Page 55 of The Puck Decoy

The dinner is nice enough, and now that they are catering to Hallie’s food preferences, I have no need to make another scene.It’s like Hallie said, we just need to get in, get it over with, and then get out.

Simple.

Or it would be if my father wasn’t Mayor Hugo Peters. He is in the middle of prattling on about some ‘lesser’ man in his office, when he remarks, “Any man that gets on his knees for a woman is pathetic in my eyes.” His statement isn’t all that unusual, but it’s the tone of his voice that grabs my attention, and when I move my stare to his, I find him watching me with a smirk. A smirk that tells me he knows something, and it’s only when his stare flickers over to Hallie, who is totally oblivious, that the hairs on the back of my neck rise up, as he adds, “I saw an interesting piece of television the other day.”

My mind flicks back to the day we were in his office, and I instantly know what he thinks he saw, and even though it wasn’t real, anger courses through my veins all the same. “I’d be careful about what comes out of your mouth next,” I warn, only making his grin wider, and I can feel every defense against him snapping into place.

Hallie freezes beside me, only now starting to sense some tension in the room, and I can feel my sister’s stare burning into the side of my face, but I don’t look at either of them, keeping my focus solely on the man who raised me. There is a mixture of disgust, and what he thinks is pride, as he glares at me, but I don’t back down, not when it comes to this, not when it comes to her.

“You forget how good I am at keeping secrets, Joshua, especially when it comes to family.” He raises his glass towards us at his words, and from the corner of my eye I see my mother flinch, yet another person damaged by his misdeeds.

“I’m not sure banging every woman with a pulse in your office counts as a skill, father, but hey, what do I know aboutpolitics,” I toss back, ignoring my mother’s gasp, and focusing solely on him.

I even ignore Hallie as she slides her hand onto my thigh in an attempt to ground me, but it’s no use, not with him. He’s an expert at finding my weak spot and exploiting it, and clearly having her by my side doesn’t make a difference.

“Based on your recent choices, I’d say you know more about politics than I thought,” my father adds, sipping his drink slowly and eying me over the top of the glass. “In fact, I’d be happy to bring you down to the office and show you where we both know you are going to end up.”

I’m on my feet so fast that the back of my chair hits the floor, and the table between us shakes, but before I can explode at him, Hallie is right there beating me to it. “Oh my god, I can’t believe the time, I’m so sorry but we promised my dad that we would attend a small business function at my parents’ house, so we must be going.”

My chest is heaving up and down as years of wrath and resentment threaten to burst out of me, but there she is standing at my side and sliding her hand into mine. She stares at my father with a polite but firm smile, and it will only take one word. One wrong word aimed towards her and I will not be responsible for my actions.

Thankfully, whatever my father sees on her face, or mine, is enough to have him responding, “Best listen to your wife and run along, boy.”

I continue to stare him down until Hallie pulls on my arm, and like a magnet my body moves towards hers, as she bids everyone at the table a goodbye and pulls me from the room. She doesn’t stop until we get outside, and it’s then I can hear her saying my name, snapping it really, her face getting up in mine to try and bring me back down, but it’s no use. I’m too far gone right now, too wrapped up in my fury to even see straight. All Ican do is get her in the car and start driving, and I don’t say a word, not until we are back at her house, and in her room.

My breathing is still ragged as I storm back and forth in front of her bedroom door as she leans her back against it. She looks as if she isn’t sure whether I will stay or go, whether she will stay or go, and all I can do is snap, “I fucking hate him, Hallie, I hate him so fucking much.” She doesn't flinch, she has heard this particular rant many times over the years, so I’m sure she is used to it.

“He’s an asshole, but we know this, so why are you letting him get to you?” she asks gently, and just the sound of her voice helps me breathe again.

“Because no matter what I say or what I do, he always has the power, he’s always one step ahead, and I know Lincoln has said that he has found some stuff, but will it be enough? Will it ever be enough?”

Lincoln called me on Friday and said he wants to see me next week, when I’m free to go through what he has found, and at first I was excited. Finally,finallyI would have something to begin my father’s downfall, but does it even matter? My father has survived every single thing that has ever been thrown at him, including a scandalous affair, so why will this be any different?

“For once I just want to feel like I have the power. I hate feeling like everything is just out of control.” I know my tone is harsh, that she doesn’t deserve my outburst, but it seems like she is the only person willing to see the real me and stick around for it.

That point is only proven when she moves off the back of the door and closes the distance between us, forcing me to a stop, and pulling my face down towards her. “Then tell me what I can do to help you feel in control,” she pleads, her eyes searching mine, and almost instantly she has me held captive in her stare.“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it, Joshua. I’ll do anything for you.”

Her words aren’t meant to be provocative, but the second they leave her mouth it’s like my entire body comes alive. My attraction for her is heightened, as the lust and anger battle inside of me. “Don’t say shit like that to me,” I warn, knowing I’m not in the right frame of mind to be with her right now. No, right now I would only take what I need for myself, and she doesn’t deserve that.

Yet of course she pushes me, just like always. “Why? Because it’s true? You know whatever you ask of me, I’ll do. Hell, I’m here right now as your wife and all you had to do was ask.” She throws up the hand that houses my ring, and it’s like a bull seeing red as something inside of me snaps.

“On your knees,” I command her coolly, taking a step back and shrugging out of my suit jacket before tossing it aside. She doesn’t move, not right away, yet I hear her sharp intake of breath as I add, “Remember when you said you would get on your knees if I asked,” I remind her, removing the cufflinks from my shirt, and rolling up my sleeves. “Well, now I’m asking you, Hallie. Get. On. Your. Knees.”

I move towards her chair in the corner, undoing my shirt as I go, until my chest is completely on display. Only then do I turn towards her and lower myself into the seat. She still hasn’t moved, but once I am sitting, I see her prepare herself to walk towards me, and when she goes to move, I lift up my hand, halting her in her tracks and then point to the floor. “Ah ah, on your knees, Tink, crawl to me like a good little wife.”

My command hangs in the air around us, coated in anticipation, yet our eyes never break away from one another. I watch her as she absorbs my demands, and turns the words over in that pretty little head of hers, never once letting her mask slip.What is she thinking?No doubt she is contemplating the pros and cons of submitting to me, making a list in her head of all the reasons why she shouldn’t do this, and the one reason she should.

Because she’s mine.

“What’s the matter, Tink, are you scared?” I taunt, knowing that just as easily as she pushes me, I can also push her in return.

“I’m not scared,” she is quick to gasp out, barely saying anything at all, yet telling me everything all the same. Sheisscared. Not because she doesn’t want this, but because she does.

All the signs are there, I see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, spy the glazed look in her eyes that I now know means she is turned on, all the way down to the fidgeting of her hands. She wants to give me the power, she wants me to have the control, and who am I to deny my wife anything?

Tell me what to do and I’ll do it, Joshua, I’ll do anything for you.

“Then lose the dress, and get on your knees, Hallie, I won’t ask again.”

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