“Glad you could make it, Vain.” Parker clapped him on the shoulder.
“Of course. Where do you need me?” Vain asked, glancing my way.
“Right where you are. Vain, this is Keely Price. Keely, Collin Vain.”
I nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
Collin gave me a curt nod before looking out at the front of the cabin. “Do you trust everyone?”
“Yes.” Parker squeezed my middle. “We have a meeting tomorrow before I meet with Trubeck and his men.”
“You should have the meeting tonight.” Vain met his gaze. “You know how Trubeck can be long-winded. You want as much rest beforehand as possible.”
Parker scrubbed a hand down his face. “Fine. Tell the others.”
Vain nodded and rose from his seat just as the plane started taxiing down the runway.
“Bodyguard?” I asked, nodding towards Vain.
“More like mentor. He keeps me in line. I’ve known the guy for years. He actually saved me from getting my ass kicked one night and we’ve been friends ever since.”
“Wow. He seems...hard.”
“Shitty life will do that to you.” Parker kissed my head. “Sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there. I need you in on this meeting, Keely.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
His thumb grazed over my bottom lip. “I couldn’t do this without you, kitten,” he whispered.
“Kitten now?”
He chuckled. “Small but fierce. And feisty as hell.”
I grinned. “Wait until the meeting. You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“You are here because besides my mom, you are the only four that I can trust.” Parker walked around the large table in our hotel suite two hours later. His gaze landed on every single one of us, stopping at me before he placed his hands on the back of the chair. “Someone is trying to fuck me and my company over. I don’t know who. I don’t know why. Yet. But I do know that when I find out, they won’t have the pleasure of being in a cold, damp jail cell.” His gaze hardened. “This person or persons is trying to destroy the one thing that I have left and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit back and let them. I may have made stupid choices in my life...I’m young...whatever...but fuck if I’ll let them win.” He walked around to where I was sitting and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Tell them.”
I took a breath and passed around a stack of papers. “These are the numbers for 2012 and 2013. As you can see, Reed Industries has done very well.”
Mutual nods from everyone at the table with the exception of Collin. I realized that he didn’t speak much or show any hint of emotion. But his eyes remained glued to me like a sponge soaking up the information.
“Good job, boss.” Aidan whistled.
“I have reason to believe that someone within the company is leaking information. Or trying to. Records were destroyed,” I said, using air quotes.
Liz raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying that they weren’t destroyed?”
I smiled. “You guys don’t know me well but let’s just say I was able to get the records back. Employee files and so on. I also found out every single person who has logged into the system. Every time you enter your username and password, as soon as you press ‘enter’, it all gets logged.”
“Wow,” Aidan said, awestruck.
“Keep going, little one,” Parker whispered in my ear.
“I told Parker that his security system sucked,” I said, my cheeks heating. The group laughed.
“I was going to work with them to fix the program but I figured if I wanted the job done right, I’d have to do it myself. So I reprogrammed the whole mainframe. I set up firewalls to protect the company.” I grinned. This was my favorite part. “If anyone tries, even attempts to hack into the system, we will know. I also set up a little bug that if they do hack in, the FBI will be sent a little memo.”
“A memo?” Collin sat back, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Yes. A memo. Now I’m not saying that the memo would be true per se but while the FBI invades the culprit’s house, it would give me time to find out who they are.”
“I have to ask,” Aidan said, leaning forward. “How did you know to do all this?”
I looked around the table. “I know how it must seem. I’m the new girl. I don’t know my way around the company yet. Blah blah blah. Hell, I don’t even know where the storage room is.”
Another round of chuckles.
“But I do know that I will do everything I can to protect this company. For Parker and for all of you. I may only be his assistant—”
“I think you’ve been promoted.” Parker squeezed my shoulder.
A slow grin spread on my face before it faltered. “Have you ever heard of The Mist?” I asked, my palms going sweaty. This would be something not even Parker would know.
“As in the movie?” Liz asked softly.
“No. The hacker,” I bit out. Memories resurfaced of that day. That horrible day when I found out my father wasn’t who I thought he was. But he was still my dad. I just wished I could speak with him. Find out why he did the things he did. Find out how he lived the double life. And most of all, I wish I could find out if my mom had known.
“Keely?”
I looked up, shaking my head. “Sorry.”
“Deep breath, Keely.” Parker squeezed the back of my neck. “Tell them.”
Easy for him to say when he didn’t even know what I was going to say in the first place. “My dad was The Mist.”
“Your dad,” Collin repeated; it was the second thing he had said all evening.
I nodded slowly. “After my parents died I found out that my dad wasn’t who I thought he was. I know it sounds all cliché and crap but it’s true. He was The Mist. Hacking genius. I knew things before he died. I guess it came naturally but after he died was when I really learned everything. If it wasn’t for my father, I guess I wouldn’t be sitting here now, helping Parker and all of you. Before my dad died, we would spend hours playing on his computer. I guess he was teaching me without me even knowing it. My young naive mind at the time thought it was just a father-daughter bonding moment. After he died, I found journals with everything you can imagine in them. I learned what I could and…destroyed them.”
