A/N: Probably not the hottest thing I've ever written. I'll be responding back to feedback in a little bit.
Limes With Lipstick
Chapter Nine: Quiet Things
The restaurant was packed, as one might suspect of any found treasure. The place was a hole in the wall, which had been a pleasure to discover. It seemed like a place that most people would easily look right past from the outside.
That or maybe he was just good at dating. She shook her head at her own thoughts, allowing him to scoot her chair in for her. He unbuttoned the middle of his suit jacket and sat down. There was a pleased grin upon his face, like a tiger licking its lips before a meal. He finally had her, candles, and silverware. Though frankly, the best part about their alone time was that Jared wasn't around to end it short.
"I have a feeling this place is about to serve me some really great food." The assistant picked up the menu in front of her and gazed down at the translated descriptions of French dishes. "I haven't been to a real restaurant like this in forever."
"I'm sure you've realized this, but I thought that I should mention that tonight is my treat."
"I won't fight you on that." Their eyes lingered on one another, her face growing serious, "Don't expect me to order a salad."
"That's all good and fine, sweet girl. Just don't chastise me for ordering too much wine."
This made her a little nervous. "So, you enjoy drinking, then?"
"When I'm allowed to drink, yes." He winked at her, "But don't you worry, I'm a big boy. Wine doesn't have much of an effect on me. I've obviously just trying to show off."
When the waiter stopped at their table, she was able to see what he meant by 'showing off'. He placed his order in what sounded like perfect French. There was a separate menu for wine and it seemed as though both men were deliberating over the best choice. When it had finally come time to say what she wanted to order, she had trouble speaking.
"He speaks English, my darling. There's no need to feel shy."
The waiter nodded at her reassuringly, "What will you be having this evening?"
She had given her order, but it didn't stop her from feeling inadequate. Mr. Bilingual was all sorts of smug, as he stared at her. Hopefully he wouldn't ask her if she had any hidden talents, since the answer would be a negative.
"I want to hear about this crazy weekend." He gestured with a finger at the cut on her face. She had removed the bandage earlier, now it was just a thin gash beneath her eye.
"Well, I decided to go hiking for the first time, tripped, lost my heels, including the keys to the car. We had to trudge through a storm. I got sick. There was no cell reception, until we found a bar off the highway, which yes, it was as shady as it sounds."
"You and Jared?"
She closed her mouth, "Mhm."
Why did it feel like she was in trouble whenever she mentioned his name? Hell, vice versa. Jai's name to Jared was just as offensive.
"But is there a 'you and Jared'?"
"I wonder if this place has one of those coloring mats." She searched around for one, thrown off by his blunt question. It wasn't totally unexpected, just too soon in her opinion. If she could prolong that question, until the point of never, then that would have been a good choice. In the world of her and Jared, there was nothing tangible to speak of – nothing real.
A fresh basket of bread arrived, along with their wine. She motioned for the waiter to keep pouring, until her glass was filled to the top, and took a large sip. The swish and puffing on her cheeks revealed her actual experience with the pungent liquid.
He tilted his head at her, eyes sparkling mischievously, "It looks like you've already provided me with the answer by avoiding it."
"I like him. He doesn't like me." She looked away from him, exposing her otherwise hushed feelings. This wasn't the time for sad conversations. "Something like that."
"I don't see how that's possible. You're stunning."
"Thank you."
"It's refreshing when a woman says 'thank you', instead of no…" He leaned in, as if ready to tell her a secret. "I've liked you, since the moment I saw you. You stood out. So much so, that I kept thinking about you and those thoughts invaded my dreams. You're natural to me, as normal as breathing. I don't want to escape it."
"Jai," She said, feeling her breath hitch in her throat. There were no words for his confession. There was nothing that she could promise him.
"It's alright with me if you like someone else, but if he won't have you, know that I will." He took her hand from the table and held it softly within his own, like it was something precious. "This dinner was not meant to persuade you. There are no hidden intentions, though I'd be lying if I said that I didn't already know of your feelings for Jared. A part of me just wanted to hear you say it."
