“I can’t live with this secret. It’s too much.”
“You’d risk the possibility of bringing down the entire Society in order to keep one man from leaving you?”
“Don’t do this. Don’t try and make me feel guilty for being in love.”
“If you’re feeling guilty, it’s because you know I’m right. Vivian has said that if you tell Kace, she will expose us.”
“Kace could do the same thing when he finds out. He’s going to hate me.”
“Yes. He will. I’m not going to try to sugarcoat this, or lie to you. But I don’t think he’ll give away our secret. And that has to be what’s most important for us. You know that.”
Oh yeah, I know it. It’s not bad enough that Reina and Jane have hammered it into me, or that they had Mallory fly in. Every single one of my friends has come to me and told me that the whole is more important than one. So, I get it. Really, I do. But it doesn’t make it any better for me.
“Just go, Mallory. You being here isn’t going to convince me one way or the other.”
“One, Stella. I want you to think about the fact that even one woman or child could be harmed because we couldn’t function if we’re exposed. And then you decide if telling Kace what you know is more important than that life.”
And that’s the crux of it. I couldn’t live with myself if the Society was exposed. But can I live with myself when Kace hates me? There’s only one right option, but it’s still wrong for me.
I don’t hug Mallory when she leaves, and I don’t smile at any of my friends when I walk out of the building a few hours later. I need to find Vivian and convince her to tell Kace. He’s going to be angry at her no matter what. But she could save me if she wanted to.
When I corner her at the loft, I realize that she has no interest in helping me. “You have to tell him, Vivian.”
“No. I don’t.”
“How can you keep this from him? From both of them?”
“This isn’t your business.”
“I love him. And I’m going to lose him when he finds out I knew about this and didn’t tell him.”
“So go ahead and tell him. Then Marv and I will hold a nice little press conference and tell the world about you and your friends.”
“We help people. Lots and lots of people. You’d destroy us out of some crazy pretense of revenge? Because it wouldn’t just be me you’d hurt.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep what you learned from Kace.”
“Like convince him to keep Chad in the band? That bastard blackmailed him with pictures of you. Kace protected you, and now he has to sing alongside him. And all because you refuse to tell him the truth.”
“I love my son, Stella. I can’t lose him.”
“So sit down with him and explain it. You have to know that Chad’s a loose cannon. He could tell him at any time and then we’d both be collateral damage.”
“I’m keeping Chad happy.”
“Oh my God. You’re sleeping with him?”
“Like I said, I’ll do whatever I have to.”
“Vivian, no. Don’t do this to yourself. Kace loves you. He’ll forgive you.”
“I can’t take that chance. And it’s just sex. You have no place to talk when it comes to sex.”
“I never slept with someone because I was forced to. You shouldn’t either. I can’t believe Marv is going along with this.”
“He doesn’t know,” she tells me quietly.
For the first time, I hear the pain in her voice. It was missing when she talked about the secret she’s keeping from Kace, but it’s there now. Because she’s in love with Marv. Who coincidentally just filed for divorce, because he loves her, too.
“This is going to be so bad when it goes down.”
“And now you know why I can’t tell Kace. If I did, Chad would make sure I’d lose Marv, too,” she says as she slips by me and goes out the door.
How can she not see that it’s all going to happen anyway? Chad is the last person on Earth that any of us can trust. He’s going to tell Kace the secret, and he’s going to tell Marv that he’s fucking Vivian. It’s just a matter of when. Heaven help us all when he decides to bring down the queen on our little chessboard full of lies. It’s going to be game over for us all, with no one winning.
I go over and open the boxes of new clothes that were sent for Kace. He has a few formal events coming up, and I find that several of the designers have sent gowns for me, too. I guess they’re assuming I’ll be going with him. I hope I will.
“That’s hot,” Kace says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me, as I’m holding one of them up. It’s long sleeved and black, with sheer panels swirling all over the top from front to back. Basically my nipples would be covered, but the rest of my breasts and most of my stomach and back would be exposed. “What’s it for?”
“Some of the designers sent me things, too. In case you decide to take me as your date, I guess.”
“Of course you’ll be my date. And I definitely vote for that dress. If I have a vote.”
“You always have a vote, K. Although I do love to surprise you.”
“I love all of your surprises.”
I set the dress down, and turn in his arms to face him. “I haven’t been much fun lately.”
“Honestly? No. You really haven’t. But if I was only interested in fun, I’d still be grabbing a different groupie every night.”
“Do you want to go bowling?”
Their show is dark tonight, and I want to give him some fun. He deserves it. And I need some more good memories to file away for when it’s all over.
“I’d love to go bowling with you. Are we betting?”
“We could,” I tell him with a smile.
“I’m a really good bowler. I think I need to disclose that before we make our bets.”
“Are you now? Well, I’m pretty good myself.”
“So we may be equally matched. This should be fun.”
