Pandora's Pain Page 4

  My heels shifted beneath me, my thighs rubbing together from his closeness. His body heat seared over my skin.

  “I’m going to say Ashton played the drums.” Drums are pretty typical. He looked like he could be a drummer if the limelight didn’t soak right into him. “And you,” I studied Zavier’s long fingers, but his crisp button down and black rimmed glasses deterred my thoughts., “I’m going to say you played the trumpet.”

  His eyes closed slowly before his teasing smirk widened. “We were both drummers. Sat side by side for four years.”

  The overpowering beat of the band strummed down to a slow guitar solo. It was quieter. I could hear individual voices in the crowd screaming out. Even with the lack of noise, Zavier didn’t step away from me.

  “Then what happened?”

  His hair skimmed against my cheek. “We both went to the same college. Both dropped out. Both became successful for different reasons.”

  An app made this man insanely wealthy and insanely greedy? So much so that his actions are harming the world somehow?

  Ashton screamed out a goodnight to the crowd, and his farewell only made them chant louder.

  He just played for two hours straight. He should have been exhausted, and yet he ran over to me. His palm was hot against my skin as his fingers toyed with the inside of my wrist.

  “Did you have any fun?” Sweat dripped down the etched lines of his bare chest and I tried my best not to lean into him.

  Suddenly Zavier was attached to his phone again. With quick fingers he tapped out a reply before shoving the device into his pocket.

  “It was amazing.” The awe in my voice was genuine. I’d never met anyone like Ashton. He was this person you physically wanted to be close to. You wanted him to like you and you needed his nearness to feel complete.

  Or maybe I just hadn’t been close to anyone in so long I was attaching myself to the first person who saw me as a real person again.

  “You guys want to go do something after this?” His fingers still stroked along my wrist, making an intense feeling flood my chest.

  “I’m going to call it a night. I have a conference call at eight tomorrow.” Zavier didn’t look at me once.

  “A conference call. That sounds… Incredibly painful.” Ashton tried to hide his smirk, but it shone through against his beautiful face.

  Zavier shoved off from his friend, planting his palm against Ashton’s shoulder before pushing away from us.

  “Stay out of trouble, Ash. If you need me, I’ll be preparing for the pain of this conference call.”

  Neither of these two men knew what real pain was.

  And strangely, I wanted nothing more than to keep it that way.

  ***

  The two of us stumbled through the quiet hotel lobby some time after four in the morning. The sky outside the glass walls was a fighting color of dense blues and dark purples. As if the morning might be overtaken by the night, letting this night last for eternity.

  His boots scuffed the glossy tile, pulling me off balance as I clung to his lengthy frame. The receptionist glared at us with narrowed eyes, and it threw us into a fit of laughter all over again. I buried my face into his soft shirt, breathing him in as I tried to quiet the hum of happiness shaking through me.

  The endless alcohol we’d consumed was hitting me hard.

  “Don’t be ashamed to have fun, Hope.” It took me several seconds to realize I was Hope.

  “I’m not ashamed. I have nothing to be ashamed of.” My time here might be limited. I wasn’t going to waste it.

  I paused just outside my door, still clinging onto his hard body. My palm pushed down his chest before settling against his abdomen.

  Suddenly I wanted him to come in more than I thought I would.

  His beautiful eyes shone with a smile as he traced my features. Nerves tingled through me when he gripped my hip and held me in place against the door. His body warmed mine as his weight pressed against me.

  Hooded eyes looked down on me. He leaned slowly closer. His lips brushed against the corner of my mouth, and energy coiled through my chest.

  A single chaste kiss was all there was.

  He pulled back, making a pent-up sigh leave my lips.

  “Good night, Hope.”

  My fingers fisted in his shirt in a childish way. I wasn’t ready for him to leave. I wasn’t ready for the day to come to an end. But if he didn’t leave… the box would take him.

  “Good night,” I whispered, as I reluctantly released him.

