“Of being like this. There’s no fun in it anymore, Leo.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“I’m bored to death with seducing the guests.”
“So you’ve moved onto the staff, is that is?” He whirled around, sloshing wine on the floor as he did so. “Maybe we should gather them all in one of the ballrooms and put on a show? You can unfurl your wings, Emmett can do that thing with his hair standing on end, and let’s see…oh, I know. Sterling can fly.”
“Blair was right. Sooner or later the staff will begin asking questions we can’t answer.”
“Oh, I see. Now all the owners have decided it’s time to tell the staff what we really are.”
“Would that be such a terrible thing?”
“Yes, Andras, it would be. We’d lose half of them, for one thing. Word would spread, and before long this place would be shut down.”
Andras rose and walked toward him. “Word would spread? Are you serious? You think our staff would flee to Chicago and start preaching in the streets that a bunch of fallen angels are running Lilith’s Playground?”
Leo hated Andras when he put on that know-it-all smirk. “You know what I mean. People gossip. It would get around.”
“You underestimate the people who work for us. They’re loyal. And they’ve already noticed things are different here, but not once has anyone said something to an outsider.”
“How do you know that? Because Blair said so?” Leo hated the tone his voice had taken on, and the moment the words were out of his mouth he knew he was being petty.
“No, because if anyone had said anything, we’d have heard about it.”
“You can’t be sure of that.” But Leo knew Andras was right.
Andras reached for the wine bottle and stuffed the cork back in. “You’re done for now. I don’t want her to hear you talking about her this way. She doesn’t know how you get when you’re drunk. I think we’ve put her through enough for today, don’t you?”
“Always her protector, aren’t you?”
Andras glared at him. “Why can’t you admit you have feelings for her? What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid.” Leo slammed his wine glass on the counter and stomped back into the sitting room.
Andras took his seat again. “Then what’s bothering you?”
“I’m not ready for this.”
“Well, I am. But it won’t work unless there are two of us. So I guess I’ll have to ask someone else to take your place.”
Rage bubbled up inside Leo like hot lava. How dare he suggest such a thing? Blair was in this very suite, sound asleep, due to his stupid stunt! “You’ll do no such thing.” The idea of Gregory or Emmett touching Blair sent a of wave disgust through Leo. She was his. If he had to share her with Andras then so be it, but he wouldn’t pass her among the owners like she was a prostitute.
“Then what should we do, Leo?”
“We don’t have to do anything.”
“Yes, we do. Things can’t carry on like this anymore.”
“Thanks to you.” Leo rose and headed for the kitchen again.
“We both seduced her.” Andras’s voice was soft, but the words hit home. “In your office, just days ago. We both started this, Leo.”
Leo leaned against the counter and sighed, remembering the first time he saw Blair, her hair disheveled and her eyes large and frightened. She looked like a wild animal being chased by a predator. That image had turned out to be as close to the truth as possible. His attraction to her had been instant, and it hadn’t only been lust. He’d felt a need to protect her that he hadn’t understood at the time.
The mortals talked of soul mates. Was it possible to have a soul mate when you didn’t have a soul? And if they chose her, would they have souls again? Would they really become mortal? And how would they know it had happened?
“Leo, what are you thinking?”
“That you’re a pain in the ass.”
Andras chuckled, but at least he stayed in his seat this time.
“You really want to know what I’m thinking?” asked Leo. “I’m wondering if you think we’ll be judged as mortals one day? I mean, when we die?” He walked to the doorway and watched Andras’s face. “And if we are, how do we get around the whole issue of two men sleeping with one woman? I mean, this was forced on us, but it’s not exactly considered virtuous behavior, if you know what I mean.”
Andras shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“What if Blair asks? What do we tell her? It’s her immortal soul at stake here, too.”
“Leo, I don’t have any answers, and I don’t even know if we can find them. All I do know is that I’ve been crazy about her since the moment I clamped eyes on her. And now that I’ve made love to her, there’s no turning back. I don’t want any other woman. I want Blair.”
* * * *
Blair’s mother had once told her that eavesdropping was like walking in on someone sitting on the toilet. There was no way to erase it, and nothing would ever be the same again once the image of someone with their pants around their ankles was burned into your brain. Her mother, as usual, had been right.
She’d been listening to Leo and Andras argue since Andras returned to the suite. Before that, she’d listened to Leo muttering to himself while the sound of wine bottles being opened and a glass clinking reached her ears.
She’d been afraid to go out and talk to him, assuming he was angry with her for fainting. She’d never fainted before. It was like waking up but not remembering you’d gone to sleep. How could he blame her? Those wings…she shuddered as she remembered the sight of them, wafting in a breeze that wasn’t there. They’d been fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Someone must have carried her into her room, but when she awoke, she was alone. And now it sounded as though Leo wanted no part of her, or at least, no part of a bizarre happily-ever-after with her and Andras. The entire thing was insane, and Leo might be surprised to learn he had voiced her very concerns.
How do you reconcile a life with two men? It was the height of immorality. She couldn’t marry both of them. There were laws against such acts. And if she were to marry one of them, the other would always feel like an outsider. But they’d made it sound as though being with both of them sans wedding bliss was part of the punishment—no marriage, and no children.
