by Alexia Praks
“Yeah. Night.”
Mary flipped her cell shut and angrily threw it on the bed. She growled and heaved. She simply couldn’t believe it. No, no, no... There must be something. It simple couldn’t be true.
*****
CHAPTER 17
JAYDEN WOKE UP feeling refreshed and alert. Despite the very late night, he had managed to get a good sleep. He sighed with satisfaction as he stared up at the ornate ceiling. Then suddenly everything that had happened the day before flashed back –Kelly’s dress fitting at Vera Wang, him lunching with Mr. Marcelo, the cocktail party, him seeing Sarah and Kyle again, Britney inviting him to her bed and him kissing Alex.
The thought of Alex caused him to grin from ear to ear. He glanced to his left. He saw that she was still sounded asleep. Oh damn! He sucked in his breath. So last night hadn’t been a dream after all. He hadn’t been imagining her milky skin, glossy hair and luscious lips. She was really beautiful, like a Goddess in those old Victorian paintings – all mysterious and desirable that even a monk would be tempted.
She groaned and stretched a little as he held his breath, wondering if she was going to wake up and see him ogling at her, thinking about her in such an ungodly manner. Oh yeah. He was thinking about her full lips, about descending his lips onto hers and licking his tongue along that divine, soft flesh.
‘Damn it, Jayden’ – the voice at the back of his head snapped. ‘You shouldn’t be thinking about Alex that way. She’s so pure and innocent she’d die of shock if she knew you were thinking about her in such a way.’
She didn’t open her eyes or show any sign of waking up, and he sighed with relief. She moved towards him and snuggled against him, her head now in the crock of his arm, her face resting against his chest and her hand resting about his stomach. Not to mention the fact that one of her legs was resting on the top of his.
Oh God! So intimate. ‘Gosh Jayden, you’re one lucky stud,’ he thought to himself
He grinned from ear to ear and stroked his fingers through her long hair. At that moment he felt very fulfilled and content. He closed his eyes, moved his face closer to hers so that his nose was touching her hair and he drifted off to sleep again.
When he woke up again he saw Alexandra watching him, her eyes large and curious as she was studying him.
He smiled and said warmly, “Morning.” A devilish grin on his face.
“Sorry,” she said suddenly. “I don’t know how I ended up here.” She made a motion to move away from his arm. He stopped her and gently drew her back.
“Aren’t you sore?” she asked.
“Nope,” he lied even though his arm was numb. He, however, didn’t mind one bit. “So did you have a good sleep?” he asked, made her rest her head on the crook of his arm again.
Alex nodded as she gazed up at him. She had to agree that it had been very comfortable sharing a bed with Jayden. Now, she thought, it was time for her revenge. The only problem was she wondered if she had the willpower and the confidence to actually go through with it. She had never done anything this reckless before. In fact, she had never thought she’d come up with such an idea. It was so extraordinary and so unlike her to say the least.
After the makeover, however, she knew she was now very comfortable in her own body and was quite confident that she would be able to go through with her plan. Her hands, after all, had been forced. She had no other choice. It was like she had been stranded off in the middle of the ocean. Under the circumstance she would either drown or learn to swim and survive. She, of course, had chosen the latter.
She glanced up at the man mostly responsible for this. Well to be honest he was kind of the one who had put her in the middle of the ocean.
Oh gosh revenge would ever be so sweet.
Jayden touched her nose. “What are you smirking about?”
“Nothing,” she replied, a delightful twinkle in her eyes. Suddenly a fluttery sensation erupted within her. She sat up, trying to calm herself down. “I’ll go and shower now,” she said and quickly rolled off the bed before Jayden could pull her back.
“Don’t be too long,” he said lazily.
She glanced at him and wanted to laugh. He looked almost like a puppy wanting to be patted. She shrugged her slender shoulders as if she didn’t know and she didn’t care as she strolled into the bathroom, making sure that she swung her hips just a little, like those super models did on the runway. He’d surely appreciate that, she thought, giggling inside.
