Bound Together

by Marie Coulson

  Guilt was consuming me as I thought about what he had said. Would I tell him if anything happened between me and Ollie? I never told him about the kiss or the way I’d felt about Ollie before he came along. Ollie was hot and there was no denying there was a physical attraction between us but I didn’t love him. I loved Jared and telling him about a kiss that I didn’t want nor instigated was pointless and could only do more damage than good. Honesty was clearly always going to be a deal breaker for us. How could I constantly berate and punish him for hiding things and keeping secrets when I was walking around with some of my own? Now I felt exhausted and I still had my party to get through.

  “Jared, what were you and Amy talking about?”

  He shrugged. “Oh just thanking her for calling me and I told her I’d be bringing you to the party tonight. I have your clothes and everything you need so don’t worry. I just wish you didn’t have to show up with those marks on your beautiful face.”

  Now I was the one shrugging. “It’s fine. We’ll call them my battle scars but I can cover them with makeup anyhow.” Chuckling he kissed my nose and gave me a very sweet butterfly kiss. “My very own warrior princess. I like it.”

  Chapter 33

  A Picture Of Mass Destruction

  After thanking Daniel for everything he’d done for me that day, I hurried into the house eager to eat, shower and get ready for my party. Fishing my cell from my bag, I dialed my dad. Disappointment ached inside me as for the third time that day, I couldn’t get an answer. The same happened when I called mom and I was beginning to feel abandoned after neither had wished me a happy birthday as yet. Trying to hide my hurt feelings, I made my way to the living room and flopped onto the huge soft cushions of the couch. Jared entered a moment later with a bottle of witch hazel and a cotton pad. Sitting beside me, he held my chin between his finger and thumb and gently dabbed the ointment over my cut lip. I hissed as the sting bit into my sore flesh. “Sorry baby but it has to be done.” The medicinal smell made me heave as my empty stomach lurched and rolled. Chuckling, he finished tending the scratches next to my eye and took my hand. Leading me to the kitchen, he sat me on a stool in front of the counter.

  Opening the fridge, he scanned its contents. “Ok, so I have eggs, butter and a whole load of stuff I can’t pronounce. Omelet sound good?”

  “An omelet sounds great.” I watched as he worked his way around the kitchen like a pro. He was an excellent cook and I was in awe of his many talents. After he’d glided me effortlessly around a ballroom I knew he was a talented dancer, I’d heard him singing to Elvis on my first morning there and his business empire was constantly expanding. He really was extraordinary. Taking the glass of water he’d poured me, I smiled. “So who taught you to cook?”

  Turning his head briefly from the frying pan, he smiled at me. “My mother. She was an amazing cook. She could take the most unlikely ingredients and make a meal from them. As soon as I was tall enough to reach this counter I was cooking.” I continued to smile, beaming at him as he spoke so warmly about his mother and how they’d spent hours baking and cooking together right in that room where I was sitting.

  He resumed his cooking and glancing around the room, I saw a newspaper. I enjoyed the gossip and celebrity sections, so sliding from my stool I walked to the kitchen counter and began to thumb through it. Turning to the gossip pages I gasped in horror. Jared immediately snapped his head up. His face full of concern, he stared at me. “What? What’s wrong?” Pointing at the article, I shook my head while my hand pressed against my wide open mouth. Taking up half a page was a picture of me and James Felix. Amy had been completely cropped out and it looked as though the two of us were on a date. Striding over, Jared gripped the counter top on either side, caging me in as he peered over my shoulder and read the caption aloud. “James Felix and date Layla Jennings.” His grip on the counter tightened and I could feel his breathing become heavier behind me as the warm breath blew against my neck. Still staring in total shock and confusion I shook my head. “I swear Jared I was not on a date with that man. That’s the night Amy and I went to the opera. He was all over her and if you saw the whole picture she’s at the other side of him. I swear I had nothing to do with this. Ask Arthur Kent, he was there, he warned me about it and…”

  Turning me to face him he growled. “He has his hand on your skin Layla! His grubby, disgusting hands on your flesh. How could you let another man touch you? And least of all him!”

  “I didn’t let him touch me. The moment he laid a finger on me I made my escape. This was right before I left to speak to Arthur. He told me that you and Felix don’t get along and that I should stay away from him so I did.” Letting go of the counter he pushed away from me and paced up and down, running his fingers through his hair. Great. Anxious and irritated Jared was back.

  “So even though you were made perfectly aware that I wouldn’t like that you were in his company, you neglected to tell me about it. Why? Why didn’t you tell me you met him Layla? That he posed for press photographs with you?”

  “Because I didn’t exactly expect them to turn up in a newspaper Jared. He was flirting and romancing my roommate, not me. It was just dinner and a drink for goodness sakes! Calm down. It’s not a big deal.”

  Pointing at me accusingly and glaring he snarled. “Bullshit Layla! You didn’t tell me because you knew I’d get mad. Well I’m not mad, I’m fucking livid! If I had known about this at least I could have run damage control. God, now every dinner, formal and social event people will see you and think you and he were together! Do you know how that makes me feel or look? Knowing people will look at you as another of his dirty little past times. Your name and face are a direct connection to me Layla and people expect me to date a certain kind of woman. How can I possibly fix this now? It’s printed, read and seen by everyone. I can’t believe you keep pulling this shit on me. You’re such a fucking hypocrite!”

