melody_complex-relationships-3

COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS by Melody <<< part 2

PART 3

James and Sean arrived together, both of them helping out with the house move.
“Where's you other half?” asked James. “I don't see him and I don't hear him.”
“He's left me and gone back to Rachel.”
“What?” Sean almost fell off the packing crate he was perched on.
“We had a huge argument and he went back to Rachel, still, his mum and dad will be pleased.”

“I can't believe this,” James whined. “He's besotted with you, he doesn't love Rachel.”
“And he doesn't think enough of me to stand up to his parents.”
“Ok, you've lost me. What have Irene and Allen got to do with this?”
“I think I'm pregnant.”

Slowly, stopping frequently to blow her nose and wipe away her tears, Denise recounted the events leading up to Nicky leaving. Sean and James stayed totally silent throughout.

“Bloody hell!” yelled James in frustration. “Talk about six of one and half a dozen of another! You both need your heads banging together.”
“Gee thanks!”
“Today of all days is not the time to be discussing major shit like weddings or christenings. Moving is stressful enough without all that on top. Why didn't you say you would discuss it once you had got settled in your new home, when the pregnancy is confirmed? This bust up didn't need to happen.”

“Oh great, so it's all my fault!”
“Will you listen woman?” James urged angrily. “I said that you are both at fault. Did he take his mobile with him?”
“Yes.”
“I'll call him and see what the hell he's playing at.”

On tenterhooks Sean and Denise listened to James talking with Nicky. James didn't actually say that much, his replies consisted of mostly, 'ya know', 'kinda', 'hmm,' 'no,' 'yeah,' 'maybe.'
“Where is he?” Denise whispered.
James covered his mobile so that Nicky wouldn't hear. “At Rachel's. He's sat on a nearby wall sobbing.”
“Does he want to come back?”
James shook his head. “Says that he needs time to think.”
Denise flashed a fake smile and nodded. She didn't want to know any more, and the removal van would be there shortly. She had other, more pressing things, to consider.

“Look Nick,” said James. “Think about it. You don't love Rachel any more. Are you really going to leave Den after one argument? It doesn't bode well for the future does it? And today is stressful enough for both of you without talking about that stuff.”
“I do love her,” Nicky said earnestly. “I'm just scared of disappointing my mum and dad.”
“I'm not going to get into a slanging match here Nick. I suggest that you get your arse to your new home and move in as a couple. It's time to call a truce, you can talk about this when you've settled in.”

“You're right,” Nicky agreed sombrely, “as much as it irks me to agree with you. I never wanted to come back here, to Rachel. My heart isn't in it.”
“Yey! Get your arse around there now. You have a new bed being delivered so you can make up by christening that can't you!” James chortled loudly, “we'll meet you there. See you soon.”

“That went surprising well,” said Sean wistfully.
“Between stress and hormones Denise is bound to be all over the place. It doesn't help that Irene and Allen are so determined for Nicky to go back to Rachel, the poor girl's self esteem must be in her boots.”
“Then Wire makes it worse by being more concerned about his parent's wishes than what is right for them as a couple.”
“Hmm, they can sort this out but they both need to be more tolerant. I can't believe that he didn't know Denise isn't a big believer in marriage, I know that and I'm not living with her.”

“Nor have you had an affair with her,” commented Sean. He then considered the question for a time. “You haven't have you?”
“No I haven't,” James responded quickly. “It's not for the lack of trying though; she's a very special lady. Unfortunately for me, I didn't even get as far as a snog or a grope. We are destined to be friends.”
Sean mulled the information over. “Does it hurt you to see her with Nick?”
“Hurt me? Oh it's worse than hurt. Seeing them well, it makes me as jealous as I don't know what and stabs like a knife. I am glad for them though, they clearly do love each other. I wish I didn't have to witness it is all. It reminds me of what I'm missing and how empty my life is.”

