Chapter 116: Pursuing The Heartbeats

I collapsed on the sofa when I got home. I need an early night. Tomorrow is a long day in Country Hills and I need to get in shape. My phone is ringing. I rolled my eyes as I looked at the screen, but it wasn't what I expected. This is Tom. I growled to myself. When will my phone ring and it's someone I really want to talk to?

'Hi,' I moaned. 'Okay?' he greeted, with his usual confident tone.

'Yes, and you?' I knew he was fine. I heard that he was out almost every night, making up for a lost time. Not that our relationship stopped him from living exactly what he wanted.

'Everything is fine. I rang to greet you tomorrow. It's tomorrow, right?' I was surprised when he remembered. He didn't really have an interest in my career.

'Yes, thank you. I was just thinking of getting an early night.'

'Okay, I won't keep you,' he seemed disappointed. 'I've boxed up your other stuff.'

'Oh, right,'

'There's no rush,' he added.

'If you're free sometimes, it's better to chase.'

Do you like it? Catch up on what? How many women has he been with since I left? It's good that we still talk, I've been with the guy for four years, but he's taking the whole "let's be friends" role a little too far, treating me like one of his friends and filling me with all his latest conquests. I don't care, but I don't want to hear about it either. 'Sure, I'll call you.' I suggest.

'Be sure, I missed you.'

Whoa! Where is that from? Is he drunk?

'You do?' I asked. The surprise was obvious in my voice.

He laughs. 'Yes. Good luck tomorrow.'

I hung up and sat wondering if it was time to get my stuff and cut it all off. I'm not sure the friend scenario would work for us. Does it ever work? My phone rang again, but it was a number I didn't recognize.

'Shaira Rose Gustilo Fernando.' I announce down the line, but there is no reply. 'How are you?'

'Are you alone?'

The voice hit me like a hammer to the gut. Oh, f**king hell. I stood up and sat down again. Visions of him standing half-naked in front of me, pleading with me through his eyes, began to invade my mind. This is why I avoid his calls. His effect on me was unsettling and most unpleasant.

Why didn't his name appear on my phone? 'No.' I lied, sweat dripping from my forehead.

I heard him sigh. It was a loud sigh. 'Why are you lying to me?'

I jumped off the sofa again. How did he know? Crossing the lounge, my wine dripping from my glass, I looked out the window towards the road, but I couldn't see his car. How did he know I was alone? Shocked and with a lump in my throat, I hung up. It rang again. I put my phone down on the sofa and let it ring. And then it rang again.

'Go away!'

I paced the lounge, biting my nails and sipping my wine. The events of Tuesday came back to me, but not the bad stuff. Oh, no... it's all very good stuff. How he made me feel, how he made me feel. All before I heard the shrill, cold voice of his girlfriend. I immediately covered my thoughts. I was a pawn in his sexual exploits, and he must have been struggling after I pulled the plug on his charade. My phone declared a text message. I carefully crawled over to the sofa, as if my phone might rise up and bite me.

For God's sake, I'm being pathetic. I took my phone and opened the text.

Answer your phone!

It rang in my hand again, making me jump, even though I expected it. He is relentless. I let it ring again and, rather childishly, texted back, Nope.

I was still rushing, up and down, drinking wine and holding my phone. It wasn't long before another text arrived.

Alright, I'm coming in.

'What? Oh!' I shouted into my phone. It's one thing to ignore the phone, but it's a whole other level of resistance trying to push him away when he's flesh and blood and looking at me.

Shit, shit, shit! I frantically pull up my call log to call him. It rang once.

'Too late, Shaira.' he draws down the line. I stared at my phone in uncertainty, and then the banging started. I ran to the landing, leaning on the banister as he hammered on the door. 'Open the door, Shaira.' He knocked again. What was he thinking? Is he that desperate?

Bang Bang Bang!

'Shaira, I'm not going anywhere until you talk to me, please.'

Bang Bang Bang!"I have your keys, Shaira. I'll let myself in.'

Oh shit! He likes it too. Okay, I'll let him in, hear what he has to say, and then he can go. Anyway, I have to return my car. I'll just have to keep as far away from him as possible, keep my eyes closed and hold my breath so I can't smell him. I shouldn't let him break my defenses. I put my glasses on the console table at the top of the stairs and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair is piled on top of my head, but at least I haven't taken off my makeup yet. Maybe even worse. Wait...why am I worried? The worse I look, the better. He needs to be told to back off.

Bang Bang Bang!

I walked down the stairs with confident and determined steps, opening the door in surprise. I'm dead. I keep underestimating - or forgetting - the impact this man had on me. I'm shaking!

His hands are braced on the door frame as he looks at me through the hooded lid, panting and looking really pissed off. His blonde-colored-hair was messy, she had stubble on his back and his pale green shirt was open at the collar, tucked into gray pants. He looks delicious. He punched me with his bright eyes.

'Why did you stop?' His breathing was labored.

'What?' I asked impatiently. Is he here to ask me? Is not it obvious? He gritted his teeth.

'Why did you wear me out?'

'Because it was a mistake,' I greeted, through the same gritted teeth. My irritation at his audacity outweighed the other unpleasant effects he was having on me.

