His last message had been sent about two minutes ago.
Jude
You’re still naked, aren’t you?
She barked a laugh, blushing as she tried to think of a response. She typed.
Q
And wet.
Jude
Hot, naked and wet. That’s an ideal combination.
Q
Kind of cold, actually. Too bad Sabrina’s not available to warm me up. Maybe I should jump in the shower with her.
Jude
If you do, bring a camera.
Q
Perv.
Jude
Oh come on, I’ve said worse to you in the past few days.
She shifted where she stood, thinking about all of the naughty IM-ing they’d done lately. He was sexy, clever, funny and perverted. Keeping him at arm’s length because he was leaving at the end of August wasn’t working. She was a little smitten.
Q
True, but you should still make an effort to be a gentleman.
Jude
Sure, but don’t expect me to be a gentle man.
She grinned at the screen and shook her head.
Q
Now quit bugging me so I can find something to wear to your house. We’ll be there in 45 minutes, unless you keep talking.
Jude
*sigh* Fine, I’ll go get things ready. It’s not my fault you keep talking to me. You could just ignore me.
Q
You’re a hard man to ignore.
Jude
Good. Then my work with you has been successful.
Q
Bye, sunshine.
Jude
Remind me again why I shouldn’t spank you for calling me that?
She changed her settings so she appeared offline to him. It was either that or they’d keep chatting all day. It had happened before. Hopefully he’d see it for the bratting it was and punish her for it later.
Another conversation popped up.
Nico
You there, Q?
She thought of ignoring him, but he could see she was online. Why hadn’t she blocked him after their last conversation? Because she was too polite, that’s why. She’d acknowledge his greeting then get rid of him quickly.
Q
Hey.
Nico
Coffee tonight. 8 pm.
Old habits were apparently hard for him to break. He was still bossy, even though he’d given up the right to be. A cold anger formed and she pushed it down. It was just his way, she couldn’t hold it against him.
Q
Can’t. Have a date.
Nico
You do? With?
Q
A new Dom.
His end became quiet and she drifted over to her closet, wondering if he was mulling over what to say or if he’d gotten sidetracked. Lately she’d had the impression he wasn’t very happy with his little slave anymore. He’d been hinting at wanting her back, but she was deliberately playing dumb. She wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to keep exploring things with Jude and Sabrina, even if they were ending after the summer. Was a Dom in the hand worth more than something intensely interesting, yet very temporary?
She grabbed an old concert t-shirt off of the floor, out of the clean pile, and a black bra and panty set out of her dresser. In the middle of getting dressed, she heard the bleep of the message alert. While yanking the t-shirt over her head, she walked to the computer.
Nico
Do I know him?
She sighed and typed a message. Why was she bothering with this guy again?
Q
No, hence the word “new”. He’s not from around here.
Nico
Are you fucking him tonight?
Q
I’m going to his place. But that’s none of your fucking business.
There was another lull and she cast around the room for shorts before remembering she didn’t own any. She grabbed scissors out of her desk drawer and looked for the jeans she’d decided were too short the other day. Was she really going to wear shorts? She never wore them out of the house and had thrown out the last pair about a year ago. Laughing at her own painful modesty, she hacked the jeans off at the knee. She slid them on, the pale skin of her lower leg making her feel more than naked.
She wandered back to her laptop, grabbing her makeup and a mirror on the way. Waterproof mascara in case it was as hot as the weatherman said it would be. Was the old house even air conditioned?
Nico
As a friend I’m just worried about you playing with a stranger. Do you need someone to safe call? Give me his address and call me every hour so I know you’re okay.
Um... was “fuck, no” too harsh a response?
Q
We have someone playing with us that I know well. Thanks for the concern.
Nico
Good. Who’s the third? I really miss playing with you sometimes.
The brush banged against the wall before she realized she’d thrown it. Seriously?
Q
None of your business. You have an obedient little toy to play with, what do you want me for?
Nico
Sometimes a man likes a challenge. A girl with a little spirit.
Q
You thought I was too much work, remember?
Nico
Maybe I was wrong to be so lazy.
Q
Don’t fuck with me.
She slammed the laptop closed, growling. There was a time she’d have done anything to please him, but his betrayal still stung too much for her to disregard.
Catching her reflection in the mirror, she stopped herself. Today wasn’t the day to worry about Nico being a jackass. She pushed thoughts of him away. Jude’s strong hands and pretty mouth quickly came to mind. She glanced down and wished she’d made the shorts shorter.
***
How they were supposed to concentrate on painting with Sabrina dressed like this was beyond Q. As Sabrina knocked, Q’s gaze slid over her curves, all very distracting in the spaghetti-strapped navy blue sundress. Her hair was up in its customary messy bun, with tendrils of it brushing the back of her neck and shoulders. Looking that mouth-watering and seeming so oblivious about it was just cruel. She’d give it no more than an hour before she pinned her down somewhere and did an underwear check. It was only fair.
After a moment, the ornate door swung open and Jude was there in all of his shirtless, muscled glory. His chest and abs were amazing, but it was his arms that made her drool. It wouldn’t take much effort for him to overpower her. She forced herself to look him in the eye, but she’d already been caught checking him out.
