Saturdays at the Viper Rooms

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  “Hasn’t it been a terrific evening?” Clara asks as she literally sashays towards us. She has her glass topped off once again and I can tell she’s more than slightly tipsy. “We are having a special evening tomorrow,” she alerts us and her face is smothered with wild excitement like it always is when she has something planned. It’s definitely special if the club is being opened on its one night of closure in the week. “Only new clients are invited. You will be paid double. It is non-negotiable” She flicks her wrist up, looking impressed with what she’s decided. “It’s almost like a taster evening.”

  “Sounds exciting,” I play along quickly, looking to Brianna who looks less than pleased. I know Sundays are her favorite days off. I look back to Clara who looks less than pleased with our lack of excitement. “So, do we pick our newest clients or is that down to you?”

  “Well, that’s what tonight is to decide, Joely,” Clara gloats and turns a little to watch for the newer members of the clubs. “If I see any potential chemistry, you will be spending time alone with that person or persons tomorrow.” She looks between us, not pleased by our astounded silence. “Is that okay?” she asks, and knows full well she’ll get the right response.

  “Yes, Boss!” we both chime together.

  “Good!” She springs back to her excitement. “I have two new clients for you both already. They’re on the other side of the boat. Please go and take them dancing.” She turns and points them out to us. They’re both in their late twenties, possibly early thirties, smart and handsome. They both raise their glasses, letting us know they’ve spotted us. “Joely, you’re with Clive and Brianna, you’re with Jason. Keep them happy.” She then walks away, taking on her next victim with a shrill welcome.

  I look to Brianna who smiles awkwardly at me. “Let’s do this.” I’m trying to keep us both going, so I lead the way and head over to Clive.

  He stands up alert and walks towards me as I close the distance. “Joely, I presume?” he asks and I nod my head. “Shall we dance?”

  “Let’s,” I murmur softly and curtly and leave Brianna to Jason. He takes me to the middle of the dance floor and wastes no time in pulling me close. A part of me wants to pull away because of Jace, but I can feel Clara’s eyes burning into me, so I settle into the gentle swing of the song and allow Clive to lead me.

  As the dance continues, I’ve seen we’ve whirled passed Jace a fair few times and I can feel how possessive Clive is. I feel the way he grips me and the air in my lungs is almost pushed out of me. I feel uneasy in this man’s grasp and his gaze on me told me he would have me at all costs. There’s something in his eyes that scares me, but I don’t dare make a scene here. What’s the worst he can do to me? I’m surrounded by so many witnesses, not to forget security, which is why I don’t argue with him or try to pull away.

  After all, I have to do my job at all costs.

  “I cannot wait to get to know you a little more tomorrow,” he leans in and whispers to me and I just smile. I can’t reply, I’m not happy about the prospect. This time it is for a totally different reason than Jace’s feelings. “I will make sure of it.”

  I look to Clara as she’s watching happily and pleased with my performance. I guess I’ll be going to work tomorrow after all.

  I close my eyes to take my mind off it. Sundays at The Viper Rooms means only one thing for me - my day with Jace won’t happen.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I’m awoken to tapping on my window and I struggle to open my eyes. I don’t want to face the day quite yet. It’s Sunday and being forced into a conscious state is not going to please me. However, the incessant tapping continues and I sit up begrudgingly.

  My room is illuminated brightly from the morning sun and it does nothing for my bleary vision. I fling the sheets off me and climb out of the bed entirely. I stomp towards the window, but when I throw the curtain out of my way, the sun overwhelms my vision and I see nothing as I force the window open.

  “You better have a good explanation for wak-” I’m cut off from sleepily reprimanding whoever woke me up so early by a set of lips hitting mine and I melt against them. The smell of Jace surrounding me as he puts his hands up to my face. He pulls away and I’m suddenly self-conscious. “I’ve got morning breath.”

