“I tend to agree.”
“I’m Joan, by the way.”
“Joan.” I let her name roll from my tongue. Yes. Joan. It fit her well. “It’s nice to meet you, Joan.”
“You, too, Brix. Now, go get your bombshell.”
Once again I was stunned by something that came out of Joan’s mouth. Had she really used the same nicknames Aspen and I both had given one another unknowingly?
“Thanks,” I muttered, knowing Aspen wasn’t my destination.
I kissed her cheek and walked past her through the French doors. As the doors closed behind me, I heard chanting through the halls. Those who weren’t locked in sexual acts were counting down.
“Six…Five…Four…”
I leaned back against the wall outside the couples’ room and stared up at the ceiling. Under my breath I began to count with them. “Two…One.”
“Happy New Year!” the whole house chorused.
I slumped forward, resting my head in my hands. Another New Year and I was in the same predicament as the year before. Another year gone by and I’d learned nothing.
Rage surged through me as I worked my way downstairs. Throngs of people stood up and down the halls and stairwell, drinking champagne while ringing in the New Year, which only enraged me more.
All this time, I’d quite literally been sleeping with the enemy.
Worse yet, I’d been played. Repeatedly.
Conversations played over in my head. Addison’s insistence that I attend Indulgence. Mercy’s reaction to me leaving with Aspen. All this time they knew and didn’t tell me.
I needed answers. Now!
The bartender.
She was my first stop. If anyone could get me access to the top floor, it would be Mercy.
Without a care of those around me, I shoved my way through the crowd, and marched right up to the bar.
“Happy New Year, Brix!” Mercy shouted, beaming. She clapped her hands in excitement. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soo…” Her words clipped and her wide smile fell at the sight of me.
“No. Of course you wouldn’t.”
“What happened?” If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought she was actually concerned. Good thing I knew better.
“As if you don’t know.”
“I don’t.”
“I heard you, Mercy. You knew who she was and you let me walk away with her.” My body trembled from head to toe with fury. The more I thought about how I’d been played, the more irate I became.
There was an audible hitch in her breathing as a horrified understanding dawned upon her. “Brix,” Mercy warned, “you need to calm down.”
I slammed both fists onto the hard surface. Everyone within our vicinity scattered. “How dare you tell me to calm down when you knew! You knew who she was and you said nothing.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“So you’re telling me you had no clue who Aspen was? Oh, and neither did Sebastian or Addison?”
Audible gasps echoed around me at the mention of their names.
Mercy stepped from behind the counter. “Let’s not make a scene here. I’ll take you upstairs and we can talk. That’s why you came to me in the first place, is it not?”
From my chest, a delirious, hoarse laugh emerged. The tone was so dark that I almost didn’t recognize the sound of my own voice. “Yes. You’re my ticket to see the Grand Master and his mistress,” I roared, raising my voice on his name. If nothing about Indulgence was sacred, I figured the world had a right to know that Sebastian Hawk and his little girlfriend had orchestrated a show for their viewing pleasure, at my expense. Let them talk. Let them breathe in the scandal. I had.
Mercy appeared heartbroken by my snide remark, but I didn’t care. They’d betrayed me. I’d trusted them. All of them. Autumn had been right. They used me for their twisted pleasure.
I followed Mercy through the parted crowd of naked bodies. Every one of them stared at us and whispered as we passed. The rumors had already started and a piece of me bubbled with glee over the thought that tomorrow the tabloids would be flooded with the disturbance around Sebastian Hawk at his cherished Indulgence.
Nothing was said as we climbed up the spiraling staircase. Mercy periodically glanced in my direction. I could tell she wanted to say something. Anything, but nothing could do. Finally, as we neared the landing, she whispered, “I’m sorry. We all…”
“Save it,” I popped off.
She snapped her mouth shut. When we reached the top floor, we were stopped by none other than the hulking brute, Gable, a velvet cable blocking the entrance.
