Against All Odds

by Alexia Vella Deguara

  “You're beautiful in that dress,” he said, while he leaned forward in search of my lips. But he didn't kiss me, he just looked me in the eyes until our noses touched.“I love the way it hugs your body," he added touching my bare shoulder with his fingertips making me get goosebumps. He then kissed me.

  “Ty.”

  “Hm?”

  “You know it has already been a week since we've been together.”

  “Yes. I know. The most amazing week of my life." He was now caressing my thigh. " Cas, do you want something to drink?”

  “Yes please,can I have some of that wine?” I asked pointing to the white wine that was on the kitchen cupboard.

  He raised an eyebrow and looked at me in amusement.

  “Do you really think it's the case? I mean you know what effect alcohol has on you?” He said smiling sensually.

  I blushed a little.“It's just wine and now it's different,you're my boyfriend,” I said standing up to get it.

  He came after me and got out a glass.

  “Just a little OK?”He sad as he poured me some.

  “OK Sir,” I replied as I took a sip of the delicious wine. I looked around his living room, noticing how tidy everything was. Just then an easel at the corner of the room caught my attention.“ What's that?” I asked looking at him.“Are you drawing something?”

  “Yes, just some figure drawing sketches. I have been selected to take part in a competition and I was doing some practice. Want to have a look?” He asked.

  “Sure,” I said while I followed him. I felt a little embarrassed when I saw what the drawings were about. They all depicted woman, nudes in various positions. He looked at me and smiled.

  “Why are you blushing? They are just drawings and from my imagination.”

  “Oh really? Then you must have seen a lot of women without clothes on as these have different figures,” I said trying to hide my jealousy. I felt bad at the thought of him with other women. I knew he wasn't a virgin, no one will be at 25, especially a hunk like him but I still felt bad at the thought that he could have touched other women.

  "Is someone jealous?” He asked grabbing me from the waist.

  “What? No,it's just-" I stopped and looked down.

  “Listen Cas, these were models I saw at the nude art classes I used to go to and probably I have to book one soon to finish off the final piece.”

  "Oh really.”I said even more annoyed now.

  “Cas,I can only look during Art classes, just looking no touching,” he said amused, he was having fun, probably my expression right now showed all my jealousy.

  “I hope so."I snapped.

  He laughed and then turned me round to face him. Just at that moment a thought crossed my mind,without realizing I said it out loud.

  “You could paint me.”

  For a moment he stared at me.

  “What?”

  “I could be your model,” I continued.

  He pulled back from me.

  “No Cas.”

  “Why my body isn't good enough for what you have in mind?” I asked looking at him in the eyes. I felt hurt.

  “What? No, it's not that. You know well that you have a damned hot body.”

  Did I? The desire I saw in his eyes made me believe it.

  “It's just that I wouldn't concentrate. Cas, I wouldn't be able to just look at you, you must understand that?” He said in a husky voice.

  “Then don't do it. I mean...”

  I had to turn around to continue,I couldn't do it with him looking at me like that.

  “You could touch if you want,” I said. I felt my face burning. My heart pounding. Did I dare too much? I had said clearly what I was feeling. What I wished for, did he wish that too?

  CHAPTER 26

  He remained silent for what seemed an eternity, I wished I could see the expression he had on his face, to get a clue of what was going through his mind, but I didn't dare turn around.

  “No. Cassy better not. It's too early,” he finally said.“Come on let's go and eat.”

  He walked back into the kitchen and took out the plates. I went after him.

  “Do you need help?" I asked, trying not to show my frustration.

  “No, just go and sit down. Tonight you are my guest. I will serve you,” he said smiling.

  I didn't feel like smiling. I felt incredibly sad,why was he refusing me? Wasn't he attracted to me? Didn't he feel what I felt? He put two plates full of food on the table which looked delicious but I wasn't hungry.

  “Hope you like it,” he said as he sat down in front of me.

  "It looks good, thanks” I said.

  He ate in silence,while I played with my food. It was very tasty but I couldn't swallow at the moment, I felt a lump in my throat.

  “Cassy,” he called gently . “What's wrong,don't you like it?” He asked looking at me worried.

  “The food is delicious,” I replied avoiding his gaze.

  “It's what I said then,” he concluded.

