“TAKE A SEAT,” I say to Lenic, standing in my studio.
“What’re you up to?” Lenic grimaces.
I stab a finger towards my desk chair. “Sit.”
He crosses his arms. “I’m not a dog.”
“That’s a shame. I was planning a little treat for you later. But if you don’t want—”
“Woof.” He grins down at me with that boyish smile of his.
Laughing, I reach up and set my hands on his shoulders and push down. He doesn’t budge. “You’re too heavy. It’s impossible to move you.”
“It’s all muscle, Hazelnut.” He lifts his arm, kisses his biceps. I roll my eyes. “You think they’re getting smaller? Training’s gone down since quitting—”
“Lenic,” I sigh, losing patience. “Please.”
“Alright, alright. This better be good.”
He sits down on the chair and I practically jump onto his lap. “This is more like it,” he purrs, wrapping his arms around my waist. He bites me lightly on the crook of my neck, and as much as I want him to take me on this chair — again — I’m eager for him to watch the video I uploaded yesterday.
“Lenic, stop for a second. This is important.”
He moans, lifting his head up. “Fine. But will you remove that picture of me, already.” He levels a finger at the picture frame on my desk.
“No. It’s a picture of my boyfriend.”
“It’s just my arse.” It’s a snapshot from the infamous shower video. The one that started it all.
“Your arse is still my boyfriend. Now please be quiet. I want you to watch something.” I grab the mouse and click the computer screen to life.
He groans. “If this is another video to humiliate me—”
“Promise, gorgeous, if anyone’s being humiliated … it is going to be me.”
I click on the play button and watch Lenic’s reaction with a beaming smile. His entire face tenses and his brow hoods in that sexy Tempest manner I adore.
“Take this down,” he barks, not taking his eyes off the video.
The video of me in the shower.
Naked.
With certain parts blurred out, of course.
“Take this down, Felicity. Right now. I don’t want fifty thousand men wanking to you.” The video has already hit over fifty thousand views in less than twenty-four hours. “And who the hell filmed this? I’ll kill ‘em.”
I shoot him a look. “Who do you think? The old ice-cream-truck man?” He growls. “It was Delphine, silly,” I tell him quickly, not wanting him to go down for murder. “Delphine.”
“Take it down. Right now.”
“No,” I laugh. “Lenic, just shut up and watch the video. You’re going to want to listen to what I have to say to the world. Trust me.”
“…Eight months ago I started a mission to humiliate Lenic Reevus. I did it because I was thoughtless and selfish and insecure at the time. It was wrong of me. I was a bitch. So, Lenic Reevus, I’m doing this to humiliate myself to the world to make it up to you. I really am sorry. Shit, I can’t believe I’m doing this. (I laugh nervously.) Where was I…? Oh yes. Lenic. My darling Lenic. There is so much I owe you. You showed me that growing up might not be such a bad thing after all. Thank you, Lenic. And thank you for not suing me, for falling in love with me instead. For showing me how to love. I love you. Always. (I blow a kiss towards the screen.) You’re the best boyfriend a girl could ever have. You always give me your best, and I love you so much for it.
“Now, my lovely viewers, I have some bad news for you all. The Tempest playlist has been taken down. I know, I know — you all hate me. But don’t hate for too long, please. I love you guys so much. You’ve been with me from the beginning, and I couldn’t do this without your support and love … There was something else I wanted to say… (I pout, looking upwards.) Can’t remember now … Oh! Got it! Lenic is not gay! (I laugh loudly.) Since I uploaded the video of him washing that Jaguar with another fella — yes, he is the same guy who was kissing Lenic in ‘that’ famous picture — you guys have overloaded me with comments questioning his sexuality. But trust me, my little Juicers, this man is too skilful in bed to be faking it.”
I hit pause on the video and turn to face my gorgeous boyfriend. His whole face is lit up like a star. “How you like them bananas?” I ask him.
“I love those bananas.” He kisses me quickly on the lips, grinning. “I love those bananas a helluva lot.”