JAMES: A Night Of The Kings Novel

by Shayne Ford

  I shove her to the side and stride down the corridor.

  “The man you kissed last night is James Sexton,” she shouts behind my back.

  I stop short as if I hit a wall, and then I turn to her slowly.

  “I have no idea who James Sexton is.”

  “The man at the club, the one you were with last night. He’s the owner of Red’s. He also owns most of the land around this town, and the Dark House, not to mention one of the most expensive estates in Aspen.”

  My eyes go wide, not so much because of what she just told me, but the fact that for the first time since I can remember I hear her talking about something else than her shoes.

  “Isn’t he too young to own that much…?” I ask, my voice trailing off as I finally process the information.

  “His old man passed away last year. He inherited the family estate. The club was his since he was eighteen. He’s been involved in his father business since he was in high school.”

  Restlessness grows in me as I hear her talking. She’s never kept track of other people affairs. There must be a reason she’s keeping track of him.

  “How come you know all that? Did you hook up with him or something?”

  “No,” she says, looking straight into my eyes.

  She doesn’t lie, and then it finally hits me.

  Oh, oh... I know what it is, and it makes so much sense now. Her anger, and morbid jealousy.

  A slow smile curls my lips, driving her crazy.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. How could I be so blind? You’d actually like to fuck him.”

  Her eyes go dark as my chest rocks with a chuckle.

  “Stupid me. For a moment, I really thought you cared for me.”

  “He’s a dangerous man, Rain.”

  “He must be,” I sneer. “How else would he not fuck you? But still, I don’t understand,” I say facetiously. ”Why would you want him if you get married in a few short months?”

  Blood floods her alabaster skin, thick frustration clouding her eyes.

  I nod slowly.

  “Oh... Wait. It’s his money. He’s fucking rich. He has way more money than Nathan. What am I saying? There’s no comparison really. Is that what this is?” I ask rhetorically, and then I pull away. Through some unexplained miracle, she stays quiet. “Thanks for the warning, though,” I sling the words over my shoulder. “Although you shouldn’t have bothered. James Sexton and I live on two different planets. There’s no need to lose your sleep over me. I’m nothing to him. Keep chasing, Daria. Tomorrow is another day. Maybe you’ll get lucky.”

  6

  RAIN

  * * *

  “Are you sure this is the road?” I ask after we make a turn, and leave the town behind, no homes in sight for at least a mile.

  “It’s the only one,” Eve says.

  My heart squirms in my chest, beating harder and faster. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time.

  A big sparkling new moon casts glittering light over the meadows and the trees. Sober silence surrounds us.

  As we get closer to the property and further away from the town, I begin to lose my confidence. I’m no longer sure this is such a good idea.

  It sounded like a great adventure, but now that we’ve actually ventured so far, it doesn’t feel that way.

  I wish I were tucked under the cover, watch TV or talk with Eve on the phone, instead of pedaling on this empty road, no people or homes in sight.

  “There. You see the lake?”

  Eve points to a stretch of glinting water. The night breeze rolls over me, making me shiver. It’s even chillier as we near the lake. Not good. I should’ve brought a jacket.

  My muscles feel sore.

  “Shit. I thought it was closer,” I say.

  “It is if you drive.”

  “They could’ve spotted us.”

  “We haven’t crossed paths with anyone. We could’ve crawl up the road with the lights turned off, the same thing we’re doing now, but without the pain in the shanks.”

  “Too late...” I say.

  “Oh, thank God! There’s the gate.”

  “Oh, the fucking gate! I completely forgot about it.”

  “A gate and a fence.”

  “Shit. I’m not dressed for climbing fences.”

  “What do you need? A catsuit?” she asks, and laughs softly.

  “Shut up,” I say, panting and grinning.

  The road takes us to a large wrought iron gate. We stop and dismount the bicycles.

  “We should hide them,” she says.

  We pull them to the side and cover them with branches, the way we’ve seen it done in the movies.

  Her eyes sparkle in the dimness.

  “You love this, huh?”

  “Are you kidding me? I’ve never had so much fun,” she says.

  The vegetation hugs the brick wall that’s guarding the property. It’s not tall, and there are enough crannies to help us climb on it.

  Eve goes first. I tuck my phone and the small flashlight in my shorts, clamber up and jump down on the other side.

  “You okay?” Eve asks as I yelp.

  “Yeah... I think I scratched my elbow,” I say, running my fingers over the skin, feeling the scrapes, a few warm drops of blood breaking under my fingertips.

  “Wild roses,” I mutter, cupping a soft, velvety flower. “Mmm... they smell nice,” I say, inhaling the sweet aroma.

  A dark silhouette looms not far from the water.

  “Is that the main house?”

  “Yeah, that’s it.” Eve gasps in awe. “It’s scary, isn’t it?”

  “It’s dark. That’s all. There’s nothing scary about it.”

  “Ugh! Can’t you just play along?”

  We walk briskly down the road and pass by a smaller house before we reach the mansion. We stop in front of the wide stairs and tall columns and take a good look at it.

  “This is so much more than I thought,” I say, gawking at the huge entrance and big windows.

