Dangerous Kiss

by Michelle Love

  Livia shook her head. “Stay. Have breakfast.”

  “I would but I left a rather attractive Australian in my bed and I think I need to go deal with that.”

  Livia groaned. “God, Amber, I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. He woke up and wanted to talk, of all things.” She grinned as they laughed. “Bye, peeps. I’ll see you later.”

  As they watched her go, Livia looked up at Nox. “She’s good people.”

  “She is. Come inside, Livia, there’s something I have to show you.”

  Hand in hand, they walked upstairs to the room where Livia had found him earlier. “This was my mom’s room. Dad killed her and Teague in here.” He sat down heavily on the bed. The heavy counterpane puffed up with dust. “The police told me Teague died instantly, a shot to the heart, but Mom was shot in the stomach and bled out slowly. My father killed himself in the next room.”

  Livia sat down next to him and took his hand. Nox stared at the bloodstain on the rug. “I had to identify their bodies. Dad … he shot himself in the head, so you can imagine … but Mom and Teague. They just looked so … peaceful. Asleep. It didn’t make sense that they were gone. I was waiting for Teague to open his eyes and grin at me and shout ‘Psyche!’ Fuck.” He rubbed his eyes.

  Livia pressed her lips to his cheek. “I’ve never seen a photograph of Teague.” She tried to say it lightly, so that if he needed to break down he could without thinking she was trying to jog him out of his melancholy. Nox stood and went to the dresser, picking up a frame. He handed it to her.

  Livia looked at the photograph of a happy family. Teague and Nox, both tall, were handsome and smiling. Nox had his mother’s green eyes, Teague, his father’s dark brown. Tynan Renaud looked so proud of his family. His wife, Gabriella, was beautiful, her arm around her youngest son. Livia traced her finger over Nox’s teenage face. He looked so young, like a Greek youth, so gorgeous and free of hurt. She looked up at him.

  “I wish I could take your pain away, Nox.”

  He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. “You do, Livia. You do.”

  She touched his face. “Come back to bed, Nox. I’ll show you happiness.” And she led him back to their bedroom.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “So,” Livia began awkwardly as she sat in the kitchen of Le Chat Noir with Moriko. Their shift had just ended, just after the lunch rush, and Marcel was talking to an attractive young woman out front. His sous-chef Cat was having a sneak cigarette outside and Liv and Moriko had the kitchen to themselves.

  “So?” A small smile was playing around Moriko’s lips, like she knew what Livia was going to say. She wasn’t going to let Liv off the hook though, clearly, and so Livia took a deep breath.

  “So … Nox has asked me to move in with him. Now, I want you to know, I gave him a big long speech yesterday about being independent and all that … but fuck it, Morry. Life is short. I want to be with him.”

  Moriko smiled. “It’s not the biggest surprise, Liv.”

  “But,” Liv went on, “I’m still going to be paying half the rent on our place, the utilities, everything I’m paying now.”

  Moriko sighed. “I wish I could tell you that was silly, but the truth is …”

  “Exactly. Look, please let me do this. I love Nox, but I hate to abandon you.”

  “You’re not abandoning me, Liv; this is life, and I’m beyond happy for you. Also, however perfect he seems, he’ll still get on your nerves eventually and this way you’ll have somewhere to come to cool off and have girls’ nights in.”

  Liv grinned. “You got it, sweetie.”

  “When are you moving out?”

  “Not clear, yet, but it won’t be too long. Next couple of weeks.”

  Moriko nodded. “Has Nox any idea of the tsunami of paperback books that’s about to hit his beautifully appointed home?”

  Liv grinned. “He sort of knows … just not the extent.”

  “Well, I’m happy for you, sweetheart, I really am.”

  “Will you be okay?”

  Moriko rolled her eyes. “Doofus.”

  Livia hopped off the countertop and hugged her friend. “Love you, Morry. Come on, I’ll treat you to lunch.”

