Chapter Eight

Chapter EightOn a video call with my friends the following afternoon as I meandered around the grassy area at the rear of my home, I wasn’t surprised to see their faces turning various shades of red. I’d known that they wouldn’t take the news of Camila’s ‘visit’ well.Cat hissed. “She honestly tried to blackmail you? That fucking skank.”“Appropriate description,” Briar gritted out, tossing down her pen.“I cannot believe the nerve of that woman,” clipped Izzy. “It’s bad enough that she turned up at your house, Inaya. But threatening you?” She shut the dishwasher door harder than necessary. “I would seriously love to scalp that bitch.”“I’d help you, Iz.” Cat shook her head in disgust, her upper lip curling. “What kind of person would be prepared to use the tragic story of a man’s suicide in such a spiteful way?”Watching as both Chubs and Goose came rocketing toward me, I adjusted the position of the sunglasses that kept slipping down my nose. “Kaiser doesn’t think that Camila will truly blab about it to the tabloids. His opinion is that she only made that threat to garner a reaction from him.”“But that doesn’t make the situation any better,” said Izzy, her expression tight. “Even if she did lie, she’s stillcapitalizing on someone else’s tragedy, isn’t she? She’s using his suicide to try to get what she wants. Or, more specifically, to get rid of you.”“Don’t be so sure that she’s calling your bluff, Inaya,” advised Briar as she leaned back against her headboard. “If what her uncle told Trace is true, she’s a freaking master at creating messes when she doesn’t get her way.”Forcing a smile for Goose as he dropped the soggy tennis ball at my feet, I gave his head a quick stroke. “Kaiser confirmed that she acts out like a spoilt princess when her world isn’t going exactly how she wants it to go.”“Kind of like my mother,” Briar grumbled.“We could use Danton’s shady connections to have Camila shot,” Cat proposed.I jerked back. “What? Don’t be—”“It doesn’t have to be a killing shot,” Cat added, as if that would make the whole thing okay.“I personally think this is the way to go,” said Briar.Izzy gave a firm, decisive nod. “Best idea I’ve heard all day.”I inwardly sighed, scooping the ball out of the prickly grass. “I appreciate that you’re all so protective, I truly do, but I’m looking to handle this in a way that doesn’t involve blood and bullet wounds.” I tossed the ball far again, and the dogs immediately pursued it.“Then you’d better hope that Camila does the smart thing for a change,” said Cat, bracing an elbow on her work desk. “Because I can’t otherwise promise not to make a few calls to certain people.”“I’ve heard that a bullet to the kneecap is hellishly painful,” Briar piped up. “Just wanted to put that out there.”Cat gave a thumbs up. “I’ll note that.”“It’ll be less than Camila deserves if she follows through on her threat,” Izzy claimed. “Not that I think the story of Patton’s suicide would taint your career if it came to the surface, Inaya. No one can truly blame you for his actions, you’re not responsible for what he did. But the media will sensationalize the fuck out of the incident just because your name is attached to it, and that’s cruel to all involved.”“Which is why my publicist lost her shit,” I said as the dogs again raced across the grass toward me. It was Chubs who had the ball this time, and the little shit refused to drop it.“You warned her about this?” asked Izzy.“Yes. She’s a force of nature, so I trust her to deal with this.” I pried the ball out of Chubs’ teeth and then threw it far again, wincing as it bounced off the small bridge and plopped into the shallow stream. “She’s going to coordinate with Kaiser’s publicist.”“I agree with Izzy,” began Briar, drawing my gaze to her. “I don’t think that people will believe you’re at fault for what Patton did, Inaya—though, no, that isn’t the point. I’m just saying that, in fact, I think that if the media pounces on any aspect of this story it will be about how harsh the judges of the competition can be.”Possibly, but … “For me, it’s not about how it will affect my career. It’s about how it will affect the people closest to Patton.” I swatted at the fly that flew near my face. “His family blamed me, yes, but they’re not bad people. And no one should have to have the memory of their deceased son mowed over like that.”“I have faith in yours and Kaiser’s publicists; I reckon they’ll ensure that Camila keeps her bloody mouth shut.” Izzy leaned back against her kitchen counter and cupped the side of her neck. “She’ll be more concerned about her own image than yours.”I crossed to the nearby bench and sat. The heat from the sun-warmed wood seeped through my jeans. “My guts says the same. Fingers crossed we’re both right.”A slight breeze whispered over my skin and ruffled my hair. I curled the wayward strands behind my ear and then tipped my head back to enjoy the kiss of the sun on my face.