  “Cassy, why do you want to rush things?” He asked.

  I put down my fork and lifted my face to look at him.

  “Rush? I just love you OK and want to be closer to you,” I said on the verge of crying.

  “Sex does not make people closer, it makes things more complicated, especially if done without thought,” he said harshly as he stared into my

  eyes. His look was hard and he seemed a little angry. I felt bad, I couldn't stay there. I just wanted to go away. I felt hurt. I pushed the chair back and stood up.

  “Where are you going?” He asked alarmed.

  “I need to go to the toilet". I said trying to hold back my tears while I walked away.

  “No wait.”He covered the space between us in a swift movement and grabbed my wrist.

  “Cassidy, look at me.”

  “No.”

  “I didn't say I don't desire you. I do but I feel it's too early. I want to know you better. I want our relationship to develop slowly and there is also a problem.”

  “What problem?” I asked holding my breath.

  “Your age, Cassy you're still underage. If we ever get caught I would be in double trouble,corruption of a minor and having a relationship with a student.”

  I stared at him in disbelief,“So what are you saying, that we will never make love? We already crossed the border when you kissed me the first time.”I reminded him.

  “I know but we will make love when you're 18.”

  “But that is 3 months away,” I complained.

  “I'm not going to change my mind about it. If you think you can't wait.. then it's better if we stop our relationship here,” he said in a steady voice.

  My eyes widened hearing his last phrase. Why was he doing this to me? I turned around to face him.

  “No, I don't want. OK I will wait,” I said surrendering.

  He pulled me into his arms and hugged me.

  “Cassidy, there is no hurry. Let's just take things easy OK. I love you, is that not enough for you?” He asked. It should have been but for some reason I wanted more.

  “Yes it is,” I said hugging him back.

  “Cassy, if you still want to pose for me I accept but not totally naked OK. Maybe with just your underwear, what do you think?”

  I raised my head to look at him,he was blushing a little. I smiled.

  “OK,” I finally said.

  “Good, now can we go and eat. You haven't ate anything yet.”

  “Yes Sir,” I said feeling a little bit better.

  After dinner, I helped him wash the plates and then he brought the easel into the living room.

  “So what do you want me to do?” I asked already shivering a little at the thought of stripping in front of him.”

  He looked at me for a second, and for a moment I thought he had changed his mind, but then he stood up went into the kitchen and brought a breakfast stool. Then he brought a bed sheet from his bedroom and covered the stool in order to obtain some folds. Finally he
came near me, I still had my dress on.

  "So, when you're ready, I just want you to sit on the stool. One leg leaning on the stool, back straight and facing me. OK?” He instructed.

  I looked at him and nodded, all of a sudden I was feeling nervous, probably it was a good thing he didn't accept that I'd be totally naked. He left my side and went to sit down on a stool in front of me,waiting for me to take off my dress. His intense gaze was on me. I trembled while I rose my hand to my back trying to pull down the zip. My hands shook so much I could not get hold of it.

  I nearly fainted when I saw him rising up from the stool and coming near me. He went behind me and gently grabbed my hand.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked softly.

  “Yes,” I managed to respond...

  It was then that I felt the dress loosen, he was gracefully pulling down the zipper exposing my back. I thought he was going to go back and sit down but he was still behind me, silent. Then I felt something I wasn't expecting. I felt his warm breath on my bare skin, he was kissing my neck,his soft lips touched me slowly sending shivers down my spine. I didn't move. I was shocked by the pleasure that contact was giving me. His fingers trailed lightly over my skin until they arrived to my shoulder grabbing the straps of my dress and pulling them down. I felt my dress going down leaving me just in my undies. He continued to trail small kisses on my shoulders and on my back, his hands were now around my waist. He turned me round to face him. I saw his gaze smoldering with desire, he wanted me. Suddenly I felt his mouth on mine, he kissed me fiercely,pressing himself into me. But then all of a sudden he pulled back looking at me shocked.

  “That's the effect you have on me Cassy, that's why I didn't want you to pose for me. I knew I wouldn't have resisted. I can't go beyond this. I just can't,” he said with frustration while he went to sit down leaving me shivering in a state of dizziness and perplexity. I didn't have the strength to say anything so I just sat down on the stool in the position he had asked me to,while I looked at him trying to open up the pencil case. Did I cause him so much excitement? His hands shivered.

