Keep Me (Beggar's Choice #3) (6 page)

Matt reads my face I think because he gestures at the dress.
“This one? You look fucking brilliant in it.”

“I don’t know. What’s in the other bags?” We pull the
costume off me and I stand in my knickers and the sexy, cream corset pulling my
hair up with a band while he unzips the other bags and lays them out on the
bed. We look at a pirate costume and a dress that looks like something from a
Jane Austen film but has bloodstains all over it.

He opens his mouth to comment but just then there’s a loud
bang on the door and Bram pokes his tousled head around the door. I shriek and
grab for one of the garment bags to cover myself but Matt tuts and hands me my
dressing gown as Bram just stands and stares, taking in every detail of my nearly
naked body until I’m finally covered when he seems to shake himself and come
to.

“What are you ..?” He stops and clears his throat. “What the
fuck are you two doing in here? Why is Matt standing there while you cavort
around in your underwear?”

I snort. “Cavort?”

He glares. “Take the piss if you must Alys but I need to
know if you’re trying to corrupt my Matty. You know he seems very worldly but
actually he has very little experience in life and I don’t think that he needs
a worldly woman like you turning his pretty, little head.”

“Oh my God,” Matt groans, rubbing his eyes while I laugh out
loud.

“Yes, you’ve caught us Bram. Matt has renounced dick and
we’re together.”

“Say what you like,” Bram says indignantly. “I’m trying not
to stress over how unfair it is that Matty can stand in here while you are
dressed in very skimpy under things and oh my God that corset, while I, the
rock god in this scenario am not allowed to do the same. In fact I’m also
lodging a complaint about that fucking monstrosity of a dressing gown.”

I look down at my old towelling robe that Bram is pointing
furiously at. “What’s the matter with it?”

“It’s blocking my view,” he says crossly and Matt snorts.

“Okay children. Bram, you may be a rock star but you are
emphatically not gay so I’m afraid you’re not allowed at our pyjama party.”

“You’re having a pyjama party?” Bram shouts indignantly but
Matt grabs his face lightly and pushes him out of the door ignoring his
protests. Then he turns to me and as one we let out loud belly laughs. Once we
calm down he points to the green dress. “That one I think. Let’s do your hair.”

A couple of hours later I stand in my bedroom and look in
the mirror. Matt really is a genius. He said he’d gone out with a makeup artist
once and he’d certainly picked up some tips. First he painted my face white
like a little ghostly doll, accompanying the look with red lipstick which he
accentuated by sticking a little beauty spot next to my lips. He then powdered
my hair and backcombed it to within an inch of its life, before pinning it up
and pushing a peacock feather into the back.

I’m corseted into the gown so tightly that I think I might
have to let it out to do anything simple like drink, or even breathe. However,
it’s raised my breasts up over the low neckline so they look massive in
comparison to my waist which looks tiny. The dress gleams with its rich colour
in the low light when I move. It has tight sleeves ending in white lace, and
the skirt bells out making a lovely swishing noise. The final touch are white
stockings and a flowery garter which can be seen through a rent in the skirt,
and the most beautiful forest green satin, square toed ballet shoes which have
delicate, green ribbons to fasten around my ankles.

I spritz myself with perfume and make my way downstairs
feeling excited for the first time today. There’s something about being in
costume that takes the nerves away. You could be anyone and do anything in a
costume and I think of Bram and his garden party and snort.

“What are you laughing at?” his voice booms at me suddenly
and I jump, holding my hand to my throat.

“Jesus Christ you startled me,” I say crossly. “Don’t sneak
up on the deaf person.”

“Don’t say that,” he chastises automatically as he always does
whenever I take the piss out of the deafness.

He moves further into the light of the hall and I gasp. He
looks amazing and I wryly realise why Matt was so insistent on my costume
because it pairs with Bram who is wearing an 18
^th
century soldier’s
outfit. He has on tight white breeches which cling to the muscles in his
thighs, and knee high boots. A black frock coat falls from his wide shoulders
and underneath is a white waistcoat with gold frogging down the front. He’s
tied his hair back in a short ponytail, wrapped a black cravat round his neck
under a white shirt, and to top it off he’s added a horribly realistic bloody
wound to his temple and dusted his hair with dirt.

