Re/Viewed

by Michele Zurlo

  Humor made his eyes sparkle. “I do, but if we were to use them, you’d be the one wearing them.”

  “Because I’m sexy or because that’s your kink?”

  “Both.” His cocky smile left her unable to respond. She merely gaped at him, and his smile faltered. “Too much?”

  Bondage was the second item on her list of favorite kinks, right under exhibitionism. Of course, it was more socially acceptable to find someone to tie her up than to find people who liked to watch. “Not at all. I’ll safeword if you cross a line.”

  His luscious lips parted ever so slightly, and his gaze seemed to penetrate all the way to her soul. “You’re in the lifestyle?”

  “In and out. It’s not a requirement, but it’s a nice bonus to have in a play partner.”

  She hadn’t played with a Dom since she’d asked Alex to release her almost three years ago. After four years of serving him, he’d become very attached to her, and he’d begun showing signs of wanting to take their relationship to the next level. Tru had decided a long time ago that she wasn’t marriage material, and though she’d loved serving Alex, nothing about their arrangement had made her want more. It had been fun and fulfilling. She didn’t regret the time she’d spent with him, but she hadn’t wanted to make it permanent. And so she’d introduced him to her friend Jewell, and the two of them were now happily married. Tru stayed in touch with the couple mainly through social media, occasional phone calls, and sporadic visits.

  Satisfied with her response, Jed turned to face the front of the kayak. They followed the guide along the shore, taking in the wondrous vision of nature juxtaposed with stretches of too much human interference. Tru loved living in northern Michigan where human presence was concentrated in a few areas but was, for the most part, absent.

  About an hour later, they stopped at a beach that had vendors who sold all sorts of trinkets and processed food items. Tru turned up her nose at the idea of a hot dog and slushie. She peered down the short stretch of beach, noting where the terrain became rocky at the base of the cliffs.

  “Are you hungry?” Jed dropped his life vest into the kayak. His light blue shirt sported huge wet spots wherever the vest hadn’t provided cover from the splashes and swells. He pulled it over his head and spread it on the kayak so that the sun could work its magic.

  Tru let herself bask in the vision of male beauty on display. Generous muscles defined his shoulders, neck, and torso. The sunlight glinting from his dark skin only made him more inviting. Her fingertips itched to trace paths along his ripples and bulges, but she kept her impulses under wraps. It would not do to feel up the FBI agent on a public beach. He probably wouldn’t like that. Or maybe he would, and he’d return the favor.

  “Tru?”

  She jerked her attention from her impromptu fantasy. “What?”

  He chuckled. “It’s still not your birthday.”

  Snorting, she rolled her eyes and unlatched her life jacket. The shirt she’d worn was made from the same material as a wetsuit, so it was only wet on the outside. “I’m tempted to celebrate anyway.” With the amount of eye candy he had thrown at her today, it might as well be a special occasion. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so entranced by the sight of a man without a shirt.

  “How about I buy you something cold to drink?” He laughed along with the offer, so she figured he wasn’t telling her to cool off.

  She eyeballed the offerings. Though she’d brought water, it was now warm. “Water is fine.”

  “Do you want something to eat?”

  “Nothing from there. I have some granola, which I’m more than willing to share if you’d like to avoid the gross and unnatural additives in those foods.” She slung a waterproof bag over her shoulder. “I’d offer you some fruit, but I know you don’t like it.”

  He scrunched his nose and curled his upper lip. Even distaste looked good on him. “I’m not into health food. I love tacos too much.”

  Tacos could be very healthy, especially when they were packed with beans and other vegetables. From his reaction, she figured he was all about hamburger and “cheese product.” Whatever. Her life philosophy included living her life the way she wanted and not judging others on their life choices. If Jed wanted to eschew healthy dining options, that was his prerogative.

  “I’ll get you some water.” He jogged off toward one of the vendors.

  “You guys are doing really well in the tandem kayak.”

