by Imani King
“Abby I’m sorry. Please, don’t do this,” I beg.
“Don’t worry, I’m turning down the money. I just want the divorce and out of this mess. I don’t want my name in the papers, and I’m not after your money.”
“I never said—”
“I know you didn’t.” Her face is sad an wistful, and she smiles slightly. “You just didn’t think about it, and I think that’s the point I’m getting at. You didn’t have to think about it. Goodbye Kian,” she says, starting to close the door.
I act fast, shoving my hand and foot into the closing door and stopping it.
“Abby, please, give us a chance. Abby, I love you.”
The words pour out of me, and they feel so right. She looks so sad. I want to take her in my arms and hold her tight, shield her from this nightmare. I want to hold her more than anything in the world right now.
“It’s not enough,” she says, resignation in her voice.
“It has to be. I’ll handle my parents, I don’t want to divorce you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You make me a better man.”
She stares at me with sadness saying nothing. I pull my hand and foot back. She shakes her head.
“Sorry Kian. I can’t,” she says and closes the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It’s been almost a week, and the paparazzi seem to have moved on for the most part. My life is returning to normal, or as normal as it’s likely to get. There are still lots of looks in class, the occasional camera, and the odd question now and then. On my way home, I decide to stop at the neighborhood bar for a drink.
It’s after six, so it’s mostly full. Making my way through the crowd, I work my way to the bar and order a beer. The buzz of conversation and the fact that no one is paying any attention to me at all is relaxing. The news is on the television above the bar, so I watch it with mild interest while sipping beer and enjoying the pretzels.
“Abby,” a voice says. I turn and see Roger. What the hell is he still doing here? Didn’t he go home to finish school? What is he playing at?
My stomach sinks to the floor. Just what I didn’t want to deal with. I didn’t see him come in, but then I wasn’t paying any attention. Yet here he is, large as life and just as annoying.
“Hey,” I say as he slides onto the stool next to me, uninvited.
“Hi,” he smiles, holding up his hand to catch the bartender’s eye.
“What’ll it be?” the bartender asks.
“Draft,” Roger says.
The bartender pours his beer and takes his money then leaves without a second glance. Great. Now I’m alone with him. How do I get out of this as fast as possible? I could just leave. I don’t have any reason to stay here. But part of me just can’t be that rude no matter how angry I am at him.
“How are you?” he asks.
I stare, sipping my beer and debating how to answer.
“Fine,” I say at last.
“Good,” he says. “I was worried.”
“Why?” I ask.
“You know, the papers and all,” he half-grins.
“It’s fine,” I say, pointedly watching the television.
Roger was never good with subtlety. Kian is. Kian took notice of anything I ever said or random thought I shared. No, I’m not going there.
“Good, I was worried about you,” Roger says, and he reaches over and puts his hand on mine where it rests on the bar.
I stare at his hand. He doesn’t remove it, so I look up his arm and meet his eyes. Still, he leaves it there with that stupid, shit-eating grin on his face. I move my hand out from under his while not breaking eye contact. His grin falters but only for an instant before being firmly back in place.
“There was no need,” I say, wishing he would go away.
“You know I still care about you right? We can work this out if you give it a chance,” he says.
I shake my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Look, Abby, I know I screwed up. I own that, and now you’ve gotten revenge on me, but you know what? That was nothing. It’s a dalliance. So what? I love you. Why don’t you come home with me? Spend the summer back in the States, give us a chance.”
Home. I do miss the States. Some good old fashioned Kansas City BBQ would really hit the spot. Seeing mom and dad, leaving all this drama behind. That’d be nice, but I’m too close to graduating now. Maybe afterwards I can plan a trip home.
“I don’t think so Roger,” I say.
He grabs for my hand again, but this time I’m quicker than he is and pull it back. We lock eyes, and I stare him down, but nothing is phasing him. Was he always this obnoxious? Probably. I was just blind to it.
“I get it,” he says, leaning back in the chair and giving me at least some space. “You’re upset. Trust me, I know how you feel. You really got me good too, you know.”
Shock is an electric bolt through me. I look at him and feel my eyes wide while my mouth could drop to the bar. He sits, smug, meaning every word he said. What I did, being with a man after we’d broken up, in no way compares to him cheating on me when we were engaged to be married, but somehow he’s made them equal. The gall is mind-boggling. He sips his beer looking around the bar and waving to people with a little half hand motion.
“Are you kidding me?” I say, barely loud enough to be heard over the buzz of the room.
He turns back to me. “What?”
“You’re really comparing what I did to what you did?”
“Well yeah,” he says. “You were hurt. I get it. So you went out and got even with me. That’s what I’m saying, we’re even now. All we have to do now is work it out ourselves.”
“It doesn’t compare!” I shout, and people close to us turn and look at the commotion.
“Abby, calm down,” Roger says, looking around with his social grin while making calming motions at me with his hands.
“Calm down? You’re really going to sit there and compare my seeing someone after we broke up to you cheating on me? Really, Roger?”
