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It's Complicated Ch. 01

By: WynterLee



This is unedited.

*****

Theodore Masters

I woke up the next morning next to a beautiful blonde whose hair is in long curls snuggled up right against my chest. Unconsciously she shifts in her sleep causing the sheet to fall down and I could see a good amount of her cleavage. Moving some of her hair away from her neck I lean down and start sucking on her neck, eventually I start sucking hard enough to give her a hickey officially claiming her as mine. I couldn't wait to get that mask off of her when she wakes up. I already took mine off last night. She insisted on keeping it on even though I couldn't see her face in the dark.

Momentarily forgetting that I'm sucking on her neck she lets out small moans. Eventually her beautiful vibrant blue eyes open up and she turns her head to look up at me. I stop claiming her neck as I lean and kiss her before she can get a good look at me. I couldn't wait to see who she was, she looks absolutely beautiful.

"Go turn the lights on, then you're going to turn the lights on, and take your mask off. I want to see you," I tell her and she starts to get up but I stop her. "Not this second I want you to take care of a problem I have under the blankets kitten."

I don't give her a chance to say anything as I push her head under the blanket towards my erect cock. She grabs my cock and strokes it avidly well taking some into her mouth. Shoving her further down she gags. I let out a loud moan as she gets use to my cock. I like the feeling of her warm mouth covering my cock, the strings of saliva that follow as she takes her mouth off.

"Good girl... such a good girl.. keep going kitten. Good girl... Daddy's almost there," I groan as my balls slap against her face. I take my hand and wrap it in her long blonde curls pulling her mouth further down. My balls begin to churn as she goes further down. Eventually I let out a few spurts of cum. She took it all into her mouth then swallowed. I let out a small moan as she sucks on my cock to make sure all of the cum was gone. In a hoarse voice I say, "Off now kitten it's time for you to take off your mask and then you can face me."

She nods her head and then she turns around a small tattoo on the side of her body are small black birds flying upwards towards her breasts. I watch as she brings her small hands behind her head untying the mask as she throws it on to the floor ahead of her. Turning around she looks at me and the both of us drop our masks. There is my baby sister staring at me with her blue eyes shocked. She cover her breasts even though I have spent more then enough time staring at them.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! I need to go!" she says faster then my brain can register and she shoves on her dress only zipping it up half way and picks up her heels rushing out of the room. I go to run after her but as soon as I get up I trip over the sheet. I couldn't believe I slept with my sister.

"Well this is going to be an awkward movie night tonight," I mumble to myself as I get off the bed that's reeks the smell of sex and alcohol. A few cans of whip cream and a bowl of melted chocolate that's not hardened again on the side table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ashlyn are you in your room? Can you please come out?" I ask her knocking on her door. I press my ear against the door and I don't hear much of anything but the small sound of a drum. My sister had her head phones in blasted as loud as she could. I sigh and lean against the door. She didn't want to talk right now and there's nothing I could do to force her to come out. 

In my head with my rational thought I knew that what we did last night was wrong. I knew that her and I were going to be damned in Hell for the rest of our life when we die, but in a way it felt exciting. Never has a girl ever let me take her to a hotel room and let me treat her however I wanted too. I never knew that my sister was a do what she's told type of girl. Then again she's my sister so of course I don't ask her details on her sex life. I mean sure I've questioned her if she's sexually active and caught her a few times in the act which were scarring moments.

I like the feeling of us being together last night and she's the best girl that I've ever been with. My brain could comprehend that what we're doing isn't right but it didn't matter because even if it's wrong it felt really right. I just need to get her to talk to me some. She ran out on me.

Heading down stairs I decide to go make some dinner. I stayed later in the hotel not wanting to come home straight away. Maybe if I'm lucky she'll keep it cool and treat it like nothing happen. That way I can bring it up later when she's eating or when we watch a movie. There's no way we could avoid this talk. Sure when she was younger she learned the birds and bees from school so I didn't need to explain or bring it up besides telling her to be safe. I made sure she always has birth control and condoms so she doesn't have a pregnancy. 

A few minutes later I hear her door slam and she's bouncing down the stairs obviously ignoring me who's cooking in the kitchen. She's dressed up ready to go out. Her hair has been straightened and she wore a white dress which I would find ironic after what we did last night. I am quite sure the things we did weren't pure and even God would frown upon us.

"Where are you going? It's movie night don't you remember? We do this every week about three days of the week when I'm not busy? Today I'm not busy," I point out to her with a small frown. How am I going to confront what's going on between us if she won't even let me talk to her.

"I'm going out. I have a date tonight," she tells me vaguely not giving any details about where she plans to go or who she's going with. 

"Anyone I would know?" I ask her automatically disliking whoever it is that's taking my sister's attention away from me. Especially after last night I didn't want to lose her to anyone. 

"No, anyways don't wait up for me. I don't plan on coming home tonight if things go well," she says taking her car keys off the hook and leaving out the door. I look at the window after her and watch as she leaves before checking my phone. I kept a tracker in her car since I have some bad history with some people and I like to know where my sister is at all times. 

Turning off the stove and grabbing my car keys I hurry to my car with my phone on so I could follow her. It may seem a little eccentric but I didn't need anyone else taking my sister away. Starting up the car I drive off after her making sure to stay back far enough.

It's Complicated Ch. 02



Waking up was the second hardest thing for Pierce to do, the first was physically getting out of bed. He stayed in bed the whole weekend, wishing Monday would never come, but it did. It was a little after one, he already missed his first two classes and if he missed psychology class Jaylyn would make sure he never heard the end of it. He should have opted for the written exam rather than the oral. "Oh well," he thought dragging himself out the door, "it's too late now." On top of it all, his dad was in town on business and wanted to 'catch up' with him. Pierce wasn't looking forward to seeing his father at all.

Limping late into class Pierce heads to the back and finds his seat next Jaylyn.

"Look whose late...again."

"Not by much." Pierce grumbled out.

"It's the principle of the matter."

"What did I miss?" Pierce said finally sitting down with his hand on his side.

"Just notes...bar fight?"

Laughing weakly Pierce says,

"You should see the other guy."

"What are you doing after class?"

"I don't know, why?"

"We need to get started on our oral, my place or the library?" 

"I don't care." Pierce said leaning back resting his palms over his eyes.

"My place it is."



Peirce decided to kill some time before the study session for some quality time with his favorite girl Allison. He went by her class and waited for her to come out. When she did he landed an audible smack on her ass.

"Ow!"

"There's my girl." Pierce said holding his arm out to her. 

After thinking about what Lyn said to him he knew he had to let her go, but he didn't want to. She did some really good things to him. He wasn't a complete heartless dog, but he knew Allison wanted more than what he was willing to offer at this time. It wasn't that he didn't like her in that way because he did. In fact, he could actually see himself with her, but he could also see himself with a lot of girls and most people usually did.

"What are you doing here?" Allison said throwing her long red hair aver her shoulders. 

She really was a beautiful girl, pale white skin, long red hair with a pair of bright blue eyes to match. She was shorter than Pierce at 5'10, but she had the long lean build of a yoga instructor. 'Damn' Pierce thought, 'Its going to be hard getting rid of her.'

"I came to see you, doll." He said hugging her to his bruised side, wincing at the pain.

"I see practice is still tough."

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Have you had it looked at?" She said obviously worried about his well being.

"Nah, I don't need to. Not unless you want to look at it."

"Are you sure you're up for that? You're already limping."

He took her hand and brought it to the bulge in his jeans.

"I'm always up for that doll, besides it's your turn to do all the work and you'll be the one limping."

**********************************

Sitting at her desk reading over the project guide lines, Lyn looks back at her clock. 'It's past seven, where the hell was Pierce?' She thought. If he didn't walk through that door in the next ten minutes she was going to find him and beat him down. He knew how important this assignment was to their grade. She called him three times and he didn't answer. By eight she decided to give up on it he was probably with one of his girls or something. She was going to head out to the library to work on some other homework. Just as she opened the door she ran into Pierces chest.

"What the fuck Cohen?!"

"Where do you think you are going?" He said, shoving her back into her dorm room. 

"I'm going to the library. That is where I know I'm going." She said, her irritation getting the best of her.

"No. We had a date."

"Yes and you were late, so I'm leaving."

"Lyn what's the problem?" He asked pulling her into him.

In her mind she wanted to scream that the problem was him. He was the reason why her boyfriend didn't spend enough time with her. He was the reason she was sexually frustrated and he didn't help matters by holding her so close to him. Best friend or not she had needs and they have not been met in quite some time. 

"Nothing these midterms and shit are making me a little crazy. Did you come to study or not?"She said pushing him away from her.

"Somebody isn't getting any." Pierce said teasingly.

"You should tell your hookers not to leave their marks where people can see them." She said noticing a hickey that wasn't there earlier.

"Just one hooker this time." He said touching the mark on his neck.

"Anyone I know?"

"Allison."

"I thought you were done with her?"

"She's my second favorite girl. I have to give her one last ride on the Cohen Pierce train before I let her go."

Lyn shot him a dirty look.

"Now if only my number one girl would just come to her senses and realize that she wants all of this, my life would be complete."

"In your dreams. I'm not going to be one of your hookers."

"One day you're gonna want to hitch a ride on this train." He teasingly grabbed her waist and bit her neck

"Ew! Cohen. I don't want your rabies."

"Don't fight it."

Her and Pierce both knew that that wouldn't happen. Once back in high school the two drank a little bit too much at someone's basement party and ended up making out. Once they saw those pictures there were no stopping the rumors that they were going out. It was something they both wanted to forget, but somehow it stayed in the back of their minds.

Pierce was laying on her twin bed flat his back with his hands behind his head. His eyes were more than likely closed she couldn't quite tell because his hair was usually covering half his face.

"Cohen!" Lyn shouted while throwing her cell phone at him hitting him in the ribs.

"Shit!"

"That's what you get for sleeping while I'm talking."

"I wasn't sleeping. I was looking right at you." Pierce said draping one hand lazily over his bruised ribs. 

"Whatever I'm sure you deserved it. I think it would be easier to split the work down the middle so you would be doing the visual half which means doing all the video footage, the power point and the handouts, I'm going to do the written essay and the verbal part."

"Fine by me." 

Before Lyn could say anything back, her roommate Ashley came walking in with a bag on either arm, shopping no doubt. Ashley was an average 5'5, she had brown skin, short brown hair, and almond shaped eyes with a frame most guys would refer to as stacked. Ashley was considered a native around the school because she was born and raised in Michigan. Her and Lyn met their first year at MSU and vowed to stay roommates until graduation. Save for Pierce, Ashley was her best friend. She always had her back no matter what and vice versa. Ashley was never shy and always straight to the point, she was a lot like Pierce in that way.

"I bought you something." Ashley said rummaging through her purchases finally pulling out a black corset with matching boy shorts, "What do you think?"

"I think its fucking sexy." Pierce said butting in never changing position.

"Boy knows what he's talking about." Ashley said to Lyn about Pierces' comment. "Why is he here anyway?"

"Were working on our project, be nice." Lyn answered.

"Don't worry," Pierce said standing up, "She's very friendly. Aren't you Ashley?"

"So, how's Devin?" Ashley blurted trying to avoid the obvious.

"Whoa. There's a story to be told and I want to hear it." Lyn interjected.

"No there is NO story trust me. I wouldn't lie." Ashley said trying desperately to drop it.

"Tell me." 

"Tell her." Pierce said reaching for her belt loop.

"There's nothing to tell." Ashley said hitting Pierce in his side, which seemed to be a target for these girls, he thought.

"I'll see you later tonight Lyn. Ask her about Brian's party." Pierce said laughing his way out the door and dodging another hit from Ashley.

"Where are you going?" Lyn asked.

"To get drunk and laid."

His father was in town and he promised to meet him first thing tomorrow. The getting drunk part was his way of getting ready for it. The getting laid part was for the monster growing in his pants.

...



It's Complicated Ch. 02



"You're making me self-conscious watching me eat," she tells me without looking up.

"Sorry River." I look down at my food. As good as it was I have been only picking at it for the last few minutes. Distracted a bit maybe.

"Why?"

I look up from the plate to see her smiling at me.

"Why what?" I ask grinning at her.

"Why are you sorry? I didn't ask you to stop." She grins at me.

Laughing I go back to watching her.

The soft flickering light from the candles make her eyes glow like blue jewels in the slight shadows under her eyebrows. Her lips sit like a pouty red ribbon then part to reveal her wicked smile. She blushes slightly under my gaze.

"You are so very beautiful," I tell her in a near whisper.

She colors even more but smiles at the compliment.

"Thank you." I see her eyes glance up at me then drop from my face to her plate. Then they come back up to my face and she smiles. "Thank you for this night. I've never felt less like a little girl and more like a woman than tonight." She lays her fork down on the napkin and sits back from the table. "This has got to be the best birthday present I've ever gotten."

I lift my glass to her. "I'll have to figure out a way to do better for next year."

I look up as our waiter reappears. At our gesture, she silently takes away the plates. As she's refilling our drinks, I look around at the other patrons. They like us sit in private pools of candlelight. As if in islands of shadow we are all in our own little worlds of love. At the table farthest from us, I see a familiar face watching from behind a candle. When my eyes catch his, he gives me a wink, a pull of the brim of his flat cap then leaning forward blows out his candle.

I look back to River.

"This place is incredible." River reaches across the table towards my hand. I slide it across the white cloth till our fingers meet.

"I hoped you would like it," I say softly, absently playing with her fingers. Brushing them lightly. After a second the tickling gets to her, and she lightly pops my hand.

Sitting back she looks around the room then shakes her head.

"I'm not worth all of this. This is costing you a fortune. You could have taken me somewhere much cheaper. I ...."

"You are more than worth it," I interrupt her. "I would have paid twice what this meal has cost just to sit here and look into your eyes," I tell her with a near fierce tone coming into my voice.

She smiles.

"Now you're just being silly." She looks down at her glass, her fingers playing in the condensation. "What do you want from me?" She glances back up at me. "I love you, I love you dearly, but I can already see the problems this is going to cause. Most of the relatives think even this date is inappropriate. Mom's okay with it. Dad hasn't really given an opinion. I don't think Jeff approves."

"I don't really care if my Dad approves or not. I haven't had any say in his choices in women. I'll be damned if I'll let him have any say in mine." I tell her perhaps a little stronger than I meant too. I still have some very bitter feelings towards Jeff.

"Is that what I am?" she asks smiling. "Your woman?" she laughs.

"What?"

"Sounds like you want to drag me off to a cave somewhere." She looks at me with her laughing eyes.

I chuckle.

"Me love River. We go to cave. Quest for fire."

Her giggles attract the other patrons. I see several smile, caught up in her delight.

Slowly she becomes serious again.

"You didn't answer me?" She looks at me with those intense eyes. I now know that she inherited them from her grandfather. I glance back to the table in the corner, but a young couple is sitting there now. I look back to River.

Her eyes demand an answer.

"I want everything. Your love, all of it. Your time, every moment you want to give me. I want to be there for you whenever you need me." I shrug. "I'm greedy I want everything."

She leans towards me.

"How about my body? Do you wanting that too?" she asks me grinning wickedly.

I smile. Since asking her out, I've discovered River loves to be a tease.

"Oh yes." I smile softly "Whenever you're ready to take that step, I most assuredly want that."

"Your head, your heart, and your nuts?" she asks chuckling.

"All three," I answer smiling.

She looks down at her glass focusing on the patterns in the condensation down the side. She looks up a bit unsure.

"I talk a great game, but I've ... I've never done that. Not all the way." She tells me softly almost like she's ashamed. She sighs. "I'm sure you have, though."

"Once."

She looks up surprised. "Only once?"

I nod.

"And it hardly counts. My Mom walked in on us before we could ... finish shall we say." I shrug a little at her widening eyes.

"Oh my god." She giggles behind her hand. "Oh I would have died."

"Mom about did." I chuckle at the memory. "At first I thought she was going to have a come-apart then she just started laughing her head off and closed the door. It was already to late, thought."

"Oh you poor thing." River is looking at me with her wicked grin firmly in place.

I shrug.

"It's just as well. I was being an idiot." She looks at me strange, so I explain. "I wasn't wearing a condom. I really hadn't expected the kissing we were doing to go that far, so I hadn't bought any. She said it didn't matter. I probably would have had the karma to have gotten her pregnant right then on my first time."

River tilts her head. "How old would the child be now?"

I think back. "There would be a little ten-year-old running around the table going Dad, dad, dad." I take a sip from my glass.

"Ten? You were sixteen at the time?" She looks confused for a second. "So you haven't had sex since then? Ten years?"

The humor crashes out of me like a drain is pulled.

"Yeah," I say looking down at the table.

"Hey?" She leans forward and takes my hand. "Hey, now what is it?" 

When I look up I see the concern in her eyes. It shines out from those pools of blue. I give her fingers a squeeze.

But stay silent.

"You can tell me." She grins at me. "I'm your woman."

I smile at that and nod.

"Well ..." I take a deep breath. "She hurt me, very badly. Told a lot of people a lot of lies about me. She was being lovey, lovey to my face then cutting me apart behind my back. "

"Why?" River asks confused.

I sit back and resting my right elbow in my left palm, I sit bumping my lips with a knuckle deciding if I should say. When I look up at River's eyes, I decide yes.

"It was a joke. The whole thing ... from the very beginning. A joke she was playing on me to amuse her friends. Flirting with me in class. Calling me after school. She would call me on speaker phone while her friends listened in trying not to giggle as she talked all romantic to me." My eyes focus on the candle flame. "Dad had been out of work; Mom was supporting us. I worked on the weekend to get the odd dollar. I would spend the money on her. Buying her nice gifts. She would 'love them' then tell her friends how cheap I was ... how poor."

"Fucking cunt."

I look up at River. I have never heard her cuss in my life. There is a cold flame burning behind her eyes now. I smile seeing her rise to my defense over something ten years dead if not forgotten.

"Yeah, she was that. I think the day we 'got together' was actually a mistake. She got carried away." I shrug a little.

"She got horny and let it go to far." River grins. "Yeah, I've see the girls in my class do that too. Some of them have ended up with babies in their bellies."

"Yeah well, we were headed down that path for sure. There was nothing in the world going to stop me from cumming in her." I grin. "Well, except for my Mom walking in on us."

River laughs. Then get serious. "Why haven't you since then. I mean ten years?"

I sit silent for a few seconds.

"I didn't want to be hurt that bad again."

She looks at me for a time then smiles slowly.

"And me? What about me? Did you figure I wouldn't hurt you?" she asks then reaches for my hand again.

I take her fingers into mine. Not meeting her eyes just looking at our joined hands I answer.

"With you ... I figured it would be worth it if I ... if I got hurt again."

Her fingers tighten on mine. "I would never hurt you. No mater what happens between us I would never do that."

We sit just looking into each other's eyes holding hands till our waitress returns.

We wave off offers of desert, and I hand the waitress my credit card. She brings back the receipt for me to sign. I stand up to pocket my credit card and River gets up as well.

"We don't have to leave yet if you just want to sit for awhile," I tell her resting my fingers atop my glass. "Or if you want I have something else for us to go do."

"What?" She eyes me grinning.

"Oh, it's a surprise." I look her up and down. "Something you've never got to do before." River's not the only tease in the world.

She looks at me for a second then smiles. "I like surprises."

Pulling back out my wallet I drop a twenty on the table.

"Lets go then." I walk around to her side of the table and offer her my arm. She giggles and shakes her head, but her fingers come to rest on my arm.

The Maitre D' by the door smiles at us and opens the door.

"Thank you for coming and enjoy your night." He tells us as we walk through.

"Thank you," answers River as she leans into my arm a little to go through the opening. She doesn't pull away after were outside.

The wait while the valet goes for my car could have been far longer. I wouldn't have minded. He pulls it up and I open the door for River. She grins at me as I help her inside. The look the guy gives me as he hands me my keys is pure envious. Hot car, hot girl. I can almost hear his thoughts. Hopping inside, I hit the button and watch the delight on Rivers face as the top folds back.

"I have always loved this car." She looks over in the back. "Any chance I could lose my virginity in the back seat?"

I look up at the valet seeing his jaw drop. Chuckling I drive us away.

The wind streams by over our heads, cool with just a touch of misty night fog. The stars are so bright above I smile as I see River reaching up into the wind to pluck at them.

"Were are we going?" she asks me giggling as I drive out onto the big metal bridge that crosses the river to the bright lights.

I look at her for a second then I point ahead of us to the club.

"We are going there," I tell her.

She follows my finger then looks back at me her face falling.

"I can't go in there. I'm not over twenty-one." She reminds me needlessly.

"Trust your man," I tell her softly.

For a second her hand comes to rest on top of mine on the shifter.

"My man," she says softly smiling at me.

I take us down the off-ramp and into the little side streets. I can hear the club as I turn the block. I roll up into the parking lot and close the top. Getting out I try to get to her side before she opens the door but she shakes her head and beats me to it. I still take her hand as she gets out.

"You are being ridiculous," she tells me, grinning all the same with pleasure.

There is a short line by the door. Mostly so that age can be checked. I see River starting to look nervous as we wait. The bouncer eyes her with close scrutiny.

"I don't think I can let this one in. She's far too young," he says, trying to sound all official.

"Barry I'm going to have to hurt you," I tell him smiling.

He chuckles.

"I'm the bouncer that's my job." He looks back a River for a second then to me. "She doesn't drink. Not even a soda. I see a glass in her hand ya'll are out the door."

I nod to my old friend, and he opens the rope to let us through.

River looks a question at me as we get inside.

