Replay

“Oh definitely.” I rolled my eyes. He just continued to chuckle to himself before calming down.

“Where do you want to eat?” I thought for a bit and debated on what I wanted to eat.

“Is there a Longhorn Steakhouse up here?” I meekly questioned, afraid that that might not be available.

“Yeah, I think so, why? Is that what you want?” I just nodded in response.

“If it's not too much work.”

“Cool longhorn it is. Hehe.” The man Gray called Julian plugged the information into the GPS, and started making his way over. I breathed a sigh of relief. If there wasn't a Longhorn I might have suggested more burger king or pizza but something tells me that that wouldn't fly.

“What are you laughing at?” 

“My bad I was just laughing at your reaction. I've never seen someone get so nervous when asked what they wanted to eat for dinner.”

“You never know if everyone wants or can eat the same thing ya know I got worried.”

“Well, Julian is a vegetarian.”

“Oh no! See! Maybe we can go to Panera or maybe get some pizza!”

“Sir, I would appreciate it if you didn't make Mrs. Ludo panic. They have other things that I can eat at Longhorn other than meat, so please don't worry.”

“Are you sure? We can go somewhere… better.”

“Nope, Longhorn is fine.”

“So mean to my assistant.”

“Sir!”

“Gray!”

“I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding.” he then leaned in close to my face and stopped inches away. I watched as his eyes dart down to stare at my lips before. He cleared his throat and returned his attention to my green eyes before looking away. Slightly upset that he was being so distant I sank in my chair a little. I want the kind of attention he was giving me this morning that undivided happy and sweet attention.

Then it hit me.

He teased me all this morning… It's my turn.

The idea of things accidentally going too far and possibly getting him to want to fuck me… crossed my mind and took up permanent residence in my mind… I'm all up for a good wrestling match. Then suddenly it became the end goal. 

Let the thirst games begin.

The thought of succeeding in making him want me as his and making him never want to share sent shivers down my spine, and became the whole purpose for tonight.

I want him. I want him to be mine, I want to be his, and I don't want there to be anyone or anything else. It’s selfish, I know but… I want this one greedy thing… please.

I shivered a bit. The air conditioner was pretty strong in this car. I guess he noticed and told me to scoot closer to him and when I did he pulled me onto his lap. Leaving himself wide open. I started kissing along his neck and cheek and nipping at his ear and shoulder. Every so often his grip on my side would tighten. I guess I was really getting to him because when he looked at me his gaze was hungry. I stroked his cheek, feeling his stubble and staring innocently into his honey brown eyes.

“Behave.”

“What did I do?”

“You know what you did damn it.”

“Uh… no I don't.” I then shined a cocky smile. “Care to explain?”

I watched his jaw twitch as he quickly leaned in and kissed me. We fought for dominance and I barely lost. His tongue started to explore my mouth as his left hand dragged itself up my thigh and cupped my ass. My head went fuzzy and eventually, someone moaned… I don't remember who, I think it was him after I bit his lip, or maybe it was me when his hand found its way into my bikini top. But either way… it happened.

“I hope you both have seat belts on back there.” I think that was his polite way of saying cut it out or at the very least keep it down. Gray chose to assume the ladder. Grinning and winked at me while putting a finger to his lips and continuing where he left off, which just so happened to be kissing me.

I mentally followed his hand while it gently glided up between my thighs and pulled my bikini to the side before-

“We have made it to Longhorn. I will reserve our table.”

What!? Here already? Where did the time go? That was such a short ride.

We both breathed a frustrated sigh, one sounding shakier than the other, and I'm happy to report it wasn't mine. Though I will admit my nipples were hard and my privates were fucking tingling, he was so close to… 

Ahem anyway.

“Oh! You’re out already! Well, our table is free now sir.”

“Aw. thank you Julian you're so sweet.”

“You two go right in, I need to check something.” me and Julian looked at each other and smiled walking in behind the waitress.

My mind was thinking of all the different things that he could be doing out there alone but I had to get a grip and calm down, Julian was trying to ask me serious questions.

“What happened to you? If you don't mind me asking.”

“The guy Gray almost ran over today did it.”

“I see that must be the reason he chose to finally cut off all contact with Mr.Sanchez.”

“Wait, you know Fernando too?”

“Yes, I drove the poor drunk and his many girlfriends home.” I ground my teeth at that one and my mood dropped.

“I see.”

“How do you know each other?” 

“He picked me out of the crowd and started flirting with me at the airport this morning. Admittedly I didn't know who he was much before then. But he’s very nice and he treats me like a human… like I exist for more than his pleasure… Oh! Wait, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to ruin the mood.”

