He sighed and walked a little closer to me. "Skye. You haven't eaten anything. The baby...please...let me get you something."
I didn't want to eat but I knew he was right. I couldn't punish the life growing inside me because of what was happening outside. If I fell apart, how would I be able to take care of my baby?
"Okay," I whispered and he headed over to the kitchen.
Minutes later, he was back with a glass of apple juice and a bowl of lamb stew. The smell made my mouth water even though I felt like I couldn't keep anything inside. My stomach was in knots. We ate together, from the same bowl as he sat facing my profile, sitting cross legged. The apartment was quiet. Loaded with a heavy, painful silence.
After a few bites and some sips of the juice, I sighed and looked at him. "I want to know who the father is," I said quietly.
Cole stopped eating to stare at me.
"It didn't matter before but it does now," I told him numbly. "It's going to drive me crazy not knowing if I'm carrying your child or his. There are decisions to be made. So can we go to the doctor tomorrow?"
He looked down at his bowl of stew, considering my request. After a while, he nodded at me. "I'll go," was all he said before feeding me another bite.
I chewed on the meat slowly, grateful for the momentary respite from pain. Grateful for his presence. His support and understanding of what I was going through.
I placed a hand on his denim-clad knee and rubbed it. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I know you're hurting too."
Pain clouded his green eyes again as he took a deep breath. Putting the bowl down, he grasped my hand between both of his and said, "We'll get through this, Skye. You're not alone."
I didn't smile at him. My heart was so broken that I found it hard to believe his words. Jasper had told me the same thing while stabbing me in the back. But Cole had promised me this more than a year ago when he had brought me into his home and he had never gone back on his word.
"I love you." My voice trembled as I said it and he leaned forward to hold me close to him.
"Me too, Skye." He kissed my temple, rubbing my back and grazing my cheek with his nose. "I know it's difficult but let's try and get some sleep okay."
He would hold me close, comfort me, whisper sincere and loving words in my ear. I wouldn't be alone with the pain. It wasn't going to heal me but I would take what he was offering.
****
Chapter Twenty-Six
Armaan
Something was wrong. Skye calling me at night asking for Jasmine's number, that was very strange. There had been something in her voice, a hint of pain, a trace of desperation.
I looked at the TV absently as I sat in my living room, tossing my phone between my hands. The worst part about my situation...was the helplessness of it all. I could do nothing but stay put and wait. Wait for my wife to get tired of playing this game and come home to me. Wait for Jasper to finish doing whatever he was doing with my wife and send her back.
He had said to give him a year. It had been six months and I was losing patience. For God's sake, it was just sex. How long was it going to take to fizzle out? He had people at home to worry about. Couldn't he make this quick?
My hand tightened around my phone as I thought about the terrible possibility of Jasper actually catching feelings for Jasmine or vice versa.
But no...that wouldn't happen. Cole had told me stories about what Jasper was like as a partner, how committed he was, how he hadn't been able to handle it when Skye had left, how happy he was about the pregnancy. Jasper would never leave them for another woman.
As for Jasmine, her falling for him was out of the question. She knew his situation. She wouldn't risk getting hurt a second time.
Fuck. I was going to go insane like this. And now, I didn't even have work to ground me. It wasn't that I needed the money. It was just something I loved doing and it made me feel like I was being productive.
Except for that one trip to America a few days ago, I hadn't even gone abroad to see my family or gone out with any of my friends in months. Everything felt so hopeless without her.
Getting up, I decided to take a walk around my property to clear my head, get myself out of this funk. After that crazy night in Amira at the club with Cole and Skye, I hadn't even touched a drink. All that was over for me now.
I just wanted her back.
I strolled out into the clear night, realising it was actually quite warm outside and my gaze skimmed over the plants and hedges around me. The only things keeping me company. How pathetic was that? The sound of snipping greeted me as I rounded the corner and my heart almost leapt out of my chest when I saw a slight figure in front of me. Security wasn't something I bothered with and at that moment, I wondered for the first time if that was a mistake.
The snipping stopped followed by a flashlight shining in my face and then just as quickly, the flashlight dropped and my gardener, Piero, began to apologise to me in Italian.
I regarded him with exasperation before picking up the flashlight which had rolled over to me.
"Piero, relax. Jesus. Get out of here. It's almost ten p.m."
He stopped talking and scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry. I just...needed something to do," he told me sheepishly. "Couldn't sleep."
I sighed and handed him back the flashlight. "Yeah, well. Join the club," I mumbled. "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"I sincerely apologise," he said in English and I smiled.
"Your English is quite good now."
He beamed at me, so young at around twenty and looking even younger as though he was in school.
"Si. Signora Jasmine taught me sometimes when you were at work. Gave me books to read..." He trailed off and silence settled around us except for the usual sounds of the night.
I tried to breathe around the tightness in my chest when faced with the painful reminder of the kindness I knew was in her heart. Although she had shown me none of it the day she had walked out of here while I sat down numbly on the sofa after having begged her not to leave a dozen times.
