by P. M. Briede
Wesley had been right. Paige had been unrelenting with her comments all Christmas morning. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” I said mysteriously in an effort to get back at her.
She dropped her kit and rounded on me. “Holy shit, are you serious?!” I ignored her question and skittered around her, continuing down the hall. I heard her scramble behind me to pick up her kit and catch up. “Oh, no you don’t, Charlotte. I know Wesley told you I caught him sneaking out of your room this morning looking happier than a pig in shit. I just figured the peacock finally wore you down enough to accept his more physical advances.”
I’m a terrible liar and Paige knows that better than anyone else. So I let her jump to her own conclusions. We’d reached the music room by then and I flipped on the lights. “Over there underneath the piano.” I led her to the instrument and knelt down behind it, relieved to see the blood drops still there.
“How the hell did you even see these?” She opened her kit to pull out a Q-Tip then ran it across one of the drops.
“Um, I helped the security guard clean up the instruments that were tossed around after he found the mess.” She wasn’t looking at me which would hopefully aid my ability to convince her.
She squinted at the swab after she pulled it from under the piano. Then she turned her questioning eyes on me. “Right,” she over enunciated and prolonged the word. She didn’t believe me at all. “What made you think it was blood?”
“It’s red.”
“As opposed to paint, as opposed to food coloring, as opposed to red sports drinks; you immediately went to blood? It’s not even the right shade or consistency, Charlotte.”
“How am I supposed to know that?”
“Ok, I’ll give you that one.” She dug in her kit and pulled out a squirt bottle, spraying the Q-Tip. “Huh, well it seems to be blood,” she said in amazement when it changed color. My heart sank as she looked at me. “So you want to tell me the real reason I’m here testing red drops in your music room, since none of your instruments have a scratch on them?”
I was actually hoping that my imagination had run away with me and that it wasn’t blood. The emotional roller-coaster that was named Wesley/Olivier had reduced my sleep over the last couple of weeks and I’d been even more tired after the rehearsal with the dancers. But I couldn’t admit to Paige that the blood belonged to Olivier yet there was no evidence of a cut. “Nope.”
Paige stood with skepticism etched on her face and in her tone. “K, so now what do you want me to do?”
I stood as well. I was so shocked I didn’t immediately know how to answer her. “What would you normally do?”
“Well, since I don’t normally test red drops just because my friend asked me to, I’m not really sure.”
“What if it was a crime scene?” I asked in a squeaky voice.
She hesitated. “I’d take it back to the lab and first determine if it’s human or animal and then continue to try and narrow it down from there. Is this a crime scene, Charlotte?” She wasn’t mad but concerned. I’d always confided everything to her so the fact that I’d flat out told her that I couldn’t reveal anything had to bother her. She crossed her arms across her chest when I shook my head. “Tell you what. Let me reach out to my old professor at LSU and see if he’d be willing to test it as an experiment for the students. That way we get our answers and there isn’t any paperwork on file at the crime lab. Let me just collect as many samples as possible, okay?”
I felt relief wash over me; it seemed to be the perfect solution. “That sounds great, Paige. You’re a life saver, really.”
She knelt back down on the floor and pulled out a couple more Q-Tips. “So how was Wesley?” she asked as she was working. “Couldn’t have been that good if I was able to sleep through the night.”
“Good Grief, Paige, we didn’t sleep together!” I realized too late that I’d just walked right into her trap to catch me in my earlier lie. “Damn it, you didn’t believe me at all, did you?” She laughed and shook her head. “How did you know?”
Her eyes flashed and I blushed, regretting even asking before she opened her mouth. “Because, Charlotte, you were able to walk straight! When Wesley finally gets into your bed, after almost twenty years of pent up desire, the whole neighborhood is going to hear you two and anyone that sees you the next day will know.”
