by R. F. Allie
Mia started with her Boston accent.
"Oh my god you guys, keep it down and tell me all about it."
I sat on Jude’s lap and leaned in.
"So, we were drunk at Tony’s, and this guy kept flirting with us; asking us about blowjobs and how deep we could take it. At first we thought he was all about foreplay, you know, dirty talk and stuff like that." She glanced around.
"So we go to his house, and have some more drinks, then we start playing around, getting him hard. He started stripping for us, and guys, you'll never believe this."
She glanced around her once more then leaned back,
"He was huge, full-on-anaconda-huge."
She signaled at least nine inches with her hands
Faith kept nodding in disgust, and we all laughed.
"I choked just looking at it, let alone let it anyway near any of our precious cherries."
Jude burst into a full on laughter, turning everybody's attention to us.
"So what did you do?"
I asked curious and amused.
"What do you think we did? Faith fainted and he called us a cab."
We all doubled over in laughter, imagining the whole scene.
"I was drunk, you guys."
Faith whined.
"And you shouldn't judge, it was scary big and he wasn't even fully erect. Poor guy."
She tut, pitying him.
"I'm sorry girls; I know how much you wanted to bone a guy together."
Jude said stifling a laugh.
"Hey boo; I signed us up for a duet for karaoke."
Jude announced cheerily.
"There's karaoke?"
"Yep, if you want a song on your own, go and ask the guys to prepare it, they might need to download tabs or something."
I searched my head for a song that I'd like to sing, and glanced at my beautiful man standing with Eloise and Jason.
I thought about the perfect one, it was also a promise I was about to make.
"What did you choose for us?"
I asked Jude and he winked at me; witch told me that he chose one of our favorite, it was practical with live musicians, and we rarely found it with classic karaoke.
"Which one? Ross Cooperman? “
I asked.
“You know it!"
“Not too sad for the occasion?"
Ryan prompted.
"You know there's no such thing, it's our favorite song, our private song and Jude sounds great singing it." I explained."
I walked to the buffet and made a plate to myself. I was starving and didn't want to interrupt Landon. I looked around; there were no sign of Simon and Evelyn. I carried my plate and spent some time with my colleagues, trying to give enough attention to everyone at the party, they were all my friends, and Landon's family.
It could’ve been considered a small party, with close friends and family. I was comfortable enough to talk, and laugh around.
We talked a little about work, and next week's schedule.
Liam's latest conquest sounded worse than the microwave novice.
Glancing at my man, I’d noticed he was searching for someone with his eyes. He was probably looking for me, I wanted him so much, and he looked gorgeous, and yummy, and so freakin’ hot.
So when he was stopped in his path by Jenna, I decided to play a little.
I took my phone out and typed a text:
Hi baby :)
He got his phone out of his pocket and smiled at the screen, then typed something.
Hi yourself, are you hiding from me? :(
I answered quickly avoiding his gaze, he was looking around, and I was hiding at the end of the stairway, glancing at him from behind.
Nope, I just wanted to tell you that you look stunning, and I'm naked under my dress... Also a little wet.
He quickened his pace, looking around for me, and typed something else.
Fuck me.
It made me laugh; I loved that I could affect him this way.
No, fuck ME.
I walked towards him, all flustered and wanton. He made me feel like that, all the time. But looking the way he did tonight, the party, the attention, and the massage. I was just out of my mind about him. I walked up to him purposefully, once he saw me, his eyes traveled all over my body, full of promise and danger.
As I was approaching him, he was stopped by one of the musicians. I stood beside him.
"Mr. Davis, we arranged your guitar; do you have any other requests?"
The handsome tattooed guy asked him and I raised my brows in surprise.
"You're going to sing?"
I asked bewildered and amused by the idea.
He just winked at me and turned to the other man.
"No that would be all, thank you Leo."
He nodded.
“Let me just tell you; that is the most killer guitar. It’s a custom breedlove; isn’t it?”
“It is; thank you Leo.”
Leo excused himself and went back to the others, and it reminded me that I didn't get a chance to ask for the other song.
"What are you singing?”
My curiosity was fully peaked.
"You'll see."
He grabbed my arm and led me back inside snatching a glass of scotch from the passing waiter.
“Now let's go upstairs, I need to fuck you."
"Good, I need to be fucked."
"Jesus Christ, Clea."
He tightened his grip and quickened his pace.
“Wait, I need to ask for a song."
“Later." He kept dragging me.
Jenna was chatting with Liam, and I ceased the occasion to call for her.
"Hey Jenna."
She turned her attention to me and frowned at the caveman embroiling me behind him.
He stopped when she stood in front of us and I whispered my request in her ear, and reassured her.
"Now let's go fuck me."
I teased him.
