by Eve Langlais
The door swung open and he flicked on the lights. It looked the same: beautiful. Rich woodwork, creamy walls, jewel-toned accents. A small dining nook, a modern kitchen. His couch was comfortable, she knew that for a fact, and his bedroom was only a few steps down the hallway past a spare he kept for his sister’s occasional visits.
Tom pulled his jacket off their joined hands. The cuffs glinted in the lamplight. He looked at them and at her, his eyes half-shuttered, drowsy as if they’d already enjoyed the sex she’d been imagining during the trip to his home. She felt off balance, not at all what she’d planned. He’d brought her home. What the hell would he do now?
He reached out to stroke the curve of her cheek and she leaned into it. She tried to keep her mind on the reason she was here—the investigation against her company—but he distracted her, made her forget. She wanted him. Right now the gentle lovemaking they used to enjoy would be the perfect foil to the uncertainty and crazy ups and downs her life was taking.
But he leaned in, took possession of her lips. That’s what it was, possession, ownership. He controlled the kiss, leading her deeper and deeper into complete abandonment of her primary goals until she was focusing only on the way he’d snaked an arm around her, pressing her against the hard length of his body and the growing erection in his jeans. His tongue invaded her mouth, tangling with hers and tasting her desire as though she were the elixir of life.
This take-charge man was enough to make her want to surrender, and that was something she needed to stop. She pulled back slightly. Time to tease. “Is that a nightstick in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” she quipped.
“Do I need one? You’re already in cuffs, and you’ve been very naughty, Selene.”
She shivered at the depth of desire in his voice, dropping his beautiful tenor to a base and sending tingles straight from the skin on her neck to the stiff peaks of her nipples. Teasing him suddenly felt like playing with fire. He gripped her ass with one hand—the one connected to her wrist with that wicked band of metal. She responded to his need with a want that mirrored his. One arm controlled by his actions, she used her other to stroke the thick muscles of his back. Her pussy throbbed, a focal point of heat, and she rubbed against him, more than willing to show her eagerness to move to his bedroom. So much for control.
He slid his free hand between them, slipping his fingers under the hem of her dress and up her thigh to stroke the edge of her thong. She moaned, just a little, a small sound she couldn’t seem to stop. She lifted up on her tip-toes so he could access her easier and was rewarded when he ran his fingertips over the wet silk and her swollen clit.
She tried to return the favor, letting go of his back so she could rub the heel of her hand over the thick line of his cock, but he surprised her by letting go of her and backing away. In one quick move he spun her around, and she heard the snick of metal on metal.
Instead of releasing her as she’d expected, he freed himself, caught her other hand and snapped it into the other half of the cuff.
“What the hell are you doing?” She tugged at the cuffs, now secure behind her back and she hopped a bit in her heels, off balance as she turned to face him. “Let me out right now.”
“Like I said, Selene, you’ve been a naughty girl.” He took a step toward her and she retreated, backing up from the hot look in his eyes until her knees hit the edge of his leather couch. “It’s my duty to see that you get what you deserve.”
“What?” Totally confused she watched him pull his shirt from his pants, clearly making himself comfortable. She sucked in a quick breath when he unbuttoned it and pulled it completely off, tossing the dress shirt across the matching leather recliner. He had a light undershirt on, one that clung to every curve of muscle across his abs and chest. He was even more cut than he’d been last year; someone had obviously been spending some time in the gym. A small part of her wondered if that was what he’d done after they’d broken up to relieve his frustration. She’d gone out with a dozen men and pretended to have the time of her life, but always spent her nights alone. Frustration had become a way of life.
Not that anyone who knew her would believe that. Even she had a hard time accepting the fact she hadn’t actually slept with anyone for nearly a year. No wonder being near him was making her question herself.
“You have been naughty, haven’t you, Selene?”
He took another step toward her and, with nowhere else to go, she sat down abruptly. He put one hand on the leather on either side of her, leaning in as she pressed back against the cushions. She swallowed hard. He smelled so good, the scent of his aftershave and his skin reminding her that some things didn’t change. She still wanted him. But she wasn’t playing whatever this game was.
* * *
A sharp pain shot up from his foot. Tom jerked backward, then realized what she’d done. The little vixen had tried to impale him, stomping on his foot with her heel; she certainly would have done some real damage had she still been standing. All hesitation gone, he caught her by the waist and twisted as he sat on the leather couch, pulling her with him and over his knees as he settled into the deep padding of the seat. She squeaked a quick protest, but it was too late for that.
Her chest pressed against the cushion beside him and her ass tilted up toward the ceiling. Her legs flailed a little, the lethal spikes unable to reach him from the angle he’d placed her in. With her hands bound behind her he could easily hold her in place with one hand. Perfect. He laid a hand across her ass and she immediately froze. He grinned. She’d kill him later, but right now she deserved what she got. He lifted his hand and gave her a quick, hard smack.