Jayden surely did appreciate it as he watched her until she shut the bathroom door. He sighed and rested back on the piles of pillows, gazing out the window at the lovely sunshine outside. What a lovely day to go out, he thought.
In the shower Alex made sure that she scrubbed herself well until her skin was glowing. Afterward she went about moisturising herself and doing her makeup as she was taught by Lisa, the beauty therapist, so that she’d look naturally beautiful.
You can do this – the voice at the back of her head said as Alex stared at herself in the mirror. Two can play at this game. The table had to be turned. She nodded her head with a determined look on her face.
With only a thin towel wrapped around her slim body, her hair slightly wet, and her milky skin soft and glowing, she headed out the door. She made sure Jayden noticed her before she headed towards the walk-in-wardrobe.
Jayden sat up, his interest peaked as he watched her finding her clothing in the big wardrobe. Suddenly he wondered if seeing Alex everyday and him pretending to be gay was a good idea after all. He also wondered how long he’d be able to last not exposing the truth – the fact that he was not gay, that he was really attracted to her and that he couldn’t stand not touching her.
“Jayden?” he heard her soft voice. Was it just him or did her voice sound really seductive? All smooth and sweet like melted chocolate that it made him flared with desire. Shit! He really needed coffee. He really needed to clear his head.
He cleared his throat. Hoping that he didn’t sound like a wolf in heat, he responded, “Yeah?”
“I need help. I don’t know which dress I should wear.”
“Yeah. Sure,” he said, shaking his head. Alex? Having a dilemma on choosing a dress to wear for the day? Surely not!
“I’m sorry. I mean Kelly and Stephanie bought me lots of dresses. They said they wanted to see me in them. I feel like I’d let them down if I don’t wear them.”
“Understandable,” he said. “Whey don’t you show them to me?” He swung his foot to the floor as he got up.
“Yeah,” she said and out she came.
Jayden nearly had a heart attack. Right in front of him, with nothing on but her cute pink, lacy undies and bra stood Alex.
Holy Mother of God! Jayden felt the breath knocked out of him. He tried to calm himself down and not make a scene. Only it was really hard because Alex looked like a Victoria’s Secret model who at that moment was showing their new season’s underwear collection. She was all so sexy and hot that Jayden couldn’t help but keep ogling her and wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her silly. And do so much more, so much more.
“Well?” she asked, with an eyebrow raised. “Which one?”
Jayden blinked. What the heck was she talking about? Oh right! The dresses, which were in her hands, one on either side of her.
Honest to God he did try and concentrate on the dresses but it was impossible because Alex was too damn tempting.
“Which one?” she asked again.
“I’m not sure. Try them both on and see,” he suggested, at a lost, because –dear lord – all he noticed was her milky soft skin and her shapely body that could make her a model – a lingerie model – if only she was a little taller.
“Okay,” she said, smiling. “Here.” She handed one for him to hold on to. Jayden absentmindedly took it and continued to watch her.
Alex was in fact very nervous. Oh God! She thought he looked as though he was about to eat her whole. For what other reason woul
d he stare at her so intensel, like she was his delicious dessert.
‘Stay calm, Alex’ – the voice at the back of her head said. ‘Be confident. Show him. After all, you wanted him to suffer, don’t you?’ Beside he wouldn’t be able to touch her because he was supposed to be gay.
She slowly pulled the light blue off-the-shoulder dress down her body, the light material touching and caressing her skin. After tying the string at her waist she said, “Well?”
Silence. Blue eyes staring intensely.
“Well?” she repeated, a little nervous this time.
“What? Oh.” Jayden had to admit that she looked amazing in it. “It looks good,” he said, wondering when the heck she had asked him that question.
“Yeah, I like it too,” she said, her hands smoothing the fabric about her waist.
Jayden found himself jealous of her hands.
“Let me try the other one,” she said, undoing the string.
