I ran a hot bath with the rest of Elle’s bubble-bath-Christmas-gift and sunk into it, lying back for a long soak. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, my mom’s voice was calling me from the hallway.
The water was cold now, and I shivered as I stepped out, pulling my fluffy towelling material robe from behind the door to wrap around me.
I spoke to my parents briefly, and my dad hugged me warmly. My mother was in a great mood until she opened the fridge, then threatened Jack with all sorts of torture the next time she saw him. I knew she didn’t really mean it.
My mom loved Jack almost as much as I did. My dad told me my auntie insisted I visit before I left again. I promised to do this, and thought maybe I would take Alfie. I could just imagine her face. My Auntie Bertrice was a snob, and Alfie’s leather jacket made him a criminal, never mind the ink he sported.
I dressed in some black skinny jeans and a deep purple sheer blouse with hidden buttons. I wore a deep purple satin bra and panties underneath. It was sexy, but the dark color of the bra and the dark blouse still left something to the imagination.
I straightened my hair tonight; I wanted to switch my look up a little and put some kohl around my eyes to make them smoky.
I wasn’t sure what shoes or boots to wear, knee-high or ankle, heels or flats, but I didn’t want to wear fuck-me shoes, that was for sure.
I decided on some cute black leather ankle boots with metal stud detail. They went great with my outfit. I called a cab and kissed my parents goodnight, telling them that I wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.
By the time I arrived at Jack’s place, Alfie and the band were already there, as well as my friends David and Emily. Elle was working, and Sam was catching a cab with her after work.
Jack flung his arm over my shoulder and escorted me into the sitting room. “Look who’s here.” Alfie’s eyes went wide when he saw me. He stood up and smoothed his plain black t-shirt over his fabulous abs. Why did I always want to be his hand when he did that?
Drew was on his feet too. Drew was the lead guitarist in Crakt Soundzz, Alfie’s band. He was a good guy and although I had only met him the one time, he was kind to me and tried to make me feel comfortable around them.
Des was there, the bass player; I wasn’t too keen on him, he was too smart with his mouth and had made a comment to Alfie about me, in front of me, that left me feeling mortified.
He was partly the reason for my bust up with Alfie. That argument resulted in me staying alone in a hotel in Orlando after their gig, instead of traveling back to Miami in the minivan with the band. The drummer, who I hadn’t spoken to, but he smiled at me and seemed shy. I couldn’t recall anyone ever telling me his name.
“I see you’ve met all the guys,” I said to everyone trying to sound more confident than I was actually feeling. Alfie closed the distance between us and placed his hand on my arm, kissing me lightly on the cheek. He leaned back, smiling.
“Glad you finally got here. You look stunning as always,” he said as his eyes checked me out and showed their appreciation of what they saw by the dark look he was now giving me.
Jack moved over to a tall slim blond girl with a gorgeous face. I wouldn’t expect him to be with anyone less beautiful, Jack could have anyone he wanted, and usually did. “This is Cat.”
I put my hand up. “Don’t say it, Jack, thinking voice.” He smirked and chuckled. David and I smirked at each other and burst out laughing. Alfie turned to the guys in the band and they cottoned on to what he may be about to say. They all fell about laughing too.
We all knew that Jack was about to say, “As in pussy,” by way of explanation. It was Jack, after all, and it was definitely an icebreaker.
I spoke with Cat for a few minutes when Jack was getting us drinks and was able to help her see the funny side of his introduction. She was a really nice girl, clever too; she worked as a mental health professional. “You may be a keeper for Jack, then,” I joked.
Soon the guys were ‘shooting the shit’, as Will would say, and I was pleased about this, because there were no awkward moments. It seemed like these guys had all known each other for years.
They were finding common themes to talk about, and as all my friends were into the music scene in one way or another, they could hold decent debates about different genres and artists.
Alfie seemed content to watch me to move around my friends and chat naturally. I was quite impressed that he didn’t feel the need to stay beside me.
