"Wake up sleepy head."
Scrunching her nose up and squinting her eyes against the dull morning light there was no way Alexis was getting up just yet…she was tired and her muscles ached and her pillow was so warm and smelled so…so masculine.
So no as far as Alexis Colby was concerned she wasn't waking up and she wasn't going anywhere she was staying right here.
"Alexis…Come on Alexis." Dex couldn't help the amusement in his voice, when Alexis scrunched her nose up like that she looked adorable. Reaching up he threaded his fingers into her unruly curls trying to lift Alexis's head from where she had burrowed it into his chest.
"Five more minutes…" Alexis muttered dozily stretching out against her warm human pillow, a smile of satisfaction as her cramped muscles unclenched.
"Alright then five more minutes." Dex capitulated, it wasn't like they were in a terrible rush after all, not that Alexis seemed to hear him; as it seemed like she had drifted off again and he was left trapped beneath her.
Wiggling his shoulder Dex did his best to shift Alexis slightly, her using him as a pillow had meant his left arm was currently fast asleep itself, and the sudden rush of blood back into the affected limb had Dex gasping from pins and needles.
Of course what he hadn't expected was for Alexis to cooperate, normally she was like a log to shift when she was asleep. Yet now instead of curled up against his side using his left shoulder as a pillow she was practically draped across him…soft breasts squashed against his chest, the warmth of her centre pressed and rocked against his hip and her knee…oh god Dex tried to ignore just where her knee and thigh were rubbing against.
All this he could have coped with but…Closing his eyes Dex tried to ignored the way Alexis nuzzled into his chest, her hot breath making his skin prickle her soft lips alternatively pressing kisses or nipping at his skin with her teeth…and let's not even get on to what those hands were doing.
If Alexis woke up now with the two of them like this?
It wasn't like Alexis really wanted him, she was asleep and probably dreaming of someone else…probably Blake Carrington. To simply lie here and enjoy this would be taking advantage of Alexis at her most vulnerable and Dex dreaded to think how she would react. Either angry or embarrassed it would destroy the delicate understanding they had finally come to last night. An understanding that had taken years to come to and that was far too precious to risk.
There was only one thing for it and Dex dreaded to think how much this might hurt his ankle.
Holding Alexis tightly Dex gently turned them, ignoring the scream of protest from his ankle as it was forced to move…damn there was no way he was going to be walking far on that any time soon. Reaching for the zip, Dex half levered, half hopped his way free from the compromising position, wincing as he landed heavily on his already bruised ribs on the rough ground that didn't have the luxury of a roll matt to soften the landing.
"Dex?" Alexis's sleepy question drew Dex back to the present and he gazed up into the face of a sleep rumpled and confused Alexis Colby.
"I…Urgh…I just need the bathroom."
"Oh…ok…" Alexis seemingly accepted that explanation at face value, grasping the corners of the sleeping bag and pulling them up around her shoulders as she snuggled back down into the warmth that Dex had left behind.
Waiting until her breathing evened out once more Dex breathed a sigh of relief. That had been close…too close and dammit now he really did need the bathroom and with the sun barely up it was still freezing outside. Pulling on his jeans and shirt Dex managed his socks and one of his boots, his sprain ankle had swollen too much to get the other boot back on and it didn't look like it was going to be going down anytime soon.
So it didn't look like they would be going anywhere anytime soon. So that meant it was up to him to keep them alive…water…food…fire…with any luck they would only need fend for themselves for a day or so, the trek was due to finish tomorrow and then the group would return to the ranch where they would realise Dex and Alexis were missing.
Forty-Eight hours in the wilderness how difficult could that really be?
No scratch that, forty-eight hours alone in the wilderness with Alexis Colby, may god have mercy on him after all?
"So how long is it before you actually start dying of hunger?"
Sighing Dex considered ignoring the question, even tinged with Alexis's dry wit Dex couldn't help but take her complaint personally. So instead he shrugged his shoulders and continued to sit and stare out of the flap of the tent, watching as a little tiny river ran through his wood pile. There was no way that was going to light now, not that he had anything to cook on it at any rate…Although the burning hole Alexis's gaze was boring in the back of his head might actually have been enough to catch even the sodden timber alight.
Alexis Colby was not accustomed to being ignored by anyone…certainly not by Dex Dexter.
"Surely there has to be something out here that it wouldn't kill us to eat, or do your famous survival skills not extend to anything actually useful Dex?"
"I've probably got some fluff covered gum in my jacket pocket or if you want to go out in that downpour then be my guest Alexis I won't stop you." Dex's retorted sullenly, shifting his uncomfortable position to elevate his swollen ankle which had seemingly doubled in size since yesterday. Yet another thing he had Alexis to thank for.
