The Pleasure of Sin (7 page)

“No, not that I can think of. As I said, she mentioned Clay several times and she did tell me she was seeing someone, but I never knew if he was that person. Have you spoken with him?”

Jade nodded. “I have, but he claims they were just friends. It seems like Ruby had a lot of ‘friends,’” she pointed out.

He leaned back with a grin, as if her subtle innuendo did nothing to unsettle him. “Yes, she did. Everyone liked her.”

“Not everyone,” she reminded.

“I wish I could offer something more, but she just simply didn’t talk to me much about other men.”

He was right.

She had heard the same story from Clay, as well. If nothing else, Ruby was good at keeping her relationships separate and unique. Still, Jade couldn’t help but wish that she had been a little more loose-lipped.

“Well, thank you for your time,” she said, beginning to get up.

“Wait. Maybe there’s more I can do to help you. I have several friends on the force. If nothing else, I could give you an idea of what the police aren't telling you. Maybe give you a look inside the investigation,” he offered solicitously.

“That would be wonderful,” she beamed, scribbling her number on a napkin.

“I’ll give you a call in a few days. Maybe we can meet for dinner to go over the findings,” he suggested.

Her stomach lurched at the thought of having dinner with him, but she rallied. “That sounds great,” she lied, as she slid out of the booth.

She hurried out to the street, needing the fresh air. Obviously, his offer of help was a ploy to gain her favor for extracurricular activities, but she didn’t care. All that mattered right now was finding the man who had slaughtered her sister. And, unfortunately, that man was looking more and more familiar.

Clay.

Her only option was to get close to the one man she knew she should stay away from if she wanted to save her life…and her heart.

Chapter 9

The next day she made arrangements with Clay to meet for dinner. He arrived exactly on schedule. They strolled through the city streets, settling on a small café on the corner. All through dinner, he was unusually solicitous of her. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was up to—or worse, what he wanted.

“I'm glad you agreed to meet me. You haven’t been the easiest person to get in touch with the last couple of days,” he remarked, pouring her a glass of wine.

“I'm sorry about that. I’ve been pretty busy lately.”

“With whom?” he asked, his eyebrows arching.

His prodding wouldn't stop. Deciding to go for broke; she gave him what he wanted. “I’ve been doing what I came here to do. I’ve been searching for Ruby’s killer.”

His eyes glittered with a barely suppressed anger. “Is that why you haven’t been home the last two nights? You’ve been prowling around the city searching for a killer…
by yourself
? Honestly, Jade, I thought you were smarter than that.”

Her temper flared at his comment.

Who did he think he was?

Her keeper?

If that was the case, it was high time she set the record straight.

“Not that it's any of your business, but I wasn’t alone.”

“Really? Enlighten me, please,” he prodded, his gaze challenging her.

“I’ve been meeting with some of Ruby’s friends,” she answered easily, taking a sip of her wine.

“Like whom?”

“A girl Ruby used to work with…Zoë.”

He nodded. “Ruby talked about her a lot. She said they were becoming close. Who else?”

“Alex Talbot.”

Before she knew what was happening, he reached across the table, grabbing her wrist in a vise-like grip. “You stay away from Alex Talbot!”

“Why? Do you know him?”

Something in his eyes darkened, almost as if he was holding something back. “Let's just say I know of him.”

“Is there a reason that I should stay away from him?”

He hesitated for a moment before answering. “None that I want to share right now.”

She jerked her arm away from him. “Well, in that case, I think
I
will decide whom I spend time with. You’re not my keeper, Clay,” she reminded him in a firm tone.

He sighed. “God knows you need one.”

“Well, it won’t be you. I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself,” she confirmed, leaning back in her chair.

“Is that right?”

“I’ve been doing it for a long time before you decided to become big brother,” she bit out.

“From what I’ve seen, it looks like you could use a little help,” he snorted.

