Karina’s eyes went wide as the pulsing walls of her vagina tightened around the rabbit and dildo. Wow was her only thought as her vision began to blur and fade.
She lay limp, unable to move as Brayden removed the toys, and then loosened the straps. As he lowered her legs, he gently rubbed them. She sighed at the feel of his fingers working her tight muscles. When he brushed over some of the sore spots from the flogger she groaned in pain, but that pain soon changed to a pleasurable sting.
“Put your arms around my neck,” Brayden murmured, as he bent to pick her up in his arms.
In the beginning, Karina fought this, but now she wanted nothing more than to curl up on his lap and let him hold her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brayden dropped into one of the overstuffed chairs in the far corner. Karina wiggled, trying to find a more comfortable position. She rubbed the backs of her legs against his and winced softly. They were pretty striped, so he was sure they were sore. He had to admit, he liked seeing her that way. Those stripes around her legs and ass were his doing, and he took pride in the fact they gave her pleasure.
Despite her stubbornness.
He grinned and tightened his arm around her as she settled her head on his chest and shoulder. Her ass rested enticingly against his aching balls and his cock got even harder, if that was possible. He was tempted to help her straddle his lap so she could ride him, but right now she just needed to relax. It was early yet. Another quiet scene wasn’t out of the question.
“That was just wrong,” she murmured. “You realize that, right?”
He snickered. “Wrong or not, you enjoyed it. Besides, you did exactly as he wanted you to do.”
“That’s beside the point,” she grumbled. “Do you see Delacroix?”
Brayden frowned slightly. “Is your mind always on work?”
Her body tensed and there was a slight pause. “No.”
“If Delacroix sensed anything, he’ll come to us. Relax and try not to think about it for now. How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Weak, but okay.”
Brayden looked out across the floor. The cleaning crew had finished up with the scene area, and another couple moved in. He glanced over the crowd, but didn’t see Delacroix. He spotted Josh talking with a group of submissives. Josh caught his stare and then shook his head slightly. He’d caught nothing.
Brayden sighed and rested his chin on the top of Karina’s head. Did they just do that scene for nothing? Well, he wouldn’t believe for nothing. The more he played with Karina, the more he felt her coming into her own. He believed she was submissive, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He also believed they belonged together. They were good together. Unfortunately, convincing her of that fact might be harder than he would like.
She’d been through a lot, and he could understand her hesitancy. That didn’t stop him from wanting her.
He glanced down at his chest and her hand as it rested against his beating heart. His mother’s ring caught the light. He touched her hand and rubbed his fingers over the ring, which looked perfect around her finger. It was just the right size, the right color, the right fit. It was as though it was made for her—that they were made for each other.
“See? I haven’t lost it,” she whispered.
Brayden smiled softly. “I never doubted you. It suits you.”
“I never thought that I would ever marry.”
“Why?”
“Because I could never sleep with a man. How many husbands want to sleep in separate beds from their wives?”
“You might be surprised,” he drawled in amusement.
“It’s weird that I can sleep with you.”
“You feel comfortable with me. Maybe that was all you needed. To learn to trust someone enough to be able to sleep with them.”
“Maybe,” she whispered.
“No maybes, and from here on out, no separate rooms.”
“Brayden—”
“Hush, sub,” he murmured, and to his surprise, she remained quiet.
For about a second.
“You’re so damn bossy,” she grumbled.
He chuckled softly. “You like it. Admit it.”
“I admit nothing.”
“I know it’s been hard for you—” he whispered, “—being submissive. But I believe it suits you. I like how you submit to me.”
“I must admit,” she said softly, her words barely heard above the noise of the club. “Submitting to you was easier than I thought it would be. I couldn’t have done this with someone I didn’t know.” She looked up at him with sleepy eyes. Brayden brushed his thumb over her cheek, enjoying the feel of her soft skin beneath his touch.
“I’m glad it was you,” she whispered.
“Me too, kitten.”
She looked as though she wanted to say something, before biting her lower lip and dropping her head back to his shoulder. Brayden lowered his hand and let it rest on her thigh. She struggled with her emotions—with what she believed she should be.
He wouldn’t push her. Not yet anyway.
Staring across the floor of the club, he spotted Delacroix by the bar. He had his hands on his hips, his eyes narrowed, an angry, firm set to his jaw. Submissives took a wide path around him, as though they knew something had pissed him off and they wanted to keep their distance. Brayden didn’t blame them.
Was Delacroix angry because he felt their unsub or because he didn’t?
He waited for the club owner to notice him and make eye contact. When he did, Delacroix shook his head. Brayden growled softly. This wasn’t working.
They needed the unsub to make a move, but how? What would it take? Putting Karina in harm’s way? Brayden stomach knotted at the thought. Unfortunately, she was already in harm’s way. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
Could he put her even further out there? Leave her unprotected and see if the unsub made a move? Would that be wise?
No, that would be insane.
What if they missed something? What if the unsub got her, and they somehow lost him?
