Golden Crown Series 02: The Twin Dragons (11 page)

“Be back in the morn
ing,” he said to me and I narrowed my eyes. The door closed behind him.

I then turned to Mani and smiled, trying to calm myself down.

“He is…”

“A dick,
” Mani said and I laughed as it echoed in the large entryway.

“Yes, yes he is,
” I said as I tilted my head.

Chapter Fourteen

740 Park Ave

August looked at his phone as it went off in his hand and saw his brother’s face staring up at him. He excused himself from Molly and Zoey and stepped to the side as he placed it to his ear.

“Cas,” h
e said and there was nothing on the other end for a moment. “Cas?”

“August,
” Cas said and August looked back at Zoey as she watched him.

“What?” he said and Cas took a slow breath.

“I am finalizing the party stuff today and Mother was supposed to shop with me, but she is busy,” he said.

“Okay,
” August said as he held his hand out.

“I need you to help me.”

“Oh Cas, why? Take Zane, he loves that shit.”

Cas hesitated and then spoke again.
“Zane is busy, I need your help. You have not done anything to help me and the party is this Saturday, I need to pick out the last bit of stuff for it and I need your fucking help!” Cas’s voice rose as he said it and August blinked and pulled the phone away from his ear and placed it back and narrowed his eyes.

“Chill the fuck out
, Cas.”

“I’m sorry, I am j
ust stressed.”

“It is a fucking party Cas, it will be fine.”

“I want it to be perfect, August.”

August paused and then sighed loudly.
“Fine, okay…where?” he asked him and Cas grinned as he spoke into the phone again.

“5
th
and Jameson,” he said and August looked at his watch.

“I am on the other side of the f
ucking city, it will be about forty-five minutes, I can meet you there.”

“Good.” Cas said as he hung up and August stood there.

Cas stared at the phone a bit longer as he walked up the steps to the premier scientific school in New York, one he knew he would attend one day. He opened the door up and stepped in with hope to receive the help he was looking for.

The man behind the desk smiled as Cas slipped into the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He stood and quickly moved to the front of the desk and then stopped as Cas held his hand out to him to shake it. He did but it was a little awkward, Cas started to laugh and the man pulled him to him and kissed him. Cas moaned slightly and then pulled back, looking behind him.

“Do you seriously think you are being followed or something?”

“No, I mean.”

“Have you still not told your parents that you are gay?”

“No, I will after graduation.”

The man touched his face and Cas stepped back and he stared at him as Cas looked down.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nicolas, I have someone, someone special to me.”

“Oh,
” Nicolas said as he stepped back and sat in the edge of his desk.

“I mean, I think I love him.”

Nicolas crossed his arms on his chest and looked concerned for a second but he let it fade. “I am happy for you Cassius,” he said and Cas looked up at him.

“Really?”

“Yes of course I am.”

“So what is it that you have for me?” Nicolas asked him and Cas pulled the bag open and then slipped his hand in. He pulled it out with a skull in it as Nicolas stood up and stared at it.

“Where did you find this?” Nicolas asked and Cas held it out to him as he took it and turned it in his hand. He let his finger move across the forehead where a small hole remained.

“I found it in the garden.”

“At your house?” he asked as he looked up at him.

“Yes.”

Nicolas turned with it and held it up to the window to let the light show through the hole.

“Can you do a DNA test on it?”

“I would think so seeing that this is not natural.”

“What do you mean?” Cas asked him and he turned back to him.

“This person was shot, in the forehead.”

Cas stepped forward as Nicolas turned to show him the tiny hole he had overlooked.

“How soon can you have this done?”

“It won’t take but a couple of days.”

“Good,” Cas said as he stared into the hole.

****

Zoey touched August on the arm and he turned to look at her. She stared at his phone and then he glanced at it.

“Cas, he needs me to help him with some shit.”

Zoey shifted from one foot to the other and placed a hand on her hip.

“Seriously? Like I would lie.”

Molly walked up to then and stopped. “Lovers quarrel?”