“You'll meet the right woman one day James.”
“I already have, unfortunately though I'm not the right man.” James coughed and wiped away a tear. “I need a smoke.”
Sean watched James go outside, he'd never seen him this emotional state over a woman before. All he could do was hope that time would ease James' pain at seeing Den and Nicky together. If it didn't he dared not consider the possible ructions or repercussions it may set off.

“I think we've done enough for one day,” Denise sighed with exhaustion. “Why don't we call it a night and go to bed?”
“Maybe I ought to stay on the sofa,” Nicky suggested. “It’s been a trying day.”
Denise didn't attempt to hide her dismay and disappointment. “Why did you come back if you're not going to meet me half way? I want us to go to bed together. Things have been fine since you came home haven't they?”
“Only because we've skirted around the main issue.”
“James was right when he said we need to settle in here before we go and talk about that stuff.”

“And you said that you'd get a pregnancy test today.”
She stared at him, her mouth open in disbelief. “When precisely did I have time?”
“You could have made time.”
“If you were so concerned you ought to have got one on the was back here from Rachel's house.”
“My WIFE'S home!” Nicky bellowed angrily.
“Your soon to be EX wife,” said Denise, her tears falling in a trickle over her rosy cheeks.

“I'm sorry, I should never have said that. I don't regret being with you and leaving Rachel. I was worried that if I went to bed with you without talking about this, that you'd assume I was ok with everything and that it wasn't an issue any more.”
“Oh Nicky, we can talk about that in a few days when things are more settled like...”
“'Like James said',” Nicky imitated in a sarcastic manner.
“The problem with that being?” Impatiently she waited for an answer, but it never came, leaving her to answer it herself. “You're jealous aren't you? You don't believe that nothing happened with us!”

“If he was such a good friend why didn't you tell him? I mean, I told Patrick.”
“Because I didn't want it to impede your relationship.”
“Nothing to do with not wanting to hurt James?”
“NO!” Denise hunted for her mobile, when she found it, she called for a taxi. “I'm going to spend the night at a hotel, give you time to calm down and make sure that I don't say something that I regret.”
“You have a perfectly good car in the garage.”
“I don't feel like driving,” she shot back at him. “My mind is kinda occupied with other shit right now!”

Nervously Denise stared at James' home as she clutched an overnight in her right hand. Perhaps this wasn't such a sensible idea but she needed company.
“What the...” shrieked James in shock when he eventually answered the doorbell. “You'd better come in.”
“Thanks. I'm sorry about this, I did intend to go to a hotel but I didn't want to be alone.”
“Take your coat off, dump your bag and come through to the kitchen; I'll make you a hot drink.”
She did as he suggested, sitting down at the breakfast bar watching him as he put milk into a pan, then put the pan on the hob to warm.

“So,” James sighed, taking the tub of drinking chocolate from the cupboard above the microwave. “Do you want to talk about why you're here or not?”
“Nothing to talk about. Same stuff again.”
“I don't believe that. Not when he came back to you.”
“He's pissed because we haven't talked about the baby or marriage thing.”
“Moving home is enough for one day isn't it?”
“Not for Nicky, he was going to sleep on the sofa.”

Over their mugs of hot chocolate Denise filled James in on all the other things that had been said.
“I can see why he's jealous,” announced James. “I've stayed at your place and you've stayed here a few times.”
“I know you're right,” agreed Denise, “but I could cope with the thought of us arguing again.”
“Walking out won't help anything.”
“Thanks for the sympathy!” she hurled angrily at him. “I'll finish this and get a cab to take me home.”
“I think that would be for the best love,” James sighed thoughtfully, “but I won't make you go if you don't feel ready.”
“Really?”
He smiled and nodded in reply. “It's your decision; you're the one that has to explain to Nicky where you spent the night.”
Then Denise realised what James was insinuating. “I will not stop being your friend because of his jealousy James.”
“Think of the consequences Den, that's all I advise.”

