Always Remember (Memories) (5 page)

I settle a cushion on my lap and take the plate she offers. She puts the DVD on
then sits next to me, her legs tucked under her.

“
A cushion?” Her lips curl upwards in an ‘I’ve got you sussed’ smile.

“
The plates hot,” I offer, staring at the television.

“
Sure it is.” She smothers her laugh, and I sneak a glance at her. Her blonde hair is piled on top of her head in a messy twist. She’s wearing a tight top, and
holy fuck those yoga pants.

Can I get a break around here? Anyone?

I exhale deeply and try to pay attention to the movie. Nope. It’s too hard – and it isn’t the only thing. Fuck. I readjust my sitting position, and I strain against my jeans. I clench my teeth. This is not how I planned this night.

She
’s fucking torturing me and she doesn’t even realise it. She’s driving me to the brink of insanity with my crazy need for her in every way - but mostly in my bed. Or her bed. Or against a tree. Really, I don’t give a shit where I make love to this girl.

Make love?

I think those two words are testament to how fucking crazy she drives me.

I can
’t focus on this film for a second. It’s all fairies and magic and kisses and stars and bullshit. Bullshit.

I sigh sharply and pick at the topping of my last piece of pizza.

“Why are you sighing?” Jen turns her beautiful face towards me. “Are you turning into a pussy and getting the romance in this movie?”

“
Yeah, right.” I snort. “I’m not even watching.”

“
I know, I was being sarcastic.” Her pink lips curl up on one side slightly. “I hate to break it to you, Samuel, but I’m no Hollywood movie.”

That
’s because Hollywood has nothing on your beauty.

“
It’s the yoga pants,” I admit. “They’re kind of tight, and distracting.”

“
They’re supposed to be tight.” She laughs. “It’s the point of them.”

“
Yeah, well.” I swallow.

“
You’re an ass kinda guy, aren’t you?”

I
’m a Jen kinda guy.

“
If I can grab it, then it’s my kinda thing.” I shrug it off.

“
Then grab it,” she challenges, standing up.

“
I’m sorry?” I blink. Did I just hear her right?

“
I’ll admit, I’m intrigued. Is my ass your kinda thing? Find out.” She shrugs and glances down at me over her shoulder. “Are you scared, Samuel? It’s just my pretty little derrière – nothing to worry about. It won’t swallow you whole or anything.”

Her ass is practically in my face. There
’s a strip of creamy skin between where her top doesn’t quite meet the waistband of the yoga pants and it’s begging me to run my finger along it. I clench my fists.

“
It’s probably best I don’t,” I grind out.

“
No, no, I want you to.” She wiggles it slightly, flashing a playful grin over her shoulder.

That does it.

I shove the cushion off and stand behind her. I put my hands on her hips and slowly run them round, cupping her ass cheeks. They sit perfectly in my hands, and I get even harder imagining what it would feel like to hold her with nothing between our skin.

“
I think,” I whisper in a hoarse voice, putting my mouth near her ear. “That your ass is most definitely my kinda ass.”

I creep my thumbs up and run them along the bare strip of skin, trying my hardest not to hook them inside the yoga pants and peel them away.
Her body jolts a little at the contact, and I hear her breathing pick up speed.

No matter how she fights it, this attraction is more than fucking mutual.

My heart is going crazy
, and I’m wondering what the fuck has come over me. Am I still drunk? Asking the guy I’ve been drooling over for months and months to touch my ass is crazy shit, even for me.

His thumbs touch my bare skin
, and I swear to god, I stop breathing. Prepare the coffin, I’m going six foot under.

My sk
in is on fire where he’s touching it. Sparks are igniting like its firework night and they’re all exploding in a mass of pheromones. I remember to breathe, and it leaves me suddenly, my chest heaving.

“
I should go.” Bing steps back, and I want to scream. I want to grab him, rip off that t-shirt, and scream at him to stay.

Stay. Don
’t go. Stay here and show me if I’m your kind of girl.

I nod and close my eyes for a second. I hear the door open
, and I turn.

“
Bing?” I ask tentatively, my voice low and sensual in a way I’ve never heard.

“
Jen?” He turns with a swallow.

I run across the room and hug him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He holds me back, his arms embracing me tightly and holding me against him. Need crackles between us and I step back.

“Thank you. For last night. You didn’t need to do that.” I say without looking at him.

“
Any time,” he answers, walking backwards slowly. “Any time you need me, call, and I’ll be there.”

I look up, and he
’s gone.

The snow is still thick on the ground and I watch with a grumpy face as even more flakes fall. This is England. Where’s the damn rain?

My leg shakes and I shake my head in the same timing. I am not going out in that alone.
Food shopping be damned. I have... Er... Three pieces of bread, a tin of beans, six packets of crisps, a chocolate biscuit, and a bit of mouldy cheese.

Maybe the food shopping won
’t be damned today.

I need to buy a car. Like, really. This is where it
’s inconvenient Lexy isn’t around – she usually takes me on a Saturday after work and we have our usual girl’s night in. It’s Tuesday, so I’m running a little thin on the ground.

Unlike the stupid
fricking snow.

Call, and I
’ll be there.

