Flight of Fancy (16 page)

“Yes. What else?”

“I—he found me two weeks ago at a bondage club in Portland. A place I was visiting, hoping to find a new Master. My old one moved away.” The cover he and Aidan had practiced on their trip South.

“And?”

“Sir?” Gavin asked.

“What did your Master tell you about himself?”

“That he’s a successful businessman who has to take a lot of trips. So when we do see each other, we need to make the most of our time.” He nodded and gave Kerr a slow smile. “My Master is very good to me. He invited me on this trip because I aced my last history final.”

“Oh?” Kerr moved behind him and ran a hand over Gavin’s shoulder. He squeezed when Gavin flinched, and Gavin froze.

“Sir?” He hated that his voice sounded shrill, but he must have struck the right note, because Kerr smoothed his hand over Gavin’s shoulder and stroked softly down his back. When his hand reached Gavin’s ass, he squeezed. Not hard, but enough to show Kerr was in charge.

“Your Master is a business friend of mine. That’s why I invited him to our little party. You did an excellent job blowing him earlier.”

Gavin flushed. “Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re so polite. So sweet.” Kerr leaned close and nuzzled the side of Gavin’s neck. They stood at the same height, but Kerr had a bit more mass on his frame. Not much, but enough that Gavin might have a hard time subduing him if Kerr practiced any form of martial art with skill. “And I do love a college boy. You’re all so lively and fun.”

“S-sir? Where’s my Master?”

Kerr gripped his ass and rubbed between his cheeks, seeking Gavin’s asshole with hard fingers. “I want inside you, boy. Your Master said you’re a little slut. I want to see my dick in that ass and that mouth. What do you say?”

A hard cry that sounded a lot like it came from Aidan pierced the sudden silence.

“Is that my Master?”

“Do you expect me to believe you’re that innocent? That you aren’t part of Aidan’s plan to steal from me?”

Gavin frowned and pulled away, surprised Kerr let him. He did his best to assume an innocent expression. “Sir? My Master would never steal from you. He brought me to pleasure him, so that I might pleasure you as well. He told me this weekend was important, that you’re a very rich man with business ties that can help him. He wanted nothing to hurt his chances to do business with you. You’re too powerful to alienate. That’s exactly what he told me.”

Kerr didn’t blink. “Your eyes don’t lie. And those ripe lips are begging me to believe.” He sighed. “Let’s ask your Master what he thinks I should do.”

Yanking him by the arm, Kerr pulled Gavin with him to the bookcase. He tapped a book, and the door hissed open. Kerr opened it fully, and they stepped through into a nasty chamber full of whips, chains, and sharp objects meant to inflict pain. The walls were bare and spotted with torn, faded wallpaper, the floors made of cold stone.

Aidan stood against a wall, like a human T. His arms were outstretched, his wrists manacled to the wall. He wore only his leather pants, and welts and gouges turned his chest into a bloody canvas. Before him stood Samson and Tyler, both holding weapons. In Tyler’s hand, a studded club matched the marks on Aidan’s left side. Samson fondled a large knife with care, adding another cut along Aidan’s ribs while Gavin watched in horror as the blood dripped down his side.

“We’re engaging in a little blood play, aren’t we, Aidan?” Kerr dragged Gavin by that damn loop in his collar all the way into the room and shut the door behind him. Where an opening had been, now a blank wall remained. Only a faint line showed where the door would open, and if Gavin hadn’t walked through it, he wouldn’t have known where to look.

All around him, bright spotlights highlighted the harsh reality of a torture chamber. Stone floors, textured walls, and marbled tables couldn’t disguise the purpose for the many objects taking up space in the various armoires placed around the room. Floggers, whips, spears, canes. Metal teeth and chains. Dildos of many sizes, gags, and leathers promised pain in a variety of ways.

What the hell had happened in the three hours Aidan had been gone? Even the fact that Aidan remained partially clothed didn’t lessen Gavin’s upset.

Aidan snarled, “Fuck you, Kerr. I told you before, and I’ll tell you again. I don’t know what the hell this is supposed to prove, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. Of course I know who Owen Stallbridge is. He was on the cover of
Money Now
and five other newspapers this month. He’s a millionaire, in the public eye, and he’s everywhere in the Northwest. But I’m not working for him.” Aidan managed a snort. “If I was, I sure the hell wouldn’t be here with you. And I would have admitted it long before now. My ribs fucking hurt.” He glared at Samson through a swollen eye.