He wasn’t behaving all jealous or being off with my male friends the way I’d seen him behaving around Will. Maybe he saw something with Will that I hadn’t.
He was almost behaving the same jealous way with Jack, but he controlled that yesterday when Jack was being tactile with me.
Seeing Jack with this girl tonight has helped the situation. I could see Alfie was still wary when Jack talked to me, but he was coping better. I knew he still didn’t get us. To be fair, not many people did outside of our group.
We seemed content to chill out until Elle arrived and started her usual drinking games. Jack produced two bottles of tequila, and Drew pulled out a bag from a liquor chain store and shouted, “Snap.” I was thinking, jeez, that’s a lot of tequila on top of what everyone has drunk already.
We began to get pretty drunk taking shots, and the next thing I knew, Elle was laid out flat on the kitchen countertop, with her stunningly toned abdomen on display, making all the guys drool. Drew was being egged on to take a body shot from her, and he was looking game.
I watched Drew sprinkle on the salt, and he looked like he thought he’d died and gone to heaven.
Jack whispered to me, “He’s been eye fucking her since the minute she walked into the room.” I thought it was just ‘crude Jack’ until I glanced over at Drew, and Jack wasn’t underestimating the situation there.
Elle was lying down and her eyes met mine, and I could see she was more than happy that Drew was up for this. Drew eyed the shot glass and turned it around in his fingers. He’d already sprinkled the salt, and he poured some tequila in Elle’s belly button.
Des and Andy, the drummer’s name by the way, had ringside seats and were encouraging Drew. “Fuck Drew, savor that, take it slow man,” said Des.
Drew bent forward and started licking around Elle’s naval. Elle began giggling. Alfie took the opportunity whilst everyone was watching to come closer to me.
“Hey,” he cooed. He whispered from behind the beer bottle he held to his mouth, one finger from his other hand stroking my hand. He smelled amazing, so clean and alluring. I turned to him as his head turned and met his gaze.
“Are you having a good time?” I asked softly, smiling up at him.
He dipped his head forward, and his lips met mine in a slow sensual kiss. He briefly broke off to look at me with the beginnings of a smile, and reconnected with me, his tongue probing my mouth.
Our tongues twisted and explored each other, and his hand came around and buried itself in my hair at the nape of my neck as he deepened the kiss. I shivered. It was really a small, unhurried kiss, but it turned me on so much.
He always gave me a buzz of electricity when we touched, and this time was no different. He broke away again, leaving me breathless, and grinned widely now, showing his dimple to me.
His eyes were dilated, his eyelids drooping sexily with desire. “I am now,” he husked. He took my hand and walked away from the spectacle that was Elle and Drew, leading me over to the furthest sofa.
He sat down, his long legs spread apart and pulled me onto his lap. His hand stroked my back as I lay with my head on his chest, and he breathed deeply. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me, letting me spend time with you here,” he stated.
He had no idea what his words did to me, I felt so much joy that he was happy just spending time with me. “So tell me,” I murmured.
Alfie inhaled deeply, then spoke, his voice vibrating in his chest so that I could feel as well as hear it. “Yo
u’re very important to me, Lily.”
Important? “I am?” I sounded surprised, but still kept my voice soft.
“Absolutely, you are, I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.” I pushed myself up to look at him.
“How, how am I important?” As I was waiting to hear him answer I saw Jack making his way to us and gave him a glare that told him to back off. I wanted to hear this.
“I care about you.”
I twisted my mouth. “You care?”
He smiled slowly. “I want to be near you all the time. I can’t explain it, and I like being with you.” He pulled me back, resting my head on his chest again, and stroked my hair tenderly, kissing the top of my head.
“Don’t overthink anything, Lily. Please, I’m just trying to get to know you.” I had to give it to him, he was making an effort. I’d been calling all the shots, and he had been there so far. He lifted my chin, and my eyes met his. He smiled and licked his lips. “You are the most beautiful, amazing girl, do you know that?” I stared back at him.
“If you feel this, why aren’t you with me?” He smiled widely.
