Chapter 10
Ten
Belle
T he next evening, I pace the small space of carpeted flooring in my dressing room. The unsigned contracts are on the table along with a blue pen. I read them the second I arrived. It’s an open-ended contract. We—Gage, Rush, Aziel, and myself—are obligated to perform at least eight times over the course of three months in Room Two also known as the Mirror Room. The first week we must be on stage at least five times with the remaining three nights at our leisure.
Eight times in front of a crowd.
Doable.
The money is nice, too. One hundred grand for each of us.
There’s no debating sex sells.
I chew at my nails, a habit I thought I’d broken back in sixth grade. Apparently, not entirely. I pace one way and retrace my steps back. Does this make me a hooker? An escort with benefits? Do I care if I get to have them?
Hot and cold flashes hit me with knock-out punches.
I fling the door open and cross a small hallway and duck inside a kitchenette area with a small sofa, a table in the middle, and a refrigerator in the back. The hostess who showed me back here said this room is for the performers and workers of the club. I give a chin nod to a couple of ladies in The Society uniforms lounging on the couch and zero in on grabbing some cold water. Anything to cool off the overheating happening on the inside. I can’t believe I agreed to this. I don’t know what I am more nervous about. Seeing the men after our text messaging last night or the show.
I mentally reach for the jittery butterflies beating up my stomach.
Definitely the show.
I crack the lid open and down the chilled water. I go for another when I finish the first tiny bottle.
The ladies are speaking in hushed voices but honestly, it’s so quiet back here they might as well be speaking normally.
“The men of the Southern Alliance are looking for a breeder and we are in neutral territory. I don’t see how we cannot accommodate them.”
I tune in and listen a little harder, drinking my water a bit slower.
The Southern Alliance. Sapphire’s men. Well, not hers but she’s been in lust with them for two years.
The blonde one says, “If we can’t help them, they’ll go somewhere else.”
I have to let Sapphire know. My heart stops but I keep my feet moving like I haven’t heard a single word. Should I mention something to the women? Hell no. Sapphire will kill me if I do something rash.
I grab my water and head back to my dressing room with ideas of how to play cupid firing off in my head.
Every single one of them is a bad idea but hey, what are cousins for?
And then I remember Cassius and Polaris. Harlon and Santi. Fuck. I didn’t see Polaris this morning after Cassius told me he would handle everything. If Harlon sent her away, I’ll kill him.
I throw myself into the seat in front of the dressing mirror and look myself dead in the eye. “What the fuck are you doing, Belle?”
“Helping my brother not be stupid and mess something up for himself,” I answer my own question feeling a little stupid for talking to myself. But at least I make sense. Men have a track record for fucking things up before they have a chance to really get started.
The chick in the mirror staring back at me thinks women do too.
I play what I heard last night over in my mind. Harlon wouldn’t make her leave, right? Polaris sounded hurt and turned on at the same time.
Ugh. My stomach is in knots and I am not sure if it’s for Sapphire, Polaris or for me.
There’s a knock at my door and I ease it open.
The second I see the blue of Sapphire’s eyes I yank her inside. I’m tempted to divulge the news about the Southern Alliance, but I can’t handle that conversation right now. But soon.
“I can’t do this,” I blurt out, speaking of the show.
Sapphire steps inside and I close the door. “Where did you go last night? After my meeting I came back and you were not in your room. You didn’t sneak out again, did you?” Her eyes narrow.
To keep myself from running back to Gage, Aziel, and Rush, I locked myself in my art studio and painted. I used the alone time to wash Polaris’ moaning sounds out of my head and wrap my brain around the possibility of her leaving despite what Cassius said.
I show my hands. Yellow, oranges, and purples from my acrylic paint still cling to my fingers.
“I went to the roof apartment and painted the sky over the water behind the guy’s house.” My little studio isn’t large, but it’s perfect for me and out of the way from anyone wanting to interrupt my painting. I don’t get to relax into my art and let the emotions flow often but last night I couldn’t stop the brush strokes if I tried.
I grab my purse, my long coat, and Sapphire’s hand. “Speaking of, now that they popped my cherry, I don’t need to do this show thing. Let’s go.”
“Going somewhere?”
Their aura is breathtaking. The power they emit into the room sucks the air out of the space and my lungs and all they had to do was walk through my door.
“Gage, Aziel. Rush,” I squeak.
