Complete Me

by Gray, Khardine

  "But you saw her first. And might I point out that, she shouldn't have kissed you if she was so serious about this other guy person." Zane nodded with affirmation.

  Sam didn't actually consider that, and now that he thought about it Lexie didn't even appear to remember Ed until he turned up. She didn't act like someone who was involved, and he knew she wanted him just as badly as he'd wanted her. He saw it in her eyes when she asked him to stay, and when she asked him if he could be tempted. It was all the more clearer when she agreed to see what happened if he was tempted. Sam bit the inside of his lip and looked down at the dark gray carpet beneath his feet.

  But, that wasn't reason enough to justify anything. Ed came, and Sam left. Ed had a place in her home. Sam did not.

  Lexie wasn't a Jessica. A sweet, pure spirit existed within her that made her compassionate, loving, and everything that was good. She wasn't the kind of woman to cheat, and Sam shouldn't turn her into one. He knew what it felt like to be the one on the receiving end. The kiss just happened because of their past and what connected them.

  "I just have to leave it alone Zane. I'll apologize on Monday, and pretend it never happened." That was all he could do.

  "Sam I appreciate your one of the good guys, but I'm going on the basis that I haven't seen you like this in years. She must mean something to you. You're seriously telling me that if you had a chance with her, you wouldn't take it."

  That was just the problem he didn't have a chance. But if he did... that would be another matter.

  Entirely.

  * * *

  The church on Pacific Avenue usually opened their large wooden doors at nine. It always seemed like a good place, with all the clergymen welcoming their members and visitors with that good old Christian warmth that reminded you of how people tended to be at Christmas. With that spirit of good cheer to all men.

  It looked like a place where you wouldn't be judged too harshly. So maybe instead of heading to Hayley's salon, Lexie should be gearing herself up to go and see a priest. She could confess her sins and hope that God would forgive her for the way she treated Ed. Maybe he would see that she was still a good person and that she was sorry.

  She would say how sorry she was and make it her duty to break up with Ed properly. Instead of cheating on him.

  Cheat.

  Just the thought of the word cheat made her drive past the church and continue on to the salon.

  Lexie was a cheater, and one of those people who had no regard for anyone else besides herself. She might not have set out to be like this, but that was how she'd become.

  And what was worse was the more she thought of Ed, she remembered how annoyed she was that he'd robbed her of the time she could have spent kissing Sam. Thinking about kissing Sam only led to remembering his amazing body and all those tattoos, and the way he held her and kissed her as if he was going to devour her.

  If you were truly sorry for something then surely you shouldn't still desire it, or pine over it. That was why there was no way she could go into the church. God would take one look at her and strike her down with lightning. She'd be a pile of ash before she could even reach the church steps.

  The smell of hair dye and roses greeted her as she pushed the door open to Be Beautiful, Hayley's salon. It was full for a Sunday morning. Even Ms. Drusilla was here getting her silver gray hair styled in her favorite bouffant up do. Hayley and Tamar were at the desk in the far corner laughing hysterically about something. It was Tamar who spotted Lexie first.

  "Lexie. Oh my goodness come here." Tamar giggled. Hayley looked like she was up to no good.

  "I'm going over ideas for the spa retreat. What do you think of this guy? He says he has a special set of skills." Hayley chuckled. Mischief lurked within her honey colored eyes as she turned her computer monitor towards Lexie revealing a naked Italian man on the screen with a fireman's hat covering his crotch. Tamar and Hayley both erupted into another round of giggles.

  "I just emailed him back to let him know that it's not that kind of spa retreat, but I'll keep his name on my records." Hayley dabbed at the corner of her eye as a tear emerged.

  "She means her personal phone book." Tamar teased.

  It was funny indeed, but all Lexie could offer was a weak smile. "Hey, can I talk to you guys? In private." Lexie asked. Hayley and Tamar both looked at each other exchanging curious glances.

  "Of course, let's go to my office," Hayley offered, pointing behind the pink Japanese screen.