“Maybe, maybe not. I think you like it when I hurt you,” Samson said in a low voice. He nodded to the crumpled men near the far wall Gavin hadn’t noticed before. “And you’re a lot more than an independent arms guy. You took those three out like it was nothing.”

“Until you tased me. Asshole.”

Samson chuckled. Tyler stood back, his club at the ready.

“Holy hell. What happened?”
Gavin thought as hard as he could.

“Somehow, they found out about me. The phone call Carl took before was some damning info. But they know nothing about you. You have to get the hell out of here and warn Jack. I think Samson might have tracked me back to the gym.”

Gavin shook, not acting at all. “Mr. Kerr? What’s going on?”

“Your Master has been telling lies. He works for a man I’d like to go away—forever.” Kerr smiled through his teeth. “Apparently, my opponent has a few aces in the hole. Did you know Aidan Castle is really Aidan Marshall, a man who claims to be telepathic?”

“What?”
Oh shit.

“I never claimed anything at all, Kerr,” Aidan denied through a hiss when Samson grabbed his balls and held tight. “I thought I was here to do some business with you, but after tonight, you can forget it. In fact, you’d better let me out of here right the hell now. And then you can start sweetening any deal we might have made, ’cause no way I’m not after some payback after this shit.” He snorted. “Telepathy? Dickhead, if I could read your mind, I wouldn’t have walked in here with you and been beaten down by your lapdogs.”

Tyler frowned and nudged Samson away. Then he swung the club at Aidan’s thigh. The sharp impact had Gavin flinching back—into Kerr’s arms.

“Shh. It’s okay, Gavin. I’ll protect you from the big bad men.” He laughed. Samson and Tyler snickered. But through it all, Aidan glared at Kerr and didn’t make a sound. Kerr continued, “I can’t figure out if Gavin is part of your plan or an innocent bystander.” He wrapped his arms around Gavin’s stiff body. “What should we do with him?”

Aidan clenched his fists, unable to move because of his restraints. “I don’t give a shit. Keep him. Fuck him. Who cares? I want out of here. Now. And I want a fucker of an apology.”

Gavin blinked, feeling betrayed, though he recognized Aidan was acting. “But, Master—”

“Shut up, you little slut. I saw you eyeing him earlier tonight.” Aidan growled, “You just want someone to coddle you through life. You think I didn’t see you looking for a sugar daddy two weeks ago? If that ass wasn’t so tight and those lips so soft, I would have fucked you and dumped you days ago. Hell, Kerr. You want him? Take him. But get me the fuck down.”

“I thought you wanted the book.” Kerr hugged Gavin tighter.

Though Gavin knew Aidan didn’t mean what he said, a part of him felt the truth like a shocking blow. Gavin
did
want to be taken care of. He did like others watching him get off.

“The book is in the other room, in the bottom drawer of his desk, hidden. There’s a button under the left side of the middle drawer. You push it to access the bottom drawer. Get it and go. Then warn the team.”

“Okay.”
Gavin wanted to ease Aidan’s worry, so he agreed, though he had no intention of leaving without Aidan. But first he’d grab that stupid book. He let some tears fall, worried about Aidan and nervous about Kerr. “Mr. Kerr? I don’t understand any of this.” He cried harder. “I just wanted my Master to love me.”

“It’s okay. Come with me. You can show me how innocent you really are.” Kerr grabbed Gavin’s crotch and rubbed. “Not hard yet. But that’s okay. I’m hard enough for both of us.” He shoved himself against Gavin’s ass, and Gavin more than felt his erection.

“Fucker likes the sight of blood,”
Aidan whispered in his mind.
“Go, Gavin. I’ll distract these two. You can take Kerr. Then hustle the hell out of here. You need to get to safety. Don’t wait for anything. Just go.”

Gavin let Carl lead him away.

Over his shoulder, Carl ordered, “Don’t kill him yet. You can play with him, though. Soften him up some. Still too much piss and vinegar in our blond spy.”

“No problem, boss.” Samson sounded way too happy about the command.

Gavin walked through to the office again, hating the slaps, pounding, and groans indicating Aidan’s abuse. Kerr left the door open between his office and the other room, no doubt to hear the pain better.

“Now, Gavin. I’m going to sit down, and you’re going to suck me off. Just the way you did your old Master. And if you please me, I’ll treat you like the treasure you are. That beautiful skin, those deep blue eyes.” Kerr sighed and dragged Gavin with him to his large chair…right behind his desk.

