“Get her a drink, Tobias. She seems a little upset.”
Oh, that bastard knew where the liquor was, alright. He smartly walked to the liquor cabinet, which was a retro-vintage fifties style cabinet that sported a bowl of fake fruit on its top. He poured me a shot of whiskey and handed it to me.
“Here. This is good stuff, not like that rotgut sour mash Dys likes to drink.”
“Wait. You’ve been hanging out with Jersey?”
“I’ve spent a little time with all the boys. Just to check up on them.”
“I asked him to, Jacy,” said my father.
“You,” I said flailing my finger at my father indignant at his interference. I couldn’t get words out. What do you say to a man who is a master string-puller who manipulated my life? And then I whirled at Tobias, who was even worse, using the situation to leverage his position.
“You!” I snapped.
He smiled and leaned toward me and whispered.
“You are beautiful when you are angry.”
What got into me? I don’t know. Maybe it was too many nights of sexual frustration or the fact that I was attracted to four men, Tobias being one, and couldn’t pick among them, or the ridiculous competition they had going, or the fact that I, Ms. Take-Charge-And-In-Control didn’t command a single aspect of my life. But I slapped Tobias Marshall across the face with such force my hand stung.
Marshall stepped back as the amusement died from his eyes.
“Daughter,” my father said with maddening calm. “You should get going. I’m counting on you to seeing this through to the end.”
I keened again and stalked toward the front door.
“You deserved that, Tobias,” I heard my father say. “You aren’t as arcane as you think you are.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Rory
The show was a huge hit. The planning, the promotions, the absolute care that went into the entire production had Jacine’s hand all over it. Of course, we had to add our spin to it and showed up in LA County orange jumpsuits. The crowd went wild, especially since we kicked off the show playing together our second biggest hit as Banshee, Running Wild in LA.
Then we split up into our bands and rocked the Hollywood Bowl. The energy was thick enough to get me higher than a kite. Cole ran out on stage and mimicked Jersey on the guitar, and Jersey got him back by handing him a guitar and challenged him to a guitar riff. No one, but no one, can stand up to Jersey on the guitar, and Cole is a bassist anyway, so Cole got his head handed to him. But in the end, the crowd enjoyed it. Kane shook Jersey’s hand, and Jersey gave him a brotherly hug making a lie of the truth that they hated each other.
It was a beautiful thing.
My group went on first, then Cole’s, then Jersey’s. The concertgoers were encouraged to place their vote for the best band through their phones with the idea that the winner would play the last set. On either side of the stage, display’s flashed the tallies as they came in. So Cole, Jersey, and I stood backstage toweling our sweat waiting for the results. Jacine stood near us, and I swear I felt her eyes at the back of my head. I was about to turn my head when Jersey did first.
“Come on, girl. Time to take your bows.”
“What?”
Jersey pulled her hand and Cole and I exchanged glances. Not about to get left out we went onstage too. Jersey took the mike in his hand.
“Turn off the tally boards,” he yelled on the darkened stage. A spotlight turned on him, and everyone stared at him.
“Bring up the lights on my friends,” he said, and as some poor light engineer fumbled with the computer settings, spots hit Cole and me, too.
“Do we need anyone to tell you who the best band is? No! You know which ones grab your heart. There is no best band. But there are such things as the best people. And they are on the stage right now.
“Wise words, my friend,” I said into a mike, and my voice boomed over the loudspeakers.
“Dys, you dog,” said Cole. I swear he was about to cry.
“And then there are the people that support us. For one, we’d like to thank Tobias Marshall, the man that kept our asses out of jail for our stupidity. Tobias, come out on stage and take a bow.”
Shell-shocked Marshall walked out on the stage and Jersey, and Cole raised his hands and then pulled him into a theatric bow.
When the crowd died down, Jersey turned to Jacine.
“And let’s give a hand to the best-damned PR person in the world, the person responsible for us being here tonight, Jacine Alexander of Alexander and Wells. Give it up to Jacine!”
