Straight After the Bend

by S M Mala

  Bea realised the grip was as if something bad were about to happen.

  ‘I love you,’ was all she could say, her head spinning. ‘This isn’t what we planned for today.’

  ‘Will you marry me and be my wife?’

  Glancing at her father’s concerned expression then back at Mylo, she nodded.

  She also felt her father squeeze her skin so tightly, she was about to scream.

  ‘Did that mean yes?’ Bernie asked, pulling her closer. ‘Don’t feel put on the spot if you don’t want-.’

  ‘Yes, Mylo, I would love to marry you and be your wife.’

  She kissed him on the lips, still feeling her father pull her back.

  ‘None of that hanky panky under my roof,’ she heard her dad say, removing his arm. ‘I really think you’re rushing things.’

  She was millimetres away from Mylo’s face and he was smiling brightly at her.

  ‘I will be honourable towards your daughter in all ways.’

  ‘Are you sure you don’t have doubts?’ her father asked.

  ‘None at all. If we’re to marry in four months then all that uncertainty is gone.’

  ‘Are you really sure?’

  ‘Daddy, what are you implying?’ she asked, turning to look at his smirk. ‘You named the month and the religion of the ceremony.’

  ‘A lot can happen in four months,’ he mumbled, glancing at Mylo and then at her. ‘A hell of a lot.’

  And knowing her father, he would make sure of that.

  ‘A Hindu ceremony?’

  Erio looked a little freaked out. He turned to her and blinked. Similar to that of a deer who had been caught by headlights of an approaching fast car. ‘That’s doable.’

  Bea glanced at Anne-Marie who was trying not to laugh. Both her friends were sat huddled in the pub, looking shell shocked.

  ‘Have you thought this through?’ Anne-Marie asked and grabbed Bea’s hand. ‘You’re moving in with Mylo and getting married. He asked your father’s permission and Bernie agreed. Agreed? Are you sure?’

  ‘I am sure.’ Even Bea wasn’t too convinced. ‘I mean, it was a bit strange.’

  ‘You love him, yes?’ asked Erio, sipping his wine.

  ‘It’s so fast,’ she whispered, fingering the rim of her glass. ‘I don’t know why he’s rushing. I think he might be running from something.’

  ‘Sucking someone’s cock?’ laughed Erio who was thumped hard by Anne-Marie. ‘Hey, you both do it so what did I say?’

  ‘Are you still munching cock?’ asked Anne-Marie, turning to look at him. ‘Or are you onto fishier things?’

  ‘Boxes and labels. If I didn’t know better I’d say you’d both make perfect helpers for Santa.’

  ‘And your rich chick?’

  ‘She’s still rich and a chick.’ Erio grinned. ‘I like her and we get on. It’s not serious and I’m having fun.’

  ‘So fun is with a woman and love is with a man?’

  ‘Do you think that’s what Mylo’s doing with me?’ Bea blurted out, knowing it was the burning question. ‘He wants what’s traditional and thinks that by marrying me it’s what he should be doing but not doing what he wants to do.’

  ‘You think because he had a relationship with this Cole, he’s running away from his real desire and conforming?’ asked Erio, frowning deeply in her direction. ‘You’re saying Mylo is shallow? Weren’t you the one that told me he doesn’t like people being judgemental?’

  ‘He doesn’t.’

  ‘And he still likes you? Have you asked him why he wants to get married?’

  ‘Because he loves me.’ Biting her lip, she realised what she had said offended one friend and left a concerned expression on the other. ‘Could be I’m the one that’s being judgemental.’

  ‘Or just bloody mental if you want to throw a spanner in the works of your relationship!’ Erio let out a deep sigh. ‘Bea, do you think he’s the one?’ She nodded emphatically. ‘Then follow your heart. Did you ever question your exes’ ex-girlfriends? Did it make you feel paranoid and unsure?’

  ‘But you know this is different,’ whispered Anne-Marie, glancing sympathetically at Bea. ‘This man is gorgeous and successful.’

  ‘I know,’ interrupted Erio, putting a hand out. ‘He could have had anyone so why would he want Beatrice?’

