Bondage Celebration (11 page)

“Yes. I specifically chose one that in many ways resembles a regular piece of jewelry. To those in the lifestyle, it would be recognizable. You and I would know what it represented.”

“On the Internet, I read that some consider a collar a symbol of ownership. I’m beginning to think you consider it something different. What exactly does the collar represent to you?”

“You own my heart. It belongs to you. But no, Laura, I do not consider you property, if that’s what you’re asking. You are the other half of my soul, my partner in life. We complement each other. As a Dominant, I want, even need, to control you. As a submissive you want, and I hope
need,
me to dominate you. You have to admit our sex life before D/s was pale in comparison.”

Laura smiled and nodded in agreement. “Our sex life now is hotter than any fantasy I ever imagined. Yes, I want you to have control in the bedroom.”

She was quiet, but he didn’t think she’d finished. He held his tongue and waited. “Yes, I need it.” Her voice, when she finally spoke, was a mere whisper. He tightened his arms around her, knowing how difficult it was to admit.

“Laura, the only other aspect of our lives where I need control is your safety. You take chances, reckless chances, and it kills me inside. You knew Simson was a predator. You knew I was handling it and yet you went against my direct command. Now this bastard has made specific threats against you. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”

Laura pulled away from his chest and he immediately felt the loss. “He was targeting my employees. Because I initiated the investigation we were able to get evidence the police can use to convict him. Even considering the threats, I don’t think I would change how it went down. I’m sorry, Nick. I don’t mean that as a slight to you. I just think I handled it the only way I could.”

Nick counted to ten and took several deep breathes. He pulled her back against his chest and cradled her head in the palm of his hand until she relaxed against him. “I should have kept you in the loop, but when this started I considered it simply a club matter. He’d applied for membership. During the routine background check, we found several domestic abuse charges. As we looked into it further, we discovered some pretty disturbing allegations. We had private investigators talking to the victims. The IT guys had remotely accessed their laptops and downloaded the videos. We knew who the victims were over a week ago and were trying to convince them to work with the police. We wanted an airtight case before we made our move. Now he’s trying to cover his tracks, destroy evidence and threaten possible witnesses. He hasn’t returned to his apartment, he emptied his bank account and no one knows his whereabouts.”

Laura shivered. Nick recognized she was beating herself up inside. “You’re a shrewd CEO, you can take failing businesses and make them amazingly profitable. It isn’t your job to consider collecting sufficient evidence to build a prosecutable case. I just wish you had trusted me to handle it, but I’ll admit I should have kept you better informed.”

After several moments, she murmured softly to him. “I’m sorry, Nick.”

He rocked her back and forth, wishing he hadn’t just turned her world on its ear. After a few minutes, her body began to relax against his. Her heartbeat was slowing down. “I love you, Laura.”

She gave him a peck on the cheek. “I love you too, Nick.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw ropes or cables dangle in front of the window. Adrenaline surged through his body.
What the fuck was going on?

Laura turned, her body began to shake and laughter filled his ears. “Spiderman’s here to wash the windows. Thank God, he didn’t arrive an hour or so earlier!”

Chapter Five

The rest of the afternoon just crawled. It didn’t help that her ass still stung. Every time she shifted her weight, she remembered their delicious time together. It messed with her mind. In some strange way, she relished the discomfort since it served as a poignant reminder of their time together.

Laura hit the intercom, “Jessica, please let James know, I’ll be leaving shortly.” She’d adjusted to having a perpetual shadow at work. James tried his best to stay in the background as much as possible and she’d learned to stay in her office and let others come to her. It wasn’t her style of management, but she could live with it until Simson was out of the picture.

“Yes, ma’am.”

While Laura was sliding her laptop into her briefcase, she spotted the box Nick had sent her.
Damn
. She knew he’d spent a small fortune. She really needed to put it in the safe, or around her neck…

James was waiting in the outer office. It was easy to tell Jessica had it bad for James, but from what Laura could see, James was keeping a professional distance.

