by J. J. Sorel
Tabitha fell onto the sofa with her arms stretched out. A beaming smile brightened her beautiful face. “Shit, Clary, this feels so comfortable being here. I feel so safe.”
“Good,” I said, carrying her stuff to the bedroom. “Do you want some wine?”
She sprang off the couch to help me. “Yeah, that would be great.” Spinning me round, she trilled, “We’re going to have so much fun.”
“I will have to call Aidan and tell him, you know?”
She shrugged. “Of course, this is his home.”
“Not just that, but also about Evan.”
Tabitha twisted her lips. Her eyes peered up at me meekly. “Do you have to?”
“How else am I to explain this? And there’s more to it…”
“In what sense?”
“Evan’s one of Aidan’s best buddies. When he heard of your coupling, he was worried you’d hurt Evan.”
“Why would he think that?” Tabitha followed me into the kitchen and watched me pour out two glasses of white wine.
“Because, Tabitha,” I said, passing her a glass. “Aidan has this spooky way of sensing someone may be impetuous and shallow where love is concerned.”
“Could that be because you told him about my loose ways?” Tabitha gave me a mock smile.
“I may have mentioned something. But look, it’s true, isn’t it? You don’t exactly have a great track record where men are involved.”
She put her glass down and placed her hands on her hips. “Now listen, Clary. Just because you hit the jackpot doesn’t mean that I’m meant to remain with every guy I sleep with. Evan’s maniacally possessive. And had I married him, he would’ve been a wife beater. Would you like that to happen to your best friend?”
“Of course not, Tabi.” I took a thirsty sip of wine. My nerves were on edge; they needed quelling after that uncomfortable confrontation with Jessica. Something sat tightly in my gut. I knew Aidan would explode. A jagged breath escaped my lips. I dreaded having to admit that I had driven myself without James in tow.
Tabitha’s phone vibrated again. This time she went pale. She pressed the button and took to her wine with the thirst of someone battling demons. “That was him.”
“Evan?” I asked.
She nodded, chewing her nails.
“Have a break for tonight, Tabs. The note you left was pretty self-explanatory.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” She sighed. Her face thawed, and she smiled again. “It’s so nice to be here, Clary.”
“Stay as long as you need.”
“I might have to. Our apartment’s gone. And I don’t have any money.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m sure I can find something for you to do, so that you can work for your supper. Like planning a wedding.”
She squealed with excitement. “Oh, yeah… I can’t fucking wait. I’m going to make it the best wedding on the calendar. You wait and see.”
I laughed. Regardless of Tabitha’s lack of focus, this was one area she performed reliably well in—shopping and ordering people about. Being a wedding planner was just up her alley. And with the Vets’ art auction coming up I had my hands full.
I knew Aidan would allow Tabitha to stay at the cottage for as long as she wanted. As for me, well, Tabi was family, so it would be fun to have her to clown around with. Especially when Aidan was away.
Will cooked a mouth-watering dinner. My father and Greta were still away in England, so it was just the two of us.
“Is this how you eat every night?” Tabitha stared wide eyed at her juicy steak and roast vegetables.
“Pretty much.”
She shook her head in disbelief. Susana brought in the salad and a fresh bottle of white wine. Tabitha’s mouth lifted slightly at one end. Susana returned the smirk. It was obvious that they didn’t like each other.
When she waddled out, Tabitha whispered, “I don’t trust her.”
“Mm… nor do I. But she’s with Will. And Aidan’s loyal to a fault.”
That reminded me of the tetchy situation we found ourselves in regarding Evan. “Look, Tabs, I’m going to talk to Aidan tonight. I have to tell him, you know?”
She shrugged. “Whatever, I don’t mind.”
“Are you going to tell me who this new guy is?”
Her eyes had that droopy, coy look Tabitha got when she was ashamed of something. I’d witnessed it often during the ‘married Steve’ saga. Whenever she went back with him, she’d put on this same shrinking expression.
