by Olivia Jake
Alex was wrong on all counts. First, apparently James thought the date went far better than she did as he leaned in for the kiss at the valet. Alex turned her head so that he got her cheek. And second, the shots of her leaving the restaurant with James’ hand again on her low back, and the attempted kiss, found their way into the online tabloids the next day.
It took a call that morning from Kara to alert her. “Alex, sweetie? Have you been online yet today?”
“Not yet, why?” Alex asked, still sweaty from her run.
“Ummm, there are pictures of you and James Willen leaving 1 Bistro.”
Alex’s heart started beating faster, “Seriously? Is he that big of a deal?”
“Well, yeah, he’s kind of the hot director right now…” Kara said, trailing off.
While not thrilled about her picture being in the tabloids, Alex didn’t put a whole lot of stock into it. People in the industry knew who she was, but she doubted there was really that much interest in a director and photographer. Until her she got call waiting. Then panic really set in.
“Kara, I gotta go. Marco’s calling.” Alex said with dread.
“Shit. Ok, call me after you talk with him. If you want.”
Alex hung up and picked up Marco’s call, trying to calm herself. “Good morning, Marco.”
“How was your date last night, Alexandra?” his voice was like ice. She had seen him upset on the trip that first night, but this, this was a hundred times colder than that ever was.
“I can explain, Marco.”
There was silence, and then Marco spoke, “Is there really anything to explain?” he sighed and then said, “You know, it’s ironic, no? I was so concerned about how you’d react to seeing pictures of me and Kimberly, I never once thought that the shoe might be on the other foot.”
“It’s not what you think, Marco.”
“Then what is it, Alexandra? Was it a date?”
Alex paused. It was a date. She couldn’t lie. “Yes, but it was something that was set up so long ago, and it was a double date, it didn’t mean anything, Marco. I’m not interested in him at all.”
“Then why did you go?”
That was the question. Why did she go? If she were honest, she went because she was hedging her bets. She was testing herself to see if what she felt for Marco was real, different, special. And if she admitted that she went because she was so unsure of what she had with Marco, she knew that might be the end of whatever it was.
“I don’t know, Marco.” She said softly.
“Oh, I think you do, Alexandra.” His icy tone was now tinged with anger.
“Please, Marco. You said yourself that we need to talk, and that we would when you got back. I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone either.” She hated that she was pleading with him, but she knew that nothing good was going to come of talking with 3,000 miles between them.
“You know, Alexandra, I have never expected anything from you but the truth. All I want is honesty. Honesty with yourself, your feelings, and with me. And I have been nothing but honest with you. I deserve that in return, Alexandra.”
Alex felt like she was being scolded. For someone who was eight years her junior, he was making her feel like a child.
“You’re right, you do, Marco.” Was all she could say.
“I’ll call you when I get home.” Was the last thing he said before he hung up. Alex felt sick to her stomach wondering if she just threw away something that she was just starting to want. Something that she wasn’t at all looking for, but was suddenly terrified of losing.
CHAPTER 20
It was hard to understand how quickly Alex could go from not wanting to be with Marco to being overwhelmed with grief that a couple hours out with a man she couldn’t care less about would end what she and Marco had. Actually, she could deal with the heartache of it ending, much as it might hurt, she would know why it did. But the thought that she could have hurt him or that he lost trust in her, those thoughts were far worse.
Kara made good on her promise and booked Alex on two shoots keeping her busy for much of the second week of Marco’s trip. After their last conversation, Alex hadn’t heard from Marco, and didn’t expect to. In fact, she wondered if that was it, that it was completely over. She didn’t have the guts to call him, so she just waited to see if he would make contact once back in town. She wasn’t sure exactly when he would be back, which just made the waiting even more interminable.
It was Saturday afternoon, and Alex decided to take her dogs on a nice long walk. It was one of those perfect LA days where it was warm, but not hot, and a nice breeze was blowing. Alex was on her way back, a few houses away from her own when she looked up to see Marco leaning against a car. She couldn’t help but instinctively break out into a huge grin. Then she remembered their last conversation, and her grin faded, though she found it hard to keep a bit of a smile off her face, she was so genuinely happy to see him. As they got closer, he smiled.
“Looks like you wore them out.” Marco said. Both Annie and Ansel were panting.
Alex didn’t have a clever comeback. She was so surprised to see him. Surprised. Nervous. Excited… So she just said, “Hi, Marco. It’s really good to see you.” And he knew she was speaking from the heart. He could tell. And his body language immediately changed as he uncrossed his arms and exhaled.
He started to reach for her and then stopped to ask, “Are they friendly? Or are they going to protect you if I hug you.”
Alex laughed, “Oh, these two? They just look mean, but the worst they’ll do is lick you to death. Especially Ansel. He’s a lover.” They just grinned at each other, then Alex said, “Come on, let’s go inside.” She held her right hand out for him to take, holding the leashes in her left. The minute he put his hand into hers, she sighed audibly. She knew he heard her, as he smiled when he looked over at her. She didn’t care. That small touch felt so good, it both relaxed and excited her.
