by Mia Caldwell
He looked down – to see if the lance was still poking out, but his cock was withering away, the way it always did when rejected.
“I’m sorry – I shouldn’t be here,” Merrick said.
“Don’t go,” Bombshell pleaded but he was already putting on his clothes.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to stay with Tony tonight. See you tomorrow.”
Merrick left, his heart broken and he tried to ignore the ring box in his pocket. Maybe he could return it.
Chapter Twenty Five
Merrick couldn’t sleep that night. And not just because Tony had some girls over for a threesome in the next room. When he’d arrived, all disheveled and out of sorts, Tony had apologized about his lady friends, who at the time were sitting around in their bikinis, drinking daiquiris in front of the fire.
Merrick told him, it was all okay and declined Tony’s kind offer to take one of the ladies off his hand. He went to bed and lay there all night, wishing he could find a way to fix things.
It wasn’t until two am, before he came to a decision. He’d go ahead and propose, then see if she’d agree to marry him despite his oversized member. He could bring her to pleasure in every other way and get artificial insemination if she wanted kids. He’d never have to stick his cock inside her. She was that important to him. If she would take him, he’d make her his wife – even if that meant no more penetration for his third arm.
He set his alarm, and got a few hours of sleep. At seven am, he was showered and already heading back to the hotel. He let himself into his room and was surprised to find Bombshell, already up, wearing a stunning designer dress. She hummed happily as she fixed her hair.
“Hello Merrick,” she said, as if he’d just gone downstairs to find an orange juice.
“Hello, Bombshell,” he said, hope blooming in his heart.
“Ready for breakfast?”
“I sure am,” she said.
She put her hand in his as they took to elevator down. He couldn’t help but smile a little as she bounced on her heels beside him, like a contended child. When she threw her arms around his neck, he let her steal a quick kiss. His heart thumped in his chest – did this mean she still wanted him?
When the elevator doors closed, he almost forgot that this was going to be a challenging day. As she kissed him again. He held back, just in case, but in the back of his mind he started to have hope. Maybe things were going to work out, after all.
They released their kiss and stood side by side when the elevator stopped on the main floor. Merrick took Bombshell's elbow and guided her through the crowded lobby towards the Garden Room. The lobby was even busier than usual, mixed with hotel guest and people going to the Casino. He hoped Linda had followed his instructions and that the room was perfect. He chided himself for not stopping and checking before heading up to her room. Too late now.
“Jana, oh my God, Jana!” shouted a female voice from not too far away. Merrick and Bombshell both turned at once towards the sound and saw a full figured woman with red hair running towards them, her arms outstretched, her face contorted with a mixture of joy and relief. Beside him, he felt Bombshell stiffen. She jumped out of the girl’s reach as she closed in and Merrick glimpse fear cross Bombshell’s face.
He reacted immediately, stepping in front of the woman. He held his arms out to stop her. The girl’s face turned confused, then angry as she tried to move her head from side to side so she could look at the girl hiding behind him.
“Jana, it’s me, Holly,” she said with a desperate tinge to her voice.
Damn it. Holly? Holly from the Missing Person flyer? Somehow she’d found them. Holy shit. He couldn’t allow this ‘friend’ to mess things up. Not moments before he was going to pop the question. When she was in a good mood. When he was about to make things finally work out in his life. He couldn’t risk having this woman remind Bombshell who she really was.
Merrick motioned for a security guard, as he continued to hold off the upset red head with his outstretched arm. “Excuse me, miss, you’ve made some kind of mistake. Please leave.”
“No, I haven’t, what have you done to her? Jana, why aren’t you talking to me?” Her voice had become shrill, frantic. She was making a scene.
Several of Merrick’s plain clothed security guards grabbed her. Merrick nodded towards the exit meaningfully and they dragged her out the door, kicking and screaming. “Jana, Jana, why are you doing this?”
