Billy London's Blog, page 14

Love That Burns

I love a couple that are far too comfortable with each other to waste time with frivolities and niceties. Harris and her husband Jimi know how to get right to the nitty gritty. If that isn't love and romance, I don't know what is... 

The Tease © Billy London

Harris rapped her fork over her husband’s tattooed knuckles. “Stop staring you gimp!” She commanded even as he howled in outrage. “Oh did that hurt?”He glared at her. “You know that hurts!”“More than the tattoos?” She barely held back her derision. “Baby.”Rubbing his hand, he muttered, “Abuser…”“Then keep your eyes in your head!” Harris visibly bristled with irritation. That poor girl had been sitting at her table alone on a trumped up day. She didn’t want to make it any worse for her. “I was just checking to see if her date’s turned up.”She shook her head at him. “Why are you such an arse?”Jimi sent her a humourless grin. “I get it from you. Don’t you feel bad? Stuffing your cake hole when she’s hungry and abandoned?”Harris curled her top lip. “I doubt food’s the last thing on her mind.” She casually looked in the girl’s direction and poked her husband with the fork when Brogan sat down opposite her.“I swear, woman. If I’m not going to ejaculate at the end of this, you need to stop with the pain play.”Ignoring him, she watched in fascination as Brogan offered the girl a drink and food arrived at their table. Seriously? Smooth. Harris could have applauded. How could she not give him credit for abusing his position to get himself laid? A girl would have a hard time not swooning infinitely at such a knight in shining armour type gesture.“Oi,” her husband laid a thick finger on her jaw and brought her attention back to his face. Craggy bastard. “Yes?”“Right here, or else why did we leave the house and why are we paying for someone to watch our progeny?”She leaned back in her chair and exhaled. “Because everyone looks at us and sees perfection. A union birthed in the stars. We want people to feel jealous of our love.”“You haven’t tugged my love in a while,” he mused.“Jimi, don’t lie,” Harris fumed. “Just think back to the last time we had sex, and I remember when that was because we had to get up and change the sheets…”“You’re welcome…” he offered, tilting his head. “And it was me who convinced you. I tugged your love, my friend. I tugged, sucked and fucked that thing until it was limp. Last night, when I reached around you were all… Don’t touch it, I’m tired. I’ve got stamina. Those children, our business, our house and I still fancy it when you don’t.”He framed his fingers over his mouth, his gaze thoughtful. “I disagree.”“Of course you do.”“Because you only fancy it after I’ve already suggested that you put your underwear in your mouth and bend over. You’re all I smell really weird today. Smell me. I smell weird. Do you know what that does to my balls? Shrivels them.”Harris pouted. “I’m sorry that my delicate biological balance puts me off. In the same vein, you should be grateful.”“That I get to throw my sausage down your Blackwall tunnel?”She burst out laughing, and flipped her finger at him. “Fuck you, this thing is still tighter than a virgin’s. I just accommodate better after three natural births.”Jimi raised his glass to her. “Maybe you’re right. And probably I shouldn’t have fisted you that one time…”“You need to stop telling that story. It wasn’t a fist. It was three and a half fingers.”An elderly man tapped Jimi on his bulky shoulder. “Excuse me, would you mind toning down your language?”Jimi lowered his voice to say, “My wife and I are having serious talks about our sex life. If we don’t set boundaries now, it’s going to be really difficult later on when she pulls out the strap-on.” Harris stifled a squeal of laughter. “We’ll try to keep it quiet, but we both should be pretty clear. That way, no one gets hurt.”The old man, flamed in the face, turned back to his dinner. Harris groaned, “He’s going to complain to Brogan.”“Brogan’ll do fuck all,” Jimi dismissed. “We designed this place, top to fucking bottom, and it’s not his restaurant, it’s Greg’s. And as Greg prays for our lost souls, so we can do what the fuck we like.”Harris scratched her ear. “Are all those fucks to make up for last night?”He blinked very slowly and Harris squirmed in her seat. She liked winding him up. They’d been irritating each other into bed for over a decade. It worked for her. “Listen, yeah?”“I’m all ears.”“You want something, you ask me.”Fair enough. “Husband? Are we going to bang tonight?”His eyes darkened and he folded his arms on the table. Given the size of the man, she was rather glad they’d selected heavy, oak tables. “I will do you in this restaurant.”“You wouldn’t,” she retorted immediately.“I would, I made sure those toilets are big enough.”“I know you wouldn’t. That’s why we don’t do orgies. We both get performance anxiety and I’m not wearing any underwear.”His mouth parted in shock. “Pardon?”“True.”“You’re lying.”She threw her hands up in the air. “Goodness sake! Why would I lie about having my gonads bared to the elements?”Eyes narrowed with suspicion, he caught her chair and pulled it forward. Reaching underneath the table, he tapped her on the knee, ordering, “Open.”She did as she was told and let his fingers drift over her, enjoying the sudden glow to his cheeks. Briefly, she closed her legs, trapping his hand. “Changing your mind?” he said, his tone low and rough.Harris slid down in her chair, sending his hand more firmly against her. “Performance anxiety,” she reminded him. “But if we go to that pub across the road. What’s it called?”“The Bee’s Knees.”She gently stroked his inner wrist. “Dark. Candlelight. Those martinis that are like Viagra to you… No one’s going to look.”“Brogan!” he yelled. “Bill, now, thank you.”Brogan tore his gaze away from the girl opposite him to snap, “Will you two just do one?”“Such a lack of customer service,” Jimi tutted, and gently removed his hand. “And before you say, no you don’t smell weird. Try and put me off for no reason.”Harris grinned. “Not today.”He paused briefly, then counted out the cash for the meal. “Get up, let’s go.”Easy victory. Honestly, the minute he gave up coffee for green tea…

Love Story

Sometimes disappointment is inevitable on Valentine's Day. And it takes a special kind of person to make that evaporate in the heat of possibility. Brogan is just that person.. 

