Thank you once again to Hope, Marissa, Jesse, Megan, Totalvaughnlover, Diveprincess, Aliasdoll, S Bonnie, Margaret Sydofthesea, and Grouchy for your kind and thoughtful reviews! I hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint.
"Since when do you drink black coffee?" Alice rounded the breakfast nook in their little kitchen, watching her boyfriend nurse a green mug full of liquid steel. She made her way to the small table, cup of peppermint in one hand and a plate with a cranberry muffin in the other. She was still clothed in her pajamas; white lacy tank top and white and teal stripped pants. Her feet were bare against the hard wood floors. Her hair, tasseled from restless sleep, was pulled back in a tiny ponytail and her face shone slightly from the moisturizer on her skin.
He looked up at her and tried to smile, "You know how you meet people in your life and they change things about you and you don't realize that they've changed you until later?" He set the coffee mug down and opened his arms for her to nestle in. He still wore his jeans and t-shirt from early this morning, his cell phone tucked safely into his phone just in case.
She wore a puzzled expression on her face for a moment but sat down into his arms anyway, playing with his hairline, "I guess. Who's changed you, Hael?" Vaughn genially smiled upon hearing that name. Hael had originated from an observation that so many men named Michael were never called anything inventive. Through a period of trial and error and many, many bottles of wine, Hael became his nickname.
"Wife of a colleague. Her husband I were working on a project together and she gave me the dirtiest look when I went to put cream and sugar in my coffee. Tried it black and liked it." Vaughn smiled and kissed her cheek, enjoying how his arms felt around her thin frame. She was a different build than other girls he had dated. She was thin and tall, but not overly muscular. She didn't have the defined abs or arms of other girls…like Sydney. Honestly, he didn't know how he felt about this but decided it was better not to think about it.
Alice took this and nodded thoughtfully. "You're not going in today?" Her eyes starred down into his. Her hands traced the lines on his face and thoughtful outlined the worry lines on his forehead.
"I'm not going in today." His met hers. He took a slow inhale and sighed, "I might go to the hospital later on and see Iris."
"I'd like to come with you." She reached forward and kissed his brow line. "Moral support." She wrapped her warms around his neck, "Besides, babe, I'd like to meet this girl you've been spending so much time with."
Vaughn sighed, "Thank you, baby, but-but I think I need to do this on my own. Besides, I don't want to overwhelm her." He felt the emotions rush back to his face. The blush and heat that he feared started to show on his graying skin. He was just terrified of Alice pushing on this and insisting on coming. He didn't want to say no to her or push her away. But he would have to. He had to protect the two women in his life.
She smiled sadly upon hearing this, "You know I'm here for you if you need anything." She leaned down to look into his eyes. His eyes were so beautiful, glowing green. But still, there was a tiredness, a new type of fatigue that she had never seen before. It had started a few months ago. He was changing…he was more restless in his sleep. She worried about him as he tossed and turned. There were a lot more sleepless nights for her. She would lay there with him, trying to soothe his strangled sleep.
She leaned his and pressed her lips to his, feeling the growing intensity and love with each kiss. Maybe she could make him feel better. Her hands traced his jaw and settled at the base of his neck. She felt her hands roaming her torso, holding firmly her waist in his hands. She was tiny, there was no doubt in that, and his fingers almost touched each other. Their kissing grew more passionate and it was she who first pulled away, feeling slightly dizzy and warm. Her entire body was humming with electric passion that she only felt when she kissed him. "I love you." She managed to find her voice and press her forehead into his, waiting for a reply.
He played with a strand on her hair, tucking it behind her ear, "I love you more." He leaned in and captured her lips passionately once again. They continued to sit there for an unknown amount of time, both of them exploring the other with just their fingertips. It was a gentle type of touch that was special to them. There was no throw-down passion here. There was a mutual respect and an unforgiving love that bound them so tightly. It was obvious to anyone observing this couple that they were meant for each other. Well, obvious if they didn't know the outer circumstances.
She leaned back slightly, arching her back against him to try to get more comfortable. But the wooden table at the small of her back made things less than perfect. "Let's go somewhere else." She murmured against his lips before swinging up her body upright. Vaughn looked at her and followed suit, capturing her into his arms and carrying her like a princess to the living room. He walked through the powder blue doorway and to the white and navy toile couch, Alice's favorite place in the house and laid her down on it. He stood over her for a moment, surveying how beautiful she was. His heart was still heavy with the thought of Sydney doing so poorly but he needed to push her out of his mind. He needed to not think about her. And at this moment, he could think of no other way. He joined Alice on the couch, taking her once again into his arms and taking his lips to hers. He tried to enjoy the taste of her lips, the feel of her touch, and the sound of her moans and gasps. But something was off. He pulled away, garnering a confused look from Alice. "What is it, baby?"
He sighed and shook his head, "I…" He started, unable to meet her baby blue eyes. Those were the eyes that he loved and dreaded. Her eyes made him feel like a lesser man. Her eyes made him want to tell her the truth. About everything.
"What?" She asked again, realizing how close they were talking. She could taste his exhale.
"I love you. You know that, right? I would never do anything to hurt you."
"Of course, I do, sweetheart." She placed her hand on his face. "Why are you saying this?" She pulled back slightly and felt her forehead wrinkle in concern.
"I dunno….I mean…I guess…things are hard right now. Work and all." He lied again, feeling worse about himself by the moment. He sat up and buried his head in his hands.
"And the anniversary of your father's death is coming up. I know how you get around this time. Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm here. I'll always be here. You're just tired and stressed right now. And thinking too much. I know you too well. You're just thinking too much." Her touch tried to coach him back down to kiss her. Her fingertips reached up and drew lazy circles on his shoulder.
Before he could answer and refute his claim, his cell phone rang. The vibrating from his pocket stopped him in his tracks. He moved quickly, pulling it up to his ear, "Vaughn." His face paled as the other voice on other even answered. His green eyes grew wide and he looked away from Alice to conceal his emotions. "Call him and I'll meet you there in forty five." He hung up and just starred at his silver cell phone in his hand for a moment. His jaw was pulled tight and he was obviously worried.
Alice watched this tight-lipped exchange and was immediately concerned, "Baby? Baby, is everything okay?" She sat up onto her feet and placed one hand on his shoulder and another on his thigh.
He looked at her with absolute fear in his eyes. There was no masking it any more, "I love you so much." He whispered at last. He had changed in a course of a few seconds and Alice knew in her heart that something was going to change.
"I love you too." She whispered back, her voice barely audible.
"I need to go." He caressed the side of her face and looked as though he was going to break. He whispered softly and his voice began to crack.
"Okay." She whispered back, nodding her head.
And then he was gone….
HELPIMONTHEBRINKOFDESTRUCTION