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To Be The Last Ch. 01

By: aaddicted



With light brown hair and clear green eyes much like his father's this boy would be quite a looker when he grew up. The ball the boy had been playing with rolled and landed near a tall, handsome man. Smiling into the boy's big green eyes, much like his own, the man gently threw the ball back. The eight-year-old boy grinned at the man toothily before he turned around and pitched the ball as hard as he could at his sister. Mark's mother frowned disapprovingly at him.

"Mark, you're playing catch, not kill-my-baby-sister-with-a-baseball."

The man grinned to himself at Mark's reprimand. A light breeze blew, catching the woman's chestnut hair. The small family was having a picnic in Madison Square Park. The lush green foliage provided a brief sanctuary from the concrete jungle that surrounded them.

Blake looked up from the happy family as he heard a car door slam. A man in his mid forties clad in an expensive suit climbed out of the passenger's seat of a midnight blue Mercedes. He began making his way to the family, his hand reaching into his coat, as the car pulled back into traffic. Blake sighed. So much for the happy moment; duty called. He reached inside his coat for his M-23 A8 suppressed, loaded with one composite round. Aim never wavering, Blake pulled the trigger and the bullet embedded itself in his target's chest. As if in slow motion the target dropped to his knees and fell forward as the chestnut-haired woman clutched her two brown-headed children to her with a scream. The man in the suit was dead before his head had hit the ground. Perfect shot. Pushing his mother away, Mark ran to the body screaming, "father!"

....................................

Blake briskly strode away. He inconspicuously placed his gun in a brown paper bag and tucked it back into his coat pocket. As he passed the 4th trash can on the street he threw the brown paper bag into it without a second thought. A homeless man walked over to the trash can and took the brown paper bag. Blake and the man made eye-contact. The well-disguised agent would properly dispose of Blake's gun. Blake pulled his coat tightly about himself walking towards the car that would deliver him to his new apartment. He got into the black, chauffeured car at the end of the long street. The driver avoided looking at Blake as he opened the door for his new employer. Leaning back against the new leather seat, Blake closed his eyes and let his mind wander.

....................................

A little boy of three stood by his mother watching her cry as she turned her head from the television set.

A handsome man's arm was looped with his young wife-to-be as they walked pass the paparazzi. "...Multi-Millionaire Thomas Gregory Gucci had just gotten engaged to his girlfriend of four years, New York socialite and debutante Katherine Bethany Somerville. The two families have been long-time partners, with the marriage of Thomas Gucci and Katherine Somerville the two families hope to merge their businesses..."

The little boy walked over to the television set and turned it off, hoping his mother would stop crying. He began to play peek-a-boo, remembering that his mother would do that to get him to laugh. His beautiful mother looked up from her crying into the face of a child who looked so much like his handsome father and began to cry harder. She motioned for her son to come near.

"Maman, pourqoi est-ce que tu pleure?"

The mother swiped angrily at her tears as she tried to put on a smile for her worried son. "I'm not crying, Blake. Maman is just being stupide. Come give me a hug."

Blake hugged his mother fiercely, not knowing why she was so upset. "Do not worry maman. Tout va bien." he tried to reassure his mother, which caused her to cry even harder.

............................

Opening his eyes, Blake shook his head. That was not something he wanted to remember. Pulling out his buzzing cell phone he cursed as he saw the number. Apparently his boss didn't believe in reprieves. Placing the phone to his ear, Blake looked at the driver in the rear-view mirror.

"Go."

............................

Alexia Whitt loved Mondays; it was the day she was allowed back to work. She was such a workaholic that her boss made her take Sundays off. Alex decided to take a cut through Madison Square Parks that day. With her hot drink in hand she bounced cheerfully, singing September by Earth, Wind and Fire as she entered the park. Alex noticed a Mercedes pull up to the curb and a distinct, handsome older man stepped out. Watching where the man was heading, Alex let out a heartfelt sigh. Of course he'd be walking towards a family. The pretty brunette who Alex was sure was the man's wife, flashed him a radiant smile as she looked up from playing with two small children.

Just as Alex turned away, the woman let out such a scream that Alex shrieked in surprise. Whether her shriek was a reaction to the woman's scream or the fact that she had spilt her boiling hot chocolate over herself because of the woman's scream, Alex couldn't tell. Probably both.

By the time Alex looked up from her ruined clothes the woman and her two children were crying over the man's body. Wracked with fear, Alex rushed toward the fallen man. Some of the other families in the park gazed at the family curiously as others moved quickly to put distance between them. A few people were standing near, uncertain of what to do.

Alex dropped to her knees besides the man and managed a smile for the sobbing family. Placing her hands on the man's chest, she leaned forward to determine whether or not the man was breathing. He was not. Alex got up and removed her hands, preparing to start CPR.

Originally Alex wanted to be a doctor. She had gotten her GED at 16 and attended John Hopkins University. By 22 she had gotten her medical science degree and masters in Business Economy. She never understood why she didn't become a doctor. She had trade in her dream of helping others for a high paying job at Richardson Corps as co-supervisor and 2nd director of the technology department. Alex had always regretted not pursuing her dream and more so that she had wasted so much time. But right now Alex was grateful for her medical knowledge because maybe today she could use it to save some one's life.

Looking down at her unusually damp hands Alex let out a terrified scream. She had not noticed before because the man had been wearing a black suit, but now that she examined closely the suit was soaked in blood, as were her hands. Alex saw where the flow of blood was coming from; a bullet wound in the man's chest. She sat back on her heels and looked at a small present in the man's hand. Choking on a sob, she averted her eyes. There was nothing she could do. The man was dead.

.................

Blake looked out his large windows at Trump Palace on 200 East 69th Street. His new apartment was too big. There were three bedrooms, and two full bathrooms, one with a Jacuzzi tub, a full kitchen and dining room and living room area that also came with a home theatre. The place was fully furnished and a Bose system had been installed in every room, including the two bathrooms.

Normally Blake would insist on a smaller place to live that was equally expensive. He didn't need more than one bedroom. No one would be visiting his home. And even if he did invite someone home, she sure as hell wouldn't be sleeping in a separate bed, considering she'd be sleeping at all.

"You told me I could do what I wanted, as long as I killed him efficiently," Blake calmly spoke into his phone. His employer's errand boy was beginning to sound redundant.

"And you consider killing him in a public area efficient?" the irate voice on line demanded. "What the hell were you thinking? How are we going to catch his partners now? After that display Carmelo's buddies are going to be lower key than ever."

"I hope so," was Blake's cold answer.

"You, you what!" the voice spluttered.

Pulling his view away from the window, Blake walked towards the kitchen.

The onyx counter-tops were spotless and polished. There was an island in the middle of the kitchen where top of the line cookware were hanging overhead. The kitchen was something a person would see on Iron Chef. Thinking about the dinner he wanted to cook, Blake looked around and asserted he had all the spices and equipment he needed. When he was done with this call, he'd head out to buy the ingredients. He opened the refrigerator's well-concealed door and took out a bottle of Evian. The insistent criticizing was bringing on a headache.

"I don't see what the big fucking deal is." Blake had his cell phone wedged between his shoulder and ear as he threw the Evian from his left hand to his right. His French accent was beginning to surface. It happened when he became too emotional and right now he was becoming extremely irritated. "You tell me kill him, I killed him. That was the best opportunity that presented itself and I took it. I hope Carmelo's partners are hiding, I need a challenge. All I had to do was visit Carmelo's office and pretend to be a potential client."

"And they told you were you could find Carmelo?" the voice asked, amused.

"No Matt, I flirted with the new secretary a bit," Blake explained impatiently. "After a few looks and complements, she was a font of information."

"Did you get anything important out of her?"

"Just where Carmelo was this afternoon and that my coat was very fashion faux pas," Blake said, smiling for the first time since the conversation had started 45 minutes ago.

"Dammit Blake this isn't a joke. People's lives are put at stake and you're telling me Carmelo's secretary thinks you need to buy a fashionable coat? Never mind, forget it. Dane wants me to assign you on another case. Apparently you are the best agent for this case we have available and he doesn't want you working on the case you're working on anymore."

Blake stopped throwing his bottle of water around and managed to not groan aloud. When was the last time he had a vacation? With a defeated sigh Blake demanded, "Do I get paid a lot for this next job? Is there anyone I need to kill? And most importantly, do I have to pretend to be someone this time?"

"Yes, maybe and yes. Whether or not you can get evidence of this company funding terrorists, you'll get paid enough to spend a quarter year at that damn place you like so much in Spain. We aren't expecting for anyone to get killed until more evidence is collected either. And regarding the identity, we are fabricating a background for you right now with your name Blake Xander. After a month of training, you're going in as a computer and technology genius, which shouldn't be hard for you to pull off."

"Mexico," Blake said absent-mindedly.

"What?" Matt demanded, completely confused.

"The 'damn place I like so much in Spain' isn't in Spain, it's in the Mexico you idiot. Alright," Blake said with reluctance, "what company?"

"Richardson Corp."

............................

Alex stopped in front of the entrance to Madison Square Park. She hadn't walked in the park since that incident. It had been a month since then and Alex refused to let her fears control her life. Taking a sip of her steaming coffee, Alex began to relax and enjoy the chill of the October air.

Walking cautiously at first, Alex looked like an awkward child, uncertain of its self. With each safe and sure step, Alex began to walk more confidently. She strolled through the park and admired the couples and old folk feeding the birds. As Alex walked, she began to notice that life moved too quickly. The busy city around her was drowned with always moving bodies. There was always a constant and cluttering flow of people on the sidewalks and cars on the road. She wanted to stop walking and watch were everyone was headed and yell, "slow down!" But anything could change in a New York minute. The most glamorous model replaced and young aspiring actors, singers and performers turned down yet again. And the life of a very important political figure ended. But one thing she couldn't change was time. Everyone would still travel just as fast to their destination. As the city bustled with people everything that had happened couldn't be undone and would just be remembered occasionally.

After reflecting on those thoughts for the past 45 minutes, Alex noticed Richardson Corps was only around the corner. When one was looking up at the 60 story building they'd feel very small and insignificant. Alex shook off the bad feeling she had and rounded the corner. As she did so she heard a man shout, 'Hey you!' Alex turned to see a man dressed in black with large dark glasses chasing after her. Bolting down the street Alex ran for the building. Maybe someone was after her because she had been there that day at Madison Square Park and she knew too much. She didn't know anything at all! Maybe her imagination was running wild again. All she knew was that she wasn't going to stop to talk to the man until she was inside the safe building. She flew into the lobby, her raven hair wild. She looked frightened and disoriented.

It was out of place to see Alex unprofessional that the toughest security guard, 'Steel' Tony laughed. Alex turned on him with accusing eyes and was about to reprimand him when the stranger stopped, breathing hard, in front of them. She let out a shriek and ran behind Tony and used him as a shield. Tony was 6' 7" and had a large built. He looked down at the pretty, messy raven haired girl, barely 5' 4", at his side who peered at the new comer queerly.

"Stalker!"

The stranger looked angrily at Alex and held up a sultry black shoe that only a stripper would think of wearing.

Tony looked at Alex and she smiled guiltily. Then she reached into her large bag and produced the other side of the shoe.

"Well being truthful, it isn't my shoe. It's Jesse's shoe. Jesse asked me to bring them when I meet up with him for lunch."

"Who is Jesse?" the stranger demanded.

"Not that it is any of your business, Jesse is a good friend. Though he prefers to be called Jessica." Alex replied primly as she walked over to retrieve the shoe, not looking at the man. "Thank you. I advise that next time you chase down a woman to return something, you don't do it so...creepily."

"Creepily?" the man questioned in disbelief.

"Yes. Dressed in entirely black. Although it's not as though you could change your clothes to chase after me so...never mind, I tend to ramble and I'm going to stop right now." Alex looked down at the man's shiny onyx shoes and up his jet clad suit pants and buttoned black coat and noticed the stranger had a nice physique. Alex swallowed as she pulled her gaze from his body and finally looked at his face. Amused, green eyes stared back at her.

"Don't like my coat? You're the second person who has told me it isn't very fashionable," the man joked good-naturedly.

Alex felt her cheeks burn. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Well, I better go now. Have a nice life," Alex said as she made a quick getaway.

....................

Blake couldn't believe his morning. First day on the case and he bumped into one of the most infuriating woman he's met in awhile. She was completely unappreciative of him retrieving her shoe. He had been accused of being a stalker and called creepy. The shoe turned out to belong to her cross dressing friend. She was quite a pretty thing, with large dark brown eyes, a pert nose and generous lips. When Blake had tried flirting with her, she had tossed her hair over her shoulder and practically told him to get lost.

But he knew she was interested; the way her eyes roved over his body and how she nibbled on her lower lip and swallowed. When she had finally looked up, she had a guilty tinge on her cheeks that made Blake smile. He wasn't there for flirting with the other workers though. He was there to get a job done and save the day. Again.

..........................

"And you told him to have a nice life?" Alex's friend and secretary, Clara, asked in between laughs. She was seated on Alex's desk and refused to return to work without scolding Alex first.

"I know! Stop reminding me what an idiot I am!" Alex complained.

Clara remained quiet. Alex looked up at Clara making fish-faces. Laughing, Alex picked up her stress ball and threw it at her artificially gorgeous friend. Clara effortlessly caught the ball and hopped off the desk.

"You're lucky the blinds are closed. How unattractive do you think the men would think you are after they saw those faces?"

"You love it. Don't deny it."

"Okay, okay, I love it. Now get your perky ass out of my office," Alex teased.

Clara looked over her shoulder then at her butt.

"Sexual harassment! How much are you willing to pay me now to prevent me from suing?"

"Will you please get to work?" Alex laughed.

"Fine, fine. I'm leaving." Clara tossed the ball over her shoulder and Alex reflexively caught it. She placed the stress ball at the top of her desk, still smiling. 

..........................................................................................

Strolling into the office after the secretary, Blake tried to ignore the admiring looks he was receiving. The secretary would also constantly look over her shoulder to give Blake smiles. In an effort to be polite, Blake had smiled back, trying to ignore the irritation that was beginning to form. 

Unwanted, Blake began to remember the one time he was ambushed by a group of lust-struck teenage girls while attending an all-boys school in France. Most twelve year old boys would brag about being tackled and held captive by three very attractive girls, but Blake was frightened. Being raised from infancy by his mother to respect women and treat them like treasures, Blake didn't know any other way than to be courteous and gentlemanly. 

He couldn't find kind words to get the girls' greedy hands off of him. First he tried to tell them he had somewhere to be. When that hadn't worked he tried to threaten them. Obviously he wasn't very successful at that either because the girls then began to slide their hands under his shirt while whispering dirty things to him. Fortunately enough, two of his friends had gone looking for him. They pried Blake out of a pile of long-limbs and lip-gloss. Since then Blake made it a habit to travel in groups.

Shortly after that incident, Blake's mother died. Not knowing anything about his father, Blake assumed the man was either dead or walked out on his mother. If it was the second, Blake would have preferred the man to have been dead. Since the only living relative he knew of was his uncle Philip, Blake decided he wanted to live with him.

Moving wasn't a big deal to Blake. He had been moving all over Europe most of his life. So uprooting from Paris to Rome was actually a welcome to Blake. He preferred the bit quieter life Rome had to offer. And Blake didn't mind living with a man he had only met once when he was six because he would rather live with family than with strangers. His mother had been hesitant to introduce them; thinking Philip would be a bad influence on Blake. Even with the warnings Blake's mother had given him, Blake remembered liking his uncle Philip and his decadent ways immensely. 

Being raised by his uncle until he was eighteen was the most insightful six years of his life. That was when he truly began to learn about women. Much like his sister, Philip couldn't stay in one place for very long. He and Blake traveled all over Europe and the Middle East. By the time Blake was eighteen he fluently spoke six different languages, did well off in four other languages and understood half a dozen more. Blake's penchant for languages was the reason he was scouted by the Agency. And also the fact that he was an orphan after his uncle passed away, no one would miss Blake if he were to die on a mission. 


To Be The Last Ch. 01



Shaking himself out of his grim thoughts, Blake smiled again at the secretary who was looking over her shoulder once more. After passing the cubicles they walked to the back of the office and stopped in front of a large wooden door. Blake read the shiny golden plaque screwed on the door. Alexia Whitt.

.........................................................................................

Ten minutes later Clara came bouncing into Alex's office again.

"Don't you ever work?" Alex asked.

"Of course I do!" Clara feigned being insulted. "Just came to tell you about the hottest piece of-" Clara cut off as Megan Brynna walked into the room.

"And this, Mr. Xander, is Ms. Alexia Whitt."

Alex stared in shock at the man in front of her. He walked towards her with a big smile on his face.

"I've already had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Whitt."

Clara's face flew to Alex with widened eyes. 'Him?' Clara mouthed. Alex nodded slightly and smiled. She rose in her chair to return Blake's handshake.

"Though we didn't have time for names at the moment. I'm Blake Xander. Pleased to meet you."

Alex returned his firm handshake, thinking how large and warm his hand was. His hand was rough and Alex for a second thought about his masculine hand touching other parts of her body and-Alex mentally slapped herself.

"Mr. Xander, nice to meet you too. I'm Alexia Whitt."

"A pleasure."

Alex looked down at her hand and back at Blake. Realizing he had been holding her had for far too long, Blake quickly released it.

"Alexia, Mr. Xander's is going to be the new coordinating director of this sector."

Alex's face snapped to Megan Brynna.

"I thought Mr. Jacob Reeves of the first technology sector was going to take the job."

Megan Brynna looked about, irritated that she was being questioned. "Mr. Reeves turned the position down. He said he is quite content where he is."

"I'm sorry, I was just unaware of the change."

"Mr. Xander came to us with excellent references."

"I see," was Alex's dubious reply. Mr. Xander must have a lot of influence to just walk into the building and claim such a position. Alex had been working for the company for five years to get to second director.

After an awkward silence, Megan Brynna spoke up again. "Well Mr. Xander, your office will be besides Ms. Whitt's. If you need any help at all, you'll know where to find me." Megan Brynna added seductively.

Clara and Alex made eye contact and pinched one another to prevent themselves from laughing out loud.

"I'm sure if I need help, Ms. Whitt can help me."

Megan Brynna look offended as she glanced in Alex's direction before finally leaving.

Blake smiled warmly at the two women. Just his luck he was sent to on a very important mission and two sirens get thrown in his path. Clara he wouldn't touch in a million years. She was much too independent for his tastes. But Alexia. He wasn't too sure about her. Alex looked at the smile on Blake's face and the intense look he was giving Clara. Suddenly Alex began to feel like she should give them some privacy.

"Yes, Mr. Xanders, this is my assistant, Clara Kentwood." 

Alex looked from Blake to Clara and inwardly sighed. Of course the two most gorgeous people in the building would have to meet. Now Alex would be lucky not to stumble on them sneaking around. Alex could endure hearing about Clara's sexual exploits, she even found them amusing, but she never expected herself being a possible witness.

"I'm going to go get a cup of coffee." Alex left, hoping by the time she got back they had exchanged numbers and agreed to meet after hours. She even did them a favor and closed the door.

......................

"What are you doing here Blake? I thought you were working on another case." Clara asked monotonously.

"Dane assigned me here."

"Why? I'm already covering this case."

"I don't ask questions. I just follow orders."

Clara shrugged. Blake was always reserved. In the three years she had known him, she knew just about as much as she did three years ago. Nothing.

"So what's the deal with your boss?"

"She's a late-forty, sex-crazed bitch who thinks everyone is after her soggy ass and crusty-"

Blake cut her off. "I was talking about Ms. Whitt."

"Oh! I though you were talking about Mega Bitch, Megan Brynna. Alex is a wonderful girl. A bit aloof. She likes to keep her business and personal life separate. Never talks about her family or personal life, but she's really adorable." Clara eyed Blake suspiciously. "Stop. No. Don't even think about it. Alex doesn't have flings. She's also about six years younger than the both of us and much too innocent for the jaded you."

Blake contemplated what Clara said and nodded. After talking about the weather, they both worked for a bit. Alex came back with three steaming cups from the Starbucks downstairs.

"You looked like a mocha with whipped cream kind of guy. So here you go." Alex handed Blake a venti cup, her big smile fading a little. "Sorry. Was I wrong? I can go get you something else."

"No this is fine," Blake assured Alex. "You actually guessed perfectly."

Alex smiled once again before turning to Clara. "And here is your venti non-fat soy latte."

Blake looked over at Alex and asked what she got. Alex looked away embarrassed and Clara answered. "She got hot chocolate."

"I don't like coffee too much." Alex admitted taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

Blake remained silent as he studied the interesting woman in front of him. Clara exclaimed guilty that she had to return to her duties and breezed out the door. Thanking Alex for the coffee, Blake pulled placed the drink on the nearest counter and pulled out his wallet.

"Please, let me pay you back."

Alex laughed lightly as she shook her head 'no.'

"Let's just think of it as a thank you and apology gift. Thank you for returning my shoe and sorry for the rude way I treated you," Alex finished firmly, leaving no room for debate.

Thanking Alex for the coffee, Blake headed back to his office next door. She followed Blake and offered to help him unpack.

"It's okay. I can do it myself. Really Ms. Whitt, I can do it myself. In fact, I enjoy doing it myself."

Having no reason to dally, Alex nodded her head and exited.

............................

By the end of the week, all the women were in love with Blake. By the time Alex had brought him around and introduced him to the workers, many of the women were all too eager to offer assistance with anything Blake would possibly need. Most of the men didn't understand why the women were helping Blake so often. The men believed that attention should be given to those who deserved it, not to those who had the nicest looking asses. The women retaliated by calling the men hypocrites because they'd break their legs to do something for Clara or Alex. 

Blake had been working for four weeks now and the men had slowly begun to accept Blake. They appreciated and admired his innovative genius that improved production and the quality of research greatly. 

During the past month, Blake had grown to find Alex's presence enjoyable and took pleasure in discussing business matters with her. He really enjoyed finding her in his office early in the morning, leaving coffee on his desk. When he had insisted to reimburse Alex, she laughed and told him not to worry about it; she was using the company's money she added. She was very intelligent and articulated her ideas effectively. She was well liked among the men and women. Throughout the day Blake found himself making excuses to visit Alex and talk to her. She never seemed irritated or bothered to help.

Blake was on his way out as he glanced over at Alex's office. Her blinds were open as they usually were and she was scribbling furiously at a piece of paper in front of her. Alex pulled her clip out of her hair and let her locks cascade down her back. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Pulling out a case from her desk Alex took out her contacts and threw them in the trash and put on her glasses. She piled her hair to a messy bun on her head and clipped it. When she looked up she gasped as she saw Blake watching her. She put a hand to her heart and laughed. She motioned for Blake to join her. Opening the door, Blake stuck his head inside.

"Didn't mean to scare you. It's almost 8, aren't you going to leave soon?"

Alex managed a smiled despite her sore body. "In just a bit. I'm trying to figure this problem out."

"What is it? Maybe I can help."

"It's a Number Place game," Alex said solemnly. She burst into peals of laughter when she saw Blake's ludicrous expression. "Your face was hilarious. I'm kidding. But mark my words, one day this game is going to be played by everyone. Anyways, this is just a problem with the new computer chip. Nothing I can't handle. I'm on my way out, what about you?"

"I was about to leave too."

A smile spread across his handsome face and Alex almost sighed with delight. She caught herself before that happened. Alex told herself that if he were to ask for help she'd turn him to Clara or one of the other women more than happy to help him. But she anticipated the knocks on her door and Blake popping in his head and shyly asking for help. She was overjoyed that she could assist him and dropped whatever she had been doing to lend a hand. Where was her resolve?

Alex walked around her desk and began to turn everything off so she could get ready to leave. Blake admired how sexy she could appear in a crème-colored skirt, un-tucked white collared shirt and bare feet. She had rolled up the sleeves to her elbows and wisps of hair escaped her hideous chignon and fell over her shoulders. She turned to gaze at Blake as an errant lock of hair fell in her eyes and she tried to blow it out of the way. Unsuccessful, she pushed the lock of hair away with her hands and proceeded to her desk.

"Do you need help finding something?"

Alex let out a huge sigh. "No. Just closing everything down so I can leave."

Alex unrolled her sleeves, which were now wrinkled and put on her matching jacket and large coat. Grabbing her purse and slipping into her shoes, Alex glanced expectantly at Blake. Switching off the lights, Alex locked the door behind her and started her way to the elevator. They got into the elevator and both remained silent. Alex turned to say something just as Blake opened his mouth to talk. They both closed their mouths and waited for the other to say something. Neither did. Blake opened his mouth then quickly closed it when he saw Alex about to say something. Instead Alex yawned and smiled bashfully at Blake.

"Ms. Whitt."

"Yes?" Alex asked enthusiastically.

"Never mind."

Alex let out a disappointed 'oh' and went back to observing her hands. Blake turned towards Alex and the elevator door opened with a 'bing'.

They stood outside the building not wanting to leave one another's company. Blake couldn't believe he was feeling nervous. He glanced over at Alex who was grasping her large coat close to keep warm.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye until Monday, Mr. Xander."

"Please call me Blake."

Alex thought for a moment before saying his name, "Blake. And I'd appreciate it if you called me Alexia."

"I guess I'll see you on Monday...Alexia."

They both turned and began walking in opposite directions. Suddenly Alex turned around and called after Blake.

"Um...Blake, Clara and I were supposed to go to a play tomorrow night, but she cancelled on me. I was planning on skipping since I didn't have a date, but if you're not doing anything tomorrow, would you like to go with me? I know its short notice and all and you probably already have plans...sorry, never mind, forget I asked. I didn't want the tickets to go to waste. Come to think of it, I'll just ask Jesse to go with me. Well, goodnight."

Alex strode away quickly as she cursed herself. Before she got too far she was spun around and looking into very green eyes.

"I'm sorry, was that an invitation or not?" Blake asked with a smile.

"It was an invitation, but if you can't go I-"

"I didn't say I couldn't go. I'd love to go with you. What time is the play?"

"It starts at seven-thirty pm. and probably won't end until around ten."

"Can I pick you up at five? Then we can eat dinner first."

Alex nodded. It was starting to sound like a date, "Five is fine. I live at the Upper West Side of Manhattan on 1 Central Park West at the Trump International. There's a really good French cuisine restaurant there."

"Jean Georges? I've eaten at Jo Jo and Mercer Kitchen, I love the food. Alright then, I'll pick you up five."

"Okay, see you at five." Alex tried to say without sounding too happy. "You have my number right?"

"Yes. Clara gave it to me a couple days after I started working. She told me it was just in case there was an emergency and I needed to contact you. Do you have my number?"

Alex blushed. "Yes, uh, Clara gave it to me a couple says after you started working too. She told me the same thing," Alex slightly lied. She had seen a piece of paper on Clara's desk that had a number and Blake's name on it. For some reason Alex had memorized the number.



To Be The Last Ch. 02



Alex looked at her reflection in the mirror, wondering if she had overdone it. She had called Clara last minute to get some tips at applying makeup. Alex thought she looked pretty good if she did say so herself. Getting up, Alex smoothed down the curve clinging dress and let out a breath. She couldn't believe she was nervous. Well yes, this was the first time she was going out with someone so good looking, but Alex didn't think she would be such a nervous wreck.

It was 4:30PM and Blake would be calling her in about half an hour to say he was there to pick her up. So Alex took a seat and decided to wait for his call. She turned on the TV and flicked through the channels. She stopped on the news channel. She watched and listened as they talked about some political figure or another coming from Russia. Bored, Alex flicked to the next channel and decided to watch the Discovery channel instead. As she sat there watching, she could have sworn her clock was broken. The minutes were passing by so excruciatingly slow.

Alex checked her cell at least half a dozen times to see if she might have missed Blake's call or if her phone wasn't on loud. But nope. No call. When 5:10 rolled around Alex was afraid something might have happened to Blake. She finally decided to call him at 5:45, but she instantly got his voicemail.

"Hey Blake...um, it's me, Alexia Whitt. Well it's almost 6 and I was just hoping that everything is alright. Call me when you get the chance so I know that you're safe. Thanks." Alex hung up the phone and nibbled on her lower lip. No doubt she'd have to reapply her lipstick. Heaving a sigh when the clock read 6:30, Alex wondered if Blake stood her up.

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"Damn it." Blake cussed under his breath as he looked at his watch. Alex was going to kill him. Well probably not. She was too nice for that. But he wouldn't doubt she probably wouldn't speak to him Monday at work.

Just his luck there would be an unexpected visit from a Russian delegate. Blake was disguised as one of the waiters at the high class restaurant the meeting would be held at. Seemingly this man, Mr. Lev Petrov, was a player in the black market arms deal that was associated with the case Blake got kicked off of. Seeing as Blake was the closest operative on such short notice, he was ordered to go. No questions asked, Blake went to do his job.

He left everything back at his apartment, picking up his new identity at a disclosed location. As Blake got dressed in his waiter get up, he was being briefed about his job by Matt. When he was told about this inside job, it had been about 4AM and Blake had all but forgotten the plans he made with Alex the night before. By the time he remembered, he didn't have his cell with him and had no time to call her and cancel.

Blake was only at the meeting to make sure everything went over well. If any of the men messed things up tonight, the men in the black market arms deal would disband and then Blake's organization would never catch them. The meeting would take two days and Blake was grateful that it fell on the two days of the week that Blake didn't work. He glanced at his watch again and groaned. The play would be starting about now.

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Alex glanced at her phone again. Since she didn't know whether or not he was safe, she couldn't be upset with him. Right now he could be lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life because he got into a car accident. Well that would be believable if Alex didn't check the traffic reports and saw that there weren't any terrible car accidents. The play had already started and Alex was disappointed that instead of going alone and one of the tickets going to waste, both of the tickets went to waste.

