"So...I asked you, what the hell's going on?" Clay dumps his bags onto the floor, then he angrily stares at Alex "And why the hell are you feeding him with that? Where's Kelsey?" Clay frowns disturbed and angry about what he's seeing sat in front of him "You know what, just give him to me!"
"Clay... calm down. Everything's fine here, so don't be stupid, just let him finish his bottle. Oh, and hey, keep your voice down, Kelsey's asleep. She needs to rest."
"I'm sorry... I don't remember asking for your opinion on things... and don't tell me to calm down! You know the only person who gets to tell me what to do, is my team leader and you're definitely not him! Now I said, give him to me."
Clay's struggling to keep his temper in control but he cools it as he steps forward, lifting Casey gently from Alex's arms. He leaves the nearly empty bottle of milk in his hand.
Shhh! Shhh! " It's okay, Daddy's got you " he turns and now viciously stares at Alex "Know something... he is the only reason that I don't smack the hell out of you right now. But don't give me an excuse. Because I won't hesitate. Now, I think it's time that you left, don't you? I mean what the hell are you even doing here at this time?"
"Oh, Clay for god sake you really do need to calm down" Alex sneers at him standing up, making their height difference obvious. "I've been helping Kelsey out. You know so she didn't have to be on her own... with a newborn baby!" he sighs, smiling at Clay "Maybe you should have thought about that, before you went off! Maybe made the call for them first, rather than your job. You know as well as I do that you didn't have to go on that op, but you chose to. But don't worry, everything's been just fine, so chill out and stop trying to throw your weight around, cos it doesn't impress me"
"Everything's fine? Chill out?! What the hell..."Clay scoffs at him, he can feel the vein in his neck pulsing with anger, his breathing slow and controlled so that he doesn't upset the baby in his arms. If it wasn't for holding Casey he knows he would have laid into him with his fist by now " I swear to god, if you don't leave .. I'm gonna put you out on your ass. Do you understand me?"
"Really ?" It's Alex's turn to laugh "You know I come across guys like you every day of the week. New recruits that really think they're something . But then that's why they have officers like me, to put you back in your boxes!"
Clay bites lip hard, he's furious right now but he wraps his hand around Casey's tiny body holding him close to his chest trying, for his sake, to keep his voice quiet and calm "I said get the hell out or I'll show you about putting people in boxes. Just know... " he looks over his shoulder checking the bedroom is still quiet and dark ".. I don't like you. I'm not gonna like you. The only reason I've tolerated you being here, is for her. But the sooner you get on a plane and leave, the happier I'll be!"
"Oh worry you do I?" Alex smiles " Make you realise what you might lose. You know perhaps you should take care of what you've got a little better"
Clay steps forward, protecting Casey's head with his hand he looks Alex in the face "You really are the arrogant asshole aren't you. But guess what, you don't worry me at all. See I know if Kelsey had wanted you, she wouldn't have come back to me, but she did. Now I'll never know what's gone on between you, to be honest I don't care because if there was something then all you've got now is memories. So, stop trying to take what's not yours and leave us the hell alone. Do you understand me?"
"I'll leave when Kelsey tells me to leave, not you. You think there's something between us... " he smiles "maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. That's not for me to tell you. What I will tell you is ... you should start paying her a bit more attention. Listen to her wants and needs because I promise you this... I'm always gonna be here, waiting"
Clay grinds his teeth, he's so angry and not sure how much longer he'll contain it. In his head he's playing out the scene where he punches Alex full in the face "You know what.. just pack your shit up, and leave!"
Alex laughs smugly "You think this..." he looks around the apartment "this is gonna be enough for a woman like her? Look at this place. What the hell can you offer her?"
Clay close his eyes trying to calm himself down "I'm now gonna put Casey down in his crib to sleep. When I come back, you better not be here. Is that clear?"
"Oh perfectly. " Alex smiles standing his ground "All I'll say is .. don't make her choose Clay, cos I don't think you're ready for what she might do."
"Oh, you're so sure of yourself aren't you " Clay sneers but he ignores him, closing his eyes for a few seconds, his blood's boiling. But as he kisses Casey's head he distances himself from Alex's comments "Hey baby boy, Daddy missed you." he kisses him again and carries him through to the bedroom. He turns back when he's at the doorway "I told you, when I come back I don't be here."
Before he disappears Alex can't resist one more goading poke at him "Clay, why can't you just leave her be, let her sleep. She needs to rest. Man, you are so bloody pig headed"
Clay turns around he's just about ready to snap "I said get the hell out! And that's my last warning. You know what...I'll pack your shit up tomorrow. Just go!"