“Have a good night, Jessica. Don’t stay late. There’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” Jessica was such a trooper. No matter how many nights Laura stayed late, Jessica was right there beside her without a single complaint. If Laura was calling it a night, Jessica should too.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m right behind you.”

James and Laura walked in silence to the elevator. Once the doors closed, James began issuing his orders. “As we exit the building, I need you to stay within arm’s reach behind me. Once we enter the garage we won’t be stopping until we reach the car. If someone approaches you, I will wave them off. And before you give me trouble, I’ll give you the courtesy of explaining.”

By his pointed glare Laura understood he expected a response. Other than kicking him in the ass, she drew a blank and settled for a quick flick of the wrist, a please proceed gesture.

“Entering and exiting the building, you’re completely exposed. If Simson, or anyone else, chooses to come at you, anyone near you will be a target.”

Laura gave James his due. He knew just the buttons to push to gain her cooperation. While James waited for her acceptance, she studied his face and smiled. It galled him to give her
any
explanation. Knowing she pissed him off gave her a deep feeling of satisfaction.

The doors opened and she allowed him to go first. She stayed about a foot behind him, shaking her head at the ridiculousness.

Before they passed the security point, James turned to face her. “We’re going to walk quickly. Can you walk fast in those shoes?”

“Yes,” she answered between clenched teeth. Nick was getting an earful as soon as she got home.

James turned and they quickly left the building. It looked odd to see the four door white sedan parked in her spot. As they crossed the driveway, Laura froze hearing a high pitched squeal to her left. Smoke coming from just beyond the sedan paralyzed her with fear. Her brain couldn’t process what was happening. Was there a fire? Laura reached for James as a black SUV emerged from the smoke. James used both hands to shove her toward a concrete pillar. Laura stumbled and slid on the uneven pavement. She landed hard, jarring her entire body, but the roar of the oncoming car triggered her flight response. She scrambled behind the pillar as a sickening thud sounded behind her.

James’s shouted expletive was music to her ears. Laura thought he had to be hurt, but at least he was alive. With shaking hands she reached for her cell phone. Before she could draw it from her pocket, a small explosion had her dropping to the ground in an instinctive move to stay as small as possible.

Laura felt debris fall all around her. Daring a look, she saw James on his stomach in the driveway with a pistol in his hand. The SUV, now missing its blacked-out rear window, was fishtailing toward the exit. It hit the ramp sideways, slamming into two parked cars. Alarms and crunching metal added to the chaos.

Oscar was suddenly at her side, barking orders into a microphone on his shoulder. Sliding doors Laura never knew existed slammed shut, cordoning off the garage, seconds too late to stop the SUV. James, with pistol in hand, was asking her questions. Her ears were ringing. She couldn’t make out what he was saying.

With a groan, James picked her up. Laura struggled. Knowing the SUV had hit him, she had no idea how he was on his feet and walking around. “Put me down.”

“Stop!” James’s terse command came through loud and clear.

Afraid to shift her weight and maybe hurt him further, she allowed James to carry her to the infirmary and set her on an examination table.

Immediately, she jumped off. Standing on her own was a little harder than she’d expected. Her knees quivered and she was light headed. Putting a hand on the wall behind her, hopefully out of sight of the two overprotective men, she waited for the world to stop spinning.

“Don’t manhandle me again.” She pointed her finger in James’s direction. “And get your ass on that table. You were the one hit by the car. Oscar, get him an ambulance.”

“They’re on the way, Mrs B.” Oscar handed her the briefcase she’d completely forgotten about. Knowing the collar was inside, she clutched it with both hands. With her world in disarray, she clung to Nick the only way she could.

James remained standing by the door, arms crossed over his chest. The knees of his dress pants were scuffed, his clothing soiled, yet there he stood, the perfect professional. “You should call Mr Branson before the police do. He has a lot of friends on the force. As soon as one of them hears the shots fired call at this location, they’ll be on the phone to him.”

Laura felt the blood drain from her face. Nick would lose his mind if he received a call like that. She drew her phone from her pocket, but her hands shook so badly, it skittered across the floor. James bent down to pick up her phone and fell to one knee. Before she could reach him, he was back on his feet, feigning he was all right.

