Chapter 4 - Ride

Mandis' eyes shot open, her vision blurring on the mass of colour on smooth tanned skin. She squeezed them shut again, hoping to find herself anywhere but in the arms of the man lying next to her. Her skin tingled as his warm breath ghosted across her bare shoulder, her body now conflicting with her mind. Her small hands grasped around his arm, gently tugging it away from her so she could slip free from his captive embrace; but to no avail.

"Where do you think you're going?" His grip around her tightened; his hard smooth chest rubbed against hers, the friction delivering a delicious sensation. The low husky rumble of his voice seemed much louder in the darkness of the room. She glanced up at him, his eyes still firmly shut.

"Isn't this what I'm supposed to do?" His eyes opened quickly as her small voice floated to his ears.

"What are you supposed to do?" She sighed, the feel of embarrassment washing over her; she saw the time. 11.30pm.

"Leave." A smirk spread across his thin lips, he moved closer to her gently brushing his lips against her cheek.

"Why would I want a beautiful naked lady to leave my bed?" He nuzzled her neck, gently placing kisses down to her collar bone. He may be half asleep, but he could still easily please her. She rushed out of the comfy bed surprising him, her eyes immediately scanning the floor for clothes. She felt his eyes burning into her, that wouldn't usually be a problem if she wasn't naked.

"Stop staring." She spoke firmly at him figuring he was still in bed. He wasn't; his hand on her arm stopped her frantic search for her clothes. She spotted her panties lying a foot away. He turned her around, he wasn't naked any more. Her eyes scanned over his body, she wanted to tear her eyes away but she couldn't; the man was a god.

"Stay." He took her face in his large hands, he was ordering her about again. She shook her head, a silent protest. His lips found hers, gentle and teasing. He stopped kissing her to stare into her eyes.

"I'm just another woman to you. Another notch on your bedpost." He let his hands drop to his side, a smirk spread across his thin lips. He held his hands out gesturing to the door.

"Go then, I won't stop you." She bent down quickly, picking up her panties and slipping them on. She turned to see Stu sat down on the edge on the bed, his head in his hands. She caught sight of her bra, quickly running over to it and putting it on. She couldn't help but look at Stu again, he looked hurt.

"Are you okay?" Her voice was timid as she awaited an answer from the huge man, "Don't tell me I've hurt your feelings?"

He scowled at her, obviously displeased with her question, "Why would a man like me have feelings?"

The Englishman stood up, storming over to pick up her dress, shoving it in her hand. He put his pants back on, waiting for her to put her dress on. She stared at it in her hand.

"Put it on. I'll take you home." He slipped his shirt on and walked out of the room.

After getting dressed and collecting her belongings Mandi tiptoed downstairs, she heard voices. Deciding it would be best to follow them, she could make out one was Stu. She turned into the kitchen to see Stu and the man from the bar the other night. Stephen. He grinned at her from his position behind the counter, a bottle of water resting in one of his big hands.

"Did you guys have fun?" Stu looked to Mandi, his hands braced on the side of the kitchen counter. He wasn't going to reply. She felt blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Yeah." She ducked her head, desperately wanting to crawl into a hole.

"Then how come yer going?"

"She thinks this is a regular occurrence, women in and out of my bed like a conveyor belt."

Stephen couldn't hold back a laugh, "Is that so. Ah can tell ye' that ain't the case, lass."

Stu pushed himself off the counter, grabbing onto Mandi's arm, "Time to go."

Pulling her from the kitchen down the hall he let out a breath, "I guess I made a mistake thinking you were different. I should have left you at the restaurant when I had the chance."

Mandi dug her heels into the carpet, shaking Stu's tight grip off her arm. He turned to her wondering what the hell she was doing, before he had the chance to blink her hand connected with his cheek. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the hallway. His large hand reached up to his red stinging cheek, his breathing had quickened; the Englishman was pissed.

"How about you walk home?"

"Gladly." She brushed past him, walking to the door as quick as she could in her heels. Stu watched her walk out of his house, the door shaking at it slammed shut behind her. He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, trying to put it back in place. He sighed, knowing he couldn't leave her to walk home; especially in that dress and this time of night. Stephen looked at him curiously as Stu rushed back to the kitchen.

