Chapter Thirteen
Alyssa
I ran as fast as I could, but the nightmare just kept catching
up to me. I saw blood, too much blood.
Sweat poured down my face as my feet pumped against the
concrete. Tears mixed with sweat trickled down my lips as I gasped
for air. My side hurt, my legs hurt, everything hurt, especially my
heart.
Finally, after an hour of running up and down the
boardwalk, I found myself at the Aquarium.
It was tourist season, so it was still open.
I walked in and found Sally right away.
Memories of Brady feeding the seals rushed back to me.
“You have to be careful, Alyssa, don’t want the seals biting your
hand off.”
I rolled my eyes. “Brady, I’m fine, just give me the fish.”
“Say please.”
“No.”
“What?” He laughed, his blue eyes sparkling. “Did you just say
no?”
I nodded my head and stuck out my tongue. “I will not apologize,
now give me the fish.”
“At least pay the toll.”
“Fine.” I stepped forward and kissed him on the lips.
Sally chose that exact moment to splash both of us.
Brady laughed and lifted me up so he was bracing me against the
wall. “I kind of like you, you know that, right?”
“I kind of like you too,” I said, breathless.
“You’re a hot cheerleader.”
“You’re a sexy quarterback.”
We laughed and kissed some more. Sally splashed for attention.
I didn’t realize I was still crying until I noticed my tears were
falling onto the concrete fence in front of the cage.
“You okay?” The voice pierced my pain, only slightly. I
turned to see Demetri leaning against the door.
“How’d you know I was here?”
“Easy.” He shrugged. “I put a tracking device in your taffy.
It’s all part of my evil plan to take over the world. One hot girl at a
time.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The jerk, he would make me
laugh when I was trying to wrap myself up in all that pain.
“Truthfully?” He walked toward me and leaned against the
concrete wall. “I figured this was where I would go if I were you. It
has happy memories, and right now you need to be cheered up.”
“They told you.”
“I guessed.”
I sighed. “So now you know.”
“No.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “I
know nothing. I want to hear it from you, but not until you’re
ready. In fact, I remember a while back making a little deal with
you. I tell you something hard and you tell me. Technically
someone else told me, but I’ll still count yours for the day.”
I closed my eyes and nodded as I placed my head against his
chest and sighed again. He felt so comfortable, so good.
“I loved my girlfriend, Cassie, so much.”
I wanted to tense and push away, but really, wasn’t I
mourning a lost love too? I would be the biggest hypocrite on the
planet if I did that. So I waited for him to continue.
“My brother and I were drunk one night and made a bet. I’d
been wanting to sleep with her for months. I was fifteen and
horny.”
“And you’re different now…?” I whispered into his chest.
His laugh warmed me from the inside out. “Very funny.”
His hand moved to my head as he caressed my hair. “Anyway, my
brother was giving me so much crap about it that finally I had
enough. I told him that even he couldn’t get in her pants. Before all
this happened Alec had always been the lady killer. I know, hard to
believe, but it’s true.”
I felt him gulp as he held me tighter and whispered, “He
gave her heroine.”
Shocked, I pulled back and looked at his face to see if he was
kidding. He wasn’t smiling. In fact, that all too familiar look of pain
was etched in his eyes. “They had sex and she got pregnant.”
“With his baby,” I whispered hoarsely. “The girl you loved?
And your brother? So you have a nephew?”
“No.” His lower lip trembled, as he pulled away and leaned
against the concrete container. “But, that’s a story for another
time.”
I had pushed him to his limit. It was clear he didn’t make a
habit of telling this story — it was private. Nobody knew about it,
otherwise I would have been told by now. He trusted me with
something deep and dark.
And I owed him the same thing.
I reached for his hand and pulled him into a hug.
Well, it was supposed to be a hug, until I reached up and
touched his face. He closed his eyes and moaned.
I wasn’t sure if I moved first or if he did, but our lips met,
and in a frenzy he picked me up and slammed me against the wall.
“Sorry,” he mumbled setting me down. “I’m just
overwhelmed a bit. Kind of used to using this as a way to…”
“Mask the pain,” I finished looking into his hurt eyes.
“I don’t want to use you.”
“You aren’t.”
“How do you know?”
He doubted himself so much, but I knew what type of guy
he was. He was one of the good ones, as much as he whored
around. It was all a mask, a smokescreen. I took a deep breath.
“Because I do. Now kiss me.”
Demetri’s eyes widened just slightly before his mouth
crushed mine. I parted my lips as his tongue plunged in and out.
