by Nikki Prince
“I couldn’t stay. There was so much going on at home.”
“Yes, your father died. You wouldn’t let me comfort you.”
She shuddered, and he saw the tears forming in her eyes at the mention of her father.
“Please don’t make me talk about him right now.”
“If not with me, who will you talk to about this? You have to talk to someone.”
He stroked the pad of his thumb slowly along her chin. She was so soft; he could not help but touch her in some way.
“I’m okay. I can get through this. I don’t need to talk to anyone.”
“Really? Then tell me why are you crying and why you continue to run from me if you have it all under control?”
“We aren’t meant to be.”
He laughed and she looked at him, a frown on her face.
“What’s so funny?” She still had that adorable grimace on her countenance as she asked him that question.
“We connect on so many levels. You need me just as much as I need you. Why won’t you let go and let me take care of you?”
“I don’t need to be taken care of…” She sobbed and he held on to her even tighter, comforting her.
“Yes, you do. You above all others need to be taken care. You’ve spent all your life taking care of others. You took care of your father, who was terminally ill, your stepmother and your two stepsisters.” She gasped and he nodded. “You didn’t think I knew that, did you? Those very sisters you’re still taking care of and don’t have to, Cinda.”
“Dad had cancer.” She began to cry. “I promised him that I’d take care of everyone. I couldn’t. I … just couldn’t disobey him.”
“Shhh … it’s enough for right now. You don’t have to tell it all to me in one sitting.” He rocked her gently back and forth, rubbing his hands soothingly over her back.
She wiped furiously at the tears streaking down her face. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“Truth is, Cin, I had Jaq call in sick.”
“Why would he do that?” She was looking up at him with her big caramel-colored eyes. Cinda was so beautiful and so his.
“He did it to get us together at my request.”
“You talked to Jaq about us?”
“Yes, I talked to him about our being in a relationship. I didn’t say anything about our lifestyle together, but he saw the picture that I have of you over on my desk and a conversation started one day. He just happened to mention that the woman in the photo looked like his boss.”
She glanced over at his desk. It was apparent she couldn’t see the picture he was speaking of when she turned back to him.
“Which picture?” she whispered softly.
“The first one we took together, our first date.”
“The one we took at the amusement park.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact, and it showed she remembered. She swallowed hard and pressed her forehead to his.
“That very one.”
He could describe the picture by heart if she’d asked him to. She’d been smiling as they stood in front of a fairy tale castle, his arms around her as he stood behind her and they both peered at the camera. She’d told him she’d wanted to feel carefree as she had before her mother had died and her father had turned to the other woman in his life. So he’d taken her to the amusement park.
“I need to go.” She had her face pressed to his throat and as she spoke her breath tickled across his skin. He was as horny as a man could possibly be, but years of discipline held him back from taking her just yet. They had some issues to get over within their relationship. The main thing was that Cinda needed to give over her trust completely. If she didn’t, it would destroy the both of them. He couldn’t go another five years without her, and he was sure she wouldn’t be able to as well.
Chapter Three
The look of determination in Nico’s eyes more than told her that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“The only place you’re going to go is from here to my bed, Cinda. I don’t want to let you go. I’m tired of waiting for you to figure out that your place is with me.”
“I can’t just drop everything. I have responsibilities.”
“You mean you have Drusilla and Anastasia to take care of? They’re old enough now to take care of themselves. Instead of just leaching off you and the business your father built.”
“Please, I don’t want to argue about this anymore.”
“Then come with me for the weekend. Meet me at the club this Friday night. If after this weekend you no longer wish to be in my presence, I will honor that.”
What could a weekend hurt? She’d get to spend a few more days with the man she’d loved for the last five years and then when the time came to leave him, she’d at least have the memories to hold on to.
“I can’t think with you holding me this close. Please just let me get dressed so I can think.”
He let her go, though it seemed reluctantly, and she stood. Grabbing her clothes from the floor, she dressed slowly. That was when the fear crept in yet again. She couldn’t do this. There was too much at stake. She glanced back at Nico who sat on the sofa as relaxed as a tiger ready to pounce on its prey, drenched in the evidence of her need for him. There wasn’t a man in this world more beautiful or dangerous to her. From his closely cropped red hair and perfectly groomed red goatee to his 6’4” muscled body, he was it for her. It was a shame she couldn’t indulge and let him keep her. Her mind made up, she gave him a smile that she was sure conveyed her sadness and regret and just as he stood she bolted. This time she made it out of the door but not before grabbing her heels and running.
She was almost out of the building when she dropped one of her heels. Looking behind her she gasped as he was almost on her. Turning she left the heel and opened the office door, running with her bare feet and not stopping till she made it to her car. She pushed the button that would open her keyless car and got in, starting the vehicle and peeling out of the parking lot at the stroke of midnight. The last thing she saw in her rearview mirror was Nico standing in the parking lot with her silver shoe in his hand and a dark glare on his face, watching her drive off. Once again she’d let her Master down. She let the tears fall.
