Slow No Wake

FIVE

Eye of the Wind

Daniel came to get me for lunch early; it was only 11:30. I sensed he wanted to make sure he didn’t miss me or that maybe I’d go without him. At least now I had a better understanding of where his lack of confidence came from. It was the same place where my insecurities lie, in the remnants of our broken hearts.

I was glad when he suggested we get boxed lunches and sit outside by the pond. It was quickly becoming one of my favorite places.

Today, we had ham and cheese on rye bread with potato chips and a pickle. I ate my pickle first; I always did.

Daniel grinned. “Do you want my pickle?”

I stifled a chuckle. “Are you propositioning me?”

“You seem to really like pickles.”

“I do.”

He handed me his pickle. “Thanks,” I said.

Daniel’s expression became more serious. “I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

“Let’s just forget it.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m the jealous type, who’s going to freak out every time I see you talking with another guy.”

“How about we just take things slowly and see where they lead?” I suggested.

He nodded although I could see a flicker of disappointment flash in his eyes. “I really wanted to see you for lunch yesterday, but my roommate texted me with a small crisis that needed to be taken care of.”

I was a little surprised because I saw him talking with someone by the school. “Is your roommate a teacher?” I asked.

His glanced down and I could see he was hesitant to explain.

“I didn’t mean to pry.” I was suddenly uncomfortable

He sighed. “It’s okay. You’ll find out eventually. My roommate is a teacher here.”

“I hope it’s not Mr. LaRoche,” I joked.

He didn’t laugh. Oh. No.

“So you’ve already heard about him?”

“I heard a lot about him and none of it good,” I admitted.

“Unfortunately, everything you heard is probably true.”

I went wide-eyed.

He continued, “I don’t tell many people that we’re roommates, especially women, and especially when we first meet, because I don’t want them to think I treat women the way he does.”

I took a deep breath. It was a lot to handle. “So why do you live with him, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“We’ve been roommates since our freshman year of college. We always played sports together and had a lot of fun. Now we kite surf together. I know he’s a dog. I guess I just put up with it because that’s just the way he is.”

It made me think about my sister. She was always a tease and flirt, and frankly, kind of a slut, and I always put up with it because she was my sister. That was, until she screwed my fiancé.

“I think I understand,” I said.

Daniel seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

When I held up the pickle he had given me and took a bite, I noticed a big smile light up his face.

***

That evening, I was lying on the couch thinking about Daniel, when there was pounding on the door. Shit. I didn’t want to see Eddie. I was starting to have feelings for Daniel and I didn’t want them to be overshadowed by Eddie’s—well—everything. He exuded so much raw sexuality and overwhelming charm, it was hard to resist.

I thought about pretending I wasn’t home or at least pretending to be asleep, but the pounding continued. Ugh.

I went to the door and opened it a sliver. “What do you want?” I said as curtly as possible.

“What are we doing tonight?” Eddie asked.

“We’re not doing anything,” I said and made a move to close the door on him. He was a little too fast for me though, and he already had his foot inside.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s hang out.”

“Why don’t you hang out with the porn star you had over last night? I’m sure she’d be more than willing to provide a repeat performance.”

He actually had the audacity to grin. The man officially had no shame. “I don’t do two-night stands,” he said.

“You completely disgust me,” I snarled.

“So you do have feelings for me,” he countered.

I just scowled at him.

“Are you going to make me stand out here in your doorway all night?” He tapped on the door frame.

I sighed and opened the door to let him in. The quicker I let him in, the sooner he’d be gone, I rationalized.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than to annoy me?” I asked. “Where’s your roommate?”

“Danny-O’s a good boy. He’s always working hard, trying to better himself,” he said as he flopped on my couch, as was becoming his habit. “I just work to support my three loves.” He held up one finger. “First, is wine—or beer—really anything with alcohol.” He held up another finger. “Second, is women, which needs no further explanation.” He held up a third finger. “Last, but in no way least, is kite surfing.”

“Sounds deep,” I said.

