Chapter 15

Roman plopped down in the leather chair that faced Wander’s massive oak desk, the scent of aged books filling his nostrils. Not his brother’s books, Roman would bet. Probably Jesse’s or whichever relative he’d inherited this mansion from. Light filtered through half-closed blinds, casting striped patterns over an oriental rug that had seen better days. Wander’s desk was a landscape of organized chaos—stacks of files teetered on the edge, a silver pen set lay untouched next to a blotter, and a framed black-and-white photograph of their parents rested against a lampstand.

“We need to talk.”

Wander slowly turned his chair around. “And a good morning to you as well.”

Roman sighed. “Yeah, whatever. Good morning and all that.”

“I see you’re in a fine mood today.”

“It’s fucking Monday morning. What did you expect?”

Wander crossed his arms. “Considering your fun in the gym yesterday, not to mention the reprise in your shower, I would’ve expected you to be still floating on cloud nine, yeah?”

Roman rolled his eyes. “I see word got around.”

“If you don’t want people to know you’re banging Caleb, you may not wanna do it in public. Or moan so fucking loud in your shower they can hear it three doors down.”

Oops. Had he really been that vocal? “He’s very talented. Hard to hold back.”

“That he is.”

Oh, fuck. Of course. “Let’s agree never to mention again that you’ve fucked him too. That’s too weird.”

“I promise you that’s not the weirdest thing by far that’s happened in this house, but sure, I’ll keep quiet about it.”

Roman sat on the reading chair. “I like him.”

“I had an inkling.”

“You gave him permission to claim me.”

“He told you?”

“Yeah. Why didn’t you?”

Wander sighed. “Usually, I would have, but I wasn’t sure in this case. The connection between you and him is a little puzzling.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What’s going on, Ro?”

Roman struggled to articulate the chaos whirling inside him. “With everything going on, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. With Caleb.”

“Enjoy it?”

“Don’t be flippant about it.”

“That wasn’t my intention. But you may be taking this all too seriously.”

Roman didn’t respond.

“Oh. Oh.”

“Oh indeed. I haven’t felt like this… Well, ever. He makes me feel alive and wanted and sexy, and Jesus, I can’t even believe I’m saying this, and to you, of all people. I know you don’t care, but I’m not used to discussing my sex life with you.”

“It’s all good, Ro. Nothing you tell me will go any further. You know that.”

Roman blew out a long breath. “The BDSM thing… The D/s play… It’s all new to me. The control, the trust Caleb puts in me, the way he looks at me when he kneels, like I’m a god or something…”

For a man who made his living yielding words like weapons, he sure had a hard time verbalizing the storm inside him.

“Ro.” Wander’s voice was gentle but insistent. “You take it at your pace. Caleb’s not just some plaything. He’s got brains and experience. The kid knows you’re new to this, and he’ll communicate for both of you.”

“Right.”

Wander wasn’t wrong, but BDSM was uncharted territory for Roman, a realm where he held no sway, had no experience, and he hated that. He hated not being in control, maybe even more because he was supposed to be.

“Am I a Dom?” he asked. “Tell me the truth.”

Wander rubbed his beard. “If you’d asked me a month ago, I would’ve said no, but I’ve seen a new side of you.”

“My dominant side?”

“Yeah, but more than that. I always knew you were bi, and I understood why you couldn’t act on it, but I don’t think I realized you’re more attracted to men than to women.”

“I’m not…” He stopped. Was he? He’d been in love with Yolanda, no doubt about it. And he liked women in general. For companionship, for sex, for everything. But did he like men more? “I know theoretically that even if it’s not fifty-fifty, I’m still bisexual, but it kinda feels like a betrayal if I admit I like men more.”

Wander shrugged. “That’s bullshit if you ask me. You can like men ninety percent more, and you’d still be bi, but does it really matter? We’re not talking about your public image. This is us, you and me. If you can’t be yourself with me, then with who can you?”

“With whom,” Roman corrected automatically and laughed. “Sorry. That was pedantic.”

“No kidding. Grammar snob.”

Roman held up his hands. “I’ll try to refrain next time.”

“So, back to our previous topic. I’m right, then, that you do prefer men?”

Roman blew out a breath. “I think I do. Though I didn’t realize it until you asked.”

“Fair enough.”

“Why did you send Caleb my way?”

“For sex. It was as simple as that. He loves sex and is a sucker for a big dick, and I knew you could use some distraction and sexual release. As far as I knew, you hadn’t been with a guy in a while, yeah?”

“Not since I was an assistant DA. Years.”

“So that was why. I never expected you’d connect with him the way you have.”

“I’m flying blind on the BDSM stuff.”