I came to an abrupt halt and someone coming behind me bumped into me. I could barely manage an apology; I was too busy visually devouring the man I loved, his eyes all sinful and proud about what he just did to me upstairs in his majestic bedroom closet, of all places. His dark gaze never left mine reminding me of the past intense twenty minutes.
He was talking with Evelyn and seemingly disinterested about what she was saying. The way he stood drew attention to his broad shoulders and trim waist.
Jeez; I loved that man; and knew him intimately. Better yet; I belonged to him, body and soul.
Chapter XXI
I was overwhelmed by all the feelings and decided that I needed a drink to capitulate my thoughts. I turned to walk back to the bar and stumbled head first into a hard chest; I hadn’t noticed someone was standing so close behind me. I put my hand out and whispered an apology.
The smell of a far too appealing and familiar scent hit me and sent me back to some very bad memories.
"Happy birthday, kitten."
His voice made my whole body tense and weak at the same time.
He brought his hands over mine and I froze; unable to do anything. I hated the feel of his callused fingers, I wanted to shove them off.
They made me feel filthy.
It took me back to that god-awful-night, and everything that he did to me, to his wife and his innocent unborn child. My muscle reacted without my consent shooting me two steps back; I banged into someone behind me.
"Get out!"
The words were crossing my mind, but they came out with Jude's scold.
"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Dane’s knight in his shiny armor."
His smirking tone was nauseating.
"What are you doing here Caden?"
I finally managed to talk past my lump, ignoring the prickles he provoked.
He tried to gaze into my eyes, but whenever I gathered my courage to look at him, the pit of my stomach turned to ice.
"I believe I was invited to celebrate with you Kitten."
He ch
anted sardonically, and it was all it took for Jude to budge in.
I quickly turned to him, silently begging him to let me handle it quietly. He took a deep breath and crossed his arms around his chest signaling to me that he wasn't going to leave my side.
"Listen, Caden."
I said calmly, praying desperately that the way we were standing would suggest we were just chatting along like everybody else.
"I have no idea what happened, the fact that you could get inside this building alone means that you were indeed invited, but trust me, you weren't meant to be. So please, leave."
I had no idea where I found the courage to maintain my attitude, but I suspected that it was fueled by Landon's presence and my hoping that he won't notice any of that.
I fell silent, watching Caden's reaction, something darkly sadistic traveled across his eyes that made the hairs at back of my neck prickle violently.
"Come on now, Kitten, you know how I love birthdays."
He said with a wink, reminding me once again of that night.
I hated that damned word.
"Stop calling me that."
I whispered with despise.
I couldn't believe that, at some point in my life, I had any kind of feelings towards this man.
"Ouh, I love it when you show your claws."
He twisted his mouth in a hateful smirk.
"Enough!"
Jude put his hand around my arm and stood between Caden and me.
"Either you leave right now, or we'll have you escorted by the police. Remember the restraining order?"
I couldn't see Jude's face, but I could feel the defying threat in his tone.
I forgot all about the restraining order, and it hit me that Jenna might've sent him an invitation from my contact list without giving it much attention.
Caden shot my friend a filthy look, then his expression sobered for a second before he put on his sarcastic grin and raised his hands in defeat.
"I surrender."
He said taking a step forward.
"But only, this time."
He said past Jude; staring into my eyes.
"There won't be a next time."
I prompted under my breath, only to avoid any more attention.
"We'll see about that, Kit-ten."
Caden accentuated the syllables only to make me squirm in disgust.
"We will."
Jude finished, directing Caden to the door.
I stood there, all my thoughts scrambled; I was unable to give any cohesive order to them. I haven't seen Caden for almost five months, and I thought I won't ever have to see him.
I forgot how mean and despiteful he could be, especially towards Jude. Ever since they’d met each other, they were at each other’s throat. Caden tried to convince me that Jude was jealous and probably in love with me. I thought the idea was pure ridiculousness, and laughed at it. Jude always commented that I deserved better, but, at the time, I was blinded by the appeal of dating an attractive smart professor.
I looked around me; the party seemed to be going well, as if everything that just took place had never happened. Nobody seemed to have noticed anything and I was thankful for it. I could hear Mia and Faith singing it’s raining men and it made me smile.
I walked to the bathroom to check on my state before walking back to the terrace.
The space was a genuine work of art. Landon's fondness of art transpired in every inch of his house, the decor had a very subtle panacea of minimalism and Italian renaissance.
The space was all glass sink and tub while the granite inspired another era. It was refreshing and relaxing.
Floating vases showed the beauty of minimalism, at first glance there seemed to be nothing supporting the flowers at all; almost like a whimsical magic trick. Lilies floated along upright in a body of water. The pet vases were shaped like the gentle ripples in a pond, waving like they were hit by a gentle breeze. It inspired both awe and delight.
I stood in front of one the sinks and stared at my reflection in the luminous mirror. I couldn't believe Caden was just there, in Landon's house, defying me, threatening the sense of security I’d worked on for so long. I didn't know how scared I was from him, until I saw him leave and realized that I was holding my breath.
