The Darker Side of Love (A Dark Erotica Boxed Set)

by Tara Crescent

  As he walked by, Donovan glanced through the window of a store next to the coffee place. He took several steps before his brain registered what it had seen and he forced himself to back up and look again, then came close to tripping over several people in his haste to get inside.

  Across the street, Victor had picked up sandwiches and coffee for himself and his boss and was emerging from the café as Donovan darted into the store. Now what? Had he spotted someone who resembled the mysterious Laci and had gone after her?

  No one would dispute that the relationship between Donovan and Victor was unique. Annoying his boss helped pass the time and, for all his complaints, Victor knew that Donovan secretly enjoyed it. In the emotionless and almost sterile world in which he lived, knowing he could count on Victor meant more than almost anything but this sudden upheaval wasn’t at all like Donovan and Victor was at a complete loss.

  Watching from the café, his jaw almost hit the pavement as he saw what Donovan was carrying when he emerged from the store and returned to the car.

  Victor attempted to keep his tone nonchalant as he climbed into the car. “The jet will be ready in about an hour and I figured I’d pick up something for you, too. Sandwiches aren’t fancy but they look good. Have no idea when you last ate anything but it’s a long flight to California and you need to eat. Uh … who’s your friend?”

  Without looking up, Donovan continued to stare into the black eyes of the stuffed unicorn complete with a pink satin horn. “We’re not going to California. I don’t really care where we go but there’s no point in going all the way to California. You were right. It’s not something you’ll probably ever hear from me again, but you were right and I was wrong.” The flat and resigned tone of hopeless despair was evident in his voice. “There is no Laci. She doesn’t exist. None of it is real. There is no Matthew. There is no Victoria. There’s nothing. I don’t understand what happened and I wanted to believe because it was perfect. I guess I should have realized that it was too perfect. Laci was too perfect. She made me happy. She loved me but she’s not real. She always called me The Prince of Darkness and she was right but she brought the light into my darkness. Now all that’s left is the dark. Laci’s not real. This proves it. Finding Virgil proves it.”

  “Who the hell is Virgil?”

  Donovan shrugged. “I guess there’s no reason why you’d recognize him. This is Virgil.”

  “You named a stuffed unicorn Virgil? That’s a hell of a name for a unicorn. What self-respecting unicorn wants to be named Virgil?”

  “That’s what I asked when she told me but Laci named him Virgil and that’s his name.”

  “Okaaay.” Victor was attempting to understand but this wasn’t easily understood. Nothing about the day was easily understood. “Donovan, I’m lost. Actually I’ve been lost ever since you got off that plane from Vancouver and this whole thing started but what does some damned stuffed unicorn have to do with anything?”

  “Don’t you see? Laci found Virgil when she was on her own and completely alone. He was her friend, confidant, source of comfort and the one thing that was always there for her. The one thing she could count on. He hated me because I replaced him in Laci’s life and there were so many times when I wanted to ask her to get rid of him, pack him up in a box; and if I had, she probably would have done it for me but I couldn’t ask her to do that. I knew how much he meant to her. If Laci was real, Virgil would be with her but he’s not. He was sitting alone and abandoned on the shelf in that store. He’s proof that Laci doesn’t exist. Now neither one of us have her. We just have each other.”

  “The toy unicorn hated you? Look, Donovan, how about if we go back to Georgia? You work hard and a break will do you good, plus, you always like spending time with Marion. Maybe you can persuade her to take a few days off and we can go to Kalake. We could all use a vacation. Bet almost anything your hot cousin wears thongs.”

  “The ranch foreman was right.” Donovan didn’t seem to be listening. “If Ogre had just one person he trusted, he wouldn’t have been so mean and he’d still be alive. Laci was that person but she never came along to save him because she isn’t real. She didn’t just change my life. She would have touched a lot of lives. How can I live without her?” He took a deep breath. “Kalake is fine but I can’t face Georgia. I can’t face that house. Not yet. Maybe not ever.” He turned to Victor. “I’m also not blind except when it comes to my own life. I can see that you and Marion are attracted to each other so I want you to go visit her as often as you can. The two of you are good together but spare me the details of your bedroom activities.” He looked down at Virgil and stroked the unicorn’s head. “Laci taught me to be self-reliant. It won’t kill me to be on my own once in a while and, besides, Virgil and I will look after each other. Right, boy? I know you hated me from the first time we met and I wasn’t exactly fond of you but you didn’t deserve to be left alone on that shelf. You deserve a home. I know we’d both rather be with her and we may never be friends but you’ll always have a home with me.”