He grabbed the book I was reading and looked at the cover. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. “Going old school with a little light reading before you go to bed, huh?”

“And what would you know about Oscar Wilde?” I asked as I sat down on the couch next to him.

“I’ve read it,” he said seriously.

I rolled my eyes. “You’ve read The Picture of Dorian Gray?” I couldn’t image him reading anything, let alone Oscar Wilde.

His eyes bore into me.

I shrugged. “I guess it makes sense. The book is about a handsome and narcissistic guy, who lives a life or debauchery, indulging in every worldly pleasure without any apparent consequences. I’m sure you could relate.”

“The artist is the creator of beautiful things. Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”

He quoted from the Preface of the novel. WTF? I couldn’t help the look of shock on my face.

He leaned in close to me and said in a near whisper, “Why are you so surprised that someone, who loves to f*ck around, also loves to read?”

His nearness and his breath on my neck sent a wave a heat down my body. I wanted to leap from the couch but my body wouldn’t move. It was like my own body was rebelling against my mind.

“I also love to f*ck girls who love to read,” he continued. “I had a thing for English majors when I was in college. That’s why I memorized Oscar Wilde. It was a panty dropper every time. Those little book nerds were freaks in bed. Are you a freak in bed, Alexandria?”

Shit. I was in BIG TROUBLE.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

I looked into his gorgeous brown eyes and nearly melted. He leaned in close and his lips hovered over mine. I thought he was going to kiss me. I almost begged him to kiss me.

But he didn’t.

He whispered into my ear instead. “You told me you have a date Saturday night. When he kisses you, I want you to think of me. I want you to wish it was me kissing you instead of him.”

I fought to catch my breath as he got up and left my apartment.

A lone teardrop escaped down my cheek as I wondered how I was ever going to be able to kiss Daniel and not think about Eddie.

I cried myself to sleep that night thinking about how someone, who was supposed to be an expert in mental health, allowed herself to be manipulated and mind-f*cked by someone like Eddie.

***

Friday was a blur. Every hour of my schedule, with the exception of lunch, was filled with new clients. Part of me thought it was a blessing, because it kept my mind off of Eddie and Daniel and the increasingly more complex situation I found myself in with two men, who couldn’t be more different.

At lunch, Daniel could sense something was off. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I’m just tired,” I lied. “I had some trouble sleeping last night.”

He nodded. “You should try warm milk. It really works. You can also take a few calcium supplements before you go to bed.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Are we still on for tomorrow night?” I could hear some apprehension in his voice.

“Of course,” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. I really did want to go out with Daniel. I liked him and enjoyed his company. But my physical attraction to him was more of a slow burn, as opposed to the intense flames I felt with Eddie. Of course, you know the old adage, if you play with fire, you’re sure to get burned. I felt the chances of getting burned by Daniel were slim, but with Eddie they were almost assured.

“I’m really looking forward to taking you out,” Daniel said. I could see a glimmer in his eye. Here was an utterly attractive and sweet guy, who obviously liked me and yet my thoughts were still pulled to the a*shole Eddie. Why?

“I’m looking forward to it, too,” I said. And it was true. A big part of me really did like Daniel. I just wished it was all of me that liked him.

***

I was up early Saturday morning after a restless night dreaming about both Daniel and Eddie. In my dream, Daniel kissed me softly and made my heart flutter but then his kisses turned more hard and intense and I realized the person I was kissing had become Eddie. It was quite disturbing.

I thought some mint tea might take my mind off of the Daniel/Eddie conundrum, at least few a little while. When I headed into the kitchen to put on the kettle, I heard strange sounds coming from Eddie’s apartment. It sounded like “yeow, yeow” followed by the patter of tiny footsteps. Eddie didn’t have a dog like Hans had suspected. He had a cat.

I ran into my bedroom, slipped on some sweatpants and a tee shirt, ran a comb through my hair then high-tailed it next door. I don’t know what overcame me but I had suddenly become obsessed with the idea of proving Eddie had a pet in his apartment. I felt like a woman on a mission.

