The Sanctuary

by Arika Stone

  “I will never leave you. I am yours always. You have my promise.”

  I agreed to his request. I knew he was a man of his word.

  He pulled me next to him. “Let’s get some rest. We have a long night ahead of us.”

  Chapter 38

  The car pulled up to the club. Although the doors weren’t opened yet and the temperature was well below freezing, there was a huge line at the door waiting. I put my head down and walked past the line, straight to the security door.

  I knocked, and it opened slightly. “Hi, I’m Eve Lauren, Val’s wife. I’m waiting for Sebastian.” I peeped inside.

  The brawny man eyed me and opened the door. “Who did you say you were?”

  “Eve Lauren, Val’s wife. I’m on the list. Sebastian said he would meet me here.” I glanced at my phone to see how many minutes had passed since I’d hung up with him.

  “He’s not here yet. I’m sorry, you’ll need to wait outside,” the bouncer instructed.

  “Are you serious?” I asked. “I’m not staying out here with all these fans.”

  I heard Sebastian’s voice. “It’s okay. She’s with us.” He took me by the arm. “Val is busy. Just stay out of the way.”

  We walked down a long black-and-white-checkered hallway with doors on either side. “Here’s your pass. Make sure you have it, or you won’t get back in if you leave.”

  I clipped it on my belt loop and followed him into a packed room. I stepped to the side so I wouldn’t block the door. I scanned the room. There was no one that I knew. None of the other wives were here.

  I spotted Val in the far corner. His back was turned to me. He was dressed in leather pants and a tee, with several scarves wrapped around his neck. A woman approached him and touched him on the arm. I shifted my position to get a better view.

  He placed his arm around her lower back, resting his hand on the top of her ass. He leaned down and started talking with her. She must have said something funny. He kicked his head back and laughed. A tinge of jealousy ripped through my body. He leaned in again and whispered something in her ear before sending her on her way with a playful slap on her ass.

  He turned around, beer in hand. I looked at his fingers. He wasn’t wearing his wedding band. Instead, thick silver bands covered all fingers on each hand. I knew this was his typical uniform, but for some reason, it irritated me.

  Val spotted me and weaved his way through the crowd. “Hello, love.” He swooped in and kissed me before pulling me out of the room. “I have to get makeup and hair done. We’ll have less people in there.” He walked down the hall and pulled me into another room. He flopped lazily on the chair in front of a mirror, grabbed me, and forcefully pulled me onto his lap.

  He reached back and seized one of the women passing behind him. He thrust his empty bottle at her. “Would you mind getting me another beer?”

  “Certainly, Mr. Ruska.” She took the bottle and hurried away.

  He eyed me. “You’re wearing my favorite pants. I hope you kept your promise to me.” His hand slipped down my back, squeezing my naked ass. I laughed at his gesture. He purred, “Now, that’s something I can look forward to later.” He nuzzled my face next to his and kissed it.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Ruska.”

  A woman stood before us, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at me. “I need her to move.” She motioned to me.

  I got up and moved to the side, out of her way. She began to apply his makeup. It was strange seeing someone fuss over him. I'd had my share of dressing rooms with my own clientele, but to see Val sitting there was different.

  “Darling, the girls are upstairs. You should go and say hello.”

  “How do I get there?” I had no idea where anything was.

  “I’ll have Sebastian take you up in a few.”

  Another beer dropped into his hands. I could tell he was already intoxicated, and if he kept drinking, I was in for a hell of an evening after the show. He was raunchy in bed whenever he got smashed.

  The hairstylist continued where the makeup artist had left off, squeezing his hair into long waves. After a good hour of primping, Val was complete in his ensemble. A completely different man sat before me. He was sexier than before, which I wouldn’t have thought was possible.

  Another woman walked by and dropped something in his hand. He popped it and took a swig of his beer. I gave him a sideways glance. “What was that?”

  He winked. “Just something to make the girls go wild.”

  His words were cryptic. I had no idea what he was talking about, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  “Be back before the encore. I want to leave as soon as we’re done.” He stood up, towering over me, his pants slipping to reveal his gorgeous hipbones. “Let’s find Sebastian so you can get upstairs. I have to be on soon.”