Zoey laughed.
“No Mother.”

“How many times have I told you that “Molly” is perfectly fine Zoey, you are an adult now and we are progressive people.”

“Okay Molly, we are not fighting,” Zoey said as she looked at her. August sighed and looked at his watch again.

“It was very nice to meet you
, Molly,” he said as she reached out and he took her hand in his. Zoey watched with a bit of disgust.

“But I do have to go, my brother needs my help and I said that I would so…” he pointed behind him and Molly nodded.

“Well, it was very nice to meet you. I just cannot get over how much you favor your father, it is uncanny.”

August smiled and then nodded to her.

“We must do dinner soon,” she called out. He started to walk away from her and Zoey followed him. He stepped out into the sunlight and then remembered he had taken a cab.

“Shit,” h
e said as Zoey stepped up behind him and touched his back, he turned to look at her.

“You want company?” she asked him and he touched her face.

“I swear I am not doing anything shitty.”

“Oh I know, I am sorry,” s
he said and he leaned up and kissed her.

“You go and hang out with Molly.”

“That is my mother.”

August paused and then touched her face.
“It means a lot to me that you wanted me to meet her.”

“I just figured I would give you an out if you wanted one, meeting her tells you where I am headed.”

“She seemed sane enough.”

“Oh thanks,
” Zoey said as she hit him on the arm and he laughed.

“Well, don’t let her fool you. She is fucked up.”

“Really?” Molly said as she stepped out and pulled a cigarette. She tapped it on her silver carrying case and then waited as August pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit it for her. She sucked on it slowly and then let the smoke leave her lips like a snake wrapping its prey. August watched it for a moment until Zoey spoke again.

“Mother.”

“Zoey, there is no love lost between us,” she said as she walked past them and towards a long black limo that rolled up to retrieve her. She stopped and looked back at them. “There is no better ride in the city Augustus Bittermend.”

August looked at her and then glanced at Zoey.

“Fine,” she said as they followed her and got into the car as the driver closed the door behind them.

****

Ryan sat in the back of the car for a moment longer as he smoked his cigarette slowly. He then stepped out and adjusted his jacket as he dropped the cigarette and let it continue to burn on the asphalt. He walked towards the golden doors as the doorman tipped his hat to him. He then stopped and had a flash of memory. It was of me, so beautiful and the highest placed trophy he could have ever acquired. Truth be told, I was his greatest achievement, something he had dreamed of since he first saw me at Patterson so long ago. I was reason he fucked his way into the school he should have never been a part of. And I was the reason he honed his skill to seduce whoever crossed his path. He had spent years climbing, until he finally had himself positioned with the one family who he envied the most. He looked up and saw “740 Park Ave” staring at him and to this day he still remembered coming here with his mother and watching her clean.

He stepped up to the elevator and the m
an pressed the button for him. He stepped into the large room and the doors closed behind him as another man stood there ready to take him to any level he desired. Ryan handed him the key and the man placed it in and turned it as the penthouse light level lit up on the box and Ryan smiled.

“How are we today
, Mr. Blackwood?” the man asked him and Ryan cleared his throat.

“Well, and you?”

The man glanced back at him a bit shocked he even asked him. “I am good, Sir.”

“Is everything ready?” Ryan asked him and the man nodded.
“Good.”

The doors opened and Ryan stood there for a moment longer and then decided to step out onto the private floor. He had not been here in such a long time it was bringing up feelings he thought he would be able to control.

He stopped as he took a deep breath and remembered the smell, this was a place he loved and yet hated all the same. This was my floor of the building that my father had given to me, and the same one he tried to take away, due to Ryan. The memories here were almost too heavy to bear at times, as Ryan looked towards the large glass wall and stared out onto the top of the building. The waterfall was still flowing and the entire place still looked as it had before. The only thing that was wrong with this place was the fact that Ryan had used it to fuck many women years prior, as he tried to bury his feeling for me. This had become a refuge of sorts to him to pretend he was single, but the sting of his love for me never left him as I lingered too.

