The Bodyguard

Chapter 29 - Julie

We spend all Saturday alternating between enjoying the garden and having s*x somewhere in the house. He has a plan to have me in every room before the weekend is over. So far we’ve done the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen; with him bending me over the island and then lounge with me finally taking control and riding him in front of the fire.  My confidence is improving every time and I'm no longer self conscious about him seeing my naked.  

I sleep well that night, but I wake up sore.  There is a dull ache in my thighs and between my legs and I have a bruise forming on one of my wrists, I don't mind though it was all in the name of fun. Any doubts that I wasn’t woman enough for Gabriel have gone. I’ve more than proved myself and I know he’s pleased with me, I'm glad that I’m not a disappointment to him.

We decide to take a break from all the s*x and go to Jills for lunch before I have to head home again. I’ve certainly worked up an appetite.

We walk into the restaurant hand in hand and Gabriel leads me to the table we sat at last time. It seems to be his regular space. I tell him I’m going to the bar to get drinks, I’m determined to pay for something and he senses this so lets me.

“I’ll have a beer then please.”

I nod, pick up my purse and head to the bar. I order the beer and a glass of wine for myself. As I’m waiting I’m joined at the bar by an attractive woman with shoulder length dark hair. She smiles at me as if she recognises me, but I’ve never seen her before.

“I see you’re with Gabriel, are you his girlfriend?”

“Yes, I’m Kristen,” I reply hoping she will introduce herself.

“Julie,” she says with a smile.

Julie? As in Gabriel’s ex Julie?  I try to keep the smile on my face, but I know it's left my eyes.

“You look so young and sweet, too nice for Gabriel!” She comments with a chuckle.

Patronising b***h.  Is she suggesting I can’t handle Gabriel physically because I know that’s not the case now.

“Looks can be deceiving,” I reply confidently. How dare she question our relationship, who does she think she is?

“I'm sorry, I meant that you don’t look like the type of girl to get involved with someone like him, which means you probably don’t know him well yet. It’s friendly concern, that’s all.”

Yeah right.  We are not friends and I don’t need her concern. I don’t reply because my Mom taught me if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.

She continues much to my annoyance, “I won’t push it, just take it from me that his possessiveness knows no bounds and you should know more about him before you make any sort of commitment.”

I smile at her, take my drinks and head back to Gabriel, he’s sitting with a guy and they are talking.

“Kristen, this is David.”

I smile at David, I know his name now but I still don’t know why he’s here at our table or how he knows Gabriel. All becomes clear though as Julie walks over and hands David a drink with a smile and a kiss on his cheek, David is her boyfriend.

“Julie, this is Kristen,” says Gabriel introducing me unnecessarily.

“Yes, we just met at the bar,” replies Julie pleasantly, God I hate her. She doesn’t mention our conversation so neither do I.

Julie and David sit opposite us, with Gabriel opposite David and me opposite Julie. She keeps looking at me while we talk and I notice David does too. I wonder what is going on. 

We chat while we order food and continue to chat, then David mentions that he is a promoter for sports car companies. He works with all the top manufacturers and organises huge events with new car releases. It’s probably why he seems to get on with Gabriel.

“My currently project is a particular high profile brand who want a model to drive their latest car along a beachside road in a bikini for their ad. They are trying to show it’s a car for all trips so showing various different scenarios, this one is going to the beach.”  He's looking at me while he says this.

Ok, I'm not sure why he's directing this towards me, I'm not exactly into cars.

“You have exactly the look they’re after, young, pretty, cool but innocent and you have a great body. I was wondering if you’d do it?”

I almost choke on my drink when I realise he’s asking me! What the hell? I’m not a model and although I’m fairly confident with my body these days, I only just met this guy and it’s a bit weird. 

I laugh to cover my nervousness as if he's joking, I hope he's joking because this is such an awkward conversation. Did he just tell me I have a great body in front of his girlfriend? Definitely a creep. I’m still working out what to say when Gabriel replies on my behalf.

“Absolutely not! There is no way she’s doing that, you’re a d**k for even asking!" He yells.  He lowers his voice and adds, "if you comment on or even look at her body again, I’ll put you through that wall. Do you understand me?” His voice is deep and dangerous and goosebumps appear on my arm at his tone.  

Gabriel is visibly angry and if looks could kill David would be long gone by now. He looks pretty terrifying and intimidating when he’s angry and I can understand why David looks worried.

“I’m sorry man, I meant no offence. She’s a beautiful woman, anyone can see that.” David is trying to salvage the situation by laughing it off and being charming.

“No, anyone cannot see that. She is mine and mine alone, I don’t want her half naked in a car for perverts like you to drool over. She belongs to me and if you speak about her like that again I will happily rearrange your face.”

His handsome face has changed and his kind, caring demeanour is gone. He just looks scary and Julie is looking at me smirking with a ‘told you so’ expression on her face which is really annoying me. Did she set this up to try and trick Gabriel into reacting?

I put my hand on Gabriel’s arm and tell him it’s fine. I know he’s protecting me but I’d never have done it anyway so he should calm down. He slowly starts to relax and I feel the tension leaving his muscles.

We eat in relative silence. David changes the subject and talks about a house they’ve just bought. It was Julie’s choice but David is now in love with it too, it’s old with a red door and an old fashioned fireplace. I’m only half listening because I’m still thinking through what just happened. I’m sure Julie and David goaded Gabriel into getting angry in front of me on purpose, but then again he did fall for it and I saw him snap which wasn’t pleasant. Does he care about me that much? Would he really have attacked David just for asking such a question?  Is Julie just being a jealous b***h or is she really trying to show me something?

I need to have a conversation with Gabriel to get to the bottom of what the hell just happened.