Chocolate Offers © Billy London

Brogan’s gaze kept flicking between the booking system and the girl sitting tensely alone at her table for two. That table needed to be turned for their nine pm and God help him if his boss walked in and saw someone who hadn’t had a single meal taking up what should be a hundred quid cover. Tina passed him, a tray of empty glasses and followed his gaze. “Greg is going to go spare.”Brogan sent her a dismissive look. “Greg’s not coming in. He swore.”“Greg swears about a lot of things. It’s what makes him a fixture,” Tina deposited the glasses in the back and started making some more of the complimentary Valentine’s Day cocktails. “That girl’s been here an hour. She’s been stood up.”He looked over again. The girl seemed hunched over, her bottom lip bitten to hell and her eyes reddened. This fucking day. Utterly designed to make people feel like shit, build up their expectations and drop them from a fantastic height, all to remind them of how no one loves them at any other time of the year, let alone on this one, commercialised, bullshit day. The phone rang and Brogan answered it, distractedly. “Lounge Restaurant, Brogan speaking, how may I help you?”“Bro, it’s Greg. Just a heads up so you can arrange yourself appropriately. The missus and I are popping in.”“Jesus,” Brogan rolled his eyes. “The place is still standing you know?”“I’m a concerned owner. We’ll be there in about half an hour or so.”With a growl, Brogan slammed down the phone. Tina singsoned, “I told you so!”One of the waitresses approached the lonely girl’s table and said, “Sorry, we do need your table...”Brogan swiped a glass of the lurid pink cocktail and placed it in front of the girl. “No, we don’t.” He edged the waitress away and sat down opposite the girl. She stared at him, a mix of horror and embarrassment in her dark eyes. “I’m really...”“Whoever he is, he’s a dick. But you’re not leaving here until you’ve eaten something.”The girl looked down at her body. “Plenty of people who say I’ve eaten enough.”“And those people can go fuck themselves. I’d recommend the baba ganoush to start, with the homemade pitta, we do all our own baking here. Then have the grilled chicken, it comes with a crisp salad, and have some halloumi on the side. And to finish, we have chocolate fondue for two.”The girl looked awkward. “I can’t eat that all by myself.”“You’re not going to, I’m going to have something as well.” He turned and smiled at Tina who quickly composed herself to approach their table. “And sir will be having...?”He gave the order and asked for some still water. Eating to piss Greg off or not, he wasn’t going to compound a threat of sacking by drinking as well. Turning back to the table, he rested his arms on the wood, closing the gap between himself and the girl. “Since we’re having dinner together, I should at least introduce myself. I’m Brogan. Shortly, you’ll see a big, ginger bloke storm in and try to rip my head off. That would be my boss. Tina is the one who took our order and the girl who was trying to kick you off your table is Sandra.”She held out her hand. “I’m Elodie. Nice to meet you.” Tina placed the basket of pitta in front of them and the large bowl of baba ganoush, drizzled with olive oil and studded with pomegranate seeds. “Enjoy. Twenty five minutes to doomsday.”“Go away,” Brogan ordered. He nudged the bread towards his date. “Bon appetit.”He dug in, enjoying the perks of the job of having traditional Lebanese food available to him. “Was it a first date?”Elodie twisted her mouth in thought. “Second actually. I thought he liked me. I really did...” She showed him her phone. “I mean look at all these messages from him. And tonight? Poof. Gone.”You’re the type of girl I want to be with... You’re so beautiful, I feel lucky you’ve given me a chance... I’d be so proud to call myself your boyfriend... 
“The fuck is this shit?” Brogan demanded. She shrugged. “I think he was trying to get me to sleep with him. This must be the punishment for saying can we wait?”“You’ve got good instincts, clearly.”Elodie sighed. “Only when someone’s going overboard with the compliments. Don’t give me that look, I know I’m a good looking girl. And I know I’m a good looking girl with a few pounds on. But this... Humiliation is unnecessary.”“Good for you,” he said, admiration in his tone. Without a second thought, he dialled the number of the dickstain. Elodie’s mouth fell open and she reached for it. “Don’t you dare!”Surprisingly, the idiot answered. “Er... Elodie. Hi.”“It’s not Elodie, you piece of shit.”She sucked her lips into her mouth, her eyebrows hovering at the stratosphere and her hands on her cheeks. “Who are you?”“I’m the man who’s going to make Elodie feel good, all night long. And if you ever contact her again with your bullshit, I’ll rip your tiny little dick off and fuck you in the arse with it.”The man hastily dropped the call and Brogan handed it over. She took it from him warily. “You’re not right.”He stretched. “It’s been a trying day. He just got the brunt of it.” He picked up his glass of water and touched it to her cocktail glass. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”A smile hovered over her face, making her eyes sparkle. “There’s a couple to your right, my left who keep looking over at us.”Brogan followed her direction and made a face. “I know them. Nosy parkers. They’re scrambling for something to talk about after nine years together.”“Nine years is a nice goal.”He closed one eye and examined her carefully. He envisioned kissing her, undressing her, embracing her response to him as he buried himself inside her. He thought about sharing living space, how she’d insist on his inordinate amount of trainers go to the attic, and he would chuck out all her expensive and unnecessary beauty products. He saw them eloping, running off to Sandals resort and returning to train their two pit bull pups. “Doable.” He said. “With the right person.”She looked sceptical, eyes narrowed. “No such thing. No one person is right, you have to make the situation... better.”A huge hand slapped on his shoulder. “What are you doing sitting down?”Brogan picked up his boss’s hand and removed it from his person. “Having my first break in a thirteen hour shift.”Greg’s eyes moved to Elodie and widened in appreciation. Of course he would. He liked a bit of curve on a bird, hence the Reverend March. “Don’t let him make out that I’m a slave driver.”“You are.” Brogan made a face to say, Will you do one?Showing more foresight than he usually did, Greg straightened. “I’ll leave you to it. I hope you enjoy your meal.”“Thank you,” Elodie said with a delighted beam. She looked much happier. And he was glad to have done that for her. “Elodie,” he said softly, and she met his gaze full on, such light in her face it made him smile. “How’s your situation?”Elodie grinned at him over her glass. “Better. A lot better.”

Peace and Love

Day 10 has arrived, bright and early! And I go from mature love to married love. Daisy the Vicar has a brief day off before her sermon the next day.

