Lies That Bind (19 page)

Coop jerked a plastic bag from his pocket. Damn, the man was prepared for anything. “Gentlemen, I think we may have found our first piece of real evidence.”

* * * *

Tessa scrolled through the documents on Derek’s laptop computer. She, Nate, and Robert had searched his little hideaway down here, but it hadn’t revealed much, other than that he had nested well in his studio apartment. Even she appreciated the cozy comfort and the quiet.

“I still think you should tell Rex and Tyler about—”

“I won’t. Let it go.” Tessa knew Nate was waiting for an opening. She’d held her breath when Robert got the call to return to the hospital. Nate wasted little time. Once they heard the front door close, he attacked.

“And I’m not going to either,” she added. “And neither are you.”

The son of a bitch just grinned. “You do realize they know something’s up. You blush every time you look at Hawk.”

“Stop it,” she pushed out through clenched teeth. “Don’t call him that.”

He tossed back a laugh. “It
is
his name.”

“A pretend name only. A facade.”

Nate leaned closer. “I’m sure his subs would tell you there’s nothing fake about what he does to them.”

Heat rushed her from head to toe. “I am not having this conversation with you. You could have warned me he was one of your people.”

He shrugged. “Need to know only. You wanted to experiment, I went to him.”

Tessa narrowed her eyes, grabbed his chair, and pushed hard until he faced her. “Yeah, about that… How
did
you know he was a Dom?”

He tsked and slowly shook his head. “A man’s got to have his secrets, Tess. Why does it bother you so much now?” That damn grin was back. “Because you secretly want what you refused to do with Hawk? Because it embarrasses you that you can’t stop thinking about being all strung up, waiting for a kiss of that—”

“Because I’m ashamed!” She shoved the chair, but Nate’s foot on the floor kept it from tipping. “I feel like I betrayed Rex and Tyler on so many levels. Cooper’s presence is just a reminder of how stupid I was.” And damn it all, she was going to fucking cry. “What if he tells them? I’ll lose them all over again.”

Nate wrapped his arm around her and drew her head to his shoulder. “He won’t say a word. The thing about Doms is that they make sure people get what they need, and it’s very apparent you need Rex and Tyler. And they need you.”

Footsteps coming down the basement stairs pulled them apart. Tessa skittered away for a tissue, but there was no way she could hide the fact she’d been crying. In fact, Tyler frowned the second he laid eyes on her. Rex tilted his head in question, then glanced Nate’s way.

“I’ll explain later.” She wouldn’t have them thinking Nate had done anything wrong.

Barely perceptible nods indicated they’d let it go.

“Robert got called back to the hospital. There was a big car wreck.” She returned to the dinette chair and sat down next to Nate. “We haven’t had much luck. There are a ton of Kevin Drummonds out there.”

“Look on the computer for a document or spreadsheet that might explain these codes.” Cooper slid his notepad onto the table next to Nate. A couple of clicks of the mouse brought up the information—a list of names and codes.

“More DNA reports?” she asked, looking at the screen.

“No, but we found where he’s been stashing the items he used to gather DNA.” Rex leaned over her shoulder for a better look.

Tyler took the other side. “Any of those come up with interesting matches?”

“God only knows,” she said. It looked like everyone in town was here.

“Come on.” Cooper patted Nate’s good shoulder. “We found a women’s wristwatch over there lying loose. You and I are going to go back to the shack and see what else a thorough search can turn up. If we have time, we’ll write down all the numbers we can before we lose daylight. A deep search has to come first, though. We’ll leave you three here to sort out what you can.”

Tessa knew where she’d start too. Like Nate, she waited until she heard the door close upstairs, then shifted around in the chair to face Rex and Tyler. Both remained braced against the table, hovering over her. She prayed her confession didn’t create another rift between them.

“I tried to have a ménage with Nate and Cooper,” she spit out. “It didn’t go well. I knew I was out of my league when Cooper put the leather cuffs around my wrists and ankles and hooked me into a frame. The second he tickled the flogger over my ass, I shouted out my safe word. The bottom line is that I didn’t want them. I wanted the two of you and what we had.”

