“Trust your instincts. You’re more submissive than you give yourself credit for. And every—” He stopped speaking, and his gaze traveled around the room before looking back at her, obviously at a loss.
“Sir?”
He reached across the table and took her other hand in his so he now had both of them, and warmth filled her chest. “Each time you say ‘Sir’, and I can tell it’s not play-acting, that it comes from your subconscious, it tells me that, although you are the sassiest brat I know, you have a submissive heart.”
She lifted a shoulder and shook her head. “I wonder if I’m setting us both up for disappointment.”
“We’ll soon see. My mentor and his sub will be visiting Hazelle House this Saturday night. I can’t wait for him to meet you.”
“Oh boy.”
Her ass was already tingling.
“Am I supposed to kneel all the time?”
“Only when directed to by me or other Doms. I expect that may be challenging for you, but it’s part of the life. You may find, as you get to know them, that you enjoy it. Saturday night I won’t expect it, unless you misbehave. In general, I’d let you know in advance when to follow higher protocol.”
She tilted her head. “Why does it get to change on your whim?”
The devilish spark gleamed in his eyes. “Raising or lowering protocol isn’t intended to trip a submissive up, merely to keep them guessing. On edge. We can’t have our subs getting complacent or lazy, now can we?”
“I’m getting confused.”
He motioned for her to come to him. Bunny rose, stood before him, and put her hands in his. “Kneel for me, please.”
It was awkward, without her hands to balance her, but she achieved what she assumed was the appropriate position on her knees with her ass propped on her heels because of her boots.
“Usually you will be barefoot and naked or appropriately dressed when I expect this,” he said as he reached down and spread her knees wide apart.
Well, who knew that would be so hot! She bit her lip, and squirmed a little. He smiled as if he knew how wet their discussion had made her.
“Try not to fidget. You’re cute when you bite your lip. It tells me so much about how you’re feeling. Hot?”
She hesitated but then giggled. Her hardened nipples were visible through her shirt, so she couldn’t exactly deny it. “Yes, Sir. A little.”
“Good. Practice kneeling until you can do it smoothly. I’ll coach you through Saturday night. I won’t expect perfection from you just yet, and there’s no need to be afraid of Hector. His sub will be there, too, so you may be able to learn from her if he gives her permission to speak to you.”
“Permission to speak? What? Is he her Master or something?”
He chuckled. “Good guess, fiammetta. She is a sub—a very well-versed sub. I think you would like her.”
“Joseph?”
“Yes, fiammetta?”
“I’m going to fuck up so badly this weekend. I already know it.”
He tried to keep his expression serious. “That’s one pop, Bunny Bloom Carrigan.”
“That’s okay. I’m gonna let you down, Sir. I just know it.” It surprised her how much that thought bothered her. Her desire to please him was more and more often warring with the desire to sass him just to see him smile.
“I look forward to helping you learn. Now then. Get over my knee.”
Her eyes popped open. “Here?”
“Delaying. Now it’s two pops.”
“Fuck,” she muttered as she rose to her knees.
“Three. Are you sure you’re not a masochist, Bunny?”
“What if the staff or the others come in here?”
“Then they will see my sub getting her ass spanked. What? Were you wanting to keep the fact you’re my submissive a secret? Many subs would do just about anything to be in the position you’re in. And my count has risen to four now.”
Bunny snickered. “One to grow on?”
His barking laughter made her smile. “An even five. Get your ass over my knee.”
His swats stung, and she thoroughly enjoyed every one. He let her up, and she caught her breath, noting she was now completely soaked between the legs and her clit was swollen. Hmmm…maybe…
“And, Bunny?” He cocked an eyebrow at her as he tilted his head slightly. Had he read her mind?
“Yes, Sir?”
“No sneaking off and bringing yourself to orgasm today. Your orgasms come only at my hands or not at all,” he said quietly, caressing and squeezing her hips as he stared at her, nearly at eye level.
