“Tri… Stan.” she muttered under her breath obviously because she had not expected to see Tristan there at the moment.
He had hung up the phone on her and then Jasper suggested they walk around and at least get her a feel among every other person there present. He was showing her people and making introductions while she tried to keep her troubled mind still as all she could think of and wonder about was Tristan. Successfully, he had clouded her thoughts and emotions and even more since he hung up on her. Questions on her mind were rallied on one point; perhaps he was mad at her but she could not fathom why. Certainly he was not expecting her to start turning down people for her with her family included. They were not even an item and she was certain he saw her as nothing more.
Did she want more with Tristan? Of course she did. That was basically everything Claire Willows could wish for at this point. His not asking her to be his woman was driving her crazy as she wondered how she would be able to face him going forward. She would just have to find a way to live through it or she might cause herself serious heartache with her wishful thinking. But then why on earth did he have to go and strike that chord in her little heart knowing how weak a woman she was already. Anyone could tell she was such a woman with no priorities set straight. Tristan included. Jasper was trying all he could to get her to flow and even tried to get her to dance. Alas, Claire was no dancer and he ceased pestering her for one. She could tell with his body language what he wanted. She might be dumb but certainly not stupid and it was something she could not give him. She was way older and he would soon get off his lousy childhood fantasy. Among his peers, there were a lot of them who were dying for his attention and no doubt they seeing her close to him right now would be snarling at her like wolves in a pack. In the course of their little tour, her phone had begun ringing again and she brought it out to look. It was Tristan and just when she would pick, Jasper had snatched the phone away from her hands.
Claire asked him to give it back but he would not. He stated how he had asked her there for fun and not for work. Her boss could wait, he had said. If only he and she included had the slightest idea that her beloved boss was on his way to the beach, then they might have had a rethink. When it ceased ringing, Jasper asked if they could now have the fun time they had come to have but before she could give him an answer, her phone started out on another ringing session. Claire tried to get the phone but he raised it above his head. He was taller than her by all means causing her to jump and reach for her phone. She kept pleading and reaching like her life depends on it while Jasper only saw it as fun. Next time, she certainly was going to draw up boundaries so he understands that she was not one for such trivialities. All she wanted right now was her phone as she somehow had a feeling that hell was going to break loose if she misses those calls. It would play out like she was intentionally ignoring Tristan’s calls.
She was not sure why all of the sudden she cared much less thought about what his reactions would be but she had this tugging feeling within her. It was not until she heard him thunder her surname that she shook and followed the sound. Alas, Tristan Jenkins stood there glaring at her like some rabid dog. She blinked twice to make sure she was not imagining things and then she saw people taking pictures and that Jasper had brought his hands down staring. That was when she confirmed that he was indeed standing there before her and mad as an hornet. He was walking towards them now, his gaze fixed sternly on Jasper. He stood just in front of them and put out his hands.
“Phone.” he demanded from Jasper who handed it to him with so much fear.
Tristan then turned to her and looked her down without handing her the phone. He sure as hell looked pretty much disappointed with her and suddenly grabbed her by the hands and started leading them out of the beach with everyone still staring. Claire shielded her face with her hands when Tristan suddenly stopped moving. She had not been looking as he was leading her obviously which was why she stumbled into his back.
“Where are you taking my sister?” that was Andrew’s voice. Claire felt a hint of pride that her family was stepping up for her. It was something she had not been privileged to see in her years of living after her parents separation. The glow and pride especially as he had referred to her directly as his sister but Tristan was already ruffled up.
“Step aside boy.” he said to Andrew
“Su-sure. Are you okay Claire?” Andrew stammered
“It okay Drew.” she managed to say.
Tristan smirked at the boy triumphantly as he once again started out with leading her away. He wanted to punish her for letting that little boy benefit from the warmth of her body but held it all in as he still held her hands. He walked briskly ignoring the crowd of persons staring at him and the clicks around from phones and cameras. Thinking about it right now, it was a good thing they did so. Obviously it would be he and Claire on the news and that means everyone would keep their distance away know she was his woman. He might just have killed two birds with one stone. He got to his car and dragged her to the passengers side and opened the door.
“Get in.” he said to her
“Where are we…” she began but he cut her off short
“Not another word.” he warned her.
Quietly, Claire entered the car and he went around to his own side. Tristan said nothing to her as he put the vehicle in motion and started away from the beach. He had just made a turn when he noticed she did not have her seatbelt on. He stopped the car and reached over to pull the belt over her. As he neared her bosom, he felt anger surge in again as he recalled how they had been brushing against that young boy he had seen earlier. Tristan started driving immediately to prevent him from going back and committing assault on a kid over a woman with no self control. He punched in his destination on his map and started out quickly. The speed was a die for but he had it all under control. From time to time he would take glances at her and see the fear in her eyes. Yes, that’s what he wanted. He was trying to tell her straight on that he was not going to watch her play games on him by having fun times with any other man. She would try to scream and warn him against an oncoming car but he would always pass easily. He had not driven like this in a really long time. The last had been with his boy band when they had their numerous fun but now, he was mad. Tristan kept driving until he pulled up on a lonely path. It was somewhere he had been to only twice to clear his thoughts and the area was pretty much lonely. He stopped the car beside the road and turned to look at her breathing really hard. She quickly unbuckled the seat belt and stepped out of the car to puke. Tristan reached over to the back and grabbed a bottle of water as he got off and around to hand it to her. Claire finished and took it to rinse her mouth and then drank a little. She straightened up now, catching her breath as she stared him to death with her eyes. He smiled.
“What was that for?” she demanded
“That? That was fun.” he replied
“Fun? You could have gotten us killed!!!” she screamed as tears started streaming down her cheeks
“Then you should have answered your phone when I called you.” he said
“Wait. All this over phone call?” she asked
“Yes. You were supposed to be home resting.” he sort of reminded her
“My brother needed me out with him.” she said
“Certainly not your brother you were frolicking with when I caught you.” he accused
“Frolicking? Caught? Jasper is Andrew’s friend.” she said
“And you rub bodies with Andrew’s friend?” Tristan asked him mimicking her voice now
“You’re unbelievable. What does it matter to you?” she demanded
“What it matters to me is that I would not have what’s mine in the arms of another.” he stated vehemently and then went back into the car slamming the door behind him.
Claire county not believe her ears at what she had just heard. Did he just refer to her as ‘mine.’ Perhaps she had heard wrongly but she was sure now that this was not over yet. She needed to be clear on what he had just said and slowly got back into the car to see a fuming Tristan.