Thick as Thieves (The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts #3)

Chapter 30

30

Evie

Mexico City

You are fucking kidding me. I’ve just seen the other door into another club. It’s a good job I expressed loads of milk for the twins’ breakfast, as I’m having a few tequilas tonight. In fact I might have to mainline a whole bottle to get enough courage to enter through the other door. The giggling hordes and off the cuff snippets of the people that are passing through have given me a good guess of what’s hiding behind it.

Tequila my old friend, don’t desert me now.

But I do especially love the paprika spices that ring the glasses. And I love the salt. Brings back memories of a certain night in a club with Xan, how I spent the night licking him. I smile as I think of it and look at him over the top of my glass. He clocks me looking and comes over. Lately I’ve noticed he always seems to be watching me, and wonder if this is how he always has been, but I just never realised it.

“What was that look for?” he asks, a sexy smile settling on his lips as he pulls me down into his lap. The club is dark, the booths are big, the seats black, the tables in them blocking lots of views. I can see people looking at us. He draws looks, both he and Kellen. People stare trying to get their attention.

I’ve seen the dirty looks I’ve been getting too. As soon as I move, the guys do. As soon as I talk, they listen. Even the girls in our group, Candy, Texas, Clara, and Tanya are a bit pissed about it. I’ve seen the looks before, I know the thoughts behind them.

“I was thinking about the London club, on our tequila night,” I say lightly.

“You should have said yes that night. Might have saved a lot of trouble. But I did tell you that.” He nods knowingly at me.

“I did enjoy the licking of salt,” I tell him and slip my tongue across my lower lip.

He stills, like a cheetah in the jungle watching its prey. Putting his face close to mine, so that his lips virtually touch me. “Do that again, I dare you.” His voice is a low rasp, his face deadpan serious.

His sensuality hitting me in the chest, I grin at him indecently, not taking my eyes off him. “I dare,” I say cockily, as I do it again.

He growls in the back of his throat, his eyes wide open, pupils dilating. Running his hands up my legs, he moves my lovely new petrol-blue silk halter-neck backless and mid-thigh dress out of the way.

“This dress is divine. Easy access for me.” He laughs into my mouth, twisting my body around so my back is to the club. No one can see it’s me he has in a death grip, and I press myself into him.

“God, I want your tits in my mouth.” His hand is travelling northwards at a rate of knots. “Come for me here, now,” he demands, his face so serious.

I try to twist my neck to see if people are looking over. They can’t see what he’s doing to me, but it’s obvious we’re together.

I shake my head at him. “People are watching us.”

“So? Fuck ‘em. They can’t see where my hand is.” His hand has burrowed into my knickers and he pushes his fingers inside me.

I gasp at the blatant sexuality and the total disregard for everyone else. His lids have lowered, and I know he’s absolutely focused on getting me off.

He bites at my lips. “Fuck, I want you. I want to fuck you, right here,” he pants out. “I want you on my tongue, on my cock. I can fucking smell you, and I love it.”

He’s gone, lost in a sex haze. It’s such a turn on to see him so intense, running so hot, so focused on my pleasure.

“Stop thinking, Kitten. Let me love you. I want it all.”

A shadow falls across the booth and I squeak out, but look up to see Kell grinning down at us. He runs his fingers through Xan’s hair at the back of his head, leaning over to kiss me.

“Let him love you, Evie. Come on his fingers and let me taste them. No one can see, only us.”

I’m going to die. These men are going to kill me off with sex.

Xander is thrusting his fingers into me, talking dirty into my ear, while Kell is practically panting at the side of us listening. God, he’s so good at it. My orgasm comes quickly, and he keeps rotating his fingers, bringing me down slowly.

I must look like a wanton mess, as he smiles at me. “You look fucking beautiful, Kitten. And your taste and your scent is the best drug.”

He licks his fingers and then Kell bends down towards us both and takes hold of Xan’s hand. He lets Kell lick his fingers clean, and I’m gaping again at them both. It is so erotic. They show me sex heaven—or is it hell? Either way, I love it, I love them.

