Insidious (39 page)

“You’re not fucking playing me. I’ve got your goddamn proof,” he said, as he followed me toward the kitchen, in the far corner of the warehouse. I didn’t know how much the friends saw of the building. I only knew that this area wasn’t visible from the bed.

I reached for a robe that was draped over one of the bar stools and wrapped it around me. “Here.” I patted the stool beside me as I sat. “First, let me see your papers.”

Never taking his eyes off of me, Parker sat and opened the folder. Turning his smug expression on me, he pointed to a Connecticut State birth certificate. “Victoria, you were born on October ninth. This little illegal change has far-reaching implications, as you yourself said.” Next, he held up a copy of the forged birth certificate. “You lied.”

Reaching for the birth certificate, my chin fell to my chest and my fingers went numb. Even though I knew it was true, seeing it in print ripped something out of me. I ran my fingers over the seal. It was me, and it wasn’t me. The implications meant that everything I’d always known about myself was a lie. I wasn’t really a Conway. My identity was gone.

I bit my bottom lip to stop the trembling as Parker roughly seized my chin and pulled my eyes to his. “What do you have to say?”

I willed a tear to fall as I tried to shake my head while in his grasp. “It’s true. How can this be? Why didn’t Stewart tell me? Why didn’t my mother tell me?”

“It doesn’t fucking matter how it’s true. It is. And I have no fucking idea why they didn’t tell you.” Leafing through the papers, he located the contract and placed it on top of the birth certificates, and reaching into the breast pocket of his coat, he handed me a pen. “Sign.”

With sobs resonating from my chest, I did. I signed in each of the places I’d done last night. The only difference with Travis’ contract was the clause that now made it impossible for me to sign anything without him as a co-signer. Each time that Parker pointed and I penned Victoria Harrington, it was a lie. It was my plan B. I prayed I would never need it.

When the final page was signed, Parker picked up the pages and put them back into the folder. Leaning back in the chair, Parker sighed. “Victoria, I’ll enjoy having you as my pet.”

My skin crawled at the thought.

I stood and dramatically swallowed. “I didn’t know what would happen. I’d hoped…” I took a deep breath. “…but that doesn’t matter anymore. I brought you something, something to show you that I can behave. I can be respectful.” I looked down. “It’s something… well, from what I saw in your briefcase, I think you’ll enjoy.”

Parker’s brow rose. “You have me intrigued. What did you bring me?”

I reached for his clammy hand and led him back to the chair by the bed. Lifting the box, I said, “Please have a seat. I guess this is your chair now.”

As Parker sat, I removed my robe and knelt at his feet. Demurely, I handed him the silver gift. Without a word, Parker removed the bow and opened the box. Moving the tissue paper, he eyed the black leather fingerless gloves, like those worn by weightlifters, and the long sleek riding crop. His eyes opened wide.

“Stewart enjoyed this. I thought you might too.” I turned toward his briefcase and the whip. “I know what you brought, and the choice is yours, but I’d like to work my way up to that. I’ve never…” I let my words trail away as my face fell forward and I willed more tears.

“Fuck!” Parker said as he eyed my gift. “Stewart was into this shit?”

I nodded. “Yes, are you surprised?”

“Fuck, no—yeah. I didn’t realize he was such a selfish bastard.”

I wiggled my ass against my heels. “He called it our special time.”

Parker looked back into the box at the gloves. “Why—”

Before he could finish I offered, “Sometimes Stewart would really get into it. He said the gloves helped his hands with the leather handle. You don’t have to wear them. It’s up to you.”

The slimy, toothy smile returned. “No, I like them.” He motioned toward the bed. “I fucking want to give this a try.”

I nodded. “May I go to the bathroom and prepare myself for you?”

“Yeah. Don’t take too long.”

I could see his pencil dick protruding under his slacks. “Do you want me to help you with your clothes?”

“No, go and hurry.”

