King (10 page)

She
ushered Sasha into the living room, throwing her arms around me and pulling me
tight. “Get your cute
tush
in there and spill all”
she said finally, ushering me through to the living room and onto the couch.
“Stick the kettle on Sash, both strong and both with five sugars” she laughed,
looking at me and shaking her head. “I’m self medicating for the shock” she
grinned, which raised my first smile of the day.

They
both sat open mouthed, sipping their tea as I regaled my tale from start to
finish, shaking their heads and nodding but they were utterly mute. As I
finished there was silence, both eyes wide and jaws dropped and if I didn’t
know better, I could have sworn they looked aroused. “Well?” I prompted when no
response ensued. Katie shook her head “corny bastard” she said unconvincingly.
I sighed deeply. “The thing is, at the time it
wasn’t,
it was possibly the most erotic moment of my life. No, strike that. It was
definitely the most erotic moment of my life”. She exhaled loudly. “I don’t know
what to say
Lotty
. You’ll just have to be grateful
for the hot sex and ignore the fact that he answered the phone to his
girlfriend while you were still pulling your knickers up”.

I
couldn’t help the broad grin that spread across my face, “It wasn’t quite that
quickly Katie” and my smile faded “but it was close”. “I don’t think she’s his
girlfriend” Sasha smiled kindly as my eyes flew to hers, hoping she was some
kind of oracle sent from heaven to relieve me of my shame, my guilt and most of
all, my irritation. “What makes you say that?” I asked quickly, hoping for some
insight to lift my burden. “I know him a little bit and he doesn’t seem to have
one. In fact, he’s pretty well known for not having one” she shrugged.

She
knew more than she was letting on and Katie beat me to it. “How well do you
know him?” she said quickly, sounding like someone employed to interrogate
terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. Sasha laughed, putting her hands in the air in
mock self defence. “A little bit, like I said. I don’t know any more than that,
except that when he said he doesn’t do girlfriends, that’s what his reputation
suggests” she smiled and I felt deflated. Sash was lovely, but wasn’t proving
to be the font of knowledge I needed right now. What I needed was Google, but it
seemed sad and desperate and I would have to wait until they left.

My
phone was ringing from my bag and Katie launched herself across the floor to
beat me to it, and from her wild gesticulations I knew it was him. I shook my
head violently, I couldn’t do this right now, but she answered anyway in the
most saccharine voice I had ever heard. Did Jason fucking King have that effect
on everyone? “Yes she’s right here Jason, I’ll just put her on” she swooned as
I glared at her, grabbing the phone and storming into my bedroom, slamming the
door like a petulant teenager. “Charlotte, are you there?” I heard his soft
voice down the line and I sighed heavily, melting into the sound, just as I had
last night and even now, my wits deserted me, almost as suddenly as they had
then.

 
“Yes I’m here” I said quietly. “Are you OK?”
he sounded tense, worried. “Yes” I managed. I left out the bit about scalding
myself internally for what had happened last night. Not that I was entirely
sorry about it. I wasn’t. “I apologise for last night. It was entirely my fault
and I got carried away being in control of your next cake fix” he laughed
gently. “You were just laid there, all needy and desperate and totally fucking
beautiful. I couldn’t help it Charlotte”. My stomach erupted ferociously at his
words, and my heart leapt at the admission. “It was really something Jason, I
don’t think I’ve ever...” he cut me off before I could finish, sounding utterly
forlorn. “I can’t take this thing forward with you Charlotte, I’m sorry...” and
I cut him off, feeling humiliated, lost, and craving the very man who had just,
in no uncertain terms, blown me out.

I
sat on the bed with my head in my hands before I made my way back into the
living room to fill my eager friends in on the latest update in the ever
complicated Jason King saga. “Prick” announced Katie simply as her own phone
rang, and disappeared in to the kitchen to take the call. “Did he say why he
couldn’t take it forward?” asked Sasha who was looking at me intently through
huge dark eyes and chewing her lip as though she were mulling it over. That
girl definitely knew more than she was letting on. “He didn’t get the chance” I
sighed as Katie all but bounced back into the living room, stopping as she saw
the hurt etched on my face and trying to stifle the grin that had clearly been
there only seconds before.

