Episode 5
Standing up in shock Meredith couldn't even bring herself to speak, her mind was simply full of one thought and one thought alone this is the real reason Gavin's tired and his clothes are on the floor it's because he's been sleeping with this woman in her bed!
"Meredith sweetheart it's not what you think…" Gavin began
"Oh really…So I suppose there is a perfectly reasonable explanation why there is a practically naked woman in my bedroom, standing there in one my towels calling you darling…One weekend, one bloody weekend…Couldn't you keep your trousers on for one bloody weekend." She spat turning round her fists flying as she pounded against his bare chest, unable to stop the tears that ran down her cheeks.
"Nothing happened she slept in the guest room, that's why I'm in here." Gavin insisted grabbing her wrists and holding her close to him so she couldn't do either of them any damage. "Just believe me love I would never hurt you like that."
"It's the truth." Katherine finally piped up. "I mean the party ended so late and Gavin was kind enough to offer me your spare room since it wasn't being used, and I couldn't find any clean towels in that bathroom so I just popped through to borrow one and some shampoo. And well there seemed no point going back to my room, Gavin was fast asleep and…"
"Oh you must think I am really gullible?" Meredith spat her eyes narrowing as she eyed the leggy blonde, she was definitely attractive and younger than her, was that the attraction?
"Well if the cap fits!" Katherine snorted, shaking her head at the brunette's stupidity. "Believe me or not its not my problem."
"No but it is mine." Gavin retorted angrily. "Meredith I give you my word on our child's life nothing happened here last night, I got hammered and passed out on your bed, that is the whole truth. This is Katherine she's my business partner, we met up with some investors at her hotel and ended up nearby at one of my clubs, it seemed like the sensible thing to head back here where I had copies of the plans rather than trek across London. Things just got a little out of hand, and it was practically dawn before the other's left, I offered Katherine the spare room as she was practically asleep on her feet…"
Pulling out of his arms Meredith looked him straight in the eye, part of her wanted to believe him, the other remembered the night he didn't come home before, was he with her then? Perhaps nothing had happened last night but that didn't mean something hadn't happened days before did it? "I need some time to think…I want to believe you, but I just need…" She managed to mutter, picking up her bag and heading towards the door, fixing Katherine with her finest scowl as she passed her. "I do not expect you to be here when I get back."
"Oh lady I wouldn't dream of it!" Katherine snapped. "I've had warmer welcomes in the artic."
"Where are you going?" Gavin demanded scrabbling for his trousers on the floor in an effort to follow her. "Meredith don't disappear again!"
"Work…I'll be at the gallery…Don't follow me Gavin I'll see you tonight, we can talk then, you'll manage to see your houseguest out by yourself?" She added venomously ignoring Katherine's raised eyebrow and slight smirk.
"Oh don't worry my dear Meredith he's always shown himself capable in the past." Katherine hissed maliciously so only the brunette could hear.
Biting her tongue and suppressing her fury at the woman's deliberate provocation Meredith turned on her heel striding down the stairs ignoring Gavin's plea to wait, but she was out the house and hailing a cab before he could even manage to find his keys.
- - - -
"So that was the little lady?" Katherine asked as soon as the door had slammed. "Not quite what I had pictured but she's pretty, in a homey mumsy kind of way?"
"That is the love of my life you are talking about!" Gavin retorted sharply fixing Katherine with his patented death glare. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"What?" Katherine snapped. "You asked me to stay!"
"I didn't know she would be coming back, but even so why did you come and use this shower?"
"Well I'm so sorry but your shower, I know the other one is yours! I don't know who you were trying to fool Gavin, your clothes are in that closet, your shaver is in the bathroom and despite the fact that us ladies like our closet space I think she could have spared you a drawer in here. So I don't think things have been as rosy as you've been painting…"
"That is none of your concern!" Gavin growled defensively studiously ignoring the semi-clad woman who was leaning against the wall seemingly unconcerned by her lack of clothes.
"But it is…I can't help but worry about you Gavin." Katherine purred softly, a concerned look on her beautiful face as she moved over to him, draping her arm over his shoulder ignoring as he tried to shrug her off. "I'm your friend whether you believe me or not but I am, I want to see you happy are you sure she is capable of making you happy, I mean I know you are having a child together and you love the woman but are you sure she is capable of truly loving you back?"
