"You are not being reasonable here!"
"I don't do leeway with assholes."
"All I want to do is TALK to her!"
"And I said NO! You don't deserve to be near her!"
He growled and clenched the phone, frustration climbing higher.
'Seven hells hath no fury like a protective, pissed off best friend. How the hell am I going to get past THIS?'
Phone calls for the past week were either hung up on or not given to K. He kept calling and calling, but Sam wasn't budging. He knew the letter he delivered hadn't gotten to K because she had yet to respond to it. She never took this long – at least not recently - and that was the only way he knew.
He didn't feel totally confident to be around his girlfriend without an amount of guilt. He couldn't look her in the eyes without wanting to apologize yet again. The weekend after their trip was the first they spent alone in months.
"This is not between you and I – it's between K and I." He was running out of ways to not let Sam berate him and keep him from the one person he wanted to be around right now. He allowed it to a point, knowing he deserved it, but tension and longing was starting to build.
"She's my best friend and little sister! The one you tried to drown! You think that doesn't concern me??"
A hand went into his bangs and gripped in agitation. His jaw tightened as he fought for another defense. This was getting ridiculous...
"Look, I KNOW I screwed up and I've been TRYING to make it up to her. But that's kind of hard when you won't let me within a city's length! Let me talk to her damn it!!"
"Va al infierno."
He speared the wall a dry look. "You know, I WOULD like to know what that means."
"You don't need to know. And you don't need to talk to her. You can stew in your guilt for a while until I feel you've paid your penance."
Brown widened a little. "You can't stop me from calling you know."
Sam smirked and leaned back in the kitchen chair. "Can't I? I seem to recollect we had something like this same conversation before. I still pay the phone bills you know. And I'm the one who gets to the mail as I don't have noon classes this semester. You don't have a chance of getting to her." Light blue narrowed.
A fist clenched as he headed from the family room and cleared the stairs. He headed for the back engawa, ignoring his shoes, and started pacing the boards. "You're not being fair about this." He growled, clutching the phone tighter.
"Am I?"
"K is MY girlfriend and I will pay my penance when I find out for MYSELF that she's forgiven me. I will do whatever it takes to see in her eyes that she's forgotten that incident and does not hold it over my head. No one blames me more than myself, so you can rest easy about that. I won't forgive myself until I know she has."
Light blue idly looked to a nail. "Well from what I've seen, she doesn't think too much about it anymore and doesn't seem to hold it against you."
His eyes widened in amaze as he gaped at the backyard.
That couldn't be! He nearly killed her – she had every right to hold this over his head for as long as humanely possible! He certainly wouldn't mind, as he wouldn't forget what he did for a very long time.
"I...I don't really hold grudges that much..."
Her voice rang in his head. K said that back when he hurt her the first time, during beginning times they met. The hand still in his hair rubbed as if trying to soothe him.
K didn't hold a grudge over something this big and she kept forgiving him for every little thing he did to her.
His lips pressed together. As much as he needed her, he had to admit...he probably didn't deserve someone like her...
"But even though she has, I haven't. I won't take something like you trying to kill my best friend lightly. I don't care if it was unintentional – I saw she was panicked from the shoreline and you ignored her."
He snapped back to reality and scowled. "I screwed up - how many times do you want me to say I'm sorry?!"
"In as many ways as you know how." Sam slid from the chair, bored of bickering with him. It was fun to piss him off in validation for her endless supply of recent anger over the event, but she got tired of it after a while. The next time he called, it would start over again until she got weary with the same thing and hung up on him again.
Just like she planned on doing now.
"This is getting us nowhere. You're going to keep calling and I'm going to keep telling you the same thing. Why don't you spare us the time and listen to me? When you hear a different voice on the line, you'll know I've forgiven you a little. Caller ID comes standard with phones so don't think I won't check."
"Sam –"
Sam clicked the phone off without letting him get anything else in and hung it up. To keep him from calling back, she went to the phone jack in the wall and took out the cord.
Effectively keeping the only phone in their house from getting a connection.
With a smug grin, Sam stood and turned for her room. She had studying to get done and was wasting time talking to a prick like him.
~*~*~
She didn't notice the extra quiet - as it was normally quiet in the house – or question anything until she was making dinner. It was the barest of chances and she wouldn't even know anything happened had she not tried to grab too much as usual in one trip and ended up dropping something.
When she went to pick it up after it rolled to a stop, her eyes landed on the phone cord. It looked plugged in unless one stooped close enough to see the length of the plastic connector...and the fact that it wasn't doing its job.
