tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40230682896410967852024-03-12T20:08:32.713-04:00A Case of YouThere was more than a language barrier between them.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-4971205424046833872013-05-22T11:33:00.000-04:002013-05-22T11:33:35.692-04:00Chapter 29- Hat TrickAfter not writing in forever... here is a new post! My only excuse is that I'm now in Grad School and I don't have a life anymore and it doesn't exactly leave me time for writing. But one of my New Year's resolutions was to finish this story. So hopefully I can get there and finish this up! This is sort of a transition chapter because I had to go back and re-read parts of my own story to remember what I had been planning. <br />
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As always, thank you for still reading this!<br />
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I woke up the following morning feeling achy but sated. One arm was tingling beneath the weight of Geno's head but I didn't care; not when I was feeling so cozy and at peace tucked against his side. In my previous relationships, the start and end of the honeymoon period passed before I even noticed what had happened. What amazed me now was that I didn't feel like a honeymoon period ever happened in this relationship and to me, that was perfect. In place of the honeymoon, it felt like Geno and I had seamlessly slid into something complicated but real. It was so real that it was enough to cause varying levels of fear and joy in me every single day.<br />
<br />
Geno's sudden yawn and readjustment of his leg over my hip stirred me from my daydreaming. Not that I minded being his person version of a body pillow. <br />
<br />
"What time?" he mumbled sleepily. I tried to lift my head to see the bedside clock but couldn't see beyond his head or the pillow beneath it.<br />
<br />
"I don't know. I can't see past your big head." My comment was made teasingly and he instantly picked up the baton and ran with my invitation to banter. My giggling was suddenly muffled as he rolled his body over mine and pressed me further into the mattress.<br />
<br />
"See now?" he said grinning down into my face. Before I could respond, he began to kiss along my eyebrows and nose, distracting me even more from our objective.<br />
<br />
"Geno, we can't" I half-smiled and whined, instantly picking up on what he wanted to do. It was as if my body had a siren for when he wanted to get frisky and my bells were ringing at full alarm.<br />
<br />
"What?" he replied innocently even as his hand was creeping halfway up my t-shirt.<br />
<br />
"You have a game tonight and I need to get to my office."<br />
<br />
"We have time." I laughed knowing that we probably didn't have time and that this was his last ditch effort to get some in the morning. He may not have been a believer in the 'no-sex before a game' rule but I was and I certainly wasn't about to be responsible for his poor performance in a game. Unfortunately my next refusal was blocked by his exploration of my weak spot on my neck.<br />
<br />
"Not fair" I mumbled even as my traitorous body moved to better serve his lips.<br />
<br />
I was re-considering the amount of time we had when I heard a few quiet knocks on our door. "Oh my god, someone's at the door." With a strength I didn't know I had, I managed to shove Geno off of me and scrambled to right the t-shirt I was wearing.<br />
<br />
Geno called out in Russian and suddenly the door opened revealing a smiling Mrs. Malkin. When she called out cheerfully in Russian, Geno translated for me.<br />
<br />
"She say 'good morning.'"<br />
<br />
"Morning" I called out in response even though I was dying of embarrassment. Apparently neither of them thought anything of Geno and I in the same bed. I considered myself a modern woman but that didn't mean I was ready for Mrs. Malkin to walk in and make assumptions about what we were or were not doing at night. Geno obviously didn't feel the same way. In his obnoxiously unique way, he yawned and stretched throwing his left arm around me and tugging me into his side.<br />
<br />
"She asked if you're still taking her to game tonight."<br />
<br />
"Of course" I replied, pausing a moment to allow Geno to translate. The back and forth from English to Russian was starting to mess with my head. Mrs. Malkin could muddle her way through a conversation in English but obviously preferred to speak in her native tongue. For the umpteenth time since last night, I wondered how I was going to survive an entire game's worth of conversation with her tonight.<br />
<br />
"Is anyone else sitting with us tonight?" I poked Geno in the side causing him to flinch and rub his side.<br />
<br />
"What do you mean?" He retaliated by poking me back in the side.<br />
<br />
"I mean, how am I going to talk to your Mom all night? And where are we sitting?"<br />
<br />
"Nervous?" He asked grinning. In a playful move, he pushed me back against the pillows again and swung a leg over my legs holding me in place beneath him.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm nervous! What if we have nothing to talk about? What if we can't talk at all!"<br />
<br />
Geno interrupted my tirade with laughter and placed a kiss on my cheek. "You be fine, just talk about me and my goals."<br />
<br />
"You're not that great" I teased linking my arms around his broad shoulders and sighing. Even though I was beyond nervous to sit with his Mom at the game, Geno had this way of eliminating my doubts and making them seem foolish. Maybe it was because his thick accent still made me thiInk of him as a Cold War spy. Or maybe it was because I was obsessed with his big broad shoulders and couldn't get enough of the cute shrugging thing he did when giving interviews. I was never going to advise him to stop doing that in interviews. <br />
<br />
"You thought I was great last night" he grinned gently rubbing his hips against mine and looking smug. "How many times did I hear you yell it last night?"<br />
<br />
His reminder was enough to light my face on fire and make me burrow against his neck. "I'm still embarrassed about that. Do you think we can have sex at my apartment from now on?"<br />
<br />
"What?" Geno looked at me like everything he ever said always made sense. "They know we have sex."<br />
<br />
He wasn't helping the situation and I tried to muscle him off of me so I could finally go shower. Leaving him laughing in bed, I flipped him off while dragging my tired body into the bathroom for my normal routine. There was something so wrong about having to go to work on a Sunday but then again, nothing was conventional about the hockey world. Players, staff members and families all had to endure the stress and long hours of a full season and if they were lucky, the post-season. By the time that I was showered, spritzed and dressed, I was already thumbing through the emails on my phone and debating whether or not to offer Crosby up as interview bait that night. The game was being broadcast on NBC that night and all of the players hated having to do interviews with national broadcasters. Since Crosby was the most seasoned interviewee out of all of the players, he was the usual sacrificed player; plus he was who the nation wanted to hear talk. At the same time, it was good to give other less-known players some exposure. I was still considering my options when Geno poked his head through the bathroom door. <br />
<br />
"Hey" Geno greeted interrupting my debate. "Ride with me to the rink?"<br />
<br />
I nodded distractedly still mulling over my interview plans for the day. The team was playing Boston and both teams would have a huge number of fans watching at home.<br />
<br />
"What wrong?" Geno asked following me downstairs and into the kitchen. We both paused to greet his Mom and remind her of the plans for the night. To save me the trouble of leaving the arena, picking her up and battling through traffic back to the arena, Geno had arranged for a car service to pick her up and bring her to the Consol. <br />
<br />
"Nothing" I replied, leaning around him to pop an english muffin into the toaster. It was quiet for a moment while we listened to the soft ticking of the toaster and the sounds of his parents moving around upstairs. My phone buzzed twice indicating that I had a new text message- probably from someone at the office.<br />
<br />
My muffin sprang up indicating that it was done but Geno grabbed it before I could put it on a plate.<br />
<br />
"Thanks" he grinned slathering peanut butter and jelly on two sides before unceremoniously smushing the muffin together.The fact that he knew that was my favorite only made me more indignant.<br />
<br />
"That's mine!" I said trying to grab it out of his hands. Geno easily had a foot on me in height without my heels and I jumped up trying to reach the muffin that he was now dangling over my head."You're such a bully" I said now glaring into his gleeful face. He obviously found this funnier than I did. <br />
<br />
"You want some?" he taunted, obviously trying to get even more of a rise out of me. Unfortunately, I didn't recognize the look in his eye and soon found my mouth full of english muffin before I could think about what he was up to.<br />
<br />
He burst out laughing at the horrified expression on my face as I tried to chew and swallow the sticky mass of peanut butter and jelly in my mouth. "You're mean" I accused him as soon as I could talk again. I tried to formulate the words necessary to communicate "screw you" but my mouth was too full of sticky peanut butter.<br />
<br />
"Baby" he taunted pulling me into his arms. He pulled me up on my toes for a kiss and that's how his Mom found us a minute later, still liplocked and tasting each others' breakfast. She smiled brightly at us and for the second time that morning I was embarrassed about the amount of intimacy his parents were witnessing.<br />
<br />
The level of intimacy in our relationship was still something I was adjusting to in general. No one would guess that the 6'4" lanky man in front of me was capable of so much affection on a daily basis but he was easily the most open and affectionate man I had ever known or dated. In the beginning of our relationship I could remember almost flinching when he casually touched me or brushed a lock of stray hair from my face. Now it felt weird for him to not be around and doing those things. Even though the dynamic of our relationship had clearly changed and me along with it, I still wasn't sure how to interact with him in front of other people- whether it was his friends or his parents. That was one of the many reasons I was so nervous to sit with his family again tonight. By sitting in the friends and family section with his Mom, we were making a very public declaration in front of a crowd of (most likely) curious strangers and in front of members of the Penguins organization who also expected Geno and I to maintain a level of professionalism. It almost felt like I would be wearing three different hats at the game: Pens employee, supportive girlfriend and woman trying to impress her boyfriend's Mom.<br />
<br />
"Hey" Geno spoke interrupting my racing mind. "Stop thinking so much, just go to game, enjoy and cheer for me."<br />
<br />
I smirked in response to his 'cheering' comment. "So you think you're going to play well, huh?"<br />
<br />
He tipped my chin up and gave me the cocky look that sent shivers up my spine. "Of course. You there, family there. Tonight will be good."<br />
<br />
I laughed at how he was able to simplify a situation that I found to be so stressful and complex. "Just don't go picking a fight with Chara. I don't want to watch a giant pick on my boyfriend."<br />
<br />
He laughed outright at that and pulled me against him. "But you could be nurse after game" he said wiggling his eyebrows and sliding his big palm over my butt making me blush and laugh. I glanced over at his Mom who had her back to us and was humming as she dug around the refrigerator. <br />
<br />
"Thank god your Mom doesn't understand everything that you say." <br />
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Three hours later I was busy scheduling upcoming events in my office and waiting for Mrs. Malkin to arrive. I had received a heads up from another coordinator in the office stating that Rob Rossi of the Trib wanted to do a small feature on the Malkin's attending the game since they were a fan favorite among the fans. I would be required to be on standby to advise the interview and try my best to bridge the language gap if Rob actually wanted to try to get a few statements out of his Mom about their time in Pittsburgh and their opinions of the team. I had no idea how they expected me to bridge the language gap when I only knew a few choice words in Russian but I knew that it would be good PR for the team and it would be something that the fans would actually enjoy reading.<br />
<br />
I was jotting down some notes on how to shape the interview when a heavily accented voice interrupted my thoughts. <br />
<br />
"Knock, knock." My door was pushed open farther and Mrs. Malkin's grinning head popped in. It was pretty cute that "knock, knock" was a phrase she had picked up along the way. <br />
<br />
I pasted on my brightest smile but internally my heart started to race from nerves. "Hey! Geno was supposed to let me know you were here and I would have met you downstairs!" As soon as I said it, I realized that she might not have fully understood what I just said. Instead of responding, Mrs. Malkin merely grinned at me and pushed my office door open fully to step inside. The last time I had sat with the Malkins at a game, it felt stilted and uncomfortable. I hoped that her effort to come find me in my office meant that they were getting used to me and slowly becoming more comfortable with me as well. <br />
<br />
"Am I bother?" she asked slowly, as if she too was trying to figure out how this talking in English thing was going to work.<br />
<br />
"No! Of course not. I got carried away working." I gathered my purse and slipped my cardigan over my shoulders before I realized she was looking at me funny, clearly not understanding the colloquial phrase I had just used without thinking.<br />
<br />
Instead of trying to explain that I wasn't actually physically carried anywhere, I smiled again and ushered her out of the office. Maybe once we sat in the seats and had some hockey to watch, the language barrier wouldn't seem so bad. Still, I couldn't help but feel frustrated by how difficult this was going to be. Every girlfriend wants to impress their significant others' parents and I couldn't do that if we couldn't communicate properly. Didn't all parents want to know if and where their child's boyfriend/girlfriend had been educated and what type of job they had? That was the world I was used to and with the cultural and language barrier, I had no idea what she valued in her son's choice of girlfriend. In the elevator ride down to the main entrance of the arena, I took a calming breath and reminded myself to relax and try not to come off as stuck up or standoffish.<br />
<br />
The doors to the elevator swooshed open and the noise level around us increased dramatically with people excitedly entering the arena to enjoy the game and cheer on their team. Sometimes before a game, I purposely came down to the main level just to feel the excitement emanating off of the fans. It was electric and I loved seeing the faces of kids entering, ready to see their hockey heroes battle on the ice.<br />
<br />
Not surprisingly, a few fans recognized Mrs. Malkin as we walked to the section where we would be sitting. She had elected again to sit in the friends and family seats and not in the box with the Lemieux's and all of the other big-wigs. A few people called out hello to her and she took it all in stride and smiled or waved back. Personally, I would be a nervous wreck if people did the same to me and called out my name without actually knowing me personally. A part of me secretly hoped I could continue to date Geno and fly under the radar without fans recognizing me.<br />
<br />
"Do you want to get anything to eat first?" I asked them as we walked towards our section. She seemed to understand my question and shook her head no. The usher for the section greeted us and we began to descend the long row of steps into the seats. From behind, I spotted Matt Cooke's wife sitting up ahead with her gaggle of Matt Cooke lookalikes sitting around her. One of the youngest sons threw popcorn at his sister and screeched loudly. Yep, typical Cooke family moment.<br />
<br />
"Okay, here are your seats guys, enjoy the game!" The usher left us smiling brightly and my nerves kicked back in when I realized that I was all alone with them again. <br />
<br />
Luckily, I was saved when I spotted Max Talbot's wife and Crosby's girlfriend sitting together. "Hey, Ava!" Lizzy Talbot waved us over and greeted Mrs. Malkin warmly. "How are you guys doing?" she asked leaning in to accept a double cheek kiss.<br />
<br />
Before I even had time to think of ways to keep our conversation going, the guys skated out onto the ice and the crowd around us went crazy. Geno was the last one out and I watched him hit his stride as he took two laps around the Pens' half of the ice. Mrs. Malkin seemed absorbed in watching the warmup so I took the opportunity to go up to the concession area and grab a hotdog and a soda. I was definitely gaining weight from all of the carb loaded foods Geno was able to eat on a regular basis but there were zero healthy options available in the arena. Predictably, every time I complained that I needed to go up a pant size, Geno didn't understand what I was complaining about. The downside to dating a bean pole athlete.<br />
<br />
Armed with my food and drink, I returned to the seats where Mrs. Malkin appeared to be having a good time. The guys were starting to filter back into the locker room so at least the game would be starting soon, providing me with more opportunities to relax and not feel pressured to think of something to say. Max Talbot did a little skating jive trick on the ice to impress his wife and the people paying attention in the crowd laughed at his antics, including his blushing wife.<br />
<br />
"Weirdo" she mouthed to him while he grinned and saluted at her. I watched their exchange with a twinge of envy, wondering if I would ever get to that level of openness and comfort in my relationship with Geno. Before I could continue to think about that, Geno sped up and came to an abrupt halt spraying Max with a spray of ice. The crowd continued to cheer while Max acted offended and made kids laugh even harder in the audience. Seeing their hockey heroes act silly was going to be almost as good as watching them win a game. Crosby barked at them by the locker room entrance and the guys turned and started to skate away to obey their captain. Geno threw me a wink before he followed causing more than a few heads in the crowd to turn and see who he was aiming the look at.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Malkin grabbed my hand causing me to startle slightly. Instead of saying anything, she smiled and squeezed my hand before letting me go.<br />
<br />
"Evgeni very flirt." She grinned looking between me and in the direction of the locker room.<br />
<br />
Lizzy Talbot smiled next to me at Mrs. Malkin's words and joined our conversation. "He acts like a little kid trying to get Ava's attention all of the time. You should have seen him before they were actually dating."<br />
<br />
There was no way that Mrs. Malkin could fully appreciate that whole sentence but she appeared to get the gist of it because she grinned even wider and nodded her head in the knowing way that all women seem to develop once they have children.<br />
<br />
"He certainly tried hard to win me over." I smiled remembering how persistent and big and annoying he had seemed at first. It seemed like such a long time ago but really it had been only a few months.<br />
<br />
"He nice?" Mrs. Malkin asked me. I smiled wondering if she was asking me whether he had been a gentleman with me initially. If she only knew!<br />
<br />
"He was great." I answered honestly. In the few short moments that had passed in this conversation, I had decided to try a different approach in our efforts to communicate with each other. Maybe if I just talked to her like I would to a fluent English-speaker, she would understand the meaning of what I was trying to say. <br />
<br />
"I was in a bad relationship before I moved here and Geno pushed me to open up. He's made me enjoy my life here in Pittsburgh." I looked down at my soda after that, not really sure what else I should say. Before she could respond, the lights dimmed dramatically in the arena signalling that the game was about to start.<br />
<br />
The rest of the game went smoothly with the Pens tied at the half. Geno had already scored a goal in the first and the Bruins had been covering him like crazy for the rest of the 2nd period until he finally wore them down in the third period, scoring two more goals and earning a hat trick for the night. There had only been two incidents during the game where Mrs. Malkin had been flashed on the jumbo tron with fans recognizing her immediately. She didn't seem to mind and was gracious and waved when her face flashed on screen. With 5 minutes left to go in the third, I asked Lizzy if she would mind escorting Mrs. Malkin down to the locker room after the game. I wanted to beat the crowd and get down to the locker room now so I would be ready to run interference with the press and the players. As soon as the players exited the ice after a big game, the press was always ready to attack and get in the faces of the players and I needed to have my metaphorical stick ready to beat them back and control the room.<br />
<br />
"I have to go downstairs to handle the press, Lizzy is going to take you to the locker room after the game if that's alright?"<br />
<br />
She merely smiled at me and seemed content to stay where she was.<br />
<br />
"I've got her!" Lizzy Talbot smiled and waved at me as I hopped up as soon as there was a break in the play and moved quickly up the stairs into the concession area. I made it down to the locker room while there was still a minute left of regulation play and the Pens were leading 4-2. Smiling at the reporters I recognized and was friendly with, I checked in quickly with other members of the staff who were waiting around and talking about the game. My boss David briefed me on who he had overheard the press members wanting to talk to. Geno was an obvious target because he had played well and scored a hat trick. Sid had already given a half-time interview so I was planning to try to keep his interview short and sweet tonight. The poor kid probably wanted to get out of here.<br />
<br />
I could hear that the players were coming off the ice because of the increase in noise level and the whooping and hollering that was happening outside. My heart warmed slightly as I watched the guys walk in all pumped up after their win. As much as moving to Pittsburgh had been a shock to my system, I really was enjoying my job and getting to know everyone in the organization. A blast of hot air hit my neck and I realized that Geno had blown on my neck as he passed behind me to his stall. I felt myself blushing from the contact and tried to control my outward reaction. I decided it was safer not to even look at him because if I did, it would be obvious to everyone in the room what I was thinking. As much as I couldn't handle smelling him and his gear after a game, I had no problem looking at him and I knew if I caught a glimpse of himself removing all of his gear, I would lose focus and need to step outside the room. <br />
<br />
Instead, I monitored the room with David and made sure that Mrs. Malkin was settled comfortably in the lounge area outside of the locker room while we waited for the interviews to be over and for the players to shower.<br />
<br />
"Hey" Geno's voice startled me out of the email I was drafting on my phone. I smiled when I saw how haphazardly he had dressed after showering, obviously in a hurry to get going after the game. He stood close and I knew that he wanted a kiss but I was still cautious to show any displays of affection while we were in the arena and around players and staff members.<br />
<br />
"Your buttons are all messed up" I smiled, my fingers itching to fix them. He looked down and shrugged, starting to fix them himself. "Good game, and it seemed like your interviews went great" I added smiling up at him and taking a small step back. He noticed but didn't say anything. <br />
<br />
"Come back to hospital with us?" For the first time in a few hours, I remembered that Mr. Malkin was still in the hospital. I nodded and pointed to where his mom was chatting and smiling with players' wives.<br />
<br />
"Any word from the doctors?" I asked walking towards his Mom with him. <br />
<br />
"Don't know," he answered. He greeted everyone warmly and leaned down to accept his mom's hug and customary kisses. She talked animatedly with him in Russian and his cheeks got pink signalling that she was saying something that embarrassed him. I laughed at how he could still be reduced to a little boy by something his mom said. <br />
<br />
They continued to talk in Russian as we started to leave. I signaled to David that I was on my way out and caught up with them as we made our way to the player parking area. In the parking garage, Geno ignored my no PDA rule and grabbed my hand as the three of us stepped off of the elevator. His grip was firm and left no room for me arguing or trying to pull away. I inwardly smiled at both of us trying to gain control of the situation- each of us with our own set of rules we were trying to implement in our relationship.<br />
<br />
At Geno's car, before I could offer Mrs. Malkin the front seat, she hopped into the back and shut the door, leaving Geno and I with as much privacy as can exist in a parking garage. He took the opportunity to pull me close and give me a kiss before I could argue about us still being at the arena. Then he opened my door and ushered me into the passenger seat, making sure I buckled up before shutting the door.<br />
<br />
"Nice manners" I teased as he climbed into the driver's side. "You're such a showoff in front of your Mom."<br />
<br />
"Hey, I a gentleman" he grinned back. He pulled out of his spot before picking my hand up in his giant paw. He kissed my palm and it occurred to me that he kept acting extra grabby in front of his parents. I wondered if it was on purpose.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the ride to the hospital, Geno held my hand and talked to his Mom in Russian. Usually when speaking in Russian he would pause in the middle of the conversation and translate for me. This time, both talked without bothering to include me. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as it occurred to me that they could be talking about me. I thought that everything had gone well today but it was hard to tell. <br />
<br />
Rather than dwell on it too much, I decided to take the opportunity to rest for a moment and tune out the sounds of them speaking. I must have been more tired than I let on because I fell asleep and didn't wake up until Geno nudged me in the parking lot of the hospital. <br />
<br />
He kissed me on the nose and motioned for me to get moving. "Let's go." <br />
<br />
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<br />Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-45891846004362351262011-07-05T16:09:00.000-04:002011-07-05T16:09:55.733-04:00Chapter 28- Too much<em>Hey guys! I'm still committed to finishing my stories and I'm going to commit to this one first. I know what I want to happen, I just have to make more time for it. I still appreciate all of the comments you guys leave even when I sporadically update! I didn't do a thorough grammar or spell check but I hope you enjoy the update! </em><br />
<br />
<br />
I woke up feeling refreshed after my nap. So refreshed that I realized 3 hours had passed and it was well past dinnertime. I felt even worse after I checked my phone and saw that Geno had called me 4 times already. I was the world's worst girlfriend after promising to cook for my boyfriend and his family and then sleeping through the entire time. <br />
<br />
I had come home with the intention of taking a breather, not blowing them off. Feeling anxious, I pressed my call button and Geno answered almost immediately. <br />
<br />
"What happened? Where are you?" he answered without saying the pre-requisite "hello." <br />
<br />
"I'm sorry, I'm in my apartment and everything's fine." <br />
<br />
He paused and I wasn't sure if it was because I mentioned that I was here in my apartment or if there was something else going on. <br />
<br />
"I'm really sorry" I added. "I wanted to take a quick catnap and ended up sleeping a lot longer than I wanted to." <br />
<br />
"Catnap? What is catnap?" <br />
<br />
"It's just an expression" I smiled realizing that he didn't know that word yet. <br />
<br />
"Oh. Well are you coming here?" <br />
<br />
I heard the hopeful tone of his voice and it shamed me to think that I was the only one who was scared of moving forward in our relationship. What kind of person was afraid to accept that kind of love? <br />
<br />
"Yes, just let me grab some things and I'll be right over." We agreed that I would be there in 30 minutes and hung up. I loaded more of my clothes and a few other comforts into an overnight bag before hauling it downstairs and into my car. The groceries I had purchased for his house were still cold in my trunk thanks to the Pittsburgh winter. All the groceries I bought reminded me that I hardly lived in my apartment anymore. I hadn't bought milk or eggs for my apartment in awhile because I either cooked at his house or we ate out. <br />
<br />
Even though I didn't want to admit it, we <em>did</em> practically live together. His annoying persistence had led to the gradual demise of my self-reliance and the very reminder of my current actions made me feel like I was breaking out in a cold sweat. <br />
<br />
I pulled into his driveway- our driveway?- feeling like a 50 year old woman in menopause. The cold air outside was an instant relief as I began to unload my car. I heard the garage door go up and seconds later, Geno's tall form emerged from the garage. <br />
<br />
"Here, I help you" he said leaning down to kiss my cheek and steal the grocery bags from my hands. Once he stepped back and got a better look at my face, he set the bags down again and pulled me toward him.<br />
<br />
"What wrong?" I tried to shake him off but a burly hand on my hip kept me from moving out of reach. <br />
<br />
"Nothing." Suddenly I felt like if I met his eyes, I would spontaneously burst into tears and probably scare the hell out of him. <br />
<br />
Instead of letting me go, he pulled me tightly against his chest for a hug, mumbling something in Russian. Since I was a little more than a foot shorter than him, my head fit perfectly against his neck where I could inhale the smell of his skin and count to 10. His hands rubbed steadily over my back in calming, reassuring gestures that made me want to groan in pleasure as he pushed the tension away.<br />
<br />
I wasn't sure if he knew why he was comforting me but as my body relaxed, I knew he understood that he was helping. <br />
<br />
I felt slightly less manic than I had before and allowed myself to press a kiss to the skin I was currently snuggled against. His skin always looked and felt so smooth, despite the battles his body had endured and as a woman, I had to marvel about the fact that he never used lotion. <br />
<br />
He countered my kiss with one of his own, planting it on the spot by my temple that always made me sigh. <br />
<br />
"Better?" <br />
<br />
I nodded and when I stepped back, he let me. He didn't ask why I had shown up at his house looking like a nut-job and instead picked up a few of the grocery bags like nothing had happened at all. Thankful for the out, I grabbed my overnight bag and a few groceries before following him inside. Our embrace had made me feel warm so the heat from the house barely registered as I stepped inside. <br />
<br />
Natalia was boiling water for what looked like tea and when she saw me, she grabbed my shoulders and placed a kiss on both of my cheeks. "Hungry?" <br />
<br />
I smiled this time, a real smile, and shook my head no. <br />
<br />
"She didn't eat" Geno said behind me then spoke to his Mom in Russian. She looked between us and nodded then went to the refrigerator anyway.<br />
<br />
"I'm not hungry" I turned and tried to talk to Geno. He ignored me and picked up my bag so he could carry it upstairs. <br />
<br />
"Did you eat dinner?" <br />
<br />
When I didn't answer, he shrugged his shoulders. "Then you hungry." <br />
<br />
Since there was no point in arguing with his form of logic, I hung up my coat and found Natalia arranging leftovers on a plate for me. It made me feel guilty to watch her but I let her stack my plate up with meat and potatoes. I remembered Geno explaining that it was in the Russian culture for mothers to dote on family and that it would be rude if I tried to refuse her. <br />
<br />
She looked up and smiled at me, once again inspiring guilt and self-loathing for having so many doubts about her son and for behaving like I did. I watched her hum and check on her tea while my food was in the microwave. I could tell that she was subtly watching me, and the game of watching each other but pretending not to, made me feel wary. <br />
<br />
We were either psyching each other out or we were both wondering if I was worth all the trouble Geno was going through.<br />
<br />
The microwave beeped and I jumped up to get my plate and pour myself a glass of milk. Even though I didn't feel hungry, the food looked and smelled delicious. <br />
<br />
"Thank you" I told Natalia genuinely and slid into a seat at the kitchen table. Geno walked back into the kitchen, this time wearing his nighttime sweats, and joined me at the table. <br />
<br />
"Good, right?" he asked, leaning in to inhale the smell of my food. He was right, it was awesome. Even though I was enjoying my food, I was still watching Natalia watch Geno and I. He was usually a touchy-feely kind of person so I didn't think twice anymore when he put his arm around the back of my chair or leaned his knee against mine. But with his Mom suddenly watching us with an indistinguishable look on her face, I wondered what we looked like or if there was something about us together that she didn't like. <br />
<br />
Women, especially mothers, are way better at reading other women than men are. If Geno thought anything was really wrong with me or that I was suddenly second guessing every detail in my life, his mother would be sure to pick up on it faster than him. Then what would happen? <br />
<br />
I listened to them both talk about their plans for the rest of the week, some of it in broken English and the rest in Russian. I knew that Geno had practice in the morning and a game at night but Natalia surprised me by asking if I would take her to the game and show her around the arena. I hadn't planned on going to the game since the team was only playing the Predators- not exactly a team that would cause a PR frenzy- but I agreed for the sake of proving to her that I wasn't the worst kind of animal that her son could be interested in.<br />
<br />
I zoned out of their conversation but let the syllables of the russian language wash over me as I cleaned my plate. I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn't hear Geno calling my name. <br />
<br />
"Sorry" I said smiling sheepishly. "I'm a little tired." <br />
<br />
Natalia grinned and said something in russian to Geno who also grinned. I still had a long way to go before I ever understood what they were saying. <br />
<br />
"What did you say?" I asked him, feeling slightly put out by the fact that they knew I couldn't understand what they were saying. <br />
<br />
"Ready for bed" Geno said grabbing my hand and pulling my dirty dish away from the table. His request was barely a question and more of a statement. He put my dirty dish in the sink and barely allowed me to say goodnight to his mother before he dragged me up the stairs behind him. <br />
<br />
"Could you at least let me walk instead of dragging me?" I half-laughed/whined. In his room, I saw that my bag was sitting on his bed unopened. Rather than let me unpack and hang up my work clothes, Geno pulled me to the bed and gently pushed me down onto the soft coverlet. Before I could move, his long body covered mine and pressed me deeper into the mattress.<br />
<br />
"Mmmm," he mumbled pressing his lips into my neck. "I sleep like this." <br />
<br />
"I'm not even in my pajamas" I laughed, trying not to get distracted by the feel of his chapped lips tracing over my skin. <br />
<br />
"I can fix that" he said, grinning down at me menacingly. Even though it was very easy for me to be distracted in this position, I couldn't forget that his mother was in the house. <br />
<br />
"Does your Mom know what we're doing?" I asked as soon as he freed my lips. <br />
<br />
Rather than answer me he ground his hips against mine instead. The moan that slipped past my lips was enough to make sure that his Mom <em>did</em> know what was going on. <br />
<br />
His name slipped out of my mouth in a mortifying moan as he ground his erection against my core once again. Because he outweighed me by 50 pounds, he easily dodged my punch to his arm and pinned my fist above my head, struggling to capture my other arm with it. <br />
<br />
"You must be dreaming if you think we're having sex now" I panted, struggling to shift my lower body and somehow use my legs to free myself. <br />
<br />
It was no longer clear why I was even fighting him off since we both knew that as soon as he touched me, I was a goner. Still, we both weren't the kind of people to back down from a challenge and in that moment, it became a game of physical domination. <br />
<br />
<div class="translit" dir="ltr" id="res-translit" style="text-align: left;">"Ya hochu, chtoby vy" he said smiling down into my eyes. When he looked at me like that, it made me forget to be annoyed that I had no idea what he was saying. His lips met mine again and this time the mood changed from sexual dominance to slow and careful. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">He let go of my wrists so I was free to explore the wide expanse of his back while his hands moved to free me of my sweater. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">He mumbled something else in russian but I was too far gone to care what he was saying. All I could concentrate on was the feeling of his skin rubbing against mine, striking me each time we touched like a match waiting to be lit on fire. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The rest of our clothes came off fast, unforgotten and spread throughout the bedroom. Our mouths were connected when he entered me and I swallowed his exhale of breath as he reached my inner depths. In our haste, we had forgotten a condom and the feeling of just him touching me in my most intimate place was like a shock to both of our senses. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">When he realized, his eyes widened to almost comedic proportions. "Sorry" he breathed out, instantly moving to pull out of me. The possibility of being disconnected made my fingers dig into his shoulders in protest. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">"It's okay" I told him, shimmying my hips a little and showing him just how okay it was. "I'm on birth control too." Just to make sure he understood, I lifted my hips up and rolled them against him. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">"Der'mo" he breathed out. The vein straining against the skin of his neck told me that he was already close to the edge. One slow thrust of his hips pushed me to that edge with him. Another made me whimper and pull him closer. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Even with all of my doubts about where my life was suddenly heading, only he had the singular ability to make me completely disregard that apprehension and get naked with him. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">"Oh god. Just fuck me already" I moaned, anxious for the relief he could provide to both of us. His mouth claimed mine and he happily obliged. Even if I said it a thousand times, it would never be enough- he was too big, too pushy and too dominant in how I viewed my future. Despite this, every time he touched me, my mind forgot that it didn't know what it wanted. </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="translit" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">And that was okay for now because I didn't want to think anymore. </div>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-13512406704168381352011-03-28T15:11:00.000-04:002011-03-28T15:11:49.914-04:00Chapter 27- Translations<em>Its been a shameful amount of time since I've updated but as usual, my academic life is crazy. I'm not done with this story and it will get finished eventually. Here's a chapter to tide you over for a little bit. I'm hoping to have another one up this week or early next. Ignore my typos and spelling mistakes please :) </em><br />
<br />
<em>Also, thank you so much for your comments! That's why I wrote this chapter because I saw that I was randomly still getting comments. You're all great! </em><br />
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<br />
Waking up was a less than pleasant experience. Not only was the alarm shrilling in my ear but Geno had left long before me and his side of the bed was cold. I hit the snooze button and wondered why I had even set it in the first place. Not only was it a Saturday but I had absolutely nothing to do today except go visit the hospital. <br />
<br />
Since his heart attack, things had been relatively quiet. Geno was going back into the lineup on Tuesday night in a home game against the Thrashers. Everyone, including a team psychologist had insisted that he sit out at least a week while his Dad's health slowly stabilized. To his chagrin, I had backed this decision and made myself very clear that I wasn't going to visit him if he ended up in the hospital too because of reckless play on the ice. <br />
<br />
The alarm began beeping again signalling that it was time for me to wake up and finally get my butt out of bed. In the bathroom, I yawned and stretched, my eyes slowly focusing on a post-it note on the mirror. His crooked handwriting, so unused to western-style characters, made me smile as I read, "Hospital at 12?" <br />
<br />
Over the past week, we had still been operating under the guise of fiance and fiancee so that I could get past the nursing staff as a non-family member. Geno smirked every time a nurse made a cutesy comment about us or winked. Even Geno's Mom seemed to be enjoying our lie and took every opportunity to let me know that she approved. It was sweet of course but it also worried me that she seemed to be taking our new, fake status as something that would be permanent in the immediate future. If I didn't even want to permanently live with her son yet, then how did she expect us to get engaged any time soon? <br />
<br />
Not to mention, I worried that other people would start to gossip about our "engagement." The nurses were nice to us but that didn't mean that they weren't gossipping about us on their breaks or when they went home to their families.<br />
<br />
Out of necessity, I shoved the worrisome thoughts out of my head and turned on the shower so that I could get ready for the day. Feeling how light the bottle of shower gel had gotten, I made a mental note to buy more the next time I stopped at the store. <br />
<br />
Things had been so busy lately between going to work, going to the hospital and taking care of both Geno and his Mom, that I had been staying at Geno's house for the past week. I hadn't been back to my own apartment in 3 days and as a result, my shower gel and shampoo had moved into his shower. Because the bottle had suddenly gotten a lot lighter, I suspected that a certain someone was using it as well. It seemed that we were sharing a lot lately.<br />
<br />
Even if he was using my shower gel, I drew the line at us sharing an underwear drawer. As much as I wanted to make sure he understood that this living arrangement wasn't entirely permanent, I didn't want to make things more complicated right now by causing tension. Having our underwear all jumbled together in a drawer signified that our lives were completely intertwined. <br />
<br />
In the practice of keeping things as simple as possible, I didn't want to bring it up- I just wanted to assert myself in other ways. Aka, keeping our underwear separate. If I could do that, then I could keep both of us from moving too quickly in this relationship. <br />
<br />
<br />
A couple of hours later and one half of a tuna sandwich later, I felt heavy hands drop onto my shoulders from behind then a chaste kiss on my cheek. <br />
