Chapter 14
Kendrick
The angry, burning desire furrowed deep into my system, making breathing as difficult as keeping the promise I’d made.
As soon as I turned, the same dark, intense, and hungry sensations threatened to derail my newfound determination to keep the situation strictly business.
Fuck. She was even more stunning than the night before. At least she appeared more rested, calm when I was antsy as hell.
I don’t know what I was expecting on the morning after a whole bunch of shit had gone down, but it wasn’t to see her standing with a sly grin on her face.
“Exactly how much did you hear?” I asked.
“Enough to wonder if I should call a caterer to book our wedding reception.” Her crystal-clear laugh brought a wave of longing that couldn’t easily be pushed aside. My cock wasn’t interested in listening to me.
Exhaling, I looked away. “Did you get some sleep?”
“A little. I also worked on the sketches. I thought maybe we could go over them just to see how well I did.”
“We can do that. Thank you for allowing us to utilize your gift.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it a gift. My sister is the talented artist in the family.” Her faraway look tugged at several heartstrings, some for the very wrong reasons Hudson had accused me of.
“Why don’t we get some coffee. We can sit down at the kitchen table and go over the sketches. After that, I’ll scan and send them to the group.” Coffee. Not unless it was laced with something stronger. In this case, I’d accept whiskey.
She tugged hair behind her ear and I was caught by the simple moment. With her in jeans and a baggy shirt, her presence seemed far too normal.
As if we were enjoying a day off together, maybe thinking about heading out to catch a movie followed by pizza.
The strange reality was that I wouldn’t mind.
Not because I was ready to get married, but because I genuinely liked her company.
Even when her defiance faded, she had a spark in her that couldn’t be repressed by fear or uncertainty.
She didn’t know me in the least, yet refused to back down.
I genuinely liked that about her.
As well as everything else.
“I’ll agree to coffee if you stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I countered.
“As if now that you have me, you’re clueless as to what to do with me. Or as if I might fall into a fit of despair. Despite my behavior last night, I’m not fragile.”
How refreshing that her sense of humor, albeit sarcastic, had returned.
However, I could sense she was placing a defensive wall around herself after what we’d shared.
Not that I blamed her. “I assure you I’ll have no problem figuring out what to do.
” I hadn’t intended for the moment to be awkward, but I’d never tried to portray myself as a wordsmith outside the courtroom.
We stood silently for a full minute, long enough the burn of desire turned into discomfort.
She finally lifted the sketchpad in her hand, fiddling with one of the pages. “This is what my sister looks like now.”
As soon as she held up the drawing, I was taken aback by how much the young girl reminded me of Emily.
In the photograph I’d seen, Briana had been much younger, her childlike features still intact.
Now, with her high cheekbones and plump lips, not only did she resemble her sister, but also mine. How uncanny and unnerving.
Enough so I looked away.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. You’re a very talented artist. The look in her eyes is very haunted. Just like yours had been.”
“Haunting. I know. She was always so full of life even when…”
When she didn’t finish her sentence, I finally kicked myself in the butt and looked at her. Chasing away the past wasn’t going to bring me any closer to hunting down the men responsible. “When?”
“You know. When she was a kid. The girl who refused to back down to anything or anyone.” The faraway look in her eyes portrayed a story, a pressing memory that had been the reason she’d taken it upon herself to fight a criminal regime.
That’s what I’d taken to thinking of the Privileged.
They were not unlike a crime syndicate with a monster at the helm and good little foot soldiers to do his bidding.
And the members simply believed they had every right to their behavior.
Once again, I admired her, but I still had an itching to turn her over my knee.
“We’re going to make certain your sister has every opportunity to resume her joyful life.”
She followed me as I headed to the kitchen and I was struck by how distant sharing space had become.
Not that I was a conversationalist, yet the eggshells could become a problem.
Maybe I’d simply been immune to the morning after dilemma since I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spent a full night with a woman.
The few I’d dated even remotely seriously said I had a fear of commitment.
I always thought I was just too set in my ways, old enough to prefer my life being organized the way I wanted it. And why in God’s name was I worrying about it in the first place?
Her silence was as unnerving as being unable to figure what to say to her. We were both lost in our own worlds, fighting to accept why this case had already branded our souls.
“Cream. Sugar?” I asked to break the relentless monotony.
“Just cream.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really. You?”
“Not really.” As soon as I handed her the mug, our fingers collided and we both seemed surprised. But neither of us moved, not even when I brushed the tip of my index finger across hers.
Her nervous laugh finally broke the tension. “We can’t go on like this. You know that.” She slipped onto one of the kitchen chairs.
“Like what?”
“Like strangers passing in the night.” She took a step away, her face flushing from the instant connection. Yet the awkwardness remained a lingering sensation that skimmed across my skin.
This wasn’t working the way I’d thought it would. The craving for her was dark and as sadistic as I’d seen in the men the night before. Maybe I wasn’t the best person to handle the mission after all.
“We are strangers, Reese, strangers forced together by extreme and very dangerous circumstances. I won’t allow you to be hurt any more than you already have. Believe it or not, I do have a moral code.”
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I am an adult.
As such, I make my own decisions. That’s my sister stuck in that hellhole.
God knows where she is at this moment. Maybe she was sold to some fucking asshole who uses bullwhips to keep women in line.
Or maybe she’s back in a cold, dark cell rotting away, thinking her family doesn’t give a damn about her.
So, if we need to become very close to keep the charade going, then that’s what we are going to do. ”
“You’re going to do exactly what I tell you to do.”
Her smile was wry. “Why, yes, sir.”
There she went again, forcing me to rethink my objective, not only with her, but also with this goddamn case.
Fuck. There was no win in the situation, but I had to put my foot down.
“What happened last night can’t happen again.