  “Is that how you welcome your man?” he chuckles at me and gives me a look of pure amusement. “C’mon sleepy head, let me in. I’ve brought breakfast in bed.” He then moves slightly to show me a picnic basket. My anger towards his early wakeup call dies a silent death and is quickly forgotten. How can I be angry with a guy when he wakes me up with food?

  My head falls to the side and I stare at him incredulously for a moment. I have an unequivocal amount of adoration for Jace when he’s like this.

  “What?” he asks me, leering at me still in utter amusement.

  “You brought me breakfast?”

  “Yes,” he remarks and I move away from the window for him to climb in from the fire escape. “I heard about you having to work, so I thought I would make the best of the short time we have together before the bitch needs you.”

  “You think rationally,” I compliment him as I climb back onto my bed. I watch him from my spot as he places the basket down and kicks his shoes off and climbs beside me. “So what have you brought me?”

  “Your favorites,” he comments back blandly, not letting anything else out. He leans forward and drags the wicker basket towards him. He opens it and reaches in; I watch as he pulls out a tub of strawberries and raspberries and gives me a wink. He knows my favorites more than anyone else in my life – that goes without saying. He plucks out a banquet of fruit from berries to oranges and mangos. Then he begins to pull out baked goods and the aroma hits the air declaring how fresh they are. “Croissants, fruit loaf, and cinnamon rolls.” He passes me one and a napkin and waits for me to react.

  I take the roll from him and slowly begin to smile. “You did this for me?” I ask him coyly, picking at the roll for a moment.

  “No, I did it for the door man to your apartment block,” he quips sarcastically and I giggle. “Like I said, Lee, I wanted to make the most of what time we have today and I couldn’t think of anything better than spending it in bed with you.”

  “Does that include naked and occasionally restrained?” I ask lightly, trying to keep the seduction from my tone completely. “Or is that still up for negotiations?”

  “We’ll see how we get on after breakfast,” he replies and leans in, kissing me. “Morning breath or not, I’ll still love you. I don’t care how I get you, just as long as I get you.”

  “Well you’ve definitely got me,” I begin to say and look passed him to the clock on the bedside table. “Well,” I twitch my nose as I begin to count, “For the next eight hours at least.”

  “If that’s the case, I’ll give you this part of breakfast now.” He leans forward and peers into the basket before grabbing something. I can’t work out what it is until he hands me a purple velvet box. My heart doesn’t panic because it’s much too large to be a ring. I look to him and he goads me into opening it. The excitement and curiosity clashes violently together and I open the rectangle box. The moment the light hits it, I see a silver chain and my eyes focus on a necklace with three pendants attached – an elongated angel wing, a small pearl drop, and a coin shape with a ‘J’ engraved upon it.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper with incredulity and bring my left hand up to inspect the jewelry closer. I look to him. “What is this for?”

  “You,” he replies and I can hear the delightful note of sarcasm in his voice. He sits up, reaches for the box and takes the chain out. “Sit forward a little, baby, and hold your hair.” It’s a soft command which I listen to promptly. I grab my hair and hold it up in a messy, loose bun for him to put the necklace around my neck and he begins to fasten it into place. “It’s my way of staying close to you. I can’t always watch over you, but I like to hope you have a guardian angel keeping you safe for me. And the J is for you an
d me. The pearl is your birthstone.” When he sits back away, I let go of my hair and look down at my chest, picking it up. “It looks perfect.”

  “Thank you,” I tell him, my voice wrapped up with my heartfelt emotions and I kiss him with appreciation. “I love it.” I then look at him bemused by the entire spectacle he’s put on for me this morning. “What brought this on, Jace? A surprise visit complete with breakfast in bed and a present.”

  “I was proud of you last night, that’s all.”

  My heart blossoms and I can do nothing but feel myself drawn to him. It is crazy how all this time on I’m still drawn to him as fiercely as I was when I met him that first day in the club. He’s a man of morals and decency, and his heart is the biggest I’ve ever had to care for. He praises me when I feel I don’t need it and he loves me when I feel too completely destroyed to deserve it.

