Dangerous Kiss

by Michelle Love

“Too late.” The door was opening as Livia was speaking and a grinning Moriko strode in. “Hey, kids. Nice cock,” she added admiringly to Nox, who was trying to cover himself with his jeans and laughing. Livia burst into giggles as she covered his groin with her body. Moriko’s high laughter rang out as she disappeared into her room. “Let me know when you’re somewhat decent and I’ll come out.”

  A few minutes passed and Moriko stuck her head out of the door. She looked disappointed. “Oh. You’re dressed. Give a girl a treat, why don’t you?” She winked at Nox, who grinned back.

  Livia shook her head. “You are terrible. Look, we’re going to order pizza and beer—want in?”

  “Hell, yes, if I’m not disturbing anything.”

  “Not at all.”

  When the pizza arrived, Livia passed out cold beers and they sat out on the tiny balcony that looked over the city. “If you squint,” Moriko told Nox, “you can see Bourbon Street from here.”

  Nox looked in the direction of the famous street. “Really?”

  “Squint harder … harder … now close your eyes and imagine Bourbon Street.” Moriko cackled at her joke and Livia giggled, throwing a piece of pizza crust at her friend.

  “Don’t tease.”

  “No, no,” Nox said, grinning, “that’s what best friends are supposed to do to the paramour. It is the law.”

  Moriko nodded wisely. “You are wise, Young Padawan.”

  Livia coughed and it sounded suspiciously like ‘geek.’ Moriko smiled, cat-like. “You may mock, Liv, but me and Wondercock here are bonding.”

  Nox choked on his pizza, laughing, and Liv threw an apologetic look at him. “Sorry, she’s not housetrained yet.”

  The three of them were having so much fun that Nox decided not to go back to work, and they spent the late afternoon and evening drinking and laughing. At ten p.m., Moriko got up. “Well, it’s been swell, guys. I’m outtie.”

  “Hot date?”

  “Tepid, but doable.” Moriko threw her denim jacket on. She winked at Nox. “Good to meet you properly. Look after each other, kids.” And she disappeared into the apartment. “And keep those windows open … it reeks of sex in here.”

  “Yeah, it does,” mumbled a decidedly drunk Livia, with a satisfied grin. Nox laughed and hoisted her onto his lap.

  “You’re drunk.”

  “Yep.” She kissed him. “And you’re beautiful. Take me to bed, Renaud, and fuck the brains right out of me.” She shrieked as he stood and threw her over his shoulder, carried her into her bedroom, and proceeded to do exactly as she asked.

  Chapter Eight

  “The lavender one … no, not that one … does that look lavender to you? That one, yes.”

  Moriko was barking orders at Livia as she dressed for the Thanksgiving meal at Nox’s home. The dinner with all his closest friends. All of them. And their girlfriends and boyfriends and oh God … Livia felt sick with nerves. She stepped into the dress Moriko had directed her to, then shook her head. “No. I don’t feel right in it.”

  “What about the white one?”

  “I don’t want to come off as a vestal virgin. And anyways, gravy stains. Thanksgiving dinner, remember?”

  Moriko sighed. “Fair enough. So, we’re looking for something that says ‘Hey, don’t mind me, I’m the good-to-go-but-not-slutty-girlfriend from the wrong side of the tracks …’ I’ve got it. Let’s go find some knocked-up-from-the-thrift-store pink dress and Duckie can take you to the dance.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Livia was feeling irritated now. She’d tried on several of her dresses and was getting down to the last few she owned. Moriko rolled her eyes.

  “Pretty in Pink, Doofus.”

  “Moriko, this is serious. Nox is picking me up in fifteen minutes and I have nothing. Nothing.”

  “Jeez, don’t have a cow. Hang on.”

  She disappeared and Livia heard her rifling through her wardrobe and frowned. “Dude, there isn’t a chance in hell I’ll fit into anything of yours.” While Livia was curvy, Moriko was a size-zero, so stealing each other’s clothes had never been an option. Which probably saved many roommate arguments, Livia thought now.

  “Quiet, woman.” Moriko came back bearing a large box. “I was saving this for your Christmas present, but I think you need it now. Open it.”

  Livia’s eyes widened when she saw the label on the box. “Oh, no, Morry, you can’t afford this.”

