Obsessed (BBW Billionaire Light Romance) (16 page)

Two years later ...

James let himself into the house. It had been a good day, another merger completed, a hard won, successful deal, and he was even home just after six. He could hear noise from the kitchen, and he put down his laptop case and went in.

It was the usual disorganised scene. Leah was at the kitchen table, which seemed to be covered in flour and every possible kitchen appliance.

And Lucy, who was supposed to be some sort of au-pair, he wasn't quite sure how it worked, lay on the sofa, reading a magazine, as beautiful as ever. She smiled and waved at him. She
still
lived with them.

"We've made you a cake," Leah explained and he looked at the lop-sided effort on the table. It was a bit burnt around the edges and covered in a startlingly blue icing.

"It's not my birthday," he commented dryly.

"No," Lucy called from across the room, "we made it because we wanted to surprise you."

James fleetingly thought that it would be an even greater surprise if someone had actually prepared a meal.

He went and picked up the toddler from the high chair, swinging him round. His son; his fantastic, unexpected bonus in life.

"I was just going to feed him," Leah said.

"I'll do it," James said, settling little Jake on his lap and sliding the bowl and spoon towards him.

"He'll get it all over you," Leah observed, as she began to clear the debris from the table.

"It doesn't matter," James smiled back.

He knew that in the morning, in the calm, serene executive office, Clare would have organised his wardrobe for the day.

Just then, the new puppy dashed across the room and began to chew at the bottom of his expensive trousers. He leaned down and stroked it.

Later he would put on some casual gear and take it for a short walk.

Then, later still, climb into the huge bed and hold Leah. In the darkness, it was still there, that same instant, overwhelming response, that
need
for each other at the end of the day.

Whenever he had to travel, he would take care to be quiet if he returned in the early hours. Tired, jet lagged he would crawl into bed and she would turn and reach for him. She hardly slept when he was away.

They'd had their times of adjustment and challenges, of course. He'd insisted she cut her work hours when she was pregnant, and she wanted him to delegate more, travel less. He bought her expensive jewels and then had to remind her to wear them. She invited her whole family to stay without telling him and he'd returned from America to find the house full, every guest room noisily occupied. She'd told him it was only for a week and he'd said a little notice would be appreciated in future.

And one night, soon after Jake was born, he'd found her in the bedroom trying on some jeans. She tugged at the zip, which wouldn't close, took them off and threw them on the floor.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I can't get into them. I'll have to diet," she replied.

James had felt his temper rising.

"You've only had a baby a few weeks ago. You're not really going to be one of those airheads who tries to lose weight straight away, are you?"

He'd picked up the jeans, opened the wardrobe and taken every pair from the hangers, gone downstairs and put them in the rubbish bin.

Then he went back and told Leah that if she got them out again he would make a bonfire in the garden and burn them. She'd stormed from the room and gone to sleep in one of the guest rooms.

James had lain awake afterwards. He couldn't get to sleep, his mind was racing. In the early hours of the morning he went to find her. She was lying on her back, wide awake, staring at the ceiling. He picked her up and carried her back to their bed.

"Don't ever do that," he said. "I need you here."

They had held each other, shaken.

James had thought back to that scene he’d witnessed between Jake and Sofia in Crete; he still didn't completely understand marriage.

"My jeans," she'd whispered later, hot, entangled, her head against his chest.

"Buy some new ones," he'd said.  

§

Just after Jake's first birthday, Leah had surprised him, holding out a fat envelope, tied up with a bow of ribbon. He'd opened it and found it stuffed with twenty pound notes.

"What's this?" he was puzzled.

"The first re-payment of the loan!"

Leah smiled at his amazement.

"You don't need to pay it back!"

"Oh yes I do, James, this is just the first instalment." She'd looked into his eyes, waiting for his response, ready to challenge him.

"Okay,” he’d replied, “but perhaps do it through the bank next time. Arrange it with Clare."

He'd put the packet into his jacket pocket.

