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“Sure thing,” I agreed, kissing her forehead. “What about Ryder?”
“He’s coming too. If he ever drags his lazy arse out of bed.”
Elle and Kip walked us out of their room, and as I crossed the large corridor to go and grab my guitar from my suite, a half naked Ryder stumbled out of his room, suctioned to a man twice his age, and not the same man from the club last night.
“Elle!” he called while still attached by the lips to the other man.
“Ryder we’re leaving in an hour!”
“I know, I know,” he said, releasing his prey. “I was just saying goodbye to, um… sorry what was your name again?”
“Dan,” mystery man spat, shaking his head. Ryder’s lips twisted into a pucker, the kind of expression that screamed ‘oops’, and before he could speak again ‘Dan’ was nowhere to be seen.
“Met him on Grindr. Cute huh?”
“I hope you’re being careful, Ry,” Elle chided as if she was his mother.
“Yes, Mum. Always wrap it before you tap it. Got it.”
“Besides, you can’t be bringing people up here without running it by security. Now go shower and get some bloody clothes on.” Winking, Ryder saluted her, laughing as he made his way back into his room.
Finally, after an hour of shit I most definitely wasn’t expecting, I got my guitar and Jake and I left for our week alone. I don’t think I’d ever needed anything so badly as I needed this week with him. I was about to find out what being in a relationship really involved, and whether I was cut out to do it.
Jake had hired a car to get us to my house. No one would know who it belonged to that way. We didn’t stop until we reached the house and I can’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed being cooped in a car for so long. In fact, I don’t think I ever had. I’ve always hated travelling. Ironic really, considering I spend most of my life doing just that.
Jake’s eyes widened as he drove us down the long, private road, skirted with tall evergreen trees, that led to the house. I could see his gaze flitting in all different directions, taking in the lush scenery before we passed through the huge iron gates.
“This place is amazing.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, not realising just how much I’d missed it until we pulled up outside the grand house. It’s an old-fashioned building, built in the late eighteenth century I believe. It’s an old country cottage as opposed to a modern condo like my other places dotted around the world and I think that’s quite possibly why it’s my favourite. It’s refreshing. Simple. Uncomplicated. Sometimes I need reminding what that’s like.
When I climbed out of the car I stretched my arms above my body and started making my way to the front door.
“Wait,” Jake ordered, bracing his arm in front of me to stop me moving forward. Instinctively I scanned the grounds, assuming he’d seen or heard something. “I need to check the place out first. Give me the passcode and your key.”
“Jake, no one ever comes out here. No one knows this place belongs to me, remember?”
“You might be bringing me here as your lover, but I’m still your bodyguard.” My dick twitched at the word ‘lover’ rolling off his tongue. “Go and wait in the car,” he added, tossing me the keys. “And lock the doors.”
“You’re being ridicu-”
“Just do it, Sawyer.”
I almost wanted to laugh at how serious and bossy he was being. But I knew he was only doing his job. His senses were on heightened alert since the dead cat incident and I couldn’t blame him. Just thinking about what was inside that box sends a chill down my spine and I didn’t even see it.
Sitting in the car, I never took my eyes of Jake as he walked the perimeter of the house. When he disappeared inside, I got bored and after several minutes made the decision to follow him inside. He was in the kitchen when I found him, tampering with the alarm system.
“You lasted longer than I expected,” Jake teased, keeping his eyes on the alarm. “This needs updating.”
“It’s an alarm, Jake. It makes a loud noise when someone comes in the house. What else do you need?”
“There are only sensors fitted on the ceilings. There needs to be activators on the windows, doors and at lower points on the walls. I’ll arrange a new system this week.”
By the time he’d finished speaking I was standing right behind him. I snuck my hands around his waist, pulling him into me. Nuzzling my face in his neck, I kissed along his stubble before giving his ear lobe a little nip with my teeth.
“No work this week,” I whispered in between light kisses. “It’s just you and me. No one else.”
“You need to start taking this seriously, Sawyer. This is your life we’re talking about.”
“Oh come on, Beebs,” I whispered through a smile into his ear. “You can’t stay mad at me forever.”
“Keep calling me Beebs and I can.”
“Come on,” I encouraged, taking his hand. “Let me give you a tour.”
“I could actually use a shower first. I’ve been trapped inside a car for hours, I need to freshen up.”
“I have a bath big enough for both of us.” I gave him a suggestive smirk before drawing my bottom lip between my teeth.
“Is that so?”
“Come on, babe. Let’s start getting to know each other.”
Later in the evening Jake and I were curled up together on the couch in front of the log fire. This might sound stupid, but it was like we were a ‘real’ couple. Dressed in our robes, Jake had his legs sprawled along the cushions and I was nestled between them with my feet dangling over the edge. As he ran his fingers through my hair, I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of him. I’d done so many things in my life – met so many people, travelled all over the world, achieved things most people can only dream of. I’m very privileged, I’ve got an amazing life that I am insanely grateful for. But right here, lying in the lap of a person I now had no doubts I was in love with, even though fear had stopped me telling him more than once, I had never felt more content. Jake has given me things no amount of fame or money has ever been able to. He accepts me. He makes me feel safe, cared for. He makes me feel like for the first time in my life I am just ‘me’ – Sawyer Knight - a regular guy from a shithole of a housing estate in London with nothing to prove to anyone.
