“Can I get you some aspirin?”
“I’m fine, honey, it’ll go when we have dinner. Speaking of which, we’d better get ready.”
They showered together, taking way too long, kissing and caressing each other then got dressed slowly. Romy shimmied into a lilac tea-dress that she knew Blue loved her in and left her long dark hair down, pulled over one shoulder. Light make-up and she was ready. She turned to see Blue watching her.
“Come here.”
She went to him, and he kissed her. “I love you, Dr. Sasse.”
Romy gazed up at her husband and wondered how she had been so lucky as to have found him. “I love you, Doc. Let’s go and have fun with our friends.”
Chapter Four
Ebony, wearing a dark red dress, her short, dark hair combed into a bob, and a long gold chain around her neck, was both nervous and excited about seeing Atlas again. She wondered if she’d somehow managed to imagine the sizzling chemistry between them, but then he walked in the door and the heat crackled immediately once again.
His green eyes met hers, warm with desire that he reined in as he simply leaned in and kissed her cheek. That small gesture alone left Ebony trembling with need.
She breathed in the scent of his expensive cologne, woody and spicy, and felt her pulse quicken. “Tomorrow night,” she whispered.
Atlas brushed his fingers over her jaw, leaving no doubt that if there hadn’t been an audience a few feet away he would have been kissing her thoroughly. “Tomorrow.”
At dinner, which was a fun, laid-back affair, Ebony sat with her friends and felt happier than she had in a long time. Atlas was sitting next to her and not hiding the chemistry between them as if they had known each other for years, and she was grateful to him for that.
“Listen,” he was saying to Romy and Blue now. “Christmas. Are you going to the cabin?”
Blue shook his head. “No, Arti and Dan are taking Grey up this year, and we didn’t want to intrude. So, it’ll probably be a quiet one at home.”
“In that case, I’d like to invite you all to come celebrate with us at the house. We have a houseful already – Stan’s there, and I believe the Angel of Death is showing his face as well.”
Ebony raised an eyebrow curiously and mouthed Death? to Romy, who shook her head.
“Well, you make it sound unmissable,” said Blue dryly. “I assume you’re speaking about the always delightful Cormac?”
“The very one.” Atlas grinned. “Mateo’s delighted as you might guess. But Vida is less annoying at Christmas, I’ll admit, and I know Fino, Mateo, and Stan would love for you to be there.”
“Done and done,” Romy said as Blue nodded.
Atlas looked at Ebony. “Yes?”
“Me what?”
“You, Christmas, us …” he gestured at everyone at the table. “Together.”
As elated as she was surprised, Ebony nodded slowly. “Of course. If I’m not imposing—”
“You’re part of our extended family now,” Atlas cut in, and the way he was looking at her, there was no way Romy and Blue didn’t notice, but Ebony didn’t care. “I’d love to, but I think Juno and Obe are coming from New Orleans.”
“Then they are invited too.” Beneath the table, his fingers grazed her knee. “Please come.”
Ebony couldn’t look away from Atlas’s gaze. “Then I’d love too.”
After dinner, Ebony noticed Romy and Blue excused themselves, a little pointedly, to take care of the dishes and left Ebony and Atlas alone in the living room. Atlas sat next to her, his arm along the back of the couch. Ebony had to resist the urge to snuggle with him.
Atlas glanced out of the room and risked leaning in to kiss her. “I thought about you all day,” he said softly, “and all night too.”
She traced her fingertip around his mouth. “Me too…when I wasn’t busy working with your band. What a great bunch of guys.”
“They are. Mike called me just before I left for here, telling me he’s never heard such a wonderful voice. Tomorrow night is going to be so special, Ebony…in more than one way.”
Ebony shivered in anticipation. Risking another kiss, she shimmied closer to him, and Atlas slid a hand up her thigh, his fingers coming perilously close to her hot sex. Ebony couldn’t help but grab his hand and pressed it between her legs.
“I want you so badly,” she whispered into his ear and heard his low rumble of laughter.
