Derision: A Novel (12 page)

Her mouth parts, and she looks at Chase as if to address him rather than me. “Circumstantial. He could’ve already been in route when he received the email. To which he opened on his phone.”

“I don’t think so,” Chase cuts in. “Miss Wilde is correct. The metadata clearly states the email was received by his home IP address. Which means, you must have some exculpatory evidence for us.”

The ACA curses under her breath as she tweaks a report from her folder. She slaps the report on the table. “I only just received this before you arrived, Mister Larkin. It still needs to be investigated.”

The report is a record of Bates’ Internet activity at the time of the rape. Most of which is clearly visits to porn sites and a dark fetish site.

Chase’s mouth kicks up into his devilish smile. The one that highlights his dimple. The one I love. “Your time would be best spent on investigating the actual rapist, Miss ACA Garcia,” he says.

She releases a huff of frustration. “It’s a technicality that will be scrutinized closer, I assure you.”

He tucks the report away before he stands, offering me his hand to rise beside him. “Not a technicality, but a fact that clears my client for the time being.”

Once she leaves the room, Chase pulls me against his chest. His hand slips down and he tugs up my skirt. I gasp in a breath at the feel of his rough caress between my thighs.

“There’s a camera in here,” I whisper.

His gaze locks on to the camera in the corner. “Even if it wasn’t off, that wouldn’t stop me from touching you.” My hands grasp for the table behind me, seeking support as he pushes my underwear aside and possessively takes what he wants. “Are you going to stop me?”

He knows I won’t. And I am under no delusion that his intention is not to demean me right here, the notion that someone can walk in on us at any moment adding to my increasing humiliation. He’s not just enjoying it; he’s feasting off it.

The abrasive stubble of his cheek rubs against my face as he lowers his mouth to my neck, the feel more desperate and immediate, heightening this erotic secret between us.

My pulse accelerates, triggering pressure to the spot he’s expertly working. But just as suddenly, the fear and excitement dissipate as he pulls away.

“I’m more than tempted to take you right here on this table,” he says, adjusting his erection. “But let’s get Bates out of processing before they try to question him. Then I’ll take my time with you.”

The promise in his dark tone sends a wave of heat coursing through me, confirming I wouldn’t have denied him.

I don’t recognize who I am anymore. A woman who’d let her boss fuck her in a police station—and love it. What’s more, as he leads the way toward processing, I believe this man may understand me—what I desire and need—on a level I may never. I fear I’ve been more than dominated, more than owned; I’m being corrupted. And I crave every one of his defiling touches.

A
CA Garcia is
all contemptuous glares and wounded pride as Malcolm Bates is released from temporary holding. I enjoy every slitted scowl she sends my way. Though it wasn’t my discovery that freed Bates, she’s invested in beating me.

Hearing my little, meek Alexis tear down the prosecution’s case in a matter of seconds was thrilling. She took control, owning a power she never knew she possessed. I saw it in her eyes the moment she scented weakness; the second the ACA faltered, giving her an in to strike.

I’m crawling out of my skin to touch her. Devour her newfound power. I’m seconds away from hauling her into the dirty bathroom and fucking her up against a stall, when Bates exits through the door.

I adjust my slacks as I stand, dampening all arousing thoughts, before I approach my client.

“I swear, you’re a genius,” Malcolm says, shaking my hand.

I nod toward Alexis standing at my side. “I appreciate your confidence, but this was all the doing of Miss Wilde, my secret weapon here.”

His gaze is already assessing Alexis, a hungry glint in his eyes that raises my hackles. “I see what you mean,” he says, turning toward her and extending his hand. “Sorry we didn’t get a formal introduction before, with all the commotion of the pending arrest. Thank you for your services, Miss Wilde.”

She offers him a tight smile, pulling her hand away quickly. “I only pointed out the facts, Doctor Bates. It’s my job, but you’re welcome.”

My mouth curls into a slight smile, loving how she dodged his advance while not insinuating his innocence. Which stresses the need to discover exactly what happened to the victim last night.

“Let’s walk.” I head toward the doors, not giving the ACA another glance as we leave the station. Once we’re near my car, I turn toward Bates. “Now’s the time to inform me of anything,
anything
at all that might pop up during their investigation.”

His face pales as he shakes his head. “I thought this was over now.”

It’s never going to be over for him. He’s in the system. A future suspect for any rape that happens within fifty miles of him. His trial was splashed all over the state, so the only thing he has going for him is that it didn’t go national.

I don’t say this, however. Instead, I try to keep my client’s confidence that we’ll help him one day lead a normal life. “Malcolm, once the Commonwealth sinks their teeth into someone, they don’t let go so easily. Especially when the prosecution believes you got off on a shoddy defense.”

