Saturdays at the Viper Rooms Read online

  I laugh at that comment, knowing how cold Clara can be. I’d rather not have her supporting me right now. She knows the bare minimal of my past and it will stay that way. I told her enough to appease her on our first meeting. I confide in the girls, but what I tell them varies. They know what I trust them to know. Brianna isn’t just a Viper Girl; she’s my confidante, a best friend, my sister. She, like Jace, knows everything.

  I swallow hard and forget the impending date. “I’ll be fine. But you were right. It’s time for food and nothing but pointless TV.”

  “I brought Safe Haven, you know Josh Duhamel is more than pointless,” she tells, tossing a wink at me with her comment and I giggle again. She always brings the same movie and jokes, but I don’t care. It’s part of her charm.

  “Go and get it ready and I’ll call and order the food,” I gently command her, hoping she’ll get the idea. I want a moment to text Jace before I order. She nods, giving me a sympathetic look and goes back to Luca. I hear something about tomorrow and I hear Luca’s fearful tone at what will transcend. I know she’ll be fine. We’ve all been in her shoes, but if she does it right tomorrow, she’ll be set on the right path.

  You don’t know how much this means to me. I need to do this, but I need you with me.

  Thank you. Love you too, Jxx

  Slipping the cell back into my pocket, it’s time to put a charade on until I can get out of here to see Jace. I need to wait until everyone’s sleeping and then I can slip out of the apartment and go to him. I quickly call for food, ordering everything and anything so we can just pick at what we fancy.

  Going back in, I decide to play the exuberant one. “Hey Luca,” I call out as I walk in and she spins around to look at me. “Do you think you’re ready for tomorrow?” I ask her and I don’t know about her, but I’m not.

  I’m ready to flee this apartment and see Jace.

  Chapter Six

  It’s past eleven and I have been thanking my lucky stars that Brianna and Luca decided to crash so early. It’s as if I was meant to catch a break. I pull the sleeves of a cardigan down over my hands and look around before I rap my covered knuckle against Jace’s door. He has no idea I’m turning up out of the blue.

  I wait, looking around, knowing no one will be here. Jace’s apartment is a penthouse, and even though I can get this close, I’m still met with his grand front door. He wanted to give me a key, but it would raise too many speculations if it were found. I’m not ready for my little secret to be found out right now.

  As the door opens, Jace comes into show. He’s still in his business wear, but he looks tired and pissed. However, the moment he realizes it’s me standing there, his expression falls and a small smile graces his lips. I say nothing but barge my way into the room and give into temptation.

  I reach up, the moment I can to kiss him. We haven’t even said hello yet, but I don’t care. He pushes the door shut and then takes charge. He pushes me against the wall, his hands threading into my hair as he kisses me his greeting. I know the greed fuelling him; it’s the same one that resides in me. We might have only had almost three days apart, but my body screams for him when he’s not near.

  “What are you doing here?” he asks, forcing himself away from me for a moment of clarity. “I didn’t think I’d see you until the party tomorrow.”

  “I couldn’t stay away,” I tell him in earnest, my hands running up his chest until my fingers begin to curl around the collar of his shirt. I bite my lip as I raise my gaze to look at him. “I’ve missed you,” I continue, pulling him back towards me. “I just couldn’t stay away.”

  I see the twinkle of recognition flash through his blue eyes and he begins to give me a grin. “Good.” He’s kissing me again, his hands falling down my body so he can lift me up. Once my legs are wrapped around his body, he begins to carry me. My arms wrap around his neck as each step is filled with hungry kisses and anticipation for what the night holds.

  My earlier reason for coming here falls to ground as my ulterior motives come to play.

  He sets me down on the nearest counter, the heat from the kitchen hitting me, and he quickly undoes his tie and discards of it across the room. I gaze on as he strips before me and I can feel the heat begin to ebb throughout me. As more and more of his skin begins to show, I can feel myself becoming unbidden. My self-control is dwindling and I cannot wait to feel him in me, completing me, pleasing me.

