Chapter 3
Alyssa
Am I dead?
The thought didn’t worry me, though it probably should’ve. I was lying in the dark, so anything was possible. If my memory was to be trusted, I’d just seen a god, so the darkness might be the afterlife.
If I had to guess which god has appeared to usher me into the great beyond, I’d say it was Ares. The man from my memories had a dark warrior look about him and muscles that couldn’t possibly be found on a mere mortal. I would’ve asked him so many questions, but Zoe’s pillow knocked me from the mortal plane before I got any of them out.
Yikes! What would my obituary say? Killed by pillow fight was a unique way to die. If I could talk to whoever would have to write it, I would tell them they should really lean into the humor of the situation. I mean who wants a boring obituary?
Ouch.
My head pounded. Hmm. If this was Heaven, where could I register a complaint? I’m pretty sure I was promised the removal of pain once my soul left my body. Instead, my head and butt really hurt. Maybe I wasn’t dead?
“Are you ok, princess?” A deep voice rumbled from somewhere near me and goosebumps raced over my skin at the sexy tone.
Oh, what a great idea for a story. I snuggled down into the warmth surrounding me to plot it out. A princess struck down by treachery and swept up by the god Ares to be pampered and cherished in his temple on Mt. Olympus.
But if the man I’d seen was Ares, then maybe I wasn’t in Heaven but rather the Elysian Fields. I didn’t know if all pain was supposed to be taken away there. But if I worshiped Greek gods then I’d have to give up Christmas and no way would I take Zeus and lightning over Santa and presents.
“Open your eyes for me, princess. Let me know if you”re okay.”
Open my eyes? Is that why it was so dark? I giggled. The sound hurt my head and I groaned. I guess I wasn’t dead. But if I was only sleeping, why was a sexy voice talking to me? I pried my eyes open hoping and dreading that the sexy voice belonged to my mystery god.
Through the fuzzy barrier of my lashes, I stared into eyes like the deepest pools of midnight. Concern was written into the small lines at their edges. The god from earlier was so close to me I had to be dreaming. I reached my hand up and traced along his strong jaw trying to memorize the feel of his skin. His lips were soft and full. Rugged instead of handsome.
Why had someone, somewhere in the pages of history changed the definition of masculine beauty to be something softer? I wanted to use that word to describe the perfection holding me close in my dream. He was simply panty-melting hot. Everything a male should be. Rough and powerful in the way I imagined Roman gladiators once were. Olive complexion with his black hair shaved close to his head, he was … beautiful.
“Come on, talk to me. I need to know if you are okay.”
“Are you a god?” Not exactly eloquent, but it was a legitimate question. Maybe his answer would help me figure out where I was.
His chuckle was as sexy as his voice. “No. I’m just Gabriel.”
An archangel was holding me? Wow! Maybe I was on my way to Heaven and that was why my head still hurt. Did we have to go through the pearly gates before the pain would vanish?
Dang, I wouldn’t get to finish my latest story. Maybe one of my friends would pass on what I’d written to someone and they would finish it. Not that I would have to worry about that when I was living in the clouds playing a harp. I’d never tried to play an instrument but how hard could it be?
I could figure those things out later. Right this second, I was admiring my personal transport to Heaven. Were all angels this good-looking? Because I’m pretty sure you couldn’t get much hotter than Gabriel.
“And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak.” I’m not sure why that bit of the Bible popped into my mind, but it was fitting. I mean what do you say to an archangel? He looked confused so I continued. “It’s what you said to the priest Zechariah in Luke. I don’t remember the exact passage. Not that I’m super religious, but I guess that must be okay with the big guy if he sent an archangel to take me to Heaven. I did lots of research on angels for one of my books once and that is why I know that quote. Though you probably said it in another language at the time, or maybe you were misquoted. I hear that happens a lot even now with recording devices and computers.”
His eyes softened and filled with humor. “I’m not an archangel, princess. Just a man. Will you tell me your name?”
“Alyssa.” Wait, if he wasn’t an archangel and didn’t know my name, what was happening? I looked past his beautiful face and saw my friends looking down on me with worry.
Oh no! I was lying on the floor of the playroom with my head in a gorgeous stranger”s lap after he saw me get knocked out with a pillow!
I closed my eyes, praying to die of embarrassment.
