by Jayne Rylon
Everything happened so fast.
Exhaustion prevented her from reacting when Morselli slapped her breast with his cock.
“Clint, hand me a robe for Lily.” The urgency in Jeremy’s instruction caught the attention of her fuzzy brain. “She’ll need it as soon as we’re finished. She’s cooling off.”
The undercover cop rummaged around in the supplies out of Lily’s line of sight as Morselli began to huff and puff, on the verge of exploding. She flinched when he grunted, preparing for the splash of his meager load.
It never came.
Clint spun around, knocking into Morselli’s shoulder as he transferred a bundle of terrycloth to Jeremy. A strangled combination moan-turned-curse accompanied Tony’s graceless sprawl. His whole body jerked as he spilled his come onto the stage, crashing onto one knee to avoid a full-out face-plant.
A few guests chuckled at the sight of the man’s graceless tumble and the desperate spasms jerking his hips as he erupted all over himself.
“You careless fucker!” He glared at Clint as he regained his feet, slowly, shakily. Giant pants bled steam from Morselli’s continued rant.
Lily was too tired to be amused. She battled the oblivion swallowing her consciousness.
“Excuse me.” Clint offered a hand up, but Morselli knocked it away. Jeremy’s friend shrugged then returned to her side.
“Unhook her.” Jeremy ignored the commotion. His focus never strayed from her.
Her eyes drifted closed as the lines were released and she drooped onto the stage. Hands worked over her, freeing her arms, legs and torso from her bonds. Still she couldn’t move.
“Get up, Lily.” Jeremy didn’t lift her. He didn’t humiliate her by assuming she couldn’t take care of herself.
She smiled and cracked open her lids, which seemed to weigh ten tons.
Damn Sex Offender.
Damn the most powerful orgasms of her life.
Damn the dozen men who’d fed the flames until they consumed every bit of her energy.
Lily rolled to her front, shoving onto wobbly arms and legs. They collapsed beneath her as if she were Bambi. Heat rose in her cheeks. Lucidity returned in the wake of the drug’s potent effects. What would the crowd think of Mistress Lily now?
Despite her reaction to Jeremy, she couldn’t deny the life she’d built. It boggled her mind, too zoned now to comprehend the ramifications of this indulgent evening. Could she be both the woman who ruled her slaves with unwavering command and the willing submissive of one undeniable Master?
Not if she didn’t shape people’s expectations. Right then. She channeled every ounce of her remaining strength and tried again. Desperation drove her to regulate the quivering of her elbows and knees for longer than she should have been able. Still, she crumpled to the floor once more.
Dread weakened her limbs further as she considered all she had riding on the line. She curled into a ball and shivered on the floor.
Ryan stepped forward at the same time Matt held his arms out to her. Their forms distorted as moisture filled her eyes. Temptation to accept Matt’s offer—huddle in his embrace and be toted away—poisoned her sense of self.
“Leave her.” Jeremy’s steely tone brooked no arguments.
“JRad—” Clint would have had more luck bargaining with a suicide bomber.
“No. She’ll walk out on her own or she’ll lie here all night. Alone.”
“What the fuck?” Matt whipped around, glaring at his friend and supposed boss.
Shit. If Morselli suspected their ruse, the men, including Jeremy, would find themselves quickly destroyed. For making a fool of Tony, they’d suffer before he had them killed.
She wouldn’t allow them to be hurt because of her.
Lily bit her lip to keep from crying out when her muscles protested her third attempt at rising. Her knees gave out, banging into the unforgiving surface of the stage. The bruising force cleared her mind some. She managed to stay upright, kneeling. She stared into the warm depths of Jeremy’s eyes as she forced her limp body to obey through sheer determination.
Planting her right foot on the floor, she never broke the connection between her gaze and Jeremy’s stare. He nodded when she transferred her weight and lurched upward, swaying. She waved off all of the helping hands extended in her direction. The slap of her left sole on the floor sounded like a gunshot in her mind. Every cell of her brain concentrated on battling the flashes of light threatening her balance.
