Page 59 of Eden's Deliverance

We’re fire and ice, the perfect contrast to one another.

During the Uber ride to the club, we sip on champagne and share whatever local hometown gossip we’ve been able to scrounge up while we’ve been home.

I give a purposely vague retelling of an argument with Skylar from Christmas dinner, and she goes on about her mom’s tennis club drama. They’re worse than we are, even at their age—something’s always going on with those ladies.

We make it to the club and tip our driver well for putting up with our nonsense. Now we’re here, standing outside in our expensive gowns and masks that glimmer with gold accents so shiny the moon is probably jealous, but I can’t go inside.

Penelope is tugging on my hand to follow her, but I can’t move.

“Scarlett…” She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Scarlett, baby. You can do this, okay? Listen, I’m going to be there with you the whole time, right? I may begetting pounded by some dude on the couch right next to you, but I’ll be there.” Her hands rub up and down my arms to warm my skin, and I love her for it all.

“Okay.” I manage the word, but I’m lacking the confidence behind it.

“Okay? Okay, let’s go.”

22

Scarlett

The suiteis glorious.

Through the front door, the foyer table is lined with champagne glasses for the taking, so we each grab one and proceed into the main den. I know what this room is meant for, but that doesn’t make it any less of a wonder to behold.

Everywhere I look, people are fucking—tables, chairs, couches, and even the floor. Like a burning car on the side of the highway, I find it hard to stop watching.

Standing around the entwined couples are a bunch of schmoozers, all sipping their glasses of champagne as if they’re completely unaware of their surroundings.

Pulling Penelope closer, I ask, “Can we go to the balcony for a cigarette? It’s a little overwhelming in here.”I need some goddamn air.

Stepping over the half-naked bodies in our path, we make our way through the den to the balcony on the other side of the room. Outside, I immediately spot three men fucking one woman in a hot tub, plus a few more couples on some lounge chairs.

Not really thespaceI was looking for, but I’ll take what I can get.

I grab the smokes from my clutch to share one with Penelope as we stare out over the railing, trying my best to act like everything is normal.

It hasn’t escaped me that Casanova and Broody weren’t a part of the crowd inside, at least not that I saw. The Rainbow Room is a penthouse suite that takes up the entire 12thfloor, so I’m sure there are bedrooms by the dozen that I just couldn’t see from the foyer.

I can’t help but wonder if tonight is all part of their game. Did they encourage me to come tonight just to fuck with me and totally blow me off? Will they take another girl instead, when they see that I’m with The Prince? Or maybe they finally get the hint that I’m not interested in playing anymore.

Not likely.

“Alright, if I’m gonna do this, I’m going to need something a lot stronger than champagne,” I lightheartedly exclaim.

Pen smiles before dragging me back inside to the kitchen where a bartender is serving mixed drinks. As always, we order our signature cocktails and set off to explore the suite.

Probably not the best idea, but hey. It’s a party.

The sex definitely isn’t limited to the den. Each closed door we pass is emitting loud sounds of pleasure. Spanking, moaning, screaming, crying,muffledscreaming, pleading. Every single animalistic sound you can imagine a human making—they’re echoing through the air around us.

One room at the end of a hall is set up like a mini movie theater, with the large screen playing a news station’s broadcast of the ball drop. It’s almost an hour until the new year hits, and it’s starting to look like I won’t be receiving my midnight kiss after all.

We return to the kitchen and throw back as many drinks as we can to pass the time, but I’m not too worried because at the very least, we’ll have each other. It’s not like we’re strangers to kissing at parties anyway.

As we’re taking our third shot, two delicious men in pressed suits walk up to us, and I finally let out a breath of relief. The Prince brought a friend with him, and Pen attaches to him almost immediately. When they ask us to join them inone of the bedrooms, we give each other a quick glance of approval before they lead us away, hand in hand.

This is happening.

“All The Time” by Jeremih, Lil Wayne, and Natasha Mosely is playing on the surround-sound speakers spread out around the suite, and I’m fucking loving this new vibe. As soon as we make it into what seems like the only available bedroom, we’re all on each other in an instant.

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