The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) (24 page)

“Hi, Kenzie, what’s up? How’s my goddaughter doing?”

“Your goddaughter’s doing fine thanks, and if you’re interested, so is the incubator.”

“You know that’s a terrible way to describe yourself, right?” Aviva told her friend a little concerned by her words.

“Well that’s how I feel, and I’m not going to apologize for it, so what do you have to say now?”

“Bloody hell, who rattled your cage?” Aviva asked, stunned at how angry, MacKenzie sounded.

“I tell you who and what’s rattled my cage, Ms. Thing. His damn mother that’s who. The way that woman is with her son is unnatural. Anyone would think I was trying to come between her and her man.

To make matters worse, the big lump can’t or won’t see it. Plus, when was the last time you bothered to pick up the damn phone and call me? For all you know something could have happened to me. Oh, I forgot you’re not interested in me, you only care about the baby, who by the way, may well be a boy!”

“Jake’s coming to the party tonight!” Aviva blurted out, and then bit her lip.

“What... why?”

“He’s in town, we’re going to the party. It would be rude not to have invited him.” By the time she finished, Aviva’s voice was barely about a whisper. She was in trouble now, she could tell.

“Aviva,” MacKenzie shouted down the phone, making Aviva cringe. “When were you going to tell me about this?”

“Tell you about what?”

“If you play dumb with me, I’m gonna come over there and beat you over the head with that oversized man who keeps drooling over you!”

“He is gorgeous, isn’t he?”

“That is not what I said.”

“But that’s what you meant.”

“Girl, I say what I mean.”

“Are you saying that my Jason isn’t gorgeous?” Aviva said, ensuring she infused her voice with indignation, which she hoped translated into hurt feelings.

“What is the matter with you? If you need the validation, okay, you’ve got it. He’s gorgeous. There, does that make you happy, and remember that I called you, so I’m the one paying to listen to your nonsense!”

“So... if you think Jason’s gorgeous, ergo, you think Jake is too because you know those two men look exactly alike. Pow!” Aviva finished with a laugh.

“Girl, shut up before you really start to get on my nerves!” MacKenzie said with a laugh.

“What’s really going on, MacKenzie?” Aviva asked, sobering up once she had distracted her friend. She knew something was on Mackenzie’s mind. Their friendship was such that it didn’t usually matter if they didn’t speak for a while. When they did, it was as though they had left off their conversation only moments before.

“Ignore me. I’m just in a bad mood because that woman is getting to me, and I seem to be overly affected by just about everything today.”

Aviva knew MacKenzie was deliberately avoiding answering her question, and she could and would only push so much.

“Well, I love you much, and if and when you need a sarcastic witch on your side, I’m your girl.”

“Thanks, Vee. So onto something completely different, what are you wearing tonight?”

Aviva allowed the subject change knowing MacKenzie would talk to her when she was ready. “I’m going for a hot pink, shorts suit, you?”

“A tent, what a stupid question!”

“MacKenzie, go rest your head, you are making no sense right now!”

“I know. I guess I’ll just speak to you later.” She sounded so forlorn Aviva didn’t want their conversation to end this way. MacKenzie had called her for a reason, and she wanted her to have the opportunity to say what she needed to.

“Talk to me, honey.”

“I... it’s nothing that can’t wait for another time. Anyway, the shadow of Cruella is lurking on the horizon, and that is unquestionably my cue to depart. I’ll speak to you later.”

Aviva didn’t even have time to say goodbye before she was left with the disconnected tone ringing in her ear. That had to be one of the strangest conversations she had ever had with MacKenzie, and that was saying something.

Making a mental note, Aviva decided that whether MacKenzie liked it or not, she was going to get her to spill about what was really going on with her.

With a sigh, Aviva again turned her attention back to her writing. It took a while, but eventually she was again engrossed in her task.

**********

Relaxing in a bath after what turned out to be an extremely productive writing day, Aviva closed her eyes, and allowed her mind to go blank as the aroma of honeysuckle and jasmine wafted around her. She didn’t know if other women enjoyed a bath as much as she did. All she knew was the experience for her actually made her toes curl in bliss.

