FOUR
Saraya
I'm not ready to see everyone just yet, not until I've had my first cup of coffee.
So, instead of going down to the main rooms, I head to the kitchen in our family wing.
I doubt I will run into Phoenyx in the kitchen.
That man never stepped foot in the kitchen while we were growing up unless it was to steal cookies or brownies.
The memories of those days put a smile on my face.
What I would give to go back and live them again.
However, I've made my bed, and it seems as though I will never be forgiven.
That's okay because Phoenyx is now where he deserves to be and wouldn't be had I not done what I had.
I'm content watching him from afar, as long as I don't have to keep watching him with another like I did last night.
As I walk into the bright room, there is no lingering scent of eggs or bacon, not even toast. All I smell are cleaning products.
The worst part is that there's no fresh-brewed coffee scent wafting through the air, which means I'll have to make some myself.
I'm not opposed to doing it, but I guess being back home kind of brought me a bit of familiarity, or so I thought.
Aside from a skeleton crew, my stepbrother must have gotten rid of most of the help because there isn't a person in sight.
It may be a good thing because I wasn't thinking when I came down here still in my pajamas, consisting of a cami and some very short shorts.
It's almost noon, but it doesn't matter to me.
I can't remember the last time I slept in like this.
Moving around the kitchen, trying to get accustomed to where everything is, I finally find the coffee and squeal in excitement.
While waiting for the coffee pot to finish, I turn on some tunes and start making up a little snack tray to take to my room.
God knows when I'll see Phoenyx again, so I'm unsure what to do with myself.
I'm just pouring my first cup of coffee into my cup when I almost spill it all over the place because a hand runs over my ass.
I set the pot down and try to turn, but a hand grabs my neck and keeps me looking forward.
My heart thunders in my chest as a picture of Phoenyx enters my head and suddenly a tingle starts in my nether region.
However, the scent that hits me is not masculine cologne, but a more feminine fragrance. The hand on my ass squeezes it just before I hear her voice. "You've grown up real nice, Raya. It's no wonder Nyx is pissed."
Amara's voice is seductively low near my ear as she continues to grope me. For someone who stands four inches shorter than me, she sure has a good grip and can keep me in place even as I struggle to turn around. Her little chuckle grates on my nerves.
"Let me go, Mara!"
"Mm, why would I do that when I'm enjoying my view now?" Amara asks, pressing her body against mine.
"I don't swing that way, Mara. You're wasting your time. Besides, by what I saw, it looks like you enjoy your men." I don't want her to know how much her being with Phoenyx has affected me, but it came out, and I won't take it back now.
"You're right. I do enjoy my men. They are my family, and I protect what's mine.
I will not allow anyone to hurt any of the Heirs ever again.
Keep that in mind, whatever your intentions are.
Me, however, I love getting burned," she states and spins me around to face her.
With her hand now on my throat, I'm still stuck in her grip.
"Please stop," I plead as her hand runs up my side. Her touch is doing something to me for some reason, and I don't like it.
"Awe, what's the matter, Raya? Are you afraid that you may like being touched by the female persuasion?" Her hand dips low, and she smirks. "Will I find a wee little wet spot if I go digging down under?"
"Mara, please…stop," I pant.
I can't see, but I'll put money on her wearing a pair of stilettos. Wearing them puts her at my height, and she leans in close, her hot breath fanning my ear as she says, "Anytime you feel the need to get off, come find me and I will happily oblige."
Before I can tell her it will never happen, she grips my jaw and crashes her lips on mine. I fight her, trying to shove her away, but it isn't until a booming voice growls out, "Get the fuck away from her, little devil!" that she relents.
Amara is slow to pull back; when she does, she grins, licking her bright red lips. Her eyes peruse me as she steps away, and she winks just before she turns and walks toward Phoenyx. I watch her stop and pat him on the chest as she goes to walk by on her way out.
"No worries, big guy," she says, looking over her shoulder at me. "She's all yours. Do with her what you like, but I want to watch." Amara goes up on her tippy toes and pecks him on the cheek. "Thanks for last night; my ass is deliciously sore."
