Marked

by Skylar West

  "Ten."

  "Pardon?"

  "I told you, stop apologizing, T. Now bend over." He rained ten sizzling blows to my already sore backside. He sat me up and drew me back onto his lap.

  "Jimmy, why aren't you angry? I don't understand."

  "You are a hero, piccolo. As far as I'm concerned, you saved my daughter from herself and a pedophile. Who knows what could have happened had she met with the guy on her own? I have you to thank, cara, as I had no idea about this friendship my daughter was encouraging. She did not share the whole story, and now that I know, restrictions will be put in place, and later, she and I will discuss a fitting punishment. And you and I will discuss your punishment, Tesoro, not for what you did, but for not answering my messages. I was terrified for you both, and I never want to feel that again. But for now, you are the hero, and I'm grateful to you. Now get yourself cleaned up. Bobby and Josh will be here soon for dinner."

  "Bobby and Josh? Oh, um, I don't have any clothes to put on, Jimmy. I should go."

  "I grabbed some things for you. But first, you get ten more."

  "What, why?" I whined.

  "Because you're still talking about leaving, and it's unacceptable. Now bend over and grab your ankles."

  I did as he asked and heard the belt swooshing through the air before it landed. A searing pain lit up my backside. This position exposed my sit spot, and that was what Jimmy was aiming for. Nine more, and I stood on trembling legs. Jimmy dropped the belt and gave me a hug.

  "Come, bella, shower time."

  He walked me to the bathroom. "Are you okay?"

  I nodded. "Good, the groceries I need are probably here now, so I must go and create my masterpiece. You have forty-five minutes, and when you come down, I want a smile on that beautiful face, capiche?"

  "Yes, Sir," I saluted.

  Jimmy winked and was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  Theresa

  I was stunned at his lack of anger. He didn't yell. He didn't dump me. I was feeling deliriously happy, and five minutes into my shower, what he'd said finally sunk home. I was a hero. I was playing that word 'hero' on repeat in my thoughts.

  I never thought I would hear that word synonymous with Theresa Romano. The events of earlier and the role I'd played was taking on a dreamy quality and being replaced with skepticism. Despite what Jimmy said, I felt unsure as to the wisdom of today. Of course, I still hadn't told him that I recognized the stalker. I didn't want to. All it would do, in my eyes, was cement my stupidity.

  I exited the shower and stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. I didn't see a hero. I saw a young, scared woman. A woman who questioned her self-worth, who doubted herself, and as a result, had shied away from the limelight. But with the Al Cantello video going viral, and now this in the same week, news of the arrest was bound to get out, and then I would once again be in the spotlight.

  I was at a crossroads with that and with regards to my burgeoning relationship with Jimmy. He is what I had always wanted. I felt safe and loved in his arms. I felt like an exotic flower in his bed. He brought out things in me I didn't know were there. I wanted to fuck him every time I looked at him. He incited desire, passion, and, yes, even respect for the type of man he'd become. But…he wasn't the problem. Already, I was changing, my situation changing and, so rapidly, that I felt unhinged. Maybe Jimmy was more than I could handle.

  Jimmy

  I had Louisa send over a basic wardrobe to my place for Theresa. My only request had been that everything she chose be ultra-soft, comfortable, yet sexy. I was pleased when Theresa came downstairs right on time dressed in black silk lounging pants, with matching ballet flats and topped off with a dove grey silk camisole. Her hair was up in a loose bun, and she had black and red chopsticks with mother of pearl ends through the bun that showed up in her auburn hair. She had a dusting of powder on her cheeks that held a sparkly sheen and pale pink lipstick. Her eyes looked dewy and luminescent. She was delicious, and I couldn't wait to take it all off her later.

  Her face lit up when she entered the large, gourmet kitchen to find everyone had arrived for dinner. She quickly grabbed what she needed for the dining table and Emma and Mags followed her, eager to talk while the table was being set.

  "Looks like she has a fan club," Josh said with a grin.

  "Look out, world," elaborated Bobby. "Here comes the new and improved Theresa."

