“I’m glad. It’s the rewarding part of my work.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him tenderly. “Besides, I really like them.”
Judd nodded. “They’re good people.”
On the short walk home, the four discussed the things they’d seen. “I liked the room that looked like you were under the ocean,” Trish said.
“I loved the burlesque room. Give me half-naked girls any day,” Alex laughed.
Judd joined in. “Yep, half-naked girls rock.”
“I figured.” Trish playfully punched them both. “Jessi, what did you like?”
“I couldn’t get over the hotel room set up in the bottom of the pool. It wasn’t really the artsy-est, but I kept wondering how they did it.”
Back at Jessi’s, they adjourned to the pool deck and enjoyed a dessert of homemade chocolate cake. Alex glanced up at Jessi. “So Farris and I were talking. How about next month the four of us head over to the Bahamas for a little diving?”
Trish responded immediately. “Ooh, yes, that sounds fantastic. We’ll borrow my brother’s boat. Say you’ll come, Jessi.”
Jessi looked to Judd, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Well, I suppose...I mean, I still have one more open water dive before I’m certified, but I’m doing that next week, so...”
“So what do you say, Jessi?” Judd watched her thoughtfully.
Jessi looked at the other three. “I say, let’s do it.”
Chapter 34
Jessi had just reached her front door, arms loaded with grocery bags, when she heard her phone ringing in her purse. By the time she’d made it to the kitchen island and put down the groceries, the phone had gone to voicemail. She put away the cold things, then dug the phone out of her bag. The missed call log said ‘Cara’.
She sank into Sir’s chair and dialed. “Hi, sweetie. I was just coming in the door. How are you?”
“Hi, Mom. I’m good. Listen, I have some time off. Trevor and I want to come down for the weekend.”
Jessi hesitated. “This weekend?” It was Wednesday. Did her daughter really mean two days from now?
“Yeah, we were planning to go to the mountains, but I said I’d rather go to the beach.”
The butterflies in Jessi’s stomach went into overdrive. So far, she had avoided mentioning, to either Cara or Adam, the change in her relationship with Judd. Not that she was ashamed. But her children had never known her to date. What would they think?
“You know, this weekend isn’t good, Cara. I won’t actually be here.”
She could hear Cara huff through the phone. “Well where will you actually be?”
Jessi frowned at Cara’s rudeness. Her tone was pointed. “I will actually be in the Bahamas. I’m going diving.”
“Diving? As in scuba diving? Since when do you dive?”
“I just got certified recently. It’s something I do with Judd. You remember Judd, don’t you? Friend of your father’s? Helps out around the house? Judd and I are dating.” Jessi squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the reply.
“Dating?” Cara’s voice was incredulous. “How did that happen?”
Jessi squinted in annoyance. “What do you mean, Cara, how did it happen? It was pretty straightforward. He asked me out, and I said yes. We go out. To dinner. To functions. We go paddle boarding, surfing...diving. We go out for drinks. We’re dating.”
“Unbelievable. My mother is dating. Does Adam know about this?” Cara demanded.
“No, it hasn’t come up in conversation,” Jessi hedged. “Cara, your dad’s been gone for nearly a year now. I know it’s going to feel weird to you. If I’m honest, it felt weird to me. But I have to move forward.”
She sighed deeply. “And the truth is, I really like Judd. He’s a nice man and we have fun together. I hope you can wrap your head around it. And I’d love to have you and Trevor anytime. Just not this weekend.”
She heard Cara blow out a frustrated breath. “Okay. I guess it’s the mountains after all. I’m not mad at you, Mommy. You just took me by surprise.”
Jessi rolled her eyes. Now I’m Mommy.
“I want you to be happy. Truly. And if Judd makes you happy, I’ll try to get used to the idea.”
Jessi smiled into the phone. “He does, Cara. Judd makes me very happy.”
TWO DAYS LATER, JESSI’S hair whipped in the wind as she sat on the deck of the 25-foot white cabin cruiser as it bounced out of the Jupiter Inlet.
“Hold on, Jessi. It will smooth out in just a minute,” Judd grinned.
