The Heart Series: Complete Boxed Set (69 page)

“I was telling the truth, you’ve won no trophies I think I might just support Chelsea just to even things out. They are way ahead in the league,” I mocked.

“Oh you are going to pay for that remark, take it back now and I might just forgive you.” He grabbed me, pulling me towards him, so his face was inches from mine.

“Err nope, still a Chelsea supporter, I might just buy their football top and sleep in it, blue is a great colour on me.” Oh, I was going for the jugular now.

“Right, that’s it, you’ve taunted me for so long I’m bringing out the big guns,” he warned, giving me an evil smile.

“Big guns?” I barely got my question out when he tortured me in the worst possible way, tickling. He knew it was the one thing I detested, and yet he used it all the time, the swine!

“Joel, please-we’re getting water everywhere-stop-oh god I can’t breathe-stop!”

“Tell me Arsenal is your favourite team.”

“Never—” I shrieked, barely able to breathe.

“Oh you will, even if there’s no water left in this tub, I can tell you now I will not marry a Chelsea supporter.” And from the look in his eyes, I could tell he wasn’t lying.

“Joel—” I laughed so hard at the way he was taking this all so seriously. He hated Chelsea with a vengeance, telling him I’d support them over his mighty Arsenal would always touch a raw nerve. But then it got me to thinking about the times I’d told people about books I loved how they’d broke them down and ridiculed parts, telling me they were a low star read to them. The sadness I felt as great book friends demeaned my books and made me question my love for them, then the anger I felt over doubting myself I knew were completely amazing. Joel had grown up with Arsenal running through his veins. His dad had been the one to start off the trend taking him to a game when he was barely a couple of years old, decked out in the strip and watched on as another family member took on the same mantra of becoming a  die-hard gooners fan. Of course all that stopped after the accident, when John sought solace in a bottle of whiskey, but Robert his uncle had been the one to continue the obsession, taking him to games when he could. They both lived and breathed football, and I was glad that they had something they could both connect with. It helped to strengthen the bond between them.

“Okay, I concede,” I yelled. I couldn’t take this torture a moment longer.

“You concede what?” he asked suspiciously.

“That I’m not a Chelsea fan, that I’ll support Arsenal and that soon you’ll win many trophies again, and I’ll be there cheering you on to football glory.”

His hands shifted from my ribs. “That’s my girl, see it wasn’t too hard to admit.”

“Now if you could just let me catch my breath, that would be great.” I was practically panting to circulate the air back in as I lay back.

“Oh I’ll give you a minute to recover before I let you in on what I have planned.”

“Which is?” I quirked an eyebrow in intrigue.

“Showing me in the best way you know how that you are truly sorry for all your unforgivable words.”

“And how will I show you? Although I don’t really need to ask, I think it’s pretty evident what you have in mind.” It was there peeking out of the water, all nine inches. Jeez, it never failed to take my breath away, I was one lucky girl.

“Now get your sexy body over here and show me over and over how sorry you are.”

The water splashed again as I eagerly moved so I was hovering over his mighty cock. I stared deep into Joel’s lustful eyes before sinking slowly down. He gripped my hips tight and guided me up and down till we both started the most amazing rhythm.

“Oh god, Iz, being inside you with nothing between us never gets old,”

I had finally taken the step and went on the pill injection. We had used condoms for so long that it made sense, and it always made me smile how vocally each time Joel would tell me how good it was. I had to admit he was right. The pleasure was far greater, and I loved that feeling of no barrier between us, just skin on skin heightening each orgasm.

“Fuck, Iz, I’m not going to last long if you keep riding me hard like that.”

I smiled, slamming down hard on his cock and threw my head back, smiling as he sucked and teased that delicious sweet spot just under my ear.

“Joel,” I moaned over and over my voice echoing around the tiled room, as my pants became faster with each deep penetration inside me.

“Iz, I’m close-I can’t hold on-please tell me you’re almost there.”

“Cant talk-it’s too much-it’s all too much.” I felt my eyes roll back, and I shouted out loud as the orgasm filled my body with such an intensity I felt like I was going to combust with pleasure.

“Izzy—Fuck.”

I groaned as he penetrated me one more time before finding his release, we both panted, our breaths tickling each other’s faces as we both slowly came down from our amazing high.

