Crime & Punishment 2: Master Delacroix (15 page)

One of the submissives smiled at her. Connelly smiled back and said, “Hi.”

Nathan swatted the side of her thigh, catching her by surprise. “I didn’t give you permission to talk, sub.”

Connelly glared at him. “Perhaps you should stop slapping me and go over the rules for better clarification.”

“But slapping you is such a turn-on,” Nathan replied as he held up a shrimp. “Bite.”

Connelly took the shrimp in her mouth and let her teeth graze his finger, nipping it sharply. Nathan’s eyes narrowed into hard, dangerous slits. Her body went into immediate arousal mode. No more time than she’d spent with him, she’d come to know that look did not bode well for her and the thought sent every inch of her flesh into sensitivity meltdown.

“You
will
pay for that, sub,” he growled.

Connelly swallowed, unsure if the shiver of excitement that skimmed just below the surface of her skin was from fear or not.

* * * * *

Nathan spoke to the Dom sitting next to him as Connelly slowly chewed the last bite of shrimp he’d placed on her tongue. She absently ran her hands down her thighs, which were starting to cramp up from her position. She wasn’t used to sitting like this for so long.

She met Nathan’s assessing gaze as he stared down at her. “My legs are going to sleep,” she said softly, then added, “May I stand?”

He nodded once and held out a hand. “Do you need help up?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

He pulled his hand back and raised an eyebrow. Connelly sighed low in her throat, the noise coming out similar to a small growl. “Thank you, Master.”

He took her hand in his and held her steady as she climbed to her feet. Tingles raced through her shins, and she winced. “If my legs didn’t hurt so bad right now, I’d smack you,” she murmured.

Nathan’s lips twitched in that adorable amused grin of his that never failed to set her heart racing. “Why don’t you walk around for a bit, stretch your legs? I’ll catch up with you.”

She stared at him warily, wondering why he’d let that last remark go. Before he changed his mind, she headed off toward the bar and the group of submissives who had gathered there.

Chapter Fourteen

Nathan watched her go and couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her swaying backside. Daniel plopped down in the chair next to him and said, “Interesting show.”

“Which one?” Nathan asked, still watching Connelly as she spoke with a couple of the submissives.

“Well, I was talking about the one earlier, but maybe I should be asking you why you can’t keep your eyes off Connelly instead.”

“I’m just keeping an eye on her, which is what all Doms are supposed to do with the subs.” The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Daniel about the weird feelings he had concerning Connelly, especially the ones from earlier. He still couldn’t get over the way he felt her orgasm as well as his. “Did you enjoy your conversation with the wannabe slave?”

“I did, actually. She gives great blowjobs, by the way, which I desperately needed after your scene.”

Nathan chuckled. “You weren’t the only one. After it was over, I saw several couples engaging in some form of sex.” He looked over at his brother. “Did you want something specific?”

“No.” Daniel sat back and rested his chin on his fist. “I was just checking on you. Any more visions?”

Nathan shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Still no idea what they might be?”

“I really don’t want to talk about this right now, Daniel.”

Nathan turned his attention back to Connelly. She and the girls she was talking to all laughed. Nathan had to fight a grin at how cute she was and how well she fit in. He was tempted to grab her, set her adorable, firm ass on the bar, spread her legs, and feast on her pussy for dessert.

He’d never had such a strong connection to another human being. He wondered if it would last, or would it be gone as quickly as it started? And did she have anything to do with the visions that now plagued him? Or was it his brother who had triggered them?

“Have you talked to Dad?” Nathan asked.

Daniel frowned. “Since I’ve been here?”

Nathan leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. He clasped his hands and nodded.

“No. Why?”

“I’m just wondering if these visions have anything to do with him and his health.”

“I doubt it, unless you think he might try to shoot himself to get out of a slow, painful death.”

Nathan snorted. “Dad doesn’t run from things. It’s not in his nature. What about the possibility of a mob connection?”

“I’ve got my assistant going through any files that look suspicious. So far he hasn’t found anything, but that doesn’t mean something isn’t there. What about you?”