  Then, once my eyes have rolled over his perfectly molded stature, our eyes meet and he looks feral, sensual, turned on. This is why I came here. I needed a moment of realism like this. All at once he’s gone from shocked to absolute pleasure at my presence here. It’s the way he looks at me, in this way with reveling emotions, that makes me feel like I belong.

  He takes a careful step towards me, undoing his belt buckle, before his applies attention to me. His hands push my thighs as he forces his way between my legs. Slowly, he works upwards and his hands glide under my vest and are coursing along the contours of my waist.

  He then drags his hands up, pulling my top with it, until I’m forced to lift my arms up. He pulls my top and cardigan off all at once and steps back a little as he just tosses them to the side. I now sit before him in just my jeans, sneakers, and black lace bra. He looks pleased with himself for how quickly it took to get me into the apartment and almost naked.

  I decide to help a little and push the toes of my left foot to the back of my right and force my sneaker off. I repeat the routine with my other foot so I am now in just socks along with my jeans and bra.

  “C’mon, baby,” Jace tells me as he comes in closer to me. He forces his hand under my butt and lifts me up from the counter. He carries me out of the room and I spend the entire time laying tiny kisses along his jaw. “We’re going to the bedroom with this.”

  I don’t argue, why would I? I wanted this. I’ve been yearning for his touch for days. I was driven here by the text, but first I need to reacquaint with Jace. Our usual Tuesdays together in his bed were stolen, our Wednesdays at the club halted while I helped Luca get a grasp on this life, and Thursday was hijacked with Brianna and Luca. Now’s our time before tomorrow is completely filled with that 1920s feeling.

  When we’re near the bed, I’m sat down, and as I stare at his midriff, I reach up to undo his pants. When he shakes them off, I take the time to quickly remove my own jeans, taking my socks off with them. By the time I look up his lips are crashing down upon mine and I push him back, moaning in disapproval.

  “What?” he asks, horrified that I’ve stopped him.

  “On the bed,” I order him, my breath is heavy, filled with the huskiness of seduction. “Now.” I motion to the bed and I get up, taking his hand as I twist him around. “You’re mine,” I breathe and push him.

  He falls to the mattress and quickly pulls himself up the bed. I watch intently as he gets comfortable and then he just watches me. His gaze is hooded, daring me, asking me to bring it on.

  With all the confidence in the world I listen to the unspoken words between us. I push him down and he lies there watching me, waiting for me to react. I crawl over him, in nothing but my underwear, and decide to adore him. I know how he loves to be in control, but every so often he likes to loosen the reigns and be worshiped. And sometimes I like to take charge.

  I kiss along the ‘v’ lines on his stomach, dragging my lips upon his ripped abs. I’m kissing and nipping, anything to sensitize him inch by glorious inch to my will. By the time I’m even near touching his lips I can see he’s more than enjoying this right now. The look he gives me, the one full with pleasure and seduction, tells me to continue and I have to wonder when he’ll decide he wants control back.

  So far, he’s not making any gestures that his submission to me is weakening. He doesn’t even flinch when I run my fingers back down his stomach so I can do what I have planned. I pull his boxers away from his hips and reveal his penis. The moment the material is far enough away I can see just how turned on he is. I smirk,
thankful that I have some supremacy over him like he does me. I continue to pull the boxers down his legs before I decide it’s time to bring my man to his absolute weakest. Without any other thought, I lower myself until my lips are touching the head of his cock. As I begin to kiss around the top, working up and down his length, I hear his tiny moans of pleasure as they begin to sizzle through his body.

  When I know I’ve teased him enough, I take his entire length into my mouth and gracefully begin to move and up and down, using my tongue to add to the satisfaction I hope to give him. I feel his hand grip my hair, but he doesn’t force me down onto him. He’s doing it because he’s unwinding and the ecstasy is slowly unlacing in his system, like a drug ready to drag him under. He’s losing all control and handing it to me on a silver platter all at once.