Wearing an arrogant smile, Gage speaks first. “I didn’t peg you for a runner, beautiful.”
I cross my arms over the tiny silk robe I was told to slip into upon arriving. “Runner, sprinter, flat-out ass hauler when I have to be.”
To Gage’s right, I catch Rush’s lips twitching with what I think might be the start of the first smile I’ve seen him crack but nope. False alarm. I get a growl with a downward pull of his brows.
“Can you excuse us for a minute, miss?”
Gage turns to Sapphire, and he cranks up that irresistible southern charm to the max. Even never-before-seen dimples come out to play at the tips of his smile. Oh shit. Wow…okay then. Those are sexy.
Sapphire must think so too. She’s grinning and when her attention shifts from Gage to me and back to Gage, I know she’s as smitten with their looks as I am. It’s impossible not to be.
“Ms. Constantine,” she offers, and I cringe inwardly. Shit . I didn’t tell her they don’t know who I am. I hold my breath and look at her wide-eyed hoping she can see I’m freaking out.
From behind me, I can feel all three Navy SEALs consider my cousin for a minute. I don’t need to see their faces to know they instantly know the name and it leaves a bad taste in their mouths.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
They cann ot figure out who I am. Not until I am ready. Or ever.
Sapphire winks in my direction and heads for the door. “I’ll leave you all to it.”
She ducks out and I’m left alone in a small dressing room with three huge alphas. I release a sigh the second the door snicks closed.
“Gentlemen,” I start, turning on my heel with a smile in place. My voice starts to tremble as hard as my hands.
They surround me. As soon as their heat cocoons me, our first time together comes rushing back. The caresses, the feeling of being safe in their arms and I forget about secret identities and mafia blood ties.
Gage and Rush reach for me and settle my palms over their hearts. Clean-shaven and dressed in nothing but robes it would be so easy to fall into their embraces and get lost in their touches again. One jerk of the knot holding the sides together is all it would take.
Which is what tonight is all about.
In front of a lot of people.
My stomach is back to rioting against me. And as fate would have it the music from the room we are set to perform in eases higher as the signal it’s almost time to get started. That’s what the stagehand had said anyway.
I start pulling the sides of the robe back and forth. Was it always this hot in here?
“Are you ready, baby girl?”
Umm, news flash. Hell no. It’s impossible to miss Rush’s fingers slipping around mine. He turns my palm over and places gentle kisses on the inside. Warm, caring. Sincere.
“About that. I’m not sure,” I say honestly, my eyes locked on where his lips touch my skin. They’d called last night and talked over the terms. There’s nothing about tonight I didn’t already agree to. So why am I freaking out?
“I think I was high on lust last night when I agreed to sex on stage. I don’t think this is for me.” We agreed verbally on our call earlier with the intent of me signing tonight.
I see their copies of the contract sticking out of Aziel’s robe pocket.
In the time we’ve spent together I’ve done a good job of hiding my nervous side. Tonight all three of them are getting front-row seats to the Belle freakout show.
I start to breathe hard and tiny dots start to dance in my vision.
I fan myself. “Phew, boys. I don’t know if I can do this.”
I study each of their handsome faces and they study me right back.
They don’t back down and nor do they back away. The heat intensifies and the walls…are they getting closer?
“Why are you guys not sweating?” They must have been through so much together. Seen so much. Shared so much.
“Have you done this with other women? Before me, obviously. Shared them on stage?” I don’t know what I want them to answer. I mean, come on. They have to be over ten years my senior. They have pasts. I was the only virgin in the room the other night, for crying out loud and it didn’t feel like it was their first time sharing.
Belle, sometimes you need to shut up.
I mentally rake myself over fiery coals. I want to smack my forehead for asking a question I have no right to ask. “I won’t blame you if you don’t want to answer.” Shades of embarrassment claw over me and settle in my cheeks. I laser a quick look at them and dart my gaze away just as quickly.
Never have I ever wanted to be lied to more in my life. I hold my breath waiting for their answer. “Ya know what…” I dash a hand through the air, changing my mind. “I’m stupid for asking. Don’t answer that. You don’t owe me anything.”
Alone their scents are delicious, but all three together it’s mind-numbing and toxic to the senses.
“Let’s blame my momentary lapse of judgment on my nerves, okay.” I drag my bottom lip between my teeth to help me shut up already.
“Why are you guys not talking?”