“We never had a chance to talk about the breakup. Did we really break up?” he asks. “I mean, you were upset sure and you had every right to be. Look, that guy’s no good for you, that much is obvious. He was using you and why not? You’re beautiful, just like I tell you all the time. He had fun with you, and I’m sure you had fun too, but now it’s time to get back to normal. Back to us. Where we belong.”
“I do not belong to you,” I growl. “And yes, we were really broken up and still are. Stop making up shit that didn’t happen.”
“Abby, you’re not being reasonable,” he says.
“You know what Roger? Screw you, and screw reasonable. I don’t want nor do I have to be reasonable. There is nothing reasonable about you cheating on me.”
“It was one time, a mistake,” he says.
“No, it wasn’t. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t one girl, and I’m damn sure it wasn’t just one time. We were engaged to be married. I’m just thankful you did it before I went through with it.”
“I understand Abby, but please listen—as soon as you get divorced from that tool with your sham marriage, come home. Believe me I’ve changed. I’ve learned so much and the biggest thing is how much I want you. You’re everything I need. I see that now.”
“How many girls did you have to go through to ‘see’ this?” I ask bitingly.
He shakes his head still smiling. “None of that matters. We’re even, remember?”
“No, we’re not. We never will be and there will never again be an us.”
“You’re really going to go through with this?”
Maybe I’m finally getting through his thick skull that it’s over. I’m done with him. It doesn’t matter that I can’t be with Kian, I’m not going back to Roger. If nothing else I’ve learned I’m better than this.
“Yes Roger, I really am.”
“God, I can’t believe it. You know what, I’m glad I did it. You deserve to be miserable. I’m glad he li
ed to you and hurt you because you’re really not the person I thought you were.”
Everything stops around me. Staring at his smug face something about what he said holds my attention. Roger can be petty and vindictive, I know this, though I’ve always turned a blind eye to it.
“What? What did you do Roger?”
His grin widens. “I told them, I told all the papers,” he says with great pride.
“You didn’t,” I say in disbelief.
“Sure I did, I was trying to protect you for all the good that did. I even called his parents. Man, they were really interested to find out what their son had been up to.”
“They’re dragging my name through the mud! They’re making my life living hell and you knew they would. Why did you do this?”
“For your own good because you wouldn’t do it for yourself, of course.”
My hands are shaking. Anger beats through my body, my vision closes in, all I can see is his smug smile. My heart pounds in my chest and I want nothing more than to strangle him.
“My own good?” I choke out.
“Yes Abby,” he says. “It’s obvious you’re not thinking clearly so I had to help. I love you, as I keep trying to show you. What else could I do? You weren’t listening to me, so I took steps to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Eva always told me Roger was an overbearing asshole. I just didn’t believe her. Now, everything falls into place. This is who he’s been all along.
“Yes, of course. You and Eva both.”
“Eva? What’s she got to do with this?”
“You think I didn’t find out she was having an affair with his brother? A friend of mine hacked her computer, I have the log files of their chats.”
“You self-righteous son of a bitch,” I growl.
“Are you serious? You’re both better off without these men in your lives. They’re bad news. Both of them. This is the thanks I get?”
“Thanks?” I laugh it’s so absurd.
He believes this. It’s so obvious that he’s blinded by his own assumed brilliance.
“I don’t want to ever see you again,” I say, grabbing my purse and standing.
Roger grabs my arm, but I jerk it free of his grip.
“Ab—”
“No!” I cut him off short. “If I see you again I’ll file a restraining order against you. I want you out of my life, forever. Go home. We’re through.”
“Abby,” he says and for the first time I see concern in his eyes.
It’s finally sinking in for him that I’m serious.
“Done, Roger,” I say again.
“Sit down, let’s talk. Please, just a bit longer. Let me explain,” he begs.
There’s something wild in his eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it before, but it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and a cold ball of ice forms in my stomach. I think I’m pushing him too far.
“Okay,” I say, placating him. “But first I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Sure, just please, give me a chance to explain, okay?”
“Sure Roger,” I say then head into the crowd.
I can feel his eyes boring into me as I walk through the crowd. Rather than risk a scene I do go to the bathroom. Once I’m in the small hall, I make sure I’m out of his line of sight.
Satisfied, I slip back out into the crowd and go home.
It occurs to me then. It wasn’t Kian’s carelessness that got us into this media storm. It was Roger. All along.
I’m too tired to know what to do with that information, so when I get home, I sleep.
Dark and dreamless.
Decisions will be left for tomorrow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The apartment is quiet but that’s okay. I’ve got ideas. I’m being productive, doing what I nee to do. My application to the University of Glasgow is almost complete and then it’s just a matter of waiting for them to accept it. I’ll work on my master’s here. What else do I have to do? There is no point in returning home now, there’s nothing waiting for me there. The only thing I want in life is here. I’m hoping if I stay we can work things out. Eventually.
The doorbell rings. I’m not expecting anyone. Hell I don’t know anyone here I want to see. Barefooted, I walk to the door and look through the peephole. She takes my breathe away. Abby! I throw the door wide open and stare at her mouth open.
