Chapter Nine:
The feel of soft kisses on her neck made Claire's eyelids flutter open like little butterfly wings. She looked upward, expecting to see Leon's smiling face but instead gazed into Steve's fevered eyes.
"Good morning, beautiful." He whispered as he fondled her. Her stomach twisted and turned as she smelled Steve's cologne, knowing that just hours ago that scent was fresh on another girl's (or more) body. And now he was touching her breasts and mauling her all over. Just the thought made her want to hurl and little gagging noises emerged from her throat.
"How's my girl today?"
Claire pushed herself way and sat up. It was fairly bright and warm in the room and gazing at the clock on the wall, she saw why. It was nearly one in the afternoon.
"What's the matter, baby?" He asked, trying to pull her back down next to him.
Whipping away, she stood groggily and straightened herself out. "Did you eat lunch yet?"
Steve's lips pressed together until they nearly disappeared, but he forced down whatever he'd been about to say and just frowned at her. "No, but I was going to make some--"
"Then you'd better get something before you finish packing for your trip. You need to be there by morning."
Steve made an annoying 'tsk-tsk' with his tongue. "Someone isn't happy today..."
"You should know why." Claire muttered bitterly as she left the bedroom.
Anger bubbled beneath her skin as she stomped through the hallway and into the kitchen. Something on the table caught her eye, stopping her in her tracks. Her temper began to simmer down as she remembered the gift that Leon had given her just the
other night.
Forgetting about her present issues, Steve's philandering and all, she ran her fingers over the delicate design of the porcelain box. Working to the back, she twisted the little key before lifting the lid. 'Music Box Dancer' filled the apartment and Claire felt a smile form on her lips. Her hand went to the little knick-knacks that were neatly displayed inside.
Despite how Leon thought it made him look foolish, she thought it was unbelievably sweet that he had thought of her all this
time. Her favorite piece by far was a burnished goldtone floral necklace with pastel rhinestones in green, lavender and pink. It reminded Claire of something the Russian Czar's daughters would have worn.
Claire had been so pleased with the gift that Leon had given her that she had given him an enormous hug that knocked him on his back.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in the still-present scent of peppermint. Leon's eyes were full of laughter and confusion as he
looking into hers. His arms were around her, his hands inches above her bottom and slowly creeping downward. Waiting in an arcane anticipation, she found her heart pounding hard in her chest. Suddenly, her problems with Steve seemed miles away, and
she was drowning. Drowning in this powerful sensation that seemed to hang over her whenever Leon was around but had just neglected it until now.
Pulling herself up an inch or two, she shifted until she could dip down comfortably and kiss him with ease. The salt on his lips lingered on hers long after the kiss ended and Claire bent to unbutton his shirt and kiss his hard chest. She moved farther down, sensing the ever mounting pleasure she was creating as the bulge in Leon's pants became more and more apparent. His body was like a magnet for her lips. Just as she was about to unzip him, Leon's hands gripped Claire's head and pulled her back up to face him.
His face was bright red with restraint and he was breathing almost as hard as she. He didn't say anything to her, just pressed their foreheads together as if to tell her that they couldn't do this--at least not yet. Reluctantly, she let the passion between them die a slow death and returned to her room, disappointed in herself for not fulfilling the desires that were pulsing through her when she had the chance.
Just thinking of their brief interlude was making her blood rush and her heart race in excitement.
"Did you sleep with him?" A voice asked from behind her.
Claire swiveled around in her seat to face Steve. "What?"
Steve's face was set in a deep, dark frown. He was leaning against the wall, his arms folded in a hostile way in front of his chest. "Did you sleep with him?" He repeated. "Or would you understand it more if I asked, 'Did you fuck him?'"
Closing her eyes in exhaustion, she shook her head and stood up. "Steve--"
Without waiting for more, Steve reached out and grasped Claire's arm in his hand. His green eyes met hers forcefully and Claire felt the defensive little hairs on the back of her neck go up.
"Steve, stop it--" She said, pulling away from him, but Steve only pulled her closer.
"Did you," Steve said slowly, deliberately. "fuck him?"
"NO!" Claire exclaimed loudly, ripping away from him.
Steve was silent before he bit down on his lip and headed back for the room. The door slammed shut, making Claire grimace at the abruptness of it.
