Stone, Rayna - Safe Haven (Mastering Holly Oaks 2) [Siren Publishing Classic] (10 page)

Chapter
Thirteen

Troy trudged up Kelly’s walkway to the house. It felt like he was carrying a ten-ton weight on his shoulders. He had talked to just about everyone in Holly Oaks and the Denver club scene at least three times. They were no closer to figuring out the killer’s identity now than they were a year ago. He felt like he was hanging over a bridge, waiting for someone else to cut his line. And he was sure that bastard was enjoying watching him squirm. There was no way Troy would believe that he had run. No, he was close.

When he opened the door, he stopped and stared, just taking in the vision before him. Kelly was naked, gloriously naked, and kneeling in front of him. Jesus Christ. Could anything be more beautiful? His woman needed him, and he needed her. At least in this, he could actually
do
something. Troy took a deep breath and allowed the tension he felt to ease from his shoulders. He wrapped his mind around the control and focus he would need to honor the gift of Kelly’s submission. He could take them both away from their troubles for the night.

“Into the bedroom, love.” As he helped Kelly to her feet and down the hall, he thought about how badly they needed to get a St. Andrew’s cross for the house. He needed to get his flogger on her skin, but his options were limited with the space and setup of her bedroom. He’d already nixed the notion of using a single tail on her. Even though he had spent years perfecting his technique, he didn’t think he would ever want to lash her with a whip. He knew she could handle it. Even after all she’d been through, she seemed ready to try anything with him. But after seeing what had been done to the victims of his current case, he didn’t think he could ever use his whip for anything but target practice. He actually preferred the flogger anyway. Most people assumed that because he was so good with the whip that it was his tool of choice. The truth was that it just seemed like the bigger challenge to learn. The flogger gave him so many more options. He was all about variety.

Right now he planned to take advantage of some of the tools his toy bag offered. “I want you face down on the bed, feet on the floor, legs spread. Put your hands behind your back, honey.” Once she bent herself over the foot of the bed and spread her legs, he got his toy bag out of the closet and started laying out what he’d need. He checked her position and pulled her ass out farther so she couldn’t rub against the bed. Then he cuffed her ankles to the corners of the bedposts on the floor. He cuffed her wrists with the same padded leather cuffs and clipped them together at the small of her back. He’d have plenty of room to work her ass and thighs in this position, and he definitely intended to work that ass. Jesus, she had the most fuckable ass. He really needed to start showing her the pleasures of anal play.

“You just tell me if anything I do is too much for you, baby. Really think about it though, Kelly. Don’t call a stop to the scene just because something is different or uncomfortable. Do you trust me to keep you safe?” He was stroking her back and leaning over her to kiss her shoulder. Kelly was breathing slow and even, totally relaxing into her bonds and his touch.

“I trust you, Troy. I love you. I know I’m safe with you.”

The breath caught in Troy’s lungs. They had never used the
L
word before, but damn if his whole world hadn’t settled into perfection when he heard it from her lips. She was everything to him and
love
seemed such a tiny word to encompass his feelings, but it was definitely part of it. “Kelly, you’re my heart and soul. I love you, cherish you. I don’t think I can even breathe without you.”

The smile she gifted him eased the last of his tension. She gave him everything. He’d spend his life giving her the same joy. Troy pulled out the peppermint oil solution he’d used on her for sensual massages. “We’re going to try something a little different with this tonight, love.” He dipped some of the oil on the finger of one hand, and used the other hand to gently pull the hood of her clit up and away from her glistening bud. Troy smoothed the oil on the top side of her clit and then bent low to blow cool air on her mound.

* * * *

Kelly squealed a bit as she felt the cool bite of the oil start to tingle on her clit. She hummed into the covers of the bed, and clenched her muscles in anticipation of the burn to come. She felt Troy stand up behind her, and then the soft brush of fur up the backside of her thighs. It was so soft as he rubbed her legs and ass that she relaxed and started to push into the sensation. Just as the peppermint on her clit started to heat up, she raised her head to see what Troy was using. That’s when he flipped the paddle to the leather side and smacked her right in the middle of her ass. “I’m going to heat up your ass, Kelly. By the time I’m finished, your clit will be on fire. You’ll be begging me to rub the itch and burn away. When I tunnel into your tight little cunt, your ass and thighs will be nice and red…hot. You’re going to feel heat everywhere, Kelly, and you’ll be mindless for relief.”

