"As a birthday present to myself."
She scoffed, her eyes bulging. "Are you serious?"
He smiled brightly. "One hundred percent."
"That's a story I'd like to hear."
"I'd like to tell it to you," he said standing up and closing the distance between them. Her breath caught in her throat. "Come be with me tonight."
He issued it as a command not a request. And God, did she want to be with him that night. Her mind slowly started to catch up with her wanton body, and she began to painfully shake her head wishing his request had come some six months earlier. "No I can't."
Stepping just a few inches closer, he pressed his h*ps against her. She gasped sucking in a good deal of air. His fingers found her palms and gently stroked upwards. When he reached her shoulder, he redirected his movement downward slowly but deliberately grabbing her h*ps and pressing himself against her.
"Jack," she moaned glancing back up into his baby blues. Involuntarily, her eyes moved to his lips and back up.
"Come be with me," he repeated himself.
She reached her hands up and pushed lightly against his chest giving herself a few inches of space. He didn't pull his hands away from where they rested on her hips. "I said that I can't," the words coming out feebler than before.
"I heard you," he said licking his lips.
"I should um…probably get going actually."
"Mmm hmm." But still she didn't move away from him. She felt his thumb make a small circle on her exposed hipbone. Just as his finger met the hemline of her skirt, she backed up roughly running into a large woman seated at the bar.
"Sorry," she said skirting around the woman and entering open space to the right. Her eyes shifted back to Jack. "I haven't heard from you in a long time."
He shrugged. "I was letting your cold shoulder thaw." Her head jerked to the side and she puffed out angrily. All of a sudden, she felt his cool fingertips graze her neck. They moved to her chin and gently forced her to look back in his face. "I've missed you, Lex."
She seriously thought that her heart stopped in that instance. "Jack, this isn't fair."
"I don't want it to be fair," he said not letting her chin go, but taking another step towards her, invading her personal space.
The words kept filtering through her consciousness. She knew she should probably tell him. She should say it right now. There was no way she wanted to do the same thing that he had done to her. She had a boyfriend for Christ's sake. A real boyfriend. Someone she had been dating for close to seven months. Things were so good. She should really tell him right there. "Well you've accomplished that," she said, ignoring her conscience.
He snaked his other hand up and threaded his fingers through her hair. "I saw that guy," he said trying to make it easier on her.
She knew she should tell him right there. She gulped. "Yeah?" She was having trouble thinking with his hand running through her hair.
"What's his deal?"
"I thought you didn't want things to be fair," she said smarting off to him.
He smirked arching an eyebrow as if to say fine play it that way.
She had no idea what she was doing. There was no way that this would end well. Her friends could return at any moment. If they walked over and saw her close to sexing it up with some apparent stranger, she had no idea what she would do. She had no idea what Spencer would think or do, and she didn't want to find out.
"Then you won't mind if I do this," he said his head dipping down to plant a kiss on her lips.
She froze watching his descent as if in slow motion. Her eyes started to flutter close and she could almost taste him just as her mind finally kicked in. "I don't want to lie to you Jack," she murmured feeling his breath hot on her mouth.
"Well seeing as you've said next to nothing, doesn't seem like you're lying to me," he said suspended before her waiting for her to continue.
"We both know that not saying something can be just as much of a lie," she reminded him.
"Well what aren't you saying?" he asked backing up just enough to look deeply into her dark brown eyes.
"That guy is my boyfriend."
He didn't back away. In fact, he didn't move at all. His hand had stilled on the back of her head; the other had moved affectionately to the soft spot under her jaw line. He just stared at her with those ice blue eyes. They held little emotion and she couldn't tell if he was angry or indifferent or what. After that brief pause, his hand started working through her hair again almost like he hadn't even heard what she had said.
"Jack…did you…"
"Yes."
"Then why…"
"Because, I want to. And I've wanted to for too damn long."
She loved his forcefulness even though she knew she shouldn't. He should have backed away by now, apologized for interfering with her relationship, and then immediately left her if not the premises. But he didn't.
Sighing heavily, she spoke again, "It's not that simple." She reluctantly took a step backwards. Gently, she extracted his hand from her hair, and moved it back to his side. His other hand followed.
"You're the one making it complicated."
"Me?" she exclaimed. "You're the one doing that."
"Doing what?"
"I don't know. Just that. That thing you do."
"Oh, how original. Doing that thing you do?" he asked mocking her.
"You know what I mean."
"I have a feeling that I don't."
"Oh Jack," she groaned crossing her arms over her chest. "We can't do this again."
"I'm not sure what this is, but it feels very different then whatever this was last time."
