Silly Games - Chapter 33

Sorry at the delay with this chapter. Crazy with writing at the moment and this story has been a struggle. Back where I need to be and a quiet week ahead. Next chapter asap! Promise!

Chapter 33

First class flying was amazing, she’d always flown that way with her father, but the last ten years her trips had been purely of the budget variety. The transatlantic service from British Airways was exceptional. Good food, comfortable seat that slid down into a bed, and a man ready to cater to her every whim. The cabin was full, maybe forty seats, and they were all mainly business men hunched over laptops. So the attentive concierge seemed to like chatting to her, about everything and nothing. There was a little more depth to his flirting than just innocence and she knew that if she dropped the slightest hint that she’d have his company that night in LA.

It was slightly unsettling, as it made her think about her father and Adam’s mother all those years ago, and what had unfolded in the years after a supposed no ties night together. If there was ever the sliver of a chance that she was that kind of woman, that she’d do that, it evaporated immediately.  So she took his flirtation at the flattery level and smiled, it was nice to know that he found her interesting of not attraction, and was just what her battered ego needed.

LAX was chaos. Dozens of people holding boards emblazoned with various names greeted the arriving passengers, but no one met Laura. She’d tried to work out the best thing to do. She had a beach front address for Adam, but her research told her it was more than twenty miles from the airport, that would be an expensive taxi ride. At every point of the journey she’d thought about calling him, telling her she was coming, but she still didn’t know what she wanted to say. Was she here because she felt sorry for him? That she felt pity that her father had snubbed him. Or that she wanted to show solidarity against her parents? Or was it because he occupied her every thought, every moment of every day and she needed to know if he felt the same?

Her laugh was harsh, she could kid herself it was either of the first two, but more likely was the latter...no definitely was the latter. But she needed to know his reaction to her before she played any of her cards. He might hate her as much as he must hate her father, and she couldn’t bare that.

So she was still without a ride. Car hire. That was her best option, not that she could afford it. She had a credit card, thankfully, and she figured at least with her own wheels she could escape if things didn’t go well. Self preservation was more important than anything; after all she had no one else to turn to, and nowhere else to go. She was on her own.

After filling out forms, showing her licence, signing her life away, and begging with pleading eyes she was handed a set of keys. To a convertible sports car that was costing a small fortune. Apparently it was the only car available without reservation. She didn’t believe that, the hire people worked on commission and she knew she’d possibly been fleeced, but she’d been travelling for ages, was jetlagged, shattered and more than a little fraught. So she took the car, and hit the Pacific Coast Highway. And it was beautiful.

The top down, wind in her hair, Laura loved the drive and suddenly everything was worthwhile. The sat nav she’d also been coerced into renting led her to Adam’s address with ease. And it was spectacular!  A modern glass building that was as elegant as it was interesting stood behind imposing gates just a few feet from a quiet coastal road. All the stress of getting to this point had taken over her thoughts, and now that she was here the reality of it all sunk in. She’d been determined to get here, but hadn’t thought beyond arriving at the house.

Laura took a few salvaging breaths, she needed to calm her racing heart, the nausea of anxiety.  She’d parked the car beside the gate, then got out of the vehicle. An intercom system sat beside the gate caught her attention, but it was with trepidation that she pressed the button.

And nothing happened!

She checked her watch; it was five pm, middle of the night to her exhausted body, and suddenly starting to get colder. With a groan she used the remote control to reconnect the roof of the car, then climbed back inside. She’d wait it out.

Adam had had enough. It was Friday, and he’d had the week from hell. He was hoping against all hope that his mother stayed in Vegas. She’d gone there with her sister a few days ago, and the thought of a weekend free of her was amazing. He was thinking of taking his dirt bike off into the desert, or maybe some more surfing. He was disappointed that his beer buddies were all busy or out of town too. But then the thought of just watching the sunset with a beer in his hand was immense. He was halfway home caught in snarling traffic when his phone rang.

Kristi.

He groaned.  He should never have taken her out to dinner a few weeks ago, the woman was like a limpet and had no restraint, and no idea what the word ‘no’ meant. She used to represent all he wanted, but his tastes had changed, as had his visions of the future. Gratuitous sex with a woman who only wanted fun was everything he’d been about, but since Laura...he shook her head, barely a day went by that he wasn’t swamped by memories of her.

With a groan he pulled over, he had no intention of getting a ticket from an overzealous policeman, then connected the call. He’d found out the hard way that if he ignored her she just threw herself deeper into his life. He ringed remembering her turning up at his work one morning, dressed like she’d just left a nightclub, at three o’clock in the afternoon. What the hell was he playing at?

                “Hey!” He kept his welcome very impersonal, but she was too self obsessed to realise that. He shook his head, what the hell he was thinking letting into his life the first time, let alone the second time.

                “Adam,” the whine of her voice annoyed him, but not as much as her pleas to join him at a hotel for a charity dinner that night. He had no intention of going anywhere with her, and his dreams of a weekend to himself were not about to go up in smoke.

Hanging up in the reluctant IT girl, he powered his sports car back on to the Pacific coast Highway and ate up the miles to the haven of his home.

