Chapter 15: Jean Broody vs. Bradley Jackson ~ When suppressed desires explode… Hot chocolate!

***

“You’re drunk.” Bradley chuckled, looking at Jean sprawled in the seat across from him at the dining table.

They’d just finished their lunch of juicy steak and mashed potatoes with a lovely mushroom sauce. And Jean, in his usual carefree manner, had managed to drink a whole bottle of wine alongside.

“There’s nothing like a full-bodied red wine as an accompaniment to a juicy meaty steak, buddy. Trust me.”

Bradley snorted. “You didn’t have to down the entire bottle.”

“You could have helped.” Jean drawled. “A little booze wouldn’t hurt you. I told you.”

“And I told you I didn’t feel like it,” Bradley muttered, getting up to clear the table.

He definitely didn’t have any intention of getting drunk around Jean. Only God knew what he would do if his inhibitions got lowered whilst in the company of the sexy doctor. After washing and putting away the dishes, Bradley poured some coffee for Jean.

“Here, drink this.” Bradley set the coffee in front of Jean just as the doorbell rang. “You gonna get that?”

“Yep.” Jean stood and walked unsteadily towards the door.

Bradley shook his head in amusement as he watched Jean. He never ceased to amaze him. He went to his room just in case whoever it was, followed Jean inside. His presence in Jean’s house was still a secret. He’d only gone out to meet Jean’s lady the night before because he’d had a fair idea what whoever was ringing the bell was there for. He smiled when he remembered the look on Jean’s face when he mentioned herpes. That look…a cross between shock and incredulity…it was priceless. Bradley dipped his hand into the pocket of his sweatpants for the burner phone but realized it wasn’t inside his pocket. He was sure he’d left it on the dining table, Bradley thought as he went back out. He didn’t want to miss any of Ty’s calls so he always kept the phone close.

Jean wasn’t downstairs when Bradley got to the dining area. His cup of coffee sat untouched on the dining table. Bradley thought he’d already gone up to sleep off his drunkenness until he heard the unmistakable sound of female laughter. He paused in the act of grabbing the phone and strained his ears. This time he heard the laughter of two women, one high-pitched and the other, uncontrollable giggling. Then he heard a door shut. And then silence.

“Oh hell, no,” Bradley muttered, grabbing the phone and then heading for the stairs. He couldn’t move fast enough for his own satisfaction. When he eventually got to the closed door of Jean’s bedroom, he threw it open so fast it banged against the wall, startling its occupants.

“You again.” Claudia snapped with eyes filled with irritation when she looked down from the loft and saw Bradley in the doorway.

At a quick glance, Bradley noticed Jean on his back, on the bed. From where he stood by the door he could see Jean in only black boxer briefs but he didn’t really dwell on him. His eyes were on the women who were obviously about to start stripping.

“Oooh…what do we have here?” Purred the other lady whose eyes were filled with interest and surprise. “Love me some hot chocolate.” She gave Bradley a come-hither look, a smile splitting her lips when Bradley started up the short flight of stairs to the loft. “Where you from…you sexy thing?” She sang a perfect line from Hot Chocolate band’s ‘You Sexy Thing’ as she reached out to touch Bradley’s abs through his t-shirt. She visibly shivered. “I didn’t know we were having a foursome.” She licked her lips lustfully.

“Sorry to burst your bubble but you’re not having even a twosome.” Bradley rasped as he placed the burner phone on the bed and then grabbed the wrist of each lady.”

“Bradley come on, we’ll keep it down.” Jean groaned drunkenly from the bed but Bradley ignored him.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Claudia screeched as Bradley led them down from the loft. “Who do you think you are, you bully?”

“I told you last night that he wasn’t well and yet here you are again,” Bradley responded evenly as he briefly let go of the other lady to grab their bags off the table in the seating area. “As I told you yesterday, I’m his bodyguard.” He led them out of the door.

“Well, that doesn’t make you his nurse.” Claudia snapped, giving Bradley a withering look as she tried to no avail to snatch her hand from Bradley’s grip.

“For now, that’s part of my job. Careful.” Bradley cautioned when they got to the stairs. “We wouldn’t want you falling down these stairs, dear.”

“You can’t stop me from…” Claudia began but got cut off by Bradley.

“I promise to let you know immediately he’s okay,” Bradley said sweetly as he released the other lady long enough to open the front door.

“How about you?” The lady purred, rubbing herself against Bradley. “I promise to show you a good time, stud.”

“Thanks for the offer but I’ll pass.” Bradley escorted a still complaining Claudia and her ‘Hot Chocolate band’ wannabe friend off the property, locked the gate, and then went back inside.

He was on his way to his room when he remembered he’d left the burner phone on Jean’s bed. With a sigh, he turned and went back up the spiral stairs. Jean’s door stood ajar as he’d left it earlier. He’d probably passed out already Bradley thought as he entered the room.

The sight that met him when he got to Jean’s bed, made his mouth dry, his heart pound, and his knees weak.