Part 8 (1/2)
He hesitated and narrowed his gaze at her. ”That's not much time.”
”Two years is.”
He closed his eyes. Was she referring to the two years they'd been together or the two years they'd been apart?
”I have questions I deserve answers to. And I have some limits,” Lori added, her voice surprisingly bold.
Jude was taken aback. He ignored her first sentence and honed in on the last. Lori had very few hard limits with him. They'd always been on the same page. ”What would those be?”
”I have a job. I'm not going to entertain the idea of giving it up. So don't ask.”
He stood still for several moments, pondering her statement. He watched Lori's demeanor closely. She wasn't going to budge on this issue. He couldn't blame her after what he'd done last time.
He wandered into the apartment as he had last time, trying to wrap his mind around the boundaries of this new relations.h.i.+p. He knew it was invasive the way he ogled her personal belongings. ”Okay. I want both weekends. So give me ten days.”
”Fair enough, Sir.”
”And I want you under my roof for the duration. You'll only leave for work and that's the only time you won't be in the role. Understood?” He spun around to watch her.
”Yes, Sir.”
”Have you packed some things?”
”Yes.” Lori turned toward the hall, but he lunged forward and grabbed her arm.
When he had her attention and her gaze lifted to his, he spoke again. ”What? I don't think I heard you correctly.”
”Yes, Sir.” She winced. In the past she'd rarely made that mistake. She was out of practice.
”Get your things.”
Lori left him alone in the room for a moment and returned with a suitcase. She'd packed light. Smart girl.
”You'll follow me. I don't like it, but I a.s.sume you need a car.”
”Yes, Sir.”
She followed him outside. She turned to lock the door, and then they were off.
The drive was excruciating. Lori stayed on his tail, but he hated the separation. Just a few minutes and she'll be back in your care.
It was impossible to know if Lori was the same person she'd been two years ago. She'd been with a woman for a year. He wondered how that might have changed her.
Until he experimented, he wouldn't know how this would all play out. What he did know was Lori wasn't in charge anymore. She was going to have to revert to her submissive status with an about-face. He wouldn't give an inch. And he believed in his heart she had it in her.
Nevertheless, he cringed. She was going to ask hard questions he couldn't answer. He had no idea how he would field them. And she deserved answers. But, unfortunately, this time what she needed from him wasn't his to give.
When they arrived, Jude took her bag and led her into the house.
He set the suitcase next to the hall and turned to face his charge. ”Come in. I'll give you a tour and then we'll go over the rules. You can be at ease for a few minutes.”
Lori stepped forward, her head bowed.
”I rented this place. Nothing is mine. The owners are away for six months. Nice, isn't it?”
”Yes, Sir.” Lori glanced around the living room.
Jude pointed to the attached kitchen. ”I've been shopping. It's fully stocked.” He headed down the hall. ”I haven't spent much time in the spare bedrooms.” He pushed open a door on the right. ”Office.” He turned to the left after they'd peeked inside. ”Master bedroom. There are a few other rooms, but I doubt we'll need them.” His point was made on that issue.
Jude nodded toward the front of the house and ushered Lori back to the living room. ”Want a drink? Water? Tea?” He left her standing in the center and headed for the refrigerator. ”I won't serve alcohol this week. I want you to have your head on straight. I won't drink either.”
He returned holding two bottles of water and set them on the coffee table. Let her decide if she was thirsty or not. ”Have you had dinner?”
”Yes, Sir.”
”Okay. Sit.” He pointed at the couch and Lori stepped around it to settle into the cus.h.i.+on. She kept her gaze downcast.
”Don't get comfortable. You won't be on that couch again for ten days. You won't be on any furniture in this house unless I expressly permit it.” He leaned against the mantel and stared at her demure head as she flinched. She was out of practice. She had reservations. He couldn't blame her.
He plowed ahead anyway, needing to ensure she understood he still had rules and she would follow them. ”I'll need your work schedule written on my calendar, and any other appointments you have this week. You're expected to leave and return in only the amount of time it takes to get to and from work. You won't need to go anywhere else, see anyone, or shop. It's only ten days. That should be reasonable. If you had stayed a month, I would have been more lenient about other trips out of the house. But since you've given me only a week, I expect full compliance with respect to my time.
”When you're in the house you will remain naked at all times. You will dress five minutes before you leave for work and remove your clothing the moment you arrive inside the door.
”You will be allowed to express any concerns you have with me. I don't expect you to remain silent at all times. Respectful, but not mute.
”You may keep and use your cell phone, but I expect you to have any conversations in my presence. In an ordinary long-term setting, I wouldn't require anything that harsh, but under the circ.u.mstances I want to ensure that all of your attention and concentration is directed at me. Outside contact must be kept to a minimum and only for necessary issues concerning your health or the health and well-being of friends and loved ones. Got it?”
Lori glanced up at him.
”What is it?”
”I need to be able to speak freely with my sister.”
”Sister? I never knew you had a sister.”
”Yes. I have a half sister. I hadn't seen her since she was a toddler. It's a long story, but she moved back to town and we discovered each other.”
”And she knows you're in the lifestyle?”
”Yes, coincidentally, she is too. She lives with two Doms, Sir.”
”What's her name?”
”Stephanie, Sir.”
”I can't wait to meet her. Who are her Doms? Do I know them?”