“See something you like?” he mocked.
“The washboard just reminded me I have some laundry to get done.”
“Yes, I wondered about that. You’re wearing shorts instead of long pants today. Your knees are mostly showing. Very risqué. It’s a laundry issue? And here I thought you were just trying to distract me from painting.”
“No, if I was trying to distract you, you’d know it.” She smirked. “And I got the memo on the way over, that my shorts are too long. I just cut them off this morning. Apparently I should have looked up how to make cut-offs online, because Sabrina thinks I did a piss poor job.”
Jude smiled and winked then turned his attention to Sabrina. “You also look delicious, as usual, Jersey girl. I’ll have to make sure to give you all of the high parts to paint.”
She laughed and eyed him coyly. “I’m the shortest. Why on earth would you have me paint the stuff that’s higher up?”
The look he gave her left little mystery to his intentions. “Because that little dress will look even sweeter when you’re up the ladder.”
“You’d better not try peeking up my skirt!” Her mock glare was flirty, but she slapped his chest all the same. Her hand lingered there and she gazed up into his eyes. A moment later, the spell broke and she shrugged. “It’s an old dress so I don’t care if it gets covered
in paint. Unlike our goth friend here, I don’t see any point in owning clothes that aren’t pretty.” She turned to give Q a bratty look then asked Jude, “Do you have scissors handy? I'm going to fix Q's shorts for her, so she looks like a normal person.”
Q rolled her eyes and shook her head in feigned disbelief. Her roommate had made snarky comments about her old concert t-shirt on the car ride over too. Apparently she should have consulted her before selecting a painting ensemble.
“I’m all for that,” he answered. “There are scissors with the painting tape.” Chuckling, he led them through to the back of the house, to a large room with cathedral ceilings. A big bay window with a vast and comfy-looking seat drew her attention. The view was of the spacious backyard that ended at a distance in greenbelt. The shed where he’d scared them the first night they met was in view.
“The scissors are there.” Jude pointed to sturdy-looking wooden scaffolding that stood against a side wall. “This is the color I’m doing,” he announced. Q turned as he opened a paint can and revealed a rich cream color. “With ochre accents.”
As she stood in the middle of the room with her arms folded, Q watched Sabrina fiddle with various painting implements. She chose a roller. “Are you going to keep fucking around, or are you going to cut my shorts?” If they looked dumb she wanted them fixed now.
Grinning, Jude reached up and grabbed the scissors then held them out to Sabrina. He leaned casually against the wall beside the scaffolding.
Sabrina’s blush reached her hairline. She met Q’s gaze contritely. “I was joking. You do look like a normal person. I like you even if you do dress like a freak. It’s part of your charm. I wouldn’t actually want you to change who you are. Even for me.”
A warm fluttering in Q’s chest started as she looked into Sabrina’s eyes. The temptation to tell her again that she loved her was strong, but she resisted. Repeating it would just make her look pathetic, since Sabrina obviously wasn’t ready to reciprocate. The silence was getting too long to be comfortable. Time for a distraction.
With a glance at Jude, Q shrugged. “Put the scissors down before your arm gets tired. She’s too chicken to follow through with her threats most of the time. She’d have to touch me and that scares her.” She swallowed a grin and hoped Jude was watching Sabrina, because this was going to be fantastic.
“Chicken?” Sabrina growled. “I’ll show you chicken.” She stomped over to Jude and grabbed the scissors out of his hand. “I try to tell you that I accept you as you are, and you mock me. Do you think I’m just some cutesy doll that you can play with? I’m just as tough as you are, you know. Just because you can get me to kneel at your feet doesn’t mean I’m a doormat.”
“I appreciate the fact that you don’t expect me to change who I am for you, Sabrina. And I know you’re not a doormat. But the fact remains that You. Are. Chicken.”
“We’ll see about that.” She stalked over to Q. Crouching beside her, she opened the scissors and slid them up the outside of Q’s thigh until the denim was caught between the blades. She paused and looked up at her uncertainly, as though waiting for her to object.
“Do it.” Jude’s voice was low.
The feel of the cool metal against her skin made Q’s breathing uneven and sent thrilling shivers through her. Maybe she shouldn’t have marked no next to knife play. But having Sabrina do this was a bad idea. Making an excuse to have her close was one thing, but she was dizzy from the mix of dominant and submissive feelings rushing through her.
Scissors running along her bare skin. Sabrina kneeling shyly at her feet. Carefully, Sabrina cut upward until most of her thigh was visible. She cut around the front of her leg next, leaving the white pocket hanging out the bottom of the leg hole. As the scissors approached her inseam, Q wished she had something to grab onto, to steady herself.
As though her thoughts were audible, Jude’s big hands wrapped around her upper arms from behind, making her feel both safe and a bit trapped. She hadn’t even noticed him move in their direction. Q licked her lips and exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath for too long. Squeezing between them, Sabrina cut away the fabric from the back of her thigh, and then Q felt her plant a kiss there. She squeaked.
