I open my mouth to respond, unsure I even want to verbalize any of my feelings because he already seems to know what I need without me even having to. He cups my cheek, and instinct has my face burrowing into his soft palm.
We don’t speak, just stay like that for minutes that seem to turn into hours. He doesn’t pressure me, doesn’t coax me into climbing on top of his lap even though I see the bead of precum dripping down his thick cock. I see the twitch of his shaft, the way his balls keep pulling into his body, needing a release. He waits and waits until I’m strong enough to kneel over him, sheathe him and take him inside my body.
I hiss at the invasion. Seven long years without a man inside my body, a whole lifetime without a man I actually want inside of it. I feel my walls tighten around him, protesting the foreign intrusion but his hand on my belly causes me to relax. The simplest gesture, a soft touch on a spot so ironic, I let a tear slip past my eyelids.
“Am I hurting you?” he softly asks, his voice strained.
He needs me to move, he needs me to satisfy him before he explodes, but he doesn’t take like Giacomo. He lifts a thumb to my cheek, wiping away a tear that escaped past my mask, and I smile, shaking my head.
“No. It’s just...been a while.”
“Take your time. There isn’t anywhere else I would rather be tonight.”
I press my hands to his chest and lean down, capturing his lips with mine. The kiss is hungry yet slow, my lips lazily exploring a mouth that is not in a rush to disappear. A mouth that wants to kiss me back as his tongue touches the tip of mine. I wrap my hands around his cheeks, and I slowly start to move on top of him, grinding my hips forward and back, mimicking dance moves I’ve perfected on the stage floor for so many years. Never like this, though, never in control of my own pleasure as I feel Landry’s cock start to expand inside of me.
He breaks the kiss, panting against my lips and his next words splinter me into a million pieces.
“You first, Siren. Show me how you make yourself come. That sight alone will do it for me.”
I gradually sit up, feeling Landry so deep inside me that I feel a small sting as I move. One simple touch of my clit, and I already feel the tension building in my belly again. I keep my eyes on him as I move my fingers against my clit, shyness painting my cheeks but also arousal.
He holds my hips steady, starting to move underneath me and his eyes roam down my naked body to the place where we’re connected, to my fingers bringing me my own pleasure.
“You are so sexy. I could watch you do this all day.”
“Ohhh.”
The heaviness of this all smashes into me, and I move my fingers faster against my clit as Landry’s jerky movements underneath me bring us both to our release.
“Yessssss. Fuckkkkk,” he groans, shuddering underneath my weight, his eyes open and unwavering as he watches me come apart.
Embarrassment never comes as I climb off his lap, searching around the room to find my clothes. I dress quickly, not looking over at him because shame takes its place instead. What have I done?
“That was amazing. Can I see you again? Maybe outside of the club?”
I turn as Landry is buttoning up his shirt and his smile almost makes me break down. Giacomo’s hurtful words come back to haunt me, but they’re true. I could never give someone what they truly wanted.
“I...I think that wouldn’t be wise,” I reply, clipping my stocking back into place.
“And why is that?” he asks, pulling his eyebrows together.
He’s angry. Good.
“Because that should have never happened. This was a one-time thing, Landry.”
“Was it? I thought you didn’t do this? You seem pretty good at the goodbye speech.”
I bend down to strap my heels back into place and finger my hair, trying to erase all evidence of the mess I just made.
"Thank you...for that," I say, feeling like those two words are so immensely inadequate for what he just gave me.
I turn, walking toward the door, and reach for the handle, but a big palm slamming against the door frame stops me. I jump, panic starting to rise up my spine, but then his tender lips are on the back of my neck, pushing my hair over the opposite shoulder.
His fingers run over my knuckles, and I freeze, discreetly fisting my hand on the door now to cover up the bruising. Crap.
"What happened here, your neck?" he asks, as he kisses around the back of my neck, where the black light tattoo is, the one all four of us girls have.
"A t-tattoo," I stutter. "It's only visible through blacklight, so n-normal light makes it look like a scar."
