Temporary Master (18 page)

“Yes,
Officer?”
He
shivered as a blast of ice cold air filled the car.

“The
Cole’s has a strict No Loitering policy, Sir.”

Pasting
a smile on his face, Louis nodded.
“Of course.
I was
merely waiting for the engine to warm up completely before taking off.
Something my mechanic has suggested
to keep
wear and
tear down on the engine.”

The
cop looked skeptical. “Well it feels as if your car is now warm if the heat
coming out of the cabin is any indication. Please move along. There are other
cars waiting for your parking spot.”

“Of
course, Officer.”
Louis said brightly, before the officer returned to his own vehicle. Flicking
the switch to roll up the window, he cussed out the officer under his breath
before putting the car into gear. Turning the radio back on…he waited but heard
nothing but loud sounds of running water and the smattering of Spanish before
the bug suddenly went dead. The waiter must’ve removed the wine bucket.

“Son
of a bitch!”
He
hit the turn signal indictor before heading towards his home. He wasn’t so
worried about convincing his Bella to take him back. He had some of the best
P.I.s on the payroll. They would be able to keep an eye on her until he got
their little love shack ready, but he was pissed that he didn’t get to witness
Sabella reject Tremaine. He’d have to remember to give her a reward after he
got done riding her tight little ass.

* * * *

After
a brief good night kiss outside her apartment door where Ethan had buried one
hand in her hair while tilting her head back, Sabella had all but floated
inside. She pressed her fingers to her lips. He had a way of kissing which left
no part of her mouth unclaimed. Her lower lip throbbed from his nip while her
upper felt swollen from him taking it between his. She couldn’t remember the
last time she’d ever been kissed as enthusiastically or passionately.

“Is
that you, Bella?” her father called out from the living room.

“Yes
Daddy.” Hanging her coat up, she was tempted to run and hide in her bedroom.
Anything to keep her dad from realizing how far over her head she
gotten with Ethan Tremaine.

“Did
you have a good time tonight?” Andrew appeared in the doorway, scanning her
appearance until she wanted to ask him if he wanted to x-ray her to make sure
Ethan hadn’t taken advantage of her body.

“Yep.
I had steak and Ethan had salmon.”
She hooked her purse over the hook by the door. “Let me go change out my
clothes, Daddy, and I’ll come back out and tell you how it went.”

“Did
he do this to you?” He caught her by the arm, and lightly touched the curves of
her swollen mouth.

“It
was just a kiss.
Nothing more.
He kept his hands above
the waist in the back and nothing below the collar bone in the front.”

He
chuckled.
“Fine.
Your virtue is safe. Go get cleaned
up. Then you can come back and have a bowl of ice cream with me.” Then he
turned and headed into the kitchen, before she had a chance to chew his butt
about eating ice cream.

Sabella
scurried down the hall. She was tempted to throw her clothes here or there, but
resisted because she’d be the one picking them up. So instead she forced
herself to stop in her room to grab her pajamas along with a few toiletries.
Once she was in the bathroom, she set her things down on the counter before
quickly stripping off her dress. Tossing it into the hamper, she stepped into a
steamy shower. As the water beat over her shoulders, down and over her
sensitive breasts, Sabella pressed her palms against the cool tile. She
couldn’t believe it but she’d agreed to think about Ethan’s weekend. He’d made
some very valid points tonight. It was true no one could promise forever, but
he assured her he wasn’t thinking about her in the same manner he had other
submissives in his past, and he hadn’t even thought about finding another for
her.

Tipping
her head back, she allowed the water to move through her hair, wetting the
length of it. Adding shampoo, she washed it briskly enjoying the feel of the suds
sliding down her back and over her shoulders. There was something quite erotic
about the barely there feeling of bubbles meandering their way down her body,
reminding her it had been too long since she’d felt a lover’s touch. As she
turned into the water, she wondered what her mother might do if she was here.
Would she go for it, or back off?

