"Is it seriously taking you longer to get ready?" I leaned against the doorframe of my master bathroom and shook my head incredulously. It had been a couple of days since Alex had arrived in Minnesota and today we spent the whole day driving around Minneapolis and St. Paul, stopping by museums and random shopping centers. Against my wishes, Alex had purchased several things for me, claiming they were late birthday presents. I was actually wearing one of those presents for our night out. A teal dress that ended just above my knees with an empire waist. The skirt was pleated into an accordian style, which was something very different for me. The straps that rested against my shoulders were accentuated with some beadwork and a simple bow was placed on the left strap and gently decorated with rhinestones. Black wedge shoes completed the look along with my mothers favorite diamond drop earrings (instead of my own blue and pink capture rings) and my cross necklace. Makeup was a little more work than usual and I made sure to put on the new lip gloss I had received from Avon that he seemed to love.
"Patience is a virtue," Alex quipped as he gelled his locks into a short mohawk. God, I loved when he did that to his hair and didn't hide it with baseball caps, fedoras and newsboy hats. Not that I mind him wearing those! I just like seeing more of his natural self. He changed his earrings as well; they were the small-ish black spirals that ended in a spike while the second holes held diamond studs. Needless to say, this was a dress-up night.
"Something I don't have nor care to," I replied with a sigh. Now he moved onto his 'guyliner', as he called it. "Don't put a lot of that stuff on. It hides your eyes. Just do it lightly... like Johnny Depp or Jared Leto."
"You sound like a boyfriend talking to his girlfriend."
"I feel like a boyfriend talking to his girlfriend."
"What an odd relationship we would have with the roles reversed," He chuckled, going with my wishes and putting on only a tad of guyliner. Placing the pencil back in his bag, he spritzed himself with some Nautica cologne and turned to face me. "How do I look?"
"You know you look good," I teased, slinking towards him and wrapping my arms around his waist. I looked up into his eyes and smiled softly. He had chosen to wear a black hoody type sweater with cargo khaki pants and sneakers. No sunglasses and no hat. My idea of perfection.
"True... but the ego always could use some more stroking--"
"Innuendos later, Alex. Spin gets crowded early, we really need to go."
"Can't I compliment you before that?"
"If you must," I sighed heavily. Compliments weren't something I was used to, especially from someone like Alex. He was surrounded by women who were twenty times more beautiful than I was and yet he always said I looked more beautiful than they. It's not that I don't believe him... I just don't see what he sees.
"You make it sound like I'm going to torture you," He chuckled, running his fingers through my iron-straight locks.
"Well it's certainly not the good torture you're an expert at."
"Innuendos later, Cayla."
"Yeah, yeah, shut up and compliment me."
"So pushy."
"You like it."
"Indeed I do," He smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "But you do look fantastic. I'll have to keep an eye out for the wolves so they don't descend upon you."
"Thanks. Read Twilight much?"
"Only because you told me to!"
"Oh c'mon, I know you're Team Edward," I continued, pulling away to grab my slim purse. Slinging it over my shoulders, I offered my hand. "We're going to be late."
"I don't know who's worse when it comes to puncuality. You, Kev or Marcus."
"I'll take that as another compliment."
"You would," Alex scoffed as we walked towards the front door, passing Marcus along the way. He was resting on the couch, reading a random book. "See you later, man."
"Are you sure you don't want me to come along?"
"You were with us all day. Take a break for once, I'm sure Alex gets on your nerves," I declined, smiling as I rubbed his beefy shoulder.
"I'm right here!"
"I know."
"You'll call if anything happens?"
"Of course. But nothing is going to happen. We'll be careful."
"...Alright. You kids have fun."
"I'll bring her home before midnight, old man," Alex replied with a thumbs up and a wink, causing Marcus to narrow his eyes.
"Remember. I've worked with you for many years. Blackmail can be a wonderous thing for someone like myself."
"Babe, c'mon," I groaned, pulling on AJ's hand. "See you later, Marcus!"
"Later," he simply responded as I closed the door behind us. I knew that this battle between them was far from over. Until then, I was determined to have some fun with Alex. Plucking the car keys out of my purse, we were soon buckled inside the car and on the way to the popular nightclub in Minneapolis. Turning on the stereo, Thunder Rolls from Garth Brook's live CD began to play and I began to sing softly.
