ROMEO

by Ruby Rowe

“You can’t fool me, Ava. You’re not ready for me to leave you alone.” I pass by him and grab my glass of seltzer water off the table.

  As I take a drink, I admire Mick and his sexy grin. He’s wearing tailored khakis that are as dark as his espresso-brown hair, and his thin cream button-up is untucked with the sleeves rolled up his arms. His loafers make me smile, and his attire is a far cry from how Griffin dresses on his days off.

  “What do you want, Mickey?” Setting my glass down, I begin to sit, too, but he’s in front of me fast. He wraps an arm around my waist and brings me in close. “You’re going to get wet,” I add.

  “I’m a gambling man, and my gut tells me getting wet will be worth it.” Leaning over to my ear, he whispers, “Especially if it gets you wetter.”

  I sling my head back and laugh. “If I recall correctly, you lose your bets more often than not.”

  Without warning, he smothers my smiling mouth with his. I bring my arms up between us to push him away, but he cradles the back of my head and brings me closer, deepening our kiss.

  He grabs my ass, and this encounter is hot and familiar, and I want to believe it’d be easier to love Mickey and fire Griffin, but my heart tells me it wouldn’t be. My body, however, feels differently.

  Since I first laid eyes on Griffin, my sexual appetite has increased tenfold. If I hadn’t felt his cock pulsing inside me only days ago, I wouldn’t hesitate to take Mick up on his advance, but Griffin’s who I want.

  Pushing my ex away, I take off into the house and head straight for the foyer. He follows right behind me, and once I open the door, he blows out a breath and cocks his head to the side.

  “Seriously? You want me to leave after that kiss?”

  I nod. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”

  He grins. “You can’t deny the heat between us.”

  “You’re right, but heat is all it is. Sure, we could go upstairs right now, and I have no doubt that sex with you would feel fabulous, but soon after, you’d say something to remind me why it was a mistake, and I’d be looking for a lamp to throw at you.”

  “You could love me again.”

  “No, see I made a promise the last time we split that I wasn’t going backward ever again. Move on, Mickey.” I motion toward the door.

  Seeming unscathed by my blunt rejection, he strolls toward me with his hands in his pockets. He smiles before kissing my cheek.

  “I’m not giving up. Let’s move back to New York, away from the limelight and this stalker of yours. We’re running out of time for kids, and I want them with you.”

  “I wanted a family, too, and after wasting years with you, hoping you’d change your philandering ways, I feel I’ve lost the opportunity.”

  “I thought we were over once you got with Oliver, but I have another chance, and I’m not letting it pass me by. We’re older and more mature. We could be better than we’ve ever been before.”

  “You need to let it pass, Mick. Move on.”

  “Not yet.” He walks out the door, and I stride back to the veranda to grab my phone. He’s playing dirty, suggesting we do all the things he knows I’ve wanted from him all along.

  I’m so over the past and the way it tries to hold me back. I want new and exciting, and if Griffin isn’t willing to give it to me, then I’ll find someone else who will.

  I call Kellen, and he answers on the first ring.

  “Ms. Lane, what can I do for you?”

  “I’m going out tonight.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Ava

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” Kellen says as he holds the door open for me in front of Dungeon Six.

  “Why not? You’ve been here with me before, and we had no issues.”

  “True, but that was before the Romeo incident.” I step out and watch another one of my guards scan the area.

  “Like the other times, just stay close to Harold, and I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave.” He scratches the back of his sandy-blond hair.

  “Yes, Ms. Lane, but I’m walking you to the door.”

  We get to the entrance of the club, and before I push the buzzer, I take a calming breath and wonder if I’m making a mistake by showing up on a Wednesday.

  I guess I could’ve worn a mask, regardless of the day, but that would likely draw more attention to me. Brushing back the bangs of my dark wig, I knock.

  “You two can go now,” I say to Kellen as the door opens and a gentleman I haven’t seen before greets me. Once inside, I go to the bar and sit on a stool.