Three hours later Denise had fallen asleep against James' chest, on the sofa in his lounge, exhausted from the emotional upheaval of the day. James caressed her hair lightly, bestowing light kisses upon it every so often. With his eyes closed he imagined holding her after they had made love or even just kissed. He loved her so much, yet here he was, or had been, attempting to get her to go back to Nicky and rectify things. In his heart he didn't want to let her go...EVER.

“Hmm,” whined Denise, beginning to stir from her slumber.
“Shush, you fell asleep,” James said tenderly.
Groggy and still dazed, she smiled up to him. “Thanks James,” she said quietly, “You're a good friend.”
A shiver ran down James' spine when her lips touched his in a chaste kiss. “Denise...” he muttered, finding enough strength to break the kiss. “Let’s get you to bed, you need to rest.”

She gazed deeply into his dark brown eyes, something intriguing her. She had never seen them hold the expression that they currently did, they were hypnotic, almost yearning and pleading. Denise was captivated. “James...” her fingertips delicately outlined his lips.
“Yes?”

Her response took his breath away. For a brief moment he had to pinch himself to know that he wasn't dreaming. Denise pressed her warm lips against his once more, only this time her tongue was probing forward, wanting entry to his sensual mouth. With a deep guttural moan James opened his mouth and reciprocated the kiss.

His fingers twined in her short hair, urging her on to him. All of those years of pent up frustration and unrequited love came to the fore in an uncontrollable rush.

Panting heavily James wrapped his legs around hers, his prominent erection leaving Denise in no doubt about the effect she was having on him. James thought he was going insane. Here he was in a passionate clinch with the woman of his dreams but niggling voices started telling him it was wrong. He tried to back off and break the kiss but Denise urged him on.

“James,” she whispered softly. “Make love to me, I want you to; I've always wanted you to.”
With muddied eyes, James gazed intently at her. It wasn't long before thoughts of his broken hearted friend were replaced by visions of him making love with Denise. Her eyes were begging him. She wanted this as much as he did and God how he wanted it.
“Let's go to bed,” he smiled. “I want to make love to you properly, not here.”
Hand in hand they walked to James' bedroom.

In no time at all they were both naked, kissing in a frenzy of passion on the bed. They made love twice, then fell asleep holding one another.

She had lied to Nicky, albeit indirectly. This was the first time that anything had happened between them both, but she had always had an attraction to him. She hadn't acted on it until now because James was a notorious womaniser. How ironic then that it was her that seduced him after embarking on an affair with a married man. An affair that was now, in all probability, over and with the distinct possibility that she is pregnant. It had all become such a complex convoluted mess.

“Oh James, why have I denied my feelings for you all these years?” She spoke quietly, not wanting to wake him. “I've been a fool.”
“Shush,” he said, making her jump.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Nope, I'm enjoying being close to you. I love you,” he smiled at her with sheer love and adoration. “If all we have is tonight I'll take it.”
“If I want more than tonight?”
“You're with Nick.”

“I was with Nick. Neither of us are the people we thought, having two arguments in one day proves that, and don't use the house move or the pregnancy as excuses. It's as well that we found out sooner rather than later.”
“He loves you,” said James quietly and honestly.
“So do you,” Denise replied with a grin. She then explained: “I heard you and Martin talking about it one day. I waited until you'd gone then took Martin the documentation he'd asked me for. Anyway he confronted me about it, told me it was obvious that I was crazy about you and that I ought to do something.”
“Was it my reputation like I'd told Martin I suspected?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “It wasn't long after that that I finally gave in to Nicky's request for a meal. I thought that I was safe with him you see, so what harm could it do?”

“Safe because he was married?”
“Yeah, he was always going on about how much he loved Rachel and how happy they were, I thought he was just being nice and wanted to cheer me up. I kind of assumed that he knew how you felt so I avoided talking about you when all the time I wanted to know how you were doing.”
“So why see him again?”
“I'd started to see another side to him, then, before I knew it, I'd fallen for him.”

