Seeking Justice (10 page)

“Do you want me to fuck you, Caitlyn?”

Is he blind?
I give an impassioned moan, turning my face into his palm.

“Yes!” I whisper.

“Look at me,” he demands firmly.

I meet his eyes.

“You need to be sure, darlin’.” He holds my gaze steadily. “I don’t make nice when I fuck.”

Holy shit.
I swallow convulsively at his erotic words. I nod my head in the affirmative.

“I need a verbal response, sugar.” His eyes move down to my lips.

“Yes, please,” I whisper.

He raises an eyebrow as he continues to look at my mouth.

“I want you to… fuck me… but not nice,” I say breathlessly and can’t stop my blush.

There’s a salacious gleam in his eyes as he meets my gaze. “Well, in that case—”

He releases my wrists, and I feel his hands as they work the zipper on the back of my dress, slipping it off my shoulders to pool at our feet. He stares down at me, and my nipples pucker hard against the abrasive lace of my bra. He grips the straps and yanks them off my shoulders, roughly pulling my bra down, exposing my breasts. I gasp at the suddenness of it.

My nipples jut out, and my breasts seem to quiver as he reaches out to run a finger around my areola.

“Well now, that looks real nice. All pink and pretty.” His eyes slide down my body. “I’m anxious to see if your sweet little nub is all pink and pretty.”

I moan softly and sway.

He grasps my arm and spins me around to face the desk.

“Hands on the desk,” he orders as he presses into the back of me, and I feel his erection hard against my bottom. He unclasps my bra, slips the straps down my arms and drops it to the floor. Bringing his hands up to cover my breasts, he squeezes as he presses me hard into the edge of the desk. His mouth finds my shoulder, nibbling to my neck. When he comes to the spot where my neck and shoulder meet, he bites down.

“Aargh!”
Shit that hurt!
I buck against him, but he holds me firmly licking away the sting. I’m sure there will be a mark.

He turns me back around to face him and grips my waist to lift me up onto the desk.

“Hands behind your head.”

I quickly do as he says. This makes my breasts thrust forward, and I moan softly as he brings his fingers to my nipples again. But that moan quickly gives way as I gasp, crying out sharply as he exerts pressure, extending my nipples further—pinching, twisting and pulling on them. I’m a throbbing mess when he finishes.

“Very nice, darlin’.” I blush when he grins at me and flicks a nipple. “Let’s see that pretty little nub now.” He encircles my shoulders with his muscled arm and pushes against my chest to lay me back on the desk.

It’s cold, and I feel goose bumps rise on my skin.

He pushes my legs apart, and I close my eyes, hoping to hide my embarrassment. No one has ever looked at me down there. I jerk when his fingers spread me open. His thumb rubs over my sensitive clit, and I cry out.

“Easy, darlin’.” He places a hand on my stomach and rubs gently. “You’re red and swollen. But not as much as you’re going to be,” he murmurs.

I moan as my core tightens at his words.

When he leans in and licks the length of my slit, I almost come off the desk.

“Liam!”

When his mouth closes over my clit and he sucks, my whole body bows off the desktop.

I cry out as I feel my core tighten painfully.

“What the hell!”

“Fuck!” Liam shouts. “Get out!” He pulls me up from the desk as he shields me with his body from the view of the man standing in the open doorway.

“Close the fucking door!” Liam yells again. “Give me a moment!”

I hear the click of it closing, and I feel faint with embarrassment.

“You didn’t lock the door?” I push against him. Oh, this is so embarrassing. “Please let me go,” I beg.

He steps back, bends and picks up my dress to hand to me. I clasp it to my chest as I look accusingly at him.

He laughs softly and runs his hand over his mouth, down his chin.

I turn my back to him and work at untangling my dress. I wonder what he finds so funny; he still has all his clothes on. Maybe that’s what he finds so amusing.

He dangles my bra in front of me, and I snatch it from his hand. I slip the straps up my arms, and before I can reach around, Liam is fastening it. When he finishes, he cups my bottom, a cheek in each hand.

“You have a beautiful heart-shaped ass, darlin’,” he murmurs near my ear.

I close my eyes and breathe in his scent. When he smacks my bottom hard, I give a yelp.

