“Thank you, master.”
“Good answer.”
I was still dressed from the day before. Despite my reputation as a libertine, I was never known to let anyone see me fully naked. Only the parts that were absolutely required for the activity at hand.
I could only barely remember the last time anyone had seen me with my shirt off. To be fair, I’d been on an operating table at the time and under some pretty heavy sedation.
“Where are we going, master?” Jonna asked, as I led her from the master bedroom.
“To find you some clothes.”
“Clothes?”
“You know, those things you use to cover yourself?”
“Yes, master.”
“I’m giving you a break for the day. No work or other duties. It is important to have some time away from training, of both kinds. I’ve been pushing you hard.”
“I can handle it, master,” she insisted.
“This is for your own good. Don’t fight me on this, or I will have to spank you.”
“Yes, master.”
Her eyes widened and I felt bad about causing her to feel any fear. Still, I couldn’t have her insisting on doing things I knew she wasn’t ready for. I appreciated her dedication, but she was still pretty new to all of this and I didn’t want to risk breaking her while trying to break her in.
She had certainly packed light, making the selection process both easier and more difficult at the same time, the selection getting even narrower when we took the weather into account.
After she was dressed in a plain, cotton underwear set with a pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt, which happened to be the very same Autumn Corrosion tour tee that she’d worn to the first interview, we went down for breakfast.
I didn’t carry Jonna; she walked of her own accord. I knew it was a sudden change, but I had to make sure she knew she still had a will of her own. Otherwise, giving it to me would mean nothing. At least nothing good. I was not the sort to take advantage.
“What would you like?” I asked her.
“Whatever you make, master,” Jonna moped, sitting at the table.
“Call me Seth.”
“Really?”
“For today, yes.”
“Okay.”
The way she said it was technically giving her agreement, but there was something that rang wrong about it. A sadness I wasn’t sure about.
I’d seen it happen before, especially with newbies. They get so steeped in the dynamic that losing it could be like withdrawal. I was more certain than ever that I had done the right thing by insisting on a break.
“Hey,” I told her.
She looked towards me, but then away again. Before I could lose her gaze, I caught her chin and made her look at me.
“Hey,” I said, more softly. “I still like doing this with you, okay? We just need a break, so we don’t get too lost in things. The dynamic is great but it can’t be everything. There can be too much of a good thing.”
I gently stroked her face, and she didn’t pull away, instead pressing her cheek into my palm.
“Okay,” she said, not as sad this time.
All of a sudden, though, the peace we had made with each other was broken like shattered glass.
“Honey, I’m home!”
The door slam that followed the dreaded declaration might as well have been a nuclear bomb going off. I stood frozen as the boots clomped through the living room, my worst nightmare coming toward the kitchen.
“What’s the matter?” Clara asked, strolling into the kitchen like she owned the place, “aren’t you glad to see me?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Is that any way to welcome— oh, and who is this? My goodness, Seth, your tarts really are getting younger all the time. What grade are you in, sweetheart?”
“She’s none of your concern,” I said, unprovoked.
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
Jonna made a break for the door, grabbing her purse which was still beside it from when she’d first arrived.
“Wait—” I called after her, but it was too late.
She was gone.
And I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again, lockdown or not.
All thanks to evil Clara.
Chapter Nine
Jonna
I had no car.
Fuck.
The motorcycle?
Yeah, right, and end up road pizza.
I wasn’t even allowed to be outside, strictly speaking. The city was on lockdown and I was breaking the law by stepping out of the door.
Not that I exactly gave a shit, given the circumstances. Whatever was going on in the house clearly posted much more of a danger than anything COVID could throw at me, in the immediate timeframe, anyway. I dug through my purse and got my mask, thinking that it was better to be safe than sorry.
Except I was sorry. About the whole entire thing. And going by the sounds that came from the other side of the door, so would Seth be, soon, if he wasn’t already.
Who was that lady?
That was what I wanted to know but I didn’t have the nerve to ask him or the desire to stick around for any drama. I just got out of there as quickly as I could, but I was still plagued with questions.