Chapter 17
Kendrick
I was enraged, angry to the point that the mission seemed pointless. I had no idea why I’d reacted in such a blatantly infuriated manner other than that we were getting nowhere.
I’d always considered myself a patient man, but no longer.
Just the last twenty-four hours alone had provided me with proof of what my buddies had been telling me for a very long time.
That if the wrong person crossed me, I wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in his brain. I’d laughed the first time Maverick had suggested something so heinous.
It had been in the early days of our friendship, the third or fourth time we’d all gotten together for our game of poker.
I’d had a particularly grueling case, losing because I hadn’t been allowed to see a piece of evidence.
The damn district attorney had played dirty pool.
Instead of calling him on it at a point where I could have his job and have him disbarred, I’d accosted him in the parking lot.
It just so happened that a news crew had been there filming another story and had caught everything on tape.
And I’d suddenly found myself the star of the evening news as well as being kicked down a notch by my boss. The sting had lingered long after the situation had passed, enough so the next time I’d faced the asshole in court, he’d been left in the dust.
But I’d talked about taking him to the mountains and dangling him over the edge of a cliff. I’d shocked my buddies that day. Not from the suggestion, but from the understanding I would have followed through with my threat given the chance.
Tonight, I was feeling the same kind of anger, the type that would continue to eat at me. We were being played as pawns and whether or not it had anything to do with my identity or hers was no longer the point.
The only bit of good news was that inquiries had been made at my bogus company, my credit report of all things checked. They were verifying my identity in a much more thorough manner.
Maybe the visit meant they were finalizing their security check. The entire concept annoyed the fuck out of me.
Plus, if our voyeur was kept interested in our activities for long enough, I could have him followed.
That would prove to be a win-win. Not that I believed the goon outside would be stupid enough to allow anyone to trail behind him to any location of importance, but perhaps at least we could add another face or name to the list.
However, my beautiful guest was correct, as I managed to tamp down my fury long enough to allow her to explain.
A formal invitation was obviously the only way we’d determine any of their identities.
Even the sketches of the girls had yet to provide any results.
Granted, I knew it often took time, but Jesus Christ, the wheels of justice were in slow motion.
Maybe the thing to do was to push the envelope. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, since they can see everything at the back of the house, why not give them a sexy show? With you being my master and me submitting to your every demand. That’s what you purchased, a beautiful slave.”
There was a raw edge to her voice, a tone unlike what I’d heard before. The attraction we shared was incredible, but I was beginning to believe we were in a glass house, the container about to be shattered.
But she did have a good point. The windows themselves were bulletproof, something Maverick had insisted on. Besides, I had no fear they would attack the house. Not at this point. They were like any other organization. They loved money and Lucifer had sensed I had plenty to spare.
“If we do this, you will need to do what I say.” The sound of my demand was surprising even to me.
“Isn’t that the point?” With Reese’s skin glowing, her lips swollen and rosy from the heavy round of kissing, I was even more attracted to her than before.
I was also craving another taste of the very darkness and sadism I’d been allowed to experience inside the club.
What I’d come to realize over the last forty-eight hours was that I had a massive dominating streak running through me, enough that I wasn’t certain typical passion would provide me with satisfaction from this day forward.
When I cupped her face, Reese leaned into the hold, nuzzling in a way that forced my cock into full attention. Craving her was easy.
Keeping my hands off her was almost impossible.
“Perhaps I’m no longer interested in having anyone else watching our activities.”
“Then you shouldn’t have volunteered for the job. Remember?” She backed away and when I reached for her, she shook her head. “Just remember, you’ll need to be rough and raw.”
She had no way of knowing that’s all I’d thought about since the first taste.
Only my rough and raw wasn’t playtime.
“Fine. I’m going to make a drink and head to the living room. You’re going to enter in five minutes where you’ll crawl to me on your hands and knees. Is that understood?” As soon as I took a long stride toward her, she stiffened. Perhaps she was getting ready to play her role.
“Yes, sir.”
I cupped her face as I’d done before, rubbing my thumb across her mouth.
