Taken (10 page)

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Why the need,” Jess asked, her lower lip quivering.

“Because this is the man inside, a part of who I am.”

“The one no one ever sees.”

Nodding, he sat back and grabbed his drink. He wasn’t surprised she’d been able to see through his mask and he certainly hadn’t left clues, merely opened his padlocked door a crack. “You’re right. I scare them away. For some reason women can’t understand a man being in charge, his desire to command not only the boardroom but his entire life.”

“Equality of the sexes.”

Craze nodded. “Exactly. We all fear what we’re unaccustomed to. Few of us can take a leap of faith after our twenties. We’re set in our ways, worried about what others will think, no matter how we hunger.” A few seconds passed and he studied her face, the way she was processing, and was more intrigued than ever.

“Then why me?”

“Why you?”

“Why did you take a chance on a woman you don’t know when you’ve been very good at hiding your entire life?”

Inhaling her sweet scent, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face as he thought about his answer. “Because you’ve known me all your life.”

Jess furrowed her brow, a frown on her face. She looked down for a few seconds and when she lifted her head she nodded once. “As you’ve known me. Ownership. You’re serious?”

“Yes. Complete submission.” The single shiver told him many aspects about the lovely woman, including the fact she wanted him to push. Cupping her chin he squeezed, her single moan telling. “Total domination of you without any question. You will be mine.”

Chapter Five

You will be mine…
Shivering, the words lingered in the back of Jess’ mind and had been since the night he’d issued them. She stood in front of her bathroom mirror, glaring at her reflection. “Craze.” Just saying his name out loud was intense enough. Her body reacted to every thought, every memory, keeping her hot and wet, her mind befuddled. Today she simply couldn’t afford to be anything but spot on. She’d worked too hard on the case. The illustrious Mr. Martin was going to be convicted of murder. Period.

Her thoughts drifted to Craze once again, the last conversation they’d had. She’d wondered more than once what he did for a living. She’d deduced he was a professional, an engineer or accountant. No, he had far too much flair and imagination to be an accountant. What if he was also an attorney? Gripping the counter she exhaled slowly, her instinct kicking in. “Oh no fucking way.”

Why the hell hadn’t she required him to give her his real name?
The same reason you didn’t give him yours.
“Ugh.” A quick glance at her phone and she couldn’t help but wonder where he was, what he was doing. They’d kept in contact, but she purposely had pushed him off, giving her work schedule as an excuse. Granted, she’d told him everywhere she’d gone. His texts had been short and to the point

Are you wearing your plug?

Are you being a good girl?

Fuck your ass tonight with a large dildo, going very deep.

No playing with my pussy.

The texted words always gave her a thrill, a deep tingling in her pussy. A good girl? She was anything but longing to have another session with him. Her ass had healed from the last spanking and she craved another, one much harder. A bead of perspiration trickled down the side of her face. Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes, remembering the way he’d touched her, his grip firm. The last time he’d fucked her, a surprise in the shower, he’d been rougher than before, bending her over and thrusting his cock into her asshole.

The pain had been blinding and incredible. Jess wiped the salty drip away and leaned over panting. She could still hear her moans as he pumped his dick in and out, unrelenting, his balls slapping against her bruised ass. She gripped the sides of the counter, shoving her ass out as she imagined him lifting her skirt, whipping her ass over and over again.

You belong to me.

You’re mine.

No other man will touch you.

The words remained as a reminder. Lifting her head, she unbuttoned her blouse, exposing the top of her right breast. The bite mark remained. He’d drawn blood, sucking the wound as well as her nipple as he drove his fist into her pussy. Shivering, she had no idea why she was so attracted to the intense and very mysterious stranger, but she had to have more.

Jess exhaled and fingered the mark before pushed the top of her bra past her nipple. His mark surrounded her rosy bud, another placed on her left. Along with the belt marks that had faded, he’d certainly marked his territory.

After the trial there was no holding back. She was going to call him, beg him to fuck her. The realization was startling. After a few more seconds she buttoned her blouse and rose to her full height. Today she was an attorney.

She gave herself a high five and glanced at her attire. The suit was just an off shade of red, enough so the piece wasn’t glaring, but certainly powerful. Everyone in the courtroom was going to know she was taking command. There was enough bad press already so today was all about being as cool as a cucumber.

