Training Amy (19 page)

Handing her a box of tissue he said, “Back to work gorgeous.”

With that he disappeared from the room. She cleaned herself up, pulled her panties and hose back up, and then slipped her shoes back on. If anything she was grateful the plug had been removed. None worse for the wear, she went back to work as if nothing had happened at all.

Paul showed up at
By the Book
at eight that evening, just an hour before closing. Amy heard Brad intercept him.

“You need to leave,” Brad told him.

“I just need to talk to Amy for a minute, out front. I just want to apologize, please man?” Paul said with more civility than she expected.

She ventured out from the shelves she was straightening and walked over to him. “Why are you here, Paul?”

He looked her up and down quickly, not quickly enough for it to go unnoticed. “I just want to talk to you outside for a minute. I want to apologize. I was way out of line the other night.”

“I’ll say you were,” Amy said, leading him out to the front of the building.

Paul followed, his head down.

Once they were outside she turned to him, arms crossed over her chest. “Well, say what you have to say.”

“Amy, I love you. Dump that guy. You deserve better. Do you know how many women into kinky sex get raped and murdered?” he asked. While his face showed concern, there was something angry about his eyes.

She tried not to wince. “Paul, we’re done. I don’t love you. I’m falling in love with Eric and our private life is our own. It’s not up to you to judge it. I trust Eric would never let anything like that happen to me.”

“Last year, in New York or someplace, a woman fell in love with a guy like Eric and he treated her like a queen until he auctioned her off as a sex slave in another country. Do you want to be another statistic?” Paul’s voice was firmer now.

Amy paused for a moment. She had heard about it. It was a big story when it broke. “Eric isn’t like that.”

All the pleading and ‘sorry’ went from his face. “You really want men to beat you? Smack you around? You know what; I’m done trying to convince you. Obviously you’ve been brainwashed, so much you actually sent the cops looking into me for arson.”

“That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? You’re pissed because they’re questioning you and not Eric.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re the only person I fought with, Paul. Who the hell do you think they’re going to look into?”

“Yeah, well luckily I saw someone around your house that night.”

Amy raised an eyebrow. “You what?”

“I keep an eye on what’s mine. I saw some scrawny chick in gray hatchback follow you and Eric when he dropped you off. He left, she stuck around. I thought it was strange when she parked and walked over to the side of your house, but she came back, got in her car and left,” he said with a shrug. “I thought maybe she was looking for a cat or something.”

“God damn it Paul! Why didn’t you say something sooner? Did you tell the police?” A rush of anger coursed through her.

“Of course I did. When they were questioning me I remembered it. I didn’t think anything of it initially which is why I didn’t say anything. So they think they have a lead.”  The look on his face showed a clear change in train of thought. “Am I back in your good graces now? Give me a second chance?” 

            She didn’t answer him right away. Her mind was on the scrawny girl in the hatchback. Emily. “Oh God, it was Emily.”

            “Do I get a second chance or not?” Paul was asking.

            Groaning, she looked him square in the eye. “No. Paul, I’m done with you.”

            “You want me to beat you?” he asked.

            Shocked, she didn’t say anything.

            He grabbed her by the arm and began dragging her toward his car. “I’ll beat you since that’s what you like. I have a bullwhip back at my place. Come on.”

           
Digging her heels into the ground and trying to pull away she shouted, “Paul, stop!” Anger gave way to fear.

            “I thought you liked it rough? Come on, Amy. Give me a second chance.”

            “The lady said let go.” It was Brad’s voice.

            Paul’s grip loosened, giving Amy a chance to pull away and finally break free. She clutched her wrist and backed away. Eric came out of the store front door and stood next to Brad, motioning Amy to move closer to him.

            “So what are you gonna do? Kick my ass? Do it,” Paul said, shoving his nose only inches from Brad’s face.

            “No,” Brad said, not losing an ounce of control.  “But I will tell you what I
am
going to do. You’re going to leave quietly or I’m calling the police and having you removed.”

            “This is a public sidewalk mother fucker!”

            “And you’re causing a public nuisance on the sidewalk in front of our store,” Brad countered with a smile. “Take a hike.”

            “Amy, last chance. Me or Blondie there,” Paul shouted.

            “I’m staying with Eric, Paul. Now leave or I’ll get a restraining order,” she said, nursing her injured wrist.

            Paul seemed to weigh his options then he let out a growl and stomped off toward his car, glaring back at them over his shoulder only once. 

            Inside, the last few customers of the night stood staring out the windows. One man was kind enough to ask Amy if she was alright.

            “I’ll be fine, thank you,” she said politely. Going to the refrigerator she pulled out the ice pack and put it on her wrist, then went to sit at her place at the counter near the register.

            Eric and Brad finally came back inside.

            “Is prince charming gone?” she asked.

            “I can’t believe you dated that asshole,” Brad said.

            She laughed. “Neither can I.”