No children…the words echoed in her brain like a death knell. Didn’t all women want marriage and babies? Her friends certainly did. Her mother had talked about marriage and motherhood as if each was one step shy of sainthood. Her father had been so desperate to see her married he’d tried to force it on her. But if Blair was being honest, her own fantasies had never featured a husband at her side and toddlers at her feet.
Of course she’d never told that to anyone. She’d pretended to fantasize about the same things her friends did, so as not to appear odd. But she’d always known she felt differently than most girls her age. She just never knew why.
Blair rose and glanced around the room. Her clothes and books had been brought over from her room in the staff wing, as well as her radio. She turned it on and tried to find something to listen to, but everything sounded flat and hollow. What was she supposed to do with her time now? Maybe they’d let her return to work? At least it would give her something to do.
The conversation had stopped, or else they were speaking so softly she couldn’t hear them. She tiptoed to the door but couldn’t detect any voices. Should she go out there? What else was there to say? She still needed time to sort this out.
She crossed to the window and opened it, breathing in the fresh scent of rain-washed earth. The day was warm, but the fresh air soothed her nerves and cleared her head. After fiddling with the radio some more, she finally decided on a station broadcasting classical music. She curled up on her side, with the intention of only taking a nap.
* * * *
Three days passed where Blair did little else but sleep. She ate only enough to ease the hu
nger pains. Leo and Andras were always there, but whenever they tried to engage her in conversation, she told them she wasn’t ready to talk yet. They didn’t push, but the sadness in their eyes nearly killed her.
The last thing she wanted to do was hurt them, but she needed time. Each day when she sat in her room alone, she went over everything they’d told her, and everything she’d overheard. There were so many questions she wanted to ask them, but she wasn’t sure she could handle the answers.
There was only one logical conclusion, especially when the image of Andras’s wings rose in her mind. They’d been telling her the truth. But what a mixed-up, insane truth it was. How was she supposed to deal with it?
On the third day she began to contemplate leaving. She’d ask them where the jewelry was, take it, and just leave. She could go north to Wisconsin, where no one in a pawnshop would know Frankie Fillipone. Surely he didn’t have that kind of power outside of Chicago?
But Blair knew she wouldn’t leave. She knew she’d stay right here, where Leo and Andras had promised they’d keep her safe. When she awoke on the third afternoon, soft light bathed the room. Someone had lit a lamp. She heard whistling and went to investigate.
“Well, look who’s finally awake.” Leo was in the hallway, dressed in a tux and tails. Blair stared at him with her mouth open. She’d never seen a man look so dashing and handsome. “Blair’s awake,” he called.
Andras came into the hallway, a huge smile on his face as if the events of the past few days had never happened. He was also dressed in evening clothes and held a bundle of shimmering fabric in his arms. “Hello, beautiful. We guessed your size. If you’d like, I can ask one of the other chambermaids to come and help you dress. I hope you like one of these.”
He held out his arms. Blair stared at the dresses then lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“We’re talking you out.”
“Out?”
“Well, okay, downstairs to the nightclub. They start serving dinner in one hour. Is that enough time to get ready? I told Leo we should have woken you earlier…”
“It’s plenty of time. But why?”
“Why what?” He looked genuinely confused, and Blair began to wonder if she’d dreamed the entire thing, from meeting the other owners to Andras revealing his wings.
“Why all this, Andras? After what happened…and when I heard you—”
He and Leo exchanged a troubled glance, and Blair wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She had never meant to tell them she’d overheard their conversation the day all the owners were here.
Andras deposited the dresses carefully on her bed. “You don’t want to miss dinner, Blair. It’s even better than the meals we serve the guests every day.” He touched her cheek so gently his finger barely grazed the skin. “Come downstairs with us. We’ll talk later—I promise. But for now, we want to take you to dinner and dance with you. We want to show you this resort properly, not as staff, but as a beautiful woman should be escorted.”
How could she say no to that?
Chapter Fifteen
Blair had a difficult time choosing a dress. They all fit, and she thought each one was the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen. She finally chose a deep-blue silk with a full skirt and a deep-cut back. Her mother had always told her how pretty she looked in blue. “It brings out your eyes.”
When she emerged from the room and walked into the sitting room, both men stared at her as if they’d never seen her before. She smiled and twirled. “Do I look all right?”
“Ah…” said Leo, “yeah…you look fabulous. But we’d better go before I take that thing right back off you.”
Blair wasn’t sure how to react. His earlier words still stung.
“Leo, show some tact.” Andras offered Blair his arm, and she took it.
The nightclub was in the basement, and Blair could feel the energy of the room before they finished descending the staircase. The music reverberated through the hallway as Leo and Andras led her toward the end. Blair smiled for the first time since learning about the latest article in the paper days ago.
Tonight she’d forget all about Frankie, her father, and Lenny. She was here with two handsome men who made her feel like the sexiest woman alive. Later they’d talk, but for now she’d enjoy dinner and dancing with them. She’d pretend she was in a movie, and Leo and Andras were her leading men, both vying for her affections. It wasn’t too far from reality, after all.
