Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
CALLUM/CASH
Then
Champagne Illusions & Designer Chemistry
The bubbles rise like promises, but every fizz is a trap hissing shut.
“Where is he?” Livianna’s voice booms through the bathroom door.
I step out, adjusting my clothes. She’s glaring at Leon, who’s standing next to the bar.
His home office is almost a replica of the one in the city. The colors and the artwork are the only things that distinguish the two.
“Livianna, we were just getting ready to have someone bring you to us.” Leon tops off three champagne flutes with Dom Pérignon. “Come get your glass of bubbly to bring in the New Year.”
She has her gaze locked on Leon like she’s about to claw off his face. What’s got her so upset?
“Lily?” I straighten out the hem of my black rocker-style button-down. “What’s the matter?”
Her head spins to me. She scans over me with red cheeks.
Her hell-fire eyes connect with mine. “Why are you fidgeting with your shirt? What have you been doing?”
“I was in the bathroom.” I point to the area behind me. “Why are you acting like you’re pissed off?”
“I thought…” She rolls back her shoulders. “It’s nothing. I was just afraid I was going to miss getting that kiss you promised me.”
“I gave you my word that we’d be twisting tongues at midnight. Why would you think I’d lie about that?” Realizing she needs some reassurance, I stroll to her and take her in a tight hug. “You know I don’t lie about anything. If I tell you we’ll be together and making out, you better believe it.”
“Now that we have that settled, come and enjoy the New Year’s Eve libations I’m offering.” Leon lifts two glasses and holds them out. “I won’t tolerate celebrating alone.”
She breaks out of my embrace and sways to the bar. “Thank you, Leon. Your hospitality hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“I appreciate that.” He gestures to me to join them, which I do.
“Yeah, thanks for a great party, Leon.” I take the flute in one hand and slide my arm around Livianna’s waist.
We toast to an awesome night and the three of us watch as the ball drops on a TV that’s on the wall beside the bar. Leon has the sound off because he’s got rock music playing out of his state-of-the-art sound system.
The clock strikes midnight and I give Livianna a sensual kiss, locking in my promise. She pulls away almost breathless and her twinkling bloodshot eyes shine my way.
I move closer to her face. “Are you high?”
“Only a little.” She glances at Leon. “Happy New Year, Leon.”
Hmm. It’s interesting that she smoked weed.
“You too.” He motions to the large sea-blue suede couch. “Let’s take this over there and relax now that there are no time constraints hindering us.”
“Okay.” She strolls to the space he pointed to and relaxes against the cushions. “Callum, come sit next to me.”
“You don’t have to ask.” I follow her and snuggle into her as soon as I do. I whisper in her ear, “You smell good, Lily. I can’t wait to be alone with you.”
She quietly laughs. “Soon enough. First, I want to hear what you two have been doing.”
Leon sits on one of his chaise lounge chairs. “We were going through some of the demos Cash sent over last week.”
“Yeah, we decided which ones would be best to start with.” My pulse speeds up. “Leon thinks any of them could be a hit.”
“That’s awesome.” She kisses my cheek. “You’re going to be a rockstar before the end of the year.”
“He’s got the chops for it.” Leon places his champagne glass on the table in the center of the room.
“That he does.” Livianna takes a huge drink, finishing her bubbly. She puts her flute down next to Leon’s.
“You two know how to make a guy feel special.” I throw back the rest of my drink and get rid of my glass just as they have.
“Speaking of feeling good, how would you two like to experience a high like no other?” Leon’s gaze flits between us.
My chest tightens and my throat closes. Livianna’s been trying so hard to stay away from drugs. Hell, so have I.
She squeezes my knees with her gaze on Leon. “What do you have in mind?”
Her question has me jerking back and analyzing her. Why the sudden change of heart?
“Lily, we’ve been trying to stay clean.”
She widens her eyes and gives me direct eye contact. “As you can see, that’s no longer the case. I’m already a little baked. It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m sick of being bored. Let’s just live and have a good time.”
My heart rate kicks up and my stomach spins. As much as I enjoy my time with her and creating music, there’s a part of me that wishes I could let go of the stress of my daily responsibilities and leave my worries behind.
I address Leon. “If the lady wants to have some fun, who am I to stop her?”
“There’s the spirit.” Leon grabs our glasses and retreats behind the bar. “The best part about what we’re about to do is its effects are out of this galaxy.”
“What’s it called?” Livianna joins him on the opposite side of the counter.
