Maverick looks at me smiling, the dimples all the Carter brothers are blessed with coming out for show. “I don’t think she’d be easily persuaded,’’ he grins at Malik before giving me a wink.
We all make our way up to Gram’s, everyone laughing and joking about something or another and Denny demanding Malik order extra food from the Chinese place.
Chapter Eighteen
I look at the clock for the tenth time wishing I had more time. I had fallen asleep after watching a film with Denny this afternoon and didn’t wake up until an hour ago.
Malik and I have our gallery showing tonight, we should have been there by now, but because of me we’re running late. Straightening down my long, black sparkly dress, I slip on my glittery black high heels before grabbing my clutch off the bed and rushing downstairs as fast as I can in my four inch heels.
“Thank God. Mason is…. Holy fuck! You look… wow…’’ Malik says stunned speechless, his eyes raking up my body, from my shoes, slowly up my bare leg where the dress has a long split down the side, up to my chest where the dress shows some cleavage, but not enough to be called slutty. When his eyes reach mine, he grins devilishly before sauntering over to me.
“Oh no,’’ I tell him holding my hand up and stepping back, knowing that look he’s got. “We’re already late.’’
“Exactly, we should just stay in. No one likes people turning up late,’’ he smirks.
My eyes take in his attire and although I see him wearing a shirt and trousers for five days a week, it’s nothing to how he looks now. He’s wearing a pair of black suit trousers that he’s paired with a black shirt. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and a few buttons are undone at the top showing a little of his hard tanned skin. His hair has been gelled in a spiky messy style that looks good on him. He’s obviously not shaved today either because he has a bit of stubble around his jaw giving him a sexier, edgy look to him.
I can feel my eyes dilate with lust and moisture pours from between my legs. He must sense what I’m feeling or see it in my eyes because his eyes widen for a split second before they soften, his body moving closer towards me.
When he reaches me his hands move around my back, ready to palm my ass. They’re literally hovering there when my Gram’s walks in holding an old looking camera stopping Malik from fully grasping my ass.
“Now I don’t know if this thing still works, or if they still develop films now-a-days, but I need to get a picture. Maybe next time we go into town we could by a digi one…. oh my heavens. You two look breathtaking. Oh my…,’’ she pauses taking us in and fanning her eyes as they water. “Come on, move closer Malik… no closer… Jesus boy you were just about to rip that dress off her, so get closer,’’ she snaps making me giggle. Malik just glares at me, his cheeks reddening a little at Gram’s observation skills. I should have warned him that nothing really gets past her. She just chooses to let us know what she sees.
Once he has his arms around me, both resting at the bottom of my back Gram’s snaps the photo not giving us the chance to smile. Instead, she just took one with us grinning at each other.
“Now Malik, I want you to stand there,’’ she says shoving him away from me facing her. “Harlow, you stand right here… Yes that’s it.’’
By the time she’s finished Malik is standing against my side and my body is positioned in front of his. Gram’s positioned his hand so it’s going around my back.
She takes a few more snaps before Mason comes barging in saving us from anymore poses.
“I’ve got to get to work… Wow, you look seriously hot Harlow. Have you decided to leave my brother yet and finally go out with the better looking one?’’ he winks at me.
Malik growls, giving his brother a death glare before holding his hand out for me to take. As we walk past Mason, I hear him grunt before wheezing out, “I was just kidding.’’
We turn and say our goodbyes to Gram’s and tell her that we’ll see her later. She wanted to come to the gallery with us, but for some reason the school didn’t think to tell us we needed to book tickets until they were already unavailable. It pissed me off because my parents would always come to things like this with me. Even when I was little they would always attend school assemblies, school plays, even coffee morning groups that they did in the mornings to catch up on what your child/children were doing at school. They were always interested in everything I did. Not having Gram’s there to support me is going to be hard, but thankfully Malik will be with me to hold my hand.
