“Like, kinky, you know… anal.” I blush.
“Don’t plan to, not today anyway.” He smiles and winks. “On your hands and knees!”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I really don’t know how I feel about some of the things I’ve heard about.
He kneels behind me and holds onto my hips with his big hands. I look down back between my legs and I see his balls and hard cock come towards me. Oh, he is so impressive. I feel the tip of his manhood enter me again slowly. He withdraws and then rams ahead again, deep and hard. I move forward with the momentum, it feels so good. I cry out. “Oh God, James!”
“Good, Alex?”
“Oh! Oh!” I cry out loudly.
We explode together, and with one final thrust I crash onto my front, he tumbles on top of me.
We stay like that for a moment or two, but he’s heavy and I shuffle, trying to get comfortable. He moves off me, slides out of me and moves me onto my side. He faces me and we lie together, his semi-erect cock still looking glorious. I glance at the clock at the side of my bed – it’s ten, still early but I’m shattered.
He pulls me into his arms and holds me. My head is on his shoulder and I think we must have fallen asleep like this as we are woken at 2 a.m. by my mobile ringing away downstairs.
“What is it?” I ask sleepily.
“Your mobile, I think.” He moves, disturbing my so comfortable position. We’re both naked but he doesn’t seem to care. I wouldn’t either, I don’t think, with a body like that. He gets out of bed and walks down to the kitchen, but by the time he’s got there it’s rung off. James returns to bed with the phone. I’ve turned my bedside lamp on. “Who was it?”
“Don’t know – they’d rung off by the time I got there.” He hands me my phone, and as I check the call log the phone pings again, signalling a voicemail.
I press the green square with the red dot on my iPhone and listen to the only message I have.
“Hello, this is Clive, one of the doormen at Henry’s. We’ve your daughter here, and her friend, a little worse for wear. I’ve put them in a cab, they said they were staying at Reid’s, so that’s where I’ve sent the cab to. They seem like lovely girls, I wouldn’t normally do this, but Nial said they were to be looked after so I just wanted to let you know. Thanks.”
“Shit, it’s Anna,” I say to James. “Pissed, I think, and Katie. They’ve been put in a cab and sent back to Reid’s. I’d better go, can you take me?” I say as I drag myself out from my bed. I look down and remember what we got up to.
I look at James and down at myself again. He laughs at me. “Hello baldy!”
“You… have got some explaining to do!” I point at him before grabbing my yoga pants and a t-shirt.
He stands and reaches for his jeans, dialling the hotel as he does. “Hi, it’s James. Can you ask whoever’s on the door to look out for Anna Drake and her friend, apparently they’re pissed! Bloke from Henry’s has put them in a cab back to the hotel…”
I give him a filthy look – describing my daughter as pissed! I’m allowed to do that, not anyone else. He shrugs his shoulders at me.
He dresses quickly and I brush my hair and teeth while he finishes.
I head downstairs and collect my bag from the kitchen. I fill a glass with water and take a quick drink while I’m there and look around at the mess we left. James appears in the kitchen doorway. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
We leave and are soon on our way through London’s streets. They take on a completely different look at night; some darker areas look sinister, I see homeless people huddled in shop doorways, sleeping bags tight up around their necks. Poor souls, if I’d have left Lewis before all this happened, that could have been me or, worse still, me and Anna.
James is concentrating, gripping the wheel.
“Won’t the staff think it’s funny that we’ve arrived together at two a.m.?” It’s never crossed my mind before that we’re spending so much time together. I wonder if anyone else has noticed? I bet Marcus has.
“So what if they do, you’re not embarrassed of me, are you?” he asks.
“No… No way, in fact the opposite. I like you being by my side, what woman wouldn’t?”
We’ve not long arrived and we’re waiting in the foyer when a cab pulls up outside. Anna and Katie all but fall out; Anna’s on her knees and Katie, well, she’s standing but I wonder how in those three-inch heels. Their short dresses are leaving nothing to the imagination, I can see everything and when I say everything, I really do mean that!