Which is the truth, unfortunately. I’m damn good at what I do, but the jury was only moved to acquit Bates due to lack of evidence. With no DNA, no firsthand identification, and the only thing linking the rapes was the fact that Bates had just been with each woman prior on a date…there was much room for doubt.

It doesn’t prove him innocent, but it’s not enough to convict him, either.

With that in mind, I pull Alexis closer to my side, staking my claim.

Bates releases a heavy breath as he considers this news. “I’ve told you everything, Larkin. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

That’s not what I want to hear. The prosecution is going to pull some form of evidence—no matter how bizarre—out of the air, and I’ll be left backtracking in order to suppress it or defend it. I’d rather have a strong offense on this one, considering the MO doesn’t completely align.

I don’t like not being prepared.
Control and routine
.

“I’ll keep in touch, then,” I say, offering him my hand. “For now, lay low. I can’t stress this enough. Stay off those sites”—I send him a knowing glare—“and you’ll be fine.”

The worry that creases his weathered looking eyes bothers me. “Make this end, Larkin.”

The only way that will happen is if my client is truly innocent and the rapist suddenly decides to confess or is caught. In other words, it’s starting to look doubtful on all accounts.

Regardless of what proof Alexis uncovered, there’s one universal truth for innocents and criminals alike: people learn from their mistakes. They get smarter. More prepared. Cover their tracks better.

For Malcolm’s sake, he better pray he’s gotten good enough to fool me.

* * *

I
couldn’t get
Bates out of my car fast enough. Once I dropped him off at his house, I decided to take the scenic route back to Arlington. This is exactly the type of distraction I feared. The reason why I have such strict rules…that I’m completely breaking when it comes to Alexis.

I should be focused on discovering every bit of evidence the ACA thinks she has. Instead, I’m like a fucking horny teenager, seeking the first exit off the highway so I can satisfy my need for her.

Alexis’s first day in her new position has already been spoiled. Most of the day was spent at the Falls Church PD, waiting for the ACA to get her shit together, rather than letting her get acquainted with her office and tasks.

Since there’s no reason to go into the office this late, I decide her very impressive skills can be better appreciated by me personally, rather than my firm.

“Where are we going?” she asks as I merge onto the exit lane.

Normally, her prying would set me off, but I’m too agitated to scold her about trust this instant. I’m also exceedingly proud of her, with the way she handled the ACA, and her knowledge of the law. Something I’ve never given her enough credit for.

As much as I hate to agree with that fucker Wells, it is a shame her talents went overlooked. I could’ve moved her up at any time, had I thought I could handle the temptation. As it is, I’m in dire need to make up for lost time.

“We’re stopping,” I say, pulling the car over on the side of the road. We’re on a remote two-lane along the stretch of highway that rarely gets used, but Alexis doesn’t need to know this detail.

I kill the engine and turn toward her to unbuckle her seatbelt. She lets the strap release with an unsure furrow to her brow. She’s aware, however, that I’m in no mood for questions. She remains silent as I open my door and walk around the car.

I open her door and take her hand, pulling her out without a word and leading her toward the side of the car, where I then grasp her waist and hoist her onto the hood. “Lift up,” I tell her, my voice thick with restraint.

She licks her lips, then quickly glances around, searching for oncoming cars. But as she eases her hips off the hood, I’m there within a beat, hiking her skirt up and jerking her panties down her thighs. They snag at her garter clips, and I curse.

She slants a sexy smile. “You’re the one who demanded I wear the garter belt.”

“Yes, and I think you want me to punish that sassy mouth,” I say, bunching the silky material at the hem to get a good grip. I tear them down her hip, and do the same to the other side, before I yank them off.

The arch of her eyebrow is so damn sexy, I take my time unbuttoning her blouse, just to drag out her anticipation. Making her aware, very slowly, that she’s about to be naked on the hood of my car.

Her breathing speeds, her chest rising quicker, as I reach the last button. Wide green eyes beg me not to…but her modesty is all too alluring, and I push her blouse off her shoulders.

“A car could come by…” she says, then quickly amends, “sir.”

Lowering myself over her quivering body, I nip her breast through the lacy material of her bra, loving how she bucks against my cock. “A car could come by,” I say, grasping the nape of her neck and pulling her toward me so I can look into her eyes. “And you know what they’d see?” She swallows, awaiting the answer. “Me eating your wanting little cunt like I own you. Like I can do whatever the fuck I want with you.”

I slip my hand beneath her skirt and feel her grow wet at my words. She undulates against me, her mouth parting on a gasp. “Yes, sir.”

