Thank you! Hope you enjoy this one :-)
Chapter 11
When I get back downstairs in my dress, my hair still damp and dripping, I find Mom now awake in the kitchen.
"Holy shit, Mom," I burst out in pity, the instance I see her. The skin on her back and shoulders are red raw from falling asleep on the chaise outside in the sun. She's badly sunburned, and I bet it's going to be so painful later, especially when her skin starts to peel. "Ouch."
"Thank you for bothering to wake me," she scolds, but she doesn't sound completely serious and angry with me. I can't help laughing, though I feel guilty as well. Me or Christian should have woken her before we came inside in case she got sun stroke or something. It would have been the considerate thing to do, only I wasn't thinking about it at the time.
"Gosh, Mom. It looks like it hurts so badly?"
"It isn't so bad just yet," she says. "You wait until later tonight, though. I'll really be complaining then."
"I bet you will be."
"You look like you suffered a bit of sunburn as well?" she says, stunning me. Have I gotten sunburned even although I wasn't outside for as long as Mom had been? I glance down at my arms and my legs. They don't look sunburned though. They are pale as ever. Mom comes closer, gathering my hair gently in her hands. "Yep, honey. You got a bit sunburned too."
"Really?" I hadn't realized I had spent long enough in the sun to get burned though. It doesn't even feel sore. "Where?"
"On the side of your neck?"
"But I wasn't out in the sun that long?" I say in confusion. "Maybe it's just a heat rash from the shower?"
"Well, I don't know. Maybe?"
I hadn't checked my reflection before I got out of the shower. I had been so hasty to dress as quickly as possible in case anyone noticed Christian and I were in the shower together. Distressed, I dart into the living room where the large mirror is by the fireplace. Dad's still sleeping on the couch, snoring faintly. Once I get close enough to see my reflection, lifting up my damp hair, the reason for Mom's reaction becomes clear.
Holy shit. Christian, you son of a bitch for doing this to me!
It isn't sunburn, like Mom suspected. It's a round patch of reddish skin, definitely stubble rash. Christian must have done that while he was kissing my neck in the shower. Sneaky asshole. Now what can I possibly say to hide the true reason why from my mother? I inspect it curiously. Then again, I think it also looks similar to a bite from an insect, so that excuse might work. How dare he leave a mark on me when it's so suspicious though! How dare he put me into this situation by doing this to me, particularly in a place so noticeable. I cannot believe him!
"See what I mean, honey?" Mom comes in from behind me, speaking quietly so we don't wake up Dad.
"Yeah, I see. I think I actually got stung by something, though."
"Oh, no. Really?" It doesn't seem unrealistic anyway. "Is it hurting? We have some antibacterial lotion if that's what you need? It might do the trick?"
"No, it should be fine. I definitely felt something bite me though. It was probably an insect or something, Mom."
Christian is so going to get it once he comes downstairs. He is in so much trouble once I get him alone!
"Probably. You poor darling." I'm still battling to get over the shock of what he did when she walks over to where Dad is snoring. "He's exhausted," she whispers sympathetically.
"I know. Probably because he got another year older yesterday."
"We were thinking about all of us going out to dinner tonight to a restaurant," Mom suggests eagerly. "That would be nice, don't you think?"
"Sure, Mom."
"I'll try wake your father up and get him to have a quick shower and get changed, and then we can go. Where's your brother at?"
I try not to answer so quickly, letting it drag out for a moment so she doesn't suspect I was with him up in the shower barely ten minutes ago. "Well, we went in the pool together and I got out to have a shower. Last time I ran into him, he went to take a shower after me."
"You don't mind going upstairs to tell him if you can find him, do you?"
"Sure, I'll go do that. He should be out of the shower by now anyway."
When I head towards the bathroom, the door is already open with the fan still going, which means he has retreated up to his old room to get changed. I head upstairs, taking it one slow step at a time, my heart racing. I am still livid over him giving me stubble rash in such an obvious place and I'm not so sure what I am going to do. All I know, is that he is going to be sorry. Even if it was unintentional of him, I'm still angry.
"Christian?" I call out as I stand by his closed door. I knock against it once, just in case he hasn't heard me. "It's me, Ana. Mom and Dad were thinking about all of us going out to a restaurant tonight for dinner."
There's a moment of silence where I just wait. Then I hear his door unlock and he opens it slightly. "You can come in."
I hesitate, glancing back towards the stairs. No one is there anyway. "You sure? I don't want to intrude?"
"Ana, you've seen me already anyway." Hmm, I suppose that's true. I have definitely seen a lot of him; Especially last night and around fifteen minutes ago in the shower... I guess I am just worried I'll have a lapse in self control if I see too much of him. But bracing myself, I decide to take my chances. I push open the door halfway, craning my head in through the gap curiously.