Jayden had a mental picture of what he would like to do to her next. After she had slowly taken that dress off, he’d like to pull her into his arms and starts kissing her and then...
“I’ll have to take my bra off to wear that one,” she said almost absentmindedly.
“Huh?” He jolted, wondering if she was really going to take her bra off and get dressed again there right in front of him. Oh yes, sweetheart, do that – he wanted to say to her.
Alex grinned, bent low towards him so that her face was inches from his.
Jayden was really going to die of a heart attack if she were to come any closer. He glanced down and saw her creamy cleavage parading enticingly before his eyes.
Alex grabbed the dress from his hand, stood up, turned on her heels and strolled back into the walk-in-wardrobe.
Damn! He thought in disappointment, she wasn’t going to take her bra off in front of him after all, he pouted mentally.
A moment later she returned, his eyes widened in delight – and as she had said last night – his pupils dilated at what he saw.
The printed sweetheart corset dress fitted her perfectly, showing off her slim body, shapely legs and not to mention those gorgeous breasts.
Holy Shit! It was only morning and he was already excited. This, he thought, was going to be very hard, in more ways than one. All right, Jayden, he thought to himself, Alex would be gone soon. Only a week more to go and then she’d be gone –back to good old New Zealand. The thought of her leaving, however, didn’t sit well with him. He realised that he had become attached to her, that he liked her company, that he might have more feelings for her than he previously thought, and – oh shit –that he might be falling in love with her after all.
Alex put her hands on her hips and showed off the garment like a model would at the end of a runway. “What do you think?”
“I think it looks great,” he said, a tight feeling in his chest. Oh God, he really wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her and then tell her that he loved her. But he couldn’t because he was supposed to be gay.
“Jayden, are you okay?” she asked, concern showing in her soft voice.
Where the heck had she gotten the idea that he was not okay from? More importantly how the heck did she know he wasn’t okay?
Alex came to stand right in front of him. She stroked her fingers through his blonde hair and said, “Are you worried about your sister’s wedding?”
He looked up at her. ‘No, sweet heart’ – he thought –‘I’m worried what’s gonna happen to me when you’re gone.’
“It’s okay,” she said sweetly, sitting down beside him. “Everything is going to be all right.”
Jayden nodded. Gosh, he really hoped so. He didn’t know what came over him. It just felt kind of right that he pulled her onto his lap.
She obediently obliged and wrapped her arms around his muscular neck. Then Jayden snuggled his face against the crook of her neck and slowly started kissing her.
Alex sucked in her breath from the excitement erupting within her. She tightened her arms around his neck and groaned. His lips against her skin were so hot and sweet. She didn’t want it to end, but she knew it must. She only wanted him to really want her and break down and confess to her that he was not gay and that he might be in love with her. It didn’t seem to be going that way, however, and she herself didn’t want to get hurt in the process.
She pulled back. “I’m hungry,” she said. “Can we go down and have our breakfast now?”
Jayden blinked. He was still lost in his own emotions and his want for her that it took him a few seconds to register what she was saying.
“Of course,” he said, trying to regain his composure. “You go down first. I need a shower.”
“Ok,” she said, getting off his lap.
He didn’t feel like letting her go. He felt as though she was leaving his life forever. His gut wrenched with dread.
He watched her giving him a lovely smile before she shut the door.
“Oh, Jayden, what have you gotten yourself into?” he muttered as he got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. After showering and dressing himself in a pair of Calvin Klein jeans and a tee shirt, he headed down the stairs. He heard loud voices as he opened the dining room door. There he saw his father earnestly talking to Sam, his future brother-in-law, who couldn’t seem to keep his hands away from Kelly. Alex was sitting beside Gracie on the far side of the dining table, having breakfast. They were chatting away like old friends. How odd, he thought, he felt good that they got along so well.
“Jay,” Sam greeted loudly. “How are you? Long time no see, man.”
“Hey, Sam,” Jayden greeted, smiling as he strolled into the room. He glanced at Alex who was watching him with her brows raised.
