Keep Me (Beggar's Choice #3) (5 page)

Catching the sound of my shock he starts and slips out of
the woman and I catch sight of his dick which is wrapped in a condom that is
wet and glistening, before he clumsily grabs a red, woollen throw from the back
of one of the settees and wraps it around him. The woman is a little slower and
obviously still overtaken by what I’ve interrupted, but she takes the other
throw that he hands her and winds it around her, glaring at me behind his back.

“Fuck Alys, I’m so sorry,” he says coming towards me and
inadvertently offering me a front row seat to his huge erection which is still
tenting out the wool. “I didn’t think you’d be home so soon.” He smiles
self-deprecatingly. “Think it’s going to take a while for me to get used to the
whole house sharing bit.”

“I don’t know,” I say weakly and gesture to his crotch.
“You’ve shared quite a lot in the last five minutes.”

 He throws his head back laughing and the light catches
on his strong throat working and makes me gulp. “Good one. Still, you’d be glad
if we move this party upstairs I reckon.” He stares at me for a long second
that stretches a bit too long as our eyes seem to tangle, but then the woman
sighs and just like that his attention is gone and he gestures happily to her.
“Come on Stella let’s go somewhere else.”

She makes a moue of displeasure which I have to hand to her
she manages perfectly despite being naked and caught shagging. “It’s Bella.”

“So it is,” he says urbanely and throws his arm round her
and just like that his attention is gone from me. I watch them head upstairs as
he nuzzles into her neck and become aware of a hollowness inside me. The
anticipation of telling him everything seeps away like air from a balloon
leaving me feeling a bit lost.

This is not good. I’ve only known him for a couple of days
and I’m already intrigued by him. I have no right to feel slighted yet I do.
I’d somehow imagined him waiting for me as eager for my company as I was for
his. The fact that he patently wasn’t waiting is very obvious and shoots a
warning shot across my consciousness.
I can’t get too involved
I think
sadly as I recognise that this stop is just like all the others – temporary.

Bram

I push Stella/Bella or whatever the fuck her name is up the
stairs inwardly cursing myself. Time had got away with me and I’d embarrassed
Alys which is something that I really don’t want to do. This connection with
her that I feel is inconvenient to say the least. I can’t afford to be
interested in her yet I am.

The whole day had dragged once she’d left and I’d been at a
loss as to what to do, feeling bored and antsy which isn’t like me. Finally,
I’d gone over to our lead singer Charlie’s house where as usual there were
women hanging around. However, I couldn’t even summon up the interest to flirt
and Charlie had been in a funny mood too which was something to do with either
Mabe his best friend, or Sid his brother.

Therefore the whole afternoon we’d huddled in the studio
trying out some melodies to go with his new lyrics. They’d been about his woman
being with another man so I’m opting for his mood being about Mabe after all as
she’s got a new boyfriend.

Stella/Bella had been more persistent than the other girls
who’d largely drifted away when they realised that we were busy. Instead she’d
plonked herself down next to us which really takes some gumption, and when
Charlie had left to check on Sid I’d fallen into conversation with her. Boredom
had then led to me bringing her back here where I’d sort of fallen into her
vagina.

Still, I’d intended to have her gone by the time that Alys
got back because I’d been eager to know how she’d got on today. She’s starting
to fascinate me and I’m growing to value the way that my stardom doesn’t affect
her at all, that she teases me and laughs with me and calls me on bullshit.

I feel easy with her but what worries me is that moment when
she’d interrupted us shagging. I’d felt my erection subsiding at being caught
by her but as I’d turned to her and caught those massive navy eyes staring at
me, the other girl had vanished and all my senses had strained towards her and
just like that I was as hard as I’d ever been in my life.

I tumble Stella/Bella into bed but as I’m pumping away
inside her, bastard that I am, my thoughts are with the girl downstairs, and
it’s her face that I see as I roar and come as if I haven’t had sex for years.
This is not good.

Alys

A week later I’m lying on the settee when Bram and Matt come
in. Bram throws himself onto the settee next to me cavalierly and ruffles my
hair which is loose. “Alys,” he drawls, grinning as I smack his hand away.

“Mind my hair.”