“You could start by not calling it BDSM stuff,” Wander said mildly. “And label it what it is. D/s play, impact play.”

“I spanked him.”

“I figured when I saw him sit down with a wince. He likes that.”

Okay, maybe talking about this with his brother wasn’t as weird as Roman had feared. “He sure did. It was another first for me, but I loved it.”

“Sore hand?”

“Not as sore as his ass,” Roman said with a laugh. “But damn, seeing my handprints on his skin gave me a thrill.”

“See, that remark right there is pure Dom. That’s how I feel about it. I love seeing my marks on Burke.”

That was good to know, almost like a confirmation. “I fucked him right after.”

“Even better. Their ass gets all tight because they’re hurting, and it’s like putting your cock in a tight, slick furnace. I love it.”

No, he’d been wrong. It was still a little weird, but whatever. He’d get used to it. “Where do I go from here?”

“That depends on how seriously you want to take this. I can train you or find someone else if that’s what you want. But…”

Roman swallowed. “But there’d be little sense in that if it’s only for the few weeks I’m here and I go back in the closet after that. My heterosexual closet with an added vanilla compartment.”

“Pretty much, yeah. So maybe don’t try to make that decision now and take it one day at a time. See where things go. You don’t have to figure it all out right fucking now,” Wander said, his tone firm, steadying. “Caleb’s not going anywhere. He’ll wait for you, help you navigate the deep end.”

“I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that he likes me.”

“He certainly likes you enough to claim you and request exclusivity. That’s a big thing around here. The only two people who are exclusive are Burke and I. Everyone else shares.”

“Burke doesn’t want to? ‘Cause I know you’re not opposed to sharing.”

Wander sighed. “I honestly don’t know. I can’t stand the idea of sharing him, but I wouldn’t mind being able to play with others. But I realize the selfishness of that, so I haven’t brought it up. Monogamy is a price I’m more than willing to pay for Burke. He’s my whole world.”

Roman smiled at the goofy, lovesick grin on his brother’s face. “He’s good for you. And you for him.”

“True, and I don’t ever wanna do anything to lose him.”

“If I’m not ready for formal training but want to continue playing with Caleb, what do I do?”

Wander got serious again. “You two have talked about safewords?”

“We have. He explained the traffic light system to me. And he told me his hard limits.”

“Which are? Just checking to make sure we’re all on the same page. I am his Dom in a way, so I feel responsible for him.”

“I appreciate that, no worries. Erm, let me think. He specifically said no breath play.”

“Smart. That shit is risky. I only did it with subs I knew well.”

“And no drawing blood.”

“He’s also not a fan of golden showers.”

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Peeing on someone? It sure is.”

“Explain how that is arousing because I don’t get it.”

Wander nodded. “It’s not for everyone. It’s usually closely linked to humiliation play. Subs who love being humiliated as if they’re nothing more than a wall to pee against. And some like to piss during or after sex, filling their sub with urine rather than cum.”

Jesus, no. “Have you done that?”

“I have, and as a Dom, it has its appeals. But not many subs are into it, and that includes Caleb.”

“Thank god for that because that would be two bridges too far for me.”

Wander chuckled. “Just stick to the basics. Spanking, rough sex, maybe tie him up with some soft handcuffs. Or use a silk rope. Caleb can show you which knot to use so he can free himself if he needs to.”

Tie him up? Roman had no trouble picturing it: Caleb naked on the bed, arms and legs tied, all spread out for Roman’s pleasure. He could fuck his mouth like that, and Caleb would have no choice but to take it. Or—if he put him in a different position—he could fuck his ass. Or spank him. Maybe use a paddle? He’d overheard Alex talking about that, and he was curious to see what that would do.

His brother’s laugh brought him back to reality. “I see that got your mind spinning with options.”

Roman laughed sheepishly. “It did.”

“Also the mark of a Dom. Look, Ro, you can take this as far as you want and are comfortable with, but it’s also okay to keep it light. As long as you’re strict about safewords, it’s all good with me. Caleb has enough experience to call red when he has to.”

“Okay.”

“I just want to say one more thing.” Wander leaned forward, his eyes drilling into Roman’s. “You can play with his body, but don’t play with his feelings. He’s getting attached to you, and I’ve never seen that from him. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. He’s a big boy. He can handle that. But don’t string him along. If you see it heading in a direction you know you can’t reciprocate, cut him loose. Because if he ends up with a broken heart, I’ll pick his side. We clear?”

Damn, Wander had never looked more like a Dom than in that moment. “Crystal clear. You have my word. I’ll treat him well.”

“Good. Now, let’s talk about the case. Ryan and Alex headed to Boston this morning to spend a few days there and do some digging.”