“Get dressed,” he says harshly.

I give him a disgruntled glare as I rub my bottom.

When Liam opens the office door, I want to die on the spot as the tall, slim man waiting outside saunters in. I blush bright red when he looks me over and then turns to Liam.

“You came all the way over here to use
my
desk?”

Liam sits on the edge of the desk and reaches to grip my arm, pulling me in between his legs. I try to resist, but he settles me against his bulging hard-on.

“You have a nice desk,” Liam answers lazily. His hand smooths my hair behind my shoulder. I look up to meet his eyes, silently pleading with him to let me out of this room. He frowns slightly.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it. But I won’t be able to sit and work here again, without imagining your lovely young lady draped across it.”

I feel Liam’s body tense. “Fuck you!”

Liam stands abruptly and pulls me to the door. “Go join your friend, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He opens the door. “Can you find your way?”

“Yes,” I whisper, too embarrassed to look at him.

“Hey.” He tips my chin up, and I meet his eyes briefly, before looking away. “You okay?”

I swallow and then nod.

“Good. Stay at the table with Paul.”

I nod again, and he lets go of my arm.

Once I hit the lobby, I make haste to reach Paul inside the nightclub. Julie has arrived, and they sit cuddled together, looking up as I reach them.

“I’m going,” I shout over the music as I grab up my jacket and bag. I step around to their side of the table to give Julie a quick hug.

“Wait. What?” Paul looks concerned and slides his chair to stand. I wave him back down and lean in close.

“I’ll come by the magazine in the morning.”

He spreads his hands in a “what’s up” gesture. I shake my head, wave goodbye and turn to get out of there before Liam returns.

Luck is with me when I step out the door, and a cab pulls up. I breathe a sigh of relief as the cabbie pulls away from the curb, and I give him my address.

What in the hell am I doing? I bring my hands up to cover my face. I don’t even know the man and what, I almost let him screw me in some stranger’s office?

I need to rethink this situation. Is this what I want? For years, I’ve longed to meet someone who makes me feel the way Liam does. Someone whom I can be intimate with, who fills me with desire. I
want
that. But I also know I’ve always thought of having those things in the context of a relationship. And I don’t need Liam Justice to tell me that that’s not going to happen.

But I do want him sexually and if that’s the only way…

I lean my head back against the seat, and it’s all I can do to stop my nervous giggle. That’s twice now that he’s had me on the brink of an orgasm and we’ve been interrupted. It’s beyond embarrassing, caught like that, and the only thing that keeps me from dying of actual embarrassment, is that I’ll never again have to see the guy whose office we were in. I do have to face Holly though, and the questions that I know are coming.

Desire pools low in my belly just thinking about Liam touching me. When I recall his warning that he doesn’t make nice when he fucks, I have to squeeze my legs together as my head lolls weakly back and forth on the seat.

What is he doing to me?

I sit up straight as the cab driver slams on his brakes and lets loose with a string of expletives as another driver pulls out in front of us. Normally the cab drivers vivid language would make me blush, but I think Liam’s dirty mouth is rubbing off on me.

Liam’s dirty mouth.

Mmmm.

Liam’s mouth on me…

“Did you say something, Miss?” I look up to catch the cabbies eyes in the rearview mirror.

“No. Wait! This is my stop.”

I clamber out of the cab, pay the driver and quickly enter my apartment building. I’m tired and glad to be home.

I don’t waste any time, stripping out of my clothes and stepping under the shower. My breasts and nether region are supersensitive from Liam using my body as he did. Drying off in front of the mirror, I see the bite mark on my neck. Shit. What is he an animal? I smile at that thought, and a shiver runs through me. I doctor the spot and head for bed.

Chapter Seven

E
ntering the foyer of Query Magazine the next morning, I’m greeted by friends and colleagues. It’s good to see the people I’ve worked with for the last two years, but I’m here for two purposes, and I head for Valerie Sharp’s office first.

I see Pat before she sees me, and I notice she seems stressed. I’m afraid I’m about to add to that stress.

“Cait!” Pat stands and walks around her desk.

“Hi¸ Pat. Have you heard anything?”

“Not a thing. Cait, I’m really worried.”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot about Valerie, and her going off the radar like this is…” I look over and wave at a couple of copy girls who call a greeting. “It’s just not good,” I say quietly. Pat nods in agreement.

