Twelve
Amber
Blinking to clear my vision, I swiped the screen of my phone to see it was almost eleven. I had overslept for the first time in years. The fact that I was alone in bed didn’t overly upset me. Waking up next to Max would have been awkward after what we had done.
My entire body still hummed and there was a tenderness between my legs.
I’d had sex with Max Hunter. Wild, incredible sex that would probably leave its mark on my memory for some time. And yes, I was sore, but it was a nice sore.
Did I regret it? At that point, I wasn’t sure but I didn’t have time to think about it. I could hear engines revving outside and general noise. The clean-up of the party was in full flow and I was still in bed. I wondered why Mia hadn’t woken me. The hangover from hell probably. I needed to check on her. I sure hoped she wasn’t face down in a pool of vomit.
Pulling back the sheets, I stared down at the puddle of blue silk I had worn the night before and my lace thong sitting next to it, like a guilty secret.
Shit. What had I done? My heart started racing as I recalled how being with Max had felt; worshipped and special.
Something had shifted.
I fought the feeling, telling myself to stop being ridiculous, sex was sex. So why was I trying to read into it?
Because he made you feel alive again.
As quickly as possible I showered and pulled on fresh underwear; jogging bottoms, and a hoodie. I tugged my wet hair into a ponytail and left my room without bothering with make-up to search for Mia. I had to tell her what I’d done, confess. Then maybe that strange feeling would lift from my chest.
As I got to her room I glanced fleetingly at Max’s door. It was closed but that didn’t suggest he was in there. Would he be feeling hung over and regret what we did? My head told me I had been drinking, but it wasn’t that overpowering. What if he had been drunk and didn’t remember what we’d done? Would that be better or worse? Shit.
Pulling open her door, I walked inside. Crikey, the smell of booze almost floored me and I went and cracked the window open. Mia was still asleep.
It took ages to wake her and she was as groggy as hell. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have; saying Mia was worse for wear would be a huge understatement.
We chatted in the ensuite bathroom as she brushed her teeth with me sitting on the toilet lid and she listened as I replayed that night’s events.
It turned out that she and Luca didn’t have sex in the bathroom but they did kiss. Mia wasn’t as animated as I’d expected when I explained that Max and I had sex. She didn’t even ‘go girl’ me but I imagined her sore head had something to do with that.
It took her around half an hour to get ready and we both went downstairs to oversee the clean-up.
When we got to the kitchen, the smell of smoky bacon wasin the air. Marcel, my father’s chef, had cooked breakfast. There were a handful of workmen propped against the kitchen counters stuffing their faces with bacon butties. Strangers were walking in and out of the house, carrying boxes, all looking flustered but determined. Through the bi-folding doors, I could see the marquee had been partly taken down and was being carried out down the side of the house towards the lorry it had arrived on.
Mia couldn’t stomach any food and I just thanked Marcel and went for a bowl of fruit .
He congratulated me on the party and then Hannah appeared. Marcel hadn’t been involved in the cooking for my father’s do. He was a retired professional Chef that Daddy had hired a couple of years ago. He enjoyed working at the house but steered clear of anything overly stressful. The party would have been too much for him, hence me appointing a catering firm.
We all stood in the kitchen chatting and as I glanced out of the window. I saw him.
Max.
Max and Luca were dressed casually in jeans and button-down tops and were standing with my father and his brother Richard. They had their backs to us. I glanced at Mia and motioned to where the boys stood. I felt elated that he hadn’t left without saying anything. That wouldn’t have made me feel good about myself at all.
Mia moved away, talking to Marcel about the spread at the party and I ran my eyes over Max’s broad shoulders. His arse looked well tasty in the jeans he wore. Odd really, I had never been a bum girl. As I was having a sneaky perv, Max turned and looked up towards the house.
The other three also turned and then started to make their way up the garden.
The lawn was still a mess and the staff who had acted as waiters the previous night were dressed casually and were collecting rubbish and putting it into the bin bags they held.
Seeing Daddy smile at something Max said made my heart squeeze. I liked the fact that they got on, gone was the past jealousy I’d felt.
Mia came beside me with a glass of water in her hand.
“Shit, they’re coming. What do I say to him, how do I act?” I said as she chugged the water and placed the glass in the sink.
“Just act casual, but not cold. That ice is well and truly broken and so go with it.” Mia suggested.
“The ice? ”
“Or you could substitute ice for the word for vagina,” Mia chuckled.