Gage pulls on my hand and I land against his hard chest. Our robes are the only thing between me and the hard feel of his aroused cock. I will be totally up front with you. Silk does nothing to hide a man’s cock when it’s that thick and ready.
My core clenches and suddenly the thought of taking him, all three of them again, doesn’t sound as bad of an idea as it did a second ago.
My lips part as I lift my gaze to his. “Gage, help me,” I beg softly. “I want this, but I’m scared.”
“I plan to, beautiful.” He moves my hair from my face with a gentle touch a man of his size is not known for and I fall deeper into his embrace.
“We all plan on helping you. You’re not alone.” Gage’s lips crash to mine and suddenly I’m lost in his heat, his taste, and the tumbling feeling of being lifted.
Aziel’s hands on my hips anchor me in place around Gage’s waist. I lean back into his secure embrace. Pinned between them I turn to Rush who steps in. My robe has opened at the top to reveal my bare breasts. But instead of going in to work me into a feverish state of craving, he parts my robe further and kisses my neck. He works his way up my chin until his mouth takes the place of Gage’s.
Rush’s lips on mine are softer than Gage’s demanding ones. Rush breaks away and murmurs, “We’re with you the whole time. You never have anything to fear.”
“I know. I’ve just never done anything like this.” I look between Gage and Rush before turning my gaze to meet Aziel’s soft blue eyes.
“That makes four of us,” he says and those knots in my stomach loosen with a few falling away. My mouth opens. “Oh?”
Aziel’s hand comes to rest on my cheek. “We could torture you a little bit more, but no. We’ve never shared on The Society’s stage before, sweetheart. You do look stunning turning green with jealousy, though. I’m going to remember that when your ass is taking my cock.” The dark promise wraps his words in sinful temptation.
Not “this is our first time sharing” I notice, but now isn’t the time to root around in their histories. And I don’t think I am entitled to any answers at the moment anyway.
I turn a few shades darker than the red I’m already sporting and what I am about to admit. “Anal sex is something else I’ve never done.” They must think I’m the most sheltered, inexperienced woman they’ve ever met.
His expression turns from turned on to worried. “Do you want to back out, sweetheart?”
Rush tips my chin to him. “Just say the word and we will rip up the contracts instead of signing them. Raja will understand.”
The corner of my lip finds itself between my teeth again. “I don’t think so,” I answer after a seconds-long pause.
I think I physically see them all relax.
“We need to hear the words yes or no.” Gage’s tone doesn’t leave much wiggle room. He’s right. I either have to know if I want this or not. My brother was shunned for wanting such an unorthodox union between him, his partners, and their shared wife. I was the first to tell him to go after what he wanted in life and don’t look back. Those around him would either accept him or they would eventually fall to the side so he could live his life his way.
He worried all the time our family would turn their backs on him. And they did for a time. Then our father went to prison for his stupidity and that put my brother back on the map for our family.
I don’t ever want to be in that position. I don’t want to live in fear of what others think, what others believe my life should look like. Not that anything is forever. Neither Gage, Aziel, or Rush look like long-term kinds of men. I’m okay with that. I think. Either way, I am going to force myself to stay in the now and not worry about tomorrow. I am going to cherish tonight with all of me.
“Yes. I’m ready.” I look between all three men. “I don’t want to back out. I want this. With all of you.” I let them hear my sincerity.
I point to the contracts. “I’m ready to sign.”
With the task complete we leave the signed papers on the table. “We’ll see to it Raja files these away.”
“Trust us. We will protect you and guide you.” Gage slides my legs down until I’m standing. He takes my face in hand as Aziel begins to peel the sides of my robe aside. Rush tugs the knot and in one sweep I’m standing naked in front of them.
Rush is to the side with Gage in the front and Aziel behind me. His aroused cock teases the seam of my ass. “Another virgin cherry to pop. Could you be any more perfect?” His growl of hunger is pure and raw. The dark tinge of his pupils expanding makes my body ache for his brand of loving.
Their robes join mine and I can’t take my eyes off the perfection of their bodies. Gage’s cock presses into my stomach and I reach for him, wrapping his length with my fingers. The moan that tumbles from my lips at the feel of pre-cum wetting my fingers has a predatory smile moving over his lips.
A masculine voice comes over the surround sound system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Mirror Room. The Gilded Key Society invites you to enjoy a carnal delight performed just for you.”