I pounded on his front door for a few seconds before a half-asleep Eddie answered. He was wearing boxer briefs and nothing else. His hair was tousled like he had just gotten out of bed, but my eyes were immediately drawn to his lower assets, which were rather prominently on display. His package was a full one.

“See something you like?” he teased.

When my eyes finally made it back up to his eyes, they were dancing with delight. He loved seeing me squirm.

“Alexandria, if I’d have known you wanted morning sex, I would have stayed the night at your place.”

I pushed Eddie out of the way and barged into his apartment. “I know you have a cat.”

He grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him. He put his finger to his lips and shushed me. “My roommate is asleep. He worked late last night.”

I had completely forgotten his roommate worked double shifts. I felt like an ass.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “But I heard a yeow.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s a yeow?”

“The sound a cat makes.”

He grinned. “Don’t you mean meow?”

I shook my head. “No, it sounded like yeow.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Have you ever had a cat?”

“No, we were dog people. I thought I heard a scratching sound, too. Which bedroom is yours?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Eddie flashed his sexy dimple at me. Shit.

I returned his suggestion with a scowl.

“I’m in the master. Last door.”

“I know which room is the master bedroom,” I said as I headed down the short hallway toward his room. I threw open his door and a furry little grey kitten stood there staring at me.

Eddie came in close behind me and shut his door. He was so close to me, I could feel him pressed against my back. He was hard. And I was alone with him in his bedroom. Shit. Double-shit.

It took every ounce of self-control I had to step away from his tempting body. As far away as I could in the small bedroom, anyway.

“I was right,” I said pointing at the kitten.

He scooped up the small creature and nuzzled her. I had to smile seeing him being so affectionate with the little furball. It was a side of him I had no idea existed.

“What’s her name?” I asked.

He eyed me for a few seconds. “I’ve only had her for a few weeks. I’d been calling her cat because I hadn’t come up with a fitting name.” He stroked the kitten as he continued. “Look at her. She’s adorable and a little spitfire.”

He was right. She was cute.

“That’s why I decided to name her Alexandria.”

I nearly choked. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is this some kind of line to get me into your bed?”

He placed the kitten carefully on the floor then closed the space between us until we were only inches apart. “I don’t need to name my cat after you to get you into bed.” His eyes were blazing.

I suddenly felt claustrophobic in the small space and with his close proximity. I wanted to get out of his bedroom to get some air.

“I’ve got to go,” I said as I pushed away from him and toward the door.

“My door’s always open for you, Alexandria. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I hurried through his apartment and out the front door. When I was finally outside, I inhaled a deep breath. Had he really named his cat after me? Ugh.

***

A few hours later, I found myself at the mall. I decided I needed a new outfit for my date with Daniel: something soft and fun and a little flirty. Something more appropriate for the Florida weather than the Midwest clothes I had brought with me.

Most of the shops seemed to carry clothes made for the bar scene, something I had grown beyond a few years ago. I managed to find one store that had cute cotton dresses and casual beach wear that seemed perfect.

As soon as I entered the shop, I felt overwhelmed. There were suddenly too many choices. There were several racks of flowered print sun dresses that all looked good and I could feel my breathe getting more shallow as I thought about having to choose one. Then a teardrop fell down my cheek. Why was I crying?

I took in a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I tried to rationalize my feelings of having a nervous breakdown in the middle of a clothing store. What was going on? Besides the obvious dilemma of having to choose between two completely different guys and being unable to, now I had to choose between a number of terrific dresses and I had no way to decide.

Then it hit me.

I had never been clothes shopping without my sister. I had never made a clothing purchase without running it by her and getting her opinion. She was the fashion expert. She always knew exactly the right thing to wear for every occasion.

Now here I was alone, in a clothing shop, with no one to give me advice. There was one to assist me in my time of need. How could I possibly pick the perfect dress without her expertise?

For the first time since I disowned my sister, I actually missed her.

Tears streamed down my face as I hurried out of the shop without a dress. I practically ran out of the mall knowing that one of my Midwest dresses would have to suffice.

