Cuff Master (24 page)

“It’s incredible that you can communicate with someone
beyond this existence,” Alex said.

“I wish I could do more for her. She’s worried for her
mother and someone else. She absolutely views Ethan as a hero. He is. So is
Samantha. They found Jenna. They helped catch Mills and put him away.”

“We’ll find the answers,” Ethan reassured. “Even if the
department doesn’t let Sam and I reopen Jenna’s case, I will find the truth.
There’s still the matter of Erica White. She’s been missing for more than a
year. Would Jenna know where she is?”

Morgan thought on it. “I wish I had my EVP recorder. I
remember most of my session with Jenna in the ladies room, but my migraine was
acute then. I could be the one confused. I’ve the terrible feeling that Erica
is dead. Jenna said something to that effect before she disappeared.”

“Can you reach her today?” Ethan asked. “I have my recorder
in the pocket of my jacket.”

She stayed quiet in order to listen to Druid Creek Castle’s
many entities. Unfortunately, the comings and goings of police and firemen not
long ago, the daytime staff and the multiple patrons of the B&B had created
a whirlwind of confusion for them and they chose to be silent.

“I can’t today,” Morgan said. “I don’t sense Jenna here. The
two times I saw her, she was following her mother. I wish I hadn’t upset Mrs.
Bailey.”

“She spoke up for you when the fire chief hinted that you’d
set the trashcan on fire,” Ethan supplied. “She may have been mad, but she’s
hurting over the loss of her daughter.”

“I’d not known the details of Jenna’s case or Erica White’s
role in it,” Morgan said. “If I had, I’d have been more discreet. I’m sorry,
Ethan.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said.

“As fascinating as this is, I need to go,” Ryan told them.
He walked over to Alex and kissed his husband goodbye. “Be home after six.”

“Looking forward to having you home,” Alex returned. “Drive
safe.”

“I will.” Ryan closed in on Ethan and Morgan, keeping his
eyes on her face. “You are precious, Morgan. Don’t ever lose sight of how
important you are to Ethan.”

“Thank you, Doc. I love Ethan with everything I am.”

“Excellent,” Ryan said approvingly. He turned his eyes to
Ethan. “Let her go, it’s your mistake. Hurt her, I’ll carve you into a eunuch.
I don’t give a fuck what your brothers would do to me as a result.”

“You won’t have to get the scalpel,” Alex chimed in. “Phalen
will do it for you with a tattoo machine.”

“Can we not threaten my manhood?” Ethan demanded, standing
as tall as ever and proving that neither man had intimidated him. “Morgan’s a
Maddox now. She’s mine.”

“Not seeing a ring on her finger, cop,” Ryan observed, his
eyes going to Morgan’s left hand. “Or a collar.”

“To be remedied soon enough,” Ethan stated. “Don’t worry.
Your patients are waiting, Doc.”

“I’m out of here,” Ryan said, taking off for the door.

Ethan surprised Morgan by following Ryan out into the
hallway. She couldn’t hear a thing being said. Ethan returned with a secretive
grin.

“What was that about?” she asked.

“I needed to talk to Doc about something.”

“Does it concern me?”

“It does. Don’t misunderstand, but I’d like to keep this
between me and Doc for the time being. You’ll find out when the time’s right.”

Morgan inclined her head. “Okay, I’ll leave it alone. Have
to admit that I never thought any man could be as sexy as you are, Ethan. But
Ryan makes me feel sad for the women who will never know what it’s like to be
with him.”

“Hate to break it to any man or woman hoping to get a turn
with my stud of a husband, no one’s touching him but me,” Alex stated. “How
about I make some coffee and we sit down and talk business.”

Morgan momentarily struggled with the change from sex talk
to business. But the way Alex switched from possessive husband to businessman
put her at ease.

Alex Grant was an important person in her life. She adored
him as a friend, as she did Ryan. Nothing would change their friendship and her
love for Ethan was as strong as ever.

Ethan led her to a dinette table and assisted her into a
seat, claiming the one next to her. Alex played host, brewing up a pot of
French roast coffee and sitting three mugs, cream and sugar on the table.

Conversation centered on business and Morgan’s decision to
apply to college as they sipped the hot brew. By the time their mugs were
empty, Alex had suggested a business plan that would join Enchanted Treasures
to the Maddox brothers’ plethora of small companies.

