Protege(84)

“You’re sure she wasn’t aroused?”

“Positive.”

“Maybe it’s arousing her in a different way.”

“It doesn’t feel healthy, Ezra. I’ve delivered enough floggings in my life to know when someone’s reaching a subspace. There isn’t the same pivotal switch with this.”

“Yet she didn’t want you to spank her the first time.”

He was beginning to wonder if that was a mistake. “No, but then she came to me and offered the paddle.”

“I don’t know, Jude. Maybe take her to visit Damien and Sadie and see how she reacts to them.”

He groaned inwardly. “I’ve never been a sadist.”

“I know. I also know how you treated Brys when he came to pick her up—as you requested. She’s pushing you out of character—not that that’s necessarily a bad thing to a degree, but we’re worried. She’s not yours to keep, Jude.”

“I understand that, but she didn’t want to go to him. It’s complicated, but I know for a fact it was better that I let her stay here.”

“Has she told you she loves you again?”

“No. Not since that day.”

“That doesn’t mean she’s stopped believing she does.”

He sighed. “Did you not love Lynette?”

Lynette was Ezra’s first friend on the scene. She was a dominatrix who could get the best of them to bow. Kneeling was something extremely difficult for men like him, but a necessary experience in order to fully respect the gift of submission. Ezra was her sub for almost a year before he confessed a need to be in charge. It was then he fell in love with her niece, Lea.

“That was a different kind of love,” Ezra argued.

“But still labeled as love.”

Since the day Jude decided it was best she stay, his mind stopped working within timelines and questionnaires. He simply wanted her to stay and found it highly effective to be with her under that assumption. Not banking on an end cleared up a lot of the bullshit that had been clouding his judgment.

He could explain that to Ezra now, but something told him it wasn’t the right time. His instinct told him protecting her meant protecting the delicate affection they shared until the time was right to make a move. Though he didn’t have a crystal ball, he knew he wouldn’t accept her moving on easily—if that was what she truly wanted.

That was what everything came down to—what Collette wanted. Her needs would always come before his.

“You have roughly a week left with her, Jude. I think it’s smart to start preparing her for that.”

“I own a calendar. I’m aware of the dates.” Every second felt like precious gold slipping through his fingers. “But first I have to get to the bottom of this. I can’t qualify the behavior without knowing the root.” He needed to know her. All of her.

“Take her to see Damien and Sadie. They’re in Fernweh right now, just back from Germany. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to assist.”

***

Time was moving too fast, Collette thought as she helped Sadie with the dishes. They were once again having dinner at one of Jude’s friends’ homes, but this time Jude explained they would be staying later. She wasn’t sure what was coming, but felt the heated tension in the room between their hosts.

Sadie was a very tall, willowy creature with fine bone structure and short pixie-like gray hair. Her hair did not denote her age; its coloring was a natural paling of time, Collette was sure. She estimated Sadie was likely in her midforties. She wore no makeup and her clothing was plain. The only accessory Collette noted was a thin collar around her neck, daintier than the one Lea wore.

Damien, on the other hand, was very formal. He wore a suit while Jude had only dressed in jeans and a T-shirt for dinner. Damien’s shoes were Armani. His hair was thick, black, and long, but of the most beautiful sheen she’d ever seen. He seemed taller than he actually was and Collette had trouble looking him in the eye.

“Are you excited for tonight?”

Collette dried the silverware as Sadie washed the last dish. “I’m not really sure what’s on the schedule. Jude likes to surprise me.”

She smiled. “Then I won’t spoil it for you.”

After the kitchen and dining room were clean, Collette followed Sadie through the house. “Where did they go?”

Sadie grinned. “They’re waiting in the Great Room.”

Outside the room, Sadie paused and opened a small closet. Collette nervously looked around when the other woman suddenly started removing her clothes. She folded them into a perfect square and retrieved a long leather strap, holding it reverently on her opened palms.

“You should probably go to your man, now,” Sadie said.

Collette was eager to get back to Jude and nodded. Just as she was walking into the Great Room—great didn’t seem an adequate term for such grand windows and thick trim—her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen.

Come to me.

Her heart raced with desire to do just that, a gentle pull at her loins to find him. She loved when he sent texts like that, clear and direct, so easy to achieve.

His eyes found hers and pulled her in, tracking her every move and making it difficult to look away and note the furniture around the room. When she reached him she folded to her knees.