I feel strangely disappointed when I discover he is already dressed in dark blue jeans and a white button up shirt that is still unbuttoned, hanging open at his chest. A men's blazer is draped around the doorknob on his old wardrobe.
He turns back to look at me as he moves his hands towards the buttons, taking his time in doing them up. "What's this about a restaurant?"
"Oh. Mom and Dad were thinking of us all heading out to dinner for something to do." Stupidly, I find it difficult to look at him. It's because of the shirt undone, the chest. "She sent me up to tell you."
"You look beautiful in that dress," he says quietly, warmly. "The blue on it suits you."
Terribly, I feel myself flush with pleasure. "Yeah, I figured you'd like it," I mutter, glancing up at him. "Blue has always been your favorite color, hasn't it?"
"You remember what my favorite color is?" He sounds surprised.
"Of course I do." I shrug with a short laugh. "I've known you since you were, like, eleven so... naturally, of course I remember what your favorite color is." I clear my throat, my infuriated mood returning to me. "Oh, and by the way, I am so not happy with you."
"You're not happy with me? Why?" God, he sounds so innocent. "What have I done?"
"I think you already know the answer to that."
"What?" He starts walking towards me, smiling slightly. At least he has fully buttoned his shirt up now. That definitely makes things easier and less... tempting. He stands in front of me, his lips quirked at the corners. "What have I done?"
"This," I say meaningfully, pointing to the side of my neck. I give him a look, showing him how unhappy I am, how unamused. Yet, it is sort of funny. "Mom saw it and assumed I got sunburned. I had to lie and tell her an insect bit me. How could you do that to me? How could you put me in that situation, you big jerk?"
"Oh? I'm a big jerk now?" Christian clenches both fists, raising them to me, challenging me to a fight. "You didn't seem as if you minded back there when we were in the shower at the time? So what are you going to do about it?"
"You are in for a world of pain, that's for sure!"
"Well, come on then. Give it to me."
I clench my hands into fists, raising them to him too, getting into a boxers stance. He's smiling mischievously, and I'm smiling. God, it's like we are two foolish kids again. We would always use to do this. We would always play-fight, and get enjoyment out of it. It's different now, though. It almost feels like exciting foreplay.
Bending me knees slightly, I scoot towards him, hitting him playfully on the side of the arm with a laugh. Christian makes a noise, feigning hurt, I think. Then he startles me, catching me off-guard. Before I know it, he has good grasp of my hips and he is pushing me backwards. I end up falling on my backside, down onto his mattress. At least I hadn't fallen over onto the floor though.
Quick as a blink, he climbs onto the mattress, astride me; the both of us panting heavily and heaving through laughter as he uses all his weight to pin me down to the bed. He rests his hands near each side of my head, looking down at me. I'm vaguely aware that my dress has ridden up past my thighs, showing my underwear and my crotch, no doubt, but I can hardly seem to care at all.
"Now what are you going to do?" he murmurs triumphantly, his breathing ragged. "Am I still in for a world of pain?"
"Get off," I protest, attempting to unseat him by wiggling around. It doesn't work at all, unfortunately. With him using all his weight to hold me down, I am helpless underneath him. And, horrifyingly enough, I have never felt more aroused. "Help!" I pretend to scream. "Help me! He's going to-"
"-What?" He growls playfully, lifting up a hand to cover it over my mouth, stifling my fake cries. "What am I going to do?"
I surrender in silence, keeping quiet, and he moves his hand away slowly from my mouth. I stare up at him, breathing deeply, my hair strewn across my face. My fringe is sticking to my forehead with sweat, with my heart racing like a monster. I hate how I feel. I feel so terribly turned on by him being on top of me, restraining me. I shouldn't be feeling aroused at all, I should be feeling anything but aroused. Yet I do, and I can't help it.
I realize he has awakened this foreign part inside of me, something that hadn't existed within me before. Last night, what we did together... it awakened it, I think. This unquenchable sexual desire for him, this need to be with him sexually. He's changed me, and it's terrifying.
"Mm, I like this," Christian breathes out appreciatively after a moment, his voice throaty.
"Like what? Having me underneath you?"
He sits up slightly, sending me down even deeper on the mattress. "Definitely."
"Yeah, well, I think I actually like it, too." I laugh at how high pitched my voice sounds, how... unlike it usually does in tone. "It's pretty... scary."
"Scary? How?"
"I don't know." I bite down on my bottom lip, thinking of a way to describe it correctly. "You just... I feel like you've changed me. I don't know."
"Changed you? What do you mean?"
"Like I'm a... a ball of sheer sexual need or something. I don't know how to describe it exactly."
