Saturdays at the Viper Rooms Read online

  “Then let’s not waste time,” he tells me, approaching me quickly. He pulls me to him, devouring me in kisses. His lips play against mine, his teeth biting my lower lip, his tongue dancing along my lip to deepen what we both know will inevitably happen.

  I go from being by the main door for the bathroom, to the middle cubicle. Jace is wasting no time with foreplay and already has my panties pushed aside as he undoes his pants and allows them to fall down his legs. I don’t have time to catch my breath before I feel him penetrate me hard. Jace grabs my arms by the wrists and puts them above my head. I’m powerless to him now. He continues to thrust into me, leaving one hand around both my wrists as his other hand reaches to pull my panties away for an easier access. I’m secretly hoping he doesn’t rip them from me because there is no way I will survive this evening without them!

  As my orgasm begins to creep in, my head falls back and he begins to trace kisses up my neck, his lips touching my jugular, feeling my blood pump fiercely through it as he fucks me hard and fast. When my body explodes and ecstasy runs rapid around my veins I feel him slow as he follows me into bliss and he falls against me heavily. He pulls out and just lies against me, his lips still against my neck.

  “I needed that,” I whisper to him. My words cause him to stand and I look at him devilishly. “Clearly you did too.”

  He smirks and kisses me again. “You look a mess.” His words set a rush of trepidation throughout me, but he chuckles, kissing me greedily, delaying me from leaving. “A beautiful mess.”

  I giggle, push on him and begin to leave him behind. I stumble out of the cubicle, leaving Jace to fix himself. I go over to the restroom’s mirrors and dare myself to look at my own reflection. I gasp when I do. Fuck! I’m an absolute mess! My lipstick is now smeared, my hair is unravelling and I know I have to look for a quick fix. I make sure the rest of me looks okay and fix my makeup before I text one of the girls to come to my aid. I can’t let Clara see me like this and I need an excuse.

  ‘Jace Mason took me against a cubicle door’ just isn’t going to cut it!

  My hands are shaking as I quickly attempt to rectify the mess I am in. I need to be back out there with the other girls quickly, but I can’t do that looking like this. I need to be mingling with the clients before Clara even so much as thinks I’ve done a disappearing act.

  “Will this help?”

  I look up and Jace is behind me. I inwardly sigh. He can’t be here. My heart rate accelerates as I wonder if one of the girls will catch him here with me or if I’ll make it out alive. I look to his hand and he’s holding up four of my hairpins. I look back at his reflection in the mirror and can’t help but smile.

  “Did you really think I’d feed you back to the she-devil with so much as a strand of hair out of place?” he asks me sarcastically and I know him. He looks after me beyond belief. He drops his hands and comes to stand beside me. As he does, I turn to face him and allow him to fix my hair back up into the side bun. Thankfully my fringe hasn’t moved or I would be choosing my own gravestone now rather than enjoying the glamour of the 1920’s party. Once he is done he runs his hand down my jaw until his fingers are cupping my chin. “I knew you were going to look stunning tonight, Joely, but I never expected this. You took my breath away.” He leans in, his lips just before mine as he finishes his statement. “Again.”

  This time he kisses me with restraint, just giving me enough to seal his comment. When he leaves me this time I’m less flustered and I’m ready to take on what awaits on the other side of the door. I spend a few seconds just staring at myself before I hurriedly look into my clutch for my makeup and touch it up. I make sure my hair is pristine and that I don’t look freshly fucked.

  Satisfied as I can be, I head for the door. I walk out, looking around for where I should go. I guess the bar would be a good start right now. I begin to make a beeline for it. I see Jace is back there, but so is one of my other clients - Darcy Benson. He comes to the club just to have some affection. His marriage is entering a freefall and he is unloved to the extreme. I’m just a girl who makes him feel better about himself - no sexual favors, no strings, just clean, fun affection. Deciding to appease the boss and Darcy all at once, I begin to head over to him.

