Destructive Us: A Luxe Novel: 3 Read online

  but it's for the best.

  Rayne was here past eleven. Oddly enough we talked about El a lot. She didn't really understand how she came back out of nowhere. I was honest without hurting her feelings. She wasn't happy when she left. I think more disappointed we were never going to be something. Even if there wasn't an El, we would have never been something. If there was no El, I'd still be paying Jacks for dates and occasionally meeting a girl in a bar to fuck, on top of throwing Rayne in there for the occasional lay.

  "You know I had no feelings for her, right?" I hope this eases her mind.

  "No I don't," she responds in a matter-of-fact tone.

  "I didn't. I haven't had feelings for a woman since Layna and that was many years ago, El. You kind of came in and fucked me up." My smile is supposed to offer solace, but she doesn't seem to like I said that.

  "Well I'm sorry."

  "I'm not. You're my Zombie Princess and no one in this world would be my princess but you."

  The coy grin on her face is fucking cute but the woman is far from coy.

  "Will you call me tomorrow?" Her head laid onto his shoulder.

  "Tomorrow? Tomorrow's not good. I'll give you a call Friday or Saturday, that work?"

  Sitting up, she rolled her eyes. "No, that's not good."

  He grinned. "I will call you as soon as I leave this hell

  hole." The nurse walked into the room and he gave her a

  crooked smile with a wave. "No offense, Tamra."

  "None taken, Hotshot. You know." She walked over to him and grabbed his wrist, looking at her watch. "This has been the worst patient I've had in a long time. If he weren't so cute I woulda gave him the boot."

  "She doesn't have to do all this touchy feely stuff. She just likes holding me," Justin joked and Lilith giggled while the nurse took his vitals.

  "And who are you? Are you the princess that fills his dreams?" She smiled at Lilith.

  "I'm not sure." Lilith looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. "Am I?"

  "Every night he's talkin' in his sleep about a princess."

  "I don't know what I'm dreaming about. There's a lot of princesses in my

  life."

  "Oh is there?" Lilith chuckled and stood from the bed.

  "Mm-mm, you're one stupid boy." Tamra patted him on the back before giving Lilith a smile and leaving the room.

  Justin grabbed Lilith's wrist, pulling her toward him. "You're my only Zombie Princess." He kissed her.

  "I better be. If I find out you have other zombie girlfriends I won't be happy." She pulled her coat on.

  "Hey, uh, I wanted to talk to you about something," he mentioned before she tried to leave. "Sit down a minute." His hand patted the bed.

  "What, Justin?" Anxiousness and annoyance made her huff. Following up: 'if you have other girlfriends I won’t be

  happy' with 'we need to talk' wasn't a good sign.

  "Don't get sassy, ZP." He chuckled. "It's about work. Your work."

  "Yeah?" She was eager to hear this one.

  "Are you sleeping with clients?"

  "No! I haven't even had a client in awhile. But I'm still dating."

  He twisted his mouth while staring at the ground, not sure how to tell her he didn't want her to.

  "Oh." She let out a laugh and stood. “You’re

  going to try and tell me I can't see clients now."

  "That's not what I'm saying. Not at all. I know you like

  your job. You take it seriously. You do it well…"

  "Buuut?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

  "Do." He looked around the room. "Why-can-do…you need to see clients?"

  "Need? Like I need oxygen to breathe?"

  "I thought you needed me and Jacks to breath?" He grinned at her, trying to lighten the mood. Luckily a smile cracked through and she shook her head. "El, I want you to be happy but you seeing other men makes me really unhappy. Makes me a little jealous, a little angry. I don't fucking like it. I'm not talking about Ian either." He rolled his eyes. "I don't like that but that's different. I'm strictly talking about you giving paying men what's mine…and Jacks'." He discreetly grimaced.

  The expression on her face gave nothing away but he was waiting for her to go off on him.

  "I don't give them what's yours or Ian's. I'm not sleeping with them. Are you asking me not to escort anymore?"

  His mouth hung agape for a few minutes. "No, I'm just telling you it hurts. I understand if you want to do it, it's your job. I'm not going to ask you to stop." The fear that she'd leave him over it made him nervous to give the ultimatum Ian expected. The ultimatum he played out in his head several times but his

  words didn't come close to the scenario he thought through.