Treasured © Billy London 

Daisy tapped her stockinged foot on her bedroom carpet. Her Valentine’s Day present happened to be a lingerie set from her favourite designer. Which she wore. And not much else. She ended the call and tried dialling her father once more. Blasted old man, why wasn’t he picking up? “Daisy!” Her husband yelled, making her jump. “What on earth is the matter with you?” She yelled back. “Don’t shout at me!”“You’ve been getting ready all damn day!” He stormed into the bedroom and came to a screeching halt. “Wow.” His smile embarrassed and pleased her. “If only people knew what you wore beneath the dog collar.”“No one should think about what I wear... Why isn’t my dad answering?”Greg took the phone from her and tucked it into his suit pocket. “Leave him alone.”“Why? He’s on his own and this day always...”“No it doesn’t,” he talked over her. “If he’s paid any attention to me, he’s gone to Blessing’s house to have a love life. Something you’re interfering with.”Daisy gawped at her husband. “He’s what?”“He’s lonely because he’s been starry eyed about that woman for a lifetime. And I told him to shift his arse, so I could have my wife to myself for one day.”Daisy’s mouth twitched in guilt. Poor Greg. He did take the back seat just so she could be the shining light to her congregation. And to her dad. And to her brother who really needed to pull his finger out and do something with his life. Greg was patient. Greg was kind. Mostly. Until she got in the way of his plans for her. For a long time she felt somewhat uncomfortable in her role as vicar and wife. When Greg had patiently waited to marry her before he got to see her underwear. Even though they had dates ending with kisses that set her soul on fire. And when he did get to see her underwear, he wasn’t entirely impressed with her selection and he set about replacing her plain whites with what were now her favourites. Now, she recognised that love and the expression of that love in the privacy of her shared bedroom was nothing to be uncomfortable about. It was clear to her whole congregation she enjoyed a passionate, respectful and loving relationship with her husband. Who really needed to curb his swearing. He did make up for it by printing the weekly church newsletters for her, and organising monthly events for the Sunday School. “Sorry. I’m sorry. Let me just try him once...” She reached out for the phone and Greg gently held her hand away, examining her lingerie clad body. From the demi cups of the sheer bra, to the suspender belt that shaped her narrow waist and the stockings that lovingly cupped her thighs. “My day, remember? Even though you’ve spent most of it under a damn hooded drier.”She grinned. “But feel how soft my hair is...” She took his palm and let it drift through roller set curls she’d watched several YouTube tutorials to perfect. “Do we have any olive oil left?” He asked, distractedly trailing his fingers in her hair. “Tons. Greg...”“Reverend March, put your dress on and let’s go.”Growling at him, she took her red dress from its hanger and slipped it on. She glanced over her shoulder and caught the expression on her husband’s face. That there proved she could be all roles and more. Vicar, friend, daughter, sister, wife, woman. “Zip me up.”He did so slowly, touching his mouth over her spine as he went along. “Looking forward to the reverse.”As did she... “Are we going to the restaurant or...” She trailed off, breathless from his touch. Greg finally looked guilty. “I just want to look in. And then we’ll go.”His pride and joy just celebrated its third anniversary. It was the first Valentine’s Day he hadn’t been keeping an eagle eye on every member of staff. The faith he had in his staff was nothing short of religious. “We can stay if you want.”“No, I’ve booked us for a Michelin star meal.”“Darling, there’s no place better.” She turned and brushed her hands over the shoulders of his jacket. “I’m so proud of you. I don’t mind where we go. As long as you’re not working. And I get to tell you how much I love you.”The kiss he gave her... Shook her knees and dissolved her bones... God really had blessed her in so many ways. “I promise we’ll be in and out in five minutes.”Liar. He really should stop that too. He turned to collect his car keys and she slipped on her heels. “You didn’t touch your champagne.”Oh hell. She should have chucked it in the sink. “Um. I’ll have some tomorrow. You know I don’t like drinking on a Saturday.”He frowned at her briefly before holding out his hand. “All right then. Let’s go.”Liar. She really should stop that. Well she would. When she had two minutes to tell him that drinking was off the menu for the next nine months... 

Could You Be Loved?

Day 9 and we're bang on time for a little mature love. Notwithstanding threatening to knock someone out, Blessing, Vita's mum, is a woman who needs back up. With flowers and a decent cup of tea...


