52: Serious Discussion

(The following night...)

Erin

     Bryce and I stand on my front porch after walking over here. Marie still has my scooter, but I don't mind.
     Bryce looks pained.
     "Are you sure?" he asks me again.
     I've decided that since Sean is gone that I'm going to go back to living in my house. Bryce looked crestfallen when I told him this earlier today. He'd thought I could at least stay the week like we'd planned, but I need a little space between us for at least a night.
     "Bryce, I'll be fine. You'll be fine," I say quietly.
     "When can I see you again?" he asks like he would at the end of a first date or something.
     I shrug like it's no big deal. "Tomorrow, I guess."
     He takes a deep breath. "What time?"
     "You can come over right after Adele gets on the bus again like you've done before," I offer. Then he pulls me into his arms like he wants to somehow physically attach us together permanently.
     "I'm glad now that I work late hours. At least I'll be distracted while at work and exhausted when I get home." He mumbles now, "I used to be quite good at that routine."
     I bury my head in the little space between his neck and shoulder and sigh. This has been so intense that he's going to have trouble slowing down.
     "Bryce, ..."
     "I know," he says, quickly stopping my chastisement before I can say it. Then we simply stand here holding each other.

      I have a sudden desire to reach my hand down and run my fingertips across his stomach. He's wearing another of those thin t-shirts of his, and I want to eat him alive. To try to make myself feel better, I turn a little so that I'm pressed more fully against him. He takes a deep breath and squeezes me tighter. Our breathing alters, and he rolls his head around to get my face to turn up before he lovingly kisses me in one of his 'Bryce kisses,' quickly spiraling out of control.
     He tries to talk while kissing me. "You feel... so good... like this."
     A hand reaches down to grab my butt and pull me closer to him so that I can really tell how the moment affects him.
     Some small amount of sanity escapes me so I can say, "You have to... go to work."
     "I'll be late," he says, grabbing my keys from my hand.

     Before I know what's happening, I find myself up on the kitchen counter. He's already yanked my panties down before placing me up here, and he works himself just enough out of his shorts before swiftly pulling me towards him and driving himself into me.
     Shirt. Off. Now, I think before he can really begin, and I proceed to remove the shirt. He happily assists me, and at last, I get to run my hands over his beautiful abs.
      Well, for just a moment, because he pulls me tight up on him, hugging me to him as he starts up a steady rhythm. Soon, I'm only half on the counter while he bounces me. I tightly wrap my arms around his neck to find some stability. Then, as the mounting pleasure builds, I also cling to him out of desperation. All I'm really able to do is hold on while he handles everything else.
      "Oh," he gasps. "Baby. C'mon, Erin."
      I let out a cry. How does he do that by just talking?
      He whispers to me, "Come for me, Erin."

      Like magic, I do as he asks, throwing my head back as another cry escapes me. He stops for a solitary second before suddenly yelling and pressing my hips harder into him. I come again from the force of his orgasm. That, or that was one hell of an aftershock.
     His phone rings. He ignores it.
     "It's bound to be Jones," I gasp out.
     "Probably," he agrees, trying to catch his breath. With a groan, he pulls out of me and helps me to stand on my feet. His tongue escapes his mouth before even reaching mine, and I have mine open to accept it.

      "I don't want to go to work. I want to stay here and do wickedly naughty things to you."
      I can't stop my shudder from what he said, and my voice sounds breathless when I reply, "But you're the boss. You have to go to work."
       He rights his shorts and tells me he hates it when I'm right about stuff like this. I laugh a little.
      "Tomorrow then," he smiles mischievously at me before running a single finger down the side of my face, kissing the tip of my nose, and turning to leave with his shirt in his hand.
       He stops when he gets to the door, turns and says, "Oh, before I go..." He bounds over to me. "I love you." Then he quickly kisses my mouth, smiles, and dashes out the door before I can respond.
      I laugh at the inside of my front door. Then I walk over and flop down on my small sofa, my mood instantly changing. Bryce, I think with a groan, how often am I gonna have to tell you to slow down?

      I start crying.
      What is wrong with me? Why am I crying?! I should be happy! Sean is gone! Gone! I never have to see him again.
      I actually cry harder at this thought. I will never see him again.
      I need to figure myself out, and fast. I'm crying over losing Sean again.
      My subconscious refused to let me think about this around Bryce for fear of hurting him with this display.
      Sean, why did you have to do that? Why? I loved you with everything I had and you... you slept with my best friend of all people! Why?!
      And now I'll never know why... because he's gone.
      I'm glad he's gone.
      I miss him.
      No! I love Bryce. My sweet, secretly-sensitive Bryce that loves me and wants me with him all the time.
      I never got to have a serious discussion with Sean. Of course, he never would want a serious discussion unless it occurred after sex, and then I'd have to be fast.
      I need a serious discussion with him though.
      But he's gone.
      I look at my laptop sitting on my desk, and an idea occurs to me.
      I'll send him an email.

      I sit down and open my email up. I haven't opened it in ages because I got aggravated at Bill for spamming me. It's filled with warnings about Sean coming to the island.
      I need to call my brother and tell him I'm okay.
      I shoot him a quick email telling him everything is fine, Sean is on his way home, or there, without me. I only just hint at the fact that I have another boyfriend already. I don't wanna hit him with too much at once. Then, I write up an email to Sean:

     I hit send. Then, I decide to write in my diary. I haven't done that in ages either.

Dear Diary,
     I decided to stick with Bryce, and I haven't regretted my decision. He really is that wonderful person he was on our first day... the day that Jesse visited me here and kissed me. Jesse and I have become good friends, surprisingly. He's really sweet and funny when he's not trying to hit on me. (He hasn't since then.) He and Bryce made up in their strange way that I won't get into, and now he's wanting to date someone named Marie.
      Marie is the same Marie that Cristina grew up with and claimed she bullied her. I'd always wondered if perhaps Cris was exaggerating. She can be so overly-dramatic at times, and now that I've heard Marie's side of the story, I think what Cristina did to her is cruel. The worst is that Dawson over whom they fought. Marie would do better with Jesse. I think he could easily fall in love with her if he hasn't already.

     My email pings at me. It's Sean. ?!?!

     I start crying again. That was the Sean I fell in love with.
     He even apologized for ending in a preposition.
      My IM dings.


