by Dakota Trace
“Pretty good, White Boy,” she sassed him, pushing past him to go back into the condo. “Where does Jude keep his tools?” Heading for the kitchen sink, she poked under it, before rummaging through the drawers on either side. She looked up when neither he nor Sean moved. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get your butts in here and help me.”
Sean caught his arm as Jackson moved to give his woman or soon-to-be woman a hand. “Is she for real? Does she realize how many protocols this breaks?”
A slow grin crossed Jackson’s face. “Oh, yeah, a hundred percent real.” He leaned forward. “And somehow I don’t think she cares about your protocols.”
* * * *
Standing back as the men removed the plywood and propped it against the wall beside the balcony doors, Rena grabbed a nearby hand towel and some duct tape from her tote. Jackson dusted off his hands before stepping back.
“Okay, now what?”
She held up the duct tape. “You let me turn you into a mummy and then we test my theory.”
Cocking his head at her, he gave her a look. “And you honestly expect me to let you tie me up? I thought the shoe was on the other foot when it came to bondage, ma peekôn?”
Propping a hand on one hip, she raised her eyebrows. “And you need to get your mind out of the gutter, Jackson Levough.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “I have plans in less than two hours, so quit your damned stalling and get over here.” She paused a moment. “On second thought, never mind. I’ll use Detective Anderson’s arm instead.”
“Afraid to touch me, Rena?” Jackson’s grin was wicked. “Or afraid you won’t be able to control yourself if you did?”
It was just like the damned hormone ridden man to think that way. “No, Romeo. His arms look like they’re a bit longer than yours. If he can’t reach it, then I doubt you’ll be able to.”
“I’m game,” Sean interrupted, ignoring Jackson’s responding scowl. He shrugged as he stepped forward. “So sue me. I’m curious to see if she’s right.” Sean held out his arm. “I’m assuming since the lock is on the right hand side, you’ll want to wrap my right arm, since I’ll be reaching in from outside?”
Amusement filled her. “Very correct, Watson.” Folding one tea towel in half, she wrapped it around his arm, securing it with a couple of strips of gray tape. “There. Can you bend your arm?” Flexing it a couple of times, he nodded. “Good. Go outside and we’ll try this.”
As Sean positioned himself outside, Rena shut the door and locked it once more. Behind her, she felt Jackson’s presence. Ever since their near miss earlier, her body had been super-aware of him. The remembered flavor of his mouth from the one and only kiss they’d shared outside of this very building should’ve faded it, but it hadn’t.
“Okay. Reach through and try to unlock it, Sean.”
Reaching through the hole, Sean attempted to flip the lock. He did fine until he reached his elbow. A loud curse could be heard clearly as the glass sliced through the tea towel along the back side of his triceps, nicking him. The bright spot of blood had Rena calling a halt.
“Okay, Sean stop.” She unlocked the door and motioned for him to come in. “I don’t need you to slice yourself up anymore.”
“Thanks, I appreciate the concern.” Sean’s dry tone wasn’t lost on Rena.
“Oh, get in here and let me look at it. Men are all such big babies when it comes to cuts.” She turned to grab her tote and ran into Jackson, who already had her bag.
“I’ll take care of him.” The gritty tone had her eyes widening. Before she could protest, he leaned closer. “I can’t guarantee I won’t clock him if I see your hands on him again, Rena. Don’t push.”
She stared after him as he stepped around her to set the bag on the table in the breakfast nook. His hot and cold crap was driving her nuts. First he was the caring Dom, who wanted to heal her, and now he was possessive as hell. What the fuck is his deal?
As Sean joined him at the table, Rena slipped from the kitchen. The last thing she needed or wanted was a possessive man who wanted to take care of her. Rena MacAllister needed no man to care for her. She’d proven that when she’d walked out of Louis’s penthouse nearly a year ago. She was a strong woman who could and would take care of herself before letting a man have that much control over her life again. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Chapter Nine
Arriving at the hotel where Elizebetta and Dieter were staying with mere minutes to spare, Rena did a quick check of her make-up in the vanity mirror on the back of her sun visor. After leaving the kitchen, she’d done a quick walkthrough, paying attention to details of both Olivia’s master closet and the hope chest. Both had taken the majority of the perp’s anger. Rena could only conclude it was because of the BDSM items both contained.
