Chosen Heart (43 page)

Alex glances in their
direction.  “It appears that tonight is a test of our self-control. 
You know they are nothing compared to you.”  Unable to show his emotion
through touch, Alex relies on his eyes to show his need.  And trust me, I
feel it.

“You know you could have anyone
you want; including the banshees over there.  Don’t you ever think about
how easy it could be if you were with someone who wasn’t…me?”

“I don’t give a fuck about
easy.  I care about making this work with you.  Didn’t you hear the
words to my song?  It’s you…you make
everything
real for me. 
Even when we were at our worst…I still had hope, because I knew that losing you
would be like living in a world without sight and sound.  What kind of
life would that be?”  I feel the same way.  I know it would be easier
to love someone who I could be with openly, but I don’t want easy, I want
him. 

“Elyssa, you make my world
beautiful…even when you’re driving me crazy…I know in the end, we will always
find a way back.”

I stare at him, not knowing what
to say.  He’s like sunshine for me; warm, inviting, and completely
essential.  So, I say the only thing that comes to mind, “I need to be
alone with you, right now.”

We sneak out, barely escaping
Oliver’s watchful eye.

~~~~~

With my shoes in one hand and
Alex’s fingers intertwined in the other, I’m replete as we walk along the San
Diego coast.  The cool water feels incredible as the sand tickles with
every grain that slips through my toes.  Pacing ourselves, we are enjoying
our last night before we return to reality. 
Reality…ugh
.  I
wish we could stay here forever.  I wouldn’t even mind going to boring
sessions about techniques for improving employee value, if it meant we could be
us.  Just Alex and Ely.  It would be nice to not worry about putting
on a façade.

“Why can’t we just stay here?” I
nuzzle against him, pouting.

“Because we have
responsibilities; besides do you want to live on the streets?  I don’t see
you roughing it.”  He bumps my shoulder as we continue our stride.

I halt our progression, bringing
my hand up to caress his cheek.  “I could live in a cardboard box with
you, begging for money and food.  I don’t need extravagant things…I only
want you.”

Placing his hand over mine, he
lets my touch linger as he lowers his head.  “Elyssa, there’s so much you
don’t know about me.  So much we don’t know about each other.  If you
knew everything…let’s just say I haven’t been the best man.  I’m trying to
right my wrongs, but karma has a way of beating you down.”

“Alex, I know in your life,
anything less than perfection is unacceptable, and the slightest fault makes
you automatically feel undeserving.  But, at this point, I can’t think of
one single thing that would scare me away from you.”

He looks pained.  I wish I
knew what he was thinking, but I can see his personal demons aren’t going to
let me in.  “I know you wouldn’t want to make such gestures without
knowing everything.” 

“Then tell me,” I plead, bringing
my hand up to rest on the nape of his neck.  Alex flinches slightly, but
brings the palm of my hand to his lips, placing a slow lingering kiss.

“In due time; I’d like to enjoy
this for as long as I can.  Once you know…I’m afraid the sight and color
will
fade from my world once again.”  The moon highlights his square jaw,
revealing the pout forming on his mouth.  “I really hope I don’t mess this
up.”

“You worry too much.  I seem
to recall you doing a brilliant job.  In fact, you’re doing so well, that
I now have a deeper appreciation for chocolate syrup.”  I blush. 

“It’s not just the sex, my Hart. 
I’ve been with plenty of women.  But with you…just being around you makes
me happy;
even
when I’m not deep inside you hearing you scream my
name.”  My insides clench at his erotic words.  His blatant ability
to talk about sex is shocking.  And
HOT!

Noticing my desperation, and
heated touch, we continue down the beach.  Considering I want to push him
down and sexually assault him on the sand, it’s probably a good thing that Alex
changes topics.  “So, you’re not flying out with me tomorrow?” 

“I don’t fly,” I respond
automatically.  Knowing I haven’t told him about my parents, I lessen my
tenacity, and continue.  “Haven’t been able to…that’s how my parents