Finally, the automatic glass doors closed behind the crazy redhead and all the people who’d stopped to watch the spectacle, went back to whatever they were doing.
Merrick turned to find Bombshell, supporting herself against a marble column. He moved to her side. “I’m so sorry about that darling,” Merrick said. He tried to sooth her. She was trembling. He led her to the garden room, opened the door and sat her down at the table. He didn’t even take a moment to see if the room had been set up per his specs. He wanted to talk to that women. As upsetting as this had been for Bombshell, maybe it was a good thing that she was there. If Holly was indeed her friend, then she could attest to the truth of the story when he was finally ready to tell all. Maybe Holly’s presence could help her cope, after the FBI questioned her. He really shouldn’t have asked the men to take her to his office.
“Wait here, darling, I need to talk to my men about that unfortunate incident, I’ll be right back.”
Bombshell nodded somewhat numbly, so he raced out the door. Out in the lobby he immediately spotted one of his security guards, and motioned him over. “Where’s the red head, I want to talk to her.”
“Sorry, boss, she’s gone. We threatened to throw her in jail for disorderly conduct if she didn’t leave immediately and she got on the first free shuttle that drove up.”
Damn.
Merrick called Tony. “Are you in the hotel?”
“I am.”
“Something just happened. Remember Holly, the girl from the flyer? Well, she just showed up in the lobby. I need to know how the hell she found us. Can you call Joann and ask her if she told the women?”
“Why can’t you do it?”
“Because, I’m about to propose to Bombshell – for real.”
“That’s awesome, bro. Mama G’s going to be over the moon.”
“Well, she hasn’t said yes, yet – and after this afternoon, she’ll probably retract her promise – even if I can get one out of her.”
“Yeah, this afternoon is going to be tough – but, hang in there bro. Have you seen the way she looks at you, bro?”
Merrick felt warmth blossom in his belly. Had Tony seen it? Maybe, she really did care for him. He sure hoped so.
“Look, do you need Joann’s number?”
“Yeah, text it to me, and good luck, Romeo.”
Merrick hung up, then texted Joann’s contact card to Tony.
Merrick checked his watch and his pulse quickened. What was I thinking? He’d left Bombshell alone in that room for too long. He checked his pocket, for the umpteenth time since that morning – took a deep breath and walked inside.
~~*~~
When Jana Peters first saw Holly in the lobby, she almost had a heart attack. After recovering most of her memories, Holly had been on her mind a lot. She knew Holly would be worried about her. She’d been thinking about somehow getting word to her, but she was afraid that talking to her, might mess up the good thing she had going with Merrick.
She’d made a decision, to never admit that she’d remembered her past. She’d just continue to be Mona Lisa Van Dyke, aka Bombshell. She’d continue to do whatever it took to stay with that incredible man. Her mind went back how loving and delicious they’d been with each other the night before. He was everything she’d ever wanted in life, if she had to live a lie to keep him, she would. But, that’s how she been thinking before she saw Holly. Now, she knew there was no point. You can’t hide from your past or who you are, and when he finds out – he won’t want you. He’ll hate you, for lying. Bombshell’s stomach
twisted as she recalled the scared and confused look on her best friends face. She couldn’t go through with it. It was wrong. She needed to talk to Holly.
Slipping out through the kitchen entrance, she went into the alley, and headed for the front. They’d been kicking Holly out, so maybe she was still loitering somewhere. Now that she’d seen her friend, she felt anxious to talk to her, to reassure her that she was okay, not brainwashed or being held against her will. She’d explain about the head injury and the amnesia. She wanted Holly’s advice on how to deal with a man who’d turned her heart upside down.
But Holly wasn’t there.
She went to the bellman, who recognized her right away.
“Hello, Bombshell. How are you this fine day?”
“I’m fine—I’m looking for the redheaded girl that just left. Security escorted her out—did you notice where she went?”
“Yep, we put her on the free shuttle, the one that goes to Ocean Amusement Park.”