"She loves me I know she does." Gavin whispered softly repetitively as if to reassure himself sitting down on the settee and playing with his watch ignoring the still damp woman who sat next to him rubbing his arm gently. "She just finds it difficult to trust people and let her barriers down, it probably doesn't help that everytime she does and lets me in she ends up getting a kick in the teeth for her trouble…I should have realised how she would react and told her straight away you had stayed over, it must have looked terrible you just appearing and me not mentioning it before, like I was trying to hide the fact, but I was so delighted to see her back I forgot everything else."
"If she really loved you then she'd believe you when you said nothing happened, I backed you up, but then I suppose I can't blame her I mean I'd be jealous too, a man like yourself has women making a play for him all the time." She added leaning her head against his shoulder her fingers trailing along his toned bicep. "I mean who could blame them…" She trailed off allowing her towel to fall open and locking her eyes with his before suddenly pouncing, pushing the stunned Gavin back onto the couch and kissing him passionately.
- - - -
Across town a Hackney pulled up in front of the Gates Gallery and a now composed Meredith slid graciously out, not a sign on her beautiful face of the tumult below. Nodding at her new security staff as they methodically but politely scanned each visitor through a metal detector, she wandered through into her newly reopened space content to simply stand back and watch each person's reaction to her current exhibition. Numbers had been surprisingly high so far considering she was featuring a relatively unknown but talented artist, but as Meredith glanced around her visitors she realised there were as many curiosity seekers as serious art lovers. It seemed that with the general public, as opposed to the serious art connoisseurs, there was nothing like a good scandal to garner an interest in something new, but whatever their reason for visiting she frankly didn't care they all paid and that was the material point at such a time. However her real fear was what would happen when she and her gallery was no longer the publicity draw, when she no longer had the support of those old influential friends on the Arts Council to fall back, they had made that perfectly clear when she had decided to side and stand with Gavin during his ordeal and not join the mass ranks of shocked and outraged art lovers who naturally defended the late critic Mr Raymont.
All for him. Had it been worth it in the end? True without him she would probably be dead by now so it was hardly important to consider, 'what ifs' and 'might have beens' but was it?
However before she could come to any sort of an answer, her solitude was interrupted.
"Meredith."
- - - -
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Gavin gasped, bodily pushing Katherine off of him, not caring as she crashed painfully to the floor.
"I would have thought that was obvious!" Katherine snapped back wincing as she rubbed her sore elbows before uncomfortably reaching for her towel to cover her embarrassment.
"Yes but the question is why?" He barked pulling away and putting the sofa between them, staring down at the woman who now gazed fixedly at the floor avoiding his gaze.
"Look I made a mistake; I miss read the signals, no harm done."
"What bloody signals?"
Now angry herself Katherine got to her feet, tucking the towel firmly in place before facing him. "Oh I don't know call be dense but you called me to meet up socially, you invite me to stay over at your house while the 'so called love of your life is away' even when it is quite obvious to anyone but you that your relationship is on the rocks and heading for the seabed….That was the whole point wasn't it, you knew she was coming home, you arranged this whole thing…"
"What don't be bloody ridiculous Katherine!" Gavin retorted. "Like this would help things."
"Well I don't know jealousy can be a powerful motivator, making her think she's lost you, could be your last ditch attempt to provoke a reaction from her make her fight to keep you."
"But I didn't…" Gavin trailed off, unable to admit that her idea did have some measure of merit; nothing would get under Meredith's skin more but the question was would she fight or simply throw him aside like some discarded toy she had grown bored with?
"Are you sure? Because I doubt I am the only woman who wouldn't appreciate being so played with, so I'll lay my cards down because it's obvious you won't. I like you, I like you a lot and I am pretty certain the two of us could have a lot of fun together, but I am not in the market for something serious, so if you want to go ahead pining for the lovely Meredith then that is just fine with me, we can go back to being business partners and I'll find someone else to have some fun with. However if you should change your mind and decide to enjoy yourself for a change, let her do the running for once in a while, then you know where to find me."
