KISS

14-Falling for the Wrong Guy

 

Iris sat in her room thinking. She wanted to save Jay, the only problem was...she didn't know what she was rescuing him from. Her feelings were all mashed up. She knew she felt safe with Cheese but Jay was something different, foreign, an elusive piece of art. She had to have him. She was grateful for the reprieve she got from her parents. Confused she ran her fingers through her hair.

Was she ready for the rest of the world to know about her and Cheese. She fought so hard to live as close to a normal life as possible. Would everyone turn their back on her if they found out she was rich and in some ways a prodigy? She sighed at the daunting thought. Tonight would be the night she discover everything about Jay. She would find out why he prefers Jay over Axel. She rolled over reaching for her cellphone—it was Natasha.

"Hey whatcha doing?"

"Nothing. Reading."

"You want to hang out, see a movie or something. I'm trying to escape the little brat that's clawing my leg." Iris giggled hearing Natasha's younger sister in the background.

"I can't I got plans."

"Do you have a hot date with Axel?"

"No, I have one with Jay," Iris answered. She smiled thinking of him. He was such a mystery.

Natasha stared at the phone in her hand. It was impossible. Jay belonged to her. Did he forget? Did he forget their promises?

"That's great!" she said enthused. She really didn't know if she was doing this for Iris or for her own selfishness.

"Look, Iris be careful. He dangerous."

"In what way? Everyone says that but I'm sick of it."

"Look I was just trying to help you out. My mom is his psychologist." Natasha said into the phone. She realized her mistake a little too late. She slapped her hand over her mouth and hung up.

"Mom!" Natasha screamed searching for her mother. She flew into her arms when she spotted her in the family room watching TV. "What's the matter dear?"

Natasha kept her face buried in her mother's lap. She had held on to this secret for so long but she wanted him. He belonged to her. Why should she keep her promise when he broke his?

***

Iris screamed into her pillow in frustration. Why would Natasha keep such important information from away from her? If it was such a big secret why tell her now? Did something tragic happened to Axel? Was that the reasoning behind his need for a psychiatrist? Maybe, his mother's illness was taking its toll on him? She was so confused. If Axel, err Jay as he preferred it was so dangerous, why wouldn't anyone just come out and tell her why it was so detrimental to her health to be around him? He was so different from what she'd imagine. Iris groaned as her mother's calls for her reached her.

"Coming mom!" she thundered down the stairs aggravated. She wanted to know what the fuss was about. Cheese had gone to the studio and she was anxious about sneaking out to see Jay tonight. It wouldn't be really sneaking out. She was a responsible young adult. She just didn't want her parents all in her business, and she was still confused.

She stopped on the last stair when she saw Jean-Pierre. What was he doing here? Her heart when into overdrive. She was supposed to be avoiding him. She didn't want anything to do with him. Her heart was going to launch itself out of her chest and fly toward the heavens.

"Where's my mother?" she asked. She held her breath when he reached for her grabbing her around the wrist and leading her to the formal sitting area.

"What are you doing here?" she fired off another question. Her breath left her as his hand closed around her wrist and he silenced her with a kiss. This kiss was different from Chester and Jay. This kiss was punishing, hard and sensual. It was on another level and her body came alive like livewire. Iris didn't understand this. She couldn't fathom why her heart was racing in her chest or why he made her so nervous. This wasn't supposed to happen. She didn't want him. When his hands came down on her waist she realized things were getting dangerous. Breaking this kiss she gasped out.

"Jean I can't. I'm sorry. No. No this is not happening." She said backing away from him. She had enough troubles with Jay and Chester, she didn't not need Jean-Pierre adding to the mix.

"But it is! Stop ignoring me!" he roared at her. It's been awhile since someone sent his blood boiling and this wisp of a seventeen year old girl managed to do so. He didn't understand why he was drawn to her. This could only mean trouble for him. Why did the girl have the power to push him over the edge?

"Oh hey, this is where you two are hiding," Giselle said to her daughter. "Honey Jean-Pierre stopped by the house to get your measurements. I wanted him to design something for you."

"Mom, I have enough gowns."

"But I want you to have something original," her mother pouted with those large beautiful brown eyes.

"Fine, but hurry up." She griped completely fed up with the both of them. "What's with you? You going somewhere tonight?" her mother asked arching an eyebrow. Iris immediately froze. Her mother had hit the nail on the head and had no idea she did.

"Of course not. You know how I am. I'm not a dress kind of her girl," she sighed in relief as her mother left her alone. Iris hoped she and her father go find an event or something to go to. She felt like everyone's been watching her lately. She was no longer a fly on the wall. She was a large centipede.

"That's clearly a lie," Jean-Pierre said placing his hands on her waist. Iris squealed backing away from him. She'd forgotten he was in the room with her. She watched him as he sunk into one of the leather chaises. "So where are you going?"

"I don't have to tell you a thing," she said childishly sitting across from him. Didn't he already have her measurements? What if this was just an excuse to feel her up. His obsidian black eyes stared into her own attempting to get her to divulge her secrets. She would never admit it to him, but he was such an exotic looking man. He wore simple wrangler jeans and a designer tee shirt. The shirt highlighted his muscular body. God, she shouldn't be looking anyway. Why was he after her? She was nobody—no one important.

"Look this isn't going to get anywhere. You already have my measurements and I'm tired and ready for bed." She stood up dismissing him. Her eyes couldn't help but glance at the grandfather clock. She really needed to get dress and figure things out with Jay.

Jean-Pierre watched her. He didn't like the fact that a mere seventeen year old girl was able to pull on his heart strings so easily. It was stupid, ludicrous, and impossible; but in the end, it was true. Something happened, he felt a shift within her after she addressed Kimberly at the party. When he stared down into her honey brown colored eyes he thought she could be it. It was a silly thought coming from a man of twenty-four years but he was still young, and sought a partner who wouldn't use him for publicity. Kimberly was an older woman, who took him under her wing and showed him the ropes. The moment his designs skyrocketed to stardom, she changed. She became vindictive, mean and spiteful. She wasn't beautiful anymore, so the second an opportunity came along he fled and never looked back.

The girl sitting in front of him was different. She'd yet to be corrupted by the industry although her family was part of a very prestigious circle. She was known among the elite because of her upbringing; however, she didn't attend a lot of social events or parties. Regardless, she was up to something and he wanted in on the action. He'd been keeping an eye on her.

"Very well. I'll go but this isn't the last time you'll be seeing me," he said blowing her a kiss. Iris held her breath and watched him leave. She couldn't be bothered by Jean-Pierre despite the fact her erratic heart said otherwise. It was time to go meet Jay.