Jacine blushed as the crowd applauded, whistled and stamped their feet. It took a while for them to settle.
“And to show you who the best band is, Cole, Rory and I will play this last song, together as we used to in Banshee.”
Jacine tried to leave the stage, but Jersey grabbed her arm.
“Oh no, you are the one we are dedicating this song to. Tobias, make sure she doesn’t leave.”
Curiously, she shot Marshall a cold look, as he wrapped his arm around her waist, but there was no time to suss that out. We needed to end this show because we had three road crews waiting to load up our shows and no time to screw around without incurring extra expenses.
Shoot me. I keep track of that shit.
I climbed the pedestal to my drum kit and pounded out the initial beats of Ever. Jersey took up the soulful opening rift, and Cole began to sing staring right at Jacine.
If you ever need a friend,
Someone to help you tie loose ends,
The one who’ll send you roses,
And watch the stars with you,
Call me.
I’ll be there always and ever.
I couldn’t see exactly what was happening or hear over the roar of the audience, so I kept pounding out the beats, though, at the last chorus, Jersey signaled through his guitar, like he used to, to keep repeating the rhythm.
“That’s our show for tonight!” said Cole. “From Jersey Dys, Rory Holmes and myself, and our bands, Arcane, Clash, and Obsidian, thank you all for coming!”
We finished the song with a flourish, just like we used to as Banshee, and the spots went dark leaving us semi-lighted.
“Let go!” she said squirming in Tobias’s arms. She broke free and flew off the stage at the side exit.
“What the hell!” said Cole.
“What was that about, Marshall?”
“I may have upset her.”
“Is that her handprint on your face?” said Cole with glee.
“You are a dick,” said Jersey.
“Who?” said Tobias.
“Both of you,” said Jersey.
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” I said and dashed after Jacine. Whatever troubled her, I wouldn’t let her deal with it alone.
But I found they followed me, and we ran down the hall bumping into road crew as we plowed the crowded passage.
We found her at the back door frantically punching in numbers in her phone.
“Hey,” I said.
“Go away. All of you go away,” she said. Jacine tore through the doorway to the back lot, running left to valet parking.
“Where the hell is she going?” said Jersey pacing beside me.
“I didn’t think a woman could run that fast in high-heeled boots,” huffed Cole who pulled up on my other side.
“Jacine,” I called.
She stopped at the edge of the valet parking lot. Jacine stared at us like a frightened deer, and maybe if I had three, no four guys chasing me wanting to catch me, I'd have the same expression. I held out my arms and stopped running.
There were twenty feet between her and us, but by the expression on her face, it might have been a million.
“Jacine,” I said holding out my hands. “What’s wrong?”
“You! All of you! It’s enough I tell, enough. Just go away.”
“I’m afraid that’s a no-go, baby,” said Cole. “You can’t run away from us. We’re s
tuck on you.”
“Well, that’s just the problem, isn’t it? How can I pick one of you?”
A light breeze whipped up and stirred her blonde hair, and I don’t think I could have been more in love with her in those hot thigh high black boots and that tight jacket.
“We’ve been talking about that,” said Jersey.
“You have?”
“Yes,” said Cole with a nod of his head.
“I think we have a solution.” I said at last.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jacine
They took me to Rory’s house, which was the closest one to the Hollywood Bowl. It was a boxy mid-century modern, heavy on landscaping, glass and vaulted ceilings. It was laid back, just like him, and the furniture looked like it was thrown together rather than decorated.
We walked through the darkened house and he flipped the switch to a more modern area outside. This part of the house was more sculpted, with bluestone pavers extending to the edge of the backyard, and a sunken wood deck hanging off the end of the incline. I held onto the wall at the top of the stairs that held a mini waterfall and a statue of Buddha and looked down. The whole effect was one of being suspended in mid-air and it made me feel dizzy.
