Page 92 of The Dom with a Safeword

Chapter 16

Q

“Are you sure we’ve never met?” the future Mrs. Julie Eagleton asked for the umpteenth time.

Q shook her head again with the same pleasant smile. “Oh, I’m sure I would have remembered. I’m very good with faces.”

From over Julie’s shoulder her fiancé grinned like an idiot. Smallish cities sometimes sucked. At least Jon was being discreet and not letting on that his fiancée had, indeed, run out of a bar on Q’s account only a few weeks before. Q had only ever had a few last-minute wedding bookings, but of course this awkward situation would be one.

The bride and groom paid the amount they owed and Q’s mind switched to auto-pilot. She drifted through the memory of the conversation with Nico at the bar a few weeks ago. Had she really been stupid enough to consider taking him back? Even knowing how things had eventually fallen spectacularly apart, not having him as a fallback made her anxious. How fucked up was that?

Things with Jude and Sabrina had shown her how wonderful a real relationship could be. But what would she do at the end of the summer? Deep down she wondered if Jude was really leaving – he was starting to drop subtle hints that he didn’t want their relationship to end. But how would it work with him living across the country? Would getting together a few times a year, the whole time he was in med school work? Sabrina didn’t want to move that far away from her family, and Q’s business was established here. She shook her head. Now she was getting ahead of herself. Did he even like them enough for that to be an issue right now? But if and when he did move – what would happen between her and Sabrina?

The Eagletons left the building, excited to be seeing Q again in a few days for their engagement pictures. Jon was a little too enthusiastic for Q’s comfort, but business was business.

When the front door jingled, she left the rest of the wedding contract paperwork on the back counter. With her professional smile plastered on her face, she walked into the front room... The grin turned real when she saw who it was.

Jude and Sabrina strolled around the small lobby, checking out some of her latest display pictures. “Wow, Q. I didn’t realize you were so talented,” Jude said thoughtfully.

People always said things like that to photographers. It was normally about as sincere as being told to “have a nice day” at a shop. His tone convinced her that he meant it, though.

“Thanks! You two are an unexpected surprise. What brings you by?” Sabrina visited once in awhile, but Jude never had.

“We thought we’d take you out for lunch, since we were just sitting around waiting for you to get home.” Jude walked closer, stopping only when he was standing well within her personal space. His expression went from friendly to molten. Her body responded without hesitation – her heart sped up and her knees tried to buckle. Fight or flight took over and she backed into the reception counter.

Without losing a beat, he followed. His big hands rose to grip the granite countertop on either side of her, boxing her in. With alarm she saw Sabrina flip the jocular Out to Lunch sign then slide the deadbolt.

“Behave, you two,” she said “Don’t turn my studio into a den of iniquity.” Q’s intended grumble came out more like a plea.

The press of Jude’s groin against hers made her groan and he caught the sound with a deep kiss. When it ended, she was pretty sure her knees had rubberized. He steadied her. “Shh! You’re going to disturb the people at the pet shop next door. Really, Q, control yourself.” He looked smug.

She gazed up at him, slowing her gasping breaths. “Let’s go for lunch before I figure out how to rape a man twice my size.”

His hand closed tightly in the back of her hair and she melted. “You can’t rape the willing, little brat.”

“You two are such pervs.” Sabrina chuckled and shook her head. “Did your new background come in, Q?”

Regrettably, Jude released his grip on her.

“Yes, I haven’t had a chance to unpack it yet though. Unexpected wedding booking this morning. You’ll never guess who.”

They looked at her blankly.

“Jude’s best buddy Jon, from the bar.”

“Nooooo!” Sabrina yelled in mock dismay. “How awkward was that? Did they remember you?” She strolled over.

Without warning, Jude grabbed the smaller girl and perched her on the counter. Sabrina squeaked.

Q’s gaze was drawn to the girl’s shapely legs. Bare, and so very close to her face. Was she wearing underwear?

“Jon remembered me. He grinned like a tool through the whole process. His fiancée, Julie, kept thinking she knew me from somewhere.” She shrugged. “One of the hazards of being a photographer in such a small city. At least I didn’t grow up here. Having people tell me all the time that they remembered me from grade school would be a pain in the ass. Want to help me set up for my next shoot? It’s not until five.”

When she struggled to lift the shipping box with the new background in it, and Jude grabbed it out of her hands, she was secretly pleased. Fuck women’s lib. The damn thing was heavy. She led the way into the studio.

Showing Jude how to hook it up was almost unnecessary. He unrolled it and hung it in place in record time. The rich, deep red reminded Q of the painted walls in Hollywood whorehouse scenes.

“Sexy!” Sabrina said approvingly. “You said this was for boudoir shots, right?”