And with that she turned and strode up the stairs not waiting for an answer from the stunned Gavin whose eyes automatically followed her form as she left, some habits were just to hard to break and he was just looking after all. Reaching up he ran a finger across his lip, still able to taste her in his mouth, then shaking his head he forced such thoughts from his mind. He had made his choice and Katherine wasn't the sort of woman who would simply keep quiet about a one night stand, he would risk loosing everything if he hadn't already.
Grabbing his keys from the side he made his decision he wasn't going to wait and see, he had to see Meredith now and sort this out, after all more than his future depended on the outcome.
- - - - -
"Andre?" Meredith gasped whirling around to stare at the grinning French man. "What…How..When?"
Chuckling at her stunned expression her former professor leant forward gathering her into a hug and placing kisses on both her cheeks. "Ma cherie you are surprised to see me?"
"Well yes…I mean you didn't tell me you were visiting London."
"Ah well I hardly knew I was myself until I was here. That talk we had in Paris made me think about my life, all this time I have been cursing myself for my past mistakes and forgetting to live and I have you to thank for opening my eyes my darling Meredith." He gushed wrapping his arm possessively around her waist as they wandered out of the gallery.
"Yes but why here, why now, why me?" Meredith babbled, confusion blatant on her face at his sudden and impulsive behaviour.
"Why not?" Andre relied simply. "After all you were the one to put me on the right path, it is only fair I thank you and besides I haven't had the time to visit the London galleries for a while, I wanted to see what was 'hot' so to speak on this side of the channel, and you are the best guide I could imagine."
"Me…but Andre I'm so busy, what with my gallery and the baby."
"Yes I know, but where the harm in taking the weekend off and enjoying yourself with an old friend? Indulge me ma petite, just this once, for old times sake, they were good times were they not?"
Smiling Meredith had to admit he had a point, they had been for the most part very good times, the flush of first love set in the beauteous wonders of Paris, it had been a fairytale romance, the handsome older professor, the beautiful but emotionally immature student, the thrill of their clandestine meetings the secrecy of their affair, hiding away in tiny opulent bistro's, sharing knowing glances in his lectures full of hidden meaning then making passionate frantic love on his desk during tutorials whilst only doors away other classes were being taught. But then she had graduated and their relationship had come out into the open, and something had disappeared at the same time. Perhaps with out the appeal of forbidden fruit Andre had suddenly seemed not as extraordinary as she had once believed, and she had found her gaze wandering. He had quickly tired of her youthful exuberance, preferring to stay in than go out, he had reached the age to settle down, whereas she still wanted to open every crack in the universe and peer inside. So they had parted, it had been a reasonably amicable affair she had been offered a job in London and she taken it without barely a backwards glance, Andre had been more despondent promising to visit her in the hope that she would eventually change her mind but he never had, although perhaps her ignoring his calls had more to do it than any loss of feeling on his part.
"Meredith?" Andre repeated drawing her back out of her memories as they reached her office, causing her to blush at being caught day dreaming. "You were somewhere nice I hope?"
"Yes, I was just remembering…You're right I could do with a weekend off, but as payment you have to be honest. Tell me what do you think of my gallery?"
- - - -
Twenty minutes later another cab drew up outside the Gate's Gallery. Jumping out Gavin quickly paid the cabbie not bothering to wait for his change before heading inside, huffing in frustration when he found himself at the back of a very long queue, trust him to arrive as a tour group arrived. Not prepared to wait his turn he barged his way through the crowd, provoking many vocal exclamations of outrage and a few gasp of recognition as people put two and two together, drawing away from the now infamous ex-London mob boss and gossiping excitedly with their friends.
"Mr Cochran to see Miss Gates." Gavin snapped as one of the security guards approached him holding a portable metal detector.
"Is she expecting you sir?" One of them had the nerve to ask causing Gavin to redden with annoyance.
"No she is not, I'm surprising her and taking her out to lunch she is my fiancée after all." He added for emphasis.
"We could ring her…" One of the lads began but the senior officer took one look at Gavin's fuming expression and dismissed the idea. "It's alright sir please go right up." He replied waving Gavin through into the Gallery.
Nodding his appreciation Gavin caught the tail end of the conversation as he disappeared around the corner.
"But it's breaking the rules…" The first chap muttered.
"He's practically married to the boss, besides you know the strings he can pull, you wouldn't be just looking at the sack you know…"
- - - - -
"So you see from the plans what I propose, knocking those two walls through and opening that room up with skylights…" Meredith trailed off, waving her hands over the plans that were scattered across her desk. "What?" She prompted at the sight of Andre's serious expression.