  A smile tilted his lips as he stepped back from me like a gentleman.

  I slipped inside my room, letting my head lean back against the cool door as I tried to find the breath in my lungs.

  Ashton didn’t ask to come inside. He didn’t pressure me. He barely even kissed me.

  “Maybe you’re not as tolerable looking as you thought.” Alex’s taunting tone stole the euphoric feeling Ashton left me with.

  “I’m very tolerable. Thank you very much.”

  He shrugged his shoulders before flipping through the channels once again. He sat with his legs spread wide. Total arrogance clung to him. “And yet you struck out with the world’s most notorious man whore.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that he might be a nice guy?”

  Rumbling laughter shook through him. He tipped his head back to laugh outright out at me.

  Shit. What if he’s right? What if I’m not tolerable looking?

  Chapter Eight

  Pity clung to my stomach as I ate slow bites of the fruit tray the waiter brought me. I’d managed to sneak out of our room early this morning. I was tired of looking at Alex’s condescending face.

  Breakfast alone was much better. It was something I was used to, even.

  I suppose I shouldn’t have worried about sending Ashton away to the gods because he wasn’t even interested in me like that.

  The table jostled as I shoved out of my seat. My bare feet brushed over the soft carpet and a few older women at a table near the door eyed my bathrobe as I passed.

  Get used to it, ladies. You’re lucky I’m not naked right now.

  I made my way from the hotel restaurant a few floors above my room. When the glass walls revealed a long glossy table with a dozen chairs seated around it, I was surprised to find Zavier alone inside. A black neck tie was perfectly in place against his shirt. A file with dozens of papers was open to him as he drew lazily inside a notebook.

  My palm pressed against the cold glass door. His eyes met mine, but the low set of his brow remained in place.

  Gone was the warm smile he held for me yesterday.

  A quick flowing language drifted from a hexagon shaped speaker placed just in front of him. I took my time walking toward him, and his gaze shifted down my bare legs.

  “Ce n'est pas comme ça qu'on fait les choses.” Zavier’s pretty accent startled me, making me look at him differently as the syllables kissed his lips.

  I remained a quiet, uninvited spectator as he continued with his conference call.

  A few words were written down in his notebook but mostly just doodles lined the page. I lingered near him, trying to make sense of the scattered papers in front of him. Warm fingers brushed against the back of my thigh, sending a shiver up my core. He jerked away from me, his swivel chair groaning in protest as he pulled back.

  “Sorry,” he whispered.

  More voices chimed through the little speaker, and his brows creased with annoyance.

  Finally, he pressed a red button hard on the box. The voices continued to speak but he gave me his full attention.

  “What are you doing?” There wasn’t aggression in his voice, but confusion.

  “Just seeing what you do, I guess.”

  Gods, did I sound lonely. Pathetically lonely.

  He nodded, his attention flickering back to the voices for a moment. “You’re distracting.” He pushed a few papers around, avoiding my eyes.

  “You didn’t seem too invested in t
he call. Sorry I interrupted your doodling.” I stepped away from him and he seemed to physically relax with the small amount of space between us. Quietly I made my way back to the door.

  “You want to join us for dinner tonight?” His dark eyes met mine, holding more interest than they had a moment ago.

  A warm feeling swirled through me. I nodded slowly, and the small gesture made his features soften. I knew I was tolerable looking. More than tolerable, according to the heated look in Zavier’s eyes.

  The warm feeling clung to me the whole walk back to my room. When I was safely inside, my attention fell on the god draped across on the small tan couch. His legs hung off the end and I almost felt bad for him.

  Almost.

  His quiet snores filled the room. He was so peaceful. So angelic looking.

  I kicked hard at his foot. He jostled awake in an instant.

  “Guess who has another date tonight?”

  His hands pushed against his eyes as he squinted up at me.

  “Tolerable me, that’s who.” I settled in, not waiting for him to move as I sat on his legs at the end of the couch.

