Page 91 of The Dom with a Safeword

But Jude wasn’t easily intimidated. “Of course. Sabrina is…” He paused and stared at her, a mysterious look in his eyes – almost sad. “A very special girl. Every moment I get with her feels like a gift.” Though he spoke to her father, his gaze remained on her.

I’ll miss you too.

She cleared her throat and shook away the sudden sorrow. “Come on, Jude. Let’s dance. I’ll catch up with you later, Daddy. Tell Mom to stop blabbing about everybody.”

He chuckled. “You know that won’t work. Then she’ll just blab about me. Go have fun, tesora.”

The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Jude made an excellent dance partner. His mother would’ve been proud the six years of ballroom classes she’d made him take as a child had paid off. Sabrina laughed all the way home at his stories of being made to practice the waltz with women from his mother’s bridge club.

“How was the wedding?” Q asked when Jude and Sabrina entered the apartment.

Sabrina kicked off her stilettos with a loud sigh. “Son of a bitch, these were killing me!”

Q shook her head. “I don’t know why you bother.”

“Beauty is pain,” she answered, grimacing as she reached around behind her and unclasped her bra.

“And apparently a lot of money,” Jude added, flopping onto the couch. “I learned that tonight. As well as the best bras at Victoria’s Secret, who baby Talia’s real father is, and how to make a strapless dress stay up.” He furrowed his brow. “Apparently they make tape for that.”

Q laughed and pushed the ottoman under his feet. “Poor guy.”

“Hey!” Sabrina cut in, tossing her bra into the laundry room across the hall. “Uh-uh. Don’t ‘poor guy’ him.” She pointed to Jude with a scowl. “He got a blow job in the hallway. What do I get? Nothing!”

Q gave her a sly smile. “Oh, but that’s not true, Sabrina.” She turned to Jude. “Were her panties wet when you checked?”

He nodded.

“Then I owe you something.” She stalked toward Sabrina. Her gaze swept up her barefoot, nearly naked body. The sly smile she wore earlier disappeared. “Come here,” she ordered.

Q’s turned on face. Oh boy. She looked to Jude – for help or encouragement, she wasn’t sure. But he gave neither.

He laughed and put his feet up on the ottoman. “Good idea, Q. Take over for me. I’m beat and could use some entertainment.”

Sabrina glared. “I’m not your toy!”

Q’s brow arched. “Aren’t you?”

Well… She averted her gaze and held her hands behind her back – an open gesture that could be interpreted as affirmative without saying so. She was an expert at dodging uncomfortable questions.

“That’s what I thought.” Q chuckled. “Do you have the collar we used the other day, Jude?”

“Oh! Left the toy bag in the car.” He stood and traipsed to the door. “I didn’t think we’d be playing so soon. I’ll be right back.”

When he disappeared, Q stepped in and kissed Sabrina quickly on the lips. They wrapped their arms around each other, squeezing tight. Sabrina inhaled the scent of Q’s hair – earthy shampoo with a hint of delicious mint. She’d been chewing gum. How could she miss her in only the span of a few hours?

Keeping Sabrina close with one hand on her back and the other stroking her hair, Q asked softly, “Did you have fun, beautiful? Was your family good to Jude?”

Sabrina smiled. “It was mostly fun. And they loved Jude, of course. One of my aunts called him a hunk of burning love. I almost died laughing.”

Q chuckled. “That’s good. I bet he fit in well.”

“He did.” She nodded, staring dreamily at the floor. “He did fit in.” Too well. But that acknowledgement brought heartache. She pushed it away. Looking back up at Q, she giggled. “The best part was when I asked the DJ to play Hey, Jude and made him slow dance to it. I never thought a guy could glare so hard. I might be in for it later.”

They both laughed and when their chuckles faded, Q blurted, “I wish I could’ve been there.” She flushed immediately and tried to pull away, but Sabrina held her still with arms wrapped tight around her waist.

“Me too,” Sabrina admitted. She felt Q relax against her again and she pressed her face into her neck. Summer was almost over. This…was almost over. Soft, minty kisses, snuggling up on the couch to watch a movie, kneeling at Q’s feet with her fist in her hair.

She inhaled a deep breath, locking the scent, the memories, deep in her heart. “I missed you,” she muttered into Q’s soft skin.