“ARE YOU FUCKING crazy?” Brody asked, running his hand through his strawberry blonde hair and walking the length of Stewart’s office.
When he stopped near the window, I saw his reflection against the night sky. On his face I watched the bewilderment I heard in his words. Instead of answering his question, I leaned back against the chair and let him digest all that I’d said. It wasn’t even the tip of my iceberg, but since I’d spent most of the day at the hospital, I didn’t have the strength or the time to explain all that had happened since we’d last been together.
“Let me get this straight: you want me to construct a contract, like the one Parker wrote, but instead of Parker’s name, you want Travis Daniels? Vik, that doesn’t make any sense.” He spun toward me, his aquamarine eyes boring a hole into my soul. “If you’re going to trust someone, if you truly feel this is necessary, trust me.”
“I can’t, Brody. You don’t know what this is like.”
“Fuck! And Travis does?”
I stood and walked toward him, stopping just outside of his reach. “I don’t want you to see it.”
“I’ve read the damn contract. I know it involves other men. You’ve told me the basics. I don’t care.” When I looked down, Brody came closer and lifted my chin. “Vik, what I mean is that none of that matters to me. Don’t you get it? You’re more than the person who signed that contract. I know it. You do not need to go back to that. I don’t care what Parker has that you consider a threat. I don’t care how many other men want to get you back there.” He pulled me close and wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders. With the steady beat of his heart and fresh clean-scented aftershave, I allowed myself a momentary reprieve and melted against his chest. “Don’t you trust me?”
I nodded. I did trust him, but I couldn’t expose him to that side of me. It was one thing for him to think he knew. It was another for him to see it.
Brody pushed me back by my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. “Vik, does this mean…” Once again, he turned away. “Fuck. Tell me this doesn’t mean that Parker is one of those men.” His volume rose. “Fucking tell me that Parker Craven wants this contract to help you, not because he’s been one of the men Stewart watched fuck you.”
My chest ached. Brody thought he could handle the contract. He can’t even handle a small part of the truth. I shook my head and sat on the sofa.
With his hands once again going through his hair, Brody stomped from one side of the room to the other. When he was almost back to the windows he turned and said, “I want to kill him. Just let me kill him. Fuck, I’ll kill them all. Do you know the others?”
“Brody, you’re not killing anyone. I have a plan. Part of my plan is to have the contract with Travis. If I do, the one I sign with Parker will not be valid.”
“But Vik…” He came to the sofa and sat facing me. “…don’t you get it? If you sign one with Travis, he has the same control over you that Stewart did.”
“No, he won’t. Travis works for me. He can’t make me do anything.”
“Then why? Why have the contract?”
“Please, Brody. It’s getting later by the minute. I’m tired. It’s been a long fucking day. I’d do it myself and use the contract that Parker wrote and just change the names, but Parker will be able to tell if it’s not exactly the way it needs to be. I need it to be perfect and legal.”
“None of this is fucking legal. And no.”
“No?”
“Vik, you’re not answering me. I won’t do this. I can’t do this—not to you, not after everything Stewart did to you. You deserve better. What are you afraid of? Who are you afraid of? Tell me.” He stood again and paced. “I’m a fucking attorney. If you believe in Travis so damned much, keep him around. I don’t care. The man is as big as a fucking mountain. No one is coming near you with him by your side. For fuck’s sake, do not go alone to the warehouse with Parker.” He spun, unable to find the room to expel the energy coursing through his system. “I fucking swear, if he lays another goddamned finger on you.”
“Brody, stop. I promise my days of being anyone’s victim are done. I’ve already made my presence known in a world I didn’t even know existed. I’m tougher than any of them thought. I’ve been underestimated for the last time.”
He collapsed to his knees in front of me. “Then let me write the contract with my name on it?”
I shook my head. “No. If you do that, Parker will know that you’re helping me. He might even suspect that we’ve been working together for a while. I can’t do that to you. You could lose your partnership.” I reached out and brushed my fingers against his cheek, relishing the sensation of the soft, stubbly growth. “I’m not worth it.”
