by A H S Salt
“I can’t, Macey is staying over. She’s expecting a girly pamper night.” Lying to him. Feeling a little bummed I couldn’t take him up on his offer and knowing tomorrow I was going to have to confront Elijah. I didn’t want my mind to be sidetracked by Cillian.
“Walk me out,” I asked, leading the way out, deciding it was best to call it a night. For I knew if he was to ask once more I couldn’t refuse him.
We stopped at the glass doors, Cillian leaned down to me wanting my lips. I kissed him back enjoying every lingering second, closing my eyes relaxing into him, knowing we’d have to watch what we do from here on out. The thought of someone lurking, waiting to take photos of us - was stress I could do without.
We made our way through the club, I didn’t have the option but to hold Cillian’s hand. He held it with such tension I’m sure the blood flow was stopping. I presumed it was to make sure I didn’t get lost within the crowded room.
I was enjoying the playlist the DJ was mixing, I bumped my head to the beat, and glanced around the room. I noticed Ryan behind the bar looking at me, even in the darkness with only light beams illuminating the room, I could see the smile that was plastered on his face. He had seen me watching him, I threw my other arm up to wave at him, and he was quick to wave back before I lost sight of him from Cillian tugging at me to follow him through the double doors that lead outside.
“Where is your car parked?” Cillian queried as he led me up the stairs.
“At my apartment,” I replied. He stared at me, confusion etched over his handsome features.
I shrugged “Macey dropped me off, it’s fine I’ll flag down a taxi.” Answering his unspoken question.
“No, you won’t!” He said boldly, exiting the front door of the club. The two men from earlier turned and looked at us.
“Everything okay, boss?” The lanky bouncer asked. They both stood by him on guard.
“Everything is fine” Cillian muttered.
He seemed to be blunt with all his staff, noting how he spoke to them with the same dismissive tone he took with Ryan.
He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt “I’ll be back soon. David is in the lower office if anyone needs anything.” Cillian informed them, not once making eye contact with either of the men. Cillian gripped my hand, walking us past the club.
“Sure, thing boss.” The one with the shaved head called out.
We walked around into the alley. Both of us opened the car doors at the same time taking our positions.
“You have another office?” I asked curiously, as I sat in the luxury of his car.
“It’s an office for the staff, I prefer my own company,” He replied as he turned the key starting the car. I never figured him out to be a loner, especially in his line of business.
I watched the traffic go by, relaxing into the leather, it was an upgrade from my car that was for sure.
Slightly exhausted from our sex session, I tried to take in everything Cillian had told me. We were not just trying to hide from my brother finding out about us, we were now brawled in a game of cat and mouse with the media.
Why can’t it just be simple?
I was too lost in thought to notice Cillian had parked his car by the curb of my apartment building.
“Jess,” Cillian said softly.
I looked at him in a daze “Mmm?”
“I meant what I said in my office,” He said, looking down at my lip “I won’t tolerate others touching or flirting with you”
I glanced away “I get it Cillian. You like to be in control” I got it the second he warned Ryan at the club.
“Look at me,” He said, being so demanding.
Damn it! Only I would find that hot as hell. Being demanding really fired something up inside me.
I gulped and stared at him.
“Cillian” I sighed “If you’re going to toy with my emotions. I don’t want to do this anymore” I moved my finger back and forth between us. I had no clue as to what he wanted from me.
Or what he expected. He leaned closer, brushing a strand of my hair out the way.
“You’re a dom, aren’t you?” I blurted out. I had heard of the term before.
It was the craze apparently.
He raised his eyebrow at me “What? No” he laughed, shaking his head.
“Then what’s with the whole possessive thing, then?”
He shrugged “I like to have control”
I glared at him “That’s called being dominant”
He glanced away “When I don’t have control. I get uneasy” He simply said, staring back at me.
“I make you uneasy?” I asked, unsure if that’s what he meant. He shook his head and reached for my hand.
“The total opposite,” he said “When I’m with you, you make me want to lose control”
“Why?” I frowned, continuing to stare at him.
“Why?” he laughed “Isn’t it obvious Jessica, I crave you like an addict craves heroin”
Wow! He had no idea that was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me.
“Then keep craving, baby” I smirked.
He clearly gets unsettled with the lack of control. He might like control. But so do I. We would need to find the balance if it was ever going to work.
I glanced around nervously to the parked cars and the strangers walking past. Any one of them could be waiting to take pictures of us. Cillian placed his hand on top of mine.
“Is everything okay?” He asked.
“Yeah, I’m Fine” I lied, staring down to our hands.
Only I wasn’t, I hated the idea of being watched by the paparazzi. It was somewhat unsettling to know they were out there stalking us, taking pictures of us.
I quickly leaned in and kissed him on his cheek.
“I should go,” I said automatically.
I turned to reach the handle. My Mac slipped off my thigh exposing my bare leg. Cillian’s hand slowly skimmed over my leg, working his way in-between my thighs. I pushed his hand away.
“Cillian! We need to be careful,” I stressed, feeling a little uneasy at the thought of the paparazzi striking from the shadows.
