Temporary Master (25 page)

“Because
it’s too amateurish.”

“Really?
Perhaps your star student isn’t as
talented as you think.”

She
went to open the evidence bag intent on getting a clear view of it when the
detective ripped from her hands. “The evidence stays in the bag, where there’s
no chance of you destroying it, Ms. Johnston.”

She
gritted her teeth.
“Fine.
I wasn’t going to destroy
it. I was going to point out how I know it’s not his work.”

“By
taking it out of the evidence bag.
I don’t think so.”

“Detective
Chayefsky, Sabella came in of her own volition to answer your questions. Now
that she’s offering to show you exactly how she’s certain it’s not her
student’s work, I’d take her up on her offer. Because as far as I’m concerned,
you have no valid evidence this is nothing more than a teenaged boy with a
normal libido using his imagination to sketch the object of his desire.”

“Your
client has a record…she’s on the Sex Offender Registry in New York.”

“
Which, according to the Department of Justice in New York, was
nothing more than a clerical error.
If you’ll remember, neither you nor
I were actually able to find a valid case number linking to her supposed
crime.”

“I’ve
spoken with the D.O.J. in New York too. The officer I spoke with believes it’s
the case number which is suspect, not the profile in
itself
.
So that leaves Ms. Johnston here with a great deal of explaining to do. Like
why she neglected to register once she moved back to California.”

“Because
I’m not a sex offender!”
Frustrated and at the end of her rope, she pushed away from the table. “You
know what, if you’re not arresting me, I’m leaving. I’ve answered your
questions and I’m more than tired of your constant accusations.”

“Is
she under arrest?” Davis stood as well.

Detective
Chayefsky looking
defeated,
shook his head. “Not at
the moment…”

“Then
good day to you.” Davis cupped her elbow and guided her from the interrogation
room. It was all Sabella could do to keep from collapsing, as he led her down a
short hallway and out of the building.

“Just
a little bit more, sweetheart.
You did
good
in there.
Better than
some of my clients in fact.”
They arrived at his S.U.V., and after using
the remote to unlock it, he guided her up into her seat. “Buckle up, Bella. I’m
taking you home.”

“But
Ethan said he wanted me…”

“To
my home.
I
really don’t relish the idea of getting my ass kicked by a man nearly a foot
shorter and a hundred pounds lighter than me.”

“Ethan
wouldn’t hurt you.” There weren’t many things she was certain of at this
particular moment, but that was one of them. Her Dom had too much control to
hurt his partner, no matter how mad he was.

He
arched an eyebrow at her. “You don’t know how possessive he is of you, sweetheart,
especially when he feels you’re being threatened. The only other time I’ve seen
him like this is was during his marriage to Tamiko. He takes his role as your
Dom seriously.”

She
wasn’t sure how to reply to Davis so she settled for a shrug. “I suspect no
more so than any other submissive he’s taken under his wing, Davis. I have no
illusions of where I fit into his life…”

“Where
did she go?” Davis propped his arms his hips and glared down at her.

She
looked up in surprise, totally floored at his sudden change in demeanor.
“What?”

“Where
did the feisty submissive I just saw in there….” He jerked his head towards the
police department. “…go? She didn’t doubt herself, or let herself be cowed by a
detective with a stick so far up his
ass,
I’m surprised
he wasn’t related to ‘José Jalapeno…on a Steek’.”

“I….”
She couldn’t help but stare at him, dumbfounded.
“José
Jalapeno…on a Steek?”

A
wide grin crossed his face, before he mentioned a popular comic/ventriloquist
by name and one of his puppets masquerading as the spicy condiment on a stick,
then it all made sense. She giggled. “Yeah, he’s definitely his brother.”

“Now,
care to tell me why you think my friend of twenty years can’t see you for what
you are?”

She
shrugged. “He’s made it no secret I’m his for as long as he wants me, but we
both know how long his attention span lasts.”

Davis
finally sighed. “You’ve heard the rumors….”

She
nodded. “And have discussed the subject with him. While he’s assured me he’s
not looking for the door or a replacement Dom for me, I know one day it’ll
probably happen. I’m just thankful he’s going to keep me for awhile.”

“For
awhile?
I bet he
didn’t tell you the last submissive he used those words with, he ended up
married to for nearly ten years.”

Her
optimistic heart leapt at the thought, but she squashed it. She’d made herself
a promise to enjoy what she had with Ethan while it lasted, and not hope for
more. “No, he didn’t.”

“Just
remember that, Bella, when you’re submitting to him, taking his orders, and
sleeping in his arms. He doesn’t offer his temporary submissives the privileges
he’s given you. He helps them, but keeps them at arms-length. You’re the first
he’s kept overnight, or even allowed the privilege of coming into our home.
You’re not temporary…and when he realizes it, you’re going to end up collared
so fast your pretty little head will spin.”

“Go
to the training room, Sabella,” Ethan ordered as he pulled back his dreads at
the base of his neck with a leather thong, a sure sign he wanted to scene. She
froze. Around them the house had quieted as Sabella stood next to the
half-loaded dishwasher. He and Davis had just finished discussing the situation
with the police and her father’s refusal of Ethan’s offer of refuge. She’d been
surprised when she’d heard he’d taken up Mrs. D.’s offer to stay with her. But
regardless, he was a grown man and if he wanted to stay with Mrs. D., it was
fine with her. That’s why, while in the process of cleaning up the dinner mess,
the last thing she’d expected was a direct order from her Dom.

“I’m
not going to ask again.” Ethan’s reminder sent a flood of cream thickening
between her thighs in response. She squeezed her thighs together before
nodding.

“I’ll
finish this up.” Davis stood, joining her by the appliance. He rinsed his cup
and slid it into the rack. “Heaven forbid you make him wait, Bella. He might
just give you a paddling.”