Without my permission, my hand snakes behind Landry's head, my fingers running through his hair as he continues to feast on my neck.
"Take off your mask," he demands.
I shake my head. "I can't do that, Landry."
"Sure, you can. You just did."
I sigh, knowing he’s right. I’ve let him see parts of me that even the girls have never seen, but I can’t admit it.
“Whatever you think happened here tonight, didn't. You don't know anything about me, and if you did, you wouldn't want me, Landry." I drop my hand from his neck, frustrated now as I take a step away from him and the door.
“I think that is my decision, Siren. This lowly sailor is not afraid of rough waters.”
He places one last kiss on my neck as I close my eyes, dropping my head back. When I open my eyes again, he’s gone, and I’m left alone in my room, wondering if it was all a dream.
I shake my head, heading back down the hallway, and my first step confirms that it was real. A delicious dull ache cuts through my center, and I try to ignore it, walking back toward the main room.
A hard grip on my arm has me whirling back down the hallway, and I see Everleigh’s pissed-off expression.
Crap.
“Your fuckin' brother is here, Siren!” she whisper-yells.
“He is, huh? How in the world did he snag an invite?” I ask, knowing that no one in their right mind would believe that lie dripping off my lips.
“You knew, didn’t you?” she accuses, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I knew what?” I ask, not trying to bury myself deeper than I probably already am with one of my best friends.
“That he was fuckin' engaged!”
I sigh, running my hand down the front of my face.
“Ice, listen—”
She puts her hand up, cutting me off.
“Don’t, Siren. He’s been a dickwad to you for so many years; don’t you dare defend him.”
“I’m not defendin' him, I just—”
“Wait a second,” she gasps with a knowing smirk. “Did you just come out of your room with a man?”
“Wait, my brother, the dickwad! Don’t we have to talk about that?” I groan.
“Oh Siren, Siren, Siren, you have some talkin' to do tonight, girlfriend. We’ll get back to that asshole, but you better get ready to spill it!” she points, walking back down the hall.
“Ice! Don’t you dare tell the girls!” I yell, chasing after her.
“No secrets, Siren, you know the deal,” she smiles, winking at me.
“Well then, for the record, I invited the dickwad here!” I yell.
She flips me the finger as she walks to the other side of the club, and I smile, shaking my head.
Great. Let the grand jury commence.
* * *
I make my rounds through the club, noticing Landry must have gone after I scared him off.
It's better this way.
"Hey, boss. That man over there is asking about you. He...he used your real name," Evan, one of our security guys, whispers in my ear.
My eyes flick to his, and he nods to a man sipping his drink at Danny's end of the bar. As if he can sense my staring, he turns to look at me, and his blue eyes almost glow in the club's darkness. Evan puts his hand on the small of my back, and I nod as we walk towards the man.
Not taking his hand
off my back, Evan stands beside me, making sure the strange man knows that he needs to watch what he does and says in the next few seconds because Evan isn't a man to be messed with.
The man must recognize my hesitations as he sizes up Evan, finishing his drink and setting it down on the bar.
"Magn--Madam Siren. I wondered if we could talk in private."
I nod as Evan guides us down the hallway to our office and unlocks the door, allowing me to go inside first before he stops the man at the door and pats him down.
Even though he knows who I really am, I keep my mask on, walking around the large mahogany desk to sit, crossing my legs and leaning my elbows down against it.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" I ask as the man takes the guest chair, and Evan stands at my side.
"Octavian Delgado. I work for the DEA."
He reaches across the desk to shake my hand, and I eye him, noticing now how stunningly handsome he is—tanned skin, dark brown curly hair, and those eyes. I keep his gaze as I shake his hand, but it never wavers. He's telling the truth.
"And you already know who I am, but why are you here?"
"I'm here for information. Information I think you can guide me to."
I arch an eyebrow and sit back, confused.
"Oh? And what information do you think I have? We run a clean club, always have," I snap, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Not the club, your family."