“I’m here now, aren’t I?” He drew my head forward and kissed me tenderly murmuring, “God, I need to be alone with you, Lily, please?” I raised my head and glared at him.
“I’m not having sex with you, Alfie,” I commented dryly.
“Yeah, you said, I heard you,” he replied in a clipped tone. “I just want to hold you, Lily. I promise. I won’t try anything. I’m respecting your decisions.”
I glanced over at everyone in the room, and realized I just wanted to be alone with him too. Elle and Drew were getting cozy on the sofa across from us. I met Jack’s gaze, and he shrugged.
Elle was in a long-term relationship, but seemed to have forgotten this. Jack mouthed, “Everything okay?” I gave him a small nod.
“Give me a minute.” I looked at Alfie before pushing myself off of his lap and wandering over to Jack.
He smiled and cuddled me when I reached him. “Thank you for doing this for me,” I muttered into his chest.
“You know I’d do anything for you honey, always,” he stated matter-of-fact.
“Would you be pissed if we went to your guest bedroom?” I asked. He pushed me away from him to look at me.
“Seriously? You’re going to let him fuck you anyway?” I scowled at him and his assessment of the situation.
“No, Jack, we just want to talk. I am not going to let that happen tonight. Trust me.” He raised his eyebrow.
“Wasn’t that the point of tonight, being here? That you don’t trust yourself?” He had a point, but I felt stronger about what I needed to do for myself now.
“Point taken, but I’m asking for your trust now.”
Jack pulled me back in for a hug and murmured into my head, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Lily, but sure, you didn’t have to ask. You know you can do what you like here.”
I smiled at him. “Get Drew off Elle before she regrets it tomorrow,” I hissed. He smiled and nodded as I walked back to Alfie.
“Y’all looked very cozy there,” Alfie scowled.
I smirked at his jealous comment, and took his hand. “Come on we’re going somewhere quieter, but don’t get too excited, I’m not having sex with you.”
He looked seriously at me. “I know, you keep saying that, and I’ve accepted it. It’s you that seems to be the one you’re trying to convince here, I think.”
CHAPTER 13 – RESTRAINT TRAINING
I led Alfie through to Jack’s guest bedroom, the one I’m supposed to sleep in when I visit. Alfie’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw it and not because he liked the décor.
The soft glow of the bedside lamp created a seductive ambiance in the room. “Don’t get any ideas Alfie. You wanted to be alone, so I asked Jack if we could use this for some privacy.”
He smiled sympathetically and pulled me in for a hug. “It’s alright, Lily, whatever you want,” he cooed. My emotions were almost overwhelmed by his comment.
I wanted to cry, because I loved him, and I couldn’t really have whatever I wanted like he said. It would be the easiest thing in the world to let him take me right now, which was what I really wanted, but more than that, I just wanted him.
I pushed off his chest and walked over to the bed, the mattress dipping as I sat down. Alfie came over, and it dipped again as he sat next to me. He turned to look at me, his mouth curving into a seductive smile.
He reached out for my hand and took it from my lap, into his, lacing our fingers together. He glanced down at them and lifted them to his mouth, placing his lips against my fingers. I lay back flat, with my back on the bed, my legs still bent and my feet on the floor.
He twisted to look at me. “I know this is hard for you, Lily. I get it.” I lifted my head to see him.
“I don’t know that you do, Alfie. Unless you can feel what I feel, you’ll never get it.” I let my head flop back again. He stood up, letting go of my hand and reached under the lampshade, turning the light off.
The switch made a small clicking sound and darkness filled the room. He found the bed and the mattress dipped again. I felt his warm body slide alongside me on the bed.
“Let me hold you, Lily,” he cooed. The mattress shifted as he slipped his arm under my neck and turned me to face him. His arms then enveloped me as I curled my legs up and nestled into his hard body. He took a deep breath. “Thank you,” he whispered softly.
I moved my head slightly, raising it to look at him. “For?” I wasn’t sure which direction this was taking.
“For letting me hold you like this,” he husked. “I know it’s hard for you.”