Her jaw dropped, and she sputtered, but she didn’t say anything else besides, “Well, heck.”
“Indeed. If it makes you feel any better, I have something you’ll be taking care of for me this evening before you leave.” He gestured at the hard ridge at his groin. “I very much enjoy the feel of your ass under my palm, clothed or not.”
“Well…I’ll just put that on my agenda,” she said with a cheeky wink and earned herself another pop. “Would you tell Mrs. Hernandez lunch was fantastic? I want to get finished upstairs tracing all the wiring for the alarms.”
“I will. And you’ve found nothing so far?”
“Nothing. All good connections, no faulty lines—at least not so far. I was thinking about going out to the Dancing Pony on Friday night. In this Dom-sub thing we have going on, is there any room for stuff like dates?”
“Absolutely. I’ll pick you up at eight. Wear a dress. I want to see you in heels.”
“I think I can manage something. So…you’re not one of those, ‘I don’t date subs’ Doms?” she asked in a deep put-on voice.
He chuckled at her imitation. “Hollywood doesn’t dictate my actions, fiammetta. If I like a woman, I am open to dating her. If I date a sub, I don’t expect her to kneel or submit to me in public.”
“Okay, fine. But you’ll still be keeping count, won’t you?”
“See? You’re learning already.”
Chapter Twelve
Friday night…
Joseph turned onto the street Bunny and her family lived on, pondering the motivation that had him arriving to pick her up so early. He’d told himself it was because he wanted to meet her family but the truth was that he’d been distracted and at loose ends all afternoon. Business was well in hand, so he’d finally given up the pretense, showering and dressing with particular care before driving to Divine. He was indecently early—at risk of looking like an eager beaver—and he didn’t care. He wanted to see her smile.
Decelerating to a crawl, he studied the houses he passed. A mix of well-tended yards, with ornamental crape myrtle trees, heat-defiant bougainvillea and other colorful flowers, but here and there a neglected house and yard, littered with derelict automobiles and other junk.
Two men sat on the porch of one such house, eyes trained on his vehicle. Belatedly, he realized driving a black luxury sports car with darkly tinted windows slowly in this neighborhood was not a good plan, and in a larger city might even get him shot at.
He proceeded past the house at a moderate speed, and into the next block, which was overshadowed with old pecan trees, creating a shady welcome from the unrelenting summer heat. Bunny’s house was in this block, if he recalled correctly, and he knew exactly which house was hers when he spotted her.
“You are really something, woman.” He lowered his window and turned off the stereo and heard her laughter as she went sailing down her driveway in rollerblades and executed a sharp, exact turn at the edge of the street before coming to a halt.
A male voice called out, “Do it again, Bunny!”
She called a reply he couldn’t quite make out and then drew her arms in tight and then swung them in an arc and spun in a pirouette that made her red hair sail around her shoulders. “Try it again, and I’ll catch you if you fall!”
She beckoned to the teenager, who must be her brother, Tristan, and the teenager came into view past one of the trees, skating towa
rd her with arms wobbling and outstretched.
“Bend your knees, Tristan!” she called. Just then, she looked his way, spotted him, and waved with a big smile on her face.
Joseph was thankful that they were both wearing elbow and knee pads when Tristan failed to control his speed on the downward grade and they landed in a heap on the carpet grass. Laughing and groaning as they helped each other up, she waved at Joseph and beckoned for him to pull onto the driveway.
“Sorry to interrupt your fun,” he said as she skated over to him and came to halt, her roller blades adding a couple of inches to her height.
“I’d hug you but I’m all sweaty and gross and you’re dressed in your nice suit,” she said as she leaned forward and kissed him. The mild scent of her clean sweat did much more to turn him on and he was about to admit as much when her brother rolled to a clumsy stop beside her.
“I like your car, sir,” the boy said as he gave it a once over. His voice had the deeper quality of a young man’s, but his demeanor was that of a much younger boy.
Joseph held out his hand. “I’m Joseph Hazelle, and you must be Tristan Carrigan.”