Once inside, Alex let the dogs off their leashes and they excitedly smelled Marco, then went straight to their water bowls, loudly slurping.
“Dios, Alexandra. How far did you walk them?” he laughed.
They both watched the dogs drink for a bit, allowing them to focus on something other than each other. After being apart, and after their last conversation, Alex wasn’t sure how this was going to play out.
“Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind. I might have gotten lost in my thoughts on the walk.”
Marco understood the inference and pulled her to him, brushing a few stray hairs off her forehead. He leaned down and kissed her passionately. The minute his lips met hers, Alex felt herself exhale into the kiss, into his arms. All the worry, all the fear melted away as their lips and tongues played and danced. They kissed and nibbled for a long time until Alex smiled against his lips and he smiled back. They finally pulled away from each other, now they were the ones panting. Alex couldn’t help but grin at him. She also couldn’t remember ever having this kind of reaction to a man. Such pure, unadulterated joy at seeing someone.
“I missed you, Marco.” As simple a statement as that was, Alex wasn’t sure she had ever uttered it before, to anyone. She had spent a lifetime focusing on work and taking care of herself. It wasn’t that she was closed off to relationships, it just never was part of what she needed to survive. All she knew was reliance on self. Even when she was younger and she had Dan and Ruth, she always knew she had to carry her fair share, because what if one day they died suddenly just like her parents? Then what? Alex’s survival instincts were so much of what defined her, and letting herself get so attached to someone so as to miss them, well, that vulnerability was a luxury that she couldn’t afford.
“I missed you too, Corazon.”
Alex was suddenly nervous. After everything they had done together, it was odd being in her kitchen with him. All of their time on the island had been on relatively neutral ground. Even though it was his family home, it hadn’t been his for a while. But now, they were
there in her house, with her animals. It wasn’t just a fling on a shoot that would end when they came back to reality. They were in reality. Breaking Alex from her thoughts, Tabitha popped in through the dog door and came straight over, rubbing herself up against them both of them. Then she sauntered over to Ansel and rubbed her head up under his chin. He sniffed her briefly and gave a half hearted lick as she passed him, and then arched against Annie and before making her way through the rest of the house.
Marco laughed out loud as he watched Tabitha mark everyone in her path. “Well it’s clear who runs the house!” Alex laughed too, this small dose of reality actually taking the edge off.
Then his gaze turned intense. “Which way to your bedroom?”
Alex swallowed as her heartbeat increased, “Um, I thought we were going to talk.” She said weakly.
Marco smiled, “We will, mi amor. But all I’ve been doing for the last two weeks is talking. And I’ve waited far too long to touch you, and hold you, and be inside you. I don’t want to wait any longer.” Alex wasn’t going to argue. She took his hand and led him down the hallway to her bedroom. Once inside, she picked Tabitha up off the bed and deposited her out in the hallway. Only then did she close the door.
“I run the house.” Alex said with a smile.
“Ok, mi amor. You can prove that to me later. But now, in here, I’m in charge.” Marco said and moved to her in an instant. He lifted her tank top of her and undid her bra in a matter of seconds. His hands were so hot on her body as he caressed her back, up the sides of her waist to her breasts. He kneaded them in his hands before bending down to take one nipple into his hungry mouth. There was an urgency to the way he took her, claimed her. He was acting like a starving man who was just presented with a buffet to feast upon, and Alex was more than happy to feed him.
Alex was overwhelmed with sensations, both physical and emotional. The last few weeks had been such a roller coaster. She had gone from being with Marco almost all day and night to practical radio silence. And then there was the odd intermission with James. And now, here he was, his body pressed up against hers, his hands moving like they couldn’t feel enough of her skin, like no matter how tightly he held her, how much skin his hands caressed, it felt like it might never be enough to satisfy his need. Feeling so wanted, so desired, Alex completely surrendered to it, to him.
He deftly slid her running shorts off and moved her backwards to the bed, never once taking his lips or hands off of her as they moved. He only broke away for long enough to pull his clothes off, and then, as soon as he did, he was back on her, pressing his body to hers, rubbing his hands over her skin, kissing her like he just couldn’t get enough.
Alex had never been with a man as passionate or as focused as Marco. When they were together, she felt like there wasn’t anyone or anything else on his mind. Only her. And that, alone, made her feel special. But coupled with what his body and hands and lips and everything did to her, special didn’t even come close to describing all that he made her feel.
But there, in Alex’s bedroom, it was different than any of the times on the islands. The intensity with which Marco took Alex was heart pounding. He was almost like a man possessed. It wasn’t tender, it wasn’t slow, it was… necessary. Like he had to be inside her. He was on top of her and swiftly thrust himself in making Alex gasp. Once he was in, he finally slowed down and took a moment. Alex watched him as he came back to the present and smiled a sexy smile down at her. He pinned her wrists above her head and then slowly started sliding in and out and exhaled.
“Oh, Alexandra, I’ve missed you so much. You feel so good. Too good.” He said, sounding almost pained, eyes half open, lids slowly closing then opening again as he savored the feeling, slowly sliding all the way in and then all the way out.