Clicking the control attached to his car keys, the roadside gate rolled back as he approached and he swung the car into the courtyard outside the house. As he did he noticed the car parked on the roadside, his was the last house on this stretch of coast road, so it was unusual to see another vehicle there. Climbing out of the car he was about to ignore the other vehicle, but his curiosity, and his desire to be left alone, got the best of him.

As he approached the car, a cute sporty two seater with rental plates, he was almost bowled over with emotion. Asleep in the driver’s seat, blonde hair splayed out over the headrest, looking gaunt and paler than he remembered was Laura.

Supporting himself through his momentary dizziness with a hand on the roof of the car, his overactive mind tried to work out what was happening. Shaking his head free of the confusion, he gave himself a moment to drink in the vision of her. She’d come here, to him, and it felt amazing.

Adam sighed, then opened the door to the car, shaking Laura’s shoulder gently.

Her eyes popped open and she yawned, then smiled, and Adam’s body zinged in to life, the life he’d lost the last two months.

                “Laura!” His voice was a soft breath.

Laura was fuzzy, she’d been deeply asleep when he’d woken, but the first sight on waking had been Adam, and she loved that. She knew her eyes were wide with wonder, and she couldn't fight an inelegant yawn.

Adam chuckled, a deep arousing sound, “you ok? You look shattered!”

She grinned, “It was a long trip.”

               

                “And I wasn’t here.”

Nodding Laura swung her legs out of the car and uncurled to her full height, a few inches shorter than Adam. “I spoke to my parents...I can’t believe my Dad, our Dad...”

He raised a hand to halt the conversation, “I can understand his anger, I waltz in then ask him to date his daughter, only surprised he didn’t hit me!”

                “Bullshit Adam,” she was adamant on this one, “I am not some bloody Rapunzel locked in an ivory tower, and he is your father too! He has no control over who I date, and he should support you unconditionally. I am furious, and embarrassed. It’s disgusting.”

Adam sighed, “you’re his daughter, there is far more to that relationship than I can ever begin to understand. I don’t blame him, not now.” She didn’t need to know how hard it had been to get to that place, how low he’d sunk and how angry he’d been. Or that it was all nothing now that she was stood in front of him looking sleep kissed and more desirable than his memory could have ever recreated. He wanted to drag her into his arms, kiss her with the passion that was threatening to erupt like a volcano, and SO much more.

                “I think you’re being far too lenient, but then you are a nice guy. I told my Dad that, that he should be proud to have you as a son.”

He grinned, “really? I bet that went down well!”

She shrugged, “I don’t care, not really. He has been a dictator of his little world for far too long, and I walked out! Grown up I know! I don’t know how that makes him feel, he probably doesn’t care.” She sighed, “but I had to come here as soon as I could, to apologise for him. He should never have treated you like this.”

                “I’m not a fifteen year old troubled teen seeking the respect of his father...”

She stopped him, “the fact that you spoke to him tells you that’s important to you.”

Shaking his head he was quick to deny that, “it’s important to YOU. That was why I spoke to him. To be honest, after thirty years with Mike Purcell there’s little that Stafford Marshall can do or say to hurt me.”

Laura sighed, it was music to her ears, whether this was just his saying what he knew she wanted to hear, or whether it was the truth, it was working. She was becoming warm and gooey at the thought of this man putting her above anything else.

                “So you cashed in your free flights?”

His subject change jolted her out of her reverie, “yep. I’ve broken the trip to Hawaii up. I’m going to go and see Ben and Alana eventually, they get married soon.”

Adam gulped, he’d hoped to hear that she was here for months, ready to explore what lay between them, to know he was a stop off en route to something more hurt him. “So how long are you here? Will there be time to show you around this City?”

As Laura made to answer, a taxi pulled up to the house, it had come from nowhere.

A pair of glossy red heels on the end of a pair of interminably long legs preceded a beautiful brunette out of the back seat.

Laura grimaced as the woman purred, “Adam darling, the dinner starts in an hour!”

Adam looked at Kristi and groaned, “it’s not what you think!” He hissed before the woman descended on them. It was his own fault. In the past when she’d refused to take no for an answer she’d turned up at his house, coaxed him out with her body and exotic promises.  God, he hated himself, for letting that be enough! He looked at Laura’s distraught face and felt as though his world was ending.

Laura took in the beautiful woman who was everything she wasn’t, curvy, elegant, a lady, hell even her hair colour was the opposite of her. She was gutted, but she’d always known at the back of her mind that he might have moved on. But it was awful to see it in such Technicolor detail.

Plastering on a smile she turned to Adam, “sorry! I mean arriving here without warning, of course you’re busy!”  The other woman was now in front of them, looking between the two of them in a confused manner. “I’m Laura, Adam’s sister!” She said the words to create the distance and the rift needed to end this disastrous situation.

                “I’m Kristi!” the other woman purred. “And you...” she turned to Adam and placed a hand on his chest, “need to get your tux on a-sap!”

He made to protest, but Laura smiled genially, “I came to apologise, mission accomplished! Have a great day!”

She was in the car before he could protest, and out of his street before the tears started to fall. 

Silly Games - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The atmosphere remained hostile, but Laura was too busy trying to find some semblance of a life to worry about that. When her father wasn’t around her mother was fine, friendly, normal. As she became more aware of the news, markets crashing, financial woes everywhere, she presumed that was getting to her father, that he was worried about the future and his businesses. Just as she was worried about her own future and her own finances.

