by H. Q. Frost
"Hi, everyone. Most of you know us already, but we're Big Trouble."
People began to clap and cheer like they were at a venue to see a big-name band. Lilith looked around surprised; she didn't think the stuffy firm would be full of music lovers.
Layna let out a screechy 'whoa' into the microphone and the band's wailing guitars and blasting drums backed her. Lilith watched her demand the audience's attention and she glanced at Justin who was texting on his phone. The band played a mix of melodic tunes and punk vocals, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, she liked it.
At the end of the first song, Layna leaned forward and pointed at Justin. "Thank that man right there. Justin Borg is a Godsend. This song goes out to him. Closer to Heaven."
A hand grabbed the wound on Lilith's arm and she winced, pulling away before spinning to face Barry Borg.
Justin grabbed her quickly and leaned into her ear. "You alright?" When his lips grazed her ear it caused an immediate pull between her thighs and all she could do was nod.
"How are you?" Barry yelled over the music, completely oblivious to what he'd done.
Lilith smiled, about to respond, but Justin leaned into her ear again and the feeling of his warm breath down her neck caused her to tense up. "You want to take off?"
She looked at him in confusion. "Now?"
"They're not particularly good and I've seen them a thousand times. We can go to the party you're missing at Luxe." He pulled away, looking her in the eyes and she couldn't help but smile while taking his extended hand.
"Sure."
"We're out," he yelled over the music to Barry and Barry nodded, not surprised.
Lilith wiggled her fingers at him and he grinned perversely back at her. Justin pulled her through the crowd and Pam stepped in front of them with a frown.
"Happy Halloween," he yelled over the music.
"Nice to meet you, El," she called back.
"You too!"
Justin pulled her down the hallway into a darker hallway and the music started fading.
"It's eleven. You think Luxe's party is still goin' on?" He glanced at her, unlocking his office.
"I'll call Ashley and see."
Justin closed the door behind them. Then would have been a good opportunity to show him the turmoil he caused inside her that pooled between her thighs. But when she checked her phone, a text from Ian was waiting.
IAN: I'm heading home soon. When will you be?
She didn't respond, figuring she'd surprise him at the party.
"Hey, bitch!" Ashley answered with a laugh.
"Hi! Are you still at Luxe?"
"Yes! Are you coming?"
"We're on our way now."
"Fucking fantastic, Lilith! I love you so much."
Lilith giggled and glanced at Justin. "I love you." She hung up and smiled. "She's drunk."
"At least someone is." He smirked and held her coat out.
Lilith carefully slipped it on over her arm that Barry had agitated again.
"Justin, if you want to drink, I don't mind taking a cab."
"Not leaving my motorcycle, ZP." He gave her a smile.
There was no doubt Ian would be upset by seeing her with Justin, but at least she showed.
They followed the signs indicating Luxe's party and walked into a banquet-sized room decked out in Halloween décor. Lilith immediately spotted Ashley holding a bloody baby doll and of course Bryan was at her side.
Laughing, Lilith approached her, embracing her in a jovial hug. "You're terrible," she quietly said.
"Everyone loves it. Well, not so much Tanya. Stupid skank."
"Oh, I love you." Lilith laughed.
"You guys are a-fuckin-dorkable." She studied their attire a minute.
"Nice." Justin nodded at Ashley's bloody mess of a costume. "I'm going to assume there's a reference here?"
"Long story. I'll tell you later." Lilith chuckled. Her eyes shot around the room looking for Ian and Karen.
"She's not here," Ashley said after leaning in. "You just missed Ian too."
"Crap," she huffed.
"He drank a lot in the last hour. Tony drove him home."
"To the condo?"
"Not sure."
Smiling at Justin, Lilith asked, "You want a drink?"
"No. I'm alright. Thanks."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." He put his hand to his stomach. "I'm good."
"Lily!" Dressed as a slutty cat, Tash hurried over. Lilith's eyes briefly went to Justin who concealed his grin by itching his lip.
"Are you okay? No one is telling me what happened yesterday!"
