He paused before the other woman, a submissive she supposed, and spoke quietly. The woman made a brief explanation Bunny couldn’t hear and then nodded, obviously eager to please him. Bunny’s heart flared with unreasonable jealousy. It was obvious they got along, and he trusted this Mona person. With each passing second, her arousal cooled and self-consciousness returned.
He turned back to her. “I’ll talk to you before you leave.”
Why? So you can send me on my way? He’d probably make some excuse about the heat of the moment or say something stupid like her red hair drove him wild. Bullshit. She planned to get this job done, get the hell out of there, and let Thorne Grogan know he needed to send someone else out to service Hazelle House in the future. It wasn’t going to be her. She didn’t belong anywhere near this decadent mansion…or it’s irresistible owner.
A tap on her arm pulled her from her thoughts, and she looked up at the tall blonde, who was clad in an iridescent, silver sheath dress, which was practically transparent and barely reached her thighs, the sides of which were held together by ties woven through grommets. Paired with silver pumps, the dress’s effect was stunning. And then there was the heavy platinum choker around her throat.
“If you’ll come with me, we’ll get that cleaned up.” Her blue eyes were open and honest as she gestured up the staircase. The wound was starting the throb, so Bunny nodded and followed her up the stairs, feeling more dumpy, frumpy, and overdressed by the second.
At the top of the stairs, the woman, Mona, opened another heavy wooden door and held a hand out for her to enter, and Bunny immediately recognized the interior from when she’d been working there earlier in the day.
Joseph’s suite was richly furnished but not overly ornate. Mona led her past a row of large windows hung with heavy dark red draperies into a sumptuous bathroom, complete with a huge tub and a shower that were a works of art.
“He said the kit was in here,” she murmured as she opened a cabinet and rummaged around and then pulled out a clear plastic box. “Here we go. Let’s get you cleaned up first.”
The alcohol wipe stung as Mona swiped the raw area on her chin, but Bunny kept still. Their reflections in the mirror only emphasized the differences in the type of woman Joseph preferred. Her blonde chin-length hair was cut in a chic style, and her minimal makeup looked professionally done. Bunny hated the feeling of inferiority racing through her as she caught a glimpse of herself in faded jeans and faded pink shirt, with her hair wild and springing in every direction. Unkempt and uncultured and out of place in his spacious suite and the mansion beyond. Mona seemed to know her way around his quarters well enough. Was she his?
“I’m sorry you were hurt earlier,” Mona murmured as she swiped a bit of antibiotic on the cut and then dabbed at it, her focus on the cut and not much else. “You sounded so scared when you screamed.”
A little surprised by the compassion in her voice, Bunny said, “I’m sure you’ve heard worse in Joseph’s chamber of horrors.” It had been a question burning in her mind for months. Was that really something Joseph had…or was it only rumor? Mona seemed like the best, most neutral person to ask.
The sub frowned and backed up to look at Bunny. “I don’t know what you’ve heard about Joseph, but it’s not like that. Sure, he has a dungeon, and yes, maybe later there might be screaming, but…not like we heard from you earlier. Every Dom in the ballroom downstairs came running when we heard you.”
“I don’t react well to being attacked from behind.” Distant memories of rough hands wrapped around her throat, and the sting of a leather belt across her back, made her shudder.
Mona bit her lip and said, “Sorry, I have to rub this in a bit.”
“It didn’t hurt.” Yes, it did. Although she wasn’t thinking about the current injury. “Are you his sub?” Might as well rip that figurative bandage off. Make leaving even easier.
“Joseph’s?” Mona grinned. “No. My Dom, Randall, is one of his best friends. We arrived earlier for the evening’s festivities and to visit with him tomorrow. So…you’re not a sub I take it.”
“I’m not even sure I know what that means, but yeah, no. No way. Not that I think less of you. But I don’t do submission.” Merely thinking the word set her teeth on edge.
Mona giggled and nodded. She didn’t say any more as she smoothed the bandage on Bunny’s chin.
“You know, I could’ve done all this myself.”
“I know, but thank you for letting me do it so I can tell Joseph I did as he asked of me, to the letter.” Judging by the sparkle in her eyes, the thought gave her a lot of pleasure.