Starr Fated (4 page)

For fuck’s
sake – do I look like the kind of man who’d want cushions dotted
around the place?

My modern
Butler’s Wharf riverside penthouse apartment is just how I like it.
Uncluttered, no mess, totally organised, just like the rest of my
life. The colour scheme is mostly white, with light wood furniture,
the same as my office. No glaring colours to annoy or distract
me.

Although still
in my early thirties, I have several very successful businesses
that have made me a wealthy man. I’d had to grow up very quickly
and make some tough decisions when my father suddenly keeled over
and died from a massive stroke when I was just nineteen. Either we
had to sell the ailing family financial management business which
had been left in crisis, or I could drop out of university to take
it over and attempt to turn it around. It wasn’t an easy decision
to make, but I decided on the latter, preferring to put into
practise in real life what I would have been studying at
university. I worked extremely hard and managed to turn the
business around by diversifying into more profitable sectors, while
ruthlessly divesting the company of anything that was losing money,
however hard that decision was. There’s no room for sentiment in
business.

Of course I
was no fool; I was well aware that my very comfortable lifestyle
was the main reason women like Kimberley fell over themselves to be
my friend with benefits. If I’d been a road sweeper, or a dustman,
I doubt many women would have put up with my increasingly kinky
demands. The trouble was that I was finding I got bored so easily;
I had to strive harder and harder to find new imaginative ways to
keep myself sexually satisfied.

Women seem to
find me physically attractive, although I’m not what anyone would
describe as typically handsome, unlike my very good looking younger
brother. Some wild teenage years have left me with a couple of
scars on my face from assorted fights and motorbike accidents. My
dark blond hair is cropped short and left naturally spiky - I don’t
have the time or inclination to mess about with it, unlike Jamie
who spends hours in the bathroom achieving that casual and
supposedly effortless look. He was really rather vain, to be
honest, but I assumed he’d grow out of it in time.

“I said no,
Kim. Now leave it, just go and have your shower,” I insisted, as I
gripped her hand with its long red talons to remove it before she
got any further in her endeavours to undo my jeans. I really wasn’t
tempted, even though I had to admit she usually gave great
head.

Kim finally
got the hint, and flounced off towards the shower. But she hadn’t
totally given up her efforts to prolong her stay, as I discovered
when she came and found me in the kitchen afterwards.

“I don't see
what your problem is with your little brother meeting me. I could
stay and help prepare lunch for both of you,” she suggested. Now
that she was fully groomed and made up again, she looked a lot
better, although it had taken her ages, I realised as I checked the
time. She was dressed in a very clingy black wrap dress, and no one
could deny that she looked like a proper woman with curves in all
the right places, just as a woman should. I don't go for these
skinny model types who have no tits. That’s not feminine or sexy,
in my opinion.

“No. It would
only complicate things. And it’s getting late, he’ll be here soon.
You’d better leave now.” Could I make it any clearer? No, it was
definitely time to move on from Kimberley, and find myself a new
less clingy partner before things got out of hand.

“Okay, okay,
just let me have a cup of coffee first, then I’ll be on my way and
out of your hair,” Kim said as she made her way over to the
espresso machine.

I sighed in
frustration at the obvious delaying tactic. Good manners held me
back from suggesting she simply got herself a coffee from Starbucks
on her way home, but I decided that this was the last time she
would be staying in my apartment.

~*~

Of course,
Jamie arrived just in time to see Kimberley leaving, and of course
that led to all sorts of questions I would have preferred to
avoid.

“So that’s
your latest lady friend? Why didn't you introduce us?” Jamie
smirked, having practically drooled over Kim’s cleavage as she’d
made a point of leaning over him to get her handbag.

My brother
knew all about my lifestyle, because I’d made it clear to him over
the years that although I very much enjoyed having sex with women,
I was not in the least interested in forming any kind of a lasting
commitment with any of them. I’d never been into the whole married
with 2.4 kids, living out in the suburbs type of thing, it wasn’t
for me. I was very happy in my own company, I just had my sexual
needs to satisfy. A fuck buddy provided the perfect solution.

