Love and The Liffey

by Sarah Beth James

  He hissed, “Young lady, keep that up and I will take youse to bed and give ye a good spanking.”

  “Promises, promises.” I smiled against his lips, kissing him again.

  He bit my lip, broadening the kiss one last time before pulling my hand out of his shirt. He held my hand as he pulled me down the dark street to a tower block facing the water. They looked expensive, the type I had looked at and longed for half my life. Shaking fingers, he punched a code into a keypad to open the security gate, and then a second to allow them into the foyer of the building. Security guards patrolled, dressed in smart, expensive suits I was sure cost as much as my last job had paid me all year. Adrian nodded at them and them towards me, clearly saying that I was okay before they pressed a button to allow us entry to the main building.

  As soon as the lift doors closed on us, giving us a small amount of privacy, Adrian pushed me against the wall, kissing me more thoroughly than I had ever been kissed in my life before now. Yet also, touching me more lovingly, more respectfully that I could ever have expected of a one-night stand. He was driving me insane; I needed to feel him so badly that I was seconds away from pulling the emergency stop button to take him right here, uncaring if anyone came in. Before I could, we finally reached the top floor of the building. He pulled me after him, unlocking the third door on the corridor with a fob hanging from his keychain.

  Adrian slammed the door behind us, pointing towards doors around us, “Living room, bathroom, bedroom, second bedroom, kitchen, office space. Do ye want a tour?” He stared at me, breathing heavily.

  “I really don’t care what your house looks like right now.” I grabbed him again for more kisses, both of us shedding clothes on our way to the couch.

  He lifted my black velvet dress over my shoulders with care, admiring the black lace hiding underneath. I tugged at the buttons on that stiff collared shirt, wanting to see that nipple ring for myself. The tight skinny jeans showed every inch of his beautiful ass as well as the firmly forming erection; he dragged them off as I removed the shirt. He laid me on the sofa, my leg wrapped around him as he took in the folds of lace. Kissing down my chest as he laid me down gently. He played with my nipples through the lace, my body arching up to reach his.

  I stroked my hands down his back, tracing the muscles from his working life. My nails barely scraped the flesh, making him thrust against me trying to find some relief from the aching need. I pulled his boxers down to gain access to what I wanted to feel. Stroking my hand across his crotch, , pushing against my hand, wanting more. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured into my neck between kisses, “but I made ye a promise.” He pulled me up enough that he could gain access to my ass. Cupping it, before slapping it several times. I found myself moaning his name as I stroked him. “Bedroom?” he asked.

  “Bedroom,” I agreed.

  Chapter 4

  Lily’s POV

  I woke in the late morning light, and my head ached dully. There was a warm body snuggled up next to me. His arms tightened around me as I moved slightly. A comfortable sensation. I felt kisses down my naked back, as soft hands massaged my spine until I relaxed against him. Nope, not the usual one-night stand, not that I had much experience with them. I gave myself over to the loving sensations, closing my eyes. A moment I wished I could stay in forever, but I knew soon I would have to leave before he did. I wouldn’t risk hurting anyone else or being hurt by them either.

  Adrian kissed my shoulder and rolled away from me. He tucked the blanket in behind me to keep me warm. I must have fallen back to sleep, as the next thing I knew there was a hand softly shaking my shoulder. A paper cup of hot chocolate waved under my nose that smelt divine. In the colours of some artisan coffee shop that was no doubt nearby. I don’t know what it was about the new city or maybe it was just the incredible night of passion, but it tasted better than anything I ever tried before. I sat up in bed, watching the cute shirtless man collecting the clothes that we left all over the place.

  “I ran youse a bath whenever ye are ready for it. There are fresh towels warming, and I brought ye things from the hotel. Youse didn’t pack much warm clothing, so please feel free to borrow some of mine. Help yourself to anything ye need,” Adrian offered.

  “You brought all my clothes?” I asked, seeing my battered suitcase on the floor at the end of the bed.

  Adrian paused a little nervously, “Look, darling, that place was a dive. I am not having youse stay there. I have two bedrooms; you can stay here as long as you like. Or I can get ye a better hotel. Whatever you feel comfortable with. If you need money, I will give ye whatever you need. I have more than I can ever spend. We can go shopping and get ye some more clothes. Just tell me what ye need, and it is all yours.”

  I looked at the floor, wrapping the sheet more firmly around my still naked form. I wasn’t comfortable with any of this. “I guess, I should go take that bath. Please excuse me.”

  Adrian’s POV

  I sighed as she shuffled off to the bathroom, dragging her suitcase with her. I knew I pushed too far this time. All I wanted to do was help, but how to do that without making her feel like running? She had clearly been hurt too many times before to trust anyone. That was something only time and large amounts of love could fix. I hoped she would permit me to try to do that for her. I wanted to kill that bloody ex of hers for fucking up such a loving person with his bullshit dramas. Then again, that asshole always broke everything he touched, so it was hardly a surprise that, yet again, I was cleaning up his mess.

