Under Her Skin (15 page)

Dusty was silent for a minute, then slowly nodded his head. "I first met Carly back in high school and I was at such a low point in my life. Our parents never wanted anything to do with me and Marlo, and I felt like it was all my fault. I felt like I was such a major disappointment to them, and because of that, they wanted nothing to do with Lola either.

"I started seeing this new girl in the halls around school, just before Christmas one year, and all the guys were talking about her and how hot she was. I mean, she was absolutely gorgeous, and sad as it is to say, I dreamed about her all the time. It was just a crush, and I knew I'd never have a chance with her, so I put her out of my head.

"On the first day of the new semester, I was sitting in my art class, and she walks into the room. The object of my desire, the girl I appreciated from afar, walked towards me and did something I never dreamed she'd do. She sat in the seat next to me and started talking to me.

"By the end of the first week, she'd asked me out on a date. I couldn't believe she would actually converse with me day after day, let alone do something as bold as ask me out on a date. I didn't know what she would see in me, so to avoid the disappointment, I said no. She kept asking, time after time, and time after time, I said no.

"Finally, mid-semester, she wore me down and I actually said yes. She was so persistent that I figured there had to be something about me that she liked. On our first date, it was so unreal to be out with her. I felt like I was flying, with this beautiful, sweet girl by my side. She had chosen me, and I never felt worthy of her, but little by little, she began to build my confidence. She made me feel so good about myself which was what I desperately needed after living with my parents all my life. Carly was my first everything…my first girlfriend, my first kiss, my first love, my first….first, and also my first heartbreak.

"Something happened one day, about ten months after we started dating, and her whole attitude towards me changed. I mean, it was literally overnight that she started treating me differently. There was no warning, no lead up to the change. She started telling me that I was worthless and would never amount to anything. A week later, she broke up with me.

"It all seemed so sudden, and I guess I never really got over it. There was no explanation, nothing. Just a clean break. She never talked to me again, until just recently.

"A few months ago, she just showed back up. It seemed like a coincidence, but it also seemed like every time I turned around, she was there. For once in my life, I felt like I was worthy of her. Everything with the band has been going great, and we're finally getting somewhere with our music. I felt like, on some level, I was finally up to par, and someone that she could be proud of.

"I just…I just miss the times that I spent with her, and I keep thinking that if I show her how much I've changed…if I show her that I'm not the same loser that I once was, then she'll go back to being the wonderful person that I fell in love with."

Tobias shook his head. He never thought that his friend had such a low self-esteem that he would allow this to happen. "So in the meantime, you're going to allow her to rule your life and treat you like crap?"

"Man, I just want the woman back that I fell in love with." Dusty said sadly.

"That was so long ago. People change, man. She may never be that woman ever again." Tobias tried to point out. "Don't you see the way she's playing you? you're relying on her to build yourself up, but at the same time, all she's doing is tearing you down lower than you were before. She's just taking your money and isolating you from family and friends."

"I can't help it! She's like a drug!" He exclaimed.

Tobias wanted so bad to say something about that, but decided against it. He didn't want Marlo to get in trouble for snooping through Carly's things. It just wasn't the right time to bring the drugs up. "Listen, you've missed a few recording sessions, and the record execs are all talking lawsuits. You really need to get your head screwed on straight and get into the studio with us before we all lose out. Do what you want with Carly, but when it comes to studio time, you better be there."

"I know man. I'm sorry. I'm going to try…"

"No! You need to do more than try Dusty! You owe it to us. Just remember who's always been there for you, and who turned their back on you." Tobias was angry, and before he said something that he was really going to regret, he got up from the booth, threw some money down on the table, and left without another word.

*****

Meanwhile, at an outdoor café across town, Marlo and Carly sat eating a strained lunch. They were both almost done with their entrees before either one of them said a word. At that point, their conversation was strained. Marlo was trying to be nice to Carly, but Carly was her usual snotty self.

"So, when do you go back to work?" Marlo asked.

