Fallen Dom

by Lexxi James

  Unamused, she planted her hands on her hips. “What are you talking about?”

  “Giorgio Armani?”

  With a swat to his arm, she huffed. “Not the goddamn shirt, Art. What ad?”

  “Craigslist, baby. I mean, your name wasn’t on it, but I’d know those digits anywhere.” Grinning, he traced her shoulder with a finger.

  Furious, she narrowed her eyes. “If your paw isn’t off me in one second, I’m ripping that finger off and shoving it up your ass.”

  The initial fear in his eyes morphed to confusion. “Wait, did you want to be a Dominatrix? Not that I’m complaining. I must have misread the ad.”

  He pulled out his phone and swiped at the screen. Finding the ad, he started reading it aloud before she snatched it from his hands.

  No. This can’t be happening.

  She’d placed the ad weeks ago, thinking that if worse came to worst, she was just going for it. And there would be plenty of time to cancel it if she changed her mind.

  How could I forget to cancel the stupid ad?

  Returning his cell, she put on her sternest, most serious game face. “Look, I’m only going to say this once. This ad might have my number, but it was an obvious mistake.”

  In more ways than one.

  “You’re a super-sweet guy, Artie. Our date was nice.”

  And your tongue down my throat was just what I needed to keep you out of my condo, no matter how rich you are or how much you needed to pee.

  “So,” she said as sweetly as she could manage, “I’m going to return to my friends, and you’re going to find a great girl worthy of your growing collection of restaurant franchises and miniature horses.”

  “They’re quarter horses,” he called out to her back as she quickly returned to her table.

  “He’s absolutely smitten. And super rich.” Laurie pointed out the facts with a suggestive song in her voice as Kathryn sat back down.

  “Not rich enough,” she said flatly. “We went on one date weeks ago, and you’d think we were getting engaged. At least with my phone shut off, all the nutso romantic memes have stopped. Glass half full, I guess.”

  Closing her eyes for a second, she realized the memes would now probably be taking a turn for the worse.

  Desperate to shake off the vibe of the day, she took a quick swallow of her drink and let out an appreciative moan. Famished, she tore into the scrumptious bits of barbecue chicken, relaxing a bit after finishing one wing and then reaching for another. She glanced up to find Julian staring.

  “Hey,” she said after quickly swallowing her mouthful. “No judging. I’m stress-starved, and I’ve had a long day.”

  Julian’s smile spread wider. “Oh, honey. Trust me, you’re always in a judgment-free zone. I’m just a little jealous. I’ve been making eyes at a hot guy at the bar, but it’s clear he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you since you came in.” When the ladies all turned, he whisper-shouted, “No! Don’t all turn at once. Dana and Laurie can casually take turns.”

  “What about me?” Kathryn asked, with her back to the bar, and Dana handed her a mirror from her purse.

  “Oh my God,” Laurie whispered. “If you pass, I definitely call dibs.”

  “No way,” Julian said quickly. “I saw him first, and I definitely get a crack at that piñata.” He waggled his brows as he slid a martini olive off its spear with his teeth, following it with a tiger growl and a seductive chomp.

  Kathryn held up the mirror. Jake’s face reflected back at her as he lifted his beer bottle at her in a toast. She swallowed and whirled around, as if this tiny mirror had totally hoodwinked her. Seeing him here in all his unbelievably hot glory brought on a rather loud gasp.

  Like a dirty little deer stuck in the headlights, she froze, uncertain what to do. From across the room, he raised one brow as he mouthed the word breathe.

  Without thinking, she blew out a breath.

  He cracked a smile and hopped off his stool. As it was the only vacant seat at the bar, he patted it, offering it to her. Freaked out, she turned to her friends.

  “Oh, son of a bitch. He’s totally into you,” Julian said with a pouty scowl.

  “Well, maybe if you’d eat a wing every now and then,” Kathryn said to him, then asked the girls, “How do I look?”

  Dana was already reaching out with a wet towelette to wipe down Kathryn’s face while Laurie cleaned up her hands like she was a toddler. Fresh as a baby’s bottom, Kathryn chugged down her drink and headed over to the bar.

