Touch of Doubt (Law vs. Love Book 2) (8 page)
“But it made you dripping wet.”
Carrie gasped and met his eyes. God, he wished he didn’t have to go now. He couldn’t believe he had Carrie all to himself again and that she was so eager for things he’d never tried with her before. It was if he’d been given the best gift in the world, but he had to leave it here unwrapped, taunting him while he dealt with a situation that was far from enjoyable.
“I have so much more to show you, Carrie,” he murmured. “If you enjoyed that, just wait.”
“When did you start doing this kind of thing?” she asked. “You never did this when we were together before.”
“None of that matters now.” Jace’s thoughts darkened, and he glanced at the sky outside. It was still gray despite the late hour, and he needed to get moving. “What matters is that you’re here and that you have never been more sexy than in this moment. Stay here. I have a breakfast tray being sent up for you, and I’ll leave my keycard if you need to go out for anything. When I get back, be ready for me.”
Carrie gave him a smile and rubbed his cock through his pants. He sucked in a sharp breath, immediately feeling his length harden under her touch. “Something to keep in mind while you’re busy with work. I wouldn’t want you to forget what you’re coming home to.”
“Oh, trust me,” he said, almost in a growl. “I won’t forget.”
Franklin was waiting for Jace in the lobby of The Grand Rizzato. He wore as polished a suit as Jace did, which hid his muscular frame very well. Looking at him now, it was impossible to connect him to the man he used to be, which was exactly what was needed. Franklin gave Jace a nod when he joined him next to the revolving doors leading outside into the cold Manhattan morning.
“I assume you have everything you need,” Jace said.
His assistant nodded and patted his front jacket pocket. Jace knew what he had hidden underneath, and it left him feeling uneasy, but he knew they might need it if they were going to complete today’s unsavory task unscathed.
The two of them stepped out into the wintry air and slid into the limo idling on the corner. Jace lifted his coffee to his lips just as the limo angled away from the curb to lead them to their destination.
“I didn’t get the chance to speak to you about the tapes before the police showed up with their warrant. Is there any chance they’ll notice it’s been tampered with?”
“No, sir.” Franklin unbuttoned his suit jacket and settled into the black leather seat. “I was careful to swap out the footage with filming from several nights before. There should be no reason for them to realize it’s been spliced.”
“Good.” Jace nodded and took another sip of the smooth coffee. It was dark and rich and expensive, just the way he liked all things. “Because if there are any issues, you’ll be in as much trouble as me.”
“Yes sir.” Franklin glanced out the window, watching the limo speed down the blocks. Jace had lied to Carrie, of course. He wasn’t going into his office, though this trip definitely had something to do with business. It just turned out that his business would take him all the way to Atlantic City. Jace wasn’t looking forward to returning to that place, but Franklin had followed Madison’s killer back to the familiar casino where Jace had spent a large amount of his time after Carrie had left him three years before.
Jace knew the man who had shot Madison very well, and it was becoming clear that if he wanted to move on from his past, he needed to take matters into his own hands. Jace was on his way to confront the man who had framed him for murder. And he’d do whatever it took to put an end to things.
Carrie yawned and stretched, letting the luxurious sheets slip across her body. The scent of Jace still hung in the air—his musky aftershave and a hint of gin. He’d opened the panels covering his floor-to-ceiling windows before he’d left, giving her a full view of the gray-studded sky and the sleek curves of the Manhattan skyline.
Carrie smiled when she heard a knock on the penthouse door. She jumped out of bed and wrapped the silky sheet around her shoulders, padding barefoot to let in the breakfast Jace had ordered up for her. She couldn’t believe how light and airy she felt, as if nothing in the world could go wrong. When she opened the door, the concierge wheeled in a tray full of fruit, eggs, toast, and freshly-brewed coffee. The heady scent tickled her nose, and she was suddenly struck by how hungry she was. Last night had really taken it out of her, in the best way possible, and now she was famished from her expended energy.