 
“Come on Katie” I smiled “I need some good
news. What gives?” and the smile burst across her face, lighting her cute
features as she giggled and blushed. “Robbie wants to meet me for lunch and
maybe go out for the afternoon” and I couldn’t help a huge grin back. From what
I knew of Robbie Hurst he was kind hearted, down to earth, intelligent and a
model. “Jackpot” I laughed at her and from the elation on her face, it
reflected her own feelings. I read her instinctively when her smile faded
slightly and concern flickered across her brow. “Go, I’ll be fine. If I pick up
the gin bottle, I’ll text you, but it’s highly unlikely with this head” I
smiled. “You sure?” she hugged me tightly and I nodded. “Go” I said firmly as
she grabbed her bag, hugged Sasha and left.

“Shall
I go too?” said Sasha after a beat, looking at me, her face betraying her
discomfort at being here without Katie. We’d met a couple of times, but I
certainly didn’t know her well, and the whole morning had been pretty intense.
The truth was, I was enjoying the company, she was kind and bright and slightly
mysterious and I wanted to get to know her better. “I don’t want to keep you if
you’ve got plans Sasha, but I’d love you to stay if you want to. I know I’m
being a horrible misery today and believe me, I’ll snap out of it soon. Jason
King has always gotten to me one way or another. Mostly he irritates me,
sometimes I really hate him. The truth is right now, I don’t exactly know how I
feel”. She laughed gently, nodding as if she understood. “Love and hate are two
sides of the same coin Charlotte, if you’ve got enough passion to hate
him,
you’ve got enough passion to fall for him hard too”. I
looked at her aghast. I didn’t
hate
anyone else that
way,
I didn’t
hate
anyone else at
all. I’d also never craved anyone else as much as I did him, despite the way
his actions constantly irritated me. I was certain I didn’t love him, but
desire yes, I definitely desired him.

Maybe
she was right. She had a smart head on her shoulders. The thought was even more
depressing because it meant that this hurt probably wouldn’t go away any time
soon. “You could be right” I smiled. She looked nervous, taking a deep breath
before turning to look me squarely in the eye. She was conflicted about
something. “I think I might know why he won’t take it forward Charlotte” she
said, as my jaw dropped even further. I hadn’t given him the chance to explain,
which was I decision I regretted right now. Apart from face the humiliation of
calling him back which was unlikely to happen before hell froze over, Sasha
would probably be my best bet.

“Look,
this is really difficult, I can see how upset you are, but if I tell you this, you
have to promise me you’ll be really discreet”. I stared at her wide eyed and
couldn’t begin to imagine what she was about to say but knew that I’d promise
anything for the chance to find out. “Of course” I nodded quickly. “I really
mean it Charlotte, you can’t even tell Katie. I wanted to tell you earlier but
I just couldn’t. There’s a lot riding on your discretion, not just for Jason
but for me
aswell
”. Oh my God, now I really was
intrigued. It couldn’t be Sasha and Jason, it couldn’t be. “Please tell me
Sasha” and the plea in my voice was desperate as she took another deep breath.
“I hope you’re not easily shocked
Lotty
” she grinned,
the smile relaxing me slightly. “I sometimes go to the same parties as Jason
King” she started. Well that wasn’t news, at some point we all went to the same
parties as Jason King.

“They’re
special sort of parties, where people pair off and you know...” “No I don’t” I
interrupted
impatiently,
she was going to have to be
more specific. “I like certain kinds of things in my sex life Charlotte and so
does Jason”. I swallowed hard, staring at her “you and Jason?” and she shook
her head wildly. “No, God no, he’s not my type at all” she laughed nervously
before calming herself and taking another deep breath. Not her type? Jason King
was everyone’s type, I smiled inwardly,
the
man could
corrupt a nunnery.