Brody seized my face between his large palms. “Don’t you ever say that! You are fucking worth it! You’re smart, fucking beautiful, and…” His smile grew. “…never to be underestimated. You are so worth it. Damn, Vik, I’d walk away from Craven and Knowles in two seconds to go away with you and get you out of here, away from all these fuckers.”
I sighed, enjoying the warmth of his hands. “Where?”
The aquamarine clouded. “Where what?”
“Where would you take me?” With all the shit I’d had thrown at me, a momentary daydream seemed like the perfect medicine to calm my overwrought nerves.
He released my face and nuzzled his cheek against mine. Again the clean scent filled my senses and brought a welcome smile to my lips. Taking my hand, Brody stood and repositioned me. Next, he settled on the sofa behind me. Sighing, I laid my head back against his chest and listened as his words vibrated through me. “Sweetheart, I’d take you anywhere you wanted to go. How about our own tropical island?”
I’d read a story once where the couple went away to a tropical island. It was hot—both kinds of hot. I was tired of heat, though. After living my entire life in Florida I dreamt of cool. I shook my head from side to side.
Brody continued, “All right, no island. How about the mountains?”
That sounded cool. I nodded.
“Wherever I take you, I want it to be remote, so it’s just us.”
“I like that idea.” I listened to my own voice. It sounded foreign. In it, I heard hope, hope that I’d never before heard or never allowed myself to project.
“Then that’s where I’ll take you. We’ll go somewhere in the mountains, somewhere secluded. We’ll have a house on a lake. I’ve always liked lakes. Have you been around lakes?”
“No, just the ocean.”
“Lakes, especially lakes like our lake, are clear and clean. We can skinny-dip in there whenever we want.”
I giggled at the thought. “Will it be cold?”
His lips found my neck. I craned my head to the side, allowing him full access. “Don’t worry, beautiful, I’ll keep that sexy body of yours warm.” His warm breath bathed my collarbone. “I can see you now: dripping wet as we come out of that lake, a cool breeze against your fucking soft skin. It makes your dark pink nipples pebble. God, I like that.” From the growth of his erection against my back, I knew he did. “We have a blanket, a big fucking blanket. It’s laid out on the grass and the mountains… they surround the lake on all sides. Even though it’s summer…” He nuzzled my neck again and whispered, “…there’s snow on the peaks.”
“Snow?” I’d only seen snow when Stewart and I traveled. I’d never really experienced it.
“Yes, baby, snow. Even in the summer there’s snow on the peaks of the mountains. In the winter there’s so much snow we can’t go anywhere. All we can do is spend our days and nights making love by the fireplace, with a big roaring fire. In the summer, we can go up to those peaks and ski, but I like having you on that blanket.”
“Do we have neighbors? Is anyone watching?”
“No, no one’s watching. No more watching. It’s just you and me. You’re on your back. Those hard nipples are staring up at me from those fucking luscious tits. As I look down at you, I see your silky hair fanned out behind your gorgeous face and notice that your pussy is wet, but not from the lake. No, you’re wet and ready for me.”
I closed my eyes and imagined the scene he painted. “Brody, what do we do on that blanket?”
His erection twitched, and I wiggled against it.
“Oh, fuck, Vik. We’re going to fuck like rabbits in heat.”
I laughed. “Do rabbits go in heat?”
“They do, and when they do, they fuck all day and all night. I mean, it’s quite an incredible display. You see…” His hand brushed over my stomach and down to my thighs. “…they only stop to eat. They need their energy…” His rapid heartbeat pounded against my back. “…because each time they fuck and the male rabbit’s cock fits perfectly inside the female rabbit’s tight pussy, they both find the best fucking release they’ve ever had.”
My breathing quickened as my insides clenched. “Do they come even harder than on a wall at some cheap hotel? Because, let me tell you, if they do, they’re fucking lucky. It was the best orgasm I’ve ever had.”
