It was eight in the morning, and the winter sun was rising over the Bordello.
Logan stirred on the luxury bed, with all its satin sheets and pillows everywhere.
He stretched on the bed and then pinched the top of his nose as he had the residuals of a mild hangover with its accompanying headache.
Logan opened his eyes and started to sit up, as he turned his head to see a naked girl beside him, asleep in the bed. He then turned to the other side where another naked girl was also asleep.
"Aaaaand, momma's gonna kill me.." he mumbled to himself as he rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands.
He remembered the wild night before. These two girls who had caught his eye after spending the whole evening laughing together, drinking and playing party games. The two girls were then very insistent on a ménage à trois, which surprised Logan.
But, the girls were a little put out by Logan's insistence on asking them questions, and making sure they were not too drunk, and more importantly, that it was not going to be a transaction.
He carefully climbed over the girl to his left and stood on the floor, where he saw a few used condoms that he remembed pulling off and throwing. He was glad to see evidence that he's always careful and respectful of others. All of the Adamski boys had manners, caution and respect instilled in them from a young age.
He wasn't even very drunk the night before, but the atmosphere, the music and the party buzz in the air made him throw caution to the wind, and experience something wild and different.
~ X ~
Serena woke up next to Nathan. His arms still wrapped around her waist. As she lay In his arms, she reflected on their night of passion, and how it was the purest lovemaking experience she had ever had. There was nothing seedy about it, and there was no sense of danger like there was when she kissed Lennon. She was aware of Lennon's slightly sleazy reputation for rough sex, but did not know where that came from, but she felt it must have been spread by Chéri.
She felt a strong connection to Nathan, as he was a year older than Chéri and was in the same age group as her and her sister, Spangna and other young twenty-somethings. All young students on a wild voyage of discovery.
Serena shifted up towards Nathan, "Squidge...?" She said softy as she touched his shoulder, "Squidge..."
Nathan opened his eyes and smiled at her, "Good morning, gorgeous..." he said quietly, in a sleepy voice.
"What time is it?' She asked.
Nathan rolled over to reach his phone, "Hmmm... half seven."
"I don't hear anything outside, I guess this is the calm after the storm." Serena said as she looked out the little plastic window, into the dark winter sky.
"You can say that again..." Nathan said as he pulled her naked body close to his.
She started to kiss his neck while her hands reached down to grip him, "Are you going to light this tent up again for me, gorgeous?"
Nathan giggled as he grabbed her hand and held it to his chest, "Hmm.. is that even a question, darlin'?"
"I don't do disposable now, so you'll have to stay." She said.
Nathan smiled back at her, "Darlin', I don't wanna force you into a lifestyle you ain't comfortable with, though." He said.
"No! I want to embrace your environmentallist lifestyle! Really, I mean it! The only thing that I want to hold onto buying, is my makeup." Serena said.
"Okay, as long as its cruelty free. But! We all have a vice. Even I have...a dirty secret. I try to keep it under wraps though.." Nathan said with a smile.
"Oohh! What's this dirty secret, mr christian-eco-warrior-Online-Influencer?" Serena asked.
"Haha! I have a passion for fancy cars. The type that drink so much gas that they'll destroy the ozone layer above your house in three days." Nathan said.
"Ohh! That is quite the dirty, and scandalous, secret. I could get you an electric car, though." Serena giggled.
"Serena, you do know, if we get...like, serious, you know that... I can't provide you a lifestyle like this. I mean, we're both students, and I like the simple life. No guards, no security, no huge mansions. I'm a simple guy. I'm more about livin' in a cottage, recycling, growin' vegetables, raisin' chickens and doin' V-loggin'." Nathan said.
"Sounds like bliss to me." Serena said.
"Or.. nah, you wouldn't like that idea.." Nathan started.
"What?" Serena asked.
"Well, my paa got a large camper van and asked momma to live in it with him. Home was where-ever they hitched up, and they went where-ever the road took them. All the countryside was their garden, and the beach was their shower room. They had the world." Nathan said.
Serena looked enchanted, "That's so romantic! Did you all live in a camper?" Serena asked.
"Nah, the camper was gone by the time I came around. But, paa, momma and Lennon when he was a baby, lived in it. Momma said that after one baby, they decided to buy a house, so paa managed to convince momma to go back to his home state of Tennessee, but only after a few years in Montreal with momma's family to save up. It's why Lo and myself where born in Tennessee. Lenn was born in Idaho." Nathan explained.
"I want to hear more about your parents. They sound like nice people!"
"They are! But! First, I need to make you some breakfast." Nathan said as he shifted to get out of bed.
"We have a large canteen in the Bordello." Serena said.
"Well, I'll get the ingredients, and then make you breakfast right here on a fire outside. I have a metal dish and I just sit it on the fire." Nathan said.
"You're amazing, Nathan. You're good through and through...and sooo romantic." Serena said.
Nathan looked puzzled, "I'm romantic?! Not like you! You are... loving and.. amazing."