  ***

  Nox spent the morning trying to find a good counselor. Overjoyed that Livia had agreed to move in with him, he was determined he would repay her trust by getting the help he had known he’d needed for years. He contacted his family’s old doctor and asked for his recommendation, then made an appointment with a psychiatrist in the city. He had just hung up the phone when Sandor knocked at his door, a frown on his face.

  “’Sup, dude?”

  “Have you seen Pia this morning? She’s usually at her desk before any of us, but there’s no sign. Shannon from Human Resources called her home, but her mother says her bed wasn’t slept in.”

  Nox sat back. “Really? Well … she’s an adult, so I think the police will ask us to wait twenty-four hours. She could have hooked up with someone. I’ll call her mother and see what she wants us to do.”

  “I’ll get Shannon to give you the number.” Sandor disappeared and Nox frowned. It was out of character for Pia to not show up. Nox had always been impressed with her work ethic, even at her young age.

  Shit. He hated this sort of thing—the uneasiness creeping over his skin, the same way it had all those years ago. He still remembered the police showing up at Ariel’s parent’s home to tell them a body had been found. He’d known, even then, that she was dead.

  He called Pia’s mother, who tearfully asked him to keep her informed if Pia showed up. Then, needing to hear her voice, he called Livia.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Her warm greeting made the tension in his body ease. He told her about Pia and she expressed her concern, but told him not to stress unless something concrete was known.

  “I know it seems bad, baby, but she could just be around a girlfriend’s house—or a boyfriend’s—and overslept, or so hungover that she forgot to call. She’s nineteen.”

  “I know. I’m not trying to make unnecessary drama either. It’s just that I worry.”

  There was a small silence on the end of the phone. “Did you make the appointment?” Her voice was wary, like she didn’t want to nag him, and Nox’s heart warmed. This girl really did love him.

  “I did, sweetheart. I promised I would and I did. Dr. Feldstein will see me next week.”

  “Proud of you,” Livia said, her voice catching. “I love you so much, Nox.”

  “I love you too, funny face.”

  “Old man.”

  “Saddlebags.”

  Livia giggled. “That’s so mean, but I love it. Listen, I have a tutorial … I’ll call you afterwards, okay? I hope there’s news on Pia soon.”

  Roan walked into the RenCar offices, his portfolio and draft business plan under his arm, and asked to see Nox. Nox himself came to get him. “Come on in, buddy.”

  Roan smiled at his friend as he sat opposite him. “Now, I know this is quick, and it’s only a preliminary idea, but I wanted to run this by you.”

  “Awesome, Roan, let’s get Sandor in here too.”

  When the other man had joined them, Roan cleared his throat. “The other day, when we were talking, I was joking around and said I should start an escort service.”

  He saw the alarmed looks on his friend’s faces and, grinning, held up his hands. “No, hear me out. I’m seriously not talking about a traditional escort slash undercover prostitution service. In fact, penalties would be severe if any sexual activities were discovered. What I’m talking about is a kind of reverse Ashley Madison. Say there was a congressman who needed a dinner partner, but his wife was sick or just didn’t like the spotlight. That’s where I’d come in. I’d arrange for an escort. Now, here’s the rub. Say I have a female scientist who needed an escort for the same function. I’d partner them up for an introduction fee. Now, admittedly, this is all a bit hazy at the moment.”

  Nox looked unconvinced. “I
’m just thinking, Roan, that despite your best intentions, it will operate exactly like a traditional escort service. People are people, no matter their social standing. If they want to fuck, they’ll fuck. Seems to me, you’re doing exactly what Ashley Madison does, but putting a different spin on it. Sorry, dude.”

  Roan’s shoulders slumped. “What about if I put safeguards in place? Like contracts?”

  “Contracts don’t mean a thing if two people want to break it. Who’s going to sue them?”

  “Me.”

  Nox shook his head. “You’ll lose. I can’t think that there’ll be one judge who’ll rule in your favor on this—and your reputation, no matter how well-intentioned, will take a hit. Look at that guy who was the arranger for Berlusconi … what was his name?”

  “Tarantini,” said Sandor, brushing down his trousers. “He got eight years, I think.”

