Bound by the Past (15 page)

She felt her chin drop at his impassioned words. “Surely she can’t be that bad.”

He dropped down heavily into the chair across from her desk and she sensed him struggling to make some sort of decision.

“What do you know about BDSM, Ms. James?”

She felt her face flush at his question. Up until a few weeks ago, her knowledge of that particular subject had been limited only to reading a few books. However, since Jon crash-landed in her bedroom, she’d been tied up, spanked and thoroughly fucked by two dominating men.

And to make things worse, she was loving every minute of it.

“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.” Reilly believed by her blush and silence that she was insulted.

“Oh no. I was simply taken off guard by your question. Why do you ask?”

“BDSM is Cassie’s religion. She’s considered the premier Dominatrix by the people who travel in those circles. She began instructing Night and Jon in those practices when they were fourteen years old.”

Carly felt a wave of nausea pass through her at the thought of a mother teaching boys how to dominate women in the bedroom at such a young age. Hell, the freshmen at her school were fourteen and they were immature boys whose main interests in life revolved around sports and video games. Half the boys in the freshmen class still thought girls were annoying. What must Jon and Night have thought?

“I can see you’re appalled. I was as well. I’ve often considered Cassandra Walker’s and Rex Thomas’ worst crime to have been the one they weren’t prosecuted for. Child abuse. Night and Jon would probably disagree. How they came out of that life with their souls intact, I’ll never know.”

His comment reminded her of Night’s confession earlier this weekend.
Jon came along and it’s like he gave me half of his soul.

“Their
worst
crime? Are you saying Cassandra and Rex committed other crimes?”

He laughed humorlessly at her question. “You could say that, yes. I could make you a list, but perhaps it would be quicker to mention the crimes they didn’t commit. As far as I’m aware, neither one of them ever shoplifted anything.”

She didn’t laugh at his joke. “And Night and Jon? They helped commit these crimes?”

He shook his head. “No. Not to my way of thinking, anyway. Although, again I believe they would both disagree. They were minors, unwitting victims in their parents’ games. When I told them what Rex and Cassandra were up to, they did the right thing. They were responsible for Rex Thomas’ arrest and the evidence they provided saw to it that the man was sentenced to life.”

She considered what a man would have to do to receive a life sentence, but decided she was happier not knowing all the gory details. “This Rex Thomas. He was Night’s father?”

Reilly nodded.

“And Jon’s mother? I take it she didn’t receive as stiff a sentence, seeing as how she’s out of jail now?”

“Cassandra has never seen the inside of a jail cell. She escaped punishment for her crimes.”

“What is she really doing up on that mountain?” Carly asked.

“She’s opening up her own sex shop. She’s luring these women and young girls in for training.”

“What kind of training?”

“They’ll be trained as sex slaves and sold to the highest bidder.”

She barked out a single laugh. “You’re joking. That can’t happen.”

“Oh, I assure you, Ms. James. It can and does. Every day.”

“Maybe in other countries. But not here. Not in the United States. No one could get away with something like that.”

He gave her such a patronizing, pitying look she felt like punching him in the mouth. “My dear, it can happen anywhere. Even up on that lovely mountain you probably spend most of the autumn admiring.”

“I don’t understand why you think Jon and Night can help you with this. If they helped to bring down Rex, won’t this woman be suspicious if they suddenly drop in for a visit?”

“Cassandra is unaware of Night’s and her son’s involvement in the cult’s downfall. As far as she’s concerned, her teachings during their youth were more than sufficient to include them in her new venture.”

“She wants them to rape the women she’s luring up there?”

“She’ll call it ‘training’. There are many facets to BDSM. Between consenting adults, I’ve been told it can actually be quite pleasurable. However, Cassandra’s twisted the concept in her mind and she uses it not for pleasure, but for control and pain and profit.”

“And she thinks they would agree to this?”

“She hasn’t spoken to her son since he was seventeen years old. When she escaped the compound, he and Night were still very much a part of cult life there—though unbeknownst to her, they had been working undercover for me. Over the years, I can only assume she’s received snippets of information about their lives. It’s the same information the real world believes about them. Night’s an auto mechanic. Jon was in advertising before becoming a teacher. No one knows what they’ve really been up to. Their cover stories are quite secure and very much intact.”