James exhaled sharply. “You ought to try and work it out with him.”
“Don't you want me?”
“You know that I do,” he cuddled her against his body, kissing the top of her head. “I want you so much it hurts but you love Nicky, that's why you bought that house together. Don't throw it all away yet.”
Denise propped a couple of pillows up and sat up in bed. “Oh yeah, I love him that much that I asked you to make love to me James. Do you seriously think he'd forgive me that?”
“Look, I'm not stupid. If you had have had that argument with Nicky you would never have slept with me. You used me for comfort and to get back at Nick and I let you because I wanted to have sex with you.”

“Is that all this is to you; sex?”
“It's all it can be Den, you're in a relationship with Nicky. You'll work this out.”
“What are you scared of?” she asked, incensed by his attitude. “Is it the possibility of my being pregnant putting you off? Is that it?”
“No!” Passionately, he kissed her. “If you are pregnant it would make things more complicated but it wouldn't stop me loving you.”
“So what then? Why are you so bloody keen to have me go back to Nick when I want to be with you?”
“You don't. You're upset because you've been arguing. If you came to me it would be a rebound thing – it wouldn't work.”

“How can I prove you wrong? We can be so happy together James.”
“You know how much I would love for that to be true,” he stressed, holding her head firmly in his strong hands, gazing into her clouded eyes. “My friend has left his wife for you, he's getting divorced. You both love each other and may well have a child on the way. I think that you owe it to each other to work this out. If you can't work it out or you genuinely don't love him any more, then you can come back to me. Please try again with Nicky. I guarantee he'll be a broken man if you leave him.”

“And you?”
“I've never had you in my life like that have I? I have memories of tonight, no one can take those away, although Nicky may well kill me.”
“I wouldn't tell him, if I go back to him that is.”
“We'll talk more at breakfast,” suggested James giving her a quick kiss. “Get some more sleep.”

Denise grinned and slowly inched her way down the bed, spreading her hands over his chest, stroking and tracing invisible patterns over his skin. “Uh-huh. If tonight is going to be the only night we have, I want it all to be memorable.”
James yelped in pleasure when her moist warm tongue flicked over each of his nipples in turn. Denise snaked a hand down to his groin and gently but purposefully stroked James' continually hardening cock.

At home Nicky peered out of the window once more hoping to see a taxi bringing Denise back home. There were no headlights, everything was eerily still. He had been so stupid. He had married Rachel because his parents had disagreed with them living together. Personally it hadn't worried him or Rachel, but his parents put them under so much pressure that they caved in to their demands.

Sleeping with a partner outside of wedlock wasn't an issue for him so why was he being so verbose with Denise? Quite simply because he had never been able to go against his parents wishes. Despite being a grown man, he was still too scared of them to say 'this is my choice whether you like it or not.'

He loved Denise. The thought of them having a family was thrilling and exciting. As against marriage as Denise was, she had offered to meet him half way by suggesting a compromise of the two of them marrying abroad. Of course his stubbornness had pored scorn on that idea, and for what? So they can have a wedding that his mum and dad would not approve of! How stupid was he sometimes? This was his life and he had to stop living it for others. He had to start being a man and making his own choices.

Once more he tried her mobile; it was still switched off so he left a voicemail message: “Denise, please come home, I love you. I'm going to make my own decisions, no matter what my folk think. I miss you, please come back.”

“Good shower?” asked James pouring a cup of tea for Denise when she joined him in the kitchen.
“It was great. Would have been better with you though.” She nuzzled on his neck and put her arms around his waist.
Reluctantly he moved away. “We agreed that you'd go back to Nicky and talk with him.”
“I want to be with you James. I want more than one night.”
“We can't have it love. Come on, have breakfast and then talk to him ok?”
“I don't think I've ever been so miserable,” Denise sighed, taking a sip of her tea.

