Consumed (10 page)

Simon

If Sadie hadn’t been so damn nervous, she could’ve felt what that kiss did to me.

That mouth.

The flavor and feel of it.

I’m. Fucked.

“Who is the girl?”

I whip my head up to look at Zev. He’s standing next to me with his hands on his hips.

“I can’t get into that right now, but she needs to stay with me.”

“Needs to, huh?” He is finally smirking, and I prefer it over the scowl he was first giving.

I roll my eyes at him. “I need you to trust me on this.”

“Fine. You’re disappointing the strippers, but that means more tits in my face, so whatever.” He tilts his head toward each shoulder, popping his neck.

“I’m taking her home.”

“Fuck, bro, I thought this was my birthday celebration. We’re supposed to take some of them back to Submission to party.”

“I need to make sure she gets home safely.”

“There’s that
need
word again. Why don’t you just admit you plan to fuck her? She should definitely give you credit for the effort you’re making.” He scrunches his forehead and grabs his junk. “I was on my way to take a piss.”

He stumbles away. Yeah, he’s drunk already. I order another drink for Sadie and watch the door. She steps inside, and Noah yells for her.

I had a suspicion he wasn’t going to give up that easily. Straightening up his short blonde hair a stripper has mussed up, he then tries to coax Sadie over with a grin and the repeated bend of his finger.

Staring at him for a few seconds as she bites on her lip, she gives him only a smile and strides toward me.

That’s right, sweetheart. You’re all mine tonight.

Once I pull her back into my lap, I hand her a new drink. “Are you trying to get me drunk enough to strip?” she asks with a giggle before she takes a sip.

“No, I’m simply trying to get you to relax and not feel so bad for being here.”

Her hand slides behind my neck, and she plays with my hair. “Thank you. One of the other girls chewed me out in the bathroom for hogging time with you.

“I guess you’re popular here, but that other guy wanting my attention creeps me out, and I would have to strip. I don’t think I can bring myself to do it.” She looks over at Noah, who has his face in some dancer’s chest.

Sadie’s insinuating I’m a regular here. I am, but I don’t want her thinking it. I want her to believe I’m better than the man I am, but I likely blew that days ago.

***

While giggling, Sadie hands me her fourth empty glass.

“Those are delicious.” She shifts in my lap until she’s straddling me. Her hands land on my chest, and she leans over until her lips are hovering in front of mine. “Like you. You’re deliciously handsome.” Giggling again, she begins to move to the music.

Ginuwine’s “Pony” is playing through the speakers. Her eyes close and head falls backward. I can’t help but let my hands grip her hips. I help her move to the rhythm as my lips work their way up her chest and neck. I flood her ear with a growl and she shivers.

“I think that’s enough drinks for you, sweetheart. There isn’t a man in here who deserves to see you move this way. Let me drive you home.”

Her eyelids open, and she freezes. “It’s time?”

“Yep.”

“OK, I have to get my stuff from my locker.” Sadie looks around, noticing a couple of the other girls filing out of the room. “I’ll meet you outside.”

She climbs off of me and stumbles toward the doorway. I can finally go take a piss without the fear of Noah snatching her up. My cock is in pain from the hard-on she kept awakening.

Aside from my aching dick, I’ve enjoyed the night more than any I can remember in a long time, and I don’t want it to end.

Sadie

I manage to find my way to the locker room. It’s a miracle I didn’t get lost as tipsy as I am.

“I don’t know which Disney princess you think you are, but Simon will expect you to put out, so I hope you have more skills than you exhibited back there,” a voice says.

I turn from my locker and inspect the woman glaring at me. Her black hair and matching eyeliner give her a Goth appearance. Oh, and the matching dog collar on her neck.

“What is your problem?” I ask.

“You. I sometimes entertain Simon Cassano after hours, but you showed up here tonight staking claim. You better be willing to deliver because he’ll expect it.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be back.”

“That’s not surprising.”

I ignore her and throw denim shorts and a purple t-shirt on over my bikini as quickly as possible. Once my shoes are changed, I exit the locker room and stroll to the time clock.

I don’t like thinking of Simon with the skanky girl, but I can’t stop the image of the two of them from invading my thoughts.

