Hook, Line, and Garter (Bitches and Queens)

by James, Rachael

  Kate looked steadily in the mirror. As the flame spread beyond all control, she saw past all her perceived flaws. She only saw a reflection of a purely sexual being engaged in the most mesmerizing, ancient, tribal dance known to man. If their lovemaking was a song, Sam was the maestro, sending her soul soaring higher, reaching impossibly high notes. She came hard and fast, squeezing Sam along with her.

  After they cleaned up, Kate sat down beside him on the stool in front of the makeup room mirror. She looked on silently as he painted the finishing touches on his face. She suspected that few, if any, of his other lovers ever got to witness the intricate procedure. Probably Hannah, as she had no doubt been his mentor, but no one else had seen the transformation. The overall effect was a masterpiece, but the process was a sheer work of art—relaxing and intimidating, soothing yet awe inspiring.

  “What?” Sam questioned as he looked at her through the mirror.

  “Nothing, I just like watching you do this.”

  “Like watching your future husband put on makeup?” Sam teased.

  “It’s more like a transformation, and you make it look so easy,” Kate answered as she took off her engagement ring and placed it back inside the box on top of the counter.

  “Are you still pouting about Finn’s costume?”

  “Of course not. I just thought it might be nice to share the news with my family before we announce it to a crowded room full of strangers.” It was only half-truth. She did respect her family and wanted them to be the first they told, but she also didn’t want Hannah to throw a royal bitch fit as she would no doubt do for stealing the thunder of her surprise party.

  “They’re not strangers to me, but if you want to be traditional we could drive up to Dallas this weekend. I’m sure they would want to meet the man you’re planning on spending the rest of your life with.”

  “I’m sure they would. Are you going to ask my father for his permission?”

  Sam scowled and then pressed his lips together. “Do I have to? What if he says no?”

  “He wouldn’t dream of it. They’ll adore you. Everyone does.”

  Chapter 17

  They arrived at The Red Door a few minutes past fashionably late. Finn was waiting for them inside the entrance of the upscale downtown venue that with their arrival had just reached the maximum capacity of five hundred people. After the massive crowd shouted ‘Surprise!’ in unison and Sam pretended to be properly shocked, Finn rushed forward.

  “I was starting to panic. I was afraid you weren’t coming,” Finn flustered.

  “I already did,” Sam assured him. “We would have arrived earlier, but I was busy fucking Kate.”

  “Fabulous,” Finn laughed. “Come along, I’ve really outdone myself this time.”

  And Finn wasn’t lying. Feeling as if she stepped back in time, Kate was dazzled. No detail had been overlooked, from the floral arrangements to the red leather booths, everything was vintage 1950s. Finn had even managed to construct a set of swings that were suspended from the high ceiling where a set of raven-haired, identical twin beauties sailed through the air in their matching corsets and silk tights.

  “Hannah is over there,” Finn said as he pointed across the room where she was holding court with several of her admirers.

  Sam started to reach for her hand, but Kate held back. “You go ahead. I want to find Jenner.”

  Sam leaned down and kissed her cheek. “All right, I’ll be right back.”

  She crossed through the sea of people and found Jenner sitting in a booth, but Kate was surprised by her choice of companion.

  “Hey you two,” Kate said gleefully.

  “You look beautiful, but what happened to Finn’s costume?” Jenner questioned.

  “Sam didn’t approve. Where is Tyler?”

  “Study group,” Jenner groaned. “Eric sweetly volunteered to sub.”

  “I hope you don’t mind me crashing the party.”

  “Mind,” Kate scoffed. “I can’t wait to get you back on the dance floor,” she teased.

  “I would love to if your boyfriend doesn’t mind. Speaking of, does he always dress like that?” Eric asked.

  Kate laughed. “No, he doesn’t. Maybe you’re just lucky.” She scanned the ballroom and easily spotted Sam, not even halfway to Hannah as he was stopped every few feet by another well-wisher. Sam must have felt her stare because he turned around and met her eyes. His smile fell flat at the sight of Eric. He turned away, but a few seconds later, Kate’s phone began buzzing with his ringtone. His text message was simple and short, but to the point.