“She only knows the lies about their lives.”

“Like everyone else, she must surely believe the falsehoods about them that I’ve put out, but she has also been privy to some truths.”

Reality crashed down on her at his knowing look. “She knows they still share women? She knows about their continued interest in BDSM practices?”

He nodded.

“How does she know this?”

“Cassandra travels in those circles. Jon and Night—from time to time—have stepped back into that realm as well.”

“Undercover? As part of a job?” She suddenly felt a bit queasy. Would they want to explore the darker aspects of BDSM with her? Would she do it if they asked? A few weeks ago her answer to anyone asking her to enter a D/s relationship would have been a resounding “Hell no.” Now, however, she wasn’t so sure the answer would be the same.

“Sometimes.” Reilly was hedging, but she needed to know the truth.

“And sometimes they frequented those clubs merely to scratch an inch?”

Reilly let his silence answer her question.

“Does Cassandra know about me?”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe so. In fact, I’m inclined to think definitely not. If she’d known about your relationship with Jon when you arrived there on Friday, I’m certain she would never have let you leave. She’s not above using all the resources at hand to achieve her goals.”

“If Jon had refused to help her—”

“She would have secured his help by promising your release. Of course, I seriously doubt you would have been freed. You’re a very attractive woman, Ms. James. You would bring her a pretty penny.”

“If that’s true, then why did she let me leave?”

“Cassandra is shrewd. She had no way of knowing you weren’t sent from the school to check up on Trisha. The last thing she wants is any suspicion cast her way. For the time being, as long as the women come to her, she’s not breaking any laws. At least, she won’t be until she begins training and selling them.”

Carly suddenly felt very tired. She’d spent a year wondering about Jon’s secret past and in less than fifteen minutes, Reilly had told her more than she’d ever wanted to know.

“If everything you say is true, why on earth would I ever consent to set foot on that property again?”

“Because, Ms. James, one way or another, Cassandra will lure her son and Night up there. When she does, wouldn’t it be better for them to have a willing woman on the inside? If things go bad and they can’t find the incriminating evidence we need immediately, you would be there to buy them more time.”

“I’m supposed to pretend that they’re raping me?”

“Better you, Ms. James, than your young student, Trisha. After all, you wouldn’t be forced into giving them anything you haven’t already freely offered.”

Heat flew to her face, but he seemed not to notice as he stood and walked to the door. “All I ask is that you consider what I’m saying. Those gentlemen of yours have spent a lifetime in service to their country trying to wash away the sins of their youth. Cassandra Walker will not be denied. If she has set her sights on having them beside her in her crimes, then I promise you, she will find a way to get them there. And trust me when I say, any sins they commit this time will leave a lasting stain.”

* * * * *

“Damn I hate parent conferences,” Jon said for the tenth time in as many minutes.

“Really, I had no idea,” Night joked sarcastically.

Carly giggled and kissed Jon on the cheek as he put on his jacket. “It’s two hours of your life, Jon. I think you’ll survive.”

“Why don’t you have to go?”

“I’m not a teacher, and I’m not about to sit in my office twiddling my thumbs because you think we should suffer together.”

“Yeah, but there’s not a doubt in my mind that you two will be having a hell of a lot of fun without me during those two hours.”

Night slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Paybacks are a bitch, buddy. Way I see it, you’ve had this lovely girl all to yourself for too long. It’s my turn now.”

Jon begrudgingly agreed and shrugged. “Yeah well, don’t have
too
much fun.”

Carly rolled her eyes and starting pushing Jon toward the door. “I’ll save some fun for when you get back.”

Jon came to an abrupt halt, turning to face her. “Blowjob fun?” he asked, sounding like a little kid begging for a puppy.

“Maybe, but only if you’re a good boy and go to your parent conferences,” Carly teased. Jon groaned, but he left.