<br />
"What? You couldn't wait?" Geno asked pulling out the chair next to me in the hospital cafeteria. <br />
<br />
"You're 20 minutes late and I didn't eat breakfast" I explained passing him a napkin for the sandwich he was already eating without my permission. <br />
<br />
"Papa had more test" he said in between frowning at my sandwich. "Is this tuna?" <br />
<br />
"Yes, I would have told you if you had asked me" I grinned suddenly remembering how much he hated tuna sandwiches. He happily gave it back and sipped my soda instead.<br />
<br />
"Tests were good." He commented after a contented lull in conversation between us. <br />
<br />
"What kind of test was it?" <br />
<br />
He frowned then and I knew that he had either forgotten or didn't really know what it was. I squeezed his hand instead of trying to probe him about it. "It's okay, I'll ask the nurses when we go up there." <br />
<br />
Instead of being annoyed at me, he gave me a goofy smile and kissed the back of my hand lavishly. "See? Is why I need you." His expression went from confused to mischievous so fast that I barely had time to keep up. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, yeah" I said smiling from his unexpected kiss. Even I wasn't immune to his goofy charm it seemed. <br />
<br />
We waited another 5 minutes before walking hand in hand back to the elevators. After waiting for what seemed like forever, an elevator finally arrived and was blissfully empty.<br />
<br />
He immediately pulled me to his side and pressed a not-so-chaste kiss to the sensitive spot beneath my ear. "It was nice this morning" he spoke quietly. I felt a shiver creep up my spine, feeling like we were little kids sharing a secret, not full grown adults standing in an elevator. <br />
<br />
"What was nice?" I turned so that we were facing each other and slid my arms around his solid torso. I could smell the detergent on his shirt and his cologne from earlier in the morning. <br />
<br />
"You, in my bed." I smiled against his lips even though it felt like he was leading us somewhere that I didn't want to go right now. <br />
<br />
"It should happen more often" he added. When I opened my eyes he was staring down at me with that light in his eyes that always made me wary. <br />
<br />
"We are together almost every night that you're not on the road with the team" I reminded him. <br />
<br />
"Almost. Every. I don't like those words. Not good enough." <br />
<br />
The elevator dinged and I stepped back out of reach. "Well, then tell Gary Bettman that. It's not my fault that hockey takes you away from Pittsburgh so much." He shook his head but let the subject drop. Both of us knew what the other one was up to. Him taking 2 steps forward and me taking the calculated 2 steps back. <br />
<br />
"Ready?" He asked, already reaching for my hand before I could grab his. As we walked past the nurses station, I noticed that they all pretended not to watch us as we passed. Geno would never notice but I saw at least 3 stop and flat out stare at him as he walked. Since he was usually pretty oblivious to the female attention that he got in public, I knew that there was no reason for me to feel even remotely jealous. The only thing that pissed me off was the was the look that I got from the little blonde nurse pretending to do her paperwork. <br />
<br />
She usually made a big deal out of letting me pass because I wasn't technically a family member- "fiancee" or not. Really, she was just being a bitch. I hadn't seen this kind of cattiness since the one-day sale at Barney's in New York. Weren't Pittsburgh girls supposed to be down to earth and sweet? <br />
<br />
"In Russia we say she's bitch" Geno mumbled to me as soon as we were on the other side of the ICU doors. <br />
<br />
He grinned at the astonishment on my face while it took me a minute to process that he was more observant that I thought. "You saw her?" <br />
"Hard to miss" he smiled fending me off before I could slap his arm again. "She's obvious. Not a secret." <br />
<br />
"I thought you didn't notice stuff like that!" He <em>never</em> seemed to notice people staring at him in the grocery store or the few places we went out together. Usually we frequented those places because people were nice and ignored us too. Still, that didn't completely weed out all of the female attention he garnered.<br />
<br />
Before he could answer, his mother appeared around the corner, presumably to see who was laughing hysterically in the ICU.<br />
<br />
She greeted us both in English and said something to Geno that sounded like it would be a scolding. Although I could never be sure since everything in Russian sounds more harsh than English. Geno shrugged and replied then at my look of annoyance filled me in on what she had said. <br />
<br />
"She say we laugh too loud." <br />
<br />
In his room, Mr. Malkin was sitting up and poking at the hospital food on his tray. It didn't look very appetizing but the last time that Geno or I had tried to sneak a real sandwich in to him, it didn't go over so well with his doctor. <br />
<br />
He grinned broadly at our entrance and immediately tried to play on our heartstrings with complaints about the food. <br />
<br />
"Too bad. It's good for you" I told him, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed so that I could squeeze his hand. It was pretty hard not to like this man with his constantly upbeat attitude and way of smiling about everything. <br />
<br />
He squeezed my hand back but I could tell that his usual strength still wasn't there. When I first met him, his hugs had felt like I was being squeezed by a grizzly. Now his squeeze felt as light as a child's. <br />
<br />
"They move him this afternoon" Mrs. Malkin announced, seeming relieved but exhausted at the same time. <br />
<br />
I let myself fade into the background as they began to confer in Russian. It was obviously more comfortable for them to speak in their native tongue but it felt like I was intruding on something private and just for the family's ears only. <br />
<br />
After a half hour of reading an old magazine, I excused myself to go check my messages on my phone. The mood in the room had turned serious and I noticed that Geno's eyes frequently landed on me while he spoke. My name was never mentioned specifically but it isn't hard to know when someone's talking about you- Russian language or not.<br />
<br />
I passed the nurses station again and luckily the bitchy blonde from before was gone, leaving me to make my way down to the visitor's sitting room so that I could scroll through my emails. Even though it was the weekend, the emails never stopped flowing through to my phone. <br />
<br />
"I thought I find you here." <br />
<br />
Just as I was reading through an email from Coach Bylsma himself, Geno poked his head in the door with his mother in tow. <br />
<br />
"Sorry, I just wanted to clear out some emails." <br />
<br />
"My husband sleep." Mrs. Malkin added. Her coat was already on and she looked tired. It looked like we were leaving so soon for her sake more than Mr. Malkin who would probably end up watching TV rather than sleeping. <br />
<br />
"Okay then, let's go." I slipped my coat over my own shoulders and gathered up my purse. Outside, I waited with Mrs. Malkin while her son went to get his car. When he pulled up, I helped get the door open since she looked asleep on her feet already. <br />
<br />
"Are you following?" Geno asked leaning forward to talk to me across the passenger seat. <br />
<br />
I shook my head no. "I want to pick up some groceries and check up on my apartment." Even though this was a reasonable excuse for anyone to make, he didn't look pleased. He was never satisfied with anything other than his way and the word "apartment" was enough to annoy him anytime I mentioned it. <br />
<br />
"I'll be back to make dinner and stock your refrigerator" I reminded him. Silently we both knew I was saying "drop it" instead. <br />
<br />
When their car was out of sight, I began the trek to where my car was parked in the massive parking lot. I couldn't tell which emotion was motivating me when I drove to the Giant Eagle that was 20 more minutes away from where I usually went and then took a 2 hour nap back in my apartment just to prolong my afternoon: stubbornness or fear.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-49663657761389172272010-11-14T17:01:00.000-05:002010-11-14T17:01:30.171-05:00Chapter 26- Elbow in the Ribs<em>Sorry it's been awhile! Also, everyone should check out Penslove25's new story "Use Somebody." It's really cute so far and a good read if you need something new! Link: <a href="http://usesomebodymax.blogspot.com/">http://usesomebodymax.blogspot.com/</a> She's a really good writer and deserves to have more followers! </em><br />
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It made no sense as we walked toward room 510 in the Cardio unit of Allegheny Hospital. Only hours before, everything had been perfect. Geno and I had had fantastic makeup sex and his parents had been off having a little day to themselves in Pittsburgh. <br />
So how had everything suddenly gotten so fucked up? <br />
<br />
Geno was silent as he guided me towards the room. Though he led me with his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, it felt as if I was the one propping him up and helping him to keep going. <br />
<br />
Outside of the room, I spotted Sergei and his wife whom I had never met. Sergei had never really seemed to like me so Geno and I had never hung out with them before as a couple. But I knew that Geno was extremely close to the Gonchar’s and their children so it wasn’t a surprise to see both of them waiting to hear news about Geno’s Dad.<br />
<br />
All three of them began speaking quickly in Russian to each other, presumably about his Dad’s condition so I took the opportunity to peek inside the room. I expected to see Mr. Malkin hooked up to tubes but the bed was empty. <br />
<br />
“Where’s your Dad at?” I asked Geno as he came to stand behind me. <br />
<br />
“They move to surgery. Gonch translate what procedure is to me and Mama.” As he explained to me what he knew, he kept one hand on my waist and another at the base of my neck giving me an impromptu massage even though he was the one dealing with incredible amounts of stress. <br />
<br />
I realized how hard it must be for him and his Mom trying to understand everything that the doctors were doing in a language that they both weren’t 100 percent familiar with. <br />
<br />
“When will he be out of surgery?”<br />
<br />
He sighed, looking very much like a lost boy and his fingers stilled on my neck. “Don’t know.” <br />
<br />
I was at a complete loss of what to do. It seemed that there was nothing left to do but wait and pray for him and his family. On the other hand, I knew that there was a lot I could do to make sure that this remained a private, family matter. Though Pittsburgh’s news and fascination with celebrity was nowhere near the level of New York’s or other major cities, it would still be terrible if word of Mr. Malkin’s condition got out to a news source. The family didn’t need that right now and if it was something small that I could do to help, then I wanted to do it. <br />
<br />
There were also a dozen other small details that needed to be taken care of. What insurance plan was Mr. Malkin under? He was probably admitted through the ER which meant that they might not have gotten to asking for personal and insurance information yet. It seemed like everything had happened so suddenly that I wasn’t even sure if Geno or his Mom had called Geno’s brother back in Russia yet. I also needed to cancel the Malkins’ plane tickets for Tuesday when they originally planned to return home for a few weeks. They definitely weren’t going to be flying home now. <br />
<br />
I leaned up and kissed him softly on the mouth, drawing him out of the haze he had been standing in. “Where’s your Mom at?” <br />
<br />
“In waiting room” he answered, looking back down the hall to the waiting room we had passed earlier.<br />
<br />
"You go sit with her. I'm going to make a few phone calls."<br />
<br />
He frowned at the word phonecalls. "It's not for business" I smiled slightly, taking his cold hand in mine. "I'm going to get your Dad's insurance information together and cancel your parents' flights back to Russia. Can you let me take care of all the details for you?" <br />
<br />
He nodded, pulling me close to him again and mumbling a gruff 'thank you' in my ear. He let me go and turned to walk towards where his mother was waiting. I watched him hesitate briefly before turning back to me. <br />
<br />
"You stay right?" I nodded and he seemed relieved, as if I would just leave the hospital on a whim. It would have upset me if he hadn't let out a long breath and added, "I need you to stay." <br />
<br />
His simple request did me in and I nodded smiling at him slightly. "I won't leave unless you do." It was enough to soothe him and he went to wait with his mother while I made my phone calls.<br />
<br />
By 9pm, a doctor finally appeared and gave us all an update on Mr. Malkin's condition. It wasn't good but for the moment, he was stable and resting in the ICU. While Mrs. Malkin jumped at the opportunity to go see him first, Geno and I waited silently. The Gonchar's had left 10 minutes before the Doctor had given us an update so that they could get home to their kids.<br />
<br />
"Are you okay?" I asked him, thankful for the chance to just be alone with him. He nodded but didn't say anything, just continued to hold my hand. The stress of the day had made him more quiet than usual and it was getting progressively harder to draw any type of response from him. <br />
<br />
Whereas Geno was dealing with the day's stress and worry by sitting statue still, I was full of nervous energy and the internal need to take action and help. <br />
<br />
Luckily, my phone began to buzz in my pocket and I saw that it was my contact with the Trib-Review, Rob Rossi. Due to Rob's status in the locker room and his relationship with the Pens, I knew that if I could get him to keep quiet about Mr. Malkin, then it would remain quiet in Pittsburgh. The man knew everyone and had a lot of weight amongst sports writers in the Burgh. After talking for 10 minutes, he assured me that he would help keep the issue quiet until the Pens organization released anything. I knew that this would only buy us 2 or 3 days max because Geno would need to request at least 1 game off this week and it would only be a matter of time before someone in the hospital really noticed him and said something about it. As far as gossipy cities went, Pittsburgh was definitely up there in the top 10. The last thing we needed right now were a bunch of hockey-loving old biddies to start yakking. <br />
<br />
Since it looked like Mrs. Malkin was going to be awhile yet, I grabbed Geno's hand as he spaced out and tried to get him to stand up. <br />
<br />
"Come on," I said still tugging him upright. He was dead weight and not making any effort to help me out. "We're going for a quick walk. You haven't been off the floor all day and you need fresh air." <br />
<br />
He gave me a blank look and I resorted to pleading. "Come on, please?" <br />
<br />
Thankfully, he lumbered to his feet and let me lead him out of the waiting room and to the elevators. It sounded stupid but what we both needed right now was hot chocolate and some cold, fresh air. The hot chocolate was to make him feel better and put some sugary goodness in his stomach and the cold air was to make him feel human again. He was looking a little hagard and it worried me to see him like this. Normally it was the other way around and he was trying to make <em>me</em> feel better about something. This time the roles were reversed and I felt like I was swimming upstream to try to do a good job at distracting him and taking care of him. <br />
<br />
The elevator dinged signalling its arrival and it was blissfully empty now that the visiting hours were over on most floors. As soon as the doors shut, I leaned back against the elevator wall and sighed, thinking about how I should make sure he wears a hat again tomorrow. I didn't try to speak knowing he wouldn't have a lot to say right now and that his mind was already in a million different places. He just stayed silent and held my hand, his thumb rubbing over the back of my palm every once in awhile. <br />
<br />
The hospital's cafe was already closed for the night but we walked until we found the cafeteria, mostly inhabited by doctor's and nurses trying to grab a late night meal or their only meal for the day. I bought us two hot chocolates and made him sit down to people watch for awhile rather than returning to the ICU right away. <br />
<br />
"I'm really sorry that I didn't answer my phone when you called." Hours later and I felt horrible that I hadn't just answered when he needed me. "I thought it was work and I kept ignoring it because I was grocery shopping." <br />
<br />
"It's okay" he answered smiling slightly. I thought that he would slip back into silence but he surprised me by beginning to talk more. <br />
<br />
"What were you doing on phone?" He asked popping the top off of his drink and blowing on it.<br />
<br />
"I made sure that the hospital had all of the insurance information they needed and I made a few calls to my media connections to make sure this didn't leak until you were ready."<br />
<br />
He nodded and I sipped my hot chocolate hoping that for once, I hadn't overstepped my boundaries by trying to be useful and take care of everything for him. "Thanks" he said simply squeezing my hand once before leaning back in his chair and stretching out his neck and back. I heard his joints popping and I winced knowing it was the result of sitting in a hospital all afternoon and night. "What should I do about game tomorrow?" <br />
<br />
I blinked, unwittingly surprised that he was letting me take the reigns. "Well you need to call your Coach and let your agent know." Sometime, in the course of knowing Geno, I had acquired his agent's direct cell number as well as Dan Bylsma's. "Here, you can talk to your agent first" I said hitting the dial button and handing him the phone. He had finished his hot chocolate already so I picked it up and walked it to the trashcan just to busy myself. When I returned, Geno grabbed my hand and sat me down next to him rather than in the seat across from him. Keeping one hand in mine, he held me in place firmly while he spoke in russian to his agent. After a few minutes, he hung up and flipped through my contacts to find Dan Bylsma, surprising me with his one-handed dexterity. <br />
<br />
He talked to Dan longer and now that I was being forced to sit still, all of the stress and exhaustion from the day caught up with me. He wasn't really paying attention, just talking to his coach, so I laid my head down on his shoulder without feeling guilty. Without realizing it, my mind began to drift off, lulled into a state of complete relaxation by his voice. <br />
<br />
Soon enough, I was gently shaken awake by Geno who was now smiling at me. "Go home" he ordered finishing off my drink and pulling us both to our feet. <br />
<br />
"What? No!" I protested, unwilling to leave until he did- just like I promised earlier. <br />
<br />
"I want to see your Dad too" I told him, trying to keep up with his long strides. "Do you mind?" I asked. Maybe the ICU only let family members in at this time of the night and he wanted alone time with his Mom and Dad. <br />
<br />
He shrugged and we stepped into the elevator together. His response wasn't very convincing and the doors closed leaving us alone and in silence. The doors dinged again bringing us back to Mr. Malkin's floor and Geno took my hand once again, leading me to the waiting room. We saw that his Mom wasn't waiting here and he commented, "she must be in there." <br />
<br />
I nodded thinking he was going to leave me to wait since I wasn't family but instead he pulled me along with him. <br />
"Sir, excuse me!" The on-duty Nurse Ratched stopped both of us before we could make it fully through the ICU doors. <br />
<br />
"Can I have your names please?" she asked waving us both over to the desk. <br />
<br />
Geno gave his name first and the nurse nodded once she put two and two together. Then she turned her shrewd eyes on me. "And who are you?" <br />
<br />
Before I could say who I was, Geno interjected. "Fiance." <br />
<br />
My mouth dropped in shock and I quickly closed it for fear of blowing our cover. I nodded instead and tried to conceal my left hand so she didn't see that I wasn't wearing an engagement ring. "You can go back then. Just make it quick, it's too late for your father to be having visitors." <br />
<br />
Behind the closed doors of the ICU, Geno grinned, his chuckle ending on a gasp as I elbowed him hard in the ribs. <br />
<br />
"Lets go see your Dad."Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-75544120883405209432010-10-18T17:34:00.000-04:002010-10-18T17:34:25.418-04:00Chapter 25- Sort Of<em></em><br />
<em>So I had a little inspiration and I channeled it into figuring out where I want the rest of the plot for this story to go. Look forward to more posts coming up soon! </em><br />
<br />
<em>Also, if anyone has any good blogger story recommendations, please pass them along! I've been looking for a new story or two to follow :) </em><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
After Geno left me to answer the phone, I showered quickly trying to gauge whether I had time to blow dry my hair or just go back to the office with it twisted up in a wet bun. I decided to twist it up and grinned to myself thinking about why I was going to be so late from my lunch break and knowing that any embarrassment was well worth it for sex that good. <br />
<br />
Suddenly I was embarrassed for another reason. Geno's parents were still in town and would be until Sunday when they were flying back to Russia. I didn't pray often but I was definitely praying that they weren't home and hadn't had the chance to hear Geno and I making up earlier. <br />
"Hey Geno?" I called stepping out and drying off my body with his towel. It smelled like his shower gel and I breathed in its scent before hanging it back up on the drying rack. He didn't answer me and I guessed that he was still on the phone. I finished drying off and changed back into my now wrinkly clothes.<br />
<br />
"Hey" he said appearing behind me in the foggy mirror. "Someone from Reebok on phone." He grinned sheepishly at my 'told you so' look and brushed damp hair off my neck to kiss the spot between my collar and hairline. <br />
<br />
"Your parents are gone, right?" I asked leaning to give him more access to my freshly washed neck. "I mean, they haven't been here this whole time right?" <br />
<br />
He smiled against my skin and pulled away to look down at me directly. "No. They go shop, spend time at mall." <br />
<br />
I breathed out a sigh of relief and continued to get ready even as Geno still held onto me from behind.<br />
<br />
"Stay. Be lazy" he tightened his grip as if that would actually prevent me from going anywhere. It was so, so tempting but I absolutely had to get back to work. <br />
<br />
"I can't, you know that" I smiled and turned so I could stroke his stubbly cheek soothingly. "Come over for dinner tonight. I'll make something good." <br />
<br />
"You don't cook" he reminded me skeptically. Actually I <em>did</em> cook, I just usually chose not to. I didn't love doing domesticated activities but that didn't mean that I couldn't do them.<br />
<br />
"I cook sometimes, just not anything fancy. I can make a yummy Mac n' Cheese." <br />
<br />
At his blank look, I realized that this didn't exist in Russia and the name itself was enough to throw him way off course. He stumbled over the pronunciation of it a second time until I gently placed my hand over his mouth to stop the torture. <br />
<br />
"Nevermind. It's like a pasta." I finished rolling my hair into a tight bun on my head and turned to kiss his lips. "You'll like it." <br />
<br />
He grinned broadly enveloping me against his comfy chest. "Then you let me stay?" He asked stroking the damp skin of the back of my neck. <br />
<br />
"Course" I replied giving him one last lingering kiss before I tore myself away to pad out of the bathroom and slip into my heels again. <br />
<br />
He watched me from the doorway, leaning his broad figure against the wood panneling. <br />
<br />
"So I'll see you tonight? Around 7pm?" He nodded and gave me a lusty look that told me I had a lot more than dinner in store for the night. <br />
<br />
Ten minutes later on less than sturdy legs I hopped back into my car and drove back into the city. Lunch break indeed.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the day, I couldn't tell you exactly what work I did get done but somehow I managed to keep my mind on course until 5:30 when I shut my computer down and hightailed it out before anyone else could ask me to sign something or take on any more projects for the coming week. If they had them, then I didn't want them. I had enough on my hands with an upcoming 30 minute segment the NHL network was running about Sid the Kid. They wanted an in-depth interview with him and a few of his close teammates about the ups and downs of being a young, professional athlete. It wasn't exactly a new concept but it was slated to run right before the start of the playoffs in a few months and it would undoubtedly draw viewers in. <br />
<br />
My mind was still projecting concepts and PR ideas as I entered the bright lighting of Giant Eagle. I was, unfortunately, one of those people who <em>always</em> picked out a squeaky-wheeled grocery cart while shopping and I was forced to endure the cart's relentless noises as I hauled ass up and down the aisles grabbing what I needed and a few other things my apartment lacked, such as candles. They were generic stick candles and also vanilla scented but there really weren't many other options to choose from. I also picked up the ingredients for smores which I figured we could microwave and eat while we watched a movie. <br />
<br />
Even though I had 17 items, I directed my cart to the 12 items or less checkout and waited for the person in front of me to finish up. I couldn't stand using the self-scanners because of the robotic, female voice that gave you directions even when you already knew what to do. Wasn't it already obvious that when you finished scanning all of your items, you should press the "finish and pay" button? <br />
<br />
As I checked out, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Without glancing at the screen, I hit ignore, not wanting to deal with anyone from work. I ignored the checker's annoyed look once he counted 17 items instead of 12. Wearing my no-nonsense face, I dared him to say anything to me. His eyes quickly looked down and he stayed silent. I didn't know why he cared considering there wasn't a line behind me or anything. <br />
<br />
My phone buzzed again and this time I let it ring through so the person would take the hint and leave me a message already. As much as I knew it was impossible, the weekends were my time to disconnect and be a person away from the hockey world and my job. Sure, hockey still consumed me in other ways but unless it was a work emergency, I didn't want to be connected to my Blackberry. Besides, I had someone to make a delicious dinner for and I really didn't want to think about anything but him for the next few hours. <br />
<br />
After facing the disapproving look of the checker one more time, I stuffed the grocery receipt into one of my bags and wheeled my squeaky cart back out into the parking lot. I only had an hour to make the Mac n' Cheese, change into something more feminine and make my apartment look presentable. With all of the chaos throughout the week, I had barely spent time at home and when I did, I definitely hadn't been cleaning. <br />
<br />
I had just closed my trunk and was wheeling the cart back inside when my phone began to buzz again in my pocket. Sighing, I gave in and fished my Blackberry out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. Geno had called me twice and now Sergei Gonchar was calling me for some reason. Even though I had all of the players' contact information plugged into my phone, I usually called them. Not the other way around. <br />
<br />
"Hello?" I had a nervous flutter in my stomach that told me that something was wrong. Very wrong. <br />
<br />
"Ava? It's Sergei, where are you?"<br />
<br />
"What's going on? Is everything okay?"<br />
<br />
"We're at Allegheny Hospital-"<br />
<br />
"Wait, who's we?" I asked cutting him off and feeling increasingly more panicked by the second. <br />
<br />
"It's Geno's Dad. He had heartattack."<br />
<br />
Oh my god. I thought of the calls I had been ignoring not realizing that it had been Geno calling me with an emergency. I had been taking my sweet time wheeling around a squeaky cart in Giant Eagle while his Dad had almost or was still potentially dying. <br />
<br />
"I'll be there in 20 minutes" I told Sergei and left my cart in a random aisle then jogged back to my car.<br />
<br />
Sergei filled me in on where to go and who to ask for when I got to the hospital because I wasn't technically family. I drove on auto-pilot like a mad woman while my mind raced through various possibilities and stages of panic. I felt incredibly guilty for not answering what had been Geno's calls earlier and my heart constricted painfully at the thought of what he and his Mother must be going through.<br />
<br />
I rushed through the main doors at the hospital and bypassed the front desk like Sergei had instructed me to and went to the 5th floor, the Cardio floor. It felt like the elevator's climb to the 5th floor took forever and of course it was busy so the elevator stopped at each floor to let passengers on and off. Finally I stepped off of the elevator and rushed right into the arms of Geno who it seemed had been waiting by the doors for me to arrive. <br />
<br />
"I'm so sorry I didn't pick up, what's going on? How is he?" His face was nearly ashen and shadowed by the hat he had pulled low over his eyes.<br />
<br />
"He's in surgery, we don't know until later." <br />
<br />
I pulled him away from the elevators where we could have a little breathing room from the rush of people getting on and off of the elevators. He sighed heavily and let me pull him into my arms for a long hug. Like vines, his long arms enveloped me and I stroked his neck, smoothing out tension with my fingertips. <br />
<br />
After a moment, I gently pulled away and slid my hand into his. "Come on, we should go be there for your Mom." <br />
<br />
He nodded and led me to where everyone was waiting and I dreaded the next few hours, afraid for Geno and wondering what was going to happen if everything didn't turn out okay.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-67573177054684854212010-10-06T08:55:00.000-04:002010-10-06T08:55:37.083-04:00Chapter 24- Touch and Go<em>I've been trying to get this right for over a week. Hopefully it lives up to my expectations for it! </em><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Chapter song: "My, my, my"by Rob Thomas (I love this song, so romantic and good listen regardless)<br />
<br />
It had been two days since Geno had spoken to me and I was past the point of being mildly amused by his childishness. Surprise, surprise to me. I was officially dating a child. Vero had rolled her eyes when I complained to her over coffee at Panera one night but I wasn't exaggerating. He hadn't come to my place all week and when I had invited him over for dinner the night before, he had brushed me off claiming that he had "things" to do. <br />
<br />
What things? Like watching cartoons and getting food all over his couch while he scarfed down takeout? I had witnessed this before and it was the result of what happened when Geno is left to his own devices. It's not a happy thing to witness. <br />
<br />
A small part of me had hoped that he would capitulate or ease up a little bit after his mother had visited me at my office. I had guessed that since she was on my side about not making a decision that could possibly hurt both of us in the long run, that she would tell him to back off and respect my decision. <br />
<br />
Nope, it seemed like he was ignoring both his mother <em>and</em> me. Even making him sit for two extensive interviews hadn't gotten me so much as a snarl out of him. If it annoyed him to have to be so friendly with the cameras, he definitely wasn't letting on. <br />
<br />
"Hey, Ava?" Lizzy Talbot poked her face through my office door first then shuffled the rest of her pregnant self through the door as I motioned her in. She was one of my favorite people in the entire organization simply because she handled her husband so well. It took quite a woman to manage Maxime Talbot and she did it effortlessly. It also sort of helped that she seemed to be in a perpetual state of pregnancy. Max it seemed, was a total and complete softy when it came to his wife and their children- future or otherwise. <br />
<br />
"What can I do for you Mrs. Talbot?" I grinned, watching her park herself in one of the chairs facing my desk and stretch her feet out in front of her. <br />
<br />
"A foot rub maybe?" <br />
<br />
"Nice try. That's what your husband is for."<br />
<br />
She sighed suddenly looking very forlorn. "Road trip starts tomorrow and I can't reach my own feet anymore."<br />
<br />
"Poor baby" I laughed, grateful that I could still see my feet. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, you laugh at me now. But wait until it happens to you my friend." I laughed until I realized exactly what she had implied and felt a peculiar sense of terror grip my throat. Lizzy glanced at my face and smiled knowingly. <br />
<br />
"So how's your own romance going with everyone's favorite russian?" <br />
<br />
"Actually, not so good right now." I wondered if she had come here for something or just to shoot the breeze. "He's sort of mad at me right now."<br />
<br />
"Well we should go get drinks soon and talk about it. Well you can drink. I'll have coke." <br />
<br />
I laughed remembering the bun in her oven. "You know where to find me" I smiled. Is that what you came here for?" <br />
<br />
"Actually no. I have some licensing forms that Geno needs to sign. He didn't show up for his meeting with me yesterday and I'm too tired and pregnant to hunt him down. Thus, why I came to visit you. You're the only one that gets him to do anything around here that's not directly hockey related." <br />
<br />
"He didn't show up for a meeting?" I was pissed off. He was assistant captain for god's sakes. When management told you to do something, you did it. Especially since Mario Lemieux was the reigning king around here. <br />
<br />
"Nope. And like I said, in my current condition, I only have the strength to chase my own hubby around." <br />
<br />
"Well I'll make sure he signs the papers" I said taking them and placing them in my inbox. <br />
<br />
"Thanks. And by tomorrow please? It's a licensing agreement from Reebok so it's in his best interest to sign it asap. Especially since they're a <em>little</em> angry right now. They can't promote his big russian face if he doesn't sign the papers."<br />
<br />
"Well it will be taken care of, believe me."<br />
<br />
"Thanks, Ava. Well, drinks soon? Call me this week. Especially if you and Geno still haven't patched it all up, okay?"<br />
<br />
"Thanks, I will. Make sure you stay off your feet more today."<br />
<br />
"Yeah, yeah" she waved my suggestion off bustling out the door at her typical light-year speed. <br />
<br />
****<br />
<br />
<br />
Later when I had time to get away from my office for awhile, I decided to take my lunch break away from the office and try to hunt down where Geno was hiding. He couldn't have been at the arena because the team was leaving tomorrow for Montreal and Coach Bylsma had given the boys the day off. <br />
<br />
I got in my car and drove to his house first knowing that would be the most logical place to look for him on an off day. Generally on his off days, he slept around the house and did little things that he usually didn't have time for- like grocery shopping.<br />
<br />
I pulled into his driveway hoping that he was home so that I didn't have to go anywhere else. He was already going to make it hard on me by (probably) fighting with me and I didn't want to have to put more effort into this than was already necessary. Not to mention I was only able to take so much time away from the office without it looking strange or having to stay really late at night. <br />
<br />
Stepping carefully on the slightly slippery sidewalk, I reached the front door and pressed the doorbell twice before starting to pray that someone would open the door. I heard heavy footsteps walking through the hallway and let out a sigh of relief- <em>someone</em> was home. Probably him. <br />
<br />
I watched his shadow reach the door then peak at me through the clouded glass next to the door. As soon as he could make me out, his shadow turned and walked away from the door. <br />
<br />
"Hey!" I yelled, so angry at him that I didn't even care that I was yelling on his stoop like a psycho. "Don't you dare walk away from me right now!"<br />
<br />
Breathing heavily and feeling red from my face to the tips of my toes, I waited before I heard his footsteps approaching the door again. Seconds later he opened the door with a blank expression on his face. <br />
<br />
"What?"<br />
<br />
"What do you mean <em>'what</em>'?' He was dressed in the type of sweats that I usually loved to cuddle up next to him in and he didn't look happy to see me. Tough luck, bud. <br />
<br />
"Come in," he said tugging me in from the cold. "You going to get sick." <br />
<br />
"Thanks" I mumbled rubbing my hands in front of me. At least he cared enough to not let me freeze on the front steps while we had it out. I was sick of him ignoring me and acting immaturely about my decision. Sure, I hadn't exactly said yes <em>or</em> no yet but he was already acting like I had shot him down. Just because I couldn't do things impulsively like he could didn't mean that I wasn't just as committed to our relationship as he was. <br />
<br />
However, given the way he had been treating me, I wasn't so sure that I needed to commit myself to someone who wanted to punish and ignore me as soon as I didn't fall in line with his plans. That had happened to me before and it wasn't happening again. <br />
<br />
"We have to talk" I told him as I peeled off my gloves and stuffed them into my coat pockets. I walked ahead of him and into the kitchen to open up my briefcase containing the papers that he needed to sign. "Lizzy Talbot stopped by my office this morning to tell me that you hadn't signed these yet."<br />
<br />
I passed the papers across to him and rolled a pen in his direction too. "They're for Reebok and you need to sign them for licensing."<br />
<br />
He nodded and glanced over the papers as a cursory measure before signing his name and re-capping my pen. <br />
<br />
"Why did you skip out on your meeting with Lizzy, Geno?" <br />
<br />
His eyes met mine for a moment before he covered what I suspected was a fake yawn with his hand. "Don't know, I forgot I had it" he said stretching his arms high over his head and brushing me off. It was more than he had actually said to me in days and it still wasn't enough. What was wrong with him that he was treating me like this? <br />
<br />
"Evgeni," I said using his first name. "Talk to me. Please."<br />
<br />
He stared at me for a second before doing the most maddening action ever: shrugging and pushing himself away from the counterspace. "There is nothing to talk about."<br />
<br />
"Where are you going now?" I asked watching him start to leave the kitchen. <br />
<br />
"To take nap." <br />
<br />
He left me standing in the kitchen alone, finally at my wits end. I was awfully sick of watching him ignore me and walk away after every one of our discussions lately. Still, it seemed like there was something else wrong here. Either that or my original suspicions were correct and one of the most intimidating players in the NHL was actually just a big baby on skates. <br />
<br />
He had a head start ahead of me so when I finally reached the doorway of his bedroom, he was already laying down, facing the opposite wall on his side. I stepped out of my shoes and slid my suit jacket off leaving me feeling a little bit more comfortable in just my skirt and silky blouse. I crept over to the other side of the bed and slid my body in next to his so that I was spooning him. It was a little awkward to try to fit my arm over the expanse of his broad back but my body instantly warmed just from the feel of him. I hadn't been able to so much as hug him for days. <br />
<br />
I squeezed my arm around him tighter and lifted myself high enough to brush my lips over the back of his neck. I knew he was awake from the sound of his breathing and just hoped that he would respond to me in some way. I didn't like being at odds with him and hated that we were playing the avoidance game. <br />
<br />
After what felt like an eternity, he started to pull away and sat up. My heart stopped thinking that he was going to be a jerk and get out of the bed but instead he turned to face me and laid back down beside me. He pulled me tight against him and I breathed out a sigh of relief as his lips brushed my temple. We stayed like that for a moment before I had to ask him what was on my mind. <br />
<br />
"Why are you really mad at me?" I asked turning so that we were now laying nose to nose. "Because I haven't agreed to move in with you yet?" <br />
<br />
He ignored my question and shut his eyes, effectively shutting me out at the same time. "Stay, sleep with me." His grip tightened around me as if he wanted me to stay but I couldn't lie there with him when there was some sort of pink elephant in the room that only he could see. <br />
<br />
"No, stop it. Stop ignoring me and just tell me what's <em>wrong." </em>Normally I couldn't get him to leave me alone and stop talking and now I was practically pulling teeth to get him to open up. <br />
"<br />
His eyes slitted open and from up close, I could see the anger and something else behind his pupils. "Okay, why did you live in apartment of other man before me?"<br />
<br />
"What? you mean Peter?" I didn't see why this was relevant to our situation. Even though Geno had mostly gotten the details of my failed engagement from Max's big mouth, we rarely discussed the fact that I had been engaged. He didn't know a lot about my life in New York and to be honest, I liked it better that way. I didn't like the person that I had become in New York and I didn't see the point in sharing that with Geno either. If it wasn't who I was in the present, then why did it matter? <br />
<br />
"Yes, you live with Peter", he spat his name out angrily, "a man who no respect you, but you no live with me?" <br />
<br />
I struggled to keep up with the sudden range of emotions he was expressing. His accent had thickened and he switched into russian quickly to further tell me how angry he was at me. <em>About Peter.</em> <br />
<br />
"So this is about my ex-fiancé?" I pushed myself into a sitting position to look down at him in utter confusion. I had no idea how he had twisted up our relationship with my previous relationship but I really wanted to hear his explanation. <br />
<br />
"Yes!" He yelled, looking at me like I was the stupid one. His eyes flicked between me and the ceiling and I stared at him feeling stuck between exasperation and amusement. <br />
<br />
Suddenly it made sense, stupid girl that I was. <em>He was jealous.</em> The big lug actually thought I still had feelings for someone who had wronged me so completely. And he actually thought that was the reason why I wouldn't move in with him. <br />
<br />
Couldn't he see that because I had lived and learned from one relationship, I was trying to do better in another? I wouldn't lie and say that I hadn't felt like it was the right step when I moved in with Peter. It had seemed like the next logical step in our relationship and for awhile, everything had been fine. <br />
<br />
What I felt now for Geno was definitely different than what I had felt for Peter then but that didn't mean that I had to move in with him. I wanted better for this relationship and I wanted to do things right. Waiting awhile longer just seemed like the right thing to do. Why rush when if we kept working and building our relationship, we had plenty of time in the future to live together and fight for more room in the bed? <br />
<br />
"Geno, look at me" I leaned over him so that he couldn't look at anything <em>but</em> me. "I still want to wait longer before I move in with you. But it isn't because I'm still in love with Peter." <br />
<br />
"I'm not in love with Peter" I repeated leaning down to brush my lips against his cheek. I should have hated the fact that <em>this</em> was why he had been avoiding and ignoring me lately but instead I just wanted to hug him. I climbed over him and straddled his hips so that it was impossible for him to ignore me. <br />