“Ever?” he asked.
“Ever,” I repeat. “That doesn’t mean I doubt those little rabbits. They might know something I don’t.”
“Did you know the female rabbit screams when she comes?”
“She does? How does the male rabbit feel about that?”
“He fucking loves it. He loves to hear her scream. He loves hearing all the sounds she makes.”
“Does the male rabbit make sounds?”
Gently pulling my lips to his, Brody answered my question with a moan and a kiss: a hot, long kiss. A kiss that twisted my insides as my face tilted back toward his and my ass ground against his cock. When his tongue probed, I willingly opened, giving him entrance, feeling his warmth, and tasting his sweetness.
I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed kissing. It wasn’t the same as fucking. Kissing was passionate and deep. For it to truly be a kiss, the kind that reached from your lips to your core, there had to be a give and a take. It was something that never happened at the warehouse, well, with anyone except Stewart. And even then it felt more like a take than a give. Brody’s kiss didn’t only take: it gave me strength and power. I told myself that I’d remember it tomorrow at the warehouse. I’d hold onto it and hide it. That was my thought as I pulled away from his warm embrace.
“God, Brody, I can’t do any more than this tonight. And if we keep this up, we will.”
The gleam in his uniquely hued eyes disappeared. “You still want me to write that contract?”
“I do.”
“And you still want Travis Daniel’s name on it?”
I nodded.
Brody reached for my hand. “I’ll find that lake, Vik. When I do, it will only be you and me. No fucking Travis, no Parker, no one but you and me and that big-assed blanket.”
Smiling, I tilted my head to the side. “Thank you. Thank you for writing the contract. The lake sounds truly magical, but there’s something else I want to have there.”
“What?”
“The rabbits, because I think they sound fucking hot.”
“Oh, they are, beautiful, they are.”
LEAVING THE HOSPITAL I sighed. Even though it was halfway through October, the summer heat was back. I dreamed of the damn lake and the fucking snow. As I placed the dark glasses over my eyes, I imagined the snow-covered mountains and a smile floated across my face.
I thought about my mother. Thankfully, she was improving. She still hadn’t awakened, but Val explained that it was the way they wanted it. She needed rest and the swelling in her brain needed time to decrease.
As I got into my car, I looked in the backseat at the present I’d gotten for Parker. From what Travis said, Parker and Stewart had argued about Parker’s desires at the warehouse. I fucking hated to hear Travis talk about it, like he was describing a damn TV show, but the information was helpful. I was confident Parker would like my gift.
As I drove toward the warehouse, my mind spun in so many different directions. My mother had a housekeeper who promised to be there for Lyle. I thought about bringing him to my place, but his school was closer to his house. Besides, I had a few other things to deal with. Though Marcus was at the university, he said that he’d pick Lyle up each day and bring him to the hospital. Lyle had his permit, but he couldn’t drive alone. I looked at the clock and hoped that my time at the warehouse would go fast. I wanted to make it back to the hospital when the boys arrived.
With so many swirling thoughts, it wasn’t until I arrived at the warehouse, parked my car in my usual spot, and turned off the engine that the reality struck. When it did, it hit me like a fucking anvil, like one of the ones in those old cartoons, immobilizing me. While my mind spun, my body sat motionless. With each passing minute my skin grew moister from the growing heat. My brain told me to open the door and get out, but my body was paralyzed. It wasn’t until my phone rang that I was even aware of the passing of time. I looked at the screen: TRAVIS.
Taking a deep breath, I swiped the screen and said, “Hello.” I knew my voice sounded weak and when I glanced in the rearview mirror I saw my pale complexion.
“Mrs. Harrington, where are you?”
It was much kinder than his normal where the fuck are you? greeting that I was used to receiving. “I’m in my car.”
“The GPS said your car has been here for nearly ten minutes. It’s after one-thirty. Don’t you want to be inside before he arrives?”
