Five

Five

Rhys

My nerves are jumping when I leave Tony’s place to see Parker Wednesday night. Tony had been pissed when Parker had used my real name in front of the burger place. As soon as we were out of earshot, Tony had pushed me up against the building and demanded to know why I’d told one of my clients my real name.

It wasn’t the first time one had asked for it. It’s not really uncommon. But Tony had acted like it was the end of the world.

I wish it had never happened. Not because Tony was angry about it but because I hate that Parker saw me with Tony. Realistically, I know he had no idea who Tony was. He probably thought he was just another client. But just after those two times I met Parker, he felt different from the rest of my life.

It’s probably why I’m dreading seeing him so much. I’d built Parker up in my head as someone different. Someone who wouldn’t use me like the clients. But that was obviously a mistake.

When I step into his apartment, Parker’s watching me as if he’s afraid I’m going to run. Given that we met because he took me away from another client, it’s a fair thing to assume. And I desperately want to run. But I risked enough when I let Parker take me away from Phil. Parker had been gentle then. Kind. Maybe this won’t be so bad.

He seems kind of nervous but not like he’s scared of getting caught. I’m not sure what it is, but I give him the smile I’ve mastered, the one that says he doesn’t need to worry about anything because I’ll take care of him.

“You okay?”

He nods. “I was worried about you. The guy you were with when I saw you…he seemed—”

“He was no one,” I interrupt, moving a hand to his shoulder, rubbing my thumb along the soft fabric of his shirt. “Besides, I’m with you now. Do you really want to spend our time talking about someone else?”

I lean up on tiptoe and press my lips to his, rewarded with the slow slide of his tongue into my mouth. For how shy and nervous he is, Parker’s a fucking amazing kisser. It’s like he’s fucking my mouth with his tongue, and it heats my blood quickly.

It’s not the first time I’ve been into what I’m doing with a client, and I’m not surprised I feel that way with Parker. I liked him from the moment we met.

I break our kiss so I can move my lips down his neck, to the collar of his shirt. His skin is warm and inviting.

“You want to move to the bed?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

He glances behind him, as if he just now remembered he even had a bed. “Oh, um…”

When he trails off, I take a step closer to him and slide a hand up his arm. I keep my fingers gentle, silently telling him to relax. His nervousness is kind of cute, even though I don’t want to think that.

“We can go as slow as you want to go,” I tell him.

He meets my eyes. “I’m not expecting anything. I just wanted to see you again.”

I’m not really sure how to take that. He paid for a night with me; we both know what he’s expecting. But he’s clearly uncomfortable. I need to get him in the mood and relax him.

Slowly, I unbutton the blue shirt I’m wearing. Parker’s gaze tracks the movement of my fingers, never taking his eyes off me. But when I reach the last button, and I start to pull the shirt off, Parker gasps sharply.

“Did you get those bruises from a job?” I almost think I hear something like concern in his voice, but that’s not possible.

I glance down, taking in the green and yellow healing bruises on my chest and stomach. They only hurt a little now. I’d almost forgotten about them.

“Yes.” That’s not entirely true. Tony gave me some of them, but I don’t want to spill that to Parker. “Do they bother you? I can keep my shirt on.”

“No, no, I don’t want you to do that.” He takes a deep breath before giving me an apologetic smile. “I didn’t meant to imply I had a problem with your body. I don’t.”

Some of the tension in my muscles relaxes. “Okay, sir—”

“Parker.”

“Parker,” I amend. “Why don’t you tell me what you’d like to do, and I’ll make it happen?”

When he hesitates again, I grit my teeth and cross my arms over my chest. “You can’t pay me and take nothing. Don’t you know what hookers do?”

“Of course I know.” He drops his gaze to his hands. “I just don’t want to pay you for that. It makes me feel like I’d be using you.”

I sigh and try to relax my muscles. Getting irritated won’t help anything. And I’m not really upset with him. Just with this whole situation. With the fact that I’m even in this position to begin with.

“Look, Parker, you like me, right?”

He looks back up at me, his eyes darkening with heat. “Yeah, I like you, Rhys.”

“Then just don’t think about the money.” I uncross my arms and move my hands to his shoulders. Then I lean in and kiss him softly. “Just think about me, okay?”

“I-I just…I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I can’t handle the thought of that.”

I try not to let the surprise show on my face. I hadn’t thought of Parker as being one of the violent ones, but the fact that he wants to make sure I’m not afraid of him warms my chest. “I’m not scared,” I tell him. “I promise.”

He finally relents and gives me a nod. It’s bizarre that I’m having to talk him into this. I’ve never had to convince a client to do this with me. They know what they’re getting for their money.

Parker’s hands slide to the small of my back, urging me closer to him.

I oblige, pressing my body as close to his as possible. His lips move down my neck, dropping open-mouthed kisses on my heated skin. I hate that it makes me feel good. Most clients are only worried about whether or not they get off with me, so they barely ever pay me any attention. A lot of them don’t even kiss me. I don’t like that my body reacts to them sometimes. Tony insists I do it on purpose, but I can’t control it.

Parker’s hands move around to my stomach, and I shiver at his touch even though his fingers aren’t cold. I tangle my fingers in his hair and drop my left hand between us.

His phone vibrates suddenly on the nightstand, and I jerk away from him with a gasp at the sound.

“Sorry.” His voice is strangled as he eases me from his lap to the bed.

I move back and watch him grab his phone before swiping his finger across the screen and typing out a message. He’s silent as he texts, and I don’t move from my spot. When he drops the phone back onto the nightstand, he offers me an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Someone wants to stop by in an hour.”

My heartbeat jumps, but I keep my face neutral. “Okay.” I hate the thought of a threesome, but if it’s what Parker wants, it’s what I have to give him. Saying no to clients isn’t something I’m allowed to do. Ever. Not even with the nicer ones.

“He shouldn’t stay long.”

I nod silently.

His hand touches mine. It’s so warm. “Does this upset you?”

“No, of course not,” I reassure him before he has a chance to say anything else. Tony would kill me if he learned a client was worried about upsetting me. “I do this stuff all the time. A lot of clients like a partner with me.”

He frowns, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not calling anyone over for that. Christ, Rhys, what the hell?”

My cheeks heat, and I lean back a little. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

He’s quiet for a beat before saying, “It’s my brother dropping by. Cameron.”

“The one you work for.”

“Yeah. He’s my only sibling.” He glances at me. “You got siblings?”

“A brother. Jack.” I swallow around the sudden lump in my throat. It’s been so long since I’ve actually spoken his name. When we were first separated, I used to ask Tony about him all the time. But eventually, I realized he would never give me the answers I was looking for.

“How old is he?”

“Five years younger than me. Fifteen.” It’s also been five years since I’ve seen him. Five years since Tony took me away from him, to the cabin in the woods. Five years since Tony started training me.

“You sound sad when you talk about him,” Parker says. “Do you guys not get along?”

“I just haven’t seen him in a while.” It’s all I can say. There’s no way I could tell anyone about what happened to separate me and Jack. Tony would kill me.

“Does he know where you are?”

I look up at him. “You mean, does he know what I do for a living?”

Parker nods.

“No. If you were doing that, is it something you’d tell Cameron?”

“Probably not.” He hesitates before saying, “But maybe Jack would want to hear from you.”

The words sting even though he didn’t mean for them to. I want to talk to Jack, and I’m sure he wants to see me too. But Jack has no idea what I’ve been doing with Tony all this time. All I can hope is that Tony hasn’t turned him into the same thing he turned me into.