"I…" Her eyes closed for a moment, willing herself to find something, anything to say in return.
"Enough of this dismal chatter, 'ey." And with that, he was able to change the tide of the evening. He'd gone back to being a friend, pulling out bouts of laughter and honesty from her, things she'd never thought she'd tell another living soul.
"When I was in eighth grade, there was a class camping trip at Crystal River. It was notorious for being haunted. So, Gee and I decided to play a prank on the other girls sharing our cabin. I try and forget it, but uhm…" She shook her at him, "It's impossible. We prerecorded our voices and had it playing back, screaming, and begging for help. One girl ended up peeing herself and I've really regretted the effort ever since."
"You made a girl piss herself. Well done."
"Where is my slow clap?" She deadpanned. "I still feel bad about it. I tried apologizing to her so many times and each time was a nightmare."
"Gee is your best friend, I take it?"
"She's the Clark to my Jai."
He laughed, "Clark is one of a kind."
"So is Gee. She's the opposing force that I need in my life. I need to take care of her and at the same time, I need her to take care of me. She's a wild child and I'm mellow for the most part. She's out experiencing life, meanwhile I'm here."
"Because this is considerably less risky."
"Considerably. Yes."
Their dinner plates were cleared and the actor paid for the bill without any fuss from her. Clark was outside, doing something on what appeared to be a handheld gaming device. He sensed their presence and tucked it away, opening the door for them.
They talked on the way back to the venue, agreeing and disagreeing, learning each other like a chapter in a book. She stepped out of the car after him, taking Jai's hand when he held it out to her. He swung their closed fingers back and forth playfully.
She was beginning to like that part of him.
Jai Courtney was intriguing, if nothing else.
It was a beautiful evening, ideal for late dinner plans, and other trysts. The moon was out. The air was cool, but not freezing. Jared was pissed, nothing out of the ordinary. Ever since this woman entered his life, he'd found himself in an everlasting state of anger. He felt general disgust towards his behavior, as it wasn't idyllic for him or others in his company.
The more irate he was, the kinder he tried to be, but it wasn't working. It was late and he was outside her trailer, his knee going anxiously, as he waited. It was taking awhile for her to return, leaving him with a handful of drawn conclusions.
What if she went back with Jai or they decided to make use of the car? In his experience, fucking a girl in a tight, enclosed space was appealing in various ways. He'd exploited the scenario plenty of times, although he couldn't imagine his assistant there, pressed into the backseat with her wrists tied to the grab handle.
"Fuck…" He cursed under his breath, finding it difficult to wipe his mind after visualizing it so damn clearly. The other night, having her beneath him, and stopping himself – stopping the act of making her his, and making it real. The flame he felt in his veins would have been sated, as it had finally consumed him whole.
He had to hold himself back from texting her, demanding to know where she was, so that he could have some peace of mind. He should have stopped her from going when he had the chance. What right did he have though?
Her laughter, vibrant and loud, colored his ears, and echoed throughout the lot. She wasn't alone, but at least she was back. He stepped out into the open, watching the two shadows grow closer beneath the pale light.
"Now is the part where we say things about the evening, like, oh, it was amazing. I had so much fun," Jared heard her say, as they neared. "It was dazzling, Jai. Simply dazzling."
"You meant to say that it was better than you expected," Jai said, as he turned towards her. His hand firmly clasped in hers stopped her from walking on ahead, as he pulled her backwards to stand in front of him.
She stared up into his eyes, dreading this moment. He made her nervous of what he might do and that, perhaps, she might let him do it.
"Should I make it even better?" He asked, voice only but a whisper, as he leaned down. He had every intention of kissing her.
Jared's hands curled into fists, as he stepped out. The two separated at the sound of someone approaching, although Jai remained glued to her. "Are you two back already? I was just on my way out."
Jared's pride wouldn't allow him to tell the truth, to say that he'd waited the entire night for her. The look on the other actor's face wouldn't allow him to admit to such things. He had to remain indifferent, if at all possible. And was that nearly their first kiss or had other kisses happened before then?
