Brandon and Stella 46: Argument leading to kissing/sex

Brandon didn't usually have a problem with Stella's flirty nature, he was the same way. In fact, whenever they went out – to a party, a club or any of the number of events that Red Fountain or Alfea hosted – they'd have contests to see who could collect the most phone numbers (and it was always collect, they were strictly forbidden from giving out their numbers out of respect for one another). This time, though, Stella's target had stuck around far too long for Brandon's liking.

Stella entertained the boy's lingering, continuing to twirl her hair and bat her eyes at him like she hadn't already collected his number. Brandon wasn't blind, he could tell Stella was attracted to the tall, dark-haired boy beside her at the bar. And, of course, she would be, he looked like a knock off version of Brandon with his dark eyes, broad shoulders and square jaw.

The combination of alcohol, pulsating music and couples making out in dark corners or on the dance floor must have done something to him, he tried to reason. This was Stella; he knew her heart was his. He should trust her. He did trust her.

Until he saw her lay her hand on the asshole's shoulder as she laughed – genuinely laughed, not that fake flirty giggle she usually used – and he snapped. He plowed through the bodies on the dance floor that separated him from his girlfriend, ignoring the complaints and insults of the people he shoved aside.

"What the fuck, man?" someone shouted at him, but it was a mere buzz to Brandon now.

As he neared the bar, he saw that the guy has placed his hand on Stella's knee. Brandon didn't register that Stella had tensed up and was asking the man to remove his hand, all Brandon could see was red. He wanted to punch the guy, teach him that it wasn't cool to flirt with someone's girlfriend (did it matter to Brandon that the guy didn't even know Stella was in a relationship? No).

He managed to calm himself enough to not knock the guy's lights out just before he got to them. He wasn't Riven, and Stella wouldn't be happy if he acted like the short-tempered specialist. Instead, Brandon took Stella's wrist and pulled her away and towards the exit. Behind them, the guy yelled at Brandon, but the brunet ignored him. He couldn't care less what the moron had to say.

"What the hell, Brandon?" Stella shouted once they were beyond the club's main entrance. She shook her wrist free of his grip and rubbed at the spot where his hand had been. The street was filled with people lining up to enter the club, so Stella led them to a more secluded area. Brandon followed behind her into the alleyway behind the bar, silently fuming. Once they were alone, she turned on him, eyes boring into him demanding an answer. "So? What the hell was that?"

"What? Me not liking my girlfriend flirting with another guy?"

"I flirt with other guys all the time!" Stella snapped back. "So do you, for that matter. Uh, with girls. It's kind of our thing, remember?"

"Never that much! I mean, the laughing and the hair twirling and – and the goddamn touching!" Brandon approached her and rested his hand on Stella's shoulders with the same flirty flourish she had used on the jackass. "I mean, come on, Stella. I know we have this stupid competition, but we put rules in for a fucking reason."

"I followed the rules!" Stella cried, shrugging Brandon's hand away. "He wasn't leaving, and I was being nice. Is that so bad?"

"Yes!"

"Why? It's not like I was going to rip my clothes and demand he fuck me." Stella waved her arms carelessly as she spoke, gesturing to the short, tight pink dress she wore and the direction the club was in.

"Oh, you weren't?" he replied skeptically. "Is that why he had his hand on your thigh?"

"No. I asked him to move his hand... Brandon why are you acting so..." she was going to say obnoxious or possessive until it dawned on her. Why hadn't she caught it? She'd seen this behaviour before in Sky and Riven, but not Brandon. He was always calm and cool, and most of all, confident in their relationship. "Are you jealous?" she asked, supressing a giggle, but failing to hide the small smile that was forming on her lips.

"No" he answered far too quickly for it to be the truth.

"You are" Stella purred, stepping closer to her boyfriend. Brandon crossed his arms defensively and looked away, but she ignored him. Stella rested her hands on his waist and ran them up his chest, forcing him to uncross his arms. Instinctively, he brought them down to her waist and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tighter. Stella's eyes met his, but he was too distracted by the giant smile on her lips. She looked so damn pleased with herself and he couldn't manage to keep in the small chuckle that bubbled up.

"Yeah." Stella's laugh was exuberant as she pulled his face down to hers. She assured him that he had no reason to be before planting a kiss on him that would put the most romantic of movie kisses to shame (move over Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling). Brandon and Stella lost themselves to the kiss, running their hands along the other's chest, back and hair. Somewhere along the way, Brandon had backed Stella up against the wall and lifted her, so the most private parts of their bodies were pressing against each other, creating an unbearably needy feeling in them. Brandon's hand had started to creep up her thigh and under the hem of her dress when a light shone in his eyes.

"What are you kids doing back here?" A deep voice said from beyond the blinding light. The couple shielded their eyes until the light moved to reveal a flashlight and a dark-haired police office.

"Sorry officer" Stella giggled shyly as she unwrapped her legs from the specialist's waist. Brandon helped her to the ground, and she adjusted her dress. "We're leaving."

"Good. Don't let me catch you two again" the man said sternly before walking away, leaving behind two embarrassed teenagers.

"Come on" Stella grabbed his hand, leading the way out of the alley. "Let's go back to Red Fountain so I can show you just how little you have reason to be jealous."