Her back straightened. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He signaled the waitress for the check. “Nothing. Forget it.”

“No. I want an explanation for that comment,” she demanded, her voice rising.

He pulled out his wallet, handing his credit card to the waitress. “This really isn’t a conversation I want to have here, Jade.”

To her chagrin, he remained silent the entire walk home. As soon as they entered the apartment, she was poised and ready to let him have it.

“You know, Clay…”

She never got the sentence out, because he pulled her into his arms, his lips fusing against hers. Her surprise ensured her acquiescence, leaving her breathless to the sensual assault. He pushed her against the door, his arms trapping her in his embrace. He pressed against her, his erection rubbing against her clit. His tongue swept through her mouth, tangling with hers in a teasing dance. She told herself to push him away. If she didn’t stop soon, she would make another mistake. She needed to remember why she was with him tonight. But somehow, her reasons got lost in the intoxicating flavor of his kiss.

From everyone else, she got answers.

From Clay, she got lost in passionate moments and completely forgot about the investigation. That was the reason she had avoided him for the last few days. That was the reason she should’ve pushed away when her nipples hardened against his chest. Somehow, all those reasons did nothing to sway her.

His lips traced the line of her jaw before moving over the sensitive skin by her ear. Cupping her buttocks, he rubbed her against his bulging erection, making her moan out loud. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. The feel of him against her made her clit swell with arousal. She ached to have him pull her dress up and drive into her.

She was losing this battle quick.

If she didn't stop now, they would be making love. Even though reason told her she didn't want that, her body cried out for it. The knowledge that she might be kissing a killer didn’t stop the sweet sensations from spiraling through her body.

What was happening to her?

She put a restraining hand on his chest as his tongue reached her collarbone. “Clay…”

Unfortunately, his name came out as a breathless whisper instead of a stern request. His hand slid under her shirt, coming up to cup her breast. He toyed with the lacy edge of her bra before his fingers slid beneath it. She closed her eyes as his thumb stroked the side of her breast.

The worst part was that she wanted him to touch her.

She wanted it more than anything.

She wanted him to touch her everywhere, and she was slowly sinking past the point of return.

An image of Ruby flashed in her mind, thankfully causing sanity to return. She pushed him away, moving past him.

“Clay, I can't do this,” she admitted, her voice shaking.

“Why? We both want it, Jade,” he reasoned, his voice husky.

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she turned away from him. “What about Ruby?” she challenged.

He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. “Ruby’s gone, Jade. We both loved her, but she’s gone. Making ourselves suffer won’t bring her back.”

Her gaze remained as firm as her resolve. “Please leave, Clay.”

His eyes darkened. “Don’t try to deny that you want me, Jade.”

He was right, but she couldn’t admit that to him. It would only strengthen his resolve to have her. “I don’t.” She pushed the words out of her mouth before her heart could protest.

He shook his head, his jaw clenching. “You’re still aroused. I can smell you,” he observed, his voice low.

Her nipples tightened painfully. “Get out,” she ordered, her lips forming a grim line.

“Jade…”

* * * *

But the conversation was over.

He could see it in her eyes.

He stared at her for a moment, knowing he could push the issue, knowing that he could prove how much she wanted him. But pushing her now would only make her run, and that was something he couldn’t risk.

No, she would come to him on her own.

It was the only way.

“I’ll leave…for now.”

Clay walked out onto the street, taking a deep breath. He reached for the cell phone in his pocket. She may have thought she got rid of him, but this was only a stall. Things couldn't continue as they were. They had to move forward or stop completely, and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure they didn’t stop now that he had had a taste of her.

He put the phone to his ear. “The job on Alex Talbot?”

“Yes?”

“Step it up. She's already met with him.”

Chapter 10

Alex sat on his knees, his eyes focused on the stark, concrete floor. All he could see of the woman was the black leather boots she wore. They climbed up her legs to the middle of her thighs. Her metal spiked heels echoed throughout the barren room as she circled him. He began to raise his head, desperate to catch a glimpse of the woman who controlled him.

