by Ivy Nelson
Austin frowned at the receiver in her hand. Most of the time a DA would at least give her a ballpark on the plea deal being considered. With a sigh she said, “I’ll call him as soon as I’m off the phone with you, and we’ll set something up.”
The fact that they didn’t want to give her an estimate of the deal made her worry. That could mean they had nothing and couldn’t win the case. They would want to get it off their plates and still count it as a win. It could also mean they were on a fishing expedition and wanted to see what insight Patrick could give them that might help them win at trial. Either way, she didn’t like it, and her excitement over opening her new firm waned a little as she returned her attention to keeping Patrick out of prison.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Patrick paced the courthouse hallway waiting to be called into a conference room. He’d been called back to New York and was waiting on a meeting with the prosecutor trying his case.
Austin was meeting him after court with another client. The prosecutor was already inside waiting on them, but Patrick wasn’t allowed in without his attorney.
The doors to a nearby courtroom burst open, and a group of people poured out. Austin was easy to spot since she was taller than most of the people in the crowd. She smiled when she spotted him, and Patrick felt his heart twist. Seeing her was everything good about his day, yet he couldn’t escape the sinking feeling this trial was going to break them.
When she approached, she brushed a hand down his shoulder and said, ‘You’re looking rather stern. Stressed about this meeting?”
Patrick did his best to relax his features and gave her a small smile. “A little. Any idea what they’re going to offer yet?”
Austin shook her head. “No clue, but I’m sure you won’t like it.”
“Well, that’s not very reassuring. Let’s get in there then.”
Austin pulled open the door and motioned Patrick through.
The prosecutor looked up from a notebook and smiled. “Austin, lovely to see you again.”
He felt Austin stiffen next to him. “Greg,” she said politely. “I didn’t know you were trying this case.”
“I wasn’t, but Sandra got put on bedrest for the duration of her pregnancy, so here I am.”
Patrick didn’t know who Greg was, but he could tell the man was making Austin uncomfortable.
“Mr. Sutton, thanks for meeting with me today. I’m sure you want to put this trial behind you, so we’re prepared to offer you a deal.”
Patrick sat when Greg nodded to the chair across from him. He had no intention of accepting any kind of plea deal, but Austin had insisted it was best to hear what they were offering, because it would give them a better idea of how strong a case the prosecution had.
“The diamonds that went missing are of substantial value as you’re aware. If you’re convicted, you could face up to twenty years in prison, and I guarantee if we take this to trial, the DA is prepared to seek the maximum sentence.”
Patrick tried not to wince, but the thought of spending the rest of his prime years behind bars made him sick. He had to force down the bile threatening to escape his throat.
“However,” Greg continued, “We’re prepared to lower the charges to something much less significant if you return the diamonds. You’ll spend just one year in prison and serve some community service. You could be out in less than eight months.”
Patrick was already shaking his head. “I don’t…”
Austin stopped him with a hand to his shoulder. “We respectfully decline your offer. I think we’ll have better odds in a trial, Greg,” she said.
“Not to mention I don’t fucking have the diamonds,” he bit out, his fists clenched beneath the table.
“Shut up, Patrick,” Austin said sharply. “You’re under no obligation to tell him anything.” Turning her attention back to Greg, she said, “If that’s all, I think you should apologize to my client for wasting his time, and we’ll be on our way.” She stood and gathered her belongings. Patrick followed her out of the conference room, already plotting how he would make her wish she hadn’t told him to shut up.
“I have to file some paperwork at the clerk’s office,” Austin said when he caught up to her. “Then we can get out of here unless you have something else you need to do.”
Patrick put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. When he had her attention, his fingers wrapped around her upper arm and he led her to an alcove near a water fountain.
“I hope you know I have no intention of forgetting that you told me to shut up. You sure you’re ready to leave for the day? I plan on reminding you of our dynamic as soon as we’re alone.”
Her eyes became clouded with lust and sensuality, and she dropped her head, biting her lip. “I was hoping you would say that.”
Oh, now she was in even more trouble. “Austin, were you purposefully rude to get a reaction out of me?”
Austin shrank away from his stern gaze.
“Not exactly. But I knew as soon as I told you to shut up, I would be in trouble and it turned me on,” she confessed.
Patrick had to fight the urge to pull her in for a kiss. “Go file your paperwork. I’ll be waiting in the car. I expect my submissive to get in the limo with me, not my attorney, understood?”
Austin swallowed and nodded, adding a whispered, “Yes, Sir,” before she turned toward the clerk’s office.
When Patrick slid into the backseat of the waiting limo, he called his hotel and arranged for lunch to be set up in his suite by the time they arrived. If it was his dominance and the thought of his punishment that turned her on, he would give it to her. Minutes later, the car door opened, and he could see the longing in her eyes. She wanted him and that made his need for her even stronger. He patted the seat next to him, and she silently snuggled close to him as the driver pulled away from the curb. Soon they were inching along in New York traffic.
After several minutes of silence, Patrick fisted a hand into her hair and turned her face to his. “Tell me what you did wrong that earned you a trip over my knee.”