“Nice,” I replied, turning away from the window.
Mia’s eyes roamed over my face and then she grimaced, “Maybe you should go back to your room and hide.”
My brow scrunched, “Why, I don’t feel guilty about it. It was what it was. Sex,” I replied lying. It was more to me than that.
She shook her head and snorted, “No, I mean, last night you looked cracking and right now you look like shit.”
I smoothed my hair and pinched my cheeks to give them some colour, “Great. Thanks a lot.”
I suddenly wished I put some make-up on. Too late now.
“Here they are. Sleep well, ladies?” Luca drawled with charm, looking like he’d just stepped off the catwalk.
Mia’s face lit up, “Not bad, I could do with a new head though.”
Luca and Max both grinned, “You’re not wrong there.” Luca replied, massaging his temples with two fingers.
Max’s eyes met mine but his expression didn’t give anything away and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Was he going to pretend nothing happened? Shit of course he was, at least in front of my father. What did I expect him to say? Last night was great, thanks for the ride.
“Well, you both slept like the dead, it’s almost lunchtime,” my father said with a laugh.
“Morning Daddy,” I replied, moving toward him, and kissing his cheek. “Max, Luca,” I added with a non-committal smile. They both responded with a nod. “Did you sleep in the study all night?”
My father glanced towards Max, “No, Maxim helped me upstairs in the end. It was late though or should I say early. I’m just heading back up to bed now for a bit. ”
“I’ll call you later Jonathan,” Max said.
“Yes. And thanks again. I enjoyed our chat. And good to meet you, Luca. Girls, I’ll see you later.” My stomach sank, what chat?
“Goodnight, Sir,” Luca replied
“Well, what do you boys want for breakfast?” Mia questioned as we watched my father head down the corridor towards the stairs.
“You’re wearing it,” Luca said with a cheeky wink.
“Smooth, Luca,” Max cut in with an eye roll.
“How about a bacon roll, to start?” I offered, motioning towards the counter with the breakfast items.
“We’ve eaten. We thought it only right to hang around to say goodbye and check you were both alive and well. We sank quite a lot of booze last night,” Max said with a lopsided smile. God, he was cute.
“Yep, tell me about it. I can still taste vodka,” Mia chuckled.
That initial twinge of atmosphere lifted further and we laughed at Mia’s expense about having to half carry her up the stairs. She took it in the spirit it was intended. Luca said something about hearing creeping up and down the corridor but we didn’t give his comments any weight. Eventually, Mia and Luca exchanged numbers.
Max and Luca’s bags were by the front door and as we walked over Max explained, “Your father has arranged for Dexter to give us a lift back to mine.”
“Cool. OK.” I felt tongue-tied, I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t as if we could talk about what had happened with our friends so close and people bumping past us. I had told Mia and I imagined Max had confided in Luca but to talk about it in a group would have been weird.
As we stood by the open door in the hallway, I could see Dexter had brought the car around.
“Well, I’ll see you at work tomorrow then,” I said to Max, my eyes roaming over his face. The way he was looking at me was an improvement. He didn’t look annoyed or indifferent and I realised that I didn’t want him to leave. But what could I do?
Fuck! One night together and I was already a pining mess.
As Luca and Mia hugged, Mia then kissed Max on the cheek and slipped her arm into Luca’s before walking him to the car.
Max glanced briefly at his bag. “I’m heading over to Birmingham for a meeting and won’t be back until Wednesday. So, are you and Wes, OK to hold the fort?”
I nodded, my ponytail swinging against my neck. “Yes, that’s fine.”
“I’ve emailed a list of shit that needs to be done. Hopefully, stuff you’ll find more interesting.”
“You do have some faith in me then?” I said with a smile as I stared up into his perfect face.
“You know I do. I already admitted I lied about your essay. I was just being a dick.”
I tilted my head as I watched his eyes roam over my features. I hoped he didn’t think I looked like shit. “I think we’re both guilty of behaving that way over the last week.”
Those words forced a truce between us and it made my heart pump in my chest. The thought of being on good terms with this man made me feel good. Who knew?
“You can text me if you need anything, but I’ll see you Wednesday. Will you manage without me?” The intonation in his last words was teasing and I grinned.
“I’ll give it a go,” I volleyed back.
Birmingham?
I hid it but disappointment sank inside my stomach like a lead ball. Max had not said anything about a trip over the last few days and I had access to his work calendar. Had he made it up? We he trying to avoid me? I felt so paranoid and hated that feeling.