If she fell, she’d never recover.
She leaned forward, shifting her weight then staggering onto her extended leg.
The first step was the hardest.
By the fourth and fifth, a smile formed on her lips. Her shoulders spread back and wide, at least as far as her frame would allow. She may have given her physical form to these men to enjoy for an hour or two. None of them affected her soul.
Well, maybe one.
Jeremy nodded when she drew up in front of him. Toe to toe, she had to incur a drastic bend in her neck to maintain their line of sight. It was worth the crick to catch a glimpse of his approval and admiration.
“That’s right.” He held out his hand to her. “We’ll walk together.”
“Let me carry—”
Jeremy cut Ben off. “No.”
She smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
He nodded. “Any time.”
Ryan steadied her while Clint slipped the robe on her shaky body. He bundled her in the soft fabric then cinched the belt. The tie clasping her waist drew a shimmer of pleasure from her belly. Son of a bitch, no wonder people got so addicted to this garbage.
Jeremy linked their fingers as he turned. He tempered his long strides, moderating his pace so she had a chance of making it at least out of the public venue. Whistles, claps and cheers filled the enormous space like thunder on a sultry summer night as the entourage retreated. They’d nearly reached the passage leading to the main hallway when Jeremy glanced at Morselli over his shoulder, not pausing.
“I’m taking these two with us.” He motioned with his chin to Ryan and Ben. “They belong to Lily now. She’s earned their loyalty. Have their belongings transferred to the wing housing her subs and her things delivered to my suites while we’re touring the facilities tomorrow afternoon.”
Morselli didn’t dare object. Arguing in front of so many would have tarnished his already battered reputation. “Of course. Consider them my gift to you both in honor of our partnership. I’m sure many would love to try a little of the magic behind Mistress Lily’s performance tonight. If it can do that for her, imagine what it could do for them.”
The slimy bastard twisted their priceless experience into an infomercial.
Jeremy’s thumb rubbed the scalloped ridge of her knuckles when she tensed, squeezing his fingers. The pressure of her front teeth on her lip would probably leave indentations. At least she prevented herself from ruining everything for the fleeting satisfaction it would bring to call the bastard out.
As soon as they crossed through the grand archway and angled toward their living space, the noise and activity died down. All of the staff attended to the guests and ensured Morselli’s party concluded to his satisfaction.
“Clint, take the lead. You remember the way back?”
“Yeah. I’ve got it, JRad.” He passed easily by the couple, who walked side by side in the wide thoroughfare. If he’d so much as brushed Lily, she might have tipped.
Ryan drew near, staying close to her side. He lagged a step behind her and Jeremy. Ben mirrored him off Jeremy’s opposite shoulder. Matt trailed them all, bringing up the rear.
“You’re doing great.” Jeremy draped his arm around her waist, bearing nearly all of her weight now that they were alone. Mostly. “Keep going. Force some more of that crap out of your bloodstream.”
“Feel better.” She couldn’t manage more through her gritted teeth. Absorbed with maintaining her balance, she banished the lure of his skin pressed so close to hers. Friction rubbed t
he tops of her thighs together, threatening to reignite the embers glowing there.
She refused to indulge the lingering symptoms.
“Liar.”
The walk to their quarters lasted at least triple the time it’d taken her to march into Morselli’s clutches this afternoon, bold yet ignorant of what he had in store for her. Though the day had taken its toll, she wouldn’t change a single thing.
“So many saved.” Lily didn’t realize she’d whispered aloud until Jeremy swooped in and kissed her. If he hadn’t braced her, she would have fallen flat on her ass. The succulence of his parted lips drove everything but the taste of him from her mind.
After several nibbles he glided over to tease the lobe of her ear. “Not out here. Almost home, okay?”
She blinked up at him.
“I can see the lobby of JRad’s apartment,” Clint called out.
“A few more steps.” He encouraged her when she thought she had nothing left to give. “You have it now. Count them out. Focus.”
