by Erin R Flynn
I didn’t care, but he did, glancing at her like she was trash. “I’ve been in here with my friend before Acadia worked here and never saw anything that caught my eye. You can’t seriously believe I would look at you now when she is here?”
“Well, when you get tired of her stringing you along and not delivering, come find me.”
“So never, yes, we’re in agreement on that then,” he told her firmly before turning so he butted her out of our conversation. “You really are too good for this place, darling. I don’t know why you’re here.”
“You’re trouble,” I chuckled when she stormed back inside.
“Only since meeting you it seems.” He smiled when I snorted… And turned up the toy on me. I bit my lip and leaned in so no one could see me orgasm right there. He’d kept me going twenty minutes, and it was a good one. “Perfection. Absolute perfection.”
“I try,” I panted, gripping his arm tightly until he turned it off. I did have to dance for a party for two hours. “What’s the range on this thing?”
“It’s through my cell phone, so I think as long as you’re in wireless range. Why?”
“I’m thinking I might get even and put it in while you’re at work and text you that it’s in.”
“Please do,” he growled and tossed back his drink. “The owner is not happy I’m hogging you out here. I’m going to buy us the bottle.”
“You can hear him?” I asked, glancing from him to the door. I couldn’t catch anything over the music.
He nodded. “Only because I focused on him and his fixation with you.” He gave me a worried look. “Which I don’t like.”
“Want to do me a solid and help me get out of here faster?” I asked quietly, glad when he nodded. “Why don’t you go buy that bottle and bring it to his party?”
His eyes flashed shock. “You want a distraction.”
“I do.”
“Fine, but I expect a lovely thank you,” he muttered quietly, eyeing me over.
We headed inside, and he went to the bar and bought a bottle of whiskey from the main bar. When we were about to go back out, I stopped him. “I’ve got to freshen up and check the schedule.”
“Yes, please, because I have Wednesday free if I can come see you,” he said loud enough for the owner and his friends to hear. I nodded and walked off, seeing in the mirrors that the next second the owner was waving Nathanial over like he was the big man.
More like the drunk loser who didn’t get he was a drunk loser.
I had the USB drive in a hidden pocket in my jacket like always if I got the chance. I slipped into the office and checked for the schedule before seeming to notice my makeup was off. I went over to the mirror to fix it, dropping my lipstick from my jacket so I had to bend over and pick it up. It was a tried and tested ploy as club offices seemed to always have their systems in the corner by a mirror or distraction.
Once the drive was in, I stood back up and freshened my makeup. Then I checked my phone like I got a text, setting my phone on the table there before finding the schedule. I checked at least that he didn’t stick extra shit on me for the next week, and by then the drive was ready. I picked up my phone and tottered on my heels, catching my balance and grabbing the drive too.
“What are you doing in here?” a deep voice asked from the door.
I held up my phone. “Adding next week to my schedule now that we agreed to extend the trial.”
“What’s in your other hand?” he asked.
I glamoured the USB drive to look like my lipstick and it would look like that on any video too. “I’m not sure about the shade. What do you think?”
He snorted. “You don’t give a shit what I think.”
“No, but I’m playing nice with a coworker. Try it.”
His eyes flashed heat and malice. “I tried being nice to you, but you didn’t want it.” He nodded to the door. “Let’s go. You shouldn’t be in here alone.”
I gave him a look like he was nuts. “Last time he was getting a blow job and tried to get me to give him one. Him not being in here is the only time I’ll come in here.”
“At least you’re not stupid,” he muttered as I strutted out. I cleaned up in the bathroom and removed the toy, hiding it in my jacket before going back out to rescue Nathanial.
“Your friend here was telling me how well the sushi buffet went,” the owner told me, giving me a look that we were going to talk. “We’ll have to discuss that, and I want to meet your contact.”
I snorted, I couldn’t help it, but then cleared my throat. “My chef friend was just visiting.”
“How do I get those cigars you were selling?” he pushed.
I gave Nathanial a look I was going to kill him. “I promised to give the contact to David because he travels. You can’t just order them through customs. I brought those with me when I came here.” I shook my head when he opened his mouth. “You sell other things here that I’m not letting any of my contacts be associated with.” I smirked at him when his eyes flashed shock.
Only an idiot wouldn’t have seen the drug deals going on around them after working there a week.
“You work for me,” he seethed, slurring a bit which was almost funny.
I shrugged. “For the next week maybe. I’ve got some other interest, and you apparently won’t keep to our deal.”
“No, I think you’ll be staying here,” he said, his tone implying it wasn’t up for negotiation or I wouldn’t like what happened.
“Thanks for the help,” I told Nathanial. “Really, thanks.” I gave the owner a bored look. “I made more doing the sushi buffet than any of the groups you booked me all week. So choose if you want that money or not because if you go back on what we agreed, I walk.” I didn’t wait for his reply. “I’ll walk you out since I have a party soon.”
“I apologize,” Nathanial whispered once we were outside. “I apologize profusely. I was just trying to help.”