Jared watched her shift uncomfortably, the tone of her voice wavering, as she managed, "I should go."
A part of him wanted to be the child he knew he was being and agree with her. Go home and lock your doors, because he has to slay the beast.
"Alright, my darling," Jai murmured, allowing her to slip free from his fingers. There was Jared Leto, forcing him to end things short, again.
After the assistant was gone, the two actors stood there, measuring, and quietly seething. It seemed like acting at its finest, as their expressions defied the hatred that they so clearly felt towards one another.
"Look, I like you," Jai started, "I respect you as a fellow actor."
"We're competitors though, aren't we? And that means that there is no room for respect and there's no real point in pretending to hold any respect for me, but I'll be kind enough to be direct." Jared stepped closer to the taller man, his hands in his pockets. "I can't stand you. I can't stand that you're sniffing around where you shouldn't be, pursuing a woman that I will never let you have, because she's mine."
"She won't wait forever, mate. That must be why she'll end up with me. I'm ready for her." Jai turned away with a smirk, laughing it off, or else he'd find himself heated, or worse. "Making claims on a woman, saying that she's yours behind her back, how cowardly."
Jared remained there, even after Jai was out gone, listening to the leaves shifting in the wind. He'd never realized it before, but there were parts of him that were dead, broken pieces that remained unfixed. It was a comfortable pain, he decided. There was no need to bother with the glass of time or memory.
The whole heart didn't need to function, was what he had always thought. He didn't have to love or care about anything, which was what he learned from his father. He watched a man become depraved of what the heart really needed, and perhaps Jared didn't need it, either.
Keep busy, always keep busy.
He rubbed at his face and walked the short distance to his assistant's trailer. Because he had words for her, not the sweet little nothings that he'd never bother saying anyway, but his anger had to be settled, and she was the prettiest outlet within his proximity. He found her outside, sitting on the step where he had waited for her earlier. Her head was in her hands and he watched as her shoulders trembled with tears.
Silence her, keep her busy, and always keep busy.
"You would have kissed him." It was both a statement and an acknowledgment. She would have shared her breath and warmth with another person. What else would she have given or had given him tonight?
Like a coward, he couldn't even ask her.
She lifted her head up at him and he wasn't quite prepared for what he saw there, as he swallowed at the knot trapped in his throat. Her nose was red and her lips were swollen. Soft bangs clung to the wet tears on the tops of her cheeks and she was beautiful to him, absolutely stunning.
"That's all that you can say to me?"
His jaw clenched visibly, as he nodded short. There was so much built up inside of him, he didn't know what to expect should he open his mouth again.
She stood up on the bottom step, becoming eyelevel with him. Her small body shook, as she battled her own bouts of emotion. The raw hurt in her eyes then could burn holes through his skin. The tension bled out between them, an invisible pull that slowly reeled them in, until neither one could take it anymore. Who initiated the kiss was inconsequential, since it was crucial and instinctual.
He buried his fingers in her hair, holding her firmly against his mouth. The taste of her was like honey, absolutely sinful. The door to the trailer was wrenched open, as they made their way inside, fingers skimming over buttons and zippers. Her blue gown fell to the floor in a whisper and she shivered at the feel of his cold hands roaming over the sides of her body.
The actor suppressed a groan, when she reached her hand beneath his jeans, and felt her squeeze him firmly within her palm. He stumbled into the counter behind him, falling beneath the pressure of her touch. He gripped the edge of its surface with one hand, as the other remained at the back of her neck, keeping her close to him. Their breaths formed as one, coming out ragged, as she started a rhythm.
It was slow – he could feel the rock of her hips incessantly moving against him. She leaned up on her toes to kiss at the side of his neck. The muscles in his lower abdomen tensed, as she lightly brushed her lips across his skin, before nipping at him sharply. He inhaled through his nose, as his hips moved forward to press his cock into her hand for better friction.
He needed her to go faster, harder – more.
He was quite large and thick, the thought of him filling her up caused her to clench tightly. Her body felt like warm liquid, melting at the center of her core. But she couldn't stop her assault, not with the sounds he was making, or the way he pressed into her with urgency. Teasing him was stimulating all on its own and he deserved every bit of it.