Indignation flooded her veins and Claire threw up her hands in frustration. Where did Steve get off accusing her of sleeping with someone else when HE was doing the exact same thing. Never mind that she HAD come quite close to celebrating the moments of her life with Leon.
A terrible wave of nausea overwhelmed her but she choked it down and laid herself on the couch. Her emotions were swirling around her, making her feel just awful. It was half an hour before Steve emerged from the bedroom, carrying his bag of clothes.
"I'll be gone for at least a week." He said, without even looking her way. "Maybe two."
"All right." Claire whispered softly.
Steve left the apartment to load up his car, leaving Claire in the deafening silence. She closed her eyes so tightly she was sure they would be permanently closed.
"He doesn't love you, you know." Steve's voice spoke up again.
Claire opened her eyes to see him staring at her depreciatively.
"He won't love you the way I do. He never will."
Claire sniffed defiantly and sat up straight. "I'll consider that as a plus."
Steve laughed. "No, what I MEANT was... he may like you but he isn't capable of actually, you know, loving you." Steve said as he sat down on the arm of the couch. His tone was simplistic, matter-of-fact.
Maybe it was because of that that Claire said in rebellion, "I think you're wrong about that."
Steve's face fell and became blank. "What?"
"I think Leon is highly capable of loving me." Claire said slowly. "Otherwise he wouldn't have been such a wonderful lover last night."
"But... but you said--"
"I said that I didn't fuck him." Claire finished with a self-satisfied grin. "But I didn't say that HE didn't fuck me. He did."
"He--"
"He treated and made me feel the way you never could--" Claire rolled on, not caring if she was pushing him too far or what.
They were now having a shouting match. Steve trying to be louder than Claire and Claire always rising an octave higher to reveal the terrible 'truth'.
"I---" Steve stammered.
"I don't remember if I ever screamed so loud--"
"Shut-up."
"I thoroughly enjoyed it." Claire finished, screaming over his protests.
Steve's face was a terrible pink, slowly turning purple. Before Claire could feel sorry about her impulsiveness, Steve's hand flew for her cheek, knocking her off balance. Without hesitating, she came around and slapped him back.
"Go to hell!" She screamed at him.
Steve hit her again and sent her sprawling to the floor. Claire hit the ground hard and the next events went by in a slow, blurry daze. He kicked at her a few times then she felt his hands over her throat and her vision began to cloud. Squirming around, she kicked his groin as hard as she could, making him double over in pain. Pulling herself up, she started for the door, but Steve hooked her ankle around his and she fell forward, landing hard on her stomach, the wind getting knocked out of her.
She cried out in pain and Steve seized her roughly by the shoulders. Then a different light came to his eyes and he gently kissed her forehead, eyes and neck.
"Remember when I used to do this?" He asked as he kissed her passionately.
Claire grimaced as his lips touched hers, her chest and stomach were hurting and she was having trouble breathing.
"Steve, stop it." She said.
"Didn't you want more attention?" He asked her. "Isn't that why you're acting so weird?"
"Not like this." She replied, tears clouding her eyes. "Get away from me."
Claire tried hard to fight him off but she was hurting too much and he was soon on top of her, unbuttoning her blouse. Perhaps it was all the stress and the pain that had been building up but she started to feel herself panicking. Around her, things started to blur and swirl and her head pounded. Inside her, her stomach churned making her insides swell up and start up her throat.
"GET OFF OF MEEEEEE!!!!!!!" She screamed as loud as her diaphram would allow and she started to hit at him with her fists. Her head was shaking so hard that her tears were flying off her face and she felt her neck would snap any minute. She didn't know what kind of damage she was doing to Steve, but it must have been good because he backed off, cursing loudly and
stumbling, clutching his groin in agony.
The door closed behind him as he left but Claire's screams continued even though she felt she was ready to stop. Bile rose from her stomach and she began gagging. Pulling herself up, she ran to the bathroom. She didn't make it.
"Ugh..." She groaned pathetically and started crying all over again. She was having an anxiety attack. She just knew it.
"Claire?" She heard from behind her. "Oh..."
She felt two strong arms lifting her up and holding her against him.
"We've got to get you to the doctor." She heard Leon's voice saying.