  I laughed, but in the back of my mind, I wondered how she was handling the recent events. She'd gone from hiding, these past six years, to suddenly being in the limelight. I knew that was not something she was comfortable with. Tessa excused herself and, moments later, we heard giggling coming from the dining room.

  Theresa

  "No social media, Mags," Jimmy yelled from the kitchen.

  Eye roll. "Yes, Daddy." Giggles from her and Emma.

  "I meant it."

  Another eye roll. "Seriously, Dad, I'm not on social media."

  Maggie excitedly repeated the story of today to Tessa and Emma.

  "Theresa, could you show me all the fake stuff to watch out for?" Tessa requested.

  I agreed and had Tessa open her Facebook account on her phone, as she wasn't on Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat. The idea was the same; it was learning to recognize the signs. By the time the gentlemen were bringing in the food, all three were prolific at detecting fake and stolen profiles.

  "You know, Theresa," Al said, "You should be teaching that in schools."

  Josh chimed in, "It would be very useful for parents and kids to be better equipped at reading the signs, for sure. We have a program, but to be honest, it is such a militant approach that I don't think the kids even hear the spiel. I could set something up with community policing and neighborhood watch groups if you like?"

  I felt myself blanch. Oh God, more pressure. I wanted to run and hide under the blankets in Jimmy's bed.

  "Well, it has been a crazy day, hasn't it, Jimmy?"

  Jimmy's eyes were on me, intently watching my reaction. "It has indeed, Bobby. I think our girl needs some time to process before she decides anything. Tonight, is for celebrating."

  Bobby grinned his agreement, and Jimmy picked up his wine glass. "To Theresa, the bravest woman I know."

  We clinked our glasses, and the conversation veered off into many directions after that. I was relieved to get the focus off me and delighted to see the conversation take shape as our guests got to know each other better. Jimmy's best friend with his wife, and my best friend with his husband. It was fitting and turned out to be an entertaining evening.

  Two hours later, Al and Tessa were taking their leave and asked if Maggie could join them. I was sure Jimmy would say no. But after Al guaranteed no social media for the girls, Jimmy finally gave his permission. With the four gone, that left us with Bobby and Josh and a statement that still needed to be given. Jimmy left us to go and make special dessert coffees and Bobby offered to help, leaving Josh and me alone.

  "Theresa, Brent Oberon, the internet stalker from today, you knew him?"

  I gulped; this was what I was afraid of.

  "Yes, well, I recognized him from the internet. Um, okay, that's not right. I recognized him, when I saw him in person, as someone I had met about eleven years ago through the internet. He was older and heavier but the same guy."

  Josh gave me an appraising look. "So, you mean you spoke with this man on the internet and then met him in person?"

  "Yes."

  He waited. I knew he wanted to ask me if I had been raped. I hadn't, but the fact he was even thinking it proved to be my worst nightmare. That, if this information got out, people would assume the worst. I didn't want people to think about me at all. I wanted anonymity, I was a blogger, a sharer of information, not a hero, or someone that took down pedophiles. I just wanted to share what I knew from a safe distance. If life had taught me anything, it was that people could be cruel.

  I sighed, feeling suddenly exhausted. "Nothing happened to me, Josh, if that is what
you're wondering. I didn't meet him. I set up a time to meet him, but I hid until he arrived to make sure. That man, Brent? He showed up in a van, just like today. Not the same one, though. Did you go to his home?"

  "Yes, and that is all I'm going to say for now. Jimmy has given me Maggie's laptop, so I will be reading back through the history. For now, there is nothing else I need from you."

  I wanted to ask if the guy we'd caught was as bad as I suspected he was. But Bobby and Jimmy arrived with the special coffees. Josh put away his notepad and pen, effectively ending our business, then he and Jimmy got into a discussion about how Josh and Bobby had met. Bobby scooted closer to me, and we talked about how today's events went down.

  "You know, Bobby, I saw that bastard and almost upchucked breakfast. He's so lucky all I had was a can of mace."