Sean: Are you there?

     Oh shit. It's Sean, I think and wipe my eyes.
      The little dot next to my name indicates that I am online. Curse me for not turning it off!

Erin: Yes.
Sean: Did you read it?
Erin: Yes.

      My computer stays silent for a few minutes before he says something again.

Sean: I was a complete asshole, and I'm infinitely sorry. I wish there was a better word than sorry.

Erin: I know. Thank you for telling me the truth. Did you make it home okay?

     I throw in the question just to be polite.

Sean: I will never be okay. Because I miss you so bad it hurts.

     I feel like was just stabbed.

Sean: Maybe we're better off apart, but I wish we could've worked things out.

     No.

Erin: We can never work things out because I would never be able to trust you again.
Sean: I know.
Sean: So, what am I interrupting? What were you doing?
Erin: I was just writing in my diary.

     I don't want to discuss my day with him, so I kept my answer simple.

Sean: Boyfriend not there?
Erin: That's none of your business.

     I'm not going to tell you I'm sitting here alone.

Sean: Okay. I was just wondering. It's not like I can hop over there anyway.
Sean: I couldn't imagine that if he's there that he's left you alone long enough to email, write in your diary (which you only do when you're alone ;) ), and chat with me for a minute.

     Son of a...

Erin: He doesn't hover over me constantly.

     I can't help but get defensive.

Sean: I didn't mean that he did. But now that you mention it, I did notice how he never let you out of his sight for long. Bit overboard imho.
Erin: Not overboard. Protective. You scared the shit out of me, so I needed him to be that way.
Sean: Yet another reason for you to hate me.
Erin: I don't *hate* you. I just don't want you in my life anymore.
Sean: And I'm sorry for that. Deeply, agonizingly sorry.
Sean: I am still your brother's friend.
Erin: With friends like you...

      Don't point out to me ways I might see you again someday!

Sean: I told him where you are.
Erin: Doesn't matter anymore because you were the one from whom I wanted to hide.
Sean: You mean hide from?

     I let out a high-pitched growl.

Sean: C'mon, baby doll, it doesn't kill you if you end a sentence in a preposition. It's even allowed.
Erin: I'm not having this discussion with you. You know why I can't stand that. I'm done with this conversation. Thank you for explaining things to me.

     I almost shut off my computer, but I have to say one more thing.

Erin: Also, I'm not your baby doll.

     I turn off my computer before he can have a chance to make a comeback.

     I am so angry! I think as I get up and walk around in my small living room.
     Deciding that I can't stand the enclosed space, I walk outside to my backyard and stare out over the lagoon.
     Yes, Sean, you were immature and conceited, and arrogant, and a world-class jerk!
     And you said sorry. There should be a better word.
     Damn you! I loved you! You went out and hurt me on purpose so you could have 'one more fling.' Well, anyone who wants 'one more fling' shouldn't get married at all because that means he/she isn't ready!
     I'm glad, now, that I walked in on them. Finding him like that, with her, kept me from saddling myself with an asshole.
      And eventually brought me here... to Bryce... someone who's been hurt badly... and never dealt with it. I need to deal with this now.
      I try, but I can't think about myself anymore. My heart swells when I picture Bryce in my mind, and I feel more worried about him than I do myself.
      I'm not in the same place you are, Bryce. I'm in a better one.
      I will never be married to Sean, and I'm happy about that.
      I'm happy!

      I look up and hug myself, almost laughing with relief. I feel like ten tons have been forever lifted off my shoulders.
      I do laugh now as I twirl in a circle, a few happy tears escaping my eyes.
      I'm completely in love with Bryce! I have an overpowering want to see him, but I don't have my scooter. His bar is on the other side of the lagoon.
      Maybe I could swim...
      Nah, that's too crazy. I'll just call him and hear his voice.
      I dial his number.
      "Hey, Beautiful. What's up?"

      "I love you," I say simply, a few more tears escaping.
      "Couldn't let me have the last word, huh?" I hear the laughter in his voice.
      "No, I really love you," I say emphatically, praying the emotion in my voice reaches him over his phone in the loud bar.
      He stays quiet for a few seconds before his voice sounds a little choked up when he finally says, "I believe you." The background noise has lessened dramatically. "Do you have... any idea how hard it is for me to stay put at work right now?"
     "Yes. I wish I had my scooter."
     "I love you too," he says. His voice sounds quiet, and I can picture him standing in the extra seating area, trying not to break down in public.
      I decide to tell him how I reached my conclusion. "I needed some time to think, I guess." I choose to not mar this wonderful moment by talking about Sean. He can hear about that later.
      "Still tomorrow, or will you spend the night? It's killing me to not have you right here with me."
      "I still need a little 'alone time,' but maybe tomorrow night," I answer, and he stays quiet. "Bryce, don't be upset."
     "Upset? Me?" Then I hear a sad smile in his voice as he says, "I suppose I can wait and see you in the morning."
      "It's not that far away."
      "Get some sleep, my beautiful Erin, because you're going to need it."
       Huh?! After I catch my breath, I ask, "Is that a threat?"
       "No. Not really. It's friendly advice to keep you from being entirely worn out for tomorrow night from what I want to do to you tomorrow morning."
      I can't stop the small whimper from escaping as I think about all he could possibly mean, and I pray he didn't hear it.
      "That's right, baby," he says knowingly.
      Holy shit!

      "How am I supposed to sleep now?" I almost whisper.
      "Hm, well, you could come over tonight so I could wear you out, but you'd have to be quiet. If that happens, I might go easy on you in the morning."
      My voice sounds extra-shaky as I reply, "Bryce, I need to be by myself tonight. I need to let eradicating Sean from everything soak in and get complete closure."
      "All right, baby," he says more gently. "That's incredibly important to me too. Don't worry about me tonight, just get some good sleep."
      "Okay," I breathe, not able to say much more.
      I hear his smile as he says, "Goodnight, Erin. I love you."
      "I love you too, Bryce," I say, and we hang up.
      I stumble off to my bed for a few hours of sleep, ready to start everything afresh tomorrow.

