Bound to be Tested: Emergence, Book 3 (4 page)

Jude.

Lori lowered herself onto a couch and wrapped Margaret in a throw blanket that had been draped over the arm. Pulling her pet’s head down to rest against her chest, Lori looked around again.

Jude wasn’t in sight. She swallowed. Anger and relief warred inside her heart. She wanted to slap him, not for the first time. She was also glad he’d disappeared. If she talked to him right this moment, she feared she was too fragile and wrung out from enacting
his
scene to be civil or coherent.

Today wasn’t a good day to face her former Dom in a battle of wills, no matter how badly she’d wanted to do just that earlier. Nope. Tomorrow would be soon enough. Or the next day… Or never.

Chapter Two

Jude slouched in the front seat of his truck and slammed his hand on the steering wheel. He ducked his head and took in long gulps of air.

What the hell had he been thinking?

He’d known there was a good chance Lori would be at Emergence on a Friday night. It was
her
stomping ground. He didn’t get to claim this territory anymore. He’d abdicated the city, the state and hell, the country to her two years ago.

As though he were a robot, he’d been lured back to the Southeast last week on autopilot, unable to stop the sequence of events that landed him in this position.

He hadn’t thought. Nothing about tonight had been planned. He’d simply come into the club and then immediately followed the flock to the unfolding scene on the floor.

The fact that Lori was at the center of everyone’s attention had knocked the wind out of him. The fact that she was topping, hell, a full Domme in her own right, had left him speechless. Nothing could have prepared him for that visual.

He felt a warm tingle in his chest at the memory of the first moment he’d set eyes on her this evening, her tiny frame held as tall as possible in those impossibly high boots that reached so far up her legs they made him moan internally again even now.

When his gaze had traveled to her corset and the plump swell of her breasts, he’d nearly swallowed his tongue.

So confident and sure of herself, she’d clearly practiced this scene beforehand. She was prepared enough for any eventuality. Her submissive hadn’t been privy however. That much was clear as he watched the taller woman’s face for signs of recognition. Nothing. The rope art had been practiced on someone else. How many subs did Lori have?

Hell, what the fuck was a strong submissive like Lori doing topping other people at all? It was inconceivable to him, and yet he’d watched her intensity and surety for long minutes before his tongue got the best of him and he interrupted her scene.

It hadn’t been altogether accidental. Shit, he’d needed to see her reaction more than his next breath at that moment. And he hadn’t been disappointed. He had no idea where she was in life. Did she live alone? With a partner? A man? A woman? This particular submissive she commanded tonight? He had no answers. But what he did know in the deepest section of his heart was she was still his.

Her reaction to his first words had warmed his soul and told him everything he needed to know. He’d nearly come in his pants watching her. It had taken every ounce of his strength to remain aloof as he ordered her to service the woman she was supposed to be topping. He’d turned the tables on her, and she’d reacted in a way that made his cock stiffer than a tree trunk.

Lori Polluck was no Domme. She may have played the role, acted the scene, but she was a submissive. She was
his
submissive. And he intended to ensure she remembered that very soon.

He knew Carlton had been pissed, itching to step in and stop Jude from destroying someone else’s plan. But the reality was Jude had done no harm. And even after two years, Carlton deferred to Jude’s previous seniority in the club, allowing the man to break every rule in the book as he took over Lori’s show.

As soon as the scene had ended, he’d fled like a chicken. He needed to pull his head back together and figure out what the hell he was thinking before he faced Lori in a showdown. That woman would be hot under the collar and fit to kill.

He wasn’t stupid. He’d used his voice and his commanding presence to practically hypnotize Lori into doing his bidding. As soon as she came out of that stupor after the scene, she would come out swinging.

When he’d first stepped in, he’d been unsure she wouldn’t throw a punch right away. She’d held her ground with him long enough to make him proud of her strength.

He didn’t intend to be on the receiving end of that wrath yet. He’d known good and well he might run into her when he decided to come to Emergence tonight. Whatever he arranged next was completely lost to the universe at this point.

