The Gold Crown (Golden Crown #3) (3 page)

“She is 21.”

“And?” I added as Mani laughed at me.

“Lucius is roman for “light.” I said as he stepped up and touched my face.

“I only see you,” he said and I smiled.

“Two Etruscan kings of early Rome had your name as well as several prominent Romans, including Lucius Annaeus Seneca (known simply as Seneca).”

“Mmm really?” he asked me as he kissed my neck and his lips felt warm and needy.

“He was a statesman, philosopher, orator and tragedian. The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament belonging to a Christian in Antioch.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked and I smiled.

“It was also taken by three popes, including the 3rd-century Saint Lucius. Despite this, the name was not regularly used in the Christian world until after the Renaissance.”

He smiled at me.

“Thank you for the lesson.”

I smiled back. “You are not the only one who knows things Mani.”

“Again, I only see you.” He added as he leaned in and I stopped him from kissing me as I started to talk again.

“And I only see light,” I said. With that he pulled me to him and kissed me as he often does, without holding back and with a twinge of desperation. I feel it as I do all of him. He lives in me now and regardless of how it will end I will cherish him always and what he has given to me.

****

We made out like two teenagers in the back of the cab as the driver tried to ignore us, but I would assume it would be hard. Mani’s lips traced my neck and his hand slid up my thigh as I lifted it and let him devour me and all of my senses. I need this; I need him to be as passionate as he can be with me. The passion I had longed for and had been denied for over a decade made this much sweeter that I could have ever hoped it to be. The car stopped and Mani looked at the driver and then out the window. I ran my hand through his hair as he grinned and kissed me quickly.

“We are here.”

“I am not hungry,” I whispered. He paused and looked me over.

“You need to eat Beth, I swear you have lost another 10 pounds since…” he trailed off as I slipped from him and sighed. I paused and then ignored the awful reminder of it all.

“I didn’t mean...” he started to say and I looked at him and smiled.

“Let’s eat,” I said as he opened his door and stood up. He reached in and I took his hand as he pulled me out of the car. I looked up at the sign and smiled. I knew this place all too well as Ryan and I had come more than once and so long ago. Of course the waiter who “serviced” us was gone but the memory remained.

“I love this place.” I said and he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me in as Ryan sat just down the street in our car and watched us. He leaned up and tapped on the window and our driver lowered it.

“I am going in; give me an hour or so,” he said as he slipped out and the driver shut the car off and pulled a magazine to bide his time. Ryan walked down the sidewalk as he held his phone to his ear. He stopped as the voice sounded tired on the other end.

“Meet me at Bella’s, 20 minutes is fine, no longer,” he said and he waited as he grinned.

“Now, not later…hurry the fuck up,” he added as he hung up and walked to the cigar shop next to Bella Biachi Restaurant , simply nicknamed “BB” by anyone who frequented it. He walked in, happy to smell the aroma and to be greeted like a friend.

“Mr. Blackwood!” the clerk said as he stepped from behind the counter and extended a hand to him. Ryan shook his hand and looked around the shop.

“Do you have anything new, imported?” he asked and the clerk smiled.

“Follow me,” he said as he walked towards the back and unlocked a door. It opened to a small room with nothing but a man in a chair manning it. Ryan eyed the man as he looked large and ready to handle any situation that may occur. The man adjusted on his chair as he read his magazine and Ryan saw the gun strapped to his shoulder inside his jacket. The man stared at him for a moment and Ryan turned his eyes towards the clerk and the large black door. The clerk walked to it and pulled another key and unlocked it. He stepped through as Ryan followed him into another room; he stopped as he watched a woman walk by them without anything on and he grinned. She reached out and touched his face and he turned to watch her walk away.

“She is a fucking bitch,” the clerk said and Ryan laughed.

“What woman isn’t?” he asked as the clerk continued to walk until he reached an elaborate couch with a women lying on it. A man’s face was buried in between her thighs. The women grinned up at Ryan and waved him over. He leaned down and glanced at the man eating her out as she seemed to be simply amused by it. She touched his face as he leaned in and she kissed him slowly, parting his lips with her tongue, he backed up and pulled a small plastic bag from his mouth and gripped it tightly in his hand.

