Q’s gaze snapped to him in alarm. He looked back and forth between her and Sabrina – who was also goggling at him – then started to shake with mirth. “Not like that! Go dance for me.”
She groaned aloud. “But I hate dancing!”
“It’s true. She never dances. And I’m no good at it,” Sabrina said.
“Hmm. I don’t recall asking for opinions or excuses from either of you. Do as you’re told or suffer the consequences when we get back to your place.” His jaw muscle popped as he set his face in the stony expression they were becoming very familiar with.
“Come on, Q.” Sabrina slid off Jude’s lap and pulled Q up by the hand. “I think I’d prefer sex to whatever he’s threatening. Let’s give the man what he wants.”
They walked arm in arm to the dance floor, staying as close to Jude as it allowed. Q leaned in. “Interested in putting on the kind of show that will make him uncomfortable?”
Sabrina’s gaze swept the other dancers. Couples all around them danced suggestively, grinding together to the heavy beat. “Okay. But your hands have to stay over my clothes for this. And nothing too rude.”
Q aimed an evil look over her shoulder at Jude and started dancing. She grabbed Sabrina’s hand and pulled her in close. Sabrina’s half-nude body and the memory of her damp arousal spurred Q on and she circled her as they danced, sliding her hands over the bare skin of her neck and collar bone. She kept casting looks at Jude to make sure he watched them. Sabrina caught on and joined in. Q ground against her and grabbed her around the waist, holding her close. One song flowed into another, then another without pause, becoming a long series of thuds in her head – a shared heartbeat of the writhing horde.
Sabrina lost her inhibition and rubbed against her, their faces inches apart. The smaller girl’s arms slid up around her neck and pulled Q’s lips down to hers. They stopped moving though the chaos continued around them. Their lips brushed and Q groaned. Her heart accelerated and throbbed roughly in her chest. Sabrina deepened the kiss, her tongue probing Q’s mouth. Anxious yet unable to help herself, Q let her, hoping her friend wouldn’t regret this later. When their lips finally parted, Q’s head spun. Sabrina no longer needed kissing lessons.
Looking incredibly smug, Sabrina grabbed Q’s hand and led her off the dance floor toward Jude. His eyes were riveted to them in the gloom and a lazy smirk played across his lips. His approving look made Q’s already hard nipples ache for attention.
Sabrina’s steps slowed. A man was sitting with him. As they got to the couch, the baby-faced man grinned up at them hugely, ridiculous in his enthusiasm. The stranger hopped to his feet and zoomed off toward the bar.
“Friend of yours?” Q asked.
He nodded. “My brand new best buddy, as a matter of fact. I think he said his name was Jon. He realized we’re all together and he had a fanboy moment. Wanted to know what my secret was. I think he’s coming back.” He chuckled. “He asked if he could buy you two a drink, but I told him it wasn’t safe for you to accept drinks from strangers. He tried to buy me one first.” Jude drew them down to the couch and they draped around him like concubines.
Moments later Jon returned with a drink in one hand, his phone in the other. “This is so awesome! Can I take your picture?” Jude shook his head, but the man’s eagerness was undeterred. “I guess that’s kind of creepy. Right. Well, can I get a picture with you Jude? I want to remember this. Maybe someday I’ll figure out your secret, but for now this will remind me that it can happen!”
He held the phone out to Sabrina who laughed but accepted it. When she and Q rose from the couch, he sat beside Jude. As Sabrina raised the phone, Jon grinned and put an arm around Jude’s shoulder, pointing at him with the hand that held his drink. Apparently Jude was the shit.
The girls’ peals of laughter seemed lost on Jon and he chattered to Jude. Sabrina tossed his phone back and the girls headed toward the restroom together.
The line extended almost into the hallway, of course. Sabrina waved Q off. “You go. I’ll find my way back on my own.”
After Q gave her lipstick a quick check, she grabbed her phone out of Sabrina’s handbag. “I’ll wait in the hall.”
She was reading status updates when a hand stroked up the back of her bare thigh. “Sabrina!” She jumped and turned, about to give her shit for scaring her. It wasn’t Sabrina.
