No Strings (Broken Strings)

by Briggs, Jo

  Caught by surprise before she had a chance to worry about her dignity, Grey’s hands were curved around her body and had lifted her off the ground. Walking over to a nearby wall that was out of the way of the milling threads of passing people, he placed her gently on the ground once more. “Don’t lean on your ankle yet. Balance against the wall while I go retrieve your shoe.” He instructed as concern etched on his face.

  Alone even though Grey remained in her constant eye-line, Indi couldn’t help but curse at the indignity of the event. He must think her a totally clumsy fool now. Although, she was fully aware of the concern he had on his face as he lifted her into his arms, the effect of his hands prints invisibly seared onto her body forever. Seeing him making his way back to her with her still intact black patent shoe in his hand she blew out a breath of relief that at least she wouldn’t need to walk the rest of the way back to the car with only one shoe.

  Arriving back, he placed the other shoe on the floor but made no move to put it back on her foot. Instead, he moved forward until there was barely an inch between them. Indi instinctively pressed her back against the wall noticing for the first time that they were quite alone in a narrow passageway. Although there were people walking past in the main street some twenty feet away, they would not notice Grey and her standing there in the dim darkness unless they turned fully to look down the passageway.

  “Are you okay? You gave me a scare.” He said in a tender tone, leaning in and touching her cheek with the back of his hand before he swept it down the side of her body, skimming electricity over her ribcage and hip before he gripped the top of her injured leg. Curving the leg gently around his muscular thigh Grey took the weight of her body off it as he tilted his head downwards and buried his head into the curve of her neck, his lips on her ear lobe, sucking. His other hand was resting on the other side of her head. Indi could hear his breath coming in shallow pants. “God, Indi. I hope you aren’t seeing anyone because I can’t keep my hands off you!”

  Letting out a loud exhalation of air, she closed her eyes immersing herself in the pleasure of his tongue and lips teasing her ear lobe sensually. Is this actually happening? She thought dazed by the events of the evening.

  When he suddenly stopped, Indi opened her eyes to find his face level with hers. Moving the hand that had been resting at her head his fingertips traced along the outline of her mouth, all the time his silver-blue orbs watching her closely as if mesmerised by the low whimper she was occasionally emitting as he also ground his hardening erection against her hotly. “Tell me that you want this as much as I do.” A desperate demand rippling through his voice.

  “Yes, yes.” She answered as his mouth finally descended roughly on hers. Both his hands now moved up each thigh to cup the underside of her arse cheeks, shifting her weight evenly between the wall her back was pressed against and his flexed arm muscles. The friction of his hardness pressed against the thin material of her G-string covering her intimate folds increased the desire pooling between her legs.

  Sweeping her mouth with his tongue in animalistic fashion, Grey pulled away suddenly, a frown on his face. “I should get you home.”

  Indi mourned the loss of his touch as soon as he pulled away suddenly, but tolerated it as she didn’t want to be holed up in an Italian prison for public indecency even if his kisses were intoxicating. “Okay.” Indi answered, trying to keep the disappointed bite from her voice as she spoke.

  Grey kneeled down and kneaded her ankle with his fingertips gently. “Does that hurt?”

  “No, that doesn’t hurt at all.”

  “Okay, let’s see if it can take some weight.” He reached for the shoe and sheathed it around her bare foot.

  Standing up, he held out his hand in case she felt it give way again as she slowly placed it the foot tentatively on the ground.

  “Think you can walk?”

  “Yes, it feels okay now.” Indi reassured him as she paced slowly in front of him.

  “Sure? I will carry you to the car if necessary.”

  Although the idea of an excuse to be in his arms again appealed enormously, she wanted to keep the remnants of some dignity from the evening. “Honestly I am sure.”

  Brushing any lingering dust from the knees area of his trousers, Grey wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his side so she could use him as a leaning post as they walked.

