One Night: Denied

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

  My face bunches in confusion. What kind of question is that at a time like this? ‘Of course I do.’ I realise my error immediately when his eyes lift and drown me in . . . desire. My own desire is reflecting back at me through the never-ending depths of his blue eyes.

  ‘And I you,’ he whispers. ‘More than my body desires water to survive or my lungs air to breathe.’

  I fight for breath. ‘I’m also frightened of you,’ I confess.

  ‘And I you.’

  ‘I don’t trust you.’

  That statement makes him falter slightly, but he quickly pulls it back. ‘I trust you with my life.’ His hand lifts, his thumb stroking over my eyebrow. The skin-on-skin contact puts me in my comfort zone and the sparks fire off within. ‘I trust you to help me.’ His finger drifts down my cheek, my jaw, until he’s stroking my bottom lip. My eyes close on a quiet hitch of breath. ‘Let me taste you.’

  My nod of agreement is automatic. I can feel bursts of life within.

  ‘Thank you,’ he murmurs quietly, his breath feathering against my cheek before his lips come down on my mouth softly. He’s gentle, almost cautious, as he caresses my tongue with his, slowly breaking me down. ‘Hold me.’

  ‘If I do that, I’m yours again.’ I force myself to step away from him, leaving him still bent with eyes searching mine.

  ‘I’ve made reservations for dinner.’ He straightens up. ‘Will you do me the honour of joining me?’

  I’m a mess of conflicting thoughts, struggling to figure out if Miller is my destiny. But as his palm gingerly slides around my back and his heated touch burns through the material of my T-shirt, I think of something. ‘Where were you last night?’

  I don’t imagine the slight stiffness on his palm against me and the edge of guilt in those eyes. ‘Come to dinner with me.’

  He did. He broke into my house. That’s . . . creepy! I feel violated. ‘You undressed me?’ I can’t believe I didn’t wake. ‘I wasn’t dreaming, was I?’

  ‘I hope so. And when you’re not dreaming of me, I hope you’re constantly thinking of me.’

  ‘I’m thinking you have a problem!’

  ‘I did,’ he replies quickly, deadly serious. ‘My world was fading into blackness again and the only thing that can keep it light keeps running away!’

  I flinch at the genuine irritation in his voice. ‘I have questions.’

  He nods mildly and takes a deep breath, gathering some calm. ‘I’m ready to answer anything you’d like to ask me.’

  My relief is immense, but so is my dread. I’m not sure I want to hear his answers. ‘Over dinner,’ I assert. We need to be on neutral ground. No bed in sight. ‘Just dinner.’ This will be done my way. I may have laid my cards before, but they can still be turned back over. Actually, they absolutely can’t, but Miller doesn’t need to know that.

  ‘Just dinner,’ he agrees, but I can tell it’s a reluctant agreement.

  ‘You don’t get to taste me or touch me.’ I don’t know why I’m saying such a stupid thing. I’m desperate for the comfort he offers me.

  The dash of annoyance that passes over his perfect face makes me all the more determined. He can turn on his arrogant, gentlemanly charm and have me just as quick as the soft, attentive lover. ‘Now you’re just being silly.’

  I shake my head. ‘I won’t come if you’re planning on winning me over by worshipping me.’ It’ll be game over. I’m still taken by him, even with my growing wariness and knowledge.

  ‘Fine. As you wish,’ he mutters.

  I nod and gather myself. ‘Where should I meet you?’

  ‘Meet me?’ His forehead furrows.

  ‘I’ll meet you at the restaurant.’ Miller picking me up is too familiar, and I can’t allow Nan to think all is well when it isn’t.

  That declaration gains me a flash of irritation, but he contains it coolly. Delving back into solace with Miller is dangerous, but I fear I have no other choice and not just because he doesn’t appear to be giving me one. He’s back in my life, and I really want him to be. I need his comfort, his thing, his words. I need it all. Nothing has ever made me feel so protected but at the same time so utterly vulnerable. And nothing has made me feel so strong, yet so incredibly weak. There has to be a middle ground.

