Of course, their more adventurous sexual exploits had now been restricted to their bedroom. Odelle had hired what appeared to be an army of protection for Nox and Livia, and even they were a little stunned by how much of their lives was restricted now.
“I can’t send them away. Odelle would kill me … and I like to restrict being murdered to just once a year.” Nox grinned at Livia, who laughed.
“It does get in the way of stuff, doesn’t it? I mean, I was just murdered the other day, and I had a whole bunch of laundry to do.”
“How inconvenient.”
“Isn’t it?”
They had been joking with each other like this since Odelle had told them about Roan. He had been sleeping with Pia and had been with her the night she was killed. Odelle had persuaded him to go to the police and speak to them. He had been questioned and then charged on suspicion of murder. Odelle had paid the two-million-dollar bail money, and now Roan was locked away in her apartment until the trial.
Neither Nox nor Livia could believe the turn of events. Worse, when Roan was questioned about the night Nox and Livia had been attacked, he couldn’t provide an alibi. The police, desperate to find someone guilty for Pia’s murder, had used Nox’s rejection of Roan’s business proposition as motive.
“Their case is weak,” Roan’s lawyer, William Corcoran, told them when they met at Nox and Sandor’s offices, “but at the moment, he is the only person with motive and we know he was with the girl. I understand you have arranged a twenty-four-hour guard on him, Ms. Griffongy?”
Odelle, pale and drawn, nodded. “He’s not going anywhere, Mr. Corcoran. He wants to be proved innocent.”
Livia took Odelle’s hand and squeezed it. “We’re here for you, Odelle.” She couldn’t bring herself to say that she was there for Roan too—she could well believe that he would hurt Nox, and Pia, to keep her from telling Odelle about their affair. Odelle looked shattered, and Livia’s heart went out to her.
“We never did get our girl talk, did we?” she said in a low voice to Odelle as Nox and Sandor were talking to the lawyer. “We should do that. Soon.”
Odelle nodded. “I’ll come by your restaurant around lunchtime tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“Sure.”
The next day, Moriko and Marcel gave her a hard time and she couldn’t blame them. She had called them from the hospital, but wouldn’t allow them to visit. She told them it was because Nox had too many visitors already, but truthfully, she didn’t want Moriko and Marcel on the killer’s radar anymore than they already were by associating with her. Pia had barely been a part of the circle, and now she was dead. No one was safe.
Moriko took one look at the cut on Livia’s head and her mouth set in an angry line. “And you didn’t mention that, either.”
“I slipped on some water at the hospital. No biggie.” She hadn’t told them about being attacked.
Marcel shook his head at her. “This is serious, Liv. I don’t want you hurt.”
Livia nodded back at the two huge bodyguards sitting in the restaurant. “It’s okay. Those two are always with me—unfortunately.”
She dumped her bag in the backroom and went into the kitchen to wash her hands. She felt tired and drained, but at least she was back to doing something familiar. Nox had been reluctant to see her back at work, but couldn’t dissuade her. “I have responsibilities, baby.”
Now she tied her apron around her dress and went out front. The restaurant was quiet, the lunchtime rush a way off yet, and Moriko and Livia polished wine glasses and chatted as they laid out the tables.
“So, I have news,” Moriko said with a grin and Livia’s eyebrows shot up. She glanced at Marcel, which made Moriko roll her eyes.
“Will you stop with that? I adore Marcel, but I also work for him. No, it’s not Marcel, but I did meet someone.”
“Who?”
“Not ready to say yet. But I am giving up the apartment. I thought you should know.”
“You’re moving in with whoever it is?” Livia was shocked but Moriko just stuck her tongue in her cheek and gave her friend a defiant stare. Livia grinned sheepishly. Yep, she had no right to be scandalized. “Sorry. Where are you moving to?”
Moriko told her and Livia whistled. It was an upscale apartment building in the city, a block or two from where Odelle lived. “Very nice.”
“It has one of those old-fashioned elevators, like you see in French movies. All wrought iron and fancy schmancy.” Moriko sounded so proud that Livia couldn’t help but giggle.
