Society Girls: Rhieve (12 page)

“The woman is kissing her while pinching one nipple. Oh God, that feels so good.”

“Go on,” I say, sliding two fingers into her.

“One of the men is sucking on her other nipple. Biting it, too.”

“And the other man?”

“He’s fucking her. I watched her come twice on his mouth already, but none of them are stopping. They keep making her come. Don’t stop, Cabe.”

Oh, there’s no chance of that. I fuck her with my fingers while I continue to lick, suck, and kiss her lips and clit. She’s leaning forward now, rubbing her tits on the glass, and it’s one of the most erotic things I’ve ever seen. She knows she’ll fall forward if she lets go of the glass, but she needs to have her nipples played with. I move my fingers faster and harder into her, knowing she’s ready, and then she’s coming all over me.

Before I can stop her, she drops to her knees, too, and kisses me hard. “She came when I did. That was so hot. Oh my God, Cabe.”

“You are such a dirty girl.
My
dirty girl.”

“Let’s go to your office so I can show you just how dirty I am.”

I grab her waist, and throw her over my shoulder as I stand. She squeals and then laughs. All that laughter is gone once we get to my office. We don’t come out for two hours, and only then it’s because she feels bad that my pilot’s been waiting on us. We make out during the short ride back to London, and then continue where we left off for the rest of the night and into the morning. And yeah, I thought everything before with her was the hottest of my life, but this night surpasses it all.

R
hieve

I wake up to Calum sucking lightly on my nipple, and I pull his head up to kiss him. It’s been three nights since we started having sex again, and while we’re closer again, it’s not enough. He’s still hiding things from me, and I need that to stop.

“We need to talk.”

“I know,” he says, dropping his head to my shoulder.

“There are things you’re still keeping from me, and unless this is just going to be about sex, I think I deserve to know.”

“I don’t know how to tell you without hurting you.”

“I can survive almost anything if you’re here with me. Just don’t walk away from me again, and we’ll be good.”

He sits up, pulling some pillows behind him, and then helps me do the same. Taking my hand in his, he intertwines our fingers, and looks down at them as he begins to speak. “We didn’t leave the States because my dad had better business opportunities here. He already had more money than God, but he also had a bad marriage. You know he cheated on my mom with Chet’s mom, but my mom was cheating, too. With your dad.”

I gasp, and his fingers tighten on mine. “That explains so much. My dad withdrew from everything but work around that time. Wait, is he the reason she committed suicide?”

“She didn’t.”

“What? Did your…did your father kill her?”

He still won’t look at me, but I can see him swallow hard. “No. I did. I killed her.”

No. “Cabe, what are you talking about. You were just a boy when she died.” I know logically that children can kill, but he wasn’t…he wouldn’t.

“My father had found out about the affair, and even though he had his own lovers, he was going to destroy her. It was her choice for us to move to England. She said she’d go far away from you father. She said…she said we would never talk to your family again. I heard her, and I got angry. You were my best friend, and I loved you more than I loved them. They were outside by the pool, and I ran over. I told them I wouldn’t leave you. They laughed and told me I had no choice. My mother…my mother said you were a stupid little girl, and I’d forget you. I got so angry, Rhi. I-I pushed her. Hard. I pushed her, and she fell into the pool.”

“Oh my God.”

“She had taken a bunch of pain pills and been drinking, so she didn’t even try to stop the fall, and when she hit her head on the bottom, she blacked out. I was scared to move, scared of what I’d done, and my father just watched it with a smile on his face. When I finally tried to jump in, he picked me up and pulled me away.”

“That bastard.”

“He
was
.”

“It was an accident, Cabe, and I am so very sorry I wasn’t there to help you make it better then.”

He tries to let go of my hand then, but I hold firm. “You would’ve looked at me like the monster I am.”

“If you’d actually look at
me
, you’d see I’m not looking at you any differently.”

His eyes meet mine. “He told me every day that it was my fault. He told me she was dead because I cared more about you than her. That if I hadn’t had you for a friend, none of the bad stuff would’ve happened.”

“That’s why you stopped talking to me.”

“Yeah. I tried to ignore him, but when he saw the last letter you sent…before…he became enraged, and he beat me. I didn’t care about the physical pain, Rhi, I promise. I would take a million beatings for you. It was the words, the things he said about you and how you’d hate me. I couldn’t stand it if you hated me. I hated myself already, but you were always the bright light that shone just for me, and I couldn’t bear for that light to go out.”

“Never. I could never hate you. You make my crazy, and angry, and I might want to punch or shoot you, but hate has never come into play, and it never will.”