  I followed him as we weaved our way back to the green room. He motioned to Sebastian and whispered something in his ear. Sebastian led me out of the backstage area and up a set of stairs to the upper level of the club.

  “Eve!” Ana stood up and hugged me. “What are you drinking?” The girls were already at a table overlooking the floor.

  “Water,” I replied as I analyzed the crowd. The lights were bouncing, the music was loud, and the fans downstairs were pushing toward the front of the stage.

  “She’ll have a cosmo and bring us another round,” Ana told the waitress.

  I looked at Ana. “I shouldn’t be drinking. Val will have a fit.”

  Laura leaned over. “Are you serious? With the amount of drinking they do?”

  “Ever since I had alcohol poisoning, I haven’t had a drink,” I responded.

  “It’s New Year’s Eve and your wedding night. You deserve a drink or two.” Ana winked. “Besides, he’ll be so trashed after the show he won’t notice. Trust me.”

  I looked away. I hated betraying him. “You’re right. A drink or two won’t hurt.”

  We sat there and chatted for a bit about our plans after the New Year. The girls were staying home, looking forward to rest and relaxation. They couldn’t wait for their husbands to leave, which I found odd.

  Natalia stood up. “I’m going to the bathroom before they come on. Anyone want to join me?” All four women rose like robots and followed her.

  “Come on.” Ana grabbed my hand.

  The girls stood in front of the mirror and started to apply makeup, waiting for the bathroom to clear out. As soon as the last girl left, Natalia popped the lock on the door. “Let’s party.” She slipped out a piece of paper from her purse. I eyed it. They were doing cocaine.

  The envelope passed down the line, each of the girls scooping a hit or two with their pinky before passing it down. Ana handed it to me. “You want a hit?”

  I shook my head. “No, thanks.”

  Tania peeked down the line. “Come on. It’s your first night as one of us. Celebrate it.”

  “I don’t know.” I eyed the powder.

  Ana laughed. “You’ve never done coke?”

  “No. Been around it, but I’ve never done it.”

  “It’s not a big deal. Everyone does it. Scoop a bit up, hold one side, and inhale.”

  I took the paper. I could feel all eyes on me. “What’s one night?” I laughed nervously.

  “Exactly,” Ana said, licking her lips.

  I scooped some up, placed it to my nose, and accidentally exhaled, blowing the powder into the air.

  “Look, love, it happens to all of us the first time. Don’t exhale before you inhale. Try it again,” Ana encouraged.

  I knew I shouldn’t be doing this, but I didn’t want to disappoint them. I brought a bit to my nose, this time making a conscious effort to inhale.

  The powder flew up my nose and stung, causing me to cough. It instantly numbed my nose. It dripped down. It felt like the dentist had shot Novocain down my throat.

  “Go on, take another hit.” Ana pushed the stuff back into my hand. “Other side now,” she instructed.

&nbs
p; I followed Ana’s instructions and handed the coke back to her. She folded it closed and returned it to me. “Keep it. Have fun with Val later.”

  “Oh my God, my face feels numb.” I rubbed my tongue around my mouth, trying to feel it.

  “Give yourself a few minutes. You’ll never feel better,” Natalia said, breezing past me and popping the lock on the door. “Put that shit in your bag before you lose it.”

  I slipped the paper into my purse and followed.

  “Another round!” Laura screamed to the waitress as we sauntered to the balcony.

  Five minutes later I had an unlimited amount of energy. I felt euphoric. My husband was the sexiest man alive, and he had hundreds, no, thousands of fans who all wanted to fuck him. I bounced around. The music wasn’t loud enough. I wanted to dance and sing along with him. I’d never felt better.

  The crowd roared, and as the band played song after song, his fans grew rowdier. Val ripped his shirt and scarves off on stage. He was drenched in sweat. He turned around to drink water.

  “Oh my, what happened to his back, Eve?” Ana asked, referring to the scars.

