Chapter Six
It was raining. Lissa stood at the window watching it come down. In the distance, waves crashed, and she remembered being in Alex's arms that afternoon. The sun had beaten down, and they had played in the waves.A glance at the clock showed her that it was past ten. Nine o'clock had come and gone, and still no Alex. "Fool," she chided herself. She had actually thought...she shook her head, and turned from the window. Lissa curled up on the couch, tugging the tail of her long, white shirt over her bare legs. With a pillow wrapped tightly in her arms, she clicked on the TV, wandered aimlessly from channel to channel. She settled on a repeat of 'Miss Congeniality', and just as Sandra Bullock was getting a makeover, Lissa fell asleep...
She was on the beach. Waves crashed around her, caressing her naked flesh. The skies rained down. Alex was with her. He held her close. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her head back. His lips traced a fiery trail down her throat, over her breasts. His mouth closed over one nipple, tugging gently...
KNOCK - KNOCK - KNOCK
Lissa jumped up, body humming, heart thundering in her ears. Just as she was sure she'd been hearing things, the knock came again. She glanced at the clock, saw it was just after eleven. With a sigh, she tossed the pillow aside, got up, and was opening the door just as the litany began again.
Alex stood on the doorstep, blond hair dripping. "I tried the doorbell, but you didn't answer. Sorry I'm late. Can I come in?" he asked, shaking the rain off his shoulders.
Lissa stepped aside, and closed the door behind him once he'd entered. "Let me get you a towel," she said, starting for the bathroom.
Alex caught her arm. "I'm fine," he said.
She shook off his arm. "I'd rather you not drip all over the furniture." She grinned to take the sting out of her words. "Be right back," she called over her shoulder. With a chuckle, Lissa snatched a towel off the rack, then went back to the living room.
Alex was still standing where she'd left him, only he'd taken off his shirt. Raindrops glistened as they slid down his skin. Lissa swallowed hard as she crossed the room to him. "Here," she croaked, handing him the towel.
His smile made her blush. "Thanks," he said, and started drying his hair.
Lissa watched him as he moved, then her eyes narrowed. A love bite stood out in stark relief on his neck. Alex caught her glare as he brought the towel down to wipe his chest. "What's wrong?"
She turned away. She felt stupid, but, more, she was hurt. That was irrational, hell, they'd only just met, but still..."Your dinner meeting go okay?" she asked, walking over to the window. It was still raining. Waves crashed on the shore, spraying white foam.
"It went fine," he said carefully, tossing the towel aside. "Liss, what's up?" he asked, crossing the room and gently gripping her shoulders.
She spun, turning the full force of her glare on him. "I suppose you nicked yourself shaving?" she asked, her finger flicking the love bite.
He blushed. "Oh, that," he said, taking a step back. "It's no big deal."
Her dark brows rose. "No big deal? You blow off our dinner date to go get laid, but it's no big deal," she snorted.
His own anger rose. "It's not like you were going to be spreading your legs for me," he spat.
Lissa closed the distance between them. "Not like you'll find out now, will you?" she asked with a sneer. Lissa raised her hands, prepared to spin him around and throw him out. Alex grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head. Eyes locked in battle, the only sound for a long moment was their harsh breathing. "Hell," Alex groaned, dipping his head. His lips captured hers.
She bit him. Alex's head snapped back. Lissa's breath hissed between her lips as he licked the blood off his lips. "My turn," he said, voice husky. His mouth bore down on hers, teeth biting her bottom lip until it bled, then he licked the blood away. It became a contest, each nipping the other, then licking away the bloody result.
Lissa felt the couch give beneath her back as Alex covered her, felt the heat of him between her spread legs. "No," she groaned, pushing ineffectually at his shoulders, her legs struggling to get beneath his.
"Yes," he corrected, one hand ripping open her shirt, sending buttons flying. His mouth was on hers again, his kisses harder. She groaned into his mouth. He pulled back, letting go of her hands to rid her of her panties.
Her nails scored bloody furrows down his chest. Alex tore her panties off, then caught her hands, pinning them in one of his while the other explored her inner depths. She was hot and wet, more than ready for him. "Damn you," he growled. His free hand freed his throbbing member. One quick thrust, and he was buried deep within her. Lissa cried out, her body arching up, sending him even deeper. "You want me," he bit out, her writhing body dragging him in and out of her. "Stop fighting me!"
