Page 51 of Simply Perfection
“Now that we’re comfortable, we can get down to business. As I said, you’ve been a very naughty pet, taking up with those two men. I taught you better than that. You’re mine. I set you free, so you’d find your way home. But instead you’ve become a whore.”
Trevor’s head whipped to the side, and pain exploded across his cheek. Seconds passed, then a pair of lips kissed the stinging skin.
“Your punishment hurts me more than you, pet. But it must be done, otherwise you’ll run all over, piddling wherever you want. Now you’re going to sit here and think about what you’ve done.”
Beneath the sound of high-pitched bells reverberating in his head, Trevor thought he might have recognized something in the voice across from him. Something in the cadence tried to jog a memory loose, but it scampered away before Trevor could catch it. He supposed he was alone now, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. Trevor tried to center his body, to focus as he’d seen Niall do when his warrior meditated.
Beneath the dank air, he thought there might be a touch of brine. Was he near the harbor? A loud pop erupted behind him, a car backfiring perhaps? So he was still somewhere near civilisation. Trevor’s muscles tightened because of the cold sinking beneath his exposed skin. He took a deep breath through his nose and tried to relax. The worst thing he could do was let his mind run amok. He had to remain focused; he had to wait it out until Matt and Niall found him. Trevor knew Ryan and Clay would pool their resources to ferret out any clues to the identity of his attacker. However, if he didn’t know who had him, how could his friends possibly figure it out?
Matt stood at his kitchen sink, knuckles white as he gripped the edge. It’d been hours, and they were no closer to figuring out who might have taken Trevor than when they’d started. A pair of small arms came around him from behind and for the briefest of seconds, Matt imagined it was Trevor. But the scent was wrong. Trevor didn’t smell of lavender and vanilla.
“How are you holding up?”
He turned to find Calleigh with her honey blonde hair twisted up behind her head, her normally sparkling brown eyes muddy with exhaustion and sadness.
“Whatever discomfort I feel can’t compare to what Trevor’s living through, so I’m fine. Niall and I appreciate your support.”
"Of course. Vic, Chase, and Miranda send their thoughts and prayers. I totally forgot that they were on vacation this week."
He glanced over Calleigh’s shoulder to see all their friends filling his small parlor. He doubted he would have been able to fit three more people into his living room. The condo's design did not accommodate large groups, but its location was near thepub, and at the time, acting fast was crucial. Now, all they’d managed to do was hurry up and wait.
“It’s getting late. I don’t think we’re going to accomplish anything more tonight. Why don’t you take your men home?”
Calleigh shook her head. “We’re not abandoning you. We’ll think of something. There has to be a clue somewhere. We only have to find the right thread to pull, and the mystery will unravel.”
Conor wrapped his arms around Calleigh’s waist. “Just so. We willna leave ye to cool yer heels alone. We canny let disgallawin.”
Rick joined them and placed a kiss on both Conor and Calleigh’s lips. “Clay said Fredericks called a little while ago. He said that all the cases Trevor’s worked recently are tied up with a neat little bow. No suspects unaccounted for, nobody is out on bail. I’m trying to think what the next avenue should be.”
Matt’s eyes followed Clay as he headed in their direction, carrying his coffee cup with eyes focused on the pot Niall had kept filled throughout the night.
“The video Trevor received implied that he belonged to whoever was behind this. When we questioned him, he said there’d been no nasty break ups, and he said he never dabbled in BDSM, so there was no Master he’d run out on,” Clay said.
Logan’s hand landed on his fiancée’s shoulder blades and rubbed in circles. “No, he was never into that stuff. In fact, I was so glad when he started seeing the two of you because I knew you were good guys. I was tired of seeing bruises on his body when he came to work.”
Niall charged over from the sofa a few feet away. “What bruises?” he growled.
Logan sighed. “Trevor’s always liked them big.” A blush stained Logan’s cheeks. “Sorry, Matt.”
“No apologies. I am a big guy, but I’d never use my strength to hurt someone.”
“I know, that’s why I thought you and Trevor—and of course you, Niall—were a good thing.”
Niall waved off Logan’s addendum. “I don’t doubt Trevor’s love for me. I may not be as bulky as Matt, but I still tower over Trevor, so he gets what he needs.”
Logan nodded. “Anyway, some of the guys Trevor dated had big egos and attitudes to match their bodies. More than once, Trevor showed up with bruises around his wrists from where they’d grabbed him. He always played it off as an accident or the fact that the sex had gotten a little rough, but I never bought it.”
“Did this happen with one guy he was seeing in particular?” Ryan asked. “Was it an abusive relationship, or was Trevor habitually attracted to violent types?”
“I’ve been trying to think about that all night. The problem is that I was never sure exactly who Trevor was seeing and when. He never stuck with anyone for very long. If I had known, you can bet your ass they’d have gotten a visit from a pissed off Army Ranger.”
Ethan joined their powwow. “So do you know any of their names?”
Logan rubbed his head, and Matt saw his hands shake. Matt sensed that the night’s stress was triggering some of Logan’s symptoms. He moved over toward his friend and patient. “Logan? Do you need anything? I appreciate your help, but don’t push yourself too hard. It’s okay if you need to rest a few minutes.”
Clay gathered Logan close and murmured something into his processors. Logan’s head shook and the tension slowly eased. Seeing Logan trust his partner felt good. Clay’s support had been a critical element in Logan’s recovery process. All thingsconsidered, Logan had handled the anxiety around the day very well, and Matt was pleased.
Matt joined the rest of the group over by the sofa and fireplace, giving Clay and Logan a few moments to themselves. He sat on the sofa and pulled Niall onto his lap. Niall planted his head on Matt’s shoulder. Raven-black hair as soft as the bird’s feathers caressed Matt’s neck. Matt’s hand skimmed over Niall’s hip, and Niall’s solid weight upon him grounded Matt. Logan and Clay came over with fresh cups of coffee.