“Fancy.”
“You bet your ass it’s fancy. Hey, maybe we’ll have to do soirees like you do with all your fancy new friends.”
Livia grinned. “Shut up. Well, I’m happy for you, boo. When do we get to meet Captain Elevator?”
“Ha ha. And soon, hopefully.”
“At least tell me his first name.”
“Nope. Live with it.”
“Spoilsport.”
Odelle arrived just after one p.m. and Livia took her break. They sat two tables away from Livia’s conspicuous bodyguards. Odelle looked amused. “It must be strange for you to have them around.”
Livia nodded. “It is, but don’t think I’m not grateful, Odelle.”
“You can call me Odie, if you like.”
Livia smiled at her. “You’ve been a true friend to me and Nox, Odie.”
The other woman flushed a little. “I’m not good at making friends,” she said, “especially with women. They don’t trust me, for some reason. I don’t know why; it’s not like I’m sleeping around with their men. Unlike Amber.”
Livia sighed. “I’ve been having doubts about her, tracing back to what you said. But at the same time, she hasn’t done anything wrong—I don’t think. Certainly, Nox doesn’t see anything amiss, and I’m hesitant to say anything negative. They’re so close.”
“Understandable. Look, maybe I’m biased. I’ve never liked the woman, and now that I know she was sleeping with Roan …”
“Was?”
Odelle smiled. “As soon as she knew I found out, she dumped him. Amber has no use for men after the wife or girlfriend finds out.” She looked at Livia. “Does that upset you?”
Livia nodded. “I wanted to believe she was a good one. I thought that she was.”
“Livvy, you’re your own woman. Do I think Amber is malicious? Not where Nox is concerned, certainly, and to be fair, she’s seemed to take to you too.”
“So, if we rule out Amber and Roan, who else would have a grudge against Nox?” Even saying the words made Livia tremble.
“I honestly don’t know. We both know Sandor is straight as a die.”
“He’s a teddy bear.”
Odelle smiled. “He is. He’s a good one. If only I’d fallen for him instead.”
Livia chuckled. “I would pay to see that. So, anyone else?”
“Well, there is someone. An ex-girlfriend of Nox’s. Well, not really a girlfriend, but a fling. At least for Nox. Janine Dupois. Has Nox mentioned her?”
Livia shook her head. “No, but we’ve never actually had the ‘ex’ talk, so I don’t blame him for not doing so. Who is she?”
“Fashion editor and socialite. I heard she moved to New York but made the mistake of trying to break into the scene up there without proving herself.”
Livia rolled her eyes and Odelle laughed. “It’s the way it works, I’m afraid.”
“If Nox and I are going to be long-term—and I hope so—I do hope I won’t be expected to become …”
“Like me?” But Odelle was smiling and Livia squeezed her hand.
“You know what I mean. I’m not a socialite. I don’t know anything about that world.”
Odelle studied her. “You know, Nox is a pretty down-to-earth guy. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—have fallen for someone who wasn’t suited to him. Don’t ever be afraid you won’t fit in, Livvy.”
When Livia arrived home later, she was feeling more optimistic than she had in weeks. Nox arr
ived a little after her and she went to greet him at the door. She kissed him tenderly. “I missed you.”
She took his hand and immediately led him up the stairs. Nox was grinning. “Well, if this is how you miss me …”
In their bedroom, Livia pulled his tie from his neck, kissing his chest as she unbuttoned his shirt. Nox slowly unzipped her dress, his fingertips trailing up and down her spine. As she pushed his shirt aside, her tongue found his nipple as her fingers unzipped his fly and reached into his pants. His cock was already hard as she freed it from his pants and she chuckled as she heard his sharp intake of breath. She pushed him down on the bed and tugged his pants off.