  ‘Not funny!’ hissed Bea, trying not to smile. ‘But why does he want me?’

  ‘An Indian wedding?’ mumbled Anne-Marie. ‘You never said that’s how you ever wanted to get married. You guys aren’t even proper Indian.’

  ‘It’s not how I want to get hitched but it’s the only way daddy would agree.’

  ‘And what about you?’ asked Erio quietly. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘To make everyone happy.’

  ‘You have to be sure,’ added Anne-Marie. ‘If you have doubts speak to Mylo and see what he says.’

  ‘I don’t want to upset him.’

  ‘But baby, what if it upsets you more?’ Erio wisely said. ‘Won’t that be worse?’

  ‘Mylo!’

  Bea walked into the clinic early Thursday evening and was told to go upstairs.

  He said he wanted to meet and discuss the wedding.

  She didn’t want to talk about it.

  Ten days had passed since the meeting with her father and it seemed that things were moving but a date hadn’t been set.

  Erio was dealing with Mylo directly and her father was fussing about the Indian ceremony.

  Bea felt in limbo, wondering what she was supposed to do.

  When the lift door opened the corridor was lit by candles.

  ‘Mylo?’

  There was no response so she got out and followed the pretty candle lit trail.

  ‘Do you want me to turn the lights on?’ she shouted.

  ‘No,’ he replied and walked out of a room wrapped only in a towel.

  ‘Have I disturbed something?’ she asked, wondering what he was up to.

  ‘We’re going to discuss our wedding and I wanted to make it nice for you,’ replied Mylo. ‘And I can give you a relaxing massage.’

  ‘I am relaxed.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Bea examined him. The whole package was very sexy. He put out his hand for her to take it.

  She walked towards him and grabbed his palm.

  ‘Hello there,’ she whispered and kissed him gently on the lips before getting a waft of essence. ‘You smell good.’

  ‘Welcome to the meeting,’ he said and pushed the door open.

  There was a bottle of champagne on ice in the sink and two glasses.

  ‘What’s all this?’

  ‘I thought it would be nice as I know you’ve been pretty shell shocked. I need to speak to you about a few things.’ Looking at him, she tried not to frown as he touched her face. ‘Nothing bad.’

  Taking her bag, he started to undress her as she looked at the darkened room and wondered what he was going to say.

  It looked too romantic for words alerting the alarm bells in her head.

  ‘Bea, you know I’ve been talking to Erio about the wedding. Are you okay about me getting involved?’

  ‘I’m happy you want to.’

  Slowly she felt his fingers touch her skin and started kissing the back of her neck.

  All her clothes were removed except for her bra. Slowly he undid the back and slipped his hands underneath the cloth, caressing her breasts. Bea leaned back into his body and closed her eyes.

  ‘We could have gone home to do this,’ she grinned, feeling her skin tingle.

  ‘This is one of my homes, which means it’s yours.’

  Her bra was removed and he pulled down her knickers as she turned to look at him.

  ‘Is this a naked massage?’ Bea laughed. ‘You better not poke me with anything you shouldn’t.’

  ‘Spoil sport. At least I can kiss you when I’m flexing my fingers on your body but first a drink.’

  Jumping up onto the table, she wrapped a towel around
her body, then dangled her feet over the side. He poured out half a glass and handed it to her, grinning all the time.

  ‘Are you up to something?’ she asked, sipping her drink. ‘This is going to get me pissed.’

  ‘I’m banking on it.’

  Finishing off her glass, she dropped the towel and lay faced down on the bed, poking her head through the hole.

  A few months ago, this would have been unbearable. Today, there was no pain, just a small twinge.

  Then he touched her back and she groaned involuntarily.

  ‘I’m going to use a relaxing oil as I think you’re going to need it.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you’re going to get twitchy about what I’m going to say next.’

  Frowning, because she knew he couldn’t see, Bea knew he was up to no good.

  His hands were now silky as he put some oil on her back and was gliding all around.

  She closed her eyes and started to drift off.

