by P. Stormcrow
Luna’s ears heated, and she ducked her head. As she looked to one side, she jammed her hands in her pockets, unable to meet any of their eyes. “I’m not a hero. It was a fluke. I wasn’t even thinking. It just happened. I didn’t even think it would work.” She was mumbling under her breath now.
“Luna.” August spoke, as if ready to admonish her, but it was Jacob who walked back until he stopped before her, halting her in her path.
“Luna… Look at me, sweetheart.”
Unable to resist, she tilted her head up. Her hair had fallen to veil her face and now he brushed the strands back until he could catch her eyes. “You did something amazing. Don’t minimize it. Be proud of it. Can you do that for me?”
Put that way, how could anyone say no? She nodded, her cheeks now warming for an entirely different reason, Cassie and August forgotten. “Yeah, I can do that,” she replied and stood a little taller.
“Good girl.” He didn’t move his hand for a moment but stroked her hair instead. The warmth of him was soothing, draining some of her remaining tension.
“Well, August’s going to take me home. Later!”
They both looked up at the same time to see Cassie already tugging at August, who was still looking back at them with a tinge of doubt. Jacob chuckled, the sound drawing a confused look from Luna.
“What?”
“Cassie’s trying pretty hard, isn’t she?”
“Oh…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Jacob grinned at her. “I don’t mind.” Before Luna came up with any awkward reply, he placed a hand on the small of her back. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
The ride almost felt too short. When Luna unlocked the door to let both of them in, she lapsed back into hostess mode, moving toward the kitchen to pour drinks. Since she had learned of his fondness for pop from last time, Luna had started the habit of making sure she always had some stocked in the fridge.
“You, sit. Are you up for more tea?”
“Okay. Yeah, you sure?” Luna asked. Already the man was bustling around in her kitchen, seeming to remember where everything was.
“Yes, I am,” Jacob replied as he put the kettle on the stove. He paused to make sure Luna was sitting on the couch before resuming his preparations.
“Thank you.”
Comfortable silence settled until the kettle whistled its readiness. He filled her teapot with hot water then, after a minute of steeping the tea, poured the contents into two mugs, along with a generous spoonful of honey each. How does he know?
He joined her on the couch and they sat side by side. Luna took a sip and exhaled a sigh of contentment. By now, the immediacy of the events had faded, enough for her to think straight again. That was, until a sudden siren startled her enough that she jumped, spilling a good portion of tea on herself. With a yelp, she set the mug down with haste and stood, lest any of it get on the couch, wincing at the scalding liquid seeping through her T-shirt to her skin.
Jacob rose and retrieved a tea towel from the kitchen before handing it to Luna, who tried to soak up the tea that had spilled on her. “Are you okay?” Concern filled his eyes.
“Yeah.” She winced as the siren went screeching down the street until it faded away before offering him a wan smile. “I guess I’m still more skittish than I thought.” She glanced at the front door then her bedroom. “I should go change.”
“Go. I’ll wait for you.”
With a nod, she made her way to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. On a logical level, she understood that she was safe at home. But she couldn’t shake how pear-shaped the whole situation could have gotten instead. Her breath shortened, and she closed her eyes, trying to draw deeper breaths. There was no reason she should have been that shaken—but she was.
“Get a grip,” she muttered beneath her breath then changed her shirt.
When she emerged once more, the relief she felt seeing Jacob still on her couch was palpable. Everything calmed once more, just knowing he was there.
“Are you going to be okay?” Jacob stood as she walked back toward him.
“I…” Luna opened her mouth to say she was fine but the words would not come. Instead, she imagined being alone in the apartment, glancing at the door every five minutes. Unreasonable scenarios played out in her head. The shoplifter was going to escape and come to exact revenge. He was going to call a friend to kidnap her. Damn she was getting paranoid. She might as well sit up all night with a baseball bat. Part of her wasn’t sure she wouldn’t.
“Luna?”
“I guess I’m still a little scared.” Her voice was just above a whisper. It was not something she would admit to just anyone, but Jacob wouldn’t laugh. Admitting it to him would not be a weakness.
“Oh, sweetheart”—he opened his arms—“come here.”
That was all it took. As she stepped into his embrace, he folded his arms around her and held her tight. She inhaled his scent, closing her eyes, and wondered at how safe and natural she felt nestled against him. Somehow, they fit together.
He stroked her hair then nuzzled the top of her head. “It’s all right, Luna. It was a scary thing. You’re safe now.”
They remained that way, for how long Luna wasn’t sure, but in the end, she stepped back, albeit with reluctance. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” His soft smile coupled with his tenderness melted her heart. How could she even think about being with anyone else? He glided his hand down to cup her cheek, his palm warm against it. “I need to get going. I have an early morning at work tomorrow.” There was reluctance in his voice.
“Okay.” She stepped back to clear the path to the door but inside, she quaked at the thought of being alone. It was odd. She’d never had that problem before. When he walked, she trailed behind, dragging her feet.
They both paused at the entryway, Jacob turning to check on her for the last time. He leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. “If you need anything, just call me. Okay? It doesn’t matter what time.”