"It's different, because I know the truth," she said bitterly.
"I promised I'd never lie to you again, and I meant it," he said trying to bridge the distance she had put between them.
As if they were in some synchronized dance, she moved with him. When he stepped forward, she stepped back not giving him any room to touch her again. If he touched her, she would be lost. "You can't just say that. How can I believe you?"
"I hardly expect you to." She narrowed her eyes waiting for the catch. "But I plan to make it up to you."
She liked the sound of that. "How do you plan on doing that?" she asked cocking her head to the side and trying to keep the flirtation out of her voice, but damn that was hard to do.
"I've got a few ideas," he said a smirk appearing on his face. "I think you'll like them."
"I'm sure I would," she mumbled images of him kissing her senseless appearing before her eyes.
"I think we're back to square one. Why don't you come stay with me tonight?" She looked helplessly up at him. He could tell that he was wearing her down. She wanted to say yes. The only thing for him to do was to make her. That's what she really wanted.
Just then a hand snaked around her waist from behind and a head nuzzled into her neck. "Hey babe, I've been looking for you all over. I thought you were going to stay at the bar," Spencer said leaving one last kiss on her neck before straightening and turning towards her.
She stared at him dumbstruck. "I…uh," Lexi stammered.
"Did Chasity give you anything else?" he asked concern evident in his voice. "You're not going to be sick are you?"
"Oh, well…" she began fumbling for words. "I just ran into a friend."
Spencer glanced up and looked around completely ignoring Jack who was standing directly in front of them. "Where did she go?"
Lexi couldn't help laughing out loud. "No, no, this is my friend," she said gesturing to Jack, but being careful not to touch him as she directed Spencer's attention towards him.
He glanced at Jack uncomfortably. She could tell that Spencer wasn't too happy that this was her friend, but regardless he stuck his hand out. "I'm Spencer."
Jack took his hand in his own and gave a quick squeeze. Lexi saw the smirk cross his face. "Jack."
Spencer looked between Jack and Lexi awkwardly. "Sorry if I was looking for a chick, but, well, I don't think I've ever heard her mention you before."
"Not surprising. We haven't seen each other in a really long time," Jack said. "Anyway, I've got to get out of here. My friends were just heading out when I ran into you. So I'm gonna go catch up with them."
"Alright. Nice meeting you, man," Spencer said putting a deliberately protective arm across Lexi's shoulders.
"Likewise I'm sure," Jack responded that smirk never leaving his face. "I'll see you around Lex."
She watched his departing back sad that he didn't even give her a backwards glance. Had that really just happened? She couldn't be sure, but all of a sudden she felt incredibly uncomfortable in Spencer's grasp.
"I thought you didn't like being called Lex," Spencer said turning to face her and sliding his other arm around her.
Lexi smiled. "I don't."
* * *
K.A. Linde
The Country Club
So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall
Yeah fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
- The Calling "Wherever You Will Go"
* * *
Chapter 5: Present
Navy blue covers crinkled and scrunched around Lexi's lithe form. A down pillow lay crushed against her chest. One bare leg was slightly revealed while her feet remained tangled in the matching sheets. A sharp knock on the door roused her from her reverie, and she buried her face farther into the pillow. The door creaked open uninvited. "Lex, it's time to get up," Jack whispered into the darkness.
"Nuh uh," she grumbled shaking her head against the pillow.
"I thought you could use a shower," he said flipping the light switch and holding up a white fluffy towel. "I realized that I had washed all the towels before I left so there wouldn't be any in the extra bathroom. But if you don't want it," he said tauntingly waving the towel back and front in front of his face.
Her head popped up from the comfort of the pillow, and she looked at him groggily. They had been up way too late and her eyes weren't happy with the early morning wake-up. She flipped over on her back and leaned back against her elbows giving her eyes time to focus. "What are you going to do?" she asked stifling a yawn. "I don't mind walking around nak*d...and wet." She bit her lip at her own suggestive behavior.
She successfully elicited her desired reaction from Jack. He tried to stay calm, but she had known him long enough to be able to interpret his subtle movements. His eyes bulged slightly as they slowly crawled down her body, his imagination running away with him. He licked his lips as he thought of her wet, nak*d form sauntering around his apartment...or in his shower...or on his bed...or pretty much anywhere. His chest rose and fell irregularly, and the crotch of his pants jumped just a little bit, just enough for her to notice. He gulped uneasily. "Uh...yeah...well then, I guess you'll need this," he stammered walking into the room, and placing the towel at the foot of the bed, trying not to show his arousal. Then he quickly turned to leave before he did anything he might regret...or she might tell his girlfriend.