by M. S. Parker
Something flickered across her eyes and her mouth tightened. I almost thought I'd struck a nerve by giving her something she couldn't explain away, but then she shrugged.
"You threw yourself at him, so he gave you a pity fuck. I don't know many men who'd turn down free pussy, no matter how bad you are at sex."
I sucked in a breath as the barb went deep. Was that what happened? Had I been so desperate to have sex with him again that I convinced myself that he wanted me when all he'd seen was an easy fuck?
I clenched my jaw to keep back the tears burning my eyes and stepped around the woman. As soon as I was out of the bathroom, I headed straight for the exit. I couldn't stay, not even with Everett there next to me, pretending to be my boyfriend.
The evening air was hot and muggy, thick with all the scents of the city, but I gulped in deep breaths all the same, willing the warmth to calm my fragile nerves. I needed to get myself together before I hailed a cab.
"Savannah, what's wrong?" Lei asked from behind me.
I turned to see all three of my friends standing there, wearing nearly identical expressions of concern on their faces. Lorde wrapped her arms around me while Everett and Lei transitioned from concerned to pissed.
"What happened?" Everett asked. "Did that asshole–"
I held up a hand. "He didn't do...he didn't say anything."
Lei's eyes narrowed. "Spill it, Sav."
They clearly weren't going to let me go home until I told them, so I just blurted out what happened. All of it. Pretty much verbatim. And then I leaned back against the wall and covered my face with my hands, pretending that none of this ever happened.
Twenty-One
Jace
By the time Bianca came back from the restroom, Erik was eager to get back to Tanya, and Reb wanted to take Alix somewhere to get some harder alcohol. Since I wasn't about to get stuck at the table with just Bianca, I told the guys I was going to the bathroom before heading out, then said a quick goodbye to her as I passed. Maybe it was the coward's way out, but I wasn't feeling particularly brave or chivalrous at the moment.
"Where the fuck do you get off, you self-centered bastard?!"
I blinked down at the petite Japanese-American girl glaring up at me. She poked me in the chest to make sure I had no misconceptions about who she was talking to. It still didn't tell me who she was though...and then it hit me. She was one of the women who'd been sitting with Savannah.
Shit.
"How dare you use my friend like that? You sleep with her, so she'll give you a good review, and then when some old piece of ass shows up, you can't even walk away like a decent person? You had to humiliate her and get her demoted?"
I shook my head and held up a hand, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The woman's eyes narrowed to a scary degree. "That tramp you had hanging all over you told Savannah everything."
My stomach twisted painfully. "I'm going to need you to slow down and explain exactly what it is you think I did."
The girl crossed her arms, the expression on her face almost making me take a step back. "Why? You didn't give Savannah a chance to explain anything before you jumped to conclusions and tried to ruin her life. So why shouldn't I believe what your friend said?"
"Bianca's not my friend." I wasn't sure why that was important for me to make that clear before I addressed anything else. "What exactly did she say? And to who?"
She seemed to be considering whether or not to slap me and walk away, or actually answer my question. "Savannah. Your Bianca bitch told Savannah that you only slept with her to get a good review for your show."
What the total fuck?
"That's not...shit." I closed my eyes for a moment as the events of the last few days replayed in my mind rapid-fire, each and every mistake I'd made showing up in glaring technicolor. "Savannah really didn't know who I was the first time we were together, did she?"
"No."
A sharp nail dug into my chest again, and I opened my eyes to see a look of pure disgust on the young woman's face.
"And she'd never tell anyone the sordid little details of what you did either. She didn't even tell us. Just that the two of you met at a club and hooked up. We're not idiots. We know when she's lying or hiding something. But we also know that she would only do that for a good reason." Even as the guilt dug in its claws, Savannah's friend put her hands on her hips. "I have no clue why she'd keep things from us for you. You don't look like you're worth it."
The sad thing was, as she walked away, I wasn't entirely sure I disagreed with her.
I needed to find Savannah.
I turned and rushed toward the entrance, fully expecting to have to find a taxi. Except, as soon as I stepped outside, I remembered that I didn't know where she lived. I turned, now at a loss of what to do next, but then I saw someone familiar. The tall, good-looking blond man who'd had his hands on Savannah.
I took two steps toward him, then realized that he and the other woman from Savannah's table were both holding on to someone.
Savannah.
Knowing that I could quite possibly get a broken nose for what I was about to do didn't stop me from doing it. I owed her the risk at the very least.
"Savannah?" Three pairs of eyes looked at me, and I wasn't sure which set was more pissed. "Can I have a word with you?"
"Arrogant little–" The man took a step in my direction, but Savannah put her hand on his chest, a gesture of familiarity that made my stomach twist.
"Everett." Her voice was quiet. "It's okay. Let me talk to him." She looked up at him. "I'll meet you at home."
Home? Jealousy was a bright, hot lance through me. Why had I come out here to apologize to her for the misunderstanding between us if she'd been living with some guy this whole time? And there was no way in hell he was her brother. Brothers didn't touch their sisters like he'd been touching her.