“I need to go there, now,” Bombshell said.
“Yes, ma’am.” The bell captain blew his whistle, and a cab pulled up. He opened the door for her, but Bombshell hesitated before stepping inside the car.
“But I don’t have my purse, or any money.”
The bell captain pulled a twenty out of his pocket and handed it to the driver. “Take this girl to the Boardwalk Carnival.” Then he handed Bombshell another twenty. “Just call another cab when you’re ready to come back. Enjoy.”
***
Merrick’s hand rested on the door to the Garden Room. “Come on, buddy, you can do this. Go in there and be suave. Turn things around.”
He inhaled deeply and put on his best power face, then opened the door. Bombshell wasn’t at the table. His heart gave a lurch. The room was small and intimate and it only took another few seconds to realize that she wasn’t in the room. He tried to shove down a growing sense of panic. He’d been gone for ten minutes, so maybe she went to the ladies room. Don’t stress, she’s just powdering her nose. He went back into the lobby and stood by the nearest ladies room. A few minutes passed and she didn’t come out. He motioned one of his hostess over. “Can you please go in the restroom and see if Bombshell’s in there?”
The women came out a moment later, shaking her head. “It’s empty.”
Merrick swallowed the saliva building up in his throat.
He flagged down a security guards. “Did you see where Bombshell went?”
“You mean the black girl?”
Merrick flinched. He didn’t think of her as “the black girl,” and he didn’t appreciate his staff identifying their guests by their skin color. His lips tightened. “My fiancée is a woman of color, yes. Did you see her or not?”
His pudgy white security guard didn’t show an ounce of remorse. “Yeah, she left,” he said completely without concern.
Merrick hands balled into fists. “Can you be more specific, please?” he said icily. “Did she go back to her room?”
“No. She just left the hotel,” he said and pointed to the main doors to the lobby. “Is there anything else?”
Merrick turned away from the man and headed out front. His heart was pumping so hard he could barely breathe. Why would she go outside? She hadn’t left him. That wasn’t possible. She just needed fresh air. But they’d been in the garden room—it was already outside. When he got out front, Bombshell was nowhere to be seen.
He spotted a bellman, a new hire. “Enrique,” Merrick shouted.
“Yes, Mr. Flynn, how can I help you?” Enrique said, standing to attention.
“I’m looking for my girlfriend, Bombshell. She was just out here a few minutes ago—did you see her? Do you know where she went?”
“No, sir. Sorry, sir, I just got here about five seconds ago—I’m covering for Mario during his lunch break. You want me to call him?”
“Please,” Merrick said. He paced back and forth.
Enrique took care of another guest, and Mario still hadn’t called.
Merrick’s cell phone rang. It was Tony. “How did the proposal go, bro? Did she say yes?”
“No, I didn’t even get a chance to ask her. She left. She fucking left.”
Chapter Twenty Six
……Back in Misty Falls
Sam, the owner of the Double XX Bar and Grill hadn’t checked the mail for several days, and when he saw the DVD with the note, he knew deep in his heart that it was bad news.
He couldn’t watch it in his house, because he’d already trashed the place—destroying his television and breaking every dish as he dealt with his loss.
He knew she was dead. That was the only explanation. She would never leave him without the satisfaction of rubbing it in his face.
He put the DVD on the seat next to him and tried not to look at the note, written in black marker.
“A goodbye from Fish-Face for Sam the Worm.”
It wasn’t her handwriting, and she’d never call herself by that hated nickname—which meant the note was from her killer.
He went to the Double XX and parked in the empty parking lot, then opened his trunk and pulled out an ax. With ax and DVD in hand, he walked up the wooden steps and put them both down as he removed the padlock which secured a board to the front door. After the board was down, he pulled the usual key from his pocket and unlocked the door as his hands shook.
Since the windows had been boarded up, the interior of the bar was darker than usual. He flipped on the overhead lights, then went back to the stoop to get the DVD and the ax.
