Chapter 23 #2
“Nina, I’m going to come.” I roll my hips, needing the friction, but knowing it will all end if I move.
“Uggghhh, no! Don’t stop.”
I start to move inside her whilst continuing my assault on her clit. Her body trembles, and I flatten my finger to keep her spasming around me.
“Fucckkkk!!” I roar, pushing myself to the hilt as her orgasm draws me in further, and it’s all I can take. I grasp her hips and let her have it, unleashing everything I’ve held inside since walking through the penthouse doors.
She takes it all, every bit of me, right down to the remnants of my tattered soul.
I fall to her back as I release inside of her, dropping my lips to her neck as my chest heaves.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, quiet enough that she won’t hear.
Nina
Last night was important. I gave Mase something I’ve never given anyone before, and I hope it shows him that it’s only him—he is all I see.
Joey doesn’t matter, and I am his.
I thought he would be in a better mood this morning, but he was still quiet. He told me he’s busy with work, but I don’t know if I believe him, especially with everything that happened yesterday.
The girls called this morning and asked if I could do lunch today. Scarlet and her dad are in the city again, and I knew it would be nice to make it up to Scarlet for bailing on them the other day.
I enter The Elm and spot the girls around the sofas. Ordering a coffee, I grab some sugar and make my way over to them.
“Sorry I’m late girls, it’s been one of those mornings.”
“Better late than never,” Megan tells me, and I can tell she’s in a spunky mood.
“I had to go register for the showcase. It’s ridiculous the rigmarole that I had to go through, and the lady at reception was a complete bitch.
Nowhere on the damn form did it say I needed my fucking passport.
Some people just have a shitty manner.” I huff, dropping my bag down and falling onto the sofa, grateful for the cushion under me.
I’m a little sore.
Megan frowns at me. “Who shoved a stick up your ass?”
I choke on my coffee, spraying it out all over Luce and the table.
“Hey!” Lucy cries.
“I am so sorry,” I say, taking the napkin that Scarlet holds out to me.
A bright smile washes over my face as my eyes drop down the length of her. She looks her usual vibey self today. Her lavender hair is set in perfect curls, her face lightly made up, and she’s wearing ripped mom jeans with an off the shoulder tee.
“Okay! Spill it,” Megan says, intrigued.
“Just not all over me.” Lucy glowers as she blots at her face, trying her hardest not to ruin her makeup
I eye Scarlet, not sure she would want to hear it. I never hold out on my girls, but this is different.
“Don’t hold back on my account,” she tells me.
“I can’t.” I laugh, not being able to say it out loud.
“Don’t act a queen about it, and then not tell us.” Megan tuts, watching me.
I eye her, shaking my head. “It’s bedroom stuff. I’m sure Scarlet doesn’t want to hear it.”
“Cover your ears,” Megan tells her.
“Oh my god, you did anal!” Lucy shrieks. My eyes go wide, and I snap my head to her. “You literally had a stick up your ass; it’s why you sprayed me.”
I drop my head into my hands. This is a nightmare.
“Wow,” Scarlets says in shock.
“No! Did it hurt?” Megan asks.
“Wow,” Scarlet says again, her face paling.
“Nina, you are so brave,” Lucy tells me, wide-eyed with a hand on my arm.
“I am so fucking brave,” I agree, welcoming my friend’s pity.
“Brave? Anal isn’t brave, you little butt slut.” Megan laughs. “I had a friend who had a slip of the dick once, literally no warning, one minute they’re fuckin’, the next, all the way in.”
“Holy shit, accidentally is different! Imagine not expecting it, and then BAM! All at once. Poor girl.” Lucy shivers.
“Wow,” Scarlet mutters for the third time. I think we’ve broken her.
“Scarlet, I’m so sorry,” I tell her, trying to hold back a smile.
“It was a Tuesday yesterday,” she says, staring at the table. She lifts her eyes to me and raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow “Who does anal on a Tuesday?”
“Oh. My. Fucking. God!” Megan roars as she and Lucy bend over in the seat, laughing.
I bite my lip, unsure as to what I should say to the poor girl in front of me.
“Anal Tuesdays for the win!” Megan heaves out between her hysterics.
“We are not making this a thing. Both of you stop.” I point at them.
“You already did, don’t blame us. Anal Tuesdays is a thing, and it’s all yours. Own it.” Megan chuckles, raising her coffee cup.
My mortification only rises when Scarlet lifts her cup to the girls.