“Why? It’s so pretty,” he smirks, doing it again. “Makes you
look all sexed up with it like that.”

I sneak a look at him because sexed up definitely brings
back memories of him and that girl but he steadfastly ignores me. He either
doesn’t want to revisit the subject or he can’t remember the girl. I’m opting
for a mixture of the two but I decide to go along with him. I’ve not seen much
of him this week and it felt a bit strained when I did as if he was worried about
upsetting me, so I’m happy with anything that brings back the status quo.

I’m also fascinated by the fact that he’s now clean shaven.
The day after we’d had our discussion about my being deaf and how I found it
difficult to lip read when men have beards, I’d come home to find that he’d
shaved his beard off. He’d dismissed it with a joke when I’d tried to say thank
you but I’d still been very touched, and I can’t help noticing how handsome the
angles and planes of his face look without their hairy covering.

He lounges back against the cushions looking scrumptious as
normal in ripped jeans, a navy blue t-shirt and white Converse, and he stares
back at me meditatively until I squirm slightly. “What?” I finally ask.

“Just wondering if you’re a sexy witch, a sexy zombie or a
sexy corpse.”

I’m bewildered. “I’m just wondering if you’re a sexy nutter.
What
are
you on about?”

“I
am
sexy whatever I put on. You’re quite right Alys
and very astute as normal, although I’m thinking it’s a wee bit non-PC to call
me a nutter, but you’re the student you tell me. What is PC now?”

I look to Matt for help who has sunk into one of the deep
leather chairs and stretched his long legs out looking at Bram indulgently.
“What’s he on about? I need a translation.”

He laughs. “Luckily I also run a Bram translation service as
well as being a fantastically brilliant assistant. Bram is speculating on what
costume you will be wearing to the Halloween party on Saturday.”

“What Halloween party?”

Matt sighs and shakes his head at Bram who merely looks
confused. “You didn’t tell her did you?” Matt says.

Bram looks slightly indignant which typically only makes him
look hotter. ”I did tell her.”

I shake my head. “No you didn’t Bram. All you’ve asked of me
this week is to stop hanging my underwear up in the bathroom.”

Matt looks confused. “Your en suite?” I nod. “Why? Bram
doesn’t use it.”

Bram shrugs theatrically. “I had to the other day when Mick
was fixing mine and once seen never forgotten, plus I walked into the fucking
stuff and the lads only told me that I had a pair of knickers caught on my
shirt button after I’d done half an hour of an interview with Rolling Stone.”

Matt and I burst out laughing and he grins lazily. One of
his many endearing qualities is that it’s virtually impossible to offend him
and he takes piss taking like water off a duck’s back. “What did the reporter
say?” I ask.

“I think it actually cemented my status as the main
heartthrob in the group. I tell you Matty, People’s Sexiest Man is mine for the
taking. I’ll be second place no more.”

Matt scoffs. “You and Chris Hemsworth mate. I know which one
I’d vote for.”

“Oh me too,” I sigh and Bram’s eyes narrow.

“It’d better be me you’ve got in your head right now and not
Thor.”

I laugh out loud. “I’m thinking of his mighty hammer right
now,” I say tauntingly, and Matt puts his cheek to his hands in a parody of a
crushing teenager making me snort out loud which turns into an alarmed squeak
as Bram tackles me onto my back on the sofa. I squeal and wriggle but to no
avail as he proceeds to sit on me. “Get off me you idiot,” I shriek.

He cups his hand to his ear. “I’m sorry Alys, what did you
say?”

“And that’s why you’ll never win. Chris has sexier ears than
you.”

His voice goes high. “Sexier
ears
. What the fuck are
you lot judging this competition on?
This
is why I’ve never won.” He’s
trying not to laugh but not doing too well, and I squirm again shrieking as he
tickles me.

“No fuck off Bram, don’t fucking tickle me.”

He laughs evilly. “Oh no I’m making you sweat. Matty fetch a
towel. She’s sweating because the sexiest man in the world is sitting on her.
Say it Alys. Say that I’m sexy.”