"Well, let's see how amazing you think I am in a retail environment! Because, we need to go out shopping." She said.
"What for?" He asked.
"Eco protection, clothes, the largest container of lubricant I can find... that kind of thing." She said.
"I don't need clothes." Nathan said.
"Nah! I know this place you'll absolutely love!" Serena said.
"Really? What is it?" He asked.
"Its a retro thrift shop. Recycling lots of clothes from decades ago. You'll love it."
Nathan smiled at her, "Okay, I think we'll check it out!
~ X ~
Nathan had his arm tightly around Serena's waist as they were walking down the corridor toward the canteen. They were laughing and giggling together, while stopping to kiss every now and then.
She was wearing simple skinny jeans and a blouse that showed off her thin figure.
Nathan was wearing a t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a scarf around his neck, a bright fedora and dark, nineteen-forties style jeans with large turn-ups at the bottom. With his blond hair and stretched ears, he looked every inch the fresh-out-of-teenage YouTube pop star.
They burst into the canteen and joined the breakfast queue. Nathan put both arms around Serena's waist and bent down to kiss her.
Daiquiri started to stare with her mouth open, "Look! Over there! I knew it... I fucking knew it. That family always take the best for themselves! Serena got the cutest of the three.."
"Fuck sake... that families got two out of three of the brothers." Magda said.
"Greedy the house, honnay..." Fefe said.
"I guess that ones straight, then." Trixi said.
"Stop makin' me want him more, gurl!" Fefe answered.
All the assets were passing quiet commentary about the new couple.
When they reached the front of the queue, Nathan pulled his arms from around Serena's waist and took his hat off for the lady server and smiled, "Madam, could you please hook us up with ten rashers of bacon, raw. Four fresh free range eggs, a tin of beans, two slices of unprocessed wholegrain bread, and a bottle of orange juice, please."
The server looked confused at the request for ingredients.
Serena smiled as she hugged Nathan's arm, "Please put it all on my personal account. He's making me breakfast out, on the fire!."
"I am indeed! But you darlin', are not payin'." Nathan answered as he took out his wallet, "Do all y'all take American dollars?".
The server looked at him and answered in her strong Spanish accent, "Here, we take anything."
Logan walked up, "Dude, don't you ever check your phone?! I've been tryin' to call you!"
Nathan smiled at Logan, "Sorry, I set it to 'Do not disturb'."
"What?! Nobody ever uses that!" Logan said until he noticed the way Serena was holding onto Nathan.
"Rumour has it that you were the life of the party, last night!" Serena said to Logan.
Logan scratched his hair, "Yeah...yeah.. hey, Nate, gotta moment?" He asked as he tapped Nathan's arm.
"Sure..." Nathan said as he walked with Logan, while Serena waited for the ingredients.
"Dude, are you and the twin...like.. you know.." Logan asked.
Nathan smiled shyly, "Ohh Lo, she's lovely, gorgeous, and sooo sweet."
"Which one is she?" Logan asked.
"Serena!" Nathan said, rolling his eyes.
"I hooked up with two girls last night...two!" Logan said.
"Two?! Well, I swanee." Nathan said, shocked.
"Yeah! They couldn't get enough of me! They were practically fighting over me! I did stuff... I've never done before." Logan said.
"Yeah but... were they..." Nathan paused a moment, "Are they gonna bill you?"
"What?! Nah! This was social! Not...their work. But... boy, am I a more worldly man. I love these European girls! Paa was right!" Logan said.
Nathan pat Logan on the back, "Congratulations! Paa would be proud. Just... like, leave out the off-duty prostitute bit."
"You know, you could totally get it on with the other twin as well..." Logan said.
"What?! Shush you!" Nathan said.
"Right, well! I'm gonna go see if I can see Lennon." Logan said.
"Yeah. I wanna talk to him too." Nathan said as Logan slapped him on the back and left.
"I was wondering what was taking you, Squidge." Serena said.
"Just catchin' up with my popular brother.." Nathan said as he put his arms around Serena's waist, "After all. My Paa did tell me that it's scientifically proven that women simply can not resist the 'ol Adamski charm."
"Well, neither can men! As my little brother has certainly been captured by that Adamski charm!" Serena said.
"Yeah but... my Adamski charm is fine tuned only, to the female frequency. I think Lenn is the only one who's bandwidth is a bit strange." Nathan said.
Serena giggled before she spoke, "Well, I just think that Adamski charm is naturally drawn to Lafontaine-Martinez charm. And that's universal."
"Mmmm..I think that is completely true.." Nathan said as he leant down towards her.
"And scientifically proven..." Serena said before they kissed.
A familiar friendly voice came from behind them, "You give her food poisoning and you'll be in real trouble." Javier said smiling.
Nathan reached over and shook Javier's hand, "How are you, dude."
"Not bad at all. In fact... life's pretty good." Javier said as Spangna walked in and made a beeline for them.
"Hav! Aye up!" Spangna said as she walked up and hugged Javier, then hugged Nathan and Serena.