The building is lit up brightly as we walk inside. My eyes are wide as I take in the beautiful features and the architecture of the room. Whoever designed this place is very talented. The high beams are painted black with a large chandelier situated in the middle of the ceiling. It’s beautiful. It’s made up of different swirly patterns with white branch like lights swirling out. It really does look spectacular. Especially with the different colour swirls, some are burgundy, some are a dark yellow and the rest is white.
“Wow, this is beautiful,’’ I murmur, my gaze hypnotized by the art decorating the room.
“Yeah,’’ Malik says and I turn to look at him to find him looking around with wide eyes too.
I’m beginning to think we got the wrong time or everyone has left when I notice our art teacher Mrs. Townsend looking stressed over by a door. I squeeze Malik’s hand to get his attention, nodding to where Mrs. Townsend is pacing the floor. She’s wearing a long flowing purple dress that bushes out at the bottom. It looks a little hippie, so it suits her a lot. She looks beautiful dressed up. I’m used to seeing her in either overalls, or a tie dye t-shirt with trousers covered in clay and paint.
Hearing my heels clink on the marble floor her head snaps up startled. When she sees that it’s us she rushes over babbling on about something before even giving us a chance to say ‘sorry we’re late’.
“I’m so sorry. I came in early to get the canvases ready in the hall. I don’t know what happened or when it happened. I had kept them locked up in my office at the school, so someone with access had to have done it. Unless they stole my key, but then that means someone went through my bag,’’ she rambles shaking her head.
Malik and I turn to each other amused, wondering what she’s getting at.
“Miss, would you like to fill me and Harlow in on what you’re stressed about?’’
“It’s terrible,’’ she gushes looking genuinely upset. “I went to take your canvas out of the bag to put on display, only it wasn’t your original piece. It was the picture that got posted of you around school,’’ she tells us, looking directly at me with sad eyes.
I’m not sure what to say. As much as I wanted the chance of the internship, I just can’t be bothered to get upset about it. After yesterday I feel like I’ve cried my last tear.
“Don’t worry, I’ve discarded the picture. Well, I destroyed it if I’m honest. As much as I love the art of the naked body, seeing someone violated isn’t art. It’s barbaric.’’
“Thank you Miss. Do you know where our original picture is?’’ I ask.
“No,’’ she says, her shoulders slumping. “I’ve looked everywhere. I even sent my assistant back to the school to go check in my office, but it’s not there either. I will understand if you want to head home, but you’re more than welcome to stay. I mean, we could show them your first draft. I have your textbooks with me.’’
I look at Malik at a loss at what to do. He gives me a grin and a wink before turning his attention back to Mrs. Townsend.
“I think we’ll just head back if that’s okay with you. Harlow wasn’t feeling a hundred percent anyway, but we didn’t want to let you down with all the hard work you’ve done to set this up,’’ he says kissing ass.
I shake my head slightly wanting to laugh at him. He’s such a charmer. By the look of Mrs. Townsend’s face she’s eating this up like a bowl of ice cream. Next he’ll be bringing her an apple every day to school.
“Oh no, you head back home then. I know you probabl
y had lifts scheduled to pick you up, so here, take this and grab a taxi home.’’
“Oh no that’s fine Miss, we can walk,’’ I decline, not wanting to take money from her. She must not earn much on a teacher’s salary, but that’s not the reason, taking money off someone, even if I know them, makes me feel uncomfortable.
“Oh, please, take it. The school will reimburse me, but even if they didn’t, it’s only a fiver,’’ she smiles, handing the money over to Malik who takes it without problem.
“Thank you,’’ I tell her just as a man wearing a tuxedo calls out her name.
“I have to go, I’m sorry this has happened and I will see you at school Monday. Hopefully we can find out how this happened.’’
“Bye and have fun,’’ Malik and I say, waving her off.
Malik and I walk into the house to find Gram’s on the sofa with Mark. We grin at each other before walking slightly into the front room. They must not have heard the front door open and close with how loud they have got the volume up. When I look up to see what they’re watching I want to burst out laughing. They’re watching the new horror movie that just got released on blu-ray.
