her sweet chains

Episode 17

About halfway into our trip Dean called Darius to Request a ‘piss stop’ but it honestly was because he was hungry and obviously Darius was too as he didn’t protest and pulled In to the next motorway service station. I bit my lip and took a deep breath I just hoped this wouldn’t prove to be a mistake I followed Kate into the Woman’s restroom.

“Kate?” I said as we stood in front of the sinks, Kate rubbing her hand over her swollen belly as she had taken to doing since she found out she was pregnant with her first child. She was three months pregnant but our pregnancies were generally only around four or five months so her bump was one appropriate for one who was about six months pregnant. 

“Hmmm.” She said distractedly,

“How did you know?” Kate frowned at me clearly not understanding which made me grimace I wished I didn’t have to elaborate, “You know Geoff how did you know?” she smiled,

“Having second thoughts?”

“No.” I snapped defensively.

“Well maybe you should.” She said gently as she stroked he stroked her belly “well …I don’t know. I mean any natural would be better to ask they feel the bond I don’t. So there was no proof just a feeling and a hope. I knew that I didn’t want to live without him, I didn’t want to even live in a world that didn’t have him in it so I took the leap of faith and  I may not feel the innate bond that Geoff does but I know he’s my mate, I just know it.” She said a dreamy look on her face as she cradled her bump tenderly. “I’m sorry I guess that’s not really any help but I… I can’t tell you about the connection I've never felt it and I guess Darius didn’t really tell you about it and who else are you supposed to ask? But Darius well you cant blame him I mean he’s your father you’re his little girl. I’m sure he just doesn’t want to consider his little princess going out into the world hunting for a possible mate. Especially after everyone here spent so long expecting you to pair up with…oh fuck.” I giggled in sheer shock from hearing Kate swear but the look on her face made me stop after just a second. “You…oh dear…you don’t like to make things easy do you…oh my …oh f**k. Your not asking about the future are you? You’re asking about Derek, you want to know if the two of you are bonded.”

“No…I wasn't asking that.” I squeaked

“When did this happen?”

“What nothings happened.”

“Oh stop f*****g around you had s*x with him.” She ran a hand over her face, “damn.”

“I didn’t.” I squealed defensively but Kate continued as though I hadn’t spoken,

“My God why do you hate him this much?” she said gently, that hurt more than anything else she possibly could have said.

“I don’t.” I whispered

“You must you making his life so hard. he loves you so much anyone could tell you that and all he wants is just you and you chose to leave him…so we … we thought that …that you wouldn’t … we thought you were trying to live apart … and that maybe it wasn’t that you wanted to torture him like we all thought and maybe you actually didn’t feel what he did. I think even he was starting to think that and then you went and f****d him”

“f**k you.” I snapped my cheeks hot, as intense anger swamped me and I walked towards the door wishing I was still in the car and had never even attempted this ridiculous conversation.

“And screwed up any chance. All he wants is you so you f**k him let him think…. And you still leave. Its sadistic.” I snarled and strode angrily from the room .Kate called but I ignored he determined of one thing that is I wasn’t going to allow myself to be alone with her again.

I sniffed and my nose winkled in distaste as the smell of the overcrowded part of the city hit me. It was overwhelming I’d never been somewhere thus heavily populated before and I sure as hell didn’t like it, this less that perfect area stank of sweat vomit, urine and exhaust fumes in a delicious mixture.

“It’s horrible isn’t it.” Carl said draping an arm protectively around my shoulder as we walked down the pavement towards Darius, me flinching every time somebody walked in what I considered to be my space, so I was CONSTANTLY flinching. “You’ll learn.” He said pulling me in closer to him as I continued to jump back from pedestrians who seemed to be intent on trying to mow me down. “The smell will never get any better but believe me you’ll learn to live with it.” I rubbed my nose vigorously,

“It smells so dirty.” I muttered into Carl’s shoulder.

“It’s a city.” Dean said appearing at my other side slapping my butt.

“Jessica, Jamie.” Darius voice rang back to us and we tuned into a Row of terraced houses, they were all three levelled and old but all looked well maintained with as good as non existed front gardens. Darius gestured frantically as the door slowly eased open and the two boys jostled me though the gate.

“Mrs Walker?” Darius said heroically gently extending his hand taking hers gently.

“Mr Armstrong?” she asked politely he nodded releasing her hand, “this is my Daughter Jessica.” He said looking back at me grimacing when he spotted me still tucked up under Carl’s arm. Mrs Walker also didn’t seem to approve. She was exactly how you would expect a woman named Mrs Walker to look. I’d say she was about sixty her grey hair drawn back into a tight bun that not a hair strayed from. She was wearing a thick floral patterned skirt which reached just beyond her knees and a thick pink woollen cardigan which was almost completely obscured by the apron she wore over the top. Her face was disapproving and stern and I could instantly tell that she would get along with Jamie better than me. “And is this Mr James?” she asked vaguely gesturing at Carl. I suppressed a giggle as soon as I realised she was referring to Jamie. Even Darius smiled,

“Err no Jamie’s right there.” he said pointing as Jamie gave a polite nod.

