‘You sick freak! Eating chicken after dark like a caveman,’ I say softly.
‘Want to see what else I do after dark like a caveman?’ he asks.
I smile. ‘What time is it?’
‘Nearly nine. Are you hungry? There’s still loads of food here, or they have an award winning restaurant downstairs. We could eat something.’
‘Nah, I really should get back.’
‘You sure you don’t want to stay the night?’ He sounds disappointed.
‘Yeah.’
He stands and comes towards me. ‘Why not?’
‘I don’t think my aunt would like it. It’s setting a bad example for my niece. Kids nowadays are so sharp. They pick everything up. Besides, it’s a big thing for Tabitha and me to make pancakes for breakfast on Sunday morning. It’s like a tradition … ’ I trail off because he is watching me, his perfect teeth gleaming in the dark.
‘I know why my father chose you now,’ he says, smiling big.
Chapter Twenty-two
Cash
‘Are you two coming in?’ Tori’s aunt asks after yanking open the door so suddenly that Tori almost falls into the house.
Automatically I reach out and grab Tori’s arm while she finds her footing again.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, dear. Were you leaning against the door?’ her clueless aunt asks.
I try to keep a straight face as Tori mumbles something indistinct and her aunt turns towards me. ‘Would you like to come in for a drink?’
‘Actually, I’ve got to hit the road.’
‘It’ll only take a minute.’
I look at Tori and she shrugs with an expression that says, your funeral.
I turn on the charm. ‘All right, but I do have to leave soon.’
I step through the hallway, and what do you know, there are about ten people in the living room. All of them are staring at me and smiling. Aww fuck. I glance at Tori and she grins. For the next ten minutes I sign autographs. Even before the ink on the last one is dry, I stand, say my goodbyes, and turn towards Tori.
‘Maybe Tori can see me out.’
‘Of course,’ she says, her voice sweeter than sugar.
We go out of the front door and I turn to her.
‘Thanks for the warning,’ I tell her.
‘I’m sure you’d do the same for me,’ she says.
‘Damn right,’ I say and grab her by the forearms.
‘Don’t you dare,’ she warns.
I bend my head and kiss her on the lips. I make it long and passionate. Behind the windows there are many open mouths. Many questions that need answers. Poor Tori.
‘You’re going straight to hell, you know?’ she spits.
‘Been headed that way for some time now,’ I say, tipping my head at her. ‘Sleep well, Wildcat,’ I say with a wink.
She slams the door before I get to my car. It just makes me smile wider. I have a quick glance around the area. No paparazzi hiding in the bushes or among the dustbins. All is well today.
From the car I call my dad and tell him I’ve got to talk to him. He asks me to go over so I drive to his house. After Britney goes to bed we go to his study to share a cognac. Then I tell him what Tori had told me about Britney’s art. To my astonishment my father breaks down in tears. I never realized that even after all these years my mother’s death still hurts him so much.
‘I can talk to Brit about it,’ I offer.
‘No. No. That’s my job, son. That’s my job,’ he says sadly.
By the time I leave it is nearly one in the morning. On my way to the car Gavin calls. There is a party. Do I want to go?
I want to fuck, Tori. ‘Nah, man. I’m bushed. Have fun.’
‘What, you kidding me? Francine is here,’ he says.
I think about Francine. Long dark hair, fantastic tits, sucks cock like a top notch pro and likes it up the ass.
‘Enjoy her,’ I say and end the call.
My cock is not hard for Francine. It’s straining in my jeans for Tori. She’s the only fuck I want. The only party I want to go to. For a second I stop in wonder. I don’t sound like myself at all. Not one little bit.
I get into my car and roar through the streets of London. In my mind Tori is on her knees. She opens her goddamn beautiful mouth and asks, ‘Do you mind if I give you a blowjob? I’m dying for a taste of your cock.’ I see her eyes open wide and staring up at mine. Her mouth and tongue hungry for me. I knock her hand off my dick and take control. Thrusting into her wicked sexy mouth.
Making her take it all in. Fucking her, and fucking her, and fucking her until I explode inside her. Then I hold her face to my cock and let her drain me. Every last wild, dumb drop of cum.
‘Now make me yours,’ she says and opens her legs to show me her sweet pink pussy. Fucking gorgeous.
Fuck, it’s like I lick my lips and taste her pussy.
I get to my apartment, close the door, and go straight to my sound-proofed room. I close the door and start playing my music. The rest of the world dissolves. It is like I have taken a really good hit. I’m good and chilled. I stop thinking of the sweet, wild taste of Tori Diamond.
I plug in my guitar. It’s been a long time since I played it. In here the music I make is real. It won’t be the crap I’m forced to sing for the rest of the world. In here I won’t let the music down.
Chapter Twenty-three
Tori
By the time I return to the Hunter’s residence on Sunday evening, Britney has already been told about her twin brother. She comes to my room and I see straight away that there is something different about her. A new inner-confidence.
Now she knows that there is nothing wrong with her. She truly did suffer a loss, and even though she was not told about it, her body knew and suffered. All these years she was mourning for her twin and did not know. Now that she understands it perhaps she can start to heal. For a second she stands there looking at me, then she rushes into the room and throws her thin arms around my neck. I hug her back tightly. It’s a funny ole life. I never dreamed I would come to love Britney like this, and yet I have. I realize now that even if I leave England tonight, never to come back, at least I have done some good to her.
‘Thank you,’ she says simply and pulls away from me.
I shake my head. ‘I did nothing.’
‘Dad’s right. You’re special,’ she says.
I flush with pleasure. I like Britney’s dad. He’s a nice man. He reminds me of an absent-minded, kindly professor. ‘You know when I told you that twin story. I hadn’t heard about your twin then.’
‘I know that. Anyway that’s a cute story. It taught me something,’ she says with a happy smile.
‘Good. How do you feel now?’ I ask.
‘I feel as if I finally figured out a 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that I’ve been working on for seventeen years. I don’t feel happy or victorious, but I do feel vindicated. I don’t ever have to think that I am weird, or there’s something wrong with me anymore. I’m just like everybody else, only I lost my other half.’
‘Yeah?’ I say, smiling at her.
‘Yeah, and you know what else, I feel stronger and more sure about the future.’
‘Oh, Britney. I’m so happy for you.’
She lowers her voice. ‘I guess while I’m here we might as well discuss the surprise birthday party that Dad is throwing for me this Saturday.’
‘Huh? You know about that?’
‘Duh! Of course. Dad’s got a mark on his calendar saying, ‘Britney’s surprise birthday party.’’
I laugh. That is exactly the kind of thing I would have expected from Britney’s dad.
‘Don’t you think you should tell me about it so I can make some of the important decisions, and it doesn’t turn out to be a complete disaster?’
I laugh. ‘No flies on you,’ I say.
It is nearly midnight and I’m already in bed when Cash texts me.
Meet me?
As soon as I see the message my heart starts p
ounding.
Where r u?
His answer is instantaneous.
Around the corner.
My hands are shaking with excitement as I type.
C u soon.
I don’t know where he was when he texted me, but I have only enough time to leap out of bed and get dressed before the door opens and he is standing there, scruff on his face and some kind of dangerous in his eyes. Bad ass sexy, he is.
‘Hey,’ I whisper.
He doesn’t speak, just walks up to me and molds his body to mine. ‘God, I missed your body,’ he whispers hoarsely. Our eyes lock, his eat me up. He bends his head and inhales the smell of my hair.