"You should sing more often," Alex spoke up, reaching to hold my free hand as I switched lanes on the freeway.
"I'm surprised your ears aren't bleeding," I laughed.
"Why? You have a great singing voice."
"Compared to other singers? I doubt it--"
"You don't need a bravado to be a good singer, Cay."
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"When it comes to complimenting you, of course I'm serious."
"Thank you. I just like singing along to music in the car," I shrugged with a smile, kissing his cheek as the exit came up. Soon we were on the main roads for downtown Minneapolis and getting closer to Spin. I just hope he enjoyed it. Compared to clubs in Orlando and Los Angeles, I wasn't sure if it would be as exciting.
"You're welcome."
"I will laugh my ass off if you're recognized here," I joked, pulling into the valet parking area for the club. Carefully climbing out of the car, Alex came around to my side and threaded my arm through his.
"I'm not concerned one way or the other," he shrugged easily.
"Such a brave man," I sighed dramatically, giggling when he gently poked my side as we stepped onto the curb and towards the front door where an employee was checking ID's. Without any fuss, we were carded and then quickly ushered inside the warm building. Goosebumps raised over my arms from the drastic temperature change and I rubbed them away.
"You can't honestly be cold right now?" Alex questioned, his brows raising characteristically.
"Never had goosebumps before?" I replied, raising my brows back in return.
"Shut up," he growled playfully.
"Touchy, touchy," Clicking my tongue, I grapsed his hand and pulled him out to the dance floor. Cyclone was thumping through the speakers and the bass was vibrating down to my core. I was determined to make him just as antsy as he makes me.
"Well, you know, I have been known to be a rather touchy guy," he smirked down at me, intentionally moving his hands slowly down my sides to rest just at the crest of my hip once we were finally settled on the dance floor.
"I think I know that better than anyone in this club," I replied, looping my arms around his neck as I began to sway my hips to the beat against his hands.
"Touche," he murmured thoughtfully to the point where I almost couldn't hear him over the music. Cocking my head to the side in slight confusion, Alex merely shook his head to dismiss his comment and squeezed my hips, bringing them closer to his as the beat increased in speed.
"I'm sorry if this club isn't as exciting as ones in LA..." I trailed off, my chest brushing against his as I leaned up to kiss him under the chin.
"Contrary to popular belief, I am capable of being satisfied with less than spectacluar things," he started to answer with a light laughter. "Not that I don't think this place is great. And it matters more that I am here with you, as opposed to the appeal of the place."
"I just want you to have a good vacation..."
"I'm with you. That's enough for a good vacation."
"Alex," I groaned, pulling my eyes away from his.
"Cayla," he cupped my cheek and brought our gazes back together. "I mean it."
"You could have gone anywhere."
"True, but I came here, because I wanted to."
"Braved the Minnesota elements just for me?"
"Just for you," he chuckled, running his fingers through my locks. "Now, are you going to show me you can dance or am I going to have to do all the work?"
"You mean show me up?" I snorted at him.
"You think you can keep up?"
"I should be asking you that question, sir."
"Quite the confidence-" I quickly cut off his sentence as I began to do some of my best dance moves I had learned over the years of clubbing. My hips gyrated against his in a fluid, popping motion and it took all I could not to smirk with amusement at his surprise.
"Alright, I take back any doubt I had," Alex suddenly laughed, the grip upon my hips tighening.
"Good idea," I smiled, using the swaying motion once again to slide down the front of his body.
"Don't go getting naughty on me just yet-"
"Do mine ears deceive me? Alex McLean is telling me to slow down?" I mocked, easily bringing myself back up to my full height. "And here I thought he'd show me a thing or two-"
"Rest assured that I can show you a thing or two, my dear," Alex growled in my ear before I felt the soft and warm sensation of his lips nipping at my ear lobe. "But I assume you were talking about dancing, which I can still show you a thing or two. But the other activities aren't exactly the most proper thing to be doing out in the open. I hear the police frown on things like that."
"Does it look like I give a damn?" I grunted in frustration as the pads of his fingertips barely grazed the sides of my neck and I couldn't help but shiver with delight.
"As enticing as that statement was, I would rather have you all alone-"
"Why do you insist on teasing me, Alexander?"