"I'll go if she wants me to. I'm not leaving her with you, not while you're in a temper like this."
"You're not leaving her with me... what the hell. Wait! What? You think I'd take my temper out on her? You know what ... no actually, fine then we'll get her, get Kelsey and she can tell you herself that we don't need you here"
"But she did need me. She needed me cos you weren't here for her"
Clay's stood in the doorway he sucks in his chest as he takes a deep breath it's the only way he can remain in control. He leaves Alex standing there completely ignoring his last comments and heads into the darkness of the bedroom.
Lifting Casey from his arms he places him in the calm safety of his crib. He turns his head and he can make out the shape of Kelsey's body asleep on the bed.
He lays, the sleeping, baby down, stroking and kissing his head to sooth and settle him back into sleep. Covering him over with the blue blanket.
Then he turns around, looking at the bed and he smiles, watching her while she sleeps. His eyes are immediately drawn to the fact that she's lying with no clothes on, naked and exposed, the quilt's pushed down around her waist where she's moved around in her sleep. He frowns. For a few moments his brain runs through all kinds of bizarre explanations and he looks up thinking about Alex. He dismisses all of the thoughts and sits himself quietly on the edge of the bed next to her.
Now stroking his hand gently up her arm and then he leans in close against her, working his touch gently up her neck, his thumb stroking gently on the length of her throat, eyes focused on her face. She starts to rouse from her sleep and he positions himself over her naked body. He can't help but very lightly touch her breast, making small circles with his finger on the smooth skin. He leans forward, touching his lips against hers.
Mmmm! She groans waking from her deep slumber. Semi-conscious she's confused by the kiss she can feel on her lips and unable to focus immediately she's not sure what's going on Alex.? She frowns to herself, using her hand she pushes away the body that's close against hers at least until she's able to blink her eyes open.
"Clay!" She gasps pleasantly surprised as he kisses her again. Opening her eyes wide she stares up at him and smiles, a wide beaming grin "Hey!" She snakes her arms tightly around his neck, reaching up pulling him towards her. Her lips searching out his. Her tongue finding the inside of his mouth while they kiss passionately.
"Hey there sleepy head." He smiles stroking her cheek "How are you?"
Mmmm! "Better... " she groans "now that you're back. What time is it?" she frowns still not fully coherent "Have you been back long?" she props herself up on her elbows so she can look at him in the dim light of the room.
"Not long, no" He smiles kissing her lips again. The surge of anger he felt when he arrived back is now subsiding as they continue kissing. She keeps her arms locked around him and he lifts her from the comfort of the bed to hold her against him. The rough of his hands stroking up and down the bare, soft, skin of her back. Mmmm!
"It's okay!" Clay smiles kissing her again "I'm not complaining" He puts his hand very gently on her smooth skin caressing the firm fullness of her breast.
Mmmm! She reacts to his touch, the over sensitive feeling it causes makes her to put her hand to his, making sure that he only touches very gently. She can feel the warmth of his body against her and she nuzzles her nose into this the soft gap between his neck and shoulder, sniffing him, taking in his heady rugged testosterone fueled scent.
"Ohhh!" Mmmm! "You smell so good" she smiles, her lips are again searching for his. It's then as she looks up from the embrace she notices over Clay's shoulder "Alex" He's standing in the doorway to the bedroom and she frowns watching him.
Also aware of his presence Clay spins around as he does she quickly pulls up the quilt up around her for modesty, covering up her naked body "Alex are you alright?" She frowns
"Are you still here?" Clay snaps
"Clay!" Kelsey frowns questioning his tone "What 's going on? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah Alex said he was going. To be honest I was surprised he was still here when I got back."
"Yeah um... that's cos he's been staying, while you were gone, keeping me company and giving me a hand with Casey."
Hmmm! Clay frowns "Yeah I was concerned though; I mean why he was feeding him with a bottle? I thought we agreed about that?"
"Clay, what's the problem?" she sits up, frowning, staring him in the face "It was one bottle and only so I could sleep a little. You know, take a break from feeding. You don't know what it's like, it's been relentless and Alex's friend, who's a doctor, he recommended I take a break to help with the pain I've been having".
"Wait...you're in pain? You never said anything?"
"Yeah well how was she going to do that when you weren't here!" Alex smugly suggests from where he's still standing watching them.
Clay blanks him, ignoring his comment "But you're alright? What's going on? "
"Yeah I'm fine. Really. It's. a blockage, it's common, happens a lot. But I'm getting on top of it and hence why he was having the bottle". She frowns looking up at Alex. That isn't quite the truth and though she was grateful Alex left her to sleep she knows that she didn't actually ask him to give Casey a bottle. But given the brusk tone of the conversation she decides it's probably best not to tell Clay that .