"That way the security cameras couldn't be used to say they had under aged customers. If you don't have a glass, you couldn't have been drinking," I tell her leaning down to talk into her ear. The place is not deafening, but it is load.

She catches my head and pulls me into a deep kiss.

Her lips are soft against mine. I taste the lemon lime soda she drank with dinner on her breath.

"I love you," she says into my ear as we part.

We walk together into the shifting patterns of lights and the chest pounding sounds. I take her hands and some how we manage to find a spot on the dance floor for our feet. The feeling of people constantly brushing my back and arms is unnerving at first, but I'm soon focused just on her.

She looks up at me grinning, as we dance. I watch her body move in the tight sheath of dark blue she wore. The small straps across her shoulders seem to be doing little to hold it up. Her delightful curves are making it defy gravity's pull. She catches me eyeing her body and grinning gives her breasts a shake.

I laugh and pull her in closer to me.

Soon she is pressed up tight to me. I can feel the heat of her body against mine as we both start to sweat a bit. The club is cool but the energy it's generating is furnace hot.

We dance through three or maybe four songs. The music seems to run together till it's hard to tell when one ends, and another begins. Kind of dodging our way out to the side of the crowd we finally pull clear with a near birth like feeling.

Panting, she leans giggling into me.

I see a couple leave a table, and I tow her to it quickly. We plop down on feet that ache. I lean into her ear.

"I'll be right back."

She nods.

The bar is crowded with people, but I finally manage to get a glass of clear soda filled with crushed ice. When I come back to the table, she eyes it with a longing that is nearly pornographic. I smile at her.

Taking a long sip, I see her watching the liquid flow into my mouth.

I lean into her as I set the glass down and kiss her a drink into her mouth. She nearly chokes from trying to drink and giggle at the same time. Lifting the glass back to my lips, I catch a large chunk of ice between my teeth. Showing it to her I lean in again. As she goes to take it I let it drop into my mouth. The battle between our tongues for it is enough to have me panting after she finally wins.

Showing off the much small piece of ice she makes a long show of moving it around in her mouth as it melts. Then grins at me as she swallows the icy water.

She gestures to me with one finger. I lean in. When I get near her, she catches the back of my head, and I feel her whisper at my ear. Like tickling feathers, her breathy words make me shiver.

"You are such a ... cunt tease!" she tells me shaking her head. She starts to pull back then pulls me back to her mouth "I'm going to the bathroom, be right back."

I nod.

I sit listening to the music thinking about her for the most part. I watch the other people in the club. Most are my age or just a little younger.

I notice River making her way back through the crowd. She seems to fit right in, almost like she has aged five years over night. She gets stopped almost every few feet and asked to dance. Not always by guys either.

As she passes me she leans down to by my ear. "I want another drink." She stuffs something into my pocket. 

Taking a sip I lift my lips to her, and the cold liquid is kissed from me. As she sits down, I move my hand to my pocket.

My fingers brush warm silk. Moving it around a little I realize what I'm holding. I tilt my head and gesture for her to come close. She shakes her head and makes the same gesture towards me. I lean into her. Again I feel her words tickling my ear.

"I don't cum too one finger silly man."

I catch her head as she goes to pull back from me. I feel her shiver as I whisper to her. "And you call me a tease."

She smiles.

I gesture back to the dance floor. She nods but catches my wrist. Turning up my watch she looks at it then taps the top. I see her mouth the words "Midnight."

Understanding I nod.

The music over the next hour is a mixture of my age to hers. Times we have to make our way to the side, but we never again get a table. She leans into me, her breath coming in pants, and then we fall back into the dance floor. A couple of times I feel her hand brush my crotch. I have been rock hard for half the night.

At one point for a slow song she reached back and taking my wrist slides my hand down onto her hip. The lack of a panty line brings back to mind what's in my pocket.

Finally after hours, with us both at the very edge of exhaustion, we make our way off the dance floor and towards the door.

The night air is shockingly cool as we step outside. I wave to Barry. He grins at me then looks River up and down shaking his head he makes a wolf whistle silently with his lips. I nod my agreement and chuckle.

"What? Oh God, I can hear again." She leans into my side my arm goes around her.

Chuckling I nod.

"What were you laughing about?" she asks me as we walk towards my car.

"Barry thinks you're hot," I tell her as I turn her lose to fish my keys out my pocket.

She blushes. Then fans at her face.

"I am. Can we have the top back down?" she asks as I open the door for her. As she slips inside, I see her dress ride up her thighs. Knowing that there is nothing under it sends a hard ache through me.

She catches my eyes and grins wickedly at me. She lifts one finger and rocks it side to side.

Walking around the back of the car I have to reach down and adjust my cock in my pants to a more comfortable position. I haven't been this hard for this long without some sort of self-gratification in years. I know I'm going to hurt like hell tomorrow, but at the moment I don't care.

Cranking the car I open the top. She waves to Barry as we drive past the door.

The cool night air is invigorating though I about nearly wreck us when she lifts my hand down off the shifter and places it on her bare thigh.

Her skin is silky soft under my fingers. I caress her from her knee to a little below the edge of her dress. I want so badly to go further up, but I know that even with all her teasing that would be a bit beyond what I should do on a first date.

I catch her eyes a couple of times as my hand nears the blue fabric. She just watches me to see if I will go higher. 

I lift my hand to shift us down for a light. After it changes I don't have the time before I'm pulling into the driveway to put my hand back on her leg. The temptation is high though.

As I shut down the car she looks over at me.

"Come around back to the pool." She leans down and fishes her purse from under the seat. "I just have to be home by midnight, the date doesn't have to end."

I nod.

Getting out the car I notice she just sits there this time. I walk around to her side of the car and open the door. I take her hand as she goes to step out. My breath catches as her legs open showing me a lot of bare skin a long way up her inner thigh. 

When I look up, she is looking at me with her eyes laughing.

"My God, you are being naughty tonight," she tells me in a whisper, as I close the door.

"I'm being naughty?"

Laughing, she takes my arm and we walk around the side of the house. The inside is dark.

"Mom and Dad are asleep by now," she tells me softly as if there is a need to whisper.

I nod. I know their habits from the many nights I've stayed here growing up. As we round the corner she turns loose my arm and walks over to the pool. She steps a foot out of her shoe and dips it into the water.

"Oh God that feels good. My feet are killing me." She takes off her other shoe and steps down onto the top step of the pool stairs. "Oh, that's orgasmic."

I chuckle. She looks back at me then smiles.

"You still have a suit in the pool house. I'm going to go get mine on. I want to go for a swim." She leans down and picks up her shoes. I watch her walk bare foot to the backdoor and step inside.

I walk to the pool house trying to plan out just what I'm going to say to Granny, or god forbid Jack, if they come down and find us in the pool. Together.




It's Complicated Ch. 02



As I strip off my shirt, I tell myself I have no intentions of letting this go too far, but then thinking back that's what I said when Mandy and I were together as well.

Unlike that time though I have leaned to plan for the unexpected. I bought something this afternoon with no plan to use them, but at the same time an ecstatic feeling knowing I might need them. With River.

As I go to unbutton my slacks, I remember what's in my pocket. Reaching into them, I pull out a lacy pair of blue silk thongs that almost exactly matches the dress she was wearing. I can't help myself, I lift them to my nose and breathe in deeply the rich scent they hold.

Only the cool night air has me not standing at attention when I strip off my underwear and step into my swim trunks.

I open the door to see her stepping into the pool. Unlike the one at her birthday party, the bikini she's wearing this time is more than a little revealing. I have to wonder, as she sinks into the water if Granny even knows she has it. I grab two towels from the shelf by the door and walk to the steps.

"Oh God, this feels wonderful," she tells me as she swims back over beside the steps.

As I walk into the pool, I have to agree. The cold water rises up my legs and cools the hot ache I've been feeling for half the night. I see her eyes on my stomach as I step off the last step and into the pool. My feet still touching bottom I walk more than swim to her side.

River lays her arms around my neck and kisses me. Feeling a little self-conscious about the dark windows behind me I kiss her back hesitantly.

"You don't have to worry," she tells me softly. "I heard Dad snoring when I went past their room." Her legs stop scissoring and wrap around me. I catch her weight as she stops swimming and pull her to me. "Besides he said I was free, white, over eighteen, and that I belong to my mother."

I chuckle at that. Sounds just like something Jack would say.

I try to keep us in the shallower end of the pool as she goes back to kissing me. My hands were caressing the soft skin of her back. After a bit my legs start to get tired and I move us over to the steps. Siting down she turns in my arms till she's leaned back against my chest. I wrap my arms around her and pull her tight to keep her from floating away. She turns her head towards my face and I bury my lips in the small of her neck. I kiss lightly just under her ear till she shivers.

Looking at her I see her grinning.

"I don't know how long I can keep myself from wanting to take that step you mentioned. I want you right now." She moves herself against my crotch. "I can tell you feel the same."

I hug her tight to me, pulling her ass down against the bulge not even cool pool water could make go away.

"I'll wait till your ready. Till you're sure. There is no rush even though we both want it. If anything the waiting for it is making it all the sweeter."

"You sure?" she asks me softly. I nod. She pulls loose and turns around till she's sitting astride me feel her body press down against me. I know from what I'm feeling that only a bit of cloth and her virginity are keeping me from being inside her. My hands settle on her hips the fingers sped across her ass.

Her lips lightly touch mine. Soft kisses that linger then vanish. Only to reappear seconds latter. She leans her forehead against mine.

"I love you," she says softly. "I always have."

"And I love you, my beautiful River." I look up into her eyes, far bluer than the waters of the pool.

"This has been the most wonderful night I've ever had. I've felt like a princess. Like a real woman. A woman in love."

"You are all of that," I tell her in a whisper.

The underwater lights to the pool come on. I look to the door hearing it open softly. I look a bit shame face as Granny walks out in her nightgown and robe. She comes over and kneels down on our towels next to us. She leans in and plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

"I hate to be a killjoy but it's almost one I the morning and if Jack comes down and finds the two of you like this he might be get a bit hot and bothered and I need my rest." She's grinning at me.

I chuckle and nod.

She smiles.

"Now kiss her good night." She looks up at River. "And you kiss him goodnight and get to bed."

"Yes ma'am," River says blushing a little.

Chuckling, Granny gets up off our towels and makes her way back inside. She doesn't turn off the pool lights though I notice.

River leans down and places a hard kiss on my lips. I pull her tight as I kiss her back. Her lips, after a minute, slid off mine and across my cheek.

"You're going to be my fantasy tonight." She tells me in a soft whisper. "Will I be yours?" She sits back on my lap looking at my eyes.

I nod.

She gives a little shiver and grins at me wickedly. She slides off me and walks up the steps, water running off her body. It glows in the lights of the pool. I turn in the water and watch her dry herself off. The way her body moves as she rubs herself with the towel is so very sensuous. She looks at me looking at her and grins. Wrapping the towel around herself she blows me a kiss and walks to the backdoor. She looks back at me as I walk up the steps and brush water off my skin. She reaches over and turns off the pool lights when I pick up my towel.

Shivering a little in the night air, I go to the pool house and get dry. My clothes feel strange on water-saturated skin. As I'm slipping on my shoes I realize her panties are still in my pants pocket. I smile wondering if she will ever ask for them back.

Or if I would give them to her if she did.

I roll the car out the driveway in neutral and crank it at the bottom of the hill. As I drive home, I slowly wind down and begin to feel almost like I'm shaking. To be worked up that long feels incredible. Knowing that, at some future date and time, I will be using all this nervous energy to bring her pleasure is a thought that brings a smile to my lips.

As I drive past the park, I see the old man sitting on the bench under one of the few lights. He watches me with a smile as I drive by.

I have no temptation to stop and talk to him in the dark of the night. Not knowing what I know.

I do after a bit though feel a sense of comfort settle on me. Knowing that River is being protected by such love.

Even from me maybe.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

The ringing phone wakes me.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, sleepy head."

"Good morning, River," I say sitting up on the side of the bed.

"More like good noon, sleepy head." It sounds like she's outside I hear the wind going across the mic. "Could you ...would you ... could you possibly come give me a hand."

"I'll give you any body part you want River, but I'll need a cup of coffee first." I get to my feet and blinking make my way towards my kitchen. "Where you at it, sounds windy?"

"I'm at a car dealership. I just found me a nice car." She sounds ecstatic.

"And you need me for?" I ask as I fill the pot with water and poor it into the coffee maker.

"To satisfy my every sexual whim, urge, and desire of course," she says teasing. "But for right now if you would I could use someone who knows cars better than I do to take a look at it before I sign for it."

I yawn holding the phone away from my face. When I bring it back, she's pleading.

"Oh please, please, please!"

"Alright, alright I'm coming just let the coffee finish while I get dress, and I'll be headed that way. Now your were exactly?" I ask wondering if the rest of our lives are going to be like this. After last night I know I can live with it if it is.

She tells me where she's at and I tell her I love her.

"I love you too. See you soon."

Stumbling back to my room, I pull some jeans from under a pile and hunt under the bed for my boots.

When I hear the coffee pot 'bing' I wonder if I could get it in an intravenous drip. I grab up an old pair of my scrubs and pull them over my head. The faded blue is marred with old grease stains that will never come out.

I sip my coffee as I drive to the car lot. I pull in and see her all but salivating over her choice.

A convertible. Why am I not surprised.

When I get out my car I see the salesman come out and walk towards us.

"Well you called in a real car doctor didn't you?" he says smiling at River. He holds out a hand to me. "Barney Teage, of 'Barney Teage Auto Sales' I must say that's a mighty fine ride your driving there yourself. If you don't mind me asking ...."

For the next twenty minutes I can't get a word in edge wise. I finally, after about five of them, just pop the hood on River's choice. The little blue Mazda Miata at first glance looks mint but the second and third glances start to show me a life time of wear without a knowing hand at the wheel. Luckily it's not too long of a lifetime. I know how to fix most of what I'm seeing in an afternoon.

I look at the white painted words on the front window. 'As is'. So ... Mr. Teage knows about them as well. I have River crank it for me while I watch the tailpipe. The salesman isn't too happy to see me doing this.

In the end, I get him to knock almost two thousand-dollar off the price. I then go in with her as she signs, something he also doesn't like. As she's signing the warranty he gives me a slightly disgusted look but I just shrug.

As we walk out to her car with the keys in hand, she is giggly with pleasure.

"Oh my wonderful man, you are useful." She gives me a hug by her car. I drop my hand on top of the door as she start to get in. She looks up at me puzzled. "What?"

I hold out my keys.

"You drive mine. I want to see if I was right about something. I felt a shimmy when we test drove it."

"That was me squirming my ass on those leather seats," she tells me grinning. She bounces my keys in her hands and looks back towards my car. "You sure?"

I inwardly cringe at the look on her face. Whispering a silent prayer for my gears I nod. The kiss she gives me is worth a few broken gear teeth. Hell, it's so hard it almost costs me a few of my own.

The little sports car cranks with a good sound. For a twelve-year-old car it is in decently good shape. I pull out the dealership and head towards her house. About a mile down the road, I turn us onto the highway. It's a longer way home, but I want to open the little car up. It responds well till I get up above sixty then that little shimmy shake starts to appear.

"Yep. The frontend's out of align. Maybe the backend too," I say to myself as I back it down a little.

My car comes past me like I'm standing still.

Shaking my head, I give chase to the off ramp. I can hear my stereo thundering out something it's never played before. I promise my car an oil change for the indignity. I make a 'turn it down' gesture to her as I pull up beside her.

"I've got to stop by the parts store. I'll be there in just a few." I call across to her.

"Oh, Okay!" she says nodding.

She cranks Lady Gaga back up.

Oh, my poor speakers.

With the backseat full of small boxes, I pull up the driveway. I see my car sitting looking all dejected. It won't even look at me as I park the little blue car next to it.

The garage door rolls up, and I see Jeff pushing out the tall, rolling, red box of tools.

He looks at the car and shakes his head. "She said she bought a Mazda. I figured you would want these."

Laughing, I pop the hood. He lifts it up. 

"Looks two hamsters low." He calls from around the hood.

"Hey! No making fun of my car!" I hear River call from the side of the house as she comes walking around. She is in old worn looking clothes.

Jeff eyes her up and down.

"What are you going to do?" he asks with a quirked eyebrow.

"My boyfriend is going to show me how to work on my car." She slides up to me and wraps a hand around my hip. I smile down at her then look up to see Jeff looking at me. I stare him down.

He looks back at River.

"You could ask your big brother to do that," he says after a second.

"Nope." She shakes her head. "You clearly don't know anything about cars. You think they run on hamsters."

Getting the parts out the back I can't help but grin. I start handing her stuff.

"Okay what am I learning to do first?" she asks.

I look up to see Jeff popping the hood on Granny's minivan. He doesn't look at me.

"You're going to learn to change your oil." I hand her the filter and filter wrench. She looks at them for a second then looks up with the most vapid look on her face.

"And it needs to be changed why?" she asks sweetly.

I give her an evil eye.

"Because it's old," I say softly like I'm talking to a child.

She tilts her head and drops ten more IQ points.

"Of course it is. It's recycled dinosaurs"

"I am so going to spank you in a minute," I tell her smiling. She grins back at me. "Get under the car."

I roll the little blue car up onto the tire wheel ramps then we both crawl up underneath. I show her where the filter is and how to get it turned loose. We drain the oil, or more like we kiss while the oil drains.

I notice, as I crawl out from under the car, that Jeff is still not looking at us but, playing chaperon all the same.

I look at River as she crawls out all covered in oil and sweaty and wonder for a second if his being there isn't a good thing.

"Okay, what next?"

"Tune up." I start sitting boxes on the front to the car. 

Over the next hour I never once get tired of the view of her bent over the inside of her car reaching deep into the inner places of her engine. She looks up once and catches me looking down the front of her top. She grins at me and winks.

It's strange I saw far more of her in the bikini last night but the sight of her lacy bra is so very forbidden I can't help myself.

"What's left?" I hear Jeff ask behind me. I turn to look at my Dad and pull a towel off the blue roll.

"Alignment. Both front and back I think." I hand River a towel.

"Thanks. How long will that take?" she asks. I can tell she's tired.

Jeff chuckles.

I smile at River.

"It will take the rest of the afternoon. But we won't be doing it." I assure her when I see her face drop. "You follow me down to Billy's shop. He has the tools it takes to do it right and in half the time it would take me." 

She nods

"Let me go get cleaned up." She starts towards the side of the house but I call for her to stop.

Grabbing the bottle, I fill her hand with orange goop. She looks at it like I've just put live squid in her hands.

"I'll cut the grease." I put some in my hands and start to work it out to my elbows. I hold the hose by the drive way for her then vice versa. I notice Jeff's eyes on us the whole time.

When River heads around back to go finish getting clean I look up to see my Dad looking at me.

"Why are you doing this? Going out with her?" He all but gut punches me with the roll of paper towels. "You never showed any interest in her till after your Mom, and I divorced. Now you're all over her. What's the deal?"

I look down and calmly pull about three paper towels off the roll. Wiping the last of the water off my arms I calm myself.

"I love her, Dad. I always have I just haven't been able to do anything about it. Now that she and I aren't related ...well, that changes things." I toss the used paper towels into the trashcan on top of all the old car parts and empty boxes.

"Just seems a bit sudden to me," he says. I can feel him just steps behind me as I pull down the hood of River's car. "A little ... preplanned."

I turn to him. That our eyes are on level seems to come to a surprise to him. Maybe he still sees me as the little boy. Well, that's about to change.

"Kind of like your engagement to Suzy?" I say in a low harsh tone. I see his nostrils flare. Both our hands start to tighten.

The sound of Granny and River talking as they walk around the side of the house backs us off if not really calming us down.

"Oh it's cute!" Granny says after a long seconds look at the two of us. "How does it run?" she asks stepping between Jeff and me and turning me towards the car.

"Not bad. We need to run it down to Billy's and get him to fix the alignment but other than that it's good." I tell her trying to calm down. Her fingers tighten on my arm in understanding.

"He talked the guy down a whole lot too," says River all eager excitement and laughter in her eyes. If she noticed the exchange between my Dad and me, she's a very good actress.

"I didn't save you much. What I talked him down you're going to have to spend fixing it up. You need new tires in addition to the alignment." I pull loose from Granny and walk around to the driver side door.

"What was the warranty I signed for then?" River asks looking from me to her mom and back.

"In case the motor blows up, the transmission falls out, or the horn breaks." I tell her. Reaching in, I tap the horn twice 'Meep, meep' and she gives me such a look. Tossing her blond hair she walks over to my car and hops in. She fires it up with a roar that makes me and Jeff both cringe.

My poor cars going to be sulky for weeks.

I wave to Granny as I pull out and follow River as best I can. She quickly out steps the little sportster though.

My car has bigger hamsters.

Topping a hill a blue, black truck comes around me driving like mad. It shifts into my lane ahead of me almost taking off my bumper.

If this car had one that is.

About a mile further down the road at the bottom of a little hill my heart stops when that truck rams into the rear end of my car! It backs off and hits it again. Sliding to the side it comes in hard by the back tire making my car start to spin!

"Son of a BITCH!" I'm screaming as I drive the pedal into the firewall towards the boiling cloud of smoke and dirt where my car leaves the road. I see the truck stop, and four guy's hop out and run towards my car.

The fucked up alignment on River's car leaves four tire marks as I kind of side slide to a stop maybe ten feet from the guys. They look up seeing me as I open the door. "Fuck that's him!" I see Mike scream to his friends pointing at me.

I have two-second to see River crawling out my car before they are on me. Their fists start to come in at me faster than I can stop them!

