by Abby Wood
"I don't understand." She held on to him tighter. "From what I can find out, those pictures were taken before I was born. Why would my mother be with Professor Frank and not my father?"
Good question. Although, he had a suspicion that Addison's mother might've hired out to satisfy her submissive cravings or even been a part of the people who hung around Professor Frank. Obviously, Curt Stewart was kept in the dark of his lovers habits. He sighed.
"I'll go talk to Professor Frank," he said.
A tremor swept through Addison. He peered down at her. She'd lost all color in her complexion.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I can't…God, my mother. What we do is between us, and I know no one else would understand our relationship, but it makes me sick to think of my mother at the hands of your friend."
He tilted her chin. "Listen to me. We don't know what went on between them, but you know it's possible to have feelings for someone who dominates you. Your mother might've enjoyed a submissive lifestyle. Professor is just like me—"
"God, don't say that. He's nothing like you. What he was doing was evil and sick." She pushed away from him. "He's nothing like you."
"We'll talk more about this later. Right now, I'm going to have the guys come back inside and finish packing away your things. I want you home with me." He picked up the pictures. "Is there anything else around here that you don't want anyone else to see?"
She shook her head. "I'll put them back in the box and put it all in the car."
"Okay." He kissed her. "Don't worry. We'll wait to figure out everything after I visit with Professor Frank."
"Wait." She tugged him closer. "Are you okay?"
"No, but I will be," he muttered. "Don't give up on me."
"You were angry," she whispered, ducking her chin.
"You're mine." He stroked her head. "I won't let anything come between us."
She nodded and backed away. "I took the rest of the day off, so I'll go to your house after I grab a few things."
"I'll talk to you there then," he said.
He stepped out of the room and leaned against the wall. His legs still shook from the discovery. He hated to see Addison in pain, but he knew that if her mother was involved with Professor Frank, she was there voluntarily.
He pushed off the wall. Once he had answers, everything could go back to normal and Addison could put her past behind her. And, hopefully his friendship with Professor Frank wouldn't be compromised by his support of Addison.
Chapter Thirty-One
If Nathan hadn't been studying Professor Frank closely, he would've missed the slight hesitation in his step upon spotting him.
Nathan had waited two hours, standing in the enclave by the front door, for Professor Frank's classes to let out. He bided his time going over how he'd bring up the subject of Addison's mother without losing his cool.
Things were still tender between him and Addy. He didn't want to bring more tension into her life.
"Nathan." Professor stopped on the step. "I wasn't expecting you, but I'm glad to see you."
He stepped forward. "Do you have time to talk…privately?"
Professor lowered his chin. "Absolutely. Come inside."
Nathan followed him into the house, waited while Professor grabbed a water bottle out of the refrigerator, and then passed him the drink. "Sit. Tell me what's going on. You usually come around in the night. Can I hope that someone else is keeping you busy and you escaped work to visit with an old friend?"
The photo of Addison's mom and Professor Frank burned in his pocket. He'd filched the picture without Addison even seeing, because he wanted proof when he came to confront Professor. His relationship with Professor was built on honesty and truth, something he'd had drilled into him as a child by the man himself. The thought that the hard-earned bond they'd built through the years was put on the table between them and the outcome capable of devastating him kept him quiet.
"Something's bothering you," Professor Frank said.
He nodded, leaning forward and bracing himself on his knees. "I need to know what your connection is to Addison Flint's mother."
Professor finished taking a drink and lowered the bottle. "The woman you're involved with…"
"Yes." His arms tensed.
"I've never talked to you about the women I've been involved with for a reason. It's none of your business." He shook his head. "If you're asking if I own a woman, I can tell you I haven't owned anyone for the last four years. You know that. Nothing has changed."
Since the lifestyle Professor lived put him in jeopardy while teaching, he knew Professor went off campus to seek women for sex. He'd taught Nathan how to keep his private life separate from his professional life and as far as anyone knew, Professor Frank walked the straight and narrow while teaching since getting in trouble years ago for being caught on campus, while being a teacher. The school frowned on teachers influencing the students.
"You would've known the woman at least twenty seven years ago." Nathan stood, prepared to push for the truth.
Professor leaned back and crossed his legs. "I see. Is there a reason why you're questioning me about my past or why I should divulge information that has nothing to do with you?"
Nathan ran his hand over his jaw. "Because I need answers."
"We all need answers…"
He stared at Professor Frank in disappointment. Often he'd lapse into asking him questions in an attempt to draw Nathan out of his comfort zone. Professor had taken the time to teach him when others had failed on why he was the man he was today. Right now though, his avoidance of answering pissed him off.
He pulled out the photo and tossed it on the coffee table. "What is your relationship to Carly Flint?"
Professor Frank refused to look at the picture and instead, gazed at Nathan for more beats than he had patience for. He fisted his hands, pleading with him silently to be honest.
"Bring me Addison, and I'll answer all your questions," Professor Frank said.
"No. Fucking. Way." Nathan stepped toward him.
