still keeping a hand around Adrian. Stephen stared back. "He's not kneeling for anyone. Ever," he said, his calmly, but there was a coldness that could rarely be heard in Stephen's voice.