  We begin to kiss and instantly the heat ignites and the electricity begins to spark alive. His tongue races across my lip before pushing into my mouth, claiming control of the moment. He shows how in command he is when he forces me onto my back, the food forgotten for the moment, and begins to explore my body. He kisses down the natural curve of my breast, tugging on my top so he can touch more skin and I moan out as his lips latch upon my nipple. It’s deliciously arousing to have him tending to my body so sensually.

  There’s suddenly knocking, but I don’t pause right away. When the knocking continues even when we’ve tried to be quiet, I moan out in disapproval of this. “We’ve gotta end this.” I pout after my sorry admittance and I can feel the pool of desolation take over. I was having a heaven sent Sunday morning full of blissful moments and potential lovemaking. Now it’s just ending.

  “We’ve got the rest of our lives to make up for it,” he tells me, kisses me, and gets up off the bed. “I’ll clean this up later. Go get the door.”

  “You don’t have time to leave,” I worry and I see that he isn’t worried in the slightest at how close we are cutting this.

  “It’s fine, I’ll hide,” he remarks and smirks, knowing how dangerous this is getting. He always loves to live for that type of life, he loves living our life on the edge of the tip of the blade. It makes him spontaneous and daring.

  I roll my eyes at him. “Get in there,” I point to the closet just outside my bedroom door. Jace listens and I quickly go to the door, pulling on my silk robe.

  “Girlie, you need to get out of bed quicker!” Brianna jokes as she waltzes into my apartment with Starbuck’s in her hands. “I know it’s early, but I felt we needed a day to prep for tonight. Plus, I want to bitch about those men. I swear to God Clara is just allowing anyone in to her club now!”

  I listen to her ramble on, but I look to the closet door and think about Jace. The mental image of him sitting in there is amusing, but I can’t leave him there indefinitely.

  “Hey, Bree?” I call out to her as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Let’s go to your place to get ready.” I can see the frown increase upon her forehead, she’s confused at my plan. “You’ve got more makeup, remember? And we have to be our best tonight, whether we like it or not.”

  “True!” she agrees excitedly. “Let’s go then, Chica. I fancy a girlie chat before we have to leave.”

  I don’t bother changing I just grab my things I’ll need for tonight and head across the hall to Brianna’s apartment.

  ***

  I’ve been sitting with Clive for an hour while he socializes with other clients. Alex and Cassidy are here, and both look just as bored as I am, which isn’t a surprise when all I’ve heard are battle plans and discussions about mergers and acquisitions. I have no idea what to do with my life outside of the life that Clara has supplied me with, but I will not be going into a job where I have to sit through more of these meetings.

  Clive clears his throat and I feel him look to me. I look up, keeping myself full of adoration and light sensuality. I didn’t want to overdo it, but I wanted to be believable as the perfect accessory on a man’s arm.

  “Shall we go to your room, doll?” he asks me as he pushes his hand up my thigh and squeezes tightly on my knee under the table.

  I wince, but keep my reaction as unnoticeable as possible. “Yes,” I reply and smile before excusing us from the table. I reach into my bra and pull out my key like I have on many occasions and lead the way through the hordes of new clients and Viper Girls to reach the row of doors.

  I allow him first access and he strides in, shaking off his blazer the moment he can. I follow his example of entering and close the door to see him rolling up his sleeves and loosening his tie as he gets comfortable. I don’t know what he wants; I was only briefed on female companionship.

  “Lock it,” he instructs and I look at him for a moment before nodding my head in compliance and turn on my heels to face the door. I lock my door as he commands and I close my eyes tight. I know the rush of adrenaline filtering my system isn’t a good sign and I reluctantly take my hand away from the handle. I inhale a deep breath as I stand with my back to him and I wish I had denied his claim, but my fear of the pit overwhelmed me. Now I fear the pit is nothing in comparison to what is about to happen in here. “Turn around,” he orders me and I hesitate.