His hands moved to cup my butt and pull me against him.
His kiss was nothing like Brady’s.
Nothing.
Demetri’s hands moved against my skin, slowly lifting my
shirt. When I felt his fingers graze the skin above my hipbone it
sent a shot of electricity through my body, and my head jerked
back. His mouth worked down my neck. Clearly, the guy knew
how to kiss.
I shuddered beneath his kiss, his touch. I’d never in my life
experienced anything like it. Part of me wanted to pull back,
because it felt like I was cheating on Brady’s memory, that I wasn’t
being faithful to the relationship we had, but another part craved
Demetri.
A throat cleared in the distance.
Slowly, Demetri put me back on my feet, his eyes never left
my face. A sense of awe reflected in them as his forehead touched
mine.
The throat cleared again.
“What is it, Bob?” Demetri’s voice was hoarse.
“People are waiting to come in.”
“Right.” He reached out and pulled down my shirt then
tucked my hair behind my ears. “Do you have any lip gloss?”
I nodded.
“Put it on.”
I nodded my head numbly and reached for my lip gloss.
With shaking fingers I dabbed a bit on my lips and rubbed them
together. I ran my fingers through my hair so it didn’t look so
mussed, but I’m sure it probably still looked awful. After all, I had
been sobbing and making out with the hottest guy on the planet.
“Any cameras?” Demetri asked Bob before we went out the
entrance.
He shook his head. “One, but he left a while ago.”
“Good.” Demetri’s grip tightened on my hand as he pulled
me through the door and walked me outside. “Sorry, I’ve had the
same damn photographer following me for the past year. Everyone
else gave up on my boring life, but this one’s convinced I’m not
going to stay clean. So he’s like a friendly stalker. Sometimes I even
buy him Starbucks.”
“So, why are you nervous about him all of a sudden?”
Demetri put his arm around me. “I don’t want him taking
your picture.”
I tensed. Was he ashamed of me?
“Stop being a girl,” he whispered into my hair. “It has
nothing to do with not wanting to be seen with you. Hell, I’ll shout
it in the streets if you want. I just don’t think you want people
digging into your past right now. Am I right?”
I hadn’t even thought of that. Terror swept through me at
the thought of seeing the news again. Pictures of the totaled truck,
our prom picture, and finally the service at the football field.
“Thanks.” I shuddered.
“No problem.” His face brushed against the top of my head
as his lips found my cheek. “Sorry.” He seemed almost
embarrassed.
“What for?” I fought back a grin.
“I can’t seem to help myself.” He smiled mischievously and
pulled me down the alleyway and flush against his body. Instantly
his lips found mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck. With a
moan he pulled back. “Let’s go do something.”
My eyes widened.
He rolled his. “Good Lord, not that. Get your head out of the
gutter.”
“Not my fault you put it there.”
“Really?” His smile was contagious as his teeth grazed my
lower lip and gave it a little tug. The guy was way too good at
kissing. In fact there should be strict laws against really attractive
celebrities and kissing.
“Stop.” I put my hand against his chest and froze.
Everything about him was so solid and strong. I ran my hand down
the middle of his chest across his abs, somewhat in awe.
“If you keep doing that I’m going to toss up your skirts here
in the alleyway.”
“I’m not wearing a skirt.”
“Damn.” He looked down. “Next time. It’s so much easier
that way.” He winked. I punched him in the arm.
“Okay, so what do you want to do? I have to work
tomorrow, so we can’t stay up super late.”
Demetri put his hand over his heart. “Alyssa, are you
agreeing to hang out with me? As a friend?”
“Do friends kiss?” I countered.
“My friends do.”
“Good thing I’m your only one.” I rolled my eyes.
“Not true, both Sam and Connor gave me friend vibes at
group. I also have their numbers.”
“And you’re planning on kissing them too?”
“Nah, I mean, I’m not like that. I don’t just go kissing other
people… now if one of them made the first move…” He put his
hands in the air signaling he’d be okay with it.
I burst out laughing.
His face was serious. I immediately stopped laughing. Oh
my gosh, was he serious?
And then he smirked and laughed. “Wow, did you really
think I played for both teams? I’m not sure if I should be offended
or complimented. I guess I do have great style. I mean we already
know how awesome I look in that Seaside Taffy visor.”
“Yes. Homeless,” I answered.
“Hot and homeless?” He looked hopeful.
“Not so much.”
“Can’t win ‘em all!” He winked and grabbed my hand.
“Come on, I know just what we can do.”