  “It looks nice,” Eve says. “Do you think they left the key on the porch for us?” she says, climbing the first stairs, heading to the door.

  “I hope not. Otherwise, we’re screwed. If they left it for us, I smell a trap, and they can’t be far,” I say, breathing out a snicker.

  She checks the porch. I try the door.

  “Really? You really think they left the door unlocked?” she asks, her breath fanning over my shoulder.

  “Let’s check the windows,” she says, and we split and try them one by one.

  “This one’s open,” she says.

  We roll it all the way up and sneak inside.

  “Oh, my God! Look at this,” she says pointing her flashlight to the massive staircase leading to the upper level.

  We walk to the other side of the foyer where we spot another door that leads to a different side of the house.

  “Hmm... That’s why you can’t see the lights. I knew it,” she mutters.

  We slip through the door and walk into a large living room that opens to a patio and the lake. There’s a fully stocked bar not far from us.

  I switch the lights on.

  “Hey. Why do you have to do that?”

  “You can’t see from outside,” I say, her focus shifting away from me, her gaze sweeping the room.

  Black and white slabs of marble stretch beneath our feet. Soft light pours from silver sconces tucked in the walls. The pair of black velvet couches and white silk draperies match the tiles.

  A fireplace, carved into the wall, brims with fire. The doors are wide open, the breeze gently rolling in.

  “Turn off the lights,” she says under her breath as if we aren’t alone.

  I flip the switch, and the room sinks in the moonlight and the glow coming from the fire.

  So mysterious.

  “This is beautiful,” I say, spellbound, as I watch the soft flowing of the drapes and listen to the crackling of the fire.

  Silence dances around us for a few
more moments.

  “Fuck. What is that?”

  “What?”

  “This rumbling noise.”

  She holds her finger up, and we both listen, our hearts beating in our mouths.

  “The bikes,” I murmur.

  “They’re back,” she says, and we dash to the door.

  I grab her arm and stop her.

  We both freeze, and listen to the noises.

  “Let’s hope they stop to the other house first,” she says.

  “We can’t get out right now. We have to use another exit,” I murmur.

  And that’s when we hear the car doors slamming and their heavy footsteps on the stairs.

  “Shit, shit...” I hiss. “Back, back.”

  We sprint back into the living room.

  Skidding on the tiles, I veer past the fireplace, grab Eve’s elbow and pull her with me as I make a turn into a small hallway.

  “Here...” I whisper, beckoning to her to follow me.

  I push the first door open, and we both slip into a large bedroom, their voices already ringing out in the living room.

  “Oh, my God! How do we get out of here?”

  “We have to wait,” I say.

  I look around, the inside of the room coming into focus.

  A soft rug stretches wall to wall, a large king bed and a fireplace sitting a few feet from us.

  “There. The curtains,” I say, pointing at the windows.

  We hide behind the draperies just as a soft rustle comes our way and then the door opens.

  My heart hammers in my chest.

  Holding our breaths, we look at each other, our eyes wide with panic. Eve’s finger presses on her lips.

  “James?” Lex calls.

  “Yeah...” a husky voice responds near us.

  “I need to show you something.”

  We both mouth a ‘Fuck’ as James pulls away and steps out the door.

  Their voices travel to the living room, and soon become muffled.

  “Do you think they have surveillance cameras?” I ask, a useless afterthought.

  She shrugs, and I run the back of my hand over my face to wipe sweat, and that’s when I notice the blood dripping from my forearm.

  Droplets of blood ooze from my scratches, roll off my hand, and fall on the floor.

  “We need to leave,” I mouth, showing her my arm. “Now.”

  We pull out from behind the curtains, slide along the wall and tiptoe out the door. I glance inside the living room where James and Lex check the tiles, their backs turned to us.

  I dash to the exit door, Eve right behind me.

  “Hey,” shouts an unfamiliar voice.

  Startled, we burst out the main door and sprint down the stairs, running for our lives while their heavy steps tail us closely. Two or three men run after us.

  We split, and they do the same, and as Eve takes a beeline for the gate, I make a left and slip behind a group of trees, edging to the forest.

  Their footfalls fade behind me, and soon, I hit a wall of silence.

  Panting, I bend at my waist and glance around. Not far from me, I spot the tunnel.

  Covered in dirt and leaves, still open at both sides. I sneak in and catch my breath, my ears perked up.

  The silence remains intact for a few more moments.

  No whisper, no footsteps, not even the crackling of a branch. I pull my phone out and text Eve, hoping for a miracle.

  She doesn’t answer.

  The wind starts blowing stronger, swirling leaves, the rustle echoing in my ears. A beam of light floods the tunnel at the far end. I dart to the other exit and bump into another wall of light.

  Their flashlights blind me for a moment, and then I hear a voice.

  “Got her,” a man says, a strong hand gripping my elbow as they close on me.

  “Well, well, well.... Look, what the cat drag in.”

  “Edward?” I murmur as voices I don’t recognize start wolf whistling.

  “Oh, he’ll be more than pleased,” he says, their collective laughter making my hair bristle.

  A hand curls behind my neck as they pull me back into the house.

