Chapter 11
Alex clutched his cup as he stood pondering Grace’s music collection. Recognising one of his own album covers he turned to smirk at her as she stretched out on the couch. “Didn’t know you were a fan. Which track is your favourite?”
“Well I’m not really that big a fan but I kinda like Fallen. It’s more...haunting than a lot of the stuff you do.” Her cheeks flushed again at being caught in possession of his music. She was desperate not to come across as some fangirl.
“I wrote that one. Took me ages to get them to agree to record it for the album. Erm, if you’re not a big fan then why have you got all of our stuff? I think the lady does protest too much.” He chuckled as he ran his finger along the edge of all five of their CD covers.
“Busted. What can I say? It’s the drummer, Jez. He is the only man for me.”
Alex snorted. “It’s always Jez; everyone falls for him. I have no idea why though. If they shared a tour bus with him, man, the smell is atrocious! Do you wish it was him who came to do the interview instead of me?”
“Alex, I was messing with you. Come and sit down.” Grace shifted up patting the sofa next to her, motioning for him to join her.
As he sat he pulled her legs over his, placing his hand firmly across her ankles, effectively holding her in place, forbidding her to move.
Smiling up at her they both felt the atmosphere change, becoming more charged.
Placing his cup down on the floor, Alex leant across to pull her into his lap.
Seating her comfortably across his thighs he wrapped his arm around her back whilst stroking her leg with his other hand.
She nestled her head into his shoulder sighing as she revelled in how at ease he made her feel.
“Comfy?” Alex rubbed his hand up and down her thigh, resting his chin atop her head.
Grace snuggled in tighter to him, her hand rested on his chest. “Mmm, very actually. Is this your signature move then? Sit them on your lap, make them feel special?” She chuckled as she teased him.
Feeling his body tense beneath her, his breath hitching in his chest, she lifted her head to meet his stare.
“What? What’s wrong? What did I do now?”
“You and drink just don’t go well together, do they?
Grace, I can imagine what you’ve read about me but I can tell you it’s all rubbish.
I don’t have a string of women in my past; in fact I have only ever had three girlfriends.
One in high school, one in college and one whilst I have been in the band.
I don’t have a signature move and in answer to your question from the other night, I don’t get laid a lot!
Yes, I have the opportunity handed to me most days but I don’t partake in the goods, why would I?
They don’t want me they want the lead singer of Uni-Fi, the persona that has been drip fed to them for years by my PR team.
I don’t want to have sex with someone who is gonna run straight to the media or plaster some story about me all over the internet.
” Alex breathed out long and slowly. “I don’t know what I have to do to convince you otherwise. I am not that guy.”
Face flushed with embarrassment, she lifted herself from his lap to reposition herself on the sofa.
“Sorry, I’ve done it again, haven’t I? I guess I’m just struggling with the whole fame thing.
I just don’t know what it is you see in me.
I have no idea why you’re here when you could have your pick of beautiful women.
It’s a self-defence thing, I think.” She kept her face down, avoiding his gaze, unable to believe that she had let her mouth run away with her again but the truth was that she really didn’t understand what was happening between them.
“Well, I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. I also love the fact that you are completely embarrassed to be seen with me. I like that you make me work for your attention and I have to wait out of sight when I pick you up. I like spending time with you, Grace. I want to get to know you properly and just see what happens. If you’ll let me.
” Alex placed his finger underneath her chin, lifting her face so he could see into her green eyes.
Slowly he lowered his face to meet hers, never taking his gaze from her eyes. “Can I kiss you, Grace?”
The timid girl in front of him could only nod; she had lost the power of speech.
Having him in such close proximity was overpowering.
She lifted her mouth to meet his, gently sucking on his bottom lip.
Alex reciprocated with fervour, nibbling at her top lip before he ran his tongue along her lips.
Pulling her back onto his lap he held her tightly in place whilst he continued to kiss her, deepening it further as he caressed her tongue, tasting her mouth.
The whimper that escaped her only served to boost his eagerness.
He slid his hand underneath her top, drawing small circles across her back with his fingertips.
Grace groaned at the feeling he was creating deep inside her.
Reaching up she placed her hand on his face, holding him in the embrace, urging him to continue the gentle kisses.
Taking her lead Alex moved his hand around her torso making his way up to cup her breast in his large hand, caressing her nipple through the silky fabric, rubbing his thumb across the hard bud he had created.
Grace lifted her hand, placing it on top of his, halting his movements.
Taking note he moved down towards her stomach using feather light touches as he went, revelling in the goose bumps that danced across her skin in the wake of his touch.
