Penthouse of pleasure - uncertain desire (German Edition)

by Blue, A. J.

  A sudden ringsound disturbs our intimate twosome.

  “Is that your cell?” Liam asks.

  I nod. “I think so. It doesn’t matter!” I dismiss the call. Whoever that is, I’m not available right now. The ringing stops only to start again soon after.

  “Someone seems to want you urgently,” Liam remarks.

  I sigh and get up. “Hurry back. I could still do with a little dessert,” Liam grins and glances at me suggestively.

  “I’ll just turn if off,” I say and toddle barefoot into the hall.

  I extract the phone from my purse and look at the screen. It’s my dad. He never calls my cell. Perhaps I should take the call.

  “Hi, Dad. Are you okay?

  “You have to come home at once, Kate.“ He sounds completely out of breath.

  “What happened, Dad?!

  “It’s your mother. She had an accident. She’s in the hospital. Can you come?”

  The sudden shock makes my fingers shake. I nearly drop the phone.

  “Oh, God! What happened?” I gasp.

  “She was hit by a car. She’s in intensive care. Please! You have to come home!” He sounds close to tears.

  “How is she doing?” My voice sounds all squeaky with shock.

  “I don’t know. I have to hang up now. Please come. I need you!”

  I stare at my cell in disbelief. I can’t be. It must be a sick joke. I start feeling nauseous and have to sit down before I faint.

  .

  “Kate? What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Liam’s suddenly standing beside me. He watches me anxiously.

  “That was my dad. My mom had an accident. She’s in intensive care. I have to go home immediately!” I can’t breathe. I’m scared!

  “Will I drive you?”

  “Would you do that?”

  “Of course. Get dressed!”

  I’m very grateful to Liam for getting me home. At the speed he drives his sports car we should make it to my hometown in an hour and a half. He tries to distract me a little during the journey, but it’s no good. All I can think of is my mother! Please, God, don’t let her die!

  Exactly an hour and a half later Liam stops at the hospital gates with screeching tires. “Do you want me to come in?” he asks.

  “No,” I shake my head. “Thanks for getting me here!”

  “Call me, you hear. I want to know what’s happening. And if you want me to, I collect you again!”

  I nod, blow him a kiss and sprint towards the hospital without turning around again. All my thoughts are with my mom.

  47

  “Oh, Katie kitten, I’m so glad you came!” When he sees me, my dad gets up from his seat in the waiting room, runs towards me and holds me in his arms. It’s been forever since I’ve heard my pet name. That was in another life.

  My dad looks terrible. His hair’s all disheveled and his eyes are swollen. He’s obviously been crying.

  “How’s mom?“

  “I don’t know. She’s in theatre. They’re operating right now.”

  “Whatever happened?”

  “She went jogging this morning. It was still dark outside. Some driver mustn’t have seen her and hit her!”

  “How bad is it?” My voice fails me. Tears are streaming down my cheeks.

  “She’ll make it!” My dad’s doing his best to sound confident, but I can see right through him. He’s just trying to protect me.

  “We were worried about you!” he starts. “We thought you would come home to talk to us about breaking up with Andrew. Where have you been? Your mother told me that you’re staying with some colleagues. Why didn’t you come home?!”

  I gulp.

  Oh, God, if only he knew, I think and suddenly feel very guilty.

  It was all wrong!

  My place is here with my parents and not with three complete strangers who want to do nothing but fuck me. I should never have agreed to stay with them. Nothing in that penthouse is normal. Nicole was absolutely right. I should get my stuff as soon as possible and move out...

  - End of Series One –

  Coming soon:

  Anticipation, Part 1 of the second Penthouse of Pleasure series

  Dear Reader,

  When I started the ‘Penthouse of Pleasure’ series, the end was still open. I needed to find out if you actually liked Kate’s story before I would continue.

  The idea was to publish short episodes that got you in the mood for more – quite like the concept of a television series. This was supposed to be followed by an omnibus edition for all those of you who prefer longer stories. Following an extremely positive reception and after some of you sent me emails asking for a continuation, I decided to exploit the potential of the theme and deliver. That is why there will be a second series which will focus on the principal characters’ interpersonal relationships. It’s going to be gripping. And there won’t be a third series.