  “There she is!” Clara’s shrill voice catches me unaware and my mission is forgotten. “Joely, dear, we’ve been looking all over for you.” She takes my hand and I’m thrown into the middle of a bunch of strangers. I know this is where I need to turn on my charm. Clara is my master, the puppeteer, the snake charmer. She’s going to make sure these men are begging for admission to the VIP list for The Viper Rooms by the time I leave. “This, gentlemen, is Joely.”

  “Hello,” I welcome them and learn their names as they all introduce themselves to me. I never know what to say at these moments at the best of times, especially with Clara watching me. “Are you enjoying the party?”

  “We enjoyed your dance more,” one of the moguls says and the others chortle in agreement. “Is there anymore of a show?”

  “Ah, men,” Clara interrupts, putting her arm around me. “If you want to see more of Joely, then I suggest you get signed up, gentlemen. We are not a charity. We offer an actual service and you best believe Joely is one of my head girls. She will never disappoint in making sure your needs are met.”

  “Is that right?” I watch one of the older males step forward and he puts his hand out for mine. I obey and he kisses my knuckles gently. “I will definitely be signing up and I plan to watch and see if you’re what everyone has you pegged to be.”

  “I can assure you, Sir, that I am the best at my job because I know what men want most of all,” I tell him, I step forward, reaching up for his bowtie to straighten it. I’m applying the sex appeal right now, trying to get him hot under the collar, to really learn what we offer first hand. “But I am not the only one who knows how to please a man. I’m exclusive, so play your cards right and you might well see me outside of this party.”

  I then walk away catching a glimpse of Clara’s impressed grin. She’s being sanctimonious, knowing that I left them wanting me, and when they call for me, she abruptly stops them. I’m not supposed to flatter and cling too long to one client. Unless they’re already on my list.

  As I walk away, my eyes survey the crowds of men and women and I look around for Jace. I haven’t seen him for a while, not since he left in the bathroom, and I really want to lay my eyes on him right now. I feel disgusted with myself for how I have to play like I want this. I don’t love it, I never will. But I do it because it’s now a case of survival. That’s how this transcended so quickly. I never expected this life to turn out like this, and had I known it would, I never would have signed on the dotted line.

  “You’re with me,” Eli says as he grabs my hand. “We have to go around together. Clara wanted me to do it earlier, but you disappeared. She clearly got to you first, but now you’re with me.”

  “For what?” I ask, wishing I hadn’t been so damn curious.

  “Schmoozing,” he mutters, emphasizing the word. He laughs as I groan, he knows how much I hate this part of the parties. I prefer the drink and dance bit, but selling myself has never been a strong point. In the club, it’s different; it’s like a comfort zone. Here, more is on the line.

  He pulls me towards more men who kiss my hand, compliment me, spin me around for a better look. All while Eli remains close. As we move between the groups, Eli doesn’t let me go; he keeps his arm firmly around my waist and shows me off as if I’m some prized possession. It’s what Clara wants, and as always, that’s what she will get. The head girls are too be looked after as much, if not better, than the new girls. It’s both a reward and a curse all rolled together, but I’m starting to get bored. I’m thirsty and sore, and there is only one thing I want.

  When I look up I see Jace staring at me. His gaze on me is intense and almost menacing, and before I know it, Eli kisses my cheek as he whispers a thank you in my ear, and Jace leaves the room. He fl
ees so fast I have to search all exits to find out where he is. I see him leaving through the enormous patio doors, storming off into the night air and down the stairs. I excuse myself for air, and rush off in the same direction.

  I run after him, following down the bank to a hidden part on the mansion’s premises. He’s gone down among the formal garden and trees. I hate how he took offense to what happened. I know we aren't allowed to be obvious here, he is my client for Christ sake!! Here the love we have is nonexistent.

  "Jace!" I cry out, trying to gain his attention as I run behind him, my heels sinking in the grassy banks. He stills, his body shaking, his hands balling up into fists before releasing. "What's wrong?" I ask him, the Jace that took me in the restroom has long since gone and his demeanor is frightening. "Jace?" I reach out, my hand landing on his shoulder only to be shook away like I'm causing him pain. "Please, J, what's happened?"

