White Collared Part Three: Revenge Page 7

  He shouldn’t have to. He deserved more than the measly scraps of submission Alyssa gave him. And as much as her body was onboard with Jaxon as its master, the protests in her head kept her from making a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep. But oh, how she wanted to try.

  She folded her arms over her chest and took a deep breath. “What about when we go to Benediction?”

  He flinched. “We’ll put on an act.”

  She nodded and then turned away, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes and afraid she’d change her mind.

  At least they’d have tonight.

  Because, after all, the show must go on.

  Chapter Nine

  HAVING NOTHING APPROPRIATE for Benediction, she wore the same skirt, corset, and mask as she’d worn the first time. Jaxon, on the other hand, wore a tight black shirt and black leather pants that showcased his defined muscles, especially his ass. It killed her not to touch him.

  They’d spent the afternoon together at her apartment, her catching up on her independent study paper and doing some research on electrical play and him on the phone with various people. As hard as she’d tried not to eavesdrop, she couldn’t help listening when he’d used his Dom voice. From what she’d deciphered, he seemed to use it for certain employees, and she wondered if they were female.

  Nick had called to check up on her and to let them know nothing had come up on a background check into Reverend Pierce. He reminded her that he’d pick her up in the morning at Jaxon’s house.

  Even knowing nothing would happen between them, just spending time in his presence had kept her on edge most of the day. She’d had to change her panties twice. And both times, as she’d gotten up to leave the room, Jaxon’s eyes had darkened with arousal, as if he knew what she was going to do.

  It had taken all her strength not to rip his clothes off when they’d gone to his house for him to change into his clothes for the club. No man should look so good in leather.

  They met with Master Cole, who assured them the cameras would capture everything that happened in the electrical playroom and that the dungeon monitors would be on standby during her session. Master Cole had never heard Reverend Pierce mentioned as a member of the BDSM community.

  So it appeared they’d hit another dead end. Hopefully Anthony Rinaldi had something useful for them because they were running out of time, especially since the prosecutor had the witness who would allegedly destroy Jaxon’s alibi.

  After completing her health survey and signing a waiver of liability for electrical play, she clung to Jaxon as he led her down the metal stairs into the basement of the mansion.

  To the dungeon.

  Not that she was scared. In fact, in a way she felt like she was going home. A home where she belonged.

  But it gave her a chance to touch Jaxon, and she wasn’t going to allow it to pass.

  The bass of the music and scents of musk and leather floated up to greet her. Small lanterns with flickering lights like candle flames adorned the wall.

  As if it were a conditioned response, her body instantly became aroused by the sounds of pleasure and pain—the slaps and thuds, grunts and moans.

  At the bottom of the stairs, they entered an open room with high beams painted black. More lanterns lit the dim space. Two blond women and one red-headed man, all naked with ball-gags in their mouths, hung sideways, bound by rope and suspended from the ceiling.

  Jaxon pushed her forward, moving them farther into the room. Black and white photographs hung on the maroon walls. She wanted to look more closely, but from her vantage point, she could see that they were nudes of men and women in submissive positions. Each photo possessed a pop of color, from a purple flogger to a red sash. Still, the beautiful pictures had nothing on the reality presented before her.

  One man lay on a bench, his crimson ass presented to his Mistress, who spanked him with a long, wooden paddle. Just past them, a man who was crying stood in a stockade while another man stroked his cock through a hole. Was he crying from pain or pleasure?

  Beyond those scenes, the wall changed from plaster to cobblestones as if it were truly part of a medieval dungeon. Her feet practically floated over to that area of their own volition. Bolted to the wall were chains and empty manacles, and smooth stone replaced the bamboo flooring. She rubbed her wrist, thinking about being chained to the wall, completely at Jaxon’s mercy. What would he do with her? Whip her? Torture her?

  A loud moan from behind them caught her attention. She twirled to see a woman cuffed to a black-lacquer St. Andrew’s cross, her body swaying and arching in an erotic dance at each fall of the flogger, which was wielded by another woman.