"Nothing Ma Cherie." He answered quickly but Meredith could tell not honestly.
"Andre I asked for your opinion, don't be afraid to give it, I would rather know what you think gnow then after the builders have moved in."
Sighing the old professor moved round the desk gazing at the plans in detail before waving to draw her attention, his hand automatically moving to rest in the small of her back as he pointed out his suggestions. "You need a focus point, now if you altered this, making archways into the main room, you'll loose some wall space but give the gallery an overall design."
"That's perfect." Meredith exclaimed, scribbling the revisions on to the sketches, before glancing up to catch an amused Andre gazing down at her. "What's so fascinating?"
"You are my dear, all these years and still so enthusiastic, so passionate about life. I have missed that, I've missed you Meredith, until Paris I had not realised how much…Isn't there any chance…"
"Andre please don't." Meredith whispered softly. "It's in the past, I'm having a baby, I'm getting married, please don't spoil our friendship over something that can never happen, please try…"
"I know, I know." The Frenchman retorted smoothly, laying his free hand over his heart in an act of supplication. "As long as you are happy, I am happy…But just when am I going to meet this mystery fiancé of yours, I'd consider it an honour to meet the luckiest man alive…"
"Then your request is granted." Gavin's voice sounded loud and clear as he slid fluidly into the office surveying the cosy scene with a cold calculating glare, watching as Meredith pulled immediately away from her friend and headed over to him.
"Gavin darling." She gushed throwing her arms around his neck before kissing him firmly on the mouth, much to his surprise and delight, and taking the most of the opportunity he kissed her back soundly, sliding his hands up her back and pulling her close.
"Meredith?" He questioned softly when she broke their embrace. "What are you up to?"
"Just play along." Was her muttered reply as she reached down and linked their hands drawing him across the room to meet her guest.
"Andre Veneres may I present my fiancé Gavin Cochran…Gavin my old professor Monsieur Andre Veneres." She added watching as Gavin confidently offered the older man his hand, grasping the Frenchman's firmly in a handshake, watching with satisfaction as their guest winced slightly at his grip and avoided his eye.
"A pleasure sir." Andre gushed slightly, immediately returning his gaze to Meredith as he spoke, favouring her with his most dashing of smiles, but it had the opposite of effects to the one he was expecting as instead of moving away Meredith leant in closer to her fiancé leaning her head against Gavin's shoulder. "I am afraid I was wearing your lovely lady out Monsieur, she looks dead on her feet, perhaps you should sit down Ma Cherie."
"Oh I'm fine just a little tired from travelling…" Meredith began to protest.
"Ahh but of course, I am surprised you are even here today, not taking the time off to spend some time with your fiancé." Andre retorted. "It was such a shame he couldn't join you in Paris, but I know business is business."
"Indeed it is." Gavin cut in. "But I'll make sure she rests this afternoon after we've gotten back from lunch, speaking of which my love if we don't go now we'll never get a bite anywhere." Then a cunning idea struck him, a way of keeping her from biting his head off the moment her guest was out the room. "Why don't you join us Mr Veneres?" He asked, ignoring the less than subtle tightening of Meredith's hand in his. "You would be more than welcome, that's if you don't mind playing gooseberry for a while?"
"Ah but I would be delighted…And please call me Andre."
"Well then Andre shall we head out, my car is downstairs…Darling?" He added tightening his grip on Meredith's hand tugging her towards the door before releasing her hand and sliding his round her waist ignoring the small punch in the side she landed on him; leaning down to mutter in her ear. "Play nicely Sweetheart we wouldn't want to give the game away."
"When I get you home…" Meredith retorted between gritted teeth
"I can hardly wait." He retorted planting a quick kiss on her flushed cheek as they headed out the door.
- - - - -
A few hours later and the 'happy' couple finally arrived home in stony silence, but Gav was certain it wouldn't last for long as ever since they had dropped Andre off at his hotel the atmosphere had been tense. Slamming the front door open, Meredith slapped her keys down on the hall table, glaring at Gavin's reflection in the wall mirror as he stood leaning against the closed door expectantly.