Silence, accompanied by blank stares and quirked eyebrows, met her confession. Tessa wished she’d kept her mouth closed. Twice she’d professed her need and affection for them. Twice she’d gotten nothing in response. Confession wasn’t good for the soul. It was the nail in the coffin of their relationship. So be it.

She turned back to the laptop before they could see tears filling her eyes. Blinking her vision clear, she focused all her attention on her search and not the warmth of their bodies right behind her or the coldness in their expressions. Then they edged closer, each one bracing her from either side, blocking her between them.

“You have a safe word now?” Tyler’s breath coiled over her ear. “You
are
big league. Any new moves I might be interested in?”

Her nipples tightened. Pussy clenched.

“Leather cuffs?” Rex nuzzled his face against her neck. “I’m intrigued you would need them. You’ve always held on tight for us. As for the flogger…” He skimmed his hand down her back. Cool air kissed her skin. He’d unzipped her dress. “Our toys are still in the closet upstairs. We can make do.”

Tyler raked his hand up her thigh. A rush of moisture flooded her pussy. “And you don’t really expect us to be able to concentrate on anything else right now when the sight of you strung up for pleasure is in our heads. Do you?” He slipped his thumb under the crotch of her panties and over her clit.

Tessa’s gasp pushed her into Rex’s arms, and she quickly found herself stretched over her chair, splayed between the two. Rex breached her dress, shoving it down her arms until all that remained between him and her breasts was her bra. He made quick work of that. Tyler was no less relentless. He shoved her dress to her waist and yanked her panties down her legs.

“Not here,” she managed to say. “What if Nate and Cooper come back?”

“They can pull up a chair and watch.” Rex rolled her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. “Unless you want them to join us.” He pinched hard.

Tessa groaned and pushed up for more. Tyler stabbed two fingers inside her pussy, nailing her in place.

“Is that what you want?” Tyler asked. “Being strung up for pleasure?” He swiped his thumb over her clit.

“Only for you,” she gasped. “Only for you.”

“Good.” Rex unclasped her pearl necklace. Tyler caught the other end when Rex dangled it over her belly. Together they lowered it toward her clit and wedged the strand between her labia.

“Oh God,” she whispered. “Oh please.”

“Don’t we always?” Rex replied. “Now, you clamp those pussy lips tight around it and don’t let go. It’s my turn to paddle that sweet ass of yours.”

“And you’re going to suck my cock while he does it,” Tyler added.

“You heard the man, sweetheart. Into place.” Rex rolled her until she was facedown on his lap. Tyler scooted his chair to the other side facing her and pulled her forward until her shoulders rested on his thighs and her mouth kissed his crotch. Determined fingers released his erection to her lips. She circled her tongue around the crown, then slowly lowered her mouth to the root. A sharp swat to her ass yanked her head up.

Tyler pulled it back into place, one hand resting on the back of her head to make sure there were no more lapses. Her spanking began in earnest, each one adding more fire to the one before it. Tessa fell into the rhythm, the bliss, the connection. Her moans rumbled around Tyler’s cock, and her pussy wept over Rex’s thigh. She writhed for position, trying to get the pearls right where she needed to come. Each time, Rex pulled her away from glory and spanked her harder.

She rubbed her nipples over Tyler’s thighs, tried to focus on sucking his cock. Finesse wasn’t her friend, not with fire racing over her ass and swelling her crotch to the bursting point. Tyler’s grip on her head tightened. It was the only warning she got before he spilled his cum down her throat.

Rex rubbed his hand over her hot backside, down her thighs, then between them to the source of her discomfort. But it was Tyler who helped her upright, Tyler who stood her astride Rex’s lap. Gaze locked with hers, Rex unleashed his erection. Then he and Tyler grabbed an end of the pearls and raked it over her clit. Orgasm exploded through her. Tyler pushed her downward, and Rex slammed his cock deep inside, trapping the pearls between them. He ground into her, tearing another orgasm from her, then another before he thrust deep and came.

Panting for breath, she draped her arms around his shoulders and sank into him. Finally the buzz in her ears subsided and some level of awareness returned.

“Where are your heels?” Rex asked.

Tessa pulled her head up. “I left them in the living room.”

Rex nodded, patted her bottom, and lifted her from his lap. “Let’s go.”

Confused, she followed him and Tyler nonetheless. Once they reached the main floor, Rex hurried ahead to retrieve her white heels. “Put these on and walk up the stairs. I want a good look at your red ass and hot legs.”

