Chapter 24
CELEbrITY CRUSH
LILY
After I’ve calmed down following the earth-shattering orgasm, I surprise myself by settling back to enjoy the rest of the concert. Like it was no big deal that Sebastian had just finger-fucked me into oblivion in public.
Who even am I anymore?
He’s pulled out his phone and is checking his emails, seeming to be completely unaffected by what just happened.
But then, this is probably a regular occurrence for him.
I wonder how many times he’s gotten Imogen off in similar situations? Or Annika? Do they do this kind of thing all the time?
I still have so many questions about the various relationships between them all, but am scared it would seem as though I’m jealous.
But the truth is, I just want to understand how it all works.
How they’ve managed to separate their emotions so fully from such acts of intimacy.
As a society, we frown upon the idea that sex can exist without some level of emotion attached, but I’m fast learning that it isn’t always the case.
And while I’m not sure I could completely separate my emotions from sex when it comes to Sebastian, I’m eager to find out.
Once the final set ends, I look over at Sebastian, fighting the lump in my throat. “Thank you so much. It’s been so long since I’ve been to see a live show, and for it to be Chasing Destiny at one of their intimate shows… Just… Thank you.”
He smiles. “Of course. But the night isn’t over yet.”
I check the time on my phone, then look at him with a raised eyebrow. “It’s nearly midnight.”
The smile turns to a smirk, and he shakes his head. “Scared you’re going to turn into a pumpkin?”
I choke on a laugh. “No. But I haven’t been out this late in a long time.”
The smirk fades away, and a grimace flashes across his face before something harder replaces it, and I know he’s again wishing he could punch Joseph. Or worse.
The realisation dawns on me then that I haven’t thought about my husband once all night.
That I’ve been thinking of him less often with each passing day.
It’s like I’ve entered a different world since coming to Brisbane, and the thought is freeing in a way I hadn’t thought possible.
I want to cling to this feeling forever.
To never have to think about him again.
But that would be a fairytale. At the very least, I need to start working on a plan to divorce him, but I don’t know where to start.
So I push the thoughts away, deciding to remain in my bubble a little longer.
“So, what’s the plan then?”
He slides out of the booth and reaches his hand out to help me up. The pain in my feet has eased to a dull ache, but I’m hoping whatever he has planned includes more sitting.
“Now we go and get a drink.”
Instead of moving towards the bar, he heads for the door.
I follow behind, allowing him to lead me outside as he continues holding my hand.
There has been far more hand holding tonight than I’d been expecting, but I’m definitely not complaining.
It feels different to when Joseph used to hold my hand, his grip like a vice, holding me captive at his side. With Sebastian, it just feels… nice.
“You know they have a bar inside, right?” I ask, wondering where he’s taking me.
He flashes me a smile over his shoulder but continues on down the street, and we walk into the foyer of the hotel next door.
“Good evening, Mr DeLuca.” The man on the concierge desk smiles at us as we pass, flicking a questioning gaze towards me.
“Hi Peter. How’s everything going?” Sebastian replies, while I try to work out how they know each other.
“All going well. Nothing new to report on. Our VIP guests checked in earlier today and all seems to be to their liking.”
It dawns on me then that this must be one of their hotels. I’d forgotten about all their other business ventures, my world view having narrowed to within the walls of Dark Desires only.
Sebastian gives the man a friendly nod. “Excellent. We’re just heading into the bar for a drink. Have a good night.” He guides me onwards, steering me towards the cocktail bar area off the main foyer.
Being a Sunday night, it’s not overly busy, but there’s still enough people here to give the place a nice ambience.
“So… This is one of your places, then?” I ask once we’re situated in one of the plush leather booths.
“Yes. Along with the bar we were just in.”
Suddenly, it all makes sense. “That’s why you didn’t need to show them a ticket, or anything?”
He shakes his head with a small smile. “Perks of being the boss.”
I gape at him for a moment. “How on earth did you swing getting Chasing Destiny to hold one of their intimate concerts there? They are supposed to be super exclusive.”
He smirks. “They sought us out.”
I don’t know how to reply to that, so I stare at him in stunned amazement as he waves one of the cocktail waitresses down.
“Whiskey please, Michelle.” He turns to me with a questioning look and I open my mouth to give my order, but I can’t think of what I want. He nods, and turns back to the waitress. “And an espresso martini for the lady.”
The woman nods with a smile and heads off towards the bar.
She gives the order to the bartender, pointing to Sebastian, and the guy nods before turning to grab a small ladder.
He uses it to reach for the top shelf, pulling down a bottle of whiskey, pouring Sebastian’s drink before getting to work on my martini.
“How did you remember what I used to drink?” I ask, in awe of the fact that he seems to remember everything about my former life, while it has all become a distant memory for me.
A sad smile tugs at his lips as he studies me for a moment before responding. “I remember everything, Lily.”
The look he gives me is confusing the crap out of me. Sadness mixed with awe. And something else I never thought I’d see on his face.
He seems so adamant that there can be nothing between us outside of whatever our arrangement is, and yet, this whole night has felt like a promise of something more. The hand holding. The way I caught him looking at me while I was dancing…
I don’t know what I want from him, though. Or maybe I do and am just too scared to admit it myself.
So I decide that the best course of action is to say nothing, simply nodding in response to his words.
The waitress returns with our drinks, and I take a sip of the martini. It’s been so long since I’ve had one that I’d forgotten how good they taste.
