But everybody knows,
Almost doesn't count,
So maybe I'll be here,
Maybe I'll see you around,
That's the way it goes,
Almost doesn't count- Brandy, Almost Doesn't Count.
Trina's POV
It was their last kiss, and it had to be good. Great, even. Because, although most of Trina's senses were occupied with Spencer, the tiny voice of logic in the back of her mind was telling her that this couldn't happen again. And she knew that it spoke the truth.
But for now, for the next few minutes, with Spencer's soft lips on hers and his subtle scent invading her senses, all she wanted to do was lose herself in this last kiss. He had moved between her parted legs, and she could feel him hardening against her thigh as his warm lips moved expertly against hers. Her skin was hot all over, blood searing in her veins as, with a thread of excitement running through her, she realized what she was doing to him. Turning him on to the point that he was aroused for her, that he wanted her… having that much power over him filled her with a heedless kind of boldness.
Her hand dropped into his thick, dark hair, and Trina moaned in his mouth as Spencer's hands moved down her lower back, fingers cupping her behind, squeezing, and pulling her even closer to him. His tongue slid against hers, purposefully and tantalizingly slowly, and she tried to copy what he was doing. Letting out a breathy sound as he captured and recaptured her lips, Spencer's grip on Trina tightened.
Her mind was fuzzy, almost like it had been after the first few sips of the hot pleasurable toddy at the cabin, but with a more pleasant thrill. Their kiss grew more heated, more feverish, one of Spencer's hands moving to grasp her hip, sinking his fingertips into the soft skin and making her gasp against his lips. The heat in her lower belly grew, filling her with longing and she tugged herself back before she did something she might regret. Trina always prided herself with having impeccable self-control, but she was quickly finding it being ripped to shreds in Spencer's presence. She wanted him, and she was scared of the enormity of her feelings for him, feelings that she tried to keep under wraps.
Spencer nipped her bottom lip softly as she pulled back, whispering, "I don't want to stop kissing you," his hot breath tickling against her lips and making her quiver.
"We need to stop."
Skimming his lips along her cheekbone and trailing little kisses over her jawline, Spencer murmured, "No, we don't." Trina's breath caught in her throat as his teeth grazed against her earlobe. He leaned back to look her in the eyes, his expression serious, even though his cheeks were flushed pink, and his eyes darkened with yearning. "For the first time, we don't need to stop. I'm not tied to anyone and neither are you. We can actually act on our feelings for each other. The timing- it's actually perfect."
Spencer leaned forward again, slanting his lips over hers in a soul-stirringly slow kiss that made a shiver of need roll down Trina's spine. The taste of his mouth was getting too familiar to her, sexy, comforting, and electrifying all at once. The thought slipped into her mind unbidden- she could get used to this. Trina broke off the kiss with regret.
"Spencer, the timing is awful!" Trina tried to sound reproachful, but her voice came out tender. Her hand was still combing through his hair, soft against her fingers. When she tried to pull away, suddenly realizing what she was doing, Spencer's fingers curled around her wrist, pressing her palm against his warm cheek. "You have a dinner that you're super late to. You need to go. And my date is picking me up soon, he can't find us like this."
He was still standing between her legs with almost no space between their bodies. One of his hands was between her hip and the curve of her waist, and his other hand reached up to caress her cheek. "Sure, he can. Because you're not going with him, right?"
"What?" Trina let out a shocked chuckle at the conviction in Spencer's voice, and he chewed on his bottom lip, giving her those puppy dog eyes that always melted her heart, no matter how mad or frustrated she was at him.
"Don't go with him." He took both of her hands in his strong ones, and Trina allowed herself a second to imagine those hands roaming her body. She swallowed hard as he continued, "Come with me."
Shaking her head as a smile played around her lips, Trina replied, "To your family dinner? I don't know if my presence will be appreciated there by anyone but Ava and you." She blew out a breath, trying to shuffle through her disorganized thoughts. "I really don't want to see Esme acting like you're still together."
"No. Esme and I are done. For good, and she knows that," Spencer said, emphasizing each word as he squeezed her hands. His eyes were honest as they pierced into hers. "I'm ready to change for you, Trina. I want to be the man you think I have the potential to be."
Trina sighed as Spencer rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. "Then let me go to the art show with David, Spencer." His face fell, disappointment clouding his features. Trina continued in a rush before he could interrupt and try to sway her again. "I'm leaving the country in a couple of days; this doesn't make a difference."