“You can do this.” Winking, she pointed her index finger. “You will do this. Your entire team is counting on you.” She took a step back, smoothing down her skirt, and gave final nod before heading out of the bathroom. A cold shiver trickled down her spine. Her instinct terrified her. What if he was the defense attorney? Jesus Christ. What if?

Thirty minutes later Jess stood outside the courtroom. She remained nervous as well as curious to see if her instincts were right. If so, she wondered if she’d have to recuse herself from the case, allow another attorney to prosecute. Then again, how and what would she tell her boss? “Shit.” She glanced at her watch. Stalling wasn’t in her nature. Time to go in and face whatever would come.

Sucking in her breath she opened the door and walked inside. The courtroom was packed. Thank God reporters weren’t allowed. On the drive over she’d received two calls from Betsy, warning her of her heightened notoriety, something she loathed. She made a beeline for her seat, judiciously easing her files on top of the table. No need to appear ruffled. After scanning the courtroom, and seeing no one she recognized, she breathed a sigh of relief.

You can do this.

She placed her phone on the table, fingering the screen. Just then a text popped in.

Are you hungering for me? Are your panties wet, longing for a hard whipping?

Dear God not now. Her thoughts drifted and for some reason she could feel the slip of material from her panties in the crack of her ass. She pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and sat down, as nervous as she’d ever been. A few seconds later she breathed out, more determined than ever. This case was a slam-dunk.

A few seconds later she heard a commotion and stood, knowing she would soon meet the illustrious attorney. She knew his name, had heard about his shark reputation. Ryland Simpson sounded very much like Craze.
Dear God, please no.

“Ms. Parker.”

The words, his sound was in a vacuum, the voice low and husky. Just like Craze’s.
No. No. This can’t be happening.
Everything was echoing, her pulse racing. Gulping, she turned around – and breathed a sigh of relief. The man standing in front of her was definitely not Craze. Shorter by almost a foot, his voice certainly didn’t match his stature. “Mr. Simpson?”

“Indeed. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He narrowed his eyes.

And I’ve heard nothing about you
. “You as well. I look forward to working with you.” They shook hands and she muffled a sigh as he walked in front to his desk.
Thank you. Thank you
. A smile crested her face. Now she could get down to business.

****

Craze stood in front of he mirror in his office, studying his face. He was clean-shaven. Far too clean shaven in his mind. He longed to be on the bike with Jess, finding the perfect location for an outdoor beating. He could see her tied to a tree, her lovely body glowing in the sunlight. His cock stiffened as he thought about whipping her, starting with her feet and legs, her stomach and breasts. He exhaled and gave himself a harsh look. “You’re a sick man.” At this point he didn’t care. He needed her as much as she needed him.

Right now, he had a job to do, one he hadn’t been looking forward to. This was perhaps the most defining moment of his career. Groaning, he adjusted his tie, folding down the collar of his pressed white shirt. Grabbing his coat, he thought about the day ahead. This was going to push him to the limits. He had zero tolerance for men like Martin. None. He only prayed to some God the prosecutor had a solid case. Selecting a qualified jury could potentially take days.

As he slipped into the jacket, he heard a knock on the door. “Come.”

“Looking spiffy, my man. You could almost pass.”

“Funny Mark. Is everything set?”

“Yeah. I know I shouldn’t make a judgment call, but I have to tell you, the prosecutor has done an excellent job of putting everything together. The pool of jurors isn’t entirely what I’d call prime, but I’m certain a solid group will be selected.”

“Martha?” He adjusted his cuffs and buttoned his jacket. Gray wasn’t his color.

“Huh?”

Craze shot him a look. “The name of the prosecutor.”

“Oh. Jess? Yes, she’s really gone all outs on this. I honestly don’t have any idea how the defense is going to counter the evidence she’s gathered,” Mark mused. “The guy is guilty as sin.”

His blood chilled. “I’m sorry, Jess?”

“Jess Parker. Remember? I told you about the bitchin’ prosecutor? Not bad on the eyes either. All leggy blond.” Mark grinned. “Hey, kinda your type too. Might want to think about stepping outside of your comfort zone. Or is dating a sexy attorney off the docket?”