James put on a brave smile. “Hey, he'll be pleased to see you. Once you've talked it out you'll realise you still want to be with him.”
“And if I don't?”
“You will! Besides, we need to be there to help him unload his stuff from Martin's storage. Martin will be picking him up at ten, you need to be there honey.”
“We both do. We'll go in the same taxi and I'll say I arranged to pick you up.”
“Lies, lies and more lies.”

“Do you want me to him I spent the night fucking you?”
“Hey, whatever we say or do we will be lying unless you throw it all away for one night of sex. You know what you're getting into with Nicky because you've been living with him. I'm a diversion – nothing more, at least for now. Try to work it out with him, hell, why am I repeating myself?”

Denise mumbled.
“Speak up honey please.”
“How do I know that you won't fall in love before I leave Nicky?”
James shook his head. “For one thing, we don't know that you'll leave Nicky. For another I'm in love with you. Do you want me to stop having sex now?”
Denise blushed. “James, I'm so confused.”

“Another reason not to burn your bridges.”
“Let me be with you and there is no need to pretend.”
James hugged her tightly, his sad eyes conveying the truth of his words. “You need to try with him. I'll always be here for you Denise.”

Their taxi pulled up in the drive at nine-thirty, in time for James and Denise to witness Nicky locking up the house. James paid the taxi driver whilst Denise went over to Nicky.
“I called Martin and said I'd go there. I didn't want him knowing you weren't here.”
“Give me two minutes and I'll drive you over.”
Nicky glanced at James. “Did you stay with him?”
“I picked him up on my way back here. Do you wanna quiz the taxi driver or will you take my word for it and let me drive you to Martin's?”

Nicky smiled, waved the taxi away and pulled Denise against him. “I'm so pleased to see you. I've been a complete twat, I'm so sorry.”
Denise tried to hug him back but her posture was stiff and awkward. “We'll talk later ok?” She hoped that Nicky didn't know that her smile was forced.
“Deal. Go put your bag away and get your car keys. We can't keep Martin waiting!”
Nervously Denise glanced at James and shrugged. James shrugged back.

“Did she tell you we argued again last night?” Nicky asked James while they waited for Denise.
“Yeah she did. For what it's worth I told her that you can work it out.”
“That must have hurt,” bit Nicky sarcastically.
“Yeah, you're right, it did. I love her Nick, I won't deny it but she's moved in with you. She's never been involved with me though I wish she had. So there you go, I love her.”
Nicky glared at his friend, attempting to discover if James was telling him a load of bullshit or not. As far as he could tell, James was being honest. Before Nicky had a chance to say anything in response, Denise appeared brandishing her car keys.

“Ok boys, let's roll!” she sang, locking up the house and then deactivating the central locking on the car.
Taking a seat in the back of the car James ran his fingers through his hair, grimacing and whining to himself. Despite the attempt at pretence relation were definitely cold between the 'couple'.

After the first lot of Nicky's many items had been delivered, Denise suggested that James and Martin go and collect the next load whilst she and Nicky put the newly arrived stuff away.
“I think,” suggested Nicky with an air of leadership, “that you both know where this stuff ought to go so I'll go back with Martin for the next load. I figure that that way we'll do things quicker.”
“If you're sure,” said James.
“I am, oh and I erm, I took the liberty of deciding which of the rooms will be the nursery for the baby. I trust that you'll agree.”
Denise flashed him a fake smile, the watched in silence as they drove away in Martin's van.

“You ok?” James asked with concern.
“Lets see what he has planned before we start huh?”
The house that she and Nicky had bought was huge, without including the basement or attic it was three storeys high. The basement was going to be converted into a studio for Nicky filled with everything he would need, and probably loads of stuff that he didn't.

It had a pool, games room, gym, sauna, and two rooms were to be their offices. It had five bedrooms, all with en suite facilities, and the master room also had a huge walk in closet. There was a huge reception room which lead to a library and also a lounge. The kitchen was huge, with separate utility and storage rooms. Denise had protested that it was much too big for them but Nicky had over ruled her. He had fallen in love in with and had set his heart on it. She had tried to persuade him to take another viewing of one that they had seen earlier that same day but Nicky refused. This was to be their home and that was all there was to it.

