The Black Room (27 page)

‘Well,’ Jo said angrily, ‘that really makes my arse feel better.’

‘I did go a little rough on you,’ he said slowly.

‘A little rough!’ Jo was outraged. ‘I’m lucky I’ve still got my nipples where God put them in the first place. You nearly whipped my tits off, Nick.’

Nick flushed. His eyes remained fixed on hers. ‘There’s something else I’ll admit,’ he said quietly. ‘When I went into the black room and saw you there, I knew I wanted you. I couldn’t stop myself. I just had to have you.’

Jo stared at him blankly. ‘I wasn’t complaining about that,’ she said flatly. ‘Say what you’ve come to say.’

He smiled broadly. ‘We agreed it last night,’ he told her confidently. ‘We want to put you on a retainer. Mr Smith, Vanessa and Stacey all have outside business interests that could benefit from your talents. We also have a number of clients who could use the services of a good private investigator with a reputation for integrity.’ He shook his head, an unwilling smile of admiration resting on his lips. ‘The way you stuck to your beliefs in the black room left us in no doubt about your integrity. We could really benefit one another.’

Stephanie and Jo exchanged a glance.

‘How much?’ Jo asked.

‘That’s to be negotiated,’ he began carefully. ‘My own thoughts were that five thousand a month sounded appropriate. I also thought you could keep your own business going too, if that was what you wanted.’

Jo considered him carefully. She cast a glance at Stephanie and tried to read her thoughts. There was an expectant smile on the blonde’s face and Jo guessed her partner was as eager for the stable income as she was. The idea of continuing her own business and being kept on such a lucrative retainer was an attractive one.

She realised that the reason for her loss of confidence was down to one thing. For a moment in the black room, she had lost control. The fact that it was a pleasant experience did nothing to salve her conscience. She had not been in control of the situation and that had never happened to her before. She was determined that it would never happen again. Nick’s offer was giving her the chance to be back in control again.

The idea was tempting.

Jo came to a sudden decision. ‘Take your clothes off,’ she said flatly.

Nick stared at her, an uncertain smile faltering on his lips. ‘Excuse me?’ he said softly.

Stephanie turned to Jo. There was a broad grin of disbelief on her face. Jo graced her with an arch expression. Stephanie’s grin broadened. Jo was beginning to seem like her former self.

Jo glared at Nick. ‘Undress. Get naked. Take your clothes off,’ Jo snapped. ‘I’ll consider your proposition when you show me your sincerity.’

Nick studied her doubtfully. ‘You want me to undress?’

‘See,’ Jo told Stephanie, ‘there are some bright ones in the police force.’

As the pair of them watched, Nick stood up and began to undress. He removed his clothes and began to fold them neatly on the chair.

Jo stopped him. ‘Drop them on the floor,’ she said cruelly. Considering Nick’s patent dislike of untidiness, Jo found it amusing to tease him in this way.

He obeyed her instructions, dropping the clothes into a crumpled pile on the floor. He paused before removing his boxer shorts, a hesitant frown creasing his brow. ‘You want me to take everything off?’

Jo grinned. She nodded slowly.

Stephanie put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.

Nick stood before the pair, trying not to appear vulnerable. He had broad shoulders and a build that could easily be described as athletic. His cheeks were burning.

‘He’s got quite a nice body,’ Stephanie observed.

‘Not bad,’ Jo said. Her voice was icy with detachment. She smiled into Nick’s face. ‘You’re not hard.’

‘I’m not aroused,’ he said stiffly.

Stephanie moved from her seat and walked round the desk to him. She pushed herself against his naked body then drew her long manicured fingernails across his bare chest.

Nick shivered. His cock twitched slightly between his legs.

Jo slid from her chair and went to join them.

‘Have you considered my proposal now?’ Nick asked.

‘Bend over,’ she replied sharply. ‘I’ll consider it when you bend over.’

