And at that precise moment I see the newest big shot of Wilmington, Mr. Marco Kastanopoulis, dressed as a gangster in a black double-breasted suit with big shoulders and a black hat. And who is standing close to him sliding a hand sheathed in an elbow-length white silk glove? She-devil Liana dressed as…I can’t fucking believe it…Jessica Rabbit, the Hollywood S-curl flowing hairstyle, the long body-hugging red dress with the heart-shape neckline over her breasts that are pushed up so far they’re almost pouring out. This is too…perfect? Do I look a gift horse in the mouth or do I take this opportunity to watch Marco for a while to see exactly how he acts with her? Why thank you, Fate, I think I shall accept your little gift, quite appreciatively as well.
“Do you see who I see, Liz?” Elsie elbows me lightly, obviously having seen Marco the same time I did.
“Yep.”
“And do you see who he is, um, with?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yep.” Silence. A little more silence. Elsie is apparently waiting for me to say something. “That is, as I affectionately call her, She-devil, otherwise known as Liana. She’s in charge of marketing and public relations at his company.” Another pause. “And I know he’s fucked her.” That last statement falls like a boulder on top of us over the loud thumping music.
“Yeah, I thought so too, but I don’t think in a while, not from the way he’s reacting to her. He looks like he’s got a boundary line drawn and she is obviously trying to break through it.” Elsie’s brows are pulled together behind her black vinyl mask showing the workings of her observation.
“You’re probably right, but I think I won’t make my presence known quite yet, just in case. Do you agree, my darling date?” I turn to look at her with my chin up, ready for an interesting evening.
“I think that’s a great idea, darling. Come let me get you a drink. We both could use one. And I’m sure the camera guy, the young one who fell in love with you, is here. You can always be a cougar tonight, babe.” I can see her wink under her mask.
“Hmm, I could, couldn’t I, or I could see what a Marine is made of. Have you seen Brian around?” I am so full of crap.
Although both Brian and John are hot as hell and each the epitome of a man’s man, there is no one I want but Marco. And if I catch him even doing the slightest thing that could be construed as suggestive with that woman I will walk right over there and cut his dick off, put it in my pocket and walk calmly away.
Elsie laughs out loud as she leads us to the bar.
“No, not yet but I’m sure he’ll come around very, very soon. It could be fun.”
And a thought occurs to me. “You know John knows Marco is here, and he didn’t tell us.”
“Yes, but I didn’t see him run over to Marco and let him know we’re here either,” Elsie points out, ever the devil’s advocate.
“I suppose you’re right.” But it doesn’t escape me that he is Marco’s friend, both he and Brian, and that’s where his loyalties would be.
Yes, it’s going to be a very interesting night indeed.
The party is packed, the music is fantastic, and there is a buffet catered by one of the best organic local restaurants in the area. Elsie and I have kept an eye on Marco and Liana from the bar, which is a good distance across the room, sipping on killer smoky drinks. They literally have smoke coming out of them.
It doesn’t appear as if Marco showing any intimate familiar interest in Liana. I didn’t think he would. He might be kinky but he’s honorable, but she is most certainly putting it out there that she wants him and would take him right here in this room full of people if that’s what he wanted. I can’t help but see, along with everyone else who isn’t blind, that she’s rubbing her perfect curves all over him every chance she gets. Initially I wanted to go over there and rip every strand of natural red hair out of her head but then I just started feeling sorry for her, that she is that easy she has to beg for it even though it’s clear he doesn’t want her.
It looks like Liana is working the room, chatting with different people and bringing them over to Marco to introduce him. It seems she’s making connections for him or for them. Some he just shakes hands with and a few words are passed. Others sit with him for a while and chat. There is another guy there, a handsome casual and relaxed guy dressed up like a biker. He doesn’t look like a biker type though, the complete opposite actually, very laidback and nonchalant. He must be an associate of Marco’s; he appears to be part of their team.