  Tru turned to find the tour guide standing behind her. The man wasn’t much older than her, and his tan attested to a life spent pursuing outdoor adventures. Though she’d met him in person for the first time today, she’d corresponded with him several times in the past month in order to set up the excursion. She grinned. “Hi, Tom. Yeah, we’re doing okay. We’re not married, so no divorce is imminent.”

  He chuckled. “From what you’ve told me about your experience on the water, I figured that even if he did nothing, you’d be fine. And if he gets out of line, you can always whack him in the head accidentally.”

  Hitting one another with the paddles was a real hazard in a two-person kayak because they were situated so closely together. She didn’t laugh at his attempt to joke because she didn’t find it funny. “Oh, I wouldn’t do that. I’d run the risk of being arrested for assaulting an officer.”

  “Federal agent.” Jed’s correction came from over her shoulder. “It’s a stiffer penalty.”

  If he were going to issue a stiff penalty, she’d gladly do the time. With that naughty thought firmly locked down in the part of her brain that knew not to let it loose, she turned her smile on Jed. “Right. Because you’re so delicate once you’re not local law enforcement anymore.”

  He handed her a bottle of water, and she could tell he was swallowing several comebacks that probably weren’t appropriate. As she downed half the bottle, she wondered what kind of retort was running through his head.

  For his part, Jed unwrapped half of a taco and studied Tom. “This is a pretty cool trip. How long have you been running these tours?”

  Tom adjusted his fisherman’s hat and assumed the wide-legged stance of a man about to shoot the breeze with another dude. “About twenty years. I started as an assistant part time in high school, and now I own the company.”

  Jed ate his taco in two huge bites. “That’s awesome. You’re your own boss. Living the dream.”

  Tru watched the duo make small talk, and she noticed that Jed surreptitiously positioned himself between her and Tom. She watched his alpha move with more than a little amusement. She ate granola and finished her water, and then she went in search of a recycling bin. When she returned to the beach where she’d left Jed with Tom, she found them discussing the pros and cons of interacting with the public.

  “I wish you could arrest people for being assholes,” Tom said. “I hate when I see people chasing pods or whales or whatever. Coast Guard almost never issues anything but a warning.”

  She had no interest in the conversation. When Jed looked over to acknowledge that she was back, she pointed down the beach toward where it became rocky. “I’m going to explore. We’re here for another half hour, right?”

  “Yeah.” Tom lifted his chin. “Be careful over there, and don’t climb anything.”

  “Aye aye, captain.” She threw a mock salute and turned away.

  Jed started forward with her. “I’ll go with you.”

  “You don’t have to.” If he wanted to continue to socialize with Tom, she had no problem exploring by herself.

  “I want to.”

  “Afraid I’ll get lost?” The coastline curved around and out of sight, but it was fairly narrow. If someone had a horrid sense of direction, then it was conceivable that they could get lost. Luckily Tru had an awesome internal compass.

  “Nope. You seem like the kind of woman who can take care of herself.” His lips moved like he was going to say more, but he stopped himself.

  “I’m sensing there’s more to that stat
ement.”

  “I guess I’m a little old fashioned. I don’t think you should have to take care of yourself. As long as I’m around, I’ll look out for you." He put out a hand to help her over a string of large, rocky outcroppings.

  She let him hold her upper arm to provide additional stability. “It’s the Dom in you. You see a woman who you think is submissive, and you just can’t help yourself.”

  As they were on the other side of the hazard, he slowly released his hold. “You’re not submissive?”

  “Oh, I am. I’ve been a beta Domme before, but I identify primarily as submissive.” When she’d belonged to Alex, they’d frequently brought in a third party for group play. Their play partners varied. Sometimes Alex proposed them, and other times Tru had brought offerings to Alex for approval. She knew his taste well, which was why she’d been so successful in setting him up with Jewell. At the time, she’d loved to watch him have sex with other women. Actually, she wouldn’t have cared if he’d wanted to have sex with men, but Alex was firmly heterosexual. It was a pity because Tru had met some men who would have loved to kneel before Alex.

