by Blue, A. J.
But he simply smiles and shrugs his shoulders. “Sorry, can’t help you there. The contract certainly doesn’t include a detailed description of our initiation ritual. There’s no need. Just let yourself be surprised.”
Darn, I think. What’s with all the secrecy?
“Thanks for your help!” I glare at Marcus and throw a pillow in his direction. Marcus adroitly avoids the missile, parks his cup on Liam’s desk and walks over to me. He pulls me up from the floor, presses me against his naked chest and grabs my hair.
“We’ll see if you’ll still be that rebellious this evening,” he whispers in my ear and kisses me. I only very briefly respond to his kiss. Then I bite his lip. His own fault!
“Ouch!” he mutters and licks the spot I bit into with his tongue. “You’re a real cheeky little bitch! Count yourself lucky that I still have some business to see to and that you won’t be alone with me today.”
“Because?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Now that you’re living with us, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to let our hair down.”
“You can’t be in the same place for a minute without arguing, can you?” Liam is back and clearly amused.
Completely naked, he’s standing in the room drying his wet hair with a towel. I stare first at him and then at Marcus. The two men know perfectly well how to present themselves at their most appealing and I feel like I‘m at a male model competition. Without a doubt, any one of my girlfriends would turn absolutely green with envy at the sight. Of course, I’m not exactly unmoved by what’s in front of me either. I remember the previous sexual encounters with those two guys and feel a pleasant sensation in my nether regions.
“I have to be at a business meeting,” Liam says while getting dressed. “Alex will keep you company today. It’s only fair, really, considering you two didn’t have a chance to spend any time together yet. We’ll all see each other at tonight’s initiation.” He smiles suggestively.
I roll my eyes.
“You’ll love him, angelface,” Liam winks and kisses my forehead. “Enjoy your time with Alex and install yourself in the guestroom. It’s yours now.”
“So I’m not sleeping in your room any longer,” I want to know.
“Of course, you can if you want to. But believe me, there are bound to be times when you’ll need a little privacy.”
Marcus nods in agreement. “Liam’s right. In a communal living arrangement it’s important that everyone can just be by themselves once in a while,” he says and reaches for his coffee cup. “I’ll go make breakfast. If your Lord- and Ladyship would be so kind as to follow me into the kitchen at your leisure.”
“You okay?“ Liam asks after Marcus has left the room.
I shrug my shoulders. “I guess so.”
“You really don’t have to be afraid that we’ll do anything you won’t like. Just relax. I know that you’ll enjoy your time with us.” Liam kisses my brow.
“If you say so,” I reply still not entirely convinced. It’s true that I’ve liked everything they’ve done with me so far, but will it continue like that?
I’m also a little worried about the fact that I’ve no idea what makes Alex tick. Granted, I find him very congenial, but I haven’t yet had the chance to become better acquainted. It’s strange to know that I’ll be on my own with him later on and that he‘ll most probably want to sleep with me then. I’m just not the kind of woman the boys usually invite into their apartment. Until recently I didn’t even know that bizarre communes like this exist. And now I’m living in one.
“Honestly, Kate, if I believed that you didn’t fit in, I would never have let you move here in the first place,” Liam reassures me. “We can easily agree on a codeword if you like. If there’s anything you can’t stand, you just say the word and we’ll stop immediately.”
Sounds fair enough, I think. If Liam, Marcus and Alex actually stick to the rule, at least I have something like a safety net to fall back on
“Do you always do that? Agree on a codeword?” I want to know.
“We do with the ladies who prefer that option. But nobody had to use it so far. We’re very concerned that our women are content. You should have really noticed by now.”
“How many have lived here?”
“Forget it,” Liam laughs. “I’m not going to fall for that one. I told you, we don’t discuss our exes with our new roomies or the confidentiality clause in the contract wouldn’t make sense.”
“You could still just tell me how many. It’s not as if I’m asking for names,” I observe.
“Leave it alone, Kate. Concentrate on your stay here. What happened with the others is none of your business!”
But it is, I think without voicing the thought. Perhaps I should try and extract the information from Marcus or Alex. They may just be more forthcoming than Liam. I won’t be fobbed off that easily.
“As you wish, my Lord, I answer and slip into my jeans and a loose sweatshirt.
“Why do I have the feeling that you don’t really mean it?”
“No idea,” I reply.
He comes closer and looks right into my eyes. “Promise you’ll try to enjoy your stay with us without asking questions all the time?”
I agree because I’m not in the mood for arguing with Liam.
But I won’t abandon my investigations. Forget it. I’m far too curious.
24
When Liam and I step into the kitchen, Marcus has already set the table.
Not bad, I think looking at the little delicacies Marcus has neatly arranged on the table. He really seems to enjoy cooking and presenting food. Small plates of fruit salad, salmon, a cheeseboard, bagels and freshly squeezed orange juice invite us to feast.