Brayden buried his fingers in her hair and held her head to his shoulder. It was too risky. He couldn’t lose her.
Not now.
“Brayden?” she murmured softly.
“Yes, kitten.”
“You’re squishing my head. What are you thinking about?”
He loosened his grip, unaware that he’d even been holding her that tight.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I think this case is just starting to get to me.”
“It’s been getting to me,” she mumbled, and readjusted her head on his shoulder. “It’s about time you caught up.”
Brayden chuckled.
Karina sat at the table the next morning, picking at her food with the tip of her fork. She wasn’t hungry at all, so she had no idea why she even cooked it. All she could do was push it around her plate like a sulking child.
In a way, she was sulking. Their scene last night had been for naught. Delacroix hadn’t felt a thing. Either their unsub wasn’t there, or he’d gotten better at hiding his emotions. Karina preferred the first. She would rather believe he just wasn’t there than to believe he could get the better of them.
But isn’t that what he’d been doing all this time? They hadn’t caught him yet, so in a sense, he was getting the better of them.
“Kay, you have to eat something,” Brayden said softly.
Karina raised her gaze to stare at him. He watched her silently from across the table, concern darkening his eyes. He was worried about her…about how she was holding up. Just knowing that sent tingles through her stomach. She’d never really had anyone care for her the way Brayden did. Not even her parents.
Her uncle had tried. She knew he loved her in his own way, but her uncle was a lot like her. Damaged emotionally. But Brayden had shoveled through that damage and found her heart. To her surprise, it was still whole and still able to love.
“I’m try
ing to eat,” she said as she sat back. “I guess I’ve just got too much on my mind.”
“Stop worrying about it.”
“He wasn’t there. I can’t help but wonder if maybe they’ll find another body somewhere today.”
“Don’t think like that.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe he just took the night off. Perhaps he wanted to stay home and watch TV.”
She curled her lip. “Funny.”
Brayden smiled and her stomach did a little flip. God, she had it bad. She wanted to ask him what would happen when all this was over. Would they still keep playing? Would they become a couple? Or would things return to normal?
She knew she didn’t want to be a Domme anymore, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure she could play with a Dom other than Brayden. It was Brayden she trusted. She didn’t believe she could trust anyone else this way.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded and took a bite of eggs, but they tasted bland and rubbery. It wasn’t his cooking. It was her. Nothing tasted right. Nothing felt right and probably wouldn’t until this case was done and over with.
“I hate sitting around. I should be out there, studying the crime scene, talking to people. Not this. I just want this to end,” she grumbled.
“Want rid of me already?” he asked playfully.
Karina raised her gaze to his and opened her mouth to tell him no, but he shook his head grinning. “I know what you mean. How about you and I do something fun this afternoon? Maybe it will get your mind off things.”
Karina snorted. “Like what?”
“We could go to the aquarium downtown or do some shopping. I know women love to shop.”
Karina grinned. “I do love shoes.”
Brayden snorted. “Lord. Shoes. How do you ever run suspects down in those three-inch death traps you wear?”
“Hey, I can run just fine in those ‘three-inch death traps,’ as you call them, and look very good doing it too.”
He gave her a half smile that made her nipples bead. “You won’t get any arguments from me on that one.”
“Besides, I thought you liked those shoes.”
“I do…at the club.”
She raised an eyebrow, and he grinned. “Yeah, okay. I like them at work too. Happy?”
Karina laughed softly. “I’m always happy when I can get a man to confess.” Her smile faded somewhat as her mind returned to the case. “Maybe we should stay in and work on those case files—”
He pointed his finger at her. A stern look hardened his face. “No. Fun today, Karina. You need to relax, and I’m going to see to it that you do.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but his narrowed eyes made her go silent. Brayden had returned to Dom mode and there would be no changing his mind.
“Just say ‘Yes, Master’.”
She frowned. “Like hell.”
Brayden’s eyes sparked with a devilment that gave Karina the feeling she would come to regret that comment later.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brayden pulled into the hotel parking lot and swung the car around into their spot so fast, Karina had to raise her hand and grab the dash. He stopped the car with a jerk, and she laughed.
“You’re such a show off,” she said, still giggling.
“I made you laugh. That’s all I wanted.”
She looked over at his sparkling eyes and had to swallow the sigh that threatened to escape. She never realized just how much fun Brayden could be. He made her feel comfortable and relaxed, more so than she’d been in years.
“Are you going to help me carry all this stuff in?” she asked.
He snorted. “I carried most of it through the mall, didn’t I? I swear, I think you only wanted me there to be your pack mule.”
“No, you were nice eye candy too.”
He reached over and poked her in the side, tickling her. She squealed and quickly opened the door, escaping his teasing touch. She was still chuckling when they opened the trunk to retrieve the bags. She hadn’t been the only one to shop. Brayden had bought a few things, as well. She especially liked the flannel shirt he’d bought for the Western-themed night that was coming up at the club.
The blue in the shirt really made his eyes pop. She inwardly snorted. Like he needed any help with looks.
