Entertaining
The sudden ring of the phone broke her concentration from cutting vegetables and the knife slipped, falling to the ground as she jumped out of the way in time, thanks to her quick reflexes.
She grumbled, picking up the knife from the floor as the phone rang again. She grabbed it from the receiver in a swoop of a motion.
“Hello?”
“Hi, love, how are you?”
James. She smiled.
“Oh, I’m good.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “What about you?”
“Almost home.”
“Yay.” Her heart skipped.
He was still amused. “About an hour, hoping for decent traffic.”
“Okay.” She winced. That gives me plenty of time to screw up dinner for him.
“Andrew’s left me several messages. He and Becky want to do something with us tonight. Maybe then, dinner out?”
“Oh.” Kara paused, looking back to her half-prepared food.
“Oh?” he echoed.
“I’m sort of… making you supper.”
“You’re actually making food?” he asked. “I thought you were joking last night about that.”
“Well.” She huffed. “I’m attempting.”
“Your effort is endearing.”
“I was going for domestic,” she corrected.
“Right.”
“There’s lots though, if they want to eat here?” She hoped now in desperation the meal would turn out.
“Mm.” James thought for a second. “If you feel up to it.”
“Yeah.” Kara bit her lip, letting it slip back out. “I can’t promise this food will be any good.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure it will be amazing.”
“You have too much faith in me.” She sighed into the receiver. “I should really go so I can concentrate on making this.”
“Alright.”
Kara swallowed. “Okay.”
“See you soon.”
“Bye.” She hung up the phone and scurried back over to the food, wasting at least forty minutes going over the simple recipe and hoping she hadn’t messed up.
“Hello!” The front door slammed against the wall as Carter made his usual entrance.
She paused with the knife in hand as he stepped into the kitchen, sweaty but pleasant looking. “Hey.”
He smiled at her. “What are you doing there, pet?”
“Dinner.” She turned back to the food.
“You’re cooking?”
“Yes.” She cleaned up a bit, placing some dirty utensils in the sink. “Becky and Andrew are coming over.”
Carter smiled, watching her. “Where’s Jim?”
“Coming home now.” She didn’t like the impending sense of doom she felt in her chest at the thought of everyone’s descent upon her.
He came up beside her on the counters, grabbing a carrot and taking a bite of it.
“Hey!” Kara scolded him.
He arched his brow. “Do you feel like a house-wife yet?”
She narrowed her eyes on him in disgust. “You smell.”
He laughed. “Thank you!”
Kara smiled, walking to check the food in the oven as he headed to his room and threw his shoes near it, they hit the wall with a thud.
She jumped, letting the oven door slam. “Carter.”
“Sorry.” He smirked.
“You need to clean those up.” Kara pointed at the mess he’d made.
“Jim’s anal ways are rubbing off on you, I don’t like it.” He picked up his shoes, chucking them inside his room as the front door of the apartment opened. He looked down to it and hollered, “Oh, look, speak of the bloody devil! Hello!”
Kara’s heart jumped as a soft giggle echoed into the kitchen. Becky.
Andrew’s boisterous voice was next as Kara came around the corner into the hall.
Becky got to her first. “Hello, so good to see you again!”
“Hi,” Kara greeted as she was forced into a hug.
Becky drew back from her. “You look amazing.”
Kara paused. “Thanks.”
Becky gave her another look over. “That dress is adorable and your hair… it’s so long! I had no idea.”
To Kara, Becky looked amazing, there wasn’t even a comparison in her mind as she stood awkwardly for the compliments.
“Isn’t she adorable, Drew?” Becky swung her around to Andrew, who was now in front of them, blocking Kara’s view of anything else.
Andrew hesitated with awkwardness. “Uh, sure.” Then took the quick exit into the kitchen, allowing Kara to finally see James. He took off his coat and hung it in the tiny closet by the front door.
Becky let her go then, chasing Andrew into the kitchen while Carter took a seat at the table.
Kara waited though, smiling and fixing the hem of her dress again.
James looked up to her. “Hello.”
“That was quick. I thought you’d be longer.” She smiled at him.
He walked towards her with a slow, savouring step.
She looked him over in his fitted long sleeve shirt and black jeans, liking the view. Sexy boy.