“One…” She channeled her energy into naming each motion. Before they hit double digits, he unlocked the door to his private space.
“Ryan, Ben, are you able to stay out here tonight?”
“Whatever she needs, we’ll do,” Ryan spoke for them both.
“Good. Take turns on guard. Switch every two hours so you stay alert. Make sure I know if anyone comes snooping around. I don’t want to be interrupted without notice.” He stroked her hair all the way along her spine, leaving his hand on her ass. “She’s going to need me. Need to sleep this off too.”
The men nodded.
“Matt, Clint, head out.” Jeremy’s direction to the cops seemed vague compared to his instructions to Ryan and Ben.
She didn’t have the capacity to wonder why at the moment.
“Visit your girlfriend. See if she has any of the extra strong coffee she gave me that time I needed to wake up. Come back in the morning, after you’ve taken care of stuff.”
“On it.” Matt smiled at Lily. “I can’t believe you made it on your own. You’re a freak. In every awesome way. Thanks for tonight.”
“Impressive.” Clint braved Jeremy’s wrath long enough to buss her cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
The heavy door had only just snicked closed when Lily’s knees gave out. She pitched forward, prepared for impact with the marble flooring.
Jeremy caught her before she came anywhere close to cracking her skull. He cradled her in his arms and carried her across the room. A detour took them past a panel of flashing lights and a jumble of electronics, which occupied the surface of the desk littered with not one but three laptops.
She couldn’t do more than stare at the chaos while he used his right hand to hunt and peck a series of commands.
“There. Nice and secure. Private.” He nodded before regripping her legs and continuing on to the bathroom. “Jesus, Lily. You did so well. It was beautiful. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
He lavished praise along with a steady waterfall of kisses. With him she didn’t have to fight. She allowed herself to remain pliant, savoring the oddity of someone else’s care for her.
Water gushed from several ornate gold faucets into a gargantuan bathtub, more like a small swimming pool than the garden tub in her decent apartment. Steam swirled around them.
“Stay right there. Your balance is still jacked up.” Jeremy set her on the tiled ledge surrounding the tub. He kept one hand on her shoulder as he kicked off his shoes and bent one leg then the other to peel off his socks. She stared at his long, tan feet wondering how even his toes could be so fucking sexy.
A moan escaped her lips when Sex Offender amplified her natural ripple of pleasure.
“I know, Lily.” He made short work of the clasp on his leathers, shoving them off one hip then the other. “It hurts. I’m so sorry. I’ll try to fix it. Try to help. Matt and Clint should be able to procure some of the antidote from the hospital. Jambrea has been working on the test team. You remember her, right?”
She appreciated his attempt at distraction. “The sweet-looking nurse hiding her naughty side?”
“Pretty unsuccessfully, but yeah.” Jeremy beamed at her. “Matt and Clint have been about to duke it out for a chance with her since you saw her last.”
When he yanked the end of the harness crisscrossing his magnificent chest and unfastened the straps, she swore she drooled.
“Why don’t they share?” Lily tilted her head as she recalled the blushes coupled with no-so-discreet glances in the cops’ direction. “She’d go for it.”
Jeremy swiped the robe from her with a coordinated motion too fast for her sluggish mind to completely register. She craned her neck to keep his sleek body in sight when he climbed into the tub. Always, he maintained their contact, bracing her.
“I said the same thing. They weren’t ready to listen. Maybe after tonight…” Jeremy straddled the wall separating the elaborate spa from the rest of the bathroom. He planted his feet, making sure he was steady before plucking her from her perch. “I’m serious. You were spectacular. The way you responded to all those men. Well, it might change their minds about ménage.”
They settled into the rising water. He sat with his shoulders resting against the side of the basin, his form lounging in the contoured seat built into the structure. Waves glided from her belly to her breasts in the wake they caused by sliding partially below the surface.
The balmy fluid arrowed straight toward her aching muscles. She couldn’t suppress a decadent sigh. Between the soothing heat of the water and the scorching impression of Jeremy’s chest on her back, she could have been in heaven.