“Definitely.”
“Oh. I just thought of something. Not to brag or anything, but we might get mobbed if we go to a bowling alley.”
“We would most definitely get mobbed at a public alley, Mr. Rock Star, but I was planning on taking you to the one in my building.”
“You guys have a bowling alley?”
“Yes. We have a movie theater, basketball court, and even an ice skating rink, too.”
“How did I not know this?”
“We’ve been holed up here, hiding from your fans and the press.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“I’m not. It’s been nice. I just miss my own bed.”
“I miss your bed, too.”
“You mean you miss being tied to my bed, don’t you?”
“I’ll answer that later. After I beat you at bowling.”
“You wish.”
“I wish for lots of things. But let’s get serious. How is the wagering going to work?”
“Hmm. We could do it by pins, or strikes.”
“Holy shit. I just realized we can play strip bowling. If you can get the cameras turned off, that is. I’m assuming there are cameras.”
“There are cameras, but, yes, Ainsley can shut them off for us. So, a frame by frame loss of clothes?”
“Oh yeah. And then a game by game winner.”
“Deal.”
We shake on it, and then of course, we kiss to make it official. My wish would be for this to last. I know it won’t, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing.
* * *
Kace
I’ve been bowling all my life, but never like this. We’re almost done with our first game, and both of us are in just our underwear. I’m ahead by one pin going into the final frames. Stella’s bent over the ball return, trying to distract me. It’s working as I only hit three pins. I make myself concentrate, even though it’s tough with a raging hard on. I manage a spare and then a strike.
“Beat that, Bombshell.”
/> “I approve of that second nickname, just so you know.”
“Duly noted.”
I try to distract her by pulling my briefs down far enough for my cock to pop out as I lay on the lane next to ours. She glances over and smiles, but doesn’t let me faze her. She gets two strikes in a row, and then knocks down seven more pins. I can’t even be mad because she looked so hot doing it.
“I won.”
“You did,” I tell her as I start to stand.
“I didn’t tell you to get up.”
I lay back down and smirk at her. “I haven’t lost my briefs yet.”
“So you won’t take them off for me if I ask you to?”
“Are you taking off your thong?”
“Why yes I am.”
Instead of speaking, I whip off my briefs and toss them towards the chair where the rest of my clothes are. She shimmies out of her little scrap of lace as she walks over to me. I put my hands behind my head and cross my ankles.
“Have your way with me, love.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” she tells me as she straddles me, rubbing her fingers over my piercing before she slides all the way down.
Fuck is she wet. “I love this. Being inside you, and feeling how much you want me.”
“And I love knowing you’re this big and hard just for me.”
“Only you. Always you.”
Her eyes get sad for a few seconds, but then her smile is back. She gets into the rhythm she knows does it for both of us. I pull her down so I can play with her tits. I lick and suck until her movements get erratic. “Kace.”
“I got you,” I tell her as I hold her hips and start thrusting into her.
She comes hard, and I follow right after her. I pull her to me and kiss her until we’re both gasping for air. “That was a great prize.”
“Mine will be better,” I tell her, smacking her ass before lifting her off of me. “Let’s get cleaned up and play.”
She groans, but lets me pull her to her feet. “I don’t think I’m 100% capable of playing a good game after that.”
“I’m counting on that,” I tell her as I walk us to the bathroom.
“Cheater.”
“Don’t be a sore loser.”
“I haven’t lost yet, but I am hoping to be sore.”
“Naughty vixen.”
I look over at her when I don’t get a response. I drop the paper towels in my hand when I see her crying. I pull her into my arms and rub her back. Since this has been happening a lot lately, I know she won’t want to talk yet. Or maybe ever.
“I’m a mess,” she says after a minute. “Let’s go out there so I can beat you again.”
“You know I love you, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I love you, too. So much.”
“We can just go upstairs and cuddle if you want.”
“What I want is to have fun. Lots and lots of fun. And sex. With you. Only you. Forever.”
“I’m totally down with that.”
“For now you are.”
“Forever. I want that, too.”
“You won’t always feel that way. I guarantee it.”
“Is this about that secret you’re keeping?”
“Yes.”
“You told me you’d tell me if you could. That’s all I can ask of you.”
“You’re going to leave me when it comes out. I have no doubt about that.”
“But you’re doubting me. Don’t do that. I’m a good guy. There’s nothing so bad you could be hiding that would make me leave you.”
“I wish that were true.”
“Have some faith in me.”
“I do.”
“Then let’s go out there, so I can beat you and claim my prize.”
“Good luck with that.”
There she is, the sassy woman I love. Not that I don’t love her when she’s crying. But it’s starting to scare me. She’s so sure that this damn secret is going to tear us apart. I won’t let that happen, though. I’m going to hold onto her and give her my strength because I can tell she needs it.