“No, it's fine. Gray doesn't normally bring any women home or ever stay out during the night so I was curious. Apart from the obvious…”I started blushing. “You can tell he sees something in you. I do too. So please take care of him when I'm not around.” Before I could ask him to elaborate, the waiter arrived at our table to ask us about our decisions. 

“There are three of us and we both will be having a sprite. He will be having spicy chicken bites and a flo filet, I will be having the stuffed mushrooms and farm-fresh field greens with grilled salmon please, and thank you.” My jaw dropped when he ordered the fish but I held my comments for the moment. The waiter nodded and then turned to me.

“What about you cutie?” I ignored the comment and ordered.

“I’ll take a sprite as well, and for the food, I'll take the wild west shrimp and the LH burger… well done please… and thank you…” Then I closed the menu and then shot him a smile.”

“That's a lot of food, you sure you'll finish all of that?” my smile evaporated as I bit my tongue and thought of another response than the one I almost spat out.

“Yeah I'm sure, when I come alone I normally buy much more but it's not me paying so I'm trying not to break their wallets. Is that all you need.” he just blinked at me astonished and walked away.

“How did you know what he wanted to eat?”

“Longhorn is Mr. Thompson's favorite place to eat. I thought you knew that when you decided to eat here?”

“What? No. I was just saying the first thing in my head… was that why he was laughing at me?”

“Most likely.”

“And I thought he said you were a vegetarian.”

“He always gets that wrong, I'm a pescetarian. I see that explains the fish.” Shortly after our conversation dies Gray comes marching towards the table. 

“What’d I miss?”

“Just the ordering process but don't worry Julian told me you like mushrooms so I ordered you some.”

“Ew really?”

“Hehe no but that reaction was great though.” he took a seat next to me and I just smiled. For some reason, I was just so happy that he chose to be so close to me. Normally Fernando would sit as far as possible when we’re out with friends. Gray turned to me and smiled. Mouthing “Are you okay?” to which I just nodded and smiled.

The waiter returned and said the order as he placed it in front of the person who ordered it.

“Chicken bites and steak for you… mushrooms and fish salad for this gentleman and… shrimp and a burger for the beautiful lady over here, and a sprite for all three.” Gray glanced at me but I didn't notice until I gave the waiter a half-assed smile and a quick nod. Once I did that I stuffed a shrimp in my mouth and looked at Gray. That's when I noticed he was looking at me like he was searching for his patience… or checking if I was okay… or both.

I went to place my hand on his knee but the table knocked my hand a bit and my hand landed much higher. My hand came to rest mid-thigh with my fingertips coming to rest on his inner thigh so I just rolled with it. 

“It’s alright.”

“I- uh… thanks. I mean thank you.” I smirked and returned my hand to shoveling food into my face… respectively of course.

I finished first and went to the bathroom. On the way back to the table I bumped into the waiter for our table. 

“Hey, pretty lady… can I have your number?”

“No.”

“Aww come on don't play hard to get I can treat you better than either of those guys over there.”

“Oh yeah definitely, because your persistence beyond my no and your crappy paying job that is only worthwhile because of tips is definitely going to make you more worth my time. I don't want you… and your crappy personality only makes me want you less.”

“How dare you?!”

“Have a good night.” I started to walk back to the table.

“Bitch.”

“See? You can't handle me.” I didn't even bother to face him when I said that I just smiled at Gray who stood up so I could slide back in my seat. I took my hand and lightly placed it on his chest as I passed him and he instinctively grabbed my hand and held it.

“Are we all done?”

“Yeah, we have the bill already.”

“I'll handle the bill sir you and Mrs. Ludo go and wait for me.”

“Me and her are going to go for a walk. We'll meet you at the car okay?”

“Fine by me.”

“Come on, follow me. The sun went down by now and Julian said there is a beautiful lake nearby that's even prettier at night.” I just nodded and let Gray drag me out of the dinner and down a stone path to the left of the store and was met with a huge lake… it was so pretty.

“Wow.”

“Gorgeous right?” I looked at him and blushed when I realized he was staring at me the entire time. 

I pulled out my phone to take a picture of the moon and the lake but when I opened my phone's camera I noticed it was distorted. When I turned it around to check it I noticed that the camera was shattered… probably from the time I dropped it early today.

“Aww, fuck! My camera is smashed to shit! What now?”

“Really?”

“Yeah look.”

“Damn. here you can use my phone if you want to.”

“Hell yeah! Can I really?” he reached into his pocket and started fishing around for his phone. 

