Page 36 of Hidden Heart

“Good girl. Now let’s get the plug out so I can show you how to clean and store it.”

Chapter 13

Aweek crawled by as Jessica became used to having the plug in her bottom each night. At first, she thought the idea crazy, to place something in her ass…never. However, she found as the plug sank into her backside, she sensed Royce’s presence. More and more he invaded her private time. Not physically or even with demands, but he never drifted far from her mind.

James had been the last man who had captured her attention in such a way, but even he didn’t consume her the way Royce did. The idea she might have deeper feelings for him struck her as she stepped into her apartment after work. No love. That’s what she had told him. Love isn’t something you plan, he had said.

“No. Don’t go there. Everything is going fine. Don’t fuck it up with love.” She chastised herself as she threw her hair back in a ponytail. Royce would be picking her up any minute. It had taken a little longer to get the new plug in, as it was the largest of the set. As he did every day, he’d offered to come over to help her—but she declined. Her apartment was still too intimate. Especially with the way she was becoming addicted to him, she needed to keep some distance between them.

Royce had just stepped onto the stairs of her building when she flew out the front door. Jokingly, he snapped his fingers. “Damn, almost made it all the way up.”

She laughed. “Maybe next time,” she said, like she did every time he picked her up on her stoop.

“It’s getting darker earlier now. I don’t think I like you waiting outside for me.”

“I wasn’t outside,” she countered, reaching the step above him and placing a soft kiss on his lips.

“Semantics.” He linked his fingers with hers and gave her room to step down.

A car door closed from the curb, and the woman stepping out of the cab caught Jessica’s eye. The blonde woman from the neighboring building stood in knee-high boots and a mini dress with only a light sweater over her shoulders. Her boyfriend, the man next door, flew down the steps of his building with a jacket in hand. After paying the cab he threw the jacket over her shoulders and said something in her ear. His expression was menacing, and the way her shoulders and eyes dropped after he spoke told Jessica he wasn’t pleased.

She watched as they walked up to his apartment, the man continued to glare at her as she walked. If she had looked away, she would have missed it, but as her eyes were glued to the couple, she saw him deliver two hard swats to her ass just before they entered his building.

“Jessica. You’re staring again,” Royce whispered in her ear.

“Let’s go.” She pulled his hand and started down the street.

“Wait.” Royce laughed. “It’s too cold for a walk. We’re going to take a cab.” As if the magical cab service had heard him, a taxi drove toward them. A quick wave of his hand, and the vehicle stopped at the curb.

“I wonder why he was so mad.” Jessica zipped her purse and moved closer to Royce in the back seat.

“I’m sure it had something to do with the way she was dressed and the weather.” He rested a hand on her knee. “It’s too cold for the outfit she was wearing.”

“Maybe she wanted to surprise him with a sexy outfit,” Jessica countered, resting her head on his shoulder. For the first time that day, she relaxed.

“I don’t think their dynamic allows for such surprises. Besides, she had a smug look on her face when she got out of the cab. She knew damn well what his reaction was going to be.”

“She was provoking him?”

“That’s how I saw it.”

“But why?”

“Don’t know. Maybe she wants to be punished. Maybe she was angry with him for some slight and it was her way of getting back at him.” His fingers drew circles on her knee.

“If she wanted a punishment, why not just ask? And if she was angry—well, okay, I can see that.”

“See what?”

“Well, it’s not like she can punish him, right? So, rebelling—that’s her outlet.”

Royce nudged her off his shoulder to look in her eyes. “That’s not okay. Understand that, Jessica. Complete disregard of a rule out of anger goes against what our relationship is. If you’re upset with me, you talk to me. That’s your outlet. I’m sure it’s hers too. Doing what she did because she was mad at him only wedges them apart. I’m sure he will set her straight on that. And I’m sure whatever she was upset about wasn’t worth what she has coming to her.”

His face left no room for doubt. He meant every word.

The cab pulled up to the restaurant, giving her a reprieve from his stare. “And we’re here,” she said with a smile.

“Do you understand what I said, Jessica? I need you to say it, because you had a different opinion a minute ago.” He showed no sign of budging even after the driver requested the fare.

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