Lemon

Chapter 13: Shadow

Tamara

A month later I collapsed onto the couch in the corner of the room where Keith and his band practiced, exhausted. Ever since my wardrobe was ready, Leslie had me follow her around. That's when I got a real taste of her fame. People were dying to meet her for selfies and autographs. Her bodyguards were constantly parting the crowds for her; I was just a pudgy shadow in her wake. But not as pudgy as I was a month ago. Between the stress of her lifestyle, working out, keeping up with Keith's insatiable sexual appetite since he'd gotten his vasectomy, moving into his place, and helping my sister through her pregnancy and wedding planning, I was burning out. Leslie barely allowed me to spend time with my man, often calling in the middle of the night with hair emergencies that honestly looked intentional. She was a night owl, I was not. Luckily I was able to do my work while I was half asleep. The only reason she allowed me to exercise was my girth. Still, the constant stress had me closer to forty pounds overweight than the fifty pounds I was when we first met.

"You alright, Tammy? You look a little gaunt," Donny asked before the rehearsal started. They had a gig on Friday and I couldn't even promise to be there for the whole thing as Leslie might call at any time looking for a fresh, new hairstyle from me. God, all I wanted was a good night's sleep!

"Working for a celebrity is thankless work. I'm looking forward to Peggy's wedding in two days simply for the break." I stretched and let myself relax for the first time in weeks.

"Wake up, angel," Keith whispered against my ear. It was fully dark and I was lying in our bed curled around my boyfriend and stroking him with my knee. I was sinfully relaxed, which explains why I didn't notice my phone in his hand at first. When I did, I groaned softly and took it from him.

"Where am I headed?" I asked before she could make any of her usual excuses.

"I'll text you the details. Thanks, hon," she said cheerfully before hanging up. I groaned, louder this time, and dragged my tired body out of bed. But not as tired as I should be.

"Did I really sleep through rehearsal tonight? I am so sorry, Keith."

"I moved my drums right next to you and you didn't even stir. I figured you'd earned some rest. I'm just sorry your boss couldn't keep it under control for a night."

"She never can," I said in a grouchy voice as I grabbed the first outfit my fingers came across. "I swear she messes her hair up on purpose just so I have to come out at night with her."

"Is she still handling you roughly?" he asked tiredly. I felt so bad for him, having to wake up on weekdays for my emergencies.

"Yes," I told him laconically. There really wasn't anything else to say. I recorded every instance on paper and in my digital journal, but she was so sweet when others were around that I didn't know what to do about it. I had noticed strange marks on Greta, several of the team, and even Luka, but hadn't worked up the nerve to ask them about it. What was going on with her? Why was she so violent against us? Dismissing her bad behavior once more, I finished dressing, kissed my man's lips softly, and headed out to her latest disaster.

It was a disaster all right, just not a hair one. The press swarmed me when I arrived, shouting questions about fake styles and embezzlement. I just looked at them all blankly, insisting that I was called for a hair emergency. It wasn't until Karen Wesleyan, the flirty reporter from Keith's press conference so long ago, stepped up and asked snottily why a mega-star like Leslie would want a two-bit hack messing in her hair that the pieces started falling into place.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked quietly, a horrible feeling in my gut.

"Oh, please. We know all about your little book of hairstyles, a book you stole while you were embezzling from Ms. Smith's company. You're busted."

"I don't understand. I never stole from anyone in my life! I don't need to; I've been well compensated for my work. I had a book of hairstyles, but Leslie shredded it the first day I came to work for her. As for embezzlement, I haven't stolen anything from her company. I wouldn't know how!" I felt that I should be more panicked or upset about this, but I was so tired that nothing was really registering.

"A likely story," Karen sneered, seeming to have become the spokeswoman for the mob. "The police are at your house right now, tearing it apart for evidence. How dare you show your face here, after abusing her for the past month?"

"Abusing? Wait, what are you talking about?"

"The gig is up, Tammy! Leslie confessed to everything. She brought you up from nothing. How dare you take advantage of her generous heart?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Without another word, I went to my car and drove home from the club. By Friday morning it was all over the news. The police had gone to Peggy and my old condo at 4 in the morning. The new tenants - a retired couple from Pasadena - had not been pleased about it. After searching the place, they'd gotten in contact with me to search Keith's place. Of course, nothing was found, because my boss hadn't known about my move, but the damage was done. I spent the days leading up to Peggy's wedding fending off hate mail and people throwing things at me and my car. Even bringing forward the originals of my work didn't acquit me in the court of public opinion.

