A Touch of Winter (A Short Story) by Evie Hunter Page A

a new Dom. The woman she once believed was her friend. Damn you, Jack. How could you do this with her of all people?
    With effort, Abbie crushed the temptation to rage at him for his infidelity. Whatever hope, whatever love she had felt for him was swallowed up in a landslide of pain. There was no coming back from this. Jack Winter and I are over.
    She backed away quietly, leaving the door of the playroom open. In the entrance lobby, Blackie and Brownie, Jack’s two German shepherds waited for their master. Blackie dropped a toy at her feet, hoping for a game. Abbie ruffled her thick fur with one hand and reached into her pocket with the other. 'You want to play?' she whispered. 'Okay, let’s play.'
    She threw the rubber ball and the dogs raced across the hallway, eager for the chase. Abbie eyed the glass sculpture on the stand beside the playroom door. She remembered the weekend Jack had bought it in New York. He said that he wanted something in his home that she had chosen. Something that would remind him of her.
    As a memento, it obviously hadn’t worked. Abbie picked it up. The dark glass was heavy in her hand. Well, she would give Jack something to remember her by. Her heels clicked as she stepped into the playroom again and Jack’s head shot up. A perplexed expression crossed his face. 'Abbie, what are you—'
    'You’re a two-timing bastard and a liar. And I never want to see you again.' She drew back her arm and threw the sculpture as hard as she could. He ducked and it shattered against the wall, scattering shards of glass everywhere. Abbie felt a sense of grim satisfaction when Paloma screamed, struggling against the ropes, sending her body crashing into Jack.
    'Oh, I almost forgot.' Taking the precious gift from her pocket, she tossed it onto the floor at his feet. 'Happy Anniversary, Jack.'
    There was no way she was going to hunt for the clothes she had left in Jack’s house.  He could burn them for all she cared. Still naked under her coat, she stalked out into the night and slammed the front door behind her.
     
    * * *
     
    Jack swore. Fuck. Paloma has been spacing nicely, until Abbie burst in and broke her out of it. Now Paloma was gasping and panting, once again battling her fear of suspension. Damn it, she had been doing so well, he thought they had conquered it. Now they would have to start again. But not now. Right now, he had an angry Abbie to deal with.
    He kept his voice quiet while he started the process of untying Paloma from her suspension. She was valiantly trying to stay calm, but her underwear was wet with sweat by the time she was free. She slumped against him, panting slightly.
    There was a time when this would have been a natural prelude to making love, but now she had her own Dom, and he had Abbie.
    Well, he amended, he had an angry sub who needed to be put over his knee and soundly spanked for that little stunt. When he had reddened her delectable ass, and she had apologized then he’d make love to her until neither of them could stand up.
    He couldn’t help smiling when he thought about Abbie. He still didn’t know how he had got so lucky. Other guys in Hollywood had to settle for plastic Barbie dolls who were obsessed with auditions, calories, boot camps and hair extensions. He had a real woman, one so sexy she turned him inside out. The thing that amazed Jack most was that she was clueless about the effect she had on him.
    She was the sweetest, softest, sexiest woman he had ever known. She excelled at everything she did.
    He grinned. Well, perhaps not one thing. Abbie might be all his, but she was the worst submissive he had ever know. And he wouldn’t have her any other way.
    He wrapped Paloma in a soft blanket and held her for a few minutes, until she had come back to herself. She kissed him softly on the cheek. 'Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.'
    'You’re welcome.' He itched to get Paloma sorted out so that he could find out what was bugging Abbie. Why the