Bound Angel Bound Demon (9 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Alex waited till Gary had fallen back to sleep, then John, or Briggs, or whatever he wanted to be called, picked her up from the hospital and drove her home.

She dropped her bags by the doorway and went over to the ph
one and called her mom and dad to let them know about Gary. Then she went into the kitchen to make herself a drink, there were two half eaten pizza boxes and some crisps’ packets on the counter. She binned them.

This isn’t like Gary, he likes things to be clean and tidy, and pizza he
only has on the odd occasion
, she thought. It looked like he couldn’t be bothered while she had been away.

She was the one that had
made him ill. Instead of stopping and talking things through she had caused him to end up in hospital.
I will not let him down again
, she thought as she carried on cleaning up.

She finished
cleaning up the kitchen, and then took her suitcase upstairs to unpack. The bed didn’t look like it had been slept in; just his jogging bottoms were thrown on the floor. She put them in the laundry basket, and then put her clothes away.

Alex got into
her cotton pyjamas and went back downstairs, she didn’t want to sleep in the bed alone, she missed Gary too much. She went to the living room and turned on the television. Nothing was really on. She flicked through channels and then just turned it off.

She lay down on the
sofa and closed her eyes. She dreamt of that night at the club, but she couldn’t see the faces of the people in the room, she tried to take off their masks, but she couldn’t touch them. She woke up from the dream looking around trying to work out where she was. Then there was a knock at the door. She looked at the clock: 11 pm. Who would be calling around at this time?

She
opened the door cautiously, there was a tall dark man standing there. Alex didn’t recognize him at first, but there was something very familiar about him.

“Hello can I help?” asked Alex
. She looked at him and then in his eyes, they were the colour of milk chocolate.

“Alex, s
orry to come round at such a late hour but I was just wondering how Gary was, I phoned the hospital, but they wouldn’t tell me anything.”

Suddenly Alex realized who he was
, the man from the other night, the man in the mask.

“You’re Ray, aren
’t you?” asked Alex.

“Sorry Alex, yes I’m Ray
.”

Alex let him in and led him to the living room.

“Sorry I didn’t introduce myself, my mind has been all over the place since I found Gary.”

“I understand.
He’s ok, they’re just keeping him in overnight to monitor him.” Alex didn’t want to say too much because she wasn’t sure how much Gary would want people to know.

“Yes Briggs told me, that’s why I came over
. He said he’d dropped you home, how are you? It must have been such a shock.”

He looked at her again, his eyes fixed on hers
. She remembered the last time she’d looked in those eyes, and a flush came to her cheeks, and she looked away in case he could read her mind.

“I’m fine,
” she answered.

“Good.
It was just finding him like that, well it knocked me, I can tell you.”

He
seemed so different from the other night.

“I came over because
I hadn’t heard from him since the other night,” Ray paused, “well he normally phones if he’s got things on, or just to say when he will be back in, anyway I came over, I knocked on the door and there was no answer. Then I looked through the living room window and that’s when I saw him lying on the floor, so I let myself in.”

“Let
yourself in?” asked Alex.

“Y
es, sorry, Gary gave me a spare set of keys, not sure the reason why, to be honest, but you know Gary, he has his reasons for everything. Anyway it’s a good job he did, I couldn’t bring him round at first, so I called for an ambulance, and the rest you know.”

Alex saw that his hands were shaking. “Would you like a drink? Y
ou look like you need one.”

Ray nodded
and Alex poured him a double measure of Gary’s whisky.

“Me and Gary go way back you know, it’s like I didn’t know what to do
, he’s like a brother to me you know?” Alex realized then that she was not the only one that was scared about what might have happened to Gary.

She sat
down next to him and held his hand, he looked at her trying to read her expression.

“It was
my fault. I got angry that night when he told me he was in the room at the club. I didn’t understand and didn’t give him a chance to explain. I made him leave, then I ran to my parents, I put him through hell making him think I’d left him, I made him ill just because I wouldn’t give him a chance to explain, but I have promised him I will give him a chance to tell me everything, in his own time,” she said, hardly drawing breath.

She looked at Ray waiting for him to say something.

“He loves you, I have never seen Gary get like this for a girl, from the minute he met you he talked about you non-stop, he took a step back from the club, you know, to spend time with you. He wanted to shield you from it all, from his desires. He was frightened you wouldn’t understand and would leave him, so I suppose in a way he thought that was what had happened. But I want you to know he didn’t want to go ahead the other night. I was the one who talked him into it, I told him it would be ok. I knew he hadn’t told you about his club, I have already more than likely dropped him in it again, but I want you to understand how much he cares for you and why he kept everything from you.”

