Page 35 of Jacqueline's Quest

“Of course, I had to.” Her eyes widened, as though she figured out what Luca had been getting at. “Are you sure becoming someone else will work?”

Luca laughed. The bombastic sound echoed around them. “Yes. More than sure.”

“What do you want me to do?” Jaqueline asked, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.

"I want you to become Madame Jacqueline. I want you to take on this character. If it means giving you a chance to make a list of what this person likes and dislikes, do so. I want her to be at the forefront of your mind. I want you to wear her like you would clothes. She is you and you, are Jacqueline. Understand?"

“I don’t speak French though.” She frowned. “I’m not even sure I could pull off another accent.”

“The best part of this, you can make your sub do all the introductions.” Luca turned his attention to Murray. “What do you think?”

What did he think? He smirked. It was hot as fuck. “I can do that. It’s not like subs don’t make introductions in some instances anyways. It’ll take some of the burden off of her and allow us to act more like an established couple.”

“Good,” Luca replied. “Now, would you like a few moments to gather yourself and build Madame Jacqueline?”

Jaqueline nodded. “Thank you.”

"Don't thank me yet," Luca said. "We're not completely back on the track."

Murray left her side to give her space to think. He’d fit into so many roles throughout his career, it was second nature to him, but for Jaqueline, she had to be given a person. She, in his observations, was a visual learner. She had to see who she needed to become. He hadn’t shown himself as the Dom in their relationship, he told her, so she didn’t understand. With Luca’s help and him becoming the Dom instructing Jaqueline, it would make everything click into place.

Luca joined him over at the glass French doors overlooking the property. “You’re kicking yourself right now, aren’t you?”

Murray snorted. “So, you noticed, huh?”

He shrugged. “A little. It’s not your fault. You have a very dominant personality so forcing your way through this wouldn’t work. You need a tad bit of finesse.”

“I won’t fuck you,” Murray said, cutting his gaze in Luca’s direction.

The man laughed. “You’re not my type. You’re too macho.”

“I’m a hacker.”

Luca chuckled. “You’re a military muscle head who happens to get code and how to manipulate it.”

“Touché,” Murray stated. “It’s not my life though. The military. I mean, I’m good at it. I get results, but I like my cyber world better than the real one.”

“And when you rescue your sister?” he hedged. “What then?”

Murray lifted his shoulders. "Don't know. I guess I spent a decade of my life trying to find her and only her while devoting my skills to Asher. I've used him more than I care to admit, so maybe it's time for me to figure out what I want to do, instead of what I have to do."

“You’d walk away from your team?” Luca cocked a brow.

“Maybe not fully walk away. More, reduce my time. Reacquaint myself with Hannah. Go home for a bit. Give her all the gifts I’ve bought over the years for her. Go on vacation.”

“And Jaqueline?” He peered over at the woman in question.

“Shit, she’s going to have her hands full too. It’s only been three years for her, but it won’t be easy either. Having me here...” Murray shook his head. “Too much chaos.”

"So, you're deciding for her without even knowing how she feels about it?" Luca placed his hands behind his back and sighed. "Doesn't sound like the Murray I read about."

"We all have to grow up sometime," he answered. "We don't know the condition our siblings have been living in for the last several years, Hannah most especially. I can't—I won't force all of us under one roof."

"Noble. Nobler than I'd be in this situation."

"Difference between you and me," Murray said. "I'm good at giving people space. You, on the other hand, like to use people."

Luca gasped. “You wound me.”

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