“If we don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you right here, right now, and that’s just not good dinner party etiquette.” But he kissed her back passionately, moaning when she squeezed his ramrod cock through his pants.
“Don’t make any plans for the day after tomorrow,” he said, “because we’re spending all day in bed and I’m going to kiss every inch of your heavenly skin, Ebony Verlaine. You have crept into my brain and the things I want to do to you…most of them are barely legal.” He said all this with a wicked grin on his face and Ebony felt herself getting wetter and wetter.
She leaned in. “The anticipation is killing me.”
“Me too.”
Romy and Blue made a lot of noise out in the hall to make it obvious they were about to join them, and when they came in, Ebony saw they were both grinning from ear to ear. Atlas didn’t move his arm, or make any effort to hide his desire for her, and Ebony smiled at him.
In the middle of the night the sickness returned, but this time, she tried to be as quiet as possible. Ebony threw up then rinsed her mouth out and sat on the cool tile, placing a hand on her belly. Was morning sickness supposed to hit this soon? Ebony drew in some deep lungfuls of air. How had she been so stupid that night, which was still only two weeks ago? A hot night out on the town with her friend Kate had turned into something else entirely.
Ebony could barely believe she’d done the things she had that night. Kate, always the more adventurous one, had dared her to go to that sex club. At first, Ebony had resisted, but then later on, after way too many drinks, she’d agreed. “Just to see what it’s all about.”
Kate nodded, grinning. But of course, what it was about was sex, and she’d found herself in a room, bound and being fucked by a man whose face was obscured by a rubber mask. He had a great, hard body, a little too ripped for her taste, but she liked his back tattoo, a red phoenix. He didn’t speak at all. He’d used a condom, so it was just unlucky that she’d gotten pregnant, but her shame at what she had done had overwhelmed her the next day.
Kate came to see her the next day, deeply apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ebony. I was just trying to get you to loosen up. I didn’t know that would happen.”
“It’s okay,” Ebony said, “I was fully consenting, it’s just…”
“I know. But I also know you’re not into that scene and I should’ve stopped you.”
“Who’s to say I would have listened?” Ebony reassured her friend. “It’s okay, you know, it’s life, it’s an experience, it’s not like I’m some virgin. I just generally like to be in control of when I’m going to sleep with someone.”
“I know, and I feel wretched.”
Ebony had hugged Kate, who genuinely seemed ashamed. “Dude, look, sex is great, and I’m sure there are people who dig that whole scene. It’s just not for me.”
She’d told herself that it was fine over and over, that sex clubs definitely had their place in the world, but she couldn’t help feeling a little dirty, a little sordid. She hadn’t even seen the guy’s face, and now she was carrying his child. God.
But the thing was…it was something she tried not to admit to herself, but a small part of her was excited to be a mother. Lots of women have children young, she thought to herself, but it’s just the timing sucks. If I hadn’t met Atlas…
But she had met Atlas, and she was so excited about where this could go. So excited that she refused to think about the complications pregnancy would add to an as-yet nonexistent relationship. Why worry before anything had actually happened?
Dragging herself up from
the floor, she glanced at her phone. Just after 4 a.m. in Seattle, and she wondered if her brother, in New Orleans, would be awake. She went back to bed and texted Obe.
You up?
Hey, sis.
She called him immediately. “Hey Bubba, sorry to bother you so early.”
“No sweat. What are you doing up so early?”
“Just … stuff on my mind,” she deflected. “How’s our old hunting ground?”
“Stuff like your performance, I’m guessing. The hunting grounds are beautiful, but cold. You with Juno?”
“Yeah, she’s still asleep. I was about to go to the gym but I’d rather talk to you. Miss you, kiddo.”
Ebony smiled down the phone. “Miss you too. Listen, the guy who’s working with Romy is a sweetheart, and he’s invited us to spend Christmas with him and his extended family. So, it’s something to think about, thought I’d mention it. Juno knows him…Atlas Tigri.”