“I became my mother—and I guess my father—once I got old enough to understand what sex was and how to use it. I slept with so many people who meant nothing to me. It sounds so bad, but it’s true. You need to understand that I never forgot you, and I never once thought anyone else could have my heart, but I wasn’t too picky about my partners. I was always safe, but I wasn’t discriminatory.”

“Is that your way of telling me you’ve been with men? Because I don’t care.”

“I know you don’t, but yes, I guess I want you to know that. I wish my mother could’ve kept her panties on, because things would’ve been so different for both of us for all those years. I would’ve been with you to protect you from Julia and the other assholes, and you could’ve made me feel worthy of love. The day my father died, he finally told me it wasn’t my fault, but that he wasn’t willing to take the blame for it. He said he made me feel so bad, and hit me, so that I’d never tell the truth to anyone. I don’t if he was trying to save himself from the afterlife, but he said he forgave me. I didn’t forgive him. It took me years of talking to a doctor, and having Guil knock some sense into me to do that. It was after I came to terms with my feelings for him that I started showing up at parties and events where I knew you’d be.”

“I hate that we missed all these years together, and I’m not going to say things are easy without you, but who knows what would’ve happened if we’d been in each other’s lives. You might’ve always thought of me as the girl with cooties, and I might’ve realized you were hot, and then had my heart broken.”

“I love your cooties, and you thinking I’m hot is one of my favorite things in life.”

I laugh, but then touch his face as I become serious again. “You wouldn’t have met Guil, and I wouldn’t have learned that I’m strong enough to stand up to some bullies.”

“Guil saved me after you.” I make a face, and this time it’s him holding my face. “He told me you’re jealous of him, but you should know better than that. I can have two best friends, and love them both, but you are the one who owns my soul. Guil will never be who you are to me, and he wouldn’t want to be. When I met him, I was a boy rebelling against everything about England. So was he. That’s why we rarely say anything ‘British.’ We fiercely held on to everything American about us. We couldn’t help the accent, but we made an effort to only use words and phrases from here if we had to.”

“You call me ‘love.’”

“Because you are my love, and also because I like the term, although I didn’t use it before.”

“I like it. And I’m trying not to be jealous of Guil. I just felt like he replaced me, and he knew everything you wouldn’t tell me.”

“You were never replaced, and now you know almost everything.”

“Almost?”

* * *

C
alum

This is where things get a little tricky again. “Chet knew. When I refused to just hand over half of the company to him, he threatened to expose what I’d done. I knew then it was just an accident, but like I said, I still thought you’d hate me.”

“He better hope law enforcement finds him before we do, because I’m going to ask for some time alone with him so I can beat the crap out of him. Or give him another scar.”

“My fierce warrior woman.”

“Damn straight. I’m glad you didn’t give him the piece of the company, even if he is technically your family.”

“You saw his ‘club.’ The clients he said he could bring here were little more than thugs. I’ve been a thug in my time, but I won’t allow anything illegal in my company. He would’ve brought the whole thing down. He almost did.”

“If you had told us the truth, we could’ve stopped him sooner.”

“I know. I need you to realize that I was keeping an eye on things. I knew he was threatening Rhys with things he didn’t want to do, but I also knew Rhys was enjoying what he was doing. I would’ve intervened if he’d tried to make good on his threats.”

“You had someone there? Of course you did. You could’ve told me,” she says, punching me in the arm.

“We’ve already established that I could’ve told you many things. Now you know everything.”

“Since we’re doing full disclosure here, I need to tell you something.”

“Okay,” I tell her, fighting down my panic.

“Don’t look so scared.
I’m
the one who’s terrified.”

“Of what? Not passing your Society things. I can help with other stuff besides sparring.”

“No. I’m definitely asking you for help if I need it, but I’m scared of my mother.”

“Is she here?” God, I am not ready for that woman yet.

“No, but I have to go to her. She set up an exclusive dress shopping spread in one of the fashion magazines. She called last night, but I didn’t want to talk about it, so I just sexed you up instead.”

“While I love the sexing, we need to talk. Always, and about everything.”

“Yes, we do. Anyway, I have to leave tonight.”

I groan. We haven’t had nearly enough sex. “Let me see about clearing my schedule.”

“You don’t have to. We can be apart for a little bit, you know.”

“We were apart for far too long. I want to at least be on the same continent as you. I can check in on some clients in Vegas and California.”

“If you’re sure, then that would be great. My mother expects me to go home for it, since Vegas is not classy enough. I mean, it’s not like we have pretty much every designer boutique represented there or anything,” she says, rolling her eyes.

“Do you know what kind of dress you want?”

“For our wedding that’s not going to take place?”