<br />
His body remained rigid but at least he was looking at me. I waited until his hands gripped my waist to meet his lips gratefully. God I had missed kissing him. I missed how he took his time and how he brushed our lips back and forth, as if he wanted it to last forever. When he did that, I wanted it to last forever too. <br />
<br />
His hands tightened on my waist and he groaned. I smiled against his lips knowing that I had finally broken through his defenses. Not that I was going to be able to defend myself from him much longer either. He flipped us over so that I lay beneath him, more than happy to accept his body weight on mine. As he kissed me, his hands slowly undid the buttons of my silk blouse and spread the fabric open to reveal my chest. He kissed the valley between my breasts and I felt his hand sliding beneath the fabric of my skirt to rub the ultra-sensitive skin of my thighs. <br />
<br />
"Shirt off, now" I breathed heavily trying to keep my thoughts straight. He leaned off of me slightly so that I could help him pull it off then we both removed my bra so that we were chest to chest, breathing together like it was a team effort. <br />
<br />
I closed my eyes while he continued to drive my nerve endings insane and relished in the feeling of being whole again. We weren't simple by any means but when we were together like this, a sense of security that I had never felt before settled over me. He made me feel like I was a person who deserved more than what I usually settled for. <br />
<br />
I opened my eyes gasping as he did something new and wicked with his tongue before sliding back up to my mouth and stroking the inner crevices of my mouth with his tongue. We were both too impatient to play this game anymore and I snaked my legs around his waist as a hint to get things moving. <br />
<br />
He smiled impishly and spoke to me in russian as he pushed a sweaty tendril of hair back from my forehead. Well two could play that game. I bucked my hips watching as his eyes rolled back and he hissed out a breath. <br />
<br />
"Now, Geno" I told him, sliding my hand through his sweats and to the core of him. For the first time in my life, I felt powerful in the best way possible. I was a woman who was capable of bringing a man to his surrender just by being myself. <br />
<br />
We rolled and he lifted his hips so that he could shimmy out of his sweats while I enjoyed the sight beneath me. My hair had fallen out of its bun at some point and pieces of it dangled around my head shadowing us in it's inky curtain. We watched each other as I slid him inside of me and he brought me down to kiss him while I set the pace between us. <br />
<br />
He had been setting the pace in our relationship for as long as we had been dating and it felt good to finally be the one setting the pace and getting back to a place where we were both even. <br />
<br />
He turned me to face him when we were finished and I slid my leg between his where it fit best while both of us caught our breath. I had no idea how I was going to go back to work after what had just happened and the knowledge that I had practically just ravished him made me want to smugly stay in bed with him for the rest of the day and keep reminding him of it. <br />
<br />
"Let's not fight again. Unless we get to have make up sex like that again." I smiled as he laid there thoughtfully. <br />
<br />
'I'll just say something bad, you get mad, then we do it again" he grinned the boyish smile that I like best and I gave him another lingering kiss. <br />
<br />
"I'm sure you won't have to try very hard" I joked laughing when he playfully smacked my bare butt. <br />
<br />
"You have to work?" he asked glancing at his watch on the bedside table. I nodded wishing more than anything that I could stay in this same position all day. The thought of spending the rest of the afternoon doing paperwork was dreadful. <br />
<br />
"Go shower, I make something to eat." He pulled me up and out of bed and lead me into the bathroom. "Use soap, you need it" he laughed when I pushed him away from me and caught sight of myself in the mirror. He was right though. I needed to completely re-put myself back together before I stepped foot back in that office. I also needed to find a turtleneck on short notice from all of the marks he had left on my neck. <br />
<br />
I was contemplating whether or not I should allow him into the shower with me when the phone rang in the bedroom. He sighed and stepped away after reaching around me to turn the water on in the shower. <br />
<br />
"Go, I'll answer." <br />
<br />
I nodded and smiled as I stepped under the hot spray. Everything was almost perfect now and I wanted to hit the pause button on life and just enjoy it the way that it was. Someone really needed to invent that button asap.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-42717788089825757262010-09-22T07:51:00.001-04:002010-09-22T07:52:04.422-04:00Chapter 23- Mama Knows Best<em>Thanks for all of the hockey watching suggestions, ladies! A few of you asked where I am studying for the semester and I'm in Barcelona. I also wanted to thank all of you for your lovely comments. It means so much to me that you guys still keep up with what I write! </em><br />
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<em>P.S. This one's short because I didn't want to lump one chapter together and not have it flow well together.</em><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Song: "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks<br />
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Geno spent the next week and a half sulking over my decision to wait and think about moving in with him. I had tried to reason with him and give him more reasons why I was taking this decision so seriously but he wouldn't listen. He just alternated between giving me looks and ignoring me altogether. <br />
<br />
I wasn't letting it bother me though. He was only making it harder on himself to convince me that living together was actually a good idea. I didn't want to move in with a child, I wanted a man. And not a caveman either, a <em>real</em> man.<br />
<br />
A knock at my office door startled me and I lost my count as I counted the number of press requests that we had received this morning from various news outlets. Most of them were for Crosby and the kid needed a break so I needed to make a few phone calls to suggest other players for interviews instead. <br />
<br />
When I wanted charming, I usually went with Talbot or Fleury. The audience in Pittsburgh worshipped them and they did wonders for the overall PR of the team. When I needed tough or when I needed a good image of a guy with a missing tooth and a black eye, I went with Cooke or Goligoski. As for sex appeal, I left that to Letang and Staal. After observing several open practices throughout the season, it wasn't hard to group players into their PR roles based off of the fans reaction to them. <br />
<br />
It just left me with Geno. I never quite knew what I needed to do with him PR-wise. He was an odd combination of star power, sex appeal and hometown favorite all wrapped up in one confusing package. The only reason he didn't garner the same amount of demand as Crosby did for interviews was because everyone knew that he refused to give them. I was working to change that even though he didn't necessarily want me to. <br />
<br />
I was tempted to make him do a bunch of interviews this week just because he was pissing me off. <br />
<br />
"Can I help you?" I asked Maria, one of the secretaries from the front desk. It was rare for them to come back and talk to us in person because they usually just called. <br />
<br />
"There's a Mrs. Malkin here to see you Ava. Can I send her back or are you busy?" <br />
<br />
My back tensed at the name Malkin but I nodded and told her to send her back to see me. I couldn't send her away, not when she had come to talk to me in person. Still, it made me nervous that she had come here. <br />
<br />
"Hi" I said not exactly sure if I should hug her or just let her sit down first. We had been hugging as a greeting lately but the ominous nature of this meeting kept me from making a move. <br />
<br />
"I'm sorry I come here, you are busy" she smile slightly putting me at ease. <br />
<br />
"I'm not that busy" I assured her. She sat quietly for a minute and took the time to look around my office. It wasn't anything special but she kept drawing out the moment with her silence and I shifted the papers around on my desk uneasily. <br />
<br />
"Was there something you needed?" I finally asked, unable to take any more of the silence. <br />
<br />
"You are nervous, yes?" She smiled reaching out to pat me on the hand. It was such a familiar gesture that I blinked in surprise. <br />
<br />
"A little bit" I confessed watching her smile.<br />
<br />
"I'm here to talk about Evgeni" she stated slowly, choosing her words carefully. I nodded, not really sure if I should say anything at all. Obviously I didn't want to talk about him with her but what choice did I have if she was here in person to do it? I couldn't change the subject, pretend there was someone on call waiting or pretend that I was in a dead zone like I would on the telephone. In my office and in person, there was nowhere to hide. <br />
<br />
"My son," she paused and let out a deep sigh that further added to my sense of dread about this conversation. "He is difficult. He is head strong." <br />
<br />
I nodded in agreement only because she was completely right. <br />
<br />
"He tell me that you no want to live with him." I opened my mouth to speak but thought against it when I realized that I still had nothing to say. It wasn't that I didn't want to live with him, I just thought that we were moving too fast. You could ruin a lot in a relationship simply by moving too fast and I didn't want to make that mistake here. Especially since this time last year, I was still engaged to a man that I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. <br />
<br />
"Is this true?" <br />
<br />
"Mrs. Malkin," I started only to have her correct me and instruct me to call her Natalia. "Okay, Natalia. It isn't that I don't want to keep moving ahead with Evgeni or that I don't take his invitation seriously. It's just that it's too soon." She nodded without giving any of her emotions away. <br />
<br />
"I don't want to rush. Why do we have to rush?" I asked her finally feeling my own flood of emotions rise to the surface. I hated feeling so pressured to make a decision like this when I hadn't even been in Pittsburgh that long or really have time to feel like this was actually my permanent home. Of course it felt more like home now but it wasn't the same as living in New York City for most of my life. <br />
<br />
To my surprise, Natalia reached out and held my hand. It was one of the nicest signs of support that I had ever received in my life. <br />
<br />
"Evgeni is very strong man. Very smart. But he pushes. Don't let him push you. Push back, be smarter."<br />
<br />
"I'm trying" I grinned, feeling better as her loud laughter echoed in my small office. "I care for him very much." For some reason, it was imperative that I make sure she understood this. For some bizarre reason, she was on my side about this issue but I still felt like I had to explain myself to her.<br />
<br />
"I know. Mamas always know. I just want to make sure he makes good decision. And he has." She rose to her feet and gathered the purse she had set down by her chair. I walked her back out through the office, still thinking about what she had just said. She kissed me on the cheek and hugged me tightly in the same tight, squishy way that Geno hugged me. <br />
<br />
"That was some hug" Maria commented from behind her desk. I hadn't noticed her and it gave me a jolt of surprise to see her watching us.<br />
<br />
"By the way, you received 4 different phone calls while you were in your office. Want me to email you the list? <br />
<br />
"No that's okay, I'll just write them down if you have a second." And with that, I got back to work and tried to stop thinking about Geno for awhile. <br />
<br />
It suddenly seemed like a really good form of payback to keep him busy with interviews rather than ignoring me and giving me looks.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-57238005049570170362010-09-19T17:39:00.000-04:002010-09-19T17:39:37.630-04:00Chapter 22- Sneaking In<em>So....long time no update? Hey guys, I did want to let you all know that I'm alive and hopefully this chapter will serve as a bandaid for how bad I've been about updating all summer. Shit happens, right? Anyway, I'm currently in Europe for the next couple of months doing my study abroad (which is AMAZING) and I've found that there's generally more free time in Europe than in the U.S. They actually take the time to breathe here which is amazing for someone like me with a definitive type-A personality. Hopefully this means I will be writing a lot more frequently because I miss my characters a lot. </em><br />
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<em>Also, if anyone has any methods of watching hockey on the internet that you think will work from Europe, please let me know! Otherwise, I'll be forced to just read about it on my fave blogs which just isn't the same :( Can it be October yet?</em><br />
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<em>Enjoy everyone! </em><br />
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<em></em><br />
<br />
It was after 3 by the time I felt Geno snuggle into bed with me. After we had all finished up at the arena for the night, he had taken me and his parents out to eat at a quiet restaurant near his house so that we could all spend more time together. It had gone well and I was actually feeling like his parents really liked me which is why I had refused to head back to the house with them and stay there for the night. <br />
<br />
They were just warming up to me and I didn't need to blow it by getting on his Mom's bad side when things were still so new for all of us. Plus, it just gave me the creeps to sleep in his bed while his parents were only just down the hall. <br />
<br />
Still, he must have snuck out of his own house which I guessed I should have been surprised about but somehow wasn't. As much as he wanted to be here in bed with me, I equally wanted him beside me. <br />
<br />
"Go back to sleep" he whispered pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it onto the floor somewhere. He flipped me over to face him and allowed me to slide my legs between his and rest my head in the crook of his shoulder. He was better than a body pillow and twice as comforting. <br />
<br />
"You shouldn't have driven this late" I reminded him even though driving was what had eventually gotten him here in my bed. <br />
<br />
"I had to push my parents to sleep so that I could leave." He chuckled against my hair as he spoke sending chills down my spine. "They just want to talk and talk and talk. Is easier if you live with me. Then I don't have to drive."<br />
<br />
It was too late to talk about this so I kept the mood light and giggled at the fact that we were both sneaking around like teenagers. <br />
<br />
"I don't know" I smiled scratching the spot behind his ear that made goosebumps pop up on his skin, "I kind of like the sneaking around thing. It's kinda sexy." <br />
<br />
Luckily, he took my bait and even though I was exhausted, both of our hands started to roam to places that made it too hard to stop and go back to sleep. <br />
<br />
I woke up the next morning feeling sloppy and groggy from the previous night's lovemaking session. I wanted to go back to sleep but it was already after 9 and it was weird that I was alone in bed. I threw on Geno's discarded shirt from the night before and buttoned it up to my neck. In the kitchen, Geno stood watching the small TV in the corner and shovelling cereal quickly into his mouth. Some of the cereal milk on his spoon sloshed onto his bare chest when he spotted me and he grinned quickly to say hello while he swallowed. <br />
<br />
He looked so sexy in my kitchen that I couldn't help myself from walking over to him and licking up the small bit of milk on his chest. <br />
<br />
I looked up mischieviously to see him grunt and quickly set down the bowl he was eating from on the counter next to him. He jolted me up against him so that we fit curve to sculpted curve as he kissed me slowly and deeply. Our lips made a small suction noise when we finally separated . <br />
<br />
"Bad" he said smiling down at me. "Come over, spend day with me and my parents?" <br />
<br />
"I don't know" I told him, "is there breakfast involved?" <br />
<br />
He snorted in amusement and tucked a piece of my bed head behind my ear. "My Mama will make you big breakfast. Russian breakfast." <br />
<br />
"Well okay then" I smiled, standing on my tip toes to press a kiss to his lips. "Give me half an hour?" <br />
<br />
He nodded and left me to get ready while he put on his clothes from the night before. We weren't exactly going to be subtle when walked into his house, me in clean clothes and him in the same ones he went to dinner in. I just hoped that his Mom wouldn't notice and that he would be able to sneak upstairs and change before she noticed. <br />
<br />
"I'm not lying to my Mama" he repeated for the second time since we had gotten into our cars to head over to his place. While I got ready, I developed an excuse for him to tell his Mom about where he had been all morning. It was perfect except for the fact that he wasn't going along with it. This was kind of the wrong time for him to suddenly decide that he had morals. <br />
<br />
"It's not lying exactly, it's fibbing." Even though we were on our cellphones talking, I could all but sense him rolling his eyes at me.<br />
"I'm not lying. They probably didn't notice." <br />
<br />
I didn't believe him for a second but I let it go because he was using his "I'm not changing my mind" voice.<br />
<br />
10 minutes later we pulled into his driveway where he hustled me from the car and into the house out of the cold wind. The house was so warm that goosebumps broke out on my skin anyway in protest of the rapidly different temperatures.<br />
<br />
"Go say hi, I go change now." He gave me a gentle shove on the butt towards the kitchen while he jogged upstairs, yelling out a hello to his parents. Over the top of the couch, Mr. Malkin's head popped up and smiled at me before turning his attention back to the TV. One of Max Talbot's commercials came on the screen and we both watched his horrible acting in wonder for a moment before I turned away. <br />
<br />
"Good morning, Ava" Mrs. Malkin greeted me brightly as she wiped her hands off on the apron slung loosely around her waist. "Geno bring you for meal, yes?" <br />
<br />
I smiled and nodded before taking a seat at one of the barstools in front of the center island. What she was making looked like the same porridge that Geno had made me before. It didn't look that appetizing but it was delicious and warm- perfect for a cold, winter morning which I knew they had a lot of back in Russia. <br />
<br />
"Can I help with anything?" I asked before Geno swept back into the kitchen and gave me a hard kiss on the lips while saying something to his Mom in russian. <br />
<br />
I couldn't fight the blush that stained my cheeks as I watched them watch me: one with a grin on his big face and the other with a knowing smile. <br />
<br />
"I need to learn russian" I announced to both of them making them laugh loudly. I was honestly so surprised that his parents still seemed to like me that I didn't mind being the butt of the joke at all. <br />
<br />
"You couldn't do it" Geno said smiling at me. "Too hard, you're too busy."<br />
<br />
I knew that he was challenging me but there hadn't been too many times in my life when I had resisted the challenge of someone telling me that I couldn't do something. <br />
<br />
"I could speak russian better than you can speak english." I pushed him away from me and started to hop down from my chair but he held me in place. <br />
<br />
"How would you learn?" He called something else over his shoulder to his Mom who laughed while I steadily grew more irritated. I <em>could</em> learn this godforsaken language if I really wanted to. I was smart. I went to NYU for godsakes.<br />
<br />
"I'll buy one of those computer programs." It would be wickedly expensive but worth it to see the look on his face when I spoke Russian to him. <br />
<br />
"I have better idea. <em>I'll</em> teach you my language." He leaned down and kissed my nose then backed away to let me hop down. He was being condescending and I didn't like it. Still, he was pretty cute so I let it slide. That dopey smile of his was like salt to my ice-y road of a heart- it made my brain slow down every time.<br />
<br />
Still I made up my mind to get one of those Rosetta Stone computer programs as soon as possible and practice it while he was on the road. Wouldn't he be surprised when I understood him speaking Russian and was able to reply back? <br />
<br />
After awhile, Geno let up his taunting and we sat down to eat breakfast and enjoy the rest of the day together. Using my same method from the night before, I talked to his parents as much as I could even if they didn't completely understand what I was saying. <br />
<br />
By the end of the night, the four of us were comfortably seated in the living room and laughing at an episode of "America's Funniest Home Videos." It was the perfect ice-breaker and tv show for all of us to watch because it didn't require vast knowledge of the English language to understand it. It was just stupid people and cute animals doing funny things on film. <br />
<br />
During a commercial break, I excused myself and carried in everyone's dessert plates into the kitchen. It felt good to stretch my legs after sitting for so long and I needed a few minutes away from the noise and laughter to rub my temples and pop some aspirin for the headache I had. <br />
<br />
Weirdly, it wasn't the type of headache I was used to. It was a happy headache, the kind that came from laughing too hard and probably drinking too much of the vodka that Mr. Malkin had pushed on me. I needed to drink some water and sober up a little bit more before I drove home for the night. Unfortunately I had meetings to take care of in the morning which made calling in sick tomorrow or taking a personal day out of the question. <br />
<br />
"Hey, everything fine?" I felt his hand touch the small of my back before I turned to face him. <br />
<br />
"Yeah," I smiled to reassure him then turned around to get back to my task. "I just want to finish this up real quick." <br />
<br />
I continued to scrub the dirty dish I was holding but his hand reached around mine and pulled it from my grasp. He pushed my ponytail to the other side of my neck as his lips slid up the sensitive skin beneath my ear. He knew that was my weak spot, my 'I'll do anything you ask me to' spot and it instantly put me on the alert. <br />
<br />
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice sounding more breathy than it had moments before. He didn't answer, he just continued to suckle and nip a pathway up and down from my collarbone to my earlobe. <br />
<br />
I was so on to him and what he was trying to do. Totally into him and what he was doing but also wise to his sexy antics. "I'm not staying overnight" I told him. <br />
<br />
He sighed and finally quit trying to turn me into silly putty. "Well you're not going home." <br />
<br />
I laughed at the defiant expression on his face. We had lots of time to stay at each other's houses. As much as I wanted to be there all night, it made more sense logistically to go home and get ready in the morning where all of my stuff was. <br />
<br />
"Geno," he tried to shut me up by kissing me but I dodged his lips in time. "I can't stay. I have a million things to do in the morning. I need to get up when <em>my</em> alarm rings. I need to be able to drink my coffee, eat my breakfast and not feel rushed. I need my stuff." I dodged his lips again and he sighed, his lips turning into an annoyed frown. <br />
<br />
"Come here" he said pulling me from the kitchen. He pulled me in the direction of the garage and opened the door ushering me inside. I thought that we were going to have it out in the garage so his parents wouldn't hear us but instead he flipped on the lights and just stood there. <br />
<br />
"Look, lots of room. Room for your car. Room for mine." <br />
<br />
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the house. Walking past his parents again, he didn't say anything, just continued to pull me through the house pointing out how much room there was for my things. I knew what he was trying to do but it felt like my stomach had suddenly risen and swallowed my vocal cord. <br />
<br />
He stopped in his bedroom last and shut the door behind us for privacy once again. This time it looked like we were going to have it out. <br />
<br />
"Your stuff would be here. It would be easy. It make sense." <br />
<br />
He sat back on the edge of his bed while I stood in the center of the room, grateful for the distance between us now. <br />
<br />
"I know you think it makes sense" I told him trying to buy time for what I wanted to say. "It isn't that I want to say no" I finally answered, giving up and sitting next to him. "I just can't say yes yet either." <br />
<br />
"Why? Why say no?" <br />
<br />
"Don't you think it's a little soon for us to be moving in together?" I asked him curiously. If he moved this quickly with Oksana and other girls that I didn't know about, was that a sign of some sort of pattern in his relationships? I didn't believe in moving fast in relationships like he apparently did. I had already given him a lot at a much faster pace than I would have liked. Although, if it had been up to me, we probably wouldn't have even been dating yet. I was at least grateful for his persistence in that respect. <br />
<br />
"No" he answered me, turning to look me straight in the eyes. "I want you here. Move in with me." <br />
<br />
We weren't getting anywhere so I decided to give us both the time we needed to cool down. "I want to move in with you" I admitted, holding up a hand when he turned to grin and say something. "But I need to get used to the idea first. Can you not push me on this and give me the time that I need to make the right decision?" <br />
<br />
He was silent for a moment but nodded and stood up from the bed. I took his hand and squeezed it in silent thanks even though he was only begrudgingly on board with my decision. <br />
<br />
"I'm gonna go say goodbye to your parents then head home, okay?" <br />
<br />
He didn't answer, just gave me a caveman grunt but disappeared out the front door with my keys. After saying good night to his parents and gathering my things, I met him outside where he had started my car for me and warmed it up for me. <br />
<br />
I stopped and smiled for a second at the sight of him looking grumpy with his hands shoved in his pockets. "Car is warm" he said handing me my keys. I gave him a long, hard kiss in appreciation and it quickly turned urgent. I backed off and gave him one last lingering kiss. <br />
<br />
"See you tomorrow at some point?" <br />
<br />
"Yeah, will you come to game?" I nodded even though technically I had to be there anyway for the home game. He was still angry at me and I knew that I wouldn't be able to snap him out of it unless I gave him the answer he wanted me to give him. Since I wasn't going to do that until I had more time to think, I got in and drove away knowing that I had done the right thing for both of us.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-57730470868561649452010-07-25T21:09:00.000-04:002013-05-20T17:45:15.735-04:00Chapter 21- Learning to Communicate<i>Thanks for the comments ladies, I love reading what you have to say! With that said, I hope you guys like this chapter, I definitely took your input to heart. I know that it's short-ish but I keep writing, re-writing then deleting chapters that I finally got fed up with myself and posted this thing. </i><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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By the end of the first period, I was beginning to grasp the concept of communicating verbally and physically. Hand gestures had become my friend as I fought tooth and nail to be courteous to the Malkins and not appear rude at the same time with my idiotic signalling. <br />
<br />
It was almost easy as long as the game was going, it just got sticky when there were longer breaks or worse, a longer break during the time between periods. As if the hockey gods could read my frantic mind, the whistles and buzzer blew loudly signalling that a majority of people in the arena would be migrating outside to refill their nacho and beer supplies. Despite my natural aversion to any form of fake cheese and cheap beer, I almost wished that I was one of those people, simply going to get munchies. <br />
<br />
"Evgeni play well, yes?" Mr. Malkin leaned over conversationally to address both me and his wife. I had done my research about the Malkins that day at work and discovered that they hadn't been able to get around Pittsburgh last year without an interpreter because they didn't speak English. Judging from Mr. Malkin's short English, at least one of them must have been trying to learn over the past year. <br />
<br />
I nodded along not really sure what else to do except agree with them. He had scored once already and was skating smoothly and creating scoring chances. Of course I would have said all of these things if I was sure that they could understand me. <br />
<br />
We sat in silence for a few more minutes while I weighed my options in my head. Finally, it hit me what I needed to start doing.<br />
<br />
It really didn't matter at this point if they could understand every nuance of my native language. I certainly didn't understand their language but still, they were here with me and they were trying to understand everything around them including me- this random girl that was suddenly dating their son. All for their son who had miraculously found himself here in Pittsburgh. Geno was trying, his parents were obviously trying and what was I bringing to the table so far? Not a whole lot except my fear of failure at this and my relationship with Geno.<br />
<br />
I was only going to have this one chance to make an impression on his parents and whether it all worked out in the future or not, this was what they were going to remember of me. At this point, I could either give them good things to say about me when they returned to Russia or continue to give them bad things to say. <br />
<br />
With this new incentive burned in my brain, I began to talk. I talked to his parents like I would any one else that I was comfortable with, keeping in mind that I didn't want to scare them off completely either. I figured that as long as I tried to be myself, they would be able to judge what kind of person I was- regardless of the language barrier. <br />
<br />
I wasn't sure how they reacted initially as I began to talk and treat them like I would any other person I knew in my life. I could tell that Mrs. Malkin was skeptical of my sudden mood swing but Mr. Malkin reacted with reciprocated kindness that I was now eternally grateful for. We obviously couldn't understand everything that we were trying to say but he smiled at me kindly and patted my hand gruffly with his large, rough hand as if he knew what I was going through. <br />
<br />
Behaving more like myself opened my eyes up to details that I wouldn't have otherwise noticed. Like how Geno, or Evgeni as his parents called him, was a nearly perfect combination of his parents features. He was much taller than both of them but I saw the other pieces of his face split between them in a reassuring harmony. <br />
<br />
I also noticed how Mrs. Malkin kept a close eye on me and my actions throughout the rest of the game in a way that Mr. Malkin wasn't. I wasn't stupid though, she was just being protective of her son and trying to figure me out. I wondered if it had anything to do with Oksana and the fact that I was pretty much her complete opposite. Instead of a skinny blonde, she was now faced with a much curvier brunette and an American nonetheless. From what I knew about Russian society, I knew that Russians were brought up to marry and breed with other Russians. They certainly didn't marry American girls with committment problems. At least not that I knew of.<br />
<br />
I kept up my cheerful facade through the rest of the game but I was incredibly relieved when the final buzzer rang, signalling the end of the game. Thankfully, the Pens had won 3-1 without the game dragging into overtime. <br />
<br />
We waited a few minutes for the crowds to clear out a little bit before we gathered up our stuff and I led them through the crowds as discretely as possible to the elevator that would take us back down to the lounge and locker room. The Malkins attracted quite a few stares and calls as we walked down the hall and I tried to keep my head down so people would ignore me. Geno and I had been reluctant to make our relationship more public because of the way fans had treated Oksana even if I still felt like she deserved the trash talk that she had gotten. If people saw a new woman leading the Malkins around, who were verified local celebrities, then it was bound to raise questions. <br />
<br />
In the elevator Mr. and Mrs. Malkin talked quietly in Russian and were so absorbed in their conversation that I had a few seconds to compose myself and breathe a sigh of relief at having made it through the game with them. I no longer cared if it made me feel childish and needy- I just wanted to get to Geno at this point so he could reassure me that his parents liked me.<br />
<br />
Stepping out of the elevator into the brightly lighted rooms that were for the players and coaching staff, I waved hello to a few players that weren't being bothered by press. <br />
I wasn't very tall but I spotted Geno's head practically towering over the other players as he stood half dressed but still in his skates. He looked way to serious for a guy who had just played a great game and had even posted a goal to the score board. He hadn't seen me yet and if he hadn't already been dripping in sweat and the other various liquids that clung to his equipment, I probably would have jumped him in relief. <br />
<br />
Rather than risking my personal hygiene, I settled for wading through the crowd and stopped behind him where he was bent over un-lacing his skates. I took a second just for myself to admire the muscles working in his back as he performed the simple task of un-tying his skates and relaxing his tired body. <br />
<br />
I lost patience when he straightened and continued to strip with his back to me. I really had to get his attention soon and get him to his parents and also give him a quick pep talk for the interview that he had agreed to earlier. <br />
<br />
"Geno! Your woman's behind you!" Abruptly he turned around before I got the chance to surprise him. Dupuis, and his surprisingly big mouth, beat me to the punch by getting his attention before I could. <br />
<br />
"Hey" he breathed out smiling instantly at me. His eyes crinkled at the corners in his natural smile as he stepped forward to kiss me on the cheek, careful to avoid getting me sweaty. At this stage in our relationship, he was well-versed in my "don't touch me while you're sweaty" rule and obeyed it as long as I gave him a warning look each time. <br />
<br />
"Your parents are waiting outside," I told him unabashedly admiring his muscular chest. For as lanky as he seemed in clothes sometimes, up close in personal he was <i>all</i> muscle. "Are you going to come out too?" <br />
<br />
He shrugged and wrapped a towel around his chest. "I have interview" he reminded me as if I was the forgetful one. The shit-eating grin on his face told me that he wasn't actually eager to do the interview, he just enjoyed torturing me by leaving me with his parents for long periods of time. <br />
<br />
"Go" I told him picking up his shirt and shoving it into his chest. "I'll go babysit them again." <br />
<br />
"Baby-sit?" he repeated the word slowly as if he had never heard it before. I didn't bother to explain and marched out of the locker room so I could let his parents know that their son would be a little while longer. <i>And that he was an ass.</i><br />
<br />
When I returned to the lounge, both Mr. and Mrs. Malkin were sitting cozily on a couch and chatting with Sergei Gonchar. They looked to be engrossed in whatever they were discussing and Gonchar still hadn't warmed up to me yet. He hadn't exactly made it a secret that he didn't like me and it worried me that he could be telling Geno's parents anything right now and I would never know because they were speaking in Russian. <br />
<br />
"Hey Ava, we need you over here a for a sec." A trainer that I had been introduced to once before waved me back into the locker room and pointed to where Alex Goligoski was dutifully giving his interview to a broadcaster that I didn't recognize. A warning bell went off in my head as I watched them and I tried to mentally scan through my list of broadcasters that were allowed exclusive access into the Pens' locker room. Not only did Alex now look uncomfortable but he had spotted me and was looking to me for help. <br />
<br />
"Excuse me," I stepped forward getting the attention of a camera crew member. "Can I please see your press badge?" The camera guy looked at me like I was a bug to be crushed and ignored me.<br />
<br />
"I'm serious" I stated letting my irritation creep into my voice. I pulled out my own credentials and pushed them into his face knowing that I was acting obnoxious. "If you're not approved, then you can't be here and I don't think that you're approved." <br />
<br />
The camera guy started to respond when another voice interrupted us. "Okay, what's going on? You're ruining my interview." The unknown interviewer was also eyeing me like a bug to be crushed. It only pissed me off more that he looked like a musclehead who was used to getting what he wanted- especially from women. <br />
<br />
"I want to see your press pass" I repeated watching Alex visibly relax behind the musclehead. Whatever this guy had been asking him about, it had obviously been out of line because the normally infallible defensemen could handle anything- including huge men barrelling towards him on skates. <br />
<br />
The musclehead didn't answer me and it confirmed my suspicions. There were <i>tons</i> of smaller media outlets and sports bloggers always trying to find ways to interview athletes. They tried like hell to get into locker rooms where there was always a good story to be told and in this job, they were the bane of my PR existence. Somehow this guy had gotten into the locker room where he wasn't supposed to be and who knew what trash he was planning to report. <br />
<br />
"No press pass, no access to this locker room buddy" I told him trying to rile him more. If he got angry with me, then I would have even more reason to kick his ass out. "Did I mention that I administer the passes myself?"<br />
<br />
The hand holding his mike lowered and he snarled at his crew to stop rolling tape. For such an anonymous group of "journalists," they did have some pretty fancy equipment. I looked around and felt my face flush even more when I noticed how many people were staring at us. <br />
"Get the hell out of my locker room gentlemen" I told them pointing towards the doorway. Since there was never really any need for security down in the locker room area, it looked like I was going to have to personally escort these guys from the area to make sure they got out of the building. I felt like the angry Mama bear protecting the reputation of her cubs and the situation was only made worse when I saw that Geno had found his parents and the three of them were watching me escort the intruders out the door in open astonishment. <br />
<br />
I tried to pretend like I hadn't really seen them and I winked at Alex who was still hovering nearby and followed the improptu camera crew out the door. I thought I heard a "Go, Ava!" from Max Talbot's direction. <br />
<br />
As I marched out the door, I laughed at the cat calls of the boneheads disguised as athletes and began to feel less embarrassed and more empowered. I continued to laugh to myself as I located the arena guards and let them finish removing the intruders from the building. Sometimes it felt really good to be kickass at my job.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-48935304942439684852010-07-13T21:36:00.000-04:002013-05-20T17:43:25.909-04:00Chapter 20- The Malkins<i>Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter guys, I feel like a lot was going on in the last chapter so I was pleased that you guys liked it and didn't think that it was too much! I didn't proof it because my battery's about to die so just ignore typos :) Thanks, ladies!!!! </i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
It had taken nearly all of my willpower and self-control not to flee my office at various points in the day to tell <i>anyone</i> about everything that Geno had sprung on me that morning. My head was still spinning later in the evening as I got ready in my apartment for the game later that night. I had worked through my lunch hour like a maniac just so I could get out of my office on time at 5, run home and change into something nice for his parents then speed back to the arena and prep players for pre-game media. <br />
<br />
To say that my heart was pumping at this point was an understatement. Max of course noticed my distress as soon as I walked into the locker room. I was so used to walking in and out of the locker room that the various states of undress among the guys no longer fazed me. <br />
<br />
"What's up with the outfit?" Max charmingly pointed out, a smile plastered on his face at the sight of me. <br />
<br />
"I hope you're not such a smooth talker with your wife, Talbot. I'm sure you just love sleeping on the couch night after night." <br />
<br />
He laughed and held up his hands as if to defend himself. "Easy, tiger. I didn't mean anything by it, I was just wondering why you're so dressy tonight? In case you forgot, this is a hockey game." <br />
<br />
"Don't you have a game to get ready for?" I asked him ignoring his question and trying not to worry about what I had decided to wear. After much deliberation, I had decided to wear something that I would wear to work any other day. If I wore jeans, I risked looking too casual- what would they think of a woman who wore jeans to her place of employment? Especially when I was technically working on the nights that I was supposed to come to games and advise interviews with the media. Eventually I had gotten so stressed out standing in front of my closet that it had been easier to dress in my work clothes and be done with it. <br />
<br />
"Okay, I get it. You're not going to tell me why you're acting weird so I'll leave you alone." Of course this was Max's way of trying to coax the information out of me but I continued to ignore him and glance down at my clipboard. <br />
<br />
Both Jordan Staal and Alex Goligoski had been tapped for pre-game interviews with FSN. Jordan's interview was going to be before warmups and Alex's would take place right as they came off the ice from warmups. Since both of them were pretty seasoned standing in front of a mike and knew all the sportscasters well, I didn't worry. <br />
<br />
After reminding both players when they were being interviewed and where to stand, I used the remaining time I had to myself to run to the bathroom and primp before Geno and his parents found me. Geno himself had been conspicuously absent all day and had been impossible to get ahold of by phone. Numerous times I had tried to call him just to yell at him for springing such a <i>big</i> event on me last minute and to my frustration, I only had the voicemail to yell at. <br />
<br />
Ruthlessly I examined my reflection in the mirror and pinched my cheeks to try to add more color to my pale complexion. It certainly didn't help that winter on the east coast was the best way to make a naturally fair skinned girl look like a ghost. I took a final glance and smoothed my crisp, light blue oxford blouse into my black pencil skirt. I realized that I looked like an uptight bitch and tried to fight back tears as I panicked silently in the bathroom.<br />
<br />
Since I hadn't planned for this emotional breakdown, I was left without a backup outfit and would unfortunately have to leave the bathroom eventually.<br />
<br />
<i>God</i>. What did I even say when I did meet them??? From what I did know about his parents, they were very Russian and pretty religious. In other words, they sounded like the type to judge us if we ended up living in sin together unmarried. Plus, would they see me as just another woman out to get their son's money? The insecurities running through my mind were boundless. As crazy as it was, a small voice in the back of my mind reminded me that I wouldn't be freaking out like this if Geno wasn't important to me. <br />