Moving lower, his fingers traced the waistband of her jeans, sliding his hand down the back of her clothing as he increased the grip on her bare behind.
Holding her tightly in place, his hand slid lower while his other hand moved to work free the buttons on her top.
Grace broke free from the embrace, breathless and flushed. “Alex, don’t rush me.”
“Rush you? I wasn’t rushing you. I thought you wanted to. I asked if I could kiss you and you agreed.”
“To the kiss. I agreed to the kiss. I’m not going to sleep with you tonight. I’m not one of your groupies. It’s a big deal for me to have sex with someone.” Moving herself out of his lap once more she righted her clothing before leaning in to kiss his lips softly again.
“I just thought...well you know, everything was going alright and you said yes. It’s kind of the natural thing to do, isn’t it?” His voice stumbled across his words.
“Maybe for you but not for me. I don’t jump into bed with someone I hardly know, Alex. We’ve had a handful of dates. I don’t want to be another notch on your bedpost. If this is going to work then we need to take it slow.” She stared at him now earnestly.
“We? You mean you’re not kicking me out on my ass? You want to do this thing?” Alex questioned, incredulous now.
“Of course I do, you numpty!” Grace laughed at his uncertainty.
“The dating, not the sex? How long do you normally wait? I mean, what’s normal?” It had been a long time since he had been in this situation. He wanted to get this right.
“Just for now yes, and I don’t know how long. A month maybe? But that doesn’t mean we can’t do other things. I’m a great fan of exploring the bases. Well the first few, anyway.” Grace looked up at him through long, thick eyelashes, the smile spreading wide across her face.
“Oh, I am familiar with the bases! I like the bases. Bases are good, right? But I think we’ve covered first base, haven’t we?” Moving in closer he clasped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her into his embrace again.
Smiling against his mouth as he continued the slow onslaught of kisses, she spoke quietly. “I would say first and second base for you, anyway. I think I’m a little behind.”
“Well, I think we need to even the score a little, don’t you?” Alex bit her plump bottom lip gently, teasing her as he guided her hand towards his chest. “I’m all yours, baby. Explore.”
Grace did just that, letting her hands roam across his firm, tight chest and overly carved abdomen. They spent the next hour curled up together on the very small sofa, talking, giggling madly and covering second base thoroughly.
“What are you doing tomorrow? Can we spend the day together?” Placing her hand on his face she rubbed her thumb over his stubble as she waited for him to answer.
“You’re asking me on a date! Well, that’s a first. I would love to spend the whole weekend with you, babe. Come stay with me, please. In the spare room I mean – taking it slowly!” He ran his hand through her hair; brushing it back from her face he tucked the stray strands behind her ear.
“Okay, I will stay in your spare room...for now!” Grace winked at him as he resumed his gentle exploration of second base.
“I think I should get going. Shall I pick you up or are you gonna drive over in the morning?” Alex began to move out from next to Grace, righting himself on the well worn sofa.
“Well...you could stay here and we could have breakfast together then I’ll let you drive me over.” She sheepishly toyed with her fingers as she spoke, not daring to lift her gaze to meet his now, ever hopeful she could sway him.
“Whoa! What happened to taking it slow? Unless you’re hiding a spare room somewhere then...” He ran his hand through his mop of hair.
“Well, you could sleep in my bed. It doesn’t mean we would have to do anything, does it?” She was now regretting her earlier little-miss-innocent routine; she really didn’t want their night to end anytime soon.
“Grace, I don’t trust myself to sleep in your bed and not touch you, rush you into something you’re not ready for.
You said a month, so a month it is. I want to do this properly.
I really want this to work and if I have to wait then that’s what’s going to happen.
Ring me when you wake. I want to come pick you up like a proper boyfriend. That is what I am now, isn’t it?”
Grace nodded, smiling gently at his confusion as he sat before her asking for clarity on their newly formed relationship.
Standing he held out his hand to help her up.
Unable to resist the stunning girl that stood before him he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her body against him, planting gentle velvet kisses on her forehead, nose and mouth as he held her in his embrace.
“Night, beautiful. Ring me as soon as you open your eyes. I want to have breakfast with my girlfriend.”
Watching him leave, Grace hugged herself, unable to believe he had just called her his girlfriend.
She felt dizzy with the revelation but couldn’t help the feeling of rejection that was now slowly creeping through her veins.
Why had she made the stupid comment about not rushing into anything?
It wasn’t like she normally withheld anything but somehow she felt that things with Alex were different.
As his car disappeared out of view, Grace locked the door and began clearing up before heading off to bed. It was going to be a long night.