by Hilary Storm
Faking interest in the garments around me, I try like hell to avoid going over there. It’s only a few minutes before Miss Blondie comes to get me. “Your sister is asking for you.”
“Of course she is.” I swallow hard and make my way back over to the dressing rooms. He’s not on the couch anymore and I can feel my heart settle down when I exhale.
“Alright Carli. Show me the goods.” She opens the door and I can’t even tell her it looks terrible. She looks sexy as hell. “You look sexy as fuck and Will is gonna rip that off you.” She tilts her head and her face lights up with the biggest smile I’ve seen on her lately.
“You think?” She pretends to contemplate it in the mirror before she picks up the next one and begins to remove it from the hanger.
“Definitely. Now hurry up. You promised me those drinks.” I sit on the couch to wait for her to open the door on the next piece and my eyes are instantly pulled to the dressing room two doors down from hers. I can see a woman kneeling with her wrists behind her back. A strip of black silk slides down her ass, making me even more curious as to what she’s doing. I lean over and take a better look under the door and this time I see dark suit pants and dress shoes behind her. Holy shit, that’s where he went.
The sound of the door opening makes me sit up quickly. My sister has on a longer one this time, not near as hot as the other one. “This one isn’t as nice as the first one, but it’s more on the classy side. Maybe I should get it for you know those nights where I’m not trying to be real naughty.”
“Right. Sounds good.” Go back in and cut this short Carli. Just fucking buy them all. We both now that’s where this is headed anyway.
She closes her door just as the other door opens. I refuse to look that way, making myself glance in the opposite direction feigning disinterest in that kinky shit I just saw a glimpse of. But that isn’t good enough for Mr. Darkness. No, instead I’m shocked as hell when I see a woman crawling on all fours, a leash around her neck and black silk tied around her breasts. He’s leading her around like she’s a dog, standing proud as fuck that she’s obeying him. The intensity he carries is suffocating and I can’t help but look into his eyes as he passes. He never looks away from me as he prances her in front of me.
Jesus. I’m a freak magnet.
“Okay. This one is a hell no. I’m not sure if I have my arm in the right hole or if this should be where my head goes.” Carli’s voice screeches through the door; she’s apparently oblivious to the crazy show going on out here.
“Yeah sounds crazy, I’d pass on it.” My eyes are still locked on his when I respond. His grin is what breaks my attention. He stops in front of me as I sit with my hands in my lap. His girl still on all fours just to my left.
“You sure you want to pass?” He whispers in my ear before his fingers brush under my chin and guide me to look at him once again. His thumb brushes over my cheek slowly and I catch a glimpse of the ink on his hand as it passes. “I can give you pleasure you don’t even know exists.” His lips move just in front of my forehead as he stands over me. “Look at you already letting me lead you.” I sit back quickly, breaking his trance and hold on me.
“Alright, don’t make fun of this one. I’m still trying to get the back latched.” Carli’s voice interrupts him from saying anything further. I stand and move around him, holding the doorknob to Carli’s dressing room, praying that she opens it soon. I don’t look behind me to see where he goes, but when I hear the other door close, I feel temporary relief. I know he’ll be back out, so I need to get her out of here.
She opens the door and I instantly agree with what she’s wearing, not that I looked at it. “Alright, move over. I’m coming in.” This is so unlike me that she’s on guard immediately stepping back and questioning my actions.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. You want to spend time with me. This is time.”
“Cami. Did you take something. You’re acting weird and doing that paranoid thing you do where you look in all directions.”
“Shhhh. I’m fine. Just hurry the hell up. I’m starving and need something to drink.” Pretending to snap out of it, I make myself appear as normal as possible even though that man got to me. What’s wrong with me? Why did I even let him get away with touching me? Normally I would’ve handed someone their ass for even thinking about touching my face.
“Why don’t you try some on for yourself. I’m not getting dressed in front of you.”
I pull the next one from her pile. “Fine, but you only have ten minutes before I’m walking back to my car to go home.”
“You’re so damn impatient. Alright, I’ll hurry.” She shoves me out the door, leaving me holding blue lace on a hanger and locked out of all the dressing rooms, luckily with no one in sight.
A different woman comes around the corner with a key and sees me looking desperate. “Would you like to try that on?”
“Yes.” I stand close behind her as she unlocks the door and slam the door quickly before I let my back fall against the far wall. A deep breath leaves me just as I shut my eyes and say a silent thank you to whatever just got me out of that nightmare situation.
Just as I do, that girl that was just crawling around with a leash on her neck, peeks her head under the side divider. She holds her finger to her mouth, telling me to ‘Shhhh.’ I hold back my screams and nod to her allowing her in. I can only imagine she’s trying to get away from that dominant ass tugging her around like a dog.
She crawls under, still only wearing a sexy pair of panties and the silk wrap around her chest. She slowly stands in front of me, her perfect body making me feel inadequate in every way before she opens her plump, puckered lips and slides her palm between my boobs as she leans in to talk to me. “Shhhh. Don’t say anything. I promise you’ll thank me for this one day,” she whispers against my ear before she lets her lips brush over my face.
