Shelter You (28 page)

“Crazy, right?” Mac whispered to her with a sly smile. Soon, Lola was filling orders, delivering drinks and trying to ignore the leering of some or the distaste of others. Back and forth between the tables and bar, Lola’s feet were starting to ache.

Mac spoke with her every time she returned to the bar. Whether it was an inquisition of how she was doing or a mock joke of the audacity of such a place. On her final trip, Lola noticed Tawne leaning toward Mac, whispering something into his ear then looking to Lola. Lola could tell whatever it was she said to him, was a reprimand of some kind. Tawne then walked to Lola, and waited for her to fulfill the last order.

“You are needed upstairs. The Gods dismissed their assigned Diakonos. You can handle both here and there well enough, I think.” Tawne instructed in a purr.

Oh no fucking way! Between Lola’s throbbing feet and her lack of confidence in this ridiculous uniform, the thought of going up there was enough to make her want to forget about the $800 bucks. Surely, there was someone else who could do this?

“Your confidence in me Tawne is over exaggerated. Since this is my first night, shouldn’t you entrust someone else?” Lola tried to keep the pleading from her voice.

“No, I think you are just right. Now, I will go up with you and announce you. I’ll call you by an assigned name, which is part of the role. I’ll come and collect you in five minutes.” Tawne said, in a dismissive tone.

Lola wanted to slam her tray down against the smooth bar. Could anything else make this one of the most humiliating experiences of her life? Trying to roll her neck again, she didn’t see Mac approach.

“So, did I overhear correctly. She is sending you up?” Mac asked.

“I’d rather walk into a lion’s cage strapped to a raw piece of meat.” Lola said, hating how she so easily spoke her fear. She looked up into Mac’s kind eyes and hated that she saw pity there. Knowing if she showed any sort of weakness or unease now would just make this worse. She took a deep breath and turned to face Tawne, as she approached.

“Okay, let’s go.” Tawne said, as she led the way to the stairs. “Walk behind me, and I’ll introduce you.”

Lola followed Tawne and focused on the distinctive clicks of each of their shoes as they climbed the metal stairs. Lola prayed her footing would not give out on her. Like the lower floor, there were multiple white circular sofas but these were adorned with gold satin pillows. People were standing, sitting and some were currently indulging themselves.

“Oh Supreme ones, this is your Diakonos, Banilia,” and with a quick bow of her head, the click of her heels announced her exit.

Lola suddenly felt like she was indeed in a cage with a lion. Most glared at her like she was intruding on their private domain while others ignored her all together. Including him.

She filled order after order, ascending and descending the stairs, repeatedly. Her arches were on fire and her thighs ached from the workout they were receiving. Lola had just given one of the Gods his Crowne Royal and was returning to her spot in the corner, when she heard a voice call to her. She turned toward the horrid sound.

“So, Diakonos, any thoughts of applying for membership? What I wouldn’t give to train you.” His dark eyes leered towards her from behind their gold covering. For the minimal amount of coverage her uniform allowed, Lola felt it wasn’t enough. His eyes roamed over her leaving a feeling of filth behind in their wake. “Or, do you not need any training? With a body like that, I’m sure you are quite effective in pleasing a master.”

“Lycus, leave her alone. Just because you can’t find someone to your taste, doesn’t mean you can forget the rules,” the elegant redhead sitting next to the one called Lycus said. Her extremely short red hair stood up in heavily gelled spikes. Her barely there baby-doll was made of shimmering gold mesh, offering complete exposure of her bling pierced nipples. Her deep ruby painted lips caressed the champagne flute containing her Ménage a Trios, which Lola had delivered minutes earlier.

“I’m just having some fun, Themis. But you know as well as I do, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve made an exception to the usual application process.” Lycus said unabashed, as he tipped his rock glass back draining it.

Lola watched through her lashes toward the compact husky man, who had, not only undressed her completely with his eyes, but who was now, trying to strip away the small amount of control she was maintaining on her indifferent attitude. Come on, one more hour, and we will be $800 richer.