They would need Phalen and Taran’s cooperation, but Ethan
was confident that his brothers would agree. As soon as Phalen and Cassie
returned home, they could all sit down and finalize the legalities of joining
Enchanted Treasures under the Maddox business umbrella.

For Morgan, financial security had always been a struggle.
While she did make ends meet and had never missed a bill or been in the red, she
certainly couldn’t expand or earn a degree in archaeology. With Ethan and his
brothers’ help, she’d finally see her dreams come to fruition.

Chapter Nine

After an unexpectedly erotic morning at Alex and Ryan’s
penthouse, the rest of the day was the exact opposite.

Ethan took Morgan to Cassie and Phalen’s house and they
stripped the guest bed, remade it with clean sheets and set about washing their
clothes. They ordered pizza for lunch, breaking from cleaning duties to eat,
and then went right back to work setting the house to rights.

It wasn’t that he and Morgan were messy. He tended to be
neat. Morgan was conscientious of being a guest in someone else’s home and
helped to make sure that dishes were cleaned and put away and dust didn’t
linger on furniture.

The cats seemed to know that their days were numbered as
house sitters. Samson tried to pack himself in Morgan’s bag twice. Not at all
to Ethan’s surprise, she gently removed the cat and carried him to Delilah.

Taran was due to arrive after getting out of court. Morgan
and Ethan made sure to replenish food and water and gave the kittens new toys
that she’d insisted on purchasing on the way back to Phalen and Cassie’s house.

Ethan didn’t bother objecting. The pet store was right next
to a shop that specialized in leather, PVC, sexy lingerie and fetish clothing.
While Morgan bought cat toys, he’d gone into the leather shop for some things
of his own.

He tucked his purchases in the trunk of his Acura before
Morgan came out with a bag full of goodies. She warned him with a look not to
question her purchases. He didn’t dare cross her, not when he had plans for her
later.

He was so fucking proud of how she handled herself in front
of Alex and Ryan. Ethan was very much aware that the men had a fetish for
voyeurism. He just hadn’t expected to walk in and find Alex giving his husband
a blowjob.

He sure as hell didn’t expect Morgan to get turned-on by it.
Not only had she gotten wet, she’d joined right in. Briefly, he’d been worried
that she’d be offended by the fact that he’d been as turned-on by Alex and Ryan
together as she had.

Although he’d never fantasized about being with another man
or experimented with bisexuality, he had to admit what happened between the
four of them was erotic as fuck. Because he trusted Doc and Alex to never
engage him and Morgan in something more than watching, Ethan had asked Ryan for
a special favor when it came time to collar Morgan.

He had to do it soon. His plan was during Samhain.

For tonight, his plans were pure seduction, discipline and
bondage. He wouldn’t proceed without Morgan’s agreement and he already knew
what actions would trigger her safe word.

Ethan would prove to her that she’d never have to resort to
using the word
steak
. In his capable hands, Morgan would know nothing
but pleasure as he sent her tripping into subspace.

“You’re quiet over there,” Morgan said.

“Concentrating, sorry,” Ethan apologized, gripping the
steering wheel. It was getting dark and traffic into Boston was its usual
hectic rush hour pace…slow.

“You’re not mad at me?”

“Why would I be?”

“Because of what happened this morning with Ryan and Alex. I
hope you know that I’d never suggest we do that again. But I won’t regret it. I
can’t now.”

Ethan let go of the wheel and took Morgan’s hand. “I’m not
mad. If anything, I’m awed by you. Damn, woman, do you know how sexy it was to
have you on your knees, sucking me off while Ryan watched?”

“He watched?” she echoed. “I mean, yeah, I knew what was
going on. His eyes were on my breasts when you were playing with them, but
after that, I thought for sure Alex was giving him great head and whatever we
were doing ceased to matter.”

“Ryan was as into you as much as you were into watching him
getting sucked. You liked it and it shocked you more than you expected.”

“Sometimes the unexpected is exciting.”

“That’s okay. It was part of the fantasy. Don’t worry or
wonder how I perceive you now, Morgan. You’re my lover. I’ve no doubt about
your feelings for me. I trust you. Don’t you trust me?”

“I do, Ethan. I’d do anything to prove that to you.”

Ethan brought her hand to his mouth. “Anything, huh?”

“Yes.”

“You can prove that when we get to the house. I hope you
like it. It’s kind of a man cave at the moment. With you around, it’s sure to
get nicer.”

