The Sanctuary (22 page)

“You should wear those pants more often.” His eyes flickered with fire. “I think it’s going to be one of those nights,” he said, cock still in hand.

I groaned. I knew exactly what his words meant. He wanted to dominate me. “I’ll make you a deal. Don’t screw with me, and I’ll let you do whatever you want later.”

“I don’t make deals, Eve.” He ran his tongue over his teeth. “Lie down on the bed and pull your pants down.” He disappeared down the steps, reappearing moments later, opening a package with his teeth.

“I’m glad you’re listening to me,” he said.

I was already in position on the bed as he instructed.

“This may pinch a little.” He clipped something onto my clit before pulling up my thong and pants. He zippered and buckled my pants closed, preventing me from seeing what he’d attached to my body. “I forbid you to remove that until I do so later. If I find out you did, and believe me, Eve, I will know, you will be punished for your actions.” A strong wave of vibrations massaged my clit. “Are we clear?”

“Perfectly.”

He’d attached a wireless vibrator to me, and he was in complete control with the transmitter he was holding. I knew it was either going to be a glorious evening or a hellish one, depending on his mood.

He dressed quickly without speaking another word. He called a car, and we disappeared into the night.

Once we arrived at the bar, a line was already formed. He paid the driver and escorted me out of the vehicle.

He motioned to my friends waiting by the door, chatting with the bouncer. “Why don’t you play with your friends, and I’ll play with mine.”

“Evieeee!” Amber called out, strutting over. “I’m so happy you both came out tonight.” She looked at Val seductively. A shot of jealousy plunged into my heart.

“I’m meeting a friend here. You guys have fun. When you’re ready to leave, come find me.” Val turned and walked toward security.

Amber wrapped her arm around my back. Her touch was soft and light compared to his. “Does he have any idea what we do in here?” she said with a giggle.

“No, and I’m hoping he doesn’t find out. I’m not doing anything tonight but drinking.” We headed toward security, following Val.

“You say that now, but wait until you’ve had a few shots.” She winked.

Val began to talk to security as my group breezed past him and the line, entering the bar. We were well known here and didn’t need to wait.

We weaved in and out of the crowd, making our way to the bar. Jenni grabbed my arm. “Why did you bring him with you?” she shouted in my ear over the music.

“I didn’t have a choice.” The vibrator went off, and I pinched my legs closed. I looked around, trying to locate Val in the crowd.

Amber appeared between us, shoving a shot of tequila into my hand. After several shots chased by several beers, I was drunk beyond my normal capacity. I wanted to completely lose myself, or I wouldn’t be able to hide the random vibrations that were continually tormenting me.

“Come on, Evie, dance with me.”

Amber grabbed my waist and pressed my body into hers. I glanced at the bar. I wanted another drink. I spotted Val at the far end, talking to another gentleman, but even as he spoke, he was watching me the entire time.

“I think I need another shot and another beer.” I grabbed Amber and Jenni. “My round.”

The girls cheered. Amber reached out and pulled seven more girls in a chain along with me. Clearly, I was the ringleader of the group.

As I wiggled us back to the bar, the only free spot was next to Val. I didn’t want Amber to stand next to him, nor did I want Jenni to open her mouth, which she was famous for when she was drunk.

I squeezed next to him, shooting him a sideways glance. He smiled, curling his lips upward, pressing down on my trigger.

“Fuck you, Val.”

“You’ve had too much to drink, dear. You’re stumbling.”

Amber pressed her body against mine from the back. “Hi, Val,” she cooed.

I grabbed the sides of her face. “Don’t fucking talk to him.”

I turned back to the bar, and Val leaned into my ear. “Play nice,” he growled.

The owner, Lauri, walked over to me. “Eve! I had no idea you were here.”

“Hey, Lauri. I need eight shots of tequila.” I placed my empty beer on the counter.

Lauri set out eight shot glasses. “I hear this is your last night for a while. Why aren’t you singing?”

“Can’t a girl get a night off?”

Lauri looked at Val. “She sings a mean song. You should see her perform.”

“Oh, does she?” Val turned and looked amused. “Maybe you’ll sing one for me.”