"Because I love to see your eyes darken like the skies during a storm," he replied simply, keeping his lips close to my ear. "And the way your cheeks turn red. It makes me think about when you wake up beside me after a night of fucking wild sex."
"We could have stayed home tonight-" I started to squeak when he pulled me even tighter against his body. The smell of his cologne was overwhelming to my senses and I felt the breath sharply catch in my chest. "Alex-"
"Anticipation always makes such activities always worth the wait that much more."
"Only I would become so close to the smoothest Rico Suave... not to mention the worst tease," I moaned as he ground his hips against mine and slowly danced to the music. He pressed his hand against the small of my back and before I knew what was going on, I was leaning backwards while still dancing. Think like Johnny Castle and Baby in Dirty Dancing. By the time he brought me back up, I was breathless once more. "Holy shit..."
"And you were worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with you," he snorted with a sharp laughter.
"I think I officially hate you."
"No you don't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know."
"How?" I challenged.
"You wouldn't be challenging me on the subject so much otherwise."
"Since when did you become so wise?"
"Since meeting you. I don't know if I ever told you, but you've been... well... a good influence on me. At least, that's what Brian and Howie tell me. Nick just keeps asking if he can bang you-"
"Nick is a pervert who is incapable of thinking properly without using the head that is located between his legs," I scowled.
"Baby, I don't blame him. Don't worry, he's been smacked enough to keep those thoughts to himself... and never act on it," Alex promised, pressing a small kiss on my lips.
I sighed against the show of affection, my heart fluttering rapidly. "I'll never understand him. Does he really think his perverness is attractive?"
"It's smarter if you learn not to question it. Just accept it and move on. Besides, as far as I know, you didn't bring me here tonight to talk about Nick and I'll be damned if I let the fucker be the reason why my night gets ruined."
"Well... what do you think of the club?" I slightly changed the subject as the DJ spun a new song.
"It has a cool vibe to it. Not to mention it's nice that there aren't photographers following me around, trying to get a snapshot of me slipping and ordering a beer or something."
"Do I sense some bitterness in your voice, Mr. McLean?" I questioned, frowning at the way he tensed. But I understood he had every reason to tense at the subject. The paparazzi were a vicious pack of wolves that were relentless on stalking their prey for the right photograph that would earn them their next dollar, which usually that meant going to any lengths necessary to achieve such a photo. Alex had never been an exception to that rule and had experienced more than his fair share of harrassment from the paparazzi over the years.
"Whatever would make you think that?" Alex muttered, sighing heavily as he looked away.
"Hey..." I cupped his cheek and gave him a reassuring smile. "The next time they bother you, I'll just kick their ass with karate."
"You know karate?"
"I learned from the master; Mr. Miyagi. I've watched The Karate Kid hundreds of times."
"Your kung foo is no match for the paparazzi, dear."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive," he kissed me once more and offered a crooked smile. "But thank you for the offer, Love."
"Somehow I feel I should be offended that you doubt me..."
"What can I do to make you feel otherwise?"
"Well..."
"Well?"
"How about you surprise me?"
"I think you rely too much on my creativity when it comes to sexual exploration," Alex clicked his tongue in disappointment as we began moving across the dance floor towards a darker part of the club.
"You've yet to disappointment me..." I trailed.
"Oh, and I will never disappoint," he continued, turning to actually pin me against the wall. "I can guaran-fucking-tee that."
"Is that so?" I challenged him, my eyes narrowing.
"You know it's so," he chuckled, moving closer to every inch of our bodies were touching.
"Maybe you should give a demonstration," I egged him on, smirking at the way the creases at the corners of his eyes that showed his surprise became more defined.
"Are you sure you can handle that?"
"After spending nights screaming your name? I'm sure I can," I smirked, running my fingers up and down his spine. A gasp escaped my lips when he arched agains me.
"Don't ask for more than you can handle," Alex growled into my ear, arching against me once more until the point that I couldn't move.
"Fucking Hell," I groaned, biting hard on my bottom lip. Maybe I had taken more than I could-- no! I could handle anything he threw at me. At least, that's what I told myself.
"What's wrong?" Alex chuckled further when I started to slip part way down the wall and he had to grab hold of my arms just to keep me steady as he latched his lips onto the side of my neck for a tender suckle. Damn myself for my weakening knees and damn him for being right.