“Good girl.” Collin let out a breath. “Your dad made history,” he added. “I remember reading in the paper how he almost brought down the US government. This all came out after he died.”
I smiled. “He was good. He never got caught until he passed. Which was how I also came to know what I know. I can build a computer from scratch. Do the unthinkable. Dive deep inside a computer, forming, molding it into what I want.” My neck tingled, desire unfurling in the pit of my stomach. Huh. Reminded me of what Parker had said to me days back.
“Wow. That’s kind of hot,” Aidan said, shifting in his seat.
I laughed and rose to my feet, pacing back and forth. “I created a virus so that if anyone tries to hack into the system again...” A wicked sneer spread on my face. “Well...let’s just say, the FBI wouldn’t just be the ones showing up at their door.”
“You put a virus in the system?” Aidan asked. “Isn’t that the same as giving someone with a disease another disease?”
“Maybe. But this virus? I have full control over.” I headed to the couch and grabbed my bag, pulling out my cell phone. “This,” I placed it on the table. “Is the key. Say someone tries to hack in. I’ll get a notification. And all I have to do is press one little button, which will stop them from getting any information at all. Like I said, I have full control.” A deep part of me knew that that was the only thing Parker was giving me control of and I was fine with that.
“What if it backfires?” Aidan continued asking the questions and I appreciated it but a part of me was annoyed that he clearly didn’t trust me.
I gave him a soft smile. “You’re cute but trust me, sweetheart, it won’t backfire.”
Collin and Liz both chuckled.
“I think
she just shot you down,” Liz laughed.
Aidan scoffed and crossed his arms under his chest. “How do you know this? You act all cocky. Every hacker…wait.” He sat up. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”
Shit.
“Keely?”
I looked up at Parker before turning to the group. “Yes. I have.”
“You had no choice, did you?” Collin asked, his eyes softening.
I shook my head and forced back the memories that were trying so hard to invade my mind.
Aidan pointed at me. “How do we know that we can trust you? If you have full control, who’s to say you can’t try to steal the information yourself?”
I met Parker’s gaze. He nodded once, encouraging me to continue. I could see the questions in his eyes that I would have to answer later but for now, I would do as he said.
“You honestly think that I wouldn’t give Parker access to the same information? I’m teaching him everything there is to know about this new system. He trusts you,” I told Aidan. “I’m kind of shocked that you don’t trust his judgment.”
“Well...” His mouth opened and closed.
“Alright.” Parker clapped his hands together. “I think it’s time to call it a night.”
I sat on the couch and sighed. I would earn their trust. I had to. For Parker.
Collin clapped Parker on the back of the neck before making his way out of the hotel room.
Liz gave me a hug, whispering how proud she was of me and that Aidan would come around. I squeezed her back and watched her leave before noticing Parker and Aidan talking quietly.
Parker glanced my way every so often. “Stay for a beer,” he said a moment later.
Aidan nodded. “You sure? I think I annoyed Keely.”
I laughed and sat on the floor, rooting through the papers on the table. “You didn’t annoy me. I understand your hesitation. You don’t know me and you’re just looking out for Parker.” I smiled up at Parker as he sat behind me before glancing back at Aidan. “I’d be a little concerned if you had no hesitations at all.”
Aidan took a swig of his beer. “I like you. I like you for Parker as well.”
Warm fingers wrapped around my throat, holding me. They were firm. Strong. And they said one word. Mine.
With Devin, I never felt this connection. This want. This need for another human being like I needed food to live or air to breathe. Whatever this was with Parker, it was coming on strong and I could feel my walls that I had spent so hard at building crumble down around me.
“Do you still do your hacking?”
“Aidan,” Parker scolded.
“It’s fine.” I took a breath. “No. I retired. I wasn’t like a hacker that you see in movies. You never saw me. I was always behind the scenes.” I swallowed hard.
“You should bring her to Rope sometime,” Aidan suggested, thankfully changing the subject.
“I should.” Parker brushed his thumb along my jaw.
“Is that another club you own?” I asked, shuffling through the papers that I was trying to organize for tomorrow’s meeting.
Aidan scoffed. “He wishes.”
“No. But I’m friends with the owner.” He winked at me. “Even though he is an ass.”
“Hey.” Aidan scowled.
“You are the owner?” I asked, my eyes wide.
“Yes, I am.” He rose to his feet. “Bring her. Show her the ropes.” He laughed at his own pun.
“Think you can handle a BDSM club, beautiful?” Parker asked me, tilting my head back.
“I can handle you, can’t I?” I shot back.
His gaze darkened. “Pet, I’m only just getting started,” he growled in my ear.
Aidan chuckled and made his way to the door. “Behave, you two. She gets out of line, Parker, you know what to do.”
My mouth fell open as Aidan left, the door clicking shut behind him.
My head was tugged back, Parker’s hold on my neck tightening. A wicked grin spread on his face when he nipped my chin.
“What did he mean?” I whispered, pulling my knees up to my chest.
“Punishment, pet.”
“How so?”
His mouth slid down to my ear. “Prolonged orgasms. No orgasms. Spanking. Restraining.” He shrugged. “The usual.”