  JAMES

  * * *

  Got her, Ed’s message reads.

  Me: Blindfold her.

  Ed: What about her friend?

  Me: Someone, take her home.

  I slip my phone on the table, slide a cigarette between my lips and light it up.

  “Let’s have some fun,” I say around the cigarette, and slowly blow the smoke out as I lean back into the couch. Lex hands me a drink and sinks into an armchair, not far from me.

  The door opens, and Ian walks in, his hand collaring Rain’s neck. I motion to him, and he peels his fingers off her, leaving her standing in the middle of the room.

  Ed slithers behind them, scoops up his drink and perches on a stool at the bar, watching from the side.

  Slowly exhaling smoke, I roll my gaze on her.

  Her white sheer top barely clings to her body, her breasts overspilling out of her low cut bra. One of the sleeves is torn and stained with blood–– the same blood we found on the tiles, and dirt smudges cover her legs. The short shorts do a bang up job to reveal her bare legs up to the space between her thighs.

  I stretch an arm on the back of the couch, and spread my legs, relishing the tingling sensation that wraps around my swollen cock.

  Cocking my head to the side, I bring my cigarette to my lips and take a drag as I indulge on her tempting body.

  Her chest rises and falls, drawing all the eyes in the room. Her hands are tied at her back. She’s blindfolded per my instructions.

  “James?” she calls out softly, her voice making my hair stand on end and my erection stir in my jeans.

  Ian looks at me, and I shake my head.

  “He’s not here.”

  “Who’s smoking then?”

  My lips curl into a slow smile.

  Ian looks at Lex and Ed before swinging his eyes back to me, and I shake my head again.

  “Does Sean ring a bell to you?” Ian asks, pulling the name out of his ass.

  “Who else is in the room?” she insists.

  “You don’t know them.”

  The door opens, and a couple of guys walk in.

  “It’s done,” one of them says, and they retreat in the corner enjoying the show.

  “Who’s the other girl?” Ian barks.

  “My friend. Where is she?” she asks turning in his direction, her breasts moving smoothly, her top sliding off her shoulder.

  Ian looks at me, and I nod.

  “She’s on her way home.”

  “Can I go, then?” she asks, innocent.

  “Not before you answers a few questions. You and your friend have trespassed and broken into our house. You admit that?”

  “Yes,” she murmurs, increasingly nervous.

  “What were you looking for?” Ian asks.

  “We were curious,” she says.”We’ve heard stories about this place... We wanted to see if they were true.”

  “What kind of stories?”

  “That this house is always dark, and the lights never come on... That some women are being brought here and then...”

  She stops, and you could hear a pin drop. Lex, Ed and I exchange looks, and I motion to Ian and the other guys to leave the room.

  I put the cigarette out and lift my chin to Lex. He pushes up to his feet, strides to her and stops behind her.

  “What about those women?” he asks softly, leaning close to Rain’s ear.

  Startled, she shudders.

  “Lex?”

  His hand glides up her neck, brushing her bare skin, and her breath catches.

  “Some women get to spend time here...” she mumbles, losing her focus as Lex’s fingers slide up her neck and slip into the back of her hair.

  “What did you expect to find?” he asks, his breath fanning over her neck, and she arches, out of instinct and I’m getting iron hard.

  Lex
winks at me as he notices what she just did.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t believe the story, but my friend did, so I suggested we should come and check it for ourselves,” she says, her chest softly heaving.

  He pulls his hand away from her, her hard nipples scratching her bra.

  “You could’ve asked James.”

  “And he would’ve told me?” she asks, her voice stronger, more confident.

  Lex grins as Ed shakes his head, smiling before he takes a swig of his drink.

  “Like he told me that he was here?”

  “Ask him now,” Lex says, locking my eyes.

  “Is it true, James?” she asks, louder.

  I let a few moments tick by.

  “What?” I finally ask.

  “That women spend time with you and your friends, and when they go back to their lives, they’re forever changed.”

  My nose wrinkles with a smile. Lex tosses his head back, grinning like a jerk as Ed’s running a hand over his face, his chest rocking with laughter.

  “Unfucking real,” Ed blurts out.

  “Why are you laughing? That’s what people say,” she says.

  “Okay, enough... Let’s get her home,” I say, snatching my phone from the table.

  “I can’t go home...” she says, nervous.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I can’t go home. I had a fight with my sister, and I’m supposed to sleep at my friend’s house, but I can’t go to her place now. She’s probably woken up her parents by now. Hopefully, she didn’t say anything about me, but that means that I can’t show up at her place, or my family and my sister will find out...” she says, running out of breath.

  “All right... all right,” I say, irritated.

  I stride to her, grab her elbow, and nudge her to my bedroom.”

  7

  RAIN

  * * *

  He jerks me around the corner and shoves me into his bedroom. The door slams behind me, and for a moment I don’t know if I’m alone or not. A soft rustle falls in my ears as he nears me. His fingers brush my skin, untying my wrists.

  I bring my hands to my blindfold.

  “Not so fast, sweetheart,” he says with a softer voice as he pivots in front of me, and cuffs my wrists with his hands.