Nope, still not possible.
Damn it!
“Did you hurt your head, Alyssa?” I groaned when I recognized Angel’s voice.
So not only did Gabriel, the not-archangel, see me get knocked out with a pillow but I was going to get in trouble with the Master of Masters and probably get thrown out of the club for reckless use of stuffed objects. If I got thrown out, what would I do?
“I’m fine, Uncle Angel.” I opened my eyes and found him squatting down next to Gabriel. “Just really, really embarrassed and super sorry. Please don’t kick me out.”
“We’re sorry too, Uncle Angel,” Julia piped up.
“I’m so sorry, Alyssa.” Zoe looked on the verge of tears. “I guess I don’t know my own strength. The pillow fight was my idea. Uncle Angel, if you have to throw someone out, it should be me.”
Angel stood up and shook his head. “Girls, no one is getting thrown out. But you broke the rules, and you know it. What rule did you break?”
It was hard to focus on what Angel was saying because Gabriel was looking into my eyes like he was trying to make out words written on the back of my skull. I’d read a study once that said staring into a person’s eyes for more than two minutes would increase your attraction to them. Not that I needed the help since I was pretty sure my attraction to him was off the charts. Maybe if he kept looking, he might start feeling these things too?
“No fighting of any kind.” My friends quoted the third rule of the playroom.
“And do you get kicked out for breaking playroom rules?” Angel asked.
Gabriel ran a hand through my hair and probed gently at the back of my head. It was sore but not even bad enough to make me wince.
“No,” my friends chorused.
The stress I’d been feeling floated away. That was right! You got punishments for breaking rules but only got kicked out after an official warning. So even if what we did was bad enough to get an official warning, I wasn’t going to lose my safe space. My smile must have been big because Gabriel chuckled.
“Think you can stand up now, princess?”
I nodded, and faster than I could blink, Gabriel scooped me up off the ground and placed me on my feet. I saw him wince a bit as he stood up to his full height.
“Are you okay?” Had he hurt himself helping me?
“I’m fine.”
“Uncle Joel and Auntie Karen will handle your punishments, girls. Our rules are there to keep you safe.”
Angel’s voice was so stern I couldn’t help but look down at the floor. The game had been fun, but he was right; someone could have gotten hurt. Well, someone other than me. We deserved the swats we were about to get. I hoped Uncle Joel would be the one to punish me, Auntie Karen had a crazy hard hand.
“Daddy Rocco and Daddy Gabriel, will you come with me to finish up your membership paperwork?”
Daddy Gabriel? I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping as I stared at the giant man in front of me. He and the only slightly smaller giant now standing next to him were Daddies? Not Masters or Handlers? I pinched my leg to see if this was really all a dream.
Ouch.
“I’d like to see you again.” Daddy Gabriel smiled at me and I’m pretty sure my panties were seconds away from combusting.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Like really truly? Are you sure?” I knew I was babbling but who could blame me? It’s not every day an archangel Daddy says he wants to see you again.
“Positive. Don’t you want to see me again?”
“No! I mean, yes! I’m here every night.” I needed to shut up or he was going to figure out that I was crazy.
“Every night?”
“Yes, open to close. When it’s closed, I’m not here.”
“Good to know. I’ll see you tomorrow then, princess.” Gabriel chuckled and I couldn’t help but blush.
As he walked away, I couldn’t help wondering how Daddy Gabriel got a butt that tight.
“Alyssa, you need to wake up.” Lucia’s soft voice broke through my dreams.
“Don’t wanna.” I wanted to stay wrapped up in Daddy Gabriel’s arms while he held me safe up in the clouds.
“I know, chica, but if Seth finds you sleeping on the couch in the break room you know he’ll fire you.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, sitting up. I looked at the clock and winced. It was less than thirty minutes to the morning meeting, and I’d probably gotten less than four hours of sleep.
“Why are you sleeping on the couch here and why is your rolling trunk parked in the corner?”
The LJGs had helped me pick out the sparkly rolling tote last month when my stuff had started disappearing from my apartment so there was no use in denying it was mine. “Remember how when I left last night, I said it was the best night ever?”
Lucia giggled. “Because the giant Daddy said he wanted to see you again.”
“Yeah well. I jinxed myself.”
“Oh no what happened?”
