Crime & Punishment 2: Master Delacroix

by Trista Ann Michaels

  “I say go for it,” Peter sang as a wicked grin flashed across his face. “Get dressed, and let’s go shopping. I’ll find you something that will knock the man’s socks off.”

  Casual sex was the way to go for her. She could do this. Go to the club, get the lay of the land, have sex, and then move on. She could call it research. She needed to know what it felt like, right? What better way to find out?

  * * * *

  Nathan sat at his desk reading through the section that Connelly had sent him. It was actually well written. She seemed to have a good grasp of her villain. But then, based on her past stuff, she usually did. He made a few tweaks and offered a couple more suggestions to help better flesh out the villain’s backstory before returning it to her.

  He still didn’t know if she was coming tonight. He hoped she would, but he wouldn’t ask her again. She either would or she wouldn’t. It had to be her choice.

  His cell phone rang just as he clicked Send on the e-mail. He glanced at the screen and saw Josh’s name. He slid his thumb across it, opening the call.

  “What did you find out?” he asked.

  “No hello? How are you? Go to hell?”

  Nathan grinned. “Go to hell. Now. What did you find out?”

  Josh chuckled.

  “Connelly James is the wife of Marvin James, one of Andre Lenox’s first victims.”

  Nathan tensed at the mention of Lenox’s name. Andre Lenox was the serial killer Nathan had empathically connected with when he’d worked with the FBI. Nathan had felt everything the killer did. It had freaked him out so much he’d put up a mental block, breaking the empathic bond, and in doing so, missed the fact that the killer was after his fiancée.

  He’d blamed himself for her death and left the FBI shortly after the killer was finally caught. Unfortunately not before Nathan had had to reestablish the bond, then suffer through the physical pain of the man being shot.

  “Her husband was killed. She was beaten and left for dead. Her and her husband just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was before you came on to the case, but you probably saw her name in the file, which is why it seemed familiar.”

  “She wasn’t at the trial,” he said.

  “No. She never saw her attacker, so couldn’t identify him. Plus the prosecution didn’t need her. We caught him red-handed and found all his trophies at his house. He didn’t have a trophy from Marvin because the poor fellow and his wife were just victims of circumstance. She’d been through enough, so I got the prosecution to leave her out. Why are you asking about her?”

  Nathan leaned back in his desk chair. “She came by my office today. She wanted to interview me.”

  “Interview you? For what? Subs doing interviews for Doms now?”

  Nathan chuckled. “No. She’s James Connelly, the author, and she’s doing a story that takes place in the BDSM community.”

  “Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly? James Connelly is a woman?”

  “So it would seem.”

  “So what’s she like?”

  “Interesting,” Nathan replied. “I invited her to check out the club, see how BDSM works firsthand.”

  “Is she coming?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Okay, there’s got to be more to this. You wouldn’t call me at four in the morning to find out something you could’ve looked at Google to get.”

  Nathan let out a long breath. “I’m having strange visions. What are you guys investigating right now?”

  “A couple of fraud cases. Why? What are you seeing?”

  “Not sure yet, but it’s the same image over and over, and it always ends with a massive headache.”

  “What is it specifically?”

  “A gun and a flash of light.”

  There was a moment of silence. “Someone getting shot.”

  “Yeah, in the head would be my guess; hence the headache,” Nathan replied sarcastically. “But the question is, who, and are the flash and the gun related or separate occurrences?”

  “When did they start?”

  “The same day I met Connelly.”

  Josh snorted. “No wonder you called me so early. Do you think she’s a part of it?”

  Nathan glanced toward the ceiling and groaned. He hadn’t even thought of that. “Not till you mentioned it.”

  “You’re slipping, Nathan.”

  Nathan would have to agree. He squeezed his temples to ease the ache that still nagged behind his eyes. “No, I think I’m just distracted. My brother’s in town.”

  “Have a drink. Relax. Whatever this is will come to you. In the meantime, you know where I am. And please don’t kill your brother. I really don’t want to have to clean up after you.”