A hand lowered and pulled the jack out, staring at it blankly. Green slowly closed upon realization and plugged the cord in all the way.
She didn't know whether or not she expected the phone to ring, but it remained silent. She picked the Tupperware off the floor and went to the counter, jaw set.
Maybe twenty minutes later, when the smells drug down a certain, stubborn roommate, she watched Sam out of the corner of an eye.
"Inaki called today didn't he? He called while I was at classes."
Sam stopped as if running into a wall. Light blue stared at her friend's sideways profile, noticing the small tenseness.
After a second, Sam forced indifference in front of initial irritation and panic and went to set the table. "What makes you say that?"
"The phone wasn't connected to the wall."
Sam mentally cringed, but still played dumb. "How do you know? Did you look?"
"Yes."
'Uh oh. Okay...time to think of a way out of this.' Sam subtly bit her lip.
She didn't bother moving from her position in front of the stove. She tended to the pot as if this weren't that big a deal, but she was trying to keep from showing outward annoyance that was building. She couldn't keep an edgy sigh inside though, and lips pursed into a brief scowl. "What did he say?"
"Not much."
"Sam..."
"It was nothing important you know."
Dark green narrowed a little as she finally looked over. She stared at ash blond, hoping Sam could feel it. "Sam, I'm not playing around here! I haven't been able to talk to Inaki all week and I KNOW you had a hand in it! There were no missed calls on the ID and no messages on the machine. Either you deleted both, or you picked up the phone and talked to him!"
Sam resisted physically shying away from that tone of voice. The irritation felt upon Inaki being mentioned was still there and she latched onto it for strength.
"I also haven't gotten a letter from him this week and if I know him – which I like to think I do by now – he would've written me and have it full of apologies. Not ONE. You had a hand in that too didn't you?"
Sam's shoulders squared a little as she turned for the table with a load of dishes from the cupboards. "Point being?"
Green stared a little surprised at the flat tone. Sam didn't sound like she cared one bit about any of that, nor did she deny it.
She blinked when Sam made to set their places, eyes following the movements. "I - I don't believe this..." She mumbled. She turned the stove off to keep from burning anything and put it on a cold burner as it was relatively done. "You...you mean to tell me...you talked to Inaki...and KEPT it from me?? The phone calls, the letters..."
Sam's pride sparked and mingled with everything and she whipped around. "I did it for you!" Sam grit out. A chubby hand clenched. "The guy tried to DROWN you! Are you going to tell me you're going to bypass something that serious, and be all buddy-buddy with him and let him get off?? He has no right to skirt it that easy!"
Stunned green met angry blue. She tried to get her brain to work, but it was a few seconds before any thought would come. "You – you know that's not entirely his fault. He didn't know! Am I going to hold THAT over him?" She threw back, brow furrowing. "I can't exactly blame him for something like that when it was a didn't-ask-didn't-tell situation. I know that and there's nothing else I can do but accept it and move on. It's all in the past, so how am I going to change it??"
Sam gripped the table in frustration. K wasn't seeing all the facts here! "So you're going to let him get away with attempted murder?"
She gaped. "It was NOT attempted - it wasn't even on purpose! Attempted is on purpose! What the hell are you thinking here?!"
"I'm doing what you won't! He deserves to pay for what he did and I'm making him stew in guilt for a while before he can talk to you!"
She gaped again, more surprised than before. This was CRAZY!
"WHAT?! You're not making sense! You're not the one who should make him pay – I am! And you weren't there on the boat either. I saw how bad he beat himself up for this. I know if I let him, he'll keep it up until the year is over trying to make it up to me. That would not only annoy me after a while, but he doesn't need to. His honor won't let him drop it this easy, no matter if I forgive him or not, so I don't NEED to punish him. He'll do so on his own until I force him to stop."
Sam's arms crossed. "He deserves it. You could've been lost at sea! He almost killed my best friend – am I going to forgive something like that? Hell no! Had he listened to you, you wouldn't be traumatized!"
Her chin rose a little, even if a small bit agreed with her friend. "I am not traumatized."
Sam nearly glowered. "Please...you won't even go NEAR the ocean. And don't tell me it's because you don't have time. You have three classes this summer; you were twice as busy last year. You won't and it's all because of Inaki."
Her jaw clenched as she turned and went to the stove. She grabbed potholders off their hooks and brought the pot to the table. She didn't look at Sam as she straightened. "I'm not feeling very hungry all of a sudden." She turned and went to put the holders back. "You can have whatever you want, but please put the dishes to soak and leftovers in the fridge when you finish."
"Kalie!"