  "Then I'm going to do it." She dropped her hands to her sides. He didn't expect that and his expression showed it. "Unless you ask me to stop, I'm not going to." She shrugged.

  "That's how it works? I have to ask you to stop?"

  "With valid reason, yes." She leaned against the bedrail.

  Grabbing her hip, he pulled her to sit in his lap.

  "Will you stop seeing clients…please?"

  "Why?"

  "Because I'm only willing to share you with one other person. I'm barely willing to do that but I'd do anything to keep you my girl so I'll put up with him. I don't want other men seen out with my girl."

  "Okay."

  "Okay?" Fear sat on his vocal chords because it felt like a trap.

  "Yeah. Okay. If it makes you unhappy, I won't do it." She kissed his chin. "You need to shave."

  It took a minute for it to register but he chuckled and said, "I know. I need your help."

  "Tomorrow." She stood again.

  "ZP." He wouldn't let her hand go. "Are you really okay with not seeing clients?"

  "No," she admitted. "I make a lot of money. A lot. But for you, I won't. Don't tell Ian." She kissed his cheek.

  "Don't tell Ian? He wants you to see clients?" He cocked his eyebrow, thinking maybe Ian set him up.

  "No, but he won't ask me not to. I don't want him getting upset that I gave in to you so easily. I usually put up more of a fight with him." She grinned and shoved her fingers into his unruly curls. "You're so unbearably cute." She softly bit his chin. "Even with this beard thing."

  "We'll shave it tomorrow." He kissed her forearm and she pulled her hands from his hair.

  "I really have to go. It's so late, B."

  "Have fun tonight. I'll call you tomorrow?"

  "As soon as you know when you're leaving. Do you need something? Do you have clothes to go home in?"

  "I have it. You'll stay tomorrow night?"

  "Yes." She grinned at him. "You sure you're okay with that?"

  "Yeah, I'm crippled, I need your help." He frowned and she chuckled.

  "You are not crippled. Bye, B."

  "Bye, Zombie Princess."

  In the morning Ian asked if she'd be picking Justin up from the hospital.

  "He's going to work, remember?"

  "Crazy motherfucker," Ian muttered.

  "Eat and go to work." She kissed his temple. "I'll see you there but, baby, I'm going to stay with Justin for the week."

  "What about New Years!" he bellowed and spun to face her.

  "I haven't figured that out yet."

  "Wednesday is the biggest party Luxe has, Lily. Every year my dad has a party on the yacht."

  "In the winter?" She cringed. "I didn't know, Ian. How would I know? You never told me," she bitched

  "I assumed Tash would have said something. It didn't cross my mind because my dad takes care of it."

  "What're we paying for that?" she snickered.

  "We're not. He pays for it all, Lily. You're going to that fucking party." He turned his back to her.

  "With Justin," she bossily retorted. Ian closed his eyes and remained silent. "Ian?" she carefully said and put her hand on his back.

  "If you want to celebrate New Years with Borg then you go ahead and d
o that."

  "I want to be with both of you, baby." She pushed herself into his lap. "Not just him. It'd be strange if my boyfriend wasn't there anyway. Why can't he come?"

  Ian stared at his plate, wanting the conversation to be over.

  "Ian?" She touched his face. "Ian?" She kissed his nose. "Ian." Her lips pressed to his eye. She repeated his name kissing him in various spots on his face until he started to laugh.

  "Lily!" He tried to stop laughing and push her away.

  "We'll all spend the night together."

  Shock stung his face like she just slapped him and while standing he lifted her off his lap. "No," he scoffed taking his plate to the sink and carelessly tossing it in, breaking the porcelain dish. "Are you fucking serious?"

  "I didn't mean like that." Anger sat on her face that was slowly reddening. "I meant until midnight, you fucking asshole!" She grabbed her coat and purse.

  He huffed leaning on the counter. "Lily," he muttered but she was already down the hall and slamming the front door closed. "Fuck!" he screamed, his hands slammed to the counter.

