Deadly Desire

by Audrey Alexander

  “I thought I would give you some more details about my alibi,” he said with a smile. “But first, let’s have a glass of wine and enjoy our dinner.”

  “Dinner, wine.” Carrie shook her head with a laugh. “What, no flowers?”

  “You know I’m not a flowers kind of guy.”

  Just on time, a knock sounded at the door and Jace ushered in the cart of food. Two plates sat under glistening silver globes, and as the concierge discreetly disappeared, Jace revealed the plate of food to Carrie. And just as he’d predicted, a small gasp escaped from her parted lips. He’d remembered the way she liked her potatoes cooked, the cut of steak she preferred, and the fact her favorite dessert just happened to be chocolate cheesecake.

  “That looks amazing, Jace.” For the first time since she’d arrived, a genuine smile lit up her face. Jace’s chest swelled as he took great satisfaction in pleasing her this way. “I mean, this is all my favorite food. How did you…?”

  “Carrie.” His voice dropped low. “I remember everything you love. It may have been a few years since we’ve been together, but time hasn’t made the memories fade. Not even a little bit.”

  Carrie stared right into his eyes, and the heat he’d seen in them earlier returned. “I don’t know what to say, Jace.”

  “Just relax and enjoy this dinner with me. You don’t have to say a thing.”

  Carrie couldn’t believe Jace had gone to so much effort just to get her to stay for dinner. She wasn’t an idiot. She knew there was more to this whole thing than he let on, but she couldn’t stop herself from dropping into the sleek black chair at his dinner table and taking a delicious bite of the perfectly-cooked steak. Almost raw, barely cooked, fresh and thick and warm. It melted in her mouth.

  She glanced up and caught Jace’s gaze. His smile was seductive, delicious, and dangerous. She shifted in her seat and reminded herself of why she’d come here tonight and why he was so off-limits. Not only was he part of the family, he was also now her client. He couldn’t be any more off-limits if he tried. That knowledge didn’t really seem to help though. If anything, it made the pounding of her heart pick up speed.

  “So, what did you want to tell me about the case?” she asked, turning her focus toward the professional side of things. This was a business dinner after all, even though it felt more like a date. She was almost surprised he hadn’t thrown candles and mood-setting music into the mix. “You remember something about your alibi?”

  “That’s right.” Jace pulled his smart phone from his front pocket and tapped at the screen before sliding it across to Carrie. The phone displayed a contact record for someone named Madison, a phone number, and a picture of a gorgeous blonde to go along with it. The girl in the photo looked fresh out of college, if even that, though it was hard to tell her true age through the thick layer of makeup that painted her features. Definitely the kind of girl Carrie had seen Jace with in photos from the tabloids. Pretty much girls who were the opposite of her.

  “This is your alibi?” She raised her eyebrows and pointed at the screen. “I thought you met her out at that bar?”

  “I did.” Jace shrugged and slid his phone back over to his side of the table. “I asked for her number, and she gave me this.”

  “And you just happened to forget to mention this until now?” Frowning, she sliced into the steak and shoved another piece into her mouth. He’d kept this information from her until now, and she hated that he’d wanted to keep it secret, like there’d been more to it than he’d let on.

  Jace leaned forward and refilled Carrie’s wine glass, his gaze steady and self-assured. “I’ll admit, my first instinct was to hide it from you. You and I have a past, and I didn’t want to dangle images of another woman in front of your face.”

  “Trust me, Jace. You don’t have to dangle anything.” Grabbing for the wine glass, Carrie took a huge gulp of the sweet liquid. She needed the alcohol to calm the nerves that had come right back again when she really remembered everything that Jace was. He was everything she worried about and a playboy. For some reason, she’d let herself forget that tonight. “Photos of you with other women are pretty much impossible to avoid.”

  “Be that as it may, I thought it was important to fully divulge this information now that you are formally representing me.”