  Victor wasn’t entirely sure how that was going to work. It was going to be one hell of a write-up in the BDSM Gazette: Master Donovan, the Dominant who trains submissives and sex slaves while holding a riding crop and has a stuffed unicorn tucked under his arm. He started the car and pulled away from the curb. Had to have pity for the slaves. If they thought Master Donovan was hard to please, just wait until they came up against Virgil. That pink satin horn could probably be used for all kinds of unusual things.

  Luckily the drive back to the airport in Tennessee was quiet and uneventful although Victor had never seen Donovan looking as empty and despondent as he did, sitting silently and holding Virgil on his lap. Damn! What if Laci could be real? What if Donovan’s fantasy world could be real? What if.........?

  Victor spoke to the pilot about the change in plans and got Donovan settled in one of the comfortable and cushioned seats in the cabin. The night sky was dark, moonless and appeared as full of despair as Donovan who suddenly seemed very tired and about as alone as one could look while clinging to a stuffed toy.

  As the plane departed into the darkness, a weary and depleted Donovan closed his eyes and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Eight ~ A Glimmer

  The plane bumped slightly as it landed, the movement waking Donovan. He yawned, stretched and ran his fingers through his dark hair. No question that he had been tired but when was the last time he’d fallen into such a sound sleep? It felt as if he’d been asleep for hours. From the corner of his eye, a slight movement caught his attention.

  “Good Evening, Mr. Corbett.”

  It was the flight attendant who always flew with him but how had he gotten on the plane? He hadn’t traveled with him and Victor to Tennessee and where was Victor? Donovan looked around. Where was Virgil?

  “You seemed tired when you boarded and fell asleep right after departure so I decided not to disturb you until we landed. I was just about to wake you.” The attendant was speaking again. “We caught a tailwind and made excellent time coming from Texas so our arrival in Georgia is actually earlier than anticipated.”

  “Our arrival in Georgia is early?” Donovan wasn’t certain he was completely awake. “Did you say I was in Texas and now I’m in Georgia?”

  “Yes, Mr. Corbett. I know you travel quite a bit so it must be easy to lose track sometimes,” the flight attendant chuckled and seemed to think Donovan’s disorientation was the most natural thing in the world, “but you’ve just arrived in Georgia and it’s the middle of the night. You’re actually a little ahead of schedule.”

  “I’m ahead of schedule? I just arrived in Georgia, ahead of schedule? Uh … ” Donovan was looking around again, “this might seem like a strange question but did I board carrying a stuffed unicorn?”

  “Not that I recall, Mr. Corbett. I took your luggage when you came on the aircraft and you just had those two bags.” The attendant gestured to the luggage waiting beside the seats. “Th
ey’re ready as soon as you wish to deplane. You seemed to be sleeping very soundly so maybe you were dreaming. I have a few post-flight things to take care of but if you need anything, I’ll be right up front.”

  Dreaming? Donovan watched the other man walk towards the front of the aircraft before reaching for the smaller of his two bags. He unzipped it. Everything was neat, organized and exactly as he remembered, including the two ranch playsets right on top. The one on the left contained a large grey horse and also a proud white stallion.

  What the hell was happening? He re-zipped his bag and pulled on his jacket. Grabbing the bags he walked to the exit, stopping to thank both the pilot and the flight attendant. It was just a short walk down the steps of the aircraft and into the airport terminal.

  As Donovan emerged through the main gate, he saw Victor waiting by his car. He tried to recall the last time his brain worked coherently and without confusion. He wasn’t sure he could remember. Incoherent and confused seemed to be taking center stage.

  He had to organize his thoughts. He had just flown in from Texas. Right? Or was it Vancouver? Tennessee? Victor had boarded the flight with him so how could he be waiting at the gate? And the flight attendant said he was now in Georgia, where he had just arrived ahead of schedule? Hadn’t he already arrived? From somewhere?