  “May I have a water please?” I ask the woman standing behind the counter. She’s wearing a black push-up bra and a shiny silver skirt that’s short and flares. I’d guess her to be in her early twenties.

  I recall when I was that age. I didn’t appreciate my youthful appearance. I was self-cautious, and critical of my body, and I wonder if when I’m sixty I’ll be thinking about how great I actually looked at forty.

  She sets the glass down and smiles.

  “Are you new here? I don’t recall seeing you before, but you have one of those familiar faces.” Her smile deepens, and her purple lipstick stands out against her pearly whites.

  “This is only my third visit.”

  “Well, you’re in luck tonight. Master Steve is here and a few of our more popular Doms. I think you’ll enjoy the experience.”

  “Experience … yes, I need some of that.”

  “Then watch Mr. Scott do a scene. He’s amazing. Dominating and precise with his skills, he makes his bottoms feel like they’re the only two people in the building. Every member of this club waits for the opportunity to submit to him, but unfortunately, he’s not here often enough.”

  “OK, what does he look like?” Glancing over my shoulder, I see that two of the three scene rooms are empty.

  “Dark buzz cut and the bluest eyes north of the equator.” I look back at her, and she winks. “Seriously, around here, we get all shapes and sizes, so it’s not always a pretty sight, but Mr. Scott … damn, the man’s a Greek god.”

  “Mr. Scott, huh? Blue eyes … dark hair…” Feeling a wave of panic, I step down from the stool and pick up my glass. “I’ll have a look around.” I dig for a fifty in my clutch and slide it across the bar. “Thank you for the helpful information.”

  “Wow, thanks, and anytime.”

  I walk toward the center of the club where people are congregating at the front of the occupied scene room. Certain there has to be another Greek god named Mr. Scott here, besides the one I know, I tiptoe to peek around the members.

  They’re watching a man I don’t recognize flog another male. Relieved, I cover my chest with my hand. Not only is the Dom not my bodyguard, he’s not a Greek god, either.

  This man is short and stout, but his dominance is evident by way of his firm stance and intense gaze on who I suspect may be his submissive.

  Deciding to sit at a small table, I sip my water and peruse the different people here. I blend in more tonight thanks to my gunmetal leather pants and spiked red heels.

  Since members are blocking the current scene, I stroll to the ladies’ room and apply more lipstick. I examine myself in the mirror, wishing I could see my soft blond curls rather than this long, dark wig.

  Each side of my open red blouse barely covers a boob, so I push on the tape that’s holding my top in place to be certain it’s secure. I fiddle a while longer, playing on my phone, and I need to stop it. Get out there, Ava. Be daring.

  After one last glance in the mirror, I walk back to the main area of Dungeon Six and notice that patrons have moved to watch another scene in the center room.

  The music playing in the building has a haunting, gothic sound, and the crowd has grown, making the space harder to maneuver through. I worm my way toward the onlookers, avoiding the entrance to the hallways.

  I think about my time with Matt and wonder if he could be here. Would I be ready to spend time alone with him? Is he the right fit for me?

&nb
sp; Being careful not to scrunch someone’s toes with my spiked heels, I stare at the floor as I squeeze around members to see what’s happening. Once I’m in the second row, I lift my gaze, and my heart skips a beat. My mouth dries, and I can’t breathe.

  Griffin…

  My Greek god.

  He’s wielding a rattan cane as he stalks around a woman who’s positioned on her hands and knees. Her eyes are blindfolded, head lowered, and her long chestnut hair is draped over one shoulder.

  From the look of her flawless naked body, I imagine she’s only in her twenties, and the thought stings me in a way a cane never could.

  Jealousy coils deep in my belly, and as it builds and builds, I imagine it spinning, picking up momentum and energy like a cyclone. God, please make it stop.

  The girl’s body trembles as he walks slow circles around her, his bare feet not making a sound. He’s only wearing light blue jeans, and his firm pectoral muscles and rippled abs are on display for all to see.