Ryan sighed as he walked to the bar and pulled
out a glass. He opened the large glass container that held his favorite drug and poured Brandy into the glass. He watched it move in the glass as the memory of my lips at his floated in his mind. He turned and took a deep breath as he kicked the drink back and pulled the phone from his pocket. He pulled the black card and stared at it longer than he needed to and then started to type the numbers in as his fingers shook. He placed the phone to his ear.

“That was fast.”

Ryan sighed and then opened his mouth. “I left them alone at the house,” he said and the man laughed.

“Okay, I will go now.”

“Don’t do anything, even if…”

“And miss the show?” t
he man said as he hung up on Ryan. Ryan clenched the phone in his hand and pulled it down as he gritted his teeth. He then pressed a number saved and pulled it up to his ear.

“I need two w
omen, both with black hair…long,” he said and he nodded. “Same account, just charge it.”

He hung up the phone and turned back to the bar to pour himself another drink.

“Beth…please,” he said as he looked out at the black clouds rolling in and lightning splintered the sky.

Chapter Fifteen

Lightning and Fire

I sat on the edge of my bed and stood up several times only to sit back down. I knew Mani was down the hall and I wanted to go and see him
, but I also knew why. I mean I am a woman with needs just like any other and I felt like something had been lit inside of me when he entered my life. It was different from when I allowed Ryan to be with me, Mani was real. He was not something held together with lies and one hundred dollar bills. Ryan was just that, and I keep trying to remind myself of everything he had done to me, and the truth of why we live here.

I looked down as the light
ning cracked outside and the blackened sky took the remaining light from my room. I played with the red ruby on my finger and tried to understand how I had this bizarre commitment to this life. How had I allowed myself to be alone all of these years with nothing to comfort me but pills and my own hand fingering at my clit? I closed my eyes, and then opened them quickly as I heard Mani speak.

“Bad storms,” h
e said to me and I stood up and almost stumbled as he shocked me.

“Yes. It seems to be.”

“I was thinking about having a drink, want to join me?” he asked and I nodded before the word ‘no’ could end it, as it should.

He waited for me as I passed him by and felt his heat
again; he seemed to run hot which was a slight change from Ryan. His body never quite felt that way, in fact he was cool to the touch as if he may be dead already. I walked down the hall until I saw the light coming from the room I had offered to him to rest in. I stopped at the door until he stepped up and held his hand out, ushering me in before him. I stepped in and looked around at the room remembering it from when I was younger. It is funny how you can live in a house of this size and not visit every part of it often enough to stick in your mind.

I walked
to the window and saw the lightning split the sky and it made me jump. I laughed and turned back to see Mani pouring us two drinks and I decided to relax. This meant nothing more than two adults sitting down and having a friendly drink and maybe some conversation.

He held the glass out to me and I walked to him and took it, happy to place it to my lips and let the warmth of the liquor swirl on my tongue. This house has a constant draft, which I am certain is the death that lingers in every corner.

Mani sat down and I did too, as the light was low but enough to show off his features of which I liked more and more each time I studied them. He took a sip and I watched his lips touch the glass and then leave it, he spoke and I looked up into his eyes.

“I want to thank you,” h
e said, and I leaned back and held my glass in one hand.

“Well, you were injured,
” I said and he smiled as he set his glass down on the table to his right.

“No, I mean for talking to me in the garden. I don’t have many people, well, I mean I don’t talk to people like that, about personal stuff.”

I nodded and took another drink, not quite sure where to go with the conversation.

“So, are you feeling any better?” I asked as he reached down and touched his ribs softly.

“I think I broke one, in fact I am sure of it.”

“Really?” I said
, as he stood up and lifted his shirt. I saw the bruising and stood up, instinctively touching it, as if he was one of the twins. He watched me and I then realized I was invading his space.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have a very caring touch, Beth.”

I laughed and stepped back from him as he watched me.

“I am not, well, I never thought of myself as someone who was like that.”

“Well you are. The boys are v
ery lucky to have you as their mother.”

I looked down at my ring and he watched me.