On the fifth day of searching, Laura made a break through. She finally found some work. Fifteen hours a week selling fish in a pet shop was hardly setting the world alight, but it was a job, a start, the first step in getting herself back into the world of work, and independence. She didn’t know how long she could tolerate living in the dream world of her parents. Her mother’s flakiness, her father’s recent moods. But fish? She knew nothing about fish, either fresh or saltwater - she hadn’t until that moment even processed there were two types. But she was determined to learn. At least if she was in a job it was easier to find another one. The money was almost nonexistent, but it did mean she could protect what little savings she had, and offer some pittance of rent to her parents.

The weekend dragged by, her parents were out for most of it, golf, beauty appointments, and then dinner at the Ritz. She avoided the house Sunday morning, her parents’ love zone, but London’s parks were a pleasure to jog through. For a while she contemplated rekindling her dog walking service as she spotted dozens of young people walking animals that would probably not have the same privilege during daylight the following day. But that would mean staying in London indefinitely, and she wasn’t sure she could do that. She was feeling swamped by the city already.

And Monday, and her new job rocked around all too quickly. And it was awful!

The manager of the shop, Sharon, was a woman in her early twenties, much younger than Laura, and she obviously hadn’t been involved in the recruitment process. For some ridiculous reason, Sharon was jealous of her, or maybe threatened. After all she being older and a little more clued in than the other teenage workers, was more than apparent. By lunchtime on her first day Laura knew that she’d struggle to last the two days she was due to work that week. But she would. She was determined that she would get her independence back as soon as possible. And that meant an income, a life.

Every evening she’d disappear, unable to spend the night sat in under the scrutiny of her parents, though they said nothing, she felt that they viewed her with scorn. Runs along the Thames, in pouring rain, solo trips to the cinema, it was no real fun, and she wished with all her heart that she’d kept in contact with old school friends. Anyone to help her escape! But other than her friends back in Wales, and Ben and Alana in Hawaii, she had no one. She’d not heard from Adam since he’d walked out of the hotel room after that amazing night...and morning together. Though she couldn’t blame him, she’d pushed him away, she’d imagined that he’d come back, call or even email. But she’d heard nothing. And she was too proud to make the first move.

The week passed, and she had the weekend to look forward to. At least then her parents were busy, dining out, parties. The list was never ending. It gave Laura the opportunity to veg in front of rom-coms, eating Chinese takeaway direct from the carton, and drinking beer or wine...this was as good as life got!

Sunday morning, as usual her parents were late surfacing. Laura was up early, as usual. So she wandered down to Camden, stopping in a quirky cafe for breakfast, browsed the market stalls and shops. It was a pleasant interlude. But she had to go back to the home. It was quiet as she opened the door, but then it wasn’t unusual for her parents to still be in bed at two o’clock. So she made a mug of instant coffee and logged on to her laptop, job hunting again.

She’d been there an hour or more before she heard a noise behind her. Looking up she saw her father, in just a pair of pyjama bottoms moving into the kitchen.

                “Hey Dad! How was the ball?” the previous night they’d been at a huge charity ball. An annual event for Cancer Research.

His response was a grunt, nothing more. Laura looked at him questioningly. “Hung over?” Hopeful that his grumpiness was reversible. They’d barely had a conversation since she’d been back.

                “Not really.”

She nodded, hating it when he was so angry, but realising she was powerless to change that. She wanted to make conversation, hoping that he calmed down a bit, “did they make a lot? The Charity?” She sighed, “it must be a little bit close to home, what with Adam’s mother having cancer.”

Whatever response she expected, it wasn’t a scowl and an expletive. Suddenly Laura felt a little sick, there was more rumbling here than just her father being in a bad mood. After all he was a determined man, but a fair man, not known for random moods.

                “What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?”

Stafford Marshall leaned against the kitchen island that separated them and scowled again, “angry? Why would I be angry? I let that bastard walk into my life without any resistance, without any questions. All the time he was just out for what he could get!”

Laura felt sick, her heart was pounding and it was almost deafening, “are you saying he’s not your son?” That was something she’d never considered and she couldn’t work out how that made her feel.

Her father’s responding laugh was almost evil, reaching to the side table he threw papers in front of her, “oh he’s my son alright!” He spat the words out.

Laura trying to hide the shake of apprehension washing over her reached for the paperwork, letters from ‘Genetic and DNA testing Limited’ that indeed confirmed that there was 99.8% probability that Adam was his son. Nothing was making sense, surely this was what her father wanted, and was a sign that he WASN’T taking advantage of him.

                “I don’t get it!” She looked up at her father, “surely this should make you happy? You’ve slaughtered the fatted calf on more than one occasion.”

Again his laugh was pure evil, “over the moon!”

With that he made for the bedroom, a drink in his hand, “Dad! What’s wrong?”

She was suddenly feeling sorry for Adam, what had he done to earn this scorn? She’d been harsh when he first arrived, jealous. She could admit that now, but she had grown to accept that she could share her father.

