[Chapter 21 of 29... I can't believe we're this far along already! I'm so grateful to all of you who are reading and enjoying and commenting, THANK YOU!
Hope you enjoy this chapter too... EG x]
When we get back to his building, Sam hands me his keys before getting out and opening my door then retrieving all our shopping bags from the boot. I muse inwardly about how comfortable this all feels. How... normal.
Anyone looking on would see a happy young couple, back from a morning in the city, utterly smitten with each other.
Nobody would guess they only met because he's a deviant Dominant with control issues and she's a call girl he paid to have his way with. Guess you really shouldn't judge books by their covers.
It turns out, I don't need the keys as Harvey is just leaving and attentively holds the door open, greeting us politely as we go inside.
'Have the car ready to go at 7 tonight please Harvey - Miss Blake won't need a lift before then.' He adds, smiling at me smugly.
Upstairs in his bedroom, he dumps the bags and stretches his impressive form out on the bed suggestively.
'We've got a couple of hours before we have to get ready, whatever shall we do Miss Blake?' He muses with a deviant grin on his beautiful face.
'Oh, I've got a few ideas.' I reply, moving towards him.
'I'm all ears', his eyes glint mischievously.
'Well, I was thinking you could actually show me the rest of this place for a start!' I reply, kissing him chastely. He pouts in disappointment. 'Please?' I pout back, wide eyed, 'I've stayed over three times now and all I've really seen is the balcony, your bedroom, and the basement.' A smile crosses my lips on the last word. It doesn't go unnoticed.
'Alright then Miss Blake; I'll make you a deal. I'll give you the tour from top to bottom,' he moves off the bed as he speaks, cupping my behind as he says the word bottom, 'if you agree to be all mine afterwards, wherever we end up.' He finishes -- his words full of intent.
'Deal.' I reply. He grins as he grabs my hand and leads me to the lift.
We step out on the top floor and I'm thrown by how different it looks in the daylight. The whole room is bathed in glorious sunlight and it really is beautiful. I cross to the fireplace and notice a collection of framed photos. There's one of an attractive, well-dressed couple beaming proudly either side of a small dark-haired, blue-eyed boy holding a framed picture of the sea.
'Your parents?' I ask quietly. He nods
'I was ten -- I'd just won a photography competition at school. They were very proud.' He smiles fondly.
I pick up another frame, the photo is definitely of Sam; he doesn't look much different to how he does now, though his hair is a bit shorter and less wild. He's standing with the same couple - older in this one, but clearly his parents again. They're all dressed casually and smiling, with the sea in the background.
'That's the last photo I had taken with them' he says softly, 'at their place in Cornwall, not long after I graduated art school.' He adds.
'You look just like your father' I muse out loud. There are two die cast metal cars either side of the two photos; one significantly more worn than the other. I pick the older of the two up and finger it gently. Sam's hand closes around mine.
'From my dad.' He offers. 'He'd always buy me a new toy car whenever I achieved something special -- it became a silly tradition.' He smiles, but it's a sad one. I remember the row of little coloured cars in the case downstairs. I guess this older car was his reward for his winning photo, and his graduation scored him the newer one; probably the last one. Noticing how quiet he's gone, I put the car back carefully and turn to him, putting my arms around his neck.
'They'd still be very proud of you, you know.' He pulls back a little, raising a brow at me,
'You think? I blew a stack of their money, got arrested and abandoned everything my father worked for!' He replies. I shrug,
'You were grieving. You're getting back on track now -- your aunt's already impressed, and look at what you've achieved with this place.' I add, gesturing around the room.
'I guess.' He replies.
I notice the Babycham deer I gave him the first night I stayed over has taken residence on the same shelf as the cars. Picking it up, I say 'I figured this gal would join all the collectibles on the ground floor?' he takes it from me and shakes his head.
'She's not a collectible, she's a gift from someone very special, so she gets pride of place.' He smiles, setting her back down next to the cars. 'Anyway, on with the tour?' I nod, glowing inside at his explanation.
'You're quite familiar with the bedroom already, so we'll skip the third floor; for now.' He winks, pressing the number 2. We step out into a gorgeous open plan dining and kitchen area, it's all very glossy and modern, but with a few vintage style trinkets dotted around that add personality.
'So, you do have the facilities to cook for yourself then' I tease. He scowls at me a little then smiles,
'Yes, I do. But Mrs White is far less likely to give me food poisoning!' I roll my eyes at him in despair. 'Over that way, there's two guest suites,' he gestures to the right of the dining area, 'And through here,' he continues, striding through the dining area, stopping at a wall with two doors, 'Is my office' -- he opens the door so I can peer in -- it's very glossy and white, much like the kitchen -- with an overly large desk and a high-backed black leather swivel chair, 'And next door, is one of my favourite parts of the whole place.'
He opens the second door to reveal an amazingly bright studio space with an easel by the window, shelves filled with stacks of art supplies, a long desk full of expensive looking monitors and digital equipment plus dozens of different cameras and bottles of chemicals which he notices me eyeing curiously.
'It doubles as a dark room' he explains, 'so I can develop my own photos. I love digital photography, but for seascapes especially, you can't beat the real thing.' I smile at him fondly
'There really is no end to your talents Mr Byron.'
'I don't know about that, Miss Blake, but it's nice to hear you think so.' He smiles humbly.
We have a very brief look at the first floor -- he's given Harvey and his wife a wonderful home within his own -- two en-suite bedrooms, kitchen, and lounge, all beautifully decorated to their own taste. No wonder Harvey had nothing but praise for him. When we get back into the lift, he grins at me salaciously,
'You've seen the ground floor already, so there's really only one stop left.' He says, handing me the small gold key. I return his smile and take it from him.
'Going down Mr Byron?' I ask deliberately.
By the time we make it to the basement we're already pawing at each other shamelessly. His hands are in my hair and his mouth is on mine, devouring me hungrily.
'So now that you've got me back in here, what do you intend to do with me Mr Byron?' I ask breathlessly.