<br />
I checked the watch on my wrist and noted that it was 6:35 and Geno had told me to meet him and his parents in the lounge at 6:30. I really hoped that on top of everything else, they weren't sticklers for punctuality. <br />
<br />
As it turned out, it seemed like the Malkins <i>and</i> Geno were sticklers for time that night. As soon as I walked into the lounge, Geno snatched me from the doorway as if he had been waiting right there for me to enter. <br />
<br />
"You're late" he whispered brushing a kiss against my temple and taking my hand firmly in his grasp. "I had to wait too long." <br />
<br />
"Sorry" I whispered back, clinging to his hand like it was my lifeline. He must have been nervous because I couldn't tell whose palm was sweaty: his, mine or both of ours. "I got caught up in stuff." <br />
<br />
A throat clearing from the corner alerted my senses to his parents' presence in the room. At first it struck me how short they both were compared to Geno's towering figure over both of them and me. How could such a tall person come from both of their gene pools? <br />
<br />
Mrs. Malkin spoke next firing a question at Geno in rapid Russian that I wouldn't have even dreamed of understanding and translating even if I did know Russian. Whatever it was, it didn't sound entirely pleasant and I was suddenly terrified by the possibility of her making snap judgments about me and making sure that Geno knew about them. <br />
<br />
"Geno, do your parents know <i>any</i> english?" I leaned over asking him. If I was going to have to sit with them for the next few hours, how were we supposed to communicate and get to know each other?<br />
<br />
Instead of answering me, he replied to his Mom and gently pushed me forward to them, all the while holding onto my hand with his other hand possessively resting on my lower back. His subtle support didn't go unnoticed by me or his Mom who was looking down at his hold on me with a raised eyebrow. <br />
<br />
Then speaking in English, he introduced us. "Mama, Papa, this is my girlfriend, Ava. She's going to sit with you tonight." <br />
<br />
"It's nice to meet you" I spoke up meeting Mr. Malkin's extended hand in a firm handshake. Mrs. Malkin continued to appraise me and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to shake her hand too or not. Regretfully, her rigid composure reminded me how much easier it would be for both of us if I was Russian like Geno's previous girlfriends. Those women would understand the culture and protocol for how to act around his parents and most importantly, they could fully communicate. Here I was struggling to figure out if I should try to shake her hand too or hug her. She didn't really look like the cuddly and warm, hugging type to me. Most importantly, it still wasn't clear to me whether they completely understood English or not. <br />
<br />
"Come, we sit and watch game, yes?" Mr. Malkin broke the silence among the group and gave Geno a friendly pat on the back. They spoke again in Russian before Geno turned to pull me aside. <br />
<br />
"Don't worry, just act yourself" he said grabbing me by the hips and kissing me on the forehead. The closeness of our bodies made me uncomfortable because of the way his Mother was still watching us. "After game, come back here." <br />
<br />
I nodded and tried to open my mouth to ask him what to say or do but he was already leaving me and heading off in the direction of the locker room. <br />
<br />
Turning slowly, I faced the Malkins again only this time without support. I was in this all alone and feverishly prayed that Vero would be sitting nearby so that I could have some kind of buffer. Even though I was terrified of his parents, it was also unbelievably important to me that this night went well- for both of our sakes. I knew Geno would be crushed if his parents hated me and frankly, I would be crushed too. Not just because it was important to him but because I knew how important it was to him. <br />
<br />
With minimal communication and many awkward smiles, the three of us made it to our seats in the designated friends and family section of the arena. Usually I liked to hide away and sit with other members of the PR team up above the ice in a box but tonight it looked like Geno had wanted his parents to sit closer to the action.<br />
<br />
After making sure that both of them were settled in their seats, I offered to go get them drinks and we both tried to understand each other when I gave them drink options. I felt completely out of my head as I tried to make them understand the different options and was thankfully saved when Mrs. Malkin wrinkled her brow and saved me by saying the word "Coke." <br />
<br />
For the first time since we had been introduced, we both smiled at each other in relief for successfully communicating something to each other. <br />
<br />
Grabbing my wallet, I left the section and ventured out into the main refreshment area closest to where we were sitting. If I could manage it, I wanted to get their drinks and try to figure out if Vero was present at the game or not tonight. I needed an ally and I still needed to talk to her about Geno's offer of me moving in with him. If I didn't talk to someone about it soon I was going to explode and I certainly couldn't pick Mrs. Malkin's brain about it. <br />
<br />
After 20 minutes of delaying the inevitable, I gave up realizing that Vero was either sitting somewhere else tonight, or she wasn't here. I couldn't possibly stay away from Geno's parents without being rude and even they probably wouldn't believe that it was taking me this long just to get drinks. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it looked like I was on my own tonight- for better or for worse.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-58499467153726555892010-06-28T21:33:00.000-04:002010-06-28T21:33:12.105-04:00Chapter 19- New Developments<em>Eeek! Haven't updated this sucker in awhile so I figured that it was time! :) I've been working on this chapter all week so hopefully it turned out well! </em><br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>Chapter song: "Right as Rain" by Adele (<em>love, love, love this song!</em>)<br />
<br />
In the middle of the night, I felt the bed shift as someone invaded the protective warm covering of my bed. My body panicked before my brain could register that it was someone familiar in my bed and not an axe murderer or rapist.<br />
<br />
"Shhhh" the foreign being whispered in my ear, sliding his body around me heavily. "It's just me" Geno whispered. He pulled me closer to his body, spooning me and letting the warmth from his body raise my own body temperature. <br />
<br />
My heart rate had calmed down enough to allow me to speak and I squinted trying to see what time it was and figure out why he was here. I had been expecting to sleep alone tonight. <br />
<br />
"Go back to sleep" he whispered urging me to shut my eyes.. "It's 2 something" he added and I realized he must have seen me trying to squint at the clock. He yawned and shifted his legs around annoyingly until I realized that he was kicking his shoes off. By now I was awake but not terribly annoyed with him being there. <br />
<br />
Come to think of it, I didn't know how he had gotten in but at the moment, I was too tired to care. I let his breathing lull me back to sleep ignoring questions of how he had gotten inside my apartment and saving them for the a.m. <br />
<br />
In the morning, I woke up before my alarm and slipped out from the heavy weight of Geno's arm around my waist. As much as I would have liked to relish the morning and lay in bed with him, I knew that I couldn't and there was too much for me to do at work to call in sick or fake having a doctor's appointment. It would <em>really</em> come in handy to have a mysterious eye ailment this week. <br />
<br />
Instead, I stretched and rolled my shoulders in a feeble attempt to wake my body up. Last night I had been up late watching the Pens play on TV and doing errands that lately I had been neglecting like laundry. Normally I was anal about having my laundry done and piles of clean underwear folded in my drawers but lately that had been difficult to manage. <br />
<br />
Any spare time I had aside from working and occassionally travelling with the team for business, I was with Geno at his house. I couldn't remember the last time that I had spent an entire week in my bed. And not just 5 days either but 7 whole nights of sleep in my own bed. It seemed that lately we were doing everything together. <br />
<br />
That was why I had made the committment to myself last night to stay home, actually clean my clothes and my apartment and sleep in my bed alone. Just to prove that I still could. My plan had gone accordingly until Geno had managed to break into my apartment and not so subtley sneak into my bed. I hadn't even invited him over! <br />
<br />
"What time is it?" A voice grumbled behind me and startled me out of my little stretching routine. <br />
<br />
"It's a little after 6" I replied reaching over to grab my glasses case and slip my contacts in. Before I could slip the contact onto my eye, his heavy arm reached over and pulled me backward across his body, making me squeal in protest over losing my contact. He wanted to keep me in bed longer but the movement jostled the contact off its perch on my finger. Losing a contact in the morning was <em>the worst</em> and usually put me in a horrible mood. <br />
<br />
I swatted at him and struggled to sit up as I felt around for my contact on the sheets. He propped himself up and looked at me strangely. <br />
<br />
"What are you doing?" he grunted when I accidentally patted my hand over his crotch in search for my contact. I didn't have time to enjoy the fact that I had inadvertently put too much pressure on his crotch. <br />
<br />
"You made me lose my contact!" I told him ignoring the look on his face. I didn't have time for this this early in the morning and I needed to get in the shower if I was going to successfully stick to my morning routine. <br />
<br />
After finally locating the missing contact, I popped it in without thinking of all the linen fuzzies that could be stuck to the surface. Instantly, my eye watered and burned, rejecting the foreign object and making me yelp. <br />
<br />
"What? What's wrong?" Geno asked jumping up and examining me. His concern was appreciated and cute but that wasn't helping my eye get any better. "What did you do to eye?" he asked trying to pry my hands away from my face. <br />
<br />
"Get off!" I said trying to navigate my way around him and get my ass to the bathroom so that I could wash the contact off and flush out my eye. I couldn't force my eye open unless water was flushed into it and unfortunately that meant that I couldn't clearly see the path to my bathroom either. <br />
<br />
"I'm glad you think this is funny" I muttered almost crashing into the wall while he sat back and chuckled at me. This wasn't entirely different from any other scenario between us since it seemed like I was always doing something to amuse him but this time I wasn't inclined to smile or joke back. Damn it, my eye <em>hurt.</em> <br />
<br />
"Here" he said guiding me over to the sink before I actually hurt myself. He gently pulled my hands away from my face and turned the faucet on. <br />
<br />
Immediately, I began to push cold water into my swollen eye so that I could finally pull the offending contact out. When I surfaced from the sink, Geno was still behind me and I realized that he had been rubbing my back in slow circles the entire time. <br />
<br />
"Good?" he asked handing me a towel so that I could wipe off my face. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I looked the exact opposite of sexy and appealing. My hair was slightly damp around my temples from splashing water, my eye was puffy and irritated and I was still wearing my frumpy pajamas that I only wore when I was cold and sleeping alone- which ended up not being the case last night anyway. <br />
<br />
"Yes, much better now" I said blinking quickly to remove excess water before turning back to my medicine cabinet above the sink to pull out my backup contacts. I was probably monstrously behind schedule by now and would have to forego my morning coffee and drink the stuff in the office break room that looked and tasted like sludge. One thing I definitely missed about New York was the existence of coffee shops every 10 feet. Pittsburgh wasn't quite up to my caffeine addiction standards like New York was and I wasn't really a gas station coffee kind of girl either. <br />
<br />
I tried to push past Geno so that I could go and turn the shower water on before I was even more behind schedule but he grabbed me and pulled me towards him for good morning kiss that I wasn't enthused about considering we both had morning breath. And I <em>really</em> wanted coffee considering that my eye was still sore and swollen. <br />
<br />
Sensing my lack of participation in the kiss, he pulled away and looked me over with a sigh. "Fine, I go get coffee so you act nice this morning." <br />
<br />
Feeling bad, I gave him a smile and thanked him by kissing him on his stubbly cheek. "Thanks, I'm sorry I'm a bitch in the morning." <br />
<br />
He nodded and left me alone in the bathroom to hurry through my routine. Things had been going so well lately that I didn't want to purposely be a bitch just because something was irking me beneath the surface. I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower to towel off and quickly smooth lotion on. The quiet bathroom provided me with the space I needed to think and sort through exactly why I was feeling so prickly all of the sudden. Because everything had been going so well in my life, I didn't have any reason to feel annoyed with him being here or annoyed with myself for actually feeling annoyed. It was absurd. It was bitchy and it was something that I hadn't felt in awhile.<br />
"Hey" a voice said behind me causing me to jump. I must have been standing in the shower longer than I thought because he had already found the time to run out to the Starbucks 10 blocks away and return a venti coffee in hand. He held the coffee out to me like a peace offering and leaned back against the wall with his long, sweatpant clad legs stretched out in front of him. <br />
<br />
How could I possibly be mean to a man who went out and bought me Starbucks and was nice to me no matter how shitty I treated him? I really was a bitch 99 percent of the time. <br />
<br />
"Thanks" I smiled and felt all of the tension leave my face as we looked at each other. He shrugged like he didn't know what else to say and continued to watch me in my bathroom. He looked tired and for the first time since he had shown up last night and I noticed that there was subtle bruising beneath his chin and spreading onto his neck. My eyes snapped to the bruise even when he acted like it was no big deal. <br />
<br />
"What happened?" I asked him tightening the towel linked above my breasts and stepping forward to lightly trail my fingers over his neck. He reached out to toy with the top of the towel while I examined his skin carefully. "Did you get in a fight? I didn't see you get into a fight." Maybe it had happened while I had been in the laundry room?<br />
<br />
"You watch game?" He asked continuing to tickle my skin with his fingertips. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, I had it on while I was home last night." He smiled at this and leaned down to plant a kiss on my collarbone apparently done with the conversation I was trying to have with him. "So what happened?" I asked pulling his head up from my chest. "Did someone hit you?" <br />
<br />
He sighed, realizing that I wasn't going to let him win and pull the towel away from my body for some fooling around. "It's hockey, I always get hit" he answered planting a firm kiss on my cheek. I dropped the subject sensing that if he wasn't making a big deal out of it, then I wouldn't either. <br />
<br />
"Did a doctor look at it?" I couldn't hold back the question even though he looked more amused than angry at my fussing. <br />
<br />
"You know, if I don't know you better, it sounds like you care about me." He grinned cheekily smoothing one of his big, clumsy hands over my drippy, wet hair. <br />
<br />
Trying to keep the mood light-hearted and simple, I smiled and replied with an "Of course I care" before stepping away to brush my hair out and begin applying my makeup. He had been doing that a lot lately and each and every time it made my heart rate bump up and not in a pleasant way either. More like an anxiety-inducing sort of heart bump. <br />
<br />
For a man who hadn't completely mastered the english language, he sure had mastered the best ways to make me feel uneasy and unsure of myself. I guess guilt was an international language spoken by all. <br />
<br />
It was true at least. I <em>did</em> care about him. That wasn't the actual problem because it was evident that we both cared about each other. The problem was exactly how much we were starting to care about each other. I had thrown all of my eggs in one basket before with my relationship to Peter and that ended up blowing up in my face. That didn't meant that I was stupid and willing to let go of a great thing either. I just wanted to prolong throwing down important labels on our relationship for awhile. Why couldn't we just keep going on happily like we already were? <br />
<br />
Still, as I watched him struggle to pop toast into my tempramental toaster and almost burn himself, my heart lurched at the sight of his tall form which was obviously so male, being domestic and at home in my kitchen. <br />
<br />
"Here" I said stepping behind him and smacking the toaster at the base. I pressed down the lever and this time the toaster graciously accepted the bread and began to toast like it was supposed to. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to sit around this morning and enjoy breakfast with him. <br />
<br />
"I need to get going" I told him. "Can I trust you alone with my toaster?" <br />
<br />
He nodded seeming to understand the joke and not mind that he was the butt of it. Curiously, I watched him make himself at home in my refrigerator and pull out orange juice and jelly. His obvious comfort in my apartment sparked me to think about the question that had been lingering in my mind all morning. Exactly how did he get into my apartment and how would he be locking up when he left? <br />
<br />
"Hey Geno?" He made a noise while he bit into his toast which prompted me to continue. "How did you get in last night? I locked everything up before I went to bed." <br />
<br />
To my surprise, he grinned and shrugged. "Didn't have key, so I pick lock." <br />
<br />
<em>What?</em> He picked my lock? I was so perplexed by this idea that I didn't even bother to correct his English. Technically, he had broken into my apartment. Never in my life had anyone picked a lock on my door before. Not even when I had lived in a much tougher city than Pittsburgh. <br />
<br />
"But, I have like three locks!" It was true, I even had one of those sliding chain lock things. There was no way that he could have managed to get past that thing. That was the point of them!<br />
<br />
He looked at me like I was stupid and laughed at the outraged expression on my face. Grabbing me by the shoulders, he pulled me to stand in front of him while he looked down on me. "I'm from Russia. We pick American locks." <br />
<br />
Apparently he had every right to be smug and sure of his lock picking abilities. The door locks looked completely normal as if they had never been tampered with in the first place.<br />
<br />
"Your lock is weak" he added munching into the toast. "I buy you better ones." <br />
<br />
Rolling my eyes, I reached behind him to give him a paper towel. "Whatever floats your boat. I know it will make you feel manly and in control." <br />
<br />
What was meant as a joke was lost on him as he studied me seriously. I thought that he just didn't get the joke and was about to tease him more when he interrupted me. <br />
<br />
"Or you move in with me and have safe locks." <br />
<br />
The suggestion itself was almost lost on me until my brain fully registered his words and processed them. Move in with him? My heart began to beat faster and I had to wipe my sweaty palms on the skirt of my suit. I didn't know what to say so instead I stood there dumbfounded and unable to meet his eyes. <br />
<br />
Geno saved me from having to respond by leaning over to lightly kiss me on the lips. He didn't pressure me but the kiss was different. It conveyed the promise that we would be going over this again later but he was going to drop it for the time being. <br />
<br />
"Look, I know you want me to say something but-" <br />
<br />
"No, don't talk. Just think. We talk later after game, yes?" <br />
<br />
I nodded at him and tried to decipher what he was thinking behind his moody, brown eyes. I had plans to go to the Pens game later on since it was a home game against the Capitals. Maybe I could use the time to talk to Vero and relay the morning's events to her. <br />
<br />
"By the way" Geno stopped me before I could slip out the door of my apartment and off on my way to work. "My parents will be at game. You'll meet them in lounge at 6:30." <br />
<br />
Before I could argue, he gently pushed me out the door effectively closing me out from my own apartment. Not that it made a difference anymore anyway since apparently nothing that was supposedly mine belonged to just me anymore. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<em>Note: I am SO excited to write about the Malkins. They are adorably foreign :) </em>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-50338145229054288842010-05-30T00:49:00.001-04:002010-05-30T16:32:15.397-04:00Chapter 18- Changing Directions<em>Thank you for the comments and support ladies! This is pure fluff btw. </em><br />
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<em>Song: Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson</em><br />
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This time when I woke up, I was the one left alone in bed. I would have been worried except that I could hear movement downstairs in the kitchen with the sound of dishes on the counter. I smiled when I saw that my clothes had been folded and were sitting on the dresser next to the bed. It was getting late in the day and I was seeing a side of Geno's house that I had never been in before. Considering we had been a little busy the first time I entered his bedroom, I took a moment to look around at my new surroundings. <br />
<br />
I was distracted by a picture of him with his parents and brother when I heard another clashing noise downstairs that worried me. It sounded like he was making something to eat but I wasn't even sure that he knew how to cook. Pulling back on my pants and t-shirt, I decided to forgo my bra and check up on him before something or someone got burnt. <br />
<br />
"Geno?" I called out checking various rooms downstairs for any sign of him. <br />
<br />
"In here" he answered from the kitchen. Something smelled like it was burning but something else smelled really good. <br />
<br />
"What are you doing?" I asked watching him stir a lumpy, white substance in a pan. Smoke was gently drifting out of another pot sitting in the sink. He said something first in Russian probably out of instinct then smiled sheepishly at me. <br />
<br />
"I don't know what you call it in English. In Russian, is <em>Kasha." </em><br />
<br />
"<em>Kasha</em>" I said testing the foreign word on my tongue. "It smells good" I said leaning over to look into the pot. <br />
<br />
I felt his lips along the back of my neck gently kissing around my exposed skin as his hands kneaded my hips. Careful to avoid the hot stove behind me, I turned in his arms to meet his lips and say hello. <br />
<br />
"Hi" I smiled smoothing his shirt down over his shoulders. He grinned back at me and teasingly pinched my nose between his fingers. <br />
<br />
"You took long nap. I got hungry." <br />
<br />
"How long was I out?" I asked feeling slightly embarrassed. Wasn't the guy the one who is supposed to pass out post-coitus? I really hoped that I hadn't been snoring or doing anything else unappealing. <br />
<br />
"2 hours?" he guessed leaning around me to turn the burner down. "Hungry?" he asked again smoothing his hands up my back beneath my shirt. His smile widened when he discovered that I wasn't wearing my bra. <br />
<br />
"Later" I teased pulling his hands away from my now tingling skin. "I'm hungry." <br />
<br />
He gave an exaggerated sigh and dropped his hands making me laugh. If it weren't for the fact that my stomach was now growling, I would be more than ready for round two. He looked delicious in his simple gym shorts and fitted tee. Realizing that I probably looked hideous, I tried to re-do my hair up into a neater ponytail while he was turned around and scooping the <em>Kasha</em> into bowls. <br />
<br />
"Is what we eat for breakfast in Russia" Geno told me pouring cream and a berry mixture on top and setting it in front of me. "<em>Kasha</em> is the only thing I can make without killing you" he added explaining why he had made a breakfast food when it was well after dinnertime.<br />
<br />
"It looks really good" I said eyeing the bowl he handed me. It <em>was</em> true because whatever the lumpy white stuff was, it smelled delicious. Plus, it was kind of cute that he took the time to feed me and make me something that he ate back in Russia. <br />
<br />
We sat in the living room and I let him watch SportsCenter when he agreed that I could have control of the trigger later. I now worked in sports so I was reluctant to spend my free time watching about sports. I didn't know how guys like Geno and Sidney watched it all of the time. <br />
<br />
"So did your Mom used to make this for you?" I asked mixing the berries into the <em>Kasha. </em>He nodded keeping one eye trained on the TV. <br />
<br />
Since it was obvious that he was already in ESPN-land, I decided to try what he prepared and took a bite. The best way to describe it was that it tasted like a Russian version of oatmeal. This was better than normal oatmeal though and I took another bite enjoying the combination of salty and sweet from the milk and berries. <br />
<br />
"It's really good" I confirmed. When I looked over, I noticed that his bowl was almost gone. <br />
<br />
"Good, you want more?" He got up and took his dish with him so that he could get seconds. <br />
<br />
"No, I'm good" I told him, thoroughly enjoying this domestic side of him. It had been a long time since I had had anyone there to make me something to eat like this and I wanted to make this moment last. <br />
<br />
Afterwards, we laid cuddled on the couch watching my choice in TV show: "Cake Boss." I loved any TV shows that revolved around cake building and Geno didn't seem to mind that I had hijacked the remote. Since it had been awhile since he last said anything, I turned my attention to him and realized that he was sound asleep beneath me. I had been so absorbed in my show that I hadn't noticed his body going slack with sleep beneath mine on the couch.<br />
<br />
Now as I looked down at him, I took the opportunity to think about everything that had happened today. He had been so gentle and patient with me while subtly pushing me to where he and I both wanted to be: in bed. Of course, I couldn't forget what he had told me either. <br />
<br />
<em>"Let me take care of you." </em>I pushed back a lock of hair on his forehead and thought about his words. Slowly, I realized that lately I had been letting him take care of me. Albeit reluctantly, but still. He seemed to always be there, pushing and coercing me into some indescribable corner that only he could put a label on. This afternoon had been proof that I was finally letting him. <br />
<br />
I couldn't forget the little competition he had been in either with Peter. Though he never said his name, I couldn't forget the mentioning of the "him" that had crossed his lips or the actions that had resulted because of it. I certainly wasn't complaining. Later, I would have to have a little chat with Max about it seeing that he was the only person on the team that I had really talked to about Peter. Vero and some of the girls knew but I doubted that they would say anything to Geno about it- female solidarity prevented things like that. Besides, Vero knew me well enough by now to realize that I would kick her ass- Max wasn't quite as smart. <br />
<br />
"You fell asleep" I smiled down at Geno when his eyes began to open and focus intently on my own. <br />
<br />
"Sorry" he grinned slowly, his voice sounding impossibly deep from sleep. "You're like blanket" he mumbled, "only, more fleshy." His hands roamed down to playfully squeeze my ass and he laughed at the shocked look on my face. <br />
<br />
"Gee, thanks" I snorted, letting him think that I was annoyed. "You know how to flatter a girl, Geno." <br />
<br />
"No, is good. Healthy" he added leaning up to kiss the spot right below my chin. <br />
<br />
"Better than Oksana?" I asked wanting to get a reaction from him. I still thought that it was wrong for him not to have told me about her but we had obviously moved past that argument. Still, it was fun to get back at him for his "fleshy" comment. <br />
<br />
Just like I wanted, he winced and held his hands out as if to say, "I surrender." I burst out laughing at the expression on his face and pretty soon we were both laughing like loons on the couch for no reason. <br />
<br />
"I should get going" I told him, not moving to actually get off of him or the couch. It was past 10 and it would be easier to get going the next morning if I woke up in my own apartment. <br />
<br />
"Stay" he told me, not really asking but commanding. It was tempting but I would regret the action if I had to rush around in the morning. I had an early meeting with the rest of the PR staff in the morning and I couldn't show up in the clothes that I was wearing now. <br />
<br />
"I <em>want</em> to" I told him honestly, trying to ignore his big, convincing lips by my ear. "But I would have to get up <em>so</em> early in the morning to get to my meeting on time." <br />
<br />
"What meeting?" he breathed into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. <br />
<br />
"Some PR stuff" I replied. My own voice was embarrassingly out of breath and I knew that I had to utilize all of my willpower to resist what he was silently offering me. <br />
<br />
Reluctantly, we detangled and he helped me get up from the couch. Locating my purse in his kitchen, I slipped on my shoes and turned expecting to thank him for not boosting me out on my ass like I deserved earlier in the day. Seriously, why didn't he kick my ass? I probably would have kicked my own ass if provoked. Instead, he grabbed me and pulled me into a hard kiss. Unfortunately, it ended as quickly as it started and no doubt, I knew that the kiss was meant to remind me of what I was missing by going home rather than staying with him. <br />
<br />
"Will I see you tomorrow?" I asked, struggling to remember their schedule for the next week. I always got the busy days confused and could never remember if he was coming or going. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, I take you to dinner tomorrow night." He leaned down and picked up my purse and handed it back to me. I hadn't even realized that I had dropped it. <br />
<br />
"Was that you asking or commanding?" I couldn't resist ribbing him again even though it was kind of sexy when he was bossy like this. <br />
<br />
"Asking" he confirmed still looking too confident for someone who was merely asking. "You pick where we go" he offered. With an offer like that, how could I refuse? <br />
<br />
After another satisfying goodbye, I slipped out into the night heading for my parked car. I couldn't remember the last time that I had smiled this much and gleefully sang along to whatever song came on the radio: good or bad. <br />
<br />
It never once crossed my mind how seamlessly we seemed to have slipped into a labeled relationship without an argument or a discussion. It had just sort of happened.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-64572788361761325372010-05-16T00:27:00.000-04:002010-05-16T00:27:57.039-04:00Chapter 17- Physical Comparisons<i>Thanks for the comments ladies, they seriously brighten up my day. </i><br />
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<i>Also, sorry it takes me so damn long anymore to get a post out. I'm just so freaking tired all of the time since I got home. Every night I sit down and try to finish this post because I know exactly what I want to write. 20 minutes later I'm passed out in my bed and I wake up the next morning with nothing done. It's frustrating but tonight I'm prying my eyes open and I finally finished this thing. More to come! I'll be starting my story soon too. I was going to hold off but I'm too excited to wait any longer. </i><br />
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<i>Song: "What You Thought You Need" by Jack Johnson</i><br />
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<i></i>My head was pounding as I made the drive over to Geno's house. It was as if my mind was physically protesting what I was about to do, something that I loathed to do- <i>apologize.</i> This time though it mattered. I had to explain my actions to him and pray that he was considerate enough to listen to me and accept the apology. <br />
<br />
I still had no idea what I wanted to say but as I slowly approached his house, I knew that it didn't matter. All that did matter was finding a way to get inside and or not having the door slammed in my face. <br />
<br />
After all, he had a right to slam the door in my face and not want to speak to me. During the 20 minutes that it took me to drive to his neighborhood, I spent the time strategizing what I was going to say. I couldn't go there without something to say and I figured that I should probably start with an apology. After that, I hoped that he would just accept it at that and we could move past this morning's blunder. <br />
<br />
I pulled into the long driveway and noted that there were lights on in the house. That was good, hopefully it meant that he was home alone so I didn't have to make an even bigger fool out of myself. <br />
<br />
Taking a deep breath, I rang the doorbell, stepped back and waited for him to answer. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door sucked the breath out of me as my nerves reacted. He opened the door letting the warm heat from the hallway spill out onto the cold stoop. Dressed in only sweatpants and a t-shirt, he looked tired and his eyes hardened as they focused in on me nervously standing before him. I almost believed that he was going to shut the door in my face but instead he surprised me by jerking his shoulder and motioning for me to come inside.<br />
<br />
Neither of us made a move as we stood awkwardly in the foyer- him staring directly at me and me trying to look at anything but him. I pulled my hoodie tighter around my body and shivered from the sudden change in temperatures. <br />
<br />
"So I came-" I started to speak but he cut me off by walking away from me and into the kitchen where we had been a mere 48 hours prior. I watched him walk away and tried not to get too steamed up about it. We needed to talk and it wouldn't do us any good if I was pissed off and he refused to listen. We were supposed to be adults. <br />
<br />
I followed him into the kitchen and pulled him away from where he was now standing in front of the refrigerator. I pulled the beer he had grabbed out of his hand and put it back before tugging him away from the open door. <br />
<br />
"Don't act like that" I told him as I pulled him behind me into the living room. He didn't try to fight me as his hand gripped mine and let me lead him to the sofa. His thigh pressed against mine making me uncomfortable and shiver at the same time. You would think for someone who was supposedly angry, he would want to put some distance between us. <br />
<br />
Instead it felt like he was touching me just to get a rise out of me because he knew it would make me uncomfortable. Well, it was working. But worse- it made me feel like an even bigger bitch because he was acting like I was one too. <br />
<br />
"We need to talk" I began after clearing my throat. I felt like I had a huge lump in my throat that no amount of fighting was going to clear out of the way. He arched a thick eyebrow at me and I noticed for the first time that he had a scar running through it that divided where the hair was growing. How had I missed that? <br />
<br />
"I acted poorly this morning and I feel like there's been a big miscommunication between us because of it." I waited a beat hoping he would take that as his cue to chime in. Usually he had no problem pointing out when I did something stupid or wrong. He looked at me expectantly and I realized that he wasn't going to say anything- no matter how many pauses I inserted into my speech. <br />
<br />
"I wanted to apologize for leaving you this morning. I acted really stupidly and you didn't deserve that." I finished and this time had no choice but to wait for him to say something back. If he didn't say something soon, I didn't know what I would do. Leave? <br />
<br />
"Why?" he asked suddenly, his eyes zeroing in on mine. Any time that he looked at me like that, so deep and so intense, I felt like squirming automatically. There was something in that intense gaze that made me shaky. It was like he knew more about me than I did about myself. <br />
<br />
"Why, what?" Did he really want me to hash out a long explanation of how utterly fucked up I am? Trying to explain to him why I left this morning was going to turn into a conversation about my relationship with Peter and how it's left me temporarily insane. At least I hoped that the bout of insanity I had been experiencing these past couple of months was only for a short period in my life. <br />
<br />
"No," he said shaking his head in frustration. "Why did you come and say sorry?" <br />
<br />
Uhh, what? He stumped me and he knew it as he watched me with the same serious expression on his face as he had on before. Only this time, I could detect the smugness in his eyes. He was purposely trying to catch me in my own trap to prove a point. <br />
<br />
"I said sorry because I should say it." Why else did one say sorry except to make amends for something they had done? He gave me an exasperated look and rolled his eyes moving to get up from the couch.<br />
<br />
"Where are you going?" How were we supposed to hash things out if he was just going to walk away? "We're not done talking!" I exclaimed feeling a little bit of desperation edge its way into my voice. <br />
<br />
"I can't talk to you, make you understand" he said not even looking at me as he walked back into the kitchen. He shook his head and ran a hand through its shaggy length as he swaggered into the kitchen, leaving me stunned and agitated on the couch.<br />
<br />
I followed him and tried not to be angry as I stared at his back. Sure, I had absolutely no excuse for walking out on him this morning. I understood that now and I was willing to apologize for it. But for him to treat me like my apology was anything less than sincere was just rude. And the bastard deserved to be called out on it. <br />
<br />
"Will you stop that?" I told him watching him pull out the beer I had previously made him put down. "I apologized, I don't know what you want from me." I wanted him to put that damn beer down and actually look at me. Not with one of his knowing stares or a glare- but with the way he usually looked at me. I didn't know if I could accurately describe exactly what the look <em>was</em> but it was a hell of a lot better than him not looking at me at all. <br />
<br />
"I want to know why you said sorry" he asked me again. He took a sip from the beer bottle and I stared at his Adam's apple as it bobbed up and down. Ironically enough, a hickey that I had apparently given him the night before bounced up and down with each gulp like a yo-yo reminder.<br />
<br />
"I said I'm sorry because I meant it and I owed you an apology. Now I'm not so sure you deserve one." <br />
<br />
He snorted and rolled his eyes taking another drink. "Stop doing that" he stated putting the beer down on the counter and leaning back casually.<br />
<br />
"Doing what?" I asked watching him cross his long muscular arms across his chest.<br />
<br />
"Getting bitchy. Being mad at me for no reason." He shrugged. <br />
<br />
"I'm not mad at you for no reason, asshole. I just get angry when someone assumes that my apology isn't sincere." I unconsciously took a step back, suddenly needing to put space between us. Maybe my chest would stop caving in if he wasn't in close proximity.<br />
<br />
"You're doing it again" he stated with a now obvious smugness apparent on his face. "If anyone should be mad, its me" he said pushing himself off of the counter and advancing towards me. "You left and now you mad at me" another step. <br />
<br />
I tried to cut him off- after all, it hadn't happened <em>exactly</em> like that per se, but he cut me off again by taking another step towards me and forcing me to move back. "You see why I'm confused?" he reached out and grabbed me before I could stumble backwards onto my ass from taking too many steps back. <br />
<br />
The indescribable look was back on his face as he pulled me close and stared down at me. He pulled me so that we were chest to chest and tilted my face back so that I was forced to look him in the eyes. "Do you mean it?" <br />
<br />
I knew that he was talking about my apology and I nodded partly desperate to be freed so that I could take a deep breath of air. It was hard to breathe when he was that close and I knew what he was trying to do at this point. He wanted to physically intimidate me because he knew that it would be a form of punishment. While that wasn't fair to me, at the same time, it was also working. It did hurt to be this close to him but know that he was this angry at me.<br />
<br />
"Good" he said tightening his grip and pulling me back to him. His mouth found mine and he pushed the hair back from my face as I responded. It wasn't an overly aggressive kiss but it was with just enough authority to remind me that he hadn't completely forgiven me. The kiss turned soft and he chewed nimbly on my lower lip. <br />
<br />
"Did he kiss you like this?" he asked making me go numb and tingly from all of the attention he was lavishing on my mouth. My brain cleared just enough to register what he had asked but he cut me off again. "Did he know to touch here?" His magically clumsy hands brushed down over my sides and kneaded into my lower back omitting all sorts of wonderful sensations. <br />
<br />
Despite my best efforts, I heard myself groan and arch into his touch. It felt so damn good to be touched there, anywhere, just as long as his hands kept doing <em>that. </em><br />
<br />
Within minutes we were both pulling off clothing from each other's bodies and moving to find any surface to balance on.<br />
<br />
"The floor" I mumbled trying to break my mouth apart to speak. I was consumed with an overwhelming need to be as close to him as possible and just wanted the closest sturdy surface to rest on. He shook his head and nipped none too gently on my neck. <br />
<br />
"Too hard" he mumbled hitching me up around his waist. I took his cue and wrapped my legs tightly around his midsection above his erection. "Upstairs" he groaned, shivering from the feeling of my nails scraping through the hair on the back of his head. <br />
<br />
He backed us out of the kitchen and carried us up the long flight of stairs to the master bedroom. Once we were standing in front of the large bed, I shifted and threw my weight forward hoping to catch him off-balance. Sure enough, he fell backward landing on the bed and carrying me with him. The movement also jostled us so that I was balanced over his lap and in a better position to take advantage of him and his body. <br />
<br />
Our tongues dueled for control as he finished removing scraps of clothing from my body. Giving him another lingering kiss, I reached down and released his dick from his sweatpants. It rubbed insistently against my clit and he groaned again once he felt the physical evidence of how ready I was for him. <br />
<br />
"Did you feel like this for him?" he asked breaking away and placing his large, callused hands over my breasts. He palmed my nipples and tortured me by not taking action. Carefully he angled my hips and pushed into me with ease. Our bodies slicked together like we had met a thousand times before and I relished in the feeling of our chests brushing against each other in an erotic rhythm. <br />
<br />