'It's not a mistake, and you know it,' he grinds. 'The only mistake was letting you go.

' What? Oh, I can't do it. I was about to close the door, but his hand hit the other side to stop it.

'Oh, you don't want to.' He pushed me, overcame me easily, and strode into the hallway, slamming the door behind him. 'You are not running at this time. You've done this to me twice, not again. You face the music.'

In feet, I was about a foot shorter than him. I felt small and weak as he towered over me, still breathing deeply. I stepped back, but he walked forward, keeping the distance between us minimal. My space-keeping plan quickly failed, and she smelled divine in all her minty, fresh-water beauty.

'You have to go. Pearl will be home in a few minutes.'

He stopped coming, smiling at me.

'Stop lying,' he snaps, running a hand through my hair. 'Stop being silly, Shaira.' I have no idea what to say to him. The defense does not work - perhaps there is no interest. He is incredibly thick-skinned and obviously used to getting what he wants. I turned to walk back up the stairs.

'Why are you here?' I asked, but before I could get away he was behind me and grabbed my wrist. I spun around to face him, the contact that had put me on instant red alert. I know I'm in a dangerous place here. Just being around this man makes you a reckless, irrational fool. This is plain kamikaze territory. Why did I let him in?

'You know why.' he spat.

'Do I?' I asked in disbelief. I do, actually. Well, I think I do. He wants to pick up where we left off. He wants to accomplish the mission.

'Yes, you do.' he said simply. I pulled my wrist out of his grasp, backing up until my butt hit the wall behind me.

'Because you want to hear how loud I can scream?'

'No!' 'You are, undeniably, the most arrogant arsehole I have ever met. I'm not interested in being a sexual conquest.'

'Conquest?' he snorted, turned around, and began the pointless pacing. 'What f**king planet are you on, girl?'

I stood there in shock. How dare he come here and start shouting the odds at me. I felt my anxiety disappear and my earlier irritation was replaced by simmering anger. The urgent need to defend me, to put him straight, has my jaw clenched to the aching point. He has a very low opinion of me if he thinks I'll just jump into bed with any guy I meet. But then, I don't have to answer him. The fact that he has a girlfriend is immaterial at this point. He thinks he can only take what he wants or dump a wobbler if he meets some resistance.

'Out! I said out!'

He stopped walking and looked at me.

'No!' he shouted, starting to march. I start thinking about how to get him out of the house. I could never touch him and touching him was a big mistake.

'I'm not interested in f**king! Now, get out.' My trembling voice weakened my cold front, but I was firm.

'Look at your f**king mouth!'

Oh, the cheek. 'Out!'

'Okay,' he said simply, stopping his march to hammer me with his gaze. 'Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want to see me again, and I'll go. You don't have to look at me again.'

Okay, that should be pretty easy, but to my utter shock, the thought of never seeing him again actually sends a sickening sick to my stomach, which is, of course, completely ridiculous. He is a virtual stranger to me, but God he gives me a reaction. He makes me feel... I'm not sure exactly what it is. But even now, when I get on his damn nerve, I fight to control the unwanted reactions he makes me. When I don't say anything, he starts to move towards me, his long, even steps that he is in front of me by just a few steps. We were about an inch apart.'Say it.' he sighed. I can't make my mouth work. I was aware of my shallow breathing, heartbeat, and a dull throb in my groin. I was alert to similar reactions coming from him. I could see his heart beating under his pale green shirt. I can feel his heavy breath on my face. I couldn't be sure of the pulse, but I suspected it was there. The sexual tension ricocheting between our intimate bodies was palpable.

'You can't, can you?' he whispered. I cannot do it! I'm trying. I'm trying really hard, but the bloody words won't come out. The closeness of our bodies and the way he breathed into me re-established all the incredible feelings. I was back to our old meeting, except this time there was no risk of being interrupted by unfriendly boyfriends. Nothing could stop me, except my conscience, but that was drowning in lust now, so it was of no help to me, whatsoever. He placed the tip of his finger on my shoulder, his touch sending an inferno racing through me, and slowly, barely, he pulled his finger down the column of my neck until it rested on the sensitive pressure point under my ear. My heart is exploding.

'Boom...boom...boom,' he breathed. 'I feel it, Shaira.'

I closed my eyes, pushing myself against the wall. 'Please, leave.' I could barely get the words out.

'Put your hand over my heart.' he whispers, grabbing my hand and putting it on his chest. He shouldn't have done that. I could see his heart going from ten to a dozen under his shirt. I don't need to feel it.

'What's your point?' I asked quietly. I know exactly what his point is. He affected me as much as I affected him.

'You are a stubborn woman. Let me ask you the same question.''What do you mean?' I asked quietly, still not looking at him.

'I mean, why are you trying to prevent the inevitable? What's your point, Shaira?' Wrapping his fingers around my neck, he tilts my face up so I meet his eyes. I immediately smiled at them. His lips were parted and moist, his soft breath assaulting my nose, his burning eyes staring at me. Her long eyelashes fanned her cheekbones as she leaned down so her lips brushed my ear. I let out a quiet sigh.

'There it is,' he whispered as he trailed feathery light kisses down the side of my throat. 'You feel it.'

XXX