“Looks like you’re enjoying that lonely bath too much.”

The unexpectedness of Jason’s deep voice startled Aviva so much it caused her to lose her seating. Like everything in the house the bath was huge, she was not. Only just managing to stop herself from going under the water, Aviva ended up sideways with her palms braced on the bottom of the bath.

“Jason, do not sneak up on me like that. I could have just drowned.” Aviva said, vexed that she had again ended up looking ridiculous.

“Angel, it wouldn’t have happened. I would have saved you. Anyway, it’s your own fault. I told you I would be back in time to get ready for the damn party. You should have waited for me before you got in there.”

Cutting her eyes at him, Aviva went about righting herself in the water, which kept bouncing her around. When she finally got herself to upright, Jason was naked and slipping in behind her.

“How do you do that?” Aviva asked him.

Genuinely confused, Jason rose an eyebrow in inquiry.

“Get out of your clothes so quickly.” She clarified.

“That’s easy. It’s because I want to get into you!” Jason told her with such a serious look that Aviva knew he meant every word he said.

“Do we have time? Strike that, we’re about to make time.”

**********

Fully dressed, Aviva decided to return her wrap. She wasn’t happy with her makeup and wanted to retouch it. She wasn’t a big fan of too much makeup and her reflection told her she had been too heavy handed.

Coming out to the bathroom, Jason had just pulled on his shirt and was in the process of tucking it into his pants. Walking over to where she was sitting, Jason reached over, opened a box and removed a pair of cufflinks.

Holding them out to her, Jason waited until her attention shifted from her reflection to his outstretched hand. “Do you mind?”

“Of course not, darling. I kinda like these little moments. It makes us seem so normal.”

“As opposed to... abnormal?” Jason asked, his expression showing uncertainty as to where her thought was leading.

Aviva laughed. She should have known his analytical mind wouldn’t necessarily compute the word
normal
in the same way hers did.

“What I mean to say is; I like that you ask me to fix your cufflinks for you. I like that you like me wearing your stuff. I like the whole intimacy of those very simple acts. For me, it’s not about the vacations we take or the size of this house; it’s about these moments of what some would consider the mundane.” Aviva finished her task with a shrug of her shoulders. Now she just felt foolish and wished she had kept her mouth shut.

About to turn away, Aviva felt the slip of Jason’s arms surround her. His lips finding hers in a deep kiss that was loaded with so much feeling that it shocked her.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For loving me enough to let me know that I’m enough for you. That my interrupting you to help me finish dressing isn’t an annoyance but a pleasure. That you enjoy doing this for me, makes me very happy.”

“I don’t do enough for you. But you’re most welcome.” Standing on tiptoes, Aviva brushed her lips across Jason’s before pulling out of his arms.

As Jason turned away to pick up his suit jacket, Aviva removed her wrap and dropped it over the back of a chair and stepped into her killer heels. Giving herself one final look in the mirror, she was finally satisfied with her appearance. Turning back to Jason, she was stunned to see his face creased in a frown. “What’s wrong?”

Jason didn’t answer straight away. He just continued to look her up and down. “Where’s your blouse?”

“This jacket is cut, so you don’t need to wear a blouse under it. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks, I taped it in place.”

“Hell, Aviva, if you have to tape the damn thing in place, maybe you shouldn’t be wearing it!”

Laughing as his expression, Aviva rolled her eyes and picked up her purse. She knew she looked good, and she knew he thought she looked good. That was the point. She had decided on this particular outfit for two reasons: One she liked it; two the plunging neckline and her show of midriff probably guaranteed he wouldn’t be far from her side for the rest of the night. She knew all about those little hussies that gravitated towards the music business. Not that she was worried because she knew who Jason wanted.

“If that thing comes apart tonight, when I get you home I’m going to spank you.” Jason told her, his frown still in place.

“Looking forward to it, baby.” Aviva said with a cheeky smile.

“You should also remember that if I see one man, and I mean just one man, look at you in a way I don’t like, there’s going to be trouble.”

