Crime and Punishment 4: Burning Submission Read Free Page A

two of you to get started, then,” Linda said as she walked over and gave Jennifer a hug. “Bye, sweetie. I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”
    “I know. Thank you, Linda. For everything,” Jennifer murmured as she held tight to Linda.
    Josh watched the exchange in silence. When Linda pulled away, Josh said, “I’ll walk out with you.”
    She nodded and started to lift her suitcase by the front door, but Josh pushed her hand away. “I got it.”
    “Josh, that’s awfully heavy,” she admonished.
    “It’s fine.” Josh lifted the large bag and winced at the pulling in his chest.
    “Josh, put that down,” Linda snapped.
    He shook his head stubbornly. “I’m fine. I swear.”
    He waved for her to open the door. She scowled at him but held the screen door open so he could step outside.
    “Are all Doms as stubborn as you?” she asked.
    Josh stopped and looked back at her in surprise.
    Her eyes sparkled with devilment as she walked past him toward her car. “You didn’t think I knew that? I’m married to one, dear. I know one when I see one.”
    Josh sighed as he fell into step behind her. “You never cease to amaze me, woman.”
    Linda laughed as she used her key fob to open the trunk of her Chevy Traverse. Josh lifted the suitcase into the back and slid it up against the seats.
    “She’s not like other girls, Josh,” Linda said softly.
    Josh straightened and turned to stare at her. “Meaning?”
    Linda licked her lips, and a strange wariness crept into her features, making the hairs on Josh’s neck stand on end.
    “Is there something you’re not telling me? About her or this ex-husband of hers?”
    “Just keep an eye on her. She’s been through a lot. Too much for someone so young. She’s strong, though. Much stronger than I believe I could’ve ever been under the same circumstances.”
    Josh frowned. “What the hell happened to her?”
    “She hasn’t told me everything. But I do know she wasn’t just abused but tortured, manipulated, drugged. When she showed up at my house, she was still having issues with withdrawals. I don’t know what they had her on, but there for a while, I wasn’t sure she would be okay.”
    Josh raised an eyebrow. “They?”
    Linda shook her head and waved a hand, dismissing it. “I meant he.”
    “Really?” he replied skeptically.
    She sighed. “I know that you know I’m not telling you all I know. Jennifer will have to tell you the rest, if and when she’s ready.”
    “Will what I don’t know affect my ability to protect her or put our lives further in danger?”
    She again licked her lips in a gesture that Josh was beginning to recognize as nervousness. “I don’t think so. You’re good at what you do, Josh. I know you’ll keep her safe, and you’re where you’re supposed to be.”
    Josh put his hands on his hips and glanced away briefly before turning back. “Know it how, Linda? Is this more of your witchy knowledge?”
    She swatted him on the shoulder. “I’ll have you know, smart-ass, that my witchy knowledge , as you like to call it, has never been wrong.”
    He would have to agree with her on that one. He wasn’t sure how she did it. Wasn’t even sure he wanted to know. But somehow, she knew things.
    “All right,” he sighed.
    She smiled and touched the side of his face. “Good. Now go make that house something the both of you will love.”
    Josh inwardly tensed at her use of “both” but didn’t say anything. Yes, Jennifer was pretty—also young—and if she was recovering from an abusive relationship, the last thing she would probably want in her life was a man who liked to tie up his girlfriends and sexually torture them.
    He leaned down and kissed Linda on the cheek. “Have a safe trip home. Call me when you get there.”
    She smiled. “I will.”
    As she walked around to the driver’s side, Josh shut the trunk and stepped back. He watched her turn the car and waved as she headed out of sight down the long gravel