Touch of Doubt (Law vs. Love Book 2) Read online

  She whirled on him, eyes springing with tears. “You could go to prison.”

  “It won’t come to that,” Jace said softly. “I promise. Franklin did fix the tapes, but he knows what he’s doing, and the police won’t even be able to tell that any frames are missing.”

  “Franklin?” Carrie stepped back. “He did this? That man is bad news, Jace.”

  “Everything is going to be okay,” he said. “You’re going to have to trust me.”

  “How can I believe that after everything that’s happened?” Everything seemed to tie right back into Jace’s assistant. The man attacking her, Madison’s death, and now this. There was far more to him than met the eye, and she couldn’t believe that Jace didn’t see it for himself.

  “I said,” Jace growled, “you’re going to have to trust me. I’m sensing some disobedience, Carrie. I didn’t think I’d need to punish you again so soon. I’d hate for our dinner to get cold while I sort you out.”

  Carrie’s entire body sparked with desire.

  “No, we wouldn’t want that,” she whispered as he moved around her, sizing her up with his heated gaze.

  “So, you’re saying you trust me,” Jace said. “I don’t need to punish you?”

  Carrie swallowed hard at the ache between her thighs. “No, I think I deserve to be punished for doubting you.”

  “Good girl.” A seductive smile slid across Jace’s lips as he scooped Carrie from the floor. Lust set every inch of her skin on fire. He threw her over his shoulder and spanked her ass. Thrills of heat went through her veins. “This may take awhile.”

  Jace took her into the bedroom and set her gently on the floor but gave her ass another spank before letting her go. She turned to climb into his bed, but he grabbed her wrists and shook his head. “We aren’t going to use the bed this time.”

  Carrie licked her lips. She loved it when Jace pushed her up against the wall and lifted her from the floor. Her eyes flicked to the dark walls, but he shook his head again.

  “We aren’t going to do that either.” Jace pulled her sweater over her head and tossed it to the floor.

  “Then, what are we going to do?” she asked in the whisper of a breath.

  Jace smiled as he undid her jeans and tugged them to the floor before freeing her breasts from her bra. All she could do was stand there as he began to undress, admiring the way his chiseled body rippled as he removed every piece of clothing. When he reached his boxers, she couldn’t help but gasp when his cock slid into view. He was already hard, and the ache between her thighs intensified.

  Jace’s eyes raked over her body, and she’d never felt more exposed to someone than she did now. Every single inch of her was on display, and his appreciative smile made her feel beautiful and desired. Her nipples hardened when he grazed her stomach with his fingers, but just as soon as she reached out for him, he stepped back.

  “Is this my punishment?” she asked, heart thumping hard. “You teasing me while I stand here naked?”

  “No,” Jace said in a low voice. “Your punishment is in here.”

  Jace swiped his keycard against the security panel by his closet door. Carrie hadn’t noticed that it had a lock. That’s strange, she thought as the door clicked. Jace pushed it open and pulled her inside the walk-in space. The first things she noticed were the rows of suits, but then her eyes were drawn to silver chains dangling from the ceiling. They gleaned under the dim light, hinting at danger and desire.

  Carrie’s entire body went hot, and her eyes widened. She could barely whisper the words when she spoke. “What’s that?”

  “Raise your arms above your head,” Jace said, beginning to pace around her.

  She did as she was told, lifting her arms straight up as if she were reaching for the sky. Jace moved closer and twirled one of the chains around his finger before twisting it around her wrist. He pulled it tight, the metal digging into her skin. She sucked in a breath and watched as he moved to her other side and did the same to her other wrist.

  He disappeared out of the closet, leaving Carrie standing there dangling by the chains. She tried to calm her breathing, but her heart roared too hard for her to concentrate on anything but her lust. Carrie wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen next, but she was entirely sure she wanted to know. The fact she was trapped, unable to do anything to stop it, sent an unexpected thrill to her toes.

  Carrie craved for Jace to return to the closet and bend her to his will.

