STORY EXCERPT

She chuckled, stepping across the threshold to scan the patrons. She recognized Dustin Alexander, one of the veterinarians who owned the Racy Animal Clinic. He was sitting at the counter next to Chad Bristol, a detective like Sean. Sean waved to them both as her gaze panned to the right and she caught the curious glances from John Houston, the minister of the Racy Church of Christ, and his wife Angela. Guilt washed over her as she returned their waves. What would they say if they could have seen her Friday night, draped over Maddox’s knee while he paddled her?

“How about over there?” She followed Sean’s finger as he pointed to a corner booth. Perfect. She could sit with her back to the door.

As soon as they were seated, she picked up the menu. He was right. Hardly anything had changed, but at least she could get a side salad rather than onion rings or fries. Maybe she’d only be up half the night with indigestion.

After they gave their orders, Sean sipped his water and fixed her with a thoughtful gaze. “So, I guess we have a lot of years to catch up with. I heard you got your PhD in Chicago, is that right?”

“Yes. I did both my undergrad and graduate work at Northwestern.”

“I worked at the twenty-second in Chicago for a while after graduating from the Academy. It serves the Morgan Park area.”

“I didn’t know that.” She took a large sip of water because her mouth was dry. She was sitting in public, talking to Sean Brennan, as if they did this every day. “What brought you back home?”

A shadow of pain crossed his face, but all he did was shrug. What was that about? What had happened in Chicago? “I like it here.”

She’d met him kindergarten, but her endless infatuation with him had really started in first grade when he’d brought one of his dad’s college textbooks to show-and-tell and proceeded to explain to the class what his dad was going to do at Notus. Notus was the power plant that owned the wind turbines, and most of Racy’s residents either worked there or were associated with it in some way. Sean’s father had been one of Notus’s first employees. “So do I. That’s why I never considered opening my practice anywhere else. If you were working in Chicago, I guess that explains why you weren’t here for the tenth reunion.”

A quick shadow of pain crossed his face again, and she was about to ask if something had happened to keep him away, but he’d already started talking again.

“I know you can’t talk about specifics, but I understand you’ve been helping Alexa.”

“Yes, that’s right. I even attended her birthday party Friday night at Maddox’s club.” Why had she told him that?

His eyes narrowed slightly and a muscle twitched under his left eye. “Afraid I missed the party. I was working. In fact, part of the reason I missed it was because of what I came to the shop today to tell Alexa. The creep who cracked their shop’s security code last month is in jail in New York without bail. I’m confident this is finally over for her and Kari.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful news, Sean.”

“Yeah. I’m pretty impressed with how cooperative the NYPD has been at keeping me up to speed.” He took another sip of water and watched her carefully. “Julie, I hardly ever see you out and about in town. What do you do for fun?”

She nearly choked on her water. “Oh, I don’t know. The same things as others I suppose.”

The corners of his mouth turned up. “You were always like that.”

“Like what?”

“Vague and evasive when asked a direct question. Do you remember tenth grade biology with Mr. Watson? He asked you what back then seemed like a hundred questions about those papers we all had to do on genealogy, because he was convinced you’d plagiarized yours. We were sitting in the back—me, Maddox, and Ellis—laughing our asses off because we knew you were smart enough to have turned in a killer paper. It was killing Watson not to be able to make you look bad in class.”

She remembered it, but she was stunned to realize that until now, what she’d recalled as mocking laughter from the back row hadn’t been directed at her. It had been because of their ridiculous teacher. She was also just as shocked to know that Sean remembered the incident. He’d ignored her in high school. “Mr. Watson hated me, and I never knew why.”

Sean laughed, and Julie shivered. What would that soft, teasing laugh sound like in the dark with their naked bodies tangled together in the sheets? “Are you kidding? He hated you because you were a freaking genius but weren’t a show-off like some of the other smart girls in our grade. He couldn’t crack your cool demeanor, no matter how much he tried to.”

“He was a sadistic bastard, wasn’t he?” Is that how Sean had thought of her in school? Cool as a cucumber and smart? No wonder he’d ignored her. But he, Maddox and Ellis—Maddox’s cousin—hadn’t been laughing at her that day. All these years and she’d never known that.

“Not only that.” Sean leaned close, and Julie breathed in his warm scent. Her head swam with erotic images and she found it difficult to take a full breath. What was going on with her? Less than one week ago she’d been stuck in a sexless, dateless rut. Now she was fantasizing about one man and fucking another. Were the planets about to align and the sun implode? “He’s in jail.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’ve been thinking about this ripe, wet hot pussy, and how much I want to suck it and lick it, and fuck it silly with my fingers and my dick.”