  ‘Fine.’ He exhales a mixture of frustration and annoyance. ‘When did you become so difficult?’

  ‘The second you touched me,’ I reply quietly, finding the sass that has become paramount since I fell into the curious world of Miller Hart. I won’t survive without it. I won’t survive him without it.

  His palm lifts slowly and cups my cheek, stroking slow circles. ‘The second I looked at you, I saw light through my constant darkness.’ He moves in, his mouth getting closer, my eyes focused only there. ‘I saw bright, hopeful light reflecting back at me through those beautiful sapphire eyes.’ He doesn’t kiss me; he just keeps our mouths close, his breath spreading across my face, enhancing the sense of warmth coursing through me. My eyes close. ‘I’ll respect your request for this evening. But remember, you are my possession, Olivia. You’re my habit, and I’m not going down without a fight.’ He releases me, leaving me breathless, dizzy and feeling abandoned. I open my lids to face torturous beauty. ‘And I won’t lose no matter who takes me on. Even you.’

  ‘Where shall I meet you?’ I breathe, not caring to challenge him on his confident claim. I’ve seen him in action, fists flying, and I’ve also felt him in action . . . worshipping action. All challengers are doomed. Including me.

  ‘Seven o’clock here.’ He takes a pen from his inside pocket and scribbles an address on an old receipt from his wallet before handing it to me. ‘I’ll be waiting.’

  I nod as he starts to back away, smoothing down his suit before sliding his hands into his pockets. Our eyes lock. I see hope there. I see confidence. I see fear. And I see caution. But I’m not sure if that caution is for him or for me. Probably both.

  Miller breaks the eye connection, then turns away from me and strolls off to his car.

  My palms hit my cheeks and rub some life back into them. I feel hot, my mind a jumbled mess of contradicting thoughts, worries . . . fear. I’m frightened of him, but he makes me feel unbelievably safe. I’m worried about him, but I’m worried about me, too. I can’t even fathom my thought process, which is jumping from surrendering to fighting harder against him. Nothing is making sense.

  I’m in a world of my own, trying to figure out too much, when I find my palm stroking my nape. The hairs are dancing wildly under my touch, tingling, making my skin buzz.

  ‘This is exactly what I was afraid of.’ The velvet voice pulls my body around slowly, warily, and my heart sprints up to my throat.

  Chapter Nine

  I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or worried by what I find. William is leaning against his Lexus, arms crossed, ankles crossed. He doesn’t look happy, his typically sparkling grey eyes fractious and his soft features cut with annoyance.

  ‘You’re following me?’ My question spills on a guilty gasp – the guilt for my weakness where Miller’s concerned, the gasp for my shock at finding William here.

  ‘I’ve been trying to call you.’ He pushes his body away from the car and strolls over casually until his hulking frame is towering over me. ‘Where’s the phone I bought you?’

  ‘I haven’t charged it.’ I divert my eyes downward, for what reason I don’t know. He might be right about Miller, but I’m not answerable to him. London’s most notorious male escort may have resided in a dark place, but I’m making it light. He wants to change for me. I have to make my own decisions. I’m the master of my own destiny.

  ‘Then you will,’ he orders. ‘Tell me why you were at his club.’

  I look up, shocked. ‘You have been following me!’

  ‘I told you before. I make it my business to know what happens in this wo
rld. When I heard of an incident at Ice involving Miller Hart and a pretty little blonde, it didn’t take long to figure out who the pretty little blonde was.’ He cups my jaw and lifts my chin. ‘Walk away.’

  I shake my head, my eyes beginning to well with tears. ‘I’ve tried. I’ve tried dozens of times and I can’t.’

  ‘Try harder, Olivia. You’re falling into his darkness and there’s no getting out once you land. You have no idea what you’re truly getting into.’

  ‘I love him,’ I sob, admitting aloud for the first time that I’m still in love with the confounding man, who is even more of a mystery now than he ever was before some of his secrets were revealed. I can’t fall into his darkness if I’m keeping it light. ‘It’s painful love.’

  He winces at my confession, and I know it’s because he identifies with how that feels. ‘The pain will subside, Olivia.’