  “Shut up and open it.”

  Livia lifted the box lid and shifted the tissue paper. She gave a little gasp. She pulled out the mauve dress and held it up against her.

  “Put it on, moron.”

  Livia slid into it and turned to look at herself in the mirror. The neck came down in a vee-shape—not too low, but low enough to show off her long neck and décolletage. The color picked out all the gold highlights in her golden-brown hair and complemented her large eyes and creamy skin. It hugged her curves and fell to just above her knee. Classy and elegant. “Oh, Morry, I can’t believe this. Thank you so much.”

  Moriko’s eyes were soft. “I knew as soon as I saw it, it was made for you. Wear your gold locket with it. Here, let me.” She hooked the necklace over her friend’s head. “Lovely. And wear your hair up. Here …” Once again, she took charge and a moment later, Livia’s thick, dark golden hair was swept up into a chignon, with a few strands falling down to soften it. Some subtle gold eyeshadow and a slick rose pink lipstick and Livia couldn’t believe the reflection in the mirror. Was that really her?

  “You look incredible,” said Moriko with a self-satisfied grin. “Who’s your momma?”

  “You are.” Livia laughed and hugged her. “Thank you, boo.”

  “Now, I hear a car door which means Nox is early as always. Probably wants to get in a pre-dinner fuck. Have a lovely time and don’t let anyone look down at you, you know. Do this for the Sisterhood.”

  Livia grinned. “Looking like this? They wouldn’t dare.” She high fived her friend as the doorbell rang.

  Livia was flattered by the expression on Nox’s face. “Wow,” he said, his voice cracking. “Wow, Liv.”

  She flushed and kissed him, but seconds later Morry came out and stuck a Post-it note just above his groin. Nox laughed as he read it.

  “Livia Chatelaine, do not touch/squeeze/suck/bounce on this until after the dinner party and you no longer need to look perfect. Do not ruin my masterpiece.”

  Livia choked out a shocked snort as Nox howled with laughter. Moriko grinned and closed the door behind her. Nox offered Liv his arm.

  “Ready, beautiful?”

  He watched the couples as they walked into Nox’s huge, welcoming home, already dressed for the meal. The silver service staff moved silently around them with trays of champagne cocktails and amuse-bouche. There were going to be twenty guests in all, mostly couples, but a few were flying solo. But all he was really interested in was his host and his beautiful, wrong-side-of-the-tracks girlfriend.

  He shot an amused glance at some of the other women and wondered just how bitchy they were, how much they would look down their nose at her. That would be fun, at least. All the while he would be watching the girl, seeing just how smitten Nox was with her. Gauging how devastated he would be by her inevitable demise.

  It would all come down to timing. Murder her too soon, and maybe Nox wouldn’t be as crucified as he needed him to be. He gave another laugh. No, that sap Nox would always take these things hard, no matter how long he’d been fucking her. But he didn’t want to rush this. He’d waited over twenty years to do this to his old friend again. Ariel had been easy—no one’s guard had been up. He still remembered the look of shock, of horror on her lovely face as he’d plunged the knife into her. The look of confusion, of abject horror. He itched to see that again.

  The door opened and Nox led Livia into the room. The beautiful couple immediately took the attention of the guests, and as Nox began to introduce Livia to his friends, the man who would soon be her killer
watched her—the way she moved, the curve of her body, her full breasts, the sweet smile on her lush pink lips. He smiled. He would enjoy her murder as much as he would enjoy Nox’s pain. And by the look on Nox’s face, he was already in deep.

  “Nox Renaud is in love again. Who knew?” he murmured to himself, and went to join the party.

  Chapter Nine

  “Rules of society mean we shouldn’t be sitting next to each other at dinner,” Nox said to her and grinned at her stricken face. “Luckily, I’ve never been one for rules.”

  She pinched his buttock hard and he laughed. “You’ll pay for that later, Renaud.”

  “I do hope so. At last, Amber’s here. Come on, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome with her.”

  Livia followed him over to where a stunning redhead stood talking to Sandor. Sandor winked at Livia and she gave him a grateful look. Amber, too, smiled at them both.

  “Well, at damn last. Hi, Livia, it’s great to meet you finally.”

  “You too.” Livia cursed the fact that her voice shook with nerves, but this was Nox’s best female friend, and she wanted to make a good impression.

