Imperfect Consequences

by Piper Stone

  “Oh, yes. Oh… Fuck!” David tossed his head back and moaned.

  The feel of his cum squirting inside of her was exhilarating. Moaning, she arched her back as he continued to thrust until he was spent, beads of sweat dripping down across her back.

  David covered her body with his. “We’ll get through this.”

  “I… I know.” But the words, they both knew, were said with trepidation more than anything. She closed her eyes and sighed.

  Easing back, he patted her ass. “We’re not finished with your discipline tonight. You need to feel not only the strength, but the safety about what we share.”

  For David to speak about safety meant he understood how nervous she was about Mark being out of prison. “Yes, sir.” As he placed a pillow under her stomach, she wondered how much she should tell him. There was no way to avoid facing Mark—one way or the other. There was also no way of avoiding the truth about what had happened. In the years of his incarceration, she’d thought there was no need to face the horrors any longer. How wrong she was. The Press alone would see to it she couldn’t avoid the inevitable. After all, how could you tell the man you loved that you were the reason for a man’s death?

  Chapter 2

  “Hey. I just about finished the Martin house, but I need your sign off to get the engineer involved for the extended cathedral ceiling Mrs. Martin is insistent on having.”

  “Sure. Whatever.” David eyed the police report and the information was so damn general. There was something about the man’s name that bothered him, as if he knew the guy. But from where? He’d read the words a dozen times or more, and there was nothing glaring about what had happened. The reports were so generic. Mark had gone ballistic and killed a man with his bare hands. Because he’d been involved in the military in years prior, his hands were considered a deadly weapon and one snappy attorney had made certain Mark went away for a long manslaughter term. The rest of the information was sketchy, classified, and he could find little. He had a gut instinct this guy wasn’t just some average Joe.

  “Whatever? We have probably the most lucrative design we’ve had in at least a full year and you actually said that word to me, your partner?” A few seconds passed. “And I’m leaving to start another firm. I meant to tell you, but after I cleaned out your bank…”

  David half heard Bruce. Leaving. Sure. He just couldn’t figure out what had happened and…

  “What the hell is going on with you?” Bruce moved closer to the side of David’s desk. “You’re so damn preoccupied.”

  The closeness of Bruce’s voice made David minimize the screen he was looking at. “What is it that you need?”

  “Wow. You’ve been distracted lately, but now I know you’re hiding shit from me. What’s going on, partner?”

  David sighed and looked out the window. The plane tickets were in order, the reservations confirmed for the trip. The island destination sounded perfect for their needed getaway and yet, he remained apprehensive. Shannon was terrified of her ex and while the dude seemed somewhat violent, his gut told him there was so much more to the story. Who the hell was the guy? “Nothing really.”

  “And Santa is getting ready to fly from the North Pole. Nothing my ass. Come on. I can see there is something bothering you with everything you do.” Bruce folded his arms.

  “Hard to talk about.”

  “I guess so, since you were looking at arrest records. Something you want to tell your old partner here? A few old arrests you’re trying to clear maybe?” Bruce laughed, then shook his head. “Okay, you’re one huge yo-yo when it comes to emotions, which means you’re still having difficulty with Shannon. I thought you two were on a better track lately.”

  “We are. We were. We should be,” David said, then groaned.

  “Yeah. I can tell.” Bruce moved closer. “What’s going on and who is that guy in the mug shot?”

  David rolled his chair back and tossed the pen in his hand on top of his desk. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Well, of course. I’m the regular secretive guy.”

  “I’m serious. Okay? I don’t know how to approach this, and I’m worried about Shannon.”

  “I definitely don’t like the sound of that. I’m your best friend, dude. I’ve seen you through a hell of a lot, including getting arrested yourself for some pretty hefty pranks in college.”

  Grinning, David gave his buddy a smile. At least Bruce offered many voices of reason. He’d been the very man to introduce David to a domestic discipline lifestyle, one he very much valued sharing with Shannon. They’d thrived for months, but one incident, no two, had almost derailed them. What in the hell had he been thinking, almost having an affair with a woman he didn’t give a shit about? Then Shannon and the entire cougar bit with a man young enough to be her son and…

  “Earth to David. Do I need to put the puzzle together or are you going to talk to me?”

  “Sorry. I just don’t know how to start or what to say.”

  “You almost had an affair with a woman who pressured you with a pretty pricey contract. You were tempted merely because you continue to experience some difficulties with a wife who is emotional and unsure of the marriage from her perspective. Instead of reassuring her about your amazing relationship, you refused to accept the fact you were a dumbass and could have destroyed your marriage.” Bruce leaned over. “Am I getting warm, hotshot?”

  It was as if he was hearing the words for the first time. David cringed, and guilt ravaged every part of him. How could he have done this to the woman he loved? How? “God. I am an asshole.”

  “Yes, you are, and I warned you.”

  “Maybe you should have run roughshod and beaten my ass,” David suggested as he rubbed his eyes. The weeks since the almost affair had been the most trying of their marriage to date.

  “True. And that would have been a kick in the pants too. I can still help you out if you need it.” Bruce’s eyes twinkled.