“Yeah, she’s mentioned him. That’s cool. I’ll talk to Juno about it, but I’m sure we can make it work if that’s what you want to do.”
“It is.” Ebony wondered if she should share the growing attraction between her and Atlas with her brother, but decided against it.
“So. Nervous about your performance at the fundraiser?” Obe asked again.
“A little,” she admitted, letting him keep thinking that was what was keeping her awake even though she didn’t know the meaning of stage fright. Never had. “I don’t want to let Atlas and Romy down.”
“Not possible,” her brother gave a short laugh, “you’ll kill it, sis.”
Ebony thanked him and ended the call. She lay in bed, her mind whirling with how much, in such short of time, her life was changing. She had no idea what was coming next, but she knew one thing for certain: This time tomorrow she would be in bed with the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on…and she couldn’t wait.
Chapter Five
It was a habit of hers to always check out a venue early on the day of the performance, just to get the vibe. A place felt so different the day of something than on any other day.
Ebony walked into the party venue and stopped. Talk about a different vibe. “Wow.” Though elegant as ever, the large room had been transformed into a white and silver Christmas wonderland, with thousands of tiny, twinkling white lights. Ebony looked around the room as the staff set dinner tables and prepared the room.
The money Atlas had put into this – his own money, Romy had told her – was a little unsettling. The man was rich – very rich, and it freaked her out a little.
On the stage, there was a curtain of crystals hanging like rain behind where she would sing. Ebony suddenly felt overwhelmed, an unfamiliar feeling she didn’t enjoy in the slightest.
“Miss Verlaine?”
She turned to see a young woman smiling at her. “That’s me, hello.”
“Hi there, I’m Felicity. Mr. Tigri suggested you might drop by early.”
Ebony looked at her in surprise. “He did, did he?” The way he seemed to know her so well when they’d barely just met could have been unnerving, but she found it somehow only amplified how hot the man was.
“He asked whether you’d like any changes made. Any at all, and I’ll make them happen.”
Ebony didn’t even need to look around. The place was easily the nicest venue she’d ever been in. “No. It all looks fantastic. Just make sure the jazz drummer has a screen, please.” She elaborated at Felicity’s confused look. “The plastic cage you see around them sometimes. Helps avoid drowning out quieter instruments, and my voice. It’s not standard use in jazz, but at rehearsal this morning the drummer requested one.”
Felicity made a note on her phone. “I’ll take care of it,” she promised. “Mr. Tigri also said you might want a new outfit for tonight. Because it’s special, he asked me to tell you specifically.”
For one second Ebony found herself offended at the suggestion that she didn’t have the right outfit for this upscale joint, and then Atlas’ ‘because it’s special’ hit home and she realized he was flirting with her. Through his unwitting assistant, no less.
“I love dress shopping,” Felicity confided with a shy smile. “Especially with no budget. I’d be happy to help you pick out something. Mr. Tigri told me to take the day to help and to warn you to spare no expense.”
Ebony smiled. “He said that, did he? Well, all right, then. Take me to your favorite place, Felicity.”
Standing in the exclusive boutique a short while later, Ebony’s eyes widened at the designer clothes. “This is too much.”
Felicity laughed. “Not at all. Now, what’s your aesthetic?”
Ebony hesitated then said. “I’m a retro girl. I love anything from the Twenties, Thirties or Forties.”
Felicity nodded. “Then we’re in the right place. Carmen is one of Seattle’s up and coming designers, and she loves anything retro. This is going to be amazing…”
Over the next hour, they talked with the designer herself, who brought out several pieces that Ebony almost swooned over. Eventually, she chose a form-fitting gold dress which skimmed her curves and looked sensational against her dark skin. Felicity then took her to a beauty salon where they worked on her hair, shaping it into pin curls around her face. Ebony had to admit – she didn’t recognize the stunning woman in the mirror.
“Now,” Felicity said, “Underwear?”