Blessing in Plain Sight © Billy London
Blessing left her grandson’s birthday party disappointed and sad. While she was grateful Tao had invited her, she couldn’t help her upset with Vita for not showing up, and proving that squawking woman wrong. Vita had always been slightly unbalanced, but her love for her child couldn’t be doubted. If only Tao’s mother understood – and stopped trying to force Catherine on Vita’s son. He didn’t need another mother. With a sigh, she made her way inside her home. “Blessing!” Someone called from behind her. She turned to see her fellow church goer, Preston standing by her gate, a huge bunch of flowers trembling in his hand. “What are you doing here?” She asked, delighted laughter lilting her voice. A man she considered a dear friend and her closest connection to God. If she ever needed prayers of good wishes, they would absolutely come from him. He glanced between Blessing and the flowers. “I just wanted to give you this. I don’t know if it’ll make any difference...”“Come in,” she insisted. “Let’s get off the street.”  She ushered him inside and closed the door away from prying eyes. Although it was Valentine’s Day, her neighbours would want to know why she had a strange man outside her home. She’d been single for so long, it’d be a shock to them. Preston sat awkwardly on her sofa, the flowers perched on his knees. “Shall I take those for you? Keep them in some water before you go?”He frowned at her. “Blessing, there’re for you!” She blinked. “Oh! Oh, well thank you.”He thrust them into her arms and remained seated. Blessing took them to the kitchen and filled a vase with lukewarm water. How strange. “Preston do you want a...”She made to go back to the living room and found him on his feet in the corridor. “I couldn’t hear you. That used to annoy my late wife. I’d never get up to see what she wanted.” He pointed to the hearing aid in his left ear. “Better now.”“Would you like a cup of tea?” She asked, not terribly interested in his late wife. As much as she doubted he was interested in her late husband. “Tea would be lovely,” he said a nervous smile crossing his face. Nice to know he had some physical defects; he was a handsome man. Boiling the water, she was surprised to see Preston take the tin of sugar and place a tea spoonful inside the vase. “Makes the flowers last.”“Wife?”“No it’s something the florist told me. Makes a world of difference.”“Oh I see,” she murmured, collecting two mugs. “Thank you for the flowers. What made you get them?”She glanced over her shoulder to see Preston tucking his hands into his pockets and rocking back on his heels. Repeating her question, he jumped slightly.“Because… You’ve been going through a lot. And I wanted you to know that you’re not alone and you’re cared about.”Blessing’s mouth lifted in an ironic smile. “You’ve been going over Daisy’s sermons with her?”Preston shook his head. “Just paying attention to them. It’s hard enough to take lessons from your children, let alone when they take religious orders.”She handed him a mug. “She’s a very good vicar. You should be proud of her.”“I am. And she says all the time how lucky she is to have your support.”For Blessing, finally having a woman leading a congregation in prayer, in confirmation, in communion, was nothing short of miraculous. Supporting Daisy was as easy as anything. Her father however… Different kettle of fish. “That’s sweet of her to say. I wish my own daughter would take my advice.”“Daisy can take your advice because you’re not her mum.” Preston explained, amusement in his tone. “She’s probably just about as stubborn as your Vita. From what you’ve said. Oh, now look,” he put his mug down and caught both of her hands. “You can’t do everything for your kids. Yes, life’d be easier. I wish Daisy’s brother would pull his finger out, but I can’t pick him up and put him in the right direction, like I did when he was three. You have to let her make her own mistakes.”Blessing could only nod, and tucked herself against Preston for a hug. Nothing solved the world like a cup of tea and a hug. He smells nice, she thought. Of lemon and musk. There was strength in his arms, in the breadth of his chest and the near thunderous beat of his heart in her ear. Taking a deep breath, she made to release him, but his arms simply tightened.“Just stay a bit.”“Your phone’s ringing.” She looked up at him and nodded towards the insistent buzzing from his jacket pocket. Standing so close to him, she noticed the kohl-like darkness of his lash line. He was still a very good looking man. Who was still holding her. Rather tightly.“It’s just Daisy,” he said, rolling his eyes. “She worries too much.”“She loves you.”He lifted a shoulder. “I’ve loved you for years. She can wait a damn minute.”“What just happened?” Blessing asked, blinking in shock. What did he just say?“I might have jumped the gun a little bit.” He looked like a little boy who’d been caught out. “I’ve told myself to be patient, wait until an appropriate time when you’re not struggling. But there’s never a right time. I want to be here for you. Not when it’s nice and convenient. But when times are tough.”Blessing smiled, so moved by his words. “This is about as nice and convenient as it’s going to be.”“I’m ready,” he said softly. “If you’ll have me.”Blessing tilted her head to kiss him. “Hmm. I think I will have you.” It’d been a while since she’d enjoyed the embrace of a man. Despite nearly knocking out his hearing aid and sending his mug of tea flying onto the lino, it was the happiest and most desirable Blessing had ever felt.

Love is Blindness

Day 8! How are we all? Still with me on the love train? I'm just trying to write everyone happy. Even the crazies...

La Vita Loca © Billy London 
Tao forced his eyes wide open, trying not to fall asleep. It’d been a few hours since his son’s godfather had abandoned the party, and Tao really resented the ease with which he’d left. Morten had dutifully showed up with presents and cupcakes from the artisan bakery down the road. He’d made conversation with Tao’s mother, Wen, girlfriend Catherine, and then announced, “I’ve had my fill of babies for the day. See yous later.”“You can’t leave!” Tao huffed, practically chasing him down the corridor, little Jiang in his arms.Morten had frowned in the direction of the bitching match taking place between Tao’s mother and mother in law. Could you have a mother in law if you never married?  “I’ve had enough of the Vita bashing. I’ve got a party to go to. Even if I didn’t, I’d invent something to go to. I’m not here for people to take down someone who can’t defend themselves.” As Tao felt a blush of shame heat his face, Morten bent down and kissed Jiang’s fat cheek. “Happy birthday, little dude. At the very least when you’re older this day will have so much more to give you.”“Morten!”His friend saluted him and left the house. Jiang looked up at Tao with a frown. He looked like his mother when he made that face. When Tao returned to the living room, Vita’s mother and his own were still going at it. Tao detoured into the kitchen, not wanting Jiang to be witness to any more fighting. He placed the baby in his high chair and placed a cupcake in front of him, cut up into manageable pieces. Jiang picked one up, examined it and threw it at his head. Catherine bent down to kiss Jiang’s cheek, but he moved swiftly to the side, his face contorted in horror. She leaned up and gave an embarrassed shrug. Jiang was still very attached to his mother, despite her three month disappearance. He felt bad that his son’s birthday happened to be on Valentine’s Day, and wished he could have done something nice for her as well. They had decided on having a nice quiet dinner on Sunday, watching the Awards Ceremony while Jiang was asleep. It also didn’t involve asking either of the insane women next door to babysit.“I got us a chicken for tomorrow,” Catherine said, turning back to the dishwasher and turning it on. “And a card.”He had a card for her upstairs and a small gift. Considering he’d spent everything on Jiang’s birthday. If only he’d met calm, serene Catherine before the insanity wheel that was Vita. “Sounds good,” he offered. “Let me just see if it’s calmed down next door.” He got to his feet and Jiang threw his arms up towards him. Obligingly, Tao picked up his son and entered the living room. The two women had come to some sort off standoff. Neither of them were talking to or looking at each other. Tao sat down with Jiang in his lap. The little boy wriggled off and started playing with the scattered wrapping paper. “I’m waiting,” his mother snapped. Tao lifted his eyebrows. “For what?”“You to tell this woman that she can’t just make demands on little Jiang.”“He needs as many people in his life as possible,” Tao said tiredly echoing what his solicitor had said to him. He hadn’t intended his son’s first birthday to turn out like this at all. At the most, he’d hoped that he and Vita could have come together and have something different, something memorable. Instead of a battleground with missing generals.  “And what about Catherine? What do you think she makes of all of this?”“She’s my girlfriend.”“She’s going to be your wife. Jiang’s mother,”Vita’s mother stormed to her feet. “If you say that once more, I’m going to knock you out. My grandson already has a mother.”“I don’t see her here,” Wen spat. The doorbell rang and rather than stop the fight train, he picked up Jiang again and answered the door.There wrapped in furs, a tumble of glossy black curls framing her face and a blaze of deep red lipstick, looking like a Dallas extra stood Vita. Jiang immediately reached for her. “Happy birthday, flower!” She cooed, burying her lips into Jiang’s ecstatic, chubby cheek. Tao stared at her. “What...”“Am I doing here?” Vita asked, rubbing the lipstick marks from Jiang’s skin. “I wasn’t going to miss his birthday.” She indicated the presents beside her. “He’s looking so beautiful, aren’t you?” Vita tickled Jiang and he glowed in her arms, laughing loudly. Tao glanced behind him, hoping that neither Catherine nor his mother would see her.“You need to go.”Vita made a face at Jiang and said, “I suppose so. Can’t keep him out in this cold. In any case, I wanted to give you fair warning.”“About what?”She sent him the look that had led him into her grasp in the first place. “I’m going to get him back.” Tao opened his mouth and Vita placed their son firmly into his arms, simultaneously pressing the most fearsome and deadly kiss on his lips. “You too.”“I’m engaged,” he growled at her, wiping his mouth. “You don’t get to upturn my life. Or his.”“Well, he’s my son, so I get to be in his life to upturn it as and when I please.” Vita placed all the presents inside the doorway. “As for you, it’s never stopped me before. Happy Valentine’s Day.”With an arch smile, she waved to Jiang who sensed her abandonment and burst into tears. Tao took him upstairs, with the presents from his mother. They all strangely were things he needed. Clothes for him to grow into, a little suit for occasions, jeans, jumpers, t-shirts, swimming trunks with arm bands as well, and a certificate holder for all his vaccinations. She had also enclosed a bracelet engraved with his date of birth. Catherine knocked on Jiang’s bed room door and entered. “Didn’t see you come up. Everything all right?”Tao looked up from Jiang’s tear stained face and nodded. “Of course. I just need a few.” She smiled and backed out of the room, closing the door.Inside one of the gift bags, sat a card addressed to him in Vita’s curvy, incendiary writing: I love you. Always and forever. Xxxxx Vita. Jiang took the card from his grasp and examined it carefully. “Mama,” he gurgled. “Is a pain in my arse,” Tao added. “And now we’re both in trouble.” 