Lori had been the best thing that ever happened to him. She’d been a truly ideal submissive in all things. Strong and independent on the outside, flexible and under his thumb when in the role. He’d loved her.

Hell, after the way his body had reacted tonight, he knew he still did.

Now what was he going to do?
You’re going to get her back, that’s what, asshole. With your tail between your legs, you’re going to formulate a plan and remind Lori Polluck who runs her world
.

But first, a shower, a hotel room and something to eat. Tomorrow was soon enough.

And he needed sleep. If he could just get a few hours of sleep… But rest had largely eluded him for several months. Every time he closed his eyes, he slipped into a dark place that yanked him back to consciousness sweating and gasping for air. After seeing Lori, tonight would be no exception.

Fuck. You don’t even know where she lives
. It wouldn’t be hard to find out, but if she lived with someone, perhaps even in a relationship, she wouldn’t take kindly to him showing up at her door.

No. He needed to do a bit of research first. It had been sheer luck the owner, Jason, hadn’t been in the club tonight. If he had, he’d never have let Jude take over the way he had.

Unfortunately, Jason would also be the first person Carlton would contact with the details of tonight’s escapade. Carlton was liable to sock Jude in the jaw the next time he saw him. And Jason was not going to be pleased either. Too bad for Jude, because Jason was Jude’s best resource concerning Lori’s state of affairs and location.

With a groan, Jude started his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. The massive black four-by-four was the first thing he’d bought last week after returning to the States, and the only possession he had thus far.

He fingered the steering wheel pensively.
Worrying isn’t going to help you any. A six-pack and a crash into bed might be a start, but that’s about as far as you’re going to get tonight
.

Lori drove, both hands gripping the steering wheel as though it were a lifeline. She hadn’t made eye contact or said a word to Margaret since they’d left Emergence.

She glanced at her sub now, who sat wrapped tight inside her warm jacket and stared out the window. They’d been together for over a year. But something had happened tonight. Something that sent a chill down Lori’s spine. She shivered.

Margaret remained speechless, which both relieved and worried Lori. She couldn’t imagine what her sub must be thinking. Lori didn’t know herself. Her emotions were all over the map. Her heart pounded from her reaction to the strangest encounter ever. She felt steamrolled by the Dom who had taken over her scene and left her gasping for oxygen.

Jude had sex appeal no one could deny. Not even Margaret. His enormous chest alone had made Lori lick her lips, remembering the smooth feel of his skin, the firmness of his pecs.

Lori flexed and gripped the steering wheel over and over as though she were about to yank it off and toss it out the window. Doubt tightened her chest. Lori had fallen under a spell when Jude entered the room. And as hard as she tried, she couldn’t shake free of that all-consuming enchantment.

She adored Margaret. Until tonight she would have said she was in love with the woman. Now she wasn’t sure. She’d loved Jude with all her heart at one time. That wasn’t something she could erase even with time and disappointment.

Lori had felt incredible remorse for her breach of conduct as she’d snuggled with Margaret on the couch after the flogging. Jude’s words had dipped into her bloodstream and made her pant through her increased heart rate. She could still hear the timbre of his voice in her head, the same voice that had brought her to her knees many times in the past.

She squeezed her hands tighter. She needed to get a grip. Shake away whatever craziness had seeped into her system. It was ludicrous for her to lust after Jude. He’d been gone for two years. She was a different woman.

What the hell had Jude been thinking taking over her scene? He hadn’t come to the club tonight to top Margaret. He’d come for Lori. A twinge of longing filled her chest and made her gasp.

As though in slow motion, Lori replayed the scene in her mind. She’d been so out of control while completely in control at the same time. Margaret had to be confused as hell, but Lori couldn’t bring herself to discuss the awkward elephant. She couldn’t begin to articulate how she felt, let alone talk it over with her sub. And that sucked more than anything else. It wasn’t fair to Margaret to leave her sitting in silence with no explanation.