“Are you going to tell us what exactly went on between Kaiser and his weird-ass ex?” asked Cat, pulling my attention back to my phone.I tensed. “No. That’s his story to tell.”“So he did tell you everything?” asked Izzy.I jiggled my head. “More or less.”Her lips pursed, Briar gave a slow nod. “That’s a good sign.”I frowned. “What is?”“That he talks to you about stuff,” Briar elaborated. “It shows that he doesn’t see you as a mere sex object. A theory which is supported by how he wanted you two to have a meal together at the lounge.”“A lot of people in arrangements eat at the lounge,” I pointed out. “But yes, I agree that I’m not a faceless sex toy to him.” I felt my mouth curve as I remembered … “He actually said that I don’t annoy him as much as other people do.”All three women stared back at me, clearly unsure why I’d find such a comment in any way flattering.“And they say romance is dead,” said Briar, her voice dry.“That’s as near to a compliment as a girl can get from Kaiser.” Pausing as the dogs returned to me, I retrieved the ball from Chubs’ jaws once more and then slung it again. “He doesn’t do compliments. Except for when we’re getting down and dirty. He says some pretty awesome stuff then. Only about my physical attributes, but it’s awesome all the same.”Cat leaned forward, making the leather of her desk chair creak slightly. “Like what?”I twisted my mouth. “Let’s just say he’s very fond of my ass.”“Then he’s gonna want to fuck it,” said Briar.Cat exhaled heavily. “You’re so blasé about anal these days, Briar. Not surprising, I suppose, given that you’re in a triad.”I slanted my head as I asked Briar, “How are things between you and your boys?”She smiled. “They couldn’t be better. Which sometimes makes me nervous, because I worry I’ll somehow mess everything up. I don’t think I will. But I still worry.”Izzy gave a self-depreciating smile. “Same here. It’s only because it would devastate us to lose what we have.” Her face scrunched up. “It continues to annoy me that I love Cole as much as I do. Which he thinks is hilarious.”I felt my lips cant up. “Do you have a moving date yet?”“Actually, I do indeed.” Izzy pushed away from the counter. “I meant to call you all today to ask if you’re okay to give me a hand moving my stuff on Friday. He doesn’t want me to wait until after his next fight.”“I’m in,” I told her, pulling a face as the dogs crashed into each other on their way back to me.“Same,” announced Briar.Cat lifted her hand. “I’ll be there.”“Thank you, I super appreciate it,” said Izzy.“I was going to call you all today, too,” Cat declared. “Danton’s taking me out for a meal on Wednesday for my birthday. He said I could invite all of you if I want. You up for it?”“Absolutely,” I replied just as Goose dropped the ball at my feet.Both Briar and Izzy also answered in the affirmative.Cat beamed, delighted. “Great.” She gave us specifics—when, where, and that Danton would insist on paying. “You’re welcome to bring your dudes, of course. You included, Inaya.”Tossing the ball yet again, I felt my brow pucker. “I don’t have a dude.”She rolled her eyes. “I mean you could bring Kaiser.”“Ha. Funny.”Briar tipped her head to the side, eyeing me in surprise. “What, you wouldn’t want to bring him?”I’d take him if it wasn’t for one very simple fact. “He wouldn’t come.”“You don’t know that for sure,” said Cat.I gave a short, humorless chuckle. “Oh, I do. One of the conditions of our arrangement is that we don’t go out on dates, remember? Taking him for a meal with my friends would seem too much like a date.”Izzy’s nose wrinkled. “That’s true. But you could still ask him.”“Only to get rudely shot down? No thanks. I’ll bring Judy.” Hearing soft murmurs and a distinctive cat-yowl, I glanced back over my shoulder. “Speak of the she-devil …” Judy was slowly padding my way, a noisy Sushi at her side. The calico seemed to love the sound of her own voice.Knowing the woman would eavesdrop if I stayed on call and massively support my friends’ opinion that I should invite Kaiser to Cat’s meal, I rounded up the phone conversation and then rang off.Reaching my side, Judy grinned as the dogs crowded her, licking at her hands. “Talking to our new neighbor, were you?”“No, I was on a video call with my friends.” Standing, I pocketed my cell. “They all said to tell you hi. Oh, and you’re invited to Cat’s birthday meal on Wednesday, by the way.”“That will be nice. Are we taking Kaiser with us?”“Why would we?”She shot me an impatient look. “You can’t tell me that you haven’t seen more of him lately.”“It’s a casual fling, nothing more. We don’t date, we don’t act as each other’s plus-one, we just—”“Have raunchy sex? That’s a good start, I suppose. The ‘casual’ part won’t last long.”“Don’t start with all that again.” Catching sight of Sushi leaping into a flower bed, I sighed. “What is wrong with that cat?”Judy straightened her shoulders in affront. “Nothing at all is wrong with her.”