Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(29)

“You’ve hurt yourself climbing before, haven’t you? I should’ve known. Your occupation is much too dangerous—”

“Shh,” she softly placated, reaching up to put her fingers on his lips. They were warm. “It’s not that. I’ve never been hurt climbing. It happened a long time ago. I’m overdue for a massage, which helps to keep it from flaring up, and I can’t lie sideways without proper support for very long. Sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. Things went faster tonight than I should’ve anticipated. That much can’t be denied. What can I do? How did it happen?”

Carefully disregarding his question about the origin of the injury, she shook her head. “Nothing, I just needed to straighten up. I sleep with a special pillow, and if I have regular massages, I do fine…normally.”

Joseph nodded as he gazed at her and waited.

Shit. She really needed to work on her poker face.

“It’s just an old injury.”

Still seated in his lap while he stroked her thighs, she wiggled her bottom against his obvious erection. “Can I help you with that?”

“Not until you and I have had a chance to talk about your issues. Besides,” he added, gesturing behind her, “I’m not sure you’re ready to have an audience.”

Twisting her head, which made her grimace when her neck twinged again, she gasped when she realized he was right. Randall and Mona and Samson had joined them in the seating area. Evidently she’d really been out of it. She’d never heard them. “Oh. Um, well,” she said, carefully turning back to look at him, to catching him frowning. The Dom was too observant, and she had a feeling he wouldn’t give up until he knew the answers to all of his questions. “You’re right.”

“The problem lies in the fact that I can’t leave just yet. But it will also give you and me a chance to talk. We can have some private time later…if you would be willing to stay. Ah, Jade,” he said, suddenly distracted, and Bunny did her best to stop the frown that flickered in her eyebrows. He’d see it, and her rump was done for the evening. Was he asking her to stay and talk with him after the club closed? Or was he asking her to spend the night?

“Yes, Sir?” a soft voice said from behind a handsome older man dressed in black who had approached their area. Joseph nodded and Jade continued speaking. “I’d—I’d like to play, if it’s all right with you, Sir? Cecilia said I should check in with you first.”

Joseph didn’t leave off caressing Bunny’s hip as he turned his gaze to the tall man. Something about the way the man carried himself, the way he held Jade’s hand in his grasp, told her that he was a Dom. The glint in his dark eyes indicated he was a confident man, used to getting what he wanted. Jade kept looking up at him as if she expected him to go poof and disappear, but then her brows furrowed as she watched Joseph’s hands on Bunny.

Joseph said, “Blake, it’s good to see you again, my friend. Does she meet with your approval?”

Blake glanced down at Jade, and a smile flickered before it disappeared. “She does, Joseph. It’s good to see you as well. She and I have talked and found some compatible needs.”

“Has Jade been clear with you, communicating her limits?

The Dom smirked as he looked down at Jade, and Bunny almost felt sorry for the young woman when she averted her eyes and blushed. “Not as much as I’d like, but I understand enough. I’ll be careful with her and return her to your company when we’re finished.”

Great.

A gasp sounded from somewhere in the group, probably Mona, and the clutching of Joseph’s hand on her hip was the only indicator she needed. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Sir. I swear I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Shit—”

His hand over her mouth muffled the rest of what she would’ve said, and he growled. “Quiet.”

Tension radiated through him as he continued his conversation with Blake. Mortified, she glanced up and spotted the amusement in Blake’s eyes as he nodded at Joseph. Just as quickly, the expression changed to censure as he glanced at her.

“I know. Bad sub,” she murmured against Joseph’s hand, which muffled her words, and she lowered her head and closed her eyes, appalled at herself. She might be bratty, or whatever, but she wasn’t inherently mean. Joseph had responsibilities, of which she wasn’t one yet, and might not be if she didn’t learn to control her mouth. Jade was his responsibility and would probably continue to be until she found the right Dom. A process she was currently impeding. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” she whispered, thinking he would probably have no choice but to spank her again.