“This is why I stay away from supes,” I seethed under my breath. “You all stick your noses where they don’t belong and overstep.” I clamped my mouth shut when one of the security guys came jogging over.
“Come here,” he ordered like I was his dog. He growled when I snorted. “The owner said you wanted to see something.”
“No, I don’t,” I snapped but went over there before things got worse.
He grabbed my arm, and I let him pull me over to his trunk. He popped it and showed me what was inside like I hadn’t already figured it out. “Now you’re part of it so don’t think of being stupid or taking another job.”
I gave him a look like he was nuts. “This doesn’t implicate me at all. I’m standing next to your trunk full of drugs and guns. I haven’t even touched it.” I broke his hold when he looked like I’d given him a good idea. “Don’t even think about it. I saw nothing, and I’m not involved. You push this and I will rat all of you fuckers out.”
“And you’ll end up with a bullet in the back of your head,” he warned. “One more to add to that killer’s list won’t make anyone’s radar, so be smart.”
“Yeah, like doing this in front of a stranger,” I drawled, nodding to Nathanial who was watching it all with interest. I shook my head and went back to Nathanial.
“What was in there?”
“Some booze he wants me to try and offload on you,” I lied loud enough for the guy to hear me too. “Not my scene. I’m booked Wednesday so I’ll see you next poker game.” I kissed his cheek and ignored his frown. “Drive safe.” I made sure to slide my hand into his pocket and take his cell phone. I headed to my car to lock my stuff up, giving the security a look like I would beat him if he didn’t leave me alone.
He gave a dramatic huff and headed inside. Asshole.
I quickly typed Badin’s name and number and the guy’s license plate before calling over to Nathanial that I still had his phone. He gave me a curious look and hurried over, taking it from me before I locked up my stuff and ran back inside. I went right for the owner and aske
d him for a moment.
He smiled to his guys like he’d just won everything as I led him to his office. The moment we were in there, I hit him with my power hard so he would seriously stop with the shit.
“You ever try to trap me into shit again, I will fuck you up and burn this place to the ground,” I seethed. “Are we clear?”
“Yes, yes,” he moaned, trying to pull me to him. “Just one kiss. I want you so much.”
“You don’t deserve it,” I snapped, shoving him away. “And you better tell your goon to get that shit out of his trunk. He was showing it off, and there were at least seven people in the parking lot.”
I waited until he nodded, and then I fed from him enough to make him sick so he couldn’t warn anyone of shit. I made a comment about him drinking too much and I’d send in someone to help before leaving.
“What was that?” a different security guy demanded when I stepped back onto the floor.
“He was begging me for a blow job and started puking,” I drawled. “I’m booked for a party, and I am not dealing with that shit.”
He rolled his eyes and went into the office.
I went for the party that came in early and was busy the rest of my shift, doing everything I could to get back into a decent mood. When I was done, I tipped out and went to the door to payout only to find a few security and the owner standing there.
And police lights in the parking lot.
“She did this,” one accused me. “She got him busted.”
“I fucking warned you immediately that there were other people in the parking lot and he’s showing off the shit,” I reminded the owner. “And then I had the party. I didn’t do it, and I lied to Nathanial that it was booze. Don’t put this on me, and leave me out of all of this or I will walk.” I gave the owner a hard look. “I will not warn you again. I’ve had it, and this is just the first week.”
He nodded, his eyes all goo goo for me still. “It wasn’t her. She came right in and warned me and told him to move the car. I didn’t tell him soon enough because I was getting sick.” He shrugged. “It’s his fault for being so stupid and showing it off and his big mouth. He kept trying new people tonight because he had to unload product. Idiot.”
I handed over their cut and headed out, shaking my head like I was annoyed and not getting dragged down with this shit. I glanced over at the drama once and hurried out of there, not even checking if it was Badin or vice. For all I knew, it really could have been someone else who’d called it in.
One of the other angels came in the next night and told me Nathanial was sorry and wanted to apologize again but didn’t want to push me. Smart. It did help, and I understood he had just wanted to help, and part of it was my own fault for getting sidetracked while on the case, but damn, couldn’t people just leave shit alone?
It would make my life easier if they did. I didn’t need to be saved.
I was the one who did the saving.
11
Sunday had been rough at work, everyone pointing fingers at each other and scared who the guy would roll over on. It was seriously annoying but also told me the depth of how many were involved. One of the dancers was sobbing over it because he was her dealer and he took sex for product and now she didn’t know where to get her drugs.
Oh. Fuck. Me.
I was very ready for a time out from it all and the case when I pulled up to the trail Monday morning. I wanted to get a good run, work out hard, and then scout places I wanted the other “me” to start checking out. We had to be careful of the crossover, but I was thinking she shouldn’t be me anymore now that I’d gotten in with a group.
Besides, it might be helpful if she got in with the fitness instructors—like our yoga teacher victim—and more on the mistress scene.
“I’m so sorry,” Greg mouthed to me when I saw him. I frowned as I started stretching, not understanding what was going on and needing coffee after I’d worked so late with vice after my shift. It had been worth it, but I was exhausted and out of patience.