"What?"
She couldn't look at him, and stared down at their intertwined hands. "It's the only way. It has to be like this, can't you see?"
"No, I don't see. You're not making sense, Trina." A finger crooked under her chin, tilting her face up to look him in the eyes. "After we kissed- after what we just shared, don't you see how this opens up new possibilities? It makes all of the difference!"
Licking her lips uneasily, Trina told Spencer, "You have unfinished business to take care of here. When I'm gone, you can forget about me."
"I can't just forget you." Spencer gave a laugh that was devoid of any humor. A muscle twitched in his jaw as he looked down into Trina's upturned face. "That's not how this works."
Shrugging lightly, like it meant nothing to her, even though her heart felt like it was being torn out of her chest due to the hurt she saw painted on Spencer's face, Trina said, "You didn't know me a few months ago. And you can-."
"And now I do, Trina. I know you, and you know me." He sucked in a breath, shuffling his feet as Trina saw him visibly try to pull himself together. "Other people, they only see the part of me that looks like them. The manipulator, the selfish, spoiled brat, the poor little rich kid. You see the best me. Nobody else does. And I- I need you."
His voice cracked at the end of his plea, eyes looking into hers pleadingly. Trina steeled herself. She had to be strong. There was a reason she had decided to go to Paris, she needed to get away from Spencer and the spell he had woven around her. She needed to get some perspective, to keep a semblance of her dignity.
"No, you don't, Spencer. You need to make restitution to Ava. End things with Esme." He opened his mouth to protest, but she continued relentlessly, wagging a finger in his face. "Properly. Start mending your relationship with your father. Make better choices. That's all I can ask for you. That's what you need. Be the man I know you can be. Don't remain this boy forever."
Groaning, Spencer said, "I want you by my side when I do this. I know I need to grow as a person, but I want you to see me do it."
"Well, what did you expect to happen? We kiss, and I fall into your arms and completely forget about my semester abroad, my school credits? Come on, Spencer, let's be serious here."
A look of shock flickered in Spencer's eyes, and Trina sighed. Obviously, none of that had crossed his mind, he was too busy thinking about what he wanted.
Clearing his throat and staring sheepishly somewhere beyond her shoulder, Spencer said, "I-."
"You didn't think about that, did you? Was it the Spencer show again?" Trina's lips curved into a thin smile as Spencer winced like Trina had punched him in the stomach.
Slipping his hands out of hers, Spencer raised them in the air, palm up. His shirt rose, showing a strip of his toned stomach, and Trina felt her eyes drifting down, ogling him for a second as she wondered what kind of noises he would make if she touched him there… Her cheeks burned as she dragged her eyes back up to his face, just as he exclaimed, "We can make it work. I can borrow the Cassadine jet and come visit you on weekends or something." Trina bit back a laugh, trying to save Spencer's feelings. It was just so typical of him, throwing money and his family's resources at anything he saw as an obstacle in his way. "I just- I want you, Trina. You're the first person I've ever met who's captured my full attention without even trying. You like who I really am. That's never happened before."
"So, you'll hop on your family private jet whenever you want to visit me? Does that sound realistic to you?" Trina asked, sarcasm tinging her voice.
Spencer shrugged expressively, taking a couple of steps back. "For me, it is. I'm not going to spare anything to make sure you're happy."
He caressed her cheek, making her eyelashes flutter at his soft touch. No. She had to be strong.
"That's the thing, Spencer. I don't need material things to make me happy. I don't need- grand gestures and expensive gifts-," she started, looking up at him as she crossed her legs at the ankles.
He leaned in again, and her stomach did a slow, sensual barrel roll. He had a look in his dark eyes, one that told her he had every intention of taking another kiss.
"I know that." All of a sudden, he was in her personal space again, and they were breathing each others air, and Trina didn't want to go on her date with David, didn't want to leave Spencer's side. But she knew it was for the best. It was time to put Trina Robinson first. Ghosting his lips over hers, he murmured, "Let me learn your love language."
Trina's resolve melted immediately. "Oh, Spencer…"
They kissed again, a soft gentle thing that made Trina's stomach flutter and Spencer moan against her lips as his hands settled on her shoulders. One hand slipped up, fingers digging into her curls, scraping against her scalp, and pulling her ponytail loose, but Trina didn't mind, barely noticed. They were lost in each other, lost in the moment, and nobody else existed but them.