Just before he turned to leave, the concierge dropped a newspaper on the table. “I’m sorry, Miss Simmons, but I thought you might want to see what’s on the front page of the Gossip section.”
He left her with her food and a growing sense of dread. Carrie flipped over the paper. That same familiar photo glared back at her, only this time it was accompanied by a headline that made her mouth dry.
Playboy Jace Holt Canoodles with Madison Avenue Attorney!
They didn’t name her, which meant they didn’t know who she was—yet. If they did, they would have been all over it in a heartbeat. Carrie threw the paper down on the table, suddenly no longer hungry. If they’d made the connection to her job, it wouldn’t be long before someone would put two and two together and figure out it was Carrie in that photo.
Sighing, she pushed away from the table to stare out the windows, conflicted emotions running through her. There was nothing she could do about that photo now, but surely there would be more. The longer she and Jace did whatever it was they were doing, the more likely they were going to get caught by someone who wanted to cause them harm. The fact someone had attempted to frame him was a sure sign of that.
As much as she wanted him—needed him even—her job and her reputation mattered to her, more than anything else in the world.
More than anything else but Jace
. With a sigh, she spun toward the bathroom to take a shower and change into a clean pair of clothes. She couldn’t stay here all day and do nothing but wait for Jace’s return. She had work to do herself. If she didn’t get caught up, she wouldn’t even have a job to lose if the truth of their relationship got out.
After Carrie had taken a long and hot shower, she slid back into her clothes and dried her hair. Her eyes flicked to the closet where she and Jace had spent exquisite moments the night before. She still couldn’t believe how much she’d enjoyed being punished, and she had to admit she was curious about what else he had in store. A moment later, she found herself lifting his keycard from the bedside table.
She knew she shouldn’t take a peek. He would want her to experience his new techniques without being spoiled by what he had waiting. She knew him well enough to be certain of that.
Of course
, she thought with a smile,
maybe he’d decide peeking was worthy of some extra punishment…
Carrie slid the keycard against the lock and stepped inside the closet. The chains dangled from the ceiling, appearing less sensual now that she was alone. She twirled her finger around one, the slick binds cool against her hand. Memories of the night before ran through her mind, and her lips split into a smile. The way he’d teased her with that whip had almost been too much for her to bear.
Carrie took a long gaze around the closet, curious about what else she might find. Most of the large space was filled with identical dark suits, sleek shoes, and pristine ties. She let her fingers graze along the material, remembering the feel of the blindfold on her cheek. Surely there were other toys hidden in this space. He’d said there was more to come, and there wasn’t anywhere else she could imagine him storing such intimate things.
Her eyes landed on a sleek black box tucked in a corner underneath his shoes. That must be it. She dropped to her knees and slid it from its place, prying open the lid as her heartbeat began to thrum in her neck. The lid dropped back, and her stomach sunk. This box had nothing to do with sex. All that was inside was a passport.
Carrie flipped open the document and frowned when she saw the image on the page. It was a man that looked vaguely familiar, someone named Garrett Butler. Something about him rang a bell, but she couldn’t remember where she’d heard the name before. Sighing, she dropped the passport inside and pushed the box back in its place.
Wherever Jace kept his toys, it wasn’t here.
Just as she shut the closet door behind her, the name on the passport sparked back up in her mind. Her heartbeat quickened, and her mouth went dry. She remembered where she’d heard the name and where she’d seen that face. Rushing back inside the closet, Carrie ripped open the box and checked the photo on the passport again.
It was him. Franklin Snow. He’d had his nose changed and his hair buzzed off. But the name on the passport belonged to a man she’d only heard about on the news. A fugitive on the run. A contract killer.
Franklin Snow wasn’t who he said he was. And Jace knew.
**** End of Book Two ****
Want more? The suspenseful story of Jace and Carrie continues in
Taste of Justice
, coming mid-December 2015!
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