  I know my hesitation was undesirable the moment he grabs my wrist to spin me around harshly. He pins me to my door rough and hard by a hand gripping my jaw, squeezing tightly. I let out a yelp of pain as he does so and bring my hands up to claw at him. I need him off me. The longer he has me trapped between his body and the wall, the more terror erupts within me. The unease rushes up from within, and when I dare to look into his eyes, the look I’m given tells me I won’t be getting out of here unscathed. His hand moves, but not to let me go. Instead, his hand wraps around my throat and he begins to compress against it. I’m looking up to him wildly, my eyes trying to find out why he’s doing this, but all I see is a malevolence I’ve never before witnessed. He’s cold and twisted and nothing like the smooth, delightful gentlemen he was outside. His facade has dropped, left well and truly at the door to my room. Now I’m left with a monster that I fear far more than the viper who hired me.

  He chuckles, but doesn’t release me. “I was told you were a defiant one, but my God, I didn’t think you’d be quite as infuriating as you are and I’ve only had you in this room for two minutes. Why are you such a disobedient girl?”

  I don’t speak, I can’t. I’m left gasping for air as his hand squeezes, ever so slowly tighter around my neck, closing my airway off. I bring my hands up to fight him off more, hoping my nails in his skin will be enough of a deterrent to allow me some time to capture some breath back. It’s futile and I can feel my time slipping away. If this is how I was going to end up because of this club, I would have run away a long time ago.

  As I begin to see Jace’s smiling face course across my eyes, Clive lets go and I begin to slip down the door towards the floor. I’m coughing and spluttering, my throat screaming in intolerance to the ability to breathe finally and my mind has a hard time of computing that Clive has actually released me.

  I have no idea who has given him the idea I’m disobedient and defiant. I’m here due to sheer willpower and survival otherwise I would be long gone. I look up to him, ready to question him and his motives, but I’m met with the evilest of grins I have ever seen in my entire time as a Viper Girl.

  I’m ripped away from my curled up perch by the door and flung across the room. As I crash into the dresser and all my trinkets that make this room mine go flying, I know I have one wish – no sound proofing on the rooms! Clara made it a point that we have maximum privacy in our rooms, but I’m damn sure it wasn’t for this. I manage to not fall after the impact, and as I go to straighten up, Clive swings a punch and sends me flying after his fist makes a sickening crunch with my jaw. Now I’m down on the floor, I cry out, begging him to stop, but I know he won’t. He’s a paying customer, but nowhere in my job description does it state I will be a human punching bag. This is abuse and cruel,
but I have no room to make an escape or plead for my release. He has the power and he holds my fate in his hands. He can do what he likes with me; I’m trapped here until he’s done.

  “I like it rough with my women,” he declares and I feel his foot connect with my stomach and the air is forced straight from my body. I want to howl, but there isn’t any oxygen left to carry a voice. The second time his foot slams into my ribcage I’m down for the count. He’s merciless and I’m powerless and defenseless. I’m no longer on my hands and knees, but firmly against the floor. It takes three more blows before I slip into total blackness.

  When I come to my entire body is pulsating with tenderness as it smarts right across my body. I don’t move, scared to provoke Clive, but I see that he is nowhere to be seen in my room. I flick my eyes to the door, but it’s still closed and I assume it’s still locked. I then look over to the panic button and I know it’s my only hope. The door is further away from me and I don’t know how much time I have. I know I’ll be slower than before and I have to make a quick escape. I can’t do that on my own.

  I start to drag myself from the floor, my body a live wire of pain and fear, and I suddenly hear him running the water in the bathroom and I know I don't have long. I can only pray he's done with me, but I can't run that chance. I don't know what damage round one has done to me, but I know it's something bad. My body is a screaming at me with every single movement, regardless of how big or small, and I just want to cave to the darkness surrounding my vision.