“Opium is a mistress you must treat with the utmost respect,” she said quietly in a French accent as Ryan nodded to her. He held up money and she glanced to the large silver bowl on the table, he tossed it in, it floated amongst a ton of money, some for this new drug he found himself in need of and some from her patrons of sexual desire. Ryan knelt down and she took his hand. The man at her clit quickened his pace. She moaned as she stared into Ryan’s eyes and he tried to ignore the hardening of his cock in his pants, but it was damn near impossible. She loosened her grip on him and the man at her clit rose up and stared at Ryan and then let his eyes linger down him.

“He is a master of pleasure. Stay and let him please you Ryan,” she said as Ryan sighed and started to stand up. The man reached up and cupped his cock in his hand through his pants causing Ryan to stop moving.

“I really only came for this,” he said as the bag felt hot in his palm.

“It costs you nothing but time,” she added and Ryan looked down as the man undid his pants and pulled his cock out, licking the tip of it slowly as Ryan moaned at the back of his throat.

“I have a date in 20 minutes.”

“I will be done in 10,” the man said as he slid Ryan’s cock to the back of his throat and let his tongue race along the shaft. Ryan let his head fall back as the woman stood up behind him and started to undo his shirt. She slid her hands inside and found his nipples, squeezing them with just enough pressure to cause Ryan to move slightly, almost stumbling as the man sucked at his cock. She continued to send small waves of pain through him, squeezing his nipples just as the man sucked on his cock, increasing pressure as if they worked as one.

She pulled him back with her to the large couch and pushed him down, straddling him and sliding his cock up into her. She rested for a moment and then started to rotate her hips slowly, the other man stood up, walking up behind her and pushing her forward. He then slipped his erect cock into her ass and Ryan could feel it pressing against his own as he fucked her from behind and made her grind harder against his own. She leaned in and bit his lip as her fingers intertwined with his. She pulled his arms up above his head and held them there. His eyes rolled as the three of them started to move in a perfect union. She suddenly stopped and slid off of him, lying down as Ryan rolled on top of her and felt her hand wrap tightly around his cock, leading him into her already wet and vibrating pussy. He pulled her legs up to his side and pressed himself deep into her as the other man sat down behind him and sighed as he felt the tip of his cock at his own ass. The man placed a hand on Ryan’s throat and pulled his head back as he slid his cock deep into Ryan’s ass and Ryan opened his mouth, but no sound came out as he continued to fuck the women beneath him and the man behind him moaned and rotated his hips, burying his cock deep into Ryan. Ryan’s cock twitched as an orgasm started to rock through his body, first consuming his abdomen and then making every muscle fire up in his body. He cried out as the man came into his ass and he came into the women’s pussy. She smiled as sweat poured from her chest and rolled down her stomach. Ryan then collapsed onto her as the man behind him fucked him a few more times as his own orgasm subsided. He then pulled back and Ryan stood up, not paying attention to being grateful as he was not so much grateful, as fulfilled.

“I have to go,” he said as he pulled his pants up and zipped them. He then grabbed his opium, which had fallen onto the floor and the man who had fucked him leaned back on the couch and stroked his cock.

“I would not object to a bit more.”

Ryan shook his head and hurried out as he was determined to get to Bella’s and was just a bit aggravated with himself that he had once again allowed his strong sexual need to delay him.

Chapter Four

Remote

I sat still as Mani ran his fingers along my thigh under the table. I sighed and let the edge of the glass roll on my bottom lip. He watched my mouth and then stared into my eyes as I grinned at him and set my glass down onto the table.

“You drive me crazy,” he whispered as I glanced at the waiter walking towards us. I raised my hand and then pointed to my glass and the waiter nodded.

“Do you need another drink?” I asked him and he pulled his hand from my thigh and leaned back.

“Sure,” he said as he glanced at the waiter too. I pointed to Mani’s glass and the waiter was off to replenish our drinks of choice this evening. Mani always drinks Gin and tonics and I normally let Vodka have me. It doesn’t matter what I mix Vodka with as long as it is in there. Mani then sighed and I looked at him. I took all of him in. He is a very handsome man. I placed my hand on my chin and rested it there as I watched the low light play off of his beautiful features, intoxicating me as usual.