  “In Italy.” Roan rolled his eyes. “Look, you said to focus on my passion. I like fucking.”

  “Exactly. You like fucking, and you’re doing what you do without charging for it, perfectly legal. Dude, look, you have to take this seriously. You’re more than just a cock, Roan, grow up. You let it rule your life and screw up everything. You got through Harvard, for crissakes; you have a business degree.”

  Roan stared out of the window for a long time. “Maybe this is a bad idea, friends going into business together. Maybe I should just find a job myself.” He felt irritated that his idea, no matter how vague, had been pooh-poohed. Surely he should be allowed to see where it went. It still hurt when Nox nodded.

  “Maybe you should.”

  Roan got up. “Well, thanks for your time.” He didn’t wait around, just walked out of the building and got into his car. “Well … fuck.” He let out a long breath and started the car.

  Sandor and Nox sat in silence for a long moment. “Well, that could have gone better.”

  Sandor shook his head. “What was he thinking?”

  Nox looked unhappy. “He wasn’t. That’s the whole problem with Roan.”

  Sando studied his friend. “You notice something else?”

  “No, what?”

  “He didn’t mention Pia. He always mentions Pia, always stops to talk to her. He didn’t even glance at her desk as he came in.”

  Nox paled a little but then waved his hand, dismissing Sandor’s observation. “He was too full of his damn fool idea. It isn’t anything more.”

  Later, as he was enjoying a light supper with Livia at his home—soon-to-be their home—Nox couldn’t help but think of what Sandor had said.

  Livia smoothed her hand over his face. “What’s up? What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

  He told her about Roan’s plan—she rolled her eyes as he’d expected—then related what Sandor had said. Livia agreed with Nox—it was nothing. “Does Sandor not like Roan? I would never have guessed.”

  “He likes him just fine, I think. He’s never said anything to the contrary.”

  “It’s just a little strange he would say that. I mean, does Roan even know Pia?”

  Nox considered. “Well, he talks to her whenever he comes into the office. I don’t think Sandor meant any malice.”

  “Hmm.” Livia thought about it for a moment more, then shrugged. “Probably not. So, no news?”

  “None.”

  “God. I hope she’s okay.”

  “Me too, darling. Let’s change the subject. How did Moriko take your news?”

  Livia grinned. “Surprisingly well. I told her I’d still be paying for half the rent so it takes a little pressure off of her, and she was grateful.”

  “You could let me take care of that.”

  “I could not.” She chucked his chin and he grinned. “Actually, she was more worried that you have no clue what you’re letting yourself in for. I have so many books and art supplies, and all sorts of music crap.”

  “Is that right?” He put down his fork and took her hand. “Come with me.”

  He led her across the house to a room she hadn’t even known was there. “Just how many secret rooms does this place have?” Livia grinned as Nox laughed.

  “You haven’t even scratched the surface, baby. Anyways, come on in.” He said it lightly but he felt his heart beating hard against his ribs. He opened the door, and Livia stepped inside.

  It was his and his mother’s music studio. His old cello stood in its stand, his mother’s piano covered in a dust sheet. Other, less played, less beloved instruments, dotted the room. Livia looked at him with wide eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this room earlier,” he said softly. “I didn’t know whether I was quite ready. But, after last night, I think it’s important.”

  Livia took his hand. “How much does it hurt?”

  Nox considered, then smiled ruefully. “It’s excruciating.”

  Livia cupped her face in her palm. “And it’s okay to feel that. Acknowledge it. Speak it. We can go, if you like—I think this is a huge step.”

  Nox took a deep breath. “No, I brought you here for a reason. My mother’s piano. I think it should be heard again, and it just seems right it should be you. Would you play for me?”

  Livia, trembling, nodded. “Will you play with me?” She nodded to his cello and Nox hesitated. “You don’t have to, but I think it would be good for you.”

  Nox touched his cello, dislodging a thick smear of dust. “Do you know Sonata no. 3?”