“To Anal Tuesdays.” She shrugs.
Fuck my life.
I leave my immature friends at the coffee shop. They are corrupting Mason’s poor sister, and I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.
She just fits with them.
Us.
I could do with Vinny today, and it’s odd not having him waiting for me.
I have a one on one at two, and it’s already quarter to.
I weave through the busy streets fast walking and dodging passersby to try and get myself there on time.
Rounding the corner to the studio, I spot a commotion at the entrance.
I stop on the corner, taking in the scene, but the second Logan’s fist rears back, I am catapulting myself towards him on autopilot.
“Logan!” I shout.
He stills, turning to face me. “Fucking hell, Nina! Where have you been? I’ve been calling all morning!”
I frown, then remember that I put my phone on silent when I was in the registration office. “Sorry, I was in a meeting. What’s going on?” I frown as I notice the suit that is currently sticking a SOLD sign in the gym window.
“Umm, what the hell are you doing?” I grab his sleeve, and he shoves me off unamused.
“If one more person touches me, I’m calling the police,” he warns, his face red with anger.
I can tell Logan has given him just about as much as he can take.
I step back with my hands up. “Okay. This is my studio, and it’s not for sale. There must be some kind of mistake.”
“Then go fix it!” he spits, turning and stomping off down the road towards his car
I turn to Logan, shaking my head in utter shock. “What the fuck?”
“I have no idea; they turned up an hour ago demanding I left the premises.”
“I will call Erin, it’ll be a misunderstanding.”
It has to be.
I go to push through the door, but it’s locked, so I open my bag in search of my keys, only Logan stops me with a hand on my arm.
“They changed them, Nina. The locks. I tried to stop them, but he had all these documents. I didn’t know what else to do.”
I stare at the door, completely at a loss.
What the hell is going on?
Digging into my bag, I find my phone. I have a missed call from Erin, and my heart sinks.
My hand trembles as I lift the phone to my ear, pressing play on the voicemail that’s waiting for me.
My nostrils flare as her emotionless voice fills the line, and tears fill my eyes.
“Nina, I’ve had to sell the studio. Don’t contact me again. I need a fresh start and a clear break from London.” She huffs down the phone, and I frown at her heartless words. They have absolutely no sincerity in them. “Thanks for everything.”
“It’s been sold, hasn’t it?” Logan mutters, hands on his hips as he shakes his head in disbelief.
“I don’t know.” A tear rolls down my cheek.
“Well, either it’s sold or it’s not Nina? What did she say?”
Everything seems to slow, the cars on the street, the people that step around us, everything.
I struggle to find my voice as I look up at Logan.
He takes my phone and listens to the voicemail. “Bitch. What is that all about? Thanks for everything; like this is your fucking fault!”
“I’m so sorry. I will help you find another job. We can set up someplace else,” I rush out. Then I think of Henry, and how this will affect him too.
My body starts to tingle, and sweat forms on my brow. My stomach rolls. Oh god.
I bend, vomiting onto the curb.
“You’re sure I’m okay to leave you here?” Logan asks as we enter my apartment, his hand smoothing over my back.
“Yes, you go. I’ll be fine. I’m so sorry, Logan.”
“Will you stop that?! We will get it sorted.”
I nod my head, but the sinking feeling in my gut tells me we won’t.
I can feel everything slipping away from me.
“Call the girls, yeah?” he tells me, turning and moving for the door, but looking back at the last minute with a sad look in his eyes.
He doesn’t want to leave me.
“Go. I’ll be okay.”
He slips through the door, closing it gently behind him, and as the lock clicks, my tears fall. I look around my little apartment, wondering what comes next—the loans, this place, the showcase.
My showcase.
The girls have worked so hard for this. I have worked so hard for this.
I go to my bag and pull out my phone.
I call Mason.
Nothing.
“Mase,” my voice cracks and I try to swallow past the lump in my throat. “Can you call me back?”
I try Lucy instead.
Nothing.
My shoulders shake, no longer being able to hold back the faucet of tears. I slide down the wall to the floor. My studio is gone. Erin has sold it. I knew it was too good to be true.
My hand covers my mouth as a sob escapes me, and I do nothing to stop it, not the pain, not the tears and not the wails that echo throughout the apartment.
“Why!” My hand hits on the ground in a feeble attempt to free my hurt. “Why couldn’t I just have one thing. One safe space,” I cry.
My head thuds to the floor boards as I curl into myself, my body shaking with each broken cry.
I’ve never felt more alone.