I gurgle and the bastard actually bends forward and mops my
brow with something bright pink. “Is that … is that my thong?” I shriek and he
and Matt burst out laughing, Bram so much that he falls off me onto the floor
where I pounce on him ripping my knickers out of his hand. “You’re a sick
pervert. Have you been carrying those around all week?”

He’s laughing really hard now and clutching his sides.
“Don’t take them
please
Alys. I haven’t sniffed them … much.” He curls
up as I punch him. “No seriously Alys can I have them back, they’ve sort of
become my comfort blanket.” He adopts a pious voice slightly ruined by the
thread of laughter. “Yes, when the world is dark and threatening I rub them
over my face and all badness goes away.”

I give him one last whack with my knickers and then climb
back onto the sofa and look at Matt who is wiping tears of laughter away while
shaking his head at Bram. “What Halloween party?”

“It’s a record company party. It’s at a club in Camden and
the whole band’s going. Bram said he told you about it last week.”

“He didn’t.”

Bram sits up from the floor looking like a startled meerkat
for a second with his wide eyed stare. “I did too. I told you the other morning
in the kitchen.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did. I told you where it was being held and asked if you
wanted money for a costume.”

I bristle slightly at the mention of money but Matt sighs.
“Bram, is this a dream conversation again?”

Bram slumps slightly. “Maybe,” he mutters.

I’m entertained. “Does this happen often?”

Bram’s
no
is drowned out by Matt’s emphatic
yes
.
“Yes a lot, so get used to it. He convinced himself that he’d taken his GCSE Maths
after doing it in a dream. He was an hour late for it because he stayed in
bed.”

I laugh but Bram interrupts. “So anyway it’s tomorrow. Can
you make it? Please say you can because I really want the rest of the band to
meet you.”

I’m equal parts horrified and flattered. Flattered because
he wants his friends to meet me. Horrified because I have less than 24 hours to
find a costume for a party that will probably be wall to wall beautiful women.

Sensing weakness Bram brings out the puppy dog eyes. “Please
Alys,” he begs. “You’ll like the lads and I want you to meet Mabe and Viv.” I
know that they’re girls that Bram has known since childhood and they’re very
important to him.

Matt laughs. “You’ve let loose the spaniel eyes. Now just
make your voice do that manly quiver and she’s a goner mate I’m telling you.”

“Fuck off,” Bram hisses and smiles winsomely at me. “Come on
Alys you’ll enjoy yourself.” I must look doubtful because he hastens on showing
that uncanny ability he has to read my mind. “You’ll like the girls babe,
they’re lovely not bitches at all, and although it’s a party we’ve got our own
room there so it won’t be wall to wall tossers like at some parties.” He stares
into space distracted for a second. “I remember one party when Sid vomited into
a koi carp pond and the fish ate it, and do you remember that stacked blonde
Matt, she had tits like bowling balls and Phil the old sound engineer put his
dick between them and …”

“Bram,” Matt hisses. “You’re getting distracted.”

Bram looks at me and sniggers. “Anyway, you’re coming Alys
and that’s an end to the discussion. Now let’s move onto the more interesting
subject of what sexy character you’ll be coming as.”

“Does it have to be sexy?”

He looks slightly startled. “Yes I think so, or at least it
usually is at the parties we go to.”

I just bet they are. I bet there’s a plethora of sexy
everything near him. Matt and I share a look of complete understanding and he
smiles. “Don’t worry about the costume Alys. I’ve got to pick up mine and
Bram’s and the bloke we use will have something for you. Do you trust me to
pick something for you?”

“Something sexy,” Bram adds firmly and we ignore him.

“Yes of course dear,” Matt finally says and he subsides
happily.

The next afternoon I’m lying on my bed trying to read a course
book but in reality staring out of the window at a rain swept river when
there’s a knock at the door. I sit up swinging my legs off the bed as Matt
pokes his head around the door. “Okay to come in?” he asks and I wave him in
happily, widening my eyes as he carts in some massive dress bags and dumps them
on the bed. “Phew thought my fingers were going to drop off,” he mutters
bending down and giving me a big hug which I return eagerly, inhaling the scent
of rain and Tom Ford aftershave on him.