I sat in my car and tried to let out the remainder of my tears. I had been so angry at my sister for so long, I hadn’t had the opportunity to miss her or even mourn for the loss of our relationship. Not only had Hannah been my sister, she had always been my best friend. I felt more alone than I had ever been in my life.

When the last of my sobs finally subsided, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful day. In an effort to calm my nerves, I decided to take a walk down the main street that paralleled the beachfront.

Most of the retail establishments I passed were restaurants and gift shops, but one small place caught my eye: Books by the Beach. The quaint shop looked like it had a variety of books as well as a small area for coffee. I decided to grab a new book and sit down for a much needed break. It was a lovely day, perfect for sitting outside with an herbal tea and clearing my mind. I decided to engage in some people-watching, one of my favorite therapist hobbies. I always enjoying trying to figure out what I thought each person’s story might be. Sometimes, I let my imagination run wild and made up a fun story for the person, couple or group I was sneaking peeks at. Why were they there? What were they talking about? Where were they going?

When I entered Books by the Beach, there was no doubt that it was going to become a regular hideout for me. I immediately felt comfortable amongst the shelves lined with a combination of new and used books. There was also a smell of fresh brewed coffee and cinnamon buns emanating from the small coffee bar that lined the far side of the place.

I really liked the idea of being able to sit inside or outside, depending on the weather and my mood. I quickly scanned the shelves for a good book. I settled on Savages, because I had seen the movie without reading the book, but heard it was worthwhile.

I paid for the book then went over to the coffee counter and ordered a mint herbal tea. There were no other patrons in the place, so I had my choice of outdoor tables. I choose one with an overhead umbrella that still allowed for some sun.

I relaxed for a minute and closed my eyes as I felt the warmth from the sun on my face. It was so nice to be out of the chilly Midwest weather. Moving to Florida might have been a good decision after all. I took in a deep breath of the clean gulf air. The breeze was gentle and warm. The only sound I heard was the faint call of a seagull in the distance.

I was finally starting to clear the turmoil in my mind and return to my no wake zone when I could sense someone sitting next to me. I briefly panicked as I wondered what I should do. Then I slowly opened my eyes to see Eddie sitting in the chair next to me staring at me.

“Hello, Alexandria,” he said in greeting.

“Wh-what are you going here?” I stammered.

He grinned. “Sitting with you.” There was that damn dimple again. The sight of it made my heart race.

“I don’t remember inviting you to sit at my table.”

“Hmm,” he said as he reached for my tea. “What are you drinking?”

Then to my shock and horror, he helped himself to a sip from my cup.

“You got the mint herbal tea. Good choice.” He took another sip of my tea then placed the cup down between us. Did he really think I was going to share it with him?

“I also don’t remember giving you permission to drink my tea,” I glared at him.

Eddie leaned in close and said, “Alexandria, you should know by now that I take what I want.”

I gulped. He was so close I could feel heat radiating from his body. A shiver ran through me.

“And you want my tea?” I asked as I instinctively pulled the cup closer to me.

He leaned in close enough to whisper in my ear. “That’s not all I want.”

My throat went completely dry so I took a sip of tea before remembering Eddie had just taken two sips from the cup. The thought of his lips recently touching the same thing my lips were touching turned me on more than I liked. I couldn’t stop thinking about his lips and what they could do to me.

When I glanced at Eddie, he was staring at me. And not just any stare. He was giving me a very naughty ‘I want to rip your clothes off’ stare. Oh, God, I’m in trouble, I thought as my stomach started to churn. The only thing I could be thankful for was that we were outside in a very public place.

“When are you going to let me show you everything I want from you, Alexandria?” His gaze was laser intense.

I tried to speak but no words came out. I had to think rationally before I did something completely stupid. But the only thing that came to mind were his lips touching mine. I instinctively bit my lower lip, which then reminded me of Daniel and the utterly sexy way he always did that.

Oh, God. I was definitely going to drive myself insane.

It took every ounce of energy I could muster to stand and grab my book. “I think I’d better go,” I managed to mutter.

