Descent From Grace: A Luxe Novella Book 1.5 (18 page)

  “Get me a date.”

  “With the one? The leggy one?”
Nodding, her name eased from his mouth. “Lilith.” He was inadvertently nodding until his father grimaced at his odd behavior. “Nothing public yet, just one on one. Don’t barter either.”
  “He charges inordinate amounts for his women!” the grouchy man protested.
  “I’ll pay it for this one.” Justin walked away from his cantankerous father before his frugality angered him.

The remainder of the night, Ed’s eyes stayed fixed on Lilith for two reasons: he liked what he saw, and he didn’t like what he saw when she was talking to Justin. Knowing she was being watched, she avoided Justin because the way he made her feel between her legs was readable on her face. At midnight there was twenty men left on the boat and her five hours was thankfully up.

More than ready to leave, she emerged from the kitchen when Justin stopped her while wearing that undeniable smile.

  “Hey, I need another glass.”
Playfully smirking, she said, “Kitchen’s right there. You’ll have to get it yourself. I’m off.”

  “We could both go get one at a bar around the corner.”
  “Enticing, but I don’t mix business with pleasure. I’m not on the market.”
  “Ahh.” He fiddled with the full glass in his hand. “Then I’ll have to stick to your business side.”
  “It’s just as fun but with allotted hours.” The grin on her face screamed fuck me, but he wasn’t reading it clearly.
  “I’ll have to put some money aside to make sure I fill most of those allotted hours.”
She didn’t want to end the conversation, but Ed was waving her over to him.

With a smile at Justin, she said, “Good night Mr.—” She paused. “Justin.”

  “Good night, Lilith.”
Subduing her annoyance with Ed, she approached him.

  He put his hand on her hip. “You were great tonight. You’ll have a packed schedule soon.” He held a hundred dollar bill out to her. Her eyes slowly went from the bill to his eyes with a tinge of scorn.

  “I’m not a waitress, Mr. Jacks. Pay your son.” To save face, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, then headed for the door as quickly as her sore feet allowed her. She’d never felt the pain her feet felt that night from her heels. She was certain her body didn’t mix well with pregnancy.

Opening the door for her, Tony asked, “Fun night, Lil?”

She cringed. “Exhausting,” she huffed. “Tony, don’t call me Lil please. Reminds me of someone I don’t want to be reminded of.”
  “No problem. Headed out tonight, or right home?”
  “Home.”
  “Ian’s having a few people over, you’re not heading over there?”
  “He is?” She pulled her phone out.
  “Yeah, few girls from work. Karen, naturally. I’m headed there. If you want I’ll give you a ride and get you home.”

  “No. Thanks. I’m tired,” she mumbled, reading the missed text.

IAN:
Was trying to head out but Karen invited the girls to my place tonight without me knowing so everyone showed up when I was ready to get her home. I’m sorry baby.

Tony walked her to the door. “No boyfriend tonight?” He looked into the dark house.
  “He works late hours. Thanks, Tony.”
  “Night, Lily.”

Lilith threw her heels to the tile and went to the refrigerator, starving.

  “God!” she growled, trying to tell herself she was annoyed there was nothing to eat, but the refrigerator was full.

How could he be so insensitive and not go home when she told him she needed him for a few days? Nothing felt on the right track and all she wanted was to wake up to him until everything was back to normal, post abortion. As much as she tried not to think about the pregnancy, it was always at the back of her mind, making her feel guilty for being such a fuck up.

Sitting down with a few olives and a glass of wine, the idea was to unwind and get a drowsy buzz so she could sleep. As she put the glass to her lips, the smell alone turned her stomach. The sink was closest so that was where she brought back up the few olives she’d gotten down minutes before. Painfully sick to her stomach, she cleaned the sink then wandered to her bedroom. Her daily routine was calling to her: shower, wash off her face, brush her teeth, change, but she was crawling into bed before she could stop herself. Telling herself she’d get back up in a minute, she pulled the covers up and closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep within minutes. The thought that pregnancy didn’t agree with her was practical, she was newly pregnant and already felt nine months bloated and uncomfortable, but it was a sacrifice you made to bring a life into the world. A sacrifice she couldn’t bring herself to make.

