My Valentine

by Jaimie Roberts

  Furiously, I shake my head as Dr Mercy leads me to my bed. She places me down, looking me in the eye like she’s searching for something. “Are you okaaayyy?” she drones. It sounds as though her voice is hollow, like she’s speaking through a box.

  I smile, but it feels like I’m grinning like an idiot. I try to reach out to her to touch her tit, but my hand falls limply on my crotch. It’s then that I notice my cock’s rock solid.

  “You do this to me,” I mumble at her. She has to know that she always gets my dick stiff.

  “What?” she asks. Obviously I have been mumbling more than I’d thought. I try pointing to my dick, but I can’t seem to raise my hand. Instead, my eyes droop shut, and I can’t seem to get them back open again.

  Suddenly, I hear laughter. “Let’s get you into bed, lightweight.”

  I want to argue and ask her who the fuck she’s calling a lightweight, but I can’t seem to say the words. I feel her gently guide me down, but nothing after that.

  I seem to come to a little. I’m lying on my bed with no idea how the fuck I got here. I look around the room for Dr Mercy, but can’t find her anywhere. My eyes droop, but I want to get out of bed. My legs and my arms won’t comply, and my eyelids are growing heavier.

  When I open them again, I’m still where I was, but I’m naked and my cock’s sticking straight up like a fucking rocket.

  Again, I try to move, but I can’t. Everything’s confusing the fuck out of me. I moan, and that’s when I hear her voice.

  Scarlet.

  “Reid,” she says with a sultry voice, “you’ve been a very naughty boy.” I hear her laugh, but it’s like it’s coming from a distance somehow. “Why did you kill me, Reid?”

  Fuck, no. Why is she here? Why is she torturing me?

  I try opening my eyes to see, but my eyelids won’t comply. I moan again.

  “Why did you do it?” I hear her laughter follow straight after. I feel like someone’s stabbing me multiple times in the chest. Fuck, this kills.

  “Wakey, wakey, Reidey,” she sings. I feel a tap on my face which makes my head loll, but I eventually manage to pull my head back up and finally open my eyes.

  That’s when I see her.

  My vision is in red.

  I am seeing the woman who haunts both my dreams and my nightmares.

  Scarlet.

  She smiles down at me. Her red lipstick is sexy as hell, and her green eyes are sparkling like diamonds. She’s naked, and by fuck, she looks good. Her hair is shorter, and the colour’s white.

  “Reid, baby. I’ve missed you. Missed your sweet cock.”

  She starts bouncing on my cock. Her tits are jiggling in perfect rhythm. I want to move—to hold her—but I can’t. My mind wills my hands to grip her, to force her down on me harder. I want to take control.

  Fuck, I’ve missed her.

  I know this must be a dream, but it all feels too real. It all feels so achingly fucking real. I try to tell her how much I’ve missed her, how much I want her, and how much I need to have her back in my life—that I’m sorry, and I promise never to do it again, but I can’t get the words out.

  Bending down, Scarlet kisses me on the lips before yanking at my hair. Again, I will myself to respond. Will myself to open my mouth, but my body won’t fucking comply. As she eases back up, she smiles again, throwing her head back with a moan. I’m feeling everything, but also nothing.

  What the fuck’s going on?

  “Come for me, baby,” she coos as she caresses my face, and it’s like my body is automatically complying with her every command. I feel myself come, but it’s like I’m also having an out-of-body experience.

  I hear her say something, but the words somehow sound muffled. My eyes close again, because no matter how hard I try, I can’t keep the fuckers open.

  I hear her sigh, and then I feel a dip in my bed. Soft music plays in the background as light-feathered fingers run up and down my arm. I’m not totally sure what the song is, but I could almost swear it’s “Sweet Dreams” by Marilyn Manson.

  She caresses my face again, and I’m so desperate to lean into her touch. To smell her, caress her, and lose myself in her.

