I glanced away, looking down at my palms that I had subconsciously placed on my thighs. What was I getting myself into? It wasn’t in my moral code to give up so quickly.
Devin.
He taught me to be this way. He broke me. Tore me down until I was nothing but an empty shell. He destroyed my mind, leaving me a trembling scared little girl that he could mold, twist, train into anything that he wanted.
“Keely,” Parker said softly.
My heart raced, a sense of awareness washing through me. The gold chain was cool against my heated skin. A sheen of sweat coated my body and I couldn’t help but wonder, would all of this be worth it in the end? Would Parker and I end up like Devin and I did? Parker wasn’t Devin but he could be just as scary and he was bigger.
Shame burned its way through my belly and my chest tightened to the point of painful.
“Breathe, pet. Breathe with me.”
I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut as the tears prickled down my cheeks.
“Eyes on me.”
My gaze popped up, locking with Parker’s.
“Breathe,” he said softly. He took a deep breath, letting his shoulders droop as he exhaled.
I followed his movements, my racing heart simmering. Looking away, I caught sight of Liz staring back at me. Her eyebrows furrowed, a hint of sadness in her gaze.
“Pet, look at me,” Parker said, his voice firm.
I played with the hem of my dress, not meeting his gaze. I couldn’t. A lump formed in my throat. A part of me thought this was for nothing. What was he training me for and teaching me if he didn’t want to be with me?
“Look at me,” he demanded, his voice firm, cupping the back of my nape.
Defiantly, I crossed my arms under my chest. A sharp pain shot through my body when I remembered the clamps that were attached to my nipples. The euphoria spread over my skin, like the warm touch of the sun’s heat.
“I’ll give you one fucking chance to look at me,” Parker growled in my ear. “If you don’t, I’ll bend you over right here, slapping that beautiful ass. Would you like that, pet? Are you into embarrassment? Maybe that’s something I don’t know about you.” Even though he had just helped me through my impending panic attack, the dominant side reared its ugly head.
I slowly turned my head, meeting his gaze. “What are we doing, Parker?” I asked, making sure to use his first name.
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “This is not a conversation to be having here, pet.”
“No? You know how I feel about you and we haven’t talked at all—” I cried out when a shock ran straight to my clit.
“We will discuss this later, Keely,” Parker whispered in my ear, tugging the chain at my neck in slow tortuous movements. “Until then, you’re going to come in public. That is your punishment for defying me.”
I chewed my bottom lip, a flush spreading over my skin. “Sir. Please.”
“Quiet. I just talked you out of a panic attack but yet, here you are, once again not telling me what’s going on. I’m not a fucking mind reader. The only way I can help you is if you talk to me.”
“What if I don’t want or need your help?” I asked softly.
“Oh you do or else you wouldn’t be here right now.” He tilted my head further back. “You think you know everything about me. You think you know what makes me tick. What turns me on. You, Keely, have only seen the fucking beginning of me.”
“Tell me,” I panted, my hips rocking back and forth in subtle moves as he continued forcing the pleasure straight to my core.
“I don’t do romance and I don’t do relationships,” he said, sliding his hand under my dress, inching it up my thighs. “But with you, I want a relationship. I want more. I want to sweep you off your feet.” He turned me so I faced his direction, still keeping his other hand at my neck. “I want to own you. Every. Single. Inch. Of you. You challenge me and I fucking love it. But you need to be patient.”
“I…I have no patience.” I moaned when his hand reached my mound. Sounds of the club surrounded us. Music. Laughter. Chatter. Even a couple whimpers and cries of pleasure erupted through the room but all I could focus on was Parker. His manly scent. His deep vibrato that ran down my spine like the satin of his scarves that he used to bind me every so often. His calloused fingers parted through my folds, diving deep into my soaked entrance.
A sigh escaped my lips as his two fingers filled me. Sliding in and out of my body in agonizingly slow movements.
