Changing Positions (Brooks Haven Bears 3)

Chapter 15 - Shock Value

Emily

How is he surprised?

Before we can contemplate what we should do for the rest of the night, the door opens. I thought Madeline at least locked it? I scream and adjust my bra to cover myself up, while Hans practically flies off me. Both of us scramble to get up and see how much of our dignity we can salvage when only a few seconds ago we were willing to risk being in some hidden camera video for the enjoyment of the sleazy guys running whatever it is we have gotten ourselves into and the total horror of Jason and Lance. Would have served them right, but I sure don’t want to appear naked in any video that either of those two would be watching. That’s a trauma I wouldn’t be able to survive from.

“What the hell?” a woman’s voice exclaims.

I look at her and feel numb.

Wait.

Am I dreaming? I’m tempted to pinch myself but the way the heat in my body is quickly dissipating and how my skin turning cold from the AC is proof enough that I’m living this nightmare.

“Celeste, what are you doing here?” I ask, my voice shaking. I really wish I had looked for my top instead of falling into bed with Hans. This is beyond embarrassing. Madeline said this room was private. Nobody could have just accessed it. I’m assuming only a few people know it even exists since Gallagher’s is pretty new and the whole thing sounds too sleazy to be properly advertised.

But Celeste Ridley is right here, teetering on high heels and practically bandaged in a black bodycon mini-dress, which is something I have never would have imagined she owned. Maybe all those heavy bags she carries out of her apartment don’t just carry products she is selling. She looks gorgeous, with her dark hair falling on her shoulders in graceful waves. But I don’t want her here right now. I do need her, though. She is my wake-up call. I almost gave my virginity up in some icky-looking room to a guy who was possibly waiting for someone else.

“Why are you here, Emily? I thought you were not invited.” Her voice sounds panicky. I have never heard Celeste sounding like that before.

Celeste is four years older than I am; she’s my brother’s age. She just graduated with a degree in business. She’s always working gigs left and right, and belongs to the growing lower middle class in the otherwise small but posh community of Brooks Haven. However, she confessed she still hadn’t gotten the break she wished would get her out of her, and the limited business and job prospects for those who didn’t belong to Brooks Haven’s wealthy elite.

“Well, I sure didn’t expect you to be at these kinds of parties!” I exclaim, on the defensive.

“What kind of parties? The ones for the rich?” The conversation is starting to feel out of control. Hans clears his throat.

“We need to find our clothes,” he says. He grins at Celeste, as if we’re not almost naked and that it’s the end of the world as I know it.

“Go on ahead. D-does your cousin know you’re here?” she asks.

“Of course. That dickwad arranged the whole thing,” Hans says, heading straight for the other room with his chin up and his back straight. He’s probably used to getting interrupted like this, while I’m new to this. My cheeks heat. I should buy Celeste a whole wardrobe of Gucci clothes so that she can forget about dressing like Madeline again.

Wait.

I squint at Celeste. She still looks uneasy, shifting her weight from one foot to another. She looks more uncomfortable while I was the one who was caught in bed in a club where I shouldn’t even be in while wearing a micro-mini and a bra.

“I’m going to get my top, Celeste. Don’t go.”

“Okay.”

The soft voice and the meek expression aren’t what anyone would associate with her at all. I looked up to her. I still do. I can’t imagine having to work hard for what I should get every month. I have thousands of dollars at my disposal at any given time. My parents know I’m responsible enough, relatively, anyway. I mean, if you have an allowance like I do, you’ll still look responsible with the kind of leftover change I still keep in the bank.

When I pass through the beaded curtain, I see Hans is already wearing his clothes. I’m equal parts relieved and disappointed. I still remember how hard and solid his body felt, the way he easily made himself fit between my legs. A shiver goes through my body, and I realize that it’s a visible quaking by the way Hans is looking at me.

“Looking for this?” he asks, his voice husky and his eyes halfway closed. Something rolls in my belly, something that he stirred when he had his tongue and mouth on me. Ugh. I need a cold, cold shower when I get home, although it’s already past one. It takes me a minute to realize he’s handing me my cashmere shirt.

“Thanks,” I say, taking it and pulling it over me as if I’m going to die if I don’t.

“What the f**k?” Hans stage whispers, widening his eyes at me.

“What?” I ask, annoyed that he looks like he’s excited to go on an adventure while I’m still feeling like I can melt into a puddle right in front of him.

“That’s your friend, Celeste, right?”

“Of course it is.” I cross my arms in front of my chest, even though I’m now wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

“Come over here, Emily. Why are you looking pissed at me?” he asks, pulling me to him. My arms remain where they are, but he tries his best to hug me. I don’t want to tell him how good it feels to have his strong arms around me.

“I’m not,” I lie. Right now, though, my annoyance is fading away. He’s rubbing my back and I’m ready to fall asleep. Lies. I want him to take me to my apartment. I’m now a fully fledged slut for Hans Blom.

“Listen,” he whispers softly. “She’s on her phone.”

I stop listening to the sound of my heart racing and eavesdrop on the girl I’ve always considered as my friend, and even a big sister.

“Yes. I’m here. Madeline, um, already left. I texted her. She got a tip from the client. Yeah, I’m guessing he’s a satisfied customer.” There’s that tone that I don’t like hearing from her again. That slight quaver. The uncertainty. The fear. It’s not what I expect from her at all.

