Six Flavours of Sin (14 page)

Chapter 25

Chaos

I woke numerous times with him wrapping an arm around me, pulling me closer, kissing my neck, my temple, tucking me tightly up against him every time I moved away during slumber. And each time, I smiled. I felt so
cherished. He is comforting, his heat reassuring. I'm just wallowing in his soothing ambience. He's the magic potion I've been missing. Gary could just never compare with my vampire seducer. This man is perfect. And when I say perfect, I mean flawless.

When at last I wake up and stretch lazily, I can see daylight trying to peek around the drapes. I
turn to Marty and discover he's missing. I feel his side of the mammoth bed and it's cold.

Crap. What time is it? How can he have no bedside alarm clock?

I sneak out of bed and tiptoe to the open door. The passage is wide, the ceilings everywhere are high. The passage runs right from one side of the house to the other. I haven't even seen the rest of his home. I look at last night's clothing crumpled on the floor and banish that idea.

It's quite chilly actually. I'm sure he won't
mind if I borrow a T-shirt to waltz around in. I flick the light switch and open his closet doors. Un-fucking-believable. This man doesn't own a single T-shirt. Button up shirts only.

Sigh.

Reluctantly, I pull my clothes on, which are somehow all collected together in the bedroom, run a cursory hand through my hair, and walk to the bathroom. I brush my teeth with my finger, wash my face, and go in search of the man.

I love the way he reacted to the huge mess we
made last night with the water. "It's just water, let it dry on its own." Wow! He's Gary's polar opposite. These rooms are gigantic. Everything is so simplistic. A mixture of Spartan and Japanese from a non-clutter perspective. He has those huge Bedouin type throws on the walls in every room, even the ginormous entrance hall. There's a faint waft of incense. Who is this guy?

Voices? Mumbling. Who's he talking to so softly?

I keep walking until I reach the very last door. It's the only one closed. Softly, I push it open.

Wow.

The room is flooded with sunlight. The doors are open to a balcony. This is his very own pool room with a pool table dominating the space! The table is covered with scattered pool balls, their numbers as shy as me, half hidden from my perusal.

Ted gives me a brilliant smile, "Have a good night then?"

Now I'm really bloody pleased I put my clothes on.

Sheepish grin, "Hi, Ted."

He chuckles and takes his next shot. I smile at Marty and he gives me an austere expression back. Not smiling, just shooting me a fleeting wink. Well. That's a huge difference from last night.

Lindsay gives me ‘the look’. Wowzah. Okay then. That look says, ‘Hey! What the hell are you doing here girlfriend?’

I'm feeling mild vertigo. What changed? I give her the ‘Whaaaaat?’ look back.

Then oddly, just as fast as the vibe got weird and strained, everyone's back to normal. Last night was fun, but right now I'd give my push up bra to be at home. Lindsay obviously feels the same way.

"Come on Ted, we're going."

He gives her the ‘Oh come on, don't be such a medieval slave driver and let a guy have some fun’  dog-box look.

It almost works, because she finally cracks a smile, but insists, "Now."

Ted and Marty exchange the ‘uh oh’ glance.

I feel as though I interrupted something, like an intruder that isn't welcome.

Ted thumps Marty's shoulder, "Later."

Then he gives me his ‘you bad
bad
girl’ grin, and a quick wink, before dropping the wicked mischief to stare woefully at Lindsay.

She stares pointedly in my direction, "Coming? We'll take you home."

Jeez! What are you? My wicked stepmother?

Marty towers over Lindsay and quite assertively tells her, "I'll take her home."

This is freaky! It's like a silent power struggle over me. What the hell did I miss?

Lindsay looks at me again, obviously willing me to go with them. Why? Is there something I should know? Is he married or something? I don't want to go with her. She's in a foul mood.

I smile demurely, "Thanks for the offer, but I'm good."

Oooooh! Wrong answer obviously. She's scowling at me now and Ted almost looks apologetic.