  What did he call me? Was he freaking serious!? Infuriated and insulted I picked up my glass of water and tossed it in his face, glowering at him as I did so. He stood frozen, scowling at me through his soaked hair. “What the fuck!?”

  Storming out of the kitchen and into the sitting room I searched for my purse so that I could make my leave but he was soon on my heels. Grabbing me by the wrist he twirled me around to face him. “Where are you going? Did I say we were done here?”

  Water droplets dripped from his golden brown hair as his shirt clung to his body, soaked right through to the skin. Twisting and pulling my wrist, I tried desperately to escape his clasp. “Fuck you Jared. I don’t need your permission to leave. Let me go!” I was through with his accusations, insults and icy tone. Fear crept up my spine as I realized that maybe this was it, he’d had enough of all the drama too and was finishing our relationship. Preparing myself for the end, I turned to walk away but catching my other wrist, he held them both in one hand and pushed me down onto the sofa. Flat on my back he laid on top of me pressing me into the plush cushions. He held my wrists tightly at either side of my head and although I was furious I was also a little turned on. Water trickled from his hair onto my face and down my cheeks. His eyes flared and blazed with anger as he stared down at me, his mouth mere inches away from mine. “You are going to hear me out and then we will discuss it. Understand?” I kicked and squirmed beneath him trying to get free but it was no good, he had me pinned like a wrestler. “If you don’t stop wriggling and trying to cause me injury, I’m going to tie you to the table. Got it?” I groaned in frustration.

  “You called me a hypocrite Jared and what the fuck did you mean by people expect you to date a certain type of woman? What type am I exactly?”

  He grimaced and I could see I’d hit a nerve as his words fired back at him. “I meant that people have a pre conceived idea of the women I would be associated with and someone Felix would date would not be one of them. And you are a hypocrite Layla. You lecture and question me about having honesty in our relationship and yet here you are, keepin
g things from me again. You promised that you wouldn’t lie to me anymore. If you want trust between us, you have to start being more truthful with me. It’s getting really fucking tedious and I’m sick of being the last to know everything. James Felix is a slug. He chews women up and spits them out and you and Amy should stay as far away from him as possible. It never ends well. He gets what he needs and bails. And if I ever see him so much as glance at you again I’m going to throttle him with my bare hands. Stay away from him. Do you understand?”

  I rolled my eyes at him and sighed, irritated.

  “I’m serious Layla. Don’t fight me on this. Tell Amy she has to call it all off. It’s better she end it now than later when he has dragged her through the dirt and grime with him.”

  My scalp prickled as guilt flooded me. I’d decided not to tell him because I was worried he’d be furious and after Arthur had warned me to keep quiet I felt I’d done the right thing. But now there was photographic evidence of my evening and it had been poorly managed. I was finding myself second guessing and doubting him again and I wondered if I was truly being fair. But I wasn’t the only one with secrets and there was one I had been dying for him to reveal to me for a long time. Seizing my opportunity I bit the bullet and fired my own anger at him. “You honestly want to talk about being more forthcoming? How about not telling me you owned the coffee shop? Or lying to me about sending the shirt for dry cleaning? Yeah, I found it in your closet. And what about the fact that even though you tell me you love me, adore me and worship me, I still can’t share your bed! Trust and honesty goes both ways Jared, so before you start getting on your high horse about mine, take a look at yourself!”

  His eyes scanned my face and he suddenly seemed anxious rather than mad. Leaping to his feet he stood a few feet away and frowned deeply. “I told you about the coffee shop and I gave you my reasons. As for the shirt I didn’t care about the fucking stain. I wanted to see you again. I just used it as an excuse to talk to you and I’m not sorry. I kept it because it means something to me. It’s how I met you and because of that shirt I got to spend time around you, getting to know you and falling in love with you. And I do love you Layla. I worship the ground you walk on and I can’t stand when you lie and keep things from me. It makes me feel like you’re afraid of me. Like, you’re scared of me losing it or something. It’s not that I don’t want to share that bed with you Layla, I told you, I’ve never shared that bed with anyone and that’s the truth, I haven’t. And the reason I haven’t is because…I don’t sleep in it either.” I gazed at him bewildered. It was his room, his bed, and he’d never slept in it? Or did he mean he quite literally just never slept in it because he was busy doing other things on it. “I don’t understand. What exactly do you mean? The first night I stayed here you said you wouldn’t sleep with me and that was in the guest room.” He let out an exasperated sigh and I recognized the grieved look in his eyes as he sat down next to me. “It’s not my bed. It’s not my room. It was my parent’s bed and their room. I’ve tried to sleep in there, really I have, but it just doesn’t work. Every time I wake up in that bed my heart breaks a little. It’s the bed I climbed onto every Sunday morning as a kid. Mom would read the paper, dad had the business section and he’d read me the funnies. I brought my mom breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day there. On Christmas morning I’d run in and snuggle down for a festive movie and hot cocoa before opening gifts. I can’t forget it all Layla and every time I wake up in that bed it just reminds me that they’re not here anymore.”