But they however have no liking for the tire iron I grabbed off the seat of River's car. Left there, from when I checked the brakes, it's my only advantage.

I hear River screaming my name over and over as Mike and I tumble together off the embankment and into the drainage ditch. I hear his friends splashing through the water towards us. Somehow in the wild press of fists and knees I lose my grip and the tire iron falls into the muddy water with a splash. 

As I feel tennis shoes slam into my side, I hear the sound of tires boiling under the full power of a car. I hope it's River getting away.

As I feel the hammer like blows hitting my ribs, I grab for the dropped tire iron but my fingers grope in the mud without luck.

Then they close on a rock!

Bringing it up with all my strength I send Mike's nose off towards his ear. I hear him screaming as I climb away and stumbling into the deeper water. His friends right behind me.

I spit mud from my mouth and try to stumble in a circle back towards the road. I feel two guys tackle me just as I reach the embankment. Turning, too slick with mud for them to hold, I hammer one in the ribs with the rock I haven't dropped. I feel something give under the impact.

I claw at the second guy only to catch a blow across my jaw that stuns me. I feel my boots slid on the gravel as I try to push us up the hill. Looking past him, I see Mike coming towards us, his face awash with blood but his eyes are horribly focused on me.

In his hand I see the tire iron I lost.

My boots catch purchase and I drive my left knee up into his friend's nuts hard enough to give him three Adam's apples. I pull myself up onto the road with a hand full of grass, gravel and broken glass in between my fingers. I stumble on an ankle that I have at some point twisted and fall to the black top. I see Mike make the top of the siding just as a tan minivan screeches to a halt twenty feet away.




It's Complicated Ch. 02



My Dad steps out and his 357 roars out twice into the air. He slowly lowers the big magnum pistol down towards Mike's truck. Where it's pointed is my first clue they're running. The big gun barks twice more as the tires on the truck leave two huge black marks up the road.

I lay on the sun warm road and pant for breath.

River is kneeling next to me. I look up into her eyes they are awash with tears. I hear sirens in the distance.

"Oh god, oh god," she is saying in a whisper as she lifts my head off the road.

Looking past her, I see Jeff standing over me with a smoking cannon in his hand. His eyes go from his sister to me and then back. Then he tucks the gun into his belt in the back. Kneeling down on one knee he takes my bloody hand.

"Son?"

I take a breath that's half wheeze; I taste copper pennies in my mouth. The sirens are getting closer.

"Yeah Dad?" I whisper.

"You look like hell," he says his eyes running over me.

"I look better than the other guy." I tell him turning loose of his hand. I don't have the strength to hold it any more. River catches it as it drops and pulls it to her chest. She's still repeating her mantra.

My dad grins a little 

"That all you can ask for." He stands up and turning towards the approaching blue lights. I hear different sirens when the near one shuts off. They sound familiar. I watch him walk over to talk to the officer. I look up at River.

She crying incessantly, rocking a little while she's doing it. Even with all the places I have hurting seeing that is by far the most painful thing.

"River I'm alright," I tell her, giving her fingers a squeeze.

"This is my fault, this is my fault. Oh god, oh god."

"River!" She stops and looks at me. "I'm going to be okay."

"Maybe you should let a professional judge that." I hear a familiar voice say. I look up as Jason, my driver, kneels down next to me. I see William, the other E.M.T. that normally rides with us, coming around to my other side. I watch them starting to break out the normal gear.

"So this is what you do on your off days. You look like shit you know that right?" he starts doing the checklist on me. "How you feel? What's hurting?" Before I can answer he looks up at River. "So this is the beautiful lady you were taking about. Yeah, she looks like she would be worth getting the shit beat out of you for." He grins at River. "He's okay, Miss. He wouldn't be talking if he wasn't"

River nod slowly. I turn my head hearing Jack truck pull into the gravel near by. I know it's his from the sound of jazz music coming from the windows of his truck. I'm vaguely away of the sound of Granny's voice. Jack's deeper baritone. Jeff answering them.

I see William roll the gurney next to me.

Jason is running fingers under my neck gently.

"There's no pain there, just my ribs," I tell him when he starts checking the neck vertebra.

"That's cause you have at least four broken ones." He tells me still checking my neck.

I hear a car coming at speed with a siren going full out. It roars past.

"What's his hurry? They running out on coffee and donuts back at the station," I say in a whisper. I feel my words tumble on my tongue. "Oh fuck you gave me something, Jason you prick!" 

"Of course I did. I'm not putting up with you backseat driving me all the way to Saint Mathews."

"You're taking me to Mathew's? Montclair is closer," I tell him in a growing drug fog.

"See what I mean? You're going to ride with him right Miss? Either that or I may have to amputate his arm to get his loose from you," Jason asks River.

"Don't tease her she's had a rough day," I tell him slurred.

"Would your drugged ass go to sleep already," he tells me, as I feel the gurney lift up and slid into the back of the ambulance.

"Okay."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

I wake feeling an oxygen tube under my nose. I can also tell there is an IV in my arm. Only one eye wants to open though. Trying to open the other hurts, but I finally mange it. Looking to the side of the bed, I see my Mom in one chair ... but River is in the closest to me. Both women are asleep. River's hand rest on my arm through the handrail of the bed. I reach over and touch her fingers. 

Her eyes pop open.

Getting up, she leans over me and kisses me.

"Don't do that," I tell her softly when she stops.

She looks concerned "Was I hurting you?"

"No, my breath must be horrible."

She smiles at me and gives me a second kiss. This one hurts, but I can't say I want her to stop doing it.

Ever.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

In the end, they only keep me for a couple of days. The broken rib they thought punctured my lung just nicked it. The rest would heal in time. Luckily I got to sleep through them resetting my broken ribs and taping me up.

I wish I could be asleep for the untaping.

When I sign the last of the papers they want me to sign Jason is there in his street clothes to roll me out the hospital. River walks beside me carrying the small bag with my stuff. I see her little blue car under the covered loading area.

I haven't asked about my car yet, but I know it can't be good.

Jason helps me into the little car. I tell him I'll see him as soon as I can get up and about. He nods knowing, like I do, that it will be a few weeks.

River is very quite with me. She has been like that for the last couple of days.

"What is it, my dear? I know you have something you want to say."

She looks over at me, then back at the road. After a mile or so she nods.

"I love you. I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," I tell her.

"Yes, it was!" she insists.

I sigh. I can see this is going to be one of those kind of arguments if I pursue it. I notice then the direction she is driving. "My place?"

"Yeah," she answers me without looking around.

I sit in silence trying to figure some way of convincing her that having a psycho for an ex-boyfriend isn't her fault. I still haven't figured it out when she pulls us into my driveway.

"Great my grass needs cut," I tell her as she shuts off the engine.

"Jeff's coming to do it tomorrow." She gets out and comes around to my side of the door.

Getting out is far more painful than getting in was. She opens my front door and I smell the cleaning products.

"Let me guess, my Mom came over?" I can see the floor shinning under a coat of polish.

"Your mom, my mom, and me," She helps me through the front door.

"I don't remember you leaving my side." I tell her as she guides me towards my bedroom.

"Well I did. For a little while."

As we step into the room, I see two suit cases by my closet door. I look at them then at her.

"You've got a room mate till you heal," she tells me with a grin. Slowly she lowers me into the bed. I lean back feeling every little twinge from my ribs. I settle myself into the pillows with a sigh. She then crawls into bed next to me. I turn my head to look into her eyes. Slowly she smiles at me.

"I love you," she tells me in a whisper.

"I love you too, River," I say back just as softly.

"I don't want you hurting yourself in eagerness to get better, but I have something for you." She runs a finger across my chest.

"What?" I ask when she doesn't say.

"Me ... just as soon as you're healed enough to have me. I'm yours." She leans up softly kissing me. Then she kisses my chin, my neck, my chest. She lays her head down and listens to my heart beat. "And I want to be yours forever."

My hand comes up to brush her hair.

"I would like that ... a lot." I swallow past tears that threaten to close my throat. I rest my hand on her head for several minutes as I think my way through several thoughts and then make the decision. "Would you do something for me?"

She lifts her head up off my chest and looks down into my eyes. Maturity beyond her years has come to her face in the last few days.

"I would do anything for you," she tells me with her eyes shining.

I brush her face.

"Would you open the top drawer of that dresser and get out what's in the corner please?"

She nods and slides out of bed slowly so as not to jostle me. I watch her walk to the chest drawers and pull open the top drawer. Her hand stops as she reaches inside. 

Only when she lifts out the small ring box do I speak.

"I know traditionally I'm supposed to be on my knee to give you that but that may be a few weeks."

She turns to me and at my nod opens the box. The little silver ring glows under the fresh jewelers polish. The diamond sparkles. She looks up from it.

"It was my Grandmothers ring. Would you marry me River?"

I watch her eyes as twin tears run down her face. She slowly nods then comes to me in a rush that I try not to flinch from.

She crawls into bed with me again and I hold her as tight as I can as she laughs and cries at the same time. Her lips meet mine in a salty kiss.

I finally can't take the pain in my ribs anymore and make her lay down next to me. She snuggles into me.

At some point we drift off to sleep.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** 

I slowly wake to the unfamiliar but so very right presence next to me. My moving wakes her and she looks at me and smiles.

"Here's to many more mornings like this," she says in a whisper.

I nod my agreement then my eyes focus on the dog-headed cane standing in the corner by my stereo.

"What's that doing here?" I ask just looking at it.

River looks over to see what I'm talking about.

"Oh, that. Mom said you might be able to use it since your ankle is twisted. To help you get around. She said it would help."

As the dog winks at me, I nod.

"It just might at that."

*

(I would like to thank jaycox for his time in helping me get my older stories corrected and placed into some semblance of order. Thanks again. As always any mistakes you see now are all on my own head.MST) 



It's Complicated Ch. 03



"So, how have you been, son? Staying busy?"

Pierce was disgusted at the man sitting across from him. His smiling face shouted lies. He sat there looking at Pierce with eyes identical to his own and attempted small talk. Pierce hated his father. He hated everything about him from his expensive haircuts to his expensive shoes. 

"Lets cut the small talk, Jack and tell me why you're really here." Pierce said trying desperately to control his anger.

"I am your father goddamn it!" He practically yelled, slamming his hand on the surface of the table. Jack sat back in his chair, ran his hands through his salt and pepper hair and straightened his black tailor made suit in attempt to regain composure he then repeated, 

"I am your father and because of that it is my duty to look out for your future. It has come to my attention that you will be graduating soon, which is perfect timing. I have a position opening up in one of the Nevada offices and you're taking it. Now, I found your mother, she wants to see you when you come home."

"I don't want to see her." 

"What I did to your mother and you was wrong. I wish I could take it back, but I cant. She didn't do anything wrong and you are going to see her."

"The hell I am."

"I will be in town for the rest of the weekend to go over the details of your soon to be branch in Nevada. Youre taking this job son."

Jack then stood up and left Pierce sitting alone. The thing Pierce hated most about his father was the way he approached things. It was as if he was stuck in work mode. To him, everything was about closing a deal no matter what it was and as for Jack calling himself a father was laughable. He told Pierce on many different occasions that he never wanted children, but 'at least that whore had a boy.' None of that ever really bothered Pierce. In all honesty, Pierce didn't remember anything about his mother. He almost came to appreciate the fact that she left because his father ignored him, which, when compared to the alternative, was a good thing.

After that Pierce was going to need something to take his mind away from his family issues for a night.

*********************************

"Its open." Pierce called out in response to the knock at his door.

In walked Maxine, petite, long blonde hair, blue eyes, milky white skin and a pair of long legs to top it all off. Just what he needed. 

"Im surprised you called. I thought that....."

"Maxie I didn't call you over to talk, if you want to talk go somewhere else," Pierce said rudely interrupting her. Seeing that she wasn't going to leave he said, "You know what to do," sending her off to his room with him following behind her.

"Take off your clothes Maxie, you and I both know you're no stranger to this." 

Pierce sat in a chair in the corner of the room watching a slightly nervous Maxine slowly strip. She sat at the end of the bed and first slipped off her blue sandals then she unzipped her brown jacket revealing a matching blue t-shirt and slowly slipped it off each shoulder stopping to look up at Pierce.

"Hurry up, you wont like it if I have to do it for you." Pierce said in a low threatening tone.

The thought of putting on a show quickly left her mind as she hurriedly shed herself of her blue shirt and blue jeans. Maxie attempted to look up at Pierce, but before she could get him into her full view, his hands were digging into her hips turning her around and violently ripping off her yellow underwear. He grabbed a handful of her hair and said in the same hushed tone,

"Bend over...now"

Maxie did as instructed, she bent over and she waited. She looked back to see Pierce throw his shirt in the chair, he then unbuttoned his jeans enough to release his erection pushed powerfully and painfully into Maxies warmth she winced at his largeness. He pulled halfway out and shoved back in hard and fast with consistency. Maxie started to cry out. Pierce couldn't tell if was in pain or pleasure and in the moment he didn't care, for him release was definite. He finally got his answer after he felt her pussy milk his dick three separate times after the fourth time she tried to get away. Pierce tightened his grip around her waist and started to thrust harder as if punishing her for moving...he wasn't done with her yet. 

After meeting his father he couldn't get his anger under control. Pierce decided years ago that he would take over the business, but he did not want to work side by side with his father. He also didn't want to give his father the satisfaction of being happy about it. He went to the gym for an intense workout trying to focus his energy on something else. Three hours in the gym did nothing, so he called Maxie for the only thing he ever needed her for. Pierce started to feel that familiar churn so he quickly pulled out and came on her back. She collapsed on his bed. Pierce tucked himself back in his jeans and threw her a towel.

Finally getting a good look at Pierce, she noticed his bruised ribs and said,

"What happened to your..."

"Get out." Pierce said kicking her clothes at her and picking up a beer. Minutes later he fell asleep.

*********************************

"He better be here." Lyn said to herself. 

She's been knocking on Pierces' door for about five minutes. His car is here and its eight o'clock. Just as she was walking away, she heard the door opening.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you."

Lyn was past the point of anger. She stood in the doorway looking at Pierces' practically naked body, unbuttoned jeans and tousled hair. Lyn was no longer looking at her best friend Cohen. Cohen was gone the man that stood in front of her was a man with muscles and sex dripping off of every morsel. This man was not Cohen. This man was Pierce. She knew this by looking into the dark green of his usually playful eyes.

"Your apartment smells like sex." Lyn said trying not to look obvious.

"I didn't notice."

"Are you drunk?"

"Kinda. Are we going to do this or not?" He said with a wicked grin.

Pierce turned in the doorway to let her in. He walked ahead of her to the kitchen. Lyn stood in the living room, books in hand, still in shock watching Pierce drink orange juice out the carton. The only light in the room was that of the open refrigerator. When he turned to put it back in the refrigerator is when Lyn noticed the tattoo on his side. That was all it took she became wet almost instantly. 'It really has been too long' she said to herself.

Lyn was in an obvious daze, she did not hear Pierce tell her to sit down she also didn't notice the lights come on. She didn't notice anything until she felt Pierces' hand on the back of her arm ushering her to the table. She didn't even notice him leave the kitchen.

"Sit down." Pierce said giving her a puzzled look. "Lyn, what's wrong? We don't have to do this tonight, we have plenty of time."

"No! We have to do it now...What were you doing before you opened the door?" Lyn blurted loosing what cool she had left. 

Pierce smiled and gave her a knowing look. She knew the answer.

"Did you start writing? He asked.

"Cohen, when did you get that tattoo?" She asked ignoring his question.

"A few years ago. I can be somewhere else if we are not going to work on this assignment."

"You mean you can be fucking someone else?" Lyn asked wrinkling her nose at the smell in his apartment and sensing his foul mood.

"What is your point?" 

"Nothing. Lets meet up tomorrow or something." Her eyes fixated on his form. 'He really should button his pants' she thought noting flex of his muscles with every move he made. She started to gather her books so she can leave. She wasn't used to how she was reacting to him.

He grabbed her arm yanking her to his body, dropping her books in the process.

"What's wrong? Is it Devin? Where is he?"

"Stop. Its not Devin." She said turning away from him. Her face would tell her secret. She had to leave.

"Jaylyn look at me."

"No. Let me go. I'm leaving. You can find yourself a girl to fuck now."

She struggled to get free pushing at his chest like she's done so many times before when he had her pinned for trying to get out of talking about her problems. He backed her into the wall.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Let me help you." Pierce said in her ear.

"No." She said still turning her face away from him. "Not you."

He turned her face to him. He saw what she meant.

"Why not me, Lyn?"

"Y..you...cant."

"I can if you let me."

Pierce took his thumb and stroked her soft brown cheek and kissed her full lips once. He pulled away to let her adjust and kissed her again, but this time with more passion. She parted her lips and threw her arms around his neck in response. Pierce let his hands fall first to her shoulder blades, then to her waist and lastly to her hips. Lyn began kissing him with more fervor letting out small moans. She pressed her body harder into him causing him to wince in pain. Pierce pulled her away from him to look her in the eyes, giving her another chance to say no. Her brown eyes were darkened with lust, which made Pierce want her even more. 

He picked her up and sat her on the table. He slid his hand up her inner thigh brushing his fingertips against her sex, feeling the heat through her jeans. He kissed her again, hooked his hands behind her knees and pulled her against his half visible erection. He hooked his fingers in the waist of her jeans. She was shivering under him with her head thrown back.

"Jaylyn, stop turning away from me."

She locked eyes with him as he opened her jeans and slid his fingers inside the front in search of her clit.

She moaned in frustration.

"Mm, I need this."

Pierce worked his fingers over her clit, while dipping in and out of her wetness. Lyn responded by wrapping her legs behind his back trapping his hardness between her legs. She was so close. She started to grind. Pierce slid his hands up the back of her shirt to unhook her bra. This was going to happen. She always wondered what it might be like to fuck the infamous Cohen Pierce, now she was finally going to find out.

Her orgasm was seconds away. She started to feel the long missed sensation in her core. Pierce leaned near her ear,

"You gonna cum for me Lyn?"

"Yess.Mmm."

Her phone rang. It was Devin.

She immediately snapped out of her daze and let her legs fall from Pierces back. What was she thinking? She was two seconds away from fucking Cohen. She had...has a boyfriend. This was a mistake. Without word she fixes her clothes, grabs her books and storms out of his apartment.

***************



It's Complicated Ch. 04



Lyn was openly ignoring Pierce. He called her twice she didn't answer or call back. In class, she made it a point to sit in the front, knowing that he would be late and the only open seats would be in back. Ashley told her that he came by the dorm, so Lyn made it a point to stay either with Devin or some friends. She wasn't ready to face him, not after what happened. The memory was still fresh in her head. She could still feel him pressed against her waiting for her to cum. Just thinking about it nearly sent her over the edge and it has been two weeks since it happened.

Sooner or later she was going to have to face him. He was her best friend and after all they've been through, this was probably the most complicated. She knew for a fact that she didn't want it to end like this. She owed him in a way. Thanks to Pierce, turning her on like never before, she and Devin came right out of their drought. When she left Cohen's apartment she went straight to her boyfriend. As guilty as she felt she would never tell him, it was just one time.

*********************************

Jaylyn was walking to her car when she felt a strong hand grab her arm re-routing her direction towards the library. She looked up to see Pierce with an unreadable look upon his face. He continued to lead her to the back of the library stopping when they were out of sight. He pulled her around to the front of him leaning her against the wall. He stood with his hand on the wall above her head and positioned his feet on either side of hers making it impossible for her to move...even if she wanted to.

"Jaylyn, I don't like being ignored." 

Before she said anything, she tried her best to get a better idea of his mood even after years of knowing him it was always impossible to know his disposition. He just stood over her with his hair covering his eyes. The closeness of him made her knees weak. 

When she didn't say anything Pierce leaned near her ear and calmly said,

"Did you tell your boyfriend where my fingers were that night?" Her eyes darted up meeting his. "I thought not." 

Pierce took in her appearance; he watched the rise and fall of her breast with her quickened breath, never did he want anything as badly as he wanted Lyn against the very wall she leaned against. 

"My place tomorrow. After the match. If you're not there I'll find you." Pierce said.

For added effect, he brushed his lips against her ear. He heard her quick intake of breath. To which he said,

"Don't ignore me again. You won't like what I can become."

Pierce left her in the back of the library hot, bothered and wet. It took a lot of self-control for him not to kiss her full lips, but she clearly was not ready for what he was offering her. She wouldn't be able to handle it. Not yet, but soon. Still, he couldn't help remembering the taste of her from his fingers after she left that night.

*********************************

Pierce woke up late the next morning. He had a match and decided to skip all his classes for the day, including psychology. He was still a little sore from the practice he had a few weeks ago, he needed the extra rest. Rolling out of the bed Pierce went to his kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Nothing there. 

"Ello" Pierce said answering his phone.

"Pierce!! Hey! Missed you in class today. What gives?" 

"Johnny. Save some of that energy for the game." Pierce said into the phone.

"Dude open your door I'm comin' up." Johnny said with his thick southern accent.

Pierce hung up the phone and unlocked his door. 

"Heres Johnny!"

"Ready for tonight?" Pierce asked looking at Johnny who matched himself in height at 6'3. Johnny had dark hair, kept short and gray eyes.

"I'm three energy drinks ahead of you brother." 

"You're addicted."

"I'm not I can stop anytime...I swear." Johnny said leaning against the wall. "Dude lets go I'm starvin'!" 

Pierce disappeared to his room and reemerged wearing a black shirt and the same blue jeans he woke up wearing.

"Youre driving." Pierce said heading to the door.

*********************************

"Where are we going?" Pierce asked looking out the window of Johnny's red car he called 'ole reliable.