As he talked, he kept up a vigorous rhythm with the paddle. The alternating location of the smacks, along with the variation in intensity, kept her constantly with him. The sting of the heavier strokes had her crying out with pleasure, the burn spreading deep within her. As the spanking progressed, her focus was splitting between the burn on her ass and the burn on her clit. The oil was rapidly heating up, causing her pussy to weep with her cream. She desperately wanted to rub on the bed, anything to get some friction to ease the all-consuming itch. Tears were pricking at her eyes and her legs started to shake in their need to snap together. “Oh, God. Troy, please, it’s burning too much!” she yelled. She was so sensitive that even the trickle of her juice down her thighs was unbearably itchy. She needed to rub all over him like a cat in heat. She couldn’t even feel the spanking anymore. Everything felt like it was on fire. Her skin seemed too tight for her body.

“Stop wiggling around, Kelly. Be still. I’m not done yet.”

With that warning, he gave her one more smack with the paddle that had her going up to her toes. “Fuck!” She was going to feel that one tomorrow. After what felt like hours of torture, with her incapable of enough movement to rub out any of the sting on her flesh, she felt the cool drizzle of lube over her rosette.

“Just relax, honey. This won’t hurt if you relax for me. Then I can concentrate on giving you some relief.” Okay. She could do that. She would do just about anything right now if he would just fucking touch her clit. She really didn’t care what he shoved up her ass if it meant he would do something about her poor clit. Maybe she had a bag of frozen peas. Christ, that would be heaven right now. She remembered being little and having a rash that wouldn’t stop itching. Her mother put frozen peas on it. Fucking peas…God, she wanted them.

Kelly felt Troy’s finger slowly push into her ass. It wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it felt really good. When he withdrew, he replaced his finger with something thin and flared at the base. A butt plug. Well, big fucking deal. Could he please move on to more important matters now? Then the plug started to vibrate and Kelly lost all train of thought.
Holy Mother of God
. Every nerve in her ass and pussy was lighting up with the vibration. It was incredible and unbearable all at the same time. It made the itch ten times worse, but it also zinged her with a sense of relief. She was getting so close to orgasm. She didn’t think she would even need Troy at this point.

“Careful, Kelly…you come without my permission, and next time I’ll carve up some ginger to plug that sweet ass. It won’t be as pleasant, honey. Every time you squeeze down on it, you increase the burn you’re feeling. There won’t be any relief for a long time, Kelly. I give you pleasure when I say, understand?”

No, no, no. She did not want him figging her next time. This was quite enough, thank you. “Yes, Troy,” she breathed. She tried to unclench her muscles, but it was a pitiful attempt at this point. Her body was taking over. If he didn’t fuck her soon, she would fail him. She really didn’t want to disappoint him. That was what this was all about. Her submission to his will would only bring her more pleasure. It would give them both what they needed. If she could just hold on, it would be worth every torturous second.

* * * *

Troy could see Kelly’s struggle to obey him. He wouldn’t make her suffer any longer. He held up the Hitachi Magic Wand so she could see it. Her eyes opened wide and she started panting uncontrollably. “The Holy Fucking Grail. Please, Troy…please, please, please.” It was like she was trying to will the wand to her clit with her mind. He smiled fondly at her. She was so beautiful right now. Senseless with need and flushed from head to toe. Her ass was the perfect pink, and he could see her cunt grasping on air, begging him to fuck her.

He stepped into the heat of her thighs and guided his cock to her pussy. He drove in slowly, relishing how fucking tight she was. He could feel the vibrations from the plug in her ass, feel how hard she was gripping him with her muscles. He groaned with her as he held onto her bound wrists and pulled her back onto his cock. Then he put the wand to her clit and she screamed, bucking hard against him.

