Title: Unknown

Chapter 15

Author's Notes: Just remember…I told you guys this would be long. Also, I don't say this enough, but thanks for all the feedback. You guys rock!

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He has to do this now?!?!

Currently, I'm sitting in a club with Eric, trying desperately to calculate the time it would take me to sprint to the front door.

Meanwhile, Eric's in Full Predator Mode. I've seen this scenario play out in clubs dozens of times—Eric decides he wants someone, so he circles his prey for a while, and then boom!—he pounces on his victim, rendering them helpless to his considerable charms. The unsuspecting victim doesn't have a chance. What makes this particular situation unique is that I happen to be the prey.

Fortunately, I have an insider's knowledge of Eric's methods. I can fight this.

Resolved, I stand up and point my thumb toward the door. "I need to go," I say firmly.

There. Done. If I remove myself from Eric's presence before this spins out of control, I'm good.

Eric rises from his seat, undoubtedly planning to stop me. I figured this would happen. No problem. All I have to do is stay strong and get myself out of this club before the hypnotic rhythms of the music emanating from the loudspeakers render me powerless.

Eric nods. "You're right," he says.

I am?

Reaching into his pocket, Eric tugs out his car keys. "Yeah," he says, smiling. "Let's get out of here."

"What?" I say, momentarily stunned.

Damn. I got blindsided like a rookie. What was I thinking? I should've expected this. After all, I've seen him do this before. It's Eric's version of "Let's go somewhere quiet and talk."

"You can stay," I suggest, even though I know it's a futile effort.

"Nah," Eric says. "It's too loud in here, anyway."

Yep. He wants to go somewhere quiet. And…talk? Sure.

Eric and I stumble out the exit into the parking lot. As the balmy night air hits me, I narrow my eyes at Eric's car. That's not an option. So I need to find a bus stop. My eyes scan the area, looking for the nearest stop that will get me home.

Just then, Eric places his hand on my shoulder, causing me to practically jump out of my skin.

Grinning, Eric says, "Jumpy?"

Shrugging, I half-choke, "Why would I be jumpy?"

Eric smirks. "Sexual tension?"

Laughing, I lick my lips. "Yeah, Delko. That must be it." I glance desperately around the parking lot. "You got me. Get a grip." I intended for all of that to come out super-casual, but instead, it all rocketed from my mouth in one breath.

Placing a hand on each of my shoulders, Eric chuckles, "Take it easy, Speed."

"I am taking it easy," I snap.

Squeezing my shoulders, Eric says, "You want to head back to my place? Get some pizza?"

No. That's absolutely not an option. Swallowing, I take a step backward. This has gone too far. I need to let Eric down gently. Rallying nerves and rational mind, I eloquently say, "Um…"

Eric leans against the car. "Or we could hit a restaurant."

I shake my head. "I'm thinking I'm going to catch a bus. Okay?"

"I got a car," Eric says patiently.

Letting out a breath, I say, "I'm not sure me getting into the car would be a good idea."

Eric stands up straight and folds his arms across his chest. "Look, Speed…I've had a lot of time to think."

"Eric," I say. "Don't."

Taking a step forward, Eric says, "Would you hear me out?"

I shake my head. "Delko, I know where this is going."

"Do you?" Eric asks, inching even closer to me.

Realizing that Eric's getting a little too close for my own good, I sidestep him and walk toward his car. "Delko, I've seen you on the prowl."

He shakes his head. "It's not like that, Speed."

"What's it like?" I ask.

Eric turns his back to me for a moment. When he faces me again, he says "I'm attracted to you, Speed."

Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn. I cross my arms, and then uncross them.

"Look, Delko," I say, sitting down on the hood of his car. "This is crazy even for you."

My decision to sit down on Eric's car turns out to be a critical one, as Eric takes several steps forward, closing the gap between us and leaving me without an escape route. He places one hand on either side of my body, holding me in place.

"Speed, I've been thinking about this for a while," he says.

Biting my bottom lip, I say, "I have a boyfriend."

Eric reaches up and caresses my cheek with his index finger. "Trust me. I know that."

Turning my face away from his touch, I say, "Delko, I'm not here to satisfy your curiosity."

Glaring at me, Eric whines, "This isn't about my curiosity. It's about…" Licking his lips, Eric lets out a breath and leans forward until his body is half-pressing against mine.

I'm not dense. I know what's coming next. I should fight it, but instead, I lean forward to make it easier.

Eric cradles my jaw in one hand and steadies himself against the car with the other. Then, he presses his lips hard to mine.

Like an idiot, I lean totally into the kiss, exploring Eric's mouth with my own. I can taste a faint hint of pina colada on his breath, and I can feel his heart beating like crazy against my chest. My arms loop around Eric's ribcage, yanking him more tightly against me, and I deepen the lip-lock even more.

After almost a minute, my brain reboots and I realize what I'm doing. Placing my hands against Eric's chest, I push him off of me. "Okay, we have to stop," I pant.

Eric's face is flushed, and he's out of breath. He places a hand against his own lips. "I think I'm going to pass out," he says.

Me too.

The awkwardness of the moment settles around us, and so does a noticeable silence. After a few seconds, I can't take it anymore, so I say, "Uh…" And then I shake my head helplessly and let my voice trail off.

Eric plunks himself down beside me on the hood. "Man, I'm not sure what to say," he says.

Swallowing, I twist my body until I'm facing him. "I should've stopped it, Eric."

He shakes his head. "Why? Felt like you wanted it as much as I did."

I jump down off the hood of the car and face Eric. "I'm in a relationship with a man I love."

Frowning, Eric says, "Look, I—"

I advance on him. "And I told you, Eric. I'm not here to satisfy your curiosity."

Eric glowers at me. "That's not what that was about, Speed."

"Really?" I snap. "What? Do you love me?"

Eric stares at the ground.

"Right," I say. Crossing my arms forcefully, I begin to pace back and forth. "What? Is this territorial or something? You don't like the fact that I'm happy? Or are you just bored, so you figured you'd experiment on me?"

Standing up, Eric punts a rock across the parking lot. "I…Speed, it's not like that. I care about you."

Then why play head games with me?

"Whatever." Jerking my thumb toward the club, I say, "I have been down this road with you before."

Screwing up his face, Eric asks, "What do mean?"

"I mean I'm not one of your one night stands, Delko."

"Oh, come on!"

"No," I say, shaking my head. "You've been blazing a trail through the women of Miami for years, Eric. You're a player."

"That's stupid," Eric says.

"How many serious relationships have you been in?" I ask.

Eric runs a hand his dark hair. After a few seconds, he croaks, "You're different, Tim."

I want to believe him, but I just can't. I know him too well. And besides, however Eric feels about me, I still love Mark.

"Eric," I say. "I'm in love with Mark, and I'm not risking my relationship with him. You know," I say, fighting back the tears that threaten to leak out, "He was right to worry about me and you. I've betrayed him."

Gazing at the sky, Eric says, "What do you see in that smarmy prick?"

"He loves me, Eric," I say gently. "And he gives me some stability. I've never had that before."

Letting out a hard breath, Eric says, "I talked to my priest about you. And about my feelings for you."

Clearing my throat, I say, "That's…really?"

"You know," he says, looking me in the eye, "There's a difference between stability and an iron cage."

Grimacing, I say, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Doesn't matter," Eric says. Then, walking around to the driver's side of his car, he gestures at me. "Get in. I'll run you home. And I'll be a gentleman."