by J. M. Walker
My breath caught at that.
“And pet?” He winked. “Well, we know why I call you that.”
“Tell me.”
He grabbed my hands, pinning them above my head. I gasped.
“I call you pet because you are submissive. Just like you call me Sir. Both terms are a form of respect.”
“I like calling you Sir,” I whispered.
“I know, pet.”
I smiled. “Thank you for listening and for not…for not wanting to end this…whatever it is.”
His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “Whatever happens is for a reason. Know that. But you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“And thank you for last night and this morning.”
“No, my angel.” He kissed my head, letting his lips linger. “Thank you.”
“Keely. Baby girl. Hey. Where the hell are you?”
I grimaced at Troy’s yelling and headed out into the hall, trying to pull my curly hair into a bun but it just wasn’t working. “What’s up?”
He came out of the kitchen. “Open,” he demanded, pointing a spoon with some brown substance on it my way.
“You’re so demanding. No wonder you get along well with Parker,” I teased.
“Just open your mouth.”
“Is that a new pick up line for you?”
He placed his hand on his hip and scowled. “Keely.”
I giggled and parted my lips, waiting.
He slid the spoon onto my tongue.
I licked it clean and swallowed, my eyes widening at the unexpected sweet taste. “What is that?”
“Chocolate and raspberry fondue.” He frowned at my rat’s nest of a hairdo. “Want some help?”
I nodded, sighing in relief. “I need to cut my hair, I think.”
“You should go to my hairdresser, Patrick,” he suggested, grabbing my hair tie from me.
“I should. Oh, I’m going to be out of town this weekend. Parker’s taking me to New York.”
“Will you be assisting him or assisting him?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
I playfully elbowed him in the ribs.
He had pulled my hair up into a bun but told me to make an appointment with Patrick and I did. I was excited he could squeeze me in before Friday. A part of me wanted to look good for Parker but I also needed a change. When Parker had left that morning, he gave me the day off because of the shitty night before. Although it started out crappy, it ended in one of the best ways possible.
“Can he see you?” Troy asked, handing me another spoon with the chocolate fondue on it.
I nodded and swallowed the sweet morsel. “Tomorrow.”
“Good. He has magic fingers.” He winked.
“Wait. Is this the Patrick?”
“Maybe.” And with that he walked away, whistling to himself.
I only laughed and shook my head, excited for my hair appointment and the weekend that couldn’t get here quick enough.
“Girl, you are gorgeous but this thing you call hair needs some work.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the reflection of the tall, tanned man standing behind me. He was beautiful. Purple fake eye lashes and all.
Patrick West placed his hands on my shoulders and leaned down to my ear, his bright blue eyes locking with mine in the mirror. “I heard a hot man is taking you to New York this weekend...Mr. Sexy won’t know what hit him by the time I get through with you.”
I giggled. “You’ve been talking to Troy way too much.”
“Oh sweetheart. We hardly talk. At all.” He waggled his eyebrows.
I laughed harder and shook my head. “I’m so glad to have finally met you. I’ve only heard great things.”
Patrick hummed softly and winked at me, pulling the towel off my head. “You have gorgeous hair. You don’t see thick naturally blond curly locks anymore these days.”
“Can you do something about it?” It almost reached my tailbone when it was straight but it was heavy. But as Patrick combed it and cut it, all I could picture was Parker running his fingers through my hair, pulling and tugging as he made use of my body. Oh dear God. My cheeks heated and I squirmed in my seat.
“Stay still.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, gripping the arms of the chair.
He smiled. “You’re in love with that man.”
My eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
He pointed the scissors at me. “You at least feel something for him but I know that look. How long you’ve been doing your thing?”
“Uh...not long.” How long had it been? Two weeks? Longer? I got so wrapped up in him that I lost track of days.
“Well, darlin’. I’ve read the tabloids. You better keep a firm grip on that boy.”
“So I’ve been told,” I mumbled.
His eyes warmed. “Listen. Piece of advice. Parker Reed doesn’t commit but Troy has told me how he looks at you. I think you have a keeper.”
“Really?” I wasn’t even so sure about that. Parker and I were having fun but I didn’t know how serious it was or how long it would last. After our first night together, I just assumed it would only be that. One time and no more.
“And he’s also good to Troy. That, sweetie, is something as well.”
“I know. I told Parker that.”
Patrick smiled. “Have fun with him. Don’t try and strap him down, but definitely don’t let him get away.”
Strap him down. Now there was an image.
“So, do we want straight or curly?” Patrick asked, rubbing some form of hair product in his hands.
“Curly please.” I smiled.
His hands massaged through my hair, scrunching and lifting, when I noticed just how much he had cut off.
My eyes widened. “It’s...it’s so short.”
“And it’ll feel lighter. Still long enough for a little hair pulling.”
I coughed, bubbles of laughter leaving my lips.
He waggled his eyebrows. “Troy talks. I know you’re a loud one.”
“Oh God. Stop.” My ribs hurt from laughing. “He’s one to talk. I am not that loud and I’ve had sex once since moving in with Troy.”
