by Lexi Blake
Sean was the new bartender, and he’d just instituted one of Sanctum’s most rigidly followed rules.
He didn’t even like to think about what happened if a sub didn’t follow the rules at Sanctum. That would not be an erotic spanking. Despite Sean’s best intentions, it might be harder to implement here.
O’Donnell and the Brit split duties escorting Karina when she was playing at Sanctum. What would it feel like when their contract was done and he wasn’t the guy taking care of her?
“That sounds like a good idea.” There was a smile in her voice. She would be encouraging the poor kid. Who hadn’t thought of a couple of problems with the scenario.
“How well do you know the other Doms?” Derek asked.
Will frowned. “They seem like great guys.”
Amateur. “So did Ted Bundy. As for that, I don’t actually know you so I don’t think I’ll have you escorting anyone. How do I know this isn’t a ploy to get a sub alone? The parking lot out there doesn’t even have security lights. You could get a sub in the dark and do what you like with her and all in the name of protecting her.”
Will’s shoulders squared. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m Karina’s Dom.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have a Dom.”
“She lied.”
Karina shot him a look that could have peeled paint off the walls. If they had thought to actually paint the walls anyway. She turned back to Will with a gracious smile. “He’s my ex. My current. Gosh, I don’t even know how to classify us half the time. We’re one of those crazy on-again, off-again couples who can break up faster than we made up.”
Yep, there was a warning in there that didn’t actually scare him in the slightest. She could get as pissed as she liked. He knew what made her melt. He touched the nape of her neck, just a tiny reminder, and sure enough she shivered a little. “We’re on again and it’s going to stay that way. I’m Derek.”
“You a cop?” Will asked, his eyes narrowing.
It was interesting that he went there, though Derek had to admit EMTs worked with a lot of cops. EMTs, firefighters, cops, they were a little community and it wasn’t surprising that an EMT could peg him as a cop. “I used to be. I work for private security now. Got tired of getting my ass shot at for nothing.”
A hint of the truth was always the way to go.
“You know what they say.” Karina seemed to be doing her level best to smooth things over. “Once a cop, always a cop. One day he’ll learn some manners.”
“That’s twenty.” It used to annoy the hell out of him when she would turn that sassy mouth his way. She had a sharp tongue, but she also had a great ass that he loved to spank. When she got bratty, he got spanky. Everything worked out. “And shouldn’t you allow Master Will and I to work out our differences? Perhaps he would respect our relationship more if you were in a proper submissive position.”
She didn’t try to have a poker face with him. She sent him a fierce frown, her voice tight. “Of course, Master.”
She sank to her knees beside him. Yes, he was going to pay for that later. Oddly, he was looking forward to it. Now that they had a contract in place, it was easier for him to relax around her. They had banged it out in bed in between…well, banging. He couldn’t stop the grin that crossed his face when he remembered going over her hard and soft limits and how she’d hit him with a pillow when he tried to get her to agree that figging was an appropriate punishment for backtalk.
She hadn’t agreed, but damn he wanted to watch her squirm.
He looked back at Master Will and decided it was time to put aside his bad cop routine and go on a charm offensive. He could be charming. Maybe. “Look, man, I’m sorry to come off paranoid but I just got back into town and found out this one has been playing some dangerous games. I don’t think going to clubs on her own was very smart and I think it even less now that I know subs are being killed. Do you know how many?”
He wanted to watch Will as he talked about the killings. Some killers loved to brag. Some just wanted to be a part of the drama. He could tell a lot by how the other man reacted.
Will turned serious, dropping any act. His hand stayed in his sub’s hair, still giving comfort where it looked like none was needed. Was the poor dude completely clueless about his lady or was this all a little play? “As far as I can tell, it’s at least three subs, all women. I don’t know if they’re related, but it seems a little coincidental. Two of them had come to this club, but they were about as different as they could be. Tanya was sweet. She was just a kid looking for someone to play with. I liked her a lot. Really sorry about what happened to her.”
“And the other one?” Amanda had reportedly frequented this place, too.
Will sighed. “I hate to speak ill of the dead, but Mandy was a difficult one. She was the kind of woman who was sweet as pie to a man, but the minute they were gone she was mean. As far as I can tell she pretty much bullied every sub in the place. If it was just her, I would say it was about revenge, but Tanya and the other girl are in the mix. Do you think I should warn the guys, too? The new bouncer and the bartender are a couple. Pretty sure the bartender is the bottom. Well, I can’t tell. They’re both awfully alpha looking. And they’re a little awkward around each other. I think the bouncer is the kind who withholds affection as punishment. The bartender tried to hug him and the bouncer practically jumped out of his skin.”
So Sean and Li needed to work on their cover. “Well, maybe we can talk them into a scene so they can work out their issues.”
Karina coughed but it sounded suspiciously like “video.” On that he and his sweet sub were in perfect accord. That shit was going on YouTube.
“How many uncollared subs do you think come in and out of here on a good night?”