  I know his release is coming when his grip tightens and soon my mouth fills with his cum. I allow him to hit total satisfaction before I pull myself off him and swallow hard as I wipe the back of my hand across my lips. The taste of him is still potently delicious in my mouth and I couldn’t be happier. My entire body is turned on and ready to mirror Jace’s well into the early hours. As I gaze upon Jace, I can see that as much as he enjoyed that, the game’s about to change. He sits up, his hand coursing along my jaw to meet my hair line so he can place a grip upon me. He does this when he is about to unleash unadulterated gratification. It doesn't scare me. The thrill is too intense.

  “Now you’ve had your fun, it’s my turn.” I knew this was coming. Jace Mason doesn’t relinquish authority easily. I know that, and you’d be a fool not to.

  I just smirk again, goading him towards what we both know will happen. “Bring it on, Mr. Mason. I’m all yours.”

  He doesn’t answer me, just smashes his lips to mine, and before I know it, I’m flat on my back with his body shrouding mine. As he pushes his tongue into my mouth I hope he tastes himself. It’s a small feat to make him do so like he has me in the past. His hand comes up, gripping my jaw and all I can tell is that his control of not having me at his beck and call is officially disbanding and he’s reclaiming what he couldn’t at the club last night. The grip is tight, but again I don’t fear it.

  Dragging his lips from mine, he lingers in front of me for a moment. “I’ve missed this body, those lips,” he breathes his words, breaking for a moment and then continues, “Those eyes.” He releases me, only shifting enough to circle his fingers around my panties. Instead of tugging them down my body, he pulls hard, ripping the sheer, lace material. He makes easy work of prying my legs open with his left leg before he leans back up, his body knelt over one leg. As he kisses me, I feel his fingers dance over my clitoris, tracing over the most sensitive part of me. I moan in pleasure, the feeling of his fingers making me lose restraint. My back arches as his fingers push further south and he enters me. I can hear by his slight chuckle he loves that, once again, I am fully turned on and wet for him. It’s an automatic impulse now. My body craves him, much to his amusement. He knows I’m weak for him.

  As he pushes his finger deeper my eyes fall shut until suddenly he withdraws, leaving me needy and feeling empty. My body’s sudden panic to the lack of reaching an orgasmic high is forgotten when he plunges into me, pushing straight into me with his entire length. This time my back arches more than before and my groan of passion is cut off partly due to all the air leaving my body with his fast penetration.

  He works my body, forcing it higher and higher until my climax is peaking. My body wants to release, but a part of me doesn’t want to fall from grace quite yet. I want to enjoy the heat he raises in me, the calling of his name lustfully drawing me from the reality we live in. I hold off for a few more penetrations before I become entirely undone and unravel into the blissful state as my body clenches and shudders in given gratification.

  I hear him grunt and feel him release into me. We know we have to take precaution, but with my job, I am well cared for with that side of life. Clara will not have any of her girls pregnant before their time with her is up. It makes moments like these desirable. There’s all of the passion, just less of a pause while we find the rubber. When he falls beside me our legs left tangled, he doesn’t move from the spot where he falls. He’s right against me and his breathing is heavy with the aftermath.

  “I’m not ready for you to leave just yet,” he murmurs and he nuzzles his head against the side of my neck, kissing me gently as the sleep begins to overcome him. I know the night’s not over and I know I won’t be leaving. So I don’t move.

  I’m really not ready to leave quite yet.

  ***

  I’ve been awake for a while now. I guess I’m scared that if I fall asleep I won’t wake up in time to sneak back into my apartment. I need to stay awake and I know I can catch a few hours of sleep at my apartment before we have to be anywhere near the salon.

  I turn onto my side and look at Jace, I can’t stop myself for thanking some higher deity for allowing such a man into my life after so much heartache tore my world apart. I keep having a reoccurring memory. It’s of my first party Jace attended. My dress was sheer, leaving nothing to the imagination, just how the Boss wanted it to be. His touch was the beginning of it all. I found purpose. I found life. I found reason. I found my end. All in one night. The electricity that sparked the moment he touched me was out of this world and I promised myself never to forget. Almost a year on and I still remember the feel of his hand on my hip, the sound of his voice as he whispered into my ear his name. It’s a sweet memory and it unraveled into a love story I never thought I would get to live.