Tears threatened my eyes. “Are you here? I don’t see your car.”
Travis chuckled. “Have you ever seen my car here?”
I shook my head from side to side. “No, I guess I haven’t.”
“But I’ve been here, and I’m here now. Do you want to change your mind?”
“No, I can’t change my mind. I have to do this.”
“You know his threat is bullshit. You didn’t know about your birthdate. He can’t take away your marriage. Mr. Harrington made sure it was all legal.”
“I know,” I exhaled. “But Parker thinks I believe his shit. I have to make him keep believing.”
“Mrs. Harrington, you’re not alone. I don’t give a damn about his plans or even yours. I promise if I think things get out of hand, I’ll make my presence known.”
“Victoria,” I whispered.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re about to watch me get fucked—maybe—if I can’t convince Parker otherwise, so fucking call me Victoria. You’ve been watching for years, and the Mrs. Harrington thing is getting on my nerves.”
Travis laughed, really laughed, and said, “Certainly, Victoria, if the way I address you is the one thing that’s on your nerves with this whole situation, by all means, I’ll call you Victoria. By the way, you may call me Travis.”
My lips quirked to a halfhearted smile. “Thank you, Travis, I think I will. Mr. Daniels seems formal, considering the circumstances.”
“Don’t forget, I’m here. I can be downstairs in seventeen seconds flat, faster if I just jump the banister.”
“I’ll remember.” I took a deep breath. “I’m coming in.”
“Do you want to hang up or do you want to talk to me as you come in?”
Getting out of the car, I grabbed the package from the backseat as I held the phone between my shoulder and ear. “You know, I didn’t think I’d ever be back here. I really thought once he was dead…”
“What did you plan to do with this place?”
Entering, I looked around at the tall brick walls and began to descend the stairs. “Do you think it would burn?”
“Not well,” Travis replied. “Too little wood.”
“Speaking of little wood… can your cameras see outside? Will you know when Parker is here?”
Travis chuckled again. “It’s nice to hear your humor. No, I can’t see outside, but I’ll know when he pushes the code on the door.”
I made my way to the bottom of the stairs and flipped on the lights over the bed. “How does he know the code?”
“They all have their own code. It was Mr. Harrington’s idea. He also didn’t want to leave you alone downstairs to open the door.”
I didn’t want to think about Stewart remaining in his chair to protect me—I couldn’t. “What can you see with your cameras?”
“Everything. Not just the bed area—I can see the entire interior. Part of my job was to be sure that the friends or Mr. Harrington weren’t interrupted.”
“But no one other than Stewart, not even Parker, knew that you were here?”
“I never had to make my presence known.”
I looked around and sighed. “I guess that was a good thing.”
“Yes, Mrs.… I mean, Victoria, it was a good thing. Someone is entering the code. Remember, you’re not alone.”
I ended the call and nodded toward the ceiling, not knowing exactly where the cameras were located. I placed my gift for Parker in Stewart’s chair. It was a long silver box with a big white bow. It might have been overkill, but if he fell for it, I would be showing the new owner of my contract how compliant I could be.
“Victoria,” Parker’s voice billowed throughout the cavernous room as he reached the bottom step.
I turned toward him, my eyes open wide.
“My, my, I’m not used to seeing you here fully dressed.”
“I’m not used to seeing you here at all,” I replied.
He came closer and brushed his fingers against my cheek. I fought the revulsion growing within as I remained statuesque. His voice was thick with anticipation. “I believe before we leave here today, we’ll need to revisit some of those fond memories. You do know where the blindfold is, don’t you?”
“My proof, Parker. I need to see this birth certificate you talked about.”
He slowly walked around me, scanning me from my Christian Louboutin heels to the scooped neckline on my Versace peasant-styled blouse. His voice continued to echo against the brick wall. “It will be a rude awakening for you, Victoria, to lose all that money and all the possessions that my dear friend was so willing to give to you.” Parker’s cold finger traced a path along my collar, tugging my blouse sleeve off my shoulder onto my arm. “No bra strap.” His eyes widened. “That’s a good girl. Perhaps that will earn you some leniency during our hours of education.”