“I swear, Iz, you are trying to kill me, sometimes I think I’m going to combust. I might pop a blood vessel trying to hold on to give you what you need.” From the look on his face, he was telling the truth.

I brushed back the hair on his face. “I can safely say you do that, you are definitely thorough in keeping me very happy in that department.”

“That’s what I like to hear, and you know the one good thing about doing it in the bath tub. No wet patch.” He grinned.

I giggled at his words. “I love the way your mind works, especially as it always seems to be on my side of the bed. Funny how that always happens.”

“Hey it’s your fault. You have me rolling all over the place I can’t help where we finally end up when we reach the finish line. That is all on you, besides you lie on top of me, crushing me most of the night, so you’re not even near the wet patch,” he retorted.

The cheek!

“That’s fine, now that you’ve pointed that out I won’t be crushing you anymore.” I would sleep on my own side from now on.

“But I love you crushing me. I sleep better feeling you tight against me. It’s one of my favourite things waking up to have you pinned against me like a little limpet.”

“A limpet? Cheers, Joel,” I scoffed. Lovely comparison there.

“Oh, it was just a stupid example, but I love that you’re a clinger, holding you in my arms each night is the highlight of my day, you know that,” he whispered in my ear as his fingers stroked the curve of my cheek.

“Well, it doesn’t feel like it at the moment. In fact it—” I didn’t get the chance to say anymore. His mouth was locked on mine with his tongue plunged deep into my mouth, undoing all the words I was about to say. I lost track of everything. I was unable to even think a coherent sentence, but that was nothing new with Joel around. He was the master of making me forget usually when I was angry. But hey, I wasn’t complaining.

“I love you, Iz, you can squash me every night if you like.”

“Joel, we need to leave this tub, I’m practically a prune and I’m freezing.” I shivered again, as the water began to rapidly lose its temperature.

“Okay baby, we’ll get out, but just so you know this isn’t over. I’m just moving this onto the next room.”

“There’s going to be another wet patch, isn’t there?” I asked, chuckling against his mouth as his smile grew wider at my words.

“I would say that’s a definite guarantee,” he added, and I physically clenched at the impending orgasm I knew was ahead.

“Did you get the email from college about the flash mob? Oh my god, I can’t wait. We are going to be fabulous together. The whole thing is going to look so amazing, just imagine the amount of hits we will get on YouTube. I cannot wait!”

I scrunched my nose in confusion. “Hang on, back up there, what email? You know I never check that, I rely on you. So go back to the start and tell me what I have missed.”

“The college is putting together a flash mob of past students where we’ll dance for fifteen minutes to songs they are putting together on a playlist. They’re having one dance that we all will do the same choreography, but then the rest is improvised. We will be given a range of dance styles and techniques that we’ve learned, but it’s just to go with whatever we feel like on the day, If we’re interested you have to email them back. Rehearsals start in the next two weeks for the choreographed dance.”

My eyes lit up. “Sounds amazing, and of course, I’m definitely interested.”

“I thought you would be. It will be so great dancing together again, Iz. I’ve missed it so much.”

“Me too,” I sighed. More than ever. These last few months had been tough. I had gone from the high of graduating from finishing one chapter and starting another, which had so far been one big fail. I knew finding work would be hard especially in this field, but I wasn’t prepared for the level of disappointment I was faced with on a daily basis. I hated going from the high of performing in front of panel of people to then receiving the rejection phone calls. But this was different, it wasn’t for a job. It was like I’d been given something to concentrate and focus on to help me pull through the level of depression I was currently going through.

“So what outfit are you going to choose? I think I know mine, but it’s between three different outfits so it’s going to be hard to decide the final one,” Elijah rambled on, looking deep in thought.

Outfit?

“I was kind of hoping they’d provide one. You know me, it takes me twenty minutes to decide which chocolate bar I want, let alone choose an outfit, can you—?”

“I already have something picked out, just wanted to see first. See Sam told me off for my pushy ways, says I have to start to listen more, so that’s what I did I stood back and asked.” He grinned, almost looking pleased by his self-control.

“Trust me, when it comes to anything remotely to do with fashion I need your input.” I was no good in that field. I needed all the help I could get.

“That’s good to hear. I am in heaven at the moment at the thought of doing this amazing dance and how fabulous the outfits will be. If you would only hurry up and decide your dream wedding dress, I swear my life would be complete.” He sighed.

“Oh, do not start that again.”

