Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
He carried me here. Tucked me in. In my mind’s eye, I see him watching over me, the shadow of a smile on his mouth.
I will always watch over you.
He brought me to a hotel room, much nicer than any hotel room I’ve been in before, judging by the brocade on the fine coverlet. The sky-blue fabric matches the textured wallpaper.
On the bedside table, there’s a vaseful of vines with dark, glossy leaves and yellow blossoms not yet unfurled. That’s where the smell of jasmine is coming from.
I grope for the phone and mash the button that says Concierge.
“Good morning, Ms. Ramos.”
Is it morning? I squint through the vines at the alarm clock. It is, just barely.
“What can I do for you?” the concierge prompts politely.
“Where am I?”
“Hotel Magnifique.” He names a premier hotel I’ve never even stepped foot in because I can’t afford to breathe the lobby air.
“Um. . .” I reach for the clock as if it will give me answers and almost knock over the flowers. I need to get it together. The concierge sounds so formal. I feel the need to reciprocate. “What time is checkout?”
“Any time you prefer. Do you wish to leave today? The room is reserved for you indefinitely.”
“What?” I abandon all hope of getting it together.
“Your stay is complimentary. Courtesy of the owner.”
“Owner?”
“Roy Enterprises.”
That shouldn’t mean anything to me until I remember. . . Roy, as in Rex Roy. Of course.
Smug bastard, giving me the perfect scene and then checking me into the fanciest hotel in the city. A fancy hotel he owns. He can’t resist flaunting his wealth.
I run my hand over the soft coverlet. This is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.
I’m going to take care of you. . .
“Shall I send up some breakfast?” the concierge asks.
“Let me guess, it’s also included in the room.”
“Of course, madam.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever. I mean, thank you.” I hang up so I don’t make more of a fool of myself.
I try to sit up, and my body screams at me. Delicious pain shoots from my raw skin, warming me through. He worked me over so well. My pussy purrs with satisfaction, remembering.
Every moment was perfect.
My feelings are amorphous, floating through me. Confusion. And the start of some warm fuzzies. I squash them.
I need to focus.
I grab my phone. It’s almost noon here, so it’s earlier in California. Mina probably won’t be awake. Then again, I’m not sure she lives in California. We’ve only communicated by phone or online. She’s like me, transient, floating outside the confines of society.
I text her anyway.
Call me.
My phone buzzes right away, and I answer. “Mina?”
“I’m here.” Her voice is raspier than usual against a backdrop of thrumming trance music.
“Are you up early, or did you never go to bed?
“What do you think?”
“Never mind, I don’t need to know. I need info on someone. And I want to know everything. I need you to dig.”
“Got it.” Her fingers clatter on the keyboard. “Who’s the subject?”
“Rex Roy.” Just his name makes me set my teeth. Smug, sadistic asshole.
The clatter stops. “The billionaire? Tech genius?” There’s an admiring note in her voice, and not many people impress Mina.
“Roy Enterprises. He owns the company.”
“He owns a lot more than that. Well, his parents did, and when they died, he inherited it. He took their fortune and expanded it ten times over. He’s closer to trillionaire than billionaire now.”
I sort through the information. “His parents died?”
“Dude, yes. It was the story of the decade for a while. He’s famously an orphan.”
I wince. The image of a boy comes to mind—dark hair, mouth set like it will never again know a smile. It’s a fleeting vision, gone before I can grasp it.
I know what it’s like to be a famous orphan.
“Why do you need to know about him? Is he a suspect?”
“Not officially. I just. . .” What can I say? I’ve scened with him—three times now. And he’s the dom of my dreams and my nightmares. He’s toying with me. Stalking me.
He’s killed for me. If I’m right, he’s killed before that and will kill again.
“I met him. And I got a feeling.”
Mina knows about my feelings. I never explained, but after a few cases where my feelings led to clues that closed cases, she caught on.
“Done. I’ll have a prelim dossier to you in five hours.”
I sit for a moment, dreading the walk to the bathroom. I can feel the whip marks he gave me. So precise, so controlled.
A surge of desire takes my breath away. I close my eyes and slide my hand between my legs.
What do you want, Inara? Tell me, and I’ll do everything in my power to give it to you.
I saw you. I wanted you.
You’re beautiful.
Shame hits me. I’m masturbating to the thought of a suspect. And last night, I let him get me off and then some.