You can certainly provide sketches and we need to talk through everything you know, but under no circumstances are you going to be put in a position of danger ever again. That’s final.”
“Final?” she spit back. “From what you told me last night and from little I know about these privileged men, if you receive another invitation, it’s going to involve me.
It has to and you know that. If Lucifer, his goons for guards, or his very special members have any doubt you are who you say you are, then the easiest way to assuage their suspicions is by ensuring you’re a sadistic, dominating man.
That takes practice. And I can’t believe I’m suggesting that.
” Her laugh was laced with nervousness. “God, this is insane, but contrary to what you witnessed last night with me trembling in fear, that’s not my personality. I am a fighter.”
Of that I had no doubt.
“Not happening. You will not be involved in any other way.”
“What are you going to do, get a body double or are you just going to try and convince Lucifer you’re ready for another slave?”
Even though it killed me to admit it, she was right. “And if your scenario holds true, they will push boundaries that neither one of us are ready to cross.”
Although I’d already continued questioning myself about just how far over the line I was willing to go. The initial answer continued to trouble me.
Especially given the number of filthy images I’d allowed over the last few hours.
“Why are you doing this?” Her question was meant to catch me off guard.
“Why? So that justice can be served and innocent victims saved.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “There’s more. I could see it in your eyes, the same conviction and drive that I felt. So why?”
The uneasiness between us wasn’t going to be solved by commiserating over aspects of our pasts. “There are still some people in this world who will stop at nothing to eliminate evil.”
“A very practiced answer. Alright, then what do we do, Mister Prosecutor? You’re right in that what happened after we came here shouldn’t occur again. We were both carried away and neither one of us are looking for anything like companionship.”
“Being carried away will not happen again.”
“You are insufferable. When I date someone, I need to know them. You know what I’m talking about.
Their likes and dislikes. What they like on their pizza or in their coffee.
Maybe what kind of books they read or movies they enjoy watching.
Something to entice the conversation. So, since we won’t be getting personal, then I guess we won’t need to worry about me calling the caterer for the fancy reception. ”
Every defiant word out of her mouth created a new desire that I’d soon need to chain with thick strands of steel. She certainly knew enough about me that she’d figured out how to dig a sharp instrument into my gut.
I resisted firing back immediately, trying to find any words that would work in this situation.
“We’ll do what we need to bring down the Privileged, but if I agree to allowing you to help further than what I’ve mentioned, you will agree to follow all my rules.
” I pointed my index finger at her and I could swear the woman was ready to bite it off.
“What if I fail?” She lifted her pretty little head, testing me. Defying me.
Enticing me.
“Let’s just say you don’t want to find out.” I lifted my eyebrow, daring her to continue with this line of conversation.
“Hmmm… You need a lesson in practicality, Mister Prosecutor. Whatever happens, we’ll need to practice the fabulous art of BDSM. In other words, I need to learn how to be a good little slave. Maybe if I pass the test, my acting ability will ease your fears.”
We were effectively engaged in a standoff. The woman was formidable. “Then your first lesson is in learning to follow the rules and only speaking when spoken to.”
My calculated barb brought a wash of various emotions crossing her face, the last being fury. Yet she offered a wide smile.
“I guess you’ll need to buy me a collar and a leash. That is what all masters do with their slaves. Right?”
The urge to discipline her was very strong, yet I smiled in return. “A very good idea. That way, I can chain you to the bed. Now, after our verbal gymnastics, are you ready to get down to the work I will allow you to do?” I’d push her buttons as much as she’d pushed mine.
My balls tightened, the ache in my cock doing very little to persuade me to keep the promise made.
“Of course, Master. While I very much appreciate everything you’ve done so far, forgive me for remaining uncertain that you as one man can bring down this organization. They are far too powerful and you seem to forget, help wasn’t forthcoming from anyone else.”
“Only I’m not just one man.”
“Ah, yes, some fabulous group of buddies.” She fully intended on challenging me and getting what she wanted.
“Who will do what it takes to crush the Privileged.”
“With my help.”
I took a deep breath and leaned forward, now only inches from the stunning blonde. With a single finger, I traced the long line of her neck, enjoying the tingling sensations way too much. “Only if you follow my rules without question.”
Her nose wrinkled as soon as she pursed her lips. She’d thought she would win the argument. She was right about one thing. She didn’t know me well at all. While I might he hesitant with my decision on how to move forward, I knew instinctively keeping her inline would be a necessary evil.
Such vile thoughts were running through my mind.
She regrouped immediately, taking an extraordinary amount of time to drag the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip.
As soon as she did, my cock twitched. Damn the woman.
When she dared trace her finger over the intricate lines of the ink on my forearm, even shuddering, I sensed all bets were off.
“Why, yes, sir.” Said with even more attitude, although the spunk was preferable to the despondency, which I had no clue how to handle.
Mmm… The spanking might come sooner versus later.
She took a decided step away, studying me over the steaming cup of java.
In doing nothing more than watching the way she held the mug of coffee, her soft lips clinging to the hard ceramic, I was pulled in a direction that I should consider unprofessional.
Yet with every passing second, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to control both my thoughts.
And my needs.
However sadistic they were.
“Good girl. Here’s how we’re going to play this. First, we work on the sketches and we combine the information we have. After that, we play it by ear. But you are right. You’ll need to trust me, Reese. That’s how we’re going to rescue your sister.”
I wasn’t certain I could trust myself around her.
“If the sketches are going to be most effective, I’ll need colored pencils.” Her utter defiance and determination continued.
“I think I can arrange that.”
Another moment of being noncommittal. What I couldn’t bring myself to tell her was that I had no interest in allowing another man to watch, touch, taste, or fuck her under any circumstances.
If anyone did, not only would I bring every law enforcement agency on them, but I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Including crossing any line necessary.