Eddie motioned toward my half empty cup. “Aren’t you going to finish your tea? I think it’s still hot.” The way he said it, made it sound like the tea wasn’t the only thing that was still hot. Ugh.

“Why don’t you keep it,” I said as I turned to leave.

I tried to hurry away but I could feel Eddie coming up behind me. His energy was unmistakable.

“Still going on that date tonight?” he asked when he caught up to me.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” I said, trying to put him off.

He slid in front of me and stopped me from walking any further. I froze when I saw that his expression had turned serious. He cupped my chin with his hand and gazed into my eyes. “Spend the night with me instead of him.”

I gulped. Why was Eddie doing this now? I was going to see Daniel in just a few hours.

“I can’t do that, Eddie.” I would never do that to Daniel.

“Yes you can,” he urged. Eddie had so much desire in his eyes it took my breath away.

“I can’t break a date I have in a few hours. It isn’t fair.”

Eddie ran a finger down the side of my cheek and it sent shivers through me. I knew if I didn’t get away from him immediately, I’d end up in bed with him and I would be breaking my date with Daniel. Deep down, I knew I didn’t want to do either. Or did I?

“You’re too good, Alexandria,” Eddie said. “Do you know that?”

I didn’t have the time or desire to analyze that one. I just knew I had to get away from Eddie’s charms before he charmed me right into bed.

“I really need to go.” I tried to sidestep Eddie but he just moved in front of me again and continued to block my way.

He leaned close to my ear and I could feel his breath on my neck. And God, he smelled good. Like coconut suntan oil. “If you don’t get everything you need tonight, you know where to find me. Just knock on my door. I’ll be waiting.”

Then he gave me a little grin, turned and walked away, leaving me melting on the sidewalk into a heap of lust and desire.

***

Every outfit I owned was out of my closet and on my bed and I still had no idea what to wear. I was regretting not getting something, anything, when I was at the mall, because nothing I owned seemed right.

I could feel my eyes begin a tear up and the last thing I wanted to do was cry right before my date. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I knew my emotions were running high and it wasn’t just because of my wardrobe. It was thinking about Eddie and Daniel and my sister and even my ex. I needed to get ahold of myself and prepare myself for my date, which was in less than an hour.

I wanted to look good for Daniel and I wanted to be in the right place emotionally by the time I got there. Daniel deserved to have my very best and I wanted him to have it.

***

Daniel asked me to meet him at a trendy Mexican restaurant on the beach. It was only a few blocks from my place, so I didn’t mind walking. It felt good to be outside, to feel the still-warm sun on my face and the fresh sea breeze blow through my hair.

I got there a few minutes early but I noticed Daniel was already waiting for me by the entrance. He was holding a single red rose.

His face lit up when he saw me. “You look amazing. I like your out-of-the-office attire.”

I had decided to wear a sleeveless red mini-dress that I had forgotten I bought. It was one if my sister’s bright ideas. She thought I needed some more sexy attire but I never had occasion to wear it with Jeff, my ex. Maybe I should have. He might not have been so quick to call me boring.

Daniel was wearing black jeans that fit snugly in all the right places and a white polo that accentuated his tanned and muscular arms. The slow burn, I mentioned before, had just flamed a bit. He looked hot.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said.

He handed me the flower and I sniffed it. I always loved the subtle fragrance of fresh roses. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”

Daniel put out an elbow for me to grab. I wrapped my arm under his and followed him into the restaurant.

He had reserved a table right next to the open air seating. We were still covered but we could also feel the ocean breeze and had a magnificent view of the gulf. I was starting to love the smell of the sea air and its slight dampness as I inhaled. Few sounds could compare to the rhythm of the ocean tide as the small waves crashed into the beach.

After the waitress took our orders, Daniel pointed out toward the setting sun.

“It really is beautiful,” I said as I watched a lone gull fly in the horizon. The moment was picture perfect. “We didn’t get sunsets this fantastic in the Midwest.”

“Or in Pennsylvania,” he said.

“Are you glad you moved to Florida?” I asked.