Professor held up his hand. "Son, you have no room to push your way into my business. What I have to say will affect her more than you, and I swore on my life I would never tell."
"You're not touching her." He growled.
"Of course not." Professor stood and faced Nathan. "I will break my promise for you. Only you. But, I want Addison to hear everything from my lips and not someone else."
"I don't owe you," he muttered. "This has nothing to do with what you've done for me. Don't make Addison pay."
Professor shook his head. "I would never hurt her."
"How do I know that?" he asked.
Professor Frank clamped his hand on Nathan's shoulder, despite Nathan topping him by five inches and thirty pounds. "Because you are my heart. You're the child I raised and my proudest accomplishment."
###
"Absolutely not." Addison planted her hands on her hips and stood before him naked in the bedroom. "There's no way I can look the Professor in the face knowing what he did to my mother."
Nathan ran his hands across his face. "He's just like anyone else. If you hadn't seen the pictures, you'd have no idea what he enjoyed doing privately. The same way people look at me and see a successful man. Except, Professor Frank is…he's a good guy, doll. He's the only person who gave me guidance when all I wanted to do is destroy myself. He caught me pilfering cars when I was twelve, and instead of turning me in, he forced me to show up at his house the next day without threatening me. From then on, I had someone to explain why I needed to act out. He guided me and gave me proper outlets. He built me into believing in myself, instead of the hatred contaminating my life."
She snorted and crossed her arms. "You don't know how you would've turned out. Maybe you would've—she shook her head—I don't know."
"I do." He looked at her. "I'd be dead. I wanted to die, because I had no control over the darkness."
Her whole body sl
umped. "I hate this."
"We're not going to get any answers about your mother if you don't talk with him. I'll be with you the whole time. Nothing will happen. He only wants to talk to you about your mother, and he doesn't want the information coming from anyone else. He's…sworn some secret deal with your mother." He approached Addison. "If not tomorrow, then we'll go the next day or the following week. Think about it. You need closure, and the only way you'll find it is to discover who your mother is."
"I know who she is…now…was. I also know who my father is." She leaned forward and head-planted into his chest. "My parents suck."
His chest rumbled under her head. "At least you know who they are."
"Shit." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry. I've been so focused on me, I'm being inconsiderate."
He chuckled. "You think I care? I don't. I wouldn't wish for family problems. I'm seeing the benefits of growing up on the streets."
She slapped his arm. "Don't say that."
"You know what that'll get you." He glared.
Her stomach quivered and she stuck her chin in the air. "I'm not quite sure."
He lunged for her. She screamed and ran. Laughter made her slow, and he caught her at the top of the stairs. "Let me go."
The arm around her waist lifted her feet off the ground. She kicked out, but the happiness bubbled out of her. After they made love when he got home from running his errand, he'd turned playful.
A playful Nathan was a sight to see and experience. She wiggled and finally he let her down in the bedroom, but before she could do anything else, she was pinned to the bed.
"Oomph." She grunted.
His gaze heated. With a loss of breath and the fire in Nathan's eyes, her pussy spasmed in anticipation. "Again?"
He nodded, pushing off her and getting off the bed. She lay, watching him walk to the closet and return with one of her scarves. She bit her lip to keep from smiling. Just like that, he could take her from warm to hot.
A scarf, she could handle.
"Stand up." He waited at the end of the bed.
She crawled toward him and slid off the mattress. He knotted the end of the scarf around her wrist. She held the other arm up for him, but he ignored the offered hand. Then he stepped onto the mattress and tied the other end of the scarf to a white hook she'd never noticed in the ceiling.
She tugged her hand. "Nathan?"
"You want to run…" He shrugged. "Run."
Confused, she yanked on the scarf. It wasn't tight, but she couldn't slip her hand out of the knot, nor could she walk more than two feet in a circle. She crossed her arms. "I don't get it."
If she wanted, she could touch him. Usually, he kept her from participating and put her at his mercy.
"You seem to enjoy trying to get a rise out of me." He turned around, but not before she caught the twitch of his lips. "Let's see how much you can infuriate me tonight."
Okay. Infuriate was a strong word. She watched him carefully.
He opened up the bottom dresser drawer and removed one of his belts. She stepped back and her arm came uncrossed. The scarf reached its limit.
"I see you're starting to understand what you can and can't do." He walked a full circle around her. "You already know how much I enjoy when you fight me."
She sucked in her breath, turning her head to keep him in her sight as he strolled around her. Once he went behind her, she lost sight of him. A hot pain landed on her ass. Her knees collapsed and she landed on her bottom, her arm pulled above her. Shit.
She had room, but she didn't have much to work with. She could fall to the floor, but couldn't run away without dislocating her arm.
"Already, you've got one mark on your left butt cheek, doll." He snapped the belt.
She jolted at the sound of the strap popping, but no pain came.
"Stand up," he said.
She struggled to get up without putting pressure on her hand. In an upright position, her arm relaxed.
"Now that I've seen the pictures of your mother, I can see the difference between you and her." He ran the end of the belt between her legs.