  Should I call her Nana Linda or Mrs. Logan?

  “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” Eric mumbled as he was pierced with Sam’s ice-cold glare.

  “You’re fine,” Kate dismissed with a wave of her hand before responding to Sam.

  Neither if you are including my photo spread, but if you’re lucky, you can call me Mrs. Montgomery later tonight.

  Best you remember that.

  “Sam is a bit jealous,” Kate explained.

  “A bit?” Jenner teased. “How about we teach these people how to dance?”

  For the next thirty minutes, Kate whirled, twirled, and laughed hysterically. Eric hadn’t improved his dancing skills, but he moved with a contagious enthusiasm. Eventually, the DJ put on an old blues track, and Kate decided it was time to get her man. He was standing with Hannah, Francesca, and a few other people that Kate did not recognize. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Whispering so quietly only he could hear, Kate said, “Mr. Montgomery, your future wife wants to dance.”

  Sam turned around and reached for her hand. “Then dance she shall.”

  They moved to a quiet, dark corner of the dance floor, and Sam pulled her in his arms.

  “Are you enjoying your party?”

  “Very much, but I was surprised that my future wife agreed to the burlesque theme.”

  “It was one of those things that sounded better on paper, but I think Finn did a fantastic job of keeping it classy. Did you know that this is the first time we danced together?”

  “No it’s not,” Sam denied. “I dance with you all the time, but maybe I’m the only one that hears the music.” He pulled her tight against his body, and she felt him growing hard against her belly. He leaned down and whispered against her neck, “You are going to ruin my dress.”

  “Which one?”

  “If you’re lucky, Mrs. Montgomery, both of them. There is a fabulous corner right behind you. I could take us over there, have your legs around my waist, and be inside of you in less than five seconds.”

  “That’s shocking, even for you,” Kate playfully chided. “Is that any way to treat your future wife?”

  “That’s the only way,” Sam chuckled and started to move towards the dark shadow, but the soft, soulful music faded and the bright lights flooded the floor.

  “Damn,” Sam grumbled.

  Finn walked to the center stage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said and his voice was amplified by his earpiece microphone, “if you would all please take a seat. As you all know, I have always prided myself in finding just the right present, and tonight is no exception. I searched the earth far and wide but found a world-famous burlesque dancer from right here in Austin, Texas. So, please join me in welcoming, Black Willow.”

  As the crowd cheered, Sam took Kate to a booth in front of the stage. Hannah was already sitting there with her faithful companion. Kate couldn’t help but notice the stark difference in the duo from the last time she had seen them together. Hannah had seemed so loving and attentive; now she was cold and unresponsive. Francesca had once been so innocent and lively, now she seemed to survive on the few scraps of attention Hannah cast her way. Neither woman appeared happy, but of the two, Francesca was clearly the more miserable one. Her whole world seemed to revolve around a woman who clearly didn’t care for her at all. It was really quite sad, for Francesca at least, but before Kate could consider it further, Sam
reached for her hand under the table. She started to whisper, but he gently shook his head in denial as he stroked the ring finger of her left hand.

  The lights faded until only a soft glow shimmered on a screen on the stage. From the behind the screen, the silhouette of a woman came into view. As she gently gyrated to the sound of an Indian song, it was apparent that she wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing. Her breasts were high, firm, and very much unrestricted.

  She bent down and reached for something that looked suspiciously like a candle. As she held the flame close to the screen, her bare flesh became slightly more visible. She continued to rock her body in impossibly erotic positions while the heat singed the material of the screen. The rhythm of the song escalated and so did her dance until, with the final beat of the drum, there was a hole in the screen just wide enough for her to crawl through, wearing only a long, transparent black veil of sorts that draped loosely across her body but covered all the essential parts.

  “That seems like a fire hazard,” Kate said drily.

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” Sam answered.

  “I’m sure you were.”

