Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

T ravis spent the day finding additional items for the loft, including a second stool for the drafting table. As it happened, the store where they'd purchased it had a stool that for all intents and purposes matched. He tossed it into the back of the truck so they'd have it that afternoon when the other furniture would be delivered. He was also able to make a stop at a custom furniture craftsman's studio and order a St. Andrew's Cross. Skylar might well think he'd been joking, but he hadn't been.

What she didn't know was that he'd seen her playing once at Dante's. She, Mariah Halsey and Abriana DeMedici had met there, and he'd been able to spy on them without their knowing. He'd watched Skylar as she was restrained on the cross and one of the resident Doms had used a flogger on her. It had been an eye-opening revelation.

Skylar's body was tense when she was strapped to the cross. He thought that perhaps she was shy. It didn't take long for him to realize nothing could have been further from the truth. She seemed unaware of anything other than the impact of the falls as they landed. Her body arched and preened under the hypnotic pulse of the music and the flogger as it struck her skin.

The Dom working on her did so with a precision born of skill and years of practice. Over and over, he struck her naked body, working the larger muscle groups. He picked up a second flogger and moved in rhythm to the music, letting the falls connect with her flesh on each downbeat as the music set the tempo. Her body began to sag in utter relaxation.

The Dom stilled his movement and stepped in close to her body, running his hand down her spine, speaking softly to her, checking in. She nodded and the Dom resumed his position, picking up a different flogger—this one had small knots of braided leather on the ends. Catching the rhythm of the music again, he brought the falls down. Skylar stiffened, but then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as her body shuddered, and her head fell forward. Travis leaned in towards her, watching intently.

"She's been here before," said Luca Marino, standing next to him. Luca was the master vintner and omega of the DeMedici pack. "She needs a strong hand for her to relax and feel safe. It is difficult for her to let go and just feel."

The Dom continued in concert with the cadence of the music and timed his strikes perfectly. He struck her shoulders, ass, and calves, avoiding her spine. He landed blow after blow until Skylar's entire body was once again relaxed before it tensed as she cried out—seemingly not from pain but in surrendered ecstasy. Her body lost all tension as she allowed herself to slump forward, leaning into the piece of equipment.

Travis fought the urge to go to her. He could feel a growl rumbling in his chest but didn't think it was audible until Luca laid his hand on his shoulder.

"That's all she'll allow. She'll submit to the sensation, but never to the Dom. She won't take aftercare of any kind. I always make sure whoever is assigned to her has enough skill to take her to orgasm and subspace, but she won't leave here until she's come back down and I'm sure she doesn't need anyone. Then all three girls will be driven back to the villa."

"I was that obvious?"

"When a wolf has found and claimed his fated mate, it is easy to spot in others. But as I said, she never allows anything sexual, just impact play. Although there are many who would like to change her mind."

Travis growled. "Let them know she is mine, and I will take offense and challenge anyone who tries to touch her."

"None of the girls, including your sister, have sex here in the club. I suspect they feed that need elsewhere."

Travis had known then that his time waiting for Skylar was coming to a close. The thought of another man or wolf's hands on her had been almost more than he could stand. It was on the flight home from that trip that he had begun to outline a plan for a new restaurant and a new life in New Orleans.

As he turned onto the street where their building was located, he spotted the architect and a man he hoped was from the security company. He parked his truck and went to join them.

"Gentlemen, I'm not late, am I?" he asked.

"Not at all, Travis. But we got to talking and Louis here seems to think we're going to have some kind of iron security gate that drops down over the front of the building," said Philippe, the architect.

Travis introduced himself to the third man, Louis, one of the most experienced techs from the security company which had been hired to outfit the building.

"He's right, Philippe," said Travis. "My fiancée is a cop. I want to make sure that when we go to sleep at night, this place is as secure as a bank. My thought was some kind of roll-down iron gate for the entire restaurant front. But it can't just be bars, and I don't want it visible when the restaurant is open. I need this place to be secure. I also want solid doors installed in the loading area so they too can be closed."

"I got to thinking about that freight elevator," said Louis. "We can install a system that requires an electronic thumbprint after hours or whenever you like, and we can reinforce the door into the loft."

Travis turned to Philippe. "The loft has become the priority to get done first. After Skylar's apartment got trashed, we decided she should move in with me. I was willing to rough it on my own, but I won't have her make do. She works too hard. So, Louis, can I leave you to look at what it's going to take and cost to make this place a fortress? Philippe and I can go on up to the loft so he can show me his ideas."

"Sure thing," said Louis.

Travis and Philippe went up to the loft and Philippe spread out his plans. "I took the liberty of drawing up two ideas—one with walls, one without."

"Definitely without. The only space we want enclosed is the bath, and we probably want to double the size of the shower."

"I have to say, I figured with the tub you had, we would need something bigger than what you originally proposed. We got the specs on the shower and plumbing fixtures you purchased. I think this bath is going to be truly magnificent. And maybe instead of a traditional vanity, we might use this antique dresser and install two vessel sinks and faucets with an industrial edge to them."

"I think that'll be excellent. Both of us have eclectic tastes and seem to be buying pieces that are a sort of funky farmhouse industrial style. The furniture is arriving today, but you can see the pieces we brought home yesterday."

"I can help with furniture placement if you like. Will it all be here today?"

Travis glanced at his watch. "Any time now. You might be able to help us pick out something for dining. We did find a buffet we liked, and a drafting table and stools that will act as a desk and a casual space for just the two of us."

