The Prince of New York (Book 4 of the Forbidden Series)

6

Dane rose in the late afternoon. Sleeping late was an unfortunate by-product of staying out all night. He showered and dressed for the day. Leaving his room, Dane headed for the kitchen to grab a bite to eat and paused by Nadia’s door. He heard a sound and then some moaning. Dane reached for the knob and opened the door. Peeking inside he noticed Nadia was nowhere to be seen. She must be in the adjoining washroom.

Dane came farther into the room and came around the corner to look through the door finding Nadia knelt in front of the toilet getting sick to her stomach. Her dark hair tented her pretty face. Dane came into the washroom and sat down on the edge of the tub. He reached down and pulled her hair back holding it in his grasp, so it was off her face and out of her way. Nadia was sick again, and she let out another meek defeated moan. “Oh God kill me now.” She begged weakly.

Dane smirked trying not to laugh. “You don’t drink too much do you?” He observed as she got sick once more. “Have you been up long?”

“It feels like forever.” She whimpered. “Every time I think I have nothing left I surprise myself.”

Dane stood up and left Nadia’s room. He headed to the main washroom and opened the medicine cabinet. He pulled out a bottle of Pepto Bismal. He then brought it back to Nadia and sat down on the floor beside her. Dane passed her the bottle. “Drink this. It will help.” He promised.

“I don’t want it.” She groaned slapping his offer away.

“Don’t make me pour it down your throat.” He warned her. Nadia shot him an evil glare and then took the bottle from him. She twisted off the cap and drank right from the bottle. “That’s a girl. I see we should keep you away from the tequila.” He teased.

She placed the bottle on the side of the tub and wiped her mouth. She leaned against the side and stared at him. “I’m sorry I have not been up getting work done. I will get to…” She tried to get up and collapsed again. She was dizzy and weak.

Dane stood up and bending over he scooped Nadia up in his arms bridal style cradling her against him. “You are far too sick to work.” He told her carrying her back to her bed in the outer room. “You need to sleep it off,” Dane said placing her gently in the bed and pulling the covers up around her.

“But what about…”

“Don’t worry about anything.” He said stroking her hair brushing it away from her pale face. “Just go to sleep.” Nadia closed her eyes and groaned her protest but made no effort to get out of bed. The cell phone on her desk rang, and Nadia tried to get up. Dane placed his hand on her shoulder and kept her in the bed. “Ignore it. Whomever it is can leave a message.” He instructed. Dane walked over to the desk and picked up the cell phone. He turned it off and tossed it in the top drawer. “I don’t want to see you out of bed until you can stand without groaning.” He ordered before leaving the room. Again, all he received from Nadia was another strangled moan, and he laughed, the girl could not hold her liquor.

It didn’t matter too much that she was sick. Dane had a relatively quiet day ahead of him. He was going to work on the final few songs of his new album and eventually meet up with the guys at the VIP later tonight. He didn’t need her for any of that. First, he would get himself something to eat and then spend some quality time with his piano.

Dane made himself a sandwich and taking a big bite he headed for the piano. Dane placed the plate on top of the piano and took some papers from the bench seat placing them beside the plate. He then sat down and checked to make sure the piano was tuned. Satisfied he set to work.

***

It was dark when Nadia woke. She felt a lot better, her stomach had settled, and she was no longer dizzy, but she had slept away the whole day. Nadia tossed the covers back and slid out of bed. She walked over to her desk and took her cell phone out of the top drawer. She turned it on and checked the voice mail. Ten messages were waiting. Nadia cringed realizing how much she had missed recuperating from the night before.

Nadia placed the cell phone down and quickly showered. She then dressed casually in a black pencil skirt that cut off at the knee and a red silk top. She slipped on a pair of four-inch black Stiletto pumps. Nadia then wrote down all the names and numbers of each message left so she could return them in the morning. Nadia brushed her hair but left it down. She picked up her PDA and cell phone placing them both in a small black handbag. She then reached for the agenda and left her room.

Nadia went in search of Dane. She found him seated at the piano in the living room feverishly scribbling something down on a mess of scattered papers. He would play something and sing a few notes and then start writing again. Was this the creative process? “What are you doing?” She asked curiously.

Dane looked up surprised to see her. “I see you are feeling better.”

“Yes. Thank you for letting me sleep.” She said coming to stand beside the piano. “What are you doing?” Nadia asked again.

“Working on my album. I got two songs left that need finishing and some polishing before I lay them to track.”

“Is it hard?”

“Is what hard?” He asked still focused on his paper.

“Writing music.”

“Um, well yes and no. I guess it all depends. I suppose for the average Joe it might seem to be very difficult, but for a seasoned artist like my father or mother, it probably comes fairly easily. It’s all relative.” He explained.

“What about you do you find it hard?”

“Not really,” Dane admitted. “I mean it offers me enough of a challenge for it to be rewarding when I win an award or go platinum, but I seem to have enough natural talent for it that I can be successful at it, so it’s all good,” Dane said playing another rift and then writing again. “Do you want to hear something?”

Nadia smiled. “A free private show, of course.” Dane moved over on the bench and patted the seat next to him. Nadia sat down, and Dane began to play. It was soft and slow, a wonderful ballad about the progression of love between a man and a woman. About how he resisted at first but fell in love. How she chased him despite his resistance, and how he lost his heart and soul to the woman he’d never expected to love. It was sweet and romantic it brought tears to Nadia’s eyes. Dane finished playing, and Nadia wiped the tear from her cheek. “That was so beautiful. So romantic.”