“Mercy?” he questioned, walking toward us. “You’re out of bounds.”
My eyes bounced between the two, knowing Mercy’s affection for the man. Though Mr. Stoic showed no interest outwardly, something told me he was just as interested.
“Tell Bass and Addison we have a development.”
Gable cut his eyes to me. I’d removed my mask before tossing it on the ground. There was no need to hide my face any longer. There was nothing left for me to conceal.
“What kind of development?” he growled, glaring at me.
Mercy bent down and picked up my mask. “The Daily Planet kind,” she stated calmly.
I rolled my eyes. “Really? That’s your code for the shit’s hit the fan?” Yep. I said it. And it felt kind of good.
Gable and Mercy said nothing. Instead Gable muttered into his wrist. I caught the words Superman and Lois Lane. That was enough to make me groan even louder.
“Batman kicks Superman’s ass,” I muttered under my breath.
“What’s that?” Gable demanded. “Are you making a threat?”
I chuckled. “Nope. Just making an accurate observation.”
A lesser man would’ve cowered at Gable’s hulking size. Hours ago, I would’ve been one of those men, but now, rage pushed aside any fear I might’ve had for him. We were in a standoff and I wasn’t backing down.
Too bad I didn’t get to test my new found anger management. Moments later, Sebastian and Addison appeared. Both were disheveled and wrapped in robes. “Brix!” she called out.
“What’s going on?” Sebastian questioned as they approached us.
“I’m sorry for interrupting you,” Mercy apologized.
“I’m not,” I snapped.
“Friends are always a welcomed interruption,” Addison reassured us.
“Friends,” I hissed, my cadence doused in sarcasm. “Now that’s hilarious.”
“Gable, please let our guests in,” Sebastian requested.
“But, sir,” Gable protested.
“Please,” came Sebastian’s command.
Gable bowed his head, but his eyes bore into me. He unhooked the rope and stepped back. “Please put on a robe,” Gable stressed.
“Oh, now you want me to wear clothes. It’s okay to demoralize everyone downstairs as long as you don’t have to look at them. But now that you’ve got to see my face and naked body, that’s not allowed.”
“Brix, please,” Addison pleaded. “It’s not like that.”
“Right, princess. Like you know what this feels like. To have everyone in on the joke you’re the butt of.” Even as the words flew from my mouth, I knew I’d been wrong to say them. Amber’s revelation about Addison’s situation last year was proof she knew exactly what I was feeling.
I pushed the momentary lapse of compassion aside. She didn’t deserve my sympathy. No matter how much she looked like I’d just kicked her in the gut.
“How about we step into the living quarters and talk,” Sebastian urged, extending his hand toward the darkened hallway they’d come from.
“Fine,” I snapped.
Gable smacked a terry cloth robe against my chest. “Put it on.”
“Whatever.” I slipped my arms into the sleeves as I followed Addison and Sebastian down the hall. Mercy followed close behind me, removing her mask while we walked.
Sebastian flipped on a light as we
entered the room. The bedding was in disarray, suggesting they had been indulging in their own carnal natures. On the table sat champagne and strawberries. “Aww, look at that. You went all Pretty Woman on her. Did she charge you for the night, too?”
“Brix!” Addison squelched. “This isn’t like you.”
“You’re right. It’s not like me. But when someone toys with me the way you did, it becomes me.” I marched around the room and plopped down on the sofa, uncaring if my robe flew open. “What really gets me is I defended you tonight and this is how I am repaid. Autumn hasn’t trusted you from the beginning. She said you used me last year. I should’ve listened to her. She’s never steered me wrong.”
Addison floated down beside me, holding her hand up to Sebastian who tried to stop her. Tears welled in her eyes. “I felt terrible about how things went down between us last year. You’re a good guy who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was upset with Bass, and you gave me an opportunity…” She sighed. “The point is, I didn’t have to walk away with you, but I did and I hurt you in the process.”
