Rodney was running late. The buses had been late. There had been an accident on the highway. And it was raining. He was running late, and that was completely unacceptable. Mordechai would have his head for this. If there was one thing Mordechai didn’t tolerate, it was tardiness.

He rushed into Mordechai’s office, soaking wet and stumbling on the rug beside his desk. The big panther looked from his computer up to Rodney’s face, and his cheeks heated in embarrassment.

“You’re late,” Mordechai pointed out. His voice was soft, though there was always a dangerous edge to his tone, as if any second he was only a breath away from shifting into the massive black cat he could become.

Even after two months, there was still something terrifying about being with a large predator. Although Rodney’s own non-human shape was pretty impressive, a panda was just no match for a panther. He never doubted that if Mordechai ever lost control he could do a lot of damage. But he trusted Mordechai to be good to him. During the short time they’d been together, Mordechai had always been great to him. Stern at times, but good.

Rodney shivered in his wet clothes as he tried to come up with a suitable excuse for his tardiness. He didn’t have one. Not one that he believed would appease Mordechai at least. Not only was Mordechai his boss, but he was also his Dom, and he did not accept excuses of any kind. “I’m sorry, Sir,” Rodney muttered. He looked to his desk, where he should have already been going through Mordechai’s appointments for the day and returning messages to people who had called after hours the night before. “I’ll go get started.”

Mordechai reached out and grabbed his wrist. His hold was tight, but not painful. Mordechai would have never intentionally hurt him, at least not more than what Rodney wanted or could tolerate.

“No, you won’t,” Mordechai was firm, and his voice sent shivers across Rodney’s skin. “Not until I say you can.”