"I wish you would just listen to
me."
He moved swiftly through the airport, taking long elegant
strides. His long legs carried him faster than she could keep up, and
she had to break into a light jog to keep pace with him.
With one
hand, his suitcase came off the conveyor belt and he turned to
her.
"It's not that I'm not listening," he said as she braked
quickly so she wouldn't crash into him. "It's that I don't know
what to say. What do you want me to say?"
"Something," she
stressed, shifting her bag from one shoulder to the other, staring up
into his gray eyes.
"Look, I feel like my hands are tied right
now, okay? I can't be bothered."
"Right."
The spark
between them ignited into a full on fire as he narrowed his eyes at
her. Exasperated, he looked skyward and took a deep sigh before his
long legs carried him away, leaving her standing there alone.
∞
The high heels that usually adorned her feet were gone in favor of gray Chucks. She knew he would show up. He always did when he was in town.
∞
Too many questions. Everyone always wanted
something from him... time, to share a secret, something. He just
wanted to be left alone. Except when it came to her. It was nearly
impossible to stay away, even though he tried his best to push her as
far away as he possibly could.
Needing to clear his mine, he
walked over, and he knew she would be there. The small ranch style
house was overflowing with people. Old friends that were excited to
see him, new people who just wanted to gawk at him. The sunset when
he finally saw her, sitting in the corner of the kitchen on the
counter, holding what he was sure was some god-awful girl beer.
Her
mouth opened like she had something to say, but as soon as she saw
him glance at her, then away, she snapped it shut. He found the most
masculine drink in the place, and let the circus begin. All eyes on
him, he suppressed the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance. The host,
his cousin, came over to make small talk as he chose a seat at the
dining table in the only area not completely surrounded by curious
eyes.
He had made his appearance. Of course he loved his cousin.
Keeping family a priority wasn't something he would ever bend on.
But he was bored. Drumming his nails on the wooden table, while
simultaneously tapping his foot on the tile, he pursed his lips. In
one graceful, fluid movement he disappeared out the patio doors,
stepping into the soft grass that seemed to sink under his
weight.
"Sorry," he heard and took the blank bottle from his
lips, looking around to see where the voice had come from.
Her
brown hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and he watched as she
left the backyard in favor of the driveway.
"You again," was
all he could think to say.
Amused, he watched her pace until she
finally came to a stop. Not exactly willing to let her know how much
she fascinated him, he snapped his head back to the house, pretending
to be examining the wood siding.
"Edward," she said.
"What?"
A
deep sigh. "If I didn't talk to you for a month, would you
notice?"
"Yeah. But I wouldn't give a rat's ass."
She
nodded. His voice had cracked on the last word, and it prompted her
to speak again.
His eyes met hers as she stumbled in the dip in
the grass she hadn't seen. As nonchalantly as humanely possible he
moved to her, his eyes darting from the siding to her and back. His
curiosity was evident.
"And if I stopped for... six
months?"
"You wouldn't."
Confident. Arrogant.
His feet
crossed the threshold from the backyard to the hard pavement.
"I
could."
The gap closed between them, and she froze, the striped
shirt he wore appearing before her eyes.
"You're shorter than
usual," he commented, looking down.
"I'm wearing Chucks."
"You
look hotter in heels," he said aggressively.
"You could go
without talking to me for six months?"
It was painfully obvious
she was trying to put on a brave face. He considered it.
Despite
his better judgement, he let out a groan. "No."
She
stumbled at his words, breaking the weight shifting dance she had
gone into to soothe her nerves. His instinct caused him to reach out
and grab her arm she she wouldn't fall. She steadied and shrugged
away from him.
"I didn't think so."
Her quiet voice made
his heart melt like butter, but never cracked his cool
demeanor.
Lifting herself onto her toes, she let his confession
fuel her, and she pressed her lips to his, fisting his
jacket.
Fighting. Always fighting to keep control.
He didn't
push back.
She threw herself further into the kiss she knew they
both wanted, her body smashing against his.
Dammit.
He sighed
as he parted his lips, taking her lip into his mouth, sucking it.
Taking her hips in his long, elegant hands, he pulled her in and
turned his head to the side, needing more of her. Vindicated, she
moved her tongue into his mouth, tasting the dark beer and mints.
Strange combination, but it never deterred her, never took from the
moment.
He had finally been honest.
