Page 3 of Amour Fou (Deepest Desires #2)
D ropping my bags onto the bed, I smile, looking around at how absolutely stunning this room is—the place that will be my home while we prep for the next show.
Deepest Desires has always been extremely elusive, you never knew where it was going to pop up, and it never lasted longer than that one night.
Since the new performance manager Cairo joined, things have taken a huge turn, her presence within the company changing everything for the better.
This is not only an exclusive show every two months, but now…
it travels. Spending a lot more time in one spot and spacing the entertainment over two days rather than one.
Since then, nobody has been able to stop talking about it.
It’s still the most secretive party to get into, but the brand has grown drastically.
Currently, it’s situated in Ohio, just outside of Thomson and McSherry forest, where the large manor house is secluded by tall trees and a large lake.
Expanding over forty acres with only one way in… and one way out.
“What do you think?” Spinning on my heel, I see Cairo leaning against the wall with her hands crossed over her chest. “Pretty sweet, huh?” She grins.
“I love it.” I smile, sitting back in the bed. “Seriously, it’s amazing, Cairo.”
“Deck wasn’t so sure at first, considering the size of it. I mean, he was surprised I found enough employees to fill this place.”
“Thank you again for taking a chance on me. ”
Waving a hand in front of her face, completely dismissing the comment altogether, she straightens up. “Honestly, you’re doing me a favour. If it wasn’t for you showing up, I’d be without a decent performer.”
“That bad, huh?” I snort.
Rolling her eyes, she runs her hands down her face.
“You can’t even begin to imagine. It’s like I’m bleeding females left, right, and fucking centre lately and the reason behind it, is Xaden.
” She points her thumb over her shoulder.
“He seems to really enjoy fucking the ones we have, then ignoring them until they eventually leave.”
“Ah.” I nod, mainly because as much as Xaden has a big mouth, I can’t deny both him and Zeke are hot.
“Alyssa…”
“I know the rules, Cairo… don’t worry.”
Rolling her eyes, she clicks her tongue. “Rules shmules. Deckard made that up last year because we couldn’t keep Xaden on his leash, and even now the little fucker doesn’t listen. If you’re going to go there—”
“I never said I was going to go anywhere.” I snort, laughing.
“You didn’t have to.” She narrows her eyes playfully. “Your reaction to him said enough.”
I shake my head. “And Zeke?” I ask. Cairo purses her lips, trying to refrain from smiling.
“Zeke is…” She pauses, pursing her lips slightly.
Her eyes flicking to the ceiling as she thinks of the correct words to describe him.
“He’s complicated; tends to keep to himself when it comes to women.
” She shrugs. “Not sure why and I don’t ask.
He’s more into riling up my fiancé with his best friend than anything, but they’re good guys once you get to know them. Just don’t expect more than—”
“I’m not expecting anything.”
“You’re part of this family. I spoke to Maverick and assured him of that also. I know how overbearing your brother can be.” She winks.
“I appreciate that.” I smile up at her.
Straightening herself from leaning on the wall, she mimics my expression, taking hold of the door handle. “Take the rest of the day to set yourself up, take a look around, and get yourself acquainted with the place. You’re gonna need it. Dinner is at seven.”
“Thanks.”
With a smile, she turns around, walking through the threshold of the doorway before closing it.
I should be thinking about my future here, and how amazing the opportunity will be for me. Not about the two men downstairs that took me by surprise. Not how they both looked at me, and definitely not about how my body secretly reacted to them.
But all I can think about, all that’s invading my mind right now, is the deep brown colour of Zeke’s eyes. A shade I’ve never seen. So dark they were almost black, but the closer he got to me, the easier it was to see those tiny flecks of amber dancing within the darkness.
And even though Xaden has a mouth on him—one that surely gets him in trouble—those hazel-coloured iris’s of his took me back. A perfect mix of green hues and brown the colour of woodland bark.
Christ, I need to get a grip.
I’m here to work, not to fraternise with colleagues.
They’re just men.
Hot, muscular, deep-voiced men that could throw you about a room and fuck you where you land.
Alright, that’s enough.
Time to occupy my mind with something else, maybe a nap will help.
Setting a timer, I drop a quick message to Tatum, letting her know I got here safely, and lay back on the bed.
Bringing my knees up to my chest, I check my watch, the time says four pm.
I allow myself an hour’s nap before I take a look around.
M aking my way down the winding black staircase, my phone begins to vibrate. Lifting it from my jeans pocket, my brother’s name flashes across the screen. I smile and slide my thumb across the screen.
“Hey, Mav.”
“Hey, Beansprout.” His smooth voice comes over the speaker. “Settled in ok?”
“Mhmm,” I respond, trying to choose which of the large hallways I’d prefer to walk down. Deciding to take the right, I stroll down it and continue talking to my brother. “The place is kind of creepy.”
“I know.” He laughs softly.
“Of course you would know.”
“I had to see where my little sister was going to be situated for the next couple of weeks.”
I roll my eyes, running my fingers along the elegant wood panelling design on the wall. The manor is giving Interview with a Vampire, and I’m here for it.
“You have my number, so call me whenever you need me ok, and no,” he interrupts me before I even get the chance to mention time to him, “I don’t care what fucking time it is. If you change your mind at any moment, you call me immediately. Do you understand me?”
“Ok, I promise.”
“Where I go, you go…” he murmurs.
I repeat our childhood saying. “Where you go, I go… Mav?”
“Yeah?”
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I tell him, “I love you, y’know that right?”
“I love you too, Beansprout. ”
“Be safe in your new job ok, and if anything happens to you, I swear on all that is holy, I’ll kill you myself, Mav.”
His laughter seeps down the line, and I have to fight my smile. “Beansprout, there’s no better person on this earth I’d rather have kill me than you.”
“You’re stupid,” I snort, straightening up from the wall.
“Shit, I have to go, the President’s coming.” And with that, the line goes dead. Leaving me alone in a darkened hallway, with only my thoughts to comfort me.