  He laughed. Then his face sobered. I guess it was like a nasty trigger. "How are you feeling about that. You must feel empowered that you were there to make sure nothing happened to Maggie. Especially, after what could have happened to you."

  You could hear a pin drop. Jimmy and Josh had fallen silent. "You mean Steve," Jimmy asked.

  "No," Bobby said, "I mean that asshole in—" Bobby stopped, responding to my eyes going as big as saucers. "Yeah, Steve," he finished awkwardly.

  Jimmy didn't buy it for a minute, but he was a gracious host. He and Josh picked up where they'd left off.

  "Sorry," Bobby whispered.

  "It's okay," I whispered back. "I was going to tell him eventually."

  Josh stood up. "Time to go, my shift starts at 6:00 am." We walked the couple to the door and said goodnight. When the door closed, I summoned my courage and faced Jimmy. "Maybe I should get going and let you have some down time." I made to grab my purse.

  "Ten."

  "Excuse me?"

  "Didn't I already say you weren't leaving?"

  "Yes, Jimmy." I put my purse back down, relieved that he wasn't ready to get rid of me. Before I could fall into despair about feeling like a feeble-minded woman, he said. "I'll give you a head start. Go!"

  I took off like a shot, but he caught up to me on the landing. I squealed as he hauled me up and over his shoulder. As I dangled down, I smacked his ass.

  "You cheeky little thing," he said with a laugh.

  Jimmy

  I wanted to beat her ass until she screamed for mercy. She'd ignored my texts earlier, forcing me to find her through Bobby. When I came screeching into the parking lot, Maggie was just running onto the field and Theresa was waving her back and pointing to me. It wasn't until I saw Josh, holding a suspect at gun point, that relief flooded me like a drug. For that alone, she had it coming, but now I find out there is still more she hasn't shared. How many protective layers did she have? I was hoping I would slice through the rest tonight, so we could begin our life together without the baggage holding us back.

  As I carried a squealing Theresa up the stairs, I silently thanked Josh for being there. If he hadn't been, I probably would have killed the guy and would now be in prison. Beyond that, the most upsetting part of today for me was the loss of control. I'd been fighting my instincts since the park. Theresa was right, if I'd shared my initial reaction with her, it would not have ended well. But by holding back, I was able to look at the scenario in a different light.

  She had been driven by the need to protect. I know that feeling. I also know the last thing she needed was to be berated by me; what she needed more was to be accepted and seen in a hero's light. Celebrating her, with friends, needed to happen. But now, in private, I could share my displeasure at her actions.

  I loved what she'd done for Mags. But not at such a high risk. She didn't consult me first, and I know why. I would have said no way, and she didn't want to be stopped. She knew there were other ways to handle the situation, but she didn't choose them. I'd been confused earlier as to why. But something had happened to her before. I picked up on it at the field, the pedophile was laughing at something when I reached T. I wondered, after what Bobby said, if she knew the guy.

  I deposited her on the bed. "Okay, Theresa, it's time for you to pay."

  She stared up at me, unsure of herself. I saw two things in her eyes that were at odds, despair and hope. She needed me to punish and forgive her. I thought I'd done that earlier, but maybe absolving her of the newest mystery would assuage her guilt. What else had happened to my girl to have created so much self-loathing?

  "Here's how this is going to work. You can share with me, willingly, what the fuck you were thinking and what the fuck Bobby was referring to. Or I will beat your ass until you can't sit down for a week, right before I fuck it, and you'll still tell me what I want to know."

  She was silent. She needed more from me to get her submission. I stalked to the bathroom and grabbed a wooden bath brush. Her eyes dilated when she saw it. I sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her over my lap. I placed one of my legs over hers to keep her locked in place.

  "Last chance, bella." I raised the brush and brought it down with a crack. She yelped but didn't move. I slammed the brush down again and again. "Is this what you need, Theresa? To relieve you of your guilt and self-loathing, for being a bad girl. You know you were a bad girl, don't you?" I punctuated each word with a smack.

  She was squirming and crying. Her ass was still beet read from our pre-dinner belt time. With the mention of bad girl, I felt her denial. She needed to get past the denial stage.