His smirk got the best of him and Kara had to fill the gap between them, walking into his arms as her heart began to pound. She hadn’t seen him in four days but it had felt much longer.
He nuzzled her, whispering, “you look nice. What’s the occasion?”
She shut her eyes from the tone of his voice and felt the bud of warmth break to the surface of her skin. “You.”
“Very good answer,” he lifted her off the ground playfully.
“Oh!” Kara exclaimed and he dropped her back to her feet.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “My stomach’s a bit queasy. You wouldn’t want me to throw up on you…”
He watched her for a moment. “You’re still feeling sick?”
She sighed. “No, well… sort of.”
He creased his brow, not liking her explanation. “I made you a doctor’s appointment for tomorrow but at a different clinic, so you could get what we talked about.”
She swallowed. Birth control.
“You should talk to them about the continued sickness. Most of this should have passed by now.” He was on the ball as usual.
“Yeah, I know,” she breathed with embarrassment.
He gave her a nod, looking towards the kitchen and she took his hand, wanting to change the subject.
“Come eat, boyfriend.”
He smiled and walked beside her into the kitchen.
“I didn’t get to setting the table yet,” she rambled. “Carter left his shoes everywhere.”
The blonde turned in his chair. “When did this flat stop being a bachelor’s pad?”
“When Kara made me cancel the cleaning service last month.” James gave her a smile and she nodded, turning to stick her tongue out at Carter.
Carter grumbled from the reality of that statement. “Fine, I like her enough I’ll let this slide.”
Becky smiled, adjusting herself in Andrew’s lap. “James likes things organized. You must be doing a good job, Kara.”
Kara shrugged. “Oh, I dunno, I just can’t get a job cause—no visa so… I have a lot of free time. It’s a waste of money to have a house cleaner.” She turned with plates in hand and James took them from her, not giving her another option. He walked over to the table, setting each plate in front of a chair as Kara gathered silver-wear.
She brought over the forks and knives, putting them down in the appropriate places. Then looked up to see Becky tucked neatly on Andrew’s lap.
“Cozy,” Kara commented.
“He is.” Becky giggled as Andrew played along, wrapping his arms around her.
“Don’t be jealous.” James came up behind her as she watched them. His low voice was a mumble only she could hear. “You can sit in my lap later on.”
Her cheeks blushed and her stomach knotted up as she pushed him off while trying not to smile.
“So, I watched it all, it was epic.” Carter broke through the new silence.
“What?”
“The game.” Carter rolled his eyes.
“Us losing was epic?” James creased his brow.
Kara let out a quick laugh, bringing over the casserole she’d managed to not burn and placing it in the middle of the table.
“That’s excellent, which team were you two cheering for?” James asked with mock exasperation.
Carter smiled. “Well, we were cheering for you, but then you started to suck, so we changed and cheered for—”
“We didn’t.” Kara flicked Carter’s head. “He’s lying.” She sat down next to James, adjusting her dress again as his hand found her bare thigh under the table. Her cheeks warmed from his gentle touch. “I cheered for you.”
James gripped her and it made her clench her thighs. “Thank you.”
“Anyway,” Carter piped, “it’s not like you had a chance in hell of winning. We all knew that.”
“Not even my father was cheering for England and Garrett’s your biggest fan, maybe your only fan.”
“I’m so thankful for my supportive family,” James rolled his eyes.
Andrew laughed, “Don’t worry, Jimmy, we still love you.”
“Clearly.” James moved on. “Can we eat now?”
“Yes!” Kara gestured at the food. “But if you die, I’m not responsible.”
“I’m sure we’ll all live.” He was the first one to try the food and filled every inch of his plate with it.
“But you might get fat if you eat that much,” she joked.
“Mm.” James swallowed what was in his mouth. “I’ve lost seven pounds.”
“It’s from losing, isn’t it?” Carter cut in.
Kara almost choked on her food. “You’re so mean.”
James grumbled, continuing to eat. “Funny.”
“Anyway, you’re too good for him, Kara. He doesn’t deserve a girl that can cook and clean and dress him,” Becky giggled through her teasing.
“I can dress myself, thank you,” James grunted.
“That’s right, Becky, he’s posh as fuck.” Andrew laughed. “But looks like you’ve found just the right woman to improve the bloodline with, Jim.”