He stared at her defiantly. ‘I’m not bending over. If you’re not interested then I’ll leave. But I’m not bending over.’

Jo moved her face close to his. Their mouths were so close they could have kissed. Instead, she treated him to an expression of the darkest contempt. ‘Leave now and you’ll never see me again. Stay, and I’ll consider your proposition. It’s your decision, Nick. I don’t care a damn either way.’

He studied her face. His eyes flitted nervously as he tried to gauge her intentions. After a moment, he bent over.

‘Nice arse,’ Stephanie said encouragingly. She slapped it playfully with her open palm.

Nick tried forcefully not to move a muscle. He felt a familiar stirring between his legs and glared angrily at his hardening length.

Jo laughed softly. ‘I think we’ve found something you like, Nick,’ she observed cheerfully. She raised her hand and slapped his arse with all of her force.

Nick flinched beneath the blow. His cock continued to rise.

Stephanie reached down for his length and began to tug it softly. His cock quickly stiffened as she stroked her fingers along his shaft.

Jo slapped her hand against his backside again. She was not surprised to see his length quiver eagerly with each blow. Aware that her palm was beginning to sting, Jo glanced around the office for a suitable implement. She snatched up the slender, wooden name plaque from her desk and casually tested its weight. Before Nick had a chance to stop her, Jo had paddled his arse with it three times.

‘I’m not comfortable with this,’ he told her through gritted teeth.

Jo grunted dourly. ‘You look like you’re enjoying it,’ she observed. She brought the plaque across the bare cheeks of his arse a fourth time.

‘He feels like he’s enjoying it,’ Stephanie agreed. She gave Nick’s cock a reassuring squeeze.

‘Have you considered my proposition yet?’ he asked.

Jo glanced at Stephanie and raised her eyebrows in silent question.

Stephanie nodded.

Jo slapped his arse one final time. ‘Sit down,’ she commanded, ‘and then we can talk.’ She moved back to her chair and studied him thoughtfully as he settled himself in the facing chair. ‘Five thousand?’

He nodded, his lips breaking into a smile. Even though he was naked and had suffered Jo’s humiliation, he still felt confident. It was a good offer and he doubted she could refuse.

Jo seemed to be considering it as she rolled the double-headed sovereign between her knuckles. She glanced at Stephanie. ‘Does five thousand sound reasonable to you?’

Stephanie smiled. ‘It would help to have a guaranteed income,’ she said thoughtfully.

Jo grinned. She turned her attention back to Nick. ‘Five thousand sounds more than generous,’ she said. ‘And Stephanie and I are prepared to accept it.’ She paused and smiled carefully at him. ‘Would you consider tossing for it?’

Nick frowned. ‘How do you mean?’

Jo flicked the coin high in the air. ‘Five thousand a month retainer,’ she said quickly. ‘Heads, you double the offer; tails, I work for nothing.’ She reached out and snatched the coin from the air, slapping it against the back of her hand. ‘Is it a deal?’

Nick grinned at her. ‘It’s a deal,’ he said.

Jo kept her hand over the coin so that he could not see the result. He studied her face expectantly.

‘There’s one more thing,’ Jo said, a broad smile teasing her lips.

‘Go on,’ Nick said. ‘What else do you want?’

Jo’s smile was whisper-soft. She glanced slyly at Stephanie, then turned her gaze to Nick. ‘I’d like to use the Pentagon Agency’s facilities if I’m to be kept on a retainer,’ she told him.

Nick frowned. ‘The facilities. I’m not sure I understand.’

Keeping her hand over the tossed coin, Jo fixed her gaze on his. ‘If this is heads, Stephanie and I get to take you in the black room tonight. Is it a deal?’

Nick considered the gamble for a moment. It’s a fifty-fifty chance, he thought. If I win, I’ll have Jo working for me with nothing to pay. If I lose, I doubt she could be so terrible in the black room.

‘OK,’ he told her carefully. ‘It’s a deal.’

Jo smiled knowingly.