  Battling the inconvenience of a small dizzy spell, she focused on him as the music seemed to tick up louder. Climbing her butt on the stool was a little clumsy. Her sheepish grin erupted into a giggle as Jake grabbed her around the waist and deposited her onto the seat.

  He leaned close to scold her quietly. “I can’t believe you ran away.”

  Worried, she frowned, but he smiled.

  “Running away and frowning at me in one night,” he said. “I might need to punish you right here and now.”

  She giggled again, then sobered. Wait. Why am I giggling at that?

  With a teasing expression, he leaned in. “Your friends missed a spot.”

  Mortified, she reached for a cocktail napkin and swiped at her mouth, but he said, “I’ll get it.”

  With an appreciative nod, she handed him the napkin, but he took it and tossed it aside. Cupping her face, he grazed her lower lip with the ball of his thumb. Instantly, her lips parted as her eyes fell shut.

  “I’ve almost got it,” he said softly, then pressed his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue through. She suckled it with a loud moan.

  At least the blaring music is drowning out my sex sounds. And what’s with me sucking whatever he sticks in my mouth?

  Another moan carried her through the heavenly kiss. He pulled away, stroking her cheeks until her heavy lids lifted. “Barbecue?” he asked with a smirk, and she nodded.

  “Yup.”

  They both laughed, though Kathryn’s died down with another wave of dizziness.

  “Are you hot in here, or is it just me?” Puzzled, she looked at him, and his smile widened at her flattery. “No, I mean the room. Is it hot?”

  “I’ll get you some water.” Jake signaled the bartender and ordered a glass of ice water.

  Stealing the opportunity, Kathryn looked back at her friends.

  Dana and Laurie were all kinds of thumbs-up and fanning themselves. Julian had his phone held high, obviously filming. Kathryn swatted at them and turned her attention back to the hunk holding the glass.

  “Here.”

  She took the cold drink and sipped, but instantly set it down with a flash of nausea. Her focus was cloudy. “The music is so loud.”

  “You look a little flushed. I can’t imagine why,” Jake said, joking. “Let’s get you some fresh air.”

  Her weak nod invited him to help her off the stool, but when she slid off, she fell heavy into his arms.

  “Kathryn?”

  She couldn’t answer. Her knees gave out and she collapsed with the faintest echo of his voice in her ear.

  “Stay with me, kitten.”

  Twelve

  As Kathryn came to, she concentrated, trying to shake off the grogginess. Bits and pieces of hushed discussions dragged her eyes open. The dim light of the room made her struggle to pull everything into focus as she tried sitting up.

  “Easy.” Dana gripped Kathryn’s shoulders, holding her on the leather sofa.

  She was in an office, surrounded by her three best friends. Fortunately, her besties represented some of the finest medical professionals in the city.

  “Do you remember what happened?” Dana asked.

  “Oh . . .” Kathryn moaned with regret, flinging her forearm over her face. “I’m afraid I do.”

  Julian tapped her arm. “You know the drill, sister. Let’s go down the list together. Is there any chance—”

  She waved her hand for him to stop. “I could be pregnant? I know, I know.�
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  A husky voice came from behind her friends huddled around her. “Perhaps I should step outside.”

  Kathryn pushed Julian out of the way to see Jake heading out the door. “No, don’t go. I’m not pregnant.” She smacked Julian’s leg. “I’m probably a little dehydrated, with the altitude and all.”

  “Or this guy’s kisses cause women to faint.” Dana turned her head to Jake. “I can only imagine what other superpowers you might be harboring.”

  Laurie looked down at Kathryn. “Or it might have been that blow to the head.”

  Jake stepped closer and his gaze locked on hers. “What blow to the head?”

  Is he . . . worried?

  Laurie told him everything she knew. “She was robbed. Some lowlife douchebag clubbed her good for a laptop and some business cards. What the hell is this world coming to?”

  Jake nudged Kathryn’s friends aside and sat next to her, gently working his hands over the back of her head. She flinched, but braved the soreness by biting her tongue, preventing any more moaning at his hands.

  He lifted her chin, studying her eyes. “A knot like that . . . and fainting. Could be a concussion. Looks like I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  “Oh no. That’s okay. Dana, or Laurie, or Julian can drive me.”

