"You never cease to amaze me, Lara Croft." Alex smirked. He gently placed his hand over Lara's. Lara glanced at him and smiled. The two were seated at Alex's dinning room table, enjoying another relaxing meal of Chinese food. It was about eight that night. Lara had already toured the school, which, much to her surprise, was a rather enjoyable endeavor and had beaten Alex's new assault course, much to Alex's chagrin. She was feeling quite pleased with herself when Alex suggested that they dine together again. As much as she hated to admit it, she hadn't had this much fun in months.
"Lara? You still with me?" Alex murmured, his gaze traveling over his companion's candle lit features.
"Yes, just thinking." Lara responded. She glanced at the table, where Alex had begun to weave his fingers in and out of hers.
"What are you thinking about?" How much money you want to donate to the school? Alex thought, hopefully.
"How nice today has been." Lara said as Alex's hand left hers and lightly trailed up her arm.
Getting warmer. Alex thought. "I'm flattered, Lady Croft."
"You can call me Lara." She said.
"Well, Lara, what do you think of the school."
"Rather nice, actually. I was quite surprised."
"Don't lay it on too thick." Alex laughed. "I might get a big head."
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen." Lara laughed.
There were several seconds of silence as the two studied each other.
"Do you want to stay another night?" Alex finally murmured.
"Hm, I can't. Hillary is probably tearing his hair out, wondering where I am, right now. Besides, I don't think Angie would like having to wash out the sheets in the guest bedroom again." Lara commented.
Alex made a thoughtful sound as he gently brushed Lara's cheek with his fingertips. Lara felt her heart beat quicken as he trailed his fingers over her lips.
"You don't have to sleep in the guest bedroom." Alex murmured, softly.
"Are you suggesting that I sleep in your bed?" Lara asked, a playful smile curling her full lips.
"Why yes, I do believe I am." Alex responded.
"That's hardly appropr-" Lara was cut off as Alex pressed his lips to hers. Alex wrapped his arms around her, holding her fiercely, as he pulled Lara into his lap. Lara placed her hands on his muscular shoulders as she kissed him back. The two remained locked in the embrace for several seconds before they both pulled back.
"God, I've missed you." Alex murmured before kissing her again. Lara wrapped her arms around Alex's neck, brushing her fingers through his unruly hair. Alex gathered her tank top around her bust line, gently stroking her lower back.
"Wait!" Lara cried, quickly pulling back from the embrace.
"What?" Alex asked, his blue eyes lighting up in alarm.
"Alex, what do you miss about me?" Lara asked, noticing that he only said he did after they had started to become intimate. Although Lara might have felt lonely, she was hardly going to go to bed with a man who was just in love with her body.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, looking a little flustered.
"You said that you missed me. I want to know what you missed about me."
"That could be a rather long list." Alex smirked. "But for starters, I missed your sense of humor and I missed telling you about my adventures as an adolescent, only to have you tell me that I still haven't grown up. I missed having tea with you and I missed talking to you for hours on end about nothing at all." Alex smiled warmly at her. "I missed holding you and waking up to your lovely face every morning. That's what I missed Lara, I missed you. Because, I love you."
Before Lara cold voice a response, Alex pressed another kiss to her lips. When they finally broke the kiss Lara gazed into his sincere eyes. A strange warmth filled her body. Her weakened resolve broke.
"Take me to bed." Lara murmured.
"Yes, ma'm." Alex smirked. He picked Lara up and stood. Alex ascended a brief flight of stairs and walked down a large hallway to his bedroom, the door was slightly ajar, so he pushed it in with his foot and carefully stepped into the room. Alex deposited Lara onto the bed, then closed the door to his bedroom and locked it. "God, it's been too long." Alex murmured as he covered her body with his.
"Alex, I love you too." Lara whispered. Alex smiled at her, his features lit by only a pale moonlight that spilled though the small window above his bed. Alex gently pulled Lara's tank top over her head, carelessly tossing it onto the floor.
Their lips met once again as Lara began to slowly unbutton his starched shirt. Alex slid one of his hands over the curve of her right hip, remembering every aspect of her body.
"Alex?" Lara asked, running her fingers over his muscular chest.
"Hm?" Alex responded, cupping one of her breasts.
"Where is my Eye of Odin?"
Alex froze, then sat up. "Well, that just ruined the mood." He said, turning on a small lamp that was placed beside his bed.
"I'm sorry, Alex. But I would feel much safer knowing it was back in my possession." Lara confessed, sitting up beside him.
"Come on, I'll give it back to you in the morning." Alex said, his hand returning to her hip. "Let's see if we can get that mood back, shall we?"
"Alex, I want you to return it to me now." Lara responded.
"You're very demanding, you know?"
"Yes." Lara nodded. "Now, where is my Eye?"
"Well, I suppose I should be honest with you." Alex said, rubbing his chin. "I don't have it."
"You what?!" Lara shouted.
"Hey, hey, calm down, honey." Alex said, placing his hands on her arms.
"Where is the Eye?" Lara snapped, shaking his hands from her.
"I. . . uh. . . I sold it." Alex admitted.
Lara closed her eyes and sat froze in a mixture of shock and rage for several seconds.
"Uh, Lara?" Alex asked. "Are you alright?"
"Get away from me, Alex." Lara said, her eyes still closed.
"Would you let me explain first?"
Before Alex realized what was happening, Lara's fist connected with his nose.
"Ow, shit!" Alex swore as he fell out of the bed, holding his now bleeding nose.
Lara angrily grabbed her disregarded tank top and slipped into it.
"Lara, wait!" Alex said, struggling to his feet. He grabbed Lara's arm as her opposite hand touched the doorknob.
"I'm only going to warn you once, Alex." Lara said.
"Please, let me explain."
Lara's fist connected to his nose again, the second punch sent him reeling backwards. Alex landed on his backside as Lara unlocked the bedroom door and slipped out.
***
Lara pulled into the large garage of her manor, unbuckled her seatbelt and sat in her silver sports car, trying to clear her thoughts. How could she have been so stupid to have actually believed everything that Alex said? She knew that he couldn't be trusted, yet she had idiotically went along with him and even asked him to take her to bed.
Her cheeks flushed with humiliation. She had even told him that she loved him. Lara's right hand balled into a fist. She had never romantically told any man that. Now the first time she did, it happened to be to the lying scum, Alex West.
"God, why am I so stupid!?" She shouted to herself, slamming her fist down on the steering wheel. Suddenly, Lara burst into tears. Alex had used her. Again. She had been naive enough to invest her feelings in her relationship with him and he had just used her feelings to hurt her.
Lara buried her face in her hands and fully gave into her tears. She hated crying. Mostly because it accomplished nothing, but also because she was crying over someone who frankly wasn't worth her tears. Lara closed her eyes and sniffled.
Alex West was going to pay. Dearly.