"To the deli. That cool?" 

"Yea man."

"Where were you last night man? You didn't show up at the bar." Johnny said.

"Shit, I forgot." Pierce said smiling wickedly.

"Aw! Dude who was it this time? Stop fuckin' all the girls. Save some for the rest of us." Johnny said playfully.

Pierce looked over at his friend; in all honesty Johnny was by no means a slouch when it came to getting girls. He loves them and leaves them without guilt. Pierce doesn't love them. He fucks them and gets rid of them. He figured if he fucked them well they'd keep coming back and he would never have to pretend to care. So far so good.

"I didn't catch her name. It wasn't important." Pierce answered her.

"How do you tell them apart?"

"I don't."

Johnny laughed.

After Pierce left the library last night he had to do something about his throbbing erection. The night Lyn left his apartment no one girl was enough to take the edge off of what he really craved. He spent these past two weeks with his hand practically glued to his dick. He was insatiable and would continue to be that way until he got what he wanted...Jayln. 

The two walked into the deli side by side. The deli was by no means a corner food store. It was big, almost restaurant size. It was half deli half café. Whenever a student wanted something off campus this is where they went and as usual there was a line.

"Dude, my back still hurts from that practice a few weeks ago. Rumor has it that the coach is letting us chose our replacements."

"Any idea who you're choosing?"

"It definitely won't be the fucker that slammed into me." Johnny answered. "Is that Megan!?"

"Megan who?"

"Hot ass Megan, over by the window."

Pierce turned to see Megan. Anyone that knew Megan knew she was a sure thing and it didn't bother her that people thought such things. All she knew was that she enjoyed sex and she was going to do it. He hadn't seen her in a while and didn't think he'd ever see her again. He can't even remember the last time it was that he saw her. He'd have to think about it later because right now his eyes were on the familiar man standing a little too close to her. He must be mistaken, It couldn't be...

"I didn't know Lyn and Devin broke up. Why didn't you tell me Lyn was on the market? Put in a good word for me man." Johnny said.

"No. We should speak." Pierce said leaving the line.

"Dude, we're going to lose our spot." Johnny said regretfully leaving the line.

Pierce never liked Devin. He hated him even more so when he started dating Lyn and now here he was at the deli flirting shamelessly as if Lyn never existed. He wasn't surprised. As the two approached Megan and Devin, Johnny jumped into character knowing what Pierce had planned.

Johnny whistled and the sound echoed across the room turning heads.

"Hot Ass Megan!" Johnny shouted.

"Johnny!" Megan shouted just as loud running into his embrace. 

Pierce walked past her and sat directly across from a shocked Devin. Pierce was the last person Devin wanted to see. Devin knew Pierce didn't like him he made it clear the day they met. He also made it clear that it was in his best interest not to cross him. 

"I see you know Megan." Pierce said to Devin.

"Don't you mean hot ass Megan?" Megan said falling into his lap throwing her arms around his neck. Pierce returned the hug motioning Johnny to pull her off. He was going to make it a point to get reacquainted with her later, for sure. 

"I'm sorry, we intruded." Pierce said sarcastically. 

"Right." Devin said.

"I really am sorry. She sure is a good ride. Ask Johnny." Pierce said motioning towards the direction of Johnny who was now backed into a corner making out with Megan. "Which brings me to my next question; Is Lyn here with you?"

"I don't answer to her. She's just another bitch keeping me warm at night." Devin said. 

Pierce sat back in the chair and looked around the room.

"Watch it Devin." Pierce said calmly. He knew right away that he was going to put Devin in his place. He just needed him to make the first move.

"Or what? Devin said standing up.

"Or you'll wish you did." Pierce said sitting back in his chair.

"Come on man it's just Jaylyn. She's not worth it."

Pierce stood up and Devin tried to bump past him. Pierce shoved him back into his chair. Devin bounced up and took a swing that grazed Pierces brow. Pierce landed three jabs into Devin's ribs that caused him to hunch down in pain. Devin collapsed to the floor and Pierce was on top of him landing punch after punch onto Devin's side, making sure he stayed down before he finally stopped and made his way to the crowd that circled around them. He knew this wasn't over.

"John. Let's go." Pierce called out over his shoulder as he walked towards the door.

Johnny looked up and pushed Megan off his lap.

"Dude! What the fuck? We didn't get to eat."



It's Complicated Ch. 05



Walking up to the door Lyn thought about knocking, but decided against it, no one would be able to hear it over the loud music anyway. She shouldn't have to be here in the first place, but since Pierce wasn't at his own apartment she knew he would be at Johnny's place. Johnny always had a party after the winning matches. Also, since she missed the game altogether she wanted to congratulate the guys on their win and she didn't want to be here long. She had other things on her mind, like the fact that Devin cancelled on going to the match with her at the last minute. Nothing new there, it wasn't out of the ordinary, they would sometimes go days without even so much as a text message, but this felt different her.

Upon opening the door to the apartment Lyn was instantly hit with the overwhelming smells of smoke and alcohol, very similar to that of a bar. Lyn started to maze her way through the sea of bodies and almost instantly spotted Johnny, his height made him hard to miss, the trick was getting to him through the crowd.

"Johnny! Your apartment is trashed." Lyn yelled over the music.

"It's for a good cause sweetheart, you missed the match what gives?" 

"I know I'm sorry something came up. Looks like you won. Congratulations." 

"Yea yea you can make it up to me later." Johnny said with a wink.

"Don't be gross, where's Cohen?" Jaylyn said hitting Johnny in the shoulder.

"He's on the couch."

Walking toward the couch Lyn sees the bare back of a girl with shoulder length black hair who was obviously straddling someone. It was Pierce she could tell by his shoes. She stood watching his hands rub up her sides then back down stopping to grip her hips. Lyn wanted to run up and drag that girl by her hair and out to the street, but instead she turned around and left. She would confront him about it later. She needed to figure out why this pissed her off so much especially when she had no claim on him. No girl could ever have claim on Pierce. He wouldn't have it.

**********************************

Pierce was not in a good mood, which was no surprise he also had no idea who the girl on his lap was and he didn't care. This girl was going to be his new distraction for the night or at least until he grew bored of her.

"Let's go." Pierce grumbled to her as he pulled her through the sea of bodies, not caring who was in his way.

"Watch where you're going." The voice said to him breaking him from his trance.

"What are you doing here?" He said looking down at her.

"I came to talk to Johnny." Lyn said looking at the leggy girl hanging on his arm.

"Where are you going Jaylyn?"

"Back to the dorm. You obviously have your hands full."

"No you're not." He said to her.

Pierced looked at the girl on his arm and told her to get lost. He then looked back at Lyn and grabbed her by the arm leading her outside.

"Cohen, let me go."

He led her to his car and opened the passenger side door.

"Get in."

"No." Lyn said.

"Get in or I will put you in." He said through clenched jaws.

"We can talk out here. We don't have to leave."

The last thing Lyn wanted to do was be trapped in a small place with Pierce especially when his moods were like this.

"Get in the car Lyn."

Lyn sat down in the car only to have him slam the door just barely missing her foot. He walked around to the driver's side, locked the doors and drove off.

"Where are we going?"

No answer.

"Cohen?"

No answer.

"If I'm going to be talking to myself then I want you to take me back."

"No."

Somewhere inside of her mind she was glad he said no, but not for the right reasons.

They pulled up to his apartment.

"Get out." He said to her.

"Why weren't you at the match tonight?" He said closing the door.

"Something came up."

"What?"

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't want you talking to Devin anymore."

"Is that what this is about? You think just because of what happened you can run my life now?"

"He's not right for you."

"Oh. This again. Every since Stark no one has been right for me. I have an idea why don't you pick my next guy, since you know what's good for me."

"Jaylyn stop."

"No. You stop. Stop trying to run my personal life. I want to leave. Take me back."

"No."

"Fine. I'll find my own way back."

Jaylyn started to pull out her phone Pierce grabbed it and put it in the front pocket of his jeans.

"I'll walk." She headed for the door.

Pierce watched her walk all the way to the door and didn't stop her until she turned the knob. He came up behind her pressing into the back of her. He trapped her hands in front of her and locked the door with his free hand. Lyn tried to get free. Pierce tightened his grip on her.

"Let me go. I don't want to do this with you."

"Do what?"

"This! I don't want to be this close to you."

"Lyn, tell me why you ran out that night."

"I have a boyfriend and it shouldn't have happened."

"Why not?"

"Because we're friends. We can't do this."

"Then why did you?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do say it."

"I don't know what you want me to say, Cohen. It was stupid."

"But?..."

She pushed her ass back into him in attempt to break free. He groaned at the sudden pressure.

"Ah Lyn, if you want me to stop that is not the way to do it." He pushed her closer to the wall. Her stomach was flat on the door.

"Why did you come here with me, Lyn?"

"Y..you made me." She said in a breathy voice. 

"Wrong answer." He said pressing even harder into her.

"One more time, why did you come here?" He said taking his hand and placing it around her throat.

"I came to be with you, Cohen. Is that what you want to hear? You have your wish. I'm finally just another girl to you. Are you happy?" She said, her voice escalating.

Pierce almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He already knew Lyn wanted to be with him, but he didn't expect her to admit it. Now that, that was out the way he needed to make sure it was what she really wanted.

"You can leave now." He turned away leaving her against the door and walked to his room.

Lyn felt his weight leave her body. What did he mean leave? She wasn't going anywhere. Not after that.

"Fuck you, Cohen. You're nothing compared to Devin." She said lacing every word with venom, charging at him as he walked down the hall. 

Pierce stopped as if he ran into a wall. He turned to face her.

"Why are you still here?"

"You have my phone."

"You know where it is."

She walked up to him, reached for his pocket to grab her phone when suddenly Pierce threw her over his shoulder and led her to the room.

"You should have left," he said tossing her on his bed.

He stood over her and took his shirt off, soon after he unbuttoned the front of his jeans. He then crawled up the foot of his bed and rested his weight on top of Lyn claiming her lips with his own. He kissed her roughly, letting her know that there would be no interruptions this time. He was going to get what he wanted. 

Lyn instinctively wrapped her legs around Pierce's waist making it harder for him to take her jeans off.

"Take 'em off, Lyn."

She stood up and slipped her jeans down her long brown legs. She started to get back onto the bed, but he took her by the waist and ripped her panties off as he caressed her thighs and grazed her pussy twice before dipping his fingers inside of her. She threw her head back in ecstasy and slightly parted her legs. Pierce took her hands and placed them on his shoulders as he lifted one of her legs on to the bed. She looked down at him through hooded eyes awaiting his next move. She thought she should be embarrassed that her arousal was practically pouring out of her, but his light touches were quickly sending her over the edge.

"Open your eyes, Lyn."

As she did she watched him lick his lips. She also watched as his tongue snaked from between his lips and disappear between her legs. He lapped at her clit and swirled his tongue through her slippery folds until he felt her bucking against his face and falling onto his lap.

He flipped her over on her back, pulled down the front of his jeans and kneeled between her legs, laying the condom on her stomach. She picked up the foil package and opened it while reaching for his dick. When she gripped it she heard his quick intake of breath as she leaned up to lick the tip.

"Darlin' don't do that." He said taking the condom from her hands and putting it on himself.

"Mmm...Cohen."

"Tell me what you want." He said touching her clit with the tip of his erection.

"You...Fuck mme. Please."

That was all the encouragement Pierce needed. He entered her slowly, not so much for her, but for him too. Once he was all in he stopped so she could adjust. Moments later Lyn was working her hips under him in a steady circular motion. It was driving him insane.

"Get on your knees and don't move." He grunted, almost violently.

Lyn crawled to the middle of the bed and got on her knees. Pierce kneeled over and gripped her hair all the way to the scalp. He pulled her head back and roughly bit her neck, almost drawing blood. 

He started to fuck her hard. He was not thinking about her pleasure anymore. This was about him, he was releasing weeks of built up lust for this girl and now he was inside of her. He was going to show her why he should never be ignored. Normally he would care, but Lyn drove him fucking insane after that night. The moment his fingers entered her hot tight wet pussy he was sold and Pierce always gets what he wants. 

"Ahh. Mmm. Cohen!"

Lyn could not believe the flips her pussy was turning. Absolutely no man has ever truly fucked her...until now. Her first time being thoroughly fucked was by her best friend. There was no going back after this and Lyn wasn't so sure she wanted to go back in the first place. This, now, felt oh so right to her. 

Pierce felt the walls of her vagina tightening for the third time. He grabbed another fistful of her hair and pulled her face back to meet his. She was in complete ecstasy. He always knew Lyn was sexy, but right now was the sexiest he'd ever seen her.

"You going to cum for me...again, Lyn?" He said with a wicked grin.

"Yessss...."

"With me this time, understand?"

Lyn nodded in agreement as Pierce continued to fuck her senseless. Lyn's cries of pleasure bounced off of every wall in his apartment as he felt the stirrings of a release he only dreamt about completely taking over his senses. With a few final thrusts he emptied an almost painful load into the condom before collapsing on top of her.



It's Complicated Ch. 06



It was one month later and Lyn hasn't seen or spoken to Pierce since that night. He has been missing classes and there was never any answer from her knocks or calls and that pissed her off. Thinking back on it she shouldn't be surprised after he fucked her senseless he dismissed her, just like he does all his other girls. Every time she closed her eyes she could hear him saying, 'You can leave now,' right before he disappeared into the bathroom. The only difference between her and the other girls was that he didn't drop off the face of the earth after sleeping with them.

That was not what pissed her off the most because she knows how Pierce is. The part that made her mad was the fact that he left her. He promised to never leave her without keeping in contact. She would never admit it, but she relied on Pierce. She felt safe with him around. She sought comfort in knowing that he would always be there for her and her for him. All great sex aside, she just missed her friend. 

After her brother died Lyn started attracting the wrong men and as much as she hated it, Pierce was there to tell her that she deserved better and to protect her from being used or hurt. After he walked in on Stark getting rough with her, Pierce made his promise. That night was something she would never forget. After Pierce nearly killed him he said, 'She is mine. You don't get to hurt her.' From then on Pierce has been on her like a hawk. A week later it was rumored that Pierce found Stark and showed him again why it was wrong to touch her.

"...Are you listening to me?" Ashley said sitting on the edge of Lyn's bed.

"Yea. Yea."

"What did I say then?"

"Um..." Lyn said trying to remember any single point of what Ashley said.

In all honesty Lyn didn't hear a thing she said; in fact she hasn't concentrated on much of anything except her school work since that night. If she didn't stay busy with school or work her mind would drift to Pierce and if she left her thoughts take over she could almost feel him biting down on her neck or snaking his tongue around her clit...She needed help. Now she understood why Pierce couldn't shake some of the girls he fucked. She used to think it was funny that where ever they would go to hangout there was always a girl dropping into his lap or kissing his ear. She would never forget the day that he dismissed himself to go to the bathroom to fuck one of them. Although Lyn was disgusted, she understood it as his having fun in college.

"I knew you weren't listening, forget about it. Are you coming out with us tonight?"

"You and who?" Lyn answered.

"The girls from the third floor. Tasha and Solie planned it all out so you can't say no and I already told them you'd go."

"I don't feel like it."

"Look, Jaylyn, you need to get out. Every since you broke it off with Devin you've been moping around. Now, you are going out. Like it or not."

"Whatever. Devin and I were over long ago. I don't even know why we were hanging on."

"I'm glad you ended it, because if you didn't I was going to do it for you. That boy is a dog."

"What do you mean?" Jaylyn knew full well what she meant.

"Nothing girl, be ready by eleven and wear that black corset." Ashley said as she left their dorm room. 

**************************

"Dude, where the hell you been? The guys have been askin' 'bout you." Johnny says picking Pierce up from the airport.

"I was in Nevada." Pierce said.

"What the fuck?! You went to Vegas and didn't invite me."

"It wasn't like that, it was work."

"Nice suit." Johnny said laughing.

"Fuck you. Get used to it."

"Are you gonna take it?"

"I already did."

"Good, you can get me a job."

"Not with that accent." Pierce said getting him back for the suit comment.

Pierce was damn happy to be back. The stuffy work atmosphere was not one he was quickly becoming accustomed to, not only that he didn't get laid once out there, which was his own fault. He has a nice little secretary back in Nevada that would do just about anything he wanted. All he had to do was say it. Normally Pierce would take full advantage of it, but not this time since she was hired by his father.

"Aw, that fuckin' hurts man. The ladies love this accent."

"Bullshit, they just feel sorry for your ass."

"It's all the same. You feel like gettin' out tonight? I need some ass...Pronto!"

"Yea, but I'm driving. How is she?" Pierce grumbled out not really want the answer.

"She's getting' sick of seeing my ass every damn day I can tell you that. She asked about you."

"What did you tell her?"

"Nothin'. I didn't know what to tell her. You didn't tell me shit either."

"Just drive."

"Oh Pierce, man, about Allison...she came lookin' for you too." Johnny said with a huge grin on his lips.

"I leave for a month and you fuck my favorite girl. What the hell John?"

"It's the accent."

**************************

Pierce was almost glad to be back at his apartment. He needed to catch up on some much deserved sleep. This past month has been hell for him, with opening up offices in Nevada, keeping caught up on his school work and drawing up plans to start his own separate business. His father was right; Pierce had a head for business and was starting to actually like the idea of moving to Nevada after graduation. 

**************************

"Damn girl, look at you. You really need to stop hiding all that body in the library. You're not going to be fine forever. Let's go before all the fine men are taken." Ashley said ushering Lyn to get into the car.

Lyn was looking out the window the entire time. She was actually glad she came out; she needed to get out and take her mind off things. She was beginning to feel really stupid about the way she let her mind think about him. She would bet everything she had that he never once thought about her, but tonight that didn't matter she was going to have a good time out with the girls and maybe go home with some eye candy.

When they walked into the club they were immediately spotted by three other girls waving down from VIP. All girls were wearing corsets Lyn's was black, Ashley's was white, Tina's was blue and went very well with her blonde hair, blue eyes and curvy figure. Gray eyed, brown hair Solie was wearing an orange corset and her fraternal twin Tasha, who had brown eyes and black hair was wearing yellow. It was no doubt that they were becoming the center of attention. 

When they made it through the crowd and up the stairs Ashley and Lyn were both greeted with hugs and were given drinks. The rule for the night was that everyone had to have a drink at all times. They didn't get out together all at once often, so they decided to make it a good one. 

"Who paid for VIP and where are the naked men?" Ashley said looking over the balcony. 

"Tasha's boyfriend is part owner of the club. There are no naked men." Solie answered.

"Damn right, I know how to pick 'em." Tasha replied.

"Didn't I meet Devin through you?" Lyn said laughing. It was a comment for herself than anyone else.

"Yeah, but how was I supposed to know that he was a dog?" Tasha blurted out in defense.

"Who cares Devin the Dog is old news." Tina butted in.

"Let's look for some men to keep us company. What's the point in looking sexy if there are no men drooling all over us?" Ashley said, hoping the Devin subject was over. 

"I'm going down to the bar to get some real alcohol. I need to get drunk quick." Lyn said thinking out loud.

"I'm coming too." Solie said following her down the stairs.

"Send some me up!" Ashley yelled down the stairs.

Lyn lead Solie through the sea of gyrating bodies and across to the crowded bar. There were a lot of hot people out tonight men and women alike. If Lyn had the right amount of alcohol she could be partial to both forms tonight.

On their way to the bar the girls were picking and choosing men and pointing them in the direction of the VIP balcony. This was going to be a fun night. Lyn took a look back and realized that they must have sent a least a dozen men up to the balcony. It would definitely be a while before either of them made it back up those stars while the girls were debating on which men would stay and go.

"What's your poison?" The sexy Latin bartender asked with his accent thick on his tongue.

"Shots!" Solie shouted excitedly.

"Now we're talking." Lyn added.

"Let me know I can make it all." He said flashing his perfect white teeth.

"Two Battery Acid's, followed by a Gin and Tonic for me and a...What are you drinking Jay?"

"Umm Jack and Coke for me."

"Here's too being single! And here's to the man that just walked in!" Solie shouted with her eyes fixated on the man.

Jaylyn wasn't listening anymore. She was already feeling that shot. They told her it was going to get her there quick, but she had no idea. She was feeling good and nothing was going to kill her buzz. Nothing.

She finished off her drink and pulled Solie away from the bar. 

It was time to dance.

Lyn was shaking her hips rhythmically to the music as Solie shoved another drink in her hand. Soon they were separated each dancing with their own stud.

*****************************

"Dude! Look at all this ass!" Johnny shouted over the music reaching out to grab the pocket of a girl standing in front of him.

"Let's get drunk." Pierce replied.

"Hell yes!" Johnny said as they headed to the bar.

"Scotch. Straight up." Pierce said to the bartender.

"Same. Tell me what went down in Nevada."

"Nothing went down. The Nevada branch is mine as soon as I graduate."

"Bullshit. I know you, you look like fuckin' hell. What's wrong? You already turned down three girls on the way to the bar."

"Not now Johnny. You still coming with me?"

"Shit yes. I'm not fuckin' stupid. You better not be gettin' soft on me man."

"Fuck you, I'm just getting started." Pierce said motioning for his third drink.

"So what's up with Lyn?"

Pierce hadn't thought about Lyn at all in Nevada. He was too busy with work, but the moment he stepped off the plane she was all he could think about. He needed to get his hands on her. He wasn't done with her just yet. 

"What are you saying to me, Johnny? I thought she saw fine."

Every since they met in high school Pierce has never been away from Lyn for more than a week. He needed to keep an eye on her, for his own peace of mind.