“You sure this thing is safe?” said Cole with a grin.
“You’ve sat here enough,” said Rory.
“It’s safe,” said Tobias who led the way down the short flight of steps. “Until the rains come.” He flashed a teasing smile at Rory. He must have had this conversation before. But then he did say he’d been “visiting” the guys on a regular basis.
Rory held out his hand as if checking for rain.
“I think it’s safe enough,” he said sagely. “The pylons under and the steel pounded into the rock hold it in place.” He glanced at me letting me know this information was for my digestion. “The whole hill would have to break apart for this thing to tumble.”
“You aren’t a big believer in the power of earthquakes, are you?” I said.
He leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“Baby, I have other ways to make the earth move.”
I rolled my eyes.
He moved to the center of the deck and pulled up a wood section to reveal a hot tub underneath. The water bubbled and the scent of lavender filled the space.
“Wow,” I said.
“You know what would be relaxing,” said Cole. “Some liquor.”
“Got that covered,” he said. Under the seats that lined the wall against the rock wall, he pulled out a bucket of ice and champagne.
“To celebrate our successful concert.”
“That’s a lot classier than Dys’ usual drink,” said Tobias.
“Don’t diss my fire water, Mr. Attorney.”
“This is for celebrating,” Rory said as he pulled out a batch of plastic champagne flutes and handed them to me. I pulled them apart and handed one to each.
“Yeah, that’s classy,” snorted Cole as he took his.
“Classier than pulling glass out of your ass when a flute breaks,” said Rory.
He popped the cork with his massive hands and poured the bubbly into our plastic glasses.
“To friends,” he said solemnly.
We clinked the plastic together and drank. It had been a long time since I had champagne, and the bubbles tickled the back of my throat and my nose.
“And,” said Cole, “to the most beautiful and smartest woman on either coast.”
“To Jacine,” said Jersey.
“Okay, this is all great,” I said. “But you said you had a solution. So what is it? Do I spin the champagne bottle when it’s empty to see where it lands.”
Rory’s face scrunched in confusion. “No. That wasn’t the idea. But let’s get comfortable.”
Before I could say anything he stripped naked in front of us and eased into the pool. But before he did I caught sight of his long and thick member. Who could take that?
“Modest, isn’t he?” said Tobias watching in morbid interest.
“Get with the program, Mr. Lawyer man,” said Cole as he stripped his jeans and t-shirt. I was surprised to see he went commando and he had nothing to be ashamed of. His cock had an intriguingly fat head. “Living on the road we’ve all seen each other’s asses more than we care to admit.” He slipped into the water with a sigh.
Jersey huffed and took off his clothes and entered the water too.
“Are you getting in, Jacine?” he said.
I couldn’t help but look at what Jersey had hanging before he sunk into the bubbling water, which was not as thick as Rory, but longer.
“Are you sure it’s safe in there. It’s looks like a lot of dangerous weapons in there.”
“Baby, no one is going to do anything to you that you don’t want to.”
“Famous last words.”
“Really, what do you expect me to do, play Marco Polo and whoever I catch is mine.”
“Tobias,” said Rory. “This is your chance. Yes, Or no. In or out.”
“She’s not going to go for it, Holmes.”
“You don’t know,” said Jersey. “But we’re asking her. Your choice if you want in.”
“In on what?” I said with annoyance. But I unzipped my boots and pulled them off my feet.
“Come in, baby and find out,” said Cole.
“Working on it,” I said as I tugged down the satin skinny jeans. They were tight clung to my thighs, so it was bit of work to get them off. When I was done, I twirled them around my index finger and then let them fly into the night.
“If this is how it’s going to go,” huffed Tobias. He stripped the tux, laying each piece carefully on the benches, though he left on his silk underwear.
“Look at that six-pack,” said Cole with a grin. “Lawyer man works out.”
Cole was right. Under those suits was a body any woman would drool over.