  Finally, arriving at the Largo Porta Marina, Indi pointed to the car she’d rented for the next couple of weeks, an Audi. It had been more expensive than some of the basic rental cars on offer, but she drove an Audi back in England, and didn’t want to sacrifice on comfort if she were going to be driving back and forth around the island by herself.

  “Hand me your keys and I will drive. I want you to rest your ankle as much as possible before tomorrow?” He spoke authoritatively, almost sounding like an order.

  Quirking a brow, feeling both irritated at being bossed about and turned on at the sexy look on his face as if daring her to disobey. “Why what is happening tomorrow?”

  “You and I having lunch on the beach. I have a proposition that I want to discuss with you in private.” Grey stated matter of fact but his expression soft as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “And I was kind of hoping to continue what happened earlier in the alley if you have no objections?”

  “Okay.” She managed to squeak in a high voice, rummaging through her bag and handing him the key fob to her rental.

  Settling into the passenger side of the car, Indi had to pinch herself that the man of many of her dreams was about to drive her home because he was concerned for her welfare. It gave her a strange fuzzy feeling inside. To be cared for by someone she barely knew felt alien to her senses. Except for her sisters and a few relatives, most of her family only tried pretended to care if it meant some personal gain to them. Her parents being the worst culprits. She shook her head; trying to rid her mind of the negativity, they bought to her mood whenever she thought of the them.

  Catching Grey looking at her oddly, he asked. “Did you hear what I said?”

  “Sorry just spaced out - just thinking of something I forgot to do.” She fibbed. “What did I miss?”

  He grinned, “Was just asking if you had any dislikes as I was going to get my cook to rustle up some bruschetta, antipasti meats, olives and maybe a light white wine to wash it down with.”

  “No, that all sounds really lovely.”

  Checking the mirrors, he reversed out of the parking space and headed off towards the villa.

  “So is your drawing just a hobby or have you shown your works at a gallery?” Indi enquired after a few minutes of silence as they made their way out of Siracusa and towards Plemmirio Nature Reserve where the villas were located. She was aware of the prestigious career his mother had maintained as a sculptor and painter.

  “Up until now it has been just a hobby, but I was offered the chance to do a showing by a family friend who runs a gallery in New York. I don’t know how well you follow Fusion, but we have just completed a US and European tour so with the nine months free it seems a perfect time as any to dip my toe into the art world.

  “What style do you work with?”

  “Graphite Pencil mostly, I like the variety of soft or hard strengths of pigments you can use to show the true light and shadow. I take black & white photographs and capture the subject in a larger scale; most of my canvases are pretty vast in size – probably 60 inches across.”

  Indi smiled. “You sound just like one of my friends; she is trained as a commercial illustrator. She talks a lot about all the different techniques she uses in her everyday work.” There was a hint of teasing in her voice.

  “Ha, I just happen to take my drawing extremely seriously.” Grey smiled warmly as he stole a glance her way before turning his eye line on the road. “I am sure you take your photography just serious?”

  “I do, but it isn’t my main academic focus.”

  “Oh, what is then?”

  “We
ll after completing most of my grades in cello and music theory, I am just about to start my second year into a music degree at Goldsmiths then once that is complete I hope to do a Masters at Royal College.”

  “It sounds as if you will be more qualified as a musician than me then.”

  “You never studied music academically before turning professional?”

  He pulled the car into her driveway.

  “Never in a degree format. My father does not approve of my music or artistic tendencies, so I had to adhere to his rules of taking more constructive business qualifications until I turned 21 and my trust fund left his control.” He answered, switching off the engine.

  Furrowing her brow at the bitterness, he spoke about his father. “Ahh, power and control, a trait my father seems to have in common with yours then.” Their eyes locked briefly as a common understanding of the pain and disappointment in their past passed between them,

  Breaking the moment, he handed her the key fob. “Now, are you going to allow me the pleasure of carrying you in my arms one last time this evening so I can sleep restfully tonight knowing your ankle has received my best attention.”