“I had great inspiration.” He smiled. “It’s the story my parents told my sister and me about how they came to be together,” Dane admitted. “I’ve never met two people more in love then they are.”

“I think that’s sweet.” She said with a smile. Nadia didn’t know if she believed in love. Sure, her parents had been married for years, and they liked each other enough, but she wouldn’t go as far as to say they were madly in love. They stayed together more for companionship if anything. Which was fine she supposed it seemed to work for them. They were happy enough, but she would never marry for such a reason. Nadia would never marry for anything less than love, and since she didn’t believe that real love existed, she couldn’t see herself marrying anyone. What people considered love was more of a state of temporary insanity, and when it wore off as it usually did they got divorced.

“So, you believe in love?” Nadia asked wondering where this notorious rake stood on the subject.

“Yep, wholeheartedly,” Dane answered surprising her. She would have expected him to be far more jaded then he was.

“Really? I would think all the gold diggers would have cured you of that.”

Dane laughed. “Well, I’m not saying I’m gullible enough to fall in love with just anyone. I’m not stupid. I do know how to spot a user. Just because love is difficult to find doesn’t mean it’s not real. Some people find it right away like my sister did and some people don’t find it until they are much older. My father was already into his forties when he hooked up with my mother. He went through millions of gold diggers before falling in love. I figure love happens when it happens. I’m in no rush; I’m having fun until then.” He said offering her one of his dazzling smiles. Dane then sighed and began to collect his scattered papers. “Speaking of fun. I want to discuss last night.”

Nadia felt anxious at the reminder. She had overreacted, between her anxiety at being caught and the vast amounts of liquor she had consumed, she had not expected such intimacy to bloom between them. Had she been sober and in her right mind perhaps she would not have allowed it to go to that place. She felt awkward and uncomfortable, but she said nothing.

“I seemed to have offended you last night. For that, I am truly sorry. I understand that you probably don’t know how to deal with what happened between us. Had you not been drunk, which was also my fault for feeding you so much tequila and rum, perhaps you would have exercised better judgement and not allowed it to happen. So, I take full responsibility, and I promise not to let it happen again.” Dane said standing up. “I promise to keep things friendly and professional from now on.” He offered her a smile. “Friends?”

Nadia offered him an uneasy smile. “Yes.” He was right. She was not ready to go where they had last night. Her reaction had proven that. It was better for her career if they could both put it behind them as he suggested and move on as colleagues and friends. If he was willing to pretend last night had not happened then so was she. “So, then what is the plan tonight?” She asked trying to change the subject.

“I’m hitting the clubs tonight.” He said taking the papers to his study.

Nadia followed him down the hallway trying to keep up with his long strides. “Again. That’s three nights in a row. Do you ever take the night off?”

“You have to be seen, Nadia. You have to mingle to make connections in this business. It’s all about who you know.” He said entering his study and placing the papers on the desk.

“Don’t you ever get sick of partying?” She asked.

Dane laughed. “I’m twenty-three years old, and I get paid to party. How can I get tired of that?” He said pushing some books on the shelf aside to reveal a wall safe. She watched him open it and remove a wad of cash. He shut the safe pushed the books back in front and then walked past her and down the hall.

Nadia followed Dane to his room and stood in the doorway. “Do you want me to call a car?” She asked as he began to strip in front of her. He dropped his shirt and pants to the floor and threw open his closet. Nadia stared at him in stunned awe as he stood before her in his black boxers. The man had no sense of shame. His hard body brought flashbacks of their time in the car. His muscles rolled and flexed under his bronzed skin as he searched through his closet to find what he wanted to wear. Her body reacted to the sight of him, and Nadia began to feel flushed and hot.

“No, I already booked one earlier today.” He said pulling a pair of white pants from his closet and pulling them on. He grabbed a fitted black t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Even dressed he looked tempting.

Nadia shook the memory of last night out of her head. “I see, then where is it that we are going tonight?” She asked trying to remain nonchalant. Trying to pretend like the sight of him undressed did not affect her.

“To the hottest nightclub in New York. I know the owner.” He said leaving his room.

“Oh, and where is that?” She asked following him.

“The VIP.” He answered casually.

Nadia came to a dead stop in the hallway. She could feel the colour drain from her face at the mention of that particular club. Her breathing became laboured, and her feet felt rooted to the floor. She couldn’t move.

Dane stopped and looked at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t go there.” She breathed.

“I promise not to get you drunk tonight. Besides this would be a good chance for you to meet some tycoons.” He said encouraging her.

“No, I can’t, please don’t make me.” She whimpered.

“What’s wrong with you? It’s just another club like the others.” He said coming to stand in front of her.

She shook her head and clutched at the hem of her shirt nervously. It was not just another club; it was the stage of her nightmares where her life changed forever. “I can’t go back there.”

“Go back? When did you ever go there in the first place?” He asked. It only took a moment for Dane to catch on to the reason for her insecurity. “That’s where it happened isn’t it?”

“Just outside. I was leaving.” She admitted. “My friends and I had got in with fake ID’s, and I was ready to leave, but none of them wanted to go. So, I had no ride, but I left anyway.” She whimpered remembering that horrible night. Reliving it in her mind.

“Ok, relax, you don’t have to come. You can take the night off, alright.” Dane said heading toward the door again. She said nothing as she watched him leave. The door closed and Nadia groaned. She felt horrible, when would her past stop ruining her life.