Alex smiled, “
I’m beginning to work some things out and see how much people love him, I don’t think he realises just how much.”

Ray
downed his whisky.

“Do you want another
?” Alex got up and brought the bottle over.

He nodded and poured himself another,
and rested his hand on her thigh, Alex felt electricity shoot through her body.

“I can see why Gar
y would want to have something of his own, and a place of his own, somewhere to be normal, it looks appealing. . .”

“W
hat do you mean?” asked Alex, her heart was racing now, Ray was stroking her thigh.

“
It would be nice to have a wife to come home to, a woman I could just do everyday things with,” he looked at his glass.

“Do
n’t you have that with Melissa?”

Ray looked back at Alex. “Melissa is not the wife
type, she loves the things she gets to do at the club. She loves sex. It’s her life and nothing else matters, don’t get me wrong, that’s what I love about her, but Melissa wouldn’t be any good as a wife.”

Alex looke
d at Ray, he was very handsome, she wanted to reach out and touch his smooth ebony skin. Ray turned to her, looking her in the eyes, and she felt she was drowning in his gaze. He put the glass down and leant forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek, he pulled back and looked at her again. Alex reached up and touched his cheek and he held her hand as she touched him. She couldn’t hold off any longer, she kissed him on the mouth, he kissed back searching her with his mouth and with his hands in her hair, and their kisses grew more urgent.

Then
he pulled back. “We can’t do this,” he said, looking away.

Alex touched his cheek t
o bring him back to face her, “We have both had a shock today, and we both need an escape.”

“Yes but not like this.”
He held her hand again.

“We can, it can be like the other
night. I need this, I know it sounds awful, but Gary was there when you were touching me the other night, I need someone to touch me, hold me.”

Ray kissed her again
, stopping her from talking, soon they were kissing just as passionately as before. Ray searched her mouth with his tongue, Alex let out a moan. She pulled off his jacket and then pulled at his shirt, she felt his naked chest, she pulled her top off over her head, and their hands were all over each other’s bodies. Alex wasn’t wearing underwear which made Ray go hard. His hands cupped her breasts and he leant down to kiss them. Tonight he was going to play at being her husband and make it vanilla, he hadn’t had ‘normal’ sex for ages and tonight he was going to take his time and enjoy every moment, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted this. Alex pulled his jeans down off.

They moved to luxurious sheepskin rug by the fireplace.
He watched as she slipped down her pyjama bottoms and stood naked shimmering in the firelight. She lay on the rug with him, and pushed him back so he was lying down. She kissed her way down his chest towards his groin, and pulled off his boxer shorts letting his dick loose, she took a cushion off the chair and placed it behind his head so he could watch her. She went back down and began to suck on his length. He sighed with pleasure, and stroked her hair, and she looked up and smiled, then she crawled back up kissing his chest again. He held her and sucked on her nipples, feeling her with his hands, she climbed on top and slid down onto his length, and began to ride him slowly. She leant forward and kissed him as she moved up and down, he moaned into her mouth, he loved how she made him feel. Tonight was about making love, he had not made love in a while. This was different to having sex with a woman he dominated, this was softer loving. But the passion was intense, and he rolled her over and then he was on top kissing and sucking her breasts. He was hard insider her. Alex closed her eyes, she could get used to this, trying daring things, things she would never have dreamt of . . . it was so wrong but felt right after all that had gone on. She felt that he was the master finishing what he had started the other night, she was wrapped up in the moment of him taking her, loving her and freeing her, all in one go. They both began to move faster and stronger, soon they came in what felt like an explosion, and then fell into each other’s arms. They lay still holding each other for what felt like forever, neither one of them wanting to let go of what had happened, they wanted to stay in their fantasy and not leave.

Ray
kissed Alex softly on the head, “Thank you Alex, I needed that. You made me feel special and loved even if just this one night, it made me realize what I’ve been missing and a little of what I need.”

“Well
, I hope it hasn’t made you change your ways altogether, if so there will be a few upset clients at the club,” she laughed.

“I could never give that up,
it’s the only thing I’m good at, but I must say, I need a bit more of this now and again,” Ray replied.