  Lily’s POV:

  I relaxed in the bath, thinking about what Adrian said. There were candles all around the bath, scented rose petals floating on the water. Romantic, loving. I didn’t know how to handle that. I knew I needed to run before I had time to even think about falling for him. Last night would never happen again. I couldn’t risk staying here; I could fall for that man all too easily and that would not do. I needed to keep running to keep myself safe.

  A short time later, I found myself dressed, hovering around near the bathroom door. Suitcase in hand, all I needed to do was grab my coat off the door and my handbag and run. Just run. It didn’t matter where, just anywhere this freaky niceness wasn’t. I eased the door open slowly to peek around it. The room was empty. A sweater lay on the bed with a note. I went to read it.

  ‘Hey, Lily, I don’t want to be pushy. I just want to help youse get through all of this. To be a good friend to ye. Under this note is five hundred euro. If you want to take it and find a new hotel, I will not chase ye. Or ye can come find me outside waiting in a car to take you to explore Dublin’s stunning coastline. It is up to you, Adrian.’

  It was sweet. Options, my past didn’t give me many of those. My control, my power, was often taken from me. I stashed the money in my handbag, knowing I shouldn’t take it, it was charity, however, he burned my hotel plans by checking me out early. So I guessed that it was kind of fair. The sweater I hesitated over, but I had to grudgingly accept, I did have need of it. At least until I could purchase my own out of the euro. Pulling it over my head, my jacket on top. I headed out onto the street level, dragging my suitcase. I did plan to run; I was ready to. I wasn’t going to allow another singer to break me. And then, I saw him. Sat in the car outside, waiting for me. He looked worried, watching the door for me to appear. He looked like he was going to get out of the car and come to talk to me, but he stopped himself, his hand on the car door to see what I would do. This was a true free choice to make, not just an illusion of it gifted by a man who would just as fast betray me by forcing me to bend to his will.

  Adrian’s POV

  I fiddled around with things in the car, checking the picnic for the fifth time, even though I knew every single little thing was prepared for. All it took now was a choice. Did she want to be saved or was she already lost? Had that selfish, spineless coward of a man who used and abused everyone around him ruined her too deeply? Had that bastard taken everything from both of us? Perhaps I should give him a go
od thrashing next time I see him and teach him how to treat a lady?

  My phone rang, I answered it with a distracted, “Yeah?”.

  “I have the background check on Lily Charmaine that you asked for,” a voice answered. It was my band manager.

  “Oh, hey Brad,” I answered. “And what’s the verdict?”

  “She is a few thou in debt, no real savings, am average life. Never really been in any trouble, no police records. A few points of interest though.”

  I saw her come out of the door and stand on the pavement looking at me. I had to bring this to a close before she made that choice. “And?”

  “No known address, she closed out her rental last week, cleared out her bank accounts, and rented a storage unit for a few small possessions. Paid up six months in advance. She has no return ticket to England,” Brad answered.

  My mouth dropped open, “So, she did mean it. This was a one-way trip to float in the Liffey over a man. That man.”

  “It seems that you saved her life.”

  “But for how long?” I mused with a sigh. “Pay the debts off, put a reasonable amount in her account that she can live off and draw up the paperwork for the tax office. I don’t want her busted because it looks like money laundering. And send that bastard a message from me that I am gonna snap his spine in two.”

  “It will be done by the end of the day,” Brad assured me, dropping the call.

  I went to get out of the car, just wanting to hug her tightly now I knew she was serious about her own loss of life. To hold her until all of the pain was gone. It broke my heart to know that blasted man made a human being feel like they had no options other than death. I barely stopped myself as I started to open the door; I had to let Lily come to me or it would all be for nothing. “Please don’t run,” I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t watch this. I closed my eyes, leaning back in the chair to let her do whatever she needed to. Yet, I knew inside, if she did run, I would be walking these rainy streets until I found her and knew she was safe.

  Chapter 5

  Lily’s POV

  Even in years to come, I would still ask myself why I got in the car that day. Why I didn’t run screaming from the man that was daring to try to defrost my heart of ice. Perhaps I was already smitten, I know now that he already was. But get in the car I did. Throwing my suitcase on the back seat as I climbed into the passenger side. “So, one day, just one, and I expect to be in a nice hotel room tonight. If not, I am leaving for good,” I stated coldly. No room for an argument or any form of negotiation. My way or the highway, that was how I worked.

  Adrian respected that with a nod and turning the radio on to some eighties channel he knew I would like. He pulled out of the car park, nodding to some pills and a bottle of water waiting for me by the side of my seat. As they drove, he found himself singing along to snatches of the songs playing. Caught up in the moment I even found myself starting to sing along with him, it felt good to just be without thinking of all my drama and pain buried so deep inside. I had simply been existing and surviving for so long, I barely knew what it was to just have fun anymore. By the end of the hours drive, I had to admit, I did feel a little better. “Wow,” I breathed as we came up on the coastline.

  Adrian was proud of himself for finding somewhere she liked so easily. “Killiney beach, popular tourist spot. Even more popular with the richer class of people.” He pointed to some huge houses in the distance. “These are all owned by upper class musicians. I am sure youse can google which ones if you really wish to.”