  Getting used to Justin being a predominant part of her life was going to take a lot.

  It was evident Lilith was in no mood to interact so the women in the

  office left her alone.

  "What time's my date Thursday?" she snapped at Tash who quickly pulled up the schedule.

  "It says customer cancelled."

  "Good, take me out completely."

  Tash let a sigh escape and Lilith looked at her with raised brows.

  "You're booked solid for the month, Lily. This is the second time you've done this and some of these are repeat clients from when they got cancelled on the first time. They want you, Lily, not one of the other girls. They're paying for you. For the month of January if you go through with all twelve dates you alone will bring in seventy-five thousand."

  The girls stared at each other a minute.

  "Okay," Lilith finally replied.

  "Okay?" Tash asked timidly.

  "Okay keep the dates. If Thursday is cancelled when's my next date?"

  "Friday then Saturday. This Saturday is the only Saturday for the month."

  "Don't book me past this month. Make sure

  Veronica knows. In February I'll take last minute clients."

  "Sounds good," Tash muttered, spinning back to her computer.

  "Tash." Lilith sensed attitude in her tone. "What's on your mind?"

  "You're in bitch mode today, Lily. It's a little intimidating."

  That was something Lilith never heard. Her being intimidating.

  "I'm sorry. I had a rough morning with Ian."

  "Um, Mrs. Luxe?" Veronica buzzed her phone.

  "What?" Lilith snapped after picking it up.

  "Corgy Popper is here for you."

  "Are you serious?" Lilith huffed and stood to stroll to the lobby. "Mr. Popper." There was a smile on her face while she extended her hand. "I thought I told you not to show up or I would have you escorted out." Her pleasant smile turned into a snarl.

  "I know you did. I'm sorry, Mrs. Luxe, but I couldn't get through to you and I've been trying since before Christmas."

  "Should we step into my office?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Corgy said anxiously.

  Ian rounded the corner and stared at her oddly. "Oh, Ian, this is Corgy Popper." She smiled.

  "Mr. Popper." Ian shook his hand before an annoyed glare landed on Lilith because she didn't tell him she was meeting with Corgy.

  "My boyfriend got out of the hospital today. I will probably be leaving work early." Lilith looked back at Corgy. "This way." Taking his arm she escorted Corgy around the corner and looked back at the same time Ian did; they both shot each other a dirty look. Once Lilith got him into her office she closed her door, sat down, and cut the crap. "I told you I would be contacting you. I need to consult with my lawyer and—"

  "Lawyer?" He sounded worried.

  "Yes, lawyer. You've come out of nowhere

  suggesting I take on your men. I'm going to make sure there is nothing you can do to me and my company before I agree to this. You will be signing a bible of documents. This is a venture I'm taking on, on my own, my business partner doesn't like the idea and he doesn't like you showing up out of nowhere. I have not made up my mind. I will be speaking with my lawyer this week and I will get back to you next week."

  "You've told me that once, Mrs. Luxe."

  Lilith narrowed her eyes and leaned into her desk. "I'm a very busy woman, Mr. Popper. I have a packed schedule and you begging for money is not on the top of my schedule. Do you understand that? You're asking me for a favor, not the other way around."

  "I completely understand. I've brought along two of my men. I thought maybe you'd want to see what I have to offer?"

  "Are you kidding?" she snickered. "I don't have time for this."

  "Ah yes, your boyfriend is out of the hospital." Lilith couldn't believe the audacity in his snarky tone. "I won't bother you anymore, Mrs. Luxe. I'm looking for a good job for my men, that's all. I've promised them something and can't keep the promise. I'm a failure and they don't know it yet. I've been working with these men for years and we've all become very close and look out for each other. They look at me as a dad more than a friend and I just wanted to be able to keep my promise."

  "What promise?" she snickered, leaning back and crossing her arms.

  "To keep them safe, employed, looked out for. We lost one of our guys earlier this year because of a lack of security and shady clients. I looked into booking a date with you, Mrs. Luxe, and your company does a thorough check on their clients. I have to say it was a bit intimidating and exactly what I need for my guys, but as I told you, I'm not equipped for that."