Shit.

There’s a long pause as Celeste seems to listen to whoever is on the other end of the line.

“No. I’m pretty sure the cameras didn’t turn on. Yeah, I’m sorry. Not my fault. I came here and the cameras look like they weren’t on the whole time.”

What’s going on?

“They’re going to get a little clip of us on that bed,” Hans teases.

“You’re lying. She said the cameras weren’t on,” I say, trying to get out of his grasp. He had threatened to cry out rape when I was on him with my face covered, but he can keep me locked within his arms? I sigh and rest my head on his chest. It’s futile to fight this.

“I think she’s lying to save our skin–and Madeline’s.” This time, Hans’ voice is serious.

“She’s working for them. Isn’t she?” I ask soberly.

“I’m afraid so,” Hans whispers, and kisses my forehead. “We need to get out of her, with your friend, of course.”

“Right.”

We head back to the room and see Celeste fiddling with something in the thermostat.

“Seriously?” Hans asks, startling Celeste.

“I can explain,” she says, as she raises both her arms in surrender.

“There’s no need for that,” I assure her. “Let’s get out of her. I also need to leave before my brother figures out I’m here. Or maybe I should show up on the dance floor with Enzo. He’d think I came to dance.”

“I’m glad you came here for something else,” Hans says in a low voice.

“I need to get back there first. You can come out from here with Celeste,” I say, a plan already spinning in my head on what I should do or say.

“You’re not going to dance with Enzo,” Hans grits out.

“I will,” I say stubbornly as I disentangle from him. “If you don’t want this to come out.”

“Who says I don’t want anyone to find out, Emily?”

“Well, I’m not ready to tell my brother and your cousin what we’ve -.”

“What we’ve been what? You told me you like me. I like you. A lot. It’s why I have been following you around. It wasn’t because I was trying to babysit you!”

“Guys, you need to make a decision now!” pleads Celeste.

“Stay here,” I tell Hans. “I’ll text you later.”

Before he can protest, I rush out of that secret place in just a few strides. Soon, I’m running to the dance floor.

“Where have you been?” Enzo asks, frowning a little. “You found Blom?”

“Yeah, I think he has a headache or something,” I mumble, feeling terrible about having to lie. Maybe Hans does have a headache right now because I left him and followed a plan he didn’t agree with.

“Well, I hope he feels better later. You fancy another dance, Park?”

“Yeah, let’s give my brother and Lance a show.”

“Oooo. You’re feeling a little rebellious today? You want them to see you?” Enzo looks impressed, but he shouldn’t be, especially if he knows what I had been up to and what I’m doing right now. It’s supposed to be a misdirection.

When a new song starts, the two of us are back in the middle of the dance floor. Though, I’m dancing on guiltier feet right now, I love how free I feel right here. As Enzo turns me around, I see Hans glaring in a corner. Celeste is nowhere in sight. When I turn to the other side, I see my brother with his jaw hanging open. He’s a few seconds from exploding. Jason is Mr. Nice Guy, but that’s the problem with the nice ones, they’re pretty scary when I explode. I shiver a little as I realize I’ve tested another good guy.

Hans.

The sharp lines of his jaw seem sharper. He’s resting his back on a wall while some girl seems to be talking up a storm next to him. My heart sinks as he lets himself be dragged into the dance floor.

“What the f**k are you doing here?” My brother startles me by shouting in my ear. I hear him well enough even though the music is loud, surrounding us all in this little crazy space of smoke and swirling lights.

“What do you think? My brother’s throwing a party and my former high school classmates are here but I’m not? It’s not an age thing.”

“This place isn’t for you.”

“But it is for you?”

I turn back to Enzo, but he now looks grim. He has also stopped dancing. Oh, everyone’s no fun right now. I’m going home.

“Look. If I think a party is suitable for you, I’ll take you with me myself,” Jason says, trying for gentleness right now. He looks tipsy. Someone’s planning to crash right here.

“Jason, she’s just having some good clean fun. I don’t even think she drank anything,” Enzo protests on my behalf. I’ll ask him later if he’s pre-law, but I don’t think he’ll be too happy about it. Everyone here is losing control because of alcohol or something else, while I’m losing control because – s**t – when was my last dosage?

“You’ll be happy to know, dear brother, that I’m going home,” I say, as panic rises within me, almost choking me.

“I’m driving her home,” Enzo says, and I’m about to nod when I feel someone else’s presence edge closer to us.

“I will do that. Don’t worry, Enzo.” It’s Hans. He’s face is red and his blue eyes are blazing.

“But -,” Jason is about to protest and he looks confused. Asshole. He probably thought that Hans would still be tied up right now.

“Well, how was it, Hans, baby cousin?” a loud voice booms. I groan.

Four guys and a girl.

Some like that kind of thing, except my little group here is about to combust.

“I’m taking Emily home,” Hans says. I’m afraid that he’s ready to spill everything. I reach out and wrap my hand around his wrist, pressing my fingernails on his skin but he doesn’t flinch. Awareness flashes in Enzo’s eyes when he sees the action. The two morons, meanwhile, are too busy being themselves.

“Why the hell would you do that?” Lance and Jason ask at the same time. Maybe they have a point. We’re probably now like a family. The two are starting to act like twins even though they look so different from each other.