Book 1: Echoes Of The Past

Chapter 31 - My Pleasure

"Ivy, did he hurt you?" Shannon asked her again.

"Shannon, what you doing here?" Ivy ignored what he had just asked her and asked him sharply.

"Why are you being like this with me Ivy? Didn't you see what Nick was like with you?"

"I could have handled him Shannon."

"Ivy you couldn't. I've seen how he's been with you all evening." Shannon slid his hands into his pockets.

"What the fuck Shannon! Have you literally been following me all evening?"

"I didn't trust Nick, and quite rightly so, so I came here to look out for you."

Ivy sighed deeply, before turning around from him and taking her room card, swiped it in the card reader. The door clicked and the light turned green so she pushed the door open and walked into the room.

Shannon followed behind her, shutting the door behind himself and coming to sit down on the bed, watching as she walked over to the desk infront of the room mirror and proceeded to take out her earrings.

"Where have you been all evening then?" Ivy turned and looked at him, whilst taking out some hairpins from her hair and tossing them with her earrings.

"At the bar, watching from a distance. They know me here from the times we've stayed before, so I was able to get away with dressing the way I am."

"I guess you must have seen it all then?"

"You mean that sleazy fuck putting his hand on your thigh, trying to feel you up? Then yeah, I saw him."

She took down her hair and ruffled it out, before also sitting down on the bed to undo the straps on her stilettos and taking them off.

"I also saw how everytime you had your back turned to him or went off to the bathroom, he would continously top up your wine glass." Shannon told her, reaching out and lightly trailing a finger down her arm.

"How did you managed to get up here? I didn't see you."

"Yeah, well you seemed pretty distracted thanks to him. I used the stairs, as I didnt want to get in the elevator with the two of you."

Ivy sighed and tossed her handbag onto the desktop to join everything else.

"Are you OK though Ivy? I mean seriously? I mean, he sexually assaulted you."

"I-I'll be alright Shannon."

"Look. Why don't you go and take a shower. Would you like me to stay with you? I-I do have my own room booked as well."

"Incase you thought I was going to kick you out?" She grinned at him.

"Something like that. I mean, from the way you punch me, I wasn't going to take any chances."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Come here, you." Shannon reached out and slid his arms around her and pulled her close to himself, softly placing a kiss on her lips

"Thank you Shannon. Is that why you asked me where I was staying?"

He nodded. "I know I haven't met Nick, but I didn't like what you were telling me about him. I know how these things go. I'm not a Saint I'll admit, I've done it in the past. Take a pretty girl with me to an event, flatter her no end, ply her with drink and then take her to bed.

At least you know my intentions with you are real, Ivy, or I'd really like you to think they were."

"Go and get your stuff from your room and take my room card with you, whilst I go and take a shower."