Video Phone

It's been four years since this story was first published! I thought it only right to get it out for Valentine's Day, as it's one of my favourites. Rather naughty, if I say so myself. And in the same youthful vein, this is the soundtrack to the story of Courtney and Ryan:

@Last on Spotify

We Are Scientists Nobody Move, Nobody Get HurtBarry Manilow MandyGhostface Killah Ghost ShowersYann Tiersen La valse d'AmelieSkunk Anansie The Skank HeadsJordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown No AirSkunk Anansie SecretlyChuckle Let The Bass Kick In Miami BitchFrank Sinatra I've Got You Under My SkinKings of Leon NotionTrick Something In The WayDamien Rice DelicateHeart AloneBloc Party This Modern LoveJay Z 99 ProblemsSwedish House Mafia ft Pharrell One (Your Name)Skepta Hold On Vato Gonzalex Mix Rudenko Everybody Don Diablo RemixNero Promises Florence + The Machine Cosmic LoveM.I.A Paper PlanesMassive Attack PsycheMark Vincent Book Of LoveMumford & Sons Little Lion ManJay Z ft Alicia Keys Empire State Of Mind

Words of Love

Day 7! We've reached the halfway mark! Only a week to go until the big V-Day. If you're on your own, it's not the best time of year. And yet, it's always when one is looking in the other direction, the Prince Charming shaped bus turns up. Just for you...


