As I lie there, my eyes closed tight against the invading light, I think back to all those weeks ago and what a fucking bitch I was to her. I let my insecurities make bad decisions, and I almost missed out on knowing what an amazing person she is. I was so angry at the time, but I will forever be grateful to Dad, Nana, and Poppy for not making excuses for my shit.
Punishing me and making me take some time out to evaluate my life was the best thing that could have happened to me. It made me realize all the people I’d considered friends were no more than users, hoping that being in my orbit could be good for their own careers. I also learned that I much prefer the hands-on design part of the business to the everyday running crap. I was more than happy to hand it over to someone else, and Molly and Emma have been doing an amazing job as temporary CEOs. It’s time to find a bright and shiny college graduate for them to mentor, because I will not be returning to the role, ever.
All the applications are in, and we have a Monday morning meeting set for the three of us and Nana to go over all the applicants. Basically, between the party and the impending meeting, my “me time” is over as soon as I convince myself to get up.
Hauling myself out of bed, I make my way to the shower in the suite. An ache between my legs reminds me of what transpired in that storage room, and when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I shudder at the sight. I hadn’t removed my makeup before collapsing into bed, so it’s smeared rather unattractively across my face. My black hair is a mess, and my blue-green eyes look like they have sunk into my skull. My normally pale skin looks almost unhealthily translucent. Fuck, I require high maintenance before I can present myself at home without questions being hurled at me. A little roughness is understandable since I was supposed to be celebrating last night, but this…thiscannot be explained to my family.
Sighing, I reach into the cabinet and pull out some Tylenol, popping two of the pills out. I dry swallow them before pulling my shirt over my head. When I got undressed last night, I realized that Batman must have pocketed my panties, which is somewhat horrifying. A stranger is wandering around with my used underwear! It’s kind of fucking creepy, but I also let him do those delicious things to me, so I don’t really have any room to complain, do I?
Another loud sigh fills the quiet bathroom before I can stop it. Shaking my head free of the memories, I turn on the shower and hop in when it gets to the right temperature. I stand under the stream of water, hoping it will wash away the onslaught of feelings those memories have created. Shame and guilt are two of the most prevalent, but mixed in there islonging—longing for another no strings attached, drug-fueled fuck in the dark where all I have to do is feel. No need to worry about consequences or gossip because no one knows but the two of us. No need to worry about the morning after because neither of us want anything but to get our rocks off before going our separate ways. I can even handle the disdain, to be quite honest. It’s not like I don’t feel the same way. Self-loathing is becoming a familiar emotion.
I’m not sure how long I spend in the shower, but by the time I get out and dry off, Hope is banging on the bathroom door. “Hurry up! We need to get moving if we’re going to get to Dad’s on time. The car is waiting for us.”
I open the door and push her out of my way. “Okay, don’t get your panties in a knot. I won’t be long.” I move over to where my bag is and pull out a long-sleeved maxi dress from one of Couture’s lines and some underwear. Dropping my towel, not caring about Hope being in the room, I quickly pull on my underwear, but not before she can gasp and point at my hips.
“What the fuck is that?” she asks. Frowning, I look down. Sure enough, five perfect round fingerprint marks decorate each side of my hips, showing exactly where Batman was hanging onto me last night. Fuck! I almost snort with laughter at the look on Hope’s face—her eyes are comically wide, and her mouth has formed a perfect circle—but I pull the dress over my head, ignoring the giant purple elephant in the room.
“Jazzy!” she growls. “When you disappeared, I thought you were getting some air or peeing or something, but you were doingsomuch more than that. Was it Batman? Did that man hurt you? I thought you were overwhelmed by the crowds and the funerals and everything yesterday. Should I have had security chase after him? Do we need to pull up the security footage?” Hope’s voice is all panicked as she fires question after question at me while I towel dry my hair, brush it, and pull it into a low ponytail at the base of my neck.
Finally, I face her once more. “No, it’s fine. Batman fucked me so good I’m still feeling him this morning.”
After a loud breath that seems to help her stuff her concerns down, Hope’s worry turns to glee, and she raises her hand for a high five. “Yes, bitch, good for you!”
Rolling my eyes, I slap her hand before searching for my shoes and slipping them on. I gather up all my crap, shove it in my bag, and zip it up.
“Who was he? Are you going to see him again?” she asks as I pick it up and put it over my shoulder before pushing her out of my room. Her bag is already by the door, so she picks it up before we leave our suite. The cleaners will be in there sometime today to put it back to rights for the next time we need it.
“We didn’t take the time to exchange names,” I explain as I press the button to call the elevator. “And we certainly didn’t exchange numbers afterward, so there is very little chance I’ll be seeing Batman or whatever his name was again.”
Hope whistles as we step in and make our way down to the lobby and out to the valet parking where our car and security are waiting. The neighboring suite had been reserved for them, so they must have been up and out the door pretty quickly to get down here without us running into each other. Or Hope’s just so organized she knocked on their door before coming to get me. That’s the more likely scenario.
“Well, ain’t that a shame. Anyone who gives you good enough dick that you’re still feeling it the next day is definitely worth a repeat performance.”
I give her a wane smile and climb into the back of the car, nodding my thanks to the security guard holding it. He isn’t one of the men who was sitting in the back with us last night. He must have been in the front. He’s unsuccessfully trying to smother a smirk, so I’m guessing he overheard what Hope just said. He’s a tall, well-built Asian man, with shiny black hair tied back in a ponytail much like mine is. I’m going to go with Japanese. He climbs in behind Hope and pulls the door closed before knocking on the dividing window. I get a wink when he sees me looking at him, then he starts talking to the other guard who had already been seated when we arrived.
Hope’s elbow nudges me in the side before she leans in. “Now that one is a tall glass of deliciousness too. I wouldn’t mind being the seaweed to his sushi roll.”
I tear my eyes away from the gorgeous man. “Fuck, Hope, you can’t say that! You sound like a racist.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine, what about the taco to his meat, the bun to his sausage, the ice cream to his pickle?” she says a little too loudly.
I frown at the last one, which, to me, sounds like nothing I want in my life.“Huh?”
Before she can answer, a cultured, slightly accented voice does.
“I believe she’s suggesting that she’d like me to park my rocket in her docking bay.” He looks at the other guard who’s not even hiding his grin and raises an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t you say so?”
“Sounds to me like she’d like to be the sheath to your sword or the holster to your gun,” he says, joining in.
“Indeed?” the original man says blandly, and Hope blushes bright red as the two of them burst into laughter, no longer able to control themselves.
“I’m so sorry. You weren’t meant to hear that. My ears are still recovering from last night, and I must have been speaking louder than I thought.”
The man is kind enough to wave off her apology, which saves things from becoming even more awkward. “Don’t be. I can’t deny that I haven’t made the same kind of innuendos about women.” The guard is gracious enough to let it slide, and I can’t believe I’ve been so rude to the men hired to protect us. I don’t know any of their names, which feels like a massive slight considering these guys are probably going to learn more about me than I’d ever wish them to.
“I’m sorry. I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Jacinta, and this is Hope.” The two men exchange a glance, and I can feel Hope staring at me with a concerned look on her face.
She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Jazzy was fairly out of it when you were all introduced to us. Her brother had just been shot, and his recovery was still up in the air. You’ll have to forgive her for not remembering.”