Kara looked to his cousin and paused. “What?”
Becky backhanded her fiancé’s chest. “You’re just jealous because he’s a natural woman magnet.”
James chuckled, “Thank you, Rebecca.”
Kara bit her bottom lip as her mouth started to water, and not in a good way.
No… Not now!
James looked to her as she paled and brought a hand to her mouth. “Kara?” he asked.
“I don’t feel good.” She got up quick, jogging from the kitchen to the near washroom, but as she went to close the door, James stopped her, stepping inside as she threw up in the toilet.
Coming around her, he pulled her hair from her neck and rubbed her back.
She gripped the seat, wincing and embarrassed. “I haven’t eaten anything today.”
He helped her stand. “Why not?”
“Because I feel like this.” She felt tears forming, but held them back. Her frustrations from being ill for so long were wearing on her.
He watched her as she leaned against the small counter.
“I just want the withdrawals to stop.” She rubbed her temple.
“They will.”
“And the nausea.”
“Have you run out of those pills they gave you a month ago?” He leaned into her, kissing her forehead, his hands coming to her waist.
“Not quite,” she grumbled, turning away from him and reaching for the mouthwash by the sink.
“Take some.”
“No.” She swished her mouth clean and spat. “They make me feel worse.”
He kissed her shoulder, nuzzling her.
“I’ll talk to the doctor about it.”
“Please do,” he whispered.
She turned back to face him after a moment of complete quiet between them. “Sorry you had to see that.”
“Don’t be silly.”
She swallowed as he took her hand.
“You should try to eat though.”
“I’ll try,” she agreed, following him out of the bathroom with a prayer. Please, sick-gods, no more throwing up tonight.
They got back in the kitchen and everyone sat in silence, eating at least, which meant her food might have actually been good.
“Sick again?” Carter prodded.
“Yeah.” Kara tucked herself back in her chair and picked up her fork.
“You’re ill?” Becky asked.
“I’m fine.” Kara shook her head. “It’s—”
James interrupted her before she could fumble through an explanation. “She’s going to the doctor tomorrow, don’t worry too much.”
Becky tilted her head. “Well, we wouldn’t have bothered you tonight if we’d known that.”
“No, no.” Kara shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“You’ve been sick for the last month and a half,” Carter concluded.
Andrew looked up, suddenly interested in the conversation. “Really?”
“She’s fine.” James started to eat.
Kara winced, taking a bite of her food.
“Good thing you’re going to the doctor,” Carter continued, “I was starting to worry. You’re never home, James, to see her puking.”
Kara looked at him with a glare. “Thanks, Carter.”
James’ annoyance became impossible to ignore. “It’s not like I don’t know about it.”
Kara wanted the subject to change and she was sure that James did as well. The obvious awkwardness of the conversation had started to gather suspicious looks from Andrew and Becky that she couldn’t quite understand.
“Well, let’s hope you start to feel better.” Andrew ate some more.
“Yes…” Becky agreed.
Carter jumped up. “Anyone want a drink?”
Kara got up too. “Oh, sorry, I should have thought of that. I’ll do it.”
James took her hand before she could step away. “No, Carter will.”
She sat back down and James let her go, but the dropped contact made her ache and she moved closer to him, sliding her knees against his legs.
Carter offered beer and wine and soon the boys were happily drinking as Kara and Becky cleaned the kitchen.
“This is so typical.” Becky dried a plate.
Kara smiled, to say she didn’t enjoy the mindless tasks over watching the sports network was putting it lightly. “Pretty much.” Fishing out a few forks to wash, she heard them in front of the television, arguing with the news staff. “They have a lot of opinions on sports, don’t they?”
Becky laughed. “This isn’t even that bad. Andrew’s father; Garrett is ridiculous about it. Just wait until Christmas.”
“Oh.” Kara nodded. “Sounds fun.”
Becky smiled. “You haven’t been to Blackwell yet, have you?”
Kara shook her head. “I’ve been to Rose’s house.”
“James is gone a lot, I guess,” Becky continued. “He’s probably saving you for Christmas anyway.”
“Why’s that?” Kara wondered.
“Millie and Garrett, Andrew’s mum and dad,” she answered. “I’m sure you’ll make an impression.”