She stopped at the edge of the room, almost out of sight. Her head bowed, hand resting on the wall as if to hold her up. "In the future Samantha...I appreciate it if you'd let ME deal with something like this. I know you're my surrogate, but you know I don't like it when people try to run my life."
She turned for the stairs and left Sam dumbly blinking at her exit, also feeling incredibly guilty all of a sudden.
She sighed and plopped down on her bed, staring at the wall. She looked to the door before getting up to lock it, not feeling like talking anymore. All they did was yell and she did enough of that this year for two.
Green wearily closed. So Sam was right, she WAS traumatized more concerning swimming and the ocean...but didn't let it get her down. She put it out of her mind and didn't bother thinking or visiting the ocean for shells. She would forget about the horror of sucking in water through her lungs...the desperation of trying to find her way to the surface and being unable...the horrible knowledge that she might die...
A shiver stole through her as she hugged the pillow tightly, staring at the back of her daybed.
So she hadn't forgotten...but it's only been a week, she would need more time than that. But she tried not to hold it against Inaki, though a part of her wanted to. She wanted to yell and scream and hit him in retribution, but that wouldn't do any good. As she said, she couldn't change the past so all she could do was try and get over it.
That was definitely hard though. She was able to take a shower, but baths were out of the question. Even in such a shallow pool of water.
She was definitely angry at Sam for trying to control her life, but shouldn't have put it past the girl. Sam was protective in her own way and it was nice, but independence and protection did not mix to a point. Sam knew if anyone tried to control her or make her do something she didn't want to, they would feel the effects.
She just wished she didn't have to fight. That created the current tension and bitterness...and guilt.
She didn't hold a grudge against Sam for wanting to keep Inaki away in some twisted form of making him see what he did to her. It was nice to have someone concerned for her well-being. But keeping mail and phone calls for Sam's sense of justice was over the line.
She would demand the letter tomorrow, but today just needed to get over with. She didn't want to deal with anything in connection to that day right now. It was getting old and she was starting to feel bad in every aspect and she was tired of that as well.
Green spied the clock and decided on a quick nap to take her mind off things. She didn't need to take this to work. No one knew about it and she intended on keeping it that way.
~*~*~
The evening seemed to match emotions during the day. The morning seemed promising for a beautiful day and equally beautiful night, but nature had other ideas.
The last hour was dead as always and homework was brought out for a bit. A cool wind blew inside from the open door, which was odd, even at night. It was a nice change from humidity, but the coolness and that familiar smell meant only one thing.
Rain.
She hadn't brought an umbrella and the only thing that would remain dry would be her bag. She hoped so anyway – there was really nothing to wrap her books in to keep them from being soggy messes if that happened.
She took a peek during a slow period at the last dredges of the sunset to find clouds slowly billowing in. She didn't think anything of them, but wished she had then. If she was lucky, she would've had Casey watch the front so she could run home for a windbreaker at least.
She doubted the three would stop in tonight. They normally walked here and were old men, which meant problems with the joints during rain...though she had yet to medically understand exactly why. She didn't mind; she actually wanted to be alone tonight.
Half an hour before closing, she was still doing homework, reading glasses in place like always. The bell rang and her head jerked up in surprise.
Green widened as her heart sped up.
"You are one very hard person to get a hold of, you know that?"
A small smile appeared as she went for her glasses. "Sam doesn't make it...easy." She muttered, heading for her bag. She grabbed it and went for her books. She would get no more work done tonight and she couldn't.
There were things to talk about, though she didn't know if she wanted to.
"I finally decided to do something she couldn't ignore me for."
Dark brown bobbed in contrite. "I'm sorry she put you through the wringer. I didn't know exactly what she was doing until today and we had it out. I told her what I thought and I can only hope she doesn't do it again."
A hand grabbed hers and entwined their fingers as she made to zip up the main flap. She smiled and relaxed a little at the feeling of warm skin. She gently squeezed and felt a return.
"Do you mind if we talk?"
She looked to the bag and gently tugged her hand away. She grasped a strap and set it on the floor, everything put away. "There's...really nothing to talk about..."
"Please."
She nodded, unable to deny him. She headed for the other end of the counter, moved the flap up, and headed to a table he was seated at.
The second she sat, a hand grasped hers and held it again. "I wrote you a letter the beginning of the week, but I doubt you have it."
Her head shook. "I have reason to believe Sam kept that as well, since she didn't tell me you called today. She...unplugged the phone."