“Take off those boxers, old man,” said Cole. “You ruin the silk in this water.”
Tobias scoffed, but I wanted an eyeful before he went under the water. So I threw my arms around him and kissed him hard. This swiftness of my attack stunned him, and as I pulled back, I pulled down his boxers.
I liked what I saw. My kiss must have roused him because he was half-hard. It was cut, a classic length, not too long or too skinny. A real lady pleaser. With a wicked grin I leaned forward and gave it a peck on the tip.
“Is that how’s it gonna be?” he said in mock outrage. Tobias yanked my tee shirt over my head and as I ran screeching from him, he slapped me in the ass with it.
I fell into the hot tub with a splash, and luckily Rory caught me before I hit my head on the edge.
“Come here, sweetheart,” he said as he threw his arm around me.
“Oh, no you don’t, Holmes,” said Jersey moving closer.
“Finders keepers,” said Rory with a chuckle.
Tobias swung his legs over the edge of the tub and sank inside.
“You guys really need to give her time to relax. She may have been raised in Hollywood, but she was no wild child.”
“That’s what I like about you, Marshall,” said Cole. “You bring a sense of history to this operation.”
“What operation?” I asked. Why were they being so uncommunicative?
“Ssh,” said Rory, He flicked his hand over the side of the tub, and the overhead lights dimmed. Despite the smog, stars twinkled in the night sky and we all stared up at them.
“That’s truly the vault of heaven,” said Rory.
“This is the perfect place,” said Cole. “Good suggestion.”
“Are you guys going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Well, you see, sweetheart, we all know what we like,” said Jersey moving closer. Rory, lifted me onto his lap and kissed me behind the ear. Jersey reached out and cupped my breast with his hands. Sliding closer he sucked in one nipple into his mouth and fingered the other. Under me, Rory’s cock ground in between my butt cheeks.
“And,” said Rory
, “we like you.”
“I know that,” I said
“And,” said Jersey pulling my weightless legs over his shoulders causing me to slip forward, “we want to show you what it can be like.”
“What?”
“Ssh,” said Rory as he nibbled my ear. I grabbed at him trying to find something to steady me and grabbed his cock in my hand.
“That’s right, sweetheart,” Rory murmured. “So good.”
Jersey put his head between my legs and lapped my bud with his tongue. Wet from the water, his tongue slid over it in the most delightful ways and I shivered.
The warmth of the water spread through me, and Rory nibbled my neck as I palmed his cock under the water. He murmured endearments in my ear and Jersey lapped and nuzzled me.
And then a mouth latched onto my nipple and sucked hard. My eyes fluttered open, and I looked into Cole’s bright blue eyes.
“Hi, baby,” he said with a large smile. He crushed his lips to mine in a kiss so passionate fire lanced through me like a California wildfire.
And then, sweet Lord, another mouth nibbled on my left nipple and it could only be Tobias. His fingers found my mound and he swirled his fingers into the tender flesh. Hands and mouths, kiss and caress me and this is nothing like I ever felt before. My back arches as Jersey spears my entrance with his tongue and I thrash in the water as electricity shoots through me and my vision turns white. I don’t know whose name to call, so I only scream one thing.
“Oh, God!”
A thunderbolt raced through me making my heart race so fast I thought I’d faint. When my vision cleared, I was sitting on Rory’s lap again on his very thick cock.
“You like that, baby,” said Jersey.
“Yeah.”
“Good,” grinned Cole. “Because there is more of that to come, so to speak.”
“Wait, is this some sort of contest? Am I supposed to pick which one impresses me the most? Because, dammit, I can’t do that.”
“We know, Princess,” said Tobias.
“The beauty of it,” said Cole, “is that you don’t have to.”
“Yes,” said Jersey. “We’re a package deal, even the old man here.”
“Hey,” said Tobias.
The Penthouse Secrets: A NYC Billionaire Romance Trilogy Boxed Set Page 43
