Entwined: (A Dark Romance Kidnap Thriller) (The Dark Necessities Trilogy Book 3)

by Felicity Brandon

  She settled at that, her small hand reaching up his chest to play with the soft hair the fingers found there. “That is good enough for me then,” she murmured, “but what about Lydia?”

  He tensed reflexively at the sound of his ex-lover’s name, though at the back of his mind, he’d known this was coming. She’d already warned him earlier, in the pub. “What about Lydia?” he repeated. “I don’t know the answer, kitten.”

  Connor’s voice sounded small all of a sudden, the resonance odd even to his own ears. Molly inhaled, as though she, too, was thinking on the conundrum.

  “We need to do something for her,” she concluded. “I mean she’s out there somewhere in an unmarked grave. It’s not right, Master. She deserves a funeral of some sort.”

  His free hand shifted to his temples, and he rubbed them as he absorbed her words. “A funeral?” he asked. “I can’t exactly go out there and perform a service, you know, pet. She’s buried in the middle of the woods, for Christ’s sake!”

  Molly’s head rose from his side in a flash, her eyes dark and serious. “You don’t need to tell me about those woods,” she hissed. “I know what they are.”

  The venom in her voice startled him, and for a moment he froze, staring down at the intensity in her eyes. At another time, he would have paddled that look from her face, but his newfound conscience was already pricked by her words, and deep down Connor knew he was the reason for the malice in her voice.

  “I’m sorry,” he answered at length. “I know you do.”

  Molly tilted her head, her features crinkling as though she couldn’t believe that the outburst had come from her. “No, I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I’ve just told you that I’ve accepted the past, and then I bite your head off about it.”

  Connor tightened the arm at her side, pulling Molly back down for another embrace. “You shouldn’t have to apologize for all the fucked-up things I did to you,” he told her flatly. “You never have to apologize, kitten.”

  She shook her head in response. “That’s bullshit, Master,” she said with a sigh. “We both know you were the aggressor before, but if we’re going to move forward, then we both have to do so. That means me and you. I can’t keep disturbing the ghosts of the past. It’s not fair.”

  Connor wanted to laugh at that. He’d never given much credence to what was fair before, having decided long ago that life wasn’t fair, and never would be. “So, we’re both in the wrong then?” he asked, arching a brow at her as he responded.

  “Right,” she agreed with a sardonic smile.

  “Okay, pet, so how about this?” he decided. “I work hard on moving forward and making a future for us both, and you work on not living in the past?”

  Molly smiled, an innocent look which made him want to gobble her up. “Sounds good,” she decided after a moment. “Although I might need some sort of therapy to really get over it.”

  He snorted, squeezing her body against his side. “Yeah, no problem,” he chuckled. “Perhaps, we both do.”

  “So, what about Lydia?” Molly murmured as she met his gaze again. “Why can’t we do some sort of service for her? I mean, you must know people who deal with that stuff?”

  Connor gazed down at her, noticing how determined she looked. “Funeral directors, you mean?”

  Now, it was Molly’s turn to snigger. “No, Master,” she replied, swatting his chest playfully. “A chaplain, or someone who could orchestrate? We could go there at night time and do something simple for her. Maybe it will lay her to rest.”

  His mind began to whir into action at her prompt. A service? He could probably get Malone to handle that. Maybe it was possible, after all…

  “What are you thinking, Master?” she asked, disturbing his internal musings.

  He offered her a small smile. “I was thinking that you might be right, kitten,” he told her. “I have an old friend who’s trained as a priest. Perhaps, he can help us. I’ll speak to him.”

  “Really?” she laughed. “A priest? Jeez, is there any part of society your little group hasn’t infiltrated?”

  Connor smirked at her. “Not really,” he admitted. “We are everywhere.”

  She rolled her eyes at him, pressing her hot lips into his chest sensually. Connor’s cock stirred at the sensation, although it was only recently satiated. “I guess it set you free, Master,” she purred salaciously. “And saved me from having to finish testifying against you, so, it can’t all be bad.”