Brown simmered on low boil but he looked away to hide it from her. "I wrote you because the fourth is coming up soon. My family doesn't celebrate it, but I usually do something with the guys. I know you'll have vacation and I wanted to know if you would spend it with me."
She looked to the table and pressed her lips together. "I...normally spend that with Sam's family." She murmured. "She might not like it right now if she hears this." A hand gripped her chin and brought her vision to his. Her skin tingled a little where they met together.
"I'm not thinking of Sam and I ask you not to either. I know she's your best friend, but she's caused quite a bit of unnecessary grief between us and you have to know this. I'm asking as your boyfriend if you want to spend the holiday together. If not, I understand. I know about tradition and wouldn't want you to break it if you didn't want to."
Great, now she felt guilty. Her eyes looked away, deeply thoughtful, as she debated with herself. She did recognize all Sam was doing and didn't agree with it, but the girl WAS her best friend. Sisters looked out for each other didn't they?
But she hadn't spent time with Inaki since that Saturday. And that wasn't even alone. She missed spending time with him alone – she admitted that now – but she would take anything she could. She didn't mind hanging out with his friends either, their humor was entertaining.
She finally met his eyes and smiled. "I think I'd rather spend time with you, if you don't mind. I've had two years with the Merths; it's time to give my attention to someone who needs it more."
He smiled and shifted closer. His hand gently tugged her forward as much as the small table would allow and kissed her.
Gods how he missed this! The soft feel of her lips, the timid way she met his touch...
His hand brushed over her skin and delved into her hair. Fingers toyed with the strands, feeling it against his calluses. She was so soft and the thought didn't escape him. Her shyness was still there, though it was more an adorable feature than a sad one. She had gotten better with his help and opened up a little...which was better than none. He was proud of her for that.
He finally pulled away at the sound of quiet thunder in the distance. K groaned and huffed, which gained his curiosity. "Something the matter?"
"It's going to rain – I'm going to get all wet before I get home." She complained, leaning back with a pout.
His lips twitched. "So will I you know. I parked near your house."
Her brow furrowed. "NEAR?"
Brown looked away. "I didn't want to take the chance of Sam seeing it. I know she's pissed enough to cut the phone bill or call the company and accuse me of making harassing phone calls or something. I wasn't taking chances."
She gave him a sympathetic look and touched his hand. The other covered hers and a finger moved over her skin. A tingle went up her arm and a shiver threatened to hit.
A louder boom of thunder made her jump and whine. "Where is Charlie?? I want to beat this!"
He smirked. "It's just rain you know... You're not going to melt."
"No but I HATE loud thunder." She retorted, pouting again.
She looked adorable. He gave her hand a squeeze and kept rubbing it. "You'll be fine. You have me here so feel free to hold onto my arm if you get scared."
She gave him a dry look for the sarcasm, but a smile peeked through at his thoughtfulness.
She pulled away and stood, looking to the clock. "As we have about ten minutes left, would you care for something? It's on the house."
He watched her walk behind the counter and went to lean on it. "You can do that?" He queried, skeptically eyeing her.
She smirked. "There's no security camera with crime down and Charlie doesn't check the register in comparison to the amount of mix the machines use. This is one of the few times I've ever done it in the two years I've been here. I can skim off the top once."
He sent a wicked grin and proceeded to find the most expensive thing on the board. "You little rebel you."
She giggled and leaned next to him to look as well, feeling a little thirsty. "I do so try."
He chuckled and gave her shoulder a quick kiss before giving his decision. She finished not even five minutes before Charlie walked in, jangling keys as always.
"Head up and move out you two. It's started to sprinkle."
She heaved a sigh and resisted the urge to bang her head on the counter. "I knew it!" She playfully wailed. She grabbed the book bag and slung it over a shoulder. "It never waits for me to be safely inside. Where's winter when you need it?"
"As if the rain would stop with that." Inaki playfully retorted, getting a playful glare back. He stuck his tongue out and she returned it as she headed to the back room.
"So the guys didn't come in today?"
"Nope!" She called, pushing the kickstand up. "Just this yokel."
"Thanks a LOT."
"Anytime sweetie." She answered, giving a syrupy smile.
The look he gave said he was not amused, or trying not to be. "You're so horrible to me, you know that?"
"You're horrible to ME – we're even."
"You two related or something??" Charlie asked, giving them both an odd look.
Her head shook. "Do we look like it?" She felt Inaki next to her. "This is my boyfriend Inaki, Charlie."
"At least you left that stupid joke off this time."
"It's too late to be that funny."
"Ha, ha. My ribs are breaking." He dryly answered. A finger whipped out and poked her in the side.