If Alex didn't have such an aversion to alcohol, she would be out getting drunk tonight. When 8:30 came by, Alex washed off her make up and ordered in some Italian. She took off the form fitting dress that honestly was painful to wear and put on a tank top and sweats. Taking out her contacts, Alex put on her glasses and sat in front of the TV. She watched Sleepless in Seattle for the hundredth time. It was silly, but Alex was eating her spaghetti and bawling her eyes out at the same time. She barely caught the middle of the movie because she was crying and choking on her food. Alex really didn't know why she was so emotional about being stood up. She really shouldn't have expected so much. But how awkward would Monday be?

--------------------------------

The weekend meeting went well. No one dropped dead at the table, so that was a plus. Of course it did get a little tense when one of the American representatives for the illegal bargain made a comment about one of the African representatives. Blake thought the men would come to blows if not pull out their hidden guns and shoot some shit up. The weekend kept Blake in constant tension. When the last foreign representative finally boarded his private jet back to where he came from, Blake's mission was done.

By the time Blake got back to his apartment, it was nearly 1AM and he had to go to work in about seven hours. Alexia now had both Saturday and Sunday off, but Blake went into work on Sundays. Not too many people were scheduled to work on Sundays which meant privacy for Blake to do some snooping. But seeing as he was busy for the weekend, he'd have to snoop some other time.

Blake checked his cell and listened to the one message left by Alex. It made him feel even worse than he already had. There she thought something bad must have happened to him when in the simplest terms, he stood her up. Trying not to dwell, Blake undressed and took a shower. When he finished writing his report, it was close to 3AM and Blake was exhausted. He slid under the sheets and fell sleep.

---------------------------------

Alex walked into the office at 7:30AM. She overslept, but wasn't expecting anyone to notice she came in about half an hour later than she usually did. It wasn't until that morning that Alex realized how exhausting crying could be. She had wasted her entire weekend being lazy and depressed. Her tears weren't provoked by the fact that she was stood up, more so because she realized she couldn't have a normal relationship. When Alex got older, she pushed away her parents. They wanted so much to reconcile, but Alex just kept pushing them away. On one of their anniversaries, her parents went on a trip to Hawaii and died on one of those helicopter tours.

There was a knock on her door and Alex jumped. When her door opened, she was at least pleased that Blake looked like shit. "I'm really glad to see that you're not bleeding to death in a hospital bed or anything." Alex meant it as a joke, but somehow, it didn't quite come out that way.

Blake looked as though he cringed. "Alexia...I'm really sorry about the other night and not calling you yesterday. Something came up and I couldn't make it to the dinner or opera." Obviously. "I know I should have called you and I'm not trying to make excuses, but it was just really hectic and our date slipped my mind until it was too late for me to do anything about it. I didn't have my cell with me and I didn't know your number off the top of my head."

Alex straightened things out on her desk, refusing to meet Blake eye-to-eye. "It's fine." Alex said coolly. "Really, don't worry about it." Gods, Alex thought, was it just her or did she sound not only bitchy, but fake too?

"No, it's not fine." Blake interjected. "I really feel horrible about it. And if you'd let me, I'd like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night. I would have loved to take you out tonight, but the first directors have a board meeting until 8 and it wouldn't be fair to make you wait so long." Blake put on his best pleading look. "Please, Alexia. Go out with me tomorrow night and let me make it up to you."

Looking up from straightening her paper work, Alex sighed. How could she tell him no? She nodded. "Alright, Mr. Xander. Dinner tomorrow night at what time?"

"I'd like to make it up to you that you missed the opera also. So dinner at five like we originally planned at Jean Georges. Then we'll go see Madame B at seven-thirty."

Alex blinked a couple times, surprised at how quickly that was over. "So dinner at five tomorrow at Jean Georges and Madame Butterfly at seven-thirty." Alex scribbled down on a post-it. As if she could forget.

With a nod, Blake told Alex to have a good day and he left her office.

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The board meeting was so boring that Blake was glad he perfected the look of interest when there was nothing of the sort going on in his head. The directors had decided that since their deal with the Japanese company just went through, they should throw a party to celebrate. Seeing as the party would be the very next day, they were all trying to put off responsibility of coordinating everything to someone else. Blake figured that the only reason the meeting was taking so long was because no one wanted the responsibility of throwing a party on such short-notice.

Blake raised his hand. "I'll take care of all the preps. I just need the company's budget and I'll make sure to have everything ready by tomorrow." And that was how fast the meeting ended. He picked up the binder with the budget and other information and took a cab back to his apartment. He had told his driver to just go home since Blake knew he'd be staying late.

When Blake got to his apartment, he threw the binder on the coffee table as Blake sat down on his plush couch. He took out his cell and held down speed dial 2. After two rings, Matt picked up.

"What the hell do you want?" Matt demanded.

"I need to call in a favor." Blake spoke carefully as he inspected the high ceiling. "There's a party that needs to be organized tomorrow with a budget of $8,000. I really just need a catering company that can deliver on such short notice for roughly two hundred fifty people at Richardson Corp., eighth floor in the Charleston Ballroom at 11AM. Which I'll leave up to you. I have no idea what the hell is going on, but I'm going to play along. Maybe this will be the perfect distraction for me to do some research. Have a good night, Matt." Blake hung up the phone just as Matt began to shout that he wasn't going to do it.

But Blake knew Matt. And Matt was serious about what they did. If what Blake needed pertained to the mission, Matt would see it done. Nothing to worry about. Besides, Blake had enough to worry about tomorrow night.

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"What are you doing?" Clara asked as she watched Alex digging through her drawers.

"I'm looking for my 'Cherry Pie' lipstick. I could have sworn I left it in this drawer." Alex replied as she continued to look through her drawers. She wanted to wear that lipstick for her date that night with Blake.

"Ohhh, someone is getting all serious about something they called 'just dinner and an opera'. Though I have to say, Blake must like you a lot if he's going to suffer through two and a half hours of Madame Boring for you."

"Thanks, I guess." Alex said, with her head practically in her drawer. She gave up after five more minutes and looked at the clock. "Ack, it's almost 11. Can you believe this company? Some of us have deadlines. And then they announced a technology department soiree? Weird. That's all I have to say on the matter. Everyone was so uninformed and this is honestly so last minute." Alex sighed, pushing her hair out of her face.

"You're just upset that you didn't get to coordinate the party, Miss Control Freak." Clara laughed from the doorway.

"That's not true!" Alex shot back as she pushed away from her desk and put on her heels. "Pish, I'm very proud of Blake. Being able to put together this party on such short notice. Poor guy. He's the newbie, I bet they tricked him into doing this." Clara just laughed as she and Alex made their way to the elevator to get to the eighth floor.

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The day progressed and the party was going along pretty well. Blake sent a silent thank you to Matt for having done everything so quickly. He saw Clara walking towards him and Blake immediately wondered if Alex was with her. Unfortunately, she wasn't.

Clara gave him a coy smile as she realized who he was looking for. "You make it so obvious that you want to see Alex. She ran off to the storage room to get more plastic utensils. I think she has issues with feeling useful." Clara paused then smiled widely. "Do you know Mr. Gavin Bailey?"

Blake nodded, not knowing why Clara was bringing up that man's name. He was the first director of the third technology department. He had met the man awhile ago at a meeting, but seeing as they worked on different floors, the two hardly saw each other. Looking around bored, Blake wondered if now was a good time to do some sneaking.

"Well...he followed Alex to the storage room. It's an infamous make-out spot and notorious for the door getting jammed. See, he's always had a crush on Alex, but she told him she wasn't interested last year at our New Year's party. I overheard him saying that he wants to get locked in a room with Alex for a couple hours or so just to convince her that they'd be good together. It's actually quite funny." Clara laughed a little to herself as she scanned the room.

With an arched brow, Blake spoke. "You don't sound too worried about your friend being subjected to some man's advances."

Clara shrugged. "Alex can take care of herself. Plus, Gavin would never try anything too dramatic anyways. Do you know how strict this company is about scandals?"

"As much as I enjoyed your company, I have some business to attend to. I hope you have a good rest of the day and please make up excuses for me if anyone asks to where I am." Blake was thinking he would go investigate.

Laughing, Clara nodded playfully. "Walk down the hallway and take the last left then the last door on the right is the storage room."

Blake lowered his voice. "That's not where I'm going." Without waiting for a reply, Blake started to make his way down the hall and took at left at the end.

----------------------------------------------------

"No, Gavin." Alex said for what she believed was the one billionth time. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe we'd make a good couple. Please stop asking me out on a date. I'm not interested."

Gavin narrowed his eyes at Alex. He made six-digits a year, was attractive and everyone found him charming. All the office women flirted with him and he couldn't understand why Alex wouldn't go out with him once.

"Why not?" He demanded.

Alex kept her back turned, looking through the shelves for the plastic forks. "Honestly?" She asked and stopped searching. She turned around with her hands on her hips, extremely annoyed. "I think you're presumptuous and over-confident. The way you ask me out to dinner is like the answer couldn't possibly be no. And I'm telling you no and you kept asking the same question with the same attitude."

"Are you playing hard to get?" Gavin had a gleam in his eyes like he'd enjoy the challenge.

Good gods, Alex screamed in her head, what the hell is wrong with this guy? "I am not playing hard to get. I'm not playing your game at all. I already told you no. So leave me alone." She turned back to her disposable utensil hunt.

Now that just pissed Gavin off. She thought he was a conceited, little prick. He was tempted to show her just how demanding he could be. He kicked the door jam out of the way and let the door shut.

Alex faced Gavin, her eyes growing large. "You did not just lock us in here together."

"Look Alex...I'm sure you're just confused right now. But I believe we'd be great together. All you need is a little convincing." He walked closer with an arrogant swagger.

"Come any closer and you will regret it." Still he advanced towards her.

In a heartbeat, Alex had flipped Gavin onto his back with a technique she learned from defensive class. Gavin was on his back wheezing. When he rolled over to his side, he was no longer in the mood to play nice. Gavin got up and jumped for Alex. Just then the door was yanked open as Alex connected her foot to his groin. Gavin howled in pain, falling to his knees as he cupped himself before he was pulled by the collar and thrown out to the hallway.

"Mr. Bailey," Blake began. "I can overlook this incident if you promise to never attack Ms. Whitt-or any woman-in such a manner again. Now, I'm going to give you ten seconds to make yourself scarce or my fist will slip into your pretty face." Gavin limped away quickly.

"Blake!" Alex gasped. "What are you doing here?" She asked him as if she hadn't just kicked a man so hard that he'd probably need testicular retrieval surgery.

"You were gone for awhile. Clara was getting worried so she sent me over." Blake explained as he stepped into the storage room. "What are you looking for? Maybe I can help."

"Sure. Plastic utensils. We're running out so I thought to grab some." Alex turned to see the door shutting. "Oh! Don't let the door close!" She shouted a bit too late for Blake to have reacted. "Darn...now we're stuck in here together until someone comes to get us. I'm sure Clara will come get us shortly. Do you have your cell phone? I left mine in my office."

Blake shook his head. "I did the same with mine."

"Well this sucks." She breathed. "Not that I'm saying being stuck here with you sucks. Just the whole being trapped in here sucks." Blake nodded as Alex tried to amend her earlier words.

Blake rattled the door, but it didn't budge. "I suppose we'll just wait for Clara then." He took a seat on the ground, not seeming too bothered by the situation.

Taking a seat beside him, Alex let out a sigh. "The party is very enjoyable. Kudos on preparing on such short notice."

With a shrug, Blake went about looking through the boxes of supplies near him. "Why doesn't anyone get the door fixed?"

"I don't really know...we all just kind of used the door stopper and never bothered to make a big deal about it." Alex adjusted her skirt and sat down beside Blake. "Seeing as we'll be stuck here for awhile, we may as well get to know each other." Alex paused. "Shall I start or shall you?"

"I have to warn you that I'm not a very talkative person and I don't like to divulge personal information." Blake said smoothly.

Alex pouted. "Then what would we have talked about at dinner? Alright, I'll go first. But I warn you that I can be pretty persistent." She gave him a playful look before clearing her throat to recite him the memoir of her life thus far. 

"My mother, Anna Maria, was half Spanish, half German. My father, Devlin, was three-fourths Italian, one-fourth Brazilian. I was born in Italy, but I grew up between Spain and America mostly. My parents met in America when they were both in college. Being an orphan, my father came to America to start a new life. My mother came from a good family and my father came from nothing. That was something my grandfather never let my father forget. My maternal grandmother died when my mother was a young girl, so grandpa was really protective about my mother since she was an only child. He was a bit overbearing, then again, my mother said most German men are." Alex laughed a little and then continued.

"Well, my parents fell in love and my grandfather wouldn't allow that. Eventually my mother ran off with my father and they got married in Spain, moved to Italy and I was born a little later. At this point my mother didn't know whether or not she was disowned. But grandpa really missed his daughter so they reconciled. My father had become a very rich businessman by this point and he and my mother traveled all around the world. Some places weren't safe to bring a child so I stayed with my grandfather while my parents were on their business trips. See, my grandfather's idea of babysitting is an army of bodyguards and nannies. Eventually, I saw less and less of my parents and then one day they suddenly appeared back in my life while I was in med school and wanted to make up for all the time they missed while I was growing up. I don't know why I said such cruel things to them. I guess I really was upset that they'd left me for so long. I ended up pushing them away. Grandpa told them not to stress me and my parents retired to Maui in Hawaii where they died a little later in a helicopter accident." Inhaling a shaky breath, Alex finished off.




To Be The Last Ch. 02



"I dropped out of med and focused on business and technology since that was what my father majored in and I wanted to follow his dream of furthering the world into technology. So...now how about you?" Alex gave him a big smile.

Blake didn't know what to say. Either the fabricated version he worked so long on about being an orphan and working his way to where he was now or the truth. "I'm sorry that your parents had to pass in such a way. What happened to your grandfather?"

"Oh, he's still very much alive." Alex laughed. "Still ordering me around and demanding I return home and let him pamper me. The only thing I agreed to is that he can pay for my apartment at the Plaza."

With a small smile, Blake was pleased that she didn't look so sad anymore. "My father was a rich businessman and my mother was a rising model. He got her pregnant at one of the parties he was hosting, but he was already engaged to someone his parents wanted him to marry. My mother explained to me that the only reason he married the woman he did and not her was because his family's business was in financial straits and really needed the marriage. And that if he had a choice, he would have married her. I don't believe that, but I'd nod my head and say 'oui mama'. It was better to agree than make her cry more. She cried too much over him already. She also told me that the reason I never met my father was because she was protecting his political standing and what not. We traveled all around the world and I learned many languages. My mother passed away and I went to live with my mother's brother and we continued to travel all over Europe, the Middle East and Asia."

"I am also sorry about your mother, Blake." He shrugged and Alex got the hint he didn't want to go into further details so she changed the subject. "So when you traveled to Asia is that when you went to college in Japan and got into technology?" Alex inquired. "Megan Brynna said you came from a Japanese firm."

Blake's breath caught. Shit, he should have just lied. What was he thinking by telling Alex the truth? "Right. My uncle went back to the Middle East and I wanted to stay in Japan and pursue my interest in technology. And that is all the personal information I'm going to divulge to you."

"Aw, that's no fair. Okay, answer me this. Have you ever thought of finding your father?"

"No." He answered quickly and it almost came out as a growl that made Alex jump. "I don't want to find him."

Alex laid a hand on his arm and glanced up at him. "Blake...I know how hard forgiveness can be. After my parents died...I felt so horrible that I never accepted their apology. Maybe your father would like to apologize. And-" Blake cut her off with a kiss.

He knew it probably wasn't the best thing to do, but he wanted to shut her up. The first thing that popped into his head was kissing those delectable lips he had been thinking about since he first saw her. And it was another plus if it got her to stop talking about his sperm donor.

Alex vaguely recalled Blake tracing his fingers over her knee. She was suddenly very upset that dress code insisted she wear panty hose. His fingers moved to the inside of her thigh and Alex gasped against his mouth. Their kiss deepened and he shifted to bring Alex closer to him. Her chest was against his and her hand seemed to have a mind of its own as it made its way into his hair. Blake resisted the urge to smile against her lips as he nibbled and sucked.

Deftly, he slid his tongue into her mouth, coaxing Alex to play. Which she did gladly. Suddenly, he had her pinned down as he took control. He circled his tongue around hers painfully slow as his hands went even higher until he was rubbing right over her clit. Alex gasped again which turned into a moan. He began to kiss down her neck as his hand left her and began to unbutton her top. Unable to wait, Alex helped him unbutton her shirt and he laughed against her neck.

"You're impatient." He said before going back to nibbling on her neck.

"Mmm...no, just greedy." Alex tossed him a smile as she struggled out of her top.

Blake returned to kissing her mouth and Alex wrapped her arms around his neck. His fingers dipped under her bra and he cupped her breast. Alex moaned into his mouth as he pinched her nipple.

Suddenly the door was being rattled. Alex jumped away from Blake and began to frantically button up her shirt. Seeing that she needed assistance, Blake moved her hands and made quick work. He yanked her skirt back into place and helped her stand.

"Wow, you're fast." Alex laughed softly, running her hands down herself to straighten her clothes.

"Alex! Blake! Are you two in there?" Clara's voice shouted from the other side.

"I'm tempted to say 'no'." Blake whispered in Alexia's ear and she giggled.

"There you two are!" Clara said as she finally forced the door open. 

She gave Alex a look and motioned for her to leave as a bunch of people crowded around. Majority of the people there were hoping to catch Blake and Alexia in compromising position. Everyone in the office could feel the sexual tension between the two. They were all unfortunately disappointed.

"Okay everyone who came to check out the scene, but didn't assist in helping get the door open...you now all have to get lost." Clara looked at the others lingering. "I said go..." They quickly scampered off.

"I'll see you later tonight for our date." Blake smiled at Alex as he walked pass.

Alex whirled around and gave him a big smile. "See you then." She said softly as he walked away. Alex was brought back to reality with a punch to her arm. 

"Owww." She whined, rubbing her arm and glaring at Clara.

"Fess up." Clara arched a brow. "What happened in there? I gave you ample warning to fix yourself. I even pretended the door was jammed. Now, I want the details."

"There's nothing to tell." Alex lowered her voice. "Maybe there'll be something to tell you tomorrow morning." She grinned.

"I'm holding you to that." Clara slapped Alex's ass. "Now get, everyone was wondering if you two were baby making in there."

Alex yelped at the sting. "That might cost you some juicy details."

Clara rolled her eyes and looped her arm with Alex's and they walked back to the party together.

"As if. But I'm coming over and doing your makeup and choosing what you're wearing. No complaints."

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"But he already bought the tickets to the opera!" Alex shouted at Clara.

"Stop moving." Clara slapped Alex on the arm lightly as she went back to putting eyeliner on Alex. "I'm just saying...after dinner, do you really want to go to an opera when you two can instead go back to his place or yours and have mind blowing sex?"

Clara had already given in to the fact that Blake wasn't going to leave Alex alone. And as long as Clara got Alex to realize that nothing more could happen between her and Blake than a fling, this little affair could boost Alex's self confidence. Since Alex's last boyfriend cheated on her, Alex's self confidence took a plummet. It didn't help that the woman he cheated on Alex with was twice her age with two grown children.

"Well..." Alex thought about it. "Why am I even contemplating this? We have work tomorrow. I can't be having sex with him all night and expect myself to go to work the next day."

"I've done it before." Clara stated like it wasn't a big deal. She finished with Alex's makeup and stepped back to take a look. "Gorgeous."

"Thank you so much." Alex looked at her reflection and was stunned that it was really her looking back. "And even though you've done it before, it's never been with someone we work with." Clara was quiet as she inspected her nails. "No ways! Who did you sleep with from the office?"

"Ben Granger." Clara shrugged as she moved away from Alex to get her bag. "It's the quiet ones that are the kinkiest. We broke it off well enough. He got married last year to some cute girl on the floor below us." Clara checked her watch. "Shit. I have to go. Blake should be here soon. Have fun! And think about it...sex or opera?"

Before Alex could get a word in, Clara had let herself out. Looking at the clock on her nightstand, Alex felt her heart rate speeding. Was he going to show up this time? Well if he planned to show, he had fifteen minutes. Her cell rang and Alex stumbled over herself to pick it up and answer the restricted number.

"Hello?" Alex asked breathily.

"Hello, Alexia."

Alex frowned. "Hi, grandpa. How are you?"

"You sound disappointed. Were you expecting someone else?" The voice was clipped. It wasn't because he was upset, more so than English being his second language after German.

"Of course not! How can I be disappointed with a call from you?"

"You remind me of your father when you evade my questions with rhetorical questions. But very diplomatic like your mother." The voice held a note of disdain when mentioning Alex's father.

Alex sighed. "Grandpa...I love you. Unfortunately, you called when I'm on my way out on a date. The person I was expecting is Blake Xander. I work with him and he asked me out to dinner." She glanced at the clock. "And he should be here in five minutes."

"Blake Xander? Alexia Rosaline..."

Cutting her grandfather off quickly, Alex made kissing sounds. "I love you. I have to go. Bye! I'll call you after my date so you know I'm safe and he didn't kill me and throw me in some ditch." She hung up, knowing her grandfather had too much pride to call her again.

The second time her phone rang; Alex eyed the restricted number and wondered when her grandfather lost some of his arrogance to call her again. She picked up the phone with intentions of keeping it short.

"I love you, I have to go. Bye grandpa."

"Well, I suppose I've been called worse things than grandpa." Came a laughing reply.

"Blake!" Alex said happily. "I'm sorry, my grandpa called me earlier and I had to hang up on him before he told me I wasn't allowed to go out with you until you two meet."

"I thought you were over exaggerating when you said your grandfather wanted to control the way you live your life." Blake was a little worried.

"I never over exaggerate." Alex laughed. "But don't worry about my grandfather. He still thinks I'm in high school. So how soon will you be here by?"

"Well I'm already waiting in the lobby."

"I'll be there in two minutes." Alex smiled, overjoyed that he hadn't stood her up.

"Alright. I'll see you in two minutes. Bye."

"Bye." Alex hung up the phone, her smile becoming ridiculously wide. She grabbed her bag and darted out the door. The elevator wasn't arriving fast enough. Alex told herself that pressing the button more didn't mean the elevator arrived any faster, but she just had to be certain.

When she got to the lobby, she found Blake sitting down in one of the plush chairs. Blake froze for a moment when he saw her. Regaining his composure, Blake smiled and got up.

"You look beautiful." He whispered in her ear as he placed his hand at the small of her back and led her outside to his car.

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This was bad. Very bad. Blake was seriously screwed. He was able to resist Alex so far. But the moment he spotted her in that clinging dress, he was gone. Although she looked stunning, Blake preferred Alex with less makeup. It was her dress that kept him distracted. In the office, he had an idea of her curves, but in her form-fitting dress, he had more than an idea. And a glance of her creamy breasts earlier in the day as well as that kiss? It was no wonder he was sporting a hard-on that was well hidden beneath their dinner table.

The more he talked to Alex, the more he realized that he really liked her laugh. Her animated way of speaking captivated him. What annoyed Blake was the insistent urge he had to touch that wavy lock of hair that kept falling over her left cheek. Alex was oblivious to this fact as she merely tucked the errant lock over her ear repeatedly.

They were done with dinner and talking over dessert. Blake had successfully diverted the conversation from any personal things about him, keeping Alex preoccupied with telling him about her childhood.

"It was such a cliché too." Alex laughed. "It was raining like crazy and there was this adorable puppy in a soggy cardboard box. I was about ten years old and ran away from home. I was convinced that if my parents heard that I was missing, they'd come home to look for me. Gods, I was so foolish. When my grandfather found me, I was sitting at the bus stop out in the rain with the puppy under my coat. My grandfather promised me that if I left the puppy behind, I could talk to my parents. And I guess that is when I first started to despise my parents' line of work. And I later misplaced that animosity onto my parents." Alex sighed deeply, lost in the melancholy of her childhood.

"Well I refused to leave the puppy behind, even if that meant grandpa wouldn't let me talk to my parents. So grandfather took the puppy and had our butler bathe him. Matthew hated my baby Leo. But Leo loved Matthew to no end. The crappy thing about being from a rich family is that I never knew who to trust. One night when grandpa was out at a business meeting, I was at home sick with Matthew and there was a break in. Leo was huge by then. We found out from the vet that Leo was half Lab, half Golden Retriever. Matthew isn't just a butler you know."

"Really?" Blake grinned at the mysteriousness in her voice. "What is Matthew?"

"A stone-cold killer." Alex said seriously.

Blake's grin fell. "What?"

She lowered her voice, taking on a tinge of playfullness similiar to girls discussing juicy gossip. "Well I wouldn't know that for a fact. It's just things I heard whispered around the house. It was dark that night and Matthew rushed into my room and made me hide in the closet and told me to stay there until he came back for me. There were gun shots and I stayed in the closet like Matthew instructed. I waited for what seemed like hours. Finally, Matthew came back and he was wearing crisp new clothes. I thought it was odd. My grandfather was already home with his army of bodyguards. I always thought it was weird that the police hadn't gotten involved. Looking for any sign of the break in, I found none. Everything was spotless. Then I demanded to know where my Leo was. My grandfather was busy on the phone talking to someone in German. I could tell he was upset. He dropped to his knees when he saw me and gave me a hug, then sent me away to go upstairs with Matthew. He took me upstairs and sat me at the edge of my bed. He bent down beside me and took my hands in his. I should tell you now that I had a huge crush on Matthew."

Blake let out a soft laugh. "The young girl of twelve in love with her grandfather's forty year old butler?"

"No!" Alex laughed. "Matthew is only thirteen years older than me. Matthew's father worked for my grandfather. When his dad died, my grandfather took him in. Paid for his education and everything and Matthew came back and said he wanted to work for my grandfather. Anyways," Alex continued. "He sat me down and looked me in the eyes and said 'I'm really sorry, Alexia...but Leo-'" Alex stopped and cleared her throat. "'Leo was shot and he died instantly.' Matthew asked for me to forgive him because Leo died protecting him. I didn't know what to say." Alex paused again and didn't continue.

Blake reached across the table and held Alex's hand. She smiled up at him and sniffled.

"Ack, Clara is going to kill me if I mess up all her hard work." Alex used her free hand to fan her face.

"I thought the makeup was something Clara would wear." Blake grinned. He looked down at his watch and whistled low. "If we want to make that opera, we better go now."

Alex bit on her lower lip and looked down at Blake's hand over hers. He went to pull his hand away, but Alex stopped him and held his hand firmly. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. Her heart was pounding furiously in her ears. Clara had already told Alex not to expect a relationship with Blake. But after the dinner, Alex was convinced that at least he would know how to please her. And after her last boyfriend, Alex really wanted to remember what it was like to be desired.

"Blake, I know that we probably can't have a relationship, but I want to know what it's like to be wanted." Alex chewed on her lower lip.

Watching Alex made Blake want to suck that plump, lower lip into his mouth. She looked at him uncertainly and he wanted to kiss away her worry.

"What are you saying exactly?" Blake didn't want to get too hopeful.

"Can we skip the opera and go to your place instead?" Alex held her breath for his answer.



To Be The Last Ch. 03



The drive had been tortuously slow. Blake glanced over at Alexia who bit down on her lip, impatient for him to open the door to his apartment. They had agreed after dinner to go to Blake's place since it was closer.

During the whole drive, Alex had been giving Blake heated side glances that was impossible to ignore. Although Blake had told himself he would not act on her blatant invitations, he found that his hand crept onto her knee and continued to the inside of her thighs while they waited for the red light to turn green.

Alex had stopped his traveling hand and for a second, Blake thought he had gone too far. But then she picked up his hand and sucked his pointer into her mouth, nipping at the pad of his finger. The tugs went straight to his groin. Blake had laughed softly when she tossed him a saucy look and he leaned forward and captured her lips in a hot kiss.

Unfortunately, their kiss was interrupted by a blaring horn behind them when Blake hadn't reacted fast enough to the light changing green. As much as Blake wanted to continue playing with Alex, one hand was needed on the wheel and the other was needed on the stick shift. It made Blake seriously contemplate in buying an automatic. At one point, Alex had offered to do the shifting so Blake had a free hand. If Blake wasn't so controlled, he swore he could have cum with her soft spoken suggestion of lending him a hand in 'another sense'. Blake wasn't so sure if he'd consider green lights all the way to his apartment as lucky or not.

Finally they were at his apartment. Blake opened the door and the both of them poured into the foyer. Alex raised a brow and smiled widely. She traced her fingertips against the wall as she kicked off her heels and walked into his pent house. She turned quickly, her curls flying across her shoulder. Caught surprised by the soft smile on her face, Blake felt a twinge in his chest. Blake grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses from the kitchen. When he turned, he saw Alex looking at him with an amazed expression. He looked around confused, wondering what she found so amazing.

"Your kitchen is awesome." Alex breathed, running her fingers over the island counter and looking up at the pots and pans hanging over head.

Letting out a laugh, Blake handed her the two flukes. He poured wine into both cups and took one cup from her hands.

"Thank you. I quite like my kitchen too. I take it you cook?"

Alex nodded and took a sip of the wine. "My grandfather insisted I learn to cook. So he stuck me in culinary classes. I hated it at first, but after I got over the fact that the only thing I disliked about it was that I was forced into it, I realized I loved to cook." Alex laughed.

Blake joined in her laughter as he moved up against her. He took the glass from Alex, brushing his fingers against hers. Placing the glasses on the counter behind her, Blake leaned forward so their bodies where touching. Alex was trapped between the counter and Blake's body. She watched in fascination as he moved forward and rested his forehead against hers. He spoke against her lips softly.

"Dance with me." He said, sliding his hands down to her hips.

Without missing a beat, Alex moved her hands up to his shoulders and began to sway against him. Blake was surprised. In the past, when Blake asked a woman to dance with him with no music playing, she would laugh and point out that there was no music. A soft humming sound vibrated against Blake's chest. He looked down at the top of Alex's head and realized she was humming a song that they were dancing to.