The feel of soft kisses on her neck made Claire's eyelids flutter open like little butterfly wings. She looked upward, expecting to see Leon's smiling face but instead gazed into Steve's fevered eyes.
"Good morning, beautiful." He whispered as he fondled her. Her stomach twisted and turned as she smelled Steve's cologne, knowing that just hours ago that scent was fresh on another girl's (or more) body. And now he was touching her breasts and mauling her all over. Just the thought made her want to hurl and little gagging noises emerged from her throat.
"How's my girl today?"
Claire pushed herself way and sat up. It was fairly bright and warm in the room and gazing at the clock on the wall, she saw why. It was nearly one in the afternoon.
"What's the matter, baby?" He asked, trying to pull her back down next to him.
Whipping away, she stood groggily and straightened herself out. "Did you eat lunch yet?"
Steve's lips pressed together until they nearly disappeared, but he forced down whatever he'd been about to say and just frowned at her. "No, but I was going to make some--"
"Then you'd better get something before you finish packing for your trip. You need to be there by morning."
Steve made an annoying 'tsk-tsk' with his tongue. "Someone isn't happy today..."
"You should know why." Claire muttered bitterly as she left the bedroom.
Anger bubbled beneath her skin as she stomped through the hallway and into the kitchen. Something on the table caught her eye, stopping her in her tracks. Her temper began to simmer down as she remembered the gift that Leon had given her just the
other night.
Forgetting about her present issues, Steve's philandering and all, she ran her fingers over the delicate design of the porcelain box. Working to the back, she twisted the little key before lifting the lid. 'Music Box Dancer' filled the apartment and Claire felt a smile form on her lips. Her hand went to the little knick-knacks that were neatly displayed inside.
Despite how Leon thought it made him look foolish, she thought it was unbelievably sweet that he had thought of her all this
time. Her favorite piece by far was a burnished goldtone floral necklace with pastel rhinestones in green, lavender and pink. It reminded Claire of something the Russian Czar's daughters would have worn.
Claire had been so pleased with the gift that Leon had given her that she had given him an enormous hug that knocked him on his back.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in the still-present scent of peppermint. Leon's eyes were full of laughter and confusion as he
looking into hers. His arms were around her, his hands inches above her bottom and slowly creeping downward. Waiting in an arcane anticipation, she found her heart pounding hard in her chest. Suddenly, her problems with Steve seemed miles away, and
she was drowning. Drowning in this powerful sensation that seemed to hang over her whenever Leon was around but had just neglected it until now.
Pulling herself up an inch or two, she shifted until she could dip down comfortably and kiss him with ease. The salt on his lips lingered on hers long after the kiss ended and Claire bent to unbutton his shirt and kiss his hard chest. She moved farther down, sensing the ever mounting pleasure she was creating as the bulge in Leon's pants became more and more apparent. His body was like a magnet for her lips. Just as she was about to unzip him, Leon's hands gripped Claire's head and pulled her back up to face him.
His face was bright red with restraint and he was breathing almost as hard as she. He didn't say anything to her, just pressed their foreheads together as if to tell her that they couldn't do this--at least not yet. Reluctantly, she let the passion between them die a slow death and returned to her room, disappointed in herself for not fulfilling the desires that were pulsing through her when she had the chance.
Just thinking of their brief interlude was making her blood rush and her heart race in excitement.
"Did you sleep with him?" A voice asked from behind her.
Claire swiveled around in her seat to face Steve. "What?"
Steve's face was set in a deep, dark frown. He was leaning against the wall, his arms folded in a hostile way in front of his chest. "Did you sleep with him?" He repeated. "Or would you understand it more if I asked, 'Did you fuck him?'"
Closing her eyes in exhaustion, she shook her head and stood up. "Steve--"
Without waiting for more, Steve reached out and grasped Claire's arm in his hand. His green eyes met hers forcefully and Claire felt the defensive little hairs on the back of her neck go up.
"Steve, stop it--" She said, pulling away from him, but Steve only pulled her closer.
"Did you," Steve said slowly, deliberately. "fuck him?"
"NO!" Claire exclaimed loudly, ripping away from him.
Steve was silent before he bit down on his lip and headed back for the room. The door slammed shut, making Claire grimace at the abruptness of it.
