THE Strange...

“Okay.” My voice is barely audible or maybe it’s because my heart is thumping loudly in my ears that I can scarcely hear the word come out of my mouth.

Alexander slowly pushes away from my neck to search my eyes. He doesn’t believe me. I don’t believe me either. What am I saying? Move in with a guy I met only weeks earlier?

I laugh at women like this. Call them insane and just asking for the relationship to take a steep nose dive. I won’t even watch hollywood movies that have cheesy relationships where the two leads instantly fall in love.

Yet, here I am staring into the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen and telling the owner that I will jump into his ship and sail away with him. His hypnotic eyes, like some mystical lake that calls to me, making me want to strip and dive in their frigid waters. Oh God! I even sound like a stupid romance novel. I think I am going to make myself hurl.

I am shaking my head no, but when I open my mouth the word yes keeps escaping. Now Alexander appears confused and I don’t blame him.

I’m feeling faint, perhaps I should lie down. Maybe he should call a doctor.

“You will? I didn’t expect you to say yes so quickly. Are you sure Aria?”

He brings his hand up to cup my cheek and it’s warm, soft and my scent lingers on him.

“I don’t know Alexander. This is all so much. Your mother threatening my life and you wanting me to move in with you. Part of me wants to run and hide back at my place. Tune everything and everyone out. But, then I would be alone and, I think, I have been alone for far too long. Perhaps it’s better to feel safe in someone else's arms.”

His confused weariness morphs into a face splitting grin. The brightness of his eyes melts my heart a bit and I feel I made a good decision. Maybe not wise, but good nonetheless.

“Perhaps just a test arrangement Alexander. For a few weeks, until my roommate comes back.”

He nods like a four year old who is told he can have a few licks of a lollipop. I guess I told him he can have all the licks he wants. I smirk as the thought crosses my mind.

Alexander hops up and rubs his hands together.

“Right, so I guess you need to go back to your place and pack, right?”

I stand and hunt for my panties which have landed right beside the fireplace.

“Will you come with me Alexander? I kind of don’t want to be alone right now.” I ask while I wiggle on my cotton briefs.

“What?” Alexander starts to rub the back of his neck as his eyes dart around the room.

“I know you aren’t used to going outside in the daylight, but I need you to try for me. This isn’t my comfort zone Alexander, going so fast with a guy. Even seeing a guy more than once is way past my comfort zone, but I keep doing it because I care about you. I have these feelings for you that I have never had for any guy before. As much as they scare me, I like feeling them. But, if I can push myself to do things that make me uncomfortable, you can too.”

I walk over and wrap him in my arms. This isn’t easy for either of us and I want him to know that I will be there no matter what. He takes a deep breath and puts his arms around me.

“Alright Aria. But if it becomes too much I might have to come home.”

I look up into his hesitant face and smile, “And I will be right there with you. We will come home together.”

We hold each other for a little bit until he eases away. Alexander calls Bradley on his cell phone and explains he needs him to bring the car around.

“Yes, I am going with her.” Alexander mentions for the third time in the phone. There is a pause before he starts back up, “I know it’s light outside. Just get the car please. That’s enough Bradley. Goodbye.”

Alexander groans as he pushes the phone back into his pocket. I am standing by the front door as he glances up into my eyes giving a limp smile.

“Come here,” I tell him and I hold my hand out.

He takes his time reaching my grip but the door opens automatically and we make our way to the elevator. I rub his arm as we wait.

Once the doors open and we step inside the lift I turn his body to face mine.

“I know this isn’t easy Alexander but I want you to know I am here for you. What is the worst that could happen? Tell me.”

He sighs and closes his eyes before answering, “I walk outside and everyone stares at me. They somehow know I’m different, strange. Then I trip and fall or, worse, faint and people start to laugh at me.”

He winces as his eyes open, turning his head to gaze at nothing.

“So what? What if all that happens, which I don’t think it will. We live in a very large city. I have seen ten times worse than that from some and the people around barely batted an eye. But, for arguments sake, say it did happen. Are you going to die?”

He shakes his head.

“Maybe you think I will die from it?”

“No. It’s not that at all Aria.”

“Then what? Tell me.”

His head drops and I can hear his breath catch as he speaks, “You will see what everyone else sees. That I am strange and you’ll laugh too. Change your mind about me and leave. I’m afraid.”