Alex swayed against Blake's body, molding herself against him. Maybe it was a mistake. He was doing everything so perfectly. She was starting to fear that she might fall in love with him...if she wasn't already falling. At first, Alex would gladly claim she was in lust with Blake, just as all the other women in their building were. But as she had dinner with him, she realized that he was so much more complex than 'mysterious' and 'dangerous'.

Blake had stopped swaying and Alex stopped also. She pulled back a little and looked up at him. Before she could ask if anything was wrong, he dipped his head down and kissed her. Alex tip-toed as she wrapped her arms around Blake's neck. One moment she thought he was smiling against her lips when suddenly he sucked on her lower lip.

He teased her with kisses, pulling back when Alex would lean forward. With little nips and sucks, Alex was going crazy. His hands remained on her hips as he drugged her with his kisses. Finally, he sealed his mouth over hers, playing his tongue over hers. 

Alex pushed against Blake and he picked her up. Her short dress hiked up to her hips as she wrapped her legs around him. His thick erection pushed against his pants and rubbed against her lace covered pussy. Unable to control herself, Alex ground against him, causing the both of them to moan into each other's mouths.

Blake pushed Alex to the wall and ground into her. She pulled away from their kiss and threw her head back, breathing harshly. Her fingers dug into his back as she groped for something solid. Blake reached between them and touched her. Her heat burned against the material separating them. He rubbed her, dampening her thong with her juices. Alex moaned as Blake sucked on her neck and moved his fingers over her pussy gently. She wanted him to be rougher. His light touches were just enough to stimulate, but not enough for her to cum.

"More." Alex breathed.

With a smile, Blake pushed her panties aside and sank two fingers into her. Alex's thighs clenched and she pushed against his fingers. Blake pulled his fingers out and Alex watched as he sucked on his wet fingers. Then he carried Alex to the island counter. She shivered as the cold marble top made contact with her bare ass.

"Lay back." Blake whispered against her neck.

Goosebumps rose all over her skin as Alex did as Blake ordered. Blake stood between her thighs before bending down so he was eye leveled with the counter. Moving slowly, Blake kissed the insides of her thighs. He blew against her damp underwear. Alex grew uncomfortable as Blake didn't do anything. She wanted to get up and look at what he was doing. Pushing herself up on her elbows, Alex's face flushed as she saw Blake just staring at her down there. He looked up and gave a crooked smile.

Alex felt her heart beat even faster. He kept his eyes on Alex as he reached for her lace thong and pulled it off slowly. Alex was completely exposed as she wiggled and her dress rode up to her waist. With a wicked look, Blake parted her legs again. He stepped between her thighs and blew against her flat stomach. Placing his hot lips against her navel, Blake sucked and licked his way down.

When his lips touched her shaved pussy, Alex involuntarily bucked against his mouth. His hands moved to grip her soft ass as he pushed her pussy to his mouth. Alex reached out and laced her fingers in his thick hair. Blake pressed his tongue over her clit and Alex bit down on a moan.

Blake tried not to moan along with Alex as her fingers tugged at his hair. His cock strained against his pants as he sucked on her clit. Blake pulled back slightly and flicked his tongue over her clit as he pushed two fingers inside her.

"Stop." Alex rasped out. "Please, I want to take my dress off."

Blake was slightly disappointed as he pulled away and helped Alex sit up. She desperately reached behind her and tried to yank down the zipper. Trying not to laugh, Blake helped Alex with her zipper and pulled her dress over her head. The moment her dress was gone, Blake's hands went to her breasts. He had been wishing at dinner that she wasn't wearing a bra. Kneading roughly, Blake went to suck on Alex's neck. She ran her fingers in his hair and pulled his head away with a sexy smile.

Alex licked at Blake's mouth, tracing her tongue over his lips. He kissed her hotly, pushing her down against the counter. One hand remained on a breast as the other hand moved down to cup her. He rubbed Alex until she was whimpering against his mouth. Alex felt her toes curl as she came. She blinked a couple times to clear her head. A satisfied smile spread across her face as she regarded Blake.

"Why am I the only one naked?" Alex pouted.

"Good question."

Alex pulled Blake to her and began to unbutton his shirt. She trailed kisses and nips down his chest as she undressed him. When she was done unbuttoning his shirt, Blake stripped out of it and stood there as Alex quickly unbuckled his pants. She slid the zipper down and pushed his pants off. Her fingers played with the band of his boxers before she slipped one hand inside and held his hard cock. They both groaned as her cool hand made contact with his hot erection.

Rubbing up and down his length, Alex rubbed the pad of her thumb over the tip of his cock. Blake dropped his forehead against hers. He stopped her before he came.

"Hold on." Blake said as he got rid of his boxers and pulled a condom from his pants.

He quickly put on the condom as Alex wiggled on the counter top, waiting for him.

"Spread your legs," Blake ordered.

Before Alex could comply, he pushed her thighs apart. Alex fell back as he pushed her right knee against her hip. Blake reached down and spread Alex's pussy lips. He wiggled a finger inside of her before pulling his finger out and positioning his cock at her entrance. With one hard thrust, Blake embedded himself in her. Alex gasped at the feeling of being filled. Her inner muscles quivered.

"Do you like that Alexia?" Blake asked as he pulled out and slammed back into her.

Alex swallowed. Did he really expect her to talk? She couldn't form a sentence to save her life at the moment. She merely nodded as he pounded in and out. Suddenly he stopped and Alex whimpered.

"I want to hear you." Blake said, looking down at Alexia with his intense green eyes. 

"Yes!" Alex choked out. "Oh don't stop." She begged, thrusting her hips up and moaning.

"Make sounds for me." Blake demanded as he began to move in and out of her again.

Alex reached for Blake's hips as he pounded in and out of her. She whimpered for more and begged for him not to stop. Every thrust had her moaning as her fingernails dug into his hip. Lifting her hips, Blake drove into Alex over and over again. Her inner muscles squeezed and Alex felt her abdomen clench as she screamed another climax. Tingles exploded throughout her whole body as Blake continued to fuck her roughly. All the sensations were almost too much to handle. Alex squirmed against Blake and pushed into her hard, his orgasm exploding throughout his whole body.

"Yes! Cum while you're inside me!" Alex moaned as Blake pulsed inside of her and her pussy clenched in after shocks of her earlier orgasm.

Alex fell back onto the counter, exhausted. Blake's hold on Alex didn't loosen as he ran his lips up her neck to capture a hot and possessive kiss from her. He pulled back and Alex dropped her hands from his hips in a satisfied sigh. Blake picked Alex up and she was amazed he could even move after that.

He carried her to his room and dropped her on his bed. Alex rolled over to her stomach and looked over her shoulder at Blake. She lifted her ass in the air and gave him a flirty smile.

"Are you tired?" She batted her eyelashes.

"Not even close." Blake said as he raked her with a sizzling look.

When he got up, Alex was slightly curious as to what he was doing. He opened the drawer of his night stand and pulled out a box of condoms. Alex laughed playfully as Blake got back onto the bed. She crawled over to him and took the new condom from his hand. They disposed of the used condom and Alex licked her lips as she stared at his cock. His cock twitched and Alex moaned. She ripped open the condom and leaned down and licked the tip of Blake's cock.

"This is going to be a long night." Blake said with a tight laugh that turned into a groan as Alex closed her lips over his dick.

Alex pulled back and licked her lips again. "I hope so."

------

Blake woke up feeling an unusual pressure on his chest. He opened his eyes to see Alex lying across him. Turning his head, Blake checked the clock. It was only six in the morning. Which meant he only had a few hours of sleep. He grinned to himself as he thought of how passionate Alex was. Carefully removing Alex from his chest, Blake got off the living room carpet and went to grab his personal cell.

They had started off in the kitchen and went to the bedroom. After a couple hours, Alex was begging Blake for a break. Seeing as she asked so nicely, Blake agreed and offered to hold Alex while she took a nap. Alex cuddled against Blake and they slept for a bit. He woke up to Alex sucking on his cock. After she swallowed his cum, she licked her lips and said she was hungry. So they had gone to the kitchen for a snack and ended up eating their food off of each other in the living room. Alex had excused herself and Blake almost choked on a strawberry in laughter when she returned with the box of condoms. They significantly depleted his box of condoms in the living room where they finally fell asleep from exhaustion, their sweaty bodies up against each other.

Blake walked into his room, checking behind him a moment before going over to his top drawer where he kept his personal cell. He first put on clean boxers before he checked his cell. He saw that he had a missed call. Knowing Matt would call again, Blake put his cell back in the drawer and closed it. Blake walked out of his bedroom to the kitchen to start on breakfast. After making some coffee, Blake started on French toast.

He was cooking the French toast when he saw Alex enter the kitchen in his discarded shirt. Her hair was a mess and Blake realized that she must have washed her face. Upon reflection, Blake rather liked the way Alex looked without make up. There was a sweet quality to her undistorted beauty. With a sexy stretch, Alex made her way over to Blake. When she tip-toed towards him, Blake was more than happy to lean down and give her a kiss.

Alex had to break the kiss, knowing if she didn't they would both be late for work. Peeking over his shoulder, Alex squealed happily when she saw what he was making for breakfast. She pulled out plates and cups, helping to set the table.

"So you were listening when I told you what I wanted for breakfast." She laughed, putting the last plate down.

Blake walked into the dining area with the plate of French toast and a pot of coffee. Alex followed him back to the kitchen for sugar, milk, syrup, couple bottles of Evian and some orange juice.

"I'm just as surprised as you that I remembered. If I recall, while you were telling me what you wanted for breakfast you had me a bit distracted." Blake grinned.

Alex blinked innocently and asked Blake how she had him distracted. When she turned to face him, Blake pinned her against the solid wood table. He bent down to kiss her and Alex could taste coffee on his tongue that time. Pulling away he whispered in her ear.

"I believe you had one hand on my cock on the other hand pinching your nipple as I finger fucked you." Blake nipped at her lips before pulling back and offering her a chair.

Heat flooded Alex's body as Blake whispered in her ear. A flashback of all their pleasure filled activities rushed at Alex. She cleared her throat and took a seat across of Blake who was grinning at her wickedly. Alex took a bite of her French toast and moaned in appreciation of Blake's culinary skills. 

Their breakfast went well as they both talked about the things they learned they had in common. When Alex asked what time it was, she almost gasped when Blake told her it was 7:30. She jumped up saying she had to go back to her apartment for a suit. Blake offered to drive her back to her apartment after a quick shower.

Alex couldn't help but give in when he asked her if she wanted to take a shower together. She more than happily jumped into the shower. He rubbed soap all over her breasts and the rest of her body, making Alex slick with need. Teasing her, he skimmed over the places she really wanted his hands until he finally touched her where she was begging him to. Seeing as he hadn't brought a condom into the bathroom, Alex had to settle for his fingers inside of her. They brought each other to climax as Blake came all over Alex's stomach and breasts. Realizing they were taking too long playing, Blake washed off quickly and gave Alex some privacy.

She had slipped back into her dress having given up on the search of her thong. Alex had asked Blake if he'd seen it and acted as if he didn't remember Alex even wearing a thong. Since it seemed Blake wasn't going to give back her underwear, Alex demanded for something in fair trade.

Blake looked around and picked up his tie and handed it to Alex. She looked down at his tie and raised a brow as if asking him if he was seriously giving her his tie.

"I'd say you're getting a deal. That tie has more material than your thong." Blake laughed.

Alex laughed too as she folded up his tie and put it in her purse. Blake called the valet to get his car down and the two of them made their way down to the lobby. They got in the car and drove to her apartment. Alex made Blake head to work, knowing if they were alone in her apartment together, they wouldn't reappear until probably the next day. She got ready quickly, rushed downstairs and hailed a cab to take her to Richardson Corp. Alex pulled her cell out of her bag and decided to give her grandfather the call she promised.

-------

The ridiculous smile on Blake's face was impossible to cover up as he walked into the office. Right then he was thinking about all the places he and Alex could sneak off to during lunch break. He wondered how she would look spread out naked on his desk, panting for him to fuck her. Such thoughts made him instantly hard and Blake had to force his fantasies out of his mind before the elevator door opened. Having trained himself from a young age about control and discipline, Blake forced his naughty thoughts out as the elevator door opened. He walked passed the cubicles, responding cheerfully at the good mornings.

When he entered his office, he saw Clara sitting in his chair. He closed the door behind him and approached her. Clara regarded Blake with a haughty look as he got closer. He took a seat across of her and Clara sighed.

"Dane called me." She watched Blake tense. "I didn't tell him about Alexia. But he already knows. And I suppose Matt tried to contact you last night to talk to you about getting 'involved'."

Blake resisted the urge to snort. "It isn't anything serious."

Clara scrunched her brows as if in pain. "I highly doubt that. Alexia is the type to fall for a guy pretty hard. And I wouldn't be surprised if she finds herself falling in love with you already. Hell, I think she's been in love with you since you first started working here. And it's partially my fault for telling her to suggest sex instead of opera, but I never thought she'd go through with it. I know you've been uncharacteristically interested in her since you've been here."

"And what are you implying?" Blake asked in a clipped manner.

"Calm down. I'm just saying...don't get too emotionally attached to her. I'll talk to Alex about it too. I'm guessing you two have already done it." Blake didn't answer. "I take that as you've both done it many times by now. When Alex didn't answer her cell early this morning I assumed as much." Clara sighed.

"Is that all?" Blake reverted back to his cool demeanor.

Clara nodded and stood. She walked out of his office and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Blake contemplated how he would break it off with Alex. But he didn't want to break it off just yet. He hadn't gotten enough of her. Coming to the conclusion that after a few more fucks he would get his fill of Alex, Blake decided he would wait a little longer. But something deep down told him that wasn't true.




To Be The Last Ch. 03



-------

Alex sat down at her desk and felt her face flush. It had been two blissful weeks. She and Blake would sneak off during their lunch break to the janitor's closet or meet on the roof for a quickie. They'd either end up at her apartment or his. It was hard to keep their relationship a secret since they could barely keep their hands off each other during work. Alex wasn't sure if they qualified as a couple. More like FTFs in her opinion. Though Alex wouldn't mind being more than just friends that fucked. She already gave into the fact that she was in love with him. But did Blake feel the same way?

He told her he loved the way she felt or he loved the noises she made. He pretty much said he loved everything about her...but did that mean he loved her? Alex was confused and every time she tried to talk to Clara about it, Clara would get really upset and change the subject.

Realizing that she wasn't working, Alex shook her head as if to dispel her thoughts. She looked down at her desk and her body heated up, her legs turning into liquid. When Alex had walked into their office early one morning, Blake had been in her office. The blinds were drawn and he had a sexy grin on his face when he ordered Alex to take off her panty hose and underwear and bend over the desk. He had fucked her so hard that Alex had trouble sitting the next couple days. It had been so hard for her not to scream when he made her cum three times. A knock jarred her out of her thoughts, making Alex jump in her seat.

"Come in!" She said, straightening her appearance, hoping she didn't look flushed.

Blake opened the door and grinned widely. "How many times have I heard a variation of that?"

Alex narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "I was just thinking about you. It's driving me insane. I can't get any work done."

"I say it's time for a break then." Blake suggested.

Alex laughed. "I don't think so. I have a deadline to meet and I haven't even gotten started. Will I see you after work?"

"Can you wait that long?" Blake teased.

"I will have to." Alex pouted as she walked around the desk. 

The blinds were drawn, something Alex had been doing for the past two weeks just in case. Blake pulled Alex into a long kiss and whispered against her neck. It was something she found odd.

"What did you say?" Alex asked for clarification.

"I didn't say anything." Blake said as he handed her paperwork he originally went to her office to give her. "Could you please check that before it gets sent out?"

Alex nodded, looking longingly at Blake as he exited her office. Alex went back to her desk and looked through the paperwork Blake gave to her. She sat back for a second and repeated what she thought he said.

"'Will I ever get enough of you?'" Alex tapped her pen against her plump lower lip.

After a few more minutes of idling, Alex forced herself to get back to work.

-------

Blake took off of work early since Matt told him to go pick up a few things. Taking a cab into Chinatown, Blake gave the driver the directions he got from Matt. The driver brought Blake to a dingy shop that looked closed. Blake paid the driver and went into the shop.

The door chimes echoed loudly in the practically empty antique shop. An old man came out with a big smile at the prospect of a customer. He took one look at Blake and seemed to know what he was doing there.

They conversed in Cantonese while the old man led Blake to the back of his shop. It was two black briefcases that the old man pulled out. The first one was filled with cash. Blake tried to offer the man a bundle, but he refused, saying his services were already paid for. The second briefcase was very light. Blake opened it to find a silver thumb drive in the middle of the suitcase. He pocketed the thumb drive and picked up the suitcase of money. Thanking the old man, Blake made his way out of the shop.

As Blake walked away, he was thinking about Alexia. It had been two weeks and he was just as fixated on her as he had been two months ago. He wasn't going to admit it could be anything more than obsession. Although Matt scolded Blake on a daily basis about slacking off, Blake had successfully hacked the Richardson account information and found huge amounts of money being moved around from one account to another. After a little more digging, Blake was able to pull a few coded names. After relaying the information to Matt, Blake had picked up half of his payment. But he had no idea what the thumb drive was for.

Just as Blake hailed a cab, he got a text message from Alex. She had insisted on personalizing a ring for herself on his phone. He got into the cab and took out his cell. It was a text saying she was feeling sick and was taking off of work early to see a doctor. He called and instantly got her voicemail so he left a message.

"Call me when you have the chance, I want to make sure you're alright." Blake paused, unsure as how to end. "Bye." He finished and hung up.

-------

Alex picked up her prescription at the corner drug store. After Blake had left, she was feeling hot all over. At first she wasn't too worried since being around Blake always made her body burn, but then she started feeling dizzy, her jaw hurting and her throat itchy. Part of her already knew what it was, but she was hoping she would have been wrong. So she made an appointment with her doctor who confirmed that she was at the beginning of an ear infection.

Popping one of the anti-biotic pills in her mouth, Alex swallowed the pill with a gulp of water. She had turned her cell off after texting Blake and calling in at the office that she would be out for a few days. Alex had told Clara she wasn't feeling well and she had forgotten that Clara would have called her grandfather. Which meant her grandfather would be calling her and Alex wasn't in the mood to talk to her grandfather after he more or less insulted her intelligence when he off-handedly commented on her 'relationship' with Blake Xander.

Hailing a cab, Alex gave her address as she leaned her head against the cold window. Ever since Alex could remember, she'd have an ear infection about once every two years. Whenever she had ear infections, Alex would get really sick with fevers and aches. No matter how early she caught her ear infections, she had to suffer several days until she got better. Knowing that her grandfather would hear from her doctor, Alex wasn't too concerned about worrying him.

The moment Alex reached her apartment she unplugged her phone and crawled into bed. Alex could already feel a headache forming. Her jaw was stiff and her left ear was throbbing painfully.

-------

It had been a few days since Blake had seen Alexia. She had called him the following morning to tell him she had an ear infection and would be out of work for the next several days. Blake had offered to check up on her and bring her soup, but Alex had told him she didn't want to bother him. She pleaded with him not to visit her in her pitiful state. Blake had laughed at her pleas, but gave in and agreed not to bother her.

Luckily Matt had called him before he tried out the thumb drive; otherwise Blake's personal laptop would be in ruins. He had found out that it was packed with a virus strong enough to annihilate a whole company system. It would gather everything and make a compressed file that would be emailed to Matt before the virus destroyed the original data bank and any traces of where the information was sent. The problem was that Blake didn't have enough time in one work day to work on hacking the company's firewalls without raising suspicions. He needed access to a computer that had less security blocks.

Megan Brynna knocked on Blake's open door, pulling him away from his work. He gave her a smile as she walked into the office with a stack of files, closing the door behind her. She dropped the stack of files on his desk and bent low as her loose blouse exposed her large breasts. Blake learned awhile ago that he should stay in Megan Brynna's good graces. So he feigned interest in her transparent display. She fluttered her lashes at him.

"I reviewed the files and Mr. Richardson is very impressed. He wants to meet with you...but I told him I'm not sure if his schedule would allow that." Megan Brynna raised a brow at Blake. "Unless, you really want to meet him."

Blake understood what she was saying. He stood up and walked around the desk. Checking that the blinds were closed, Blake reached for Megan Brynna. She gave him a haughty smile as his hand closed around her thin wrist.

"What are you planning on doing, Mr. Xander?"

Blake tried not to grit his teeth as he gave her a charming smile. "I think we both know what I'm going to do now."

"Mmm...not what, who. And I do think the answer is me." She laughed throatily, pulling her wrist out of his grasp and sitting down on one of the plush chairs.

Blake dropped to his knees in front of her. He slid his hands from her ankles up her thighs and moved her skirt up. Skimming his fingers against the thin material of her panty hose, Blake rubbed his fingers between her legs.

"Rip it." Megan Brynna ordered.

Blake looked up at her with a half smile. He ripped the material at her crotch and pushed her panties to the side roughly as he shoved two fingers in her sodden pussy. She moaned and Blake covered her mouth with his hand, only to snatch it back when she bit him.

"So you want to do this rough do you?" Blake loosened his tie.

Tearing off her ruined panty hose, Blake tied her hands together. He used his tie to gag her. His eyes roved up and down her body and he gave a satisfied grin before going back to his knees. With a hard push, Blake spread Megan Brynna's legs apart to dangle off the armrests. He yanked her panties off and she gasped against his tie. Lowering his head, Blake kissed the insides of her thighs before licking her slit. He shoved three fingers into her as his other hand forcibly held up Megan Brynna's arms over her head.

Megan Brynna bucked and moaned, rubbing her wet pussy against his mouth as she came. A moment passed before Blake spoke.

"If we wish to continue this, I suggest we do it in your office. There isn't much privacy in my office. I don't even have a lock." He said as he untied her.

Megan Brynna rubbed her wrists before she spoke. "That is what makes it all the more exciting. But if you insist we continue this in my office. Next week Tuesday. I'll schedule you to come up to meet with Mr. Richardson. Though come a half hour earlier. My door has a lock."

Blake nodded and followed her to the door. He opened the door for her and she exited with a sigh. After she left, Blake went back to work as if nothing happened.

------

Alex glared at Matthew as he walked into her bedroom. He gave her a pleasant smile as he approached with a bowl of soup. Whenever Alex got sick, her grandfather would send Matthew over to take care of her.

"I'm not a baby anymore." Alex pouted, moving to the edge of the bed to bar him sitting access.

"Although I completely agree, your grandfather doesn't. You're always working so hard. Let someone baby you once in awhile." Matthew sighed in exasperation as he placed the bowl down on the counter.

"Hey!" Alex shouted as Matthew lifted her legs and moved them so he could sit down. 

Matthew snorted and switched the television on. "Quit acting like a baby."

"I can't believe my grandfather still sends you to me. I mean, I am twenty-seven years old already. I can take care of myself. And you're like forty! Don't you have more important things to do than baby sit?"

An amused smile touched his lips. "I have more important things to do than take care of an ungrateful, whiney twenty-seven year old, but your grandfather marks you as the top-priority. So according to your grandfather, babysitting you is the most important thing on my list right now. And I'm thirty-nine." 

With that, Matthew turned back to the screen. Alex sat in silence as Matthew continued to watch the news. After a few minutes, Alex picked up the soup on the counter and ate. They both jumped in surprise when the door bell rang.

"I got it." Matthew said, standing to get the door.

Alex got out of bed and followed Matthew to the front door. She wasn't too concerned with that fact that she was only wearing panties and an extra large shirt. But when the door opened, Alex had wished she was wearing more.

"Blake!" Alex said in surprise. "What are you doing here? It's Saturday, don't you have work?"

Blake looked from Alex to the man standing stiffly beside her. The man leaned down and whispered in Alex's ear before he disappeared out the front door.

"Actually, today is Sunday. You weren't answering your cell so I wanted to make sure you weren't lying face down in the hallway or anything. I hope I'm not interrupting something." Blake lied.

"Nope. Not at all. That guy who so rudely walked out of here is Matthew. My grandfather sent him. Whenever I'm sick, my grandfather sends Matthew to take care of me. Seemingly twenty-seven isn't old enough to take care of yourself." Alex pulled Blake into her apartment and closed the door.

"What about Matthew?" Blake inquired.

"Oh, he said he had to make a business call which is code for call my grandfather. They're probably going to be blabbing about how unseemly it is for a man to be visiting my apartment. Don't worry about him. He has a key to my apartment."

Blake handed her the package he was holding. Inside was a container of soup he had made for her. Alex gasped happily as she realized what was inside.

"I bet you're a better cook than Matthew. He's been feeding me soup from the can. The man is deathly afraid of-"

Before Alex could finish her sentence, Blake had spun her around and kissed her. His hands grabbed her ass as he pulled her body against his. Blake pulled her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Alex moaned against their kiss as Blake ground his erection against her soft pussy.

They both worked frantically at getting the other undressed. Alex pulled back and whipped her shirt over her head and threw it behind her. She worked quickly to unbuckle his pants as Blake tore off her lace panties. When she had his pants unzipped, she reached between them and held his throbbing cock in her hand. She was already so wet. Teasingly, Alex rubbed the head of his cock up and down her slit. She felt him moan something against her neck.

"I don't care. I'm on the pill." Alex said breathily.

As if that was all Blake needed to hear, he waited until Alex positioned him to her opening before he drove into her. Pinning her against the wall, Blake pounded in and out of her violently. Alex locked her ankles. She kissed him deeply before he pulled back to suck on her nipples. Lacing her fingers through his hair, Alex leaned against the wall and thrust against Blake.

"Touch yourself, Alexia."

Alex reached between them and rubbed her clit. Her inner muscles clenched around him as Alex came. She moaned his name over and over again as he continued to fuck her. Finally he came inside of her with a fierce moan. The both of them sagged against the wall, breathing harshly.

Blake pushed against Alex until her breasts were smashed against his hard chest. He touched sweaty foreheads with her before he kissed her passionately. Alex moaned again as she felt him growing firm inside of her.

"I missed you." Alex said as they broke from their kiss and Blake laid her down on the carpet.

"I've missed you too." Blake said, surprised that it was true.

He pulled out even though he wanted to have another round of hot and sweaty sex with Alexia. Blake retrieved his and Alex's shirt. Tucking his semi-erection back into his boxers, Blake zipped up his pants. Alex was sitting up when Blake turned back towards her. She used her shirt to wipe between her legs before she stood up.

Blake followed Alex to her bedroom where she put on another big shirt, cotton panties, and shorts. She went to Blake and hugged him tightly. They both stayed that way for several minutes.

"So did you come here because you were worried about me or where you planning on taking advantage of my weakened state so you could have your wicked way with me?" Alex giggled into his chest.

When Blake didn't answer, Alex pulled away a bit and looked up to his serious expression. She scrunched her brows worriedly and reached up. Laying a hand on his cheek, Alex pulled his gaze down to hers.

"What's wrong?"

"That was probably the most irrational thing I've done in a long time." Blake answered. "When Matthew answered the door, I was really jealous. It didn't help that you were standing behind him barely dressed and that he didn't say anything to me and walked out."

"I'm sorry, Blake. I didn't know you were going to get jealous. Next time I get sick, I'll let you take care of me. You'll be at my beck and call." Alex smiled up at him.

Blake smiled back and gave her a quick kiss. "Unfortunately, I have a project to finish up before I present it to Richardson, so I have to go back to my apartment."

"You have a meeting with Mr. Richardson?" Alex asked happily.

They both walked out of her bedroom as Blake told her that Mr. Richardson wanted to see some of his ideas so they were going to meet on Tuesday. Blake suggested that he and Alex spend the next two nights away from each other or else he wouldn't get any work done.

"You're one to talk!" Alex laughed. "How am I supposed to resist jumping your bones after a quickie like that?"

Blake grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. "Because you love me and you really want this meeting between me and Richardson to happen."

Both their faces dropped the moment the words were out of his mouth. He tried to say something that could possibly erase his earlier statement, but nothing was coming to mind. The look on Alex's face was hard to read. Then she looked him straight in the eyes and smiled.

"I do love you Blake. I know I wanted this to start off with just sex and it has been amazing, mind-blowing, great sex, but I've been thinking the past five days. It was so unbearable for me not being with you. Clara told me I was like a junkie having withdrawals and she accused me of having a sex addiction, but that wasn't it either. I really thought about it and I care for you Blake. I'm crazy about you and I think I'm falling in love with you."

The dumbfounded expression on Blake's face told Alexia that that was not something he had wanted to hear. Alex closed her eyes as the weight of her words dawned on her. Geeze, she was so stupid. Blake was used to casual affairs. He told her often enough that he didn't want to get too deep because he considered Alex a friend and if they were to end their sexual relationship, he'd still like to be friends.

Alex tried to relieve the tension. "Um...okay, forget what I said. Sorry. That was too much. It all just kind of came out and I couldn't stop myself. Can we pretend the ending of this conversation didn't happen?"

"Yeah...sure."

'Yeah sure?!?' Alex thought. He had sat there silently and all he could say was 'yeah sure'? Alex stood and Blake stood. They both walked to the front door, neither saying anything.

"Good luck on your project. And thank you for the soup. I'll see you tomorrow at work." Alex said, not meeting his eyes.

Blake nodded, still not saying anything as he turned to leave. Alex waited until he was gone from sight before she closed the door. Then she sank to the floor and cried.

-------

Matthew had returned to the apartment minutes after Blake had left. Alex had shrieked in surprise when the door was pushed open and hit her back. With one look at Alex, Matthew had cursed and turned to go find Blake. Since Alex pretty much grew up with Matthew, she knew what he was thinking. So she threw herself at his legs to stop him, causing him to fall down.




To Be The Last Ch. 03



"Please leave him alone. It's my fault. I got too serious."

Matthew sat up and rubbed his elbow. "You're wearing different clothes. Bloody hell, I was gone all of twenty minutes and you two had sex. What if I walked in on that?"

Alex rolled her eyes, feeling her tears dry up. "I think you would have heard us before you opened the door."

