Page 59 of Master Cole

Janie’s hand on his arm stopped him from moving. “Please, don’t. I don’t want to ruin Alicia’s fun. Let’s just sit here.”

“Are you sure?” She still wouldn’t look at him, and Cole didn’t like it. “What’s wrong, Janie?” He cupped her chin, but she kept her gaze downcast.

“I’m just tired.” Janie slipped from his hold and turned her head away.

Cole almost took her by the shoulders to face him, but he held back. Janie would talk to him when she was ready.

An hour later, Alicia and Mistress Gem approached him and Janie sitting on the sofa. “Here you go, Master Cole. She’s back safe and sound and more educated,” Mistress Gem said.

“Thank you, Mistress Gem,” Alicia said.

“Remember what I said, and call me if you have any questions.”

“I will, Mistress Gem.”

With a nod Mistress Gem disappeared back into the crowd of people. Cole looked over at Janie, who’d barely moved.

“Ready to go home?” he asked Alicia.

“Yes, Sir Cole.” Alicia glanced at her friend and frowned. “Janie?”

“Huh.” Janie shook her head. “Oh, hey, Alicia, sorry, I was lost in thought.”

“You certainly were.” Alicia laughed. “Let’s go home. I’m tired.”

“Me too.” Janie rose to her feet and Cole followed, feeling like he was missing part of the conversation. They retrieved their belongings and made their way out to the car. The drive home was silent.

It bugged Cole that Janie wasn’t talking. He could understand Alicia, who was probably still processing everything she had seen, but Janie shouldn’t be. Between her reading and their play, tonight shouldn’t have caused her any issues.

Once they got home, Alicia went into the house first. Cole cupped Janie’s elbow, stopping her when she would have followed Alicia.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his gaze scanning her face for any clue to her mood.

“Just tired.” Her voice was soft.

“Is that it?” He ran his fingers over the necklace. Janie arched away from his touch.

“Yes. Night, Cole.” She slipped from his hold and made her way into the house.

She glanced back over her shoulder. Cole stood there with a frown on his face, then he shrugged. Hopefully, he’d bought her excuse for wanting to get away from him. She needed time to think.

By Friday night,Cole’s frustration hit overload. Janie was barely talking to him. Alicia had gotten a job, so that had left several nights during which they could play, but when he indicated he wanted to play, Janie shut him down. And to top things off, her journal writing was back to one page a day of nothing but random stuff.

Every time Cole tried to talk to Janie, she’d put him off. Now she and Alicia were off looking at apartments for Alicia, and here he was moping around his house. What the hell was wrong with him? He never moped.

He needed to let off some steam. Cole changed into his swim trunks and hit the pool. While the laps were soothing, his mind kept going in circles. Janie had been fine until they went to Whips. Why would that bother her?

The scene between Master Keith and his sub? No, he didn’t think that was the problem. He’d flogged Janie with two of the three floggers Master Keith used. He was building her up toward the last one, but only when she was ready.

Maybe she was afraid he’d push her. He shook his head. Didn’t she know he wouldn’t? She should. In this arrangement, he always made sure things didn’t progress before she was ready. He did more laps as he tried to work out the issue. His muscles protested when he finally pulled himself from the water with no solution.

After drying himself off, he wrapped a dry towel around his waist and stripped his suit off before walking into the house. He dropped the suit in the laundry room before going into the kitchen.

“Nice pecs,” Alicia said when he entered.

Cole smiled. “Sorry, just finished a swim. Didn’t realize you two would be in the kitchen.” He glanced at Janie, who had a piece of pizza halfway to her mouth and was staring at him like a hungry cat stares at a bird.

“We grabbed pizza on the way home,” Alicia said, waving her hand at the box sitting on the table along with an empty place setting.

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