Luna nodded once more, struggling with a knot that was tightening in her stomach. When he turned to open the door, she reached out and tugged at his shirt. “Stay. Please.”
A pause. Luna tensed before it hit her how he could interpret those two little words. “I… I mean…in a pure platonic way, not like a scene. I just— I just need someone else here tonight. I can take the couch. Or if you’re busy, it’s okay. I can call a friend, maybe Ted or August.”
“Luna.” Now Jacob turned around, her name on his lips putting a stop to her rambling. “Didn’t I just finish saying ‘whatever you need’?” Head still tilted down, Luna snuck a peek up. Humor crinkled the corners of his eyes. “It’s not a problem. I can stay, but only if you let me take the couch.”
Ever the gallant one. She sensed that it was a condition he would not budge on. Her shoulders slumped with a whoosh of a breath leaving her lips before she smiled at him.
“That’s better.” Then he paused. “If you don’t mind, though, can I borrow your shower? I was in the warehouse today. My clothes are clean but I’m pretty sure I don’t smell great, with all that dust.”
This is him not smelling great? Dear God. She swallowed, hoping he wouldn’t notice the subtle movement—or at least as subtle as she could make it. “Ah yeah, sure. Bathroom’s to the left. I’ll go get you some towels.”
“Thanks.”
It wasn’t until she heard the shower turn on that Luna froze, standing in her living room with arms full of a pillow and a large throw, in the middle of preparing the couch for him. He’s in my shower. Naked. Her mind dove into the gutter as she imagined water sliding down his body, over the muscles she’d sensed underneath, down the V of his hips, lower…
All of a sudden, it became boiling in the apartment. Willing herself to move, she laid out the pillow and throw then straightened to fan herself. The temptation to peek was strong. Just one little peek.
Instead, she forced herself to march to her bedroom
with every intention of changing into her sleepwear. Despite her best efforts, however, with her bedroom and the bathroom separated only by a thin wall, the nearness did nothing to calm her libido. The washroom was an interesting design with two doors, one facing the hall, the other leading to her bedroom. She stared at that latter door and almost had to slap her own face.
“PJ’s,” Luna muttered under her breath. She had brought her bag of just-purchased lingerie in and she resisted the urge to put on one of the baby dolls. No. She’d asked him to stay for platonic reasons. Putting that on was wrong—not to mention that it would send mixed signals. But oh, she wanted to give that signal.
With a sigh, she pulled on an oversized T-shirt instead, her usual summer uniform for home lounging and sleep. By then, the water had shut off but that had escaped her notice.
They both stepped out into the hall at the same time.
Jacob was shirtless, with the bath towel over his damp dark locks. Luna wasn’t sure if the way he’d framed himself was on purpose but her lust couldn’t care less. A need to taste him, to trail her lips along that bare chest filled her. His gaze swept downward in admiration of her bare legs, his muscles tensing, as if he was a predator that would spring any second.
Her breathing grew heavier, and his seemed to do the same. It appeared that she might be having the same effect on him.
It was Jacob who broke the silence, his voice tight. “Saturday.”
Luna nodded, not trusting her voice.
“Good night, sweetheart.”
“Good night, Jacob.”
He didn’t touch her. Clearly they both knew that if he did, it wouldn’t end with just kisses.
Luna retreated to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Lani had once mentioned that Jacob was a legend with his control.
At the moment, she could almost curse it.
Chapter Seventeen
It had been one of the hardest things to walk away from in his life. Jacob had understood what Luna had offered, what she would have given him. His little mouse had started to blossom, and although he was an experienced trainer, something in him was afraid of messing it up.
Which was how he found himself spending his lunch hour in Lani’s office. Over the years, he had seen her as his counselor, trusting her professional advice and her instincts as a fellow Dominant with a similar style.
The office was not a large one but it was well furnished, with a bookshelf to one side and a modest desk next to it. A set of matching couch, armchair and coffee table took up the remaining space, and it was here where Lani sat with most clients as they tried to work out their problems.
When they had finished their sandwiches and were sipping on their coffee and tea respectively, Jacob ventured to the reason he was here. “So, what do you think of Luna?”
Lani raised her brows. “I’m not sure if my opinion matters much here, Jacob. What do you think of Luna?”
Pest.
“She…” He was not one to struggle with words in normal circumstances. Sometimes he was too blunt. But for the first time, he was trying to give voice to the tangled feelings he had toward his little mouse. “There’s something between us, a strong pull that goes beyond just attraction. I think we can be good together.”
“But?”
He had learned long ago to stop asking how Lani knew that there was a ‘but’. She was perceptive. It was what made her damn good at her job. “But she seems fragile and unsure still, like she’s not sure if the lifestyle is what she wants. I don’t want our attraction to start her on a path that she regrets.”
Lani tapped her lips then she set her tea down on the coffee table between them. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms in her lap over the open pages of her notebook. “This is not a recent development, so why come see me about it just now?”
There was no dodging her perceptiveness. Jacob felt a momentary pity for her subs—or her ‘dolls’, as she liked to call them.
“Luna asked to scene with me.”