Patrick chuckled. “Once as in one time or once as in one whole evening of passionate glorious male form between your—”
“Patrick!” I gasped, my cheeks heating even more.
“Oh girl. I think I love you.”
“I think I love you too.”
After my much-needed hair appointment, I invited Patrick over for dinner the following week when I got back from New York. I thought about inviting Parker but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want him thinking in any way that I was trying to make whatever this was between us official. Although I would like to put some sort of label on it so I knew what I was doing. I had to worry about saving my heart again.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips. I swore I was losing more air than I was taking in.
Making my way into the office after Liz called me saying that there was a business emergency, nerves raced through my body. I wasn’t sure why I was nervous. I had seen every inch of the guy but he was so damn gorgeous and dominating that I sometimes forgot how to act like a normal human being around him.
“Oh thank God.” Liz jumped up from behind her desk when I rounded the corner.
“What’s wrong?”
She came up to me, her brow furrowed with worry, her teeth chewing her bottom lip. “Meeting went bad. Horribly bad. You need to get in there.”
“Me?” I asked. “What am I supposed to do?” My heart thumped hard against my rib cage, my eyes landing on the closed door to his office.
“I’ve never seen him so upset.”
I patted her hand and took a breath. Walking up to the doors, I gently knocked. “Parker?”
The door swung open, forcing me to take a step back. Eyes wide, I glanced up and gasped.
Parker’s gaze was cold, his cheeks flushed. He was seething mad. I had never seen him like this. He grabbed my arm, pulled me into his off
ice and slammed the door closed behind me.
“Sir—”
He lifted my arms above my head, forcing me up against the wall. His mouth crashed to mine, his fingers digging into my wrists as he pinned me against the door. His other hand inched down my body, grazing under the hem of my black dress.
I moaned, pushing my tongue against his. Giving him the invitation that he knew he didn’t need.
He explored my mouth in rough smooth strokes, diving deep between my lips.
I breathed in his sweet breath, swallowing it whole as he made love to my mouth.
“Keely,” he groaned against my lips. His hand reached my mound. Forcing a finger under my panties, he slid right into my waiting heat.
My back bowed against the door as he pleasured my lower body and held me completely restrained.
His kiss deepened, swallowing my cries and whimpers as he fingered me slow and deep.
An onslaught of ecstasy exploded through me when his thumb pushed against my clit. He didn’t let up until I was writhing against him and coming for the second time. His mouth slid down the length of my jaw, before his teeth closed over my ear lobe.
The sharp jolt of pain sent an electric shock straight to my groin.
He released me and licked the juices of my body free from his fingers.
“What’s wrong?” I panted.
His eyes were dark, black almost as the dead of night. He trailed a finger down my cheek and pinched my chin, placing a soft peck on my kiss swollen mouth. “Bad meeting.” He huffed and released me, heading back to his desk. “I love the hair by the way.”
I smiled softly, happy and elated that he had noticed the new ‘do but also sad that he wasn’t himself.
“Thank you. Anything I can do to help?” I asked, tentatively approaching his desk.
He pulled me onto his lap and gripped my arm, sinking his teeth into my bicep. His semi-hard erection throbbed against my rear and as much as I wanted him and I knew that he clearly wanted me, he didn’t take it any further. I was shocked by the orgasms he had given me, my body still vibrating from the stimulation. I wanted to help fix whatever issue was going on.
I cleared my throat and pushed from his grasp but his hold only tightened. “Talk to me. What happened?”
“I think someone’s stealing information,” he said in between bites.
“What? How do you know that?”
He reached around me and clicked a couple buttons on the computer before a window popped up with some big numbers marked in red. “I’m losing money and I have no fucking idea how.”
“Have you talked to your accountant?” I asked, moving the mouse between screens.
He shook his head. “Not yet. I’m not sure if he can be trusted. Someone also has been stealing employee files, records...whoever this person is...they’re trying to bring my company...me…down.”
I shook my head. “Not going to happen.”
“Keely, this person could ruin me if they get access to certain information.” Parker squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Fuck.”
I kissed his forehead. “Give me a couple minutes.”
He frowned, his gaze meeting mine. “Why?”
I winked but didn’t respond and continued clicking away on the computer. Screen after screen popped up while my fingers flowed effortlessly over the keyboard. It had been years since I allowed myself the freedom to move through a computer like this. Some people played games on them? I created the games.
It was the only thing I ever had full control of. My life? Please. It was never mine. As a kid, my parents controlled my moves. When I met Devin? He controlled me. And now Parker? My body heated. I willingly gave him my control and for once in my existence, that didn’t scare me.
“Shit. Keely,” Parker said in awe.
“My daddy was a genius when it came to computers. He could build them from scratch. He made a laptop once before they ever came out by wiring a keyboard to his tiny TV and put it in a suitcase.” I turned to him. “I’ll have to show you it.” It was one of the only things I had been able to keep of my father’s.
