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Chapter Sixteen

“Start talking because Andy says those stairs you just came from lead to Sebastian’s private office,” Arna squeaked, her feet tapping under the table the second I returned.

Flick leaned in close and inhaled deeply, “You smell like sex, you little freak.”

My eyes widened and I slapped a hand over her mouth as I noticed Jack glance our way, clearly having heard her despite the loud music. I couldn’t help the tight-lipped smile spreading across my face at Arna’s eyes darting between Seb’s office, Flick and then me in a never-ending loop. It quickly became too much and a laugh burst out of me.

“Tell me you were not just pounded while I’ve been sitting here, moister than an oyster, in desperate need of relief,” Arna said exasperatedly.

“Excuse you, your fiancé’s hand has been knuckle-deep for at least half an hour. If anyone is upset it should be me given it’s been nearly 365 days since anyone entered my vagina and even then, she wore gloves and used a speculum.” Flick responded and I giggled.

“When a pap smear counts as action you know things are bleak,” I joked. “You should try living with these two though. I have noise cancelling headphones for a reason.” I added, enjoying the way the conversation was not currently on me.

“Did you ladies want another drink?” Jay called.

Felicity’s head spun in his direction so fast, her thick auburn hair whipped through my drink and onto my face. “On behalf of every woman here, no,” she answered.

“Ignore her. I want another,” I called before he took her answer literally. Whatever weird feud was occurring between them did not need to impact my need for a drink especially if I didn’t have to move to get one.

“So aggressive, Autumn. Need me to alleviate some of that anger for you? I could end your dry spell?” Jay was all charm and Arna and I hid our laughter behind our nearly empty drinks knowing Flick was about to blow a head gasket.

“Alleviate this,” she flipped her middle finger in his direction with a scowl and his resounding laugh was enough to send us all into a fit of giggles.

“Autumn?” Arna asked, one brow cocked sassily.

“I could watch you two argue all day, honestly,” I added honestly.

“I’ve never met anyone so infuriating. Even his voice makes me want to claw out his eyeballs and don’t even get me started on that nickname.”

“It’s cute,” I said, “I would die to have a guy give me an adorable nickname like that.”

“Remember when that guy – what was his name – in like Year Nine started calling you Labs because of the dog in that movie Marley and Me?”

“That was the least adorable nickname ever. I don’t want to be nicknamed after a fucking dog, I want something sweet like Autumn,” I sighed dreamily.

“It’s not adorable, it’s annoying and he needs to stop or I’m going to kick him,” Arna and I laughed as she pouted.

“Jay’s right. You are aggressive. It’s definitely sexual tension. You guys should just do us all a favour and hate fuck,” Arna said with a shrug.

“Absolutely not!” Flick admonished, a look of pure disgust creasing her features. “I would never touch that arrogant piece of shit. Anyway, can we get back to what is important? Marls, did you just get ploughed by Seb?” She had the decency to look marginally sorry for the obvious deflection and I rolled my eyes.

“Fine, but one of these times you are going to have to tell us why you hate Jay so much,” I huffed. Lowering my voice so none of the boys overheard. “I didn’t fuck him, no. But...” I took a sip of my drink, pondering the best way to recount what happened upstairs.

“But?” Arna asked impatiently, her hand gesticulating wildly for me to continue.

“But, he may or may not have just given me the quickest, hottest and most intense orgasm of-my-life,” I bit my straw, smiling at the eruption of squeals coming from either side of me as Arna and Felicity responded in the way only the best bitches can. No judgement or truths, just straight up drunk encouragement.

“Are we talking cunnilingus or some decent finger-banging?” Arna whispered.

“Oh my god. Settle down with the vocabulary turbulence,” I replied, unable to hide the blush creeping onto my cheeks as I nervously twirled my bracelet. “But B. Option B.”

“Holy shit on a cracker,” Flick exclaimed. “I’m beyond jealous.”

“You best start talking, girlfriend.”

“Talking about what?” Andy asked, sliding in next to Arna and pulling her towards him.

“Nothing, nothing,” I answered quickly, before mouthing “later” to the girls. This wasn’t a conversation I needed any of the men to hear especially while the man in question was still somewhere close by.

The smell of rubber, obscenely loud music and walls lined with inspirational images of the fit and healthy was enough to make me smile. The room was impressive, and I couldn’t believe it was nearly six months of my living in this building and I hadn’t been here before now.

Typical – only four weeks away from being able to access the money I stored from my parent’s estate – and I’d discovered the holy grail of free gyms.

Walking through the mass of cardio equipment I hopped onto the treadmill, setting an easy pace. Why I chose the night after far too much vodka to get back into routine was a poor decision on my part but the body remembers what the mind cannot, and it wasn’t long before I was punching at a solid speed and the alcohol from last night was oozing through my pores.

Health was always something I prioritised in my past life.