  “This,” he grinds out, his teeth barely pulling apart. “This party. This life. Everything about it.” He takes a step back, his body pulsating with aggression. “I thought that maybe I could wait three years and we could survive it, but I don’t think I have it in me. Not when I’m a guest at these parties and see you fall all over those men to please Delvine. It makes me feel sick. It drives me crazy. You’re supposed to be mine, Joely, but I don’t feel like you ever truly will be.”

  That hurts. The strike of his words impacts upon my heart heavily and I find it difficult to breathe. I shake my head, striving to start my argument, but he beats me to it. I am his. Every part of me thrives for his touch and is left feeling damaged by other men. He revives me, but right now, he’s killing me slowly.

  “I thought I could watch you act and toy with those men in there, but they want you, like I did. They all want you and what’s to stop you falling for one of them like you did me?” he asks, and I can see the pain in his eyes. The pain that is all my doing, no one else has dragged him down to this level but me. “So wouldn’t it be better to stop this game we’re playing?”

  “No!” I cry and I can feel the tears dragging my makeup down my face. “What I feel for them and what I feel for you are two totally different things. I can’t stand what I have to do to please them, but what I do with you makes my life complete, Jace. I love you, I do it all out of love.” I dip my head, begging myself to stop the tears. I keep my head bowed, unable to look at him right now. “You know how much I hate this life, Jace.” Now I finally look to him again, ready to fight my corner. “You know how I wish I could just leave and be with you, but you know what will happen! Would that be better for you? Do you want that for me just so you don’t have to feel jealous?” I gulp, not leaving him ample time to respond. “Because I would do it. Any punishment would be worth it if it meant you were happy after and we could finally be together.”

  “And here’s our problem,” he cuts in, his voice coarse. “I want you away from all of this, but I won’t be the culprit for inflicting whatever punishment Delvine would issue. I wouldn’t survive knowing I did that, so I see no other option but to finally make sure you’re safe in the job and I’m out of the picture. It also means I’m unable to see you up there trying to make a new client list because I can’t live with jealousy anymore. It makes me into someone I never thought I’d be.”

  “So is this it?” I ask, praying it’s all a nasty dream or a bad kick from the alcohol. “Is this you breaking up with me?” He doesn’t say anything and shrugs as if finally exhausted of words. “I knew this life would kill me, but I never thought you’d have a hand in it,” I tell him as he begins to walk away and he doesn’t even stop to argue with me. He leaves and I’m left with the echo of our words. The truth finally spilt on the ground. But yet when he stops and turns back, my heart soars. That maybe this was a moment of insecurity, a bout of lies.

  “I think we had a hand in hurting one another here,” he informs me, and once he's finished damming our entire relationship, he leaves entirely, walking back up to the party. He walks away from me with such heaviness and as much I want to go to him, I know I can't. I'm the sole issue here. He fell in love with the wrong girl at the wrong time and the tower of cards I've been carefully building up has now shattered to the ground.

  Without Jace I am nothing. I lose all purpose and intent of surviving. It's not even finalized, but I feel that slow ebb of emptiness begin to uncoil from my heart.

  I hoped and prayed I was enough. That the life I live was never going to be an issue, but all this time I was lying to myself and lying to everyone else while I did it. This life is the root cause of everything - my heart wanting Jace, my mind wrapped around memories of us. It keeps me away from all the things I want in life. It's venomous and it'll kill me before my six year sentence is over.

  I sink to the bench behind me and silently sob. I don't want to gather attention, so I sit here crying all while the most minimalist of noises fall from my mouth. I can’t bear to be here right now. I want to run away and never look back. I want to run to Jace and forget this happened, but I’m trapped at this party and there is no escaping yet.

  “Hey, Miss Joely!” Eli calls out and I turn to see him stumbling down the bank and I quickly wipe my face, dragging my foundation off with the back of my hand. I don’t look to him again as I try to fight for some composure. “You’re missing the party!”