39: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Warning: Sensitive situations ... or just a little different

(and please forgive my pathetic photo editing skills)

Belinda

      I ask Sean if we could sit down for a minute, so he asks me if he could buy me a drink. I say yes since I have a feeling we're both going to need it.
      I nod my head at the poster behind the bar and ask, "You know who that is?"
      "Um... no. Some singer, obviously," he says.
     "She's my great-grandmother." I smile widely at him. "She was a jazz singer and got pretty famous in the 30s."
      "Oh," he says and smiles sheepishly at me. "Sorry, jazz really isn't my 'thing.'"
     "Mine neither mostly, although sometimes it's like you can't help but move to some songs, you know what I mean?" I tell him while he looks from the picture to me and back several times.
      He smiles again and says, "I do know what you mean, actually. Especially with that song called In the Mood." A playful grin covers his features, and I debate convincing him to leave before Lynne gets here. "So, can you sing too?" he asks as the bartender hands us our drinks.
      I shrug. "Yes, but I don't take it seriously." I remember the stories my grandmother would tell me about her mother and what fame like that did to her... according to my grandmother's father, that is.
      I'm brought out of my reverie when Lynne walks up behind me, kisses me on the cheek, and says, "Hey, Lindy." Then she turns to Sean and says, "So, this must be the one you were talking about."

      Sean stands politely, turns to look at her, and then stares at her chest for a few seconds longer than necessary.
      Lynne whispers really loud to me, "You're right, he is cute." I roll my eyes and smile before I see Sean smiling too. Lynne leans up against Sean, wraps her arm around his shoulders and starts running her nails across his buzz cut. "Hi, I'm Lynne," she says in a seductive voice.
      Oh boy. Sean, you are in serious trouble, I think and try real hard to remember that this is the same guy that tried to hurt Erin and did hurt Julian. It's not easy. He just looks so cute and innocent... like a little lost puppy.
      I realize I've missed part of their conversation when I notice Sean acts like he wants to leave.
      "Well, let's go," Lynne says and winks at me.
      Of course, Sean is eager for Lynne and me to take him to her house.
     Lynne is normally a very nice, selfless person... except when she feels wronged or someone has wronged those she cares about. It's during these moments that it's like she becomes a different person, similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It also doesn't help that she has extraordinary abilities to turn her Mr. Hyde into an unholy terror.
      Lynne is on him like a duck on a June bug the second we walk into her house.
    

     She suddenly kisses him. Holy shit, Lynne! He then breaks the kiss, turns to me and asks Lynne, "But what about your friend?"
      Lynne looks at me and winks. "She can have her turn later."
      I decide to play along, so I walk up to him, run my fingernail down his arm and say, "Besides, I like to watch." Lynne grins widely at me.
     "You ladies do this sort of thing all the time?" Sean asks a little breathlessly while Lynne runs her hands over him under his shirt.
      I let Lynne answer.
      "Not too often. Only when we think we've found someone worthy of this sort of attention," she purrs. Then she 'suggests' that I go and make a few drinks. I shrug and do as I'm told.
      When I come back, Lynne has removed his shirt and somehow convinced him to sit down in one of her chairs. She sits on his lap with her pants off, straddling him while he acts like he's eager to get her shirt off of her as well.
     "I assume you don't need the drinks right now then," I state, trying to act like I'm upset they started without me.
     Lynne looks up, laughs and says, "We can save them for later, hun." Sean pulls her shirt over her head and attacks her chest with his mouth while his hands run freely over her thighs. I go and plop the tray of drinks on the table. Lynne mouths the word 'cuffs' to me and I roll my eyes and go find them. She is so kinky. I'm assuming they're in the 'kinky-shit' drawer.

     I walk over and discretely place the cuffs on the floor before I run my hands over his shoulders, chest and arms. He groans when I catch his hands and bring them up to me. Then he tilts his head back, and I kiss him, pulling his hands down behind the chair before I release his mouth. In my mind, the kiss is like an apology for future events.
     He jumps in shock when he feels the cold metal wrap around his wrists. "What the?!"
     Lynne puts one finger over his lips and says, "Shh! I thought you wanted to play."
     "Not like this," he says nervously. "What good is it if I can't use my hands?"
     I giggle and say, "Well, that's part of the torture."
     Lynne winks at me before leaning down to kiss him again, running her hand down between his legs. He groans like she's driving him insane. Then I notice the switch in Lynne's personality.
     "See?" she asks. "You like to play." He looks at her, wide-eyed, before she points at him and says, "Freeze." He freezes solid. It has begun.
     "I like to play too, Sean," she says while she stands and takes a few steps away from him in her lingerie, looking deadly. He looks like he wants to faint while she walks back to him and runs her fingers down the side of his face.

     "I can't move," Sean says in a panic.
     "I know you can't. That's because I told you to freeze," Lynne responds after she takes a step back to put her finger to her lips in a contemplative gesture.
     "But no, I really can't move!" he says with terror starting to creep into his voice.
     Lynne smiles a little and asks, "Isn't this fun? I like to have fun." She walks around him and wraps her arms around his shoulders. "I know you like to have fun too."
     "Not when I can't move," he says as calmly as he can manage.
     "Would it be more fun if Erin were here, Sean?" Lynne asks him with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
     Sean stops breathing, and I worry for a moment that he's going to pass out.
    "Oh yes, I know Erin." She stands more upright and walks around him, watching his every expression. "Her boyfriend is one of my best friends, so that's how I know you like to have this brand of fun. Just what were you planning on doing the other night, Sean?"
     He doesn't answer her for a few more seconds, so she slaps him across the face. "Breathe, you chicken shit! No passing out on me!"
     "I..." he stammers, "I don't know what you mean."
     A jolt comes out of her fingertip right into his chest, and his body jumps a little from the shock of it. "Wrong answer," she says calmly. "You know exactly what I mean," she snaps. "The other night... when you were trying to drag her into her house. When Julian stopped you."
     "So that's the fucker's name," he says, and Lynne stands back up before she slaps him the other way this time. His lip starts bleeding a little. I can't help but feel grateful she has no close neighbors.