“Ah-h.” That single word was laden with subtle meaning. Jacob waited until Lani elaborated, both of them baiting each other with the silence that followed.
“Jacob…” There was warning in Lani’s voice. It wasn’t the first time she had used that tone with him. He was in her domain, asking for her help. With a sigh of exasperation, Lani tucked her curls back behind her ears. “It’s a single scene. Why so much hesitation?”
Now it was Jacob’s turn to sigh, and he rubbed his face with one hand. “Because my gut is telling me that it won’t be just a single scene. She might not realize it herself, but I’m pretty sure Luna would get emotionally attached.”
“And you’re afraid of that attachment?”
“No. I’d take her on as my sub in a heartbeat if she wanted.” He hadn’t meant to confess that, but Lani had a way of drawing confidence from people that made them let their guard down, himself included. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound. “We’re compatible. I’m sure of it. But I also need to know that she wants to submit because that’s what she wants, not because she wants to be with me.”
As soon as he gave voice to the doubt, everything snapped into focus. That was it, wasn’t it? He couldn’t stand the thought of making her into something she didn’t or wasn’t ready to be. The very potential of that happening sickened him.
“Remember, Luna’s not new to the scene. She has had previous experience.”
“I know.” She had mentioned as much, but something nagged at him. “She still feels to me like she’s unsure, though.”
“Okay.” Lani closed the notebook and leaned forward resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand. “You’ve trained others who were new before. How did you assess that they were sure?”
Jacob’s mind flipped through those he had worked with in the past. “I test them, before the contract. Push their limits just enough and watch how they react. See if they chafe or thrive under the control. See how far they want to go.”
“So…scening.”
“That’s part of it.”
It took only a split second for him to realize where Lani had led their conversation. Damn it. Of course he wanted to go through with it and Lani was right. So how come his brain was throwing up excuses and roadblocks for him to not do it?
“I told her to think about it and get back to me Saturday.” Tomorrow.
He felt Lani’s eyes on him, studying his reactions and his expression before she spoke again. “I think your protective instincts are getting the better of you.”
Surprised by the sudden comment, Jacob leaned forward himself, stiffening. “What do you mean?”
“You and I both know that Luna’s a natural, which means we both want to protect her. Heck, you told me even Erica asked you to look out for her before. Your dominant nature urges you to do whatever it takes to make her safe, to clear away all persuasive distractions, including yourself, so she has a safe space to make an important decision about her life.”
Lani paused then continued when Jacob nodded his agreement. So far, what Lani had said was nothing he hadn’t already shared.
“But what you’re forgetting is that Luna’s smart, and she has her own agency. If she was letting only her heart lead, she would have asked to scene with you a long time ago. That it took this long should be a sign that she’s already being careful.”
“What’re you trying to say, Lani?” She didn’t give strong opinions in her sessions often, preferring to lead her clients to their own conclusions. That she was taking on a more aggressive approach meant that her own dominant instincts were rising.
Lani set the notebook and pen aside. “As a friend, Jacob, I’m saying that perhaps you should start respecting and trusting her as a strong, independent woman who is capable of making her own rational decisions. If she decides that she wants to scene, support that and help her build confidence as a sub.” A small smile graced her lips, taking the sting out of her next words. “Stop second-guessing her choices and take
her at face value. And go have some damn fun.”
* * * *
Hours later, Jacob was still chewing over Lani’s words as he sat at the bar in The Playgrounds, nursing a glass of cognac in one hand, his poison of choice.
“You’re not the brooding type.” Darryl appeared before him, a towel slung over one shoulder.
He glared at the larger man but there was no ill will behind it. “Ha ha,” he replied instead and took a long draw of his drink.
“What’s going on?”
The crowd had yet to gather, and Jacob was rather enjoying the quiet. A glance backward showed only a few people milling around and a sub or two sitting in the lounge. The tourists had yet to make appearances.
“I’m just trying to figure some things out with a sub.” He hadn’t discussed his dilemma with anyone else other than Lani, but Darryl was as close a friend as Lani was.
“That white-haired girl you’ve been hanging with? Luna, right?”
Jacob arched a brow.
“Cassie’s been hanging out with her too. She’s been pretty tight-lipped about it, which is surprising, but she mentioned something about her being a natural sub and that she thought this girl would be a good match for you. I warned her not to stick her nose in and try to play matchmaker.” Darryl rubbed the back of his neck. “It seems she’s taken a shine to the girl.”
“So have August—and Lani.” Something about Luna drew people to her.
“She seems like an interesting girl. I wouldn’t mind meeting her some time.”
Someone at the end of the bar must have waved for Darryl’s attention as he nodded and moved toward them. Over the years, Jacob had gotten used to the rhythm of conversation and interruption with Darryl as he manned the bar of The Playgrounds. His friend took the order and fixed the drink with well-honed skills.
“So, what’s the problem?” Darryl asked when he returned once more.
“Lani said I’m being overprotective to the point of second-guessing and not trusting Luna’s decisions.” There was a peevishness to his tone, like a child sulking from a scolding. Jacob wasn’t sure if it was her words or his own reaction that annoyed him more.