"Did you?" he asked again slowing his movements and waiting for me to answer. I was so consumed in my own brand of lust that I blindly shook my head no and reached to pull him closer to me. I raised my hips on my own sheathing his dick back inside my body and attempted to take back control. He didn't let me and patiently kissed along my collarbone as I huffed in frustration. <br />
<br />
"Let go" he said forcing me to look him in the eyes. I didn't know what he meant and stared at him blankly wondering why he was being such a buzzkill during this incredibly hot bout of sex. "Let me take care of you" he said. I got the feeling that he was being his usual cryptic self and relented out of my own personal desire to finally find relief. <br />
<br />
Without missing a beat, he quickly changed positions so that he was raised above me on the bed. Bending my knees into a more comfortable position, he began to set the pace and re-inforce all of my previous knowledge about him in bed. <br />
<br />
Even though this was only our second time together, it seemed like he knew each and ever crevice of my body as if it was a machine and he was the mechanic. Some guys, Peter included were too rough in where they touched you. Pulling and grabbing could be hot sometimes but only if both parties were feeling it. Instead Geno seemed to match me pace for pace and we were both on exactly the same page as our bodies moved relentlessly together. <br />
<br />
I was close and finished on a burst of pleasure and long-lasting relief as the post-climax adrenaline pumped through my bloodstream. Omitting a feral cry, he finished next, careful not to squish me as he relaxed into the mattress. I was surprised when he pulled me close again and grabbed my face in a hot, sweaty kiss. The kiss itself held the promise of a second round and I had to break away just to breathe for a minute and collect the bits and pieces of my brain that had exploded all over the place. <br />
<br />
After both of our heart rates returned to normal, I shifted my legs so that he could pull the covers up over both of us. Even though evening was rapidly approaching, we were both tired and bordering on sleepy after the afternoon's emotionally draining experience. There had been so much pain and pleasure wrapped into one day that I needed a mental break and a time to re-charge before Geno and I inevitably needed to talk and figure things out again. <br />
<br />
"Are you done?" he asked once we were snuggled up in his bed. His arm was thrown protectively over my side as he spooned me and I didn't miss the territorial gleam in his eyes or in his question. <br />
<br />
"Done with what?" <br />
<br />
"Running" he smirked turning my body partially to face him. I felt like teasing him and saying "no" just to be a jerk and see how he reacted. I felt like this was a monumental moment to say something but instead I drew a blank. This would have been my opportunity to say "no" once and for all and mean it. This was my chance to walk away and chalk up the last 48 hours as a fluke and a quickie relationship. Instead I nodded and allowed myself the comfort of resting my face in the curve of his neck. He smelled like sweat and the faint scent from the cologne he had applied in the morning. This combination comforted me and made me feel even more tired in my relaxation. <br />
<br />
I didn't want to go to sleep but it quickly took me before I could analyze another bit of information about him. Before I blacked out, I silently thanked Vero for making me come over to his house and talking to him.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-68943495566004327122010-05-09T00:19:00.000-04:002010-05-09T00:19:07.630-04:00Chapter 16- "Run baby, run"<em>Why hello! So it's been a long time...but I got up early this morning and decided that today was the day. I was going to get my shit together already and update as an escape from my finals. Hope you guys like this one, I literally thought of it before I was going to bed last night and had to write the idea down on a post-it. </em><br />
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<em>Enjoy!</em><br />
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<em>P.S. I'm taking my last final tomorrow so hopefully I can update again tomorrow night since I actually have ideas flowing through my brain again. </em><br />
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I only woke up the next morning when I heard a bear-like noise rumbling in my ear. In part exhaustion and annoyance, I willed the noise to stop without me actually having to move and put an end to it myself. It was only when I noticed my head rising and falling steadily that I realized my pillow was not only moving, but also human. <br />
<br />
Gently I picked my head up from its resting place and peered down at the individual currently snoring loudly in my bed. Memories of last night came flooding back to me including small aches all over my body as I remembered the three sex sessions we had fit in until the early hours of the morning. <br />
<br />
I tried to move off of him because I had to go pee and needed a few minutes to myself before he woke up and had to talk about what happened. How he was sleeping with all of my body weight on him was beyond me but he hadn't complained or pushed me off of him in the middle of the night so that was automatically some brownie points for him. <br />
<br />
In the bathroom I thought about how different he was from anyone else that I had ever slept with- especially Peter. For one, Geno was just about the lankiest man I had ever seen in my life. Tall and thin with sinewy muscles was a change from Peter who lived for the gym and had perfected what he liked to think was his GQ worthy body. Still, I couldn't complain. One thing was for sure, hockey players were so used to using their bodies all day long that the ability for control and strength carried over to other areas of their lives as well. <br />
<br />
Now I watched him sprawled out and taking up the entirety of my bed and wondered what the hell I was supposed to do now. As if he knew that I was watching him, one of his eyes cracked open and he grinned at me sleepily. <br />
<br />
"I like my shirt on you" he said, his voice thick with sleep. His eyes were warm and inviting as he pushed the covers back and indicated for me to get back into bed with him. <br />
<br />
That was another thing I thought about as I moved slowly back to my full bed. He was a cuddler. I hadn't really pegged him as the type but everytime we had had sex the night before, he was always there before and after holding me tightly. Even now as he pulled me against his side and I laid my head back down on his shoulder, I wondered if he even thought about the way that he was holding me. Was this the obligatory "we slept together and I should cuddle with her" cuddle or was he holding me because he cared? <br />
<br />
As his hand slowly rubbed my back beneath the t-shirt was wearing my body said sleep while my mind felt like it was zinging around at 100 miles per hour. Soon he was back to sleep, his snores providing the background noise for all of the thinking that I was doing. <br />
<br />
Finally, relying on primal instinct, I pulled away from his arms and slowly climbed out of bed. He didn't even flinch as I quietly rifled through drawers and selected some running clothes. Grabbing my purse, I quietly shut the front door to my apartment behind me and quickly moved towards the elevator. I didn't leave a note because I didn't know what to say. <br />
<br />
I just knew that I needed to drive around for a little bit and clear my head. We both needed to clear our heads out a bit.<br />
<br />
After an hour of wandering through some no-name suburb, I broke down and called the only person in Pittsburgh that I knew would be willing (and god help me) excited to hear me spill about what had transpired between Geno and I. <br />
<br />
"Hello?" The bubbly, slightly accented voice on the other line answered. <br />
<br />
"Hey, Vero?" I paused collecting my nerve. "It's Ava." <br />
<br />
"Ava! Nice to hear from you! What's up?" I heard a crashing noise in the background but I didn't bother to ask what was going on. <br />
<br />
"Well I kind of have a problem" I started. <br />
<br />
"What? Are you okay?" she said interrupting me instantly. <br />
<br />
"No, no everything's fine" I said feeling slightly comforted. I may not know her super well but it was nice that she apparently cared for my well-being. "I just have a problem. Needed someone to talk to." <br />
<br />
"Oh, okay, well what is it?" <br />
<br />
"Actually, I'd rather explain everything in person. Are you free?" <br />
<br />
"Now?" <br />
<br />
I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, I'm really sorry to impose like this." <br />
<br />
"No, it's not a problem. Marc's driving me crazy anyway. He and some of the guys are over playing ping pong." <br />
<br />
Something crashed and shattered in the background and I heard her groan under her breath on the phone. <br />
<br />
"I need to get out. Where do you want to meet?" <br />
<br />
We agreed to meet at a Panera's near her neighborhood and I grabbed a latte while I waited for her to arrive. It was after 10am now and Geno had probably woken up by now. I dreaded for my phone to start ringing and dreaded that it wouldn't at the same time. <br />
<br />
Even though I had bolted out of fear that a relationship was happening to me too quickly, he might actually be happy that I had given him the appearance that I wanted no-strings attached. I <em>still</em> partly wanted no-strings attached. But at the same time I wasn't a fuck-buddy kind of girl either.<br />
<br />
"So" Vero said surprising me and sliding into the booth seat across from me. "What's the problem?" <br />
<br />
Now that she was here, I suddenly had no idea where to start. I felt my mouth open and close twice while she watched me in amusement. <br />
<br />
"Can't get it out?" she joked with one perfectly shaped brow raised high on her forehead. "Can I guess?" she asked still smiling. <br />
<br />
"Uh, sure?" Where was this going?<br />
<br />
"Well, I've never seen you looking so sad before" she started to tick reasons off of her fingers. "Plus, you haven't even noticed the love bites on your neck or else you would have covered them up. Which means that you were in a hurry at some point this morning." <br />
<br />
My jaw dropped as she began to get closer and closer to the root of my problems. <br />
<br />
"It must have something to do with Geno" she said finishing and waiting for me to answer. <br />
<br />
"Um, yeah" I said still stupefied. Could she read minds?<br />
<br />
"Okay, so what happened? That's about as far as I can guess." <br />
<br />
"Well," I said taking a deep breath and staring down at my coffee cup. "Geno came over last night and we talked about Oksana" I started. Vero squealed again and I looked around not wanting anyone to overhear this coversation. Especially because of where it was going. <br />
<br />
"I <em>knew</em> it!" she exclaimed loudly. "You two finally got it on" she whispered, her eyes twinkling at me brightly in excitement. She wouldn't be so excited by the end of the story. <br />
<br />
"So how was it? Is he any good? You know what they say about thos Russ-" <br />
<br />
"V," I stopped her caught between amusement and embarrassment. "I don't want to know what they say about the Russians, okay?" <br />
<br />
She shrugged as if to say 'your loss' and let me continue. <br />
<br />
"Well since you jumped ahead a bit, yeah- we slept together" I confirmed refusing to phrase it as "getting it on." It was bad enough that I had bolted this morning and I didn't need to remember last night like it was a swanky Marvin Gaye song or scene in a teen movie. <br />
<br />
"Wait, so what's the problem then? If it was good- which I'm assuming it was- why are you here? Why aren't you at home for the encore?" <br />
<br />
"Well that's kind of the problem" I said sheepishly. "I just kind of left this morning." <br />
<br />
"Left?" she asked. "Left, left? As in you ran away?" <br />
<br />
"Well, I wouldn't call it running away" I started to say but stopped when I saw the look that passed over her face. "Okay," I said blowing out a long breath. "I guess I did run away." Why deny it when it was obviously true? Hell, I was literally wearing running clothes. Instead of getting mad, Vero leaned back and prepared to listen. <br />
<br />
"I just...I woke up and I panicked. He was so sweet and I didn't know what to do. I don't know if I'm ready for this yet." <br />
<br />
"Wait, you ran away because you were in the arms of a man that obviously cares for you?" <br />
<br />
When she put it like that, of course it sounded stupid. "Well not entirely-" I started to explain but realized that I didn't know exactly what I wanted to say. Was that a good or bad sign? The funny thing was, I knew that there was a reason, I just wasn't sure how to vocalize the emotions that were there. <br />
<br />
"I'm sorry, I'm just confused here" Vero said. She wasn't mad, that much I understood, but she still made me feel ashamed. "You have an awesome guy who's been following you around for months and he's unattached. Wait, he did explain Oksana, right?" <br />
<br />
I nodded, "Yeah, we discussed that last night, you know before." <br />
<br />
"Okay well can I be honest?"<br />
<br />
Wasn't she already being brutally honest with me? "Yeah, that's what I'm here for I guess." <br />
<br />
"Okay, well why are you doing this to yourself? To him? I mean, I know your ex was terrible. And you have a right to still be hung up on that- no wait, let me finish" she said holding up a hand when I wanted to speak. <br />
"No one doubts that you're still hurting. But honey you have another, better man lined up and waiting. Why are you questioning it so much?" <br />
<br />
I didn't have anything to say to that. Mostly because a small part of me thought that she was right. I was a fool- an ungrateful fool who was supposed to be an adult and still ran away when things got hairy. <br />
<br />
"If you decide that you don't want someone that appears to actually care about you and wants a relationship with you, then your instinct was right. And honey, you better run baby, run because Geno's that guy." <br />
<br />
And with that, the conversation was over. She let me vent a little bit more but didn't lecture me again or try to convince me to go home right away. After some girl talk for another hour, she left to go home and I opted to stay. <br />
<br />
My latte was cold by now but I couldn't get Vero's words out of my head <em>"run, baby, run."</em> Yeah, I did a lot of running apparently. I could own that. I was aware that I had run from New York to Pittsburgh but I wasn't going to be ashamed of that. That circumstance was different- this was just...<em>new.</em> My relationship with Geno could only be described as "new." <br />
<br />
What I was currently ashamed of was the fact that I had run out on Geno this morning. To make matters worse, I had run out on him in my own apartment. In a way, I had done the walk of shame from my own bedroom and now it was time for me to suck it up and walk back into that apartment and figure out a way to explain myself to him. Since it was after 2, I knew that realistically there was no way that he would still be at my place. <br />
<br />
As I waited in traffic, I checked my phone and saw that I had no new messages- not from Geno at least. Well, I guess that I deserved that. If that had happened to me, I probably wouldn't call someone like me either. <br />
<br />
My hands were sweating as I pulled out my keys and slid them into the lock. He wouldn't be inside. There was no way that he was still just hanging out in my apartment. Sure enough when the door swung open, the apartment was silent with no traces of what had happened last night left behind. The only reminder I had was an unmade bed and the door to the dishwasher was still hanging open from the night before. <br />
<br />
Nerves fluttered in my stomach as I realized what I had to do. As much as I didn't want to, I knew that I would have to go over and apologize to him.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-14610168066216357872010-04-11T17:19:00.000-04:002010-04-11T17:19:49.728-04:00Chapter 15- Tough Love<em>I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter but I also felt like it had to be written because of my plans for future chapters. So hope you guys like it. </em><br />
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<em>Chapter song: "Frontin'" by Jamie Cullum</em><br />
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<a name='more'></a> <br />
He left me alone in the room to brood and think about my options. I could either put on clothes and listen to whatever explanation he had cooked up or I could continue to lay here naked in bed while he prowled around my apartment alone. <br />
<br />
Scrambling out of bed, I threw on underwear and slipped into my bathrobe throwing my hair up in a bun on my way through the door. <br />
<br />
He was sitting on the couch waiting for me and raised one eyebrow when I entered the room. "Those aren't clothes" he commented looking at me in my semi-short bathrobe. <br />
<br />
"I'm more covered than I was" I told him ignoring the way his eyes gazed over my legs disapprovingly. If he had suddenly decided that he didn't like what he saw and would rather look at overly tan twig legs then he could go have that. That didn't mean that I couldn't be comfortable as I was. <br />
<br />
I left him to get a drink in the kitchen and try to regain some of the courage that I had lost the other night. Seeing him again brought back all kinds of unintelligible feelings that I couldn't sort out. I didn't know what I was feeling anymore and the sooner we got this talk over with, the better. <br />
<br />
"Okay, you have my attention now- talk" I told him taking a seat at the farthest end of the couch away from him. I tucked my legs up under my torso as I faced him, automatically assuming a defensive body position.<br />
<br />
"Why did you leave like that last night?"<br />
<br />
I almost spit out my orange juice at what he said. Was he kidding me?<br />
<br />
"Are you serious?" I asked wondering if he was just trying to get a rise out of me. Maybe this was some sort of mind game with him or something. Suddenly all of the courage and calm that I had gathered in the kitchen went out the window. "You were cheating on your girlfriend with me! And you let me think that you were single this whole damn time, Geno!" <br />
<br />
"You never let me explain" he said eyeing me. Why was he so calm about this? I wanted to throttle him for not being as emotional about this as I was. <br />
<br />
"Fine. Fine, explain then. You can start by giving me the answer you never gave me last night" I told him crossing my arms across my chest. Even though it wasn't realistic, I wanted my arms to form a protective cage and block his words from hurting me and my heart even more. <br />
<br />
"Oksana not my girlfriend" he told me pausing and waiting for some form of a reaction from me. What, did he expect me to suddenly leap up and cry out with joy? "We date months ago, then stop. She want to get married, I don't." <br />
<br />
"Why didn't you say that last night? Why did you stand there and let her talk to me like that?" I didn't know Oksana and after last night, I certainly didn't respect her but it still had hurt to be called a slut and a whore. Especially since he hadn't done much to shut her up. <br />
<br />
"I don't know" he admitted looking down at the hands in his lap. If he thought that his seemingly ashamed, sad little boy schtick was going to work now, then he had a lot more pouting to do. <br />
<br />
Still, no matter where we went from here, his story matched up with what Vero had told me earlier and against my defensive instincts, I believed him- to an extent. <br />
<br />
"So are you going to be with her in the future?" I asked needing an answer to that question too. Even if he still wanted to be with me now, what if that changed in the future and he went back to the Russian blonde? Plus, I wasn't sure that I even wanted to be with him now either. <br />
<br />
"No" he told me meeting my eyes again. "It over last summer, she just think if she keep coming to U.S., I take her back." <br />
<br />
We sat in silence while I digested everything that he had told me. I only looked back up at him once I felt him him take my cold hand in his. <br />
<br />
"So, we okay now?" He asked looking at me hopefully. He had moved closer and against my will, my heart sped up from having him close again. <br />
<br />
"I don't know" I told him truthfully. Even if Oksana really wasn't in the picture and was just a crazy bitch, he had made me feel like shit for the past 24 hours and I didn't want to feel what I felt last night again. What I had been feeling last night was like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Worse, I felt betrayed by someone I had been willing to open myself up to and that feeling of betrayal had been dangerously similar to what I felt after learning about all of Peter's discrepancies. It just proved that I wasn't as ready to be involved with someone again as I thought that I was. <br />
<br />
I wasn't healed, and now I worried that I wouldn't ever be ready. <br />
<br />
I got up from the couch and walked back into the kitchen to put my glass away in the dishwasher. I had that itchy, anxious feeling in my legs meaning that it was probably time for me to get out of my apartment and go do something. As much as I wanted to pull the covers up over my head again, I couldn't do that- I wouldn't let myself be that way over a man who I hadn't even completely let into my heart in the first place. <br />
<br />
I stooped down pulling a fork out from underneath the tray of the bottom rack of the dishwasher and put it back in is proper place along with the other dirty pieces of silverware. Wouldn't it all be easier if we were spoons and forks? When things got messy, we could go back into our respective squares in the dishwasher, get washed and steamed, and come back out looking shiny and new. <br />
<br />
The living room was quiet and I wasn't sure if Geno had stayed or not. When I turned around, he was standing behind me watching me with a look of hesitation in his eyes. I didn't move when his big hands circled my waist and pulled me closer to his tall form. His lips placed one, almost chaste kiss on the side of my forehead. I felt my eyelids close on their own accord and he leaned back silently asking me for permission to continue. Before I could sway one way or the other, he repeated the gesture on the other side of my face, continuing with a trail of soft kisses down my cheek and slowly to the base of my neck. <br />
<br />
My hands gripped his shoulders tightly almost as if I was afraid to let go for fear of falling down. <br />
<br />
"She's gone" he whispered against my cheek. "Back to Russia for good" he repeated shivering as my hands slid into the short hair at the base of his neck. "I don't want her" the movement of his lips quickened forcing me to play catch up or risk losing in the game we had started. <br />
<br />
His hands slid up against the soft cotton of my robe almost touching the mounds of my breasts before trailing down and gripping by butt and pulling me closer to his core. How we had gone from fighting to making out in front of the dishwasher in my kitchen was a mystery to me but after the past 24 hours' confusion, I was no longer capable of thinking. I let my instincts take over as I pushed myself against him and kissed him back, silently telling him that I wanted to continue. <br />
<br />
We were losing patience with each other physically just as we had lost patience with each other mentally and emotionally. His hands fumbled at my front trying to pull the ties to my robe loose to where my skin lay underneath. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew where this was going. Just being near him like this and feeling his big clumsy hands slide perfectly over my curves caused my brain to short-circuit. Even if I didn't want him to reach me emotionally, we both had found something physical to reach and release together. <br />
<br />
I hissed as he pulled the robe from my arms exposing my flesh to the cold air of the kitchen. It wasn't fair that I was the only naked one and he assisted me in pulling his sweatshirt and shirt away from his warm, taut chest. I purred with open admiration at the lines of his strongly defined chest, allowing my hands to roam and express that appreciation. My body took over as I rubbed our chests together, exciting myself with the rub of my already hard nipples against the friction of his skin. He made a guttural noise in the back of his throat and quickly hitched my body up allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist. <br />
<br />
The steps to the bedroom were a blur as he continued to kiss me, our tongues memorizing every contour of each other's mouths. He slammed the door shut and pressed me back up against the door groaning every time I writhed against him begging him to get the show on the road already. He wasn't speaking in English anymore and the mumbled Russian was turning me on even more with each syllable. I didn't care what he said or did anymore, just as long as it felt as good as this did. <br />
<br />
"Seriously Geno" I panted breaking away from his mouth and trying to grind against his pelvis. He grunted attacking my neck with renewed vigor and gripping my ass tighter against him. One hand slid beneath me and into the already wet and ready folds of my core. I was so ready from all of the build-up for him to fuck me already that I was past thinking about the consequences of my actions. He mumbled something that vaguely sounded like "patience" and I began to pant feeling myself slipping dangerously close to the edge of release as his fingers continued to work me. <br />
<br />
He stopped just before I teetered over the edge and backed away pulling me with him towards the bed. We fell in an aroused heap of limbs onto the edge of my unmade bed. Beneath him, my legs parted instantly welcoming his body to mine. <br />
<br />
"Seriously?" I groaned in annoyance at the feeling of denim at my opening. I wanted, no <em>needed </em>him to fuck me already. I sat up slightly watching as he awkwardly tried to unzip his jeans as quickly as possible. With no more physical barriers between us, I moaned as inch by inch he entered me and connected our bodies together. We fit like a puzzle in the way that men and women do and his lips met mine again as we began to move finding the release we had been working towards. With each stroke I felt myself getting closer and closer to the ultimate satisfaction, tilting my head back in ecstasy as he reached the spot that no one else had. <br />
<br />
My eyes drooped in exhaustion as I watched him finish with a similar look of satisfaction passing over his features moving within me until he was finished. He collapsed with a groan on top of me, continuing to press kisses along the contours of my face. We were both silent as our hearts slowed down, beating frantically together, chest to chest. Without saying anything else, he smiled, eyes glittering and pulled me against him into his side, disjoining our bodies in the process. Wrapping one arm tightly around my waist, he pulled my back to his chest and let his warmth continue to keep me warm neglecting the comforter laying at the foot of the bed. <br />
<br />
"Sleep" he mumbled into my hair tiredly. I remembered that he had a game the next day and wondered if it was a good idea for him to be staying here if he had to be up early and off to practice the next morning. The hand holding me against him brushed hair away from my shoulder as he shifted his face deeper into the crook of my shoulder. <br />
<br />
"Sleep" he reminded me again. Relaxing against him, I decided to turn off my mind for the moment and follow his lead. I would have plenty of time to think about this in the morning.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-5368983963059361212010-04-10T14:15:00.000-04:002010-04-10T14:15:57.763-04:00Chapter 14- Explanations<em>Now that I've gotten over last night, accepted that we still have playoff ass to kick in the Mellon, I'm moving on. </em><br />
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<em>Hope you guys like this chapter! It's kind of saucy :) </em><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Chapter song: "Go On" by Alicia Keys<br />
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<br />
Embarrassment and depression. Those were still the two emotions that I was currently wallowing in as I laid in bed refusing to answer the phone that had been ringing from where I had tossed it onto the counter after coming home 2 hours ago. <br />
<br />
It had rung a total of 26 times and even though I was starting to hear bells in my head from it ringing so often, I remained frozen beneath my covers and frozen on that moment looking into eyes when he hadn't said anything. <br />
<br />
I asked him to, sadly I was even willing to listen to him. Just as long as he said something and gave me some type of explanation. But he hadn't said a damn thing and that's what I couldn't get over. I wasn't a delicate, weepy female who needed to be coddled or taken care of by a man. Especially since moving to Pittsburgh I was beginning to understand my own strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately it was my weakness for finding cheating assholes that tended to make me forget any of these strengths. <br />
<br />
I couldn't even cry. Part of me wanted to be that weeping female and maybe, just maybe releasing those emotions would make me feel better. Instead I laid in the darkness listening to that stupid ringing noise and wondering when he was going to give up and leave me the hell alone. <br />
<br />
Eventually I fell asleep waking up only the next afternoon once I realized that I had been laying in the same spot in my bed for over 16 hours. I went through the motions of putting on a bathrobe and eating half of a sandwich when the pounding started on my door. I still wasn't in the mood to see anyone much less a certain cheating bastard who had been stringing me along for months with his goofy charm and inability to take 'no' for an answer. <br />
<br />
"I'm not coming to the door you asshole!" I shouted wishing he would take the hint. I was obviously still alive because I was yelling at him so he could just fuck off for all I cared. <br />
<br />
"It's not Geno, it's Vero!" a female voice called from the other side of the wall. Tightening the belt on my robe, I walked to the door and checked the peephole to make sure that it really was her. She looked pissed through the small circular window and even more angry when I unlocked the door and finally opened it. <br />
<br />
"What the hell's going on?" she demanded marching into the apartment as soon as she could wedge her way through the door. <br />
<br />
"What do you mean?"<br />
<br />
"What happened with you and Geno? He's been calling me all morning but won't tell me what happened!" <br />
<br />
"Maybe because he knows that you'll be pissed off at him once you find out" I grumbled feeling even more frustrated that he at least didn't have the balls to admit that he was wrong to our friend. <br />
<br />
"What happened?" she asked again in exasperation. "Something happened between you two- you look like shit." <br />
<br />
"Gee, thanks Vero" I replied rubbing a hand over my face. My makeup from the previous night was still gooped onto my face and my eyes stung from where flakes of mascara had gotten stuck to my contacts. <br />
<br />
"No seriously, you look really pale hun. Did you sleep at all last night?" <br />
<br />
I nodded yes but didn't feel rested. I walked back over to my couch knowing that she would follow and plopped down trying to decide how to begin recounting last night. Before I could begin, I had to know one thing from Vero. It had been eating at me and I couldn't explain everything to her without understanding what she knew first. <br />
<br />
"Do you know who Oksana is?" <br />
<br />
Her face fell and she opened her mouth to speak before closing it quickly again. My heart sank a little and I wondered if she had been lying to me too. <br />
<br />
"Do <em>you</em> know who Oksana is?" she asked<br />
<br />
"After last night I do" I replied curious as to why she hadn't explained anything yet. Obviously Oksana had been around before so why wasn't she reacting differently except to ask me a question? "She's the girlfriend that he never told me about."<br />
<br />
Vero's face darkened in confusion and anger, mirroring mine. "What? They're not dating anymore!" <br />
<br />
"Well that's not what she said last night after she stalked me and showed up at his place to scare the shit out of me half naked in the kitchen and proceed to call me a slut and a number of other names." <br />
<br />
"Whoa, whoa, wait. What is this about stalking and being naked?" <br />
<br />
"Half naked" I corrected feeling like that detail was important. Sure, I had been about to sleep with him but thankfully hadn't gone through with it. At least I could thank Oksana for that.<br />
<br />
"Whatever, start over, give me the long version and tell me everything that happened." She dragged me back over to my couch and I spent the next 45 minutes explaining everything that had led up to last night. <br />
<br />
"I understand why you're so upset but something's not right" she said pausing. "He's so much happier around you and anyone can see that he's completely infatuated." <br />
<br />
"Yeah, but with who?" I questioned still not feeling sympathetic towards him. "He could really be in love with her and I'm the slut on the side." <br />
<br />
"You're <em>not</em> a slut" Vero said vehemently. "He likes <em>you.</em> There has to be an explanation to all of this." <br />
<br />
"Thanks, V" I smiled a little bit. It felt good to have someone defending me in the situation especially since I still felt like I was the one who did something wrong. It didn't make any sense but if Geno and Oksana really were together still then I was to a degree in the wrong. I was the other woman and having been cheated on before, I never wanted to do that to someone else- even if it was Oksana. She was still a woman and no woman should ever be in that situation of knowing that there is someone else on the side being fucked by your man. Or in my case, almost fucked. Wasn't that just an umbrella statement now? I hadn't gotten fucked physically but I sure as hell was feeling fucked emotionally and I'm sure that she felt that way too. <br />
<br />
"What's she like anyway? I mean, do you know their history?" I had to admit that I was extremely curious why someone as seemingly easy going and shy as Geno was even interested in her. <br />
<br />
"Well, what you saw of her last night is pretty much how she is all of the time. She's sickeningly sweet and innocent when she's around him then goes apeshit over other women even being around him. She and Geno met in Mother Russia when she was already married to someone else and she latched on to him pretty quick." <br />
<br />
"So you said that they are broken up?" <br />
<br />
"They broke up about 7 months ago as far as I knew because she kept bugging him about getting married. The signature on her own divorce papers were barely dry and Geno wanted to wait." <br />
<br />
"So he did want to marry her then?" The idea made my heart slam painfully against my ribcage. <br />
<br />
"No, at least that's what he told Marc" she said holding one hand up in the air like she was making a girl scout promise. "So after Geno said no, they got into a huge fight and she went back to Russia. Then you showed up and Geno's been distracted ever since." <br />
<br />
"That still doesn't answer my question though!" I exclaimed leaning farther back into my couch cushions. I wanted them to open up and envelop me so that I could just forget about everything for awhile. "Did they officially break up or not? Because if they didn't, then I was still the woman on the side." Or worse, I was the woman he was using until he decided that he was finally ready to get married to someone else. <br />
<br />
"That I don't know" Vero confessed. "But still, she hasn't been around for months and believe me, if you would see the way that he looks at you all of the time, you wouldn't be doubting him either." <br />
<br />
Though Vero was making me feel a little bit better, I still had my doubts. I knew that I had to talk to him but I wasn't anywhere near ready for a face to face conversation with him yet. <br />
<br />
"Are you sure you don't want to come out with us for a little bit? It's just lunch" Vero offered trying to get me to go out to lunch with her and Marc. I still felt like crap and didn't want to ruin their alone time together with my sour mood. <br />
<br />
"No thanks, V" I said forcing myself to smile for her. "I'll be fine here, I'm just going to do some cleaning and run some errands. Don't worry, I will leave my apartment today." <em>Lies, lies, lies.</em> As soon as she left, I was crawling back into my bed to watch movies for the rest of the day. <br />
<br />
"Okay, just call me if you need anything" she said stopping the door before I closed it fully. <br />
<br />
"I will, scouts honor" I pledged grinning as she rolled her eyes at my smartass attitude. <br />
<br />
I locked the doors again and tidied up the kitchen and living room. I made a point of turning off my cell phone and plugging it into its charger so that I wouldn't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. With my apartment looking clean again, I returned back into my bedroom and took a quick shower, letting the hot water scald my skin and hopefully rinse all of the guilt and sadness out of my pores. The hot water was making me feel tired again as my muscles loosened up like jello. <br />
<br />
Naked and exhausted, I crawled back into my bed and tucked the thick covers in around my body before falling into a dreamless sleep. I awoke again hours later with a headache and the feeling of cotton mouth brought on by my self-inflicted dehydration. <br />
<br />
"Finally, you're awake." <br />
<br />
I screamed probably louder than I ever had before at the sound of someone's voice and opened my eyes fully to see Geno sitting at the very end of my bed watching me with a veiled expression in his eyes. My heart was still pounding as I tried to piece together what time it was and how he had gotten inside the apartment that I had locked up again hours before. <br />
<br />
"How the hell did you get in here?!" If he was able to get in easily then who knew what actual rapists and burglars could do. <br />
<br />
"I took key from door." He answered making no move to sit closer or leave. <br />
<br />
"What? Where is there a key in the door?" <br />
<br />
"Not in the door, above door. You leave extra key there." <br />
<br />
I groaned remembering that I had left a spare hidden above my door when I first moved in and never hid it anywhere more secretive. All of this time any old schmo could have gotten into my apartment and murdered me. Awesome. So much for being responsible all on my own. <br />
<br />
"Well get out and leave the key where I had it." I snarked almost sitting up before remembering that I was still naked. <br />
<br />
"No, you don't answer phone for hours. I had to check, make sure you okay." <br />
<br />
I would <em>not</em> read into the concern filling his eyes and shining on me like the highbeams of a car. "Well, I'm obviously alive. I just didn't want to answer you calls. Now leave" I said feeling myself lose any semblance of patience that I had originally been clinging to. <br />
<br />
"No, now seriously get out. Get out before I call the police or something" I warned him wishing that he would just leave me alone aleady. How could I piece together what I wanted and believed if everyone was going to badger me into listening to bullshit excuses and explanations? I needed time alone to think and figure out what I wanted to do. Was having a weekend to myself too much to ask for? <br />
<br />
Instead of leaving like I wanted him to, Geno rolled his eyes and stood up ripping the covers away from my body as he went. "Now we do this the hard way" he commented letting his eyes trace over my body as I laid frozen in shock from the audacity of his actions. <br />
<br />
<em>Cocky son of a bitch. </em>Before I could cover up, he lifted me out of my bed and dragged me to my feet, ignoring the right hook that I almost caught him with. I almost nailed him again and saw the look of anger settle on his already stony features. He was obviously losing his patience with me but so was I! He had not only come into my home without my permission but now was manhandling me into talking to him when I was naked. I probably would have enjoyed this in any other circumstance but was currently too enraged by his actions to do anything but lash out at him like a she-cat. <br />
<br />
He stilled by movements with one hard look as he dragged my naked body into alignment with his clothed one. Even through his clothes I could feel the insistency of his erection against my body. "Put on clothes" he ordered before leaving me alone in my room again still steaming with anger. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<em>I didn't mean for this to be a cliff-hanger but another chapter will be arriving shortly. :) </em>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-54043232497040715172010-04-08T22:14:00.000-04:002010-04-08T22:14:33.526-04:00Someone cue the Sarah McLachlan music...<em>Ugh, so I'm not going to lie to you all, my lovely, wonderful and anonymous readers. I cried hard core tonight while listening to the last Pens game in the Old Mellon. My life is crazy with committments and becoming a "grown up." With all of these changes, Mellon Arena was my constant. Pittsburgh is my constant in general but Mellon Arena has always been super special to me. Huge chunks of my childhood were spent in the Mellon Arena at hockey games and the occasional Disney on Ice! show and now I feel like a small piece of me is dying. I know that's ridiculous and I could be acting overly dramatic because my hormones have been everywhere anyway, but I can't seem to stop sniffling every time someone announces that this is the last game.</em><br />
<br />
<em> It's the place where I would sit for hours with my Dad, season after season watching and learning the intricacies of the game and feeling the cold chill from the ice. I watched Kovalev moonwalk. I watched Mario score his comeback goal in 2000. It's where I had my first beer and learned that it was socially acceptable to squish peanut shells beneath my shoes because everyone else did it too. It's where I got hit in the forehead with a hockey puck during warmups one time and didn't even care because it was just so cool that I got that close to the game and looked like a 12 year old badass (I can't skate worth shit eliminating any hockey ideas I had). I adore that place and I adore all of the memories I have of it. I really hope that the Consol Energy Center has the same crappy cheese on their nachos that the Mellon always had. It's literally killing me that I'm stuck in Philadelphia because of school right now and my Dad's at the last game without me. </em><em>Okay, I'm off to continue sniffling and being nostalgic with the covers pulled up to my chin (not easy while typing).</em><br />
<br />
<em>Is anyone as affected by this as I am? I really hope so because I feel crazy right now. My friends literally just don't get it and today one of my friends even dared to say, "I don't understand it. Isn't that place really old anyway?" Old, but awesome bitches. </em><br />
<br />
<em>On the bright side: new chapters will be up this weekend! I started to write tonight but that was shot due to my current state of general Mellon-induced depression and I don't want to post a crappy, jumbled chapter for this story or my other story. So bear with me and go Pens! I think it's obvious that they've got this game in the bag anyway. </em>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-65646590584530773742010-04-06T22:20:00.000-04:002010-04-06T22:20:30.238-04:00Chapter 13- Back on Earth<em>Chapter Song: "Counting Stars on the Ceiling" by Stars--- I LOVE this song. So give it a try. It has a very smoky, electro-pop, hipster hanging out in a bar song. And yet I still love it. Maybe it's the sentiment behind the song.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Also: Lately I've been itching to finally write that Epilogue I never got around to for "Legal Assistance Turned Love." So that may pop up in a few days, I just need an idea to work with. I just really miss those characters all of the sudden. So maybe. </em><br />
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Glancing over the various magazine layouts before me, I wondered how on earth I had gone from directing celebrities and politicians to half-naked hockey players in magazine articles. <br />
<br />
"Which one do you think spins the best angle?" <br />
<br />