“Will there be beer?”

“I texted Taran last night to make sure the fridge was
stocked with what you like.”

Morgan laughed at that. “Aren’t you a good boyfriend?”

“I’m an excellent boyfriend, thank you very much,” he
replied in what he figured was a really bad imitation of Elvis. Who’d have
thought being called Morgan’s boyfriend would make his heart sing with joy?

Joy? Yep, that’s how he felt. Joyful, grateful, happy and
all-around in love, that was the score.

“Is there a big-screen television?”

“The house is a man cave. What do you think? There’s a bar,
a pool table, a workshop and band equipment in the basement. There’s every
conceivable electronic device known to man, remotes in every room and carryout
menus are posted in the kitchen.”

“Knowing you’re a detective with a degree in criminal
justice and have an older brother trained as an Army Ranger and a younger one
who’s now an attorney, I’m thinking the Maddox brothers keep their house clean
and tidy.”

“I do like to have order over chaos. That doesn’t mean I’m a
neat freak. Phalen, on the other hand, is the one whose bed never has a wrinkle
when it’s made. If you want to toss your clothes on our bedroom floor, that’s
fine. As long as you stay naked until morning, I’m a happy man.”

“Whether it’s the brownstone or my apartment or Phalen’s
studio if he lets us use it when we get a dog, I’ll be happy wherever you are,
Ethan. Maybe we should look into getting out of my lease?”

Ethan kissed her hand, taking one knuckle between his teeth
and biting to leave a mark. “That’s my woman. Don’t forget, Taran will be home
often.”

“I’m sure he has ways of disappearing. If I’m right about
where your dungeon is, it’ll be soundproof enough that he’ll have no clue.”

“He’ll know whether he hears us or not. He won’t say
anything though. He’s had my back more times than I can count. I bailed him out
a few times, got into fights on his behalf. You name it.”

“He’s your brother. Of course you’d look out for each other.
I didn’t have siblings growing up. After my dad died, my mother didn’t try to
have more children with Carter, my stepfather.”

“Honey, you have family now,” Ethan said. “You have me, my
brothers, Cassie, Ryan and Alex.”

“And Remy and his New England Paranormal Investigators
team,” she added.

“See? Even though you aren’t in constant contact with your mother
and stepdad, I think you should talk to them and get to know them as they are
now. You’re not eighteen anymore.”

“I agree with you. But if Carter threatens to send in the
white coats, I’m out.”

“Morgan, he cares, I’m sure of it. Let him show it. Don’t
you think it hurts him as much as it does you to avoid each other?”

“I’m sure it does.”

“I’ll be with you when you talk to your parents.”

“I appreciate that, thank you,” Morgan said.

Ethan managed to keep track of the traffic. It cleared
enough that they made it into Boston by six o’clock. “Are you up to going out
for dinner tonight or would you prefer to stay home?”

“Stay home. It’s my first all-nighter in the Maddox man
cave. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

“Let’s hope Taran left food as well as Sam Adams, otherwise
the pickings will be slim and we’ll have to order in.”

“A salad would do fine for me or scrambled eggs. I’m still
stuffed from the pizza.”

“Eggs are okay for you?”

“If they’re organic and not rapid-produced in some chicken
mill, I like them for protein. I also like cheese, nuts, organic milk and dairy
products, peanut butter, tofu, soybeans, eggplant parmesan and portobello
mushroom burgers. I always make sure I take vitamins too.”

Ethan winced at the mushroom burgers, though he did like
mushrooms on his pizza. Maybe her veggie version of an American staple wasn’t
so bad.

“We’ll see what’s in the refrigerator when we get home.
Taran’s not a barbarian. He’s a good cook too.”

“Something I’ll be sure to tell Samantha. I hope we see her
tomorrow. You should call her and invite her over.”

“I was planning on it. I’d like to spend time going over
Erica White’s and the Bailey cases. I need to right the wrong done to a
fifteen-year-old girl. Jenna needs peace and Alisa Bailey needs closure. When I
saw Alisa for the first time since Jenna’s funeral, something was off about
her. She looked…broken.”

“Maybe Alisa knows the truth and can’t face it. It’s
horrible to think the man she married could hurt her daughter. Even if Jenna is
confused about who killed her, Spencer Bailey is the reason she died even if he
didn’t physically do it.”