A silence stretched between us for a moment, and then Max bent his head, kissing me on the cheek. After a glance outside towards our friends, his mouth touched the shell of my ear and he whispered. “You were amazing last night.”
As he pulled back, I looked up into his whisky colour eyes, “So were you,” I said shyly, heat stinging my cheeks. I suddenly felt like a schoolgirl.
“See you Wednesday.”
Max then moved to grab his bag, turned, and set off towards the open door of our car.
Turn around, turn around, I silently willed him.
He had to wait for Mia to uncurl herself from Luca and as she stepped back, he kissed her cheek.
And then it happened. After placing his bags in the boot, he moved towards the open door, placed his hand on top and then turned to look back at me. I was standing in the doorway, one hand resting on the frame.
That look we exchanged, confirmed how we were both feeling. What had happened between us ignited in the distance that separated us.
There were no regrets or ill feelings. What we shared had been amazing and the fact of that glowed between that look that connected us. I was pleased that Max didn’t leave saying, ‘I’ll call you’ or anything like that. If he had, it would have felt cheesy and forced.
As Mia joined me on the steps, we both watched the car pull away.
“You’ve got it bad,” she suddenly said and I turned to face her.
“What?” I said during my finger-tipped wave towards the limo.
“Stop with the dreamy look. Are you imagining what your kids will look like after one shag?”
“Funny. ”
“Anyways, good for you. He’s definitely into you, Amber. And I don’t mean for a quicky,” Mia explained, her kind eyes reaching into mine. She was such a good friend and I knew I could trust her honesty.
“Oh, there was nothing quick about it,” I said, raising my eyebrows.
Her expression switched to keen interest and she threaded her arm through mine and turned us to face the house.
“I want all the dirty details, leave nothing out.”
And I didn’t. I even told him that Max had got handsy and smacked my arse. Fuck me that had been hot.
We both needed something from each other last night and had taken it. Whether or not that would be the end of it, only time would tell.
I knew it was probably better for both of us if we left it there. He didn’t date and was in no way the Mr Normal I was supposed to be looking for.
The best, sensible way forward was to leave it as a one-off.
So why did the thought of that make me feel so sad? And I was hardly sensible given my past actions.
Burying those thoughts, Mia and I helped with the clean-up.
The house eventually started to look normal again but it took most of the Sunday. Dexter came back and parked the car and I was dying to ask him what the men talked about on their journey home but decided against it.
The glass partition would have been up anyway and so I doubt he’d have heard anything.
I wondered if Max had told Luca about us. His friend didn’t give anything off to signal that he knew we’d had sex and Max had said that he wasn’t one to kiss and tell.
Later that evening, after a huge bubble bath, I sat on my bed and replied to some text messages. As I was just about to place my phone on my dressing table, another message came in.
It was from Max and my spirits lifted .
Don’t forget to buy yourself a nice dress for our night out.
My brow scrunched as I wondered what he meant. OMG! Was he asking me out on a date?
It suddenly felt like my heart was going to burst from my rib cage and then hope dipped as another message dropped in below the last.
For the charity ball, a week next Saturday. So, you only have next weekend to shop.
Of course, the works thing he was taking me to. I had gotten ahead of myself and my reaction to the thought of Max asking me out was pathetic.
I replied, keeping my thoughts and true feelings out of it.
I’m on it. I didn’t say I was looking forward to it or add any kisses, I kept it neutral.
Sleeping with Max had scratched that itch and now maybe we didn’t need to go there. I logged onto Max’s calendar from my laptop and there was still nothing in there about a meeting in Birmingham.
He was avoiding me. And I had gotten ahead of myself, again!
The sexual chemistry between us had been fed and who knew, maybe there could be a friendship between us. Especially after he had been so attentive during that moment I’d freaked out in Daddy’s study. Plus what he said about demons made sense. I certainly had more respect for him as a man now.
I would keep my resting bitch face on ice and allow Max to see my softer side.
I just hoped he didn’t do what so many people in my past have done and let me down.
The more fool him.
Because out of every person I had met, I was the biggest grudge bearer of them all.
And that wasn’t pretty.
* *** *
Partway through Monday morning, I got a pleasant surprise. As promised, I was given extra duties. Wes, the site foreman arrived at my office with a bag of PPE. Safety clothing for me to wear on site. He explained that Max had suggested I shadow Wes on-site for a couple of days. I tried everything on later that evening and it fit. I was fully kitted with steel-capped work boots, a hard hat and a couple of neon vests.