  All three objected at once, each giving different reasons for not touching their friend in need with a ten-foot pole.

  Jake’s crazy adorable eyebrows and mild smirk coaxed out Kathryn’s grin. She looked back at her friends, who were busy making an imaginative range of silent lewd gestures behind his back.

  She sighed at Jake. “Well, sounds like I’m stranded.”

  “Lucky me. I’ll be your driver.”

  Thirteen

  Despite the connections Kathryn and Jake both had at one of Colorado’s finest emergency room, it still took a while to prep her for imaging, capture the shots, and get a clean bill of health from the radiologist on duty. She rested a little easier to learn there was nothing of concern, and was relieved to be released.

  Cradled in the upscale leather seat of his F-150 Raptor as he drove her to get her car, she glanced around the kickass truck, which provided a conversation starter. “So, Jake . . . what do you do?”

  Worst post-hanky-spanky line ever.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he said, and she shook her head. “Guess.”

  Unsure, she shrugged. “Construction?”

  “Computer science,” he shot back with a ring of pride in his voice.

  She nodded slowly, trying to make peace with the polar extremes of his personality, and he reached over to squeeze her knee.

  “Hey, not all geeks drive Teslas.”

  His hand stayed on her leg, preventing its uncontrollable bounce as she tried to carry on the conversation.

  “How’d you get into that?” she asked.

  She knew bits and pieces about Jake. Pretty much whatever she could learn after she’d returned to the States. He’d been part of a covert team. An action guy. So, her nervous question could be taken as natural curiosity.

  His jaw clenched as he pulled his truck into the parking lot of the bar. He yanked his hand off her knee, frowning as he slowed his truck to a stop without a word.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She reached for the door handle, but was stopped by his strong grip on her wrist.

  His eyes remained focused on the sight straight ahead. “Stay here.”

  With a flip, his high beams flooded her car in light. Kathryn and Jake stared at the lone car remaining in the parking lot, a Honda HR-V. As far as she could tell, everything seemed fine.

  Jake reached over her to pop open the glove box and pulled out a Colt .45 ACP.

  Okay, things aren’t fine. And that’s the biggest gun I’ve ever seen.

  The handgun looked enormous compared to the 9 mm pistols Kathryn was used to handling. She only possessed a weapon when it was issued to her, whenever she ventured to dangerous assignments overseas.

  His thumb flipped the safety. With a stern expression, he unlocked his cell and handed it to her. “Call Scott Delaney. And lock the doors behind me.” He waited for her acknowledging nod before getting out.

  Worried, she quickly scrolled through his contacts, getting the detective on the phone and filling him in while she watched Jake check out the car. She couldn’t see whatever it was that alarmed him.

  “He’s just walking around the car,” she said, feeling helpless as she watched. Her nerves hit a new high as he pointed the weapon at her car. The driver’s side. Then he slipped the barrel through the slightly ajar door and opened it wide.

  All this fuss because I forgot to shut the door? I was in a hurry. And hungry. He must think I’m scatterbrained, irresponsible . . .

  Or begging for a punishment.

  Blushing, Kathryn decided she needed a dose of cool air, and hated keeping the detective waiting. About to open the door, she unlocked it just as Jake headed back. He climbed in and took the phone.

  “Scott, you’re gonna need forensics. We’ll wait until you get here, but Kathryn’s still recovering from that blow to the head. She looks . . . flushed.”

  Jake’s grin sweetened as his eyes locked on her. “I really need to get her home . . . Yes, she is. And she needs some rest . . . Okay, see you in a few.”

  After disconnecting the call, Jake turned to her. “He’s in the area. He’ll be here soon.”

  She nodded, feeling squeamish to ask why he seemed to be on high alert. Obviously, this wasn’t all because of a door left open. “What did you see?”

  He huffed out a slow breath. “I’ll tell you, but not yet. How about we pass the time by you telling me what you’ve been up to. Specifically, what you’ve been working on?”

  Her knee began another round of bouncing. “I’m an investigator. Insurance fraud. I . . . really can’t tell you much more than that.” She swallowed hard, apologetic in her defiance.