“Well you helped me finish what I started
, and it has made me want more, I do think that when Gary gets home I will be signing that contract. I think we’ve both made each other see some things clearly tonight and feel better for it.”

“Yes, I have to agree”
, Ray looked at his watch, it was 1.30 am. “I think I should be going, but please get Gary to phone me when he’s home, and you should get to bed so you are ready for Gary, you will be no good if you’re tired.” Ray began to get dressed, so Alex picked up her pyjamas and put them on.

When Ray said goodbye
, he leant in and gave her a kiss on her cheek, “Thank you again,” and with those words he turned and left. She noticed the limo was outside, Briggs was in the driver’s seat, and he must have been there all the time. Alex closed the door and went back in the living room. She tried to go upstairs but was so tired that she just flopped on the sofa and closed her eyes. She finally knew what she wanted and starting tomorrow she was going to start getting it.

Chapter
Sixteen

Alex was dreaming of Gary again, he was smiling down at her and stroking her face, whispering her name, and then she heard his voice as if it was real. “Alex, wake up
.”

She opened her eyes and there was Gary standing
over her, she sat up and rubbed her eyes and looked again. Gary was in the living room, she noticed Briggs was standing behind him in the doorway.

“What’s happening
?” asked Alex.

“The d
octor said I could home as long as I rest up for another few days, my heart rhythm has gone back to normal, he just thinks everything may have been brought on by stress. But I’ve still got to take the tablets, and go back for a check-up in a week’s time.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I wanted to surprise you, but why are you sleeping down here?” he asked.

“I . . .
I couldn’t sleep, so I came down here and must have fallen asleep on the sofa.” Alex looked at Briggs, he just smiled back. He was holding Gary’s bags. She said, “You can leave them there John, I’ll move them later, do you want a drink. I’ll get Gary up to bed and settled and then I’ll make you a cup of tea if you like.”

“Hey
! I’m still here you know,” interrupted Gary.

“Yes and you should be resting
,” and she took hold of his arm and led him up the stairs. “Wait there John I’ll be back in a minute,” she said to Briggs.

“No thank you
, I won’t stay, I’ll give you two some privacy, just give me a call if you need anything,” he replied.

“You’re eager to get me upstair
s Mrs Sterling,” smiled Gary.

“Yes but not for what you think
! Bed for you and I’ll bring you some breakfast up.” Gary gave a pout, but did has he was told.

Alex
prepared some poached eggs on toast and made some freshly squeezed orange juice, put it all on a tray, and took it upstairs to him. By the time she was back in the bedroom, Gary was lying down in just his jeans, with his well-muscled torso exposed. She would have had him right there and then if he hadn’t needed to rest. He patted the bed next to him.

“Thank you Alex
.”

She
handed him the tray. “Well it’s only eggs, nothing special,” she answered.

“Not for the breakfast
, but for being here, I don’t know what I was expecting when I walked in the door, but you were there asleep, waiting for me. Thank you.”

“Gary, I will never leave you
. I just need us both to be more truthful with each other in the future. Now eat up while I have a shower and get dressed. I have a couple of phone calls to make and then I’ll be back, just rest.”

Alex got up
, taking her mobile with her. First she phoned her mom and dad to let them know Gary was home. Then she phoned work and asked if she could come in and speak to her manager, she needed a meeting to discuss some time off. Then she called Briggs, he answered on the first ring.

“
Mrs Sterling, I mean Alex, is everything ok?” he asked.

“Yes John
, it’s all fine, I just wondered if you would be seeing Ray today, so you can let him know Gary is home.”

Briggs
answered, “I already told him.”

“Good, could you do
me a favour and pick me up in about an hour to take me into work? I have a meeting, and want to get there and back as quickly as I can,” she asked.

“Not a problem, I will be there
in an hour.”

Alex
put the phone down and stripped off her pyjamas and got in the shower. Once she’d showered, she returned to the bedroom wearing just a towel.

Gary looked up from the t
elevision which was showing an old western. “All wrapped up for me?” he said.

“Now
now, all that will come in good time, I have got to get ready. I need to pop into work to sort out something. John is picking me up and will drop me back. I will be back as quickly as I can.”

“What am I supposed to
do? I thought we were going to spend time together and talk things through,” Gary sounded worried.

“I
t’s ok, we
will
talk, there’s just something I need to do first.”

