Free LAD: A British Bad Boy Romance Novel (Bad Boys of London Book 1) by Emilia Holland Page A

“I’m…I’m spending time with my friends tomorrow,” she said. “I told you this is our vacation. We’re on the bus tour and I don't think I—“ In a moment, I turned to quiet her. I pressed my finger to her lips and leaned in close, cutting her off before she had a chance to refuse me, unable to hear her deny me again.  

    “Be at the London Eye at noon. I’ll find you,” I said. “Get back inside.” She offered me that familiar look of silent disorientation and confusion. I knew that she would be there when I told her to be.

    And after a moment of perplexed lingering, she disappeared with my jacket still around her shoulders. I crushed out my cigarette and decided to call it a night. My moment with Hayley hadn’t been as physical as I’d initially anticipated but I enjoyed it nonetheless and I know she’d be sleeping tight in my item of clothing tonight.

— 9 —  

    I entered back into the club, unsure about whether or not I should tell the girls what happened. My instincts told me that it wasn’t a good idea. He still had me buckled into his rollercoaster way of courting me if that’s even what you’d call this curious business. He did frighten me but in the most exciting way. He was like a mystery novel, a page-turner, something I didn’t want to put down because every time he pushed me away he’d pull me back in again. It was a tango of seduction and I was intrigued.

    “You were gone a long time.” Kristen sipped back the last of her third five-quid mojito of the evening. “We contemplated following, but we know how weird you get with pooping in public and decided to give you a few extra minutes.”

    I elbowed her ribs then stole a pinch of fries from the fish and chip basket they’d ordered in my absence. This gave me time to come up with some excuse why I took so long. “So, anyway, Ako,” Kirsten continued. “If you go onto Wikipedia and then search…” They carried on their conversation giving me mental capacity to settle into what this all meant.

    Felix followed me here.

    Should I be creeped out by him at this point? Yeah. I definitely should be creeped out by him at this point. But it seemed like he knew every move to make and exactly how far to push it with me before he pulled back again. The rapist in the hallway on the other hand, now he hadn’t been quite so aware.

    I swallowed down a gluey, vinegary lump of chips until Kristen pried again. “Who’s jacket is that?”

    My eyes opened wide. Enshrouded in the warmth and memory of Felix, I had forgotten to return his well-worn leather jacket back to him. “Oh, uh…Uh…” I stuttered. “Some drunk dude gave it to me back there. Saw I was freezing.”

    Kristen buried her face into the collar and inhaled. “Oh! It smells fucking incredible,” she said through a mouthful of fish. “Ako, dude, smell this thing. That’s smells sexy as fuck. Who’s the owner? Is he here?” She craned her neck like some drunk giraffe until I wrapped my arms around her shoulders to defer her. There was a chance my stalker hadn’t completely left me in peace yet. No way I’d live this down if she saw him here.

    “He left, babe. You’ll have to keep scouting. Plus, don’t worry, he wasn’t that cute and looked about seventeen.”

    “Oh, ew.”

    Phew! I thought. What a save!

    I managed to distract her from further questioning which, in turn, let me return to basking in the forbidden comfort of his jacket. I thought about him again; About him walking away right now, imagining me loving it around me as much as I did. I bet he’d love that. I wonder if he was thinking about the kiss, as well.  

    “Grab more fries while they’re still warm. We need to start planning for tomorrow before it gets too late.” Ako took out her trusty notepad and pen.  

    “No!” Kristen gave Ako her look of utter dissatisfaction, the kind a pet gives you when you take it to the vet.  

    “Relax. The days are gonna go by fast. If we