“She keeps jumping into shrubs and flower beds and even the damn stream.”“She’s bored. I told you we need the bird—”“Not happening,” I said, slamming up my hand. “Let it go.”Judy huffed. “It’s not as if you’d have dead birds all over the estate. She likes to eat the bodies.”I grimaced. “That doesn’t actually comfort me.”Her brow creased in surprise. “No?”“No.” I turned toward the house, shaking my head. “How about we go inside and have dinner? I’m starving.”“Works for me.” She linked her arm through mine as we walked. “I made stew. Made a little too much, actually.” She paused, twisting her mouth. “There’ll be plenty left over if you’d like to take some over to K—”“Grams.”Her lips flattened. “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”“So, what, you want to win his heart?”“I want you to.” She poked my shoulder.“You could tell him that it was you whocooked the stew.”“I won’t be telling him anything, because I’m not taking him any stew.”“I can’t believe you can be so cold toward the man you’re going to marry.”“Woman, I’m not going to marry him.”***The following Friday, I blinked down at my phone screen as a text message from Kaiser came through: I’ll pick you up at 6:45. Be ready.In some ways, the message was quite typical of him. It was short. Curt. Informational. Lacked in hellos, goodbyes, and emojis. But it differed from every other text he’d sent me in one very definitive way. It mentioned picking me up on the way to the Vault.He’d pretty much proclaimed he’d be here. Like he did it all the time. In reality, this had literally come out of nowhere. We’d always arrived at the club separately in the past. He’d never once even suggested that we should switch things up.Sitting on the edge of my bed, I replied: Pick me up?His response popped up on the screen fairly quickly: Yes.Just yes. That was it. No explanation. Really, though, should I have expected anything different? Kaiser wasn’t a man who explained himself. Nor was he much of a texter. I sassily typed: Thanks for asking.My phone chimed mere seconds later with another message: You’re welcome.Sarcastic little prick, wasn’t he?Three dots danced on the screen, and then: Don’t walk all the way to the front gate, I’ll text you when I’m outside so you can buzz me in.A considerate little prick too, since it was no short walk and I’d be wearing heels. Full of orders tonight, aren’t you?Yes. And you will obey.He was also an arrogant prick. I did what I knew would annoy the bossy asshole. I replied with three-lines worth of hearts, kisses, and love emojis.Within moments, another text appeared on the screen: Fucking hell Inaya.Almost able to hear the exasperation in his text-voice, I snickered and tossed my phone on the bed beside me. Then I started getting ready for my evening at the Vault.It was two hours later that Kaiser’s chauffeured car pulled to a stop in my driveaway. Judy waved from the front door, her face all lit up. Rolling my eyes, I slid into the vehicle.Looking far too sexy for any woman’s peace of mind, Kaiser gave me one of his slow, blatant eye-fucks. “It’s a good thing you didn’t wear that dress at the club before I claimed you. The wolves would have been circling when I tracked you down, and that would have pissed me off.”I peered down at my dress. “You don’t like it?”“It’s fucking scandalous.”It really was. Ankle-length with a plunge neck, the red garment had slits running up both thighs. Truthfully, it was tame compared to some of the pieces I’d worn while performing on stage. “Is that a complaint?”“No, because I get to touch you.” He slipped his hand through one slit and splayed it high on my thigh. “Me and only me.”Just then, the engine rumbled to life.“So this is new,” I said.He swept his thumb over my now-tingling skin. “What?”“Us not heading to the Vault separately.”He shrugged. “We live very close to each other, it makes sense for us to ride there together.”“But it never made sense before now?” I teased.He shot me a sour look. “It’s like you live purely to irritate me.”I chuckled, but the sound swiftly morphed into a yawn.His brows snapped together. “Why are you so tired?” he asked, gruff. Like it offended him.“I had a crap night’s sleep, and then I spent the day lugging boxes around and unpacking them for Izzy. She moved in with Cole today. I forgot how tiring it is to do all that stuff.” It had been five years since I last had to do it. “You’ll remember, you only recently moved house.”“I had someone else take care of it for me,” he said, facing forward. “I hate packing and unpacking.”I tipped my head to the side. He hadn’t used the word ‘hate’ in an offhand way. He really meant it. “Any particular reason why?”His jaw went tight, and he kept his eyes firmly fixed ahead. “I had something of a nomadic childhood. Me and my mom moved constantly. It’s why I don’t find touring hard. All I know is the road.”My heart squeezed. “How come you both moved around so often?”His gaze shifted to mine, shuttered. “Why do you want to know?”