Fool for Love (Believe #2)

by Karen Ferry

  I smile. “I guess so. That’s a nice story.”

  I want to ask him more questions about his family, but my instincts tell me I should wait.

  Silence settles between us once more, and I contemplate on moving away from his warmth when he gives my shoulder a soft shake.

  “It’s time to sleep, waif. I’ll just go call Rowan for you.”

  I groan. “Ugh. I hope you were right before about him not giving me the boot because I failed to show up tonight.”

  I scoot to the edge of the bed and stand on wobbly legs.

  “I’m always right,” Garrett grumbles. I turn to look him over.

  “I was right before. You’re very cocky.” I smile when his lips lift infinitesimally, and I can tell from his tired eyes that he must be just as exhausted as I am right now.

  “I guess I am. Goodnight, waif.” He stands up and I nod once as he passes me, trying to not let the hurt that he won’t stay with me shine.

  “Goodnight, Garrett,” I whisper and take a step to the bathroom. I’m stopped briefly when his hand touches my arm, and I turn my head with raised eyes, waiting for his next move.

  “Thank you,” he whispers before he releases me and walks away. I’m left stunned, jittery even, because that’s the last thing I expected from him. How odd. As he walks to the kitchen, I admire the firm muscles of his back and his gorgeous arse. I bite my lip, barely catching myself from calling out to him. My body can’t take any more lessons from him tonight.

  But there’s always tomorrow as long as I remember where I stand.

  Keeping up appearances in this sexual relationship with Garrett is essential for my wellbeing.

  For my heart.

  “‘Thank you?’ What the fuck, dude?” I mutter to myself when Suzy’s out of earshot. I sounded pathetic. What I meant to say was that I feel privileged that she is submitting to me, but I have a feeling she didn’t get my meaning.

  Hell, I don’t even know what I meant.

  Sighing, I watch her walk away, admiring her swaying hips and ass. Once she’s left me alone, I pick up my phone to call Rowan. That little prick better not be set on causing her any problems, or he’ll have me to answer to.

  He picks up almost immediately.

  “Well, Garrett, what an unwelcome surprise. To what do I owe this honour?” he slurs.

  I grimace but choose to ignore his intoxicated state.

  “Suzy couldn’t make her shift. Some kind of stomach bug caught her, so I’m calling to tell you that she’s sorry, but she probably won’t be in until later this week.”

  The lies fall easily from my lips, like always.

  “Oh, really?” He doesn’t buy it. “I was wondering how long it would take you to bang her, Garrett. I must say she held out longer than I thought she would; when I saw your address on her application, I laughed my ass off.”

  My blood boils from hearing the absolute disrespect of the woman in my bed, but it won’t do to lose my temper now.

  He’s not worth the effort.

  But I can’t let it lie, either.

  “Don’t forget who owns the deed to your club, asshole,” I seethe. His laughter dies down immediately.

  “Good. Suzy will be back on Thursday.” I don’t even bother saying goodnight before finishing the call. When I notice how late it is, I groan. Three am.

  “I’m getting too old for this shit,” I grumble. I shake my head as I catch myself speaking aloud – again. Rubbing my eyes, I put my phone down on the counter and then set about turning off the lights. Rufus is snoring on my couch, and I push him slightly away so that I have room to lie down.

  Hearing the door to the bathroom open behind me, I immediately shut my eyes. I have an overwhelming need to go to my waif, to lie down beside her and hold her all night, but I resist the temptation. I can’t afford to get attached, no matter how sweet she is. No matter how I secretly wish for the loneliness to dissipate for one night.

  I can only enjoy her for the next couple of months. Once she leaves, that’ll be that.

  My head listens and wants the same as I do.

  It’s a shame my heart seems to have awakened without permission, because I fall asleep feeling a lot less bereft than I usually do.

  MY PHONE RINGING WAKES me from my exhausted sleep, and I groan as I reach out my hand to take it from my bedside table. I can’t have been asleep for long, and don’t bother checking the caller-ID before answering.