My back stiffens at his words, but I keep my reaction hidden, keeping my stare unaffected, thankful for my mask.
"I haven't spoken to anyone in my family for over seven years."
"Your brother didn't pay you a visit recently? A phone call from a certain ex-husband?"
I grit my teeth, slamming my hand on the desk. This is out of character for me, showing emotion and getting angry, but so is sleeping with a stranger. Tonight is a whole new Magnolia.
"I'm being followed?"
"No, ma'am, but your brother and Giacomo are. We have reason to believe they're involved in something they may not even be aware of."
I scoff, shaking my head.
"Well, no offense, Mr. Delgado, but my brother is a big boy and can handle himself, and Giacomo can go to Hell. You wasted your time coming here. Evan will see you out."
"Miss Giordano, I--"
"Evan will see you out," I say sternly, nodding towards Evan.
I see Octavian's jaw tick, and he dips his head as he stands, stomping out of the office.
What in the hell was that?
“Pop that shit open; I’m thirsty,” Eden says, plopping down on her couch.
I laugh, rolling my eyes as I take the champagne and walk over to the couch in my fuzzy slippers, and matching flannel pajama top and bottom. My blonde hair is pulled up in a bun, my black-rimmed glasses firmly in place as I sit down next to Addison, also decked out in her comfy pajamas.
“I couldn’t decide between sour cream and onion or BBQ, so I grabbed both,” Everleigh says, walking into the living room in her pajamas too.
“Ohhh, toss the sour cream ones to me!” I yell, lifting my hand.
I catch the bag of chips, then work on the champagne bottle, twisting the foil until I get to the cork.
“Have anything worth millions in here?” I ask, arching an eyebrow toward Eden.
“Besides this face? Nope. Pop away, sister.”
I giggle, rolling my eyes as I pop the bottle and squeal. I take a glass off the table, pouring the champagne out, and look up, handing a glass to Everleigh. She’s staring at me, and I look to the rest of the girls, who have equally confused faces.
“What?” I ask. “Do I have somethin' on my face?”
“You fucked someone tonight,” Eden smirks, nodding toward me.
She grabs the champagne glass in my hand and downs the entire thing before pushing it back to me.
“I-I didn’t...I…”
"Good for you. I was ready to snatch that hottie up and take him to Roxie’s room of pain before Siren intervened." Eden winks.
"Eden, you knew he was the tree farm and gym guy. You wouldn't have, would you?" I gasp.
“Holy shit, Lia! You did! He couldn’t keep his damn eyes off you. I knew he looked familiar!” Addison claps.
“Guys, pleaseeee,” I groan, taking Eden’s empty glass and refilling it, drinking the entire thing down myself.
I wince at the bubbles tickling my throat and cough.
“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit,” Everleigh drawls. “I thought you just gave him a dance, sister. How was it?”
“I’m not talkin' about this,” I mumble, pouring each of the girls a glass of champagne and passing them around. I lift my glass in the air, nodding toward all the girls. “To the nights we dance for fun…”
“Four is better than one,” they finish.
“Okay, well, we’re not changin' the subject,” Eden says, finishing her glass and putting it on the coffee table.
“There’s no subject to tell. So what? I slept with someone, big deal. You do it all the time,” I snap.
“But you don’t,” Eden responds. “Why him? After seven years, Lia, why him?”
“How do you even know it’s been seven years, huh?” I defend.
“Well the closest you ever came was with JT. Wait, hold up. You didn’t sleep with JT and not tell us, did you?” Addison gasps.
I groan, throwing my head back at the mention of my mentor. Back when we decided to open up our own club, take back the reins of our sexuality that was stripped from us, I found JT mulling about in downtown Atlanta at The Pussycat Lounge. I stopped him one night after a show, wanting to pick his brain on how he looked so confident, how he commanded a crowd because the women went wild for him.