 
“
There’s no promises
in life, Sabella. Remember that - and
grab what you can and hang onto it for all you’re worth. Even if it’s for a
short while, it’s worth it.”

“Thanks,
Momma. You always did have the best advice. I need to quit being afraid and go
for what I want.”

Quickly
rinsing the suds off, Sabella finished her shower and slipped into her
nightgown, her step a bit lighter than it had been before she’d gone into the
shower. But before she joined her dad, she stopped by her room and sent a quick
text out on her phone before she could chicken out. It was time to take what
she wanted without reservations.

Yes
~ Sabella

Ethan’s
hands shook as he re-read the simple text for the twentieth time since Sabella
had sent it the night before. He should be centering himself, preparing himself
for dealing with Louis Vayarti, but instead he was mooning over a simple
two-word text like a love-struck boy. Putting his phone back in the drawer of
his desk, he shut it then reached for Louis’s file. Forcing his brain to focus
on the matter at hand wasn’t easy but after a couple of tries, he managed it.
According to the recent report from the man’s parole officer, he was a model
citizen. Working in the financial community and causing no waves, the official
was suggesting Louis be allowed a bit more freedom and moved up to the next
tier, which would allow the ankle bracelet to be removed.

 A
brisk knock on his office door, and a dark head poking in through the opening,
had him smiling.
“Hey, Davis.
Just the man I wanted to
see.” Closing the file, he gestured for his partner to come in.

“Well,
you left me a note on the fridge saying you wanted to talk to me.”

“That
I did. Honestly however, I wasn’t expecting to see you much before three or
four o’clock this afternoon considering your guest.”

Davis’s
cheeks actually reddened as he flopped down on the leather couch sitting
adjacent to Ethan’s desk. “Well you could’ve joined us. I’m sure she wouldn’t
have minded…”

Ethan
shook his head. “No. I’ve got my own submissive - one I plan on having over
this weekend, so if you’re smart you won’t have Eileen over - unless of course
you want word to get back to Lauren how you spend your Sunday nights.”

Davis
growled. “I’m human and have needs just like the next man. If Lauren’s going to
be too stubborn to satisfy them, then I’ll find my release elsewhere.”

Holding
up a hand, Ethan shook his head. “I’m not chewing you out. Merely suggesting if
you want a chance with Lauren, don’t toss your little thing with Eileen in a
way, which could and probably would, get back to her. With me having Sabella
over, don’t think for a moment it won’t. They’re best friends after all. I wouldn’t
be surprised if right now, Sabella is telling her about our date last night and
the conclusion of it.”

“Noted.”
Davis draped both arms across the
back of the couch. “So how did you convince, Ms. ‘I’m only submissive during
our training’ to give you chance?” He kicked out his long legs. “No don’t tell
me. You actually took my advice and seduced her into it…I knew you could…”

“I
didn’t do any seducing, Davis.” He didn’t count their kiss as a form of
seduction, merely a form of pleasure and one he hoped to indulge in again -
soon. “We had a conversation, I made my arguments to her,
she
thought about it, weighed the pros and cons and decided to take a chance.
…”

Davis
burst out laughing. “Do you realize how cold-blooded you sound? You actually
discussed it and came to consensus. You make it sound like a board meeting or
caucus rather than something intimate between a Dom and a submissive.”

Ethan
drummed his fingers on the polished wood. A wolfish grin crossed his face as he
remembered the kiss he’d left her with at her door. He’d had to
unwrap
her arms from his neck. If it hadn’t been for the
opening of the door across the hall and the ‘dare you’ look from Mrs.
Di’Angelo, he’d have done more. “There’s nothing cold blooded about it, but
even as exciting as you find the idea of being a captive audience to my love
life…”

“…or
lack of one,” Davis interrupted.

Ethan
pursed his lips, before continuing. “That’s not why I wanted you to stop by. I
have a patient who’s pushing to get back into the scene. He approached me last
night while I was at Cole’s.”

