The NOVA Trilogy Boxed Set

by Jayce, Aven

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m fine, Devery. But confused as to why you keep calling me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “None of your business,” I grumble.

  There’s a pause and then I hear papers rustle in the background. “I’d like to help you, Sophia. Please tell me where you are.”

  “What makes you think I’m not at home?” pissed off that she knows something that she isn’t telling me. Just like the rest of them. She asked me that same question when I spoke to her yesterday in the hotel room.

  “I received a text from someone who’s worried about you. He said you left your father’s casino… alone. Vegas at night isn’t the place for a twenty-three-year-old woman to walk around by herself.” Devery sighs then I hear more papers being moved around. “Wait. Cove is twenty-four right? And you’re twenty-three?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “Is he there with you?”

  “God, Devery. What gives,” I say, frustrated by her lack of direction. “What do you want? And who sent you a text? I’m so tired of everyone’s shit. Come forward with what you want and why you called. NOW.”

  She responds in a split second. “My brother Doron called me. He saw you leave without Cove and he said you looked upset.”

  “Well duh, my father had Cove submit to him on his knees, and like I already told you, my father has my friend. So if you want to help me, then wise-up. The Evertons aren’t the bad guys and my father’s not a Saint.”

  There’s silence from the other end of my phone. I watch the fountain, but no longer hear any music, tourists, or sounds from the busy street. My ears only hone in on and wait for Devery’s voice to return. I watch the water ballet fall and disappear. Couples who were captivated with the sight return to their business, leaving me alone with my shrink.

  “I’m torn, Sophia. I hear different things from different people and I don’t know whom to believe. My family has a long history with your father. My parents love him, and treat him like a son, yet I sense that something’s not right with the current situation.”

  “Now you sense something’s wrong? Just the current situation? Geez you’re slow. Past situation. You know about Cove’s father.”

  “No, I don’t know much about that.”

  “Then why won’t you speak to Leondra?”

  “We’ve had our differences.”

  “Devery, I don’t trust you.”

  “It seems to me that you don’t trust anyone.”

  “Fuck you,” I say, wanting to scream into my phone, but hold back since there’re a few children in the area. “You know, for a therapist, you sure do have a knack for making one of your patients feel like shit about herself all the time. What do you know anyway? You said to me once that I should tell you what I know and not what I saw when I explained a certain person and situation. Well what about you? What do you know?” I hang up, furious that she would even call. What a bitch.

  I lean back and realize I just avoided another situation. I should’ve kept talking to her. Fuck. Aargh! I touch her number and call back.

  She answers quickly, a tone of relief in her voice. “Sophia.”

  “Okay, so tell me what you want.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, right now, I’m fine. I left the casino to clear my head. The sights that I experienced at my father’s adult expo overwhelmed me and the control I saw him have over Cove ripped my heart out. It was too much, and there’s so much going on behind the scenes that I’m confused. All I want is to go to my father’s house, grab Mera’s hand, find Cove, and have the three of us head back to St. Louis.”

  “So you and Cove didn’t go to Vegas for the expo?”

  “What? Are you serious? No, we’re not here for a porn expo,” I snarl as my nostrils flare in anger. “Who told you that?”

  “I just… I knew you were going there, to Vegas. Your father told me after Cove purchased two tickets. He said you might need extra therapy after you attended the event with Cove. He made it sound like Cove brought you into a dark world, against your will.”

  “My father needs to stop tracking people. How does he know what Cove spends his money on? Never mind, don’t answer that. I’m not surprised to hear that he knew about the flight as soon as Cove bought the tickets. And, my father isn’t honest with you. I didn’t come here against my will, and Cove didn’t bring me into a dark world. It’s just the opposite. He wants to protect me from my father’s way of life.”

  “So Cove didn’t force you on a plane?”

  “Of course not. I think you’re just as brainwashed by my father as everyone else. I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do,” I sigh, wanting to hang up again. This conversation isn’t going anywhere.