"N-Nothing," I stammered, waves of passion flowing through my body. I didn't care where we were. I didn't care what he said. "I n-need you."
"In a public place? Cayla Rose Baker..."
"You're two notes short of doing it to me against this wall-"
"I don't think people would want to see my naked, hairy ass-"
"I'll get you a damn razor," I interrupted, losing my breath for a moment when I felt his hand travel up my thigh under the skirt of my dress.
"Seems to me like you won't be able to wait the time it takes to go get me a razor."
"You're driving me crazy, Alexander," I whimpered, my fingers entwined through his locks.
"I'm driving YOU crazy?" he grunted as he buried his face into the crook of my neck.
"God yes," Another squeak escaped my lips as I felt more of his suckles and nips.
"Then you obviously have NO idea what you are doing to me."
"How about you show me? They don't monitor the bathrooms..."
"Are you serious?" he suddenly laughed in my ear, tongue moving over the angle of my jaw so he could nibble on my earlobe, flicking his tongue rapidly through the hole of my golden hoop earrings.
"Dead serious," I breathed raggedly, my nails running deep lines down the back of his sweater towards his backside for a squeeze.
"Guess we don't need the razor then," he decided with a wry grin against the side of my face, hands sliding down to give my backside a firm slap. When I jerked against him with surprise, he reached to grasp my hands and propel me in the direction of the nearest bathroom.
"Thank God we made Marcus stay at home," I gasped as he closed and locked the door behind us. I was pinned against the wall once more. His hand grasped my right leg and I instinctively wrapped it around his waist. I knew we shouldn't be doing this if friendship was all we had. But damnit, he makes me feel things I have never felt before and I was not going to stop.
"Damn straight," he rallied, delicate fingers pushing up the hem of my skirt till it settled over the crest of my hips. His lips were urgently seeking mine, darting his tongue over my bottom lip before delving into my mouth for a taste of sin.
"Oh, Alex," I moaned against his kisses. A louder moan came when his lips latched onto the hollow of my throat. I pulled on his locks as he trailed down towards the crevice between my breasts.
"God Cayla," he groaned as his tongue flickered between my breasts. "You taste so fucking sweet."
"Not as sweet as you," I grunted, pulling on the hem of his shirt. It was thrown behind us in some unknown destination. My fingertips trailed all over his tattoos. I leaned in and ran my tongue over the skull-rose tattoo against the side of his neck.
"Jesus," he whined in surprise, arching against me.
"You like that, Baby?" I whispered against his heated skin, allowing my tongue to trail across his collarbone and down the middle of his chest.
"So much," he rasped, nibbling on the tip of my ear as his fingers moved over the heat of my slickening panties.
"Fuck," I cursed, throwing my head back with a groan.
"Do you like that?" he teased, lightly probing my hot slit with just his index finger, working the fabric over me to create a delightful friction.
"God yes. So much," I whimpered, biting hard on my bottom lip as I looked into his eyes. "Please..."
"Please what?"
"Fuck me," I gasped, tilting my hips forward to meet the eagerness of his finger.
"How bad do you want it?" he continued to torture me and my breathing became heavy.
"So fucking bad... please," my hand reached down and cupped the burdoning erection that was pressing against his khakis.
"Shit!" Alex hissed, his hand shooting out to brace himself against the wall when I intentionally squeezed him with hopes of delivering the same torture in return. As much as I enjoyed what he was doing to me, there was no way I was going to allow him to get away with a one sided hand dealt. And I knew I was having my way with him when he yanked his other hand away from me and hastily fumbled in an attempt to unbutton and unzip his pants. Biting my bottom lip, I watched him struggle, the humor clearly apparent on my face, and finally deciding he'd suffered enough, I brushed his hand out of the way and easily finished the task. Dancing the soft pads of my finger tips just along the rim of his boxers, I sensually dipped my hand inside.
"Oh, Cayla... fuck..." Alex's eyes fluttered closed and his hand clenched into a fist that rested against the wall.
"Too much?" I purred against him as I trailed my hand lower and found his warm erection pulsing with heat and anxious to be unsheathed. Wrapping my fingers around it, I gave him a firm, but tender stroking.