“Parker, please, show me the proof.”
Pulling the other shoulder of my blouse he stood back and assessed. “I have friends, lots of friends. If you decide to fight me on this contract and force me to make your real birthdate public knowledge, I just want you to know that they’re interested in your expertise.” He looked down at my shoes again. “It’s not like you’ll be able to afford shoes like those, but you’ll be able to survive. I’ve steered many cunts like you their direction. I already know that they’re particularly interested in you.” His forehead furrowed. “You have a famous pussy. The friends are calling me already.”
Silently, I remained still as he pulled my blouse down, exposing my breasts. “You’re being very compliant. I was hoping for a little more fight.” He pinched one of my nipples. “I must admit to enjoying a little fight.”
Oh, asshole, I can fucking fight. “Please, Parker, let me see what you have. I know what’s at stake.”
Parker placed his briefcase on the bed and opened it wide. I gasped at the contents. There were papers, but there were also sex toys, the most noticeable was a whip, coiled into a circle.
“Do you like what you see?” he asked with a slimy, toothy grin.
I momentarily closed my eyes and gathered my strength. When I opened them, I stood taller, reassured myself that I wasn’t alone, and reached for my blouse. Before Parker could say a word, I pulled it over my head, reached for the zipper of my skirt, and allowed it to fall to the floor. Standing in only a black thong and heels, I smiled my best smile, and said, “I do. I like all that I see.” I took a step toward him and ran the tips of my fingers over his shoulders. “I wasn’t sure what your plans would be for today, but I have to tell you that so far your bad-boy routine is making me all hot and bothered.” I reached for my breasts and twisted my nipples. “But I guess that’s obvious.”
Parker reached for my hair but before he could grab a hold, I took a step backward and shook my head. “Parker, Parker, show me your proof and I’m all yours. You don’t need to be rough… unless that’s what you like.”
He mumbled something under his breath about bitches and playing him as he rummaged through his briefcase. Finally, he pulled out a familiar-looking folder.
As he began to hand it to me, I shook my head again and allowed my long, dark hair to sway over my back. “The one thing this warehouse lacks is…” Wood. “…a solid desk to review contracts. You know, your good friend Stewart liked doing it on his desk. Do you like that?”
“You’re not fucking playing me. I’ve got your goddamn proof,” he said, as he followed me toward the kitchen, in the far corner of the warehouse. I didn’t know how much the friends saw of the building. I only knew that this area wasn’t visible from the bed.
I reached for a robe that was draped over one of the bar stools and wrapped it around me. “Here.” I patted the stool beside me as I sat. “First, let me see your papers.”
Never taking his eyes off of me, Parker sat and opened the folder. Turning his smug expression on me, he pointed to a Connecticut State birth certificate. “Victoria, you were born on October ninth. This little illegal change has far-reaching implications, as you yourself said.” Next, he held up a copy of the forged birth certificate. “You lied.”
Reaching for the birth certificate, my chin fell to my chest and my fingers went numb. Even though I knew it was true, seeing it in print ripped something out of me. I ran my fingers over the seal. It was me, and it wasn’t me. The implications meant that everything I’d always known about myself was a lie. I wasn’t really a Conway. My identity was gone.
I bit my bottom lip to stop the trembling as Parker roughly seized my chin and pulled my eyes to his. “What do you have to say?”
I willed a tear to fall as I tried to shake my head while in his grasp. “It’s true. How can this be? Why didn’t Stewart tell me? Why didn’t my mother tell me?”
“It doesn’t fucking matter how it’s true. It is. And I have no fucking idea why they didn’t tell you.” Leafing through the papers, he located the contract and placed it on top of the birth certificates, and reaching into the breast pocket of his coat, he handed me a pen. “Sign.”