Piero moved closer to me and gently patted my shoulder. "It happens for the best sometimes, sir," he said quietly. "I am sure you will learn to laugh again."
I scowled down at him. Of course I would learn to laugh again. Once she came back to me.
"Remember all the parties you threw here?" Piero continued saying as he stepped away. "All the friends you had over. You were happy then. And you made other people happy too. That was your gift from God," he finished in a low voice. "It can be like that again. Good night, sir."
I felt the burn of tears in my eyes as he walked off with his flashlight and hedge clippers. I thought he meant that I was happy with her. But he was thinking of the time before I met Jasmine, when my world hadn't revolved around her.
The daunting realisation that I had never been truly happy with my wife threatened to take over my mind but I shut it out. That was ridiculous. I loved her. She was my world. My heart. I was always going to love her. She just needed more time to heal. Piero didn't know shit.
****
Jasper
The kiss started slowly, an intimate melding of mouths where our fully-clothed bodies clung together seeking warmth and comfort. And then it started to get ferocious. She tore at my hair while my hands dug into her waist even through the layers of clothing.
We had taken a walk, out on the streets of Central London at night. Ended up in an alley somewhere deserted. And now I was about to fuck her right there. And she was going to let me.
"This is dangerous," she whispered in my ear as I bit her neck and licked at the spot while grinding against her like an animal.
"Thank fuck you're wearing a dress," was my response as I slid down her panties. Usually, she preferred jeans.
"Mmm," she moaned when I touched her pussy, so wet and ready for me.
I kissed her again to quieten her. God knew who was in this alley with us. I didn't want to be interrupted.
&n
bsp; "God," I breathed out roughly and fumbled with my zipper. She helped me out while tangling her tongue with mine, hurriedly slipping on the condom before I buried myself inside her tight heat. "Yeah," I growled as I slammed into her, her legs wrapped around me, my brain addled by lust and my body only moving on instinct.
"Shit. Jasper," she gasped, holding on to my shoulders as I fucked her hard and without mercy. I needed to get it out of my system. All the guilt and stress. The tension. The uncertainty.
She took it all, wildly. Happily. My head was buried in her neck as I increased the pace of my pounding so I couldn't see her face but I knew it was ecstatic when she uttered a dragged out moan and gushed all over my dick. Then it was my turn. I bit her earlobe, climaxing hard and fast, my hips stilling against hers.
We stayed like that for a little while, regaining our senses, before I set her down gently and tucked myself back in after discarding the condom. Jasmine found her panties, hastily sliding them on as I waited.
"Well, that was quite a show," a voice cracked from a few feet away opposite us in the darkened alley. "We don't get to see much of that around here."
Jasmine let out a gasp and grabbed my hand, tugging on it and hissing, "Oh my God, Jasper, let's get outta here."
I started laughing, the sound carrying through the narrow space loud and clear as I followed her out, not bothering to look back at whoever had spoken. I didn't care.
In fact, I enjoyed the thrill. Also, I knew how to defend myself and protect her too if the need arose. It was the most fun I had had in a long time.
"That was amazing," I rasped out as she continued to drag me along as fast as possible until we were clear of the deserted street.
I felt sated and carefree. I loved how she made me feel that way.
"I was trying so hard to be noble," she said to me as we emerged on brightly-lit streets once more and people started to surround us. "I wanted to be your friend. I gave you an out. What came over you?"
"My spirit animal," I answered easily, putting an arm around her shoulders. "It's a bunny."
She gave me a strange look and I smiled and raised my eyebrows at her.
Then she began to laugh too. "Oh...okay, I get it. Fuck like bunnies."
We were still laughing as we neared her hotel, just being silly and crazy. Why was I so happy? I should be worried about Skye and I thought about that as we entered the lift to go back to her room.
Maybe the reason I wasn't worried was because I knew she had Cole. They weren't alone. They had each other to love and comfort. For once in my life, I felt like being a little selfish. Felt like living in a world which didn't revolve around them. This wouldn't last, anyway. I didn't love Jasmine. Armaan did.
They'd find their way back to each other. And I would find my way back to my family when all this was over and we would look to the future with hope and happiness. It was all going to be fine.
****
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Seven years ago
…
Cole
"Sorry, I'm late," I murmured, sliding into the vacant seat at the table Jasper had chosen for us. The restaurant was quite modern and classy. Looked expensive too. I wondered if it was a special occasion or something.
"No problem," he said, finishing typing something on his phone before placing it on the table and looking at me.
He stilled, his gazed fixed on my face, a small frown forming on his forehead.
I grinned at him and tapped the specs I was wearing. "Finally got my glasses," I said cheerfully. "The contacts hurt my eyes. Have you ordered already?"
He said nothing but continued to study me before his lips formed a devilish smile. "I like them," he said in a husky voice, his eyes growing hungry.
I swallowed a little and felt my face heat up. Jeez, I was a twenty two year old adult male not some boy with his first crush. It wasn't the first time someone had given me that look.