Ebony flushed. “Um…”
Felicity grinned impishly. “Top to toe was what Mr. Tigri suggested, but only if you wanted it. He’s not trying to Eliza Doolittle you – his words.”
New, sexy underwear was definitely appealing, but Ebony felt awkward. “On one condition…I’m allowed to pay for my own underwear.”
“Entirely up to you.”
They went to a small boutique, and Ebony picked up some sultry, dark red underwear that cost way too much for something that just might end up shredded in three seconds. But God, she hoped it did end up in pieces on the floor. It’d be worth the expense. Every cent of it.
“Good choice.” Felicity approved, then smiled. “Okay, lunch?”
Ebony enjoyed Felicity’s company at lunch, getting to know the young woman. “How long have you worked for Atlas?”
“Five years,” Felicity said, her mouth full of sandwich, “he recruited me as an intern – a paid intern at that – and after his long-time secretary left, I became his assistant. I think he likes me because I’m not star struck by him. I tell him the truth.”
Ebony smiled. “I get that about him. He’s a good guy.”
“He really is.” Felicity studied Ebony. “He told me you come from Seattle originally?”
Ebony nodded. “Born and bred. I moved away from Seattle when my brother moved to New Orleans. Serendipitously, it turned out, because the Foundation who mentored me and my career is based there.”
Felicity nodded. “My girlfriend’s brother is involved with them too. Ben Faldo.”
“I know Ben, he’s a wonderful musician and a sweet guy.”
Felicity beamed. “He is, thank you.”
Ebony decided she liked Felicity very much and after Felicity dropped her back at the venue, she gave her cell phone number to her. “In case you want to go for drinks sometime.”
Felicity grinned. “Would love to. Knock them dead tonight.”
“You’re not coming?”
“Sadly, not this time, I have a family thing, but I have no doubt you’ll rock it.”
Ebony hung her performance dress up behind the door of her dressing room and, covering her hair with a cap carefully, stepped into the shower. She wasn’t sure if all dressing rooms had showers, but it sure was convenient. She scrubbed off, shaved, massaged moisturizer oil into every part of her body, then slipped her new underwear on. The oil had a gold shimmer to it which made her dark skin glow, and the dark red underwear was the perfect color for her. She slipped her day dress back on, not wanting to get her performance dress rumpled – it was a couple of h
ours until she was on.
Happily, she began to warm up her voice, even though the performance was way too far away for it to make a difference yet. In the middle of a scale, there was a knock on the door.
Opening it, her heart began to beat faster. Atlas grinned at her. “Hey, gorgeous.”
She couldn’t help herself; she grabbed his tie and pulled him into the room, pressing her body against his as he bent his head to kiss her. She tangled her fingers in his dark curls, savoring every moment of the kiss, his lips firm and gentle, but with a fierce passion.
Breaking away finally, gasping for air, Ebony laughed. “God, Atlas Tigri…what you do to me.”
“What I’m going to do to you later tonight,” he said, sliding his arms around her waist, “will put even a kiss like that in the shade.”
Ebony moaned in anticipation. “Am I in a dream? I think I must be.”
Atlas laughed, his green eyes shining. “Then I’m in it with you, beautiful. Now, tell me, did Felicity spoil you like I asked her to?”
It was Ebony’s turn to laugh. “Yes, she did. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, except for the whole hooker thing.”
“Just as long as you weren’t offended. I tried to have her explain, without giving it away.”
“I got the message,” she promised as he kissed her again, then swept a lock of her hair over her ear. “Are you nervous?”
Ebony shook her head. “No. Not about anything, Atlas.”
He groaned. “I’ve never wanted a party to be over so badly. I’m just going to be the worst host.”
Ebony smiled. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
Atlas grinned. “Hey, you hungry? I have pizza coming.”
“You read my mind.”
Somehow they kept their hands to themselves as they ate, and Ebony figured they both qualified for some kind of sainthood by the end of the hour when Atlas kissed her cheek and left her alone to get ready. “Get dressed.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “So I can undress you later.”
Her Dark Melody Page 4