I froze at even the mere mention of the wedding planning.

“Iz, the wedding needs to be planned around your dress. All the little details cannot be arranged till I know the exact design. I will give you these next few weeks to enjoy yourself because I know you need this. I see that look and today your eyes lit up at the thought of dancing. There was a spark in you I haven’t seen in a while. So I won’t go on about the dress, but trust me the moment this is done and dusted and loaded on YouTube we are going wedding dress shopping.”

“Fine, and you’re right, I need this. Joel keeps telling me something will come along, but he doesn’t understand. To him his job’s a job. This is my passion what I’ve dreamt my whole life to do. I need it like the air that I breathe. I just need something to awaken me from this slump I’ve been in and this is it.”

He grinned at my words. “It’s good to see you smile again. I know Joel still does that too, but I just want to see you come alive again.”

“I can’t wait. What time are rehearsals on Monday?” I was already impatient, looking forward to getting started.

“Ten o’clock, do you want picked up?” he offered.

I nodded. “Yes please, I know I need to start driving lessons, but it’s finding the money.” There was no spare cash floating around at the moment, it all went on bills.

“No problem, I can chauffeur you around. It will do me good to have you back in my day to day routine, I’ve missed hanging out.” He sounded almost sad.

“We still have film nights,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile.

He frowned. “I know, but I miss college, being with you, seeing everyone. No one tells you the real world sucks when it comes to following your dream.”

“You were amazing in that play, at least you have that to put down on your CV. I have zilch. My dancing work profile is laughable.”

Elijah face dropped. “We just graduated not long ago, don’t be hard on yourself.”

“Joel, tells me that all the time, but I can’t seem to help it. I just want something good to happen, for both of us.” I sighed.

“Good things are ahead, Iz, trust me, I’m psychic.” He winked.

“Well, then it has to be true.”

Right now I really needed it to be.

The first day of practice was unbelievable, it was great to see some members of our class back. There were those that couldn’t attend that had been lucky enough to secure jobs, but I was happy for them even if a little envious. But I had this to focus on, and I knew I would work hard in order to give the best performance I could. There was nothing more satisfying than helping the college out to bring in new students. In some ways I wished I could go back and do it all again. Yes, maybe not the theory part, I could do without that but the dance classes, the interaction with friends on a daily basis I missed with all my heart. Those were great days and although at times could be completely frustrating, they were some of the best years of my life. I hoped I had way more things ahead. I had to believe that or else I’d fall into a pit of depression. Dancing and acting was in my blood. It was all I had ever dreamt about, now it was all about pursuing that dream now that I had the qualifications and the experience to do so.

Elijah had been his usual self and fell effortlessly back in to place. I think some of the tutors were happy to see him back. He always had the ability to brighten a room. We had chatted for a few minutes with some friends before we were soon thrown back into it. Eight long hours later, we had some semblance of the choreographed routine, from that, each day we would polish our technique until we were razor sharp. For the freestyle, we could chose whatever type of dance we wanted. We were given the playlist of what would follow the choreographed dance and told to try to interlink as many different styles so that it would show off our range and talent. After all this was a stunt to bring in new students so what better way than to show off the talents of previous students. Elijah had dropped me off at the end of my day to which I soon ended up soaking my poor tired body in a bubble bath, before a quick snack and heading to bed early. I didn’t hear Joel come home after his shift, but I felt him crawl in beside me and curl up tight against me. That was the way we always slept our bodies interlinked as one.

* * *

The car horn was enough to bring me out of my thoughts as I said a quick goodbye to Joel and sprinted out to an eager looking Elijah.

“Ready for the torture to begin all over again?” he asked grinning, looking like he couldn’t wait.

“Today shouldn’t be as bad, after all we did get all the basics down yesterday. It should be more of a polishing up the timing and getting everything flowing more smoothly.” Well, I hoped so anyway.

“How’s the feet?”

“They were killing me last night. I hopped into a bubble bath so that helped with the pain and my body, but it was a rude awakening as a reminder to how punishing classes used to be. I thought I’d been pushing myself, but I’ve never felt as tired as I did last night. Normally I’d wait up for Joel, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open past nine.” I wasn’t even able to squeeze in any Kindle time, which was not like me.

“I got Sam to rub my feet.” He smiled just at the thought.

“So lucky, I had to rub my own,” I groaned. It was the one part of the dancing that I hated, the toll it took on your feet.