“You will have patience. If you want to be with me, you will need it.”
My gaze met his hungry stare. “Do you want to be with me?”
He tilted my head, placing a hard passionate kiss on my mouth. Forcing his tongue inside, he swept along mine. My mind reeled as he ignited a yearning from within me.
His fingers pumped in and out of me, pushing a release forward. It exploded into a billion tiny particles of ecstasy.
He swallowed my cries, placing a couple pecks on my swollen lips before releasing me. “Patience, little one. Please. I need you to have patience with me.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat at the desperation of his voice. How much patience he expected me to have, I didn’t know. I just prayed that it would last and that by the time he told me how he felt, it wouldn’t be too late.
“Strip,” Parker demanded hours later when we went back to his apartment after Rope.
My body ached, throbbed for him to fill it and bring it to the points of ecstasy that I knew only he could. After the teasing, the petting and the unexpected public orgasm he gave me at the club, I needed him. Bad.
I pulled the white dress up and over my head, tossing it on the back of a chair beside his bed.
“Lay on the bed and present yourself to me, pet.”
A shiver ran over my skin at the firm, dominant tone he was taking and I did as I was told. I crawled onto the king-sized bed, laying on my back on the black satin sheets. I bent my knees and spread my legs, wincing when the clamp pinched into my clit.
I had been wearing the jewelry for hours. My nipples and the hardened nub between my legs throbbed.
“Simply. Beautiful.” He pulled off his shoes and socks. Removed his suit jacket and the white shirt beneath it, leaving him in just his dress pants. He looked absolutely divine and his body screamed pure and utter power. And he was all mine.
He grabbed a small black remote, pointed it at a stereo system and turned back to me.
The deep bass pumped through the speakers, slow enough to be sensual but fast enough to get the blood pumping. He stood at the foot of the bed when he slowly let his gaze roam down the length of me. My breathing picked up, my chest rising and falling with ragged breath as if he were touching me himself.
He slowly started to unbuckle his pants, letting the material fall to his feet.
I panted at the mere beautiful sight before me. His hard, strong body. Muscles rippling over his bones. Tattoos covered almost every inch of him. His semi-hard cock jutted out between his thighs, standing tall and proud. I couldn’t help but stare.
A slight smirk spread on his face. He looked up, pointing towards the ceiling.
I followed his gaze, my jaw dropping when I saw a large mirror. My reflection stared back at me but I couldn’t help but be mesmerised. The gold chains that were criss-crossed over my torso, glowed in the dim lighting of the room.
My eyes popped back to Parker when I felt the bed dip between my spread knees.
He towered over me, his gaze moving over every inch of me. Trailing the back of his knuckle down the center of my body, he grabbed onto the chain, giving it a light tug.
Warmth pooled in my center, a tingle shooting straight to my clit at the impact. A purr escaped my lips, my legs spreading wider of their own accord.
“Eyes on me, pet,” he demanded.
I met his emerald gaze and waited.
He kissed me softly on the mouth, staring intently into my eyes. “This is going to hurt.”
I went to ask what he m
eant when all the blood rushed to my nipple. I cried out at the sharp painful sting.
“Breathe, Keely,” Parker coaxed against my mouth.
I whimpered as he brushed his thumb over the swollen areola.
“Second one.” He squeezed the other clamp, releasing it free and lowered his mouth to the hard peak.
I arched under him, tears welling in my eyes at the sweet unexpected pain.
He brushed my hair off of my damp forehead, smiling down at me. “You’re doing well.”
“Please.” I licked my dry lips. “No more.”
He chuckled and tugged on the chain that was still attached to my clit. “I don’t think you want this on for the rest of your life.”
“No, but it hurts.” I pouted.
Resting his elbow beside my head, he kissed me fully on the mouth. Licking his tongue between my lips, he reached between us, inserting a finger into my core.