"Aren't you going to check it?" she'd asked. "First rule of business, James. Read the small print, check all receipts ..." she teased.

"Are you trying to provoke me?" he’d replied, his voice husky.

"Yep."

He'd slowly taken off his jacket and hung it over a kitchen chair, unbuttoned his shirt and moved towards her. Lucy was out with Jake and the housekeeper had finished for the day. He'd glanced around slowly: against the wall? On the sofa? Anywhere would do. He gripped her shoulders and pushed her slowly backwards.

"I'll just collect the interest then," he'd murmured into her ear ...

§

"Any chance of something to eat soon?" he asked. He found he'd been drifting, holding little Jake and thinking of how, at first, they'd had to find their way around each other.

"Another hour, can you wait?" Leah said, leaning over and kissing the top of his head.

Just then, Lucy rose from the sofa, poured him a glass of wine, and hugged him in passing. Too.

James considered his situation. He was among the wealthy men in London, head of a successful multi-national company which ran like clockwork. At home he was surrounded by carefree, casual women. Leah worked erratic hours at the Flower Garden, Lucy helped out with Jake and Mrs Andrews, his efficient housekeeper, had given up and decided she would only work part-time.

It was chaotic, unstructured, but he loved it. He was happy, he had his own family. Leah and Lucy were both settled. For the first time in his life he was totally, completely, entirely contented.

"It's that Gala dinner on Saturday," James reminded Leah. "Did you get something new to wear?"

She had her back to him and was pretending not to hear.

"It's for charity, Leah, I insist."

He wasn't going to let her off the hook that easily.

She still had her difficulties. For example, she couldn't believe that in a designer dress, with her hair styled by Lucy and wearing the fabulous jewels he had given her, she would look stunning.

"Okay," Leah said.

James looked over at Lucy; there was an understanding between them.

"Go shopping together, buy yourself something as well, put it on the account."

Lucy nodded. "Thanks James," she said, and the moment passed.  

He looked around the kitchen. He didn't think he could last another hour. He was hungry. He wondered if he should suggest sending out for something or risk a slice of that home-made cake.

He held Jake closely. "I'll go and change, then I'll take him upstairs," he said.

Leah and Lucy looked at each other.

"Playtime," Lucy said quietly.

Leah opened the enormous fridge and found a casserole that Mrs Andrews had made, and she put it in to warm.

"I suppose I'll have to go on Saturday," she said to Lucy.

"Yes, it's part of the deal," Lucy replied.

When they attended a function, she would get ready first.

In a dress suggested by Lucy and with jewellery chosen by James, she would stand and watch him get dressed. He would come from the en-suite and put on his evening clothes. He transformed into the successful, impressive tycoon, another part of his world. During the evening, she would see him merging confidently, smoothly with the rich and the powerful.

There was a magnetic aura around him; men would want to network and the beautiful women were drawn to him. She would feel unsteady, and have difficulty recognising the man who rolled around the floor with Jake and let the puppy ruin his expensive suits.

But then, in the darkness of the car, as they were driven home, he would hold her hand, kiss her gently and reassure her.

Their love would grow.

"Are
you
going out tonight?" she asked Lucy.

"Only for an hour."

Lucy was seeing Harry, James's driver. It was early days, still. Just a few short, hesitant

dates, and they were all hoping it would go well. Harry was a great guy, but James was still so protective of her.

The noise level from above increased. They could hear James pretending to be a wild animal and Jake squealing with delight, both rolling around the floor, and jumping on the beds.

"Do you want me to go and give Jake his bath?" Lucy asked. "James always gets him too excited."

"Thanks," Leah replied.

"The meal won't be ready for a while," Lucy grinned at Leah. "There's still time for
you
."

Leah stood at the bottom of the wide, curving staircase. Her heart still flipped and her knees still felt weak, her desire rising as she made her way slowly upwards.

It always happened: the same need for him, the same overwhelming obsession as she went upstairs.

Playtime
.

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