Their Confession Read online

  THEIR CONFESSION

  The Black Door Trilogy, Book Three

  By S. Valentine

  THEIR CONFESSION

  Copyright © 2017 by S. Valentine.

  All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: April 2017

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-64034-062-6

  ISBN-10: 1-64034-062-9

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To the readers.

  Author’s Note

  Please note that safe sex is practised by all persons throughout this novel, unless otherwise stated.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Epilogue

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  Chapter One

  Gabi

  Present day

  Gabi had a feeling things were about to change for the worst, and soon. She picked up her glass and drained the last of her champagne. She hadn’t visited The Black Door club in months. Shifting on the leather couch, she took in her surroundings. It had been completely refurbished. The décor, which used to be red, was now all black, from the marble tables and sofas, to the carpet. The room was bathed in a fluorescent violet light, which reflected off the mirrored walls. Rather than it being glamorous and elegant with chandeliers and red interior, it now had a cool, modern vibe. It was the perfect place for a liberated and sexually adventurous crowd to mingle.

  As she observed the twenty-something-year-old women on the dance floor, wearing the skimpiest clothes she’d ever seen, and flirtatiously flicking back their hair, she swallowed. Men, with hunger on their faces, and nothing but pleasure on their minds, scanned the room, like predators on their prey. Everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by beauty, by adventurous people eager to satisfy and be pleasured. Nothing was off limits. No one was out of reach.

  When she had first approached the club, especially the gentlemen’s club downstairs, she had been filled with warmth. Memories of how she and Darion first met had flashed in her mind. The second she had seen him up close, she had been physically attracted to him. His mysterious, seductive aura had drawn her in.

  Now as she watched him standing near the bar, a glass of whisky in hand, deep in conversation with the new owner, butterflies formed in her stomach. The butterflies weren’t from desire, longing, and the need to be close to him. They were from a feeling of unease. She wasn’t stupid. He was hiding something.

  When he turned his head, she saw the flash of fear cross his face. As usual, he provided her with a slow, saccharine smile, complete with a dangerous twinkle in his eye. He downed the last of his drink, excused himself from his companion, and made his way toward her. Every single woman he passed stopped what they were doing to admire him. Gabi didn’t miss the small grins on their faces, the way they nudged the person next to them, stopped talking, or held their drinks in mid-air. Gabi was used to the attention Darion received.

  As much as the club brought back some pleasant memories, it also reminded her of the bad times, the evenings when Darion wanted to explore the playrooms. He had introduced Gabi to the world of swinging, and wanted nothing more than to reveal her kinky side, make her lose her inhibitions and become the woman he thought he craved. But Gabi wasn’t that woman. She would never be that woman. Surrounded by voyeurs, exhibitionists, fetishists, sadomasochists, masochists, and whatever else she was unfamiliar with, she’d felt way out of her depth. The curious side of her had her succumbing to the playrooms, until her identity was stripped and she no longer recognised herself.

  She had expected Darion to seek someone new, someone with the same desires he had when she’d admitted she couldn’t participate in the rooms again. Instead, he’d declared his love and shocked her by stating he wanted to turn his back on that lifestyle and sell the club.

  A small part of her knew he missed this once fun, spontaneous life. Had he returned to it secretly and betrayed her? An acidic feeling persisted in her stomach, and her throat ached with the urge to vomit. When Darion gracefully lowered himself next to her, and placed a hand on her knee, her spine stiffened. His usually confident demeanour, his care-free attitude had been replaced by fiddling hands, eyes that constantly flittered around the room, and a tongue that kept licking lips to moisten them. Gabi knew a scared man when she saw one. Or was it a guilty man?

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked for what seemed like the tenth time that evening.

  “Yes, Gabi.”

  His hand slid higher up her thigh, causing her to close her eyes for a split second. Lust took over her, as heat spread through her body, making her heart race frantically. Darion was now so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips, could smell the scent of whisky, and feel the heat radiating from him. His lips met hers. She was reluctant to respond at first. As his full mouth became possessive, greedy, and his tongue slipped in, she knew she’d lost the battle. As usual, she could never resist temptation when it came to Darion Milano.

  His hands cupped her face, and the kiss became deeper. Gabi sunk into the sofa further, and as she massaged his tongue with firm, leisurely licks, she wrapped her arms around him. It was as if no one else in the room existed but them. She melted into his touch, wishing they could kiss for hours without being disturbed. She was content when he cradled her in his big, protective arms, and giddy when he placed a kiss against her temple. She felt loved when he whispered those three words in her ear.