“Someone is either seriously pissed off at Olivia or hates the BDSM world in general.” The utter destruction of everything in the master suite, which also smacked of the lifestyle, had horrified her. Even the bed had not come through unscathed. The shreds of what remained of the silk sheets had been dotted with both feathers from the pillows along with excrement. More specifically cat feces and urine. How the officers had even begun to think that it was human was beyond her. Cat excrement had such a unique stench to it.
Her watch beeped, reminding her she had places to be. “But enough of that. I’ll check in with Jude tomorrow after the lab confirms my suspicions.” Grabbing the folder on the seat next to her, she quickly exited the car before entering the rather elegant Hilton Orrington.
Rena paused, letting her eyes adjust to the dim interior, before heading to the desk. The young woman behind the counter gazed at her with such disdain, Rena wanted to deck her, but she forced herself to be polite. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Elizebetta Vayarti and Dieter Schmidt. I was told to meet them here.”
“Your name?”
“Rena MacAllister.”
The other woman’s brow smoothed out. “Of course, Ms. MacAllister. They warned me you’d be coming and asked if you’d join them for dinner. They’re dining in the Retro Lounge.” The woman nodded to the left. The woman snapped her fingers. Immediately a bell-hop appeared. “Please take this young woman to the Retro Lounge, William. She’s meeting the Vayarti party.”
“Of course, Mrs. Zilmuth.” The bellhop gave a quick nod as the woman disappeared through a door behind the counter.
“Rude bitch.” Rena said it loud enough she was sure the retreating woman heard, but she couldn’t care less. Just because Rena was still dressed casually didn’t mean she should be treated like crap.
Next to her, the bellhop suppressed his grin with difficulty. “If you’ll come with me, miss, I’ll show you the way.”
Following the bellhop, she was quickly shown to a table which had a good view of the stage area where it looked like a band was in the process of setting up. Elizebetta looked up as they approached, a strained but welcome smile on her face. The table was set for three and she noticed Dieter was missing. As soon as Rena sat, the woman launched into a rushed speech.
“Please, tell me you’ve signed the contract already. No matter what else occurs here you’re still working for me.” Elizebetta looked around quickly before taking Rena’s hand across the table, squeezing it tightly.
Rena frowned, not sure what had the woman so distressed. “I told you earlier on the phone that I had since you agreed to my stipulations. What’s going on, Elizebetta? Where’s Dieter?”
A relieved look crossed her face. “I…it’s…”
“What my dear mother is trying to say is that Dieter had to leave unexpectedly. An emergency board meeting, wasn’t it, Mother? One during which he is going to be conveniently handed his walking papers.” Sliding into the empty seat between Elizebetta and her, Louis gave her the indulgent smile which once upon a time had her creaming her panties, but now just made her nauseous.
“Louis.” Something inside of her froze at his appearance. Dressed in a grey silk Italian
-made suit with his dark hair firmly brushed in place with a touch of silver at the temples, he looked a bit older than he had the last time she’d seen him. His dark eyes assessed her coolly and a smirk appeared as if he found what he was seeing was lacking in substance. She suddenly felt cold all over and it had nothing to do with the air-conditioned lounge. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.” She glanced at Elizebetta. “You told me this had nothing to do with your son.”
“Foolish girl. This isn’t just about Vayarti Art, it’s also about my mother’s little ‘rebellion’. Of course I’d be involved. I control the purse strings and have since my father died. My mother can’t even open a checking account without my signature.” He leaned forward, placing his chin on his palm. “So what makes you think I’d ever approve of my mother hiring you? Especially for a gallery which she hasn’t gotten my approval for?”
