Eleven

Eleven

Rhys

Tony has me scheduled back-to-back over the weekend with some of my least favorite clients. Not only are they really into hurting me, but they say things to me, about me, that make me feel disgusting. Worthless.

Most of them wired Tony the money, but a few gave me cash, so I have to bring that to him afterwards. I have Parker for the night after this, and I can’t wait to get out of here and see him. He can’t stop me from having to do these jobs, but he makes me feel better about it all. Like maybe I’m not just what Tony’s molded me into.

When I hand Tony the cash, he tosses it on the kitchen counter behind him before crossing his arms over his chest and staring me down. “I had to give Ned a partial refund.”

“What? Why?” Ned was the second-to-last client I saw before coming here. He’d beaten the shit out of me with a belt before pinning to the floor and taking so hard that I thought I might break.

“He said you screamed too much.”

“He told me to,” I protest. “He said he wanted to hear me scream.”

“Obviously not that much.”

I bite my tongue so I don’t argue further. It doesn’t matter if I did what I was told or not. All that matters is Tony lost money.

“I’m sorry,” I say when I’m certain my voice will be neutral.

“I don’t want an apology,” Tony snaps, grabbing my ass and squeezing hard. “I want you to take this back out and bring me the money you cost me plus interest for it being late. You don’t get it here by tomorrow morning, I’ll let Mike know he can move in on your brother.”

Fear seizes my chest, nearly cutting off circulation. It’s been a while since I did something that made Tony threaten Jack. “I’ll have it to you by seven tomorrow morning. I promise.”

He searches my face before letting go of me and taking a step back. “Get out of my sight.”

My legs are shaking as I leave Tony’s house. The threat of Jack getting hurt hangs heavy on my shoulders. I’m supposed to be with Parker until six in the morning. There’s no way I can leave his place at the that time, make up the missing money plus interest, and get back to Tony all before seven. I could talk to Parker about letting me go early so I can see someone else, but that would make me lose money too because I couldn’t take the full amount from Parker if I didn’t stay the whole time.

I’m not sure what to do, and I still haven’t decided by the time I get to Parker’s apartment.

I must look worse than I thought because when Parker opens the door to greet me, his smile quickly falls into a frown. “What happened to you?”

I pull my hand out of his even though I don’t want to. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not your job to take care of me.”

“Rhys—”

“I have to go. I-I don’t think I’m coming back.”

“Rhys, don’t.” He takes a step forward, so I back up one. I can’t have him too close to me or I’ll lean into him. And he deserves someone better than me.

“I really need to go. I shouldn’t be here. I—”

“I’ll pay for you,” he interrupts. “I’ll pay whatever you need, Rhys. Just please don’t go.” He reaches for me again, but I pull my arms from his grip and cross them over my chest.

“No, Parker.”

“Please, I can’t. I—” He cuts himself off and presses his lips to mine. It’s urgent and desperate and hungry. I love that he kisses me like he can’t get enough of me.

But he shouldn’t be.

I pull back. “I can’t.”

“I’ll pay for you. Why can’t you stay? It’s your decision, right?”

It’s such an innocent question. He has no idea that I don’t make any decisions. I’m told what to do. Who to fuck. I have no control over my own body. It’s just something Tony uses to get more money.

Tears gather in my eyes, and they’re leaking out before I can stop them. Though I think a large part of it is because I’m in so much pain.

“Don’t cry, Rhys.” He says it softly, like the words hurt him. That only makes me cry harder.

He pulls me against his chest in a hug, and I know I should step back and run, but I can’t seem to make myself do it. Parker is safe. He’ll make everything okay again. When I’m with him, there’s no Tony. It’s just the two of us.

“It’s okay,” Parker whispers. “I’m here.”

I press my face into his chest and breathe in his familiar scent, taking in everything I can. Then I steel myself and pull away. “I need to go.”

“I’ll pay for you.” He clenches his fingers around my wrists. “I’ll pay, Rhys. Just stay.”

I shake my head. “You can have anyone you want, Parker. You’re only paying for me because you feel sorry for me.”

“No, it’s because I like you.” His voice softens. “I want to be around you.”

I bite my bottom lip, trying to close off the last of those traitorous tears. “You shouldn’t.”

“Well, I do.” He releases one of my wrists to reach up and cup my cheek in his palm. “I’m so sorry you for what they did to you.”

“It’s okay,” I say even though it’s not.

His thumb rubs my cheek gently. “You want to take a bath with me? It’ll help with the pain.”

Even though I like him, the idea of doing anything with him right now makes my stomach clench. I’m not sure how much more my body can take. But he’s paying for me.

I offer him a small smile. “Okay.”

Parker leads me by the hand into his bathroom and starts the water while I strip my clothes off. I don’t look at him. I don’t look in the mirror. I don’t want to know what bruises line my body right now. I don’t want to have to see them.

