Finally decided what to do. Continuation of ATO. I dont' own anything. Let's get the previous bits wrapped up and refreshed before plot begins, yes?
Oh my Goddess I slept with him. I slept with my boss.
Sitting in the taxi, feeling the strong arm resting protectively around my shoulders had for the most part distracted me from this epiphany. But the moment we pulled up at the twenty-four hour drycleaners to pick up Gray Cameron's dry cleaning I was brought out of my little content world. He'd refused to let me out of the car, opting to go in and pick up his suit himself.
It was that small five minute gap that allowed me to come down of my euphoric high and grasp reality fully. I had given myself to Gray, and he had given himself to me.
I felt my face flush bright red at the thought, the recent events that conspired in Gray's office still fresh and vivid in my mind. And now he was coming to spend the night with me in my apartment. My heart pounded in my chest, and I placed my hand over it, willing it to calm. I'd already voiced my concerns at the office, and Gray didn't seem to think anything of them.
I briefly thought that maybe since he had slept with me he would wash his hands of me. But I scolded myself at the idea. I knew already that Gray Cameron was not that type of man. I was also fairly sure that he wouldn't do such a thing without having true feelings behind it. Though the majority of the Cameron's where a physical being, Gray, while being one, seemed to prefer emotional attachment with the physical aspects of a relationship.
Granted he hadn't told me that he loved me, and I didn't expect that. Not yet- if ever. In the three and half years I had known the man he had never been one to show his motions or voice his feelings. Tonight had been the first exception. But that didn't mean that he felt for me the way that I did him. His feelings might not be as defined as mine for him, since it seemed that his feelings were brought out due to the fact I was going to leave.
"What are you thinking about?"
I shook my head when Gray's husky voice brought me out of my thoughts. I realized that the car was moving again, and that Gray's large hand was gripping my shoulder as he looked at me worriedly. I blinked at him before averting my gaze, feeling my cheeks redden at his penetrating gaze.
"Ah…just…about you," I managed to mumble out. His expression seemed to relax some as he took in the words, a bemused grin growing on his face. He rested his hand on my lap, his long fingertips just passing the hem of my skirt and brushing carefully over my skin. I blushed all the more and closed my eyes at the gesture.
I didn't know if this would last, but I hoped it did. I enjoyed being with this man, and I never wanted to have to part from him. But when the night ended, when Monday morning came rolling around at the end of the weekend, would he still be here?
"We're here, love birds," The driver said cheerfully. I turned my head to look out the window and realized that indeed we were parked outside my apartment building.
Gray, being the closest to the building stepped out, his plastic wrapped suit in hand. He stood on the side walk and looked around before bending down and offering me his hand. I scooted to the open door, taking his hand and gasping when he unexpectedly pulled me out of the car. I hadn't expected him to jerk me like that, and because of that I stumbled slightly into his chest.
"Sorry 'bout that," he said quietly, helping me steady in my heels. I nodded dumbly, relieved that I hadn't twisted an ankle on my way out of the taxi.
I went to dig in my purse for my wallet but Gray had already beaten me to it, and had told the driver to 'Keep the change.' Since I was in my purse already I might as well get my keys out.
"Oh…darn it not again," I muttered, my eyebrows furrowing in aggravation as I shut my eyes and took a deep calming breath.
"What is the matter?" Gray asked, stepping close to me and I could feel his hand resting in the small of my back. I sighed and shook my head.
"I have to go see Zack to get into my apartment," I muttered angrily, closing my eyes and taking another deep breath. "I've left my keys on my desk again," I murmured out, opting to pinch my nose.
"I'm presuming that this is a common occurrence then?" Gray said quietly, and I could tell that there was a chuckle hiding in it. I nodded and looked up at him, giving him a weak smile and grabbing his wrist. I pulled him into the building and walked to the door off to the side that read 'Maintenance only'. I rang the door bell and then turned my attention back to Gray.