Clay brushes her hair back from her face and kisses her again making sure with Alex still standing there to take his time, over emphasizing it. "As long as you're alright that's the important thing" he strokes her cheek, the back his hand smoothing along the skin of her shoulder, down her arm, then without realising he's doing it, Clay's hand gently touches over her breast again. She flinches unsure how to react, uncomfortable because Alex is still there, and she gets the feeling that Clay's making a thing out of touching her. She blushes, slightly embarrassed and pulls the quilt up against her. "Clay... stop!" she whispers feel slightly anxious "Alex is still here" she smiles awkwardly.
"Yeah..." Clay turns around frowning "don't let us keep you will you!"
"Yeah you know what...I am gonna go." he holds up his phone making a point of gesturing to it "Mandy text. I'm gonna meet up with her for a ..." He smiles and coughs "a late drink. Kelsey, I'll catch you tomorrow."
"Mandy?" Kelsey frowns "Isn't it a bit late to be meeting up now?"
"Well we're both free and single, right? No ties so .. why not. I guess she must've just got back as well" He smiles "It's not a problem is it? I mean Clay's back now you don't need me to stay do you?"
"No um... I guess not. No... no it's not a problem, it just surprised me." Kelsey sighs and shrugs she doesn't know why but it does bother her, slightly, him meeting Mandy at this time. It probably means he'll try and sleep with her "Alex you okay?" She can see him hesitate in the doorway like he doesn't really want to leave and there's definitely an atmosphere between him and Clay, she can feel it hanging in the air between them.
"Yeah I'm fine. I just think you two probably need some space. I'm sure you have um... stuff you need to talk about. You don't need me in the way now do you?"
"Yeah, see you around Alex!" Clay snippily answers him.
Kelsey frowns. She can definitely tell there's an atmosphere. The tone Clay uses something's not right. As he turns to go Kelsey gets up pulling the quilt around her to follows him into the living area "Alex!" she calls to him stopping him at the apartment door as he undoes the latch "You okay? Did something happen ?"
He looks up. Clay's staring at him, arms folded watching him from the bedroom doorway. He hesitates and then smiles. He wants to say so much, but he knows if he does that would wreck everything and so it's late and he doesn't want to cause a row right now
"No nothing. I'm fine!" His cell phone bleeps in his pocket and he checks it "Mandy..." he smiles "she's just left. I need to go. Don't worry, Kelsey... everything's fine ." He puts his hand on her cheek stroking it " You go get some rest you need it and I'll speak to you tomorrow "
"Okay. Well as long as you're alright. Alex... thanks for everything " She kisses his cheek
He looks up his gaze meets with Clay's as they both stare intently at each other. Clay can feel this hate, jealousy and rage building again as he watches him touch her. Alex brushes her hair back the whole time he keeps his eyes with the testing look on Clay "You know I'm always here for you. Whatever you need"
"I know" she takes hold of his hand kissing it "Now... don't keep a lady waiting" she smiles "Oh, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Oh, you know me. I'll do everything !" he smiles "I'll pick my stuff up tomorrow. I've still got my luggage at the hotel anyway"
"Okay" She nods "Alex shall we do lunch tomorrow, now Clay's back. You two could get to know each other better"
"Yeah ..." Alex smiles "I'm up for that"
Neither Clay nor Alex acknowledge each other, and he leaves.
As Kelsey closes the door behind him, she has this pang of emotions about him going. It catches her off guard and she takes deep breath holding the door for a few seconds while she regains her composure.
Clay's behind her, stroking her hair from her neck while he kisses her bare shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yeah... yeah I'm good." She frowns "Did he say anything to you when you got back?"
"No... no I don't think so. Such as what? "
"Oh, nothing. He just didn't seem himself that's all. Like he had things on his mind, as if was going to say something. Probably reading too much into it. He can be a bit funny like that sometimes."
"Seemed fine to me ...I guess he has Mandy on his mind" Clay laughs " Still it's good that he's gone, right?" he sighs turning her around to face him "It means... I get you all to myself now"
"Yeah I suppose" she wraps her arm around his neck" So how did your op go?"
"Yeah it was okay. Fairly simple. Just did what we had to do, got in, got out. How's Casey been? You do anything while I was gone?"