I would wake up, have a smoothie with as many greens as I could squeeze into the tiny blender and then head to the gym. There was no arguing – I just did.

I relished the pain that came with a tough session on the boxing bag or the fatigue in my muscles after a heavy weights class.

I was disciplined, motivated and consistent. And then I met Lucas.

The gym was one of the first things he destroyed for me to the point I no longer even exercised at home. He would tell me how my toned legs, which he once said he loved, looked too big. Whenever I wore shorts, he would make snide, hurtful comments while keeping his easy smile. My arms were masculine and unattractive . As tragic as it now seemed, I was so desperate for his approval that I stopped prioritising myself and focused on anticipating his wants and needs. My life revolved around him and what made him happy and in the process, I lost myself.

Increasing both the speed and incline I felt a hint of euphoria. It had been too long since I’d given in to the rhythm of my feet hitting the treadmill. The burn was already spreading through my thighs, and it didn’t take long for my mind to wander to the events of last night and that burn shifted into other parts of my body.

Sebastian Micallef.

The profoundly sexy nightclub owner with the magic fingers. He could insure those digits for millions and it would be worth the premium. The man was a maestro and more than that, he made me feel seen.

I had to admit the thrill of all those people below us, unaware that I was being touched right above them, was pretty hot. Hotter than I ever could have imagined given how unexpected it all was. After Andy finally left us alone and I was able to fill a greedy Arna and Flick in on all the sordid details, it was with a thrill that I was the one finally sharing a saucy secret. For so long I’d felt shame over my own sexual pleasure and the thrill of wanting and needing was foreign.

But not last night.

Knowing he was still up there, potentially watching me through his cameras, was titillating.

I wanted to see him again and was a little disappointed not to have heard from him after our rendezvous last night. We didn’t stay much longer with everyone heading back to the apartment for more drinks in the jacuzzi – but I’d gone to bed, exhausted from the emotional and physical pleasure.

There was going to be zero chance that I could host any kind of conversation with my mind still lingering in the office of Nexus. I much preferred laying in bed and slipping my hand beneath the covers, touching myself to the memory of his expertly crafty hands on my body, his mesmerising smell on my neck and his delicious taste on my lips.

A shudder racing down the entire length of my spine snapped me from my daydream, and I looked down to find I’d run longer than planned. Reliving the ecstasy of last night made my session fly by and it was with a satisfied sigh that I slowed the machine and left the gym heading for a much needed shower before work.

Dawn was only just showing its face across the cityscape as I waited for the lifts for the penthouse as a voice called my name.

“, hi, d-did you have a good workout?” Startled, I turned to find the new doorman, Adam.

“Oh, hey, Adam. Yeah, it was good,” I answered, wiping the excess sweat from my forehead on my shirt sleeve. He tipped his head to the side, scrutinising me in a way which sent a small spark of alarm to my stomach.

Unlocking my phone, I pretended to type a message, hoping like hell he couldn’t see I was on my home screen while also praying the damn lift opened.

Out of my peripheral I could see him still standing there and when he awkwardly put his hands in his pockets and then quickly took them back out, I raised my head to face him, my lips pressed firmly together.

“Ummm, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner sometime?” It took everything in me not to physically recoil. Instead, leaning forward and pressing the still illuminated up button a few times in quick succession.

“Dinner? As in a date?” I asked, more as a stalling tactic. How was I going to say no without offending him? He literally worked where I lived and the thought of seeing him if things were tense sent a wave of nausea through me.

Think, think, think.

“Ummm. I’m really busy at the moment but thank you anyway.” There was a list of at least ten reasons why I didn’t want to have a meal with him and the first was due to the feeling of unease I always felt whenever he was near me. Another was the fact he worked in the building and watched me like I was prey.

The doors pinged, saving me any further awkwardness and I practically leapt into them shooting him a small smile and a wish for a nice day.

When I made eye contact as the doors began closing, I noticed a flash of irritation cross his features and my forehead scrunched in surprise. When I was safely enclosed, I threw my palms up in a what the heck gesture – of course my rejection annoyed him. Eye-roll!

This was an exclusive building though so surely the hiring procedures included a screening process and ensured only good people were contracted, right?

Racing into my bedroom to get ready for work, I didn’t have time to ponder the awkward interaction for long. Each day was more exciting than the previous one and while I was still a little nervous out and about, I was feeling good and being at the Centre with all the kids was one of the reasons why.

Heading downstairs and into the Uber I pre-ordered, I was relieved not to have seen Adam again, not needing another uncomfortable encounter.

It was a gorgeous day out and I lifted my face towards the sky, enjoying the warmth against my skin as I thought about my upcoming shift with the beautiful lost souls who came to the Centre to reap some light of their own from their often lonely days. Thoughts of pesky doormen, securing a new place to live and even Sebastian would need to go into hiding until I finished running wild with a bunch of kids who had much more energy than I ever did.