When Ashley showed up the next day, Lilith automatically knew she wanted to talk about the pregnancy. It was all over her face that wasn’t turned up with her usual asshole smirk.

  “We need to talk.” She pulled Lilith to the bed. “Do you really think terminating this pregnancy is the best idea? Have you considered other options? Have you considered Ian doesn’t want you to?”

  “I don’t want to consider anything except ending this. I am not ready for a child. I am not ready to carry a child for nine months. I can’t do it. I’ve thrown up for two days now, sick to my stomach. I’ve been a psychotic mess and the nastiest person to be around for three weeks. Me and pregnancy don’t mix. I understand your brother wants me to keep it, but I’m making compromises for him and he’s going to need to make compromises for me. Where in your right mind do you think I should mother a child with a man that can’t only be with me?” she scoffed. “My children will not have a part time father like I’m settling for a part time boyfriend—”
  “Husband,” Ashley mumbled.
  “I won’t force another life to go through the bullshit I’m willing to put up with for him.”

  “What about adoption?” Ashley’s hopeful sounding solution irked Lilith.
  “You carry a life with you for nine months then give it to someone else. I’m not that strong. This is what’s best right now and I get it, you obviously view this as inhumane, but it’s not your body, it’s not your choice, it’s not even your fucking problem.” She stood from the bed. “When you’re faced with something that is absolutely tearing your world apart, I’ll be by your side and I’ll want what’s best for you before I put an embryo before you. If I would have known you were going to hate me for this I would have never let you find out.” She stormed out of the bedroom, leaving Ashley bewildered.

Ashley walked from the bedroom a minute later. “Well damn.” She chuckled. “I guess you put me in my place.”
  “I’m sorry,” Lilith breathed, stressfully leaning over the counter.

  “Come here. Come to mama.” Ashley chuckled, pulling her to stand and hug her. Lilith threw herself into her arms and squeezed her tightly.

  “You think you could deal with nine months of that?” Lilith let out a small laugh.
  “Kind of turned me on.” Ashley grinned. “You know how important you are to me. I don’t hate you and wouldn’t over something like this. It’s just like you said, I’m not for abortion. I am by your side and I will hold your hand the whole time. Not my body, not my choice, would be my niece or nephew, but you’re right, I wouldn’t want to see a child grow up with a part time father. Ian’s a dick.” Yanking the refrigerator open, she said, “He has no idea what he’s doing.” She popped the top to a beer, draining it to start the evening off right.

Ian walked in around the same time as Caesar.

Caesar cocked his eyebrow. “You comin’ with us?”

In return, Ian’s eyebrow cocked in question. “Why wouldn’t I?”

With an impassive shrug, Caesar went scavenging for food.

When Ashley was ready to play dress up with Lilith, she began urging her to get ready. 

  “We’ll go in the spare room.” Lilith said, grabbing her makeup. “Caesar, will you order a pizza? I want pizza.”

Ashley stopped dead in her tracks when she entered the bedroom. Her mouth dropped in awe as she slowly took in the shoe store.  

  “Holy shit,” Ashley breathed.
  “I told you I had a lot of shoes.”
  “Christ, Lilith. Fuck, this is glorious.” There wasn’t time for her to explore the boxes in that room, but she promised, or threatened, that she would one day.
After doing a dark, smoky eye and deep red, glossy lips on Lilith, Ashley handed over the lipstick tube.

  “I got this for you because I knew you’d be absolutely fuckable with it on. Mmm,” she growled and pinched Lilith’s ass. With a yelp and jump, Lilith looked in the mirror, pleased with the dark look. “I’m gonna fix your curls. They’re limp.” Ashley played with Lilith’s hair.
  “When do I get to play dress up with you?”
  “Oh, girl.” Offensive laughter bellowed from her. “As soon as I want to look like a wholesome catholic girl.”
  “Oh!” Lilith nudged her. “That’s hurtful. I think I’ve branched out. I’ve grown since being with Sloan.” She mumbled his name.
  “You have. You’re beautiful, Lilith. Even with all this makeup you’re still a natural and classic beauty. I’m more of a scary beautiful.” Ashley grinned, tapping the curling iron. “Can’t wait ‘til you see what I’m making you wear. You can’t tell me no either.”
  “Oh god.” She rolled her eyes. “How does that work?” While Ashley curled her hair, Lilith stared into her face. “You’re beautiful, Ashley. You’re not scary at all.”
  “Shh, before I burn you.”

