The rest of their time together was either very quiet, or they would tussle, mock-fight and giggle, throw things at each other, and it ended with him pressing her up against the front door before they left, kissing her deeply, stretching her arms out with his til he had her pinned.
"I win," Tommy whispered,"every time." He was hungrily ravaging her neck with his mouth, his hips bucked against her and she could feel him hard against the inside of her thigh.
"You're going to kill me," Lena gasped. She could not imagine what it was going to be like as he got bigger, stronger-he was already all muscle and solid as a rock.
"No,"he said,"just fuck you." He let her go and she slumped against him. His eyes were pinpoints of heat on her, his cheeks red, perspiration beading on his forehead. He was beautiful and animalistic, seething with intensity. Tommy didn't do anything halfway, wanting her was no different.
"We...we better go." She was panting a little. Tommy flashed her a smile.
"Yeah. What time you coming over tonight?"
Lena's surprise was hard to contain. "Umm, I think I'm hittin' the gym and I know I gotta study tonight..."
Tommy shook his head. "I'll come by your place then. I'll bring you dinner."
There was no saying no to this man. She was scared a little, she had imagined he would be done again, like he had been telling her it was going to be. She wasn't completely prepared for him in her life full-time either. Tommy was a hurricane of uncertainty and desperation, love and lust-Trouble Man. She stared into his eyes, hot dark blue pools of need. She realized he was going to be all by himself here, and maybe he didn't like that.
"OK Tommy,"she whispered, her fingers on his chin to pull his mouth to hers one last time.
LATER. Cal was busting her door down. Lena had been cleaning her apartment, had her sheets washing in the laundry room down the hall. She was sore and still a little stunned from her time with Tommy.
"What the fuck is goin' on, Lena?" Cal stormed into her apartment."I've been calling you and calling you..." He looked at her in dismay. "You really look like shit."
Lena laughed."Thanks asshole, I love you too." She hugged him and he pushed her away.
"No offense but if you're sick I don't want it. I brought you some ibuprofen and some other shit-"he shoved a plastic bag in her hand, it had tissues and at least four different kinds of medicine, and a big bottle of orange juice. "Hope it helps." Cal gave her his winning smile. "Gotta take care of my best bitch."
"You are too much, thank you Cal." Lena set the bag on the table. "I actually...um I'm not really sick."
"What?!"
"I mean, I had a really long night, been busting my ass...just worn down I guess." Lena avoided looking at Cal, she knew he was going to give her hell. She set about putting the orange juice in the fridge, and Cal snatched it from her.
"Lena. I'm taking it back. I really thought you were sick."Cal glared at her now as they faced off on the kitchen. "I really hope this has nothing to do with Tommy Riordan. Cuz I have a feeling it does."
"You know Cal, I appreciate the fact that you want to watch over me. I realize we're close. But you need to back up right now cuz I'm not in the mood for this."
"YOU don't realize what's happening here, it's starting already. You skipped class Lena, you never do that. I have to watch out for you because there are people who can fuck your life up and you won't see it coming til it's too late. I knew this was gonna fuckin' happen!"
"Wow way to overreact, I missed class ONCE Cal, I can handle myself regardless of your low opinion of me! This has less to do with Tommy than it does with you trying to control everything in my life. I love you but can you just leave me alone about this one thing? Just one!"
Cal looked like he was ready to yell some more, his tan chiseled face glowing bright with anger. "You know I don't try to control you Lena," he seethed. "I have to take care of you. You're my best friend and my sister. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you too. Maybe it seems like I'm trying to run you, but goddamn Lena! Anyone but him! There's how many people in the 'Burgh you could be seeing?!"
Lena sighed, dropped her face in her hands. She knew there was no way they would see eye-to-eye on this. Maybe ever.
"Cal,"she said softly."I don't expect you to understand. I don't fully understand it. But...I can't stay away from him." She looked at him and her eyes pleaded with him to go easy on her.
"Lena, you ever heard of the saying, moth to a flame?" Cal approached her and rubbed her arms. "I won't say another word. But please, don't skip class anymore...you have that really big test-"he fiddled in his pockets and pulled out folded up notebook paper,"-Teresa gave me her notes for you. I don't want to see you get fucked up on this guy. You haven't been around the block, you know, and this guy could take you there. I can tell. He's got too many problems, Lee." Cal looked at her a long time, and all the anger was gone from his eyes, just concern and love. "I gotta run down to Kimo's, but I'll be back, you going to the gym with me around 4?"
Lena nodded, and gave him a big hug. "I love you."
"I love you too. Oh and my mom's appointment is next Monday at 3. You still coming right?"
"Of course, I'll drive us there."
Cal laughed out loud. "Hell no you won't, you'll give my mom a heart attack before we ever get there!"
"Oh my God shut the hell up Cal!" Lena punched his arm hard as she could before he headed out the door in a rush. She shut the door and rested against it-she was emotionally exhausted.
LENA hadn't heard from Tommy all day, she could imagine what Colt was doing with him. She was sitting in her car outside Colt's at 4, waiting for Cal to show up, when her phone beeped with a text message: 'I'm going to be late tonight. See you after 8.' It was Tommy, and she marvelled at how quickly winds can change direction. Never did she ever expect to be talking to Tommy Riordan much less be in a whatever-ship with him. She had thought about everything Cal had said, had been saying, and knew he was right. She couldn't let Tommy sidetrack her, and she could see how easily she could forget everything when she looked into his eyes, smelled his skin, heard his voice, and when he touched her...she shivered with goosebumps, like a cold chill, but it was a hot breeze that blew through her nervous system-she had never felt like this before. And she wasn't sure what to do about it.
Cal was friendly and funny and bossy and bitchy, but was true to his word and didn't say anything about Tommy. Even when he noticed her looking around the gym every so often, he still shut his trap even though it killed him. He remembered the one true love he had back in his senior year of high school-once his love's parents found out it was a boy that their son was in love with, they packed up all their stuff and moved to California, leaving Cal a complete mess with Lena to pick up the pieces. Cal never found out what happened to his dear heart, hoping that somehow, some way, they would find each other again. Helpless hopeless love. In truth Cal was still waiting, he felt he could never find anyone that understood him so well...besides Lena.
In the gym, Cal punished her relentlessly, barked at her, made her almost throw up and even burst into tears at one point. He could see how strained she was, he knew the physical exertion always helped her in ways nothing else could. She cursed him intermittently through it all, but afterwards, while they were towelling off, she thanked him. She felt focused, complete. Her body and mind reconnected somewhere along the way and she was on her feet again. She hadn't realized just how off-kilter she had been feeling. He bowed to her, like a great Sensei would, and Lena bowed back. People in the gym stared cock-eyed at them, wondering what the hell that was all they laughed together all the way out to the parking lot. Just right.