  He was certain about one thing. He hadn’t called Victor and asked him to be waiting. Or had he? Confusion was holding on with an iron grip. “Victor,” Donovan greeted his endless source of annoyance, “how did you know what time I was getting in?”

  Victor grabbed the luggage and placed it in the car before opening the door for Donovan. “Car company called to reconfirm your arrival time. Figured I’d just pick you up like always so I cancelled them. Good thing the flight was on time. Being late kinda makes you crazy and you’re crazy enough as it is.”

  Crazy could be the operative word although Donovan wasn’t quite sure of anything. “Victor, I have a question for you and I’d truly appreciate a simple and straightforward answer. Where are we?”

  “Uh … In the car. You gettin’ antsy already? You need to learn patience. We’ll be at your place pretty soon. Wanna play the vocabulary game?”

  “That wasn’t exactly the answer I was looking for and, to continue with simple and straightforward, are we in Georgia? And what place will we be at pretty soon?”

  “‘Course we’re in Georgia. Hey! Is this a new game? Sounds fun. How do you play it? And we’ll be at your place just as soon as I can get you there.”

  Donovan still wasn’t sure. Was he really in Georgia? That was what the flight attendant said, so it was two votes for being in the state of Georgia and one for the state of confusion. Majority rules. “Does my place have a sauna in the master bedroom?”

  “Uh … yeah. You love that sauna. Always say you like it for relaxin’ but I know you head in there for hot sex all the time. Maybe I can talk Marion into givin’ it a try. She’s always up for hot sex and she doesn’t even need a sauna. Why are you asking about the sauna? You and Trent aren’t planning to play another game of shackles charades, are you?” He shrugged. “Could be fun, I guess. I could bring some spicy wings and beer. Wings’d hold up a whole lot better than those tacos you asked for last time. Who the hell eats tacos in a sauna? Naked doesn’t go real well with hot sauce.”

  Donovan wasn’t certain if he should be concerned. The conversation he was having with Victor seemed so … normal. “How’s Marion these days? Haven’t seen that much of her.”

  “‘Course you haven’t. Can’t see her if you’re not here but she’s good. Hey! You hear the news about Trent?”

  Funny but reading the news from Hollywood had never been high on Donovan’s priority list. “Can’t say that I have. Has the weasel half-wit won an award or something? Don’t tell me. Most likely to report to the wrong studio for filming? Most likely to jump off the Hollywood sign with his parachute upside down? No. Wait. Most convincing portrayal of a weasel by an actor in a featured role? He’ll win hands down or, should I say, paws down. Surely there can’t be that many actor-weasels cavorting through the Hollywood wilderness. If I’m lucky he’ll be placed on the endangered species list and the scientific community will lock him up for further study.”

  As always, Donovan’s sarcasm didn’t seem to be bothering Victor. “Nah. Nothing like that. He’s up for some part in a film about S&M and he’s gonna ask you to be his coach. He figures the best way to learn how to be a Dominator is to get lessons from the Master Dominator himself. You’ll have a blast teaching him how a riding crop works.”

  Donovan found it oddly comforting that some things were exactly as always. “Victor, the title is Dominant. You’ve worked for me long enough to know that and you’re telling me that someone is actually going to turn Trent Nichols loose with instruments required for discipline? He almost strangled himself with those damned shackles, not to mention that he lost the key, and now they’re going to give him access to floggers and canes? I can just imagine how those training sessions will go. He’ll undoubtedly require lessons in the proper insertion of a butt plug. He’ll most likely be confused about which end goes first and that’s presuming he actually comprehends the purpose. Nonetheless, I’d be delighted to blast the weasel with a riding crop. It would be my pleasure. Just tell me where and when and I will be sure to clear my calendar. Weasel blasting sounds like fun. I might be able to blast him all the way back to where he came from.”

  “That’s what I said,” Victor sounded confident. “Trent’s a little scared of you sometimes but I told him you’re a great guy and you’d love to help him out. Hey! Maybe you can teach him a few things to surprise Sara in their bedroom. She’d like that. There’s nothing like tying privileges. Marion loves when we play the Dominator game.”