Finding my card I clocked in with, I tear it into pieces and throw it in the trash can. I don’t want their money. Exiting into the parking lot, I come to a stop.

Some of the strippers are climbing into a stretched SUV limo with the men Simon was with. They’re carrying on loudly with the guys, and the driver motions for me to enter behind them.

“No, thank you.”

“Oh, come on, baby. I’ve been dying to see what you can do all night,” the eerie guy says to me.

“I’m taking her home,” Simon says assertively, appearing out of nowhere and slipping an arm around my waist.

“I didn’t know you were such a buzz kill, Simon. You can have her. I’ll have my hands full with this bunch.” The guy grins back at the strippers who have piled into the limo with him.

“Bro, sure you two don’t want to join us?”

“No, we’re good. Have fun.”

The driver shuts the door, and I feel bad.

“I can call a cab, so you can go with your brother. You said you were out for his birthday, and I ruined your celebration with him.”

“I see Zev every day, and you haven’t ruined anything. I’ve had a great night.” Simon holds his hand out. “Keys.”

Once I hand them over, he walks me to the car and helps me inside. I’m nervous as the Gothic girl’s words replay in my head.
“You better be willing to deliver because he’ll expect it.”

“Are we going to engage in sexual intercourse?” I ask him after he’s buckled in. He chuckles as he starts my Ford Focus, but then he looks to me with a serious expression.

“No, I have no intentions of having intercourse with you tonight.”

“Do you not want to?”

“I’m sober, and you’re drunk, so it’s not happening.”

My fingers trail up his arm and into his hair.

“You didn’t answer my question, and what if I told you I’d want to even if I was sober?” I don’t know what has gotten into me … I guess four cosmos.

Simon’s cool hand slides into my hair, his palm against my cheek. “Sweetheart, of course I want to, and tell me
when
you’re sober, and I’ll believe you.”

“OK, deal.” I smile at him lazily before my eyes close. I like him, and I find myself trusting him like I’ve never trusted anyone. I don’t understand it.

***

“Sadie, wake up.” Fingers graze my cheek, and I open my eyes. I glance around and see we’re at my apartment.

“How did you know where I lived?”

“I looked at your car registration.”

“You sinceriously are ingenious.”

“Sinceriously? I might’ve just fell a little harder for you from that clever wording.”

“You’re falling for me?”

“Yep, and I’m as surprised as you are. Good thing you won’t remember tomorrow that I said it. Come on.” Simon unbuckles my seat belt. “Let’s get you inside and to bed.”

Once he helps me up to my second floor apartment, I plop my bag onto the counter that separates the small kitchen from my living room. I take a seat on one of my three bar stools, and a wad of money is placed in front of me.

“What’s that for?” I ask anxiously.

“I told you I was hiring you to be my personal dancer for the night.”

I give him an adamant no with the harsh shaking of my head. Now, I’m dizzy and falling from the stool. Grabbing me just in time, he holds me as I regain my footing.

“Maybe this isn’t the best spot for you. Let me help you to your bed. I promise I won’t join you.”

“OK, but you can’t pay me for dancing. That would make me a dancer at a strip club, and I don’t want to be that, either.”

I think he’s snickering at me, but I’m struggling to focus on anything other than the fact he said he is falling for me.

“This is my room,” I say as I push the door open and stagger inside. I feel his arms snake around me and his chest rise against my back as he inhales sharply.

“Fuck, yeah, I better be going. This room smells like you, which is
sinceriously
my new favorite scent.”

I giggle, and he gently kisses my ear.

“Seriously, doll, you better hurry to bed before I change my mind and stick around.” I turn in his arms and plant my lips on his briefly.

“Thank you for everything. You’re sweet, Simon, and not the villain I thought you were.”

“Whoa, now, I don’t want to be the sweet guy.”

I giggle again, and after tripping over clothing a couple of times, I make it to my bed and remove my shorts.

I climb under the covers, and it sounds like Simon is cursing as he strolls over. He kisses my forehead and then my lips. “Sweet dreams, Sadie. I know you’ll be in mine.”

Adrian

“I’m sorry I can’t fix this,” I say to my brothers over lunch by the pool. I’ve always done anything I could to make them happy and lessen the blows of heartache. If any amount of money would cure our mother, it would be spent to make it happen.

