Chapter 39
CHAPTER
THIRTY-NINE
Violet
I ’m filled with both excitement and trepidation.
The trip to Emporia seems so last-minute. Even though he had to let his aunt Sophine know he had business.
I know he doesn’t trust her, but… She’s not about to interfere with business that he has, and no matter how they antagonize each other, I highly doubt she’ll do half the things she threatens him with.
Funny how I’m not as frightened of her as I first was. I’m still in awe. She’s a powerful woman. But then again so is Mom. In her way. Not every powerful job’s the same, and raising such a big family, keeping us all together…it takes power of self, lots of strength.
I keep that to myself. And of course, Mom cried when I told everyone we were going away for a few days .
Rue asked a million questions, and I stayed the night before we left, giggling and talking with my sisters. And refusing to answer any sex questions Rue threw my way.
As for Iris… It’s something we never discussed, I know she’s snuck off with boys but we’ve always had a don’t ask so they can’t get the other into trouble policy.
I look out the window at the sea between the island and the mainland. I honestly can’t stop staring, watching how our little green island disappears, and then blue and now more blue, and the approaching city, glittering in the dusk.
Stephan’s been reading scripts and sending texts in the luxury helicopter, but I think soon we’ll be over land and then…
My first trip outside of Sabine.
He glances at me, down at my bunched hands on my jeans, and then at my face again. “It’s okay, Princess. You’re with me.”
“But you’re not Stephan, you’re Asher now.” It’s a really stupid thing to say, but his clothes are more the flash and cool of Emporia where the rich and famous live, play, and make entertainment. He’s shaved, too, which makes me sad in a way it didn’t when he’d shaved for our mating ceremony.
It’s part of his persona, so those cheekbones can cut glass, so his million dollar smile isn’t detracted from. The guy with the scruff is my mate. And I get it, he makes movies, but it’s like a gulf suddenly appears the closer we get. The buildings seem to gain height as we fly over them. There are over-manicured suburbs with modern houses and then cliffs and white sand beaches.
We come up to a mansion on the top of a small cliff, with the beach just below, and the helicopter lands, touching down on a helipad.
“No, Princess, I’m me. Always me. Asher’s nothing more than the persona I am when I give interviews. When I’m out in public to be seen. You get the real me, for what it’s worth. Your brother will tell you.” Then he frowns as the door slides open and a man stands there, offering me his hand.
“Don’t ask him, on second thought. Who the fuck knows what he’ll say,” Stephan mutters behind me.
But when he’s out, he takes my hand, leading me up a winding path to a huge patio, complete with an outdoor kitchen, an enormous pool, and deck chairs everywhere. He leads me past tables and chairs under a cover, and then through two square pillars to an outdoor covered seating area, with arm chairs and a coffee table and sofas. Beyond that is a big fireplace, and huge glass sliding doors, which are open. Beyond that another seating area.
I gulp. “This is yours?”
“Yeah, but I only use this shit for entertaining. I’m one person. There’re only so many places I can be bothered to hang out in. Although…”
He eyes a sofa and a wicked glint shines, but he shakes his head and leads me up a sweeping staircase. There’s a smaller seating area, beyond that a kitchen, and then, I assume, bathrooms and bedrooms. “This is where I spend a lot of time.”
“This is ridiculous, Stephan,” I say. “So much space.”
“Have you seen where my aunt lives?”’
“But—”
“Nothing.” He takes my face in his hands and tips it to him. “This is nothing compared to some places. But…” He drops kisses on my lips, my eyes, my cheeks. The phone in his pocket buzzes, and he sighs, his forehead touching mine. “But princess, as much as I want to hang in here all evening and indulge in my fantasies, we have a party to attend.”
“A party?” My heart sinks. “I didn’t pack a dress.”
“Had some delivered today. I’ll show you the bedroom and…” He leads me through the living area and down a hall, into a huge master bedroom that overlooks the beach. “Later, I’m going to fuck you all over the place, brand it ours.”
“An Emporian party? Can I just stay here?”
