Chapter 6
Six
Sebastian
The punk is shaking so hard, the greasy pizza box under his ass squeaks in protest. He stands up and approaches the bedroom doorway, where I’m standing.
“It’s not what it looks like!” he shouts.
“Really,” I say. “Because it looks me like you’re recording the residents. One in particular.”
“It doesn’t record!” he shouts, scrambling back. “I just…check in.”
Sick fuck.
“Sit on the floor over there,” I say, pointing to a blank section of his wall.
He scurries to do as I said, and I stand in front of the computer’s keyboard. I’m not taking his word that he’s not recording people. Absolutely disgusting.
I click through the settings and folders, searching his computer. There’s almost nothing here except some software installers…the set-up seems brand new.
“Don’t mess with my stuff,” he whines.
“You don’t have any fucking rights here,” I say, and then I realize—shit, he’s got to be breaking the law on several levels. I lift my hands from the keyboard and get my phone out of my pocket.
“What are you doing?” he asks, a thread of fear in his tone.
“I’m calling the fucking police, asswipe.”
“Please don’t, I’ll do anything. Seriously, whatever you want.”
“I want you to pay for what you’ve done,” I say simply. “That’s all I want. You have wronged someone, and you probably need some kind of mental health services, because you are very sick.”
He lunges for me. “You’re breaking into my house!”
He takes a swipe at my face. I dodge, but he’s already throwing another punch. It connects with my cheek, close to my eye. Fuck, that hurt.
“Back the fuck off,” I tell him. “I’m warning you.”
Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t listen. This time, when he comes at me, I’m ready. I feint with one fist, then jab with the other. Down he goes with a groan. I nudge his side with my foot and he curls up with a whine.
“Don’t get up,” I tell him as I dial the police.
Ella
It’s been a long time since I went on an actual date.
I take extra care getting ready in the Bartleby’s bathroom, doing my make-up, fixing my hair, changing out of clothes that reek of beer and fried food.
The guys told me the date would be casual, and I’m so glad, because all I have with me is a nice top and my favorite skirt.
Natasha gives me a wink and a wave as I traipse through the dining room to meet the guys outside.
But when I step through the door to wait for them, they’re already on the sidewalk, and they’re wearing identical frowns on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stomach sinking. “Did I wear the wrong clothes?”
“No,” Kingston says adamantly. “You are perfect, and you look beautiful tonight.”
I flick my glance over to Sebastian.
“Gorgeous as always, princess,” he says.
It’s only then that I realize he’s sporting a bruise around his eye. “What happened to you? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” he says, touching his eye absently, “but we have a bit of news.”
“News?”
“You haven’t checked your phone in a while, I take it.”
I shake my head. I’d been working, and then as soon as my shift was over, I was in a rush to get ready for the date.
“I don’t want to tell you this,” Sebastian says.
“Best to just get it over with, right?” I ask. “I mean, I’m kind of used to one thing happening after the other. Bad things come in threes, so we’ve had Joel, and a break-in, and now it’s time for the third problem, right?”
“It kills me that all of this has happened,” Kingston says, reaching for my hand.
I hang onto him while Sebastian says, “I went to talk to your apartment manager today. Bryan Victor Crowley, Junior.”
I stop moving and stare at him. “Why do you know his full name?”
“Because I called the police on him and watched as he was arrested. It turns out, he was monitoring your apartment.”
My legs go weak, but I force myself to remain upright. “Monitoring…how?”
“Video cameras,” he says.
“No,” I whisper. “Why? I can’t do this again.”
I can’t process it. Joel did the same thing, with the revenge sex video. And now, my apartment manager?
Sebastian shakes his head. “No fucking idea. The police are still talking to him. They’ll get in touch with you tomorrow, probably to ask if you want to press charges.”
“Oh, I definitely do,” I say. “But this doesn’t make sense. Was he watching anyone else?”
“Not that I could tell, princess.”
I force myself to take deep, even breaths. Panicking will solve nothing.
“What can we do for you?” Kingston asks, rubbing his big hand up and down my arm, soothing.
A part of me wants to unravel, to completely lose my shit. But I don’t want to give this power over me, not again. We missed our last date because of Joel. I’m not canceling this one because of stupid Bryan.
“Do you want to stay in tonight?” Sebastian asks.
