by Anna Edwards
"I won’t be sucking you, I won’t be touching you. If you want to come, you will have to do it yourself."
"What?" His answer came out in a strangled moan of longing. Her bra followed the dress to the floor. He reached out to touch her breasts but she smacked his hand away.
"You don't touch me, either."
"Amy come on, enough is enough. Stop fooling around."
"I am not." She walked over to the chair in the corner of the room and sat on it. She parted her legs and brought one foot up onto the seat. His blackening eyes followed the path of her hand as she trailed it over her breasts and down to the cleft between her legs. She pulled the flimsy material of her pants across and displayed herself to him--she was glistening with dewy moisture. He hissed and his hand grabbed hold of his cock and began to stroke it. What in the hell was she doing to him? James watched as she used one hand to hold her delicate folds apart and with the other, ran a finger down in between them and circled her clit, massaging and teasing it. He tugged harder on his cock, groaning with each stroke around the head. His eyes flicked to Amy's. She was mesmerised by the way he played with himself.
She lowered her middle finger and stuck it within herself. James wiped away the bead of pre-cum that appeared on his cock. Amy was writhing against her finger, she put another one in and then let go of her folds and began to massage her clit again.
James had dreamt of this moment. He couldn't believe it was happening. It shouldn't happen. This was wrong, wasn't it?
He had no control. It was all Amy. It wasn't in bed. It was erotic, and he was more turned on than he knew. Fuck, he was losing his mind. He was a pervert. That's what they had called him. He had the scars.
Amy moaned.
"James, I am going to come. Are you close? I want us to come together."
"Yes." Was all he managed before he violently came into his hand. His legs began to quiver as Amy cried out with her own release. He tried to focus on her, but his head was swirling, his cock was still pumping what seemed like an endless swathe of essence into his hand. His legs gave way and he collapsed onto the bed. James couldn't move, he could barely catch a breath.
That had actually just happened. He caught, out of the corner of his eye, Amy lowering her legs and get up from the chair. She fetched tissues from the box on the dressing table and he watched as she wiped his hand. No. No. She shouldn't be doing this. His mind was endlessly twisting, his heart beating so rapidly he thought it would explode.
He was heading down the dark path again. He was going to lose her. He was forcing her to do his dirty stuff. Amy sat beside him on the bed. She kissed his now sweating forehead. He needed air.
"I am sorry." He pulled up his trousers, and without looking back, ran from the room. He was shirtless and barefoot, but he needed to put distance between them. He heard Amy call after him but he couldn't stop. The roof was the nearest place. He needed to breathe. He was struggling. He couldn't find any air. He hurtled up the fire escape exit and burst into the roof. Gulping, he tried to get as much air into his lungs as possible. He didn't hear the footsteps behind him until the last minute.
"You can't hide the truth from her any longer."
He spun around. Matthew stood before him.
"Leave me alone."
"No, James. Whatever that bitch did to you, well Amy, she is different. She loves you and I think, even though you are trying to hide it, she is exactly the same as you."
"She will hate me. I can't see that happen. I love her."
"She will hate you if you keep walking out on her like this." Matthew reached out and grabbed his arm. "Go talk to her."
"Fuck you, Matthew. You don't know anything." James took a swing at him to try and shake him off but his bodyguard ducked. James turned again and caught him hard on the side of the face. Matthew reciprocated and pushed him hard against the wall. His back stung as it hit the rigid surface, the scars beneath his tattoo instantly burned. He tried to push Matthew off him but the bodyguard was too well trained and too strong.
"I took you to the hospital that night James. I stayed with you until your mother could get there and remained in the waiting room for hours after. Don't tell me I don't know anything. I couldn't get to you in time then to save you but I am not going to let you make the biggest mistake of your life here and now. Because if you continue down this path than that is what it will be."
"She will hate me." He sent a pounding blow into his bodyguard's stomach but his own hand came off worse against the steely abs he found there.
