by Ivy Nelson
Lance looked at him puzzled. “What’s going on?”
Elijah shook his head. “Probably nothing, but I got a tip that we might get a visit from the FBI. We’re completely legal but we’re going to be careful tonight.”
Lance whistled. “I take it Holly doesn’t know?”
“I’ll talk to her if it becomes an issue. I don’t even know if the tip is valid, but I’m just letting you know.”
“I’m on it,” Lance whispered as the women returned.
“Everything OK?” Holly asked as she looked between Elijah and Lance.
Elijah smiled up at her. “Everything is great, baby. Just a little shop talk about security at the club.”
Holly flashed him a smile of her own as she took her seat next to him.
“Well I for one appreciate you keeping us safe, Lance,” she said.
“A pleasure, Miss Holly.”
The conversation flowed freely as the couples ate and soon it was time to head to Solitaire. Elijah did his best to relax, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was horribly, horribly wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Holly watched Elijah as he typed something into his phone. They were almost to Solitaire, but ever since he received the phone call while they were shopping, he’d been apprehensive and distracted.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything you want to talk about?” she asked in the darkened backseat.
“I told you we would talk about it tomorrow, Holly,” he said, irritation in his voice.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Damn it. No. I’m sorry.” He exhaled slowly. “I’m tense, but I swear it’s not anything you need to worry about right now. I’m going to get my head on straight and we’re going to have a good time tonight, OK?”
Holly leaned into him. “OK.”
His hand snaked into her hair and tugged gently. “OK, what?”
Holly’s pulse quickened and she smiled up at him as he pulled harder. “OK, Sir,” she said breathlessly.
Elijah’s mouth closed over hers for a brief, rough kiss, before he let go of her hair.
Now they were driving up the hill to the club and he leaned forward to talk to the driver.
“Dale, we’re closing the gate at nine tonight. I need you to park down here and hang out.”
“Expecting visitors, Mr. Barrett?”
Elijah shook his head. “Just upping security a bit. I promise it’s temporary.”
“Are you worried about paparazzi?” Holly asked.
“Always, baby. Especially since we’ve been together.”
Is that what had him so tense? Holly couldn’t tell. At the club entrance, Elijah helped her from the car and pulled her close to his side. “You look stunning,” he whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait until the dress comes off.”
Holly couldn’t believe how excited she was also. The skirt and corset she wore beneath the dress weren’t overly revealing, but they were sexy as hell. Elijah made her want to be that kind of sexy. It was going to be fun to be on his arm tonight, letting him show her off. Once inside, Elijah excused himself to his office for a quick powwow with the board. Before he did though, he told her to find the changing room and take her dress off and meet him in the bar. When she’d stowed her dress in one of the lockers, she found a small table in the corner of the bar and ordered a glass of wine.
“Nice to see you again, Holly,” Russell said from behind her. She felt her neck heat as memories of their last conversation came flooding back.
“Hi again, Master Russell. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. Master Eli is still talking with Master Lance.”
Holly grinned. “Did he send you to babysit?”
“On the contrary, little one. I wanted to touch base with you after our last encounter and make sure I didn’t frighten or anger you too badly.”
Holly motioned for him to sit. “Not at all. I understand why Elijah did what he did. He made his point quite well.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’m not really a monster, you know?”
Holly frowned. “I’ve never thought that at all! You seem like a lovely person, and you clearly care about this place.”
Russell gave her a kind smile. “It’s home to me. When our friend David pitched the idea to us, we weren’t sure he was going to live much longer. We’re still uncertain about his health but he’s doing better. He created a home for all of us. I’ll always protect it and the family who are part of it.”
Holly’s heart constricted. She loved the idea of having that kind of family connection with this place. Especially given the state of her own family
“I’ll say a prayer for David. I would love to meet him some day.”
“You would love his wife, Emily. They’re supposed to be here for the big one-year anniversary bash.”