  Kate went hot like she’d taken a double shot of gin. Envy cycled through her veins. She wanted to be the one under the flogger. To experience the heavy rush of endorphins flooding her system. She could almost feel the whip’s kiss on her skin.

  Everywhere she looked, another scene seduced her senses. Her heart pounded to the erotic beat of the music, and her thighs slickened from her arousal.

  “Katerina.” Jax’s commanding voice brought her out of her sensual fog. “Eyes on me.”

  She forced herself to turn her gaze to him.

  He tipped her chin up and smiled. “You like this.”

  “No.” She smiled back at him. “I love it.”

  “Ms. Martin?”

  The spell broken, she pushed away from Jaxon and twirled. A tall, broad gentleman wearing a suit stood in front of her. Based on the slight bulge on his chest, she would guess he was wearing a gun inside his jacket. “Kate Martin?”

  Jax moved beside her and tugged her closer. “You should know better than to speak to my sub.”

  The man gave nothing away. “Mr. Rinaldi would like to see Ms. Martin inside his room.”

  “I’m going with her.”

  “I’m under strict instructions to take only Ms. Martin. Otherwise the deal is off.”

  She put a hand on Jax’s chest. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Master Cole has him on video.”

  “If you’re uncomfortable, you say your safe word.”

  “I promise I will.”

  She allowed the man to lead her down a hall. Similar to what she’d seen upstairs with the fantasy rooms, there were several doors on each side, each with a number above it and a light. Several of the lights were red, which she assumed meant the room was in use. When they got to room number thirteen, the man knocked once on the door and punched in a code.

  Thirteen?

  He brought her inside, and she came face to face with a sadist.

  Even knowing looks could be deceiving, she couldn’t equate this man with the word sadist. He was on the small side, about five foot seven, and lean. Wrinkles around his eyes and mouth gave the impression that he smiled a lot, and silver peppered his light-brown hair.

  “You must be Kate Martin. I’m Anthony Rinaldi. I don’t stand on ceremony, so please call me Tony. Cole gave me your medical waiver, but to be clear, you don’t have any heart problems or lung conditions and you’re not pregnant, correct?” At the shake of her head, he continued. “No implants or a pacemaker?”

  She shook her head again. His voice was melodic and his tone gentle. Rather than fear him, she was perfectly at ease. He reminded her of a cute puppy who looked harmless until he bit you.

  The room was bare except for a metal cart and a padded examining table similar to the one in Jax’s playroom. On the cart, there was a violet wand and a power box similar to what she’d seen on the Internet when she’d researched electrical play.

  The door clicked shut as the man whom she now realized was some kind of security guard left the room.

  “Who was that man?” she asked.

  He smiled, seemingly amused by her question. His teeth were so white and straight, she doubted they were real. Then again, nothing about him or this room seemed real. “I am a powerful man even without my electricity, Ms. Martin. While Benediction provides protection from outsiders, there are
those within the ranks who wish me harm.”

  “So he’s your bodyguard? Doesn’t he get uncomfortable standing around watching without being allowed to participate?”

  Tony took her hand. “I pay him enough to tolerate it. Besides, who’s to say he doesn’t participate?” He laughed, but somehow coming from him, it sounded like a threat. “How is your investigation into Alyssa Deveroux’s death?”

  Her heart galloped. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He tsked. “I don’t give information for free, counselor.”

  Shit, how did he know? “I’m not—”

  With a hard tug of her wrist, he slammed her into his chest. He was a lot more solid than he appeared. “Don’t go there. You do not want to lie to me.” His fingers sunk into her hair and yanked her head back. She’d thought he was a puppy? This man was a full-grown pit bull. “I know you work for Nick Trenton. You can’t go around asking questions and expect word not to get back to me. I didn’t get to where I am by being stupid.”

  Not wanting to give him the pleasure of her fear yet, she took a steadying breath. “What are you going to do to me?”

