Read Strictly Yours: Hooded Pleasures, Book 3 for Free Online

anything wrong?”
    The concern in her voice almost stopped him. He was used to taking care of others, relieving their pain and suffering as much as he could with his badge so often that it felt odd being on the other side, being the one cared for.
    He knew she was asking if she’d done her job right, if he’d had the experience he had asked for and paid for.
    He also knew he was about to tread into the danger zone as far as their relationship went. It was supposed to be professional, the personal aspects of their lives left outside of this appointment.
    But he had to ask.
    “Just fine.” He patted her knee, relishing the feel of the sleek nylons. “I wanted to ask—” His mouth went dry as he tried to shift gears. “I want to ask—”
    She stroked his cheek. “Nathan. You should know by now you don’t need to be embarrassed about asking me anything. There’s nothing too kinky, too weird, too—”
    “I saw the way you acted upstairs, at the front door. What are you worried about?” The words tumbled out. “You looked out of sorts, you know. Like something had gotten under your skin, something you couldn’t get out.” He squeezed her thigh. “I’m a cop. You know that. If I can help you in any way…”
    “I’m fine.” Danielle rubbed her eyes. “A little tired, that’s all. Nothing I can’t deal with.” She smiled. “You’re not supposed to do cop stuff when you’re with me. Other than the role-play, and I’m the one wearing the badge.” Her finger poked him in the chest, tangling with his light chest hair. “Don’t worry about it.”
    He heard the words but knew her heart wasn’t in it.
    Pushing her wouldn’t do any good.
    Nathan took hold of her hand. “I may be your client, but I’d like to think we’re friends. I want you to know I’m always here for you if you need someone to talk to.”
    Her breath caught in her throat, and for a second, he thought she was about to cry, the mental armor slipping long enough for him to see through it.
    Then Danielle was back in full force.
    She cleared her throat with a rough cough. “I have to leave soon. You need to rest. No more talking.” She patted the blanket over his shoulders. “Close your eyes and relax.”
    Nathan closed his eyes, catching the last bits of the emotional rush.
    Her words came through the haze. “But thank you.”

Chapter Three
    She was angry and pissed off and in no mood to be driving.
    That didn’t stop her from heading along Lake Shore Boulevard in the left-hand lane, taking the fastest route home.
    The driver behind her honked his horn, probably upset she dared to go only ten miles over the speed limit.
    Jen threw up her middle finger in front of the rearview mirror, telling him exactly what she thought of his discomfort.
    He flashed by on her right with another blast and raced down the road.
    Asshole.
    Her mind flashed back to being on the couch with Nathan, his soft-spoken offer tearing down her defenses like they were wet tissue paper. It’d taken all her self-control to take control again and finish the session properly.
    You let Lucas in.
    You let the bastard into your mind, and look where it got you. Scared enough to alert Nathan something’s wrong in your life.
    It was her own damn fault.
    When she stepped out of her car at Nathan’s house, she had to be Danielle, the Domme he wanted and needed.
    Not Jennifer Lowell, worried about a possible danger coming back into her life.
    She thought she could keep the two worlds separate.
    Except Nathan had seen it in her eyes, the underlying fear digging into her heart and soul, invading everything she said and did.
    Including, obviously, her alter-ego life as a Dominatrix.
    None of her other clients had picked up on it during the past week. True, there was only Jake and Charles—she didn’t have as full a workload as some of Hooded Pleasures’ employees—but neither of them had caught on to the issues clouding her reality.
    She rubbed her hands on the black