My mind is still stuck on what possible reason Bryan would have to monitor my apartment.
Maybe he gets his rocks off by watching people, but he never seemed particularly obsessed with me in any way.
But maybe that was part of it—if he ignored me in real life, he could jerk off to my video as much as he wanted.
Even though I’m wearing the new coat Kingston gave me, goosebumps skitter up and down my arms like cockroach legs.
But I’m tired of letting these events hold me back from having fun, from living my life.
Everything has been so negative and scary lately.
Can’t I just have a pleasant night out with these two hotties who, inexplicably, want to be with me?
“I don’t want to stay in,” I say. “Fuck stupid Bryan and fuck his stupid creepy screens. We’re going out and we’re going to have a good time.”
“I love everything you said just now,” Kingston says with a smile. “But I’ll have to spank your ass later to punish you for that filthy, filthy mouth.”
I tug on his shoulder until he lowers his head closer to mine, then I whisper, “I look forward to that…Daddy.”
“Fuck,” he growls, then kisses me, pulling my body against his so I’m surrounded in his strength and heat.
“King,” Sebastian says, “we should go. We’re starting to attract attention.”
Sebastian’s car is idling at the curb, so the three of us climb into the back seat. I glance through the window to see that onlookers had gathered during my kiss with Kingston.
Let them look. I fight the urge to flip them all off, because it seems half the world is interested in watching me. Fuckers, all of them. Especially Bryan.
Sebastian’s driver takes us down Caro Boulevard and stops in downtown San Esteban, which is the cutesy, touristy part of the city. Are we going somewhere fancy? Should I have worn a dress? I don’t realize I’m squeezing Sebastian’s hand until he squeezes gently back.
“It’s okay, princess,” he says. “We’re going to have fun.”
We get out of the car and the men walk on either side of me.
They don’t hold my hands, but that’s okay.
I don’t know, entirely, if I’m ready to display affection with both of them at the same time in public.
There were those two kisses outside of my apartment one time, though, and I didn’t mind those.
I’m relieved when we reach Valentina’s, an Italian restaurant famous for its creative pizzas. Nice and casual. My clothes won’t make me stand out at all here.
“Does this look good to you?” Kingston asks me.
I nod. “It looks great.”
It smells great, too. Even from out here, I can pick up aromatic garlic and Italian seasonings. We step through the door. Kingston and I move to the side so Sebastian can tell the host his name for a reservation.
The host nods and Sebastian beckons Kingston and me forward. We follow the host through the dining room.
People stare. I didn’t think it would be that weird to walk into a restaurant with two men, because it’s not as if we’re telegraphing that the three of us are in a relationship. But the looks and the double-takes are a lot more than I’d expected.
It isn’t until Sebastian shakes his head at someone who’s holding up her phone for a picture that I realize—it isn’t that we’re going out as a throuple, but that Sebastian is here, and he’s famous.
The host leads us to a table. Our waiter shows up as soon as we’re seated. The whole ordering process is a blur, because I’m hyperconscious of everyone staring at us.
“How do you get over this?” I ask Sebastian. “Or maybe you don’t?”
He frowns. “Usually, I don’t care very much. But you’re here, and I don’t like them making you uncomfortable. Do you want to leave?”
“No,” I say. “I’m good.”
But I have to admit to myself that I feel like I’m sitting on a stage as I lift my water glass to my lips—like this date has now become a performance.
Still, we enjoy an excellent meal. The guys tell me about a hiking trip they took to South America last year, and how Kingston’s rusty Spanish nearly got them jailed for selling drugs, when he was only trying to ask for medicine for a migraine. It sounds terrifying, but we’re all laughing.
“Nothing like a little bit of terror to make things more exciting, right?” Kingston says.
“So true,” I say, sitting back in my chair, stuffed.
“Do you like being scared?” Sebastian asks me, and the words have new meaning.
“Not like…in a sex way,” I say. “A horror movie, sure, if I’m in the mood for it. But for the bedroom? Nah.”
“Pain is fine, though,” he says.
I feel myself blushing. “Yeah.”
“And a little embarrassment. Being pushed to your limits.”
“I—I don’t know.”
Kingston reaches over to touch my cheek. “Your blush gets me so fucking hard, little girl.”
