Velvet Shadows

by Aubrey Rose

  Velvet nodded, having already guessed as much.

  “He was wonderful to begin with. Then he drugged me and took me to the basement. I don’t actually remember what happened, but I’ve seen the recording of what I did. What they did to me.”

  Trying desperately not to let her fury show, Velvet tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “I signed what I thought was a liability release for the haunted house.” She shuddered. “It wasn’t a haunted house. Snake took me to Hell. That was the first time I saw the devil-man.”

  “Would you recognize his voice if you heard it again?”

  Jamie laughed harsh and hollow. “I can do better than that. He has the biggest cock I’ve ever seen in my life.” She laughed again, tears shining in her haunted stare. “Can you picture the line up? Six men in devil masks, naked from the waist down.”

  Velvet barely smiled, afraid if she surrendered to any emotion she’s lose her composure completely. Jamie may not know who the devil-man was, but Velvet had seen him in action. “What did they have you sign?”

  “A release form for the recording, of course. ‘The Devil Does…’ series has become a best seller. I’m featured in The Devil Does Diane. Once you dance with the devil, there is no turning back.”

  A frozen knot formed in Velvet’s belly. Chyna had murmured nearly those same words after the Halloween party. “Is Chyna involved in this, too?”

  Jamie covered her throat with her hand, trembling visibly. “They’re all involved. It’s too late for Chyna. She’s one of them now.”

  “I need to talk to Trevor. Will you be okay for a few minutes?”

  “You have to get the computer. I don’t want Trevor to see it! Please, promise me you won’t let him see it!”

  “I won’t let him see it. I promise.”

  “He’ll look. He’ll know.” She sobbed. “He has to stay here while you go get it!”

  “We’ll probably go get it together, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t see anything.”

  “No! It’s not just the laptop. It’s all there. The DVD, the contract. Trevor stays or I’m not telling you where it is!”

  Unsure how to combat her irrational fear, Velvet raked her fingers through her hair. “Let me talk to him.” She joined the men in the hall. “Jamie wants you to stay with her while I go get the laptop.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “She’s not exactly reasonable right now. She wants you here with her.”

  “Where’s the laptop?”

  “She won’t tell me until you agree to stay.”

  “Damn it. I can’t let you --”

  “Mr. Sutton.” Doctor Evershim drew their attention. “You’re Jamie’s next of kin. If you want her released, as you’ve indicated, we have arrangements to make. It might be best to let the lady run the errand.”

  “It’s not even dawn,” Velvet pointed out. “Do you think they followed us here?”

  Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Trevor was obviously torn by the dilemma. “Then let’s call the police. If I have to stay here, someone with a gun is going with you!”

  They returned to her room and Jamie explained that the laptop was in a locker on the midway at Belmont Park. “The doctor has the key. But you’re staying here, right?”

  “Yes. Velvet is going. I’m staying here.”

  Her agitation mellowed somewhat with his promise, so Velvet followed Trevor back into the corridor. Trevor’s call was transferred to Detective Strickland as soon as he mentioned the Devil’s Den. The detective told him the department had been working to shut down the club for some time and he’d be happy to assist in any way he could. He arrived half an hour later in an unmarked car.

  After examining the detective’s badge and photo ID, Trevor quickly gave him an overview of what they knew.

  “This is the biggest break we’ve had in months, Mr. Sutton. You don’t know how much I appreciate the call.”

  “How long will it take you to get to Belmont Park and back?”

  “About an hour.”

  * * * * *

  Except for two skateboarders taking advantage of the pre-dawn quiet, Belmont Park was deserted. The actual amusement park was gated, the roller coaster quiet. They only needed access to the midway. Velvet walked beside Detective Strickland, trying to feel comforted by his presence.

  “I think the only lockers are over by The Plunge.” He motioned toward a large building in the center of the shops.

  “Why is there a swimming pool right next to the ocean?”

  “It’s heated and clean, and unaffected by the weather.”

  She nodded.