  Each time he turns away, the overhead spotlight, amidst the dim room, makes his tan sculpted back look like a statue of art.

  As the humiliation sinks in, I cover my churning stomach. He knew exactly where I was the times he brought me here. This is what he craves. This is the reason he pinned my wrists in the shower and groaned the times I enjoyed feeling pain.

  Coming to a stop behind her, it’s obvious Griffin sees only the young woman and her pink bare ass. Jealousy mounts, and the intimate moment between them brings me close to vomiting.

  His defined arm pulls back, and he hits her directly across the ass with the cane. I come out of my skin from the sound and the shattering realization of what’s happening.

  The swooshing noise was a millisecond prelude to the crack of thunder that echoed in the vast space of the club, but I was the only one who felt it sever my heart in two.

  As he inhales deeply, his mouth parts, and the euphoric look in his eyes from what he’s done is all I can take. Rudely, I shove through the crowd, ignoring the grumbles and complaints.

  I run out the door of the club, and leaning over, I hurl … and hurl again. If only I could expel what I saw. Then, I wouldn’t have to face the truth; I’m not what Griffin wants.

  In less than a minute, Kellen is at my side.

  “Ava–Ms. Lane, what happened?”

  “I’m OK, but I want to go home.” The other guard appears, and finding a tissue in my clutch, I wipe my mouth. They lead me to the car, and once I’m seated, Kellen gets in on the other side next to me.

  “You didn’t accept a drink from anyone, did you?” he asks anxiously.

  I shake my head. “I only had water.”

  “What if someone put something in it?”

  “They didn’t, and I’ll be fine.”

  “I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

  Wiping my mouth again, I shoot him a look.

  “Agreed? Last I recall, you work for me. It sounds like you’ve been spending too much time with Mr. Scott.”

  “He’s going to be furious that we came here tonight.”

  “I don’t give a damn what he thinks, and if he gives you shit about it, you let me know. Now, please stop talking.”

  Griffin

  I pull a t-shirt over my head in the bathroom at the club. My riding boots are laced up next, and when I pull my cell phone from my duffel bag, I see a string of texts and three missed calls.

  Unlocking my phone, I read each message, growing sicker by the second. “No,” I mumble. “Fucking no.” I push call on my phone for Kellen. “What happened tonight?”

  “Ms. Lane insisted on going to that place in West Hollywood again; it’s that dingy-looking warehouse with the bars on the windows.”

  “Yeah, I read that text, but tell me you talked her out of it.”

  “I couldn’t. You know I have to do what she says. I called you a few times once she went inside, but you didn’t answer, so I just waited until she was ready to leave.”

  “What did Ava say when she came out? How did she act?”

  “She seemed stressed and even threw up right outside the door, but by the time we were home, she was better.”

  “She told me she wasn’t leaving the house today. Did something happen?”

  “Uh, that movie star Drake was over, and then her ex Mickey showed up.”

  “I gotta go.” I jerk on my leather jacket, grab my helmet from my bag and hurry out of the club. How the fuck am I going to explain this in a way she’ll understand?

  Revving my engine, I take off down Sunset Blvd. I hit every fucking red light, making it the longest ride of my life back to Beverly Hills. She’ll get it, right? Surely, she’ll get why I couldn’t tell her.

  Parking my bike, I shoot Ava a text.

  Me: I’m coming over. We need to talk.

  Ava: Go to hell.

  Me: Kellen told me you were at the club, and we’re going to discuss it like adults.

  Ava: Oh, so now you want to tell me how ALL ALONG you knew where I was going?

  I’m not doing this over the phone, so I stomp over to her front door and pound on it. My phone buzzes again.

  Ava: Don’t waste your time. I’m not talking to you tonight.

  Growling, I head back to my apartment. Maybe I should let her calm down, but during that time, she’ll get all these wrong ideas in her head and make tonight out to be something it wasn’t.

