True Perfection [Aspire 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (7 page)

“Good morning, or is it afternoon?” Warren’s rusty voice forced Gordon from his thoughts. Haley came up like a setter on point, and Gordon wanted to shake her. Who the hell was this woman? No one he knew, and his heart ached at the loss.

“What do you need, Warren?” Haley’s soft, placating voice made Gordon’s teeth grind together, and he got up from the chair. Time to test her recent apparent obedience.

“I’ll take care of things, Haley. Go and eat some lunch and then go outside and take a walk. Get some fresh air.”

Haley looked at him, and he steeled himself against the plea in her eyes, wishing she would challenge him. When she looked to Warren, Gordon took her arm and hauled her to her feet.

“Now, sub.”

It broke his heart to see the woman he knew as a feisty, passionate wench duck her head and quickly leave the room. However, it also suited his purpose for the moment, and Gordon turned back to Warren.

“What the hell is going on, Gordon?”

Gordon poured Warren a glass of water from the carafe on the table and stuck a straw into it. Warren manipulated the controls to electrically raise the head of his bed and took the glass, emptying it in two strong pulls. Gordon refilled it and set it within reach, then pulled the chair closer to the bed.

“I have no idea, Warren,” he said. “Well, I might have a few theories, but I’m kind of stumped. Haley is like a zombie or a windup toy. She hasn’t left your side since they allowed her into your room, and has become your total slave, whether you’re awake or not.”

Gordon watched the myriad of emotions play across Warren’s face. Warren didn’t hide behind that aloof, arrogant persona anymore, and it was a relief. He continued with his explanation even though he felt a hit of guilt over trying to do this while Warren wasn’t up to par.

“I could tell her to do anything, and as long as it didn’t detract from your care or outright harm you, Haley would do it. It nearly killed her to leave the room just now, but she didn’t protest. Her job is gone, and she didn’t say a word.” Gordon put his hand up to silence Warren when his friend began to share his opinion of Nick Lewis in unflattering terms. “I even suggested we take that cursed vacation, and she agreed, despite the fact that the idea of it terrifies her. Maybe you can shed some light on this. Because I’m feeling left out in the cold here, buddy. I thought Haley cared about me, loved me, and now I don’t think she feels much of anything, although she’s clearly fucking devoted to you.”

Warren rolled his head on the pillow. He spoke with a strength that was at odds with his appearance. “I don’t do much other than sleep and think, Gordon. I might have a clue. Haley keeps saying she’s sorry. Each and every time I open my eyes, she apologizes. What do you think she’s sorry for, Gordon?”

Gordon fought incredulity and elation in equal parts. It was like blinders had fallen from his eyes. Haley thought she was to blame for that idiot stabbing Warren! She hadn’t fallen out of love with him. He had been too close to the situation to read her. She thought the stabbing was her fault and had decided to make amends in the best way that she knew, by subjugating her own needs. She had become expert at that way of life when she’d lived with Warren previously.

“Gordon? I’ll be out of here by the end of the week, and we are going to have a discussion with Haley. In the meantime, I want you to take her home. I mean it. I can’t stand seeing the little ghost I wake up to. It reminds me of my past mistakes with her. Go. Come back during regular visiting hours.”

Gordon nodded and reached into the corner to snag Haley’s overnight bag. There was nothing else of hers in the room. She carefully put everything away each time she took something from it or changed her clothes. The symbolism of it struck Gordon, and he mentioned it to Warren. “It’s like she’s prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. I don’t get it. She has devoted herself to you and obeys me, yet she’s ready to head out.”

When Warren merely shrugged, clearly tired, Gordon let it drop and headed for the door.

“Hey.” Gordon turned back at Warren’s voice. “Take her to bed, Gordon. Make her feel something other than the guilt she doesn’t own. Think of me when you’re doing it.”

Gordon laughed and left. He met Haley hurrying back down the hall and whirled her around with one hand. “We’re going home, little one. We’ll come back to visit later.”

He thought she would protest, felt it in the tensing of her body, and took pity on her dilemma. Did she obey him or return to Warren’s room? He didn’t want her to have to make that choice when there really wasn’t one.