It was, but hearing him say it made tears prick and fall silently. “Are you crying?” he asked softly. I sniffed and wiped fat tears from my face swiftly with my sweater sleeve.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
He kissed my tears away. “I’m sorry, baby,” he murmured as he laid soft kisses all over my face. His lips settled on mine, his breath softly wafting over them. He stroked my mouth with his, gradually slanting his head, and deepening the kiss, his tongue finding mine.
We lay kissing tenderly whilst he held me tightly. We didn’t talk much after that, and eventually we moved up the bed lengthwise. I must have fallen asleep at some point because I woke up needing to pee and noticed that we were covered by a blanket and Alfie’s hand was tightly holding me around my waist.
I tried to slip out from beside him, and his arm immediately tightened. “You’re not going anywhere, you’re here with me,” he grumbled.
I smiled. “I need to pee.” Giggling, I managed to extract myself from his grip. “It’s cold now, you need to hurry back,” he mumbled sleepily, as I left the room.
Jack was coming out of his bedroom. “And? Did he fuck you?” Good old Jack, as blunt as ever.
I smiled. “Nope, and he didn’t even try.”
His eyes widened. “Damn, the guy must be in training to be a monk, even I have difficulty restraining myself with your warm little body.”
I batted his arm. “Eww, Jack, stop it.” He chuckled, his head gesturing towards the bedroom. “Well, kudos to him, he must have the worst case of blue balls back there.” I smiled, and felt proud that I had been strong, but in all fairness, I think the strength was due to Alfie digging deep to hold himself back.
I had felt his erection a few times when our bodies brushed, but he’d move away from me, rather than grind himself on me, as he would have in the past.
Once I had finished in the bathroom, I quickly went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of Coke to quench my thirst from the tequila. I peeped into the sitting room on my way back to Alfie. Elle was lying snuggled up with Drew on one of the couches.
Her leg was tangled in his, looking way too involved for it to be innocent. But then again, who am I to judge, if people looked at Jack and me sometimes, they would assume too.
I crept back into the bedroom and crawled acros
s the bed. Alfie’s arm reached out and pulled me down beside him, rolling me onto my side, as he snuggled up to my neck.
He inhaled sharply, and adjusted his hips slightly away from me, but still managed to wrap his leg over mine. “That’s so much better, I missed you,” he whispered. “Sleep, honey,” he commanded, and I didn’t need to be told twice.
The next few days played out pretty much the same. Alfie was being a gentleman, and I was feeling happier than I had for a long time. He seemed to want to spend all his time with me, even taking me to sit through the band’s rehearsals.
Elle came with me one day and whispered that she was definitely into Drew. “What about your dancer guy?” I asked raising my eyebrow at her. Elle told me she was seeing a dancer from another musical she was in. I hadn’t actually met him, but they had been an item since before I left for Florida.
Elle smirked. “Well, Lily, it isn’t serious, at least I’m not.”
I scowled. “You know he’ll be gone in a few days right?”
Elle shrugged. “It’s new, Lily, don’t sweat it. Don’t you think I know that? It isn’t as if he’s leaving me barefoot and pregnant now, is it?” She smiled like she didn’t have a care in the world.
All my friends seemed to have the same attitude towards relationships, not really interested in finding ‘the one’. So maybe I should question how I seemed to have gotten attached to Alfie so quickly.
New Year’s Eve had come quickly, and the past few days had been great. I wasn’t seeing Alfie until after his gig tonight.
He and the band had given all of us complimentary tickets for it. Today, though, it was all about sound checks and rehearsals at the venue for him.
We were going to see them perform in support for Cobham Street, and they had invited us to their after show party too. All my friends were stoked to be able to go. Going to the gig and the after show party beat the tickets we had for a nightclub New Year’s Eve party, hands down.
David was ultra-excited, because he’d been a Cobham Street fan since 2005, but his computer crashed when he tried to get tickets, and by the time he rebooted they had sold out.
Everything She Needs (The Everything Trilogy) Page 10