"No I mean she broke it off with Devin right after you left. Do you think..."

"No." Pierce said cutting him off.

"What?! Hear me out first." 

"I know what you're going to say and it's not happening."

"Well I'm gonna go over and ask her myself. Save my seat."

"Stay away from her John." Pierce said looking into his glass rather than at Johnny. His mood was quickly changing.

"Chill man. I'm just fuckin' with you. I know what you can do. I don't want none of that." Johnny said motioning for another round.

Pierce wasn't worried about Johnny taking a go at Lyn. Johnny would never do that, he was pissed at the fact that in his peripherals he could see Lyn. He could see her dancing with another man's hands directly on her ass. Pierce wasn't done with her and he was not going to sit by and watch as another man touched her ass. Pierce turned around on his bar stool and gave Lyn and her new boyfriend full attention as he nursed his drink. This was going to end badly.

"Do you know him?" Pierce asked Johnny.

"Never saw 'em. Why?" Johnny said a little worried at Pierced defensive body language.

"Does she know him?"

"Why?"

"Does she know him, Johnny?" Pierce repeated through a clenched jaw.

"I never saw 'em together."

Johnny loved his friend as much as a friend could love a friend, but what he would never get used to was Pierces Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde mood swings. He downed the rest of his drink and braced himself for whatever it was that Pierce was about to do.

"I'm gonna cut in. Maybe I'll have a better chance with 'er since she drunk." 

*********************************

Johnny was on his way to grab Lyn away from that man when a girl wearing an orange corset blocked his path...and he wasn't complaining.

"Hey sexy where you off to in such a hurry?"

"Aw baby I'm right where I wanna be right now. What's your name beautiful?"

"Solie. What do they call you?"

"I'm Johnny baby. Who are you here with?"

Solie motioned towards Lyn who was still gyrating on the man Pierce held a death stare for.

"Baby I have somethin' I gotta to do. Don't go anywhere. I'm comin' back."

Johnny made his way over to Lyn. Lyn didn't see Johnny until it was too late for her to get away from him. She didn't want anything messing up her buzz and lately Johnny was becoming more and more like Pierce...minus the mind numbing, back breaking, thigh quaking sex.

"Come here Lyn." Johnny said with a smile.

"Hey man she's busy. I found her first." The guy said as he tightened his grip around Lyn's waist.

'Shit' Johnny thought.

"It's okay. I know him." Lyn said to the guy as she started to step away from him half struggling to break free of his grip.

Johnny held his hand out and. Lyn started to take it as she was harshly jerked back by the guy she was dancing with. Johnny's eyes widened as he quickly moved Lyn out of the way. Before anyone saw it coming Pierce had that guy on his knees in a headlock. Soon after, Pierce saw it appropriate to knee the guy in his face three times, twice for touching Lyn and once for pissing him off.

"Dude you gotta get out of here before you get arrested." Johnny said handing Lyn off to Pierce.

Pierced grabbed Lyn by the arm and led her out of the door and to the parking lot.

"Get in." Pierce said.

'Not this again' Lyn thought.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Jaylyn I don't have time for your bullshit." Pierce said through his teeth.

"Obviously not. I'm going back to my friends" Lyn said walking back toward the club.

"Fuck your goddamn friends."

"I'm sure you did." Lyn had no idea where that came from.

Pierce really couldn't stand when Lyn acted like a brat. He didn't have the patience for it right now. He caught up with her, threw her over his shoulders and into the backseat. Directly after he sat in the driver's seat and drove off.

"Youre right." Pierce said.

"What?"

"I did fuck your friends."

"Fuck you Cohen!!"

Pierce was beyond pissed off. He was fucking furious and he was going to let her know just how much she pissed him off. He pulled into the nearest parking lot. He never understood how she managed to pick complete assholes to spend her time with.

As soon as the car stopped Pierce hopped out and slammed his door.

"Later, now get out of the car Lyn."

"No."

"I told you once already I'm not in the mood for your bullshit now get out of the car." Pierce said his voice steady, promising and cold as steel.

Lyn made no effort to move. Pierce opened the car door nearly pulling it off the hinges, reached in and grabbed Lyn by the arm dragging her out of the car.

"Who was he Lyn?"

"Why do you care?"

"Answer me."

"He's no one. Take me home."

Lyn knew that when Pierce got like this she should tread lightly. She could only push her luck so far until he completely blew up. She knew what he was going to do if he found out who that guys was lucky for her she didn't really know. She unknowingly rubbed her arm. That guy left her with a nice bruise.

"You're not going anywhere."

"His name is Chris. That's all I know. Happy now?"

"Not yet. Let me see."

"It's nothing. Why do you care all of a sudden?! You never cared before!" Soon after saying that Lyn wished she could take it back. Pierce was the only one who cared after her brother died.

Pierce went frigid. He backed her into his car placing his hands on either side.

"Like it or not Lyn, you are mine. That's it. I'm always going to care."

It was just like high school. Now she was furious.

"I don't belong to anyone."

"Except me."

"NO. You can't claim me. You don't have the right to claim me!"

"Tell me why?"

"Because you left me! You left me and you didn't tell me. You promised me that you would never leave me and you did! You didn't call you didn't text...nothing."

She was being hysterical and she knew it. Part of it was due to her actual feelings and part was due to the alcohol running through her veins. She would regret this in the morning.

"Jaylyn I'm right here." Pierce looked at her and he could tell that she was scared and hurt, but above all pissed off.

"Now you are, but you fucked me within an inch of my life and you told me to leave. You didn't even look at me, and then I don't hear from you for a month. What is this?! If this is what it feels like to be one of your girls I don't want it."

Pierce smiled inwardly. He already knew that he fucked her in a way that she has never experienced. He also knew that he was going to do it again and again...and she was going to let him.

"I'm not going to apologize for fucking you, Lyn."

"Of course you're not because that's what you do. Cohen Pierce fucks anything that walks without guilt. I know who I'm dealing with. You don't have to remind me." She was whispering now.

"I'm glad we understand each other. Get in."

"Why? So you can take me back to your apartment and fuck me again?" She said under her breath.

Pierce smiled.

"I can fuck you anywhere I want. You're mine remember?"

She was his, but this time it meant something different.

******************************



It's Complicated Ch. 07



Lyn didn't wake up in her dorm room. Instead she woke up in a bed that was twice the size of her extra long twin sized bed. She couldn't exactly tell whose bed it was, but it was unusually dark and she didn't want to leave. Her vision was blurry, her head was pounding and upon sitting up her stomach churning. She drank waaaay too much last night, but at least she was fully clothed.

"Oh nooo." Lyn moaned cupping her hands over her mouth running through the now all too familiar apartment in search of the bathroom. 

"I need a doctor." She said aloud to herself as she laid her limp body against the firm coolness of the bathtub. 

"You look like shit."

"You don't have to yell. Call someone. I need help."

Pierce looked down at her and laughed at her dramatics. She never knew when to stop when she was out drinking, but this was by far the worst he's seen her as far as being hung over.

"Here."

Lyn looked up and took a glass filled with a thickish red substance and two 

Tylenol, "What is it?"

"Its help. Drink it."

"What happened?"

Turning his head sideways he says, "You drank too much."

"I mean did I do anything stupid?"

"Take a shower, you'll feel better."

"I don't have any clothes."

Pierce pointed to her overnight bag in the corner of the bathroom and turned around to leave.

"Cohen..?"

He turned his head to look down at her pain stricken face waiting for her to say whatever it is that she wanted to say, but instead she said,

"Thank you."

He winked at her and went to lie down on his sofa. He needed to rethink this whole think with Lyn. There was no doubt that he wanted her. Once was not enough. He refused to let the first time be the last time, but she still wasn't ready for what it meant to share a bed with him. He needed to make sure she understood where he was coming from. He might not get another chance to tell her.

If he was at least honest with himself he'd take note that he didn't like seeing her the way he did the other girls. Lyn was different. She was his friend. He was supposed to watch out for her not hurt her. He never intended to treat Lyn like the others; in fact, he never even intended to see her naked let alone fuck her. It just wasn't something that was supposed to happen between friends, but every since he opened the door and saw the raw desire in her eyes, getting her under him was all he wanted to do. 

**********************

He was right the shower made her feel better. Better yet that disgusting red drink made her nausea go away. 

She wanted to sleep. Her head was still pounding. She also wanted to go back to her dorm, but that meant being closer to Pierce than she wanted to be. She regretted letting Pierce affect her so much, but at the same time she always wondered what it was like and now that she knows she was going to play her cards right around him. They were friends first so admitting to him how she felt wouldn't be a problem. 

She walked out of the restroom with jeans and an oversized t shirt on and her wet hair sticking to her face. She dropped her bag outside of the bathroom and walked towards the living room wincing with every step she took. 'I'm never drinking again.' She thought. She turned the corner to see Pierce laying flat on his back with his arm draped lazily over his eyes. She didn't remember him being shirtless. She always thought he was sexy, but even more so because she knew what he was capable of. She was staring at him again. Just like that first time...

"Come here." He grumbled sounding even more restless than usual.

'How did he know I was standing there,' she thought to herself with a quizzical look on her face.

"I heard you breathing." He said reading her mind.

She walked over to him and he still didn't move. She noticed blueprints, contracts and various spread sheets laid across the table, but she didn't understand them. Being the curious, nosey person she was, she rummaged through them. 

"Lyn, how long have you been having nightmares?"

"Not for a while. They started back when you left."

She was going to ask him why all these papers were all marked Nevada, but before she could get it out, he grabbed her arm pulling her down on top of him. That move did nothing for her headache from hell. Landing on him was like landing on the pavement. It was hard and not bulging. 

"Calm down. Listen to me."

He held her head to his chest. She could hear his heart beating and feel his warmth, which would be more accurately described as blazing heat. It was no wonder he never wore a shirt around his apartment. She never noticed his unusually warm skin before now.

"But..."

"No. Just listen." He draped one arm back over his eyes as the other still held her close to his body. 

"I crossed the line with you Jaylyn..."

That caught her off guard. Maybe she didn't have to say anything at all.

"...I never wanted you to see that part of me."

She knew what he meant by that, but she also knew that he wouldn't out right say it. He has always been afraid to turn out like his father, that he kept women at a safe distance, which was on the tip of his dick. The only person he let even remotely close was her. Pierce was the most honest person she knew. He always told the truth whether she wanted to hear it or not, this was the last thing she thought she would be talking about with her best friend. She only hoped that this didn't harm their relationship.

"I didn't want you to know me like that, but I'm still not going to apologize for fucking you and I would be lying if I said that I didn't want to do it again..."

"Cohen?" She cut him off.

"What?"

"Where did you go?"

"Nevada."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was last minute."

"You still could have called you didn't have to leave me here with...Johnny of all people."

"I trust Johnny."

"I'm not a child."

"It was for me, not you."

All of a sudden Lyn was insanely sleepy. The warmth of his body paired with the beating of his heart and the soft rumbles vibrating throughout his chest as he spoke put her minutes away from sleep.

"You're too overprotective."

"You are mine. Or have you forgotten?"

"What about Maxie and Allison? Are they yours too?"

"No. Just you."

"I thought Allison was your favorite?"

"Now she's Johnny's favorite. Lyn, you need to know that I am not going to change who I am because of what happened, but you will always be first."

"Our presentation is due next week."

She wasn't quite sure why she ignored his statement, but it seemed like the best thing to do. She never expected him to change for her, but she also never expected him to admit that he wouldn't. It's not like she wanted him to change, but every time she got a little close to a man their true colors started to show. With Pierce this was different because he never hid from her who he was. She was beginning to think she wasn't worthy of a good man. Over the years she learned that the closer her and Pierce were the less chance any relationship she had would actually last. The latest proof of that fact was her and Devin. He really was a good man, but she always put Pierce before him. Their demise was her fault and she wasn't above admitting that.

"I turned my part in already. We're excused from presenting it."

"What? Why?" She yawned.

He couldn't tell her yet. This one thing would break every promise he ever made to her, but it was something that he needed to do, not just for him, but for her too.

"Cohen?" She was drifting further and further into sleep.

"Later. Go to sleep." 



It's Complicated Ch. 08



::: Three years later...

"I don't know what you've got going on in your life that so important to have you slacking on your work, but you need to get it together. It's not just your ass on the line here. You have been with us for three years, you know the drill. The big heads like your story, but you have got to do the work. I need two hundred pages on my desk by the end of the week. No exceptions. Its Wednesday, I suggest you get started."

"See you later, Ann." She gathered her things and rushed out of the older woman's office.

Sitting in there listening to her was like getting a lecture from her mother, but Ann was right. Lyn dropped the ball, she already missed two deadlines and she was four hundred pages behind schedule. If she didn't kick it into gear she was going to miss her publish date...or worse. She couldn't let that happen. Her first book wasn't a complete failure, but it didn't get the attention she and her publishing company had hoped for. It really wasn't that bad of a book...or at least she didn't think so before they changed it.

She hopped on the elevator down to the lobby. Just as she stepped off, her phone rang.

"Hey." She answered.

"How'd it go?" 

"As expected. Ann is pissed."

"Ann is always pissed. Where are you now?"

"I'm on my way to the subway. I think I'm going to stop off at the market to get some junk food. I'm stuck in the apartment for the rest of the week."

She stepped outside into the glacial air of New York. It was a good thing she was staying home the rest of the week; there was no way she was going to come out in this weather unless she absolutely had to. As much as she loved living in New York, there was no way she was leaving her apartment during the coldest month of the year for no reason at all, plus she loved her apartment. She was lucky she found it. The hunt for good affordable apartments was a difficult one. She scoffed just remembering it.

"Can I come see you?"

"No. I'll see you next week. I need to focus. I'm too far behind."

"Alright, call me when you get a chance."

She hung up.

**********************

Walking into her one bedroom apartment, Lyn dropped her coat, mail and keys on the inn table and carried fifty dollars worth of junk food snacks to her kitchen. Lyn was suffering from the worst case of writers block. All she did for the past month was stare at a blank screen. Nothing would come out. She had no ending in sight. Why she picked this profession, she'll never know.

There was a knock on the door.

"Here, you dropped this. It was in front of your door." Ryan said handing her an envelope and letting himself in.

"Thanks. Wait, why are you here?"

"Duh. I heard you come in." Ryan said.

"I told you not to come over."

"When have I ever listened to you? Plus were neighbors, it's my right to come over."

Ryan was the first person Lyn met when she moved to New York after graduation. He was her closest friend since college. He could read her like a book. Nothing got past him. He was just a little taller than her at 5'10" with blonde hair cropped short to his scalp, grey eyes and a lean muscular build she would love to get her hands on...if he wasn't gay, which she wouldn't have known if he didn't do everything, but say it to her.

Lyn looked down at the letter in her hand there was no return address. She tossed it aside. It was probably some kind of advertisement.

"Unless you came to write for me...I suggest you leave so I can get started."

"No I came for some advice."

"I'm in no position to give anyone advice."

"It's about Stevie."

"Stevie who? Is he new?"

"Stevie from the concert."

Lyn looked at him with crinkled eyebrows, "So what?"

"I didn't mention that I'm bisexual."

"Since when are you bisexual?" This was news to her, as she never seen him with a woman...or a man for that matter.

"Since the moment I saw you." He said with a wink. He was only half joking.

"Shut up. It's not his business unless it's serious."

"You're right. Hey, where is that guy that always comes over here?" Ryan asked, being meddlesome.

"You are the nosiest neighbor I have ever had. We aren't seeing each other anymore."

"Last time you said that, he was back over in a week keeping you up all night, which by the way, kept me up all night too. You need to learn to keep it down."

Lyn feigned innocence, "Who? Surely not me."

"You're not fooling anybody. What happened?"

"Nothing new. Same thing as last time Darrel wants more than I am willing to give. He wants all of my time and I can't give it to him I have too much to do in these coming months. It's not going to work. So we ended it....for good this time."

"You going to be okay?" Ryan asked.

"Oh yea, it wasn't that serious for me. The only reason I kept him around was because of the sex and that got old after a while. I'm just too stressed out to deal with all of it, though I wouldn't mind a little lovin' now and then."

"Speaking of, I have to go, but call me the minute you're done and we'll go out to drink or something.....I mean it Jay. If I don't hear from you by Saturday I'm coming over. I know how you get when you're in the writers zone."

"I know. I'll see you later." She said locking the door behind him.

**********************

She decided to check her email before she started not writing again. She was expecting an email from Solie or Ashley. After they graduated they all went their separate ways, but kept managed to keep in touch. Solie was working as a wedding coordinator and Ashley was running her own real estate business. 

They were hoping to schedule out some time for a vacation since they haven't been together in years, but their schedules were always too way off for it. In fact she was pretty much open for whenever, it was Solie who didn't have the time. Being a wedding coordinator her entire life was schedules and since she lived in Florida now, there was no such thing as an off season. 

She was going through deleting spam emails when she came across his name. Her heart nearly stopped. It's been three years and no word. Three years and no call. Three years and no letters. Three years and no visits. Her last memory of him came flooding back almost instantaneously...

******

He stood outside of her classroom waiting for her to come out, leaning against the wall with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. What he had to say she needed to hear. They were falling back into their old ways, but this wasn't going to sit well with her. He didn't want this to be one of the few things he regretted. He needed to pick each word carefully.

"Cohen? What are you doing here? You have practice right now." She said looking down at her watch, not realizing the season was over.

"You feel like eating?" He was stalling. 

"No. I have to run over to my dorm. I have a meeting later. Can you believe we graduate in a month? New York here we come!"

"Lyn we need to talk." No more stalling. 

She never liked hearing those words. In her past nothing good ever followed. It was either, 'Lyn Jackson died.' Or 'Lyn, this isn't working out.' Someone always seemed to leave her in one way or another. She managed to put off looking him in the face until they reached her dorm. He stood in the doorway watching her rush around the room. For the first time ever she felt threatened by his presence. For the first time ever she didn't want him to be there .For the first time ever she wanted to disappear.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and a black shirt. His hair hung wildly at his shoulders. She didn't notice until now that it must have been trimmed at some point, she remembered it being longer. His green eyes were clouded. His eyes let her further know that this wasn't going to be good. She was never going to forget this, his hair, his outfit, his eyes, his voice.

"Did I tell you that I've gotten in touch with a magazine?"

"Jay..."

"They said they would take a look at my work and maybe give me my own monthly article if they like it. They're based in New York so it's even better." She was rambling.

"Lyn...Don't..." He raked his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated.

"Why aren't you in class or running around with Johnny? You and he have been inseparable these last few months. What's up with that bromance anyway? People are starting to talk..." 

"Jaylyn!" His voice boomed, startling her into stillness. She closed her eyes.

He continued, "Open your eyes, Do you trust me?"

She paused a little longer than he appreciated, before she finally shook her head 'yes'.

"Say it." He said looking her directly into her eyes, making her uneasy.

"I trust you." 

She had to look away. His green eyes were burning holes into her. She felt naked when he looked her like that. She hated it. She wanted nothing more than to snatch his eyes out of their sockets and throw them at him, just for making her feel vulnerable, childlike and weak.

"I'm going to tell you why I left."

"You don't have to, I'm over it." She lied, but now she didn't want to know.

"Sit down."

She dropped onto the bed. She was defenseless. 'Would it be wrong to cry right now?' she thought because that's exactly what she wanted to do. She didn't have any clue what he was going to say, but she knew it was going to hurt and she knew that she was never going to forget it.

"I never told you about the meeting I had with Jack. He opened a branch of offices in Nevada. Those offices are mine. When I left, it was to oversee the start up of it and to recruit big clients."

"Coh.."

"Just listen." He saw the panic explode in her eyes. "There are four clients wanting to sign with our branch and we can't finalize those contracts from here. We need to meet..."

"We?"

"Johnny is one of the partners."

No wonder they have been spending so much time together; talking on the phone, filling out papers, glued to their laptops...Now that it's brought to her attention they haven't been out jacking around and chasing skirts like they usually did, but she just figured that they were trying to get caught up to pass classes, in order to graduate. Not once did it cross her mind that they were running an expanding business in Nevada.

"Johnny? What about New York?"

"I'm not going to New York with you. We're relocating to Nevada...permanently." 

"Wha..When?" 'What about me?' she added inwardly. The word 'we' was always supposed to consist of her and Pierce, not Pierce and Johnny. Johnny was never supposed to be a part of it.

She understood now. It made perfect sense to her why Pierce was so cold. She knew exactly why he never kept anyone close to him. If it hurt this bad to have them leave you he was actually smart to keep people at a distance. Lesson Learned.

"We fly out first thing tomorrow."

'There's that word again.' She thought. He's starting to sound like his father.

He saw it. That look. The look that said, 'you've let me down.' He promised to never let her down, never to leave her and to always be there for her. She was hurting and it was breaking him, but it was the only way. They were too dependent on each other. Pierce ran this through his mind nine hundred times. The first eight hundred ended with him taking her with him, but he didn't want to take her away from living her dream. There was also the fact that he wouldn't become as successful as he wanted if he was busy worrying about her. It was better this way and he needed her to trust him for it. This was going to destroy her, but she would be stronger because of it.

"Tomorrow? Why are you telling me now?" She was standing now, backing further and further away from him with each word she spoke.

Pierce felt as if ice cold water was injected into his veins and pumping directly into his heart. He was watching her pull away from him. This was what he wanted, but he didn't think it would be so hard to watch.

He cleared the space between them in three big steps. He held her face in his hands and searched her eyes for...anything. There was nothing he could say to make this right, not yet. He lowered his face closer to her own and said, "Jaylyn, trust me."