     "Answer the question," she growls. "What were you going to do, Sean?"
     "Fuck you," he says.
     I see in the glass of the door as she laughs up to the ceiling. "Oh yes, I'm sure fucking had something to do with it." She pauses for a second and says, "You wanted to play. Very similar to the way I'm playing with you now, am I right?" He says nothing, so she asks, "It's not quite as fun on the other side of it, is it, Sean?" Then she sends another jolt of electricity into him.
     I turn around and look as a hardened look as it comes over his face, and I know it's going to take more than what Lynne is doing to make him crack. I decide to step in, 'good cop' style.
      Lynne looks on approvingly as I croon to him, "Poor baby." I start working his shoulders and back. "Did I forget to mention how my friend doesn't like people that mess with those we care about?" He shakes for just one moment before he goes rigid again. "We only want an answer to a very simple question." I straighten up to whisper behind his ear, "You were going to rape her, weren't you?"
     "You bitches don't understand anything," he snaps, obviously trying to control himself.
     Lynne walks over to him and runs a fingernail down his collarbone before saying, "That's why I asked you the question." She leans over him, bent in half with her legs straight to get right in his face. Her hand strokes his face as she asks, "What were you going to do to our sweet Erin?"
     "I wasn't going to rape her!" he growls.
     "That's not what Julian saw," I state.
     "I did nothing wrong," he reiterates. "I don't know why she started yelling the way she did."
     "Oh, you don't?" Lynne asks. "Give me some guesses then."
     "You stupid witch, 'I don't know' means I don't know!" he snarls, and Lynne grabs him between his legs and twists. He screams.
      She hisses at him, "You mean to tell me that you didn't know why she started yelling for help, this woman that you were engaged to?" She glares at him. "And you call me stupid?!"
     A few tears escape his eyes, and he says in a pained voice, "I wasn't going to rape her. She was overreacting."
     "Then answer the fucking question. If you weren't going to rape her, then what were you going to do?" Lynne asks in an icy voice.
    "Fine! Talk! I just wanted her to talk to me!" he yells.
     Lynne sniffs the air and says, "Lie." Another jolt shoots out of her finger into his kneecap, almost casually. "She didn't want to talk to you, did she? Whatever you were doing, it scared her enough to make her start yelling. It was at that point that you should have stopped, but you didn't, did you? No, you were trying to pull her into her house. Now, answer me truthfully, you were going to rape her once inside the house, weren't you?"
     "No," he stubbornly maintains his story while Lynne paces the room.
     She slowly walks back over to Sean and stands in front of him to ask, "Well, if all you were going to do is 'talk,' then what were you going to 'talk' about?"
      Sean takes a deep breath and says, "None of your goddamn business."
      She shoots yet another bolt from her fingertip, this time right at his dick. His eyes nearly pop out of his head, but he sets his jaw and doesn't make a sound. I try to refrain from telling Lynne that I think she's overdoing it. She looks pissed.
     "Well, you see, Sean. That's where you're wrong. I'm making it my business," Lynne says as she calmly sits in his lap like a kid would Santa Claus. "You don't try to hurt my friends and think you can get away with it. Now, are you going to admit to the truth or am I going to have to make it to where you can never have children? I think I'd be doing the next generation a favor as well as any other woman you mistakenly think wants it when she doesn't."
      He shrugs with mock nonchalance and says, "Fine. I wanted her to come back to me. I didn't know about the rebound guy."

       Lynne glares at him and slowly walks around him. "You're not telling me everything, and you need to admit this to yourself as well. I really didn't want to have to crawl into your head, Sean, but it appears that I'm going to have to." She places a hand on either side of his head and closes her eyes. Sean appears to make an attempt to struggle.
    "That's not true!" he yells suddenly, but Lynne keeps her hands on his head, a look of determination on her face. His eyes find me, and he asks, "What is she doing? I don't want to see this shit!"
      "She's making you see the truth, and I'm guessing it's pretty ugly," I answer sadly. I really don't need to feel sympathetic.
      His eyes look pleadingly at me as he yells, "No! It wasn't going to come to that! She loves me! She would come around!"
    I take a deep breath. "Only it didn't look like she would come around, did it, Sean?" I ask, and I feel a little uncomfortable. "You were going to rape her if she didn't, weren't you?"
      "I wouldn't have to," he whispers. Lynne zaps him right into his head, and he twitches. Finally, tears start coursing down his face as he whispers out a quiet, "Yes."
      "I told you you can't lie to me you sick piece of shit!" Lynne spits out as she circles around him like a tiger stalking its prey.

    Then she unleashes her full fury on him, and I have to take a step back to avoid the electrical storm. I'm terrified. I hate it when she gets like this, justified or not. I don't want to know what it was she really saw inside his head.
    Sean starts screaming, and the rest of the lights in the house dim as if she's drawing power from the house's electricity. I cover my eyes like a child would.
       When he finally is quiet again, I look to see that she's burned a word onto his chest: Rapist. Sean is passed out and slumped over in the chair. I can see he's breathing at least.
       She slowly walks up to him and speaks quietly into his ear, "Can you hear me, Sean?" He grunts. "Good. Listen closely then. You're not going to remember any of this except for what I tell you right now, understand?" He mumbles out a yes. "Good. Now, I've placed a 'sign' on your chest that I'm wiping away now." She waves her hand over his chest, and the marking disappears. "However, it will appear to any woman that you ever hope to sleep with so that they know exactly what they're dealing with. Understand?"
      "Yes," he sobs.
     "Good. You decide you don't want Erin anymore, and you're better off without her. You have an overwhelming desire to return to your sad, little life and leave the island," she states, and Sean passes out after mumbling another yes.
      I numbly reach for his shirt, happy that she didn't drag that out any longer, and find a hotel key in the pocket. "Room 224," I tell Lynne before she makes him stand, zombie-like, and removes his cuffs. Then she has him put his shirt back on before she leads him out of the house to her car and, I presume, his hotel. After I see a very satisfied expression on Lynne's face, I walk over to her couch and collapse against it, falling asleep immediately.
      You won't remember the specifics of tonight either, Lindy, I hear like it's whispered right into my ear.

-------------------------------------

I hope this wasn't too weird for the storyline. I don't want to stray too far into the supernatural world, but just graze it.

Lynne thought that that was a bit too far for Belinda, however, and she gave her that gift of forgetting. When Lynne had looked into Sean's mind, she saw what he'd intended to do since Erin wasn't 'cooperating' with him, and she was furious her guess was correct. Sean wouldn't admit it to himself because he thought he'd have been able to convince Erin and not have to resort to that, but he was also very determined to get what he wanted even if it meant that he'd have to force her to see that she loved him.

