Nikla always found it odd that being tied up by Sweet gave her the most freedom that she’d ever felt. She hoped she offered something to him as well.
After the tense conversation with her father, she wondered how admitting that her father owned Healthy Bites would go over with Sweet.
Tomorrow. She would have to tell him tomorrow. Maybe in her costume he would be more receptive to listen to her.
****
Sweet took a few sips of his coffee as he stared at the man working behind the counter. After talking to Masaun last night, Sweet immediately went to his apartment to do an online search on Lawrence Dearwood. After finding one Lawrence Dearwood who looked to be about his age and in the military, he found another one in the Virginia Beach area who happened to run his own bakery in town.
He stared at the man to see if he could find any of Nikla’s features. She certainly got her height from him. Otherwise he found no resemblance. His darker skin tone didn’t match Nikla’s butter caramel tone. Nikla must have gotten her cute button nose from her mother. The man’s thin lips gave him the appearance that he hadn’t had a happy day in his entire life.
After finding the story online about Lawrence and the store, she wondered why Nikla hadn’t admitted to him what her father did. Then it hit him. She did everything she did to support her father. Did that mean that she really didn’t care about Sweet? Was she playing him?
Sweet shook his head to get rid of the doubt. He hadn’t talked to her since yesterday, and she had planned on seeing him tonight. Right now he had to do this.
Sweet stood from the table and approached the front counter. “Mr. Dearwood?”
The man with a shaved head met his gaze with Sweet’s. “Would you like another muffin?”
Sweet had purchased the coffee and pastry to buy him some time to think about what he would say to this man. Eating the muffin, he could definitely tell that Nikla learned to cook from this man. Hers tasted better. Maybe he thought that because he desired her.
“No, I don’t need another muffin.” Sweet waved his hand.
“It’s good, right? Made without fattening eggs or milk or butter. Just applesauce and honey and one secret ingredient.” The man looked around like he would be sharing government secrets before he blurted, “Shredded zucchini. That’s what makes them moist. No one can ever taste it. It’s a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables without telling them. You have children?”
“Not yet.” Sweet did imagine what a child between him and Nikla would look like.
In his lifestyle, they couldn’t fit a child. He wondered the same thing when Masaun said he and Kindle thought about having children. How could they make that work?
“Wait to have kids.” The man behind the counter snickered and shook his head. “They only end up breaking your heart.”
“Hopefully not all the time.” Sweet threw away his cup and paper plate where his muffin once sat. He wiped his fingers on his jeans. “Mr. Dearwood, you don’t know me.”
“Are you the I.R.S.? I paid my taxes. Yeah, they were late, but I paid them.” He placed his fist on his hip. The white t-shirt he wore accentuated his darker skin tone.
“No, I’m not the tax man. Although, with my business, I have to worry about them, too.”
Lawrence gave Sweet a suspicious glare.
Before Lawrence could make any assumptions in his head, Sweet quickly filled in the blanks. “I know your daughter, Nikla.”
Lawrence’s eyes started to widen.
“My name is Sweet Hawkes. I’m co-owner of Decadent Treats, and your daughter and I have spent a lot of time together recently.”
Lawrence threw the towel he had in his hand down and came from around the counter to square off against Sweet.
Sweet didn’t budge. He would treat Nikla’s father with respect but he refused to be intimidated or bullied by him.
“You’ve got some nerve stepping into my establishment. It’s because of you that I don’t have any business.” He raised his hands in the air to show off the empty space. “As soon as our doors opened, we did great business. Then Decadent Treats opened with their full-fat candies and crap. Customers ran over to you all. Then about a couple of months ago, business really dropped.”
The article appeared about that time. Sweet didn’t realize the effect it would have on people outside of their circle. For that, he felt sorry for Nikla’s father.
“You certainly don’t think my brother and I opened our business to specifically hurt your business, do you?” Sweet stood a few inches over the man and had to look down slightly to talk to him.
“I don’t care why you opened it. For all I know, you did it to pick up women.” When Lawrence made the statement, he pounded his fist on the counter.
It probably registered to him what Sweet had said just a moment ago about Nikla.
“I respect your daughter.” Although right now he had to question her decision about not telling him about her father and his business.
“So she and I argued last night and you show up the next day. Boy, she couldn’t wait to run home and tell you about it, huh? Used to be she told me everything.”
Sweet shook his head. “Nikla didn’t tell me you two talked last night. Was it about me?”
Lawrence regarded him for a while as though gauging whether he’d told the truth or not. “Yeah. She felt the need to admit her feelings about you to me after she worked in my store yesterday.”
So that’s what Nikla had to do. The fact that she had told her father about him took away some of his niggling doubt buzzing in his head.
“I don’t want her with you.” Lawrence shook his head.
Before Sweet could argue that as a grown woman, Nikla had the right to choose or refuse him, he went another route. “What kind of man do you see with your daughter?”
Lawrence put his fists to his hips. “You think I’m going to discount you because of your race. You’re wrong. I want my daughter to be with a man who has integrity.”