"Me? I'm fine. Tash, this is my friend Justin. Justin, Tash."
He maintained a smile while shaking her hand but couldn't look at her. His laughter was threatening to break free with the need to insult her costume.
"No Shaun?" Tash grinned.
"He went home." Lilith smiled.
Justin's ears perked up. He knew Shaun was the boyfriend and he wondered what 'he went home' meant.
"Too bad. I would have loved to have met him." She giggled.
Lilith smirked. "I'm sure you will one day soon." Noticing Caesar, Lilith excused herself and dragged Justin across the room. "No Renee?"
"She's at a party with Heidi." His gaze flicked to Justin. "You guys look…dead."
"You look flamboyant." Lilith giggled.
"I'm Ashley but I lost my wig, was itching."
"I get the reference now." Lilith laughed.
"No Jacks?" Justin asked glancing around.
"You guys just missed his drunk ass. He was rambling about seeing the love of his life. He had to get home before she did because he's so in love. Blah, blah, blah, some bullshit." Caesar's glare landed on Lilith.
"He gonna marry that girl he's been with?" Justin asked with a smirk.
"Karen?" Caesar tore his eyes from Lilith and looked at Justin. "He wasn't talkin' about that girl—"
"Caesar," Lilith interrupted. "Will you get me a drink, darling?"
"Yeah, sweet lips, I will." He grinned.
Justin looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "Sweet lips?"
With a shrug she said, "He loves my lips." Her tongue darted out, wetting them. "My bloody lips. I've been tasting this blood all night."
"I'm alright, but then again, I didn't drink half a bottle of fake blood like you did."
"I was getting into character. I just attacked your neck." She laughed.
"Yeah you did." His hand went to the wound with a grin and she flushed at the way he referenced it again.
"Does it hurt?"
"No. I don't feel it. Indentations are gone." His fingers rubbed over the dried fake blood. "You want to do it again?"
She leaned closer and whispered, "You like that?"
He leaned in even closer, his lips brushed her jaw as he pressed into her ear. "I like a lot of things, ZP."
She exhaled as the pull and twitch rang between her legs, sending a small gush. Caesar's approach separated them when his arm went between them and he handed Lilith the drink.
"Thank you." A gulp helped settle the rampant lust Lilith was slowly losing control over when it came to Justin.
It was obvious what Caesar was doing and Justin dropped his head, taking a step back to control the annoyance building in him.
Ed approached without warning. "Lily."
"Ed," she blurted, not expecting him to be there. She hugged him like he expected. "No costume?"
"No." He snickered then turned to Justin, extending his hand. "Borg. You pay for a date and she drags you here?" He smirked.
"Actually, I dragged her here."
Her mouth opened but words failed her as she feared Justin would tell him it wasn't a paid for date.
"It was nice seeing you the other night with that gentleman." The taut grin of annoyance on his face brought out the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes.
"That's Shaun."
"What does he have to do with anything?" His tone
was starting to follow suit with his grin.
Lilith let out an uncomfortable chuckle while Justin stared at her perplexed by Ed's hostility toward her and her boyfriend. Ashley falling pulled Lilith away as she ran toward her to stop her from hitting the floor.
"Oh my god, thank you," Lilith huffed, dropping to her knees to help Ashley stand.
"I need a drink," Ashley mumbled.
"I don't think you do." Lilith laughed then looked at Justin and Ed who were engaged in conversation. "Crap, I have to leave."
"No!" Ashley yelped. "Don't leave me. I'm going to fuck Bryan and I don't want to fuck Bryan. Don't leave me!"
"I need to get Justin Borg away from everyone. Caesar's already tried to out me and Ian, and now Justin's talking to your dad."
"Dad!" Ashley yelled, stomping toward him. "Shouldn't you be at home kissing mom's ass!"
Ed smirked, embarrassed by his drunk daughter and he pinched the bridge of his nose similar to the way Ian often did. Thinking of Ian, Lilith pulled her phone out.
MY FREJYA: Are you at the condo or apartment baby?