“Nico,” she breathed, fighting to maintain eye contact. She trembled a little but tried to not to betray her surprise and anxiety. It was always like this, since they’d split. “What the fuck are you doing here? It’s not really your kind of place.”
He was still a vision of the gothest kind. Arching a black brow, he looked down at her disdainfully. “Not exactly your kind of place, either, Q. Ivy told me you were coming here tonight. You didn’t answer my text this morning so I decided to come by and check out your new play partner. You waiting for him here, like a good girl?”
Not much had changed in six months. He still knew how to press her buttons. She glowered at him. “I’m busy having a life. We’re friends and all, but stalking me isn’t very friendly. I’m having fun. Don’t ruin it for me.” Two girls strolled out of the restroom, leaning on each other for support and went past, oblivious to the drama.
His dark eyes narrowed and he leaned in, his hand on the wall beside her head. They were so close that his smooth black hair brushed her forehead. “It’s temporary. You said he’s leaving at the end of the summer. Why not make a clean break of it now before you get too attached? He doesn’t know you like I do. You have trouble letting people go. He’s not going to keep you, long-distance. I’m willing to take you back right now, but don’t bank on the offer still being good when he’s done with you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed to blink them back. She knew no other Dom would put up with her shit. Not long term. Not even Jude. She hadn’t answered Nico’s text today, because she hadn’t known how to respond. He’d claimed he alone could handle her. Nico was a complete ass sometimes compared to Jude, but he was offering permanence – and a convenient source of pain.
He leaned forward, growling quietly in her ear, “I kicked Isabelle out this morning, like I told you I was going to. I expect you home by next weekend at the latest. Understood?”
Her hackles rose. She was not a slave for him to bark commands at. He’d dumped her – he didn’t get to run her life. “Fuck you, Nico! You can’t boss me around anymore. I never made you any promises – and I’m free.” Her vehemence surprised her.
Nico recoiled, and after a quick glance up and down the hall he slapped her hard across the face. Fire bloomed. She clutched her cheek. The blow hadn’t been that hard, but it was unexpected.
“In your deepest, darkest heart you know you’re a slave, Q,” he hissed. “You’re my slave. Being free doesn’t make you happy. How many times have we discussed this? Just because I set you aside for awhile doesn’t make you normal. You’re not like everyone else.”
It was true, she was a freak. She craved so much physical dominance and pain. Jude didn’t want a freak. Did anyone? Nico’s eyes softened and he traced gentle fingers over the heat of where he’d hit. He stared into her eyes and she could feel herself falling under his spell. Q knew he didn’t really love her. No matter what she did, Nico was always angry with her. She burned the food, stayed up too late, showed too much skin. There was always something. But was it because he was mean or because she was a fuck-up? Q wasn’t stupid. Part of her knew he was an abusive asshat, but at least he understood her. And still wanted her.
What a confusing mess. She ducked her head, averting her gaze. “You have to give me time to think please, Sir. I’m... I don’t know yet.”
He chuckled, stroking her hair behind her ear then tracing her jaw. “No ‘Master’ from you tonight? I’ll accept it for now. But you know what you call me in your head.”
Asshat? She giggled but covered it with a little cough.
“Q? Is everything okay?” Sabri
na appeared nearby, looking uncertain. “Hi, Nico. I never thought we’d see you here.”
Q watched as his face transformed from sneering mega Dom to pleasant acquaintance. “Hello, Sabrina. I dropped by to talk to Q for a minute. We had something to discuss.” His gaze snapped back to Q and his lips pressed together in displeasure. “Now I see who your third is. Congratulations. I know how long you’ve been waiting to get at the straight girl’s cunt.”
She flinched and glanced at Sabrina. That was harsh, even for him. Impressive that Sabrina held back. Q didn't miss Sabrina’s hand clenching at her side, ready to deck him.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Then he was gone, stalking away in a swirl of black clothes and silver buckles.
She watched until he turned the corner, admiring the way he moved in spite of herself. Her body begged to follow.