No one in Leslie's camp was talking to me. The embezzlement charges were quietly dropped Saturday morning, but when I brought that up to a persistent YouTuber who camped outside of my gym, he spat in my face and said that I didn't deserve to defend myself against such a sweet lady as Mrs. Smith. Since I didn't have a YouTube channel of my own, I couldn't defend myself to the internet, and Leslie was taking full advantage of that fact to besmirch my name while playing the victim. Only my friends at Redemption, my boyfriend, and my family stood by me during this horrible chapter in my life. It seemed that the whole world had turned against me. Even my old nursing friends called to curse me out. I arrived in Las Vegas on Monday on the verge of collapse.

"Tammy! What the hell?" Alica said when she and Mom met me in the terminal. I knew I looked rough. Peggy had flown in early on Friday to arrange things for her nuptials and therefore had missed most of the madness.

"I just had the passenger next to me spit at me for 'hurting that dear, sweet, innocent Mrs. Smith'. Luckily, I caught the globule on the in-flight magazine, but the flight was unpleasant. What I wouldn't give for a few hours of sleep!" My sister and Mother hugged me tight without further comment. The two bundled me into their rented truck and soon I was sleeping peacefully in the room I'd rented before all this mess started. I woke up to the feeling of a very familiar body under mine.

"Good evening, Sweetling. Did you sleep well?" I yawned and snuggled against him tiredly. This was the most peaceful I'd felt since this nightmare started. But I knew I had to face my family with my boyfriend and this crazy scandal. Sighing, I pushed myself up, only to be pulled onto his firm chest.

"I asked you a question, little one," he said flirtatiously. I giggled, rubbing my head against his muscular chest. "If you're not going to answer me, I'm going to have to punish you." I squealed excitedly and nuzzled his chin. I looked up at him to see that same look of fond amusement in his eyes as I always did. Relaxing fully for the first time since I started working for Leslie Smith, I sucked my lips into my mouth and shook my head. He suddenly turned us so I was on the soft bed and crammed two thick fingers into my wet slit, moving them around to gather my moisture. I moaned.

"Uh-uh, Sweetling. You didn't want to talk. So, now you must keep quiet," he taunted me as he deliberately stirred up trouble in my panties. I choked and gasped, doing my best to keep silent as he made me wetter and wetter. It was a losing battle when his curious fingers found something deep inside of me that caused me to cry out in ecstasy. "Good girl. I just pinged your G-spot thanks to your cries of pleasure." He started playing with it as he leaned in and possessed my jewel and I could no longer keep silent as I writhed beneath him.

"That's my girl," he whispered against my lower lips, still devouring me. Loud banging interrupted our play.

"I know you two are awake! We're all headed down to dinner. Get dressed or I'm sending Arthur in there after you!" We both groaned but dressed quickly, knowing that Matthew was serious.

… …

There was nothing like hugging my family. Virtual hugs were all well and good, but having someone hold you who was family and truly had your back felt amazing. After a small eternity of basking in my family's love for me - as well as introducing my boyfriend - we all sat down around the large, round table reserved for us.

"You know we love you no matter what, don't you, Ladybug?" my Mom said, patting my arm in a manner that took me straight back to my childhood.

"I know, Mom," I answered around the lump in my throat. "But I didn't do anything!"

"Start from the beginning," Arthur said gravely from across the round table, fully in detective mode.

"And don't leave anything out, little sister. We already know more than you think."

Looking at Wilson strangely, I told the whole story, only interrupting myself to order food and drink. Everything came out; the offer, the two shopping sprees, the abuse and my decision to document and encrypt each instance, and the long, weird, torturous hours as her hairstylist. I felt like I had the whole restaurant's attention, but that wasn't possible.

"Let me look into this, Tamara," Wilson said reassuringly. "Something about all this feels familiar. I'll do some digging and then we'll fight back. Also, we need to get you some socials. I shut your Facebook down. You don't want to know the kind of things your friends and perfect strangers are saying on there. You need an X account, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. I know you've never needed them before, but you do now. We'll fix this, baby sister. I promise you we will make her pay for ruining your reputation."

"That… Woman needs to learn that she can't just destroy people just because she's famous," Arthur said firmly.

"Anything I can do to help, Gōḍa lahāna. No one messes with my little sister and gets away with it." Everyone at the table rumbled their agreement and approval. (Sweet Little One)

"Now, about this boyfriend of yours, Ladybug," Mom said to lighten the mood. The topic switched to significant others as Keith, Lionel, and Tatiana were each given a chance to shine at the dinner table. The discussions were light and fun as each was accepted into the family. I was proud of my man, especially when he excused us from the table after dessert to exercise. My brothers followed us to the gym, attempting to take over my regimen, but Keith wouldn't allow it. I hadn't missed a day of working out since Leslie turned the world against me and today was no exception. I sweated as hard as my brothers during Keith's militant routine. When it was over, the guys complained good-naturedly about how they were going to be sore for Peggy's wedding day. I let them know that I worked out like this every day.

