“I take it your scene didn’t go well,” Sean ventured.
Jackson shrugged. “I won’t know how well it worked toward relieving her fears until she has another episode, but she embraced pain stimulus beautifully; her responses quick, numerous. She looked as shell-shocked over the multiple orgasms as she was the fact pain brought them about. I think she’s as surprised by her hidden submissive nature as I am.”
“Ah, those are the most fun to play with. I love watching the transformation of a woman when she comes to terms with her true desires,” Sean sighed.
“Yeah,” Jackson agreed with a heated rush as he recalled how it felt to have his hands all over Julie’s undulating, damp body, feel her climaxes soaking and gripping his fingers, and hear her sobs of stunned pleasure.
Sean chuckled. “I think Trevor’s observation was spot on.”
“IT’S nice of everyone to come out and help today,” Julie commented as Sandie and Hope helped her set up extra chairs in the reception room. They’d already lined the counter with adoption applications, extra pencils and brochures on everything from housebreaking to obedience training.
“The first thing I noticed when I met all of Zach’s friends was how close they are,” Sandie replied. “I don’t think there’s anything they wouldn’t do for each other. I’m assuming, given how far back Zach said you and Jackson go, that you know how they all met.”
“Yes. I’ll never forget how devastated and angry Jackson was when the police raided his home and his parents were convicted of drug dealing and complicity in a ten-year-old’s overdose. It proves how easily some people can pull the wool over your eyes. The Davenports were the nicest couple.”
“I get a lot of addicts at the shelter. If kids could see how people who get hooked on drugs end up, they might think twice before doing them.” Hope’s face reflected empathy for her clientele.
“I modeled for years, and a lot of the people I worked with indulged in the recreational use of drugs to help ease the stress. Seeing what it did to Jackson, and his family, helped keep me away from them.” Without a doubt, Julie knew Jackson would never have welcomed her back if she’d gotten to be a habitual drug user in New York, and he would know. Since the complete disintegration of his small family, followed by his father’s stabbing death in prison just two years later, he’d held to a no tolerance line in associating with people into drugs.
“That’s a plus, then. Wow, look at that line of cars.” Sandie opened the front door and stepped out onto the front porch, Hope and Julie right behind her.
“I hope having so many people around won’t stress the dogs,” Hope said, a touch of worry in her tone as she slid her eyes to the kennels where the dogs were putting up a ruckus.
“Jackson will know what to do if any get agitated.” Julie realized that could also be true of the way Jackson had dealt with her since finding out she was a cutter. She ached to experience his painful ministrations again almost as much as she yearned for his full possession, neither of which would happen if she didn’t get up the nerve to tell him about the murders.
Four hours later, Julie took advantage of a lull in people coming into the clinic to fill out applications, standing to stretch before she ventured outside for a break. Glancing out the window, she spotted Sandy and Hope finishing up lunch with Krista and her friend, Alessa, whom Julie met briefly when they arrived with Dax, the last of Jackson’s friends she’d met. The large windows in the clinic offered her an unobstructed view of the activities and people, and every time she spotted the renowned heart surgeon looking at Krista with his piercing green gaze and noticed the soft contentment on her face, a pang gripped Julie’s chest, and her craving for Jackson to peer at her with such an expression of possessive dominance increased.
An urge to find him propelled her toward the long, food laden table. “Would one of you mind taking over inside for a few minutes? I need to stretch my legs.”
“I was just headed back in.” Sandie rose and tossed her trash in a large bin. “Go ahead, take your time. The morning crowd has left, except for those who’re eating. I think they’re coming for the food as much as the dogs. Zach sent one of the college guys into Piedmont for more ice already.”
Probably Matt, who would take advantage of the run to get out of work. “Thanks. Anyone know where Jackson is?” Julie couldn’t see him anywhere in the yard.
“I saw him enter the kennels right before I grabbed a sandwich.” Krista pointed to the large dog shelter.
“Thank you.” She strolled toward the kennels, waving to Alex and Ryan who were giving horseback rides to some of the kids. Other than when he stopped in the clinic to approve adoptions, she’d only caught sight of Jackson through the window as he tried to find the best matches for interested adopters.
Julie pulled open the door to the kennels then stopped short when she spotted two boys around thirteen behind the building, one pulling a scared, shaking shepherd mix on a lead. “Come on, you stupid bitch. Sheesh, what a chicken shit.” The kid yanked hard on the lead and drew a whimper from the dog.
Another scene filled Julie’s head, only this one was of two grown women taunting a physically misshapen young man. She stomped toward the boys, clenching her fists to drive away that memory, her vision turning red with rage when the boy swung his foot and kicked the dog on her back leg, sending her cowering down with a terrified yelp.
Darting forward, she snatched the leash out of the unsuspecting youth’s hand and delivered a resounding kick to the obnoxious teen’s shin. “How do you like it?” she snapped before crouching to soothe Betty, one of her favorites at the shelter.
“Ow! You… you kicked me!” The kid’s ridiculous accusation was followed by a screech from his mother who stormed up to them, along with Jackson and Miles.
“How dare you strike my son!” the woman yelled.
Standing on rubbery legs, Julie refused to look at Jackson as she confronted the irate parent. “How dare your son kick a defenseless animal.”
“Tell her, Mom, that’s child abuse. We can sue,” the boy taunted with a smirk.
Miles blasted the kid with a cold black look. “Hardly.”
Jackson pointed at the boys. “You hurt an animal on my property, expect to get the same.” Turning to the red-faced mother, he stated with blunt harshness, “You’ve got a juvenile delinquent in the making. As someone who’s been there, I suggest you do something about it now, before it’s too late. It’s time for you to leave.”
“I’ll escort them to their car. Let’s go.” Neither boy nor the mother argued as they followed M
iles. Jackson suspected the martial arts champion would give the mother his card and encourage her to bring the teens to his gym, where he could teach them to channel their adolescent anger in a less harmful way.
He turned his attention to Julie, her pale face and shaking hands worrying him enough to pull her next to him for a reassuring hug. “You okay?”
She leaned against him but didn’t return his embrace. “Yes, just mad. I’m sorry, Jackson. I hope I didn’t cause trouble for you. When I saw him kick Betty and heard her cry, I couldn’t help myself. You know how timid she is.”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for. I saw what happened, and even if I hadn’t, I’d believe you. Let me check Betty.” Mad, he could understand, he thought as he crouched down and ran his hand along the shaking dog’s back, murmuring to her. But he’d been reading subs’ faces and body language for a long time, and he suspected the distress on Julie’s face and the glazed sheen in her eyes when he’d first seen her wasn’t because of what the boys did, but whatever memory their actions triggered. Another piece of the puzzle her rigid stance told him she wasn’t ready to share.
Assured the dog was all right, he pushed to his feet and slung an arm around Julie’s shoulders as he led them both back to the kennels. “You haven’t seen my keys, have you?”
She laughed, her tense shoulders relaxing as he’d hoped. “No, but I’ll help you look for them.”
CHAPTER 6
“So, do you two work together?” Julie turned to Alessa, who sat next to her under a tree in Jackson’s small orchard. They could see the last of the adopters checking out with their new pets from where they, along with Hope, Sandie and Krista, were relaxing in the shade. The afternoon had passed as fast as the morning, with a steady stream of visitors eager to adopt and support Jackson’s rescue. It had been fun, but tiring work.