“Louis Andre Vayarti!” Elizebetta’s face flushed. “I can’t believe you! It’s one thing for you to talk to me that way but quite another to Rena.”
Louis sighed. “Did you ever think that Rena might like it? She’s such a submissive little thing.”
Elizebetta froze, her eye pleading with Rena to tell her it wasn’t true. For the second time in less than ten minutes, Rena wanted to deck someone. She’d never spoken to nor was she aware of Elizebetta knowing about her son’s proclivities, or her possible involvement in them. As far as Rena was concerned what happened in her bedroom should stay there – or at the club. Never was it to be fodder for public consumption, which was where she and Louis differed.
“Rena? What’s he talking about? Are you honestly part of…that depravity?” Elizebetta pulled back – genuine concern in her eyes.
Narrowing her eyes at Louis, she wanted to kick his ass. She honestly liked the other woman and didn’t want to shatter her illusions of her son. While Elizebetta wasn’t a mean or spiteful woman, she was a God fearing one who followed his word to the letter, including the idea that sex was procreation. Or she had been until Dieter. She couldn’t hurt the woman or jeopardize her new job with her. She was honestly looking forward to helping set up the gallery and its security.
“I think what your son is trying to say is that I enjoy taking care of the man in my life, including catering to his needs. Isn’t that correct, Louis?” She gave him a look she knew he’d recognize. The “don’t fuck with Rena or you’ll be eating your balls” look.
He nodded. “Of course.” He took a sip of water from his goblet as the waiter arrived with his mother’s and his meal.
“Would you like to order, miss?” The waiter stood next to her.
“Thank you but I’m not hungry. But if I could get a cup of decaffeinated coffee with creamer, I would greatly appreciate it.”
“Of course.” The waiter left.
“Now back to the matter at hand.” Louis cut into his baked potato. “While my mother was hasty in offering you a contract, I do see some good has come from it.”
“Really?” She could hardly believe her ears.
“Yes. It gave me the chance to see you again. Perhaps while I’m in town cleaning up this mess my mother has caused, you might be agreeable to have dinner with me one night?”
Shocked horror nearly had her dropping the water goblet she been ready to drink out of. “Excuse me? Don’t you have a su – I mean aren’t you dating Sabella still?”
He gave her a cool smile. “No. She decided she was needed at home more than she needed me.”
Rena inwardly winced. Evidently the sub who’d replaced her had broken the ‘put nothing before Louis’ rule. “Nonsense!” Elizebetta retorted. “Her father had a heart attack, Louis. She was needed at home.”
He picked up his wine. “Regardless, she made her choice, so I made mine.” The jangle of a cell phone interrupted whatever else he’d been about to say. Pulling out the phone, he glanced down at the display. “I’m sorry I have to take this.” He stood. “I’ll be calling on you tomorrow, Rena. Don’t make me come looking for you.” Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd of incoming guests. As soon as he was gone from sight, she met Elizebetta’s eyes.
“Care to tell me what that’s all about?”
The woman crumpled her napkin. “Well, you deserve an explanation.” Then the story spilled out of her.
* * * *
Rena was just getting ready to crawl in between cool cotton sheets when her cell rang. Fighting the urge to toss the phone into the garbage, she picked it up- half expecting it to be Louis calling her. She hadn’t given him her private cell number but evidently as the owner of his mother’s cell, he had her number after making a quick call to the cell company. Instead of being her ex-master though, it was a number she was all too familiar with.
Picking up the phone, she answered it. “You know if it weren’t for the fact that you’d come over to check on me, Jackson, I’d have let the damn thing ring through to voicemail.”
He chuckled in her ear. “Oh you know me all too well, ma peekôn.”
“Is there a reason you called? Other than to harass me? It’s been a long night and all I want to do is go to bed.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you. You know I’ve imagined you in bed more than once. So what are you wearing?”
Rena was just tired enough to see the humor in the situation. A soft laugh escaped her. “Oh you’re gonna have to do better than that if you want me to engage in phone sex, White Boy. That line is older than the hills and almost as tired.”
