Read All Acts Of Pleasure: A Rowan Gant Investigation for Free Online

news reports, so you’re aware that
Wentworth’s body was found in a motel in a bit of a compromising
situation?”
    “Yes, of course. As I recall it had something
to do with bondage, did it not?”
    “Yeah. Apparently Wentworth was into the
whole kidnap and torture game. No biggie in my book. I mean,
whatever does it for you as long as it’s between consenting adults.
Problem is, it looks like something went way south with the
scenario because he was found with the back of his head sprayed all
over the bathroom wall.”
    Helen held up her hand, “Please…consider
yourself free to spare me those sorts of details unless you really
feel them to be important.”
    “Sorry,” I apologized. “I didn’t realize you
were squeamish.”
    “Only about certain things, but that is all
right. Continue.”
    “Okay, well our first thought was that he had
been purposely executed, but something didn’t feel right about the
scene to either Felicity or me.”
    “What were you doing there?”
    “Helping Felicity.”
    “Helping her, Rowan, or trying to protect
her?”
    I looked over the top of my glasses at Helen.
“Does anything get past you?”
    “Usually, no.”
    “Okay, guilty. Either way, I was there and
the whole scene just felt weird. You could actually sense the
sexual arousal and such in the room, but that wasn’t what struck
us. The bizarre thing was that there was no lingering sense of
fear, like you would expect if the whole scenario had been a real
kidnapping. Still, Ben didn’t rule it out because the whole thing
could have been a setup. Plus, while he listens to me when I say I
have a feeling, as we know, not everyone else does.
    “Anyhow, since Wentworth was actually known
to have a history with prostitutes that had been getting swept
under the carpet for a while, he looked into it. After doing a
little digging, it came to light that the whole kidnap and torture
victim fetish was his particular kink. So, things added up in that
respect, but there was still something weird going on.”
    “How so?”
    “Felicity,” I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“She started acting strange. It began with her acting…well…kind
of…I guess the only delicate way to put it is sex starved. She was
just plain insatiable. And, if that weren’t enough, she turned into
a complete bitch.”
    “Bitch?” Helen echoed. “That is certainly not
a word I would have ever expected you to use in conjunction with
your wife, Rowan.”
    “Tell me about it, but that’s what happened.
She would actually get herself aroused by berating me, or in some
instances, by actually physically abusing me.”
    “I believe I see a rather obvious connection
with your nightmare now.”
    “Yeah,” I grunted. “Kind of brings it all
into focus, doesn’t it? Anyway, it was at about this time that I
found out my dear, sweet wife actually has a history with the BDSM
community.”
    “Yes.”
    “Yes?” I repeated, slightly puzzled. “You
don’t seem particularly surprised by that.”
    “Actually, I was already aware of it.”
    Slight puzzlement became brow-furrowing
confusion. “I’m sorry? I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”
    “Remember, Rowan. Felicity has sought my
counsel as well. She shared her proclivities with me quite some
time ago.”
    “Well, that’s interesting,” I said in a mild
huff. “Because she never bothered to tell me.”
    “Until now, obviously.”
    “Well, yeah.”
    “And did she give you a reason why she did
not tell you before now?”
    “What she said is that she was afraid I might
not be open to the idea and that I would stop loving her.”
    “Yes. That was her concern when she spoke of
it to me.”
    “But, she knows me better than that.”
    “Does she?”
    “Of course she does.”
    “Contrary to what you may believe, Rowan,
everyone has secrets. They do not necessarily keep them secret to
harm or injure. Sometimes they do so in order to protect. You are a
perfect example.”
    “Me?”
    “Yes, you.