Gramercy Nights (The Argo Press Trilogy Book 1) (33 page)

Malcolm slumps into a leather chair, setting his feet on the coffee table and reaches for his breast pocket. I’m still wearing his jacket and I slip it off, tossing it to him. He finds a crumpled cigarette and lights up, blowing smoke from the corner of his mouth.

“Not what you expected, huh?” he asks with a knowing smile.

“No, not exactly,” I admit, not sure if I’m disappointed or relieved. I don’t think I could really handle being in a room filled with half-naked women with Malcolm. That said, I’m wildly curious about the goings on here.

“It’s a good place to think.”

“You’re telling me you don’t come here for sex?” I ask incredulously.

“I didn’t say that, now did I?” he answers with a playful wink.

“So this is how the other half live,” I mumble, looking around. Malcolm gives me an amused grin.

“Still not accustomed to life with Sebastian, I take it.” He ashes his cigarette. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it soon enough and you won’t be able to remember what life was like before.”

“I sincerely doubt that.”

“That’s what everyone says,” Malcolm answers dismissively. “Money has a funny way of changing people.”

I stare at him. There’s nothing condemning about his expression. What he’s said, he’s said without judgment. It’s just a casual observation of someone who has spent his whole life around money.

“I don’t want it to change me.”

“Good luck with that, love.”

I shake my head. I don’t understand these men or the world that they come from. I’m about to object when a stunning woman arrives with our bucket of champagne, her long brown hair trailing down almost to her ass. She has the smile of a beauty queen and a body to die for. Soft and slender as she moves with easy grace.

She sets down the bucket and perches on the edge of Malcolm’s seat, running a hand affectionately through his hair. I look away. Maybe this is my cue to leave. I don’t want Malcolm to feel like he has to babysit me. Especially when it’s clear he has other things on his mind.

Bettina smiles at me, showing off her slightly crooked teeth. But instead of making her less attractive, they make her seem more human.

“Are you Malcolm’s girlfriend?” she asks in perfect English with just the slightest hint of an accent.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Absolutely not.”

She looks down at Malcolm in confusion.

“Danielle is dating my brother,” Malcolm explains, stubbing out his cigarette. I don’t correct him. “I thought I’d show her around town.”

“You’re terrible,” she says, indulgently ruffling his hair. “Do you need anything else? If not, I have to get back to the suits. They are so boring,” she adds, rolling her eyes and I can’t help but wonder what she’d look like away from here, stripped of her makeup and provocative clothing.

“Don’t go too far.” Malcolm glances at his watch. “I’ll be done soon and when I am, we have some catching up to do.” He swats at her ass playfully as she giggles and saunters off, and I find myself staring after her. There’s something about her, about all the women here. The way they ooze disinterested sex appeal. As though their very lack of interest is what makes them so appealing.

I know I’ll never be like that. And I can’t help but feel a little sad about it.

“See something you fancy?” Malcolm asks, startling me. Embarrassment burns across my face. “The women here are usually strictly hetero, but I’m sure something could be arranged if you’re interested.”

I stare at Malcolm in surprise and he just watches me, unblinking. I can’t tell if he’s serious or not, but I think he is.

To say the least, it makes me nervous.

I don’t even want to think about his words. Or the undeniable appeal they hold. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be with a woman. I just never imagined that woman would be a prostitute in Germany.

I think of Anaïs Nin and then shake my head. Some fantasies are better left alone.

“How’s the book?” I change the subject, hoping he won’t make any more comments. Because there really is something about Bettina that intrigues me. And I’m a horrible liar.

He groans and lights another cigarette. “Not you, too.”

I can’t help but laugh. “That good?”

“Ugh, worse.” The pained look on his face says it all. I guess the rumors Megan mentioned were true.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“People keep saying that,” he says miserably. “Lot of good it’s done me.”

“Maybe you just need a change of scenery?”

“Why do you think I’m living in fucking Berlin in the middle of winter?”