  Hayley's office smelled like a mini spa on its own with the relaxing aroma of sandalwood, jasmine, and roses. Incense sticks burned near the window while scented candles dotted the corners. Her desk was tidy with neat stacks of paperwork near her computer, and her chair was covered in glittery pink fur. This office was Hayley's place of Zen, and the atmosphere helped to calm Lexie down a little.

  "So what's up? It sounds serious," Tamar asked, she looked concerned.

  Calm over. Return panic, and guilt.

  "Something happened yesterday, and I'm not sure what to do," she began, twiddling her fingers and thumbs. She'd had no sleep last night, and her tired brain was finding it difficult to formulate the right words.

  Yesterday was a complete eye opener. Of course, she totally needed to break up with Ed. But then there was Sam to think about. He was a separate matter.

  She liked him a lot. Of course, she always knew that but had pushed her feelings aside because she thought it was the right thing to do, especially at work. Spending time with him had ignited everything she felt for him and raided her of her brain, making her forget things she should remember, like Ed.

  "What happened?" Hayley shrieked with wide eyes.

  "I... kissed Sam." She confessed bringing her hands up to her cheeks. "I cheated on Ed."

  Her sisters were her dearest friends, but they could never be serious when she needed them to be. Like now, they both burst into a fit of laughter that truly annoyed her.

  "Honey to cheat on Ed, you do realize that he would need to be your boyfriend first." Tamar pointed out.

  "Tamar he is." She remembered how Ed introduced himself to Sam. "We've been seeing each other exclusively for two years, he comes by the restaurant to help out. He visits mom and dad. That's a boyfriend."

  Hayley sighed, but she was still on the verge of laughter. "Okay, you're right. You just never gave Ed the boyfriend title. Now, this has happened, it's time to put things into perspective."

  Lexie was surprised that Hayley was the first to see things her way.

  "I should have set him straight ages ago, and let him know how I felt." Lexie huffed.

  "There's nothing wrong with giving a relationship a trial period. Yours was just longer than most." Tamar said leaning onto the edge of the desk.

  "Yes." Hayley nodded in agreement. "I would have given up the ghost a long time ago. Seriously girl, and that excuse of always being busy is so lame. No matter how busy you are in whatever it is your doing if you like a guy then you like him. It shouldn't have to be a chore to be with him."

  Tamar came closer and offered a supportive arm around her. "Also you still have a choice. It was just a kiss when you think about it."

  Just a kiss? Lexie's knees wobbled at the memory of how she kissed Sam. That was no mere kiss. He practically made love to her mouth.

  "If you want to be with Ed, be with Ed. If you want to be with Sam, well you know what you have to do," Tamar smiled, and Hayley nodded agreeing.

  Lexie wanted Sam. She'd always wanted Sam, but she didn't exactly have much choice in that department either. Ed, on the other hand, was a No either way. He was a No from the start, and that's why she should have put a stop to their relationship long ago.

  "I don't want to be with Ed." She shook her head. "I've been planning to break up with him for weeks. I just couldn't find the time. Now I look like a big fat cheater." A small tear ran down her cheek. This really was getting to her.

  "Lexie you aren't a cheater, and you aren't big or fat." Tama
r giggled rubbing her shoulders. "Honey, sometimes these things just happen. The point is you're going to fix it."

  "I am, but I'm certain that Sam must think I'm a cheater. You should have seen his face when Ed told him he was my boyfriend." Lexie winced as she remembered it all.

  "Ed said that?" Hayley narrowed her eyes. Lexie nodded. "Lexie, I'm not going to be all gentle like Tamar. You know me, and if it had been me, I would have set Ed straight right there and then. Sure he may think you're his girl and all, but you don't exactly see each other. You've never even introduced him to us as your boyfriend. It sounds to me like he was trying to assert himself because Sam was there." Hayley shook her head with annoyance.

  Lexie agreed, but it didn't make kissing Sam right.

  "If you're that worried, you should talk to Sam," Tamar advised.

  She had to talk to them both.