  Blushing, “If you insist but truly it is fine now.”

  “I do insist.” Grey responded as he exited the vehicle, shutting the driver’s door behind him.

  Sighing with defeat, Indi released her seatbelt and waited for him to make it around to her side of the car.

  Opening her door, Grey slid her into his arms effortlessly and carried her down the small footpath to her front door. Placing her safely on her two feet once again, he reached up to trace the outline of her jaw and cheek. “Well Goodnight, I’ll set up lunch for twelve-thirty on the beach.”

  “Yes, that’s fine. Goodnight.”

  He smiled briefly, before turning to leave her driveway and make his way back to his own through a side gate just beyond where they had been standing.

  Indi stood just looking at his retreating figure for a few seconds before she could bring herself to look away, shaking her head in disbelief that she had just spent the evening with her idol as she let herself into the villa.

  Rules - Grey

  Arriving back at his own villa, Grey checked in with Adam and Hayden who were sitting in the lounge watching an Italian film. Getting up from sofa, Adam came over to greet Grey. “Grey, you were gone much longer than we anticipated. Was everything okay?”

  “Yes, Stephens. I apologise if I gave you any cause for concern.”

  “I must insist that, in the future, you keep your phone on at all times when you are not with us.”

  Busted! Giving them a remorseful expression, he apologised, “Very well, gentleman. It won’t happen again.” He had turned the phone off once he had sent the message he was on his way back. His intention had been not to be disturbed with the little time left he had with Indi.

  After feigning fatigue, he disappeared off to the privacy of his rooms.

  His earlier erection was still persistently pressed against the material of his trousers. Now finally alone, he couldn’t resist the temptation to touch himself any longer as images of Indi and her tight yellow dress flickered through his mind like the beginning of a movie reel.

  Suppressing a cry at the sensitivity of his shaft even through the material, he strode determinedly for the adjoining shower room. Hastily he unbuckled his suit trousers, allowing them to drop to the floor before pulling down his boxers to reveal the rock hard erection. Removing the rest of his clothing eagerly, he stepped in the double shower cubicle and allowed the warm water to begin to gush over his flushed flesh for a few moments before he moved to grasp his erection once more.

  With one hand resting on the tiled wall, he gripped the engorged shaft with the other, and began rubbing the flesh up and down, slowly then at a faster pace as his fantasy of stripping Indi out the yellow dress began to manifest into a believable dream.

  He pictured pushing a stripped naked Indi roughly against the wall, her back towards him as his mouth explored the curve of her neck. His hands caressed over her outer thighs and bum cheeks sensually as he grinded his groin against her, wanting her to be fully aware of how hard he was for her.

  The dream Grey undid the belt and zip to his trousers one-handed, allowing them to pool around his ankles. Desperate to bury himself into her tight wetness, he barely freed his rock hard erection from his boxers before his hands were gliding between her exposed folds and slipping two fingers into Indi’s core. Her hips pushed hard against his rotating fingers demanding further attention. “Ohh feeling greedy, are we?” He teased, his excited breath coming in pulses against her ear. “Do you want more?”

  “Yes, yes, more.” Indi moaned as she arched her back and wiggled her bum against him.

  “Tell me exactly what you want.”

  “I want to feel more of your fingers fucking me.”

  The fantasy continued in this vein as the real Grey continued to slide his fisted hand up and down his erection, trying to keep his groans of pleasure to a muffled volume.

  As he floated up to the dizzy heights of his euphoria, dream Grey plunged into her dewy folds, his hands on both of her hips as he pounded away into her tightness, his aching balls slapping against Indi repeatedly as he pulled in and out with every powerful thrust.

  Both Greys came with such ferocity; neither of them could contain their roar of ecstasy. The real Grey by this time was too far gone to care who heard him.