“Mmm, ohhh!” Kelly gasped. “Please? I need to come, Troy, please!” She was screaming her need.

“Go ahead, baby. Let me feel it,” he said between clenched teeth. Then he tightened his grip on her wrists and held the wand hard on her clit as he pumped into her from behind in short, hard thrusts. The sound of the vibrators and slapping flesh was lost to the sound of Kelly’s screams of satisfaction. She milked him so hard, it pulled the cum from his body in quick jets. His back was still tingling when he dropped the Hitachi and slid the plug from her ass. He stayed locked to her while her spasms slowed and eased. Finally, when he felt she was fully sated, he lifted from her body to release her cuffs and fall to the bed with her. Kelly was so wiped out she couldn’t do more than whimper as he arranged her on the bed beside him.

“Hey, Kelly?” Troy whispered.

“Hmm?” Kelly didn’t even open her eyes.

“Where’s the dog?” He rolled his eyes as she laughed hysterically and pointed to a very confused-looking Carson sitting next to her side of the bed. Shit. She could have at least told him the damn dog was a fucking voyeur. Troy slumped to the pillow and prayed he woke up before Kelly tomorrow. He was getting really sick of Carson’s kisses in the morning. Disgusting creature.

Chapter
Fourteen

Kelly woke up the next morning to Troy’s kisses on her neck. It was amazing how quickly she had gone from a solitary life to reaching for Troy in the middle of the night. She’d love to stay in his arms all morning, but there was too much to be done today to hide away in his safety and warmth.

“Stop it, Troy. I need to get a move on. You want to meet me for dinner tonight at the club? I think I need to get everyone together to talk about what we want to do until the killer is caught.” Kelly rolled out of bed and started getting her clothes ready for the day. Every muscle in her body was protesting the movement, but she relished the reason why. Troy was scrubbing his face and sitting up like contemplating anything was taking a massive amount of energy.

“Yeah, I’ll head over as soon as I can. I’ll be at the station most of the day, but just let me know when you guys plan to meet and I’ll try to make it.” He slid out of bed and headed to the kitchen buck-ass naked. That was a sight she could wake to any day. Jesus, that man’s ass was perfection. And he was making coffee. How awesome was it that coffee would be ready for her when she finished with her shower? Yup, pretty fucking awesome.

As soon as this case was closed, they needed to have a serious talk about their future. Kelly was ready to move forward with Troy and commit to a life with him. She really hoped that he wanted that, too. She couldn’t imagine investing any more of her heart in this man if he didn’t want marriage and kids. It would break her if he didn’t want forever like she did.

* * * *

Kelly practically bounded out of her car. The air was crisp and the spring flowers were brilliant. She had a man in her life, and her spa was thriving. Life was pretty good, even with the shadow that followed them right now. She hadn’t ever felt this happy. Good Lord, she’d even invited her new neighbor Alexa to lunch this morning. Kelly hadn’t been so outgoing since she was a kid. She probably freaked out the poor woman. Alexa moved in three months ago and Kelly hadn’t once even said hello. This morning, she saw her getting into her car and ran over to introduce herself and ask if she’d like to go to lunch. The astonished look on Alexa’s face was priceless. Jesus, she actually had girlfriends now. Kat, Lily, maybe Alexa. If this kept up, they could have girls’ night out. And to think, even a year ago she barely had Kat to talk to. It felt good to be open to people. To really have friends in her life.

She was still smiling to herself when she unlocked the front door and waltzed into her building. She was proud of this business. It had been her baby since she finished college with nothing to her name but a few student loans and a car payment. She risked everything to move to this town and open her spa. Peaceful and beautiful, with a community that was open minded and loving, Holly Oaks had captured her heart the minute she set foot on the land. It called to her like her own personal safe haven from the world. Thank God James and Ryan felt the same way and eventually followed her out here. Now her spa was booming. Even people from Denver came for her services. She’d paid back every cent she owed and had made a life for herself. In many ways, she was glad Flynn turned out to be such an ass. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like now if she’d stayed with him. Well, yeah, she could. It would be hell. A really lonely hell.

