The Beginning of Us (120 page)

“Keely.”

“He made me come, Parker.” A sob burned its way past my throat, my body shaking with hard cries. “I’m so sorry.”

“Keely, none of this is your fault. I promise you. I will fucking avenge you. For what he did in the past and what he did now.”

I went out onto the patio deck and knelt on the floor, imaging his warmth behind me, cupping the back of my neck. “Be careful.”

“I will, angel.”

I sniffed. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you but Daniel will.”

“How do I know that I can trust him?”

Parker sighed. “Because he’s my dad’s cousin. He’s family. I trust him, so I need you to.”

“Will I see you again?”

“You will. I hate doing this over the phone. I want to see you. God, I want to see you so bad.”

I brought my knees up to my chest.

“When I get home, I want you. Twenty/four seven. I will take away your pain. I’ll help you. Control you. I’ll be…”

“My Master,” I finished for him.

“Yes, pet.”

“I need that,” I whispered. I needed it more than anything.

“I know. Now put me back on speaker phone. We have to get this next part done quickly.”

I went back inside, motioning for the guys to rejoin me and placed the phone the table. “Okay, Parker, go ahead.”

“Thank you, angel. Daniel?”

“Yes sir,” Daniel responded, standing up straighter.

“I need you to tell Keely everything. Tell her why I was acting like a dick. Why I lied to her. Why I’m working with Devin. I’ll wait.”

“Mr. Reed has been using Reed Industries as a cover for the past several years. He was approached some time ago by the CIA regarding taking Devin out.”

“Devin is more powerful than you ever thought, Keely,” Parker explained. “He has a major following in the underground movement. From prostitutes to weapons to drugs. Some of his men in Europe have started trafficking people.”

“Shit,” Patrick said softly.

“Parker and Devin had a falling out when you put him in jail originally. But as the years wore on, they kept in contact, Parker becoming close with him again to regain his trust.” Daniel placed pictures on the table in front of me. Photos of Parker and Devin communicating stared up at me.

“Did you know who I was when I first came to your office?” I asked softly, brushing my finger over the image of Parkers face.

“No, angel, but I sort of figured it out. Then when you told me that we both knew the same Devin, it was confirmed.”

“Everything you said to me, was it a lie?” I whispered.

“No. The only things I lied about were what I said in the limo. Everything else I’ve told you is real. The truth.”

I nodded. “Okay. What about your company? I got a legal letter stating that it’s mine.”

“For now. It’s made to look that way. The men that work with me know you’re taking charge for the moment but they also know that you need some time.”

“What did you tell them?” I asked, staring intently at the image of him in the photograph.

“They were my father’s trusted advisors. I would lay my life on the line for them as they would me.”

“But you said that you only trust…” Realization dawned on me. “Right.”

“I’m so sorry,” he said softly.

“So did the CIA train you or something?” Troy asked, squeezing my hand.

“Or something,” Parker mumbled. “Keely, take me off speaker phone for a moment.”

I did as he said, sliding the phone to my ear.

“My sweet pet.”

I smiled at the deep rumble of his voice. “Yes, my love?”

“I like the sound of that.”

“I know.” I squeezed the bridge of my nose, feeling the nagging pulse of a headache coming on.

“When I come back to you, I will tell you everything. I know you trust Troy but I want to tell you everything first. I need you to know who I am.”

“Promise me,” I demanded.

“I promise. Now be a good submissive and place the phone back on the table.”

A giggle escaped my lips and I did as I was told.

“Now Daniel. Take out the large tube that’s empty and hand it to Keely, please,” Parker ordered.

Daniel handed me a long, black, empty tube that looked like one of the ones that held blueprints.

“Hand her the one that’s filled.”

Daniel repeated his movements, smiling when he handed me the tube that was filled to the top with…

“Hearts?” I frowned.

Parker chuckled.  “My heart, Keely. Each plastic heart has a note in it. Instructions for you. You know what I’m referring to.”

My body shivered as I looked at over…

“One-hundred and fifty hearts. One-hundred and fifty instructions until I come home. Open one each day, knowing that I’m coming home to you.”