Davis’s
arms dropped and he leaned forward. “Is he ready to be reintroduced?”

“I
don’t know. His mouth may be saying yes and all the right things but it doesn’t
ring true to me.” Ethan leaned back in his chair.

“So
don’t let him. Advise him against it.” Davis offered.

“I
would, but he’s the type who’d go to any BDSM club despite my suggesting he’s
not ready.”

“Ah,
it’s one of your court assigned cases…”

Ethan
nodded. “Yes, and I can’t break privilege to warn the other clubs about him.
Not to mention he’s new in town.  He won’t be on any of the normal warning
lists.”

Davis
steepled his fingers.
“So you want to extend a temporary pass to New Beginnings, where we can keep an
eye on him?”

“That’s
what I’m thinking. Until I can get some concrete evidence he’s blowing smoke up
my ass, or he breaks the law, he’s free to go to whatever club he wants.” Ethan
rolled his shoulders. “And while I can’t tell you exactly what’s in his file,
let’s just say it’s bad enough I don’t feel comfortable letting him loose on
unsuspecting clubs nor submissives. At least if he’s under our noses, we can
keep an eye on him.”

Davis
nodded.
“Makes sense.
But if you can’t tell me who he
is, how the hell am I supposed to know?”

A
smile crossed Ethan’s face. “Well, he’s my next appointment, and if you
accidentally run into him as you’re leaving, that’s mere coincidence. Even if
you don’t, he’ll be one of three who will be on temporary passes at the club
this weekend.”

A
knock on the door, along with Dolly’s nasally voice informing him of Louis’s
arrival, had Davis standing. “And I’ll take that as my cue to leave. I’m headed
down to the club at the moment, since the Pepsi vendor is supposed to be
stopping by this afternoon.”

Ethan
nodded. “Thanks Davis.” He turned his attention to Dolly. “Please take Mr.
Vayarti to the therapy room, Dolly. I’ll be in shortly.”

* * * *

Sabella
was putting away the last set of paints when a pair of hands wrapped around her
waist, startling her. “What the…” She nearly jumped out of her skin. “Damn
girl, you’re jumpy.” Andrew pressed a kiss against the top of her forehead.

“Daddy,
what are you doing here? I thought you had a date with Mrs. D.”

“Me
on a date?
Not a chance.”

She
propped her hand on her hip. “You’re taking her on the vineyard tour she’s been
pestering you about for the past six months, and then dinner afterwards. In my
book that’s a date.” Her expression softened. “You know it’s been nearly twenty
years since Mom died, Daddy. She wouldn’t want you to be all alone…”

He
glowered at her. “It ain’t a date… just a friendly outing between friends. But
I didn’t stop to discuss my love life with you. I was wondering if you wanted
to see about inviting your new beau for dinner this weekend. Him being a busy
man, I thought you’d need to ask ahead of time…”

“I’ll
have to talk to him, but I don’t know his exact plans, or if I’ll even be
available this weekend.”

“What
plans are those, Bella Marie Johnston?”

She
took a deep and wondered if she should give her dad the truth or remain
evasive. She chose the latter, not wanting to have the huge confrontation she
knew would happen if she even breathed a word about spending the night with a
man. “I don’t know for sure. Lauren said something about a girls’ getaway this
weekend if she could get it off from the shop.”

Her
dad moved away from her, shutting the door. “Girl, you know better than to lie
to me. You’re as see through as a window when it comes to me. If you have plans
to spend the weekend with your man, it’s rightfully none of my business, but I
don’t want you to lie about it. Simply tell me you’re going to Ethan’s and you
don’t know what his plans are yet.”

Tears
stung her eyes. Some days she thought she had her dad figured out,
then
he did things like this. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I wasn’t
trying to hide anything from you, but it’s hard to tell my father I’m planning
on sleeping over at a man’s house…”