Things had changed for the better. Back in the day, I would’ve confronted him. But I didn’t care about his past infidelities. Having a long-distance relationship with Jagger wasn’t ideal but I was satisfied. Even from across the pond he gave me more attention than that low-life ex-husband did even when we lived in the same house with me.
When I got back home I looked forward to spending the entire weekend with Jagger. He had prepared a bath for us. He undressed me and we got in together. He made sure we left our cell phones in the bedroom so there would be no distractions. I rested my body against his chest as the warm water rose above my chest.
“We’re alone.”
“For an entire weekend.”
“I love how this feels. Did you do this for all the ladies?” I don’t know why I said that but it slipped out.
“What ladies?”
“Nothing.” I wanted to take it back. I didn’t want to mess up this bliss.
“No, tell me, spill it.”
“You’re so good at this.” I muttered.
“At what?”
“This romantic stuff.”
“I am?” He chucked. “I thought I was rather good with the shagging part.”
“You know you’re good at that.”
“But I still fancy being told.”
The room got quiet. I didn’t know what to say. I was overthinking this. He was here with me now and that’s all that mattered. What he did in London or on the road was not my business.
“Babe, what are you thinking?” Jagger placed his hand over my heart. His fingers grazed my nipple. “Are you having second thoughts about coming to L.A.?”
“No, no.”
“Well, what is it? You can tell me anything.”
“Are there going to be any of your like exes or current girlfriends there?”
“What? Exes and current girlfriends? You’re my current girlfriend?”
“In Chicago.”
He laughed and it vibrated off my back. “Are you bloody serious?”
I sat up and could only turn sideways to see him without lifting my entire body out of the bathwater.
“I don’t know what you do when we’re not together.”
“I don’t know what you do when we’re not together.” He repeated my shit back to me.
“Jagger, I’m not mad. I know guys like you have other women in other cities. I’m not an idiot.”
His eyes squinted as if he believed otherwise. “I don’t have other women. I don’t have women in different counties or cities. That’s rubbish and I’m offended you think that of me.”
“It’s not like you’ve ever said that to me before.”
“Do you really think I’m sticking my cock in ladies all over the world? That’s literally gross and disgusting. We have unprotected sex.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing!”
“Watch your fucking tone.”
Jagger reached around and pinched my nipple so hard I screamed bloody murder.
“Jagger! What the fuck!”
He grabbed my bushy ponytail and pulled me back into his chest. He hooked his legs around mine and held my arms down under the water. It all happened so fast. I wasn’t prepared to be forced into this position. I was at his mercy.
He tilted his face down to my ear. “I love you. I cherish you. I worship you. I would never ever cheat on you.”
I was overwhelmed and I started crying. I wasn’t a crybaby but I was doing it. Ugh!
“Katrina.” Jagger quickly unhooked my limbs. He whipped me around to face him. The water went violently splashing out of the tub and into the floor. He lifted me up and dropped me down. I was now straddling him. We were face to face. “Katrina.”
I knew my thoughts were irrational. I also knew my ex-husband cheating on me throughout our marriage made me believe I couldn’t trust a man to be faithful. I felt ashamed that I assumed the worse. I felt stupid for bawling like an infant and I didn’t want to look at him. So I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his shoulder. Something toxic released from my body when he embraced me back.
I loved this man. I really did. It all just seemed so terrifying. He was younger than me but he was intimidating.
“Kat, I’ve never had a serious relationship with anyone, ever. You are the only one. I’m only seeing you. We’re exclusive. We’re a couple. I would never stay here, be mates with Aaron and see other women. I value this family. You know I don’t have a real family of my own.”
I couldn’t speak. I only listened. We sat in the tub intertwined until the water temperature went cold.
The weekend whizzed by and I wasn’t a killjoy anymore. My birthday was on Saturday. Jagger had a romantic candlelight dinner catered and brought to my house. He didn’t know how to cook so it was the thought that counted. I didn’t expect him to cook for me. He had a real job since he was five. When would he ever have the time to learn to cook? What he ordered was delicious and from a local restaurant. I just enjoyed his company and the fact he carved out time in his busy schedule to spend my birthday with me meant more than he would ever know.
I’m not sure what I expected when it came to a birthday gift but I definitely didn’t expect it to cost one hundred thousand dollars. I accepted it because it was so beautiful and I wasn’t rude. He had a logical reason for the gift and that made it even more special. He wasn’t going to let me refuse it. He made sure I knew that he could afford it and he thought it fit me perfectly.
JAGGER
Last night was a blast. The sex was amazing. It was so difficult to wake up. I know I could’ve made a baby if Kat wasn’t on birth control pills. I wished she wasn’t but that