"Stop that!" She squeaked, jerking away. The bike banged against the doorway, getting a cringe from both. "See what you made me do??"
"Did not."
"Did too."
"We are NOT getting into this in my store. Out you two, now." Charlie shooed them out before a verbal flirting war could erupt and locked the door behind them. "Now get out of here and go home. It's late."
"Or early, depending on your point of view." She countered, giggling at Charlie's look. "Bye Charlie."
"Bye K."
He was silent as they headed to the end of the first block before speaking. "You're in rare form tonight."
She cast him a look and blinked when a droplet hit her eye. "As I said, I do so try."
No more talk was made as they sauntered the short distance back. The rain picked up a little, but during the final block, a crack of loud thunder signaled foreboding before the sprinkle turned into a downpour.
"I am so totally SOAKED!" She nearly screeched, trying not to slip on the grass as she jogged the bike up the lawn.
"You'll survive." He answered, keeping in time with her. His sandals were soggy and it felt odd, but he hadn't been caught in a rainstorm for a while. He fully intended on keeping K out in it as long as possible to enjoy it with her.
"This has been some day, but I suppose this is the icing I needed." She grumbled, fumbling for the chain. The rain was cold and the temperature dropped even further to allow shivering.
Not a good combination for t-shirt and shorts.
He watched her finally click the lock in place before walking to the center of the yard. "Come here."
She blinked from the safety of the porch. "Are you nuts? I'm not going back out there!"
"You're already soaked, what's the harm?" A hand beckoned. "You ever get caught in the rain at midnight?"
Her arms crossed, feeling the warmth of her body and she shivered a little. "I've never been in the rain like this period. You can get sick."
"That's an old wife's tale. Come on...live a little. Be dangerous! Come get wet with me."
Her face flamed at the innuendo, whether he meant to put it there or not. She wanted to remain on the porch and dry off – or better yet, get to a towel and inside – but felt her feet move by themselves. Her eyes took in his form as she neared, arms moving to encircle his waist.
There was just something about him being drenched and totally disheveled that was incredibly sexy.
"Happy now?"
His arms rested against her back as he held her close. A gentle smile appeared as the rain plastered more hair to her skin. "Mmm very..." His head dipped and tasted the coolness of her lips and he held her tighter to give some of his body heat.
Her fingers ran up his shirt, feeling how warm he was despite the temperature. He was almost like an oven and she pressed closer to take some of the heat off him.
His tongue ran over her lip before her mouth parted and ran along hers. Fingers splayed over her back, one trailing for her head. The other ran along the spine.
She shivered and tightened her hold. The cold was quickly leaving and it had nothing to do with his temperature. The general timidness of kissing him also faded, making her bolder and she grasped that. Hands fumbled for his mid-back length braid and pulled the tie out without hurting him. She quickly untangled it with help from the rain and soon it was as disheveled and wild as the bangs almost touching his nose.
Her confidence was always welcome and he had to admit, he might've encouraged her a few times. It was nice to see the hidden person come out, the person she really was.
The only problem was it turned him on like none other.
His lips attacked hers and she was a little startled, before her brain made connection and her body speeded up. She responded and met his pace, no longer cold and feeling rather warm.
Why did she not agree to come out here again? Her brain was trying to remember what stupid reason she could think up for trying to refuse something this sexy. Kissing in a downpour with a boyfriend she grew to care a lot for...
She admitted to liking him a lot. Every time he was near, he made her smile and laugh and her heart pound. His touch did so much to her; he calmed her down, sped her body up, and made her feel special. He meant a lot to her, but perhaps it was time to think of just how much so she knew what these feelings were.
Right after she picked her brain up from the four winds.
He was at that point where he had to touch here again. Not want – had. And now that he knew he found the one he was looking for, it only made the need that much more desperate.
His hands slowly trailed down her spine and circled her lower back for a bit. He felt her tremble, but knew it couldn't be against the cold. She always trembled whenever they made out, and he had been with enough women to know what that meant. Wasting no more time, hands dove down and grasped her behind, pressing her against him.
A strong whimper left her mouth before she could stop it and her hands death-gripped his shirt. A jolt in her abdomen hit her hard and emotions rose over thought. She all but attacked his lips and moved her hands to touch his skin, up and down over the muscles of his back.
He fought a groan and hands kneaded her rear, pressing her against him again. Her shorter height was a problem and he wanted to sit down, but if he did that, their heads would clear. All he wanted to do right now was feel her.
She was in bliss and wanted more. She wanted him and wanted to feel more of him. She didn't know what to say, so let her hands wander and explore for her.
