“Was he caught?” he asked.
Karina shook her head. “I was… Let’s just say I wasn’t a model teenager. The DA wouldn’t touch it even if they had found the guy because of my history and police record.”
“You were a minor, Kay.”
“Yes,” she said as she frowned up at him. “But that’s how it works. I know it and so do you. I was considered an unreliable witness. No one would’ve prosecuted based on just my testimony, and we didn’t know of any other victims.”
She shrugged and stared back across the room as unwanted and uncomfortable memories flooded through her mind. “My parents thought I’d brought it on myself. I had always been a major disappointment to them, and this was no different. My uncle took me in after it happened and moved me with him to Virginia Beach. He’d been through a battle with his own demons related to being a Navy SEAL, so I think he saw a little of himself in me. He understood and got me into counseling. If it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure I would’ve survived that nightmare.”
“Is that why you ended up a Domme?” Brayden asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t have sex for a long time after the attack, probably close to four years. It was while I was in college that I met Miranda. She was a Domme and introduced me to the lifestyle. It was the only way I felt safe enough to have sex.” She looked up at him and gave him a look of disgust. “Pretty sad, huh?”
“No, not sad,” he replied firmly. “Understandable. But have you never had sex outside a BDSM club?”
She sucked on her lower lip and shook her head.
“There’s more,” she whispered.
Brayden narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean more?”
Taking a deep breath, Karina stood and turned to face him. As she unbuttoned her shirt, she gave him a firm look. “If you say anything about this, I’ll shoot you.”
Brayden frowned, but nodded as he sat back and waited. Karina finished with the buttons, then opened her shirt so he could see her stomach. His eyes widened at the scars that covered her flesh.
He leaned forward and touched one with the tip of his finger. “What the hell?”
“Some of it is from a single tail. Some is from a box cutter.”
His gaze lifted to hers. “Where else are they?”
She turned and lifted her shirt so he could see her back. Brayden feathered his fingers over the scars that crisscrossed her skin. “Son of a bitch,” he murmured.
“They cover the upper part of my butt, as well,” she said softly as she turned and showed him her hand and the curved and jagged scar that ran between her thumb and forefinger. “I did this sliding my hand through the handcuff. The skin was just barely hanging by the time I got to the ER. Once I had one hand free, I was able to use a hairpin to pick the lock and free my other one. I suppose that’s the one good thing my jaded past gave me…the ability to escape.”
Brayden gently touched the scar, and Karina had the oddest desire to cuddle within his embrace again, just like she’d done on the plane.
“Did you see his face?” he asked.
“No. He wore a leather face mask. It even covered his hair. About the only things I can tell you are the size of his dick and his body type, but that could’ve changed over the last ten years. He could be heavier, thinner.”
Taking a deep breath, Karina unzipped her jeans and opened them so he could see the side of her hip. “Look familiar?” she whispered.
Brayden’s eyes zeroed in on the bite mark scar, and his eyes narrowed in anger. “It’s the same as… Damn it, Karina!”
“I didn’t realize it until you talked about the bite marks on the other bodies.”
He stood and glared down at her. “Why the hell didn’t you say something?”
She scowled and snapped sarcastically, “And have you act like you are now?”
He sighed in aggravation as he dragged his hand down his face. “Do you think this is the same guy?”
She took a step back, surprised at the anger emanating from his eyes. “If it is, he’s gotten a whole lot more brutal.”
“Or maybe he would’ve done all that to you if you hadn’t gotten away,” Brayden snapped. “You shouldn’t be doing this case, Karina.”
“I meant what I said. If you say anything, I’ll shoot you,” she snarled softly her own anger rising at the tone of his voice. “We don’t know it’s the same guy. The bite mark could be a coincidence—”
“Or a signature!”
“You’re not having me thrown off this case, damn it! Shandra was my best friend. And on top of that, it’s doubtful the agency would be able to find someone else willing to do this, and you know it.”
Brayden shoved his hand through his short hair as he paced around the table. “This goes against my better judgment, and if the director finds out about it, it will be both our heads.” He stopped and frowned at her. Karina adjusted her jeans and top to cover herself back up. “What if it is the same guy? What if he recognizes you?”
“Why would he? When I was seventeen, I had jet black hair and Goth make-up. I wouldn’t even recognize me back then.”
Brayden’s lips twitched. “Goth, huh?”
She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t make fun.”
He snorted and began to once more pace around the table, but this time in the other direction. “I wasn’t gonna.”
“You’re making me nervous with all that pacing. Would you stop?” she snapped.
He stared at her wide-eyed. “I’m making you nervous? You’re making me nervous. I don’t like this, Kay. Not at all.”
“Like I do?” she cried. “I could be hunting down the man who destroyed me ten years ago. I may have to come face to face with a man who still gives me nightmares.”
She covered her mouth and drew in a deep breath through her nose. She needed to calm down before she started crying, and that was something she refused to do again. She’d done that enough on the plane. She wasn’t one to resort to tears, but it seemed like today, that was all she could do.
