"That's not all he told them."
"You know how I feel about you blaming yourself for what happened to your mother. It was an accident. Tell the world—or don't."
"This could destroy my business."
"Then fight for it. You fought Chet once, and won."
"With your help."
"I'm still here, so don't act like I'm gone."
"You have to distance yourself from me."
"No."
"Dammit Rhieve," he hisses, keeping his voice low enough so no one but me can hear him. “I won't bring you down with me."
"I'm not going down with you. I'm going to be fighting by your side. For as long as it takes, and as dirty as it gets, I'm not leaving you, so you can get those crazy thoughts out of your mind."
“It’s going to get so dirty, Rhi, and ugly, before this is over. Chet and Julia are both out for blood.”
“Yes, but it’s my blood they’re after, too. You can’t try and push me away to protect me when I’m being targeted just as much as you are.”
He nods. “You’re right, because of course you are.”
“Glad you’ve realized that. Now kiss me, please.”
He smiles as we both lean in for a sweet and tender kiss. It’s not passionate, because it doesn’t need to be right now. I have no doubt that at least a dozen camera phones caught it, and that’s perfectly fine with me.
Calum
I may have agreed to let Rhieve fight with me, but although she said she’s willing to fight dirty, she has no idea what that even means in this situation. I’ll hold nothing back when it comes to protecting her. My business is important, and I don’t feel like dealing with shit I’ve barely come to terms with, but Rhieve is my number one priority right now.
After we both talked to Reina on the phone, I’m confident Rhieve is okay for now. She insisted on the press release from her stating that she supports me in everything, including Thorns. I don’t like it, because she’s too special to be tainted by what others believe to be sins, but this was one thing she simply refused to back down on. I never thought she’d run from me because my past and present are rearing their ugly heads, but it makes me feel more loved than I ever have in my life to watch her take that stand with me.
I’ve been meeting with various clients in person, and by video chat over the last day, and I’m relieved to find that most of them still have complete faith in my money management skills. Most of the ones who aren’t 100% behind me are still willing to give me a chance, because I’ve done well for them in the past.
I hear the door to my rented office space open, and I turn, expecting another drop-in from someone wanting re-assurance. Instead, I come face to face with Julia. “Get out.”
“Now, now lover. Is that any way to talk to the woman you’ve been sleeping with for years?”
“There was no sleeping. I fucked you however I wanted to, and then I sent you on your way. You’ve never even been to any of my apartments, and I’ve never been to yours. So let’s drop the pretense that ‘love’ or anything else was involved. We fucked. We weren’t exclusive, and then we were done.”
“We’re only done because of the icy bitch you’re pretending to marry.”
“There’s nothing pretend about it. I’m marrying Rhieve. Now run off with your buddy Chet, and leave us the hell alone.”
“You were supposed to marry me!”
“Um, no. Fucking. Not exclusive. What didn’t you understand?”
“I wasn’t with anyone else.”
“Well, I was.”
“You weren’t this cruel until you got with her.”
“Correction; I wasn’t this cruel until I found out what you’d done to her. You tormented the woman I love for years, and I’m not about to stand by and allow you to continue your toxic behavior. Rhieve is more than capable of handling you, but she shouldn’t have to. You need to grow up, and move on.”
“Speaking of your precious Rhieve, she’s the reason I’m here. I have a proposition for you.”
"No."
"I promise that's not going to be your answer if you just listen to me. If not, I'll just let the world know in my interview tonight."
I don't want to give her even an inch, but if this really has to do with Rhieve, then I need to stop it before the cameras are rolling. "Fine. Tell me what you want."
"I want you, Calum, and not just for sex this time."
"Not going to happen."
"Even if it stops pictures of Rhieve at Thorns from surfacing?"
"There are no pictures of Rhieve there." No cell phones are allowed in. We check everyone, so it's simply not possible.
"You had an inside person at Chet's place, so how can you not think he'd do the same?"
No! What we did, while it wasn't private, isn't for the world to see. I promised her she'd be protected. I promised her I'd keep her safe. "I will destroy you if that tape goes public."
"Everyone's looking for Chet, and no one's found him, so excuse me if your threat doesn't bother me."
"Desperation isn't sexy, Julia."
"Is that a yes, Calum?"
There's no other answer I can give. I won't allow Rhieve to be embarrassed because of things I made her do. If I'd told her about Chet, we would never have had to go to the club together.
"You'll have to give me some time to get things taken care of."
"I'll give you two weeks. That's when we're having a small school reunion of sorts. Rhieve actually said she'd go this year, so it will be the perfect place to debut our new relationship."
"Just so you know, nothing I do with you will be real. Ever. So if you're expecting me to fall for you, or even respect you, you should think again. I'm doing this for the only woman I'll ever love, and I'm going to make you regret putting me in this position for the rest of your life."
"You don't scare me."
"But some of the rooms in my clubs do. Don't you remember telling me how you wouldn't want to go into some of them? Well guess what, if you want to be with me, we're going there. And we won't be alone."