I don't want to possibly destroy Lynne's character in y'all'z eyes. This is not her normal behavior, but it is her "Mr. Hyde" like Belinda thinks. She meant it when she'd threatened Erin about making her life a living hell that Saturday morning before Erin found Bryce on the beach. Most of the time she's a very sweet, selfless, easy-going person. I need to write a chapter showing that more-dominant side of her real soon I guess.

Oh, and I loved putting in the connection to Cutest Lil' Jazz Singer. I used Gloria as a base when I made Belinda. :D

38: Slowly

Sean

     "So, what do you do?" I ask her once things calm down and a slow song starts up.

     "I'm a masseuse," she answers with a small smile, and I stop in momentary shock.

     Oh no fucking way! I think once I can start thinking again. She starts laughing.

      "I love watching guys' reactions when I tell them that," she purrs with a big grin on her face.

       I swallow. My mouth had gone dry. "Well, can you blame us? That's fucking hot." I watch her closely for her reaction.

       "It's a job." She shrugs. "One that I do well."

       I have to change the subject before I come in my pants. It's been way too long for me. "So, I never learned your name."

       "I never told you," she replies coyly.

       "It would be nice if you did," I say and leave my statement hanging, waiting for her to tell me.

       "It's Belinda," she says. "Now, are you going to tell me yours?"

     "Sean," I tell her, and I see a momentary flash of some unidentifiable emotion cross her face before she immediately masks it with her pretty smile.

       "Well Sean," she says and runs her finger down my cheek, "I need to visit the ladies' room. Don't go anywhere, k?"

        I take the hand off my cheek and kiss her fingers as I say, "I'll be eagerly awaiting your return." She winks at me before she disappears in the crowd.

       Maybe today won't turn out to be so bad after all.

Belinda

     Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! I think in rapid succession once I get safely in the restroom. Is it? Is he the one Maggie was talking about yesterday? I pull out my phone and call Lynne.

     Her voice sounds teasing when she answers, "I thought you were out hunting."

     I ignore the banter she wants to start up, "What was the name of that guy Maggie was talking about? Erin's ex."

      "Sean."

      "Shit." And he's cute too. Damn it.

      "Why?"

      "He's here," I say, glad the bathroom is empty save for me. "I was just dancing with him." It has to be the right one. He matches Maggie's description now that I think about it. "I've been dumped," echoes in my head. Yep.

      "Really," she says slowly, sounding like she's mulling something over. "Keep him there. I want to have some fun."

      "What kind of fun?" I ask, knowing full well what she's capable of.

      "Nothing he doesn't deserve. You're at Hurricane, right?"

      "Yes. Lynne, is this really necessary?"

      "Why else would you call me?"

      "So you can confirm my suspicions."

     "And I did. And now I can't just sit here. I have to do something. Erin is one of us now, and he tried to hurt one of our own. He needs to learn a lesson."

       "You're really scary sometimes, do you know that?" I ask her, holding the phone with both hands.

      "Thanks, hun," she says and laughs. "Keep him there for me... in fact, go ahead and tell him a friend of yours is coming and that maybe we can all get a little friendly. He'll not be able to resist that." 

        I know nothing I could say would stop her. "All right, I guess."

         "Good. I'll see you soon," she says and hangs up.

         I actually feel a small amount of pity for this Sean guy. He's going to get a wake-up call tonight.

         I walk out of the restroom and find Sean looking like a lost puppy without me. 

         "Welcome back," he says with a grin.

         Here goes. "Sorry I took so long," I say and press myself up against him. He doesn't mind in the slightest. "A friend of mine called while I was in there, and I told her about you. She wants to meet you too."

        "A friend," he states like a question.

        "A good friend," I purr suggestively and wonder if he's going to start drooling. 

        He recovers quickly enough, however, and says, "Well, if she's anything like you, I'd love to meet her." Then we start dancing again right where we stand.


--------------------------------

Erin

     I must've fallen asleep because I wake up to Bryce kissing me again. However, this kiss isn't like last time. This time there's no pain behind it, and I'm glad.
      He inhales through his nose while his hands run up my sides, lifting my shirt as he goes.
      "Not sleeping, are you?" he asks huskily.
      "Nope. Just a momentary slip into a blissful state of unconsciousness." I laugh at myself.
      "You have been driving me insane all afternoon, you know," he states against my breast.
      "Me?!" I ask, incredulous.
      "Mmm. Yeah. I like this shirt. It looks nice on you. However, I've imagined how I would take it off of you every calm moment we've had this afternoon."
     He must be able to sense my shift in mood as I think about the not-calm moments of this afternoon.
     "But... Erin, are you okay?" he stops what he's doing and looks at me with a concerned expression.
     "I could be better, I admit, but I'm not near as bad as you fear. In fact, I feel a little better now. Maybe he finally got the message."
      "But you weren't okay when I came up here earlier..." He leaves his question/statement hanging.
      "I hate being cruel, and it took a lot out of me," I say and run my fingers over his concerned forehead and then through his hair. "Don't cut your hair," I tell him, the subject change taking him by surprise.
      He smiles, all traces of concern gone. "You like my hair?"
     "Yes," I sigh. And your eyes. And your abs. And the way those jeans hang on you. And your lips. Damn, even the man's feet are sexy. I look up at my boyfriend and remind him, "You mentioned something about wanting to remove my shirt."
      His eyes open, they'd closed while I ran my fingers through his hair, and he looks down at me with hunger in his eyes. "But I wanted to first make sure you're okay. ... not like last time."
     "I liked last time," I whisper, and his expression darkens. Well, not after. Hm. That must be what he's talking about. "And I thought we fixed the misunderstanding afterwards."
      "I want to make love to you," he says simply, obviously wishing to drop the subject of last time as he slowly peels my shirt off me. He tosses it to the floor before he adds very near my mouth, "Slowly."
      One word. How does he do that with one word?! I shudder to think of Bryce's definition of 'slowly.' A small whimper escapes that gives away my thoughts. I wish I could take it back, but he definitely heard me.
       I hear him chuckle quietly in his throat as he undoes the button on my shorts and pulls the zipper down. Then he sits up, and his eyes lock with mine as he pulls my shorts down and off. A wicked grin covers his features suddenly like he just got an idea. What is he thinking?
     "After all," he says as calmly as he can manage, "I still haven't explored everywhere." He removes my sandals and licks the underside of my foot.
     "Holy shit," I frantically whisper and try to pull my foot away. He's ready for me, however, and catches my ankle.