Phoenyx doesn't smile, nor does he respond to her statement. In fact, he's glaring daggers at his little bed buddy at the moment. It only amuses Amara, though. She throws her head back and laughs as she exits the room.
When my stepbrother finally looks my way, he eyes me up and down before screwing up his face and sneering, "Go put some fucking clothes on. No wonder my friends are hitting on you; look at what you're wearing!"
"I should be able to wear whatever I want in my own house," I huff, placing my hands on my hips.
He raises his brow. " Your house? I'm pretty sure the last time I checked, your house is across town and has just had a dead husband removed from it."
"This is still my home, Phoenyx…"
"NYX!" He cuts me off as he growls out, "Phoenyx died long ago. Nyx is all that's left of that na?ve young man." He then walks away, leaving me bewildered once again.
My heart literally breaks when I hear this.
Gone is the shy, innocent boy who would share his lunch with me when we were in school.
Gone is the boy who had a severe crush on me but had accepted being friend-zoned just so he could still be in my life in some way or form until I finally accepted that I also wanted more with him.
In that boy's place is a hard and unforgiving man, one who has had it hard in life and doesn't seem to care what anybody else thinks. He takes what he wants and owns it. Deep down I wish he would still want me.
The man before me scares the living daylights out of me, though.
He produces fear in everyone and anyone who comes into his vicinity if he doesn't know or like them.
I almost didn't recognize him among the tattoos.
However, what's changed the most are his eyes.
They used to be pretty, silvery eyes, always gazing lovingly at me, but they're now hard, gray, and empty.
They almost look black and soulless at times.
He looks like the devil himself, Lucifer in all his glory.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me right now!" I say in disbelief as I turn myself one way and then the other in the full-length mirror.
When I returned to my room earlier, I found a paper sack on my bed and a note telling me that I would start my shift at Club Unholy this evening and that I had better be ready by seven o'clock. Let's just say that it didn't go over too well with me.
I stormed out of my room and down the hall to my stepbrother's room, pounding on the door until he opened it. I wasn't sure if he was inside, but luckily, he was. He swung the door open angrily and glared down at me.
"What the fuck is your issue?" Phoenyx growled.
I was stunned momentarily at being that close to him without a shirt on. His pants were also undone, and the deep V leading downward was very prominent. I opened my mouth and then shut it again, forgetting what I was going to say.
"Well? I don't have all fucking day, Raya. So, either tell me what your problem is or go the fuck away." He looked me up and down, cocking his brow. "Unless, of course, you wanted something else altogether."
The heat was instant between my legs, but I came to my senses quickly and curled my lip in disgust. "You wish, Nyx!" I held the bag up to him. "If you think I'm going to wear lingerie and fuck people at your disgusting club, then you can think again."
He was quick; I never even saw him move.
His hand gripped my throat, and I was against his door in a heartbeat.
"I don't think I ever mentioned that you would be fucking anybody.
But let's say, for the sake of the argument that I had—you would fuck whoever I tell you to fuck. You owe me, remember that."
"Nyx…" I reached up to try and pry his hand away from my throat, but I couldn't remove it, so I begged, "Please, Nyx."
He smirked at me and said, "No worries, Lil' Sis, I wouldn't do that to good-paying clients.
The subs at my club undergo extensive testing to ensure they have a clean bill of health.
" He then moved me, so I stood outside his room.
He reminded me one last time, "Be ready by seven.
I'll come and get you." The door then closed in my face.
Standing here in a very tight maroon crop top that says UNHOLY in black glitter across my chest, a pair of black booty shorts, and fishnet stockings has me sighing with relief and still burning with anger.
My ass cheeks still hang out, and I feel so exposed.
On the other hand, I'm guessing I'll be waitressing since I have my own pen and menu pad with the name Raya on it.
I've never waitressed a day in my life, but if this is what keeps my stepbrother off my ass, so be it. I'll show him that I can be the best waitress he's ever seen. It can't be too hard, right?