  Blowing out an anxious breath, Velvet pulled the key from her pocket and inserted it in the corresponding lock. It rotated with a surprisingly loud snap. Velvet started guiltily, dread intensified her discomfort. Pulling open the metal door, she found a black backpack as well as the laptop. She swung the backpack to her shoulder and lifted the laptop bag by its handle.

  Mission accomplished.

  “I should’ve figured she’d hide it in plain sight.”

  The detective drew his gun and turned. Not fast enough. Anthony brought the butt of his pistol down across the back of Strickland’s head. The detective crumpled to a heap at Velvet’s feet.

  Paralyzed by fear and disbelief, Velvet wasted precious seconds. Spinning on the ball of her foot, she sprinted in the opposite direction. Snake stepped out from behind a vendor’s booth and caught her in a bear hug. She screamed once before his hand clamped over her mouth.

  “Not so fast, doll face.” Kicking and twisting, she fought his hold. He squeezed, driving the breath from her lungs. “Cut it out or I’ll knock you senseless!”

  Anthony pried the laptop out of her clenched fist and pulled the backpack off her shoulder.

  “What should we do with the cop?” Snake asked.

  “Nothing. He didn’t see either of us. She said no needless complications, remember?”

  She said? Who the hell was she?

  Fear overwhelmed her curiosity. Am I a needless complication? I know a lot more than Strickland!

  “Let’s go.”

  Snake dragged her to a dark sedan parked on Mission Boulevard. Anthony opened the passenger door and set the laptop and backpack on the seat.

  “You drive,” Anthony told Snake. “Velvet and I have unfinished business.”

  Her skin crawled at the insinuation.

  We will finish this. One way or another. His threat echoed through her mind and revulsion tightened her abdomen. She grabbed the doorframe and scissored her legs. He forced her inside and slammed the door, pinning her to the seat with the weight of his body.

  “You depraved bastard,” she yelled.

  Snake laughed and started the engine. “Don’t wear her out. You promised we’d share.”

  “I’m just playing. We won’t start breaking her in until we get to the Den.”

  She twisted her face away, unwilling to reveal the terror in her eyes. Trevor wouldn’t worry for at least an hour, and then he’d have to figure out what happened. How long could she survive their abuse? How long would they ‘break her in’ before they killed her? Terror choked her. Bile rose into her throat.

  He held her wrists in one fist, while he slipped his other hand under her shirt. “We’re going to enjoy breaking you.” His fingers found her nipple and pinched. Velvet gritted her teeth, stubbornly refusing to cry out.

  She had to think. She had to stay alive!

  “You can have any woman you want. Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Because I can have any woman I want, and that includes you.” Pushing up her T-shirt, he unclasped her bra. “Have you been enjoying yourself with Trevor?”

  Glaring into his gleaming dark eyes, she held perfectly still. He wanted her outrage. Her struggle turned him on.

  “Is he a gentle lover or does he fuck you brutally until you’re too weak to move?”

  To her utter mortification her nipples tightened as images of Trevor erupt
ed in her mind. Trevor touching her. Trevor tasting her. Trevor…

  Anthony laughed. “I see. Maybe this won’t be as challenging as we thought, Snake. It seems Mr. Sutton has begun her training for us.” He plucked her nipples, squeezing just to the point of pain. “Has he tied you up?”

  “Go to hell!”

  Laughing again, he moved to her other nipple. “Has he fucked your ass?”

  She closed her eyes, trying to disassociate her mind from his taunting voice and teasing fingers.

  “Do you let him come in your mouth?” He sucked her nipple forcefully, leaving it wet and tight. “Does he eat your pussy until you scream?”

  His hand unfastened her shorts and Velvet went wild. She was wet! She couldn’t let him touch her or he’d know she was aroused. “Stop it!”

  Her panic made him all the more persistent. Kneeling on the floor, he released her hands and jerked her shorts down past her hips. She shrieked and struggled. He was faster and stronger. He pinned her hands against the seat and worked his fingers between her thighs.

  “She’s sopping wet, Snake. I could fuck her right now and she’d come for me.”