With sobs resonating from my chest, I did. I signed in each of the places I’d done last night. The only difference with Travis’ contract was the clause that now made it impossible for me to sign anything without him as a co-signer. Each time that Parker pointed and I penned Victoria Harrington, it was a lie. It was my plan B. I prayed I would never need it.
When the final page was signed, Parker picked up the pages and put them back into the folder. Leaning back in the chair, Parker sighed. “Victoria, I’ll enjoy having you as my pet.”
My skin crawled at the thought.
I stood and dramatically swallowed. “I didn’t know what would happen. I’d hoped…” I took a deep breath. “…but that doesn’t matter anymore. I brought you something, something to show you that I can behave. I can be respectful.” I looked down. “It’s something… well, from what I saw in your briefcase, I think you’ll enjoy.”
Parker’s brow rose. “You have me intrigued. What did you bring me?”
I reached for his clammy hand and led him back to the chair by the bed. Lifting the box, I said, “Please have a seat. I guess this is your chair now.”
As Parker sat, I removed my robe and knelt at his feet. Demurely, I handed him the silver gift. Without a word, Parker removed the bow and opened the box. Moving the tissue paper, he eyed the black leather fingerless gloves, like those worn by weightlifters, and the long sleek riding crop. His eyes opened wide.
“Stewart enjoyed this. I thought you might too.” I turned toward his briefcase and the whip. “I know what you brought, and the choice is yours, but I’d like to work my way up to that. I’ve never…” I let my words trail away as my face fell forward and I willed more tears.
“Fuck!” Parker said as he eyed my gift. “Stewart was into this shit?”
I nodded. “Yes, are you surprised?”
“Fuck, no—yeah. I didn’t realize he was such a selfish bastard.”
I wiggled my ass against my heels. “He called it our special time.”
Parker looked back into the box at the gloves. “Why—”
Before he could finish I offered, “Sometimes Stewart would really get into it. He said the gloves helped his hands with the leather handle. You don’t have to wear them. It’s up to you.”
The slimy, toothy smile returned. “No, I like them.” He motioned toward the bed. “I fucking want to give this a try.”
I nodded. “May I go to the bathroom and prepare myself for you?”
“Yeah. Don’t take too long.”
I could see his pencil dick protruding under his slacks. “Do you want me to help you with your clothes?”
“No, go and hurry.”
Slowly, I stood and walked toward the bathroom. Just before closing the door, I turned to see Parker unbuttoning his shirt and removing his slacks. Once inside, I sat on the edge of the shower and tried to regulate my breathing. I had no idea how long it would take for the Cytoxan inside of the gloves to penetrate his skin. By leaving the package in the car, the heat coming through the windows caused the powder to be absorbed into the porous leather. I knew to make it most effective I needed his hands to sweat. Though I hated what I was about to do, I knew it was my best option. After a few minutes, I braced myself, took a deep breath, and I made my way back out to the bed.
Seeing him standing in his boxers, socks, and shoes, I wished for the blindfold: this was an image I’d never be able to erase. Even with the leather gloves and riding crop he looked less like a Dominant and more like a pencil dick. I looked at the bed and noticed the satin restraints at the same time that Parker turned toward me.
I weighed each word, reminding myself that I needed his hands to sweat. I also knew the most important part of my plan: he couldn’t touch me. Even though the drug was on the inside of the gloves, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t leach through the leather. Making my presence known, I said, “Parker, I know this is your show. Believe me, I know how that works. But if you want me to, I’ll tell you what Stewart used to do.”
When he didn’t respond, I picked up the thick satin ribbon and ran it through my fingers. “Stewart always said that the strongest restraints were in my mind. He said he could tie me, but that didn’t teach me to obey. By not tying my hands or feet, I had to maintain his positions even when it was difficult. He said that physical restraints were too easy on me.” I raised my brow. “Didn’t you ever notice that I was never tied?”