“Okay, Tabs, out with it. Give me a hint, at least. Is he older?”
She nodded. Her eyes glistened. She was hooked, all right, that much I could see.
“Is he married?”
“Kind of.” She took a sip of wine.
“What does that mean?”
“He’s living with someone. But they’re not intimate anymore. He tells me she’s more like a sister.”
Ah… it dawned on me. It was Grant. “Is it who I think it is?”
Her lips curled up. “Who’s that?”
“Grant?”
She didn’t answer, choosing to pick at her nails instead.
“Oh, my God, Tabs.”
She shook her head. “I knew you’d freak. Look, Clary, don’t worry. We’re adults. And he’s wow.” Her face had that flushed, super aroused expression. I knew what was about to follow. I could see she was dying to tell me how sexy he was. This time it was seriously personal. It wasn’t like all the others. This was Aidan’s father. All I could see was Grant’s head buried in between Tabi’s legs and her head thrown back in the throes of ecstasy.
“Just because he made you come doesn’t mean it’s life changing.”
“Well, it fucking is.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’ve been with him again, haven’t you?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“What, once, twice? I mean the wedding was only two weeks ago.”
“I’ve seen him every day since.”
My face scrunched in disbelief. “How?”
“He dropped in when Evan was at work.”
“Evan didn’t find you, did he?”
“No.”
“Does Grant know that Evan whipped you?”
“I told him, and he wanted to knock his lights out. But I had to stop him.”
It was starting to dawn on me that there was more to the story. “Why did Evan attack you last night?”
“He found out.”
My mouth dropped open, waiting for more detail.
“He…” Her lips tightened. “Grant had only just left. We’d fucked all afternoon. And well… we lost track of the time.” Tabitha raised a brow. “He hurried off, just in time, because Evan arrived a couple of minutes later.”
“Shit, Tabi.”
“Yeah, it was a pretty close shave. I should have stopped Grant from fucking me. But he’s insatiable and fucking hot. He makes me come by the bucket loads. Like nobody ever has.”
“Hm… where have I heard that before?” My tone was sardonic. “Anyway, Evan arrived home, and what?”
“He fingered me, and I was all creamy. You know what it’s like?”
“What? You’re not even using condoms?”
Guilt coated her face again.
“Oh Tabi, you’re freaking crazy. What about if Grant’s got herpes or something?”
“He hasn’t. His fat yummy cock is clean and oh so yummy.” Her eyes had that lusty shine she got when talking about penises. This friend of mine was without doubt a sex maniac.
“Evan discovered you’d been having sex. Is that it?”
She nodded. “I tried to explain that I’d been playing with myself, but I was pretty flooded out down there.”
Ick. I didn’t really need to know that much detail, considering I’d only just eaten. And the fact that it was about my future father-in-law caused my stomach to twist and turn. What was I to tell Aidan? Or should I keep that detail away from him?
“So, Evan found out that you’
d just had sex?”
“Yep, he did all right. And that’s when he started pushing me about.”
“Shit. What a sticky situation.”
Tabitha’s mouth curled up. “Yeah, literally.”
We looked at each other and giggled.
I became serious again. “Is that when Evan whipped you?”
“No, that was from the night before.”
“What did Grant say when he saw the welts?” I asked, intrigued and disturbed at the same time.
“He was seriously pissed. He actually wanted to wait around and have it out with Evan. But I begged him to go.”
“You shouldn’t have stayed there. You could’ve come here, you know.”
“I didn’t stay there.” She frowned. “I ran away just after Evan tried to punch me. Luckily, I moved out of the way just in time. There’s a big hole in the wall.”
“Freaking hell. Where did you go?”
“I called Grant. And we stayed at a hotel.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. What about Sara?”
“Yeah, well. Look, Clary, I know this sounds bad, and I don’t have a great track record where relationships are concerned. But we’re serious.”
“This whole twisted situation is serious. Does Grant know you’re here?”