Sabrina moved back into view and frowned up at her. “Did you just squeak?”
“No, it must have been a floorboard.” Sabrina kissed the back of her thigh? That was more than a little shocking.
Jude snorted. “That was Q. Whatever you just did, do it again. I liked that noise.”
Sabrina cut the other pant leg faster. Had she had freaked herself out? When she was done, Sabrina stood back and admired her handiwork. As Jude let go of her arms, Q looked down at herself.
“Wow, Sabrina.” Q grimaced. “Now they’re much... sluttier. You like?” She turned a little to give her roommate the full effect.
“You started it.” She smiled. “Besides, they’re not really slutty. The back doesn’t even show cheek.”
The banging of her heart must have been heard by neighbors a block away. She fought to erase the kiss on the back of her thigh from her memory, but the tingling there still hadn’t subsided. “Fine. Whatever. Are we going to get any painting done today? Poor Jude has had to suffer through our shenanigans enough.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he drawled. “This is much more entertaining than painting.”
Q chuckled and threw a roller to him.
With three of them working, getting the first coat on the walls didn’t take long. The open window made for a cool breeze, and when they were done they sipped the sodas Jude had brought them while looking for spots they’d missed.
“How’d you get so good at renovating houses?” Sabrina asked. “I mean it’s more than just painting you’re doing here, isn’t it?”
“Sure.” He nodded. “I worked for a builder in Spain for a while, and another in Norway. I started out as a bricklayer. I can do electrical work, plumbing…the works. I’m multi-talented in many areas.” His twisted smile had distinctly dirty undertones.
Q scoffed.
“And you have an enormous ego. Hey! Here’s spot you missed,” sang Sabrina, putting her soda can down on the window ledge. She pointed to a section Jude had painted.
Frowning, he walked to her. “Where? I don’t see anything.”
“Right here!” Q saw Sabrina’s intention an instant before she rolled paint across the ass of Jude’s jeans.
Mouth pressed into a hard line and eyebrows raised, Jude drew himself up to his full height and looked down at Sabrina. She dissolved into a fit of giggles and covered her mouth with a cupped hand, looking like she was trying to hold back more.
Apparently Jude’s Dom Face didn’t work on the mischievous little brat. Q snickered.
“Yes, very clever.” His smile was dangerous. He walked to Q and took the soda can from her hand, putting it beside Sabrina’s on the ledge. When he turned back, Q bit her lip and tried to look contrite.
“Kneel, Q,” he ordered. “You too, Sabrina.”
He really wasn’t wasting any time, was he? Part of her objected loudly. Did she respect him enough to kneel to him already? She decided to give it a shot. If this sucked, he’d have to earn it next time. As Q sank to her knees, Sabrina grabbed her hand and did the same. She looked up at Jude, who was damned tall from this vantage point, then quickly averted her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to ask about eye contact rules.
“You may look at me unless I tell you otherwise.” Jude walked to the painting supplies, set his roller in the tray and put the lid back on the paint can.
As soon as his back was turned, Sabrina moved to get up. Q rolled her eyes and lunged, pulling her back down.
“Seriously?” Sabrina hissed.
“So what kind of punishment do you think you’ve earned?” He swaggered toward them, a gleam in his eye. With a slow nod, he drew Q to her feet and led her to the scaffolding. From up under the lip of the platform, he pulled down a set of leather c
uffs that trailed a length of rope.
“Really? That’s not even fair!” Q glowered. “You planned this out ahead of time and were just looking for a reason.”
“No.” He grinned wryly. “With two naughty girls around I need to try to stay a step ahead.” Without warning, his eyes turned to flint. “Now are you going to cooperate with the cuffs, or are we doing this the hard way?”
Q weighed her options, and decided to play along. After all, she’d been hoping today wasn’t just going to be about home improvement. She shoved her wrists out to him.
He shook his head. “Not so fast. Lose the clothes.”
She furrowed her brow. “What? All of them? I just laughed because she was laughing! I couldn’t help it.” Q tugged at the bottom of her t-shirt – she was thankful she’d had the foresight to wear one of her nicer sets of under things. But she still didn’t want to part with her clothes. Not yet.
He arched a brow. “Keep bra and panties on for now. I can always cut them off if they get in the way.” His steely gaze made her want to obey. At least for now.
Blushing, she pulled off her shirt and peeled off her shorts then kicked them both to the side. She offered her wrists more politely this time, and Jude fastened the cuffs on her while making no secret of perusing her body. He traced gentle fingers down the side of her tattoo, from her ribcage, over her hip, down her leg, to where the design pooled at the top of her foot. His investigation had brought him to a crouch, and his lips and tongue brushed briefly over her hipbone. A trickle of moisture dampened her underwear as he stood. With the rope he tied her arms above her head to an O-ring hidden under the scaffolding platform. A few feet to her right he pulled out an already paint-splattered chair and sat down.
“Come here, Sabrina.” He held out a hand. Q hoped this wasn’t freaking her out. “Ah, ah,” he corrected. “Did I say you could get up? Crawl.”
The Dom with a Safeword (Badass Brats #1) Page 11