“Just lay back, baby. I’m in charge.” She wiggled out of her dress and Nox wolf-whistled at her. Livia grinned but then knelt between his legs and took him in her mouth. Tracing the veins along the silky, thick shaft, she tasted the salty pre-cum then flicked her tongue on the sensitive tip to drive him crazy. She heard his long groan of desire as she sucked, tasted, and teased him, and when he was close and tried to pull away, she shook her head. He came in her mouth, groaning her name over and over.
Livia swallowed his seed down, and then shrieked with laughter as he swept her onto the floor and started to kiss her furiously, as if an animal had been unleashed inside him. He sucked at her nipples until they were rock hard and she was writhing beneath him, so turned on she thought she might pass out. Then, as he moved down her body, licking, tasting, biting at her breasts, her belly, she moaned as his mouth found her sex. “God, Nox …”
He pleasured her until she was begging him to fuck her, and then he launched his diamond-hard cock into her, pressing her knees to her chest and slamming his hips against hers. Livia screamed her pleasure, not caring if every security guard in the place heard her. She lost herself in this heady delirium, kissing him, telling him again and again how much she loved him.
Finally, exhausted, they climbed into bed and wrapped themselves around the other. They kissed and chatted quietly, enjoying the time together.
“Odelle called me ‘Livvy’ and I get to call her ‘Odie,’” Liv said with wide eyes, making Nox laugh.
“She told me she adores you. You don’t bullshit—she likes that.”
“You are a lot closer to her than I first thought,” Liv observed, “which makes me think we—you and I, that is—should spend more time getting to know each other, in addition to fucking each other’s brain out.”
Nox laughed. “As long as we can keep doing that too.”
“Hell, yes. So …”
“So, what do you want to know?”
“More about Ariel, if it’s not too painful.”
Nox was silent for a while then nodded. “Okay.”
Livia stroked his face. “In your own time, baby.”
“It’s all right, Livvy, I’m not going to break down. The psychiatrist I’ve been seeing has helped me immeasurably.” He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Here goes. We met when we were kids, when Ariel and Amber’s family moved here. Their parents were nice people, moderately wealthy like us, and Amber’s father was a business associate of my dad’s. Ariel and I hit it off straight away. You know she and Amber were twins? Non-identical. Ariel had dark brown hair and dark eyes like yours. She always thought she was the plain one, which was a joke.”
Livia remembered seeing the photographs of Ariel. “She was lovely. I know you’ve told me how she died … maybe it would help to talk through what happened in the days leading up to her death.”
Nox looked at her for a long time then nodded. “Okay. Okay then, let’s talk.”
Chapter Nineteen
Twenty years ago …
Ariel fixed Nox with a determined stare, trying not to giggle. “I’ve thought long and hard about it, and I think I know the perfect outfit for prom for both of us.”
Nox grinned at her, knowing well the look of mischief in her eyes. “Oh, yeah? Hit me with it.”
Ariel stood, and proceeded to shuffle sideways then back again rapidly on her carpeted floor. Nox burst out laughing. “What the hell?”
“I’m giving you a clue,” she said breathlessly, then started to do the Running Man, moving her arms and legs energetically.
“You are quite insane, Miss Duplas—and I have no earthly idea what’s going on here.”
“Imagine baggy pants.” Ariel moved up and down her bedroom, flailing her arms and urging him to guess. “Maybe if I sing …”
She began to intone ‘oh-uh’ repeatedly as she moved, then came to an abrupt halt, shouting, “Stop!”
Nox finally got it. “Hammertime!” He collapsed with laughter as Ariel cheered, then collapsed on the bed beside him, panting for air.
“So, what do you think? We both go in Hammer pants and fuck the patriarchy. Why should I wear a dress?”
“You could wear anything and still be the Queen of the Ball.”
Ariel pretended to puke and Nox laughed. “You really can’t take a compliment, Ari, you know that?”
“You know me, Noxxy. I leave the cotillions and debutante stuff to Amber. It’s her thing.”
Nox sensed an undercurrent in her voice. “What’s up?”
Ariel shrugged. “Nothing, really. We’re just having one of our time-outs. We’re not getting along particularly well at the moment.”
“Any reason?”
Ariel hesitated, then shrugged. “Just reasons.”