“Good to see you,” Sam said.
“How was business in Hawaii?” Jayden asked.
“All sorted. Now it’s holiday time,” Sam chuckled. Then he looked at Kelly and winked at her, a promise in his eyes.
“Good,” Jayden said. “Hey, have you met my girlfriend Alex?”
Alexandra felt her heart missed a beat. Oh God! Jayden just told Sam that she was his girlfriend – in a very sincere, warm tone.
“Yeah, Kelly introduced her to me,” Sam said. “Good choice, man.” Then he winked knowingly.
Jayden laughed. “So what’s the plan for the day?”
“Just me and my lovely bride today,” Sam said. “What about you?”
“Nothing planned,” Jayden said sheepishly.
Alex picked up her cup of tea and sipped, disappointment building up in her stomach. So there’d be no chance of her ever seeing New York while she was here after all. She might as well go back to bed, she thought in irritation.
They chatted for a while longer and then Sam ushered Jay to one side once he had the chance.
“Hey, mind if you do me a favour?” he asked, glancing behind him to make sure that Kelly wouldn’t over hear them. He saw that she was too busy chatting on her cell to notice anything.
“Yeah,” Jayden replied.
“I’ve promised to spend time with Kelly today. I mean I really missed her, bro. So if you don’t mind, would you go to Tiffany’s to get our wedding rings for me?”
“Yeah, sure. Today?”
“Yeah. The payment is all taken care off. Just need to fetch them. Mind you. It’s a surprise for Kelly. She hasn’t seen it.”
“Yeah,” Jayden said, smiling.
“Thanks, man,” Sam said, patting Jayden’s back.
With the deal done, Sam whisked Kelly away and Jayden went about having his breakfast.
*****
CHAPTER 18
ALEXANDRA SLID INTO the bedroom, leaned against the closed door and sighed as she shut her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the BlackBerry Jayden had given to her on the bedside table. She grabbed it and started dialling her home numbers. After a few rings it was picked up by her mom. “Hello? Maly speaking.”
“Hey, mom.” Alex tightened the phone in her hand near h
er ear. The sound of her mother’s voice caused a knot in the pit of her stomach. Gosh how she missed her family.
“Sweetheart, how’s things? The conference not tiring you out? I know how much you don’t like travelling and especially going to another country.”
“I’m good, mom, how’s dad and everyone else?”
“Everyone here is good. Oh sweetheart, we miss you so much and it has only been four days.”
“I know. I miss you all too.”
In the distance Alex could hear Emma’s voice shouting, “Mom? Is that Alex? Hey, Alex, have you been shopping for my presents yet? Remember I want gifts. And have you been sightseeing at all yet?”
Alex shook her head. She wanted to laugh. Emma was Emma.
Sightseeing? She had been wanting to go sightseeing since the day she had arrived, but so far that handsome fake boyfriend of hers hadn’t even yet taken her as far out as the street in front of the house.
“Don’t mind her,” Alex heard her mom say. “You know you how your sister is.”
Alex laughed. “Yeah. Mum? I love you and Dad too. I have to go now.”
“Oh. Of course, sweetheart. We’ll talk later. And see you again soon.”
“Yeah, bye now,” she said and hung up. After placing the BlackBerry back on the bedside table, she ambled to the balcony. Looking down at the immaculate garden, she saw Sam and Kelly kissing passionately near the water feature. Then a moment later they reluctantly parted and hopped into the red Ferrari. Alex felt an odd tug in her heart as the car drove away toward the gate. No doubt they’d be having a wonderful time together, she thought.
‘Ugh! What’s wrong with you, Alex?’ She asked herself. She was not usually a jealous person, but...
Heck she was envious of Kelly for finding the right man who really loved her. But she was also happy for Kelly because the woman deserved it.
Once the car disappeared from sight, she turned on her heels and went back into the bedroom. It was such a lovely day. She couldn’t believe she was wasting it here in the bedroom, half sulking.