  “Yeah, I remember,” he murmured, running his fingers through her hair again. “Although you did look fabulous up there, all hot and flustered…” Connor winked at her teasingly, but noticed how her expression hardened at the memory.

  “It was horrible,” she shuddered. “I hated it. Every single moment of it. I wanted to back out before, but I didn’t know how to do it without making all those damn detectives even more suspicious. As it was, I think one of them was on to me. He was there, at the house, the day before we left, and he never seemed convinced about the things I told him. I can’t remember his name. I think it was…”

  Molly paused as she struggled to identify the guy, and Connor’s mind flitted back to the two detectives who had come calling before he got himself arrested. He instantly knew which one his kitten was referring to.

  “Jones.” he concluded, finishing the sentence for her. “I remember him. He was a pain in the arse from the start.”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed. “It was Jones. I think he knew I was covering for you, Master.”

  Connor leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek. “You were, weren’t you?” he murmured. “Looking out for me, even after everything?”

  Molly flashed him a smile. “I couldn’t help myself,” she admitted. “I had fallen for you by then. Like a lamb to the slaughter…”

  He laughed at her analogy. It was fitting.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  They spent the next few hours snuggling and talking. Connor seemed determined to get in touch with the priest he knew, and try and offer Lydia some sort of last rites. The way he’d accepted Molly’s suggestion had surprised her, but she was pleased. He needed this every bit as much as his dead, ex-girlfriend did. Connor had to face up to his actions, and show Lydia the respect she deserved in the process. Molly hoped her idea would make both possible.

  Being close to him again was incredible, and even though it had been many months since they’d been wrapped up in a bed together, the interaction felt easy and warm. If it was possible, Molly thought she’d forgotten just how freaking hot the man was. Every inch of him seemed to be made up of taut muscle, and she wanted to explore it all. It was with some reticence then, that she allowed him to wriggle free of her hold and answer his cell when it began to vibrate.

  “Hello?” he muttered, as he wrestled himself away from her pawing hands. “Yes?”

  There was a pause as presumably somebody on the other end of the phone spoke to him, and Molly noticed his brow furrow.

  “Now?” he asked, his attention returning to her blinking gaze. “Yeah, okay. Give us thirty minutes.”

  Connor hit the button to end the call, and threw the phone back onto the mattress. Molly assessed his face carefully, though she couldn’t help but panic a little at his sudden change of demeanor.

  “Is there a problem?” she probed gently.

  He gazed down at her, his expression serious. “No,” he sighed. “Not a problem. Just stuff I’d like to put off now that I have you here, but I can’t.”

  “Anything I can help with?” she asked, her finger grazing a new line up his chest.

  “Yes, actually,” he replied, halting her finger’s progress with a crooked smile. “You can get dressed and come with me.”

  Molly was stunned. He’d never once ordered her to put her clothes on before. Things really were changing. “Get dressed?” she repeated playfully. “You mean, you actually want me to stop being naked, Master?”

  Connor’s free hand flew to her face, easing her chin north to mee
t his eye. “Don’t push your luck, kitten,” he purred. “We may be moving forward, but that doesn’t mean I won’t tan your sweet behind whenever you need it.”

  She gulped at the tone of his voice, pressing her thighs together to relieve the tension his words had created. “Sorry, Master,” she replied as she squirmed beside him. “I was just teasing.”

  “Hmmm,” he replied. “Perhaps you’re due a good spanking, kitten? It’s been a while, huh?”

  Her eyes flitted to meet his intense gaze, and based on how turned on she felt all of a sudden, Molly wondered if he might be right. “Yes, Master,” she whispered in reply. “Too long.”

  Connor winked at her. “I bet,” he chuckled. “Now move, before I change my mind. We have to meet Saul Morrison upstairs soon.”

  Molly scrambled from the bed at his words, glancing around the place to find her clothes. “Who is Saul Morrison?” she asked as she headed for her underwear.

  “He’s in charge here,” replied Connor.

  She turned to find him collecting his dark pants from the carpeted floor, and watched as he yanked them up over his fine ass. “In charge?” she repeated as she fastened the clasp of her bra. “In charge of you, you mean?”