  He made a grumbling sound instead of replying. He shifted away from me, burying his handsome face in the cushions.

  Nearly an hour passed while I glared daggers at him. I was bored. Alex had been asleep since I returned, and it was starting to annoy the Hades out of me. Why couldn’t he just wake up, so I could gloat about my date and maybe get some money to go shopping. I’d only grabbed one dress yesterday. In hindsight, not my best plan, but I had no idea how long Alex was going to sleep for.

  Maybe I should frisk him? Just to find where he’d stashed the money, not because of how he looked in those tight modern clothes of his.

  Not my worst idea. In fact…

  I crept over to the bed, looking around for his discarded clothing. I scowled at the crumpled mess I found. Not that I could talk; I had lived in captivity for a long time, dirt and squalor were things I was used to.

  Crouching down, I began to search through his pockets, only stopping when something jangled. I didn’t want to wake him up. I stuck my hand into the jingling pocket and searched around, my fingers closing over something cold and hard. Could this be it?

  I pulled the item out of his pocket and turned it over, a small gasp escaping me.

  No. This couldn’t be right.

  Rising to my feet so quickly it made my head swim, I rushed over to the closet and went onto my tiptoes to pull my box down from where I’d stashed it. I wasn’t naïve enough to think Alex hadn’t been sent her to spy on me under the guise of protection, but this was another step.

  I slipped the ornate golden key into the lock on my box and twisted. The soft click confirmed all my suspicions.

  Alex had the key that could lock me away—if my soul was inside the box again.

  Was he intending to turn the lock once the sins were inside.

  Or me?

  Or maybe I could use this as my way of stopping the box from working? If I locked it, then there’d be no way I could send Ashton’s soul into it. Or anyone else’s for that matter. If my duty couldn’t be fulfilled, then I’d stay free longer. And they’d be safe for longer.

  I slipped the box back onto the shelf just as it was and returned to hide the key again. A little more rummaging revealed a wallet filled with cards. They weren’t any use to me without the pin numbers—something I only knew thanks to the gods’ information injection. Luckily, Alex carried cash, too. I grabbed it from the wallet and threw on the less revealing dress I’d arrived in.

  Time to take myself shopping. I had a date to prep for.

  Chapter Nine

  I was beginning to regret this already. There were people everywhere. I wasn’t too sure what to make of it. I liked the way clothing had changed. It gave more options for expressing oneself, but there were other bits I wasn’t too keen on. While great one on one, the stench of so many colognes and perfumes was sort of overwhelming.

  The need to find an amazing outfit for tonight was stronger than the pungent smells though, and I persevered. The racks were teeming with color and choice. I wasn’t sure where to even start. There were slinky dresses like the one I wore last night, but that wasn’t going to cut it. The dress had been pretty and sexy, but it hadn’t gotten me what I wanted.

  A new plan it had to be. I searched high and low before settling on some skin tight black skinny jeans and a sheer shirt that’d cover me but leave next to nothing to the imagination. Hopefully, just the right side of classy. Luckily for me, I had the body to pull it off. Some good came of captivity. I hadn’t aged a day and still looked a youthful twenty-one or so. Despite the centuries of torture and pain.

  I spent a bit longer picking out other outfits. I didn’t know how long my mission was going to take, and didn’t want to run out of potential things to wear. Though, turning up places in my bathrobe had seemed to work best so far. I should just stop trying and wear that all the time.

  “Are you okay, there?”

  I look up from the rack of dresses to find a beyond stunning woman in front of me.

  I’d never been shy about my looks. I was pretty with a good body. I had to be to have spent so much time with the gods. They were the rather aesthetic kind. But this woman made me insecure with just one look.

  Her dark hair cascaded in waves down her back, looking like she’d stepped out of one of the hair commercials I’d seen on the TV yesterday. And her clothing…it made me feel dowdy. More than that, there was a little warning bell going off inside me saying this woman was trouble. Big trouble. I couldn’t put my finger on why.

