Behind the Masque Book 2

ROXANNE

What is he doing here? I feel like I should talk to him. I need to speak to him; there’s so much to say.

The look on his face is one of pure astonishment, but it slowly transforms into what looks like anger before he turns and walks back out onto the outer deck.

I can’t go after him, as well-wishers and people wanting to get more details now surround us.

So, I plaster a big smile on my face and join Spence in the excitement, hoping that Seth doesn’t take off right away.

“I guess this means another bachelor party,” Victor chortles, handing a cigar to Spence.

Spence chuckles and shakes his head.

“Nothing like the last one, Vic. We almost didn’t make it out alive.” Spence lights his cigar, and the sweet smoke floats into the air around us as Victor hands out a few more.

“Baby, I need some fresh air,” I say to Spence quietly.

He smiles and nods and then leans in to kiss my cheek.

“Yeah, sorry about the smoke, my love.”

“It’s okay. Have fun,” I tell Spence and head outside.

Once outside, I look around. When I don’t see Seth on the lower deck, I climb the stairs to check the upper deck and spot him leaning against the railing with a drink in hand.

He looks utterly bored as some girl talks his ear off. Seth spots me from the corner of his eyes and straightens as I approach him nervously.

“Hi, Seth,” I say softly.

He looks down his nose at me, his blue eyes steely.

“Roxanne,” he nods, and I glance nervously at the tall young brunette standing next to him, watching me curiously.

Seth finally acknowledges her and gestures to her.

“This is my girlfriend Anya,” he introduces her.

Oh? I manage a smile and offer my hand to her.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Roxanne Vice.” I say as she takes my hand.

“Yes, I know. You’re Spence’s new fiancée. I’m Anya Clark, Victor’s daughter,” she tells me.

Oh, just lovely.

“Wow, I didn’t know he and Nadia had any kids,” I say.

“Oh, Nadia isn’t my mother. I live with my mother in Dallas. I’m just here for a few weeks to visit,” she says.

Okay, that makes more sense since Nadia is probably twenty years younger than Victor and is definitely not old enough to have a daughter this age.

“Well, it’s great to meet you,” I say politely, but I don’t feel any truth behind my words.

“Likewise.” She smiles and looks between Seth and me.

Obviously sensing the tension, she quickly announces,

“I think I’m going to find my father.”

She kisses Seth on the cheek and walks away, leaving us alone. Seth’s jaw is tense.

“Seth…,” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“Engaged? To Spence? Are you fucking kidding me, Roxanne? I knew you two were together, but you’re going to marry him?”

He shakes his head at me in disappointment. This makes me angry. What right does he have to make me feel guilty?

“What do you care, Seth?” I challenge.

“I don’t,” he scoffs, but he’s obviously lying, so I call him on it.

“Yes, you do,” I whisper, and he glares at me.

“Okay, what if I do? What does it matter anyway? You made your choice that night when you left with him,” he points to an invisible Spence.

“Seth, it wasn’t what you thought though. I didn’t go home with Spence that night,” I inform him, trying to keep my voice level.

“What?” He frowns. “You left with him!”

“He just dropped me off at home; I promise.”

“Then he just sent you to Italy?” He cocks a dubious eyebrow at me.

“Yes. He did that so I could get some space. I was a total mess that night.”

Seth searches my face, perhaps deciding whether to believe me, so I continue, “Then when I got back, you wouldn’t take my calls or anything, so I moved on, Seth. I thought you hated me.”

“I never hated you, Rox. I was hurt. I just wish you hadn’t left with Spence when I asked you not to. You can’t imagine what went through my head that night, thinking you were with him.”

Seth’s eyebrows pull together at the memory.

“I know, Seth, and I’m so sorry about that, I really am. I just didn’t know what to do, and I hated myself. I thought everyone was better off if I just went away,” I say quietly.

I feel that annoying tightness in my throat but fight it back.

“I wasn’t better off. You should have trusted that. I thought you knew better, Rox…” He sighs. “But I guess it doesn’t matter either way now, does it?”

He looks down at my hand and points to my ring.

“I guess that’s partially my fault. Maybe if I had answered the damn phone…”

He shakes his head, not wanting to continue with that train of thought.

“There you are.”

Spence’s voice breaks through the air, and I turn to see him climbing the last stair. He strides over to us, taking in Seth’s presence.

“Seth. Long time no see,” Spence nods at him politely, but his eyes dart between us, testing the atmosphere.

“Spence,” Seth says flatly, “I guess congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you,” Spence nods.

“Oh, I wasn’t offering congratulations. I was simply making an observation,” Seth retorts rudely.

I can’t believe it. Spence looks taken aback for a second before he fixes his expression to calm, cool, and collected; his eyes have become a little frosty.

