Free Taken in Hand by Barbara Westbrook Page A

no, I didn’t do so hot.
    Adam had to send me away from him in disgrace to cover my
    screw up.”
    Philips chuckled. “Hang in there. If this lead pans out,
    you could be out of there soon. I hear the professor can be a
    real prick.”
    “Not really. He’s been nice enough so far. He did cover
    my ass last night.” In more ways than one . The reminder had
    a strange effect on Chad. His damn prick renewed interest,
    and he squirmed with embarrassment, but the idea gave him
    a weird feeling of excitement at the same time. “Keep me in
    the loop. I’ll call in if I get anything more. One thing you can
    do—research his father. Proving he was gay and a Dom
    could strengthen the motive link, if we could prove Jeremy
    harbored anger and resentment over it. Another thing,
    search the ViCAP for similar crimes. That might tell us where
    he’s been going.”
    “Already got the computers running on that one. One
    thing you need to know, the captain is considering calling
    the FBI in if we don’t get some results soon from your
    undercover gig. There’s no damn doubt we’ve got a serial
    killer on our hands. Even though the chief’s been stalling
    them, he’d rather lose control of the case than have any
    more deaths. If you can think of a way to draw more
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    attention, I suggest you do it.”
    He disconnected with that gem, setting Chad’s mind in
    motion. He walked out, found Adam in the living room and
    announced, “You need to take me to school.”
    “Excuse me?” he asked, looking up from the papers in
    his lap he was working on.
    “Your classes. Our relationship needs more exposure.
    We’ve been seen together at the church and the club. The
    only other link, and the only one to both the attacks, is the
    University.”
    “I cannot think of a single valid reason to take you to
    work with me.”
    “I could show up for lunch.”
    “No.”
    “Why the fuck not? Didn’t any of your boyfriends ever
    join you for lunch?”
    “None of my subs, no. I understand you’re upset about
    last night, but it only proved what I’ve been telling you, you
    are not trained enough for any long exposure in pretending
    to be my sub.” He put down his pen and rubbed his
    forehead. “Not at the University, but maybe I could take you
    to one of my sessions with students at the church. It would
    be a more relaxed atmosphere than the club.”
    “Yeah, I could do that,” Chad said eagerly.
    “You need to train first. I don’t want you embarrassing
    me again. Other friends of mine, who are also Doms, help me
    with the sessions, and we usually come back here afterwards
    for a drink. You’d have to serve us, and I may as well warn
    you now, you wouldn’t be fully clothed. If you can’t accept
    that, you’d only fail again.”
    Chad’s face felt like it was on fire. He shot an accusing
    glare at Adam. “You shouldn’t have taken me to that fucking
    club so soon.”
    Adam released a slow breath. He still used a soft tone,
    but firmness crept in. “I knew it was a risk, but we’d already
    been seen at the church. After I received the invitation, it
    would have seemed odd if I hadn’t gone or if I had and not
    taken you. Not to go would have been—”
    “I know all that shit!”
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    “Enough, Chad. I won’t be yelled at in my own home.”
    “Or what? You going to spank me again?”
    “Is that what you want?” he asked softly.
    “Fuck no!” He paused and snarled, “Sir!”
    “Don’t call me that unless you mean it. We’re not in a
    scene, and using the term signals your willingness to submit
    to me. We both know you’re a long way from that. If you wish
    for this to continue, watch your tone. I won’t stand for your
    disrespect. What do you want, Chad? Or do you even know?”
    “I want this case solved and that murdering bastard
    locked up!” What he wanted to do at that moment was hit
    something—maybe even someone. His temper had been on
    edge for weeks, his ass