  The sultry siren had long, inky-black raven hair that fell in loose, tousled waves down her back and across her shimmery ivory shoulders. She sashayed with a sultry walk towards the edge of the stage. Her electric, emerald green eyes zeroed in on Sam, and with one wave of her finger she beckoned him forward.

  Sam smiled nervously and shook his head in denial, but the earthy witch refused to take no for an answer. Keeping her sheer veil in place, which somehow managed to reveal everything yet nothing at all, she gathered the long train in her hand. After she gracefully leaped from the stage and landed with the poise of a cat, she moved towards him and wrapped the gauzy material around his neck.

  “Another time,” Sam said.

  The bold, daring Black Willow, refused to speak, which only made her seem more mysterious. She cocked her head to the side and stared at him with unabashed curiosity, as if he was the first man who dared refuse her. After a few moments, her eyes flashed upon Kate. Her face remained still as a stone, but Kate thought she detected a smile seeping through the woman’s magnetic stare. As the veil fell from Sam’s shoulder, Black Willow’s long fingernail reached out and traced the curve of Kate’s jaw.

  It was just a simple touch, but it was enough to spur Sam into action. Realizing this wench wasn’t going to leave until she got one of the two of them on stage with her, he quickly scooted from the booth and went with her. He ignored the roar of applause as he hoped Kate wouldn’t hold this one last lap dance against him. The sooner she started, the sooner it would be over.

  Sam looked so miserably uncomfortable that Kate decided to let him off the hook. As loud and obnoxiously as she could muster, she hollered out over the music, “Woo Hoo! Take it off, Sam!”

  But it was one thing to be supportive and another thing to watch some voluptuous beauty dry hump her fiancé. After the woman crawled on his lap and wrapped him up in her veil, she decided she had seen her fill. Needing a distraction, she looked over at Hannah, but almost instantly wished she hadn’t.

  Hannah’s face gave nothing away, but her hand was so tightly clenched that her knuckles turned white. Kate remembered what Sam admitted about Hannah liking to watch, and with disgust realized that the crazy bitch was probably getting off on this. Kate’s eyes briefly flashed towards the stage, where Hannah watched with a frightening intensity, and she realized that Sam was superfluous. The fury of Hannah’s passion was solely focused on Black Willow. Remembering what had happened to Francesca, Kate almost felt sorry for her—almost—but she was bare-ass naked, grinding against Sam’s crotch, and Kate wasn’t that charitable.

  Kate leaned toward Hannah and whispered, “Did you find a new pet?”

  Hannah turned, unblinking. Her huge, sky blue eyes looked surreal. She slowly began to smile. “I forgot to tell you how radiant you look tonight, Kate,” she said sweetly. “You’ve tried so hard, haven’t you?” Hannah asked as her hands reached out and gently petted Kate’s hair. “It’s such a shame that all this effort is for naught, because no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, you will never be one of our kind.”

  Kate moved back, dismissing Hannah’s rude comments. As she started to turn, she caught another glimpse of Sam on the stage, and she suddenly felt a crushing squeeze in her chest. It was so unexpected yet intense, she knew she couldn’t ignore it. She quickly scooted out of the booth. As she walked through the crowd towards the bathroom, she felt increasingly lightheaded. The room was spinning out of control and she bumped into several people as she made her exit. Stupid bitch, stupid, stupid bitch, Kate muttered to herself, although she wasn’t certain if she was thinking about Hannah or herself. She had just made it out of the main entrance when, out of breath, she needed to lean against the wall to rest. And then everything went black. Meanwhile, on stage, Sam wasn’t exactly enjoying himself. After being whacked in the face twice with the damn veil, he decided it was time to end the show. As politely as possible, he whispered quietly, “That lovely woman you saw me with is my fiancée, and I would very much like to keep it that way.”

  Black Willow pulled the veil over their heads and smiled. “Lucky man,” she teased with a wink. She pulled the veil back, looked towards the crowd, then leaned down and whispered, “She’s gone.”

  “What?” Sam questioned, looking towards the booth.