Daniel gave the question some thought. “For the most part. I’ve been extremely fortunate with my job and my Master’s program. And Tom lets me do my internship hours in the evenings, which is amazing. You can’t beat the weather. I love being outdoors. I love the ocean and kite surfing, obviously.”

I smiled. “Yes, I did notice the kite surfing shrine in your office,” I joked.

“It’s a bit excessive, isn’t it?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s obviously something you’re passionate about.”

“The only thing I haven’t been able to find in Florida is a relationship,” he admitted. Then he glanced up at me and our eyes met. “I hope to change that soon.”

I could feel my cheeks redden. I didn’t know what to say. I suddenly felt nervous.

Daniel was looking at me with so much tenderness and a truly open heart. He had laid his cards on the table and it scared the hell out of me. Was I really ready for a relationship? It suddenly hit me in the face why I was so attracted to Eddie. Besides the obvious physical appeal, his model perfect looks and the sexual heat he exuded with every breath he took, I was attracted to him because there was no chance of ever having to worry about anything serious. He had made it clear he wasn’t into anything more than casual hook-ups. He was Mr. I-don’t-do-two-night-stands. A big part of me was scared to death of getting serious with someone again. I had just put my heart back together again after Jeff (and my sister) broke it into a million little pieces. I wasn’t sure I was ready to risk having it broken again.

“I really like you, Daniel. But it’s only been a few months since I broke off my engagement, so I’d like to take things slow.”

He nodded but I could see a flash of disappointment sweep over his face. “I understand. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like you went through a pretty bad time.”

“I did,” I admitted. “But I don’t want our date to be a downer. Let’s talk about something else. Tell me all about kite surfing.”

I could see a small smile return to his face and the glow of his smile warmed my heart.

“My roommate got me into kite surfing. He was crazy about it and his passion for the sport was contagious.”

As Daniel talked about kite surfing, I could see a twinkle in his eye. He was obviously as enthusiastic about the sport as his roommate.

“Kite surfing is one of the main reasons my roommate decided to move to Florida. And he was already familiar with the area because his family liked to vacation here. He got a job pretty quickly and then I followed.”

When the waitress brought our food, it smelled delicious. My stomach actually rumbled a bit. I guess I had been hungrier than I thought.

We both dug in. We managed to make quite a dent in the generous portions of enchiladas and burritos.

“Dinner was delicious,” I said as I stared at my nearly empty plate. I rarely at that much but the food was so yummy and so was the company.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Daniel said. “And I’m glad you agreed to join me this evening.”

Daniel reached across the table and grabbed my hand. His rough skin felt masculine and rugged. I imaged those powerful hands gripping my ass and pulling me close as he kissed me. I shuddered.

His eyes met mine as he pulled my hand to his lips and gently kissed my knuckles. The contrast between his rough hands and soft lips was enticing.

“Can I walk you home?” he asked.

“I would love that.” And I would love more of your rough hands and soft lips all over my body, I wanted to add.

Daniel paid the tab and we exited the restaurant.

***

The evening air held a level of dampness I wasn’t used to. It felt almost heavy. The moisture cooled the ocean breeze a bit as it blew through my curls.

Daniel took my hand in his and we strolled along the beach. It was quieter than it had been when I walked to the restaurant. In the darkness, the beach was still and almost desolate. It was a sharp contrast to the tourists and activity on the beach earlier that afternoon.

As we headed toward the residential area, the stark lighting of the shops and restaurants faded and it felt like we had more privacy in the cover of the darkened street.

Daniel stopped and pulled me closer to him. “I’d like to kiss you.” The way he said it sounded like a question. No man had ever asked if he could kiss me. Most of the guys I had dated needed to be fended off rather than encouraged to act.

“Okay,” I said, although the word felt as though it had gotten stuck in my throat.

He leaned down and brushed his lips softly against mine. His kiss was so tentative and tender, I felt my heart skip a few beats.

When he withdrew, I could a feel single word resting on my lips… More. I wanted more of his gentle mouth on mine.