That statement made Matthew's face screw up in disgust and he pushed himself up and stood. He helped Alex up and suggested she take a shower since she was all sweaty. That observation deserved another grossed out look. While Alex took her shower, Matthew was packing. Since Alex was going to work the next day, he didn't have to stick around any longer.

Alex got out of the shower and got dressed. It was Matthew's last night and he was catching a flight back to England first thing in the morning. He promised to take her out to a fancy dinner to celebrate the end of both their suffering. Although Alex didn't quite feel like going out, she wasn't going to be selfish and make Matthew stay in and be depressed with her. She could be depressed after Matthew left.

--------

Blake was in his apartment, unable to work. He kept replaying the conversation with Alex in his head. Well it wasn't really a conversation seeing as he didn't say much. After he had left, Blake realized how insensitive he was being. But it was the first time a woman had said she loved him and he felt ecstatic about the declaration. Irritation and amusement pretty much summed up how he felt when women told him they loved him. 

All the women had fallen in love with a lie. A charming man who did everything perfectly as a lover and companion. While being with Alexia made Blake act the closest to who he really was, she still didn't know the real him. And in a way he regretted that she fell in love with someone he wasn't. As well as a bit jealous of the man with the normal life that Alex had gotten to know. The real him was usually moody and definitely selfish.

Unable to focus, Blake took a break from his work. There couldn't be a future with Alexia. He was a killer. She was everything good and pure. He lied without a conscience. She couldn't even tell a white lie. He was worldly. She was sheltered. There was no way he could quit what he did without serious consequences. He knew too much. And Alex didn't know anything. Nothing could become of Alex's love for him. Even if it could be mutual.

Thinking back on his earlier conversation with Matt, it didn't seem as though he would be staying that long anyways. Blake would be gone within a week tops. After he collected the information he was planning on getting through Megan Brynna's computer, his last day at work would be Tuesday and he would be out of New York by the end of the week. Matt had already gotten a hotel booked under and alias for Blake that Blake would be staying at from Tuesday on until he got the rest of his payment. Then Blake would be off to his next mission and hopefully vacation.

------

Monday was so slow. Alex was tempted to gouge her eyes out with her unsharpened pencils just to add some spice to the day. Blake holed himself in his office because he was still busily working on the ideas he wanted to present to Richardson. Clara had gone in earlier to speak with him. When Alex asked what they talked about, Clara had shrugged.

The day had finally ended and Alex lingered while everyone was preparing to go home. She stopped by Blake's office to ask if he was heading home. He barely looked at her as he said he'd lock up the office so she could just head out. Alex had stood by his door for a minute, wanting to talk to him about the other night. But he just kept working as if Alex's existence was already forgotten about. Telling herself that Blake needed to work, Alex left without another word.

-------

Blake had checked himself out for all of Tuesday. As he made his way up in the elevator, he thought about Alex standing by his office door the previous night. He knew she wanted to talk, but he honestly didn't have time to talk and a part of him was avoiding her. So he ignored her until she left.

He had already talked to Clara about calling Megan Brynna. So when she was gone, Blake could hack the systems through her computer. He arrived at Megan Brynna's office and she practically attacked him, kicking the door shut and locking it.

Blake was deep inside her as Megan Brynna rode him hard while she clawed at his back when her secretary's voice came on the intercom stating there was an urgent call. On a tangent thought, Blake found it odd that Megan Brynna, Richardson's secretary, had a secretary. Megan Brynna moaned loudly as her pussy spasm around Blake's cock. She licked the sweat off Blake's upper lip as she got off of him and called her secretary back.

She slammed the phone down and quickly went to fixing her appearance. Turning to Blake, Megan Brynna licked her lips at his half-dressed appearance. Blake got off the chair and began to fix his appearance.

"Is something amiss?" Blake asked, going over to Megan Brynna and helping her button up her blouse.

"That stupid cow, Clara Kentwood made a meeting with a Sony representative without telling me. They're here now and they want to speak with me. Shall we continue this after your meeting with Richardson?" She straightened her skirt.

Blake gave her an easy smile. "Of course. Would you mind if I stayed in here to cool off before I went to meet with Richardson? I don't want to look as if I just ran a marathon when I go in to see him."

Megan Brynna threw her head back and laughed. "Did I work you that hard? You may use my office as you please. Just let yourself in after your meeting with Richardson."

With a hot kiss, Megan Brynna left to meet with the Sony representative. Blake waited a few minutes before making a dash to her computer. He easily hacked her desktop and got into the main database. Plugging in the thumb drive, he let the virus do the rest of the work as it ate through files and decoded the contents. When everything was done, Blake collected the thumb drive and hurried out of Megan Brynna's office.

-------

Blake was in the lobby about to make his way out when two large men dressed in black came up beside him.

"Sir, would you mind coming with us?" The beefy guy to Blake's left more so ordered than asked.

Blake was about to decline when he felt something jabbing into his side. It was a gun. Gritting his teeth, Blake nodded and was led to a side door. The moment the door closed, Blake was knocked unconscious.

-------

Clara glanced at her watch for what Alex counted as the seventh time. After Megan Brynna had stormed down to their floor demanding to see the Sony rep, Clara had pulled the ditzy act and said she meant next week Tuesday. Megan Brynna got a call on her cell at that moment and she talked briskly into the phone and hung up with a snap and made a run for the elevator. So Clara had insisted that Alex go out with her to lunch.

"Do you have to be somewhere?" Alex asked Clara after catching her looking at her watch again.

"No." Clara said somewhat nervously. "I'm waiting for a call."

Clara's eyes grew big as she saw three big men dressed in black walk into the busy little restaurant. They looked completely out of place. Their eyes scanned the room as if looking for someone.

"Look at me Alexia." Clara said seriously.

That tone of voice had Alex thinking about the way Matthew had commanded her to stay hidden in her closet.

"There are three very dangerous looking men who just entered. We are going to get up and use the restroom and go out through the kitchen way. You understand? I'll explain the rest to you later. Now, you go to the restroom first and I'll follow."

Alex nodded and got up slowly. She tried to remain normal as she made her way to the restroom that was located near the kitchen. Instead of going to the restroom, Alex quickly slipped into the kitchen. Luckily she was frequent customer and they didn't mind her sneaking into the back. She had done it once when her cheating ex had walk in with his new girlfriend.

The alley was shallow and within twenty steps, led to the main street. Alex wondered if it was safer staying in the alley or going to the main street where it was populated. She didn't have to think long when a hand touched her shoulder. Reflex took hold. Alex pivoted out of the way and was about to deliver a round house kick to the person's side until she realized the person was Clara. She dropped her leg and Clara reached for her hand. Both women hurriedly made their way to the main street and hailed a cab. The three men spotted them and started to run towards them. Clara pushed Alex in the cab and quickly got in after her and gave directions to the frightened cab driver.

"Airport please." Clara said to the cab driver. She turned and spoke to Alexia. "We're heading straight to England. You carry your passport with you at all times like your grandfather directed yes?"

Alex nodded and searched through her bag. She pulled out her passport and handed it to Clara. There was a buzzing and Clara pulled out her cell and answered.

"Yes, Alexia is here with me. Have you heard from Blake? He isn't answering his cell? Damnit! We're heading to the airport right now. Thank you, Matt-"

Alex snatched the phone out of Clara's hand. "Matthew, I want to speak with my grandfather now! I want to know how and why Blake is involved in any of this! And I want to know where he is!"

"I will explain everything to you after your grandfather speaks with Clara. So please hand the phone back to Clara and I will call your cell." Matthew spoke calmly over the phone.

With a huff, Alex handed the phone to Clara. "My grandfather wants to speak with you."

Clara swallowed and took the phone from Alex. She put the phone to her ear. "Yes, Master Dane?"



To Be The Last Ch. 04



Alex furiously stormed into her grandfather's office. Her grandfather's welcoming face turned inquisitive as he assessed her dark mood. Just when she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, she was dragged away by very familiar hands.

"Sir, I must speak with Miss Alexia for a moment." Matthew spoke quietly.

Alex watched her grandfather nod then look pass her to see Clara. He motioned for Clara to approach as he waved a dismissive hand at Alex and Matt. He dragged her to the next room in the spacious English flat. Spinning around angrily, Alex poked Matt in the chest with her pointer. Matt tried not to grin as he rubbed the sore spot. He knew Alex was in a bad mood and smiling would make her even angrier.

"Explain to me again what the hell is going on." Alex demanded as she threw herself down on the nearest chair.

Matt took a seat across of her and cleared his throat. "Originally we sent Clara in to be your bodyguard. Then we became aware that Richardson Corp. was up to some illegal business. At first we just had Clara do a little digging, but that isn't her forte. Your grandfather knows how much working at Richardson Corp. means to you. With that in mind, he didn't want to worry you with telling you until he was certain. So we had to send in Blake. We didn't think it was anything serious until Blake hacked into the main system. Alexia, they're involved in human trafficking. When Blake found this out...he was kidnapped. We have no idea where he is. Master Dane says that Blake is well aware that if he were captured, he's dead to us. And seeing as Blake doesn't know anything valuable, your grandfather even more so won't negotiate for Blake's release."

Alex covered her hands over her face and remained silent. For a moment Matt thought she was crying. Then she moved her hands and shrieked. Her grandfather burst through the doors, moving fast enough to contradict his ripe age of sixty-eight. The half dozen men accompanying him put their raised guns down as they realized there was no real danger.

"Alexia Rosaline, what is the meaning of that ungodly noise?"

Her grandfather's voice was deep and almost hypnotic. Alex hated how he could be so calm. Then again, nothing really mattered to him. Why should he be bothered with Blake's disappearance? Other than losing a good agent, Alex was sure her grandfather wasn't at all upset.

"You know full well what that scream was for!" Alexia shouted, rising from her chair and walking to her grandfather.

Much to their annoyance, the guards tensed and a couple took steps forward. Dane raised his hand and dismissed his body guards. He gave a look at Matt and Matt excused himself and left.

Dane assessed his granddaughter's pout and tried to figure out the best way to go about soothing her. In a way it was his fault for always spoiling her. Now Alex would have to learn what it was like not to always get what you want.

"I want-" Alex was cut off with a hand motion by her grandfather.

"I haven't seen you in three months and you already start off with 'I want'. Can I at least get a hug before you start asking the impossible?"

Alex begrudgingly crossed the room and hugged her grandfather. She loved her grandfather dearly. He raised her where her parents abandoned her. Alex knew that her parents were only trying to protect her, but it didn't change the fact that she grew up with abandonment issues.

"Now, you were saying?" Dane asked after he pulled back and kissed her forehead.

"I want Blake back." Tears began to form in her eyes.

Dane was weak against tears when it came to the women in his family. Alexia was a replica of her mother with her father's dark eyes. And Alexia's mother looked like Dane's late wife except she had Dane's light blue eyes. He let out a sigh as his shoulders drooped.

"I cannot do that. Richardson has no desire to talk to me since I told him I will not give into his demands. He wants the information we stole in exchange for Blake and I cannot allow that. I will not allow the continued sale of thousands of people in exchange for one man. No matter how much he means to you." Dane pulled away and sat down across of Alexia, who dejectedly fell into a seat.

"I understand." Alex whispered softly. And she really did.

Alex could never ask her grandfather to save Blake when it meant thousands would suffer for her selfish act. Her grandfather reached for her hand to give a squeeze, but Alex quickly moved and stood. She tried to ignore the look of hurt on her grandfather's face as she turned towards the door.

"I'm tired from my flight. I'll be up at my room. Unfortunately, I don't feel up to eating either so I will have to decline dinner tonight. I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'm certain I'll feel better by tomorrow." Alex put her hand on the doorknob when her grandfather spoke up.

"I hope you'll be staying here for awhile." Dane also stood.

With a slight nod, Alex turned the handle and paused. "I think I'll be staying a long while." She exited the room as Matthew entered.

Matt watched Alex walk down the hall and closed her solid wood door behind her firmly. He turned to look at Dane who wore an unreadable expression.

"Destroy all evidence of Blake Xander's whereabouts. Knowing my granddaughter, she'll probably do some snooping. And I do not want her doing anything foolish." With that, Dane exited the room and left Matthew with clean up duty.

---

Hiring an investigator that didn't know Dane Whitt was trickier than Alexia thought. But it wasn't impossible. After two weeks of searching, she finally found someone. Detective Kaleb Jensen. Luckily Alexia had a large sum of money given to her by her parents that she used to pay the investigator. It was an account that she was fairly certain her grandfather didn't know about so he wouldn't be questioning her about the hefty withdrawals. Now all Alex had to do was wait. 

Three weeks passed and Alex was miserable. Trying to keep herself from going insane, Alex immersed herself in humanitarian work. It also provided a cover about her spending where her grandfather to find out. She left early to help at charity functions and usually returned late. When Alex would get home, she would fall asleep in an exhausted heap on her bed. Dane began to worry as he got reports as to her meals either being hardly touched or not touched at all.

It had been a month since Blake's disappearance. Alex had spent countless times sneaking into her grandfather's study to look for information, but she always came up blank. Eventually Alex had to resign to the fact that she'd never see him again. Especially since her informant hadn't contacted her in three weeks. She was afraid he ran off with her money.

One morning, Alex wasn't feeling so well. She brushed off her grandfather's and Matthew's worried looks as she appeared for breakfast. Since she wasn't hungry, Alex decided to skip breakfast, but when she stood up she suddenly felt dizzy. Trying to remain strong, Alex took a few moments to compose herself before she let go of the chair she was clinging to and tried to walk away. All she remembered before she collapsed was her grandfather and Matthew shouting her name.

When Alex awoke later that evening, she wasn't surprised to see a doctor hovering at her bedside. He had his back to her as he discussed something with Matthew. As if realizing she was awake, Matthew quickly hushed the doctor and neared Alex's bed. He sent for one of the men standing by the door to alert Dane.

A moment later, Dane was in the room. He spoke quickly in Hungarian with the doctor and Matthew, knowing Hungarian wasn't one of the languages his granddaughter knew. But one word did catch her attention, causing Alex to gasp.

"I'm pregnant?" She asked out loud.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her and Alex suddenly regretted opening her mouth. The doctor looked at his employer worriedly. Giving the doctor an 'ok' signal, the doctor approached Alexia. He ran some tests to make sure everything was fine before answering.

"It would appear you're a little over a month pregnant."

Alex felt the need to lie back down. "How is that possible?" She felt her face heat up. Well she knew it wasn't impossible. But she had been on the pill. Oh shit. I go to med school and I flipping forget that antibiotics cancel oral contraceptives, Alex thought suddenly. "I um...had sex without a condom while on the Pill, but I was taking antibiotics for my ear infection around that time."

She closed her eyes for a brief second, hoping her grandfather wouldn't question how she had forgotten such a thing. Alex had been so caught up in the moment that she wasn't thinking straight. She highly doubt she could have told Blake to stop, much less pull out.

"Alexia Rosaline-" her grandfather began.

"I'm keeping my baby." Alex announced, cutting her grandfather off.

"I wasn't going to suggest you do otherwise." He stated. "Dr. Schewe," Dane said, turning to the renowned doctor. "Thank you for coming. Matthew will show you to the door with your payment. We will be calling on you soon again for checkup progress with my granddaughter and her condition."

The doctor nodded, knowing he was being dismissed and he followed Matthew out. Dane went over to Alex's bed and sat at the edge. Alex reached for his hand and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

---

Each day Alex would awake with a sense of purpose in life. After talking to her grandfather, she convinced him to allow her to read Blake's profile. She didn't think she could fall in even more in love with him, but she did. Alex treasured the slim folder that held the life of the man she loved inside. Since she now knew she was pregnant, Alex took better care of herself. She would eat all meals as well as hired a nutritionist. When her grandfather or Matt wasn't busy, she'd drag them outside for walks at the park.

As her belly grew, so did her worry and excitement. She already loved her baby so much, Alex was afraid of anything happening to him. Alex was convinced her baby would be a boy and that he would look exactly like his father. Since she was so certain her baby would be a boy, she had chosen the name Gabriel Daniel Xander. Gabriel was the masculine form of Blake's mother, Gabrielle and Daniel was for her grandfather. Blake had told his mother's name to Alexia during one night they lay in each other's arms in the afterglow of sex and just talked. How many times Alexia replayed those times when they would communicate and Blake told her bits and pieces of who he really was.

Finally, after five months, Alex received a call.

"Hello?" Alex answered her cell phone at the restricted number.

"Miss Whitt? This is Kaleb Jensen. I've located Blake Xander."

---

Blake sat in a brightly lit room. The white walls were blinding in the fluorescent lighting. He had come to despise his prison with its sterile environment. There was a metal toilet bolted in one corner as well as a shower and sink that only gave forth cold water. Even so, Blake never took a bath. Although he didn't take bathes, he did take care of his dental hygiene. But all-in-all, he refused to be a well behaved and compliant pet. And Blake rather liked to think Richardson enjoyed their little sessions where he'd torture Blake to points of unconsciousness because Blake refused to give in.

But Blake was getting weak. A first he thought he'd be able to find a way to escape, but the more he studied his surroundings, the more he realized he couldn't escape without help. On many occasions, Richardson offered to put Blake out of his misery, saying all Blake had to do was beg for death. Unfortunately, begging was something Blake was never good at.

One thing Blake wouldn't have minded was a prison buddy. At least he wouldn't be left to his thoughts that drove him near mad. If only he hadn't stopped at the eighth floor to find Alexia, he would not have gotten caught. He had stupidly thought to take her along at the last second. And what would that have accomplished? He had nothing to offer her but a life filled with danger and loneliness. But a part of him didn't care. At least they'd have each other.

Many times when the pain of torture became so unbearable his body began to go numb, Blake would fantasize. In and out of consciousness he thought how he could have meet Alexia on different terms. He was just a normal man with a normal life and a normal job. 

They would meet at a restaurant he decided. A small mom and pop shop that was the neighborhood's secret. The place would be packed with couples and in the corner he sees her. Alexia. Sitting alone with an available seat. So he would walk over to her and ask politely if they could have dinner together and keep each other company. Knowing Alexia, she would give him one of those beautiful smiles that went straight to his heart-and groin as she would reply 'of course' and offer him the seat. Then they would talk about how normal their lives are and their normal childhoods. By the end of the night, they would have made plans to meet again.

Yes, Blake thought as his vision blurred, they could live a normal, happy life. In his fantasies, he was the first to say I love you. They'd get married in the small chapel near his mother's hometown. They'd buy a place by the beach and have half a dozen children. Beautiful little girls who looked like their mama and troublemaking boys who would give both their parents grey hairs.

The sound of an opening door tore Blake from his thoughts about Alexia. He looked up to see the familiar face of Richardson. Except Richardson wasn't looking smug like he usually did. In fact, he looked like he would have a conniption. It was a nice look, Blake thought with a hint of jaded amusement.

"Do you know that my company has fucking failed? I've been exposed! All my money went into the company's pensions funds. How the fuck did that happen? The government is looking for me. My wife is filing for divorce and took the children. I've been forced into hiding and the accounts that I do have money in are frozen. Once I receive the money from my off-shore accounts, you're dead."

Blake shrugged a skinny shoulder. He had lost so much weight in the pass months. "I'd rather you put me out of my misery than for me having to listen to you bitch and moan."

Richardson's face grew red before he spat out an order to the two buff men beside him. "Hold him down."

Blake scratched the matted hair on his head and stood as the two men approached. He long gave up trying to fight.

---

Kaleb Jensen sucked on the end of his unlit cigarette. He had long given up on smoking since his mother died from lung cancer due to smoking. But sometimes he was just too high strung and today was one of those days. He didn't like his clients getting too involved. And Miss Alexia Whitt was definitely getting too involved.

Removing the old cigarette from his mouth, Kaleb tucked it back in the pocket of his worn leather jacket. Although he was a Boston city boy born and raised, Kaleb preferred the vast expanse of open land that his current location didn't offer. After he had contacted his employer, she had insisted on meeting with him. At first Kaleb thought they were meeting simply to talk about the case. But the crazy broad had it in her mind to actually help with the case. The only reason he put up with her demands was because she sounded close to a breakdown. He was a sucker for a woman in tears.

Then it made Kaleb wonder. Alexia Whitt was obviously young. She sounded very sweet over the phone and through their email correspondence. So how could a sweet girl like her, get caught up with a guy in such a situation that Blake Xander was in? Alexia Whitt must find herself to be in love with Blake Xander. A man who had been a hell of a case.

Kaleb was able to get a little information about Blake Xander and Alexia Whitt working together at Richardson Corp. before the business was shut down. Richardson had been exposed for dealing with human trafficking. He and his partners were in hiding and wanted by the FBI. Scary thing was that Blake Xander, Alexia Whitt, and her assistant Clara Kentwood all disappeared months before the discovery. Kaleb had no doubt they were somehow connected. It was suspicious enough that the three of them worked on the same floor in close proximity. 

In conclusion, Kaleb assumed that Blake Xander was snooping around where he wasn't supposed to. Alexia Whitt probably fell for the guy seeing as they worked together. Blake Xander tried to pull Alexia Whitt into his questionable pursuit and he had gotten caught...leaving poor, little Miss Whitt to find him and pull him out of the shit he got himself into.

Of course Kaleb could have just asked Alexia, but offending her was not something he could afford to do. Kaleb needed her money. If his adoptive baby sister wasn't depending on him for food, shelter, and a good education, Kaleb would have chanced it. When Kaleb had graduated high school, his parents got lonely years down the road. Unable to conceive, they adopted a French-Tahitian baby girl from Tahiti. Unfortunately, his mother was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after. Kaleb and his father worked hard to pay for the medical bills, having to move in with Kaleb in his small apartment. His father worked himself to death, leaving Kaleb with the responsibility of a four year old girl and crippling debt. And so was Kaleb's situation. Scrounging for money so he could send his now six year old sister who everyone mistook for his daughter to a private school and pay off his mother's medical bills. It was a lot for a thirty-four year old to handle.

An itch started on his hand again as Kaleb fought the urge to reach back in his pocket for his cigarette. He checked his watch noting that the babysitter would just be tucking Willow into bed back in Oregon. He looked up and scanned the people passing. After much debate, he had agreed to meet with Miss Whitt in New Orleans where Blake Xander was being held. He motioned for the waitress to get him another coffee before he glanced at his watch in irritation again. Where was Alexia Whitt?

---

Alex was in so much trouble. Her grandfather constantly told her that tardiness was unforgivable. But it wasn't her fault that her stomach decided to rebel right after the flight. She spent the better part of half an hour dry heaving. So she didn't waste anymore time when she hailed a cab and gave him directions to the diner she would meet Mr. Jensen at. As the car started to move, Alex had to close her eyes before she gagged. She replayed the conversation she had with her grandfather.

When she told him she would be leaving England for an important charity function, he had refused to let her go. It wasn't until she agreed to take Matthew along that her grandfather allowed Alex to reenter the United States. As far as her grandfather knew, she was in Louisiana for the Abused Children Foundation charity and a Hurricane Katrina fund. That wasn't scheduled to happen for another month.

It had been hard enough to ditch Matthew with the bags to return to their lodgings at the French Quarter where her grandfather owned several condominiums and timeshares. With her superb acting skills, Alexia played the whole hormonal pregnant woman needing some alone time to the 't'. She had caused such a scene that the usually scary-calm-while-in-public Matthew threw his arms up in defeat and told Alexia he'd just see her back at their place.

Alex paid the driver and entered the diner. She counted the rows of tables and chairs until she reached the fifth row where Mr. Jensen said he'd be waiting. She walked to the table and slid in to the booth across of him. Which took a bit of work seeing as her stomach was protruding significantly. She gave the man across her a cheerful smile that quickly turned into embarrassment.




To Be The Last Ch. 04



"I must have the wrong table. So sorry. I was looking for my friend, Mr. Kaleb Jensen. And you are certainly not him." Alex went to stand when the ruggedly handsome man placed his hand over hers and asked her to stay seated.

The moment she spoke, Kaleb knew who she was. Just his luck she was beautiful. "Miss Whitt. Please, sit. I don't know why you would suggest I'm not Kaleb Jensen, because last time I checked I certainly am Kaleb Jensen."

"But you're so young!" Alex cried softly. "I was expecting someone much older..."

"I can assure you that I'm very capable in doing my job. I was recruited into the CIA before I had to quit due to family obligations." Kaleb did his best to look at her eyes and not check her out.

Alex moistened her lips. Since becoming pregnant, Alex had noticed many changes taking place. Like how her lips were always chapped and how she craved fresh fruits and not to mention always being emotional and extremely horny. "How old are you anyways?"

"I don't see how this is relevant to the case considering I've already found Mr. Xander, but since you asked, I'm thirty-four, soon to be thirty-five. And might I ask how old you are?"

Narrowing her eyes at his tone, Alex told herself to calm down before she answered. "I just made twenty-eight."

"Congratulations. Now may we get to business? I've located Blake Xander. He is being held here in the basement of a historical building in the French Quarter. As far as I can tell, there isn't much security. Just an older man accompanied by four big guys I'm assuming are his bodyguards. Two men stay at the building and another two men who accompany the older man wherever he goes. They pretty much work on a set schedule. I have the schedule right here." He handed her a paper. "And my job is done. Thank you for your business." Kaleb got up to leave. "So like I told you over the phone. This meeting is a waste of time."

"You're not going to get him back?" Alex looked at him with sad eyes. "But I thought..." Her small voice trailed off.

"Geeze lady. I know you paid me a lot to find this guy and I admit he was hard to find. But I'm an investigator, not a rescue squad." Kaleb took out his wallet to leave a tip.

Alex also stood and followed him, gathering the papers he handed to her. She followed him outside.

"What if I pay you more? Could you get him back for me?"

Kaleb looked down at her pregnant stomach, just noticing the bump then up to her beautiful face. "Sorry, but what's money if I'm dead? Blake Xander doesn't mean diddly to me but a paycheck." He began to walk off.

"Then I'll just have to get him back myself." Alex announced, hoping to get his attention.

Kaleb stopped and sighed heavily. He turned around and faced Alexia as she tried to hide her hopeful expression. "That wouldn't be so smart. I don't know how important a man is that you'd sacrifice the life of your unborn child to get him. But that's pretty bad parenting skills if you ask me." He turned away from her again and began down the street.

Alex gasped in indignation as she chased after Kaleb. "How dare you say that me! You don't know anything about me!"

Kaleb kept walking, noticing she stopped chasing after him. Curiosity won out and he glanced behind him to see her sitting down by the curbside. He told himself to keep walking, but he couldn't. Heaving a sigh, Kaleb made his way to the crying woman.

Tears blurred her vision as Alex sniffled. There was a napkin in her face and she took it with a watery thank you as Kaleb took a seat beside her.

"Look. If I get this guy back for you...I want double pay and you're not interfering understood? You're going to sit in your rented room and wait until you hear from me."

Alex nodded quickly. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, I need a freaking smoke." Kaleb mumbled as he stood and hailed a cab for Alexia.

"What was that?" Alex inquired as he ushered her into the cab.

"Nothing. Just don't get involved and things should go smoothly." He closed the door on Alex as she was shouting her heart-felt thank yous.

---

When Alexia reached her temporary home for the next week or so, she was exhausted. Luckily the place was just outside the French Quarter, quite a walk from the historical landmark that Blake was said to be under. So Alex wasn't too tempted to go out for a brisk walk. The lights in the building were already on and Matthew was waiting for Alex at the front door. And he didn't look so happy.

Alex assumed he was still angry about her little fit at the airport. She tried to squeeze pass him to get inside, which might have been possible if she wasn't pregnant. But he stood there stubbornly with a dark look.

"Matthew! Move!" Alex ordered, annoyed since it was way pass when she usually went to bed after getting pregnant. "I'm tired and I want to take a bath before bed."

"Oh no, my dear. We are going to have a long talk about your friend PI Kaleb Jensen before I allow you to get to your bath."

"You followed me?" Alex asked, fear boiling in her empty stomach. "Did you tell my grandfather?"

Matt moved out of the way and instructed Alex to sit in the living room. "And I suggest you get comfortable because this is going to be awhile."

After Alex took a seat, she waited for Matt to pace a couple dozen times before turning to her, again composed.

"I bugged you." Matthew replied calmly.

"You had no right!" Alex quickly began to search herself until Matthew snatched her bag and pulled out a small, inconspicuous device and held it up to her.

Alexia grabbed the tiny mic and smashed it to the floor then stomped on the broken mic a good measure. The look Matthew gave her was mixed with mild amusement and surprise...possibly horror. It was apparent that he found her behavior shocking as well as bordering insanity. 

"I didn't tell your grandfather. And I'm not going to tell him right now, because it's two in the morning in England."

"Wait! Matthew, please. Remember when I was twelve and Leo was killed? You promised me that I could ask anything of you. Remember that promise?"

"Vaguely." Was his answering, already knowing where the conversation was headed.

"I don't want you to tell my grandfather. Please help Mr. Jensen get back Blake."

"Impossible." The answer was said as easily as declining a rapist murderer to be dropped of all charges and said with as much meaning.

"Why is it impossible? You're going to break your promise to me?" Alex pushed.

"I cannot assist Mr. Kaleb Jensen because then you would be left unguarded and I will not allow you to come into harm for Blake Xander's sake."

Alex wanted to shout at his soft spoken explanation. She hated how much like her grandfather Matthew was. He always appeared so unfeeling. Then an idea struck her.

"How about Mr. Jensen stays here with me and you go get Blake? I'm certain you'd be a deal more efficient." Alex suggested hopefully.

If Matthew wasn't so annoyed with her, he would have laughed. "Also impossible. You think I'm going to entrust a man I have never heard of until tonight with yours and your baby's life?"

Alex made a dismissive gesture. "Mr. Jensen is extremely trustworthy! He's a very nice man."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Matthew didn't give in. "A mercenary who offers his skills to anyone willing to pay isn't quite trustworthy. And I'm supposed to trust your judgment in men? Blake is hardly a candidate for best boyfriend of the year."

Alex scowled at Matthew. "Fine. If you're just a liar and won't keep your promise, I will just have to do this on my own."