"Did she hate you during whatever you just did that triggered this off?" James froze. "She is in your room crying right now. Wondering what she has done to upset you."
"She didn't leave?"
"No, you idiot.” James relaxed into Matthew's grip and the bodyguard let go. "Sonia is in there consoling her."
"Fuck." James screamed at the top of his voice and a flock of pigeons that had been quietly nesting nearby cascaded into the sky below the rooftop. "I need to solve this don't I?"
"Yes. You let her go and you are on your own. I will quit."
A cough came from behind them. It was Sonia.
"I am sorry Sir, Mr Raji is looking for you urgently. The press are showing up already and several of the guests as well."
James slouched against the wall.
"Amy?"
"Mrs Ratu is with her helping her dress and makeup."
"Stay with her, but tell her as soon as this opening is all over, I will explain everything to her. And Sonia, tell her I love her." He turned back to Matthew. "Go get me my suit. I will change in your room."
Matthew nodded and disappeared with Sonia back down the stairs.
James stood on the rooftop breathing in what he could of the city 'fresh air'. He thought his past had been just that, the past. James thought he could suppress it and hide it but if he was to save his relationship with Amy, there was the one big demon he needed to face. He would get through this evening and, tomorrow, he would tell her everything and she would be able to make her own decisions about him and whether she wanted to stay with him or not.
He just prayed that she did.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Amy
The door opened and all the guests filled into the elegant ballroom. Amy stood at James' side ready to greet them. Raji and his wife were with them, along with several executives including James' Indian and UK-based Architects. Amy followed Ratu's lead and presented a little curtsey to everyone rather than a handshake. She didn't need to speak to them; woman were merely a decoration for their men in Indian culture. She didn't mind tonight. Her head, with everything that had happened earlier, was all over the place. A smile was about all she could manage.
Amy felt like a princess in her sari. She had had her long blonde hair pulled up into a fancy hair style that was decorated with delicate jewelled pins. Her makeup had been done for her and the hotel had loaned her gold bracelets so numerous that they covered her wrists and forearms. She even had a bindi on her forehead. It was a beautiful sapphire colour to match those on her sari. James was dressed in a jodhpur suit. His jacket was a special Indian design similar to the hotel's logo, blue and gold in colour. Ratu was dressed the same and Amy just knew that the suits had been specially made for them because they fitted each man like a second skin. After the final few guests shuffled through the welcoming committee, James took Amy's hand and lead her to their table for the Indian banquet. She could tell he was nervous; his palms were sweaty. She whispered quietly to him as they walked,
"You are doing well. Everybody looks happy."
He smiled down at her, "I love you. I am sorry, Amy. I wish I didn't have to do this now. I owe you an explanation."
"I love you too, James. Please, forget that for now. I am here to support you. You have worked so hard for this." James pulled her seat out as they reached their table. "Tomorrow we can talk. Tonight we celebrate." She leant up and kissed him.
"Thank you." All the gentlemen stood
as the ladies took their seats and then they sat. Amy sat next to James and the Bollywood star, Mr Kumar, and next to him was the most beautiful woman Amy had ever seen. Her jet black hair was as elaborately decorated as Amy's and her hands were covered in mehndi designs. They were beautiful and intricate. The starter was brought, a mixture of pakoras. These were pieces of vegetables deep fried in garam flour. The sauce served with it was incredible. Champagne was flowing and while James chatted to one of his big investors on his left, Amy engaged in conversation with Mr Kumar and his wife, Meena. They had met on the set of a film where she played his love interest and married after a whirlwind romance. They had three children, though the woman didn't look as though she had ever been pregnant.
When Amy had told them about the fact that she used to dance in England, she didn't divulge where, but they had promised to show her how to do some of the Bollywood dancing later. Amy was so excited.