  "Yes, talk to Sam and ditch Ed. So, now that's decided can we please hear about Sam." Hayley grabbed her shoulders and pushed her towards her pink fur covered chair. The fur tickled Lexie's neck as she sat down.

  "Is he a good kisser?" Tamar swirled around on the desk to face her, eyes wide with excitement.

  "And what else did he do?" Hayley asked with a saucy glint in her eye.

  What had Lexie gotten herself into? There was no point fighting. They would never let her leave until she told them absolutely everything. So she did.

  * * *

  Lexie pulled in a deep breath as she entered the labs. She'd been going over in her head what she'd planned to say to Sam. She got in early so she could have time to herself to think properly. Tim and Gina weren't coming in till after nine, so that was good too. The lab would just be hers for a good half hour or so.

  She had to find a way of seeing Sam today. She supposed she had to make an appointment. Or she could message him. She had his number now.

  No, this had to be done in person.

  Feeling heated again she filled up a glass with water from the cooler and downed it so the coldness could chill her out. It was working until she saw the lab door swing open and Sam came inside.

  "I thought you'd be in early," Sam stated as he approached her.

  Her breath caught at the sight of him. She really wasn't prepared to see him yet, not at all. It was funny how she'd been planning to see him, but never contemplated the possibility of him coming to see her.

  Lexie looked him over fully. No jacket today, just a white shirt with a dark patterned tie. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up slightly on his forearms.

  "Hi." She managed. Nerves inched up her spine as she watched him, remembering the feel of his lips on hers. She would love nothing more than for him to come over to her and kiss her again. And she would kiss him too, running her hands all over his glorious muscles.

  Lexie pulled in a breath to break her crazy thoughts. She needed to get her mind together and focus. He came closer and stopped a few paces away, resting on his cane.

  "I wanted to apologize for Saturday," he said, getting straight to the point.

  She bit the inside of her lip. Lexie didn't want him to apologize. He didn't do anything she didn't want.

  "You didn't -"

  He didn't let her finish.

  "I was out of line." She didn't want him to be sorry for the kiss. Or anything. He looked quite uneasy as he continued. "I shouldn't have kissed you. I knew you were seeing someone, but I just lost ... Well, I just got carried away. I guess I just became that crazy guy I used to be when I first met you."

  She stared at his handsome face, at the light green of his eyes, his sharp chiseled features, and the perfection of his tempting lips. He was like a fantasy come to life. Was it wrong that she noted that he wasn't saying sorry for the kiss because he thought it was a mistake? That was a good thing, right?

  "It's my fault too. I wasn't thinking," she replied. But, that sounded so much like she was saying she was sorry it happened. A flicker of something speckled his gaze. "Ed's um..." She couldn't think of anything to say that didn't sound bad. She didn't think it would sound good to say she wasn't serious about Ed, or that she didn't feel the way she felt when she was with Sam. Either of those just felt disrespectful.

  "Ed's your boyfriend." He filled in, nodding with understanding.

  "No, he's not my boyfriend." She said that a little too quickly. A curious look washed over his face. "I mean we..." What could she say? The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt. She'd strung poor Ed along having no intention of having an actual relationship with him. Now faced with this dilemma she was trying to explain things, so Sam didn't think badly of her, and so that he knew she was available. It all sounded bad.

  "He's not your boyfriend?" His eyes held her in place, and she watched the green darken just like it did days ago before he kissed her. "Lexie. He said he was."

  He looked at her as if he was desperate to know the answer.

  "It's complicated and confusing," she attempted, but still couldn't find the right words.

  He narrowed his eyes and rested his cane against the desk as if he didn't want to be associated with it. Then he stepped closer to her with an air of strength and confidence.

  "How confusing? It's either he's your boyfriend, or he isn't. If he isn't then..."

  She stared at him, eager for him to continue. Her breathing constricted and her pulse quickened the longer she waited.

  "Then what?"

  He pulled in a breath. "Then, I would have to rethink my apology."