"Mr. Jensen won't assist if you participate. At least the man has some sense in parenting."

"That is the second time my maternal skills have been insulted tonight! I will not take anymore of your ill-treatment! Leave! If you don't leave, I swear to whatever gods listening that I will kick you out myself!" Alex was on the verge of hysteria. "I'm tired and I want a bath! Now I'm craving peanut butter and pineapples! But more than that I'm horny as hell and really, really frustrated! So if you don't leave me alone right now, I am going to scream this damn house down!"

"You're doing a good job at it already." Matthew mumbled.

That was the last straw! Alexia stomped out of the living room and ran into the first available bedroom. She slammed the door several times before she finally left it shut. Grumbling across the room to her bed, Alex picked up a soft pillow and planted her face into it as she screamed at the top of her lungs. Then she sat at the edge of the bed and cried.

"Stupid hormones." She sobbed. "I'm going insane!"

All the while, Alex rubbed a hand over her belly. Then something hit her hand and Alex gasped.

"Ohmygod! Ohmygod! Matthew! Matthew!" Alex shouted.

He burst into the room with that same calm look. Realizing she was in no danger, he quirked a brow.

"Gabriel kicked me!" Alex broke out into a huge smile. Then she burst into tears again.

Unlike her grandfather, Matthew was impervious to her tears. He sat beside her on the bed as Alexia continuously rubbed her hand over her belly as she cried. Her sobs turned into pleas. Begging Matthew to save Blake.

"I can't, Alexia. I consider you family and I will not allow my family to be harmed because of one man I couldn't care less about. And if that means you'll hate me, then so be it."

"I c-could never h-hate you." Alexia hiccupped between breaths. "B-but I love h-him so m-much."

Letting out a defeated breath, Matthew gave in. "You win. I'll get him back for you. Call Mr. Jensen and have him to wait here with you while I go get Blake Xander. I'll jog down to check out the place first." He glanced at Alexia who tried to smile through her tears, but just ended up crying even harder.

With a fierce hug, Alexia cried in Matthew's arms as he mumbled complaints. By the time Alexia calmed down, she was too excited to realize it was early in the morning when she contacted Kaleb. He answered after a couple rings.

"Jensen." The sleep-tired voice answered.

"Hello Mr. Jensen. This is Alexia Whitt. I'm sorry to disrupt your sleep, but there's something I wish to speak with you about."

Kaleb squinted at the cheap alarm clock beside his bed and almost cursed. He sat up in bed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "Yes?" He demanded a bit harsher than he intended.

Alexia was quiet for a moment. "I talked to my um...bodyguard, Matthew, and here is what we want to do..."

After hanging up the phone, Alexia decided to take her bath. The warm water soothed most of Alexia's anxieties and helped Alex get some sleep. By the evening, Kaleb would be over to babysit her while Matthew went out to get Blake back.

---

Kaleb didn't know if he was babysitting Alexia or dating her. The twenty-one questions Matthew was pulling on him got annoying after the fifth question. When Matthew was finally satisfied with his interrogation he added in some mild threats that Kaleb knew well to take seriously.

"I'm glad he's finally gone." Alexia said softly, breaking Kaleb out of his train of thought. "And I'm sorry he was so harsh."

Kaleb nodded. "I take it he didn't know about your rescue mission."

Alexia looked away, a bit embarrassed. Kaleb wanted to kick himself for the tug of lust he felt at the pretty picture she made. Finally she answered.

"He bugged me the night I went to meet you. Matthew was extremely angry with me. Though he rarely ever shows his emotions, there was no doubt he was upset. My grandfather keeps calling and Matthew is avoiding him because he'd be tempted to tell my grandfather what's going on. I'm talking too much." Alexia realized and quickly shut her mouth.

"Don't worry about it. You're probably really nervous. And in your condition, I'd guess even more so."

"You're right. And all this stress isn't good for the baby. I'm sorry, Mr. Jensen. I know you're just an investigator and here I am, involving you in all my problems."

"By now, you can call me Kaleb. And since I'm getting paid I have no room for complaint."

"Regardless. You could have rejected my offer. So thank you for not rejecting it, Kaleb. And please call me Alexia, or Alex."

The way she said his name made Kaleb's skin tingle. Shit, he needed to get laid. "Getting fifty grand for babysitting isn't something I could afford to reject."

Alexia rolled her eyes with a slight smile. "Do you always put yourself down?"

Kaleb felt a smile tug at his own lips. "I have trouble accepting kind words." He admitted.

"It shows." Alex teased as she got up to her feet. "Well, seeing as we're now on a first name basis, I expect you to help me cook dinner."

"You're not serious are you?" Kaleb stood and helped Alex to the kitchen even though she protested.

"Quite serious." Alexia laughed. Her smile slipped a bit as she explained. "I need to do something to keep my mind off what's happening."

Kaleb didn't reply as he gave in and looked through the grocery bags, trying to figure out what they were going to be making. With all the ingredients out, Alex started ordering Kaleb about after he washed his hands. Later Kaleb realized that he didn't mind being ordered around by Alexia Whitt.

---

Alex was restless as she awaited Blake's return. All night, Alex stayed up. She wrung her hands as the tick-tock of time taunted her. After dinner and a movie, there was nothing else Alexia could do that could have kept her mind occupied. Kaleb was seated across of her in the living room going over some of his other cases. Earlier Alex had tried to peek at the papers, but Kaleb had told her they were confidential and shooed her away. With a pout, Alex had settled across of him. Five minutes hadn't passed when Alexia started to think about Matthew and Blake.

She could hear the minutes passing so slowly in the hallway, echoing from the vintage grandfather clock in the foyer. The house was eerily quiet and Alex could hear her own heart beat rushing in her ears. The burst of the front door frightened a scream out of her.

But her momentary scare was eclipsed with the instant joy she felt as she ran from the room to the foyer. Matthew had stopped her, saying Blake was in no condition to be seen. Alex fought passed him and dropped to her knees in front of the pitiful heap and wept.

Matthew pulled her away gently as Kaleb carried the man to a room. Half an hour of waiting, and Alex was allowed in the room. She cautiously walked over to the bed and peered down at him. Having her first real look, Alex gasped.

He was covered in god knows what and smelled like the gutters. His face was hidden by a tangled beard and his hair was matted with dirt and oil. The little skin that was visible was covered in grime.

"Out." Alex choked. When no one moved, she screamed. "I said get out! Leave me with him!"

Kaleb slowly exited the room. Matthew lingered until she looked at him pleadingly and asked Matthew to give her some time with Blake.

Alex made a bowl of hot water and brought it over to Blake's bed. She dipped a cloth in the water and squeezed it out. Then she went to cleaning him, biting back sobs and tears flowed down her face.

After another half hour, Alex exited Blake's room in search of Matthew. She found him in the living room talking to Kaleb. As she approached, both men fell silent.

"I called your grandfather. Infuriated is putting it lightly. But I'm sure you already know that."

Even if she wanted to speak, Alex's throat was too sore. She nodded her head as more tears began to pool in her already swollen eyes. Matthew let out a sigh as he pulled her into a comforting hug.

"Thank you." Alex whispered brokenly.

Matthew released her and Alexia walked over to Kaleb. She looked at him from beneath her lashes, embarrassed with her emotional state. But she wanted to thank him too.

After a few sniffles, Alex finally composed herself enough to talk. "I'm in your debt. I could never express how grateful I am. Thank you, Kaleb."

Kaleb's hand quickly shot out for a shake. It was either that or giving in to the sudden urge of wanting to hold her. So Kaleb had to settle for a handshake since embracing Alexia didn't seem like such an appropriate thing to do. With a watery laugh, Alexia accepted Kaleb's hand and shook.

"Now, I'm going to have to ask for another favor. Could you two please help me put Blake in the tub? I already filled it with water."

Matthew and Kaleb followed Alexia back to the room to see that she had already stripped Blake down. He looked as though he had been starved and his body was covered in bruises and long scars. Some of the scars were puckered and red as if they had just healed while others were smooth and have obviously been there awhile.

"He slept the whole way through when you stripped him?" Kaleb asked.

"Oddly, yes. I was afraid he was dead, but there's a steady heartbeat and he's breathing fine."

"I knocked him out." Matthew answered.

"You what?" Kaleb and Alex asked at the same time.

"He was bloody delusional. Wouldn't listen to reason. The easiest way was knocking him out unconscious."

"I don't think that was necessary." Alexia began.

"Entirely necessary." It was the first time Matthew smiled that night. "He's going to wake up with a hell of a headache."

Kaleb also grinned. Alexia narrowed her eyes at the two men.

"If you two high five each other, I'm going to kick someone." 

"Let's just get your boyfriend cleaned up. He smells worse than the fish market." Matthew snorted.

Kaleb and Matthew lifted Blake and deposited him in the tub. Water sloshed over the sides, already turning a dingy color. Alex took a seat by the chair she earlier placed beside the tub. She was lathering a scrub cloth when Kaleb and Matthew exited.

Scrubbing gently, Alexia bit her lip when her hand began to get lower. Too embarrassed to continue since Blake was unconscious, Alexia decided to go back to that later. She picked up her scissors and began to trim his beard before shaving him. Alexia ended up cutting chunks out of his hair.

"Ops." Alexia said guiltily as she took a step back and assessed her work. She'd have to ask Matthew to fix Blake's hair later.

Then Alexia shaved Blake's face carefully. She traced her fingers over his jaw softly and bent down to leave a kiss. Suddenly there was a hand around Alexia's throat, squeezing.

"Blake!" She gasped.

His eyes looked wild and disbelieving. When he saw Alexia, he looked furious. "What fucking game are you playing at Richardson!" He roared.

Alexia's hands went to Blake's as she tried to pry his hands away. Having heard the commotion, Matthew and Kaleb burst into the room. Alex felt Blake tense.

"You!" He growled as he noticed Matthew.

Reaching out, Alex laid a hand against Blake's cheek and brought his gaze to her. His eyes softened as Alex tried to choke something out. Realizing what he had done, Blake instantly released her, suddenly frightened by his actions.

"Alexia?" Blake asked uncertainly as he leaned towards her.

Alex coughed, trying to catch her breath as Matthew and Kaleb moved in. She reached over for Blake's hand and squeezed tightly. Blake pulled Alexia to him and she fell into the tub with a splash and a surprised scream.

"Blake what-" Alexia began, but realized that he was hugging her desperately. So she hugged him back until the embrace got crushing. "Our baby, Blake."

"Baby?" Blake was shocked as he pulled back and looked down between them at Alexia's bump. Scared shitless, Blake reached out and laid his fingers against Alexia's stomach. "You're pregnant?" He felt sick. How could he be a father? He couldn't be a good father!

"Um..." Alexia looked at Matthew and Kaleb as she rubbed her bruised neck. "I'm okay, you guys. Can you give me and Blake some time alone?" Alexia turned her attention back to Blake as his hands held her firmly to him. "I'm probably crushing you." Alexia tried to get up, but Blake wouldn't let her.




To Be The Last Ch. 04



"No." He whispered as he buried his face in her hair. "Stay with me. Don't go. I don't want to let you go again."

"I'm not going anywhere, Blake." Alex wrapped her arms around Blake's neck. "I'm here with you."

"To think I'd never see you again. I could still be dreaming right now. But I don't care if I don't wake up again. As long as you're here with me."

Alexia noticed that even if he loved her, he still had difficulty saying the words. She put on her best smile. "I'm here, Blake. Now, let me finish so we can dry off and get you back to bed. You need your rest. We can talk later."

Blake released his hold on Alexia slightly and she reached for the scrub. She stayed in the tub and moved over a little. They didn't talk as Alex scrubbed Blake. Her fingers drifted slightly lower and Blake groaned.

"I think maybe you should wash down there. We might get distracted." Alexia said a bit breathlessly.

"I agree. I need all the blood in the head on my shoulders since I have a pounding headache. I'm taking it Matthew is responsible for my headache."

"He said you were being unreasonable."

With a snort, Blake stood and helped Alexia up as well. "I don't think it was unreasonable for me not wanting to follow a man who didn't even speak to me."

He walked over to the sink and brushed his teeth as Alexia got out of her wet clothes and wrapped a towel around herself. Her eyes grew worried as she watched Blake.

"Where are you going?"

"There's some business I need to take care of." He looked in the mirror to see Alexia's sad reflection behind him. "I vaguely recall that Richardson got away. I need to see to that before he comes here and harms you and or our baby."

Alex moved quickly and wrapped her arms around Blake with her head resting on his back, her stomach touching him more than anything.

"Matthew can handle Richardson. Don't go again, Blake. Stay here with me and Gabriel."

"Gabriel?" Blake asked confused as he turned in Alexia's arms.

She looked up at him and smiled softly. "That's our son's name. I didn't think you'd mind that I named him after your mother."

Blake felt his throat constrict as he looked down at her. She was so goddamn beautiful. Unable to speak, Blake fell to his knees and gently tugged on the towel until Alexia released it and let the heap fall to the floor. He kissed Alexia's stomach tenderly. It took him a few moments to find his voice.

"Bienvenue enfant." Blake finally whispered against the bump. He rested his head against her stomach for a moment longer before he got up. "I need to go, Alexia. Please. I need to do this. I wouldn't be able to face myself if Richardson got to you or...Gabriel." Blake said after a slight pause, getting used to his son's name. He had many questions he wanted to ask Alexia about how she found him. But his questions could wait until he was certain she and their baby were safe.

"Look for him tomorrow." Alexia pleaded. "Stay with me tonight. I need you, Blake." Tears began to form and Blake felt his will crumble.

He kissed her eyelids delicately as if afraid he'd break her. Alexia tip-toed until she was able to press her lips against his. Suddenly their kiss became heated as they both made their way to the bed. Blake sat Alexia at the edge gently and went to worshipping her.

Blake kissed every part of her body so tenderly that Alex couldn't help but to cry. He teased her so deliciously that Alex had shivered all over and begged for him to enter her. But he continued to hold back, wanting to give her pleasure before he found his own. It took all of his restraint to stop from burying himself deep inside her and getting lost in her sensuous body. Alexia came in Blake's mouth twice before he finally gave her want he wanted and slid inside of her. Carefully, Blake turned Alexia to her side.

Moving up beside her, Blake lifted Alexia's leg as he pushed into her from behind. They both moaned as his thick cock penetrated her soaking, tight pussy. He resisted spending himself that moment as Alexia squeezed around him in a little orgasm. Remaining still until the contractions stopped, Blake whispered endearments in Alexia's ear. Just jumbled words in French. Sweet nothings about love and pleasure.

"I'll be so gentle. Just let me, Alexia. So soft." He whispered as his hands roamed all over her body. He kneaded her full, heavy breasts and licked the sweat off her temple. "So sweet. And you're all mine."

Alexia shivered as his body and words claimed her. Then he moved in that sinful rhythm that always drove Alexia crazy. She ground back against him and Blake bit her shoulder playfully as one hand went to cradling her stomach gently. Blake could feel his climax building as Alexia tightened around him, about to come a fourth time. They came together as Alexia sobbed his name and Blake buried his face in her dark hair.

She was so exhausted that she was in a drowsy state when Blake pulled out and gathered her close. He kissed the top of her head and rested his hand on her bump.

"I love you, Alexia." She thought she heard him say as she drifted to sleep.

---

Although every cell in his body rebelled, Blake got out of bed quietly when he was sure Alexia was asleep. He walked over to the mirror again and cringed as he saw the haircut she gave him. Picking up the scissors, Blake made quick work of fixing his hair. There weren't any clothes to be found in the room. Blake left the room in a towel hanging on his waist.

"You're leaving?" A deep voice asked behind Blake.

He turned quickly to see a slightly familiar man. Though they had never been formally introduced, Blake remembered the man as one of the two guys who burst into the room earlier that night. One man he knew as Matthew...but this other guy was new.

"No. I promised Alexia I would stay tonight. I'm looking for clothes and a phone."

"And after tonight?" Kaleb asked.

Blake frowned. "I don't see why you should concern yourself with what I do."

"Neither do I. But if you plan on breaking Alexia's heart even more than you already have..."

"You'll what?" Blake cut in. "What is your relationship with Alexia?"

"She hired me to find you." With a strained exhale, Kaleb ran his hand through his hair. "My name is Kaleb Jensen, private investigator. Matthew has some clothes for you in the other room. There's a phone in there too. Follow me." Kaleb started walking down the hall. "I don't know where Matthew is right now. He left about an hour ago."

Blake followed Kaleb to the room down the hall. Neither men said anything as Blake entered the room and shut the door behind him firmly. He got dressed in the collared shirt, black slacks, and boxers he found in a package on the bed. Then Blake picked up the phone and made a very important call.

---

Alexia woke up suddenly, afraid to find herself alone. The curtains were drawn and the room was very dark. She felt around her, but found the bed empty.

"Blake?" Alex called out into the dark room.

A shadow moved across the room quickly. "I'm here. I just got up to use the toilet."

Blake settled back into bed beside Alexia and held her near. Alexia snuggled as close as she could and buried her face by his neck. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.

"I was so scared you left. I had a nightmare that someone took you away again."

Blake felt Alex tense and he rubbed a hand over her back soothingly. "I'm not going anywhere."

"You're dressed." Alexia realized, her eyes opening. "Where did you go?"

"I haven't gone after Richardson if that's what you're wondering. I got up to make a phone call some time ago, then I had my package delivered nearby that I picked up a little while ago."

"What kind of package?" Alex looked up at Blake and he kissed the tip of her nose.

"Why don't you look on your left hand?" Blake suggested, flicking on the lamp beside the bed.

Alexia sat up and looked down at the simple diamond solitaire on her ring finger. Tears filled her eyes and Blake frowned.

"You don't like it?" He asked, cradling her beautiful face in his hands.

Alex shook her head. "I love it. It's lovely."

"Then why are you crying?" Blake asked worriedly.

"Because I'm so happy. But I'm scared too. What if you're marrying me only because I'm pregnant with your baby?"

Understanding dawned on him. Blake gathered Alexia to him and kissed her forehead. "No, no, no. Don't cry, Alexia. I want you to marry me because I love you. When Richardson kept me in that place for so long all I thought about was you. I wondered what you were doing and if you ever thought of me. I used to fantasize about us. Thinking of you was what kept me strong. I love you, Alexia. And if you will have me, I want you to be my wife. That ring belonged to my mother's mother. She gave it to her son, my uncle, Philippe. But he never married and gave the ring to me. It was in the safe keeping of a friend and I called him to send me the ring." Blake's voice trailed off and Alexia looked at him uncertainly.

"I have enough money so we'll be comfortable for the rest of our lives and we'll be able to support a dozen more children. Of course I still need to figure out how to quit my job, but we'll deal with that when it comes. I'm really bad at expressing my feelings and even then I give mix messages. But what I'm telling you, I've never told another woman, save my mother, and this is an entirely different kind of love. I love you, Alexia. Will you marry me?"

"Yes! I love you." Alex cried, throwing herself on him. "And don't worry about your job. I'm sure my grandfather will let you quit without problem."

"What?" Blake asked. "What about your grandfather?"

There was a knock on the door. Before Alexia could answer, the door opened and there stood Matthew.

"Your grandfather is going to be here in an hour or so. I thought you'd like to know."

"You." Blake said, suddenly recognizing the voice. "Matt?"

"Well now, glad to see you remember me."

"That's why you didn't say anything at Alexia's apartment and why you didn't say anything last night. What is going on?"

"Now, Alexia. I would have thought you told him already." Matthew chided.

"I was just getting to that before you barged in." Alex narrowed her eyes at Matthew as she got up in bed. Wrapping the sheet around her, Alex reached for Blake who stepped out of her reach. "Blake, I didn't know the right time to tell you."

"Are you an agent too? When we first met, did you know who I was?" Blake felt sick. He hated secrets. Which was a bunch of bullshit. He was the embodiment of secrets, yet he couldn't stand knowing Alexia had kept things from him.

"No!" Alexia cried instantly, making Blake feel a little better. "I didn't know that you worked for my grandfather until the day you were kidnapped. My grandfather is Dane."

"You're related to that man? He'd never consent to our marriage!" There was no fucking way Dane would let his precious granddaughter marry Blake. "I need to go out. I need some time to think."

Alex shot out of bed and reached for Blake. She grabbed the end of his jacket and tugged. "You'll come back right?"

Blake nodded absent-mindedly and kissed Alexia quickly. "I love you." 

"I love you, too." Alex smiled softly. 

Then he left without another word, his expression troubled.

"That went rather well." Matthew said.

"Shut up." Alexia mumbled as she stomped to the bathroom to get dressed.

---

"I have to go pick up your grandfather. Get in the car." Matthew said forty-five minutes later. Blake still hadn't returned.

"No." Alexia said stubbornly. "I'm waiting for Blake. Go pick up my grandfather and come back."

"Damnit, Alexia. This isn't up for debate. Get in the car."

"Why? So you can throw me onto grandpa's plane and take me back to England? If I wasn't pregnant, you'd knock me out with some drug or a swift karate chop to the head."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Where do you come up with these insane notions? Fine. Stay here and we'll just see how happy your grandfather will be about that. I'm not going to fight to put you in a car you'd sooner jump out of than sit nicely in. Mr. Jensen should be back in a couple minutes. He ran to the convenience store up the road for some coffee."

"Whatever." Alexia said, much to Matthew's irritation. He said a few more things that she also ignored.

Matthew finally left. Alexia sat at the kitchen table when she heard the front door open. She quickly jumped to her feet and rushed to the foyer.

"Blake is that you? Blake? Kaleb?" Alexia quickly stopped when she realized it wasn't Blake and it wasn't Kaleb.

It was Richardson and one of his men.

"What do you want?" Alexia asked Richardson, backing up.

Half of his face looked as though it had been burned. He held a gun pointed at her with a sick smile on his thin lips. Richardson seemed surprised to see Alexia.

"I wondered what happened to you, Alexia Whitt. Shacking up with Blake Xander it seems. Where is he?"

"I don't know." She answered truthfully. "He already left."

"Don't lie to me you little bitch. Stay where you are or I'll fucking shoot his bastard you're carrying."

Alexia's hands instantly went to cradling her stomach protectively. She stood on shaking knees as Richardson got closer. Ordering his man to search the place, Alex and Richardson were left alone. Richardson grabbed her by her hair and dragged her along.

"Blake! Come out right now or I kill this whore of yours."

If Alexia wasn't afraid for the life of her child, she would have tried to escape. Richardson dragged her along as he went from room to room with the gun pointed at her back. He pushed her into the kitchen and Alex stumbled to the counter. She quickly grabbed the small butter knife and hid it in the folds of her skirt. She turned to Richardson with narrowed, hate-filled eyes.

"Maybe Blake needs some incentive." Richardson grinned, pulling a knife from a drawer and approaching Alexia.

"What are you planning on doing?" Alexia couldn't back up anymore, she was against the counter.

"I'm sure if Blake hears you screaming, he'll come out of hiding."

"I already told you! He's not here!" Alexia shouted. "Please! Please don't hurt my baby." Alexia begged.

"Blake should have thought about that before he fucked with me. Look at this face!" Richardson roared.

"The place is empty." His worker reported, coming up behind Richardson.

"I have money! I can give you money. My grandfather is very rich. We can pay you. If you hurt me, my grandfather will have you killed."

"Smart girl. But I'm not making any deals unless Blake Xander is a part of it. I want him dead. Hold her." Richardson ordered as he handed the guy the knife. He tossed Alexia to the beefy man.

"Alexia?" A voice called out and footsteps got near.

"Don't say a damn thing." Richardson hissed low.

Kaleb slowly came into view and Alexia shouted. "No! Run, Kaleb!"

Everything happened so fast. Richardson shot at Kaleb just as Kaleb jumped back behind the wall. Alex stabbed the butter knife into her captor's neck as hard as she possibly could, causing the man to drop the knife and gun. The man shoved Alexia away with a roar and Richardson made a run for it. Alexia and the man tumbled to the ground. Kaleb jumped into the fray and grabbed the gun. The man raised his bloody knife to impale Alexia. A loud popping sound drowned out the commotion and Richardson's man fell dead.

Kaleb looked behind him to see Matthew holding a smoking gun. Beside Matthew were an immaculately dressed older man and two men in black suits. The older man barked orders in what Kaleb assumed was either German or Russian and the two men in suits left quickly to search the house.

Falling down beside Alexia, Kaleb turned her over and gasped. Matthew rushed over and pushed Kaleb out of the way. He quickly tore off his jacket and held it over the gushing wound in Alexia's stomach.

"Call the ambulance!" Matthew ordered Kaleb.

Alexia reached for someone's hand and tears filled her eyes. Her grandfather was suddenly there, staring down at his granddaughter. He held onto her bloodied hand as her eyes strained to say open. "My baby. Save my baby." Alexia cried.

Matthew lifted the makeshift bandage and blanched. She was losing too much blood much too quickly. It would be impossible to save her baby and if help didn't arrive soon, Alexia wouldn't make it as well.

---

Blake arrived back at the unusually dark building. He entered the house, finding it odd that the front door was unlocked. A sliver of fear ran down Blake's back. He snuck through the house carefully, planning on going to where he last left Alexia.

The light went on in the room he was passing and Blake stopped suddenly. He looked to see Matthew sitting on a chair facing the door. Entering the room, Blake looked around for Alexia.

"You make a habit of scaring people like that?" Blake asked.

"No." Matthew waited until Blake sat down before he spoke again. "Get out of here, Blake. Go somewhere no one knows you. I'm giving you a more than fair warning. If Dane finds you, what Richardson did is going to seem like child's play."

Blake tensed. "Where's Alexia?"

A deafening silent minute passed. "I'm doing this for Alexia. She'd have wanted me to see you safe."

"Where is Alexia?" Blake repeated.

"Where do you think she is Blake?" Matthew demanded. "While we were all out, Richardson found his way in. The baby is dead, Blake. Alexia is dead as well. Richardson got away. Dane blames you for both deaths. That is why you need to leave now. Get out of the country. Change your name, change your looks."

"Stop fucking around. If Dane took her away, then fucking tell me so! Don't tell me that she and our baby are dead!" Blake shouted.

"I am not fucking around with you." Matthew growled. "Alexia and the baby are gone. You need to get your ass out New Orleans, out of America."

"No." Blake said as reality began to sink in. "She's not dead. She's not fucking dead. You're lying to me. Alexia! Alexia!" Blake hollered.

Matthew crossed the room and grabbed Blake by the collar of his shirt. "Alexia stayed back here to wait for you. I'd kill you myself if I didn't respect Alexia as much as I do. So get your fucking ass out of here before I change my mind."

Numbly, Blake left. He took a cab as far away as he could get from New Orleans and paid the driver with the money Blake had pulled out his account. He looked down at the briefcase of money he had withdrawn and frowned. Dane's money. When Blake left, he had gone to the bank and withdrew as much money as he could. He wanted to elope with Alexia, damn her grandfather's approval. But that wasn't possible anymore.

As Blake walked, he realized he was crying. He hadn't cried since he was five. But with each step Blake took, he felt his heart harden. He would find out what happened to Alexia and avenge both her death and the death of their baby. Blake wouldn't rest until Richardson was dead by his hands. Unlatching the locks on the briefcase, Blake opened it and began to dump the money over the side of the bridge. And he would do it without Dane's help.



To Be The Last Ch. 05



A few years later...

"I'll find those guys for you if you marry my daughter."

Blake Alexander quirked a brow at the suggestion. His face remained expressionless. His current boss, Peter Greene, looked hopeful. For the past two and a half years, Blake worked for the man. This was the eighth marriage proposal and would be the eighth rejection.

"I'm too busy to be married." Blake replied.

"You could at least humor me." Peter grumbled.

"I'm a good bounty hunter, therefore can afford not to kiss your ass."

"Yes, you're one of my best workers. I'm glad I had the good sense to invest in you that day you came into my office looking starved and dirty." Peter tried to joke.

That only caused Blake to inwardly cringe. His reply was dry. "Our recollections seem to differ. I recall being turned away day after day until you got so annoyed with me you gave me a shot...hoping I would mess up so you could fire me and get rid of me permanently."

Peter grinned. "I was testing your tenacity."

Blake changed the subject. "What's up with the next case?"

A long time ago, Peter and Blake had struck a deal. Blake would do a third of his work for free if he could use the company's connections for his own investigative purposes. Peter had agreed and two and a half years later, was damn glad he did. Blake Alexander had appeared with no identification or papers, but the determination Peter saw in Blake's eyes were able to overcome Blake's lack of solid ID. 

Peter himself couldn't find anything on Blake Alexander. But he helped Blake create his new identity. Peter didn't know anything of Blake's past other than Blake was obsessed with finding the partners of the infamous Clifford Richardson. The scandal of that had died down, but everyone knew who Clifford Richardson was. Peter could only assume Blake had been somehow involved in Richardson's 'business'.

Peter watched Blake follow the faintest trails that usually led to a dead end. And as frustrated as Peter knew Blake must be, Blake never expressed his anger. Well, Blake never expressed much of any emotion. 

Looking over the file he was about to hand over to Blake, Peter wondered if it was time for Blake to take a much need vacation. Unfortunately, it was known that Blake would then just use that free time to look for more dead end trails to follow. After a defeated sigh, Peter handed over the file. Scanning the file, Blake closed it with a snap and then he stood to leave since it was the end of the work day.

"Join me for dinner. CPK at seven. My daughter is back from Milan. I want to introduce the two of you to each other."

"I'll be busy." Was Blake's quick reply.

"See you at seven sharp!" Peter told Blake's back.

----

Blake finished the paperwork he had to do for his last case. Casting a glance at his Timex watch, Blake could still make it to CPK and be on time even in the Vegas traffic. With a look at the picture in his drawer, an ache stared in Blake's chest. He had been staring at a picture of a four month pregnant Alexia for the last half hour. The picture was taken at a charity function for children with leukemia. Alexia was surrounded by a bunch of children who obviously adored her as much as she adored them.