Will shrugged a little. “No more than ten or so. You know how it is. There are always more Doms than female subs. We see some gay couples. Lots of submissive men looking for Dommes. The usual for a place like this. There are also a lot of tourists. Honestly, I’ve been talking to a couple of the guys I’ve met here and we’re thinking of leaving. This is not the safest place to play. I don’t like the way they run things. I only came because I have nowhere else to go. Luckily, I met this little thing.” He smiled down on his sub with what seemed like pure affection. “I think it might be time to put my money where my mouth is and open a space where we’re all a little safer.”
Every instinct he had said the guy was in for heartache because he was being honest. But a good cop didn’t just follow instinct. If he was in this club, he was a suspect. He would need to figure out his last name and start a folder on him. Sean and Liam were doing the same thing. By the end of the night, they would have a list of people to research and a list of possibles to let Eve sort through.
“Well, good luck with that. Karina and I are going to just go with the flow.” Until he could get her out of here and back to Sanctum where they would be safe. And where they wouldn’t have a contract in place because he’d put an end date on their relationship. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now the thought made him grumpy. “Come along, gorgeous. We have a scene to perform in a couple of minutes.”
Will frowned his way. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I’ve heard that all the girls who were killed had just performed heavy scenes. I’m keeping Starr away from that for a while.”
“Maybe you should keep her at home then.” If he was so worried about it, that seemed like the way to go.
For the first time Starr reacted, whimpering a little and grabbing her Dom’s thigh.
“Hush, baby. It’s fine.” When he looked back, he sighed. “She needs this. Besides, I have a lot of friends here and I want to make sure they’re all right. I specifically came to find Karina. She’s so kind to everyone. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being a victim.”
“Well, now you know she’s got a protector.”
“I know she has a Dom,” Will said gravely. He nodded toward Karin
a. “If you need anything, Karina, you know where to find me. Come along, Starr. Let’s find a place to watch the scenes.”
Karina’s head came up as they walked away. “It’s not him.”
“How do you know?” He really hadn’t liked the way the fucker looked at his sub and offered her help. She was wearing a collar. She only needed help from the man who had put it there. Of course, it wasn’t like they’d had a ceremony. It had been perfunctory. He’d handed her the collar and she’d put it on.
Why hadn’t he put it on her? Why hadn’t he stood behind her and pushed her hair out of the way gently before clasping the collar around her pretty throat himself?
“Will’s a good guy.”
He felt his jaw go hard. “I ask again. How do you know? Have you played with him?”
Her hand came up to grasp his. “No, Derek. I’ve just talked to him. I’ve watched him carefully. He’s very good with ropes so I had him down as a suspect. I’ve gotten to know him and I really think his intentions are good. His sub, on the other hand, is a problem.”
His jealousy was going to be the death of him. He helped her up, shoving the emotion aside because it had no place between them. He didn’t have the right to get jealous and apparently no reason at all. He believed her. “How is she a problem? Beyond the cheating?”
“Well, that’s pretty horrible, but she’s manipulating him. The only time she shows any emotion is when she wants him to do something. I don’t get why he can’t see it.”
Derek did. “Because he cares about her. Probably thinks he loves her. He doesn’t want to see it. Sometimes it’s just easier to pretend that everything is okay. What do you know about his time in the lifestyle?”
“I’ve been careful about questioning him. I can’t ask directly. Everything I know I’ve figured out from our talks.” Her fingers slid through his, making a place for her hand, fitting together easily.
“Just give me your impressions.” She’d been a working PI for a very long time. She knew people. “Come on. We really do have to scene and I really am going to tear into your sweet ass with a paddle.”
Her brows came over her eyes in a deep V. “Why?”
He leaned over and kissed her. He could do that now. He could kiss her whenever he fucking felt like it and he felt like it a lot. “Because you are a brat. And because we’ll both like it.”
He didn’t say the real reason. He would prefer to play with her privately, but they needed to work. They had to put her on display. He fucking hated the idea and yet he got hard at it, too. Karina was going to make him crazy.
“I’m not a brat.” But she went on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “But I will give you my impressions about Will. He’s fairly new to the lifestyle and like most newbies, he’s still infatuated with everything about it. That’s likely why he’s found someone like Starr.”
He started toward the scene space, a raised stage in the middle of the room. There were a couple of scene spaces, but he’d signed them up for the main stage. He needed to make her the center of attention. He stopped. “Why don’t we go home, Karina?”
She pulled on his hand and he turned. “I’m going to be okay, Derek.”
He nodded. It was stupid. He was behaving entirely unprofessionally. “Of course you are.”
She leaned in, hugging him. She always seemed to know when he needed affection. “I will because you’re here with me. You’re going to be okay, too. Now we have a couple of seconds while they clean up. Please tell me they’re cleaning up.”
“I have a box of antibacterial wipes in my kit.” He fully intended to use them.
“Is it wrong that I find it sexy when you clean things?” Her eyes sparkled. She was a flipping jewel in the middle of the trash heap. “So do you get what I mean about Starr?”