“Oh, stop acting all noble.”
“It’s the truth,” Sebastian vowed. He took a step forward. “I put her in a terrible position last year. I figured she had no idea who I really was and I took advantage of what I thought was her lack of knowledge. When you showed up, I was about to reveal myself, but then I realized that I might be making a mistake. It didn’t help that you’re a handsome guy. Someone she knew and trusted.”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I don’t care about all that. What I care about is the game you played on me tonight. Heck, this past year. You knew who she was yet you kept her identity a secret.”
Addison reached over and took my hands in hers. I wanted to rip them away, but the sight of a newly placed diamond caught my attention. Sebastian had done it. He’d asked her to marry him.
“Yes, I admit we knew who you were searching for at the wedding, but Brix, we didn’t do it to hurt you.”
That’s when I ripped my hands back. “Wait! You knew at the wedding?”
Sebastian dropped down on the ottoman in front of us. “We did. And Aspen’s behavior was completely inappropriate.”
Addison looked from me to Sebastian. “We saw her talking to you at the bar. Then you two disappeared. We knew what happened.”
“Then you came looking for her,” Mercy included. I’d almost forgotten she was there.
I ran my fingers through my hair. “She refused to give me her name.”
“That’s because she’s under contract with me,” Sebastian clarified.
I scooted back onto the sofa, pulling my robe tight around my legs. “Why make a deal with her? She outed you, right? That’s what Mercy told me.”
The three of them shared a strange look. “That’s true,” Mercy replied. “But I left out details.”
“Such as?”
Addison inhaled. “Such as, you were the reason she knew about my connection to Sebastian.”
“I know.” I shrugged. “She told me she overheard everything that happened between us last year.”
Addison covered her mouth in horror. “She told you?”
“Yeah.”
“For Addison,” Sebastian interrupted.
“What?” I barked.
“You asked me why I made a deal with Aspen. It was for Addison. She’d begged me to keep your name out of everything. I agreed to make Aspen a liaison if she left you out of the story. But I also included in our contract that she was to keep her distance from you. Under no circumstances was she to ever attempt to gain more information from you about Addison or myself.”
“So, you see,” Mercy dropped our masks down beside Sebastian on the ottoman and scooted in next to him, “by contacting you at the wedding, she broke the rules.”
“That is, until we realized she didn’t give you a name.”
“You and your stupid rules.” I winced.
I rubbed my fingers along my nose. A lump the size of Texas resided in my throat. All of my anger was gone. In its place was pure misery. “I get it, but why? If you’re supposed to be my friend, why play with my life this way? You would’ve save me so much heartache had I known.”
Addison licked her lips and wiped her eyes. “I wanted to tell you who she was, but─”
“I didn’t trust her,” Sebastian finished.
Addison rested her hand on Sebastian’s knee. “But I could see it in your eyes. There was something more. And when I confronted Aspen about the situation, it was evident to me that she also felt something more, too.”
“So, Addison came to me,” Mercy interjected. “She wanted to ensure you and Aspen found each other here tonight.”
“But I didn’t want to chance it,” Sebastian included, placing his hand over Addison’s.
“And we fought,” Addison inserted. She tilted her head toward me. It’s why I came to the studio and waited for you. It’s why I asked you to return to Indulgence. I knew she’d be here and if we could just get you two in a room together…” Addison wringed her hands together. “It was a stupid idea. I should’ve just told you the truth.”
“So that night at your house…” All three nodded in sync. “That was about me?”
“Yes.”
My shoulders dropped. “Well, your plan sucked.”
“You found each other.” Addison seemed hopeful.
“They sure did,” Mercy noted, “but apparently it didn’t end well or we wouldn’t be up here.”
I scratched my jaw and sighed. “I demanded her real name. She refused to give it. It sort of went downhill from there.”
“This is all my fault. I should’ve listened to you, Bass,” Addison announced, covering her face with her hands.