The picture was just too painful to look at and Blake often told himself to get rid of it. He had printed it out nearly three years ago after discovering it on the web. So Blake slowly closed his desk drawer, knowing he'd never be able to throw the picture out. It would do him some good to get out and away from his beautiful Alexia, even if it was just a picture.

Maybe Blake would go out and meet Peter's daughter. It would at least get his boss off his ass about one thing. Peter had been hounding Blake to meet Piper for over a year. But both Blake and Piper were too busy. Blake could only hope he'd annoy her enough so Piper would be just as enthusiastic as Blake to meet again.

Shrugging into a leather jacket, Blake grabbed his car keys and left the small home he was renting. When Blake arrived, Peter had instantly flagged him down. Surprisingly, Peter was alone at the table. But there was an oversized bag covered in black sequence and gold chains on the chair beside Peter.

"So you decided to show." Peter grinned happily.

"I wouldn't pass up on a free meal." Blake half-joked. He was pretty hungry, but his monies had been drained into finding the three men involved with Richardson. So eating was something Blake had learned to usually go without.

"Piper just went to the bathroom." Peter explained, as if Blake might have been curious. He motioned for Blake to take a seat.

"I'm not staying long." Blake replied as he took off his leather jacket before taking the offered seat. "Still gotta write up that Sanchez case."

The waitress came back to the table and put down two drinks. A cold beer and an iced tea. Blake put in a to-go order and returned his attention to Peter. Glancing down at his watch, Blake wondered if it would be rude to leave the moment his food was done. The two men talked for about twenty minutes before Peter commented on his daughter's extended absence. Just then Blake noticed long tanned legs come into view beside him.

"Sorry daddy. You wouldn't believe the line!" Came a cheerful voice. A very attractive brunette with big blue eyes stood at their table. Her four inch heels put her just at six feet. Her smile slipped a bit as she became aware of Blake. Her rosebud lips pursed in question as she stared at Blake and waited for an introduction.

Blake observed the practically non-existent outfit covering her body. She was beautiful in his impartial opinion. Though he found her beauty to be lacking in someway. Almost as if she pretended to be unaware of her beauty, when in actuality, she knew full well that any straight man would find her desirable. 

As he observed her, Blake found to his amusement that she definitely knew how to work with her looks. She must have practiced faces in the mirror all the time. It was obvious she knew just how to pout and the right amount of furrow to her brow so it didn't mar her smooth skin with the possibility of wrinkles.

"This is Blake Alexander. I mentioned him before." Peter introduced the two. "Blake, my daughter Piper Greene." 

Piper broke into another perfected smile. "Mr. Alexander," She began, taking a seat. "My father tells me that you want to marry me." It was meant as a joke, but obviously Peter had forgotten to mention the bit that Blake wanted nothing to do with marriage and it was Peter who was pushing for a wedding.

As Peter choked on his beer, Blake gave Piper a strained smile. "Please, call me Blake. And your father is mistaken. He is the one persistent on our nuptials."

"Interesting." Piper finally said. She frowned a bit and Blake noted it was the first real and untrained emotion he saw on her face thus far.

Interesting indeed, Piper thought. Blake was actually talking to her face and with enough coldness to make the freaking Antarctic seem like the Vegas weather. That was definitely not the usual response she got from men...heterosexual men.

"Are you by any chance gay?" Piper asked, sending her father into another choking fit.

"No."

There wasn't any humor or offense in his deadpan tone. Piper ignored her father's coughing as he excused himself from the table to get some air. He warned his daughter to behave while he was gone. Blake was busy looking at a file he snatched from her father's seat, giving Piper the best opportunity to study the delectable man before her. 

He genuinely didn't seem interested in her nor was he playing hard to get. How interesting. Piper hadn't had a challenge in awhile. Seeing as she had a month and a half off from work, she had more than enough time on her hands.

A waitress interrupted Piper's mooning as she brought by something for Blake. With a polite smile, Blake paid the waitress. But she had laughed and waved him off, saying the pizza was on her. 

Piper trained herself not to gape. The waitress was blatantly hitting on Blake with no regard to the possible fact that Piper could be his girlfriend. But what annoyed Piper was that she was totally ignored. She hadn't been ignored since high school before her transformation from ugly duckling to gorgeous swan.

Purposely speaking loudly, Piper interrupted. "Oh! There's a lemon in my iced tea. I don't like lemons. Get me another one. The sooner the better. I'm really thirsty. So like, now."

The waitress broke out of her conversation with Blake and gave a feigned smile before grabbing Piper's drink and rushing off. Turning back to Blake with intentions of starting up a conversation, Piper was surprised to find Blake getting up to leave.

"I apologize, but I have to leave now." Piper watched the fabric of Blake's fitted black shirt stretch over his chest as he put on his leather jacket, not really paying attention to the words coming out of his kissable lips.

She was glad to note he was taller than her. Then his words sank in. "Why are you leaving?"

"I'm not good company and neither are you. I don't see why I have to sit here and keep you entertained when it was your father who invited you out to dinner. And words of advice, you shouldn't treat people like that...especially the ones who handle your food." Blake picked up his packaged food and looked up to see Peter returning. "Have a good night, Peter. I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, Blake left, leaving Piper in an odd state of anger and arousal. No man ever talked to her like that. Not even her father corrected her behavior in such a direct and public manner. Well now, Piper thought, she'd be tagging along with daddy to work tomorrow.

---

Six AM and Piper was not a happy camper. She had insisted on following her father to work and that meant she had to get up much earlier than her usual 10 or 11 AM. But the promise of seeing Blake so early in the morning was too tempting to pass up. She wondered if he wasn't a morning person like her.

Piper wasn't sure if Blake was a morning person or not. He didn't seem much different than the night before. He was the same surly ass. When he arrived in the office, he didn't so much as glance at her before telling her to get out of his seat.

"Oh, this is your seat?" She pretended not to know. The first thing she asked her dad was which desk was Blake's.

He gave her a look as though she knew damn well that was his seat. But at least he was looking at her. Piper made a show of picking up her magazines and bag and putting it on the desk next to his.

"Who sits here?" She asked Blake, but he was walking off to her dad's office. "How rude." She grumbled and dug out her cell phone to text her friends.

Piper looked around the desk, but all the drawers were locked, just like Blake's. There weren't even any pictures or paperwork lying around, unlike her dad's office. Her father was a total pig.

Her friends texted back that they wanted a picture of Blake so she snapped a picture with her phone when Blake was walking back. That seemed to piss him off enough to frown at her. Baby steps, but it was still early in the day and the game.

"Delete that." Blake told her in all seriousness.

"I'm beginning to wonder if anything nice can come out of your mouth." Piper glanced up from her phone after deleting the picture. However, she wouldn't tell him it was deleted already.

"Delete the picture or I burn your memory card. That's nice. I'm giving you an option." His tone didn't change.

Piper batted her lashes at him. "Why don't you come over here and make me, big boy?"

Before she could even think of what he was doing, he was in her face and standing between her legs. His breath fanned against her cheek and she blinked a couple times. Blake pulled away and Piper inhaled deeply before realizing he had her phone in his hands.

"Hey! Give that back you asshole. I already deleted the picture." She put her hand out for her phone.

Blake gave the phone back after checking her gallery. He tossed it and she missed, her phone tumbling from her hands onto the carpet. If she wasn't so annoying, he would have grinned at her fumble and muttered curses.

"Gods, my friends just wanted a picture Mr. Camera Shy." She had to say. At the moment her heart was pounding in her ears and she was a bit aroused just from that instance of closeness. She really needed to get laid if that got her excited.

"You should ask permission next time." He replied and took his seat. He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked his drawers to pull out stacks of files.

"Can I take your picture?" Piper asked excitedly. Hell, if she just needed to ask permission-

"No." Blake didn't elaborate and he just went back to work.

Piper thought he was the most infuriating man alive. She narrowed her eyes at him and frowned. If she stared any harder, she could burn holes in the back of his head. With a muttered humph, she returned to her magazines after attaching her iPod to her portable speakers.

Her music didn't seem to bother Blake while he tapped away at his keyboard. She tried to peek over at what he was doing, but his monitor had one of those screens that prevented her from seeing what was going on. Unable to focus on her magazines, Piper decided to watch Blake.

He never seemed unsure of himself in his movements. Everything he did was as efficient as it got. His hands seemed so strong and she wondered if they were callused. She couldn't imagine it any other way. Why he even got into the bounty hunting business was beyond her.

"It's rude to stare." She heard him say.

Piper inwardly snorted. Of course the man had eyes on the back of his head. She was silent, ignoring him and flipping another page of her magazine as if he was paranoid. In vain, she hoped he would say something else to her, but he didn't. 

By the end of two hours, Piper was going insane. The tapping of Blake's fingers on the keyboard had stopped and now he was flipping through papers. He honestly didn't plan to acknowledge her.

"I'm hungry." She said to no one in particular. It was only around 9AM and she'd still be in bed for at least an hour or two.

"There's a break room down the hall. Your father always has it stocked up." Blake mentioned, surprising her.

Her father had this office as long as she could remember and she knew where everything was. What surprised her was that Blake actually cared enough to comment on her statement. Well that or he wanted her to shut up again. After thinking about it, she decided it was probably the latter.

Pushing out of her chair, Piper stood and stretched. "Do you want something?"

Blake looked up from his paper work and stared at her for a few moments. Piper was starting to grow self-conscious the way he just looked at her, but she wasn't able to tear her eyes from his. Finally, he broke the eye contact and glanced at his computer screen.

"A cup of black coffee, thank you."

Piper felt a smile spread across her face. "Okay, I can get that. And you're welcome."

Progress.

---

After almost two weeks of playing secretary to Blake, Piper was about to strangle him. He could make demands about his coffee and how to organize his papers on finished cases, but he never talked to her outside of that. Her father thought it was friggin' hilarious. Piper had taken to whining about it on the drive home every day.

"Look here, buddy. I am done with fetching your coffee and organizing your papers." She bitched at Blake one afternoon.

"I don't think I ever told you that you had to do that." He commented with no more than a glance in her direction.

She gasped, totally affronted. "Well..." Okay that was true. He never told her she HAD to do those things. He just asked and she never said no...which was a first. She didn't like doing things for other people unless it was her job. "Well, you took advantage of my kindness."

Blake raised a brow, but didn't comment. Instead, he went back to typing out whatever it was he was working on. The nerve of that man!

Fuming, Piper grabbed several files and slammed it on her desk. It wasn't really her desk, but the real owner was on a three week vacation after getting shot. She didn't know there was any real danger in bounty hunting. Dog the Bounty Hunter always made it look ridiculously easy.

"What are you doing?" Blake asked five minutes later.

Piper made a face and mimicked him in an annoyingly high pitched voice. "'What are you doing?'" She repeated and snorted. "Obviously, I'm sorting your papers. I have nothing better to do." She informed him in case he thought she liked doing this.

"I see." He said in amusement.

Amusement?!

Piper's head snapped to the side and she caught the faintest smile tug on his lips. The man was gorgeous. She couldn't imagine how much more beautiful he'd be smiling full out or, the Heavens forbid it, laughing. She felt oddly pleased with her little accomplishment and even gifted Blake with silence until lunch time.

---

Piper had been working on her father for the past several days to let her go 'on the field' with Blake. She would say her 'relationship' with Blake was going pretty well. He didn't ignore her all the time now, but he did seem to have a limit on how many words he spoke a day. When he hit that cap, he clammed up for the rest of the day.

Now that Gutierrez was back, she had to give up the desk and hang out in her father's office. She insisted that Blake needed her, but when it came to business, her father wasn't one to compromise. Gutierrez offered to share the desk if she wanted to sit in his lap, that perv temporarily forgot he was engaged. 

So Piper just made a little spot for herself in her father's office. She set up her own phone in case Blake needed to call her for something...which he never did. Throughout the day, she would move between the front desks and her father's office to do paperwork for Blake. Her father even joked about giving her a summer job which always made her roll her eyes.

When her father was on the phone, she stopped what she was doing and listened carefully. The moment the call was ended, Piper jumped at the opportunity.

"Sooo...Blake is heading out? I find this bounty hunter business extremely interesting. I might change professions." She told her father who replied that the only thing he'd let her do in this business was desk bound.

"It's not all fun and games, Piper. It might seem cool and 'oh-so-exciting,' but it can be dangerous. Most of the time boring, but it has its moments." He eyed her suspiciously. She was far too perky.

Piper gave a small shrug. "I find it pretty interesting and not all that dangerous. Ricky got shot because he's an idiot. I heard how he got the wrong address and walked into a shoot out."

"Gutierrez got shot because he was purposely told the wrong address by the suspect's girlfriend. That's the risks in this kind of business. And how the hell did you hear about that?" He noted Piper giving a small glance to the side where his secretary was sitting outside his office at her own desk. He didn't pay that woman to run her mouth.

"I'm still unconvinced. I mean, I can't wait until I get out on the field. I bet it's so action packed and such an adrenaline rush like in the movies...not to mention hilarious. Have you seen 'Dog the Bounty Hunter'?" She asked her father in all innocence.

With a groan, Peter scrubbed his hand over his face. "Fine. You've been pestering me about tagging along with Blake. You can go just this once. It is just to interview an ex-girlfriend. I'm telling you, it's going to be boring."

Time alone with Blake in close proximity, boring? Puh-lease.

---

"This is so boring!" Piper burst out as they sat in traffic.

Blake wasn't talking to her. In fact, he was pissed with her if she wasn't mistaken. When her father informed Blake that he was to take Piper along, Blake stiffened and absolutely refused. Something along the lines of it not being 'take your daughter to work day and pawn her off on your employees'. The door was closed and with her ear pressed to the wall, it was still hard to hear everything.




To Be The Last Ch. 05



Even with all her whining, Blake kept his gaze fixed to the car in front of him. His hands were gripping the steering wheel hard and he had to relax. He didn't like having a partner because it was too much of a burden to be responsible for someone's life. He didn't have control of what was to happen and having Piper around was worse than having a partner. She'd walk in front of a loaded gun and provoke the gun holder to pull the trigger.

"Where are we going? Couldn't we have just walked there? Hello?"

Ignoring Piper, Blake escaped to a conversation he had with Alexia nearly four years ago...

"Blake, I don't care that people keep telling me you're bad for me." Alexia lifted her dark eyes to meet his.

He gave her a small smile before she rested her head on his bare chest again. He never was one for after sex talk, but he liked talking to Alexia. His hand threaded through all that gorgeous, thick hair of hers. He tugged lightly until she looked back at him.

"I'm a selfish ass who doesn't care that people tell me I'm bad for you." He replied, his heart beating a little quicker when she gave him a dazzling smile.

"Well, you know what they say..." She started off, "...too much of a bad thing is always a good thing, right?" She laughed softly before kissing his jaw.

"I'm not positive that's how the saying goes." Blake teased back.

"Maybe I can convince you then." Alexia wagged her brows playfully before moving down his body.

Blake sucked in a breath as her lips traveled lower. "Be my guest."

At the end, he was a believer.

And Blake wasn't going to give up on Alexia's memory. Not ever.

"So you're not talking to me? Is that how it is?" Piper's voice broke into his thoughts. 

He scowled as Alexia's beautiful face vanished from his mind. He thought of her less frequently in the past few weeks and he was sickened with himself for being distracted. 

"A reaction! Success!" Piper grinned widely. "Gods, Blake. Lighten up. You look like someone stole your lollipop or something."

"Do you have to fill every moment with useless chatter?" He asked a bit harsher than intended.

Piper's teasing expression dropped and for a split second, she looked hurt. That was quickly covered up as she sniffled at him disdainfully. "We're stuck in traffic and there's nothing good playing on the stations. I thought we could make it less boring by getting to know each other."

"I don't want to get to know each other." When would she understand that?

"You're such an asshole. Why do I have to be attracted to complete jackasses?" She muttered, crossing her arms. "It's a curse. I always go for the bad boys who are more boys than bad."

"Look," he cut her off. "If we talk about ourselves, will you shut up on the ride back?" He tried to compromise.

Piper perked up and nodded quickly. "Okay, yes. Deal. But, before you try to make me talk the whole time, we're taking turns."

"Fine. You first." Blake said. Thankfully traffic was lightening up just a bit and they were finally moving.

"Well, my name is Piper Amanda Greene. My father named me if it isn't obvious...'Peter Piper'. Luckily no other siblings from my mom and dad or they'd be named Picked, Pack, Pickled, and Peppers. I am twenty-five and a Texan native. My parents are divorced. My mother still lives in Texas, obviously my father lives in Nevada. I'm an art curator and I also do some art restoration, but am thinking of switching to the bounty hunting profession." She batted her lashes at Blake, but he was too busy watching the back bumper of the car in front of them.

Blake let out a long breath as if the information was being tortured out of him. "I go by the name Blake Gabriel Alexander. I'm thirty-seven-" he paused at Piper's gasp that he didn't look that old before he continued on as if she hadn't spoken, "and I was born and raised in France. My mother used to be a model. She passed away when I was young. I only know that my father was a rich businessman and I honestly don't care to know more."

Piper blinked a couple times before she remembered herself. She figured the quicker she said something about herself, the more she could learn about Blake. "I used to be a tomboy when I was younger. I'm an only child from my mom and dad, but I have a bunch of step siblings and half siblings when my mother got remarried. My stepdad is okay, but he favors his own kids. After awhile, my parents stopped fighting over custody when my dad offered to take me without any child support from my mom. If you think I'm spoiled, you can totally blame my dad for that."

The affection for her father was evident in Piper's voice. Blake gave a very small smile at her last sentence. "I went to an all-boys school in France until I was twelve. When my mother died, I stayed with her brother. We traveled all over Europe and the Middle East."

Piper was storing everything away to think over later. "I've dated a lot, but have only been in love twice. My first love was my high school sweetheart, Troy Lucas, and after graduation, I moved to New York for work. He didn't want to move to the other side of the United States so we broke up. The second time I fell in love was with a photographer, David Craig, but again, schedules didn't work out."

She almost regretted jumping onto the topic of love so early. Blake was quiet for a long while. Before she could tell him that he could talk about something else, he spoke.

"Alexia was the first and last time I loved in my life. She grew up very privileged and could be a brat at times. Even though she had her tantrums, she knew when to be professional. She was very intelligent and remarkably kind. I wanted to protect her and always see her smiling. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her." Blake didn't continue. He took a left and headed down a narrow street.

"What happened?" Piper asked softly. She was envious of this Alexia woman. Blake obviously thought the world of her. Did she cheat on him?

"She died."

Piper's head snapped to the side and she studied Blake's profile. "How did she die if you don't mind me asking?"

"We're here." He stated and put the car in park.

She could have commented on how that wasn't fair, but she didn't. Instead, she followed Blake out of the car and to the rundown apartment complex. They entered the building in silence. Piper and Blake were waiting for the elevator as she kept peeking over at him. Part of her wondered if that was why he was such an ass all the time while the other part wondered who this Alexia chick was that affected Blake so profoundly.

The elevator doors opened and the two stepped into the small lift.

"Um, what floor?" Piper asked, but Blake had leaned over, pressing into her back as he pushed the button for the seventh floor. Her breath caught and she didn't inhale until he stepped away.

If Piper wasn't mistaken, the lift was crawling up to the seventh floor. By the time they reached their destination, Piper felt as though she was boiling in that tiny elevator. With Blake so close and silent, her skin was itching in awareness. For once in her life, she didn't take the opportunity to be suggestive.

They exited and headed down the hallway and took a right. She looked at the numbers on the doors as they passed and came to the last door at the end of the hall. Blake knocked and they both waited patiently. There was some shuffling until the door was cracked open and someone demanded to know what they wanted.

"Hello, Ms. Wheeler. We're looking for a Kyle Fredrickson. Would you happen to know where he might be or a way to contact him?" Blake asked the woman. She was doing her best not to make eye-contact.

"No. I have no idea where he is. Sorry." She was all too quick to close the door, but Blake stopped her.

"Thank you for your time ma'am. I'd just like to give you my card. If you think of something, please call." He said carefully as he slipped her a card and a piece of paper he just scribbled on.

The woman paused and took the card and paper. She glanced up and Blake felt his blood boil at the black eye she was sporting. Her eyes scanned the paper and she scrunched it up.

"Sure...I'll call if I remember anything. Sorry you had to drive all the way out here." She shut the door after eyeing Blake and Piper.

The two were walking away and Piper lowered her voice. "Ohmygod, did you see her face? Do you think Fredrickson did that to her?" Her stomach came up to her throat when she saw that purple and green bruise on the woman's face.

They rounded the corner before Blake spoke. "He's in there. She's too scared to admit it." The woman they visited was an ex-girlfriend of Kyle Fredrickson. She had an off and on relationship with the guy because of his abusive nature. She called the cops on him once, but didn't press charges for the broken arm he had given her.

"If he's in there, can't we just get him?" Piper nearly shouted. Why where they leaving that poor woman with that disgusting man?

"I want you to wait in the car. You'll be more trouble than it's worth." He commented.

Piper stopped walking and placed her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?"

Blake motioned for her to follow along, but the idiot started marching her way back down the hall. He turned quickly and started following her before she broke out into a run. In hindsight, that was a stupid thing to do. Blake caught up with her in two seconds and almost yanked her arm out of the socket.

"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed.

"Something you're not man enough to do. I'm not leaving her in there with him for a minute longer." She growled back.

Blake narrowed a look on her. "Goddammit, Piper. Stay out of the way. Go to the car and stay there. I will handle this."

His cell buzzed and he let go of Piper's arm to pick it up. A hushed voice came through and he could hear the water running. It was Vanessa Wheeler and she was hiding out in the bathroom. She told him that Kyle Fredrickson was staying with her and she was scared and didn't know what to do.

"Shhh. Just calm down, sweetheart. Take a breath." He instructed. It broke his heart to hear a woman in tears or afraid. "I'll get him out of there and you'll never have to see him again." Since Fredrickson tried to skip town on pretty serious drug offense, he wasn't going to get any mercy on his sentence. Blake would make sure that fucker got his full eight years and no parole.

"Here is what I want you to do. Say you're going out grocery shopping. My friend will keep you company while I handle Fredrickson. Everything will be alright, Vanessa. Trust me." He said calmly into the phone. Piper was staring at him wide eyed, but he would explain later. "We will be waiting around the corner of the hall."

Vanessa sniffled a thank you before she squeaked when someone pounded on the door. Blake could hear a muffled, male voice and Vanessa's reply that she would be right out. She hung up on Blake.

"He's in there and she's terrified. We'll meet her around the corner. I want you to bring her somewhere, keep her company. She needs someone right now. I will handle Fredrickson. And do not get in the way, Piper." Blake warned her as they walked back down the hall and around the corner.

Piper could hear her heart beating in her ears. She was a bit scared and curious. It was like watching a thriller. Even though she thought Blake said her name beautifully, she was more worried about what was going to happen. She got to read Fredrickson's file and he was being charged with possession of six kilos of cocaine and illegal possession of firearms.

Blake gave Piper a reassuring smile. "Don't go all weak on me now, Piper Greene. Your father would be disappointed."

She would have smiled in return if she wasn't so dumbstruck at the fact that Blake was being nice to her. "I won't get in the way. I'll make sure Vanessa is safe." Blake was trusting her with this and she wasn't going to let him down.

The moment Vanessa rounded the corner, the woman started to sob. Blake let Piper take care of Ms. Wheeler while he grabbed the set of keys from her bag. It would be easier if he caught Fredrickson unawares. The man would hear the door open and think Vanessa forgot something.

"Take the stairs, hail a cab, and go someplace public. I will call you when this is over." Blake told Piper. She nodded and led Vanessa towards the stairs.

---

By the time Piper got a call from Blake, she had been thinking something horrible might have happened to him. She had called her father and he said he wasn't about to call Blake because that could distract him. So Piper had called the office and was put through to Gutierrez who told her the same thing.

She had brought Vanessa to a diner and they ordered some dessert. The poor woman had been so mistreated. Piper listened to Vanessa saying how she was from the East Coast and she had met Kyle there. He was so charming and she ran off with him to Vegas. Her parents and siblings were so upset with her, but she was too embarrassed to go back home before she got too scared to leave Kyle.

Talking with Vanessa kept Piper's mind off of Blake. Piper was able to convince Vanessa to head back home. They could stop by Vanessa's place and pack a bag. Piper assured her that Greene Investigations could cover the plane fare. If not, Piper could reimburse her father.

They had finished three cups of coffee each and two plates of apple pie ala mode before Vanessa gave her first happy smile. Piper thought that smile made everything worth it. Vanessa really was a cute girl when she smiled, even with the puffy, bruised eyes, and runny nose.

Feeling her cell buzz, Piper fumbled to pick it up. "Hello?" She breathed when she noticed Blake's number.

"Hey. How is Vanessa doing?" Blake asked softly.

He sounded fine. Piper let out a relieved breath. "She's doing well. We had some dessert and coffee and chatted. Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm at the hospital-" 

Piper gasped. "Ohmygod, what hospital? I'll be right there." She was digging in her bag for her wallet to pay.

"No, it's not for me. Fredrickson jumped off the balcony to avoid capture. I guess he thought he'd make it down fine. There are witnesses who can vouch for that story. He broke his right leg and shattered his left wrist. He may have fractured a few ribs as well." Blake had intended to shoot to injure the guy and do some self-inflicted wound to say it was self-defense. Fredrickson had been shooting up and was clearly not in the right state of mind.

Piper slumped in her seat. "Blake, never scare me like that again." She breathed.

Vanessa was looking at her curiously and Piper smiled to indicate that everything was fine. Blake reported that he would pick the two of them up soon and he wanted to know where they would be. Piper told him that they were going to catch a cab back to Vanessa's place so she could pack a bag and then they were bringing her to the airport. After they agreed on that, they hung up to tie loose ends on their part.

"Kyle is in the hospital with a broken leg, shattered wrist, and fractured ribs. I say good for that bastard." Piper smiled over at Vanessa. She reached over and squeezed the girl's hand. "We'll head back to your apartment, pack a bag, and then we'll bring you to the airport and get you a ticket for back home."

Piper paid for the bill, much to Vanessa's embarrassment. "Don't worry about it. I'll write it off as a company expense." She winked at her.

They caught a cab back to the apartment and Vanessa hastily packed a bag. She was on the verge of crying a few times because she was just so happy. Blake called that he was downstairs and asked if they needed help carrying anything. Vanessa said all she needed was in the suitcase she packed.

The ride to McCarran had been quiet for the most part. Piper would ask Vanessa about her family and Vanessa would respond before it drifted back to silence. That was for the best though. They arrived and Blake handed a wad of cash to Piper to pay for Vanessa's ticket.

"I got it Blake." Piper told him, but took the money since he wouldn't leave otherwise.

While Blake pulled away from the curb to drive around, Piper and Vanessa went in to make a flight. Vanessa insisted on paying Piper and Blake back, but Piper was having none of that.

"You just make up with your family, find a good guy who will appreciate you, and then send us invitations to your wedding." Piper smiled and hugged Vanessa before the front desk staff slid the ticket and transfer ticket over.

"I hope I find someone like your boyfriend." Vanessa said softly.

Piper laughed at the thought of Blake being her boyfriend. "Oh Lord, be ready to put up a fight then. That man fights me every step of the way."

They walked together as far as they could go. Piper had slipped one of the hundred dollar bills into Vanessa's bag. Hugging each other one last time, Piper told Vanessa to have a good life. Piper headed back outside to wait for Blake. She gave him a call and he came along in five minutes.

It was getting dark and Piper was thinking Blake owed her dinner. "This is yours." She held up the money and tried to give it to Blake. "I gave a hundred to Vanessa and I was tempted to keep the rest, but that wouldn't be right." She laughed and reached over to put it in the Blake's jacket pocket. "Really, Blake. Don't fight me on this. I travel a lot so I made her ticket from my business account and it was really cheap."

Blake for once didn't argue. He glanced over at her and said something that totally caught her off guard. "Thank you. You did pretty well today."

"Wow, what do we have here?" Piper teased him. "You can repay me in sexual favors." She batted her lashes at him. "Or you can take me to In-N-Out Burger and we can call it even."

"In-N-Out Burger it is." Blake quickly said.

Almost too quickly.

Piper narrowed her eyes at him and sniffed. "You could have at least humored me." She said and crossed her arms.

They reached In-N-Out Burger and decided to do drive-thru and then park somewhere. They ended up in the parking lot with one Double-Double, a cheeseburger, animal fries, a strawberry shake, and a Coke. Piper handed Blake his cheeseburger and Coke...everything else was hers.

"You're missing out, Blake. Try some of these animal fries, they are delicious." Piper offered it up to him.

Blake eyed the mess and looked back up at Piper. "That is alright. I'll pass." He was wondering how she stayed so thin with her constant and seemingly unappeasable appetite.

"Suit yourself." Piper shrugged and picked up three fries to shove into her mouth.

When she placed the fries on the arm rest between them, she grabbed her burger and unwrapped it. Taking a big bite, she moaned loudly. Usually she was pretty strict about her diet, but today would be an exception. She swallowed after chewing and found the food stuck in her throat, she tried to sip at her shake, but it was too thick.

Blake handed over his drink when he saw Piper struggling with hers. Since first meeting her, he got to see different sides to her that he was sure she didn't let others see too often. She liked showing that she was confident and flirty, but he preferred when she wasn't so careful about her appearance and actions.

She grabbed his drink and took a big gulp to help the food down. "Too big a bite." She agreed and handed Blake back his drink. "You can have some of my shake if you want."

"I'm good. Thanks." Blake replied after swallowing his bite.

He finished off his burger while Piper alternated between the burger and the fries. He was certain she was fixing to give herself clogged arteries and a heart attack. She had popped the lid off her drink, tilted the disposable cup in a 45 degree angle and squeezed. Blake was about to advise that wasn't the smartest idea when the entire ice cream shake came rushing down and covered half of Piper's face.




