A Little While Later…Continued

Alex POV

I wake and stretch out my arm to pull Rhi close to me but I come up empty. The sheets where she was laying with me last night are cold to the touch. I glance at the clock and note that it's 6:30 am. Sitting up, I scan the room and see that it's empty. Climbing out of bed, I walk over to the bathroom and there's no sign of her there either. Where could she have gone at such an early hour? You don't have to be a genius to deduce that since she's not in the bedroom or the bathroom, she must be in another part of the penthouse. So grabbing the robe that's still sitting on the chair where I discarded it last night, I put it on. It fits, sort of, but I'll be damned if I'm going to walk out of this room in my undershorts. Sure, they've seen me already, but this is different. This isn't a show.

Slowly I open the door and hear Ana and Kate quietly talking and when I walk out and come into view, Ana puts her finger to her lips indicating for me to be quiet.

I nod and whisper, "Have you seen Rhi? She's not in the bedroom or bathroom."

Ana points to the window and whispers "Shh…"

I look at her confused, and she and Kate share a look then they both point to the window and nod, telling me silently to go look. Walking over to where they point, I stop in my tracks about halfway to the window. There's Rhi, looking beautiful and peaceful, snuggled up in a robe that dwarfs her, laying on a pillow on the floor in front of the window. I'm confused. Why is she on the floor?

Turning to walk back to Kate and Ana I pause and look back at the sleeping Rhi. Sighing, I quietly walk back over to them and I hope they can give me the answers to the questions I have. Sitting down, I look at them expectantly as I take a drink of my coffee, waiting for them to tell me what's happened. Ana and Kate take turns explaining they think she fell asleep looking at the stars, which is what she has done every day since her dad died. What shocks me the most is when Kate tells me that Rhi can't sleep in a bed and usually sleeps on a couch or in a chair. Kate tells me they're just as surprised as I am when she explains to me this was the first time they found her on the floor. I wonder why she does that? Certainly I'll get some answers soon, either from them or Rhi herself.

I start to say something but Ana cuts me off. "Alex, I already know what you're thinking and what you're going to ask. Unfortunately, it is not our place to say anything no matter how much we want to. It has to be Rhi's decision on what, if anything, she wants to share.

I sigh, "I know it's her decision. It's just frustrating that I don't know what to do or how to help her."

Just then, Rhi sits up, stretches, looks out the window and starts talking. She's talking about the sunrise and sunset and enjoying them both but I'm confused. Is she talking to us or herself? I can't quite tell, but it sounds like both. When Kate asks her if she wants coffee she turns her head and it is that moment that see tear stains on her cheeks and her eyes are red and puffy.

As Kate gets up to get her coffee, she asks, still looking out the window, "Is Alex still here? I didn't hear him leave."

I smile when she asks for me and when Ana nods to me to tell me to answer, I "Yes, I'm still here. Having a cup of coffee with Kate and Ana. Good morning Rhi."

Quickly, she turns her head, sees me and smiles a bright happy smile that is in contrast to the tears on her cheeks.

"Good morning!" She says happily as she watches me walk over to where she's still sitting on the floor.

I love the tone of her voice when she's happy, she's almost child-like. She looks up at me and reaches up to touch my face. "You look so handsome in the morning." She says and smiles shyly.

I pick her up and place her on my lap. She's beautiful, even with tear-stained cheeks and red puffy eyes. I can tell she's been crying, and my heart is breaking for her. I tenderly run my thumb down her cheek, tracing the tear tracks and smile.

"Good morning beautiful." I say. I wish I knew what happened to her to make her this way. Is this what Ana and Kate have been hiding? That she's had some sort of breakdown? Looking back at them they nod and give me sad smiles. I turn back around and kiss Rhi's lips gently. "Did you sleep well? I woke up and you weren't in bed. I missed you." I murmur quietly.

She looks at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I can't sleep very well in a bed, so I usually sleep on the couch. I didn't want to wake you when I woke up, it was 3:30 am and you were sound asleep."

She doesn't mention or explain why she was sleeping on the floor. I guess I will have to wait to find out so I let it go. She's so sweet. Just like yesterday when Ana and Kate let it slip. She won't admit it, but it's obvious to me, no matter how hard the tries to hid or deny it. Some people have the ability to hide their true selves from the world but then there are people like Rhi whose inner beauty erupts from their every pore like lights from a disco ball. Sure her lights may be fractured because of her past but all the pieces put together make the whole. Those lights reach out and touch people and things both up close and personal as well as randomly off in the distance; Some effects are obvious and others are hidden. You never know what and who you affect with the smallest of gestures; You may simply brighten someone's day or you may change a life completely. The ending result may be revealed immediately or it may never be known at all.