  He smiled again, but this time it was the smile of a sadist who not only held all the power but wielded it. “Way I see it, you’ve got two options. One, you can walk away now and never learn what I might know about Alyssa.”

  “And two?”

  “You can come play with me. I promise I won’t lay a hand on you.”

  She straightened her spine and rolled back her shoulders. “On one condition. You let Jaxon inside the room to watch.”

  “No. I don’t negotiate.” He inched closer, so close she smelled the mint on his breath. “Besides, we both know he’s not really your Dom.” He reached out and petted her hair, causing her to shudder. “I respect women like you. You’ve got career aspirations. Let’s not pretend you’re doing this altruistically.”

  She moved back and planted her hands on her hips, the lawyer in her hell-bent on making her position clear. “You don’t know the first thing about me or Jaxon. No, I’m not doing it ‘altruistically’ as you put it, but then again, altruism is a concept that doesn’t exist. I’m doing it because if I don’t fight for my client, then an innocent man who’s done nothing wrong except love the wrong woman will spend the rest of his life behind bars. If I don’t fight for my client, then everything I thought to be just and good in this world means nothing.” Her words came out raspy as she held back her emotions about the good man she’d lost. “At the end of the day, criminals like you are free to sell drugs to kids and take a cut of the prostitutes’ pay for protection fees, while innocents plead guilty for crimes they didn’t commit because it’s too risky to go to trial.”

  He looked amused. “You’re a brave woman. Not many people would speak to me the way you do.”

  She crossed her arms over her breasts. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Are you going to scene with me?”

  “Yes.”

  He backed her up against the table and plunged his hand into her hair, palming the back of her head. “Then you should be afraid not only because of what I’m going to do to you but because you may not like what you hear. Your conviction on behalf of all the so-called innocents in this world touches me. It really does. Unfortunately, you’re about to learn life isn’t a clear black-and-white movie, counselor. It’s a fucked-up, gritty, grainy gray. So tell me, what will you do if you discover Jaxon Deveroux isn’t innocent?”

  She held her ground. Even if the witness destroyed his alibi tomorrow, she’d never believe he’d killed his wife. The Jaxon she knew wasn’t a murderer. “I know you don’t negotiate, but no restraints.”

  He released his hold on her. “Got a problem with being tied down, counselor?”

  Not with Jaxon, but she wanted to have the ability to get the hell out of here without Jaxon or Master Cole’s help. “Everyone has their limits. That’s mine.”

  “I’ll honor your limit even when you beg for it.” He dipped his finger down her chest and over her cleavage. “And, honey, by the time I’m through with you, you will be begging for it.” He licked his lips. “Now strip. And take off your mask. There’s no hiding from me. I have to be able to see your eyes, so I can gauge your reactions.”

  Her body flashed hot, but her limbs froze. She couldn’t figure out how such a slime ball could turn her on with a mere promise. Could she really bare herself completely to this stranger?

  For Jaxon . . .

  Yes.

  Since he already knew her identity, she removed her mask. She slid her corset down her waist and over her hips, taking her skirt along with it as it dropped to the floor, and then hooked her thumbs in her panties and dragged them down her legs. Against her will, her body became aroused as Tony eyed her with interest, and his cock swelled against the front of his leather pants.

  He whistled. “Damn, Jaxon is a lucky bastard. You’ve got the body for sinning and the face of a saint.” He pounded his fist on the table. “Up here, sunshine.”

  She could do this.

  Faking bravado she didn’t feel, she lay on the cool padding of the table. The blinking light of a video camera on the top right corner of the room caught her attention. Was Master Cole watching?

  She resented her nipples for betraying her excitement. Why was she aroused by this? Was it the exhibitionism? The fear? Or something else?

  “Tell me your safe word.”

  Keeping it simple, she gave him the club’s. “Red.”

  He lifted a black handle with a long glass tube attached. “We’re gonna start simple. You familiar with the violet wand?”