  “That would be my doing. Aren’t they lovely? The sex was so fucking hot that night.” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

  Val paused to take a break. “You, yes, you over there.” His voice boomed through the speakers, pointing to someone in the front. “Let me see your fucking tits.” His accent seemed so pronounced, more so than when he spoke to me.

  The crowd screamed, and I shouted along with them, egging on his shenanigans.

  “No, no, not yours.” Val pointed into the crowd again. “I want to see hers.” Some random girl was blessed with Val’s desire, and she lifted her shirt for him without reservation.

  “Lovely, darling. Fucking lovely.” His cock was bulging through his leather pants. I wasn’t sure if it was from the peep show or from the pill he’d popped backstage.

  The crowd roared, and several bras were tossed onto the stage. “These are lovely too…” Val picked up a few and hung them on his microphone stand.

  “And what about Eve’s?” some guy shouted from the crowd.

  “What about them?” Val questioned, conversing with his fans.

  Ana eyed me. “You have lovely tits. Laura…” She tapped Laura on the shoulder. “Check out Eve’s tits. They’re perfect.”

  I lifted my shirt to show the girls, not realizing I would be in the spotlight.

  “I guess she likes showing them off too.” Val laughed and pointed to me in the crowd, sending all eyes to me.

  “Ohhh…they’re perfect, Eve. Who did them?” Laura asked.

  “They’re au natural.” I pulled my shirt down. My high was starting to fade.

  “I’m fucking jealous. Let me see them again,” Ana said, trying to cop a feel.

  “I think I want to go to the bathroom.” I wanted more cocaine.

  “Oh dear, what have we done?” Ana laughed. “Tania…Natalia…come…” The girls followed me into the bathroom for another round.

  We waited until the coast was clear and locked the door. I removed the paper from my purse.

  “No worries, Eve. I have more. Save that for tonight.” Natalia winked.

  We passed the paper down the line again, only this time the numbness was welcome. I wiped my nose to make sure I didn’t have any residue and licked my finger before applying my lipstick.

  “I think the guys are done,” Ana said, listening through the door.

  “That was a short set,” Laura said.

  “Val has other things on his mind.” Tania winked at me in the mirror.

  “Oh shit, Val told me to be ready before the encore. He wants to leave right away. How do I get back down?” I lit one of Val’s cigarettes that I was holding for him in my purse. I needed something in my mouth.

  “We have to go down there anyway.” Ana grabbed me. The five of us walked arm in arm to the backstage area, though the door where I’d first spotted Val.

  Ana pushed me against the wall. “Let me see your fucking tits,” she said, mocking Val in her matching Finnish accent. We all laughed, but Ana had other things on her mind. She lifted my shirt and began to fondle me. “I would die to have these tits. Val is a lucky guy.”

  Unexpectedly, the band walked in, with Val in the lead. “And what’s going on here?” He smiled. “Niko, I think our wives are having fun without us.”

  I pulled my shirt down, covering my exposed breasts.

  “Whatever they want to do is fine with me.” Niko began to drink water, eying both of us.

  “That’s an idea to keep in mind.” Val grabbed a towel and wiped himself down. “Where is the car? I want to get out of here,” he demanded.

  “It’s waiting in the rear,” Sebastian replied.

  Val threw on a clean shirt and grabbed his coat. “Thank you, everyone. Happy New Year. I’ll see you in L.A.” He grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the door. “Let’s go, Eve, now.” His tone was firm, and he kept walking, expecting me to follow.

  I quickly kissed the girls goodbye and ran after him. Security was at the door waiting. “We have the barricades up, Mr. Ruska. There are fans outside.”

  “Wonderful,” Val said sarcastically. “Head straight to the car. I’ll meet you shortly.” He quickly turned and disappeared down another hallway.

  Sebastian escorted me outside. As soon as the door opened, a thousand flashes of light blinded me. I put my hand up to block my eyes.

  Sebastian grabbed my arm and whispered, “The car will stop a few blocks away. Val will meet you there.”

  Val’s groupies screamed as I entered into the car.

  “Where’s Valo?”