  “Sophia… I need to know if you truly believe everything that Cove Everton has told you. Deep down in your heart, what do you believe to be true?”

  “I’ve never doubted him Devery,” I immediately respond. “I don’t know what you know, and I can only imagine you’ve heard horrible things from both my father and your brothers, but I feel I’ve made the right choice and I believe what he tells me.”

  “So let me ask you again. Where are you?”

  “I’m outside the Bellagio, watching the fountain water soar.”

  “By yourself?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you’re on the right path and you truly believe the words of Cove Everton, yet you’re outside on the Vegas strip… alone?”

  God dammit. Devery Rosen beats me again.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “I said, I just need some time to clear my head,” I groan to Devery as I try and explain why I’m not with Cove right now.

  “I understand, but maybe now it’s time to go back. My brother knows that city well, and he wouldn’t have texted me that he’s worried unless you had placed yourself in danger.”

  “Why would your brother care about me? Besides, your brother is part of the problem. Both of them.”

  She sighs, quickly changing the subject. “Why don’t you head back to the casino so that you’re not out in a strange city all alone.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll head back, even though I’m angry and confused right now, if you do something for me.”

  “I told you I’d like to help you. What can I do for you, Sophia?”

  “Call Leondra,” I request.

  “I’m not sure you understand… I can’t… my family wouldn’t…” she stammers. “I’ll try.”

  “It would mean a lot to her. She’s lonely, and with Cove gone, and her husband’s body recently smashed to pieces I can only imagine she has nothing to do but worry about the two of them.”

  “What happened to her husband?”

  “Ask her. Call her and ask her,” I say, hanging up my phone. “God, I need a drink. I always need a drink after I talk to her,” I say under my breath. I’ll head back to the casino after the next song plays. Devery’s right, again. I shouldn’t be out here alone, but not because I feel like I’m in danger. Rather, I shouldn’t have overreacted back at the expo. I stomped off like a little kid. I wonder if Cove will even speak to me if I go back.

  The song that plays is pretty and I recognize it as one of Faith Hill’s that I’ve heard on iTunes. Something about a kiss. This Kiss maybe? A new group of tourists gather. They hold hands and enjoy what I now believe to be the best attraction in all of Vegas, just like Cove said. I see a bride, still in her dress, kissing her new husband. It melts my heart. I look around, noticing all the smiling faces, people happy to be out with one another.

  “Cove,” I whisper. He’s on the bench next to me. His body leans forward. His forearms rest on his legs and his hat is in his hands. He looks down at the ground and keeps his distance. I stand, rushing over to him, quickly taking my place by his side. Sadness radiates off his body and he shudders as I place my hand on his thigh.

  “Cove, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to walk away from you.”
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br />   “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?” he asks in a low and sullen voice.

  I don’t answer him, not sure what I want to do. I know we can’t sit here forever, but I also don’t want to be in a small room together if he’s mad at me.

  “Sophia,” he mumbles, rubbing his index finger and thumb across his eyes. “I should’ve gone by myself. I didn’t want you to see me like that, down on my knees, your father in complete control. I made a mistake.”

  “No,” I reply in a soft tone. “No, you didn’t. I acted like a child. You asked me to trust you, no matter what was said. No matter what happened between you and my dad, and I didn’t. I left. I’m the one who made the mistake this time.”

  He leans back, takes my hand in his and gently kisses my wrist.

  “How did you know where to find me?” I ask.

  “Gut feeling. I knew you wouldn’t go back to the room alone, and you were awestruck earlier by the beauty of this water. I couldn’t picture you anywhere else. That was nice by the way… what you said to Devery.”

  “What?”

  “About my mother. I heard the last part of your conversation. That was nice. You’re a good person, I only wish I didn’t have to put you through all of this.”

  He finally looks at me, all the joy in his face from earlier is gone, replaced with dismay. “Your father’s upset that you called him Dad in front of all those people.”