  I take a shower, and once I put on a pair of grey sweats and a t-shirt, I go to my desk and pull up the latest video footage. Something happened to drive her to Dungeon Six today.

  I can see all the grounds, including the backyard and pool area. I fast forward the tape until I spot Drake pulling up. I never see him and Ava outside, and once he leaves, the footage shows her swimming in her pool.

  Next, there’s Mickey. I see the asshole talking to her on the veranda. He pulls her into his arms, and in seconds, he’s kissing her. Fuck.

  The kiss is passionate, but it’s cut short when Ava pushes him off her. Staring at the screen, I crack my knuckles. I’d like to beat that fucker with my cane.

  She’s talking to me tonight, and today’s going to be the last time I let that dick touch her. I should leave her the hell alone. I should quit this job and tell my uncle and Mr. Leoni to fuck off, but I can’t walk away from Ava.

  I tried to get her out of my head tonight, but I couldn’t, and after seeing another man’s lips on hers, I’m done trying.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Ava

  After I change into my silky white robe and fuzzy slippers, I pad to the kitchen and open a bottle of wine. I carry it, along with an empty glass, to my favorite place on the property: my private home theater. It’s where I go when I’m upset or stressed out and need to unwind.

  There are four rows of six seats, but the extra seating isn’t necessary. The theater is my sacred place, only for me. When I’m not in this room, I usually have a person in my company, whether it be Janelle, Holly or my bodyguards, so I love that besides my bathroom, this is somewhere I can be alone. Where I can feel alone.

  I put on the movie An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and sit in the front row. Once I’ve poured myself a glass of wine, I take a sip and recline the chair as the old flick begins to play.

  So many people with dreams of fame and money intrude on this city. I wonder if Hollywood was more forgiving decades ago. From what I’ve heard, actors paid a price back then, too. Stars like Marilyn Monroe and Ingrid Bergman come to mind.

  All we want when we come here is to show the world our creative selves, but we end up losing our identity, feeling like a prisoner of this city.

  The images of Griffin at the dungeon resurface. I guess a part of me was jealous of not only the woman he was with but of his ability to show a taboo side of himself with such confidence.

  The door to the dark theater opens, so I twist around to see who it is.

  “How did you find me?” I ask Griffin angrily.


  “One day you told me you come here when you’re upset. From your messages, I gathered that’s the case.”

  “No, I’m angry. There’s a difference.”

  “Cut the shit. We’re going to talk about what happened tonight.”

  “No, because you’re not ruining my favorite place.”

  “Seeing how we’re going to work this out before we leave your favorite place, you don’t need to worry about that.”

  He reaches the front row of seats and stalks over until he’s standing before me with the bulge of his cock directly in my face. He’s doing this shit on purpose.

  “If you want to talk, then you’re going to get your dick out of my face and sit down.”

  “Fair enough … for now.” He sits next to me, so I pause the movie and take another drink of my wine. “Why are you angry with me?”

  “Don’t pretend like you’re clueless.” Shooting him a dirty look, I set my glass down.

  “I know what you’re angry about, but I don’t know the reason why.”

  “You should’ve told me.”

  He sighs. “Come on, Ava. I had just started working for you. It still hasn’t been that long. You should get why I didn’t say I was a member there.”

  “You felt you knew me long enough to fuck me. Why didn’t you tell me after that? It’s humiliating that you knew all along.”

  “It shouldn’t be. There’s no shame in going there.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell me you went there?”

  “As a bodyguard, I have little privacy or private time. Maybe I wanted to have my own favorite place.”

  “I felt foolish after seeing what you really want. Who you really want.”

  “It’s not what you think, and I didn’t have sex with her. I respect those who scene with me. Essentially, we’re both satisfying another person’s needs, but there are no feelings of affection there. Only admiration.”

  He turns his head forward, seeming uncomfortable for the first time tonight. “Not for me, anyway.”

  “Women fall for you often, don’t they?”

  “That’s not relevant to us resolving this issue.”