It must have been the massive quantities of alcohol I had consumed. I hopped onto the bar in one quick swoop and grabbed the microphone that was sitting between several bottles.

“Is this a library or a fucking bar?” I screamed into the mic. “This is my last night here. Let me hear some fucking noise.” I thrust the microphone into the crowd.

The patrons began to cheer. I strutted over to Val and kicked his drink across the counter with my boot. The crowd went wild. I picked up his matches and lit one, flinging it onto the liquid and igniting a line of fire down the counter.

I slowly began to shake my ass. Billy Idol started blasting, and I reached for Jenni and Amber, pulling them to the makeshift stage we used weekly.

Jenni pulled back and said, “I can’t,” motioning to her brother. I shook her off. Dancing with Amber would do just as well.

I drew Amber close, taking the lead, intertwining our legs and grinding down. I pressed her neck back and kissed her on it, moving down to her perky breasts before I spun her around, pressing her ass into me. My hands danced over her thighs as I swayed her back and forth. The crowd was wild and egged me on, chanting, “More, more, more!”

I sauntered to the pole directly next to Val. I placed one hand over my head and the other on my stomach, inching its way down between my legs, under my pants. I slid down the poll before snapping up, removing my hand from my pants, and tossing the vibrator at him. I was in control now.

I watched him eye me with anger. Not only had I disobeyed his wishes, I was showing off for all to see. The song ended, and the crowded cheered. “
Kiitos
,
kiitos
. Get home safe and have a good night.”

I hopped off the counter, grabbing Amber by the arm. “Let’s go. I want a cigarette.” We headed out of the bar, leaving Val in the shadows. “What are you doing after this?”

She looked surprised. “Probably going home?”

“Come back to our house,” I stated, the alcohol clearly overtaking my body and my mind.

Val approached me from behind, tugging my arm. “Eve, you’re drunk. Let’s go home.”

“She’s coming with us.”

“No, we’ll drop her off at her house. You’re too wasted.” He picked up his cell phone to call a car.

“I am not.” I stumbled into him and leaned up, kissing him on the neck. I reached for Amber. “Come here.” I pulled her into me, kissing her hard on the mouth. “Would you like to come home with us?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said with a drunken giggle.

“We don’t do this when we’re trashed. You’re walking a dangerous line.” Val pulled me away from her, separating us. “Walk, both of you.” He pushed me forward. “You need to sober up.”

I began to walk forward and realized the sidewalk was wobbly, as if I was on a boat. “Am—” I grabbed onto her to steady myself.

We giggled in drunken reverie, clinging onto each other for support.

“I can’t walk anymore. I need to lean on something.” I pulled Amber to the nearest alcove and pushed her into the doorway. I reached down, trying to find a way into her pants.

Val pulled me back and stood between us. “I’m not letting you do this.”

I hung my head over the toilet and dry heaved into it for the thousandth time. I looked out the window of our bathroom; the sky was dark, overcast, and snowing. Or was it? I couldn’t tell because my vision was blurry too. Everything had a white haze around it, and my head throbbed as though someone was banging a jackhammer on my skull. I looked down at my arm and noticed it was bruised pretty badly. Had I gotten into a fight last night? Had we had a rough session? I couldn’t remember. I looked around. I was confused. I had no idea what time it was or where Val was.

Nausea overtook my body again, and I vomited bile into the clear water below me. My throat ached and burned from the continuous heaving.

I heard footsteps and looked up. Val was leaning on the doorframe with a glass of water in his hand and a plate of food in the other.

“Good evening.”

“There’s nothing good about this evening.” I groaned before I met the porcelain god again. I swore my stomach lining was trying to exorcise its way out of my body.

“You need to eat and drink.”

I shook my head no.

“You’re going to dehydrate.” He approached, placing the plate and glass on the floor before soothing my hair back. “You need a shower too, but first, you need to eat.” He picked up the plate and handed it to me.

I wrinkled my nose. “No, it’s going to make me puke.”

“And that’s different than what you’re doing now? It’s only toast. At least try.”

I leaned against the wall and took the toast, hoping I would be able to hold it down.