Finally, the hour was up. Thank goodness for Mac who was constantly looking up to her. It gave her something to focus on; a link to someone, aside from the sexual encounters and acts partaking all around her. When he tapped his watch and gave her the thumbs up, she started toward the stairs, leaving the darkened corner, which was her refuge while being on the mountain. As Lola reached for the railing with her left hand and lifted her foot to step down, her wrist was grabbed by a beefy hand, which quickly let go. The unplanned shift of weight, was all her heel needed to roll. The action caused pain to shoot out from her ankle and had her grabbing for an anchor, anything. The anchor reached out to grab her; but it wasn’t the beefy hand that started the series of events. Instead, a large firm hand, with long fingers that easily wrapped around her forearm’s diameter. Before Lola knew it, another hand was holding onto her waist and her breasts were pressed against a tall, well sculpted, and hard chest above gold drawstring pants.

“Are you alright?” A deep baritone voice asked. It didn’t sound like the usual New England accent. It definitely had a different ring to it. Lola was still pressed close to that golden smooth chest, even after catastrophe had been averted. She could feel the vibration of his voice under her cheek.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” She answered keeping her face cast downward, knowing the rules. The stupid rules, but rules nevertheless.

The hand that held her waist moved upward to her chin, and applied enough pressure causing her to look into his face. “Are you sure you are okay? How’s your ankle?”

She was looking into deep blue oceans behind the rim of gold from his mask. His pupils twitched back and forth as if he looked enough, he would find confirmation of her answer. This close she could see every pore on the lower half of his face. His just shaved smooth skin begged to be touched. Her nose breathed in his scent, and her conscience screamed that such a scent should be illegal.

Not wanting to look away, but knowing she had to, she pulled back from the warmth of his body, and answered more firmly, “Ankle is fine. Thanks for making sure I didn’t fall down the stairs.”

Accepting her answer and stepping back to give her some more space, the heroic angry God, rounded on the beefy man, who still stood off to the side.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Lycus? You are lucky she didn’t topple down the stairs.”

“Well thanks to you, Adonis, she didn’t; no harm, no foul. She, like the rest of us, is so lucky you were here.” With the last part said with obvious disdain oozing out his mouth, the one called Lycus, pushed passed his fellow God. His eyes, once again, met Lola’s, and she suddenly felt the need to cover her exposed skin. Lola found comfort in the sounds of his heavy treads going down the stairs. She was now alone with the gorgeous God of a man.

“Sorry for his rudeness. Do you need help walking down?” The question asked with a small sexy smile teasing from the side of his, oh so, sensual mouth.

Before Lola could respond, Jax joined them. “Do we have a problem?” he asked, with his intimidation persona firmly in place.

Lola was surprised that the question was not directed toward her, but rather Adonis.

“No, Jax. I just stepped in to stop this Diakonos from falling down the stairs.” Without a look back toward her, Lola watched as his golden muscular form gracefully descended the stairs. When they were alone, Jax turned toward Lola and asked if there had been a problem. Just grateful that the night was over, Lola assured him that she had just tripped and Adonis was nice enough to keep her from tumbling down the stairs. Lola didn’t want to say what led to the misstep, she just wanted this night to be over.

After gingerly walking down the stairs, Lola followed the other ladies into the changing room. Once she was back in her clothes, and her face and hair cleaned, she left the fitting room and noticed Mac leaning against the hall wall.

“Hey, just wanted to check on you, you know, make sure the ankle really is okay?”

“Yeah, it’s good, nothing some Ibuprofen won’t cure.” Lola answered.

Mac was just about to say something else when Jax’s echoing voice sounding from the other end of the hall. “Yo, Mac, you bugging our newbie?” he asked finally joining them. He too had changed from his suit to a football jersey and a pair of nylon pants.

“Not me, Jax, I’m just a concerned fellow slave.” Mac answered, knowing Jax could not resist a ball busting moment.

Jax smiled knowing his eyes missed nothing. Mac hadn’t been able to keep his eyes in any direction that wasn’t Lola’s. Once the club was closed down, Jax didn’t usually stick his nose in any ones business. Since always being the last to leave, he knew all too well, many of the Diakonos’ would indulge themselves in physical gratification. How could you not, seeing all that sex and fantasy shit that went on behind these walls, he thought. But, coming around the corner and seeing Mac standing with Lola, just did not sit right with Jax.

“How’s the ankle, Diakonos?” Jax asked.

“Good. Fine.” Lola answered, just wanting to get out of here. “Thanks guys, I’m going to head out though.” She said, effectively walking away from both men.