died.  I haven’t felt comfortable in a plane since.” 
Not that
I’ve tried.

“I didn’t know,” he admits,
pulling me in closer.  Thankfully he doesn’t pry, only to ask what time I
was planning on driving back home.

“I was going to leave around
eleven.”

“I’ll ride with you.  It
could be fun,” he says nonchalantly, trying to hide the excitement in his last
words.

I’m stunned; I really wasn’t
expecting that.  “You would give up your cushy, first class ticket to
drive home with me?”

“I’d give up a lot more to spend
time alone with you.”  With the cool breeze gently swaying past us, Alex
brushes away strands of hair, tucking them behind my ear.  “I’ll cancel my
flight in the morning.”  I smile bashfully, as we progress further along
the beach. 

Thinking about how we ended up
here, I search for more of an explanation of the Alex versus Oliver
conflict.  And come up with nothing.  “Alex, I have to ask…what’s up
with you and Oliver?”  He looks over at me curiously, making me feel a
need to explain.  “Sorry, it’s just that you guys are always at each
other’s throats, and it can’t just be because of me.”

Seemingly resolved, he decides to
open up.  “I’ve known Oliver for a few years and what can I say, we’ve
always been competitive.  I think with both of us vying for your
attention, it’s been amplified.”

I pull him back, grabbing the
sides of his face, forcing him to look into my eyes.  I need to make sure
he knows how I feel.  I need him to know there is no one else; especially
not Oliver.  “You know there’s no competition when it comes to me,
right?  I would always choose you.  In any scenario, I will always
choose you.”

“You feel the same for me, as I
do for you.”  Alex toys with one of the rings on my finger, appearing
slightly apprehensive.  “Just stay away from him, Elyssa.  He
despises me and I don’t want you to get in the middle of it.”

“I don’t understand why he hates
you so much,” I conclude.  Taking Alex’s hand, I drag him towards the dry
sand.  The water is getting a little nippy and my feet crave
dryness. 

With a sigh, he reluctantly
continues.  “We both applied for the V.P. position.  Obviously, I got
it.  Since then there’s always been a rivalry between us,” Alex shrugs,
like it’s that simple.  I know he’s keeping something from me.  “I
can deal with any of his issues being directed at me, but I can’t risk him
using you to get to me.”

“Alex, no one knows we’re
together.  How could he use me against you?”

“He’s perceptive and I’m sure
he’s noticed how I look at you.  If he even thinks that you mean something
to me, business or professional, he’ll use you to get to me.  He’s a
sleazy bastard.”  Stopping to search his face, I’m astonished at his
choice of words.  Sure, Oliver’s approach is pretentious; but sleaze is a
bit much. 

Seeing my doubt, he
snickers.  “Trust me, Elyssa, I wish I wasn’t being serious.  Late
last year we attended a conference together.  One of the broker’s was
flirting with me, and of course, Oliver saw us
talking
and thought he
would fit right into the conversation.” 

Wait, what…some floozy was
flirting with my Alex?  Breathe, Ely!  The past is the past.
  Dang, I get it now. 
If the mention of another woman innocently flirting with Alex makes me see red,
I can’t imagine how he feels every time Oliver is around.  I really need
to cut him some slack.  At least I’m battling with his past; he has to
deal with the present.

“Later that night, I found him
fucking her in the staircase of our hotel.”  His description is harsh and
crude.  I can’t judge, though.  Making love in the throes of passion,
even in the most inconvenient locations, is sometimes necessary.  But
grimy sex with a stranger…no, that’s sickening. 
Wait, didn’t you just
say you couldn’t judge?  It wasn’t that long ago that Alex was taking you
in a private booth of a very crowded dance club.

“Not to say he isn’t pursuing you
because you’re absolutely stunning, but I’m sure he has other motives.” 
Already feeling a little flushed, I blush at his backhanded compliment. 

“Oliver’s completely
harmless.  You really have nothing to worry about.” 

Suddenly, bringing me into a
constricting embrace, passion erupts as our kiss deepens.  Pulling back he
insists, “Promise me you’ll stay away from him.  I know there’s no