  “Good for him. I don’t care.”

  “He also told me that you can speak to Mera tomorrow, but only after you come with me to his office for a meeting.” My eyes light up with this new information. “I didn’t want to take you there. I knew you wouldn’t like what you saw at the expo, and it will only be worse tomorrow, but he insists that you need to be there. And I know why,” he sighs. “I want to go back to the room, Sophia. It’s getting late and I want to spend some time with you alone, in peace, without any interruptions or arguments.”

  “Why does my father want me at his office?”

  Cove leans in and runs his warm tongue around my earlobe, gently tugging and nibbling. He stops, and places his fingers through my hair, whispering a reminder of his request. “I’m tired of sharing you with this city. The past two hours haven’t gone well and I want to make it up to you. Let’s head back.”

  “Cove,” I say sternly, trying not to be a bitch again, but in demand of answers. “Please.”

  He exhales and pulls me up to his chest. “Because he likes to see me suffer. Because he wants you to watch me submit to him. Because he’s an ass.”

  “I get it. Okay, let’s go back, but I’m still not happy that you have a secret.”

  “I’m not either.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m not,” he looks at me, his face serious and sincere. “Don’t you think I would tell you if I could?”

  “Well since you can’t tell me about Blackjack, can you at least tell me why you have to keep it a secret?”

  “Hmm, let me think about that one,” he responds with the glimpse of a smile and gracious relief in his eyes that I’m no longer running from him because of it. “I guess I can say that I’ve kept it to myself because I need to figure out how to separate you and me from your father’s business, even though that seems impossible. I’ll give your father a choice tomorrow. It’s very personal to me, but to him it will be all about the money involved.”

  “What are you going to do, offer to buy me from him or something?”

  “No,” he laughs. “I wish it were that easy.”

  “Hey,” I say, a little offended by the last comment.

  “I’d pay millions for you, Baby.”

  “Only millions?”

  “Billions?”

  “Yeah, that’s better. So it’s a business deal. Nothing involving guns, drugs, or anything illegal?” I inquire. He pauses and I immediately worry. “Cove?”

  “I don’t think it’s illegal, no.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound promising. You don’t think?”

  “Tomorrow, Soph,” he says, squeezing my hand. “Nine in the morning. You’ll be there too.”

  “And Blackjack will be there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then I’ll let it go for tonight,” I surrender, beginning to feel a need to have that tongue against my flesh once again.

  “Yeah?” he questions.

  “Yes, I’m tired of sharing you with this city as well. I just want the two of us to be alone. Let’s get naked.”

  Cove smiles, his steps become hurried as we work our way through the crowds and traffic back to the hotel. I’m anxious as well, with butterflies afloat in my stomach. A feeling that I heard happens with puppy love.

  He takes out his phone and orders a bottle of Zinfandel and the Romance Special for our room. I laugh, not knowing what the special means, but impatiently taking off my heels and changing the hurried pace to a run in order to find out.

  We make it to our modest, yet romantic off-the-strip hotel, out of breath, taking the stairs fervently up a few floors to our suite.

  “Where’s the card?” I say, heatedly in need of some privacy with my man.

  Cove frantically pulls out his wallet, finds the card and slips it into the reader. He turns the handle without waiting for the green light. We’re still locked out.

  “Do it again!” I demand as both of us laugh.

  The elevator dings and we see room service with our cart. Cove grins, places the card on the reader, and slowly swipes it through the device. He waits for the green light and opens the door, allowing me to rush in under his arm. He waits for the cart in the doorway, keeping one eye on me as I toss my heels on the floor. I hear the door close… and lock. He opens the wine and begins to pour a glass, passionately smirking as I slide out of my dress.

  “No wine, sex,” I say. “Now.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t you want to see the Romance Special?”