Gary knew there was no arguing
, so he turned back to the film on the television. Alex finished getting dressed; she wore one of the dresses her mom had bought her in Spain, it was a maxi dress covered in spring flowers. She put her hair up in a bun and took one of her wraps and draped it over her shoulders.

“You look lovely Alex
, you sure this is just for a meeting?” said Gary smiling. Alex knew he was joking.

“Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough
,” she walked over and gave him a kiss and he tried to pull her down onto the bed with him.

“Come on baby, the sooner I’m out of here
, the sooner I’ll be back,” she picked up his breakfast tray and walked out, “Now rest!”

* * *

Briggs was waiting in the car out front and when she walked down the drive he got out to let her in the back. Alex smiled and climbed in, when she looked up at the bedroom window she saw Gary looking down, and she waved and blew him a kiss.

They soon reached
the office where she worked. Briggs held open the car door for her, Alex felt like someone who’d won the lottery, passers-by looked to see who was getting out of the car.

“John, I’m hoping not to be long, shall I just give you a call when I have finished
?”

“That’s fine Alex, I
’ve got some other things I have to do while you’re in there, but not to worry I will be back to pick you up when you’re ready,” he said.

“Thank y
ou John.”

Alex went
past the girls on reception, she saw them looking and whispering about her. Normally Alex tried to blend into the background, but today she wanted them all to notice her and stare, she was brimming with confidence.

She went up in the lift to her
office; it was noisy with people busy on calls. She drifted past her colleagues and smiled at them, the girls couldn’t believe it was Alex and the men pretended not to check her out. She was loving every minute of this.

Alex
knocked on her boss’s door.

“C
ome in,” shouted a male voice.

Alex entered.

“Alex, hello, glad to see you back, I believe you wanted to see me.” Her boss was the type of man that believed every woman wanted him. Alex couldn’t bear to be with him most of the time.

“Well
Mr Sung, as you can tell, I’m not here to work,” Alex began. Mr Sung looked at her; she could feel him undressing her with his eyes. “As you know I have been off this past week due to family illness.” He nodded. “Well, I’m here to hand in my notice, so I can stay at home to look after my husband and get him on the mend,” she said confidently.

Mr
Sung stopped staring and said, “But we can give you more time off, until he is back on his feet again, if you like. We wouldn’t want to lose one of our best people.”

“
Mr Sung, I appreciate that, but I’m looking into helping out with my husband’s business, to take some of the pressure off him, so thank you but I will not be coming back to work for you.”

Mr
Sung looked at her; he didn’t know what to say.

“I hope this hasn’t caused any inconvenience, I will collect my personal things from my desk now
.” Alex stood and held out her hand to shake Mr Sung’s. “Thank you again for your time,” she put her written notice on his desk and left his office, closing the door behind her, before Mr Sung had regained the power of speech.

She collected the only personal item
she’d had on her desk, a picture of Gary. Grinning from ear to ear, she walked out. She called Briggs, “Hi Alex, I’ll be another thirty minutes,” he said.

“Oh ok
, I’ll meet you at the Thistle Hotel instead then, I will be in the bar,” answered Alex.

“Ok, just like old time
s then,” he laughed.

She w
ent into the hotel and made her way to the bar, the same young barman was working.

He recognized her and smiled
. “Hello again madam, what can I get you?”

“Can I just have a tea
, black please.”

“Coming right up, you’re looking better than the other day, I take it your meeting went well
.”

“You could say that
.”

“Well that’s great, good for you
,” he replied.

“Yes, it made me have a clearer look at things, and I
’ve even just packed in my old job,” she smiled.

“Well, you can tell you’ve
done the right thing, if you don’t mind me saying, you look great on it.”

Alex laughed
, blushing slightly, “Is that a barman’s chat-up line?” she said making him blush in turn.

“Sorry if I stepped over the mark
, it’s just you
do
look good. Any man would be blind not to notice.”

“Thank you
,” replied Alex. “That will get you a tip for sure!”

The barman moved to serve another
customer, and she was sipping her tea when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Briggs. “That was quick”, she gave him a kiss on the cheek and held on to his hand.

He looked mystified,
“What was that for?” he asked.

She
nodded in the direction of the barman, who was watching them.

“Oh I see,” he
said and gave her a kiss back and then walked with her towards the door.

“I needed to let him down gently
,” she laughed.

They were soon back in the car and on
their way home, she couldn’t wait to tell Gary, leaving her job would mean she would have more time to explore his secret life and become a part of it.