"Whenever I want." Carly snapped. "Listen, I don't know what your little plan with this lunch was, but don't go trying to get between me and Dusty. I'll turn him against you so fast it'll make your head spin. I have plans for him, so stay out of my way."

Marlo glared at Carly as she stood up. "I could say the same to you. Watch yourself Carly, you don't know who you're messing with." Marlo left, leaving Carly with the bill. It was time for her to pay for once.

*****

"I don't know if it worked or not Marlo." Tobias whispered as they lay together in her bed. "He seems pretty hooked and I've never seen him look so pitiful."

"Well, I sure as hell didn't get through to Carly. She's one evil bitch. It's a lot worse than I thought it was going to be." Marlo sighed. Not wanting to think about the damage being done to her brother anymore, she changed the subject. "Hey Tobias, how come you never call me Lola anymore?"

Tobias rolled over to his side and looked at Marlo. "You told me not to. Only your friends could call you Lola."

Marlo heard a tinge of hurt in his voice, and immediately felt guilty. She kissed him long and deep, trying to erase all the mean things she ever said to or about Tobias. "I think we're more than friends now." She whispered huskily after she broke their kiss.

"I hope so, after a kiss like that. I'd be crushed to think that you kiss all your friends like that." He smirked and kissed her again.

"Make me forget everything." Marlo whispered to him.

Tobias swallowed hard, wanting to tell her something to make her forget all the drama surrounding them, but was too afraid to say the words. Instead, he put all of his feelings into his kiss.

Soon, they were both lost in the passion, the heat that they were each feeling was the only thing either thought about. Tobias' hands slowly slid up Marlo's stomach, taking the hem of her silky camisole with them. His lips broke from hers as he completely removed the lingerie from her body. His mouth was immediately drawn to her ample breasts, causing a gasp to come from Marlo's mouth. The intensity of the pleasure she was feeling nearly paralyzed her and kept her wanting more.

Slowly, Tobias slid her panties down her legs, leaving her completely naked. He descended between her legs, leaving her with a feeling like she had never experienced before. She squirmed when she felt his hot, wet tongue, until his hands grasped her hips and held her still.

A wave of pure, blissful pleasure washed over her, and she pulled Tobias up to where he was level with her again. Her hands reached down to his boxers and gave a firm tug. He helped her to remove them, then groaned when her hand gripped his member.

"Oh god Lola!" He moaned, loving the feel of her hand.

Marlo smiled when he finally returned to using her nickname. She realized how much she missed hearing it come from his voice. She climbed on top of him and straddled his body. "Please, make love to me Tobias. I want you to be my first."

Chapter 17

Tobias froze as soon as the words entered his ears, and he rolled away from Marlo. "Oh my God, I can't even believe what I almost just did!" He groaned, his head in his hands, his breathing ragged.

"Why are you stopping?" Marlo gasped. "I'm giving you the green light here!" Anger crept into her voice.

"As much as it pains me to say, it just isn't right. Not right now." He said, still panting.

Marlo was getting angry. She yanked the blankets over her bare body. "What do you mean? You don't want me?"

"It's not that, trust me it isn't that! Does it look like I don't want you?" He asked, his frustration evident as they both looked down. "Can you honestly tell me that if all this stuff wasn't happening with your brother that you'd still want this right here, right now?"

Marlo sighed and was silent for a minute. "It's not that I wouldn't want it, because I do, but I'm still afraid, and I probably wouldn't have let it go that far if it hadn't been for the other stuff happening."

"And that's exactly why I said 'Not now'." He pointed out.

"Thanks, I guess." She said sheepishly. She couldn't believe how wrapped up in the moment she got.

Tobias leaned over and kissed her forehead. "If you'll excuse me, I have a date with a cold shower." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and was about to stand up when he felt a soft hand on his arm.

"Not so fast…" She said, and brought him back into the bed to give him more satisfaction than the shower ever could.

They both went to sleep that night with smiles on their faces. Marlo was thinking about how different Tobias was with her than he was with all the other girls, and how impressed she was at his ability to stop himself, especially when she had lost all of her self-control. Tobias fell asleep thinking how great it would be when they finally did take the next step.