“Jason, for goodness sake. Do not even think about starting anything at that party!” Aviva said irritated at the fuss he was making about her suit.

“Not laughing now are you, Ms. No Blouse!” Jason told her as he tapped her on the nose and walked past her to hold open the door.

Chapter 26

When Jason and Aviva arrived downstairs, they found Jake waiting for them in the lounge. He was dressed much like Jason in a suit and dress shirt with no tie.

His eyes had nearly bugged out of his head when he had spotted Aviva. One look at Jason’s expression seemed to have been the deciding factor for him to bite down on whatever comment he had been about to make. Jason was glad it was Jake who was accompanying them, because unlike their younger brother would have done, he had made no comment.

Already out of sorts, Jason felt his irritation rise. From past experience, he knew better than to tell Aviva to change into something less revealing. She looked good, so good in fact that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Wherever her dark skin was on show, it shone with just the right amount of whatever she had rubbed into her body. The effect was a natural glow that made him want to touch her just to see if she was as silky smooth as she looked. He of course knew the answer, but he still wanted to run his fingers across her skin just for the sheer pleasure of it.

Just then Jason realized that he hadn’t complimented her on her appearance. In all honesty, there was nothing overtly revealing in the outfit she wore. He just didn’t like the fact that she had decided not to wear something that would distract from her chest area.

Turning to her, Jason disregarded Jake’s presence and pulled a slightly startled Aviva into his arms, placed his lips against her ear and spoke in a low voice. “You look as beautiful as always.” For good measure, and because he couldn’t seem to help himself he pulled in her scent, and ran his tongue along the shell of her ear in a slow deliberate move.

At the feel of her sudden inhalation of pleasure, Jason moved away. Giving Jake a quick glance, he saw that his brother was paying rather close attention to the view from the window.

“Aviva, Jake, would either of you like something to drink before we leave?”

“I’m good.”

“I’m fine, thank you, Jason.” Aviva said, also declining his offer.

With a nod of acknowledgement, Jason found himself for the second time in a matter of minutes holding the door for Aviva as she passed through, his eyes glued on her ass.

“For God’s sake, Jason, pull yourself together. If you keep watching her like that you’re going to embarrass yourself, and me.”

“Whatever, man.” Jason said, sucking his teeth.

The sound made Jake laugh out loud as he shook his head at his brother. Realizing what he had just done, Jason was stunned. He had never sucked his teeth in his life. He supposed it was only a matter of time before he started rolling his eyes while he made the sound. Sighing, he followed them out of the house to the waiting car.

If truth be told, Jason didn’t like parties, or large gatherings. He was sure whatever the night held was going to be a complete and absolute fiasco. To his thinking nothing could be worse than having to spend hours with people he didn’t like, respect or know, and whom he had no intention of getting to know.

He had been pulled to these types of functions in the past by various female friends, and he hadn’t liked them then either. In the end, he had just refused to attend. Being confronted with their pouting hadn’t changed his mind. Only one thing had changed between then and now, Aviva. In her, he had an investment. These types of functions were a part of her world, or at least may well become a part of her world. He was beginning to realize that being with Aviva meant he was going to have to do many things he’d much rather not.

The drive to the venue had been filled with Jake and Aviva’s banter. They had finally found their groove with each other. Content to stay out of their teasing, Jason was secretly pleased that the tension that sometimes hung in the air around them was finally missing.

When Aviva had first mentioned this night, he had thought for one dreadful moment that he would have to walk a red carpet. If that had been the case he would have had to refuse. His refusal would have caused a fight, which he would have won.

Ah, who the hell was he trying to fool? If she wanted him to put himself on display on some fool ass red carpet, he knew he would do it.

No sooner had the thought left his mind than they pulled up outside the private members club. The flashing blubs and jostling bodies that confronted them even through the darkened window of the vehicle set Jason’s teeth on edge. The ever-eager paparazzi were at the ready to get a shot of whoever was behind the tinted screen.

Looking over at the other occupants of the car, Jason gave Aviva a look that said,
really, I have to go through this circus?