“What do you think, Elsie?” I lean my head over to her and ask as we’re leaning casually against the bar as if we’re watching some kind of sporting event or just waiting for a bus, not taking my eyes off them.
“I think this is totally a working gig. The bimbo’s been bringing people over to His Highness and he’s been holding court. The other dude is his sidekick. You see how they take turns talking? They work off each other.” She looks up at me pulling my attention from the scene I’ve been intently observing. “I think it’s all good here, babe. We can relax.”
I let out a breath of relief. Thank God, I would have hated walking in on something. I’m afraid to admit how much I care for Marco, afraid that I let myself fall too far too fast with blinders on, not only giving him my body but my heart and soul as well. And the last time I did that my life was shattered. I’m not about to let anybody do that to me again, not even Marco.
“Time to really start partying, Elizabeth, let’s dance,” Elsie shouts at me over the music and pulls me onto the dance floor. We’re moving to Rhianna and Chris Brown teasing each other in the song Birthday Cake when a pair of arms come and rest on my shoulders.
“Hey, Elizabeth!”
I recognize that man’s voice, so I look at Elsie for a clue. She has a cat-that-ate-the-canary kind of smile on her face. Well then, at least I know he’s safe and not some douchebag. I think. I turn my face slowly to see it’s the young camera guy from the Safe Haven set Elsie was talking about earlier. I turn in his arms and hug him back. It really is good to see him, and I’m happy he is still definitely his adorably sexy self with his gauges and tasteful tattoos. He asked me out for drinks every weekend during the movie project and I never went until we wrapped. We had a couple of drinks one Friday night, and he told me how attracted he was to me and how much he wanted to make love to me. The funny thing is one afternoon before that after he’d come into the office for something, I can’t remember what it was, I’d gotten this crazy thing in my head. I knew he liked me and I have to be honest I was attracted to him as well. I kind of started this poll in our department. “Who do you think is good in bed from the crew?” I guess I was feeling a bit aroused from all of the sexual energy going on between him and me. No one picked him, except me of course, and I was surprised because he definitely was and still is sexy.
“Hi, Damien!” He’s dressed up tonight as a doctor and I almost find it hysterical.
“Don’t tell me your name is Dr. Love.” I laugh at him.
“I just want to be your gynecologist, Elizabeth, always have,” he replies with a devilish little grin.
I sense him before I hear him.
“She is not in need of your services, doc.”
I can feel him whenever he is close, pulling me to him with this electricity between us. Damien and I both turn our heads to look at Marco. He looks angry standing there with his jaw tense and his fists clenched.
“Come on, baby, dance with me.”
I can hear Elsie shout to Damien as we walk away, “Boyfriend,” in explanation.
Marco takes my hand and leads me away from Elsie and Damien, turns me around and pulls me to him holding me close as Chris Brown exclaims he wants to fuck Rhianna. He places a hand flat and low on my abdomen, moving my hips as his other hand pulls one of my arms around him. I begin to move, grinding, bumping, stroking him. It’s obvious that’s what we want to do to each other right now; angry, hair-pulling, teeth-biting, nail-digging rough sex. The frustration and jealousy between us come out in this sexual dance o
f possession and there is no mistaking we belong to each other.
The next song is Nicole Sherzinger’s and Fifty Cent’s Right There. He answers my push, and I move into his pull, I belong to him and he’s mine, and he knows how to work me, very, very, very well.
When the song is over Marco pulls me from the dance floor and leads me to the bar.
“Give us two of your specials tonight,” Marco tells the bartender. Then he turns to me, mouth clenched and eyes glaring.
“Who was that and why did he have his hands on you, Elizabeth?” The anger has simmered just a little but has not disappeared. Good, how do you like a taste of your own medicine?
“That was an old friend I worked with a couple of years ago,” I say smoothly and noncommittally. He can think whatever he’d like. I’m not giving him anymore, not until he tells me what I want to know about She-devil. “I didn’t know you would be here tonight.”