  “I probably shouldn’t drink, then,” Nathan drawled.

  Josh chuckled. “Touché. When you figure it out, call me. Or call me if you don’t.”

  “Will do.”

  Nathan hung up the phone and set it on his desk. The club would be opening in one hour. He should probably get ready. Dee gave a quick knock before opening his door and stepping inside. “I’m headed home, sweetheart. Do you need anything before I go?”

  “No, Dee. I’m fine. Thank you.”

  He heard his brother call out to them from the hall, and gritted his teeth. “On second thought…” he murmured. “I think I need a drink.”

  Dee giggled. “Be nice, Nathan. I think he’s really trying to make amends and understand.”

  “I think he has an ulterior motive, but only time will tell which of us is right.”

  “We’re in here,” she called out. “Last door on the right.”

  Daniel strolled in and glanced around the oversize room full of leather and dark wood furniture. “Nice office,” he said with a nod. “Looks like Dad’s.”

  Nathan rolled his eyes. Dee snorted and gave Daniel a scathing look. “If you were looking for the wrong thing to say, you hit it right on the head. Play nice. Both of you.”

  With that, she exited the room, leaving him alone with his brother.

  “We should dress alike. Play that game we used to play as kids.”

  Nathan frowned at his brother. “Your hair’s not long enough, and you’re skinnier than me. Besides, you couldn’t pass for a Dom to save your neck.”

  Daniel’s lips twitched slightly. “I don’t know. The pretty redhead in the lobby might believe otherwise.”

  “What redhead?” Nathan asked, surprised at how his pulse sped up just a tad at the mere possibility that Connelly might be there.

  “The one who looks like she’s about ready to flee. I saw her walk in just before I came in here.”

  Nathan quickly strolled past his brother and out into the entryway. He spotted her right away, standing by the door, holding tightly to a small black purse. Her full skirt rested halfway between her knees and hips, showing off tan, muscular legs. Her white top was open at the neck and tied in a knot about an inch or so above her skirt, giving just a peek of her firm stomach.

  Nathan’s fingers itched to comb through that curly hair, grab a handful, and tug her head back so he could look into her eyes. Even at this distance, he could feel her unease, her excitement, her arousal. She turned just as he entered the foyer, and their eyes met. Lightning seemed to spark between them, catching him off guard. He stopped, and his brother almost ran smack into him.

  “Damn it, Nathan. What the hell?” Daniel grumbled as he moved around Nathan.

  Connelly’s lips twitched just a little, but when she saw Daniel, her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, God. You have a twin?”

  Chapter Four

  “Not one I claim,” Nathan drawled, earning a scowl from his look-alike.

  One Nathan was powerful enough. Two had her practically drenched between her legs. The look-alike wasn’t as broad and his hair was shorter, but those eyes were exactly the same. And the smile. Good Lord, the smile had her almost sputtering.

  “I’m Daniel,” he said as he reached out his hand.
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  She took it. “Connelly.”

  Nathan pulled her hand from Daniel’s. “Weren’t you just leaving?”

  Daniel’s lips thinned.

  “Nathan,” she chided but still found them amusing.

  Had they been arguing about something? That would certainly explain the tension. “I thought I would hang around. See my brother in action.”

  Connelly didn’t miss the sigh Nathan released. It was obvious he didn’t want his brother there. She wondered what had happened between them and if it could be fixed.

  Stay out of it, Connelly. They’re not your family. They can take care of themselves. Don’t get emotionally involved. He’s a research tool. Nothing more.

  “Connelly,” Daniel said as he turned his attention back to her. “Any relation to James Connelly?”

  She glanced briefly at Nathan, who seemed to be curious as to what she would say. “No. Can’t say James Connelly is a relation,” she replied, not really lying exactly. He wasn’t a relation.