competition, but I don’t trust him.”

“I promise.”  I lay my hand
on his chest, over his heart and promise to always take his feelings into
consideration and love with my eyes open.

Alex releases me from our
embrace, trying to pull me towards our footprints in the sand.  “You’re
cold.  Let’s head back.”  Not wanting to waste any amount of time, I
pull against his retreat as he gazes at me inquisitively. 

Searching the distance, I’m
relieved when I see there is no one around for miles.  “You could keep me
warm another way,” I glow, suggestively raising my eyebrows. 

With his eyes half shut, breathe
catching on my seductive words, “Are you asking me…”

Not knowing what I’m about to get
myself into, I bite my lip and divulge another secret truth.  “I’ve never
had sex on the beach before.  I want you to be my first.”

“And last.”  Alex takes me
into his arms, passionately kissing me until I can barely breathe.  “Thank
God you’re wearing a dress.” 

Kneeling before me, his hands
playfully travel up my thighs, affecting every inch of my already raw
skin.  Removing my panties, he places them in his front pocket.  “Are
you sure about this?”  I nod confidently, looking down at my very own sex
God.  Him kneeling before me, the cold air touching my damp sex, the
heated look passing between our eyes…I want nothing more in this moment for him
to be inside me, to eliminate the cold.  Laying his jacket down on the
sand, he pulls me towards him as I lay bare my wants and desires for him to
consume.

Alex makes love to me under the
stars.  The waves of the ocean along with his moans are an erotic lullaby
that I will remember for eternity. 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

A delicate hand travels up and
down my spine, willing me to wake up.  I moan in appreciation as I turn
onto my back to gaze at my heart.  All dimples and lips, his bliss is
completely obvious. 

“Good morning,” I mumble. 
His five o’clock shadow has now turned into a nine o’clock shadow, causing
another moan to escape my lips.  Running my fingers along his stubble, I
blush at the memory of the sensation along the inside of my thighs. 
Oozing sex appeal with his messy, post-coital hair and bare chest, he smells of
citrus, sex and me. 

Teasingly, Alex hovers over me,
rubbing his jaw line against my bare midriff.  I try pushing him away, but
I erupt in laughter instead.  “Allleeexxx!”  I squeal as I try to
push against him.  He doesn’t budge an inch; my strength is no match against
his hard body. 

With his fingers flexing against
my sides, he tickles me into submission.  “No…!”  I laugh
uncontrollably.  “Please…stop…!”  I beg as I tighten my legs around
his waist.  “Alex please…you’re going to make me pee myself.”

Halting his amused assault, he
whispers, “Well, aren’t you a freak.  I’m not really into golden showers.”

Mortified, I slap his chest
before hiding my face out of embarrassment.  “That’s not what I meant.”

Pulling my hands away from my
face, Alex exhales as he bends down, placing a sweet kiss against my swollen
lips.  “I love waking up with you, Elyssa.”  I melt.  No words
align with how I’m feeling; all I can do is smile into his smoldering blue
eyes.

With the brush of his fingers
across my shoulder, I feel the remnants of last night’s sexual adventure
lingering on my skin.  “I have sand in places I never imagined,” I
jest. 

“Shower, food, and then our last
session,” he responds with one last kiss on my inner thigh.  Damn, I
forgot we had another one.  It’s a good thing I take exceptional notes
because I don’t remember anything from yesterday. 

“I was thinking…can we make a pit
stop before we head home?”

I look at his now somber blue
eyes.  “Sure.  Where are we going?”

“To visit my mother’s
grave.” 

~~~~~

The weather is lovely.  The
warm California sun is nothing compared to the blazing heat of Las Vegas; the
ocean breeze feels amazing against my skin.  I’m glad we both changed out
of our work clothes into something more casual for the ride home.  Even dressed
down in jeans and a t-shirt, he looks disgustingly attractive.  It
probably helps that he looks amazing naked, so clothes just accentuate his
amazing physique.  Playfully grazing his fingers against my thigh, he
seems to appreciate the lack of material on my apricot, open-knit dress.