Lori had never shared intimate details about her past. Margaret knew the gist of things, but not the specifics. That part of Lori’s life was in the past. She’d never expected to drag those skeletons out and toss them around. Both she and Margaret had skirted the edge of certain topics about their pasts. It was understood they both had baggage.

Margaret stared out the passenger window, away from Lori. Lori swallowed around the pain she felt, knowing she was hurting Margaret.

The dark, mysterious world passed by outside, revealing very few of its hidden secrets. Lori wanted answers to questions she was afraid to ask. She blinked, praying she’d imagined the entire evening and Jude Cavanaugh had not just waltzed into Emergence this evening and taken over as though he’d never left.

When they pulled into the garage, Lori exited the car as though she’d driven there alone. She left Margaret in the front seat and entered the kitchen through the side door. She left the door open when she passed, trying not to be a complete bitch but needing space and time to think.

Lori headed for the master bedroom and then made a beeline for the bathroom. She had the water running and was in the shower before Margaret stepped into the room. The first thing she needed to do before she could breathe properly was wash Jude’s touch off her skin.

As she regained control over her heart rate, she could sense Margaret watching her. She stared at her sub through the glass door. Margaret dropped her jacket on a chair and peeled herself slowly out of her tight denim miniskirt and the bra she’d worn as a shirt. She kicked off her heels and lifted her gaze to Lori. Head held high, she padded across the room and didn’t hesitate to enter the shower behind Lori.

Lori was her Domme, and they’d worked things out perfectly so that Margaret held the role of sub about fifty percent of the time, basically when they were both home and not working. However, Margaret was taller than Lori by several inches. She easily wrapped herself around Lori and pulled her body back until they both stood under the cascade of hot water nestled together.

Lori watched the steam rise as Margaret held her, feeling as though Margaret were the top and Lori the bottom. That had never been the case for a moment in their relationship. But Lori needed consoling, and she relaxed into Margaret’s embrace.

Lori gripped Margaret’s forearms where they rested under her breasts. She held on tight, her head hanging. “I’m so sorry. So sorry…”

Margaret kissed her temple and wiped Lori’s thick red curls from her face. “It’s okay. I’m here.” Was that even a good thing? Lori gritted her teeth, afraid anything she said would hurt Margaret deeply.

Margaret rocked Lori back and forth as Lori released her tears and let them slide down her face. Margaret didn’t comment. She just held her tighter.

When Lori was spent, she sucked in a long breath and forced a smile. She didn’t mention the tears, but she wiggled free of Margaret’s grasp, grabbed the shampoo and proceeded to squeeze a line onto her palm. “Kneel,” she said as she nodded toward the tile.

Margaret flinched, but she did as she was told, her body conditioned to follow instructions. She kneeled on the hard floor as she had many times, and Lori worked her magic fingers into her scalp.

It felt so good to pamper her sub. Normal. Maybe she could use the daily routine as a way to apologize. When she finished, she helped Margaret stand. “Keep your eyes closed.” It wouldn’t be hard with shampoo running down her face.

Lori popped the lid of the body soap and smelled the scent of gardenias as she poured it on the loofah. Margaret moaned as Lori gently washed her body. Lori turned her around and took great care caressing the lines that stretched across her back. Normally Lori would comment on how sexy they looked. Tonight she said nothing.

Lori let the loofah roam over Margaret’s entire body, caressing even her intimate areas as always. Margaret gripped the wall with both hands when Lori nudged her legs apart and washed her pussy with precision.

“Step under the spray, pet.” Lori held Margaret’s arm and angled her toward the water.

When Margaret finally opened her eyes, Lori felt more composed. Almost normal.

Lori smiled, flipped off the water and then stepped out of the shower. “I’m exhausted.” She grabbed her favorite fluffy towel and wrapped her body in the enormous terry cloth that almost reached the floor.

Margaret followed as Lori moved through her nightly rituals, a lump in her throat making it difficult to complete her routine.

Minutes later, they climbed between the sheets.

Lori pulled Margaret to her chest and held her, stroking her hair, tangling her fingers in the wet locks.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Margaret finally asked.

Minutes passed. Lori closed her eyes and pondered the question.