I moaned into his mouth, gripping his strong shoulders. I lifted my hips, hinting for him to enter me when a burning so great slammed into me like a raging volcano. I threw my head back and screamed as the powerful yet painful release washed over me.
At that point, Parker thrust into me, lengthening my orgasm until I came again back to back.
“Fly for me, angel.” Parker’s words whispered across my skin. His teeth bit into my neck, down to my collarbone and across my shoulder. He linked our hands, bringing them up above my head.
“Parker,” I moaned, meeting him thrust for thrust. My vision blacked out at the force of the release. I felt like I was floating, flying into the air and watching myself endure the greatest amounts of pleasure one could only wish to experience.
His mouth trailed hot kisses down my jaw to my ear and with heavy eyes, I watched him in the mirror make love to my body in the sweetest way possible.
The tattoo of the Reaper moved fluidly over his strong back as his muscles tightened with each thrust. Holding both of my wrists in one hand, he brushed the other one down the side of my body.
My nipples and clit still tingled, my body vibrating with desire. The multiple sensations pushed me over the edge as another release crashed into me.
Parker grunted with satisfaction and pushed my knee up to my chest, speeding up his hips. He let go of my wrists, gripping the sheets tight in his hands as he pounded into me with rough thrusts.
Scratching my nails down his back, I dug my fingers into the backs of his legs, pulling him towards me with as much strength as I could muster.
One final thrust and he seared himself deep into my very being. His body tensed and then shook, a roar leaving his lips as he came hard on a growl.
Sweat coated our skin, remnants from our desire mixing as one. I felt light as a feather, my outer body experience simmering some.
Parker kissed me softly and rolled onto his side. “Drink this.”
I sat up and took the bottle from him. I drank half of the water before earning a chuckle from him. My cheeks heated.
He placed a light peck on my shoulder. “You let me do whatever I want to your body but you blush when I tease you about being thirsty?”
I shrugged, slumping back down in his arms. “You made…me…” I yawned. “Thirsty.”
“No. I made you fly,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m…I’m still…” I sighed. “Floating.”
“Sleep, my beautiful one.”
“Did you fly?” I asked softly. “You said we…would fly…together.”
He pulled the sheets up and around us, wrapping me tight in his arms. “Whenever I’m with you, I fly. You bring me the greatest joy and pleasure. That, pet, is flying for me.”
A month later and we were lying in my bed, wrapped up in each other’s arms just listening to the sound of our breathing. Parker had fed me chocolate after our intense session. He had a bad day at the office; the hacker or hackers lying low drove him insane. To the point where he had taken out his frustration on me. But I gave in willingly. Needing to satisfy him. My submission calmed him in ways only he understood but I was learning. Slowly.
My phone rang, interrupting the silence and with stiff movements, I rolled over and answered it. “Hello?”
Parker kissed my shoulders, massaging and kneading the tight knots in my back.
“Miss Price?”
I frowned at the unfamiliar voice. “Yes?”
“This is Officer McNaw.”
My heart thumped. “Okay…”
“Do you know a Troy Danvers?”
I shot out of bed. “Yes. Is everything okay?”
Parker sat up, his brows furrowing.
“I’m at St. Francis Hospital. I suggest we meet.”
Oh God. “Please. Tell me he’s—” The phone went dead and I looked from it to Parker. “Troy. He’s in the hospital. I don’t…I don’t know anything.” My body shook.
Parker caught me as I fell to my knees, bile rising in my throat. I looked up at him through tears. “If…if he’s gone—”
“Shhh.” He kissed my mouth. “Get dressed. I’ll take you.”
Walking into the hospital brought me back to when my parents died. I got a phone call from a police officer and the conversation pretty much went the same. Except this time, I was going to see Troy and before, it was him walking beside me.