There was a small circle being drawn right above his jeans and it hit him below the belt. He moaned and pressed her again.
This was getting them nowhere. He wanted to keep touching, and she seemed to have no compunctions, but he didn't want her to regret anything. He knew she didn't really, but that didn't mean she couldn't. He wanted it to be special and though this would be memorable, they would both freeze.
Not to mention cold rain wouldn't do HIM any good.
He didn't want to stop, but had to. Not for his sake, but for hers.
"You're shivering." He mumbled against her mouth. His hands left temptation and remained on her back so his mind could clear a little. He let the continuously pounding rain cool him off...though THAT might be a long time coming.
She mentally screamed and whined at him, but green opened as she tried to understand him over the roaring in her ears. All the blood in her system seemed to move directly over her eardrums and decided to make her deaf. "What?"
He forced himself to pull away though his body was screaming at him for doing so. He felt like kicking himself in the ass when he had a very willing person to end his celibacy with, but was also angry for being so weak. His track record could continue until she decided he could end it.
A hand rose and cupped her cheek, seeing a small mist come from her mouth. "Your skin is clammy. You're probably chilled to the bone. Your body is shivering."
She blinked, wondering if she should say something about that.
'If I'm shivering it's because you turned me on? Yea right...like I want to invite humiliation by saying THAT one.' If Inaki knew just how frustrated she was – and a little touched – by being stopped, he might just continue. As much as her body was anticipating it, she didn't know if she wanted that just yet. 'Yet you seem to have no trouble GETTING to that point.' She mentally smacked herself on the head. 'Idiot.'
His lips tilted a little as he regrettably pulled away. Even in the dark, he could see her breasts puckered against her shirt, clearly outlined with the water, and mentally kicked himself again.
If he was someone else, he would probably be shouting obscenities for ruining it. But he had to admit...they looked pretty damn nice right now and hands twitched to touch them.
'Gods give me strength!' He almost desperately prayed.
"Come on...I think you've been daring enough. Time to get you under some cover." He tugged her to the porch and watched as she rung her hair out. He smiled and did the same.
She watched as his head shook a few times before straightening the long locks to his back. Her heart fluttered and she was hit below the belt at how delicious he looked. Teeth harshly bit her lip at how bad she wanted to pin him down and take advantage of him.
'Not like he'd mind.' She mused, forcefully keeping herself from looking to his waist. 'Even with cold water, he wouldn't mind at all. You had your proof.' She fought to keep from giggling at that – she didn't want to tell him what she found so funny and was forced to explain!
"I'll walk you to your car." She offered, feeling her temperature dropping. She should get inside, but didn't want to let him go back out alone.
He smiled at her generosity, but shook his head. "I'm at the other end of the block – it's not worth you getting so soaked again."
She scowled. "But you're there already. And who was the one who made me go back into the rain?"
He smirked. "I didn't hear you complaining."
She flushed and was thankful for the night. She took a deep breath to bypass the indignity. "You heard me complaining from the porch. But I'm not letting you go out and then get in your car like this. You – you could...always stay..."
He smiled, but shook his head. As much as he would love to cuddle against her and tuck her body against his – so much more with the intensity of his feelings – he didn't trust himself right now. Not as turned on as he was, and not in her bed.
And not with Sam as pissed as she still was.
"I know I'm down the block, but I don't want an earful from Sam." He smirked. "I'd like to keep my jaw from being bruised again thank you."
She grimaced at that. "Yea...that was...unbelievable. Well, I still don't want you to get into your car and ruin the interior. I can throw your clothes in the dryer and loan you an umbrella for the time being."
"You should get to bed...don't waste that time on me."
She was already unlocking the door. "I insist." She held the screen open and pushed the inside aside.
"But..."
She glared a little. "Get your ass in there!" A thumb jerked to the kitchen.
He sighed and mock saluted before striding past. He took his shoes off, feeling a little bad for dripping on linoleum...even if it COULD get cleaned up.
"Everything is in the basement. I'll get us a few towels and meet you down there." She reported, already heading off. She changed first before grabbing towels and wet clothing to throw in as well. She stopped at the middle landing of the stairs when a thought struck.
She should have Inaki throw ALL his clothes in for it to have any good effect. Having him throw only his shorts in would be counterproductive. She gulped. The only thing to do...was have him throw his underwear in too.
Green slowly closed. After all that happened outside, seeing Inaki wet and in a towel – the first time was bad enough! – was going to snap her restraint.
But there was nothing to be done. She already told him to throw his clothes in.