She could feel his breath warm on her lips. If circumstances were different she might have given into her carnal urges and kissed him, but instead she could only feel disconnected from him and he could tell. Her mind went into fight mode. There was no way he was going to let her leave the room, so she could forget that idea. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, she thought. They wouldn't be living in the same state, but maybe they would visit each other often. They could talk on the phone...emails...text messages. She thought for a brief moment that this might be okay. She might make it, but if that was really so why did she feel so...empty?

"I'll visit you...and...and call. We can write....it...." She was grasping at straws. The look in his eyes told her that it wasn't going to go anything like she hoped. 

He cut her off, "That's not going to happen."

Her security was gone. She felt the stinging heat fill her eyes. As she blinked, the tears poured over. "Why?"

She started to turn away when he pulled her face back to his, staring directly in her eyes he saw the exact moment she gave up on him, "Trust me."

He looked at her for a few moments longer, turned around and he was gone. 

******

She blinked at the burning sensation behind her eyes and shook her head at the memory. That was the last Lyn had seen or heard from Pierce...Until now.

She was furious. She finally found her own way in life and was doing just fine without him. She didn't need him anymore. It started out rough, but life after Pierce was good. She was happy and living her dream. Why did he have to plague her with thoughts of the past? She was over him.

It felt silly for her to react in such a way to an email...an unopened email at that. She stared at his name. She wondered what it could possible say; it didn't dawn on her that all her initial questions would be answered once she opened it. After a few paces around her apartment and two mini pep talks she found the courage she needed to do exact what he did to her...delete it.

Minutes later, hours later, days later she found herself punching at the keys of her laptop, in the writing zone. This week was going to fly by for her...



It's Complicated Ch. 09



Lyn couldn't wait to get to home. She ran up the stairs and into her apartment building. On the way to her door she quickly knocked on Ryan's door and proceeded to unlock her own, only to throw her stuff down on the floor. She was out of breath. She practically ran home from her meeting with Ann. She probably would have made it back sooner if it hadn't been for the subway slowing her down.

"This is the best work I've seen from you yet. Be proud." 

She never thought she would hear those words out of Ann's mouth. Ann was a hard ass and hearing that made her day. She had to tell Ryan.

"Ryan!" Lyn yelled followed by a series of knocks. She knew he was home this was his day off and she could hear the television. "Ry! I'm coming in."

Lyn used her emergency key to his apartment to let herself in. He gave it to her as a 'just in case emergency' type of thing since she was new and on her own and to her this qualified as an emergency. She opened the door to his apartment. She loved his apartment, it was bright clean and welcoming. It actually looked lived in, whereas hers still had unpacked boxes in the corners, but in her defense at least she had a sofa. 

"Ryan?" He wasn't in the living room or in the kitchen. The television was on the music channel. She walked further into his apartment and to his bedroom. She thought that maybe he was asleep or something, but what she saw was the last thing she expected to see.

Ryan was shirtless, on his knees with his face buried between the thighs of a leggy blonde. The girl shrieked. Lyn jumped, "Oh god...Sorry!" She ran out of his apartment with her eyes closed running into everything in her path. She couldn't believe what she saw.

Ryan laughed.

**********************

"The Joelman account meeting has been moved. Instead of next month we are having it tomorrow in Texas. Start getting together the..."

"Sir, you have..." When she realized her mistake it was too late.

"I have to take care of something; I'll send you the memo." He hung up the phone and looked over at his secretary, "In my office. Now." He hissed through a clenched jaw.

The young lady walked into the dark room for the second time ever. The other time she was in there was when he was working late. He told her to get naked and bend over. When he was finished, he told her to get out and hold his calls.

He stalked in behind her and sat back in his chair. She stood in front of him and fidgeted with the tail of her too tight, too revealing shirt. He sat in silence looking at her. Her clothes were inappropriate. In fact, every secretary he ever had, dressed as if his office was a nightclub hoping to catch his attention. He was debating whether or not he should make her bend over one last time before he fired her...just because he felt like it, but he didn't want to give her the wrong impression. Her being fired was nonnegotiable. He didn't ask much of his secretaries, but none of them seemed to get it right. This would be his seventh one in three months. He wished they didn't send him the young stupid ones who are too busy trying to get into his bed than they are at answering phones.

"Shelly you are a secretary, correct?"

"I was just..."

"Yes or no, Shelly?" He was staring daggers into her, trying very hard to keep his anger down.

"Yes sir."

"That means you work for me...correct?"

"Yes sir."

"Did they tell you the rules when you were hired?"

"Yes sir, but..."

He cut her off. "How many rules are there, Shelly?"

"Three, sir."

"What is my number one rule?"

"Never to interrupt you...ever."

"You broke that rule. Get out. You're fired."

"But...You cant!..."

In the same hushed tone he stood up, laid his palms flat on his desk and said, "I won't say it twice."

She ran out of his office crying. He scoffed, disgusted at the young woman's overflow of emotions. Immediately after, Pierce picked up his phone and dialed HR, someone was going to get an earful. 

**********************

Jaylyn was startled out of her sleep by a series of rapid knocks at her apartment door. She jumped out of her bed, grabbed a bat and inched towards the door. It was three in the morning, who could possibly be knocking on her door this late and for what reason? Someone was going to get a beat down or an earful or curse words.

"Jay, it's me. Open up."

She exhaled with relief and unlocked the door. Ryan stepped in.

"What the fuck? Who did you think I was?" He said looking at the bat clutched in her hands throwing his own hands up in surrender.

"Shut up I was asleep. I was just being safe, but do that shit again and next time I'll be using this bat."

"You know it turns me on when you get all dominatrix on me. Why were you asleep? I thought we were going out?"

"I was tired and I haven't heard from you since...uh, you know. I'm sorry about that by the way. I shouldn't have let myself in."

"It's forgotten. Don't worry about it." He said with his gaze trained on her.

"What happened to Stevie?"

"That was Stevie."

She didn't try to hide the surprise when her eyes widened. "I thought Stevie was a man?"

"She is very much a woman...you saw." He said teasing her.

"So you really are bisexual?" She was talking to herself now.

"Is that a problem for you?" He said with an amused look dancing across his face.

"No. Do your thing. Why would it be a problem for me?" She was trying to be nonchalant.

He narrowed his eyes at her and smiled. "Put on some clothes and let's go eat."

She blushed fiercely at his last statement for two reasons. First she was directly reminded of him on his knees tongue deep in pussy. She couldn't imagine him being able to eat anything after that feast...Even if it had been days. Secondly she looked down at herself and realized she was nearly naked, wearing only a nearly see through nighty that barely made it to the middle of her thighs.

"You could have said something, loser." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why? I was enjoying it." Ryan watched her scurry out of the room and laughed on his way to her bathroom to adjust himself. "Where do you want to go, beautiful? Your choice."

**********************

When they walked into the diner they were soon shown to their seats. Lyn ordered her favorite, a strawberry waffle, t-bone steak, coffee, apple juice and French fries. Ryan ordered a salad, hamburger, scrambled eggs, French toast with an iced tea. They sat the first ten minutes in silence stuffing their faces and sharing food.

Breaking the silence Ryan says, "Jay, you never told me why you came over in the first place."

"Oh! That's right. So you know how I had to spend the week writing?" He nodded. "Well soon after you left it all started coming to me and I couldn't stop typing. I changed the direction of the story, but I nearly finished it. I'm going to make the date after all." She was nearly squealing.

"What did Ann say?" He loved watching her excitement. It was infectious. He never truly understood how a woman like her was alone.

"That's the good part. She said that it was my best work yet!" Lyn was barely able to contain her excitement.

"I knew you could do it. Did you come up with a title?" 

He caught her off guard. The thought never once crossed her mind.

"Umm. No, but it has to be catchy...something vague and revealing all at the same time." She instantly went into deep thought. 

"I'm happy for you, beautiful."

"Thanks Ry. Now all I need is a man to keep me up all night long and my life will be complete. It seem like all the men I find want more than I am willing to offer. Where are all the assholes? A few years ago I couldn't get away from them."

"Trust me they're out there, but that's not what you really want." He didn't want that for her.

"I don't know. Maybe it's not, but I do know that I really want to get laid, which is something you're getting plenty of. How was it anyway? I thought you were going to wait with Stevie."

"What made you think that?"

"You asked for advice. I just assumed you were going to give that one a try."

"She wasn't who I thought she was."

"Oh I know all about that." She said looking down at her plate.

"One day Jay, you're going to have to tell me about the one that got away. You don't have to put up a front all of the time. I know you better than that."

"More like the one that ran away, but I'm over it now." She gave him her best smile trying not to think about what she admitted out loud.

**********************

He walked into his condo. Something was off, he heard the television and shower running. It was the two in the afternoon. No one was supposed to be in his condo except for the cleaning lady and the thought of her using his shower had him seeing red. He walked into his kitchen and laid his keys and briefcase on the counter. He headed to the living room to see his cleaning lady washing the windows. She didn't hear him come home early. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that she finally noticed him leaning against the wall in his all black suit, his face expressionless. She jumped.

"Sorry sir, I did not hear you come home. I am almost finished. I will be out of your way soon." Her voice was shaking.

"Rita. Why is the shower running?" His jaw tightened.

"Sir, she was here when I got here. She said you knew. I stayed out of her way. Did I do wrong?"

He looked down at the pretty Asian woman and said, "Leave. Finish tomorrow." 

He waited for Rita to drive away before he walked directly to the bathroom, slid the shower door open, turned off the water and said, "Trichelle, I'm only going to say this one time. Get. Out."

She giggled at him. "No I came to surprise you. Join me"

He was irritated. Her voice, her face, her fake tits...she was a serious lapse in judgment on his part. He reached into the shower and pulled the redhead out by the back of her neck careful not to hurt her, he grabbed her things escorted her to the door and put her and her clothes outside before closing slamming it in her face.

"Pierce! You piece of shit!"

He sat back on his bed and chuckled. He knew fucking her was a mistake, but when he spotted her in the bar a few months ago he saw no challenge and he went for it. The last thing he needed in his hectic life was a girl who wanted more than he was willing to even consider. All Trichelle wanted from him was sex and he was more than happy to give it to her, but only when, how and where he wanted it. Her say didn't matter to him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. 

No emails.

Two messages.

One missed call. 

There was a knock on the door. He was going to rip her a new one if she was still on his porch. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and loosened his tie. When he opened the door he was surprised to see John and Wesley, his business partners.

"Calm down man, what's wrong?" Wesley said stepping back a few inches.

Wesley Banks came highly recommended by Jack. He was a few years older than Pierce and John, but he fit right in with the staff and helped close his fair share of deals for the company. Pierce only decided to go with his dad on keeping him around because he always made the right move when it came to business, which is why his dad was such a success. At least Jack was good at something because he damn sure wasn't a good father, but Pierce no longer cared. He now saw his father as a business man only...nothing more. The grudge he held was gone.

Pierce stepped aside to let the men in. Wesley was Italian and had a deep olive complexion and brown eyes. He was a few inches shorter than John and Pierce at 6'1 and was considered good company as he is personable and played the good guy on occasion when it came to closing deals.

"Nothing." His green eyes were still dark with fury.

"That didn't look like nothin'. You should consider counselin' no one should fly off the handle that easy." Johnny said to him half joking.

"Fuck you, asshole. You don't have room to talk." Pierce said to John.

Wesley laughed and agreed, "He's right, John, you need some therapy of your own." 

"Shit if I go. I'm not the one who can't keep a secretary." Johnny said while checking his phone.

"Yeah, Pierce what's up with that shit, man." Wes added lightly.

"She broke my rules." 

"Rules? That's fuckin' genius. My secretary is lazy. She needs some goddamn rules." John said.

"It doesn't help if you're banging them on your lunch break either." Wesley stated.

"It helps me concentrate." Johnny added with fake seriousness.

"Let's go. Flight leaves in two hours." Pierce said looking down at his watch following the men out and to the waiting car.

"If we don't close this deal, I'm kickin' some ass."

**********************

Lyn was on her way to Ann's office for an impromptu meeting about her latest work. She figured that she might as well bring the last few hundred pages with her before Ann started getting all high and mighty about the publish date.

When she walked into the office, Ann was on the phone talking to one of the 'big heads' no doubt. 

"She just walked in, see you in five." Ann hung up the phone. "Jaylyn, I'm glad you could make it on such short notice. It's not really my style to last minute people, but this is urgent."

"It's fine. What's wrong? Did I miss another deadline? Because I have the last pages here with me." Lyn started reaching into her bag to pull them out.

"Oh good. No you didn't miss any deadlines I want you to meet with someone."

"Is it about what I wrote, I know I strayed away from the original plan, but that's where the story took me."

"No it's nothing like that. Your writing is good. Someone from our sister publishing company wants to meet with you. He is only in town for a few days...and here he is now." Ann said standing up to greet this man.

Lyn was still confused as she stood up to meet the man of the hour.

"Miss James, I'm Waylon Fuller I've heard a great deal about your work. Tell me, have you come up with a title for it?"

Lyn couldn't believe her eyes. This man was gorgeous....beyond that. He was perfection. His voice was like silk, smooth and inviting. He was 6'4, his hair was black and cropped short to his head. He had a pair of bright blue eyes that reached his smile. She couldn't help but let her mind wander a little. Oh the possibilities...

"Miss James?" He repeated giving her a slight frown.

"I'm sorry. No I haven't come up with anything yet, I'm having a little trouble with that part of it."

"Well, we'll work it out...together."

He was staring at her now. She must have been feeling bold today because she held his gaze with matched intensity. He gave her a knowing smile.

"Is that the last of it?" Waylon said motioning towards the manuscript on Ann's desk.

"Oh yes it is. Do you want me to send it over to your office? Or are you going to take it with you now?" Ann said picking up Lyn's work.

"Take it with him? What?" Lyn realizing that she still had no idea what was going on.

"Miss James, I'm going to publish your book." 

"Why?" She didn't like this idea. She felt like she was being handed off.

Waylon Fuller looked at his watch and said, "I apologize, but I have to cut this meeting short. Miss James I have your information I will be in touch to explain it all."

"Thanks for coming down on your vacation." Ann said as he left the room following right behind him.

Lyn was left standing alone with unanswered questions.

**********************

"So who was he?"

"I don't really know. His name is Waylon. He said he was going to publish my book and then he left."

"Did you get his number?"

"No, but he has all of my contact information...or so he said."

"What you don't believe him?"

"No I do, but it's already been a week and when I met him he just seemed preoccupied is all." Plus he's gorgeous, but she decided not to say that part out loud.

"You always did like them tall dark and unavailable."

"Shut up!! Ryan, I never told you what he looked like."

"He came by two days ago. I saw him at your door."

"Why didn't you say anything? What did he say?"

"I forgot. I thought he was just another one of those guys in Ann's building dropping by to hassle you about deadlines."

"I'm no longer reporting to Ann. So I need to get in touch with this guy. He has my work."

"Check your email. All the important people are doing it."

"Just because Stevie hasn't called you back doesn't mean you need to be bitter."

That caught Ryan off guard. He wasn't expecting Lyn to be so blunt about it. Also tied with the fact that she's completely wrong is something he always came to expect. She has always been terrible at reading people...even him.

"Stevie hasn't called me because she thinks you're my girlfriend."

"Ry, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me? What can I do to help?"

He laughed, "Chill out Jay. It's not a big deal. Stevie is like your Darrel, old news."

Lyn was checking her email from her cell phone. Ryan was right, she had two emails. One from Waylon asking her to call him asap. Lyn immediately dialed the number. It was six in the evening, so it didn't seem too late, but even if it was...so what.

The phone rang twice before there was an answer.

"Waylon Fuller's office," the small voiced female answered.

"Hello, hi. I just received a message from Mr. Fuller asking me to call him as soon as possible. My name is Jaylyn James."

"Oh Miss James. We have been expecting your call. Please hold while I connect you through."

She didn't know why, but she felt a little nervous waiting for him to pick up the phone. A lot of it probably had to do with the fact that she was still in the dark about what was going. She was going to demand some answers this time. Her career was on the line here.

"Miss James. I'm glad you called. I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"I wasn't waiting long. When do you plan on telling me what this is all about?"

His voice was hushed and smooth. She subconsciously crossed her legs. 

"That's why I called. Are you free ...in about two hours for dinner?"

"Y...yes. Where do you want to meet?" He moves fast.

"Nonsense. I'll pick you up at eight. We'll go over everything then."

He hung up.

"So?" Ryan said.

Lyn forgot that he was still in her apartment. "He's taking me out to dinner to go over everything."

"Uh oh."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me." Ryan said leaving her apartment. "I have some things that I need to catch up on, but call if you need me."

**********************



It's Complicated Ch. 10



He watched her as her body thrashed about on the bed. Instinctively he tightens his grip on her thighs as he enjoys the sweetness of her core. He knew from the moment he saw her that it was going to be difficult to keep it strictly professional. Now he had her at his home, on his bed, naked, doing exactly what had been on his mind the minute he looked at her. He continued to attack her clit. Her arousal was seeping out of her. He realized going in that this would be a mistake, but there was something about this girl, he had to taste her.

"Uggnnhh...mmm...oahh." She wailed out a low throaty moan. If she could remember a single word in her vocabulary she would have told him to stop because it was becoming too much for her. Instead she opted for grabbing handfuls of his hair, but was disappointed to find there was not enough to grab, instead she put her hands on either side of his face, pulling him up her warm, over stimulated body. He was too much. She didn't know if she could continue, but she wanted to.

As he was crawling up her body he plunged two fingers into her dripping pussy. Her body arched up wanting and needing to feel more. His thumb was tracing circles around her slippery, swollen clit pausing only to drag his thick fingers lazily between the folds of her heat. Her full lips formed a perfect 'o' and he couldn't stop himself from claiming her mouth. She started to squirm under him at the taste of her sex on his mouth. She needed more. 

She reached down between their bodies and was dissatisfied to find out that she was the only one fully naked. Her attempt to undo his pants failed. He was still strumming her pussy ever so softly it was killing her. And in no time a thigh quacking orgasm started ripping through her core and shutting down her senses. She dug her nails into his shoulders as she rode out the spasms, her pussy clinching tightly around his fingers. There was something missing.

"Pants...Off." She panted.

"Anything you want, baby."

His voice was husky. He kneeled over her and positioned himself for entry. He looked down at her hooded eyes. She was beautiful like that. Too beautiful. He slid his finger inside of her and spread her juices on his bottom lip just before he sucked it between his teeth. She smiled at him wickedly and motioned him closer with her finger. He slowly started pushing further into her until he filled her completely. Her eyes widened at his size. He kept his gaze trained on her face, waiting for her to adjust. A few minutes later she was rotating her hips under him urging him to move within her.

"Patience, baby."

She was tight. He had been with his fair share of females, but none so sweet, so tight or so sexy without trying. He palmed her swollen breast, giving her dark nipple a slight pinch. She pushed up into his rough hand and started moving her hips again. She needed the friction. What he was doing was torture. She was on the edge and he was leaving her there...waiting...wanting...needing, more. He leaned down over her body and captured her mouth in a deep long kiss that clouded her mind. He said against her lips, "you win," as he pulled out of her and pushed back in with eye opening force. He heard her quick intake of breath and examined her face, "Still with me, baby?"

"Yeeessss..." 

He smiled against her lips and continued thrusting in and out of her. He could see her orgasm building up. Her eyes were shut tight, her back was arched and she was biting down on her lips. He could feel her getting wetter...as if it were possible. He slowed his pace and reached down to circle her clit pushing her clear over the edge. Her walls immediately clenched tightly around him, at the same time it forced down his own release. He sustained a slow, even plunge in and out of her until he ran dry. Soon after he fell beside her. 

She broke the silence, "So are you going to tell me what's going on with my book now? Or do I have to wait?" There was a slight edge in her voice.

"I didn't plan this, Miss James. I mean, of course the moment I saw you...any man with a pulse would...I didn't plan this." He felt like a fool around her...which was a first.

"We are past the pleasantries, Fuller. Just tell me what's up."

"I told you. I am going to publish your book. We believe that your book could make a lot of noise if we push it out the right way. The company you were with is a startup company...well that's what we call it. Once I got wind of your book, I wanted in."

He was starring at her still naked body, marveling at its smoothness.

"I don't understand. Why haven't I heard of you? Who is we? What's the difference?"

"One question at a time, baby. I am a fairly new representative for this publishing company. Hand picked." He seemed proud at that fact. "The difference is that we are taking away your training wheels. You are free to write what you want."

"But..."

"No buts. You write it I'll publish it."

"My book. It's a series. I didn't mention it to Ann."

"It has to be. They want more."

"They? "

"Here's the thing. We go about it a little bit differently than you may be used to. What works for us is if we...leak the book out to a few 'important people', to see how it is perceived if that goes well we send it out. Locally...nation wide...world wide. In that order."

"So my book is...?"

"...is being read by a select group of people and over the course of some months it will be printed." 

"I...wow. Is it supposed to happen so fast?"

"When you do it right, yes...and we always do it right."

She didn't miss the insinuation in his last comment, but she was too busy trying to swallow all that he said. Her stomach growled. Good sex always did that to her.

"Sorry about dinner, like I said, this wasn't planned."

"Don't worry about that. The title..."

"What do you feel like eating?"

He stood up fully naked. His muscles flexed with each movement. Lyn watched him move as if it was poetry. She decided in that moment that he should never wear clothes; it does him a great injustice to cover up his body. She was lost in her thoughts. She closed her knees subconsciously at the familiar heat building back up in her core. She wanted more of him.

He gave her a knowing smile and said, "Later, baby. Let's eat." She frowned. "Later. I promise. I am nowhere near finished with you."