Night shook his head. “What a pathetic guy. Geez, you would think sex was all he ever thought about. Why are you still dressed?”

Carly shook her finger at Night as he started to slowly stalk toward her. “Oh no, I’m not going to make it that easy for you.”

Night halted, confused by her words.

“You have to catch me first,” she said before turning and running upstairs. Night gave chase and was surprised by how quickly she could move. He followed her into the bedroom, catching the door as she slammed it behind her. She was almost to the closet when he managed to grab her around the waist. She squealed with laughter as he proceeded to tickle her and the two of them dropped to the floor, laughing and wrestling.

“Caught you,” he said once he was able to straddle her hips with his strong thighs. She stopped fighting and Night sucked in a breath at the seductive look in her lovely blue eyes.

“Looks like I’m your captive,” she answered breathlessly. They were both winded from the chase. “What are you going to do with me?”

Her playful tone sent all the blood coursing to his cock.

“Jesus, you’re gorgeous,” he said, his voice deep and gruff.

Carly grinned at the comment and blushed. Jon had told him about Carly’s problem accepting compliments and together, the two of them had set out to correct that minor flaw in her character. It was past time the woman realized how beautiful she was—inside and out.

This was the first time he’d had Carly to himself and he thought perhaps they should use the next few hours to figure out where both of them stood on the events of the weekend. They’d done very little talking Saturday and Sunday as they explored the physical nature of their newfound relationship. Today, Jon and Carly had gotten up and gone to work as normal and Night had been left with far too much time on his hands. Too much time to think and worry about her feelings toward him and the unusual relationship on which they were embarking. “Carly, I was actually hoping we could talk about what happened this weekend.”

Carly squirmed a bit beneath him. Night moved off her, pulling her to sit beside him on the floor. He saw a vague uneasiness cross her face and wondered what she was thinking.

“I guess we have to face the real world sometime,” she said with a tremulous smile.

Night nodded. “I know things between us have moved rather quickly.”

She laughed at his comment and he had to admit it was an absurd thing to say.

“I think that’s a bit of an understatement.”

“That’s what I want to talk about. I mean, shit Carly, we were introduced on Friday evening and were in bed with each other an hour later.”

Carly crinkled her nose. “Geez, it doesn’t sound very good when you say it that way. Kind of makes me sound like a slut.”

Night shook his head and laughed. “You and me both.”

“The thing is, Night, I may not have known you personally, but I knew
of
you. Jon had told me a bit about you and…oh hell, you’re right. We’re basically strangers. I guess it would sound extremely inappropriate for me to say I’m really not this kind of girl.”

He reached over to grasp her hand in his. “I think it’s safe to say this isn’t familiar territory for either of us. I’ve never been involved in a relationship in my life.”

Carly frowned. “Is that what this is?”

It was Night’s turn to frown. “I don’t know. Maybe? What do you think?”

“Honestly, I don’t have a clue. I think I’ve just sort of been riding this wave to the shore without giving it much thought.”

“How would you describe your relationship with Jon?”

Carly flushed slightly. “He’s my boyfriend. I’m in love with him, Night.”

Night took a deep breath, swamped with a jealousy that took his breath away. “Carly, I’m not going away.”

“What?”

“There’s a lot of shit going down right now. I’m not leaving, not fading back into the woodwork.”

Carly bit her lip, a sure sign she was nervous. “Night, if you’re asking me to choose between you and Jon—”

“Choose? Good God, no. Carly, there’s no choice here. No, strike that, actually there is. I want to be a
part
of your relationship with Jon. I’m not looking for a weekend fling. And I’m not talking about playing third wheel. I want to be a part—an equal part—in this relationship.”

“It sounds as if you’re proposing a long-term affair, but that can’t really happen, right? I mean, people don’t live in trios, they live in pairs.”

“You’re looking at this through a narrow lens. There are a hell of a lot of different ways for people to love each other.”

“But Jon—”

“Jon wants the same thing I do. You know that. Maybe he hasn’t said the words, but you’ve seen it in his face, surely. The way we were raised, our pasts…it’s sort of bound us together. I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to break free of that.”