She went back up to grab her robe and threw it on with the lack of arm-room before descending to the chilly basement. Her head ducked at the low overhang, seeing a solitary bulb on in the main room.
She paused on the bottom, body stilling at seeing Inaki's back and the dryer door open. He had his shorts on, but they hung off his hips and made an even better picture than the possibilities. When he turned, one hand suspiciously holding his head, she gained a damn good view of the chest she rested against on a regular basis.
She mentally kicked herself for allowing Inaki to stop when she saw how good he looked right this second. 'DAMN IT!'
"You know, a little warning would've been nice."
She startled from her thoughts and headed for him, throwing her clothes in. "Warning?"
"About that dip in the ceiling on the stairs. I knocked my head on it without knowing about it."
"Whoops?" She offered a caring smile and tried not to laugh at him. She handed over a towel for his hair, which he promptly dropped over his head. She smiled and shrugged out of the sleeves. "I told you to throw your clothes in the dryer so I brought this until they're done. It should fit."
He eyed the plain robe, the one K probably wrapped around herself after a shower or lazy day, and swallowed. A hand grabbed the back before he turned to a side room he spied on his initial trip down. "I'll be right back." He muttered, needing to put space between them to calm down.
'This might've been a bad idea...'
She listened to a zipper in the quiet and the plop of material on carpet. Down here was a perfect place to hang out in during hot days of summer and whoever built or renovated the place put up sheetrock to divide the area and also carpet to make it cozier.
But right now, it was a little too chilly to be wearing a tank and boxer shorts. It wasn't this bad upstairs, and now she was kicking herself. Her body was reacting to the cold, so she draped a towel over her shoulders to hide the evidence.
After she started the dryer, she hopped on top for the warmth seeping from it and kept hands clenched to the edge. That or she'd end up touching Inaki, and she would rather take her chances with the dryer.
How could one man look so damn hot?! She was glad to've got such a catch, but the temptation he was putting her through was not fun! She didn't know what to think when she would see him in her robe, but 'damn!' came to mind.
He had it tied loose enough to show a bit of his pectorals and make her drool. He folded the sleeves to the elbows and give off some of the build in his lower arms. The bottom ended at his knees, showing nice calves as well.
And to top it off, his hair was unbraided!
She trembled a bit and thankful the dryer hid any movement. She felt nervous being down here with him like this and wanted to go upstairs, but if Sam saw them...she knew Inaki was right about what she'd do.
It was best to stay down here.
"You...ah...want me to dry your hair?" She stuttered, giving him a sideways glance.
He looked to her, bangs stuck to his face, and smiled. "Knock yourself out." He handed the towel over and pushed off from the washer. He could've simply shifted his back to her...but seeing her sitting on the dryer like that...he couldn't help himself.
He stopped and leaned against the dryer...body now positioned in between her legs.
She forgot to breathe and almost dropped the towel as his arms leaned on either side of her legs over the top to help hold him up. He was dangerously close to touching her calves – all he had to do was flick a wrist a teensy bit either way.
She was glad to have something to do to hide the wavering of her hands. She marveled at how thick his hair was and wished she had a brush to straighten it with. She was the one to untangle it and had she not done so, there wouldn't be this mess.
But neither would there be this opportunity either.
Her lips pressed together to keep from smiling and miserably failed. She worked bottom to top until the towel was more wet than dry and was forced to stop. "That's all I can do. You've got too much hair." She tossed the towel over his head and grinned.
"Who was the one who undid my braid in the first place??" He kidded, pulling the garment off his head and turning to throw it on the washer.
She smiled shyly when he smirked. Her heart sped up at his nearness, but she vehemently bypassed it. "You always have it in that damn braid." She quietly retorted. Her eyes looked to a shoulder. "You...look better...with it undone."
His grin turned gentle as he stared. One hand moved and made her look at him. When he did so, he saw emotions there that caused adrenaline to run. His face became intense and brown darted to her lips. He took in her position and his, and the robe seemed to feel like ten layers of clothes.
Her heart was beating its normal marathon whenever he looked at her like that. The same emotions from outside reared back up and she was glad to be sitting down this time. She reveled in the feel he was creating by simply staring at her before the need to touch him was too great.
She leaned forward and heavily kissed him, hands pressing against his chest.
She touched skin, not cloth, and his body reacted in retaliation. Hands extended and grasped her rear immediately to tug her forward. He pulled her until she pressed against him fully and caressed her bottom.
Again, she whimpered and shook. Hands felt around his chest as if looking for something and finding it everywhere. She shifted the cloth open further and felt for his shoulders. She clutched them when a shot of heat hit and dug her nails into his skin.