“I don’t mean to be so intrusive but is Ryan, I mean does he abuse you?” he asked me, and I laughed and poured myself another drink.

“That is a loaded question.”

“What can I do?” he asked.

I held my hand up.

“Ryan does not physically abuse me, his abuse is all in the mind.”

“That is just as bad,
” Mani said and I took a drink and then looked at him, as his expression looked compassionate and I did enjoy it.

“I am just as bad to him, so whatever he does to me I probably deserve it.”

“That is a huge misconception.”

I looked at Mani and shook my head.

“Listen to me, it is a game. A game that Ryan and I play and we are very fucking good at it. I have had years of practice and this…” I said as I pointed to him and then to myself. “This is a test, he is testing me with you and I know that but…”

Mani leaned u
p and looked at me as the lightning lit up the room momentarily.

“But…” h
e said, and I looked at him as I rolled the glass edge against my lip.

“I should go,
” I said to him as I stood up and he did too. He leaned a bit as he favored his ribs and I walked past him and to the door. “Do not misunderstand me, if I were like Ryan I would have you on the bed but there is something that makes me stop and understand that I am better than he is, I always have been and that is the game. He is trying to bring me to his level and I will not do that, I cannot,” I said.

Mani walked towards me and closed the door as the handle pulled from my hand. I stood there trembling a little bit as he stood far too close to me and he smelled amazing. I had no idea what cologne he wore
, but it was intoxicating.

“Beth,
” Mani said to me as I refused to look at him. I was afraid if I did then things would be far from my control after doing so well up until this point.

“You cannot cheat on some
one you are not with any longer,” he said quietly. I closed my eyes as a tear rolled down my cheek. I hated to hear that, I hated for the words to even float into the air. I knew as well as he did that my marriage was not valid, this house was not a home, and the love had left my heart long before this.

“Mani, I wish that I could…” I started to say and he touched my face as I sighed. His hand felt so gentle and I had
no idea anyone or anything could be this way. I had never known any man who knew how to properly make love to a woman and I honestly never wanted it before now. He then turned me slightly as he stepped forward and I did not look up at him until his hand pulled my chin upwards.

“If you say ‘no’
, Beth, then I won’t do another thing, I will stop right this moment and leave this house and I will not return, I will not bother you anymore.”

I looked at him and wanted to tell him to go, I wanted to tell him to run as far away from this tomb as he possibly could
, but the words would not come. Even if I opened my mouth I am certain nothing would come out anyway.

“Beth.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my tip toes as my lips pressed against his, at first it was awkward, as if the old teenager in me was kissing for the first time and not quite sure what to do, but as I relaxed and let the moment start to envelope me I allowed his tongue into my mouth and the kiss became more personal. I moaned lightly in the back of my throat as he lifted me up against the door and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I could feel his size against me and knew he would rival Ryan immediately and it made my heartbeat jump up into my throat. It had been years since I had done this with the intention of finishing and I could not even count my brief mistake with Ryan in the kitchen as something that even came close to this.

Mani placed his hands to my face and kissed me harder as he leaned against
the door and it quietly creaked. I knew staff remained in the house but I did not even care if anyone heard us so I arched my back and Mani moaned at my lips, returning the need I was feeling for him. He then turned and walked us to the chair, he sat down and I straddled him as my hips started to move slowly at first, he placed his hands on my back and slid them down to my ass, shoving me forward and I broke from his lips and let my head fall back. He reached up and took the pin holding my hair and it fell down my back as it almost reached my ass now. I rotated my hips as he rose up slightly, hissing as I made his cock ache in his pants. He leaned forward and let his lips touch my collar bone as I tilted my head and his teeth grazed my skin. I tensed up slightly and he grinned, enjoying my reaction to him.

He then pushed forward and I was on my back, on top of the
Oriental rug that had been in this room for at least forty years. He placed his hand on my thigh and pushed up slowly, moving the material aside on my thin dress. I reached down and placed my hand on his, as he continued to rise, and took with it some of my fear. He kissed me as I undid the buttons on his shirt, one by one they opened to me as if they had waited a lifetime. He shook and I stopped kissing him, and he looked down as I continued to undo the buttons.