“Warren suggested it, Haley. You need a proper shower and actual food. A rest would be in order as well.”

His subservient, quiet little woman meekly preceded him out to the car and let him buckle her in without another word. It was unnerving, despite the fact that he now believed he knew why she was behaving in such a manner. Gordon planned to shake up the status quo that very afternoon.

* * * *

Haley soaked in the big tub off the master bedroom, luxuriating in the hot, scented water. She had scrubbed her hair under the shower with Gordon’s help and wrapped it up in a towel while the bath filled. It didn’t feel quite right to be so comfortable while Warren lay in a hospital bed, but she was exhausted and justified it by assuring herself that she would have more energy after a bath and a rest. Gordon had stripped her then put her into the shower before climbing in to help her wash, and the familiarity of it all made her heart ache. She was so tired of waiting for the axe to fall, and on one hand wanted to get it over with. On the other, she hoped for more time. More time to see Warren back on his feet, and more time to obey Gordon and show him that she cared just as much for him as she did for Warren before they told her to leave. Yet she was equally terrified they would take her on vacation and reject her there, when she would have no place to turn. Her thought process had begun to feel a bit skewed over the past couple of days, but she was too exhausted to spend any time trying to sort it out.

Gordon came back into the bathroom carrying a tray laden with a variety of snacks and a steaming cup of tea. Real tea, not that swill the hospital served. Haley felt like someone had punched her in the chest. Jeffrey had called her food swill right before he stabbed Warren. The room got blurry and she heard the tray crash onto the counter before Gordon yanked her up and out of the tub. He wrapped her in one of the big bath sheets and carried her into the bedroom where he almost fell onto the mattress with her. She clung to his heat and solid frame.

“Breathe, Haley, take deep breaths and hang onto me.”

Haley did as he said, and the fist around her heart loosened and she was able to unclench her fingers from the fabric of Gordon’s robe.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I had a flash of Jeffrey stabbing Warren,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Gordon.”

Gordon pinned her to the bed, his big frame hovering over hers. “Look at me!”

Startled, Haley did as he ordered, and the rage in his eyes had her shutting hers.

“Look at me!”

Oh God, it was happening. Gordon was going to tell her how angry he was with her. He was going to tell her what she already knew, that it had been her fault, and then she would never see him again. It didn’t feel right. Gordon wasn’t like that. But it was true. If she hadn’t refused their plan, hadn’t been so headstrong, had done what they wanted because they knew what was best for her, Warren wouldn’t be in hospital and she wouldn’t be waiting for Gordon to break things off with her. Maybe that’s why Warren had told him to take her home. Warren didn’t have the strength right now to tell her to go and asked Gordon to do it. Haley moaned in abject pain.

“Damn it, Haley, open your eyes and look at me!”

Haley forced herself to look up at him. He balanced his weight above her, his hands planted beside her shoulders, his knees tight against her hips. She could feel his cock hardening against her belly, even with the distance between their bodies, and had to fight not to arch against him. She wanted him inside her one more time. Gordon impaled her with his glance instead.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Haley. You are not responsible for that asshole’s actions. Period. Do you hear me?”

Gordon’s language almost convinced her that he meant what he said, far more than his actual words. Gordon never swore around her, although Warren had loosened up considerably. Gordon was the consummate gentleman. She searched his eyes and flinched at the frustration she saw there. He
was
angry with her.

“Warren doesn’t hold you responsible either, Haley, although you will need to hear that from him, I’m sure.” Gordon rolled away and stared up at the ceiling, and she mourned the loss of contact.

“I don’t know why you feel the need to assume such responsibility, but that’s what you have done, correct?”

Haley sat up and swivelled to answer Gordon directly. “Why are you so angry?” she asked, instead.

Gordon sat up in turn and reached to grab her shoulders. He shook her gently. “Because I’ve watched you torture yourself for the past three and a half days over something you had no control over. It could have been you, Haley! Did you ever consider that? And how would I have gone on then?”

Haley covered her face with both hands and spoke between her fingers. “It
should
have been me.”