“So I can sell your answer to the tabloids,” I deadpanned. “Because I’m interested, idiot.”He snorted, his lips ever so slightly twitching. “My background is not interesting. Or original. Or anything worth hearing.”“I’m not expecting it to entertain me. I just want to hear about it.” But the look on his face told me that he didn’t intend to offload it. I sighed. “Look, I get that it’s probably become instinctive for you to hold in personal stuff. I’m the same, because it’s too often sold to the press. But you and I made a deal that we wouldn’t do anything like that, right?”He didn’t respond, visibly hesitant.I angled myself to better face him. “I’ll tell you what … I’ll ask a question. Then you’ll ask a question. We’ll keep going until someone cries foul. Which you’ll probably do in less than two minutes, because you prefer to be broody and mysterious.”He sighed. “You’re incredibly annoying.”“I’m a delight—it’s an inescapable fact. So come on, why did you and your mom move a lot?”He blew out a breath, his gaze dropping to the hand he was stroking up and down my thigh. “Because she was always worried that my dad would find us if we didn’t. He was an abusive piece of shit who liked to beat her until she was bloody and bruised. It wasn’t until I was six that she found the guts to leave him. I think it often takes more strength to run than to stay.”My heart went out to him. How awful would it be to see your mother in such a state at the hands of your own damn father? And if Kaiser had witnessed the beatings, it would have made it so much worse.“Your turn,” he continued. “Your grandmother said that you didn’t bother with the rest of your family. Why not?”Judy was a damn chatty Cathy. “I don’t know where my mom is. She’s a drug addict; fell off the radar after leaving me and my dad when I was two. Though she’d gotten clean a year before I was born, she couldn’t hold out in the long-run. Her relatives—with the exception of Judy—had no time for her even when she was clean, because she’d burned a lot of bridges over the years. By extension, they had no time for me, so they weren’t in my life.” I paused. “Have you seen or heard from your dad since you were a kid?”“He caught up to me when I was eighteen. My mom had died the year before. Cancer. I told him to fuck off, and he did.” His eyes narrowed. “You explained why you don’t see your maternal relatives. What about your dad and his side of the family?”“He fell out with his family when he was eighteen, left New Zealand, and moved to America. He had no contact with them, so neither did I. If they’re anything like him, they’re toxic assholes. Quite a few came crawling out of the woodwork when my career took off and sent me letters—they weren’t interested in knowing me, they wanted cash.” I hadn’t bothered responding to their attempts to contact me.“Including your dad?”“No. That would mean acknowledging where I am in life, and he’ll never want to do that.” Not after years of drumming it into my head that I’d never make anything of myself.Kaiser’s brow furrowed. “He didn’t support you?”“Quite the opposite. But I have Judy. She made all the difference. Did your mom support you?”He nodded. “If she hadn’t made me promise to find a band, I might not have joined Absinthe. She had an amazing voice but no guts to use it. There wasn’t an ounce of confidence in her system. She wanted different for me. Did you think you’d win the talent contest?”“I point blank refused to doubt myself at any stage. I didn’t allow myself to believe for one single second that I wouldn’t win.” More, I’d been determined not to listen to the critical voice in my head that was pretty much my father’s voice. “But when I did win, shock set in fast. And I realized that I hadn’t really been so certain at all. Did you think you’d get where your mom wanted you to be when you first joined Absinthe?”“I didn’t ever let myself consider that I wouldn’t. Not even when we played in shitty, dingy bars for months and months on end.”“Ah, the whole paying your dues thing. You told me a little about that the day we first met,” I added, feeling my mouth curve.“I was harsh on you that day,” he admitted. “I’ve seen so many young people buckle under the pressure of fame; watched them go down self-destructive roads and fuck up their lives, especially when that fame dwindled.”So had I, and I’d only been in the music business for six years.“You were this fresh-faced little thing, and I couldn’t see how the industry wouldn’t swallow you whole. But it didn’t. You’re always smiling and laughing. You don’t do drugs, don’t drink much, don’t party a lot. You stay focused on your path, and you’ve become an inspiration to a lot of young people. No easy thing. I respect the hell out of it.”I swallowed hard, my chest squeezing. He could have no idea how much his words meant to me, and I had no interest in clueing him in—it would give him too much power. Trying to keep the moment light, I teasingly prompted, “And you’re sorry for pre-judging me.”A smile flashed in his eyes. “Am I?”I chuckled. “Fuck you, asshole. You could at least apologize for being such a dick to me that day. You looked at me like I’d spat on your food.”