H.E.A.T. Book Bundle (H.E.A.T. Books 1-3)

by Nicola Claire

  Chapter Ten

  “Good girl.”

  The Emergency Services banquet is as boring as expected. We’re sitting at a large round table in the middle of the Great Hall in the Old Town Hall building. A banker and his pursed lipped wife sit opposite us. A real estate agent and his arm candy of choice are to the side. Some sort of land developer prattles on about capital gains taxes and all I can think about is getting Haydee into one of the curtained off areas and fucking her tight little pussy while my hand covers her mouth so she doesn’t scream when she comes.

  I’m hard. I’m bored. And I’m distracted.

  And then I spot Nathaniel Marcroft and my mood plummets.

  The owner of Sweet Hell is in fine form, chatting up a paramedic, smiling lasciviously to a councillor’s wife. Eyeing the low neckline of a way too young woman as she sweeps by. I study him. Our acquaintance is an old, but odd one. He was my neighbour for close to eight years when Lara was young. We’ve grown apart since, but he was once a regular at our dining table. We see each other, of course. My invitation to the Irreverent Inferno was issued by the man himself. But he is no longer one of my close circle. Hell, David Gordon is more a friend than Nathaniel Marcroft these days.

  But I can’t deny the man has made my lifestyle more accessible. He provided an environment, safe from the public eye, secure from exposure, and with a wealth of possibilities to try. Many of my pets were chosen from the Irreverent Inferno’s chamber. Many were referred to me from Nathaniel through Jason.

  He knows me, I realise, better than I know him now. And the thought is uncomfortable.

  I look to my side and watch Haydee for a moment. She looks beautiful. Not just her perfectly presentable cropped hairstyle, or the dramatic eye make-up that makes her eyes look larger than life. Or her glowing smooth skin under the accented lights. Or the black skimpy dress that shows off her figure and makes every man in the room drool. It’s her serene smile, her confidence and grace, and the fact that she hasn’t said a word to anyone unless I invite it. The control is heady, and I find myself staring at her chain as it wraps three times around her slender neck. I find my fingers twitching to reach out and twist my hand up in its length. To tie her to me in a way none here can mistake.

  It is this preoccupation that makes me overlook his approach. Before I even realise it, Nathaniel Marcroft has taken a vacant seat at Haydee’s side.

  I am startled out of my fantasies when his hand lands on hers on the table’s surface. My eyes dart up to his face; so affable. My spine straightens and my jaw flexes.

  “Marcroft,” I say, voice low and threatening.

  “Who is your pet, Keen?” Nathaniel enquires, voice only loud enough for us to hear.

  “Remove your hand,” I demand, the urge to climb across the table and break his fingers makes my vision tunnel.

  He lifts his hand up and stares at it, then winks at Haydee, as if it’s all some sort of game.

  “Always was a bit possessive,” he says with seemingly genuine good cheer. “So, my dear. Is he sharing you yet?”

  “No,” I say. One word. Nothing else.

  “My son would so benefit from a lovely creature such as this,” Marcroft says with a sigh, his hungry eyes alighting on Haydee’s chain around her neck. “You always did have a knack for breaking them in wonderfully. I trust she is all trained up?”

  “This conversation is over,” I say, standing from my chair and holding out a hand to Haydee. She takes it immediately, and gracefully moves to her feet. To look at her, you wouldn’t know she was perturbed by what is transpiring.

  Marcroft rises to his feet as well.

  “Come now, Keen. It’s an honest mistake.” He looks at Haydee again, a type of greed there that I don’t like. As though he’s eyeing her up as a commodity, not just a possession, but something to trade.

  “Haydee is mine,” I say, succinctly. Annunciating each word carefully.

  “And when she bores of you, Keen? Or you of her?”

  “Never,” I say through clenched teeth. My control is alarmingly poor. I struggle to right myself. In front of this man, showing such weakness is unheard of.

  And suddenly, I see him very clearly. A predator with no morals. A junkie trying to get his fix.

  Jesus. Did he kill Samantha? Was he the one to follow Haydee outside the Dirty Martini?