  “So, you haven’t told anyone about the cases you’re currently working on? Not even your closest friends?”

  “Never. It’s critical that I lay low. Otherwise, trails start vanishing and evidence disappears.” She shifted in the firm leather seat, angling her body to better face him. “But there is one I had to call around about. Maybe I spooked someone. Or—”

  Blaring sirens closed in. The strobing red lights of two cars swept across the parking lot, then shut off.

  As Jake opened his door, she grabbed his arm. “Your turn.”

  His gaze darted to her hand around his bicep, and then to her eyes.

  She pulled her hand back, certain she’d committed some major sub faux pas. Maybe I needed to ask permission first. Embarrassed, she crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

  His eyes lightened at her response, and he slipped his hands in to unknot her arms. “Kathryn—”

  “Don’t worry. It’s fine. I understand. I overstepped my bounds.”

  “What?” His hands cradled her jaw. “No, it’s not that at all. I’m not your Dom here. I’m just . . .” His long exhale delayed what he was trying to get to. “Just protective. It’s disturbing. The scene. I hate what I’m about to ask, but I think you should look at it. With your training, you might catch something.”

  He stroked her hand with his thumb as she watched the team surround the car.

  “You think I’d catch something the cops wouldn’t?”

  Shrugging, he said, “It’s, um, a hunch.”

  She nodded. “Can you at least let me know what to expect?”

  “Someone left one of your business cards on your front seat,” he said, and she waited, knowing the other shoe was about to drop. “With a knife stabbed through it.”

  She sucked in a breath and tore from his grasp, scrambling from the truck and storming past the forensics team to the driver’s side of her car. The quiet, timid kitten just became an enraged mountain lion. Furious, she had to see the damage for herself. As she took in the scene, Jake’s hand slipped through hers.


  “I understand it’s upsetting.”

  “You bet your ass it’s upsetting,” she shouted. “The son of a bitch sliced my brand-new custom-leather seat. This car is only a few weeks old. Motherfuc—”

  “Kathryn,” Jake said calmly. “This is a new car, so it locks automatically when the key fob is out of range. Where were the spare keys?”

  She blanked, and blindly stared back. “They were in my desk drawer, but now that I’m thinking of it, I didn’t see them when I checked for anything missing.” Her eyes fell shut. “Dammit, he has my keys.”

  “It might be a she,” Delaney said, interrupting as he stepped up to join them.

  Confident, she shook her head. “Not a chance. The only reason women cut up any part of a car is out of jealousy, and trust me, the stab wounds wouldn’t stop at one. And I haven’t been with a guy in . . .”

  Jake stepped forward, crossing his arms with a smug grin.

  “Anyway, the point is, odds are we’re dealing with a man.” She peered at the seat. “That’s my business card, all right, and,” she leaned in closer, “that’s one of my kitchen knives. But . . .”

  Trepidation set in as she squinted, studying the scene harder without disturbing the evidence. Her expression fell as the reality of what she was looking at dawned on her.

  Jake’s hands squeezed her shoulders, his warmth sinking in. “What is it?”

  Her breath shuddered, spurring him to rub up and down her arms. Nothing about it was sensual, just caring. In an instant, all his tenderness brought out her emotions. Determined, she fought every impulse to fall back and take comfort in the arms of a man she barely knew, yet someone she had way too many feelings for.

  She shrugged him off, determined to stand on her own two feet, and glanced at the detective. “Can I see your pen?”

  Delaney handed it over. She made sure the ball point was retracted to avoid any marks, and slowly outlined the area where the cardstock surrounded the knife.

  “See that rim of caramel coloring? Right where the knife meets the paper?”

  “Yes,” Delaney said, nodding.

  She struggled to calm herself, though her pounding heartbeat was doing its damnedest to shut down her ability to speak. “I know where it came from. I had an apple just before my shower . . . before I met my friends here at the bar. I took a knife from the butcher block and cut the apple into slices, then set the knife in the sink. When I came back to the kitchen, I saw a box of Ziploc bags out, but I’d been tidying up so much, I figured I just missed them.” She looked at the men. “That’s my knife, and the guy grabbed it while I was showering.”