I had a full productive shower; exfoliate, shave (everywhere), deep hair wash. Face mask. Cleanse, tone AND moisturise. I even used fancy Vitamin C face serum. I’d found a soft pink corset A-line dress, cinching in my waist and propping up my cleavage. I picked it up in a vintage shop in Westbourne, teaming it with a pair of black low-heeled pumps and letting my red curls run wild down my back. I felt pretty, and authentically myself.
As we drove up the tree-lined driveway, I kept my hands tight on my lap. As we stepped into the reception of the large manor house, I smiled politely and nodded my head. And now, as we are shown into our ground floor suite, with large double doors opening onto a private courtyard, my body becomes smaller and my voice becomes quieter.
The moment the woman closes the doors on the suite, my shoulders sag, I run my hands over my second-hand dress, kicking my M&S shoes into the corner. I need to tame my hair, it’s too wild. I dig out a hairbrush from my silly little backpack and run into the bathroom to the nearest of the two sinks. Elton steps up behind me, takes the hairbrush out of my hand and runs his hands up my arms, slipping the strap of my dress back in place. “You’re beautiful, Reilly.”
My whole body melts back into him. When I’m with Elton, it’s like the world around me disappears. He has a way of stalling anything else that is going on in my head.
~
After dinner, where I ate something called kohlrabi – a green and purple leafy vegetable, we take a nightcap outside on the terrace. There’s a chill in the air, and Elton grabs a blanket from the box by the door and drapes it over my shoulders. He lifts my hair from under the blanket and adjusts it around me.
The fairy lights above us twinkle, and the flicker of a large fire inside a stone firepit casts a shadow over his face. There is soft music playing in the background. It’s just us out here. Just Reilly and Elton.
“Kol-raa-bee,” he repeats slowly, smiling from his seat next to me. He has dragged the chair, with me in it, so close to him I’m practically on his lap.
“That’s what I said.” I roll my eyes, googling the vegetable on my phone. “It’s a German cabbage,” I deadpan at him. “You made me think it was something super exotic.”
He holds his hands up in defence. “You’re the one who got excited about eating it. I just leaned into the enthusiasm.”
I slap him playfully on his chest, leaning in closer as his scent wraps around me, pulling me further down the rabbit hole – where I am now willingly allowing myself to fall.
“Elton, darling. Is that you?” a shrill voice comes from behind me. Elton peers over my shoulder. A moment of dread passes over his face.
He mouths “I’m so sorry” at me before he stands, buttons his jacket and settles his face into an alarmingly neutral expression.
“Cheryl, hello. Nice to see you.” Professional, polite. Nothing like the warm Elton who sets my heart on fire.
This Cheryl leans in to kiss Elton on the cheek. Elton doesn’t move or respond. Cheryl sends me a fake smile nearly hiding the hostility. Nearly.
After her quick assessment of me, she decides I am not worth her time, dismissing me to turn her attention back to Elton. “Are you well, Elton? We missed you at Mimi’s party last week. Silis said you were to London recently. Is work going well? We must catch up soon.” She barely took a breath between each drawled statement, but she managed to place her hand on Elton’s arm. “And Louise told me Neive has been baking. She follows her on social media. I sent a friend request, but she must not have seen it. Because her profile is still showing as private.” Elton’s body tightens further and I find myself next to him in a heartbeat, my hand finding his arm. He is fiercely protective of Neive, and I can’t imagine he likes this person using her as a way to get in with his attention. Although he’s stiff and on guard, he remains cordial. This is a side of Elton I haven’t met yet. The on-show Elton, the business Elton, the one who stands and gives space to nonsense to keep up appearances. It’s not really an Elton I particularly admire, but then again, this isn’t my world and I don’t know the rules.
I snap from my judgements as I realise I have been included in Cheryl’s monologue. She’s looking right at me.
“That’s where I recognise you from. You’re the baker Elton hired to give Neive lessons. Louise showed me a picture. Elton, it’s so nice of you to bring your staff out somewhere like this.”
Elton cocks his head at her assertion and pulls me closer. “Actually, Cheryl, Reilly is my girlfriend.” He smiles at me. “And we would like some privacy. If you don’t mind.”
“Girlfriend? Elton, since when have you had girlfriends?” she scoffs, waving her manicured hand towards me.
“Since Reilly.”Awww.
Cheryl holds a hand to her chest in horror as she looks accusingly at me. As if I have taken something belonging to her. Although I guess that, in her mind, he does belong to her. Her world anyway. But I don’t care because Elton has called me his girlfriend, which makes me stand a little bit taller and a little bit more poised.
“Cheryl, if you don’t mind, Elton and I were hoping to have a quiet moment out here alone before he takes me upstairs and fucks me until I can’t walk.” I smile sweetly. Cheryl gasps. Elton snickers.
“You don’t need to be so crass.” She turns away from me dismissively. “Elton darling, it was lovely to see you again. Let me know when you come to your senses. It’s a shame to see you fall so low.” She saunters off.
Elton spins me around, grabbing my face with both hands, and deeply kisses me.
“You’re so hot when you’re territorial. Let’s skip the drinks. I need you now!”
He grabs my hand. Drinks and blankets are discarded on the table behind us as he drags me back inside and up the winding wooden staircase. We reach our room and he pushes me against the door, lifting my legs around his waist, and uses a key card to open the door behind me, slamming it shut with his foot.
“You are fire, Reilly.” He walks over to the bed and drops me in the middle. “It takes a lot to survive in this world, and you have it.”
“I guess that’s why I get to be your girlfriend,” I tease.
“Sorry, I needed her to back off. And this is what tonight is about. I want you and only you. This is something, Reilly. I don’t know what or where it’s going. But it’s happening, and I need to define it. I never have before, but I need to put into words what this is between us. So yes, you are my girlfriend.And if you have a problem with that, then we can discuss it once I’ve fucked you until you can’t walk.”
