Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(9)

“Yes, Sir. I’ll get right on those e-mails, unless there is something else I may do for you?” She was wringing her hands, and he could tell from her stance that she wanted to kneel. Her offer had no limits, but he couldn’t give in to make her feel more comfortable.

He’d gotten to know her in the intervening months, and he sensed her desire to submit to him. He’d worked with her on her issues, talking them out with her, but he’d never had the inclination to go beyond the role of an advisor with her. He wasn’t interested in a twenty-four-seven Master-slave relationship, and she was adamant that was what she needed. It hadn’t been easy finding Doms he trusted who wanted the same thing, and she’d yet to find one she was willing to serve permanently. But she’d made it clear she’d willingly serve him.

“Thank you, Jade. That’s all. Be well.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Perspiration trickled down his back as he went in search of Beckett. The late summer heat was increasing as the afternoon progressed, promising storms in the dark clouds billowing on the horizon. He was relieved Bunny was done with climbing for the day…or at least he hoped she was. She’d said she didn’t climb in unsafe conditions.

Joseph assisted Beckett with his problem in one of the suites in the North Tower. It seemed someone actually had tried to swing from the chandelier in their room during the fantasy weekend.

After spending several boring hours in his office, brightened by the occasional “Bunny sighting” as she flitted about both inside and outside, he finally gave up trying to focus and went in search of her. Because he needed to know if she’d completed her work.

Keep telling yourself that, Hazelle.

Her voice, effervescent with her spirit, had carried down the halls, breaking his concentration and distracting him and keeping him on edge. He glanced at the tissue-wrapped book in his hands and decided to leave it on his credenza. He wanted to give it to her in private, not out in the hallway where anyone could see them. This was between the two of them.

He was on the stairs when his butler, Hughes, approached from the front foyer.

“Mr. Hazelle, if I could have a moment of your time?”

“Sure,” Joseph said, tilting his head to beckon Hughes to walk with him toward the back of the mansion. Shoving his hands in his pants pockets, and in a more cheerful mood, he said, “What’s up, Hughes?”

Balding and dignified, Hughes put his hands at his back as they walked and talked, discussing the need to replace two workers in the household who had recently given notice. After the necessary course of action was settled on, he once again set out in search of Bunny. He thought he heard her voice in the upstairs corridor and turned back, wondering if she would consider him using GPS to track her down an invasive tactic.

“Mr. Hazelle?” the chief gardener called from behind him, near the doors at the rear of the house, and he sighed softly and spoke at length with the man about what he needed.

The sun was making its descent, and the muggy heat had seemed to increase while he’d stood outside discussing the plans for a new landscaping project. As he re-entered the cool house from the veranda twenty minutes later, Bunny’s laughter greeted his ears, and he smiled at the cheerful sound.

“Sir?” one of the housekeepers said as he pulled the door closed behind him.

“Yes, Regina?”

“Mrs. Hernandez was looking for you earlier. She asked me to tell you she needs to talk to you. I think she’s back in the kitchen by now, preparing your supper.”

Pausing, he said, “Do me a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Ask her to set two places.”

“In your dining room?”

Considering that for a moment, he decided to go with his gut and shook his head. “No, this is what I want you to do…”

Two minutes later, he was strolling down the main corridor, feeling quite pleased with himself, when he turned a corner and noticed Hughes, standing with hands on hips, looking at a pair of statues positioned near the wall.

The two Italian marble statues were arranged in the corner, a life-size nude male, standing proud and fiercely erect, in more than just manner, and a lovely female kneeling before him. The male statue was impressive, gazing down at the female with hand outstretched, but it was the woman, on her knees and beaming serenely at her partner as she reached out to touch him, that had sold him on the duo. The pairing had embodied the essence of submission, to him, but had been entitled Adoration by the artist. They’d come at a dear price at an art auction, but they were among his favorites.

“Well, now,” Joseph murmured as he crossed his arms over his chest and rubbed at the short-trimmed beard on his chin.