“Yeah, I rang him while you were arranging dinner for us.”
“And what did he say?”
“He’s glad that I’m with you, but also worried about what Aidan’s going to think. He knows that Aidan’s away at the moment.”
I nodded silently. I had much to contemplate.
Tabitha gave me a guilty, tight smile.
“What?” I asked.
“Do you mind if Grant comes to visit me here in the cottage?”
“Tonight, you mean?” I exhaled a slow breath. “Can’t you guys go one night without each other?”
She shook her head. “No. We’ve both got it bad. I’m telling you, Clarissa. From the moment he kissed me at your father’s wedding, I was hooked. Grant told me he felt the same. We’re in love.”
I sighed loudly. “I’ve heard this so often from you, Tabitha. I don’t know what to think. And Grant is old enough to be your father. Shit, he’s what, early 50’s?”
“He’s fifty-three and sexy as hell.” She fanned her face. “You know how I am around older men. He’s a Scorpio, and so am I, and we just can’t stop fucking. He’s got more stamina than men half his age. And he’s so well hung, I mean painfully so.” Her big green eyes glistened sultrily.
Like father, like son, I sighed silently.
“Do you realize you could become my stepmother-in-law.”
She squealed. “Shit. You’re right. What a scream.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
I trudged up the stairs to my kingdom. Or at least that was how it felt. I opened the door and pressed a button that turned all the pretty lamps on. The massive room with all its intimate corners was my favorite place in the world. I felt so secure in there, surrounded by so many beautiful objects that I could never tire of sitting there.
I headed straight over to the porticoed balcony. That was where I hung out the most. There was something eminently romantic about sitting there and gazing up at the moon over the sea while being serenaded by the roaring ocean.
A loud sigh left a smile behind. I was happy. I looked down at my hand. The diamond on my finger dazzled me as always. It seemed more like an amulet than a ring. I’m sure it wove a magic spell on me each time I stared down at it.
My phone buzzed. I pressed the button. “Aidan.”
“Hey, beautiful.” His rasp brought a delicious fluttering in my belly.
“How’s the work progressing? Are the panels up?” I asked.
“It’s going really well. The batteries are up and running and have more energy stored than we calculated. It’s fantastic.”
He sounded so excited. My stomach sank to the ground. How was I to introduce the difficult subject of Tabitha? And I had to tell him. It was his home, after all, despite his constant reminders that it was mine, as well.
“Aidan, that’s so great.”
“Isn’t it? Anyway, I should be back by Friday. I hope you’re not too lonely in that big house on your own.”
I swallowed with difficulty. My throat was tight. “I’m not exactly alone.”
“What do you mean?” His voice had a low, suspicious note.
“Um… Tabitha’s here.”
“That’s a good idea having her there. She can keep you company, and you two are pretty crazy together. You laugh a lot. It’s music when you laugh, baby.”
“She’s not here for fun and games, even though I have asked her to start working on our wedding.”
“That’s good—the sooner the better. It’s my thirtieth birthday on the eighth of November, which rather neatly falls on a Saturday. I’d love it to be then.”
“That’s only eight weeks away, Aidan.”
“So?”
“I thought there’d be lots to do, to organize, you know?”
“Not really. I’d prefer it small, just like Greta and Julian’s. That would be ideal. In any case, if I had it my way, I’d marry you now. Just the two of us on a beach. I’d carry you onto the yacht, and off we’d go for a few months.”
My heart did a somersault. “That sounds sublime, Aidan.” My voice trembled. I recalled our first night together on the yacht. Although we’d stayed there often since that momentous occasion, the bloodied sheet came to mind. I had stumbled upon it in a cupboard, and the horror on my face said it all. Aidan had taken it from me, forbidding me to have it destroyed. It was profoundly moving in a macabre and twisted way. But then that was Aidan: sentimental, dark, and sexy as hell for it.
“Are you okay, baby? What’s happened?”