  She heard a rustle behind her, and Jace’s warm and soothing hands slid a soft cloth over her eyes. Her palms went slick, and she grasped the jingling chains tighter. Everything went dark. All she could see was the tiniest pinpoint of light where the cloth rested against her cheek.

  “You need to learn not to disobey me,” Jace growled into her ear. His teeth nipped her neck, and she squirmed. “This will be a mild punishment to start, but the next time will be worse.”

  Carrie sucked in a deep breath and tried to keep her body from shaking. She could hear Jace moving around her and smell the seductive scent of his manly cologne. Her nipples were hard and her thighs wet, and she could barely stand that he wasn’t right there, touching her and taking her and thrusting her cock deep inside her sex.

  “Jace,” she said, voice hoarse.

  “You need to learn to be patient,” Jace said, his voice coming from behind her now. Something light and smooth tickled her ass, and she tightened her grip on the chains. Pain suddenly exploded on her thigh, accompanied by the sharp sound of a whip on her skin. Tears formed in her eyes, but the pain felt as pleasurable as the softness of Jace’s touch. Maybe even more so. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, to enjoy this so much, but every part of her ached for him to punish her even more.

  Another round of pain spread across her thigh, followed by a whip onto her lower back. She moaned and tugged against her binds, lust pouring through her. She wanted to reach out and pull Jace closer to her, but all she could do was hang there, helpless and begging for more.

  “Have you been punished enough, I wonder,” Jace’s mouth was against her ear again. Desperate for his touch, she leaned her body into him, but the heat of his lips was gone before she could fully feel him there. “Perhaps you still haven’t learned your lesson. Tell me, Carrie. Have you learned your lesson?”

  Carrie gasped as the whip trailed down her stomach and slid between her thighs. It tickled her pussy, teasing her and sending waves of pleasure through her trembling body. She groaned and moved against it, unable to stop herself from giving into her need. Jace continued to stroke her with the whip, and the flickering sensations rippling through her made her sag against her chains.

  The whip vanished, and Carrie gasped as Jace’s tongue took its place. He licked and sucked and sent her to the very brink of her desire. Her entire body shook as she arched her back, almost to the top of her orgasm, so close she couldn’t think. But then his tongue was gone, leaving nothing but a frustrated wetness between her thighs.

  “Jace, please,” she moaned, writhing against her bonds. She’d never needed anything more than she needed him to satisfy her scorching need.

  His mouth was hot on her breast now, his tongue slipping over her swollen nipples. Trembling, she dug her fingernails into the chains, feeling as though she might climax just from the feel of his lips on her skin. He paused, trailing the whip down her stomach again before stepping away.

  “I’ll only let you come if you tell me you’ve learned your lesson, Carrie,” he said in a low, lustful growl. She could hear his own need in his voice, and she imagined how hard his cock would look right now. It would strain to be inside her, to fill her up and give her what she so desperately craved. “Tell me you trust me.”

  “I trust you,” she gasped, and she finally felt his hands grip her hips, his fingernails digging into her soft curves.

  “Do you submit to me?” he asked, shifting in so close that his cock grazed her thighs. She arched her back and angled her body toward him, bu
t he still refused to push himself into her wet sex. “Tell me you submit fully to me.”

  “I submit.” Her body was hot and slick with sweat.

  Jace eased his cock inside her, and she moaned so loud the entire penthouse was full of the sound of her voice. She tipped back her head as she spread her legs, opening herself up to him as much as she could. He moved slowly against her, taking her legs in his hands and gripping her ass as she groaned. Jace began to thrust harder. Shockwaves of pleasure ripped through her body, and it only took mere seconds before her climax finally reached its peak.

  When the trembling finally subsided, her entire body felt so weak she could barely hold herself up. She sagged against the chains. Jace carefully undid the locks and slid the blindfold from her eyes. He picked her up and carried her to his bed, and by the time her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.