“I got home and my apartment was swarming with police. They busted my roommates dealing drugs. I was lucky they didn’t think I was involved and let me get my trunk after opening and searching it.” I’d had to beg for even that much. The memory of them pawing through my clothes and stuffies sent a shiver down my spine. “Then the landlord made it very clear he would be changing the locks and to not bother coming back.”
“Why didn’t you call one of us?”
“My phone was dead. So I came here. I must have fallen asleep while it was charging.” I gestured to my phone still plugged into the wall.
“You’re lucky I was the first one in.”
“Yeah, lucky.” I technically was, though it didn’t feel like it.
My boss at the casino’s spa hated me and Lucia because we refused to do any ‘off the menu’ work, so he was always looking for ways to make our lives miserable. Everyone knew some massage parlors were just fronts for prostitution, but I’d thought getting a job at the casino would mean not having to deal with shady stuff. Guess that was naive.
The only reason Seth hadn’t fired the two of us yet was Uncle Angel. As someone who brought in lots of high rollers, he was considered a VIP. He’d made it very clear to people way above Seth’s head that we were his favorites. No one wanted to make him mad. The owner of the Dragon’s Tail had scary, mysterious connections so if Seth wanted us gone, he had to make us quit or have a legal reason to fire us.
“You can stay at my place until you find something,” Lucia offered.
The idea of squeezing into her and Grace’s tiny apartment wasn’t appealing, but homeless beggars couldn’t be picky and that was what I was. The other girls lived far enough away I would need a car if I stayed with them. Since I didn’t even have a license, it was impossible.
Staying with them would have to work for a few days. It would mean taking time off from writing to search for a place. Why did things like this always happen at the worst possible times?
“Thanks.” I gave her a hug that probably lasted too long, needing the comfort of her touch.
It wasn’t long before the other women we worked with filtered into the room followed by our boss Seth. He was impeccably dressed, from his polished leather shoes to his perfectly tailored dark-navy suit. If I didn’t know what a jerk he was I’d be tempted to call him handsome.
I always thought he overdressed for his job as manager. His crisp white dress shirt and burgundy silk tie were camouflage to hide the ugliness inside. The man had a matching pocket square that ridiculously peeked out from his suit jacket as if he had any sophistication or polish.
Any thought of him being a nice guy disappeared the minute he opened his mouth. He handed out our schedules for the day with his usual disdain. The man was over-the-top charming with customers. Since we were just staff, he didn’t bother even trying. Every word out of his mouth to me was filled with disgust and condescension.
“Alyssa, your first client today is a VIP.” Seth was looking at me like I’d rolled in dog poo.
I looked down at my list and saw there was barely any information listed for the booking. A two-hour Ashiatsu session was rare, but not unheard of. I preferred my repeat customers because I knew their bodies and what they expected.
“There isn’t a name or much of a medical history listed.” Because of Seth’s feelings toward me I rarely got VIP bookings. It sucked because my customer satisfaction scores were the highest on the staff and the crazy big tips that often went with those could have helped me move months ago. Why was he giving me this one?
“Do you know the big MMA event that is happening next month?” Seth smirked.
My stomach dropped and I nodded, though I didn’t really. There were always big events going on somewhere in the casino. Keeping track of them might be in Zoe’s job description but it wasn’t in mine. Was Seth trying to set me up with a customer who would be dangerous?
“One of the headlining fighters hurt his back. Since you have all those fancy certifications his manager insisted on you.”
My shoulders relaxed. Years of studying and this jerk acted like I’d bought my certifications out of the back of a truck like I was sure some of my co-workers had. If the client was injured, hopefully he wouldn’t be looking to do anything more than a massage. Depending on the type and location of the injury I would need to carefully tailor our session. “I’ll do my best.”
Seth’s smile made my skin crawl. “You better make him happy. The Destroyer is used to getting what he wants. I’d make sure you do whatever he says.”
My hands trembled at the implied threat, but I refused to let him see how his words affected me. “I’ll do my job.” And that job did not include anything sexual. “Since he’s such a big deal, if he needs something I won’t provide I’m sure someone else will be happy to step in.”
I stuck my chin up trying to show courage I didn’t have. Seth chuckled and shook his head. Fear bubbled in my stomach. Hopefully the Destroyer wouldn’t be as bad as his name implied.