“Seth!” I scold him.

“Whatever,” Seth grunts angrily before turning and walking away.

“Alright, so that was interesting.” Spence frowns at Seth’s retreat, then turns to look at me with questions written all over his handsome face.

“What, may I ask, was all that about?” he asks.

“I haven’t seen him since that night, Spence. I just wanted to clear the air,” I tell him.

“I take it that the air still isn’t clear?” he guesses.

“Apparently. Did you know he was dating Victor’s daughter?”

I change the subject.

“Anya? Really? She’s only twenty-one years old. I’m surprised Victor is okay with that,” he muses.

“Yeah, she said she’s only here for a few weeks visiting, so it mustn’t be serious,” I say, causing Spence to raise a brow at me.

“Does that please you somehow?” Spence asks, tilting his head to the side.

“No, of course not. I don’t care either way,” I reply right away.

“Good.”

Spence nods, taking a deep breath, and then he takes my face between his palms.

“Roxanne, Seth had his chance with you, and he made no effort to contact you when you came back. Now, you’re mine, and I love you. You are going to be my wife, so help me God.”

Spence dips his head down and kisses me hard just to drive home his point. I wrap my arms around his neck and return the kiss eagerly. I really do love him, and I’m a very lucky woman.

“I love you too, Spence, so much,” I murmur against his lips.

“I can’t wait to really start our lives together, Rox,” he whispers, brushing his lips against my chin and kissing it softly before planting small kisses down my neck, causing me to close my eyes and shiver.

We’re in our own little bubble, not even caring that there are other people around, watching us curiously.

Spence backs me up against the railing and places his body flush against mine, kissing me again.

“Mmm, Spence.” I giggle softly.

“I want to be the only one who makes you feel this way,” he murmurs, “come with me.”

He pulls back and takes my hands.

“I’m going to give you the tour,” he says with a wink, his intention clear.

“Not here, Spence, no!” I laugh as he tugs me toward the stairs.

“You should really see it. It’s huge.” He grins, and I wonder if he’s talking about the boat or something else.

We climb down the stairs to the main level, and then he leads me back inside the main cabin where even more people have piled in.

I spot Anya and Seth standing by Victor and Nadia, but Spence just leads me through the vast room and back out the front. We go down another set of stairs that lead below cabin.

Spence opens the door into a narrow corridor.

“These are the bedrooms,” he says, picking one at random and opening the door; he pulls me in.

“Spence!” I protest, but not too much.

I’m actually kind of into it, but I don’t want to be rude. Oh, fuck it! Like I really care right now. The bedroom cabin he’s chosen is small but cozy and luxurious.

It’s decorated in cream and gold, very elegant. The bed takes up the majority of the space. Spence starts loosening his tie and locks the door behind me.

“Take your dress off,” he orders quietly.

I quickly step out of my shoes, then unzip my dress and shrug out of it. Spence pulls his tie off, then his jacket, and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

“The rest of it,” he gestures toward my bra and panties.

He’s in a hurry, so I follow orders and smile at him as he drops trousers, revealing his massive hard-on.

“Alright, get over here,” he growls playfully, and I close the small distance between us, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him.

Spence’s excitement presses into my stomach.

“Lie down on the edge of the bed,” he murmurs.

I sit down on the foot of the bed and look up at him, waiting for his next order. I actually like it when he takes charge in the bedroom.

I find it incredibly sexy, especially coming from the big and powerful Spence. I lay back, my legs hanging over the edge.

Spence crouches down between my legs and lifts them, wrapping them around his waist.

I watch as he licks his fingers, wetting them, and then lowers his hand between my legs and slides his fingers up my opening to provide a little extra lubrication before slowly sinking into me.

“Oh God,” I moan loudly, wiggling my hips, welcoming him.

“Shhh!” Spence chuckles, thrusting harder into me.

I have to bite my lip to stop from moaning. Spence starts to pick up the pace as I grow accustomed to him.

I wrap my arms around him, and Spence groans loudly as I run my nails roughly up his back as he pushes into me with my lower half hanging off the bed. The feeling is phenomenal.

“Mmm, Spence!” I can’t help it when his name escapes my lips. He just feels way too good.

“You love it, don’t you?” he grunts, dipping his head down and shoving his tongue into my mouth.

I moan into his mouth, and he absorbs it, muffling the sound.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I hiss from between clenched teeth.

Spence lifts my legs and places them on his shoulders. Uh oh, I’m in for it now. I squirm, preparing myself. When he does this, I have no control over his depth.

He starts going slowly, grabbing my hands and holding them down at my sides, pulling on them for leverage. He starts pounding into me hard, and I cry out.