Slowly, I stood and walked toward the bathroom. Just before closing the door, I turned to see Parker unbuttoning his shirt and removing his slacks. Once inside, I sat on the edge of the shower and tried to regulate my breathing. I had no idea how long it would take for the Cytoxan inside of the gloves to penetrate his skin. By leaving the package in the car, the heat coming through the windows caused the powder to be absorbed into the porous leather. I knew to make it most effective I needed his hands to sweat. Though I hated what I was about to do, I knew it was my best option. After a few minutes, I braced myself, took a deep breath, and I made my way back out to the bed.

Seeing him standing in his boxers, socks, and shoes, I wished for the blindfold: this was an image I’d never be able to erase. Even with the leather gloves and riding crop he looked less like a Dominant and more like a pencil dick. I looked at the bed and noticed the satin restraints at the same time that Parker turned toward me.

I weighed each word, reminding myself that I needed his hands to sweat. I also knew the most important part of my plan: he couldn’t touch me. Even though the drug was on the inside of the gloves, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t leach through the leather. Making my presence known, I said, “Parker, I know this is your show. Believe me, I know how that works. But if you want me to, I’ll tell you what Stewart used to do.”

When he didn’t respond, I picked up the thick satin ribbon and ran it through my fingers. “Stewart always said that the strongest restraints were in my mind. He said he could tie me, but that didn’t teach me to obey. By not tying my hands or feet, I had to maintain his positions even when it was difficult. He said that physical restraints were too easy on me.” I raised my brow. “Didn’t you ever notice that I was never tied?”

Parker nodded. “Maybe Stewart was better at this than I thought.”

I went on. “He would tell me what to do.” I leaned over the bed, pressed my breasts into the soft cover, stretched my arms above my head, and keeping my ass in the air, spread my legs. “This was one of his favorite positions.”

Parker walked closer and ran the tip of the crop between my shoulder blades and down my back.

I moaned. “Oh, God, Parker. I don’t want to tell you other things that Stewart liked to do. Please don’t make me say it.”

The crop came down hard on my ass. I yelled, “Fuck!”

“Tell me. Tell me what you don’t want to say.”

I shook my head from side to side.

The crop came down again with a crack. “You’ll do as I say the first time.” Another crack. “Don’t fucking make me repeat myself.” The crop landed again. “Nod if you understand.”

Motherfucker!
I nodded, and hurriedly said, “Stewart liked to tease me. He’d get me all hot and make me wait. He wouldn’t touch me, even when I begged.” I turned toward Parker, with real tears in my eyes, praying that he was really this dumb, and begged, “Please don’t tease me. I never thought I’d be back here but now that I am, I’m so fucking horny. I want you inside of me.”

Another strike. I felt the welts mushrooming on my skin as I fought to maintain my position. “My pencil dick?” Parker taunted. “You want my pencil dick inside of you?”

Crack
. My ass was on fire.

“Yes, please, Parker. Please, I’m sorry I said that.”

Another crack and then another. As the crop teased my inner thigh, my cell phone rang out, penetrating our bubble.

I stood, my ass screaming, and raised my hands. “Parker, I’m sorry. I know the rules, but it could be about my mom. Please let me see if this is the hospital.”

I glanced at the screen: TRAVIS.

Sweeping my finger, I watched Parker’s eyes as I spoke into the phone, “Hello, this is Mrs. Harrington.”

The voice in my ear spoke low. “If that motherfucker hits you again, I’m going to jump the fucking banister and kill him with my bare hands.”

I let my head drop to my chest and turned away from Parker. “Oh, no! When did it happen?”

“I took care of the paperwork. Good job on the distraction, Victoria.”

Our plan had been to have Parker leave the birth certificates and contract in the kitchen and while I had Parker’s attention, Travis would steal the birth certificates and replace the contract with a new generic Dom/sub contract. If our plan worked, we didn’t want anyone going through his papers and finding something with my name.

I nodded. “Of course, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“Make sure he doesn’t touch you,” Travis cautioned as I ended the call.