This game is going much faster, because we’re both trying hard to distract each other and win. We started out naked, so it’s been working out well for both of us. She licks her lips while squeezing a nipple. I stroke myself and play with my piercing. It’s the sixth frame, and we both have a score of zero.
“We should put the bumpers up so we’ll knock something over,” she says with a laugh.
“Or just abandon the game and go directly to the prize.”
“Let me guess, we’d be doing your prize, right?”
“Oh Bombshell, we both know that no matter who ‘wins’ we’re both going to score.”
She laughs so hard she snorts. She’s doubled over and snorting. “Oh my God. That sounds like something they’d say in a cheesy 80s movie.”
“I love cheesy 80s movies, and so do you.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not forfeiting though, so bumpers up or not?” she asks once she composes herself.
“Down. I don’t need them. I’m done letting you distract me.”
“Oh really,” she says, directing a look at my fully erect cock.
“It’s better that way. It can help guide me.”
“No. Just stop. This is your new tactic, isn’t it? You’re going to cheese your way into a win, since you couldn’t do it with sexy times.”
I honestly wasn’t, but now I so am. “I can definitely do ‘it’ with sexy times. Any time you want it.”
Instead of answering, she starts singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Badly and way off-key. She’s dancing all crazy and practically screeching out the words. I sincerely hope she’s messing with me. I grab her, silencing her with a kiss.
“Please tell me you were kidding with that.”
“Sorry, but there’s a reason I work behind the scenes.”
“You’re killing me. My ears are literally dead, but the rest of me isn’t doing so well, either.”
“I would think my other talents would outweigh my musical shortcomings.”
“They more than make up for your screeching. But the dreams I had of us doing a duet have just gone up in flames.”
“When did you ever dream of us doing a duet?”
“Two nights ago?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I know it’s stupid, but I though it’s be cool to have you onstage with me.”
“Autotune?” I ask. He raises an eyebrow. “Sorry?”
“Don’t be. I have lots of other dreams—and fantasies—that involve you, me, and no singing.”
“Me, too.”
“Yours will have to wait because I’m about to win this game,” I tell her as I grab my ball and throw it, hitting a strike. “We’ll get to them later. I promise.”
“Well, shit.”
She tries, but I’m on fire. I want it my way. I know she’d let me do it later, but winning is so much better. I end up winning by eighteen points. I do a victory dance as she rolls her eyes.
“Lay it on me. What are we doing?”
I pretend to think about it, but I already know. I’ve known since I walked in here tonight and saw the retro ball return systems. She’s going to love this as much as I am. Maybe even more.
“Straddle that empty ball return over there.”
“You want me standing.”
“Yes, bent over, and with your lips over the fan thing.”
“You want me to kiss it?”
“I want you to feel that warm air on your clit while I’m fucking you from behind.”
“You weren’t kidding when you said we’d both score tonight.”
“No, I really wasn’t.”
She positions herself like I told her to, her back arching as she feels that air blowing on her like my mouth usually does. I come up behind her and gently push her down so that her arms are bent, and her ass is in the air. I grip her hips and thrust into her as she cries out.
“You like this don’t you? Feeling the air
at the same time as you’re feeling my cock. It’s like there’s two of me.”
“Yes.”
“No other man’s ever going to be with us, Stella. So this is the closest you’re going to come to this with me.”
“I only want you,” she says with a gasp as I pinch her nipples.
“I want it to be better than when you were with those other guys.”
“I already told you you’re the best.”
“I’m better than two?” I ask as I move one hand down to spread her open and let the air hit her more fully.
“God, yes.”
“I love making you come, almost more than I love coming. Did you know that? Most of my fantasies are about how I can make you come harder and better.”
“I dream of sucking you dry, with my pussy and my mouth.”
“Are you going to suck me with that sexy mouth of yours later? And play with my barbell?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to have to 69 so I can lick you.”
“Please.”
“I want to make you pass out from the numbers of times I’m going to make you come tonight.”
“You’ll pass out first,” she says, starting to move back against me as she gets closer.
“With my cock still hard inside of you so I can wake up fucking you.”
“Kace—Kace—Kace!” she screams as she shatters around my cock.
“Fuuckk!” I yell as I come so hard my legs give out and I have to grab the sides of the machine to stop from crushing her.
“Once you can stand, we should take this upstairs for rounds three through ten.”
“If you think it’s only going to be ten, you’re forgetting who you’re working with.”
“You have a show tomorrow.”
“Are you really forgetting how young I am?”
“I prefer to focus on what you do to me.”
“My youth is what makes that happen, love.”
“Stamina is my new favorite work, K.”
“Let’s go before round three happens in here.”
I stand up and help her off the machine. We get dressed in silence, and hold hands as we walk out. This was hands down the best time I’ve ever had in a bowling alley. And I already know it’s only going to get better and better.
Chapter 14
Stella
I wake up to little kisses all over my bare back. “No. I need sleep.”
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