Never Say Die- Chapter 12

 

Chapter 12

 

 

            The next two days we took it easy since Flan had discovered that she had painful blisters the morning after all the walking and dancing we'd done and her heels had not been kind to her feet. We slowly made our way to the CVS pharmacy down the street, with Flan in her most comfortable tennis shoes, to get her some blister pads and I promised that we could either take a taxi or the bus from then on.

            We ended up running into Hadley and a few other people from the club, they seemed to be in a group and it turned out that they were all from Port Harbor. They invited us to join them later for dinner and we agreed to meet up with them around six. After many kisses all around we went off to find a place to have lunch.

            We stumbled on a little Korean barbeque restaurant where you could cook your meat right at your table, it was tucked away in the corner of a strip mall but the smell coming from the restaurant was intoxicating and I all but followed my nose inside, I'm a huge sucker for Korean food.

            I ordered all of my favorite things after explaining what it all was to Rhys and Flan, they handled it all in good humor and seemed to really enjoy everything that was served. Once again we forced ourselves to stand and walk out of the restaurant feeling like we were fit to burst and after a quick discussion we unanimously agreed that it was a good idea to take a nap before we met up with our friends from the club, who knew where we'd end up with them?

            When we arrived at the steakhouse for dinner, Hadley and her friends were just starting to show up themselves. I sensed something evil as I went up to the host to put our names on the list and as I approached the stand his eyes widened in surprise.

            “Master! What an honor and a privilege to have you here tonight.” He bowed deeply to me as I realized that he was part demon and knew exactly who I was.

            I stepped closer to him so that nobody else could hear me. “I am here with a group of human friends and would greatly appreciate your discretion.” sliding my hand in my purse and then holding it out as if to shake hands with him. He reached for my hand and felt the hundred dollar bill I had pressed into his palm.

            He spoke in a lowered tone, “Of course master, you shall have nothing but discretion and the finest service tonight.” He bowed again and I sighed as he walked away, The bowing is going to get old.

            When I returned to the group everyone had arrived and a chorus of compliments was going around as everybody checked out what everybody else was wearing, then came the kisses as if we hadn't seen each other in months and not just hours ago. Definitely friendly people I thought smiling to myself.

            When the host came back to show us to our seats we followed him to find that we'd been put in a private room in the back of the restaurant, it had been roped off just for us. He stood waiting to hold out my chair for me and I thanked him as I sat down with Rhys on my left side and Flan on my right with Hadley next to her.

            “If there's anything else I can do for you please let me know.” He said, bowing low once again before going back to the stand in front of the restaurant.

            “What's with the bowing?” Rhys asked and I smiled.

            “He knows my dad.” I said offhandedly, not wanting the conversation to continue, it seemed to be a good enough answer for him and he let it go. That is until our server also arrived, bowing even lower than the server had before taking our orders.

            Great another demon, I thought, starting to get frustrated with the situation.

            “Your dad must be someone important.” Hadley said from a few chairs down and I just nodded; I really didn't want to get into that conversation.

            “What can you do? Money talks.” Flan jumped in and it seemed like her comment was enough to end the discussion as everyone went back to their original conversations.

            When the server was headed back to bring bread and fill our water glasses I did something that I never did. I projected my thoughts into his head, turning to look directly at him I concentrated as hard as I could. Do not bow to me again while I am here, you will make the humans uncomfortable. He nodded as he set the baskets of bread on the table and Flan looked over at me expectantly.

            “What?” I asked.

            “Did you just say something?” she asked in reply and I shook my head.

            “No I didn't say anything.” I assured her and once again projected my thoughts.

            I was just asking the server not to bow to me, he and the host are demons and they know who I am. I managed to look frustrated butFlan looked a bit confused at first as she heard my words in her head while my lips never moved. She casually tapped her head before thinking back at me, Neat trick.

            I smiled back at her intrigued that this could work both ways but knowing that it wouldn't be necessary because it was a power I never used.

            After that there was no more bowing, no more exchanging of silent thoughts and we just enjoyed our dinner, chatting about the towns we lived in, who was in college, who had what job and other interests in the group.

            I found that I really liked these people, they were a lot of fun and easy to be around, it was an experience I'd never allowed myself before and I drank it all in because I didn't know when I'd get the chance to enjoy an opportunity like this again.

            The food was excellent as it had been the entire trip, no matter where we went except that this meal was bug free. We had been encouraged to make full use of the private room we'd been given, bottles of champagnes and fine wines were being brought around by a sommelier, “On the house.” he told me specifically and quite firmly in a way to suggest that I not bother arguing. I had a feeling that we had not met the only two demons working in this restaurant as I smiled graciously and held up my glass for some wine.