Parker grazed his hand in circles over my lower back, rubbing his chin with his other hand. “When did you lose them?”
I sighed, my heart aching at the memories. “A year after I moved here. They got in an accident because of crappy weather.”
“I’m sorry, little one.”
“It hurt. It still hurts but Troy has helped me move on. I’ll never get over it but I’ve learned to deal.” I shrugged.
“Did they know about Devin?”
“They met him once or twice but what went on between Devin and I was always private.” I scowled. “The only people that ever saw us together were his...boys.”
“Keely, I’m—”
“Stop. It’s fine. I’m fine,” I said, kissing his cheek.
Parker grabbed my wrist, staring intently into my eyes. “Are you? Are you really?”
My throat burned, my chest constricting. “I have to be. I’m not letting him destroy me again,” I whispered.
He cupped the back of my neck and crushed his mouth to mine. His tongue made its way between my lips, owning. Needing. Marking its territory. Reminding me of who I now belonged to. “He won’t hurt you again.”
I breathed against his mouth, silently thanking him for the distraction.
“Think you can do whatever you’re doing in an hour? We have a plane to catch.”
I smiled and cracked my knuckles. “Watch me do my magic.”
“Employee records are all here.” I handed Parker a USB stick and a stack of papers. “You have a hard copy, a backup copy and the files are saved to your computer and phone. Only you have access to this information now unless you choose to share it.”
Parker looked between me and the items in his hands. “I think I need to pay you more.”
I laughed and stood on tip toes to kiss his cheek. “You pay me enough, Mr. Sexy.” I winked at him. “Now I know you have an amazing security system, but your software sucks.”
Parker raised an eyebrow and sat back in the big black leather chair. “Go on.”
I took a breath. Insulting a powerful man’s security detail is not the way to win him over, Keely. God, my mouth got the better of me sometimes. “My daddy taught me a thing or two about programming, if you want me to work with your security department to fix this...well...leak.”
He nodded. “Whatever you need, pet.”
My smile widened. “Really?” I let out a sigh of relief. “I didn’t mean to insult your setup but I’m just looking out for you.”
He rose to his feet and kissed my head. “Thank you.”
My cheeks heated. “It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a huge fucking deal, Keely. You’re helping me save my company.”
“Well...you were pretty upset.”
He sighed. “Everyone that I have hired has gone through a background check but sometimes I get so busy that I have other people doing the hiring for me. Someone must have slipped through. Someone that wanted to bring this company down and me to my knees.” His eyes hardened. “It’s not going to fucking happen.”
Oh I knew that. An image of him on his knees, submitting, popped into my mind and it sent a flutter through my belly.
Parker tilted my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “What was that?”
“Uh…what was what?”
His eyes searched my face. “That look.”
“I...”
He kissed the corner of my mouth, sliding his lips down to my ear. “Were you picturing me on my knees, my dirty-minded little pet?”
My heart raced at the deep husk of his voice vibrating through me. “Yes,” I panted.
“Hmm...” He nipped my ear. “The only time you’ll get me on my knees is if your leg is wrapped around my shoulders with my face buried between your thighs and my tongue deep inside your pussy.”
Now that was an even better image. “That...that can be arranged.”
He kissed my forehead and tightened his hold on the back of my neck.
I gasped, my eyes widening.
His dark gaze bored into mine. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” he asked softly. He cleared his throat and released me, taking a step back. “We need to go. Bags packed?”
I nodded slowly, frowning at the loss of his hands no longer being on me. I could sense the battle between giving up and having control going on within him. We had only been doing ‘our thing,’ as Patrick put it, for a short time but as I watched the inner turmoil in Parker’s eyes, I knew that this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Once the plane reaches altitude, we’re having a meeting,” Parker barked as we made our way onto the private jet.
“Shit went down hard, didn’t it boss?” Charlie, his security detail, asked before slumping into his seat.
“Yes. It did.” Parker grabbed my hand and pulled me to the back of the jet.
“Shouldn’t we sit near everyone so we can talk?” I asked, nervous as hell. This would be our first weekend away. Together. Out of the city. In New York. With other people around. I couldn’t help but freak out.
“We’ll talk in a bit and tell them everything. I might just move the meeting to tomorrow so I can spend the night buried in you,” he said against my neck.
“Whatever you want.” I sighed, leaning against him and curled my feet under me on the plush, comfy seat.
“Reed, I think your jet gets bigger every time I’m on it.” Aidan’s voice boomed from the front of the plane.
“It’s still the same.” Parker chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Come sit with me, beautiful,” Aidan told Liz, waggling his eyebrows.
“Ugh.” She grimaced. “No thanks. I don’t like pigs.”
Aidan gasped, gripping his chest. “Ouch. That hurts.”
Liz met my stare and winked.
I giggled. “So.” I looked up at Parker. “What’s on the agenda for tonight?”
“Reed.”
We both looked up at the deep voice and I found myself being swallowed by the darkest eyes I had ever seen. A man about Parker’s height and size towered over us before he sat in the seat in front of us.