Honestly, as I pretended to look pensive and engrossed in concentration, I couldn't tell the difference between the two layouts and the magazine articles themselves were exactly the same. But I guess I couldn't tell my boss that when he was obviously so concerned with choosing the right one. <br />
<br />
"I think this one" I said pointing to the one on the left. Crosby was still shirtless and still giving off that charming, boyish grin of his. He could be mummified in toilet paper and the kid would still sell magazines. <br />
<br />
"Okay, great" David said gathering up the materials and leaving the one I had chosen on my desk. "Just look through it again and make the necessary phone calls if you see something you don't like in there." <br />
<br />
I nodded and waited for him to leave before sitting down again and slipping out of my shoes. He wanted me to glance over the article <em>again</em> but that wasn't what our jobs were as PR directors. If a player gave an interview and spoke the words then the reporter was able to take whatever he said and use it. Wasn't that what freedom of the press was all about? <br />
<br />
Technically I was only there to direct the before and after details of my clients' life. Aka, preventing damage and doing damage control afterward. However, when you worked for the Pens, nothing was overlooked or left alone. <br />
<br />
In essence, more and more frequently, I found myself becoming a professional micromanager of people's lives. <br />
<br />
The only thing keeping me sane and reminding me that I too was entitled to a personal life was strangely enough, one of my clients. <br />
<br />
Since painting my apartment together a few weeks ago, Geno and I had been spending time together when we could, neglecting to label or even talk about what we were doing together. It wasn't sneaking around per se but it sure felt like it when we made out on my couch like teenagers worrying about our parents walking through the door. <br />
<br />
It wasn't as if we technically couldn't be together. Eliza and Vero had asked me out for drinks the previous week and even though I didn't want to talk about it with them, they loosened me up with cheap beer and their persistent questions until I couldn't take it anymore and finally spilled on the details. It hadn't originally been my idea of a fun night, especially since Geno happened to be free that night as well, but they had made it impossible to say no. And besides, the idea of having girlfriends in the same city as me again was an appealing prospect. <br />
<br />
They thought that I should just go for it- especially after finding out that we hadn't had sex yet. <br />
<br />
<em>"You mean you haven't done it yet?" Vero asked saying it a little too loud for my comfort level. </em><br />
<br />
<em>"Shhh!" I hissed earning more stares from other people around us. "No, we haven't. I don't know. The timing hasn't been right." </em><br />
<br />
<em>Eliza burst out laughing almost spitting her water out on the table. "Ava, there's never not a good time to do it." </em><br />
<br />
<em>"Yeah, says the lady with a baby and another on the way" Vero cracked grinning at her friend. </em><br />
<br />
<br />
Though it had been embarrassing at the time, I wondered if they were both right. Maybe I should be the first one to make a move. Afterall, we had come so close to blessing my couch with what I anticipated to be amazing sex and yet it still hadn't happened. Somehow one of us always found a way to pull back and put the brakes on or the timing just wasn't quite right. Or, maybe he was just being considerate. If I wasn't putting myself out there enough then how would he know that I wanted him to continue? Maybe it was me putting out the mixed signals.<br />
<br />
Over the past few weeks, I had slowly started to learn that maybe not every man was like Peter or had to eventually morph into him. So far Geno had been nothing but sweet and caring and it was definitely treatment that I was growing accustomed to after my last relationship debacle. He called when he said that he would, he listened to me when I spoke and his slow, deep kisses were enough to make my brain turn into mush. That giddy infatuated feeling that I wasn't sure I had ever felt for anyone seemed to resonate in my brain most days. All because of a goofy hockey player whose english was slowly making progress and who was proving to be a rare thing in life: a dependable, <em>good</em> man. Emphasis on the 'man' part. <br />
<br />
After lacking real romance in my life for so long, I appreciated his phone calls and little text messages more than most girls probably would. I wasn't that girl either. I had never been sappy or overly sentimental about relationships and feelings. I knew not to have high expectations in relationships but more and more I found myself wondering if it was really all that bad. Even if his main goal was to get in my pants, as far as I was concerned, he was doing all of the right things so far that I wouldn't have any objections when the time finally was right. <br />
<br />
As if the universe was listening to my thoughts, my phone vibrated next to me with the arrival of a new message. <br />
<br />
<em>Dinner tonight? I will cook.</em><br />
<br />
He wanted to cook for me? I thought about making some kind of joke about him only knowing how to make borscht or get takeout food but decided against it. I was too curious to see if he was serious or not. <br />
<br />
<em>You want to cook dinner? If you cook, then I buy the groceries. </em><br />
<br />
I waited anxiously for his reply then realized that I was almost 24 years old and waiting around the phone like a little girl waiting for her crush to call. Which I guess I was at this point- sadly. <br />
<br />
<em>No, just come to my house. I worry about food.</em><br />
<br />
My eyebrows shot up in response to his invite. He always came to my apartment and half of the time I forgot that he even had his own place to stay at. My gut instinct told me that this was a good sign and I couldn't deny that the idea of him wanting to cook for me and actually doing it was kind of sexy. Plus, this way I would get to see him interacting within his territory. <br />
<br />
Before I could answer him again, he shot me another text with his address and told me to be there around 7. How on earth was I supposed to concentrate for the rest of the day when what I would actually be doing is wondering about the night ahead? <br />
<br />
Since my concentration was officially shot, I tried to distract myself with more work until 5 when I really couldn't take it anymore and left to head back and get ready at my apartment for awhile. If we were just going to be at his apartment for awhile then I didn't want to be too dressy but I still wanted to look nice. Especially if tonight would be the night when we finally stepped over the pre-established boundaries together. <br />
<br />
After all of this hype, I was pretty much dying to get my hands on him again. I opted for casual but sexy and slipped into jeans and a black sweater with one of my sexiest bras on underneath just in case I needed an extra confidence booster. <br />
<br />
Since my hair refused to lay flat for me, I threw my normally straight, dark locks up into rollers. If he didn't eventually appreciate how much effort I was putting into this, then I was officially going to give up men. <br />
<br />
I was just about to put the second coat of pink nailpolish on my toes when I remembered that I had completely forgotten to pick up my mail for the day. After pulling the rollers out of my hair, I slid into some flip flops and grabbed my keys heading out into the hallway to the elevator in my building. The lobby was quiet and I greeted the old guard keeping watch at his desk. Most of my mail was bills and I was reminded for about the thousandth time how much being an adult really sucked.<br />
<br />
I was about to pass through and head back upstairs to my apartment when I thought I heard someone say my name. I looked back and saw an extremely thin woman standing at the guard's desk, long, ice blonde hair preventing me from seeing her entire face. <br />
<br />
As if she knew that I was there, she turned and met my eyes, slowly scrutinizing my appearance from the tips of my hair roots to the tips of my toes. I had never seen her before in my life but then again I wasn't sure if I really wanted to meet her either. She looked about as icy as the blonde color of her hair and twice as shrewd. I wouldn't miss the intelligence in her eyes but I wouldn't find warmth there either. <br />
<br />
After another long moment she turned without saying a word to me and walked through the revolving doors of the lobby. <br />
<br />
"Did you know her?" the guard asked looking between me and the doors again. <br />
<br />
She certainly seemed to know me but I sure as hell didn't know her from anywhere. Since she looked skinny, I knew that I probably didn't have to worry about her trying to jump me in an alley in Pittsburgh. <br />
<br />
"I don't know" I replied deciding that there were more important things to worry about than a random skinny, ass bitch staring at me in the lobby of my apartment building. Knowing my luck, she was probably another one of Peter's throw away dolls looking to stir up trouble. There had been a few times in the past when random crazy girls that Peter had met in clubs followed me and tried to get a rise out of me so that I would leave him. Now in retrospect, I wasn't sure what I was more angry about- the fact that Peter was going out to clubs and meeting all of these girls without me, or the fact that they actually thought that he was some kind of catch. <br />
<br />
Leaving the crazy behind me, I quickly finished getting ready and slipped into my shoes and coat preparing myself to leave for the night I had been so excited about. His directions were simple and surprisingly the neighboring suburb he directed me to was within easy access to downtown Pittsburgh. His street was secluded and I almost missed the turn off because it was so heavily shaded by large trees. <br />
<br />
After finally driving down the long road that was actually his driveway, I pulled up in front of a large, gothic style brick home with lights decorating the path that lead to the front door. There was evidence that petunias had once lined the sidewalk also but were now only sad remains thanks to the cold, Pittsburgh winter. <br />
<br />
Before I could officially knock on the door, it opened revealing Geno dressed in sweats and a t-shirt with a somewhat wet and dirty kitchen towel draped around his neck. <br />
<br />
"Hey" he greeted pulling me inside by the hand and shutting the door behind us. Before I could see past him into the rest of the house, his lips covered mine in another one of those slow, deep kisses that I had been daydreaming about all day at work. <br />
<br />
"That was a nice welcome" I told him when he finally let me up for air. His chocolatey brown eyes smiled down at me in response and taking my hand, he led me through the foyer pointing out different rooms on the first floor. <br />
<br />
His house was pretty and warm with an obvious woman's touch in the decorating. I assumed it was his mother and the idea of him pouring over paints and fabric swatches made me smile. <br />
<br />
"So what did you make?" I asked taking in the sight of his extremely messy kitchen. He smelled like tomato sauce and there was a pot of boiling water on the stove. <br />
<br />
Instead of answering me, he trapped me against the countertop with his arms and pushed my heavy curls off of my shoulder exposing part of my neck. He mumbled something foreign against my skin before letting his lips trail up to the soft patch of skin beneath my ear. If he kept this up, then I wasn't going to be hungry for just food anymore. <br />
<br />
I stopped him ignoring his groan of displeasure and internally promising him that that was the last time I would say "no" to anything for the rest of the night. I helped him finish making up dinner by cutting up vegetables for salad while he finished up with the noodles and sauce. Together we watched TV and sat comfortably on the couch fighting over the remote and slurping up noodles from each other's plates. He had the annoying habit of always eating his food quickly and then transferring his fork over to my plate often stealing bites when I wasn't looking. <br />
<br />
"So, dinner was good?" he asked looking up at me from where he was loading the dishes into the dishwasher. <br />
<br />
"Yes," I smiled. "Very good." <br />
<br />
Everything was so simple and perfect that I knew that the timing was officially perfect between us. We were alone and secluded in his house, it was a Friday night where I didn't have work in the morning and he didn't have a game until Sunday. Suddenly there was nothing stopping us from giving in to the feelings I knew that we both had for each other. <br />
<br />
I was so ready to forget my past mockery of a relationship and start something fresh and new with someone else that I shooed him off to go wait in the living room while I finished up in the kitchen. He had made me dinner so the least I could do was the dishes. Then spend the rest of the night thanking him in other ways. <br />
<br />
Once I heard that he had settled in the TV room, I snuck off into the bathroom off from the kitchen to freshen up and strip down into my bra and underwear. I wasn't normally this forward but wasn't it time in my life to let go a little bit and place my trust in someone else's hands? Besides, I was pretty sure that he would appreciate the surprise and the fact that I had just made the issue of clothing a lot easier for both of us. <br />
<br />
Tip-toeing back out into the kitchen, I only made it as far as the kitchen island when I froze after hearing a voice that was definitely not Geno's. I almost believed that it had been a fluke and that I was going insane when I heard the voice again, slightly raised now with Geno's low voice responding. <br />
<br />
As I snuck closer, I realized that it was a woman's voice and that they were speaking in Russian. The woman raised her voice and I knew that I had just walked in on some sort of argument even though I couldn't understand what they were arguing about. So many questions were buzzing in my mind that I didn't have enough time to react before the unmistakable slap of heels pounded into the kitchen before I could duck away and escape in my underwear clad shame. <br />
<br />
I couldn't speak. I was so shocked to see the same blonde woman from my apartment lobby staring at me in obvious disgust and disapproval. She shouted something back at Geno who walked into the kitchen looking at my barely clad body in confusion. He didn't know that I had been about to surprise him when apparently she showed up. <br />
<br />
He moved to step in front of me and I wanted to die I was so embarrassed that something was happening that I didn't understand and that I was mostly naked for all of it. <br />
<br />
"What's going on?" I asked him. "Why were you in my apartment building?" I asked the blonde woman. Alarm bells were going off in my head even though I couldn't figure out why they were going off. <br />
<br />
"Who's this bitch?" The woman spit out staring at me like I was some kind of prostitute. "Are you just another one of his fucks?" <br />
<br />
<em>"What?</em>" I asked, my hand itching to slap her pointed cheekbones. "Who the hell is this Geno?" <br />
<br />
He looked as miserable as I felt and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. <br />
<br />
"I'm his <em>girlfriend</em> you slut" blondie replied. I felt my heart stop and hover as if it was suspended in the air waiting for it's next cue to continue beating. <br />
<br />
"Girlfriend?" She couldn't be. I had known him for months, spent so much time with him. There was no way that he had a girlfriend that I didn't know about. Damn it, I <em>knew</em> him. He wouldn't do this. <br />
<br />
"Tell me that this isn't your girlfriend" I turned willing him to face me- tell me that she was insane and crazy and a stalker from Russia that he didn't actually know. <br />
<br />
"Who do you think I am? I'm on the internet with him all of the time, idiot" she barked again crossing her arms over her chest. <br />
<br />
"Oksana," Geno stepped in finally saying something. "Stop." <br />
<br />
I felt my heart crack even more at the sound of her name. I had heard that name before and had never thought anything of it. It was just a name afterall. Well hearing the name and meeting the person were turning out to be two very different experiences. <br />
<br />
"Tell me that she's lying" I told him again. If he didn't say <em>something</em> I was going to fall apart in front of both of them. With every passing second, I felt myself losing more and more faith in him and in part- losing little bits of myself that I had struggled to put back in their rightful places. <br />
<br />
"Oh god, you are so stupid" Oksana said again turning on her heels and heading back into the living room. <br />
<br />
"<em>Tell me.</em>" I demanded staring at him straight in the eye. I was past dignity at this point. <br />
<br />
"It's not what you think" he began reaching out to hold me in place. My arms burned from his touch but not out of desire. <br />
<br />
"Don't touch me" I growled pulling myself away from him. "Are you still dating her and seeing me on the side?" <br />
<br />
He didn't answer and that was everything that I needed to know. I stormed past him struggling to break away from his arms trying to pull me back without letting the tears fall freely down my face. <br />
<br />
"Damn it, I said don't touch me!" He wouldn't let me go and kept opening and closing his mouth trying to will words out of his mouth. As far as I was concerned, if he had anything to say, he could have said it by now. I knew better than anyone that contrary to popular belief, he did have a firm grip on the English language. <br />
<br />
Without saying another word, I grabbed my clothes making sure to lock the door in the bathroom so that I could slip them on and get out of there. <br />
<br />
"Ava" he repeated standing outside of the door. "Please listen, I explain." He wasn't even talking in full sentences and somehow his accent had thickened even more. <br />
<br />
Without second guessing my actions, I muscled past him and through the house to the front door. Stepping out into the cold air felt like a slap to my body. He didn't try to stop me beyond that point and I slammed the car into gear reversing and driving away as quickly as possible. <br />
<br />
When I looked down, I realized that in my rush I had only put on my pants and shoes, leaving my entire top half exposed. That was the trigger to let all of my emotions loose. Not only had I just been completely played by him for the past couple of months but now I would have to walk back into my apartment building looking like this. <br />
<br />
I was such a fool. Such a fucking, idiot fool.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-75962083856248176982010-04-06T00:47:00.000-04:002010-04-06T00:47:21.309-04:00Chapter 12- A Soft Landing<em>Thanks for sticking with me guys, I'm trying to update more frequently but I have writer's block for my Sid story so badly right now. I know what I want to say but every time I go to sit down, I can't make anything happen. So I'm going to update this story instead and hopefully feel inspired again. </em><br />
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<em>This chapter's a little short but I needed to transition a little bit for what's coming up next. Short's better than nothing though, right? :) </em><br />
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Staring at my now yellow wall, I decided that maybe it wasn't half bad. It was certainly yellow enough and after initial apprehension, I was getting used to it.<br />
<br />
Originally after Geno and I had slapped up all of the yellow on the walls, I felt like running back to Lowe's and breaking in just so that I could paint the walls white again but now that I had looked at it for awhile, it didn't seem so bad. <br />
<br />
"I like it" I told him for the 10th time as we sat resting on the couch. His arm rhythmically stroked mine absently as we huddled on the couch in quiet exhaustion. <br />
<br />
"You didn't like wall 5 minutes ago" he said eyeing me in apprehension. It was true, 5 minutes ago we were fighting because I yelled at him for rushing me into a decision. <br />
<br />
"Well, I changed my mind again" I told him trying not to feel defensive about it. They were <em>my</em> walls and it was <em>my </em>apartment. It was my perogative to change my mind several times if the end result was my satisfaction. <br />
<br />
"Are you done then?" he asked stretching his long legs out in front of him and yawning. It was extremely late, almost 3am, and yet he had stayed- even helping me to clean up and make sure all the lids were back on the paint cans nice and tight. <br />
<br />
"I think so. I'll paint the bedroom myself later. I think we should stop for the night since it's so late." <br />
<br />
"Mmm. Yeah. Late" he mumbled, eyes closed as he settled back against the cushions of my couch. With his eyes closed, I was able to watch him without him turning to me with his usual smirk or amused grin. Flecks of paint spotted his dark hair and there was a smudge on his cheek that I was dying to rub off. Now that I knew what his hair felt like, my hands were itching to brush the strands away from his forehead and back into place. <br />
<br />
After everything that had transpired tonight, I didn't know what was happening to us, much less myself. Was I starting to develop real, important feelings for the big russian occupying 3/4ths of my sofa right now? I couldn't say yes for sure but it was getting harder and harder for me to outright say no. <br />
<br />
I settled back in silence against his arm and began to drift off into sleep when I remembered again how late it was again. Unless we both wanted sore necks in the morning, we needed to lay down in an actual horizontal position. <br />
"Geno?" I couldn't will myself to open my eyes but I knew that he should go. <br />
<br />
"Hmm?" he mumbled, tightening his arm around my shoulders and causing me to slide closer to his warmth. <br />
<br />
"We should go to bed" I told him deciding that I was going to open my eyes on the count of 3. <br />
<br />
<em>One.</em> "Okay, we sleep here" he mumbled. <br />
<br />
<em>Two.</em> "We can't. Our necks will hurt in the morning." I was failing at the whole opening my eyes thing. He was just so warm that it made it hard to care about how my body would feel in the morning. Right now it all felt so nice. <br />
<br />
<em>Three.</em> "Okay, I will go" he said stifling a yawn with his hand and untangling himself from around my body. <br />
<br />
Blearily opening my eyes, I realized that there was no way that he was going to be able to drive home tonight. He could barely keep his eyes focused on me and we sat dumbly eyeing each other as I internally struggled over what to do. <em>Should I ask him to stay?</em> <br />
<br />
"Do you want to stay?" I knew that I didn't want him to go if he couldn't drive safely. Partly I wanted him to stay for selfish reasons also. <br />
<br />
"You let me stay? Here?" Obviously he was just as confused by my offer as I was. Why was I suddenly willing to let someone in and let them stay the night? Even under practically platonic conditions? We weren't even having sex and yet I was worried about his well-being. By letting him stay, I knew that I was opening myself up to a new host of vulnerabilities. Did this mean that I was welcoming and accepting the fact that we were on our way to having a real, intimate relationship? After I had just let go of another one? <br />
<br />
"Yes" I replied watching the sleepy grin bloom on his face. Even when he was tired he managed to mock me with that gaze of his. "But I'll get you a blanket and a pillow- for the <em>couch.</em>" <br />
<br />
He looked considerably less pleased with this option but grateful nonetheless. Turning I reminded him of where the bathroom was so that he could get ready to sleep while I went to change into my pajamas and dig up extra linens for him. <br />
<br />
When I returned, he was already stripped down to his boxers and undershirt waiting patiently for me and looking half-asleep on his feet. I felt my blood begin to hum again as I took in the sight of him without all of the layers of restrictive clothing in the way. I had never been one for guys as lanky as he was but he somehow managed to pull it off with his lithe muscles and height. <br />
<br />
"Here's a pillow and a blanket" I told him suddenly feeling self-conscious in my pajamas under his gaze. The matching cami and shorts were modest but under his gaze I felt exposed like he could see more to me than just fabric and skin. <br />
<br />
"Thanks" he nodded. At a loss to what to do, I stepped past him and set the pillow and blanket down on the couch, intending to head off to my bed and sleep off the sudden, intense desire that I was feeling for him. I turned intending to give him a quick goodnight but was startled when I realized that he had moved right behind me, effectively blocking any hope for escape. <br />
<br />
"Geno-" my warning was cut off as he hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me close enough for his lips to transcend and nibble on the skin of my neck. I wanted to tell him no but what could I do when my body was responding on its own and obviously telling him yes? <br />
<br />
As we stood pressed, chest to chest, I could feel my body straining for his and becoming more aroused with every flick of his tongue against my skin. When his mouth finally claimed mine, it was all I could do not to sigh in satisfaction against his lips. Lord knows he didn't need even more motivation to continue kissing me. <br />
<br />
"We should stop" I said pulling my face back and taking a quick gulp of air. It wasn't that I really wanted to stop kissing him but if and when we finally took the next step, I wanted to be awake for what I predicted would be a memorable time. <br />
<br />
He groaned in annoyance but took a step back giving me a kiss on the cheek as a chaste goodnight. I double-checked the lock on the door as per my nightly ritual and then quickly walked past him and into the safe confines of my bedroom. <br />
<br />
Luckily I was too tired to stay up for long and quickly fell asleep trying not to think or dream about the man over in the next room.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-51857890045471433222010-03-21T22:20:00.000-04:002010-03-21T22:20:41.358-04:00Chapter 11- Better Slap Some Paint on it<em>As promised, a double feature tonight! Don't get used to it :) :) And thanks for your support as always. Especially Jay. I have to do a shoutout to you tonight because you faithfully review and your praise makes me happy! Thank you!!!!</em><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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"You brought me to Lowes?" This was it. I was officially stunned into silence from here on out. He had just kissed me into submission 20 minutes ago and all for this. All to be brought to a home improvement store. Or in my case, an apartment improvement store. <br />
<br />
"Why did you bring me <em>here</em> of all places?" I couldn't lie about this either: I really thought that he was going to take me back to his place. I was undeniably so into him tonight and fully ready to go prove that to him but not here. Not at a home improvement store. <br />
<br />
"Trust me" was all he said as he climbed out of the car and left me sitting alone feeling stupid. <em>Trust him?</em> What could possibly be at a Lowes that we needed? Was he going to build something? Fix a drain? <em>What?</em> <br />
<br />
"Come on" he said laughing at me again as he opened my door. He even leaned over chuckling to unbuckle my seatbelt when I finally got my wits back and slapped his hand away from me. <br />
<br />
"Now you let me be gentleman and open door for you" he commented sidestepping me and anticipating the other swat he was about to receive. He pulled me into his side and shut the door behind me, still keeping his arm snugly around my waist as he led me inside. There was hardly anyone inside as we entered since it was a Friday night and people don't usually go to Lowes on a date. As soon as we entered the store he led me through the store like he knew exactly what he was looking for. <br />
<br />
"Seriously, what are we doing?" I asked again trying helplessly to figure him out. Who was I kidding, I never understood Geno. What was going to make tonight any different? <em>Especially right now?</em> <br />
<br />
He stopped in the paint aisle and led me over to the selection without saying a word. Then he paused and looked at me expectantly. What did he want? I didn't understand why we had come here of all places. His eyes were glowing with mischief as he watched the pieces come together in my head. I remembered the way he had stared at the paint samples taped up on my wall and it dawned on me. <br />
<br />
"Did you bring me here to pick out <em>paint??</em>" <br />
<br />
He nodded and I heard him chuckle as he pulled me closer to the selections. "But I don't have any of the samples from my apartment here!" I protested already feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of having to make a decision tonight. Because that's what it was wasn't it? He was going to make me do this. <br />
<br />
"I brought them" he said simply, with the same confidence a man might have if he figured out all of the world's problems. To my astonishment, he pulled the paint samples out from his back pants pocket where they had been hiding this entire time. <br />
<br />
"You took my samples!" The anger seeped into my accusation as I viewed what was my stolen property in his hands. "You can't just take someone's paint samples from them! And <em>stop</em> laughing at me" I said dangerously close to stomping my high heeled foot onto the concrete floor just to make my point that much more clear. <br />
<br />
Instead of chuckling again like I expected him to, he grabbed the hand that he was still holding and laid a kiss onto my open palm. "Come on. Don't be mad. Just try. I help you."<br />
<br />
I looked at him sharply and he corrected his grammar. "I <em>will</em> help you" he emphasized again. <br />
<br />
I sighed and looked down at the paint swatches he had placed in the same hand he had just kissed. "Fine" I said examining an egg-shell white that had caught my eye. <br />
<br />
"Not white" Geno argued snapping it out of my hands before I could stop him. "It is too white." <br />
<br />
"It's not white exactly" I complained trying to take it back from him. "It's eggshell." <br />
<br />
His nose wrinkled in disgust and confusion. Who was I kidding, he didn't know eggshell from ivory. <br />
<br />
"This is better" he said pointing to a creamy yellow that I had also picked out but was originally unsure of. Yellow, even if it was creamy, was just too <em>yellow.</em> <br />
<br />
"You like this one? Seriously?" If I had suggested to Peter that I wanted to paint a room of our apartment yellow, he would have laughed at me and my suggestion. <em>"Yellow's the color of a child's room" </em>he would say. I shook off the familiar bad feeling I got when I thought of Peter and focused on the task at hand. He was gone from my life and there was no need for him to keep popping up like that. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, why not?" he responded. I smiled shaking my head at him. Geno would view painting a room as a simple task. For some reason it just didn't carry the same weight in his mind that it did in mine. But maybe he was right. What was the big deal. If I hated it, I could always change it. Wasn't the choice to change part of my newfound freedom in Pittsburgh? Something like that. <br />
<br />
I looked down at the color again and decided that I didn't hate it. It would actually look better in my bedroom though which also needed a good splash of paint. <br />
<br />
"What about this color for the living room instead?" I asked showing him a mossy green that had caught my eye. He leaned over to look at it and nodded his approval. Our heads were close again and our eyes met, contrasting blue on brown. <br />
<br />
"I like it" he said, eyes still resting on mine. I broke the eye contact first, looking back down at the green. It took me a minute to get the brown of his eyes out of my vision so that I could look at the green again. <br />
<br />
We looked at other colors for awhile until the loudspeaker announced that Lowes would be closing in half an hour. The poor kid who worked at the paint mixing station looked annoyed with us as we pretended to seriously consider painting my kitchen a hot pink. <br />
<br />
"Very female. Very you" Geno teased again smiling at how hard he was making me laugh. He full on knew that I was not a hot pink kind of girl. <br />
<br />
"Okay, okay stop" I said grabbing the swatches from him and putting them back where they belonged. "Do you really think I should get these?" I asked again looking at the three colors I had managed to settle on. <br />
<br />
He rolled his eyes in response and grabbed them from my hands. "Yes, now go" he said directing me to the paint mixing station. The kid who had had nothing better to do but watch us for the past half hour instantly started to get to work. <br />
<br />
"How do you know so much about picking out paint?" I asked curiously. The whole time we had been here he had been so patient and had actually suggested good ideas when he wasn't trying to convince me that pink was 'my color.' <br />
<br />
"I have a house. I couldn't let my mother pick out everything" he shrugged. <br />
<br />
I nodded trying not to let on that I was too curious about his place. Still I wondered what it looked like, especially since he had decorated it. My mind wandered and I wondered what his bedroom looked like. Even though I internally scolded myself for letting my mind wander there, I couldn't help it. He had done all of the right things tonight to make this truly a memorable date. It was amazing to think that two weeks ago, I would have kicked myself for even having these thoughts but what was I supposed to do? This had been the most fun, considerate date that I had been on in a <em>looong</em> time. Extra emphasis on the long time part. <br />
<br />
I couldn't help it at this point if he was making me want to jump him in the middle of a home improvement store with a pimply teenager looking on at us. Especially the way his hand was innocently rubbing my back right now. I wasn't even sure if he noticed that he was doing it but he was rhythmically and innocently rubbing my back while we waited for the paint to be finished so that we could leave. <br />
<br />
I endured the torture because it did feel nice and waited in comfortable silence with him. When we had everything we needed, I paid and we both dragged the three cans of paint out to his car, the only ones still left in the parking lot besides the tired workers. <br />
<br />
"Thanks" I said a second time as he helped me back into my apartment and set the cans down on the floor for me. "I had a really nice time" I told him feeling suddenly shy. Because it had been awhile since I had gone out with a man, I didn't know what to do next. Kiss him and send him on his way? That's what I should do, but didn't want to do. <br />
<br />
Geno solved the problem for me by leaning down to capture my lips with his in a searing kiss that made my toes curl as much as they could in the confines of my heels. He groaned when I pulled him closer to me with my hands on his shoulders, feeling each contour of muscle beneath my palms. He responded by pulling my hips to his so that the lines of our bodies aligned eliminating all air between us. He changed the angle of the kiss and I allowed him better access to my mouth as our tongues met, performing a waltz all on their own. <br />
<br />
"Couch" I heard myself say even though we had already started to migrate in the direction of furniture. My body was on auto pilot as I fell backward onto the couch allowing Geno to cover me as much as he could in our awkward position. His mouth settled on the pulse point of my neck as I panted loudly and tried to twist so that I could adjust our position so that we were laying down. I felt like I was running a race and he had already caught up to me dragging me over the hurdles with him. <br />
<br />
My hands scraped over his scalp with my nails feeling his soft hair between my hands as he hit exactly the right spot beneath my left ear. He growled slightly when I kicked off my shoes and rubbed my foot along his long calf, silently begging him to continue. I didn't know where this sex-kitten attitude had come from but he wasn't complaining as he kissed me with renewed vigor, pressing the evidence of his arousal into my stomach. <br />
<br />
I wiggled eliciting another groan from him before he raised himself up so that I could sit up slightly. I blew some of the hair out of my eyes and groaned when I couldn't get the zipper of my dress down. He grinned devilishly once he realized what I was trying to do and covered my hands with his own taking care of it for me. The cool air and fabric of the couch hit my back as he pressed me back down nibbling lightly on my ear. Now that I was free of the zipper, I wanted him to take the hint and touch me already. If he didn't touch me I was going to explode. <br />
<br />
He slid one of the straps down my shoulder taking his time and smiling when I tried to hurry the process along. I wiggled out of the other strap and arched upward against his chest, desperate to feel him against my skin. Within seconds his shirt was gone and the rest of my dress was off leaving me only in my bra and panties. The feel of his calloused hands on my breasts made me outright moan. He knew the exact amount of pressure to apply as he cupped and kneaded them, terminating all of my nerve endings for good. <br />
<br />
His mouth led me to the edge where I was ready to jump with him, too far gone to think about consequences at this point. His thigh was between my legs already aligning me into the position his body needed when a phone began to buzz somewhere in the pile of clothes next to the couch. I froze trying to discern if it was his phone or mine and realized that I didn't recognize the ring tone. <br />
<br />
Geno's eyes widened and he leaned over me to check the caller ID. <br />
<br />
"Is everything okay?" I said trying to get my breathing under control. He didn't answer the phone but he didn't put it down either. "You can answer if you have to get that" I told him wondering if it was an emergency. <br />
<br />
"No, it's okay" he told me hitting the ignore call button. My heart was still racing but had slowed down somewhat over the past 30 seconds and I had begun to re-gain my wits. I watched him quickly text on his phone while I discretely looked for something to cover my top half with. I grabbed his shirt off of my own pile of clothing and slid my arms through it, grateful that my breasts were at least covered up now. My bra had been discarded somewhere behind me but with Geno still holding me in place, I couldn't exactly get up and start rummaging around for it. <br />
<br />
"Um, can I get up?" I asked already trying to untangle our legs so that I could stand up. My knees felt weak as I walked away from the couch and into the kitchen for a glass of water. I hadn't looked at his face as I walked away too nervous to see if he was watching me or not. I gulped down some luke-warm tap water, not even bothering with the brita filter in the fridge. I took another deep breath trying to calm myself down when two arms enclosed around my body from behind successfully trapping me. <br />
<br />
His lips met my shoulder as he pushed the hair off my shoulder making room for his mouth. "Sorry" he mumbled against my skin and sliding me into his body. He took a step back then and looked me over in his shirt. <br />
<br />
"I like it" he said gesturing to my outfit- or lack thereof. The comment made me blush even though he had already basically seen me naked and we had been on our way to a whole lot more if his phone hadn't rang. <br />
<br />
"Is everything okay?" I asked when what I really wanted to know was <em>who</em> was it. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, it was a friend" he answered. I offered him a drink of my water and wondered how I was going to get him back on the couch with me so that we could pick up where we left off. <br />
<br />
Instead he surprised me by taking another big gulp of water and setting the glass down in the sink. <br />
"So," I began trying not to embarrass myself. <br />
<br />
"Do you want to see the paint?" he asked completely throwing me off guard. He wanted to look at paint now? At my look of confusion he smiled sheepishly and added, "want to see what it looks like on wall?" <br />
<br />
He seriously wanted to paint right now? I was basically naked and willing for him and he wanted to paint? I watched him grab a knife from the kitchen and walk, still shirtless back into my living room. He then bent over one of the paint cans that we had left by the door when we first entered and proceeded to start opening up the lid. <br />
<br />
I was too baffled to do anything but stand speechless and watch him, wondering what the hell had just happened to both of us. <br />
<br />
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<em>Hopefully I can update again soon! I have so many plans for these two that I'm excited :) </em>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-6229821265933606612010-03-21T16:54:00.000-04:002010-03-21T16:54:58.565-04:00Chapter 10- Dropping the Question<em>Huh. It's kind of been awhile....sorry :) To show that I'm sorry, I produced a monster chapter. </em><br />
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<em>Also, I'm sorry to anyone out there that does know Russian. I had to use google translate in this chapter. heh. </em><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<em>"Just don't let other man touch you." </em><br />
<br />
I frowned again tucking a strand of hair back into place as I slid into a pair of heels. Why was I even getting dressed up for a guy who made demands like that? It was ridiculous. It was old-fashioned. It was sexist. <br />
<br />
So why was I putting on a dress that I had gone out frantically searching for last minute this afternoon and checking my hair for a 2nd time?<br />
Worst of all, I couldn't deny that I had been slightly turned on by his demand as he made it and then arrogantly walked back down the hallway and away from me and my hotel room. After that night, I spent the rest of my time in D.C. avoiding him at all costs. The only other contact we had all weekend was when he spoke to reporters after the game and I had watched from a safe distance away just to make sure that it went smoothly. <br />
<br />
I thought he had forgotten about his invitation until this afternoon when he had stopped by my office asking if 6 was a good time for him to pick me up. I was astonished that he even had the nerve to ask- especially when he hadn't really asked me again in the first place. He had just popped over, assuming that I would say yes and fall into his arms. <br />
<br />
As much as I wanted to be annoyed by all of this, part of me was curious. I couldn't deny that there was an attraction between the two of us. Especially after the way that I responded to him each time he kissed me. I would definitely be lying if I said that I didn't like it or that he didn't make me feel something interesting. But just because I was attracted to the big lug didn't make the fact that I was getting all dolled up for him any more logical. <br />
<br />
In fact, I think it only made this situation ten times more embarrassing. <br />
<br />
I heard the buzzer ring and I quickly adjusted the navy blue dress I was wearing so that everything was tucked away as it should be. It wasn't a short dress but it wasn't long either, stopping at an inch or two above my knee. What I was more concerned about was the cleavage that I had on display tonight. I had chosen to wear my hair all down so that the length of it could cover me a little bit in case my insecurity kicked in at some point during the night and I necessitated backup. <br />
<br />
When I opened the door, Geno was standing sheepishly in the doorway and holding a Lily. He grinned easily and I felt my heart stutter in surprise. <em>He had brought me a flower?</em> <br />
<br />
"Here" he said passing the lone flower to me and taking in my appearance. My heart bumped slightly from the gesture settling on a slow beat as I registered how sweet it was. How nice it was to be brought something so simple as a flower. I hadn't been given flowers let alone one flower in a long time. The showy displays that Peter tried to send as an "I'm sorry" gesture didn't count for anything like this somehow did. <br />
<br />
