Page 66 of Entwined

I’M PACKED AND READY TO LEAVE PARIS hours before Jecca appears home walking bowlegged. She drops her dress. I’m not surprised at the state of her body. Hickeys, love bites, bruises and welts cover her.

She catches me staring.

“The man was an animal. A wild, rough, delicious animal. I think I’m in love.”

I roll my eyes, “It’s not love. Don’t be stupid. It was a one-off fuck. Let’s go home.”

“What happened? The last time I saw you—Christos Devillo was livid that someone ‘touched his woman…’”

“I’m not his woman. I’m nothing but a memory.”

She winces. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shake my head. “I just want to go home.”

“I need a hot shower and a day of sleep. Maybe an ice pack between my thighs, too.”

“Well, I can’t stay. I have a sudden desire to get on with my life.”

“I take it your fantasy crush was a dud in the sack? Please tell me he was small…,” she giggles, walking into the adjoining bathroom. I follow her with everything bubbling up inside me about to erupt and break free.

“We used to be lovers… I worked on his yacht in the Med last year. We were together for a while.”

“How long?”

“Well, if you count the five months he held me prisoner at his country estate… about seven.”

She stills, turning to face me with her hand on the jets. “That’s how you knew… about last night? The party? The men?”

I nod my head. “Don’t fall for Phillip. You’re walking down a dangerous road, Jecca.”

“It’s too late. I’m not walking. I’m running. He said he wants to see me again.”

“Of course, he did. You’re beautiful and an amazing roommate. I just don’t want you to end up like me…broken-hearted and left behind.”

“Do you still love him?”

I nod my head, biting my lip.

“And he knows this?”

I nod again.

“Well Christos Devillo can bloody well sod-off. Next time he comes looking for you, you won’t be available.”

“That’s the thing Jecca, he won’t come looking. He keeps leaving me, telling me to let go. I was fine. I was. I’ve kept myself busy…started building a new life. One without him in it. But part of me still held on. I still look for him everywhere, keep up with the press on him, and had hoped he’d just show up one day out of the blue because he just couldn’t stay away…,”

“Then the man is bloody daft. Every man there last night wanted you.”

“Oh yeah? No one made a move.”

“They wouldn’t have dared. Phillip told me the infamous El Diablo made it clear to all the punters there not to touch his “dove.” You’re not telling me the whole story. I need a hot shower, a coffee and a chocolate croissant. And then you are going to bloody tell me everything, leaving nothing out.”

“I-I can’t. The words are stuck inside. I’ve never told a soul the entirety of what transpired between us.”

“That’s because you’ve never had girlfriends before. Trust me. We’re going to a café, and you are going to spill. Then we are coming up with a game plan.”

“A plan for what?”

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