“Come on, girls, large glass of water and bed,” James says as he grabs Katie, just as she’s about to go arse over tip.
“Who… who… are… you?” she slurs. “You’re very nice, I like you. I’m Katie, pleased… hic… pleased to meet you!”
James laughs, shaking his head. “Good to meet you too, Katie. Now, come on, be a good girl, let’s get you up to your room and sleep this off.”
“GO KATIE, GO KATIE!” Anna shouts at the top of her voice. “You pulled – you little minx,” she slurs. “I want one too, Muuum… Katie pulled and I… I’m going to hurl!” she yells for the whole hotel to hear.
I drag my not-so-darling daughter into the loos and shove her in a cubicle just as Lord knows how much alcohol is spewed into the pan. I stand behind her, doing my motherly bit, and hold her hair out of the way. She’s done this before, the school prom was the first time, I suppose because she normally doesn’t drink the effects are far worse.
We must be in that cubicle for twenty minutes before she finally finishes emptying her stomach.
“Come on, lady. Bed!” I hold onto her as she staggers out of the loo.
James and I negotiate the lift and corridor to their room. Katie hasn’t thrown up, so we’ve possibly that delight still to come. James insists that they both drink a pint of water. I help them both undress whilst James, being a gentleman, waits outside.
Once I’m sure they’re both comfortable and after acquiring two buckets from housekeeping, I leave them with the lights down low and pop my head around the door. James is sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. “Do you think I should stay with them?” I ask. “You know, in case one of them chokes.”
He looks at his watch. “It’s three a.m., only a couple of hours before it’s light, I suppose you should. I’ll go and get you a drink, what do you fancy?”
“I’m okay, I’ll make a tea in the room.” I glance back at the hospitality tray.
“Fine, I’ll go and catch up with Robbie, see how things are going.” He climbs up from his seat on the floor.
“Sure, if they seem to be okay I’ll come and find you. We’re still on for shopping tomorrow – sorry, later today?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Yeah, if that’s what you want.”
“It is.” I kiss him lightly on the forehead. “Sorry, James.”
“No worries. She’s eighteen, we’ve all been there, some of us more than others.” He grins.
“Oh yes? So I take it you were a bit of a wild one when you were younger?” I grin.
“Umm. Maybe?”
Chapter 11
I stay in the girls’ suite, positioning myself on the small sofa, and listen for any sounds, evidence of movement, or asphyxiation. The last thing I want to report to Katie’s parents is that she choked on her own vomit whilst in my care, that’s the one and only reason I’m keeping such a careful eye on them. I’ve made myself more tea and drink it slowly, sipping the hot liquid which offers a little comfort. I was so happy in James’s arms. Despite being asleep I think I still felt the comfort of him being around me, my head on his chest, it all just felt so right.
I think about Lewis and his behaviour yesterday, which frankly was appalling, and I reach to my cheek. I left home in such a hurry and without any makeup, the bruise must be showing properly now. Thoughts of his previous outbursts run through my mind. There are many and I am sure that I must have forgotten some of them; the episodes that resulted in my injuries I remember
more vividly. The cracked ribs, the nasty bruises and the times I cancelled routine appointments and been prevented from attending functions because I was sporting injuries that would undoubtedly have been noticed. Not that I minded not going to the functions – I wouldn’t have known anyone there, they were Lewis’s friends and acquaintances, all I was required for was to behave as a token wife should, not say a word, just look “pretty” on his arm, as he used to tell me, and God forbid if anyone spoke to me and I entered into conversation with them, particularly about business. I would feel like I was treading on egg shells in case I said the wrong thing to the wrong person, which was highly likely as I was not privy to any information regarding his business, so whatever I said would be wrong and result in some sort of furious row once we returned home. I shake myself. Stop dwelling on the past, Alex, it’s gone, we’ve moved on…
I make myself yet another cup of tea and check the time, 5.30 a.m., it’s just about light. I check on the girls, they’re both still fast asleep in a tangle of sheets, both sleeping on their sides, that’s good.