Nathan turned to Javier, "Can we see Lenn today?"
"Yeah, I heard that Dr.V has cleared him. He'll be out around midday," Javier said, "Then, get your glad rags on because tonight we party on the yacht!"
"I won't. Sorry, it's too much vice for me." Nathan said.
"What?! We won't have our American singing sensation?" Javier joked.
Nathan laughed as he looked at Javier, "Not on the vice boat. But, you're free to sing Despacito there, in my place."
"Don't! I'm always getting him to do that!" Spangna said.
"Yeah, Suzanne does too. You english speakers are obsessed with that song." Javier said, as Mateo broke out Into a verse behind them.
Spangna turned to Javier, "The parodys are better though. Hey! Talking about Suzanne.. please! I can't sleep well until you and Lenn are friendly again!"
"I know.. I know.. you spent an hour talking to me about this last night." Javier said.
"Lenn's my big brother! He's the sweetest man, ever!" Spangna said.
Nathan laughed, "I second that exact sentiment.".
"Okay, okay.. I'll talk to Lennon about.. stuff." Javier said quietly.
"You're my little brother." Spangna said to Nathan.
"Wow! It's nice to have an older sister!" Nathan exclaimed.
"Oi! Keep the older bit out, mate." Spangna said.
"You Brit's are amazing!" Nathan said.
Spangna giggled, "Ohh that's music to my ears! Because all I ever hear is.. British are tasteless, British are uncivilized, British can't cook blah, blah, blah.. but! He loves the pants off me."
"Who?" Nathan asked.
Javier reached out and pointed, "Him." He said as he pointed to Marcel in the distance, who was leaning against a table, chatting to Kenzo.
Nathan turned and looked, "Whoa! It's that cool steampunk man I've seen in portraits around here! He looks...older than I thought, but he's so cool lookin'... I mean, I love the whole matrixy...armed-to-the-teeth look."
The server came back with a bag of fresh ingredients and handed them to Serena.
"He's my boss, and global leader of all security, as well as asset keeper." Javier said.
"What's an asset keeper?" Nathan asked.
"Well, to put it in simple terms.. he's a total pimp." Javier said, making everyone laugh.
"Really?! Controlling all these people?!" Nathan asked.
"Yeah! I'm surprised you haven't seen him around." Javier said.
Serena tugged Nathan's arm, "No, honey you don't have time.."
"Yeah! He's also... bulletproof." Javier said.
"No he's not!" Spangna said.
"Wow! Bulletproof! I gotta meet him, now." Nathan said.
"Yes he is!" Mateo said from behind them.
"He is too!" Juan said, as more Spanish security piped up about it.
"Wanna meet the man?" Javier said, "He's with his second in command, a triad called Kenzo."
Nathan froze a moment, "Triad..?!"
"Come on.." Spangna said, "He's a sweetie."
Nathan walked towards Marcel, "Hiya! You're that cool, bulletproof, kickass leader I hear about?"
Marcel turned around with his eyebrows raised, surprised. "Do you...and your eldest brother communicate...at all?"
The sound of his voice made Nathan double take, "Wow, you're French!"
"Well, you are smarter than Lennon," Marcel said as he held out his hand, "My name is Marcel. You are..?"
"Well, with a name like Marcel, you gotta be French! I'm Nathan! Much obliged. My momma's French!" Nathan said.
"French Canadian or Parisian?" Marcel asked.
"Parisian. I still have family, and sort of, ex-extended family out in France...never met those, though." Nathan said.
"You are a talented musician. I recall one of my step mothers' insistence in my mastering the piano, though I always preferred the violin." Marcel said.
"Yeah, we all play piano.." Nathan said before being distracted by one of the guns on Marcel's hip, "Wow! That's some piece ya got there! What is it? Can I see it?"
"It would be wrong for you to handle that one, but.." Marcel said as he pulled a Gloc out of the holster on his other hip, "You may look at this, if, you are used to handling a gun."
"Yeah I am, and I can see the safety is off...which is...like...risky. what is that other gun?" Nathan asked.
"I always carry three guns. This one, is reserved for...special occasions. It is a desert eagle. Only people who really deserve it, get to look down the barrel of that one. The last being a Moroccan man, named Marzak." Marcel said.
Serena tugged Nathan's arm firmly, "Sweetie... I'm hungry..."
"Oh! Yeah!" Nathan said as he slapped his forehead, "I'm forgettin' my manners! I gotta make the lady breakfast!"
Marcel flicked his finger from Nathan to Serena, then back again, "Are you two...a couple?"
Nathan looked all awkward as did Serena.
"Marcel! What is it with you and questions! Get back to work!" Serena said as she tugged Nathan away.
As they walked away, Nathan said quietly to Serena, "Are you like.. his boss?"
"Yes, and did Lennon not speak to you about him?!" Serena said.
"Yeah, he said he was an asshole and that they argued, but.. that was about it." Nathan said.
"Then, Lennon has told you nothing. In future, speak to me before you speak with anyone here, please. That's soo important." Serena said.