When Gordon dragged her down and rolled back on top of her, Haley sensed a change in him, something that made her belly clench. “Never say that again, sub. I won’t tolerate it.”

He took her mouth with a devastating kiss that stole her breath, and his hands moved to pull the towel away from her breasts. He pinched and rolled both nipples, and the small pain twisted right to her apex, arousing her. Haley kissed him back with all her heart, and she pushed her fingers through his hair to anchor him to her. She felt his knee push between her legs to separate them. The arousing feeling of having her legs spread by her dominant men never failed to surprise Haley. Her pussy moistened, and she quit thinking about how much control she had actually had over preventing the stabbing. She wanted Gordon to fuck her. She needed him, and tried not to feel selfish. One hand left her breasts and reached between them to help notch his cock at her entrance. He filled her in one thrust and Haley gasped at the invasion, her tender tissues stretching to accommodate him despite her wetness. It had been weeks without this, and it felt so good. Gordon made love to her despite his anger and tension. He was forceful yet gentle, and Haley rocked against him in the age-old dance of affirmation and joy. She climaxed after just a few strokes, with Gordon’s pelvis grinding against the hood of her clit and his cock digging at the special spot high inside her. He stroked hard and then held himself against her, his cum splashing into her womb, his craggy face tightening in ecstasy. He collapsed and then slid to the side, pulling her with him to hold her close, his cock still inside of her.

“No more apologies, Haley. Get some sleep before we go back to see Warren.”

Haley shut her eyes against his dictum. She would cherish this, just lie among the rumpled linens, and soak up his heat. She would impress this on her memory.

Gordon eased out of bed, although he was certain that Haley wasn’t sleeping. He hoped that he had shown her, impressed upon her how unnecessary her guilt was, but couldn’t think it would be that easy. He suspected that Haley had nearly cracked under the strain of what happened in the restaurant. He quickly washed up and pulled a change of clothes from the walk-in closet, keeping an eye on Haley as he did so. At least she was resting. Gordon didn’t think he would ever be able to see Haley kneeling again without being reminded of her self-subjugation in the hospital. He would give anything to turn back time and not put her through that. He wondered if she should see a therapist, and then shook his head. Somehow he could see a therapist wanting to shrink her head because she was in a relationship with two men. He and Warren would get her past this thing. He tucked his shirttails into his pants and grabbed a pair of socks, then picked up the tray and all the spilled food before going down to the kitchen. He had just set everything down by the sink when the phone rang. He snatched it up before it could ring again and spoke his name.

“Mr. Sinclair? This is Laura from Global Travel. I’m just calling to let you know that there are several specials coming up if you care to reschedule your cancelled trip.”

Gordon hesitated. “I’ll have to get back to you on that, Laura,” he finally said. “One of our party isn’t well, and while a vacation will definitely be our plan in the future, I don’t have a definitive date.”

“That’s fine. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

Gordon clicked the phone off and stared out the window. Haley had covered some very real panic when he had proposed rebooking their vacation. It didn’t make any sense. He could understand that she felt guilty, as absurd as it was, but surely she would have welcomed time with them both to make amends if that was the case. No, something else was operating here. Once Warren came home, they would figure it out. He put the kettle on to boil and cut up some more cheese and set out some fresh crackers. The fruit had gone brown as well, so he peeled another pear and cut up an apple. Haley’s appetite had been poor over the past few days, and hopefully he could tempt her into eating a little. He made his way up the stairs to feed his sub.

* * * *

Haley sat up amongst the sheets and coverlet, her hair a mass of curls and tangles. Gordon smiled at the picture she made, all softness, curves and creamy flesh that contrasted with the darker colour of her nipples. He stole a kiss before he slipped a piece of fruit between her lips. His cock lurched to follow the succulent flesh. He fought back his arousal. This might be a good time to talk, with Haley more rested and sated. Her defences wouldn’t be so high.

“You look beautiful, Haley,” he offered. “I’ll brush your hair for you later. Even though it’s not as long as it used to be, you’ll never get those tangles out without help.”