***
Disappointment had washed over him as he watched her drive off and out of his life once again. Reaching into his pants pocket he pulled out his cell and dialed. Placing the phone to his ear he waited for the recipient of his call to answer. It was time to call in the big dogs and he knew just who to get ahold of.
“Doctor Fairee, how can I help you?”
“Wonderful, you’re in; I was thinking I’d have to leave a message.”
“Nico, my boy, what can I assist you with?”
“I need help capturing my own wish.” He’d spent a lot of time helping others make their wishes and fantasies come true. Now it was his turn to be on the receiving end.
“Let me guess, dear boy, you want to get Cinda Rella back into your life to stay.” The good doctor had been instrumental in helping him find Cinda the first time. Nicolai had been coming to the club for years with no true connection to anyone other than Felipe. Doctor Fairee had suggested that he speak with Cinda, as they seemed to have personalities that would match, amongst other things. Boy, had he been right.
“Yes, that’s what I want. I had her here tonight, but she’s run again. I don’t think she and I can take much more time alone.”
“It’s my job to make wishes come true. I’m sure I can come up with some satisfying way to bring about your very own dream come true.”
“Yes, you did a wonderful job with Felipe and Aurora.”
“My dear, dear boy, that wasn’t all me. You played a huge part in it as well.”
“That may be, but this time … I’m in need of your help. If you can just get Cin to the club I’ll do everything else.”
“I’ll get her there.” He heard the older man chuckle. “After all it’s what I do.”
“And you do it so well, my friend. Thank you.”
“No thanks are needed, you know that but you’re welcome. Make sure you fill out the forms for all the things you want to have happen.”
“Yep, I know the drill … consider it done.” He hung up the cell and dialed one more number.
“Felipe.”
“Hey, man, sorry to disturb you. I’m going to request one of your suites for this weekend.” He could hear some giggling in the background and he recognized the laughter as coming from Aurora.
“Shh, mi vida,” he heard Felipe say. There was another soft giggle and then silence. “Of course, anything for you, my club is open to you at any time. I’m sure you’ve already spoken with Fairee to have him work his magic?”
“Si, I called him before calling you. I appreciate this, bro.”
“Think nothing of it. You know mi casa es tu casa.”
“Mm, yes I know. Still though, I’d rather ask you out of respect. Thank you, my friend. I hope you and Aurora will be about this weekend?” Felipe and Nicolai had been friends since college. Both men having the same tendencies towards kink they’d shared women from time to time. So when Felipe had come to Nicolai to ask for his help in making his dream of having Aurora come true he’d done so.
“Hell yes, we wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Excellent, see you there.” He was about to hang up when Felipe spoke up.
“You okay, mi amigo?”
“No, not really, but I will be. I just need her back in my life. I know you feel me on that.”
“Si, I totally understand. If anyone can work miracles and get her there, it will be the Doc. You’ll just have to get her to stay.”
“Therein lies the rub, Felipe. I will be pulling out all the stops to keep her. Once she’s there I’m not going to play fair.”
“I don’t blame you. Whoever said all in love was fair was wrong.” They both chuckled.
“Let me let you get back to your Aurora. See you soon.”
“Like I said before, wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Nico hung up the phone and pocketed it and then headed back to his office with the sexy silver heel in hand.
***
The sound of her bedroom phone ringing pulled her out of her restless sleep and sent her scrambling to pick it up. She picked it up on the last ring.
“Hello.”
“Is this Cinda A. Rella?” The voice sounded very official so she answered quickly, though she heard the question in her own speech as she waited for the male on the other end to speak again.
“Yes, this is she.”
“This is Senior Officer Gus Octavius.”
What the hell was an officer calling her for?
She sat up and settled back against the pillows and wiped her hand wearily over her eyes. She eyed the clock sitting on her nightstand and blinked. It was only eleven at night. She’d gone to bed early, having slept badly the night before.
“Okay, I don’t mean to be rude, but am I supposed to know you?”
“Pardon me, ma’am, I didn’t mean to imply that. I’m the head security guard at Fantasy, the exclusive club in the city.”
Her frown deepened even further when the guard mentioned the club’s name. Fantasy. It was the club where she was supposed to meet Nico. The club was her old stomping grounds, the place where all her fantasies and dreams had become a reality when she was with him. Every fantasy possible could be had there. What a crappy coincidence.
“Um, okay, again I don’t mean to be rude but why is the head security guard for the club calling me? I don’t remember owing anything from the last few times I visited. In fact it’s been a few years since I’ve been there.” The officer went on to tell her exactly why he was calling, and what he told her definitely made her wake up quickly. When she got off the phone she fell back against the pillows and covered her eyes with her hand.
Cinda grumbled to herself. The security guard Gus told her that her sisters were in custody for having ordered rounds of drinks and dinner, and then trying to skip out on paying the bill. He wanted her to come down so the two girls could be released. They’d given her name as the point of contact.