“And these others?” she asked vaguely gesturing at Dean, Carl and Kate who were clustered around in the front yard.

“Family friends to help carry boxes.” Darius said I could hear him turning on the charm.

“You do realise there are two residents permitted only.” She said glaring at me and Carl. As I playfully nuzzled into his shoulder. Stopping with a grunt as Jamie kicked my ankle,

“behave.” He hissed through clenched teeth.

“Of course.” Darius said politely “Carl and Jessica aren’t together they’ve just known each other a long time.”

“And Mr James is.”

“Were cousins.” Jamie said softly. Mrs Walker nodded as though we had confirmed a suspicion, but she still eyed me and Carl sceptically.

“Come in.” she said taking a step back and holding the door open as we all crowded into the high ceiling hallway.

           Our meagre collection of belongings were all carried up to our new flat in a single trip. Me and Jamie were now inhabiting the whole of the attic yet despite this the flat was still… cosy and a lot cosier than somebody who grew up in a six bedroom house is used to. But the flat was well maintained coated in a thick coat of magnolia paint the scent of which still hung in the air which provided an almost successful barrier again the cities disgusting stench. The flat was small but due to its sparse furnishings and the lack of our possessions I think both me and Jamie were glad of that, add to the fact that neither of us was used to being alone so in a flat this size that wasn’t going to be a problem. After a quick game of rock paper scissors I got the bigger bedroom on the right and Jamie was in the box room across the hall. We also had a small kitchen Diner thing, we had a private bathroom but for some ridiculous reason that Darius seemed to find amusing it was downstairs on the first floor.

“Dean, Carl go and sweep the parameter, and met me and Kate at the rendezvous point as soon as your finished.” Darius said decisively as we all stood around looking at each other awkwardly swinging our arms vaguely with no idea what was the correct protocol in this situation. The two boys nodded, even as they did this I rushed forward flinging my arms around Carl’s neck holding him in a strangling type of hug. Carl smiled and kissed me gently on the top of my head platonically.

“I’ll miss you too sweetheart.” He muttered into my hair before releasing me and turning to Jamie as they gave each other one of those blokely slap each other on the back type hugs. I turned back to Dean who flashed me his best flirty smile before I pulled him into a hug; he of course did what Carl wouldn’t have and took advantage of this closeness by allowing himself to grope my ass.

“Last chance.” He muttered “if you let me go now you won’t be able to screw me for a month.”

“I’ll survive.”I muttered,

“But I won’t.” He said curling his fingers into my bottom. “I mean a whole month with nothing to grope.” Darius coughed loudly behind us, and Dean released me slowly obviously reluctantly. I hoped up on my toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek, he smiled fondly ruffling my hair affectionately before they both walked sedately into my bedroom and began to shift the sounds clearly able to be heard through the thin walls. We all stood just as awkwardly listening to the sounds of their shifts until they abruptly ceased and suddenly I heard a loud thump, followed by another and I couldn’t suppress my laugh. The boys had closed the door behind them and now couldn’t get out not having thumbs made opening doors a bit of a pain in the ass. Jamie was the one who took pity on them and went to open the bedroom door and let them out I was too busy snickering. Though my laughs quickly faded as the two large wolves emerged to be dismissed by Darius who again sent Jamie down to open the doors for them.

“What now?” I said to Darius vaguely, he smiled.

“Well if you still insist that you want to stay here and study law you stay here and me and Kate leave and you and Jamie do whatever it is students do.”

“That’d be Sleep, eat Pizza, play computer games basically do anything but study.” Kate put in helpfully. Jamie reappeared, he looked at me for just a second before his amazing sense of empathy kicked in and he walked over wrapping an arm around my shoulder softly pulling me against him. I smiled fondly into his chest.

“So what do you think?” Jamie asked softly “Chinese, pizza or home?”

“I know what you’d pick.” I whispered,

“Yeah but it’s your choice.”

“I know.”I whispered “and thank you.” Jamie wrinkled his nose slightly,

“Its pizza then.” I laughed,

“Yeah but I wont make you have Hawaiian this time.” I said lightly and Jamie smiled before kissing the top of my head. I rested my head on his shoulder smiling.

           As soon as Darius and Kate had left the flat I couldn’t remember what it was that My father had said to me before leaving all that I knew was that  he had been so positive despite the fact that he clearly wanted to wrap me up in his arms and drag me home. As soon as he left Jamie again instinctively wrapped his arms around me and held me pressed to his firm chest until my tears soaked through the font of his shirt.

“Shall I go get the Pizza?” he whispered as I released him, I nodded brushing the tears roughly from my cheeks. “You just go have a lie down on the sofa.” He said gently,

“When did you become the grown up?” I asked with a smile,

“When you started needing me to take care of you.” He whispered.

“I’m fine.” I lied I didn’t feel fine though I couldn’t put my finger on what it was that made me feel wrong, I just felt well wrong.

“No your not.” He said softly “but you will be if I have anything to say about it.” He said as I flung myself onto Jamie’s neck squeezing him tightly.