Wes also mentioned Max’s trip to Birmingham so he was lying to keep his Boss’s secret safe or Max’s absence was genuine.
I didn’t have time to dwell as there was so much to do. The thrill of doing something different and out of my comfort zone felt amazing. And by shadowing Wes, I had stepped into an entirely new area of responsibility.
Sleeping with the boss clearly had its benefits.
Shoo-ing that horrible thought away, I reread the text I’d received from Max earlier.
Everything fit?
Yes, and thank you, Max. How is Birmingham?
He responded immediately. Boring as fuck. I should ask you to send me a pic of you in your work gear. To cheer me up.
I grinned at the cheeky comment. Why don’t you? You can ask for nothing.
It would be unprofessional. He replied with an eye-rolling emoji. I grinned down at my phone.
Heaven forbid!
I’ll just have to use my imagination. Max replied.
I added a smiling-face emoji and thumbed in. You do that.
Laters sexy. Oops, sorry, unprofessional again!
Night, sir x. I added the sir on purpose as he had once said he liked to hear me call him that.
Sir? I could get used to that. Max messaged .
I sent him a blowing kiss emoji and left it at that.
It was the first time I had ever flirted by text and I liked it.
Max
My meetings in Birmingham did not go well and I had to stay until Thursday lunchtime. The company that owned the hotel and bar we were refurbishing in London had their Head Office in Solihull. It was southwest of the city and a bugger to get to. I’d taken a taxi from the station and had been late for my first meeting with Matthew Thompson, the MD of Whitman and Sons. They owned hotels and bars throughout the country and I had to spend the first thirty minutes kissing his arse. Something I was un-practiced at.
During the journey back, I had googled Alexander Harker but didn’t find out much. Jonathan did say that he’d paid to keep things out of the media. I still couldn’t believe that Amber had been subjected to a kidnapping and had ended up falling for the prick that had taken her. My blood boiled when I thought of how she had been exploited and used. Her starchy attitude towards men made so much more sense to me now.
I decided it best to give her plenty to keep her busy while I wasn’t on site. Wes had been giving me updates and saying how Amber had beenimmersed in what she was doing and was full of enthusiasm. I also made sure I texted her a few times, not wanting to come across as a dick after our night together. Something I so wanted a repeat of.
Lady Swift was now all I could think about and I left the train at Kings Cross, needing a few beers and some man time.
It was Thursday night and I had decided to meet Luca at a strip club we occasionally met in. It was the perfect venue when you were in the mood for something seedy and I needed to take my mind off Amber .
The ‘sir’ text she’d sent me had got my dick hard, I’m not going to lie.
Aquarius was on the edge of Soho and a short taxi ride away from home. It was cheap and nasty, but we’d been going there for years, so it was more of a nostalgic tradition.
During our drinking sesh, Luca and I were joined by a couple of women, Lucy, and Abbie. They both worked at the courthouse and knew Natalie. After a couple of hours, Luca bailed on me, leaving me alone with the two females and another guy they worked with, Marcus. We chatted and drank and I started to feel myself unwind.
I texted Maverick Chambers, the guy who organised fights for the fighting club I was part of and asked him to set me up. I needed to get rid of some of the tension I was feeling. Most of it being generated by that Harker fucker who was about to be released from prison. Would he try to contact Amber? Didn’t they have a restraining order and shit like that automatically for those types of scenarios? Surely past victims would be forever looking over their shoulders. I needed to speak to Gabriel about what rights she had and stuff. If I was to help Jonathan in protecting Amber, I needed to know what I was dealing with.
We were sitting in one of the booths at the back of the club, chatting, doing shots, and watching the dancers perform on stage. Abbie had her hand on my leg and had gradually been climbing it up my thigh for the last two minutes when I suddenly saw a flash of blonde hair and an arse I’d recognise anywhere. WTF?
My beer almost slipped through my fingers as Leonie Smith walked by holding a tray of drinks. What the actual fuck? Leonie worked in this shithole? The second question was, did Gabriel know about that?
I patted Abbie's leg and asked her to get our server’s attention. Michelle had been our waitress for the evening and I could see her just about to deliver another order. I also wanted Abbie’s hand nowhere near my dick. She was cute, but she wasn’t Amber .
I drew out my phone and dialled Gabe.
“Sup?” My friend answered his phone immediately. He was much better than me, I usually had mine on silent. It wound him the fuck up which always made me smile.