“Boo,’’ Malik booms making my Gram’s and Mark jump up from the sofa screaming.
We burst into a fit of giggles watching their pale faces looking horrified. My Gram’s has her hand over her heart to calm her beating chest.
“You scared the ever-loving day lights out of me kids. What were you thinking? And why aren’t you at the gallery?’’ Gram’s breathes out still steadying her breathing.
“You should turn the tele down; anyone would think you were going deaf. We heard it pulling up in the taxi,’’ Malik teases. “And we’re back because….’’ he pauses looking at me before turning back, “Mrs. Townsend lost our project. There wasn’t any point of us staying there so we decided to come back, order a pizza and watch a film.’’
“That school is useless. In my day everything was organised….’’ my Gram’s rattles on, her and Mark comparing their school days together so Malik and I slowly step out of the room grinning.
“How are you doing?’’ Malik asks attentively once we’ve settled in to watch a film.
“If you’re asking because of the picture being on display at the gallery then I’m fine. I don’t know why but I kind of predicted something like this happening. Why I didn’t think of the gallery before is beyond me.’’
“What are you saying?’’
“Well, whoever is doing this wants to embarrass me, they want to make my life hell and do it publicly. The gallery is the best place for them to achieve that. Wasn’t Mrs. Townsend covering them before they did the big reveal? If she had never looked at our canvas before the show then everyone would have seen me. Not just students, but adults attending the exhibition.’’
“I didn’t think of that. I swear I’m going to prove Davis did this if it’s the last thing I do. Both Davis and Hannah need a wakeup call and I’ll be damned if I’m not the one to give it. I’ve never wanted to hurt a girl more than I did Hannah at school yesterday. I was two seconds away from strangling her,’’ he confesses. I can sense he’s torn up more about what happened in the cafeteria than he’s letting on.
“Hey, are you okay?’’
“Yeah, I guess. When I had those thoughts, even for the split second they were there, I felt like I was turning into my dad. He always said I’d end up like him.’’ My heart hurts from how pained and low his voice sounds, truly believing what his father told him.
“That’s not true. You could never be anything like your dad Malik. I know I don’t know everything about your past and that I’ll never truly understand the depths of his abuse, but I do know you. And with all my heart you are nothing remotely like him.’’
“It was bad Harlow. Once, I was late getting out of school, so I didn’t make it to the park me and my brothers all met at before we went home together. It was better that way. Dad left us alone then. When I got to the park and didn’t see them I thought they had gone home without me,’’ he says taking in a deep breath.
“When I walked in I knew I should have turned back and waited back at the park for my brothers to show, but then I kicked over a can of beer just as my dad walked in with a few of his mates from the back garden. I hadn’t heard them coming in. I hated it when he had his mates there. They were just like him.’’ His voice was quiet, torn, and full of pain. He runs his hands through his hair, pulling at the ends. My hand reaches out to touch him, to comfort him, but when he flinches before I’ve even touched him it breaks my heart. How could any parent hurt a young child? It makes me sick. I’d rather hurt myself than hurt an innocent child.
“They were all laughing. Like whatever they just said was the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. It all stopped when my dad looked at the mess I made on the floor. It turned out I’d knocked over the last can and he went ballistic.
“They all laughed when I cowered in the corner while he and his friends kicked and punched me, and then took turns to urinate on me. I just wanted to die. I hate that part of my life. I remember everything he ever did. Not just to me, but my brothers, my mom, from what I do remember. Half of me believed it’s why she left us. But I never understood why she would leave us with him.’’
“I don’t know what to say,’’ I tell him honestly my eyes watering when he doesn’t speak for a few minutes.
“Nothing you can say babe. So many kids grow up in broken homes and what we grew up with every day. But kids are too scared to speak up. None of us wanted to be separated from one another. We couldn’t. After Mav left to live with his friend everything turned to shit and we were all too scared to tell him what was going on because we didn’t want him to come back and have to endure our dad’s wrath again. It was hell for him. He basically raised us our whole lives.’’