Nathan’s brow creased. “What about me?”

“I’m not convinced that it doesn’t have something to do with you. What about this serial killer Dee told me about? The one you connected with?”

Nathan grimaced. “He’s in jail.”

“People have been known to finance a hit from jail.”

Nathan gave a nod of agreement. “True, but I doubt it. That’s not how he works. If he was going to take care of me, he would do it himself. It’s a little hard to do that from behind bars.”

“Are there any other cases you’ve worked that could possibly come back and bite you in the ass?”

Nathan snickered. “Several.”

“You’re so damn blasé about this. You could be seeing your own death, and you act as though it’s not that big a deal.”

Daniel came close to yelling, so Nathan gave him a firm look and said, “Keep your voice down. No one here knows what I can do, and I want to keep it that way.”

“What about Connelly?”

“What about her?”

“Are you going to tell her?”

Nathan sighed and glanced back toward Connelly. Should he? Could he? How did he tell her that his mental connection to her was so strong he could actually read her mind? That right now he could sense her desire, feel her need to be with him again. Hell, she would never believe him. Not in a million years. Nathan wasn’t even sure he believed it.

“Why would I tell her, Daniel?” Nathan asked, avoiding the question by asking one of his own.

“Because I see the way you look at her and the way you couldn’t wait to get inside her a few minutes ago. I’ve known you my whole life, brother. I can tell when you’re about to lose it.”

“It’s a shame you could never tell when to quit or let things go.”

Daniel chuckled. “Maybe, but my stubbornness doesn’t hold a candle to yours.”

“She’s here to learn about the lifestyle. She doesn’t want a relationship. Once she has what she needs, she’ll move on and finish her book. As for my visions, I’ll figure it out sooner or later. Right now, I’m just not getting enough to piece everything together. Besides, if the vision is about me, the last thing I want is Connelly close enough to get hurt.”

And that was the truth.

He would make tonight with Connelly enough to last them both a very long time, because after today, he needed to distance himself from her for her own safety.

As though she knew he was thinking about her, she glanced in his direction. He curled his finger, indicating he wanted her to join him. She held up one of hers and continued talking to the other subs, who both had looks of worry on their faces. Nathan’s brow quirked.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Nathan said as he stood. “I think it’s time for a certain submissive to get her ass busted.”

Daniel chuckled softly. “Can’t wait to see what you do this time.”

CONNELLY SAW THE look on his face as Nathan stood and began walking toward her. He wasn’t angry really, but she had a sneaking suspicion she was in for it for something.

“Oh, boy.” The submissive next to her named Mary patted Connelly on the shoulder. “You should’ve went to him when he wanted you to.”

“The curl of his finger was a command?” Connelly asked.

“Oh, yeah. You have to watch Doms, Connelly. Sometimes their commands are very subtle.”

“I’m new. He can’t possibly fault me for not knowing that.”

“Yes, I can,” Nathan said as he stopped next to her.

Connelly looked up at his dark, golden-brown eyes and wanted to melt into a puddle at his feet. He was so damn gorgeous and right now so hot she could eat him alive.

“When I do this”—Nathan raised his hand and curled his finger—“I expect you to come to my side. Instantly.”

“I’m sorry, Master. I wasn’t aware.”

He gave her an expression that clearly said he thought she was full of shit. “You must always pay attention to your Dom, pet. Just like your Dom should always keep you in sight, especially in a club or party setting. Not all Doms heed the word no.”

“Oh, you mean like you?”

“What you and I did was a little different. What I mean is if another Dom wants to horn in on my sub, which sometimes happens, they don’t always listen to the sub when she tries to tell them she’s already with someone.”

Connelly nodded. “Got it. But what if a sub tries to horn in on you?”

Nathan’s lips tilted up at the corner. “Subs don’t approach Doms. Or at least they’re not supposed to. Would you be jealous, pet, if another sub tried to move in on me?”

NATHAN FELT IT instantly. That sharp pang of possessiveness. She didn’t like the idea of someone else touching him any more than he liked the idea of her with someone else. This was getting way too serious, way too fast. He’d never felt jealousy like that before—even with his fiancée.