"Thanks" I said leaning up to kiss his cheek. I moved to step back and found myself caught by a strong hand on my lower back, holding me in place. In my heels, my eyes were at the same level as his mouth and I found myself staring at his lips, feeling tingly all over from the feel of his hand on my back and the memory of our kiss the previous weekend. <br />
<br />
"You're welcome" he said still holding me in place but not making a move. Part of me wished that if he was going to torture me, he would make up his mind and just do something already. I had gotten that breathless, woozy feeling again just from confusion and waiting in anticipation for his next move. <br />
<br />
Surprisngly, and to my slight disappointment, he let go of me and stepped back, abruptly leaving me to stand on my own again. <br />
<br />
"Ready to go?" he asked, his dark brown eyes boring into mine. <br />
<br />
"Sure" I forced myself to say. He was making me nervous the way he just keep looking at me. Like he had never seen me before. "I'm just going to put this in water real quick and then we can leave." I walked off leaving him to look around the apartment while I calmed my pulse down and located a small vase. <br />
<br />
If this was any indication for how the rest of the night was going to go, then my glands, which had suddenly decided to act like teenagers, were in for a hell of a night. <br />
<br />
I put the flower in a slim vase and placed it on the mantle next to my faux, electric fireplace. It was one of my favorite details about the apartment. When I turned, he was standing close to the few framed photos I actually kept out of boxes and on display on top of a small table next to the couch. <br />
<br />
A few of them were simple, silly photos of friends from college and happier, easier times before college kicked my ass out into the real world. Most of my other photos were tucked away and couldn't be put out thanks to the presence of Peter in all of them. <br />
<br />
I watched as Geno picked up one in particular of me as a little girl smiling broadly with a missing tooth and pigtails with my parents settled happily behind me. It had been taken when I was 6, a year or two before the accident and I either smiled or felt like crying when I looked at it. <br />
<br />
"Ready to go?" I wanted to escape without him asking any questions and get on with the night. Maybe kiss him too. Whatever happened- I just didn't want to be here anymore. Suddenly having him in the apartment for too long felt too personal. I still hadn't gotten around to painting either and the bare white walls felt suffocating and like a mirror image of myself. White and empty. <br />
<br />
"Yeah" he finally asnwered setting the photo down and turning to face me. His eyes settled on something behind me and he frowned in confusion. "What's that?" <br />
<br />
He was already moving past me and striding towards the wall behind me that partially separated the kitchen from the living room. My eyes landed on the Lowe's paint samples that I had taped up to the wall but still hadn't decided on. It was embarrassing that I was this indecisive about finally picking a color for my damn apartment but everytime I tried to make up my mind, I couldn't do it.<br />
<br />
"Oh" I said trying to shrug it off like it was no big deal, "those are just my color options."<br />
<br />
"I don't understand" he said looking to me for some kind of answer.<br />
<br />
"I've been trying to decide what colors to paint my apartment" I clarified feeling more and more embarrassed as the look of understanding passed over his face.<br />
<br />
"Why haven't you picked one yet?" he asked. Hell, if I knew the answer to that, I would have gladly told him. Too bad I had nothing. No logical explanation for why I just couldn't decide.<br />
<br />
I shrugged instead feeling awkward. He looked <em>so </em>male in my living room examining the colors with female accents surrounding him in the room.<br />
<br />
I turned and grabbed my coat off the back of the couch where it had been waiting and shrugged it on hoping he'd take the hint. He was making me start to regret agreeing to this.<br />
<br />
Without another word, he gave me the lopsided grin that I was used to and took my hand leading me out the door. Somehow it had escaped my notice that the paint samples were no longer on the wall behind us.<br />
<br />
He opened the door of his car for me and helped me get seated in the snazzy little sportscar. It was different from the other car that I had seen him drive and I assumed that this was his sexy car. All guys, especially young guys with some amount of power, had that one car that they thought made them hotter. It was the modern day way of displaying the extent of their manhood only in car form.<br />
<br />
The idea of it all made me smile and when he jogged around to the other side and was seated beside me, he noticed. "What's funny?"<br />
<br />
"Nothing" I said turning so that he couldn't see my secret smile. "So where are we going?" I asked trying not to sound too eager. Curious maybe, but not eager.<br />
<br />
"To eat" he said purposely trying to put off his answer. He was smiling though too so I knew that it couldn't be that bad.<br />
<br />
"I know that we're going to eat. But where are we going to eat?" I was partly curious because I wanted to see what kind of environment he would take me too. Would it be showy and expensive or low key like that bar he had dragged me to the first time? Would it be crowded or secluded? He was a Pittsburgh celebrity too so would we really be able to go anywhere without him getting hassled?<br />
<br />
"You'll see" was the only answer he gave me as we pulled out onto the darkened city streets.<br />
<br />
After a few minutes of driving in relative silence, I couldn't handle the lack of noise and reached over to start fiddling with his radio stations. I couldn't decide on one song and flipped through not even noticing his grunt of disapproval.<br />
<br />
"You pick one and you listen to it" he said reaching over and stilling my hand. Keeping his eyes on the road, he kept my hand in his and rested them on the center console, ignoring my stare between his profile and our joined hands. When I realized that he had no plans to let go, I forced myself to relax and go with the flow. It wasn't even real hand holding if you thought about it. More like hand holding with a purpose.<br />
<br />
I couldn't recognize the streets anymore and wondered where the hell he was taking me for the 4th time since we had gotten into the car 15 minutes before. We finally stopped in front of a long line of connected row houses in what was an old neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. It reminded me of Brooklyn a little bit because of the old-quality charm it held. The name painted onto the window was red and in a language that I didn't understand. Beneath it it read "Yuri's." <br />
<br />
"Is this where we're going?" I asked. He parallel parked the car with ease and let go of my hand to get out of the car. I was already out of the car before he could open the door for me because I was growing more curious by the second at his choice of restaurant. <br />
<br />
He shook his head at me waiting patiently by the side of the car and answered my question with a quick "yes." We waited for a car to pass us on the street before he grabbed my hand in his again and we crossed the street together heading towards the restaurant called "Yuri's." <br />
<br />
We climbed up the steep steps to the restaurant and I cursed myself for wearing heels. What if I was too dressed up for this place? Geno seemed comfortable enough in his black slacks and button down but it was hard to guage if I was or not. <br />
<br />
A bell chimed over the door as Geno opened it, ushering me inside before I could ask anymore questions. As I took a look around, the restaurant instantly struck me with its charm. Most of the small restaurant was full with patrons and the dim lull of their voices clashed pleasantly with the festive music coming out from what I assumed was the kitchen. A woman watched us both shrewdly from the corner her eyes landing on Geno first and assessing me next. She leaned over and spoke loudly into the kitchen in a rapid fire of words that I couldn't understand.<br />
<br />
"Evgeni" I turned to hear a booming voice echo out of the kitchen followed by a very large man. <em>"Vy ne prishli k nam v poslednyee vremya."</em><br />
<br />
Up close, my mind registered that the man was speaking in Russian. I had been around enough Russians in the past few months to recognize when it was being spoken. <br />
<br />
<em>"Mne ochenʹ zhalʹ. Vot pochemu ya syeĭchas zdesʹ" </em>Geno answered smiling at the enormous man. He looked at me next and I felt myself being unapologetically sized up. <br />
<br />
<em>"Kto eto? Yavlyaet·sya li eto vasha matʹ Oksana zhaluet·sya?"</em> he asked. I hated that I had no idea what they were talking about. Especially when I felt like it was about me. I glared at Geno wondering why the hell he had brought me here if I was just going to be looked at by everyone like this. <br />
<br />
Geno brushed him off and looked between us again. I decided that I should probably speak up and say something already since Geno obviously wasn't going to for me. <br />
<br />
"Hello" I said pulling my hand away from Geno's and brushing it off on the fabric of my skirt. "I'm Ava" I said extending my hand to the man before me and praying that he took it in response. <br />
<br />
He did and his booming laughter echoed off of the tiny walls. <em>"Yevgeniĭ okazalsya amerikanskiĭ devushku!"</em> The woman from the back who had been watching us the whole time smiled with what felt like pity and joined the man still holding my hand captive. <br />
<br />
"My husband doesn't mean to be rude. He's man and so he's stupid." She smiled and with a nod of her head instructed us to follow her to a table in a corner. She set menus in front of us and walked off shooing and yelling at her husband to go back into the kitchen. <br />
<br />
"You brought me to a Russian restaurant?" I asked as soon as we were alone. I wasn't angry, just confused. This place seemed personal to him especially since I hadn't seen a lot of Russian restaurants so far in Pittsburgh. Why would he share it with me? <br />
<br />
"Yeah, is problem?" he asked eyeing me carefully. <br />
<br />
"No, of course not. I'm just surprised" I said answering him honestly. Surpirsed and a little shocked. <br />
<br />
"What should I order?" I asked studying the menu and all of its descriptions of various dishes. <br />
<br />
"Do you trust me? Or will you get mad if I order for you?" He grinned over at me like he was baiting me. I decided not to fight him this one time and let him go for it. I had no idea what any of the food was even though the menu was written partly in english. <br />
<br />
A few minutes later the woman from before reappeared at our table setting down two glasses of wine in front of us. <em>"Eto vasha dama Oksana?"</em><br />
<br />
<em>"Net, ne sprositʹ o nyeĭ. Eto Ava. Ona uchit menya luchshe angliĭskiĭ." </em>Geno answered her in the same frustrated tone he used when he couldn't think of the word he wanted to use in english. I couldn't understand what he was saying in the slightest but I did pick up on the biting tone of his voice. Instead of whacking him on the back of the head though for being rude, the woman only smiled and shook her head at him. <br />
<br />
"I'm sorry" she said turning to me. "We're being very rude by speaking in Russian in front of you. I am Nadia and that is Yuri, my husband. We own this restaurant and Geno is our good friend."<br />
<br />
"Nice to meet you, Nadia. I'm Ava, I work for the Penguins" I explained offering her my most pleasant smile. I felt like i had to make a good impression on this woman or suffer from the consequences somehow. She smiled in return and asked what we wanted to order. <br />
<br />
"So who's Oksana?" I asked once Nadia left us alone at the table again. I saw him stiffen and look up quickly at me in surprise. After hearing the word twice and the way that it was said, it was obvious that Oksana was some kind of a noun. More specifically, an actual person. <br />
<br />
"No one" he replied focusing on the wine. She didn't seem like just a "no one" but I kept my mouth shut wondering why both Yuri and Nadia had brought her up. Maybe she was an ex-girlfriend that he didn't want to talk about? <br />
<br />
The rest of the dinner passed by quickly and without any more mentionings of Oksana- whoever she actually was. Geno explained what each dish was to me as it was served and laughed at my facial expressions when I tried something and really liked it or didn't like it at all. We lingered over wine and a berry drink that Nadia called "mors" until I started to feel lightheaded from all of the sensations that I was taking in at once. <br />
<br />
Soon we were the only ones left in the restaurant and Nadia had plopped herself down at the table to chat with both of us. I couldn't lie. I was incredibly relieved by the fact that she seemed to like me, especially after the way she had been watching us when we first walked through the door. Her and Geno spoke intermittenly in English and Russian and whether it was the wine or the fact that I liked listening to them speak the language, I didn't mind at all. Between the feeling of Geno's leg against mine under the table and the way he was playing with my fingers in his hand, I felt drunk on that alone, surprised by the strong physical reaction I was having to him. <br />
<br />
Thankfully we didn't linger too long. It was only 9 and I wondered if this was the end of the night or if he had something else planned too. I shook both Yuri and Nadia's hands again thanking them for the meal and tried to ignore the fact that they were obviously talking about me in Russian while I was standing there. <br />
<br />
"What did they say?" I asked as we left the restaurant and stood in the cool night air on the sidewalk. <br />
<br />
"Nothing important" he said smiling down at me. We both knew that he was lying but I dropped the question knowing that he was never going to tell me. <br />
<br />
"Thanks for dinner" I said changing the subject and allowing him to take my hand again. He led me to his car and stopped me when I went to open the door. I turned to remind him that I didn't need him to open my car door for me all of the time but was silenced by his mouth sliding warmly over mine. He bit down softly on my bottom lip and the little nip sent one big shiver down my spine. <br />
<br />
"Want to go somewhere else?" he asked smiling at me. I nodded wondering what he had in mind. <br />
<br />
"Okay" he answered rounding the car to the driver's side. "Let's go." <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<em>Part 2 will be up later tonight! I promise!!!!! </em>Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-17097092204827276732010-02-21T22:16:00.000-05:002010-02-21T22:16:54.676-05:00Chapter 9- Date<em>I was going to update my other story but got all sorts of ideas after watching Geno play in Russia's amazing game today.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Mood music: "Brandy Alexander" by Feist</em><br />
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<em>If you actually listen to this song, I bet you'll be able to name the person who's your "Brandy Alexander." I know I can and even though I can't stand this person anymore, I still love this song and it applies well to this chapter. </em><br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I was exhausted. And when I say that I was exhausted, I wasn't exaggerating in the way that people sometimes do when they're cranky or bored. My head ached and my feet and lower back were killing me from the heels that I had oh so wisely decided to wear that morning. <br />
<br />
Now looking back, my entire outfit choice for the day's events was wrong. On the rare moments that I was allowed to sit down and have a moment to shuffle through the emails on my Blackberry, I couldn't even curl up and get comfortable because of the restrictive skirt of the dress I was wearing. Flashing my privates to the world wasn't business appropriate- especially in a business completely dominated by males. <br />
<br />
After an especially long dinner out with the rest of the PR guys, we were back at the hotel for the evening. David had yet to mention that I needed to be anywhere else for the rest of the evening so I decided to pass some time in the hotel bar and get caught up with my missed messages. <br />
<br />
8:30 wasn't too late to start drinking- especially not on a business trip that I didn't want to be on in the first place. At least not to Washington D.C. Why didn't the team play anyone in Hawaii or somewhere else that was nice and warm? <br />
<br />
After sipping down my first Jim Beam and Coke, I was feeling a little bit better. Besides, the bartender was kind of cute in a charming grandfather sort of way and was keeping me relaxed and entertained by telling me stories about all of the funny clientele that the hotel receives. <br />
<br />
By Jim Beam number two, I was feeling even better and hardly noticed when an arm slid around my waist in a flirtatious and platonic manner. <br />
<br />
"Better watch out, pretty soon we're going to have to get you a back for your bar stool" Max Talbot commented taking the seat next to mine. Since it was the quirky, frenchman I had come to know and like, I shrugged his arm off and teased him about his wife who was waiting at home for him. <br />
<br />
Smiling he joked, "Believe me, even if I thought about trying anything, she'd hire a hitman in a second." <br />
<br />
"Good, wouldn't want any more cheating bastards out on the loose than there already are." The liquor had made my lips a little bit loose and I let what had started as a joking reply turn bitter. <br />
<br />
Max raised his thick eyebrow at me in response and ordered a water from the bartender. "That sounds interesting. Just how many cheating bastards are out there already?" I knew by the way that he said it that he was curious for my answer and that the conversation wasn't going to be as light-hearted as it began. <br />
<br />
"I was just joking" I said trying to lighten the mood. "There's always cheating bastards in the world." <br />
<br />
"Anyone important? You know, just for reference sake." His tone was patient as his eyes watched me, waiting for my response, verbal or non-verbal. <br />
<br />
For someone who was always the first to crack a joke or act like a dumbass, Max was proving to be more intuitive than I had originally pinned him to be. While I still didn't know Eliza super well, I could see why she was drawn to him and what made them a couple. <br />
<br />
"No, no one in particular" I lied smiling slightly to save face and called the bartender over again for another drink. <br />
<br />
"Actually, can you make that an iced-tea?" Max asked ignoring my request for another Jim Beam and Coke. <br />
<br />
"A long-island iced tea" I corrected still making sure that there was going to be alcohol of some sort in that drink. I didn't normally drink like this, and I would never usually do this on business but it had been a long day, scratch that- long weekend, and I wanted to numb the edge off a little bit more. <br />
<br />
"So who's the guy?" Max asked fixing his stare on me while I scrolled through my messages on my phone. <br />
<br />
"What guy?" I asked smiling at the bartender who placed another glass in front of me. <br />
<br />
"Don't worry" he commented to Max. "I made her a light one." <br />
<br />
I took a sip of the drink frowning when I realized that it was just regular iced tea in the glass. <br />
<br />
"The cheating bastard" Max stated, clearly not letting the subject go. "The one you don't want to talk about" Max clarified and grinned when I was still reluctant to speak. <br />
<br />
"Anyone else would take the hint and just leave me be, but not you, huh Max?" Remarkably, I wasn't really annoyed with him for asking or being so curious about it. It was hard to be offended by Max for some reason. <br />
<br />
"Nope" he smiled back. "Now come on, maybe you'll feel better if you talk about the jackass" he said nudging my shoulder playfully and reaching for some of the peanuts on the bar in front of me. "Is he why you're in Pittsburgh?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, I didn't really have a choice but leave New York after him." <br />
<br />
"Why? Does he own the city or something?" he snorted. <br />
<br />
"Sort of, his family's pretty important. Besides that, it just hurt too much to stay so I looked for jobs in other cities on the east coast and the Penguins were the ones who contacted me first and now I'm here." I said gesturing to the bar around us.<br />
<br />
"So what kind of cheating bastard was he?"<br />
<br />
I laughed a little bit at that. Was there a characterization or level for the type of cheating bastard that Peter is? "I don't think that there's a level high enough for him" I said actually smiling about it for once. It helped that Max was making this conversation a sort of joke. <br />
<br />
"Ouch" he said wincing and laughing too. "That bad, huh?" <br />
<br />
"We were engaged. He cheated on me with one of my friends from the PR office we all worked in and then tried to explain to me that it was all a misunderstanding." Admitting that the other woman had been a friend of mine outloud to someone else loosened the womb of shame again allowing a little bit of the pain to bleed through. <br />
<br />
Max winced, obviously upset that he had pushed it out of me. "Shit, Ava, I'm so sorry. He really is a cheating bastard, isn't he?" <br />
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I nodded, trying to keep the sniffles that were threatening to erupt at bay. Max wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders again and squeezed me briefly. "Why don't we get you a real drink this time?"<br />
<br />
I nodded again letting him order me a drink that I had never heard of. <br />
<br />
"What is it?" I asked staring at the chocolately drink in front of me. <br />
<br />
"A Brandy Alexander" the bartender answered for me popping a small straw into the short glass. <br />
<br />
"You'll like it, promise" Max said waiting as I took a sip. "It's good" I said feeling the brandy slide down my throat and bring warmth to my body. It was delicious and tasted like a grown-up bed time drink. <br />
<br />
"So" Max began after a few moments of silence. "Do you still talk to the cheating bastard?" <br />
<br />
"He still tries but no, I don't want to talk to him and let him convince me to go back to New York." I could tell by the look on Max's face that he was relieved by my reply. "I just screen his calls and I think he's starting to take the hint now that I was serious when I left in the first place." <br />
<br />
"Good" Max stated looking reassured. I was starting to realize that as much as this wasn't my most ideal job ever, the people were proving to be amazing and it didn't hurt to be around people that cared. <br />
<br />
"I know for one that Geno would be pretty pissed if you left" Max said effortlessly sliding back into jokester mode. How Eliza put up with him I would never know. <br />
<br />
"And that means what exactly?" I said narrowing my eyes at his playful grin. <br />
<br />
He rolled his eyes and his grin widened even more. "I didn't think you were the stupid type." <br />
<br />
My eyes widened and I felt my cheeks get hot with embarrassment. Was he suggesting what I thought he was suggesting? <br />
<br />
"It's pretty obvious that he's after you and that you haven't put him out of his misery yet." <br />
<br />
"What? We are <em>not</em> talking about this" I told him gulping back the rest of my Brandy Alexander. <br />
<br />
"Don't be such a tight-ass, Ava" Max said laughing. "Geno's a great guy! It wouldn't hurt either of you if you allowed something to happen." <br />
<br />
"I'm pretending that this isn't happening to me right now." I was <em>this close</em> to putting my hands over my ears and trying to block out Max's insinuations. <br />
<br />
"Seriously, I don't know if anyone else has even noticed but it's pretty obvious the way he's always staring at you. Never seen the big guy look so love-sick." <br />
<br />
"Did you seriously just say 'love-sick?' Are we in a Harlequin Romance novel now?" I laughed.<br />
<br />
"No, because if we were in a romance book, I'd be shirtless and sitting somewhere with my harem of women right now." <br />
<br />
Both of us burst out laughing due to the combination of alcohol and the stupid conversation we were having. <br />
<br />
"Max, I had no idea that you were such a good bar buddy. I'll have to thank your wife for loaning you to me for the night." I reached over giving him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek as a thanks for distracting me and making sure that I didn't get completely shit-faced by myself at the bar. <br />
<br />
"No problem, mon amie" he said returning my squeeze. Maybe something good had come out of this whole stupid trip- I had a new friend in Max. <br />
<br />
"Don't look now, but lover boy is glaring at me right now for having my hands on you." <br />
<br />
"What?" I said ignoring him and turning around to see who he was referring to. I saw Geno standing at the entrance of the bar scrutinizing both of us and walking over slowly to where we were both sitting. <br />
"I told you not to look" Max muttered. He greeted Geno loudly from where he had come to stand behind me and instead of saying hello too, I stayed in my seat focused on my phone. <br />
<br />
After the conversation I had just had with Max, I wasn't in the mood to address Geno full on and I still felt embarrassed from Max's implications. Especially since I had somewhat returned Geno's advances when no one else was around. <br />
<br />
When it seemed like Geno was about to order a drink, I stood up putting cash down on the bar and picking up my purse. "I'm actually gonna go upstairs and get to bed. Thanks for the talk, Max. I'll see you guys tomorrow." <br />
<br />
"I go too. I need to talk to you" Geno said getting up from his stool and looming over me. I gulped taking more of a step back and looked to Max for help. He grinned holding his glass up to me in mock salute. <br />
<br />
"You two have a good night! I'm gonna go call my wife anyway." <br />
<br />
"Let's go" Geno said taking hold of my elbow and steering me away from Max. I looked back one last time to glare at Max who was laughing hysterically behind us. <br />
<br />
Geno moved quickly across the lobby, his long strides forcing me to walk even faster in my heels to keep up with him. <br />
<br />
"Can you not drag me all over the place? You're a good foot or so taller than me and it's hard to walk in these heels anyway" I snapped out trying to get his attention. <br />
<br />
His dark eyes flickered down to mine and he acquiesed, slowing his stride to match mine. I still didn't know why he was so dead-set on talking to me but at least now we could walk at a reasonable pace. <br />
<br />
"So what did you need to tell me?" I asked while we waited for the elevator. Somehow we had both just ended up in front of the elevator, as if it were the only other place we could go in the hotel. <br />
<br />
He didn't answer me and instead just looked pissed off as he ignored me and stared straight ahead of him, watching the numbers light up as the elevators moved from one floor to another. <br />
<br />
<em>Fine.</em> If that was how he wanted to act then that was a-okay with me. I was tired of talking anyway and it was close to 10pm. <br />
<br />
The elevator dinged, signalling it's arrival and the two of us walked in with another couple looking like the lovey-dovey, hold hands types. The ride up to our floor was uncomfortable, especially given the contrast of moods in the elevator. <br />
<br />
The two of us left the love birds behind and walked off on our floor and I couldn't shake the feeling that a conversation I really didn't want to have was about to take place. <br />
<br />
We stopped in front of my hotel room and I kept my back to him while I dug around in my purse trying to find my room key among the jumble of other life essential items. <br />
<br />
"Why you let Max touch you?" Geno finally spoke interrupting the uncomfortable silence between us. My first reaction was to turn around and gape at him, in complete disbelief at what he had just implied. <br />
<br />
"What do you mean 'touch me?' I hugged Max!" I said fighting to keep my voice down. <br />
<br />
"His hands were on you" he commented looking down sternly at me. As scary and imposing as he was trying to appear, I didn't miss the hint of jealousy in his eyes. <br />
<br />
Jealously, among a few other select emotions, was one thing that I could not stand in men or women. I had never been a jealous person until I met Peter and since I didn't want to be that woman anymore, I wasn't about to allow that now. Especially since Geno had no right to feel jealous or label me as his property or someone else's property that he was coveting. <br />
<br />
Feeling empowered after a lengthy discussion about bastards with Max all evening, I pushed Geno back, surprising both of us. "I don't have to respond to that."<br />
<br />
"Did you like it?" he asked causing me to whirl around and face him. <br />
<br />
"He's married! Do you know what you're implying?" I said harshly whispering to him. I didn't want to yell at him here but I wasn't about to let him into my room either. <br />
<br />
"So?" Geno shrugged still scrutinizing my every move. <br />
<br />
I stepped back feeling the insult of what he hadn't said but made perfectly clear in one, single word. It hurt knowing that he could think that about me. We didn't know each other <em>that </em>well but did he really think that of me? It was worse knowing that someone could think that of me, especially since I had been the one who had been cheated on in the past. I knew what it was like more than anyone and knew how much it hurt so that I would never dream of doing that to anyone else. <br />
<br />
"Well I wouldn't do that with someone who was already taken. A relationship <em>means something</em> to some people and it was just an innocent hug and kiss on the cheek. He cheered me up after a shitty day, okay?" <br />
<br />
I didn't know why I was explaining myself to him or worse, why I felt the need to explain myself to him. With anyone else, they surely would have gotten bitch slapped by now. <br />
<br />
"What happened in your day?" he asked looking more at ease now before me. <br />
<br />
"Just a lot of stuff, okay?" I didn't want to re-hash everything and I was feeling drained. "Can I go inside now?" I asked him somewhat sarcastically. The other part of me was genuinely curious over whether or not he actually had something to say to me besides accusations of being a complete skank with his friend and teammate. <br />
<br />
"In a minute" he said taking a step closer to me and reaching out to pull me gently towards him. Before I could stop him, he leaned down tracing the ridge of my brow with his lips making the frown lines there relax and smooth away. My body swayed farther into his and I felt tingles follow up my back in a trail following his hands. <br />
<br />
"Geno" I said half warning, half-sigh as his lips continued to trace the folds and dips of my face. His lips had yet to meet mine and as much as he frustrated me and crowded me most of the time, I was going to be even more frustrated if he didn't just kiss me already. <br />
<br />
His lips finally met mine in a burst of heat and energy that I hadn't prepared myself for. The lines of his body pressed into mine until we were only held up by the door pressing into my back as our lips attacked each other's mouths. The feeling of his hand applying more pressure on my already sensitive lower back made me gasp and open my mouth farther for his tongue already grazing my lips. <br />
<br />
He tasted like an after dinner mint and something else delectable that I couldn't identify. This was the first time that we had kissed and I had allowed myself to consciously take in all of the sensations. The cold wood of the hotel room door against the contrast of his warm hands on my skin all wrapped up together to make goosebumps break out along the surface of my skin. <br />
<br />
We broke the kiss when we could no longer breathe through our noses without it hurting. His head was still dipped towards mine and I could see the expansive spread of his lashes as he looked down at me through dark eyes. I knew that we couldn't stay in this position for long since we were still in the hallway and it was already a miracle that no one had seen us. <br />
<br />
"I have to go" I whispered leaning up to brush my nose against his one last time and place a small kiss on the corner of his mouth. He let me go and I felt the reluctance of his actions in the way he slowly let go of me but didn't step back. <br />
<br />
"Come out with me? When we go home" He asked putting his hands into his pockets, dark eyes never leaving mine while he waited for my answer. <br />
<br />
I thought back to what Max had told me earlier and I thought about the kiss that we had just shared. Though part of me wanted to agree and say yes, was I really ready to start seeing someone again? Even casually and for fun? <br />
<br />
"Can I think about it first?" I asked leaning away from him against the door even more, just to put some more distance in between us. The door pressed against my back as a strong reminder that I had nowhere to run. <br />
<br />
He nodded still staring at me and backed up like he was ready to walk away too. "Just don't let other man touch you." <br />
<br />
Just when I was starting to relax around him and even like him a little bit more, he went off on that territorial bullshit again. I rolled my eyes at him and quickly slipped my room key in and out of the lock, pushing open the door and shutting it again behind me. For good measure, I made sure that I loudly slid the two locks in place just in case he was still out there listening.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-68722820593171299002010-02-17T00:04:00.000-05:002010-02-17T00:04:46.078-05:00Chapter 8- Limits<em>THANK YOU! Seriously, your comments mean so much to me ladies! I'm constantly surprised when I'm on blogger and see more than one comment and it makes my day! So thank you again for your support and I hope you like this chapter :) It's a little bit of filler but it's flirtatious fliller! </em><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Chapter song: "Know You Now"- Amy Winehouse<br />
<br />
<em>You're just a little boy underneath that hat </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>You need your nerve to hide your ego - don't come with that </em><br />
<em>You think everything is handed to you free </em><br />
<em>But it's not that easy, no </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>I gotta know you now </em><br />
<em>We may never meet again </em><br />
<em>I gotta know you now </em><br />
<br />
Maybe Amy Winehouse wasn't exactly a beacon of hope and knowledge considering the track record on her love life but I couldn't help myself as I got into the car and pulled out of my apartment building's parking garage. Despite the song's intent, I found myself drawn to it as my thumb traced through my iTunes library and selected something to listen to in the car. I needed Amy's attitude about love and life to carry on through to me right now.<br />
<br />
Following my eventful and confusing weekend, I drove to the airport listening to the words of the song and allowing them to relax me before what was surely to be a stressful and chaotic weekend. After spending time apart from work all day Saturday and Sunday, especially Geno, I had cleared my head and was now feeling a little bit more steady on my own two feet. Not that I was ready to fully admit that he may have un-steadied me.<br />
<br />
After finishing our dinner that night, he had driven me back to my car, uncharacteristically silent the entire way back. If he wasn't going to talk, then I didn't plan on it either- especially since I had no idea what to say or what he wanted me to say. Had he been expecting something from me? I had no idea. <br />
<br />
I followed the directions I had been given by David of where to park and go at the airport. It was nice receiving VIP treatment at the airport because I was with the team but that didn't make me any more excited to be going on this trip. <br />
<br />
I had been dreading the trip so much that I hadn't packed until last minute and now I wasn't sure if I even had outfits that coordinated correctly. At least I wasn't the one who was going to be on camera though- the big show was going to be the media circus planned around the Crosby vs. Ovechkin rivalry and the press junket's goal to cash in off of that.<br />
<br />
Crosby was, for lack of better words, a pain in the ass to deal with press wise. Not that he didn't know exactly what to do or how to handle himself, just that he required so much work. That combined with all of the time I had to devote to a certain, other Penguin plus my other clients, could make anyone's head spin. <br />
<br />
I parked my car and cut the engine, getting out of the driver's seat and adjusting the black dress and sweater set I was wearing. Instantly my knees wobbled in the black high heels I was wearing and I regretted my choice of outfit that day. I didn't have the luxury of of wearing jeans and a sweatshirt while we traveled because it was for business. It didn't help that I had a suitcase and briefcase to lug around with me either. <br />
<br />
In the airport I spotted David waiting for me right before security. <br />
<br />
"You made it" he said handing me my ticket and guiding me along past where other people were waiting in line. "Most of the players are already at the gate" he commented, both of us taking off our shoes and putting them on the security monitor belt. <br />
<br />
He filled me in on the rest of the day's itinerary and continued to brief me on the next two days worth of travel. As much as I liked David, I was happy when we reached the gate so that I could sit down with my laptop under the guise of working. Most of the players had arrived already and were already listening to iPods or watching movies on their laptops too. <br />
<br />
I slipped mine out of my briefcase and settled in, plugging my earphones into the side and selecting some more Amy to listen to. Anything to buzz out the roar of the airport crowd and the boys being loud and obnoxious around me. I was so distracted that I hardly noticed someone settling down in the seat next to me until I felt eyes watching me.<br />
<br />
I didn't have to look over to realize who it was. Who else would have the balls to sit close enough to me so that his thigh pressed snugly against mine? I made no qualms about my displeasure as I shifted crossing my legs in the opposite direction so that we were no longer touching. It would be beyond unprofessional if David saw the way that we were acting. It wouldn't even matter that I wasn't encouraging his actions- it would just be enough for David to see it and misinterpret the situation completely. Goodbye, salary- hello unemployment. <br />
<br />
Geno didn't seem to be getting the memo as he stretched his long legs out in front of him and nudged my briefcase over in the process. I wasn't naive enough to believe that it was actually an accident and didn't hold back an annoyed huff as I righted it and went back to the email from a friend I had been reading. <br />
<br />
I had almost fooled myself into believing that he was going to give up and leave me alone when I felt a rush of warm air pooling on my neck and giving my body a sudden bout of goosebumps.<br />
<br />
"What is wrong with you?" I questioned trying to keep my voice down and minimizing the window. He had actually been reading over my shoulder! If it had actually been a work related email for another player, I would have been violating several confidentiality agreements. "What were you doing?" <br />
<br />
"Practicing" he stated keeping a straight face. I knew he was lying thanks in part to the way he was staring back at me with a twinkle in his eyes. <br />
<br />
I was about to ask what he was 'practicing' when the stewardess began boarding the plane giving me the chance to pack up and hopefully ignore him as much as possible for the rest of the trip. Since I knew that staff sat in the very front of the plane with the players in the back, I didn't worry about getting stuck near him on the flight. With any luck, I could sit next to David and get to watch movies for the rest of the trip. <br />
<br />
"Ava, would you mind sitting with Geno to prep him for his interview tonight?" David plopped his briefcase and coat down across the seat where my butt should have been, clearly not giving me an option. I nodded my agreement and braced myself for the next hour and a half, straightening my shoulders to head to the back where the players were sitting. All eyes focused on me out of curiosity as I looked for an available seat on the crowded plane. <br />
<br />
My eyes landed on Geno who was watching me with a self-satisfied grin on his face. What he was feeling so satisfied about, I didn't know. I watched his eyes take in my form and give me the once over- internally I shuddered knowing already how this plane ride was about to go down. If he thought that today was going to be a repeat of this weekend then he was in for a surprise. I still needed time to think and he needed to back off for the sake of our professional relationship. All of these reasons were things that I had told myself before but now I meant it. Besides, I was going to slap the look off his face if he was going to act like that for the full flight. <br />
<br />
Crosby, being the sweetheart that he is, greeted me as well as a few other players that I worked with in particular. Only Gonchar, who had never been particularly friendly to me, remained silent giving me the same guarded look he always did. Frankly, his imposing and obvious attitude towards me bothered me a bit, but I was also too scared of him to ask anyone about it. Besides, what would I do? It wasn't as if I could go off whining to David or other players on the team and ask why Gonchar didn't like me. <br />
<br />
I didn't greet Geno when I finally reached him, I only took the available seat behind him and slid my coat and purse into the seat. "I need to prep you for the interview you're giving this afternoon" I stated feeling unsure of myself in his presence- especially when I was so obviously in an environment I wasn't supposed to be in. Plus Gonchar's steely looks. <br />
<br />
Geno raised his eyebrow and nodded getting up to join me and take the seat next to me. I stood up too expecting to move out of the way so that he could take the window seat since I didn't like feeling that close to the atmosphere. Instead he didn't budge, putting our bodies within brushing contact of each other. That mischievious look in his eyes reappeared and he started to move closer to me instead of stepping back to let me move into the aisle and make him take the window seat. Our bodies brushed against each other and I quickly stepped backwards, ducking my head and plopping down next to the window. Being that close to him had made me remember our night two days ago. <em>Fan-fucking-tastic.</em><br />
<br />
He settled in beside me and tried to stretch out his long legs like he had before we boarded the plane. His knee pressed into the side of my leg and I realized that I had nowhere to go this time since I was limited by the window seat in my escape options. <br />
<br />
Instead I forced myself to try to relax and twisted my leg beneath me so that I could cross my legs and tuck them beneath me. "So," I began trying to pull the material of my dress down farther over my stocking-exposed leg. "Your interview is at 1pm so that doesn't give you that much time to get to your room, drop your things, and be back down in the hotel lobby to meet the reporter." <br />
<br />
He nodded indicating that he was listening to me and sighed crossing his arms over his chest like he had something to say about it. "What?" I asked unable to ignore the annoyed look on his face. <br />
<br />
"Who said I give interview?"<br />
<br />
I blinked at his suddenly, very moody tone. "David- <em>my boss</em>" I said emphasizing the words. He didn't have an option in this because not only did my boss want this to go smoothly as some a PR schtick for the team, but <em>his</em> agent was also on board for this. He didn't have to like it but he didn't have the option of fucking up either just because he didn't <em>feel</em> like giving an interview today. <br />
<br />
"Okay, so lets run through some basic questions and try to think about how you would answer them" I started, determined to move past both of our evidently pissy moods. "Remember to try to think about grammar as you're speaking." <br />
<br />
I busied myself with pulling my notes out of my bag instead of looking at him for an answer.<br />
<br />