Sebastian reached out and took her hand in his. “Actually, I should’ve listened to you. I played God, and it seems I’ve hurt two people tonight. One I count as a friend.” Sebastian turned his gaze on me. “I hope you can forgive me.”
I dropped my eyes. Only time would tell if I could forgive any of them.
“What do we do now?” Mercy wanted to know.
“Nothing,” I stated.
“What? No!” Addison stood up, staring down on me. “We can fix this. We simply need to get you two in a room without any pretenses…”
I shook my head. “No. It’s done. Leave it be.”
“I can’t! This is my fault!”
Sebastian stood up and took her in his arms. “Red, leave it be as he’s requested.”
“But this is Indulgence. Everyone deserves a chance to find what they most desire.”
Sebastian turned to me. “Brix, were you satisfied tonight?” He paused. “Before the shit hit the fan?”
I thought for a moment then nodded. “Yes. Yes, I was.”
Sebastian returned his focus to Addison. “Then he discovered Indulgence for what it’s really meant for.”
“But─”
He touched his finger to her lips. “My darling Red, listen to me. Not everyone’s meant to find what we did at Indulgence. What most are seeking is pure satisfaction. Brix found that tonight.”
“I know, but─” she mumbled through his fingers, which he pressed more firmly against her lips.
“That’s more than most people can say, Red. Ask anyone here. They’ll tell you that they walk out feeling physically satisfied, but nothing at Indulgence ever touches their souls. Brix,” he pointed to me, “can tell you he’s walking away completely satisfied. He hurts, that much is true, but he has touched something special while here. That’s rare.”
“Then we fix it.”
“Only Aspen can make that choice, Red.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth drew slack. “So, does that mean…”
He simply nodded.
“Well, let’s call her. Right now!” Addison exclaimed.
I stood up and joined beside them. “No, Addison. Leave her be. I’m going to leave and never come back. While I apprec
iate what you’ve done, trying to protect me and all,” I paused, nodding, “I just need to walk away and never look back.”
“I understand. I’m so sorry,” Addison mewled.
“I know.”
“If you change your mind, Indulgence will always be open to you,” Sebastian offered.
“Thank you, but I won’t change my mind.”
Mercy stepped into the small group, resting her hand on my bicep. “We’ll make sure Autumn is aware of your departure and tended to.”
I patted her hand. “Thanks. I’ll see myself out.”
I started toward the darkened hallway, but was stopped by the sound of Addison’s voice calling me. I turned to see her standing in Sebastian’s arms. “Don’t be a stranger.”
A small smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. “Congratulations, you two. I hope you have all the happiness the world has to offer.”
With that, I exited their living quarters and made my way downstairs where I collected my clothing and put Indulgence behind me. Somethings are better left as memories, and Indulgence was one of those things for me. Nothing but a memory.
Disoriented, I rubbed my tired eyes, barely opening them. Streams of light filtered into the room through the closed blinds and curtains, burning my retinas. I slammed my eyes shut, refusing to resurface from my slumber. Sleep was my friend.
All was silent around me. It was just me and my comfy bed. I rolled over, scrunching deeper into my warm bedding. With a grunt, I hugged my pillow and began to doze off again.
My body jolted at the sound of a knock at the door. I bolted upright. Like a pack of elephants, everything trampled through my mind once more. Only hours ago I’d been at Indulgence. The ache was still fresh and raw.
I swung my feet over the side of the bed and reached for my cellphone. There were a half dozen text messages, which I didn’t read, and four missed calls. One from Autumn and three from my mother. More than likely my mother wanted money, so I chose to ignore her missed calls for now. I’d have to deal with that crap later. But Autumn...Gah! I was a terrible friend. She would’ve left Indulgence an hour or so ago and I was sleeping rather than worrying about her.
“Dang it!” I jumped out of the bed and rushed to the front door, expecting to find an angry Autumn standing there waiting for me.
Satisfaction (Taking Chances #2) Page 12