“If there’s evidence or a shred of a clue to put him on our
radar, Sam and I will find it and nail the bastard.”

“I’ve faith in the two of you. If I can help, let me know.
Maybe we should take a field trip to the orchard Alisa Bailey told me about
before I pissed her off. Apples were a significant clue when Jenna appeared.”

“If I remember correctly, Alisa’s sister maintains and
operates the orchard for the family. She’s opened it up for Halloween haunted
hayrides during the month of October.”

“We could get tickets for the hayride. Even if we can’t do
an investigation, I might be able to connect with Jenna again.”

“It’s open to the public. I’ll see what I can do about it.”

Morgan’s cellphone went off. She pulled it out of her purse
and answered. “Remy, hey, we were just talking about you.”

Damn! Ethan liked Remy Sinclair. He trusted him enough to
give the other man the spare keys to Morgan’s store. Remy stood by her as a
friend and showed no sign of romantic interest.

But he wasn’t so happy about the interruption. Fighting off
his jealousy, he said nothing.

“Thank you for closing the shop today. Your help these last
two weeks has been invaluable. What’s that? Eve? Really?” she questioned, going
quiet to listen for a bit.

“Wow. That’s great for the show. Do you need my help with
anything?”

The conversation centered on the television show. That was
good. It helped Ethan relax. The reality-based ghost hunter series was
important to Morgan. Because of that, he needed to support her, no matter that
the show’s host was rapidly building a female fan base to rival a rock star.

“Okay. Keep me informed. I’ll be glad to follow up if you
two find something. Say hi to Eve for me.” Morgan ended the call and put the
phone away.

“Everything all right with Remy?”

“Yes,” Morgan answered. “I can’t explain it all because
Remy’s not ready to share more details. But they think Eve uncovered some
information about Ransom Hunter.”

“Ransom Hunter, the one who writes those erotic paranormal
novels you like so much?”

“That’s right. It’s a pen name.”

“Why would Remy be interested in this guy?”

“Eve was able to do some research on an Old West ghost town
that was purchased by a quartet of anonymous owners. It’d once been vacant and
said to have been nothing more than a couple of buildings and outhouses. The
quartet built up the town and it’s said that celebrities hang out in the town
when they want to truly get away.”

“You lost me, honey.”

“Eve thinks that one of the owners
may
be Ransom
Hunter and that his estate is located near the town.”

“Why? If the guy wants to be reclusive and live in some
ghost town, leave him alone.”

“The estate is supposedly at the epicenter of one of the
most haunted and mysterious towns in America.”

“That sounds promising,” he said.

“The New England Paranormal Investigators would like to go
national. Remy and Eve would like to approach Ransom to do a lockdown. If not
at his home, Dare, Nevada would be excellent for TV and be the catalyst to getting
the show syndicated.”

“Dare, Nevada, huh? Can the team investigate the town
without exposing Ransom Hunter’s real identity?”

“Absolutely, Remy is discreet. He and Eve are going to fly
out there tomorrow to research the history of the ghost town first.”

“What will they do if the author says no about the estate?”

“They’ll leave. If nothing else, they’ll have great footage
of the ghost town. Short-lived though the Wild West was, it was an extremely
violent era, not to mention the injustices committed against the Native
American tribes in the name of manifest destiny.”

“Carson City or Reno would be great locations for a
lockdown.”

“Yes, but both have been done by several other ghost hunter
teams. Remy wants something that hasn’t been seen before.”

“I hope you’re right about them leaving the guy alone if
that’s what he wants.”

“They will. Remy has my spare keys and he’ll keep them safe
until he gets back. The shop’s closed for the weekend. I’ll open it back up on
Monday.”

“Great. I’m glad he helped you out while you healed. I
noticed you took the bandage off after your shower this afternoon. Have to
admit doing laundry and dusting all day made showering a godsend.”

“It was a relief to get clean. The stitches are almost
nonexistent. Doc is a genius.”

“Yes, he is.”

Ethan continued to drive through the city, weaving in and
out of traffic with the ease of having grown up in Southie. Parking was an
issue for residents throughout the Boston-Metro area, but he and Taran had
permits for a small lot adjacent to their house.

Their house was joined to a series of row houses that were
rustic and made of Bostonian brownstone, impressive front steps and crimson
doors. It was also bigger than it appeared, with four stories, six bedrooms, an
attic and a basement.