Chapter 10
The guard at the front of Saskia’s place lets me cruise in without checking who I am. They all know my cars by now seeing as I’ve spent weeks on end here during the holidays. I ease the car down her ridiculously long, tree lined driveway and pull up outside her palatial mansion, climb out and skip up to her door.
Pressing the doorbell, I wait for a second before the door opens and Saskia rushes out.
“Quick.” She grabs my hand and as she’s about to drag me down the steps her Baba emerges yelling at us in Russian. “Shit,” Saskia whispers as we both turn around to see Baba coming toward us.
“Monroe.” She holds her hand out to me and I take it in mine.
Baba is fucking scary and I do as she says or else I risk getting the third degree. Growing up, Baba would babysit Saskia and I and she always scared the crap out of me. There was no chance we could act up when we were here at Saskia’s place.
Baba grips my hand firmly in both of hers and kisses the top before muttering something in Russian. All she has to do is give Saskia the look and Saskia follows suit and holds out her hand. Baba kisses Saskia on the cheek before she indicates for us that we can leave.
“Thank you, Baba.” I clutch the cross that dangles below my breasts and head to the car.
I watch Saskia beeline for the car. She’s too fucking stunning for words. Her usually unruly dirty blonde hair is straightened and sits at her waist. She’s dressed as a slutty Matryoshka doll, and I eye her in confusion as she makes her way to the car and gets in.
I climb into the driver’s seat and stare at her. “Umm, what the fuck are you wearing?”
She cackles to herself before closing the door. “Someone’s worst nightmare.” She winks.
“I don’t get it.” I shake my head at her as I pull away from the curb and head toward the main highway.
“People are scared of my family. I thought I’d come in traditional Russian dress.”
“Okay then.” I indicate to merge onto the highway.
“Where are your two lovesick puppies tonight?”
“Shut up. Don’t you start.” I turn up the music to try to drown out her talking.
Saskia leans forward and turns the song back down. “They’re both so in love with you. How do you not see it?”
“I’m not listening to you.”
“Now that we’re out of high school and in the big bad world, you know you could totally fuck them both and neither would protest.”
“It’s not like I haven’t tried.” I roll my eyes at myself and at how pathetic I sound.
“Forget about Rome. We’re days away from going off to college so let’s make a new pact. You get laid tonight.” She claps her hands together like she’s just concocted some grand scheme.
“I don’t just want it to be anyone. I do have a little self-respect.” I glance at her and laugh.
“Of course, it won’t be just anyone. It will be the hottest guy at the party. Don’t worry, girlfriend, I got you. Leave it up to Momma Sass to get you laid tonight.” She leans over the center console and plants a kiss on my cheek.
“I’m going to miss you when we leave for college. I know it’s the same University, but the different colleges are going to suck ass.” The sudden pang of anxiety and fear coil in my gut.
“You could always escape and come be with me.”
“Sounds like a plan. You can help me get the fuck out of that house as I’d rather not run into Sin on the daily if I can help it.”
“Turn here.” Saskia points to an entrance of a driveway flanked by two giant gargoyles.
“It looks like the Addams Family lives here.” I roll past the two impressive columns with the looming presence of the gargoyles staring down at anyone who dares enter their playground.
“I can’t believe Papa and Mama V. aren’t allowing you to go to college on the other side of the country.”
“Apparently, I don’t get a say.” I can feel her eyes on me as the car creeps along the never-ending driveway with the gnarled branches of the trees forming a canopy above.
Yawning loudly as we break into a clearing to see the gothic looking mansion illuminated by the bright moon. “Is Edward Scissor Hands throwing the party?” My eyes water as I yawn again.
“Are your spicy sex dreams keeping you awake again?” Saskia laughs at my expense.
“Fuck off. It’s not funny.” I put the car in park and check myself in the rear view mirror. “And yes, if you must know.”
“Girl. You need to get laid.”
“No shit. Now, let’s go get drunk.” I climb out of the car and stare up at the life size haunted house.
Saskia rounds the car and links her arm through mine. “You know, you could always get a dildo to satisfy your needs.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Before I left to come pick you up, I opened a package from my crazed stalker. In it was a vibrator molded to the shape of his finger. His fucking finger!” A cold shiver rushes down my spine as I recall the feeling of it vibrating in my hand. I glance around making sure no one has followed us here.
“I’m grossed out but impressed with his creativity.” Saskia grips me tightly against her as her eyes dart around the woods on either side of the driveway. “I’m creeped out, let’s get inside.” She shudders as she drags me toward the staircase that leads up to the Georgian gothic mansion.
The bass of the music seeps through the walls and I can hear the party has already kicked off. As we approach the large carved door, it opens before we can knock and standing on the threshold is someone dressed as Frankenstein.