“So, even if you convince her to get the chemo, it’s not going to cure her?” Simon asks.

“I haven’t researched the type of cancer Denise has, but I trust Aggie, and that’s what she told me. She said Mom has great doctors. ”

My baby brother nods and turns to look out over the pool. Zev flags down a waitress and orders a drink, and Theo stares at his plate of food.

“Theo, what do you think I should do?”

“I think you have to try to convince Mom like Agatha wants you to.”

“But is that what you think is right?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. You and Agatha were left with power of attorney over Mom when Dad died.”

“I’ll still consider your opinion, and I need it from all three of you.”

“If the treatments and doctors scare Mom, then I don’t think she should be forced into it,” Zev says before he slams a fist onto the table. “I’m over her sorry life and how the rest of us have been left to deal with it.”

Pushing away from the table, he storms off. The waitress approaches with his drink, looking confused. Simon motions for her to give it to him, and he’s soon taking a sip of it.

“If it will buy her more time, then I say she undergoes the treatments,” he says.

Theo tosses his fork on the table and leans back in his chair. He looks toward the sunny sky, and I see a tear roll out from under his sunglasses. This sucks.

“She’s been suffering from schizophrenia for years,” he says. “I hate the life she lives. If she doesn’t want the treatment, I don’t think she should be forced to take it.”

“But does she even have the ability to know what she wants?” I ask.

“In her mind, she is scared of the doctors and what the chemo could do to her. That should count in my opinion,” Theo adds.

“Thank you for being honest with me. Do you think Zev will be alright?”

“Yeah, you know he can’t handle talking about this kind of shit,” Simon says.

“The fact he won’t is what worries me.” Leaning back, I let the sun shine down on my face, and I picture Victoria’s. Her support will see me through this difficult decision.

Sadie

Shifting in my bed, I feel something hard against my forehead. I open my eyes and find my iPhone stuck partly under my head. I pick it up and pull the sticky note stuck to the front.

Grr … intelligent woman = difficult password. Put my number in your phone, and text me that you’re alive.

I giggle and swipe my phone to type my password. Entering Simon as a contact, I punch in the digits he wrote after his message.

My head is pounding, so I stroll out to the kitchen to get a drink of water and some pain reliever. I make a mental note that whatever was in the drink I consumed, my body doesn’t like it in excess.

Spotting the stack of money still on my counter, I stop and stare at it. It’s rolled inside a piece of notebook paper, and my name is written in ink on the front.

Pulling the paper free from the bills, I read the note written inside.

Scientist Sadie,

Here is payment for your detailed analysis and report on artificial sweeteners. I believe we should discuss these findings over dinner this coming week. Please let me know a convenient date and time, and I shall pick you up accordingly.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                        Simon Cassano 

I’m smiling like a damn fool. The biggest, cheesiest, goofiest grin is plastered on my face. I feel flushed and look around even, almost waiting for him to appear and see my embarrassment. Wait, how did he get home? Panic floods me.

Oh, my god, is he here?

I glance around the small space and check the restroom. I only have one bedroom, so there aren’t a lot of places he could be hiding.

Of course, he’s gone. In an instant, I feel foolish. He probably got a ride or took a cab home. He likely partied with his brother and the strippers after babysitting my drunk ass.

The thought of him with another woman ignites anger. Biting my lip, I stare at the screen of my phone, debating on what to say to him.

Me:
I’m alive. I see you found a way home, or is grand theft auto another crime you like to commit?

I look around my counter and discover my keys about the time my phone dings.

Simon:
I can’t say there is a high demand for Ford Focuses. Now, a sexy scientist is another story.

Yeah, that grin is back.

Me:
I hope you were able to find some fun after babysitting my drunk ass.

God, that’s such a lie. I hope he went home and to bed.

Simon:
Hmm … since I found watching a sexy scientist sleep fun, I say yes, I did find some.

My hand covers my mouth as I imagine him admiring me in my sleep. My phone dings again, and I jump.

Simon:
So, what night are we having dinner? Or, uh, our meeting?

Me:
Wednesday evening at six?

Simon:
Perfect. I’ll pick you up then.

I must talk to Victoria before my date. She has to tell me everything she knows about the baffling Simon Cassano. The bad boy with the kindest heart.