Kelly wanted to get working on her payroll before her employees started showing up. She rushed to her office and opened the door, smacking the wall for the light switch. She had spent a ton of money on her office. For the first few years she practically lived in it. The only thing she hated about the room was the weird location for the light switch. She never seemed to find it on the first try. Who would have thought such a little detail could be so frustrating on a daily basis? Ah…there it was. As the room flooded with light, Kelly’s eyes adjusted and took in the strange sight before her.

It took a minute for her brain to figure out what she was looking at. Then she started screaming and backing out of the doorway. There was a body strapped to her desk! A woman bent over and restrained. There was blood everywhere. Kelly couldn’t even process the sight other than to know that poor woman was not alive. She couldn’t be. She ran to the receptionist’s desk and fumbled with the phone until she could manage to dial 911.

She was so confused she had a hard time telling the operator what the hell she was calling for. Finally, she managed to relay that there was a woman in her office who looked like a murder victim. She made sure to ask that Detective Davis be notified, that she thought this was a victim of the serial killer he was looking for. Kelly knew in her heart that was exactly what that poor woman was. The latest of this monster’s victims. And he had killed her in Kelly’s office. Jesus, was he still here? As soon as that thought entered her mind she dropped the phone and ran for her car. Her hands were shaking so badly it took her three tries to get her keys from her purse and unlock the door. She dove into the car and locked herself in, ripping her cell phone from her purse to call Troy.

“Hey, baby. What’s up?”

“Troy, there’s a dead woman in my office. I need you to get to the spa. I think it’s him, Troy. He killed a woman in my office!” She was shrieking and crying into the phone, barely able to speak because her throat felt so tight.

“Where are you right now?” Troy’s clipped but controlled voice was calming her enough to answer.

“In my car. I locked myself in after I called 911. I was afraid he might still be in the building.” She was trying to take deep breaths and calm down. He didn’t need her hysterical right now.

“Stay put until the police get there. I’m on my way, baby. Do not get out of that car for anyone without a uniform, okay?”

Kelly agreed and hung up the phone, scanning the road for the police. She’d never seen a dead body before. Her mind flashed back to the night of her attack. The victim’s back looked torn up just like Kelly’s had. How much more pain had this girl suffered before it was over? Kelly couldn’t imagine. Who could be doing this? She needed to call Kent and see if the PIs in Denver had found anything. They needed to find this guy. There had to be something they were missing.

The police cars were racing into her lot with the ambulance behind them. Knowing that the woman inside wouldn’t need their medical attention brought more tears to Kelly’s eyes. The anger welling up was overwhelming her sadness. This fucker had taken everything from those women. He was playing with her and Troy. She wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands. Whip his skin from his body and show him what it felt like to be helpless and in pain, afraid and begging for his life. He didn’t deserve the mercy of the law.

She was still talking with the police by the time Troy arrived, not that she had much to tell them. Kelly raced into his arms and let him hold her tight. She didn’t want to break down again, but it definitely felt good to be safe in his arms. He reluctantly released her and scanned her face to make sure she was okay. When she gave him a tentative smile, he pulled her close for a gentle kiss.

“Kent and a few of the others are on their way over here. You stay with this officer till they show up. I need to get in there and find out what the hell is going on. Are you going to be okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s pretty bad, Troy. I didn’t look long, but it’s real bad. He strapped her to my desk, Troy. That bastard took her to my spa and killed her on my desk.” The tears were falling despite her best efforts. God, that poor girl must have been so afraid.

* * * *

Troy knew there were no words that could comfort Kelly right now. Anything he said would be inadequate. The situation was just too terrible for comfort yet. Kelly would see that sight every time she walked into her office. He prayed he could help her move on, but he knew she would never forget something so evil. All he could do now was kiss her once more and get to work.

When he got to her office, his stomach revolted at the sight. The victim was indeed bound to Kelly’s desk. He wondered if she noticed that it was the same position he had her in last night. He doubted that it was a coincidence. That fucker had watched them in an intimate moment, probably not for the first time, and then simulated what was beautiful and turned it into something monstrous. The officer in charge waved him over. “Detective, I think you need to see this. As in, right the fuck now.”