Holy fuck. I’m quickly trying to figure out how to nicely let this girl know I’m not a lesbian when she pulls away and opens the door. I’m still flat against the back wall when he enters the dressing room, paralyzing me once again.
Receiving a nod from Mr. Darkness, she leaves the tiny space allowing him to be alone with me. He adjusts the sleeves on his jacket and watches me closely. The way he moves can only be described as dominant, yet distinguished. He’s in control in every move he makes and for that very reason he seems to overpower any of my logic and restraint. He reaches out and brushes my face with his palm.
“How does it look Cami?” Carli yells, and it’s in this moment that I realize all she has to do is look under the wall and she’ll see his feet. I can only imagine the shit storm that would cause, not that she’d be opposed to me doing something like this. She’d just ask a million questions that I can’t answer… like why am I letting this happen?
“Terrible.”
“I just have one more that I want to see on me then I’ll be ready.” She gives me my out and reason to get him the hell out of here.
He hasn’t said anything to me, just touching my face, neck and hair. He moves closer, once again talking against my ear. “I want to see you again.” His fingers move over my neck, gripping it just slightly before he slides them over one shoulder. “You’re fucking beautiful.”
“You’re insane,” I whisper back.
“Something tells me I’m exactly what you need.” I shake my head at him, denying anything he claims even if I’m curious as fuck to know what makes this man tick. There’s no way I’m crawling around on all fours for anyone.
“Hi my love.” Carli answers her ringing phone. “Yeah tell the driver to take us to Club Chaos tonight. He can just wait for us there if that’s okay.” Mr. Darkness’ eyebrow twitches, he’s no doubt taken note of what she’s just said.
I finally snap out of it and point my finger in his face. Mouthing “no” at him only makes him smile an even sexier grin and now I’m regretting ever allowing him into this tiny room. “Looks like I’ll see you
tonight.” His breath breezes past my face. “And you’re right, I like nothing on my women.” He pulls away before he continues. “Unless we’re in public.”
My sister is still talking in the background, keeping her oblivious to the continued whispers going on in the room next to her.
“Not happening. Sorry, I have a boyfriend.” He stands stiff, his entire demeanor changing quickly.
“I don’t care what you have. I always get what I want,” he pauses for added dramatic effect. “I’ll see you tonight.” Then he leaves me to absorb the turmoil he has just caused though out my entire body.
I don’t care what you have. I always get what I want. His threats singe my insides and make me doubt everything I allowed to happen today. I should’ve never agreed to going out in public with my sister tonight, let alone shopping today. This is all fucked up. Now I just have to decide if he’s a better option for tonight… or if I torture myself pretending to enjoy my sister’s friends and their prim and proper ways.
When I hear Carli step out of her dressing room, I follow her to the register. With a quick glance around the store, I don’t see Mr. Darkness anywhere. Which is very fortunate, because I’m not sure I can handle dealing with anymore weird shit today.
She spends entirely too much money in the lingerie store before we make our way back to our cars. I’m standing next to mine when she yells back at me. “Meet you at Micah’s.” I nod and slide into my driver’s seat, exhaling that all of that is finally over. Micah’s is a sport’s bar… and my will hopefully be the saving grace from the insanity of this day.
I’m backing out of my spot when I notice my sister pulling out of the parking lot. A man in a suit is walking straight toward my car, forcing me to come to a stop or run him over. Of course, it’s Mr. Darkness. He’s alone this time.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I roll down my window just enough for him to hear me. He spreads his hands out over my hood when I come to a complete stop.
“Just wanted to make sure you got to your car okay.”
“Yeah. Other than this one guy that keeps bothering me.” He stands straight up, messing with his cuffs again. Why is that so damn sexy?
“Let me know if he’s too much, I’ll put him in his place.” He walks slowly toward my door and I fight the decision to drive off and leave him standing in my dust versus getting out and climbing his body right here in daylight for everyone to see.
“You’re going to make me late.” I pretend to be put off by him stopping me, still not sure if I am or not.
“I promise to make it up to you. Let me call you sometime.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“Talking would help with that.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure this is such a good idea.” He won’t leave me alone as it is, I’m not sure I want this guy having a way to get in touch with me. I’m already worried how tonight will go now that he knows where we’ll be.
He reaches inside his pocket and slides a cell phone through the slightly opened window. “Here. I’ll give you my phone and if it rings, you promise me you’ll answer it.”
“What? I don’t want to take all of your calls.”
He starts to walk away, before he yells back. “It’ll be me if it rings. Just answer it.” Can this day get any weirder? I toss it in the passenger seat and let the car roll forward. I catch him watching me drive off, running his hands through his perfect hair, which tells me he’s frustrated. Good. This guy is too much. He needs to know not everyone will drop it all to do what he says.
Something tells me I haven’t seen the last of Mr. Darkness. My chest feels heavy as I try to anticipate what he’ll do next, that’s not a good scenario for someone with anxiety and frequent panic attacks.
Chapter Two
Drinks with my sister went better than the rest of the day had. Of course, I downed the drinks the second they hit the table in front of me. Carli’s face was priceless as I set down the second empty glass before she’s even had the chance to really get into her first.