“I think you proved tonight that sharing sex with more than one man can take a woman to new heights. Who wouldn’t want that for someone they cared for?”
“No reason to fuck around. I can’t handle mind games tonight.” Too tired to do more than rest against his scrumptious body, she cut to the chase. “What are you digging for?”
Jeremy laughed. “You know all my tricks. This is going to be interesting.”
“I’m pretty sure you showed me some new ones tonight.”
Jeremy washed her. He lathered his hands with sweet-smelling soap then massaged away the dirt, grime and some of the ache permeating her body. He stayed silent so long she thought he might not continue his train of thought.
He worked his way up her torso, cupping her chin lightly in his hand and tipping her face until they could share a long, heated stare. “There could have been a thousand men there tonight. I was the only one that mattered. You pleased them because it pleased me. That’s what got you off. Again and again. I lost count of how many times you came.”
She didn’t want to look away from his brilliant eyes, but her sore neck couldn’t maintain the severe angle. As though he could read her mind, Jeremy adjusted her position. He turned her sideways. Her ass rested on the bottom of the tub between his legs, her knees bent over his thigh. Layers of sinew in his biceps made a remarkably comfortable pillow for her to recline on. The bulk of his full erection branded her hip.
A yelp escaped her when a spear of need ripped through her guts. “Fuck if I understand how that happened. I guess Sex Offender really is all they say. Even now, it’s making my reactions go haywire.”
“Don’t.” His entire body went rigid around her. “Don’t you dare lie to me. Or yourself. You used the drug as a crutch to take what you wanted. It was the only moment of weakness you showed tonight. And sometime soon I’ll paddle your ass for choosing the easy way out.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Her sneer probably would have held more weight if she’d been able to sit up and separate herself from his loose embrace. Nothing she did could make her leeched strength return. She rested in his hold, completely at his mercy.
“Not tonight. You’re not up for what I’ll give you for taking such a risk with my property.” For a moment, harsh lines slashed the corners of his mouth and eyes. He moved his arm to scrub the
m away.
Left unsupported, she descended close to the rising waterline.
A whimper forced through her clenched windpipe.
“You’re completely done, aren’t you?” Jeremy studied her reactions. “I have no idea how you’re still awake.”
“Me either.” Deep inside she knew how. She’d dreamed of spending time with him for months. Considered seeking him out to relay information about the case just to see him again.
A wicked bend to his lips transformed his soft smile into something more sinister. “You push all my buttons, Lily. I may not be able to punish you tonight, but I think I can make my point quite nicely.”
“Oh really?” She couldn’t say why she baited him except that the gnawing ache in her tummy began to rev to full speed once more.
“Yeah.”
Chapter Eleven
Jeremy shifted his hands, moving one between her shoulder blade and the other to her ass. He lifted her until she bobbed on the surface of the water. She floated, not difficult considering her boneless state. He propped her lower body on his bent knee, then used the hand that had been supporting her to dribble water from his fingertips over the beaded tips of her breasts, down her stomach and finally to her bare mound.
She mewled as her legs drifted open of their own volition.
Jeremy chuckled.
“It’s not funny.” She grimaced. “It aches. The drug is still kicking around. Let it die. Let me rest. I can block it out if you leave me alone.”
“The pressure is nowhere close to how bad it was before, right? You were a live wire out there on that stage. Screaming for more. Taking all you could get.” He dipped lower and sucked on her breast. “Bet I can make you come harder than you did at the height of the frenzy without even fucking you.”
“Not possible.” She closed her eyes. Not preferable either.
“Don’t worry, Lily.” He kissed her eyelids. “I won’t make you suffer. I remember the dull throbbing and the endless cycles of need. Tell me when it flares up. I’ll soothe it. You don’t have to pretend or hide. Your poor pussy is going to be sore tomorrow, though. I won’t add to your pain. Don’t need to right now. I can teach you a lesson. Something we both need to confirm.”