Both out of breath, they pulled apart, staring at each other like they were hypnotized. Spencer's tone was hopeful and hesitant as he said, "My grandmother got me a room at the Metro Court, so I can get away from the castle for a few nights. If you come over, after your art show since you just have to go, maybe we can talk some more?"
Fixing her dress and smoothing it down over her thighs, Trina opened her mouth, not even sure what to say.
However, they were interrupted by a bright, fake cheerful voice that was annoyingly familiar. "Well, well, well, isn't this cozy?" Spencer whirled around, his hair in disarray, to stare at the interloper who stood just inside the room, hand on her slim hip. Glancing first from Spencer to Trina, Esme's lips tightened as she continued, "Another stolen moment of passion between my boyfriend and the revenge porn video taker who leaked her best friend's intimate moments for the world to see. You just couldn't wait to get your paws on Spence as soon as he got out of Spring Ridge, could you, Treen?"
Her voice dripped with venom as she surveyed the scene before her, and Trina knew that they looked guilty as two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Trina's hair was half out of the ponytailed hairdo the hairstylist at the spa had given her, her lip gloss had been kissed off her lips, her dress was riding up her thighs. Spencer's hair was mussed up, his shirt was wrinkled, and Trina spotted a hint of her lip gloss also smeared on his lips.
But this was the last time she was going to let Esme call her Treen, or any variation of her name. Slipping off the edge of her desk, Trina yanked down her dress and faced Esme, her back straight.
"My name is actually Trina, and you know what? You're not welcome here, Esme. You need to leave."
Esme's eyes were narrowed as she whipped her ponytail over one shoulder. "I'll leave, alright, but I'm taking my boyfriend with me." She crooked her finger at him like she was beckoning a child, or maybe a pet. "Come on, Spence. We're all waiting for you at the Metro Court restaurant. I don't know what you're doing here with- this."
Her hands made an air silhouette of Trina in the air, exaggeratingly enhancing her curves, all with a snooty smirk on her face that Trina ached to wipe off. She took a step towards Esme, feeling a slow rage boil up in her body, but Spencer put his arm out to stop her in her tracks. He turned to Esme, eyeing her coolly.
"First of all, you don't get to talk to Trina that way. Ever." Trina did a double take at the stoniness and utter finality in Spencer's voice as he defended her, and she saw Esme shoot him a perplexed look as he continued talking. "Secondly, I'm not going anywhere with you, Esme. And lastly, I'm not your boyfriend."
He reached back and took Trina's hand in his as he said the last, and Esme's face worked with emotion as she looked at Trina and Spencer, standing side by side like a united front.
"Because you want Trina, the new object of your obsession now that you've decided I'm just something you can throw away now that you're tired of me? Isn't that what you were telling her before I walked in on you kissing?" Esme spat out the words, looking at Trina with loathing. "That you need her basic self? Like you needed me to help you with your stalking schemes, but now I'm disposable to you?"
Running her free hand over her face, Trina twisted away from Spencer and started straightening the papers on her desk. She knew she should feel guilt because Esme had witnessed them kissing, but she couldn't muster any up. Besides, Spencer had told her that he wasn't with Esme anymore, so what claim did she have on him, anyway?
As calmly as possible, Trina said, "Oh, brother. Can you take this pity party somewhere else? My date is on his way."
"Date? Who did you have to bribe to agree to take you out on a date?" Esme's top lip curled up in a contemptuous sneer, her eyes chips of ice as they flashed onto Trina. "He probably has a girlfriend, since taken guys seem to be your type."
The fury that always seemed to be close to the surface whenever Esme was around her simmered over, and Trina tossed her hair back, hearing her hair tie snap as her curls billowed out behind her. "Step out from the shadows and tell me that to my face."
"Here I am!" Esme stalked forward towards her, like a lioness on the prowl. Her voice was high, cycling through several registers as she snapped, "I mean, you've been actively trying to steal my boyfriend from under my nose for months! There's a whole lot I want to say to you, you homewrecker!"
Trina stepped forward to meet her, her hands clenched into fists by her side. Her father had taught her some self defence moves and she felt that she could take Esme. Maybe drag her by that tight ponytail a little bit. She felt a hard, grimacing smile grow on her face. Esme had no idea what she was getting into.