The main course was brought, for most people this consisted of a vegetable biryani but if you wanted you had the option to have a chicken one instead. Amy opted for chicken and found it really alien that you had to opt for meat. James told her that unlike England, meat was the opt in here. Animals were sacred and worshipped. She would never actually find beef to eat as well due to the cow being the most sacred animal. She wondered about fish, cheese and eggs. James laughed and told her not to mention eggs. A lot of people didn't eat them either because of where they came from.
It had been a nightmare for his chefs to decide on a dessert. The Indians didn't overly do desserts but he had wanted it because it would be what his travelling guests wished, but they had struggled with simple things such as flour, it was differently made in India so they had had to import a load. Amy squeezed his leg under the table. Dinner was cleared away, the speeches started. James and Mr Kumar took centre stage and Amy proudly clapped loudly as they officially declared the hotel open and cut a ribbon. Amy could visibly see James relax as the ribbon was cut and everyone cheered. He had done it.
The live band started, and Meena begged Amy to join her as some lively Indian music struck up. Amy stood beside the dance floor and removed her high heeled shoes at Meena's direction. Meena demonstrated a couple of necessary steps. As soon as she realised Amy could pick up dance as they did it, she launched fully into a proper Bollywood dance. Amy followed her, and the crowd cleared a part of the dance floor for them. They were clapping as Meena performed the dance and Amy followed her movements a few seconds later. Amy was smiling so much her cheeks were hurting, she wasn't quite sure how she was keeping the sari on as she danced but it seemed to be staying in place. Mr Kumar joined them and performed the moves with them. Everybody stopped what they were doing and watched them. A big finish came to the dance which saw first Meena and then Amy twirled in the air by Mr. Kumar. The band stopped playing and everyone cheered. Amy was sure she must have looked a sweaty mess but she didn't care. Through the haze of faces, she saw James watching her. He had the biggest smile on his face and he was clapping so hard she thought he must be hurting his hands. She curtsied to the group, left the dance floor, and went straight to his arms. He embraced her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
" I didn't know you could dance like that."
"I have been dancing since I was four. I just always picked it up really easily. I miss it in some ways. I will have to dance more for you." She giggled and then realised what she had said. "I am sorry."
"No, don't be. I want you to dance for me. You can teach me as well. I have two left feet." He laughed. "Maybe something a bit less energetic for a start, though. I always fancied learning the tango."
"I think I could oblige you there."
They stayed at each other's side for the rest of the evening. Stalls had been laid out selling different products from the country and one even did mehndi which Amy dragged James to. He refused to get any done, saying it was for girls despite the fact Raji had it all over his hands. However, he helped Amy pick out a winding pattern that snaked down her forearm, over her hand and down her middle finger. It reminded her of his tattoo. She loved it and actually told him she was going to consider getting it done permanently. James whispered into her ear. "You do that, and I won’t be responsible for how hard you make me." She reached out with her painted hand and stroked it down his face.
It was two in the morning by the time the final few guests made their way to their bedrooms, Amy was almost dead on her feet. The staff busied themselves, changing around settings so that the banquet room would be ready for a buffet breakfast the next morning. The evening had been about Indian food but the breakfast would be a traditional European affair.
Amy couldn't remember where, but she had lost her shoes somewhere around midnight. She was tiny now when she stood next to James, though he still used her as a leaning post to say goodnight to the final guest.
"Come on you. Time for bed."
Amy could barely keep her eyes open as they headed for the lift. James scooped her into his arms and carried her from the lift to their suite. Matthew opened the door and bid them good night. James placed Amy on their bed and as she sat there dozily aware of what was happening, he removed the pins from her hair and brushed it out. He next helped her to remove her sari and guided her, naked, into the bathroom. He waited outside, and when she emerged he had undressed. He reached behind his back, produced her nightgown, and put it over her head. He then led her to the bed and laid her down and covered her up with the sheet. She waited for him to kiss her but he didn't. He just went to the bathroom without a word. What was he doing? Amy was baffled. When he came out, he climbed into the bed beside her and brought her into his arms. He kissed her on the forehead and whispered, "Goodnight."
