If she figured it out then he’d spend the night teaching her that submitting to his dominance could take her higher than she’d ever been before.
Slipping his hands under Grayson’s shoulders, Derek hefted him to the door that hid the space beneath the stairs. Derek had made sure there was enough room to hide Grayson’s body from view until he could dispose of it.
He was just kicking the door closed when he heard a key slip in the lock. With a grin on his face, he ran upstairs to prepare for his brand of seduction.
21
“GRAYSON,” JANE CALLED AS SHE OPENED the door.
There was no snow on the ground but it was really, really cold outside. She closed the door and shivered as the warmth of her home enveloped her. She dropped her bag on the floor just inside the door and shucked her coat. Lights were on upstairs and she could see well enough. She tipped her head upward and called his name again. A smile tipped her lips as she thought of him up in her bed eagerly waiting for her to come up and greet him.
She would do just that … after she grabbed something to drink and a quick bite to eat. The Jazz had had a game tonight, which meant that Jane didn’t get dinner. She was starving—for something other than Grayson.
She yanked the fridge door open and stuck her head in to see what leftovers were … left. Nothing sounded particularly palatable. She grabbed a can of Diet Coke and was turning to pull out a box of crackers when she felt the warm body come up behind her.
The exhaustion of the day consumed her and she leaned back against the support of his body. “Oh, Grayson,” she moaned.
His fingertips moved her hair away from her neck and his lips met her skin. She stiffened a bit and her adrenaline spiked. She tried to keep her distress under control. He was too close. He would sense her panic. She would have to be very careful. His hand went around her waist and pulled her back into him.
“How was your day?” he whispered.
“Good. Busy. Yours?” Alarm bells blared behind her ears. She was in trouble. Serious trouble. Even as she contemplated how to handle her current situation there was a question racing through her mind that worried her even more; Where the hell was Grayson?
“I’ve missed you.” The words were a low erotic purr in her ear.
“I didn’t get dinner,” she said. “I’m starved. You want something?”
“You.”
Bile rose in her throat as she pasted a smile on her lips. She hoped her lips didn’t quiver as she turned in his arms. “Let me feed my belly first,” she said.
Her only game plan was to play along and act as though she didn’t know that the man in front of her was Derek Reese. It was her only hope of getting a chance to protect herself. She crossed the kitchen, forcing herself to do so without jerky, rushed movements.
Pulling the fridge open again, she removed some leftover cooked chicken, a cube of cream cheese, butter, eggs, milk. She wasn’t sure what she was going to make, her mind wasn’t on cooking. She went to pantry and took out a box of fettuccine. She had no idea how to make Alfredo sauce but Derek didn’t know that and she was sure it would take a while before he realized she was clueless.
She put the cream cheese and butter in a pan. They sizzled and popped. The pop made her jump. She needed to get upstairs. If she could just—
“Can you stir this? Don’t let it burn.”
“Where are you going?” he asked incredulously.
She lifted her shoulders in what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug. “I just want to change. I’ll be right back.”
“I could help you change.”
Once again she forced herself to smile. “If you help me I won’t get to eat.”
“You’ll get to eat alright.”
She laughed and heard an edge of hysterics to the sound. She walked over to where he stood by the table and handed him the wooden spoon. “Stir. I’ll be right back.”
He smacked her on the butt with the spoon as she left. She yelped and he laughed.
Her bottom still stung when she got to the bedroom. Candles burned and new satin sheets adorned the bed. She was sure that both of those things were Grayson’s doing. That gave her a bit of hope.
Hope eclipsed by fear, but she had to hold on to that hope or she was going to lose it!
Breath raced in and out of her lungs in frantic gusts. Pull it together! Now is not the time to hyperventilate.
She bent over and put her head between her legs and forced the inhale and exhale to slow. As soon as she was in control again, she would be able to protect herself.
She was just standing up, ready to retrieve her gun from the nightstand drawer when Derek cleared his throat. She jumped and whirled to see him leaned against the door jamb with his arms folded over his chest.
He was shorter than Grayson but only by millimeters. His shoulders were just as wide though. He nearly filled the doorway. Jane swallowed hard. Derek was dangerous enough when they were in the kitchen but here in her bedroom, he was deadly. As if following her train of thought, his eyes moved to the bed and he grinned.
“What about dinner?” she asked, a tone of panic in her voice.
“It can wait.” When she opened her mouth to protest he said, “Don’t worry, I turned everything off. The only fire in this house tonight will be right here.”
Jane’s heart was hammering so hard in her chest that she couldn’t hear. Breath puffed in and out of her lungs in pants. This time she really was going to hyperventilate. Her anxiety only got worse when Derek stepped forward, pulling a piece of black fabric from his pocket.
“You promised you wouldn’t blindfold me again,” she muttered, her eyes widening as he stretched the fabric out between his hands.
“And I won’t.” His laugh was so sinister she wondered if he was going to tie her to a railroad track. “I have big plans for tonight, honey.”
As if she needed another verification that this lunatic wasn’t the man she loved, the term of endearment sent her already churning stomach into convulsions.
