STORY EXCERPT

Nels arrived just before they did looking pale, eyes red-rimmed. He was a bit wrinkled in a shirt he could have worn yesterday with the tie cast aside.

Sinclair wondered as he slowly slunk toward them what his excuse would be for not coming sooner, for not even answering the messages he and Veronica had sent him.

“Where were you Nelson?” Veronica demanded.

“I—”

“You idiot,” she growled. “How could you ignore our texts?”

Before he could reply Veronica went on a tear about his lack of concern and interest in a family he claimed to care about.

“I didn’t get your message until now,” he told her. “I was with one of my kids. He had a bad night. Family issues.”

“Your own family was falling apart,” she screamed and slapped him. “Brooke woke up just before you got here.”

She had woken to the doctor’s surprise, but she was sleeping again now.

His expression became drawn and tight as he studied her. “What about Bean?” His was quiet, pained.

“He didn’t make it,” she snapped. “You should have been here, and I swear, Nels, if you were with that woman—”

“I wasn’t,” he growled.

“I will lose all respect for you,” she said as if he hadn’t spoken. “It better not be a lie.”

“It’s not.”

He looked at Sinclair, and Sinclair saw the fleeting hint of a “I can’t believe I did that” look. He sighed and shook his head as he studied the younger man. He prayed for Nelson’s sake his wife didn’t die and his lover was a one-off.

This could turn uglier than a baboon’s ass.

“How did this even happen?” he demanded. “Was it a car crash? Did Brooke forget to put Bean in his car seat?”

“She might have forgotten to secure it,” Sinclair said. “And it looks like it was a nasty car accident. We only spoke to Brooke a minute when she woke up.”

“What did she say?” he asked a hint of fear in his voice that made Sinclair frown.

“She said something about a Ghostface mask,” Veronica said. “And a man. We think it might have been the person who found her and called for help.”

“I don’t—she is so careless these days. How could she forget to protect our son?”

“We don’t know anything for sure,” Sinclair said. “We’re still waiting on the investigation to be complete. Some of those seats just aren’t enough protection. A kid’s neck could be broken in an accident even if properly secured.”

“Bean’s neck—”

“We don’t know exactly how he died yet Nels,” Sinclair cut in impatiently. “How could you not see our texts? Tanner called to ask if you’d responded and to say he’d texted you six times.”

Nels swallowed tightly. “My phone tied okay,” he snapped. “I’m going in to see my wife and then I’m going to see my son. Have her parents been called?”

“Yeah, no thanks to you,” Veronica grumbled. “Asshole.”

He glared at her and stalked away.

“I don’t believe him,” Veronica whispered. “He didn’t even seem to care. In fact, I’d say he almost looked afraid. If he…” She broke off. “I need to splash some water on my face.”

He let her go knowing how she felt. However, he stayed put to wait for Brooke’s parents who arrived shortly after Veronica returned.

Sinclair told them what they knew, and Brooke’s mother broke into an anguished cry while Brooke’s father held her, keeping his own grief confined to the sadness in his eyes.

Sinclair held Veronica, who started to cry again, and he decided to call Rush for a full report on the accident scene. Nothing would give their family peace but time.

“Veronica, will you be okay?” he asked.

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Go talk to her,” he urged. “You know how she feels. Just think about losing your sister and your nephew.”

She gave him a sad look and went to do as he’d bidden while he headed outside.

“Sinclair,” Brooke’s father called.

Sinclair turned to face John, whose gray eyes were filled with grief. The lean man had lost some weight and looked fit.

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything?” he asked after coming to a stop in front of Sinclair. “I mean I know you have cop friends. Do you know more about what happened?”

“Not yet,” he answered. “I was about to call a friend at the PD.”

“Will you keep me informed? I mean what I’m thinking right now is something I don’t want to think.” He averted his gaze. “Brooke said they were having problems, and she’d told Anne she was staying in last night. Why was she out?”

“What are you thinking?” Sinclair asked with a frown.

“I don’t—Nelson is a great guy I just—Brooke told her mother she thought he was cheating on her, that he might ask for a divorce.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to think Nelson thought this would be the easy way out to keep from having to share his newfound wealth with Brooke.”

Sinclair stared at him. He hadn’t expected that, and he wouldn’t even consider that without evidence. Nelson could be a prick but not a murderer.

ADULT EXCERPT

Sinclair moved to Tanner’s side of the bed where he stood with his legs braced wide and his hands palms flat on the mattress. Sinclair couldn’t help running his fingers down Tanner’s back.

His smooth skin beckoned his fingers to caress to bring pleasure. Everything inside him embraced the desire rolling through him as his hand reached the small of Tanner’s back. Sinclair lifted his hand and brought it down in a light swat.

Tanner didn’t move and seemed to be holding his breath.