“And the pearls?” The ones now dangling from her cunt, promising to make her come again.

“Keep them in place.” Tyler flicked the end. “We’re far from done with you right now.”

Tessa flashed them the sexiest smile she could muster. “I’ll be waiting at the foot of the bed, spread and ready.” She stepped into her shoes and started for the stairs, adding an extra sway to her steps she knew would have them hard in no time.

Halfway to her destination, someone’s cell phone shattered the moment. She paused and turned, wanting one of them to make the decision, yet both looked as conflicted as she.

“It’s my phone,” Tyler confessed.

“Could be information or a problem,” Rex said, more to himself than to either of them.

Tyler huffed out a breath and yanked the device from the depths of his pocket. He didn’t bother looking at caller ID, didn’t have the chance to even mouth to them who it was.

“We’re on our way.” Four words that sealed their fate. “All right then.” He disconnected with a slow shake of his head. “That was Robert. Kevin Drummond and Justin Clark were run off the road just outside of town. Their vehicle rolled into the ditch. They’re hurt but all right.”

“They were together?” Rex asked.

Tyler nodded.

Tessa kicked off her shoes and yanked the pearls free. “I’ll get dressed.”

“Not so fast,” Tyler said. “Robert’s bringing them here. It’ll be an hour or so.”

“I still need to get dressed.” She cocked her hip against the banister. “You really don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate on anything else when there’s a mystery to solve, do you?”

Tyler pointed his fingers toward the basement. “Didn’t bother you a few minutes ago.”

She tickled the pearls over her nipples, watching Rex’s and Tyler’s eyes glaze when they hardened. “I was needful then, sated now. Don’t worry. We’ll pick this up later.”

Tessa tossed the pearls their way. Rex caught them in one hand as she turned to leave.

“We’ll hold you to that.”

She glanced over her shoulder and flashed him a grin. “We might have to start from scratch again.” She brushed her hand over her ass. Erections sprang to life in their trousers.

“I don’t have a problem with that.” Rex shoved the pearls deep into his pocket.

This time she quirked her eyebrows. “Seems like your hand’s been in your pocket overly long. No cheating.”

He grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Just getting my phone to call Nate and Coop.” Still, he made a big show of adjusting his cock before he pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Don’t be long. One of us might have to come for you.”

“Ooo…I do hope so.” She trotted up the staircase, knowing they’d enjoy the sight of her red ass bouncing all the way. Like with everything else, she’d forgotten how much fun it was to play and tease.

The thud of steps on the front porch tweaked her curiosity and sped her onward. She barely made it to her room before the front door opened. Tessa dressed quickly, opting for the comfort of jeans and blouse, raked her hair into a ponytail, and was on her way back down the stairs in less than five minutes. Her headlong rush screeched to a halt when she saw Ed and Hannah on the love seat with all four men hovering over them.

“What’s going on?”

“Found them in the cabin when we arrived,” Nate said.

He looked pale, but heaven forbid Tessa suggest his injury was getting the better of him.

“Everyone sit down.” Tessa took the recliner and leaned toward the couple.

“You know these people, Tessa?” Ed asked.

“Yes, they’re friends.”

“That’s a relief.” The breath Hannah let out backed up her words. “I gotta say, I was plenty scared when they showed up. That one took Ed down hard.” She jerked her head toward Cooper.

“He drew a gun on us,” Coop said in his defense. “Didn’t have a choice.”

“I’ll take that back now, young man.” Ed held out his palm. Cooper pulled the gun from the back of his jeans and gave it to him.

“What the hell, y’all?” Tyler asked.

“It’s complicated.” Ed tucked the gun into the holster at his waist.

“We’ve known you five years, and you’re going to play that game?” Rex slid onto the sofa across from them, braced his elbow on the armrest, his chin on his fingers, and stared.

Tessa had never seen the couple back down from anything, but they sure as hell couldn’t look Rex in the eye. Or any of them for that matter. Despite the lack of eye contact, they still managed to appear calm. Neither fidgeted or even broke a sweat. Calm and unruffled. Walls and barriers where openness had once been the norm. Tessa didn’t like it and wasn’t in the mood for games.