Stafford was at best an imposing man, and stood as he was in the doorway he towered over her physically, “what’s wrong?” His look almost scared her, “I invited him into my life and he abused that hospitality. That’s what!”

                “Adam? Really?” She was incredulous; the one thing she could say about Adam was that he was self sufficient; he’d not look to abuse any hospitality. “He may not have been my favourite person, but I find that hard to believe!”

Her father’s expression was unfathomable, and it took him a moment to salvage a reply, “do you? I don’t know which bit I believe less! Him not being your favourite, or not believing what I say?”

Laura felt the room start to spin; she had no clue where this conversation was going...at least she had an idea where she hoped it wasn’t going. His attitude for the ten days she’d been back home had been dreadful, now she realised that she was part of that bad mood. What did he know? And how?

Taking a deep breath, she stood up, squaring up to him, “what are you saying father?”

He stared at her for an age, then his response was a hiss, “I trusted him, I believed in him, then he came here and took advantage.”

It was the same response and it angered her, “for God’s sake father, you aren’t one to beat around the bush. What are you talking about?”

They remained nose to nose, the tension was palpable, neither was willing to back down, but it was the quiet voice from behind that caused them both to spin around.

                “He came to New York and asked your father if he could date you.”

Laura staggered feeling the ground under her feet move. She thought he’d gone, left her with no goodbye, but he hadn’t, he’d gone to her father! Gone to the lion’s den and took that risk. Her heart was racing, she could feel the heat flush her face and neck. This changed everything. The faux-hatred for Adam for truly abandoning her earlier all but vanished. She fought to control the smile that wanted to burst on her face, despite him listening to her when she’d pushed him away, denied him, a large part of her thought, hoped, that he’d not take her no for an answer. Now she knew why he’d not come back. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, that she wasn’t worth it, and he hadn’t changed his mind.

But her euphoria at that was short lived, looking at her father she suddenly saw the venom in his eyes and her humour, her pleasure all but disappeared. He hated Adam because of that? She couldn’t believe that, and his derogatory look made her realise that she was in the same camp, he despised her too. “You hate him because of that? Really?”

Her father scowled, a familiar expression over the last ten minutes, “I don’t have to answer to you!”

It was a childish retort and she almost laughed at his immaturity, flicking her eyes from her petulant father to her embarrassed mother, she shook her head. “That poor man! He grows up with a bastard of a father who hates him, then eventually found out he wasn’t his father, YOU were. After welcoming him into your life you make him trust you, believe in you when he really had no real cause to. Then you reject him equally as hatefully. Adam’s a nice guy! True we’ve got close, and true we have talked about dating, we get on well...but that is no reason to disown him, he is your son! And as much as I am your daughter, he is nothing to me, you are our only link. It’s not wrong!” Her father made to reply but she held up a hand to silence him, “there is NOTHING you can say here that will explain your behaviour! He may be a man, a grown man, but there’s a little rejected sad boy inside who was overjoyed to find a father who loved him. How could you be so cruel?”

Storming past both parents she entered her bedroom, she had to get out of there everything was closing in and she felt claustrophobic. Lifting her rucksack she threw her belongings that were scattered around the room into it, trying not to remember the last time she’d been in this room with Adam. Laura only wished she’d realised this weeks ago. He’d told her at the awards that he liked her, that he wanted to risk on a future for them and she’d pushed him away, told him no. He’d taken that risk anyway, lost his father and walked away from her too. As she thought about her father she felt sick. She couldn’t believe that a man she’d always thought was fair, sensible and a perfect role model was behaving so despicably. Then she thought of Adam.

She’d chosen her father when there was a decision to make. But knowing how her father had reacted she doubted that she’d made the right choice.

Nowhere to go. What a nightmare! But Laura had to leave, as she told her mother who begged her to stay. She needed time to calm, and she wanted to speak to Adam, this was unfair and she was hardly some protected princess who was too good for any man. She’d stopped anything further happening with Adam out of respect for her father, but she had thought he’d be hurt maybe, but not angry, resentful and nasty. That both shocked and angered her. How could he treat his own flesh and blood like that? Push him away. She’d had strong feelings over this, always had it comes from being adopted, she was sure. Her parents had accepted her without question all her life, yet they couldn’t extend that to Adam. That didn’t make sense.

Checking into a cheap motel, she stared at her bag for a while wondering what to do. Then she remembered her tickets, free tickets. She’d aimed to use them to travel to Hawaii, but this was more important. She had to see Adam, tell her that not everyone had given up on him. She could phone, but quite honestly she had nothing to stay in London for, hell she had nothing to stay in Britain for.   She needed to check the small print as she had no idea how she used the voucher but she knew now that there was nothing else for it. LAX bound!

Silly Games - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Adam watched the family laugh as they ran along the sand dipping in and out of the rolling surf. Oh to be happy, he thought as he sat on the veranda of his home, the beach house that had always represented everything that he wanted. Tonight was his birthday, thirty three years old, and he’d give everything to go back a year, for the last six months never to have happened.

No he didn’t mean that, he’d never regret meeting Laura, that was for sure, but he’d write off every moment since leaving her in the hotel two months earlier. Every day had been painful, and every day she became more and more distant to him.