Bunny patted Tristan’s shoulder and he reached out to shake hands with Joseph. “I’m pleased to meet you, sir. Are you my sister’s boyfriend?”
“Tristan!” an older woman called from the shady porch. “Why don’t you come in and get cleaned up. Let the man at least come in the house where it’s cool before you start asking such impertinent questions.”
“Yes, Grinnie,” Tristan called as he smiled at Joseph and gave his car one last admiring look before wobbling and rolling to the porch while his grandmother laughed and exhorted him as he tried to stay upright.
“Sorry about that, Sir,” Bunny said softly as she took his offered hand. “He’s learning to filter his thoughts but sometimes he forgets. He loses his mind over nice cars. I can’t say I blame him. Did you have it washed and detailed for our date?” she asked as she gave the sparkling vehicle an admiring once over.
“Maybe.”
“And you look very nice, too. But you’re here early. I still need to get ready.”
“I hope it’s not an inconvenience. I wanted to meet your family and introduce myself to your grandmother.”
“Not inconvenient at all, as long as you don’t mind if Grinnie grills you while I take a shower and get ready,” she said with a giggle.
“I don’t mind. I’d love to chat with her, and then there’s the prospect of you naked in the shower just a few feet away to distract me if her questions get pointed.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry. I imagine she was impressed that you arrived early and didn’t just honk the horn for me to come out.”
“I’d never do that.”
“I know that, and now she does, too. See? You’re already making points with her, Sir,” she said, and that last soft, submissive syllable made him smile but also gave him pause.
He halted her and lifted her slightly grimy hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. “While I’m in your home and you’re with your family, you need not address me as a Dominant.” Your Dominant.
Her lowered lashes and the flush in her cheeks pleased him. “Thank you. I didn’t think you would, but I appreciate you letting me know. I’ll keep my inner smartass in check if that helps at all.”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about her quelling a part of her personality to please him but kept his thoughts to himself.
She plopped down on the top step of the porch and made quick work of removing her rollerblades, no easy chore considering the buckles, laces and fastenings and then slipped off the safety pads. He was gratified that she observed such precautions, and said as much.
She pulled open the screen door and he held it for her as she led the way into the cool, dim interior of the front room. A few seconds later, Bunny’s grandmother, dressed in a crisp cotton housecoat, came in from what must’ve been the kitchen, judging by the mouthwatering scents that emanated from it.
“Grinnie, this is Joseph Hazelle. He’s taking me out tonight.” Joseph could hear the affection in her voice as she spoke to her grandmother, and noted the way she leaned just a little toward him and stroked his back. She wanted her grandmother to approve of him.
“I’m pleased to meet you, ma’am,” he said as he held out his hand to her.
She smiled and shook with him, giving him an approving nod. “I appreciate a man who knows how to give a good firm handshake. I’m Bernice Haugen, Mr. Hazelle, but you can call me Grinnie.”
“I’m honored. Call me Joseph, please,” he said with a nod as she gestured to the couch.
Bunny laid her hand over his and softly said, “I’ll get ready.”
“Take your time,” he replied and forced himself not to watch her scamper from the room. He kept his attention on Grinnie, and watched as she settled herself in a chair, assessing him, just as he would if he was in her shoes.
“I have fresh iced tea made, Joseph. Would you like a glass?”
“Is it sweet?” he asked. Evidently, this was the right thing to say because she grinned, nodded, and then beckoned to him. “Come on into my kitchen.”
Having evidently passed the first inspection, he followed her into the inner sanctum and grinned when she waved him onto one of the barstools that were clustered around one end of the tiled counter. “Lemon?”
“Only if you have it ready.”
She poured two glasses from an ice-filled pitcher sweating on the counter and then placed the dish of sliced lemons over to him. “You’re from the south? I can’t make out your accent but I’d say you’ve lived here a while.”
“I’m from all over. My father was in the military.”