I push off the couch and stroll up to her. She pulls out a stool and I help her into it. I slide into the seat next to her.
Leon pours more Dom Pérignon into our flutes. “Floating V.”
“That’s the name of it?” I rest my arm on the back of Livianna’s chair. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“That’s because it’s a new designer drug.” Leon does something behind the bar, then lays three white capsules on the counter. “I have a good friend who’s a chemist and he’s been trying out different formulas. He only offers his products to those who can afford them.”
“Meaning it’s expensive.” My guts twist. I hate owing people.
“The price is worth it.” He takes one of the capsules, breaks it open, and drops the powder into the liquid in the glass. It dissolves without a trace.
Livianna watches him closely. “Why is it called Floating V?”
“The second it hits, you get…” He glances up at me. “Let’s just say, you can get pretty aroused. Think along the lines of Viagra.”
“Like sexually?” Livianna scrunches up her nose.
“Yeah. It’s kind of like ecstasy when you get that all over loving feeling.” Leon returns to his previous actions. “The difference is right after that, it takes you to another level. Almost like you’re tripping on LSD, but nothing that would scare you. It’s total euphoria.”
“It sounds exciting.” She places her palm on my knee.
I rest my hand on the top of hers. “So just the three of us are gonna do it?”
“For right now.” Leon finishes spiking the second drink, stirring in the powder. “Depending on how we feel, we can always invite more people to join us. I don’t have a lot, so let’s be particular with anyone you choose to partake with.”
He picks up two glasses and gives them to us. A mix of excitement and trepidation zaps through me.
I force it down and think about enjoying the night with the love of my life. Before Leon prepares his concoction, Livianna lifts her glass.
“Cheers, guys.” Livianna takes her flute and waits for him to pick his up. Once he has it, she taps her champagne to his, then mine. “Here’s to making this next year the best.”
“To the best.” Leon steps back, resting his butt against the back bar where all the bottles are on full display. “This year is bound to be full of unexpected twists and turns. I, for one, can’t wait for the ride.”
“Here, here.” I wait for Livianna to drink hers first.
If she doesn’t respond well to it, I wanna be here to help her. I expect her to sip, but she takes a big gulp. She removes the glass from her lips.
She smacks her tongue around as if she’s trying to figure out where the champagne is hitting her taste buds. “I can’t even tell it’s in there.”
“That’s how it’s meant to be.” Leon focuses his attention on me, still not mixing his capsule of powder into his drink. “Go ahead, Cash. Give it a try.”
I shrug and toss back some of it. Nothing happens and Livianna’s right. I don’t notice any difference in the flavor.
Leon gestures to the couch. “Shall we return to a more comfortable spot?”
“Yes. I like it better over there.” She spins out of her seat and sways to the other area.
Her gait is slightly off balance, but she’s small. I suspect the alcohol and drugs are hitting her more intensely than they are me. If she needs something, I’m here, so I brush any concern away.
Leon and I find our way back to where we were before as he rattles on about our partnership. We talk about music for about twenty minutes, sipping our drug-infused mixture as we do.
I keep thinking about Leon’s capsule being left on the counter. Why didn’t he mix it into his champagne?
The drugs start to flow through my blood and I forget all about that small fact. The muscles in my body loosen and in a flash, I’m as relaxed as if I took a few Valiums.
Leon notices and picks up a remote. A new playlist filters in. The songs are dark and ominous but somehow sexy.
I pull Livianna close to my side. She nestles into me and purrs. The vibration crosses over my chest, and my nipples tingle and steeple like a woman’s would.
Damn, I’m sensitive.
My dick grows. “Fuck, I see what you mean about getting aroused.”
She peeks up at me. “Callum, I feel kind of different.”
“Me too, and I’m as hard as a rock, vixen.” It doesn’t compute in my head that Leon is observing our interaction. At this point, I don’t care. “What should we do about that?”
“Don’t mind me.” Leon adjusts his obvious erection and lies back on the chaise lounge. “I’m just here for the entertainment value.”
A quick twinge of uncomfortable energy spins in my gut, but I get distracted because Livianna is unlatching my belt buckle. My heart pounds harder and the images around me distort.
Her hand slides over my cock, but instead of one vision of her arm, there’s a blurry picture that creates a version of two of her hands moving to undo my jeans.
This must have been what Leon meant when he said it’s like tripping on LSD, but you’re more relaxed. It’s a Zen-like state with twisted visualizations. I’m floating on the biggest wave of sexual euphoria I’ve ever experienced.