  “Yes, thank you.” The smile I gave her was full of insincerity, which she definitely knew. It was a language women had used since the very beginning.

  “Are you sure? I wouldn’t pair those together.” She nodded towards the leather pants I had in one hand and a silk shirt I had in the other.

  “I wasn’t intending to, but thanks for the tip.”

  “You look kind of familiar,” she mused.

  Freezing cold dread rushed through me. I thought everyone had forgotten what I looked like. How could she possibly know who I was? What did this mean for my mission? If people knew who I was, I’d never manage to entrap them.

  “Sorry, I don’t know you,” I tried.

  The woman clicked her fingers. I barely refrained from glaring at her. She had to know how rude she was being when she did that.

  “You’re the woman on today’s front page. The one spotted with Ashton St. James.” She tapped her foot, giving me a look of expectation.

  “What of it?” I asked, the burden of having been recognized for my real self lifting.

  “How did you get a date with Ashton St. James?” As soon as the words left her, the malice was clear.

  “He asked, I said yes.”

  “Were you paid?”

  “Of course not.” What was this woman on?

  “Then I just don’t get it.”

  “What’s it to you, anyway?” I asked, hooking my clothes over my arm. No matter what she said, I was going to buy them. Maybe I’d even wear them sometime I’d get photographed with Ashton, just to piss her off.

  “I want to know how a nobody like you got a date, while I still can’t.”

  Ah. Jealousy. Suddenly it all made sense. The biggest motivator.

  “I’m sorry about that, but there’s nothing I can do about Ashton’s choice.” I gave her a sweet as sugar smile. She knew I didn’t really mean it. I didn’t even care.

  “End it with him. Then he can move on to people who are actually his level.”

  “And just what’s that supposed to mean?” I squared off, trying to ignore the sensation of my nostrils flaring. It likely didn’t make a very good picture.

  “That you’re… well, you, and I’m Kiki Riker.”

  I waited, hoping she’d expand on why she mattered. Or for the gods’ insta-information to kick in. But no. Nothing. Nada. She wasn’t triggering an
ything, so I just looked at her blankly.

  Instead of answering, she waved her hand behind her, towards a huge advertisement with her face on. This time, insta-information worked. Kiki Riker, whoever she was other than that, must have been the face of the designer whose boutique I was in.

  A model. Basically. I couldn’t say I was impressed. When had it become the norm just to value women for their looks? Maybe men had started listening to their gods just a little too much.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.” I’d had enough. Turning to leave, I was surprised when she grabbed my arm tightly.

  I hissed and tugged my arm away sharply.

  “Don’t touch me again.” Something bright flared behind my eyes but she must have seen something there as she let go of me and took a step back.

  “Just watch it,” Kiki warned.

  I glared at her once more before walking away. She’d shaken me a little. But I didn’t want to let it get to me too much. Hopefully, this was the last time I’d ever have to deal with her.

  ***

  “Where have you been?” Alex demanded the moment I walked back through the door.

  “Shopping.” I lifted my laden arms, hoping he got the message.

  “Just how much did you spend?” He sighed and pushed a hand over his face and short hair.

  “Do the gods’ credit cards have limits on them?” I threw back.

  He shook his head. “Not the point…”

  “Isn’t it? You want me to attract the world’s sins. These men are rich, cultured, and like the finer things in life.” At least they did if my insta-information was correct. Though the gods hadn’t thought to include a directory with it. Just facts. Apparently, letting me know who was who would have been a step too close to helpful.

  “What’s your point?”

  “I can’t do that unless I look the part. Hence, shopping.” I dumped my new purchases on the bed, noticing Alex hadn’t picked up yesterday’s clothes when he’d gotten dressed into new ones. If we were going to continue sharing, then he’d need to stop that habit. It’d drive me mad.

  “You could have waited until I was awake.”