How’d Ana and Dru found out about it? Why were they there in the first place? God, the possibilities of what could be wrong were endless when it came to those two. They were queens of jealousy and troublemaking, and if there was a way to try to annoy Cinda, they’d find it. Boy, had they found it.
She’d rushed home after the incident with Nico the day before and now she had to trek down to the club to see what mischief they’d gotten into. When would they ever grow up? You’d think that with their mother’s death they’d see that life was short and make changes, but sadly that hadn’t happened.
The last thing security officer Gus told her was that she’d need to be in club attire. She wouldn’t be allowed in if she came in street clothes. That was when she’d let out her frustration over the whole incident and yelled at the guard, stating that she knew the rules. She understood she’d have to be in club attire. Most specifically she needed to be in stilettos.
Annoyance burned through her. There was no way it didn’t come across over the phone, which made security officer Gus restate his position.
“Ma’am, I understand your frustration. I’m only telling you what I was told to tell you. You will need to come here and speak with my boss once you do.”
“You can’t understand my frustration. Forgive my outburst, but there is no way you can understand. Tell your boss I will be there.” She hung up the phone.
Boy, he was clueless. As many times as she’d been to Fantasy she had knowledge of the rules and what was expected. The place had a dress code to be sure, and she’d have to play by those rules in order to step foot into it. Shaking her head, she got up to shower and get dressed. This was turning out to be a hellish week.
So there she was dressed up as if she was going out for a night of fun in her car driving to the club in the hopes that she could get in and out without having to see Nicolai Charming. The club was his release. There was no doubt in her mind that he would be there. Now all she had to do was get in and get out.
Chapter Four
Anastasia looked at Drusilla and scowled.
“You know, Cinda is going to be pissed, right?”
“When isn’t she pissed at us?”
Anastasia couldn’t help the laugh that tumbled forth. “When we’re asleep?”
“Yeah, you got that right.” Drusilla giggled and played with brown hair.
“She has to take care of us, has to.” Anastasia shrugged her shoulders standing to pace back and forth in the security office they’d been left in. They hadn’t seen anyone since being escorted in there and giving the guard Cinda’s name and number.
“Well, it’s not our fault we drank way more than we could pay for.” Dru giggled.
“Well … damn right it isn’t.” Anastasia hiccupped and both women fell out in peals of laughter. “Although I think breaking the glass behind the bar we were at was a bit much. Nor was it cool to leave such a mess at our table. I think we may have messed up the stools. Hell, I don’t remember all that we did.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“I think we’re just a lil’ bit drunk.” Drusilla snorted and they both laughed again.
“Nope, I think you’re wrong, Dru, we’re a lot drunk.” Anastasia hiccupped several more times.
“So what are we gonna tell Cinduh?” Dru asked her. Anastasia giggled because they always exaggerated Cinda’s name on purpose.
“We’re gonna tell her to pay the bill.”
Drusilla made a silly face at Anastasia, and they went into another fit of laughter.
***
Cinda pulled up to the club and parked. Closing her eyes for a moment, she focused on what she needed to do. Her plan of attack was to go in and get her sisters and then leave. There could be no other way around it. Turning off the car she stepped out and closed the door. She ran he
r hands over her body slowly to smooth down the red zipper dress she wore with the six-inch black stiletto heels. If she didn’t have to be at the club to clean up someone else’s mess, she would’ve actually enjoyed having to be all dolled up.
Before she changed her mind and left her sisters at the club to rot, she put one foot in front of the other and walked to gate where a man guarded the door with a clipboard. He had to be about 6’6” standing there in black. It was Lucien. No one messed with Luc. As big as he was he looked like he could crush a person’s skull with his bare hands. As intimidating as he was, he was also handsome. With hair black as sin in a military cut and his wolfish good looks she was more than surprised he wasn’t in the club having his own good time. From what she’d been told he’d been in the military before getting out and coming to work as a bouncer at the club.
“Hey, Cinda, long time no see.” He smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling.
“Luc, it has been a long time.” She gave him a genuine grin. This was one person at the club that she didn’t mind seeing. He leaned in and picked her up, giving her a bear hug. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. He set her back down on her feet.
“You’re looking mighty fine these days, girl. Where have you been hiding yourself?”
“Not necessarily hiding, but just not here.”
“That’s a vague answer. Though it’s okay, I understand. Now go ahead on in. I’m sure everyone will be happy to see you.”
She gave him a pat on the shoulder and moved past him. “Thank you, Lucien, I won’t be in here long.”
“Really? Nicolai is in there,” he called after her just as the door closed. She froze in place as his words washed over her and left her shivering in their wake. She’d known he’d be there, and now the urgency she’d felt before came back. The club was teeming with occupants; it was the same as it ever was. The thrum of the music filled her with the urge to dance, to be in the scene again, but that wasn’t what she was here for. She had to snap out of the lure of the club and keep to task.
Making her way to the desk she looked at the blonde behind the desk. Flora. She was another permanent fixture around the club that Cinda remembered very well. Flora glanced up from the paper she was looking at and recognition filled her eyes. The club was teeming with patrons in various states of undress.