“One-hundred and fifty days? That’s when you’ll be home?” I did the math quickly in my head. “That’s four months.”

“Give or take a couple of days.”

“Parker. I can’t wait that long.” My eyes welled. “I’m not strong enough.”

“Yes, you are.” His voice became firm. “You are so fucking strong. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Now open a heart and read it to me.”

Chewing my bottom lip, I twisted off the lid and grabbed a pink plastic heart.

Troy held the tube for me as I broke apart the small object.

“What does it say?” Parker asked.

My vision blurred at the hand written word staring up at me. I had to swallow a couple of times before I could read it. “Breathe.”

TWENTY-THREE

The first month of being away from Parker was pure and utter torture. It was worse than the time he had ended things with me. Now I felt like a piece of me was being ripped apart. I found myself waking up during the night screaming for no apparent reason only to fall back into a deep sleep.

My wounds from Devin’s touch were finally starting to heal but the feeling of him all over me, would never go away. Not until I had Parker back to help me. To break me down and mold me into a new and stronger person. A tougher woman.

I came to find out that Parker was staying with Greyson Mercer and his biker club. Collin Vain had joined them as well. Apparently the guy had always been around, I just never saw him. That was the point, Parker told me.

“How about some chips?” Liz asked me, interrupting my thoughts.

I smiled up at her, curling my feet under me and nodded.

“Scary movie or chick flick?” Aidan pulled out a DVD. “Scary movie,” he answered for us.

“Why ask when you’re not going to wait for the answer?” Liz threw a chip at him.

“Keep doing that, pet, and I’ll bend you over my lap,” he growled.

Liz stuck her tongue out at him. “Not in front of Keely, you won’t.”

He turned to her. “You’re spending the night here. I’ll just take you to the guest room that you’re staying in.”

“Why, we can’t leave Keely all alone.” Liz pouted.

I shook my head, laughing. “You guys are too much. I don’t care what you do. Just please clean up the mess. I don’t want Parker’s housekeeper, Anne, having to deal with that.”

Aidan clutched his chest. “We are very clean people.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, okay.” Aidan chuckled and slid the DVD into the player. He pulled Liz to her feet before sitting behind her. He pointed to the floor.

She knelt, leaning her head against his knee.

My chest clenched at the sight. “I’m…would you guys be offended if I went to bed early?”

“Not at all. I’m so sorry.” Liz gave me a hug.

“It’s…it’s not you guys. I just…I’m tired.”

They both nodded.

Deciding I needed some air first, I headed into the back yard. Every so often, I would bring out a tray of sandwiches and fruit, leaving it for the men that watched me and the house and every time I came back for the dishes, they were empty. It reminded me of the stories about people leaving out food for animals and the only time they would come out was when you left.

“I know you guys are still out there. I can feel you, watching me,” I said into the empty air. I didn’t know if the men belonged to the CIA, the FBI, or some other government agency or if they were just Parker’s men. No one told me and I didn’t care to ask.

“I…” I knelt, brushing my fingers through the cool green grass. “I just want to thank you. For everything.” No reply came of course but at one point, I heard a shuffling. “If you talk to Parker…” I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat. “Please tell him that I love him and that I…that I miss him.” My shoulders slumped. “I miss him,” I whispered.

Rising to my feet, I brushed off the strands of grass that were stuck to my knees. Taking a breath, I headed back into the house.

Making my way to The Room of Anticipation, I realized that I had never seen Parker’s actual bedroom. I knew it was on the second floor but that was it. Deciding on a change of course, I headed up there. But as my footsteps neared his room, the anxiety and pain clutched at my soul.

The phone in my hand vibrated and I jumped, forgetting that I was carrying it. “Hello?”

“Keely,” Parker purred.

A sob tore through my body and I fell to my knees. “Oh God, Parker.”

“Hi my beautiful pet.”

“Hi,” I whispered, my body shaking.

“Don’t cry.”

“I miss you. So damn much. I feel like a part of me left with you.”

“I know.” His voice was thick. “I know.”

“Are you okay?”

He sighed. “I am. For now.” He cleared his throat. “What are you doing, beautiful one?”