"I won't be kind to you," she said, grazing the words across his skin with her teeth.
"Nor should you be…fuck…"
She traced from his neck to his collarbone and she would have loved to take great care in not leaving marks, but she didn't. The same, angry welts of her mouth stood out against his pale skin. He was a beautiful, quaking mess as a result, while the wet heat of her tongue and lips trailed down below his navel. She bent her knees to the floor and pulled him out from his pants.
His blue eyes flashed hotly at her, watching as she closed her mouth around him, taking him in deep. She trailed the point of her tongue along the slit of his cock, tasting his arousal.
"Fuh…" He closed his eyes and tilted his head back in bliss. Her hand that was steadied on his hipbone moved over his ass for a firm grip. The bite of her nails added to the pleasure he was already feeling, as he thrust forward between her reddened lips.
She twisted her wrist in an expert motion, swirling her tongue around the head of his cock, slurping at the excess saliva, making it wet, and sloppy. The sounds echoed in the room, mingled with his guttural moans, and her short gasps.
He brought his fingers to her scalp, holding her hair tightly by the roots. She allowed him to guide her as deeply as he desired, gaining a rhythm that suited him. He didn't stop, until he came hard in a stream of shuddering and curses. His chest heaved for a full intake of air, muscles twitching, as the clarity of events started to return. She kept him still in her hand, swallowing what he had to offer, and cleaning up the rest with the lapping of her tongue.
It happened so quickly, he actually felt embarrassed and overwhelmed by it. Before tonight, did he ever think his assistant was capable of spontaneously sucking him off? No.
She stepped into the circle of her dress, unable to look at him then, as she pulled her hands through the sleeves, and zipped herself up. She would feel a lot safer with her clothes back on, especially with the dark look he was fixing on her at the moment. She opened the door to the small bathroom to rinse out her mouth and clean off the dark makeup that had run from its place under her eyes.
When she returned to the room, he was fully clothed, not that much had been removed in the process. What she wanted was quick and satisfying in the moment, to win over Jared Leto, to make him jealous and vulnerable for the evening. The opportunity to be truthful was there and still present, yet she didn't say a word. She didn't bother to fix her mistakes. The deeper you fall, the harder it was to climb.
Jared was making her world tilt and break.
And she wanted more of it, carefully in doses, because Jared was the type who would fuck you and leave you there to rot out with cravings. But she didn't want to be a victim. She wanted to be something more, somehow. That was the apprehension she felt…
"I want to kiss you."
He peered over at her, "Then come here and kiss me."
"I can't," she said, as she leaned her back against the door behind her. It was a bad idea, like a wreck you wouldn't be able to stop once it was in motion. She shook her head when he took a step towards her, "Don't… please…"
"You're afraid of me, even after you just…" There was no real delicate way to put it, so he stopped speaking altogether.
"I'm sorry."
He licked his lips out of habit, deciding to advance anyway, because he was sick of the distance between them. He was tired of watching Jai move in, while he stayed still.
He slid his hands beneath her ears, stroking the sides of her face soothingly, before drawing her to his mouth. She parted her lips against the pressure of his tongue, moaning softly when it delved in deeply over her own. The slow drag of their kiss warmed her through, as it felt meticulous, and personal.
Her eyes remained closed, even after he pulled away. "What was that for…"
"I wanted to kiss you. Next time you feel the urge, you should act accordingly." He brought her against him, arms wound around her shoulders with her head against his chest. "Will you ask me to leave now? What if I promise to behave and keep my hands and lips at a reasonable distance?"
She laughed, "Define reasonable?"
He lowered his hands to her backside, teasing her. She stared up into his eyes, "You can sleep on the couch."
"I accept."
"Good," she murmured, as her eyes dropped to his lips.
She wanted to kiss him again, but she resisted, hopefully in a way that wasn't too obvious.
Throughout her entire life, she couldn't remember wanting someone so selfishly.
Maybe that was the most terrifying part about falling.
TBC