“No point. You
won’t be meeting her again,” I stated firmly.

“Oh, I see.
Bored with that one are you? How long has it been this time? A
month? Six weeks would be an all-time record I think.”

“None of your
business.”

“And was she
okay with all that bondage shit you like? Did she like being
spanked?” Jamie asked with a cocky smirk, having discovered my sex
toy collection in the spare bedroom when I’d foolishly forgotten to
lock the door one time.

“Like I said.
None of your business.”

“Seriously,
I'm interested. I mean, it’s useful research for future
reference.”

I looked over
at my younger brother, as he leaned against the kitchen worktop and
watched while I prepared our lunch. Chicken Caesar salad was easy
enough to throw together. Agnieszka, my housekeeper who came every
weekday while I was out at work, always ensured my fridge was well
stocked with meals for the weekend when she finished on a
Friday.

Over the years
since Jamie had been old enough to fuck, I’d tried my best to guide
him to make sure he enjoyed a satisfying but safe sex life. As he
was a good looking young guy with an easy going and friendly way
about him, it was always obvious he was going to sleep with a fair
number of women. I felt it made sense to give him the benefit of my
experience wherever I thought it was appropriate, rather than
ignore the situation as an embarrassed parent might.

“Women respect
a man who takes control; they like it, even if they say they don't.
I only give them what they secretly crave, but I never push things
further than they’re willing to let me.”

“But how do
you know how far that is?”

“Experience,
mostly. And of course, picking the right woman in the first place.
One who knows exactly what’s she’s letting herself in for with me.
One who’s up for a good hard fuck. I’m always totally upfront. I
never offer them any of this soppy romance crap. In return, I
guarantee great sex for them. They know they’ll leave totally
satisfied, because I ensure they experience the best orgasms
they’ve ever had. And that’s what keeps them coming back for more.
These women just have to understand that there is nothing personal
in all this: it’s simply a mutually beneficial sexual arrangement
that works equally well for both parties.”

“But haven’t
you ever felt anything more for any woman at all? Haven’t you ever
fallen in love?”

“Love? What is
love? Does it even exist? Or is it just a consumerist myth
perpetuated in order to sell more flowers and chocolates?” I
scoffed.

I noticed the
rather strange, sheepish expression on Jamie’s face, as he stared
down at his hands.

“Oh for fuck’s
sake, don't tell me you think you’re in love? Who is she? Come on,
you might as well spit it out,” I said, exasperated at him acting
as if he were thirteen or fourteen rather than in his twenties.

Jamie looked
over at me.

“I don’t know
if I’m in love. All I know is I’ve met this girl, and I can't stop
thinking about her,” he confessed.

“Well, I
wouldn’t worry. Just like all the previous girls you’ve managed to
charm, I'm sure once you’ve fucked her senseless a few times,
you’ll get her out of your system and then you’ll feel a whole lot
better,” I laughed, as I clapped him on the back.

“This is
different. She is different. She’s very pretty, and a really lovely
person. She’s amazing, actually, but the thing is, she’s not
interested in me. Not in that way. She’s friendly, but she’s
knocked me back every time I've asked her out, or tried to get
anywhere with her. She makes excuses, says she’s working, that she
hasn’t got time for that kind of thing.”

“Oh, then this
girl is clever, very clever. She knows most men want what they
can't have. The thrill of the chase. That’s all this is. If I were
you, I’d back right off. Sounds like she’s far too much trouble.
There are plenty more gorgeous, sexy women out there to choose
from. Just as long as you remember to always practice safe sex,
there’s no harm in playing the field. So why go after a high
maintenance difficult bitch who expects you to chase after her? No,
if you take my advice you won't bother to see this one anymore,” I
told him.

“Well, that’s
kind of difficult,” Jamie murmured, as he squirmed in his seat
uncomfortably.