“Good. I am a man with integrity. As soon as I found out who you were, I made the decision to come here to meet you. Nikla doesn’t know I’m here.”
“What do you mean, found out about me? Didn’t Nikla tell you?”
“She told me your name. She said you owned your own business but didn’t tell me what it was. She said she was picketing Decadent Treats because she wanted to warn people about the risks of eating too much sugar. She didn’t tell me that she did it to please you.”
Lawrence took a step back. “I didn’t tell her to do that. She did it on her own.”
“To make you happy.” Sweet ran his hand over his hair. “Nikla said her relationship with you is tense.”
Lawrence blinked. “She did?”
“I’m not trying to get in your business, Mr. Dearwood, personally or otherwise. I run an honest business and I can tell you do the same. I’d like to invite you and Nikla to dinner so that we all can get to know each other and clear the air.”
Lawrence scanned Sweet before he retreated behind his counter. “Happy Halloween. Feel free to grab one of our menus on your way out. Pass it along to your friends.”
Hell, Sweet didn’t think anyone could be any more stubborn than him. Lawrence had him beat. Maybe Lawrence’s reluctance to listen to anyone had pushed Nikla in her decision to keep her father’s identity a secret. It didn’t matter. Sweet would have to get the truth out of her tonight.
Sweet passed a tall, thin Filipino man at the doorway as he left without further argument. Lawrence didn’t care that Sweet could make his daughter very happy. Did Nikla believe that?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Eight o’clock. Time to close up shop!” Nikla clapped as the last of the trick-or-treaters left with bags full of candy courtesy of Sweet, Connie, and her.
Usually Nikla never handed out candy. Her father said that begging didn’t become anyone. Tonight she felt like a kid herself handing out candies and treats to little goblins, princesses, and superh
eroes.
“You want me to help you clean up, Sweet?” Connie asked as she kept a suspicious gaze on Nikla.
Wearing a long trench coat as she handed out candy probably made Nikla look distrustful. She didn’t want to show her outfit to Connie. The view would only be for Sweet.
“No, I got it, Connie. Thanks for staying.” Sweet patted the woman on her back.
“Anytime, boss. I know how important these occasions are to you and this business.” She glared at Nikla.
“Connie–”
Nikla held up her hand. “No, I have this, Sweet.” She stood in front of the overly-protective woman. “Yes, I’m the one who handed out the fliers in front of the store. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m not trying to take Masaun from Kindle.” She turned to Sweet who had a confused expression on his face. “I’ll explain later.” She returned her attention to Connie. “I care deeply about Sweet, which is why I’m out here handing out candy and in an outfit that’s suitable for his eyes only. I appreciate how loyal you are to Masaun and Sweet, but please see me as an ally, not an enemy.” Nikla held out her hand to the matronly woman.
Until Sweet nudged his employee with his elbow did she finally extend her hand to shake Nikla’s.
“Don’t be fooled by my accommodating demeanor. You hurt Sweet or this business I will come after you.” Connie light voice didn’t match her fierce intentions.
“Never. Won’t happen.”
Connie nodded. “See you in the morning, Sweet.” She walked out the back door and Sweet locked it.
Nikla scanned over Sweet. In his dark blue suit with red power tie, she wondered if he dressed like the president or maybe he wanted to look like his brother as a joke. His hair threw her. He had a deep part on the side and swept over his head.
“Okay, I give. What’s your costume?” she asked as he led her up to his apartment.
“You can’t tell?” Sweet opened the door for her. Once inside he closed and locked his door. “Let me give you a hint. You’re fired!” He pointed at her.
Nikla couldn’t help but laugh. “Donald Trump. Really?” She reached up and touched his hair. “The hair should have given it away.”
“Let me see your costume.”
Nikla opened her coat and let it fall to the floor. Underneath hid her genie costume complete with the harem pants, curled-toed shoes, and belly-baring top that would make Barbara Eden blush.
She put her hands together in prayer form. “I figured this would be the only costume I could wear where me calling you Master wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“I should have guessed from the shoes. I imagined a getup like that underneath your coat.” Sweet smiled, but she had expected him to laugh or be extremely turned on or something. All night and now, he seemed deflated for some reason.
“I met someone earlier today.” He strolled into the living room area.
With a line like that, no way could Nikla let that go. “Who? Another woman?”
“Lawrence Dearwood.”
Shit, she said in her head. She’d hoped he meant the younger Lawrence, but she knew better than that.
“How? When?”
“I did a search online and, to my surprise, I saw he owned Healthy Bites.” He stood in his kitchen. He braced his fists on the counter. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to. Today, actually.”
“You told me your whole picketing act was to promote health. That was a lie.”
She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. And it wasn’t an act. I was promoting health, but I was also trying to support my father.”
“By taking down my business.”
“You don’t understand.” How could Sweet know how Nikla had to compete with the memory of what her mother did? How could he even guess that no matter what she did, it would never be enough for her father?
Sweet shook his head. “I do.” He finally dropped the barrier between them by coming around the kitchen counter. “After talking to him, I get it. Your father asks so much of you.” He pointed at her, placing his fingertip on her chest below her clavicle. “When are you going to do something for yourself?”
