An Arrangement of Love (16 page)

He headed off and left me there, shocked.

“He took my limits well in the end.” I rose with Lucy.

She leaned my way and whispered, “He anticipated everything except the condoms and financial independence.”

I snapped my face to hers. “What?”

“He actually thought he could only get you to agree for a month and that you would never live with us.”

“He cheated.” I set my hands on my hips.

“Nope.” She wagged her finger. “Those were just lucky guesses. You know he negotiates for a living.”

“You still helped him.”

“Nope. I refereed.” She put her arm on my shoulder. We followed him as he headed for the party, snapping his freaking spoiled fingers. “You do know he’ll figure out a way to undermine any date you have?”

“Figures,” I muttered.

“And there’s no way he’ll let you work somewhere else. No one will hire you if he spreads the word to stay away from you.”

Chapter 15

M
y feet ached
from dancing all night in six inch heelless shoes. Chase slung me over his shoulder as I sang the lyrics to Techno Heads’
Robotic Machine
.

“Trapped in a robot flying to the sky, baby!” I sang. “Giggling like a child and crying like a baby!”

Three dry Bombay Blue Sapphire martinis filled my stomach. The main reason I’d drank them was for the three gorgonzola-stuffed olives that came with each drink. My sight blurred. Dryness corroded my mouth and throat.

“She’s drunk.” Lucy laughed.

“Can you be any more obvious?” Chase laughed with her. “Baby, can you sing lower?”

“Me?” I asked as my arms swung back and forth on his back.

“Yes. You.” He patted my behind as he carried me to the elevator.

“Well, you have so many babies. I didn’t know which one of us you were referring to.”

His shoulder stiffened. Lucy placed one finger on her lips to shush me.

“Sorry,” I whispered back and then sang, “Hit the galaxy I’m so high, but I’m looking down to you.”

Lucy covered her mouth and giggled into her hands.

“Well, at least you can carry a tune.” Chase carried me off the elevator. “But you can’t hold hard liquor.”

“I can hold a lot, sexy man.” I slapped his butt. “Now let me down. I can also walk.”

He set me on my bare feet. Lucy handed me my shoes.

“Goodnight, my fellow sister in insanity, and goodnight, my love.” I did a dramatic bow and tripped. Chase caught me before I stumbled forward.

“We’re not saying goodbye. I want you in my room tonight.” Lust gleamed across his eyes as his gaze traveled down my body.

“We can’t have everything we want,” I said. “Besides, I peeped at the hotel menu—”

“Yes she did.” Lucy shook her head. “She must have sat there and read the menu for at least thirty minutes like it was a book.”

“What did you see on the menu that you liked?” Chase smiled.

“Everything, but what really caught my eye was the lamb burger with goat cheese and truffle fries.” I shrugged. “It’s not an original dish, but when I did an online search many people said this hotel provided the best lamb burger in India.”

“That sounds good,” Chase said.

I stretched my arms and yawned. “My plan is to shed all of my clothes, eat, and pass out in my own hotel room.”

I walked around him.

“Then we’ll do that together.”

“Chase,” Lucy said. “That’s not really a part of the rules. None of us should be in the room together.”

“What?” I said.

“On everyone’s day we spend time together until ten at night and then we are supposed to go our separate ways to different bedrooms,” Lucy explained.

I giggled. “Alrighty. So goodnight, my lovely weird ones.”

He captured my waist and then glanced at Lucy. “Let’s break the rules this one time. We can all hang out in my room together.”

“But Chase ...” Lucy shook her head.

“Please, Lucy.” His eyes pleaded with her.

“Sure. This should be fun.” She shook her head. “But if Dawn finds out, you’d better take all of the blame.”

“I will, but since it’s your day she may not even ask,” Chase said.

I raised my eyebrows. “It’s Lucy’s day?”

“Yes. I kind of ruined it by taking you all to India.” He opened the door to his room.

My feet sank into plush carpet. The TV blared. The air conditioner hummed.

“You’re wasting energy, Chase. You should turn off the TV if you’re not watching it.” I collapsed on his king size bed and checked out his room. I’d thought mine was big. Chase’s room was three times my size, like he needed to run laps in it or have space to park his pet elephant. His suite had been designed with simplicity and taste in mind. Lush tan carpet with chocolate brown boxes lay under my feet. The soft fabric of the bed sheets smoothed against my skin. Polished gold lamps stuck on stark white walls and illuminated the room in a tantalizing glow.