Brayden walked over and tried to pull her into his arms, but she backed away from him. “I worked so hard to bury this, to forget. And now I’m right back in the middle of it again.”
She dropped onto the couch and stared up at Brayden.
Chapter Six
Brayden watched fear cloud Karina’s eyes. He wanted to force her to let him hold her. She was so damned stubborn.
He didn’t like this at all. She shouldn’t be working this case, but they were already here, already in place.
Brayden squatted in front of Karina and put his hands on her knees. Karina was a strong woman, but right now she seemed so vulnerable and scared. It was a Karina he wasn’t used to seeing, but at the same time, was so unbelievably attracted. He wanted to hold her, protect her, make the sadness in her eyes disappear.
“Are you going to be able to do this, Kay?” he asked. “Be tied up? Dominated?”
Her dark, almost frightened gaze met his. “I know you. I trust you. I can do this. You just have to go slow. Treat me like you do every other scared sub.”
“Yeah, but those subs are afraid of the unknown and sometimes even themselves. You’re fighting a demon from your past. It’s a little different.”
She nodded. “I know, but I trust you.”
“Do you?”
He gripped her wrists in both his hands. When she tried to pull away, he tightened his hold. He watched her closely—the flush darkening her cheeks, the hitch in her breathing, the dilating of her pupils.
“Just this little bit makes you react,” he whispered. “Am I scaring you?”
She swiped her pink tongue over her bottom lip, making his heart skip a beat. Karina was one of those women who sometimes intimidated men without even trying. Gorgeous, strong, and independent, she drew looks of admiration wherever she went. The male subs at the club adored her, especially the masochists, because one thing Mistress Kay could do better than most was mingle pleasure and pain in a way that had them begging for re
lease.
But now she would be on the receiving end. How did that make her feel…really?
“No,” she whispered. “You’re not scaring me.”
He glanced down at the ring on her finger. It looked good against her skin, the stone just the right size for her hand. In the back of his mind he wondered what it would be like for her to wear that ring for real.
“We’re supposed to be engaged.” He raised his gaze back to hers. “Are you going to be okay with me touching, kissing, and even fucking you?”
She drew in a slow breath and nodded. Brayden smiled slightly. She didn’t appear quite as sure of herself as she did a second ago.
“What are your hard limits, Kay?” he asked softly.
She shrugged. “All of it?”
Brayden’s lips twitched just a little at the tiny spark of humor in her eyes. Now there was the Karina he knew.
He shook his head. “Sorry, kitten, but you don’t get to deny me everything.”
“I really don’t know, Brayden. Let’s just take it one day at a time. Start light, then work your way up. If it bothers me, I have a safe word. Deal?”
Brayden nodded once. “Deal.”
“Can I have my hands back?”
He bit softly at her palm, then kissed the scar covering her hand. “I think I would prefer to nibble a little,” he teased as he moved up the inside of her arm.
The purely evil smile that tugged at Karina’s lips should’ve been a warning, but Brayden ignored it until her fingers grabbed his earlobe and twisted, catching him by surprise.
“Ow,” he snapped, letting go of her wrists and fighting the chuckle that threatened to take the anger out of his voice. “Damn sadist.”
Karina giggled. “I did ask nicely.”
He pointed a finger at her. “You can’t pull that shit at the club.”
Her confident smile was back as she rested against the couch and crossed her legs. “Who says? I am supposed to be a sassy sub, remember?”
“Too sassy, and you’ll get your ass busted,” Brayden drawled. He stood and then leaned down so his face was close to hers. “And you know how much I like to spank tight little asses.”
Brayden dropped back onto the sofa next to her. She crossed her arms and eyed him out of the corner of her eyes. “My ass isn’t all that little.”
“No, but it’s tight.”
He grinned and nudged her with his elbow. His ease faded at the thought of her being in danger. He knew Karina could take care of herself. She was a well-trained officer who could fight, probably better than he could, but he still worried. He was a Dom. He would always worry.
“One last time, Kay,” he murmured. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Would you stop asking me that already?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Yes or no, Karina.”
She sighed, then said firmly. “Yes. Now get out of my room so I can go to bed.”
“Fine,” he drawled as he pushed off the couch and headed to his own room.
Brayden swallowed at the sight of Karina in a leather pleated skirt that just barely covered her ass. A matching black leather vest covered her torso and squeezed her breasts up and out. Her fair skin glowed against the black, and her thick strawberry blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders in soft curls he was dying to bury his hands in.
Black stiletto sandals completed her ensemble and made her legs look incredibly long and defined. God, she looked good.
“You’re just missing one thing,” he murmured, then held up his hand so she could see what dangled from his fingers.
Her eyes narrowed, and her lips formed a stubborn, firm line. “You are not going to collar me,” she growled.
“Yes. I am,” he replied.
“The engagement ring isn’t enough?”
“Nope.” Brayden walked around to her back. “Raise your hair,” he ordered.
Karina sighed and lifted her hair, holding it on top of her head with one hand. “You’re just loving this, aren’t you?”