Whack!

The whip bit into his back. “Did I give you permission to look at me?” she asked, her tone as harsh as the pain she caused.

“No, mistress,” he replied docilely.

His head lowered as he placed his hands on the ground before him. She slid her boot in between his hands.

“Show me you’re sorry,” she commanded.

Alex bent his head, pressing his lips against the soft leather.

“Lick it!” she ordered harshly.

As instructed, he ran his tongue up the side of the boot.

Satisfied, her hand stroked his head. “That’s good,” she acknowledged softly.

More orders would come.

Of that, he was sure.

He had paid the house quite nicely for it. Jade’s image flashed into his mind. She was so different than Ruby. She had a fire that Ruby possessed but had not known how to use. Jade did. He was sure of it. He had seen it that night at the club. For the first time in his life, he had actually been jealous of the man she was with. He had tried on numerous occasions to obtain the man’s name, but all his efforts had been rebuffed. The club had a very strict privacy policy. It was one of the reasons he felt comfortable there. In this case, however, it was a pain in the ass.

Still, Alex was not accustomed to taking no for an answer. From what he had seen in that room, Jade was a woman who surrendered to her carnal appetites despite her façade of hesitancy. He would taste her and sate the desire she created. That, they both could count on.

He felt the whip graze his back, sliding over his neck. The girl was good. She was definitely worth the steep price he’d paid. It took a deft hand to be able to wield power, and the girl who stood over him definitely had it in spades.

Ruby had once tried her hand at domination with him, but she was a born submissive. Her naivety had prevented her from being able to fully control another. Jade, on the other hand, would relish the role and the rush it provided. Then, he would no longer be forced to come here and risk the chance of being seen. It definitely wouldn’t help his future political career if he was found in a brothel, even in the liberal city of New Orleans.

His relationship with Ruby had been perfect for that specific reason. It had kept his appetites for the unusual out of the papers while keeping his desire sated.

Well, almost sated.

When he met Ruby, she had been eager to experiment. She was a blank canvas, willing to let him paint any picture he wanted, no matter how dark. They had even used the club on occasion to ease his taste for voyeurism. No one at the club would ever sell him out due to the privacy policy. To do so would immediately revoke their membership, and the club was too appealing to risk anything that drastic. Things had been going along beautifully until Ruby demanded a real relationship. He had been able to hold her at bay for a while, but in the end she had become more of a nuisance than a pleasure.

But Jade—Jade would satisfy every fantasy he had and create a few new ones.

Her unique nature also made her a challenge unlike any other he had faced. Not that he needed women to fall at his feet, even though he had had his fair share. His star was definitely on the rise, and that brought lots of eager young women. Hell, all he had to do was flash his platinum card at a few and they were willing to do anything he wanted, even keep his secret. Jade, however, would not be so easily swayed. She would require much more of his talents of persuasion.

Like a chess player getting ready for a match, he looked forward to the next game.

* * * *

“Alex Talbot,” he said, his tone all business.

“Good Morning, Mr. Talbot. It’s Jade Monroe.”

“Miss Monroe, I was hoping that I would hear from you.”

His smug reply made her stomach churn. Still, there was only one way that she would find the bastard who killed her sister, and it wasn’t by playing it safe. “I was wondering if you would be available for lunch.”

His smooth laughter crept through the phone. “For you, Miss Monroe, I will make myself available. Will this afternoon be soon enough for your pleasure?”

She fought the urge to hang up at his not-so-subtle innuendo. “How about Antoine’s at one o’clock?”

“I will count the minutes.”

As she hung up, Clay’s words came back to haunt her.

Stay away from Alex Talbot.

What was he hiding?

She knew he was keeping things from her. Still, what if he was right? What if Alex really was dangerous? She took a deep breath. She couldn’t let fear stop her now.