As they entered, the band was playing “The Way You Look Tonight,” one of Blair’s favorite songs. She recognized Zach bowing the cello, Reeve on bass, and Niko on the drums. The maître d’ wasn’t anyone Blair knew, but he certainly knew Leo and Andras.
“We have a special guest tonight, Timothy,” said Leo, smiling down at Blair with admiration in his eyes, “so we’ll need a table for three, near the band.”
“Of course, Mr. Fallon. Right this way.”
Heads turned to watch them, and Blair drew back her shoulders and took Leo’s arm as well. She was proud to be seen with them, especially when nearly every female in the club stared at them with lust in her eyes. Andras and Leo did look quite dapper in their tuxes. Most of the men wore them as well, but the men on her arms rose above all of them.
They were led to a table in front of the stage, next to where several owners sat with women Blair didn’t recognize. They must be guests. As she scanned the room, she didn’t see one other staff member she knew. Was she the only one here?
Leo leaned close. “Would you like champagne?”
“Yes, please.” Blair hadn’t tasted champagne since her cousin Rosa’s wedding six years ago. The bubbles had made her sneeze.
Their waiter came over and raised his eyebrows when he saw Blair. She nodded, struggling to remember his name, but didn’t say anything. Tonight she wasn’t a chambermaid. Tonight she was the woman two of the owners had chosen to escort to their nightclub.
Andras asked if he could order dinner for her, and she let him. Blair was too busy taking in the tiny lamps with shades on each table, the white tuxes the band wore, and the parquet dance floor she hoped to be on later.
Leo asked for a specific bottle of champagne, and from the surprised look on the waiter’s face, Blair guessed it must be expensive.
“Nothing but the best tonight,” he said, grinning. Blair’s pussy grew wet. Trying to avoid becoming aroused in his presence was like trying not to breathe.
“They play soft music through dinner, but then the swing music will start,” explained Andras.
“Do you dance?” she asked.
“Not without you.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. A jolt of electricity shot straight to Blair’s nipples. His eyes held her spellbound, and she wondered how she’d make it through dinner, let alone dancing, without devouring his mouth.
“In this gown?” she asked. It had a full skirt, but she doubted she’d be able to kick up her legs or be swung over anyone’s head.
“We’ll improvise,” said Andras. He leaned to the side and made a show out of looking up and down her dress. “I didn’t tell you how fetching you look in that, did I? It’s exquisite.”
“Thank you, Andras. You look amazing in that tux.” She turned toward Leo. “As do you.”
He grinned and started to say something, but his attention was caught by loud laughter from the table next to them. Gregory had a woman in his lap and was tickling her.
“He is such an ass.” Leo didn’t try to lower his voice, and his gaze was trained directly on Gregory.
“Ignore him,” said Blair. “Thank you for this, both of you. I’ve never been any place like this.”
“Well, it’s about time someone took you out properly,” said Leo.
Andras narrowed his eyes. A look passed between them that Blair couldn’t interpret.
“You’ve both taken me out before this. I had dinner outdoors with Andras, and you took me out on the lake.”
What she said seemed to molli
fy them, as they broke eye contact and turned to watch the band play “Stardust.”
“I love this song,” said Blair, swaying gently in her seat. “They play very well. Do they come here every night?”
“Except for the owners, they’re staff,” explained Leo.
“You do like to keep things exclusive here.”
“Yes, we do.”
Blair sneezed three times in a row as soon as she took a sip of champagne and promptly pushed the glass away. Andras signaled for their waiter and ordered her a vodka tonic with lime. “You’ll love it. It almost tastes like champagne, and it’s guaranteed not to make you sneeze.”
Andras smiled indulgently, and Blair tried to forget the way his skin had glowed when his wings materialized. She wanted to ask more about them but wasn’t sure where to start.
“He’s lying. It tastes nothing like champagne,” said Leo, draining his glass. “It tastes like piss water.”
Blair couldn’t help but laugh. “Leo, how would you know what piss water tastes like?”
His eyes widened, and he almost laughed himself. “I like this new Blair. She’s bold, she’s direct, and she’s not afraid to give it right back.”
His golden eyes were full of lust and admiration, and Blair began to wonder if she’d misinterpreted what she heard earlier. She was very confused by her feelings. How could her body respond as if nothing had happened?
Andras had said he wanted her. But what about Leo? How did he really feel? And did either of them feel remorse for what they’d done to earn this harsh punishment, or were they now only interested in seeing if they could lift the curse? If that was all they cared about, she was still just a pawn.
Dinner was better than any food she’d had at the resort, which was saying a lot. Even the food the staff ate was delicious. “Where do you find your chefs?” she asked.
“We scour the earth,” said Leo, a lopsided grin on his face.
“Are you ever serious about anything?” she asked.
The smoldering look he gave her nearly stopped her heart. “I’m serious about showing you a good time tonight.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “And I promise not to unfurl my wings, unless you want me to.”
Seducing the Chambermaid [Notorious Nephilim 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 12