I stared hard
at my little brother. Something was going on, something must have
happened that Jamie hadn’t told me about while I’d been away on
business. I fucking hate not being kept in the picture, and I
fucking hate surprises being sprung on me.

“Why, what’s
going on?” I asked suspiciously.

“Well, you
know how ever since Ollie dropped out of uni, and his room’s been
empty and not bringing in any kind of rent, you’ve been nagging me
to do something about it?”

“Yes…?” I had
the distinct feeling I wasn’t going to like what I was going to
hear next.

“I’ve got a
new tenant in now.”

“I see. And
would you mind filling me in about exactly who this new tenant
is?”

“It’s
Seraphina. The girl that I like. And she’s a really good tenant, no
trouble at all. But now you see why I can't really avoid seeing
her.”

I could feel
my temper rising. Perhaps I’d spoilt my younger brother, because
I’d been determined that he shouldn’t miss out on his youth in the
way that I’d had to. Since both our parents were dead, I’d stepped
up to become the parent figure.

I made sure
Jamie did a decent degree at a decent university, here in London
where I could keep a close eye on him. I bought a reasonable house
rather than let him live in disgusting student accommodation, and
given him a healthy allowance to enable him to have a reasonable
standard of living without having to compromise his studies by
working. I provided him with a car once he’d finally passed his
driving test at the third attempt– not the sporty model he wanted
maybe, but still a brand new VW Golf. I’d lectured him extensively
about the perils of being a boy racer, even as I’d paid the
extortionate insurance cover and all the maintenance costs of his
car. I’d also promised that as long as he got at least a decent 2:1
for his degree, I would fund a year off for him to go travelling,
before expecting him to settle down in a position in the family
business. But it seemed that Jamie was turning out to be a soft
touch, sadly lacking in any kind of hardnosed business sense.

“So what
checks did you run on this girl, to make sure she’s solvent, before
her name was linked to your address? You could end up with all
sorts of debt collection agencies pouncing on you otherwise. Did
you get her deposit and three months’ rent in advance as security?
Did you take up any references for her? Did it even occur to you
that having a female in the house would upset the status quo? Why
do you think I insisted on interviewing potential tenants in the
first place to make sure they were compatible, even though you were
all studying for the same degree?”

“Jeez, Liam,
lighten up a bit will you? I know how you like to micro manage
everything, but isn’t the fact that I believe she’s a decent person
good enough? The poor girl’s got it really hard , she’s all on her
own, no family to support her at all. And some rent money coming in
is better than none at all, as has been the case since Ollie left.
That room is really hard to let out to guys because it’s such an
awkward shape with the low ceiling as well, but she loves it. So I
didn't insist on the deposit and rent up front, especially as Sera
has to support herself through uni; she’s working all hours God
sends to get enough money to live on, as well as studying.”

“My heart
bleeds. The bitch has really done a number on you, hasn’t she?
She’s got you thinking with your dick, not your brain. You're not a
fucking charity, last time I checked.” Trying to keep my temper in
check meant that the tone of my voice was icy cold.

“It’s not like
that at all. Why do you have to be so cynical?” Jamie bleated.

“Because
that’s the way of the world, little brother, as you will find out
soon enough. I take it you met her at uni, that she’s a student at
LSE like you?”

“No, she’s an
Art’s student actually, and I met her by chance on the tube, as it
happens.”

“Give me
strength.” I looked up to the heavens in exasperation. “She’s not
even doing a decent degree. She’s doing an airy fairy, waste of
space arts course that will lead precisely nowhere. No doubt she’ll
end up working in a supermarket checkout, that’s if she’s lucky
enough to get a job at all.”

“She’s doing
Graphic Design actually, which is commercially useful and should
lead to a good job. I’ve seen some of her work, and she’s very
talented,” Jamie stubbornly insisted.

“Well, because
you’ve already let her move in, it’s a fait accompli, so on your
head be it. You can take full responsibility for any shit that
develops; it will be your problem to sort out, not mine. Maybe this
will help to open your eyes to the reality of things,” I told
him.