They remained staring into each other’s eyes for several minutes until finally Aleks pulled back. A slight grin matched the twinkle in his eyes. “Very foreboding, Jax Steele. I can see you’re very committed to your job. Unfortunately while you might believe that I would know easily all who work for me, the truth is that it’s impossible. For the number of photographs that you saw at the gallery this evening, hundreds, perhaps thousands more have been taken. I’ve been working on developing a following from the moment I arrived in your beautiful country as it is vital to me to have regular customers who sell my work by word of mouth. I’m not interested in going back to Europe you see. This is now my home now.”
Jax tipped his glass. Nothing in his profile spoke of any outside activities other than his art but the cookie crumb was difficult to resist. “I need you to try and identify the men that were killed.” He slid the pictures from his coat jacket and handed them to Aleks as he watched every reaction. The man was as cool as a cucumber.
Aleks studied both pictures for a time before his raised his head. “I’m sorry Detective truly but there is no way that I would know if either of these men were one of my models, my students. I hire many of the same look.”
“One is blond and the other raven-haired.”
“Ah, the yin and yang of my designs, my art, but they are beautiful, no?”
Jax sighed and glanced down at the pictures. Both smiling faces were experiencing much happier times than having been slaughtered like an animal for some ungodly reason. “Do you keep records of whom you hire?”
“Of course, Jax. I’m a business man and in good times I even pay taxes; however, I’ve worked with hundreds and some do not use their own names for reasons you can certainly understand.” His sultry laugh filtered through the bar causing the slim pickings of patrons to turn in their direction.
“Then you can tell me if either of these men was in your employ at any time.”
“If they used their real names then certainly I should be able to find them easily enough for you. If they did not, then it will take some time.”
Jax tipped his drink back, allowing the rich liquid to slide down his throat, buying time. He needed to rattle the man’s cage. “Then perhaps you can give me a call tomorrow with the information.”
“I’ll do one better, Detective Jax Steele. My studio is located not far from here. Not only do I keep all my business records there but I certainly have the proofs that may be able to shed some light on these two men.”
“Proofs?”
“As in my photography, Jax. I take many shots of the young treats and keep them for possible future use. My art knows no bounds, Detective. That must be something you’re already aware of.” Aleks stared into his eyes. “I assure you that they sign a release and are well paid for what they do for me.”
Jax looked away. There was something about the way Aleks said the words that troubled him and yet he couldn’t put his finger on anything that was out of place. Instinct was giving him a clear warning.
Moments ticked by as they both simply listened to the stuttering strains of the old jukebox attempting to belt out rattled chords of disco music.
“Is there some reason that you’re uncomfortable around me, Jax? Or is it that you believe I have something to do with the murders?”
“I’m simply trying to solve two gruesome murders.” His finger twitching, Jax swallowed as he gazed into Aleks’ eyes. While some said the eyes were the entrance to a man’s soul, in the Russian’s he saw nothing but blackness and every part of his body hungered for more. Sucking in his breath he looked away.
“Detective, have I said something to offend you?”
“I’m fine.” As a vision flashed in front of his eyes, Jax fought a moan that bubbled to his mouth. The images in dancing vibrant color marring his vision, suddenly echoes pulsed in his years, curdling his blood.
“Detective.” His movements barely noticeable, Aleks reached over and placed his hand on top of Jax’s.
A single whimper flowed past Jax’s lips. Every part of his body sizzled, his heart racing, as the image became a savage fantasy of two men embracing.
***
“Open your mouth and suck me,” Aleks cooed as he stroked Jax’s hair.
Jax inched forward and took Aleks’ cock into his hands, caressing down the length of his shaft.
“That’s it. Very nice.” Purring, Aleks pushed his hips forward, tempting his lover to taste.
Wrapping his hand around the base Jax darted his tongue out and licked the tip of his cock, savoring the rich flavor of the man. Sighing, he closed his eyes and licked down slowly to the base as he stroked Aleks’ cock.
“Ah yes, you’re very good my luscious detective. I could allow you to do this for a long time.”
Taking first one ball and then the other into his mouth, Jax suckled the tender flesh. Removing the swollen sacs, a slight pop fluttered between then. Licking up the underside of Aleks’ shaft, he blew a swath of hot air across his sensitive slit.
“Tease me too long and you’ll pay, dear boy.” Aleks’ timbre was laced with a dark promise.
Every part of his body shaking with intense desire, Jax inserted just the tip into his mouth, swirling his tongue around in lazy circles. Going down an inch at a time, Jax closed his eyes and breathed in Aleks’ musky scent.
Aleks pumped into his mouth, fucking him in long, deliberate drives as he tossed his golden locks back and forth, his actions growing more savage with each passing second. “Yes…yes…” His hiss barely audible, he jerked Jax’s head forward, impaling his mouth with the entire length of his cock.
Startled, Jax forced his throat muscles to relax.
In and out Aleks drove into his mouth, harder and faster until his breath came in scattered pants. “I…want…more…”
Jax squeezed his jaw muscles, clenching tightly around his shaft as his heart raced.