He pulled the chair out, sat, and turned it to give Gavin access. Then he spread his legs wide and waited.

Gavin bit his lip. “Please don’t hurt me, Sir.”

“I won’t unless I have to. Take off your clothes.” Kerr studied Gavin through shuttered lids. “I want to see that cock again.”

Gavin knew he had to make his move soon. This was turning into a nightmare. Kerr was a freak of the first order, and his monsters in the other room were having way too much fun beating on Aidan.

As he eased out of his shirt and toed off his shoes, he hesitated at the waistband of his pants. He leaned forward slightly, his hands on his waist. “Sir, can I ask you something?”

Kerr shrugged. “I don’t care. But ease those trousers down, slow.” Gavin nudged one side of his pants down while he readied to spring.

“It’s just, I don’t understand—”

He shot forward and used the flat of his hand to chop Kerr in the throat. While Kerr gagged and grabbed at his neck, Gavin continued to talk and pressed down hard, choking the man. “I don’t know how my Master could have lied to me like that.” He mentioned how they’d met and how special Aidan had made him feel while pushing down on the pressure points in Kerr’s neck.

Once Kerr went limp, Gavin hustled to find the hidden button on the desk Aidan had mentioned. He found it and pressed. A little
snick
, and then he reached for the bottom drawer on the left-hand side of the desk and opened it. Way in the back, past some hanging files, he felt a piece of wood jutting up. He moved it and accessed a deeper, hidden bottom. He withdrew the book he’d held in his hands just three short weeks ago.

Thank God.
He quickly leafed through it, content this was the same volume he’d nearly bought before it had been sold out from under him. Then he looked down at Kerr.

Gavin continued the one-sided conversation, just in case anyone was listening. After unplugging a nearby lamp and using the cord to tie Kerr’s hands together, he shoved his shirt in the man’s mouth, thankful Carl had yet to awake. Unfortunately, he had a pulse. As much as Gavin wanted to kill him for what he’d done to Aidan, Gavin couldn’t in good conscience commit murder.

He heard a low groan, recognized it as Aidan’s, and hustled to the door, the book in hand.

Just as he opened the door wider, he came face-to-face with Tyler.

Shit.
“Mr. Tyler? Mr. Kerr fainted. I was coming to get you.” His voice shook. When Tyler moved past him, Gavin turned and slugged him in the head with the book. Tyler dropped the club he’d been holding, and Gavin tossed the book and hurried to grab the club. But Tyler was faster. He fought with Gavin for it and managed a kidney shot that hurt like hell.

As they grappled, the larger, tougher man got the upper hand and rolled over Gavin, pinning Gavin to the floor on his back. Tyler grabbed the club and raised it over his head, the promise of death in his eyes.

Gavin instinctively cried out to Aidan in his mind.

And then to Gavin’s shock, Tyler’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he seized, falling flat onto Gavin’s chest.

With a grunt, Gavin tried to catch his breath and pushed the dead weight from his body.
What the hell?
He didn’t have time to worry about Tyler, though, not with Aidan still at Samson’s mercy.

Gavin ignored his aches, picked up the book, and raced into the room, where he saw Aidan sagging in his chains, a mass of bloodied bruises. Scared and furious at the scumbag still pounding on his partner, Gavin didn’t think. He reacted. He knocked into Samson hard, shoving the bigger man aside. Before Samson could retaliate, Gavin shot into the air, his energy revving to be let go.

“
Holy shit.
” Samson stared, wide-eyed, at Gavin floating high above him. The expansive ceiling provided some respite, but Gavin would need to find a way to disarm Samson before he hurt Aidan again.

Then Samson grabbed a smaller knife from the small of his back and waved it. “You’re a real treat, aren’t you, boy?” He laughed, and Gavin wondered how he’d ever thought Samson and Aidan were alike, even physically. “I thought Kerr was off his rocker, but I guess there’s something to Stallbridge sending freaks to do his dirty work. You, I get. But no way in hell is your Master a telepath. Though I’m impressed he’s held out as long as he has. He’ll make a fun fuck toy, that’s for sure.”

Before Gavin could react, Samson threw the knife. Gavin tried to dodge, but the knife lodged in his shoulder, and he fumbled the book. The pain interrupted his concentration, and he dropped like a stone. He hit the stone floor hard, fucking up his knee. But at least the fall managed to dislodge the knife when he rolled.