Page 37 of Master Cole

She stiffened, and he tightened his hold when she tried to pull away. “Ummm.”

“That’s not an answer and stop trying to wiggle away.” He swatted her ass. “I want an answer. Truthful, honest answer.”

“I just never ... I never had an orgasm before during sex.”

Cole stiffened in shock. “Never climaxed during sex?” He shook his head. “What did those damn college boys do? Just poke it in and that was it?”

Janie let out a little laugh, her breath hot against his cooling skin. “Pretty much.”

Pride and joy filled him. “I’m glad I got to be the first lover to leave you satisfied.”

“You did.” She snuggled closer to him, her lashes fluttering down, and within seconds she was asleep.

Cole smiled. But damn, she got to him emotionally, and he wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing. Janie was so courageous, so brave, and wouldn’t back down from him.He drew in a breath as ice filled his veins. Was this how Sally had gotten sucked in with a Dom? Had her Dom treated her with kid gloves, giving her what she’d never experienced and hooking Sally? Then pounced when Sally had been hooked? Was he doing the same with Janie?

His mind went back over what had happened with Sally. He hadn’t been able to protect his sister, but damn it, he would protect Janie. He was only supposed to teach Janie, not make her reliant on him. And while he'd give her orgasms, he wanted her to know she had a right to her pleasure too. She had a right to make a man climax too. Her pleasure was just as important as his, and if a man wouldn't allow her to pleasure him, then he wasn't the right Dom.

But he couldn’t take advantage of her inexperience, he wouldn’t. It would kill him to see Janie become like his sister. So dependent on her Dom she couldn’t function without him. Only to become despondent, fearful, and finally willing to take her own life to end her pain. Pain no one even knew she was in.

Last night was the only night they would have like this. He’d go back to being her teacher tomorrow. He’d make her see that the Dom/sub relationship wasn’t always perfect.

The front doorof the house slammed closed on Tuesday morning, and Cole let out a breath. Janie was angry. And he didn’t blame her. Someday, however, she’d realize he was acting in her best interests.

He’d spent most of Sunday in his home office, and when Janie tried to entice him out to play, he refused. Then Monday he’d spent so much time in his office, he was caught up with everything.

He’d come home around midnight last night to find Janie asleep on the sofa waiting for him with her necklace on. His heart clenched at the sight of her. Instead of waking her, he carried her up to her room and put her to bed.

This morning she’d come bounding into the kitchen, thrown her journal on the table, and slammed out of the house. He was glad he didn’t have to go into the office this morning because he really needed to get his head on straight.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and then made his way upstairs. A run would clear his head and help him sort out his emotions around Janie, because the one thing he knew right now was that he couldn’t take advantage of her. He would protect her no matter what.

Janie satat her desk staring at her computer screen. What the fuck was wrong with Cole? After they’d made love on Saturday it had been as though he couldn’t stand the sight of her. Was he put off by her inexperience? No, that wasn’t it, but something was off. And she couldn’t get him to talk about it.

She thought after Sunday, he’d come around, but no. He stayed late at his office, and then when he got home, instead of waking her, he carried her to bed. Damn, man. She’d been so angry this morning, she’d let it all fly in her journal, and now she wondered if she shouldn’t have.

Janie drummed her fingers on her desk. No, Cole asked her to be honest and she was. A knock on the door caused her to push her thoughts aside. Time to work.

By early afternoon Janie had a pounding headache, and the ominous skies matched her mood. Maybe she was coming down with something. She was thinking about calling it a day, but she had an appointment with Liz at four, and she wouldn’t let her down. Her phone rang.

“This is Janie.”

“Janie, it’s Liz.”

Janie stiffened. Liz’s voice was soft, almost too soft. “Where are you?”

“Pay phone at the local gas station.”

Janie sent up a prayer of thanks for the old-fashioned pay phone. “Give me the address.” She didn’t even need to know why Liz was calling, but she had a good idea.

“No, Janie. It’s not safe. I just wanted you to know I’m okay since I’ll miss our meeting today.”

“Liz.” Janie rubbed her forehead.

“It’s okay. With the storm coming in I’m going to go stay with a friend.”

“Storm?” Janie turned and looked the window. The angry skies had turned downright nasty. Big dark clouds gathered, making it seem like it was almost night instead of three in the afternoon.

“That’s why I called you, so you could leave early. I’ll be by to see you on Thursday.” With that the line went dead. Janie sighed. At least if Liz was with a friend she wasn’t with her abusive husband.

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