He reached into his suit pocket, whipping out my white lacy panties, holding them up “Would you like these back?,” He teased, ignoring my stress.
“Or do I get to keep them?”
A grin spread across his charming face.
“Stop!” My face burned from embarrassment. I quickly grabbed my underwear, stashing the skimpy material in my jacket pocket.
Game on Cillian!
I looked at him “You’re naughty, do you know that?” I chuckled, unable to stay serious.
Resting my hand on his pants, I slowly moved my hand towards his family jewels.
Two can play at that game.
“Not as naughty as you - with your lack of outfit tonight. You had me hard as soon as you dropped your jacket to the floor.” Cillian’s eyes glazed over with that look from earlier ...Lust!
“I bet you say that to all the girls” I joked lightly.
Cillian shot me a look and said nothing. Clearly not in the joking mood.
Breaking the tension. I leaned towards him.
“Maybe I should slide your cock into my tight little cunt. Right here, right now where strangers could see. Would you like that? Does that turn you on” I said with a sultry smile.
“Jessica, we both know I will tease you. Please you. Then fuck you” He warned with a direct stare full of pleasurable promises. The feel of his cock growing in his pants, under my hand had me biting my lip and groaning silently.
“I like the sound of that…But…” I pulled my hand away “We can’t in case someone is watching our every move.” I playfully said forcing myself to leave the car and slamming the door feeling smug - leaving him hard and flustered from my touch. I made my way around to the curb, to say goodnight.
“You’re a little cock tease” He bragged, leaning his head closer out the window “Do you know that?”
“Maybe I should come up and find out for myself” Cillian hollered from the car.
Without turning, I waved and said.
“Goodnight, Cillian”
The loud blare of his horn had me known he had pulled away. My eyes darted all around, wondering if the paps were watching, waiting.
When I arrived upstairs in my apartment I kicked my stilettos off, heading straight for my bedroom. I reached into my pocket and took out my panties Cillian so proudly showed off, dropping them into my wicker laundry basket at the side of my mirror.
I shrugged out of my jacket, and threw it over the edge of the bed and began rummaging through my drawers for my comfy clothes, deciding on my gray baseball top and black leggings. I sat down on the edge of my bed pulling them on, then I made my way to the living room.
Macey was lying on the couch, with my purple throw over, pulled around her as she scrolled through her smartphone.
“Hungry?” I asked as I made my way to the kitchen, starving from all the sexercise from earlier.
“There’s Chinese, on a plate just to be heated up,” Macey replied, pointing behind from where she was sitting.
“Thanks, I’m starving!” I replied as I lifted the mouth-watering chicken curry and rice, setting the timer on the microwave and waiting. I leaned against the breakfast bar, my elbows perched, cupping my chin in my hands, peering down to Macey.
In an inquisitive mood, I asked: “Did you know that Cillian is rich and some sort of celebrity within the media?” Macey leaped up, greeting me at the other end of the breakfast bar from the living room end.
She rolled her eyes “It’s called a socialite” She focused on me for a lingering second “Well, minus the social gatherings for Cillian because he likes to keep himself to himself” She said rambling on “How can someone not want that type of lifestyle” She asked baffled.
“Macey!” I barked, she was so easily distracted.
And since when did my best friend know anything about Cillian? Macey stood speechless, studying me “Wait…You didn’t know?” Her mouth dropped open.
I frowned “You did?” I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I rubbed my hands over my face then through my hair before staring at her.
She shot me an arch glance “How can you not know?” She simply asked, “He’s your brothers’ best friend!”
As if that meant for something.
I shot her a look “It’s not like Riley goes around shouting from the rooftops – My best friend is rich and famous” I snapped “He’s just Cillian to me” I shrugged, letting out a harsh breath.
I felt foolish for not truly known Cillian.
“Jessica! Cillian is plastered all over the magazines on a weekly basis! Do you not read the magazines I leave?” She raised a brow, waiting for a response.
My eyes glanced over her shoulder to the pile of magazines that were still lying on my coffee table.
“No,” I said truthfully “I usually throw them in the trash” I turned to the noise of the beeping microwave, alerting me my food was ready.
“Wait…. So, how did you find out then?” Macey queried, as she came into the kitchen.
I sat on the stool, grabbed a fork from the drawer and put my plate down in front of me “Some photographer took photos of us,” I informed her as I started devouring my curry. Macey passed me a soda can from the fridge.
“There are photos of you, about to be plastered all over the internet?” Excited, she leaned further down, slumping on the breakfast bar, to see my face better, wanting to know more.
“There was” I corrected “But Cillian bought the magazine over so he could block them from being released,” I opened my soda, glancing at Macey as I sipped it, waiting to see her reaction.
“Holy fuck! He bought over a magazine so they wouldn’t print pictures of you two together? Who does that?”
Cillian apparently.
Her voice was high-pitched, close to laughing as she grabbed my soda off me in a hurry, needing more information. Her face lit up at having some juicy gossip.