“Feeling a bit better?”

“No, I’m still nauseous. Remind me never to drink again.”

“Don’t worry, because you’re
never
drinking again. I won’t allow it.” He wrapped his arm underneath me. “Come on. Let’s get you showered.” He picked me up from the floor. He opened the door to our shower and placed me inside. “Lean against the wall.”

I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall. Everything felt as if it was swaying, and my legs felt weak. “Val, I don’t feel good.” He tossed off his clothing and hopped in next to me.

“Of course you don’t. What did you expect to feel like after a bottle of tequila, a six pack of beer, and God knows what else you consumed when I wasn’t looking?” He turned the shower on. “Come here.”

I rested my head on his chest, allowing myself to use him as my pillar. The water splashed over me, sending a chill down my spine. He soaped me up and gently washed my hair.

“I want to go back to bed.”

“Let me dry you off first.” He stepped out, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around me, carrying me into the bedroom and laying me on the bed.

I grabbed the covers and pulled them over me.

“Don’t get comfortable. I’m bringing you downstairs so I can keep an eye on you. The last thing I need is to find you on the floor passed out again.”

He pulled the covers off and pulled me to a sitting position. He slid one of his T-shirts over me and helped me get dressed. He picked me up and brought me downstairs, settling me on the couch with a blanket and pillow.

“I’ll make coffee for you. I’ll be right back.” He kissed me on the forehead.

Moments later he returned with coffee in hand and a stack of papers.

I accepted the coffee. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the papers. I propped myself up on the couch.

“A list of phone calls you need to return and your residence permit. But first we need to talk.” He plopped my messages on the coffee table and sat down next to me.

I took a sip of coffee. The nausea was finally starting to subside. “I don’t want to talk about last night.”

“Nor do I. I’ve done enough explaining today to last a lifetime, and I never want to be put in this situation again.”

I nodded. “My behavior was inexcusable. I thought you wanted a threesome.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about you putting on a show at the bar. You embarrassed yourself, and you embarrassed me. But I’m not even mad about that. That we can brush off as too much alcohol. I’m upset that you hid your partying from me.”

“I didn’t exactly hide it. You knew I went out with Jenni every Thursday.”

He looked harshly at me. “There is a big difference between partying and going out. Please don’t ever hide things from me again.”

“It never came up. It’s not that I hid it from you.”

He picked up the paperwork, getting back to business. “You need to call Vicki, Kristen, Howard, and Jude. Here are their numbers.” He handed me a piece of paper.

He continued, “And Jude emailed me something I think you should watch. It was on TV this morning in America.”

I squirmed. I didn’t like Val talking to my ex. “I didn’t know you two communicated.”

“We don’t. He called looking for you when you were sleeping.” Val got up to connect his computer to the television, returning with the remote in hand. “I’ve already queued the parts we’re mentioned in.”

“Is it bad?” I asked.

“No, not really, but you can judge for yourself.”

He turned on the video from
Celebreality TV
. “The lives of Hollywood’s most elite couples.” The reporter droned on as pictures of Val and me flashed across the screen.

“But these days some Hollywood couples are so eager to stay together that they are pulling up roots and moving wherever their hottie honeys are working. Case in point, Eve Lauren. Her rock-star boyfriend, Valo Ruska, whose home is in Helsinki, has no worries. Eve just moved to keep close to him. The cost? An estimated extravagant half a million for three months. But for Eve, no expense could be spared to keep her with her man.”

“That’s bullshit. I haven’t even spent twenty grand here yet. Where do they pull those numbers from?”

“You never cancelled your hotel room. I took care of it this morning after I saw this.”

My jaw dropped. In my lust, I’d completely forgotten to check out of the hotel.

He shook his head and began the next clip.

“And when Hollywood couples want to show their love, they indulge each other with expensive jewelry and diamonds. Just last week, it was reported that Eve received a five-carat emerald-cut Harry Winston diamond engagement ring on Thanksgiving weekend estimated to cost $250,000. Now that’s something she should be thankful for.”

I looked at him. “I’d love to know who leaked that.”

“I don’t know, but here’s the part you’ll want to see.” He started the video again.