"I cannot believe you did that." Meredith finally hissed, breaking the stalemate.
"But I thought you were friends, and what is more natural than offering your friends a place to stay when they are in town." Gavin replied innocently, crossing his arms and fighting the natural impulse to smirk.
"You….You bloody cunning bastard." Meredith spat, whirling round to glare at him in person. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to, if he's staying here then we have to keep up this lovey dovey act, and I have to resist the urge to wring your bloody neck."
"I won't pretend it doesn't have its advantages." Gavin replied softly. "Talking of which I had better clear my things out of the guest room, wouldn't want to give the wrong impression, now would we sweetheart."
"Fine." Meredith snapped storming away from him and up the stairs. "You can change all the sheets as well whilst you're at it, whilst I disinfect the shower, I won't touch anything that harlot had her grubby hands on, so you had better hope Mr Cochran I choose to believe you when you say nothing happened!"
Shaking his head as he watched her disappear from view Gavin risked a glance at the sofa, before guiltily straightening the cushions and then meekly following her upstairs.
- - - -
Episode 6:
There were times over the next few days that Gavin considered his idea to invite Andre Veneres to stay his most brilliant or most foolish of brain waves.
Due to Andre's imminent arrival he had quickly cleared his possessions from the spare room, and cheerfully began to unpack in Meredith's room, well as cheerfully as he could manage whilst the love of his life took every opportunity to glare at him whilst he unpacked his belongings in the token drawer and closet space she managed to find. But Gavin Cochran was not a man to be easily thwarted as Meredith soon found when she finally went to take her afternoon nap, a habit that due to her stressful lifestyle the Doctors had recommended.
"Oh no you don't!" Meredith had exclaimed when an eager Gavin had joined her, just as she was trying to doze off, wrapping his arms around her from behind as he spooned up against her. "Gavin I need to rest, it's for the baby I have to take time out when I get wound up."
"An excellent suggestion!" Gavin retorted, not lessoning his grip on her but now running his free hand up to stroke her arm and massage her shoulder. "You are far to tense, let me help."
"You're the one making me tense!" Meredith snapped, but there was no real venom behind her words as his magic fingers began undo the tensed muscles. "That's nice." She muttered dozing against her soft pillow and lulled by the warmth from his muscular frame as his other hand stroked languid circles along her bare arm, then across her hip to run his fingers across her stomach. "Don't stop." She added, moaning as he continued to trace his fingers tantalisingly across her abdomen, before moving to stroke her thigh through her dress, rubbing his thumb in circles across her hip bone and then daringly sliding his hand under her skirt to touch her skin.
"Gavin…" Meredith moaned drowsily, arching herself against him as he continued to toy with her. "Please…"
"Well you know what they say I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine?" Gavin murmured lovingly, keeping his talented fingers just a few tantalising inches away from where she wanted them.
"Anything, just don't stop." Meredith exclaimed, her breathing becoming increasingly laboured as her fiancé pushed her nearer and nearer the edge, his mouth moving down her slender neck, teeth nipping at her earlobe as she squirmed against him, her head thrown back in ecstasy as he cupped a breast firmly with his free hand and squeezed in tempo.
"God's Gavin." She finally gasped, as the barrier broke and pleasure filled her, her pale cheeks flushed scarlet with her arousal and her breathing ragged as her now impatient fiancé captured her mouth rolling her underneath him, their impatient hands both reaching for and struggling with his belt and trousers before Gavin ripped at her underwear pulling the silken black panties off and throwing them back over his head to land provocatively on the spotless cream carpet.
"I've missed you." He hissed covering her once more, and on the brink of joining them when the insistent buzzer sounded.
"Dear God not again!" He exclaimed pounding his fist into the pillow with frustration, earning him an amused glance from Meredith. "Well we could be quick?" He suggested hopefully, his hopes crashing and burning when an amused but distinctly 'forget it' look was shot at him.
"You invited him Darling!" Meredith hissed evilly as she pushed the half naked Gavin off her and practically stalked to retrieve her underwear, before changing her mind and instead of stepping back into them, tossed the offending garments back at her fiancé. "You know I don't think I'll bother, do try to make yourself decent darling and don't be long now will you!" She added before turning to go welcome their guest, a definite sated sway to her hips as she descended.