She whimpered as he tightened his grip at the nape of her neck. “I told you to shut up, Sir,” she said.
“And do good little submissives tell their Doms to shut up? Ever?” he asked, keeping his voice stern and his gaze hard.
When she frantically shook her head, he continued. “And do good little submissives do things to purposely earn punishment?”
Again, she shook her head. “No, Sir,” she whispered, her eyes wide.
“What should you do if you want me to spank your ass?”
Austin swallowed. “Ask you to do it, Sir.”
He loosened his grip on her hair and dragged his hand to cup her cheek. “So, ask me.”
“I…” Her gaze dropped and his hand moved like lightning to tug her hair again, so she was forced to meet his eyes once more.
“I said ask me, Austin.”
At the sound of her name on his lips, she closed her eyes. “Will you please spank me, Sir?” Her voice was thick with need, and he couldn’t wait to get them back to the hotel. Traffic meant they would be in the car for a while though. He cupped her cheek again.
“You got tense when we walked into that conference room. Who is Greg?”
Austin shook her head as if she didn’t want to answer, but Patrick gave her a stern look. She blew out a breath. “He was my boss at the DA’s office. We got into it while I was trying the case I told you about. I wanted to drop the charges. He insisted we keep going because we had the evidence. I just prefer not to be in the same room with him if I can help it. Can we change the subject please?
He smiled, his hand cupping her cheek again. “You’re lucky I brought my toy bag on this trip with me or I would have to drag you to an adult toy store to pick out a paddle to spank you with.”
Austin blushed but giggled as she rubbed her face against his palm. “That actually sounds hot, Sir.”
He quirked an eyebrow up at her. He often forgot how mu
ch she enjoyed public forms of play. Without saying a word, he pulled up the address for a nearby adult toy store and opened the privacy panel to show the map to his driver.
Beside him, Austin squirmed, and he wrapped an arm tightly around her. “Be still,” he chided as he tucked his phone back into his pocket.
They pulled into the parking lot of the store a few minutes later and Austin stared at him in horror when she realized where they were. “I didn’t think you would actually bring me to one,” she said as he tugged her out of the car.
“What can I say,” he said close to her ear. “I like making my baby girl do things she thinks is hot. I bet your pussy is going to be dripping by the time we leave here.”
Austin squirmed away from him, but he kept hold of her hand and steered her toward the door. This wasn’t an average adult store. It was a luxury boutique that stocked a variety of high-end items for all kinds of sexual pleasure. Thanks to the popularity of a mainstream romance novel that featured BDSM, most stores had recently expanded their kink sections with cheap paddles, floggers, and bondage equipment, but this store stocked handcrafted items made by some of the most talented people in the kink community. Solitaire had even contracted with some of the artists who stocked items in the store.
“I didn’t know there were toy stores for the mega rich,” Austin whispered as she looked around in awe.
A store clerk stepped from behind the counter and stretched her hand out. “It’s good to see you again, Patrick. Are you in the market for something specific? We’ve got a great new selection of Cherrywood paddles, and just today, I got a collection of vibrators that are just amazing, and I know how much you like vibrators,” she said with a wink.
Austin whirled her head to face him, a question clearly on the tip of her tongue. He silenced her with a gentle finger on her lips before he turned to the clerk and shook her outstretched hand.
“My girl and I are here to look at some paddles, Rachel.”
“Of course. We rearranged some things since you were here last. They’re in that back corner,” she said pointing a well-manicured finger in the general direction of the paddles.
Turning to Austin she said, “Nice to meet you, sweetie. I can’t say he’s ever brought a girl toy shopping with him before, so you must be special.”
Bless her, Patrick thought. They had played together a few times and he hadn’t been expecting to run into her here. Rachel was doing her best to make Austin feel better about having run into an ex.
Austin seemed to have recovered because she offered Rachel a friendly smile and a handshake. “Good to meet you, I’m Austin.”
As Rachel was about to respond, the front door opened so she excused herself to greet the new customer.
“I’m sorry,” Patrick said when she’d stepped away. “I honestly forgot she worked here.”
Austin shook her head. “It’s fine. I have to run into all the women you’ve played with at Solitaire and I’ve been doing OK with that. She seemed nice. I’m good, I promise.”
Patrick eyed her carefully, checking for signs that she was suppressing discomfort. When he saw none, he picked up her hand and tugged her to the back corner of the boutique.
Austin let her free hand trail the rich woods of the paddle collection that hung along the wall. Patrick watched as she explored, but he’d already been drawn to a gorgeous paddle that resembled the back of a hairbrush. Lifting it, he flicked his wrist, testing the weight of it.
“You look really hot with that in your hand,” she said, her attention now trained on him.
He gave her a wicked look. “Just think how hot your ass is going to be when I’m done using it.”
“I hope you plan on fucking me when you’re done. Otherwise I’m going to explode.”
Patrick chuckled. “Since I prefer you all in one piece and I enjoy fucking you, I’m certain you’re in luck.”