“I don’t think October is technically considered winter,” I counter. Malcolm makes a face but keeps his mouth pressed in a firm line, focusing all his attention on the cigarette burning between his fingers.

“I’m sure it’s not nearly as bad as it seems,” I say.

“Oh, it’s certainly that bad. But there’s no reason to talk about that. It’s not every day I get to have Seba’s girl all to myself. Tell me something scandalous. Something I can taunt Seba with. Go.” His eyes twinkle but beneath that, I can still see the nervousness that mentioning the book brought out.

“There’s nothing scandalous about me,” I say, meaning it and Malcolm just levels me with that stare of his.

“Oh, there’s no need to be shy. Come on, doll. Consider it inspiration for a dried up old writer.”

“Malcolm, what the fuck?”

We both turn. Sebastian is standing in the doorway, glaring. His jaw twitches but his eyes stay locked on the scene in front of him. The only time I’ve ever seen him this angry was that morning when he showed up at my apartment. Behind Sebastian, I notice Bettina and the bartender exchanging worried glances.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Sebastian snaps.

With a blasé roll of his eyes, Malcolm glances at his wrist. “I figured you’d be at least an hour.”

Sebastian looks at me, his eyes softening slightly, his jaw still tense and his fists bunched at his sides.

“Oh, for the love of God, Seba, take a seat. You’re making everyone nervous.” Malcolm turns to Bettina and the bartender. “Love, bring another glass. And maybe a whiskey.” One look at Sebastian and he adds, “Yes, definitely a whiskey.”

They both look uncertain, like they’re worried what might happen if they leave us with the glowering Sebastian, but Malcolm’s placid demeanor must relax Bettina, because she finally nods decisively and spins around.

Sebastian’s eyes burn into me, examining me, looking for some sign. Eventually he unclenches his fists and takes a seat on the armrest of my chair, draping his arm around my shoulders. Tension radiates off him, and I wonder dimly if I should be angry that he just stormed in here, acting like he couldn’t trust me. Only it’s hard to be pissed when he’s touching me, setting my body on fire with just his presence.

There’s just something about Sebastian that I can’t deny. I want him. All of him. It never seems to matter who is watching. Malcolm watches us with barely contained amusement.

Bettina returns, handing Sebastian his drink. “Is there anything else?” she asks, batting her lashes at him, but Sebastian just shakes his head, barely looking at her.

“There was a time when you used to love it here,” Malcolm says, smirking.

“Enough.”

“What? Danny doesn’t seem to mind, do you?”

I don’t respond. I don’t want to be between these two. It looks like anyone between them would be destroyed.

“Danielle looked dreadfully bored. I thought I’d show her the sights.” He shrugs and stands. “Next time, maybe you’ll remember to pay more attention to your date and she won’t end up with me. I guess I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it, then. Seba, try to be careful. I like this one.” Malcolm gives me a wink before slinging his arm around Bettina. “Come on, love. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

I watch them disappear down the corridor and am faced with the prospect of being alone with a very pissed off Sebastian. Thanks, Malcolm.

“Are you mad at me?” I ask nervously, suddenly regretting the decision to come here with Malcolm. I don’t know what’s going on between them, but whatever it is, it seems messy and I know I don’t want to be stuck between them.

Sebastian lets out a deep sigh, shifting to face me. “No,” he says finally, “I’m not mad at you.”

“But you’re mad at Malcolm?” That much is obvious.

“He shouldn’t have brought you here,” he answers stubbornly.

I press my lips to his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of Sebastian. “Why?”

“You don’t belong here.”

“It was my idea,” I mumble, letting his warmth spread through my body.

“I’m sure he told you exactly the type of place this was,” Sebastian responds dryly. I can tell he’s doing everything he can to keep his emotions tightly reigned. He runs his hand through my hair. “Do you want to go?”