I can’t remember the last time a man made me such a gorgeous breakfast. Andrew was more the type who thinks domestic stuff is the woman’s domain. For that reason I enjoy being spoiled all the more.
“Hi Marcus. Need a hand?” I ask.
“You can wake Alex,” he tells me.
Alex!
Of course, I forgot.
A little adrenalin surges though my body at the mention of his name and I wonder what it will be like to spend the day with him.
Knowing that he’ll presumably want to sleep with me.
Only a few days ago, I would never have imagined living with three men and sleeping with all of them.
It’s so absurd.
And so sexy.
“Sure,” I nod. “I go see if he’s up.”
Alex’s room is at the back of the apartment, right beside the guestroom. I knock on the door. No reaction.
“Alex!” I say quietly.
Not a word. I carefully open the door and step into the room.
Empty! The room’s empty. The bed tidily made and the curtains drawn back. Perhaps he’s in the bathroom. I close the door again and check. But he isn’t there either.
Shrugging my shoulders, I return to the kitchen.
“Alex isn’t there.”
“Really?” Marcus arches his eyebrows. “Did you check the bathroom?”
“Yep. No sign of him and his bed is already made. Could he have gone somewhere else again last night?”
“I doubt it,” says Liam while pouring our coffee. “He definitely won’t want to miss his day with you. I guess he got up early to prepare something. You never know with Alex. Did he not leave a note?”
I shake my head. “Don’t think so. I didn’t see one.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll be back. Let’s have breakfast. I don’t have much time. I have to go in half an hour,” Liam says and sits down at the dining table.
“I have to be off soon as well. Looks like you’ll get chance to settle in your room. Alex is going to resurface sooner or later,” Marcus says, sipping his coffee. “At the latest tonight when we celebrate your initiation. Pity I don’t have any time today or I’d start getting you in the mood.” He grins lewdly.
“I’d rather stay here, too,” Liam sighs and
strokes my thigh. “I could think of a thing or two to do with you.”
I feel my nipples getting hard. The boys have a knack of messing with my head so I can think of nothing but sex.
I’m nearly relieved that Alex isn’t there. At least I’ll have some peace for a while. Who knows what’s in store for me this evening...
“See you later, angel,” Liam says shortly after and kisses me again so intensively that I have to gasp for air. “Have a nice day.”
I’m dazed. Liam is such an amazing kisser, my knees feel all wobbly.
He dons his jacket, blows me a kiss and disappears into the hall.
Marcus leans against the kitchen counter and grins.
“What?” I enquire reluctantly.
“You like Liam, don’t you? ”
“Sure, or I’d hardly be here!”
“How about me? Do you like me, too?”
“Nope,” I inform him cheekily. “I only put up with you so I can sleep with Liam.”
“You saucy bitch!“ Marcus growls and pulls me to his chest. “You’re lucky I don’t have time or I would spank your pretty little butt.”
He kisses my throat while his hands rest demonstratively on my fanny.
“What a pity,” I counter flippantly.
“Just you wait,” Marcus smiles and gives me a parting kiss on the cheek. “See you later!”
Then he leaves the penthouse as well.
I’m left on my own and sit down on the sofa in the lounge. My heart’s racing like mad. The constant reference to the ‘initiation ritual’ is making me real nervous. What have they planned? There’s no way I take part in any S&M stuff. Forget it! Hopefully they don’t intend doing anything like that. At least the contract states that I don’t have to participate in games like that. But, of course, the terms are wide open to interpretation.
I’m also confused by the fact that Alex disappeared without a trace. Will he be back to spend the day with me? And if so, will he want to sleep with me?
Emotionally exhausted, I decide to concentrate on something mundane like settling into the guestroom. Maybe that will help to calm me down a little.
25
It’s unbelievable that it’s only been a few days since I innocently slept in this guestroom, I think as I enter.
During my first visit to this apartment I would never have imagined that I’d actually move in. So much has happened since, it feels more like several months than days.
Just like the rest of the place, the guestroom is also very elegantly furnished. The floor is dark timber, the walls painted in pastel shades and the king-size bed looks very inviting.
Breathing heavily, I maneuver the first box across the room and deposit it in front of the large white closet. Phew! That was heavy.
They guys should really have helped me, I think. But apparently not one of them had thought about it.
Men! I’m living under the same roof with three strong exponents of the species and I still have to do the heavy lifting myself! I pull the hair back from my face and take a deep breath.
Right. Let’s go. Next box!
In passing, I glance at the guest bed.
What’s that?
There’s a black envelope’s lying on the white bedspread.
Kate
It says in a very distinctive man’s handwriting. What can it be? A welcome note?
Curious, I open the envelope to extract expensive looking hand-made paper. Whoever wrote on it, perfumed it as well. I get a slight cent of cedar wood mixed with suede. Very masculine and very sexy.
I eagerly unfold the letter.
Kate,
I’m very glad that you’re now living here.
