Page 14 of The Queen's Joker

After we arrive at the fortress, I head to the doctor, who sews my shoulder. The bullet went right through, so at least no fishing had to happen. I am now walking into my Queen’s quarters. When I closed the door, I smiled because she left me a trail of clothing right where I knew she would be. I pause at the doorway of her bathroom. She has a massive soaking tub and looks so tiny, her head leaning back. Queen also has her tub in a wet room with her bathtub on one side and shower heads on the other.

A green bottle of champagne rests on the edge of the tub. Her hair is wet and curling slightly. Steam and tons of bubbles surround her body. I can’t help but stare at her. She looks like an angel, maybe a fallen angel, but either way, she is an angel with her eyes closed. “Are you just going to stare at me or join me?” She opens one eye and raises her finger, motioning me to join. She seductively lifts one of her legs, letting bubbles drip off.

“What is proper bubble bath protocol?” Her eyebrows raise in question, so I continue, “I’ve never had one before, so I don’t want to mess up your routine.”

She turns and her arms prop on the tub’s sides. Water splashes and hits the tiles under her. “Step one, take your clothes off slowly so I can enjoy the show.”

It’s hard to say no to that, so I gently pull my shirt off, sliding the material up my abs instead. Moving it up past my pecs and slightly ungracefully, I pull it over my head. Damn, this bullet wound is not adding to my seduction moves. My Queen licks her lips, taking me in, and I take a slow step toward her before grabbing my belt with my right hand. I have it undone and my pants unbuttoned, unzipped, in one quick motion. I say a silent thank you to the universe that it was my left arm and not my right that took the bullet. Otherwise, this would be very sloppy. I grab the top of my pants and slowly slide them down my body.

The bubbles may block all the goods, but that doesn’t mean my imagination doesn’t know precisely what is hiding under them. I step out of my pants, my dick standing, saluting her, and I stand before her naked while waiting for further instructions. My head tilts to the side, and I smirk at her. “Step two?”

She surprises me by grabbing me by the dick and gripping me, and pulling me gently toward her. “You get in here.” She lets go and moves forward so I can step in the tub behind her. The water is hot, almost scalding. Her skin is a beautiful shade of deep pink, and the steam gave me some clues, but I hadn’t expected it to be this hot. I grit my teeth as I settle down behind her, letting out a few gasps on my way down.

“Holy hell, woman! You bathe in Satan’s bathwater often?” She chuckles at my discomfort as I slide down fully as the water topples over the top of the tub.

She leans her back against my front, her ass meeting my now flaccid cock. “Well, that seems to have taken the wind out of your sails, so to speak.” She giggles, and my heart warms at the sound. I wrap my good arm around her middle and pull her against me before kissing the top of her head. “Tess and Winnie arrived safely. I messaged Ace to let him know he has 24 hours before I come over tomorrow for breakfast. Want to come?”

“He will be back. Have no fear.” Damn, the heat is loosening the muscles in my back. After you get used to boiling alive, I can see the appeal. “For now, let me just relax with you against me. As for breakfast with Bear, I am so there. I missed her sunshine around here.”

My eyes close and we sit there in comfortable silence for a few minutes. She has been in her head since leaving the building and I am letting her process it. I meant it when I told Queen that cool uncle status would be mine; that little girl is pretty cool. Winnie’s artwork is about the only personal touch that my apartments have. Even her calling me Mr. Joker makes me smile. One day, I hope to lose the Mr. title.

“So I have to ask, what membership will you be revoking? Please tell me you’re not a platinum member of a strip club.”

Just like that, I feel like I have been punched in the gut. All the tension that left my body before it is now back. “Fuck,” I groan, my head leaned against the tub edge. Queen rotates around, so she is now looking at me with one eyebrow arched in question. “Have you heard of BowTied?”

Her eyes widen, and her jaw slightly ticks. “The sex club?”

I nod and look at her briefly before continuing, “I perform there and have a waitlist of women who want a private session with me.”

She slightly growls at me. “So you’re a dom?” I nod to her. “Can you take me?”

“Queen, I will not perform or anything with anyone… not anymore.” The thought of touching someone else makes me hold on to her tighter. I don’t want anyone else, and I don’t think I can do it, not even for her. “All I want to do is to be with you.”

She rolls her eyes and huffs. “Do you want me to stab people? No, not like that. Maybe we can get a private room, and you teach me how to be a good little submissive.” She looks up at me as she bites her lower lip, and fuck, I get hard again. “One last time before you hand in your performing card.”

“Just let me know when you want to go and we will go,” I tell her, pulling her in for a kiss. That life was a placeholder. It’s a life I don’t need now that I have her. There are so many plans I want to make now that she is mine.

She breaks the kiss and stands up, and I watch the bubbles and water slide down her pink skin. “There’s no time like the present!” She grabs a large fluffy towel, wraps it around herself, and sets one out for me.

“Baby, we have to get you a mask, and I have to text Malcolm to get a room…” I don’t want to go tonight. I miss our bubble bath and want to be bubbled up with Queen. Plus, I meant it about wanting to go on vacation. I probably should wait until after Tess has the baby, though.

“It’s early to text him. I have a mask. Come on, J.” She pouts while dramatically sticking my bottom lip out. “Come play with me.” She glances over her shoulder at me, and I groan but nod as she walks out of the bathroom. How can I say no to her? Damn it. We still haven’t slept since the mission, which is technically early.

I grab the aqua towel and pause as I unfold it. My towels suck compared to this one. Either Queen buys me some, or I will only shower here from now on. If I had it my way, we wouldn’t leave here, but Queen likes her space. Maybe I can take one of the spare rooms she has and make it my getaway place when she is feeling prickly and doesn’t want me around to touch her. I pick my pants up off the floor and pull out my phone.

I have some favors. If you can work up the paperwork, I will come by tonight and turn in my membership. There are no more performances, waitlists, or anything. But I need a private room for tonight before you get too busy. We will be out before you get a rush.

I know the club’s rules, and when the private rooms get booked. Hopefully, we can get there early, and it can get cleaned before the reservation times. Malcolm has been a good… friend? Damn, he is my friend. I think I will miss him. He is the only friend I have outside of the deck. We have had a good thing going over the years, but I have something more important.

Malcolm: So you finally got her. I’m happy for you. Come to my office at 3 p.m. and we will work something out.

I walk into the room and she throws things out of a tote wrapped in a robe. “Ha!” She pulls out a red mask with hearts cut out with delicate lace. I raise an eyebrow. She shrugs. “I was the Queen of Hearts judge for a show. I got to yell, ‘Off with Their Heads!’ when people lost.”

“Are you a talent scout or something?” That mask is sexy, and I would love to see her wearing matching lingerie.

She tilts her head back and laughs. “I wish. No, it’s one of my favorite clubs. They had a drag show performance. I got to give my crown to the winner. We should go sometime. They would love you.”

“You are just full of mystery. If it’s something you want to do, we will go.” I never have been, but occasionally, Queen puts on RuPaul, and it’s very entertaining. I nod toward the bed. “Let’s take a nap. We’re supposed to be there at 3 p.m.”

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