His eyebrow shoots up in surprise and I can’t help but smile. I try to make it innocent instead of letting the satisfaction I’m feeling show.
“And is my being here creating a problem for you?”
Oh, he is getting pissed again.
“Actually I had wondered that very thing myself. Are you here with anyone?”
Realization slowly shows on his sinfully striking face.
“I told you that I was going to accept a business invitation. I am not the only one that is part of that company. Liana and Steve are here as well.”
I continue to look at him, waiting for more.
“Elizabeth, I’m not fucking her,” he says adamantly.
“Fantastic. Then are you having a nice time?” I coo at him. He has removed his jacket and is wearing suspenders. I slide a finger slowly up one of them, over his shoulder and lean into him raising my face to his as I do.
“It’s fine, but will be much better if you keep guys from touching you. It makes me insane,” he says pulling me tightly to him, molding me to him as his mouth takes mine possessively putting his final claim of ownership on me.
When we come up for air I tell him breathlessly, “I’ve got to get back to my date.”
He looks up over my head still holding me to him and searches the room. His eyes stop and a slow grin spreads across his face.
“I think Elsie’s in very capable hands, baby, two sets as a matter of fact. I know they will take very good care of her.”
It sounds like he knows a secret that he’s not quite willing to share so I follow his eyes and stop when I find Elsie. Both Brian and John are with her, one on each side, looking as if they are…claiming ownership of her as well. And Elsie looks very willing to give it. Is there something happening here? I look back to Marco and he just shrugs, smiling innocently and not saying a thing.
“We did come together. I should get back to her.”
“Okay, as long as it’s understood you will be coming home with me and when we get there I’m going to tie you up and make that sexy fucking body of yours all pink for making me crazy. Got it, love?” His face is close to mine, his tone low, sensual and commanding.
My body trembles in excitement starting from the clench of my sex and spreading out all through me, finally making me pull my lower lip between my teeth in anticipation. He stares at my mouth as his lips part slightly.
“Give it to me.” His voice is quietly demanding.
I release my lip. I stare into his face. He’s eating my mouth with his eyes, and after a moment his tongue strokes it before sucking it in and nibbling on it, making me moan with desire.
“Go now, Elizabeth, or I’m going to fuck you right here in front of all these people.”
And that is exactly what I would love. I turn to go back to Elsie and out of the corner of my eye I see She-devil through a group of people standing against the wall at the corner of the bar watching Marco and me. She has the most venomous and hateful look on her face. If looks could kill we would both be dead. It sends a feeling of foreboding through me.
Elsie and I are at the bar talking and laughing about how ridiculous the divas are when they are drunk, making complete asses out of themselves.
“It seems we’ve missed an inside joke, Brian. What do you think they’re laughing at?” comes John’s deep rumbling voice from behind me and Elsie. We jump, grabbing each other, looking as if we’ve been caught being absolutely up to no good.
“Jesus, guys, you scared us half to death. You shouldn’t go sneaking up on people like that,” I tell the two snickering testosterone brothers.
“You can find out what’s really going on if no one knows you’re coming, Elizabeth. And from the way you two were carrying on, I’d bet it was no good.” John, smirks at us.
“I bet there’s a lot more than meets the eye,” Brian says mischievously looking at Elsie and causing a blush to spread across her face and up under her mask.
“I would definitely have to agree with you,” John says as his gaze holds on Elsie a heartbeat too long. Ooh, I think this is going to get interesting.
Iggy Azalea fills the air with her popping sexy lyrics in Beg For It. Elsie jumps up from her position against the bar shouting, “Come on, we’re all dancing!” grabbing the guys.
“We can’t, Elsie, we’re working but you two go ahead and we’ll be there in spirit.”
Elsie is almost jerked back like a rubberband, she didn’t budge John or Brian when she pulled on their hands.
“Yeah, Cat Woman, you go ahead, we’ll have fun watching,” Brian says, quite the naughty boy.