  “Actually yeah,” I say, walking over only in my black lace lingerie. I place my arm around his back and rest my head on his chest as he opens the basket. “Oh good, condoms.”

  “I expected three and not an entire box. That’s a bit intimidating.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, Babe. We can save some for a rainy day.”

  He laughs and pulls out a bottle of oil. I watch as he peels the plastic off the cap and sniffs the contents. “Hmm, perfect, it’s vanilla.”

  “Yeah that is perfect. What else do we have?”

  “Chocolate truffles, a rose… yikes.”

  “What?”

  Cove takes out a wooden spoon and laughs. “Wow, that’s not one bit romantic. I wonder if the kitchen staff threw it in as a joke?”

  “I think it’s intentional, look, there’s a box of Firecracker candies as well. Oh yay! And two candles with matches.” I beam, lighting them as Cove dims the lights to the room. “Now that’s sexy.”

  “No, you’re sexy. Look at you, standing there practically naked in the warm candlelight, arousing me with your gorgeous body. I feel like I won the lottery. How did I get so lucky?”

  “Oh yeah?” I reply in my sexiest voice, hot and in need of his cock. I tilt my hip and run my finger down the front of my chest while I lick my lips. My hand reaches my underwear and I leisurely slide the skimpy lace cloth down my legs, stepping out as it drops to the floor. “You know, it’s been an entire day since you fucked me,” I tease.

  “That was your choice,” he grins, taking off his dark grey sport coat and tossing it over the chair next to the secretary desk. “But I promise you, it will be worth the wait. Why don’t you lie across that bed for me and spread your legs. I want to stick my tongue in that wet pussy of yours before my dick pushes its way inside.”

  I rush to the bed and throw myself onto the mattress, smiling in anticipation. Cove unbuttons his shirt and slides out of his black oxfords. His movements have deliberately slowed since our sprint to the hotel. He swaggers to the edge of the bed, takes my
legs in his hands and slowly raises them toward my body until my knees are bent. His hands glide over my skin, down my thighs, to my knees. He spreads them apart and explores my wet lower lips with his eyes.

  “Beautiful,” he remarks. “You wet for me, Baby? Do you want me?”

  I nod, biting my lower lip.

  His hand lightly traces my left nipple, over my heart then down to my stomach. He kneels on the bed and places soft kisses around my belly button. His breath is warm. He travels down my body to my clit with his tongue.

  “Cove,” I whisper, needing him more than ever. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Sophia Jameson,” he says in his softest voice, his body descending further down and off the bed, leaving just his head between my legs. I tilt my head back, eager for him to pleasure me. Shadows from the candles flicker on the ceiling, reminding me of the glowing desert stars from last night. His tongue slides up then down between my inner lips, and I moan in delight.

  “You’re so sweet,” he says, circling my clit as his hands run along my legs, ending at my feet. He grips my ankles, not permitting me to escape as his tongue lunges deep inside my inner space.

  “Oh,” I whimper. “God, Babe.”

  He tightens his hands as I try to close my legs, and I swear even though I can’t see his face, I can feel his smile. His lips surround my clit and encompass my pounding arousal spot. Warm air rushes out of his nose and swarms into my most sensitive areas. Goose bumps rise over my flesh. I can feel my release quickly build, and as usual I can’t last more than a few minutes when he’s down on me. He knows exactly what to do, driving me crazy, producing a fast explosion without any direction. My legs tense as his tongue lunges at my G-spot and I begin to whimper and groan. He stops before I come, standing over me.

  “Take off my pants,” he orders.

  I rock my hips in need of his mouth to return, but then comply with his demands. Sitting up I unbutton and unzip his pants. I yank the sides down, pulling his boxers along as well. He waits with his hands on his hips, his hair mussed, eyes full of passion and want. His cock is fully erect and at eye level, with pre-cum on the tip. I grab hold of him and lick the sticky fluid off. He exhales and grips the back of my head as I fill my mouth with his entire length, deep to the back of my throat.