  “Beta Domme? That explains why you rushed to defend the idea of ménage situations.” The ground was littered with rocks, and he grabbed her elbow. “I hope you don’t think I run around treating women like they’re fragile or that they can’t fend for themselves. I am a feminist.”

  She laughed, not because he proclaimed himself in favor of treating people equally without regard for gender, but because he seemed so concerned about not appearing sexist while he steadfastly held onto her to keep her from slipping or falling or something. “I know you don’t. You didn’t do anything for me until you found out I was a sub, and I haven’t seen you treat your fellow agents as anything but equals. Well, you defer to Agent Lockmeyer, but she’s your boss, so that’s expected.”

  They came to a place where the cliff face jutted out into the sea. It was a natural barrier, and there was no way they were getting around it without climbing or swimming. The fact that Tom had told her not to climb it made Tru itch to find handholds and crevices. She wouldn’t go all the way up, but she could get a few feet off the ground. Tru studied the rock and contemplated the consequences of breaking a rule while she was with a federal agent. Really she was soaking in the strength radiating from Jed while trying to ignore the fact that he looked like a male model out for a photo shoot on the beach.

  “You’re not climbing that.” Jed parked a hand on her lower back. His tone brooked no argument, and she couldn’t keep from leaning closer.

  “I know. I didn’t bring my gear.”

  “You have rock climbing gear?”

  “I have spelunking gear, which isn’t the quite the same thing.” She wandered closer to the water, and he followed. “It’s all packed away because I haven’t gone in ages. I kind of miss it.” She stopped at the shore just short of the leading edge of the surf. They looked out over the water in silence, but Tru wasn’t one to waste an opportunity. They were alone, and he was subtly topping her. She had a puzzling vision, they had chemistry, and she yearned to see if it was going to lead anywhere. “Are you going to kiss me?”

  “No.” He didn’t pretend to be unaware of the growing tension between them. “You’ve got a thing for Dare, and he’s my partner.”

  Tru had heard another agent refer to Liam by that nickname. “I don’t have a thing for Liam.” She could have developed a thing for him, but he’d kissed her and left without so much as a farewell.

  “You came by the room looking for him first thing this morning.” He didn’t remove his hand from her back. His fingers spread wider, and he ran a caress along her lower back and waist. The signals he sent were at direct odds with his verbal protest. “You were upset with him for leaving. That’s why you kissed me.”

  Yeah, she’d been upset, but those feelings had disappeared. “Maybe that was true at first, but once I kissed you, I forgot about him.”

  “That’s why you changed your mind about me delivering a message?”

  “That, and the fact that I’ll never see him again, so it really didn’t matter.” She turned to face him. Inches separated them, but she didn’t push to close the gap. For the first time in years, she felt the need to submit to someone, at least for the duration of a kiss. “I bought the cherries and apples for you. That was before I knew you didn’t like fruit. Next time I’ll pick up tacos. And I got you a seat on this trip. I had to beg and obliquely threaten to get Tom to agree to letting you come.”

  He slid one arm around her waist and pulled her to him. Then he cupped the back of her head in his palm, tilting her face to his. “You begged?” The heat of his breath washed over her lips, a promise of things to come.

  “A little.”

  He teased her earlobe with his thumb. “I would love to hear you beg.”

  All sense of structure evaporated from her knees, and she leaned her body against his to make up for the lack. He supplied her with the strength she needed. She lowered her gaze, focusing it on his lips. “Please kiss me.”

  It was enough. He closed his lips over hers and slipped his tongue into her mouth. The kiss filled her senses. The sound of the ocean and the waves echoing from the sheer face of the rocky cliff ceased to exist. In its place, the roar of passion mingled with her racing pulse to transport her to a world where only Jed existed. She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted, but when he at last drew away and pressed her cheek to his chest, she had forgotten where she was. Safe inside the circle of his arms, location no longer mattered.

