"Last chance Alex. Are you sure you want to do this? We can always call it off if you're uncomfortable. We'll figure something else out," Bobby murmured into Alex's ear as he walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning over her shoulder.
"I'll be fine Bobby. We can get through this," Alex said quietly, trying to relax at his touch. She knew he had felt her stiffen at first, and she needed to get a grip on things. All she wanted to do was melt into his arms, but she couldn't be too free with herself. If this came too naturally, he'd know she wanted this.
And what happens if he knows I want this? I scare him away? Probably. He wouldn't be comfortable working with me if he knew that I felt the way I do; he's too much of a gentleman. So I'll just act. Which is what I'm supposed to be doing anyways. So I'll be pretending to be pretending to be in love with him? Good plan Eames. Ugh… this is way too complicated.
Bobby felt her stiffen as he leaned into her and almost pulled away immediately, he never wanted to make her uneasy.
Clearly, she can't stand being touched by me… but what am I supposed to do?! She refuses to back out, and if we're going to do this… well this is just how it's gonna be I guess. Tough it out, just try not to let her know you want this. Then she'd leave… and then what? She can't leave. I need her. So get through this Bobby. Because you don't want this. You can't want this. It's not worth losing her.
Bobby eased his way around Alex, taking a place beside her and shortening his strides so that she could keep up. Gently, removed his hand from around her shoulder and trailed his fingers down her arm. Aiming for a casual movement, he laced her fingers through his own, marveling at the warmth that traveled from his palm up his arm and toward his heart.
Goren, this is pathetic. Only middle school boys get turned on by holding someone's hand. And you're certainly not a middle school boy. Even if she makes you feel like one sometimes.
Arriving at the baggage claim, they glanced around and found the location that their bags should be found. The rotating belt had just started and pieces of baggage were starting to emerge from the mysterious hole in the wall.
"Well Bobby, looks like we've got some time to kill. Let's do this," Alex said quietly as she looked up to find Bobby studying her intently. She was amazed at how confident she sounded when she was anything but.
He untangled his hand from hers and turned to face her, replacing his large palm on her hip and bringing his left hand to do the same. He slowly walked towards her, forcing her to back up until she felt the solid mass of a pillar against her back, their eyes never parting. Suddenly, Alex was intimidated and just a little afraid. This man could break her in two with minimal effort, and his sheer mass was enough to let Alex know that he could do anything and everything he wanted to and she'd have no power to stop him. The prospect alone was both intoxicating and terrifying.
Feeling her begin to tremble under his touch, he leaned in and pleaded with his eyes. See me Alex. It's still Bobby. I'm still here. We're just acting. You can be as disgusted with me as you wish, but know that it's still me. I'll never let anyone hurt you. And I'll never hurt you. Just trust me and we can get through this.
Alex visibly relaxed and began to feel her muscles release some of the tension that had been accumulating over the past few days. With the stress of the case, the growing desire for contact with Bobby, and the idea that she'd have to harness that desire and 'pretend' to want him was more than she could handle mentally and it had begun to show. Finally confronting the situation head on, she was able to relax a little bit and play the part. She removed her arms from where they had gone rigid at her sides and placed them on Bobby's abs, trailing them up his sides and pausing at his pecks- allowing her fingers to dance along his collar bone before reaching up and placing both hands on his shoulders, encouraging him to lean in closer.
Bobby took this chance and leaned in, placing his forearm on the pillar above Alex's head to brace himself, he wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Bobby leaned in and softly planted kisses along her neck, delighting in the taste of her as he pulled his hand up to run his fingers through her hair. Alex felt her knees go weak and threaten to give way.
THIS?? This is Bobby Goren PRETENDING?! I think, that if he wasn't just doing this for show, I'd die. Right here. Just fall over and die. Because it'd be too much. Now support yourself. Going weak in the knees is not a good way to say: "I'm really not interested and have never thought of you as more than a partner." And I really don't want him to know that "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers has been playing in a continuous cycle in my head for a good 4 days now. It's just not the image that I want to be giving out.
Feeling her begin to tremble again, Bobby pulled away slightly and replaced his arm at her waist, gently supporting her as he withdrew to study her face. Surprisingly enough, the face that she wore was not one full of disgust or horror or contempt… it was… guarded? He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to hers so that he could whisper in her ear.
"Alex. Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Do you want me to stop? Just tell me… please."
"No. Bobby you're fine, I'm just a little… I'm fine. I just needed a minute. I'm good. Really."
Bobby pulled back to study her one more time, staring into her eyes. For all of his legendary profiling skills, he could never understand her. He never knew what she was thinking unless she wanted him to… but when she wanted him to, it was as if they were one. He knew what she thought and how she felt, what she wanted and how to play off of her actions. Alex please let me in! Bobby pleaded with his eyes, cupping her face in his hands and leaning forward to kiss her forehead, then softly grazing both of her eyelids. He could feel her breathing quicken and watched carefully as her lips parted, eyes still closed. Bobby closed his eyes and leaned forward, feeling their warm breath mixing and interchanging between their mouths. He could feel her hands tightening their hold around his shoulders and he pulled her body more fully into his own, enjoying the increased amount of contact. Leaning his head slightly further in, he was so close he could taste her. She could taste him.
Suddenly Alex's eyes darted open and she glanced around the room. "Bobby…" she breathed, barely making a sound. She tried again. "Bobby. Bobby look around."
Bobby frowned as he looked up from Alex to observe his surroundings. You know, she really could be making this easier. The luggage belt had stopped moving and at the side of the room sat their bags. Most of the group from LA had cleared out and Bobby could see them through the windows at the curbside, catching cabs or loading their luggage into cars. Only a few stragglers were left, Alex and Bobby included. Quickly, the stares of their fellow travelers diverted elsewhere but it was clear that they had been observing the contact between the two. Mission accomplished? Well they'd certainly received attention, but Bobby still felt like something was left undone, unfinished.
Alex studied Bobby as he almost regretfully pulled away, and with one last look grabbed her hand playfully and pulled her across the room. Picking up their bags, he quickly kissed her on the cheek and grinned as they proceeded through the automatic doors and into the crisp night.
Across the street, a man threw his cold cup of coffee into a trash bin and pulled his keys out of his pocket. Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the ignition and pulled out onto the street, smoothly performing a U-turn and falling in line behind a cab. The cab that had just picked up his next prospects.