“Here.” he held his now unlocked phone to me so I took a picture of the lake and moon then smiled. I then turned to him and snapped a picture. Then I turned the camera to myself and took a few silly pics and one serious picture that I actually liked. I giggled to myself and waddled over to Gray and posed in front of him snapping a photo. In the first picture I took he was off guard but in the second one… he rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled sweetly, I smiled in response then snapped the picture. 

Without another thought he pinched the top of the phone and snatched it, taking a moment to send me each one individually but then he paused on the fifth one for a while and showed me… 

“I'm keeping this one.”

“Uh… ok okay!”

Then I got a notification for the next one but then another pause came to pass.

“And I'm keeping this one.”

“Okay.”

“I'm making the first one my background.”

“What?! You don't need to.”

“I know I don't, but I want to… it’s cute. I mean look at you… you look so cute. So I'm keeping this.” He was staring me in the eye and I couldn't help but look away and turn red.

For reasons, I can't explain, my heart was beating out of control but then he grabbed my wrist, pulled me to him, and used my waist to close the remaining distance between us. I blushed and smiled while he used his free hand to cup my face and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. This soft kiss turned into a passionate kiss then that passionate kiss turned into an all-out desire war. He then pulled away and looked around finding a pavilion not far from where we are. He of course dragged me over to the closest picnic table. Once we made it he lifted me up and placed me on the edge of the table with no benches in the way and resumed our kissing battle. But he stopped kissing me… and apologized, lifted me off of the table, and started leading me back to the car. I pulled away and faced the lake to hide the tears that were building up in my eyes. Did I do something wrong? Am I the only one who wanted this? Am I being selfish? I didn't want to force anything. 

I fucked up, I made things awkward. I'm sorry.

I blinked away the tears and followed him to the car… the ride to the hotel was awkward and the check-in was even worse.

“Hello, miss! Room for two?”

“Oh no just me.”

“So just one bed then?”

“Uh well yeah. I kind of reserved a room already.”

“Oh!”

“Yeah…”

“Are you booking a separate room, sir?”

“Oh no, no just here for her.”

“I see…”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Well here's your room key, breakfast is from six to eight am and the gym is on the second floor all the way in the back. If you need anything, call the reception desk.”

“Thank you. Goodbye.” We started walking away and I couldn't help but laugh.

“That went well.”

“Definitely, and the awkward silence was the best too.” we both laughed at the recent events while we made our way to my room. When we did I gave him back his tie and he kissed me. It was so short and it made me sad, but I said nothing. He sent me in wishing me a good night and I fought the urge to invite him in. it took everything but I stayed quiet and watched him leave and bump into a medium height man with glasses, he screamed at gray but was ignored. While all of this happened I heard a lesbian couple say aww and talk about how cute we were together one of them whispered that I looked like a model, I ignored what they were saying but on the inside, I couldn't help but be happy. I giggled to myself and finally entered my room throwing my luggage and beach bag in the closet next to the door and sitting on the floor with my back to the wall connected to the bathroom. Too many things happened today… I know Gray will keep me safe and take care of me but… is he just being nice for selfish reasons? Of does he genuinely care and want me to himself… why can't things be easy? Why is it so hard to be happy? What do I have to do to matter and be needed?

Admittedly I fell asleep in my fetal position against the wall when I heard a hard knock at the door.

“Luanne, I know you're in there! I just want to talk! Just give me a chance! Please!” he knocked hard again. “Luanne please I love you! I'm sorry!”

I heard a door hastily open next door and a man screams at him.

“I don't know why your screaming and I don't care but shut the fuck up! If you don't sleep here fucking leave!”

“But I need to talk to her.”

“Well, talk to her over the phone cause you screaming in the hall will only get the police called on you.”

“...”

“Leave.” besides the immediate spamming on my phone the hall fell silent. I stood up and watched him leave through the peephole and relaxed.

“Why is it so hard to be happy?” I whispered to myself. I strolled over to my bed and sat on the edge. The events of today started replaying in my head. 

I wonder if he would want to go out with me tomorrow… wait didn't he say he came up here for business? Shit. he might be busy tomorrow… should I try my luck? I hurried over to the closet and got my phone over hearing a muffled conversation outside of my door but chose to ignore it stepping into the shower to wash the sand off… but then my phone chimed. I got excited and checked it but it wasn't who i thought it was. I continued to think of what I could invite him out to do that didn't involve the beach or water, so I invited him to a hike or a visit to the park and he accepted. My heart fluttered when he asked me what I was doing… I paused for a second then chose to mess with him by telling him the truth… I could only imagine the effect that it had on his mind… 

Good.

But a knock on my door startled me and forced me to put my phone down and quickly hurried out of the shower threw on a towel and peeked out the peephole for the hundredth time tonight.