I ring down to reception and ask them to send some Alka-Seltzer up, they’ll need it when they wake, and then I flick through a magazine and must doze until around nine when I hear someone move and then the bathroom door slam shut. I check the beds, it must be Katie, Anna’s still sound asleep. I tap the bathroom door. “Katie, are you all right?” I ask.
My reply is the sound of Katie retching, followed by, “Fine, Al.” Katie has always called me Al, I’m unsure why and can only think that as a little girl she couldn’t get her tongue around Alex or Alexandra. Anyway, she’s the only person who calls me that and I don’t mind.
I hear her retch again followed by the flush of the toilet. “Do want some water?” I ask through the door.
“Please,” she moans. “I’m never drinking those things…” She doesn’t finish her sentence before she’s retching again.
I sit on the end of Katie’s vacant bed waiting for her to emerge and in anticipation of Anna taking her place in the bathroom. As I wait, Anna wakes. She looks at me; her skin is red and blotchy and her eyes are puffy. “Was it a good night?” I ask with a wry smile.
“Yeah. Oh shit, I’m going to be sick.” She moves quickly out of bed.
“Bathroom’s occupied,” I say, and pick up the bucket I left her last night.
“Oh no, Mum, not in a bucket!” But it’s too late and she hurls anyway into said bucket, which I have deftly held in place to catch the expulsion of her stomach contents.
“What were you drinking last night?” I wince at her as she continues to vomit.
“Zombies, we had a few each.”
“What’s in a Zombie?” I ask, having never heard of it.
“It’s rum based, that’s all I know… and very nice… Oh no!”
She hurls again. It’s a delightful job I have here, I think to myself, and such a good job that I’m not easily disturbed by someone throwing up.
The morning moves on quickly and when it becomes apparent that the girls have stopped throwing up, we make our way to the restaurant, but not before I’ve used some of Anna’s makeup to cover my bruised face. It’s not quite as bad as I thought it would be, but the evidence that someone has walloped me still shows.
It is my intention that they have a decent breakfast each, even if it’s only several slices of dry toast. They need to have something in their stomachs. On the way down, I text James.
Girls finished vomiting, on way to eat breakfast. Meet us there? XX
A few seconds later my phone pings with James’s reply:
OK blossom. On way. Missed U. JX ;)
We walk through the archway to the restaurant and are greeted by the delightful Marcus.
“Good morning, Mrs Drake, Miss Drake. I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” he says to Katie.
“I’m Katie, Anna’s best friend,” she croaks and offers her hand, which he gladly accepts and shakes, his sausage-like fingers gripping Katie’s tiny hand.
“Table for the three of you today?” he asks.
“No, James is joining us,” I say shortly.
“Oh, is he? This way, please.”
“Yes, he is, Marcus.” I can be just as terse as he can.
We sit and order coffee, tea, and plenty of brown and white toast. The coffee and tea arrive very quickly, courtesy of Lola, and the toast arrives very soon after, as does James. Both girls look like death warmed up, they probably feel like it too!
He bends and kisses my cheek before sitting down. Anna looks as he kisses me. “Mum,” she mouths.
“What?” I ask her.
“You… you and…” she nudges her head towards James, “…him.”
“So?” I frown.
“Nothing, it’s cool,” she laughs. “My Mum pulled and he’s… well, he’s a walking, living sex god!”
James raises an eyebrow and looks at me and then at Anna. He says nothing, I assume he’s just storing the information. I flush.
“So, what did you girls get up to last night, what did you drink to make you like that?” His tone is firm.
“They had a drink called a zombie.” I volunteer the information that Anna gave to me earlier.
“Zombie! No wonder you were plastered. You do know how many shots of rum there are in a zombie?” He shakes his head, sighing.
“No!” Katie and Anna answer in unison. “How many?” Katie asks.
“There’s one of Bacardi, one of dark rum, one of light, and one of apricot brandy. That’s four shots of spirit in each cocktail. How many did you have?”
“I don’t know.” Anna plays with her toast and looks at Katie for support. “Four or five, maybe six,” she says meekly.