  Jace hummed as he let the water wash over his naked body. He’d left Carrie in bed, her face blissful from the hot sex they’d had the night before. He’d never seen her so eager for his cock, and the memory of her wetness made him hard all over again. He wished he could stay in bed and give her as much pleasure as she could stand, but there were things he had to take care of today, even though it was his day off.

  Jace turned off the shower, dried his body, and got dressed before calling the concierge to deliver breakfast for one to his penthouse. He hoped that Carrie would stay here all day, and that when he returned, she’d be waiting for him. Preferably naked. As much as he wanted her trust and for her to listen to his commands, he couldn’t wait to strip her up and slip that whip between her thighs again.

  Carrie was headstrong enough that he was sure it wouldn’t take long for her to disobey him again.

  He strode back into the bedroom and dropped a kiss on her forehead. She murmured, her eyelids fluttering open. When she saw that Jace was fully dressed and that his hair was damp from the shower, she frowned.

  She eased up on her elbows, and the sheets slid away from her breasts. “Where are you going?”

  “I have some business that needs my immediate attention,” he said. “I should be back in time for dinner if all goes well.”

  “But it’s Saturday,” she said.

  “It’s urgent.” He grazed his knuckles against her nipple. “Trust me, I’d rather be here.”

  Carrie groaned and flopped back on the bed. “It’s no fair to tease me and then leave.”

  “It’s a promise for later,” he said with a wicked grin. “Be here when I get back, and I’ll sort you right out.”

  “With punishment?” Her eyes widened, and her cheeks flooded with color.

  “Carrie Simmons,” Jace said with a smile. “If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were eager for me to whip you again already.”

  “It doesn’t make any sense, I know.” Carrie shook her head and cast her eyes to the ground. “I never thought I’d enjoy something like that, but…”

  “But it made you dripping wet.”

  Carrie gasped and met his eyes. God, he wished he didn’t have to go now. He couldn’t believe he had Carrie all to himself again and that she was so eager for things he’d never tried with her before. It was if he’d been given the best gift in the world, but he had to leave it here unwrapped, taunting him while he dealt with a situation that was far from enjoyable.

  “I have so much more to show you, Carrie,” he murmured. “If you enjoyed that, just wait.”

  “When did you start doing this kind of thing?” she asked. “You never did this when we were together before.”

  “None of that matters now.” Jace’s thoughts darkened, and he glanced at the sky outside. It was still gray despite the late hour, and he needed to get moving. “What matters is that you’re here and that you have never been more sexy than in this moment. Stay here. I have a breakfast tray being sent up for you, and I’ll leave my keycard if you need to go out for anything. When I get back, be ready for me.”

  Carrie gave him a smile and rubbed his cock through his pants. He sucked in a sharp breath, immediately feeling his length harden under her touch. “Something to keep in mind while you’re busy with work. I wouldn’t want you to forget what you’re coming home to.”

  “Oh, trust me,” he said, almost in a growl. “I won’t forget.”

  Franklin was waiting for Jace in the lobby of The Grand Rizzato. He wore as polished a suit as Jace did, which hid his muscular frame very well. Looking at him now, it was impossible to connect him to the man he used to be, which was exactly what was needed. Franklin gave Jace a nod when he joined him next to the revolving doors leading outside into the cold Manhattan morning.

  “I assume you have everything you need,” Jace said.

  His assistant nodded and patted his front jacket pocket. Jace knew what he had hidden underneath, and it left him feeling uneasy, but he knew they might need it if they were going to complete today’s unsavory task unscathed.

  The two of them stepped out into the wintry air and slid into the limo idling on the corner. Jace lifted his coffee to his lips just as the limo angled away from the curb to lead them to their destination.

  “I didn’t get the chance to speak to you about the tapes before the police showed up with their warrant. Is there any chance they’ll notice it’s been tampered with?”

  “No, sir.” Franklin unbuttoned his suit jacket and settled into the black leather seat. “I was careful to swap out the footage with filming from several nights before. There should be no reason for them to realize it’s been spliced.”