*****************************************

He stepped out of the elevator and stopped short of his office door upon seeing his new secretary. She was an older woman, he was thankful for that. She had her hair in a tight bun and looked to be reading over his rules. He cleared his throat.

She stood up, "Hello. You must be Mr. Cohen Pierce. It's nice to meet you sir, I am Carlene Meyers, your new secretary."

"Did they catch you up on everything?"

"Yes, sir they did. I have everything under control. I know your rules. We are going to get along fine."

"I hope that is true Ms. Meyers." Oddly enough, he meant that. "Do I have any calls or mail?"

"All your calls, messages and mail are sitting on your desk sir."

He was shocked. This Carlene might actually know how to do her job. He'd have to find out what he was paying her.

"Sir, don't forget about your two o'clock meeting in the conference room."

"Thank you Ms. Meyers." He stepped into his office leaving the door open.

Life just got a little easier for him. He sat back in his chair and went through his mail, noticing that something was missing. The report. Where was it? He scattered the papers searching for one unmarked letter. It was Monday the letter should have been there. Not seeing it was pissing him off.

"Ms. Meyers!" He barked out while pacing his office.

She jumped at her name. She heard about his infamous temper, but she never dreamt she would come in contact of it within an hour of being on the clock. She knew his type though.

She stood in his doorway, "Is there a problem sir?"

"Is this all of my mail?" He raked his hands through his hair.

"Yes sir. That was the lot of it."

"Get out. Shut the door."

He needed to make a phone call. He wasn't paying that little prick for nothing. He listened to the line ring several times before someone finally answered...

"This is Ryan."

****************************

"Fuller, you're not half bad."

He looked at her incredulous, "What were you expecting?"

"Hmm..." She thought about that for a minute. "I was expecting you to be an asshole."

"Like the one in your book?"

"Not quite that extreme, but some version of it."

He smiled crookedly at her. "I should be offended that you expect so little of me. I'm sorry to disappoint you baby. If it's a jerk you want, I can work on that for you." 

"No that's not what I mean, but it would make this easier if you were."

"How so?"

Lyn looked down at her hands and thought about her answer. She knew she didn't want to relive any moment of her past, but she also knew that she didn't want this...thing with Waylon to confuse the already crossed lines. This was supposed to be a professional relationship and she wanted to get it back to that point. She looked around the cozy corner; it was pretty ironic that they decided to meet in a bookshop. Enough stalling. 

"We can't do this."

"Do what? Have coffee?" He knew what she meant, he just wished she didn't mean it.

"Come on Fuller. Don't make me say it." The moment he sat back in his chair was the moment she realized that he was leaning unnaturally over the table in her direction. "You are a nice guy and everything and the sex is, in all honesty some of the best sex I have had in a while, but we have a work relationship and I don't want that to..."

"Say no more, ba...Miss James." She saw the flash or irritation enter his eyes. "I understand. If we are going to be working so closely together we should have boundaries."

Her timing was way off. They had been sleeping together practally since the moment they met. He was not happy to agree to her 'work only' approach to this, but this is what she wanted and for some unknown reason he wanted her to have everything she wanted...even if only knowing her for a short time. He figured maybe there was another guy, which made sense because in his eyes, Jaylyn was a catch. 

"I got it!"

"What have you got?" His demeanor turned from engrossed to apathetic.

"The title. I've been thinking about it for days and I've finally came up with something."

"Well...?"

"Blind Trust." She looked across the table hoping for him to like it, when out of nowhere he stood up to leave. "Where are you going?"

"I've got a lot of work to do, now that we have a title. I'll be in touch."

***************************

'...One hand in the air for the big city, Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty, No place in the World that can compare, Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeaaahh...'

He let himself in. Her music was too loud; she would have never heard his knocks over it. He stood watching her go through boxes and singing every other word of the song. He walked over to the stereo and turned her music down to a faint humming in the background.

Jaylyn whipped her head around, "Hey! I was listening to that." 

"I think the whole building was listening to that." 

"Whatever. How long have you been standing there? What's wrong?" Ryan looked different to her. He looked worried.

"I just walked in. What's going on with your book?"

"Waylon is sending it out to have it printed, but a few 'important people' already have it. It's just going by so fast. I'm so excited. It's finally happening the way I wanted it to." 

"What about Waylon? You have been seeing a lot of him."

If only he knew, "Waylon is a good guy. I haven't seen him in a few weeks now, but things are good with him. He's good at what he does and he seems to actually enjoy it, which is not something you see often."

"How are you keeping in touch with him?"

"Emails mostly. It's more convenient for him that way since he has been traveling a lot lately. He should be back soon. Ry, what's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"What do you mean? I'm always okay. You know me."

"Are you sure? You know you can talk to me?"

"Yeah Jay, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Ryan decided in that moment he was going to tell her what was going on. He felt like shit for what he was doing to her. He should have never agreed to anything like this. It wasn't like he needed the money or anything. He just figured that the extra cash couldn't hurt and he agreed to it before he knew her, but even he had to admit that there was no excuse for what he was doing.

He had to tell her. Soon.

****************************

Pierce was just about to leave his office when his secretary stopped him.

"Sir, there is someone here to see you. He says he's from..."

"It is after eleven o'clock, Ms. Meyer's, why are you still here? Your shift was over at nine."

"I was on my way out when I saw that the last secretary mismanaged your schedule book. I was fixing the errors."

That actually explained a lot. He was growing fond of Carlene. 

"What were you saying?"

"There is someone here to see you. He says that he is from your publishing firm."

"Damn. Where is Wes? Why can't he take care of it?" He impatiently looked at his watch.

"Mr. Banks is busy with the lawyers redrawing contracts for a new client. He mentioned needing to speak directly with one of the partners or else I would have sent him elsewhere."

"What about John?"

"John is in a meeting. Sir, I know you're exhausted. I told him that you had a plane to catch and he promised to make it fast."

Its official, Carlene was a keeper. "Where is he?"

"Conference room four, sir."

"Thank you, Ms. Meyers. Its late go home."

Pierce walked down the hall into the conference room. He had been working double overtime for the past few weeks and all he wanted to do was go home, get drunk and pass out, whoever this was, was going to catch the bad end of his temper if this turned out to be a waste of time.

The man stood upon hearing the door opening. "You must be Cohen Pierce, I'm Waylon Fuller."

"What is so important that it couldn't wait until a better hour, Mr. Fuller?"

"I was hired by Jack a while back to front your publishing firm."

"Is there a problem over there?"

"No, sir. The exact opposite. We have a new author on our radar and..."

"Mr. Fuller if there is a point to this meeting I suggest you get to it, I'm on a tight schedule."

"Have it your way. Here is the manuscript. Give me a call when you've finished reading it so we can discuss advertising, which is where you come in."

"Why did you bring this to me? What is wrong with the publishing process we already have set?"

"Just read it and give me a call. We can make a lot of money on this one." Enough said.

"Goodnight Mr. Fuller, I'll be in touch." 

******

He walked into his dark, empty condo instantly relaxed by the silence, but strangely no longer tired, which didn't surprise him. It hadn't occurred to him until now that he wouldn't mind having someone to come home to, but that was a fleeting thought. He never found any woman interesting enough to keep him guessing. He couldn't stand monotony. A year after college he'd met a good girl. One he actually thought about giving a try, but she lacked originality and she couldn't hold a very good conversation unless it was about movies and celebrities...that got old quick. 

He went straight to his laptop to send out a few company memos and later opted for reading the manuscript through another endless, restless night. He much rather be reading something else, but since he was going to be reading either way...might as well make some money doing it.

****************************

Lyn didn't know what to do with herself. She had an unusual amount of free time on her hands. She started in on part two of her series, but when that got old she decided on checking her emails. She had only read Waylon's last few emails, but didn't reply to them. She didn't like how he kept everything so short with her, not after what happened with them. If she was being honest with herself she would take note of the fact that she didn't feel as if she could completely give herself to another person. Her past didn't seem like much to someone looking in on the outside, but to her it was much more than what was on the surface. There were some things she has not yet faced and Waylon didn't need to be a part of it. She felt stupid for leading him on like that.

She opened her email and was surprised to see another email from Waylon sent yesterday.

'...Everything is still going according to schedule. At this rate your title will be on the shelves within a few months...give or take. I just finished my last meeting with the advertising firm. I trust they will be onboard soon enough. I am on my way back to you to go over you possibly meeting with some of the other people who have a hand in pushing your book out there..."

His email unsettled her. She wondered why he was putting so much effort into her and her book. It hardly seemed fair. She knew for a fact that he was working with at least three other writers. She heard him take calls about it in front of her, but he didn't seem to be giving the others this much...special attention. She would have to ask him about that.

****************************

Pierce walked out of the elevator manuscript in hand and headed straight to his office. 

"Good morning sir, everything you need is already on your desk..."

"Ms. Meyers get Mr. Waylon Fuller on the phone for me and cancel all of my meetings for today."

"Yes sir."

He settled in his off throwing his coat on the small sofa in the corner and loosening his tie before finally sitting behind his desk. He wasn't sure how he was going to go about this, but he couldn't put it off any longer. 

"Sir, Mr. Fuller is on line five."

"This is Pierce." He spoke into the receiver. 

"Mr. Pierce, I take it you read over the manuscript." There was a smug edge in his voice.

"Who wrote it?"

"A fairly new writer from New York, I have been working closely with her for..."

Pierce stopped listening after Waylon mentioned New York. There was no doubt now. He didn't need to hear anymore. Nothing else mattered.

"Mr. Fuller," He cut him off. "Fax over the plans and my secretary will be in touch with you."

He hung up the phone and pushed the intercom button.

"Ms. Meyers can I see you in my office."

One minute later Ms. Meyers walked in with her own copy of the manuscript clutched at her side.

"Where did you get that?"

"Another secretary in the building said Johnny didn't want to read it, so she made another copy and gave one to me. Just something to read in my free time." She smiled kindly at him.

"I am expecting some things to be faxed over from Mr. Fuller. Let me know when it gets here. Also, I need you to schedule a meeting with his new writer and Wesley Banks. Here in Nevada."

"Yes, sir. Do you want me to contact Wesley's secretary for..."

"No." He cut her off. "I want YOU to schedule with Mr. Fuller and the author. For me...using Wesley's name. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I'll let you know as soon as possible." She turned to leave.

"Ms. Meyers...I am playing this one close to..."

"Say no more." She looked down at the book in her arm and smiled warmly. "I understand sir."

"Thank you Ms. Meyers."

If he didn't like her so much he would have fired her for interrupting him.

****************************

"You have been spending a lot of time over here. What's the deal?"

"Is that your way of telling me that I have to leave? I heard you on the phone. I know he's coming over." There was an edge in his voice.

"You can stay as long as you want, Ryan. You know that. He's only coming over for a minute. What's wrong with you?"




It's Complicated Ch. 10



"Nothing Jay, I'm sorry. It's just. We need..."

He was interrupted by the door buzzer. Just his luck. He would have to fess up another time.

She looked at Ryan with confusion in her eyes and called out, "Its open!"

Waylon looked past her to see Ryan sitting on the sofa and a pang of jealousy coursed through him when he noticed Ryan's comfortable body language. He looked at Ryan as the reason Jaylyn decided to stop sleeping with him. "Hey baby."

"Hey Waylon. Is there anything new?" She noticed Waylon go on the defense.

"Uh yea. We..." emphasis on the 'we'. "...are going to Vegas for a few days."

"Vegas! For what?"

"Do you remember when I told you about your book being sent out to a few important people?" He waited for her to nod before continuing. "Well one of them wants a meeting with you."

"Who?"

"I believe his name is Wesley Banks. He works primarily out of Vegas, or just outside of it. His secretary called today to confirm the meeting."

She wanted to be excited, but something was still bothering her.

"Waylon? Why are you going through all this trouble to get my book out? I've heard you with your other authors and you aren't doing any of this stuff for them."

"Miss James," She didn't like how he went from formal to informal it was unsettling. "If you think I am giving you special treatment, you're wrong. I come across many authors day in and day out and it is not often that I find one with as much potential as you. Not only that, Ann practically threatened my life if I didn't do everything in my power to make you a success. It wasn't in her means to, so she called on me. Simple."

"But what about your other..."

"Every person requires different attention. Like I said, you are not getting special treatment. I would have done it regardless of what Ann said."

Ryan cleared his throat and headed for the door. "See ya later Jay." 

Lyn ignored him. She wasn't feeling his attitude and didn't really want to deal with him anymore. Whatever his problem was he was going to have to figure it out and get back to her. She didn't want him throwing off her buzz. She'd see him when she got back. That should be enough time for him to get it together.

"When do we leave?" She asked, her smile wide with excitement.

His smile matched hers, but Waylon was excited for a very different reason.

****************************

She stepped out of the airport and into the dry heat of Vegas. She suddenly realized that she hadn't been on a vacation since...forever. Even if this was a 'business'trip.

"Please tell me that we're staying on the strip!? Wait let me rephrase that...We HAVE to stay on the strip! I mean this is Vegas. We can't not stay on the strip. It would be wrong."

He chuckled lightly, "I told you the meeting at his office is just outside of Vegas. If we stay on the strip that means an earlier start and I..."

"Waaylooon," She whined his name. "Please. Please, with sugar on top."

"Whatever you want baby." He felt like a fool for giving into her. Again.

She knew how he felt. She liked him too, but she couldn't be what he wanted, she needed to explain that to him.

"Thank you! You're the best." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Are you ready to sin, baby?" His eyes were dancing with suggestion.

"Where are we staying?"

"Your idea you pick?"

"Umm. What's your favorite?"

"No. I said you pick...without my input."

"Bellagio, The Venetian, Cesar's Palace...wait. How are we paying for it? We can split..."

He shook his head no. "Company card. Go crazy."

"The Palms it is."

"Good choice. Let's go."

****************************

She looked around her room, when he said he was going to be using the company card she didn't expect him to max it out. Well at least by the looks of the room, he sure tried to. Everything was over the top fantastic. She never wanted to leave. It was like an apartment. The pool extended out from the building. It was straight out from a movie. She couldn't wait to hit the casino floor.

"So Miss James, how do you like your room?"

"I..wow."

"You deserve it."

"Waylon look, I need to get something off my chest." He leaned against the nearest wall with his arms cross over his chest. "I know we have a...different kind of relationship, but whatever happens here I'm afraid it won't be any more than what it is. It CAN'T be anymore than what it is. It's not that I don't like you or anything because I do, I'm just...not available."

"I understand."

She was dumbfounded. "What?"

"You're not ready. That's okay." He poured himself a drink.

"But, I don't want to..."

"I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."

"Oh?" She wished he wasn't so understanding. Maybe she should give him a try.

"If you're finished trying to protect my feelings there is something that I have been wanting to do to you since we landed."

She stood still, waiting as he closed the space between them and kissed her slowly coaxing her mouth open with his tongue. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer as his hands roamed her body. He reached the front of her jeans and in one swift motion he undid her jeans, pulling them down just enough to explore her heat. He swirled his fingers around her clit before he dipped inside of her.

"Waylon?"

"What baby?"

"I...I can't wait."

Knowing exactly what she meant her bent over the bar and gave her what they both wanted.

****************************

Waylon spent the majority of the next day on the phone and on his laptop. His job never stopped. "Let's go, Fuller." She said. 

He mouthed an apology letting her know that he was going to be nowhere near finished.

She decided to go off on her own. She was in Vegas there were people everywhere. He could work and find her later. First stop ATM, which shouldn't be hard to find because they were everywhere. It wasn't exactly nightlife time so the clubs could wait; she didn't want to go too far in case Waylon decided to hang up the phone. 

The atmosphere surrounding her was unreal. There were high rollers, entourages and half naked girls and men everywhere. She walked through the casino and decided to get a full spa treatment, she worked hard and she deserved it. 

As she walked pass the tables she was stopped by a group of girls.The pretty blonde spoke first, "Excuse me? Are you alone?"

"Why?"

"Well the casino wants an audience in the high rollers room and they only let us in by the pairs. There are only five of us. We just need one more to get in and you can leave whenever you want. Please?" She obviously really wanted this.

"Okay." She might as well have fun, while she was there. Couldn't hurt. "I'm in."

"Thank you!" The blonde pulled her by the arm and into the back room.

The room was dark in color and clouded thickly with smoke. It looked as if the girls were telling the truth only pairs were being let in. Apparently singles didn't fit the vibe they were trying to give off. There were three tables being used and all seats were filled. She couldn't make out anyone's faces because of the thick cloud of smoke. Her and her new friends were offered free drinks and they started chatting.

"Look! Look! There he is!" The redhead squealed.

"Where? I don't see him." The blonde asked stretching in every which direction trying to find the mystery man.

"Over there. He's walking this way. He's wearing a suit." The redhead answered fixing her hair and checking her clothes. "I hope he notices us."

"He has to. We look good." The brunette said.

"Who are you talking about? Brad Pitt?" Lyn said laughing at how shallow these girls are.

"Him!" The man walked by and glanced in their direction and paused as if he was deciding on which one to take.

He bought his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud sharp whistle and smiled. She narrowed her eyes in confusion. She still couldn't make out his face, but apparently one of the girls caught his eye. "Aw, don't make me come up there!"

Lyn jumped out of her seat, "Johnny!"

"You know it. Get over here." He held his arms out for her and she willingly ran into them.

"Look at you. Still breaking hearts."

"Naw. Still breakin' headboards is more like it. What the hell are you doin' in my town sweetheart?"

"Last I checked Texas was your town cowboy." She poked him in the chest.

"Where did you pick up your accent darlin'?"

Her eyes widened. "I don't have an accent."

"You do too." He missed teasing her.

"Do not. You're still the weird one." She flashed him a cheeky smile.

"You don't hear it. You must be spendin' time up in New York."

"Oh that." Lyn heard the girls behind her talking shit. "I think your groupies want your attention."

He looked over Lyn's head at the overdone girls. He chuckled lightly and surprised Jaylyn by kissing her square in the mouth. Then in one swift motion Johnny kicked Lyn's feet off from under her and threw her over his shoulders. All of the girls gasped simultaneously watching as Johnny and Lyn left the high roller room together laughing.

He carried her all the way across the casino floor and to a restaurant.

"You still eat steak darlin'?" He asked smacking her ass lightly.

"Is this how you treat all your women?"

"Just the ones I like. You stayin' to eat with me or not?"

"Yep. Can I walk now?"

"Shit no. You're mine for the night darlin'."

"Uh oh."

"Uh oh is right. You're gonna remember this trip."

She missed Johnny's playful ways. She almost completely forgot about Waylon...until he was standing in front of Johnny demanding answers.

"Darlin', please tell me you don't know him and if you do tell me it's okay to whip his ass." He put her down on her feet.

"Waylon? What are you doing down here?" She was confused and upset; she really wanted to spend the evening with Johnny.

"We came together, remember." He was clearly upset.

"No, I mean, I thought you were going to spend the night working from the room."

"Well I'm sorry to mess up your plans," He looked directly at Johnny now. "...but I thought I'd take you out tonight, but I see you found a replacement."

Johnny's hands twitched at his side, Lyn didn't remember him being so short tempered or so big. He towered over Waylon with no problem. "You got it all wrong Waylon." She saw him clench his fists.

"Watch yourself Waylon." Johnny must have seen it too.

"Johnny stop."

"Yes Johnny stop." Waylon spat the words out.

"Waylon you stop too. Are you trying to provoke him?"

"I don't care about provoking some guy you just met. I just didn't realize the kind of girl you were." He went past being upset to being hurt.

"Fuck you." She stepped between the men and turned to face Johnny. "Let's go, John. You promised me a steak."

They walked away leaving Waylon in the middle of the casino floor. She would deal with him later...If there was a later.



It's Complicated Ch. 11



The night before with Johnny was the most fun Lyn had in a long time. She didn't get a wink of sleep, they stopped at every club they passed and topped it off with shots she didn't know the names to. After the near death match between the guys, she didn't want to be anywhere near Waylon. It was six in the morning; she was just now making her way back to the Palms with John at her side and just two hours away from her meeting. In all honesty she had no intention of really even going if it meant Waylon was going to be by her side. Lyn figured he pulled out and left her in Vegas and if he didn't leave her she was damn sure going to leave him.

"You want me to wait out here for you?" He studied her face for a minute. "I could go in. Just say the word." 

She looked him over, when did he get sexy? "Umm. I'll be okay." She frowned. 

He arched his brow. "I'll be close." 

"You don't have to."

"It's the southern gentleman in me. Hurry up."

She inserted her key into the door and as soon as she opened it she saw Waylon sitting at the bar with his hands over his face.

"Hey..." He started.

"Shut up." She rushed past him and in to the bathroom to grab her things to start packing.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"Save it for somebody who cares and just so you know, it's not me."

"Baby. Please..."

She turned around to face him. "I'm not your baby."

"Just let me explain." He pleaded.

"Let you explain?" She looked at him incredulous. "Explain what? That you're an asshole? Or that you 're not the 'big boy' you claim to be? Or how about the fact that you came at me sideways without knowing the facts?"

"I think you owe me a little more than that, Jaylyn."

"Really? Because I don't think I owe you a goddamn thing." She turned back to packing.

"I thought we were getting somewhere, and then the moment I don't cater to you, you hook up with the next man you see."

"Wow you really are stupid. I told you we were never going to be more than what we are. Sex wasn't going to change that and for the record, Johnny is a friend, from college."His facial expression turned to regret. "I guess you made good on your promise to be a jerk. Congratulations."

"I...I'm sorry." He reached out for her.

"Not my problem. Never was." She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

"What about the meeting?"