Roman needed a second to put his brain in work mode. “Please tell them to be careful.”

“Ryan’s a former homicide detective. He’ll be fine. He’s got good instincts. And Alex is a better shot than Ryan and me combined.”

Roman rubbed his forehead. As soon as Wander mentioned the case, the tension flooded right back in. “Sure, but it’s hard to shoot at what you can’t see.”

“True. But they will be careful, so don’t worry. What’s happening?—”

The abrasive trill of Roman’s phone cut Wander off. Roman checked the caller ID and held up a finger to Wander. Julie McKay, one of his junior lawyers.

“Julie?”

“Roman, we’ve got a problem.” Her words, delivered in a clinical, detached tone, came as a punch to the gut. “The deposition with Dorian Firestone and Leo Capatelli didn’t go as planned.”

His stomach sank. “What happened?”

“Well, I went to depose them this morning, and it quickly became clear they never actually witnessed anything illegal. It’s all hearsay and inadmissible.”

“Hearsay?” Roman’s voice was a serrated edge, sharp and dangerous. He felt like the office walls were closing in, the leather-bound books and polished steel mocking him with their silent, judgmental presence.

“All they had for me were rumors they’d heard, other people’s stories. In your notes, you stated they had firsthand, personal experience with several illegal activities, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Fuck. Roman’s mind whirred, trying to piece together this new, jagged puzzle. He’d spoken to both men personally. Had questioned them extensively. Firestone had proof a developer had paid Whitman to secure a winning bid on a new apartment complex in Boston, and Capatelli had testified he’d been forced by Whitman to hire people without the right qualifications because they’d paid Whitman large sums of money. Witnesses didn’t just flip. They were flipped. Pressure, threats, or worse.

“That makes no sense,” he said, fighting to keep his voice level.

“I don’t know what’s going on?—”

“Neither do I, Julie,” he said, his voice icy, anger simmering beneath the surface, but he held it in check. Barely. “But I’ll find out.”

“Look, I’m just saying, maybe you pushed too hard. This case…it’s taking its toll on you.” She didn’t say it out loud, but her tone hinted she questioned his competency, his grip on reality.

He clenched his fist so hard around the phone he was surprised it didn’t snap in half. “I’m fine, Julie. There’s nothing going on with me.”

“You haven’t been in the office in over a week. Be careful, Roman. This doesn’t look good.” The finality in her warning made his blood run cold.

“I appreciate your concern, Julie, but I promise you, I’m fine.”

He ended the call with an angry growl, then threw his phone onto the desk. “Fuck!”

He clenched his jaw tight, a vise of frustration that threatened to crack molars. He turned to face his brother, who had been watching him with hawk-like intensity. “You lost a witness?”

“Two. Both claimed to have seen illegal activities firsthand, but now they’re backtracking and stating it was only hearsay and rumors. Julie had to end the deposition.”

“Whitman got to them with either threats or bribery.”

“Yeah.” Bitterness filled Roman’s mouth. “God, I hate that son of a bitch. Every time I think I’m making progress, he makes a move, and I’m right back where I started. He’s not giving up.”

“You haven’t had any messages since the day after you arrived, yeah?”

“Correct. I suspect they’ve traced me here, and if they have, they’ll have done some research and know what you do for a living. So maybe they don’t want to take any chances.”

“Or they’re switching to another strategy. Whitman must be getting scared. I mean, if he’s taking the risk of going after witnesses…”

Roman’s heart sank. “That puts all of you at risk.”

“We knew that going in. You were clear about the dangers from the start.”

“I know, but?—”

“But nothing has changed. We’re facing the same enemy we were before. The only difference is that he may be escalating. Well, we were expecting that too, and we’re ready for it. I’ve called in reinforcements from another company I often work with, and they’ll take over securing the house and perimeter so my team can focus on finding out all we can about Whitman.”

“I’ll pay for that.”

Wander firmly shook his head. “Jesse is covering the bill.”

“I can’t accept that.”

“You’re gonna have to find a way to because he’s not budging. It’s his house, you’re his guest, and the man has money like water. Accept his generosity, Ro. He wants to take care of you…like we all do.”

When he put it like that… “Okay,” Roman relented.

“Now I’d like you to tell me about everyone who has knowledge about this case, everyone who is officially looped in. Your office, Boston PD, FBI, anyone.”

“We’ll be here a while.”

“We’ll get some more coffee and snacks. I need to have the whole picture. When Ryan and Alex come back with names, I want to be able to cross-check them to your list to see who could be a mole.”

Roman took a deep breath. “All right. We’ll start with Julie McKay…”