  “Just a bit. It makes little sparks on the skin.”

  He laughed. “Little sparks. Sure, sometimes.” He took her hand and touched the glass end of the wand to her palm. The item hummed as it caused a prickling sensation. “I’ve got it on the lowest setting. But what fun is that for a masochist like you?”

  She jerked her hand, the prickling transforming into something sharper, like a stray spark bouncing to the skin from an Independence Day sparkler.

  He moved away from her hand, and she tried to relax as the electric sparks danced on her calves, her thighs, her arms. Eventually, she didn’t need to pretend, and she sighed, the stress of the last few days washing away.

  Why wouldn’t anyone enjoy this?

  “If you get tired of working for the good guys, you come see me and I’ll make a place for you in my organization. We need someone like you on our side. You can be the official ‘counsel to the kink.’ ”

  Counsel to the kink? Was he serious? “I’m not interested in being your attorney.”

  He let the wand hover over her nipple. She drew a sharp breath. It was as if he were poking it with tiny needles.

  “With your beauty and brains, I could find you a much more pleasurable position underneath me than as my attorney.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not interested in being your whore either.”

  He moved the wand to her other nipple. “I don’t employ whores. I own a lucrative dating service that matches up successful but lonely individuals with the kinds of needs they hire my company to fulfill. We all got our kinks, counselor. That’s where PRS Inc. comes in.”

  She fought to keep her voice controlled even as the pain caused tiny spasms in her pussy. “PRS?”

  “Purity Relationship Services.” He turned off the wand and from the cart grabbed a few square electrodes connected to rubber-wrapped wires.

  Knowing he was about to introduce her to more serious electrical play, she swallowed nervously. “Kind of an ironic name.”

  He stuck an electrode to her right thigh. “Most would think so. Tell me. What does purity mean to you?”

  “Untainted. Clean. Virginal.”

  “All true. To me, purity means living authentically. I know who I am and what I need. I don’t make any excuses for it. I get off on electrocuting women.” He continued sticking electrodes to her other t
high, as well as her calves and the soles of her feet. “I’ve got a wife at home. She’s a good Catholic woman. A good mother. But she won’t let me get within three feet of her with the wand in my hands. So what did we do? We talked about it. We compromised. She allows me to electrocute any woman I want, so long as I keep her in a comfortable lifestyle. She lives in a big house, drives a big car, and spends the summers in Italy with the kids and her parents.”

  “And you don’t screw around on her?” She gaped at the box the leads were attached to. Initially, she’d thought it was a TENS unit, but now she wasn’t sure. What the hell was she getting herself into?

  “Of course I do. She doesn’t mind, so long as I don’t dip my wick without wearing a glove. My girl’s too tired to fuck every day, and I’ve got needs. But she’s cool with it.” He parted her thighs and inserted a thick plastic piece that looked like a white, hollow dildo into her vagina. Then he screwed an aluminum disc onto the end, covering her clitoris.

  She swallowed hard, her throat dry. “How is that pure?”

  “We’re not pretending to be something we’re not. You know how many people walk around lying about who they are? Not only to others but also to themselves? How many gay kids kill themselves each year because they’d rather die than admit to their parents that they’re homosexual? How many people lie to themselves that they can commit to a monogamous relationship and end up cheating?”

  She couldn’t believe she was having a philosophical conversation with a sadistic mafia boss. “Are you saying people shouldn’t be monogamous?”

  He rolled her to her side and applied leads to her buttocks and then returned her to her back. “No. I think lots of people are perfectly content to be in a monogamous relationship. My point is that you got to find your yin to your yang. Too many people hide their true nature rather than find that someone who’ll fit them like a missing puzzle piece. They’re not living pure. My company doesn’t judge individuals for their needs.”

  Her gaze wandered to the video camera. Is Jaxon watching? “And how does this relate to Alyssa?”

  He smiled and flipped a switch on the power box. “It doesn’t. But I wasn’t about to turn down the chance to play with a gorgeous girl like you.”