  ‘Saturday 13th October, is the day of the wedding,’ she heard him say.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘That gives us enough time to tell people,’ he happily continued.

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘And for you to prepare.’ She stared down at the floor then noticed he poked his head under to see her. ‘Is that a good day for you? Are you free?’

  ‘Mylo, you know I’ll be free, though I might have to ask for holiday out of term time,’ she smiled. ‘And it’s a perfect day.’

  ‘Good.’

  His head disappeared and she continued to frown but closed her eyes when his deft touch made her relax again.

  ‘And you’re moving in this weekend.’

  ‘What?’

  She was going to sit up but felt him hold her down by the shoulders.

  ‘Bea, you said you were ready a fortnight ago but I’ve not seen you put your things into a carrier bag.’

  ‘The carrier bags have been sent to recycling.’

  ‘Don’t be funny.’

  ‘You didn’t tell me when to,’ she huffed and saw a glass of champagne being put in front of her face with a straw.

  It made her smile.

  ‘Sip and relax,’ he said, pulling her towel off.

  ‘And drinking is going to help?’

  Quickly she sucked her drink up through the straw as he removed the glass. He proceeded to massage her skin but he wasn’t doing it the same way as he did all those months ago.

  This was a very different technique.

  It was more seductive.

  He was definitely up to something.

  ‘I’m marrying you without an engagement and under your dad’s strict instruction.’ There was a gentle kiss on her back. ‘Do you want an engagement ring?’ Bea let out a long sigh and shook her head from side to side. ‘You could wear it when you don’t see your father.’

  ‘That’s a lovely idea but I think they’re cursed, especially when it comes to me. A nice gold wedding band is fine.’ Then she pondered. ‘You will be wearing one, won’t you?’

  ‘I’d be very proud to.’

  Continuing to massage her, she smiled and relaxed a bit more, feeling his fingertips work wonders on her skin. She started to fall asleep.

  ‘I love you, you know that, don’t you?’ Mylo said, moving closer. ‘And we do need to talk about a few things regarding the wedding and what’s happening this summer.’

  Bea turned around and lay on her back, looking up at him.

  ‘Just spit it out all the negative things you want to tell me so it’s not hanging in the air. I know you want to probably reel out a list.’ Bea put her arms behind her head. ‘Like inviting your ex to the wedding.’

  She had pondered on asking him about it, knowing he would want Kayden to be present.

  ‘I don’t want to invite anyone you don’t want. It’s our day and I want you to be happy,’ he said, slowly removing her arms and putting a towel behind her head. ‘And I didn’t say you could turnover.’

  ‘I’d prefer to look at you if we’re heading into serious territory.’

  ‘Okay,’ he sighed, sipping his drink and putting it down before starting to pour oil into his hands. ‘I’ll tell you what’s going on in my head.’

  Then he placed his palms on her leg and starting massaging all the way down to her toes. Waiting for him to speak she noticed he seemed engrossed on what he was doing.

  ‘You have a lovely texture to your skin, do you know that?’ he said, smoothing his hands up and down. ‘I love touching you.’

  He was building up to something big so she bit her lip and watched. Bea didn’t know how long she was staring before he looked at her.

  ‘Cole and the kids are coming to visit over summer. They won’t be spending time at our home but will be staying somewhere else. I’d like you to meet Kayden as he is my son.’

  This was a body blow as he was making a point of his obligation as a parent.

  It hurt

  ‘And Cole?’ her heart was thundering and she noticed he moved his hands directly onto her stomach. ‘Do you want me to meet him again?’

  ‘He is Kayden’s other parent and I think it’s important.’

  Body blow number two and it hurt a little bit more.

  Bea didn’t know how to respond.

  No was the word coming into her mind.

  But she needed to support Mylo in all things to show that she was broadminded.

  Well, sort of.

  Mylo stroked across her tummy gently with both his hands.

  ‘I want you to be comfortable, Bea. Not think you’re being locked out. I did that before and could have lost you in the process.’ Then he hesitated. ‘I’d like Kayden there when we get married.’

  ‘Which means you’ll want Cole.’