      "Hm," he ponders while his other hand strokes the underside of my calf.
      "Not my feet," I beg.
      "Why not?" he asks.
      "Feet are gross."
      "Yours aren't," he says and sucks on the toe next to my big toe, taking it into his mouth and lightly biting it. I whimper loudly and try to get my foot free from his grasp again. "I think you like it," he says calmly after releasing my toe. "You just don't want to admit it." He reaches with his free hand and massages the skin around my pinky toe, and the sensation goes straight to my groin. "You like that, don't you?" he asks, and I want to kick him in the face except that would make the wonderful sensation stop.
     "They're feet!" I rasp out, trying to regain control over my body that has betrayed me once again in this man's magic hands. "They're for walking on!" Preposition.
      "Mhm. Feet are really quite interesting, did you know?" he says with irritating calm, still working the skin around my pinky toe with occasional licks and bites to other areas. "You can tie almost every part of the body to somewhere on the foot. So a good foot rub..." He applies the smallest amount of increase in pressure. "...can affect the entire body."
      I whine loudly.
      "Shh. You don't want to worry Adele."
      "No fair!" I say and sit up to try to pry his hands off my feet before it's too late.
      He looks up and grins at me. "Are you trying to fight me again, Erin?"
      "Yes," I growl as I start clawing at his fingers, but I can't gain a good enough purchase. "They. Are. Feet. They're. Not. Sexy. Quit it!" I get out, getting steadily more aggravated as he starts laughing.
       He releases my foot to take my face in his hands so he can kiss me. He pulls back before I expect him to, however, and says, "I love you."
       "Not my feet," I repeat.
       His eyes twinkle as he says, "I love your feet too."
       "That's not what I meant!" I squeal as he laughs a little and pushes me back against the mattress, finally away from my feet. I don't trust him to stay up here though, so I hold his face in my hands now and kiss him.
       "Erin," he pulls back to talk to me in a very amused voice, "there is not a place on your body that isn't sexy as hell." Then he attacks my earlobe.
       I gasp and try to move away. Of course, he has a firm grip of my chin. "Bryce, please!" I can only get out as a loud whisper. It's too weird how much I like that.
       He laughs quietly, and I can feel his breath against my throat as he says, "You stopped me from fully exploring your feet. I need some sort of consolation." I feel his lips on the skin behind my ear, and goosebumps break out all over me. "Oh, and Erin? I will finish that one day, even if I have to tie you up to do it."
        I gasp and feel him smiling against my neck. "What?!" I squeak out.
       "You heard me. I said it right into your ear after all," he says, acting distracted now as his hand travels down to the middle of the side of my torso.
       Quickly, one of his hands lifts me a little while the other flies under me and my bra is undone in a little over two seconds... I think.
       "Haven't lost your touch," I say with a smirk to his answering grin. I can't help but think of an Old West gunslinger practicing his quick draw.
     "Well, I have to keep that skill up just in case," he says while lowering himself to kiss my stomach.
       Where is he going? He'd better not be headed to my feet again... I think as he pulls down my undies. While he's down at my feet, I quickly pull my legs up to me.
       "You make it so tempting." he says huskily. "I was going to leave your feet alone for tonight, but if you're going to deliberately try to keep them from me, then I'll have to rethink that."
       "What?!" I squeak again. "No!"

       Fast as lightning, he captures both of my ankles in his hands and presses my feet against the mattress next to each other, my knees bent. The laughter has left his eyes now as he locks his with mine and pulls my ankles apart. Then his hands travel up my shins, greedily spreading his fingers so that he can touch as much of me as possible. Oh no.

       He leans down and slowly licks the inside of my thigh while his hand moves up the opposite one.
       "Bryce..." I whisper, but he ignores my plea when his tongue strokes my clitoris.
       "Ah!" I cry out, and he stops for a second.
    "You're going to have Adele knocking on the door wondering what's wrong if you can't keep quiet," he says way too seriously.
       "I can't keep quiet," I say with my eyes closed. Just looking at him where he is drives me crazy.
       "So again, I'm denied what I want to do," he says in an admonishing tone. My mouth drops in shock when he says, "You're accruing quite a debt here, Erin."
       "Me?" I ask, flabbergasted, as I watch him remove his pants. I pout when he finishes removing them.
        He looks at me with a confused expression and asks, "What?"
        "You never let me do that. You... distract me." He really wasn't wearing anything under those jeans, I think as I answer my earlier internal question.
       The grin is back for a second before he says, "I like distracting you." His lips finally return to mine as he crouches over me. "Now," he asks, "can I trust you to be quiet?"
        Why was that question hot? "I don't think I can. ...be quiet that is."
        "Oh Erin," he says as he hovers just outside of me, "then you need to practice."

        He enters me with agonizing slowness, sighing as he does so. Then he pulls almost all the way back out before doing it again. I have to bite my lip hard to do my best to keep quiet. He's driving me crazy. I just want him to stay more inside me! This full/empty/full/empty is going to make me scream in frustration soon if nothing else does.
       I finally get his attention when I whimper loudly. "Too much?" he asks.
       "Not enough more like," I say.
       "Oh, you want more?" he asks playfully, still continuing with his ridiculous movements.
       "Bryce!" I snap.
       "Damn, this feels so good though," he says, obviously enjoying my aggravation.
       "At first! But..."
       "I said 'slowly' after all." He grins. "Is there something else you wanted?"
        I have a sudden fantasy about clawing his eyes out.
        Finally, he stays fully inside of me and moves in small, intense circles before he asks, "Like this?"
       "Mmm hmmm," I whimper.
     "Shit, I can tell," he groans before lowering his mouth to my neck where he kisses and occasionally bites me.
       What I enjoyed a few minutes ago slowly starts to irritate the hell out of me. Plus, I'm worried about my neck.
        "Bryce..." I pant, "if you leave a mark on my neck," I let out a low groan when he picks up the speed for only a few seconds before slowing down again, "you're going to regret it."
       He picks up his head and smiles a little down at me before he asks, "I am?"
      "Yes."
      "Again, you make it so tempting."
      Shit, what has come over him?!
       "Bryce..." I say, and I hate the sound of my whining. He merely laughs quietly, and he still won't effing speed up! I growl and grab large fistfuls of his hair.
       "Ow!" he quietly exclaims. "I thought you liked my hair! Why are you trying to pull it out by the roots?"
       "Speed... up!" I growl. I was never this communicative with Sean during sex, but somehow, Bryce brings it out of me.
       He shakes his head. "No. I said... slowly." I start to let out a high-pitched, enraged sound that he quickly silences by kissing me. "Shh!" he says once he releases my lips again.
       "No! Bryce, I can't take this. Not and be quiet at the same time!" I pant.
       "You've done well so far," he says and grins down at me.
       I squeeze my eyes tight and tilt my head back as I let out another whine.