  Grey had slept remarkably well considering all the nervous excitement and anticipation fluttering up and down in his stomach. He had not been this motivated over a woman in a long time, if ever. He was determined to make it impossible for Indi to refuse his proposition of spending the remainder of her holiday with him.

  He’d avoided his usual morning catch-up calls from Richard, who headed up security for the band, and he knew that his bodyguards would have been onto Richard, updating him on the fact that he’d refused to let them to accompany him out to dinner last night. The bodyguard issue was a burden to his privacy even before he started the band, but a necessity to his family safety after a spate of botched kidnap attempts years before he was born.

  As one of his closest friends, as well as cousin, Richard was an ex-army officer trained as a parachute reconnaissance officer and weapons intelligence analyst was well placed to protect his interests. He expected Richard to give him a lecture over the security lapse the previous night, but he was determined to put that off until later in the day.

  He’d dressed in a pair of stone coloured Marc Jacobs cargo shorts and striped crew neck t-shirt by D&G that rippled tightly against his hidden washboard stomach, and broad shoulders. Grey had a regular gym routine that he followed each morning meticulously before heading to the office that kept his body trim, but while, on holiday, he relaxed that routine to just swimming for a half-hour in the pool or sea.

  Grey arranged for a basket of Italian meats, antipasti, olives, breads, and a bottle of his favourite white wine to be prepared by his cook, and a blanket to lie upon the rocks. Adam and Hayden were to keep out of sight in the villa grounds under strict instructions not to disturb them on the beach; he wanted to alleviate any discomfort Indi might feel over being scrutinised by his “people” over lunch.

  He’d lain out some of the basket contents and blanket a few minutes before she was due. He was pacing up and down outside the gate from her villa gardens that lead onto her part of the beach when she emerged a couple of minutes past 12.30. His heart had actually been in his mouth the whole time as he’d started to panic that she’d been scared off by his forwardness.

  His eyes swept over her body appreciatively, she was wearing a sheer grey tunic cover up with a wide boat neckline, cap sleeves, and a drawstring drop waist, beneath it, a black patterned bikini. It was understated but effective in design, showing off her slender arms and legs and her body to its full advantage while remaining conservative in its skin covering for a lunch date.

  “Hello Grey.” Indi sai
d, her voice breathy and soft that caused his hands to become clammy as she moved to kiss him lightly on the cheek, instinct overtook propriety as his hands automatically moved to either side of her waist so he could draw her body delicately against his.

  Standing a full five inches above her, his sense of smell was inundated with the sweet, flowery aroma that lingered around her, and he briefly closed his eyes as it allowed the memory of it sink into his mind.

  He need not have worried as Indi enjoyed the closeness of his clinch. She met his blushing expression with a demure smile, “Hi yourself."

  His silver-blue eyes sparkled as his mouth widened into a grin of relief. “I hope you’re hungry.” He gestured to the blanket and food basket awaiting them a few yards away on the rocks.

  “I’m ravenous.” She replied.

  Indi followed him over to the blanket, and settled onto the covered rocks, her flip-flop feet dangling down into the sand. He placed the basket in front of them, so they could sit side by side.

  Taking her hand in his, Grey decided to face the situation and talk to her about his wishes for the remainder of their time on the island. "I thought we could talk about my proposition before we eat if that is okay with you?”

  "Of course," She answered meeting his glance.

  "I know we have just met, but you were just aware of the connection between us last night as I.” His voice was barely audible as his nerve started to waiver. “I cannot promise you anything beyond this holiday because my life is complicated, but I would really like to spend what time we have here together.”

  She was silent for what seemed like forever to Grey. He experienced a dreadful sinking feeling that he was going to find out what rejection felt like.

  "I cannot deny I feel it too, but I can’t help finding this all fairly crazy.”

  “Haven’t you ever just done something on a whim for the sheer enjoyment?”

  “Yes but that was before – “

  “Before what?” Grey sensed this had to do with whatever had caused her initial apprehension towards him on that first day.