Blind Her With Bliss (11 page)

“The feed goes directly out to the internet.” Elvis pointed to the cameras and the monitors. “These controls here allow us to determine the best angle for the action.” His finger indicated a man with a headset. “We have some special viewers who pay big bucks to control the action from here. They request a particular angle, and this guy,” he patted the tech on the back, “makes sure they get the action or close-up they want. Our big rollers dictate, to a certain extent, what other people will see.”

“And this is all legal?” Julie asked.

Elvis smiled.
“Provided everyone is over eighteen.
And believe you me, we check and recheck their IDs.”

“So what was Jason’s part in all of this?” Damon asked without tearing his eyes from the live action across the room where two women were provocatively peeling clothing from one another. Julie smacked his stomach.

Elvis pointed a finger toward a back wall. “Let’s talk over there.”

Winding their way around cameras, cables and bodies, Elvis stopped them in a shadowed corner of the room. The feeble light playing on his stark features created a sinister profile.

“I don’t want my actors to think there’s a problem,” Elvis said. “They were already spooked when the cops showed up here asking about Jason.”

“The cops came down here?” Julie asked.

Elvis’ voice was firm. “The cops don’t know about this place. We scramble the feed so it can’t be traced back to our computers. I have no intention of the local authorities discovering this business.”

Julie asked. “What was his role in this?” She grabbed Damon’s chin and brought his wandering attention back to their conversation.

“Other than doing the well-checks on my actors, he didn’t really have one.” Elvis leaned in close to them. “But he wanted in.”

Damon finally focused on Elvis. “Jason wanted a piece of the action?”

“Right now we only have the two rooms. Jason suggested I add another two or three. Even with the money we bring in right now, it isn’t enough for the digital upgrade on the equipment and the added personnel. I needed more capital. Jason wanted to be that person.” Elvis shrugged. “He figured the added income would help with his school loans. Med school’s not cheap. All he wanted in exchange was to be brought in as a full partner.” Elvis’ brow furrowed. “Maura was vehemently opposed. I don’t think she wanted to split our profits three ways.”

“Opposed enough to get him out of the picture?” Damon asked the question weighing on Julie’s heart.

Elvis looked at them, sadness clouding his eyes. “She was his doctor and my partner. But truthfully, I don’t know.”

“Do you know what she was treating him for?” Damon asked.

Elvis massaged the back of his neck. “Do you think it matters?”

“Any information could help Julie and me.”

Elvis folded in on himself. “I’m not proud of it, but Maura treats sexual disorders.”

The statement stunned Julie. “She’s a partner at Starry Knights, and she treats sexual disorders?” She wanted to laugh, but it wasn’t really funny.

“But Jason didn’t have any disorders,” Julie stated defiantly.

Pain etched deep roads on Elvis’ face. “He was gay.”

Damon and Julie asked simultaneously.

“And his father didn’t think it was appropriate for the son of a small town doctor looking to take over his father’s practice to be homosexual.” The words tumbled out of Elvis’ mouth. “He made him start seeing Maura right after
Jase’s
mother died ten years ago. I think she must have told the good doctor about his son’s sexual
deviancy
.” Sarcasm dripped from the last word. “
Jase
never told Doc McCarty about us. The only one who knew was Maura.”

* * * *

Damon walked behind Julie. He should be focused on her friend’s connection to Elvis, but the intoxicating sway of her hips hugged with leather
spiraled
his thoughts in a different direction. All he could think about at the moment was burying
himself
in her silken heat.

Unlike Julie, this evening’s tour hadn’t taken him by surprise. When funds had become tight two months ago, and Damon couldn’t make rent, it had been Elvis who offered to hook him up with an
acting gig
. Damon might have prostituted himself with the shock jock performances, but there was no way in hell he’d get his rocks off while others watched on the internet. He’d go without food before he’d stoop that low. And that’s what it had come to. Now the radio show was paying him bonuses, and the extra appearances it brought netted him a nice living. It just wasn’t what he wanted to do. Damon had had other plans when he’d arrived in Maine.

Despite what Julie had just witnessed, he knew the woman bouncing up the stairs in front of him wasn’t thinking about her sex life. He needed to get his head out of Julie’s pants and wrapped around the conundrum of Jason’s death. Damon was beginning to think Julie’s worries about her friend’s death weren’t as unfounded as they’d first appeared. It seemed Jason had tangled himself in an interesting spider’s web of deceit.

“I’m not sure it’ll help seeing one of the rooms we rent to our more passionate patrons, but knowing all of this business can’t hurt.” Elvis stopped halfway down the hotel-like hall and slid the card key into the door lock.

The room they entered looked like something out of a honeymoon brochure. The oversized bed, covered in plush black velvet, was large enough to sleep four people. Mirrors on the walls and ceiling reflected the red lights, settling on them like a sultry summer night. Sheer fabrics in rainbow shades looped from the ceiling and down the walls, adding to the romantic fantasy.