            Thoroughly stuffed and slightly drunk from all the wine and champagne, we left the restaurant quite a while after it had closed. I had gotten so involved in the laughter and conversation and the room was so private that none of us had noticed as the main dining room had been cleared out and prepared for the next day. We were the only ones leaving the restaurant and had to be let out by the host who bowed to us each individually as we filed out the door.

“Well that was certainly a good time.” a guy named Josh spoke as we waited for a taxi and the rest of us nodded and murmured our agreement.

            “If it wasn't for Saydie I'm not sure we'd have had such a good time.” Hadley spoke up, clapping her hands and the rest of the group joined her as I blushed deeply and smiled.

            “It was none of my doing, they know my dad, if you'd like I'll pass your thanks on to him.” I said graciously diverting the attention from myself as the conversation turned to other topics while we waited.

            After about ten minutes no taxi's had showed up so I went back to the front of the restaurant and knocked on their door. The host appeared and opened it in a hurry when he realized it was me.

            “Is there something else I can do for you master?” he seemed eager to help and I couldn't help smiling.

            “It seems that there aren't any taxi's coming this way, do you think you could call a few cabs for us?” I asked politely.

            “Anything for the almighty masters daughter, I will have them here shortly.” He bowed yet again and I turned to re-join the group.

            Less than ten minutes later a very long limousine that resembled a very stretched Hummer pulled up in front of the restaurant. I looked back toward the door to see the host giving me a thumbs up, I waved my thanks and heard the excited exclamations of our new friends as they climbed in and I followed.

            We were the last to be dropped off since our friends were staying downtown and as we got out to go inside I pulled out my wallet to pay for the ride.

            “It's already paid for miss.” the driver said to me with a soft southern accent. I should have guessed.

            “Well thank you very much I said handing him a hundred as a tip.

            “I can't accept this Miss Mason, it's more than the rental cost.” he said trying to hand the bill back to me, I stared in silence for a moment surprised that he knew my name, the host must have told him when he called.

            “I insist sir, you really helped us out of a jam and I'd like to show my appreciation.” I said stepping away from him with a smile. Finally, he nodded and put the money in the inside breast pocket of his jacket, then pulled out a business card.

            “You need to go anywhere else while you're here then you call me, don't waste your time with these money grubbing' taxi drivers, charging you an arm and a leg to drive you all over tarnation to get where you're going so they can run up the meter.” he said in a no-nonsense tone of voice.

            “Thank you very much I appreciate it.” I said smiling at him and then remembered that Rhys and I had plans for the next night and thought that this limo would be a fun way to get around.

            “Actually my boyfriend and I will be going to a show at the New York tomorrow evening and we planned to have dinner beforehand so if you could be here around eight thirty that would be wonderful.” he nodded.

            “No problem Miss Mason I'll be here at eight thirty sharp.” and with a tip of his hat he drove off.

 

            The next night the limo showed up right on time and whisked us off to dinner at the New York hotel with the promise that he'd be waiting when we came out, this time refusing a tip completely. We ate at another steakhouse called Gallagher's, off to the right of the entrance we noticed a glass walled refrigerator full of steaks, a sign informed us that the steaks were aging which helped to make them tender and flavorful. It also made it nearly impossible to resist the urge to dine at their restaurant as long as you weren't on a tight budget.

            Rhys and I shared an appetizer of tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella that was absolutely delicious with a balsamic reduction and olive oil along with the fresh pepper medley the waiter sprinkled on top. We had decided to split their prime rib, at twenty eight ounces it was more than enough for us both.

            Unfortunately the waiter came out to tell us that they were out of prime rib but with a wink he assured us that he had it covered. Rhys and I looked back at each other and shrugged as we held hands across the table. I noticed that many people were looking us over and even heard one woman exclaim, “What a lovely couple!” She looked like she'd had a little too much of the merlot sitting on the table in front of her. Rhys and I just smiled at each other.

            “Remember that first day when we held hands and I asked if you felt it too?” Rhys asked me suddenly and I nodded.

            “I knew then that you were the one, nobody but you could put a jolt in my heart the way you do.” I smiled at him and rubbed my thumb over the top of his hand.

            “That's why I love you so much, you always say the sweetest things.” I said and he smiled back just as our steak arrived, it was easily the largest steak I'd ever seen, the waiter was quick to inform us that it was a rib eye and that he hoped we would enjoy it just as much as we would have enjoyed the prime rib.

