Page 47 of Line of Sight (Second Sight #4)

THIS IS the last one.

That realization had stayed with me ever since Amy’s call back in November. The last of the Secret Murder Club at any rate, but not my last, not by a long shot.

They really don’t appreciate how much work goes into these murders. The research, the surveillance….

They didn’t appreciate me . Period.

Take this last one. I’d spent most of December searching for the perfect venue. Until I realized it was right under my nose. And once I’d made that decision, I went on the hunt. It had taken a chance encounter in the gym to provide me with inspiration.

Well, that and access to a key. But if people left their belongings on a chair, they deserved everything they got. I’d made it to KeyMe Locksmiths on River Street in less than eight minutes, waited three minutes to get a duplicate key cut, and driven like a demon back to the complex.

Robins had still been there, thank God, working up a sweat on the elliptical trainer.

I snuck the key back into its original resting place, then carried on with my workout, listening to him drone on about his trip to Zurich in the New Year—again.

That man’s voice was better than sleep aids.

Ten minutes was enough to render anyone unconscious.

What had interested me most had been the length of his proposed stay—and the fact that he wasn’t going to sublet his apartment. Let’s face it, anyone who planned to spend three months in Zurich didn’t need to sublet.

At last I was ready. I had the venue, the means of accessing it, and more importantly, after learning Jeff Murphy’s routines, I had a plan.

This would be the most difficult of them all. Not his murder—that was going to be a walk in the park—but what led up to it. This one called for a superlative performance, and for the first time, I had doubts about my ability to pull it off.

For this to work, I had to convince Murphy. I had to pretend to feel something I’d never experienced and had no desire to experience.

Attraction to another man.

For this to work, I had to hope that attraction was mutual.

I SAT at a corner table at Jacques’ Cabaret, ignoring the drag show that occurred every night.

My attention was focused on Murphy.

Regular as clockwork, he’d strolled in there, wearing jeans and a shirt open at the collar. With his dark hair and equally dark eyes, he had this whole bad-boy vibe going for him.

I smiled to myself. Get ready to meet a real bad boy.

I didn’t take my eyes off him, willing him to notice me. It was obvious there were other interested parties; they weren’t subtle, brushing him with their fingertips, bumping hips with him, making eye contact….

I didn’t move from my seat, my heart hammering.

Look at me.

Look at me.

Come on, look at me, you fucker, so we can get the hell out of this place.

This had to work. Because if it didn’t, then it was back to the drawing board.

Then our eyes met, and I registered his interest. I stared back at him, doing my best to make my gaze smoking hot.

He sauntered slowly, weaving his way through the crowd, ignoring the men who called out to him, smiled at him, touched him, as though invisible ropes bound him and I held them in my hands, pulling him toward me.

When he reached me, I didn’t say a word, waiting for him to make the first move.

“Noisy in here, isn’t it?”

I smiled. “Wanna go someplace quieter?”

“Where do you live?”

“Waltham.”

His eyes widened, as I knew they would. “You gotta be kidding. I live there too. We could be neighbors.” His gaze drifted down, alighting on my crotch before he raised his chin and looked me in the eye. “Except judging by the way you dress, I don’t think that’s likely.”

“I’ve got an apartment at Cronin’s Landing,” I told him.

Murphy grinned. “I’ve always wanted to see how the other half lives.”

“Then let me show you. I’m parked right around the corner.”

He hesitated, and for one moment my fears got the better of me.

Say yes.

Then he smiled, a lazy smile I was certain was designed to make any susceptible male—or female—go weak at the knees.

I was fucking immune.

“Sure, why not?”

It was all I could do to rein in my beaming smile.

LUCK WAS on my side. The lobby in Robin’s building was empty, and when we got off the elevator, there was no one in sight.

Who am I kidding? It wasn’t luck—it was planning. Hours of watching, noting….

I led him to the apartment where I’d already done my preparations.

The ride in the car had proved awkward. Murphy couldn’t keep his hands to himself, and he’d gotten a little too close for comfort. But once we were in the apartment, I took control.

“Champagne?” I pointed to the kitchen. “I’ve got some chilling.”

“Oh yeah.”

I went to retrieve the bottle and glasses I’d placed in the fridge earlier. As I walked back into the living room, my heart skipped a beat.

Murphy was one fast worker. He was naked from the waist down.

He was also hard.

He flashed me that lazy smile again. “Maybe we should take this to the bedroom.”

Exactly what I’d planned on doing. “Fine by me.”

I walked into the master bedroom, and I knew the minute he caught sight of the shoes on the pillow.

“And whose are those?”

I placed the ice bucket and glasses on the nightstand, then picked up the bright red stilettos. “Mine. But that’s for later.”

Murphy chuckled. “You’re full of surprises.”

“Speaking of surprises, I have one for you… after.” My heartbeat quickened at the thought.

“How come I’ve never seen you at Jacques’ before?”

“I was there. Maybe you just weren’t looking hard enough.” I replaced the shoes on the comforter, and pointed to the bed. “On your back.”

His eyes gleamed. “Are you always this bossy?”

“Yes. Got a problem with that?” I pointed once more.

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” he said with a grin. “We’ve got all night.”

No, you don’t.

Murphy lay on his back, watching me as I kicked off my shoes and removed my pants. Thankfully the Viagra had done its job: There was no way I was going to expose myself to ridicule because of a limp dick.

Now for the hard part. Pun most definitely intended.

I climbed onto the bed and shuffled forward until I straddled Murphy’s head. My cock bumped his chin.

“No foreplay?” he teased. “Not even a kiss?”

I stared at him, a momentary panic settling on me at the idea of our lips meeting.

“I’ve got my latest test results, if you’re interested.”

Test results?

Then I understood. “Me too.” That was what he was expecting, wasn’t it?

Murphy looked me in the eye. “Fuck my mouth.”

I resisted the urge to reply I don’t need your permission, you fucking deviant. I planted my palms on the bed, guided my shaft to his parted lips, and slid into wetness and warmth.

I closed my eyes.

It was just a blowjob. What was coming next, however?

That was the real turn-on.

I rocked my hips, ignoring the sounds that poured from him, the vibrations that traveled through my cock, the movement of Murphy’s hand as he tugged on his dick.

And then I felt it, the tingling that started in my balls, the electricity that zapped through me as I hurtled toward my climax. I shot, and Murphy groaned.

And still I didn’t look at his face. I didn’t want to see my come leaking from his mouth. I shuddered at the feel of his tongue lapping every last drop.

“Have I earned my surprise?”

I smiled. “Close your eyes and you’ll get it.” I reached under the pillow for the syringe I’d placed there.

“They’re closed.”

I aimed for his neck and slid the silvery needle deep.

Murphy’s eyes popped open, and I covered his mouth with my hand.

“You wanted to take the easy route to the top, didn’t you?

A little blackmail? Unfortunately for you, it didn’t work out.

” I leaned closer. “And while you can still hear me, there’s something I want you to know.

Putting my dick in your mouth was quite possibly the vilest experience of my life, but what comes next will wipe it from my mind. And I’m going to enjoy every second.”

He made choking sounds against my palm, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

“I’ll leave you like this, so there’ll be no doubt about what kind of man you are.”

Murphy’s struggles weakened, and I knew we were almost there.

“And this is your reward for giving me the eye tonight.” I smiled. “What does the Bible say? Something like If thine eye offends thee, pluck it out ?”

I picked up one of the shoes, grasping it by the toe.

“And I found your eye most offensive indeed.”