Waking Chaos (Paldimori Games Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  FREE Guide

  Copyright

  Dedication

  - Chapter 1

  - Chapter 2

  - Chapter 3

  - Chapter 4

  - Chapter 5

  - Chapter 6

  - Chapter 7

  - Chapter 8

  - Chapter 9

  - Chapter 10

  - Chapter 11

  - Chapter 12

  - Chapter 13

  - Chapter 14

  - Chapter 15

  - Chapter 16

  - Chapter 17

  - Chapter 18

  - Chapter 19

  - Chapter 20

  - Chapter 21

  - Chapter 22

  - Chapter 23

  - Chapter 24

  - Chapter 25

  - Chapter 26

  - Chapter 27

  - Chapter 28

  - Chapter 29

  - Chapter 30

  - Chapter 31

  - Chapter 32

  - Chapter 33

  - Chapter 34

  - Chapter 35

  Acknowledgements

  About The Author

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  FREE Guide

  Copyright

  Dedication

  - Chapter 1

  - Chapter 2

  - Chapter 3

  - Chapter 4

  - Chapter 5

  - Chapter 6

  - Chapter 7

  - Chapter 8

  - Chapter 9

  - Chapter 10

  - Chapter 11

  - Chapter 12

  - Chapter 13

  - Chapter 14

  - Chapter 15

  - Chapter 16

  - Chapter 17

  - Chapter 18

  - Chapter 19

  - Chapter 20

  - Chapter 21

  - Chapter 22

  - Chapter 23

  - Chapter 24

  - Chapter 25

  - Chapter 26

  - Chapter 27

  - Chapter 28

  - Chapter 29

  - Chapter 30

  - Chapter 31

  - Chapter 32

  - Chapter 33

  - Chapter 34

  - Chapter 35

  Acknowledgements

  FREE Guide

  About The Author

  WAKING CHAOS

  Paldimori Games

  T.L. Callahan

  Click here to download your copy now: http://eepurl.com/c2ROtf

  Published in United States by Dragon Mountain Press, LLC

  1250 W. Ohio Pike # 199

  Amelia, OH 45102

  Waking Chaos (Paldimori Games) by T.L. Callahan

  Copyright © 2017 T.L. Callahan

  All rights reserved.

  eBook ISBN: 978-0-9991225-0-1

  Edited by Meredith Tennant

  Cover Design by germancreative

  Artwork by Second Star to the Right

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For my husband who believed in me and

  supported me in achieving this dream.

  For my son who understands that Mommy visits

  dreamland when I’m at my computer.

  Chapter 1

  Whoever said “third time’s the charm” was a dumbass. I was looking at number five and he was apparently just as unlucky for me as the previous four.

  Five boyfriends in three years. Five boyfriends and all of them cheaters.

  Although this was the first time witnessing the act itself. Like the proverbial train-wreck, I couldn’t look away. How the hell did she manage to twist herself into that position? That would have landed me an emergency trip to the chiropractor. Like they were contestants on a game show, my mind was scoring the performance. Point deductions for this being my bed and my boyfriend, I’d still give it an 8. I almost wanted to shout encouragement and hold up a sign with the score.

  Almost.

  The fact that having to burn my new purple sheets bothered me more than what was going on between them confirmed that I should have kicked Daron out months ago. Sigh. I really liked those sheets. Time to go shopping—again. My sheets were seeing more action than I did, and it was playing hell with my linen closet. Good thing my best friend was on standby for sheet-burning parties and that Myrtle’s regularly ran coupons on bedding.

  My assistant manager started moaning like she was having the best sex of her life. The unfortunate part was that I was envious. When was the last time I’d experienced an orgasm in that bed—or anywhere?

  Skin slapping against skin echoed through the room as Daron picked up his pace and started groaning. Ah, I knew that sound. It wouldn’t be long now. Massaging the temples of my pounding head, I backed out of the doorway. The grand finale could remain a mystery; not even bleach would be able to erase the images from my brain.

  Jealous thoughts of the orgasms Natalie had probably experienced plagued me on the way back downstairs. It had turned out to be a bitch of a day. To top it off, I wasn’t feeling so great. In the kitchen, I poured a glass of water and downed some cold medicine. Please God, let us wrap up this confrontation quickly and quietly. Daron would get the boot. Natalie and I would discuss her poor life choices. We would all be civilized adults—adults that never mentioned this to anyone. Ever.

  I toed off my shoes and then snorted at the files lying on the granite countertop. They had started this whole craptastic day. Waking up fuzzy-brained this morning had made me forget the files that needed to be sent to the bank manager about adding a line of credit for my gallery. As my assistant manager for the last two years, Natalie was supposed to go to my condo to grab the files and deliver them by noon. Imagine my shock when the bank manager—smug creep—called to say that the documents hadn’t been received in time. His voice had dripped with satisfaction as he informed me that I would have to start the process all over again. The smarmy ass! Pleading with him to give me another hour had been pointless. The guy had a chip on his shoulder the size of the Rockies since I’d refused to go out with him when I first moved to town. Unfortunately, he now took great pleasure in sticking his nose into all of my business dealings with his bank and making things difficult for me.