His kissed my forehead. “I know you want to take things slowly,” he whispered. “So, I’d better get you home.”

“I don’t live very far from here,” I said.

“Neither do I.”

I smiled. “I didn’t realize we were neighbors.”

“Now you know where they get that cliché about it being a small world.”

I didn’t realize just how small the world was about to get.

***

When we reached my front door, I could feel Daniel’s body go rigid.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Y-you live here?” Daniel stammered.

I nodded.

“I live here,” he said. “I’m next door.”

I froze as the full weight of what he said sunk in.

Then the door of Eddie and Daniel’s apartment swung open and Eddie appeared.

“Hey, Danny-O,” Eddie said. “Are you doing to introduce me to your…”

Eddie looked over and saw me holding hands with Daniel. “Holy, shit! Your date is Alexandria.”

Daniel went wide-eyed and dropped my hand. His expression was unreadable. “You’re the hot chick next door that Eddie is trying to bang.”

I looked at Eddie. “You’re the science teacher. You’re Mr. LaRoche.”

The three of us just kept starting at each other in utter disbelief. I felt like I had just been transported into one of those bedroom farces that community theaters often produced. Only this was far from a modern comedy. I had a horrible feeling it was going to quickly turn into a tragedy.

My no wake zone was quickly being overtaken by a tempest.

When I glanced over at Eddie, I noticed he was smirking.

A*shole.

I wanted to smack the smirk right off of his face.

When I glanced at Daniel, his expression was so pained, it looked like he had just been smacked. I wanted to give him a big hug.

Daniel looked like he wanted to say something but no words came out. Instead, he just shook his head, turned and walked into his apartment. I could feel my chest constrict. Why was this happening?

Eddie stepped closer to me and said, “So, did you think about me when you were kissing Danny?”

What the f*ck? It took me a minute to register what he was saying.

As if I was watching a movie in slow motion, I could feel my hand as it swung toward Eddie’s face. He grabbed my wrist just before my palm made contact with his cheek.

“I wondered if you were the kind of girl who liked it rough,” he said as he closed the distance between us. I could feel his breath as he spoke. “I can do rough. I’ll do whatever it takes to rock your world.”

I made an attempt to free my wrist but he held it tighter. “You know you want me,” he said, his brown eyes boring into me. My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe.

“You have no idea what I want,” I managed to spit out.

Eddie grabbed my other wrist and pushed me up against the wall of our duplex. He pinned my arms to the wall above my head. I would have protested if I hadn’t been so completely aroused. He slammed his mouth into mine and kissed me fiercely. Hunger and longing raged through my body like a wildfire as his lips assaulted mine. The intensity of his desire, and the heat radiating from his body, was almost too much to bear. Every part of my body responded to Eddie in ways I had never felt before. It was as if every nerve I had was suddenly activated. Holy. Shit.

The exterior light flashed on over Eddie and Daniel’s door and I gasped.

Daniel.

Oh, my God. I wondered if he had seen us. All of the lust drained from my body and was quickly replaced with guilt and horror.

I ripped my arms free and wrenched myself from Eddie. He blinked a few times as if he was processing what just happened.

I shook my head. “I can’t do this.”

I didn’t have the nerve to look into his eyes. I knew if I looked into those sexy brown eyes again, Eddie would be in my bed in minutes.

I could feel his hand grab my shoulder and I could feel his breath on my neck as he whispered into my ear, “Yes, you can.” Three little words, but they held so much power.

Could I? Could I ever be with Eddie knowing Daniel was right next door? Could I be with Daniel now that I had a taste of Eddie? If I kissed Daniel again, would my thoughts drift to Eddie?

A few seconds passed, and when I didn’t turn to face him, Eddie let go of my shoulder. I unlocked my apartment and was barely able to shut the door behind me before I slid to the floor and started to cry.

I was awash in a sea of emotions as tears of anger, frustration, confusion, humiliation and sadness flowed down my cheeks. My only saving grace was that I had a full day to try and restore my sanity before I had to go to work and face Daniel again.