“Well, someone is ready to cut loose. I hope you can have some fun tonight Cami. I’ll have Max take care of us. He’s the driver. He’ll make sure no one bothers us and that we all get home safely.” She lets her finger trace the edge of her glass as she goes over everyone who will be there tonight. I couldn’t be any less thrilled about it than I am in this moment. She just made me dread every single second of this night. “Maybe we should try that new club out. Club Voodoo, I hear it’s amazing.”
The instant she mentions it, I jump on the chance to get rid of any risk the strange guy will catch up with us. “Sounds perfect to me.”
“Cami. Thank you so much for today. I know you’ve hated it, but it means so much to me that you’re out and about like a normal person with me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get you out of the house.”
“I know.” I don’t make any excuses for my lack of interest in things lately. She already knows me well enough to know I won’t.
“Do you want another drink?”
I think about my answer and how she explained her friends. This night will go better if I have another. “One more.” And with that, I start making choices that are probably more selfish than I should.
We get pedicures and the rest of the day is spent with her shopping while I stand impatiently wishing I could time warp myself into tomorrow. “I’m buying you this dress.” I look over at a tiny black thing that would never fit my hips and laugh her off. “No seriously, try this on. I think it’s perfect for you.”
Feeling a little less concerned about what I look like after the martinis, I agree to try it on. She allows me my space while I struggle through sliding the material on. Before I open the door, I look in the mirror and stop myself. Rubbing my palms down my sides, I notice how it hugs every curve of my body.
I step out and Carli begins to hoot and cat call loudly. “I knew it would be perfect. Tonight we’re going to have all eyes on us because I promise you… when the men get a glimpse of you in this dress… heads will turn. Not to mention I’ll be looking hot as fuck too, so you know, it’ll be an amazing time.” Eyes on me was not something I was going for, but when I look back at the mirror, I know I have to get this dress. “Cami. I swear it looks like it was made for you. It accentuates your assets… if you know what I mean.” Yeah I know what she means. My ass and tits look huge in this, not to mention it’s cut low in the front revealing plenty of cleavage.
“I’ll have to watch how I sit in this thing. It’s short enough.”
“It’s perfect. Now let’s find shoes.”
She finds at least twenty pair of heels that I decline before we finally agree on one. Black strapped three-inch heel is as slutty as I’ll go. Some of the crap she was showing me has to be for strippers or even cross dressers. I think it was her goal to see how far she could push me.
Her driver takes me home to get ready for the night while Carli makes it very clear that they’ll be there to get me at seven before I step out of the limo. I swear at her for reminding me again and smile as I walk toward my car she had moved to my apartment.
I can hear the strange ringing from my new phone as soon as I open my car door. One glance in the passenger seat and I see that I have three missed calls. I knew it was a bad idea to keep it. This just proves my point.
“What do you want?” I answer. I need to give him his phone back so I can end this insanity.
“Why didn’t you answer when I called?”
“Because I was busy.”
“Not acceptable. You answer when it rings.” His voice is angry and I’m instantly bothered by his tone. Who the fuck does he think he is?
“Look, I’m not interested in answering to anyone. You can have your phone back.”
“Camille. I’m giving you one last chance to prove yourself. Answer it the next time it rings.”
“Why did you call?” I try to get to the point of all of this, even though I have a feeling he won’t just
easily give me the information I want.
“To see if you’d answer.”
“Is this all a mind game to you?”
“Isn’t life a game? We pretend to tolerate what we have no desire to deal with all the while we crave something more… or different out of life. I do believe you yourself were playing games today.” He’s observant.
I exhale before I respond to him. This guy is definitely too much for me to deal with. “You’re entirely too perceptive for my taste.”
“You’ll grow to love that side of me. Goodbye Camille.”
“Wait.”
“Yes.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I heard your friend call you Cami in the dressing room. I don’t like it shortened. I’ll call you Camille.” Then he ends the call. Just like that. He silences me again and manages to pique my interest in a way no other man has. He’s intriguing beyond belief and I find myself falling for his games every time I cross him. Damn him. And damn me for not listening to my inner self warnings about him the first time they went off.
I purposely put the phone in the glove box, knowing it’ll just irritate him when I don’t answer it the next time. Tomorrow I’ll take it back to the lingerie shop and ask the lady to give it back to him. Something tells me if I inquire about the man with the chick on a leash, she’ll remember who I’m talking about.
When I finally get to my apartment, I begin to rush around. Spending the day with my sister has been exhausting, and now I need to get cleaned up. I hit the stereo and feel at home when my playlist is already loaded and begins playing. I find the simplicity of my space relaxing after the crazy day I’ve had. It would be nice if I could take that deep breath and have tonight behind me.
I open my lap top and set it on the bathroom cabinet as I put on more makeup, choosing to go a little bold with my eyes tonight. I guess the martini’s might have a part to play with my daring outlook on things tonight.
My screen comes up to the last email Mr. D sent, so I reread it, shaking my head that his arrogance wasn’t even the boldest egotism I came in contact with today. Thinking about his offer a little more, I decide to send him a quick response.