“True. But it served its purpose,” he grudgingly admitted.
“What exactly was its purpose?” She crawled onto the hotel bed, squeezing the phone between her ear and shoulder as she settled back against her pillows.
“To hear you laugh.” A slight rustle bled through the phone. What the hell was he doing? If he thought he was going to jerk off to her voice, he had another thing coming.
“Well, mission accomplished. Good night.” She moved to disconnect when she heard his frustrated sigh.
“Don’t even think about hanging up on me, Rena.” The dark command seemed to sizzle through the phone connection. Instinctively she squeezed her thighs together in response, even as she dug her fingers into the bedding to keep from finding her own wetness. Dear Lord, she was no better than she had just mentally accused him of being. It wouldn’t be hard at all for her to come just from listening to him talk.
“Jackson, it’s after ten. I’ve just spent the last several hours calming down a client…” Which is why I decided to stay here instead of making the commute back across town to my place. “…and I have to work the morning shift at the mall. I need my sleep. So either tell me what the hell it is you want, or I’m hanging up regardless. You may be good, but even you can’t find me when I don’t want to be found.”
He actually had the audacity to laugh at her. “That’s ma peekôn. Go ahead and challenge me if it makes you feel better. We both know how much I enjoy it when you push.” The husky undertones of remembrance brought back memories she couldn’t forget…
…standing in their hotel suite, going toe to toe with the most infuriating male she’d ever met, Rena wondered if she’d finally pushed too hard. The look Jackson had given her before he’d grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into his bedroom worried her, particularly when he’d refused to release her. Her eyes widened as he pulled something out of his open bag. The blond suede covered paddle seemed a bit like overkill, but his expression said he didn’t think so.
Well maybe she shouldn’t have chewed his ass when they’d left his aunt’s estate, but she’d been frustrated. And she’d taken it out on him, never expecting him to snap this way. It wasn’t either of their faults that the apprehension of his psychotic cousin wasn’t as easy as either of them had expected. They had really expected to find him in house when they arrived at his Aunt’s manor outside of Donegal. But not only had Aggie Metjka not been present but neither had her son, Cameron. Evidently both had fled the estate mere hours before they’d arrived.
The Garda Síochána were currently out looking for the mother and son for direct questioning about the brutal attack on Olivia in Chicago. Then she’d made the mistake of her life. She’d taken out her frustrations on Jackson. She’d been a regular fishwife and knew it.
She dug her feet in when Jackson dragged her towards the bed. “What the hell are you doing, White Boy? I didn’t give you permission to punish me!”
“I’ve been patient – more patient than any man should have to be. But your mouth has finally gotten you in more trouble than you can possibly handle.” He sat down and gave her arm a vicious jerk. She stumbled and somehow ended up draped over his legs. “Let this be a lesson to you, ma peekôn. I’ll only tolerate so much before I show you where your place is. I may be younger than you, but by no means am I the inexperienced youth you seem determined to paint me as.” She cried out as the paddle landed on her left cheek. Even through her slacks, she could feel the sting of it against her.
She wanted to moan in pleasure. It had been nearly six months since she’d felt a paddle against her skin. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed it. The muffled sting of the paddle seemed to reach the part of her which had been closed off since she’d picked up the shattered pieces of her heart, let alone her shredded pride, and left Louis. Another whack, this one harder than the previous one, broke her control and she moaned helplessly. Whether from the pleasurable pain it invoked or the emotional hurt she’d buried for so long, she wasn’t sure. When the next blow came, she subconsciously lifted up into it.
“So it’s like that is it? Are you a pain slut, Rena, or do you simply enjoy a good hard spanking?” Jackson’s voice was rough and she refused to look at him, let alone answer his questions. “Ignoring me isn’t going to work. Either you answer me, or we’re done right now.” He moved to push her off his lap.
“No!” She dug her nails into his leg, not willing to give up the salvation he was offering, even if she didn’t know how to swallow her pride long enough to ask him for what she needed.