She clutches her throat as I see the confidence in her eyes replaced by fear. I'm not into too much pain, or hardcore dominance, but with Julia, that's all it's going to be. Guil will help me dish out the pain, and she's going to learn to be careful what she wishes for.
21
Rhieve
I keep staring at my phone, thinking that somehow the words in the text message from Calum will change if I look at them long enough. That's not happening, and I can't believe he did this to me. To us.
I'm sorry, but this isn't working for me Rhieve. Maybe we should've just stayed friends, but I know that's impossible now. Handle our breakup however you want in the media. I won't dispute anything you say.
I can't believe he would break up with me by text message. After what we've shared with me, how can he be such a coward when it comes to breaking up with me? I know the answer to that—he can't. Something else is going on here.
Picking up my phone, I call Guil. I'm not sure he'll answer me, but I've got to try. He surprises me by answering on the second ring. "Rhieve."
"Guil."
"I could pretend I don't know why you're calling."
"You could, but we've shared some beer and rugby, so you won't."
He laughs. "You're the only woman I know who would think a few pints inspires some kind of loyalty."
"Doesn't it?"
"It helps, that's for sure."
"Where is he, Guil? He cleared out his stuff while I was volunteering earlier today."
"He doesn't want to see you. I tried to get him to talk to you, but his mind is made up."
"Why is he doing this? Never mind, I know you can't tell me that. Best friend code, and all."
"I can’t, but since we're both his best friends, and I really like you, I'll tell you where he is."
"Where?"
"Thorns in Santa Maria. I need to warn you that I don't know what you'll find when you get there. He's in rough s
hape, and he's been drinking."
That's only an hour from here. "Thanks, Guil. I'm going to need an anklet, and entry to the club."
"You're getting red—no arguments—and I'll let them know to let you in."
"No arguments here. I'm only looking for one man."
"Good luck."
I hang up knowing it's not luck I need. I have what I need, but I was saving it for a special occasion. This doesn't really qualify as the same kind of "special" I was hoping for, but desperate times and all make me pull the outfit—if you can call it that—from the back of my closet.
It's technically lingerie, and it comes from a high-end boutique. The top is a collar going around my neck, and rows of thin chains falling to my hips, where they are cinched before falling to the top of my thighs. Black nipple covers, and the tiniest G-string imaginable cover what I'm not prepared to show everyone, although the rest of my breasts as well as my ass are exposed. Heels, and my ring are the only other things I'll need tonight, but I put a wrap dress over it so I don't get arrested on the way to the club.
The drive isn't bad, and once I get there, I get my anklet. I hand the coat check girl my dress, brace myself for what I might find, and walk into the main room. I spot Calum right away, because there's no way to miss him. He's in the center of the room, sitting on a throne-like chair while various women and men dance around him—and on him. I haven't seen him touch anyone, and he's turning his face when they try to kiss him, but he's also got green on his ankle. Really? Really?
Two can play at this game, especially since there's a pole near him. One of my friends and fellow recruits, Harlow, used to dance, and she leads us in a class every week. It's one of the best workouts I've ever gotten, and also one of the most fun. So yeah, I can work a pole kind of like a pro, and if that's what it's going to take tonight, then game on.
I walk over to the DJ in the corner, and ask for the music I want. Once the opening beats begin, I run to the pole, and jump, swinging around, and moving myself higher like Harlow taught us to do. When I'm near the top, I flip over, spread my legs, and start to slide down. Thank God for strong arm muscles, and Harlow, because otherwise I'd be falling on my head. I'm no pro, but I know I'm doing okay.
Halfway down, I wrap my legs around the pole, and flip back up. I swing back a little, thrusting my breasts up as I hold on with one hand. I know the room is watching me and as I flip my hair, I lock eyes with a very angry Calum. He looks like he can't decide between killing me, and fucking me.
I turn back around, and stay in character, even as I know he's stalking over to me. I can't see him as I bend over to touch my toes, but I can feel him. I'm not surprised to be lifted off my feet, but I am surprised at where he carries me to.
"You want to play, Rhieve? Well, let's play."
We're in a group sex room, which unlike the Bath Room, is simply full of bodies on mattresses. Lots of bodies in lots of different positions, and pairings. He drops me in the middle of one of the beds, and nods to the people around me. I lift up my ankle before anyone do more than touch me. They back off, because rules are rules. Calum plays by his own most of the time, but he won't ever allow someone to be forced into something, not even by him.
He pulls me back to my feet, and out of the room. This time, I'm not surprised by where he takes me. Once his office door is closed, I slap him. "You didn't want them to touch me, and that was a shitty way of trying to push me away."
"You came here for something. I was giving it to you."
"If I wanted that, I wouldn't have a red anklet. You know I came here for you, and you alone."
"It's over, Rhieve."
"Is it?" I ask, reaching out to cup his cock before he can stop me. He's rock hard, just like I knew he would be.
"That's for the ones dancing around me. Didn't you see how hot they were?"
"This is the way you want to play it?" I ask, letting him go. "Fine. I've got a pole out there waiting for me."
