Rectify (Return to Us Trilogy #2) (13 page)

"No thumbprint scanner?"

"Nope. Not here." I wink at her. Our clients don't want a scanner to track their whereabouts. I place the key back in my pocket.

We pass the oh-so-tempting fantasy suite doors. I'd love to take her into one of those rooms tonight, but I've been drinking, and she's not ready yet.

"The office is down here on the right."

We travel down the hall without saying a word. No questions from her now, huh? I stand back and hold the office door open for her.

"Ladies first."

"And they say chivalry is dead." I smack her ass as she struts by me.

"Not in my book, baby." She gives me a coy glance over her shoulder. "Plus, I have a great view from back here."

***

Ivy

This office couldn't be more different than the one at Mogul. Lush, maroon velvet drapes curve over the heat vent and blackened windows. The vertical plank wood-panel walls and Tiffany sconces remind me of a pirate's cabin.

I stroll around the hefty oak desk and high back leather chairs that dominate the room. A brass lamp casts a gentle glow across two neat piles of paper and a silver laptop on the desk. I sneak a glance at the letterhead.
Ellis Suites
.

Security monitors mounted on the wall are labeled with letters of the alphabet in the same script that was above the doors. The modern electronics seem out of place in this pirate's cove. The monitor labeled
F
displays a woman wearing a red leather cat suit circling a man tied to a chair. I step closer for a better look, but Jacade walks up and turns the screen off. Damn.

His arms circle my waist, and he lays his cheek on the top of my head. I point to the twin bed in the corner.

"Sometimes the general manager sleeps here. No fucking allowed in the office. The twin bed is smaller and meant to deter one from attempting."

"Interesting." He bends and grazes my right earlobe with his teeth. Is it my other ear's turn now?

"But I'm not one for following rules." He nibbles my neck. "Screw the bed. There are many other places to fuck you."

Oh my. He wobbles like Jack Sparrow as he wanders to the desk.

"How many Jäger shots did you have to drink?" I sit on the twin bed.

He counts on his fingers, pretends to mess up, and starts over.

I giggle. "Wow. I never thought I'd see the day a plastic surgeon couldn't count on his fingers."

He moseys to me. "I can still count your orgasms."

Lord have mercy.

He kisses me and pulls me back with him onto the twin bed. My body crushes against his as we bounce off the springs. He rests his hands under his head and licks his lips.

His scruffy beard tickles my lips as I kiss down his jaw and neck. The sound no woman ever wants to hear filters to my ears. Snoring.

Ha! Jacade passed out. I lay my forehead on his chest and rock with laughter.

I sit up and straddle him. This is my chance to look around while he sleeps it off. I check over my shoulder to make sure Jacade's eyes are still closed and his breathing is even before I open the door and peek in the hallway. A man and two giggling women stagger down the hall toward the stairs. He guides them with his hands on their lower backs. I look to my right and see they left the door to room D open.

I tiptoe into the room and skim the wall for a light switch.
My finger floats over a flat-screen panel that glows blue at my touch. I press the button for lights, and the overhead lighting illuminates
an urban rustic loft-style room with exposed brick walls and minimalistic modern furniture.

I wander over to a wooden cabinet similar to the one in Jacade's penthouse, but much less ornate. I pull on the smooth nickel handle and gasp at the contents. Interior lights sparkle off shelves of leather harnesses, handcuffs, dildos, some intriguing clamps, and a few items I can't identify. I touch a black cowhide leather whip. I run my fingertips along the coiled rope to a shiny platinum handle with the word
Dominus
engraved in a sharp, elegant script.

A sex toy box. Where am I?

I return to the panel for clues. One button intrigues me.
Spinner
. My finger hovers over the word.

Do I push it?

Of course I do.

I jump as a wooden door to my right creaks and slides open, disappearing into the brick wall. The door reveals a six-foot-wide wooden circle mounted to the wall. I gape at the black leather belt in the center of the mysterious device.

What is this? A wheel of death some impalement artist has hidden in the wall?

***

Ivy

"Curious, darlin'?" A deep honeyed voice startles me. I struggle to get my wrist out of the worn leather cuff hanging from the top of the spinning contraption.

"I, umm..." I break free and turn to see who has caught me in this mortifying moment.

Oh my. Michelangelo's David has escaped from Florence and stands before me with mirth in his deep-set cognac eyes. The same man who was with the two women in this room leans with his shoulder against the doorframe. He flicks his head, and his mahogany hair flips back, only to slide back down to its previous position on his forehead. Damn, that was sexy.

He strides to me and extends his hand. "Jude Ellis. Friends call me Jett." I close my mouth and shake his hand.

"Ivy Summers." His eyebrows lift.

"Ivy. Pleasure. You're prettier than he described." He must notice the confusion on my face. "I'm Jacade's brother."

"Oh? Jacade has a brother?" I see it now. They're akin in appearance and about the same height. Jacade is more bulky and imposing. Jett's laid-back demeanor exudes precision and calculation. This mellow man creates a false sense of ease before he pounces.

"Yep. Me."

"Oh. Hi." God, I'm so lame. I must be beet red.

"Sorry if I gave you a scare." He scans the room. "Where's the loser? Let me guess, couldn't handle the shots and passed out in the office?"

"Bingo." I laugh at his correct assumption. "What was the bet about?"

"Let's just say I'm more than grateful he lost."

His gaze drifts over my face and idles on the bow between my boobs. Typical male.

"Does he know you're in here?"

My blush gives him my answer.

"Didn't think so. You shouldn't wander unsupervised."