Nikla took a deep breath. “I should have told you about my dad. I feel like I’ve been jumping up and down in front of him to get him to see me and notice that I’m here for him. He thinks I’m going to leave him like my mother did. I shouldn’t have tried to make a point with him by using your business.”
“Nikla.” Sweet grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him. “You’re going to have to find what makes you happy before you can please anyone else.”
She started to say something when she heard a knock at his door. “Master Wasabi again?”
Sweet shook his head. “I didn’t invite anyone over.” He went to the door and opened it.
Masaun stood on the other side. He took one step into Sweet’s apartment. “You and Nikla still coming to our Halloween party?”
Sweet regarded Nikla for a moment. “We’re going to have to skip it this time.”
Nikla held his arm. “No. I’d like to go if you’re in the mood. This is my first full-on Halloween celebration.” She smiled. “I want to celebrate.”
Sweet covered her hand with his. “We’ll see you at your house.”
Masaun nodded and closed the door.
“Are you sure you want to go?” He faced her. “This might be our last night together. After we find out about the spaces, we may not want to be together anymore.”
Nikla said nothing. She strolled over to where she dropped her coat to the floor and picked it up. After slipping it back on, she said, “Or maybe we will.”
This time Sweet remained silent as he buttoned up her coat and secured the belt around her waist, pulling it tighter and tighter and eliciting a strange response from her.
Nikla liked feeling the pressure around her body. It reminded her of the times Sweet strapped her down. When he pulled her close to him, wetness oozed into the panty of her costume. Good thing she purchased the garment instead of renting it. She had a feeling that by the end of the night she or Sweet would be ripping it off her body.
“We had better go or we’ll never leave.” Sweet pulled her to the door.
Nikla welcomed the cool October air as soon as he opened the door. She knew tonight would be a hot night.
****
Sweet took his time getting to Masaun’s. As he had mentioned to Nikla back at his place, he didn’t know how long they would have together. If he got the spaces and she didn’t, would she want to stay with him? Then again, if she got one of the spaces, he didn’t know if he could handle losing.
Walking Nikla up to the front door, he placed his hand at the small of her back. “Don’t be afraid.”
Nikla turned to him. “Why would I be? I’m with you.”
Her honest response pumped his cock. He would have to corral those feelings until the end of the night.
Party noises of music and laughter permeated through the house even with the doors and windows closed. When Sweet opened the door, a burst of colors met his gaze first. People in various costumes wandered in his view.
Sweet recognized many partygoers from The Dollhouse. The ones who knew him greeted him and Nikla. She smiled cordially at them but only after she glanced at him first as though waiting for approval.
Until Sweet reached the kitchen did he finally find his brother and Kindle. He had to blink when he saw what they wore, or rather what they didn’t have on their bodies. Nearly naked Masaun simply wore a fig leaf over his genitals. Sweet didn’t want to look behind him to see if had on a pair of flesh-colored Speedos or if he had his bare ass on display.
Kindle had a string of fig leaves around her hips to cover her private parts. She had a fake stuffed snake around her neck that she used to cover her naked breasts. As soon as Masaun spotted Sweet, his eyes widened.
“Glad to see you two made it.” Masaun lifted his hand in the air to give Sweet a high five.
“What in the world are
you in?” Sweet laughed. After he gave Kindle a kiss on her cheek, he asked, “Did you come up with this Adam and Eve idea?”
She shook her head. “All Dom Hawk’s idea.” Kindle peered up at her man. “I just hope no one has a camera.”
“Who would have thought that I would be the one in a full suit and you would be the one nearly naked?” Sweet patted his brother’s shoulder.
“You’re a bad influence on me.” Masaun winked. He looked over at Nikla. “You look lovely tonight.” He leaned down and kissed Nikla on her cheek. “Enjoy yourself at the party.” He brought his attention back to Sweet. “The dungeon is open.”
Sweet nodded. He helped Nikla out of her coat. “Put this in the back bedroom and come right back here.”
“Yes, Master Sweet.”
When she called him that, it didn’t sound like she did it because she wore the costume.
“Nice subby.” Tough, a Dominant from the club, nudged Sweet in his side. “You had her long?”
Sweet shook his head. “Not long.” Although he felt like he’d known her forever.
“You two playing tonight?” The African-American man pulled the leash on his submissive who apparently had made the mistake of not paying enough attention to Tough. The blonde rolled her eyes before lowering them.
“I hadn’t planned on it.” Sweet looked through the crowd to see his beauty sauntering through it to get back to him. “But I might.”
Tough leaned close to him. “Mind if I played with her?”
A pang of anger zipped through his body. “Yes, I would. Don’t let that Superman costume get to your head.”
Tough raised his hands. “Got it. She’s yours.” He walked away with his submissive. As he passed Nikla, he stepped in front of her, leaned down, and whispered something in her ear.
Before Sweet could get to him, Tough walked away without a second look. Nikla made her way to Sweet without any more interruptions.
Licorice Whips Page 29