“Sam is amazing that way he has this knack of working his magic that has me groaning in delight.”

I suddenly had flash backs of our spar day and could only imagine the orgasmic noises that left his lips, at least this time he had someone that would more than appreciate them.

“I can’t wait to see this when it finally gets uploaded, it’s going to be so amazing. Just being back there makes me feel young again.”

“You’re hardly old,” I retorted.

“I know but being flung out into the real world. I love working in the boutique because you know I love clothes.” He lived and breathed clothes.

“That I know.”

“But this? I just feel so alive, when people watch us I will feel like I can do anything. It’s so empowering to know you are on show, to give your all for your craft.”

“Wow, we are feeling very sentimental today, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, you know me, I do like to get all mushy about things.” He shrugged, which was true.

“Don’t apologise, I like it.”

“What, no sarcasm?” he asked, looking confused.

“Let’s just say I am so happy to be doing something more worthwhile than pouring pints.” I sighed. I was glad to take a break from it all.

“Yeah, but this is just the beginning, Iz, I can feel it.”

“I hope that’s true, now put your foot down, we’re going to be late.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he saluted, in his typical mocking way.

* * *

I grabbed a tray and worked my way along, loading it up with chicken salad and fruit. If I wanted to survive this I had to eat more healthily, eating cake was out of the question right now. Elijah seemed to be along the same lines, grabbing the same. We’d had another grueling morning, but things were slowly starting to take shape. I welcomed the dinner hour to take a much needed break.

Placing my tray down beside Elijah, I eagerly tucked in, the small breakfast I’d had long burned off, and I was starving.

“Oh I am so ready for this,” Elijah said through a mouthful of chicken. I felt the exact same. For three hours we had pounded the floor, the dance moves were very fast in order to be eye catching but was going to look amazing when it was filmed.

“I swear I cracked a bone somewhere along the line, but I just soldiered on without complaint,” Jodie remarked, taking a swig of her apple juice, sitting across the table from us.

“Oh you are such a trooper, Jodie. I’m surprised you managed to stay strong with your dance wound, how very brave of you,” Elijah responded sarcastically.

“Ha bloody ha, I saw some of your timings were off, Elijah. You aren’t as perfect as you think,” Jodie retorted, going for the Achilles heel.

“Err I never said I was, but sometimes I come so damn close.” He grinned, taking a long draw of water.

He always had an answer for everything.

“That segment is hard, it goes so fast trying to get the legwork right while maintain a strong upper core. I messed up I know that, but once we have it polished it is going to look amazing. All five hundred of us lined up in sync, it’s going to blow everyone away,” I added.

“I’m hoping to end up in front of the camera so I can really get my skills noticed.” Elijah grinned.

“Well, isn’t that a surprise.” Jodie rolled her eyes in mock amusement.

“Hey, it’s dog eat dog out there if I can get just one person to notice me and pick me out of the crowd then it will all be worth it,” Elijah remarked.

He had a point. We were all each other’s rivals in one way even though we were friends, we’d now become each other’s competition, which made me sad.

“Oh I’ll make sure to dance my little butt off to catch someone’s eye, that’s for sure.” Jodie winked and Elijah groaned.

“It’s not Saturday night at Harley’s, you know, it’s a not a bump and grind tournament to win the guy. You have to take this more seriously.”

“Oh, quit your bitching, like I haven’t seen you all out on the dance floor trying to catch some guy’s eye.”

“I’m very happy with Sam, thank you very much.” Elijah scowled.

“Oh you still love to show off, admit it,” Jodie scoffed. We all knew it.

“Of course I do, but I want to be taken seriously and not look like some slapper that looks like they’ve had one to many vodkas on a Saturday night.”

“Oh whatever,” she fumed, looking well and truly pissed.

“Please, just be quiet the both of you, you can do whatever you like in the freestyle, there is no reason to be arguing.” I needed the constant abuse like a hole in the head. I wanted time to think, to work it all out in my head.

“He started it,” Jodie shrieked.

“No, she started it,” Elijah retorted.

“I don’t care who started it, just end it. I’m bored of you two fighting, and it’s only two days in.” This was only the tip of the iceberg at what was to come.

“Fine, I’ll keep schtum, but he has to keep his catty words to himself.”

“Look, I’m not promising anything, but I’ll try to contain my temper even though she pushes me to my limits every time,” Elijah said trying to appease me.

