Falloir (Passion Noire Book 2) (34 page)

I slip inside, keeping my fingers against the door to make sure it closes quietly. I’ve only taken a couple of steps when I spot someone peering around the doorway into the main club room that’s off the corridor, to the right. There are no doors, just an opening in the wall as though double doors used to hang there. As my eyes adjust from the bright sunshine outside to the dimmer lighting of the corridor, I realise that it’s Dean. What’s he up to? He’s too focussed on whatever’s got his attention to notice me, silently getting closer.

I pause when I hear voices. One is definitely Veuve’s ... the other could be the barman but I’m not sure. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t eavesdrop but there’s something about the tone of them that makes me take note. He’s angry. She sounds insistent but not pissed off.

‘You’re kidding yourself, Veuve. You and I are meant to be together. I’m at home when I’m at your feet. You know it’s inevitable ... why not just cut the crap, save us both some time and give in to what you know is going to happen anyway.’

Those words get my attention.

‘You’re so bloody cocksure, aren’t you? Well, I have news for you, Gabe. It’s not inevitable that I’ll take you back. I’m not saying that it’ll never happen but I can guarantee that it’s not going to happen right now. I’m not in a position to take a sub, you know that. Besides, you’ve just been released from service ... not half an hour ago. You’re on the rebound. Take some time to lick your wounds and get your head straight.’

‘I don’t need to. I need to be licking you, not my wounds ... You were my first Mistress and you are my true Mistress. I know you want me. I see it in your eyes. I felt it last week when I was inside you. You want me as much as I want you. All the time in the world isn’t going to change that.’

‘Gabe, you’ll always be special to me. And, like I said, I’m not discounting it in the longer term, I’m saying the time isn’t right now—for either of us. You love her, Gabe. You need to show her and me some respect, not to mention yourself. ‘

‘Why isn’t the time right for you? I know you’ve got a lot going on—that’s because you take too much on. Let me help you. Let me take some of the strain. We’ve been fighting to keep our hands off each other for weeks—and we couldn’t even manage that. Why? Because you needed me. You still need me as much as I need you. I was only with her because I couldn’t have you—we both know that’s true. I knew I wouldn’t be hers forever ... I’m yours, Veuve. When I see you, or even think of you, my heartbeat says
Mistress, Mistress, Mistress
because you’re in my heart. You own my heart, just as you own the rest of me.’ His voice begins to break. ‘Take me, Mistress. I’m yours. I love you and I know you feel the same. Please take me.’

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end at the emotion he puts into his words and the total silence that follows them. I find myself willing her not to agree. I knew they were close ... I knew she’d trained him but I had no idea of the undeniable bond between them. I find myself jealous of his place in her heart ... and I had no inkling that he’d fucked her recently. She’s supposed to be mine now—as much as anyone can ever claim her—I’m not stupid enough to think that I can ever claim her in the way that I desire to.

I feel my fists clenching as the silence grows. I want to know what they’re doing in there but there’s no way I want to be seen, not by them and certainly not by Dean. I look over at him and he’s practically shaking—his fists are clenched as tightly as his jaw. He looks like he’s watching car-crash TV—he knows he shouldn’t be watching but he can’t bring himself to look away. I know he has a thing for Veuve—any fool can see it and he doesn’t like what it is he’s seeing. Any second now, I’m expecting him to fly into a jealous rage and storm in there. I half wish he would ... Veuve would cut him down in seconds and it would stop whatever’s going on in there ... in silence.

Helene’s words repeat in my head.

I don’t wish to be unkind but you were there and she needed help ... she’s immensely grateful to you but don’t read any more into it than that ... Veuve’s no fool.

I wonder what exactly Veuve has said to her about me. Have I served my purpose? She’s certainly distanced herself from me since I’ve sorted the Thierri situation. I’ve barely laid a hand on her ... yet apparently Gabe fucked her last week. More of Helene’s words spring to mind.

I guarantee that the next man she lets get near her—physically or emotionally—will be an alpha male in public but a submissive in the bedroom. I know that’s just not you.

Something draws me forward, my feet moving before my brain engages but I stay against the wall to the left of me so that Dean is in front of me—in between me and them when I reach the doorway. I swear my heart stops when my eyes land on them. He’s on his knees, his lips pressed to the toe of her boot. It’s a striking image. Her chin is raised, giving her an appropriately superior air but what gets my attention are the tears that are flowing down her face. She belongs with him; the realisation is suddenly as crystal clear as the tears falling from her eyes—and mine. I need to get out of here. I need to forget all about her. I knew she would never be wholly mine but I know now that having part of her will never be enough. I know that from the ache in my heart and the tears that are blurring my vision.