"I'll be back soon."

"Ah'm going to sleep fella, good luck." Stephen patted his friend on the back shaking his head in amusement.

Stu ran outside, car keys in hand. Jumping in his car he drove off, confused as he couldn't see Mandi anywhere. He cursed under his breath; he wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything happened to her. A sigh of relief left his lips as he spotted her sat on a small wall in front of a house a few doors down, she hadn't made it far though he didn't expect her to in those shoes. Rolling down the window he shouted her, "Mandi, get in." She looked up from the relentless typing on her blackberry. She stood up and continued walking away from him. Parking up the car next to the sidewalk he jumped out, "Mandi."

She couldn't stop walking from the mistake that continued to follow her. He grabbed her arm, something she was accustomed to, "Get off me." She tried peeling one of his large fingers off her smooth skin.

"I'm taking you home."

"No you're not. I don't need you to do anything for me."

"Mandi, listen to me." He pulled her into his chest, "I'm sorry for what I said."

"Leave me alone." She pushed against his chest struggling to get away from his grip; she knew she shouldn't have trusted him from the beginning. She felt her eyes blur, tears starting to pool falling onto her lashes. The frustrations of the evening were coming out, she had tried to stand up for herself but he had worn her down.

Stu looked down hearing faint sobs coming from the blonde, he inwardly groaned. He couldn't deal with a crying woman. He didn't know what to do, he should have let go of her arm but he didn't. He bundled her into his embrace, rubbing his hand in a small circle on her back. He cringed as he felt her tears on his shirt, a wave of guilt flowing through him.

Stu's low rumble against her ear calmed her racing heart, her small hands gripped onto his shirt "Please don't cry."

His other hand smoothed over her hair, gently trying to ease her crying. She had stopped struggling against him, which was a good sign. Before he could think he swiftly picked her up, instinctively she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his thick neck. Carrying her over to his car he continued to hear her soft whimpers, he placed her down before getting her into the car without a fight. She stared at him through glossy eyes as he got into the driver's side, he sat for a moment before grasping onto her hand and kissing her soft skin. The evening had been a rollercoaster to say the least, but he had never had to drive home a crying woman after mind blowing sex. Saying that he had never had a woman get someone to spy on him. Everything was out of the ordinary. The look in her eyes was distant as he set off back to her house; a word daren't be uttered in the silence of the car.

"We're here." He spoke quietly as he pulled up outside her house, "I'll walk you in." She didn't answer; instead she pulled off her seatbelt and pushed the door open without looking back at him.

His hand rested on her back as he finally made it to her, trying to reassure the petite blonde even though it was seemingly his fault.

"Will you be okay?" He wished she would say something, be her usual fiery self again. His hopes were dashed; she nodded whilst dragging her keys out of her bag pushing the small metal key into the lock.

"Yeah, thank you." Her words were barely audible. He stopped her before she could push the door open. He had to stop her; something inside him wouldn't let her walk away.

"I didn't mean what I said. I don't regret this at all."

"Okay." She turned her attention to the door again, he was shocked. Shocked she hadn't replied in her usual feisty manner.

"Wait. Can we start over again? This isn't how I wanted things to turn out and you probably don't want to see me ever again but, I'm having a barbeque tomorrow. You're welcome to come, and you can bring a friend if you like." He held his breath waiting for her reaction; she probably didn't want to see him again.

"I don't think so." She saw a flash of disappointment behind his eyes; that shocked her. Her guess was that he wasn't used to rejection.

"The offer still stands, if you want to come then come." He kissed her cheek lingering for a moment before walking back to his car, stealing a glance at the blonde whilst watching her disappear into the house. He shook his head; he had no idea how to explain his behaviour over the past few days. Never had a woman had such an effect on him.

A/N – Thank you miamitravel, DefinitelyProbablyMaybe, LA Williams, xFindTheEnigmaWithinx, celticfighter, SandraSmit19, wwemagpie, hOtlilmofo and Tiffyxox for the awesome reviews! So sorry this hasn't been updated in forever, not sure if I'm gonna continue with it but we'll see! :P Lou x