Lucy left through another door. “I’ll order for us.”

The bed shifted as Chase lay next to me.

I rolled over and gazed into those seducing eyes. “Hello, my green-eyed lover.”

“Hello, my drunk new gorgeous girlfriend.” He pressed his lips onto mine. His tongue explored my mouth. I moaned and grabbed his head. My fingers rustled his perfect waves. The bitter taste of liquor clung to his tongue.

“Are you okay with Lucy spending time with us?” He kissed my cheek.

“I’m actually interrupting your date.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I can worry about it if I choose to.” I stuck my tongue out. He trapped it with his mouth, inciting a fury of lust to swirl in my chest.

He released it and nibbled my bottom lip. “I love it when you go against my orders.”

“Good. I’ll be doing that more often.”

My movements seemed delayed, but still I ran my hands down his hard chest and traced rugged layers of muscle on his waist. My sex clenched.

Damn. He’s perfect. He has to have a small one. There is no way he’s all perfect.

I giggled.

“What?” He lifted himself up and began untying the straps around my neck.

Air caressed the tips of my nipples once he yanked my shirt down and undid the bra’s snap at the center of my chest.

“I’m thinking you have a small penis since you’re so perfect.” I grinned.

Heat flickered over his eyes. “Check and tell me.”

He spread my legs apart and got between them, pressing his hardness into me. “Remember what I told you that night in Pyramid, that I’ll ruin you for any other man?”

“Yes.” Desire rose in me. “Show me, then.” I lifted my hips and rubbed against his length.

“Tell me what you want.” He buried his face between my breasts. His lips brushed against each peak. They hardened in response. My whole body heated.

A chair squeaked behind us. I turned toward the noise. Lucy lounged in a chair. A pen lay in her hand, an open book rested on her lap. She scribbled something and winked at me.

I cleared my throat, feeling exposed. Chase licked my right nipple. I nudged him. “Lucy is here.”

“Yes. I know.” He returned to the nipple. “Lucy, did the order go through okay?”

“Yes.” Lucy’s eyes centered on my bare chest. “Your nipples are huge, but pretty cute. The areolas are bigger than I thought they would be, too.”

I shoved him away. “Let me up.”

“Why?” He groaned.

I motioned to Lucy.

“I’m not bothered by this.” She waved her hand. “I love to watch.”

“We’d better be talking about TV or a movie, because no one is watching me have sex.” I glanced at Lucy. “No offense, but that’s just a bit too much.”

“None taken,” she said.

“Get up.” I pinched Chase’s stomach so he would get the picture.

“You don’t feel comfortable with her looking at us?” Chase moved away.

“No.” I sat up and covered my breasts.

“I won’t touch you, but I will touch myself,” Lucy assured me. “I don’t like being intimate with anyone I don’t know well.”

Well, I find watching to be intimate, too.

“I promise I won’t touch you,” she said again.

“I know you won’t.” I rubbed my eyes, as if that could clear my head.

“Maybe we could try it a little.” Chase attempted to move my arm.

“No.” I smacked his hand away.

“We could order some wine with the food.” He caressed my thigh. This time his fingers caused disgust to rise in my core.

Are you kidding me?

“I don’t want wine.” I scooted to the edge of his bed. “In fact, I’ll eat in my room.”

“Relax, Jasmine.” He clasped his hand on my arm.

I sighed. “Let me go.”

“Okay. Both of you calm down.” Lucy got up and tossed her book and pen on the bed next to me. It was a crossword puzzle book.

Who the hell does a puzzle while they watch people have sex?

“Stay in here and eat with us.” She sat down next to me, closer than I wanted. I gritted my teeth.
Isn’t our situation weird enough?

“We’re having a good time,” Chase said. “Let’s just eat and relax. Nothing has to happen.”

“Nothing will happen.” I stood up.

Someone knocked at the door. I jumped up.

“You’re not calming down, Jasmine.” Lucy chuckled and rushed to the door.

Chase’s eyes traveled down my body, but it didn’t turn me on. Instead, I felt naked, weak, and alone. If he didn’t back off, I would have to punch him.

“Come back on the bed.” He patted the area where I’d been sitting.

“Hell no.” I hugged myself and headed away from him.