Something Old Something New © Billy London
“We’re engaged!” Skye’s voice over Lou’s mobile, sent screams of joy through the air. Spontaneously, her friends began a conga line at Norbury station: “Skye is getting married! Skye is getting married! Nananana! Nananana!” They were on their way to a singles night in Waterloo, in an underground disused rail station. Skye had been patient in locking down Charlie. Through his career change, moving briefly back home to cover his debts and putting up with his clearly shagging flat mates, Kath and the gorgeously bearded Alex. Despite being labelled a waity-Katie, Lou was especially happy for her friend.“Lou!” Skye yelled. “Still there?”She took her off speaker-mode to answer the phone. “I’m here, my darling! I’m so happy for you, I could burst!”“Listen Lou, take me off speaker.”“You’re off bloody speaker, woman!”With a pause, Skye confessed, “You’re going to be my maid of honour. No one’s stuck by me like you. Love you Lou-Lou.”Lou’s throat thickened. How sweet! “Absolutely! Love you too! Go, go and enjoy Charlie, before you’re swept up by wedding shit.”“I’ll call you tomorrow! Have fun tonight.”Well fuck, nothing could top an engagement. With a smile, she followed her friends to the party. It’d been a while since Lou had found the energy to talk to men. Not after her own relationship had broken down eight months ago. People kept telling her to get back on the relationship bike, but God, if men weren’t hard work. Lou had an idea that her Prince Charming wouldn’t wander up to Waterloo for a singles party and she was proved right. It was filled with screeching, inebriated women and aged, balding pot-bellied men. No Cael Murphys and certainly no Tejan Dembeles. They’d better win awards tomorrow, she thought. Sexy beasts. Finding her limit with men her father’s age asking her if she wanted a drink, she escaped to the smoking area for a cheeky puff. Having sworn through January she was about to give up, it was slowly becoming one more thing she accepted she was addicted to. She really wanted a burger as well, but her dress was too tight for food. In the cold night air, her mind went automatically to her ex. Where she’d be if they hadn’t broken up. What they’d be doing tonight. Oh, she’d know exactly where they’d be. The Bella Donna for dinner and the Tropicana after. Nothing changes, and yet… Skye was getting married. Everyone was getting married. She was sure he was out with someone, or at least out with his friends. People he’d known since he was born and could never imagine not seeing every single day. Remember how that frustrated you, she told herself, looking at the thumbnail picture of him, named under Don’t You Dare Call Him. Her thumb hovered over the phone symbol. If she called him, she was back to square one.“Don’t do it.”Lou looked up to see where the hell that voice had come from. Oh. Oh my. Prince Charming had arrived. Perfect hair, chiselled jaw, tall, oh god, so tall and she was Amazonian herself. “Don’t do what?” She asked, cigarette dangling from her perfectly MAC lipsticked mouth. “Call whoever you’re going to call. Can I borrow one?” He nodded to the packet of cigarettes braced under her phone. She held it out to him and he graciously took one. Yum? Tick. Yum? Super tick. Yum? God please don’t let him have a small dick.He gazed at her underneath lashes so long, they were practically weaponised. “Who were you going to call? An ex?”“How’d you guess?”He gestured to her face. “I recognise that look. Who just got engaged?”“Oh my god, have you been following me?”He laughed. “Paranoid much? Listen, in the last eighteen months, four of my friends have got married. Three of them got engaged one after the other. Boom, boom, boom. Like an infection. And two just had a baby. I just escaped a first birthday party. Today. After all of that crap, someone had to give me a solid chat just so I wouldn’t do what you were about to. Call an ex. It won’t make you feel any better. Trust me.” He lit his cigarette with a heavy looking, chrome lighter and exhaled. “Am I right?”“Unfortunately,” she admitted, tucking her phone back into her bag.“So who got engaged?”“My oldest London friend.” Lou admitted. “I thought her boyfriend would keep her on the hook for another two years at least.”Prince Charming grinned. “Is that all you need? Two years?”“Thereabouts. I can’t marry someone I don’t know. A year’s not long enough to know someone.”“But do you ever really know someone?” His Hotness enquired, pointing the glowing end of the cigarette at her. “Take the ex you were going to call. Why’d you break up?”“He wanted to stay in our home town. Forever. Never leave.” The thought of staying somewhere so quiet to live like hermits until her head turned white made her soul scream for escape. “What about you?”“I think my ex and your ex should date. They probably are dating right now. Double dating with our cousins. And sheep.”“Stop.” She chided, fighting a smile.“I love this city,” he breathed out into the crisp February air. “I couldn’t imagine ever going back. Not for anyone. Well,” he cast her a sidelong glance. “Maybe for you.”Exsqueeze? “Why would you say that?”“You have the swag of London, purple hair, cool clothes, legs to the roof... But and don’t take this the wrong way... You remind me of everything I love about home.”Not today, Satan. Don’t present a man in front of me, who’ll clearly do what I did to my previous. “So if we got together, you know that’ll be the first thing to piss you off about me.”“Nah, it’ll be your hair.” He nodded to the shaved side of her head. She cracked up.“Sounds about right, yeah. What’s your name?”“Morten. Small town escapee.” Taking one last drag of the cigarette and held out his hand to her. “Come on. Let’s brave this farce for a few minutes and then we can go and get a burger.”Lou the cynic, Lou the practical, Lou who always looked a gift horse in the mouth, at that moment, fell hellishly in love. 

Timeless Love

Day 6! When it is Valentine's Day, we all have expectations. It's unavoidable. And there are things we really, really want to happen on that day - not just to share with our friends, but just something to positively reinforce our relationships. Skye knows this better than anyone. And she's going to wish she didn't...

Skye's Sabotage © Billy London
Charlie needed everything to come together. Kath promised she’d keep Alex and his Ebola virus in his room for the night, and Charlie could have the rest of the house to himself. He really didn’t think he’d be thirty-three and still living with flat mates. He didn’t think he’d be thirty-three and doing a lot of things. But finally what he wanted was falling into place. His digital company was taking off, he finally had enough money for a deposit on a house. Funnily enough, the house he wanted was owned by his current landlord, who was more than happy to sell to him. To keep as much money reserved for the house purchase, he decided to make dinner for his girlfriend and hope it’d be enough for her for Valentine’s Day, instead of something extravagant. She’d been so patient with him, she really deserved the best. He’d have to make up for it in the future. Kath had a 2009 bottle of Chianti she’d received from a parent at the end of last year and she’d off loaded it onto Charlie.“Red wine is the devil,” she proclaimed. He’d learned from cooking programmes to use wine one would drink in his sauces. Skye loved a spag bol and he’d got the recipe for the best from the owner of the local Italian. “Only because you’re a good customer. And I know you know it won’t be as good as mine.” He took a few too many fortifying sips of wine before his sweet girlfriend arrived. Calm the fuck down, he told himself sharply. Skye, despite having keys, knocked on the door. “Happy disease sounding day!” She cheered as soon as he opened the door to him. She reached up to kiss him on the lips. Her hands were bare and cold on his face, but she always warmed her palms on his cheeks. And not always on the one on his face. “Happy V day to you too. Have you been buying stuff?” He asked, looking down at the bags that sat on the doorstep.“I’m sorry, I know I said I wouldn’t but... Come on. How can anyone resist?” She pulled out a stuffed puppy wearing a striped vest. “He can pretend to be a guard dog for us until we can get our own one.”“Very good idea.” He kissed her, murmuring, “thank you. Get in here.” She picked up the bags and followed him into the kitchen.“Where’s everyone else?”“Out, out and upstairs probably having a cheeky shag,” he pointed to each of his flatmate’s rooms. “What else did you bring?”She held up a bottle of prosecco. “It was on sale, babe. I promise.”God, they would move into a house with empty boxes to sit on for the next twelve months. “Stop spending money!”He took her coat and sat her down. She babbled about her day and the excitement her own flat mates were experiencing for the day. Naughty as she was, it always felt natural and normal and right when they were together. He could listen to her babble on about anything and everything. She was adorable. Finally, he placed a warmed bowl of bolognese in front of her. With a flourish, he added chopped parsley, and edged a small dish of parmesan next to her bowl.“Smells incredible, Charl,” She sighed like a happy child from a TV advert. “You’re so good to me.”“And you are to me. Skye...” He began and she looked up, mouth full of spaghetti. “We’ve been together for four years and...”“Oh my god,” she mumbled around her food, the natural red hue of her cheeks slowly disappeared leaving her ashen.“Moving in together is the next step... What? Why are you making that face?”Skype blinked grabbing her glass of prosecco. “What face? I just burned the roof of my mouth.”She was disappointed. “Because mentioned moving in together?”Skye had a most beautifully expressive face. It was something he adored about her. He loved that she still after all this time, thought she could hide her feelings from him. Plus, she’d had a drink. Double fail. “I just... I’m sorry I thought you were going to propose... I got ahead of myself I know we’ve been talking about it a lot and I’m… I’m an idiot. I’m sorry. We need a house more than I need a ring.”Charlie nodded solemnly. “I’m sorry you said that.”“What? Why? Oh fuck I’ve messed it up.”He cleared his throat and removed the garlic bread from the oven. “A little.”“I’m sorry, babe I just got all those little twitchy signs from you and I promise I can wait... What’s on my garlic bread?”“Your ring,” he admitted, picking up the diamond band from the centre of the oven proof dish and examining it. “But you know... You said...”“Ignore what I said! Ignore ignore ignore and just...” She skipped a breath and placed her hands on the table for calm. “I won’t interrupt.”“Skye...”“I can’t believe you put my ring in the oven!” she yelped.“Skye…”“Yes I’ll marry you!” She squealed throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you to bits, you know?”Charlie threw his hands in the air. Sabotaged. Completely and utterly sabotaged. “How the hell are you going to tell this story? You didn’t let me finish?”Skye scattered kisses all over his face. “I always do. You can ask again later.” She lifted her head and beamed at him. “You’ll ask me again later, won’t you?”“Maybe when you’re passed out,” he suggested wryly. “I may get a word in edgewise.”

