Page 60 of Dance for Me

She reared back and slapped him hard across the face. Her own turned an ashen shade of white, but whatever drove her to those lengths just kept on pushing her. “Then hit me back! Come on, it’s what people like you like to do, isn’t it? Wait until you have me on my knees, then kick me onto my face.”

Braun grunted in anger, but Atticus shook his head. “Leave her, boss. J can handle her shit.”

Indeed, he could. Jasper just scratched his chin as though she hadn’t bitch slapped him hard enough to relocate his face to the other side of his skull. “Would that be a man like me, or a Dominant, poppet? I require clarification.”

“Men!” she shrieked, hammering her fists on his chest. “Men like you, like my father. Tearing me apart, ruining everything good in my life.” The blows raining down on Jasper’s chest slowed as she broke. “I don’t want to be this person anymore.”

Wiggling his jaw, Jasper folded her into his arms, pinning her hands between them. When her knees buckled, he just eased them both to the ground, tucking her into the cradle of his crossed legs and rocking her. His lips moved, but the words were inaudible from this distance.

His shadow approached silently, respectfully, and Jasper gave her an order she sprang to obey, hurrying toward the club and pulling up short when she spotted Braun.

The door squeaked open at Braun’s back, spilling a Dominant couple and their resident subbie into fresh air. Atticus dealt with them quickly, ushering them back inside with a few words and a rueful smile.

“Master Braun, Master Jasper says Boadicea needs you now.” Anarchy murmured, almost as pale as Bodie. “I don’t think she’s feeling too good.”

“I’ll just bet she’s not,” he muttered, listening to the soft sounds of Bodie weeping. It worked wonders on erasing the last vestiges of his annoyance with her. He couldn’t stay mad with a woman who only wanted to defend herself—and she did so admirably.

Not many men had the balls to strike Jasper Fairfax, but Bodie did.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d stay here with Master Atticus until Master Jasper comes back, Archie.” The last thing he had time to deal with was Bodie going apocalyptic on a fellow submissive—poor Anarchy wouldn’t stand a chance against his subbie’s inner demons. “I won’t keep him too much longer.”

The tiny blonde shrugged her shoulders. “He’s not mine, Master Braun.” Her sigh was wistful. “Would you like me to get you and your sub anything, Sir?”

“No, thank you, little one. Just stay here. Keep an eye on her, please, Atticus,” he murmured to his friend, then made his way over to the mess unravelling in the parking lot.

His boots scrunched lightly on the thin covering of gravel, alerting Jasper to his presence. Ice blue eyes gleamed in the lights, the cheekbone beneath the left one already darkening with an impressive shiner. Remnants of blood streaked under his nose, around his mouth where he’d obviously wiped the majority of it away.

“Someone give you a pastin’ there, lad?” Braun asked in amusement.

Bodie moaned, long and deep, like a wounded animal.

“Your hellion knows how to make a man see stars. Maybe next time she can demonstrate on you.” Jasper rubbed his captive’s back gently. “I’d appreciate a little help here, brother. My ass is numb from these damn stones.”

“You were the one who complained about the mud in wintertime.” Braun reached down and plucked his errant subbie from Jasper’s lap. She struggled weakly as he lifted her, settled her onto his hip like a child, then let her head drop weakly into his shoulder with a quiet whimper.

With his free hand, he helped Jasper stand, then gestured to the house beyond the parking lot. “I’d love to stand and chat, J, but I have a pressing matter to deal with. Did my naughty little sub do any lasting damage?”

The sadist cracked his neck, rolling his head gently until something in his neck popped. He ran his tongue around his teeth, then shook his head. “Aside from ringing my bell pretty damn hard, there’s nothing to write home about. Sure as hell wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley at night, though. Poppet packs a punch.”

“She sure does.” Braun felt the echo of those tiny hands battering him not so long ago. She was strong despite being so lean. Must be all that dancing. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’m gonna take her in and get her head down for the night. Expect an apology tomorrow night once she’s realized the error of her ways.”

Jasper frowned. “Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

“It is.”

“Boadicea never comes into the club on a Sunday.”

Braun just smiled slowly. “Things change, J. Bodie’s about to understand just how quickly they do so.” When she moaned again, he nuzzled her hair and murmured, “They change even faster once all those secrets come into the light, little one.”

Rubbing his marked cheek, Jasper’s frown deepened. “Not trying to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong, Braun, but there are circumstances to this. I don’t want her getting in trouble for it.”

“I know, and she’s not. We’ll see you tomorrow night, J.”

“Hold up, you’ll need these.” Metal jangled quietly as he pulled a set of keys from his pocket and handed them over. “Her car keys. Had to make sure she didn’t slip past me and drive off.”

“Good thinking.” Braun shoved them into his own pocket and set off toward the house. Each step roused a tremor in his subbie. By the time he pushed through the garden gate and kicked it shut, she was trembling as though she expected him to read her the riot act...or worse.

Always expecting the worst, he thought. She was always poised to take a hit. Be it a fist or harsh words, she rarely lowered her guard. Just in case.

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