“Too good, Marco? How is that possible?” she asked breathily, pushing against his wrists that held her, testing him.
He laughed a low laugh and took a deep breath as he leaned down and kissed her again, then rolled to his side, rolling her with him, making her yelp, as he set her on top of him. Alex’s hair spilled down her shoulders as she now looked down on him. He moved his hands to her hips as he guided her back and forth, grinding her deeply to him. The minute he did this, he could feel that ridge inside her that he now knew would quickly push her over the edge. Alex’s eyes rolled back into her head.
“Oooooh, Marco, ooooh, oooh Marco, god, Marco, oh baby, ooooh Marco…” Alex kept moaning his name as he increased the rhythm, pulling her hips back and forth, faster and faster, Alex was now grinding and grinding feeling her orgasm build faster and faster and then shatter as she bucked and spasmed on top of him, moaning the whole way.
When she finally opened her eyes, she found him grinning up at her, “I love watching you come, Alexandra.” Alex blushed, though she was already flushed, but she was embarrassed for some reason, smiling a shy smile as she looked away.
“Alexandra, look at me.” Marco said, snapping Alex’s eyes back to him. “Mi amor, why does that embarrass you?”
Alex shrugged. It was a level of intimacy that she just wasn’t used to, yet he embraced it, welcomed it. She wasn’t ready to discuss it, so she took a trick out of his playbook and leaned down to kiss him, changing the subject. Once her body was pressed close to his, he again rolled her over so that he was back on top of her. This time, he didn’t take it slow as he lifted her legs up to his shoulders and fucked her, hard. She was so wet from her orgasm, and still so sensitive, that it didn’t take her long for her to feel herself build again as he pounded into her. Her thighs were shaking, and she was moaning as his thrusts continued, harder and deeper until she started spasming and came again. Only after her last twitches did he pull out and come all over her stomach and chest. He stayed above her for a moment to admire his work and then collapsed onto the bed next to her, panting heavily.
He swiped a bit of cum onto his finger and held it to her mouth. Alex opened, licking the cum off and sucking his finger. “Mmmm, you taste good.” She said in a post-sex haze, making him chuckle.
“You look so sexy with my cum all over you, Alexandra. I wish I had a mirror so you could see yourself.”
Alex propped herself up onto her elbows and looked down at her glistening torso. “Looks like you saved up for me.”
“Dirty girl.” He said and then pinched her nipple, making her yelp.
“Literally.” She said and giggled, then got up to go clean herself off. When she came back to bed she snuggled up next to him. She was so happy to have him there in her bed. It wasn’t just the sex, though that was amazing. Curling up next to him and wrapping her body around his felt like coming home. It felt safe and strong and sexy. But mostly, lying there with him just felt right.
They lay there for a while, and then she said as traced her fingers over his torso, “I’m really glad you came over.”
“Me too, mi amor.”
“When did you get in?”
“A few hours ago.”
“And you came right over?” she was flattered, and shocked.
“I told you, I’d already waited far too long to be with you. I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
“Why didn’t you call? What if I weren’t home?”
“I didn’t want to have any more phone conversations. I needed to see you. I needed to feel you.” he stroked her skin and then continued, “I don’t like the phone. I don’t like not seeing who I’m talking to. I needed to see your reaction, it’s the only way I know. It’s the only way I can be sure.”
The words he was saying were exactly how Alex felt. There were many ways that they were different, but knowing they shared similar feelings like this made Alex feel even more connected to him.
“Sure of what?”
“Of how you feel about me, Alexandra.”
“And you’re sure how you feel about me?” she asked tentatively.
“Alexandra, I’ve been sure from the start. You’re the one who’s scared, who needs convincing.”
“I don’t need convincing anymore. It doesn’t mean I’m not still scared. But I know how I feel.” And it was true. If Alex weren’t sure before Marco had shown up on her doorstep, she was from the moment she saw him leaning against his car waiting for her, and then even more sure the minute they touched.
“If you know how you feel, do you feel ready for round two?” he asked playfully as he grabbed her hand and pulled it down to his already hardening cock.
“Dios, mio, Marco! Ready to go again?” she laughed.
“Two weeks is a long time to wait for you, Corazon. I hope you’ve rested up. Now, enough talking.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. As wonderful as it was, they did need to talk. And about more than just one thing. Alex was old enough to know better than to have sex without protection. And she did trust Marco when he said he was clean. But that didn’t mean that there weren’t other considerations or worries.
They finally ended up in the shower together, cleaning the sweat and sex off of them, though showering with Marco felt a lot more like more pleasure than a means to cleanliness. As was true everywhere else, Marco had a hard time keeping his hands off Alex. He lathered every inch of her, taking such care, being both tender and sensual.
As they dried, Alex’s stomach growled loudly. “Tienes hambre?” Marco asked.
Alex nodded, “Tengo hambre y hombre.” Producing a smile on Marco’s face. Alex remembered from when she first learned Spanish, one of the guys in the lab taught her, “Make sure you pronounce ‘hambre’ and ‘hombre’ different, because one says, ‘I have hunger’, the other says, ‘I have a man.’”