"Yes, but... God... please don't stop," Alex immediately latched his lips onto my neck, suckling hard enough to leave a mark. I moaned loudly, but kept the pace of my hand going up and down his hardening erection.
"Why would I want to stop?" I teased him and found the words abruptly sticking in my throat when I felt his fingers toying with the lining of my panties again before two of them slipped inside my moist center. The loud moan flew from my mouth as my inner walls contracted around his massaging fingers and I nearly fell slack at the knees. "Alex-"
"Two can play at that game," Alex teased back, reaching out to keep me standing. His fingers began to roughly thrust in and out. I moaned again, clenching my fingernails into his arm.
"Oh shit!" I whimpered, burying my face into the crook of his neck and idly clenching my hand around his throbbing erection.
"If you're going to play with fire, Babe, chances are you're going to get burned," he growled in my ear, his fingers twisting in a pumping motion to massage my inner walls into a contracting fury.
"You're driving me crazy!" I cried out, my fingers tightening around his erection and speeding up the motion.
"Aint that the point?" he grunted, sinking his teeth lightly against my bare shoulder as he bucked his hips forward.
"Oh fucking Hell!" I gasped, licking my lips. "I'm going to come-"
Alex pulled away from me before I could say another word, roughly yanked his pants and boxers down around his ankles, and hoisted me into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist for support as he kept me pinned against the wall. Barely taking a glance at his dark lustful eyes, I felt him plunge into me with a groan of delight.
"ALEX!" I nearly screamed, thankful in the back of my mind for the loud music in the club as I instinctively tightened around his length and squeezed my legs.
"Good God!" he sputtered pathetically, grinding his hips against mine as he continued to pump in and out of my center, at times pulling almost entirely out and driving back in with uncontainable force.
"Alex, you're so good," I whimpered, bringing our lips together for a crushing kiss. A couple of nights before, I learned it turned Alex on even more to talk dirty, so I decided to try it out. "I can just imagine people waiting outside... and we're in here, fucking each other's brains out..."
"Cayla..." he panted.
"I used to be such an innocent girl-oh shit!" I moaned as he rotated his hips and thrusted back into a spot that caused pleasure to shoot throughout my body. I pressed myself closer to him and began to thrust down with my hips as he went up. "You've turned me into some random whore who fucks her friend in a club bathroom."
"You're my random whore," Alex assured me with a wheezing tight laugh. "And as long as I get to be that friend, please, by all means continue to fuck me!"
"You will always be the friend I want to fuck," I promised, giving a smile. And the only one. I thought. This seemed to only fuel Alex's desire as he increased the speed and depth of his thrusts.
"You're amazing," Alex breathed at me, his voice husky with concentration. "So fucking amazing-"
"Not as amazing as you," I interrupted any more compliments, taking my chance to suck on the vein he was oh-so-famous for on the side of his neck. He thrusted faster than before, driving himself deeper into me than he ever had and drawing us both closer to our impending orgasms. God, I needed the sweet relief he was so readily willing to supply and I dug my nails into his back, dragging them along the soft, tattooed skin. "Faster, Alex-"
"I fucking love you," he rasped, demanding my lips as he complied and went faster. I whimpered into his mouth, my numb brain barely registering his declaration. "I need you to come with me, Cayla."
"Please make me," I begged pathetically. "I need to- Alex, oh damn-"
"Cayla," my name came out as a growl and caused me to shudder as I looked into his eyes. That molten chocolate which made me fall for him even more, no matter how much I tried to deny it. I threw my head back as he thrusted harder and buried his face into my cleavage. I felt his lips, tongue and teeth graze over the skin and I groaned. With a final, unsteady thrust, I felt immediately as Alex burst within me, the throes of his orgasm dragging me beneath the waves of my own and my inner walls clenched unrelenting around him. I greedily gasped for air while clinging to him, desperate to regain to my composure as we came down the highs of our physical exertion.
"That was unbelievable," I murmured, planting my forehead against his and accepting his lips when he puckered them at me.
"It's always like that with you," Alex replied, running his fingers through my hair as we stayed connected for several moments more. Reluctantly, he pulled out of me and helped keep me steady as my feet touched the floor.
"I could never say differently about you."
"I still think you're amazing," he breathed, wrapping his arms around me once we were dressed and situated to look relatively decent. Well, so at least it didn't look like we just fucked each other's brains out... oh Lord, Alex has me talking crude as well!