Christian stares down at me in silence for a moment, his face softening. He lifts his hand again, running his thumb over my bottom lip, making me release it from my teeth. I surprise him by using my teeth, catching the tip of his thumb, nipping it teasingly. A sharp intake of breath leaves him as I shake with silent laughter. There is a distinctive look he gets when he is aroused, I realize; His face slackens, his eyes going darker, his pupils dilating. It's really sexy.
"What are we going to do once we have to head back home tomorrow?" he asks me in a serious tone.
I honestly don't want to think about that just yet. Tomorrow will be the end of our stay at Mom's and Dad's, and we will both have to go back to our normal lives with three hours worth of driving separating us.
"I don't know," I admit, a little knot forming in my stomach. "I honestly don't want to think about it right now. Let's just enjoy the time we have here together, right now."
Out of nowhere, my mind drifts off to how it will be like heading back home. I imagine what Kate would think if she ever knew, if she ever caught us in bed together. It makes me cringe and shiver at her potential reaction, because I know she would probably be disgusted or sickened.
"What are you thinking about?" he asks me curiously. He runs his fingers slowly through my hair.
"Kate."
"Kate?" His eyes shine with amusement. "I'm on top of you, yet all you can think about is Kate?"
"I just wonder... how she'll react if she ever knew. How she'd... think if I told her about what's happened with you here."
Christian shrugs nonchalantly. "Who gives a shit?"
"I do," I admit, hesitating. "She has always viewed our relationship as like a really close brother and sister bond. She'll probably... freak out." I cringe again in horror.
"Ana!" Mom's voice suddenly comes from downstairs, startling us. "Christian! Are you two ready?"
I am filled with sudden panic at the idea of her coming upstairs to find us on the bed like this. I start wiggling again, desperately trying to get up, yet he remains over me, blinking down at me as I struggle.
"Oh, no. We better go before your mother sees," he says with humor. "God forbid she sees us."
Finally, Christian stands off the bed, getting off me, and I stand, hurriedly fixing up my dress and my hair. I glance at Christian before I head out of the room, envious of how careless he seems. He slips into his blazer, his gray eyes filled with mirth. How can he not be worried about Mom or Dad seeing us? How can he always be so calm and uncaring?
"Are you both ready?" Mom asks as I get downstairs while still trying to frantically fix up my hair. I feel all flushed and sweaty. She is standing by the door with Ray, holding her keys to her car. "How are we doing this? Are we all going in the same car or what?"
Christian's shoes alert his pretense downstairs and I be cautious not to look at him. "We can take the one car," he says. "Whatever is easiest."
"All right. The one car it is. If both of you are ready, then let's make an early start and head off."
The restaurant we head out to for dinner is low-key and inexpensive. It's perfect for a family to just sit and eat to spend time together. We get shown to a table and I sit next to Mom, while Dad and Chris sit on the opposite side of us. I end up ordering salmon for dinner and so does Christian, while Mom and Dad choose steak. When Christian and Dad head up to the bar together to get us drinks, I watch them go, my eyes on nothing else but Christian as he stands up at the bar, leaning in to tell the bartender our orders.
I still feel so... strange. I feel like I'm aching all over, like I'm tender. Like my bones are all mushy. I really wish the feeling would go away, because it is difficult to act normal in front of Mom and Dad. Maybe Chris has turned me into a nympho?
"He's cute," Mom says, breaking me out of my staring.
Oh, yes, I think, flickering my eyes to Christian again. He definitely is cute.
Something tells me that she isn't referring to Christian though unfortunately. With effort, I drag my eyes away, finding Mom smiling at me in a strange way. "Who, Mom?"
"That young man over there," she explains, jerking her chin to the guy sitting about four tables away from us. Immediately, he seems to meet my gaze, and he smiles. I smile back at him shyly before glancing Mom's way again, disturbed when she raises her eyebrows at me. "I think he likes you. I saw him checking you out in your dress when we all first walked in." She knocks her shoulder against mine. "He's your type, isn't he?"
"I don't really have a type, Mom," I mutter to her, glancing down at the table.
"Well, still. He's cute, right?" Oh, God. I wish she wouldn't do this.
"Sure, if you're into the whole cougar thing," I tease, deliberately misunderstanding her. "But hey, if Dad's cool with it, then I say go for it, Mom. What have you got to lose?"
She gives me a look, laughter bubbling in her throat. "Honey, you know I'm not talking about myself. I'm talking about you. Don't you think he's cute just even a little bit?"
Oh, God. Please stop.
I look at the guy again, judging him. So sure, he's cute I suppose. But he's no Christian. "Sure."
"You should go introduce yourself to him, huh?" Stop. "He definitely seems interested."
I sigh loudly in annoyance. "Please, Mom, no. I told you I'm happy with my single life the way it is. I meant it."
I really wish she wouldn't do this. Why can't she just accept that I am happy with the way things are? And, besides, the only person I am remotely interested in being with, is Christian. It makes me feel uncomfortable when she pressures me.