I point to Valerie’s office. “Can we go in?”

“Yes.” Pat opens the door, and I follow her in.

It’s strange, but the room seems oddly quiet. I’ve been in Valerie’s office on occasion when she’s been gone, and it never felt like this.

When my cell rings, I jump, and Pat gives a little squeak. I dig it from my purse and see
Liam Justice
displayed with a phone number on the screen. Oh. This can’t be good his calling me this early in the morning. The morning meeting must be over by now, and I feel certain what he’s calling about is not work related. I quiet the ringer and drop the cell back in my bag pulling out the envelope I prepared earlier that morning.

I walk to Valerie’s desk and hold the envelope up for Pat to see. “I’m leaving this for Valerie… but I need to let you know this is my letter of resignation.”

“What?” Pat wrings her hands together. “Cait, Valerie is coming back…”

“I know she is, Pat, and I will help any way I can until she returns. But I’m not on the payroll any longer, and you need to be aware of that.” I reach into my bag and pull out another paper. “This is a copy of my resignation, I don’t want there to be any confusion about this matter. I want it official.”

Pat looks at me strangely. “Okay. But I don’t think you should consider this until Valerie returns.”

“No. It has to be now,” I insist firmly.

Pat shakes her head as she takes the paper. “I’ll submit it to Personnel.”

“Today.”

“Yes, Cait, today.”

“Thank you. Now have you heard from Joseph?”

“Yes. He is stopping by this afternoon.” We walk out of Valerie’s office back to Pat’s desk.

“I feel better knowing he’s coming by.”

“I do too,” Pat says.

“As a friend, you’ll let me know what he thinks?”

She smiles. “Of course.”

“Good. I’ll give you a call tomorrow afternoon, but I need to go for now. Please, call me if you hear anything from Valerie.”

“Oh, I imagine she’ll be calling you as soon as she hears you’ve quit,” Pat says with a laugh. Then she surprises me when she gives me a hug.

“I’ll talk to you soon, Pat.”

My step is lighter as I head to Paul’s office. I feel as if there has been a weight lifted from my shoulders. It’s been hard the last few days, coming to this decision, though. Valerie gave me a chance when no one else would, and she’s taught me a lot. But I can’t have a relationship with Liam, even a purely sexual one, not if I’m still on Valerie’s payroll. I can’t continue to deceive him. I just pray that when I tell him how I came to be at Justice House, he will understand.

“What the hell was that last night?” Paul asks as we sit drinking coffee at the coffee shop across the street from Query Magazine headquarters. It’s one of our favorite places for lunch and morning coffee. It’s small and not overly busy since there’s one of the big coffeehouse franchise chains with a drive-thru not a block away. Paul and I prefer this little café, it has excellent coffee and those fried donuts that are the current rage.

I look around before answering. I knew this line of questioning was coming, but I’m still not sure what to say to him.

“I…” I laugh. “I’m not sure, Paul. He was giving me a ride home, and then I remembered I was supposed to meet you and Julie and… he just came along.”

Paul studies me for a moment. “I’m not talking about how you got to the nightclub, Cait. I want to know where you two disappeared to and why you ran out on him. What happened? Did he do something to upset you?”

“No, he didn’t upset me. Well, kind of, but…”

“Son-of-a-bitch!”

I bite my lip.

“Cait…” He leans in close so he’s not overheard. “You’re investigating the guy; you can’t let yourself become involved with him.”

“I know Paul. That’s why I quit.”

His eyebrows lift. “You quit Justice House?”

“Nooo,” I say slowly.

He frowns and then looks astounded. “You quit the magazine!”

“Shhh!” I quickly glance around the room.

Paul sits back in his chair, his body language displaying his shock. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. Julie said you were attracted to the guy but…” He shakes his head in utter confusion.

“Paul…” I lean in close. “I’m not doing this just because of Liam. I told you I wasn’t comfortable with this whole investigation.” I reach over and take his hand. “You know I’ve not felt at ease for a while now, about the damage done to innocent people who happen to get caught in the crossfire of our expose′s.”

“I know but…”

“I think whether I had met Liam or not this is the decision I was headed for.”