Make You Feel My Love

Day 5! It's not a proper Valentine's Day unless someone's getting a surprise...

Warming Up © Billy London

Coughing wildly, Alex listened to Kath answering her mobile outside his bedroom. “Hi Jules,” she fake-croaked. “No I’m still not better. Sorry.” Alex frowned at his flat mate as she balanced a tray on one hand and braced her phone between her cheek and her shoulder. What on earth was she doing? She didn’t need to be so nice to him. They were just flat mates these days. Nothing more than two or four used condoms one exuberant weekend.“Who asked you out?” Kath’s face changed into a more devilish expression. “Really?”She laid the tray on his lap and perched on the edge of the bed, pretending to stroke an imaginary beard thoughtfully. Stop it, he mouthed, trying not to laugh. She curled her eyebrows and posed like a catalogue model pointing to her watch and staring to the ceiling. Silly girl. “Thanks for covering Jules. I really appreciate it. I should be back at the school on Monday. It’s not bronchitis. Good luck with the DILF. Night.”Kath placed her mobile in her pocket and faced Alex expectantly. “Tah-dah!”“What’s all this?” he asked, clearing his throat. He felt appalling.“Recovery,” she announced. “Hot pepper soup. Hazel next door made it. For you. You know she’s a fan of your facial hair.” Kath waggled her eyebrows.Alex laughed, the sound still husky from his cough. “The power of the beard. But I’ve only got this flu because of you.”She snagged her bottom lip between her teeth. “So we’re back to this is your fault?”He decided to ignore that all together and focus on the soup. “Tuck in, right?” He took a spoonful of the soup and really did choke. His throat burned and ached. Kath made a face and grabbed the glass on the tray, holding it to his lips.“My god how much pepper is there in that?”“I think Hazel said four scotch bonnets. But she told me after I’d taken a sip so I could be wrong. It may be ten.” She took the tray from his lap, put the glass back on the tray and placed it on the floor. “Sorry.”He waved a hand in dismissal, certain his face had changed to the colour of a tomato. “Don’t worry. It’s fine. It was a nice idea. You don’t have to worry about me.” Her watching him made him uncomfortable. “If you want to go out, go out.”Kath’s face flickered with something he couldn’t read, before stood up briefly to close his door properly. Then, she nudged him to the left and lay down next to him on her front, raised on her elbows. “Go out for what? Everyone racks up the prices. If I wanted a burger at Lick The Plate, you know they’ve added a tenner to everything on the menu?” Scooting down further on the bed, she turned to the side, rested and arm over his waist and tucked her face into his bearded neck. Alex’s temperature instantly tripled. “Let’s stay here and watch Guardians of the Galaxy.”“We said...”The arm at his waist tightened around him. “You’re my friend first. And you’re ill. Therefore you’re not rational. Let’s just watch a film and when you’re better, we’ll get on with it.”I beg your damn pardon? “What? Nah, son, you don’t get to say that with pepper soup that almost killed me.”Kath started to laugh. “What do you want? Romance? My dear man, GoG is romance. But look.” Reaching over to the tray, she plonked a bottle of aloe vera juice on his lap. “There. I drew a heart on it.”“I’m not second choice for you because your friends are out with their boyfriends.” That had been their breaking point. Kath seemingly ashamed to be with him in front of her friends. It was easier to dismiss the times they’d fallen into bed as just sex and not the beginning of something that had to be stifled for appearances’ sake.Her lips tickled his jawline again. “Aloe vera is your favourite. You’re not a flowers kind of bloke, you’re allergic to chocolate, you’ve never seen the point of cards and I know you have a hard on for Chris Pratt.” He snorted with laughter. “You’re still ill. I’m not going anywhere.” She caught his gaze for him to see the honesty in her eyes. “Let’s just watch the film.”He scrambled for rationale. “What about everyone else?”“What about them?” Kath challenged his concerns as invalid, getting up to put the dvd in the machine. “They don’t care. You know what Charlie said the other day? ‘Why are you two dragging shit out like a soap opera?’”“Soap opera? Us? What the hell is he doing about Skye that isn’t a long running fucking serial?”Kath cuddled up to him again. “I know! The flaming cheek. Everyone knows I’m looking after you. So let’s just have a quiet night. Now cuddle me.” Curving his arm around her shoulders he settled her on his chest. His mouth automatically brushed over the top of her head, as the intro to 10cc’s Not In Love began. Okay. Maybe they meant about as much as a packet of condoms. Because somehow, even after the volcanic heat of the soup, Alex felt so much better. 