  “’lo?” I mumble.

  “Suzanne?” My mother’s voice greets me, and my eyes snap open.

  “Mum?” I remove the blanket covering my head and sit up on my elbow, a sinking feeling in my tummy settling in.

  “How are you?” she asks me. While she’s good at hiding her nerves, she isn’t as successful as usual.

  “Well…tired, actually. It’s very early here.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have checked the time.”

  “It’s okay…” I don’t know what to say. “So…is there a particular reason you called?”

  The silence is deafening, but I can’t take it to heart. The last time we spoke, it didn’t exactly end well, and my soul bleeds when I remember the harsh words we exchanged.

  “Oh, I…I guess I just wanted to hear your voice.” This side to my mother is completely new to me. She’s always been so confident, but aloof.

  “When are you coming home?” she asks me. I sigh a little.

  “You already know this, mother. In three months, just like I originally planned.”

  “I see. You don’t think…” Her voice trails off, and her hesitancy makes me suspicious.

  “Why should I? Have your feelings about my ‘abnormal lifestyle’ changed?” I spit out and I soldier on, not giving her the chance to answer. “Or have you conveniently forgotten that I’m adopted, and now all of a sudden have decided to be a real mother to me?”

  “Suzanne!” Her gasp only spurs on my anger.

  “What? Oh, no, I haven’t forgotten our last conversation, mother. Don’t tell me that you have?”

  “Of course not,” she hisses. There’s the woman I know. “But I thought that we could at least have a civil conversation this time. I won’t tolerate that tone, missy.”

  I snort. “Right, of course not. The mighty Alice Christensen doesn’t raise her voice, now, does she? Always keeping up appearances.”

  “Suzanne, please. I’m sure that once you get that strange idea out of your head, you’ll realise how silly you are.”

  I gasp, but look up once I see a sudden movement at the foot of my bed. Garrett is standing there, frown in place, and Rufus is up on his hind legs beside him, tongue lolling.

  “Mother, I can’t talk right now,” I mutter and grit my teeth.

  “Oh? Why not?”

  I don’t care to explain the hotness standing before me right now. Garrett is only wearing his sweatpants, and as my lingering eyes follow every hard plane of his chest, my body heats up, despite the current situation.

  “Hello?” My mother’s question breaks the spell I’m under.

  “I’ll call you in a couple of days,” I tell her, but even I can hear the lie coating my words.

  There are always lies following me around.

  Before my mother can protest, I remove the phone from my ear and end the call.

  “Who was that?” Garrett’s frown deepens. “From what I could hear, it sounded unpleasant – even though I couldn’t understand a word of what you were saying.”

  Carefully, I place the phone on the table to my left and wet my lips.

  “I’m sorry I woke you up.” Biding for time, I tuck the blankets covering me up to my chin and draw up my knees underneath them, closing my eyes. The mattress dips down, and I can feel the comforting warmth from Rufus as he leans his head into my side; I scratch his ears, and a deep rumble sounds from his throat.

  I sense Garrett’s presence beside me before he speaks.

  “Come on, Suzy. Who was it?”

  His voice is
unrelenting as usual.

  “My mother. We aren’t…on the best of terms these days.” I keep my eyes shut tight, hoping he won’t ask more questions. At the same time, I want him to put his arms around me, tuck me close, and whisper in my ear that everything will be alright.

  That he’s got me.

  And that he’ll take care of me.

  Only…he doesn’t.

  “I see.”

  We stay silent for the longest time, only interrupted by the soft pants coming from Rufus. There is a barrier between us now that I can’t seem to cross. Did I put it up? Or is this reality knocking on our door, giving way to something that Garrett can’t handle?

  “We should get some sleep,” Garrett whispers. I nod, keeping my eyes down, and turn my back to him.

  “Goodnight,” I whisper on a broken sob. I do my best to keep my heartache inside.

  “Night, waif,” he whispers.

  Then I’m alone.

  Always alone. Always lonely.