  “Yeah, about that.” Carrie felt the flush of the wine reach her neck as she tipped back the rest and drank it down. “You could have gotten me fired today.”

  “Nonsense. I’m a valuable client. They’d do whatever necessary to keep me happy.” He frowned as Carrie stood from the table. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m realizing what a terrible idea this whole thing was.” She gestured at the sleek table, the half-eaten steak, the empty glass of wine. He may have put the words “business dinner” around the situation, but it’s not as if either of them were under any illusion that it wasn’t something else, something deeper and darker that crackled underneath the layers of pretend. “Next time you want to share case information with me, you’ll need to come into my office and discuss it like a normal client.”

  “Carrie.” Jace stood, and his presence took up the entire loft. Being in such close proximity to him made her stupid. Carrie realized that now. “I was only trying to show you a good evening. You seem so tense. I thought it would be good for you to relax.”

  “You say that like I’ve ever been able to relax around you.” Carrie took two steps backwards, her hands searching for the coat she’d left draped across the back of his couch.

  A flicker of something resembling pain crossed Jace’s face, a small moment of vulnerability that disappeared just as quickly. “You can’t mean that.”

  “Of course I do!” She almost shouted the words as she turned and stormed across the room to get away from him, almost stumbling in her heels. He appeared by her side before she could reach the door and grabbed her arm. The touch of his fingers on her wrist felt like fire, and she jerked away.

  “I don’t understand where this is coming from,” he growled, eyes dark and charged.

  “How could I relax around you?” she asked in a hush, blinking against the intensity of his stare. “It’s just too much. It’s like you consume the whole room, no matter where you are. I can barely stand to be around you without wanting to explode.”

  The words just popped out of her mouth before she even realized what she was saying.

  Jace’s eye sparked as he tightened his grip on her wrists and pushed her against the wall. He twisted her arms and held them over her head, his mouth greedily taking hers. His lips were soft and hot, and a gasp escaped from her throat. Shivers coursed along her skin, and she melted into the kiss.

  Her back arched as he moved his tongue to her throat, trailing hot kisses down her chest. Everything inside her screamed for more, and she bit her lip to stop herself from gasping his name. Her nipples went hard, begging for his touch, but he stopped just as he reached the lacy edges of her bra.

  His mouth found hers again, and when he pressed against her body, she could feel the hardness of his cock on her thigh. Her body ached for him to be inside her, for him to consume every inch of her until she was full. She reached up and grabbed his hair, silky strands that she’d dreamed of too many lonely nights.

  A new heat shuddered through her as his hands raced down her body, shoving her skirt up to her waist. She moaned, closing her eyes and giving into the familiar electric sensation of his fingers on her trembling thighs.

  It had been so long since he’d touched her like this, since she’d felt so alive. Before their parents had gotten married, she’d had him all to herself every night. Her eyes flew open, and her mouth went dry. Shaking her head, she pushed at his chest, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

  Jace pulled away, confusion all over his perfect face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Jace.” Her voice trembled as her heart broke all over again. “We can’t do this. I’m so sorry.”

  She pushed down her ski
rt and ran out his door. She couldn’t bear to look behind her and see the look on his face. Because despite Jace’s cool and stony exterior, she knew she’d broken his heart just as much as she’d broken her own.

  Carrie was going to be the death of Jace. He hadn’t felt this miserable since the last time she’d left him—three years before when she’d heard the news about their parents. His body felt achy and raw from where her curves had melted against him. He could remember every hitch of her breath, every tremble of her thighs, every taste of her skin. He’d been only moments away from carrying her to his bed, and then she’d turned cold. Out of nowhere.

  He’d pushed her too fast. Too soon. He should have known when she launched herself away from the dinner table that it was best to take a step back rather than forward, but his eagerness for her body got the better of him. She’d shuddered under his touch, eager too. But not ready. And now, he may have pushed things too far to ever get them back to the way they used to be.