“Abby?”
“You were expecting someone else?” she asks, arching an eyebrow. She gives me a tentative look and bites her lip.
“No, I just thought…” I don’t want to say what I thought, so I trail off.
She smiles weakly, and it’s like a kick to my heart sending it straight into hyper-mode.
“Can I come in?” she asks.
“Huh, oh, yeah, of course!”
Struggling to maintain some semblance of composure, I step aside and let her into the apartment.
The scent of her perfume is heady, and my body responds to the closeness of her. The desire to take her in my arms is almost overwhelming.
“I didn’t know if you’d still be here,” she says, stopping at the entrance to the living room with her back to me.
The curves of her body are highlighted by the backlight. She’s amazing, perfect, so damn beautiful. I take an involuntary step closer, pulled in by the gravity of her.
“Well, yeah,” I say, fighting an internal battle of uncertainty against my desires.
I want to hold her. Feel her in my arms. Will she accept that? Is that why she’s here? No, it can’t be that simple. I wish it was but there’s more here than I know. Play it cool Kian. Don’t push your luck. She’s here, let her set the pace.
“Yeah? What are you up to?” she asks, turning around.
Our eyes lock. Everything stops, cold chills run through my body chased by a fiery burning sensation. My stomach is a tight knot of need, and my arms want to rise up to take her. My lips recall the taste of hers. She asked a question. I have to answer it. Focus Kian!
“Yeah, I’m uh- applying to some graduate schools. Here, in Spain, and in Sorenia. My Italian’s not that good, but maybe Rome too,” I answer at last.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I want to stay around here. But I’m making plans in case I—in case you don’t want me to. Like an adult.”
She tilts her head to one side. A more sincere smile plays at the corner of her eyes.
“Why?” she asks, and there’s a teasing note to her voice.
I can’t hold back. Closing the space between us I take her into my arms and lift her off her feet. Sparks fly as our lips come together closing a circuit. Her body melds against mine, her arms wrap around my neck, as I turn a slow circle. Nothing else matters. This moment is all I need.
She pulls back, at last, we’re both gasping in air. She smiles, and her eyes light up. I kiss her again. Her fingers twine in my hair, and she wraps her legs around my waist. My body feels like it’s on fire, warmth expanding through my chest, toying with my center. Needing her.
“I thought you didn’t want this,” I say when next we break our kiss.
She punctuating each word with a kiss, “I’ve changed my mind. I—I think we both have growing up to do. But I know you weren’t responsible for the paparazzi. It was Roger. I should have figured it was him. Not you.”
My heart leaps in my chest. “Really?”
“Yes. I want you Kian, no matter what it takes, I want you,” she says.
“The divorce is off?”
“Yes! Well, if you want it to be.”
In response, I lift her and carry her to the bedroom. She tears at my shirt, and I wrap my hands around her waist as we move. Her hand dives below the belt of my pants and then she grabs my cock, and I groan my pleasure into our kiss. She grips me tight and strokes. Fuck, she’s amazing. I throw her onto the bed then rip her pants off of her. She pulls her shirt over her head revealing her perfect body. She runs her hands down across herself staring into my eyes and smiling.<
br />
“Do you want me?” she asks, her voice hoarse.
“Yes,” I growl, dropping my pants to the ground.
My hard cock sticks straight out between the two of us. Her hand passes over her mound and then back up to her tits. She teases her nipples, and I’m blown away by how much I want her right now. Her eyes are half-closed, and she rotates her hips as a soft moan passes her lips. I want her too much to control myself. I grab my cock and stroke watching her.
“You want this?” she asks, one hand spreading her hot, wetness open for me.
“God yes,” I say moving forward, but she puts her hand up and waggles a finger at me.
“Not yet,” she says.
“Damn Abby, I need you,” I groan.
“I know,” she grins her hand roaming over her body. “Stroke it, stroke it for me. Show me how much you want me.”
I do. I stroke my cock watching her move her stunning body and I’m about to explode I want her so much. Gripping my shaft tight to hold back my load I stop. She opens her soft lips then shoves two fingers into her wetness. I have to have her, must taste her at least, so I drop to my knees and shove my face into her opening.
I plow through her folds with my tongue, driving it into her soft wetness as far as I can. Exploring with my tongue her hands grab my hair and pull me in close. I twirl my tongue around in circles finding every delicate fold as I pleasure her. She moans then thrusts her hips up and down against me. I grab her ass and pull her tight, driving in deep. She calls out my name as I fuck her faster with my tongue. She’s close, I can feel the tremors running through her muscles. Moving I find her clit with one hand and use my thumb to tease it while I continue fucking her with my tongue.
“Kian!” she screams as her back arches up and her legs clamp down on my head.
I hold her tight until her body relaxes. When her legs unclamp I move up until my cock is at her wet opening. We stare into each other's eyes as I thrust into her fully in a single motion. My eyes roll back in my head it feels so good. Bottoming out inside of her I hold deep letting her quivering pussy work on my cock.