"How are you feeling this morning? Did you sleep well?" I ask. I'm hoping she will answer in a way that I can get more information about what happened and why she's on the floor.

Unfortunately, my hopes are dashed when she answers vaguely, "I'm ok, I slept enough and I don't remember having any dreams so I guess it was a good sleep?" She laughs a little, sounding slightly relieved. "It's always a good day when there aren't any dreams."

I resign myself to having to wait for any information about what happened. I decide to see if I can get any information out of the girls about what they're going to be doing today. Turning to the girls, I want to know what their plans are. I'd really like to see Rhi again.

"What are you ladies doing today? Anything exciting?" I ask.

I wish I could spend the day with them, but I do have to get going. We practice before the shows and they're every night at 7:00 pm. Yesterday I looked forward to Rhi showing up. Today it doesn't seem as exciting. I know I will think about her all day. Maybe I can get them to come to the showroom after the show? I'll talk to the guys and see what they think.

Ana, Kate and Rhi look at each other than at me. Kate says, "I think we're going to start with the pool. Catch some sun and swim a little bit. We'll eat breakfast here then get changed and head down to the pool. After that, who knows. What are you guys doing today?" She asks.

"Well, nothing super exciting. We're just rehearsing for the show tonight. I can think of better things to do than practice." I laugh.

I don't want to leave Rhi, but I know I can't stay either. It's their vacation and I don't want to intrude but I also want to spend time with her.

"What time are you guys going to the pool? I think it opens at 9 am or something like that." I want to know if they are going to get dressed and head out soon. Besides, I want to see what Rhi looks like in her bathing suit.

The girls look at each other. "We haven't even thought of that! I mean, it's not like we have a schedule we need to stick to. What do you guys want to do today?" Ana asks.

"I think we started talking about this last night but never solidified plans. I think we were going early so we didn't have to "beautify" ourselves more than once." Kate says, laughing.

"Well, I guess we can go to the pool early, beat the crowd and not get sunburned, then maybe something to eat and after that, who knows? I could use a few frozen drinks again." Rhi says with a big smile and a wink.

"What about breakfast? Do you want to eat here or go out?" Ana asks.

Rhi looks at me and lowers her eyes. Uh oh, I feel like something isn't right. She looks up and over at Kate and Ana and says, "Actually I wasn't planning on eating until later. I don't want to get sick in the pool. You know what they say, don't go swimming right after you eat…" She laughs nervously.

Why did she react the way she did? I don't get it. "That makes sense to me. There's no reason to get sick on vacation. That wouldn't be any fun." I say, smiling.

Rhi looks at Kate and Ana and I see the look exchanged between the three of them and the energy in the air becomes tense. I wonder what that's about.

"Well, it's 8:30 am. If the pool opens at 9 am I want to be ready. I'm going to go get my suit on." Kate says abruptly as she gets up and walks to the other bedroom.

"I'll come with you." Ana says, following behind.

We watch them walk away and after a moment I ask curiously, "What's up with them?"

"I don't know." She says brusquely and shrugs.

Changing the subject she offers to make breakfast, but I decline because I get the impression that she won't eat for a while, if at all.

"No thank you. I think I'll just go take a shower." I keep my answer short so we can move past the topic of food, it seems to be a sensitive subject.

She nods and stands up and starts to walk to the bedroom. Standing up, I follow her into the bathroom where she turns on the water and shows me the fresh towels and soap and shampoo is.

"You're welcome to my bath stuff if you want. I'm sure the hotel soap isn't the best. I'll be in here getting dressed, so if you need anything just holler." She looks at me with those beautiful green eyes and blushes.

As she turns walk away, and I reach out and grab her hand gently and pull her to me.

"Hey." I look down at her and lift her chin so she's looking up at me. I want to make sure she's ok so I hold her gaze for a moment and placing my hands on her cheeks, I bend down and kiss her lips, slowly. She pulls away, walks over to the toilet and stands on it, then reaches out and grabbing my hands she pulls me to her.

"What are you doing?" I ask, curiously.

When she replies, "Just making it easier for you. It's got to be hard on your neck bending down all the time, because I'm so short."

I have to laugh at her response and my breath hitches briefly when she gives me a big smile and places her hands on my face, playing with my beard. Slowly, she pulls me to her and puts her lips to mine. We kiss for a moment then I pull away. I look into her eyes; they are so beautiful and sensual.

"What are you doing to me?" I murmur.

"I'm just being me. You're the one who is doing things to me. I'm not used to how you are acting towards me. This definitely wasn't planned and it's … different." She replies.

At least she's honest. "I'd really like to see you again. Maybe you can come by after the show tonight? Or, I was thinking, maybe you could come to the show? It won't be the same without you there. Think about it and talk to Kate and Ana and let me know what you all think. I'll have to talk to the guys too. In the meantime…" I stop, mid-sentence, drop both our robes on the floor, pick her up and walk with her into the shower.