Shot Of Love

Day 4! Speeding along, aren't we? Since Art's a handful and a bit, I thought I'd be a bit nice to his poor dad in this story. He really deserves it!
Dance to Date © Billy London
Christian did wonder how he had a full head of hair, considering the trauma his eldest son insisted on putting him through. Art was a law unto himself. And if Art wanted something, he’d get it. Whether that was a place in halls in London, or living with Christian instead of his mother, just to wind said mother up, he was a young man very used to getting his own way. Art really wanted Patricia Lawson, and there truly was nothing to stop him chasing the girl.Christian had an idea his son harboured feelings for his ex-wife’s niece. Her name seemed to crop up a little too often for it to be coincidence. He confirmed his suspicions when Art, getting his rowing uniform washed with a free washing machine and drier, rushed to make himself look presentable.“Oi, aren’t you going to deal with your laundry?” Christian demanded, while Art brushed his hair into submission.“Nah, I’ve got better things to do.”“What?”“Mum’s left Patricia with the Golden Child.”“And what’s that got to do with you?” “Plenty,” Art threw back. “Now, I’m going to chase down a woman.” Art shrugged on a coat and gave him a dismissive look. “Give it a go.” No, he’d had enough of women for a life time. Watching his wife engage in a three-year affair, with a man married to a talented and connected sex-bomb, then having to drag said wife to court for money, as she’d left both children with Christian to deal with.His youngest son, Adam bundled down the stairs. “Come on, dad, let’s go!”Oh Christ, the school dance. Having never dealt with anything similar during his school years, he found it rather distasteful to distract the children in the middle of a term with something as vacuous as a Valentine’s Day dance. Christian reached for his coat and patted down the pockets for his car keys. No. That cheeky son of a... Art had stolen his keys. He angrily snatched up his phone while his fourteen year old waited impatiently by the door. “Arthur Christian McWorth, you get your skinny arse back here with those keys.”“Sorry dad,” Art didn’t sound a mite phased by his father’s fury. “I need to be able to get Patricia home. I have a feeling that mum’s going to be wasted when she comes back. She’ll be in no condition to drive her and at this time of night, I’m concerned for my potential girlfriend. She can’t get the bus.”Insidious little... “And what about your brother?”“He wants a girl too! He’ll understand!”“When’s your mother due back?” Christian asked, struggling to contain his temper. Art made a sound that he translated as I don’t know. “It’s about half eight now. I told her to get back in the next half an hour I can take Patricia out for dinner.”He had to be kidding. “Arthur!”“Yes?”“I’m cutting your allowance,” he snapped, ending the call with a vicious press of the screen.Adam commanded. “Dad just call Jules.”“Who?”“Jules. She’s Chloe’s mum. She’ll pick us up. She’s chaperoning too.” Brilliant, brilliant boy. The joy of having the numbers of all the parents in his son’s class made all the difference. Chloe’s mother, Jules happened to be a sharp, relatively patient, working divorcee. He hadn’t at all noticed that she was single, or that she was a bit too good looking for her own good.When he called, she made all the right noises of sympathy only to say, “I’m already here Christian. I wish you’d called earlier.”“Sorry, I didn’t know my degenerate son was going to rob my car keys.”“Get the bus, and when the dance finishes, I’ll drop you back home. Deal?”“I really appreciate it.”Sighing in impatience, he picked up the house keys and walked with his son to the bus stop. Adam stuffed his hands into his pockets and shook his head at Christian. “You need to be tougher with Art. He gets away with so much shit.”“Don’t say shit.”“It’s true though.”When they finally arrived, the party was in full swing, Rizzle Kicks blasting in what doubled as their gym, streamers and hearts raining from the ceiling. Adam shrugged off his coat, and pointed at him. “Don’t embarrass me. See you later.”He disappeared into the throng of the party with his friends. Standing in the gym awkwardly, he saw Jules handing out glasses of pink lemonade and followed her welcoming smile like a gingerbread trail.“Isn’t this fucking awful?” Jules confided, handing him a plastic cup.She looked gorgeous, shiny curls pinned in a forties style matching the high necked shift dress and polka dot heels. “It’s not great,” he agreed taking a sip of the lemonade. “How are you managing?”She double tapped her phone. “Kim Kardashian phone game. Spending the five pounds a week child support I get.” She saw his facial expression change and explained, “What else will I do with a fiver?”As a man terribly burned by his ex-wife’s miniscule payments until he took her to court, Christian was probably one of the only men who’d agree with her. “I used to have a shop in Waitrose on the money I got. Once a month. Just because I knew she’d see my bank statements and it’d piss her off.”Jules grinned and held out a cup to his to toast. “To pissing off our exes.”He put down his cup and asked honestly, “No plans for you tonight?”“Just keeping an eye on my pride and joy.”He followed her gaze to her three children, all with a year between them, dancing in the centre of the gym. They were more than old enough and cheeky enough, if their mother was anything to go by, to put off a range of ‘discerning males’. Give it a go, Art told him. What could it hurt?“Do you want to go out? Make up for it?”Jules’s perfectly arched eyebrows arched even further. He hurriedly explained. “I mean my eldest son, he owes me a favour. So he could keep an eye on the pride and joy and we could have a quiet drink. Or meal. Fuck it’s a meal isn’t it? I’m so out of practice.”She put a hand over his, warm and reassuring. “It’s a drink. Or a meal. Or whatever you want it to be. Given I am fed up of the sight of my kids for a weekend, whatever would be properly lovely. Thank you.”He took another sip of his lemonade, ignoring the shakes of excitement that rattled the ice cubes in the cup. Look at him. Chasing down a woman...