I become aware that I’m staring at him at the same time that
I realise he’s staring just as hard at me, his attention seemingly divided
between my breasts which are almost staring him in the face and the rip in my
skirt showing off my garter. His chest rises and falls sharply and I draw in a
sudden sharp breath feeling like there isn’t enough air in here. He moves
towards me as though pulled slowly by a rope until he’s in front of me, and I
sway towards him without any thought as he lowers his head towards me, only to
breathe in sharply and jerk back when he hears Matt’s voice behind him.

“Well, well you two do look cosy don’t you?”

Bram mutters something that I can’t pick up and then turns
to face Matt.

“Oh Matt you look brilliant,” I gush and he does, dressed in
a long, black, hooded gown and combat boots.

“Thank you honey,” he says, breezing past me. He pauses next
to Bram as he goes and I could swear that he laughs and says, “How’s that
promise to Saint Agnes looking now babe?”

“Fuck off,” Bram snaps crossly and marches off down the
stairs leaving me to grab Matt’s arm and let him lead me away.

When we pull up outside the venue I can’t help but gasp. The
outside of the club has been transformed, covered by a giant cobweb and halfway
up the building’s façade I can see the giant hairy legs of a massive spider.
Doormen are waiting dressed as vampires but I shrink slightly as a thousand
flashbulbs seem to go off in one go as photographers descend on our car.

I can hear a lot of shouting and the word
Bram
a lot
but thankfully I can’t hear everything and Bram turns to Matt. “I’ll get out
this side and let them take some pictures. You grab Alys and go round the back
of them okay?” Matt nods and Bram grabs my chin to catch my attention. “It’s
just a bunch of asshole paparazzi Alys. Think it’s something to do with that
actress that I shagged last week.” I grimace and he half smiles but he looks
worried. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t think of this. I don’t want you to be
hassled or get your picture taken because that’ll destroy your privacy at
university, so go with Matt and keep your head down.”

I nod, catching his worried eyes. “I’ll be fine. Besides no
one will recognise me dressed like this with all this hair.”

He gives me his sudden sunny smile, the one that lights his
eyes up and makes them golden. “Yes but still sexy. Told you so. Everyone is sexy
at Halloween.” Then he grabs my head and kisses me hard on the forehead. “Take
it easy.” He looks at Matt. “Take good care of her. She won’t be able to hear
if someone comes up behind her and I don’t want her frightened.” Matt stares at
him hard but Bram doesn’t seem to notice. “I’ll delay them a bit until you’re
inside and I’ll meet you in there.”

He slowly unwinds himself and gets out of the car buttoning
his coat, and while the flashbulbs go off Matt and I seize our chance and scoot
out of the other side. I cling tight to him and we traverse the scrum. I’ve
seen it happen millions of times on TV as stars get out of their cars but in
reality it’s actually a bit frightening. The atmosphere is almost feral and
there’s a nasty, fevered energy about it as they shout things at Bram.

Apart from a few glances no one pays us much attention, and
as Matt pulls us clear of the mob I get a quick glimpse of Bram standing in the
spotlight. His shoulders are back, his posture relaxed and that easy grin is on
his face as he patently charms the press. It occurs to me to wonder how much of
that easy going nature is actually camouflage, but then we’re up the stairs and
into the venue and the thought leaves me.

We both pause for a second before I glance worriedly back
outside. “Will he be okay?” I ask Matt who instantly nods his head.

“He’ll be fine babe. They’ll take their pictures, he’ll give
them some sound bites and then the next star will be along. Business as usual.”

I’m about to answer him when a voice shouts ‘Matty’ and I
turn just in time to see one of the most beautiful men that I’ve ever seen
throw himself onto Matt, giving him a hug and ruffling his hair. It takes me a
second because he’s dressed as a highwayman with a mask and his shoulder
length, shaggy, blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail, but then I recognise
the figure of Charlie Hudson, the lead singer of Beggar’s Choice.

He and Matt exchange a few words that I can’t hear and then
he turns to me making me blink at the blue of his eyes. He smiles at me. “You’ve
got to be Alys. Bram said that he was bringing you. I’m Charlie.”