A savory aroma drifted my way. Lucy showed two men holding trays where to put our food. Red and white turbans propped on their heads. Matching jackets and pantsuits finished their outfits. I gazed at the open door, wanting to escape. Chase released an annoyed breath, rose, and went to the table where the tray was set. I followed. Dread coursed through my veins.

Why do I feel so bad, like I’ve done something wrong?

A ball of regret dropped to the pit of my stomach. I should’ve never agreed to this craziness.
This isn’t my scene.

“Come on. Sit down.” Lucy smiled and motioned for me to join them.

Chase snatched up the remote control and unmuted the TV. A sportscaster yelled out scores and imitated an animated response to a bad call. I ate my burger, even though I was no longer hungry. I needed to sober up. The food traveled down my throat. I noticed no taste nor reveled in the flavor or texture. I missed Vivian and Troy. I needed some familiarity around me, something that made me feel safe. It had been a long time since I’d sat in a room with two people and felt utterly alone.

This life isn’t for me.

Chapter 16

A
fter the lamb
burgers, I passed out in my chair right at the table. When I woke up, I was lying in bed between two people. It took me several minutes to realize where I was. Someone’s arm was hooked around my waist in a possessive manner. The owner of that arm’s hard body was pressed into my back and behind. The scent of new leather mixed with vanilla drifted from their skin.
This must be Chase spooning me.
His chest vibrated against my back each time he snored. Lucy lay asleep in front of me. She’d placed a pillow between us. I wondered if she did that for herself or me.

Who moved me? And when did they do that?

Careful not to wake them both, I slowly, inch by inch, slid his arm off me. I took even more time to climb out from under the covers. Neither of them stirred as I crawled out of bed. The air conditioner’s chilly breeze froze my bare skin. Horror hit me
.

I’m only wearing panties. Who undressed me?

I didn’t like that I was naked. It made me wonder if they did something to me while I was unconscious.
Why would I even think something like that? Because they’re both so weird. That’s why.
Chase didn’t respect my desire to not have sex in front of Lucy. Instead of understanding, he offered to get me drunk some more. And when that didn’t work out, he pouted like a baby, grabbed the remote control, and ignored me while he stared at the sports channel. I’d drowned in confusion and insecurity.
And I’d only been his freaking girlfriend for three hours. Not a good sign.
This was just too much. I could have considered working in this arrangement with him, but only if it was based on respect and consideration for my feelings.

Am I being irrational?

I’d never dealt with weird situations like this before. With only two boyfriends my relationship experience verged on juvenile. My first boyfriend was a library nerd who’d broken up with me because his G.P.A. had dropped .2 points below what he needed for a scholarship requirement. In our year of dating, we had sex ten times. He was a nice guy, but he didn’t have Chase’s sexy looks, passion, and excitement. A thrilling evening for him was watching the SyFy channel with spicy buttered popcorn. I’d enjoyed those evenings, but once we broke up, it took me barely a week to forget about him.

In fact, the popcorn is the best thing I took from that relationship.

My second boyfriend had been a popular jock. I was shocked that he even asked me out. Granted, he was drunk at a fraternity party when he fell on one knee and slurred his request, but I’d still been overjoyed that finally a cool guy had spotted me out of the crowd of hot women. Our two-year relationship embarrassed me anytime I replayed it in my head. He was a user. I did his homework, washed his clothes, cleaned his frat room, and worked his shifts in the cafeteria whenever he wanted to go out and party. It was like he’d sniffed out my lack of confidence and soared down to attack. Vivian hated him so much that the two of us could never do anything together. I made the mistake of introducing him to Benny one Thanksgiving. During dessert, my idiot ex ordered me to stop eating pie because he didn’t want to date a fatty. Benny punched him in the eye.

To say things went downhill from there was an understatement. He demanded I stay away from Benny and Vivian, but that was the one thing I stood my ground on. We argued all the time after that. My old best friend, Yvonne, told me I was treating my boyfriend unfairly and that I should be happy to be with him because he was a major catch. On the other side of the opinion spectrum was Vivian. She thought his demands proved he was a controlling and emotionally abusive loser. She also confessed that she daydreamed about sticking his penis into a meat grinder. Regardless, when I’d gone by his room one afternoon to check on him since he’d missed class, I wasn’t that shocked or stunned when I saw him receiving a blow job. What destroyed me was that it was my best friend Yvonne giving it.