Page 11 of Her Dark Melody
“In that case, I’d like to invite you all to come celebrate with us at the house. We have a houseful already – Stan’s there, and I believe the Angel of Death is showing his face aswell.”
Ebony raised an eyebrow curiously and mouthedDeath?to Romy, who shook herhead.
“Well, you make it soundunmissable,” said Blue dryly. “I assume you’re speaking about the always delightfulCormac?”
“The very one.” Atlas grinned. “Mateo’s delighted as you might guess. But Vida is less annoying at Christmas, I’ll admit, and I know Fino, Mateo, and Stan would love for you to bethere.”
“Done and done,” Romy said as Bluenodded.
Atlas looked at Ebony. “Yes?”
“Mewhat?”
“You, Christmas, us …” he gestured at everyone at the table. “Together.”
As elated as she was surprised, Ebony nodded slowly. “Of course. If I’m notimposing—”
“You’re part of our extended family now,” Atlas cut in, and the way he was looking at her, there was no way Romy and Blue didn’t notice, but Ebony didn’t care. “I’d love to, but I think Juno and Obe are coming from NewOrleans.”
“Then they are invited too.” Beneath the table, his fingers grazed her knee. “Pleasecome.”
Ebony couldn’t look away from Atlas’s gaze. “Then I’d lovetoo.”
After dinner,Ebony noticed Romy and Blue excused themselves, a little pointedly, to take care of the dishes and left Ebony and Atlas alone in the living room. Atlas sat next to her, his arm along the back of the couch. Ebony had to resist the urge to snuggle withhim.
Atlas glanced out of the room and risked leaning in to kiss her. “I thought about you all day,” he said softly, “and all nighttoo.”
She traced her fingertip around his mouth. “Me too…when I wasn’t busy working with your band. What a great bunch ofguys.”
“They are. Mike called me just before I left for here, telling me he’s never heard such a wonderful voice. Tomorrow night is going to be so special, Ebony…in more than oneway.”
Ebony shivered in anticipation. Risking another kiss, she shimmied closer to him, and Atlas slid a hand up her thigh, his fingers coming perilously close to her hot sex. Ebony couldn’t help but grab his hand and pressed it between herlegs.
“I want you so badly,” she whispered into his ear and heard his low rumble oflaughter.
“If we don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you right here, right now, and that’s just not good dinner party etiquette.” But he kissed her back passionately, moaning when she squeezed his ramrod cock through hispants.
“Don’t make any plans for the day after tomorrow,” he said, “because we’re spending all day in bed and I’m going to kiss every inch of your heavenly skin, Ebony Verlaine. You have crept into my brain and the things I want to do to you…most of them arebarelylegal.” He said all this with a wicked grin on his face and Ebony felt herself getting wetter andwetter.
She leaned in. “The anticipation is killingme.”
“Metoo.”
Romy and Blue made a lot of noise out in the hall to make it obvious they were about to join them, and when they came in, Ebony saw they were both grinning from ear to ear. Atlas didn’t move his arm, or make any effort to hide his desire for her, and Ebony smiled athim.
In the middleof the night the sickness returned, but this time, she tried to be as quiet as possible. Ebony threw up then rinsed her mouth out and sat on the cool tile, placing a hand on her belly. Was morning sickness supposed to hit this soon? Ebony drew in some deep lungfuls of air. How had she been so stupid that night, which was still only two weeks ago? A hot night out on the town with her friend Kate had turned into something elseentirely.
Ebony could barely believe she’d done the things she had that night. Kate, always the more adventurous one, had dared her to go to that sex club. At first, Ebony had resisted, but then later on, after way too many drinks, she’d agreed. “Just to see what it’s allabout.”
Kate nodded, grinning. But of course, what it was about wassex,and she’d found herself in a room, bound and being fucked by a man whose face was obscured by a rubber mask. He had a great, hard body, a little too ripped for her taste, but she liked his back tattoo, a red phoenix. He didn’t speak at all. He’d used a condom, so it was just unlucky that she’d gotten pregnant, but her shame at what she had done had overwhelmed her the nextday.
Kate came to see her the next day, deeply apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ebony. I was just trying to get you to loosen up. I didn’t know that wouldhappen.”
“It’s okay,” Ebony said, “I was fully consenting, it’sjust…”
“I know. But I also know you’re not into that scene and I should’ve stoppedyou.”
“Who’s to say I would have listened?” Ebony reassured her friend. “It’s okay, you know, it’s life, it’s an experience, it’s not like I’m some virgin. I just generally like to be in control of when I’m going to sleep withsomeone.”
