Sebastian holds his hands up in defeat. "Can't blame a guy for trying."
"Yes, you can," CK snaps at him, glaring, bringing his irate gaze to me, still languishing in my bubbles. "Don't be a tease, Aefre. It is not an attractive quality."
I lower my eyes in contrition and sink myself further into the bubbles. Peeking back up at him, he is watching me with growing desire and I inwardly high-five myself. Knew he wouldn't be able to resist. Sadly, though, as ever, my stupid face must give me away. No need to be able to read minds, when he can read my face. He suddenly narrows his eyes at me. "Aefre," he warns.
"Oh, come on. Give me something," I snap as Sebastian snickers. "I don't want to wait until later." I pout then as it always works, whereas fury just amuses him. Tilting his head to peer at me, he comes to crouch next to the bath. I hold my breath in anticipation, eyes firmly on his. He lowers his hand into the bath water, lower and lower until his shirtsleeve is soaked. He lightly brushes his fingers over my pussy, all the while watching my reaction. I shiver at his touch and he pulls away, standing.
"Time to get dressed, my sweet," he says and saunters off to presumably change his shirt.
I stare at him open-mouthed that he just teased me. Then I shut it again grimly as quite clearly that was his lesson: Don't be a tease.
Ignoring Sebastian, who is having a right old laugh at my expense, I pull the plug out of the bath and stand up reaching for a towel. It shuts him up promptly as he gives me a lingering once-over. Having the satisfaction of seeing his eyes cloud over as I wrap the massive towel around me, I step out of the bath and pick up my discarded wine, then I saunter off to get dressed.
Sebastian having the sense to leave me be, I cross to the closets and wonder what dress CK has picked out for me. Not that I'm worried. I trust him completely. He has impeccable taste, coupled with the fact that he wouldn't go anywhere in public with me looking anything less than my best. Not that I would, just to be clear.
I’m stunned when I open the door and see what is there. Out of all the dresses in the whole world that he could have picked out for me, this was not what I expected. I told him to dress me up however he likes, and he chooses… pink? I can honestly say in all of my years I have never worn a pink dress. Is he harboring some kind of fetish, here? Well, some other kind of fetish that I have yet to learn about, that is. I take it off the railing and twirl it around. It's a beautiful dress from Lipsy London. Again, I am surprised. It's fun, flirty and young. Not something I would have expected of him. I lose my towel and step into it. It has thin straps, an interesting low-cut neckline that dips a few inches in between my breasts and falls in soft folds to my mid-thigh in the front and to just below my knees at the back. I have to say, I look very pretty but have no clue what shoes to wear with it. Doing a quick mental sift of my shoe wall back home in L.A., I call forth a pair of black spiked Louboutins and slip them on. Yes, I like the fact that it still gives me an edge. I don't really do pretty. I’m too young-looking for that. The main reason I wear black, apart from that it is sexy and so flattering, is because it makes me look more kick-ass than I really do.
Cheating with my hair, I magickly arrange it in soft, loose curls. I usually wear my hair straight in this form as that is what it is naturally, and I like it that way. This softens my features slightly, making me look sweeter, more innocent. I think CK is trying to tell me something with this dress, so I leave it. Cheating again with my makeup and long pink painted nails, I’m ready soon after to go on this mystery date. Before I step out of the bedroom, I call Cole and he answers straight away.
"Hey, baby. I was just about to call you."
"Hey. Great minds…" I smile.
He chuckles. "Well, yours maybe. What you up to?"
"About to go out. Part of the reason for this call and to say I love you and miss you."
"I love you and miss you too," he says suspiciously. "Go on."
"CK is taking me out. On a sort of date, out in public. I just wanted to tell you in case you saw any publicity," I say quickly.
"Okay," he says slowly. "Where are you going?"
"I'm not sure. But judging by this dress, I'd say dinner," I say wryly.
"Humph," he says rudely.
"Oh, baby. Don't be upset please. You know I love you," I say quietly. “I know he has been a colossal arse these last few months, but we’re good now, and, when the time is right, I will blast him from all sides about what he’s done.”
"Hope I’m there when you do it,” he says wryly. “But I'm not upset about him taking you on a date, per se. Christ knows you do worse than that with him." I flinch at the venom coming from him as he continues. "It's more that you will be seen in public with him, and not me, your husband. If you get where I’m going with this?" he asks.
I do indeed. He is worried people will think that I am cheating on him. Which, okay, technically I am. While we don’t use that nasty word as it is considered acceptable to our kind, humans don't take too kindly to screwing around and it may have damaging effects on both him and me. Him, mostly.
"I know what you mean, baby. I promise you we will conduct ourselves appropriately."
He sighs. "I know you will. What time will you be here on Friday?" he asks, in an abrupt change of subject.
"I plan on leaving here at lunchtime. Shit, that reminds me, I need to get the jet back here," I mutter to myself.
"Why, where is it?"
"Devon took it back to L.A.," I say with a lump in my throat. "Have you spoken to him?" I ask casually.
"Yeees," he says cautiously. "I don't think we should discuss that though."
I close my eyes against my heartbreak. "Is he okay?" I whisper.
"He's fine," he says shortly, and I choke back a sob.