“Are you shaking?” I said quietly and he nodded to me.

“Why?” I asked him and he pulled me up with him to the bed and laid me down, kissing me gently as he scooted me up the soft sheets. He then leaned into me and I sighed as I felt his hand trace my neck and then move down to my breasts. He cupped my left one in his hand as his thumb gently teased my nipple through the fabric. I shuddered as he slowed down and watched my expression.

“Are you okay
?” he asked me. I swallowed hard as he lowered and started to undo my dress. I arched my back as he slid the top of my dress aside and exposed my breasts. He sighed, and then cupped it in his hand as he placed his lips on my erect nipple. I bit into my finger and moaned as he matched me with a low growl. His teeth grazed me and I pulled my legs up to his sides. He then reached down and started to remove his pants and I sat up and pushed him back as I scooted forward. He stood up and I stared up at him as I undid his belt, sliding it out of each loop and tossing it aside like garbage. I then leaned forward and undid his button with my teeth and he sighed and let his head fall back. I bit the zipper and slid it down as the muscles in his chest tightened and I could see his abdomen roll slightly.

I slipped my hand inside of his pants and pulled his erect cock out, it was hard as a rock and my pussy hummed at the thought of taking the length of it into me, but I had other things planned before I would allow him to do that to me. I stuck the tip of my tongue out and gently licked the tip of his cock as he looked down and placed his hand on the back of my head. I licked it a few more times before I op
ened my mouth and stared up at him, daring him to move forward and let me taste it. He slowly moved and I slid the length of it to the back of my throat as he actually called out to me. I moaned as I sucked on it, letting my lips press against the full length of it until it left my mouth. I then shoved the length of it back into my mouth again and he cried out my name, making me want him even more.

His fingers tightened in my hair, but he never pulled it, not once as I sat on the edge of the bed and sucked on him slowly and with as much passion as I had ever known for anyone. I then pulled his cock from my mouth and he decided to lower and push me back a little bit on the bed. I sighed as he spread my legs wider and I felt his breath against my clit before his lips reached me. When he made contact it was like everything in my body lit up on fire at once and I threw my hands up above me and grabbed at the sheets,
clenching my fingers around them until I almost cut off the circulation flowing to the tips of them. I moaned and turned my head sideways as his tongue flicked at my clit over and over again with all intention of making me come but I was not going to allow it. I wanted to feel him inside of me and have an orgasm rock through me as my pussy tightened around his cock. I needed that, I need for him to fuck me as much as I think he needed me to do the same to him. I reached down and pulled on his hair and his lips sucked at my clit. I moaned and felt the sweat rolling on my shoulders and back. He finally agreed to stop and he rose up, moving on top of me slowly as I reached down and felt his cock in my hand. I guided it into my pussy easily, but as he pushed forward I cried out his name from the sheer size of him. He was much larger than Ryan was, and with Ryan I had always felt like I met my limit but here I was with Mani, feeling as if he would push me to a place I had never been before and I welcomed it.

He did not move at first
, as his cock rested inside of me, but then he pulled back slightly and so did I. He then shoved forward as I thrust my hips upward and I gritted my teeth as he stared into my eyes.

“I want you to come on me,” h
e said and I nodded, as no words would work for me right now.

“Tell me
when you are going to come Beth,” he said, and I moaned louder as he started to fuck me harder and with a bit more speed. I looked down and saw his cock moving into me and then sliding out and I bit into my lip as my eyes closed tightly.

“Look at me,” h
e said, and I opened them back up as he watched my expression. I opened my mouth and again no words would come as he fucked me even harder.

I started to dig my nails into his back as he hissed and sat up, bringing my legs up with him and placing them on his shoulders. He then held my wrists on the bed at my side as he rotated his hips and remained buried
deep inside of my pussy. I started to cry out as I felt the first wave of an orgasm taking hold of me.