Hard to Love

by S M Mala

  ‘Iona, you were amazing, and I owe you for this,’ Mabel whispered, looking up at her tall friend. ‘I don’t know how you did it, but I’ll be eternally grateful.’

  ‘We did it as a team. Now, what are you going to do?’ she asked, resting her head against the wall.

  ‘I’m going to see Bob Jones and hand him the footage. He said he’d be happy to help.’

  ‘I’ll go,’ said Iona, her eyes lighting up. ‘I thought you were off to see the heartbreaker?’

  ‘Alexander Chambers is a heartbreaker; I’ll give you that. He’s also a very good creative director.’ She let out a massive sigh. ‘But I’m not sure if this time next week whether he’ll be speaking to me.’

  ‘Or your mother and Calum.’ Iona let out a big sigh. ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’

  ‘Do I have a choice?’

  After shoving Iona in a cab to see Bob, with strict instructions not to;

  a) Lose the footage

  b) Get laid and remember he’s bigger than average (her friend’s face lit up)

  Mabel decided to head off home but not before she had a word with Lauren, who was making sure that everything was packed up.

  ‘I don’t have to tell you how I know,’ Mabel began. ‘But I do.’

  ‘Alex is going to be upset,’ she said, looking tearful. ‘He trusts me and-.’

  ‘Listen, I understand what you’ve done but help me to stop this once and for all.’ She gently placed her hand on Lauren’s arm. ‘Whatever happened in there is a secret. I trust everyone in that room, and I hope I can trust you. If I hear that any of this has leaked out, I will let people know what you did.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I had no choice and-.’

  ‘We all have a choice, Lauren. It’s what we choose to do that makes the difference.’

  ‘You’re late!’

  Alex was holding the door open and looked pissed off.

  ‘Ten minutes.’ Standing with her arms folded, she smiled. ‘Now can we make love?’

  ‘Just break my heart, why don’t you?’ he replied, pulling her arm.

  ‘I’m starving.’

  ‘You want to eat? Now?’

  ‘That’s what starving means.’ She noticed he looked a little frustrated. ‘You’re not hungry?’

  ‘I’m hungry but it’s got nothing to do with food,’ he said, looking aghast. ‘I could make you some toast with marmalade afterwards?’

  ‘I need a shower,’ she said, starting to undo her dress.

  ‘Do you want me to scrub your back?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  Walking to his bathroom, she removed her clothes and put the shower on. Within seconds, she had a companion standing behind her, rubbing his hands over her body on the pretence he was covering her in shower gel. Mabel turned to look up at him and noticed Alex was grinning.

  ‘I like this,’ he whispered. ‘I could do this every day.’

  ‘Slow.’

  ‘Mabel I-.’

  ‘Slower,’ she said again, tilting her head up so the spray of water could hit her face as she closed her eyes.

  She loved the man too much and didn’t want him to say something, and then renege on it.

  ‘Don’t say anything that’s not true,’ she sighed, knowing the comment would upset. ‘It’s only a matter of months ago you walked away, and I’ve taken you back. I don’t do things like that. I’m wary. I have every right to be.’

  He wrapped his arms around her and balanced his chin on the top of her head.

  ‘I’m trying to do good by what I did wrong, if you get my drift.’

  Then the hands started to move slowly all around her body, and he eventually slipped his palm between her thighs, rubbing her gently. She flung her head back and felt him massage her pubic bone, and then his finger went inside, making her shudder.

  Slowly he searched for her clitoris, gently flicking the end; teasing the pleasure out of her.

  His other hand held her breast, squeezing as she felt a sudden spasm in her body.

  An unexpected orgasm that made her gasp but before she could catch her breath, he spun her around and sunk to his knees, pushing his tongue where his fingers had been.

  She looked down at him then pulled him up to his feet, grabbing his neck to kiss him. Her tongue was searching his mouth.

  ‘I want you,’ she groaned, kissing his neck.

  Alex turned off the shower and carefully pulled her out.

  They were both dripping wet as he escorted her to his bed. They scrambled on top of the duvet, and she held on to his stiff little number then pulled it to her lips, laying back as he looked down on her.