He steps aside and indicates with his green tinged hand for us to enter. We scurry past him into a room filled with hundreds of floating candles and a thick haze of smoke that makes it difficult to see. I grab Saskia’s hand as I lead her through the front foyer, down the long hallway to the back of the house where the main party is.
Searching the space for any familiar faces, I spot someone dressed as a shower, complete with a shower curtain decorated in rubber ducks. But that’s not the weirdest nightmare. Apparently, someone is afraid of a corn chip as I spot a human sized corn chip at the bar.
“This way,” I shout over the music and beeline for the bar with Saskia trailing behind me.
“What will it be, ladies?” The guy serving drinks winks at me. He’s dressed in a maid outfit that’s splattered in red paint to resemble blood. I want to ask him what his nightmare is but I don’t want to be intrusive.
“Two passionfruit Martini’s, please,” I half shout over the music.
I turn around to face the crowd of misfits dancing. It looks like a Halloween party gone wrong. There are people dressed in unimaginative costumes like mine but then there’s the ones who have obviously taken the nightmare request literally in the hopes to face their fears and tackle them in costume.
“What the hell is that supposed to be?” Saskia nudges me as she hands me my drink.
I look to where she’s pointing but I’m momentarily distracted. My eyes are playing tricks on me, because further back in the darkened room, I swear I see something move and disappear. Something that felt like it was watching me, following my movements and then hid when I looked in their direction.
Looking back to where Saskia pointed, I shrug, taking a sip of my drink. “I think it’s a breadstick.”
“What a fucking weird nightmare.” Saskia shakes her head unimpressed by the poor girl’s fear.
“Personally, I love bread. Give me all the panini and baguettes and I’ll die happy,” I giggle.
“We need to find you a baguette tonight.” She laughs at her own joke as I roll my eyes. “Let’s hunt.”
Saskia walks away from me into the crowd on the dance floor and quickly disappears in the writhing and grinding bodies. I stay seated at the bar enjoying my drink when a guy in a spider costume approaches the bar and takes the seat beside me.
“Hey.” His eyes land on my breasts.
“Up here.” I place my pointer finger under his chin and make him look up at me. “Hi.” I smile at him. His dark brown hair is longer in the front and sits lopsided over one of his eyes. I spot a tiny sliver of a tattoo peeking out from above the neckline of his costume. My mind immediately needs to know what is hiding beneath.
“Sorry, but damn.” He throws me the cheesiest, goofiest grin and it’s hard not to laugh.
“Keep those eyes up here, arachnophobia.” I take another sip of my drink and scan the crowd to see if I can spot Sass.
“I’m not actually afraid of spiders. It’s the only costume I had and figured spiders are a believable fear.” He reaches for the tumbler of amber liquid placed in front of him. “I’m Connor, host of the party.” He offers his hand for me to shake.
I take his hand and gently shake it. “You own this Addams Family house?” I glance around at the inside of the building, well, as much as I can see in the dim lighting.
“Yep. It’s been in my family for generations. Makes a good place to host Halloween.” He throws back his drink and slides it back to the bartender.
“It’s something else.”
“Sorry, I can’t hear you.” He leans into me and focuses on my lips, not daring to allow his eyes to roam further south.
I move so my mouth is near his cheek. “I said, it’s something else.” I know he can hear me perfectly clear but the thought of him being coy about wanting to get me closer is sweet.
No guy has come near me ever. Period. It’s like I’m a pariah or people fear that they will be hit with the famous Monroe curse and be murdered for being associated with me. It’s a lonely place here.
He shifts to face me and his lips are inches from mine. I see the crinkle in the corners of his eyes when he grins. “She certainly is.” Grabbing his freshly poured drink, and without taking his eyes off mine, he takes a sip and licks the remnants from his lips.
Shaking my head to get me out from under his spell, I move to face the crowd again and spot Saskia coming toward me with a guy dressed as Drop Dead Fred in her clutches. Her eyes dart from me to the guy seated next to me and back again.
“You don’t waste any time.” She grabs my drink from my hand and throws it back.
“Oh my God! Sass!” I smile at Connor apologetically.
His grin is infectious.
“You can go now. We have no need for you.” Saskia pushes the guy she dragged here away before she turns her sights on Connor. “Credentials,” she demands from him, her hands placed on her hips like a protective mother.
“Saskia!” I pull her into me. “I’m so sorry. Ignore her.”
He chuckles and shakes his head slightly. “Graduated from Bolton Elite. Attending Sable Lakes.”
“I approve. Now let’s get some drinks into us. I’m not drunk enough.” She slaps the bar and sits her hot ass down next to me.
“I’m so sorry.” I mouth to Connor.
“He’s cute as fuck. Get his dick into you,” Saskia giggles into my ear. Her lipstick is probably smeared all over me now.
