See Me .(34)
Penelope trotted over to the couch.
“She was more than happy to be in there. Besides, you left me all alone.”
“Please, I knew you’d hog all the water, and I’d be left there standing in the cold breeze.”
“Oh yeah?” He made it to her in three fast strides. The little minx, she swerved to the right and just missed him reaching out to grab her. She rounded the back of the couch and ran for the bedroom. “Oh no! You’re not getting away that easy.”
She jumped on the bed and burrowed under the covers. Goddamn, she was cute. “You’ll never find me under here.”
“I bet I will.” He ripped the towel from his waist. “And when I do, I’m going to fuck you silly.”
“Ha! You have to find me first. Penelope, help me. Get him, girl!”
He looked down. The dog was sitting in the doorway, panting, with her big, pink tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. “Good girl, stay right there.” He tossed the towel on the dresser next to the TV. Two DVDs went sailing to the floor. He thought about leaving them there until he’d had a chance to sink into Abigail’s sweet heat, but he was afraid in their play they’d step on them.
He leaned over and picked up the two discs. Fantasy Emporium…your fantasy awaits. He didn’t think much of it. Maybe this was a how-to video or something. Or…
He turned the disc to read further.
“Get him, girl! Sean, you’re no match for my dog.”
He looked up. She was wiggling around in the bed, trying to tuck the covers under herself like a protective shell to keep him out. He smiled. “Your dog is a big softie; hate to break it to you.”
The cover on the disc was pink and red. Man bathing and getting ready for bed. What the hell? He flipped over the other disc. Man self-pleasure, nipple clamps, handcuffs. Oh, hell no.
“Abigail.”
“Come on stud. You can’t get in this fortress now.”
“Abigail! Get out of there. Now.”
Her hands tugged on the cover until her head popped out. Sweaty tangles of hair were plastered to her face. The urge to jump on the bed almost outweighed the need to run. Almost. “Wh-What’s wrong?”
“This!” He fanned the two discs in his hand. “Want to explain these?”
“Wait, I can explain. Please, Sean.”
The sucker punch she landed on his emotional gut made him want to drop to his fucking knees. “All you had to do was ask. You didn’t have to invade my privacy like this. I thought I was doing these for a client. Do you watch all the videos?”
“Sean, please…you don’t understand. I-I…it’s complicated. Yes, I watch most of the videos to make sure they fit the client’s needs. I did watch your video to do just that. But, I just… It was so beautiful.”
“I don’t give a shit how complicated it is!” He tossed the discs onto the bed. “The only thing I’ve fought for and won in my whole life is my privacy. Those bastards tried and took it from me so many times, but I fought and finally won. They couldn’t get in anymore. I thought I could trust you! If you were wanting to see me like that, you could’ve just asked me and not snuck behind my back. How many other employees are watching my videos?”
She scrambled off the bed. Her face flushed red as a ripe apple. “None. I swear. Just the editing crew and Carl. S-Sean, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I couldn’t be with… I mean…”
Trembling hands reached for his arms. He couldn’t move fast enough to grab the towel, and her fingertips grazed his elbow. Snapping the terry cloth around his waist, he stepped back. “You were the one who just said you wouldn’t take advantage of me. So is this how you do it? You interview your performers and lure them in, then get them to do a video for you? Goddamn, Abigail!”
Sometimes words wounded more than a belt to the ass, more than a fist to the kidney. She hugged her waist and sat down on the bed. Long auburn strands covered her face. “Y-You were just so… I’m sorry. I-I never should have invaded your privacy like that. I c-couldn’t b-be with someone, so I thought—”
“What? You thought it was okay to make me look like a damn fool? Did Ron know I was doing these videos for you?”
Watery eyes looked up at him. “No, I promise. No one knows I ordered them. I don’t want the crew to think I’ve got a private stash of the performers. It’s not like that.”
The room was too small. Especially now that he knew the words had hit their target. TKO, he’d knocked her out and took himself out in the process. If he stayed any longer, he was either going to put his fist through the drywall or pull her against him to soothe the tears he’d caused. Neither seemed like a great option at the moment.