He’d gone from the hotel practically straight to New York, catching the Marshalls before they left for France, immediately he’d looked at his father in a more critical way, he had no idea how the man would react to his suggestions, but he’d not expected him to throw him out of the room, manhandled like a cheap criminal.

                “Stafford,” he’d offered after the pleasantries, “this may seem like a really strange thing to say, but I really would like your approval to date Laura.” He thought he’d asked a reasonable question in a reasonable manner, but it had been greeted by disgust and anger, then he’d been pushed out of the hotel. He hadn’t tried to resist his father, though he could have quite easily. Instead he fell out into the hallway and Stafford’s parting words were always in his thoughts.

                “There’s no way I’d let a man like you lay your hands on her!”

He’d tried to work out what a ‘man like him’ was, as he’d witnessed his father try to foist that chinless wonder Jonathan onto his daughter, so was he further down the ranks than that? The only thing he could honestly conclude was that he wasn’t well bred enough...the irony of his never knowing his real father meant that he was brought up outside of the British aristocracy, and that meant that he wasn’t good enough for his own father. It was all rather ironic as he’d not been good enough for the father who had brought him up all his life either. Add to that the snub from Laura, and he was at the lowest ebb he’d ever experienced. He wished that his mother had never mentioned Stafford Marshall’s name. As much as Mike Purcell had been a bastard, a dreadful father, at least he’d been consistent at one thing. He’d never felt as low as he had the last few months.

And his mother, who’d recently had good test results, her cancer treatment was working, wanted to celebrate his birthday. Not only had he been roped into going but his mother had invited Kristi, his casual date for the past year or so. The fact that he hadn’t seen her since he’d heard about his father, scratch that, since he’s met Laura, seemed to mean nothing to anyone.

The sun was starting to set over the Pacific. It was warm, for a November evening, but then it was rarely really cold in California, in had been in the low seventies during the day, and it hadn’t dropped much until the sun had started to droop over the ocean. He had an hour before he was due to pick up Kristi, and he was spending it downing beer. A bad move. Now he had to get a cab AND tolerate everything. He hoped he didn’t get angry as he got drunk, but this was one birthday he didn’t want to celebrate.

Laura looked at the ‘SOLD’ sign stapled across the door of the cafe and sighed. This was her last evening in town. Tomorrow she returned ‘home’, though it was a million miles from home in her heart. As soon as Ben put the cafe on the market she’d felt sad, but now that it was sold, that someone else was about to live in the apartment, sleep in her room. It all filled her with sadness. She glanced around. All the furniture and belongings had either been sold, or placed into storage. Ben placed little sentiment on anything, so he was happy to cut his losses, literally. Laura had found it harder.

But the previous day a man, in a large truck had taken box loads of belongings and items of furniture to a storage unit near Bristol. And she was left with an inflatable mattress and enough clean clothes to get her back to London the following day.  Six years...all disappearing in front of her eyes.

Michaela was taking her out for one of Al’s pies tonight; they couldn’t bear the thought of a tearful goodbye, so instead they had food and a few pints to look forward to.

The lights of the pub were like an oasis on this gloomy night, a light drizzle washed over her as she made the fairly short trip to the pub. Michaela had called as she was leaving saying she was running late. So Laura had promised to get to the pub first and order for them both.

As she approached the building she saw the poster in the window, ‘Saturday - karaoke’. The thought shook Laura to the core, the last time she’d sung had been that summer night in London, with Adam.  Swallowing the lump in her throat, she made for the door desperate to be out of this gloomy weather. She couldn’t think about Adam, she’d been lonelier the last couple of months than she ever had in the rest of her life, and it all started when that man deserted her.

The pub was quiet considering it was a Saturday, only Jim the local forestry ranger sat at the bar, there wasn’t even a member of staff to serve her.

                “Quiet tonight Jim!” When he nodded, he was a man of few words, she asked him, “who’s working? And where are they?”

                “Clearing up, function room!” He nodded towards the door that led to the small room that was often used for weddings, christenings or birthdays.

Nodding back, she made for the door, hoping to drag the wayward staff member back to their duty. The door swung open and the room was in complete darkness. With a groan and a shake of the head she was about to close the door when the lights burst on, and the room, suddenly illuminated was filled with familiar faces and the scream of “SURPRISE!”

Stood in the centre grinning like a Cheshire cat was Michaela. Laura hated being the centre of attention, but she could only imagine how much her friend had put into the evening. And on reflection skulking out of town in a quiet way would almost be a disservice to the friends she’d made there, so she hugged everyone as they approached to wish her luck, and accepted the beers that were forced into her hand.

It was a great night; Al had exceeded himself by making curry for everyone, a great spicy treat on a cold night. And there was dancing...

As she walked home for the final time Laura bit back the tears, she’d loved her time in Wales, but it was time to move on whether she liked it or not. Since Ben and Alana had left, and she’d argued with Adam, she felt alone, and for the first time ever lonely. That in a place she thought was her home forever. So it was with real mix fortunes that she left the house.

Driving back to London in her rather vibrant camper van was another challenge, the thirty year old vehicle protested at the length of the journey, and Laura had the great idea of diverting to her parent’s country home. She could hardly leave the van on the streets of London. Instead, she locked it in the garage, full of her essential belongings, then caught a train back to the City with her rucksack.

