Feather Light (Knead Me)

by Lorenz Font

  “You’re safe here, Ms. Storm.”

  The butler led the way, ushering her along a tastefully decorated foyer. Everything in the room screamed wealth and elegance. The magnificent artwork adorning the walls absorbed her attention until they reached a small elevator shaft that looked straight out of an old movie. With reluctance, she stepped in.

  While the elevator rose, Kelly thought about what she’d seen so far. The house was structured to her liking. When they stopped, she was surprised at what the doors slid open to reveal. She gasped at the uniqueness of the walls, which were stenciled with hands, feathers, and hearts. Her curiosity was piqued. She wanted to see the rest of the house right away. If the price was right, she’d be looking at an impulse buy, not that a house in the city would ever be a dead investment.

  “This way, please.” The butler preceded her to dimly lit room.

  Kelly adjusted her eyes to the darkness, hoping for more light so she could further appreciate the house.

  “There’s a cabernet in the decanter for you.” He proceeded to pour her a glass without even asking if she wanted it.

  “Where’s Marcy, and what’s taking Jessica so long?” she asked, taking a seat on the sofa. She started to wonder why she was being served wine, and not just any wine, but her favorite red at that.

  “Oh, forgive my manners. Ms. Marcy phoned earlier and said she wouldn’t be able to make it tonight—a family emergency. She sent her assistant on her behalf. I will call on him now.”

  “Wait. Marcy’s not coming?”

  “No, Ms. Storm, but she wanted me to reassure you that her assistant is very competent.” With a warm smile, he strode out of the room.

  Soon after, she heard the whir of the elevator, followed by soft murmurs. Since she was now alone, she decided it wouldn’t hurt to look around. Kelly took a sip of wine and crossed the room to switch on the lights.

  The first thing that caught her attention was the sound of her own laughter coming from a hidden speaker system.

  What the hell? Kelly went on instant alert as goose bumps rose on her neck. When she looked around, all she saw were hundreds of pictures of herself hung on the wall in a neat collage. Every space held an image of her.

  Was this some sick joke? She was poised to flee when her own voice came over the speaker.

  “I find myself wanting to be with you every second of the day because I want to feel your touch, hear your voice, and see your smile. The day is not long enough to show you how much you mean to me, even with the short time we’ve known each other. I never thought instant attraction was even possible until I met you. And I believe that I have a good man holding me and keeping me close.”

  Kelly stopped, unable to believe what she was hearing. She’d said those words to Parker. The CD! Her eyes welled with tears. She couldn’t fathom how or why she was being subjected to such torture. Nobody knew about the disc except her and …

  Running to the sofa, she snatched up her purse and set the glass on the table, spilling the red wine all over it. She groaned, hoping it wouldn’t leave a stain.

  “Damn it!” She fumbled inside her bag for a tissue. Kelly was attempting to wipe it up when she heard footsteps outside the door, and another noise she couldn’t quite place. She turned around just as Parker walked in the room, and in his hand was a harness connected to a dog.

  He pointed at the table. “I’m sorry if I can’t help you with that.”

  Tongue-tied, she stared at him. She slung her purse on her shoulder and was making a run for the door when he reached out for her. Parker caught her arm and pulled her closer.

  “No.”

  “Please, Ann …” He hesitated. “Kelly, I want to explain.”

  Just like that, her body responded to his voice, his touch, betraying her resolve. Still, she hadn’t forgotten what he’d said to her the last time they were together. Kelly braced her palms on his chest and pushed him away.

  “If this is your idea of a sick joke, no one’s laughing but you.” She took a step back, hating the burning protest from her hands the moment they left his chest.

  Parker released his hold on the harness. “Stay, Sasha.” Kelly couldn’t take her eyes off his face. He seemed calmer, a far cry from the last time she’d seen him.

  “Kelly, please. I beg you to give me a moment to explain.” He paused. “Please give me the chance I refused to give you.”

  Just as she was about to respond, another one of her quotes drifted from the speakers.

  “What I’m getting at here is the fact that even if you have doubts and all you see are dead ends, your faith will lead you through all the humps and tumbles. I’m asking you to extend that faith to me. I’m not saying this to waste your time. On the contrary, I see a beginning of a relationship between us so unique that our names are already drawn into the sand.”

  She faltered, and then remembered what her hypnotherapist had told her—self-preservation is the first law of nature.

  “I’m through hiding my feelings. I refuse to be that unfortunate person you vent your anger on.” Kelly’s voice grew stronger with her conviction. “I’m not going to let you or anybody hurt me again!”

  Parker’s face dropped, but he persisted. “What I did to you was unforgivable, but I’m owning up to my mistakes. I’m ashamed of what I’ve said and done. I crossed the line and broke a very important principle of the lifestyle. I was drunk as hell and unfair. I can’t change what happened, but I hope you’ll find it in your heart to give me another chance.”

  He took a step in her direction, and Kelly froze, remembering the night when he’d stalked her like she was his prey. She braced herself.

  “I wasn’t expecting this … you … I can’t do this, Parker.”