  ‘Has it for you?’ I ask.

  ‘I don’t . . .’ He frowns and drops my chin from his hold. I’ve surprised him with my question.

  I don’t give him a chance to pull himself together. ‘You’re crippled by agony every day. You let your Gracie go.’

  ‘I had no—’

  ‘No,’ I cut him off, and he doesn’t chastise me for it. The formidable William Anderson snaps his stubbled jaw shut without a word. ‘Don’t tell me it gets easier.’

  His smart-suited shoulders sag and I sidestep him, making my way to the Tube, my words spoken to William strengthening my reasons to take Miller on. Years after walking away from Gracie, William Anderson is still in agony. He hasn’t got over her, and he doesn’t look like he ever will. If William Anderson has felt like I do right now for all these years, then I think I’d rather take death.

  ‘Get in the car,’ William calls from the inside as it slows alongside me.

  ‘No, thank you.’

  ‘Damn you, Olivia!’ he yells, halting my determined march. ‘Don’t make me manhandle you.’

  I’m stunned into silence and stillness by his threat, the coolness of this well-respected, well-contained man heated to the boiling point. ‘You’re just going to nag me,’ I splutter, not knowing what else to say.

  He actually rolls his eyes, stunning me further. ‘I’m not your father.’

  ‘Then stop acting like it,’ I spit, that word enhancing the absence of a male confidant in my life. I haven’t needed one for twenty-four years. But then again, I’ve not encountered a Miller Hart during that time. Until now.

  ‘Would you kindly get in and allow me to drive you home?’

  ‘Are you going to chew my ear off?’

  He refrains from laughing, leaning over and opening the door. ‘I’ve done some questionable things in my time, Olivia, but I’m not guilty of chewing any ears.’

  I narrow my eyes suspiciously until he gives me an expectant look. I’ve no doubt William would manhandle me, so to save a public spectacle, I cautiously slide into the Lexus and shut the door gently.

  ‘Thank you,’ he says, relaxing back in his seat. The driver pulls away and I rest my bag on my lap, fiddling with the buckles for something to do other than wait for him to speak. ‘Will nothing I say convince you that he’s a bad idea?’

  I sigh, exasperated, and flop back against my seat. ‘You said you weren’t going to chew my ear.’

  ‘No, I said I never had before. There’s a first time for everything.’

  ‘Cute,’ I mutter. ‘I’m meeting him for dinner this evening.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘To talk.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘I think you know.’

  ‘What happened in that hotel?’

  ‘Nothing.’ I grind the words through my tight jaw. I was delusional to ever think he would let that go. I’m not telling him, despite the fact that I suspect he knows all too well. And, anyway, I’d never be able to utter the words. Thinking them is hard enough.

  ‘Nothing,’ he muses. ‘So you looked like a frightened kitten because nothing happened?’

  ‘Yes,’ I spit, despising that he clearly has his suspicions. I’m not confirming them.

  ‘Of course,’ he sighs. ‘What’s worrying is that you’re going back for more.’

  ‘More what?’

  ‘More of Miller Hart.’

  I have to fight to stop myself from screaming, ‘That wasn’t Miller Hart!’

  ‘Where are you meeting?’ he continues after observing me closely for a few moments.

  ‘I don’t know. He gave me an address for a restaurant.’

  ‘Let me see.’

  Losing a bit of patience, I fish through my satchel and pull the receipt out, thrusting it across the back seat without looking at William. ‘There.’

  It’s taken from my grasp, and I hear him hum thoughtfully. ‘Nice place. I’ll take you.’

  ‘Oh no!’ I laugh, swinging disbelieving eyes his way. ‘I’ll get myself there.’ I don’t want William interfering. Enough people are already, even if they’re unaware of the whole horrid story. And their determined efforts to stop me from seeing Miller only spells out how much more resistance I’ll be facing should they know.

  ‘I’ll simply drop you off.’

  ‘It’s not necessary.’

  ‘Either you accept my ride, or you don’t go.’ He’s deadly serious.