            We dug in with gusto and were pleasantly surprised to find that he had been right, the steak nearly melted in our mouths, was perfectly pink, seasoned and cooked to perfection. The waiter had definitely done us proud and the tip that our driver had refused was passed on to this man who was serving, as far as I was concerned, some of the best steak in the world.

 

            We had gotten tickets for a show called Zumanity and it was a cirque du soleil production that neither of us had ever seen, trying to pick one out had been nearly impossible when I was buying the tickets but Flan suggested seeing the adult oriented show and so we went with this one.

            The theater was dimly lit and draped in red fabrics as we were led to our seats, you could see members of the band preparing themselves on a type of catwalk high above the stage. I took my time looking over the theater and the stage which seemed to have at least two somewhat hidden doors in the floor. The entire setup was enough to put you in the mood for love and was in itself, intoxicating.

            The show was getting started when a man, with a finely chiseled torso, leather pants and a Mohawk that was at least six inches high, passed us with a microphone in his hand.

As the opening progressed we both stared open mouthed and laughed along as the characters made blunt sexual references and crude remarks, pulled audience members on the stage, molested a few in their seats and teased others with plates of fresh strawberries, and this was all before the show actually started.

            Once it got going we were even more in awe of the acrobatics and the way the performers moved their bodies, particularly because many of them were mostly naked or in transparent body suits, which we hadn't expected.

            There was a surge of heat that flowed through our entwined hands and it continued to build as the show went on, at one point we glanced at each other and realized that the other was feeling everything this show had been designed for, to just give in to your inhibitions and let yourself go. I wanted him so badly it almost hurt to stay in my seat until the show was over but in the end I was glad that I had. The show had been fantastic and the feelings that I had were like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

            The ride back was only two blocks but it felt like the longest ride of my life, I thanked the driver repeatedly before walking away from the vehicle and practically running for the door.             When we finally got inside we rushed across the casino to the elevators, glad to find that we were alone in the one that arrived. We moved into each other’s arms as if we had no choice. His lips were burning and urgent on mine and once again I felt like I just couldn't get close enough to him.

            He swept me up off my feet when the elevator opened and carried me to our room without moving his lips from mine as he unlocked and opened the door, kicking it shut behind him. I silently thanked Flan for going out with Hadley, leaving us the suite to ourselves.

            The next thing I knew we were on the bed and clothes were flying everywhere, his hands felt like they were all over my body as we lay there nearly naked. I felt his hand slide down between my legs and I gasped at the feeling that arose when he touched me.

            “Is this okay?” he asked suddenly pulling away and I pulled him back to me.

            “It's fine.” I breathed, not daring to say anything else in case I lost my nerve; I needed him so badly and the fact that he was trying to be considerate just made me want him more. I gasped again as his hand slid back down to feel me and he stared into my eyes, gauging my reaction and making sure that I was still alright with the direction in which we were headed. I lost all sense of space and time and then suddenly I felt like my body was exploding from the inside out.

            We both lay breathless and glistening with sweat when it ended and I felt like I should say something but I didn't know what and he ended up beating me to it.

            “Are you alright with this?” he seemed worried, he knew how I felt about sex but this alternative was something neither of us had considered.

            I smiled up at him, “I'm totally alright with this.” and reached up for another kiss. “Are you alright with it?”

            He smiled back, “It's a little difficult to contain myself but yes I'm alright with it.” he had a mischievous look in his eyes.

            “I'm sorry I didn't mean to make this difficult for you.” I said, looking down and feeling a little guilty, the last thing I wanted was for him to feel taken advantage of.

            “Baby don't apologize, I wanted to do this as much as you did, you didn't make me do anything. It was just a spur of the moment idea that apparently worked out pretty well.” he grinned and I grinned back. That show was completely worth it. I thought, smiling to myself.

            “Yes it did.” I said as his lips came back down on mine and it all started over again

 

            On our last day we had to check out by eleven so we were up by nine searching every corner of the room for our belongings and going over packing lists to make sure we had it all. We managed to all be showered, packed and ready to go by about ten thirty, we headed down to check our baggage at the front desk for the rest of the day since our flight wasn't until seven thirty that evening. Once we received the ticket for our luggage we went down to the hotels buffet for breakfast and were sad to see that we were just in time for the lunch changeover, but we were hungry so we went for it anyway.

            There was still a small portion of the buffet with breakfast items still being served and we descended upon it like vultures, getting waffles, sausages, bacon and fruit, before heading back to the table to wolf it all down and getting back in line to start in on the lunch items.

            Barely feeling like I could get out of my seat, I allowed Rhys and Flan to lead me outside for a final chance at sightseeing. I handed Rhys my camera and let him take pictures of everything he wanted to see, we stopped and had drinks at Margaritaville at my request and I was a little tipsy by the time we left.