I blush harder. “I have to go to the restroom.”
Kingston sits back and smirks. Sebastian, too. They got to me so fast. One minute, regaling me with South American adventures, the next, getting my panties so wet, I’m worried a spot will show through on my denim skirt. Thankfully, the denim is a dark wash.
After using the toilet, I’m washing my hands when two women walk into the restroom.
“You know Bastian Crown,” one woman states, pointing at my chest.
The two come up to stand at the counter on either side of me. Red wine has stained their lips and they’re a little unsteady on their feet.
I nod, although I’m not really sure where this conversation can go.
“Is he fantastic in bed?” the first one asks.
“You’re the chick who sang with him,” the other one says. “I could tell you guys were banging, like, your chemistry on stage was so amazingly hot. I bet he’s a great lover. A bit old for us, but hey, doesn’t seem to be stopping you—”
“I need to go,” I say.
They follow me out of the bathroom. I walk faster, but they remain on my heels.
“Introduce us to Bastian, okay?” one of them says loudly.
“Um…” I’m not sure how to say no without sounding like a dick, but these women are being really pushy.
I walk faster. Kingston and Sebastian are watching me approach, and Kingston stands up suddenly, probably reading the panic on my face.
Sebastian stands, too, but he hangs back as Kingston strides forward.
Sebastian coming forward probably wouldn’t help the situation at all—the women want to talk to him.
But Kingston comes right up to me and glares at the women, who seem to decide they have other places to be.
“You all right, little girl?” Kingston murmurs, walking me back to the table.
“Yeah,” I say.
“I’ve already paid. Let’s get out of here.” Sebastian scowls at the women, who watch from a table across the room.
I nod and allow the men to lead me out of the restaurant.
“Where to?” Kellan, the driver, asks.
“Just drive for a few minutes,” Sebastian says. His hazel eyes are dark and he frowns at nothing.
I want to make things better, but I’m not sure what’s wrong with him. When I look at Kingston with a question in my eyes, he just shrugs.
“Is everything okay?” I ask Sebastian. Something’s different with him.
Thinking back, this darkness has been present within him ever since last weekend—the night we got together, after Kingston fired Joel.
It could have to do with me, I suppose, although I’m not sure what I’ve done wrong.
I hate to be insecure and jump to conclusions that he’s lost interest in me already…
but I’m insecure and those conclusions are rising up in front of me.
“Yeah,” he says, voice gruff. “I’m okay. I’m just pissed that those people were harassing you.”
“I don’t mind,” I say. “I mean, I didn’t like it, but I’m not going to let it ruin our date. Are you?”
He leans back slightly, as if surprised. Then a smile grows on his face and he exchanges a look with Kingston. “No, princess. We’re not going to let it ruin our date.”
“Vice?” Kingston says.
Sebastian shakes his head. “Too crowded, and I’m usually recognized there. How about a movie?”
Kingston pulls out his phone and the list of movies that are playing.
We bicker good-naturedly over what film to watch.
Kingston wants some depressing historical war movie, Sebastian wants car chases, and I want a good, old-fashioned romantic comedy.
We end up compromising, which is to say, I get my way and Kingston orders us tickets for the rom-com.
At the theater, nobody is paying attention to us. It’s less of a place for people-watching, I suppose, and lots of people are rushing through, probably late for whatever flick they’ve chosen.
We’re nearly late for ours, and the trailers have already started playing. As Kingston, Sebastian, and I settle into some seats toward the rear of the theater, I kiss each man on the cheek—Sebastian’s bearded one, and Kingston’s stubbled one.
“It’s not very crowded in here,” Sebastian remarks.
Only a couple of people are here, sitting several rows ahead of us.
“I think the movie’s been out for a few weeks,” I say.
“So if we were to have our way with you here in this movie theater,” Kingston says in a low voice, “it would be pretty easy to get away with it.”
“So easy.” I laugh, because I don’t really think he would do that. He’s kinky, yeah, but in public?
They each put a hand on my knees. My skirt is short enough that the move is skin-on-skin. I feel possessed by them in the best way—desired. I feel a little reckless and frisky, too, so I put my hands on their knees and grip them.
Kingston leans over as the last trailer ends and the screen goes dark. “Give me your panties, little girl.”