“What if it did?”

She hesitates for a moment, and I hold my breath. I always wanted all of this to be real, but hearing her talk about dresses made me have to speak up.

“Are you asking me to marry you for real?”

“Yeah, I am. I know it’s not romantic, but I already gave you your childhood fantasy proposal, so I don’t know how I can top that.”

“Hmm…how about blowing my mind in this bed after I say yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure.”

“It’s sudden, but then again it’s not. I believe you’re not going to keep things from me again. And unless something is job related, I’m not keeping anything from you, either.”

“I love you so much, Rhi.”

“I love you too, Cabe.”

“Best friends forever, right?”

“Yeah. Forever.”

I roll over her, and proceed to do just what she asked me to do for her. I’m pretty mindless myself by the time we leave the bed. I’d stay there all day if I didn’t have schedules to re-arrange, and meetings to set up. I’m going back to the town where everything fell apart for me. I’ve been back for parties, but I always numbed myself with alcohol and women. This time, I’m going in sober with only one woman.
The
woman. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared half out of my mind, but I know she’ll be next to me no matter what happens.

R
hieve

I wasn’t trying to annoy my mother when I put on this dress today. Okay, well maybe I was, but I also love it. What’s not to love about a one-shouldered, geometric print mini-dress with a handkerchief hem? Yes, I paired it with black and white polka dot heels, and put my hair in a messy bun, but that’s me. Whether she likes it or not, I’m going to be who I am today, and every day from now on.

Calum and I discussed it on the plane ride back from England. His company is secure, so he doesn’t need the perfect socialite fiancé. He wants me to be myself, and I love him even more for telling me that.

“I just don’t see why you couldn’t have worn something more appropriate,” my mother asks as we ride in the back of her Rolls Royce to the dress shop.

“Mother, I came back here to do this for you. Can you please stop complaining about the
designer
dress I’m wearing?”

“No. Your hair is messy, and your makeup is too trendy. You look like any young woman walking down the street.”

“Maybe I want to look like everyone else my age for once.”

“You are not everyone else.”

“How would you even know?”

“Just try to act demure when you try on the gowns I’ve picked out for you.”

“I thought I was picking out my wedding gown. You know,
my
wedding gown?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve seen the things you’ve been wearing lately. My daughter is not going to look anything but perfect on her wedding day.”

Why? Why did I think I could be my own person, and make my own choices? Oh yeah, because that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll play nice for the magazine today, but I’m picking my own damn dress.

I stare out the window and refuse to engage in any further conversation on the way to the shop. When we pull up to the curb, I’m surprised to see Stella on the sidewalk next to the reporter and photographer. She winks at me, and I somehow manage to hold back a smirk.

“Hello, and who are you?” my mother asks her, her tone icy.

I start to intervene but Stella gives me a subtle shake of her head. The reporter answers. “This is Stella. She’s one of the most in demand stylists in the world, but she rarely takes on jobs for new clients. She agreed to help with the shoot today. I thought you’d know who she is.”

“Of course I do,” my mother snaps, although I know she really doesn’t.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Stella tells her before turning to me. “You must be the happy bride.”

“Why yes, I am.”

She links arms with me as she whispers in my ear. “Your mother picked some stuff you wouldn’t be caught dead in, but don’t worry. I slid a dress I know you’ll love in there.”

“Thanks.”

Once inside, I try on every satin and lace concoction my mother chose for me, hating each one even more than the last. For God’s sake, I am not a princess and I haven’t worn satin and lace since I was in grade school. I manage to smile and preen for the cameras, but I want to throw up inside.

I’ve just been helped out of the latest disaster when Stella walks in with a dress. I immediately know it’s the one, without even putting it on. “Oh.” It’s all I can say.

“I knew you’d love it.”

She shoos the store workers away, and slips it over my head. The top has crystals that wrap around my neck, over my shoulders to form open sleeves, and straight down the middle to the top of the dress to where there is another line of them. The dress itself molds to my curves, and ends in a pool of white fabric at my feet.

I run my hands over it, marveling at how beautiful it is, and how much I feel like a bride right now. “It’s perfect.”

“Yep. I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle in it. Let’s show everyone.”

“What?” I ask, as she takes out her tablet and presses a button.

All of my friends are on the screen, and they start cheering when they see me. “I know your mom is here, but I wanted the Society to see you, too.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, tearing up as I hug her.

We talk to everyone for a few minutes, and then she disconnects. Now for the fun part. Are you ready to show your mom?”

Am I? “Yeah, I think I am.”