  I contemplate Suzy’s state of mind the next morning. I don’t know why the need to take away her worries has taken root, but I can’t deny that it has. I can’t say that I care for it – our relationship is meant to be purely physical, after all – but the way her doe-eyes looked as I left her last night calls to all my protective instincts. Instincts that have been lying dormant for so many years now.

  It’s part of a Dom’s nature to take away the worries of his sub. To see to her needs in every way. But this is different somehow. Perhaps the reason is because we live together; we get to see facets to each other’s characters that would be absent in a regular Dom/sub relationship.

  Contrary to what the tabloids believe, I’m not a complete asshole. I take care of what is mine.

  I just do it my own way – discreetly.

  It was strangely difficult to leave her alone last night, but I didn’t know how to comfort her. I’m emotionally crippled, and while I know I could have made her forget her woes for a while if I had initiated another bout of fucking, I’m not that big of an asshole. I knew that’s not what she needed at that moment. But that’s all there’s left of me now; the means to physical release.

  For now, I’ll let Suzy’s secrets rest; but I’m determined to find out what has her in such turmoil. This thing we have may only be temporary, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t offer her my protection if she needs it.

  I’m in the middle of making an omelette when a low growl from Rufus makes me pause, skillet in hand.

  “What is it, boy?” I mumble as he jumps from the couch and trots towards the door. Frowning, I turn down the heat on the stove when I hear a sharp rap, followed by the doorbell. I glance to the bathroom at the other end of my apartment before I go to answer.

  The two men on the other side make me freeze up, warning bells setting off in my head. I narrow my eyes at them.

  “Can I help you?” I ask the shortest guy.

  “Garrett Thompson?” He takes off his sunglasses and peers at me, a quizzical look in his eyes. His grey suit looks crumpled; a bit old, but it’s clean.

  I nod. “Who are you?”

  He takes out a badge, and I raise my eyes in surprise when I read it: NYPD.

  “I’m Detective Eddie McCloud. This is my partner, Detective Dennis Easton. May we come in?”

  I shrug and stand back from the door, indicating with my hand that they have my permission. I don’t exactly want them to get a glimpse of Suzy, but when New York’s finest knocks on your door, you don’t tell them to get lost.

  “How may I help you?” I ask as I walk to the couch where Rufus has gone to lie down. I rub his ears as I sit down and indicate for the two detectives to sit down on the other side of the coffee table.

  I focus on Detective McCloud as he takes a seat.

  “We’d like to know where you were last night between one am and four am, please.”

  Fuck. I don’t like the sound of this.

  “Well, I was here.”

  My dad’s old advice – one I never thought I’d need – springs to mind. Always keep your answers short and to the point when dealing with the cops.

  He leans forward in his seat, and I glance to Detective Easton when he taps on his knee, his fingers clearly restless.

  “Is there anyone who can vouch for you, Mr Thompson?”

  I grit my teeth. “Yes.”

  He raises an eyebrow, remaining silent. If he thinks I’ll give up Suzy’s name willingly, he’ll have to wait for a long time.

  “Who?” he finally asks. I cross my arms on my chest.

  “A good friend.”

  “Mr. Thompson, we don’t wish to be a nuisance,” Detective McCloud butts in, and the apologetic tone of his voice makes me relax slightly. “But the fact of the matter is that a woman was assaulted in the back alley of your cousin’s…err…establishment, and she’s unconscious at the hospital. Seeing as you are a frequent guest there, and an investor as well, we have to ask these questions.”

  “Bullshit,” I bite out. He sits back, a frown marring his face. I uncross my arms and lean towards him, anger at his implications making my body vibrate.

  “The only reason you’re here is because someone must have given you some kind of lead, telling you to look in my direction, but I can tell you right now that you’re fucking wrong. Now, if you have any further questions, I suggest you give me a time and place to come down to your precinct to make a formal statement. And you can bet your fucking asses that I’ll bring my lawyer with me.”