  “Like you,” I answered coldly.

  Adrian laughed, “Nah, I’m not into buying so many rooms that I can’t find my keys for a month and we have to phone each other to find out where the other is in the house. Youse saw my home; I have a few small properties, places where I work regularly. I find it cheaper than using hotels, but that much flash? No, I would far rather have a home than a show piece for guests.”

  I nodded. “Kind of understand that. I’m on the move all the time, I never have much time to settle down, but if I could I would want somewhere cosy, not a giant cold space that doesn’t feel like it’s mine. Otherwise you might as well just live in hotels forever.”

  “Well, youse can stay at mine for as long as you like. I can get ye a key cut,” he said as they pulled up.

  I didn’t answer, but I did follow him out of the car. Breathing in the cool sea air. “This place is wonderful; I could sketch here for days.”

  He smiled warmly at me. “Yeah, I figured youse would like it. I didn’t know ye sketched.” He hitched the backpack picnic onto his shoulders, leading me down a dark staircase to the stony beach. I think he could tell I was itching to take pictures to remember it by. “What happened to ye phone?”

  I shrugged. “Somewhere in the Liffey so I never have to hear from that monster with a human face again.”

  He passed her his phone. “Take any pictures youse like, and I will transfer them when you get a phone or laptop.”

  I took it with delight, snapping pictures of everywhere around them. Running ahead to explore. Working out all the best angles to create a sketch from. I would want to remember this place for a long time.

  Adrian followed behind, he picked over the bigger stones as he walked, picking up the odd piece of polished sea glass or a pretty shell. Stashing them in a pocket to decorate his home. He had a bowl of cleaned shells from the beach in his bathroom. A little reminder of this magical place when he felt low, which could be often given his isolated work. He pointed out the views of Dalkey Island and Brayhead, going full on tour guide as we walked. It wasn’t as cold as it could have been and mostly dry. We picked a good day to come. The October day was as warm and clear as if it were summer.

  When we had walked for a while, he pulled me to one side. Stretching his jacket over the damp stones for her to sit on. As he unpacked the picnic, dropping cans of soda into the edge of the water to stay cold. Sharing the meal with me in almost silence, the view taking precedence over words.

  “Thank you for bringing me here,” I said quietly.

  “So,” he asked, packing the remains away, “do ye want to tell me what that man did to you or do I have to get youse drunk again first?”

  I sighed, fiddling with the soda can in my hands. “Drunk would be far easier.”

  He nodded. “I get that, but what if I offer to make a nice dinner for youse tonight? With as much wine as ye like and homecooked Italian?”

  I still hesitated.

  “Just tell me what ye can, and then stop when it gets too much,” he suggested.

  I shrugged. “We were best friends for longer than I can remember. Before he got famous, while he was still struggling as an artist. Starving and with nowhere to stay. We shared money and he crashed on my sofa. We were there for each other through everything, break ups, health scares, homelessness, abuse, so fucking much. I never thought anything could break us and certainly not the fucking fame.” Draining the soda can, I added, “Sounds perfect, I guess. The kind of friendship that everyone should have, but sadly few gain.”

  Adrian reached out to touch my shoulder as I wiped away tears, but I waved him off. Now I started, I didn’t dare stop or it would overwhelm me completely. “Yeah, it was perfect. It was everything that I ever wanted. He was the only family I ever had. He made me feel safe, loved, wanted. Like I had a place in the world. He was someone who needed me, not just used me like almost every other human I ever met. “

  When I paused for air, he rubbed my shoulder. “So, what happened? How could you lose someone that close to youse?”

  I shrugged. “The fame made it harder, but we tried our best. Time zones, tours, recording studios. There was always a reason to give up and stop trying. Social media apps made it survivable if not easy. One of us always ended up staying up all night to communicate with the other. Good morning and goodnight texts were often all we could manage, but we always kept on trying. Movie nights over Skype, online gaming together. He would stay on the p
hone with me all night so I could sleep without the nightmares from my past.”

  “Did youse never try to go to him? Surely, ye could have been a runner or a backing singer? There are always places on tour for friends,” Adrian asked. The glare I gave him made it clear it was a sore subject even before I snapped back at him.

  “Yeah, well, the fame game whores kept telling him that I was a gold digger. That I would ruin his career. That I could never understand who he really was. Even though I never touched a fucking single penny of his! I even used to buy him lunch! But no, they kept spreading their shit, dumbing him down with drink and drugs. Convincing him that he didn’t need me anymore. Now and then he would see through their bs’s and come back to me so I could get him sober again. But, eventually, I would lose him back to them as I was so far away. They would dope him up again, and months would pass before we could speak again. It was them who eventually broke up our relationship. Convincing him to cheat while he was touring. Telling him it didn’t count as I hadn’t bothered to come on tour, even though I fought to be allowed to come and refused. Blaming me always for everything he did when it was all them! Always them!” I was up and pacing now in pure anger at the sore memories.