  “Good.” Jace nodded and took another sip of the smooth coffee. It was dark and rich and expensive, just the way he liked all things. “Because if there are any issues, you’ll be in as much trouble as me.”

  “Yes sir.” Franklin glanced out the window, watching the limo speed down the blocks. Jace had lied to Carrie, of course. He wasn’t going into his office, though this trip definitely had something to do with business. It just turned out that his business would take him all the way to Atlantic City. Jace wasn’t looking forward to returning to that place, but Franklin had followed Madison’s killer back to the familiar casino where Jace had spent a large amount of his time after Carrie had left him three years before.

  Jace knew the man who had shot Madison very well, and it was becoming clear that if he wanted to move on from his past, he needed to take matters into his own hands. Jace was on his way to confront the man who had framed him for murder. And he’d do whatever it took to put an end to things.

  Carrie yawned and stretched, letting the luxurious sheets slip across her body. The scent of Jace still hung in the air—his musky aftershave and a hint of gin. He’d opened the panels covering his floor-to-ceiling windows before he’d left, giving her a full view of the gray-studded sky and the sleek curves of the Manhattan skyline.

  Carrie smiled when she heard a knock on the penthouse door. She jumped out of bed and wrapped the silky sheet around her shoulders, padding barefoot to let in the breakfast Jace had ordered up for her. She couldn’t believe how light and airy she felt, as if nothing in the world could go wrong. When she opened the door, the concierge wheeled in a tray full of fruit, eggs, toast, and freshly-brewed coffee. The heady scent tickled her nose, and she was suddenly struck by how hungry she was. Last night had really taken it out of her, in the best way possible, and now she was famished from her expended energy.

  Just before he turned to leave, the concierge dropped a newspaper on the table. “I’m sorry, Miss Simmons, but I thought you might want to see what’s on the front page of the Gossip section.”

  He left her with her food and a growing sense of dread. Carrie flipped over the paper. That same familiar photo glared back at her, only this time it was accompanied by a headline that made her mouth dry.

  Playboy Jace Holt Canoodles with Madison Avenue Attorney!

  They didn’t name her, which meant they didn’t know who she was—yet. If they did, they would have been all over it in a heartbeat. Carrie threw
the paper down on the table, suddenly no longer hungry. If they’d made the connection to her job, it wouldn’t be long before someone would put two and two together and figure out it was Carrie in that photo.

  Sighing, she pushed away from the table to stare out the windows, conflicted emotions running through her. There was nothing she could do about that photo now, but surely there would be more. The longer she and Jace did whatever it was they were doing, the more likely they were going to get caught by someone who wanted to cause them harm. The fact someone had attempted to frame him was a sure sign of that.

  As much as she wanted him—needed him even—her job and her reputation mattered to her, more than anything else in the world. More than anything else but Jace. With a sigh, she spun toward the bathroom to take a shower and change into a clean pair of clothes. She couldn’t stay here all day and do nothing but wait for Jace’s return. She had work to do herself. If she didn’t get caught up, she wouldn’t even have a job to lose if the truth of their relationship got out.

  After Carrie had taken a long and hot shower, she slid back into her clothes and dried her hair. Her eyes flicked to the closet where she and Jace had spent exquisite moments the night before. She still couldn’t believe how much she’d enjoyed being punished, and she had to admit she was curious about what else he had in store. A moment later, she found herself lifting his keycard from the bedside table.

  She knew she shouldn’t take a peek. He would want her to experience his new techniques without being spoiled by what he had waiting. She knew him well enough to be certain of that. Of course, she thought with a smile, maybe he’d decide peeking was worthy of some extra punishment…

  Carrie slid the keycard against the lock and stepped inside the closet. The chains dangled from the ceiling, appearing less sensual now that she was alone. She twirled her finger around one, the slick binds cool against her hand. Memories of the night before ran through her mind, and her lips split into a smile. The way he’d teased her with that whip had almost been too much for her to bear.