“I was pissed at you.”I felt my brows draw together. “Why?”“Because I wanted to straight up fuck you, and that made me feel like a cradle-robbing bastard.”“And that was my fault?”“Yeah.” His gaze flitted over my face, as intent as any touch. “You’re still too young for me, really. But my dick doesn’t give an everloving fuck.”Which I was very grateful for. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t judge you for being a dirty old man.”He fired a glare at me. “I’m not fucking old. But you should sure as shit be thinking a man my age has no business touching a woman your age.”God, the way he talked you’d think he was fifty years my senior or something. I gave his thigh a sympathetic pat. “It’s not your fault that twenty-five-year-old boobs are mesmerizing.”Fighting a smile, he shook his head. “I swear you were put on this Earth to test me.”“I’d say you’re failing, because you totally wanna see my boobs right now. Admit it.”His eyes darkened and dropped to my breasts. “I’ll be seeing all of you very soon.”Once we arrived at the Vault a short time later, we went straight to the lounge. There were occasions where we hung at the bar before secluding ourselves in a private room. Tonight, we didn’t. He was eager to get me out of my dress, he claimed.A claim he proved the moment we entered a dimly lit room that resembled a forest clearing at night. It was amazing with all the fake trees, artificial grass, and woodland sounds such as crickets chirping and owls hooting. There was also the slightest breeze that rustled the leaves and grass.All while eating at my mouth, he divested me of my clothes in record time and then tugged the hair tie out of my hair so that it tumbled around my shoulders. I had him naked just as quickly, and then we were all hands and mouths.Like always, I fought him for dominance.Like always, I lost but wasn’t unhappy about it.Soon enough, he had me flat on my back on the ground—the fake grass was soft against my skin, thankfully. “If you’re not already on the pill, you need to get on it.” He cupped my pussy. “I want to come inside you.”I licked my lips. “I’m already on it. I haven’t slept with anyone other than you since I was last screened.” Everyone who joined the Vault were regularly screened for STDs—it made playing safer for members on that score.“You’re the only person I’ve fucked since I was last tested,” he said, slipping his finger between my folds.“Then you can scrap condoms tonight if you want.”He went still. For about three seconds. Then he burst into movement—kissing me, stroking me, overwhelming me.Not long later, I was on my hands and knees while he hammered into me from behind, fisting my hair tight. Damn, it was so much better skin-to-skin.It wasn’t long before my orgasm swept me under, but he didn’t join me. He pulled out. Flipped me onto my back. Gave me his entire weight. And then plunged his cock deep.He powered into me yet again, driving harder and faster. When another release crept up on me, he shook his head and said, “Me first. I want you to feel my come filling you up before you let go.” His speed turned feral and frantic as he chased his own orgasm, and I soon felt every hot blast of his release against my inner walls.Something about that moment, about feeling Kaiser empty himself inside me while bare, shoved me into an explosive orgasm that all but leveled me.When I finally came to, he was lying on his side next to me, his hand sliding between my legs. I watched as he scooped out some of his come with one finger and then doodled something on my stomach with it. “What are you writing?”His gaze snapped to mine, gleaming with something I couldn’t quite name. He grunted and then dropped a bruising kiss on my mouth that stole my breath, and I completely forgot my question.***Other than for us ceasing to use condoms, life went on as it always did over the following two weeks. I worked on my album. I spent time with Judy. I hung out with my friends. I met up with Kaiser at the Vault on weekends.More, Judy repeatedly chewed my ass about not inviting him over for dinner. But she thankfully hadn’t played the damsel outside his house again, and I took that as a win. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t buy it a second time round.Another thing I was thankful for was that there wasn’t a peep from Camila. It would seem that the call his publicist made to her must have had the desired effect. My own publicist was highly pleased about that.So, on the whole, everything was going swimmingly well. Life was good. Real good.Until it wasn’t.