by T Gephart
My anger disappeared as I saw the sincerity in his eyes. He had been scared too. I guess with the loss of his father he wasn’t prepared to lose me as well. I shook my head, “I didn’t hate spending the night with you, I loved sleeping in your arms. I stayed because I wanted to be with you, not because I felt sorry for you. I hated the morning when I’d have to let you go.” My hands touched his jaw lightly as he pulled me closer. “I love you Alex, I don’t want to let you go.”
He smiled as he leant into kiss me. “Baby, there is no way I’m letting YOU go. I love YOU Lexi.” His mouth teased mine.
“Wait a minute!” interrupted Dan. “You guys were fucking? When was this? Where the hell was I? I think if anyone should have been getting action it should have been me, not this moody bastard!” Dan looked bewildered as Alex peeled his lips from mine.
“Shut up Dan!” he smiled, as he turned to face a stunned James. “Look man, I’m sorry. I know she works for us and trust me, I never meant for this to happen but I’m not giving her up, not now.” He looked at me as he kissed my hand.
James shook his head, “I guess I should have seen it coming, you’re both as bad as each other! No more secrets, either of you! Lexi, clearly you have no problem separating your private life from your professional dealings as apart from today no one knew that you two even liked each other let alone...” he paused “Whatever it was you do together.” I smiled as he shook his head again. “So I have no problem with it.”
Alex released me briefly so I could hug James, Hannah still shaking her head. “How could I have not have seen this? You guys are perfect together” she grinned.
“Yeah perfect pains in the ass,” laughed Troy.
Alex pulled me back to his body. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered as he kissed my neck gently.
“You had a funny way of showing it.” I giggled as his tongue tickled my ear.
“Get a room!” hollered Jason as Alex’s hands wandered down my body. Alex rolled his eyes before pulling me into the hallway.
“Let’s get out of here, I need you Lexi. I need you in my bed; I need to hold you all night. I need to make love to you for the first time with no barriers between us.” I nodded as I too wanted the same things.
We walked back into the pool room to say our goodbyes. Dan protested loudly “Yeah, Yeah you’re leaving – go screw each other’s brains out.” He waved his hand in mock disgust.
“That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about asshole.” Alex clipped him over the back of the head. The word “girlfriend” rattled around my head for a second before sinking in. I liked the way it sounded.
“Relax man, I was just kidding. And no offense, but if she was mine we’d probably never leave my bedroom.” Dan winked as he shot me a cheeky grin.
“Dude!” shouted Troy, “That is wrong on so many levels.” I laughed harder as Dan tried to understand why his comment had been inappropriate.
I apologized to James and Hannah again, feeling bad for deceiving them about our relationship but they both reassured me that they were happy for us. Hannah gave me a big smile as Alex and I walked out the door, his arm firmly around my waist. It wasn’t until we reached his car that I groaned loudly in frustration. “What, baby?” he murmured as he kissed my neck, “If you can’t wait, I can pull the car around and I’ll take you right here on the hood.” He laughed as his fingers played with the hem of my top.
“I drove here,” I moaned. “I have to drive the car back.” He straightened and glanced over at the bright red Ford Festiva.
“You really have a thing for piece of shit cars,” he laughed.
“It’s a loaner, smart ass! You should be appreciative; it got me here didn’t it!” I smiled as he glanced back over at the car
“Then I am eternally grateful to the piece of shit car,” he moaned in my ear. “I’ll follow you back to your apartment and then I’m taking you home.”
I climbed in to Matt’s rental as Alex slid into his sexy car, its engine roaring to life behind me. A stupid grin spread over my face, as I grabbed my phone and sent a message.
- Want to race? Lexi xx
- Are you insane? I’ll be at your apartment before you hit second gear. I love your enthusiasm though. 10 points for effort! Alex xx
- Is that all you love? Xx
- I love everything about you baby xx
- Do you love me enough to let me drive later? xx
- Why do you ALWAYS want to drive?? You seemed to enjoy it last time my hands were on the wheel. :-P xx
- I remember you hands being on a lot of things; on the wheel was not one of them. PS I did enjoy it, repeatedly I might add. Still want to drive though xx
- Why don’t we agree to take turns, each option has its own virtues. PS I love you xx
- I can agree to that! PS I love you more xx
- We can debate who loves whom more when you are in my bed. Now do me a favor and stop running that beautiful mouth of yours and DRIVE (seeing as you were so keen before) xx PS I still love you even though you are mouthy
- You never complained about my mouth before PS I still love you even though you are argumentative. I’m going, I’m going!!! xxx
I laughed as I looked in my rear vision mirror at Alex’s smiling face, this time it would be different. My mind flooded with possibilities and I was excited at the prospect. I knew it wasn’t going to be a cake walk, we were both strong, opinionated and career orientated, but we loved each other and that had to count for something didn’t it? Either way I was willing to take that leap, for Alex it would be worth the fall.
###
About the Author
Frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the current fiction I was reading I set myself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from my own past "colourful" experiences and the amazing personalities I have surrounded myself with, I had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, my core characters are empowered women who don't have to sacrifice their femininity.
Books by this Author
A Twist of Fate
A Leap of Faith (due September 2013)
A Time for Hope (due January 2014)
Acknowledgements
Thank you are words that don’t even come close to conveying the gratitude I feel when I look at the people around me, the ones who have supported me, nurtured me, believed in me. Without them, I would be a poorer version of myself, here, existing but with no richness in my life.
To my two beautiful children who are the coolest kids alive, my hope in life is that I instil in you that you can achieve anything, and that the only thing that limits you is your mind. You make me a better person and I can’t imagine my life without you. Thank you for putting up with “Moody Mummy” when she was writing, but most of all thank you for being awesome. You are and will always be my greatest accomplishment.
To the amazing group of people I have surrounded myself with- each one of you fits in my life like an intricate puzzle piece and I am incomplete without you. You inspire me daily in your own way but most especially I am blessed to be in the company of such wonderful, strong, beautiful women. I adore you all.
To my tireless editors, Karen, Nat and Sam. They were my “Kates and Christines” seeing in me what not everyone did, trusting me to get the job done. Thank you for reading, re-reading then reading again my many drafts. I appreciate your time, your effort and your energy so that I was able to bring to life this story. I knew you would tell me if it sucked and wouldn’t “appease” me. Like Lexi, I don’t like to be handled. Thank you for your patience, your laughter, your opinions and your persistence - I’m not the easiest person to “edit”. Sam, you were my biggest champion, we shall ride this wave together wherever it goes- this will not be forgotten or go unnoticed!
Thank you to the amazing photography of Angelique Ehlers who captured the beautiful images for the cover and to Gianni Renda who took th
e image and designed the cover which by far exceeded my creative vision.
Lastly to my husband Gep, for his unwavering love and support, who over the years has embraced my “craziness” allowing me to be the woman I am. The insane ups and downs we have endured over the years would be enough to fill five lifetimes, which still would not be long enough with you. Your belief in me, spurred me when my own belief had waned. I know I’m not always easy to be around, especially when consumed with creative madness but you accept me, without question. I love you; you will always have my heart.