Indignation flooded her veins and Claire threw up her hands in frustration. Where did Steve get off accusing her of sleeping with someone else when HE was doing the exact same thing. Never mind that she HAD come quite close to celebrating the moments of her life with Leon.
A terrible wave of nausea overwhelmed her but she choked it down and laid herself on the couch. Her emotions were swirling around her, making her feel just awful. It was half an hour before Steve emerged from the bedroom, carrying his bag of clothes.
"I'll be gone for at least a week." He said, without even looking her way. "Maybe two."
"All right." Claire whispered softly.
Steve left the apartment to load up his car, leaving Claire in the deafening silence. She closed her eyes so tightly she was sure they would be permanently closed.
"He doesn't love you, you know." Steve's voice spoke up again.
Claire opened her eyes to see him staring at her depreciatively.
"He won't love you the way I do. He never will."
Claire sniffed defiantly and sat up straight. "I'll consider that as a plus."
Steve laughed. "No, what I MEANT was... he may like you but he isn't capable of actually, you know, loving you." Steve said as he sat down on the arm of the couch. His tone was simplistic, matter-of-fact.
Maybe it was because of that that Claire said in rebellion, "I think you're wrong about that."
Steve's face fell and became blank. "What?"
"I think Leon is highly capable of loving me." Claire said slowly. "Otherwise he wouldn't have been such a wonderful lover last night."
"But... but you said--"
"I said that I didn't fuck him." Claire finished with a self-satisfied grin. "But I didn't say that HE didn't fuck me. He did."
"He--"
"He treated and made me feel the way you never could--" Claire rolled on, not caring if she was pushing him too far or what.
They were now having a shouting match. Steve trying to be louder than Claire and Claire always rising an octave higher to reveal the terrible 'truth'.
"I---" Steve stammered.
"I don't remember if I ever screamed so loud--"
"Shut-up."
"I thoroughly enjoyed it." Claire finished, screaming over his protests.
Steve's face was a terrible pink, slowly turning purple. Before Claire could feel sorry about her impulsiveness, Steve's hand flew for her cheek, knocking her off balance. Without hesitating, she came around and slapped him back.
"Go to hell!" She screamed at him.
Steve hit her again and sent her sprawling to the floor. Claire hit the ground hard and the next events went by in a slow, blurry daze. He kicked at her a few times then she felt his hands over her throat and her vision began to cloud. Squirming around, she kicked his groin as hard as she could, making him double over in pain. Pulling herself up, she started for the door, but Steve hooked her ankle around his and she fell forward, landing hard on her stomach, the wind getting knocked out of her.
She cried out in pain and Steve seized her roughly by the shoulders. Then a different light came to his eyes and he gently kissed her forehead, eyes and neck.
"Remember when I used to do this?" He asked as he kissed her passionately.
Claire grimaced as his lips touched hers, her chest and stomach were hurting and she was having trouble breathing.
"Steve, stop it." She said.
"Didn't you want more attention?" He asked her. "Isn't that why you're acting so weird?"
"Not like this." She replied, tears clouding her eyes. "Get away from me."
Claire tried hard to fight him off but she was hurting too much and he was soon on top of her, unbuttoning her blouse. Perhaps it was all the stress and the pain that had been building up but she started to feel herself panicking. Around her, things started to blur and swirl and her head pounded. Inside her, her stomach churned making her insides swell up and start up her throat.
"GET OFF OF MEEEEEE!!!!!!!" She screamed as loud as her diaphram would allow and she started to hit at him with her fists. Her head was shaking so hard that her tears were flying off her face and she felt her neck would snap any minute. She didn't know what kind of damage she was doing to Steve, but it must have been good because he backed off, cursing loudly and
stumbling, clutching his groin in agony.
The door closed behind him as he left but Claire's screams continued even though she felt she was ready to stop. Bile rose from her stomach and she began gagging. Pulling herself up, she ran to the bathroom. She didn't make it.
"Ugh..." She groaned pathetically and started crying all over again. She was having an anxiety attack. She just knew it.
"Claire?" She heard from behind her. "Oh..."
She felt two strong arms lifting her up and holding her against him.
"We've got to get you to the doctor." She heard Leon's voice saying.