I’m on a total high as I head into the ladies to try to sort myself out. The self-satisfied smile on my face gets wider when I see one of Valentina’s relations is the loo attendant. Roza did say she worked this job for the gossip, and I smile conspiratorially at her as I go in.

She comes over to hug me, whispering in Spanish that the toilet with the out of order sign is the best, and winks at me as she goes on her break. I nip in and shut the door, knowing I’ll have a few minutes peace to drag the pieces of my scattered wits back together, along with my thoughts.

I hear the group come in as I’m sat on the loo, playing with my phone. I turn my phone to silent when I recognise the voices of Texas, a British girl named Candy, and the two girls with Levi I haven’t really gotten to know well, Clara and Tanya. Ex friends of the dreaded Becky.

“Could you see what they did?” Candy asks the group at large. “I couldn't. I thought Gabe was going to have a coronary, he was so desperate to see what they were doing to her.”

“Well, I don’t get the fascination.” I think it’s Clara, but whoever it is sounds pretty bitchy.

“That’s because you haven’t been around her very much, Clara.” That’s definitely Texas, and she sounds classically pompous. “It's pure sex to be with them all. It’s hot as fuck, and to be honest, without her it doesn’t work.”

I can’t decide if that’s a compliment or not.

“She’s not even that beautiful. Good looking, sure, but her clothes…” Clara again.

I close my eyes. I’m so frustrated, and I really want to tune them out, not have to listen to a word they say. I’ve worked so hard these past few months, and certainly weeks, trying to tone down the negative. Push anything that will hurt me out of my mind. I thought it would only be from outside sources, and I could deal with that. People that didn’t know me, didn’t know us, sitting in judgement. But no, I’m disappointed again. It’s up close and personal from within my home walls. What’s the saying about eavesdroppers never hearing anything nice? But this isn’t deliberate. I just needed a minute, and now I’m having to listen to them dissect me. I roll my eyes.

“Gabe says Xander is buzzing about the club next door. And now, well, after whatever he just did, he’s as high as a kite. Gabe reckons he’ll tie her up, and—” Candy, I think, states excitedly, playing her part up as information guru until she gets interrupted.

“Xan ties everyone up. He tied me up last summer,” Texas, gloats, trying to sound bored, but failing. I can hear the excitement in her tone.

My stomach drops, my jaw clenching together. I’ve tried not to think about what went on at Farm Cottage last summer. I’ve tried not to contemplate Xander with anyone. It was hard enough putting Kell’s past behind me, but I have it in tandem. They were both prolific with women. And, unfortunately, I’ve had to face those demons. But I know it’s more basic than that. I’m jealous. I try not to be, but I know I am. I’ve tried to be the bigger person, it’s in the past blah, blah. But I know I’m failing. And the closer Texas tried to get to us as a family, the more jealous I feel I’ve become. The more territorial. It’s not a good look, and I don’t like that I feel like that. But I know I do.

“Made Becky do lots of things to me,” she continues. “And when I say made…”

They all laugh. I, and they, know there was no making or forcing going on.

“Did he whip you, Tex? I’ve heard stories about him with the whip, ropes, and floggers. We never got that far in LA at Christmas, but what he did do to us both, well, goddamn amazing. I’ve never looked at a hairbrush in the same way since. Best night of our lives.” Clara is panting as if the memory is too much for her.

“Oh God yes, it was out of this world,” Tanya pipes up. “Best sex I’ve ever had. And believe me, I’ve had a lot. Levi is fantastic, but when Xander got involved. Next level.”

I didn’t know he’d been with them both at Christmas, before me. No one ever said. It was bad enough to know that both Kell and Xan had been with Texas at points in the past, but these two? They’ve been in my home, and I was oblivious. God, they’re so incestuous. I feel like a fool. They must have thought me so weak. Smiling and chatting with them when we were at gigs. They never once gave any inkling they knew Xander that way.

It crosses my mind if he’s warned them not to say. He knows I wouldn’t want them up close and personal. I close my eyes, hoping they all shut up, but I’m not that lucky.