* * *
Since I was at the school already I ran to my office to grab my file for the fundraiser. There were still some details that needed to be nailed down and I could work on them from home. I was racing down the hallway when the sound of my name pulled me to a halt. Partly because I hadn’t expected him to be here. Partly because he sounded furious.
I swallowed as I turned to see that he didn’t just sound furious. I’ve been leery of him before and his frenetic mood swings. But right now he looked as though he wanted nothing more than to snap me in half. “Hi, Olivier,” stumbled out of my mouth.
“What exactly were you doing in my music room?” he demanded.
I may have been scared but I wasn’t going to let him see it. I squared my shoulders and looked him in the eye. “I believe it’s actually my music room.” He took a menacing step forward and I was surprised when I held my ground. “What exactly are you doing in my school?”
He advanced. I retreated but only got as far as the lockers. He slammed his hands on either side of my head and I jumped at the noise. Somehow I don’t think it was quite what Paige had imagined when she thought he wanted to throw me up against them. “Don’t play games with me!” His hot breath fell heavy on my face. I tried to dart under his arms but he quickly lowered them to block me. “Oh no! You’re going to answer me. What! Were! You! Doing! In! The! Music! Room!”
No one has ever spoken to me like he was; has never treated me like he was. But as afraid as I was, because we were nose to nose I saw the same fear I felt sitting underneath the anger in his eyes. His voice from the end of our date sounded in my head. This was a mistake, my mistake. I can’t do this with you, not again. Neither of us will survive it. “What won’t we survive? What are you so afraid of?” I threw back at him.
Like flipping a switch he blinked and all the emotion I’d observed before was gone. The rage. The fear. Gone. He was a blank canvas. “Each other, Charlotte. We won’t survive each other. I’m afraid of you.”
He’d actually answered a question! But of course it was a damn riddle. “That makes no sense, Olivier. I’ve never had any intention of hurting you. I have no intentions of ever hurting anyone.” His body sagged at my words and crowded mine. “What could there possibly be about me that scares you?”
His head fell back so he could gaze up at the ceiling. “I don’t know if there will ever be enough time to tell you.”
“Try now!” I cut in. I wanted answers.
“Will you please tell me what you were doing in the music room?” he begged as he brought his eyes back to mine.
The scrutiny of his gaze made me uneasy so I turned away from it. He bobbed and weaved in an effort to recapture it. I grew irritated and closed my eyes. He wasn’t going to give me any more answers today than he ever did. So I saw no need in spilling my own secrets. That blood was my answer and would be the proof I planned on shoving in his face. “I lost my water bottle somewhere yesterday. With everything that happened in the music room with me throwing my bag around and pulling out the towel I thought it might have fallen out in there.”
“You came to the school, the music room, on Christmas, for a water bottle.” His voice was tense as he spoke.
“No,” I huffed. “I came to get my file for the fundraiser. I decided to look in the music room for my water bottle since I was here.”
“Open your eyes,” he commanded.
That anger from before began to rebuild within me. I shoved him away and turned towards the parking garage before I opened them. “Go home, Olivier,” I ordered over my shoulder. “If you promise me that you’ll never try anything like this ever again I’ll forget ab
out it.” It was probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever said but no matter how secretive he was; no matter how bi-polar; I could never shake the undercurrent of safety and security I felt when I was with him.
“I’ll do better than that, Charlotte. I swear this will never happen again.”
Chapter 13
I drove home in a cloud of uncertainty. Was forgiving him the right thing to do? Was trusting my feelings over his actions smart? And even if it wasn’t would anyone believe me? He’s never been anything but polite and gentlemanly to anyone else. He normally was with me, if a little intense. The other problem was that I had no proof about my other concerns about him. How did you say “By the way our new music teacher, yes well, his eyes glow with a green fire that I only see in my dreams. No not passion, fire.” and not get immediately fitted for a straightjacket? I hit my head on the steering wheel as I waited at the light to turn into my neighborhood.