“I’m…I’m about to head to your bedroom. I realized I haven’t seen it yet and I need as much of you as possible.”

“Last door on your left. It’s not locked like our room.”

My heart swelled. “It’s
our
room?”

“Yes, pet. It is. We’ll discuss more about that when I get back but right now I just need to hear your voice.”

“Where are you?” I asked, pushing open the door that led to his bedroom.

“At the clubhouse still. Some shit went down so I’m laying low.”

I flicked on the light. “Should I be worried?”

“No. You won’t see them, but I have men watching the cottage. Anne brings in groceries so you won’t have to worry about food or money.”

I nodded, understanding what he was saying.

“I don’t want to hold you captive but I want you safe. Troy and Patrick can come and go as they please but you…”

“I know, Parker.” My eyes slid around the room.

“Tell me what you see.”

“A large bed but nothing like the one in the basement. Red sheets this time and dark wood. The carpet is soft under my feet,” I said, squishing my toes into the plush carpet.

“What else?”

“Nothing, really. This room doesn’t scream you though.” I pulled open his closet door. “Why would a man need a walk-in closet?” I teased, running my fingers over the fabric of his suits.

“Why don’t you open the door to the second closet and then tell me if the room screams me or not.”

“I doubt it.” I did as he said and gasped.

He chuckled. “You were saying?”

Leather objects stared back at me. What I learned were floggers hung in all different sizes on the wall. Red and black whips stared back at me. Every kinky toy you could imagine was in that closet. “Why aren’t these items downstairs?”

“You never know when the time is right and you need a little punishment. Kind of kills the mood when I have to run all the way downstairs.”

I laughed. “True.”

“Now, pet.”

My stomach tumbled at the change in tone. “Yes, Sir?”

“You’re learning. I’m impressed.”

I stood a little taller at his praise. “Thank you.”

“Have you been opening your hearts?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl. Tell me some of them.”

I thought a moment. “The one from today told me to smile.”

“And did you?”

I rubbed my thumb over the toe of his black leather shoe. It was so polished and shiny that I could see my reflection in it. “I’m smiling now.”

He grunted in response. “Tell me more.”

“One said for me to relax. Another told me to take a bubble bath. One also told me to light a candle and pour the wax on my nipple.”

“And did you?”

My cheeks heated. “It took me a little bit to get the courage but yes, I did.”

“I’m so proud of you, angel. I’m going to come back and you’ll be a changed woman.”

“I’m trying to learn as much as I can without you here.”

“I know. The hearts range in different levels. You’ll get there and we’ll teach each other. Now go lay on the bed but strip completely before doing so.”

I left the closet and took off my clothes before sliding under the cool satin of the sheets.

“How’s your wrist?”

Twisting it back and forth in front of me, I shrugged. “It’s fine. I had the cast taken off a couple days ago. It has its tender moments when the weather is bad but I did some physical therapy to help.”

“How’s…how’s everything else?”

I hesitated, knowing he was referring to Devin’s abuse on my lower body. “It’s healing,” was all I said.

“I’m sorry. For you seeing me like that but most of all, for hurting you. I didn’t…I didn’t want that.”

“I know, my love. Do you think Devin knew that you were setting him up and that’s why he made you push me out of the car?” I asked, running my fingers through the soft fur on a red throw pillow.

“I’m not sure. I thought of that myself, actually. Either way, it shouldn’t have gone down like that. I’ll keep apologizing to you for the rest of my life. I will make it up to you, pet.”

Snuggling into the pillows, I inhaled, trying to remember the scent of him when I saw a bottle of cologne on the end table. “I miss your smell,” I whispered, spraying the cologne on his pillows. The scent of leather and man wafted into my nostrils, easing my aching body.

“I miss your smell on my skin.” His voice deepened. “Touch yourself for me.”

I hesitated. “You want me to do what?”

“Keely.”

Biting my bottom lip, I slid my hand down my inner thigh. It had been so long since I felt a gentle touch from my lover. Butterflies and anxiety swirled in my gut, memories of that horrible day forcing their way into my mind.