Page 62 of King of Hearts
More than anything I felt safe here. And it was with that thought that I followed him out onto his balcony where he stood, his gaze cannily examining my body. The only warning I received before he lunged for me was the slightest flicker of his eyes. He didn’t speak. Didn’t try to justify himself. Instead, he picked me up, my legs hooking around him as I laced my arms around his neck. Taking in a breath while burrowed deep in his shoulder, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. No matter what happened next, we would be okay.
He walked me over to sit on top of his jacuzzi so we were eye to eye and framed my face with his hands before he spoke.
“I understand if you’re upset and I understand if you think I cheated on you, but I swear to you, I would never betray your trust like that. I said we are exclusive and I meant it – then and now. I pushed her away and it wasn’t until Jack showed me as we boarded that I found out someone had taken photos last night. But it is not what you think – of that I promise you.” His hands were brushing my hair away from my face as he spoke and while I was listening to him, I was mostly just staring at him with a new curiosity. I heard him, felt the sincerity, focusing on the earnestness in his features and the truth I wholeheartedly knew underlined his explanation. Something in me already knew he wouldn’t do that because I trusted him. I wasn’t sure when it happened, but I trusted him implicitly.
I smoothed the lines across his forehead, tracing his brows, his lips and his jaw before moving my hands to the back of his neck. My feelings for him had been developing for a while now. What started as attraction and quickly became lust, was now so much more and as I looked into his eyes the realisation hit me like a bolt of lightning.
Was I in love withthis man?Was that even possible?
Surely not. It was too soon and I was certain I had never actually feltthatbefore. Never had that soul-deep affection for another person.
I was yet to find any kind of ick and thinking back – had I even tried? He was independent, driven, mature and intelligent. His hat fit him perfectly, he hadn’t asked me about anything bowel related and he smelt like all my favourite things – and felt even better.
Right now, he looked so broken, so desperate for me to believe him. And I did. Without question. Now that I was here with him, any lingering doubt was gone. I could admit it didn’t look good, regardless of my trust in him, but that was the thing – I did trust him.
“What do you think I’m thinking?” I asked, resting my hands in my lap. He released my face and spread my knees apart so he could move in closer to me. Lifting my chin with his finger he looked me in the eye as he answered.
“What do I think? I think this is why I don’t date. I can’t. Not when there is no privacy and there are people constantly trying to destroy anything I have, Arns. I want to say you believe me. That you never doubted me. That you know these vicious lies are fucking garbage. But how can I say that when the photos are presented the way they are? I promise you I was sitting there on my own, about to leave when she sat down. I was actually thinking about you.” He sighed. “She wanted me to dance with her. She was trashed and way too forward, so I called her a cab and left. Alone.” He closed his eyes before taking a step away from me. It was cold up on the rooftop balcony but nothing was as cold as the look of utter resolution on his face.
“Firstly, it’s freezing. Could you at least come here so I can use your ridiculously large body as a heater. And then if you would let me speak too, I would appreciate it. Couldn’t get you to say one word when we first met and now I can’t get you to shut up.” His mouth lifted the tiniest bit, in contrast to the bamboozled scrunch of his eyes, as he returned to stand between my legs. I wrapped my arms around him and leant into his chest.
“Secondly, I believe you, Andy. I truly do. Without any affectation, you need to understand that. I definitely would welcome you explaining how this woman appeared to be nearly kissing you, but I - believe - you.” I punctuated my final words with a tap of my hand on his lower back.
Andy moved quickly, his lips crashing into mine in a devouring kiss. His hands were everywhere and the emotion I felt through his touch alone was enough to ignite my libido and awaken a clearly hungry Barbara.
“Mmmm,” I moaned into his mouth as I pulled away a little. “I missed you.”
“Thank you for believing me.” He said, as he rested his forehead against my own. “For believing in us.” Pulling him down by the neck I kissed him one more time rather than giving him an answer.
“While I would love to let you show me your gratitude with your mouth –” I glanced down at the bulge which was eagerly tenting his pants, “Along with other parts of your very sexy body, we have to be at dinner in –” I looked at the watch on my wrist, “Thirty minutes. And my Nan is over the top excited to say the least.”
“Arns, can I say something – off the record?”
“Everything you say is off the record now.” I rolled my eyes dramatically, leaning to rest on my hands behind me. “But please go ahead.”
“Seriously, I would like to say this won’t happen again, but chances are, with those poisonous arseholes, it probably will. What I need you to know is that I travel with the team – a lot. But it’s only you, Arna. When I go away, you are with me.” He reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine before placing our conjoined hands over his hip pocket. “Wish I could literally keep you in my pocket, but even though I can’t, you are here. And I’m not interested in anyone else. These beautiful blue eyes, this long golden hair, these plump lips and even plumper arse are all I want and need.”
My heart warmed at the sincerity of his words while I grinned at his cheekiness.
“You should be careful saying things like that unless you want us to beverylate for dinner.” I locked my legs tighter around him moving my brows up and down suggestively. “But thank you for saying that. I never really thought about how difficult this whole dating a footballer thing would be.”
Andy scoffed while pulling me into him tighter. “It would be easier if people would just mind their own business.”
“Lucky you’re worth it, Gloss.” I said, with a frankness I felt through to my heart.
“Keep speaking like that, Frost, and we might not make dinner at all.”
The car pulled up to Dad and Queeny’s and I was relieved to see the nosey neighbours were all safely tucked inside for the evening. The thought of anyone seeing Andy was the last thing we needed, even though I knew down to my core that anyone who Nan saw over the next year would be able to recount every word spoken tonight.
As it was, people at work were already talking about me endlessly. There were the obvious ones who suddenly found reasons to walk by my desk just to say hi or ask my opinion about a piece, where previously they wouldn’t have even known my name. Then there were the subtle sleuths who were constantly whispering, only ceasing the minute I entered the room or came close enough to hear. It didn’t take a genius to work out they were discussing the fact my name was now presentinmedia headlines rather than just on Urban Pulse’s long list of contributors.
The other day, the barista at my local cafe wroteGo Hearts!on my takeaway cup and winked at me as I left. It was not a life I wanted and after a small glimpse, which was a fraction of the melee Andy experienced, I was happy to live a nameless existence. The glitz and glamour of a penthouse apartment, a hot tub looking over the harbour and a driver was not worth the baggage. With how much Andy valued his privacy, his tolerance only solidified how much he enjoyed his job given the price he had to pay to do what he loved.
Andy put his hand on my leg and I looked at him across the seat, a small smile lacing my face.
“You ready?” He asked.
A giggle bubbled out of me at the irony ofhimaskingmethat.
