Deep Immersion: A Dark Stalker Romance (Book 1)

by Teresa Wolf

  Bruce drags Doug into the living room, and Percy escorts Samantha. He doesn’t lay a finger on her. If he would have, I might have kicked his ass myself. Doug was the one in debt, not Samantha. Although I wasn’t much of the kind for throwing out favors, I did grow up in a small town, where you respected ladies.

  “What’s this all about, Charlie?” Bruce gives Doug a hard shove so he is facing me. “I thought we were good.”

  “We were good?” I snickered, running my hand into the soft pocket of my suit. I feel the fabric of Lizzy’s panties inside. I have kept them on me since the day I took them: as a memento, a prize, and a good luck charm. Shuffling in deeper, I get to the silver box and draw it out. “Now, what in the hell gave you the idea that we were good?”

  I open the silver box, where four thin cigarillos lie. I slot one between my lips, draw out a lighter that’s attached to the container on the inside, and light up.

  “It’s just you’ve been giving me more loans at the casino. I struck it big the other night. I can pay some of it back,” Doug fumbles with his hands in front of him. His eyes constantly scan around to Bruce, Percy, and Samantha.

  “It was payday a couple of days ago. You won that big score a few nights prior. Not once, have I heard anyone say that you’ve given a cent back to my pocket, Doug,” I puffed on the cigarillo, blowing the smoke across the living room.

  I’m not much of a smoker, but something is intimidating about a man who has no regard for your things or your property. The way he holds himself, and the carefree look he has that says he doesn’t care about your space or your belongings.

  “Mister Barker,” Samantha enters the conversation. She is scared of what might come next. “Look, Doug was going to pay it all back. We just wanted to get through the bills. Isn’t that right, Doug?”

  “Yes, sir. Right away, after I got some groceries and… You know, it was my daughter’s birthday the other day, and we wanted to treat her to something nice, too. I was going to hand the rest back in at the casino after.”

  It was Lizzy’s birthday? How the fuck didn’t I know that? I could’ve left her a gift; something big, something small, just anything. She’d never know it was me, but it would’ve brightened up her day.

  Why am I even thinking like this? I’ve always been in this life for myself alone, and now I am feeling bad for something that is out of my control? What the fuck is she doing to me?

  “Funnily enough, your daughter’s the reason I’m here,” I cut to the chase.

  “What?” Samantha asks, frowning. “What about her?”

  “Do you know how much debt you’ve racked up over the years, Doug? How much money you’ve taken and never returned. How much wealth I’ve lost to your hands?” I ignore Samantha, knowing I’ll get to the point soon enough.

  “A couple thousand, I don’t know,” Doug says, scratching the back of his head.

  “Eighty-seven thousand dollars, rounded down. Do you know that’s only one-third of the actual cost to raise a child from birth to the age of eighteen?” I don’t know why that fact slipped out, but it did.

  “Now, it can’t be that much,” Doug frowned.

  “It can be. Well, interest included of course. Even without your big score the other day. How much did you manage to pull in? Two grand?”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied. “Two thousand dollars and some change.”

  “How much of my money did you lose to the casino, before your big win?” I can’t hold back the smile that snakes across my lips.

  “I had a few losing hands, sure, but…”

  “But nothing. You lost more than you won and you know it. You bet big, made your money back, and thought that because I was lenient on you for the last two months, you could go around spending it like crazy.”

  “But, no, that’s not…”

  “That’s exactly what it was,” I shut him up. If he tried giving me any more excuses, I might do something I’d later regret. “Now, I want my money back. The total amount, cash in my hand.”

  “You know I can’t…”

  “I wonder how much she can make down at the whore house.” I turn to Samantha. She was older, with wrinkles around her eyes, a swollen belly, and flabby arms. As much as I believe in respecting women, using them as a tool to get what I want isn’t above me. “I could pull some strings, swing a little deal, and have her working there in no time. That’ll cover some of the cost for sure.”