  “Bach? I sure do. Let’s see.” Livia shifted the dust sheets from the piano and opened the lid. She pressed a few of the keys. “Good, it’s still in tune.”

  “I hope I can say the same for this thing.” Nox rested the cello between his legs and took up the bow. “Ready? First few bars.”

  They played slowly at first, the music tentative but sweet; then as they both settled into the rhythm, they played through the first act, both making minor mistakes but smiling encouragingly at the other as they did.

  Nox lowered his bow. “Wow.”

  “How do you feel?” Livia was watching him and he smiled at her.

  “Conflicted.”

  Livia closed the piano lid and went to him. She lifted the cello back into its stand and held out her hand. “Associations. Let’s start to change your association with this room and this instrument. Let’s turn your memories into pleasant ones.” He took her hand and let her lead him to their bedroom.

  Inside, she dropped the straps of her dress down her shoulders and wiggled out of it as Nox sat on the edge of the bed and watched her. She turned around slowly in her underwear and looked back over her shoulder at him. “You want this, baby?”

  Nox grinned. “You know I do. Strip for me, gorgeous.”

  Livia chuckled and slowly began to take her underwear off, unclasping her bra, and sliding her panties down her legs. When she was naked she came to him, kissing him, then nuzzling his neck. “Fuck me, Nox, but keep your clothes on.”

  Nox grinned and laid her back on the bed, standing to unzip his fly and take out his cock. Fisting the root of it, he gazed down at her as she spread her legs wide for him. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful, Livia Chatelaine.”

  His cock, huge and throbbing, stood proud against his belly as he tugged her legs around him waist. Livia arched her back up as he plunged into her, moaning at the feel of him. They made love fast and furiously, primal in their desire for each other. As they came, Livia pulled him onto the bed and tore at his clothes, biting at his chest and his nipples before straddling him and taking him deep inside her. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs strumming a beat over her nipples until they hardened. They made each other come again and again until, exhausted, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  It was dawn when Sandor arrived with the police, looking pale and shaken. They had found Pia’s body. A shocked and horrified Nox and Livia listened as he told them she had been found laid upon Ariel’s grave with a message scrawled in her blood across the cold marble.

  “What did it say?” Nox’s voice sounded t
ight. Sandor winced and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Nox. It said, ‘Everyone You Love.’”

  “Jesus.”

  A worried Livia hugged Nox as he dropped his head into his hands. The lead homicide detective cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to do this at what is obviously a very distressing time, but Mr. Renaud, I do have to ask. Where were you the night before last?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Moriko listened as Livia filled her in on what had been happening. “God, how awful. So they arrested Nox?”

  Livia shook her head. “No, they just wanted to ask him questions. He offered to go with them to the station for a formal interview but they said he didn’t need to … yet. God, what a mess. Poor Pia.”

  “Were you close?”

  “No, but we met a few times. She was only nineteen.”

  “Jesus.”

  Livia nodded, miserable. “Horrific.”

  Marcel came into the kitchen. “Hey, you okay?” He frowned at Livia. “You’re really pale. Are you sure you’re okay to work?”

  “I am, thanks, Marcel. I’d rather be here; it will take my mind off the other stuff.”

  The restaurant was busy in the run up to Christmas. Although the weather outside was still mild, people were wearing coats and trying to get into a winter mindset. Livia wondered aloud if it ever snowed in New Orleans.

  “Sure, it does,” Marcel told her. “Last time was Christmas Day, appropriately enough, back in ’04, before that in ’89. It doesn’t happen often, but we’re lucky sometimes. We’re due some this year, I believe, some weather phenomenon to do with global warming. I don’t know, but yeah, you might have a white Christmas if you’re lucky. Just don’t count on it being several feet deep.”

  Livia was daydreaming about sharing a white Christmas with Nox at his mansion when Moriko nudged her. “One of your rich friends is in.”

  Livia saw Odelle Griffongy seated in her section, her back ramrod straight, and groaned inwardly. The woman creeped her out a little, she had to admit. She went over to her. “Hey, Odelle.”