But I can feel Parker’s gaze on me, and it seems like all the air is getting sucked out of the room. “Fuck, Rhys, it’s bad.”

I sink my teeth into my lower lip to give me something else to focus on so I don’t start crying again. I don’t know why I’m letting it affect me so much this time. Maybe I let myself get too used to Parker’s gentleness.

“Come on,” Parker murmurs, tugging me toward the tub. He helps me sit down, and the hot water feels so soothing on my body that I almost whimper.

He slides in next to me, close but not touching. Somehow, it feels even more intimate than when we slept together. “Just relax,” he says. “This will help, okay?”

I nod, then lean my head back against the tub. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve had a bath.”

He smiles a little. “Me too. I used to take them a lot when I lived with my dad.”

“Because of what he used to do to you?”

“Yeah.” His smile dims, and he falls quiet.

I watch him from the corner of my eye, wishing I could help him in some way. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt him. I’m pretty jaded from having lived with Tony and worked for him, but not so much that I could understand why Parker’s father would beat him.

“The water helping?” Parker asks when the silence stretches.

“Yes, thank you.” The part of me that Tony created is urging me to reach for Parker under the water. To take his cock in my hand and stroke it like I know he likes it. But Parker’s staring at the wall opposite the tub with a faraway look in his eyes. I don’t think he wants anything right now other than for me to simply sit with him.

So I try to relax and let my muscles let go of some of the tension that’s been on them for the last few days. I know that eventually I’ll have to get up and get out of here. Parker can’t realistically pay for me that much longer, and I’m not going to let him. I really can’t come back to him after this.

Hell, I shouldn’t have come back here today. But he was waiting for me. And I’m just selfish enough to take the few precious hours I have with him. Because when I’m with him, I don’t feel like a hooker. I feel like just Rhys again.

Parker reaches for my hand under the water and brings it up, past the soap bubbles, all the way to his lips. He kisses my palm gently, his lips just a whisper on my skin.

It feels good even though I shouldn’t let it.

I curl my fingers into my palm, as if I can hold the kiss against my skin forever. I wish there was a way that I could.

Once we’ve been in the water long enough for my skin to start wrinkling, Parker pulls me out of the tub and helps me wrap a towel around my waist.

When he leads me back into his bedroom, he gives me a pair of sweatpants before pulling some on himself. I hesitate, glancing at the bed. I know that’s where we’re headed. But if he gave me these, he wants them on me. So I tug them on before sitting on the edge of the bed.

The heat kicks on, and I close my eyes at the sound. Somehow, it’s gotten familiar in the last couple of weeks. It means safety and Parker.

The bed dips as Parker crawls in with me, so lie on my back and stare up at the ceiling. I keep my eyes open as Parker leans down and presses a kiss to the bruise on my cheek. Then the ones on my neck and shoulders. Down my chest.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say. “I don’t need anything. We can have sex.”

He stops kissing me and leans over me, staring at me like he can’t believe I said that. “We’re not doing anything tonight. You need to rest.”

“Parker—”

“It’s not up for negotiation.”

A huge part of me is grateful that he’s looking out for me like this. But a different, unfamiliar part of me just wants his body. Wants him to kiss me and be inside me like he was a few days ago.

“I’m okay,” I whisper. “You’re not going to break me.”

A small half-smile picks the corner of his mouth up. “I know, Rhys. I know you’re really tough, but you don’t have to be right now. I’m here, okay?”

I nod even as I tell myself it’s not okay to let my guard down. I don’t know what it is about Parker that makes it feel better, but I wish I could bottle it up for nights in the future when he’s not there.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he murmurs, holding my gaze. “You’re safe with me.”

“Okay.” I believe him. I don’t even know why, but I know he’s telling the truth. He’s been nothing but gentle with me, even when I messed up. Even though I know I should take this moment to relax and rest like he’s telling me to, my body is asking for something different. It’s so strange to want someone like this.

I mumble his name, and he leans closer to me. I snake a hand up his arm to the back of his neck, bringing him closer to me. His lips part, and I move up to meet them with my own. He tastes like coffee and safety. Like Parker.

“We’re not having sex,” he says against my lips.

“I know. I just… I want…” I trail off, my cheeks heating.

“What is it, Rhys?” he asks. “What do you want?”

“I don’t want to sleep alone.” The heat spreads down my neck. I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t let him pay me and not use my body. But I’m so tired. In so much pain. All I want is to feel his arms around me.

“I’ll stay in the bed with you,” Parker says, pulling the blanket up over my chest. “I’m right here, okay? Don’t worry.”

He can’t lie down fast enough, and as soon as he’s against me, I curl into him, laying my head on his chest. My body hurts from what Tony did, but my heart hurts more. Today was just an ugly reminder of what I am.

“I’m not leaving,” Parker mumbles, resting his hand on my back. “Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake back up.”

I’m too tired to respond. My eyes finally close, and then I’m blissfully asleep.