"I still think you're more amazing," I countered, looping my arms around his neck.
"Impossible."
"How so?"
"Will you ever learn to stop arguing with me?" he countered.
"Mmm... probably not."
"Damn stubborn."
"Oh, I wouldn't be talking, Mr. McLean."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You're just as stubborn!" I replied, running my fingernail down the center of his shirt.
"Then we should equal each other out with how stubborn we are."
"Deal," I pressed a kiss to his lips and smiled. "Are you ready to face the public? Lord knows we've hogged this bathroom long enough as it is."
"Wouldn't be surprised if there were people waiting outside the door."
"You always need to be thorough when we have sex," I teased, threading our fingers as I unlocked the door and pulled it open. Sure enough, there was a line and my confidence immediately deflated.
"Just keep walking," Alex chuckled and pulled me closer to his side while offering a brief nod to the person closest to the door. "Next."
"Hope we have as much fun as them," we heard the woman mutter to the man as she grasped his arm and pulled him inside the bathroom. Apparently we weren't the only ones who needed to relieve ourselves.
"Doubtful they'll have as good of a time as we did, but to each their own," Alex decided, leaning just enough to place a kiss to the top of my head.
"You can be so full of yourself," I laughed, my cheeks still pink as we reached the non-alcoholic bar. I was glad Spin had installed one several months ago.
"Just speaking the truth," Alex shrugged as the bartender came over to us. "What would you like to drink, Babe?"
"Diet Pepsi, please."
"One diet Pepsi and one Mountain Dew, please," Alex ordered for us. Soon, with sodas in hand, we walked around and found a table to sit at. Crossing my legs, I took a long sip of soda and smiled.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Hmmm?"
"You've got a glazed look to your eyes right now," he laughed. "Did I do you over that bad in the bathroom?"
"Very funny," I rolled my eyes, smacking his arm gently. "No, I was just thinking."
"I gathered as much. About what?"
"A little bit of everything, really."
"Care to share details?"
"You'll just think I'm another over-analyzing woman..."
"Cayla, c'mon. You actually think I'd be that much of an asshole?" Alex scoffed, drinking some soda. He withdrew his pack of cigarettes and sparked up, exhaling a plume of gray smoke.
"I'm just having a really good time with you. And it's going to be so hard to say good-bye for God knows how long..."
"And?"
"You said you love me," I found myself blurting out.
"I shouldn't have said that?" Alex choked through a puff of smoke. "Cayla, I-"
"No, no, it's just," I sighed and pulled out my own cigarettes and took a long drag. "Did you mean it? Or was it just from the passion?"
"Cayla, if I offended-"
"You didn't. I promise. It surprised me, actually. I can't even remember when I heard a man say he loved me. Whether it was a friend or a... kinky friendship friend. If that makes any damn sense."
"I'm sorry if I upset you," Alex interrupted with a tight shake of his head. "I wasn't speaking through my ass, if that's what you want to know. I have been known as a male chauvanist pig in the past, but that's not-"
"Alex, please. You didn't upset me. Just surprised. All I wanted to know was if you were just throwing it out there-"
"I wasn't."
"Okay," I nodded and exhaled slowly. "I didn't mean to ruin your night by being all woman-like and asking-"
"Cayla, stop. You haven't ruined my night. If anything, I should be concerned about having ruined your night."
"...I think we both need to stop worrying about ruining this night. We've had fun so far, right?" I replied after a moment of silence.
"Yeah."
"Then that's what matters," I smiled, reaching over to grasp his hand.
"Well, if I have no reason to doubt you, then you have no reason to doubt me," he nodded before he snuffed his cigarette into the ash tray. "Glad we got that cleared up."
"Now you're just teasing me," I gave him a hard pout.
"Hardly. I'm just trying to get you to lighten up. I want us both to continue to enjoy ourselves."
"I am lightened up," I defended, finishing my own cigarette.
"Good. Now, do you want to do some more dancing or go somewhere else?"
"Are you trying to insinuate a possible repeat of our actions just a little bit ago?" I wriggled my brows at him.
"Cayla-"
"Alex, I was teasing! Unless you did want to do another repeat..."
"Look at you! I've gone and corrupted you!" he released a roarous laughter.