  “Now, you listen here,” Doug starts, trying to stand up for himself. A firm slap from behind, from Bruce’s enormous hand, knocks the sense right back into him.

  “No, you’re not speaking, now. Neither of you is speaking. You’re listening,” I make it clear as day for them.

  “I just can’t get that kind of money together,” Doug says. “There’s no way I can. I don’t think I can…” he mumbles.

  “Oh, but Douglas, there is a way. You’ve got one chance to make this all disappear, right now. All you have to do is say yes, and your stress goes away, and you can carry on living as a free man,” I didn’t mean that, of course. The ultimatum I was going to present them with was only a way to give them security. But, I know the scum that includes men like Douglas Stone. They’re filth, not worth the air they breathe.

  “What is it? I’ll do anything.”

  “Lizzy.”

  “What about her?” Doug’s eyes turn squinted and angry-looking. At the sight of this, Bruce gives him another hard clap to the side of the head, to remind Doug of his place.

  “I’ve developed a rather strange infatuation with Lizzy, and I want her to be mine. All you have to do is say ‘yes’, and I’ll whisk her away from this piece of shit life you people have.”

  He’s mulling it over in his head, just as I knew he would. A real man and a caring father would fight for his daughter; they would refuse immediately, but Doug is neither of those things. He’s just trash. Scum of the earth.

  “Just like that and all your financial problems go away,” I add to sweeten the deal.

  “No, I won’t let you do this,” Samantha steps in. She’s feisty, her finger is in the air, and she’s angry. That’s the kind of fighting spirit I want to see – a lioness protecting her cub.

  “You ain’t fooling?” Doug interjects, sliding a hand over Samantha’s chest to hold her back. “If I say yes, this all goes away?”

  “Indeed,” I tap the ash from the cigarillo onto the table, as I keep my eyes steady.

  “No, I won’t allow it. You can’t take my baby away from me. You’re a real piece of shit, Charles and I—”

  “Mom, it’s okay,” I hear Lizzy’s voice coming from the doorway. My heart skips a beat. I’m shuffling uneasily in my chair as she takes the corner and looks at me.

  “No, baby,” Samantha turns to her, wrapping her arms around Lizzy’s head. “It’s not okay.”

  “It is, Mom,” Lizzy replies. She’s just as stun-locked as I am. We share a look, an uncomfortably long stare. Her lower lip quivers at the sight of me.

  “It’s going to help you and Dad, so I’ll do it.”

  “I can’t…”

  “You can,” Lizzy cuts Samantha off. “You can and you will, because this will make everything alright.”

  And, just like that, I know Lizzy is mine. Now that she is, I’ve no idea how to feel about it. My heart is racing, and so is my mind. My whole body is tense and excited and frustrated and every other feeling and sensation under the sun, all at the same time. I’m ready to explode and yet I feel the most serene I’ve ever felt.

  “Then, do we have a deal?” I ask, getting up from the chair, and killing the cigarillo on the side table. There aren’t any ashtrays, and I am not going to take them with me.

  “We have a deal,” Doug says, extending a hand to me. I don’t take it.

  “I’ll… pack my things,” Lizzy says.

  Samantha’s still pleading and begging her not to do this, but Lizzy’s adamant in her decision. Just as I’m adamant about taking her.


  “No need. I’ve already bought a full wardrobe,” I reply. Having snaked through her clothes, I know Lizzy’s size well enough to get a general fitting. Not that she’d be wearing much in the way of clothes around my house. That exquisite body will be on display to me all day and all night.

  “Shall we be off?”

  “At least let me say goodbye,” Samantha insists.

  “I’ll be in the car,” I add. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

  Bruce and Percy follow behind, as I leave the Stone’s home. Percy opens the door, and I get in the backseat.

  God damn! It’s good to be the king.

  Chapter Six

  Lizzy

  I don’t know how to feel about anything that just happened. I haven’t been able to get Charles Barker out of my mind, since the day I saw him, and now I’m sitting in a limousine driving on the highway into the fancy areas of Fairhope. He’s sitting opposite me, lazily in his seat, and it seems he is unable to keep his eyes off me.