“Shh.” I cover her mouth with my palm. She licks me and tickles me with her tongue.
While Sass and I wrestle my hand away from her mouth, Connor orders us both bright purple cocktails. As the bartender places the drinks in front of us, she promises not to make any more comments about how I need to get laid. “Thank you, spidey.” Sass appreciates her drink and slowly sips it. At least this way she shuts up for a few minutes.
“So, are you attending SLU?” Connor looks at me, his eyes hungry and demanding.
Shaking my head in response, I’m starting to not regret having to go there, especially now that this cute guy is. “I’m being forced to.”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.” A sly smirk turns up the corner of his lips, making my insides do somersaults.
Saskia leans over me, almost pushing me off my seat. “Make her change her mind, spider boy.”
“No one can change my mind. I’m going to hate it.” I pat her on the butt and push her back into her chair.
Saskia pokes her tongue out at me just as three guys dressed in matching pink nighties approach Connor and give him fist bumps and bro hugs. Watching in fascination, I try to work out what their nightmares are and all I can come up with is that they’re scared of women’s pajamas.
Turning in his seat, Connor looks at me and winks before he stands and follows the three guys into the crowd.
“He’s not worth it if he’s easily scared off by me.” Sass drapes her arm around my shoulders. “It’s just you and me, girlfriend.”
Grabbing Sass’ hand, I slide off my chair and pull her after me into the dancing crowd to join the swaying, sweaty bodies that seem to be sardined into the small space. We dance for a good hour and not a single guy has come near us. I’m starting to think I have zero chance of losing my virginity in this town. Even here at a party that isn’t filled with the usual elite boys and girls school crowd, I am ignored. It’s starting to put a dent in my confidence.
I’m thankful I wore my long hair in a low bun because it would be stuck to my skin with how much I’m sweating. “Air,” I shout over the music to Sass who nods in agreement.
Pushing past the others we manage to find our way to the rear of the house and onto the back lawn where chairs have been placed haphazardly. The crisp night air cools my overheated skin as I take a seat in the chair sitting away from the bright light of the spotlight.
Sinking back into the garden chair I glance up at the sky and marvel at the twinkling stars. We’re not that far out of town but it amazes me that the stars are this bright here.
“I’m going to grab us a drink. Don’t go anywhere.” Saskia points at me before she heads back toward the house and re-emerges within minutes with a bottle of Armand de Brignac Rose champagne and two glasses, giggling like a little school girl.
Shaking my head at her as she hands me the champagne, the cork already popped, and seats herself next to me. She holds out the champagne flutes while I pour us a drink. “You always know my favorite.” I place the bottle by my heels and clink glasses with her.
“I don’t care you hate that you’re going to SLU, I’m fucking ecstatic.” She pouts at me, showing me she can pretend to be sad too.
I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Let’s both transfer to Berkeley.”
“You know I can’t. My dad will kill me if I don’t attend SLU and be the Queen of the Diamonds Frat. It’s a whole thing, you know this. I’m still in shock the V.’s are allowing you out of the house at this stage.”
“I think they’re happy to be getting rid of me.” I laugh and take a big gulp of the champagne. As much as they’ve treated me like family and never like an outsider, I know they’ll be relieved to get some distance from me for a while.
“I doubt it. Mama V. loves you like her own.”
I shrug and think about what my life will look like in a few days. Away from the Vitiello mansion and dumped in the frat house with their son. I drink the rest of the champagne in my flute and pour us both another round. I can feel the buzz already and I’m only a few drinks in.
“You better not mope around like some 2000’s emo now that you’re stuck at Sable Lakes.” Sass holds out her pinky to me and raises her eyebrows.
I wrap my pinky around hers. “Pinky swear. Pinky swear. Commit to this or get the electric chair.” We both burst into laughter at our childhood chant. “We haven’t pinky swore for years.”
“You better keep it or else.” She lifts my champagne glass to my lips and makes me drink it all in one go.
“I swear. I swear. I don’t even know what I’m committing to here.” I lean down and as I do my eye catches a movement in my peripheral. Glancing up I spot two guys dressed in normal clothes heading toward us from the other side of the house.
“What are you looking at?” Sass follows my line of vision when we both realize it’s Rome and Chaser.
“Jesus fuck they look good or is it my champagne goggles?” Saskia mutters under her breath.
I’m not one to disagree with her. They’re both hot as fuck and they know it. They’re dressed in dark blue baggy jeans and hoodies. Chaser sporting the Sable Lakes University logo across his chest. I’m guessing he found it somewhere because orientation isn’t for another few days and I’ve never seen any of the guys in university paraphernalia. Chaser’s dazzling smile widens as he nears and he comes straight for me, giving me a big bear hug before grabbing one of the spare lawn chairs from another group and planting himself next to Sass.