"As if you don't enjoy corrupting me," I retorted, poking him in the side with a sly grin.
"Can't deny that-"
"You talk too much," I mumbled, grasping his collar to bring us together for a deep kiss. The same vibration I felt the first time we kissed came towards me once more and I had to smirk against his lips in reaction to his growl.
"Cayla? Is that you?" A voice interrupted our little session and I tore away from Alex in surprise.
"Isaiah! It's been awhile."
"Indeed," he smiled, keeping his arm around the waist of a brunette woman who didn't seem too pleased to see me. "How are you doing? What brings you here?"
"Well, my friend Alex is visiting me for a week and I thought I'd take out for him to see what Minnesotans do for fun," I replied, smiling back as I grasped Alex's hand again. "Alex, this is Isaiah, my ex-boyfriend. Isaiah, this is Alex."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." They shook hands as Isaiah brought the woman closer. "This is Claire. We've been dating for awhile now."
"It's a pleasure," I smiled, offering my hand towards Claire, who seemed to reluctantly accept.
"I'm sure."
"It's crazy just running into you like this, Cay," Isaiah rambled sheepishly. "I mean, how long has it been?"
"It's been about a year. You're looking good, Sai."
"So are you. I mean... wow!"
"Thanks," I smiled.
"C'mon, Isaiah," Claire whined. "They're obviously busy. Can we go now?"
"Claire, can you please hold on for a minute? I haven't seen Cayla in over a year!"
"You didn't see enough when she was making out with a celebrity like a whore?"
"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow, though I felt my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.
"I suppose not that it's really any of our business, but you were practically shoving your tongue down his throat for the whole world to see," Claire sneered with a simple shrug.
"Claire, stop," Isaiah hissed, offering an apologetic smile of discomfort.
"Who do you think you are talking to Cayla like that?" Alex stood up, his jaw set tightly.
"No, please... don't," I begged, pulling on the arm of his shirt. "Let her think what she wants."
"I'm just thinking what everyone else in this club is thinking when they see something that disturbing. I mean, I know you're an aging Backstreet Boy, but couldn't you do better since you're out in LA? Instead, you choose a fat, frumpy, pale Minnesotan girl? I'm sorry, but I have to call the pity card," Claire egged on. I bit my bottom lip hard to keep my emotions back. The last thing she needed to see was me getting upset over words. Words. That's all they were; words. Truthful words? She does have a point. Alex could be with anyone in Hollywood, and yet he chose me? Why?
"You're treading on dangerous ground, sweetheart," Alex answered, his demeanor eerily calm as he turned his attention to Isaiah. "Would you kindly mind keeping your chick under control and escorting her away from our table so that we may go back to enjoying our night? Or are there gonna be more problems?"
"We're out of here. I really am sorry, when she drinks she's..." Isaiah trailed off, grasping Claire's forearm and pulling her to another part of the club. A tear slipped down my cheek but I quickly wiped it away before Alex turned around. I couldn't keep Claire's words from echoing in my mind and it caused an ache in my heart. What if she was right and Alex merely pitied me?
"Cayla, look at me," Alex's soft voice broke my turbulent concentration and I felt his hand land tenderly against the side of my face, but I sharply brushed off. "Cays-"
"I'm fine. I just want to go home," I replied, standing up. I slung my purse over my shoulder and began to walk away.
"Damnit, Cayla, would you please wait?" he shouted above the music when I had gained a good deal of space between us.
"Let go of my arm, Alexander," I snapped at him, shaking myself free of his hold when he had caught up to me. Pulling my arm tight against my body as if his touch had scorned my flesh, I whipped around and desperately tried to find the exit, though the strobe lights were making my already blurring vision even harder to make sense of.
"Cayla!" I could hear him shout, but I couldn't see him as I tried to gather my bearings and find the exit. My lungs began to tighten and my breathing erratic. Great, a fucking panic attack is just what I need right now. I knew all this would be too good to be true. Why the fuck did I let my feelings get so entwined with a man like him? God, I can be so stupid! Bursting out into the chill of the night air, I swiped the back of my hand across my eyes to rid them of the tears falling that I couldn't stop and clumsily dug into my purse for the claim ticket to my car as I walked over to the valet standing. Composing myself, I handed it to the young man who looked at me oddly and seemed to reluctantly take the ticket.