"The hell you do."
"What's the matter, Cabe? Don’t want me showing off my skills?"
"You have no fucking clothes on."
"I have panties on," I say, moving my hand down to touch myself there. "And these," I tell him, cupping my breasts and fingering my nipple covers.
It happens so fast that I don't even see him move. One moment I'm poking the beast, and the next, I'm slammed against the wall. There's going to be nothing sweet about this, but I don't need sweet right now. I just need Calum.
He's holding my wrists at my sides, and I as I look down his mouth closes over one of the nipple covers. I see a flash of teeth, feel some pressure, and then it's in his mouth for a second before he spits it out. He does the same with the other one, and then he just stares at the red marks covering both of my exposed nipples for a moment.
"Damn things were covering what's mine. If you hadn't covered them, I'd be punishing you even more, but they should never be covered for me. This either," he says, reaching down to rip the small shred off satin between my legs off of me.
I arch my back, feeling the chains glide over my curves as I move. "Take what you want."
He looks me in the eye, and speaks. "May I take your anklet off? I can't fuck you with it on. Rules, and all."
"Yes," I tell him, lifting my foot.
He starts to remove it, but then stops, and drops my foot back to the floor. "On second thought, not here. Do you have clothes?"
"My dress is in coat check."
"Good."
He steps away from me to pick up the phone on his desk. Once he's arranged for my dress to be brought to me, he comes back over to me. "It's only going to be this one night, Rhi. I can't give you more."
"You can. You just refuse to."
"Take it or leave it."
"We both know I'm taking it."
He nods, reaches next to me to open the door, and takes my dress from whoever brought it to him. Holding it out to me, he helps me put my arms in, and then ties it on the side. "Let's go.”
Calum
I shouldn't be doing this. I know I shouldn't, but I have to. I would never have gone to Rhieve, but she came to me. Not only did she come to me, but she came hard. When I saw her on that pole, practically naked and working it like she owned it, I knew I'd be inside her before the night was over.
It was a dick move, taking her to the group room, but I was trying to give her one last "out." One last chance to walk away. Of course she didn't do it, and damn if the slap she gave me didn't turn me on even more. I couldn't take her in my office, though. This is our last night together, and I'm going to make it our best one yet.
I don't have enough control over my mind and body to drive her all the way back to her place, so I take her to the studio apartment I rent here. I'm almost never in this city since it's too close to my past, which means my place has a bed, and nothing else. That's all we need tonight.
"Nice," she says once we're inside. It's the first word she's said to me since we left my office. I'm pretty sure she kept quiet because she's afraid that if she tried to plead her case, I'd send her away. And she's right. I can't resist her tonight, but I also can't stop protecting her.
"I should've taken you to a hotel. It would've been nice than this."
"No. This is your place, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
"I wasn't kidding about this being a one-time thing. You shouldn't have come to me dressed like that."
"I won't lie and tell you I don't want more, but if this is all I can have, I'll take it. For now."
"No, Rhi. That's just it. This is all I have for you. I'll do everything I can to make it the best we've ever had, but when the sun comes up, you need to leave."
"Cabe."
"No. Don't call me that. I'm not that boy anymore; you've said it yourself. Don't confuse the boy with the man again, because you're only going to continue to get hurt."
"What aren't you telling me?"
I look away, because while I can make myself be a bastard to protect
her, I can't lie to her face. I just can't. Not just because she would see right through me, but also because she deserves better than that.
"I explained it to you in the text."
"Nice way of breaking up with me, by the way."
I shrug, feigning an indifference I definitely don't feel. "Technology age."
"I thought we were in this together."
"Listen, Rhieve, I didn't bring you here to talk. If you want to fuck, I'm more than ready to fuck you, but I'm not going to talk about this anymore."
"Call me an Uber, please. I need to get my car from the club."
"Your car in in my garage. The keys are on the seat. One of my people followed us here with it."
"You were never going to give me a chance to change your mind."
"I told you that. I'm sorry you didn't believe me."
She looks hurt for a moment, but then her eyes go hard. "I'm going to find out what's really going on, and when I do, I'm coming for you Calum Benson. This isn't the end for us."
With that, she turns and walks out. I watch her go, wishing she could really fix this without hurting herself. I know she can't, so I won't get my hopes up. I'll take whatever thrown my way, but she's not going to be a casualty of this war Chet is still waging on me. My heart and soul are casualties, but Rhieve never will be.
22
Rhieve
"You need to stop saying you stand by Calum."
My mother has been saying the same thing for the last half hour, and I've been telling her no for just as long. Longer, actually. I've put off meeting with her for over two weeks, and in that time, I told her the same thing I've been telling her in person.
"But I do, Mother. I love him, and I'm not ashamed of anything anyone's saying about him."
"He owns sex clubs."
"I know. In fact, I've been to a couple."
"Please tell me there are no pictures that could be released to the press."
"No cameras or phones are allowed in the club."
"Don’t tell me you're that naïve. People can be paid to look the other way."
Society Girls: Rhieve Page 15