Troy carefully made his way over to the officer behind the desk. On Kelly’s chair was another note. After putting his latex gloves on, he picked it up to read, his blood chilling more with every word.

Dear Kelly,

Hello, my sweet love. I hope you enjoy the gift I left for you. It will be your last. I had so hoped that we could be together soon, that I could show you how very hard I’ve worked for your love. Unfortunately, you didn’t wait for me, Kelly. You just couldn’t wait like a good girl. Now you’re tainted with another man’s essence. His scent and touch have destroyed your perfection. Your betrayal will cost you, my dear. Unworthy whores suffer the consequences of their action. I’ll make sure that you suffer, Kelly. You won’t have to wait for me much longer.

Troy carefully laid the note back on the chair. “That son of a bitch has been after Kelly the whole time. I need an officer assigned to her 24/7.” He was glaring at the local detective that had joined the group. He knew this guy could be a real prick, but he wasn’t going to argue when it came to Kelly’s safety.

Detective Ross looked a little sheepish. “Look, Davis. I know I haven’t been very cooperative with you or your friends in the past. I’m ashamed of my behavior, and I’m ashamed I let my office down. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Kelly is a respected and loved member of this community. My men will be lining up for shifts to make sure she’s safe. This is your case, but you need anything from us, you just let me know.” Ross walked out of the room to start assigning his men for Kelly’s protection.

Troy was dreading talking to Kelly about this. He had no idea how she’d react when she found out that this killer had been obsessing over
her
the whole time. They needed to evaluate everyone she knew. It wouldn’t be easy for her to scrutinize every friend she had and know that one of them wanted her dead. Jesus, he hoped she didn’t hate him for making suspects of her friends and not just her acquaintances. He couldn’t take any chances. Someone close to her was going to try to kill her. He would not let that happen.

He dragged his feet out of the spa and headed to the parking lot where Kelly waited, surrounded by those she’d claimed as her family. Everyone had shown up to support her. Fuck. This was going to be bad. As he approached the group, he was mentally going over the possibilities. Mac and Jay were clear. They had been too busy with Kat and the delivery when the tip came in for the last victim. They couldn’t have placed the call or the note. Kent was out. He’d been at the club the whole time and had plenty of witnesses to prove it. Shit. He was going to have to ask James and Ryan for an alibi. That would go over like gangbusters. He’d trusted them so much that he had them going to the clubs downtown. Now he had to ask them to prove they weren’t responsible for killing these women. And Kelly was going to be furious. They were like brothers to her. She wouldn’t care that they knew the most about her or that they were at the club during all the key events. She wouldn’t care that he was doing his job and trying to clear them of suspicion. She would only see that her lover was questioning her closest friends. He could not wait to get out of this fucking job. Sometimes being the good guy really sucked.

* * * *

Kelly watched Troy make his way over to her. He looked miserable. How much worse could it get? Kat handed the baby over to Jay and grabbed Kelly’s hand. She squeezed tight as they waited to hear what Troy had to say.

Troy cleared his throat. “Kelly, I need to talk with you in private.” She was confused. He knew anything he had to say to her could be said in front of these people. She wasn’t letting go of Kat’s hand. “Just say it, Troy. What else did you find in there?”

Troy pursed his lips and blew out a tight breath. After a minute of deliberation, he nodded his head. “The killer left you a note, Kelly. Apparently he’s been after
you
this whole time. His obsession is with you. I think these women were practice for when he finally felt competent enough to take you.” Troy looked at everyone in the group and continued. “He said he’s coming for you. He’s angry that we’re together. In his delusional mind, you and he belong together. Now he wants to punish you for what he feels is your betrayal.”

Kelly couldn’t think. What the hell was he talking about? This guy had been watching her from the beginning? Started all this
because
of her? Were all those girls dead because of something she did? She was going to be sick. She could feel the sweat gather at the back of her neck, feel the blood drain from her face. This couldn’t be happening. She still couldn’t even imagine who she knew that could be capable of this. How was it possible someone had been watching her all this time, doing such horrible things, and she never even noticed?