Joseph didn’t let me drink. Said it wouldn’t be proper for a politician’s wife to drink in public. Which is a load of bullshit, because most of his friends wives were complete lushes. It was just another way to control me.
“How is it?” Sebastian asks, taking a sip of his own drink.
“Just as good as I remember.”
He smiles. “Good.”
We seem to have run out of things to say. Or maybe the memories have made it too difficult to return to small talk.
Just as I’m beginning to wonder if we’re about to return to the previous version of Sebastian that could barely be around me, Declan Fitzgerald slides into the booth beside me.
“Hey, sorry I took so long. I wanted to have a quick shower before we met up,” he says, nodding at Sebastian.
“Not a problem, we’ve not been waiting long. I’d thought you’d need more time,” Sebastian replies, completely at ease.
I, on the other hand, am frozen, staring at the man beside me. I’m pretty sure I’m having a stroke.
“You’re-you’re Declan Fitzgerald.”
He grins, nodding towards Michelle, who comes running. “I am.” He looks up at the star struck waitress. “Whiskey, please. Same as our friend, here,” he says, waving his hand towards Sebastian’s glass.
I keep on staring at him as she heads back to the bar. “From Chasing Destiny.”
He chuckles. “Right again.”
“And you two know each other?” I look between the two men, trying to make sense of what is happening right now.
“We do.” Declan is clearly amused.
I turn my attention back to Sebastian. “How?”
They both hesitate for a moment, before Sebastian casts a questioning look towards Declan. The singer nods, and Sebastian finally answers. “From the club.”
I almost ask ‘what club?’ - because that’s how broken my brain is right now - but then the pieces start to fall into place.
“Oh.” I don’t know what I’m supposed to say now.
Is he a regular patron? Which club do they mean? Here or one of the Sydney ones? Does he have a preferred sex worker? Why does a rock star need to see a sex worker? Don’t they have groupies for free sex?
“I think her brain is glitching,” Declan says, continuing to grin while he exchanges an amused look with Sebastian.
“Well, Lily’s probably a little star struck,” Sebastian replies. “She’s been an avid fan of the band since she was sixteen.”
I want to kick him under the table, but Declan simply nods. “Ah, so an original fan. I’m honoured.”
Finally, I find my voice. “I was at one of your first concerts. In Kings Cross.” Daniel and I had snuck in using fake ID’s.
Sebastian had pretended he didn’t know, of course. But he always knew every single thing we got up to.
“Wow. Those were the good old days. Kind of miss the anonymity of those first few years,” Declan says, looking a little wistful.
Michelle returns with his drink, and he smiles in thanks before returning his attention to me.
“Wait… so did you guys know each other back then?” I ask, turning an accusing look towards Sebastian.
He chuckles. “No, Lily. I wouldn’t have kept the fact that I knew your celebrity crush a secret from you.”
I can feel my face turn bright red, and am seriously considering delivering that kick, when Declan runs his gaze over me, and the heat I’d seen behind his gaze while he was on stage returns. “And am I still your celebrity crush, Lily?”
What is happening right now?
“I-um,” I stammer, looking from one man to the other.
“Well, given she orgasmed while you were singing to her earlier tonight, I’d say it’s a safe bet,” Sebastian drawls.
If the ground could just open up and swallow me whole right now, that would be amazing.
“Ah, right. When you were fingering the fuck out of her in the booth. That was quite the show, DeLuca. I almost came in my pants.” He drags his gaze from Sebastian to rake his eyes over me. “You’re gorgeous when you come. Has anyone told you that before?”
“No,” I squeak, blushing again.
Or maybe I’m still blushing. I’m pretty sure my face is on fire right now.
He slides a little closer. “I’d love a repeat performance, Lily. Except this time.” He brings his lips close to my ear. “I want you to do it while I’ve got my tongue in your pussy.”
I turn to stare at Sebastian with wide eyes.
“What?” I ask, my voice slightly shaky.
Unsure of what I’m meant to say or do in this situation, my heart beats so hard I can hear it echoing in my ears, while the image of Declan kneeling between my legs sends a shock of desire through me.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Lily,” Sebastian replies, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the table. “But I figured, you’d expressed interest in group activities, and I know you find Declan attractive.”
I look from Sebastian to Declan, then back again. “What?”
Declan chuckles. “Seriously, DeLuca, you probably should have given her at least a little notice before springing this all on her.”
I go to voice my agreeance, before it dawns on me what Sebastian is doing.
I narrow my eyes as I look at him. “You’re testing me, aren’t you? You don’t think I was serious last night.”
He holds my gaze. “Call it a hunch.”
I’m not blushing anymore.
Now I’m just annoyed.
I turn back to Declan. “So. Group activities, huh? You’re into threesomes?”
He shrugs, completely at ease. “Or foursomes… Fivesomes have also been known to happen. I’ve been to more than a few club nights since I made this guy’s acquaintance.”
I return my gaze to Sebastian’s. “And where will you be, while his tongue is in my pussy?”
My voice isn’t shaking anymore, and his eyes widen a fraction, before the mask of control slips right back into place.
“I’ll be the one telling you both what to do.”
I nod, slapping my hands on both knees before rising to my feet. “Right. Well. Let’s go then.”
Sebastian studies me for a moment, while Declan looks between the two of us.
“I can’t tell what is going on right now, but you two are turning me on with whatever this power move is.”
Sebastian doesn’t acknowledge him, simply continuing to assess me.
I refuse to back down. If he wants to test my resolve, then he better get a fucking move on.
Because now I’m horny as fuck.