He laughs and maneuvers me to the bed when he takes me down onto it with him. “Hell no. I want to show off my hot mate. Besides, Clea would kill me. You have to be there. Think of it as payback for the Season ball shit.”
Stephan bites my wrist. Sliding his hand down my top, he flicks open the little buttons on it so my bra’s exposed. He toys with my nipples, making me moan.
“The shower is huge,” he whispers. “Maybe get in there.”
I roll onto my side. “What am I wearing for this thing? I don’t?—”
“Hang on.” He gets up and goes to a walk-in closet I didn’t see. It’s more like a room to the side, and he flicks through shimmery, glittery material. “This.”
He comes out holding up a sequined dress that to me is scandalously short, and in a soft lavender gray. It’s gorgeous.
“Lingerie and shoes to match. Get in the shower. I need to make some calls.”
The bathroom’s marble, and the shower is huge, just like he said. I shuck off my clothes and turn on the water, and two showerheads come to life. I don’t mind using his soaps. It’s all him.
I’m washing my hair when air brushes me.
Then a body. And he’s hard. Erect.
My temperature shoots high. He takes over washing my hair, massaging my scalp as he goes. His touch is so gentle, so caring, so… loving I think I want to cry. Then he rinses, applies conditioner, and takes the sponge, using the body wash to slowly clean me in almost erotic moves. He takes care of my breasts, spending time on my nipples, then down over my stomach and between my legs.
At some point, the sponge is gone and it’s his fingers gliding over me. He walks me backward in the spray, his mouth capturing mine in a long, slow kiss that unravels me.
Stephan goes down to his knees and starts to lick me, toying with my clit, and I mewl. I can’t help it. The sensations race through me in waves. I tug at him because I need more. It’s almost frightening how the need for him barrels over me. Almost but not quite, because I know what’s going to happen.
Parting my pussy lips, he sucks and licks, darting his tongue into me until I’m a mess. Then he comes up, picking me up so that my back is pressed against the marble, and slams his cock into me. “So delicious, Princess. Each time you taste even better than the last. I should just wear our sex scent on me tonight.”
“Oh, God.”
He thrusts into me, hard, fast. It’s a down and dirty ride, one that has no room for mercy, one that makes me ache and beg for more .
“Harder, please, harder!”
“Anything for my princess,” he growls and bites me, his hips pistoning into me. And when I start to go off, spasming, it sets him off and his cock grows, swells, and I cry out.
“Oh, yes, yes. Yes! ”
He knots hard in me and then he moves even faster until I’m screaming, biting him, the pleasure immense and it fills every cell. It’s pure heaven.
He comes and comes as I shake from my orgasm that doesn’t seem to end.
When it’s over, I don’t even think I can speak. He holds me, the two of us joined as the water needles down on us.
He says something, a mutter lost where his mouth’s buried against my skin, but my silly, romantic mind morphs it into words of love.
One day , I think. Maybe one day .
When we step from the sleek limo, screams and shouts erupt. Our names are shouted and flashes blind my eyes. I just let Stephan take my hand and help me out, into the building we’ve pulled up in front of, where two beefy security men usher us inside.
I’m still dazed, still depleted from the sex in the shower. I think I’d let him lead me into a war zone.
“Smile, Princess.”
I look up at him, doing just that, and a flash bursts just inside.
“Official photog. Clea likes to handle things. ”
He takes me upstairs in a gold, mirrored elevator, up to the penthouse suite.
I recognize a few faces, and I know half the people are famous. I recognize Felicity Fine from all the Stitch posts Rue has shown me, and she swans up, air kissing Stephan.
“Asher,” she says, as if all the drama she created never happened. “How are you? And O.M.G.!”
She looks at me as I try to control the urge to laugh at how much she sounds like Rue with her O.M.G.
“Asher, she’s beautiful! And she bagged our perpetual bachelor.” She leans closer to me. “If anyone asks, just say?—”
“Violet has no interest in getting involved.”
“And,” I say, putting my hand on Stephan’s arm, “no intentions of talking to anyone. Can I take your photo for my little sister? With me and Steph—Asher? She’ll love it.”