  Promise

  Bye for now,

  A.J. Blue

  Bonus Chapter: How it all began (Liam)

  “I’m really fed up with all that crap. Men and women together just doesn’t work out. Period!” Marcus dabs the sweat from his brow and angrily stares at his energy drink.

  “What’s up? Is one of your ladies stressing you out?” I ask.

  “Stress? That’s the understatement of the year. The dame’s completely lost the plot. Look at this!

  I take his cellphone and read the text message. “She seems to be a little jealous,” I say and hand the phone back. The whole message was nothing but a tirade of swearwords and the concluding reproach that Marcus was suffering from commitment phobia.

  “She’s right, of course. You really are incapable of commitment!”

  “Says who? The relationships expert?”

  “Yes, yes, I know,” I wave him off. “I’m presumably the last person on this earth to give you advice.”

  “Do you know what really irks me?” Marcus continues. “I told her right from the start that I’m not into a serious relationship. And then she still gets insanely jealous. Would you believe it?!”

  “The poor thing! Your charm must have just bowled her over,” I grin.

  Marcus lightens up. “Gee, Liam, if you weren’t so damn ugly, I’d marry you!“ he laughs.

  “You better take the ‘ugly’ bit back, sunshine. You’re just pissed because you lost our match this morning!” I reply and take a gulp from my protein shake.

  Marcus and I are sitting at the bar of our favorite gym after a game of squash.

  Some weeks earlier, we had finally fulfilled our childhood dream and leased a penthouse together. Both of us also have our own apartments, but Marcus and I have lived together at boarding stool and somehow missed what it was like. The idea turned into a concrete plan and we are now the proud tenants of a really cool penthouse. Neither of us is into a full-on relationship at the moment. But spending weekends alone isn’t all that great either. That’s why we’ve combined forces, have a lot of fun together and can do what we like without having to justify ourselves.

  “We work out, then I cook us something nice and we watch baseball. I love our weekends. The only thing that’s missing is sex!”

  “We could go out later!” ’ I suggest.

  “And then what? Take a few girls home?”

  “Why not?” I wink at him.

  Marcus sighs. Aren’t you fed up with all those one-night-stands? Gets a bit boring after a while. One really only has fun with a woman after getting to know her a little. Trouble is, they’re all looking for a full-blown relationship. It’s so exhausting!”

  “Well, if you’re paying her, you can sleep with the same woman as often as you want!”

  “And in between she sleeps with a dozen other men in return for money? Sorry, but I don’t like sharing with strangers!” he replies.

  “So you hire a lady who’s exclusively yours for a week or so!”

  “Um, maybe! But I’m not really into hookers. There must be wome
n who are in the mood for an adventure. I would be willing to pay. That might lower their scruples a bit, but I don’t want a professional. I find that boring. Hookers just treat the whole thing as a job. I want someone I can seduce!”

  “Well, if you find somebody like that, I’ll have one, too,” I laugh. “Sounds good. I also like the whole seduction thing!”

  All of a sudden Marcus’s eyes narrow to slits and he stares at me. “You’ve got it!” he says. “We just share a woman for a few weeks and let her live in our penthouse. There’s enough room!”

  I quizzically arch my eyebrows. “Are you serious?”

  “Why not? I’m sure there are women out there who like doing it with several men at the same time. That way, nobody can fall in love and if one of us isn’t in the mood for the lady, the other takes over.”

  “You really are serious, aren’t you?”

  “Just think about it. It’s not a bad idea. And I’m sure the women would also enjoy sleeping with both of us. You’re not really all that ugly, you know!”

  “You are serious!”

  “Sure! We’d have to draw up some kind of contract with a confidentiality clause and all that. Don’t you think that‘s exciting?”

  I doubtfully shake my head. I like competing with Marcus in the gym, but competing to seduce the same woman? Sounds weird. Although I must admit that I would like to see Marcus making love to a woman. I actually enjoy watching other people having sex. Something I’m rarely able to put into practice. His suggestion sounds quite sexy.

  “I don’t know,” I reply. “Where would you find a woman like that?”

  “We could post an ad and see if anyone applies. There are zillions of pages on the Internet for people who want to try something new.”

  “Um,” I say. Suddenly I don’t find the idea so bad after all. “I’ll think about it!”

  ***