Chapter 6 The Bastards
THE BASTARDS
EMERY
If he grins at me with that look in his eyes one more fucking time, I will throw a goddamn stapler at his stupid little head.
Seriously.
Can’t he act like a normal adult and forget about what he witnessed at the fundraiser?
Can’t he at least pretend not to know? We’re at work.
A place of professionalism. This is supposed to be a safe space.
God, this is all their fault. With their wily little fingers and beastly appetites for salaciousness.
Oh, quit whining. You wanted it too.
I wince inwardly. Damn it. Maybe I do need to resign.
“Miss Jones?” Amir calls out from across the boardroom table. “What do you think?”
I think you’re an ass. I think that your subtle innuendos are getting old. I think that I’m mortified every time I walk into the same room as you. I think I’d like to pull a Cher and turn back time.
“I think commercial is fine,” I say through a tight-lipped smile. “Better for the brand. I’m almost certain that every other executive team will fly private. At least we can say we align our daily practices with our philanthropic mission. Sustainability.”
Amir grins. That’s it. Someone is going to have to physically hold me back.
The worst part of this whole ordeal is that everyone else just thinks he’s friendly and peppy. But that ridiculous smile of his is laced with so many nefarious undertones that he could very well be the new ruler of Hades. Which, given he owns Club Hades, is ironic as fuck.
“Surely, we can fly first class at least?” He cocks his head. “Please don’t tell me that we’ll be stuck in economy for five hours.”
I roll my eyes. Not very professional. “First class is fine.”
“Great.” Amir claps his hands. “I’m excited. I think this trip will be very beneficial to the team.” He smirks at me. “And our brand.”
Gross.
“Is that all for today?” I preemptively pack up my laptop bag. Fridays are now my favorite day of the week.
“In a rush to get home, Miss Jones?” Amir rounds the boardroom table as my colleagues filter out of the room. He perches on the edge, handing me my planner. “Big plans this evening?”
“Nope.”
That was curt but fuck it. I am drawing boundaries.
And he’ll be an idiot to cross them. One word to Damon, and Amir might not be able to talk at all.
To anyone. And Quin… Well, Quin would find a solution in a more amicable manner.
I love that about him. He tends to take the high road.
Lord knows Damon can learn a thing or two from him.
But I love Damon, nonetheless. He makes everything that much more exciting.
A sudden need to have their bodies pressed against mine rushes through my veins, directly to my core. Oh. Now I really want to get home.
“No plans?” He brushes his thumb over his bottom lip. “Interesting.”
I sigh, hating that I’m sinking in his quicksand of intrigue. “Why? Why is that interesting?”
He shrugs, a gleam of humor crossing his features. “Oh, nothing. It’s just I heard some whispers that the dynamic duo will be making an appearance at the club tonight.”
I blanch. Tonight? They want to go tonight? I can’t. I won’t. There must be a different club. Somewhere far, far away from my fucking boss. I’ve heard rumors that Suffer N’ Rage is an up-and-coming spot. But it’s not as discreet. As exclusive.
Amir smirks. “You’re blushing, Miss Jones.”
“If you can see me blushing, Mr. Hadid,” I snap, glaring at him, “then perhaps you’re looking a little too hard.” He tips his head back and expels a husky laugh. I cross my arms, irritation spiking. “What’s so funny?”
He wipes a tear from the corner of his eyes. Or at least he pretends to do so for dramatic effect. Asshole.
“You…” He chuckles, taking a big breath, attempting to find his equilibrium. “You’re funny.” He hops off the table, straightening out his dress pants. “I’ll see you and the boys tonight, Miss Jones. And don’t worry…” He smirks down at me. “I won’t reveal your dirty little secret.”
My ears burn. “And I won’t reveal yours.”
He lifts a curious brow as I sling my bag over my shoulder in a huff and walk out of the room.
I stop at the threshold, whipping my head toward him. “I’m sure the board would be very displeased to find out their new CEO owns over a dozen sex clubs around the globe.”
He blinks, genuinely taken aback by my veiled threat. But his surprise quickly fades into amusement. “Then I suppose it would be mutually beneficial to keep our lips sealed, Miss Jones. Both of our careers appear to be on the proverbial line.”
I hate him.
I storm into the brownstone, frustration bubbling inside my chest. The energy in the living room is oddly calm.
Damon and Quinton are sitting in front of each other on two armchairs, a chessboard in between them.
Their focus remains on the black and white pieces, and it’s quiet.
Too quiet. That is, until I drop my bag on the ground in a huff, feeling like a damn category five hurricane that just landed.
Damon stands up abruptly, gaze narrowed on me. "What happened?" he asks, giving me a quick once over. “Are you okay?
I cross my arms, fuming. "We need to replace Amir. I can't work with that man." My stern gaze snaps between the two of them. “Oh, and we need to find a new club.”
Damon frowns, exchanging a quick glance with Quinton. "What happened? What did he do?"
"The man has no boundaries," I seethe.
Damon's expression hardens, his hand clenching into a fist. "What did he do, Emery? Did he touch you?” His gaze frantically flicks around my face and body for evidence of torture. “I’m going to kill him, I swear.”