She squeezes my hand in encouragement, and I hold up my skirt as I walk the short distance back to the room where everyone is waiting. The photographer starts taking pictures as soon as I’m in view, and I smile for him. I know my smile is brighter, and more genuine, than when I was in the other dresses. I can’t help it, but one look into my mother’s eyes, and I know there’s going to be trouble.

“What an interesting dress, Rhieve.”

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Stella asks.

“It’s…interesting.”

I smile right at her when I say the words I need to say. “This is the one.”

“Let’s not be hasty.”

“I’m not being hasty. This is the dress that makes me feel like a bride, and isn’t that what you want?”

I’ve cornered her in front of outsiders, and we both know she won’t make a scene. “Well, if it’s what you want, of course I love it, too.”

“It is.”

I hug her, playing this for all I’m worth. I won’t let her ruin this for me. I’m going to marry Calum in this dress, be the best person and spy I can be, and for once, be happy to be me.

* * *

C
alum

Going to dinner with Rhieve’s parents is not high on my list of things I want to do, but it can’t be helped. She’s going to be my wife, and so I have to tolerate them. I don’t know how, especially since I want to punch her father every time I see him, but somehow I’ll make it through the meal tonight.

It helps that Rhieve is looking so amazing. She’s got on a high necked, sleeveless, dress that’s white underneath with black cutout fabric over it. It goes past her knees, but has a zipper from top to bottom in back, along with a high slit. The gold and black cutout heels on her feet make me have impure thoughts. Very, very impure thoughts.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“As okay as I can be,” I answer honestly.

“I won’t let them give you a hard time. You know that, right?”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know, but I want you to know I have your back. Rhys will, too.”

Her brother flew out for dinner with us. He’s doing great, living it up at the C&C apartments. He wasn’t traumatized by what happened to him, and from what I’ve heard, he complains about not being able to go out, but at least he’s safe from Chet for now.

Camari, is coming as his date. She knows how to behave in public, but also be firm when she needs to, so she’s the perfect choice. Of course, a couple of the actual Society ladies and their husbands, including Jade and Nate Anderson, will also be dining at the same restaurant to keep an eye on things.

“Let’s do this,” I tell Rhieve, taking her hand and putting a smile I don’t feel on my face as we walk to the table where they’re all waiting.

Mr. Madison stands to kiss his daughter on the cheek, and shake my hand harder than necessary. Rhys and I fist bump while I nod at Camari, and do the kiss cheek thing with Mrs. Madison. After pulling out her chair for Rhieve, I kiss her temple and take my seat next to her.

“What are your intentions with my daughter?” her father asks me.

“Well, I put a ring on her finger, so I’d say my intentions are very clear.”

“Nothing is ever as it seems with you Bensons.”

“You didn’t seem to have a problem with my mother when you were sleeping with her.”

“Shit,” Rhys says. “Really?”

“We are not going to discuss this,” Rhieve’s mother tells him.

“Don’t bring up Calum’s family then. Have some respect if you want to be shown respect,” Rhieve says, and I want to kiss her. Kiss her, and then order the strongest drink they have. This is going to be a long night.

The night goes from bad to worse, despite the best efforts of Rhieve and Camari to keep things civil. Her parents are even worse than I remembered, and I once again feel so bad about leaving Rhieve alone for so many years. They try to dim that brightness in her, but they haven’t succeeded yet, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure that they never do.

I drink so much Scotch, I think it’s running in my veins, and Rhys just sits there looking amused while his parents try to eviscerate me. Luckily, I know how to hold my liquor, so I manage to walk a pretty straight line out to our car once the ordeal is finally over.

“I hate your parents,” I tell her, laying my head down on her lap after climbing in the backseat.

“I know. I’m sorry they’re so horrible.”

“Not your fault, love.”

"We don't have to see them again until the wedding, okay?"

"'Kay," I say, turning to run my hands over her flat stomach. "One day we'll have a baby, Rhi, and they'll know we love him or her. Unconditionally."

"One day, Cabe. Not too soon, though."

"No. After you've been a badass spy for a few years. Our baby will know that its mom is helping save the world. I'm so proud of you, Rhi. Have I told you that before?"

"Once or twice, but it's always nice to hear."

"I want you to be proud of me, too. I'm trying to be a better man."

"I know, but don't change too much. The world's not ready for a kinder and gentler Caleb Benson."

"No?"

"No."

"I think I'll go to sleep now for a little bit if you don't mind."

"Go ahead. I'll wake you up when we get to my house."

She runs her fingers through my short hair as I drift off to thoughts of Rhieve in a wedding dress, and the beautiful babies who will look like both of us. It won't matter that neither of us had parents who cared more about themselves than us. We'll have each other forever.