  "You aren't sorry?" She searched his eyes, paying attention to his reaction.

  He reached out and held the ends of her ponytail that rested in the crook of her elbow. "That depends on your answer." His silky voice held a challenge, and his eyes searched hers with fervent ardor.

  He loosely twisted the end of her hair around his finger and looked back up to her. The energy that pulsed between them grew denser by the second.

  "He's not my boyfriend," she breathed.

  He moved even closer and her breathing now stilled. She watched him rest his other hand on the wall so that his arm was above her. Her eyes then met the intensity of his, and she wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her again.

  "Then I'm not sorry." He breathed lowering towards her. The strands of her hair fell from his grasp and settled against her elbow as he released it to inch across the flat of her stomach, running his finger along the waistband of her skirt. The gesture weakened her defenses and awareness, pulling her into the temptation that drew her to him. Lexie reached out and pressed her hand against the solid muscle of his chest, remembering the feel against her palms as she molded herself against his lean body.

  "Do you want me to be sorry I kissed you?"

  She shook her head slowly. "No."

  He moved down to her cheek and brushed his lips across her skin scattering her nerves and fueling the desire that pooled low within her. She slid her hands up the wall of his chest and rested at the top of his shoulders just as he planted his lips at the edge of her jaw and kissed her there.

  "What's the story with Ed, Lexie?" He whispered into her ear.

  She didn't think she could talk as emotions overwhelmed her, but she had to. She had to fight against the force that drew her to him. His lips were seconds away from hers, and Ed's face popped into her mind at the mention of his name. "He thinks he's my boyfriend."

  He moved back and stared at her for a few seconds before reaching out to touch her face. "I see."

  She released the strained breath she'd been holding on to. "I have to break up with him. Sam ..." her gaze tangled with his. There was nothing more she wanted than this kiss right now, but for once she had to remember Ed. She didn't want to feel any guiltier than she already did. "I don't want you to think I'm the kind of person who cheats."

  "I would never think that about you." His eyes still had that deep green glow. "Lexie..." he thought for a moment before continuing. "I've thought about you every day for the last twelve years, and if there was a way for me
to have found you I would have done so in a heartbeat." Her eyes widened at that declaration. It never crossed her mind that he would have thought of her too over the years. "And, just like before you drive me crazy with one kiss. Let me know when Ed doesn't think he's your boyfriend." He released her and stepped back.

  She was about to say something when she heard a slurping sound. They both turned to see Tim and Gina standing at the door, watching them in complete astonishment. Tim's hair was the same color blue as the slushy drink he slurped up, and Gina's mouth was wide open. The soft color of her brown skin looked a little flushed.

  "Tim, Gina," Sam said with a polite nod. Lexie watched Sam. He didn't seem phased at all. She, on the other hand, felt hot from the embarrassment and the heat that spread through her from being so close to Sam.

  "Boss man," Tim replied. Gina continued to stare. Sam retrieved his cane and gave her one last look before he left.

  The minute the door closed behind him Tim and Gina rushed up to her ready to be filled in.

  "What the hell was that all about? Don't tell me that's how you got him to agree to our proposal, and give us a raise." Tim looked worried and freaked out.

  Lexie was still weak from the wild sexual charge Sam gave her, and she found it difficult to speak. She was stuck on thinking about all that Sam had said.

  "Lexie," Gina said her name hastily and looked at her with wild eyes. "Did you sleep with him?"

  Sleep with Sam? The thought made her feel weaker, and she felt her cheeks grow even warmer. A chair. She needed to sit down. She grabbed the nearest one and lowered into it placing her hands on her cheeks.

  "This is your fault." Tim snapped at Gina.

  "How is it my fault?" Gina smacked his arm.

  "It's because of you and that Casanova Zane. You've filled Lexie's head with the same ideas."

  "No," Lexie spoke up cutting Tim off.

  Gina looked back to her, now looking quite concerned. "I get it he's gorgeous, but you can't do things like that." Gina was saying. "Lexie please tell me you didn't."