       "Take it, Erin, please. You're so fucking beautiful, and this feels so damn good," he mumbles breathily to me into my neck as he continues with his torturous movements. I start trying on my own to go faster, but he holds my hips steady with one hand as he says, "Oh no you don't. Now, be good. Dammit Erin, trust me and stop fighting it."
       I let out a shaky breath and try. Torturous pleasure radiates from my center to every part of my body until I want to scream. He has absolutely no intention of speeding up... probably at all, I think with another whimper as he gently encourages me to continue to keep myself from fighting him and what he's doing to me. I hadn't even realized what he meant by 'fighting' until I stopped doing it.
      I allow the sensations to take over and consume every thought, blotting out everything else in the universe except what we're sharing.
      I've reached some sort of plateau, and I do my best to keep my cry from being too loud. Bryce whispers something or other that I don't understand as he takes the tempo up only a fraction.
       The pleasure still builds too slowly for me to handle while my breathing sounds coarse and ragged and going to fast. Oh. Oh, I can't stand it!
      "Come on, baby," he whispers, and finally, it forces my body to succumb. He places his hand over my mouth to muffle the noise I can't help but make as he joins me in this powerful climax.
       Sex with this man can never just be 'normal' I guess, I think vaguely while I've started slowly coming back to earth.

37: After So Little Time

Sean

     After going to my hotel room for a few minutes to finish cleaning myself up, I head out to a club I noticed while driving around the other day. I can't stay in that damn hotel room all night by myself with nothing to do but watch bad TV and stare at the walls.

    I get inside and revel in the semidarkness as I make my way over to the bar. I want something strong enough to drown out the guilt I'm feeling.

     'Just let him beat the shit out of you, didn't you?' my subconscious taunts me, referring to that rebound guy and what happened on his front porch.

       I knew it was a long shot for Erin to even want to talk to me while she was around that guy, but I thought I'd try anyway. Then me and my big mouth. I got angry and talked about his kid.

       The bartender takes my order while I stare in the mirror at the small crowd reflected behind him. I hate being here by myself.

      'She's never coming back to you. You screwed up big time.' Again, my subconscious taunts me.

      Meredith isn't even that pretty.

      The bartender hands me my drink, and I decide to have a seat to watch people dance.

      I miss Erin, I think with gut-wrenching pain.

      This trip didn't turn out anywhere near what I'd hoped. I'd thought for sure her leaving town was a way of her asking me to chase her, which I gladly did. I get it; I deserved a little punishment. But no! She really left. She says she likes her new life here.

       She can't possibly be in love with that guy, I think, ignoring the fact that I know she'd never say that if it wasn't true. She just said that to make me leave her alone.

       'Maybe you should.'

       I wish my subconscious would shut the hell up. I mean come on! I was the one to finally get that girl to come out of her shell!

       My memory drifts back to Josh's party, our first date. Damn, she was hot. And uncomfortable. I couldn't let her be a mousy little coward forever... and that dress her cousin in Champs les Sims bought her... I inwardly groan with the memory. THAT'S when the rest of the team saw what I'd already seen. I laugh quietly. They thought I was performing some random act of kindness for asking out a nerd.

      I saw her first. I made her what she is, and I'll be damned if I wound up doing it for him!

    "Hey stranger," a velvety voice says just before the owner herself sits in the chair opposite me. "Why you sitting here all by yourself?"

      I look over at the moderately-attractive woman, and I mentally shrug. What harm can come from a little flirting, especially if Erin is being difficult?

      "Waiting for someone like you to come lift my spirits," I answer and pout a little. She leans forward; it looks to be working.

      "What's eating you?" she asks, still leaning forward so that she can hear me better. Or something. Well, whatever reason it is, I'm enjoying the view.

       "I've been dumped," I answer evasively. I finish my drink real fast, brighten up my expression, and say, "But I'm not going to let it get me down. Wanna dance?"

       "Sure," she says, and I take her offered hand and pull her behind me to the middle of the dance floor.

 ------------------------

Erin

     Kind of like Bryce was earlier, I'm shaking. I don't want to break down in front of Adele. Bryce tightens his arms around me, and I'm so grateful. I bury my face into his shoulder and work on trying not to scream with anger, hurt, and frustration. He doesn't try to get me to talk. Instead, he addresses his daughter.
     "Adele, I'm sorry you had to see what I just did. I... lost it," he tells her.
     "All he did was call me a brat. I don't care," she responds.
     "I do," he says, and the two of them get quiet again. "That doesn't excuse the fact that I was that violent because I want you to know that's not always the answer."
     "I get it," she says in an almost annoyed voice. Then she asks more quietly, "So, that was the ex?"
     "Yes," he answers, and I wonder how much he's told her. "And that's all the more reason for Erin to stay with us until he leaves."
     "It's fine, Daddy. I get it. He needs to leave her alone if she wants him to."
     I start crying. She just... said it so simply! So uncomplicated! If only life worked like that. I sniff and then feel the two of them looking at me.