I love Matt and over the last few weeks we’ve got very
close, fulfilling the promise I’d felt when I first met him. We’ve met several
times for shopping and coffee and caught a couple of films together and I
already trust him which doesn’t happen much with me. He’s just a brilliant
person - warm and calm and funny, and I love his and Bram’s relationship.
They’re like brothers arguing and sniping but always loving each other. I’d
seen instantly that Matt felt a great loyalty to Bram but I’d quickly realised
that Bram reciprocates this. He’s a very loyal dedicated friend and I think
that once you’re in with Bram he will never abandon you and he’s very
protective of Matt.

I’d been surprised to find out that Matt wasn’t just Bram’s
assistant. In fact he runs an extremely successful business that provides staff
such as secretaries for very wealthy customers who demand discretion. I’d met
him once at his office and had been amazed by how many people this very
laidback man employs, and yet still manages to look as if he’s just getting
ready to go out and catch a wave.

He manages Bram’s life because he enjoys being with him, and
because Bram is so laidback he doesn’t mind Matt living on his phone sorting
out other customers. Matt said that he wouldn’t think of charging Bram for
working for him but he’d insisted on paying him anyway.

Matt’s voice brings me back to myself. “Right I’ve bought a
choice so try them on for me and we’ll make a decision.” I stand up as he
unzips the garment bag and draws out a beautiful, forest green, corseted dress
which looks 18
^th
century. I look at him and smirk. “Is it sexy
enough?”

He laughs. “Babe you could be wearing a pillowcase and that
man would find you sexy.”

I blush and he laughs again. “What? I’m not supposed to mention
the UST around here.” I look at him. “Unresolved sexual tension,” he clarifies.

“There is no sexual tension,” I protest but he shakes his
head.

“Don’t even bother to deny it. There’s no need to be
embarrassed about it. You’re both very pretty people. It’s no surprise that you
find each other attractive.”

“Bram doesn’t …”

“Doesn’t what? Doesn’t drool when he looks at you? Deny it
all you want sweets but he does and I’ve seen you checking him out.”

I’m mortified. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

He looks suddenly serious. “Now that’s actually a bit of a
shame but I don’t think either of you know that yet. So you’re what … friends?”
I nod and he smirks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bram hold himself to
anything like this. You know I think this might be a good thing.” I look at him
querying and he shrugs. “Bram’s very, very charming. He always gets whatever he
goes after and it’s always been that way. Bram looks and the women roll over
for him or under him. He decides he wants to be a rock star and lo, he is one.
This is the first time in years that I’ve ever seen him deny himself something
that he wants.”

“When was the last time?” I ask but he seems to recall
himself and just smiles instead of answering and holds up the green dress.

“Put this on.”

I strip down to my bra and knickers and he reaches down and
pulls out something from the clothes bag. “Hang on, you’re meant to wear it
with this corset.” Smiling I pull off my bra and allow him to lace me loosely
into the corset before pulling the costume on without any embarrassment. As
Matt has pointed out before it’s like me stripping in front of my grandma
because I lack any attraction for him.

He backs up looking at me. “Shit, your tits look unbelievable
in that and you look amazing.” I smile and shake my head. I turn and we look at
each other meditatively in the mirror and he pulls my hair back. “We could
backcomb this really high, put talcum powder on it and bouffant it up like
something from the film ‘Marie Antoinette’. You’d look shit hot. What do you
think?”

“Sounds good but don’t you need to get changed into your
costume rather than dressing me up?”

“I’m getting changed here.” Matt has his own bedroom here
which he claims is for when the diva demands get too much.

“What are you coming as?”

“A Black Rider from ‘Lord of the Rings’.”

“Bram?”

“Not sure. I’ve given him a choice which is sometimes not a
good thing for Bram because he can get a bit too creative.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It was when he decided to come as a streaker at a record
company boss’s garden party.”

I laugh out loud. “What happened?”

“Let’s just say it was fortunate that they were at number
one at the time and the daughter was a big fan.”

I raise my eyebrows and he sighs. “Yes, we had to distract
the father from the fact that it took two hours for her to find Bram a change
of clothing.” I smile although really I’m starting to hate the stories of Bram
and his women. But let’s face it if I didn’t smile when I heard these tales I’d
be crying 24 hours a day.