She had one foot out the door, "Bye Fuller."

As soon as she was in the hall he ran out behind her and grabbed her arm.

"Just let me make it up to you."

She looked at him startled, "Let. Go."

"Come back to the room. Please. I just want to talk." He proceed to tug her arm.

"Stop it."

"Waylon, I think you better do as she says if you value that arm of yours." 

Both Waylon and Lyn whipped their heads in the opposite direction upon hearing Johnny's voice. He was standing casually against the wall with an unfaltering gaze that promised peril if things didn't go his way.

Lyn shook Waylon's hand away from her arm and walked towards Johnny before disappearing into elevator.

"You sure have a way of attracting trouble; I guess some things never change." He teased. "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine, thanks for sticking around."

"My pleasure darlin', but I was kinda hopin' for a good brawl." 

"Since when are you a fighter? I thought you were the lover slash hero."

He took her bag from her and draped his arm over her shoulders. "I do it all. Where to now sweetheart?"

"Your place. I need a shower and I have a meeting that I'm probably going to be late for." No use in ruining her book plans over nothing.

"Whatever you say. Do you need me to call a car for you..."

"No just do whatever you would do if I wasn't here."

"When did you get all independent?"

"Shut up." She said jabbing him in the ribs.

Johnny took Lyn to his condo and got her settled in.

"I'm gonna go make some money. Don't leave without sayin' bye to me."

"I won't."

She would never dream of leaving him without telling him bye. She remembered him showing her the same respect. Johnny came looking for her the same night Pierce told her the news. Ashley left the message on the cork board. In some ways she was glad she missed him, she felt weak and probably would have done something out of character to stop him, but that was the past, she was her own person now.

****************************

It's a good thing she asked Waylon specific details about the meeting or else she would have never been able to find it on her own. Lyn walked down the carpeted hallway and stopped just before the desk.

"Excuse me." The woman looked up at her. "Hi, I have a meeting with Wesley Banks, I'm Jaylyn James."

Carlene looked up at the woman with wide eyes. "Oh Miss James. You're the author."

"Yes. Sorry I'm late I..."

"Nonsense. Follow me. Can I get you anything? Tea, juice, coffee, donut...?"

"No thank you."

"Okay, wait in here and I'll let him know that you've arrived." She gave Jaylyn the once over three times before leaving.

"Thank you."

Jaylyn looked around the room. She half expected to be in a conference room, but this room was small and cozy. It was dark in color, too dark even. It smelled strongly of sandalwood and mint. It reminded her of something; she just couldn't put her finger on it though. She settled in the chair the furthest away from the door deciding that it was more comfortable and reached down in her purse to grab out her vibrating phone. It was Waylon. He had been texting and calling nonstop since she left the hotel. As soon as she was back in New York she was going to change her number. He was starting to annoy her. There was no excuse for the way he acted. She knew better than to think he could handle what they were doing, but too little too late to be thinking about that.

*********************

"Sir?"

"What?" He grumbled clearly in deep thought.

"The author is here. She's waiting in the den."

"Thank you Ms. Meyers." He paused. "Is she alone?"

"Yes sir."

Pierce thought his heart was going to beat right out of his chest. He wasn't sure how he was going to keep her still long enough to listen to him. He stood up and grabbed the book and walked down the hall. He felt silly for being so nervous. It was just Lyn, his best friend...ex best friend, but she'd been mad at him before, however he was sure that it was nothing like what he was about to experience. 

Walking into the room was the first time he saw Lyn in almost four years. Her hair was still black, but it was longer. She was wearing a grey business skirt that showed off her toned brown thighs and a matching blazer which made her breasts stand at attention. He stood looking at her for long uncounted seconds...minutes maybe. She was busy doing something on her phone. He was grateful for the time to just look at her. He missed her and now it was time to explain his actions. He prayed that she would listen.

He crossed the room stealth like and set a printed hardback version of her book softly and slowly in her lap. She immediately dropped her phone and picked up the book. She thumbed through the pages and examined the cover. Minutes later she started crying. This was a very different feeling from her first book. This book was her own writing without the restrictions she had during her first book. She was proud. He watched her hug the book to her chest, as her tears fell from her face staining her skirt. He wanted to hug her...to touch her.

He took a step closer to her, "Don't cry." 

She looked up and in one second she managed to drop her book and press her back into the furthest corner away from him. Pierce shoved his hands deep into his pockets, fighting the urge to reach out to her. She was shaking her head no and her fists were clenched at her sides. Her face was stained with tears that stopped falling. They stood in silence. Hearing his voice was a shock to her entire system. She spent the past few years pretending he was dead, because to her he was, but now he stood in front of her as every single memory floated between them. She imagined what she would say to him if she ever got the chance, but now that the time had come, she couldn't find her words or her voice.

Several minutes later she calmed down enough to look at him. He no longer had the long 21 Jump Street Johnny Depp hair. It was now buzzed off, cropped to his scalp. More professional she decided, taking note of his suit. He, like Johnny looked bigger, somehow. His posture was exactly like her last memory of him, with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He was holding back. She was glad for that. She didn't know if she could handle it if he touched her. She finally turned her gaze to his face. She nearly forgot how defined his features were behind all the hair he used to have. The one thing that didn't change was the short scruff he still sported, which seemed to be better kept. She looked into his eyes. Still the same breathtaking green, that somehow became more intense over the years. His expression was unreadable.

They held each other's gaze for minutes longer than either of them intended to, until he finally spoke.

"Lyn, I'm sorry. I should have..." She started shaking her head back and forth again. He quickly changed topics. "I read your book." His voice was just above a whisper. He examined her face for a reaction, had she always been so beautiful? He continued. "I uh, actually didn't know it was yours until Fuller told me, but I had a pretty good idea it was you by the end of the first chapter."

"You lied to me." Her jaw was clenched tight and her words were shaky.

"It was the only way I could think to see you." He raked his hands through his nearly nonexistent hair as a force of habit. "Would you have come knowing it was me?"

She looked at him and for the first time ever she saw that he was vulnerable, she had never seen him like that before. 

"No." She wanted to leave but she couldn't move. Her legs felt weak.

"Okay." He bent down to pick up the hardcopy of her book and put it on the desk beside her, stepping closer to her in the process. "Let's talk about your book's release date."

"Release?" She was confused. He still wanted to help her?

"You do want it released right?"

"Yes, but I thought..."

He motioned his hand for her not to continue. "Don't. Jaylyn, I'm done causing you pain." He took a deep breath. "I know you don't want anything to do with me, but I need to know some things." She stood in silence, unmoving. He looked away from her for a brief period before he speaking. "What you wrote, is that what you believe? You think I tricked you into trusting me so that I could...break your heart?" His voice went back to being just a mere whisper.

"What was I supposed to think, Cohen?" As she choked out his name she looked as if she just tasted something nauseating. "You lied to me and then you ran from me."

"No." He said his voice slightly escalating. "I never lied to you not before this."

"But you ran. You left me." Her voice was stronger now.

"I asked you to trust me."

"I did trust you. I wholeheartedly trusted you, but you treated me like shit. Part of it is my fault for being stupid enough to believe you when I know that you don't care about anyone, but yourself."

Pure white hot anger flashed in his eyes, but he kept his voice calm and steady. "I cared about you, Lyn. Still do and I didn't run from you. I left for you. There is a difference and I never stopped being there for you. Not once." 

"Don't do that. I'm not the same girl I was in college. Your lines won't work on me anymore, Cohen." That bad taste reappeared on her tongue.

"Fair enough. Lyn, I am sorry. I've never been sorry for anything, but I am sorry for hurting you. I don't expect you to accept it, but I want you to know why I did it."

"I want to leave." She grabbed her purse and the hardcopy and attempted to shove past him.

He stepped in front of her he never intended to touch her, but she instinctively fought against him, hitting just above the eyebrow with her ring. He wrapped his arms tightly around her to stop the blows as he felt the warm trickle of blood leak from his face.

"Lyn, you'll be seeing a lot more of me. I intend to make this up to you." When he let her go she stepped away from him and struggled with words, which didn't go unnoticed by him. "Don't worry about the book. I'll take care of it." He was facing the wall as he said that. He didn't want to see her leave, but his self control only stretched so far.

****************************

As soon as Jaylyn left that office she went straight back to Johnny's condo expecting to find it empty, but instead she walked in on Johnny standing in the middle of the living room butt ass naked, brushing his teeth and talking on the phone.

Lyn groaned under her breath and turned to leave, "Ugh. Johnny."

"Darlin', where you goin'?" 

"Far away from you, naked cowboy." She said motioning towards him.

"Oh. Don't go anywhere, Lyn." She nodded. "Promise me?"

Lyn laughed, "Alright I promise, just put some clothes on."

He disappeared into the bathroom. "You've see it all before sweetheart. No need in being shy now."

"We had a good time in college." She laughed remembering back on the dares they were given in to run naked across the field.

"Damn straight. Me and you woulda had a helluva lot more fun if Pierce gave me the go ahead."

He walked out of the bathroom in sweatpants.

"You never had a chance." She said gathering her things.

"Aw," he feigned anguish.

"It's your turn to visit me next time cowboy."

"Let me know when you're ready for me and I'm there."

"I'm going to miss that twang of yours."

"Good, cuz now you get to deal with it on the way to the airport."

****************************

Lyn was happy to be back in New York and back at her apartment. As much as she loved Vegas there was still no place like home. Truth be told she would have stayed another week if not for her little run in with Pierce. 

"Jay you're back." He seemed excited.

"Yea, what's up?" 

"Nothing much. Are you busy?"

"No." Here it comes, she thought, whatever has been bothering him was going to be brought to light.

"I have not always been upfront with you about everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew of you before we actually met. You didn't find your apartment out of luck and I know Pierce." He paused momentarily so that much could sink in before he went on. "He came to me three and half years ago while you were still in college. He...pays me very well to send him detailed reports about you. This won't mean much to you now, but I agreed to this before I knew you, which doesn't make it right and I'm sorry Jay."

"Is that all?" She was looking right through him.

"Yes." 

"Why are you still here then?"

He walked to the door and before he exited he said, "I don't expect forgiveness, I just wanted you to know. I couldn't keep it from you anymore."

"So what is three and a half years about the amount of time it takes for you to grow a fucking conscience? Or did you wait to save up enough of his money to retire on? You are no different than him. You can leave now."

****************************

She'd awaken to booming knocks on her door. It was the middle of the afternoon, but since she spent the last month isolated in her apartment she had no semblance of the actual hours. The booming knocks got louder. She pulled the covers over her head and buried herself deeper into the comforts of her bed hoping they would go away, but they didn't. The knocks got louder and faster paced. She gave up pulling the giant blanket off of the bed wrapping it around her body as she dragged herself to the door. 

Once she saw who it was she half heartedly slammed it back shut and headed back to bed. After a few seconds of silence passed she realized that she didn't hear the door slam, so she turned around and ran smack into Pierce's hard chest as his stern green eyes looked down at her. He placed his hands on either of her shoulders and took a step back to look her up and down. She stared at him confused. He looked as if he was seriously examining her for injuries. She was getting freaked out, so she pulled free of his hold.

"What are you doing? Get out."

"Are you okay?" His eyes were still scanning her. She saw the scar above his eyebrow and smiled.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She was back en route to her bed.

"No one has been able to reach you for three weeks, Lyn."

"If you are included in that statement then good. I don't care." 

He always hated when she down played things. It was better left alone though. "Where is your phone?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"I want to show you something."

She looked at him incredulous. "I don't want to see it."

"Please."

"No, leave."

"I'm trying to fix this."

"Don't bother. I know about Ryan."

Pierce knew that Ryan would cave in sooner or later; in fact he was actually relieved that Ryan took that much off his plate and surprised that he waited so late to confess.

"What did Ryan tell you?"

Lyn was thrown off by his nonchalant attitude, but she refused to feed into him. "I think you know, but better yet, why don't you tell me what you did. Just so I can hear straight from the devil's mouth."

"Fair enough. I told him to keep an eye on you for me."

"When did you tell him that?"

"When I went to Nevada the first time, he actually works for me...or will when he graduates."

She was confused now. "I thought you contacted him after that, right before our graduation."

"Only to follow up. The first time he came to me he didn't have his degree yet, so I gave him the opportunity to make some money while he finished up."

"I didn't know he was in school."

"You probably never asked him."

"Why should I have to ask?"

"If you want to know something, then you have to ask. Not everyone can read your mind."

That last sentence sounded as if he could read her mind. He was also taking this way too lightly...or maybe she was. Either way she didn't care anymore.

"How much were you paying him?"

"Enough."

"How much is enough?" She didn't really want to know.

"More than I care to admit." He darted his eyes at her emphasizing that he wasn't going to say anymore on that matter.

"What kind of things was he telling you?"

"I wanted to know if you were okay and how your writing was going."

"That's it?"

"Yes." 

She scoffed. "You haven't changed at all. What gives you the right?" She wanted to ask why it was so important to him, but she wasn't sure it was. There must be another reason, guilt maybe.

"I never claimed to be changed, but did you honestly think that I was just going to let you go and forget about everything? You used to be smarter than that, Lyn." He kept his voice even.

She was about ready to explode. How dare he insult her intelligence? How did this all of a sudden become about her?

"Fuck you. This is not about me. When are you going to own up to the fact that you fucked up and you can't fix it?" 

"I am owning it, but when are you going to open your eyes and realize that you are not a victim?" He paused to compose himself. "I could never just leave you. You know that."

"Really? Because it seems like you did."

"If that is true, then why am I standing right here in front of you, Jaylyn? Think about it."

"Good question. Maybe you're here to rub it in my face if that's the case, congratulations, I let you hurt me. Now, you're a long way from Nevada and from what I remember New York was never in your plans, so how about you leave?"

He closed the gap between them and cupped her face between two fingers. "I'm not going anywhere."

She broke free of his hold. "Get out."

"Will you leave with me?"

"No. I don't want to be around you, Cohen."

He pulled a pen from his pocket and grabbed her hand. "Whenever you decide to leave this apartment, go to this address."




It's Complicated Ch. 11



"What is it?"

"My apology."

Pierce turned to leave, but before he left he spotted a package on her inn table. He picked held it in the air and arched his brow at her.

"What's that?" She asked absentmindedly.

He chuckled. "It's your cell phone. You dropped it." He tossed it to her and disappeared from her apartment.

She scoffed at his last statement. She should have thrown it at him. He deserved that and then some. Lyn ripped open the package and sure enough her cell fell out. She had no idea that she left it in a whole other state, had she know she wouldn't have torn her place apart looking for it. She also found a note nestled inside the package.

'You left this behind-thought you might need it. I meant what I said. You'll be seeing a lot more of me. I want you to trust me again. I had good reason for what I did. –Pierce.'

***************

Lyn walked down the crowded street in search of a place she had never been. In truth, she didn't really know why she was even going, but she figured she might as well see what it was about. After he wrote the address in the palm of her hand she had been curious. There was nothing he could do that would make her forgive him, but she wouldn't mind poking fun at his attempts.

"What do you think it is?"

"I don't know. A dead end probably."

"What if it's a room full of balloons..."

"Ha, you obviously don't know Cohen. He's not the cheery type."

"You never know. He's rich now. Money changes a man."

Ryan wished he hadn't said that last part, he was glad Lyn forgave him. He was all but ready to move out of his apartment when Lyn dropped by to say that she didn't blame him. She understood trying to impress the boss, even though he had a choice. People mess up and if she were in his position, a student living in New York, with an apartment, she might have done the same thing.

She saw him wince at his last words. "He's always had money, his dad made sure of it, so that doesn't matter."

"That's probably true. He acts like he was born with a silver spoon."

"What makes you say that? You barely know him." She didn't mean for that to sound defensive.

"He walks around barking orders at people and he always gets what he wants, if he doesn't someone gets fired. He fucks anything that walks and no one dares cross him. I've seen his knuckles."

"Then why do you want to work under him?"

"Easy. Because people respect him and he is true to his word. I want that."

"I get it."

"I think we're here."

"It's a shop. This can't be right."

Ryan laughed, "Maybe he bought the entire building for you."

"He wouldn't do anything like that...would he?"

Ryan watched as Lyn stood out on the busy sidewalk looking up at the shop with a puzzled look on her face. He hoped whatever Pierce had in store for her was good, because she deserved something happy. 

"Maybe the surprise is inside of the shop."

"Don't poke fun." She jabbed him in the ribs.

"Ouch." He grabbed her hand, "Let's go inside."

They stepped into the brightly lit shop, which turned out to be a bookstore. She only figured it was because the first thing she saw was a poster with her name on it. Right next to it was her actual book on display. She couldn't believe it. Her book wasn't supposed to be out until months from now, but there it was in front of her featured as the month's top new release. She did it again. She started crying.

"Let's go celebrate."

***************************

"I think moving to New York was a good idea!"

"Well I hope so if it wasn't, then you're nearly four years overdue on figuring that out." Ryan said escorting her into the club.

"That's not what I mean. It's after midnight and things are just getting started. I'm never going to get used to it."

"Good. That'll keep you around longer."

"What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere."

"Not today you're not, but he is back in your life."

"He's not back in my life." Lyn was getting defensive.

"Come off of it Jay, even I'm not that stupid. I don't have to read your book to know what happened between you two."

"What did he tell you?"

"Nothing. That's my point. It's clear." He watched her down three different shots. "I don't have to know the details, but I do know that he's trying..."

She cut him off. "Ryan I didn't come out to relive the past. We are supposed to be celebrating."

"Right, but burying it, isn't going to make it go away. You know that better than anyone."

She slammed down more shots. "I'm going to dance. You should drink...or something."

Lyn made her way out to the floor. She was starting to feel the alcohol surge through her veins. It matched the base she could feel thumping through her chest. That was all it took. She was lost in the music. Ryan was nowhere to be found and she didn't care. She needed to let loose and dancing was just the thing. She didn't stop for anything or anyone. There was the occasional man reaching for her, but that was easily remedied. 

"Jay, it's time to go."

"Why?" She though he left.

****************************

Jay stumbled in her apartment with Ryan following her in. The lights were out, but he knew the way. It was an exact replica of his own apartment.

"You're going to regret those shots in the morning."

"That's the point."

"I'll be back to check on you in a few hours."

Before he could get the sentence out she was closing her eyes. Ryan left her apartment and pulled out his phone.

"I don't know if you care, but she drank a little too much tonight and I don't want to leave her alone. Just in case she wakes up."

"I'll be there. I'm an hour away."

****************************

Lyn started to drift off to sleep when a harsh thud shook her bed, knocking any thoughts of sleep from her mind. She started to panic.

"Aw. Don't tell me the party is over already. It's so soon. I happen to know that you can stay out all night." The voice was hallowed and laced with fury.

She strained her eyes to see the person, but the room was so dark. She didn't recognize the voice. Her mind was spinning. She sat up as she frantically searched for some sort of protection, but was unsuccessful. 

"Shh. Shh. Shh. Calm down baby. You know, you're a hard girl to get alone. I mean, I'll admit coming to your apartment was a bit of a stretch, but I couldn't wait any longer. Although I will say that this would have been a lot easier if you had more female friends."

She knew. She was still in a drunken haze, but the moment he called her 'baby' she knew.

"Wh..wh...what do you want?"

"You know what I want. I told you already. I just want you to listen."

A light came on. She finally saw his face he'd grown a beard and his hair was longer. He looked un-kept. It wasn't like him not to look his best. He was sitting in the chair near the door. Lyn started to sober up.

"How did you get in?"

"Doesn't matter."

"This is ridiculous. Get out. I don't want to listen. You've said enough."

"Oh that's where you're wrong. I haven't said anything yet."

"After you all but called me a whore anything you have to say, I don't want to hear."

"I thought you might say something like that, but seriously can you blame me? By the way what do you call the guy that just left? Let me guess, he's a friend from college. If you want my opinion the one you found in Vegas was way better looking. Is he around, by chance?"

"Fuck you." Lyn started to get up.

"Ah ah ah. I wouldn't do that if I were you." He opened his jacket to reveal a gun. "You see baby, I came here to talk to you and I'm not leaving until I say what I have to say."

"Waylon, you don't have to do this."

"Yes I do. After you left me in Vegas, I started thinking. I didn't deserve that. I was good to you. Wasn't I?" He stood up scratching his head. "I mean I let you have anything you wanted. You wanted the Palms, I gave it to you. You used me, I let you. Then you leave me for Bravo."

"Bravo?"

"That's what they call him. It fits." He stepped closer to the bed. "Don't you think?" 

"Waylon..."

"I went to see him you know. He's quite popular. You know what he said about you?"

She shook her head.

"Well I asked him what went on between you two and he said it was none of my business. It confirmed my suspicions."

"He's right. It's none of your business." Lyn was passed being scared. She was pissed off. He had no right.

Waylon tilted his head to the side before he suddenly back handed her to the floor.

"You're wrong. It is my business."

"What do you want from me?" Tears were running down her face now as she held her cheek. 

"I want you to know that we could have had something special. I want you to regret leaving me. I want you to know that I was the best thing that ever happened to you."

"Screw you."

He fell to the floor, wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed. Her eyes widened, pleading for him to stop. She tried to scream, but was cut off as his grip tightened around her neck. She started to get dizzy. Her vision blurred and her arms fell limp. She could no longer form a coherent thought. This was it for her. There was nothing in her reach, nothing that could make him stop, when out of nowhere she felt herself being tugged roughly by her neck then released. Her head hit the floor with a loud thud. She struggled to see what was happening, but her vision was still blurry as her body jerked violently, struggling for air.

She passed out.