  She turned toward the door, and he followed her movements, turning exactly where she was headed. Then he stopped, his expression defeated.

  “I can’t blame you. I’ve been an ass. I just want you to know, despite everything I said before, I never stopped loving you.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything left in me. I have to go. This was a lousy idea, and I don’t like being manipulated.”

  Kelly stalked out, her heart thumping hard in her chest, and her eyes stinging from unshed tears. She ran to the elevator. The butler took one good look at her and pressed the doors open without comment. She fought the tears, wishing she could just disappear. Just when she thought she’d put everything behind her, Parker came storming into her life once more, creating havoc with her heart and making her ache for him all over again.

  She found Jessica sitting inside the car, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, immersed in a phone conversation. Kelly tapped on the window and glared at her friend, who got that deer-in-a-headlights look. She ended the call and unlocked the door.

  “I don’t appreciate your participation in Parker’s stupid attempt to win me back. If there’s anything you should know about me, it’s that once I’ve made up my mind, it’s damned near impossible to change it.”

  Jessica placed a comforting hand on hers. “I know what you’re going to say. I’m sorry. I was just trying to help. You’re miserable, and Parker is the same way. Please forgive me.”

  Kelly shook her head in halfhearted frustration. “You are not forgiven, but I need a drink right now, so I’ll try to endure your company. Just don’t talk about Parker … ever again.”

  Jessica grinned, looking relieved, and she started the engine. “Let’s hang out at the bar in your hotel. I promise, no more mention of—um, of him.”

  “Good!”

  Kelly folded her arms across her chest and stared out the windshield into the dark. Despite her stubborn desire to forget, she was certain that even if his name didn’t come up, she’d still be thinking of him all night and for the foreseeable future.

  Chapter 18

  Parker brushed his fingers across her nipple, stirring the longing she’d been trying so hard to repress. Her body responded, as if it was thinking for her. Kelly a
ched for him to touch her in other places. He smiled before crushing his lips against hers, hot and hungry. Goose bumps rose on her skin everywhere he touched her, from her chest to the juncture of her thighs. She felt his erection straining against his jeans Parker was as ready as she was. She gave in to her body’s heated desire and pressed closer.

  “Tell me you love me,” he commanded when their mouths parted.

  “I love you.”

  Kelly squirmed, ready to explode when he vigorously rubbed her nub. She couldn’t wait any longer. Dying to welcome him and get a taste of heaven, she moaned with absolute pleasure the moment he eased his dick inside her. She trembled beneath him, spreading her legs to accommodate his hard length.

  “Do you love a good fuck, Kelly Storm?”

  “Yes! I love a good fuck.”

  And before she could get that good fuck, she woke up. Drenched in sweat and her body still tingling, she pushed herself up out of bed in frustration and ran to the bathroom. She’d been having these nightly sex dreams ever since she’d seen him in that house. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would be a distraction.

  “Damn you!” She glared at herself in the mirror. “This has got to stop!”

  After winning her first best actress award, she immediately immersed herself in work. Yet, the months following Parker’s attempt to explain had been difficult for her. All she wanted was to be with him, but how could she? She was not going to allow anyone to hurt her again, not after the time it had taken her to heal and get some normalcy back in her life. To her chagrin, every attempt to forget him had so far been unsuccessful.

  The dreams had been her connection to Parker since she’d flat out refused to talk to him. The flowers he’d been sending her every day were sweet, and she hated to admit it, but her steadfast resolve was starting to crumble. Despite the fact that she’d been avoiding his calls and resisting the daily urge to go running back into his arms, she knew it would be a matter of time before she gave in.

  “If this is another mistake, I am swearing off men for good!” Kelly glared at her reflection in the mirror.

  Parker had just arrived in his San Francisco office when his receptionist informed him that his ten thirty appointment had already arrived and was asking if she could go early.

  “Sure,” he said. “Just give me five minutes to make a phone call.”

  “She’ll be in room 104, and her name is Shelby Davis.”

  Parker listened for her fading footsteps before he made the call. He wasn’t expecting an answer, so he wasn’t surprised when it went to her voice mail.

  “Kelly, it’s me again. I know you’re getting sick of hearing my voice, but I just have to hear yours. Please give me a chance to explain myself. One meeting is all I’m asking for. Please, darling.”

  He wasn’t a quitter, and he’d keep trying until she agreed to meet with him. If their relationship was beyond salvaging, at least he’d get to see her one last time and explain things.

  “Sasha, stay and be a good girl, okay?” He rubbed the dog’s head before proceeding to his appointment.

  Parker tapped the door and then stepped into the room. “Good Morning, Ms. Davis.” One whiff of the air and he froze.

  “Woo-rah!”

  That voice!

  “Kelly?”

  For once, he didn’t trust his hearing. He had to touch her. It didn’t matter if he looked like a fool. One touch was all it would take.

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  Kelly stood in front of him, took his hands, and placed them on her cheeks. He ran his fingers over her face, trying to gauge her emotions through his fingertips.

  “I-I’m glad you came. Who’s Shelby Davis?”

  It took her a moment to answer. He began to panic, afraid that he’d asked the wrong question.