Her parents were out, they were rarely in, and she half wished she’d stayed out in the country with Mr and Mrs Edmunds. That would have been a more relaxing prospect. Instead she had the evening alone to think about the fact that at almost thirty she was back living with her parents with no job, no prospects, and no obvious future.

When did things get so bad? Sat in the kitchen, she tried to ignore the memories of her and Adam against that work surface, and concentrate. With some cold pizza and a glass of apple juice, she opened her laptop then brought up her recent attempt at a CV. It was pitiful. Who the hell would employ someone who’d had no formal work since leaving college six years earlier?

It was hopeless, giving up on the pizza she crossed back to the fridge and found a jar of peanut butter. Scandalous as spooning it into her mouth was, she was uncaring. The last few months she’d lost weight, and the calories of this treat wouldn’t kill her. Laura couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a proper meal. She’d lived on noodles and crisps the last month, it wasn’t the best. Her skin and hair reflected her bad habits. She glanced at the peanut butter - that would hardly help!

So she made her avocado hair mask, slapped on a facial mud pack, then made some miso soup. If she wanted to be employed, she had to start looking better.

Laura was in bed before there was any sign of her parents, and she intended to be out before they woke the next day.

She’d trawled across the city looking for inspiration. She had no idea what she wanted to do, what she was able to do. All she knew was that she had loved working in the cafe, already missed surfing, and was good with sales. It covered a lot of bases, but she had no experience in anything other than the EarlyBird.

Stopping mid morning in a cafe, she pulled out her iPad and logged into the network. She had an email from Ben, which was a relief, she’d emailed him a couple of days earlier asking him to provide a more than glowing reference as well as a slightly embellished job description. It wasn’t exactly cheating, she was more than an assistant in both jobs, she just needed him to tailor her best assets into something a little more desirable than she had already.

After lunch she built up the courage to wander into a couple of the shops in a quiet-ish street a few miles from her parents. The shops near them were boutiques, designer, the high end of the market. That didn’t appeal to her, she fancied herself in a more casual environment, plus she thought she had more chance of that too.

After eight rejections without even asking to see her CV, she was demoralised and embarrassed. How could she go home to her parents and explain she was unable to support herself?

Maggie Marshall was lying on the floor, one leg aloft at an obscene angle, the shoulder of Bruce, her camp personal trainer holding it there.

                “Great Mrs M! You are sooooo loose!”

Her mother giggled in the way Bruce expected, then groaned as he released the leg. She’d had the same trainer for more than ten years. Three times a week he’d arrive in a Lycra suit that always coordinated with her mother’s and push her mother through her paces. It meant that Maggie could eat and drink anything she like and still have a figure that a woman half her age would die for.

Glancing to the door Maggie’s eyes lit up and she beamed a smile, not caring that she was lying on the floor, in such close proximity to a man who wasn’t her husband, she blew a kiss theatrically.

                “Darling! How are you? I thought you’d be here when I woke!”

Laura made for the kitchen after smiling back, “been looking for work. You know?”

Maggie nodded then turned back to Bruce.

Laura was surprised when she entered the kitchen a few seconds later.

                “You ok darling?”

Laura shrugged, “where’s Bruce?”

                “Finished darling! You sounded quite positive to come back to London. Aren’t you?”

Sighing Laura pulled herself up onto the counter and faced her mother, “for six years I’ve worked hard, and I’ve always had faith in what I did, confidence that it was the right thing, but my friend, boss, partner in lots of ways has sold up, moved on and now it’s like the last six years never happened...It’s hard.”

Her mother placed a hand in her shoulder, “it must be difficult!”

Laura almost laughed, what would her mother know? She’d been a model until the age of twenty one when she became Mrs Marshall. Since then she’d wanted for nothing, least of all a career! She didn’t have the fierce independence of her daughter, in fact they were chalk and cheese. They had little in common across all walks of life, but then there was always the nature/nurture debate. Laura had known she was adopted all her life, but it was only the last few months that she’d ever felt vulnerable to that.

Since Adam had left her in the hotel, the morning after that amazing night, she’d thought long and hard about all that had happened. Her insistence that her father came first was defensive. She could see that now. She couldn’t cope with her father, their father taking his side, she couldn’t cope with that abandonment, she was already feeling vulnerable after losing Ben and Alana, the thought of destroying the relationship with her father pained her beyond belief. But she also realised that the pain without Adam was equally as difficult.

She’d thought about calling him so many times, but he hadn’t as much as emailed since he’d walked out of that hotel room. And whilst she was devastated, she also had ridiculous pride, and it had always been her downfall.

By seven that evening she’d registered with fifteen agencies and applied for more than two dozen jobs. It was labour intensive work, and she was glad to open a bottle of wine when the last one had been emailed.

She was just filling a glass with a reserve rioja when she heard voices behind her. Laura turned just as her father strolled into the adjacent lounge. Tossing his briefcase onto the sofa he marched towards her.

                “Laura!” The kiss was perfunctory and lacked any real charm. “How are you?”

Struggling to fathom out his unusual greeting, she shrugged, “yes, good thanks! Nice to be home!” She almost choked on the words, but then she knew that they were words he’d love to hear.

His eyes widened slightly, then he nodded, “very good.” Then he disappeared.