  "You got one of your men murdered?" She was

  in disbelief the clown was sitting in her office. Seconds later she felt guilty because he looked like he was choking up. "Mr. Popper, I like what you've presented. Bring in your men and I'll have a look, then I'll be in touch with you after I've consulted my lawyer."

  He pulled his phone from his wool coat and made a call. Lilith watched him closely. The man was odd, clearly desperate, and a bit pathetic.

  "Should I wait in the lobby for them?" He attempted to stand.

  Lilith put her hand out. "I'll have Tash escort them in." She buzzed the

  front desk and directed Tash to usher the two men in when they arrived. "Where

  are they coming from?"

  "They were down at the bar having a drink."

  "You know, Corgy, if we're going to be working together you cannot pay for my dates. We don't encourage dating amongst the employees."

  "I fully understand that, Mrs. Luxe, and I'll inform my men if you decide to take us on."

  "Chances are hopeful, but like I said—"

  "You're going to consult your lawyer and I'm going to sell my soul to you, Mrs. Luxe." He grinned at her.

  "Exactly." She flirtatiously smiled back but the deviance behind it was clear.

  Tash knocked on the door then pushed it open wide-eyed and staring at Lilith. Two tall men stepped around her, men out of a magazine, men that had no business following a pathetic fool like Corgy Popper.

  "This is Juan and Abe." Corgy stood.

  "Hello." Juan extended his hand first.

  "Boys, this is Mrs. Luxe."

  "Pleasure." Abe kissed her hand with the sexiest smile she'd seen. "You are beautiful." He stared into her eyes.

  Lilith finally looked away from his trance and smiled.

  "Do you mind if I close the door?" Corgy asked Lilith.

  "Sure." Her eyes perused their attire and even through their pea coats she could tell they were both in shape.

  Corgy closed the door and looked at the men. "Undress."

  Lilith jerked her head to look at Corgy. "Undress?" she blurted.

  "Yes, don't you want to see what they have to offer?" He looked at her oddly while his men were already undressing.


  "Wasn't really necessary but they're halfway there." She leaned back in her chair, feeling like a pervert but wasn't going to stop them.

  When Juan pulled his shirt off, Lilith sat forward. He was more cut than Shaun was and that man was fit. Abe pulled his pants off showing he wasn't wearing underwear and Lilith almost gasped.

  "He's always showing off." Juan chuckled when he noticed Abe's erect cock.

  Lilith didn't expect them to get completely naked but

  they both stood there, proudly flaunting their bodies.

  "If you want an example of what I can do I'd be more than happy—" Abe began but Corgy put his hand out to shut him up. "Sorry." Abe's obedience made Lilith's eyebrows raise.

  "They're still men." Corgy humbly smiled at Lilith.

  She smirked and nodded. "Yes they are. Thank you, boys." She wanted

  them dressed and gone before Ian barged in.

  "Bye, Mrs. Luxe." Abe grinned at her after they dressed.

  "Goodbye, Abe. Juan."

  Juan looked back and winked at her then they were gone.

  Corgy awaited her reaction.

  "We'll be in touch." She maintained professionalism but would be lying if she denied the show turned her on.

  "Do you still have my contact information?"

  "Right here." She looked next to her keyboard and

  picked up the piece of paper.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Luxe. For your time and consideration."

  "Goodbye, Mr. Popper." Annoyance drove her words, but she managed a smile.

  He escorted himself out and Tash came running into the room. "Who were they? Oh my god!" She fanned her face.

  When she walked into Justin's firm she sweetly smiled at the woman behind the desk. "Justin Borg in?"

  "Oh, yes." She picked up her phone. "Pamela, Mr. Borg has a client." The woman hung up and smiled at Lilith. "Just a moment."

  Pam walked through a doorway. "El! Hi!" The beautiful woman had an energetic smile that put Lilith at ease.

  "Hi."

  "Come on."

  Lilith clutched her waiting hand.

  "Justin's been a grouch all day," Pam whispered and let her hand go. "I don't think he's feeling good. He shouldn't have come to work." She made sure to speak quietly as they walked through another doorway.

  Lilith could hear Justin in his office cruelly berating someone.