“Well, part of the service we provide here at Olympus is an escort to your vehicle. We can swing by the office, pick up your cash and we will have you out the door before you know it.” Jax said from next to her. With his long legs, it didn’t take but a moment for him to fall into stride with her. Doing as promised, he waited as Lola signed for her envelope containing her cash and walked her to her Wrangler.

“So, will we be seeing you again, around here?” Jax asked, as he stood leaning his back against her Wrangler and crossing his ankles as if he had all the time in the world.

Lola climbed in, placing her bag on the passenger seat, and throwing the thick envelope on top of the bag. She turned his words around in her head wondering if she could bring herself to do this again. So, she answered him honestly, “Don’t know.”

“Well, if you want to come to our union meeting, it’s next week.” Jax stated plainly, as he moved to stand in the space of her open door.

The audacity of this place never ceased. She found herself shouting at him, “There is a fucking union for this shit?”

Jax was about to continue the jest when they were interrupted from a shout from the door. “Jax, I ain’t getting any younger. I want to go before the sun comes up.” A female figure wearing a pair of purple plaid pajama pants and a black hoodie pulled up over her head.

“Yeah, I’m coming, keep your pants on.” Jax yelled back, then turned to Lola, “You are way too easy girl. Lighten up.” Stepping back, he closed her door with a wide white grin against his dark skin.

Lola rolled down her window, “You’re an ass, you know that?” She said, unable to hide her smile or her laughter.

“I’ve been told that before, come to think of it. I better go, heaven forbid, Tawne doesn’t get home before the sun comes up.”

“That’s Tawne?” Lola gaped.

“Yeah, my little sister sure can transform, can’t she?” With a thump of his large fist on the window frame, Jax walked off toward Tawne.

Lola drove out of the parking lot and headed toward home. The only good thing about driving this time of night, was the roads and highways had very little traffic. She made the forty-five minute trek in just over thirty-five. She entered her apartment quietly, acknowledging Aimee sitting on the sofa before peeking in on Boyd. She returned to wearily ask Aimee how he did tonight.

“Lola, your brother is never a problem. Sweet as rain, he is.” Aimee stood stretching her tall body, ridding herself of kinks from sitting too long. With a quiet goodnight, Aimee headed out the door and across the hall to her own apartment.

Excerpt from Translation of Love

Book #1 in the “Of Love” Series

Available Now!

By

Alice Montalvo-Tribue

Prologue

The sleepless nights are what get to me the most. In the daylight, hours there’s no time to think; the hustle and bustle of the day serves as a bandage to cover up the gaping hole in my existence. Always knowing that there’s something missing but not being able to figure out why or how to fix it. I toss and turn and, though my body is exhausted and begging for sleep, my brain is on a schedule all its own. Running a mile a minute, thinking about lost love, loneliness and the fear of never feeling adored. Or worse yet, feeling like you are adored only to find out that you’re wrong.  In the silence of the night, there is nothing left to do but to give in to the pain, the emptiness that comes from knowing that the idea of what you once thought was love was nothing more than an optical illusion. Smoke and mirrors clouding your mind and judgment until it fades and you find that everything you once believed in was a lie. A moment of pure clarity that alters the course of your life forever and shatters your heart. It’s a memory that plays again and again in my mind, night after night, keeping me awake until finally my body wins the battle and I fall into a restless slumber.

Chapter 1

Why is it that I can’t get it together today? From the moment I opened my eyes this morning, over an hour late because I forgot to set my alarm clock last night, nothing has gone right. I should have just pulled the covers over my head and called in sick. If waking up late wasn’t bad enough, I managed to get a flat tire on my way to work (thank goodness my dad was free to save me from that drama), spilled coffee on my blazer after showing up almost two hours late, and now I’m stuck on a line waiting to get into the only bookstore in town that has the latest vampire series in stock. It’s the only thing my niece, Gemma, wants for her birthday this year and if I show up to dinner without it she’s going to be so disappointed. I can’t imagine why there is such a line to get inside. I pull my cell phone out of my purse to check the time. Six forty-seven, plenty of time to get to dinner by seven thirty if I can maneuver my way through this line. I look over my shoulder to a group of three girls standing behind me. They look around the same age as I am but they’re dressed more like they’re hitting the hottest club in town tonight searching for single guys.