Penthouse of pleasure - uncertain desire (German Edition) (11 page)

Phew! I feel dizzy. I need more alcohol, so I toddle over to the minibar for a miniature bottle of white wine. I open the screw cap and down it by the neck.

The contract is more substantial than expected with heavy emphasis on absolute secrecy. I can’t tell anyone about the three men, their names or whatever they would do with me. Of course, I understand. None of them can afford negative publicity.

I would also be obliged to sleep with them whenever they wish, but I do have the right to say “no” if I don’t feel too well for example. Fortunately, I didn’t find a clause concerned with S&M games. Once I sign, I commit to stay for four weeks. A premature cancellation of the contract is possible under extremely adverse circumstances and if both parties are in agreement. The next clause nearly takes my breath away. When the four weeks are up, I receive 40,000 Dollars for “maintenance of the apartment”. That’s 10,000 Dollars a week for living in luxury and sleeping with the most attractive and interesting men I know.

I would have to be a complete idiot not to sign.

The money would actually get rid of all my problems. I could rent a new place, look for a job and start over. My pulse is racing. I take a deep breath and pick up the pen.

Damn! I’ll do it! I think, turn to the last page and add my signature.

Jesus! I actually did it.

With trembling hands I take the little black box from the desk, sit down on the bed again and take another large swig of wine.

Then I open the it.

It reveals a beautiful silver ring with a blue stone displayed on a white cushion. And another letter. I unfold it and begin to read: 

Dear Kate,

You made up your mind, so. We can’t tell you how happy we are!

The stone set into the ring is a blue diamond and extremely unusual. Just as unusual as the women we choose. Wear the ring as long as you live with us and after that whenever you like. You’re very special. Always remember that!

Liam, Marcus  and Alex

I can’t help but smile. The boys are really sweet in their own quirky qay. I carefully extract the ring from its casket and slip it on my finger. It fits perfectly. I wonder how many women may have been given a ring like that by the three men. Better not think about it, I decide.

Did they select this particular item of jewelry on purpose?

I remember a quote from ‘The Lord of the Rings’:

One Ring to rule them all,

One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all

and in the darkness bind them.

(Source: The Lord of the Rings)

Have I also sold my soul? Would it be better to put the ring back, tear up the contract and bail out?

A loud knock brings me back to reality.

Too late! No more time to think it over. Oh, God, I signed the contract. Shouldn’t I have read it more carefully? What’s going to happen now? Whatever did I let myself in for?

Adrenaline shoots through my veins and makes my heart pound.

Before I can get up to go to the door it already opens.

Emotionally completely confused I first look at the ring and then at the door.

“You okay?” Three men in dark suits study me with concern

Liam holds up a smart card. “Spare key,” he mumbles. Then he spots the ring on my finger

“Did you actually sign?” he asks incredulously. 

I nod.

He walks over and gives me a big hug. “That’s absolutely brilliant.”

“You won,” I mutter, my voice all hoarse.

“You won’t regret it,” he replies. “I promise.”

I’m not so sure, but I’m still thinking it’s wonderful that they’re all so happy with my decision.

Marcus and Alex hug me as well. Then Marcus produces a bottle of Champagne. “Let’s have a toast,” he says. “To Alex’s fabulous performance and our new housemate.”

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Liam’s stroking my back. “Did you sleep well?”

“Um,” I mumble. I really didn’t expect being able to sleep after all that happened last night, but my body must have been so exhausted that I instantly did.

After we had finished the Champagne, I was suddenly so jaded, Liam called the limo to take us home. Luckily my roomies agreed that the day had been exciting enough for me and it would be better if I just went to bed. Out of habit I decided to sleep in Liam’s room again.

Now he’s smiling at me and stretching his muscles. “I can’t wait ‘til this evening,” he whispers in my ear.

“Why?” I enquire cautiously. 

“Then we’ll celebrate your initiation.”

“My what?”

“Well, your introduction to our little commune.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” I ask in alarm.

“It’s all in the contract. Perhaps you should have read it more carefully,” an amused looking Liam replies.

Oh no, I think. What could possibly be next?

“Would you be so kind as to enlighten me what exactly you mean by ‘initiation’?” I probe. “You innocence is adorable,” Liam says, kisses my forehead and, ignoring my question, disappears in the direction of the bathroom.

Damn it, I think and get out of the bed. I grab my bag and start to rummage through it. The contract must be buried somewhere deep in its innards. I vaguely remember stuffing it into the bag last night.

Ha! There it is!

I pull out the envelope, extract the contract and search for the part Liam referred to. Right, it only says something about the ‘housemate’s initiation into the apartment’, but I can’t find anything more elaborate.