“Mace!” I nipped “It’s not funny. He’s trying to protect my privacy! If the media had released photos of us - Riley would have found out, not to mention Elijah. I can’t deal with that right now.” I lifted my plate and edged off the stool, scraping the food into the bin and putting the plate in the sink.
I suddenly felt less hungry at the mention of Elijah’s name.
“Sorry, I forgot,” She said, leaning her back against the breakfast bar “Not about the Riley part” She shrugged “But the Elijah part,” She replied, apologetically.
I forced a weak smile “I’m sorry for snapping at you”
She jerked her head gesturing to the living room “Come on, I’ll let you have first dibs on the TV”
We made our way back to the sofa, tucking the throw under our feet as we chilled out.
“Speaking of Elijah. Are you still planning on confronting him tomorrow?” Macey asked out of the blue, as I flicked through the channels.
I turned my head to look at her “Why would I not?” She didn’t look at me. Instead, she kept her eyes firmly on the TV screen. I was well aware she knew I was looking at her.
“I thought maybe if you were hooking up with Cillian, you would maybe think of leaving your past where it belongs - in the past.” She replied, still not looking in my direction.
“I need to see Elijah. I have to tell him he needs to back off and leave me alone.” Trying to reassure Macey, knowing she’s only worried about me.
Macey shot me a look “And you honestly think he is going to give you what you want?” She questioned in an incredulous tone. I was tempted to take her words personally - only I knew her abruptness was due to the fact she despised Elijah.
I stared at the TV and simply said: “I’ll be fine”.
“Jess” Mace whispered softly. I stared directly back to Macey, growing tired at the fact Elijah was the subject of the topic.
I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. Even after all these months apart my ex was still a pain in my ass.
“Unless you’re willing to confront the fact that you use men to hide you’re fucked up emotions. Don’t preach to me what I should and shouldn’t do”
Macey shuffled slightly to sit sideways to face me “I was only trying to help” She sighed, she knew none of us was prepared to admit we both could handle our current situations better.
“I don’t need help with Elijah” I stated “But, by all means, tell me all about Cillian. What else do the magazines say about him?” I asked, trying not to sound desperate but needing to know more about him, and wanting to talk about someone, other than Elijah.
She came closer, resting her head on my shoulder “Just that he inherited a shit load of clubs and casino’s but prefers to invest in property since his dad passed away.”
She didn’t even bat an eyelid. Cillian didn't seem to faze her. How come she knows more about him than I do, and I was the one that grew up with him?
“Any famous ex-girlfriends I should worry about” I casually asked.
“As far as I’m aware, he hasn’t dated anyone famous. He’s been photographed with several girls in the past. But, as soon as they go public it’s not long before he moves on to his next conquest.”
I pulled away, staring at my best friend “What does that mean?” I snapped.
She made him out to sound like some sort of slut.
Macey looked at me “It means be careful. There’s always a new girl. I just don’t want you to get hurt.” She blurted.
Cillian can’t be a playboy.
I thought I knew Cillian, but obviously, I didn’t know as much as I had thought.
“I will. Besides, it’s just sex.” I insisted, turning my attention to the TV trying to look less bothered by what she told me. About half an hour passed, and I was still unable
to get what Macey said out my head.
Does he just use girls then move on when he’s bored?
“Show me!” I asked, catching Macey off guard. She looked at me puzzled, wondering what on earth I was talking about.
“The pictures of Cillian and the girls,” I said realizing I hadn’t made myself clear “Show me”
She looked at me for a few seconds, hesitating before reaching for her phone.
Are his ex-girlfriends still on the scene?
Feeling sick to my stomach, I braced myself to see Cillian with other girls. Had I just allowed myself to become another notch on his bedpost? Was I stupid to have fallen for his charm? I watched Macey type something into the internet search engine on her smartphone.
She looked at me unsure if she should pass me the phone.
“Click on images,” She said gently, finally parting with her smartphone.
Pictures of Cillian appeared on screen, I scanned past the ones that looked to be of Cillian unaware he was being photographed. I scrolled some more and stopped when I came across one of Cillian and a petite blonde, with a short pixie haircut, both of them stood smiling at each other. I tried my best to find flaws in her, but she looked like your average girl next door.
I couldn’t help wondering if she had the same chemistry I had with him. I thought it was different this time, I thought I was getting closer to the love I had always craved.
There was even a picture of her leaning into Cillian laughing, while his hands grabbed her ass - the same way he grabbed mine.
I kept scrolling through, more images popped up of him and other girls. My stomach churned at the pictures. The way he looked at the girls, the way he firmly held their hands.
Did he have sex in his office with any of them? Did he take them up to the rooftop? How could I believe him, for all I knew he was playing me to get what he wanted?
I suddenly felt like he was a stranger, and not the man I had crushed on throughout the years. I clicked on the photo of Cillian in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie only to see photos of him at a funeral - my dad, and Riley by his side.
I was confused as to why my dad was there “I had no clue my dad was close to Cillian,” I muttered.
“He’s like a second father to him.” Macey’s words, had me looking at her. How would she know? I found myself thinking.
