Adore me- the fourth novel

Chapter 69- more things to stir the pot

We walk down our marble staircase together. And even though our friends are literally watching us from the bottom I barely notice them there.

I can feel his hand on my back, steadying me. My shoes are high, and I don't want to topple. He's protective, of me and our baby. He ensures that we are kept safe and that I am happy at all times. And really what more could I ever want?

I look over at him, briefly. Like a GQ model in his white shirt and tux. Blonde hair slicked back and blue piercing eyes returning my stare. A light tan that looks natural on him and the most perfect cheekbones and jaw. I smile.

"I won't let you fall" he whispers.

"I know" I say smiling at my feet.

We reach the bottom of the stairs together and he brushes past me to go and set the alarms. He's such a man. In the best way. He's my man. I see the lights pull up in the driveway indicating that there is a limousine waiting outside for us. Rach pulls at Nate and he smiles weakly at her pointing out at the limo. I open the double door, and they all walk down towards the limousine that's pulled up in front of the fountain.

A black stretch limousine, I haven't been in one before. Jay is setting the alarm in the kitchen and I wait patiently for him to return as everybody else rushes out.
Kat, leaving Ross behind runs to the limo almost pushing Rachel over in her eagerness to get in. She slides in first. Nate holds the door open for Rachel and helps her to sit in the limo.

"You should be in there with your date" I say in a hushed tone to Ross.

Matty stifles a laugh standing next to me.

"She's truly the most annoying yet" Matty comments.

"Don't worry the second she sees Joshua Morelli I'll be history" Ross says.

"Really" I say appalled.

"Really" Ross smiles.

I look back for Jay and see him rolling his eyes at Ross and Matty standing either side of me. I can't help but laugh a little too. He approaches us and we all step out together.

I walk towards the limo, smiling slightly realising I have three guys all escorting me to it. Walking slightly behind me, I sway my hips a little. Jay takes my hand to steady me getting into the vehicle. I slide in and he follows in behind me sitting next to me.

There's champagne on ice which I notice has already been popped. Once we're all in; the driver closes the door and promptly we set off.

Jays hand resting on my thigh. I try to concentrate, Rachel is pestering me to have a glass of champagne, because it tastes like pure sex according to her. I'm avoiding her. Looking down at Jay's hand and hoping she will give it a break.

"I like your hand there" I whisper into his ear.

He smiles seductively, grazing my thigh with his thumb. I close my eyes momentarily.

"I like my hand there too" he says softly in my ear.

I open my eyes. We're driving through town the palm trees and suburbs gone. I look over at Ross who is opposite me. I just watch his eyes. He's really tried tonight. Tried to get under my skin. I have myself to blame, being so careless around him.

His eyes watch me and internally I beg him to stop. Because I know Jay is annoyed; and I hate that there's something else between us. I tell myself it's an accident that Ross saw me naked tonight. Which initially it was a complete accident.

Why I allowed him to touch me again, I do not know. It's something that I cannot tell Jay I've decided. It was an accident, I didn't kiss him. Jay would not understand how I came to be naked in front of Ross, we only just recovered from the kiss and I don't want to rock the boat. Again.

Kat strokes his arm, and Ross looks down at her momentarily. He then settles his gaze back onto me. No Ross, I feel like shouting at him. Pay her the attention. Not me.

After exactly 14 more minutes of Ross eyeing me with devotion we arrive at the venue. I look up to Jay, position my mouth near his ear.

"Hang back with me before we go in" I say softly.

"What's wrong" he whispers instantly.

"Nothing" I smile.

This isn't going to fix itself, I'm going to have to fix it. I must make sure I don't ruin this whole night. The limousine pulls up and the driver comes to open the door. We step out and I can tell our little group has made quite the entrance. When others stop and stare and look at us.

Kat is already marching up to the doors, Rachel and Nate are walking in together. Jay pulls out a cigarette and Ross and Matty walk ahead. Jay hasn't smoked in a while, because of the baby.

We walk around the side of the venue and I lean against the wall. He places the cigarette back in the pack and places them in his pocket.

"I just wanted them to leave" he sighs when I look at him.

"Ross won't stop tonight will he" he says to me.

"That's what I wanted to talk about" I say softly. I take my hand and stroke his cheek softly.

"Please understand me when I say this" I say and his face grows concerned.

"When we were dressing. I put some tan on, and the girls were in the wardrobe so I was walking around in my robe. I heard a slight rap at the door and I answered it. Presuming it was you." I say watching his body language.

"So you answered the door to him so what" he says.

"In just my robe and only my robe" I clarify.

He pushes his hair back. Stands back out of my way. Takes a cigarette out of the pack and lights up. He walks back, way out of my vicinity and blows the smoke away.

I just stay there waiting on his reaction. Watching him have a smoke. Pushing his hair out of the way and concentrating on breathing in the smoke. I presume he's pissed. But it's better I tell him now, than if Ross and him argue later and he finds out that way.

"Did he touch you" he says once he's finished smoking.

He's close to me, and I pull him into me.

"Jay I love you" I say softly.

"Did he touch you Taylor" he repeats and I wince.

"No" I lie. He will not understand. There's no way that telling him that Ross tried to kiss me will help this situation.

He watches me assessing the situation. Not entirely angry but also not happy.

"Jay can I remind you that you stripped off in front of Rachel who is your ex, and I didn't assume that you kissed her" I say to him defensively. I did not kiss Ross, I would have stopped him had we not have been interrupted by his date.

"You were there Taylor when I was getting dressed" he fires back.

"Not the whole time" I say softly feeling my hormones go from rage to sadness.

"You literally kissed him the other day, now you're telling me he's seen you naked tonight" he replies.

"By accident" I add.

"Do you not want me?" He asks and I know I've done the wrong thing.

"I want you with everything that I have, I want you and only you" I say and I cry.

"I wanted to tell you because it was an accident and I wanted to shed some light on why he might be watching me" I say and I pull away from him.

Grabbing a tissue from my purse I dab at my eyes. Trying not to smudge anything. I look up into his eyes and he's still mad, but I can see his concern and worry.

"I don't even want to go in" I say.

"Because it's always my fault, and I don't wanna be around it anymore" I say getting worked up.

"No Taylor that's the last thing I want. I want you to enjoy your prom. I'm sorry" he says and he strokes my hair back.

"Taylor are you okay" I hear a male voice say and I wince again. It's Matty. Just what I need. More things to stir the pot.