“Oh please…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give you everything you want.” He began to unbutton her top with his other hand, and Julie just gave over and melted into his touch. He took his time with the buttons, while his other hand continued to gently tease her toward orgasm. “I know something you want, Julie.”

“Yes…” She could hardly form a coherent thought.

“Something dark and decadent and secret.”

“Oh…” That voice. It did things to her senses that she couldn’t even comprehend.

“But first I think we’ll play with one of the toys I sent you.” He took his fingers out of her pussy and rose. She watched him walk to where he’d placed the bag, pick it up, and walk back toward her. He moved like a jungle cat stalking its prey. That’s what Julie wanted to be—his prey. She wanted him to capture her and devour her with his hands, his mouth, and his cock.

He placed the bag on the floor next to them and pulled out the blindfold. She gasped slightly as he asked her to turn around. Once she did, he placed it around her head and then whispered close to her ear. “You remember your safe word, right?”

“Yes, Sir. It’s ‘red.’”

“Good girl.” He reached around and finished unbuttoning her top, and then gently took it off. “Very nice, Julie. I love the corset. Now stand up.”

He helped her do so, and when he pulled down the skirt she moaned. “Oh, Julie…you’ve outdone yourself with this outfit. It’s perfect.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He kissed each ass cheek, and then removed her panties and helped her step out of them. Running his hands up the backs of her legs, he spread her ass cheeks and trailed his tongue over the opening to her anus. Julie cried out in surprise and pleasure. “I have a surprise for you, Julie.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she hoped it involved more of his tongue on her body.

“It involves a fantasy of yours. Something I recently found out you’d like to try.”

Something in the tone of his voice made her pulse quicken and a quick jolt of anticipation course through her. Sean’s words on Thursday came back to her. “You want us both to lick you, and kiss you, and suck you.” But Maddox couldn’t possibly know about that. Unless Sean had told him.

“Would you like to know what it is, Julie?”

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice shook. She suddenly didn’t want to know, but how could she tell him that?

“Then come with me.” He took her hand, which was slightly damp now, and led her across the room. Her knees touched what felt like a mattress. “We’re at my bed. Turn around and sit down, Julie. You’re okay.”

“All right.” She wasn’t okay. She was tingling with anxiety and had a strong premonition they weren’t alone in the room. When she caught the scent of Sean’s cologne she swiveled her head around, which immediately made her feel ridiculous as she was blindfolded and couldn’t see a damn thing. As she reached up to take it off, strong hands caught hers.

“It’s all right, Julie. No one is going to hurt you.” Maddox’s voice held a note of worry, and Julie was more afraid of that than anything. He let go of her arms and took one hand in his. “Relax your arm.” She forced herself to stay calm as Maddox took her hand and ran it over the unmistakable bulge of a dick encased in leather. She gasped slightly. When he took her other one and did the same to his erection, she knew she’d been right.

“Sean?”

“Yes, I’m here, too. It’s okay, Julie.” Sean’s voice was warm and sexy.

“Oh, shit.”

“Julie, it’s all right.” He sat next to her on the bed and took off her blindfold. “We wanted to give you this. We both did.”

She glanced from one man to the other, searching their faces. “Are you sure?” she whispered. “Are you both sure?”

“Julie, I’ve never been more sure of anything,” said Sean. His eyes danced with light reflected from the candles in the room.

“Now, be a good girl and put this back on.” Maddox took the blindfold from Sean, winked at her, and then placed it back on her head. “Or we’ll both have to spank you.”

“Oh, God,” she whispered.

Maddox chuckled. “I think she’d like that.”

“I would.” She wanted to clamp a hand over her mouth. It had just slipped out.

“Well,” said Sean, his voice full of playfulness, “we can’t deny her that, can we?”

“No. Absolutely not.” Julie heard movement and then felt something heavy dent the mattress. “Come over here, Julie.” Maddox took her arm and led her around the bed. “Crawl onto the mattress.” She did as he asked, and then he and Sean positioned her over what felt like the same curved wedge she’d imagined herself draped over the last time she’d been here.

“We’re going to tie your wrists and ankles to the wedge,” he said. “It won’t hurt, but you won’t be able to move your limbs, so make sure to use your safe word if you need it.”

Julie didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. All she could do was let the sensations wash over her as one of them fastened leather cuffs to each boot while the other man did the same to her wrists. She listened to locks snapping in place, and then her limbs were bound against the wedge.

Maddox’s voice washed over her as hands caressed her ass cheeks. “Now, this is going to sting. But I think you can handle it, Julie. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Sir.”