I turn and begin to creep back towards the door—I’ll be damned if any one of them is going to see just how much this is fucking killing me.

I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT I’m seeing. Just minutes ago, she allowed me to make her come—twice! Just so that I could prove to her that I could take what I’d learned from Kayla and use it on someone else. It was fucking hot ... even Kayla ended up rubbing one out herself while I made Veuve come so fucking hard. I’ll never forget how she felt, coming around my fingers ... man, it felt like she was going to snap them in half. I vowed that next time, it would be my cock she clamped down on. And that I’d be her sub one day. One way or another, she is going to be mine. She’s given me permission to wank at will but I won’t. I’ll show her that I am committed. To her.

I should be the one at Veuve’s feet, not Gabe. He had his chance but she didn’t hang on to him ... why would she want to go back there again? He obviously wasn’t right for her. She wouldn’t, would she? Look at him snivelling at her feet—how could she possibly find that attractive? And why’s she crying?

I can’t help but smile when she wipes her eyes then pulls her foot away from him and steps back. He looks up at her in desperation but she shakes her head firmly. Oh, this is fucking perfect. If she doesn’t want him, there’s more hope for me.

‘I’m sorry, Gabe. I can’t.’

‘Why? I don’t understand. We’d be perfect. Just consider it, please. Give me a few days and I’ll prove to you—’

‘There’s no point,’ she says. ‘This isn’t going to happen, Gabe. The more you push, the more you’ll push me away. We’re friends, don’t spoil that.’

Whoa ... you crashed and burned, Gabey Baby. She doesn’t want you. Man, that feels better.

‘There’s someone else isn’t there? That’s why?’ he cries.

I can’t help but fantasise that she says yes, that it’s me but I know she’s going to say no.

She doesn’t say anything.

He jumps to his feet. He’s really pissed now. ‘That tells me everything, Veuve. Who is it? Don’t tell me it’s that pathetic excuse for a man who couldn’t satisfy a woman with a Magic Wand, never mind with his dick.’

Bastard!
I ought to ...

Wait, I know it’s me he’s talking about—and I’ll fucking have him for that, one way or another, but what if it
is
me? What if she’s telling me no because it’s part of my training or something. What if?

She shakes her head, crushing my hopes as surely as if she’d ground her stiletto heel on them.

‘So who the fucking hell is it?’ he demands.

That’s what I’d like to fucking know.

She shrugs and turns to walk towards me. I panic but before I can move, he pulls her back to face him.

‘Don’t tell me it’s the fucking Commando?’

I freeze.

She doesn’t confirm or deny it and suddenly I know. So does he. I feel like I’ve been kicked in the bollocks. I feel winded. I feel sick. Her ... with
him!
I fucking knew something was going on.

The sound of a chair hitting the wall makes me jump, pulling my attention back to the scene before me.

‘Fucking hell, Veuve. Have you finally lost your fucking mind?’ He’s fucking mad now—he’s actually shaking, despite having given in to his temper and throwing one of the chairs.

‘Don’t you dare speak to me like that,’ she snaps, lashing out and pushing him away.

She turns towards me and I don’t wait for her to catch me. I turn to sprint down the corridor but there’s someone already there, near the door. Maybe it’s Kayla, although I thought she’d left. I race down the corridor to the door, seeing the figure exit before I get halfway down the corridor. I reach the door and push it, intending to run to the end of the alley before Veuve gets out here and sees me. But as soon as I step outside, I see him—Action Man—pulling his car door closed behind him.

I assume he’s here waiting for her. I feel like walking up to him and telling him how much I enjoyed making his woman come. Then asking him how it feels to share her with the rest of us. But I’m not that stupid. He’s an oaf. A fucking caveman. He’d probably hammer me into the ground because the truth would piss him off. Instead, I have a good laugh to myself and then prepare to scarper before she gets here. He’s not right for her. It won’t last. I’ll make sure it doesn’t.

As I’m running, something irks me. The alley was empty when I came out ... so who was that inside the club? I hear an engine roar to life and then the squealing of tyres. I have to jump out of the way, in between some filthy rubbish bins as that mad bastard almost mows me down. I bet the pair of them are laughing their fucking arses off at my expense. Well, fuck them. I’ll fucking show them.

I WALK AWAY FROM Gabe, hoping against hope that I’m doing the right thing. He’s a stubborn, proud man and yet he’s just been on his knees, begging and pleading for me to take him. I’ve never seen him like that and that’s what makes me suspicious that he may be rebounding badly. Then again, we always said we’d end up back together one day—whether it was in the short term or for the long haul, I had no idea. We just accepted that we’d find our way back.