  Then her perfect little bubble burst. She was certain Darion’s body tensed before he shifted slightly away. Daring to glance over her shoulder, there she was. Gina. Gabi didn’t get a chance to say hello, as Darion shot to his feet, and welcomed her with a tight smile. Then the rest of the party arrived: L
exi, Marnie, Wendy, Tiana, Lennie, Travis, and other people that had once worked with Darion—one big happy reunion.

  Gabi plastered on a grin and greeted them all. It was only when the crowd, except for Gina, went to the bar to order drinks, that she sensed the animosity between Gina and Darion. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Gina slumped on the seat farthest away. Neither seemed about to strike up conversation.

  Gabi observed them suspiciously. Shouldn’t Darion be happy to see Gina? After all, he hadn’t seen her for months. Normally so flirty with one another, playful and touchy feely, they seemed strained and made polite chit chat. Perhaps there were still unresolved issues between them, unfinished business. Maybe Gina still held a torch for Darion.

  “So, Gina, how have you been?”

  “As good as can be given the circumstances.”

  Oh. “Is your mom okay?”

  “She’s fine.”

  “And London?”

  “Busy.” She blew her blonde hair out of her face.

  Gabi crossed one leg over the other and reached for her drink. Had she done something to offend Gina? Taking a long swig of her drink, she placed her glass on the table, and lifted the champagne bottle. “Want some?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Gabi filled the glass in Gina’s outstretched hand. She couldn’t help but notice it was shaking slightly. Gina gulped back the drink, and held her glass out for a refill. Gabi topped it up. Gina’s eyes, usually full of life and confidence, were glazed over, and she appeared sad. Lost. Helpless.

  “Is Gina okay?” she whispered, leaning into Darion’s ear.

  “She’s obviously just had one too many.” Darion seemed disinterested as he averted his gaze.

  Gabi bit her lip in confusion. Since when had Darion stopped caring for Gina? When an uncomfortable silence loomed upon them, Gabi couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.

  “Well, this is awkward.”

  “What do you mean?” Darion asked, staring at her incredulously.

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you haven’t seen one another in months, and yet you have nothing to talk about.”

  When Gina snorted, followed by a smirk, Gabi’s eyes widened. “Gina, have you got something to say?”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “No, but I’m sure Darion has.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing is going on. Enjoy the evening.” Darion leant back in his seat, and took a sip of his whisky. His intense stare was on the bar, as if mentally pleading Lexi, Marnie, and the others to intervene.

  “Don’t patronise me, Darion.” She turned to Gina again. “What’s wrong? You can tell me anything. Maybe I can help.” They weren’t the best of friends, but neither were they enemies.

  Gina’s eyes welled up with tears, and within minutes, she was sobbing hysterically. Gabi clasped a hand to her chest, completely taken aback. She couldn’t remember ever seeing Gina’s vulnerable side before. It must have been serious. Darion rubbed his palms up and down his face, clearly uncomfortable, and let out an exasperated sigh.

  “Gina, not here. We discussed this,” he said firmly.

  “You discussed what?” Gabi spluttered, turning to face him. “You didn’t tell me you’d been in contact with her.”

  Why would he hide that fact? Oh God. Please no. Her chest tightened. Her breathing suspended for a second as she became lost for words. She prayed Darion and Gina hadn’t been having an affair. Surely he wouldn’t do that to her. Not after everything they had been through. But what if they had? What if Darion wanted to break things off with Gina? Or what if he wanted to end his relationship with her for Gina?

  “Gina, what’s going on?” she managed to ask when she’d gathered her wits. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Lexi, Marnie, Tiana, Eva, and Wendy were now collecting their drinks. They would soon be on the way over. “Gina?” she repeated.

  Gina eventually stopped crying and wiped her face. She smoothed her blonde locks down, and looked at Darion. “I knew you wouldn’t tell her,” she said, her voice shaky with emotion.

  Darion turned to Gabi. For the first time she could see his expression was full of lies, deceit, panic, and fear. He wasn’t the man she knew. It was as if he were a stranger sitting before her.

  Gabi’s limbs trembled slightly, as she became fearful of what she was about to be told. The last confession of Darion’s was that he led the life of a swinger. She couldn’t take another confession. She had a feeling it was much worse. The unsettling feeling in her gut made her believe this was something of an entirely different nature.

  “Gabi…” Darion began. She saw his Adam’s apple dip as he swallowed. His eyes were now glistening, whether with tears or from the light, she had no idea. “I’m so sorry.”