The stress of the last few hours melted away when I saw Wesley sitting on my porch swing as I pulled into the driveway. After parking my car I walked out the garage and closed it. “Well this is certainly a surprise. Have you been waiting long?” I queried as I approached the front porch to greet him.
He just kept lazily swinging but smiled broadly. “Not too long. A good surprise, I hope?”
I bent down, and his eyes danced with excitement. He tilted his head back to meet my lips but to punish him for his presumption at the last second I kissed his nose instead. “Tease!” he hissed.
“Ah, but you’re the one who loves me for it.” I straightened up and leaned back against the porch railing. “But in answer to your question, yes, a good surprise.” Wesley was the perfect distraction for the firestorm that erupted between Olivier and me at the school. I put aside my questions and concerns about Olivier and focused on all that was good about my friend turned maybe something more. “What are you doing here?” I was astonished that he remained on the swing. That morning he’d taken every opportunity to “accidently” touch me or steal kisses when we were alone. Now in the utter privacy of my home he just sat there smugly staring at me, refusing to answer my question. “You seem awfully arrogant. What’s got you so light hearted?”
“Let’s just say that Santa was especially good to me this year.”
I was disappointed with his commitment to stay on that damn swing. I’d gotten used to, and was a bit flattered by, his irrepressible attentions. Had the magic already worn off? Determined not to divulge my dissatisfaction with his actions, I matched his cheery tone, challenging his turn of the conversation. “Was he? Well, pray tell, Wesley, what did the man in the red suit bring you?”
“Let’s see, I got a winter scarf, which you know is something I’ve always wanted since it gets so cold here.” I giggled because I’d put that in Paige’s and his stocking as a joke to get back at them for all the crap they give me about being cold. “Oh, and this wasn’t for me but benefits me all the same, was the bell Paige got in her stocking. But I think my favorite were the ‘I’m the boss’ cufflinks.” Those were a gift from my dad. Unfortunately he has a clichéd sense of humor.
“I think they’re completely appropriate for all those gubernatorial events you have to attend with your staff. It’ll remind them who’s in charge.” Enjoying our play, I bit my lip as I tilted my head to the side and peered at him through my lashes. “Is that what you’re happy with getting this year? I didn’t realize you were being sarcastic, it almost sounds like maybe you weren’t so good.” I was rewarded with a flash in his eyes and he stood before slowly closing the distance between us.
He placed both his hands on the railing by my sides to trap me. Inhaling deeply, he ran his nose from the base of my neck to my ear, eliciting a tremor from me. “Mmmm. No my love, I promise you I was very good this year.” He continued to nuzzle my neck, while also traveling back and forth along my jaw line, but withheld his kisses. I tried a few times to encourage his lips but he remained steadfast, as though our word play had morphed into something entirely different. “Did I tell you I got a week off from work? Well, at least from the office anyway.”
Caught in his machinations, I was impressed with my ability to form a cohesive thought and express it, even if it was in a raspy voice. “No, I believe you left that part out. How did those elves manage to put an entire week of vacation into a box?”
He chuckled as he continued to absolutely torture me. My fingers dug into the wood as I refused to give into my desire to pull him to me. Truth be told, I was enjoying it yet also curious to know how far he could go. After all, his teasing was exacting its own revenge on him. I felt the evidence of it every time his body brushed against mine.
“No boxes were necessary, just one boat. One of them must have inspired Alexander to take a long overdue cruise with his family. Couldn’t have come at a better time for me.”
“Why’s that exactly?”
Finally he lifted his face until his eyes locked on mine and they were raw with passion. “Because it affords me an entire week to dedicate to the complete enjoyment of my Christmas present,” he confessed in a ragged voice. The set of his eyes and the tone of his voice sent a tremor racing through my body so fast that I was grateful I was already leaning against the railing. My eyes widened in surprise, and I bit my lips to stop the moan from escaping. He lowered his head and leaned into my ear, his breath sending tickling shivers down my spine that I couldn’t control. “A full week to map every nook and cranny.” I couldn’t stop the sudden inhale of breath that I needed. “A full week to discover all the hidden treasures. A full week of determined exploration for how best to collect maximum pleasure.”