I turned back to Pencil-Dick. “Oh, Parker, I’m sorry, but that was the hospital and it’s my mother. Something happened and they want all of us there. I can’t let Val and the boys do this alone.”

I watched the indecision in his eyes. Finally, he grunted, “Fine. We have forever to play my games.”

I sure as hell hope not!

While one gloved hand rubbed his little wood through his boxers, he added, “And some of Stewart’s games, too. Next time, you will tell me more.”

“I will,” I reassured as I grabbed my things and ran toward the bathroom. Once inside, I washed my hands for what seemed like forever. If I’d gotten any of the Cytoxan on them, it wouldn’t help. Nevertheless, it made me feel better.

Fully dressed, I reentered the large room and watched as Parker rubbed his hands together.

Securing my phone and my purse, I asked, “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, I liked the gloves. I think I’ll use those again.”

Not if the Cytoxan works like it’s supposed to
. “Leave them here if you want. We’ll use them next time.” I lifted my brows up and down. “Unless you think Maura would like them.”

Parker scowled in my direction and growled, “
We
’ll use them again. Don’t ever mention—”

Walking briskly away from him and toward the stairs, I called back over my shoulder, “I’m sorry, Parker, but I really need to run along. Until next time.” I opened my eyes wide. “Lock up, won’t you?” Without waiting for his answer, I squared my shoulders and walked up the stairs and out the door.

I was fucking done with this place. Let it burn or crumble. I didn’t give a rat’s ass!

“TRAVIS?” I SPOKE through the Bluetooth of my car.

“Excellent job, Victoria. Are you all right?”

A tight-lipped smile graced my lips.
Was it the sound of his concern or hearing him use my first name?
“Thank you. Well, my ass hurts like hell, but if it’s one of the last things that motherfucker ever does, it’s worth it.”

“Tell me that he didn’t touch you with those gloves.”

“He didn’t. Please tell me he hadn’t touched the bed with the gloves.”

“He hadn’t,” Travis confirmed. “I watched him like a hawk. He put the gloves on after he was undressed. After you left, he jacked off. The gloves were off, but one can only hope…”

“Jeez,” I said, scrunching my nose and fighting the mental image. “I thought seeing him in his boxers, shoes, and socks was bad. You’re going to need to scrub your eyeballs after watching the pencil dick get off.”

Travis laughed. “I’ve seen worse. I just kept thinking, that’s it, buddy, rub that shit in.”

“Now all we can do is wait. If it works like Val said, it should happen fast.”

“Where are you going?” Travis asked. “I don’t like you being out alone. This isn’t done.”

I blinked my eyes, working to stay focused on the traffic in front of me. “I’m headed back to the hospital. The boys should be there soon. I want to check on my mother.”

“I should clean this place up, but now that Craven left, I think I’ll leave it and meet you at the hospital.”

I agreed, “Fucking leave it and light a match on your way out. I’m done with that hellhole.”

“Oh, not so fast, I seem to remember a contract…”

If I hadn’t heard the hint of sarcasm in his voice, I would’ve crashed the damn car. “No fucking way!” I interrupted. “That will only see the light of day if Pencil-Dick lives to argue the contract he can’t find.”

“Victoria,” Travis’ tone was back to business. “I’ll see you at Memorial.”

“Yes,” I said, as I nodded and hit the END CALL button on my steering wheel. Seconds later, my cell phone rang. The screen on the dashboard flashed: BRODY PHILLIPS. I hit the CALL button.

“Hello, Brody.”

“Jesus, Vik, I can’t think about anything else. Are you all right? What happened?”

I bit my bottom lip. I couldn’t let him know… know what I was, what I’d done again…

I worked to lighten my tone. “He didn’t show.”

“What?” Brody asked, obviously confused.

“Parker didn’t show. He told me to be there at two. I was. I waited until a few minutes ago. I don’t know what this all means with the whole contract thing. I don’t know what happened.”

“So he didn’t touch you?”

“Brody,” I said, slowing my words. “Parker didn’t show up to the warehouse. I didn’t see him. He didn’t touch me.”