  “Watch yourself, Marcroft,” I say leaning in to issue the threat. “Cross me and you won’t live to regret it.”

  It’s a stupid thing to say at an Emergency Services banquet surrounded by high ranking cops. But no one pays us any attention. I glance around to be sure and spot Lara.

  Coming out from behind a set of velvet curtains. The irony is not lost on me.

  “We’re done here,” I announce, and place my hand at Haydee’s lower back and lead her away.

  I feel like I’ve escaped something very evil. I feel like we’ve just slipped through Lucifer’s noose. I glance down at Haydee, and then back up at Lara. Fuck, this day is just going to get worse.

  Sweeping Haydee behind me as we pass through a narrow gap in dinner guests, I approach my daughter and the man I believe she is currently seeing. I shouldn’t be surprised to see them both here. He is a HEAT Investigator, heading up the Fire Investigation division, and she is a CIB detective. Both have every right professionally to be here.

  But there’s more to it, and part of me wants to challenge Lara simply because I was unable to challenge Marcroft and my blood is already high.

  We come to a stop in front of them, and my eyes can’t help sweeping over Lara’s slightly dishevelled frame. I recognise the dress immediately. It’s several years old, out of fashion, and one I purchased for her because she had no inclination to do so herself. A sense of regret swells up inside me. I may have provided for Lara as she grew into the capable woman she is today, but that’s all I did.

  And now I’m paying for it.

  “Superintendent Keen, I presume,” the Investigator says.

  I stare at his outstretched hand and make him wait before I grasp it tightly.

  “HEAT Investigator Michaels,” I reply, voice clipped. “Hardly the venue to seduce my daughter.” I may appreciate his acumen professionally, but this man is intimate with my daughter.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” he announces, in what has to be a blatant lie. Lara pretends I don’t exist anymore; she’d hardly waste her breath discussing me with her boyfriend. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet.”

  “Lara hasn’t said anything about you,” I say steadily back. It’s beneath me, but the confrontation with Marcroft has left me out of sorts.

  Should I tell Lara my fears? Warn her?

  I don’t get the chance.

  “Are you here alone, Dad? Or did you bring a date?” Lara asks.

  I stiffen. This is it. The introduction. I have never introduced a pet to Lara before. Never.

  But then Haydee is no longer just a pet.

  I turn slightly and allow Haydee to step forward. The instant she makes my side the world rights itself. I am calm.

  “This is Haydee,” I say, pride too obvious in my tone. I bring my hand up to the back of her neck, unable to resist touching her, touching the chain. This woman is mine, I want to shout. See, I want yell. Mine.

  Haydee smiles with genuine affection towards Lara, but her silence is for me.

  God, I love her.

  “Hello,” Lara says, pleasantly. I’m grateful for her gentle tone. Haydee should be treated gently. By all but me when we’re alone. “I’m Lara,” my daughter adds. “Ethan’s daughter.”

  I’m too busy gazing down at the goddess at my side to gauge Lara’s reaction.

  “This is my boyfriend Damon,” my daughter says, and I realise the silence that follows is now awkward.

  “It’s strange to see you at an event like this,” I say, wrapping a protective arm around Haydee’s waist while I do it.

  “I’m on the clock,” she blurts.

  “Ah,” I
manage, unsure what else to add, then fall into old habits. “Clearly CIB has changed its tactics since my day.”

  “We utilise all avenues available to us,” Lara replies in a mechanical voice that tells me I’ve hurt my daughter.

  Regret is an emotion I know well. I watch as her lover steps closer, giving her solace and support, but allowing her to lead. I study him. Maybe he isn’t a bad choice after all.

  “I can see that,” I say carefully. “How is your case progressing?”

  “Slowly,” she admits and I let out a little breath. Not for the progress or lack thereof on the case, but because this is territory I am familiar with and can handle. “We have suspects,” she adds.

  And that just raised the bar, didn’t it?

  “Narrowing it down?” I query, not letting her see she’s hit the mark.

  “Making some headway, but I could use your advice.”