“That’s enough. Now I’m going to fuck your ass.” Giving Jax no choice, Aleks jerked him up by his hair and growled. “You belong to me, now and forever. Do you understand?” Opening his mouth wide, Aleks snarled.
As Jax gazed into eyes that glimmered brightly in the shadowed light, he could swear that he saw…
***
“Jax,” Aleks whispered as he squeezed Jax’s hand.
Jax jumped. His heart racing, he licked his dry lips and panted. “What? What did you say?” Unable to concentrate, the vision faded but every frame stood out in his mind. Lifting his head, he stared into Aleks eyes.
A smile curled across Aleks’ lips.
As they remained quiet, Jax knew without a shadow of a doubt that Aleks had seen his vision and he knew that he was going straight to hell. Steeling his nerves, he nodded and broke the connection, sliding his arm back. “I’m fine. What were you saying?”
Aleks hesitated and gazed down to Jax’s chest and back up, the smile remaining. “Then come with me to my studio. I believe you may find all that you seek there.”
Jax blinked furiously and cut his glance toward Aleks, studying his blank stare and cold eyes, yet the shadowed mask was subtly hinting. Guiding. Aleksandr was issuing him a personal challenge. “Perhaps that would be an excellent idea Aleksandr if you have the time.”
Aleks swirled his drink, taking the last sip and savoring every drop. “For you detective, I will make the time.”
***
Aleksandr studied Jax carefully as he poured them both a snifter of cognac. He didn’t need his keen senses to tell him how uncomfortable Jax was being in the studio. Seeing the sexy detective’s visions were certainly tasty and for some reason he knew that Jax would end up in his bed but could there be more? Jax’s musky scent of fear permeated the entire room, filling his nostrils and slicing an intense hunger down his spine. There was something about the fine detective that alluded sensuality. Not only was he stunning with his shoulder length raven hair and midnight blue eyes, his physique was almost carved perfection. There was no doubt about his six-pack abs
that flowed into a slender waist and chiseled hipbones. For the first time in years his mouth watered. What troubled him was that he couldn’t put his finger on why the detective was going to play a distinct and important role in his life. Was this something Durac was masking? If so, why?
“May I take a look around?” Jax asked, eyeing him cautiously.
“Of course.”
Aleks had enjoyed many men in his long life but this one was tempting to the point of losing control. As he watched Jax’s curious expression gazing from one photograph to the next, he could tell easily enough that he was fascinated by the bold designs. The grouping in vivid colors, the imagery was much more erotic and left nothing to the imagination and while most men would turn away, the good detective did not. No, in truth, Aleks sensed a fascination and a strong desire to learn more. Aleks knew he needed to go carefully. He was accustomed to murders surrounding him, but if the detective was accurate in the fact that two of his models had been brutalized, the sighting from before meant the war to regain his soul was a serious threat and one that he could no longer avoid. There was nowhere left to run. Aleks sighed and remembered the graphic and over indulgent horrors about his previous life. The wretched decades spent with a true monster masking as a teacher had taught him too many things about what he did not want to become and even though his soul was damned to an eternity of fire and brimstone, he refused to become a beast. He fought the seething rage that had settled into his loins and turned his attention back to the man that sizzled before him, a true innocent and one who hungered for possibly a taste of the darkest side of man.
“Will cognac be to your liking, Jax?”
Jax turned his gaze slowly and nodded as he filtered through the stack of photographs. “You didn’t want these for your showing?”
Aleks handed him a glass allowing their fingers to touch and an instant quiver rippled through his body that he was unaccustomed to. “The showing at the gallery was specified styles and these pieces were commissioned but some of my friends in Germany. I’ll be shipping them off next week after payment has been received.”
“How much does one of these go for?”
Aleks smiled and allowed his eyes to travel down the length of the good detective’s body. Jax’s blush at his blatant sexual gaze was his reward.
“If that question is too personal I apologize.”
“Nothing is too personal with me dear Jax, nothing and to answer your question, these pieces sell for five thousand of your American dollars.”
Jax choked on the rich brandy and turned to gaze at each picture again as he wiped the liquid from his mouth. “Really? There is such a market for erotic art?”
“There is a market for erotic art Detective Steele and this is art in the purest form to some. Does it truly make you that uncomfortable or is it perhaps that you’re more fascinated by the content than you would allow yourself to believe?”
“I…I don’t understand.”
Aleks moved closer, crowding his space as the scent of his woodsy cologne fluttered across his face. He sighed and cocked his head studying his eyes as they twinkled in the almost luminescent glow from the moon and the ambient lighting as it danced across the wood floor. Aleksandr realized that he was turned on as hell and while the thought of a single taste of his blood nearly brought him to a carnal act, it was the delicious realization that Jax Steele was hungry as well that sizzled his blood. Inching closer, he leaned forward, allowing his golden locks to fall against Jax’s shoulder. “I believe you do, Detective. I believe you’re thirsty for something that has always been with you Jax and something you’ve not allowed yourself to enjoy.”
Jax shuffled yet remained where he was staring at the photo with glassy eyes.