“But we’re good together.”

I laugh and squeeze his hand. “Yes we are. But you are a great reporter, you don’t need me.”

“You are a great investigator, and I’m not letting you off the hook.”

“I’ll always help you, Paul.”

He shakes his head and gives a resigned sigh. “I cannot believe you’re doing this.”

“It’s the right thing to do.”

“Are you sure of that, Cait? I just hate to think of you throwing away your career…”

“I’m not throwing away my career! I just can’t work at the magazine any longer.”

“Because of Liam Justice.”

“Not… entirely,” I say weakly.

Paul’s gaze is intense as he continues to look at me. “Let’s get out of here,” he says at last.

We take our coffee with us as we head outside to walk before Paul has to go back to work. The sun is shining, and though it’s a little cool, it’s a beautiful spring morning.

“So, what’s going on with Justice?”

I take a deep breath. “A lot of heat.” I laugh a little shyly. “We want each other.”

“I told you, you’d eventually find someone you’d be interested in.” He stops and takes hold of my arm pulling me to a stop. “I just wish it wasn’t someone who owned a sex club.”

I nod, uncomfortable with this subject. “I know.” My eyes meet his. “Me too,” I whisper.

He releases my arm, and we continue to walk. “So, you have it bad for him?”

I smile. “Yeah. But it’s just sex, Paul.”

He looks down at me and smirks. “And here I thought it was just men who believe it’s only about the sex at the start of a relationship.”

I smile up at him. “Is that what you thought when you met Julie?”

“Hell, yeah! I immediately started plotting how soon and where I could nail her.”

“Paul!”

“What?” He grins and shrugs. “It’s true.”

He takes my arm as we cross the street. “I want you to be careful, Cait. Are you going to tell him?”

I know he’s talking about me telling Liam of the investigation. “I’ll have to, but I think I’ll wait until Valerie gets back.”

Paul stops again. “Cait, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should tell him before he finds out elsewhere.”

“I think it’s only fair to let Valerie know in advance before I tell Liam she’s having him investigated. Besides, how’s he going to find out? There are only six of us who know what I was doing and one of those people is unattainable.”

“And Julie has limited knowledge,” Paul inserts.

I frown. It is disturbing that Valerie has not been in contact with anyone. She has to know people are worried. “None of the rest of us will say anything. Valerie will be back soon, and I’ll tell Liam then,” I assure him.

“There’s no secret in the world that doesn’t come out eventually.” Paul quotes one of Valerie’s favorite sayings. “I have to get back to the magazine. Julie’s off this weekend, want to go paddleboarding?”

“Yeah, sounds like fun.” I give him a hug. “Call me.”

“Hey, Cait. Are you early, or am I late?” Holly looks at her watch.

“You’re not late, I’m a little early.” I walk into her office. She has papers and ledgers scattered across the top of her desk.

“Thank goodness, I need to get the balance sheets for the month ready before Liam gets back.”

Liam’s gone?

“What’s up?” she asks as she leans back in her chair and raises her arms above her head, stretching.

“Nothing, I finished my errands early, so I thought I’d come on in and help Tansy out. I just wanted to say hi. I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Cait, you’re working Friday night, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It may be a little wild with the expo ending and people headed home the next day. They’re planning a special event upstairs, and we’re certain to catch a bit of the celebratory attitude down here and at InJustice.”

I nod.

“I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’ll be here to help, and I may shift things around, so Tansy works the evening shift with you. Maybe we can have a drink afterward?”

“Sounds like fun.”

She grins. “Okay, it’s a plan. Oh, and Liam’s issued a new house rule.”

I raise my eyebrow in question.

“Female employees, working the late shift, will wait inside the gates until their mode of transportation arrives.”

Oh!

“I must say, sometimes his house rules get a little tedious but this is a good one. It’s way too dark out there on that street.” She gives me a steady look. “I wonder what motivated him on this house rule.”

I shrug and smile. “I’ll talk to you later. Good luck.” I nod toward her paperwork.they

She immediately starts sifting through papers, and as I turn to leave I hear her mumble, “I’ll probably need a drink once I get finished here.”

I’m finishing up with my afternoon tasks in preparation for the evening ahead when I walk past the bar area, and Leon calls out to me.