  Nathan’s lips twitched as he quickly lowered his head and glanced to the side. Was he hiding a grin? Did he find it amusing that she didn’t admit to being James? Sometimes she did admit to it, and people didn’t believe her. James Connelly is not a woman, they would say with a chuckle. So now, unless she was at a signing, she just played dumb.

  “The club still isn’t open yet, so why don’t we head into my office, and we can talk about the rules,” Nathan said.

  She raised an eyebrow. “Rules?”

  “There’re always rules.”

  “Mind if I tag along?” Daniel asked. “I probably need to hear the rules as well.”

  She watched the muscle in Nathan’s cheek jerk, then turned to ask Daniel, “You’ve never been here before?”

  “Not as a participant.”

  “Two virgins in one night.” She grinned at Nathan. “Aren’t you lucky?”

  Nathan snorted. “Follow me, virgins,” he drawled as he headed down the hall.

  As she walked along behind him, she let her gaze wander down his wide back. The white dress shirt clung to his shoulders and strong arms. His black slacks outlined a trim waist and firm hips. The edges of his hair teased the white material stretched across his back, and she had the oddest desire to run her fingers through it, to see if it felt as soft as it looked.

  She needed to stop this. Yes, he was gorgeous. Yes, he would probably be a good lay. But she needed to keep in mind that this thing had to remain physical. It was research for her book—a better way to get into the heroine’s head. That’s all. She didn’t want another relationship. She liked her life the way it was. No one to answer to, and no one to bug her while she was on a roll with her writing. She lived her life the way she wanted.

  With renewed determination, she shifted her attention back to the club. Or chateau would probably be a better word. It was a stone structure, three stories tall. Inside was decorated in dark colors—red walls, mahogany floors, black accents. Very Gothic. The whole atmosphere suited Nathan to a tee.

  Her heels clicked against the hardwood, echoing through the long hallway and sounding much louder than they probably were. Along the walls were scenic pictures. Not paintings but photographs. She stopped to admire one of a waterfall. The colors and clarity were stunning.

  “Did you take these?” she asked.

  “No, my assistant, Dee, takes them. She’s good, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is,” Connelly admitted.

  “Has she tried to sell them?” Daniel asked as he studied the picture as well.

  “No, she just does it for fun.” He pointed to the falls. “This was taken when she and her husband went to Hawaii a few years ago. I convinced her to let me have a few, and I hang them up in the hall and sunroom.”

  “What’s on the second and third floor?” she asked.

  “Individual playrooms,” he replied.

  “So couples have privacy?” she asked.

  Nathan grinned. “No privacy here, pet. Everywhere is monitored. Safety first within these walls.”

  That put her a little more at ease. Nathan continued farther down the hall. She turned to Daniel with a frown and mouthed, Pet?

  Daniel shrugged, but devilment danced in his eyes. He reminded Connelly of a young boy up to no good. Was that why Nathan wasn’t happy about Daniel being here?

  “So what’s up with you two?” she asked Daniel as they moved into step behind Nathan.

  “Nathan thinks I’m here to lay a guilt trip on him.”

  “Are you?” she asked.

  “No.”

  Connelly wasn’t so sure she was all that convinced. And for that matter, a guilt trip about what?

  It’s none of my business. Stay out of it.

  “Have a seat,” Nathan said as he waved to the leather chairs that flanked his desk.

  Connelly glanced around the office, studying the various pictures, awards, and knickknacks before settling into one of the chairs.

  “First off, safe words,” Nathan said. “Yellow means you’re scared and you need to slow down. Red means stop.” He gave his brother a firm stare. “And Daniel, if I catch you not stopping, I’ll bust your ass.”

  Daniel frowned. “Why would I not stop?”

  “I know you. You like persuasion. If she says red, no persuasion. Got it?”

  Daniel nodded. “Got it.”

  “Good.” Nathan turned to Connelly. “This is your first time, Connelly. As my guest, the other Doms shouldn’t bother you, but if one does, just be firm and tell him any negotiations must be done through me.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  He smiled slightly. “That way I can tell them you’re with me and you’re not to be touched. Word will spread fast, so you shouldn’t have very many approach you. Unless, of course, one catches your eye; then let me know. There are some Doms I believe would be a little too intense for your first time.”