"I need my car to be brought around as quick as possible."
"Yes ma'am," he replied, quickly jogging towards where he parked my car. Wrapping my arms around my shaking body, I tried to calm down my breathing with little luck. I needed to get out of here.
"Cayla!"
"Just leave me alone, Alex... please." I begged, keeping my gaze out towards the streets of Minneapolis.
"Don't do this," his voice broke towards the end of his quiet plea when he approached.
"Claire was right... there's no reason for you to be with me except pity. I can't have our friendship be this physical," I sniffled.
"What the Hell are you thinking, Cayla?! You can't possibly tell me that you're going to listen to someone you don't even know-"
"Don't you dare try to dictate what I can and cannot think, Alexander! You're fooling yourself if you really think I'm just going to continue standing here being fed a bunch of lies!"
"I can't believe you're going to believe some drunk bitch over me! I've always been honest with you, Cayla!"
"Really?" I snorted in disbelief, pushing him away when he attempted to draw me close to him. "And how the Hell am I supposed to believe that? How the Hell am I supposed to know if you are telling me the truth when you say that? If you've been telling me the truth with anything you say? God, you must really think I'm the moron of century, allowing myself to easily fall into your trap of lies just so you could score an easy lay a few times. Fucking wonderful, Alexander. I hope you've enjoyed it. You can go back to your ritzy life in L.A. now and forget I ever even existed!"
"How the Hell did I become the bad guy? I'm trying to defend myself because your ex-boyfriend's drunken girlfriend planted seeds of doubt in your mind!" Alex suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders and pinned me against the brick wall of the club. His rusty eyes burned into mine. "I haven't been lying! I care about you and goddamnit, it's not just for the sex. I love being around you. I love how your eyes crinkle when you smile. Or how you nibble on your bottom lip when you're nervous. I even love the way all your clothes end up on the floor from the closet when we're about to go out because you can't find your favorite shirt or flip-flops."
"No, you don't," I whispered, forcefully shoving him away from me in shock at the idea he might resort to a physical tactic. I just wanted out, needed to get away from his pathetic attempt to make me listen. I refused to let him make me look even more stupid than I did already. It didn't phase me when he stumbled back several feet and I was relieved to see my vehicle pulling up to the curb.
"Cayla, please."
"I'm not going to listen to any more lies, Alexander. I refuse to be the fool any longer."
"I've never lied to you!" he screamed.
"Why would you ever want to be with someone like me?" I screamed back, whirling around to finally face him.
"Because I fucking love you, damnit! I fucking fell in love with you the moment I met you! You think you know everything there is to know about me, Cayla? But you don't! You don't know shit about me and than you have the audacity to stand there and accuse me to my face that I could give a shit less about you!"
"You... you what?" Words seem to fail me as his own struck me like a ton of bricks. He loves me? But... in the club he said... Oh Jesus. Placing a hand to my forehead, I took a deep breath to fight off the dizziness. I never expected...
"But that doesn't mean shit to you, does it Cayla..." Alex's voice seemed to hiss out from between his clenched teeth. "It doesn't mean shit to you because you would rather believe the lies of someone who knows nothing about you or me."
"Alex, please. I didn't know-"
"I would have told you. But you took what... what... CLAIRE said... and ran with it. Literally."
"You and I hardly know each other as it is! How can you not expect me to consider the idea that- No, none of this is right! Don't you get it?"
"I don't think you get it, Cayla. Why would I waste my time keeping in touch with you? Calling you every chance I had some free time? I was trying to get to know you better! Like you said a week ago. I could go anywhere for my break in the tour. But I chose to come here. Why? Because of you."
"You're out of your God forsaken mind, Alexander McLean. I'm not in the same league as you. Maybe it's better that we come to terms with that now and just leave it be," I mustered as I yanked the driver's door further open and climbed inside. Not offering him another glance, I slammed the door shut and quickly revved the engine, praying with everything that I would wake up in the morning and find that my relationship with him had been nothing more than one horrible mistake of a nightmare.
Author's Chapter Notes:
So sorry for the lack of updates. I was seriously stuck but with some help from awesome friends, I got unstuck! Oh, and this chapter is quite sexually graphic... we know AJ is into the kinky. Enjoy!