Is that a good thing? Kara felt out in the cold on the subject.
“Oi.” Carter showed up at Kara’s side and she moved back, smiling. “Want to watch a movie?” he asked.
Becky picked up her wine glass and took a sip. “What movie?”
“It’s a good movie.” Carter tried to persuade her.
“Blood? Guts? General gore?” Becky droned.
“What do you think we are?” Carter looked insulted. “A bunch of men?”
Kara drained the sink. “Yeah, that’s pretty much it, Carter.”
“Alright.” Carter gave up. “But there’s an underlying romance.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “Does one of them die at the end?”
Carter smiled. “Well, now you just know what movie I’m talking about.”
“Pick something else,” Becky scolded, “then we’ll entertain the idea.”
“I’ll consult with the other men.” He scooted back off into the living room.
Running a damp cloth over the counters, Kara felt satisfied the kitchen was clean enough.
Becky sat at the table. “Have you chosen a movie?” She called into the room.
There was a general reply of grumbling before Carter piped up.
“Still consulting!”
Becky smiled and topped up her glass with more wine. “This could take all night.”
Kara sat down, putting her hair up in a ponytail. “It really could.”
“So…” Becky drank more. “Where did you meet James? Because it’s almost a mystery to everyone.”
“Oh.” Kara didn’t like that question. “It was a long time ago.”
“Really?” Becky looked surprised.
“Yeah.”
“James never said anything.”
“Well, we were just friends.”
“Ah. He’s good at that,” Becky noted, “at just being friends. One time he brought a girl to dinner at Blackwell, I asked if they were dating and he looked positively mortified!” She laughed from the jaunted memory.
Kara swallowed. “What did he say back?”
“I don’t think he saw her again to be honest,” Becky continued to giggle.
“Okay, we got one.” Carter walked over to the table. “It’s got car chases and sex.”
Kara smiled. “Wow, enticing.”
Becky laughed. “Yeah, no.”
“It could be worse,” Carter added. “It could be porn.”
Kara laughed. “That is true.”
“But alas, that’s what James’ computer is for.” He winked at them and Kara paused, making a face as he left.
Kara and Becky got up, following him into the small living room where James was lying across the largest of the two couches.
“You’re taking up the entire couch.”
James smiled at her. “If one buys something, then it’s theirs. I bought this couch.”
Kara stared at him. “There are other people, James.”
“There’s another couch.” He didn’t move at all. “Alright. I’ll allow one other person.”
Carter turned to him, remote in hand. “Let me guess… She has to be brunette, about five foot six and have big green eyes.”
“Sounds about right.” James looked at her and she rolled her eyes.
“Are you sure he didn’t just order you from a catalogue, Kara?” Carter laughed at his bad joke.
“Funny…” Kara narrowed her eyes on him.
“You’re just jealous, Carter, admit it.” James lifted his hand to coax Kara forward amid her slight blush from the way his cousin and Becky had stopped to watch them.
“I’m not jealous of being in a relationship” Carter puffed. “Yeah, right. Gross.”
Kara stepped toward James and he grabbed her once within reach, pulling her down on top of him.
She settled along his chest, as he pressed his nose to her cheek and kissed her.
“See, it’s comfy.”
Kara giggled. “No, you’re hard.”
“Get-a-room.” Carter coughed.
“Jealous again are we?” James smiled while Kara buried her face into his chest to avoid the embarrassment.
Carter muttered between the DVD prompts across the screen.
He went to eggon Carter more and Kara cupped his mouth.
“No,” she said in a quick voice.
He bit into her palm and she squeaked, hitting his chest and moving to her knees between his legs. He tightened his thighs around her to stop her mid-motion. “Now, move your head down a bit.”
Kara frowned at him. “How many beers have you had?”
“Not enough,” James pointed out.
Andrew nodded. “That’s true. I’ll go get more.”
Becky whined. “Drew, come on, movie?”
“I’ll be ten minutes, bloody hell.” He almost ran from the room, skipping at the promise of more booze.
Kara grabbed a throw pillow and hit James in the face once his cousin left. “That’s for being inappropriate.”
“Oh, really?” He grabbed her and levelled her atop him.
She smiled at how he manhandled her, as it sent an edge of excitement to her core.