“Sabella
knows what happens when she tops from the bottom. Don’t you, little one?” The
heat in his eyes had her moving. Even as much as she’d hated the last spanking
he’d given her, he’d told her more than once he wasn’t opposed to erotic
spanking. And though she wanted to feel his palm against her bottom again,
she’d rather not have it as the result of bad behavior. Punishment paddlings
weren’t erotic - at all.

“Yes,
Sir.
I’ll be
waiting in the training room for you.” Not waiting for Davis to shut the door
on the dishwasher, she scurried out of the kitchen and down the hall, barely
registering Davis’s answering chuckle.

Once
she made it into Sir’s training room, she went about readying it as was her
custom. As she turned on the stereo, lit candles and incense sticks, she
slipped out of her ‘in control Bella’ persona and into the role of Sabella.
the
submissive. She’d just finished folding her clothing and
assuming the
nadu
position in the center of the room when her Sir
entered. The click of the lock wasn’t surprising. After Davis had walked in
last night, she could only assume he hoped to keep his friend out of the room.
She had a
feeling,
one which had built throughout
dinner, Ethan needed to slip into the role of her Master as much as she needed
to serve him. The delicious meal of comfort foods she’d prepared weren’t
enough. She was going to end up being thoroughly dominated tonight.

“What’s
your safeword, Sabella?” The whisper of clothing had her wanting to look but
she resisted, keeping her eyes lowered as she answered.

“Dobby,
Sir.”

“And
slow?” The sound of a drawer opening reached her ears.

“
Matsu,
Sir.” Moments later his bare feet appeared in her line of vision.

“Good,
Sabella. Tonight I’m going to blindfold you before restraining you.
Understand?” His voice was hard.

“Y
..es
, Sir.” She stumbled over the response. In the past, she
hadn’t liked being blindfolded by her Dom but with Ethan….she found she didn’t
mind.

“You
don’t sound all that certain, Sabella.” There was a tone of censorship in his
voice.

“I’ve
never let a Dom blindfold me before, but I trust you, Sir.”

“Remember
if you need me to slow down, use your safeword.” Then a soft dark cloth covered
her eyes. The feel of elastic assured her he’d used nothing more than a sleep
mask to block her vision. A well fitting sleep mask she noticed though, when no
light peeked through around the edges.

“What’s
your level?” The ritualistic question, followed by the brush of his naked body,
as he settled behind her, scrambled her brains. Every nerve ending went on red
alert as she felt every inch of him against her panty-clad bottom and bra
encased back.

“Sabella?”

His
gruff question sent her libido into overdrive and her response spilled out of
her in rush. “Sir, you’re naked.”

“Hmmm,
that I am, but you didn’t answer my question, Sabella.” He spoke the words
directly into her ear. Goosebumps pebbled the skin of her arms.

“Gr…re…en
,…
Sir.” She was barely able to get the words past her
throat, as his hands rubbed up and down her arms.

“Good,
now relax for me.
Breath in and out.”
He pulled her
close as she slid into the natural breathing pattern of
kokyo-ho.
It
amazed her how easily she managed it now. There was no struggle, no start and
stop. Her body fell in tune with his without a protest. The connection between
them grew each time they did this, and she didn’t know what she was going to do
when he walked away.

“This
is no time for bad thoughts, Sabella. Clear your mind and relax into me.”

She
immediately apologized as she forced the thought from her mind, not wanting
another scolding.
Besides,
it’s
best I focus on
here and now.

“
Relax, little one. Give over to me.”
He pressed a kiss behind her ear. “You won’t be sorry you did.”

* * * *

Ethan
wanted to howl his triumph as Sabella immediately relaxed into his arms,
uncaring of his nudity against her. It’d taken weeks to get her accustomed to
his touch, to trust him until she obeyed without a mental struggle. He’d
thought he’d felt just the briefest flare when they first started, but a nicely
worded request had her relaxing back against him with a soft sigh. Rubbing his
thumbs up and down her arms, he watched as the hair on her arms stood at
attention.
But she’s still relaxed even as she feels the desire. This is
good, because I’m going to push her tonight…one step closer to what she’s been
struggling to reach.

Nuzzling
the side of her neck, he smoothed his hands down her arms to her hands.
Entwining their fingers, he slowly brought them up until both their arms were
wrapped around her midsections and supporting her breasts. Her face rolled to
the left, a soft moan passing her lips as he made a lifting motion to push up her
breasts. Close to overflowing from her bra, he released the front catch,
spilling her tightly furled nipples and breasts onto the shelf created by their
joined limbs.
“So beautiful….so submissive.”
He wanted
to suck on the tight little peaks until she screamed his name. The memory of
her coming for him the night before wasn’t far from his mind. But before he
could indulge himself, he needed more of her submission.

Today
had been a day from hell after dealing with Lauren’s unexpected visit in the
wee hours of the morning. He hadn’t wanted to leave the bed when his alarm had
rung, but his responsibilities had called and he’d grudgingly left the bed,
only to come out of the shower to find Sabella missing. Following his nose,
he’d found her in the kitchen preparing him breakfast.
And after a rushed
breakfast and good-bye kiss, she’d been off with Davis to his office. But now
it’s my time - our time together.

“That’s
good, Sabella. Accept my touch.” He used his thumbs to flick over the straining
buds. A barely there moan escaped her mouth. A smile tugged at his lips. She
was so responsive, a trait he planned on exploiting as often as possible.
Moving one arm, he gave a simple command for her to hold her position, as his
free hand rubbed lightly over the bare skin of her gently rounded belly. Even
as she obeyed without question, she shivered in his hold. For long moments he
savored her weight against him, despite the hardness of his dick. He’d give
them both the release they’d found the night before, but first he wanted to
play…