“Ass up.” Rome indicates with his pointer finger for me to move.
I know that if I don’t move, he’ll happily pick me up out of the chair and seat himself in it. So, to avoid my ass being shown to the rest of the party, I hold my two hands out to him and he pulls me up. Before I can get my balance, thanks to the champagne going to my head, Rome grips my waist and pulls me down into his lap.
“You smell so fucking good.” He pulls me back and cradles me into his chest.
“You smell like bonfire smoke.” I wave my hand in front of my face to emphasize how strong the smell is. “Where did you guys come from? I thought you weren’t coming tonight.”
Chaser leans forward, grabbing the champagne bottle and chugging the rest of the liquid in it. “We paid a visit to Sable Lakes to check out our living quarters for the next four years.”
“Did you burn the place down?” Saskia pushes Chaser’s arm and takes the bottle back off him, tipping it upside down to show he drank the last drop.
“There may or may not have been a bonfire of sorts and there was no fucking way we were letting you come here without us.” Rome’s fingers trace circles on my thigh.
I try to move and get up out of Rome’s lap. “You can’t keep a watchful eye on me all the time.” I huff in annoyance.
“Where are you going?” He stops me. “I kind of like having you here on top of me.” His whisper has a double meaning and I know he’s playing with me.
“Rome,” I warn and brace myself against his chest, looking down into his hooded eyes. “Are you high?”
“That’s beside the point.” He chuckles, and I feel the rumble in his chest.
“I think he’s finally worked out in that thick skull of his that this is the last week we’ll have you all to ourselves. Those college boys are a little more brazen, and there’s too many to control. Our boy is having mad regrets. Anyone want a drink?” Chaser winks at me.
“Fuck up, dude.” Rome flips Chaser the finger.
“Why don’t one of you just fuck her already?” Saskia’s voice slices through the uncomfortable tension that has suddenly arisen.
Maybe the tension is just me and how being this close to Rome feels a lot different than it did yesterday. What the hell did they put in the champagne? My heart kicks up a notch as I stare into Rome’s dark gaze. He’s comfortably leaning back as though this little conversation isn’t affecting him at all.
Pushing on his chest, I attempt to get up again, but he stops me, pinning me down into his hard dick and making sure I can feel him. I wrap my arms around his neck. His teeth capture his lower lip as he gazes up at me with hooded eyes.
“What are you doing?” I whisper so only he can hear me.
“I don’t fucking know,” he growls in pain.
“This isn’t fair, Rome.” I shift on his lap, making sure my ass presses into his dick extra hard.
He moves ever so slightly, probably to get some distance from me, before he throws his head back and groans into the night air.
“You two are killing yourselves for no reason here. Fuck already.” Sass bursts into something that sounds like a demonic cackle, breaking the sudden tension between Rome and me.
“Meet me inside.” I move to look at him and he stares back at me. A mixture of confusion, need and apprehension rolls off his heated skin. I climb off him and he lets me this time, grabbing my hand as I step away and finally letting it go after I take a step away from the group.
“You know I can’t.” He rubs his hands over his face and breathes out a heavy sigh. Grabbing out a joint from his pocket, he lights it, ignoring me as I stand there in post rejection defeat.
“Fuck you, Rome. I’m going to get more champagne.” My eyes connect with Saskia’s and I can see she wants to hug me but I stop her with a stare. I’ll cry if anyone touches me right now.
“Get two, please! Chaser will drink a whole one on his own. He hates to share with me.” Sass tries to lighten the mood. Bless her cotton socks.
I storm across the green lawn in my Valentino’s with my heart in my throat and my heels sinking into the soft ground. My anger is almost overshadowed by the deep hurt I always allow myself to be subjected to. I know his answer will always be no, so I don’t know why I like to torture myself and allow my vulnerable side to get crapped on constantly. Taking a deep breath I try to calm myself as I make it into the house. There are more people in here than before and I weave through the drunk crowd, making a beeline toward the hot guy in his football jersey. He sees me approaching, his eyes alight with excitement. Without saying anything to him, I grip his hand and haul him after me. He comes willingly and I know this is not how I wanted this to happen but fuck Rome and fuck our pact.
I find a set of stairs decorated with fairy lights and drag football jersey after me. He still doesn’t protest and it makes my wounded ego come alive. Maybe there isn’t something wrong with me after all. We stalk down the darkened hallway until I find an unlocked door.
Football jersey pulls me back into him and snakes his arm around my stomach. “I’m going to grab a rubber. Make sure that pussy is bare and ready for me,” he breathes into my neck.
I want to cringe at his words as they whisper across my skin and I’m glad he disappears and I’ll be able to pretend it’s not him in the dark room when he returns. Taking in a shaking breath, I turn the door handle with my heart beat thumping inside my head, and enter the cool room veiled in darkness.