When he got to the back of the bar, he walked by his office. The door was open, and all of his papers were exactly as he’d left them. In the corner of the office, he stared at the black metal file cabinet. Her file cabinet. The one he was never supposed to look in. It didn’t matter now. He knew she’d never come back to scold him about breaking into it. The cabinet was heavy duty, and the lock was strong. He took a moment to gather his composure, then wrapped his arms around the cabinet and heaved it into the main room.
Using his minimal body strength, he pushed with all his might against the top of it, until it flipped on its side. Then he grabbed the ax, swinging it and smashing the blade against the lock until it finally fell to the floor.
He opened the drawer and reached inside. Papers, and money, and jewelry—he shoved them aside. He wanted the box. The box where she kept her favorite instrument of torture.
When his fingers clamped around it, he sighed with relief.
He pulled out the box, then crumpled onto the floor, crying as the box lay between his crossed legs. Finally, he recovered and rose. Carrying the box, he went back to his office. The DVD from the stranger was already next to his player. He wanted to see one of her other videos first.
He opened the box with reverence. Inside the box, two dozen videos were neatly arranged, each one marked in his wife’s precise handwriting. They were in order by date, and each one was labeled with the pet name of one of her lovers. A smile played at his lips as he remembered the good old days, before she’d stopped sharing, when they’d watch the videos together.
Now she did it without sharing it with him. He didn’t deserve it anymore, she told him. He hadn’t deserved it for years. He recognized some of the pet names from the older dates, and for a moment, he contemplated watching one of those—just for old times’ sake—but then he changed his mind and grabbed the newest one. The date was mid-February, and the pet name was Fat Cat. He had no idea who that might be. He placed the DVD into the player and started it.
One of his regulars, a trucker by the name of Bronson Smith, was lining his cock up with his wife’s pink ass. His fat belly pushed his cock down and he had to hold it up, and each time he did, he let go of his cock, which fell down and failed to penetrate his wife.
“Goddamn, Bronson—do you need a fucking cock brace?” his wife yelled.
“Sorry, Florence,” Bronson whined. “Maybe if you were on your back.”
Sam was growing tired of this. The m
an was a terrible fuck. He felt sorry for his wife. The man didn’t even spank her or anything. It was pathetic. Even he could spank her, if she’d let him. He fast-forwarded through the video.
At the end of the tape, Florence had given up on Bronson—who jacked himself off while she masturbated and called him a pathetic loser. At least she had a chance to express herself, Sam thought sadly as he ejected the tape.
Taking a deep breath, he loaded the DVD left on his porch.
Another scene, a different place—a log cabin. The new man’s body was not fat and not pathetic. He was a worthy fuck for his wife. In her honor, Sam made a last-ditch effort to feel again. As snot poured out of his nose, mixing with the tears, he pulled his trousers down over his shaking legs. He let them pool about his ankles as the man with the worthy body bent down so Sam could see his face. Only he couldn’t see who it was, because the man’s whole head was completely covered.
Florence lay on the bed, on her knees, her arms tied behind her back. She turned her head towards the camera, and Sam’s heart almost burst. Even though she was blindfolded, the look on her face was a study in painful bliss as the hung man with the full face mask pounded her precious ass.
“You like that?” the man said as the horse whip came down on her back. Sam flinched as his wife cried out in her orgasm.
“Yes! Whip me harder.”
For the first time in years, Sam’s cock stirred to life. He let his hands drop down and tried to make himself grow, for her sake, for Florence. But his member was soon soft. When he looked up again, the man had pulled out and was untying her hands. Her body heaved and she licked her lips hungrily as stretched her arms over her head and secured her cuffed wrists to hooks on the bed post.
“Now I’m going to whip your cunt until it bleeds.”
“Yes,” she said, smiling as she jerked her lower body in anticipation.
But the guy didn’t start—he disappeared for a moment. He knew what was coming next. He couldn’t watch.