In the crowd behind Russell, she spotted Elijah and waved him down. His smile was instant when he saw her, and she hoped that whatever was burdening him had eased up a little.
Elijah’s hand clasped Russell’s shoulder when he stood behind him. “Thanks for looking out for my girl,” he said with a wink in Holly’s direction.
Holly narrowed her gaze at Russell who raised his palms and said, “So maybe I was asked to come check on you. That doesn’t negate anything else I said, Miss Holly.”
With a shake of her head, she chuckled. “It’s OK. Elijah cares too.”
“Perhaps more than most of us,” Russell said as he stood.
“If you two will excuse me, I see a lovely little masochist I want to talk to about playing later.”
When he was gone, Elijah took the seat he’d vacated and picked up her hands. “Have I mentioned how stunning you look tonight?”
Holly grinned. “I’m glad you like it, Sir. Especially since you picked it out.”
“I like it very much. Are you sure about tonight?”
Holly nodded. “I feel at home here. I didn’t think of it as a home until just now when Russell was talking.”
Elijah’s eyes darkened. “Enough talking then. Finish your wine, we have things to do.”
Holly tossed back the rest of the dark red liquid and Elijah laughed. “Someone is eager,” he murmured.
Once inside the dungeon, Holly let the sights and sounds sink in. They were quickly becoming some of her favorite. As she was surveying the space, Elijah surprised her by pulling a long leather leash out of his bag and clipping it to one of the rings on the front of her corset. “You’re staying with me tonight, baby,” he said with a grin, as he dropped a kiss on her nose.
Holly’s smile faded as something across the room caught her eye and her face flooded with embarrassment.
“Shit.”
“What is it?” Elijah asked, looking around in concern.
“I didn’t know Patrick was going to be here tonight,” she squeaked.
Just then, her brother’s gaze fell on her and Holly silently prayed for the ground to swallow her up. Elijah chuckled and stepped so she couldn’t see Patrick. “Eyes on me.”
When she met his gaze, he said, “Kneel here, and I’ll be right back.”
When she didn’t move, his voice hardened. “Kneel now or I’ll bend you over and your brother can watch me punish you.”
Holly sucked in a breath and quickly dropped to her knees. Elijah crouched down next to her with the other end of the leash. “Open your mouth.”
Not wanting to find out if he would make good on his threat of a spanking, Holly’s lips parted, and Elijah placed the end of the leash between them.
“Hold that there and don’t move.” He stood and stared down at her for a moment. “God, you look hot like that,” he said. “I’ll be back. While I’m gone, you just think about all the dirty things I’m going to do to you later.”
Holly watched as he crossed the dungeon to where Patrick stood talking with a girl. It wasn’t the same one he’d played with the other night. When Elijah reached him, the two men shook hands and Elijah leane
d in to whisper in Patrick’s ear. There was no way to know what they were talking about, but as Elijah turned to walk back her way, Patrick’s eyes landed on her and gave her a thumbs up. Before Elijah reached her, Patrick was holding the girl’s hand and they were walking toward the bar.
Elijah stood over her and bent to remove the leash from her mouth. “Up,” he commanded.
When she clamored to her feet she said, “You didn’t kick him out did you?”
Elijah laughed. No, baby, I don’t have that power. I asked him if his suite was empty tonight. It was, so he agreed to go have fun in there for a while instead of down here. He was good with that.”
Holly gave a nervous giggle. “This is so awkward,” she whispered.
“Relax. You wouldn’t feel this way if we both showed up at the same nightclub or the same wedding. Just let yourself forget about him for now. I promise he’s not going to see you naked. We’ll figure out a better plan for the future, OK?”
His hand cupped her cheek, and Holly closed her eyes. “OK. I’ll do my best.”
The room was busy that night and most of the play spaces were occupied, so Elijah walked them to a seating area where he had Holly kneel at his feet. It was nearly an hour before the play area Elijah wanted was open.
