Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(65)

He’s mine.

Joseph’s rough fingertips slid beneath the fall of her hair and caressed her shoulder blade as he said, “You know what a matchmaker Juno is. But, hey, you’re still single, and it’s been a while since you’ve had a permanent sub.”

Samson snorted and sipped from his drink. “I doubt she’ll be motivated to move out this way upon meeting a tubby, graying sadist, but I’d be happy to play if she’d like.”

Bunny kept her eyes on her hands, toying with the stick of the lollipop. She’d thought all Doms and sadists, or tops or whatever, were brimming with confidence and sure of their place in the world. Samson’s words had showed a softer, more vulnerable side, and damned if he didn’t make her like him even more. He wasn’t that tubby, and his hair was pretty, darn it.

Samson and Joseph continued their conversation, and Bunny kept half an ear open as she scanned the club, grateful Joseph had positioned her so she wasn’t completely on display. This location gave her a chance to survey the club.

“Your guests have arrived, Joseph,” Samson murmured, gesturing discreetly to the main club entrance at the stairs.

She made a mental note to look at the outside of the mansion the next time to see which door the members used because she didn’t recall ever seeing anything remotely resembling a club entrance.

An imposing man dressed in black leather pants, which seemed to be standard attire with many of the male members but looked so much more intimidating on him, stood in the arched entry. Something about his aura declared he was a man who took charge, and Bunny knew it must be Hector, Joseph’s mentor.

Hector’s arm was wrapped protectively around a lovely, and obviously pregnant, woman with wavy black hair flowing around her shoulders. She smiled up at something he said and patted his chest as she slid her other hand down over her abdomen. Bunny was encouraged by her easy manner with her Dom. Juno didn’t look as though she was too concerned about being ordered to kneel at Hector’s feet. Without a doubt, Bunny knew what her response to such a demand would be if she was that pregnant. Something along the lines of Fuck you, Sir.

To the woman’s other side stood a tall, statuesque blonde with the classical features and carriage of a ballerina, presumably the guest Joseph and Samson had mentioned. Here was exactly the type of woman she’d heard, through rumor, that Joseph wanted for a sub. Cultured, elegant, and knowledgeable of the world she’d just entered, judging by the unconcerned gaze she cast about the club interior. So not what Bunny saw when she looked in the mirror every morning.

Samson spoke softly to the sub in his arms, who had since revived from her dazed state and now sat in his lap clutching her blanket to her and draining the bottle of water. She declined the offer to join them and then made Samson smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him and patted his back. Samson had a sweet smile when he wasn’t being gruff and scary.

Joseph squeezed her shoulder. “Come, Bunny, let’s go introduce you.”

She rose from the cushion she’d been kneeling on, another sweet concession she never would’ve dreamed she’d appreciate, but did. She went with him, lollipop in hand.

Here goes nothin’.

She followed slightly behind Joseph, studying them as he walked to the entry. Hector’s face lit up when he saw Joseph, and Bunny got an idea of just how huge he was as he held his long arms out and grinned at his one-time protégé. His short hair was black but tipped heavily with silver at the temples. His close-trimmed beard was a mixture of black and gray, shot through with silver at both sides of his chin, giving him a compelling regal air.

“Joseph Priestly Hazelle, so damned glad to be back in your club.”

The men came together and clapped each other’s backs hard enough that she wondered if they’d bruised each other. Parting, they grasped each other’s shoulders with matching grins, and Joseph said, “Welcome, Hector.” Bunny edged to the side so she could see around him as he turned to the woman, and his expression changed to one of great tenderness. “Juno, you look ravishing. Did you have a good rest?”

The woman blushed, caressing her abdomen, and embraced Joseph and kissed his cheek. “I’m fine. You know how this big, protective bear is, worrying about me and the baby.”

Her voice had a soft accent to it, one that Bunny couldn’t place, and the affection shining in her eyes was genuine. The dress Juno wore was made from a lovely iridescent and transparent silky fabric flowing sexily over her voluptuous, pregnant curves. And she was wearing high heels.

I shoulda gone for the heels.