Scott’s POV-
I kept my hand on Molly’s back as we moved toward the couch area where Jean-Pierre had been. I didn’t know why I did it, since it was not the best idea in the world to touch another man’s sub. But I enjoyed the feel of her skin under my hand and wasn’t anxious to stop.
They cleared the crowd to find Jean-Pierre sitting on the couch right where Molly had left him.
Only he wasn’t alone any longer.
A scantily clad blonde was leaning down, talking to him. Jean-Pierre flashed the woman a bright, flirtatious smile and gently fingered her curly hair.
I felt Molly stiffen beside me, and she let out a tiny, strangled noise barely loud enough for me to hear. I looked down at her, and the emotions on her face were plain as day. Molly was furious and deeply hurt. But the one thing that I didn’t see on her face was jealousy. I got the sense that her pride was hurt, not necessarily her heart.
I was glad that pretty boy hadn’t broken her heart. But I was pissed that he had dared to hurt her at all. The bastard was mocking her in front of everyone at the club.
For that alone, I wanted to knock him on his ass.
The minute that Jean- Pierre saw us coming toward him, he waved the girl off and turned his full attention to us. He pushed himself off the couch as if he didn’t like the feeling of us standing over him.
“Merci… for bringing my slave back safely,” Jean-Pierre greeted us.
Despite the kind tone in his voice, he didn’t seem too happy to see us. He reached out to pull Molly up beside him, but she jerked away before he could touch her. A flare of anger flashed through Jean-Pierre’s eyes.
But he would not be deterred. He reached for Molly once more. “Girl, I—”
I stepped between them. “Stop.”
Jean-Pierre stepped toward me, trying to intimidate me. But, while he looked furious enough to hit someone, I just couldn’t take him seriously. He reminded me too much of a little boy who was about to throw a tantrum because he wasn’t getting his way. That alone helped me take a step back and regain control.
“After speaking with Molly, I do not think that you are being safe,” I proceeded to tell him in a calm, even tone.
“Excusez-moi,” Jean-Pierre demanded. “What do you mean exactly? Who the hell are you? What makes you think you have any say in what I and my slave do?”
I looked at Laurent, wondering how to handle this. Jean-Pierre’s tone was pushing me to the edge of my control. I was grateful when Laurent stepped in.
“Jean-Pierre, Eric left Scott in charge while he is away,” Laurent replied. “Being in charge means caring for the safety of all the people that come into the club. If he feels that someone is unsafe, then he has a right to intervene. That is something YOU should know all too well, Jean-Pierre.”
There it was again. The hint that something was off about Jean-Pierre, and no one wanted to let me know what it was. Jean-Pierre curled his lip slightly. I wasn’t sure if he was mad at the reminder of what was happening right now. Or maybe it was both.
“Très bien,” Jean-Pierre finally replied. “If we are to be harassed while we’re here, then we shall leave, oui? Come, slave,” Jean-Pierre demanded as he grabbed for Molly again.
Molly jerked away once more before Jean-Pierre could hold her for more than a moment. It was obvious she was not willing to go with him. The anger flashed again, and Jean-Pierre did not want to take no for an answer.
“Stop refusing me, slave!” Jean-Pierre snarled. “I am your Master! You will obey me! We are leaving!”
Molly stiffened and stepped forward to say something, but I beat her to it. I slid between the two of them, keeping Molly behind me and as protected as she could be.
“I’ve had about all I can take of you,” I growled, getting into his face. “It is obvious that you are not caring for Molly in the way you should, and it is obvious that she doesn’t want to go with you. It’s time for you to leave.”
Jean-Pierre blatantly refused. “I am not leaving without my slave.”
I stepped even closer and leaned into his ear. “Listen up, asshole. Molly is NOT a slave, and she is not YOUR slave. Get the fuck out of here and leave her the fuck alone, or I swear to God I will make sure you never walk normally again.”
I was not accustomed to threatening people, but I figured it wasn’t half bad. Especially when I noticed the flash of fear in his eyes.
A sense of satisfaction washed over me, knowing that I had gotten through to him. He looked between Molly and me; the cogs in his head slowly began to turn, and whatever conclusion he came up with made him give them both a wicked, disgusting smile.
“I see…” Jean-Pierre breathed out slowly. “I see what is going on with you two now. Merde, it was silly of me not to see it before. I should have seen it the moment you walked up to us.”
“I couldn’t care less what you think is going on here. You need to leave now. Before I have security come and throw you out,” I told Jean-Pierre with clenched teeth, then gave him a nasty grin. “Actually… go ahead and give me a reason. Because right now, I would have a lot of fun watching them throw you out on your ass.”
“Scott!” Laurent snapped.
I gave him a cool look. I no longer cared if he thought I needed to work within the confines of the rules. It wasn’t like the rules clearly stated that I needed to be perfectly charming to him anyway. They had more to do with respect and common courtesy. But I didn’t look on Jean-Pierre as someone worthy of my respect. Especially not after how he treated Molly... and with whatever he did that Esme and Laurent won’t talk about.
I didn’t know what was going on, and frankly, I didn’t care. I just wanted Jean-Pierre gone and away from Molly.
Jean-Pierre fired something off at Laurent in French. Of course, I couldn’t understand it, but apparently, Molly did.
“No,” she said quickly, standing between them. “No, Sir. You don’t have to do that. I’ll come with you, and you can just take me home. We don’t have to have any more problems.”
“You are not going with him,” I told her firmly, then turned to Jean-Pierre. “You need to leave, now.”
Jean-Pierre lifted his hands up and backed away. “Oui, I will leave. I have said my piece, and I will go.”
Before he walked away, he bent down and whispered something into Molly’s ear that made her eyes widen, and she jerked away from him.
“You fucking bastard!” Molly shrieked, then raised a hand to slap him.
But Laurent grabbed her and pulled her away. Jean-Pierre laughed cruelly before finally walking towards the door and leaving.
“What did he say?” I demanded as I turned my back on Jean-Pierre.
Molly jerked out of Laurent’s grasp. “Why did you stop me?”
“I am sorry, ma petite. It is a very big deal for a sub to hit a Dom, and like it or not, Jean-Pierre is a Dom. Neither Master Scott nor I could have stopped the punishment that would have ensued. The last thing any of us would have wanted was for you to endure a punishment from Jean-Pierre.” A haunted expression moved across Laurent’s face. “Believe me, you don’t ever want that to happen.”