“Let’s go,” he whispered, as he stood and helped her up. Holly’s legs shook as he led them to the wooden bondage frame in the corner.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said when they stopped.
His hands came to either side of her face. “You don’t have to.”
Holly took a deep breath. She wanted this, and they had banished Patrick upstairs. She could at least try. “No. I’m not chickening out,” she said.
“Good girl, but you always have your safeword, OK?”
Yes, Sir.”
Their scene began with Elijah putting a blindfold on her. The sounds around her got markedly louder when the room went black. The music coursed through her and the slaps of leather, wood, and skin against skin seemed to match her heartbeat. Elijah’s hands gripped her wrists and she noticed how calloused his hands were as he wound rope around them, binding them together. He raised her arms above her head and attached her to something. Then he was behind her and she felt him unlace her corset. When the tight leather fell away, Holly became aware of her breasts in a way she’d never been before. His hands circled her and cupped each one as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“You look gorgeous,” he said, with his mouth pressed against her ear. His hot breath fluttered over her and she sighed.
Then he stepped away, leaving Holly feeling bereft and needy. Thankfully, he didn’t stay gone long. She felt him behind her seconds later and recognized the falls of the flogger as they tickled her back.
The sensation was gone a moment later only to be replaced with the warm thud of the falls hitting her back. It sent heat through her entire being and she felt unsteady on her feet, especially in her stilettos that Elijah loved so much.
Soon, he was striking her in time to the up-tempo music, and Holly was able to relax into the sensation as it heated her up from the outside in. How was this so damn erotic? It was a question she felt she may never be able to answer, but she was enjoying it, nonetheless. When she’d been sufficiently warmed up, Elijah attached clamps to her nipples, causing her to yelp. His only response was a dark chuckle in her ear.
“You’re mean,” she pouted.
His hand fisted into her hair and yanked her head back. “Mean, am I? How wet is your cunt?” He asked, his tone biting, and dominant.
“Soaked,” she whimpered as his free hand tugged on the chain between her breasts, tightening the clamps.
“If you’re soaked, you must enjoy it when I’m mean. Should I perhaps be meaner?”
Holly shook her head as vehemently as she could while he had her hair in his grip. There was that dark chuckle again.
“We’ll see how mean you think I am when we’re through.”
Then he was gone, and Holly felt alone for the briefest moment. Until she felt her skirt being raised. To her horror, she felt his head come to rest between her legs. Surely, he wasn’t going to eat her out right here. She jerked her hands, intent on gripping his head to balance herself, but she was still tied to the frame above her head. She felt her thong panties being pushed to the side just before his mouth covered her pussy and she cried out.
“Eli please,” she whimpered. “This is embarrassing.”
He broke away from her soaked pussy. “Are you mine?” he asked, loud enough for her to hear over the music.
“Yes, Sir,” she managed to say.
“Well I want dessert. Hold still and come in my mouth like a good girl,” he said.
Holly felt her face and neck heating, but his mouth was already on her again. She could no longer focus on being embarrassed. Elijah gripped her thighs and kept her pussy tightly to his face as he licked and sucked. It wasn’t long before her orgasm was threatening to break free, and Elijah increased the intensity of his attention between her legs.
Soon, she was bucking against her restraints as she rode the torrent of bliss that coursed through her. She trembled against his mouth as he continued his assault. When the tremors died down, he pulled away and stood, settling her panties back into place.
“Good girl,” he whispered in her ear as he reached above her and let her hands down. “I’m going to leave the blindfold in place a little longer, OK?”
Holly nodded.
“And this isn’t really meant to be mean, but the clamps have to come off.”
Holly brought her still bound wrists to her chest, covering her clamped nipples. Elijah clucked his tongue. “You’re doing so well. Don’t make me spank you now, little one.”