She scowled. "Nathan…"
"What?" He stopped. "That's what you want to find out, right? You want to know how much you're like your mother."
She shook her head. "No."
"She enjoyed a man's hand, the same way you do." He doubled the leather and slapped her breast.
She jerked, covering herself. "Don't talk about her."
He snapped her other breasts. "Look at that. You get such a lovely blush, just like your mother. I wonder…"
In quick repetition, he walked around her, hitting the leather against her skin. She covered her leg, her stomach, her ass, and tried to refract the stings until her free arm stung from the many times it was whipped as she tried to deflect the hits, and her other arm ached against the pull of the scarf.
Every cell in her body warmed and each sting, each burn, made her lose focus. After Nathan took another turn around her, leaving no area unattended, she gave up and stood there without moving. Her pussy pulsed with the adrenaline pumping through her body.
She fairly vibrated from her muscles spasming. The heat from the contact he made radiated throughout her. Sensitive and alive, even Nathan's breath caressed her skin. He'd touched every inch of her body.
"Beautiful." Nathan stood in front of her and looped the belt around her neck, pulling her forward and capturing her mouth.
Hard, demanding, and suffocating, he used her mouth for his own pleasure as he plunged his tongue inside her. She struggled against the belt, trying to breathe. Lightheaded, she pushed at his stomach.
He pulled back and gazed down at her breasts. She panted, sucking air into her lungs. He'd taken her by force before, but this was different. She couldn't get away if she tried, and he knew it.
While she trusted him, she also feared he'd go too far.
"You like this." He tweaked her hard nipples.
She shivered. "I-I don't know."
He trailed the belt down her stomach, over her bare mound, and stopped. "You crave this."
She didn't. Not this. He'd pushed his way into her head, and she only wanted his touch. She could lose herself under his attention.
"Your mother enjoyed a heavy hand." He stepped back. "You beg for more and delight in every wince of discomfort and caress each mark I've ever left on you when you think I'm not looking. But, I'm always watching you."
"Stop," she whispered.
"I've seen you." He brought the belt down on her outer thigh. "You're more content and confident after each time we're together. You grow and become more secure with each bruise I leave on your skin."
She stared up into his eyes, defying him. She wanted him to stop, but she wanted him to push her for more even worse.
It was all true. She hated her mother, but she had her mother's need to take and take and take.
Nathan kicked her foot out to the side, opening her legs. As she caught her balance, he thrust his finger into her. She groaned. The pleasure, swift and intense, she knew there was no way she could stop herself from coming if he continued.
All she needed was more. More feelings, more touching, more, more, more.
"Your mother liked what was done to her too," he said, adding another finger and holding her suspended from his hand. "Just like you, she begged for more."
She shook her head. "I d-don't want to be like her," she rasped.
He dropped the belt and grabbed her hair, forcing her gaze up. She panted through clenched teeth, hating her reaction, despising the truth about her mother, and most of all wanting him to end the torture and bring her relief.
"The difference between you and your mother is you give." Nathan brought his mouth down to her ear, nipping on her earlobe and whispering. "You give me every part of yourself, doll."
His thumb pressed against her clit without him taking his fingers out of her. She rose on tiptoe, leaning against the pressure. The pain from her arm warm
ed her, until she absorbed Nathan in front of her, his touch, his words, his breath.
"Unlike your mother who held herself back from loving you properly, you made sure others would never feel the neglect. The dolls, Joan, Lilly, Donny, even me. We all benefit from you," he whispered into her ear. "Come for me, Addy. Feel what you do to all of us."
As if he commandeered her body, her core tightened and exploded, rocking her. Vibrations grew and flowed out to her limbs. Unable to support herself, Nathan picked her up and undid the scarf from her wrist, and then simply held her in the middle of the room.
Weakened, she lay her head on his shoulder, her arms looped around his neck, and gave herself to him fully. She was not like her mother.
First thing in the morning, she was going to prove it to herself, to Nathan, and to her father. She'd get the answers she needed, and attest to Curt Stewart she was worth knowing. If he wanted to deny he had a daughter, that was his right, but at least she'd put one of her fears to rest.
Then, she'd go see Professor Frank with Nathan. Only then could she bury her mother for good, and move on with her life.
She would no longer live in fear. Fear her mother created inside of her. She'd purge herself of anything that resembled Carly Flint.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ten o'clock in the morning after deciding to right her life and move forward the night before, Addison stood outside the Stewart building and gazed up at all nine stories of steel and glass. She closed her eyes as dizziness came over her.
She inhaled the cool air, opened her eyes, and strolled through the automatic doors. For years, she'd hidden behind her mother's fear until even thinking about running into her father caused her to become physically sick. Not anymore.
The lobby receptionist smiled and she returned the gesture. She murmured hello to the guide outside the elevator. As she rode up to the ninth floor, she complimented a woman on her shoes. She wasn't lying. The four-inch magenta pumps were sexy.
Without an appointment to announce her visit, she hoped to catch Curt Stewart by surprise and gauge his reaction in private. In his office. In his building. In his environment where he felt safe and protected.