  Velvet whimpered. “I’d come for Trevor! You have nothing to do with my body’s response.”

  He shoved two fingers deep into her pussy, stroking the front wall until he found the spot that made her whole body tense. “Trevor’s not touching you now. Those are my fingers in your cunt. My thumb stroking your clit.”

  Trembling in outrage and humiliation, her body helplessly obeyed his skilful caress. Tingles spread out from her clit, making her core throb. “You can make me come, but that doesn’t change the fact that I hate you!” She sobbed as his clever fingers forced her to orgasm. “I hate you!”

  “I can tell.” He withdrew his fingers and mockingly licked her cream. “Tastes like hate to me.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heart pounding painfully in his chest, Trevor watched the car pull into the parking lot of the Devil’s Den. Clayton had arrived with Trevor’s mother not ten minutes after Velvet departed with the detective. Thankful for the backup, Trevor cursed the timing. If Clayton had caught up to them a few minutes earlier, Trevor would have been at Velvet’s side.

  Instead he’d watched helplessly as Depalma shoved her into the back seat of the car and sped away. It wasn’t hard to figure out where they were headed. Jamie had given them the address of the Devil’s Den.

  “We need to take them down before they get her in the building.”

  Clayton didn’t respond verbally. He slammed the car into park and flew from the vehicle not bothering to close the door. Gun drawn, Trevor approached the other car. His whole body clenched when he saw Velvet struggling with Depalma. Her shorts were down around her knees and her breasts were bared. Had the bastard raped her? Rage spurred him on.

  He yanked the door open and dragged Depalma off her, slamming his fist into the other man’s face. “You fucking son of a bitch!” The fact that Depalma was fully dressed was the only thing that kept him from shooting.

  Clayton had Snake up against the wall in a matter of seconds.

  Grasping the back of Depalma’s hair, Trevor shoved him face first into the wall next to Snake. “Pat them down. If I touch him right now, I’ll rip his balls off.”

  Clayton checked them for weapons, while Trevor covered him. Depalma was armed; Snake was not. After ordering them to the pavement on their bellies, Clayton nodded toward the car. Trevor tucked his gun into the back of his pants and went to check on Velvet.

  She’d righted her clothing and sat with her hands tucked between her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. Trevor was afraid to move.

  “Velvet,” he said softly.

  She didn’t respond.

  “Sweetheart, it’s over. You’re safe now.”

  Scrambling out of the car, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing brokenly. He held her tightly, stroking her hair.

  By the time the police arrived, Velvet had regained her composure. She answered their endless questions in a calm, mechanical voice.

  “We’ll need you to stay in San Diego for a few days while we sort through the information. After we’ve examined the evidence, we’ll interview Ms. Sutton,” the uniformed officer explained.

  Trevor knew it was standard procedure. That didn’t make it easier to hear.

  “How is Detective Strickland?” Velvet asked.

  “He has a concussion, but that’s nothing compared to his wounded pride. He can’t believe they overtook him so easily.”

  “Neither can I.” Trevor glared.

  The officer just smiled.

  * * * * *

  “How did Clayton get here so quickly?” Velvet asked. She reclined in the bathtub in their hotel room, doing her best to relax. Her mind wasn’t cooperating with her body. She kept feeling Depalma’s hands and hearing his taunting voice.

  “His brother runs a charter airline. It comes in handy from time to time. We try not to take advantage of him too often.”

  “And your mother is here?”

  “Yeah. Jamie pitched a fit when she first saw her, but I think it’s a good thing. Doctor Evershim agrees.” Trevor leaned against the counter, his gaze clouded with concern. He was quiet for a long time, then he said, “You told the police they were trying to kidnap you.” He paused. “You didn’t tell them that Depalma… Did Depalma rape you?”

  Velvet crossed her arms over her breasts and turned her face away. How could she admit what had happened? It was more humiliating than rape. “He…”

  Trevor knelt beside the tub. “If he touched you in any sexual way, that constitutes rape.”

  Leaning forward, she covered her face with her hands. “Even if I…” She sobbed. “He made me… Oh God, Trevor, I had an orgasm.”