Something was up, and as usual she was the last to know.

Silly Games - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

It was as overwhelming and unstoppable as the previous kisses had been. Whilst his lips started gentle yet firm, within seconds Laura was responding to his every nuance, and clinging to Adam in a wholly indecent way.  Her hands were sound in his hair pulling him towards her, and what had started as him punishing her with a kiss, soon became her taking over greedily, clawing at him in an almost frenzied manner. His tongue penetrated her lips and she opened her mouth thrusting her own to meet it, dancing crazily with his.

Adam moaned against her mouth, and it was the cold wakeup call that Laura needed. Dragging her lips from his, she fought him until she was standing then pushed him away.

                “You contrived that!” She exclaimed turning away. And she flinched as his hand rested on her bare shoulder.

                “Yes I challenged you to that kiss Laura, but I couldn’t make you respond like that! This is what I keep telling you. This is special, what’s between us! You can blame me, you can deny it...but you can’t fight it!”

With a tug he pulled her back to him and she almost stumbled into his arms, when his lips met hers again she did try, her hands firm on his chest, but again in seconds she could do nothing but embrace the passion between them. Adam's hands were large and strong on her spine, every inch of her body and brain was tuned onto every inch of contact between their bodies, from lips to hips.

It was all becoming a blur, the pressure of his lips, the swoop of his tongue were pushing away all of her concerns, all her doubts, and every single reason why she shouldn’t be there with him. For the first time in ages she felt that she belonged, that this was her home coming. She’d had such a confusing few weeks, and this felt like she was finally coming back to somewhere she’d been searching for. And it was confusing, but so very right too.

Adam’s lips trailed across her cheek to nuzzle and nip at her ear lobe, electricity sizzled under her skin, and heat swirled through her body, her pelvis. As his teeth nibbled at her throat, Laura knew she was rubbing herself up against Adam, like a purring and content cat. His chuckle against her throat should have annoyed her, but instead it caused another burst of shivers to erupt over her body and she shuddered in pleasure.

                “Don’t stop this,” he breathed, “it feels so good, so right.”

For Laura it was like drowning, common sense was there, but she wasn’t able to find it, she was submerged in the sensations that he was creating, and her determined independent self was losing the battle.

Lifting his head he cupped her face in his hands, and for a moment he savoured the spaced out, relaxed and content emotions on her face. “Come up with me...please?”

She sighed, “I don’t think...”

He silenced the protest on her lips, “exactly! Don’t think! Let’s just be. For tonight?”

Nausea and apprehension were knocking at the door, but for a moment she ignored that, realising that what she really wanted, what she needed was a night of belonging, of feeling complete...and she knew that was with him, in his arms.

Unable to believe that she was succumbing so quickly with no persuading, he led her to the door, walking backwards and guiding her by both hands. And once again those lips, hands and the excitement they caused kept Laura entranced until the door to her room closed behind them and she knew she couldn’t have avoided this if she’d tried.

Adam’s eyes fluttered open and he couldn’t hide the moan that left his lips at the realisation of the head resting on his shoulder, the hair fanned out over his arm, then there was the soft breast against his ribs and the arm tossed over his chest, and the soft smooth leg wrapped around his rough hair covered one. It didn’t get any better than that.

Not wanting to disturb her, fighting to keep deadly still, he thought back to the last two hours. Once the hotel door had slammed behind them, complete desperate chaos and ensued. Glancing to his left he spotted the table, the upturned chair and immediately memories of her bent over it at the mercy of his hands, mouth, and then so much more. He’d still been inside her, their bodies joined as he moved them to the bed, only separating from her to turn her around, so that he could watch her face as they both climaxed for the second time.

His body was already betraying his quest to stay still, silent as he remembered tasting every inch of her, and being tasted. There had literally been no stone left unturned. He’d never felt so satiated in his life to date. But then her smell, light soft, wafted into his nostrils and he couldn’t resist rolling towards Laura, adjusting them until they were nose to nose, body to body, and he was hard against her inner thigh.

                “Aren’t you tired?”  She didn’t open her eyes, but her hands started to knead his shoulders before one wandered down to his bare buttock. Then she groaned. He wiggled his hips against her until she was left with no doubt as to how he was feeling. “I’m sore!” She breathed, “too sore!”

Laughing at her protests, he cupped her cheek, “then I’ll just have to kiss you better!”

And much to her amazement, he did. ALL of her.

It was much, much later when Laura woke. She had no idea what the time was, nor how long she’d been asleep. Her body ached, but then that was to be expected, she’d contorted herself into some wild positions the previous night, on several occasions. The aching hips, the tight hamstrings were a little uncomfortable, but the deep internal ache was a welcome reminder of how often her body had exploded at the actions of his body, and that was something she’d have to savour.

Sliding from under his heavy thigh, she rolled herself to sit up, she needed a shower. As she stretched the shrill call of a Brazilian parrot came from her bag beside her. She was searching for her phone when a large hand slid up over her ribs to encase one of her breasts.

                “Ignore it!”   Adam’s voice was hoarse and full of passion, and immediately Laura could feel her body responding to that gruff sound.