  ‘Why are you doing this?’ I ask, but then his reasons are too clear. ‘Is this an attempt to ease your guilt?’

  ‘What?’ He’s all defensive, spiking my curiosity and my annoyance.

  ‘Gracie. You failed her, so you’re trying to redeem yourself by helping me?’

  ‘That’s nonsense!’ he laughs, looking away from me.

  It’s not nonsense at all. It’s perfect sense.

  ‘I don’t need your help, William. I am not my mother!’

  His handsome face slowly turns back to mine. All previous amusement has disappeared as if it was never there. He looks grave. ‘Then why were you at his club?’

  My mouth snaps shut momentarily. ‘I . . .’

  His grey eyebrows lift slightly, his question and look making me retreat in my seat. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing materialises, prompting William to come closer. ‘Punishing him, were you?’

  I’m immobilised by realisation, crippled by the cold, hard truth. ‘I’m not . . .’ I can’t finish.

  William slowly pulls back and settles his eyes on my hand, where I’m fiddling with my ring. ‘You are more like your mother than you realise, Olivia.’ He gently clasps my hand and takes over the twirling of my ring. ‘Don’t mistake that as a bad thing. She was a beautiful, passionate woman with an addictive spirit.’

  A lump the size of London has jumped into my throat, and I turn away from him to gaze out the window so he doesn’t see my tears. I don’t want to be like her. Selfish. Reckless. Naive. I want to be none of those things.

  The ring on my finger is silently twirled by William while I have my tears. He says no more, and neither do I.

  Much to my relief, Nan isn’t home. She’s left a pot of stew, along with a note to let me know that she’s gone out with George. After finding my new phone, I tag on a message to hers saying I’ve gone out with Sylvie, leaving my new number for her. Then I spend an hour slowly getting myself ready, but more time is spent mentally preparing, rather than making myself look presentable.

  At six thirty, I wander down the garden path to the Lexus awaiting me. The driver opens the door; I slip in quietly and immediately feel his grey eyes on me.

  ‘You look lovely,’ William says genuinely, and I look over to find him taking in my short black dress, one of only three evening dresses I have.

  ‘Thank—’ I’m interrupted by the unfamiliar sound of a phone chime, but William doesn’t go to retrieve his mobile and after it rings for a few moments, I realise it’s coming from my pur
se. I rummage through, locate my new iPhone on a frown, and glance down at the screen. Then I look to William.

  ‘Just checking.’ He smiles, his hand appearing and cutting the call from his own phone.

  ‘Haven’t you got better things to do than ferry me around?’ I ask, slipping my phone back into my bag.

  ‘I have plenty to do, and doing my best to stop you from free-falling into his world is one of the most important.’

  ‘You’re a hypocrite,’ I accuse, fairly or not; I don’t care any more. ‘Your world, his world. It’s more or less the same damn thing. How can you claim to know him so well?’

  ‘Our worlds collide every now and then,’ he answers swiftly, and devoid of feeling.

  ‘Collide?’ I question, a little confused and also cautious with the use of the word collide in that statement. Collide hints at crashing. He didn’t use meet or pass.

  He leans towards me and speaks on a mere whisper. ‘I have morals, Olivia. Miller Hart does not. It’s caused friction between our worlds. I don’t agree with how he conducts business and I’m not afraid to tell him, despite that lethal temper of his.’

  I recoil, unable to argue with him. I’ve seen how Miller conducts business and I’ve seen that temper. ‘He can change,’ I murmur, knowing I’ve failed to inject any confidence into my tone. William’s sardonic huff of laughter tells me he’s just as doubtful. ‘I’d like you to drop me around the corner,’ I say confidently, knowing that Miller isn’t likely to appreciate me being dropped off by another man, especially William and especially knowing that their worlds collide every now and then. I don’t want tonight to be one of those every now and thens.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Tell me,’ he begins, ‘how such a stable, sweet young woman could fall in love with a man like Miller Hart.’

  Like Miller Hart? Stable and sweet? I wrack my brain for an answer to that question. And I find nothing, so I utilise Nan’s words. ‘We don’t choose who we fall for.’