  Gabi abruptly pushed herself to her feet. No. No. No.

  “Me and Gina…” As his lips moved, Gabi failed to hear the words coming out. It was as if time had frozen, and she was momentarily paralysed, having lost her ability to hear, to move, to speak, to understand. She blinked rapidly. She needed to hear it again. She had to hear it again. Although, deep down, she knew she didn’t want to hear the confession at all.

  Chapter Two

  Gabi

  Two months earlier

  “Darion!” Gabi slapped his hand away, preventing him from groping her breast. “Behave.”

  “Never,” he said, a slow mischievous smile forming on his face.

  “You promised you’d help me choose a dress for Thursday.”

  “No. I promised I’d watch you get undressed a dozen times.”

  She shook her head, slightly amused. “Swap this for a size ten.” She shoved a dress at him, and yanked the curtain shut, blocking his view of her in the changing room. She heard the sound of footsteps as he left the room.

  Gabi swiveled around and looked down at the pile of clothes at her feet. One of her colleagues had secured a new job, and so the majority of the staff at Millers & Co Publishers were going for drinks on Thursday night. She was actually looking forward to it. Usually, Gabi declined staff outings, always making up excuses. Outside of an office environment, she was unsure of what to talk to her colleagues about. Mallory, however, had pleaded with her to join in the celebration. Mallory was no stranger to a good night out, or one to turn down a shot of tequila and a dance floor.

  “Size ten.” Darion handed her a dress.

  “Thanks.”

  “Gabi.” He poked his head around the curtain. His devilish eyes gleamed at her, a wicked smile surfacing on his face. “Let me come inside.”

  “No way. I come to this shop all of the time. I’m not risking it, Darion.”

  Her words were muffled as he pressed his lips firmly against hers. His tongue massaged her own, sucking, licking, and circling the tip around it greedily, with such urgency. The coldness of the mirror spread through her buttocks as she was pressed against it. Groaning into her mouth, Darion’s hands were in her hair, and then fondling her breasts. She closed her lids, and her head rolled back, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her nipples tingled and hardened as he caressed them through the flimsy material of her bra. Heat flooded her pelvic region when he ground his erection against her. Grabbing hold of his fit, firm ass, she pulled him into her and claimed his lips again.

  “You…need…to…get…out,” she said in between kisses.

  “Do I?” He pulled back, his absence making the needy ache in her body increase. His brows rose as if challenging her. Darion was such a tease.

  “Yes.”

  She hated having to turn him away, but unlike Darion, she wasn’t as much of a risk-taker. If they were caught, and god forbid she bump into anyone she knew, she’d never live it down.

  Just to ensure he didn’t think she was boring, vanilla, she added, “We can pop in Ann Summers when I’m finished here.”

  Darion snagged his lower lip between his teeth, his irises raw and blazing, full of lust and longing. “Oh, Gabi.�
� He chuckled softly. “You’re gonna wish you never said that.”

  “Why?” She shrugged a shoulder. “There’s nothing in there too raunchy.”

  “You obviously weren’t looking properly,” Darion responded in his low, seductive voice.

  When he left the changing rooms, she remained rooted to the spot for a moment. She tried to imagine in her head the items Ann Summers sold. So it did vibrators, whips, X-rated DVDs, sexy lingerie. She could handle that. She caught sight of her face in the mirror, and noticed her features were screwed up in confusion. What else did it sell? Shit. Knowing Darion and his sexually adventurous side, he’d probably dig out something she’d never even seen, used, or knew what to do with. Shaking her head with a laugh, she was a little excited at what he’d suggest. Darion, as always, was full of surprises, and nothing about him was ever ordinary.

  Slipping the black dress over her head, she smoothed it down and confronted her reflection. It clung to the curves of her breasts and hips, and complemented her slender figure. Falling just above the knee, and revealing a bit of cleavage, it was classy but sexy at the same time. She decided she’d buy it. Tearing it off, she quickly got dressed in her black pencil skirt and white blouse. She slipped on her black Louboutin heels, with red soles as bright as her lipstick. It was time to reward Darion for being a good sport and allowing her to drag him around shops.

  ***

  Darion

  Darion blew smoke from the side of his mouth and watched couples strolling by hand in hand, laden with shopping bags. Smiles were plastered on their faces and they appeared like they didn’t have a care in the world. Balancing his weight against the wall, he took another drag on the cigarette, hoping the nicotine rush would rid the empty ache in his heart. How he wanted to be like those types of people with nothing but love for one another.