  She sucked his end, all the time their eyes were locked while he parted her thighs, reaching down to finger her slowly. Mabel was in ecstasy.

  Then he pulled away and reached over to the side. He had a segment of orange in his mouth and rubbed it over her lips.

  ‘Eat,’ he said, holding it his teeth.

  ‘I don’t like-.’

  ‘Eat it with me.’

  Biting into the segment, she tasted the sweet fruit in her mouth and slowly chewed.

  ‘Two things I want most in the world. Oranges and you,’ he whispered.

  Then Alex put a larger piece in his mouth and pressed his lips against hers. He started to chew, and she felt the orange juice drip into her mouth, as their tongues searched for each other in the fruit.

  Without warning, he moved his hips and put his tip inside her, slowly moving in and out.

  It was a strange experience for Mabel, eating fruit and having sex.

  Her arms were lifted above her head, and their fingers intertwined.

  Alex’s next thrust shocked her body as she had an orgasm, and he was doing it slow and long; pulling out then going back in. Again, and again he did it. She was whimpering while he was letting out low groans.

  Sitting back on his knees, he pushed her legs up and humped her for dear life. She held onto the bed to stop her head going through the wall.

  ‘This is all I’ve been thinking about,’ he groaned. ‘Being with you.’

  She gasped at feeling him and hearing the words.

  And for the first time, Mabel realised Alex might be in love with her.

  Though he still wasn’t declaring it.

  ‘Three slices!’

  Alex laughed as they sat on the sofa eating toast and marmalade a few hours later. ‘You must be hungry.’

  She was drinking a cup of tea. Mabel knew she couldn’t have a hangover that weekend as there was work to be done. Her lover was sitting in his underpants, smiling non-stop. He looked amazing and relaxed, plus very happy.

  ‘I love you,’ she said, watching his eyes sparkle at the comment. Mabel had held on long enough but couldn’t stop from saying it. ‘And I don’t want you think otherwise, but I won’t be smothering you.’

  ‘Okay?’ he said, moving closer, taking a slice of toast off the plate which was on her lap. ‘That sounds both wonderful and ominous.’

  ‘It’s not anything. We need to keep a level head.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I’m a shareholder, you’re a board director and I’m still in big shit with Lee Appleton. I’ve found a way out of it, but I need to do a bit more planning. He shouldn’t have come near my girls, and I know he’s been spying on me.’

  ‘Why don’t you go to the police?’

  ‘He’s a client of the company and how would that look? You know he’ll turn the tables on me.’

  ‘May Day, I don’t care if we lose him, you do know that don’t you?’ He moved closer, taking the plate away, then her cup. ‘The work we’ve done is really good and I’m sure I can get better accounts. If he’s making you that upset, it’s not worth it.’

  ‘Did I tell you I loved you?’ She kissed his chin. ‘Very much.’

  ‘I heard what he said to you in the room.’ Alex looked guiltily away. ‘He’s not a nice guy if he thinks he can control you. And the orange blossom? He’s mu
scling in on my act.’ He grabbed her hands. ‘I know you’re up to something, and whatever it is, I won’t pressurise you to say, but be careful. Men like him don’t take failure and rejection well.’ Then he frowned. ‘And I heard what he said about me, and your answer.’

  ‘Men like you even compete when there’s nothing to compete for.’

  ‘There is something to compete for.’ He held her in his arms. ‘You.’

  ‘But you’ve won,’ she laughed.

  ‘But I’ve not convinced you totally, have I?’

  ‘You did what?’

  Mabel sighed on Saturday morning as Alex slept soundly. She was on his balcony. ‘Don’t you ever learn?’

  ‘He’s all man!’ laughed Iona down the other end of the phone. ‘And what a man! I can see why you kept going back for more, and your inability to walk for a week!’

  ‘Okay, you’re talking about the size of his dick, I get it,’ she whispered, trying not to laugh. ‘And did he look at it and can he help?’

  ‘I looked at it, and it certainly helped me!’ she laughed raucously. ‘Yes, he did and he will help. I said we need it in ten days because that’s when there’s the screening.’