Bing
’s voice rings in my mind and I trap my tongue between my teeth. Can I really call him - again? Other than a few text exchanges, we haven’t spoken since the whole ‘here, touch my ass, it doesn’t bite’ thing two days ago.

I snap my teeth together. I guess I don
’t have much of a choice.

I cross the room, grab the phone and call his house.

“Edwards’ residence, Emily speaking.”

“
Hey, Emily! It’s Jen.”

“
Hey, honey. How are you?”

“
I’m fine, you?” I smile.

“
I’m all good, sweetheart. What’s up?”

“
Um, is Bing there?”

I just know by the one second silen
ce that her eyebrows are raised and she’s grinning like a madwoman.

“
Yeah, he’s in the shower. I’ll grab him for you.”

“
Oh no, really. Just get-”

Beep. She
’s put me on hold. I screw up my face and stomp my foot. Great. I don’t need the image of him soaking wet with a towel round his waist image in my head while I talk to him.

“
This is not good,” I say to myself.

“
What’s not good?” The line clicks, and Bing’s voice sends tremors through me. Or is that the image I don’t need? Oh, and the ‘hi, I’d like to dry you off with my tongue’ thoughts running through my head right now?

“
I have no food. Can you drop me at Tesco?” I blurt it out before my traitorous brain gives my real thoughts away. “Uh, please.”

“
Of course,” he answers. “I told you if you needed anything you could call. Give me half an hour and I’ll be over.”

“
Thank you.” I hang up, and drop my head back against the wall. Jesus.

I pull up outside Jen’s block of flats and send her a text to say I’m here. I can’t believe I’m actually taking her shopping. I don’t know what the hell you buy in a supermarket... That’s Mum’s job.

Jen appears wrapped in skin tight jeans, a thick coat
, and snow boots. She walks carefully over to my car and gets in, knocking the snow from her feet first.

“
Anyone would think it’s the Arctic out here.” I grin and pull away.

“
I’ve lived on the beach my whole life. I don’t do snow.” She sniffs, and looks out the window. “It’s horrible.”

“
Nah.” I shake my head. “You just haven’t ever had a proper snowball fight.”

“
I don’t think I want to have one, if I’m gonna be honest.”

“
No, you do.” I insist. “Let’s do your shopping then we’ll have one.” I grin.

“
Er....” She turns those baby blues on me. “I’m really not an Eskimo.”

“
Sure?” I park in Tesco car park and reach over to tweak her fluffy hood. “You sure look like one.”

Her eyes narrow.
“I can tell this is going to be fun.”

I wink at her and we climb out the car. Even though the car park is clear of snow, the pathways are all icy. I
’m kind of hoping she slips so I can catch her. And then hold her up. And not let go.

Fucking hell!
I’m doing what Alec did and turning into a pussy whipped ass.

I snap myself out of it and watch Jen pick her steps on the least icy bits. She accidentally slips on a bit of black ice
, and my arm shoots out behind her, curling around her perfect waist and pulling her close to me.

“
I’ve got you,” I whisper in her ear. She nods and puts a hand on my chest, her long blue nails a stark burst of colour against my black coat.

“
You’ve got me,” she whispers back, slightly breathless.

“
Hold on tight, and don’t let go,” I give her my arm, and she grips it like a lifeline, leaning into me.

“
I won’t,” she replies as I grab a trolley.

Silently, a part of me is wishing the conversation had a totally different meaning.

We walk into the supermarket and she finally takes her hood down revealing her blonde locks. She shakes her hair out and digs into her pocket.

“
Shopping list,” she smiles sheepishly at me. “If I don’t have a list and stick to it, I tend to buy a load of unhealthy crap I don’t need.”

“
I blame my sister,” I mumble. “She’s always been Miss I Want It Now.”

“
Yep, shopping with her is a nightmare.”

She picks some bread off the shelf, followed by muffins, and drops them into the trolley.

“Double chocolate chip muffins?” I question.

“
Necessary evil.” She smacks her lips together.

“
If it’s evil, then why buy it?”

“
You really don’t want me to answer that question.” She plucks her way through the fruit and veg section. I think there’s a bit of everything going in the trolley.

“
If I didn’t want to know, I wouldn’t ask.”

She shrugs her shoulders and hooks her fingers round the trolley, directing it down another aisle.

The women’s aisle.

“
Um,” I manage.

“
You said you wanted to know!” She giggles and puts a box of tampons in the trolley. I’m pretty sure I look like a deer in headlights.

Hell no. I did
not
sign up for buying little mice you insert into your body.

“
Are we done in the, uh…” I cough slightly. “Ladies aisle?”

“
I’m not sure....” Jen taps a finger against her lips in a steady rhythm. Attention? Diverted.

Her tongue snakes out and runs across her top lip, sticking to the side as she reaches up for a can of deodorant. I let go of the trolley and get it for her, putting it in her hand.

“Thank you,” she smiles.

“
No, thank you for buying it,” I wink at her. “I could smell you from where I was stood.”

She drops back from her tiptoes
, and levels a glare at me. “If I were you I’d watch it, Samuel, before you and my tampons get acquainted. Very,
very
acquainted.”

“
Sounds kinky.” I start walking again.

“
You are so disturbed I don’t even have any words to respond to that.”