"About every other day, I leave my keys at the office. I just...usually have so many things I'm going through in my head to make sure I finished that I forget them. I wouldn't…have to worry about it if I put the keys to your office on a separate ring, but I have enough trouble keeping up with the one…" I rambled on, hearing the stomping on the stairs and the coughing fit that followed. The door opened and I blinked at the greased up gray shirt with a few holes and oil stains on it that I was currently eyelevel with.
"Ah…it's you again missy," the large man chuckled, leaning against the door frame as he stared down at me, one hand grazing over his flat top in amusement. I started down at the floor, giving a stiff nod and refusing to say much. After all, I knew if I gave the man anything to run with, he would embarrass me to death.
"You know you don't need an excuse to stop by and see me," Zack teased out, moving out of the doorway and turning to go back down the stairs. He stopped at the little hole in the wall and grabbed his lit cigarette, taking a drag as he continued on his way down. I sighed and followed him down the stairs, hands clasped behind my back as we entered into the basement.
Zack wasn't a bad guy. A blue collar worker to the end. He lived in the basement of this building, he worked hard and he was a very nice guy. His personal hygiene was slightly lacking, and his smoked those horrid cheap cigarettes that lingered in the air of the basement long after he smoked the last one for the day.
He claimed he thought himself of my dad, which honestly scared me when sometime later he confessed his adoration to me, and claimed that when I got tired of searching for a man that he would be there for me if I 'didn't want to get lonely.' He'd even given me a small promise ring and refused to let me not accept it.
I watched as he placed the cigarette in the ash tray, walking into the chain link cage that his desk was in, as well as his wall of keys for all the apartments. His hand lingered in the place where mine should have been, and he shook his head, chuckling as a wide grin spread across his tanned and dirty face. I felt my face pale as I realized something. This made two days in a row that I had to get him to give me the spare key.
"So where do you want to go to dinner tomorrow?" he said, turning to his desk and pulling the key out as he smiled down at the silver piece of metal. He never returned it to the rack until a bother free day went by, and for that day that he waited to see if he could get a date with me, he kept the key under the calendar on his desk.
"I …well…I don't…" I began to explain but found that I couldn't manage the words. This man had that affect on me. Well most men did. Men like this that asked me for dates so casually they might be talking about the weather. It had taken me years to get used to Kai's advances, but something about Zack made me get all flustered and tongue tied. I believe it was because he was so nonchalant about the situation- and that in itself flustered me. He asked where to go before even asking for the date, so damn sure of himself!
"Here you go, princess," Zack chuckled out, handing out the key to my safe haven. I bit my lip and went to reach for it, faltering when Zack leaned down more to my eyelevel. "Make sure you dress pretty for me," he teased out, winking at me. I closed my eyes and groaned some, feeling my face heat all the more when the older man started laughing. I swear he was old enough to actually be my father.
"What time would you like us to meet you?" I heard a gruff voice say, causing me to jump some and look behind me. Goddess I had forgotten he was even here! Gray had reached out; his hand enclosed around the key and plucked it from Zack, who had evidently just realized the large man was in the room with us. Zack took in Gray and Gray took in Zack, both sizing the other up.
"So you finally found you a decent man then?" Zack finally said, sighing somewhat disappointedly, but the twinkle never really leaving his eyes. "You let Uncle Zack know if he screws up, alright. I know people…"
"Zack," I murmured out, somewhat exasperatedly as I shook my head. Gray stepped forward some, so he stood in front of me and looked at the man that was damn similar in height. He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side, something he often did when he was being arrogant to Kai or his father.
"Do you make it a habit of coming on to tenants of the company you work for?" Zack raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the desk and plucking his burning cigarette from the ashtray. He took a long drag, flicking the ashes onto the floor as he smirked at the clearly agitated man in front of him.
"No. Just my pretty lil' princess right here," he drawled out, shrugging his shoulders as he mimicked Gray's gesture, crossing his arms over his chest after flicking the cigarette to the ground. "But if this is something serious I'll stop," he offered, a large grin playing on his face. He seemed to be revealing in the agitation of my newly found lover.
