Damned (35 page)

His grin widens wickedly. “I am sure. How can I help you tonight, little one?”

I take note of his outfit. He is not wearing a shirt, which I had not noticed because his long white gown covers it. He is wearing white pants, which cling to him in a way no pants should. I tilt my head, staring down at his package and wondering if it truly is as small as the statue’s.

“Are you looking at my package?”

I shoot my head up, heat flares to my cheeks. “What? NO!”

He laughs, taking my hands. “You were looking, I saw you.”

I shake my head, turning away. “Dream on.”

“Jade, can we have a word?” It is Jack.

“Oh, hey Jack.”

“Yes, best you take your little girl here. She is having a dandy time staring at my goods.”

“I was not!” I protest as Jack drags me off.

I sit with Jack a while, then he decides to announce to everyone that I have a magnificent singing voice.

“Jack no, you do not understand. I haven’t sung… since…since.”

“You can do it, nothing has changed.”

“Jack….”

“Come on sweetheart, please?”

“No!” I cry, emotions roaring through me. “No, I don’t sing anymore. I won’t. He is gone now and…”

I choke then; memories of Jax flit through my head, oh how much I miss him. I glance up, to meet Poseidon’s glance; I do not know why it is him I look at. He stares at me, with an expression I am not quite sure how to decipher. I clamp my eyes shut, don’t cry, don’t cry. Everything flurries around me, as if the world is spinning.

“Excuse me.” I whisper, standing and rushing out the nearest door.

I run down a few halls; finally I get outside. I hurry into the small garden with a comfortable wooden seat sitting beside a small pond. I sit down, breathing deeply to try and take away the feeling welling inside of me. Pain, so much pain. I feel a presence beside me, expecting it to be Jack I turn but it isn’t. Oddly enough, Poseidon
sits
beside me, staring into the darkness.

“I… wanted to be alone.” I say, quietly.

“Can I do something to you?” He asks, not looking at me.

“If you want me to get my breasts out and jiggle you can think again.”

He doesn’t grin but amusement washes over his expression. “Not that, give me your hand.”

“Why?”

“Stop arguing.” He snaps, grasping my hand before I can refuse more.

Suddenly, warmth washes over me, splashing onto me like hot water. I gasp as I feel my mind spin, memories from my past spin around like a wild merry go round. I can see Jax, Bella, Bill, pirates, Jax and I fighting, making love.

“S-S-Stop!” I cry.

Poseidon holds my hand; his eyes closed, his expression blank. Finally, he lets it go and stares at me.

“You have had a tough time.”

“What did you just do?” I gasp.

“Read your past like a book, saw your memories. You are madly in love with a man at the moment; it is so strong.”

“You couldn’t have possibly seen that.”

“Tall, dark, handsome, green eyes, tattoo’s… sound familiar?”

I freeze, Jax. I suppose I am still in love with him. I always will be.

“I don’t… understand.”

“One of my many talents.” He shrugs.

“You saw… Jax? Poseidon, he is dead.” I cry.

He blinks then sighs.

“You’re a troubled person, little princess girl.” He says, staring back out the pond. Something about Poseidon is hard, determined and unromantic  and yet he makes me feel at ease in a way nobody else
could. He doesn’t suck all over me or beg and plead; he doesn’t fall at my knees when I cry, he just lays it down the line; emotion detached.

“Why are you out here?” I ask. “We all know you don’t like me.”

He turns to me, his expression serious for the first time. “I don’t have many friends, as you probably know and not many people come along that spark my interest. You however do, and with time I could consider you someone I would like to have as a friend. You are like me in so many more ways than you know. You’re hard, strong and determined, you go for what you believe in and don’t back down, no matter what.”

I look down. “That is a bad habit to have, believe me.”

“I have lived a long time little girl; I know believe me but if you are not true to yourself, how can you ever expect anybody else to be true to you?”

“Being true to myself has caused me a lot of grief.”

“And a lot of happiness.”

“What do you want from me Poseidon? It’s not a bit of slap and tickle, that much I have worked out for myself.”

He grins, grasping my hand this time it doesn’t tingle. “As I said, you and I have something in common, and it draw’s me to you. I would like to be your friend. That’s all.”

“It’s never all, that much I have learnt from my time living.”

He stares at me. “I do need a favor, however, it has nothing to do with being your friend. You need somebody like me, somebody who can tell you when you’re wrong and right, straight down the line without emotion.”

“What, I’m not good enough for you mighty Greek whore?” I grin, and he smiles back.

“If Jack was to die too…I may line up.”

I smile weakly; it is the nicest thing he would ever say to me, I know that.

“Coz I am so loveable?”

He snorts. “About as much as a ram.”

“You’re so charming, it melts me.”

He smiles and then turns to me. “I need help with something and you are the perfect person to do it. With those dazzling blue eyes and sexy ass.”

“Was that a compliment?”

“Maybe.”

“Right then, with my eyes and ass, what can I do for you?”

“Pretend to be my girlfriend.”

I laugh. “Why Poseidon, have you lost your touch?”

He eyes me. “No, I have not. The exact opposite. I have a… stalker.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Really?”

“Yes really, she is annoying the crap out of me. If it looks like I am taken, maybe she will back off. That’s where you come in.”

“Me?”

“Yes you.”

“You want me to pretend to be your woman?”

“For a little while. Maybe she will get a hint.”

“Or not.”

“I have tried everything else.”

“Ok fine, I am up for a bit of fun.”

“How good are you at acting?” He smirks.

I stare at him. “Damn good. So where is this girl?”