“Four or five or six! That’s like twenty-plus shots! No wonder you were both pissed, it’s a wonder you didn’t give yourself bloody alcohol poisoning!” He looks shocked, I think, that they’re not in hospital.
I look on as James gives Anna and Katie a dressing down. I know he shouldn’t really, it’s not his place, not his responsibility, but everything he’s saying is correct. I smile, if anyone else was talking to Anna and her friend like this I’d jump straight on them, but no, everything James says is right, maybe they’ll remember this little lecture better with it coming from James, rather than me.
“What would have happened if the guy at the club hadn’t have called your mum? He didn’t have to, in fact, I’m surprised that he did, they would normally just throw you out on the street and let the police deal with you. Have you listened to his message? I’m for anyone having a good time, hell – I’ve been there, done it and got all the merchandise that goes along with it, but four or five zombies! Huh, I thought you two were supposed to be bright, clever?” His tone is firm, they’re having a proper telling off.
I can see that he’s not happy. His face is tense, his expression one of worry and concern, but he’s also angry. He sounds like a dad. Yes, I expect he’ll make a great dad one day, but not with me by his side, he’ll have someone much younger then.
In their defence, I add to the discussion: “I think the girls have learnt a hard lesson this morning. They were in a terrible state until an hour or two ago, I don’t think they’ll be doing it again in a hurry and I don’t think they’ll be having zombies ever again!”
“We won’t, Mum, promise. We won’t, will we, Katie?” Anna sounds dreadful.
“No, Al, and I’m sorry,” Katie mutters.
I place my hand on top of hers and give it a little squeeze. “As long as you’re okay and I’m not having to call your parents to report that you’ve choked on your own vomit, been held in police custody for being drunk and disorderly, or worse still, been abducted!”
“We’re so sorry, Mum. Can we go to the spa, have a massage, recover? If they can fit us in?” Anna asks.
“They’ll have some gaps today, so long as you don’t mind what time you go,” James says. “Ask at reception.”
We finish our breakfast in
relative quiet.
Chapter 12
We’ve nipped home and changed and then taken a cab into central London. We’re here to buy more clothes. More, I hear you say? Well, you must remember that when I walked out of my Staffordshire home I left the majority of my wardrobe behind. All I brought with me were some essentials, a couple of pairs of jeans, several t-shirts and tops, a handful of underwear which my darling daughter describes as being Granny-like, a couple of lightweight summer dresses and, of course, a couple of pairs of shoes. My first shopping trip was with Anna a few weeks ago, I just haven’t had quality time at my disposal to spend on myself. Now I have an amazing lover who is happy to peruse some of the high-end London stores with me. I plan to buy for James as well.
I’m casually dressed and so is he. To be honest, the clothes that I’m wearing don’t really belong in Harvey Nicks or Selfridges, I look and feel a bit poor! Plus the fact that I’m still sporting a bruised cheek, although having covered it as best I can, it doesn’t look too bad – if you don’t look too closely at me.
“So what are you looking for?” James holds my hand tightly and we stroll past a variety of boutique style shops.
“I don’t know, let’s just see what takes our fancy. I’d just like some nice clothes, you know, dresses, skirts and tops.”
We walk along and stop at the entrance to a little boutique. There’s a couple of pretty summer dresses in the window. “What do you think about that?” I ask.
“Mmmm, it’s nice.” He’s non-committal.
“Nice, is that all?” I look up at him.
“Well, it’s a dress.” He shrugs his shoulders.
“You don’t like it, do you?” I mumble.
“I haven’t got to wear it, it’s nice!”
“I’m going to have a look inside, coming?” I pull him towards the shop’s entrance.
We enter the store. The racks are hung with an array of dresses, skirts and tops, they’re all so feminine and the place looks like it’s been done out to resemble a boudoir. There’s only one sales assistant, she’s sat at the little white desk, mobile to her ear, obviously talking to a friend. She acknowledges us as we walk in but carries on with her conversation. I start to flick through the dresses. James stands behind me with his hand around my waist. Since we left the girls I don’t think there’s been a moment where there hasn’t been any physical contact.
Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series) Page 18