"Yeah he's been great. We're kind of getting in a system now. Still three-hour clockwork with the feeding but um... guess that's to be expected this early on. Hopefully soon he'll go a bit longer between feeds soon but..." She smiles "Oh hey, we did do something, we went to that baby yoga class. He loved it.. well actually he slept through it, but I take that as win. No, it was good. Not my normal kinda thing but...it was okay. Alex managed pull a girl, Amy. Would you believe it" she laughs "She's definitely... definitely not his normal type. She was more a blonde air head think the only thing they had in common..." she smiles "was working out, oh and their vanity!"
"Alex went with you, to the baby class?"
"Um... well not to the class. He just took us there. He um... he went to the gym, to work out. Did you know he's training to be a recruitment instructor? Really surprised me with it I never thought he'd want nine to five or give up his unit. Four twos' been his life. He reckons he wants to settle down " she laughs loudly
"Well... perhaps him and Mandy will make a go of it?" he slides his arms around her waist tugging at the quilt to pull it away from her grasp "I'm guessing but Mandy seems much more his type. She's smart, intelligent, pretty good at her job, .. brunette. All the things he'd want in a woman, right?"
"I guess." Kelsey laughs "Though I don't think Alex has a type" she smiles awkwardly "Never know he might find what he's looking for. Alex is one of these who usually gets what he wants. He doesn't usually give up until he does. Clay we..."
Shh! "Enough about him. I'm more interested in you" he kisses around her shoulder then works his kisses back to her lips.
Mmmm! She moans as he fills her mouth with his tongue, sliding his hands around her butt, kneading at it gently "Clay..." She breaks away from his kisses ".. Clay, it's too soon for that!"
Awww! "Okay but it doesn't mean I can't touch, right?"
"I suppose" she smiles wrapping both hands around his neck, linking her fingers locking them in place at the back of his head. She leans in tight against his chest "I'm glad you're back. I missed you"
" So, um... did Alex when's he say when he's going back to the UK?"
"I thought we weren't talking about him anymore" she strokes his face, her thumb stroking around his eyes as they stare at each other
"We're not. I'm just curious that's all. I just want you all to myself. No interruptions."
"Well um... " She smiles "I'm not sure exactly. I think he was going to stay for the two weeks he has off. He did um.. he did ..." she bites her lip hesitating for a moment " he did offer.. to um.. take me back with him, if wanted to go back. You know, to pack up my flat and sort stuff out. He said he's help me with Casey and our stuff at the airport" She's careful how much she pushes the issue while she tries to gauge how open Clay's is to the suggestion. Seeing as he doesn't seem to register any reaction she drops the subject and smiles "Anyway it's not something I've given any serious thought yet. Still early days. So, there's no hurry. Right, forget all that. You look tired why don't we go get some sleep before his lordship wakes up again."
He holds her close against his body, his hands smoothing down the bare skin on her back to the top of her panties, working his fingers gently under the material to the soft skin of her butt where he caresses her. His lips and tongue needily searching for her mouth as he kisses her gently, at first, then more firmly.
"Ohhh! This is nice." she smiles enjoying the loving touches of his hand on her skin "So, whats brought this on?"
"Does there have to be a reason? I've missed you. I wanna be with you. We've been so caught up in a stuff this week, then me getting spun up. Maybe we just need to make some us time. "
"Clay.. I .. " she sighs "you know...it's still awkward. It's not that I don't want to be with you. Just. it's a little bit soon."
"Hey, I know that. I'm not pushing you but um... there's plenty of other things we can do right. I just like being close to you. That's all I want right now. You.. him that's it."
He leans in kissing her then he picks her up offer her feet and carries her back to the bedroom, dropping her down gently onto the bed. He pulls his tee shirt over his head taking it off and drops his pants leaving them on the floor. She smiles at the smooth touch of his skin against hers. It's a nice feeling.
He leans his body over her, looking her in the eyes, stroking her face. They're kissing again, the soft of their lips together. It feels good "Um... you know you have to go back and get the quilt, right?" she laughs.
"Oh! Yeah... "he smiles. "It'll keep. We don't need it yet " He continues kissing her, the soft touch of his mouths working his way down her arm, over her chest to her stomach dropping gentle warm touches against the soft of her flesh. She smiles, at his beard tickles her skin then drags his head back to hers. Her hands either side of his face she closes her eyes taking in the sound of his breathing, his breath warm against her cheek and the scent of his fresh washed skin and deodorant mixed with the natural musky smell of him in her nostrils. She smiles, she can feel the hard bulge in his boxer shorts, rubbing against her thigh! "Clay ..." she smiles at the feeling. "I'm sorry"
"No, I'm sorry. But you know I can't help that you turn me on so much" he smiles that gorgeous smiles of his. The one that still makes her go weak for him. He kisses her getting up from the bed "I best I get that quilt then!"