“I know he’ll do it to Evie. He devours her at every opportunity at home. I come nearly every hour. I can’t wait to watch that. They’re careful even at home that no one sees them together. But if he does what he did to me, I’ll be first in the queue to touch her,” Texas states again, excitement oozing from her voice.

“I think you’re a bit invested in her, Texas. You need to get a grip.” Clara again.

I now feel utterly sick. My bees have returned with a full on army, and are swarming like mad. Nausea rolls in the pit my stomach, visions of Texas tied up, Xan with a fucking whip. Ew, and Becky. Sweet oblivion, please take me away from all this shit. And now I’ve got pictures of the other two imprinting themselves in my brain. And what the hell does a hairbrush have to do with it?

No one should have to put up with this. How could he not say? How could he act so indifferent towards the girls? I would never have guessed they’d met before with how he treats them. To be so intimate, and only six months ago. Clearly he’s as good as Kell at compartmentalising sex.

“Where did she go? She’s not in here. That toilet’s out of order and that one is free.” Tanya points out.

“She’s always disappearing, noticeably every time we turn up. She’s giving me a complex.” Candy laughs. “If she’s not going into the city, she’s with her nanny and her family. She never sits still. I feel tired just watching her.”

“Well, she’s left those men on their own upstairs. She must be uber confident in her appeal. If they were mine, I’d be hanging on like a limpet. Be on my guard every minute of every day. I mean, we all would, and we live with them,” Clara muses. “The guys want to go to the other club, so maybe she’s said no and left. God I hope so.”

“Well I want to watch Xander. For me, he’s the best looking of them all, in a dark way. I saw the look on his face when he was talking to her. I nearly came,” Tanya states as a matter of fact and they’re all laughing.

“I thought she wasn’t into being public,” says Candy—Gabe’s sole remaining devotee—with an attitude. “Could have fooled me. Fair enough you couldn’t see what they were doing, but everyone knew they were doing something to her. And it doesn’t take much imagination to figure it out.”

Clara climbs on the bandwagon. “She’s a liar. Plays miss goody goody, and all the while she isn’t. She can’t be if she’s fucking those two and keeping them loyal, which she’s managing at present. I take my hat off to her. She must be on her back twenty-four seven. No wonder she has everyone running around after her. She hasn’t got time for those kids, she’s too busy fucking two rock stars.” She sounds a cross between venomous and admiration.

And here we go. I have deja vu.

“It won’t last. They’re too extrovert, and they’ll always want more. She won’t be enough. It may be the three of them now, but eventually they’ll talk her into Gabe and Levi, then us.”

Texas, the traitorous bitch. I hear them all giggle.

“Then a show in a club,” she continues prattling on. “They’ve done all that already. Been the entertainment at times. Especially Marcus, he’s such an exhibitionist. Fucked a girl I know at an awards dinner. A t the table,” Texas finishes off with a flourish.

They all laugh. What is wrong with them that they think that is funny?

And for me—Bingo, my worst fears are spoken aloud. My doubts and insecurities aimed for and hit the bullseye.

“If you know him that well, shouldn’t you be calling him ‘Kellen’,” sniggers Candy. She’s taking a pot shot at Texas. No honour amongst thieves.

“I don’t dare. He’ll go off at me and I’ll be thrown out,” Texas replies. “I can’t afford to piss them off. I need my fix every day. I’ve had to get more batteries for my vibrator. Gabe is just not cutting it with those three around.” They all cackle like witches.

Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell has been going on here? My nerves are shredding by the second. My day started full of anxiety, now it’s hit a precipice.

“So is Marcus worse than Xander?” asks Tanya. “Just asking for a friend.”

They all snigger at that. I feel like I’m on the ropes in a boxing match with no let up. And my opponent just keeps swinging.

“Xan can be, well, he’s different, more intense. And he obviously likes all the other stuff more than Marcus.” Texas, the Marcus Russell and Xander Barclay expert, getting into her flow as if she’s on fucking Mastermind.

“Who would you go with again, Tex? Marcus or Xan?” asks Tanya, as if it’s some sort of menu.

“I’d rather have Evie,” she says, and my chest constricts.