  “If you don’t want to answer, it’s okay.”

  “If I would have been pregnant, I hoped that would have been the name of our baby boy or girl.”

  He felt her smile beneath his fingers and wished he could see her face.

  “I’m sorry. I wish you were, Kelly. There’s so much I want to say to—”

  She placed a finger on his lips to silence him.

  “You’ve said enough in your daily phone calls.” She sounded nervous. “Those long messages and explanations … you’ve given me enough reason to come here and tell you why I think this relationship still has a chance.”

  Parker tried to speak, but she kept her fingers on his lips.

  “Let me do the talking first. This is not the bedroom where you can dictate everything that happens. If we’re going to be together, we have to trust each other. I’m not the poster child for honesty, and I want to change that.”

  “Lie down.” Parker dropped his hands to her waist and discovered that she had nothing on. He grinned, and then lifted her onto the massage table.

  Kelly turned and lay on her stomach while he strapped on his oil and lotion belt. Applying soothing pressure to her back, he began the rhythmic massage, waiting for her to speak.

  “I love you, Parker—love you like I’ve never loved another man before. I don’t care if you’re blind. My love for you is stronger than that. The past months have been hell for me. I didn’t think I’d survive. There were so many fears I had to overcome, memories that I had to let go in order to move on. We’ve both made mistakes, but we’ve both moved forward.”

  “I made these changes in my life because I wanted to be the kind of man who deserved your love. From everything you’ve said, it sounds like there’s still hope for us.”

  “There is. But I want you to promise that you’ll talk to me if you have doubts. And I promise to always give you an honest answer. No more lying.”

  Parker ran feather light touches across her back, gliding toward her neck, and easing the tightness in her muscles. He couldn’t resist the urge to touch her face again, trailing his fingers along her lips and feeling them quiver.

  “God, I love you so much,” he said after he eased away.

  “Give me your word that you won’t take your frustrations out on me ever again. I don’t think I could handle another outburst like that from you.”

  “You have my word. I broke the rules, and not a day goes by that I don’t regret subjecting you to such cruelty. I’ve gotten some help, and now I have a firm grasp on who I am and what my limitations are. Just give me a chance to prove to you that I’m a changed man. I need you in my life, Kelly. I want to be the father of your children. I want to hold you in my arms every day for the rest of our lives. I want—”

  Kelly turned and sat up. “I want all those things, too. But most of all, I want to be your partner in everything.” She traced his lips with her fingers, and all his anxiety began to fade away. “I meant every word I said in that CD. Faith in each other will guide us through.”

  “Ann … Kelly, I don’t know what to say. I just wish I could take back every stupid thing that came out of my mouth.”

  She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Kiss me, Parker Davis, and wipe away the past.”

  He smiled and touched his lips to hers. Parker tasted heaven, and that was where he wanted to be. He lightly brushed his hand down her back, loving the silky feel of her skin. She shivered beneath his touch, and he knew everything was going to be all right.

  “Oh, and I’ve done a lot of thinking about your lifestyle. I’m willing to embrace it because it’s important to you,” she said after their long kiss.

  “So … are you trying to tell me that you don’t enjoy it? You’re just doing it to please me?”

  Kelly laughed. “I’m not going to lie. It’s intriguing, and I’m enjoying it. So just show me what you want, and you’ve got yourself a willing partner.”

  “What made you change your mind, darling?”

  “It’s simple. I can’t live without you. It’s either be miserable or try to work it out. And since I want you with me every day, I’m here to work it out.”

  “Are you sure this
is what you want? I mean, I’m not complaining, but are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m absolutely sure. Now, here’s my question. Are you okay with my career and everything that goes along with it?”

  “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

  He climbed on the table and invited her to sit on his lap. When she did, Parker wrapped his arms around her. He wasn’t going to let her go ever again.

  “I want us to get away for a while,” he said. “There’s this special place I want to take you. Would your schedule allow for a week of vacation?”

  “Of course! I’ll make time for you. When and where are we going?” she asked, excited at the prospect of spending time with him.

  “Next week, and I’m not telling you anything more.”

  Parker kissed her neck, making her wish he’d take her right there. She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his kisses.

  “Oh … don’t tease. I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ll stop, not because I want to, but because I want our reunion to be special.” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “Be ready for me, sweetheart, because Parker Davis is back!”

  “How much longer before you let me in on the surprise?” Kelly gripped his hand inside the limousine that was taking them to the rental house outside San Francisco.

  “Just a few more minutes, love. And I’m sure it’s worth the wait.” He ran his hand along her blindfold to make sure it was still in place.

  With the help of Cork, Webbie, and Jessica, he’d been lucky enough to secure this secret gem overlooking the ocean in the tiny coastal town of Mendocino. Parker had visited the town many years ago and couldn’t wait to share it with Kelly. The private beachfront property would be theirs for a whole week.

  After another ten minutes, the driver spoke. “Mr. Davis, we’re here.” The purr of the engine stopped, and the door was whisked open.

  “Love, this is going to be a little tricky. The blind leading the blind.” Parker laughed as he helped her out of the car.