  “Don’t cause a scene. She wouldn’t like that.”

  “How would you know what she would or would not like?”

  Black Willow gyrated off his lap. After a series of elaborate movements, she took him behind the curtain. “Because unlike certain people, I am a real woman. Now go find your girl, and kiss her once for me.”

  Chapter 18

  Sam entered the ballroom through the back entrance. He tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible, but was once again seized by several old friends, all of whom wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday. This time he didn’t care to be rude. When he found Jenner sitting alone with Eric, he felt an inkling of fear.

  “Have you seen Kate?”

  “The last time I saw her she was dancing with you,” Jenner answered. “I’ll go look in the bathroom.”

  “She doesn’t have her medication.”

  “I know,” Jenner said with irritation. “If she’s in trouble, we’ll figure something out.”

  Eric stood and started to go with Jenner. As they were walking away, Sam heard him ask, “What is it with her always disappearing?”

  Sam started towards the lobby. He intended to ask one of the valets if they had seen her come this way, but as most of the staff was working the party, it was deserted. He turned to go back inside when from the corner of his eye, he discovered Kate lying face down beside the wall.

  “Jesus Christ!” he screamed and rushed forward. Falling to his knees, he pulled her into his arms and tapped her face. “Kate baby, wake up…” he said softly but she remained unconscious. “Kate, goddamnit, wake up!”

  Her breath was shallow and faint and her lips were turning a strange shade of blue. Tearing through their belongings, he found his phone and dialed 911. The operator kept him on the line for several minutes while an ambulance was being dispatched. He answered all their questions as best he could, but he honestly didn’t know what had happened. After they hung up, Sam called Dr. Markson next, who agreed to meet them at the hospital. As he waited for the paramedics, Sam lightly rocked Kate in his arms, pleading over and over again, “Baby, don’t do this to me.”

  Jenner walked into the lobby as soon as the paramedics arrived. Rushing forward, she started screaming, but Sam held her back so they could do their jobs. When they started to leave to follow the ambulance to the hospital, Eric offered to stay behind and inform Hannah.

  As he promised, Dr. Markson was waiting for them at the emergency room. After a quick but thorough evaluation, Kate was transferred to the cardiac unit. A nurse came out to tell Sam
and Jenner, and as they moved to yet another waiting area, Jenner began making the necessary calls. Thankfully, this floor wasn’t nearly as crowded. Not that Sam noticed the odd looks he received down below, but it gave him more room to pace. The sound of Jenner’s voice faded to a low drone. He couldn’t make out a single word, even if he tried, over the frantic beat of his heart.

  After several minutes, he finally sat down beside Jenner. As it would take her family a little over three hours to get here from Dallas, it would be just the two of them for a while. Feeling just as helpless and scared, Jenner tossed her phone into her purse. “It’s probably just another panic attack,” she finally whispered.

  “Kate could barely breathe and her lips were turning fucking blue,” Sam growled.

  “Sam…” Jenner whimpered, wanting to comfort him but not sure what to say as she was just as terrified as he.

  An hour passed before the first visitor arrived—Hannah. “Any news?” she questioned as she breezed through the empty seats and sat down on the other side of Sam.

  “Nope,” Sam said succinctly. “We haven’t heard a damn thing yet.”

  Hannah’s lips puckered into a slight frown as she reached for his hand. She started to pull him into her arms. For a second, it looked as if Sam might recoil, but much to Jenner’s dismay, he gave in, wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face against her neck. Jenner knew very little of their relationship, only that Kate couldn’t stand Hannah. She also knew that Kate wouldn’t want Sam seeking comfort from her. Hannah looked over Sam’s head and flashed Jenner a knowing look before her lips curled into a smirk. She was an evil bitch.

  “You know she’ll be all right, baby boy,” Hannah softly cooed.

  Sam pulled away and once again shut down. He stared fixedly at the tile floor.

  “Before I came, I stopped by your place. I thought you might like to change into something more comfortable,” Hannah explained. “Is there anything else you need?”