I smile and reach out to shake his hand shyly, resisting the
urge to check if I’ve got drool on my chin. “Yes, I’m Alys. Nice to meet you.”

He shoots a quick look behind me where I can detect the
sound of someone arriving with a lot of noise, and then I squeak slightly as he
tugs my hand sharply bringing me very close to him. “I like your dress,” he
says in a honeyed drawl staring hard at my breasts and I gulp. I see Matt shake
his head at Charlie before firm hands grab my arms pulling me back against a
lean body, and I relax as I recognise Bram’s warm, spicy scent.

“For fuck’s sake Charlie,” Bram says crossly. “Fuck off with
your hands all over Alys. Did we not all have this conversation yesterday when
I explicitly told you that
none
of you were allowed to touch her? Were
you present for that fucking chat or did I imagine it?”

Charlie instantly laughs, throwing his head back in
hilarity. “I remember it. It just didn’t seem real to me mate. I don’t think
that I’ve
ever
had that conversation with you before so it slipped my
mind.”

“Well don’t let it slip again,” Bram says firmly. He turns
to me making sure that I can see his face. “This is Charlie, Alys. He is a
professional skirt chaser. Do not
ever
remove your knickers in his
vicinity.”

I’m trying hard not to laugh. “I will try Bram I promise,
but what about when I’m not wearing any?”

He lets out a pained groan. “Alys did
we
not also
have a long chat about making provocative comments in mixed company?”

I smile. “No.”

“Well consider it done.”

I nod solemnly. “I’ll never do it again Bram I swear. Did
you want to point the way to the nunnery while you’re at it?”

Bram’s hiss is covered by Charlie’s bellow of laughter. When
Charlie sobers he stares at me hard making me squirm a little. “I like her
Bram,” he says finally. He looks at both of us. “Matty was right.”

“Right about what?” Bram gives Matt a long look which he
studiously ignores by looking at his nails.

Charlie smiles. “Oh nothing. Shall we take Sister Alys over
to meet everyone?”

I laugh and Bram huffs. “I try and look after a woman and
all I get is piss taking. Okay fool go ahead,” and he smiles at me as Charlie
grabs my hand and draws me after him. His mood has done a complete flip now and
his air is one of a brother as he walks me up the stairs pointing out various
celebrities along the way, all of whom come over to shake his and Bram’s hands.

The club is packed and the lights are low but the boom of
the music makes the soles of my feet tingle. Clubs can be tricky for me because
I can’t always hear what song is playing and the crowds pushing can make me
panicky. But I always put myself near the speakers where I can feel the music,
and I’m actually at an advantage because I can lip read so I can actually
usually follow conversations.

We push our way through people dressed in exquisite costumes
and it’s noticeable that there are no tacky, plastic, hooker costumes in sight.
We climb some steps until we reach some doors and Charlie opens one and draws
me into what I see is a huge, light room with one wall of glass looking down
onto the dance floor. There’s a bar on one side of the room, a long table
covered with sumptuous food and lit up like a grotto, and people lounging on
squashy settees dotted around the room. The door shuts behind us and I breathe
a sigh of relief as the noise of the music instantly stops, meaning that I’ll
be able to hear better.

A cheer goes up as Charlie and Bram enter and they laugh.
Bram holds his hands up like he’s a conquering hero and I see several women sit
up straight and pull their costumes down a bit over their chests but he ignores
them, grabbing my arm from Charlie and steering me over to some people sitting
on a group of settees near the glass wall. They all smile as we draw nearer and
a giant of a man with shoulder length black hair and dressed as Conan the
Barbarian gets to his feet. “Bram,” he shouts slapping Bram on the back and
making him wince slightly as the large hand makes contact. “Is this Alys?”

Bram nods and gestures to me. “Alys this is Seth.” I
recognise the drummer from photos but nothing does justice to his bottle green
eyes or their kindness and I like him immediately. He has a very steady calm
air about him, almost gentleness.

“Come sit down honey,” he says making sure that I’m looking
at him and I realise that Bram’s warned them so that I don’t feel
self-conscious if I can’t hear anything. I allow him to draw me towards the
place he was sitting at while Bram taps my arm.