  Connor stalked in her direction, shaking his head at her assertion. “You are just desperate for this spanking, aren’t you?” he teased her, and before she could even answer, he swatted her ass playfully.

  Molly yelped at the impact, and threw him an accusing look, but the truth was, she had absolutely loved the sensation of his palm against her behind again. She had missed it, and she did need it. Badly.

  “I was only asking, Master,” she insisted, but he was on her already, his strong body pressing up against her practically nude one.

  “Just you wait until I get you back here,” he promised her sensually. “I am going to give you such a hiding, little kitten. And then, it’s back to the dog bowl for you.”

  She gasped at his erotic threat, her body responding to it instinctively. “I’d like that,” she admitted from beneath her lashes.

  “Good,” he purred seductively, and as Connor spoke, he twisted the small leather collar at her neck and began to unfasten it.

  “Just like I told you before,” he told her as he pulled the collar from her flesh. “We’ll save this for the bedroom.”

  Ten minutes later they were dressed and in the empty elevator, Molly’s heart beginning to pound as she contemplated what was about to happen.

  “What if this Morrison doesn’t like me?” she asked him nervously. “What if he sends me away?”

  Connor closed the small distance between them. “He wouldn’t fucking dare,” he murmured into her ear. “That’s not what this is about. Saul just wants to meet you, that’s all. I think he wants to know what sort of woman could so brazenly have stolen my heart.”

  He chuckled at his own words, but something about them made Molly catch her breath. Stolen his heart, is that what he’d just said? Holy fuck. She didn’t think any man had ever spoken about her that way before, but then, there had never been a man like Connor Reilly before.

  The small bleep of the elevator told her that they’d arrived and Molly turned to watch the sleek doors slide away to reveal dark wood paneling and a rich red carpet.

  “You’ll be fine, kitten,” Connor purred into her ear again as he came up behind her. “Let’s go.”

  Molly nodded, mentally steeling herself for the man she was about to meet. She couldn’t imagine what he must be like. Any man who could be in charge of this whole organization must be quite something. She stepped forward, feeling Connor grasp her right palm as he directed her out of the elevator. They turned left, and Molly fell behind him a little, allowing him to guide her down the opulent hallway. If she’d thought the corridor on the thirty-sixth floor was impressive, then she was totally unprepared for the sumptuous décor which met her gaze up here. A moment later, the space opened up to reveal an astonishing view of the cityscape below. In the center was a large desk, with a young, blonde woman sitting behind it. She glanced up, her light eyes landing first on Connor, and then scanning over Molly.

  “Mr. Reilly,” she enthused at their approach. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”

  Molly inhaled as the resonance of the woman’s voice washed over her, and she saw the young blonde bat her eyelashes at Connor. The bitch was flirting with him. Actually flirting! When she could quite clearly see Molly standing there, holding hands with him. A spike of anger fired up in her, and Molly threw her a scowl.

  “No problem,” answered Connor as he reached the front of her desk. “Is he ready for us yet?”

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Molly interrupted, her unimpressed gaze fixed firmly on the other woman’s face.

  Connor started at the question, his gaze inquiring as he turned to acknowledge Molly’s words. Evidently, he wasn’t used to the possessive side of his kitten, but then, neither was Molly. Not many other men had ever evoked it before.

  “Kitten, this is Morrison’s assistant, Hilary,” he began, gesturing toward the blonde. “And Hilary, this is Molly.”

  The blonde’s gaze rose to meet Molly’s for the first time, and Molly hoped her expression was as scathing as she intended.

  “Lovely to meet you,” Molly muttered, stepping away from Connor and thrusting her hand out toward Hilary.

  The blonde balked. “You too, Molly,” she cooed, evidently feigning her sweetest smile as she rose, and took Molly’s hand to shake it.

  The two women looked at each other, their intentions more than clear. Molly knew in that instant that this woman had fucked her lover, and she didn’t freaking like it.

  “So, now that we all know one another,” interrupted Connor as he moved forward between them. “Can we go in, Hilary?”