  “Of course,” I say automatically, the conversation falling into old tried and tested patterns lacking any emotional depth.

  “Do you have a moment now?” she asks, looking around for somewhere for us to go.

  I don’t want to leave Haydee. I don’t want to have this conversation in front of the woman I love.

  “I’m not sure now would be appropriate,” I say, knowing Lara won’t back off, but hoping against hope that something will finally go my way.

  It doesn’t.

  “Just a few minutes,” Lara insists. “I’m sure Damon could take Haydee for a drink.”

  Not what I expected and not welcome one little bit. I stare down Michaels, but reluctantly have to admit defeat. Lara will not let this go. And she’s in danger. If Marcroft is who I think he is, she needs to know.

  “Very well,” I say and turn to Haydee. “You know what to do.”

  She smiles and my heart soars. I want to kiss her. I want to sink myself under her skin.

  I watch them walk away, a part of me leaving with her. But she wears my chain. She’s a good pet. She won’t say a word and she’ll come back to me.

  I turn to Lara and follow her lead, walking over to a two seater sofa that is a little too close to the curtained area she and Michaels just came out from. I stare down at my daughter and wonder if she inherited any of her mother’s traits. Or if she is more like my Haydee.

  I quash that line of thought immediately.

  “So, how can I help?” I ask, settling into the settee.

  “You can tell me if you signed an NDA with Sweet Hell.”

  I want to laugh out loud. Lara has run out of patience. I should think the gag order all Irreverent Inferno members must sign is causing her no end of blocked doorways.

  “A non-disclosure agreement would make it impossible to confirm or deny that,” I try.

  “No, it wouldn’t. It would prohibit you from speaking about the subject of the agreement, not whether you had signed one.” Good girl.

  I sigh as I stare off after Haydee. I want her back by my side. But this has to be said. Has to be done.

  “I never wanted you to be aware of my lifestyle,” I say with feeling. I don’t look at her. I can’t look my daughter in the eye.

  “Excuse me?” she says, shocked.

  Shocked at my words or that I’ve finally admitted them?

  “Your assumptions are correct,” I say, but can’t find the will to add more.

  “You’re a full member of the Irreverent Inferno,” she concludes. Then, “Why tell me now?”

  This is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable conversations of my life.

  I shrug my shoulders, trying to ease the tension across my upper back. It doesn’t work.

  “It will come out if this reaches court. You need to be prepared,” I offer.

  Silence, but unlike Haydee’s silence, this one leaves me empty.

  “That woman,” Lara says softly. “What’s with the silence?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I snap back; a knee jerk reaction I immediately regret having.

  I regret so much where Lara is concerned. I can’t do this anymore. I’m a coward. But it was only ever meant to be for her protection.

  “OK,” she says, an edge having entered her voice. When she speaks again, she has it under control. “When did you last see Samantha Hayes?”

  But I’m not nearly in control enough to discuss that with my daughter.

  I stand up, straighten my shirt sleeves, my cuff links, and walk away. It’s what I’m good at doing with Lara. I walked away from her childhood because it was too painful to see my wife in her eyes, in her hair, in everything that my daughter was. It damn near killed me.

  I think it might have done the same to Lara.

  I need Haydee. Dear fucking God, I need Haydee or I’m going to run screaming from this room.

  She’s there. Before me. Immediately attuned to my desires. She smiles softly, her head tilted in understanding, and I’m in front of her in three quick strides.

  “Did he hurt you?” I demand. She shakes her head, her eyes sad. Sad for me. Sad for my daughter. “I need you,” I admit, looking up and over her shoulder, spotting the perfect location for us to be. “See those velvet curtains over there, Haydee,” I say.

  She turns her head and looks toward where I indicate. She nods gracefully when she looks back up at my face, a small smile already curving those fuckable lips.

  “I’m going to walk through them and I want you to wait just on this side,” I instruct. I lean forward and whisper in her ear, “When I’m ready, you’re going to make your body available to me. You’re going to let me fuck you in this public place, just out of sight. You’re going to let me take my pleasure in your beautiful body, seek my release wherever I choose. And you’ll not deny me a thing, will you, sweet?”