“I can understand that. I know I don’t have siblings or anything, but I wouldn’t want to be separated either. I see the bond you guys share and if seeing you together weren’t enough to prove that, the house you’re building at the bottom of your garden is,’’ I giggle lightening the mood.
He laughs putting his arm around me, bringing me closer so I’m basically half lying on his chest. I rest my head on his shoulder loving the smell of his cologne.
“Pizza,’’ Mark shouts up the stairs.
“Bloody hell, he’s loud.’’
“He has to be, he lives with five boys,’’ he laughs. “Get comfy and I’ll go grab the pizza.’’
“I don’t think eating pizza naked is hygienic,’’ I tease stopping him in his tracks. His head whips around to mine and I hold back my laugh. His eyes are wide, the haunted look from earlier now gone and replaced with lust and desire.
He walks back over to the bed leaning on his forearms on either side of my head, his face a breath away from mine, his eyes locked on mine.
“Oh Babe, as much as I want you to get naked, I want to be the one to slowly strip that dress from your hot body. My dick has been hard for you since you walked down those stairs earlier,’’ he whispers huskily in my ear, his one hand cupping my breast. My back arches when his finger strokes lightly over my erect nipple, “Hmmm, maybe while you eat pizza I’ll…’’
“Malik? Harlow? Your food is going to get cold,’’ Mark calls up the stairs again. Malik drops his head in my neck groaning and I can’t help but giggle.
“I’ve got to go downstairs sporting a hard on in front of your Nan and my Granddad,’’ he groans making my giggle turn into a full on laugh.
“It’s not funny,’’ he says sternly, but I can feel the smile on his lips against my neck.
“I’m sorry,’’ I choke out calming down.
“I’ll be back. No removing the dress,’’ he winks before jumping off me.
I sit up straightening my dress that is now crinkled from sitting on the bed and from having Malik all over me. I’m still grinning like a mad woman when I hear Mark shout hoorah to Malik.
My phone beeps
from the side of my bed alerting me of a text message. Opening up the message from Denny I frown.
Denny: Won’t be at school Monday or Tuesday, so would you mind grabbing any homework we’re given from the lessons we have together? Please.
Me: Is everything ok?
Denny doesn’t take days off. Her parents sent her to school with a freaking cold once, so I wonder what is wrong with her for her to have not only one, but two days off.
Malik returns with our pizza by the time she replies to my last message.
“Who’s that?’’ Malik asks, opening the pizza up on the bed.
“Denny. She wants to let me know she won’t be in school Monday and Tuesday and asked if I could collect her homework.’’
“Bloody hell. Is her mom okay? I can remember her coming to school once basically on deaths door with the sickness bug. Her parents wouldn’t let her stay at home.’’
“I know,’’ I murmur, concentrating on the text.
Denny: Yeah.
That’s it? That’s all she’s got to say? I’m kind of worried now and by the look on Malik’s face when he leans over to read her reply, I can tell that he is too.
“What she say before?’’
“Nothing. That’s the problem. I asked her if everything was okay and all she texted back was yeah.’’
“Weird,’’ he frowns taking a bite out of his pizza.
Me: Okay. Hope everything is okay and I’m here if you need me. Love you ~ H x
I wake up startled for a second until I realise it’s Malik next to me in the bed and not some creeper. We’ve obviously fallen asleep watching the movie we put on while we ate our pizza. I’ve fallen asleep in my dress from earlier and it’s all crinkled up around my waist, so I quietly slide out of bed, untangling myself from Malik.
I undo my dress yawning, still feeling half asleep. As the dress falls from my body it catches on something on the bedside table, making it fall to the floor with a loud crash.
Malik shoots up off the bed, his head looking around the room frantically until his eyes stop on mine.
Malik (Carter Brother Series Book 1) Page 28