Nox wound a long lock of her hair around his fingers. “You don’t want to talk about it?”
“Not really. So, now that you know what I’ve planned for prom …”
Nox grinned. “You think I don’t know you by now? You say that, then I turn up in Hammer pants, and you’ll look like some ethereal goddess in a perfect gown. I still remember junior prom. Remember?”
“That was hilarious.”
“For you. My mom spent weeks on my sailor costume.”
Ariel giggled. “So, so gullible, Mr. Renaud.” She bent her head and kissed him, lingering over his lips. “Now, seriously … do you want to see my dress? I ask because … it has some complicated fastening, and you may need to practice if you want to get it off me.”
Nox’s smile widened. Like most couples, they had planned for prom night to be the first time they slept together … even though they’d done practically everything else already. Neither of them could wait. “You know, it might be a good idea.”
Ariel sent him out of the room while she changed and when she was ready, called him back.
Nox pushed the door open and his breath caught in his throat. The pale gray chiffon draped beautifully over her body, clinging to her curves and setting off the pink tones in her creamy white skin.
“Wow. Wow.” Nox walked to her, cupping her face in his. “You look insanely gorgeous.”
Ariel blushed, but laughed. “That is the correct answer. You may kiss me now.”
The kiss went on for so long that Ariel, laughing, had to push him away. “One more day, Nox, and we’ll finish that kiss and then some.”
Nox nodded. “Then I’d better get out of here before you make it impossible for me.”
“And your blue balls.”
“And my blue balls.” He grinned as she squeezed his groin. “Damn, woman, you’re impossible.”
“You know it.” She stood on her toes to kiss him. “Tomorrow, Nox Renaud.”
Prom night. Ariel and Amber got ready separately—each in their own rooms, not communicating at all. As she finished her makeup and slipped into the gray dress, Ariel considered going to see her sister, trying to bridge the strange chasm that had opened up between them lately. She had lied to Nox yesterday about what was causing the void—it was Nox himself. Ariel knew Amber was in love with him, and did not blame her sister—or Nox—for it. Nox was easy to love. Amber knew she would never be with him, and to her credit, she didn’t even try to take him from her sister, but … her way of dealing with it was to keep her distance from both of them.
Ariel t
apped cautiously on her sister’s door. “Ambs?”
“Still changing.” Flat tone, no invitation in it. Ariel sighed.
“Okay … well, I’m just going to grab a smoke outside. Distract Mom if she comes to look for me?”
“I will.”
Ariel stepped out into the sultry Louisiana evening. Sweat popped up on her skin immediately and she cursed, hoping she wouldn’t end up with pit stains—this chiffon was too good for that kind of treatment. Not that Nox would give a crap, she smiled to herself fondly, shaking a cigarette from her pack. Her mother probably knew she smoked, but it was a strict don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy in her house.
She walked around the main house to where she sneaked her smokes, out of sight of the house. Hidden by the trees draped with Spanish moss, she breathed in the night air. The bayou was extra smelly on nights like this, the stench of rot creeping across the night. Ariel flicked her butt to the ground and, using the toe of her shoe to stub it out, she turned to go back in.
The first thing she registered was a stinging in her neck, then a wave of breathlessness as whatever had been injected into her flooded her veins. She barely had time to acknowledge that someone had grabbed her before everything went dark and she passed out.
Cold. She was lying down and whatever it was, it was cold against her back. She shivered despite the heat of the night, and then opened her eyes. Her head whirled, her eyes were blurry, and her chest felt heavy. Focusing, she saw him … she assumed it was a him. He was sitting on her legs, straddling her. He was so still that it frightened her, as if he had been waiting for her to wake. Ariel looked around and felt a wave of panic. They were in a graveyard.
“What the hell is going on?” Her voice trembled as the black-hooded figure seemed to look right at her. She couldn’t see any features, and the stranger’s silence was making her panic even more. “Please … whatever you want …” Her voice trailed off when she saw the knife in his hand, and she knew. “Oh, God, please … please don’t …”
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