“Hmm how predictable,” grimaced Denise when she studied the plans that Nicky had drawn and left for her to check. “He wants the baby in with us. Has he not heard of baby monitors? The worse thing you can do is a have a baby with you all the time because they get dependant.”
“Bollocks!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“There are plenty of kids growing up and sleeping in the same room as their parents,” countered James determinedly. “Some of them will be dependant on their parents but the majority won't.”
“Meaning?”

“Its all in the attitude. If the child has their own space in a parents bedroom and is soothed back to sleep they accept being alone. If they are always taken into the parents bed they will start to see that as getting what they want, which will make them resent sleeping alone or not getting attention. We make our children dependant by our attitudes. Personally I can understand where Nicky is coming from, I'd want my baby to be near me as well.”
“And if I was with you with a baby that was Nicky's?” She dare not make eye contact with him.
“I'd still want the baby there. Nicky may be the biological father but I would love your child like it was my own. That's why I said yesterday that a baby would complicate things. You can never really leave Nicky if you have a child together. Consider that.”

“You keep putting obstacles in the way of my being with you.”
“Ok,” James shot back, taking her sharply by her left arm. “You come and live with me. Who will be there when the baby is born? Will it be me or Nicky huh? How do you differentiate between a lover and a father when the mother's lover shares her life and so sees more of the baby? How much access will Nicky have
when the baby is small if you are feeding the baby?”

She started to speak but then shut up.
“Well?”
She shook her head and flinched, twisting her body away from James'. “Ideally I want to be able to express milk but babies do well on formula. Nicky could use a mixture of both couldn't he?”
James' eyes were cold. “Sounds like you have this all worked out.”
“Look, I'm here and I will try to love Nicky, I promise you that,” she spat back. “What is clear though is that in spite of your previous platitudes you don't want the complications in your life, of me and a baby. You know what...if it doesn't work with Nick I'll go it alone.”

“No!” bellowed James. “I want you to make the right decision for you. I hope that means that you'll be with me but you have to recognise the conflicts that this will stir up. I love you, I will love your baby but Nicky is always going to be a part of our lives. He'll be more than a band mate or friend, you know. When the little one goes to nursery school, Nicky will want to be there. He'll want to go to parents evenings and to watch little one in plays and whatever else. Can you cope with that?”
“Can you?”

“What?”
“When you're on tour how will you cope with Nicky asking about his child? He'll want to know if there are things I haven't told him. What if the baby calls you 'Dada' rather than Nicky? Will you tell Nick? Well, will you say with great pride, 'hey, our little one called me Dada today'?”
James buried his head in his hands. “I can't answer that or any other questions, you know that I can't.”
“Come on, let's put Nicky's stuff away huh?” Denise grinned, albeit uncomfortably. “We can at least have made progress by the time they get back. Where in the hell is Sean? He said that he'd be here.”
“Oh fuck, I forgot to say that he called earlier, when you were in the shower. He's been with Rhian in hospital all night.”

“What's up, is she ok?”
“Bad case of food poisoning. Only they discovered from blood tests that she's pregnant as well, so they're keeping her in for observation for forty-eight hours.”
“That's a long time.”
“Yeah but remember the problems she had when she was carrying Tilly? Her body had problems converting vitamins or proteins or something. They just wanna keep an eye out and monitor her for a while.”

“Now I feel really selfish.”
James hugged her, kissing her forehead lightly. “You need to get that pregnancy test – soon! Give you and Nick a chance to make it work. If it doesn't, I'll be here.”
“I know, I know. What if I'm not pregnant?”
“What?”
“You heard.”
“You still owe it to Nicky to work it out.”

Denise scouted around the house until she found her mobile and then gave Nicky a call. “Can you stop off and get me a pregnancy test please Nick?”
“Already have,” he chuckled.

part 4 >>>

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