What did Liam mean? I bite my lips and ponder.

“Hey, you little minx. Why are you frowning? Did Liam annoy you?” Marcus is leaning in the doorframe with a cup of coffee, watching me. His blond hair is still slightly damp. He must have had a shower. A drop of water trickles down his muscular, naked chest and lands on his pants.

I gasp. He looks like a model in a commercial for blue jeans. Sooo sexy.

“I’m looking for something in the contract. Liam said he was looking forward to my initiation this evening. I want to know what that means,” I answer in the hope that Marcus might be more forthcoming with the information.

But he simply smiles and shrugs his shoulders. “Sorry, can’t help you there. The contract certainly doesn’t include a detailed description of our initiation ritual. There’s no need. Just let yourself be surprised.”

Darn, I think. What’s with all the secrecy?

“Thanks for your help!” I glare at Marcus and throw a pillow in his direction.  Marcus adroitly avoids the missile, parks his cup on Liam’s desk and walks over to me. He pulls me up from the floor, presses me against his naked chest and grabs my hair.

“We’ll see if you’ll still be that rebellious this evening,” he whispers in my ear and kisses me. I only very briefly respond to his kiss. Then I bite his lip. His own fault!

“Ouch!” he mutters and licks the spot I bit into with his tongue. “You’re a real cheeky little bitch! Count yourself lucky that I still have some business to see to and that you won’t be alone with me today.”

“Because?”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Now that you’re living with us, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to let our hair down.”

“You can’t be in the same place for a minute without arguing, can you?” Liam is back and clearly amused.

Completely naked, he’s standing in the room drying his wet hair with a towel. I stare first at him and then at Marcus. The two men know perfectly well how to present themselves at their most appealing and I feel like I‘m at a male model competition. Without a doubt, any one of my girlfriends would turn absolutely green with envy at the sight. Of course, I’m not exactly unmoved by what’s in front of me either. I remember the previous sexual encounters with those two guys and feel a pleasant sensation in my nether regions.

“I have to be at a business meeting,” Liam says while getting dressed. “Alex will keep you company today. It’s only fair, really, considering you two didn’t have a chance to spend any time together yet. We’ll all see each other at tonight’s initiation.” He smiles suggestively. 

I roll my eyes.

“You’ll love him, angelface,” Liam winks and kisses my forehead. “Enjoy your time with Alex and install yourself in the guestroom. It’s yours now.”

“So I’m not sleeping in your room any longer,” I want to know.

“Of course, you can if you want to. But believe me, there are bound to be times when you’ll need a little privacy.”

Marcus nods in agreement. “Liam’s right. In a communal living arrangement it’s important that everyone can just be by themselves once in a while,” he says and reaches for his coffee cup. “I’ll go make breakfast. If your Lord- and Ladyship would be so kind as to follow me into the kitchen at your leisure.”

“You okay?“ Liam asks after Marcus has left the room.

I shrug my shoulders. “I guess so.”

“You really don’t have to be afraid that we’ll do anything you won’t like. Just relax. I know that you’ll enjoy your time with us.” Liam kisses my brow.

“If you say so,” I reply still not entirely convinced. It’s true that I’ve liked everything they’ve done with me so far, but will it continue like that? 

I’m also a little worried about the fact that I’ve no idea what makes Alex tick. Granted, I find him very congenial, but I haven’t yet had the chance to become better acquainted. It’s strange to know that I’ll be on my own with him later on and that he‘ll most probably want to sleep with me then. I’m just not the kind of woman the boys usually invite into their apartment. Until recently I didn’t even know that bizarre communes like this exist. And now I’m living in one.

“Honestly, Kate, if I believed that you didn’t fit in, I would never have let you move here in the first place,” Liam reassures me. “We can easily agree on a codeword if you like. If there’s anything you can’t stand, you just say the word and we’ll stop immediately.”

Sounds fair enough, I think. If Liam, Marcus and Alex actually stick to the rule, at least I have something like a safety net to fall back on

“Do you always do that? Agree on a codeword?” I want to know.

“We do with the ladies who prefer that option. But nobody had to use it so far. We’re very concerned that our women are content. You should have really noticed by now.” 

“How many have lived here?” 

“Forget it,” Liam laughs. “I’m not going to fall for that one. I told you, we don’t discuss our exes with our new roomies or the confidentiality clause in the contract wouldn’t make sense.”

“You could still just tell me how many. It’s not as if I’m asking for names,” I observe.

“Leave it alone, Kate. Concentrate on your stay here. What happened with the others is none of your business!”

