Page 48 of The Dom with a Safeword

“We’ll see about that.” She stalked over to Q. Crouching beside her, she opened the scissors and slid them up the outside of Q’s thigh until the denim was caught between the blades. She paused and looked up at her uncertainly, as though waiting for her to object.

“Do it.” Jude’s voice was low.

The feel of the cool metal against her skin made Q’s breathing uneven and sent thrilling shivers through her. Maybe she shouldn’t have marked “no” next to knife play. But having Sabrina do this was a bad idea. Making an excuse to have her close was one thing, but she was dizzy from the mix of dominant and submissive feelings rushing through her.

Scissors running along her bare skin. Sabrina kneeling shyly at her feet. Carefully, Sabrina cut upward until most of her thigh was visible. She cut around the front of her leg next, leaving the white pocket hanging out the bottom of the leg hole. As the scissors approached her inseam, Q wished she had something to grab onto, to steady herself.

As though her thoughts were audible, Jude’s big hands wrapped around her upper arms from behind, making her feel both safe and a bit trapped. She hadn’t even noticed him move in their direction. Q licked her lips and exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath for too long. Squeezing between them, Sabrina cut away the fabric from the back of her thigh, and then Q felt her plant a kiss there. She squeaked.

Sabrina moved back into view and frowned up at her. “Did you just squeak?”

“No, it must have been a floorboard.” Sabrina kissed the back of her thigh? That was more than a little shocking.

Jude snorted. “That was Q. Whatever you just did, do it again. I liked that noise.”

Sabrina cut the other pant leg faster. Had she had freaked herself out? When she was done, Sabrina stood back and admired her handiwork. As Jude let go of her arms, Q looked down at herself.

“Wow, Sabrina.” Q grimaced. “Now they’re much... sluttier. You like?” She turned a little to give her roommate the full effect.

“You started it.” She smiled. “Besides, they’re not really slutty. The back doesn’t even show cheek.”

The banging of her heart must have been heard by neighbors a block away. She fought to erase the kiss on the back of her thigh from her memory, but the tingling there still hadn’t subsided. “Fine. Whatever. Are we going to get any painting done today? Poor Jude has had to suffer through our shenanigans enough.”

“Don’t worry about me,” he drawled. “This is much more entertaining than painting.”

Q chuckled and threw a roller to him.

With three of them working, getting the first coat on the walls didn’t take long. The open window made for a cool breeze, and when they were done they sipped the sodas Jude had brought them while looking for spots they’d missed.

“How’d you get so good at renovating houses?” Sabrina asked. “I mean it’s more than just painting you’re doing here, isn’t it?”

“Sure.” He nodded. “I worked for a builder in Spain for a while, and another in Norway. I started out as a bricklayer. I can do electrical work, plumbing…the works. I’m multi-talented in many areas.” His twisted smile had distinctly dirty undertones.

Q scoffed.

“And you have an enormous ego. Hey! Here’s spot you missed,” sang Sabrina, putting her soda can down on the window ledge. She pointed to a section Jude had painted.

Frowning, he walked to her. “Where? I don’t see anything.”

“Right here!” Q saw Sabrina’s intention an instant before she rolled paint across the ass of Jude’s jeans.

Mouth pressed into a hard line and eyebrows raised, Jude drew himself up to his full height and looked down at Sabrina. She dissolved into a fit of giggles and covered her mouth with a cupped hand, looking like she was trying to hold back more.

Apparently Jude’s Dom Face didn’t work on the mischievous little brat. Q snickered.

“Yes, very clever.” His smile was dangerous. He walked to Q and took the soda can from her hand, putting it beside Sabrina’s on the ledge. When he turned back, Q bit her lip and tried to look contrite.

“Kneel, Q,” he ordered. “You too, Sabrina.”

He really wasn’t wasting any time, was he? Part of her objected loudly. Did she respect him enough to kneel to him already? She decided to give it a shot. If this sucked, he’d have to earn it next time. As Q sank to her knees, Sabrina grabbed her hand and did the same. She looked up at Jude, who was damned tall from this vantage point, then quickly averted her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten to ask about eye contact rules.

“You may look at me unless I tell you otherwise.” Jude walked to the painting supplies, set his roller in the tray and put the lid back on the paint can.

As soon as his back was turned, Sabrina moved to get up. Q rolled her eyes and lunged, pulling her back down.

“Seriously?” Sabrina hissed.

“So what kind of punishment do you think you’ve earned?” He swaggered toward them, a gleam in his eye. With a slow nod, he drew Q to her feet and led her to the scaffolding. From up under the lip of the platform, he pulled down a set of leather cuffs that trailed a length of rope.