Brayden smiled as he wrapped the silver choker around her neck and closed the clasp. He placed a kiss at the top of her spine and grinned as he traced the tip of his fingers over the goose bumps that covered her skin.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about.” He pulled her hand away from her hair, forcing her to release her grip. Her curls fell around her shoulders and down her back. He brushed his fingers through the soft strands as he spoke. “The collar suits you.”
“The color might. The meaning does not.” She turned to face him and tugged at the collar as though it choked her. “When did you get this, anyway?”
He removed her fingers from the collar with a grin. “It’s the collar I use at the club on the new subs to show they’re not quite ready for someone else’s attention.”
She twisted her lips. “So, yet another piece of borrowed jewelry.”
Brayden fought his amusement at her impish attitude. He had a feeling Karina was going to be a handful, and he looked forward to it more than he probably should. He kept having to remind himself this was all for show.
“Your ass is going to look so good with my hand print on it,” he drawled.
Karina scrunched her nose at him, almost making him laugh. “Save it for the club.”
He crossed his arms. “Save it for the club, Master.”
Her mouth dropped open, then closed, then dropped open again. “Oh my God! You are not going to make me call you Master.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What do your subs call you, Kay?”
She scowled. “Mistress.”
“That’s right, kitten. And I’m who?”
“You son of a… Fine. Master.”
She turned to grab her coat. Brayden smiled as he let his gaze travel over her long legs.
“This is going to be so much fun,” he murmured with amusement.
Karina scowled at him over her shoulder. “Enjoy it while you can, Dom.”
He strolled up behind her and smoothed his hand up the side of her thigh. When his fingers slid under her skirt, she tried to jerk away, but Brayden grabbed her arm and held her in place.
“You can’t do that, Kay,” he whispered.
“We’re not at the club.”
Her voice sounded just a bit breathless.
“I know,” he whispered. “But you have to get used to my touch.”
He brushed his lips over the side of her neck, pausing briefly over her pounding pulse. “Are you nervous?” he asked, then gently bit her flesh in the hollow where her shoulder met her neck.
“A little, but probably not for the reason you think.”
She shivered, and then drew in a slow breath, as though to calm her nerves. He feathered his palm over her hip, smiling slightly as the cheek of her ass quivered beneath his touch.
“It’ll be fine, kitten.” He slapped her butt cheek, making her gasp in surprise. “Just remember when we get there, you can’t jerk when I touch you.”
“I know, but try to give me a little warning first. And stop slapping my ass.”
He snorted and gave her a gentle shove toward the door. “No.”
By the time they arrived at the club, Karina was ready to jump out of her skin. The whole ride over, Brayden had teased her leg, slowly running his hand up and down the inside of her thigh. She would push him away only for him to return.
She glared, and he just grinned back. “You have to get used to my touch, kitten.”
“Stop calling me that,” she growled, although deep down she actually thought it was cute. “Why kitten, anyway?”
“Because you’re a wildcat.” His smile widened. “Especially at the club.”
Karina rolled her eyes, but inside she could feel herself blushing. Had Brayden watched her like she’d watched him?
She climbed from the car and wrapped the coat a little tighter around her body. Now that the sun was setting, and they’d ventured from the city, the temperature had dropped dramatically. The cold wind blew up her l
egs and across her ass, making her shiver.
She took a step forward and wobbled slightly on the gravel. Brayden was there to steady her and offer his arm. She smiled gratefully and held onto him as they strolled toward the front door of the massive mansion.
She should’ve told him how handsome he looked in his black fitted slacks and deep blue shirt. The color really made his eyes pop, but she had a feeling if she said anything like that, she’d never hear the end of it. Brayden already knew how good he looked. He didn’t need her to tell him.
They hadn’t talked a lot today. They’d each been studying the files and what the FBI had on their unsub. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much.
Maybe it was gut instinct. Maybe it was the cuts across the first victim’s stomach that resembled hers. Or the identical bite marks on all of them. Whatever the reason, Karina now believed, without a shadow of a doubt, their serial killer and her attacker were one and the same. That was a thought that scared the hell out of her.
“Are you ready?” he asked as they stepped through the front door.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she grumbled.
Master Delacroix smiled a welcome from behind the reception desk. Just like yesterday, his light brown eyes sparked with mischief and humor. His white silk shirt clung to his wide shoulders and was open down the front, exposing a muscular chest with just a smattering of coarse hair. Subs probably flocked to him like bees to honey.
“Good evening, Master Brayden.”
Brayden nodded. “Master Delacroix.”
He turned his gaze to Karina before letting it drop lazily along her body. “Karina… Very nice.”
Karina smiled slightly at the appraisal. She was used to Doms and subs alike looking her over. “Thank you, Master Delacroix.”
Despite Delacroix’s obvious Dom demeanor, she had a feeling he would be an interesting person to hang out with.
“This is one of our receptionists, Candy. She’ll take your coats and check your badges.”
Karina handed her coat and badge to the young submissive standing beside the desk. The young girl smiled and said, “If he gives you any free time, come find me, and I’ll introduce you around.”
Topping the Domme (Crime and Punishment) Page 4