But it is, I think without voicing the thought. Perhaps I should try and extract the information from Marcus or Alex. They may just be more forthcoming than Liam. I won’t be fobbed off that easily.

“As you wish, my Lord, I answer and slip into my jeans and a loose sweatshirt.

“Why do I have the feeling that you don’t really mean it?”

“No idea,” I reply. 

He comes closer and looks right into my eyes. “Promise you’ll try to enjoy your stay with us without asking questions all the time?” 

I agree because I’m not in the mood for arguing with Liam.

But I won’t abandon my investigations. Forget it. I’m far too curious.

When Liam and I step into the kitchen, Marcus has already set the table.

Not bad, I think looking at the little delicacies Marcus has neatly arranged on the table. He really seems to enjoy cooking and presenting food. Small plates of fruit salad, salmon, a cheeseboard, bagels and freshly squeezed orange juice invite us to feast.

I can’t remember the last time a man made me such a gorgeous breakfast. Andrew was more the type who thinks domestic stuff is the woman’s domain. For that reason I enjoy being spoiled all the more.

“Hi Marcus. Need a hand?” I ask.  

“You can wake Alex,” he tells me. 

Alex!

Of course, I forgot.

A little adrenalin surges though my body at the mention of his name and I wonder what it will be like to spend the day with him.

Knowing that he’ll presumably want to sleep with me.

Only a few days ago, I would never have imagined living with three men and sleeping with all of them.

It’s so absurd.

And so sexy.

“Sure,” I nod. “I go see if he’s up.” 

Alex’s room is at the back of the apartment, right beside the guestroom. I knock on the door. No reaction. 

“Alex!” I say quietly.

Not a word. I carefully open the door and step into the room.

Empty! The room’s empty. The bed tidily made and the curtains drawn back. Perhaps he’s in the bathroom. I close the door again and check. But he isn’t there either.

Shrugging my shoulders, I return to the kitchen.

“Alex isn’t there.”

“Really?” Marcus arches his eyebrows. “Did you check the bathroom?”

“Yep. No sign of him and his bed is already made. Could he have gone somewhere else again last night?”

“I doubt it,” says Liam while pouring our coffee. “He definitely won’t want to miss his day with you. I guess he got up early to prepare something. You never know with Alex. Did he not leave a note?”

I shake my head. “Don’t think so. I didn’t see one.”

“Don’t worry. He’ll be back. Let’s have breakfast. I don’t have much time. I have to go in half an hour,” Liam says and sits down at the dining table.

“I have to be off soon as well. Looks like you’ll get chance to settle in your room. Alex is going to resurface sooner or later,” Marcus says, sipping his coffee. “At the latest tonight when we celebrate your initiation. Pity I don’t have any time today or I’d start getting you in the mood.” He grins lewdly.

“I’d rather stay here, too,” Liam sighs and strokes my thigh. “I could think of a thing or two to do with you.” 

I feel my nipples getting hard. The boys have a knack of messing with my head so I can think of nothing but sex.

I’m nearly relieved that Alex isn’t there. At least I’ll have some peace for a while. Who knows what’s in store for me this evening...

“See you later, angel,” Liam says shortly after and kisses me again so intensively that I have to gasp for air. “Have a nice day.”

I’m dazed. Liam is such an amazing kisser, my knees feel all wobbly.

He dons his jacket, blows me a kiss and disappears into the hall.

Marcus leans against the kitchen counter and grins.

“What?” I enquire reluctantly.

“You like Liam, don’t you? ”

“Sure, or I’d hardly be here!”

“How about me? Do you like me, too?”

“Nope,” I inform him cheekily. “I only put up with you so I can sleep with Liam.”

“You saucy bitch!“ Marcus growls and pulls me to his chest. “You’re lucky I don’t have time or I would spank your pretty little butt.”

He kisses my throat while his hands rest demonstratively on my fanny.

“What a pity,” I counter flippantly.

“Just you wait,” Marcus smiles and gives me a parting kiss on the cheek. “See you later!”

Then he leaves the penthouse as well.

I’m left on my own and sit down on the sofa in the lounge. My heart’s racing like mad. The constant reference to the ‘initiation ritual’ is making me real nervous. What have they planned? There’s no way I take part in any S&M stuff. Forget it! Hopefully they don’t intend doing anything like that. At least the contract states that I don’t have to participate in games like that. But, of course, the terms are wide open to interpretation.

I’m also confused by the fact that Alex disappeared without a trace. Will he be back to spend the day with me? And if so, will he want to sleep with me?

Emotionally exhausted, I decide to concentrate on something mundane like settling into the guestroom. Maybe that will help to calm me down a little.