"I know we talked a little about kitchen cabinets but seeing the vintage island and pantry and given your other purchases, I'd like to stray from the norm a bit and find you some unique lower cabinets, even if we have to do custom, and open shelving for the upper storage."

They moved around the room and Travis got the feeling that Philippe was beginning to share his vision and understand what he was looking for.

As they stood in the kitchen looking into the courtyard, Philippe said, "A similar look for the restaurant?"

Travis nodded. "Exactly, but I want our commercial kitchen to be the envy of every other restaurant my mother and I own. Sea Wolf has always been her home base. Loup De Mer will be mine—and I want my mother pea green with jealousy."

Philippe laughed. "I'll make sure that it is. Do you want it completely tucked away or more open so patrons can see in?"

"More open, and I'd like a chef's table area. Sea Wolf has one. The staff has meals together there, and we can use it to entertain in a more intimate manner. For up here, I'd like a space where we can host our families and friends—perhaps a harvest table, but I'm not fond of benches."

"Hmm. I may have just seen a table that would work. Let me see if I can find it." He flipped through the pictures he'd brought. "Here it is. It's old and it's rustic. We have someone who can make it look better without losing its charm and character. It's big too; I think right around eight feet. It could seat ten comfortably."

Travis looked at the picture and smiled. "It's just what I was thinking of. I like the harp design of the legs with the inset iron spindles."

"I thought you might. If you want it," Travis nodded, "I'll have it sent to our craftsman."

"That wouldn't be Bertrand Lowe, would it?"

"One and the same."

Travis smiled, thinking about what he had ordered from the craftsman. "I hired him this afternoon to build something for me. Send it to him."

"I'll arrange it," said the architect.

"You should also be getting tile samples and colors for the bath and the kitchen that we picked," said Travis.

"Four or six burner stove, and I'm assuming gas?" asked Philippe.

Travis nodded. "Six and yes. We'll have to have gas for the restaurant, so it'll be easy enough to get up here. I'd also like some kind of built-in coffee bar—nothing elaborate, but both of us are big coffee drinkers. A large fridge, but not too large, as I can always store anything excess at the restaurant."

Philippe continued to check his list. "Grill on the range?"

"Absolutely."

They continued to talk until the furniture was delivered. Travis found Philippe of enormous help in getting a good handle on where everything should go. They taped out the size of the bath and had a rough sketch of its configuration. Louis came upstairs and showed Travis a state-of-the-art security plan that was less than he'd thought it might be.

Not to be outdone, Philippe promised to have the bath mostly completed before the end of the week. Certainly, it would be far more functional than what they currently had, even if it was only partially done.

"We should be able to get everything but the roll-down gate for the front done no later than the day after tomorrow," Louis said as Travis signed off on the order.

Once the two men left the loft, Travis left to pick up Skylar, but stopped at a florist on the way. There he purchased a dozen kaleidoscope roses and a gorgeous free-form Lalique vase to put them in. Skylar stopped in the doorway of the precinct on her way out to speak with someone, and then trotted down the steps to fling her arms around him and kiss him deeply.

As he opened the truck door, she spotted the roses and smiled. "I love them. They're my favorites. Such a riotous group of colors. How did you know?"

"Rémy."

"Of course. And the vase?"

"Vintage Lalique. Had to convince the florist to sell it to me. He said it was made in the very first years of Lalique's founding. The guy had purchased it for his bride when they were married. She died about five years ago. He didn't want to let it go, but when he heard I wanted it for my beautiful fiancée, he changed his mind."

"It's gorgeous. How did the meetings with the architect and security guy go?"

"Extremely well. The architect has a table for us. It's a unique twist on a harvest table but I think you'll like it. He said he'd look for chairs. The bath should be done for the most part by the end of the week and the kitchen by the end of next. Without a lot of walls and with the floors already refinished, we should be just about done by then. The entire security system except for the roll down for the front of the restaurant will be ready by the end of the day tomorrow. And the gate should be done by the end of next week. We talked plans for the restaurant, and I'll meet with the architects next week to sign off on plans for that."

"The chief wants a patrol car outside until our security measures are in place. And the patrol units are all vying for who gets the shifts. I think it's all overkill. I'm a cop and you're ex special forces. Besides, I don't think he'll come at me directly again."

"It's the indirectly part I worry about. I spoke with my folks and yours, both have agreed to step up their own security."

"I spoke with JD as well. He handles security matters for my father. I think they need to be on alert," said Skylar. "The next painting depicts a murder in a gazebo—Rivière Du Loup has a prominent one down by the river. It could prove to be a tempting target. I'm going to talk to the team about how we might set up to try and catch him. I'll need my father to sign off on it, but I think I'll be able to convince him."

"Then you're happy?" he asked.

"More than I have a right to be."

S o, they'd given her a gold shield. She ought to be grateful to him. If it wasn't for him, she'd never have worked her way to the top. He'd driven by her new place earlier and learned that both the architect and security people would be working around the clock to secure the loft.

He also now knew how she'd found him—well not him, but how she had spotted the pattern. The Master whispered in his ear that he wasn't happy with the offering made to him the night before. The forensics tech was not the blonde he wanted. He wanted Gautier. The Master wanted him to step up his timetable.

He fretted that shortening the distance between his kills might not be advantageous to their cause. But the Master didn't care. The Master wanted what the Master wanted, and it was up to him to fulfill the Master's needs.