We pop and grind on the dance floor, laughing and moving. Damien joins us on the dance floor with a friend of his. That little tattoo boy can really move for a grunge kid. After three more songs, I see Mr. Grumpy Bear Marco giving me the death glare from the edge of the dance floor. When he catches my eye, he motions me to him with his finger. I excuse myself and meet him by the bar.
“Can I have a bottle of water please?” I say to the bartender.
“Have fun with John and Brian?” Marco asks.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
“They snuck up on us and scared us. I guess they were just checking up to see if we were having a good time.”
“Come on, Elizabeth, I want to introduce you to someone if you can tear yourself away from Dr. Love over there.”
I open the bottle and swallow half of it in one gulp and look at Marco like, You’ve got to be kidding me!
“Marco, may I remind you that this is a party and I have friends, believe it or not, and some of them are male. We are just having a good time.” I lift the bottle to finish it off.
“I’m sorry, you’re right, I’m being unreasonable. I just wish this wasn’t a business function for me.”
Aw, he feels left out. I’m so thoughtless. He wanted to spend tonight with me and I knew he was hurt the first time I told him I was going to be at a party tonight with Elsie.
“No, it’s my fault. I’m sorry, but not for hanging out with my friends. I understand what you are saying though. I’d love to meet this person, let’s go.”
He leads me to this associate of his, placing his hand possessively on the small of my back. It turns me on every time he does, sending electric shocks coursing through my body.
We come up to Liana and another gentleman. They turn toward us, Liana smiles a very fake camera-ready grin and the guy at first glance seems nice and very laidback. But looking a little closer, I see his eyes are very sharp, not missing a thing.
“Elizabeth, this is Steve Mikelson, my right-hand man. His father was one of the original members of the company when it began.”
Steve shakes my hand, taking it in both of his big calloused ones. That surprises me, from first glance I wouldn’t think he’d have working man’s hands. There is something about this guy that I can’t put my finger on though, his relaxed disposition is not the man I see in his eyes.
“Elizabeth, it’s great to meet you. I was wondering when Marco was going to bring you out of hiding and stop bein
g so selfish with you.”
The charm oozing from Steve is impressive and immediately disarming. He has a talent for quickly putting people at ease. I see Liana out of my peripheral vision and I can tell her nostrils are flaring. Whoa, She-devil, pull those claws in. It’s very difficult for me to believe that her strong animosity toward me is jealousy alone. A grown, sane, intelligent woman wouldn’t act like this just from an attraction to a man. Yes, it is Marco, but still, this is extreme.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Steve. Thank God Marco has you. I’m sure he’d be a mess alone.”
Steve’s smile is genuine, almost boyish.
“Well, someone has to keep things working.” He laughs and everyone joins in.
I look through the crowd and see Brian watching us from across the room. He has a serious expression on his face, but I suppose that’s normal for someone working private security with such high-profile people in attendance. I look toward the other side of the room and John is standing stone still as well looking out over the crowd. I envision them going out on some covert operation with guns and grenades strapped across their chests and knives tied to their legs. I can certainly see the military men standing here in this room regardless of what they’re wearing.
“So you and Marco have worked together a while?” I ask Steve.
“We pretty much came down from New York together. The man who started the company, Vinny D’Angelo, is an old friend of my dad’s. That’s how my family ended up in Florida, I guess. Marco too.” He looks at Marco and he nods in agreement.
“So how do you like Wilmington? It’s quite an impressive project, I must say,” I ask him, genuinely curious to know how this good-looking playboy likes our little city. I wonder if he feels like a fish out of water.
He smiles crookedly and answers, “It’s been very, very accommodating, I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Interesting answer but I smile and nod. No one knows what someone else is into and who am I to judge?
I turn in the arm Marco still has circled around my waist. I stopped worrying about Liana a long time ago. I’ve decided I’m not wasting any more of my time and energy on that woman. Unless she crosses that line, she doesn’t exist to me. Marco looks down at me and kisses my forehead.
Switch Page 15