“Alright, shut the fuck up.” Carter turned up the volume as the movie started and shut off the living room lights.
Kara grumbled playfully, “Yeah, shut up, James.”
His hands found her bottom, his mouth to her ear. “If you hit me in the face again, I’ll make your ass red for it.”
“Shh.” Kara tried to ignore him but it got difficult as he squeezed her bottom to give her a bit of resulting pain. She wiggled against him in protest, catching herself as she rubbed along his thigh and edged a tingle there.
“You like that, don’t you?” He whispered to her and grabbed the blanket folded on the top of the couch to drape around her.
“I think you’ve drank too much.” Her eyes lifted to him and he took a moment to kiss her.
“Perhaps.” His hand on the back of her neck redirected her cheek to his chest and she relaxed into him. She liked the instant warmth his cuddle provided as she attempted to watch the show but her eyes kept closing.
When she woke, she found herself still on his chest but now in the dark room with no one else there.
She wrinkled her nose, lifting her head to find him sleeping too.
“James?”
“Yeah.” He squinted, rubbing a hand over his face.
“I don’t remember saying goodbye to Becky and Andrew.”
“They left a while ago,” he muttered, bringing his hands to her back.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” She felt a scorch of panic from her bad manners.
He didn’t seem to care. “Because you were asleep.”
He watched her on his chest, and when she tried to sit up, he held her firm. “Stay.”
She huffed. “Aren’t you stiff?”
He smirked. “Excuse me?”
“Not like that.”
He held his laugh as he brushed her bangs from her face. “You were so innocent a month ago and now look at you…”
“I’m still fairly innocent,” she retorted, inching herself above him, “when it comes to your world.”
He took her cheeks. “But not your dirty thoughts.”
She brushed her lips against his. “I don’t have those.”
“You don’t think about me when I’m away?”
She bit her lip and shook her head.
“I know you’re lying.”
Her stomach tightened as he held back from kissing her.
“Tell me you think about me,” he said.
She licked her bottom lip. “Why?”
“Because I get off on it.” His grip on her tensed.
“You do?” Her heart started to race, her need for him pouring out of her, and she knew she would start saying what he wanted fairly soon because of it.
“Yes.” One of his hands left her face and took a breast.
She whined, dropping her mouth against his as her thighs fumbled to climb up his lean frame.
He kissed her, the tips of their tongues touching feverishly.
She held the couch around her, keeping herself over him, wanting more as he broke their mouths.
“So, do you think of me?”
She nodded. “All the time.”
He smiled. “Good girl.”
“I missed you so much,” she mumbled against his lips.
His hands went to her hips and up her dress as he shoved it to her waist. “What else did you miss?”
She took a sharp breath, his hand finding her wetness through her underwear, and she let out a moan.
Dropping his contact on her, he undid his belt. “Tell me.”
She inched her knees along his sides, wanting and craving what he’d give her, if she got the words from her mouth. “I… uh…”
“Fuck…” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Condom.” He pulled her close and sat up.
“Just forget that.” She kissed him, hoping to break him all together but she wasn’t sure how easy that would be. Her tongue met his and she took his bottom lip between her teeth.
“You’re very convincing but no.” He lifted her off the couch and stood with her in his arms.
She giggled when his greedy kiss got the better of them. “James…” His walk slowed to press her back against the wall. “More.”
He paused his lips on her. “This is why we need birth control.” He carried her to the bedroom and she clung to him, enjoying the ride more than she figured she should have.
He dropped her into the bedding in between the mess of their lips and came over the top of her, reaching to grab a condom from his nightstand in expert form.
Her core knotted as his fingers grabbed and pulled her underwear off. She helped slink her legs from the confines of the clothing and she settled beneath him. Nervous and anticipating his fullness, he dropped his pelvis after sheathing himself.
“Won’t it be nice to get these out of the way?”
She nodded from the flutter of that thought. Nothing between them excited her and she would finally get to feel it.
He took her hips. “Now, what was it you missed?”
She chomped on her bottom lip. “This.” Her hand reached and found his cock, wrapping her fingers around it and running her thumb over the tip of him.
He smiled, taking her hand away. “I’ll let you get away with that answer.”
Thank god. She panted as he filled her.