Justin and Lilith slipped away from Ashley who bitched at her father.
"Bathroom?" he asked, annoyed by the events since they'd arrived at the Luxe party.
While crossing the room, Tanya approached. "You're the new girl everyone was looking for yesterday." She then turned to Justin and suggestively smiled. "Who are you?"
"With her, and using the bathroom." He walked the few feet that were left to shut him away from his building aggravation.
"Rude," Tanya muttered then brought her attention back to Lilith. "What happened to you yesterday that everyone had to act like a search party? What the hell's made you so special around here?"
Lilith's eyes narrowed as a headache began with a pulse and her usual docile nature was smothered by pain.
"You're the one who's knocked up by my best friend's boyfriend, aren't you?" Lilith retaliated and Tanya looked at her with offended surprised. "There are choices you can make to not ruin everyone's life."
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused." She stepped to the side.
"Are you suggesting I abort my child?"
"I'm suggesting you be euthanized."
"Who do you think you are?" Tanya scoffed.
Lilith wanted to retaliate with 'Ian Jacks' fiancée', but she only cattily smirked and laughed responding, "No one."
"Yeah, no one is right. I'll be sure to talk to Mr. J about you."
"You want to use my phone?" Lilith called to her as she stormed away. "Bitch," she muttered as Justin opened the door.
"Are you talking to yourself?"
"I guess so." She smiled and glanced at Tanya who headed toward an exit. Lilith cocked her head at him. "Can we go?"
"Thought you'd never ask." A relieved smile livened his tired face.
Lilith managed brief goodbyes with everyone until Ed stopped her. "Are you going to see my son?"
"Uh… Maybe Monday at work." She glared at him like he were insane.
"Tell him I have something on Karen."
"Okay, Mr. Jacks, we'll talk later." Lilith had to get Justin out of there before he found out more than he bargained for.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something?" he asked as Lilith hurried out of the building.
"Because everyone is drunk but you." She smiled at him.
When he pulled up to the apartment doors, Lilith quietly sighed, both grateful and disappointed he didn't want to come up. Getting off the motorcycle, she pulled the helmet off and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Thanks for coming, ZP."
"I had fun. Maybe next time I'll drive?"
He chuckled at her grin and after pulling out her wallet and keys from the backpack, he handed them over. "Night, El."
"Good night." It was the perfect opportunity to share the first kiss she'd been waiting on, but exhaustion and thoughts of Ian quickly pulled her into the building.
On the twenty-first floor she pushed the key into Ian's apartment and kept telling herself if Karen was there she'd remain calm and say she was with Ashley who was on her way up. After entering the apartment, she dialed Ian's phone number and heard it ringing. Nerves turned her stomach that was filled with sweet drinks as she walked to his bedroom where the door was wide open. The light was on and he was lying face down, alone on the bed.
Seeing him like that depressed her. "Oh, baby," she huffed.
When she rolled him over he muttered, "Lily," followed with a messy, unappealing kiss.
The stench of alcohol turned her already sick stomach and she pushed him back so she could get him out of his uncomfortable clothes. The attempts he made to kiss her were foiled by him not being able to keep his eyes open.
Justin filled her head while she lay next to Ian softly snoring. She couldn't sleep as she wondered what made the evening fizzle out.
JUSTIN'S returned and no one's waiting
My house is dark, it's empty, it's fuckin' miserable. I should get a cat or something, but I try and spend the most time away from 'home' as I can.
Before I get into bed, I brush my teeth, but I don't bother trying to wash this makeup off. I think I'll regret that in the morning but I'm tired. The thought that sleep will soon spare me is laughable because I'm staring through the dark at nothing and my racing mind is running a track with no pit stops. There's only one thing racing through my brain and it's the thing I shouldn't have walked away from tonight. But I feel like I'm missing something when it comes to that woman.
Unable to hold back, I snatch my phone from the nightstand.
JUSTIN: Had a great night ZP. You make it up okay?