Parker nodded. “Maybe Stewart was better at this than I thought.”
I went on. “He would tell me what to do.” I leaned over the bed, pressed my breasts into the soft cover, stretched my arms above my head, and keeping my ass in the air, spread my legs. “This was one of his favorite positions.”
Parker walked closer and ran the tip of the crop between my shoulder blades and down my back.
I moaned. “Oh, God, Parker. I don’t want to tell you other things that Stewart liked to do. Please don’t make me say it.”
The crop came down hard on my ass. I yelled, “Fuck!”
“Tell me. Tell me what you don’t want to say.”
I shook my head from side to side.
The crop came down again with a crack. “You’ll do as I say the first time.” Another crack. “Don’t fucking make me repeat myself.” The crop landed again. “Nod if you understand.”
Motherfucker! I nodded, and hurriedly said, “Stewart liked to tease me. He’d get me all hot and make me wait. He wouldn’t touch me, even when I begged.” I turned toward Parker, with real tears in my eyes, praying that he was really this dumb, and begged, “Please don’t tease me. I never thought I’d be back here but now that I am, I’m so fucking horny. I want you inside of me.”
Another strike. I felt the welts mushrooming on my skin as I fought to maintain my position. “My pencil dick?” Parker taunted. “You want my pencil dick inside of you?”
Crack. My ass was on fire.
“Yes, please, Parker. Please, I’m sorry I said that.”
Another crack and then another. As the crop teased my inner thigh, my cell phone rang out, penetrating our bubble.
I stood, my ass screaming, and raised my hands. “Parker, I’m sorry. I know the rules, but it could be about my mom. Please let me see if this is the hospital.”
I glanced at the screen: TRAVIS.
Sweeping my finger, I watched Parker’s eyes as I spoke into the phone, “Hello, this is Mrs. Harrington.”
The voice in my ear spoke low. “If that motherfucker hits you again, I’m going to jump the fucking banister and kill him with my bare hands.”
I let my head drop to my chest and turned away from Parker. “Oh, no! When did it happen?”
“I took care of the paperwork. Good job on the distraction, Victoria.”
Our plan had been to have Parker leave the birth certificates and contract in the kitchen and while I had Parker’s attention, Travis would steal the birth certificates and replace the contract with a new generic Dom/sub contract. If our plan worked, we didn’t want anyone going through his papers and finding something with my name.
I nodded. “Of course, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Make sure he doesn’t touch you,” Travis cautioned as I ended the call.
I turned back to Pencil-Dick. “Oh, Parker, I’m sorry, but that was the hospital and it’s my mother. Something happened and they want all of us there. I can’t let Val and the boys do this alone.”
I watched the indecision in his eyes. Finally, he grunted, “Fine. We have forever to play my games.”
I sure as hell hope not!
While one gloved hand rubbed his little wood through his boxers, he added, “And some of Stewart’s games, too. Next time, you will tell me more.”
“I will,” I reassured as I grabbed my things and ran toward the bathroom. Once inside, I washed my hands for what seemed like forever. If I’d gotten any of the Cytoxan on them, it wouldn’t help. Nevertheless, it made me feel better.
Fully dressed, I reentered the large room and watched as Parker rubbed his hands together.
Securing my phone and my purse, I asked, “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I liked the gloves. I think I’ll use those again.”
Not if the Cytoxan works like it’s supposed to. “Leave them here if you want. We’ll use them next time.” I lifted my brows up and down. “Unless you think Maura would like them.”
Parker scowled in my direction and growled, “We’ll use them again. Don’t ever mention—”
Walking briskly away from him and toward the stairs, I called back over my shoulder, “I’m sorry, Parker, but I really need to run along. Until next time.” I opened my eyes wide. “Lock up, won’t you?” Without waiting for his answer, I squared my shoulders and walked up the stairs and out the door.
I was fucking done with this place. Let it burn or crumble. I didn’t give a rat’s ass!