***
Lara picked up the portable phone that lay on her nightstand. She punched in a familiar number and pressed the phone to her ear. The sound of the phone ringing greeted her ears. Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up. Lara chanted inside of her head.
Finally the phone stopped ringing and a sleep voice asked; "Yeah?"
Lara was about to start blurting out her problems to her best friend when she noticed something. The voice was male.
"Uh, is Isis there?" She stuttered.
"Yeah, hold on." The voice said.
"Hello?" Another voice asked after a brief pause.
"Isis?" Lara asked.
"Lara?" Isis responded.
"Who was that man?"
"My new boyfriend." Isis smiled. Isis, who's full name was Pansy Isadora Madison and had assumed the nick name of Isis, was seemingly, Lara's only female friend. Isis was an American that Lara met while on Holiday in the states. They had become instant friends after Isis had given Lara directions to a gun and ammunition shop. Isis was a gun lover herself and had come with Lara to admire the weapons that her criminal record wouldn't let her purchase.
Her friendship with Lara blossomed over the years. It felt nice to finally have someone to talk to about anything. Including men. Although Hillary had taken care of Lara ever since she was a little girl Lara had never been able to confide in him about certain things.
"So, Lara, what's on your mind?" Isis asked.
"I've got a problem." Lara said. "To put it lightly."
"Wash it and see a doctor immediately."
"Not that kind of a problem."
"What kind of a problem then?"
"Man problems."
"Ooo, I'm hooked. Do tell, Lara."
"Well. . . You know Alex West, right?"
"Of course. Who could forget a body like that? So what about Alex West?"
"He's at my house."
Isis gasped. "Lara, you naughty girl!"
"We haven't slept together!" Lara hissed.
"Then what are you calling me about?"
"Because I want to sleep with him." Lara clamped her hand over her mouth. "No! No, that's not what I meant!"
"Get over it Lara, even I want to sleep with him."
"Isis, I don't know what to do. I fancy him, but I can't exactly go hopping into bed with him."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know if he's serious about a relationship and I don't want to end up with a broken heart as a Christmas present."
"So you're serious about him?"
"Yes. I think so."
"And you think he's just looking for a Christmas fling?"
"With a track record like his that's what I'm lead to believe."
"Is there a lot of sexual tension?"
"Well, no, not until last night anyways."
"What happened last night?"
"He kissed me."
"Ooo, how does he kiss?"
"Isis!"
"Come on, it's a valid question, now fess up, how is our little boy at kissing?"
"Excellent." Lara admitted, miserably.
"Well, as far as I see right now, you've got three options."
"Which are?"
"One. Go right down stairs and lay him like he's never been laid before, then keep him around until he's not able to fulfill your sexual whims, and throw him out on that nice ass of his."
"What are the other options?" Lara sighed.
"Two. Throw him out right now and spend Christmas alone and miserable and have him call you a bitch for the rest of your life and end up an old maid with four cats and a bad attitude."
"What else?"
"Three. Act completely normally and see what happens."
"Right, I'll take that one."
"Come on girl, why don't you just go for it? I mean, when was the last time you had good sex?"
"Last month."
"Lara."
"A few months."
"Lara."
"Last year."
"Lara."
"Alright, alright! It's been three years. Are you happy?!"
"Come on, Lara. I mean, you're not a nun for crying out loud!"
"I can't go around sleeping with just anyone. I wasn't brought up like that. Not to mention that you've got into plenty of problems with your promiscuity."
"Yeah, yeah, but I've had more fun."
"If you say so."
Isis laughed. "Have fun Lara. And don't do anything that I wouldn't do."
"I very much doubt that that would ever happen, but I will keep it in mind."
"Bye-bye Lara. Good luck."
"Good-bye Isis." Lara hung up the phone.
She sat down on the end of her bed and thought for a second. See what happens, eh? Lara mused. Might as well.
Lara walked down stairs. Donnica was curled up on one of the white recliners in the living room. She looked up when she saw Lara. Donnica stretched and mewed at her.
"Hello there." Lara said, picking up her kitten. She checked her paw. The bandage was marked with Donnica's teeth marks but was still serving it's purpose. Lara carried Donnica into kitchen, setting her on the floor by the refrigerator while she poured a saucer of warm milk for her. After filling the saucer she set it down in front of the kitten.
"Good morning." Alex said, walking into the kitchen. Lara looked up and gripped the edge of the counter to keep her balance when she saw Alex. There was only a towel wrapped around his waist. Although she had seen him completely nude before, she had been expecting that and had used every ounce of self control to remain completely serious during that episode.
"Ummm, Alex? Where are your clothes?" Lara asked.
"They're dirty. I've got some clean clothes in the trunk of my car though. I was going to get them after breakfast." Alex leaned over Lara, kissing her lips quickly. "So, what would you like?" He asked.
To go to bed with you right now. "Eggs?"
"Scrambled?"
Loose the towel? "Certainly."
"Is there any bacon?"
Oh yes. . . "I think so. But Alex, wouldn't you like to put some clothes on first?"
"Nah. Besides, I usually cook naked at home anyways."
Don't tease me. . . "Oh. I'm going to go. . . uh, have a quick work out. Call me when breakfast is ready, please."
"Sure, Lara."
Lara walked out onto her assault course. Maybe Isis was right. Maybe I should just go for it. Lara looked around. She felt like running. Running always cleared her head. She scaled the giant stone walls of the grounds. Although it was a strange place to run, Lara found it quiet and also made the run a little more challenging with a thirty foot drop to deal with if she strayed from her regular path. With that thought, Lara took off.
***
Alex glanced out of the kitchen window, watching Lara run on top of the ground walls. He smiled. She was by far the most amazing woman that he had ever met. Intelligent, funny, loved adventure, was independent, and not to mention beautiful. She was acting a little strange though. He wasn't quite sure if she really trusted him, really liked him or was just nervous due the rumors surrounding his pervious girlfriends and their relationships. Most of them were brainless arm candy that he only kept around to make public appearances. But Lara was the complete opposite.
The bacon grease bubbled and demanded Alex's attention. He tended to the pan while he let his thoughts wander. What would it be like to date Lara Croft? What was he saying? It would be heaven. But Alex doubted that a British lady like Lara would ever date him. He sighed and looked up as Lara made another round past the large kitchen windows.
Donnica hopped into the kitchen counter, distracting Alex. She mewed and sniffed at the bacon that Alex had just taken out of the pan.
"None for you, Donni." Alex said. Donnica sat on her hind legs and looked innocently at Alex. She mewed at him again before the lifted her wounded paw and began to bite at her bandage.
"Hey, the doctor told you not to do that." Alex said, gently taking her paw away from her teeth. Donnica bit Alex's hand instead.
"Ow! Donnica, lay off." He picked out a piece of bacon and tore off a strip. "Here, now go away." He tossed the bacon onto the floor, Donnica pounced on it and began to drag it off in the direction of the living room.
"Breakfast ready yet?"
Alex jumped at the voice. Lara was dapping the sweat off of her forehead with a clean towel as she walked into the kitchen.
"Yeah, just a sec." Alex said. He took a plate and arranged the eggs and bacon onto it, handing the plate to Lara.
"Looks delicious." Lara said. "Um, the food that is. . . Uh." Lara added.
Alex snickered. He set some eggs and bacon for himself and joined Lara at the kitchen table.