As Mark laughed, Craze glared at Mark in the mirror. “You said her name was Martha. Martha Parker.” He could hear the over pronunciation in his stilted voice.

“Yes, but she goes by Jess. What’s the big deal?” Mark narrowed his eyes. “Hold on. Do you know her?”

“No. I was just curious about the name change.” He fiddled with his tie again in an effort to regain his composure. There was no way this was the same girl. None.
What if this is? What if this is the woman you sodomized, fucked, used and whipped?
The thought left him sweating, his arms and legs quaking. He was nauseous but excited at the same time.

“Hmmm… Well, you have five minutes.”

Craze swallowed hard. “I know. I’ll be there. I just want to go over my notes.”

“I think you’re in lust with thoughts about the leggy blond, the one with green eyes, a perfect hourglass figure. Mmm… I could go for a sinful tryst right about now.”

“Mark! Let me have a few minutes.” Green eyes.

Mark winked as he raised a single eyebrow, tapping his heels together. “Certainly,
sir
.”

When the door closed he clenched his fists. His Jess, the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind, had refused to see him over the last few days, saying work had interfered. What if… He pushed the thought aside. He had a job to do and whether or not she was the attorney shouldn’t matter in the least.

He snagged his judicial robe, tossing on the ugly piece, and grabbed his files. After a quick look at his watch he walked out the door and toward the courtroom, hesitating before he made his entrance. Craze closed his eyes when he turned the handle.

“All rise for the honorable Judge Randolph Mitchell.”

Craze heard the rustle of the crowd as he advanced, refusing to look at the attorneys seated in front of the bench. Only after he settled in did he open his eyes.
Oh fuck.
Thoughts about their last time together, the way he’d flogged her until she cried, remained burning in the back of his mind. While he registered the lovely woman, one dressed for the kill, in his mind, he couldn’t remember anything else but the time they’d shared together. Her naked body. Her willingness to accept his dark side. The way her face was illuminated in the dim lighting of his playroom was a reminder he’d lost his mind.

Crack!

The memory made his skin crawl, his cock harden. She was his. She belonged to him. She was his alone and…
Get control. This isn’t your Jess.
No, she wasn’t.

Jess, his Jess, the woman he’d told he would own was seated in front of him, barely twenty feet away. He could tell by the shocked look on her face how she felt, the mixed emotions, as well as her heated desire. There was no mistaking what she wanted, her need.

Jess maintained her composure as she stood, placing her fists on top of the wooden table. Her mouth was pinched, yet her eyes flitted back and forth.

For a few seconds there was no one else in the room.

I will have you. I will fuck you. I will use you.

Craze sucked in his breath and could swear he was able to detect her perfume, the spicy mix that had driven him crazy. As they locked eyes he knew. This was going to be a difficult case, let alone day. “Be seated.”

****

Jess couldn’t make it out of the courtroom fast enough. Her mind was reeling, her body shaking all over, and there was no way she was going to be able to continue the case. How could she? She was not only fucking the Judge, but also submitting to him. Everyone had to know they were screwing. How could they not sense something was going on between them given their heated looks? Jesus Christ she’d play with fire and lost.

She gulped air and struggled through the crowd of reporters, the men and women who’d nearly camped out at the courtroom doors, hungry to gawk as a man falling from grace. At this point she needed solace, time alone. Keeping her head down, she forged her way through the scores of people and down a flight of stairs, finding the women’s bathroom within a few seconds. She looked over her shoulder and exhaled. Not a soul had seen where she went. Thank God for small miracles.

The door swung open and against the section of chipped tile and she grimaced as she stumbled toward the sink. Dropping her briefcase and purse, the hard thud made her jump. As she gripped the edge she let out a breathy groan. “Oh my God. Oh my fucking God.” How had she managed to keep cool under nearly seven hours of scrutiny, even finalizing a jury in one day? She couldn’t remember half of the comments, or the names of anyone. She hadn’t been able to think about anything but Craze’s face, his burning eyes, his dominating look and the way he commanded a room. Craze. Judge Randolph Mitchell. She’d heard the name, knew of his tough reputation, but had never faced him in court. Karma was a fucking son of a bitch.