Perhaps it was time to start a list?
Although if Dex started back cataloguing all the bad things had had happened to him as a result of his involvement with Alexis then he would probably still be here at Christmas!
"Just be grateful that it is raining, at least this way we'll have water."
And plenty of it, as the two jerry cans Dex had left outside were already half way full and this terrible weather didn't look like stopping anytime soon. Soon they would have enough to keep them going for a couple of days…And considering this weather Dex doubted the other group would have completed the hike today, which meant it would be even longer before the alarm that they were missing was raised.
The thought of which filled Dex with dread….
Not because he was really afraid for their survival, as long as they had water, a few days without food wouldn't kill them. Although Alexis's complaining might drive him to the brink of murder…No it was the thought of more mornings waking up with Alexis in his arms. Of having to yet again experience that feeling of contentment and coming home only to have it ripped from him as he remembered where he really was and why and just how much of a mess his life really was.
Of living with the knowledge that the longer he spent here with Alexis alone the harder it would be not to fall into old patterns… and he couldn't allow himself to fall not again.
It was always the same pattern for him, he finally dragged himself two steps forward, then there was Alexis again making him fall back in love with her again dragging him three steps back and undoing all of his hard work…
Not that Dex himself would even so much as notice at the time. Certainly not that he was losing himself in her and their relationship. Giving up himself to make her life better and then it wasn't until harsh reality intervened once more and he was suddenly abandoned and cast out of her love that Dex realised what he had done.
In this case he had finally felt he had made progress pulling himself from the black hole his life had descended to after his arrest and losing access to his only child. Then out of nowhere here she was…
Only this time Dex was determined not to fall for it, no this time Alexis could rescue herself and Dex would offer advice and a friendly ear but that was all; it was time he put himself first and Alexis second.
A friend but no longer a lover… he just couldn't go there again.
Perhaps he was being a coward, or perhaps he had just finally grown up? Was it really cowardly to admit when you were afraid? Afraid that the next time the fantasy crashed around his ears he would be buried so deep under the rumble of their latest failed relationship that he would never be able to claw his way out.
Not it was far better for everyone if he simply kept her alive, got Alexis back to the ranch safely and then tendered his resignation. It was time to move on….
Alexis had been right about one thing he had been hiding down here.
Afraid to return to the world he had once been part of out of fear it would have moved on without him and there was no longer a place for him there, no longer a Daddy shaped space in Sophie's life?
"Well I see your conversation skills haven't suffered in the past few years Dex." Alexis's acerbic little jab pulled him out of his wallowing and back to the present with a bump and Dex couldn't resist the urge to scowl back at her.
"I was thinking Alexis; us mere mortals like to try it from time to time." Dex grunted his dark eyes watching the rhythmic movements of the nail file as Alexis made the tiniest of corrections to her already perfectly shaped nails.
"You weren't thinking, you were sulking." Alexis corrected him, her lips tugging into a small smirk as she gazed up at Dex from under her thick dark eyelashes. "Believe me I know the difference…"
"I am not sulking…"
"No now you are being belligerent, before you were sulking." Alexis added her lips twitching in amusement at her own joke. "You pout when you sulk Dex, it makes you look like a little boy trapped in a man's body…and now you are irritable, you're bored at being stuck in here and you're taking it out on me."
"I am n…"
"Yes you are." Alexis insisted finally her emerald eyes finally snapping up to meet and hold his gaze. "Well you can either sit there and brood on whatever is eating you or you could start thinking about how you are going to fix it!"
"Say's the woman who hasn't put that damn nail file down all morning rather than face her own problems…I'd say they were about perfect by now Alexis so how about you follow your own advice?"
"Fine." Alexis snapped yet from the smirk tugging at her lips Dex he knew he had far from won this round, Alexis never backed down unless she had another far more powerful weapon in her arsenal.
"What do you mean 'fine'?"
"I'm agreeing with you Dex, did you not get enough sleep last night or have your advancing years affected your hearing as well as your hairline?"
"I am still years younger than you lady and my hearing is still as sharp as it ever was, I just don't believe what I am hearing, Alexis Colby admitting someone else is right!" Dex retorted testily, still somewhat sensitive over his receding hairline, some men had all the luck…
Carrington's hair was probably still as thick now as it had been during his thirties, or was that the 1930's, and god knows Dex's own father had managed practically a full head of hair until his death. Still they did say a man inherited his hairline from his maternal grandfather and if Dex strained his memory of his early childhood then he could just about remember a jovial red faced old man who used to put him on his shoulders and prance around pretending to be a horse as a young Dex giggled and patted his head…his rather bald head.
"I am capable Dex," Alexis countered her emerald eyes glinting playfully as she added, "It's just so rare that other people are right I am somewhat out of the habit!"