Liam and Marcus have presumably convinced you that it’s worthwhile spending time with us. I also want to offer you an unforgettable experience and ask you to have lunch with me today. The chauffeur will collect you at 1 o’clock.
I’m looking forward it.
Alex
My hands trembling, I refold the letter. Of course it would have been too easy to spend the day by myself and not seeing Alex until this evening.
I remember Liam’s words over breakfast. He said that he couldn’t imagine Alex would want to miss spending the day with me.
Presumably he was right. But lunch sounds pretty harmless.
So why am I so excited?
Probably because I know it won’t simply be lunch. Those boys are extremely unpredictable. I already learned that in the short time with Liam and Marcus. It’s highly likely that Alex is made of the same stuff. I liked him right from the start, but I actually know next to nothing about him. And that’s exactly what makes my pulse race and what turns me on the most – the uncertainty of not knowing what to expect and the guys‘ incredible inventiveness. Nothing is normal with them.
Perhaps I should prepare myself a little and see what a Google search will reveal about Alex. Trying the same with Liam didn’t yield much. Maybe I’ll be luckier with Alex.
I decide to postpone unpacking my stuff. Before one o’clock, I still have more than three hours to do some research.
When I signed the contract I agreed to the confidentiality clause, but nowhere did it mention that I couldn’t look for information. Okay, Liam asked me not to ask any more questions, but hey, I’m not asking him but the Internet.
Nobody can forbid me to try and find out more about the guys. There are quite a few things I desperately want to know. The worst that can happen is that they want to get rid of me again. Which would simply mean I’d be back to square one, in the same situation I was in a few days ago when Andrew gave me my marching orders. And if I’m clever, they’ll never even know that I’m looking for answers. I think I’m fully entitled to know who I’m living with.
Who knows, maybe one or two of have them do have some skeletons in the closet. Seeing that I have accepted our unusual living arrangements I have to protect myself somehow and make sure that I can trust all three of them.
I get my Smartphone from Liam’s room and sit down on the sofa. Right, let’s see what Google can tell me about Alexander Gabriel. I enter the name and press ‘Search’. A lot of hits appear on the screen.
Right on top of the list there’s even a Wikipedia entry about Alexander Gabriel. I click on the link.
Wikipedia tells me that Alex is from a musical background. His already deceased father was a well-known songwriter who introduced Alex to music at an early age. It also shows the year of his birth, which means he must be 34 years old now. If Liam and Marcus were in the same year with Alex at their boarding school then all three boys must be between 34 and 35, just about the age I guessed them to be anyway. At least I now know how old my hosts are. It’s a start.
The article also mentions an older sister. Then there’s a long list of theme music Alex composed for various movies and console games.
But no mention of his private live.
I click my way through the other search results and find more of his compositions, miscellaneous accolades and awards, but nothing personal. Nothing about relationships, affairs, hobbies or anything else.
Just like Liam, Alex, too, seem to keep his private live strictly secret.
How can that be, I think. There must be a way to unearth more about my roomies. If the Internet doesn’t reveal anything, I have to try something else.
But what?
Frustrated I turn my cellphone off again and get back to work at my room.
I don’t have a lot of time left after wasting over an hour on the useless net search. If I want to put my things away, shower and get dressed I have to hurry up.
Groaning, I heave the other boxes and bags into the guestroom and open the big white closet.
What’s all that? I think. One half of the closet is empty, but the other is filled with clothes: lace nighties, extremely short dresses I would never wear outside the house and various indecent costumes.
I pick up one of the dresses. Exactly my size. Do the guys select their roomies accord
ing to dress size?
I open one of the drawers and inspect the saucy lingerie it houses. It should fit me as well. Even the bras are in my size. All the items are definitely designed to satisfy male fantasies. But I don’t exactly like the idea that other women may have worn them before me. I’ve no problem with second hand dresses, but underwear? No way will I wear those.
I close that half of the closet again and put my stuff in the other.
26
Freshly showered, made-up and groomed, I sit in the living room a while later in a black skirt and a semi see-though white chiffon top waiting for the driver.
The thought that I’ll soon be on my own with Alex makes me feel a little queasy.
Pull yourself together, Kate, I think. If that’s enough to unsettle you, whatever is going to happen at my ominous initiation celebration this evening?
My thoughts are interrupted when the doorbell rings and I feel a little adrenalin rush.
Must be the driver.
I wonder what my first date with Alex will be like.
After another deep breath, I check my appearance in the large hall mirror, grab my purse and open the door to find myself face to face with the chauffeur I already encountered on my adventures with Liam. Alex and Liam seem to be sharing his services.
Whatever must he think of me, I wonder and sense myself blushing.
“Hi,” I mumble sheepishly.
The driver intimates a bow: “How do you do, Miss Thompson. Are you ready?”
I’m baffled. I didn’t realize that he even knows my name. How many of the men’s playmates has he chauffeured around before? I wonder.