Just as she was about to step into Esme's face, strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she let out a breath in a shocked rush. Spencer turned her around, his face concerned as he looked into her eyes. "Trina, I've got this. I've got you," he whispered, chucking her under the chin and shooting her the sweetest smile she'd ever before turning to Esme. It was like watching Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the way Spencer switched from sweet, considerate and protective to cold, unflinching and relentless, and Trina felt a tingle. It was kind of hot. "Esme, enough! I'm not your boyfriend! Whatever twisted, toxic relationship we once had is long over." Esme's eyes widened in shock as she stood before him, wilting before the anger in his words. "Maybe we dragged it too long when we both knew it was done, but I've told you clearly that I no longer want you in my life!"
"So why did we make love the day before you went to Spring Ridge, if we've been over for months? Hmm?" Esme cocked her head to the side, her ponytail streaming over her shoulder, and Trina had to clamp down on an urge to find a pair of scissors and just cut it off. "Have you told your beloved Trina that you made love to me, your girlfriend, before you went to jail?"
The words stung Trina, even though she didn't let it show on her face. She wasn't sure what to think about Spencer's admission to having sex with Esme just over a month ago, even though it wasn't her business. But now Esme was rubbing her face in it, making it her business, and she felt a flash of strong loathing towards her.
Quietly, Spencer replied, "That was just sex, and you know it. Sex that you initiated and insisted on, even though I didn't want it."
"I insisted on it because you hadn't touched me in months! All you cared about was hanging out with your peasant friends, obsessing over your wonderful Trina!" She glowered at Trina, who was staring at Spencer. He hadn't touched her in months before their last time? Even when they had seemed like everything was perfect between them at the cabin? "I needed to feel like I meant something to you! But you – you treated me like a- like a pump and dump!"
Trina clamped a hand over her mouth, but her giggle was high and loud in the near silence. She couldn't stop herself. Not a pump and dump!
Indifferently, Spencer stepped back from Esme, placing a hand on Trina's shoulder. "Whatever, Esme. I have nothing else to say. And before you try to manipulate this situation as well, yes, I've already told Trina about it."
"Oh, really? What would this goody-goody know about any type of complicated romantic relationship? About the kind of bond you and I share? She probably hasn't talked to a guy apart from you and Cam in years!" She smirked at Trina, her face cold and watchful. "It's not my fault that men don't want you, Trina, but you shouldn't try to build up your confidence by stealing people's boyfriends."
Trina snickered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, like you're trying to build up your confidence by attempting to tear me down?" She shook her head, her smile not reaching her eyes. "It's not gonna work, Esme. Your little taunts, shady comments- they mean nothing to me. You're irrelevant to me, my family, and all my friends. And you're trespassing."
"Playing the victim card, are we? Typical. Stealing my boyfriend then threatening to have me kicked out of this stupid gallery like I even want to be here!"
Spencer rolled his eyes to the ceiling at Esme's dramatics. "She's not stealing anyone, Esme." He turned away from her, his eyes drawn to Trina. Over his shoulder he said, "Tell everyone I'll be there soon, like I told you on the phone."
"Spence! Are you trying to-?" Esme gasped, her face horrified.
Spinning around so fast that Trina felt the air sweep past her face, Spencer took several steps towards Esme, his back rigid. "I am talking to Trina! Can you leave so that I can talk to her? We're done, Esme!" He pointed to the exit sign above the door in an angry, stabbing motion. "Get out of here before I call security!"
"Spence, you cannot treat me like this over this- hussy! You've known her for a few months only, we've known each other for ages!" Esme's eyes were filled with tears as she ranted to a stoic Spencer, who stood staring at her, his face devoid of expression. "I was your first! You are not going to throw away what we have over Trina Robinson!"
In a voice of chilling emptiness, Spencer told her, "We have nothing, Esme. Don't you get it? I don't care how long I've known Trina, I don't care if you were my first." He stepped back towards Trina and put a warm arm around her waist. Trina couldn't stop herself from leaning into his side, his scent enveloped around her. "Trina and I have something special, and I want to pursue it."
He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and she could feel him breathing her in.
Esme watched this tender display, her whole body trembling. Trina looked down and saw her hands were clenched into fists so tight, her knuckles were ghost white. "You'll be sorry." She marked them both with her eyes before turning on her heels. Her parting words as she stomped out of the room were, "You all will."