  I wonder if this is really my life - putting aside all of the Viper business - my life with Jace is perfect. Of course, I would change so much. I want to walk down the street hand in hand and kiss in the rain while waiting for a cab. I want to go on dates and take long, pointless strolls. I know they’re a pipedream, still four, long, horrible years away. I know I have a purpose to carry on, but I don’t know what to expect in those years and I’m scared to even wonder.

  “You need to sleep,” he murmurs, alerting me that he is now awake. “I have several alarms set to make sure we have you up and out of the house before anyone suspects a thing, babe.”

  With that said, I snuggle in against him and then twist in his grasp when he latches on until I am looking at him. “I should really go,” I whisper to him as I gaze into his sleepy eyes. I see his lips begin to pout and I hate it. I hate how he doesn’t want me to go.

  He shakes his head in dismissal. “Don’t leave yet,” he stops me as I go to climb out of his bed. It was risky coming here, but I needed him, I needed this.

  “You’ll see me again tonight,” I tell him gently, the burst of excitement growing in me suddenly. It’s hours away until I’ll be acting out a game all while Jace watches me as he plays the role of another client. It’s in those moment’s I feel sexy. Knowing he’s watching me makes me act more sensual, more desirable. All because I know I can reap the reward by the end of it by falling against Jace after he makes love to me.

  “I might well do, baby,” he begins to say, his grasp tightening around me to add to what he wants. “But what’s a little more time together? Sunrise isn’t for a few hours yet, don’t leave.”

  He doesn’t want to let me go and I don’t want to leave. This is my home - here in Jace’s arms.

  He’s right. It’s still dark outside, what’s another hour?

  ***

  I creep back into my apartment and still just inside the front door. There are no major noises, but that doesn’t mean no-one’s awake. I tiptoe in and see that the door to the guest room is shut tight. Luca’s still asleep. I go further in, my bedroom door set in my sights as my goal destination. I hear movement and freeze, panic-stricken. I straighten up, stand poised and ready myself for a barricade of reasons as to why I’m coming in through the door at this time.

  But nothing happens.

  I tiptoe in a little more and see the noises are coming from Brianna tossing and t
urning on the couch. My heart clenches for her. We all have our own stories, but Brianna’s is definitely one of the saddest I’ve heard. She’s survived so much but she’s still so haunted. She went from one form of abuse to another and ended up with this life. I close my eyes knowing I can’t help her. She hates being woken up from a bad dream by someone. She prefers to be left alone to deal with it all.

  Respecting her wishes, however much I don’t want to, I go to my room and the moment I close the door shut, I’m changed and under the covers. I’m exhausted now. My night with Jace is apparently finally catching up with me even though I slept at his place. The moment I close my eyes they’re forced back open. My bed dips and a heavy weight is over me.

  “Wake up! It’s party day!” Brianna bellows into my ear and I don’t want to wake up, let alone be forced awake!

  “Go away,” I groan unhappily and try and shrink under my covers. “It’s too early.”

  “I don’t care!” she tells me, her tone so full of excitement she’s impossible to ignore.

  “I’m tired.” I moan miserably.

  “Fine,” she mutters and releases me. “I’m going to start cooking a massive breakfast so get up. “

  When she finally leaves me, I roll onto my back. I lay staring at the ceiling before I roll over once more to my bedside cabinet and pull the drawer open. I place my hand in blindly until I find what I’m looking for and grab it along with my phone. Sitting up, I look at what’s in my hands - a number and my iPhone.

  Now I need to pluck up the courage to dial the number before me.

  ***

  I’ve sat in the middle of my bed a while now just staring at the piece of paper with Jace’s scrawl over it. The number hasn’t changed in the three years I’ve been gone. It makes me feel like I haven’t been gone for all this time. It’s a silly claim to make, but my rapid heartbeat has slowed significantly.