Crikey. Work on Monday is going to be really bad at this rate.

She walks out. Ted blows me a kiss secretly and follows her. Marty follows them out of the room to show them out, and seems so serious. I'm not sure what to think.

Am I the bad news, or is he?

Are they trying to protect him from me, or me from him? Then what was last night about? I thought they did it deliberately.

A weighted, happy-bubble-destroying sigh leaves me as I stare out at the glorious day. Now I'm worried. I have tension grinding into my stomach lining and feel like somehow I'm in trouble.

I jump as arms wrap around me and Mr Perfect kisses my neck.

"Good morning, beautiful."

Oh melt me, why don't you? This guy's voice was made to seduce. I turn and face him. The warmth is back. Was he getting a grilling from Lindsay? I return the succulent smile he's loving me with. I am so screwed. This man is addictive. "What was that about?"

He looks out at the day highlighting his secluded  mini forest of a garden, way above my height, "Nothing."

I envy tall people. They get to hide their eyes just because they're so tall and their vantage point is so elevated.

He lifts my hand and kisses it, "Coffee?"

I shake my head. I really want to escape. I'm feeling unsettled.

"Home."

His hazel eyes hone on me swiftly and I read confusion there. Shit. He thinks that I see this as just a one-nighter. And I was just getting that vibe myself.

He nods. "Okay."

He turns and leaves me there. Wow, long legs must rock! Imagine crossing a room and out the door in four strides. I'm really feeling lost. I don't know what would be appropriate. So I wander back out of the room and down the wide passage. Curiously I dawdle past huge rooms and peer in nonchalantly.

I spy him striding out of the farthest room, his bedroom, keys in hand, sunglasses propped perfectly on his head. Casually, "Have you got everything?"

I scramble. He doesn't mess around. Straight to business. I dash into his room and grab my smokes and lighter. I hurry to meet him back in the entrance hall. My eyes savouring the moment of a
tall, hot man, in black jeans watching me.

He could even be a model, he's got the build and the height. I still don't know anything about him. As I reach him, he slips an arm around my waist, holding me tightly against him for a moment, before guiding me with strange familiarity out of the front door and down the steps to his waiting car.

That small gesture lets me know we're okay. That whatever happened earlier wasn't my fault, or affecting him and how he feels about me. I smile, thrilled as the door is opened for me. I stare at the sunglasses and wish I could see his eyes. I can't define the drive home. He was withdrawn. Quiet. It still feels stilted and awkward.

I reason that what's done is done. I'll probably never see him again. No point in making anyone feel uncomfortable. He halts the vehicle in front of my door and I unclip the safety-belt and smile at the sunglasses, perfectly outlining an aristocratic nose poised above delectable sensual lips. I smirk slightly at the stubble. Somehow, he doesn't do scruffy.

"Thanks."

I don't try to kiss him, or touch him, or make false promises. As I turn to open the door, his hand shoots out and grabs mine. I pause and watch him, guarded. He slips the sunglasses onto his head and stares hard at me.

He kisses my hand, holds onto it, "I had fun."

I smile back, "Me too." I step out and whisper, "Bye."

I don't wait for a response. I shut the door and walk to my front door. I unlock it, walk through it, raise my hand at the hunkamasaurous staring at me through an open window, sunglasses back in place, wave briefly and shut the door.

I slide down it and sit on the carpet, wondering what the hell I've just done. I want to jump with unrestrained joy at finding Mr Perfect. But Lindsay and Ted just ruined it all. Now I'm completely unsure and I just know that Lindsay will have my head on the office block tomorrow. But why? Why introduce me to Marty, leave me alone with him, if she didn't want us to ever hook up? Surely it was a possibility?

Tired, I walk straight to the bathroom and start running a bath. It’s time to wash off his kisses.

I'm listening to music, SBI have the perfect song – the candles lit, feeling relaxed and safe, when my
doorbell sounds at exactly seven o’clock. I look through the spy hole and whoever it is, is tall. I can't see who it is because the light bulb is obviously gone outside the door.