She squeals and wiggles to get out of my grasp laughing but I've got her firmly in my arms. I've got her under the water that's falling like rain from the oversized shower head, clothes and all. She's laughing and looks so happy, compared to what she was like last night and this morning. Still beautiful but even more so when she's happy.

Suddenly, she wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist and holds me close. She leans back and looks at me under her wet eyelashes. I have to move my hands so she doesn't slip from my grasp so I lean her up against the wall and raise my leg so I can balance her on my knee and grab her under her ass and hold her up. She doesn't weigh a thing so it's not too hard to hold her.

Pulling me close, she kisses me gently, then nibbles and sucks on my lower lip.

"Oh fuck." I whisper, pulling back and looking at her. "Rhi, I want you so bad, so if you don't stop I may not be able to control myself."

She blinks, smiles a shy smile again, then pulls me to her and kisses me deeply, her tongue invading my mouth. Oh my God is my last coherent thought.

Rhi POV

We're in the shower and I've wrapped my arms and legs around him. He's got his hands under my bottom holding me up. I find my courage and pull him closer and kiss him and nibble and suck on his lower lip.

I get an idea when I see his reaction and I can't resist. Looking at him I smile and pull him close and kiss him deeply, my tongue invading his mouth.

I pull away and smile slyly, "I'm sorry. I just wanted to kiss you. Go shower. I'm going to get ready for the pool."

He groans and steps out of the shower and places me on the floor. I look up at him and turn, slowly peeling off my wet cami and shorts, giving him a full view of my bare ass.

He growls at me, grabs a towel and throws it at me. "I want you, but not here. Not yet anyway." He says his voice husky.

Turning to go back into the shower, he removes his undershorts and steps in. I can see the silhouette of his amazing body and his bare ass through the frosted glass. Oh my he's hot! I may just have to do something I've never done before, have a hook-up with no strings attached. Wow, where did that thought come from?

I walk out of the bathroom laughing loudly and go to get ready for the pool. Heading over to my suitcase I pull out my bathing suit and put it on. It's a simple plain white bikini, the bottoms have ties on the hips and the top ties in two places, at the neck and then again over my ribs and ties in the back. Nothing extravagant, it is a great contrast to my tan skin, though it is awfully small and hardly leaves anything to the imagination.

I'm standing in front of the mirror with the blow dryer on running my fingers through my hair to dry it a little when I feel a presence behind me and look up to see Alex in the mirror. I smile at him when we make eye contact but he doesn't respond.

"What's wrong?" I ask as I turn off the hairdryer.

He looks at me and whispers "Wow. You look…. hot." He pauses, "Be careful of those sharks out there. I know I have no room to talk because I'm a stripper, but I'd beat someone's ass if they touched you."

I laugh, "You're sweet but I'm sure that won't be necessary. Nothing will happen and if it does I can handle myself. I'll be wearing this when I'm not laying out or in the water so I'll be covered up a little bit anyway." I pull out my cover up which is a mesh hoodie style for him to see. "I'm not about to walk through the casino with just my bathing suit on. I'm not that crazy." I laugh.

He looks at me with darkening eyes and says, "Seriously, that's not a joke. You'll tell me if anything happens, right?"

Rolling my eyes I smile at him. "I seriously don't think there's anything to worry about. Besides, I'll be with Ana and Kate." I answer, brushing off his concern.

"Speaking of which, I'm sure Ana and Kate are waiting for you, and I've got to get going. This was a perfect way to start the day, though I wish I could spend it with you. Will you keep me updated on how your day is going?" He asks, looking at me intensely.

There's that uneasy feeling again. It's like he's trying to look into my soul when he does that. When I don't respond he continues.

He smiles but it looks a bit more forced, like he's disappointed at my lack of response and trying to keep it a light conversation. "Let me know what you think about coming to the show again and when I get back I'll talk to the guys. If not, maybe we can meet up after the show."

"Yes, I'll talk to the girls and see what they think. After all, it's our vacation and it's always girls only when we come here so I can't make any promises." I wink at him and laugh, hoping he gets the hint and I don't have to come straight out and say I'd prefer to have my time alone.

I didn't come here looking for anything other than relaxing and trying to erase the stress that's built up since last time. I can see the disappointment in his eyes and something else but I'm not sure what it is so I don't say anything.

Suddenly a thought crosses my mind, "Your undershorts are still wet. Please tell me you're not going commando?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

It was starting to get uncomfortable. I'm very good at steering conversations away from things when they get too intense, though I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I've been told I'm in the avoidance stage, not quite denial, but I think it's more about self-preservation.

He laughs at the face I make, "I'll change when I get back."

"Good, because that's just weird." I laugh.