My anger wavers for a moment. “He didn’t touch me, no, but—”
“But what?” Damon growls, glancing back at Quin. “I told you he was going to be a problem.”
Quin takes a small breath as if calming his inner beast. “Let her finish, Damon.” He nods at me. “But what, darling?”
“He keeps smiling at me.”
Damon blinks. “Smiling?”
“Yes, smiling.”
Quin perks a brow. “And?”
I flap my arms. “And it’s annoying. Because he’s not just smiling at me. He’s saying, ‘I caught you doing something quite inappropriate and now I’ll hold it over your head for the rest of your life.’”
Damon has the fucking audacity to grin. “You’re embarrassed.”
“Of course, I’m embarrassed. I see him every day, Damon, and every day, he smiles at me. And then he has the balls to mention the club.” I perk an accusatory brow. “Apparently, we’re meant to make an appearance tonight?”
An unspoken understanding passes between Damon and Quin, and their expressions shift from concern to something more sinister. A dark amusement twinkles in their eyes as they exchange a quick glance. I hate when they do that. Well…I sort of hate it.
Damon's stiff posture relaxes as he stalks toward me, and Quin joins him, caging me between their towering frames.
"He's gotten under your skin, hasn't he, darling?" Quin murmurs against the bare slope of my neck.
Damon's fingers trail up and down my arm. "He barely saw anything, Emery. You don't need to be embarrassed."
I swallow hard, my core burning from their proximity.
Quin glances at Damon, and a beat later, he smirks. "Perhaps we should give him a real show."
Damon's hands roam my body, taunting. "Oh, come on, Q. That'll just embarrass our girl even more. We wouldn't want that."
I shiver, caught between their teasing touch and the undeniable hunger slithering through my veins.
"Yes, it would be awfully uncomfortable for her," Quin coos, his lips brushing against my ear. "Maybe we shouldn't touch her at all."
Their husky, teasing tone sends a jolt through me, and my body aches to be licked, kissed, touched. My skin tingles, pulse flaring from their calculated touch, and I know I’m in deep trouble. Damon's fingers ghost over my waist, Quin's lips grazing my earlobe.
Goddamn it. They don’t play fair.
“Is that what you want, mami?” Damon murmurs. “For us to stop touching you?”
Quin tilts my chin upward, his intense gaze capturing mine. "Use your words, darling," he urges. “What do you want?”
My core throbs, a shiver spidering down my spine "No," I breathe out, arching desperately into their caresses. “Don’t stop.”
Damon smirks, his fingers tracing the contours of my hips. "Mmm… I don’t know.”
I swallow, my senses electrified. "Please," I whimper, my panties damp, my pussy pulsing with anticipation.
“Please, what?” Damon growls, his finger dipping under the waistband of my pants.
“Touch me,” I whisper.
“Mmm…” Quin palms my breasts through my blouse. “We could but—”
Damon’s chuckle fans against my pebbled skin. “But we wouldn’t want to embarrass you, mami.”
Quin's chest rises and falls with a sharp breath. “You’ve hurt our feelings, little Emery.”
These bastards.
I thought they’d be on my side. I thought they’d be happy to learn of my distaste for the man.
But no. They’re scheming, filthy little fucks.
They’re toying with me. Playing with my desires.
They’re so damn pleased that I’m at their mercy.
I know what they’re doing. I know what they want.
Despite their love, their devotion, their admiration, at the end of the day, they want to dominate me, control my body, make me scream from both pleasure and pain.
And fuck it if I don’t fall victim to their conniving tactics.
“Let me…” My breath hitches as Damon’s teeth nip at my earlobe. “Let me make it up to you.”
“She wants to make it up to us, Q,” Damon rasps, nuzzling his nose into my hair. “Should we let her?”
Quin's eyes gleam with wicked amusement as he leans in, his lips dangerously close to mine. "How do you plan on making it up to us, darling?" he murmurs.
Damon's fingers trail along the tiny sliver of skin exposed at my midsection, his touch both possessive and tender. “Enlighten us, Emery."
Wicked, villainous little bastards.
“Anything,” I say, succumbing to their charms. “I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?” Damon growls in my ear. “Did you hear that, Q? She said she’d do anything.”
Fuck.
“Anything as in…” A sly grin spreads across Quin's face. "Letting us fuck you in front of your new boss?” A devilish twinkle glows in his baby blue irises. “Properly this time.”
My heart rate quickens at his suggestion. I knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any less scandalous. Any less nerve-wracking. I don’t understand them. Damon, in particular. He doesn’t want me anywhere near the man, but it’s okay if he watches me get railed?
“I like that idea.” Damon grazes his lips against mine. "You can show Amir just how proud you are of us.”
With a deep breath, I meet their gaze with newfound determination. "Fine. Let's go to Club Hades."
Damon smirks. "That's our girl."
I lift a knowing brow at Damon. “Will I be wearing your ring?” I shift my attention to Quin. “Or your necklace?”
“Both, darling,” Quin rasps, trailing his finger along my breasts. “We don’t need to hide at Hades.”