“These
parties are where people with specific sexual tastes go to mix and find like
minded people. Jason King has submissive partners. I don’t know for sure, but
that’s why I think he doesn’t have a girlfriend, and maybe if he thinks you’re
not into that sort of thing, he won’t take it forward”. I swallowed hard. “Are
you telling me he’s a dominant Sasha” she nodded her head smiling a broad smile
which soon erupted into full blown laughter. “Don’t tell me you’re surprised
Charlotte, last night he used a random excuse to get you in a blindfold”. Well
she was
right,
Jesus Christ and I had gone along with
it willingly and loved every second. She was there with me on that thought.
“And you liked it right?” I nodded laughing back, partly through shock, my
stomach erupting at the thought of Jason blindfolding me again.

There
was another urgent question burning on my lips and I couldn’t hold it in. “So
what about you Sasha, are you submissive?” Her grin widened and she shook her
head. “Believe it or not
Lotty
, I get off on ordering
around a very well known barrister who has a particular penchant for having me
grind the heel of my very high stilettos into his shoulder blades while begging
to make me come”. My jaw hit the floor as my cheeks burned. “It’s a great way
to blow off steam and ease the tension” and I couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe
she was right. I had cake and five sugars in my tea, she was a dominatrix,
who’s to say which
was the most effective option
? One
thing was
certain,
Sasha’s way was definitely easier
on the thighs.

I
took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “The thing is Charlotte, if you really
want Jason, you might want to think about giving it a go, there are varying
degrees, and I’m not suggesting you put yourself forward for being whipped,
although that can be fun” she giggled as I raised my eyebrows at her. “Why
don’t you come to a party? They are just like any other party really, drinks
and nibbles and you don’t ever have to do anything you don’t want to, but it
might be worth a shot”. I looked at her wide eyed and for the first time today,
felt slightly more hopeful and if I dared admit it, excited.

 
Even my logical brain hadn’t ruled it out
immediately which was most unusual. It felt mischievous, it felt intoxicating
and it felt like the only way I might be able to move forward with Jason. Right
now my head was such a jumble of emotions, but the excitement in my churning
stomach was infinitely preferable to the dark tears of this morning and I found
myself nodding. “When’s the next party?” and she grinned broadly “Tonight”.

Chapter
6

It
turned out that getting into one of these parties was infinitely harder than
gate crashing the London models event. Sasha had to be my sponsor and referee
and if I behaved inappropriately we would both be banished. Apparently there
was a community for these things and word would spread, and by the time she
collected me at 7.30pm I’d received the full low down on what was considered
acceptable behaviour and what, most definitely, was not. On Sasha’s advice, I
had vamped up my usual look somewhat, in a short black dress and killer heels,
and gone all out dramatic on the eye make-up, partly hoping it would act like a
mask and no one would recognise me.

 
My stomach was all over the place and I hadn’t
eaten all day, my head was spinning with ‘what if’s’ and the thought of seeing
Jason again had meant, by the time we arrived at the venue I had just stopped
short of barricading myself in the car and refusing to leave.
Ever.
Sasha was a necessary calming influence and I felt
sure the five years I had on her in maturity were far from on show tonight.
“Deep breaths
Lotty
, you’ll be fine. Some of the
outfits might be different than you’re used to, but apart from that it’s just
like any other party. You pitch for a living, turn on the charm Sweetheart”.
Her little pep talk made me laugh as I took a deep breath and followed her into
the club.

 
It was dark, enchanting and mysterious, full
of men in high end, well cut suits and women in a variety of outfits, all
stunning and glamorous and the air was so thick with testosterone you could
practically smell it.

Sasha
beckoned over a handsome dark haired man almost as soon as we were through the
door. He was early thirties I guessed, well over six feet tall with an accent
that made me melt all over,
making
me think he’d
studied at Oxford or Cambridge. He was incredibly attentive to her, staring
adoringly before she shooed him to the bar for two glasses of champagne. “Is
that him?” I grinned as she winked, glancing around the room and nodding. “I
can’t see Jason though” and I could hear the faint tinge of disappointment in
her tone. “You need to go and mingle
Lotty
, but just
make sure you wait to be approached, remember the rules OK? And relax, you look
stunning, just be yourself and have fun. Remember, there are absolutely no
expectations on you”. I nodded, taking a deep breath as she beckoned her
barrister, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that he’d soon be
prostrate with those huge killer heels jarring into his back.