Damn, but she’s learning how to play me. Giving me exactly what I crave from her. I unclip the front clasp of her bra, setting her beautiful tits free. “Trust me, temptress. You can feel all the shame that you want, but there’s nothing to be ashamed about when it comes to your beautiful body.” I push inside her, earning a soft moan from her sultry mouth. “They’re jealous. And I’m going to revel in every second of it. Taking you over and over, knowing how badly they want what they can’t have.”

I flatten my palm against her chest, lowering her to the hood as I hike her skirt up past her hips. Then I kiss a trail to her belly before taking her pussy into my mouth. After the ruthless fucking she endured last night, I’m a bit gentler, licking slowly and tasting tenderly, rewarding her as much as I want to possess her.

It damn near requires all my control to leash my desire and not ravish her on top of this car. I clutch her ankles and push her feet onto the hood, spreading her wide. Her pussy is swollen tight, soaking wet—beckoning me to take her.

Soft sighs heighten into clipped, breathy moans as she attempts to restrict her orgasm, the fear of being heard, being witnessed by passerby too distracting. Flicking my tongue over her clit, I pull her attention to me, then suck her hard into my mouth.

I can feel her contracting, her muscles tensing. My cock aches, straining against my slacks, and I pull away right before she breaks. Looking down at her, I tug at the knot of my tie to loosen it. “Take me out and put my cock in your mouth.”

She forces a swallow, making me crave her mouth even more. As she sits forward, her shaky hands working my belt, I dig my hand into her hair, ready for when I’m set free. I thrust deeply, slipping over her tongue with greedy need, and love the way her unprepared mouth drags her teeth against my shaft.

I hiss out a curse, my fingers curling into her thick waves and gaining a tight grip. “Look at me,” I order. Her wide eyes flick to my face, and I can see the contempt there. The yearning to loathe what I do to her, how degraded I make her feel—yet she aches just as badly for my touch.

I shove my cock against the back of her throat, excited as she struggles to contain her gag reflex. She doesn’t want to hurt me, and the irony of that is intoxicating. Making my craving to brand her skin all the more irresistible.

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask, painfully removing myself from her hot mouth.

She swallows, the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes beautiful, alluring. “No, Master.” Her voice is too low, too dejected.

I run the pad of my finger across her lips, savoring their plump, abused fullness. “Say what you want, temptress. Tell me what you need.”

The wash of mortification over her face vanishes before I can even appreciate it. She doesn’t like being made to own her desires. She wants me to force them upon her, allowing her to experience her shameful longings within a secret pocket of her mind.

With a deep breath, she rises before me, her soft skin caressing my cock as she stands. My stomach muscles flinch at the intimate contact, my hands curling into fists to keep from pulling her against me.

“I want it all.” Her gaze roams over my face, then her hand follows, her delicate fingers tracing a lingering trail from my temple to mouth. My jaw clenches. “I need you to break me and dominate me…as much as I need you to love me.”

My eyes seal shut as a terse expletive slips free, my lungs constricted. Then her gentle touch is clasping the back of my neck, bringing her warm breath to my skin, her lips kissing, exploring, timidly tasting my neck as she presses her tantalizing body against mine.

I could just as easily fall to my knees as bend her over the car. I crave to worship at her feet as badly as I need to savagely fuck her into surrender. I’ve never been tempted the way I am right now to submit my will—and when she wraps her leg around me, rubbing her wet lips over my cock, I’m a fucking doomed man.

My control slips in an instant and I grab her arms, hauling her against me with desperate force. “My love is a punishment, temptress.” Only I don’t know who I’m bound to punish more:
her or me
. “If you can survive that, then I’m yours.”

She gasps in a breath as I shove her against the hood and sink inside her. Her arms link around my shoulders, clinging to me as I enter her over and over, the loss of control crushing, overpowering.

“Chase,” she breathes my name, and I groan, driving deeper, unable to suppress the urge to bury myself inside her.

“Say it,” I demand, gripping her thighs and hauling her against my cock as I thrust harder. “Say I’m yours.”

“You’re mine. I want you to be mine,” she says, her eyes snapping to mine as her nails scrape across my back.

A growl releases from deep within my chest, and I capture her neck with my teeth, branding her the way she’s imprinting my black soul.
We belong to each other
.

She’s twisting my mind, and God help me if she ever tries to leave…if another dares to take her away…this twisted love will have no limits.

I’m so lost in Alexis, overwhelmed by this new realm of lust and love, cruel touches melding against amorous caresses, that I don’t notice a car pulling to a stop until I hear an idling engine.

Alexis tilts her head back, exposing her neck to me in the most erotic pose as she looks at the driver. I cover her body with mine, a carnal demand thrumming within me to guard my possession. And when I look up, my gaze meets the worn eyes of an older man, he and his wife wearing matching, horrified expressions.