Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Really appreciate it. Not many chapters left now……

She felt him everywhere. His fingers held her hips loosely, holding her captive as his body leaned into hers. Her back rested against his chest, letting him control their movements. Closing her eyes she let him manipulate her body, enjoying the way his body brushed erotically against her own. She could feel his breath tickling her neck, teasing her with his closeness.

She fit him so perfectly, they moved as one. He wanted to kiss the hair away from her nape and breathe her in. Instead he slid his hands slowly up her arms, enjoying the feel of her soft skin. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn't help but revel in the feel of her.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but she felt her inhibitions desert her. She slowly raised her arms up into the air, luxuriating in the feel of his hands following her movements, caressing her limbs. She pressed back, grinding her buttocks into his groin. He loosened his hold on her arms, stroking back down her body until he reached her hips, gripping them tightly he rotated his hips forwards. Lazily she slid her arm up behind her, snaring his neck and forcing his head lower to make contact with her neck. His lips grazed her skin, she shuddered.

"I think this is where I cut in," rasped a voice in her ear.

Momentarily surprised, Neela tried to disentangle herself out of Ray's arms.

Mentally refusing to release her, Ray held her firmly by the arm, "Hey man what's your problem."

"My problem is you're man handling my date," he said angrily,

"Haven't you got it through your thick skull, she's not your date!" he sneered, stepping forward aggressively.

"Stop it, both of you." Neela shouted, ignoring the curious stares they were attracting.

"Ray, let go of me."

Looking at her in disbelief, he instantly released her.

Turning to Gates she said coldly, "what do you want Tony?"

Smiling cynically he replied, "I want to talk to you, you are still my date right? My 'friendship' date, if I remember correctly. Or did you come here with me just to kiss and make up with lover boy?"

Feeling herself redden at his accurate assumption, she swiftly replied, "Fine, let's go outside."

Quickly slipping on her heels, she began to follow him. Ray grabbed her arm, forcing her to meet his gaze. The anger was evident in his face, "you aren't seriously going to go outside with him."

"I need to hear what he has to say," she snapped.

"So you're going to let him sweet talk you into believing his lies!" he fired back, releasing her arm furiously.

"Ray you've got to trust me, I'll be right back," she said calmly.

"Well I'm coming with you," he commanded, pushing past her in the direction of Gates' retreating back.

Holding him back she said urgently, "No Ray, I need to do this alone."

"Yeah well, I might not be here by the time you return," he said heatedly.

She glared at him, "you can't be serious? I don't want to argue with you Ray, but this is something I have to do," she paused, her temper dissipating at the confusion in his eyes, "but I want you to be here when I come back."

He looked at his feet.

"Trust me!" she said urgently

He had to trust her, she wouldn't leave him a second time?

Looking up, he met her gaze and smiled sadly, "if you're not back in 20 minutes I'm coming to get you, even if it means dragging you by your hair."

Smiling gratefully, she hurried out the room.

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Walking out the apartment block Neela saw Gates leaning against his car, arms crossed, with a sly grin on his face.

"Knew you'd see the light eventually," he smirked. Opening the passenger door he gestured to the car," jump in, we can talk when we get back to my place."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, I only came out here to ask you one question," she said coldly.

"Ahh, intriguing," he said, letting the door slam shut before turning to face her. "Now let me guess, could this question have anything to do with a conversation I had earlier with Barnett?"

"Why did you tell Ray that you were my boyfriend?" she demanded, hands on hips.

Looking horror stricken, he replied, "I never said that, why would I lie to him?"

Confused she said, "so you didn't say that?"

The sides of his lips lifted into a grin, "Nah, I did." He started to walk towards her.

"Why would you say that to him?" she asked incredulously.

Closing the gap between them, he ran a hand slowly down her arm. She flinched. Grinning, he replied, "he was an obstacle that needed removing."

Taking a step back she glared at him, "I was trying to help you out, you didn't know anyone and this is how you repay me? You took advantage of me," she said angrily.

Pulling her towards him, Gates seized her face, and quietly said, "Barnett was becoming problematic, he was always hanging around like a bad smell, never saying anything but always making his presence known." his lips hovered over hers," don't you see? We would never have had a chance with him still in the picture?"

She tried to struggle out of his grasp, but his other hand gripped her waist tightly.

"There never was a 'we' Tony," she replied frostily.

Staring into her glacier eyes, he smiled grimly, "maybe this will help change your mind."

Closing the gap between them, he clumsily forced his mouth over hers. Pushing him back, she managed to free one hand and slapped him vehemently on the cheek. Releasing her abruptly she stumbled back. Gates brought his hand to his face; rubbing it gingerly, he smirked.

"Now that's not very ladylike."

She turned on her heels, furiously retorting, "well you're no gentleman."

Blocking her path he growled, "I haven't finished yet." He leaned in towards her, menacingly. She tried to pull back, but his hands were now on both sides of her face, holding her firmly in place. She clamped her lips shut, evading his seeking mouth. Angered by her resistance he pulled back for a moment, eyes blazing.

Glaring back at him, she laughed cruelly in his face, "that's what I'm missing?"

Seething, he pulled her back to him, taking advantage of her partially opened lips to brutally invade her mouth with his tongue. He smiled against her. Shaken, but determined to remain calm, she relaxed in his arms.

Feeling her body slacken, he loosened his hold on her, mumbling "vixen," over her open mouth.

Suddenly, she bit down hard, tasting his blood.

He shoved her away from him, yelling, "bitch!" as she slipped and fell painfully on the pavement. Recovering from her fall, she scrambled to her feet and started to run.

Wiping his hand over his mouth he scowled. Seeing the blood, he laughed harshly.

"Now the fun really begins."

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OK , I think it might be a bit cheesy, but hey it's a Reela fic and we need some melodrama every now and again right?

Tell me what you think – but be kind.