Groaning in frustration Gavin fell back on the bed, he knew exactly what she meant by that little gesture the minx, and if anything her continued refusal only aroused him more, so reaching for the underwear she had thrown at him he took care of the problem in hand with as much speed as his expertise could manage.
- - - -
A few minutes later as she was showing Andre around her apartment and he cast his approving gaze over the paintings which had mysteriously reappeared during her vacation, not that she had noticed until Andre had commented on her favourite; Gavin finally put in an appearance. He had dressed simply in a pair of black slacks and shirt but in that moment she wished she could do nothing more than shove Andre out the door and demand Gavin take her over whatever piece of furniture was closest. There was something so incredibly sexy about that man, was it his confidence or the way he walked into a room, like he could match everything and everyone in it, she wasn't sure? Or perhaps it was the slight quirk of his mouth as he watched her stare at him hungrily, even as he politely greeted their houseguest his eyes never leaving hers for long and she could see the same message reflected back at her.
"You have a lovely home." Andre suddenly spoke, breaking the spell that seemed to have descended and confirming the Frenchman suspicions that he had definitely arrived at an inopportune moment.
"Thank you, it's all Meredith, she has an eye for detail. Although there are one or two things of mine here, for example my latest purchase perhaps you would care to give me your opinion on it?" Gavin replied moving to stand in front the only different painting in the collection and guiding his fiancé to stand next to him, determined that he would find a way to pay her back for that little stunt earlier.
"Indeed she does." Andre replied awkwardly before taking a closer look at the work Gavin had directed him to. "Lovely…" He trailed off paused in thought his eyes locked on the painting.
And so giving Gavin ample time to begin his revenge, sliding his hand down to cup and knead Meredith pert behind through the thin layer of her loose dress, smiling as she had to stifle a gasp of surprise, her entire frame tensing as he ran his hand down to the tops of her thigh and began to rub his fingers between them through the fabric, eliciting a slow moan which Andre mistook for her clearing her throat.
"Pardon?"
"Coffee or Tea?" Meredith quickly covered, reaching down and grasping Gavin's wandering hand with her own, stilling his explorations.
"Tea please, lemon if you have any…"
"Of course, I'll just be a few minutes, please make yourself at home." Meredith added waving him over to the couches.
"Yes do we'll only be a few moments…After all can't have you lifting anything heavy can we darling." Gavin cut in, his voice so sweetly composed that Andre simply smiled in agreement whilst Meredith had to stifle the urge to slap him.
As soon as they were out of ear shot that was exactly what she did, punching him sharply on the arm as his hands automatically reached for her backside the moment they were out of sight. "You are a dead man!"
"Why what did I do? You're the one who can't keep her hormones under control, one minute you want me the next you don't! I'm not a human yoyo you know! Although…" Gavin retorted manoeuvring her back against one of the kitchen units before pressing himself against her.
"Oh no you have to be joking…" Meredith gasped as she felt the press of his admiration against her thigh, but the telltale huskiness of her voice betrayed her.
"We can be very quick and very very quiet." Gavin assured her as he unbuttoned his trousers and gathered her skirt in his hands. "And afterwards I promise to be on my very best behaviour."
"What am I going to do with you?" Meredith mumbled into his mouth as he kissed her soundly, lifting her leg as he stooped slightly and pushed himself inside her filling her completely before rocking furiously back and forth, Meredith meeting his every frantic thrust with one of her own, running her fingers through his dirty blonde hair and leaning back to arch her back against him her orgasm building once more. "Gavin…" She cried softly as she bit down on her lower lip trying to strangle her moans and seeing her plight her fiancé clamped his mouth over hers allowing her to cry out into his as she climaxed dragging him with her.
"Oh gods." Gavin growled as he finally pulled away panting, wishing to be able to scoop her up into his arms and carry her off to bed to do exactly the same over and over again.
"Oh god indeed, I haven't even started the tea!" Meredith snapped rearranging her clothing but as Gavin noted there was nothing she could do to erase the glow about her, nor the crease marks on her dress nor the tell tale odour of sex that now permeated her. Andre would have to be a blind, deaf and have no sense of smell not to notice what was under his nose and that was exactly the way Gavin wanted it; he had noted the unrequited little looks that the Frenchman had been sending his fiancée well that would stop now.
- - - -