  “Funny. You are one funny man.” Maybe he did need a damn good kick in the ass. “I don’t know what got into me. Not even a fucking clue.”

  Bruce sniffed and looked away, his foot tapping hard against the base of David’s desk. “We’re all human, even you.”

  “Another funny moment.”

  “I’m being serious. I mean that you can falter just like anyone can, just like Shannon did. You have to talk this through. Maybe this tropical vacation is the best thing for you both.”

  “It’s not about lying on the beach and drinking margaritas, you know,” David said quietly. No, the intensive workshop was supposed to drag all their fears, as well as their needs, to the forefront, giving them both an even playing field. The entire workshop was about exorcising their respective pasts, allowing them to move into the future together. Now, he was beginning to wonder whether a hell of a lot of it was hogwash. Shannon had been the one to find the relationship counselor online, one who specialized in utilizing domestic discipline as a method of recapturing the lost essence of marriage. The tagline was used in all the man’s brochures.

  David had done his own extensive research on Dr. Stephen Robbins. The self-imposed guru traveled the United States, aiding couples in letting go of their inhibitions with regards to thoughts about one controlling member of the household. From what he’d read, the open forums were tame in comparison to the all-consuming classes. No wonder people went away to a deserted island.

  “From your actions, I gathered that. You have that pinched look on your face. Besides, you’re trying to figure out your place in something you have limited knowledge of,” Bruce said as he patted David on the shoulder.

  David stole a glance at the computer. Seeing the actual police record of the man who’d been so close to Shannon frustrated the hell out of him. The notion of what this guy had done infuriated him. “I’ve been trying.”

  “Of course, you have. I’ve seen you want nothing more than to find the perfect fix for your marriage. You just seem to forget something pretty damn important.�
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  “I’m a dumbass?”

  “Oh yeah, you are, but I meant something else.” Bruce shook his head. “You forget I know more about you than you allow just about anyone to get close to.” Bruce’s eyes twinkled.

  “How could I forget? You remind me every freaking day,” David chortled as he rose to his feet. The walk to the window seemed to be filled with more aches than normal.

  “That you have to talk together. That you have to allow both of you to be the people you not only are, but also were, in life.”

  “Yeah, well, there are some complications.”

  Bruce laughed. “There are always complications. Thank God, I have a girlfriend who makes certain I know when I’m not allowing her what she calls her quiet space. Women tend to know what they need much better than we do.”

  “You’re lucky to have Marcie. I’m glad to see she keeps you on a short leash,” David chortled.

  “Now, who’s the funny guy? Marcie’s been right about a hell of a lot of things. Men are boneheaded and push their way through everything. The moral of the story is you have to allow Shannon to take charge this time. Just listen to her and talk.”

  “Something I am not good at.”

  “Nope. You certainly aren’t. Which is why you have me, and while you may be getting ready to relax on some beachfront, we have work to do. You ready to talk or do you want to sit here and lament on this?”

  “I just need to make a phone call,” David said and looked back at the computer.

  “Please don’t tell me you think Shannon is having an affair with some con.” Bruce grinned, obviously teasing.

  David clicked on the screen. “Meet Mark, the ex-husband, a man she’s terrified of and one who evidently beat a man to death.”

  Bruce’s grin faded. He narrowed his eyes as the color drained from his face. “Shit.”

  “Yeah. And he’s out of prison.”

  “And you’re worried he’s coming after her? His face… Where do I know it from?”

  “I don’t know. I was trying to figure that out too.”

  “You Google the guy?” Bruce asked as he shook his head.

  “Not yet. I have a friend in the police department who looked up his arrest. That’s it so far.”

  Bruce moved closer. “Well, I think you need to ask Shannon, period. Don’t go snooping.”

  “I know. I know. She refuses to tell me the details and I don’t think she wants me to ask.” David placed his hand on the phone. “But I know of someone I can talk to with the police who might give me an insight.”

  Bruce leaned over, placing his hand on top of David’s and shook his head. “Don’t do it. Don’t try and delve into the past, one in which you weren’t a part of. If she doesn’t want to talk about what happened, let her alone. My guess is she probably does, but needs your support right now. Maybe this trip you’re going on will allow you both the quiet time you need to reflect, get in touch with your inner feelings and perhaps reach a Zen moment.” Raising a single eyebrow, he moved back, holding both hands up. “Don’t give that ‘eat shit and die’ look. I know you. You bully your way into situations.”

  “Now, you’re starting to scare me. Maybe you need to be the one handling the classes.” David thought about what he’d said and eased his hand off the phone. Bruce was right. Shannon needed to come to him in her time.

  “Good. Even old dogs can learn new tricks. Why don’t we get to work?”

  Giving one last look at Mark’s picture, he clicked off the internet site and moved away from the computer. “Another comment from you and I kick your ass.” Mark did indeed look familiar.

  “Try it. I could use a good fight. Come on. I’ve got the plans spread out in my office.”

  Laughing, David grabbed his notebook and trailed behind Bruce, several nasty thoughts lingering.

