The Dom With a Safeword (23 page)

Q glared and Sabrina pouted.

“Hey, I’m not drinking at all. If we’re going to play later, I don’t want anyone drunk.”

“You wouldn’t screw two drunk girls?” Sabrina snorted. “As if.”

“Oh, I’d fuck you both. But I won’t play with a drunk girl. Your body won’t respond right and I might not get the messages I need from you. I don’t want to damage either of you.” He winked, sliding in between them as Sabrina shifted back over to make room.

With one of Jude’s arms around each of them, they watched the dancing crowd and commented on people who caught their eye. Jude and Q were amused to discover they had the same taste in women, even beyond Sabrina.

The latter became indignant – jealous girl that she was – and Jude pulled her into his lap. Lowering his head, he kissed her. Q casually ran her fingers under Sabrina’s legs and up toward her panties. She stroked her pussy through the delicate fabric. Sabrina made a small noise that even Q could barely hear over the music then settled against Jude’s chest. Staying still must have been a struggle, knowing Sabrina. She was already damp. Q hoped no one else could see anything, and she watched the crowd to make sure. Jude might have been oblivious except for the brush of Q’s hand over his thigh.

When he lifted his mouth from Sabrina’s and sat back against the couch, Q withdrew her hand and let it rest innocently on her own lap.

Jude’s amused gaze met hers. “Were you being mean, Q?”

She arched a brow. “She’s my toy, too. I’ll play with her when I want to.”

“I’m not a toy.” Sabrina frowned somewhat convincingly. If Q didn’t know her so well, she might have been fooled. The sparkle in her eye suggested she wanted to be told that she was, indeed, a plaything.

“Really?” he looked displeased.

“Well... as long as you don’t tell me I can’t. Sir,” she amended swiftly. Being both a sub and a
Domme
in the same relationship was confusing – like being two people with two personalities simultaneously. Prior to this summer, she’d been one or the other. With
Nico
, she’d been submissive, even allowing him to push boundaries toward making her a slave. Before him she’d thought she was all Dom – not
Domme
, since she didn’t identify with being that female – and had a short and tumultuous relationship with a girl who had introduced her to being both bi and dominant. Although it had been fun before Q had gone away to college, the girl hadn’t been nice or very bright. They hadn’t even bothered staying in touch after the first couple of months.

“I can’t foresee myself limiting you there, unless there’s a very good reason.” He looked down at her and stroked a hand through her hair.

Damn, he was gorgeous. She took the last sip of her drink and felt the alcohol making her mellow. Not as good as the afterglow from a beating, but there was time for that later. The Rig’s spastic lighting was on the verge of giving her a headache, but it emphasized Jude’s strong cheekbones and sensual lips. She
arched
up and gently bit his jawbone. Before she drew back, he caught her to him with his free arm and kissed her deeply. For a moment she forgot to breathe.

“Go on now, my little brats,” he drawled. “Entertain me.”

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
g
othest
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?” Sabrina 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 ki
ll 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.”