  The blonde’s eyes flitted from Molly to Connor, and the assistant inhaled, withdrawing her hand as she retook her seat. “Yes, of course,” she answered. “I’ll just let Mr. Morrison know you’re here.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Connor couldn’t believe the audacity of his little pet, but he had to admit he was quite proud of her as they sauntered away from Hilary’s desk. Molly had shown her mettle in the face of a woman she clearly viewed as a threat, and even though that thought was laughable, Connor admired the trait. Hilary had only ever been about sex. Pretty fucking good sex, but still, she had never meant anything. Molly had absolutely nothing to worry about, but then no one could compare to Molly, and no one ever would. Despite her cold, almost rude, demeanor toward Hilary, Connor wanted to applaud Molly’s possessive performance as they approached Saul’s door. He didn’t though. He didn’t want her to get too comfortable.

  Raising his fist, he knocked hard on the dark wood door, reaching out his free hand for Molly. She raised her head to meet his eye, her smile almost coy as she placed her small hand inside his waiting palm. Connor grasped it tightly. The look on Molly’s face suggested she knew she might have overstepped the mark with Hilary, but they didn’t have time to go into that now. This moment was about Morrison.

  “Come in!”

  Connor took a deep breath before he turned the door handle, and then he was all action, his feet ready to move even before his hand was opening the door. He stalked into Saul’s large office, Molly in tow, and strode across to where his old friend sat buried in paperwork. Looking up from the mountains of files, Saul caught sight of his new guests, and his expression morphed in an instant.

  “Reilly,” he cried, jumping to his feet. “About time.”

  “Good to see you, too,” Connor replied casually, drawing Molly closely to his side. “I believe you wanted to see us.”

  He placed emphasis on the final word, drawing a smirk from Saul, who had already made his way around his oversized desk to get a good look at his kitten.

  “I most certainly do,” Saul cooed. “Won’t you introduce us, Connor?”

  That was the second time someone had instructed he do that in less
than five minutes, and based on the lustful look in Saul’s eyes as his gaze devoured Molly, Connor wasn’t sure how much patience he had left.

  “Saul, this is my little pet, Molly,” he replied, trying to suppress the tone of irritation in his voice. “And, kitten, this is the man at the very top of the ladder, Saul Morrison.”

  Saul shot a large palm out to Molly, who took it tentatively as he shook her hand. “What a pleasure,” Saul enthused. “I’ve heard so much about you, Molly. I must admit I’ve been curious.”

  Connor eyed the interaction with interest, watching how uncomfortable his pet looked as all the attention in the room slid to her in a fraction of a second.

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Morrison,” she answered in a painfully small voice, her eyes darting to meet Connor’s as she concluded.

  He offered her a reassuring smile. “So, here we are,” he continued, speaking directly to Saul. “I’m sorry it has taken until now. Molly only just arrived a few hours ago, and you know, she needed some settling in time.”

  A crimson blush engulfed Molly’s face at Connor’s words, and Saul laughed heartily. “I see.” He chuckled. “Of course, and no problem, you’re here now. Come and sit down, both of you!”

  Saul gestured behind him to the two large recliners, and Connor exhaled as he watched the older man stride back to his place behind the glass desk. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be so bad, after all. A few minutes of small talk, and a hand-shake, and then he could give his kitten the things she so badly needed, the discipline, the denigration, and the dark, delicious pleasure. Connor led Molly to the large waiting chairs, allowing her to take the one nearest the desk as he eased into the other.

  “So, Molly,” began Saul, his eyes narrowing as he once again took in the look of her dark, disheveled hair and flushed face. “What has Connor told you about us?”

  Molly shifted in her place. She looked absolutely tiny in the massive recliner, and Saul’s scrutiny was apparently doing nothing to help quell her discomfort. It was an interesting situation for Connor. He had often taken pleasure in making his kitten squirm himself, and yet whenever he was forced to witness someone else do it, he’d always reacted with anger. Connor’s mind flitted back to the memory of Molly on the stand in court, and how furious he’d been when his own lawyer, Mosley, had tried to cross-examine her. His response had been immediate and entirely irrational; his outbursts making him in contempt and effectively ending the proceedings there and then.