“Yeah, every Dom finds a woman like her in the beginning. We mistake submissive behavior for true submission. We think because a woman says she needs a top that she really does.” He’d made the mistake. More than once. It was why he was taking Karina at face value. She played. Her submission didn’t go beyond that and he should always remember.
“He hasn’t been in the lifestyle long, though I would bet he’d always been interested. He’s never been married, but he came out of a long-term relationship and I think that’s the same time he decided to give the lifestyle a go.”
“Are you profiling or do you know that for a fact?” He stared at the stage. They were almost ready. Desire warred with fear as he thought about what he was about to do. He was going to put her on display, show the entire crowd that she belonged to him, that she submitted to him. He would spank her, flog her if he wanted to. She’d checked public sex as one of her wild turn-ons. Of course, she’d also checked that she was experienced in it.
Who had she had public sex with? Not at Sanctum. She kept that to privacy rooms. It must have been her husband. Her husband had been her Dom. Had he been the one to introduce her to the lifestyle? He was so curious and she wouldn’t talk about him. Every time he brought up the subject, she turned the conversation to something else.
“I had a long talk with Will. We went to a late dinner one night and before you get your chest all puffed out, Starr was with us, though apparently she doesn’t eat. I think he was feeling me out for a friend of his.”
“As long as he wasn’t feeling you up.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think to keep them in.
“You are a possessive ape-man, Brighton.” But she kissed him again.
“All this affection isn’t going to save you.” She was getting to him. Every damn time she touched him, he went a little deeper. He’d talked about how dumbass new Doms were, but he felt like one now. Stupid. Curious. So desperate he couldn’t help himself.
“I don’t want to be saved. Didn’t you hear? I’m a masochist. I’ve been coming to this club night after night and I haven’t played once.” She gave him a wink. “And I’ve never really played with you, Brighton. That one time doesn’t count. If you play the way you fuck, I’m going to die on that stage. Bring your A game.”
She started toward the stage, her hips swaying, and his cock jumped in his leathers. It didn’t care that he was about to make her a target.
It only wanted what he wanted—to be with her. He clutched his kit and followed her onstage.
* * * *
The job. Think about the job.
Karina couldn’t think about anything but the fact that she was about to do a public scene with Derek Brighton. And Derek Brighton was jealous. Of her.
There had been no way to miss his caveman-like reaction to Master Will. How could she explain that the man was nice but he moved her not an inch? Yes, he was attractive. Yes, he was muscular and dominant, but he wasn’t a grumpy clean freak so he didn’t do it for her.
Industrial music thudded through the club and she took a deep breath, prepping herself for a nice few moments. It didn’t matter that everyone was watching her. It didn’t even matter that the killer could be watching her. She was safe here and she wouldn’t let anyone take that away from her.
“Do you want to know what’s going to happen?” Derek’s voice was low in her ear. They stopped right in front of the stairs.
She shook her head. If she trusted Derek, then she didn’t need to know what was going to happen. There wasn’t a doubt in her head that he remembered her hard and soft limits. He wouldn’t do anything to her that wouldn’t ultimately bring her pleasure or joy.
He towered over her even in her heels. His hand found her hair, gently tugging her face up to meet his. “Thank you, gorgeous. I can’t tell you what your trust means to me. Stay here while I set up. Sean and Li are both watching, but they’re also watching the crowd. If anyone even touches you the wrong way, you scream. And every way is the wrong way.”
She felt her lips tug up. Caveman. “No touching. Got it.”
He kissed her forehead and then strode up the stairs because Derek never just walked. He stomped and marched and
stalked. And cleaned. She couldn’t help but smile as he proved he really did carry around a package of antibacterial wipes. He set his kit down and started to work on the bench where he would very likely make her ass red.
She felt someone bump against her and glanced up. Liam didn’t look her way. He merely stared out over the crowd and let her know he was there. She looked around and saw Sean was on the opposite side of the crowd doing the same thing. No one would get past those men. It was all right for her to find her peaceful place, all right to take a few minutes of blissful rest.
Every muscle in her body seemed to melt. So much of her day was spent tense and anxious. She always had to be on watch.
Sometimes she wondered what she would have done if she hadn’t found this space, hadn’t allowed Kevin to take her to a place where she could center and find peace. At first it had seemed freaky and weird, but she’d been so in love with him she would have done anything to keep him. She’d been a kid barely out of rehab, holding on to the only family she’d been able to find. The first time she’d let him tie her up and spank her, she’d shook and cried and somewhere in the middle of it, she’d stopped. Her brain had relaxed, shut down to a place where she could simply feel.
Kevin had worked hard to get her there. Derek merely had to look at her the right way and she melted. How could he do that to her? Why did she trust the man who was likely going to break her heart in the end?
“Karina?” He stood at the top of the steps, a length of rope in his hands.
Everything inside her responded to him. She took his hand and climbed the steps.
He led her to the center of the stage, placing her in front, showing her off. His lips were right against her ear as his hands went to the hooks on the front of the corset. She’d loosened the laces before coming out for the scene, knowing what he would very likely want to do. They needed to make her a big target.