The door slides open and we are in the basement parking garage. We step out but I grab his hand to stop him before he continues down the hall and out the door into the parking lot.

He turns to face me and I bring my hand up and twirl my fingers through his hair.

“Then all I want is strange.”

Alexander curls his lips into a shy smile and I tug him toward me. His lips brush mine, pressing softly onto me. I nibbled on his bottom lip. Vibration ripples down my throat from his groan, causing me to push harder, kiss deeper.

His hand slips down my side, trailing a line from the tip of my breast to my side and curving around to grasp my ass. Just as he gives a firm squeeze, his mouth slips from mine to nibble at my ear. He presses his firm body into mine and I wince from the rough pain of his erection digging into my pelvis. The discomfort melts into warm arousal coursing down to my core.

“Alexander, please, we need to go.” I manage to get the words out before I become consumed by our activity.

He groans and breaks free, standing fully before me.

“Fine. I was hoping to distract you enough, perhaps you would forget we needed to go outside.” He smirks at me.

“There is plenty of time for that. Remember my roommate isn’t home, so you know…” I trail off as I sashay my hips away from him and toward the garage door. Looking back I notice him grinning but his eyes trail past me and his smile disappears.

I reach out my hand and he comes up to take it. We stand at the door for a moment before I turn to him.

“No matter what I won’t let go of your hand, okay?”

He nods and I push open the door. I see Bradley standing in front of a black Bentley with tinted windows. Once we are inside the vehicle and it has started moving I give Alexander’s hand a good squeeze.

He isn’t paying attention to me, his eyes staring out the window to the bright garage exit up ahead. The light from the street slowly making it’s way into the garage and filtering through the car. He gasps as we cross into the daylight. The car pauses as a few pedestrians cross our path before the car rolls into the street.

Alexander’s grip tightens and I glance up at as his head fixated on the window.

“Alexander.” I say and I get no response, not even a squeeze of my hand.

“Alexander, look at me.”

Nothing.

I glance past him to the street hoping to see something that has his attention. It’s just a grassy park that is by the exit ramp leading us onto Lake Shore Drive. After we emerge from the underground tunnel exit we see people flocking to the lake. It’s one of the very first warm and sunny late spring days. Which just means all of Chicago is at the lake playing volleyball, going for walks, or just enjoying the weather.

“Alexander.” I try one last time. He finally turns towards me with amazement etched across his face.

“I never knew Aria.”

“Knew what Alexander?” I shake my head in confusion.

“This.” He waves his hand at the window beside him, “So many people.”

“I know there are a lot of people out there, but it’s perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed when you aren’t used to being around so…”

He cuts me off, “No, I mean they all look happy. Enjoying life so much. Why have I been hiding from this? Why did my mother lie to me about them? Fuck, I’m a fool.”

He slips his hand from my grasp and balls his hands into fists, punching the side of his clenched hand against the door.

“I feel like such an idiot. I let her scare me for so long.”

I scoot closer and rub my hand along his back.

“She’s a psycho bitch Alexander. She scares everyone. That doesn’t make you an idiot. Don’t worry, I’m here now. We can fight her together.”

He sighs and looks up at me. I try my best to appear calm and confident, but honestly, I am terrified...of everything now.
Hello Everyone!
This is the author, Elizabeth Lynx. I do hope you enjoyed Payne In The Blog and all of Morgana's & Aria's ups and downs so far. There will be much more to come, I promise, but first I need to take a break from the weekly blog posts. Just until September.
You see, I have two little boys under 5 at home and they are in Preschool in the mornings which allow me time to write the posts. Well, this week is the last week of school for them until September. Having to watch them full-time and try to also write books (and my family is moving at the end of the summer - so lots of packing), I have realized something had to give. That means the blog gets put on hold.
But just know, come September the posts pick up right where they left off. Also, I plan on letting Evaleen and Tiffany have their time in the limelight! Finally, I am in the process of writing Aria's, Evaleen's & Tiffany's story for their books that I plan to publish early next year. So, believe me when I say there is much more to come. I'm just pushing the pause button, that's all. Check back in the Fall for more of the ladies crazy antics! Until then, have a safe and fun summer. And for god's sake eat some cake!