She watched as he took the seat beside Alex who expertly navigated out of the mouth of the inlet and into the open ocean. Trish emerged from below, proffering a chilled bottle of water, which Jessi gratefully accepted.
The younger woman’s lithe form was barely concealed in a tiny swimsuit with a white top and blue bottoms. Jessi considered her own bikini, now hidden beneath her white knit beach dress.
Judd had assigned her the task of buying a bikini, and she’d tried on half the store before she’d settled on a suit of dusty pink fabric in a retro floral pattern. The halter top adequately contained her DDs, and the bottoms revealed a bit of the curve of her cheeks, but Judd had been pleased.
She crossed to him now and stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his broad, bare shoulders. She pressed a kiss against the side of his neck. “I believe I’ll get a little sun,” she murmured into his ear. She removed her beach dress, hung it on the back of his seat, and rejoined Trish at the stern of the boat.
Judd watched her walk away, then turned back around, grinning broadly.
That woman is sexy as homemade sin.
He knew she was a bit uncomfortable wearing so little around the others, but he felt it was good for her to stretch her boundaries. She had nothing to be unconfident about—her figure was slamming, for a woman of any age.
He and Alex chatted briefly, then settled in for the ride to West End. From Jupiter, the trip was only about 50 miles, and they’d arrive by mid-afternoon. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, with a clear cerulean sky overhead, the sun igniting the waters of the sparkling blue Atlantic.
Glancing back, Judd saw Jessi and Trish deep in conversation, and he wondered if they were talking wedding plans. Watching Jessi befriend Alex and Trish pleased him immensely. If there was anyone on the planet he trusted with his life, it was Alex Gomez, his partner for the last ten years.
He looked to Alex at the wheel of the boat. Alex and Trish were made for each other. By all rights, they should have gotten married a long time ago, in Judd’s estimation. Theirs would be a very happy wedding.
Thinking about Gomez’s upcoming nuptials, his thoughts drifted briefly to himself and Jessi, but he brushed those thoughts aside. No way was he ready for a permanent commitment, and he didn’t think Jessi was up for that, either, not yet anyway. Things were going well the way they were. Better to focus on the present.
A satisfied smile played across his lips. He had plans for this weekend that Jessi knew nothing about, plans beyond spending a couple of days diving the reefs in the crystal-clear Bahamian waters.
They were headed to the marina at Old Bahama Bay. Alex and Trish would be staying on the boat. But Judd had a reservation for an oceanfront suite at the hotel. And he’d brought more than dive gear.
He chuckled to himself. Packed in his bag was an assortment of new toys, including a Wartenburg wheel he couldn’t wait to try on Jessi’s supple flesh. There was something else, too. Something he hoped would mean as much to her as it did to him.
Collaring a submissive wasn’t something he took lightly—he’d only done it one other time, and that relationship had ended well before the one-year mark. He wasn’t ready to commit to marriage. But he sure as hell was ready to commit to being Jessi’s Dominant for the long haul.
The sun was beginning its downhill slide toward the western horizon when Alex guided the boat into the marina at about 4:00 that afternoon. They quickly settled customs requirements and checked into their
appointed slip.
“Okay, Jessi. We’ll leave Gomez and his lovely fiancée to this fine vessel. You and I are staying elsewhere tonight.” He beamed at Jessi, a mysterious twinkle in his eye.
Jessi, having donned her beach cover-up once again, retrieved her suitcase and tote bag. She hugged Trish and allowed Judd to help her onto the dock.
“You lovebirds go get settled. We’ll meet you for dinner in a couple of hours. This place has a 5-star restaurant,” Alex grinned.
“In the restaurant, 7:00. We’ll be there,” Judd promised.
He hoisted his and Jessi’s bags onto his left shoulder and held out his right hand to her. “Come on and let’s see what the weekend holds for us.”
When they reached the end of the dock, Jessi turned and scanned the property in all directions. The water was fluid turquoise, while the land was a mix of green grass and sandy beach. A smattering of two-story hotel buildings in various pastel tones dotted the property, accented by coconut palms and lush tropical vegetation.