“Errm, I think you’ll find it’s the other way around, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Elijah muttered.

“Oh shut up the pair of you, see this is what I haven’t missed,” I fumed. They had bickered from day one of college and hadn’t let up since.

“Oh you love us really, admit it.” Jodie winked.

“Pssshhht, I’m admitting nothing.”

“Hey what are you guys talking about?” Simon asked, sitting down beside us with his tray to join in the conversation.

“Nosey much?” Elijah retorted.

“Oh purlease, I have an hour to fill so it might as well be mindless crap that fills your day.”

“Seriously does no one get on ’round here?” I asked in annoyance.

“We get on.” Elijah smiled at me, and I had to agree though we did have our moments where I wanted to wring his neck on the odd occasion.

“Awww best fwends, are we.” Simon chuckled, demolishing a heap of chips on the plate in front of him.

“See you’re on a health kick then, enough carbs on your plate for you?” Elijah scoffed.

“I’m a growing man and have you seen my abs?”

We’d all seen his abs and to be fair to him they would rival Joel’s. My eyes nearly popped out the first time I saw them.

“Purlease, the whole college has seen them. I’m surprised they didn’t receive their own graduation certificate,” Elijah mocked, laughing at his own joke.

“Now, now, don’t be jealous.”

“I think you’ll find I have abs too.” Elijah snorted, looking put out by his comment.

“Not abs of steel like mine though. Izzy, do you fancy a feel?” Simon offered, winking at me in that cocky way.

“Have you seen Izzy’s fiancé? His put yours to shame.” Elijah snorted.

“I hardly doubt it. I’ve had more women than hot dinners, it’s amazing what a hot body will do, ladies just fall at my feet.”

“I think you’ll find Joel was the biggest play—”

“Elijah.” I didn’t need him bringing up Joel’s past in front of everyone, that was over and done with, or the constant reminder that my own fiancé had his own player record too.

“Sheesh Iz, I was just saying.” Elijah immediately looked wounded by my reaction.

“Well, don’t,” I snapped. His input wasn’t welcome.

“Any time you want to break free from the ball and chain, feel free to try me out, Izzy,” Simon piped up.

“Yeah, when hell freezes over more like,” Elijah chimed in, and he wasn’t wrong there.

“I think the lady should speak for herself. I was talking to the organ grinder not the monkey,” Simon added bitterly.

“Psshhhtt, like I’m anyone’s monkey. You’ve barely got a brain cell to rub together if we’re talking about actual intelligence then I think you’re way out of your league, maybe just sit there and look pretty.”

“Fuck you, Elijah, you think because you’re quick witted with that smart mouth that you’re above everyone else.”

“I know I’m above you, well everyone is when it comes to anything intellectual,” Elijah scoffed. Harsh but true.

He stood up. “Yeah, whatever. I’m off to hang with more manlier guys that don’t think they are above everyone, enjoy your salad, ya prick.” He grabbed his tray and stormed off.

“Oh, he had to play the homophobe card, I expected more, no wait this is Simon, so I didn’t.” Elijah rolled his eyes, taking a swig of water.

“Are you going to scare everyone away today?” I asked, shaking my head. Jodie scoffed and gave him a look. “What is with you today?”

“He just rubs me up the wrong way,” Elijah snapped.

“Or is it that you want him to rub you, is that it?” Jodie probed.

“What? No!”

“I think I know a guy when he’s in denial,” Jodie retorted.

“Like you are any good at reading people with the amount of idiots you’ve slept with. What were you thinking springs to mind at some of the guys you’ve slept with?”

Yeah, now it was really getting personal.

“Fuck off, I wasn’t sleeping with them for the size of their brain.”

“No, just the size of their cock,” Elijah added sarcastically.

“A nine-inch guy is hard to find.”

Elijah grinned. “Ask Joel, he’s quite equipped in that department.”

“Elijah.” I was just about ready to kill him.

“Fuck Izzy, you lucky bitch,” Jodie’s mouth was wide open. Doing a perfect impression of a gold fish.

My eyes flashed in anger. “Elijah, seriously?” I fumed. He could not keep that mouth of his shut.

“Iz, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops if my man stood nine inches proud. Trust me, if it were me, I’d wear it like a badge of honour.”

“Of course you would,” I scoffed. It would be all we’d hear about.