  “You’re a fucking bitch, Eve!”

  “You slut, he’s mine!”

  There must have been at least a hundred girls waiting to catch a glimpse of him. I was thrilled. He was going home with me. I didn’t know if it was the rush from the fans or the rush from the cocaine, but one thing was certain. I was addicted to it all.

  Chapter 39

  “Hey, baby.” I kissed him as soon as he entered the car. “You were fucking amazing tonight.” I mounted him. My pussy throbbed, and I needed him now.

  He pushed me back. “Thank you. I see you were having fun without me.”

  “I did, but I’d rather have fun with you.” I tried to kiss him again.

  “Let me cool off. I’m burning up.” He pulled me off, rolled down the window, and lit a cigarette.

  “That’s because you’re so damn hot.” I giggled, grabbing another one of his cigarettes. I needed something to occupy my hands and mouth. I wiggled my foot. I had too much energy that I had to expel. I felt as if I downed a thousand shots of espresso. I was wired.

  “You okay, love?”

  “I’m fine, baby. I understand what you mean by picking up the energy from the crowd. No wonder all the girls love you. You’re amazing.”

  He looked worried. “Did the girls give you anything besides alcohol?”

  I shook my head, unconsciously licking my lips. “No, why?” I lit another cigarette and flicked the first one out the window.

  “Because I’ve never seen you chain smoke or act this way.” He shot a sideways glance. “Did you put your drink down at all?”

  “I can’t wait to get you home, that’s all. Do you know when I left, one of your fans called me a bitch? It was awesome.”

  “You’re rambling, and you’re making no sense.” He pressed me into the seat, glaring into my eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t take anything? Pills? Powder? Anything?”

  “No, Val, I swear.”

  He wiped my nose, looked at his finger, and sighed.

  “What’s wrong?” I wiped my nose, wondering if I had left evidence behind. Suddenly, my eyes caught his cock bulging through his pants. My hand immediately went to it. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll take care of you tonight.”

  He pushed my hand off of him. “I’m sure you will,” he mumbled.

  We arrived
home, and I tried to light a cigarette and get out of the car at the same time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t skilled enough to do it, and I dropped my purse, causing the contents to spill on the ground. I quickly bent down to gather my things.

  “Don’t forget this.” Val picked up the folded envelope and dropped it in my bag.

  We entered our house. He dropped his bag on the floor and threw his coat on the couch. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  It was the break I was waiting for. I could escape downstairs to do a line. I walked into the kitchen and began rummaging through our drawers for a straw. “Fuck!” I mumbled. We didn’t have any straws.

  Val stopped mid-step. “What are you looking for?”

  “Nothing.” I opened the fridge peered inside. I needed a drink.

  “Hmm…okay.” He walked upstairs and closed the bedroom door.

  As soon as the door closed, I reached into my purse, pulled out my stash, and flew down the steps to our basement. I ran into the bathroom, forgetting to close the door behind me. I needed to take another hit. I was jittery and crashing and couldn’t control the urge. I wanted more.

  I opened the envelope carefully. I didn’t want anything to spill out. I scooped out a bit on my finger and held it to my nose and began to inhale.

  “Do you think I am stupid?” Val’s voice thundered from behind me, startling me. “Give me that.” He yanked the envelope from my hands. “I can’t believe you, Eve.” His voice rose. “You hypocrite. You have the fucking balls to chastise me about my prior coke use, and then I find you snorting a few hours later. Tell me, Eve, when did you pick up this habit?”

  “I can explain.”

  “Well, you better start.” He folded the coke into its wrapper and glared at me.

  “The girls took me to the bathroom, right before you came on stage. They passed it down the line. I told them I didn’t want any, but Natalia told me to celebrate because it was my first night as ‘one of them.’ What was I supposed to do? You didn’t prepare me for this. I had no idea they were into this.”

  He crossed his arms. “I understand once, no problem. I do. But you’ve had several hits off of this because one hit wouldn’t have lasted this long.” He paused. “We’ll talk about this later. I’m going to take a shower.” He slipped the cocaine into his back pocket.