She shrieked. She got another smack. She wiggled like crazy and got another. She responded by bucking her hips, giving him a view that made his heart pound. What she didn’t do was tell him to stop. The edge of her dress crept upward and he flipped the material up the rest of the way to expose the creamy flesh of her backside and the thin, black line of her thong. The luscious curves of her buttocks weren’t even pink. He’d never hurt her, but the sight was enough to bring beads of sweat to his forehead. He swallowed hard.
Selene swore, vulgar language that turned him on even as it shocked him a bit. He gave her another smack. This time his hand connected with bare skin. She wiggled harder, so he took the opportunity to rub his palm over her, cupping her curves and tracing her thong. His cock strained against the confines of his jeans and she continued to squirm all over it.
Giving her the spanking she needed just might kill him.
“Damn it, Tom!”
He gave her a little slap, and when she tried to press her ass down away from his hand he followed her, slipping a finger past the tiny barrier of her thong to test the wet heat of her pussy. She felt like heaven. She gasped and tilted her hips, inviting him to probe deeper. He dragged his fingertip along her wet lips, once, twice. Then he gave her another spank. She moaned.
He’d been right. There’d been a lot of time since their break up to think about what might have gone wrong. One thing he’d realized was that she needed more from him than he’d given her. He’d treated her like a princess, let her get away with too much. She needed a firm hand in the bedroom along with the gentle loving. She’d never found what she was looking for in the dozen or so men that he knew about. And now she was back in his hands, so to speak.
But did he want her for more than sex? Getting involved any deeper would be monumentally stupid.
He rubbed her pussy again and she strained to meet his fingers. Her position only allowed so much movement, and he thanked god for that. Much more and he’d come in his pants. He followed up the caress with another spank, alternating until he felt her teeter on the edge of orgasm. It hadn’t taken long. But then, she’d always been responsive in bed. He gave her three more quick spanks and she trembled, clearly needing only a little something more. Too bad. This was her real punishment. And his too, unfortunately.
He rolled her off his lap, not quite dum
ping her onto her knees on the rug. She looked up at him, surprise and vulnerability opening her beautiful blue eyes wide. Her lips trembled slightly. Good god. He stood, dug in his pocket for the cuff keys and set them on the small table between the couch and chair. He needed a little distance. He looked at her again, and caught her staring at the keys.
For a second he debated taking them with him. Keeping her cuffed while he pleasured them both. But it was too much. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t let her in, and that’s what he’d be doing if he had sex with her again. There was no kidding himself. She’d sneak right back into his heart and then, after her little problem was solved, she’d slip away again.
Chapter Three
As soon as Tom stalked toward the kitchen, Selene twisted around to grab the keys off the side table. Her heart pounded. She didn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry as she worked to take off the cuffs. He’d spanked her! And then he’d taken her so close, so close it would have only taken another stroke of his fingers to make her come. Then he’d left her that way. Left her wanting and mad as hell.
Whether she was more angry at him for the spanking, or the leaving, or at herself for responding to the whole mess, she’d figure out later. Right now she was going to get the hell out of his apartment. She’d find some way to save the company on her own.
“I’ll look over the case. Give me the warrant.”
Selene had one cuff off; it dangled from her wrist as she glanced over to where Tom stood in the kitchen behind the granite island. He’d pulled a long-necked beer from the fridge and cracked it open. He watched her and took a deep gulp of the brew.
There was no way he wasn’t as turned on as she was right now. She’d felt his cock, so hard in his jeans while he spanked her that she could have traced every vein if she’d been able to get her hands on it. But there he was, cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had bothered him at all. It was a challenge and she knew it. She should just ignore him and walk away.
But she’d never been any good at giving up.
“So,” she said, resigned to the huskiness in her voice, but glad for what it might do to Tom, “is this your version of good cop, bad cop?” She watched him take another hard swallow of beer. Whatever the hell that had been on the couch—payback, probably, for dumping him—a part of her had to admit she’d deserved it. But he still wanted her, and she felt a little flutter in her stomach at the truth of that thought. “Because I’m wondering which one left me wanting over here.”
She stood, straightened her dress. He was watching, so she ran her hands over her hips. She stepped around the couch, fighting the urge to sit down as her knees wobbled slightly. Damn him. She walked up to the opposite side of the island, plucked the beer from his hand and took a long sip. The dangling handcuff clinked against the glass bottle.
“Selene—”
“The warrant is in my purse. The rest of the paperwork is at the office. There’s a woman detective, I think her name is Steeves, that you can contact with questions. I’m sure you can clear this up in no time. Then we can spend some more time…getting reacquainted.” And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you…
“It’s not like clearing a bloody parking ticket,” he growled. The low sound caught at her, sent flutters through her belly. Don’t go there.
“Yes, well, you wouldn’t do that for me at all, as I recall.” She set the bottle down with a clunk. “But this time we both know that this investigation is crap. Host Airlines is clean. You know it.”
“I know you took off without saying goodbye.”
“So this is about how we ended things last time.”
He looked away, sighed. “We didn’t end things. You just left.”