She responded in kind and he turned out the lights. Amy lay there in the dark, suddenly wide awake. She was in bed with a man that she knew held a secret from her. One that made him terrified of her when they made love in any way that wasn't vanilla sex. He had run out on her twice now. He was going to tell her but she didn't think she could sleep before he did. James groaned, was he asleep or like her thinking. She turned in his arms and sat up to reach a bottle of water beside her bed. She had had a few drinks that night but not many. She certainly wasn't drunk and she knew James wasn't either. She took a sip and when she turned back to lay down.
James had rolled over so his back was facing her. The wings of the angel were caught in a flicker of moonlight that streaked through the drapes.
She reached out, the tip of her finger millimetres from the tattoo and the scars she had seen hidden underneath. He turned in the bed and looked up at her with his sorrow-filled eyes.
"James, what you have to tell me. Does it have anything to do with your tattoos and the scars they hide?"
CHAPTER NINETEEN
James
James' world fell apart at Amy's words. She knew. She had seen them. He had always been so careful to make sure they were covered in full light. You had to get so close to study them and see the scars. She couldn't have seen them in this light. "How?" Had Matthew told her?
"The first night we got here when I returned from shopping. It was still daylight and you were sleeping in the bed. You have never let me look at the tattoos properly. I wanted to."
"Are you horrified?"
He sat up next to her and she brought her hand to his stubbled face. "No. I want to know how you got hurt. Is it related to why you ran from me?"
"I don't want to lose you, Amy."
"James, I know we were going to do this tomorrow, but I think you need to talk to me now. I need to know what happened to you."
He nodded, reached over and took a sip of water. He was shaking, he was so scared. She was going to walk out on him her and now and he would never see her again. He owed her an explanation, though.
"Please hear the whole story, Amy, before you say anything. Before you make your mind up about me. Please, will you promise me that?"
"Of course." She moved her hand down to his and squeezed it
with reassurance.
"I told you I had a girlfriend, and we broke up about five years ago. Our split was not amicable. In fact, it was completely the opposite. By the end, she despised me. We had been together since we were 16. Our relationship didn't become physical until we had been together for four years. She was very religious and wanted to save herself until she was sure I was the right one. I wasn't ready for marriage, though. I wanted to build my company first. Eventually, and I didn't pressure her, she decided that I was the one and we consummated our relationship." He saw Amy wince. "Her view of sex, though, differed from mine. She believed anything that wasn't the missionary position was wrong. Eventually, I began to find it hard to get off during sex with her. I loved her, though or well I thought I did. So I suggested different positions, and she would punish me and deny me sex for weeks. We would argue about it a lot. I was masturbating more than being with her. I used to enjoy going away on trips because it meant I could stick on a porn video and wank to it. One night I decided that I needed to do something or our relationship was going to fall apart. I brought her a blindfold.”
"What did she say?"
"She agreed to try it. I tied it around her eyes and we started to...you know." Amy winced again.
"I know."
"Except I got carried away. I flipped her over and went to enter her from behind. I smacked her arse. I was so erect, I thought I was going to come then and there. It felt so good. So freeing. I wanted more. I pushed into her and she screamed. She scrambled away, ripped the blindfold from her face, and called me the devil. She quickly dressed and left the house. I tried to see her the next day but she refused. Her brothers told me I was unholy and a freak. I was never to go near their sister again. They wanted compensation for her suffering. She felt like a whore. She would need counselling for life, and the odds of her being able to form another relationship were slim to none. I had to give them money. I was already a millionaire but it nearly bankrupted the company. If I hadn't paid them they would have gone to the press and sold stories about me." He stopped and drew breath. He had spoken so fast he wanted to make sure Amy had taken everything in. "Do you understand everything?" She looked at him blankly or in shock. He really couldn't decide. "Amy?"
