Paxton’s hands stopped again, but only briefly when he heard the tone in my voice. Even I could hear the sadness.
“She went to Paxton’s house.”
“Why does that make you sad, Gabby?”
“I didn’t know he had a wife and a baby. I thought he liked me, but he didn’t, he only used me. He didn’t treat me like he did her.”
“What do you mean?”
“I watched them through the bushes the entire night. I heard every word they said to each other, and I knew he would never love me. It was silly for me to think a man like Paxton would ever love someone like me.”
“Why do you say it like that, you’re very special, Gabby,” Lane interrupted.
“But I’m just a slut. I could never look like her. She was beautiful, and the gene pool passed down to that little baby. My, God.”
“Tell me what you heard, Gabby.”
“I got closer than I normally did, because I couldn’t hear them. I hated the way he moved behind her and kissed her neck while she was on the phone—again. She was on the phone a lot. She gave him a dirty look and pushed his arm away. The baby, too, telling him to stop with a dirty look, telling him about some busy schedule she had to figure out.
“Paxton backed off and played with his baby, letting her crawl in the fresh cut grass until she hung up. Before she finally hung up, she applied more lipstick and complained about them trying to kill her, I just didn’t know who them was. Paxton threatened to kill her if she didn’t get off the phone and pay attention to him, kissing on her and telling her how much he missed her.
“Tatiana shoved him away again, this time because of her fresh red lips. They argued about supper next. Paxton had an entire meal planned out, but she wanted to go out, telling him that the new neighbor, Tricia, gave her a number to a sitter. Paxton got mad, telling her they weren’t taking her to a sitter, and that he bought steaks, and her favorite wine.
“The gorgeous blonde told him she wanted a Greek salad with a huge smile, and then a laugh. Neither was directed toward Paxton. It was for whoever her thumbs were busy texting.
“Paxton told her how beautiful she was, and that she didn’t need salads, but again, she shot him down, but he did win. They stayed in, and I stayed close, watching the family life that I would never have. The one Tatiana lived with the man I wanted, the house, and the beautiful baby.
“I was shattered. Paxton didn’t want me because he wanted her. He already had someone, and a baby. What a bastard, son of a bitch. It was so stupid, I mean he wasn’t even nice to me. Why I thought I ever had a chance to be with a man like Paxton was beyond me. I loved watching him with his little girl, but I hated seeing him with her. He doted on her, and she barely gave him the time of day. I presumed when you looked like that, you didn’t need much more. She kept the hook baited and he fed off of it, nibbling here and there, before taking the entire bite. Stupid little fish.
“I got closer than I should have once they went inside, moving right up to the door, but I could only hear muffled voices. I watched Paxton play with the baby mostly while his wife either talked on the phone, or texted. At one point she went into his office and worked on his computer. I was sure she was very important, a professional of some sort.”
“Is that it, Gabby? Did you see her anymore?”
“Oh yeah, I didn’t leave. I watched them all night, and once the baby was down, they returned to the pool area with wine. He kept kissing her, but she wasn’t very interested. She talked around his advances, telling him she had to be at the airport by nine the next morning.”
“And then what?”
“And then he just did it. He kissed her neck and slid his hands down the front of her pants. Tatiana tried to protest, but not too hard. Once Paxton begged to lick her pussy, it was all over with.
“He led her to the side door where I sleep. I knew I shouldn’t have watched, but he left the door wide open. I couldn’t help it.”
“Did you watch Paxton have sex with his wife, Gabriella?”
“Yes, it was the first time I realized women were supposed to enjoy it. Tatiana did. Very much so. She didn’t do it like me. She was way more in control than I would ever be. I could never tell him to fuck me harder. Never. She made noises that I wouldn’t dare make. She was way more confident than I would ever be.”
“Is that what you want, Gabby? You want to be able to make love to Paxton like Tatiana did?”
“Yes, but I can’t. It doesn’t work for me. Sometimes I feel like it’s going good, and I try not to feel anything but him, but then he says something, or touches me back there, and I shut down.”
“You don’t like anal sex? Does Paxton make you do that?”
“No, he doesn’t make me. He wants to, but I can’t. I always go back to that warehouse. I didn’t like it when they did that. It hurt really bad, and they just kept going, taking turns until it was finally over. If you can just make me forget that, I can be better for him. I know I can.”
“We’re going to help you, Gabby, but just so you know, you have other options. You don’t have to stay with him.”
I snickered before answering. “Yes I do. Paxton would never let me go. He’s told me. He would kill me first.”
“He’s not going to kill you, Gabby. Never mind. We’ll get to that later. What happened next?”
“Nothing really. I sat down on the cracked concrete, staring at the empty pool Paxton had just drained. I knew it was for her by then. Everything he did around there was for her. They were quiet for a while after they’d finished, only heavy breaths.
“Paxton started it. He told her he would have the upstairs bedroom and Rowan’s room finished by the end of the month, and he wanted them there. Full-time, but Tatiana wasn’t a stupid fish. She didn’t bite at all. She stood up to him. I could never do that.”
“Is that what you want? Do you want to learn to stand up to Paxton?” Lane questioned, once again interrupting.
Another giggle. “Not so much. We have an arrangement. I’m okay with it, I would just like to be able to please him better, and I can’t. Will you help me?”
“Yes, Gabby. We’re going to help you. Why won’t you stand up to him? What happens if you do?”
“Different things. Sometimes he’ll keep me from something special.”
“Like what?”
“Well, like Sir Wrinkles. I waited in line with Rowan for three hours so she could get a signed copy, and a stuffed dog like in the book. Paxton was mad at me for telling her I would take her.”
“Why?”
“I forgot that I was supposed to take care of some permits for a job for him. I already promised her. He called me when we were five minutes from reaching the author. Rowan was on pins and needles with excitement, and it got intensified with each step ahead. There were only about seven more stuffed dogs, and she was about to get hers, and the book. Paxton appeared out of nowhere and told me to go home.”