“Get on the bed! You’re hurt.”

James wore a smirk, “A,” he raised his index finger, “I don’t take orders. I give them.” Raising his middle finger he continued, “B, you’re a married woman and shouldn’t be issuing orders like that to anyone, but Mr Branson.” He raised his ring finger, “And C, you’re the wife of a good friend. Even though you make my ass tired, it’s my job to protect you.”

“Men! You’re all the same. Absolutely impossible.” Looking at Oscar, she felt guilty for her outburst. “No offense intended, Oscar.”

“None taken, ma’am.” His indulgent smile told her he’d heard this rant before.

James brought up the contact page of her phone and handed it to her. She was annoyed, but said nothing. Laura scrolled down to Nick’s name and hit the call button. As Nick answered his phone, police and security entered the room.

“Nick, I’m fine, but James has been hurt. A car came out of nowhere. He pushed me out of the way and it hit him instead.”

“I’m fine, Nick. Your wife worries too much!” James shouted over the confusion.

Nick started hammering her with questions. Her ears were still ringing and her body was beginning to ache all over. The police were asking questions and annoyed that she was on the phone. She ignored it all and tried to alleviate Nick’s worries.

“Do not speak to the police until I get there. I’m leaving now,” Nick ordered.

Laura put the phone in her pocket. She was relieved when the paramedics joined the crowded room. Whether James would admit it or not, he was injured. She watched as the officer in charge spoke briefly to a paramedic who then headed her way.

“Ma’am, we need to check you out. Make sure you weren’t injured. Would it be possible to go to your office? It would give us more privacy.”

“I’m concerned about James. He is far more injured than he’s letting on. He needs to go to the hospital.” She had no intention of going anywhere until James got the medical attention he needed.

“Yes, ma’am, my colleagues are working on him now. Let’s head up to your office and make sure you’re okay.”

Obviously, he wasn’t listening to her. She’d stated her objection and he continued to press his own agenda. Mrs Branson didn’t repeat herself. Instead she moved farther into the room and sat in the desk chair near Oscar. Both the officer and paramedic continued to speak at her. She was happy to give their comments the same respect they had given hers.

Oscar squatted down beside her. “Mr Branson, just arrived. He should be here any moment.”

“Good.”

As Nick neared the building, Sergeant Chase, a long standing friend, approached him. Nick’s body language must have spoken volumes as Sarge raised both hands in an ‘it’s cool’ gesture.

“Hey, Nick,” Chase paused to shake hands, “your wife is fine. She’s up in the infirmary giving everyone a hard time.” The officer led Nick through the chaos and into the building.

“That’s my girl!” After the elevator doors closed and they were alone, Nick asked, “Any word on a suspect?”

“The vehicle was found ditched a few blocks over. Hopefully, we’ll get a lead from it.” The doors opened to a crowded hallway. “Rich,” Chase shouted toward another officer. “Can you take Mr Branson in to see his wife, please?”

“Sure, Sarge. Right this way, Sir.”

Nick thanked and shook hands with Chase, before following ‘Rich’ into the infirmary. Laura sat near a desk along the far wall watching the paramedics examine James. Two men stood in front of her, blocking most of his view. They appeared to be speaking to her. Laura, however, completely ignored them. Nick couldn’t help but smile. Apparently she’d taken his direction to heart and had chosen not to speak to anyone.

Laura jumped from her chair and pushed past both men as soon as she saw him. At once he noticed the blood streaked down both her legs, her disheveled appearance and the briefcase, scratched and dirty, clutched in her right hand.

Shocking the hell out of him, she wrapped her arms, briefcase and all, around his waist. Her forehead came to rest over his heart. Despite being surrounded by people, they took that moment in time for just the two of them.

Nick’s lips touched her ear, “Are you really okay?”

When she didn’t answer aloud, but chose instead to nod, he realized she was fighting tears. He pulled her a little tighter into his arms. Nick knew Laura would want the attention off her. She wouldn’t be happy her façade was less than perfect.

Nick looked at James over the top of Laura’s head, “Were you hit?” All eyes turned to James and waited for his answer.