“Sure! Gimme your phone. I’ll take the selfie. I know the best angle for myself,” Felicity says, yanking Stephan into the photo. Then she hands back my phone. “We’ll have lunch!”
The moment she flits off to someone else, Stephan leans in. “Rue loves the blue-and-orange-haired singer over there. If you can get Trixie to take a photo with you, you’ll be her hero forever.”
“You mean you’re not her favorite superstar?” I tease.
He snorts. “She has no taste.”
I half go to kiss his cheek but stop myself. “I’m sorry, I?—”
“You’re allowed to kiss me. I kiss you all the fucking time.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me outrageously. Then he sets me straight. “Tomorrow I have some meetings, but I’ll take you to a fabulous dinner. And I have a surprise: a dance class with the Emporian Ballet. A very small one with the esteemed—I forget his name, whoever the choreographer is.”
But I know. I just stare at him. “But how?”
“I’m famous. I know people.” He takes my hand. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to some others, and Clea said she’ll pick you up after the dance class and take you to lunch.”
My gaze slides to Rue’s favorite singer. “Do you think we can see her?”
He sighs. “Sure.”
We weave through people to the singer. She grins. “Asher! And you must be Violet. I’m a little bit of a Stitcher myself, so I read Queen Bee. You’re too pretty for him.” Trixie’s gaze slips to him. “Did that girl, Rue, get all the merch?”
“That’s my sister.” Oh, Rue’s going to love this story, about how nice the star is. “And she loves Queen Bee. Could I get a selfie?”
“Of course, and tell your sis that she can come to any gig or meet-up when she comes to visit. I’ll put her name on the VIP list.”
She chatters to me for ages, and somehow, along with Stephan’s presence, it makes the evening pass quickly.
It’s not until we get back to Stephan’s that I realize I didn’t panic once.
The dance class was a dream, and when I get changed, I go to where Stephan dropped me off to find Clea. She gives me a hug. “Where do you want to go? I told Stephan I’d take you anywhere you want.”
“I don’t know. I’m not fussed. Wherever you like to go, I’m happy.”
“You’re both like your brother and not at all,” she says, opening the door to the car so I can get in. She follows and tells her driver to take us to Rinaldo. “You’ll like it.”
I do. The place is untrendy, a hole in the wall, but it smells good and feels cozy when we step inside.
They clearly know her, and we’re taken to a table in the back. She orders wine and the tasting menu for two.
“I take it you come here often?”
“As much as I can. I bring my most trusted clients here, and clients who need to be out of the spotlight. It’s half shark, half babysitter, half whipping boy, this job.” She laughs. “Make those thirds.”
We sip wine, and I relax. I like her. I know why my brother slept with her—at least, I’m assuming he did. She’s gorgeous, and not interested in clinging to anyone. She’s a world away from girls on Sabine.
From girls like me.
I don’t want to cling.
“You know, I’d have said you’re not Stephan’s type,” she says, “yet I think you are. And you’re as besotted as he is.”
I look down. “I worry I’m too ordinary.”
“No. You’re different. You’re sweet and real and open. He doesn’t have that, especially here.” Then she tops off our glasses. “Oh, I meant to ask, how are the pills going? Are they working? ”
I frown. Does she mean the anxiety meds Iris gave me at the dinner party? That was ages ago.
I’m trying to find something to say when she adds, “No side effects?”
This is an odd conversation. “No.”
“Good, they’re not meant to have any, but you never know. Omega contraceptives can be seen as bad form, but it’s your body. Let me know if you need more. Sabine can be a little behind the times.”
I almost spit out my wine.
Did she say contraceptives ?
“I’m not on contraceptives.”
Her brows pinch. “You know, the ones Stephan asked me to get for you, since Sabine’s rules are so strict. I wasn’t sure if he’d given them to you yet but…I left him another pack. You should have had them in your luggage when you arrived.”
“Stephan…” I swallow, start to shake. “I–I didn’t know about any—I’m not on any?—”
The look of horror that hits her face tells me everything.
I jump to my feet, and everything feels wavy. Spinning. “I need to go.”