  The next morning, his ringing phone shook through his thoughts as he sat at his office desk, too distracted to focus on his work. He answered the phone with a scowl, unable to keep the gruffness out of his voice. He’d been in the middle of a nice little fantasy about Carrie, and as it was the closest he was going to get to her for awhile, he wasn’t pleased with the interruption.

  “Jace Holt,” he said.

  “Sir,” his personal assistant, Franklin, said. “Detective Foster from the NYPD is calling. Should I put him through?”

  Jace frowned and glanced out the window at the falling snow. “No, tell him I’m unavailable, but find out what he wants.”

  “Yes sir.” Franklin clicked off the call, and Jace waited five minutes before buzzing Franklin back.

  “Come on in here, Franklin,” Jace said in as a commanding tone as he could muster. A moment later, his assistant appeared in his doorway, suited up and standing tall, reminding Jace of himself from ten years before.

  “Did you find out what he wanted?” Jace asked.

  “Yes sir, but you’re not going to like it.” That was one thing Jace liked about Franklin. He didn’t bullshit his boss, even though he knew it was his job to make him happy. He got straight to the point. It was why Jace had hired him. “They want you to go down to the station for questioning.”

  “Did they say when?” Jace asked. He’d told Franklin all about the unfortunate incident at his penthouse, of course, but not about the missing gun. He still hadn’t told Carrie about that either, and he wouldn’t. That was one secret he’d make sure stayed hidden.

  “No sir,” Franklin said with a quick shake of his head. “Is there anything you need me to do?”

  “I need you to accompany me to my law firm’s office.” Jace closed his laptop and stood. “Leave the office in Lana’s hands. If anyone calls, tell her to take a message, but to let me know if anything urgent about the Times Square building comes through.”

  Half an hour later, Jace and Franklin entered the offices of Hanson, Allen, & Chase. He’d decided to bring his assistant along to prove to Carrie that he had her best interests in mind. If she were truly worried about her job, he’d keep their interactions about the case completely professional and grant her wishes to meet only at her office.

  “Anna,” Jace said, giving the receptionist a smile when he and his assistant approached the front desk.

  “Oh, hello Mr. Holt,” she said, glancing from Jace to Franklin and widening her eyes.

  “This is my assistant,” he said, motioning to Franklin. “Franklin Snow.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Snow.” Anna blushed.

  “Call me Franklin.” His assistant gave Anna a wink, and Jace bit back a smile. Franklin really was a younger version of himself, but one without a Carrie Simmons in his life. How boring that must be.

  “Jace?” Carrie appeared by his side, her face pale and drawn. It looked like she hadn’t slept the night before, and it pained him to know it was probably his fault. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Carrie, I’d like you to meet my assistant.” Jace gestured to the man by his side. “This is Franklin. He’ll be accompanying me during our meetings from here on out.”

  Carrie winced but covered it quickly with a polite smile. “Lovely to meet you, Franklin. May I ask what this is about?”

  “Can we speak privately?” Jace raised his eyebrows and looked around him. Paralegals and associates were coming and going, often casting furtive glances at the recognizable billionaire with question marks in their eyes.

  “Is Conference Room B free, Anna?” Carrie asked the receptionist, her voice clipped. Jace wished he could read her expression, but she’d shut it down as soon as he’d introduced his assistant. He’d thought it would have the opposite effect.

  “No one is scheduled to be there for another half hour.” Anna glanced at Franklin one last time before turning her attention back to her computer.

  “That should be enough time, shouldn’t it, Jace?” Carrie motioned for the two men to follow as she twisted in her heels.

  Jace frowned, but followed her stiff back as she led them down the hushed hallway and into the dim conference room. Outside, Jace could see the heavy snow falling from a gray sky before settling on the streets below. Carrie flicked on the lights and eased into one of the chairs, motioning for Franklin and Jace to join her.

  “So, what can I do for you?” she asked. Her cold politeness hurt him more than her usual stormy anger ever had.