A lump had lodged its way in my throat and the excessive swallowing didn’t help. Please God. If something happened to him…I shook my head. No. I couldn’t go there. It wasn’t possible. Troy was fine. He had to be. He was strong. A fighter. One of the toughest people I knew even though he never felt that way. He had saved me. If it wasn’t for him, I never would have moved and who knows if I would have met Parker.
“Keely.”
I looked up at Parker and grabbed his arm, holding on for dear life as we made our way down the long white hall. The stench of lemon cleaner and medicine made my stomach churn. I hated hospitals.
We stopped at the reception and Parker told them who we were looking for. The nurse gave us the room number and as we got closer and closer to Troy, my heart beat louder and louder.
I tentatively made my way into the room with Parker right at my side. I gasped when I saw Troy sitting up in bed, talking quietly to Patrick. A large police officer stood on the other side of him, taking notes.
All eyes fell on me at that point. Parker let go of my hand and I ran into Troy’s arms.
He grunted but returned my embrace. “I’m fine.”
“You scared the shit out of me,” I said, tears running down my cheeks.
“Baby girl, I’m fine. Honest,” he said, his voice laced with pain.
I leaned back and cupped his cheeks. His left eye was swollen shut, a split marked his lip, and a white bandage was wrapped around his waist. “What the hell happened?”
He grimaced, taking deep and ragged breaths. “I got jumped.”
“What?” My eyes went wide. “By who?”
Troy looked from Parker to me and sighed. “Sit.”
“I—”
“Sit, pet,” Parker whispered in my ear.
The soft demand made my heart skip a beat and I did as I was told. Holding onto Troy’s hand, I squeezed it with everything in me.
“Officer, let’s take a walk.” Parker kissed my head. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I nodded. “Tell me what happened,” I said to Troy when Parker and the police man left the room.
“I’ll give you guys some time alone.” Patrick went to walk by us when I grabbed his hand, stopping him.
“Please stay,” I said softly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. You’re family.” I smiled.
His eyes shone and he nodded. He sat on the other side of Troy, holding his other hand.
“Now tell me what happened.”
Troy took a breath. “I was meeting Patrick at Dale’s Deli for lunch and then we were going to come back to the apartment and veg. We were also celebrating because I got into culinary school.”
/> I gasped, throwing my arms around his neck. “I’m so happy for you.”
He chuckled.
I pulled back and caught the wince on his handsome face. “Sorry, honey.”
He sighed. “Anyways. So I decided to walk because it was beautiful out. Well I…I don’t remember much after walking by this alley. But I do remember getting pulled into an SUV and here I am.”
My heart raced. “Troy.”
“I saw Devin, Keely.”
I shot to my feet, pacing back and forth just as Parker came back into the room.
“Devin was involved,” he said.
“Yeah. I know,” I mumbled.
“There’s something else.” Troy pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and handed it to me.
I opened it.
I will go through every single person that you love before finally making my way to you, princess. You wanna know why? Because I want you to fucking suffer.
I handed it to Parker and slumped onto the bed. Usually when I got these creepy letters from Devin, my palms became sweaty, my heart would race, but this time? Nothing. And that scared me even more.
Parker cursed and shoved the note in his pocket. He pulled me to my feet, switching me spots and wrapped his arms around my middle. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head.
“Listen.” Parker clapped a hand on Troy’s shoulder. “I want you both to stay at my cottage. You’ll be safe there. Both of you.”
Troy shook his head. “We couldn’t.”
“I insist. Please. For Keely,” Parker pleaded.
Troy nodded slowly, bringing Patrick’s hand up to his mouth. He placed a soft kiss on it. “Can you handle living with me?”
Patrick winked. “The real question you should be asking is, can you handle living with me?” He waggled his eyebrows.
Troy grinned and turned back to me. “I love you, Keely.”
Tears welled in my eyes and I swallowed a couple of times before I responded. “I love you. You’re more than my best friend. You’re my brother. My true knight in shining armor,” I whispered and hugged my arms around his neck. “You’re the only man that hasn’t hurt me.”