He grinned behind his trimmed goatee. “What’s the matter, never done anything this naughty? I promise you’ll like it.”
“I don’t really like to be hurt.”
“This is different.” He stalked her, his unwilling prey. She squeaked when his hand grabbed hold of her wrist and he began tying the soft fabric around her wrist. “We’re gonna play some games tonight. Games you’ll never forget.”
Of that she was sure. She would never forget a moment of this night. They would forever haunt her.
Hard hands gripped the front of her shirt and tugged hard. Buttons flew, exposing skin and her sensible white, cotton bra. Smooth fingertips moved over the swell of her breasts. She sucked in a breath, trying to put space between her skin and his touch.
“You have the most beautiful tits.”
“Thanks,” she murmured quietly. If she could keep him talking she might be able to come up with a plan to save herself—and Grayson. Where is he?
Derek’s hands were rough as he pushed the shirt from her shoulders. It fluttered to the floor at her feet. “This—” He tugged at her bra strap, letting it go so that it snapped back to hit her skin. “—doesn’t do it for me. Put on something sexy. Now.”
His harsh command startled her. With a flinch, she hurried to the closet, grateful he didn’t follow her. She changed into a sexy red bra with lace cups. Grayson loved it and the thought caused her heart to stutter. She was about to get raped by a man who wanted everything that belonged to Grayson—including her. She wasn’t sure how to stop it either. There was no house phone and her cell was downstairs in her purse.
“I’m waiting,” Derek said tersely.
She didn’t bother to take off her pants—or even her shoes. If he was going to do this to her, then he was going to have to take it. He was going to have to fight her. When it came down to it, he was going to have one hell of a fight on his hands. Jane would play along for only so long. She would not willingly give herself to another man, esp
ecially that man.
She gritted her teeth and walked out of the closet, through the bathroom, pausing to stand in the archway that separated the two rooms.
He smiled when he saw her. “Much better,” he said in a low guttural groan. He lifted a finger and crooked it at her. “Come here. I want to taste you.”
Her feet refused to move. Her brain sent the signal, but it was like she’d stepped into cement. Her hesitation didn’t impress him. His dark eyes narrowed and he began to remove his belt. He snapped it when it came loose.
“I said, come here.”
Again she tried to move, but her feet wouldn’t listen. He stood and folded his belt in half, tugging the ends together to make it crack. She jumped.
“Bad behavior gets disciplined. I’d like nothing more than to spank you, but I’m not sure you’d like it.” He pointed at her then at the floor at his feet. “Come. Here.”
This time her feet did move. He was right; she didn’t like the idea of getting “spanked”. Heaven knew she didn’t like it as a child—and that had only been with a hand … by someone who loved her.
Her feet trudged over the carpeting which had taken on the consistency of tar. It took effort to place one foot in front of the other. He reached out and took hold of the waistband of her jeans, tugging her to him.
“Why so nervous? We’ve done this before.”
Somewhere behind all the terror was the realization that this guy was totally nuts. She and Grayson had made love before, but never had Derek touched her in intimate ways. She lifted her eyes to his and searched them for some semblance of sanity. There wasn’t a whole lot reflected back at her besides desire and … crazy!
He picked up the ribbon that was tied around her wrist and let it slip through his fingers. “I’m going to tie you up.”
No! her thoughts screamed. The rest of her body protested in other ways. She needed to think fast or she was going to be completely at his mercy. The thought horrified her.
Her eyes darted to the nightstand. To her only hope for salvation. He followed her line of sight and grinned. “What’s over there?”
He took a step toward it and she grabbed his arm. She prayed for enough bravado to carry off the lie that was about to cross her tongue. “The truth is, baby—” She traced a fingertip over the skin bared by the V in his shirt. He sucked in a breath and groaned. “—I’ve been meaning to try something with you, too. I am a little bit of a naughty girl and wasn’t sure you would go for it.”
His lids grew hooded, his eyes dreamy.
“I have a toy in there that I want you to use on me while I’m all tied up and at your mercy.” The words tasted vile on her tongue. She hated to lead this psychopath on when what she really wanted to do was knee him in the balls and run for her life.
Heat rolled off him and when he pressed himself against her, she could feel the hardness of him. It frightened her that he was so aroused. But she would use it to her advantage. He grinned down at her, all lecherous teeth. He bent his head to kiss her and she put her fingers to his lips.
“Huh-uh. There will be time for that later. What I need is for you to grab the lubricant from the bathroom.”
For someone hell-bent on being dominant he sure took orders well. She stumbled; he’d released her so quickly. As soon as he was out of sight, she raced over to the nightstand. She tugged the drawer open and felt a calm rush of relief at the sight of her savior lying amongst her panties.
She didn’t waste a second.
The feel of the metal in her palm was a welcome coolness that relaxed her. Holding the weapon in her right hand, she pulled the slide back with her left, putting a bullet in the chamber. The gun was ready. She was ready. This was going to end as soon as Derek came back. Grayson would have known where to find the lubricant, would have known that he didn’t have to even leave the room. Luckily there was another unopened box under the counter.