  Then I feel her breath on my ear. “Sleep, baby. For in the morning, I’ll still be dead, and you’ll still be a fucking arsehole.”

  Scarlet

  I ache all over.

  Every part of my body feels like it’s being pricked by a thousand needles. A cough wracks my body, but I will it down when I feel the burn in my throat.

  Where am I?

  As I come to, I notice the warmth of fresh silk sheets keeping me safely cocooned. I stir, moaning, when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

  “Take it easy, Scarlet. You need to rest.”

  Snapping my eyes open, I find my saviour. I smile. I knew—despite everything I’ve done to him—that he would save me.

  Once he notices my smile, a visible breath of relief escapes him. “Fucking hell, Scarlet. What’s happened to you? Who did this to you? I called my local doctor out to examine you, and he told me someone tried to strangle you. Who would do such a thing?”

  I open my mouth to try and get the words out, but nothing comes. I need water.

  As if sensing this, David quickly jumps up and pours me a glass next to my bed. “Here,” he says, bringing the water to me while gently cradling my head and tilting the glass towards me for a sip. My throat is so sore and so past dry that I end up almost choking on the water. I squint in pain as water cascades down my chin. He is there straight away to dry me off.

  “Thank you,” I whisper. And I mean it—in more ways than one.

  “A part of me wanted to take you to the hospital and call the police, but I figured since you didn’t do that yourself and instead turned up at my house that you didn’t want that.”

  My eyes widen as I shake my head in agreement. “No police,” I manage to utter to him. I don’t want anyone apart from David to know that I am here, and I am alive. A part of me knew David wouldn’t go to the police. He’s rich and has enough people on tap whenever he needs them—including doctors.

  I look up to find a tube connected to a saline drip. “You were severely dehydrated. The doctor said you needed it and that without it, you would die. In fact, he said you were close to death.” His face looks incredulous. “Scarlet, please tell me who did this to you.” He reaches out, taking my hand in his. It’s only then that I look at him—really look at him. In the short space of time it has been since I’ve seen him, he has changed. His dull dark hair looks more vibrant, his light brown eyes are sparkling, and he has a bright glow about his face. It all makes him look ten years younger.

  As I trail my eyes down his body, I notice something else too. He looks more buff, like he’s been working out. It would seem leaving my mum has given David a new lease on life.

  “It doesn’t matter,” I whisper back to him.

  Gripping my hand tighter, David leans forward. “Someone tried to kill you. Of course it matters. Please tell me what happened.”

  I make an effort to sit up, but I’m so weak that I grunt my frustration. David moves swiftly and pulls me up. When I’m in a more comfortable position, I look up, finding David staring down at me with a worried expression furrowing his brow. I smile, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “Thank you,” I say again, trying to convey more to him than he realises. “After everything I’ve—”

  “Shh,” he answers, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly. “It’s water under the bridge. In fact, you did me a favour. I have to be honest, I hadn’t been happy for a long time.” He sighs, breaking away from me before settling next to me on the bed. “But, that’s a discussion which can wait. I’m more worried about you and finding out who the fuck did this to you.”

  “My business partner,” I croak. I wasn’t entirely sure how much I should reveal to David, but something was telling me I could trust him.

  He’s about the only person in my life right now who I can trust. My instincts
of course told me I could trust Stuart, but those same instincts made me certain he would end up hurt in the end if I involved him. No, he is both safer and better off if he ends up thinking I died. After all, the Scarlet he knew truly is dead.

  “Your business partner did this to you? Why?”

  I see the endless questions forming in that mind of his. The confusion is written all over his face. Why is he so surprised? After everything I’ve done, it’s a wonder that someone hasn’t tried to kill me sooner.

  Including him.

  “He wanted more than I could give him. He also wanted us to live in Spain and build a life together. As in together, together. He couldn’t handle that I had been seeing someone else.” I want to say more, but my throat is killing me.

