not going to earn you your keys, but the spanking you’re working so hard for will make you feel better.” He let go, patted her on the head, and continued on his journey.
“I’m not a good girl.” Bodie lunged, wrapping her arms around his tailored pants-clad leg and gripping him tightly. She cursed when he just dragged her along behind him. “Please, Master Jasper, just give me my damn keys and let me get away from here.”
“If I believed leaving solved all your problems, I’d drive you home myself. However, you’re exhausted, you’re emotional, and in no fit state to take control of a vehicle. I—ow, goddamn it, Bodie!” Exasperated, Jasper held his cool and simply plucked her off his leg and set her back on her feet. “I don’t condone biting, Boadicea.”
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