  "Come on, T, tell me what a bad girl you are." I added a little more force to my swats on her steaming back side. I felt her shiver and let go. A dozen more and she was crying like a baby, letting go of all the guilt, at least I hoped so.

  "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I was bad. I am bad, Jimmy; you should hate me. What did I do? I did a stupid thing; I always do stupid things." I rubbed her ass; she had raised welts at her sit spot that would give her grief for days. I brought the brush down for two hard strokes. "I forgave you earlier, what's this about, Theresa?"

  "I'm a bad person, Jimmy. You shouldn't leave your daughter with me," she cried. I brought the brush down several more times. This was getting me nowhere. She had to confess what was eating her up inside.

  "You're right, Theresa; you are bad, a very, bad girl." I spanked her again. "I guess I should cut you loose while I still can." She wailed so loudly, I was beginning to worry. "Jimmy, I did it. I did what Maggie did, after you left."

  Shit. I didn't know if I could hear this confession without putting my fist through a wall. "A few months after you left and my daily episodes with those disgusting boys didn't seem to have an end in sight, I went online and got a Twitter account. I made friends with a guy. I was fourteen and full of myself and acted like I knew everything. I set up a time to meet him at the field, the same field as today."

  Her voice cracked, fresh tears leaking from her beautiful eyes. "I had a bad feeling, so instead of waiting by the bleachers like he'd said, I hid behind the bushes by the washrooms. I was expecting a fifteen-year-old, a Jimmy look alike. It was an older man who arrived in a van. I watched him until he left the park. Then I ran home and cried for being such an idiot and swore I'd never tell anyone. But, one night, Bobby got me drunk and I told him about it. I never thought I would see him again. But then, today," she stopped as if to brace herself for the next part of her confession, "he was there. It was the man you saw today, Jimmy. He remembered me and called me by my name."

  Damn it, I'd left, and her world fell apart in every way. I was an asshole.

  "I'm bad. I'm damaged, Jimmy. When I saw that fake profile on Maggie's phone, I went dark. I don't know how else to explain it. I shut down, and another part of me took over. I thought about it in the shower, Jimmy. I don't even know how I got through the day without tossing my cookies. I didn't recognize that Theresa; there must be something wrong with me."

  I held her and rubbed her while she cried. "Cara, you have it all wrong. You are good; this is all my fault. You needed me, and for the first time, I wasn't here. This
guy, and Steve, were reflections of me; that is why you got hurt. You needed your Jimmy, and he wasn't there. I love you, vita mia. Please forgive me for being the worst friend and a selfish ass."

  She turned around on my lap so she could wrap her legs around my waist and rest her face on my chest. I crooned in Italian as I rocked her. Minutes passed, when I felt her grip on me lessen. Her breathing changed; she'd fallen asleep.

  I stood up, hanging onto her with one hand, while, with the other, I pulled back the blankets. I put her in bed and climbed in behind her. As I pulled her in tight, she sighed and pressed her ass back into my groin. In the morning, I would take her ass as I promised. But tonight, I would hold her tight and keep her safe.

  I knew now, what her dual look from earlier meant. If I hadn't accepted her, the despair would have won out and maybe for good. The other, hope, she now hung onto. I would feed that in her and help her to let go of all the condemnation she held over herself. I would help her rebuild and keep her safe.

  Chapter Nine

  Jimmy

  I woke long before Theresa, but instead of getting up, I stayed and held her close. When I felt her stir, I reached down and squeezed her ass. She let out the cutest mewl. Her ass was still swollen and hot from last night. I squeezed hard, and she let out a yelp. Now I had her attention. With one hand, I continued to squeeze, and with the other, I reached between her legs, stroking her silky folds.

  "Theresa," I whispered, "this is mine." I squeezed her ass firmly, eliciting another yelp. My cock grew hard from the wonderful sounds she was making. She liked it a little rough, her nether lips wet, swollen, and aroused. "This," I said, sliding my finger into her ass, "is also mine."