To Be The Last Ch. 05



The look of shock and embarrassment on her face was too much to handle. Blake found himself laughing. She was in the process of wiping her face with the napkins when she paused and just watched Blake laugh uncontrollably.

"It's not that funny, you jerk." She muttered, but found herself smiling as well. The man really was beyond gorgeous when he laughed. But...he was laughing a bit too much at her expense.

Piper dipped her fingers in her cup and smeared it across his cheek. That stopped Blake's laughing as he looked at her like he couldn't believe she just did that. Smirking, Piper licked her fingers clean.

"Oh look at that. We're all out of napkins. Guess you're SOL, Blake." Piper said as she threw the used napkins into the paper bag after she cleaned her face and fingers.

"Piper Amanda Greene, I cannot believe you just did that." Blake grinned. He reached over her to get to the dash board to pull out a couple packets of wet wipes. He held one out to Piper and looked up to see her staring at him oddly.

Before he could tell her not to even think about it, she had her sticky hands cupping his sticky face. Her lips pressed against his softly. Blake groaned and his body instantly hardened...to be honest, he had been on the edge for awhile now with her around.

Her kiss was unassuming, almost shy. Blake reached up and rested his hand on her cheek, tilting her head to the side so he could kiss her back better. The soft, seeking kisses turned hotter.

Piper felt dizzy, she was so happy. When she went on an impulse and kissed him, she expected him to push her away. He not only didn't push her away, but was kissing her back with such tenderness that she was shocked to her core. The kisses got deeper as he sucked on her lower lip.

His tongue ran over the crease of her lips and Piper opened her mouth and touched her tongue to Blake's. He groaned again when she sucked on his tongue and then he did the same to her. Piper was breathing harshly when their kiss ended. She couldn't make out the expression on Blake's face.

"Blake," Piper whispered, "will you make love to me?"

---

The question hadn't completely caught him unaware. He knew that Piper was attracted to him and he had let that kiss go too far. But her kisses were so sweet and her taste was damn near intoxicating. She was looking at him with passion and affection, something he found almost irresistible.

It was the first time he was thinking that maybe he should be happy. An image of Alexia flashed in his head. When he blinked, he saw Piper staring at him, waiting for an answer. Blake couldn't do it.

"What do you want from me, Piper?" He asked her just as quietly.

She shook her head. "I'm not asking you for more than this one night, Blake. As much as I would love to have you for more than just a night, I'll only take what you're willing to give."

Blake closed his eyes for a moment and leaned back in the driver's seat. He wasn't even sure if he could give her one night. This evening was not turning out at all as he had expected. Then again, with Piper, things rarely went according to plan.

He sucked in a breath and exhaled. "One night." He agreed. "Put on your seatbelt."

She was about to ask him why they couldn't just do it in the back seat, but kept her mouth closed. She put her seatbelt on as he wiped his face with a wet wipe. He tossed it into the paper bag and then put his seatbelt on as well and put the car in drive.

The lights flashed by and Piper began to wonder where they were headed. They were moving North, out of Las Vegas. She was beginning to think that he was taking her to his place. She shot off a quick text message to her father that she was meeting up with some friends and probably wouldn't be home tonight.

About twenty minutes later, Blake turned into a neighborhood and drove down the road before taking a right and driving down that road. He pressed the garage button and pulled into a darken driveway. He pressed the button again to close the garage door behind them.

Blake turned off the engine and they sat there. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and opened his door. Piper grabbed all their food stuff and tossed it in the trash bin before she hurried after him. Blake unlocked the garage door leading into the house and let Piper in first.

He flicked on the lights and turned to close the door. He double checked that he locked his vehicle, the SUV honking before he placed the car keys on the counter beside the door. He kicked off his shoes and then headed down the hallway with Piper silently trailing behind him after she too got her heels off.

Blake flicked on the light when they reached his bedroom. He looked over at Piper as he shrugged out of his jacket and then took off his watch. She put her bag on the dresser and looked around the room. There was just a bed, a dresser, a tv on a stand across of the bed, and lamp on the bedside table.

When Blake crooked his finger at Piper to follow, she went to him. He was undressing and throwing his clothes into the hamper. Piper's mouth felt dry when Blake kept his back to her. There were scars there and she just wanted to hug him.

She stepped forward and ran her fingers over the scars, feeling Blake tense. He relaxed a bit and she kissed the scar on his shoulder. She wasn't going to ask how he got them; she just wanted him to know that they didn't bother her.

He turned to face her and she swallowed as she took in all the other scars all over his body. Her gaze slipped even lower to his impressive erection. When she looked back up, Blake was staring at her with an unreadable expression.

"Let's take a shower first." He said and reached out.

Piper could only nod. His fingers were like fire when they brushed against her bare skin as he gathered the hem of her shirt. Piper lifted her arms up so he could pull the material over her head. Obviously the man was well educated in lingerie because it didn't take him even a couple seconds to figure out her bra was a front clasp.

Her heart was beating so fast in her chest when he unclasped her bra and the cool AC kissed her heated skin, making her nipples harden. She saw Blake's eyes darken when he looked at her beaded nipples before he reached out with both hands and cupped her breasts.

Piper wasn't able to help herself when a moan escaped. She instinctively arched her back, filling his hands with her breasts even more. She never had big breasts and had thought about getting implants to fix her A cup, but the possibility of losing nipple sensitivity put her off the idea. She was very glad at the moment that she didn't take that risk as Blake kneaded her breasts and pinched at her nipples.

He pulled her close and his lips closed around a nipple. She gasped out in ecstasy as he sucked and licked while expertly working her pants off. Her tailored dress pants fell to the ground and she was standing there in her lace thong while Blake teased her.

The throbbing in her body was getting more intense. Her body was squeezing, adding to the pleasure between her legs that sent tingles shooting out to every cell. She was already so wet. When Blake moved to her other nipple, his fingers pinching at the still wet one, Piper cried out as an orgasm rocked through her.

She gripped the countertop to keep herself steady while she threaded one hand through Blake's silky hair. He pulled off of her nipple with a hard suck, making Piper feel shaky all over again. She was so embarrassed she had already climaxed, but she had been unbelievably aroused since they first kissed.

"I'm sorry." She found herself saying when Blake's hands went to the sides of her thong.

"What for?" Blake murmured against her neck. "You needn't apologize for coming. It was very sexy." He lifted her up easily and sat her on the countertop. "Let's try for another one, shall we?" He grinned at Piper before sliding her thong off her long legs.

He lowered himself, pulling her to the edge of the counter. Her skin was hot to the touch. Blake spread her legs wide and ran a finger over her wetness. Piper was a rather responsive woman. He blew on her gently and her hips jerked forward.

Blake kissed her inner thighs before he played his tongue over her clit. He moved his tongue up and down her soaked slit and then sucked her hard nub into his mouth. He pulled with his teeth and licked again to soothe her. Each time he felt Piper close to coming, he would back off a bit until her hips stopped arching so frequently. When he finally pushed her over the edge, she was pulling at his hair and begging for completion.

His dick was aching and his balls were tight, but that would have to wait. He kept lapping and sucking until Piper rode out her orgasm. She slumped against the mirror, her tanned skin a rosy hue. Blake pulled back and grabbed the wash cloth to wipe his mouth.

He turned away for a second to start the shower. The water was set to warm. As the water ran, Blake skimmed his hands over Piper's inner thighs. Her eyelids fluttered open and she gave him a slow smile. Before she could follow through with whatever naughty thought was running rampant, Blake plucked her off the countertop and stepped into the shower and then placed her down.

"You act as though I don't weigh a thing." Piper laughed breathlessly.

She thought Blake was beautiful before...a wet Blake was godly. Reaching out, Piper skimmed her hands all over his front until she had his wet cock in her hand. She reveled in his groan. He was so hard and silky. Piper pushed him against the tiled wall out of the spray and sank to her knees. Massaging his balls with one hand, Piper pumped him with her other hand before she took him into her mouth.

Blake's fingers threaded through her wet hair as the water hit her back. She moved that gorgeous mouth of hers on him as she looked up to watch him. He couldn't hide any of his emotions from her at that moment. The pleasure he got from each suck and swirl of her tongue was obvious by his expressions.

His hips started to move forward and Piper took that as a sign to move faster. She wasn't going to tease him like he had teased her. Her hand on his balls massaged harder and she bobbed her head on him.

"Piper," Blake groaned as he tried to pull her off.

She kept sucking and moving on him. It was too much. A bolt of pleasure went down his spine. The pressure in his balls exploded as he jetted out into her mouth. His fingers tightened in her hair, but he was able to keep himself from tugging too hard. He jerked into her soft and hot mouth again and again until he was completely spent. Piper didn't pull off until his hips stopped jerking.

When she stood, they stared at one another for a long moment before Piper kissed him softly. It was a closed mouth kiss, but more intimate than anything they had shared so far. Blake kissed Piper back as they both stepped back into the water spray.

Grabbing the shampoo, Piper squirted some in her hands before Blake took it from her. They lathered each other's hair. She laughed when they both got shampoo in their eyes and they stepped back into the water to rinse their hair.

"I think this wasn't planned out correctly." She smiled as she kept her eyes shut tightly.

Blake had his eyes shut as well and he skimmed his hands over Piper while she commented that wasn't the top of her head. "Is that a complaint?" He grinned when his fingers finally threaded through her hair as he helped rinse out the suds.

Piper smiled wider. "Complaining? Me? Never."

She was afraid things would be awkward and strained between them. So far, things were going perfectly. They both got their hair rinsed before Blake grabbed the scrub and liquid soap. He scrubbed her down from neck to toes. By the time she got to scrub him, she was unbelievably aroused again. After they were completely rinsed off, Blake reached over and turned off the shower.

Piper squeezed the water out from her hair and Blake grabbed the towels. He patted her down before wrapping her up and then using another towel to dry her hair. With his towel riding low on his hips, Piper was entertaining some rather naughty thoughts.

"In a few minutes." Blake interrupted her thoughts.

With a raised brow, Piper didn't deny where her mind had been. She just waited patiently while he towel dried her hair. It seemed like hours by the time he finished, but the moment he did, she felt nervous as he led her towards the bedroom.

Blake watched Piper as she walked to the bed. He took off his towel and let it drop on the floor. He could tell she was nervous now, but he didn't know why. She smiled at him uncertainly and Blake gave a small smile in return. That seemed enough to ease her worries because she too dropped her towel before she got onto the bed.

Pulling open a drawer, Blake took out the box of condoms from the nightstand. He placed it on top of the nightstand before he too got into bed. Piper pulled him over her and he lowered his head to kiss her.

As they kissed, Blake ran one hand down her stomach. She sucked in a breath when his fingers skimmed over her wet core. Their kissing grew more passionate as they nipped at each other's lips.

Blake reached over to the box of condoms and took one out. He broke off their kiss to tear open the wrapper. After he slid the condom on, Blake pulled at the tip to give room. Piper kissed Blake again and reached between them to grab his dick and position him at her entrance.

Slowly, Blake pushed into her wet hole. They both groaned loudly as he inched into her tight body. When he was in her fully, Blake watched Piper's face as he pulled out and slammed back into her. She gasped in surprise before moaning.

Her legs spread apart wider as Blake moved in and out of her in a steady rhythm. Pleasure was building up in the both of them. Blake held himself above Piper while he pounded into her. A slight sheen of sweat broke out on their bodies.

Piper cried out in disappointment when Blake pulled out completely. He grabbed her ankles and put them on his shoulders before he positioned himself back at her opening and thrust into her again.

There was just something so erotic about not being able to move that much while he made love to her. The sounds of their bodies slapping together mixed with the squeaking of the springs in his bed and their heavy breathing.

Reading the pleasure on her face, Blake tilted his hips in a way that had Piper moaning loudly. She had one hand pushing against the headboard as the force of his thrusts was pushing them up, while her other hand squeezed at her breasts. By the time she was playing with her clit and begging to come, Blake was nearing his limit.

It had been months since he last had sex, but he wanted to make it count for Piper. He pulled out of her again and flipped her onto her stomach. Shoving a pillow under her, Blake didn't give Piper much of a chance to catch her breath when he was back inside of her.

This time, he wasn't slow about it. He was pounding in and out of her hard and fast. His hand was between her legs and rubbing over her clit. Piper rolled her hips in time with Blake's movements. Her body squeezed on him, close to an orgasm. When he pinched her clit and pulled, she screamed as pleasure burst throughout her body. Blake thrust harder and faster as he reached his own climax with a loud groan.

Her body clenched down on him over and over again while he shot out into the condom. By the time they were left with just small aftershocks of their orgasms, they were both breathing harshly and dripping in sweat.

Blake stayed inside of her for a few moments before he kissed her shoulder. He pulled out slowly and Piper shivered all over. Without the support of his body against hers, she collapsed onto the bed. He disappeared into the bathroom, but was back shortly after.

When Piper rolled onto her back, she was shocked when Blake kissed his way up her legs. He gave her a grin when she asked what he was doing.

"I did agree to a whole night." He pointed out.

His hot breath blew across her sensitive skin. Piper blinked down at Blake and jumped when he placed a small kiss on her over stimulated clit. He murmured that he needed a few minutes himself before he trailed more kisses up her body and sucked on a nipple. Piper moaned loudly and threaded her fingers through his hair.

Maybe it was a mistake to ask Blake to make love to her. Piper knew she'd never forget this night...she didn't want to forget a single thing about that night. She had been shocked that he wanted to do it again, but Blake was a man of his word and that was another thing she really liked about him.

---

The next morning, Piper woke up to her cell phone ringing. Blake wasn't next to her. She remembered waking up around four in the morning. Her stirring had woken Blake up and amazingly, they had sex again before she finally was too exhausted to move at all. She had cuddled up to him as they drifted off to sleep.

Piper cringed when she got out of bed and crossed the room to get her bag. Her whole body was aching. She dug out her cell and saw it was her boss calling. Wondering if she should call him back later, she decided to just see what he wanted.

Five minutes later, she let out a long exhale. There was painting he wanted her to authenticate. The painting was supposedly a Monet and was Piper's area of expertise. She told her boss that she'd call him back later that day. At the moment, she was busy trying to get her clothes together. 

She found them neatly folded on the bathroom counter with an unopened toothbrush on top of the pile. She picked up her clothes and they were warm as if just out of the dryer. The clothes smelled clean and she could only guess that Blake had washed and dried them for her. After she got dressed, she brushed her teeth and returned to the bedroom.

The smell of coffee and something sweet wafted into the room. Piper put her phone back into her bag and wandered out of the bedroom to follow the smell. She found Blake in the kitchen. He motioned over to the coffee pot while he finished up what he was cooking. Piper poured herself some coffee three-fourths way and added tons of sugar and milk; she didn't like powered creamers.

"What are you cooking?" She asked after a sip of her coffee. She made a face as the minty toothpaste flavor that lingered in her mouth had mixed with the coffee. It tasted horrible.

Blake looked over his shoulder and caught Piper's scrunched expression. "Yeah...it's always a good idea to wait to eat or drink anything. I'm making French toast." He hadn't eaten French toast in a long time, but it was the first thing that popped into his head when he thought about what to cook for breakfast.

"Wow, a guy who cooks breakfast in the morning. I am impressed, Mr. Blake Gabriel Alexander." She teased him lightly.

Piper helped set the table as Blake finished up in the kitchen. They chatted while they ate and Blake suggested that it would be best if he dropped her off at her dad's place to change before she went into work. Piper replied that she had to catch a flight to New York and would be catching a cab from her father's place.

"Are you going to miss me Blake?" She joked. "Actually, I'll only be gone for about four days and then I'll be back to bother you for a few more weeks before I really have to get back to work." She added in quickly. She didn't really want to hear his answer.

She insisted on helping with the clean up. Once that was all done, the both of them gathered up their things and headed out. Blake already knew where her dad lived so Piper just used the car ride as time to catch up on emails and texts. She was going to meet up with some friends while she was in New York.

When he pulled to a stop in front of her dad's house, Piper unbuckled and grabbed her things. She leaned over and quickly kissed Blake and pulled away just as fast.




To Be The Last Ch. 06



A few years ago...

It should be raining. Spectacular weather didn't happen often in London, but today had to be one of those rare days. The last thing she wanted was for the sky to be relatively clear. At least a light breeze kept things a little chilled.

Alexia wanted a full out storm with torrential rain and flash flood warnings. Lightning and thunder shaking the walls would have also been appreciated. All physical manifestations of the turmoil churning in her.

The black Mercedes moved through traffic deftly. Matthew asked if she wanted the windows down since the weather was so nice. Alex shook her head and told him to drop the AC temperature in the car to the lowest. Cold. If only she could numb herself to everything. Although she was already shivering, Matthew complied.

They didn't talk during the hour drive out of London. Alexia had been grateful that Matthew didn't start a conversation. He just dutifully drove her to the estate her grandfather owned on the outskirt of London. She couldn't recall how they reached the estate, too lost in her thoughts by the time the car pulled into a perfectly manicured, white coral driveway.

She opened the car door and stepped out cautiously. The twinge of physical pain in her abdomen was nothing compared to her emotional and mental anguish. The pinch from her injury only reinforced her loss. Instinctively, her hand protectively settled over her flat stomach. Tears pooled in her eyes as she stopped walking.

"Alexia," Matt began softly, "you haven't cried yet. It would do you some good." His hand was at her elbow, offering a comforting embrace should she need it.

Blinking back her tears, Alexia gave a sad smile. "I'm trying to prolong my state of denial." She rasped.

Only a couple weeks ago she shed a layer of her depression, just enough to want to venture out of her grandfather's building. She had been in ICU for three weeks before in a stable enough condition to be moved to a private wing of the hospital. The moment she received the ok, Dane had her return to London.

Matthew thought a ghost inhabited the house. Since she had been in the hospital for almost six weeks, Alexia wasted away to almost nothing. The dark circles made her sad eyes look even bigger. Her coffee and cream complexion was devoid of its usual healthy glow. Instead, paleness to her color added to the appearance of her frailty.

Dane assigned someone with Alexia at all times. She refused to take medication and he worried she would try to hurt herself. He pushed for her to visit Blake and their son's graves in hopes that reality would start to sink in. The two had been buried on the estate where Alexia was now. It would be her first time visiting the graves.

"Then we'll walk slowly." Matt replied just as softly.

They took the scenic route, going through the gardens. Her favorite part of the whole estate was the gardens. It stretched on and on, having grown in size since Alex first told her grandfather how much she loved it when she was little. Her pace grew deliberately slower as they neared the huge marble headstones surrounded by fresh flowers.

The small hills of dirt had yet to settle, reminding the visitors of how recent the tragedy. Alexia stopped several feet away. Matthew patiently waited for her next move. He could tell she was reading the headstones, the names and dates. Her gaze lingered on the engraved cursive words written in French on her son's headstone.

"We love you." Alexia translated before she burst into tears.

Matt retreated quietly as Alexia sobbed and made her way to the graves. She didn't care how dirty she'd get as she dropped to her knees in the mounds of dirt. Her words tumbled out, forming not one coherent sentence. The words switched back and forth between Blake and Gabriel. Finally, she let out an anguished cry and just sobbed herself into exhaustion.

Awhile later, Matthew approached when Alexia's body stilled. He saw her draw in a shuddering breath. She looked up at him with swollen eyes still swimming in tears. He didn't like seeing her so completely devastated and a part of him was glad that no one had such a debilitating power over him. Well no one he'd admit to.

"It-" She began, her throat working to get the words out, "it still doesn't f-feel real." She drew in another unsteady breath. "O-only a part feels r-real. I can feel G-Gabriel's loss in m-my soul, but not Blake's. I should feel like h-he's gone. But I don't."

Kneeling, Matthew rubbed a hand over Alexia's back. "They're both gone, Alexia. I'm sorry." He couldn't sympathize. He hadn't grown an attachment to the unborn child and he sure as hell wasn't fond of Blake. All he could offer was what little empathy he could fake.

---

Alexia stayed at the estate for a couple months. She found it therapeutic to visit the graves and speak with Blake and Gabriel. She heard from her grandfather that Gabriel had jet black hair, and light eyes. He probably would have looked just like his father.

At first, she had been angry with Blake, but when all that anger was spent, she was overwhelmed with how much she still loved him and missed him. She planted flowers near the graves and told stories of her youth. Sometimes she'd tell the two about her day or the wishful dreams she had about the three of them as a family.

"The doctors say I am unable to have any children." Alexia whispered to Blake as she yanked out the newly sprouting weeds. There were gardeners and staff for that, but she liked doing it herself. "I don't mind though. I can't imagine having anyone else's child."

Alexia was silent again as she worked to pull out all the little weeds and then went to planting some miniature pink roses. She felt herself smile. "I know it's not very manly, but they're so beautiful." She explained to Blake and Gabriel as if Blake asked why she planted pink roses beside their graves.

She still couldn't believe Blake was gone as well. Her soul still ached for the loss of their son, but she couldn't bring herself to accept Blake's death.

When she had been stabbed, she vaguely remembered voices, horns honking, and lights flashing in and out above her. Then the beeping of machines. She remembered being hooked up to all these tubes. The doctor checked in on her and told her to get some rest. She wanted to ask about her baby, but the solemn look on his face told her everything.

Her first visitors were her grandfather and Matthew. He told her about the funeral arrangements he made for Gabriel. Then his voice trailed off and he looked to Matthew. Her grandfather always had Matt tell the bad news. As Dane moved to leave the room, Matthew pulled a seat beside Alexia's bed.

"Blake went looking for Richardson's partners." He started with. Alex blinked and felt her stomach drop. She already knew where this headed. "He found one of the guys...but he walked into a trap."

"No." Alexia started to shake her head. She was too weak to shout. "No. He can't be dead, too. I don't believe you."

Matt continued. "We did a DNA test on the body we found and it most definitely is Blake, Alexia. I'm so sorry. Your grandfather will have Blake buried beside Gabriel. His body was unrecognizable. It would be best you don't see it."

She called Matthew a liar and told him to get out. Her sudden movement to grab something, anything, to hurl at him pulled some of the needles out. The machines started to alarm and her heart rate shot up.

Nurses rushed into the room and shoved Matthew out. They tried to calm Alexia down, but she fought them off. Her screams drowned out the furious beeping from the machines. A sedative was injected to one of her many tubes and Alex was out in the next few moments.

When she woke up again, she didn't feel anything. Living in denial was so much easier. With her grandfather insistent on her to move back in with him, she went on living in denial. She reveled in her deep depression. Every single time her grandfather mentioned a visit to the graves, Alexia pretended not to hear him.

She wasn't certain why she changed her mind that one day. Her grandfather hinted again and she agreed to go. Now she didn't want to return to London. She didn't want to go anywhere.

---

A year passed without much notice. The pain had receded to a dull ache. There was restlessness in her now. So many places she wanted to see and things she wanted to do. Life was too short to keep putting it all off. When her traveling ended, she wanted to do something useful. She needed to be useful to someone, even just one person.

After a few months of planning, Alexia was off to France. She had been all over Europe before, but tended to stay in the cities. She wanted to visit the country side where Blake grew up. Every place listed in his file, she visited for at least a few weeks.

Her grandfather fought with her about sending someone along, but she needed this for herself. She told him so and he had reluctantly agreed. Still, she called to check in every day. By the time another year-and-a-quarter passed, Alexia visited all the places listed except for one. She'd returned to England to visit Blake and Gabriel's graves again before she'd head to Cabo San Lucas for a couple months. She read that it was Blake's favorite place to vacation.

She spent a week at her grandfather's rural estate outside of London. Originally she planned for only a few days, but she missed talking to Blake and Gabriel during her fifteen-month-long sojourn throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The night before her departure, Matthew offered to cook. However, he avoided all of her questions.

"I was only curious. I don't mind talking about it now, Matt. Did I upset you? I'm sorry." Alexia murmured as she followed him from the kitchen to the dining room.

Alexia wanted to help, but he wouldn't let her. So she stood by and watched. Shortly after, she began to ask a small question here and there until it became questions about what happened more than two years ago.

"I'm not upset. I just don't know why you are suddenly so curious about it." Matt frowned as he placed the baked seafood salad down. He didn't want to answer any questions about that night. It was best to leave it alone.

Alexia gave a winsome smile. "I've been thinking a lot during the past year. Before you start in on some smart ass comment, I thought a lot before then too." She caught a brief smile touch his lips. "During my time away, I've been coming to terms with Gabriel and Blake's deaths. Things are a blur to me of that night and I just wanted to know. So I can lay it all to rest now."

Matthew let out a breath and turned to Alex. He crossed his arms before speaking. "Well...you were being stubborn as usual-"

"I'm sorry. I have gotten better about that, haven't I?"

"Yes, except you still like to interrupt me." He said lightly. Alex gave another apologetic smile before she promised not to interrupt again. "I went to the airport to pick up your grandfather. In hindsight, I should have just stayed with you until Mr. Jensen had gotten back. So I left you alone, assuming Mr. Jensen was to return shortly. I had been banking on hiding right under your enemy's nose to be the best tactic, but have since then changed my mind on that."

Matthew walked back into the kitchen and Alexia followed along. "When we returned, a gun had been fired and I rushed to see what happened. Mr. Jensen was about to pull the trigger, but I did so first and shot Richardson dead. You were in the kitchen bleeding to death. We rushed you to the hospital. They couldn't save your son, but they saved you."

Alexia tried to remember it all. Nope. Still fuzzy. "You said Kaleb was fine." She recalled asking about Kaleb's welfare and thankfully he had been uninjured. Before she got to speak with him again, he returned home. Alexia, too gone in her grief, didn't think to bother Kaleb again.

Matt nodded his head. "Yes, he jumped back in time. He told me that you warned him a split second before and that saved his life."

With a wry smile, Alex shook her head. "It's my fault he almost got shot." There were many things she thought about in since then. So naïve and selfish. A wake-up call to what a juvenile brat she had been. Regardless of the fact that she donated money to worthy charities and did volunteer work, she was far from selfless and mature. Since that realization, she tried her best to change. After her two months in Cabo, she planned to throw herself into charitable works. Maybe she'd finish med school and join the Peace Corp. or Doctors without Borders.

"True. But a part of life is living with regret and trying not to be suffocated by what ifs." Matthew pointed out. He dropped a small kiss on the top of Alex's head. "Don't think about those what ifs. There's nothing you can do about them." He warned.

Aware of the gravity of the situation, Alexia playfully scrunched her nose at Matt. "I'll keep that in mind."

---

With a laugh, Kaleb grabbed his squealing sister. She had been running around the house and daring him to catch her. The door bell rang and she yelled that she got it. He didn't like her opening the front door, so he rushed over and snatched her up. Laughing when he opened the door, he had not expected to find Miss Alexia Whitt standing there.

Alex was surprised, but she smiled brightly. "Hello." She said to the two who looked over with curious expressions. "Sorry, is this a bad time?"

"Hi, I'm Willow. Tell her come in." She jabbed her brother in the ribs.

Although Willow just made nine, she was already very bossy. Kaleb didn't mind so much. He adored his little sister. He also didn't want to admit that he spoiled her too much. While he tried to wrap his mind around Alexia Whitt being there, Willow dragged Alexia in.

"Sorry, come in. I wasn't expecting to have you here." He said quickly as he closed the door behind Alexia, keeping the cold outside.

After removing her shoes and putting it on the rack beside the other footwear, Alex smiled at Willow who said she was very beautiful. "Thank you, sweetie. I'm a friend of your father's. My name is Alexia. And you're probably going to be ten times more beautiful than me when you grow up. Your daddy is going to have to beat the boys away."

Kaleb cringed. Not because of the father statement, but because Willow truly was going to make heads turn when she grew up. Half Tahitian and half French, she inherited the best genes from both sides. With her brown curls, golden skin, and cat like green eyes, Kaleb was dreading the day Willow wouldn't think that all boys were gross. Relief filled him to see Willow's face screw up.

"I don't like boys. They're so yucky." Willow informed Alexia.

Kaleb chuckled. "That's right. They don't get much better either."

"And Kaleb isn't my dad. He's my brother. The best brother in the whole world." Willow beamed a smile of obvious adoration over at him.

The scene touched Alexia. Although an older brother, Kaleb played the fatherly role very well.

"He'll still have to beat boys away with a stick when you grow up." Alex laughed as she followed the two into a very homey living room. Willow bounded off to the kitchen after announcing she was thirsty.

"So uh...what brings you here?" Kaleb asked when Alexia took a seat.

Alexia still smiled as she watched Willow run off. That was definitely a well-loved and happy child. It only made her wonder what Gabriel would have been like around that age. Kaleb's question brought her out of her thoughts.

Her warm, brown eyes settled on him. "I never got to thank you for all your help and it was inconsiderate of me to have waited this long. Thank you for everything you did for me, Kaleb."

Certain he'd never see her again, he sat there shock. Something about long overdue words of gratitude. He wouldn't have held it against her if she just sent a belated thank you card or email or even nothing at all. But here Miss Alexia Whitt was. In the flesh.

"Jesus. You came all this way to say thank you?" He tried to lighten the mood with a laugh. "It's fine, Alexia. You didn't have to go out of your way for that and like I told you back then, I was getting paid for it." Kaleb doubted Alexia knew about his added bonus courtesy of her grandfather.

"And I do remember you saying that you're not good with compliments and it seems with thank you's as well." She pointed out softly to which Kaleb laughed again. Her attention then went to her bag as she dug around for her card. "If there's anything I can do to help, I just wanted you to know that you can always call on me."

Kaleb took the offered card, her hand so soft and warm. He always wondered how soft she was and if she was soft like that all over. Alexia didn't seem as affected by their contact as he. A loud crash in the kitchen followed by an equally loud 'uh-oh,' got both their attention.

He was on his feet and in the kitchen in less than a minute. Alexia followed and he stopped her from walking right into a chocolate milk warzone. Willow had the decency to look guilty as she stood in the middle of the giant puddle.

"It slipped!" She insisted before Kaleb could say anything. "The carton had condensation."

Alexia giggled when Kaleb shook his head.