  The Abiding Tide/Day 2

  Tom’s Ocean Kayaking Adventures Tour..................4

  Friendliness/helpfulness of staff...............5

  Sights and sounds........................Beautiful

  Kiss with a Dominant Federal agent............Toe Curling

  Chapter Six

  Angelo Braithwaite’s two-bedroom apartment wasn’t occupied, but it was far from empty. Three agents from the local FBI office had joined Jordan and Liam in their search through Braithwaite’s belongings, jamming the small space to capacity.

  Liam picked up a picture of Braithwaite with a much younger woman. He wore a suit, and she wore a white wedding dress. “His daughter?”

  Jordan grimaced. “Given the way he’s holding her, it looks like he’s the groom, or he wishes he was.”

  Braithwaite’s file indicated that he had divorced his wife fifteen years earlier, and there was no mention of a second marriage. Liam unlatched the back of the frame to search for anything that might be hidden inside. “I’m going to need to do another records search. He’s listed as single and divorced. There’s a record of him having a daughter, but she’s single as well.”

  One of the local agents, Raina Longstaff, came over to them. “There’s a framed wedding certificate on the wall in the second bedroom, which looks like it’s a combination office and storage room.”

  “Let’s run it.” Finding nothing in the photo frame, Liam put it back on the mantle. “Something smells funny in the state of Denmark.”

  “Rotten,” Agent Longstaff said. “The quote is about something being rotten in the state of Denmark.”

  Liam knew the real quote. He’d read his fair share of the Bard. He added Agent Longstaff to the long list of people who didn’t understand his sense of humor. He went into the second bedroom to inspect the marriage certificate. It didn’t take him long to notice that it wasn’t notarized or that the signature of the County Clerk was very similar to Braithwaite’s. “Run a records search. Check the signature.”

  Agent Longstaff bagged the certificate for transport as possible evidence. “The place is full of women’s stuff—clothes, shoes, shampoo. A woman definitely lives here, or Braithwaite likes to wear women’s things.” With that, she exited the room, leaving Liam alone to go through the rest of the items.

  Jordan visited a little later. “The apartment is rented in Braithwaite’s name, but the landlord says he lived here with h
is wife whose name, he thinks, is Sarah. She’s not listed on the lease.”

  This turn of events presented a puzzle that Liam needed to talk through. “It’s Zarah Johnson. Her name is on the marriage certificate. I wonder if she knows the marriage isn’t legally recognized?”

  Jordan frowned. “It’s conceivable that she thinks they’re married. Let’s go with that assumption. Why hasn’t she reported him as a missing person?”

  Liam let his gaze roam the messy room while they talked. “Perhaps she ran because she witnessed his death? They might have been traveling together. Maybe whoever murdered Braithwaite also murdered his wife? Or maybe she killed him and ran off? Has Brandy checked the hotel records yet to see if he was alone?”

  Jordan drummed his fingertips on his thigh. “She’s doing that right now. I’ll call her to see if he was there with a companion and if they checked out together.”

  Liam nodded. He went to the desk and pulled out the chair. It was time to start going through Braithwaite’s papers. It would be awesome if these things were digital, but they’d found no computer or laptop in the place. He was on the lookout for cash transactions or assets that had been suddenly acquired. “If not, see if they checked out electronically. Lots of places don’t require people to check out in person anymore, but there should still be some kind of record.”

  Jordan punched numbers into his phone. “I’m going to put a BOLO on Zarah Johnson or Zarah Braithwaite.”

  While Jordan called in the alert, Liam extracted a pile of papers from the desk drawer and began going through them. He liked to get an idea of what he was dealing with before categorizing and cross-referencing the details. Given the amount of paper in the office, he had hours of work ahead of him. Sometimes being a data analysis genius meant long stretches that lacked excitement. Like tonight. He’d much rather be back at the bed-and-breakfast with the rest of his team. That way when he took a break, he could go outside and hope to run into Tru. Nothing had really started between them, but there had been definite sparks. He’d like to pursue the matter to see if those sparks could ignite anything bigger, maybe even long-lasting or—dare he dream?—permanent.