Read Online Mind of the Phoenix by Jamie McLachlan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jamie McLachlan
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before either one of us has a chance to act, the door swings open. Keenan’s sharp gaze swiftly rakes over me before settling on Constable Bradford, who has the decency to cover his arousal with the towel and look embarrassed at being caught.
“Out, now .”
Though the detective’s voice isn’t as deep as the Chief’s, it still manages to sound impressively authoritative. Constable Bradford seems to think so as well, for he quickly leaves the room. I shiver, both because I’m cold and from the look in the detective’s eyes. He’s angry, and I instinctively lower myself further into the water. Now probably wouldn’t be a good time to play seductive concubine or disobedient slave.
“I assume that your presence means I’m to be made useful today,” I say.
He doesn’t answer, and begins to remove his sack coat. I grow uneasy when he pulls off his gloves and starts to carefully roll up his left sleeve. He approaches the tub, and I know that look. It’s the look of a man who has lost patience, and the fact that he has rolled up his sleeve is indicative that he plans to hit me. I had assumed that he wasn’t the aggressive type, but I suppose I was wrong. Like the other men, he has had enough with my behaviour and wishes to resume his authority over me. I had seen that look in my previous master’s eyes, and my body aches with the memory of his abuse.
“If you hand me a towel, I’ll get ready and we can leave,” I suggest, but I know he has no intention of letting me escape unscathed.
But, instead of hitting me across the face, he grabs my neck and pushes my head into the depths of the water behind me. At first, I struggle against him, but once the realization that he doesn’t intend to kill me settles in I relax and wait for him to pull me back up. It’s not long before I break the surface and gasp for air, but it’s long enough for me to realize that he has grabbed my neck with his bare hand. I could thrust through his barriers and sift through his thoughts and memories if I wanted to, but I don’t. He realizes this, and there’s a moment where we stare at one another.
“Whatever you’re planning, I suggest you stop, Del Mar.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes,” he hisses. “I’d rather not have you trying to seduce my constables.”
“Would you rather have me seduce you ?” I ask sweetly.
“Go ahead and try, Del Mar, but you’ll soon find that it is pointless.”
I laugh acrimoniously. “I’ll keep that in mind, detective. And as for Constable Bradford, he said that your instructions were to follow me everywhere. Are you really interested in the manner in which I bathe or alleviate my bladder, detective?” He frowns, so I continue. “I didn’t think so. Constable Bradford intended to take his pleasure, and all I was planning to do was at least get payment.”
I lie because I can’t tell him that I had been about to use illegal persuasion on Constable Bradford. He’s angry again, but this time his rage is not directed at me. He had thought that my intention was to escape by seducing the constable, but now he’s starting to wonder if the constable had been about to take advantage of me. Rape is a crime he will not tolerate, just as much as murder. He releases his hold on my neck and throws me the towel that the constable had dropped on the floor in his haste to leave. The moment he turns his back, I stand up and wrap the towel around my shivering body.
He picks up his sack coat and gloves. “Meet me downstairs when you’re ready.”
I quickly dress in my chemise, and then brush my hair. A maid knocks on the door, and I assume that Keenan had ordered her to help me with my corset. Once I’m finished dressing, I’m surprised to open the door and find Constable Bradford nowhere in sight. I’m even more confused when I find only Keenan waiting for me in the hotel’s lobby. He glances at me, and I see that his anger has yet to dissipate.
“Where’s Constable Bradford?”
“Back
“Out, now .”
Though the detective’s voice isn’t as deep as the Chief’s, it still manages to sound impressively authoritative. Constable Bradford seems to think so as well, for he quickly leaves the room. I shiver, both because I’m cold and from the look in the detective’s eyes. He’s angry, and I instinctively lower myself further into the water. Now probably wouldn’t be a good time to play seductive concubine or disobedient slave.
“I assume that your presence means I’m to be made useful today,” I say.
He doesn’t answer, and begins to remove his sack coat. I grow uneasy when he pulls off his gloves and starts to carefully roll up his left sleeve. He approaches the tub, and I know that look. It’s the look of a man who has lost patience, and the fact that he has rolled up his sleeve is indicative that he plans to hit me. I had assumed that he wasn’t the aggressive type, but I suppose I was wrong. Like the other men, he has had enough with my behaviour and wishes to resume his authority over me. I had seen that look in my previous master’s eyes, and my body aches with the memory of his abuse.
“If you hand me a towel, I’ll get ready and we can leave,” I suggest, but I know he has no intention of letting me escape unscathed.
But, instead of hitting me across the face, he grabs my neck and pushes my head into the depths of the water behind me. At first, I struggle against him, but once the realization that he doesn’t intend to kill me settles in I relax and wait for him to pull me back up. It’s not long before I break the surface and gasp for air, but it’s long enough for me to realize that he has grabbed my neck with his bare hand. I could thrust through his barriers and sift through his thoughts and memories if I wanted to, but I don’t. He realizes this, and there’s a moment where we stare at one another.
“Whatever you’re planning, I suggest you stop, Del Mar.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes,” he hisses. “I’d rather not have you trying to seduce my constables.”
“Would you rather have me seduce you ?” I ask sweetly.
“Go ahead and try, Del Mar, but you’ll soon find that it is pointless.”
I laugh acrimoniously. “I’ll keep that in mind, detective. And as for Constable Bradford, he said that your instructions were to follow me everywhere. Are you really interested in the manner in which I bathe or alleviate my bladder, detective?” He frowns, so I continue. “I didn’t think so. Constable Bradford intended to take his pleasure, and all I was planning to do was at least get payment.”
I lie because I can’t tell him that I had been about to use illegal persuasion on Constable Bradford. He’s angry again, but this time his rage is not directed at me. He had thought that my intention was to escape by seducing the constable, but now he’s starting to wonder if the constable had been about to take advantage of me. Rape is a crime he will not tolerate, just as much as murder. He releases his hold on my neck and throws me the towel that the constable had dropped on the floor in his haste to leave. The moment he turns his back, I stand up and wrap the towel around my shivering body.
He picks up his sack coat and gloves. “Meet me downstairs when you’re ready.”
I quickly dress in my chemise, and then brush my hair. A maid knocks on the door, and I assume that Keenan had ordered her to help me with my corset. Once I’m finished dressing, I’m surprised to open the door and find Constable Bradford nowhere in sight. I’m even more confused when I find only Keenan waiting for me in the hotel’s lobby. He glances at me, and I see that his anger has yet to dissipate.
“Where’s Constable Bradford?”
“Back
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