“And you’re going to hold that against me forever? I’m sorry. I guess I should have left a note.” She turned on her heel. To hell with him. She’d find another cop, or a lawyer. She didn’t need any more emotional scenes. Maybe she had acted a bit rudely last year. But no way was she letting him know how hard it had been to leave, to walk away after a night of gentle pleasure that screamed of commitment. She couldn’t have stayed, not even when she’d looked at his beautiful naked body, exposed and vulnerable in his sleep, the relaxed lines of his face sending soft flutters to her heart. Not after he’d told her he loved her.
Men always betrayed you when you let them in. Look at what had happened to her mother. After fifteen years of marriage, her father had simply walked away. She’d never forget her mother’s tears or how much it had hurt them both when he wouldn’t even visit Selene as a child. Better to be the one doing the walking than to be the one left behind.
“Selene, stop.”
She paused. He was right behind her. He stood so close that she could feel the heat from his body. Feel his breath on the back of her neck.
“Just forget all that. Let me help you.”
A small smile tilted the corners of her mouth upward. She’d known he’d come around. They all did. But it was hard to feel smug when relief nearly brought her to her knees. She needed him, and she could admit it to herself, even if admitting it to him again was out of the question.
She leaned back into him and felt the slightest hesitation before he lowered his lips to her neck. He kissed her there and then dragged his lips up to her earlobe. She shivered, unable to suppress the reaction while her pussy was still soaked with frustrated desire.
“But there’s a price.”
He wanted to play. This she understood, even if it made a knot in her stomach. No one did anything for free. That was another thing she’d learned after her mother had died half a dozen years after her father left. She’d died of heartbreak, but Selene was the one who was left alone to suffer the consequences and fend for herself.
“You want me to bribe you after all?” she teased. Thank god she wasn’t facing him.
“What…I wasn’t…” His voice was gruff. “I don’t exactly trust you not to take off in the middle of things. I want you to give yourself into my custody while I investigate you…and your little problem.”
“In your custody?” She was not going to look at him.
“Here at my house. You’ll stay with me this week.”
Her stomach fluttered. “You want me to be your prisoner?”
He paused and then leaned in close to her ear, his words whispering warm breath against her ear. “If you need to be.”
She sucked in a breath. There was no mistaking he wanted to play a game that might be more than a little dangerous. Exciting. Her heartbeat quickened and she wondered if he could hear it, even feel the heat as it rushed through her. His possessive tone and the little spanking he’d given her had made it perfectly clear what he wanted.
The surprise was how much she suddenly wanted it too.
* * *
Dear god, he was going straight to a lock-up in hell, and Selene was driving the paddy wagon. What was he thinking? His cock had finally taken over his brain, and his heart was going to be in serious trouble paying the fines.
Selene turned to look at him. There was color in her cheeks, something he’d have sworn wasn’t possible—she was blushing. The look in her eyes was hard to read.
“Yes.”
Immediately he started to apologize, to take back his crazy proposal. “Selene—”
“Here’s the warrant.” She pulled the papers out of her purse and handed them to him. “I have to go home first, take care of some things. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Tom let her go, just watched her turn and walk out the door without saying a word. Then he ran a hand through his hair. “Holy fuck.” Tomorrow he would have to poke his nose where it wasn’t wanted, into another detective’s case. And he would be holding the chief suspect captive, even if willingly, bound in his bed. His cock twitched at the thought.
He glanced through the papers in his hand. Immediately something caught his eye and he re-read the paragraph twice. Something wasn’t right. Stalking over to the window he picked up the cordless phone and dialed
a number. While he waited for it to ring, he looked out the window, barely nudging aside the blind. Selene’s unmistakable figure climbed into a taxi on the street below.
For months he’d missed her, gone through the gamut of anger and grief over her betrayal. Then he’d spent months thinking about what he would do if he did get his hands on her again. The spanking had been one of his milder fantasies. And now she’d signed on for days of being alone with him.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Jack. It’s Barker. Can you look into something for me?” Tom spoke casually with his confidant at airport customs. He’d used Jack’s information a number of times, and it had always been accurate. Of course, he paid for that accuracy. Selene definitely owed him. A few minutes later he hung up. Selene’s taxi was long gone, and the apartment seemed more silent than ever. He stepped away from the window and collapsed onto the couch, his head in his hands.
His balls ached. He popped his jean button and rolled down the zipper. His cock sprang free. Fuck. He couldn’t think straight. He circled his cock with his fist, groaning aloud at the immediate pleasure. Selene had never looked hotter than she had tonight, bound and helpless in his lap. She’d liked it, too—that much was perfectly clear considering how she’d creamed as he spanked her and stroked her.
He pumped his cock, replaying the feeling of his hand smacking her lightly across the ass and the wet feel of her pussy lips swelling with need with each spank. Having her here wouldn’t be so bad. He stroked himself harder, jerking his cock roughly. The look in her eyes tonight had hinted at a vulnerability that he’d never seen in her before. He’d been so right about the firm hand. He’d take that tiny chink in her armor, spread it wide and open her up.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He’d been rock hard since they’d arrived in his apartment. He pumped himself faster and called out in release as he came.