Fingers snapping in her face brought her back to reality. “Q. Q, honey. Listen to me.” Sabrina was staring at her intently. “He is such an asshole! What the hell did he say to you before I came out? And why the fuck is your cheek red? Did he hit you? I’m going to kick his ass!”
She took a step to chase after him, but Q caught her by the arm.
“Leave it be, Sabrina. I made him angry. I know he has a short fuse, I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
“You do realize you sound like an abused woman, right? You need to get some counseling for that shit. Jude’s going to kill him.”
“Oh, Sabrina. Please don’t tell him!” she pleaded, clutching her hand. “I was having fun before Nico showed up and I don’t want it all to be ruined.”
Though she looked uncertain, Sabrina nodded. “I don’t think Jude will be happy if he finds out we’ve kept things from him. Especially something like this.”
“Well, maybe we’ll just wait until tomorrow or something? Come on! Don’t ruin it.”
She sighed. “Fine. But you owe me.”
“Do you take payment in orgasms?” she asked with a smirk. The words left her mouth just as a young woman rounded the corner from the bathroom. The girl’s eyes went huge and she hurried off toward the common area.
Sabrina and Q both howled with laughter, leaning on each other and the wall for support. When they’d calmed down they walked back to Jude, checking each other’s make-up and giggling intermittently.
His friend Jon was nowhere to be seen. Jude grinned at them. “That took forever! Was the line long or did you two make out in the bathroom?”
“Line, unfortunately,” Sabrina replied. “Where’d Jon go?”
“His mousy little girlfriend just came running up to us and dragged him out the door. Said something about this place being full of sex-crazed perverts.” He caught their expressions and raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll explain later,” Q said, holding back more giggles.
He handed them their fresh drinks and they took up their harem girl poses again. “So did we entertain you with our dancing, oh Domly one?” Sabrina batted her eyelashes at him.
“If by ‘entertain’ you mean have to work diligently to hide my hard-on from a roomful of people, then yes, I was entertained. Lucky for me every other guy in here was having the same problem, so no one came by to tease me about it. I have the feeling that Jon’s girlfriend isn’t going to make it all the way home before they pull over somewhere. Poor girl.” He paused, and with a wink he grabbed Q’s whiskey and took a sip. “Watching you dance together was very enlightening.”
“How so?” asked Sabrina.
He handed Q’s drink back and took his time answering. “Well… you, for instance,” he looked at Sabrina “show yourself off to Q constantly.”
“I do?” Her big eyes were the picture of innocence.
Grinning, Jude nodded. “Watching the body language between the two of you is like watching the Discovery Channel. You walk into a room, acting completely oblivious to Q but making sure she notices you. She pretends not to watch you, but is patiently waiting for the chance to take down her prey.”
Q arched a brow at him as Sabrina sputtered in indignation. “So I’m a predator?”
“A very patient one, apparently. The most dangerous kind.”
“I’m not some sort of innocent little bunny here!” Sabrina snapped. “I’m not Q’s level of badassian, but I do okay for myself.”
“You’re like a little fluffy bunny with fangs,” Q said, trying her best not to smirk.
Jude grabbed Sabrina and pulled her into his lap, pinning her arms behind her back and presenting her to Q. The little t-shirt pulled tightly across Sabrina’s full breasts made Q lick her lips.
“See that face?” Jude pointed at Q. “Only you do that to her, Sabrina. That’s a powerful thing, and you know it.”
“Shut up!” Sabrina laughed. Jude let her arms go and she smacked his chest, but she didn’t deny it. “You were supposed to be entertained, not sit here analyzing us.”
“Watching you and analyzing you were both quite entertaining,” he reassured. “I’m a good multi-tasker.”
“A good multi-tasker, are you?” Q questioned. She forced dark thoughts of Nico and servitude out of her head and focused her attention on the two people who made her feel like things were right in the world. With them she felt fun, pretty, and smart – more so than she ever had in her life. With them, she felt like a person instead of a freak.
“Yes,” replied Jude cheerfully. “Finish your drinks and I’ll take you home and show you what I can do, my sweet girls. And, in case I forget to untie you, what would you like for breakfast?”
