Jake shrugged. “What’s he said?”
“Let’s see how it goes. That’s pretty much it. We’ve never talked about the future.”
“Have you brought it up?”
She shook her head. “No. There doesn’t seem any point.”
Jake finished his beer. “He’s pissed. You need to speak with him. He walked off because he wanted to twat that guy you were with.”
“Where is he?”
“Back at the hotel. I’ll come with you.”
They walked in silence, Jake’s expression unreadable. Rayah didn’t carry on conversation, not needing to hear Jake’s theories on the subject and not needing his opinion.
It had been a douche move, but she understood why she’d done it.
Jonny’s room was next to Jake’s, the floor below hers. She knocked tentatively, knowing he might already be asleep, especially as the man was talented in the lack of time it took him to get there.
The door opened, and she saw him wearing just a pair of black boxer briefs, his tall wide body making her want to curl in his arms and enjoy the mixture of safety and desire that he elicited from her each time.
“I’m not sure I want to talk.”
Rayah put her foot in the way of the door, although she knew he wouldn’t close it in her face.
“Give me five minutes.”
He let her in and stood with his arms folded.
“I thought you and Jake were chatting up those two girls. Jake’s just told me that categorically isn’t the case.” She stayed near the door, figuring that she wouldn’t be in this room long.
“Rayah, why the fuck would I flirt or come on to another girl while I’m seeing you? While I’m out with you? What have I done that made you think I’d treat you like a piece of shit which is what you’re insinuating I’d do?”
She inhaled deeply, counting three Mississippis in her head. “You haven’t. But we’ve never put a label on what we are that means seeing other people is out of the question.”
His gaze was unwavering. “Why did you dance with that bloke?”
“Because I wanted to make you feel like I did. I know it’s petty and immature, but it was the only way I could let you know how I felt.”
His nod was brief, almost imperceptible. “Ray, I’m not fucking about with anyone else. I don’t want to. I’ve never been the type who wants to have more than one woman in my bed and that’s not changed.”
She looked at her feet, still encased in ridiculously high heels. “I’d apologise, but I don’t think I need to. I didn’t know those girls were gay. I didn’t assume that because we’ve been sleeping together for months we were exclusive. You don’t need to apologise either, because you haven’t done anything wrong. It was a misunderstanding.”
“Caused by a lack of communication.” His arms dropped to his sides. “Come here, Rayah. These things happen. Couples fall out and row.”
It was the word couple that jolted her. They’d never had a label, purposely avoiding one, purposely avoiding the conversation about having one too.
She stepped forward into his arms, resting her forehead against the top of his chest and kicking off her heels.
His hold was different. There wasn’t any urgency, no touching that suggested they were going to end up in bed as soon as they could get their clothes off. This felt intimate.
“I am sorry you felt like that. I’m kind of glad too.” His words were a confession, she heard something in them that she hadn’t recognised before.
“I’m not apologising for how I handled it, but I am sorry I made you feel crappy.”
There was the chuckle.
“Won’t lie, I was not happy. But it was damn hard to walk away and not go over.”