                “Could be important!” She mumbled, hardly able to concentrate as teeth bit in to the flesh a couple of inches above her hip bones, hard enough to thrill her, but not hard enough to be painful.

                “Adam!” She exclaimed brushing his hand away, but he was persistent. Then finally locating the phone she stared at the screen for a second, before tossing it onto the bed and sprinting to lock herself in the bathroom.

Three vigorous shampooings didn’t help her feel any more clean, and every inch of her body stung from the aggressive scrubbing it had received, but she still felt dirty. She’d ignored the hammering on the door, instead choosing to sing loudly, drowning out the sounds of Adam calling her name. But dry, a towel wrapped around her body, hair damp trailing down her back, she had nowhere to run. She had to face up to him.

Opening the door she was almost relieved to see the room empty, but then she also realised that her bag was gone too. What was he playing at now?

Groaning she retrieved her phone from its place still on the bed where she’d thrown it and checked her missed call. Then pressing call, she connected to her father’s phone, the only person who could have doused her ardour so comprehensively.

                “Hi Dad!” She called brightly as he answered; she was stood looking out of the hotel at the horizon, still wrapped in a towel. She had nothing else to wear.

                “Hey Laura, how was it? We tried to call you last night, but you didn’t answer!”

She sighed SO glad that they couldn’t see the flush of heat sweeping over her. “It was hectic Dad.” She was giving him a resume of the evening after a chat to her mother when she heard the door behind her open. Not turning she continued the conversation to its end. Hanging up the phone, she turned slowly to see an angry Adam still stood in the doorway, showered and in jeans and a t-shirt. She immediately felt defenceless in just a towel.

                “Don’t do this AGAIN Laura!” He stepped towards her and she was relieved to see her bag at his feet.

                “Adam! My father called, I couldn’t speak to him as you groped me, it’s all wrong!” This was a conversation she wasn’t happy with.

                “Groping? Is that what I’m reduced to now? Insults? Jesus Laura!”

She shook her head, this was never going to be easy, “I am not devastating my father's life for good sex Adam, and let’s face it, that’s what this is.”

He laughed, “really? ‘Good sex’?” He was almost menacing in his expression as he walked towards her, “is that what you think this is?”

Laura had nowhere to run as he stalked towards her, and as he grabbed her, pulled her against him, she was fighting to keep the towel wrapped around her. His mouth swept down to hers and she tried to avoid it, but his fingers were firm on her chin, drawing her towards him.

And it was like a match, instantly her body erupted into life.

Within seconds the towel was tossed across the room and she was against the wall helping Adam rip at his jeans. Fast, furious and uncontrollable.

As they both recovered, deep panting breaths, Adam placed his forehead on hers, but she closed her eyes not wanting to face him. It was too much; she hated her reaction to him, that it was so out of control, so wanton. She tried to imagine what her father would say, and could only conclude that he’d be upset, confused. They were crossing a family boundary in his eyes; they were BOTH his children even though there wasn’t a blood link. How would Stafford Marshall feel about them? And if this explosive sex WAS only that, then it would run its course. What would happen then? She had visions of a hostile relationship developing, of them fighting, family occasions becoming a war zone. Her family, her parents’ happiness was important, more important than her own? She wasn’t sure. But she didn’t know where this with Adam would go. Gambling on him, on that could be the worst thing she did. But it could also be the best thing.

                “Laura. Please. Talk to me.”

Opening her eyes slowly, Laura met his, just a few inches from her own. His pain was so obvious, he wasn’t the devious man she’d believed he was all those months ago, he was open and honest, and at that moment he wanted her, or at the very least wanted to understand why she wouldn’t allow that.

                “Sex is sex, this...” he gestured around them with his eyes, “this is so much more. We have a connection Laura, and I can’t throw this away.”

Laura sighed, then pushed him away, dropping her legs from around him to the floor. He was still dressed; she was completely naked, so she reached for the towel and recovered herself.

                “What is my father going to think Adam? You are his son, I am his daughter. He’ll not be able to cope with this. It’s not the done thing. How can he hold his head up high? He’s spent the last few months showing you off to all and sundry, now you want him to have to tell people that you are screwing his daughter? How will that work for him?”

He sighed, “I get that, but I’ve never felt like this before, never wanted someone so badly. It may sound selfish, but I don’t want to let you go.”

She slumped to the bed, her head in her hands for a moment, “it’s not just us, you have to think of him Adam, he’ll be devastated.”

                “Let’s talk to him, see what he says at least. We’re speculating here, he may think it’s fantastic news.”

Laura laughed, “I can guarantee he won’t. Think about it Adam, put yourself in his position...”

                “I can’t let this go, I can’t let you go!” But she could see that his vehemence was fading. Whether he agreed with her, or just knew her own determination he was resolving himself to this ending.

She stood and took his hands, “you have to. As much as this was a wonderful night, every night with you, every moment has been amazing...”

                “But it can’t be any more than that.”

She smiled sadly at his agreement with her, “it’s not fair. The world doesn’t revolve around us.”

                “It should!” he offered sadly. “I can’t agree with this, not really, but I’ll respect what you’re saying. I still think I should speak to Stafford.”

She shuddered, “please don’t.”

Turning away from her he lashed out in frustration, punching at the wall in anger, then taking his bag he left the room.