"Condensation. Where did you learn that word from?" He asked in amusement.

Willow gave a smile now that she knew Kaleb wasn't angry with her. "From school. The windows get sweaty and our teacher told us it's called condensation."

He turned to Alexia. "Sorry, you can wait in the living room if you want. We'll get this cleaned up. You," he pointed at Willow who blinked at him innocently, "you stay there. Don't move."

Expecting Alexia to go take a seat, Kaleb headed down the hallway to grab some towels, a mop and two buckets. When he returned to the kitchen, Alexia had taken off her socks and sweater and rolled up her pants to her knees. It was pathetic really that he thought she had the cutest toes he'd ever seen. Maybe not so pathetic since Willow thought so as well.

"Oh those are so cute!" She pointed at the rhinestones on Alexia's toenails.

Alex cringed. "Yeah, my friend, Clara, took me out to a spa day before I left London." It had been what Clara called 'the first step to forgiveness'. So depressed, Alexia ignored her good friend at every turn. She was making amends now. Although Alex hadn't wanted to do a spa day, Clara demanded. "We got matching pink flowers."

"Kaleb, can I get something like that? Please."

Kaleb snorted and then raised a brow. "You emptied the entire gallon of chocolate milk onto the floor and you want me to bring you to get your nails done?"

"Yes?"

Alexia easily intervened. "I can bring you if you'd like. I'm going on a trip for a couple months and I'll need a girl day after that. We can have a girl day when I get back if you want to."

"Two months!" Willow burst out and then quickly apologized after her brother started in with her first and middle name. "I didn't mean it like that, Kaleb. Just...two months?" She repeated as if she had been told a whole year.

Alexia laughed and touched Kaleb's arm before he could scold his sister. "No, its okay. She's right. Two months is a long time. How about three weeks? Will three weeks be okay?" She asked.

Willow looked over at Kaleb worriedly. He didn't seem too upset, so she accepted. "If that's okay with you..."

"It is more than okay with me, sweetie." Alexia assured her new friend. "Now, we should get this cleaned up before your brother says we can't go."

Kaleb cracked a smile. "That's right."

So Alex grabbed the towels from Kaleb and tossed one to Willow who quickly went to cleaning up. Alexia wiped up what Willow missed while Kaleb kept insisting she let him do it. With a laugh, she had replied that he could do the mopping to make sure the floors weren't sticky. They put the chocolate milk drenched towels into the buckets and Willow showed Alex to the wash room. Kaleb filled his bucket up halfway with hot water and he added some Pine-Sol.




To Be The Last Ch. 06



Willow and Alexia passed Kaleb in the hallway on his way to the bathroom to empty out the dirty water into the tub. When Kaleb joined the two females back in the kitchen, Willow sat on the counter as Alex puttered around in the kitchen.

"I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen. I offered to make some hot chocolate and I'm pretty sure you don't want Willow working the stove." She told Kaleb.

He looked on the counter where she laid out the sugar, Nesquik, and regular milk. "I don't mind. I just feel bad that you helped clean up and now you're making my baby sister some hot chocolate. I'm the host here."

"And I'm an unexpected guest. I can make some hot chocolate for you too. Do you have evaporated milk?"

Kaleb figured it would be easier not to fight with her. "Yes, we have some." He went over to the cabinet and pulled out a couple cans. "I've never had hot chocolate with evaporated milk."

Alexia looked over her at Kaleb as she washed out a big pot. "Then you are missing out. My nanny used to make this for me all the time."

"Nanny? Is that like a babysitter? I have a babysitter when Kaleb has to leave for work. She's really nice." Willow glanced at Kaleb and cupped her hands over her mouth. "She lets me eat candy and sleep late." She whispered to Alexia.

Alexia's mouth curved into a smile. "My nanny let me do that, too." They both giggled. "Now, I'm going to teach you the hot chocolate secret recipe. When you get old enough to use a stove, you should make this. It can get pretty chilly up here in Lakeview. I grew up in Northern Spain and the nights were cold."

"You don't have an accent." Kaleb noted as he handed her a can opener.

Alex placed the partially water-filled pot on the stove and turned the dial. She took the can opener. "Thank you. Well, I used to live in New York up until I was five. My nanny was American and she moved with us between America and Spain. She had a hard time learning Spanish and she couldn't understand the accents so well either, so even though I learned Spanish, I had the most American English accent in all of Santander. I pick up on languages and accents easily. When I'm in England for more than a month, I'll sound like a total Brit." She laughed.

Willow tilted her head. "Kaleb makes me learn French and Tahitian because he says I should know my heritage. I'm adopted."

"Really? Me too!" Alexia said with a big smile over at Willow. "My grandpa adopted me. Not quite the same thing, but close." She handed a measuring cup, a bowl and the chocolate powder to Willow. "You'll be my little helper okay?"

Kaleb watched as the two worked in the kitchen together. Willow had fun measuring the sugar and Nesquik. He was eventually recruited to help pour the milk into the measuring cup Willow held. Alexia told him to watch out for the condensation and although Willow was young, she was sharp. She scolded them for making fun of her.

By the time the hot chocolate finished, Willow hopped around in excitement. Kaleb had to admit that it did smell pretty good. They got out the marshmallows and whipped cream. While Alexia and Willow put a mountain of whipped cream on theirs, Kaleb just opted for a couple marshmallows. Having Alexia around wouldn't be so bad. He hoped.

---

Current day...

Kaleb returned to his rented room in a daze. He didn't expect Alexia to jump at him the moment he entered. Pasting a smile on, he hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

"I thought you were going to be out shopping all day."

Wrinkling her nose, Alex shook her head. "The heat was killing me. I've grown spoiled up in Oregon. I just talked to Willow. She isn't too fond of camping."

Although Alex only lived in Lakeview for three months, she had quickly acclimated to the cool weather. When she got back from Cabo, she fulfilled her promise of a girls'-day-out with Willow. A week stay turned into two weeks and then three weeks until Willow cried that she didn't want Alexia to leave. The house next to Kaleb's went up for sale and Alex took it as a sign to relocate to Oregon. Honestly, they were at each other's houses so often that it would have been practical to just live in one house.

About a month ago, Kaleb asked Alexia out on a date. Their dates usually involved Willow since the little girl had a knack for inviting herself along, but on the several occasions Kaleb and Alexia were alone, they found that they really clicked. Alex asked to go along with Kaleb to Las Vegas for the long weekend while Willow went on a school trip. They both knew that Alexia's decision to follow Kaleb meant she was ready to take their relationship to the next level.

With a small laugh, Kaleb made his way over to the desk. He dropped his briefcase and then took a seat. Alex immediately perched herself on his lap and looped her arms around his neck.

"So, how did the meeting go? You look exhausted." Alexia frowned.

Kaleb didn't want to tell Alexia about Blake. He wasn't positive that he wouldn't lose her. "It went pretty well. I think I can find this guy Mr. Greene is looking for."

"Isn't this more bounty hunting than you're used to?"

A sigh. "Just a bit. Really, I'm just doing some digging and Mr. Greene will send someone to deal with the perp."

"Perp?" Alex repeated, on the verge of giggles.

Kaleb raised a brow and rested his hands on her hips. "What's wrong with saying perp?"

Shaking her head, Alex dropped her voice to playful seductiveness. "Oh nothing. I like when you get all PI lingo on me."

"Well, I am more than happy to oblige, ma'am." Kaleb grinned before he pulled Alexia closer and kissed her softly on the lips.

Alexia purred as she wiggled in Kaleb's lap. They had gotten into heavy petting before and went just a bit farther a few days ago. She hoped that they could go all the way on this trip.

Their kiss grew deeper. Kaleb cupped Alex's cheek with one hand, her front pressed to his chest. He swallowed her sigh when his other hand slipped under her shirt to skim over her smooth skin. When he broke the kiss, Alexia's lips were wet and kiss swollen.

"Want to order room service?" She whispered, her fingers gently pulling the hair at the nape of his neck.

Kaleb knew what that meant and damn did he want to. He really hated himself for being such a good guy. "Alex," Kaleb began, "there's something I have to tell you."

By Kaleb's long exhale, Alexia knew the news bothered him. "Alright. What's wrong?"

The concern on her face squeezed at Kaleb's heart. "What are your feelings towards Blake?"

"I'm not sure what you mean." Alexia's brows drew together in confusion. "It's been three years since I lost him. I think I've finally laid the past to rest though. I wouldn't have agreed to go out on a date if I was still mourning him." She and Kaleb had spent many late nights talking about the hardships of their pasts.

Kaleb felt little relief. "If it turned out that Blake is still alive...would you go back to him?"

"I-" She paused and decided to be honest. "I don't know."

"Am I the reason for your indecision?"

Frustration started to build. "Yes...no, I don't know. I'm involved with you and Willow now. Who is to say if Blake was still alive that he'd be the same person I knew from three years ago? Kaleb, I don't understand why you're asking me this. What happened today?"

He forced the words out. "Blake isn't dead, Alexia. I bumped into him today at Peter Greene's office. He thought you were the one dead this whole time."

A pained cry ripped itself from her throat. She covered her hands over her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. She didn't doubt Kaleb's words and she already knew who was responsible.

---

Clara got off the phone and put her hands on her hips. She looked over at her husband as he gave her a blank expression. With narrowed eyes, she stood in front of him.

"That was Alexia. She's distraught at what you did."

He kept his expression blasé. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean. She's always upset at me for something or another."

In the twelve years they had been married, Clara knew how to read her husband. "Don't you dare start with that, Matt."

With a shake of his head, Matthew motioned over at the chair across of him. His gorgeous wife took a seat and crossed her arms over her chest. He really did love Clara. Since the first day they met twelve years ago, he knew she was the one. He asked her out although it was against all protocols and they eloped three weeks later.

Unfortunately, business made it so they had to keep their marriage a secret. When Clara went on her scheduled vacations, Matt would conveniently be gone as well. It was a surprise no one figured it out before. Seeing as Clara's decision to retire next month would allow them to be more open with their relationship, Matt didn't bother with being discreet anymore.

Matt reached over for Clara's hand and she reluctantly let him press his lips to the back of her fingers. "I don't know what she's mad about this time. Honest." Although Alex had been trying to call him for the past hour, he was on vacation with his wife damn it. They hardly saw each other through the year and Hell if he was going to get dragged back to work.

"Kaleb met Blake by accident and Alexia knows." Clara said. "I can't believe you didn't tell me Blake is alive."

Great. Now he had a wife a pissed off at him because he not only withheld information from her, but also hurt her best friend. He didn't even want to think about how furious Alexia would be. "I knew I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance."

Pulling her hand from his, Clara smacked him hard. "Don't even go there. Why?"

"When Alexia was in the hospital, Dane swore that he wasn't letting Blake near her again. We both agreed that those two were too dangerous together. It was either kill Blake or make him go away. I told Blake that Alex and the baby were dead so he didn't try to look for them. Then I told Alexia that we found Blake's body. If she knew he was still alive, she would have spent her entire life looking for him."

Clara locked gazes with Matthew. "If two people are meant to be together, the universe will find a way to get them to each other. You and Dane think you can play gods over people's lives. When Gabriel died, Alex needed someone. She needed Blake. And now it's heartache all over again."

"That was not our intention. How were we supposed to know they'd find out about the other?" He held his hand up quickly to stop Clara. "Yes, I know. Fate set in motion." His wife always was the closet romantic. "What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing!" She exclaimed. "Don't do anything. If Blake and Alexia get back together, leave them alone."

Matthew reached for his cell to make a call. "I'll try to reason with Dane, but I can't make any guarantees." He dialed the number and waited. "Where do we stand?" He asked Clara.

Her reply told him exactly where he'd be spending the night. "The couch doesn't look too uncomfortable."

---

Peter saw how distracted Blake was and told him to take a couple days off. Since Blake never took vacation or had a sick day, Peter wouldn't fuss over it. And Blake didn't argue. No questions, just the way Blake preferred. Even the usually nosy and opinionated Gutierrez kept his mouth shut.

The drive home blurred into the space between the discovery of Alexia being alive and him staring at the picture of her he kept in his home office. Mixed feelings churned in his chest. At one point, it felt difficult to breathe.

His cell buzzing on the counter caught his attention. A new text. Flipping the phone open, a pang of shame assaulted him when he realized it came from Piper.

Waiting for my connecting flight. Hope you had a good day at work. See you in a few days. J

Blake's hand closed around his phone tightly. He inhaled deeply before typing out a text to Piper. No sooner did he type out the text that he deleted it and called her instead.

Her cheerful answer added to his growing guilt. "Hey, Blake. I wasn't expecting for you to return my text with a call. What's up?"

"Piper, we need to talk about last night and I don't think it can wait until you're back."

Blake could hear all the background noise, but Piper remained quiet for a few moments.

"Okay. What about last night did you want to talk about?" She finally spoke.

He really didn't want to hurt her. "You know there can't be anything between us right?"

"Blake...we agreed that I'd only take what you're willing to give." Her attempt at nonchalance didn't fool either of them.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, but there isn't and won't ever be anything more than friendship between us, Piper. What happened last night won't happen again."

He heard the way her voice hitched when she replied. "I completely understand." She was quiet again and Blake wanted her to be the first to hang up. "Is it because of her? Alexia?"

Blake owed her the truth. "Yes. I found out today that she's alive. I'm sorry-"

Piper interrupted. "Oh please don't apologize, Blake. You love her and you'll always love her. If anything, I should think that's romantic."

"Piper," He said softly, "you'll find someone for you one day."

Her throat hurt from keeping herself from crying. "I hope someday soon before I lose my looks. Otherwise, there'd be no hope in me snagging a guy."

Blake's shame intensified at Piper's effort to cheer him up. "That's not true. You're a wonderful woman, Piper Amanda Greene. Any man would be lucky to have you."

"But not you." She whispered. "I don't think I'll be seeing you in a few days after all. Goodbye, Blake."

"Goodbye, Piper."

After she hung up, Blake carefully placed his cell phone down. A pounding headache developed in that eight-minute conversation. Although still early in the evening, Blake popped a couple of Motrin pills and lay awake in bed until he at last fell asleep the next morning.

---

Alexia wished she had more time. Since they promised Willow they would pick her up from school the next day, tonight was the only chance she had to meet with Blake. Kaleb set up the arrangements as Alexia didn't trust herself talking to Blake just yet. While Kaleb spoke to Blake, she made the reservations at Pinot Brasserie for a table in the corner.

After they got dressed, they decided to walk down the strip to the restaurant. When they reached the entrance of the place, Kaleb stopped walking. Alexia looked up and knew why he stood there.

"I should let the both of you have some privacy." Kaleb forced a smile. "You look beautiful, as usual."

Alex's brows drew together as she thought of what to say. "Kaleb, I don't know what will happen tonight-"

"It's okay, Alexia." He cut in. "I'll see you in a bit."

They both heard the uncertainty in his voice. Alexia wasn't so sure herself, but she nodded. "Yes. I'll see you in a little bit."

An awkwardly silent moment passed before Alexia turned and went into the restaurant and asked for her table. She glanced behind and saw Kaleb still standing there. He gave her a reassuring smile and waved before he took a step back.

"Ms. Whitt, I have you down for a reservation of three. We have someone from your party already seated."

Alexia's attention immediately went back to the hostess. "There will only be two of us dining tonight." She found herself replying. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as the hostess motioned over for one of the waiters to show Alexia to her table.  

Skin prickling in awareness, Alexia followed the waiter to a shadowed corner. Someone stood as she approached. Her palms felt damp as the man went around the table to pull her seat back for her.

Stopping in front of Blake, Alexia found herself gazing up into those beautiful green eyes that haunted her in the years passed. Memories flooded back and her eyes began to itch.

"Blake." She whispered.

He looked so familiar and yet not. There were more lines on his face. He didn't look as easy going as he had three years ago. His eyes held a hint of hardness. Still...she remembered those eyes filled with so much tenderness and intensity.

"Ça fait un moment. Tu m'as manqué." Blake saw a mix of emotions cross her face. She looked well, albeit smaller than he remembered.

"It has been awhile." She agreed. "I've missed you, too." After taking her seat and receiving a menu from the waiter, they were left alone.

Reaching across the table, Blake took her hand. She was still as warm as he remembered, still as lovely. Her chocolate eyes softened and she squeezed his hand.

"There is much to talk about. Je ne sais pas where to start." His accent thick, emotion filled.

"Then I'll start." Alexia inhaled a shaky breath. "When you left...Richardson found me. I was there alone. I threw a fit about going with Matthew to the airport to pick up my grandfather. Richardson grabbed me and thought you were hiding somewhere. Kaleb returned and we all got into a fight." She paused. "I was stabbed in the stomach. The doctors say I can't have children. I was so stupid, Blake. It's my fault Gabriel died."

Blake shook his head. "No, Alexia. That is not your fault. Richardson would have killed you either way. I should have been there. I went to empty one of my accounts. I thought we could elope."

Another waiter returned to their table to ask if they wanted anything to drink. Alexia let Blake pick out a wine and they returned to their conversation.

"Matthew told me you were killed."

"Matthew told me you and Gabriel were killed." Blake gave a humorless smile.

Her fingers tightened around Blake's. "And that is the story of what happened. What have you been up to?"

"I made my way to Las Vegas on a lead for one of Richardson's partners. I needed a job and I got one bounty hunting for Peter Greene. I've been looking for Theodore Mills and Nguyen Le." Richardson's other partners had already been caught.

"Blake," Alexia began, "none of Richardson's partners are alive. My grandfather made sure of that." Usually her grandfather gathered enough information on people to get them convicted for multiple life sentences, but not this time.

Blake shook his head. "No, Mills and Nguyen are still out there. I've been following trails..." Then it clicked. "I've been getting false leads." It made sense that Dane would blame Blake for everything that happened. He'd probably have Blake chasing false leads for the rest of his life. And here Blake thought that not touching any of his other accounts kept Dane from finding him.

"It must have been my grandfather and Matthew." Alexia confirmed Blake's thoughts. "I'm so sorry. Had I known you were alive-"

"I know, Alexia. Me too."

The waiter was back again with their wine. Releasing each other's hand, Alexia and Blake pulled back to their sides of the table as the waiter poured the wine. Looking between the two, the waiter asked if they were ready to order. Neither had an appetite, but they ordered their dishes so the waiter would leave.

"What about you, Alexia?" Questions swamped his brain. He wanted to know everything. His anger at Dane and Matthew was barely held in check. He thought of Alexia waking up alone in the hospital to be told that Gabriel was dead. Blake should have been there to comfort Alexia. But then she was told that he died as well.

"My grandfather had me move back to London. I never left the house for months. I didn't want to be part of the world anymore. He sent me to live in the country where yours and Gabriel's graves were at. It's a bit morbid to think of your grave when you're sitting in front of me. Being there helped me. Healed me. I spent hours out at the graves and then I went traveling to all the places listed in your portfolio." Alexia admitted. "It made me feel closer to you like I understood you better."




To Be The Last Ch. 06



Blake frowned slightly. "Where does Kaleb fit into all of this?"

Alex swallowed. "After I went on my trips, I paid him a visit to thank him for helping me find you. I met his baby sister and I grew attached to her." Matthew told Alexia that after Gabriel's death, Alexia's need to be a mother to someone was stronger than ever. "Three months ago, I moved to be closer to them and a couple months after that, Kaleb and I started dating."

"Run away with me, Alexia." Blake said suddenly. "I have other accounts and investments. We can run away to anywhere you want. If you want children, we can adopt."

Her heart sank. "I'm sorry, Blake. I can't. I have a little girl who trusts me to be there for her. There are other people involved who would get hurt. It isn't just about me and you anymore. I need time to think about this. I need-" Alexia was interrupted as her cell started to buzz. She reached into her bag to put her phone on silent when she recognized the number. "Excuse me, I have to take this."

Blake stood when Alexia did as she excused herself from the table. She left for the lobby so she could take the call. He sat back down and wondered how the hell he was going to win her back. Her words sounded strained as if she forced them out. As if it was what she felt obligated to say even though she might feel differently deep down.

Shortly after, Alexia arrived back at the table. She looked panicked. Blake rose from his seat and reached for Alex, but she stepped out of his reach as contact would push her over the edge. He dropped his hand.

"What's wrong?" He asked instead.

"It's my grandfather. He had a heart attack. I think he found out we know about each other." She tried to joke, but almost choked on a sob.

Explaining to the waiter that something urgent happened, Blake paid for their uneaten meal and then he and Alexia exited. "I'll get you to the airport." He recalled she carried her passport with her wherever she went.

"It's alright, I'll catch a cab there, I um..."

They reached outside and Alexia spotted the line of available taxis out in front. Blake took Alexia's hand and pulled her to him. She tensed before hugging him back desperately. They stood there holding each other for a long time.

"I love you, Alexia." Blake whispered into her hair.

She pulled away. "I need to go, Blake." There were things she needed to see to and get done before she did anything about Blake.

Before he could stop her, Alexia rushed to the line of cabs waiting and got into the first available car. She made a call to Kaleb and forced herself not to turn around to look at Blake.

---

"Willow's finally asleep." Kaleb said when he entered the living room. With Alexia gone for a week to see her ill grandfather, Willow had missed Alexia and stayed up way pass her bedtime to celebrate Alexia's return.

"Kaleb, we didn't have a chance to talk about Blake." She decided to get right into it.

Taking a seat across of Alexia, Kaleb exhaled. "I know. Alexia before you say anything, I want you to know that whatever your decision, I support you."

Alex gave a weak laugh. "Why are you such a nice guy?"

"That's how my parents raised me. I also already talked with Willow about it. She says you should follow your heart. She's a smart girl."

A soft smile touched Alexia's lips. "She has a wonderful person raising her."

They settled into silence and it was Kaleb who broke the tense quiet. "Go to him, Alexia. You still love him."

Her chin trembled. "I'm so sorry, Kaleb." She sat beside her grandfather's bed for that week and kept thinking how she wouldn't be able to live if she lost Blake again. She just couldn't lose him again. But she needed to bring closure between her and Kaleb before she went to Blake.

"Don't be sorry. We can't help who we love." His voice hinted that the same problem afflicted him. "So what are you going to do now?"

"Go back to Nevada. Beg Blake to take me back. Apologize for leaving and being so uncertain."

Kaleb frowned at her plans. Didn't she know? "Alexia...Blake isn't in Nevada anymore. I talked to Peter Greene a couple days ago for business and he mentioned that Blake resigned and left Las Vegas."

Alexia's brows drew together. "Really?" Well, she would just have to find him then. Even if that meant getting her grandfather and Matthew to tell her where Blake went.

"Do you want me to find him for you?"

She looked over at Kaleb and shook her head. "I couldn't ask that of you." Kaleb truly was such a nice guy. "I have to make some traveling plans it seems. I'm going to keep my cell number the same in case you or Willow want to call and I'd love it if I can come and visit you two sometime." She added hesitantly as she rose.

"You're always welcomed here, Alexia." Kaleb assured her as he stood to walk her back to her place next door. "Not to mention, Willow would demand you visit all the time for your girls'-day-out."

She laughed her first real laugh in days. "That's true."

---

Splashing cool water on his face, Blake enjoyed the refreshing jolt. He wiped his face with a clean towel and then tossed it onto the porch. Outside, he worked on fixing up the country home his mother left to him. Since Dane and Matthew already knew his whereabouts, Blake cashed in some of his investments and headed to Quincy, France. He still remembered the trips to Annecy that he took with his mother. His mother adored Annecy, the place of her birth and childhood.

Alexia said she needed time to think and after four days of nothing, Blake wondered if she would ever come back. He needed his own time of reflection and healing. When he thought Alexia and Gabriel were both dead, he didn't let the wounds heal. The pain kept him going on his vendetta. This was the best place for him to start his healing.

A rental car pulled into his driveway and he shook his head. Probably some lost tourists. He started towards the car and the door flew open. His heart started to thump faster as he spotted glossy black hair. His feet moved faster on the gravel. She turned to look at him and her brilliant smile made his heart ache.

"Blake!" Alexia cried and rushed towards him, leaving her car running and the door open.

Their bodies slammed in contact, neither had slowed soon enough to prevent it. His fingers laced through her hair and her arms wrapped around him tightly. Her bottom lip trembled, trapped between laughing and crying.

"I drove pass Quincy twice! The stupid GPS wasn't worth what they charged me." She blubbered.

Happiness bubbled up in Blake. He laughed until his cheeks were wet. Alexia's hands wiped at his hot tears before she cupped his face and she pulled him down for a kiss. The moment their lips touched, he felt whole once more. Having Alexia in his arms again was paradise to him.

A long moment later, Blake broke the kiss and cradled Alexia's beautiful face in his hands. "How did you find me?"

"I made my grandfather make Matthew tell me where you went." She said breathlessly. Her heart was going to beat out of her chest. "I love you, Blake. I've always loved you. I had to end things with Kaleb before it was right for me to tell you that I love you. I love you so much."

"Moi aussi, je t'aime. More than you'll ever know." He replied and picked her up, making Alexia squeak in surprise.

Carrying her to the house, he kissed her briefly to silence her words about leaving the car like that. He didn't give a damn about the car. All he wanted was the both of them naked and in bed. He wasn't letting her out of bed until every cell in her body knew just how much he loved her.

They reached the bedroom and Blake carefully placed Alexia to sit on the edge of the high bed. She unzipped the back of her dress while he tore off his shirt and removed his pants to be completely naked. Kneeling at her legs, Blake helped Alexia tug the dress down, revealing inch by delicious inch of her soft skin. His lips trailed after the material. He kissed her neck and down to the tops of her breasts.

With the dress at her waist, Blake reached behind to unclasp Alexia's bra. He slid the straps down her arms, goosebumps rising. Taking his time, he kissed her nipples and nuzzled them before taking one into the wet hotness of his mouth. As he licked and sucked on one nipple, his hand played with her other nipple, circling and pinching.

Pulling away, Blake continued kissing down her body. Alexia lifted her hips so he could push the bunched dress and her panties off. When his lips moved even lower, a small voice in the back of her head made her remember the scar. He felt Alexia tense when his lips pressed against the healed wound on her stomach.

"Do you find any of my scars repulsive?" He asked her softly.

"No!" Alexia replied fiercely, causing Blake to smile.

He ran his tongue over the smooth, raised flesh. "Then don't even for a second think that I am bothered by your scars."

Touch by the tenderness of the moment, Alexia could only nod. She threaded her fingers through his hair while he pushed her thighs wide apart and lowered his head. A shiver ran through her when he inhaled deeply before placing a kiss on her throbbing clit. She was already so aroused and wet.

One of his hands curved around her ass to pull her closer to the edge of the bed while the fingers of his other hand glided over her moist slit. He slid one finger into her and began to play his tongue around her clit. Soon two fingers penetrated her and Alexia rocked towards him as a light sweat broke over her heated skin.

Blake curved his fingers as he moved them in and out of Alexia with that deliberately maddening pace he loved to torture her with. Her breathing grew harsher, those barely restrained pants and mewls of hers set his blood on fire. He pressed against that spongy part that made Alexia whimper as her hips shot forward. His sucks grew harder and he flicked his tongue over her clit faster.

"Blake," Alexia gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair. Her toes curled and her back arched. She cried out when her orgasm hit, pleasure so intense that she couldn't breathe until she felt as though her lungs were on fire. Inhaling deeply, she felt the waves of pleasure crash through her all over again, making her shiver.

Pulling his fingers out of her, Blake wiped the back of his hand over his mouth. He grinned when she fell back on the bed, breathing heavily. Standing, his heart beat a bit faster when Alexia raised her arms to Blake.

She moved up to the headboard as Blake got onto the bed. Her legs parted and he settled between her thighs. Alexia reached for Blake and pulled him down for a kiss. Their lips moved on each others, sliding and molding in hot urgency. Snaking her hand between them, Alexia wrapped her fingers around Blake's hard cock. Her hand moved on his length and they both groaned. Positioning him at her entrance, she coated the head of his cock in her juices before he started to push into her tight body. He held himself above her, watching the mix of emotions on her face as he penetrated her.

They both held their breaths as their bodies joined. Nothing felt so exquisite. When his cock was completely sheathed in her body, Alexia let out a long pleasurable sigh. Her inner muscles pulled on him, urging Blake to move. She tilted her hips to him in a plea.

"Fais-moi l'amour, Blake." Her hot breath tickled his ear as she told him to make love to her.

He moved slowly at first to savor the feel of their bodies joined, every sensation of that wet friction that stirred his soul into a frenzy. Alexia's knees bent, her heels digging into the sheets and mattress as she matched Blake's steady rhythm. Their slick bodies undulated together. He angled each entry to heighten Alexia's pleasure.

The persistent urge for completion grew more demanding with each stroke. Tingles started down Blake's spine to his balls as he staved off the desperate need to cum. Alexia writhed beneath him, their bodies slapping together in a quicker pace.

Her hands roamed his sweaty back to his firm ass. With Alexia's inner muscles clenching down on him, Blake knew she neared another orgasm. The pleasure-pain of her nails digging into his skin pushed him over the edge. He slammed into Alexia with a loud groan, his hips jerking as he spent himself inside of her.

One hand at the back of his head, Alex pulled his mouth down to hers, swallowing his groans in heated kisses. Soon, their cries of bliss melted into one as Alexia came again.

Both their bodies shivering from their sweat cooling and the aftershocks of their climaxes still thrumming through them, neither dared to move. Blake's weight pressed Alexia into the mattress, but she held him there with her arms and legs wrapped around him.

"No, don't move. Stay." She begged.

Blake's throat was too tight with emotion to reply. He let Alexia hold him, so afraid that he'd wake up alone to find this a sweet dream. The solid beating of her heart thumped against his chest, harmonizing with his own beating heart.

"I'll always stay with you." He finally answered. "You're the first woman I've ever loved."

She wanted everything from Blake just as she wanted to give him everything of herself. "What about being the last?"

Rising enough so he could look into her chocolate eyes, Blake smiled. "The first and the last." He assured her before dipping his head down for another kiss.