She could hear drawers being opened and closed, cupboards slamming. The search seemed to be aggravating Derek, which was just fine by her. Her heart was pounding a little faster than normal but she felt calmer than she had since the ordeal had begun with the press of Derek’s lips to the back of her neck.
When Derek came out of the bathroom he was buck naked. She had to fight the urge to laugh. Not because he held up the box of KY like he’d struck gold or because his eyes had widened absurdly at the sight of her with a gun in her hand. Derek may have been able pass for Grayson Pierce when fully clothed but no one would ever confuse the two the way God made them.
She bit her lip and gripped the gun tighter in her hand. “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice your … deficiency?”
“I am not deficient,” he growled. The lubricant dropped to the floor with a thud and he advanced on her, murder in his eyes.
“Stay back, asshole.” She motioned him away with her gun.
“You won’t shoot me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, if I were you. It seems to me that I promised you once that I would. And that promise hasn’t changed.” She narrowed her eyes, letting the animosity she felt for the man to flood the room. “The jig’s up, Derek.”
Surprisingly he was nonplussed by the fact that he was naked as the day he’d been born, standing at the business end of a gun—held by a really pissed off woman. He shrugged. “When did you figure it out?” he asked calmly.
“The second you kissed my neck.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You couldn’t have known that soon. When did you know?”
“Grayson has calluses on his fingertips. You don’t. Grayson’s lips are a bit chapped from riding Zeus in the cold. Yours are smooth as a baby’s butt.” She enjoyed watching his boldness drain into insecurity. “Shall I go on with the differences between you? I could probably do so all night.” As she said the last words she let her eyes drop to his manhood.
“Enough!” he shouted. He started for her only to stop. Panic flashed across his face and his eyes were wild as they sought out the window.
Sirens.
She was so relieved she might just cry.
He rushed toward the doorway but Grayson filled the path of his exit. He had her cell phone pressed to his ear. “I don’t think so, Derek.”
The sight of Grayson alive and well made her eyes burn. The scene before her began to blur and she blinked violently. She couldn’t lose it now. Grayson was hurt, blood still oozed from a gash at the back of his head, running down his neck. She needed to maintain control of the situation.
From downstairs a loud crash sounded, quickly followed by the identification of the newcomers.
“Police!” Shouts rose from down below, growing louder as heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs. “Police!”
She looked toward the doorway, relieved that law enforcement was only seconds away. Just as she saw the first dark uniform, Grayson yelled and out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of movement on the other side of the room.
In the moment that followed, Jane didn’t think. She only reacted. Instinct kicked in and she let her gut call the shots. Her grip tightened on the butt of the gun, her finger curling around the trigger.
The shot exploded. The smell of gunpowder filled the air and Jane’s ears rang. Her hand fell limply at her side, the gun hitting the floor with a soft thud.
A maelstrom swirled around her and she stood in the eye of the storm. She recognized what was happening but didn’t register any of it.
As uniforms filled the room, she let the tears she’d kept at bay cascade over her cheeks, not having the energy to wipe them away. She was petrified. She was numb. The threat was over; Derek lay in a motionless heap near the foot of the bed. He’d almost reached her.
He’d almost gotten to her.
Jane stared at Derek. Was he dead?
Her head swiveled loosely on her neck, finding Grayson just as he dropped to one knee and put a hand to the back of his head.
In the recesses of her mind she heard an officer ask where he could get
a towel for Grayson’s head. Jane was in the room but she wasn’t present. So this is what an out-of-body experience was like, she thought, unamused and totally unimpressed. She heard Grayson respond in the affirmative and watched as he pointed to the bathroom.
An officer stepped up to her like she was dangerous; his hands outstretched, his voice low and calm like he were talking her off the parapet of a building. It was then that she realized she still held the gun.
But she’d dropped it.
She knew she’d dropped it. She heard it—
But as she looked down at her hand, there it was. It wasn’t pointed anywhere, just hung lose amongst her fingers.
Well, hell, she was armed. However, in her current state of mind she was far from dangerous.
Numbly, she lifted her hand and relinquished the gun. And then she … melted. Her muscles just gave out. She crumbled to the ground like a ragdoll and sobbed.
The situation was over.
She was safe. Grayson was safe.
Grayson.
She scrambled over to him on her knees, tripping over a book that had somehow fallen from the nightstand to the floor. With hands that shook she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Grayson’s eyes were wild as they searched her for injuries. She kissed his cheeks, his lips, his eyes. He groaned as she grabbed the back of his head to pull him closer.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She took his face between her hands. “Are you okay?”
He smiled, but she could see the pain in his expression and in his eyes. He wasn’t fooling her. He wasn’t okay. He was alive, but he was far from okay. He needed a doctor. As if they’d read her mind two officers reached down and helped him to his feet.
“There’s an ambulance just outside. Let’s get downstairs then we can get you on a gurney.”
“No gurney,” Grayson said … then hissed in pain as he got to his feet. “I’ll walk.”
“Okay,” one of the officers said. “You’ll walk. We’ll help keep you upright.”
The other officer smiled kindly. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
Yes. And no.
In It to Win It Page 22