With some trepidation, Holly lowered her arms and let Elijah make quick work of the clamps. It was painful, but he eased the pain by sucking each nipple into his mouth for a moment. Before untying her wrists, he held her and stroked her back, letting her know how proud he was.
“Lift your arms,” he instructed when her wrists were free. After they were raised, a shirt fell over her head, a tank top to be exact, and he tugged it over her breasts before pulling the blindfold off.
“How was that?” he asked.
She gave him a shy smile. “That was wonderful, Sir.” When she dropped her gaze, her smile widened. The tank top had the Solitaire logo on it.
“Thanks for the shirt,” she said as he led them back to the sofa after cleaning up their play station.
“You’re welcome. I thought if you were dressed again when the blindfold came off it would make you more comfortable, but I didn’t want to take the time to re-lace your corset. Besides, you’re one of us now, it was time you had some swag.”
“Are you always so thoughtful?” she asked as she curled into him.
Elijah kissed her hair. “I try to be.”
After they had been cuddling for a bit, Elijah pulled out his phone and read the screen.
“Do you mind if Patrick comes back down here now? He’s done playing too and they don’t want to stay in the bar.”
Holly sighed. “Yeah. I guess I have to get used to the idea of seeing him here sometimes.”
Elijah kissed her head. “Good girl.”
While they were waiting for Patrick to join them, Holly noticed Lance walking toward them, and he looked grim.
Elijah squeezed her hand and stood.
Lance tried to shield his voice, but Holly stood before Elijah could stop her.
“The FBI is at the gate and they have a warrant to bring you in for questioning.”
Holly felt lightheaded. “What’s going on, Eli?” she whispered.
Elijah ran a hand through his hair. “I honestly don’t know. Get in touch with Jeremy Stockton and call Jax, please.” He gripped her chin and waited until he had her attention. “I need my assistant right now, baby.”
Holly thought she might be sick but willed herself to breathe. “OK. I’m on it.”
<
br /> Elijah tossed her his phone and turned back to Lance. “Did they say what they want to question me about?”
Lance nodded and looked at Holly uncomfortably. “The death of Melissa Sutton.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“They’re taking him in for questioning in Colorado. How fast can you get here Jeremy?”
“Are you at Solitaire?” the attorney asked.
“Yes, why?” Holly asked, staring in confusion at the phone.
“Good. Find Austin Yates. There’s a good chance she’s there too. She’ll be able to sit in for me until I can get there.”
Patrick stuck his head in Elijah’s office door. “What the hell is going on, Holls?”
Holly held up her hand and took the phone off speaker, lifting it to her ear. “Austin Yates, I can do that. Is there anything else I need to do?”
“Just be ready to field calls. You’re going to get a lot of them, because I have a feeling this won’t stay quiet for long.”
Fuck thought Holly as she hit end call.
“Holls?” Patrick prodded.
“Shit. Sorry. I have no fucking clue.” She watched her brother wince. Holly was never a big curser until she met Elijah it seems. “They say he’s a suspect in mom’s murder. I can’t believe it.”
Patrick’s face went red. “The hell he is,” he bit out.
“Do you know if Austin Yates is here? If so, can you find her? His lawyer said she could stand in for him until he can get here.”
Patrick turned without another word and left the room.
Ten minutes later, Austin Yates stood in Elijah’s office wearing a corset and latex leggings listening to Holly explain the situation.
“Jesus, fuck. You people know how to get into some messes. Let me get changed out of this getup, and we’ll find out where they took him.”
• • •
Elijah stared at the timeline laid out in front of him. “Are you fucking kidding me? This is ludicrous. Nicholas Sutton is making these outlandish claims just to upset me. I was seventeen years old. You think I committed murder?”
“Mr. Barrett, we’re just following a lead. Everything we’ve read says you blame Sutton for your mother’s death. Had he paid for every one of the aid workers to be freed and not just his wife, your mother might still be alive. You were never investigated as a suspect and we’re simply rectifying that mistake.”