  “The Dominator game? I do not wish to hear about you and my cousin playing the Dominator game or about tying privileges and my time would be much better spent teaching Sara a few tricks. She seems smart so it’s only a matter of time until she gets sick of Trent and then she can lock him in a cage. There must be a zoo somewhere in this world that would like him to be a part of their wildlife exhibit.”

  “You could be right,” Victor agreed. “Not every day you get to see a genuine, domesticated actor-weasel. They don’t grow on too many trees.”

  How, Donovan wondered, could Victor look so normal and be so not. The ride continued in silence and Donovan gazed out at the landscape. Even though it was the middle of a dark night, everything seemed so familiar. Where was he? Hadn’t he already arrived from Texas? Or did someone say he’d flown in from Vancouver? Hadn’t Victor said something about not knowing Trent or was it Trent that didn’t know Victor? Hell. Trent barely remembered himself much less anyone else. The only one who might be able to help figure things out was the man sitting next to him. Good luck with that.

  “Victor, you did say you were taking me to my place, right? Was that my place in Georgia? The one with the wife? The wife and the kids? The wife, kids and sauna? That place? Is that where you’re taking me? The sauna, sunflower, kids and wife place?”

  “Great game, Donovan. Okay. My turn. Guess where we’re going? Clues are hot sex, tying privileges, pirate hats and ticklish cousins.”

  “How many times must I tell you that I don’t wish to discuss your bedroom activities?”

  “Wow. You’re good. Okay. Your turn.”

  “Victor, what happened to simple and straightforward?” Donovan hesitated, a little afraid to ask the next question. “How is everything at home? How is everyone? Is everyone exactly where they should be? Anyone missing? Everyone accounted for?”

  “Everything’s good. Everyone’s good. Noodle-bug and Doodle-bug have been really great at playin’ with Poodle-bug and Strudel-bug.”

  Simple and straightforward. A small request. Was it asking so much? “Damn it Victor, why can’t you just call them by their names and say Matthew and Jeremy have been playing with Adrienne and Victoria? I’m surprised they d
on’t all believe their last name is Bug.”

  Wait! Did Victor just refer to all the kids? He knew about all the kids? Did that mean … the kids were real? Time to back track. He just got off a plane after flying from some place to some other place and Victor was acting normal. No. Victor never acted normal but he was acting like he always did and he knew about the kids. And he wasn’t on the plane when it landed. He was waiting at the airport. In Georgia. Donovan’s eyes widened. Laci! He had to ask. Deep breath time. “Victor? How is Laci doing?”

  “Oh, you know Laci. She’s always busy. Even though she was supposed to be taking time off from work after having the baby, she’s still keepin’ up with everything at the office but she’s havin’ a great time playin’ with Victoria and she and Sara have gotten really close. It’s so cute to see those two girls all dressed up in pink and burbling at each other. Victoria and Adrienne are cute too. They’re startin’ to turn into little people and do all kinds of things. Laci says Victoria is gonna start giggling any day now. She’s just waitin’ for you to get back. Pretty soon she’ll be laughing her little head off at you. Just so you know, I never said a word to Laci, at least not about you gettin’ back here before you said you were comin’ home. Said other things to her. Talk to her all the time. Kinda like talkin’ to her. She’s been missin’ you like crazy.”

  Laci had missed him? She was real! His daughter was waiting for him to get back and his Prom Queen missed him. Not more than he missed her. A dream? He supposed he wouldn’t be completely sure until he actually saw her. Was he really going home?

  What had happened to him? He knew he’d been exhausted and fallen into a deep sleep but had it all truly been a dream? More of a nightmare, he supposed. A dark, hellish nightmare that had him believing everyone and everything he valued the most didn’t exist. He supposed he only had himself to blame for overworking and feeling guilty about leaving so soon after Victoria’s birth. The important thing was that his world did exist. It was real. Every bit of it. He was on his way home to Laci and his kids and a dog-moose and a stuffed unicorn that gave him dirty looks. As they continued driving through the dark, moonless night, Donovan was certain he could see a glimmer of sunshine coming from somewhere.