"Why? It's not like I'm running loose in a mental institution."

He doesn't react, but stares at me with a serious expression. His poker face is as fierce as Jacade's. "Depends on who you ask."

He breaks into a sneaky grin, and an adorable dimple appears in his chin. My goodness, the genes in this family are astronomical. Combine that dimple with his thick smoky lashes, high cheekbones, and chiseled jaw, and you have nature's perfect specimen. Lordy.

"People come here to explore their deepest desires." He shrugs. "Who knows? It's possible someone might fantasize about letting it all hang loose in a mental institution." He tilts his head toward me and says in a conspiratorial tone, "Whatever blows your skirt up." Wowza.

He walks past me, and I admire the round globes of his butt while he meanders into the room. He stops between a black leather couch and a giant bed covered in black suede. My brain conjures images of Jett opening secret doors to restrain two giggling girls at the same time. So many possibilities.

"What kind of place is this?"

He links his arms over his chest and bends at the waist to look straight into my eyes. "Ask my little brother."

Oh, believe me, I will.

"Are you a physician?" I point to the script letters on the breast pocket of his avocado scrubs.
Property of Lakeshore Memorial Hospital
. His biceps bulge out from under his scrub sleeves. My mind conjures an image of him waking up every morning to do push-ups... in his Calvins.

He tugs on his faded scrubs. "Nah, I pilfered these from the hobo outside." He winks at me. "Yeah, I'm an ER physician."

These two delectable men are not only brothers but also doctors? I want to run out the door and announce it to all the women of the world.
Hot ass doctor brothers over here, ladies
!

"I just got called back in to work a double. Gonna grab my bag in the office." He smiles and taps his index finger over his lips. "Hmm, Jacade might need his shoelaces tied together."

"You wouldn't."

"Yep. I have to. Big brother code." We both laugh. Jett's magnetic aura brightens this stark room. He's more amiable and approachable than his domineering brother. Jacade is overbearing. But he's mine to bear.

He claps his hands together. "See you soon, Ivy. I'm off to the hospital."

"Okay. Bye."

He walks to the door and stops to look back at me with his hand on the frame. "Enjoy your exploration." He nods indicating the room. I stare at his firm ass as he struts away.

And what might I discover, Dr. Ellis?

***

Ivy

Thud
!

Crack
!

I sit straight up on the bed. My eyes adjust to find Jacade lying flat on his face on the hardwood floor with bits of coffee cup scattered above his head. He groans and rolls to his back.

"Are you hurt?" I rush to him and kneel by his side. His body shakes, and it takes me a moment to realize he's laughing. I grab his forearm and help him up to a sitting position. "Look at you." I brush coffee off his dress shirt. "I guess the laughing means you're okay."

He grabs my hand and tenderly holds it to his damp chest. His heart races under those solid pecs. We both stare at our hands. He looks up at me with puppy-dog eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for trying to save my shirt." Why was I doing that again? I could have him shirtless right now.

"Not sure I did much good."

"I appreciate the effort, but I think this shirt's a goner. Dixon probably has some clothes stashed away in here somewhere." He pinches the fabric between his fingers and shakes his head.

"He's a dead man. I liked this shirt." His mouth curves up. Those lips.

"Who?"

"My brother." He motions to his shoes with his head. Oh my goodness. Jude
did
tie his shoelaces together.

I laugh. "I told him not to do it." Whoops, my bad. I can't believe I didn't remember to check his shoes.

"You knew he did this?"

"No, well, yeah, kind of." He tugs me into his lap and tickles my sides. I wiggle but can't get away from him.

"Quit! Okay, okay! He said he might do it. I forgot to check when I crawled into bed with you. I swear."

His eyebrows narrow. "Likely story."

"I get distracted when I'm in the vicinity of your chest."

He chuckles. "I'll let this one go because the same thing happens to me when I'm around yours."

His strong arms pull my torso tight against his solid form.

"Hey! You're getting me all wet."

"You've never complained about it before." He bends and kisses me with a coltish grin.

***

Jacade

Really, Dix? The only clothing you keep in here is a tuxedo?

Well, it will have to do. Snug pants and a tight shirt are better than a coffee-stained suit. I turn to the mirror to button up the shirt.

Ivy sits on the bed behind me with her jaw dangling. When will she ever get I can see her reflection?

I tuck in the shirttails and leave the collar hanging open. I turn to her rosy face.

"Wow, Dr. Jordan. I didn't know this was a black tie event," she says as I zip up the pants. She giggles as her eyes rake over my body. "The pants look a little tight around, ya know, your"—she waves her hand in the region of my cock—"area."

"Yep, it's hard to contain," I say as I button the pants.

"Wasn't sure how you were gonna get your shoulders in that shirt."

"I was more worried about buttoning the pants over my raging hard-on." She sucks in her lips, and her eyes focus on my... What did she call it again? Right, my area.

I stride to the desk, pick up my Rolex, and slip it on my left wrist.

"You look suave in a tux."

"It's only pants and a shirt."

"Is there a tie?"

I nod toward the armoire. "Yeah, in there."

She rises and grabs the tie from the armoire. She turns to me and reaches to button the collar of the shirt. I lean in and kiss her ear. She fumbles, but concentrates as she ties the bow tie. I grin at her, and she looks down at her feet.

Her closeness, that see-through dress, and those fuck-me shoes are messing with my head. I stand before her unworthy of her nurturing. She can dress up the devil in a designer tuxedo, but I'm still a demon and don't deserve to be touched by an angel.