Lilith grinned, rolling her eyes. Running her fingers through her hair, her curls bounced, and in the mirror her glossy lips caught the light.

Holding up a short, hot pink and neon green dress, Ashley proudly boasted, “I’m wearing this.”
  “Expected.” Lilith smirked with a nod.
  “You’re wearing this.” Ashley slowly pulled a black ball of a dress from the duffle bag.
  “Is that fishnet? What is that?” Lilith watched in horror as Ashley straightened out the tangled dress. “Oh no, Ashley!” She gasped, shaking her head no at the short, black, fishnet dress with spaghetti straps and a deep cleavage. “You can’t be serious.”
  “Put it on.”
  “Ian won’t like this.” Lilith held it in her hands, afraid to even hold it against her body.
  “Yeah he will!”
  “Oh my god,” she whispered, setting the dress on the bed.

  “You’re gonna be hot. Put it the fuck on and shut the fuck up.”

  “I’m scared,” Lilith breathed while pulling her shirt off. “How do I wear underwear?” She stood in her bra and thong, staring at the dress.
  “You don’t! Come on. Off!” Ashley snapped her fingers at her.
  “I’m going to freeze!”
  “You’re going to be sweating when you’re there. Get it on.”
Lilith slid her bra off and Ashley picked up the dress to help her. Her eyes drifted to the faint scars across Lilith’s ribs, but she didn’t say a word about them.

  “I’m too bloated to wear this,” Lilith grumbled while Ashley pulled the dress over her breasts.
  “Oh god, shut it,” she huffed, tugging and pulling until it was straight. “Oh yes.” With a luscious grin and approving nod, she admired her muse. “Yes, yes, yes. Shit, I’d fuck the hell out of you in this dress.”

  “I look like a whore.”
  “You are a whore, shut it. You look like a fucking model and you’re going to be the best looking one there. I’m not bringing my muse around town in bullshit.”
  “My clothes are nice!” Lilith snapped.
  “Yeah, your clothes are, but this isn’t nice, this is hot, sexy, demanding, and a bit naughty. Trust me, there will be more provocatively dressed sluts there.”

  “Ashley!” Caesar called out. “Lily, pizza’s here!”
  “Thank you!” Lilith said, then scrunched her face as female voices drifted into the room. “Who’s that?”
  “I told Renee and Heidi to meet us here.”
  “Renee is the one Caesar likes and Heidi is the hot one?”
  “Exactly.” Ashley grinned. “I’m gonna go say hi. Come get pizza.”
  “Fuck no!” Lilith boasted then slapped her hand over her mouth; Ashley started to laugh. “If you think I’m going to even look at pizza while wearing this dress, you’re ridiculous. I’m gonna find some shoes.”

With a roll of her eyes, Ashley quickly changed into her visually loud dress.

  “Too bad we’re not the same size foot,” she pouted and Lilith smirked.

With a pair in mind, she told Ashley, “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Being there was no organization to her shoes, it took her twenty minutes to locate the six-inch, black heels. She wasn’t uncomfortable, yet, but she knew as the night progressed, she’d be miserable. Looking in the mirror, her reflection was almost unrecognizable. She thought what she had transformed into after Sloan was a difference, but after staring at herself in that dress, she was shocked in the utmost pleased way. After Sloan, she strived to be sexy, but in that dress, with that hair and makeup done to perfection, she oozed sex, feeling confident and as if she could command an army. After teasing her curls, she walked out of the bedroom.
  “Holy flying fuck, Lily,” Caesar slowly mumbled.

Standing at Heidi’s side, Ian stopped their conversation to stare at Lilith in complete marvel. That was a woman screaming grovel at my feet while I use you as a footstool, and he knew there would be plenty of men lining up at the club to be that footstool.

  “Wow, uh.” Lilith uncomfortably cleared her throat and coyly giggled while everyone in her condo gaped at her. Wanting the attention off her, she made her way into the kitchen.