  ‘He’ll still want to meet you to check out if you’re okay and-.’

  ‘Me, okay?’ Bea immediately sat up. ‘There’s nothing wrong with me. What does he think I’m going to do with his kid? I mean, he might think I coerced you into being with me.’

  ‘Look, I know things have been going fast for us. I am to blame but you have to be secure about how I feel about you.’ He stopped what he was doing before bracing himself against the massage table. ‘There are no more secrets. I’m not going to go off into the sunset with a football team and leave you high and dry. I had a relationship with a man which lasted eighteen months and that’s it.’

  ‘It’s not it, as you say.’

  ‘But it is.’

  ‘You had sex with a man,’ she replied, watching him stare. ‘I can try and compete with breasts and bums. Bollocks and a dick, I can’t.’

  ‘Bea!’

  ‘You don’t want me to ask about sex but I have to. You have experienced something I haven’t and I need to know how you felt.’ He turned around and reached out for the massage oil. ‘Can you imagine what’s going on through my mind?’

  ‘I dread to think.’

  ‘Look at me.’ Slowly he turned to face her, his expression showed that he wasn’t going to let on too much. ‘Don’t tell me it’s private because that’s unfair.’

  ‘What do you actually want to know?’

  Biting her lip, she wasn’t sure how to put it so just said it how it was.

  ‘Did you really like sucking his cock and were you receiving it or giving it out, or both?’

  His face said it all.

  It was something he didn’t want to talk about.

  ‘Mylo, should I be looking on the website for toys to give you some added stimulation?’ Bea didn’t want to giveaway she had been doing some research. ‘I hear once you have it up the arse, sex is never the same again. The orgasm for a man happens really quickly and-.’

  He put his hand over her mouth while taking a deep breath.

  ‘We kissed, caressed and explored each other’s bodies and we made love,’ he whispered.

  She dragged his hand away from her face.

  ‘How?’ Bea watched Mylo glance at the ceiling then a
t the floor. ‘It’s not the same as a man and a woman. I know woman on woman use toys but men don’t have to, do they. Do they?’

  ‘Oh God, you’re not making this easy.’

  ‘Do you like being fucked up the arse?’ Bea blinked at him. ‘Do you like fucking up the arse?’ She blinked harder. ‘I have to tell you now, anal sex is not my thing. That hole is something I only associate with pooing. I know that’s not progressive but it’s how I feel.’

  ‘Have you ever experimented in bed?’ Mylo was starting to smile. ‘Doing different things.’

  ‘I wouldn’t go down on a girl.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I like cock.’ Bea felt her heart pounding before quietly saying. ‘And you like cock but I’ve not got one. How do I know you won’t miss it, a cock?’

  ‘Fucking hell,’ she heard him groan, his face going red.

  ‘Help me! I want to know. I need to know how to make you happy.’

  ‘I never got fucked up the arse. I did it to him,’ he said quickly, running his fingers through his hair. ‘I gave him hand jobs most of the time but he gave me mouth to mouth.’

  ‘Mouth to mouth?’

  ‘Blow jobs. And when I kissed him it was more masculine as opposed to feminine but he has smooth skin, so with your eyes closed you wouldn’t know any difference. Everything else is like being with a woman, except he is a man and that’s all I can tell you.’ He flopped back against the wall. ‘And you’re going to imagine me having sex with him which is going to make you more agitated than before.’

  ‘I don’t want to imagine you having sex with him or anyone else.’ She let out a massive sigh before hovering over the next question. ‘So you didn’t swallow? You don’t have a secret yearning for spunk.’

  ‘Really? Did you seriously say that?’

  ‘I don’t like to swallow, as you know, so I just wanted to find out,’ she sheepishly replied. ‘Why do you look so upset?’

  Mylo walked forward and sat on the massage table next to her.

  ‘You said we should be honest,’ Bea persisted. ‘And I want to know how you feel.’

  ‘You wanted to know about the sex side, didn’t you? That’s what’s really bugging you, isn’t it?’

  ‘If I’m honest, it is.’

  Thinking hard on what to say, she kissed his shoulder.