"How was rest of weekend?" He asked suddenly, the randomness of the question causing me to look up at him. He was the epitome of genuine interest but somehow I wasn't buying his innocent, foreigner act. He just wanted to change the subject away from work. <br />
<br />
"Fine" I replied finally finding the pen that I had been searching for at the bottom of my bag. "Now back to the interview. I want you in a suit, looking put together-" I looked at him meaningfully for a second. We had talked numerous times about how he should present himself in interviews- i.e. combed hair and a clean dress shirt and sports coat. If there was one thing that drove me crazy about this job, it was how hockey players usually looked in interviews. In other words- like crap. The mussed, un-cut hair and missing tooth thing didn't cut it for me as a PR rep. <br />
<br />
"And you need to be downstairs at 12:50 to make sure you're there to meet the reporter on time and get to the correct location in the hotel, sound good?" I glanced over at him again to find him staring intently at me as I spoke, this time without the trace of amusement I was so used to seeing on his face at this point. <br />
<br />
"Your eyes change" he spoke startling me with his odd words and leaning forward slightly towards my face. <br />
<br />
"What? What's wrong with them?" I pulled my compact out of my purse and flipped it open to see if there was something in my contacts or not. It had always been a weird phobia of mine to think that something could be in my eyes and possibly make my eyesight worse.<br />
<br />
"No" he said pushing the hand holding the compact up down towards my lap. "Your eyes go to brown when you work." <br />
<br />
That was it? That was what he was paying attention to while I had been speaking to him about work? I felt the familiar tingles of frustration in the back of my mind start to prickle. He must have recognized my look of stress and frustration with him because he sighed and shifted away slightly. <br />
<br />
"Okay, we practice" he capitulated quickly and I felt slightly better knowing that we were finally starting to understand each other. Maybe we didn't get along and he liked to overstep his boundaries a bit too much but at least now we were starting to recognize each others limits. <br />
<br />
"Okay, so here's what I believe the reporter will probably focus on" I said handing him a sheet I had pre-typed up that morning for him to review. "They're definitely going to ask you about the slump the team is in right now." <br />
"I tell them that it not slump- we just give other teams chance to win a little before end of season." <br />
<br />
He surprised both of us by making me laugh out loud at his admittedly charming joke. The earnestness behind the statement was endearing in a way and I knew that it would go over well with the reporter for the article. <br />
<br />
"That's perfect" I told him still giggling slightly. "You <em>have</em> to say that, it's great!" <br />
<br />
He looked taken aback by my sudden enthusiasm for something that he had said and then pleased with himself. "You laugh at my joke?" I saw the sarcastic smirk on his face and rolled my eyes playfully. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, well you were actually funny for once." <br />
<br />
"I could be funny more if you let me. I'm funny guy." He shrugged as if he were speaking the absolute truth causing me to snort unnattractively. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, okay. So anyway, what you said was great. How else do you think you could answer? Remember to speak more clearly this time and really think about your words as you speak." <br />
<br />
"I tell them that how we play now won't be the same as how we play later- in playoffs." <br />
<br />
"Okay, so what do you mean by that exactly?" I asked trying to generate a mock discussion that could occur between him and the journalist. <br />
<br />
He sighed rubbing his forehead in frustration as he tried to think of what to say from russian to english. I noticed that this was one of his little habits and quirks. <br />
<br />
"I mean team now is different. We still have more of season to fix game and get ready to win in playoffs." <br />
<br />
"Okay, that makes sense and it's positive" I said complimenting him on his choice of words. <br />
<br />
I glanced at my watch noting how much time we had spent talking already and I still had a few other players that I wanted to chat with before we landed in Washington. <br />
<br />
"Well good work" I told him slipping my legal pad back into my purse along with my pen. "You can go back to resting before the game." I stood up as best as I could without hitting my head on the low ceiling above the seats. He took the hint and stood up, moving back into the aisle. I stood up and felt my legs protest from being cramped up for so long. <br />
<br />
"Will you be there today?" He asked blocking the aisle with his form so that I couldn't move past him yet. <br />
<br />
"I don't know yet. There are a lot of things going on today. 12:50" I smiled and reminded him of the time he should be in the hotel lobby. I wasn't sure yet which player David was going to have me following around during the interview times today- especially since Geno wasn't my only assignment. <br />
<br />
"12:50. In sweatpants" he grinned obviously still trying to prove that point that he could make real jokes. <br />
<br />
His good natured smile in that moment was infectious and I found myself genuinely smiling back at him. "Sure, if you want to die later" I snarked causing his grin to widen. <br />
<br />
He finally moved to sit down and allowed me to pass to move on to the next player that I had to bug. I moved forward careful not to disturb any of the sleeping figures still smiling and feeling less annoyed about th fact that I had to come on this trip. <br />
<br />
Surpisingly, I couldn't remember who else I had to speak to either.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-17299505863307962192010-02-01T22:08:00.000-05:002010-02-01T22:08:48.060-05:00Chapter 7- Surprises<em>So today I made a decision- come hell or high water, I was going to update! I hate making you guys wait for "The Dumbing Down of Love" chapter but this story has been on my mind lately. I promise that after this, I'll start writing the next chapter on Dumbing Down. </em><br />
<br />
<em>Also, thanks ladies for your comments! You're all equally amazing and I love the support. Hope everyone had a good week/weekend! The game yesterday was terrible because I was so nervous the whole time and screaming at the TV in my dorm. Needless to say, several people popped by to make sure I was okay :) So many girls around here just don't understand what hockey does to a person and it's sad. </em><br />
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<br />
A flash. That was all I saw as his lips gently massaged mine. I couldn't tell if my eyes were still open or if they had closed as a reaction to the light I saw. Instead I stood there dumbly letting my body soak in the new waves of sensation as I waited for my brain to turn back on and start working normally again. Once my brain turned back on then surely I would push this man away from me. <br />
<br />
Instead it was as if someone had pushed a giant pause button, momentarily shutting everything down around us and leaving me with nothing as a distraction besides the feeling of this man standing oh so close to me and pulling my hips closer to his body. I hadn't been kissed in what felt like forever and now I was torn between not knowing what to do and feeling like I was going to hyperventilate. <br />
<br />
He changed the angle of the kiss, tilting his head slightly to pull back and meet my lips again gently coaxing me into joining him. <br />
<br />
Why hadn't I pushed him away yet?<br />
<br />
He broke the kiss so that we could both collect ourselves but I wasn't sure that I had moved, much less breathed in the past minute or so. He stood in front of me but still close enough that I could lean forward and touch my forehead to his chest if I wanted to. Which I didn't. <br />
<br />
Just thinking about taking a step closer to him snapped me back into reality and the present situation that I was in. <br />
<br />
"What the hell was that?" I asked finally taking that giant step back and putting the much needed distance between us. <br />
<br />
"Don't get mad" he stated putting both of his hands up as if to shield himself from me. As far as I was concerned, he had brought this upon himself and if he thought that he could just kiss me like that, then he better be ready for the consequences. <br />
<br />
"Don't get mad? Don't get mad?!" I repeated looking at him incredulously. "How am I not supposed to be mad right now?" Especially since the ground beneath me still felt a little shaky. <br />
<br />
"Well you like it. So you not mad" he stated simply, a shit-eating grin blossoming on his face. How had he gone from looking scared of me to pompous asshole so quickly?<br />
<br />
As I stood gaping at him, literally my mouth hanging open for bugs to fly in it, I marvelled over his arrogance. Not only his arrogance, but the fact that the man literally had borscht for brains. Maybe one too many pucks to the head did that to a guy. He laughed outright at my expression and that snapped me back into form. <br />
<br />
"Oh believe me, that was not an enjoyable experience, Mr. Malkin. Rest assured that it won't be happening again."<br />
<br />
"You call me Mr. Malkin?" he questioned still smiling at me like I had told a joke. "You only call me 'Mr. Malkin' when I do something bad." His eyebrows wiggled suggestively at me and I felt the sudden urge to rip said eyebrows off of his big, dumb, russian face. <br />
<br />
"Get out" I commanded in a low voice pointing to the door. I was beyond angry at this point and at the gall he had in not only assuming that I had <em>wanted</em> to be kissed by him, but also that I enjoyed it! <br />
<br />
"Oh come on, I joke" he said looking put off for the first time the entire evening. It was good to finally see his feathers ruffled.<br />
<br />
"I don't care if you're <em>joking" </em>I replied unable to pass up the opportunity to correct his english. "I want you out of my office." <br />
<br />
This time I gave up my rule of not touching him and grabbed his arm, tugging him to the doorway where he would hopefully move along and leave me alone. Unfortunately, he didn't budge and then I was stuck trying to pull forcefully on his arm without much success. <br />
<br />
"I do you favor? Apologize?"<br />
<br />
"Apologizing is supposed to be a favor to me?" Was he serious? Or had I been giving him too much credit all along in actually thinking that he was smart? He was more proof that all men were created without the equipment needed to process emotions. <br />
<br />
"What?" he said crinkling his eyebrows together in confusion. "No, no. I don't explain right." He sighed heavily dragging a hand across his face in frustration. Frustrated didn't even begin to explain what I was feeling right then. I was angry at him for his arrogance and I was angry at myself from actually letting him kiss me. I was a tough, independent girl. He wouldn't have been able to kiss me, and continue kissing me, if I hadn't allowed him to. I would never verbally admit to anything but I hadn't exactly pushed him away either. <br />
<br />
Exactly <em>why</em> I hadn't been able to push him away was yet to be determined. <br />
<br />
"You never let me talk. You just get mad." <br />
<br />
"I'm letting you explain now!" I told him, now on the verge of yelling. He let out a string of muttered russian as he looked up at the ceiling and rubbed his temple. I hoped that I was giving him a <em>massive</em> headache from all of the trouble he was causing me. <br />
<br />
"Come to dinner with me" he stated once again pushing the subject aside. Even though his accent made everything sound like an order in english, I could tell that he was genuinely asking. <br />
"What? No!" told him feeling incredulous at how he was able to just assume things left and right. Maybe he thought that if he fed me again, I would be nicer to him right now. Wasn't taking me out to dinner only going to blur the lines of our professional relationship even more? <br />
<br />
"Why?" he asked crossing his arms over the expanse of his broad chest. "What is reason now?" <br />
<br />
"Oh there are many reasons" I replied laughing sardonically. Maybe this was how they did things in russia- man meet woman, man drag woman off to cave- but it wasn't how things functioned in my world. I was used to smoother men and I certainly wasn't used to clients taking an avid interest in my dinner plans, or unexpectedly kissing me. <br />
<br />
"I explain if you come to dinner with me." He raised his eyebrows as if challenging me. <br />
<br />
"No." <br />
<br />
More muttered russian followed my response and I almost wanted to laugh. I loved having the ball back in my court and being back in control of the situation. He wasn't the type to force himself on a woman either- at least I didn't think so. <br />
<br />
"If you don't come with me, then I ask you question." This time, I knew he wasn't requesting this information or being polite. Apparently he was ready to meet me head on in this little game we were playing. <br />
<br />
"Fine" I said accepting the challenge. <br />
<br />
"Did you like it: truth or false?" <br />
<br />
My heart sped up unexpectedly from his question as if my heart and mind had splintered off in different directions. "<em>True</em> or false. The expression is true or false" I corrected stalling myself for some time. <br />
<br />
He nodded once acknowledging the correction but obviously waiting for my response. Nearly a foot taller than me, he towered over me waiting patiently, brown eyes meeting blue. <br />
<br />
"No. I didn't" I told him feeling slightly put off from our eye contact. I knew instantly that he knew that I was lying. A light that had been missing in his eyes flickered back on as he stared, appraising me. <br />
<br />
"You lie" he stated simply shrugging his shoulders in what I noticed was a habitual move for him. <br />
<br />
"I'm not lying!" I stated getting riled up because I knew that he was right. Truthfully I wasn't sure yet if I had enjoyed it but I wasn't sure that I had hated it either. It had just been different. Something completely new to what I had experienced before. <br />
<br />
"You think you can lie to everyone but I see. Your nose twitches." <br />
<br />
My <em>nose</em> twitched? Of all of the body parts to give my lying away- it was my nose? <br />
<br />
"Look in mirror if you want. But it true." <br />
<br />
"If it's true then how do you know this?" He was the first person in my entire life that was able to tell if I was lying or not. Not even Peter had known! Like any relationship, there were times when I lied just to avoid hurting his feelings. Little things like faking an orgasm or pretending to like a gift were all just things that one did in a relationship- it made the other person feel good so its automatic. <br />
<br />
Instead of answering my question, he rolled his eyes as if I had asked a stupid question. "Get your coat" he said picking the garment up for me and holding it out. If we were really playing a game this would be the moment of dodgeball when it's you and the opponent. And the opponent has you in a corner waiting to pin you with the last ball. <br />
<br />
He helped me into the coat but I wasn't sure if it was out of politeness or because he wanted to make sure that I would follow his orders. <br />
<br />
"I can button it myself" I told him swatting his hands away from me. He grinned again watching me button up my trench coat and reached down to tie the belt for me before I could protest. Pulling it tightly, he used the leverage to pull me a tiny bit closer to his body. My eyes narrowed at him as he continued to fiddle with the ends. <br />
<br />
"So where do you want to go?" he asked still not letting me go. <br />
<br />
"Home" I replied saccharine sweet and all sarcastic smiles. <br />
<br />
"Okay, we order in, watch movie" he replied countering me. <br />
<br />
"What? No!" I protested as he led me out the door. He barely gave me time to collect my things and shut the light off himself before pulling me down the hall. <br />
<br />
It wasn't until we were halfway down the hall that I realized he was holding my hand. I tried to pull it away uncomfortably but his grip only tightened and I could tell that he was trying to cover it up underneath the shadow of his ballcap. His hand was firm on mine and rough from spending hours inside a hockey glove every day. He led me to an elevator that I was unfamiliar with and I suddenly realized that we weren't going to my car but the player's parking lot instead. <br />
<br />
"I drive to restaurant" he stated as if reading my mind. He led me to a flashy convertible standing closer to me than I would have liked as he opened the passenger door. He didn't move out the way so that I could get in and instead stared at me to the point where my neck felt hot from nerves. Before he could try anything I pushed the door open not caring if I hit him or not and ducked in. <br />
<br />
He jogged around the front of the car joining me inside and filling the car with the clean scent from his shower. Until the game had ended and until our scuffle in my office was over, it was already after 1am and I had no idea what restaurant would even be open now. It was also irking me that he was driving because after we ate, I was going to have to be driven back here by him and <em>then</em> drive myself home. <br />
<br />
"Where are we going?" <br />
<br />
"Can't you wait? Be surprised?" <br />
<br />
Uh no, I couldn't wait. Especially not in a strange man's car who I had been fighting with for the past couple of months. Something about this whole scenario told me that I distinctly didn't want to be surprised by him anymore. In fact, I officially hated surprises now thanks to him. <br />
<br />
He drove in silence not attempting to make conversation with me and vice versa. Instead I focused on the radio, fiddling around without asking and changing the station multiple times until I found something good to listen to. <br />
<br />
Eventually we pulled onto a brightly lit street with lots of people crowding around different bars on the sidewalk. He pulled into a parking garage and parked the car, getting out without waiting to see what I was going to do. I thought he was leaving me and sat in shocked silence before fumbling with my seatbelt and starting to open the door. I almost whacked him with it again as he attempted to open it for me and I practically sprung out. <br />
<br />
His now familiar chuckle filled the silence as he appraised me with another expression of amusement. <br />
<br />
"You can't wait. I try to be nice and open door and you almost hit me." He was trying to open the door for me? When was the last time that a man had opened my door? Peter? One of my aunt's boyfriends? <br />
<br />
"Oh" was all I cleverly replied with, still trying to familiarize myself with the new situation I was in. <br />
<br />
We walked down the bright street past numerous bars and crowds all enjoying their Friday evening. I was careful to keep distance between us as we walked even though his hand would sometimes rest on my back as he led me across the street and through thicker crowds. Several times I tried to move my body away from his but he would only press his hand harder against me as if he knew what I was doing and he was trying to antagonize me. <br />
<br />
"In here" he commented leading me ahead of him into a bar/restaurant I didn't even have time to see the name of. All I could see was that it was crowded even though it was getting late- even for a bar. <br />
<br />
"Will they still be serving food?" I wondered aloud not sure if he even heard me over the dim roar of the crowd. However the crowd was also our saving grace. No one noticed us slip in at all- not even the servers. He grabbed my hand without asking, <em>again,</em> and led me upstairs to a loft where more tables were set up and it was a little bit more quiet. <br />
<br />
I headed towards a booth on instinct thankful that we would be able to put a thick, wooden table between us. I slid in and slipped off my jacket expecting him to sit down across from me like any other normal person would. Instead he slipped in next to me, forcing me to move over to adjust to his presence in the booth. <br />
<br />
Now hip to hip, and shoulder to shoulder, I turned and scowled at him hoping he'd get the obvious hint and back the fuck off. <br />
<br />
"There is such a thing as personal space" I warned him. <br />
<br />
"More comfortable this way" he stated simply ignoring my hint. "Want to share something? I'm not hungry." <br />
<br />
"If you weren't hungry, then why did you drag me out here?" I questioned getting progressively more irritated with him. I needed to be reminded again of why I was sitting in a bar at 1:30 in the morning with someone I was starting to hate. <br />
<br />
A waitress appeared at our table saving him from having to answer my question. She took our orders with a girn on her face as she looked between the two of us. I knew instantly that she recognized him and I felt my eye twitch in barely restrained anger when she winked at me and commented, "It's nice when they still want to cuddle like that isn't it sweetie?" <br />
<br />
Sweetie? We looked like we were the same age for fuck's sake! Who was she to call me sweetie? <br />
<br />
Geno cut me off before I could say anything to the waitress and ordered us both a beer. "And the nachos" he decided shutting the menu in front of him and handing them over to her. <br />
<br />
"You ordered for me?" I asked trying not to twitch from being so close to his long arm which he had tossed around the back of our booth. Even though it wasn't explicitly resting around me, I felt even more surrounded by him just from the knowledge that it was there. <br />
<br />
"It made her go away fast, yes?" <br />
<br />
I blinked realizing that he had a point and shut my mouth. He had made her go away. We waited in awkward silence until the waitress brought our beers over smiling at us again before moving away quickly. I used the beer as a shield, staring determinedly at the golden foam and ignoring the eyes that I could feel had settled on me. <br />
<br />
"Are you mad still?" he asked breaking our silence first. <br />
<br />
"I don't know if mad is the right word for it" I commented sarcastically. "Maybe enraged, irritated and hostile would be better choices" I said ticking the words off my fingers as I spoke.<br />
<br />
"You do that on purpose?" he asked smirking and shifting his body a little so that his legs pressed firmly against mine as he turned towards me. The arm resting around the top of the booth slid a little lower so that one of his fingers could trail lightly around a stray piece of my hair. <br />
<br />
"Do what?" I asked trying to scoot away from him. I was already pressed against the wall of the booth and realized that I had nowhere to go. <br />
<br />
"Use big words. Words I don't know." My heart sped up again from how close our bodies were tucked away in the little booth. The side of my breast was pressed firmly against his side setting off all kinds of alarms in my body. <br />
<br />
He was back to staring at me intently, his brown eyes even darker under the shade of his hat. His hair curled slightly out from underneath the hat brushing the top of his collar and I noted that he needed a haircut soon. I couldn't remember what we were talking about anymore and instead stared at the lips that were forming unheard words. <br />
<br />
Funny how I hadn't noticed them before when they were actually touching mine. <br />
<br />
The moment was lost when the waitress reappeared quietly setting the plate of hot nachos down on the table and clearing her throat awkwardly. "Enjoy your food" she said grinning and winking at us once again before disappearing. <br />
<br />
His eyes flickered between my gaze and my lips and for a second I held my breath in both fear and anticipation. Instead he surprised me by leaning back and untangling his arm from the back of the booth. <br />
<br />
I stared at him in shock as he began to fill up a small plate with nachos. He raised an eyebrow at me when I continued to stare, obviously confused by his sudden change of actions. Instead of saying anything, he simply pushed the other plate at me as if instructing me to eat too and forget about it. <br />
<br />
I guess I had a lot to think about that night.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023068289641096785.post-21596913824933381052010-01-24T19:06:00.000-05:002010-01-24T19:06:09.454-05:00Chapter 6- Take a Deep Breath<em>Eeek! Back to school which means I will be disgustingly busy again (and that's why it's taken me so long to crank out a chapter). The posting will probably slow down but I hope to at least post once or twice a week. </em><br />
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<em>Side note: You guys are simply fantastic! Every day I keep seeing the number of readers increase and all of your comments have been so supportive. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I agonized over this so well, let me know if it's good or bad. (seriously because it might be bad).</em><br />
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<br />
The days following my confrontation with Geno passed by quickly. Thankfully he wasn't the only guy that I worked with and my days rapidly filled with writing press releases, statements and generally doing what I did best: directing people in what to say and do. <br />
<br />
The work was a thankful distraction from my own doubts and insecurities- especially since Peter had gotten a hold of my work line and had been persistently calling and sending flowers. The last flower , a lovely set of a dozen tulips, had ended up as a collage of broken glass and scattered flowers in the parking lot outside of my office window. <br />
<br />
I had taken a picture of it and sent it as a text message to Peter letting him know that the lovely arrangements were just going to waste. It really was a pity though because I loved flowers- I just didn't want them to come from him. <br />
<br />
Even though I knew that I needed to be the bigger person and just ignore his advances, I wanted to hurt Peter as much as he had devastated me- even if it was in small, harmless ways like tossing a flower arrangement out the window. <br />
<br />
I left the office early intending to go home and spend more time putting my apartment in order. It had taken me forever to really move in and start decorating simply because I couldn't decide where things should go or what I actually wanted to keep. <br />
<br />
In my haste to get out of New York, I realized later that I really had packed up my entire life and this included things that were part of the life I had shared with Peter. Most of my evenings in the past 2 months were spent sorting through all of the things that I still wanted to keep and getting rid of the things that I couldn't bear to look at anymore. <br />
<br />
For instance, what had made me pack up the bedding that we had slept on in our bed? When I was leaving, I had packed up everything that I had bought because I was so angry that I didn't want him to have <em>anything</em> that was mine. But still, bed sheets? Why had I packed up something so intimate and dragged it all of the way to Pittsburgh with me? <br />
<br />
Last night I had finished sorting through everything and this evening I planned to take the boxes that I had loaded up to a dumpster in the parking garage of my building. I had considered taking as many items as I could and donating them but for some reason I just wanted everything to be permanently gone. I no longer wanted to be haunted by a relationship that had been built on lies and those physical objects that we had shared were representative of that bad relationship. I didn't want those items haunting anyone else either. <br />
<br />
The only thing that I hadn't been able to get rid of was my 4 carat princess cut engagement ring. It was hugely expensive and there had been a time when I hadn't been able to take my eyes off of it just because it was so dazzling. I guess I had never really liked it- a big hunk of diamond sitting on my left hand was heavy and it looked like I had something to prove. Not necessarily how I want to exhibit the love I share with someone.<br />
<br />
Now the ring was the coldest-looking thing I had ever seen but I also knew that I couldn't just toss it away. I needed to at least give it back or find someone that I could sell it to. What was the ettiquete on returning an engagement ring anyway? Especially if the guy that bought the ring was a colossal jackass? Do I try to sell it somewhere and use the money on something else for myself or do I give it all back to him? Did he expect me to give it back? I had no idea. <br />
<br />
After one very cathartic tossing boxes into a dumpster session and another 2 hours of looking at paint samples at Lowes, I felt like I had made some progress in finally getting my home to where it needed to be. I figured if I painted, then the white walls would no longer feel so empty and I could finally get around to hanging my pictures.<br />
<br />
Even though I was still feeling high from de-cluttering my life and making decisions for the better future, I still had to get ready to head back to the arena for the night's game. I had sweet talked my way out of having to be at away games on a normal basis but home games were a must. <br />
<br />
Geno had also been having some problems with reporters as of late and a few <a href="http://thepensblog.com/pensblog/january-2010/rob-rossi-disseminates-his-own-brand-of-malkin-trash.html">bad</a> articles had popped up about him thanks to the select reporters actually allowed in the locker room. All of the criticism and the hit his image had taken as a result had my boss David in a tizzy and assigned me to damage control. <br />
<br />
I talked to Geno about it but I personally didn't see why he was still so reluctant to take some of the pressure off of Sid and start giving interviews. He was an alternate captain after all and his english had improved remarkably since we had begun our chat sessions. What was still holding him back? Basic selfishness? Since getting to know him, I was sure that he wasn't as shy as people made him out to be. Like my ring ettiquete dilemma, I didn't know the answer to this question either. <br />
<br />
Earlier in the day I had called Geno and told him not to respond to anything regarding the recent articles and instead told him that he'd be talking tonight after the game- no matter what. He hadn't been too happy about it but he hadn't argued either- he had only asked me if I was going to be there. I told him yes but I didn't tell him that I wouldn't be there to watch over his shoulder or hold his hand either. He was going to have to grow up and do it himself (although I would be secretly watching from somewhere). <br />
<br />
After throwing back on my work clothes, I rushed off to the arena and made it in time to see the puck drop. I looked a complete mess but at least I had made it on time. <br />
<br />
"You're panting, is everything okay?" I nodded breathing out a "yeah" to the goalie Marc-Andre's girlfriend, Vero. We had seen each other a few times now from sitting together at games and she seemed nice enough- if not just a little bit flaky. I didn't know why they always got me seats with the girlfriends and wives, I guess it was just because David thought that I would enjoy the female company. <br />
<br />
"I was busy trying to pick out paint colors for my apartment and lost track of time" I told her making the effort to be friendly. <em>Where was the beer guy at? And a hotdog sounded really good right now.</em> <br />
<br />
"Oh! Wait, you're still decorating?" I nodded even though I knew it did seem weird that I was just now getting around to fixing up my apartment. <br />
<br />
"It's taken me awhile to get settled" I told her watching her boyfriend block a shot on goal and turn the puck over to another player. I had the hang of hockey now and found myself enjoying it more and more. It allowed me tune out everything else that was going on in life and focus on the motions of a little black disk gliding between players on the ice. Odd that there was something peaceful about that when hockey was actually a very violent sport. When they weren't fighting or getting slammed into the plexi-glass, it was actually a very graceful sport. <br />
<br />
"You know, you should come out with us sometime" Vero stated. I wasn't entirely sure who she meant by "us" though. "It has to be lonely to be in a new city and the girls and I would love to add someone else to our bar nights." <br />
<br />
I smiled at her offer and found myself agreeing. She may seem a bit flaky but who was I to judge? Besides, it couldn't hurt to have people to have dinner with once and awhile instead of watching "Clean House" and everything else on the Style network by myself at night. <br />
<br />
"Excellent- we'll call you next time we go out." <br />
<br />
We continued to watch the game and after finally getting a beer, I sat taking a few notes and composing some ideas of what Geno could say after the game. He needed to focus on not adding to more of the discussion or criticism of his play. This was important and he needed to show the reporters that he was ready to move on. If he loosened up and gave just a few more interviews it would make a difference for sure.<br />
<br />
My eyes remained focused on the game as I sipped my beer taking breaks here and there to respond to whatever Vero had said. She certainly was chatty and it was hard splitting my concentration between her and between watching the game and the lone figure that my eyes were trained on. <br />
He was so tall and lanky that it seemed odd to see him bulked up in his gear and even taller from the height of his skates. He had been in a bit of a slump lately and it was obvious from the tension radiating off of his body that it was starting to get to him. He was like a coiled spring on the ice ready to pop unless he ended his scoring drought.<br />
<br />
I looked down to jot another note down and a reminder to myself to finish something up at the office when Vero shot out of her seat next to me with the rest of the crowd cheering. I stood up with everyone else in our section just to see what was going on when I realized that he had scored. He circled around the ice quickly and I could tell just by looking at him that his body had relaxed somewhat now. <br />
<br />
He looked up and angled his head toward our section and I jolted thinking that our eyes had met. I stood motionless trying to get my heart rate back down to normal from where it had jumped up with me. Realistically, there was no way that he had seen me. He could have just been looking up here at the fans around us but somehow I had the feeling that he had seen me watching him and that our eyes had connected. <br />
<br />
Vero nudged me breaking my trance. "What was that?" she asked curiously. I could see the makings of a smile on her face and my body went into full alert mode from seeing that expression. <br />
<br />
"What was what?" I asked playing dumb. I possessed the skills of an excellent liar and always had. I could even look people directly in the eyes and lie like it was no big deal. Not entirely sure what that says about my upbringing or character but overall, it was a great skill to have. Especially in situations like these. <br />
<br />
"Geno totally gave you a look!" Was that the makings of a squeal that I detected in her voice?<br />
<br />
"What? He just scored a goal, that's impossible." <br />
<br />
"No, I know what I saw and trust me, I've been around hockey and these boys long enough to know these things by now." <br />
<br />
Wait a minute, did that mean that Geno frequently gave these "looks" to other women? <br />
<br />
"All of the guys do that when they're trying to impress someone. You my friend just had a goal scored for you." <br />
<br />
This of course was ludicrous because that would imply that something was going on between him and I. <br />
<br />
"Vero, please. He's a man and he's been in a scoring drought for the past couple of games. He didn't score that goal for anyone but himself." My voice had come out sharper than I intended.<br />
<br />
"Ouch. Didn't realize how cynical you were" she smiled at me. I could tell that she was partly joking and partly serious but I wasn't going to take the bait and open up about my torrid past to her. At least not until they got me drunk and stupid.<br />
<br />
"Not cynical" I told her brushing it off carefully. "Just wise enough to recognize a situation for what it is-nothing." She shrugged mumbling something about it being my call and we sat down again to watch the rest of the game in silence. <br />
<br />
Later I reflected over what she said while watching the boys trudge into the locker room. Despite another late 3rd period goal by Geno, the Pens hadn't managed to hold up against the Rangers. Needless to say, the mood following the boys into the locker room was nasty. I held back blending in with the rest of the staff as the guys filed in and went to their respective stalls. <br />
<br />
Part of my reasoning for hanging back was that I wanted to see what Geno was going to do. He was one of the last ones in following in behind the golden boy of the team, Crosby, and I watched as he systematically pulled off his gear and brushed a hand through his sweaty, dark hair. <br />
<br />
Him and Crosby nodded to each other and Crosby walked away towel in hand towards the direction of the showers. Then Geno sat down and while I was still trying to figure out exactly what was going on, the pack of journalists were on him within seconds apparently taking his silent cue for permission to ask him questions about the game. <br />
<br />
Watching him interview and calmly answer the media questions made me feel strangely proud and another emotion that I didn't care to label. Was it happiness that I was feeling? Then again why shouldn't I be happy? He was doing a much better job of handling interviews on his own and wasn't that why they had brought me to Pittsburgh in the first place? <br />
<br />
A loud burst of laughter startled me and I looked over to find Geno and the reporters laughing in my direction. He threw a wink at me over the crowd and continued speaking to one journalist as if nothing had ever happened. Knowing that he was fine and answering their questions like we had practiced, I slipped out of the locker room feeling clausterphobic from the amount of people and body heat circulating around. <br />
<br />
"Heading out?" I stopped looking over my shoulder at the sound of my bosses voice. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, is that okay? It looked like everything was handled in there and I need to grab some paperwork from my office." Even though I really was on my way up to my office to take some work home with me, I still felt nervous from getting caught, by my boss no less, for leaving early. <br />
<br />
"No problem, you've done a great job with him so far so you can afford to leave early." By "him" I took it he was referring to Geno and nodded, wishing that the elevator would hurry up. After a long day, no one liked to stand and make small talk with their boss. It just wasn't a pleasant experience. <br />
<br />
"Remember that you're coming on the road with us this week to Washington. I need you to field questions about the Ovie/Sid matchup that the press is already making a big deal about." <br />
<br />
Double groan. I <em>hated</em> travelling on the road with the guys. We never had time to explore the cities we were in and it meant eating meals with the rest of the PR team who were all significantly older than me. Plus it meant flying at ungodly hours of the night when I should be home in my own bed sleeping. Not sitting in on a plane with a bunch of men that snored. Loudly. <br />
"Got it" I told him making the attempt to sound cheerful. "I'll meet everyone at the plane on time."<br />
<br />
David nodded looking satisfied and luckily for me, was called away by Ray Shero himself leaving me to get on the elevator by myself in peace. The ride upstairs was quiet and the hallway empty as I stepped out onto the tiles and made my way down to my office. <br />
<br />
The way everything had been going lately, there were days when I actually reveled in the solitude of being the only one still in the offices at night besides the janitorial staff. The hum of the sweeper down the hall was my company tonight as I switched on some music from my computer and hummed along to Alicia Keys, gathering papers as I went along. <br />
<br />
Lost in my own world organizing and shuffling papers around, I didn't hear the door crack open farther as another person joined me in my office. <br />
<br />
I didn't notice the other person until I turned around and noticed Geno for the first time since he had stepped inside. Even though my brain registered that it was him, I still had the delayed reaction of screaming and stepping back, almost falling over my chair in the process until he reached out and steadied me with strong hands on my shoulders. <br />
<br />
"It's me" he chuckled at the look of terror still on my face. I startled easily, especially when I expected to be alone and now on top of that, I was embarrassed. <br />
<br />
"What are you doing sneaking around up here?" I asked unable to keep the anger out of my voice. I had <em>wanted</em> to be here alone. Not with him creeping up on me and scaring the shit out of me. <br />
<br />
"I knocked but you no listen" he said simply dropping his hands from my shoulders and putting on an innocent front. <br />
<br />
I rolled my eyes too annoyed to even bother correcting his misuse of the english language. <em>Again.</em> "What do you want that couldn't wait until business hours?" <br />
<br />
"Why are you mad?" he asked ignoring my question and crossing his arms across his broad chest. Both of us looked uncomfortable in our battle modes as we now glared at each other. My heart was still racing from the combination of still being freaked out from him sneaking up on me and now from being mad at him. <br />
<br />
"I'm not mad" I lied meeting his eyes and willing my pulse to steady. His eyes narrowed at me like he didn't believe me and I noticed for the first time that his hair was still wet and pushed under a baseball hat. He was wearing the customary suit that players were required to wear to and from games but it looked like he had gotten dressed in a hurry. The top buttons of his dress shirt weren't even buttoned correctly. <br />
<br />
"You lie" he stated simply calling me out on my bullshit. "I'm sorry I scared you." <br />
<br />
"It's okay" I said deciding that this wasn't worth holding a grudge against him. I wasn't <em>that</em> childish. <br />
<br />
"You're so...what is word?" He gestured like he was trying to come up with the word but I had no idea what he was about to say. I was actually just pleasantly surprised that he had used the combination of 'you' and 'are' together correctly to say anything else. "Tense. You very tense all of the time."<br />
<br />
"Tense?" I questioned. "What are you talking about?" I asked genuinely confused. <br />
<br />
He chuckled again taking a step forward towards me and resting his hands on my shoulders again. "Yes you are. I feel your shoulders." He kneaded them slightly as if to get rid of the tension residing there. Of course, the feeling of his hands moving against my skin through the fabric of my sweater made me even more tense. <br />
<br />
I was having a fight or flight reaction and tried to step away. His hands kept me rooted in place as he stared down amusedly at me. I was glad that one of us found my obvious discomfort funny. <br />
<br />
"Try this" he commanded. "Close eyes. Breathe." <br />
<br />
"What?" He wanted me to breathe? Wasn't I doing that already?<br />
<br />
He sighed as if telling me to shut up. "Just try it. Close your eyes" he commanded again and I complied trying to get my body to relax so he would finally just leave me alone. <br />
<br />
Once my eyes were shut, he continued. "Now take breath." I gulped in air. "Now breathe out." I slowly exhaled listening to the sound of his thickly accented voice. "Keep your eyes closed." <br />
<br />
I did as he told expecting him to walk me through the process of breathing again. I was starting to feel a little more relaxed as we stood there and he had me inhale and exhale again. His voice was the only thing I was focused on, even drowning out the sound of Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name" playing in the background. <br />
<br />
He paused and I could feel the hesitation in him as he stood close to my own body. Just as I was about to open my eyes, I felt his warm lips cover my own and I froze, my body literally stuck on pause from the new sensations that had zapped my body.Tilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058927413787671615noreply@blogger.com6