  “We had a phone call today from the NYPD. Franklin can confirm.” Jace turned to his assistant who gave a nod. “They’ve asked me to go into the station and give a statement.”

  Carrie’s face flashed with concern, and Jace held back his satisfaction. At least she still cared enough to be worried about his fate. “Did they say when?”

  “Franklin took the call, so I didn’t speak to them directly, but they didn’t specify anything to him.”

  “Okay.” Carrie nodded before standing and pacing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that were covered in a thin layer of frost. “Don’t go today. Wait until tomorrow. Let me go and talk to your alibi before you do anything.”

  Jace frowned and found himself standing from the table. “You’re going to go speak with Madison.”

  Carrie paused to stare out the window, keeping her tense back trained in his direction. “I think it’s best if I speak to her before the police do.”

  “Well, then I’m coming with you,” Jace said, pressing his palms flat on the oak table.

  “No, you need to go back to your office. Or to the hotel.” Carrie turned, crossing her arms. “Or are you worried what she’ll tell me?”

  “I didn’t have sex with her, Carrie.” He glanced at Franklin but decided it didn’t matter what his assistant overheard.

  “But you thought about it,” Carrie said in a whisper. “That’s the kind of man you are.”

  “I thought about it until I realized she wasn’t you.” His voice was low, a growl.

  Franklin cleared his throat. “Sir, if I may interrupt. I do agree with Miss Simmons on this one. You shouldn’t be seen visiting your alibi just before you go into questioning at the police station.”

  Jace fell silent, a quiet rage simmering just below the surface. He liked Franklin, but he didn’t like someone speaking back to him, no matter who he was. No matter if he was right.

  “Thank you, Franklin.” Carrie lifted her chin. “That settles it. I’m going alone.”

  Carrie hurried out of the office, turning up her coat collar against the snow spitting down from the steel sky. Jace had surprised her today, coming into the office like she’d asked, bringing his assistant with him as if he actually intended to conduct a professional meeting with her. And he had. He’d come to tell her about the call from the station, and he’d let her go without trying to shove her against the wall and rip her clothes off.

  She shivered. Even when he’d sat there being calm and professional, she hadn’t been able to stop t
hinking about his mouth on her throat and his hands on her thighs. How was she ever going to get through this case—and win—if she couldn’t get her head to stop swimming with thoughts of Jace?

  Carrie glanced up at the numbers on the pre-war walk-ups she passed. Finally, she reached the apartment building that Jace had identified as Madison’s home. She felt nervous as she rang the bell. She was about to come face to face with one of Jace’s infamous flings, even if he’d said the situation hadn’t gone further than a drink. The knowledge that he’d been here, intending to do whatever he wanted to this girl’s body…she couldn’t bear to imagine it.

  After a few moments, an elderly man opened the door, shifted his glasses, and peered at Carrie in confusion. “Yes?”

  “I’m here to see a girl named Madison. She lives in Apartment 2B.” Carrie shook her head and glanced around her at the snow-dusted buildings. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d rung her bell, but I must have pushed the wrong button.”

  The man frowned, crinkling his entire face. “There’s no Madison here. I live in 2B. Have for about fifteen years. It’s all rent-controlled and everything, thank goodness. Can’t imagine paying full price for one of these fancy Manhattan apartments, can you? You sure you have the right place?”

  “I must be mistaken.” Carrie glanced around, taking slow steps down the icy steps. “Sorry to disturb you.”

  The man shut the door behind him and Carrie checked the number on the house again. Fifteen. It was the building Jace had told her about, and despite his hesitance to share the information about his alibi, she knew Jace wasn’t one to get details incorrect.

  Just as she began to back away from the building, something shuffled behind her and strong arms encircled her neck. Alarm flittered through her, and she coughed out a yell just as a rough palm pressed against her mouth. Hot tears filled her eyes as she jerked against her captor. The corners of her vision turned black, and her nose filled with something sharp and wet and sickly sweet.