Encouraged, Aleks moved around him slowly as he whispered, his voice husky from desire. “And I believe that you finally realized you need something much darker than your normal vanilla laced world, a world where possibilities are endless and a man can have all that he desires. I believe you hunger for a taste of something almost sinful to you and yet it captivates your very being. Are you yet ready good detective to take another step and one that will bring you some of the greatest satisfaction in your life?”
Jax shivered visibly.
As he took a long sip of his drink, he could feel Jax’s blood racing throughout his system as his heart thumped in a ragged fashion. His breath became shallow sending tiny pulses coursing from his mouth. The man was indeed curious yet terrified and Aleks realized his own needs were closely edging to the boiling point. This man was more than just a snack.
Jax cocked his jaw and raised his glass yet he didn’t take a single taste. Instead he inched back from the magical hold and swallowed hard. “Aleksandr, can we please look at your records to determine if either Greg or Brent was ever in your employ? I have my office checking payment records but–“
“Not only do some of the models not use their real identity Jax, but many times I paid them in cash. Many of the models simply want extra money for their tricks and treats and I don’t mind paying them in cash as long as I have a gentleman’s agreement with them. That being said detective, I do account for the monies paid as my accountant has a strangle hold on my finances.”
“This isn’t about money or your finances, this is about a murder investigation.”
“I’m well aware of that. I’m simply trying to help you understand that some of my young men do not want their identities known and I respect that.”
Jax sighed and gazed blankly at the single picture. “You said tricks and treats. Are we talking drugs? Is the reason that you don’t confirm their identities is because you use models who skate under the law?”
“No!” Aleks roared and immediately grew surprised at the level of his anger. He brushed his hand through his hair and eyed Jax with steel cold eyes. He was a patient man, a consummate professional given his true self and yet the anger boiled within him. “While I sense a certain level of disapproval for what I do along with your blatant need to experience something more than your vanilla laced life, I assure you that I’m a businessman first and a purveyor of all things delicious second and a distant second I might add. I will under no circumstances tolerate my models being involved with drugs or any illegal activities. If I find one that is a user, they are banished completely and forever.”
“Completely and forever is harsh, Aleks.”
He laughed, the husky timbre slicing into the room. There was something about the sexy detective that fueled every ounce of his desires, his passions and yet the man infuriated him. “It is dear friend, it is. As you can imagine, I’m a foreigner in a foreign land and I need to be very careful with my business practices.” Stalking toward his bank of cabinets, Aleks set his glass down. The thud reverberated throughout the room.
“I wasn’t trying to insult you, Aleksandr but you have to understand that there have been two brutal murders committed and the crimes are quite savage. I need to explore every opportunity and every avenue to not only to understand what I’m dealing with but also to allow me to locate this monster before he strikes again. You’re the single connection or possible connection that I’ve been able to find. Forgive me for not being as sensitive as you might need.”
Aleks eyed his stance, now riding with not only a bit of rugged disdain but his conviction suited him well. “Very well, detective. Tell me their names again so that I may take a look through my records. The majority of the boys are simply interested in extra money. Only a few go on to pursue a career.”
“Greg Barnes and Brent Taylor. Interesting. I’m curious. Can you build a career being this type of model?”
He kept his gaze on Jax as he flipped through his computer. “Are you truly that naïve, detective?” Aleks sighed. Dealing with Americans was truly disconcerting. “I’ve worked with many a boy over the last several months and while Brent looks familiar, he also looks like dozens of others.” His single white lie was that he wasn’t involved with their identities or could care le
ss. His accountant was also his business manager and handled the introductions completely from a blind ad placed. While Aleks had the final say, his accountant weaned the crowd down from a roar to a dull whisper. What he was forwarded was their entire bio and headshot.
“What about the pictures you say you keep?”
Aleks chuckled. “That will take some time to go through. Between the ones I hire and the creatures that long to become famous, there are thousands.”
“Aleks, who is this person?”
Finding nothing that he believed would help the investigation, he eased back toward Jax and the picture in question. “It’s a favorite piece of work that I completed and one from his first month in the city.” He gazed longingly at the almost angelic face of the boy and yet a man and sighed. They had been lovers for a time until what he was as a monster interfered. “He was a favorite of mine and at one time a man I considered a friend. He will forever be one of my biggest finds here in town and sadly he was what you would call snapped up by an agency in New York, hence the fact that erotic art does indeed aid in making a career. He was delicious to work with.” Licking his lips across his emerging canines, Aleks stared at the stunning black and white piece knowing it was one of his finest creations. Strapped and laid spread eagle on a hard steel table, the boy’s golden hair framed an almost angelic face that didn’t match the extreme level of masculinity that sculpted every inch of his carved body. A huge mistake, it was one he never forgave himself for. Turning away, he snarled and clenched his fist.
“The shot is…well, it’s very…”
“Seductive, Jax? Is the shot so horrific yet enticing that your heart pulses with need, your body famished with desire?”
Swallowing hard, Jax stole a glance in Aleks direction before clearing his throat. “It is…haunting. This boy is into this level of pain?”
Surrender Page 9