“How can that be punishment if they sound so...”
“What?”
“Inviting,” I said on a sigh.
“Hmm...” His finger trailed down my jaw, over my collarbone, to the vee in my dress. “Not being allowed to come is punishment all in itself. But the orgasm you do get,” he pulled the top of my dress down, exposing my breast, “is powerful.” He pinched my nipple between his fingers, igniting a gasp from my lips. “Give me your hands.”
Before I could even argue, I did as he commanded.
His eyes twinkled, his large hand wrapping around my wrists. “Now talk to me.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Did Devin force you into hacking?” he asked, his jaw clenching.
I looked away and nodded. “I knew some before my dad died. It was enough to give Devin what he wanted. When I read my dad’s journals, I realized that if Devin found out what I knew, he would do anything in his power to get me under his control again. Even though he was in jail. So I burnt them.” I took a breath, remembering the scent of the smoke that singed my nose years before. “I was a good girl. I didn’t want to end up in jail but when Devin found out what I was capable of, he took advantage of it. Told me he would go to the FBI if I didn’t do as he said. I had no choice, Parker. I didn’t. Troy was looking out for me. But it got really bad and I knew Devin had to be put away. I just didn’t know how. Troy was the one that gave me the idea to set him up. As much as I hated Devin, I was scared of him more. I didn’t want to get him thrown in jail because I didn’t know what he would do to me or Troy but I got desperate. The abuse…it…”
“Hey.” He cupped my chin and placed a soft kiss on my mouth. “I don’t think less of you because of the shit he made you do. I have no right to judge, kitten. At all.”
“But you got out while you could.”
“That doesn’t mean I didn’t do shit before I got out. The crowd we hung around…the gang, so to speak…” He sighed. “Devin ended up killing the leader so he could take his place.”
I winced. “I heard about that. He was bragging about it.”
“Why did you stay with him?”
“I…I was scared. I met him when I was a sixteen-year old girl and couldn’t get away until…”
“How did Troy help you?” Parker released my arms but casually brushed his thumb over my nipple. Back and forth. Back and forth. My body felt like it became lighter, the soft move relaxing.
“Troy was the only one that Devin would allow me to see that wasn’t in our group. Maybe it’s because he’s gay. I’m not sure.” I swallowed a couple of times, bracing myself, getting ready to relive the memories. “He came to my house and saw me…saw…” My breathing picked up, spots danced in my vision.
“Stop. We’ll talk more later.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Stop apologizing. I’ll help you get your mind off of him and your past.” He tweaked the hardening peaks on my chest. “Ever come by having your nipples played with, pet?”
I shook my head, licking my lips, thankful for the much-needed distraction. I knew I needed to tell Parker everything and I wished I could tell him everything at once but it wasn’t possible. I couldn’t.
He twisted, pulled, dug his nails into the hard points. Each time, my breathing getting deeper, my body getting hotter and my core clenching with impending desire for him.
All thoughts of Devin and my past vanished as I focused on the man behind me, bringing me pleasure. Caressing my body. Using me for both of our pleasure and not just his alone.
“When you walk tomorrow, your legs are going to quiver. Shaking with each step. Your pussy will throb. Memories of me filling
your body will invade your mind.” He pulled my arms taught, stretching my torso. “I will make you forget, angel.”
I stared up into his beautiful green eyes, finding myself captivated and unable to move. It was like he had a hold on my soul. He was the Master. And I was the ever so willing puppet. He controlled the strings.
“Stand up,” he barked, his firm tone sending a flutter through my belly. I rose to my feet on shaky legs and waited, anticipation building deep inside of me. “Strip.”
Pulling the red sundress up and over my head, I threw it on the floor beside me, leaving me in just my black thong.
Parker gripped my hips, digging his teeth into the flesh of my rear.
I jumped, the sharp pain shooting an electric current straight to my groin.
His hands curled in the fabric of my panties as he pulled them down my legs, leaving me completely naked. His mouth moved fluidly along the small of my back, his fingers digging into my ass cheeks. He massaged, kneaded, his rough calloused hands molding my flesh like he couldn’t get enough.
I moaned, my head falling back on my neck.
While he remained fully dressed, I was bare. For him.
“I love your ass,” he groaned. “Play with your tits.”
My eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“Pinch your nipples, pet. Make yourself come.”
“Um...” My cheeks heated, then a swat landed on my rear. I yelped.
“Pinch them. Make them hard. Come for me.” His teeth grazed over my lower body, digging into my plump rear.
I panted and cupped my full breasts, lifting the heavy weights. My thumb and forefinger pinched the nipples, causing desire to stir deep inside of me.
“That’s it, pet.” His hands roamed up my middle, holding me against him as his mouth continued to torture me in the sweetest way possible.
My fingers moved over the hard peaks, pinching, tugging. Heat curled between my legs, a tingle spreading from my center to my clit. I moaned, whimpers of pleasure leaving my lips.
“Come. Now.”
His command set me off unexpectedly. I cried out as a fast release rocked through my body, leaving me breathless and aching for more. A flush washed over me at the way I came just from the touch of my own hands on my breasts.