Protege(28)

“No, Sir,” she mumbled into the bed.

“Then you will be patient. Everything we do serves a purpose. It’s my job to deliver that purpose. It’s your job to follow my direction in order to experience the lesson. Quiet.”

Taking a deep breath, she pressed her lips tight. With her head down, she couldn’t see what he was doing. She had no idea where he was looking, if he was touching himself or silently moving about the room. He didn’t seem as into it as he’d been a few minutes ago.

Ten minutes had to have passed. What was the holdup? Something must be wrong. “If you’ve changed your mind—”

“Damn you, woman,” he growled, and then he snapped, “Don’t move. Don’t speak. Just do as you’re told and stay put.” The door opened and closed with a snap.

Silence.

Did he leave? Cursing her curiosity, she slowly turned. He was gone. She was relieved but at the same time concerned. Where did he go?

For some time she waited for him to return. Her eyes closed and she drifted on the verge of sleep. A door opened and closed quietly, drawing her back to consciousness. There was a feather-light touch along her ankle calling her body awake.

A soft giggle and Collette’s eyes went wide. She spun to her back just as a brunette with olive skin giggled again and waved. “I heard you were bad,” the woman said with a mischievous grin.

Collette screamed. It seemed the only sensible thing to do. Jolting off the bed, she continued to scream as she made it to the door. Ripping it open, she shrieked again, startled to find a man on the other side. The lawyer, Ezra, stepped inside, causing her to stagger backward. “Going somewhere?”

Her arms covered her private parts as she edged her way to the robe on the floor. Snatching it up, she shouted, “Jude!”

“Stop screaming, Collette,” Jude said as he stepped into the room, voice and mannerisms as calm as ever.

“She’s a feisty one,” Ezra commented, dropping into one of the leather chairs.

She crept farther toward the corner, righting her robe for coverage. The filmy satin wouldn’t cooperate as her trembling hands frantically searched for the sleeves. Jude opened and closed a drawer, holding something at his side. She gasped as he took the robe and tossed it aside.

“Enough. Get back on the bed.”

“But—”

“Do not question me. You have a safe word. You may say that or thank you, Sir. Otherwise you will remain silent.”

How about f*ck you? Could she say that? Scowling, she scanned the room. Though Ezra hid what she assumed was a smirk, enough authority rested in his gaze that she knew he wasn’t her ally in that moment. She looked at the woman, who openly smiled and tipped her head to the bed. Looking back to Jude—okay, he was definitely giving her his Dom eyes. She climbed onto the bed and sat, arms crossed over her breasts.

“Lie back.”

Her mouth opened, but he silenced any forthcoming remarks with a stern look that reminded her he was serious. Lowering herself to the covers, she gasped as he took her arm and closed a leather cuff around her wrist. When he tied her other hand she panicked. “Wait.”

“Use your safe word,” the woman whispered. “Either that or shut up. You’ve upset him.”

But she didn’t do anything!

Her thighs pressed together as the lawyer and the woman watched her. Jude stood back and crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Part your legs, Collette.”

She sent him a pleading look.

“Do it or safe-word and I’ll send you to bed.”

So basically she could either do this or leave. Tricky, giving her a choice to end this. But would he be disappointed? Stupid question.

The ache that came with imagining his disappointment on their first night was more than she expected. He’d given an ultimatum, not a threat, and she had a decision to make. Choose to submit or return, independence intact, to her room.

But he was here to teach her how to be a good submissive. Submitting was the foundation of their purpose. Her eyes closed as her legs spread. Anger danced on the brink of upset as she waited for whatever happened next. Overall, she was more confused by her contradicting emotions than anything else.

“She’s very sexy, Sir,” the woman said.

Collette’s face burned as she sensed the woman openly staring at her exposed body.

The lawyer spoke. “Come sit by me, Lea.” The woman’s steps shifted away from the bed—obediently.

Peeking through her lashes, Collette stared at the chandelier hanging from the bed frame until her vision blurred. He was doing this on purpose, trying to humiliate her.

“Do you understand now, Collette? Your body is mine for the next thirty days. Aside from your hard limits, I’m entitled to take and do with it as I please. If I choose to stare at it, you will not object. If I pose you a certain way, you will stay. If I put you on display for the entire village to see, you will stand there until I give you permission to move. You’re here to learn what it is to submit, to explore your sexual appetites and push your limits so that you can be properly paired with the perfect mate. In order for that to happen, you will be obedient or you will be without a sponsor. Do you understand?”

A tear slipped from her lashes. “Yes, Sir.”

She jerked as his touch grazed her cheek, catching her tear. His fingers brushed over her hair as he leaned down and whispered. “Do you need to call penguin?”