"It's serious. Very much so," Gray muttered darkly, eyes narrowing on the older man. "Aren't…you a little old to be…interested in someone her age?" Zack blanched for a moment before regaining his composure, running his fingers over his graying sideburns absentmindedly.
"Maybe so. But…I meant what I told her a few years back. If she can't find someone to make her happy, I'd do right by her and make her a happy wife," Zack and Gray held each other glares, seemingly forgetting I was even in the room. "A woman like that…she's too wonderful to die an old lonely spinster."
"You know," I began, becoming agitated about being talked about as if I wasn't here. "My existence isn't that miserable you know. I have a wonderful job that I love…"
"A job doesn't help you when you come home to an empty house, Princess," Zack interjected, his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "You aren't fooling ol' Zack about it. You get lonely by yourself," he trailed off and then let a soft smile play on his lips, hand stroking under his chin thoughtfully. "But it seems you've managed to find someone. I'll take a rain check on that dinner," he chuckled happily, opting to sit behind his desk and turn on the small television he kept there. "You know the drill with the key. Leave it in the office and Won will make sure I get it back down here."
I nodded absentmindedly, turning to the stairs and feeling Gray's hand rest on my hip as he walked next to me, leading me up the stairs. I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes, noting that his jaw was set firmly, something I often saw him do when he became agitated with Kai. I remained silent well after we excited the entrance to the basement, and then walked to the elevator, waiting for the doors to slide open. Once we were safely inside the elevator and I had pressed the button to the twelfth floor, I heard Gray give out a long agitated sigh.
"I take it that what just happened is a rather normal occurrence?" he muttered out, opening his large palm and staring at the tiny silver key.
"Oh don't worry about Zack. He's harmless," I murmured out, holding my purse tighter to my chest and shaking my head. "He means well. He's just a tad odd," I explained, watching as the numbers on the floor indicator went up. Gray remained silent for a few moments before giving a stiff nod.
"You should make a copy of your apartment key, and I'll make sure you get it when you get off work every night," he stated firmly, a slight smile causing his lips to twitch upward at his solution. I raised both my eyebrows at him, and turned my attention back to the numbers on the indicator.
"I'm not sure if I trust you with a key to my apartment yet," I murmured out somewhat teasingly, feeling the elevator stop and stepping forward as the doors slid open. As I stepped into the hall I felt his hand grab my wrist and pull me back to him. I stared up him, slightly surprised, but at the same time pleased with the scowl on his face.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he murmured, eyes flashing angrily down at me. I smiled up at him despite his sour look, which caused his expression to soften some.
"It just means that I think more than one night is required to gain a copy of the key to my apartment," I murmured out, my gaze softening on him as I opted to tug him more into the hall and out of the elevator. "I'm sure that you can understand that," I added thoughtfully as I pulled him more down the hall and stopped in front of my apartment.
"I suppose I can," he chuckled out, and I couldn't stop from giggling at his slightly flushed face. He pushed to key into the lock, turning it and holding the door open for me. I walked past him, hearing him remove the key from the lock and the door shut firmly behind him. I dropped my purse carelessly onto the couch and jumped some when Gray's dry cleaning covered it. I looked at him and saw him shrug out of his coat, only his open shirt on now, exposing his broad bare chest. I felt my face heat and turned around, refusing to watch him. It wasn't right for me to be staring at him in such a state.
"Ah…do you want something to eat or are you thirsty? I can...Oh! "I gasped when I was pulled up against his form, feeling certain parts of him pressing into my bottom. I flushed and looked back at him, but I didn't really have to do that considering the moment I did that his chin was resting on my shoulder and his lips pressed softly against my cheek.
"I want to do this properly this time...," he said huskily, his voice sounding slightly deeper than a few minutes ago. "Where is your room?"
"A-at the end of the hall…" I mumbled out, clearly flustered and surprised by his bluntness of the situation. But I suppose I should have expected it. Gray Cameron rarely beat around the bush. I let out a small surprised squeal when I was scooped up as if I weighed nothing and carried down the hall bridal style in the man's large capable arms.
I'm going to be cameoing a lot of peps. Let me know what you think.