  Calling and calling Natalie’s cell for an hour with no response had me worrying that something had happened to her. Business was slow at the gallery, so I’d left one of the other employees in charge while I made the fifteen-minute drive home. The rest, as they say, was history.

  Weariness settled on my shoulders like a shroud. Sniffling, I made my way to the large bay window at the back of the living room and sank down onto the cushioned window seat. My toes wiggled into the plush cream carpet, massaging some of the ache from my feet. This was my favorite spot in the condo and the deciding factor in buying this place when I moved to Port Lawson. Outside the window was the other reason.

  Windswept ocean waves crashed against the green shore not fifty yards beyond my deck. A storm was rolling in, which was pretty typical f
or Washington. Raindrops tinkled against the window. The low rumble of thunder sounded off in the distance. My eyes closed, enjoying the moment of peace. Memories tried to edge in, but I pushed them away. I was safe inside my condo.

  The moment of serenity was rudely interrupted by giggling and footsteps on the stairs. My chin dropped to my chest. My life had become a broken record. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders. Time to get this over with. Schooling my face into an ‘awe-shucks-no-big-deal’ expression, I stood to greet my unexpected guests. They came into sight on the stairs but hadn’t yet noticed me. Probably because Natalie had her legs wrapped around Daron’s waist and they were still kissing like they didn’t need air. Daron’s tanned and toned surfer body dwarfed the petite Natalie as he shifted her higher against him. For shit’s sake, they aren’t going to start round two, are they?

  Natalie tore her mouth away as they reached the last couple of steps and tipped her blonde head back, laughing at the ceiling. “D, we have to stop. I don’t know how long I’ve been gone, but Lia has probably noticed.”

  Oh yeah, I’d noticed. That didn’t stop Natalie from running her hands down Daron’s chest and nibbling on his ear. Daron made a growling sound as he kissed her neck. Then he swatted her ass. “She never notices. I could probably bang you in front of her and she wouldn’t know nothin’.”

  Natalie purred at that and rubbed up against him like a cat in heat. Gag! I so didn’t need to see a repeat performance. “That would be hot. How ‘bout you stop by for lunch tomorrow and fuck me behind the counter again while we watch her talk to that pissy old guy who comes in all the time. That was fun.”

  What the what? In my gallery? My moment of shock quickly faded as a red haze descended across my vision. That traitorous bitch! This wasn’t just a one-time ‘oops I accidentally tripped and fell on your boyfriend’s dick’ situation. It was one thing for them to have sex on my bed—they weren’t the first—but at my place of business? While I was with customers? That was way over the line.

  “How dare you!” I yelled, stomping toward the stairs.

  They were so startled that Daron dropped Natalie right onto her perky round ass. She landed on the bottom step with a squeal, then grunted as she tipped over backward onto the floor. Her skirt flipped up to her waist, showing the world all her assets. Does no one wear underwear these days? It would have been hilarious if I wasn’t so pissed off.

  “Li-Li . . . I . . . let me—” Daron jumped to the floor and started to walk toward me.

  My raised palm stopped him in his tracks. “Save it. Get your shit and get out! Both of you.”

  Natalie got to her feet, glaring at me as she rubbed what I hoped was her very sore ass. “What’s the matter, Jillian? Can’t handle the fact that I can please a man enough to actually make him keep coming back for more?”

  She ran her hands down her hips suggestively and toyed with the hem of her short skirt. Then she stuck out her chest and cocked her hip like she was inviting me to take inventory of all the reasons men might want her. She was dressed like a Catholic schoolgirl, which was certainly not the outfit she had been wearing when she left the gallery. I didn’t even want to know the kind of games they had been playing in my bedroom. This time the whole damn mattress was going to have to go.

  Hate filled her gaze and a nasty smile twisted her lips. She suddenly looked like a complete stranger. What the hell? She had transformed from naive college girl to vicious she-devil. Who was this person? What happened to the trusty assistant who had helped me grow my business these last years?

  “Natalie, I don’t know what you think I’ve done to deserve this kind of treatment, but you’re welcome to Daron. Just not in my house. And especially not in my gallery. Just get out of my sight. I’m too tired to deal with this.” I rubbed my forehead, dizziness adding to the ache behind my eyes.

  I was in no shape to deal with them. They needed to leave. I was walking past to usher them out the door when suddenly something sharp dug into my arm and wrenched me around.