            “Good thing for fake ID's huh Say?” Flan muttered under her breath, very close to my ear, and I smiled at her and nodded.

            “After two centuries I deserve it.” I whispered back and it was her turn to smile as we crossed the street to Caesars Palace.

            The forum shops was my favorite part, I stopped at Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Burberry, Fendi, Coach, Bvlgari, Valentino and Harry Winston. I remembered the promise I'd made at the river to buy Flan something nice and so I found a beautiful charm bracelet with a Tiffany's tag hanging from it and had it gift wrapped for her. I'd surprise her with it after we got back.

            After touring Caesars palace, doing some gambling and then taking a stroll through the Bellagio, we started to head back toward the end of the strip that our hotel was on. We stopped at the Coca Cola store to take pictures with the Coke bear, had lunch at the steak house upstairs and then found that we were going to have to rush back to the hotel to make our shuttle in time.

            We made it with just minutes to spare, got loaded up and were back at the airport that felt like we'd just left it. The trip home was much more subdued, most everyone was tired and sunburned. I sat holding Rhys's hand, this time in silence and caught my name coming from a few rows back shortly after the plane took off.

            “I don't know why she thinks she can compete with Saydie; Rhys is obviously head over heels in love with her. Then to try to seduce him while we're on vacation and everybody is here to find out? What an idiot, I'm on Saydie's side for this one; I would have broken her nose too. Sometimes Veronica just goes too far, it's no wonder that very few people like her if that’s how she acts.” Rhys and I glanced at each other and I realized that he'd heard the conversation too as we exchanged a smile.

            “She's right you know.” he whispered to me and I looked at him curiously.

            “About what?”

            “I am head over heels in love with you.” he said and I blushed.

            “Me too.” I said and smiled just for him.

            That one conversation seemed to start a buzz on the plane as gossip flew, there were even a few people who hadn't heard what had happened yet. I heard our names and Veronica's coming from all over the plane, it seemed like everyone was ridiculing her for what she'd done and I'd won some admirers for what I'd done, especially among the men.

            “You seem to be a hero babe.” Rhys smiled down at me and I frowned back.

            “I don't want to be a hero for something like that. I lost my temper and I shouldn't have.”

            “Well a lot of others seem to think that she had it coming.” he replied.

            “And she did have it coming.” Flan chimed in giving me her Don't bother arguing look. I rolled my eyes at both of them, turned on my mp3 player, put my headphones over my ears and closed my eyes to drown out the conversation.

            I had eventually fallen asleep for the last hour or so of the flight and woke up to the jerk of the plane touching down.

            Rhys smiled over at me as I opened my eyes, “Welcome home.”

            I smiled back. “I'm glad to be home.” We taxied to the gate and there was a rush of people anxious to get off the plane so we waited patiently as row after row of people pushed their way into the aisle. Eventually we made it off the plane and went down to get our baggage, only to find that everyone was crowded around the carousel but it wasn't moving. After about half an hour there was announcement that they apologized for the delay and about fifteen minutes after that the luggage finally started coming out.

            By the time we piled into Aaron's Avalanche I could barely keep my eyes open. I snoozed with my head on Rhys's shoulder for most of the ride, waking up just a few minutes from my house.

            I turned to him and kissed his cheek, “Will you stay with me tonight?” I asked softly and he nodded, smiling, I knew exactly what he was thinking about and I smiled too.

            “What's with you guys? You both look like the cat that swallowed the canary.” Flan asked as we pulled our luggage out of the back of Aaron's truck before he drove away.

            “Nothing is up with us, we're just happy to be back.” I told her, not quite meeting her eyes that suddenly went wide as she clapped a hand over her mouth.

            “I can't believe I didn't see this sooner, you guys are sleeping together. How long has this been going on?” She demanded pointing at us both with a huge smile on her face.

            I could feel my entire face turning red, “We're not sleeping together Flan.”

            “Oh you've been doing something together and it's obviously not sleeping.” she laughed.

            “We're not having sex Flan just drop it.” Rhys interjected firmly as I opened the front door and walked into the living room. Flan let it go for the moment but something told me that this wasn't the end of it.

            “I'm just gonna go crash so I'll see you in the morning.” I told her and Rhys followed me up the stairs to my room.

            For the first time in all the time we'd been together he deliberately crawled under the covers and pulled me close, it felt good to have him warm and solid next to me and I was immediately comfortable in the circle of his arms.

            “I love you.” He whispered.

            “I love you too.” I whispered back before slipping into the warm and happy place that was his embrace.