She fought a losing battle. Any second now and her resolve would collapse. The questions got more personal, invasive. Jane opened her mouth, about to tell them all to fuck off despite knowing that would only give them more ammunition. She knew she shouldn’t.
“You heard her,” growled a familiar voice behind her. “Give her some fucking space.”
Jane spun. Jacob shoved his way toward her. His eyes were narrowed, his lips formed a thin line, and he clenched and unclenched his fists by his sides. He looked pissed as hell. Some of the reporters must’ve felt the black aura coming off him because they stepped aside. Was this a dream?
Her feet nearly gave out on her. Jacob was there, gathering her protectively in his arms, preventing her from falling face-first into the pavement. Not a figment of her imagination after all. Jacob wasn’t alone. He’d brought two police officers with him.
“Make room,” ordered one of the cops.
“You okay?” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes. I am now,” she answered. With Jacob holding her close, they managed to reach the studio’s doorstep. Gina held the door open as they breezed through.
Jacob gave her shoulders a squeeze then flashed her a reassuring smile. “I need to speak with Cooper and Farley. They’re the cops I came with.”
“How did you know?” she asked him, blinking when he cupped her cheek. His steady presence, his touch anchored Jane back to reality. She could breathe easily again.
“I had a bad feeling when you left.” Jacob approached the cops who entered the studio.
Jane turned to face her assistants, who were both sneaking Jacob curious looks.
“Jane, sit down. I’ll make you a cup of tea,” Mary said, pulling her over to one of the sofas reserved for their customers.
“Water,” she said. “Please and thank you.”
Mary nodded, leaving her to get her a glass.
“He’s the reason you were smiling the other day?” Gina asked her point-blank.
There was no use denying it. The photo taken of them at the pier would probably appear in the news or a tabloid magazine sooner or later.
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Well, good for you,” Gina said, grinning. “He’s a catch. Mary and I saw it all. He looked ready to murder anyone who came close to you.”
****
“So this is where you work?” Jacob asked, looking around the space with interest. There was a sewing machine on the table near where Jane sat. Bolts of fabric and lace samples hung on one wall and wedding veils on another corner.
Jane remained seated where she was, nursing a cup of tea that had probably gone cold. Both of Jane’s assistants had stepped out for lunch. One of them turned over theopensign at the door, giving Jane and him complete privacy in the studio.
“I didn’t want to drag you into the mess that’s my life,” Jane finally said, looking up at him. Jacob took a seat on the table, facing her. He rested his hand over her slim, small one. This talk was a long time coming.
“I don’t mind,” he answered. “Is that the reason why you didn’t want me to drive you? You were worried about me?”
Jane bit her lower lip and nodded. “Before I met you, I couldn’t keep a man because they eventually became daunted by the press, by the fact I’m constantly under the spotlight. So I started going to the Black Feather instead. I liked how they kept the identities of their members private.”
Jacob wove his hand into her hair and gave it a warning tug, forcing Jane to look up at him. “I don’t want to hear about other men you’ve been with. You know how possessive I can be.”
“You sound jealous, Master.” There it was. The smile he wanted to see.
Jacob smirked. “Don’t make me punish you in your own studio.”
Jane drew a shaky breath. “The first time we met, I knew you were different.”
The old Jane would’ve begged to be punished just to avoid having an adult conversation. His Little Sparrow had changed, grown up. Pleasure filled him.
“We’ve been playing together for a long time, haven’t we? You’re the only sub I ever agreed to have private sessions at my home with. I knew you were different, too.” Jacob released her hair. “But you should know I want more.”