“In New York, you said you’d do anything I asked,” I start out tentatively. Looking around I realize this is my opportunity to be part of a world I imagined in my bedroom growing up, a world I thought I’d never see in real life. I see a brief spark of interest appear in Sebastian’s eyes as he leans closer. “Did you really mean that?”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“What exactly are you asking me?” Sebastian asks slowly, but I can see the unmistakable interest in his expression. Like what I’ve said has piqued his interest.

“I want to watch two women have sex,” I say, blushing.

Sebastian stares at me and I want to look away, but I can’t. My heart races as I wait for him to say something, say anything.

“What brought this on?” he asks finally.

“I’ve never been to a brothel before.”

“You don’t say. Still, most women in your position wouldn’t ask that.”

My lips find Sebastian’s, setting my body on fire. I’m burning up. I want this. I want everything. Malcolm said money changes everyone. Maybe he’s right. Or maybe it isn’t the money. Maybe it’s the world that Sebastian and Malcolm live in. A world where all the morals I grew up with fade away, a soft hum in the background. I kiss my way across his jaw. “You said you wanted to know all my fantasies. This is one of them. What can I say, I’ve read ‘The Basque and Bijou’ too many times.”

“It’s been a while since I read Anaïs Nin,” Sebastian says flirtatiously.

“Well, aren’t you in luck,” I say playfully, “because it’s one of my favorites. I practically know it by heart.”

He pulls me in for a kiss, smashing his lips to mine, and my lips fall open, begging to be plundered. I taste his need, his desire matched only by mine. The room falls away. It’s just the two of us. Only the two of us, I think, relishing in the sudden awareness that he isn’t the slightest bit intimidated by my suggestion. When he releases me, I moan in protest, my body begging for more.

“You don’t know what it does to me, hearing you ask me for something like that. Something only I can give you,” he says, his voice husky and his eyes wide and dilated. He leans back, a faint smile crossing his lips. “Tell me the story.”

“The Basque frequents a brothel where he always sleeps with the same woman,” I begin, feeling Sebastian’s eyes burn into me. “One day, the madam tells him that the woman is occupied. But she shows him a place where he can watch them without being seen.” I cross my legs, squeezing my thighs together. One look at Sebastian tells me it’s too late to turn back. Not that I want to. I want this. I want everything Sebastian can give me and more. I want it all. “There are four people in the room. A man and a woman, very respectably dressed, watching two women on the bed.” I pause to take a sip of champagne. “One of the women, Bijou, is teasing the other woman with an enormous strap-on while they watch.” I glance at the man playing chess with a half-naked woman, but neither has looked up from their game.

Sebastian takes a slow sip of his whiskey. “Go on.”

I lick my lips and continue, “Everyone is aroused. Eventually, the Basque can’t contain himself and he bursts out of hiding, ready to fuck the two women.”

Sebastian grazes my thigh with his index finger, making my nipples harden painfully in response. “Are you asking me to fuck another woman while you watch?” There’s an edge to Sebastian’s voice that wasn’t there earlier.

I think about Sebastian’s question before shaking my head quickly. “No.”

He responds by kissing me fervently. “Good answer.”

“You’d really do it?”

Sebastian gives me slow smile that lights up his green eyes. “Danielle, when I said I’d do anything you asked, I was completely serious. I’d love to touch you while you watch two beautiful women fuck. I’d love to see how much it turns you on, how much it makes you want me. I love that I can give that to you and I love that you asked.”

Sebastian finishes his drink and checks his watch. “Unfortunately, it’s late and I have a long day tomorrow.”

I pout. “That’s just cruel.”

Sebastian brushes his thumb across my lower lip and I can’t help but suck his finger into my mouth. He groans.

“Oh, I’m not saying no. But not tonight.” He lifts my hand to his lips, brushing a kiss across my knuckles. “I have every intention of making this dream of yours come true. You can’t suggest something like that to a man like me and expect me to forget. But I want us to be able to savor every moment, to have all the time in the world and sadly, that isn’t tonight. I have too much on my mind to give you what you want. How about we go back to the hotel. I’m sure I can think of a number of ways to satisfy you, and we’ll come back when there’s nothing else standing in our way.”