I pull one of my hands free and reach for a pillow, holding it over my face to muffle my noise. It’s almost impossible to be quiet when he fucks me this way.

Spence releases my other hand and grasps my hips, moving me back and forth on him.

“Fuck!” he grunts. “I’m gonna come.”

All I can do is moan in response as he thrusts a few more times before he shudders, digging his fingers into my hips almost painfully.

I throw the pillow aside and giggle as he collapses forward against my chest, panting.

“That’s going to make a mess,” I say quietly.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Wouldn’t want to ruin Victor’s lovely sheets now, do we?” he chuckles, and I shake my head.

Spence lifts his head and looks around, spotting a box of tissues within reach.

He grabs the box and pulls out a handful, skillfully using them to avoid wrecking what are probably costly sheets as he pulls out of me.

He gets to his feet, pulls out more tissue, and then proceeds to clean me off gently.

“Thanks,” I laugh.

“Just doing my part as a gentleman,” he smiles. “I guess we should get dressed and get back out there, huh?”

“Do we have to?” I complain.

“Unfortunately,” he nods.

I sit up and then stand as well. We quickly put our clothes back on and inspect each other. I smooth Spence’s hair back again.

Our faces are somewhat flushed, but other than that, we are presentable once again.

“I just can’t get enough of you.” Spence grins at me as he unlocks and opens the door.

“I’m glad.” I blush.

We head back up the stairs and into the main cabin. We’ve both got big goofy grins on our faces as we head to the bar to get a drink.

“Where’d you two disappear to?” Victor asks, coming up behind and putting an arm around each of us.

Spence turns to look at Victor and lifts the corner of his mouth at him, causing Victor to laugh out loud.

“Fantastic!” he slaps Spence hard on the shoulder, and then he turns to look at me, my face turning crimson in embarrassment.

“My, my, Roxanne. You are an insatiable creature, aren’t you, my dear?” he whispers in my ear.

I pull back and glare at him, “Excuse me?” I scoff.

“Vic!” Spence scolds him, looking quite irritated.

Victor lifts his hands in defense.

“Sorry, I stepped out of line,” he says, smirking at Spence who shakes his head at him.

Victor looks over at me and bows slightly.

“Roxanne, I’m so sorry if I offended you, my dear.”

“No sweat, Vic,” I consent, and he smiles and winks at me, taking a sip of his drink.

“Yeah, because we already left it all over some of your super fancy sheets downstairs,” I add, causing Victor to start choking on his drink.

He looks at me like I just grew an extra limb. I have no idea what caused me to say that. Maybe I’ve had enough of his comments for the day.

Spence is laughing hard behind him, shaking his head in disbelief at my boldness.

“Oh, that’s my girl,” Spence says, grinning at me proudly, and I smile broadly back at him.

I will not just sit back and allow these people walk all over me. I’ll show them who I really am.

“Well played, Roxanne, well played,” Victor nods. “I think you deserve one of these,” he says, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a cigar.

I take it from him, and he cuts the tip and lights it for me.

I take a deep pull and blow it out in a big cloud of smoke. I don’t really care for cigars, but I go ahead and enjoy the meaning behind Victor’s offering.

This is his way of accepting me, an induction if you will. I will not be the little woman sitting pretty in the corner and keeping her mouth shut, and now he knows it.

I just got myself a seat at the grown-ups’ table. Spence and Victor light up cigars for themselves, and the three of us proceed to smoke, drink, and talk shit.

Victor’s attitude changes drastically toward me, as he begins treating me like one of the guys. Now that he knows I can roll with the punches and throw them right back his way.

Soon, we are joined by some of the other men, and I find that I’m starting to feel quite drunk, as tequila shots are being passed around.

I lean in and tell Spence that I need a restroom, and he tells me it’s back downstairs. So I carefully make my way outside and down the stairs, back to the lower cabin.

I realize that I don’t know which door it is and start to randomly open doors as I go along, skipping the one we had just been in. I reach the second-to-last door and peek in. Holy fuck!

“Fuck! Sorry!” I exclaim, taking in the couple screwing before me, my eyes lingering for just a second too long.

“Um…can we help you?” Anya giggles on her hands and knees. Seth just stares back at me, not even making an effort to stop fucking her for a moment. I snap my mouth shut and quickly close the door.

Oh God! That was really, really awkward and surprisingly hard to see. I still have to pee, so I check the next door, and it’s thankfully a bathroom. I step in and lock the door behind me.

Maybe they should have thought of doing that as well. I’m shaking like I just did something bad. I do my business, and then wash my hands, staring at myself in the mirror.

My chest is tight, and I feel sick all of a sudden. Shit! I turn quickly and lift the lid, vomiting unceremoniously into the toilet.