Page 9 of The Dom with a Safeword

“Fuck.” He stood up, feeling the sheer energy from swearing course through him like a storm tide sweeping a beach clean.

Playing it safe and thinking ahead could wait another day. He edged along to the aisle and jogged down. The strobing lights flashed on something purple ahead of him. A woman? At least she was staying on the edge. Up on the tiptoes of her black boots, she strived to see past a shaggy-haired teenager. She jiggled about, teetering. Her curves invited appraisal, especially where the pert mounds of her ass showed beneath her short skirt, and he admired them as he walked closer. There must be a boyfriend, here, moshing.

Tendrils of her hair curled down to the neckline of the little purple outfit – the back of which was wide open and displayed a delicious amount of skin. The PVC schoolgirl skirt drew his eye to her beautiful legs. Fetish wear – he’d bet his life on it. As he drew closer, aiming to squeeze between her and a six-foot bruiser of a guy, her profile stopped him dead.

He knew that face. The right shade of blond hair too. The name snapped into place in his mind – Sabrina – the smart-mouthed crazy one who liked ghost-hunting. How could he ever forget the two sexy girls who’d invaded his yard a few nights ago?

Fetish wear, though? His mind wandered down that kinky path for a second. But…so what? Some wore it just for fun. Didn’t mean she liked getting tied up and dominated. Unfortunately.

Despite the drowning volume of the heavy music, he heard her scream.

“Q!”

Jude put a hand on her shoulder and saw instantly why she’d screamed. Her friend was down on the floor, arms flopped to the side. A circle of men had formed around her, stopping her from being trampled by others. By the time he got past the big guy, another had dragged her to her feet and propelled her toward him and the screaming, waving Sabrina.

Somehow he ended up taking one arm and supporting Q across the back while Sabrina helped on the other side. Together they made it outside past security on the doors. The sound muted as the doors shut behind them.

“Thanks,” Sabrina panted then she cut short and scanned up and down Jude’s face. “Hey. It’s you!”

“Who?” Q turned to look, trying to wriggle loose from his arm. She seemed steady so reluctantly he let her go and stepped away. “Oh. I know you.” She frowned, clearly trying to think of his name.

He brushed some of her raven black hair from her forehead and couldn’t help noticing the cool flow of it across his fingers. A scratch on her forehead trickled blood down to her cheekbone. But her pretty eyes were focused. Her stance was solid. She blinked at him.

“You don’t seem to have concussion.” Jude lowered his hand, let a bit of the tension ebb away.

More security was approaching as if to check they were okay. The guard raised both eyebrows and spoke into his shoulder mic. When Jude shook his head, he backed off.

He turned back to the girls. “Yeah. It’s me. You trespassed in my yard, remember? You two seem to like trouble. Come on, ghost hunters. Let’s sit down.”

Sabrina peered up at her friend while patting her shoulder. “Hmm. She’s never this quiet. I agree. You should sit down.”

“Look. I’m okay. Someone tripped me and I landed badly. I’m okay.” Q put out her arms as if to push them away. “Both of you. I’m okay. Let’s go back in, Sabrina.”

“No.”

The set tone and stern, if pouting, look from Sabrina seemed to startle Q but she recovered and said indignantly, “Excuse me, miss? I’m not your little –”

He took her arm again. “You’ve got blood on your elbow too. You should at least get cleaned up.” These two had some interesting dynamic going. But now wasn’t the time for figuring it out.

Sabrina smiled and mouthed, thank you, at him.

A few yards away, was the broad row of concrete steps leading down toward the parking lot. He pointed. “Over there.”

Q shut her eyes. “Fine. Let’s hurry up and get this over with.”

The steps were cold even through his jeans but the floodlight above let Jude methodically go over Q to check for wounds. Elbow and forehead grazes were all he could find – the elbow one hard to find under her full-sleeve tattoo. Cybernetic enhancements inked in dark colors extended from the back of her hand up her arm and into her shirtsleeve. He rotated the hand he held to double-check her palm. “Nice tat. Your cyborg parts probably saved you from any real harm. Though,” he looked into Q’s eyes, “you might have injuries, bruising, elsewhere. Under your clothes.”

“Well.” Q pulled her slender hand away. A tingle ran across his fingers as her skin slipped over his. She straightened and seemed to gather her dignity. Her breasts jutted out. “Thanks for your… help, but you’re not looking under my clothes.”

“I never…” He couldn’t help smiling. “I wasn’t saying I would, Q.”

“Idiot.” Sabrina muttered. She leaned across Q. “Jude, you sure she’s not concussed?”

Her sudden yelp and jump and Q’s smug expression said it all. She’d been pinched.

Definitely an interesting relationship.

“Ladies…” He stood and dusted the back of his jeans with his hands. The girls rose to their feet. “I just had a thought. There should be a first aid room. How about we find it and clean off the blood. If you two want to go back in after that, okay, but no more mosh pit.”