Without hesitation, she pursed her soft lips, inviting me to fill her mouth.
Perhaps I would give her what she wanted.
“Be a good girl.” With a quick glance at the monitors, I was curious as to how long the bastard planned on waiting.
This level of surveillance was cautionary but ridiculous.
A few seconds later, I had to force myself to walk away, retreating to the living room where I poured a huge glass of whiskey.
Before easing into one of the leather chairs, the location perfect for anyone with a set of binoculars, I decided to give the asshole some music to listen to while he was waiting for the show.
A little classic rock never hurt.
I dropped onto the chair, dialing Chase while I waited.
“You have something,” he said as he answered.
“I have a visitor.” I was a little surprised my voice held lightness instead of being toned by the anger I felt inside.
“We’re moving forward. Thank fucking God. I could tell by your terse emails you were ready to go stir crazy.”
“You have no idea.”
“Isn’t your guest keeping you busy?” Even his laugh was annoying tonight.
“We’ve been trying to keep this very professional.”
“I’m sure you have. Just remember, you are a man and she’s a beautiful woman.”
A sudden small light outside caught my attention. Instantly, I bristled, ready to grab my weapon when I realized the asshole was lighting a cigarette. “He smokes.”
“Who?”
“The asshole outside.”
“Interesting,” Chase mused. “Why don’t I take a run at this one? I’ll see what I can find. Who knows. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll lead me to his master.”
“I doubt that, but why not. I’m ready to bring the hammer down.
” I tossed the phone onto the table, taking a swig of my drink just as my lovely guest appeared in the doorway.
Given there was no way for the voyeur to hear what we were saying, I motioned toward the floor, even beckoning with my fingers.
Every move was exaggerated, but I was finding it difficult to ascertain if I was acting.
Images flashed in front of my mind. All lurid. All sadistic.
Even as I tried to shake them off, I accepted that they were a small part of me.
Seeing her strapped to the spanking bench had teased the hell out of me. What I wouldn’t give to have her shackled to the cross, waiting for the strike of my whip or cane.
Fuck.
The ache in my cock was tremendous, the pressure almost intolerable.
Even from where I was seated, I could tell her eyes were glassy.
Was she trembling? Was she anticipating the filthy things I’d do to her?
With a dramatic flair, she dropped to the floor onto her knees, fisting her hands.
With the floor-to-ceiling window, it was possible the fucker could even see her expression.
Crooking my fingers, I beckoned to her again, concentrating on my drink as if she was nothing but a minor distraction in my world. When in truth, everything about her presence interrupted my thoughts, my actions.
And my needs.
She had that way about her, the balance I’d tried to create around her crumbling even more so than in the kitchen.
I’d never been a spontaneous guy. That just wasn’t in my DNA, but seeing her with the chocolate and the way the liquid had trickled out of her mouth had awakened something.
A deep desire that had nothing to do with romance. Only blatant, rough and hungry passion.
Now on her hands and knees, she started crawling toward me.
With another point of my finger and a sharp shake of my head, she dropped hers. A moment of respect for her master. By the time she’d crawled halfway toward me, my cock was pressing savagely against my jeans, the zipper biting into my flesh.
My hunger was palpable, driving and keeping me on edge. After another quick glance out the window, I refused to allow the son of a bitch to interfere with the moment. Was this only show and tell? Maybe.
Or maybe not.
It took all I had not to pull myself to the edge of my seat, eager to touch and taste.
A master wouldn’t do that. He’d be bored with this simple interaction, merely grabbing a moment of relief.
The phone was nothing but a prop, a telling statement that I had business occurring at all hours of the night.
But the closer she came, the more difficult it became to concentrate on anything but her voluptuous body. The woman was breathtaking in every way. From her attitude to the light swish of her long blonde locks.
Damn, the woman had a way of getting to me.
With my knees wide open, she moved between them. A single point of my finger again and she sat on her haunches, her head still in a submissive position. Another swig of my drink and I counted to twenty for emphasis before sliding the glass and the phone on the table.