  “Garrett?” Suzy’s voice makes me snap my head in her direction, and I quickly stand and go to her.

  She’s only wearing a tank top and yoga pants, and I hate that these two fucktards get to see her in this state.

  “Is everything okay?” she asks me. I lean down to whisper in her ear.

  “Everything’s fine. Please go back to the bathroom, and don’t come out until I get you.”

  “But –”

  “No buts, Suzy,” I interrupt her, looking into her eyes. The annoyed expression there would usually make me smile, but all I can think about is to get her away from this messed up situation she just walked into.

  She stares hard into my eyes before wrenching her arm out of my hold.

  “Fine. But you bet your arse you’re going to tell me what’s going on when we’re alone again.”

  I only nod, and she walks away from me, almost stomping her feet.

  My back is still to the unwelcome visitors and I roll my eyes at her stubbornness before I turn back to the detectives. They are both staring after Suzy. While Detective McCloud only looks mildly amused, it’s the eyes of the other one, Easton, that makes my skin crawl.

  I do not like the way he’s checking out my waif.

  “I don’t believe I have anything else to say, gentlemen,” I announce, walking past them. I open the door and stand back. “Like I said, if you have more questions, let me know.”

  Detective McCloud shrugs and leaves my home without any objections. As Detective Easton takes his time to peruse my home, I seethe, impatient to have this creep out of here as fast possible.

  He meanders closer towards me and stops in front of me. I lift my chin and wait; it gives me a strong sense of satisfaction to be able to look down at him, but I still want him out of my home right this minute. Yet, it’s clear he has something to say to me.

  “Mr. Thompson, I take it that little sweet piece of ass is your alibi?”

  As much as I want to have his face connect with my fist right now, I lock my body in place, not giving in to his bait. I keep silent.

  Disappointment fills his eyes as he narrows them at me.

  “We’ll be in touch. Oh, and…” He stops on the threshold and grins back at me. “Be sure to not leave the city in the near future.”

  With that, he walks away. Every fiber of my being wants to slam the door after him. My strong sense of control makes me move as if on autopilot, and I simply shut it slowly, locking it behind me.

  I
count to twenty. Only then do I allow my rage to blow, and I smash my fist into the wall.

  A gasp behind me makes me turn abruptly, and I scowl at Suzy.

  “I told you not to come out until I gave you my permission,” I snap at her. I want to bite my tongue when I see her grey eyes fill with anger.

  “Let’s get something clear here, Garrett,” she seethes and stalks toward me. “You do not have the permission to order me around as if I’m your maid. Oh, and while we’re at it, last night?” She jabs a finger in my chest, and my scowl deepens. “Consider that a one-time thing, mister. No one speaks to me like that. You may be a fantastic fuck, but I will not tolerate this.”

  She gives a small toss with her head and walks away from me. She’s headed for the walk-in-closet, and I shake my head at her.

  Well, fuck me. She’s got more spirit than I thought.

  I don’t have time to deal with a woman in the middle of a hissy fit, so I turn back to the kitchen to finish our breakfast. Well, what’s left of it, anyway. I grimace as I look down at the messy glob in the pan before I turn to throw it away it in the trashcan.

  When someone makes me mess up my food, I get pissed off. And the fact that two detectives turned up at my doorstep, practically accusing me of a despicable crime I have no knowledge about only strengthens my irritation.

  I need to call my lawyer, and fast.

  I have to get a lid on this before shit hits the fan.

  I look at Suzy as she storms towards the door. She’s wearing a black, formfitting tube skirt, and a deep-blue button-down shirt with lace at the sleeves. Her legs look even longer than usual when she’s in her black stockings and stilettos.

  My mouth waters from the sight of her, and I frown when she takes down her coat.

  “Where are you going?” I ask her, wiping my hands on a dishtowel.

  “None of your damn business,” she mutters as she yanks the strap of her black purse over her head.

  “The hell it is,” I growl, but I don’t stop her in time. She rushes out the door away from me, without a second glance, and I follow her down the corridor, close on her heels.