“Of course not,” she lied. “We barely know each other. Why would I be jealous?”

Good question, Nathan thought to himself. Why would he be jealous as well? Why did he feel like he’d known her forever?

Perhaps he should put her with someone else and supervise it—play the voyeur Master for a while. Unfortunately, just thinking about it made him tense with…with what? Jealousy? Rage? Both?

What the hell was wrong with him?

He could put her with Daniel. He’d shared with Daniel before. Seeing her with him shouldn’t be that difficult. Right? But as he turned and looked at his brother, he knew it would be. For tonight, at least, Connelly was his and no one else’s.

Chapter Fifteen

Connelly thought Nathan was acting a bit odd. Why would he ask her about being jealous? No, she didn’t like the idea of another woman touching him, but she would never in a million years tell him that. They’d just met, for crying out loud.

Then if that was the case, why was she having sex with him like this?

Because she couldn’t help herself, that was why.

There was something about him, whether it was his Dom demeanor, his looks, or something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She felt like she knew him, that he knew her. It wasn’t something she could explain.

If this were a book, she would describe it as almost paranormal, but that was just stupid. That sort of connection didn’t exist in the real world. It was only for books and fantasy. And certainly not for her.

She’d married her husband because he was good for her, good to her, and they meshed well together for the most part. Real love, like the love she wrote about, didn’t exist, so whatever this feeling or sensation was whenever she came around Nathan was nothing more than a trick of the mind. They’d had some pretty intense sexual encounters, and that was all it was.

Just sex.

Nathan gripped her elbow and jerked her toward him so hard Connelly actually squeaked in surprise. He had an odd light in his eyes, as though something she’d said pissed him off.

He dipped his head and kissed her. She gasped, and his tongue slid past her parted lips and plundered till her knees went weak. She had to grip his biceps to keep from falling. Where had that come from, and why did it leave her feeling warm all over? She wanted more, and when he pulled away, she tried to put her hand behind his head and tug him back for another.

“Greedy little, sub,” he whispered.

“You started it.”

Nathan harrumphed before dragging her along behind him toward the bar. Connelly had no idea what he had in mind, but if it was anything like that very hot, very demanding kiss, she’d be putty in his very capable hands.

Before she could ask where they were going, Nathan turned and grabbed her around the waist. As though she weighed nothing, he picked her up and set her on the bar hard enough her bare ass made a splat sound when she landed. A couple of Doms seated at the stools chuckled, and she winced in embarrassment.

“Nath—I mean Master. What are you doing?”

“I’m about to have dessert.”

She smiled. “Do you have anything chocolate?”

The Doms chuckled again, and she frowned down at them before turning her attention back to Nathan, who watched her with a look that was a cross between amused and slightly devilish. A sudden wave of wariness made her tense. With trembling fingers, she tried to pull her cover down her thighs a bit more.

“No, pet,” Nathan murmured as he brushed her hands aside. “This is coming off.”

She stiffened. “Beg your pardon?”

“Off. Now.”

Her eyes went wide as realization dawned. “You don’t mean to have me for dessert.”

He grinned. “Oh, yes. I do. Right here on the bar.”

She glanced around frantically. “But…”

“No buts.”

“Bu…” She drew in a shaky breath.

“What are you worried about, pet?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with merriment and pure evil. “We already fucked once in front of all these people.”

Her face flushed burning red. Oh, God. Yes, they had. He’d taken her doggie-style and on her back. He’d made her scream from three, no, four orgasms.

“Now I want to eat your pussy in front of them, so take off the cover, lay back so I can tie you down, then offer yourself up to me. Otherwise, you’re getting the pussy flogger for my trouble.”

“The what?” she asked, her eyes wide.

Just the thought of him swatting her pussy with soft strips of leather made her wet. Geez, she was sick, wasn’t she?

Nathan’s chuckle made her frown. Was she that transparent?

“John,” Nathan called. “Bring me the mini flogger.”

She crossed her legs and glared. “Are you insane? You’re going to flog my pussy?”