Free Maison Plaisir by Lizzie Lynn Lee Page B

had slept with men who weren’t exactly human made her nerves hang on tenterhooks. She was scared, curious, flattered, and angry. She didn’t know what to feel anymore.
    She was scared because her lovers weren’t human. Curious because the otherworldly beings really existed. Flattered because Hervé and Armand had fought over her. And angry because the two of them had acted childishly, playing pranks against one another and lying to her. She had a pretty good idea of what had happened while she watched their fight. Their voices had been loud enough to wake the dead from their coffins.
      Were Armand and Hervé attracted to her because she was human? She couldn’t think of any other reason they’d wanted her in the first place. She didn’t exactly stand out in a crowd. Over the years, she’d made a habit of disappearing into the background in any social gathering. She knew she’d clean up nicely if she invested in nice clothes and makeup, but she liked her semi-hermitic life and wasn’t looking for any potential mate. Her friend Lisa had always complained about her icy demeanour towards the opposite sex, but that was the point. After Trent, she’d sworn off men.
    Until she met Armand and Hervé.
    Human or not, the carnal game they’d introduced her to left her wanting more.
    Belle crossed her arms around her chest, hugging herself. What the hell is wrong with me? Just because I’ve had some cookies, now I feel like I’ve got to get some more. This is nuts.
    The bell rang and she almost fell off of the couch. Her heart froze in her chest. Who could possibly come at this late hour? It was already nine and she was ready for bed. Could it be Hervé or Armand?
    A dizzying vertigo slammed into her cranial.
    She wasn’t ready to face them. Yet. She still hadn’t figured out what she wanted. She knew she couldn’t avoid them forever, but now wasn’t the right time.
    Dreadfully, she forced herself to her door and peeked through the peephole. To her surprise, her guest was neither Armand nor Hervé. It was her sisters, Clara and Sarah.
    What could they possibly want?
    Belle unlocked her door and opened it.
    “Isabelle!” Her sisters’ yell was loud enough to cause her neighbours to make a valid disturbance complaint to the cops.
    Clara jumped on her and hugged her to the point she couldn’t breathe. Sara did the same. Belle only stiffened, feeling wary. Usually, the nicer her sisters got, the more devious they were and had something in mind.
    “It’s late.” Belle’s voice sounded grating. “What do you want?”
    Sarah pretended to look shocked. “Can’t sisters visit each other?”
    Belle schooled a blank expression. “I have to wake up at five tomorrow.”
    “This won’t take long, Belle.” Clara brushed past her and invited herself into her apartment as if she owned the place. “It’s about Mom.”
    Sarah followed Clara, throwing a glance at her small apartment. Even though Sarah sported a big smile on her face, her eyes emanated contempt.
    Belle crossed her arms on her chest. Usually, she would’ve offered them drinks and obliged in menial pleasantries, but she’d decided she’d cut her family off from now and she wanted to let her sisters know their visit wasn’t welcomed. “What does she want?”
    Her twin sisters traded a glance. Clara started. “Mom was concerned about you. She feels sorry to have invited Trent over.”
    “Duly noted. Anything else?”
    “Mom wants to us to get together again. Maybe a weekend in Hampton or something? Giselle Lambert went to Europe until the end of this year and she said we could use her bungalow.”
    Good Lord, a weekend trip with her mom and her sisters? No way, Jose .
    “I don’t know. I have to check with Hervé. He’s pretty busy lately.”
    “Tell Hervé, Mom is looking forward to meeting him again soon. To discuss a few things,” Clara said.
    “What things?”
    “Silly girl. To see when you and Hervé are going to get married. You two are