She nodded slowly and then took a barstool opposite of him. “Tell me about yourself, Joseph.”
He filled her in on the basics, omitting the part about the BDSM club, and the fact that he wanted to dominate her granddaughter, trying to ignore the sound of the water running in the shower down the hall. Imagining her Bunny naked and wet was not a good strategy for passing muster with her grandmother. He finished, by telling her he’d been in Texas for the last ten years.
“And do you plan to stay in Texas, in this area?” she inquired as she refilled his tea and offered him a plate of cookies.
“Yes, ma’am. Texas is home now.”
“Bunny tells me you’re well off,” she said with a raised eyebrow. “You live in a big mansion, she says.”
“I’m comfortable, and I like where I live. As to the size, it suits business purposes.”
“She mentioned that. So…no plans to move into the big city, to one of those fancy subdivisions in the hills?”
“No reason to, when I already have what I want, plus complete privacy. I don’t care for metropolitan living, if that’s one of your concerns.”
Grinnie nodded and took her time gathering her thoughts. “Her father lives in one of those sorts of developments. Money, prestige, and such are important to him.” The look in her eye and the arch of her gray eyebrow told him that family ranked farther down that scale.
“She hasn’t spoken very much of him and I haven’t pushed her to.” Yet.
Grinnie sighed and shook her head. “She’s very much like my daughter, her mother. She’s not materialistic. Sometimes those fancy houses and finery hide…ugly things.”
His heart skipped a beat and he wondered if a deeper explanation of his lifestyle might be precipitously forthcoming. “What do you mean, ma’am?”
She leveled cornflower blue eyes at him. “I saw her chin the day after she was working at your house. May I ask you what happened there?”
He looked down at his half-filled glass and she reached out to pat his hand.
“Joseph, I’m not trying to make you incriminate yourself. She explained that you host gatherings there. I’m not asking you to divulge privileged information. I just need to know she’s safe with you.”
“There was a misunderstanding. She was in the wrong place
at the wrong time. She was mistaken for someone else, but the person who caused her injury has made everything right with her. I think you might even say they are acquainted as friends now. By the way, your granddaughter has a remarkably poor sense of direction.”
Grinnie burst into laughter that had her patting her housecoat pocket looking for her hankie. “That she does!”
Their shared laughter dispelled the tension until Grinnie sighed and put the hankie away. “I won’t share any of Bunny’s past with you. That’s for her to do, but I want you to understand why I question your expansive lifestyle.”
Joseph had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“After he remarried, if I’d known how she and her brother were treated while they lived in that fancy house, I would’ve had Child Protective Services and law enforcement knocking on their door. She explained away bruises and joint tenderness, on their infrequent visits to see me, as sports injuries. If I’d known…” She took the hankie out again and made use of it. “On one visit to see me, I took her to a dentist when I discovered she had a painful tooth. The dentist told me it was cracked and he could fix it but that she should be careful about blunt trauma to the face.”
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
“She swore it happened while she was playing with her step-siblings. Playing.” She shook her head. “I discovered later that she’d bitten one of them to get free when they tried to put her in a chokehold. What kind of child does that, Mr. Hazelle?”
“A disturbed one.”
“Yes. They’d intimidated her into silence, telling her they’d kill Tristan and make it look like an accident if she spoke up. Bunny and Tristan had to learn how defend themselves in a place where they should’ve been safe and secure.”
Joseph stood and took both of Grinnie’s capable hands in his and squeezed them gently. “Mrs. Haugen, thank you for sharing what you could with me, and I’ll keep what you’ve told me between the two of us. When Bunny feels comfortable enough to share more of her past with me, I will keep her confidences as well. I promise you that I’ll do everything I can to ensure that Bunny is never ill-treated or disrespected in my home. What happened was a regrettable one-time occurrence. She got turned around in the mansion and found herself in a part of it that I’d specifically asked her to steer clear of.”
Bunny and the Beast [Divine Creek Ranch 22] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 13