  I don’t get it, personally. Me wanting him? That’s a no-brainer. Charles is wealthy, successful, and is extremely handsome. But, why does he like me? How does he even remember me? I was only there a few minutes before I got pushed away by my dad. Have I been on his mind the same way he’s been on mine, this whole time?

  “What did you and your mom talk about before we left?” he asks.

  I cleared my throat. “She told me I’m courageous for doing this and thanked me. Said if I ever need to get away, I can call her.”

  “Is that all she said?”

  “No,” I shake my head. With my dad having a hand in our touching conversation, I was told to do whatever Charles wanted. Mom was reluctant at first but finally agreed, knowing it would get them out of their situation.

  “Tell me,” his voice is low, soft, and almost threatening. I should be scared, but instead, there’s warmth radiating between my thighs.

  I gulp. “She said I should do whatever it takes.”

  Not my mom’s words, those came from my dad. But, I didn’t want to bring him into this conversation.

  “Oh, did she now?” Charles pulls himself up from his lazy position and sits upright. “Are you going to? Will you be a good girl for me?”

  Why does everything Charles says make my heart flutter?

  “I will. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”

  I had wanted a way out of that house, anyway, after my dad came into my room on my birthday. Even though I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into here with Charles, it had to be better than whatever would happen if I stuck around there.

  “Good. Then, Lizzy, I want you to understand a few things about this arrangement.”

  “O…okay.” I’m nervous, and my belly’s in knots, but I don’t feel scared. It’s a strange excitement. I run a hand down any part of my skin, and tingles shoot through my body.

  “I want you to understand that you’re mine now, and I do whatever I want with my things. I can give you anything and everything your heart desires, but I expect the same in return. Disobedience will be punished. I get what I want. Do you understand?”

  The way Charles is sitting gives me a view of the tent in his fancy suit pants. He runs a hand down, grabs something, and pulls it aside.

  “I understand.” I don’t feel intimidated by this. Charles is trying to put on a tough-guy look, because of what just happened, but I can see right through it. He looks up and down my body. He’s licking his lips at the sight of me.

  He doesn’t speak much for the rest of the drive to his mansion, but he never turns away from me, either. I don’t know if he’s doing it on purpose or without thinking, but the hand that clutches whatever tents his pants rubs up and down.

  But, what a life of luxury he lives, I quickly discover, the second we drive through the enormous gate. The limousine stops at the end of a long driveway. A butler is waiting at the foot of the staircase, ready to open Charles’ door.

  “Good evening, sir,” the butler says. He’s older, with a striking white horseshoe of hair atop his scalp.

  “Good evening, Edmund,” Charles replies. “This is Lizzy Stone. She’s going to be living with me for a while. Anything she wants, she gets, understood?”

  “Understood, sir,” Edmund says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Stone.”

  “And you, Edmund,” I say with a smile. Charles gets out first, and then he extends his hand to me, and helps me out the limousine.

  I’m awe-struck at the monolithic building in front of me. It’s old-looking but well kept. Charles keeps my hand in mine as we ascend the staircase. The feeling of his rough fingers against my soft skin makes me bite my lip.

  “Is this where I will stay, now?” I ask.

  “Yes, this is where you stay, now. You can go anywhere, see anything, do anything,” Charles doesn’t stop leading me. I get a brief look at the entry hall, with its giant staircase, which we take to the second floor, and I see all the rare antiques and decorations of the house. We only stop when we get to the end of the hall, and pass through an enormous wooden door, into his bedroom.

  “Your house is amazing,” I finally say. I’m pretty sure his bedroom is bigger than most of my parents’ entire house. It is in the same old style as outside, with lots of wooden furnishings, bookshelves, and a fireplace off to one side.

  “Thank you,” he says, not adding anything more to the conversation.