Still, I'd made a mess of things before because I made an assumption rather than talking things out. I'd say what I came here to say, then I'd listen to her. After I heard her out, I'd decide what I should do from that point.
Everett and the unnamed woman walked away, shooting me angry looks as they went back inside. Before I could say anything else, Savannah gestured for me to follow her. We moved around the side of the building to a small and surprisingly clean alley. Half a dozen bicycles were locked up near a door that I suspected led into the kitchen or back room of the restaurant, but I doubted we'd be interrupted. The place had been packed.
When we were sufficiently hidden in the shadows, she turned back toward me.
I'd fucked things up with her – badly – and I didn't know if it was too late to fix it, but I had to at least try, and part of that meant I wasn't going to attempt to justify my previous behavior.
"I'm sorry."
She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow as if she were waiting for more.
Fair enough.
"When I realized who you were...I didn't...dammit." I cursed as I ran my hand through my hair. Where was I supposed to begin to explain so she could see the difference between what I was apologizing for and what I hadn't done at all?
"Start at the beginning," she suggested.
I nodded. "I didn't know it was you, that first night at the club. Or the second night. Not until you took off your mask. I didn't use you." I took a step toward her, needing her to be able to look into my eyes and see the truth of each word. "I swear, Savannah, I know I acted like a total ass, but those things Bianca said to you weren't true."
Some of the tension on her face eased, and I saw a flare of hope in her eyes for a brief moment before she extinguished it. I hadn't let myself admit just how much she meant to me until I realized I was the one in the wrong. Every single thing I thought she'd done had been a reason for me to ignore the attraction I felt, and now that those were out of the way, I could finally accept just how much I wanted her.
"I am so sorry." I started to reach for her, then dropped my hand, not knowi
ng if she wanted me to touch her. "For what I said, and for what I did. I promise that I'll go straight to your boss first thing tomorrow and fix it. I'll tell him it was entirely on me. Temperamental artist shit. None of it was your fault and that I'll only agree to having an interview published if you're the one to do it."
Her eyes had an almost unnatural glow in the dim lighting. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you as soon as I realized what happened. I shouldn't have let it go as far as it did while you were in the dark."
"I appreciate that," I said sincerely. "But I know it still doesn't excuse what I said or did." A moment of silence fell between us, and then I had to ask, "If you need to get back to your boyfriend–"
"Roommate," she said with a smile. "And before you ask, he's gay."
Relief flooded me, but I tried not to let it show. "He certainly wasn't acting like he was gay."
She laughed. "He was trying to help me by making you think that I'd moved on."
I wanted to ask her if she had moved on, but I chose another question instead. "Do you remember what happened the first time we met?" I dared to close the distance between us, my heart thudding against my ribs when she didn't move away. "How we had that misunderstanding?"
The corners of her mouth twitched upward in a partial smile. "I remember. I thought you were insinuating I was a prostitute, and you seemed to think I was an incompetent food delivery person."
I laughed. God, it felt good to laugh, even if it was a small burst of sound. "We moved past it. I know what I did the other day was so much worse, but I'm hoping you can forgive me."
"Why?" she asked. "Why do you want me to forgive you?"
I didn't stop myself from reaching out this time, letting my thumb slide along her jaw before burying my hand in those silky curls. "Because I've wanted you from the moment I saw you across the club, and even when I was furious at you, I wanted you."
Even in the imperfect light of the alley, her pale eyes darkened. "I wanted you too."
I cupped the back of her head as I lowered my mouth to hers, stopping just short of kissing her. "I still want you...but I understand if you don't–"
"I want you too." Even as she breathed the last word, she closed the distance between us.
I couldn't stop myself from moaning the moment our lips touched. I'd almost forgotten how soft her skin was, the taste of her mouth. It was the first time we'd kissed without masks, the first time I'd known exactly who it was I was kissing. And I wanted more.
She bit my bottom lip, then sucked it into her mouth, sending the blood rushing from my brain straight to my cock. Her boldness didn't surprise me. With the mask and without it, she was the same woman. Confident. Willing and able to claim what she wanted. I suspected the only reason the mask had appealed to her was because the Gilded Cage was a new experience.
I pressed her back against the wall, running my hands down her sides to her hips, feeling the strength in her slight body. She looked so delicate, so easy to break, but I remembered all too well how it had felt to be inside her, to take her hard and fast. I knew that she craved what I had to offer, the things I had promised her.
"Fuck, Savannah," I groaned as I tore my lips from hers. "I can't control myself with you."
She reached down between us, fingers quickly working my pants open. I cursed again as her hand wrapped around my cock, gritting my teeth as I grabbed her wrist.
"Like I said," I locked eyes with her, "control seems to be an issue when I'm around you."
The smile that curved her lips could only be called wicked. "Why don't you do something about it then?"
My surprise lasted only a few seconds as I read the challenge in her eyes. I glanced up the alley, but none of the people passing by sent even a glance in our direction.
"Do you want me to take you right here?" I asked, my voice rough as I pulled her hand from my pants. I stretched her arms above her head, pinning them to the wall. "Think about your answer, because if you say yes, I'm not going to be gentle."