"No wonder you're losing weight, sis," Kenneth chuckled.

"Should she be working out so hard with everything that's going on in her life?" Judas asked quietly as he threw his towel in the hamper. "I saw how destroyed she was when she first arrived in Vegas."

"The exercise does her good," Matthew came to my defense. "The endorphins released help with depression." The rest of the guys agreed, but before we could part ways for the night, a throat clearing in the hall caught our attention.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but are you Tamara Saunders?" We were all instantly on alert, Keith wrapping a protective arm around me as the other men in my entourage circled the wagons.

"I'm here to help, gentlemen. My name is Quintan Lerner and I am a publicist. I'm only here to help."

"My sister doesn't need a publicist. She's innocent," Randy said forcefully.

"Her innocence makes her a prime target for my services. Believe me, I'm only the first who will be asking to work with her. Here's my card. Please consider giving me a call." The handsome man held out his card for me to take, barely flinching when Wilson snatched it from him with a hostile look. He nodded at me politely, turned, and walked away.

I plucked the card out of my Korean brother's hand and read it, resolved to give him a call after the wedding tomorrow. I got big hugs from each of my brothers after they escorted me back to my room.

"I can't believe this is happening, Keith. I just-" I choked on my words when he picked me up and impaled me on his throbbing dick. That was the thing with a vasectomy. Now that the initial week to ensure no accidents was over, he could dive into me, condom free, any time he wanted. He felt so good raw and thrusting inside of me. And I'd taken a pregnancy test before this nightmare had begun; no babies. I whimpered in delight when his eager member lodged inside me up to the hilt. How had I forgotten that he took my underwear away after my workout? I often went commando at night in preparation for his invasion. I loved it. Especially since he insisted on dresses for me.

He kissed my scream away, his greedy cock already buried deep inside me. I shivered and wrapped myself around him happily, my thighs wide apart to accept his dominance. He walked over to his suitcase, rummaging through it as I clung to him. Finally he seemed to find what he was looking for, pulling out a beautiful, ornate necklace that he slipped around my neck. He squeezed it and then smiled lazily, like a cat at its doomed prey.

"Scream all you want my lovely one. No one is going to come save you now." He thrust as hard as he could just once, a truly obscene smile on his face when I cried out in ecstasy, then worked my body over like it was the first time and he'd forgotten where all of my sweet spots were. I writhed against him, yelling for more as he continued to pleasure my sensitive body. He gobbled my breasts, massaging my back and butt cheeks while I drenched him in my love. God, it felt so damn good! My brain was stuck in a pleasure loop of how good it felt.

"You like that, baby? You're cradling my fat cock with those perfect inner walls of yours. You must like it, you must love it, what with how you are grabbing and pulling at my thick dick with your slick pussy. Oh no, it's too late to get away now, Sweetling. Slide those slick thighs around me and make me feel welcome. That's right, Sweetling. Just like that. Squeeze my-oh yeah. Good girl. Mmmmmm…"

It didn't occur to me that he couldn't hear my cries and pleas until I exploded for the fourth time around him and he buried his massive phallus deep in my womb and exploded inside of me. He started demanding answers after that, answers to questions I couldn't answer due to my muted state. I was hollering for him, begging for him as he possessed my body again and again, but he kept punishing me for ignoring him. Oh God! God help me, it was so much fun. I came so much harder and so much faster while crying out in my own little world. And his dirty talk was so much better and filthier when he couldn't hear my cries and passionate responses. I started answering him with my body as best I could, circling my hips and thrusting against him. It was so good to be a good girl. A good girl who deserved a spanking.

He slid that powerful instrument of his out of me and turned me over in the bed, taunting me with my silence until I stopped crying for it and once again used my body to show him what I wanted.

"That's my good girl. That's right, circle those hips. Show me what belongs to me." He pulled my hair and I tightened up and exploded on his face. He growled his approval before devouring me. My thighs were trembling by the time he slammed his giant-sized cock into my spurting pussy. He was covered in my juices by night's end, we both were. Showering was exhausting, but necessary, especially when he told me that he would ejaculate the rest of his love into me if I didn't say anything. Since I couldn't, I didn't and the pleasurable torture began. Once he'd emptied himself completely into my womb, he released me. Or at least he tried to. I rubbed against him until my exhausted body yielded up one last orgasm. Then I collapsed against him, moaning incessantly.

"That's my good girl," he said breathlessly. He cleaned us up after that. I was shaking too badly to be of much help. The bed was soaked, we ended up sleeping on the fresh one beside it. God, what a night!