  He closes the door behind us, takes my hand again, and leads me into a walk-in closet beside the en-suite bathroom. It is full of clothes, suits mostly, with shoes beneath them. He guides me to one section and pulls open the closet doors and a few drawers, showing me a lot of women’s clothes.

  “I want you to take off your clothes,” he says.

  My cheeks instantly flush red.

  “What? But, you’re here… I’m nervous,” I stutter.

  “What’s your point?” Charles asks. “Look, Lizzy, I’m not going to let you walk around like a tramp. Take off your clothes.”

  I can hear a slight agitation in his voice that said I should immediately obey his order. This time I don’t demure. Since, I was at home and comfortable, before, I am not wearing have a bra underneath my plain pink shirt. I pull it over my head, and I hear a noise coming from the back of Charles’s throat as he sees my naked chest.

  “Fuck, this is taking too long,” he says, stepping closer to me. He hooks his thumbs in the waistband of my pants, and with a single tug, both my Daisy Dukes and panties drop to the ground.

  The way his eyes linger over my body makes my heart melt and leaves a damp feeling between my legs. He grazes my belly with his rough fingers, insisting that I turn around. He gives me a gentle push forward, and I can feel his eyes inspecting my ass as it rises into the air with the impetus of his push.

  “These are your clothes now,” Charles speaks, finally able to break away from looking at me.

  He starts pulling out a few different sets of clothes. Bodysuit lingerie, negligées, bras, and panties. Each one looks skimpier than the last and there is nothing in the way of normal clothes.

  “You can cover up with one of these when you’re wandering the grounds, but otherwise, I don’t want to see you covered.” He pulls another door open, and silk and fur nightgowns, kimonos, and more are revealed, all in a mix of various colors.

  From all the stories I’ve heard, and given all the interactions I have witnessed between Charles and my dad, I thought he was a terrible, terrifying person. But, this man, the one who is pampering me, doesn’t seem to be all that bad. I agreed to this, and I am happy where I am. It is going to save my family, and that is good enough.

  Charles lingers while I select my outfit. His hand reaches out every now and then, touching whatever he wants.

  Finally, when I choose something to put on, he grabs my wrist, shakes his head, and says. “Not yet.”

  “But… I’m feeling shy,” I reply, half-trying to cover myself up.

  “Why?” he asks. “What re
ason could you have to feel shy?”

  “Because, well, I’ve never done anything like this before…”

  Chapter Seven

  Charles

  My whole body aches, standing in that closet and inspecting Lizzy’s naked body. I’ve had a constant erection since we left her house, and it’s only getting worse now. Her soft skin feels like an electric shock every time I run a finger over it. The way she stands around nervously, while I’m taking all of her in, only makes this feel so much dirtier – and I can’t get enough.

  “You’ve never been naked in front of a man?”

  “Never, no,” Lizzy replies. I tug on the bodysuit she’s holding in front of her chest.

  “You’re a virgin?” I’m almost baffled by the news. I feel my jaw drop slightly, but not far enough for her to notice before I catch it.

  “I am.”

  I need to get away from this topic. It’s sending my mind into a spiral, and if I’m not careful, I might lose myself to it. Every time I pull the bodysuit down, Lizzy brings it back up. I can feel the frustration mounting, and tenseness is forming in my shoulders. So, I focus on that instead.

  “Lizzy, stop doing that.”

  A sudden wicked smile spreads across her face, as I pull it down and she pulls it up.

  “No,” she replies. “I don’t want to. I want to put it on and get comfortable and explore this house, to see where I’m going to be living.”

  “There will be time for that later; I’m not finished, yet.”

  “I want to get dressed,” Lizzy demands. “You’ve already had your look.”

  “What did I tell you about disobeying me, Lizzy?” I ask.

  “That there will be consequences, but you haven’t done a damned thing yet,” she replies, this time covering herself up entirely with the bodysuit.

  “Oh, is that right? You think I was joking?” I say, throwing her hand aside. I am already tugging at my belt. There was no better way to teach obedience than a good spanking. I learned that at an early age.