            “How’s your wrist?” Eric asked, gently taking the ice pack off it and giving it close inspection.

            “It feels bruised, maybe sprained,” Amy said with a sigh.

            “So how did that conversation go?” Eric obviously wanted details.

            She wasn’t about to let him down. “He told me something you’re not going to like. Probably the most important thing that came out of his mouth.”

            He raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

            “He told me that Sunday night when you brought me home, when he was stalking me evidently, he noticed we were being followed by a gray hatchback driven by a scrawny brown haired chick, who after I went inside and you drove away, got out of her car and went to the side of my parents’ house, then got back in her car and left. Then he left,” Amy said with a tight smile.

            “Emily?” Eric asked, the shock clear in his voice.

            “Yes. Your psycho ex tried to kill me and my parents.”

            “She’s off her meds,” he whispered.

            “She’s on meds?”

            “She’s on anti-psychotics. She’s got a mild form of schizophrenia.”

            Amy was speechless. Evidently Emily was more damaged than anyone had been willing to admit.

            “I can’t believe you dated that crazy bitch,” Brad said, walking by with a stack of books.

            “He told the cops, right?” Eric asked.

            “He said he did. Then he offered to take me back to his place and beat me with a bull whip since I like to be beaten,” she said with a sigh.  “What a jerk. I should get a restraining order because…”

            Eric didn’t let her finish. “Let’s go file a report now.”

            “Sure,” Brad said in a sarcastic tone as he came back around the counter. “I’ll close the store while you two run off. Thank God you both stopped dating assholes and started dating each other.”

            Eric and Amy both laughed. Eric was right. Brad actually did have a sense of humor after all.

Chapter Ten

            It was a cold, gray day two months later when they got the news that Emily had been arrested for arson and attempted murder. She had been off her meds, so they said. Amy and Eric were at the DA’s office giving their statements when Amy ran into her parents who immediately scowled at Eric. He excused himself and wandered down the hall, acting like he was interested in getting something from the vending machine.

            “We’ve rented a house near your aunt’s,” her mother started.

            “That’s great,” Amy said, forcing a grin.

            “We want you to move back in with us while you finish school.”

            “Thanks for the offer, Mom, but I think I’m going to stay with Eric,” she said.

            Her father walked away.

            Her mother looked at her. “Amy, we’re worried about you.”

            “You heard I had to get a restraining order against Paul? He bruised my wrist and threatened to beat me with a bull whip when I refused to take him back,” Amy said, her voice bitter.

            “Oh Amy, I’m so sorry.” She reached out to take Amy’s hand. “We just want the best for you and we don’t want to see you get hurt or drop out of school over some man.”

            “Eric hasn’t hurt me, mom. I know you don’t believe it, but he treats me with respect and we have a lot in common. We both like to read, watch the same movies, and have the same work ethic. He’s also adamant about me finishing school. I haven’t missed a day since I’ve been staying with him,” she assured her. “Besides, he’s got a big place and he needed a roommate anyway.”

            “Oh, so you’re not sharing a bedroom?”

            Amy fought the urge to roll her eyes. “No mother. I have my own room,” she lied. The lie was worth it though because that put a smile on Mrs. Meyer’s face and the conversation ended there with her mother agreeing to call her and have her over for dinner. No mention was made of inviting Eric, but Amy reminded herself it was going to take small baby steps for her parents to get used to the idea that first, she was a grown woman, and second she’d chosen a man and a lifestyle they didn’t approve of. But it was a risk Amy was fully prepared to take.

            With that agreement, Amy left her parents, rejoined Eric and they headed home.

            When they pulled into the driveway at the house a half hour later and Amy looked up at the two story monstrosity before her, then over at Eric whose eyes almost always gave him away, she knew she was home with the man she was falling deeper in love with by the day.

            “So since we have the rest of the day and Brad and Kali have the shop under control, how about we take the opportunity to have a play date?” he suggested with a wide grin. Then he leaned over and kissed her, hard, running his hand over her clothed breast. He pulled back, looking into her eyes, seemingly waiting for her answer.

            A small smirk crossed her lips. “I don’t know, Master. I thought I’d paint my nails.”

            “Mouthy are we? That deserves punishment. Perhaps you’ll serve me the rest of the day nude, on your hands and knees with a ball gag in your mouth? I think that sounds absolutely delicious,” he said in a husky whisper.

            Her breath hitched and she found herself immediately aroused by idea. “Yes, Master. Whatever you wish.”

            He firmly, yet gently, pulled her to him again, kissing her full on the lips, his tongue exploring her mouth. He pulled away again, this time his eyes filled with lust. “Now get inside and get naked. You’ll wear the cuffs, too,” he told her.

            With her panties wet and her every pore craving his command, needing to serve him, her voice came out small and wanting. “Yes, Master.”  ●

 To read more of Brad and Kali’s story, watch for
Switched
by Anne O’Connell. Coming soon.