“We even have cable for erotic channels and video cameras available.” Elvis pointed to the flat screen TV mounted on the near wall. “Of course, our patrons have no idea the feed for the pornography comes from one floor down.” He turned abruptly and stared down at Julie. “And before you even ask, Miss Tilling, the only taping that goes on these rooms are the movies the patrons make themselves.”

Tension eased out of Julie’s shoulders, and a smile flitted across her lips.

Elvis walked over to the wall and opened a door that revealed an opulent bathroom. “Every room comes with a Jacuzzi bathtub. Optional
amenities
are available for an additional fee.”

Damon didn’t even want to speculate on what other services Elvis provided.

A cell phone chimed. Julie’s autopilot sent her searching, only to come up empty. He forced himself not to dodge the daggers flying from her eyes when they locked on his. It had been selfish when he insisted she leave the phone. He understood how important Julie’s family was to her. But no man would blame him for wanting this sexy woman all to
himself
. He had hoped to end their evening alone.

Elvis answered the device and spoke briefly before snapping his phone shut. “Sorry, I’m needed upstairs.
Seems some patrons are asking to speak with the owner.”
Elvis pressed his cheek next to Julie’s and kissed the air. “I miss
Jase
terribly. But maybe we’re both looking for something that isn’t there.” He shook hands with Damon. “Forgive me, friend. I should never have doubted your intentions. Sometimes love and sadness warp the images right in front of us. I should’ve known you’d never betray me. Not with
Jase
or anyone.”

Damon pulled Elvis into a fierce hug before the man left them alone. Sometimes family had nothing to do with blood relations.

“Well, we should be going.” Julie wiped her palms down the leather molded to her endless thighs.

“I think Elvis intended for us to enjoy the privacy.” Damon held up the keycard Elvis had slipped into his hand.

“Damon, really, it’s late and—”

Damon stood over her, the heat of his lips branding hers. Her eyes fluttered open when he pulled away. “And you’re going to turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight?” He pressed his body into the supple curves of her. “That happened over an hour ago, Julie. What I see in front of me is no garden flower.” He dipped his fingers into the silken strands of the wig and grazed her parted lips with his thumb. “I see a beautiful woman who invaded my body and thoughts less than twenty-four hours ago, and now every breath I take is filled with her scent.” Damon sighed against her ear before pulling her lobe through his teeth.

“Everything I touch is sandpaper compared to the velvet heat of her skin against my fingers.” He trailed his hand down her limp arm, linking his fingers in hers. “Everything has lost its taste.” He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, running his tongue along its satin heat before releasing it.
“Except the sweet nectar of her kisses.”

“Well, I suppose investigations can wait. Who am I to deny a man so desperate for my attention?” She pressed her hand against his bulging zipper and he bit back a groan of pleasure as what was left of his blood supply pooled in her fingers.

“My, my, Damon, you
are
ready.”

“Oh, you have no idea.” He scooped her into his arms and deposited her on the bed, but she rolled away from him as he tried to cover her body with his.

“Not so fast, cowboy.” Julie grabbed the fur handcuffs hanging from the headboard and twirled them in the air. “It’s my turn to take the lead.”

Damon laughed and held his hands up. “I’ll go willingly. Please, just promise you’ll hurt me.”

Many hours later Damon found himself dozing contentedly as Julie lay comfortably heavy across his chest. Her heart hammered against his ribs and her heavy breaths heated his skin. The strains of a piano concerto filtered through the hidden speakers, adding to the peace settling in his heart.

He didn’t want this weekend to end.

He’d been with countless women. All of them had sated his sexual needs and brought him hours of enjoyment. But the beauty coiled around him had reached in and touched his soul. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. Hell, he didn’t believe in love at all. Giving your heart to someone only brought emptiness and pain. He’d promised himself a long time ago to keep things between him and the opposite sex easy and free.

Free of strings.

Free of personal baggage.

Free of commitment.

Damon suspected Julie had never experienced a weekend like this. According to her, hooking up with a total stranger and allowing pleasure to dictate her moves certainly wasn’t something stalwart CPA, Julie Tilling ever did.

But damn how he enjoyed her spontaneity. Damon loved watching her eyes cloud with the unexpected sensations he offered as he opened her world to new joys of sexual gratification. She was a woman of mystery, alluring and sensual in her naïve innocence. And she had no idea how intoxicating he found the combination.

He’d just wanted to be with her, not knowing what other baggage she carried. But then he’d met her family, and they had opened their arms to him without knowing who he was. Not caring where he came from—only that their daughter/sister called him friend. He’d never had that kind of blind acceptance in his life.

Damon laughed. “What?”

Resting her chin on his chest, Julie’s eyes probed his.
“A dollar for your thoughts.
Inflation.”
Her finger traced the lines on his face. “From this stern expression, I’m thinking that whatever has taken you away from this room is worth more than a penny.”