Read Online KAGE (KAGE Trilogy #1) by Maris Black - Free Book Online

and sallow, more suited to a wino than a butler, but his posture was ramrod straight. I got the distinct impression that Charles was less about putting on airs and more about doing his job properly. After all, who wanted a sloppy porter? I liked him instantly.
    “I’m supposed to tip you, right?” I asked.
    “If you like,” he said easily.
    “Uh…” I reached into the pocket of my jeans and fished out a wadded up receipt from the airport coffee shop and a small pill of dryer lint.
    Charles chuckled and held up a hand to stop me. “I have plenty of receipts and lint in my own pocket. Maybe next time? Vegas is one of those places where it’s a good idea to carry a little cash in the pocket at all times.” He winked at me, putting me instantly at ease. I told myself I’d give him double next time, though double of what, I wasn’t sure.
    After Charles was gone, I made sure the door was locked and secured, then I ran across the living area and jumped onto the white leather sofa. I stared up at the high ceiling, and at the large picture window, and wondered what I had done to rate this kind of summer. Hell, even if the job sucked, the hotel suite alone was worth the trip.
    I pulled my cell phone out of my back pocket and started taking pictures, flitting from one place to another like an excited kid. I snapped pictures of the living room, the view, and the king sized bed. The bedroom wasn’t actually a separate room, but the bed was situated on a large platform that distinguished it from the living area. The bathroom looked like a spa, with tumbled stone tiles, a glass sink and shower, and a stack of custom soaps that resembled river rocks. I took a picture of those and immediately texted a slide show of my new digs to my mother.
    “Wow,” she texted back. “When did my little boy get so fancy?”
    “Today,” I replied.
    “How is the job?” she asked.
    “Don’t know yet. Just got here, Ma.”
    “Oh, yeah. Well, keep me posted. Love you. P.S. Are those rocks on your counter?”
    I laughed out loud and decided not to reply. Let her wonder. It made things more exciting.
    The first night passed quietly. I opted not to go out. No reason to go anywhere when I had a great place, room service, and a seventy-inch wall-mounted LCD. I could even see the TV from the bed, which was a plus when porn time rolled around. I rented Huge Pom-Poms 2 , and after I fast-forwarded over the credits and the intro scene, the next twelve minutes were absolutely fascinating. Then I went to sleep with a smile on my face.

5
     
    T HE NEXT morning, I felt fresher than I had in a long time. Possibly ever. There were no birds singing outside my Vegas window, but a lot can be said for waking up in what is essentially a palace. All I needed were some harem girls, a hookah, and a couple of servants to complete the fantasy.
    After a hot shower, during which I giggled to myself about bathing with rocks, I dressed for success. My heather-gray skinny dress pants cuffed at the ankle, showing a strip of argyle socks above black dress shoes. I opted for a black button-up shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. I smoothed the wrinkles out with the hotel iron and admired myself in the full-length mirror near the bed, unhitching a couple of buttons at the top— just enough to show the collar of my undershirt. I bent to temptation and tied my Claddagh necklace around my throat. It may not have been the most professional piece of jewelry, but how could I leave it off? Over the years, it had become almost a part of my body. I felt naked without it.
    My hair was uncooperative, sticking out in a couple of spots in such a way that I resembled a horny little devil, and I attempted to tame it with a dollop of hair gel. After ten minutes of fighting, I had the fly-aways tamed, the ducktail in place, and my bangs curtaining one eye just the way I liked it.
    “Hello, stud,” I said to my reflection. Then I flipped my phone out and took a selfie to send to my