  ‘And he knows what to do?’

  ‘He certainly does!’

  ‘I meant about the footage.’

  ‘He has some on him, doesn’t he?’ Iona sighed as Mabel sunk onto a chair. ‘Even Bob was a little shocked at what we’re doing. But, like he said, it’s your honour at stake as well as others.’

  ‘Good. I’ll speak to him next week. Thanks for doing this for me.’

  ‘Honestly, it was a pleasure!’

  Hanging up, she turned to see the naked body through the glass wall and smiled. Walking back into the bedroom, she kissed him from bottom to neck, eventually stopping at his face. Alex was grinning.

  ‘Who were you talking to?’ he mumbled.

  ‘Iona.’

  ‘How is she?’

  ‘Amazing from the sound of it.’ She wrapped her arms around his waist, smelling his cheek. There was a feint aroma of orange. ‘What time are you getting Rose?’

  ‘After lunch. She’s going to get some new shoes, so I’ll pick her up then. I must go into town this morning to check on the rushes. Do you want to come with me? Could we get breakfast in our usual place? It’s not far.’

  Any other time she would refuse point blank.

  The last thing she wanted to do was work at a weekend, or a week day if she were brutally honest.

  ‘I’d love that,’ she whispered into his neck and noticed he suddenly opened his eyes in astonishment. ‘To spend time with you. But I have to get changed first, and then I’ll meet you at the bus stop.’

  ‘What are you up to?’ he laughed, turning to look at her. ‘You're pleasant.’

  ‘Why do you sound so surprised?’

  ‘No, reason.’ He reached out, stroking her face. ‘I love waking up with you.’

  ‘Go to sleep while I run home and get changed. I’ll meet you in half an hour.’

  Rushing out at high speed towards her home, after fending off Alex’s arms, she called Bob Jones.

  ‘Hello,’ he laughed and she knew why. ‘I liked the messenger yesterday.’

  ‘Can’t you keep it in your pants?’ she sighed, heading towards her house. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think you’re playing with fire, but I happily support you. Don’t mention my name in any of this, okay?’

  ‘Like I’d land you in shit.’

  ‘And you better make sure you keep out of Mr Appleton’s way for a while.’

  ‘But you’re still going to help?’

  ‘If Iona’s part of the appreciation package, I certainly am.’

  Waiting at the bus stop half an hour later, she noticed Lee was ringing.

  Mabel decided to ignore it.

  But he wasn’t leaving messages, just hanging up and dialling again.

  Then her gorgeous man walked towards her, smiling brightly but something else also caught her eye.

  Lee Appleton was sitting in a car not too far from where she was standing.

  ‘Don’t turn around or touch me,’ she said, smiling at Alex. ‘We have an audience.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Alex, just stay calm.’

  Then she noticed Lee start up his car and drive off.

  This time Mabel rang Lee.

  ‘Hello. I see you’re with Alex. What’s that about? Are you throwing yourself at him?’

  ‘What were you doing at the bus stop?’ she asked, seeing Alex do a double take. ‘You can’t do this. I told you to keep away.’

  ‘I wanted to see you. I thought we could meet up for lunch.’

  ‘I mean it, Lee,’ Mabel replied, trying not to get angry. ‘Leave me alone. You have no right turning up where I live and even less right to think it’s acceptable.’

  ‘It’s a free country! I’ll most certainly see you around.’

  She hung up then looked at Alex’s stunned expression.

  ‘This is not good,’ he said, looking down at the ground. ‘Mabel, you have to do something.’

  ‘I’m trying and-.’

  ‘This is a form of stalking,’ he whispered, grabbing her hand. ‘And it’s not healthy. I’ll have a word with him.’

  ‘He won’t listen. We’re his agency. He’s the client and what he says can cause us a lot of damage. I must think of it in its entirety; not just about me. A lot of blood sweat and tears have gone into making it a success. I don’t want that all to go to waste.’ Then she stepped closer. ‘And the reputation of key people, including you.’

  He pressed his forehead against hers, wrapping his arms around the base of her spine.