  “I’ll be back in a moment,” I yell back over my shoulder. I’m not ready to go back inside, not with the weight of the world seemingly on my shoulder. “Go on back, I won’t be long.”

  “You think I’m leaving when you’re here crying?” he questions me as he gets closer. He drops beside me and leans against me, pushing me to tell him. “What’s wrong?” he asks, playfully, not sensing the seriousness of my silent dilemma.

  “It’s nothing. You know how champagne makes me.” I play it off, hoping it will work.

  He laughs, agreeing with me. He sighs, his eyes gazing at me intently, almost lustfully. “You look so beautiful tonight,” he murmurs to me, gently running his knuckles up my cheek. “I’ve never seen you look so stunning.”

  “Don’t,” I whisper back, recoiling from his touch. He leans towards me, trying to kiss me and I press my flat palms to his chest to push him away. “Please, Eli, that’s not what I want. I don’t love you like that, so please don’t pressure me! Please.” My final plea is shrouded with my tears as I break down.

  “Okay,” he relents, the heartbreak in his tone. I just seem to be causing everyone pain. “I give up. I thought you’d love me one day, but you don’t. I’m sorry,” he apologizes to me, finally waking up to how one sided his love is. “I didn’t mean to push you, but I can’t help who I love.”

  “I know,” I tell him back, knowing how true that is and everything hits me again. My mother’s chat yesterday, Jace, this party, Eli’s love, and I just break down tenfold. “It’s all a mess,” I sob and break down entirely. “I’ve lost everything, again.”

  “You’ve lost everything?” he asks, audibly confused. “What’s happened, Joely?”

  And I remember how secret this part of my life is. Even to my best friend. He knows everything about me, but this. “I can’t tell you.” I know I can’t. I want a friend, but no one can help with this heartbreak because no one knows. I’m alone and suffering and the one person I want to run to doesn’t want me anymore. Once again, it becomes abundantly clear I am alone in this world again. And I realize I can’t push Eli away. I need him, I need someone right now. “I fell in love with Jace Mason,” I admit feebly, my voice leaving my mouth at a push. “We’ve been seeing each other for months now.”

  His mouth falls open, but he forms no words. The shock pulsates from him.

  “I broke the rules.” I choke on my words, the terror beginning to spark to life at what’s to come. “So go and tell Clara, Eli. Go and tell her that her head viper girl is a liar and a cheat and has been deceiving her all this time.”

  “I’m not telling anyone,” he fights me back and I laugh, not believin
g him. “I’m not. Why would I?”

  “Because your motto says that you’re in it for yourself. Each for themselves, you say! So why wouldn’t you tell her? Especially since I just broke your heart and hurt you. The ball’s in your court now.”

  “That motto applies to everyone but you,” he tells me, his arm snaking around my back and pulling me back in. “I would never do anything to see you hurt. I knew I was trying my luck with you, Gilbert, but you know how I like to push it.” He kisses my temple and I melt down again, this time turning to bury my face. “Hey, come on now.”

  “No,” I fight his soothing ways. “I’m in love with a guy that I knew wouldn’t last. Who would love a girl like me, knowing what I willingly do, Eli? Why would a man like him want to love a girl who killed her best friend and had to run away because she deserves everything she gets?”

  “You know that was a freak accident,” he scolds me, knowing the truth of my tale. “And he loves you because you are one of the most perfect girls’ ever to enter that club. I’ve seen how you’ve changed since meeting him, Joely. You found a heart and morals and you found yourself. Clara loves how he makes you feel, but she is not going to be any wiser to you and Jace than she already is. Only I know, and I will keep you safe for as long as you are a part of the club.”

  “Promise?”

  “I promise,” he vows and my weak heart beats more rhythmically for a moment. “And Jace will come around. It’s hard loving you in this business, Joely. I know that more than anyone. If he loves you as much as you seem to love him, you’ll be in his arms before sunrise.”

  “You think?” I ask him, not wanting to believe him entirely.