  I watch as I let it all sink in. I can see the anger rising in his face as I tell him. “I could kill him,” he offers. “I know people that can make him disappear. Feed him to the pigs. That’s what he’s good for.” I see the snarl on his face. It makes me smile inside.

  I squeeze his hand, trying to get him to come back to me. “I will deal with him.”

  He looks as though he can’t believe what I’m saying. “Haven’t you had enough of feeling the hate, resentment, and pain? Why not let someone else do that for you? I can deal with him. I can—”

  I stop him with a shake of my head and a smile touching my lips. “No, David. This is not your fight. This is mine.”

  He visibly sighs his discontent at my answer. “I will let this slide for now as you need your rest. The doctor said he would be round to visit shortly. He wanted to be here for when you woke up. He wants to check your vitals and your reflexes. He said he doesn’t know whether you stopped breathing or not, and because of that, he would like to do more tests. I will give him a call now to let him know you’re awake.”

  David attempts to get up from the bed, but I grab his hand. He halts dead in his tracks and turns to me with a worried expression. “Thank you,” I whisper with a smile.

  David leans down, kissing the back of my hand. “There’s no need to thank me. I’m here whenever you need me. You need to know that. A part of me hopes that’s why you came to me instead of this new boyfriend of yours.”

  I look away, pain twisting in my gut at the thought of Stuart. What must he be thinking? By now, he’s most probably been round to my house to look for me.

  “I’m sorry,” David says, seeing the pain on my face.

  I shake my head. “Don’t be. He’s water under the bridge too.” And it pains me to think that, but I have to let Stuart go. He’s way too nice for a devil of a girl like me. I need a man who can think like I do. He may have denied it, but I know that, deep down, Stuart wants the wife, the white picket fence, and two-point-four kids. Something I know I never could have given to him. I would have gotten bored of him after a while.

  That’s what I’ll keep telling myself anyway.

  “By the look on your face, it doesn’t seem that way.”

  I try taking in a deep breath, but it’s hard when my throat cries out with pain. I try putting on a smile. “He would never have been able to give me what I need. I realise that now.”

  “I hope it’s because you’ve realised it on your own and not because this business partner has brainwashed you into thinking it.”

  I shake my head with a curt smile. “No. A part of me knew this when I was with him. Reid doing what he did only cemented the idea.”

  He sucks in a breath. “So, that’s the fucker’s name.” I nod. “I’ve never wanted to kill someone as badly as I do right now.”

  The thought makes me feel light-headed. At least I have someone who cares for me. Someone on my side. I take his hand again. “After everything I’ve done to you, why are you helping me? Why are you taking care of me? Looking after me like this?”

  David leans forward and kisses the top of my head before looking into my eyes. He trails a finger under my chin and replies, “Someone needs to.”

  When I see the genuine smile light up his face, tears sting my eyes. I know he was referring to my family, and I know he feels I was the victim of an injustice where they’re concerned—just like I do. I expected as much. I didn’t expect for his words to hit me so hard, however. Not only did I feel their impact in my gut, but I also felt them in my previously impenetrable heart.

  “Please don’t cry.” He pulls me forward, embracing me with his big, strong arms. I allow him to reassure me—inhaling a new aftershave I don’t recognise on him. It’s nice … comforting.

  As I pull away, I kiss David lightly on the cheek. “How am I ever going to repay you for looking after me?”

  “Scarlet,” he abolishes, “you’ve lived your whole life thinking that people only do things because they want something in return. Stop believing that about everyone. I’m helping you because I care. I am looking after you for the same reason. Because I care. Believe that. I don’t expect a damn thing in return. Okay?” He takes my face in his hands, imploring me with his eyes to believe that what he says is true.

  I nod my head. “Okay,” I whisper on a croak.

  “Good,” he answers, pulling his hands away. “I think the doctor will want to try you with something to eat, but I’ll give him a call first. I’m anxious for him to check you over. As far as I can tell, you seem well. I know that sounds like shit considering that mentally—above all else—you can’t be after what you have been through.” He turns his head as if the thought disgusts him. On a sigh, he gets up. “I’ll go speak with him, and I’ll be right back. Do you need me to get anything for you before I go?”