  “If someone touches my cock it gets hard. It’s an involuntary response. You did nothing wrong.”

  She glanced at him, then closed her eyes. “Depalma is the devil-man. We both know it. How do we prove it?”

  “I’m hoping the laptop will prove it.”

  “Jamie isn’t their only victim. I don’t even want to imagine how long it’s been going on. Star. Chyna. They seduce them, make them believe they’re unworthy of any other form of love. Jamie said it was too late for Chyna. Someone needs to verify her whereabouts.”

  “We have to tell the police everything. They’re sexual predators, and they’re not going to stop unless we stop them.”

  Velvet nodded, finally opening her eyes. “You told me to tell you when I was ready.”

  “When you were ready for what?”

  “For you to make love to me. I’m ready, Trevor. I need you to make love to me.”

  She stood and he swept her into his arms, not caring that she was dripping wet. He carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently in the middle of the bed. His eyes stared into hers as he undressed. Crawling onto the mattress, he pulled her to her knees, molding their bodies together as his mouth settled over hers.

  Slow, gentle sweeps of his tongue communicated his patience, his desire to cherish her. He stroked her face, tucking her hair behind her ears.

  “I love you, Velvet. I think I’ve loved you for eleven years.”

  She clung to him, tears gathering behind her lashes. “I love you, too. How could I not love you?”

  He angled her torso. Supporting her neck in the bend of his elbow, he kissed her deeply, thoroughly. His fingers traced the indentation of her spine, delving into the cleft between her buttocks.

  Hungrily, she returned his kiss. Her hands moved eagerly over his muscular body, squeezing her shoulders and exploring his back. “Oh, Trevor. We wasted so many years.”

  He cupped her breast, his fingers splayed over her steady heartbeat. “They weren’t wasted. You have a beautiful son, and I needed to grow up, to learn what was really important.”

  She pressed her mouth against his shoulder, sucking gently on his skin. He found the side of her neck and returned the caress. Her h
ands covered his tight rear end and pulled him snugly to her. His cock throbbed against her belly; her core echoed in response.

  He framed her face with his palms and kissed her over and over, claiming her mouth with his lips, his tongue. She returned the kiss stroke for stroke, her hands wandering restlessly.

  Tearing his mouth from hers, he panted. “I want to take you slowly, make this last all night, but every time I touch you --”

  “I know.” She thrust her tongue into his mouth and closed her fingers around his cock. “I don’t think it’s meant to be like that with us. If it’s over too soon, we’ll just do it again.”

  He laughed, his cock bucking within her grip. “I like the way you think.”

  Laying back across the bed, he pulled her down on top of him. “Turn around.”

  She started to roll over. He caught her waist and showed her what he meant. Rotating her body, he helped her straddle his face, his cock now easily accessible to her. His fingers parted her folds and his tongue traced her slit. Velvet sealed her lips around him, slowly sucking his shaft into her warm wet mouth.

  He licked. She sucked. Then he sucked and she licked. On and on they went until she writhed against him and he bucked into her mouth. Pushing two fingers into her tight core, he tongued her swollen clit.

  Velvet moaned, pulling back until just the head of his cock remained in her mouth. Maintaining a firm pressure, she fought off her rising climax. This feels too good. She didn’t want it to end. But he slid his fingers in and out, flicking her clit relentlessly. Her cunt tightened and tightened, then released in shuddering spasms of pleasure.

  She relaxed against his chest, his cock slipping from her mouth.

  He stroked her back and caressed her smooth ass, waiting for her to recover. Gently lifting her off him, he stood beside the bed. “Come here.”

  “I’m pretty sure I just did.” She laughed and positioned herself in front of him, still on her hands and knees. Expecting the thick thrust of his cock, she glanced over her shoulder. He’d paused to don a condom. His consideration warmed her and excited her. Even at the height of passion, she could trust him implicitly. He’d shelter her, protect her.

  He stepped up behind her, but pushed into her aching pussy with his thumb. She tossed her head. “I’m more than ready for the real thing.”