“She was sitting beside me, red hair, pale skin, red dress. Her name is Kate.”

“That was her? You were letting her stroke you!”

He shrugs. “Couldn’t be bothered fighting tonight.”

“God you’re a hussy.”

He glances at me from the corner of his eye but doesn’t say anything. “So, are you ready to be as lustful as I know you can be?”

“Bring it on, oh and that lust I felt earlier, that was you wasn’t it?”

He grins. “Another one of my many talents, I can make any woman lust me.”

“Whore.” I smirk.

He grasps my hand, leading me back inside. I glance at the red head sitting by his seat waiting for him. Her eyes meet mine, and she glares. I smile sweetly and bring Poseidon’s hand to my mouth, sucking on each of his fingers.

“Is that the best you got?” He hisses, egging me on.

“You aint seen nothing yet.”

I turn towards him, wrap my arms around his neck and press a kiss to his mouth. He responds with equal enthusiasm, driving me further into the kiss as he tucks his arms around my body. Wow, is all my mind can muster up. The man can kiss. I know there is something about Poseidon and my relationship that makes me comfortable doing this. There is no emotion involved. It is just fun. I know if it was anybody else, painful guilt would seize me but this is not real, and that seems to help.

“Does Jack know about this?” I whisper into his ear.

“He does; he isn’t happy about it, but he will play along.” He murmurs into my neck.

I pull back, as he grasps my hands and takes me to his seat. Kate is shooting me a fierce glare; if looks could kill, I would be a heap of dust on the ground.

“Kate, this is Jade.”

Kate seethes. “Is she joining us tonight PJ?”

Joining them?

“No, this is my girlfriend. I am sorry, but we will not be having any further relations. You understand, don’t you Kate?” He says sweetly.

“Oh, sure.” She says through gritted teeth.

I wriggle on Poseidon’s lap and feel he is actually excited. Dirty perve.

“You could at least keep it down.” I think at him and he laughs.

“My darling here is getting a little antsy, we must excuse ourselves.” He murmurs, patting my legs.

I turn, rubbing myself against him and giving my best dreamy smile. “I need you, right now.”

He runs his tongue over my lips, making me shiver. Damn.

“Then I shall not make you wait.”

“Poseidon wait.” Kate calls but he simply flicks his hand and drags me out of the room.

I catch a glance at Jack as we walk out. He is glaring at me, anger flashing in his blue gaze. I look away; I shouldn’t feel guilty because this is not real, but his stare has me wondering if this is a good idea. My father has already taken Lilly back to her room, god what would I do without him? We make our way to Poseidon’s room, and he shuts the door behind us when we get in.

“She is following us.” He says, sitting on the bed.

“Well let’s give her a show.”

He raises his eyebrows.

“Getting into it are we?”

“Not for real you whore house, we can make her believe what is going on in here is real.”

He glances at me curiously. “I don’t see how that is possible.”

“Watch and learn.”

I throw myself back onto the bed with a loud moan; then I continue to gasp and pant before throwing myself into a fit of screams and moans, rocking on the bed to make it squeak while calling Poseidon’s name over and over.

“Is this one sided?” I snap, glaring at him.

He follows suit, throwing himself down beside me and groaning while thumping the wall. When it is over we both fall back onto the bed laughing as we hear her shoes stomp off down the hallway.

“I underestimated you.” He breathes.

“They all do.”

I hear a knock on the door. “Jade?”

“It’s Jack, I should go.”

“Don’t cheat on me baby.” Poseidon grins.

I shake my head and grin back. “You’re wicked.”

I open the door to face Jack and my father.

“We are done here.” I smile, stepping out and closing the door.

“So, you know of Kate?”

“Obviously.”

“That’s good, hopefully she gets the message. She has been somewhat of a thorn in his side. Goodnight baby girl, I am going to bed.” Mack says, kissing my cheek before leaving Jack and I alone.

“Fancy a walk?” Jack asks.

“Always.”

We walk into the gardens and sit on the same seat Poseidon, and I had sat on earlier. I am staring out at the ocean when suddenly Jack leans over and grasps me, pressing me desperately to his lips. His kiss is hot, sizzling and over whelming. I know it is just a game with Poseidon, just like acting but this…no this is not acting. I feel guilt swarm through me. I shove Jack back harshly.

“NO JACK. How could you?”

“Oh sweetheart, I am sorry…”

“Stay away from me. Y-y-you know I am not ready. What happened tonight was a damned act, it meant nothing. I still love him, dead or not. I am not ready!”

I tear into my room and fall to my bed, a minute or two later I hear a knock. I spit at whomever it is to go away. Poseidon walks in and shuts the door behind him.

“Oh piss off.” I mutter.

“I saw what happened; he didn’t mean it to be that way.”

“He knows I am not over Jax.”

“And he made a mistake, don’t kill him for it.”

“You don’t understand, I have lost so much and…” I choke up.

He shakes his head sitting down. “You can’t live like this forever. Honest to god, crying over everything? What does it solve? Nothing. Get up, stand tall, be strong and fight for what you love and believe in. Toughen up Jade or your life will never be what you want it to be. Did you really expect to love a pirate and it be happily ever after? He is a deadly creature of the ocean; life gets taken a lot easier in that case. You need to stop mourning and sooking, come on.”

I gape at him, shocked. “Excuse me? I am not a sook.”

“Really? How many times have you cried when things go wrong? How many times have you run off to your room crying instead of facing the problem? Well?” He cocks an eyebrow.

“Your point?” I snarl.