  ‘What if he sees you doing that?’ she whispered.

  ‘I don’t care. We’ll look through the rushes and then come straight back here to make love before heading off our separate ways.’ Alex grinned. ‘Shall we take the girls out for dinner tonight?’

  Mabel kissed him gently on the lips.

  That’s all she wanted.

  He and the three girls together.

  And no Lee Appleton.

  ‘And then we’re ready to go!’

  Calum was smiling in the meeting room as Mabel sat there, still mulling things over. ‘Any questions?’

  ‘The new ‘Love to Love’ commercials are being shown on their premises?’ Mabel tried not to frown at the arrangement. ‘We usually do it in the screening room or hire a venue.’

  ‘Why are you asking?’ he replied, eyeing her suspiciously.

  ‘Did we put that into the costing? To transport all the technology plus the key people? And who’s going to watch the new commercial?’

  ‘The shareholders and senior personnel,’ Reuben replied, looking down the figures. ‘You know, we didn’t allow for the extra costing.’

  ‘I think you should have the viewing here,’ she said, starting to get agitated. ‘If they don’t like the commercial then there’s re-shooting and-.’

  ‘What’s troubling you?’ Alex was sat opposite.

  For the past fifteen minutes, every time she looked at him, he was gazing at her.

  She wasn’t sure if this was him being lovely or highly suspicious.

  ‘I don’t want to go to ‘Love to Love’.’

  Mabel looked at him and noticed a sympathetic glance.

  She saw Alex look at Calum while the others frankly seemed pissed off.

  ‘Then don’t come,’ sniffed Paolo. ‘Or are you embarrassed about your poor response?’

  ‘The adverts have gone down well, and they’re getting a positive response,’ Heidi added, turning to her. ‘We thought it would be a good for their people to see what’s coming up.’

  ‘And who is catering for this event? Us or them?’ She had to ask. ‘I really think instead of getting ahead of ourselves, we do it with the main people and see what happens.’

  Again, she looked at Alex, whose head was tilted to the side. This time he wasn’t s
taring but examining her, before looking down at the table and letting out a small whimpering sigh.

  ‘Why don’t we hire one of our usual venues to do the screening, keeping transport costs down? That way we are hospitable as well as not overspending. Make it a lunchtime thing, so it’s like a jolly,’ he said, smiling at Mabel. ‘All agreed?’

  There were a few murmurings and Mabel stared at Alex.

  She desperately wanted to take him into a corner to sexually molest the gorgeous hunk.

  ‘Okay, if it keeps her happy,’ groaned Calum, standing up. ‘I thought you weren’t supposed to be working on the account.’

  ‘Tommy had a dentist appointment, so I’m covering,’ she replied, looking at the evil glare Paolo was giving. ‘Did you meet someone on the website?’

  ‘Pardon?’ he said, turning up his nose. ‘I met several people, thanks for asking.’

  ‘Anyone special?’

  ‘It’s frankly none of your business,’ he said, standing up and walking out.

  ‘Did I say something?’ she asked, turning to look at the others.

  ‘I think after he said a few unkind words about you, he’s scared he’ll get into trouble,’ Reuben quietly replied.

  ‘I never told him off.’

  ‘But I did,’ Alex said, leaning forward and rolling an orange towards her. ‘You and I need to discuss what we can spend. I’ll allow you to buy me lunch.’ He turned to the last person leaving the room. ‘Can you please close the door?’

  Mabel stroked the orange and tried to smile, but her face was stuck.

  Her head was spinning regarding her plan.

  ‘He has left you alone since Saturday, hasn’t he?’

  She nodded, still dreading she would bump into Lee when she least expected it.

  ‘May Day, I spoke to Joanna this morning about what happened on Saturday, and about the footage.’

  ‘Alex!’ she said, trying not to scream. ‘She’ll go ballistic!’

  ‘He’s scaring you and that bothers me.’

  ‘Oh, shit!’

  ‘Your mother isn’t happy.’

  ‘Not now she won’t be!’ She sunk into her chair, feeling her heart pound. ‘I think he’s going to show some pictures to the girls, and I’m scared.’