What I was most worried about was Landon witnessing the scene that had happened between us, it would've destroyed me if he’d discovered that I contributed in the destroying of a marriage.
Even though it wasn't all that true.
I did feel guilty about it. A family was destroyed, and I couldn't do anything about it.
I repeated Jude's words over and over again in my mind ‘it wasn't your fault Boo, you didn't know.’
After fifteen brooding minutes, I managed to put on a fake smile on my face and head out back outside.
"Where have you been?"
Landon was standing inches from my face, seemingly annoyed.
"What do you mean; I just went upstairs to use the bathroom."
I explained puzzled by his reaction.
"Who was that?"
He asked wryly.
"Who?"
I prompted quickly, secretly hoping he wasn't talking about Caden.
"The man who just got beat up by Jude downstairs in my lobby."
I blinked in disbelief at Landon's words, beat up.
Jude hit Caden.
"Oh my god!"
I breathed out.
"Answer me, Clea."
He urged angrily.
"Where's Jude?"
I barely managed talking past the choking sensation I was having.
"He's been taken to the next precinct, Eve is with him. Now answer me."
He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.
"Jude seemed to be worried about you."
I shoved his hand, and walked past him. I was in an indescribable state, tears prickling my eyes. I needed to see Jude and understand what had happened.
I knew my best friend better than anyone, and he was never violent; not because he doesn't have the strength, but because he'd rather use his sharp tongue making people feel bad for themselves rather than make them bleed.
Jude had been bullied during his childhood, mostly because he had an alcoholic father. So as soon as he could he learnt how to protect himself and his mother, not that she was grateful or had ever defended him, yet if it wasn't for him, she might've died during one of the beating sessions her husband used to start with once he'd finish his last glass of scotch.
I walked to the terrace to find it almost empty, the musicians were packing their instruments and Ryan was nowhere to be found.
I was gone for fifteen minutes; what the hell happened.
My mother was sitting with Uncle Robert, Simon and Jenna.
I turned to walk back inside and head out to the precinct. I bumped head first into Landon. He grabbed me with both his arms…
"What the fuck, Clea."
"I, I can't talk right now. Take me to Jude and I promise to tell you everything."
I could hear the plea in my voice, I was ready to beg.
He took a breath to calm himself, seemingly resolved to do as I asked.
"Okay, let's go."
It’d taken us less than five minutes to get to the police station. As soon as the car stopped I flew out and ran to the doors.
The station was filled with men in uniform buzzing around. I walked to the reception desk and asked the woman about Jude.
She ignored me and kept talking on the phone.
I wasn't in an understanding state, I needed an answer, and I needed it quickly.
I shifted nervously until I felt Landon's arms around me. The desk receptionist looked like she just witnessed a magic trick, batting her lashes in his direction.
Oh God.
"Oh for god sake, it's just looks."
I scolded at her angry.
She blinked, shocked by my words, and it was all it took for her to let go of the phone. Landon squeezed my should
er tenderly trying to calm me down.
I was nanoseconds away from grabbing the bitch's neck and strangle the information out of her.
"Hello Jillian, can you tell us where Mr. Cervi is being held?"
"Right away Mr. Davis."
She gave me the look over, and I swear if it wasn't for the fact that Jude was arrested, I would've slapped the condescending look out of her.
She shuffled through the stack of paper, half her attention on Landon. My brain was so messed up that I could've gone on shut down at any moment. I didn't see why Jude would hit Caden. I wasn't surprised that he'd beaten him; because he’d already did it once.
I stood in front of the desk for what seemed like hours, I was taken back to that night back in April. It was supposed to be my first time with Caden.
I thought that I'd waited long enough. I wasn't his TA or his student anymore and it was his birthday.
At first, I had this bad feeling; I wasn't sure about the whole idea; mostly because Caden had been acting weird and distant.
I'd been scared that he got enough of waiting for me, we'd had so many moments together during which we almost had sex, but I'd bail every time.
I always had this feeling that if I ever slept with him, I'd lose more than my virginity, and back then, I never knew how true it had been until that day.
I'd planned everything. I made dinner reservation for Jude and Ryan and asked them to come home as late as they could.
I'd cooked a three courses dinner and made him his favorite chocolate supreme cake and took care of every necessary thing for a perfect night.
Scented candles and flowers everywhere, I wrapped up a bow tie that I got for him from Hermes. I remembered how I’d spent several days searching for something that would suit him and define him. Despite everything he did to me, there is no point denying how distinguished he always looked or how smart and cultivated he was.
"Clea.”
Landon's voice brought me back from my trance. I looked up at him; he has the most beautiful and mesmerizing gaze. Even though he looked worried and confused, he tried to hide it, but failed miserably; which made me even more terrified of what might happen when he’d learn the truth about Caden.