I feel like a dick for not walking her up, but she didn't seem like she wanted me to either. The almost instant chime of a received text sends a grin creeping across my face. I shouldn't want this woman so much. Waiting on her move is a torture I'll endure because I know once she gives in to everything she's fighting I'm going to come out on top. At least in the bedroom.
EL: I'm in bed but didn't wash the blood off yet. I'm going to be a mess in the morning.
It's cute she's just as lazy as I am tonight. I don't know at what point our evening became more stressful than fun, but it wasn't a disinterest in El that plunged thoughts of being deceived in me.
JUSTIN: Same here. I'll send you a pic. I'm going to have black spray paint everywhere.
With each text, I don't expect a reply but she texts back almost immediately and it kills me. Instead of texting her, I could have been laying in that bed next to her, or better yet, over her, inside her.
EL: Send me a picture in the morning and I'll send you one : ) Should be a good laugh.
Of course the thoughts running through my head involve requesting photographs she's probably not willing to send, so I don't bother.
JUSTIN: Deal. Thanks for the date
EL: FREE date ;) don't forget
JUSTIN: You're priceless ZP. We have a good time together.
EL: I agree. Still hoping to drive your motorcycle
JUSTIN: I'll give you a few lessons.
EL: I hope you're serious. I'll buy a helmet : )
JUSTIN: I'm serious but I'm not paying for those lessons ;)
EL: Haha maybe I'll pay you. They better be worth it.
JUSTIN: It's always worth it with me.
There's a lot of meaning in that response and I think she's picked up on it because I don't get a reply. The fact she's still creeping under my skin like this pisses me off. I shouldn't be having thoughts about altering my ideas of relationships. I've been drilling it into my head since Layna that I only need a woman when I want to get off, and not the same woman. El's flipping my thoughts around though because I think when she does finally get me off, I'll want to get right back on. Her and only her.
When Lilith called Ian, his tone was all business. "Hello."
"Hello, Mr. Jacks, this is Lilith Tudor checking in, sir."
"Good morning."
&nbs
p; "Good morning, baby. I missed you this morning."
"Me too. Well partially, I got a scary glimpse."
"Scary!"
Laughing, he said, "There was a zombie in my bed."
"Mmm, come home, baby. Come get in bed with me. I want to feel you."
"That's tempting, but not possible. I'm in a meeting with my father right now. He fired Karen this morning."
"What do you mean he fired her? You didn't fire her?"
"He took it upon himself." His throat cleared.
"I see."
"We have a lot of legal aspects to deal with, with the both of them. I'm going to be in the office all day."
"Ian," she pouted. "Oh! And Caesar is going to get an earful from me. He almost told people last night! I showed up at the party—"
"With Justin Borg I'm assuming?" Discontent laced his question.
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No."
She continued, "Good. And Caesar was trying to tell the world about us. And your father was no better. How do you expect this to remain a secret when you tell people like them? It's getting out of hand."
"Well it won't have to be for much longer."
She wasn't able to see it, but she knew there was a blithe grin across his face.
"We need to talk about that at a more private time, Ian," she muttered.
"Yes we will. Can you please work on no more free dates just to piss me off, sweetheart? We could have used the money."
"For one, don't call me sweetheart, ever. It reminds me of Sloan. And for two, don't piss me off, ever, and I won't have to."
His deep, quiet laugh provoked from anger made her smirk.
"I love you, Ian. I'll see you tonight at the condo?"
"I'll call you."
"Wait." She stopped him from hanging up. "You're not coming home?"
"I'll call you later this afternoon." He hung up without another word.
Lilith scowled at her phone while her thumbs pounded the touch screen letters.
MY FREYJA: I want an explanation right now. It may just be my hangover but I feel like you're avoiding me? Angry with me?
Brushing through her hair, her thoughts ran rampant. Perhaps all of this was the brunt of the whole Karen drama. Perhaps right after Ian and Ed smoothed everything over legally things would really start to fall into place and his and her relationship would take on some normalcy. As a calming smile tilted her lips, her phone chimed with a text. The text was a reminder that things would most definitely not be falling into place or into the normal realm.