  “Damned!” He groaned.

  He was angry why?

  “Ty? What is it?” I asked concerned.

  “Nothing. I'm OK.I just need a glass of wine but don't move OK. I'll be back in a minute,” he said his gaze on the floor. He didn't want to look at me. I wondered how he was going to draw me. A minute later he returned and sat down. He seemed calmer now. I remained silent, looking at him taking measures with his pencil. I looked at his half open shirt, at his neck and finally at his beautiful hands which were on my body a few minutes before. My heart beat quickened just at the thought. Was this a game for him?Was he trying to prove to himself that he could resist me? I couldn't figure out his feelings. He seemed attracted to me yet he always pulled back. Was it just because of my age and being my teacher? I stayed quiet for about an hour. Just looking at his handsome face and at his dark gaze which although calmer still hinted the desire I saw before. His eyes lingered on my body and I knew he was making an effort to concentrate. We were still silent when we heard a knock at the door. Tyler looked at me in terror.

  “Cas,go into the bathroom and close the door. I don't know who's at the door,” he said panicking.

  I just obeyed. I entered the bathroom while I heard him walking towards the door. When he opened I heard a familiar voice which made my stomach churn with fear and anxiety.

  “Hello Tyler,can I come in?” She was saying.

  “What the hell are you doing here? He asked her nervously. “ And how did you know where I live?”

  She laughed.

  “As if it's the first time I came here.”

  I felt nausea all of a sudden,what did she mean?

  “I don't remember ever bringing you here,” he continued,relieving me a bit.

  “Oh sure,don't you remember that when we went out together you had come to get something from here? Can I come in?” She asked again.

  “No,” he said in an angry voice.

  “Why not? You're alone, you need some company,” she said, and then probably she just got in as I heard Tyler shouting.

  “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

  I heard silence, probably she was in the living room. In that moment I realized I had left my dress on the floor and she must have seen it. And there was the easel, a shiver ran down my spine. My God if she saw the drawing, I hoped Ty hadn't made my face so recognizable.

  “You have company?” She asked in a shocked voice.

  “Yes I do and you are intruding. Lisa can you please just go away,” he ordered irritated.

  “Where is she? I want to see her. I want to know who is the girl that stole you away from me?” She cried.

  “My God Lisa,no one stole me from you. I told you I didn't want to be with you,this girl came afterwards" He said trying to calm her down.

  “You were painting her, I want to see,” she said.

  “No,” I heard him saying in panic. “Just go OK, please.”

  But she wasn't going to give up.“Why can't I see her? Do I by any chance know her?” She asked again.

  “No, Lisa go away and don't you ever come back again,” he snapped.

  “But I love you Ty, I really do and I can't live without you.”

  I felt my heart beating so fast that I thought I was going to die.

  “But I don't," he said coldly. "I'm sorry, I tried so many times to make you understand this. We don't choose who to love, it happens.”

  “Are you in love with this girl?” She asked with a broken voice, she was crying.

  “Yes,I'm sorry.”He replied.

  Oh Tyler,he was in love with me. Well he had told me that but hearing it while he tells someone else made effect.

  “OK,I'll go but I won't forget you, I ...”

  “Better if you do," he cut her short. " I'm not leaving this girl,so don't wait for me. Find another guy who loves you back.”

  I didn't hear her voice anymore and after a while I heard the front door closing. I still didn't come out , my knees felt so weak. We had been so close to getting caught, if Miss Leighton had seen the painting,Oh my God it would have been the end.

  Just then I heard a knock on the bathroom door, “Cassidy, you can come out now,” he said softly. I opened the door and he pulled me into his arms.

  “I was so terrified. I never felt so frightened in my life, we were so close Cas, this is getting more dangerous every day. I trembled so much while I talked to her that I don't know how she didn't notice, and the drawing, my God if she had seen it, she would have known it was you.”

  “Why it resembles me so much?” I asked.

  “Yes, anyone can say it's you,” he said stroking my back.

  “Tyler, I really wish to be with you but I don't want you to go to prison. I love you, maybe it's better if you leave me it's it's-.”

  But he didn't let me continue, he kissed me and pressed me to him.

  “No, I won't leave you no matter what happens.”

  CHAPTER 27