Austin moved to a different section of the store and Patrick followed her. When they reached a collection of vibrators, she picked one up and said, “What did Rachel mean when she said she knew how much you liked vibrators? If you like them, why can’t I use one?”
Patrick tucked a hand beneath her chin. “I’ve told you. You’re different, baby girl. I want all your pleasure. I prefer making you come myself.”
“Or not letting me come at all,” she muttered as she set the toy back on the shelf.
Patrick just grinned and tugged her arm to another corner of the store where some very scary looking anal toys sat.
“Nope. Nope. Nope,” Austin said, pulling away. Patrick laughed.
“I’m not bringing you over here for those, though maybe after seeing them you might decide having my cock in your ass isn’t such a terrible idea.”
Austin eyed him skeptically. “So, what did you bring me over here for?”
“To show you the one kind of vibrator I would let you use.”
He reached down and pulled a butt plug off the rack.
“That thing vibrates?” she asked, turning the package over in her hand.
Patrick nodded. “I’m told it feels nice.”
Austin shook her head. “I don’t know.”
He laughed. “You’ve had bigger plugs in your ass for me. What about this one makes you uncertain?”
Austin shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess nothing.”
Patrick leaned in to kiss her, enjoying the fact that they didn’t have to worry about the press in here.
At the register, Rachel rang them up and Patrick slid her his credit card. She tucked the toys into a black shopping bag with no logo.
“Have fun, you two,” she said with a little wave as the headed for the exit.
Patrick’s hand rested on the door handle, ready to push it open. “Stop,” Rachel cried. “I’m looking at the parking lot security camera, and we’ve got at least half a dozen reporters out there. Did they follow you from somewhere? I’ve read the news stories about you, Patrick. I can only assume they’re here for you.”
“Fuck,” Patrick swore. So much for avoiding the media in here.
Always a quick thinker, Rachel said, “I’ll get a car around back for both of you. Just leave your driver where he is for a bit. Once you’re in the new car, you can have him leave.”
Patrick gave her a thumbs up and sent a text to the limo driver. He could hear Rachel already on the phone as he typed.
“They must have followed us from the courthouse,” Austin said, annoyance in her tone.
Patrick nodded. "I’m sorry, baby girl.”
She shook her head. “It’s OK. Comes with the territory, right?”
Patrick lifted one corner of his mouth in a half smile. “Something like that.”
“Car should be around back any minute now,” Rachel said.
She let them into the storage room and pointed in the direction of the back door. “Come see us again sometime,” she called as Patrick pushed the door open. The car had pulled as close to the exit as possible, and Patrick and Austin ducked their heads and scrambled inside. When they were several blocks away from the store, Patrick messaged the limo driver that it was safe to leave.
“Should be all clear,” he said, pulling Austin close. “Now we can get back to important things, like making you cry and come for me. Preferably in that order.”
Austin shuddered next to him. He knew tears could be extremely erotic for her. By the time he dragged her through the door to his suite, his cock was hard at the thought of bending her to his will for the rest of the evening.
He didn’t even have to command her to strip. She was unbuttoning her blouse and stepping out of her skirt by the time he locked the door and set the bag of purchased toys on the table.
He propped himself against the door and watched her take the last of her clothes off as he played over the possibilities in his mind.
He wasn’t quite sure how their scene would play out, but he damn sure knew how it would end.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Where a
re we going?” Austin asked as Patrick pulled her to her feet, having ordered her to get dressed for dinner out.
“We’re having dinner with Tim Reyes, my lab tech.”
Austin slipped a cocktail dress over her head and stepped into a pair of orange pumps she’d bought to match the bracelet she wore on her wrist. He’d been amused and touched by the purchase.
“Why are we having dinner with him? I told you he just needed to call me.”
Patrick smiled. I want to see if he can tell us anything about the day the diamonds went missing. I didn’t remember until a couple of days ago that he was there as part of the team that verified the diamonds. He worked for my father before I hired him.”
Austin raised an eyebrow as she pulled her hair back. “I’m surprised you would work with anyone from Sutton Jewelry. I know how you feel about your father.”
Patrick stood in front of the mirror and straightened his tie. “I was hesitant at first, but I put him through a rigorous background check and made sure he understood my position on Nicholas Sutton.”
Austin gave him a small smile. “Well I’m definitely interested in what he has to say then.”
A half hour later, they were in the back of a car on their way to a restaurant where Tim would meet them.
When they pulled up in front of the small restaurant, he helped her from the car. “I want to go to Solitaire early this week. How would you feel about ditching work on Friday?”
Austin frowned. “I’m sorry. I have court on Friday morning, or I would. I’m also supposed to be working on finalizing my exit from Thorley and Associates this week. I could leave at lunch time again though.”
“I’ll take it,” Patrick said.
“Does Tim know why you want to meet with him?”
Patrick shook his head. “He just thinks I want an update on the progress of the new lab here in New York. Starting a new production facility takes time to get things going, and I do need an update, so it’s not technically misleading him.”
They stepped inside the restaurant where Patrick gave his name to the hostess.
“Right this way, Mr. Sutton, Miss Yates. Mr. Reyes arrived a few minutes ago.”