"No," she groaned, her mouth locking on his shoulder. He liked love bites, huh? She'd give him a love bite. Her teeth clamped down.
Alex wrenched back. Using both hands now, he held her wrists over her head. "Yes," he corrected again. She arched again, driving him close to the edge as he filled her, felt her throbbing around him. "Damn," he groaned again. Once more, he pinned both her wrists with one hand, then slid the other between their heaving bodies. His nimble fingers found her slick swollen folds. He pinched her clit between his fingers and felt her shatter beneath him as she screamed his name. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, Alex bit down on her collarbone, marking her as he surrendered to his own fulfillment.
For a long moment, their harsh breathing battled for dominance over the soft, steady drone of white noise coming from the TV. Lissa drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Wrong, so wrong, she thought. "Get off me," she breathed.
Alex rose up to his elbows, taking the bulk of his weight off of her. "Lissa..."
Her dark eyes bore into his. "Get...off...me," she bit off each word.
He did as she asked. "Lissa..." he began, as she vaulted off the couch, dragging the tattered remains of her shirt around her.
"No," her voice betrayed a calmness she didn't feel. She wanted to bathe, scrub her skin. Damn him. "Leave."
"But.."
Lissa marched to the door, and held it open for him. It was still raining, she noted before turning to face him. "I don't care if you leave dressed or as you are, just leave."
With a sigh, Alex tugged up his pants, and grabbed his shirt. "I'll call you tomorrow," he said, crossing the room.
Lissa didn't answer, only held the door wider.
Once abreast of her, he stopped. He pulled her into his arms for a fierce kiss, then, was gone before she could react. Lissa slammed the door behind him.
She started across the house, giving the couch a wide berth. She couldn't look at it. She was no better than whomever it was he'd spent his passion with earlier. "No better," she murmured, tears filling her eyes. She opened the sliding glass door, and stepped onto the deck. Rain blanketed her. She pulled off the remains of her shirt, tossing it aside. Lissa closed her eyes, lifted her face and raised her arms, letting the rain wash away Alex's scent. She licked her lips, still tasting blood, but now more. Rain mingled with her tears, and she dropped to her knees. "Damn him," she whispered, huddling in on herself. "Damn me."
A car door slammed, and footsteps echoed on the gravel path. "She's probably not even up yet," Howie complained, helping Kat as she hobbled up the walk.
She grit her teeth and resisted the urge to swing the crutch at him. "It's nine in the morning. Trust me, Lissa's up." With effort, Kat navigated the porch steps. Reaching the door unaided, she flashed Howie a triumphant grin, rang the doorbell, and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
"See," Howie said as they stood on the porch, "she's still asleep."
"No," Kat insisted, "something's wrong." She knocked on the door. "Lissa!" she called. "Lissa, it's Kat! Let me in!"
No answer.
Kat tried the knob, and it turned. She swung open the door.
An infomercial blared on TV, and Kat hobbled over to shut it off. Howie came over to her, then grimaced as something crunched beneath his shoe. He picked up the fractured remains of a button. He and Kat shared a look. "Lissa!" Kat called again, louder now, then noticed that the sliding glass door leading to the deck was open. Still calling Lissa's name, Kat hobbled through the doorway.
Lissa was curled into a fetal position, her dark hair covering her face. Even from where she stood, Kat could make out the bite marks on Lissa's shoulder and neck.
"I'll call an ambulance," Howie said from beside her. His voice galvanized Kat into motion, and she hobbled out onto the deck, tossing the crutch aside to kneel beside her friend. Kat's hand trembled as she checked Lissa's pulse.
She sighed. It was weak, but it was there. "Hurry, Howie!" she called, "and bring a blanket!"
In moments, Howie was through the doorway, a black and blue Indian blanket in his hands. He covered Lissa, but when he made to lift her, Kat stopped him. "We don't know how bad she's hurt," she said, tucking the blanket tighter around Lissa. "Let's just get her warm." Howie knelt beside Kat, his hands gently brushing Lissa's wet, tangled hair away from her face.
"Alex," Lissa moaned softly, turning toward the warmth of Howie's hand.
"It's okay," Howie soothed, and Lissa quieted.
Kat and Howie shared another long look. "What the hell happened?" Kat wondered.