I have to clap my hands over my mouth so that no sound escapes. Horror film style, where the victim is being hunted and needs to remain silent. But I’m not sure I’ll manage it. I think I’m having a heart attack. I knew she wasn’t right, that there was some ulterior motive to her being nice, and now I find out it’s me . Is my life not complicated enough?

“Well that isn’t happening. They don’t let anyone near her, especially Xander. He’s had a go at me loads this holiday,” says Clara in disgust. “Every time I’ve tried to cajole her into an outing, or go shopping with me, get to know her a bit better, he’s up in my face telling me to get lost. And he’s not even polite about it. It’s as if he doesn’t want us to get to know her in any way, shape, or form. So you’ve got no chance, Texas.”

Tanya adds, “Well, I hope what Gabe said is true. Because if he ties her up and gets on a roll, it might be your lucky night, Texas.”

They all laugh again and start to move out, still chattering, excitement in the air as they get ready for the night of their lives.

I let my hand fall from my mouth and draw in a deep breath. I’m sitting here feeling like someone has punched a hole in my chest where my heart used to be. Can it be true? Do they really want me to go with that lot? Not a chance in hell that is happening. It can’t be true. He would have said. He told me only things I would enjoy, and he knows I would never enjoy that. If I wasn’t sat down, my legs would buckle and I’d hit the canvas. A knockout blow.

Even earlier tonight, Kellen made sure no one could actually see me or them. We could have been doing nothing. But we weren’t.

I drop my head back onto the wall. What a hypocrite I am. Those girls may have a point. Maybe I am playing a role of goody two shoes, when in actual fact I’m as bad as them. Who gets finger fucked in a nightclub? At its most basic level, that is exactly what happened. I can dress it up as love—they love me, they worship me—but down at brass tacks, that is what I’ve just done. My brow furrows and my jaw quivers as I bite down on my bottom lip, disappointment in myself hitting me hard.

What happened to candlelight dinners, a bottle of wine, and making love on a rug in front of a roaring log fire? Oh please, my mind chides, you’ve got two men. What are you going to do? One at 7:00 p.m. and the next one at 9:30 p.m. and you can’t go out, because the world thinks you’re a ho. Well, if my actions this evening are being scrutinised by anyone, I may have just proved them right.

I’m losing myself to them. It’s my brothers all over again, minus the sex of course. I’m railroaded, pushed around in a nice way, but still it’s happening. I’ve turned back into a people pleaser, trying to please everyone, and forgetting about myself. But my rational mind says they do love me, they do want me, they can’t wait to get back home to us. Xander told me he didn’t want just sex, he wanted love, and I believed him.

But sometimes love is not enough. Sometimes he needs sex of a different sort, and he hasn’t done any of that. Well, not with me. Is this what it’s all about? Moving the boundaries a bit each time? First just Kell, then them both, then with all the extras, whips, rope, chains. Then Gabe, Levi, Texas. First one on one then as a group.

My mind has spun off into those fucking white tents. I saw that there, it was their normal standard. How they liked to live, just what they did, their usual MO. Why did I think they would change? They haven’t, they’ve just been biding their time, pushing a bit at me, further and further into their lives and how they live it.

Well it stops here.

Tears spring to my eyes. I can’t get my breath, my heart is pounding so hard in my chest. I’ve got tingles in my hands and feet, as if I’m going to faint. I’m sure I’ve been here with them before. But it was probably just Kellen then. I shake my head. Yeah, and you’ve gone along with it, and now it’s not.

Nausea rises again in my throat and the tequila from earlier is making a reappearance. I stand up, turn around, and vomit into the toilet. I’m going to faint, and I hang onto the toilet for dear life, as if it’s the last life raft on a sinking ship.

Roza, who is back from her break, knocks lightly on the door in concern.

“Evie, you okay?”

“I’m good, just too much Tequila,” I tell her. “I’ll be a minute. I just want to be alone for a few minutes.”

“Si,” she replies.

I hear her sit back down on her attendant chair, and I sit quietly on the loo in the stall. My mind is totally blank.