But it was the first time I had welcomed it, craved it even, from a man.
After that tense, sexually-charged first meeting at the studio three weeks ago, Jasper had called me the next day just to let me know my photos had turned out well and had asked if I'd like to see them before the magazine printed it after all the final editing he had done on the piece.
My heart had thumped so fast. As far as I knew from that first impression, being nice for the sake of it didn't seem to be his style. So he had an ulterior motive for calling me and wanting to see me. I even asked him if he could just text me the photos but he informed me that the firm wouldn't want it to be leaked online before it went to the printers.
"I wouldn't leak them," I had protested angrily and he had simply hung up on me. Asshole.
So I had gone to see him. I had been so attracted to him and also a little alarmed by the intensity of my feelings for the man so I had hardly spoken a word to him the whole time we had sat at the table and gone over the photos over coffee. Well, he drank the coffee since I wasn't into caffeine and after some probing, he made me tell him what I did like to drink and got one of the assistants to bring me some green tea.
I was embarrassed when he teased me about it. Also irritated when it was time for me to attend a class and his parting remark to me was, "It suits you. Green tea."
He had said it with a smirk and it had pissed me off so much that I had decided I never wanted to see him again. Making fun of me because I was health-conscious and also because I was inexperienced when it came to same-sex involvement. Fucker.
But I hadn't been able to stop thinking about Jasper Wells. His dark eyes, the strength of him, that fire banked within, his raw sex appeal and arrogant face. He was constantly on my mind, even during my classes. I couldn't fucking concentrate.
I went to see him again a few days later. He wasn't at the studio. When I called him, he invited me over to his place because he was working on something from home. I had followed the directions, ended up at his apartment and without even thinking about it, I had kissed him.
The first time I ever kissed a man. What followed had been the most intense make-out session I had ever had. All the frustration of the past few days had caught up with me. Maybe him as well because he basically devoured my mouth, leading me over to the couch so we could have better access to each other.
When he'd moved to unzip my jeans though, I'd pulled away, my breathing ragged, half-astonished at myself at what I had done. What I had desired so badly. At that moment, I knew. I knew I wasn't simply curious about men. I was bisexual.
I wanted this man to do things to me that I'd never dreamed of whenever I thought about men in general.
I'd left the apartment soon after. He hadn't pressured me. Just let me go and then texted me later to ask if I'd ever been with a man. I'd said no. I'd told him that I didn't have casual sex with someone I had feelings for.
And it was true. I had feelings for him. This wouldn't just be a sexual experiment for me. I wouldn't be able to let it go easily if I got involved with him physically.
He didn't say anything to me on the subject after that. But he did ask me out to have dinner. And then, he asked me to attend one of his photo shoots. He came to see me on campus when I was too busy to get away. We went for drives and to clubs, to a concert once. He never made a move to go further than kissing even though I was bursting with repressed sexual desire.
Now here we were, on our seventeenth date three weeks later (yeah, I had counted).
What a time to begin experiencing eyesight problems. But he'd been so kind, advising me to go get it checked and get a prescription before it got worse.
We ordered five minutes later and the waiter brought us our meal. His was lasagne, cheesy and meaty, mine was a salad and grilled chicken sandwich. He didn't tease me about my diet anymore. He even kept fresh lemons at his apartment to make me lemon juice because it was my favourite. Guy was grumpy on the outside and a softie on the inside. He was growing on me. It was scary.
"How's the studying going?" he aske
d me as we started eating.
"All right," I answered. "I got an apprenticeship lined up already. I start a week after I graduate."
Jasper nodded thoughtfully. "So you'll be free for a week then. Want to go to London with me?"
I blinked at him, a little confused. "What? Like for a holiday?"
He shrugged. "I guess we could call it that. But we'll be staying at my parent's house."
I lowered my fork to my plate and gawked at him. "Are you serious? I haven't even slept with you yet and you're taking me to meet your parents?"
He smirked at me. "Would you like to sleep with me before we go then?" he teased.
My face heated up again and my heart pounded.
"It won't be awkward. My parents are kind of traditional so they don't know I'm bisexual. Yet. I don't really discuss my sex life with them. So I'll just introduce you as a friend," he said and took a sip of his wine. "But if you want, I could also introduce you as my boyfriend. I don't mind either way."
My eyes widened at his words. I couldn't breathe for a few seconds.
"Did you say 'boyfriend'?" I finally managed to croak.
Jasper gave me a bemused look. "Yes, I did. Do you have a problem with it?"
I shook my head slowly and he laughed at me.
"Cole. We've been seeing each other for three weeks, almost every day. More importantly, I haven't been seeing anybody else since I met you. I enjoy being with you more than anyone and care about you. Is it that hard to believe I want a relationship?"
I sat back in my chair, floored by his declaration. Talking about feelings wasn't what Jasper Wells did on a frequent basis. But damn, when he did, he sure made an impact.
"Exclusive relationship?" I prompted.
He flicked an eyebrow at me, his expression amused. "Sure, why not?"
Once A Cheater Page 13