  Realising I need a pee, I nod. “I could use the bathroom.”

  Reid

  I wake with a jolt. My arms and the rest of my body is stiff, and my head is pounding like a motherfucker.

  What the hell happened last night?

  I remember Dr Mercy being with me. I remember drinking wine with her, and I remember wanting to fuck her badly. I also vaguely remember walking upstairs with her.

  My eyes dart around my bedroom, but there’s nobody here but me. I’m sweating. The heat is fucking killing me. What the fuck’s happened to my air con?

  Pushing myself up with as much effort as I can muster, I feel something wet on my stomach. When I look down, my cock is limp, but there’s come all over me.

  “What the …?”

  My head pounds in protest, and on instinct, I close my eyes and pull my hand up to my head. I feel like I’ve got the worst hangover in the world, but I don’t remember drinking that much last night. As a wave of nausea sweeps over me, I swallow hard on a groan. I feel like death. I feel like absolutely rotten, decomposing death.

  I check the time on my phone and see it’s after ten. Shit. It’s unlike me to sleep in like this.

  I try to move my legs, but they’re like dead weights. Swinging them over, I manage to rest them on the floor, but it really does feel like they have weights attached to them. I ache. Boy, do I ache. Rising up slowly, I practically stumble towards my shower, welcoming the cool spray once I walk in.

  I close my eyes and stay still for a while as the water cascades down my body. I don’t know what the hell happened last night, but everything hurts. Even my cock hurts.

  Did Dr Mercy and I fuck? Surely I would remember something like that. I’ve never been too shit-faced to know when I’ve fucked someone.

  And it’s not only that. Dr Mercy is the type of woman I would never forget fucking. Since the day I met her, she’s been like this fascinating wet dream that I can’t get out of my head. Pubescent, I know, but it’s still there, plaguing me every day.

  With all my strength, I manage to give myself an all over body wash, and once I’m done, I feel a little better. My head still pounds, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was.

  As I walk out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my hips, I check the air con only to find that it’s been switched off.

  Odd. I never switch the fucker off. It’s way too hot here for that shit
.

  I switch it back on and stare at it like it will give me the answers I’m looking for. As I hear the thrum of the air con kicking in, I frown, trying to get my brain into gear.

  And then, it hits me.

  Scarlet.

  As if sensing something strange, I whip my head around, trying to see if I can find any evidence that she was here. I vaguely remember hearing her laughter. I must have been dreaming.

  But was I?

  Shit. I’m going fucking crazy. The only woman who I know was definitely with me last night was Dr Mercy. She’s the only one who can give me the answers. How long was she with me? When did she leave?

  Needing those answers, I quickly dress and head downstairs to find Akilah doing a stock take. As if sensing me, he looks up from his clipboard and brandishes a wolfish grin.

  “Morning, brother. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sleep this late. Good night last night?”

  I frown, shaking my head. “I can’t fucking remember anything.”

  He smirks. “That good, huh? Who were you with anyway?”

  Questions. So many of them whirl around in my head. As I stand by the bar, one hand on it to keep me propped up, I stare at Akilah. “Did you see Dr Mercy leave last night?”

  He nods. “Yes. She came down about ten minutes after you left. Said you’d had too much to drink and had passed out.”

  I remember I had slipped her a roofie last night. “How did she seem?”

  He smirks. “A little intoxicated, glassy-eyed, that sort of thing. Other than that, fine.”

  “When did she leave? Did you see her actually leave?”

  Akilah frowns. “Yes, brother. Straight away. I saw her walk out the door.” I start pacing a little, wondering what the fuck happened. I drugged her last night, and yet I was the one who ended up passing out. How the fuck did that happen?

  “What’s going on?” Akilah asks, noticing my upset.