  “Don’t walk away from me, you self-righteous bitch!” Natalie’s pale skin was flushed an angry red. A sick pleasure filled her eyes as she dug her long nails deeper into my arm. It felt like she was slicing open my skin layer by layer. The stinging ache turned into a burning pain.

  “Geez, Nat,” Daron said as he ran a beefy palm through his spiky blond hair. “What’re you doing?”

  “Shut it, D. She owes me—us. And she’s going to pay up if she doesn’t want everyone to know she allowed her employees to have sex in her store.” Natalie continued to glare at me; her blue eyes lit with a maniacal fire that drove a spike of real fear through my heart.

  “What?” I asked. “I didn’t—”

  Tugging my arm in protest, I tried to free myself from her grasp. Natalie dug her nails in even deeper, shredding more layers of skin. The pain radiated down to the tips of my fingers as blood welled up in the crescent-shaped marks. We both watched as a drop of blood slithered across my arm. Natalie licked her lips like she was ready to take a taste. My instincts were screaming not to make any sudden moves. This was no guppy but a full-grown shark.

  “Yeah, that’s right, Ice Princess.“ She had the nerve to wink at me. “Jen and Miles were a part of it too. One big happy orgy happening right there in the middle of the glass bowls and statues. You didn’t even have a clue. And you know what else? It wasn’t just your current boyfriend who liked to play with us.”

  Fuck that! I didn’t know if crazy was contagious, but I needed to get away from her. Now. Gripping her hand, I shoved it away from me. Bloody scratches joined the deeper cuts. My stomach churned as I hugged my injured arm to my chest. Slowly backing away, I tried not to provoke her further. My heart was racing. Had anyone else ever seen this side of her? Were my other employees just as crazy? Jen? Miles? If what she said was true, my two part-time employees had participated in the same perversions, whatever they were. And it sounded like my former boyfriends had been part of it too.

  The meds were obviously not working because my head was throbbing so hard it could register as a second heartbeat.

  Was it to get back at me for something? Why hadn’t they just confronted me if there was a problem? Seriously, they’d had sex in the same room while I was with a customer? My throat felt tight, and it took several tries to swallow. It could have been due to the cold that was coming on or the betrayal choking the air from my lungs. Swallowing thickly, I fought the tears that were threatening to fall. First place award for sucker goes to me! How pathetic I must seem to them all, to have never put the pieces together. My staff obeyed Natalie like she was the pied piper, and my boyfriends had all been big fans. What wasn’t to like? She was sweet and helpful. At least that was how she had been around me. Everyone knew that trusting a raving lunatic was bad news. I just hadn’t seen the crazy until it was too late.

  The acidic taste of betrayal was especially hard to swallow since trust didn’t come easy for me. Natalie had proved herself in the three years I had known her, steadily weaving her way under my guard. As time went on, I’d treated her more and more like a partner in the gallery. Bouncing ideas around. Dreaming about future plans. She had access to everything. Not just about the business but a lot of details about my personal life as well. After all, it was written right there in my calendar for her to find. It wasn’t hard to sneak around when you knew where everyone would be. Damned by my own organization habits.

  My fingers tightened around the wound on my arm, stemming the blood flow. The jolt of pain managed to remove some of the fuzz from my brain. There was just one thing I needed to know.

  “Why?”

  The silence stretched on for several moments. Anger surged once more from the ball of emotions churning inside me. Damn it, I’m at least owed an explanation!

  Daron was behind Natalie, taking furtive steps toward the front door. The glare I sent his way stopped him in his tracks, his Adam’s apple bobbing heavily.

  “What the hell is thi
s all about? Why would I owe you anything other than the spanking that your parents apparently didn’t give you to teach you some common decency?”

  “Ummm, I love a good spanking,” Natalie purred with that nasty smile. “You want to play with me, Lia? Boy or girl, I’m not picky.” My face must have given me away. She laughed. “Oh princess, was that too shocking? I bet you still only do it missionary and with the lights off. No wonder your guys keep coming to me for a good time.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daron wince like she had just scored a direct hit. Guilt mixed with the other emotions swirling in my stomach. There was some truth behind her words. Not the missionary bit, but sex had become more of a chore for me. It was something that was expected as part of a relationship. So I played my part, throwing out the occasional moans for good measure while I counted the minutes until it was over. Every woman did it at some point. It wasn’t like the performances were that awe-inspiring, anyway. What was the point in pretending to feel anything? My heart was buried in Lakeview Cemetery.

  Natalie smiled like she knew she had struck a nerve. Damn it, I may not have put the effort in, but they could have just walked away. Cheating was never ok, no matter what. I shoveled a hole and pushed the rolling ball of emotions into it. Pave it over. Seal it up. Just one more thing to bury. Time to end this fiasco. It was a struggle to keep the disgust from my voice as I attempted to coax the rabid dog from my home.