And then I felt two elves behind me.
I sighed, giving Greg a look that I might spank him before turning around. Instantly I felt the connection, the chemistry, and desire to touch them. “So you’re stooping to forcing your employees to invite you places to stalk a woman?”
“When you’re the woman,” Owen confirmed, his roots fixed but somehow now I could tell them apart. It was their eyes. Not that the color was different, but his were lighter somehow, like he was a light elf instead of a dark one.
I bit back something scathing. “Okay, here’s the deal. We can finish what we started, go back to your apartment, and I’ll blow you and let you fuck me so you both got the full package, and you’ll leave me alone, or you can join us and workout.” I smirked at them, knowing what the answer would be.
Evan moved me against the car, surrounding me with his larger frame before attacking my mouth. I moaned and opened for him, shivering when his hands cupped my ass and moved my leg up around his hip. He leaned his forehead to mine when we broke apart, both of us gasping for air.
“Bloody fuck, love, I want in you so badly I ache,” he admitted, nuzzling my neck. “I want to feel you wrapped around me, hear those noises you make but for me this time, and taste you until I never forget your sweetness.” I figured that would be the answer, nodding. “But I want to know you.”
“We do,” Owen corrected, moving us so he was at my back instead of the car. He kissed my shoulder. “We want to get to know you. Yes, we bullied Greg, and we’ll fix that, but let’s just have a bit of fun and work out. You said only once, and we heard you. We can be friends.”
It took me a second to cool my hormones enough to hear what he said as I was pressed between their hard bodies. I looked from one to the other, having to angle my neck since they were taller than me and Evan had set me on my feet. They had to be at least six three so yeah, that was almost a head taller than me.
“You don’t want to fuck me?” I checked.
“No, we want to fuck you,” Evan groaned, brushing his lips over mine. “You gave us the choice of getting to know you a bit or more hot sex. We want to get to know you, love.”
“But yes, of course we still want sex,” Owen added. “That can come once you know we’re good guys instead of the impression we left with you.”
I pushed away, stumbling a bit, as I glanced between them. “No one ever picks that. They always want the sex. You’re playing at something.”
“We’re not playing, that’s the point here,” Owen corrected.
“Hey, I picked being your friend over the sex,” Tomas reminded me.
“That’s because you’ve not had it with me yet,” I drawled, not wanting his help. “They have.” I shook my head and headed for the trail. “No one ever picks me over the sex then.” I flinched internally. No, one had. “Or they’re trouble that hurts worse later.” I took off for the trail, remembering to keep human slow at the last minute, but still doing a good pace.
“Just give us a chance,” Evan said quietly as he fell in step with me.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t.”
“Because you’re not a lust demon but something else?” Owen asked when we were far enough away from the humans. “We get being different, Acadia.”
“I won’t tell. I wouldn’t ever tell,” I swore to them.
“We know. Neither would we,” Evan promised right back, Owen echoing him. “Most wouldn’t know you weren’t a lust demon. Even with how strong you are and the way you fed. There’s enough variation.”
“I am one,” I lied.
“No, you’re not, and either you don’t know that and you need to, or you’re lying and we can’t tell, which we understand,” Owen replied after another few moments. “But let us tell you a story so you understand we completely understand what you go through and do it alone whereas we have each other.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I admitted.
“Long ago, seve
ral hundred years ago, the now queen of the dark elves was just a girl,” Evan told me quietly as we jogged instead of answering… Which made me think it was the answer. “She was said to be the most beautiful girl ever seen and could bewitch a man’s heart with one glance. It was why so many wanted to attend her coming of age party, as it was the last moment of her innocence as the next day she would start being courted by suitors.”
“Many wanted her,” Owen took over, all of us panting since the pace was pretty fast and apparently they weren’t in as great of shape either. “And as the kingdoms of light and dark elves always boasted peace and friendship, their royal family attended. The light prince—who would become king—was immediately taken with her, and while polite on the surface, he was darker than any dark elf could ever be.
“He cornered the princess before the presentation and told her he wanted a simple, friendly kiss. When she refused, he took it, putting his hands on her when no man had ever. She threatened to call for the guards, and he taunted her, telling her no one would believe her, as she was a lowly woman and a dark elf at that. They would of course believe the beloved light prince who would be king.”
“When he saw he had her, he demanded to see her breasts and that would be all. It would be their secret,” Evan said without any emotion in his voice. Which I found odd, but simply listened. “She denied him, and it enraged him, as none had ever denied him and she was but a dark elf who would be sold to whoever her father the king decided. So he gave her the choice of letting him touch her breasts or rip her dress and explain it to everyone.”
“He upped the price every time she defied him,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Predators love the fight and changing the game too.”
“He did,” Evan confirmed. “After he touched her breasts, he forced her to orally please him or he would rape her before the presentation. They no longer do it, but before a female elf was presented to society, they had to pass certain tests, and one was of purity. The whole court and kingdom, all the visiting guests, would know if she wasn’t a virgin if he carried out his threat. So she did what he wanted, praying someone would rescue her.”