“Have you spoken to your father lately?” I asked.
“Not really… Is this about that little tryst at the wedding?”
I exhaled a long, unsteady breath. “That’s part of it.”
“Speak to me, Clarissa. What’s happening?”
“Tabitha was beaten by Evan, and she’s moved out. As you know, our old apartment is no longer. And now she’s homeless. That’s why I’m letting her stay in the cottage. I hope you’re okay with that.”
“Hang on, Evan beat her? Are you sure she’s being honest?”
“Aidan,” my voice went up a decibel, “she’s got bruises all the way up her arms, and marks on her back from where he whipped her.”
“Whipped her? That sounds fucking medieval.”
I sniffed. “It certainly is that. Look, Aidan, I know Evan’s a close friend. He’s into S&M, and rather heavy-handed about it, too, from what Tabitha reported.”
“I know that he’s into kinky shit. But he also told me he only goes with women who are consensually submissive.”
“Tabitha was fine about it in the beginning. I must admit I was pretty shocked myself.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little spanking, baby, especially when one forgets to wear their panties,” he rasped.
I giggled. I needed that to relieve the tightness in my body. “Anyway, he’s become, according to Tabitha, increasingly aggressive, and she’s not a pretty sight.”
“What, the face?”
“No.”
“So, now I suppose I have to have a word with Evan. Shit. This is messy. I knew this would happen.”
“What do you mean, Aidan?” My face heated, matching my tone.
“Tabitha with Evan. I never liked it. I had a feeling something would fuck up.”
“Are you blaming Tabitha for this?”
“She’s not exactly loyal, is she?”
He had a point. But I resented the fact he was blaming her. “Aidan, whatever she is does not excuse Evan’s brutish behavior.”
There was a pause. All I heard was a long, extended breath. “Yeah, you’re right, Princess. I’m sorry. It’s not a comfortable place for me. Evan’s in charge of my security. He’s a good frie
nd. What do you want me to do?” His voice rang with dread, and I felt strangely responsible.
“Look, Aidan, there’s a little more to it.”
“What?”
“Your father’s involved.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. Did Evan find them together?”
“Not as such. I mean, Evan doesn’t know she’s been with your dad. But he suspected she’d been with another man, and that’s what set him off.”
Aidan puffed out a frustrated sigh. “They’re both as bad as each other.”
“Who are?”
“Grant and Tabitha.”
“That they are,” I conceded.
There was a moment of silence. “Are you there?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m still here. Aidan, they’ve been together every day since the wedding. It seems really serious.”
“That explains why Grant has been so evasive. I rang him to catch up the other day, and he said he was a bit caught up. At the time, I thought there was something weird, because Grant never misses an opportunity to meet up with me.”
“I can see he loves you, Aidan. But…” I paused to think. “What about Sara?”
“She’s pretty used to my father’s roving eye.”
“I like her, Aidan. She’s going to be hurt.”
“I’m not going to tell her. Are you?”
“No, but according to Tabitha, it’s serious. I get the feeling that Grant wants to make it official.”
“That would have to be pretty serious because Grant has been with Sara for ten years. They have an understanding. She turns a blind eye to his occasional dalliance, and in return, Grant allows her to go with women when she desires.”
“What? She’s into women?”
Aidan chuckled at my surprised tone. “Yeah. I know, it’s all weird shit in that house. But who am I to judge?”
“Christ, Aidan. I’m so boring in comparison.”
“Darling baby girl, you are far from boring. Just your voice alone is doing things to me. Hey, can we have a Skype session? You know, with you on the bed playing with yourself.”
Swelling heat overtook me. How could I jump from an earnest discourse to instant blood hot-arousal?
“You’ll have to wait until I slip into something uncomfortable.”
He laughed. “You’re adorable. I can do that. Anyway, back to the circus. I don’t mind Tabitha being there as long as she needs. It’s your home. You can have anyone you like stay. As long as they’re not male.”