  She bites her bottom lip and nods her head.

  “Are you ready, pet?”

  Another nod. I walk away, towards the curtains, knowing she’s trailing behind. Knowing she’s already wet and wanting. Knowing I’m about to use her and she’ll love every second of it.

  I take a surreptitious glance around the banquet hall and then slip through the curtains to the other side.

  The alcove is small, a curved plaster wall that houses nothing. Maybe it should have had a statue in it, or an overlarge pot plant, but whatever it was designed for is now gone. Just parquet flooring, smooth white walls and dark, thick curtains at my back. I glance up at the ceiling as I turn back around and smile.

  Then peer out between the curtains.

  She’s there. Head tipped down, eyes to the floor, hands loosely held in front of her. That smile is tickling the edges of her lush lips. I reach through the gap, grasp the length of chain as it hangs down between her breasts, and pull my pet inside.

  The curtains swish shut behind her. I visually check to make sure they’ve sealed us in adequately. I can hear the dinner guests, the clink of glasses, the titter of laughter. I can smell the floral arrangements from in the centre of the tables mixed in with the lamb and chicken and fish we’d all consumed for the third course.

  I look down at my goddess, who stands patiently, but expectantly, and reach up to tip her face towards mine, finger under her delicately pointed chin.

  “You are stunning,” I say softly. She smiles.

  I take her by her chain and move her so her back is to the curved wall, right in the centre. She’ll be able to see the curtains over my shoulder. Know who and what is just the other side of them. She’ll watch them, aware that someone could peer through them, pull them back, at any time. She’ll be unable to look away.

  Already she’s breathing too quickly.

  I grip her chain and say, “Hands behind your back.”

  She obliges.

  I reach around, brushing my lips across her cheek, unable to stop myself, and wrap the chain securely around her wrists at the base of her spine. It tips her head up, so far that all she can see is the ceiling. She gasps.

  “Do you like it, sweet Haydee?” I ask, knowing what she is seei
ng. “They’re not real stars, but they’ll do nicely, don’t you think?”

  She blinks back tears as she gazes at the myriad of tiny LED lights dotted all across the ceiling like a blanket of stars.

  “You’re tied up,” I say. “I’m not going to undo the binds,” I add. “You’re under the stars,” I whisper, “waiting for me to touch you. You can hear the voices of people nearby. You know they’re there. You just can’t see them. So,” I say, voice nothing more than a deep rumble. “Now I’m going to fuck you, Haydee Elizabeth Armstrong. I’m going to fuck your body for my pleasure and in the process set you free.”

  She whimpers. My beautiful girl.

  “Are you ready, pet?” I ask. She gives a minute nod of her head.

  I undo my trousers, watching her face as she listens to the zipper slide down. She’s panting. I thrust them and my underwear down my legs, letting my cock spring free and slap against my stomach. She moans. I reach forward and then slide my hands down over her sides, over her hips. She shivers. And continue down each thigh, then walk forward until my chest hits hers, forcing her to lean back against the curved wall.

  In a smooth, lightning quick move I lift her up and wrap her legs around my waist.

  Her head is pressed against the wall, her shoulders are back as far as they’ll go with her hands tied behind her, she’s looking at the stars but very much aware of the curtains and the low hum of conversation coming from behind them. I reach between her legs and snap the crotch on her teddy open, then thrust deep inside.

  She makes a sound, it would have been drowned out by the banquet, but my hand comes up and slaps over her mouth in any case.

  “Shh,” I say, as I rock into her welcoming heat. “That’s it,” I encourage. “Take all of me, little pet. Every inch of my hard cock as I take what I want.”

  The noises she makes behind my hand make me dizzy. I start to fuck her harder. The chain rattles noisily at her back with each hard thrust forward. Air is pushed from her lips as I rut against her body, ensuring each rock stimulates her clit as my cock slides past it.

  “Ohhh,” she groans, muffled behind my hand. “Ahhhh,” she moans as she spasms around me.