  She frowned slightly. “What about collars?”

  “In my club if you’re collared, you’re in a relationship. You and I are not.”

  “Oh,” she said, feeling a slight sting at his words even though she knew them to be true.

  “Did you collar your fiancée, Nathan?” Daniel asked softly beside her.

  The thought of Nathan having a fiancée left a piercing burn in her chest. Before she could even voice the question in her mind, Daniel said, “She was murdered.”

  “Daniel,” Nathan growled.

  “You haven’t told her?” Daniel asked in surprise.

  “Why would I tell her? What do you think I do? Go around telling everyone how my fiancée was murdered by a serial killer?”

  Connelly blinked. A serial killer? Was it perhaps the same man who’d killed her husband?

  “Um, guys,” Connelly said, wanting to break the tension. “Not that I don’t find this brotherly bantering very amusing, but new girl here who’s about to put a whole lot of trust into a complete stranger and let them spank me, so knock it off.”

  Daniel snickered, and Nathan smiled—a very dreamy combination, and one that left her feeling a bit light-headed.

  “If you’re looking for someone to spank you, I would be more than happy to help you out with that,” Daniel said as he leered and wiggled his eyebrows in a comical manner.

  Connelly had to bite back a laugh at his teasing.

  “Daniel!” Nathan snapped.

  “What? Geez, Nathan. Relax. She knew I was teasing.”

  Connelly nodded sheepishly, almost afraid to let Nathan know his brother’s teasing didn’t really bother her, when it apparently bothered him. Maybe coming to the club on a night he was apparently stressed out over his brother’s appearance wasn’t the right time.

  “Should we do this another—”

  “No,” Nathan replied. “I apologize for me and my brother,” he said softly. “We probably shouldn’t take our aggravation with each other out in front of guests.”

  “Wow, remember when Mom used to make
that same apology when we would do this in front of our parents’ guests?” Daniel asked, his lips tilting up in a half grin.

  Nathan’s face relaxed, and the smile that curved his lips looked much friendlier. “Yeah. So if I sound like Mom, I guess that means you have Dad’s condescending stare.”

  “I haven’t gotten it quite perfected yet, but I’m getting there.”

  Daniel turned to smile at her, and Connelly could actually feel the tension lifting from the room. Despite their picking—or maybe because of it—the two of them were actually fun. And definitely sexy. As she studied them, an idea came to her. If she was going to research, might as well go all out.

  “Do the two of you ever share?” she asked.

  Daniel’s smile widened. “I like her, Nathan. And yes.”

  Nathan’s lips twisted slightly. “It’s been a while. Have you ever been with two men at once, Connelly?”

  She gave a small shrug. “No. Does that matter?”

  “No, but it’s probably not something you want to do on your first night here.”

  “Okay, so do you pick my Dom or do I?” she asked. “How exactly does this work?”

  NATHAN STARED AT her for a few seconds. Normally, he would choose her Dom. One that would be suited to her wants and needs. But to be honest, he wasn’t exactly sure what those were for her. She was here to do research. She hadn’t said anything about wanting to learn the lifestyle.

  He could sense her desire, her curiosity, but exactly how far did that go? What exactly did she want to experience?

  He needed to find out.

  “Do you really want to participate, Connelly?” he asked.

  Uh, yes.

  He blinked briefly at her sudden words in his head but waited for her to answer.

  “I think so.”

  “No thinking, pet. You need to know. Just say it and see what comes out.”

  “Yes.”

  He gave a nod. “Okay. Now we have to determine what you’re looking for. What’s an absolute no?”

  “Oh, wow,” she murmured, then bit her lip. She let it go and said, “I’m not sure. I’m pretty adventurous, but…blood play would have to be a no. And no hitting the face.”