*****

"You guys need to stop ganging up on me and Carly." Dusty told Marlo the next day. "You know, I always thought I'd have you on my side. I never expected my sister to turn her back on me."

Marlo sat at the kitchen table in shock. Dusty had walked into the kitchen and immediately went after his sister, who had no idea that she had anything coming to her. "Dusty, I never have and never will turn my back on you. I don't know what Carly said to you, but she was the one that was rude to me. I was trying to get along with her."

"You've been against me and her being together from the beginning. I never said anything bad about you and Tobias, I'd appreciate the same from you." Dusty spat at her and left the room.

Marlo felt blind-sided. She didn't know what had just happened, and even though the fight wasn't that bad, Marlo broke down crying. Her and Dusty rarely argued, and when they did, Marlo felt the weight of the words a lot heavier than they actually were.

Tobias walked in a few minutes later to see a dazed look in Marlo's eyes, tears streaming down her face. "Hey beautiful, what's wrong?" He asked as he kneeled next to her chair and took her face in his hands. He wiped the tears from her face with her thumbs, waiting to see what she had to say. It broke his heart to see her so upset.

"Me. And. Dusty. Got. Into. A. Fight." She sobbed. "About Carly." She finally finished.

Tobias grabbed a tissue for her, and she blew her nose. After he threw it away for her, he pulled her out of the chair and sat down himself, pulling her back onto his lap. Her head went to his shoulder as his arms encircled her body and held her tight. He let her cry for a few more minutes, knowing that she'd be able to talk about it soon, but until then, he'd have to wait.

"It's so unfair. Why is it my fault that no one likes Carly? I'm only trying to help him, but yet he sees it as me being against him." She finally whined. "I can just imagine what she said to him to get him so mad at me."

"Our plan obviously didn't work. But don't worry, one way or another, we'll get rid of Carly." Tobias promised. "Until then, we'll just get through it together."

Marlo looked at him and smiled. "I want to know what you did with the old Tobias…the one who was always so mean to me."

"He's locked in the basement. Said he doesn't want to come out ever again." He joked and kissed her nose. "How about dinner tonight. We'll get dressed up and everything. I can actually wear a nice dress shirt now, since I got the cast off."

"I guess you twisted my arm. I'll go get ready." Marlo jumped up excitedly. It was amazing the effect that Tobias had on her.

"But we're not leaving for at least two hours!" Tobias laughed.

"Well, a woman needs to look nice for her man. Sometimes that takes time." She teased. "Besides, I need to figure out how to get rid of this red nose." She said, looking cross-eyed down to the tip of her nose.

Tobias laughed as she walked out of the room. He thought back to how miserable he was before Marlo, and now he was always in such a good mood.

*****

The restaurant was beautiful, and Marlo was really impressed. It was fairly dark in there, lit mostly by candles to increase the romantic atmosphere, and very few dim lights. The table clothes and window treatments were a deep red shade, with a single Fire and Ice rose at each table.

"Wow, this place is beautiful. I feel so under-dressed." Marlo stared in wonder.

Tobias looked at the woman on his arm and wasn't at all ashamed at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a long, black strapless dress, the bottom reaching mid-calf and slightly flaring. "I think you look gorgeous." Tobias whispered and kissed her cheek. "How am I going to keep my hands to myself all night?" He asked, teasingly.

"I guess you'll just have to try." She told him as the hostess led them to their table.

The food was exquisite, and the evening was perfect as they ate. Tobias made Marlo forget all about the fight that she had with her brother, and for a time, they were the only two people on earth.

It all changed once dessert came though. Everything came crumbling down over a shared piece of Death By Chocolate. One of the tables near theirs had a group of six women, obviously having an expensive 'Girl's Night Out'. When dessert was delivered, the whole table looked over to see what delicious concoction had been ordered. Not only did they see the delicious dessert, but they also saw the delicious lead singer of Pleasure Pointe.