He started the engine, satisfied with the way it purred to life.
“You ready?”
Abby wrapped her arms around his waist in response.
Sam took off, and they left the ranch behind them.
Chapter Three
Jack was shown to the austere waiting room outside Julian’s office by a lovely young woman in her twenties. She kept her head down and her eyes averted, and Jack realized she probably spent a lot of time in the club downstairs. His eyes briefly skimmed her body. She was dressed conservatively, as Julian would have anyone working in the business end do. She wore a skirt, silk shirt, and a jacket. The only thing that marked her as anything other than an office drone was her shoes. They were at least a half a foot worth of sex on stilettos. Jack had no idea how she managed to walk in them, but he admitted those shoes were hot. They would look nice on his Abby. On the blonde, he was merely able to appreciate them on an aesthetic level. The girl was pretty and obviously submissive. She probably never talked back or disobeyed. Julian wouldn’t have it.
Jack took a seat in one of the antique chairs Julian insisted gave the office an elegant feel. They always made Jack feel like a hulking beast perched on something fragile. He sighed, stretched, then pulled out his phone. There was one message, and he bet it was a doozy. He could almost hear Abigail tearing him a new asshole for leaving that note. He smiled at the thought of her face flushed with anger. Her whole face went red when she got really mad, and her eyes flashed fire. She was really pretty when she was pissed. She could spout some seriously filthy language, too. When she got going, she could really rack up the punishment time. He could give her five every time she cursed. That gorgeous ass of hers would get a lovely shade of pink. Jack frowned and tried to think of something else.
“Sir?”
Jack glanced up, a little surprised to see the secretary still there. He’d forgotten about her completely. His mind had been on his wife.
“Yes?” He found himself slightly annoyed. He didn’t want to be here in the first place. He wanted to deal with Julian’s subs even less. There were always at least two, one male and one female. Julian believed in variety.
She sank to her knees, placing her slender body in between his legs. Her hands went to his denim clad thighs. Her perfectly manicured nails sank in slightly. “Mr. Lodge told me to see to your every need, Mr. Barnes. Might I offer you the comfort of my mouth? Or would you prefer something else?”
“I would prefer it if you took your hands off me,” Jack said, and even he could feel the room’s temperature drop by several degrees. He made no move to remove the offending hands. He didn’t need to do anything physical to put a sub in her place. “I didn’t ask you to put your hands on me, nor do I want your attentions. Do we understand each other?”
Her hands dropped to her thighs, palms up. She looked straight down. “Yes, sir. I was—”
“Nor did I ask for an explanation.” Jack knew she was only following orders. She didn’t have to spell it out. He also knew that a soft explanation wouldn’t work on her. “Move back, sub. You’re invading my space, and I do not like it.”
The blonde sub quickly moved back, though she found her position again. She remained still and silent.
“You are dismissed.” Jack wanted to be left alone. He’d known what he’d be offered the minute he walked into The Club again. He’d really hoped he could get in and out without the drama.
The blonde’s head came up. Her mouth opened and closed as though she wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite make it happen.
The door to the office opened. Julian took in the scene in front of him and shook his head. “He said you were dismissed, Sally. Are you so improperly trained that you don’t obey a direct order?”
“No, Master Julian.” She gracefully got to her feet and was back at her desk in a moment.
Jack stood up quickly. “And what was that little scene about?” He knew he should give the man who had mentored him some leeway, but he was feeling restless. That anger he held inside him was looking for an outlet, and Julian was a big boy. He could handle it.
Julian Lodge cocked a single aristocratic eyebrow. Jack could tell a lot about Julian’s mood from that one brow. Julian could say the same thing in exactly the same voice, but it held a different meaning when that dark brow was climbing off his face. “Am I not allowed to be hospitable, Jackson?”
He was annoyed, Jack thought. Well, good for Julian because Jack was annoyed, too. “I’m a married man. I doubt my wife would appreciate that little scene you tried to play out.”
Julian shrugged in his Italian suit. Jack knew the club owner had them custom-made. “As I have yet to be introduced to this paragon of virtue, I have no idea what she would find offensive and what would be acceptable to her. Would you care to join me in my office? Our guest will be here soon.”
It was posed as a question, but Jack heard the inherent command behind it. He nodded shortly and followed his former mentor. The door closed behind him. It had been years since he’d been called into Julian’s office. He remembered the last time he was here. He had been informing Julian of his decision to quit. He was buying his ranch. He was taking Sam with him.
“Well, of course you are, Jackson,” Julian had said. “A Dom never leaves his favorite sub behind.”
“Please have a seat.” Julian indicated the dark leather chair in front of his large mahogany desk. Jack sank into the chair as he continued. “I give you permission to punish my slave. She questioned you. She shouldn’t have done that.”
“Punish her yourself,” Jack replied. “I don’t intend to be here for long. I need to get home. I want to meet with this guy and hightail it out of here. If I get on the road fast enough, I can be home by midnight.”
Julian sat back in his chair, and his long hands steepled. “You’re in a hurry. Tell me, Jackson, why haven’t you brought your lovely bride to enjoy all the pleasures our little club can provide? Is she not submissive? Do you not share her with Samuel?”
Jack was taken aback by the question. “Of course I share her with Sam. I wouldn’t have married a woman who couldn’t love both of us.” He and Sam were a package deal and had been since they met.
“Then I must assume she is either not submissive or you’re ashamed of the time you spent here,” Lodge mused. “Otherwise I can’t understand why you turned down my very generous offer to host a little honeymoon for you.”
Jack softened slightly. “It was a generous offer. I’m not ashamed. Abigail knows about what I did here. She certainly knows what I owe you, Julian. We haven’t taken a honeymoon. I was sick, and it’s been hard. The recovery…” Jack let the sentence trail off. He really didn’t want to go into this.
“Well, you were shot in the chest,” Julian pointed out. “You can’t expect to recover quickly from that, old friend. You should rest and recuperate.”
Jack shook his head. “It was six months ago. I’m fine.”
Silver eyes assessed him. “I doubt that very much. I’m sure you’re physically fine, but the emotional aspects of such an injury can have much longer-ranging consequences.”
“Like I said, I’m fine.” Jack didn’t want to talk about it. It was something that was best left completely in the past.
Julian’s long fingers drummed on the top of his desk. “It’s just as well you decided not to stay. The Platinum Suite was taken just an hour ago. One of my wealthiest clients is bringing his wife in to play.” There was a secretive smile on Julian’s face that gave Jack pause. “Tell me, Jackson, how is Samuel?”