“Hey, Leon, how’s it going?”

“Too busy, and Rafe called to say he’s running late. I need you to take this tray upstairs to room number twenty-two for me please, Miss Cait.”

What?
Hell no!

That’s the first thought that goes through my mind. I don’t want to go anywhere near the upstairs!

Leon looks up when I don’t make a move to pick up the tray, which holds two wine glasses and an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne.

“You only need to knock on the door, Miss Cait. You don’t need to go in.”

It’s not in my job description.

“I’m sorry to ask you but there’s no one else.” He picks up the tray and holds it out to me.

I swallow convulsively and reach out to take it.
Only because I know I have to.

“Okay, Leon, but I’m not going into any room,” I say firmly. I can’t get my legs to move, so I just stand and stare at him. I really don’t want to go up there.

“Miss Cait? I really need you to take the tray upstairs, now.”

I take the back service stairs, and when I reach the landing, I mentally scold myself for not asking directions.

Wow.
No expense spared up here I notice as I look around at the opulent furnishings. The landing is lovely, rich and luxurious, larger than I imagined. And to top it off, the beautiful rotunda with the stained glass dome.

Two hallways split off from this area, and after checking I decide to take the one closest to the main stairway. It’s a long corridor with doors on both sides, each one numbered. I just hope that room twenty-two isn’t going to be all the way near the end.

I’m increasingly nervous as I commence down the hall.
Are these all bedrooms?

I pass a couple who have come out of one of the rooms, both of them giving me a nod. I hear the woman giggle and look back to see the man groping her ass. O-kay. I hear laughter as another door opens. Well, whatever they do up here, they certainly seem to enjoy themselves.

I am almost to the end of the hallway when the door I am near, suddenly opens. A man steps out and almost collides with me. He’s tall and thin, swarthy in appearance with a face scarred from a severe case of acne. He immediately makes me feel uncomfortable. There is just something—menacing about him.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” My tray wobbles and he reaches out to help me steady the glasses.

“Sorry about that, sweetheart.”

I don’t like him calling me sweetheart or the look in his eyes when he looks me over.

“That’s alright,” I tell him and then continue down the hallway more than ready to deliver the tray, which is getting heavier by the minute. When I hear him following behind me, I glance back nervously.
Shit!

I breathe a sigh of relief when one of the last two doors is number twenty-two. I balance the tray and knock as I glance at the man now leaning against the doorjamb on the opposite side of the hall from me.
What is he doing?
Please. Please hurry and answer the door.

I’m more than a little surprised when Miranda, dressed as a French maid, finally answers my knock. I think she’s surprised too. She looks past me at the strange man and then back at me. When she steps aside, I don’t hesitate to scuttle in. She closes the door behind me.

“You can set the tray on the table.”

Holy Shit!

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. The room looks as if it belongs on a stage or movie set. It
is
a staged set as most of the room is elevated. There are even white brocade curtains, intricately woven with gold threads that hang down to frame the whole effect. I’ve stepped into a boudoir, which looks similar to something that might belong in a French queen’s chambers. The walls and frilly, delicate looking furniture are all in white and gold, and there’s fluffy white carpeting, which looks too pristine to walk on. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, its crystals reflecting light back and forth between the mirrored walls on opposite sides of the room. The room’s dramatic effect is a little overwhelming. It’s the most luxurious and done-up room I could ever imagine.

I look at Miranda in her little French maid costume, and I start to giggle. She looks annoyed as my giggling continues, and the glasses on the tray start to rattle.

“I’m glad you find this so amusing,” she says as she takes the endangered tray from my shaking hands. As she flounces across the room in her short maid outfit to deposit the tray on one of the fragile looking tables, I’m laughing outright.

I wrap my arms around my middle trying to control my laughter. It’s no use though as I double over losing it.

Oh! This is too funny. I thought I would be walking into some type of a torture chamber and here I’ve stumbled into a frilly, girly boudoir—with its own French maid!

“I’m so sorry,” I manage to get out between bouts of laughter. “It’s… just not… what… I imagined.” I start on a new round of deep belly laughs. I point at her and howl with laughter. It’s even made funnier with Miranda’s
I-am-so-not-amused
expression.