I peer over at where Christian is again. He's carrying my glass of wine for me as well as his glass of alcohol, walking back with Dad; Both of them talking animatedly about something.
"Go on," Mom urges me, and when I glance her way again, she winks at me. "Live a little, honey. You only live once."
"I don't think so, Mom."
Christian places our glasses on the table, remaining standing for a second as he starts shuffling out of his blazer. The top three buttons on the collar of his white shirt are undone, showing off a bit of his chest.
"I'm sure we wouldn't mind if you are gone for a few seconds, would we?" Mom keeps up, speaking loudly to both Dad and Christian, really irritating me. "Besides our meals are most likely going to take a while to get here?"
"Wouldn't mind with what?" Christian asks in confusion, draping his blazer around the back of his chair. He sits, eyeing the two of us curiously, and I feel my stomach drop. "What does Ana want to do?"
Mom leans over the table towards him excitedly, "That young guy over there. I could have sworn he was checking Ana out when she came in."
Oh, my God! I feel like shouting at her. Stop this now! Please, I don't want that guy!
I reach out, grabbing my drink, sipping in two hugely needed gulps of my sweet Moscato when Christian turns in his seat to look at the guy Mom mentioned. I feel my cheeks redden when he turns back to look at us, shaking his head slightly.
"Who? The guy with the blonde hair wearing the shitty clothes? Do you really think Ana has that bad taste when it comes to the opposite sex?"
I accidentally choke on a mouthful of my wine at his words. There is a definite edge to his tone; Christian isn't any fonder of the idea than I am.
"Bad taste?" Mom repeats incredulously. "Oh, please. He seems like a very lovely young man."
"To you, maybe," I mutter. "But please, Mom. I'm not interested.
"And why not? What's wrong with him?"
I take in another gulp of my drink, wishing someone would kill me. God, why won't she listen to me?
"I actually need to go to the bathroom," I decide, getting to my feet. "Excuse me."
I walk hastily to the doors that lead into the restrooms, leaning against the wall for a second, breathing in deeply to calm myself down. I feel so trapped and pressured. Why can't Mom just take my word for it and see that I'm happy without a boyfriend and that I don't want to introduce myself to some random guy that she thinks is cute? This could all be so easily resolved if I could just tell her that I'm interested in Christian, only I know I can't.
Regaining my clarity, I start moving towards the door again slowly, my eyes on the floor. Someone walks near me and out of nowhere, a hand grasps me by the upper arm, keeping me still. I gasp, startled by their masculine strength, but when I glance up, it's only Christian, thank goodness.
"Are you all right?" he asks me softly in concern.
I suck in a deep breath. "Not really. I just wish Mom would stop."
"Come with me." He starts steering me away by the arm, leading me back outside the entrance.
"Where are we going?" I ask, then I have to laugh at how serious my voice sounds. Why should I care where he is taking me, really? Some fresh air will definitely do me some good.
We get outside the doors of the restaurant, standing around for a moment, Christian looking around for some reason. It's gotten darker since we have been inside and the air is refreshingly cool against my flushed skin.
"I just wish she would stop it," I say again, agitated. "I'm not interested in that guy in anyway whatsoever so why can't she just accept that and stop pressuring me?"
My mind goes wonderfully blank when Christian suddenly pushes me back against the building, his hands above my shoulders on the wall. It offers me that distraction I need perfectly.
"So you aren't interested in him in anyway whatsoever?" His gray eyes search my face carefully. Is he maybe... jealous?
"No, I'm not. Definitely not."
"Well, good because... I don't think I could handle it if you were."
He's standing so close that I can hardly take it. Taking matters into my own hands literally, I lift up, cradling his face between them. I guess that is all the reassurance Christian needs because he bends down, kissing me in a way that he hasn't before, I don't think. It's a more urgent and desperate kiss, with an intensity there. As I kiss him back, he starts exploring my mouth with his warm tongue with abandon. I hear people walking past us to get in and out of the restaurant, yet I don't care. All that matters is this moment, and what's happening between us.
He slides his arms and hands around me, pushing me off the wall and into him, bending me slightly. By the time we break away, I'm left gasping needily for air, and when I glance at Christian, he is licking his lips, breathing just the same.
Our moment in the shower earlier comes back to me. Tonight. We'll be doing something tonight, hopefully once Mom and Dad are asleep downstairs and it is safe to. I don't even know how I can possibly manage to wait that long. We have to get through dinner first.
"We better get back inside before they realize we are both out here," Christian suggests, placing a hand on my lower back, guiding me back in. And so, we do.
Hope this one was okay? Hope the length of the chapter was a bit better than last times, at least? :-) Thank you! Suggestions are most welcome on where you would like to see the story heading! Hope you enjoyed a bit of jealous Christian.