Glancing around his shoulder, she spotted a familiar car a few spaces down. “Isn’t that Delacroix’s Jag?” she asked.
Brayden looked, and his smiled morphed into a quick frown. “Maybe. But if he wanted to talk to us, why didn’t he just call?”
Karina took the bag he handed her and shrugged. “I guess we should head in and see if he’s here.”
After retrieving all their packages, they headed inside and found Delacroix sitting in one of the leather chair flanking the stone fireplace, a Kindle in his hands.
Karina stopped and grinned at him. “Do you normally go to hotel lobbies to read?”
He looked up, but didn’t smile. “I read wherever I get the opportunity.”
“Is something wrong?” Brayden asked.
Delacroix nodded just slightly, then stood. “We’ll talk about it in your room.”
Karina’s stomach knotted. Delacroix didn’t look too happy at the moment. Did something terrible happen? Was it someone they knew this time?
Her mind shifted to her friend. She’d missed her funeral—missed her laughter. Delacroix gave her shoulder a squeeze as they entered the elevator. He probably sensed her unease, and to her surprise, she appreciated his touch. He’d grown on her unexpectedly.
They entered her suite, and Brayden closed the door behind them while Karina placed the bags on the bed.
“It’s amazing how many shoes a woman can buy, isn’t it?” Delacroix said as he set a stack of photos on the table.
“You didn’t come here to talk about shoes,” Karina replied.
She slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans and leaned against the wall that separated the living area from the bedroom.
“No, pet. I didn’t.”
“Just spit it out, Delacroix,” Brayden said.
“Our unsub is getting brazen. Josh was injured—”
“What?” Karina said as she pushed away from the wall.
“He was hit on the head from behind.”
“By the unsub?” Brayden asked.
“We believe so, yes. He was escorting Janie to her car.”
Karina’s throat went dry. “Oh. God. Please tell me he didn’t…”
Delacroix shook his head sadly. Karina started for the photos, but Delacroix crabbed her elbow and held her back. “Wait, Karina. You need to hear it first. Trust me. He was much more brutal this time.”
Tears slipped from the corner of her eyes as Delacroix moved behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her back against him. Brayden picked up the pictures and looked through them. Each one making him go a little more pale.
“What?” Karina asked. “What did he do to her?”
“He cut her up into pieces, Kay,” Brayden whispered.
Karina sobbed and sagged against Delacroix’s chest. How could someone hurt a girl as sweet as Janie? She didn’t deserve this. None of them had.
“We’re out, Delacroix,” Brayden growled.
Karina lifted her gaze to stare at the picture he held up for Delacroix. Her eyes widened at the sight of her name written across the wall in blood. Beneath it was the word “Mine.”
Nausea rolled through her stomach as she tried to break free of Delacroix’s hold. “I’m going to be sick, Nathan. Let me go.”
He released his grip, and she rushed to the bathroom, emptying the contents of her stomach. Brayden appeared on his knees next to her, a cold rag in his hand. She took it and pressed it to her face as she took several deep breaths.
She’d never gotten sick like that before. Ever. Was it seeing her name? Was it knowing she was a target? That he was after her?
There was no hiding now. No guessing. He knew who she was, and he was c
oming for her.
Delacroix put his hand on her shoulder, his soft voice in her ear as he said, “Drink this, pet. You’ll feel better.”
She took the small glass of Sprite he handed her and sipped it slowly. Her stomach still rolled, and she thought for a minute that it might reject the drink, but she was able to keep it down.
“Was she alive when he did it?” she asked.
“In the beginning,” Delacroix answered softly.
Karina swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.
“Why is he doing this?” she asked angrily. “Why did he have to do that? He couldn’t just paint my name with red paint?”
“He’s sick, pet,” Delacroix replied. “There’s no reason for what he does. He just does it.”
“And he’s apparently getting sicker by the victim,” Brayden mumbled. “Was it the scenes? Is that why he’s getting more brutal? Because he can’t get his hands on the one he really wants?”
“Maybe,” Delacroix replied. “Come on, pet. Let’s get you off the bathroom floor.”
He and Brayden stood, both helping her to her feet, but it was Brayden she turned to. It was Brayden who enfolded her in his arms as he helped her back to the kitchen.
She was coming to rely on him. Maybe too much?
As they came into the kitchen, she pushed away from him. She’d never needed anyone to comfort her before. She shouldn’t need it now. But even as she put some distance between them, she wanted nothing more than to run back.
She walked slowly to the table, sipping on her Sprite. She stared down at the top picture, the one with her name. She tried to look at it as she would look at any crime scene photo, but this one felt different.
She reached for the picture, intending to flip it over and examine the ones beneath it.
Brayden put his hand over hers. “You don’t want to look at those, Kay.”
“I don’t, but I have to. This is what I do, Brayden.”
“Stay out of this one.”
“He did this because of me. There’s no way I’m staying out of it.”
Topping the Domme (Crime and Punishment) Page 18