He grunted, but pain and pleasure mixed. One hand remained where it was as the other dove under her tank and found hot skin of her back. She was soft there too and he felt around.
Her back arched, chest pressing against him. Another whimper sounded in the back of her throat. "In – aki..." She mumbled, mouth speeding up.
Her response only encouraged him. "Kalie..."
They were back at that dangerous situation he was worried about outside. They were to the breaking point and he could tell by the husk in her voice she was as turned on as he was. She clutched him like a lifeline, as he did her. They should stop before it got out of hand...REALLY they should...
Her hands left his shoulders to wind through the middle of her robe and clutched his back. Her nails ran up and down his muscles again just to touch him.
She needed him like she hadn't needed him before. This ache was building while the rumble and motion from the dryer was a catalyst. Neither was helping.
She didn't care about consequences, if there were any to consider – as they WERE dating after all – but didn't want to think of that right now. All she could think about were the mental images of him between her legs and the total feel of him touching her everywhere.
She wanted to feel him – all of him.
"Inaki...please..." Her mouth broke away in haste to latch onto an ear. She heard a hiss and his hands tightened almost painfully. "I - I need...I need you...I need you to...touch me...please."
He nearly choked. The tone she used, the hesitation with desperation backing that up...
The band holding his patience snapped.
Hands quickly moved her away and tugged at the strap to her tank. He found she was wearing no bra and exhaled a shuddery breath. His desire heightened to almost pain and he licked his lips. "You're...so beautiful..." He breathed, lips lowering.
She gasped when his mouth closed and his tongue toyed with her skin. Her body nearly spasmed with need as hands frantically clutched the folds of her robe.
This couldn't be happening. He was NOT standing here with his mouth around one of K's breasts...with one of the worst hard-on's he had in his life. He wanted to continue and he wanted to get on with it...torn between both. He wanted to hear her cry out his name and he wanted her nails to dig into his back again.
Neither of those mental images was particularly helpful right now.
Her hands gravitated to his hair, clenching and unclenching. She was content to let him continue, but wanted to touch him back so he could feel the way she was. She didn't want him to have ALL the power...
On impulse, her hips rocked forward a degree and felt him through the robe.
He groaned as she cried out, trying not to tear his hair out. She panted and let the wave envelope her. "Inaki..." She whispered.
The desperation in her voice was rising. He didn't know if she was going to last much longer...but then...neither could he.
A hand rose and stopped next to his mouth, getting a soft moan as his fingers circled. He liked the way she sounded, the way she tasted and felt, and couldn't get enough of her. He wanted to lay her down and touch every inch of her with his mouth. He wanted to map her body with his hands to memorize her curves and see WHY she fit so well against him.
They were both thrown back to stark reality and the gravity of their situation, however, when a long, resounding beep came from the dryer.
Inaki shot back, losing his footing and falling on his tailbone. He welcomed the pain that took a large edge off the pleasure and took a few deep breaths.
She nearly screamed in surprise, and her body did as well at the feel of everything being taken away. She wanted to cry, but also wondered why she was allowing herself to let go in such a major way.
'Oh don't kid yourself!'
Both remained frozen as they tried to soothe their breathing and hearts. It seemed like forever until they calmed their bodies enough to be safe next to the other.
Her face flamed at her actions as she adjusted everything back to normal – still feeling tousled – and opened the dryer. She set their clothes on the top and bit her lip.
Something needed to be said, but she couldn't find words. What did she say in a time like this? They were past the make-out stage into heavy petting! One step closer meant all their clothes off and that made her nervous just thinking about it.
A hand came into her vision and she startled, turning to see a gentle look meeting her. "I'll be right back." She dumbly nodded and waited until he was out of sight before sagging against the dryer.
As she watched him walk off in the continual downpour, idly wondering if it was going to let up at all tonight, she mentally kicked herself repeatedly. One for allowing it to get that far and losing her head, and also for being so frustrated and unsatisfied.
It was time to do some serious questioning about her emotions toward this man. She normally didn't allow herself to throw everything to hell and go with the flow like tonight. There were the few make-out sessions, but none came to such physicalness. Neither was there such a need to be with him the way she hadn't since Brad.
To give herself to a third man meant serious issues. She never tried to be loose or lead people on the way she had tonight, and it was a big question why she was now. She felt sorry for Inaki having to live through such arousal, though she was in the same boat.
Giving it all up on emotion...this was more than serious.
It was time to do some more thinking. This time, exactly how she felt about Inaki Yamoi.