     "It's okay, Erin," Adele tells me after she walks up and puts her hand on my shoulder. "Daddy won't let him get to you again," she says like her Daddy is her hero. Well, he's my hero too. "I'm going to go put the pizza away, I guess," she tells Bryce.
     "Did you do your homework?" he asks her in his parent voice.
     Adele sighs exasperatedly, and I can imagine her rolling her eyes at him. "No. I guess I'll go do that too." She's quiet for a few seconds before she says, "It's going to be okay, Erin."
     "Okay," I whisper back to her through my tears.
     The second the door closes, Bryce holds me tighter. I feel so guilty. I can feel his breath on my shoulder and his scruffy, perpetual five o'clock shadow against my ear.
      "I'm sorry," I whisper to him.
      "You don't have anything to be sorry about," he says soothingly.
      I nod against his collarbone. "Yes I do. I pretty much told you to get lost so I could talk to him... something you'd already told him wasn't going to happen."

      "Oh that," he says. "Well, don't worry about it. You made up for it the second you told him what you told him." He lightly kisses my shoulder before deciding to just run his mouth against it and up to my ear where he breathes in deeply.
      "Told him what exactly?" I ask.
      He takes another deep breath, and I can hear the restrained emotion in his voice as he tells me, "That you love me more than you ever loved him." Since my ear is pressed up against him, I can hear his heartbeat increase its tempo.
      "Oh," I say quietly. Well, it's true... He heard me?
      "That wasn't a lie to just get him to leave was it?" he asks, now sounding insecure.
      "I wouldn't lie about something like that. He knows that," I answer and wish that Bryce knew that. Maybe hearing me tell Sean made it finally sink in.
      This is the part where I would get mad at him for his insecurities, but after this morning, I think I understand a little better. He never got over Ashley leaving, and he might just be more screwed up than I am since he apparently never dealt with it. I just have to keep reminding myself to look at everything through that 'filter,' and I should be able to understand him better. I don't know how I got that from just a kiss... but it was the way he held me that made me catch on. That and the crying.
     He exhales harshly and turns my face towards his before he passionately kisses me.
     "How is it..." he asks in little breaks in the kiss, "...that you... mean so much to me... after so little time?" Then he pulls back to look at me and takes off my glasses to gently fold them and put them on the bedside table. That action, thankfully, gives me time to take in what he just said. I can't help but shed a few happy tears now; I'm an emotional wreck.
     When he's returned his gaze back to me, he reaches for my cheeks and wipes away the traces of my tears. I get momentarily lost in those warm brown eyes of his.
      "You're dangerous without your glasses on," he says quietly down to me.
      His statement throws me a little, and I can't help but find it funny in spite of everything we've gone through today. I find myself smiling as I ask him why.
      "Because your eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue I've ever seen," he answers, and I feel glad I'm not standing because I don't know how well my knees would hold up under that gaze. As it is, I sit up a little to voraciously kiss him.
      He pauses for a moment in quiet shock, and I, of course, revel in that moment. He deserves a 'shock' like this after the things he just told me. It doesn't last long, however, and he starts kissing me back. I want to laugh at the way he acts like he needs to kiss me more passionately than I'm kissing him. I feel like we're having a contest to see who can out-kiss the other one. I want to win.
       Bryce groans just before leaving my mouth for my neck, but I'm not finished with him. "Oh no you don't," I say and grab hold of his chin to pull his mouth back up to mine. He lets out a little whine/groan, and I know I've won. Good.
      He is... way too damn hot in nothing but these old jeans, I think as I remember how I wanted to practically attack him down in the kitchen earlier. Do they have to fit him like that? Then to just... casually lean on the door frame like he did. Holy shit!
      I work myself so that I'm straddling him with his legs hanging off the side of the bed. I know we need to talk, but right now I don't want to stop kissing him. He keeps trying to break free to probably kiss me elsewhere, but I'm not having it right now.
     A small growl escapes him after I thwart another of his attempts to leave my mouth. One of his arms flies around my waist, holding me closer to him, while the opposite hand reaches up to almost-roughly grab my breast. When his hand starts kneading me, it's my turn to groan, and it's not long until I have to break the kiss to catch my breath.

      The arm around my waist pulls me tighter up on him and a little higher as well before his hand pushes my breast up so that it comes more out of the top of my shirt. His mouth triumphantly attacks the exposed area, and his arm tightens around my waist to stop my mild squirming when his tongue dips down into my cleavage. His other arm takes over for the one holding my waist so he can undo my braid before he lifts me up only to deposit me on my back upon the unmade sheets, my legs still on either side of him.

      He pushes himself upwards off of my cleavage to once again posses my mouth. I can feel his erection straining against the thin material of his jeans as he presses himself against me there. Surprising me, we both groan at the same time when he starts teasing me with suggestive movements of his hips.
      Having been denied last night and him driving me crazy all afternoon, I'm about ready to explode with suppressed need. I reach up and grab fistfuls of his hair. I decide I love longer hair on guys; it gives me something else to hang onto.
     I'm shaking for quite another reason than I was just a few minutes ago, and I hear myself groan as I think, Oh shit, Bryce. PLEASE don't stop.

     "I desperately need to make love to you right now, Erin," he says soft and low without stopping. My breathing spikes as my nails rake across his chest, shoulders, back, and wherever else I can immediately get to. "But it's almost Adele's bedtime. And I want to take my time with you."
      I let out something between a whimper and a whine. No! Don't leave me like this! I think in a mild panic.
      I can feel his eyes watching me. "However... shall I make you come like this?"
      "Yes," I whisper. Don't worry, it won't take long! I think as he groans and increases the pressure. His tempo also increases the tiniest amount, and I'm about to come apart at the seams. It's all I can do to keep from screaming.
      He must be able to sense that because his mouth claims mine in a demanding kiss. I'm very close now.
      Before I expect it, however, my hips curl towards him in a surprisingly-powerful climax that gives me torturous aftershocks.
       "Oh, baby," he whispers as he does what he can to force as much out of my aftershocks as possible.

      When we've been still and quiet for a few minutes, he brings me back to the here and now just enough to tell me, "I'll just tell Adele that you're resting." There's a small smirk on his face. I love that smirk. That smirk means he's happy he's made me feel so damn good. I'll return the favor somehow... just as soon as I can get the energy.
      He kisses me chastely once before chuckling and getting up to go do the bedtime ritual thing with Adele. I don't know how he's going to hide his physical state from her. The next time I think about it and want to inquire, I notice I must've missed some time because the bed is empty.
      All that with my clothes on.