"I've never seen you talk to her like that before," Trina said, turning to Spencer. She felt like she had been in a 12-round boxing match, shaken and run down. Any confrontation with Esme always left her with low energy, but that was expected to happen, dealing with an energy vampire.
Running a hand through his hair, Spencer sighed. "I can't even stand to look at her, knowing that she recorded Joss and Cam, knowing that she's trying to blame you for leaking the footage, even though you were with me in the cemetery when the video went out." His voice softened, as did his gaze as he looked at her. "At my mother's gravesite."
"She can say what she wants, there's nothing linking me to any of that."
After all, she had barely been conscious after drinking one hot toddy at the cabin. The idea that she could have mustered up the energy to even come up with such an evil plan let alone put it into action was laughable.
Spencer smiled at her and something light and good sparked in her chest. "I know. You wouldn't do something like that."
"Was she telling the truth?" Spencer raised his eyebrows in a questioning way and Trina forced herself to continue. It wasn't her business, but she had to know. "You two haven't been- together for a while before you had sex the day before-?"
Spencer nodded. "Yeah. I- I couldn't be intimate with her without wishing it was you and feeling guilty that it wasn't." A tiny, slightly embarrassed grin quirked on his lips. "You've been messing with my mind since day one, musa mea."
"I think- oh." A text alert made her phone vibrate, and Trina glanced down to see an 'I'm HERE!' text from David. A pang of regret zipped through her. "My date is here."
Swallowing hard, Spencer put his hand on her shoulder, his eyes desperate, pleading. Trina could hardly stand to look at him as he urgently murmured, "Cancel it. We can go to the Metro Court together. The park. Even the beach you never got to show me. Don't go with him."
"Maybe we can revisit this when I come back, if you feel the same way."
Trina's eyes smarted with unshed tears, and she blinked them back. This was the right thing to do. So why did she feel so miserable, like she was losing something she never even had?
Spencer rested his forehead against hers for a few seconds, his breath tickling her nose. "Of course, I'll still feel the same way. I'll wait for as long as you need me to."
He stepped back, just as footsteps sounded in the hallway. A tall, tan skinned guy poked his head into the doorway. He whistled, glancing around at the art framed on the walls.
"So, this is where you work? Nice!" David exclaimed, eyes roving from painting to painting in that hungry way that had first intrigued her when she met him in class at PCU.
Nodding, Trina said, "Yeah. Hi, David. I'm just locking up." She glanced at Spencer, who had jammed his hands in his pants pockets and was staring at David, a petulant look on his face. He looked like someone had just stolen his favorite toy. "Spencer, this is David."
David shot Spencer a winning smile. "Hey, man, nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too," Spencer said coolly. Trina elbowed him and mouthed "be nice," when he looked at her, but David didn't notice a thing.
Cheerfully, he asked, "You don't go to our school, do you? How do you and Trina know each other?"
"My stepmother owns this gallery." Spencer's mouth snapped shut, and Trina sighed. They all needed to get out of there before Spencer succumbed to his jealousy and did something reckless.
Nodding, David said, "Oh, dope! I wish I had time to look around, but I was held up at school." He looked at Trina. "We should probably get going."
"Sure, I'll just finish locking up. Spencer…" He looked at her at the sound of his name, and she bit back a sigh. Why was this so hard? "I'll see you around?"
Reaching out, Spencer took one of her hands in his, squeezed it once, and let go. "I'll be at the Metro Court, Trina, if you change your mind." His eyes met hers once more, and Trina trembled at the love she saw in his gaze. "But if you don't, then, I guess this is goodbye."
"Bye, Spencer," Trina whispered. Her voice was too choked up to say anything else.
Spencer walked past David, turning to look back as he drew level with him. "Enjoy your date." He nodded to David, then pointed to Trina. "You should tell her that she looks beautiful."
And then he was gone as Trina shifted from one foot to another. Had she done the right thing by letting Spencer leave? By going on the date with David? Hell, was she doing the right thing by going to Paris? She didn't know. But one thing was for certain, an encounter with Spencer Cassadine was never boring, and this one had been one for the books.
Author's Note- This story could have been a one-shot 😂😂😂 In fact, it was supposed to be a one-shot, but the ideas kept coming! And this was supposed to be the last chapter but it ended more ambiguously than I had planned, so I've decided to add four more chapters! I'm having lots of fun writing this, and thank you all for reading and reviewing and supporting! More soon!