Chapter 12
Sabrina
The rush of waves hitting the shore was like a flashback to Sabrina’s childhood. Long hours spent digging trenches in the sand and filling them with crabs and shells. She smiled, watching the water glisten in the last couple hours of sunshine.
It was just about dinnertime so most of the beach-goers were packing up and heading home. Flip flops in one hand, her bare feet sinking in the sand, she made her way toward the line of rocks jutting out in the water.
“There’s an art to walking in sand, isn’t there?” Jude said from behind her.
She spun to face him and laughed. Poor Jude – born and raised inland, away from the beauty of the coastline. He was struggling to keep up, trudging through the sand with his sneakers on. “Take your shoes off, silly.”
He sighed. “Is the sand hot?”
“A little. You get used to it.” She watched him balance on one foot while taking one shoe off then switching. “Hurry up. I know of a little spot just beyond those rocks that should be less crowded.”
“How will Q find us?”
“I’ve taken her there before and I texted her on my way here. She shouldn’t be long. The bride she was shooting turned out to be a Bridezilla and had a tantrum about the flowers so the wedding ran late.”
Jude chuckled then made his way toward her, smoother without the cumbersome shoes. “Poor Q. She must be out of her mind dealing with that.”
“Yeah. She hates that kind of drama. But maybe she’ll have a funny story for us when she gets here.” Sabrina grabbed his hand and walked him toward her spot. “Come on. It’s easier without shoes, right?”
“Yes. Thanks for the tip.”
“I don’t know why you’d wear sneakers to the beach anyway. Beaches are for flip flops. You’re just like Q. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a bathing suit. Jeans. Who wears jeans to the beach?”
Jude laughed. “She’s one of a kind.”
“Yes,” she said on a sigh then kicked herself for sounding so damn wistful. Like a love-sick puppy. How silly. It was just Q – her best friend for the past five years.
“I’m surprised you’re not prancing around in a little bikini, Sabrina girl.” He gave her body an appreciative glance.
She scoffed. “I’m not a show-off!” Not in the mood for a swim, she’d opted for a flowy spaghetti strap dress with a blue-and-purple pattern that afternoon.
“No, but you enjoy teasi
ng Q.” One side of his mouth curved up into a smile. “Naughty girl. No one would guess you were straight.”
He was the one teasing but it struck a little too close to home. She flushed then stared down at the sand. She was straight, wasn’t she? It wasn’t as if she lusted after other women. Only Q. Could someone be bi for one person only? What a ridiculous notion. A squeeze of her hand pulled her attention back to Jude.
“Hey,” he said. “I’m kidding. Don’t worry so much. Not everyone fits into a box, you know.”
She mumbled an agreement but felt her mood dampen. They made it to the small peninsula of rocks. “Be careful climbing. It can be slippery on the mossy parts.” Low tide used to be her favorite time at the beach. Good for hunting crabs and poking jellyfish.
They climbed carefully over the boulders. “Now this would’ve been easier with sneakers,” he said.
She giggled. “Wuss.”
“Did you just call your Dom a wuss?” he asked in mock disapproval. “Not smart. You’ll pay for that later.”
“It’s alright. I’m banking on your poor memory. You forgot Q’s smartass comment the other day when we played. And you swore earlier she’d pay for that too.”
She paused at the top of the rock pile and looked back. Jude looked puzzled. “What smartass comment?”
Should she remind him and get Q in trouble? The writing assignment Q made her do last week came to mind. Writing out her fantasies in detail? So embarrassing! “She said you needed to get on an aerobics program and the little blue pill to keep up with us.”
He thought for a moment. “Oh yeah. Well, now I owe you both. Remind me if I forget.”
“Yeah.” She snorted. “Cause that’s in my best interest.”
Suddenly, he jumped toward her and landed on her rock, crowding her until she slipped backward with a yelp. Strong arms caught her before she fell, but he didn’t set her right. He held her suspended, just a little off balance so she had to depend on him to stay upright. Frantically, she grasped his shoulders and held them hard.
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