Clearing my throat, I watched the table of men Leonie was serving who were pretty much salivating all over her. Her smile was sweet and innocent, she totally didn’t realise why they were appearing to be so friendly. I felt a surge of annoyance.
“Guess where I am?” I said, attempting to keep my tone neutral. I had to shout as the music for the next dance routine kicked in. Abbie appeared back from the bar. I assumed she’d asked our server to come over as she wasn’t holding any drinks.
“How the hell should I know?” Gabriel chuntered moodily. I imagined I’d interrupted his studies. He was a proper workaholic.
There was no way to sugarcoat it. “Strip club.”
I could almost imagine him grinning down the phone. “And what? You’re calling me because you feel guilty?” What a laugh a minute.
I decided to break down my news into sections, his reaction would then be far more rewarding.
“Guess who’s here?” I added, grinning at Abbie who slid her hand under the table and placed it around my cock through my jeans. Her keen little fingers did little to stir the beast and I tried to imagine she was Amber.
“You tell me. You’re mother?” Gabe said with a chuckle.
I fake laughed. “Funny.”
Our banter went back and forth as I lined up my revelation.
“Your tasty little house guest is here.”
BOOM. Absolutely silence at the other end of the phone as Gabriel’s sharp mind processed my bombshell .
His garbled reaction when it came was missed as Abbie curled her fingers more tightly around my length. Under usual circumstances, we’d have a full-mast situation but I was enjoying toying with Gabriel too much. And he reckoned he felt nothing for Leonie. Whatever.
After I revealed that yes, I was talking about Leonie, he kicked off.
“You’re shitting me!”
“Does a rocking horse have a wooden dick?” I sang with a grin. The conversation then carried on for a while and then I started to get bored. Winding Gabriel up was always short-lived, once the cork had popped, I was usually done with my ribbing.
As our server came over, I ordered another round of drinks and the girls clapped with glee. Clearly getting the message that I was more into my phone call than her attempted hand job, Abbie moved on to Marcus.
I promised Gabe I’d make sure Leonie got home safe.
As usual, Gabriel’s temper had started to fray and he began to bust my balls, coming over all superior and pissing me off. He was the master of turning the tables. He was training to be a lawyer at the end of the day and so he was well-practiced.
After more ribbing about Gabriel and Leonie sitting in a tree, I started to focus on what was going on with Abbie and Marcus.
I faintly heard Gabe say I was his fucking lap dog or something and I ended the call. I mean, as entertaining as it was to wind up, I soon got bored.
That last rum and coke had done its job and I was drunk. Probably too drunk to take either of the women I was with home with me. And adding to that, did I want to? No. They were attractive but neither held a match to Amber. I toyed with texting her but thought better in my inebriated state, I didn’t want her to think me a desperate loser.
Loser ?
As I stretched against the seat, I glanced around taking in the clientele. What the hell was I doing in such a dive? I then realised that I no longer belonged there. Something had shifted and I felt the urge to run out of the building.
I signalled to Trevor, the lead bouncer and asked if he and a member of his team would escort the ladies out and get them into a taxi if Marcus left them. I knew both Abbie and Lucy lived together and so could travel in the same Uber. Safety in numbers and all that. Yes, I could act like a prick but I was a gentleman when it came to a woman’s safety. Thoughts of Alexander Harker spread through my mind like cancer. Fuck.
I spoke to Trevor again, saying how I knew Leonie and he reassured me that he always made sure the girls got home safe after hours. I’d been to school with his daughter and he remembered me, sort of.
Once again, poor little Leonie. Gabe was not impressed she worked in a strip club and there would probably be hell to pay when she got in.
As I flagged a black cab and made my way home, I got another urge to message Amber. I wondered what she was up to and what she would think of me if she knew I visited dives like Aquarius. Those thoughts were a shock to the system. Since when had I given a toss what a woman thought about me?
Since now.
As I lay on my bed, still fully dressed, only one woman was in my thoughts, Lady Amber-Leigh Swift. She had ruined me for anyone else and I was screwed. I’d had a couple of missed calls from Natalie and as sleep started to take over, I decided I’d go and see her and break things off with her. Yes, we were fuck buddies or were fuck buddies, but I needed to put a stop to it. I would be honest with her, I always ended hookups in the right way and we had never promised each other anything.
Sleep took a while to come but when it did, it came with Amber’s face in my mind .
Having never been a one-woman man, I realised that my rules about that were rapidly changing.