  “Furthermore, in closing, I believe that I have shown that my client, Timsberry Condominiums has, in good faith, taken every effort to be fair in their representation of the governing documents as well as the applicable State and Federal statutes when making their determination. I further believe they have done so without prejudice or malice of intent. The association would like to call for a dismissal of this case.” Shannon glanced across the courtroom. Only the Board President was positioned in one of the seats. Maybe specializing in community association law was exciting to some attorneys, but at this point, she was bored to tears. When she got to court, the cases were usually about some member’s concept that the association had done them wrong. She was just about ready to pick another specialization within the law.

  The sad truth, life held little enchantment for her. Little to nothing sparked the woman inside. She’d come to realize this more as of late and everything within her rather coddled life was suffering. Maybe she needed to put her big girl panties on and move on. The thought gave her a series of shivers. Would that include the love of her life?

  “On what grounds, Ms. Parker?” Removing his glasses, the judge gave her a harsh look before glancing over at the other attorney.

  How many times had she lain awake at night, fear nearly overwhelming her? Shannon suddenly could barely breathe. Her heart was racing and her pulse rapid. Shit, she was going to pass out. Placing her hand over her chest, she counted to ten as her heart thumped, the sound eerie. With every move, she felt the lasting effects of her punishment.

  “Ms. Parker. Are you with us?”

  The deep voice reverberated throughout the courtroom, dragging her attention back. “What?” Where the hell was she? Blinking furiously, she scanned the perimeter, blurry shapes rushing past her eyes. Get a grip. “I’m sorry, sir?”

  “I asked you on what grounds, Ms. Parker, are you trying to dismiss this case?”

  “I believe the association had made their case that they were following every policy and procedure as set forth, following every guideline. They have wasted association time as well as money, Your Honor.” Shannon held her breath. These kinds of cases could go either way, depending on the particular judge’s mood of the day. While Timsberry Association had followed the rules, there were other mitigating circumstances that could prove the call for discrimination if the judge looked too hard. She loathed these kinds of cases. No one won what was something as trivial as arguing over the installation of a flag pole simply to hold the American flag. And the fact a black man living in the neighborhood, also a Marine, was crying racism was newsworthy. She studied the judge and sighed. Also of African American decent, she had never been in front of him before, but knew he was tough as well as fair.

  “I object, Your Honor,” opposing counsel flew to their feet. “These people are racist, and I can prove the fact. They have done nothing but harass my client over this case time and time again and I…”

  “Lower your voice, Mr. Applewhite. I’ve reviewed all aspects of the case, including every allegation of discrimination.” He looked down at his papers again and shook his head. “I see no value for either party to continue the case. There is no evidence of racism of any type. However, I will caution you, Ms. Parker, to make certain your client knows they must tighten up how they handle violations in the future. I don’t want this drivel in my courtroom ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” Shannon was, in truth, shocked the case had gone so well. She hadn’t concentrated on the association’s needs, nor did she appreciate the way the Board of Directors handled the violation. She shook hands with the Board President and gathered her things. Hearing a woman clearing her throat behind her, she didn’t need to sneak a look to know who it was. “What is it, Wendy? Is some wayward association member clamoring for five minutes of my time? Is a building burning down and they have no insurance and are blaming and suing everyone under the sun?” Her voice held a distinct edge, one she knew at least opposing counsel was hearing by the smirk on his face. When her assistant remained quiet, she finally turned around.

  Wendy tapped her foot. She stood with her arms folded, a look that was
a combination of amusement and chastisement. “Oh, dear boss, I need you to do something.”

  “What? I’m pushed past the limit trying to get a couple of cases completed before I go away. I haven’t had a vacation in over two years and I think it’s fair that I get away. Don’t you? I mean, you’ve had two since I was last gone for three days and…” Shannon groaned. Thank God for Wendy Jameson. Her assistant had been with her through thick and thin since she’d started with the firm. “Sorry.”

  “Do you want to know what I was going to say?”

  “My guess is no. But go ahead.” Shannon grabbed her briefcase and headed for the door to exit the courtroom. When she burst out into the hallway, she felt the gentle then firm pressure of Wendy’s hand on her forearm. “What?”

  Wendy moved in front of her and lowered her voice. “You need to get your head out of your ass.”

  “What did you say?” While Wendy was usually frank, this was a bit beyond.

  “You heard me.” Her eyes twinkled. “You either need a hard spanking or a long vacation. My guess is both. You’re surly, bossy as hell, haven’t had your mind on the job and in truth, you need to be put over someone’s knee.”

  “Very funny.” Wendy was the only employee who had any inkling about her domestic discipline lifestyle. The truth was, her assistant was right. “Am I that bad?”

  “Well… Yes, you are. I’m glad you’re going on that vacation. Very much so. You need to get away with David to get all your kinks out.”

  Kinks. That was one word to use. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a bear to deal with. I honestly am. I just…” Closing her eyes, Shannon had no idea what to say. “You came all the way down here to tell me this? You’re one amazing assistant.”

  “Office Manager, thank you very much,” Wendy teased. “And that’s not my only reason for coming down here.”

  Her tone had switched completely. Opening one eye, now, she knew she was in trouble. “What happened?”