Worried, I open it. Instantaneously my heart is in my throat, a happy smile lighting up my face, my eyes glowing at a mischievously smiling Marty on the other side of my repaired security gate.

Sweet lust-dust this man is uncut temptation begging to be shot straight into my veins. He's lounging casually against the wall, a tub of ice-cream in each hand. He exudes ‘cool cat’. He holds up one hand, then the other, "I didn't know if you preferred vanilla or chocolate, so I got both."

A laugh bubbles up out of me, as I unlock the gate and let him in. My heart is bouncing off the walls like a squash ball at this unexpected surprise.

He pauses in front of me and lowers his head. No resistance here. I kiss him back eagerly. Hmm, he doesn't stop. He just follows hot breath and warm lips with more warm lips and pressure. Each kiss longer than the last.

He's still holding ice-cream in each hand but wow, whatever kissing class he went to, he got his Master's degree: Professor Kiss. He could conquer the world with his kisses. Maybe he's a Casanova? My laugh ruins the moment. He grins at me, his eyes dancing with dark mystery as he nudges his head at my kitchen, "In here?"

I nod, and watch his suave stroll into the room close to the front door. Those jeans just suction over his derriére like ganache on twin cupcakes. Yummy doesn't do him justice. I lock the door and gate, and move to wrap my arms around his waist, my head tilting back as I join him in my tiny kitchen a fifth the size of his. "This is a nice surprise."

His happy smile
just warms me to my toes, melting my nervous system on its way down. He's teasing as he lowers his nose closer to mine, a smile dancing at the corners of his mouth, "Good thing you were home."

Oh slurp! He wraps his arms around me and just lifts me right up off the floor to kiss me. I can't describe it to you. But his embrace, the way I feel with him, the way I respond just to his presence, before he's even touched me, I feel home. He makes me believe in soul mates and happy endings. Gary was never like this. I never, ever, felt this happy or safe, with Gary. I didn't react this way to Gary. Marty has a gentleness inside him. He's tender and warm whilst simultaneously being reassuring and confident. I let him prop me against the counter top to rain kisses down my neck, his hands already feel familiar. I know it's early but I swear I'm feeling love for this man.

He pulls away, smiling at me. I can't help but react in kind. He fumbles through the drawer next to my leg and pulls out two spoons. "Chocolate or vanilla?"

I shake my long hair across my shoulders as my head moves in disbelief, "Chocolate."

He grins and lifts me off the counter with one arm. Go Mr Perfect! He laces his long fingers through mine and picks up the chocolate tub and walks me back to the lounge. It's as if he's always known me. He manages to make himself perfectly at home. He flops down onto the carpet, reaching his long arm up, hooking my hand and tugging me down to join him. He says nothing. His eyes warm, flirtatious, naughty, playful. He pops the lid off the tub and dips a spoon into it. Chuckling, he wipes the cold wet chocolate across my mouth, holding me down with one hand, he starts kissing and licking the chocolate off my lips.

I collapse, relaxed next to him, giggling
happily as I let Mr Perfect make chocolate ice-cream instantly, and forever, a memorable experience. It didn't take him long to find out I was ticklish. Lying on the floor looking up into his dark reflecting eyes, happy to just be with him, my wavy blond hair splayed around me, he starts tickling my knees, then my waist and hip bone.

I am squealing and laughing a belly laugh so loud I'm sure the neighbours can hear me. He is just
scrumptious.
I'm squirming to get away from his hands, he's laughing at my giggling, the two of us making a real ruckus, when my bloody doorbell ding-dong's an intrusion into perfection.

Breathless, I crawl away from his hands on my blue jeaned knees, before standing up, cheeks flushed, a happy smile smirking across my face, I open the door without looking first. My heart instantly plummets as I stare into the disapproving faces of Graham and Cindy. I swallow heavily, my breathing has vanished as I stare at the past invading my future, waiting to be let in. How the hell do they know where I live?