My confidence was shaken after being with Giacomo for so long, being subjected to the horrors of The Devil’s Playground, I needed it back. He gave it back to me, lessons and hours of practicing and sauntering around a stage until I felt like a different person. I guess some of that had to do with the way he looked at me, the way I could see the obvious desire on his face those late nights that we practiced but when he tried to kiss me one night, I froze up. That was the first and the last time I even tried to have any sort of a relationship with another man and when we opened the club, he hit the road. Last I heard he was plowing through the clubs in Nashville, no doubt working his magic on other women. Too bad it never worked on me.
“Earth to Magnolia!” Everleigh interrupts.
“Fine,” I sigh, “it has been since Giacomo, I just…”
“You didn’t safeword, “ Eden says. “He didn’t push you to—”
“No!” I yell. I clear my throat and shake my head, lowering my voice back to normal now. No one has taken advantage of me since Giacomo; I made sure of that. I may be quiet, but there's a reason I close down that gym every single night. I can defend myself. Many men at RISE have learned the hard way why my nickname is Madam Siren. I sing and dance like an angelic goddess, but I will drag you so fast toward those rocks you won't know what hit you.
We protect our girls, knowing full well what happens when no one is looking out for you in this life. There is a panic button next to the bed in every room, and we each have our bodyguards outside each door as extra protection. In extreme cases, we “safeword,” alerting our camera room that we need help. Ever since our opening weekend when one of our girls, Camila, was seconds away from being date raped, we’ve made sure it never, ever happens again. Two days. It took two days to develop a plan and put it into place before we opened back up. When we’re determined, we get stuff done. Everyone knows when they enter this club, not only do they sign an NDA, but they also keep their hands to themselves until further instructions. If the rules aren’t clear enough, one of us girls will break it down for them. “No, he didn’t. If anything, it was the other way around."
The girls are silent, and I bite my lip, trying not to cry.
“I just… Giacomo’s havin' a baby, y’all. A baby! That wa
s supposed to be me,” I whisper, finally letting the tears flow.
Addison is first to comfort me, pulling me to her body as she runs a soothing hand down my back.
“Lia, baby,” Eden coos, “I know you wanna be a mother but do you really think bringin' a baby into that environment would have been wise? It was a blessin' in disguise that you never got pregnant. Giacomo was a disease, and you’re lucky you got out unscathed.”
“Unscathed?” I laugh sarcastically, sitting up straighter. “You of all people should know I didn’t leave that marriage unscathed, Eden.” Her head whips back as if I slapped her, and I immediately regret my words. I close my eyes and shake my head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t...I didn’t mean to say it like that,” I whisper.
Eden takes a breath, moving closer to me on the couch. She takes my hands in hers and pushes my chin up.
“Listen, I know what you went through, Lia. It was terrible, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. You’re right, I know, and I shouldn’t have belittled what he did to you. I just want you to dig yourself out of this hole, girl. You deserve happiness. You deserve that light in those eyes that I see on stage all the damn time, not just in the club. I want that for you, and the first step in findin' that is lettin' go. Realizin' that what y’all had was toxic. Not gettin' pregnant as terrible as it sounds, was a blessin'. It will happen when it’s ready to happen for you.”
I shake my head, wiping at my eyes.
“It won’t,” I whisper. “I...I...went to the doctor and I...the odds of me ever havin' a child on my own is nearly impossible.”
I finally utter the words I’ve held onto for the past few days. Admitting that Giacomo was right, I was the defective one hurts more than I thought it would. I look up, taking in the pity on my best friends’ faces, and I can’t control it anymore. My eyes shut, and I feel my mouth twist as loud, hurt sobs overtake my entire body. My shoulders shake, and I burrow into myself as Eden, Addison, and Everleigh all cover me in a hug. Their love, their constant support of me, the only true things I have in my life, comforts me for the next few minutes until I can finally get myself under control enough to stop crying.
“Lia.” I look up at Everleigh, tears in her eyes as she cups my cheek. “You’ll have a child one day. Whether you adopt or one of us crazy bitches carries it for you, you will become a mother. No one on this damn earth would make a better one. We’re all here for you, no matter what. You know that, don’t you?”
Delivered in Sin Page 5