Judd was watching her carefully, and she beamed at him. “It’s just beautiful.”
“I’m happy you like it. But you haven’t seen everything yet.”
A stop at the front desk netted them a pair of key cards, and a porter loaded their belongings onto a golf cart, which he used to drive Judd and Jessi three buildings away from the main one, past a life-sized chess board, to the block that housed their suite.
Jessi alit from the cart and looked up at the two-story building. It was painted a pale lavender, accented with crisp white veranda railings.
She smiled up at Judd. “My favorite color!”
He grinned mischievously. “I know.”
They followed the porter up the stairs to the last door on the end. He opened it with a flourish. “Welcome to your suite.”
Judd motioned for Jessi to go ahead, and she entered, finding herself in a small foyer that opened onto a warm, inviting, luxurious suite. The room was appointed with British colonial furnishings in muted earth tones. The king-sized mahogany four-poster bed was flanked by matching side tables, and beyond that was a sitting area with a small sofa opposite a pair of wing-backed chairs, a low table between them. But what caught her attention was the pair of French doors that opened onto a generous veranda overlooking the ocean.
Jessi drew open the door and stepped outside as a warm breeze ruffled her hair. A pair of rattan rockers with thick beige cushions sat pointed toward the water, a small circular table between them. She crossed to the white railing then turned to look back into the room.
Judd was handing a few bills to the porter and thanking him. He closed the door behind the man, then joined Jessi outside. The roof hung over the expanse of the veranda, so that even on a rainy day, the outdoor space could be enjoyed.
“What do you think, Angel?” he asked, sliding his arm around her waist and nuzzling her neck as they faced the beach and the water beyond.
“I think,” she tiptoed up to kiss him, “that this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.” She nuzzled his cheek, wrapping both arms around him. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”
He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. “I’m happy you like it. But there are more surprises.”
Jessi looked up at him. “More surprises?”
Judd nodded. “But something’s wrong.” He knitted his brow, feigning confusion. “Angel is here, and dressed, rather than on her knees, and naked. How is that possible?”
She tried to suppress a smile. “That’s possible because Sir didn’t tell me.”
He shook his head in mock exasperation. “Blaming it on me, too? The infractions just pile up. Hurry!” He smacked her bottom lightly as she headed inside, then turned to gaze out over the strip of sugar-white sand separating the land from the crystal blue water.
If he were being honest with himself, he’d have to acknowledge the tendrils of anxiety that tickled his stomach. Offering Jessi a collar was a big step—what if she said ‘no’?
Could she say no? He sighed deeply. He didn’t think so.
He turned back to the room and was pleased with what he saw. He’d been deliberately vague in his instructions for Jessi. She knew to be naked and on her knees, but he hadn’t said where. In the absence of any directive, she’d gone with what was their norm, kneeling at the foot of the bed. His cock celebrated the sight of Jessi, arms behind her, breasts pushed forward, her head bowed submissively with her eyes closed.
Judd stalked noiselessly across the tile floor to where his bags were, unzipping the top of one and extracting a black satin blindfold mask. Jessi waited patiently, eyes still closed. Rather than standing in front of her, which was their custom, he stopped behind her, lightly petting her hair.
“Angel, you are amazingly beautiful. You have no idea. I think,” he slid the blindfold into place, “I want you to forget about seeing for a while. Just concentrate on your other senses.”
He moved back to his bag, returning with a small implement in his hand. To his knowledge, Jessi hadn’t experienced a Wartenburg wheel. At least she’d never mentioned it to him. “Safe words, Angel. What are your safe words?”
“Green, yellow, and red, Sir.”
“Good girl,” he nodded. “Use them if you need them.”
Lightly, Judd drew his fingers across Jessi’s shoulders, leaning down to fondle her breasts. He heard the change in her breathing and knew she was aroused. Her nipples peaked instantly, her areolas simply tight pink puckers around the sharp points.
Applying only the slightest pressure, he drew the spiked wheel up her arm from her elbow to her shoulder, eliciting a gasp from Jessi. He stilled his movements. “Color, Angel?”