“Beth, I think we should talk.”

My heart stopped for a minute as I thought of him saying what I did not want to here. That he had found some good girl who wanted a family and shit and that I was no longer good for him.

I took a huge drink and finished the remainder of my mixed cocktail and set the glass down. I lifted the black napkin and dabbed the corners of my mouth, refusing to appear greedy or trashy in any way. Mani watched me as he always does, with interest and compassion. I need those, the mixture of the two and having him wanting to discuss anything other than where we will be fucking is not needed. I do feel for him, if love should be used to explain it then so be it. He would deserve love, he does deserve it and hopefully I am enough for him. The idea of him rejecting me is a terrifying thought. I would be left with what? Ryan? I already know what that is. I already accept that Ryan and I are bound by tragedy. What I do not want to accept is that in the end it will be him and I, still trying our best to destroy each other. Mani is not that, he is light and air. He is happiness that I keep just out of reach.

I set the napkin down and stared at it and then decided to stop running from his need to talk. I normally stop him when we are alone by kissing him and reaching down to make him harder than he already is. He leaned up and interlocked his fingers on the table and then I regained my composure.

“I know you feel as if you have to stay, Beth.”

I leaned back and pulled my hands to my lap, dragging the ruby ring along with the retreat. I looked down and then back to him hoping this would be quick and painless. He must have brought me to a public place to try to avoid a scene. I have to admit he is smart, but I am not exactly a “scene maker” kind of woman.

“Loyalty is not a crime,” he added as he looked me over and I lifted my face to look into his eyes, eyes I so enjoyed seeing, eyes that had not seen me at my worst, but at my best…with him.

“Mani,” I started to say and he interrupted me, which was unlike him.

“I love you Beth, I do,” he said quietly as the waiter returned with new drinks and I was grateful. I grinned, looking up at him and took it from his hand before he could place it on the table. I then started to drink until the entire thing burned my throat and filled my stomach. I coughed a little bit as I placed the empty glass down on the table and both Mani and the waiter stared at me in disbelief.

“Would you like another?” he asked and Mani said “No” as I said “Yes.” Mani leaned back and watched me as I dabbed my mouth again. I grinned at him and pulled my compact, checking my lipstick and hair, and then I clicked it shut and stared at him with a new found coldness, well not so new as it was for me to just be acting towards him. This Beth was the Beth Ryan gets, the one the outside world gets. Not Mani, he gets the one I had fought to become, vulnerable and giving, needy and weak. As I mulled it over in my mind it helped me become even more aggravated that this was not going as I hoped it would.

“Beth, you should slow down on drinking.”

I laughed and it echoed in the back of the restaurant. I scanned the room hoping to see the waiter Ryan and I used to come to see. Perhaps I could get a fuck in the bathroom.

“Don’t be concerned with me, Mani. I am a grown woman, I can handle myself.”

Mani raised an eyebrow and was set back with my tone. I never spoke to him in this way. Without emotion and feeling but he felt the wall go up and the Vodka helped me along.

“I think you misunderstood me,” Mani said and I looked at him and shook my head.

“I understand everything as I always have. You simply want more and I can’t do it so I know where that leaves us.”

“Beth…no.”

I tapped his hand as I leaned in.

“Don’t, I don’t need pity. It is beneath me.”

He shook his head and grabbed my hand with more force than I needed. He jerked the ruby off of me and I pulled my hand back and rubbed it as he held the ring in his fingers and stared at it.

“This thing is probably full of poison,” he said as he held it up and eyed it. I snatched it from him like a 2 year old does a toy they refuse to share. I held it tightly in my palm until he cleared his throat and pulled a box out and set it on the table in front of me and my heart skipped a beat in my chest. I stared at it, so beautiful and small. It was tasteful, as Mani is, not elaborate and overbearing as I was used to. The box held what I could only assume was a token of his love for me and the ruby suddenly felt like it weighed 100 pounds in my hand. My eyes filled with tears and I turned on the seat so he could not see my emotional state. He slid towards me and I felt his hand on the small of my back before I turned to look at him, a single tear rolling down my cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb as his palm cupped my chin. I smiled at him and shook my head.