She rocked her hips against me. "I don't want you to be."
I didn't give her a chance to second-guess herself. I'd stop if she told me to, but if she didn't...
I pulled back far enough to turn her around. She made a breathless sound as her hands went out automatically to brace herself against the wall. I yanked her pants down, exposing her pale, translucent skin. I knew we had to be quick, but I couldn't stop myself from stopping for a moment and sinking my teeth into the firm flesh of her ass.
She let out a yelp, glaring over her shoulder at me. I kissed the mark I'd left, then straightened.
"I'm clean," I said as I slipped my hand between her legs. She gasped as I found her slick and hot. "Are you safe?"
She nodded. "Please, Jace."
I put my mouth against her ear even as I slid the head of my cock against her entrance. "I'll have you begging me for real soon enough."
She cried out as I drove into her, burying myself in a single thrust. I clamped my hand over her mouth and felt a shiver pass through her. Fuck. The position made her even tighter, and I knew I wouldn't last long, but I'd be damned if I couldn't get her off before I did.
Fortunately, she wasn't the sort of woman who needed soft and gentle to climax.
I stroked her clit in tight circles as I made short, deep thrusts, each one driving me closer to the edge.
"I'm going to need you to come for me," I said between harsh breaths. "I need to feel you come apart on my cock."
Her tongue flicked out against my palm, and I groaned, pressing my face against the place where her neck met her shoulder. I worried her skin between my teeth, marking her in a place where others could see and know that she was taken. For as long as this fire burned between us, she was mine.
The thought tipped me over, and as I emptied inside her, I pressed my fingers harder against her clit. "Come, Savannah." I made it an order. "Come for me now, and I'll spend the rest of the night making you scream my name."
As she shattered in my arms, I promised myself that I would make good on my word, and I'd make sure she didn't regret forgiving me.
Twenty-Two
Savannah
It had been nearly three weeks since Jace apologized for what he'd done and said. Three weeks since he'd taken me from behind in an alley and made me come hard enough to see stars. Three weeks since I'd had to listen to Everett, Lei, and Lorde all telling me why I was making a mistake.
Three of the best weeks of my life.
Jace had gone straight to Abel the morning after we made up, and my article had been returned before lunch. My boss was still a bit of an ass, but at least my career was back on track. And with my...exclusive access to the artist, I had plenty of material to choose from.
As for how much material Jace now had to work with...
He'd only been sculpting for the show now, his paints and canvases put to the side. I'd seen him create a couple pieces, watched as those strong hands molded and formed various types of clay into beautiful works of art.
Works of art that bore a resemblance to various parts of my body. My hands. My face with the mask I'd worn the first night we were together.
It had been insanely erotic to watch him create, to mold and caress with those strong hands of his. Which was probably why those sessions had almost always turned into incredibly hot sex marathons. We'd fucked in his studio, living room, kitchen, pool house...pretty much everywhere except for his actual bedroom. When we needed a bed, we went to his 'playroom.' I didn't mind though. We hadn't discussed exactly what this was between us, who we were to each other, and spending the night in his bed seemed like the sort of thing that could wait until we'd had that talk.
Right now, I was happy with what we had.
In those long hours, I learned more about the things that could bring me pleasure than I had with any previous lover. And more about myself as well. Jace wasn't simply teaching me about what it meant to be a submissive. He was teaching me about how anticipation could make culmination even swe
eter, how the right kind of pain could make an orgasm even more intense, how denial could draw out pleasure until it was nearly agony.
Even now, as I sat at my desk, the memories of our times together warmed my skin and made me squirm in my chair.
Okay, so the squirming had more to do with the fact that my ass was still burning from his use of a flogger last night than it did from my memories. Both were responsible for how wet I was, and I knew if I didn't start thinking about something less erotic, I was going to need to slip into the bathroom on my lunch break and take care of myself.
Even though Jace had specifically forbidden me touching myself without his permission.
Which, of course, made it impossible to stop thinking about doing it.
It would be so easy, I knew, even here, to slide my hand under my skirt, to move aside my panties, and to slip my fingers between my folds. It wouldn't take much. Just the memories of the last few weeks and a few passes of my fingers over my clit.
Memories like three nights ago when Jace tied me up and showed me something he called wax play.
My skin tingled as my mind filled...
This was new.
All right, so technically, pretty much everything Jace had introduced me to was new, but this was new for us. Before, when he restrained me, he used handcuffs or similar things on my wrists, or if he wanted me completely tied up, he would spread me out on his bed until I was completely exposed.
Tonight, however, he had me kneel, legs apart, hands behind my back, head up. When I was positioned exactly how he wanted me, he brought out a set of soft leather straps and began to bind me. First, he wrapped cuffs around each wrist and ankle, then connected right wrist to right ankle, and the left side the same way. I shifted, testing each side as I catalogued how much motion I had. It wasn't much. Instead of restricting my side to side movement, it kept my arms behind me and my shoulders back, putting my breasts on display. And standing would be an impossibility until he released me. It wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but I was once again glad that Jace wasn't into tying me up and leaving me for long periods of time.