“Green, Sir. I was just...surprised.”
Judd smiled, resuming his meandering with the wheel, drawing it across her collarbone to her other shoulder and down, delighting in the goosebumps that formed across her body. Her nipples sharpened to impossibly tight points, and unable to resist, he headed that direction with the wheel, lightly grazing them.
Jessi caught her lower lip in her teeth and groaned softly. Abruptly, he stopped his survey of her torso and walked away, returning a moment later with something different in his hands.
Curious, Jessi listened as hard as she could, straining to hear what Judd might be doing next. As she waited, impatient for his sweet torture to continue, she became aware of the scent of leather. She turned her head this way and that, trying to figure out where it was coming from. She heard Judd’s throaty chuckle and felt a puff of air on her face. The leather scent was a bit stronger.
“I’m not sure what you want me to do, Sir,” she confessed.
“You may remove the blindfold, Angel.”
Jessi loosened her grip behind her back and reached up to slowly slip off her blindfold. Blinking against the soft light in the room, she saw nothing but the bed.
From behind her, Judd lowered a purple leather collar into view. It was plain, for the most part. A strip of purple leather about an inch wide, it was marked only by a quartet of silver rivets in the center of the strip, flanking a D-ring with a round ring attached to it. There was a silver buckle on one end and the other end tapered into a point. Judd moved around and sat on the end of the bed, laying the leather strip over his knee. Wide-eyed, Jessi ventured a finger to lightly stroke the collar. Then she looked up to Judd.
“What do you say, Angel? Will you be my submissive? Will you agree to obey me, trusting me to lead you?”
Jessi stroked the collar again and gazed back at Judd. Her voice was soft. “I’ve already given you my submission. I do trust you to lead me.”
Judd smiled. “This makes it official. I’d be honored Jessi, if you’d wear my collar.” Earnest longing sparkled in his eyes.
Jessi bowed her head. “If it pleases you, Sir, I’d love to wear your collar.”
Judd lifted her chin so that their eyes met. He leaned forward to fasten the collar around her neck, and gave her a sideways glance.
“Do you want to see what it looks like?”
Jessi grinned. “Yes, please!”
He helped her up and Jessi hurried to the mirror over the large mahogany dresser. Naked, wearing Judd’s collar, she looked wicked and wanton. She whirled to face him. “It’s my favorite color!”
He grinned. “I know.” He patted the bed beside him. “We’re not done, yet, Angel, and we have to meet the others for dinner in about an hour, so...”
To her surprise, when Jessi returned to Judd, he didn’t turn her over his knee. Instead, he had her kneel on the bed. “Now, back on with the blindfold,” he said.
Jessi complied, replacing the blindfold.
“Now, Angel, the collar and the wheel aren’t the only new things I brought on this trip.” His voiced sounded further away, and Jessi waited anxiously to find out what would happen next.
Sounding closer, he spoke again. “I want you to hold your hands together in front of you, palms up.” Jessi did as she was told. Something smooth and round was placed in her hands. It seemed to be shaped like an egg and had a bit of weight to it. But before she could explore the object further, it buzzed, and she yelped, dropping it on the bed.
She heard Judd’s warm laughter. “Did I scare you, Angel?” She felt the bed shake as he sat beside her. A moment later, the blindfold was lifted. Dangling from a loop of string around his finger was a pink plastic egg. In the other hand, he held a smaller pink plastic egg. He pushed a button on the smaller egg, and the dangling egg buzzed again.
Jessi looked from the pink egg to Judd, and back again. “We’re going to have some fun tonight. This,” he held up the dangling egg, “is going to dinner with us.”
Jessi’s eyes widened. “And it goes...”
“You guessed it. In your pussy.”
“And you’re just going to zap me during dinner?”
Judd grinned. “Like I said, we’re going to have fun. What do you say, Jessi, are you in? Give me a color.”
Jessi looked back to the device, considering the idea.
“Come on, Angel, you’re going to love it.”
For Sparrow (The Dream Dominant Collection Book 3) Page 19