  Amber was sensational. There wasn’t another word for it. Tall, at least five-eleven, her long cherry red hair fell in waves down her back, her makeup was perfect, and her hourglass figure was poured into a red dress that should have clashed with her hair but worked perfectly on Amber. Amber watched Livia size her up with a grin on her face.

  “It’s all artifice, darling. At the end of the night I’m in sweats, shoveling French fries down my throat and watching Netflix. I look like the Swamp Thing.”

  Livia choked out a laugh. “Somehow I don’t think so.”

  Amber grinned. “Let’s leave these dudes and go have some girl talk somewhere.”

  Uh-oh. Was this the ‘you hurt my friend, and I’ll hurt you’ talk? Well, Amber was entitled, Livia thought, but she couldn’t help throwing a nervous glance back at Nox. He winked at her and mouthed, ‘Don’t worry.’

  Whatever she expected Amber to start out with, it wasn’t, “Thank you.”

  Livia’s eyes widened. “For what?”

  “For putting a smile back on my friend’s face. It’s been a long time coming. Here,” she snagged two glasses of champagne and handed one to Livia, “drink up. Let me give you some tips on how to survive this party. Believe me, it’s nothing to be nervous about, just a crash course in who to avoid.”

  Livia had just spotted Odelle Griffongy walk in with Roan. “Well, there’s one I do know to avoid.”

  Amber followed her gaze. “Odelle? Well, she’s not the friendliest, but neither is she malevolent. Unlike Mavis Creek over there.” She nodded to a squirrelly-looking, rail-thin blonde who was making puppy eyes at Nox. “Now, she has always had a thing for your man. Little does she know, we all call her Mavis Creep.”

  Livia smothered a snort of laughter as the woman shot daggers at them both. Amber pointed out everyone to avoid, which thankfully wasn’t too many. “Nox invites them out of politeness. I would have kicked them to the curb a while ago, but then I’m not as nice as Nox.”

  Livia grinned at her. “Is anyone?”

  Amber grinned. “Oh, he has his dark side, the same as all of us. But,” she said in a stage whisper as Nox approached them, “his weird fetishes are something we should discuss another time. Remind me to tell you about the thing he had for—oh, damn, Nox, you’re here and it was just about to get interesting. Sorry, Liv, we’ll have to talk about his peccadillos another time.”

  Nox was grinning, clearly having heard her. “Liv, don’t listen to this one. Just go on pretending I’m perfect.”

  “Oh, I will.” Livia winked at Amber, who grinned and excused herself.

  Nox kissed Livia, his lips soft against hers. “You okay, sweetheart?”

  She smiled up at him as he slid his arms around her waist. “I really am. I love Amber already.”

  “Good. Seriously, there’s nothing to worry about. It may look elite, but really, it is just Thanksgiving dinner.”

  Nox’s idea of ‘just’ Thanksgiving dinner was a lot different than most people’s, Livia thought a half hour later as they sat down to eat. Three huge turkeys, perfectly roasted and ready to be carved by the waitstaff, sat on the sideboard. On the tables were huge silver platters of mashed potatoes, yams, bowls of cranberry sauce—sure, Livia thought, all the same food, but you could tell how rich the food was. How it was expertly made by the best chefs money could buy, and when Livia put the first piece of moist, beautifully seasoned turkey in her mouth, she almost groaned with how delicious it was. The meal had its luxurious touches—shaved truffle on the turkey, a sharp sorbet between each course as a palate cleanser—but the whole atmosphere was just as Livia, who had never had a family Thanksgiving, had always imagined. There was love between these people, and she reveled in it.

  Halfway through the meal, which she had to admit she was enjoying with Nox on her left and Sandor on her right, she felt someone staring at her. She looked up and saw Odelle gazing at her. “Have we met?” Odelle’s voice cut through the entire table’s conversation and Livia flushed red as everyone went silent and looked at her.

  “Yes, we have.”

  “Where?”

  “Livia was at my Halloween party,” Nox said smoothly, but Livia heard an undercurrent in his voice. Was he embarrassed, or was he angry with Odelle? She couldn’t tell.

  Odelle studied Livia. “No, that’s not it.”

  Livia sighed. Just get it over with. “I work at Le Chat Noir.”