Dex couldn't help himself, despite his irritable mood Dex couldn't suppress the snort of laughter that burst out of him, it was just such an Alexis Colby thing to say…
"Now give me your hands." Alexis commanded imperiously.
"Why what are you going to do with them?" Dex asked suspiciously yet it spoke volumes of Alexis's continued power over him that he didn't for a second consider refusing.
However when Alexis retrieved her nail file Dex went to pull his hand away, yet Alexis's grip was surprisingly strong.
"Alexis please…"
"Don't be such a baby Dex." Alexis chided. "You didn't used to complain when I tidied up your nails for you…"
"Yes but back then you could send me to sleep in the spare room if I dared refuse." Dex countered unable to resist being pulled out of his sour mood and into their easy banner.
Smirking Alexis spread his strong calloused fingers seizing his thumb the nail of which had a terrible cracked and torn nail. "Well now you can choose between in and out of the tent, your choice?"
"Funny lady." Dex retorted yet part of him couldn't help wonder if Alexis was serious…she had kicked him out of bed for all manner of ridiculous reasons in the past. Still even she wouldn't be so cruel as to make him sleep out in that downpour….would she?
"Stop fretting Dex it will give you wrinkles...well more than you already have." Alexis chided her ex-husband watching as the surprisingly vain cowboy immediately stopped frowning and half raised his free hand to his forehead.
"Haaa made you check Dex! And people thought I was the vain one…Tell me Darling was it just my imagination or did you actual start dipping into my moisturiser whilst we were married."
Shifting uncomfortably Dex reached for a change of topic…anything…anything to avoid the knowing look in Alexis's eyes, that predatory gaze that both terrified and excited him in equal measure. Shifting awkwardly Dex grabbed for something…anything to distract from this familiar feeling churning in his stomach.
"Ummm so I don't suppose you have heard anything about my daughter…I am somewhat out of the loop down here and Sable hasn't exactly been forthcoming, in fact she cut off all contact after the trial."
Yet as Alexis faltered in her manicure and Dex could have sworn he saw her wince he regretted choosing this particular topic, it was just that since Alexis's arrival thoughts of home and his daughter had been uppermost in his thoughts. Opening his mouth to apologise Dex shut it suddenly when Alexis spoke.
"Not much…I had heard…although it was probably just a rumour…" Alexis hesitated before falling uncharacteristically silent.
"Alexis?" Dex prompted again, this time he was the one reach out and catching her hand, for a moment holding her soft little hand captive in his own. "Tell me please."
Sighing Alexis stroked Dex's calloused thumb. "It might just be a rumour but I had heard that Sable is getting married again…"
"Who?" Dex demanded his tone curt as his grip tightened on Alexis's hands until Alexis cried out and tried to pull them free. "Alexis to who?"
"To Zach Powers." Alexis hissed blinking back tears as Dex finally loosened his grip and she pulled her hands free.
"Powers!" Dex spat angrily. "Is she out of her mind that man is a conman and a shark!"
"He's also rich and charming and for some reason besotted with my cousin he always was." Alexis retorted surprised by the sudden spike of pain, like a stiletto had been driven into her gut, and for one moment she was back in that moment when Dex had first spilled the news about his affair with Sable and it hurt…
Dex still had feelings for Sable and it reinforced that dreadful realisation that had slammed home all those years ago…it hadn't been a meaningless fling Dex hadn't just fallen into bed with Sable he had fallen in love with her and that betrayal cut a damn sight deeper.
Snorting in derision Dex's face contorted in a sneer. "Oh and why am I not surprised you would defend him...let me guess Alexis you would know this all how? Or is Powers one of the many you know intimately? I amazed you can separate one from the other…"
Dex added his tone goading and biting and unnecessarily cruel. "So did he take you to bed as a consolation prize when he couldn't get Sable?"
"Damn you Dexter!" Alexis spat back blinking back the tears that reflexively sprang to her eyes.
Grabbing her jacket and pulling on her boots, not even pausing to lace them as she pushed Dex's restraining hands away and all but through herself out of the tent, kicking over Dex's jerry cans in her haste.
"Alexis wait…dammit you'll catch your death…I'm sorry… I didn…" Yet Dex's pleas fell on deaf ears and with his ankle the way it was all he could do was helplessly watch as Alexis stormed off into the gloom.
Well he had wanted to distance himself from Alexis…and it seemed he had accomplished just that, however Dex had only intended emotional breathing space not to drive a wedge between them once more. He could only hope that the rain would cool Alexis's anger and that before long she would return, a little wet but no worse for wear…
After everything that they had once meant to each other Dex wasn't entirely sure he would be able to live with himself if she didn't!