  My heart broke for him as I watched him re-live some of the happiest memories from his childhood. Everything he’d ever known, trusted and loved had been so cruelly snatched away from him. It felt so unjust, so unfair and unbelievably cruel. The thought of losing a parent is devastating but to lose both in such tragic circumstances and at the hands of another human being was brutal. Sliding myself onto his lap, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him tightly as his head fell onto my shoulder. “I couldn’t put you in a guest room and then go sleep in the one next door could I? You’d have known something was up and I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m still not that comfortable even now.”

  It was all so much clearer now. The bed, his anger at my questioning that night; it was all because he was nervous or ashamed. My chest was damp where he’d been lying on top of me but my emotions were running so high I felt warm and a little flustered. Stroking his soaked hair, threading my fingers through it gently, I pressed my cheek against his head. “I’m sorry Jared, I had no idea. I thought it was something to do with boundaries and personal space, I never considered…I’m sorry. I was wrong not to tell you about Felix but I really thought I was doing the right thing. I never considered the consequences of being snapped by a photographer, but seeing your face when you saw that article tells me everything I need to know about him. I’ll keep my distance and I’ll caution Amy but I can’t guarantee she’ll listen. I don’t know why you didn’t tell me about the bed though Jared. I love you. I want us to share everything. I know that sounds very hypocritical considering what I did but we have to get past this honesty thing we have between us.” My pendant was pressing against his chest and taking it into his hand, he ran his thumb back and forth across the engraved inscription.

  Raising his head, he gazed deep into my eyes and kissed me gently. “Layla, tell me the truth, are you afraid of me?” I bit my lip anxiously but quickly released it as my tooth grazed my cut. “It’s not that I’m afraid of you Jared, it’s that I never seem to know how you’ll react. One minute you’re calm and sweet then the next you’re flaming hot. I can’t gage your mood and that frightens me. How far can I push you before you break? I thought you were going to end our relationship after you saw that picture. You were so mad at me and I was terrified that we were through.” I hung my head and stared at my lap. Lifting my chin to face him, our eyes met and he shook his head at me. His eyes were glistening through the wet strands of gold and brown hair that hung in front of his face. “I will never be through with you, ever. I don’t know what I have to do to get you to realize that you’re my everything. I exist to love you, you’re my meaning of life, my reason to be, you were made for me and I was made to make you mine. What we have is too important to me to just throw away because of a picture and an incorrect quote. But you have got to have some faith in me Layla. I would never hurt you, you have to know that. I may get angry, lose my temper and storm away but I will always calm down and I will always come back. I could never leave you behind. I’d be lost without you.” Relief overwhelmed me as he wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in a warm embrace. Slightly misty eyed I smiled into his neck as I nuzzled against him. “I love you so much. I’m sorry, for everything. I swear, from now on, honesty. Always.”

  Placing a chaste kiss on my lips he smiled and rested his forehead against mine. The smell of something burning caught my attention and I suddenly remembered the omelet he’d been cooking when I’d found the picture. “Jared! The stove!” Lifting me off his lap he sprinted toward the kitchen as I ran close behind him. Pushing the door open thick black smoke came billowing from the room. Raising his hand indicating that I stay exactly where I was, he disappeared into the gray and blinding smoke. I heard the sound of a fire extinguisher and my pulse quickened as I worried for his safety. Seconds later, he re-emerged and I was finally able to breathe again, knowing that he was alright. Holding a cloth with the black and chargrilled pan in his hand he grinned playfully at me. “I hope you like your eggs over easy.”

  I laughed hard, as the emotions of the past hour flowed and rumbled around in my body. All the hurt, anger and sadness instantly washed away with his humor and boyish grin. He chuckled and walked back into the kitchen to dispose the pan. The fire had mercifully been well contained and there was minimal damage to the stove. Turning to face me, Jared held out his hand and I rushed to accept it. Leading me into the foyer, he grabbed my shopping bags and ushered me up stairs. “Time to get ready for your party my lady.
”

  * * *

  Showered, buffed and feeling incredibly more relaxed; I made my way through to the master suite. Jared had brought up all of my things and organized them neatly on the dresser. I smiled at his sweet and caring gesture and began sliding into my underwear. I’d decided on a black lace thong and matching strapless bra so that my dress would appear seamless as I danced and wiggled my ass around all night. I’d just slipped into my thong when I spotted Jared leaning against the door frame watching me. He’d removed his wet shirt and was now bare-chested in his black slacks. His eyes were dark and hooded as they followed me around the room. Pretending to be totally unaffected by him, I sat on the vintage couch and slid into my brand new pair of five inch, black velvet Gucci heels. They fit perfectly and the cost definitely reflected the comfort. I stood up and walked over to the full length mirror to check them out. My legs looked slimmer and longer, sleek even. “You don’t need that mirror to tell you how good you look. I can categorically tell you that you look tantalizingly fuckable Miss Jennings.”