The combination of his words, his smell, and his body had become an intoxicating mix to my senses, but the sound of a car horn reminded me that we were out for the whole world to see. From a distance, I don’t think it would have been overly obvious what was happening but if this kept going it very soon would be. In a weak voice, I tried to turn the moment, even as it pained me to do so. “Wesley.” He groaned something unintelligible requiring me to reevaluate my plan. I moved my hands to his chest and firmly pushed. “Wesley, I am very happy that you got something that will so engross you during your vacation.” His eyes flashed, and I knew I’d chosen the wrong words as his resistance to my shove strengthened.
While my body sung at the sheer determination he was showing, my mind knew I needed to help him relieve the tension he was facing from his own schemes. I continued to push him back until his calves hit the porch swing. “Um, as I was saying. It looks like all the excitement you’ve built up has left you a little, shall we say, knocked? Why don’t you sit down and calm yourself for a minute.” Besides I needed to calm myself, as well. I knew what he was getting at, and while it utterly excited me and set off a burning fire in my gut, the hopes he had were overwhelming. He nodded and begrudgingly sat down.
Once the rise and fall of our chests settled, his visage staid, his jaw and eyes setting grimly. He opened his mouth, but I cut off the apology that I knew was coming. I didn’t want apologies from him. I honestly wanted more than anything to succumb and be a vehicle for his pleasure, knowing full well that it would lead to my own. But I needed more time to ensure that I wouldn’t be a disappointment, since it was becoming abundantly clear that his expectations were sky high. Paige was right; Wesley had been musing over me for a long time. “You never told me what brought you by, Wesley.”
The hard edges of his body relaxed slightly, and a small sparkle peeked out of the hidden depths in his eyes. Nodding, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, thank you for the reminder. Yes, I was hoping to take you out tonight for our fourth date.”
I knew shock was fully evident in my expression. “Fourth date?! I’m sorry but I don’t recall having actually been asked out on a first date!”
He took on a contemplative but tickled look. “You don’t? Strange, but I’m quite positive that we’ve been out on at least three dates.”
“Then I guess you’ll hav
e to enlighten me.” Pleased to return to our easy banter, I was curious to see what he would call our dates. I knew he’d consider the fundraising event, but that was the closest thing to a date that I could think of. “When was our last date?”
“Last night,” he said as his eyes smoked.
My face grew hot. “I understand where you might have a misconception about that, but I’m sorry I just don’t agree with you.”
With a roguish grin, he sat up, put his elbows on his knees, and leaned into his arms. “Charlotte, in my experience when a man gets caught sneaking out of woman’s room in the dead hours of the morning, he considers that a fairly good ending to a date.”
I swallowed hard before agreeing. “Touché. That’s one, what was before that?”
“Surely you haven’t forgotten about Southern Oaks Plantation.”
“My dear Wesley, I’m afraid you’re wrong again. That wasn’t a date. I distinctly remember you stating that I was your ‘plus one.’ In fact, now that I think about it more you didn’t even ask me to be that, but stated my attendance to Paige.” There was a mocking inflection to my voice, and I challenged his roguish grin with a wicked smirk of my own.
His expression didn’t falter one bit at my words. “Oh, my love, to be wrong again implies that I was wrong the first time. Didn’t you just agree to change how you were defining last night?” He cocked an eyebrow at me in a self-assured manner. Frustrated that I had to agree with him again, I only nodded. “Good, now that we’ve reestablished last night as a date for the second time, I’ll address your arguments concerning the fundraiser. It’s easy for you to be confused since you’ve been out of the game for the last sixteen years. But I believe that most dates consist of a man and a woman getting dressed to impress, sharing a meal, and enjoying a pleasant evening together. On those merits alone, it was a date.”