  Of course, there was a silence. “The chef?” This was from Mavis Creep … Creek, corrected Livia in her head. Amber was right, the woman was obsequious—she clearly knew Livia wasn’t the chef. “No, I wait tables. I bring you your egg white omelet, Odelle.”

  She couldn’t read Odelle’s expression—the other woman simply nodded and turned back to her meal. Mavis Creek was sniggering to herself, nudging her partner, who rolled his eyes and tried to ignore her.

  “Livia is a grad student at the university. She’s earning her master’s degree, Mavis, and working to pay her dues. The stuff of good character, wouldn’t you say?” Nox’s voice was like ice and Mavis’s smirk disappeared.

  “I worked the graveyard shift at Home Depot during my college experience. My father wouldn’t pay for my tuition unless I worked too,” Sandor piped up. “I had to pay my own rent. Nothing wrong with working your way through.”

  “What are you studying, Liv?” Amber jumped in now and Livia told her. Amber looked impressed. “That’s fantastic.”

  “We need to hear you play, I think.” Roan joined in and she smiled at them all gratefully. Nox had good taste in friends. They had deftly diffused the situation she had been most wary of, and with class and good humor. Nox took her hand and squeezed it and Livia felt tears well up in her eyes. God, she loved this man. Who cared if they’d known each other less than a month? She adored him.

  Sandor nudged her and she turned to smile at him. Sandor nodded at Nox. “He’s very smitten. It’s truly great to see.”

  “Thank you, Sandor. I’m crazy about him. Really, truly crazy.”

  “I’m glad. He deserves happiness.”

  Livia studied him. Sandor, with his dark brown hair cut short and neatly trimmed beard, was handsome, his eyes merry, his manner calm and friendly. “What about you, Sandor? Anyone special?”

  He grinned. “Confirmed bachelor, Liv. I was married about ten years ago but it didn’t stick. Shame. She was a nice girl, but I’m not good at sharing my life, I’m afraid.”

  “I get it. Before I met Nox, I was all set for a life of singledom.”

  Sandor looked skeptical and grinned. “Have you seen yourself, Liv? That would never happen.”

  She blushed, but laughed. “Because I can’t take a compliment, I’m going to swiftly change the subject.” Sandor laughed as she grinned. “What about your family?”

  Sandor nodded. “Only child, mom died of cancer, Da
d has Alzheimer’s. Some days he has full recall, but mostly he’s lost in time.”

  “God, I’m sorry.”

  Sandor nodded. “It’s okay. It’s harder on me than him, but I can take it. He’s usually locked back in a world where my mom is alive. Your parents?”

  “My mom had cancer too. She died when I was young and my dad, well, I think of him more as just the sperm donor. He’s a mean-ass drunk and if I never see him again, it’ll be too soon.” Livia didn’t know why she was sharing such intimate details with this man, she only knew that she had liked him from the first. He had a warm manner, open and friendly, and she could see why he was Nox’s friend and business partner. “You know how I met Nox. How about you?”

  Sandor grinned. “I was actually his brother Teague’s college roommate. But here’s the weird thing, my dad and Nox’s dad were actually old friends, although they’d drifted apart. When Teague and I became friends, they reconnected for a while. Until the tragedy, of course.”

  Livia nodded. “Heartbreaking.”

  “Indeed. Still, I have to say, Nox looks happier than I’ve seen him in years, thanks to you.”

  After dinner, some of the guests began to drift away until only Amber, Sandor, Roan, and Odelle were left. Odelle was looking antsy to leave, but Roan showed no sign of leaving. Amber sat sprawled across an armchair, her long legs crossed over the side of it; Sandor sat with Odelle, his arm around her shoulders, friendly, comforting. Livia sat on Nox’s lap, shoes kicked off now that the formal dinner was over with. She ruffled Nox’s curls and he grinned at her. She tickled his beard and rubbed her nose against his.

  “Did you have a good time, baby?”

  She nodded. “I really did.” She lowered her voice. “I love your friends. I mean, most of them.” She grinned as he laughed. “I have to say, I had preconceived opinions and I was wrong.”

  “For the most part.” Nox nodded subtly at Odelle. “She means no harm, really.”

  “I get it.”

  He stroked her cheek with his finger. “Will you stay tonight?”