Sinclair leaned toward him. “Tan, I love you so much,” he murmured into his ear.

“I know,” he replied softly. “So, just love me.”

Sinclair kissed Tanner’s nape and lifted his hand and hit him again. This swat landed on the curve of his ass, and Tanner grunted.

“You’ve been misbehaving a little too much,” he said. “I can’t let you get away with that.”

“Baby, don’t be a tyrant,” he said in a teasing tone. “Cut me some slack.”

“Three and then we’ll see,” Sinclair said and straightened. He lifted the crop and brought it down on Tanner’s ass.

Tanner gasped, and Sinclair hit him again.

Tanner leaned toward the bed, and Sinclair struck his ass again before leaning in to nip his shoulder.

“Stay.” Sinclair went to the nightstand and retrieved a silk scarf, along with a small bag containing lube and a toy he’d placed there for tonight.

He went back to Tanner and slid the first scarf in place around his eyes. Then he bent and snagged a cuff draped over the footboard of the bed. He snapped it around Tanner’s wrist. After that, he secured the other wrist. Tanner could easily brace his hands on the mattress or the bed.

“Now, for the fun,” Sinclair told and nipped Tanner’s earlobe. He kissed Tanner’s nape as he caressed his chest.

“My love,” Tanner breathed.

Sinclair pinched both nipples as he moved against Tanner, allowing him to feel just how aroused he was. Tanner moaned, and Sinclair twisted his nipples between his fingers and Tanner gasped.

“I want you to try to behave Tanner,” he said in his ear. “You know how much I hate drama or was that just your way of skipping dinner to get straight to the fun?”

“Maybe a little,” Tanner said roughly. “You always drag things out a little too long these days.”

“Oh, really?” Sinclair asked. “I’ll make sure to hit you a little harder tonight then.”

* * * *

He was a bit upset about his brother and Brooke. He loved Brooke and the idea that his brother might break her heart angered him.

However, the thoughts slowly sifted away as the cool air played over his body and the promise of a good spanking sparked fire in his blood.

Tanner wondered what his husband was up to when Sinclair’s hand didn’t fall on his ass. Then a crop was a sharp sting licking his skin in a hot caress. Tanner shuddered.

The next strike was like a lover’s caress, stinging yet arousing, going to his anus, heating it, and awakening the bundles of nerves there.

 “Oh, shit,” he cried roughly as his blood heated with increased arousal. Between his thighs, his dick was heavy and engorged. “Sinclair.”

Sinclair delivered another tap to the other cheek, pushing Tanner’s desire higher, making his dick throb and his balls tighten.

Sinclair struck him again and then rubbed his hand over the rounded cheek before slapping it firmly with his hand. Tanner gasped, his eyes closing from the pleasure sneaking through him.

“It feels so good, Master,” Tanner said.

“Trust me to give you pleasure, baby, and know I’ll do anything for you and your family because I love you all.” The crop landed on his ass again, one cheek and then the other, sending the edge of pain snaking through him.

Tanner groaned. His skin was hot, and his anal muscles contracted in time to the throb of his need.

Sinclair delivered a strike to the backs of Tanner’s legs before dropping his hand on his ass in a sound slap.

Heat surged through Tanner’s nipples with the bite of pain, and he gasped at the wash of pleasure that rippled through him, making him want more. This was why he needed to be alone with his lover, so he could enjoy the dark side of love and sex.

Sinclair struck him again. Tanner breathed roughly, his body aflame.

He was going to come the next time Sinclair hit him, and he knew it.

“If you come, I’ll let you suck me off, but you, my sweet boy, won’t get a damn thing.”

The crop came down on the backs of his legs. Tanner growled in frustration, and Sinclair chuckled.

“I know you well enough to know you’ll take that chance with the mood you’re in,” Sinclair told him. Then he reached between Tanner’s legs and stroked his balls. “Hold on, sweetness.”

Tanner softly moaned. The sensations were even more intensified for the loss of his eyesight. It was always like this. He was always more aroused when he was blindfolded.

Sinclair leaned to one side, brushing against him, and a second later, cool liquid kissed the pucker of Tanner’s ass.

Sinclair pushed two fingers into the tight hole. “Damn, that ass is perfect.”

Tanner groaned as Sinclair’s fingers thrust lightly. He needed the girth of his cock, the friction of Sinclair sliding in and out of him. He whimpered when Sinclair withdrew his fingers.

“I have a treat for you,” Sinclair told him. “I know you’ve been a little tense lately, so I wanted to make tonight even more relaxing.”

A few moments later a slick toy penetrated him. Tanner groaned as Sinclair worked it in. One small bead at a time. The beads got bigger the more he took.

The beads added another dimension of stimulation and another layer of pleasure that had him so hard and ready to explode it hurt.