Rebound (18 page)

Katrine decided that she wasn’t going to see Xander for the rest of the weekend. She needed to slow this train down a bit. She could spend time with him, but not too much. It could get heavy fast, at least on her end. She could feel a little bonding happening already. That didn’t sound very casual rebound sex to her. 

DAMN IT!

What was she going to do? Sex always changed things…no not things, everything. It might have already been happening before they even slept together. She needed to be honest with herself. Sleeping with him just sealed the deal.

 
Way to go, no strings attached
.
You have really screwed this up big time …dumb ass.

How was she going to save this from becoming a disaster of heart crushing proportions? Distance, plain and simple. She would back off. That was the only way...

Katrine called Xander and got his voice mail.

Thank god!

“Hey, it’s Katrine. Listen, I think I’m going to stay in tonight. A certain someone didn’t let me get much sleep last night, so I’m feeling pretty tired. Thanks again for a wonderful night. It was more than I could have hoped for. I’ll see you on Monday…Bye.”

It saddened her to leave that message. 

“Oh for fuck sake!” 

She screamed and threw her phone in frustration. She groaned and hit the bed a few times. Her phone rang, but she let it go to voice mail. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone, especially him. She went to unpack her bag and saw his shirt was on top. She had taken it by mistake. Well nothing to do about it now, so she put it on and got into her bed. She felt like sulking for a while. Wearing his Yale shirt probably didn’t help the situation. How could she have been so stupid and impetuous?

She was awoken by a knock at her front door. She sprung out of bed, not knowing what time it was. The sun must have gone down a little because her room was illuminated in orange hues. She walked to the door half asleep and not fully coherent. 

Am I wearing pants? Okay, yes.

“Who is it?”

“Xander.”

Well shit…

“Katrine, open the door please.”

She took a deep breath and opened the door. He was looking mouth watering as usual. But his face… she didn’t like the look on it, not at all. He seemed very upset about something. She had an inkling that it had something to do with the message she had left him.

“Well, can I come in?”

“Xander, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What is wrong?” he said, obviously perplexed.

She didn’t say anything.

“Well, can I at least get my shirt back?” He was grabbing at straws.

“Um, ok. Just give me a second to put something else on. Sorry I put it in my bag by accident.”

“Can I come in while you change? Don’t leave me out in the hall like an idiot.”

“Sure, I will only be a second, okay?”

She let him in and asked him to have a seat. She went back to her room and was completely shaken. 

Well, he came over. That was something. And he did seem upset. 

She thought he could have put up more of a fight though. 

She took the shirt off and thought about cleaning the toilet with it first, but knew that would be a bit childish. Plus how would she explain why it was dry one minute and soaking wet the next. She came out with it folded neatly and handed it to him, looking down at the floor. She could not bring herself to look him in the eye.

This sucks.

“Katrine, at least look at me.”

 She slowly raised her head.

“What happened? I thought we had an amazing time. No, I know we did, both of us. What happened between this morning and when you left that message? 

She took a deep breath and started to explain. “Look, Xander, last night was wonderful. But I honestly don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I can do the casual, thanks for the great sex, have a nice life thing. I’m not saying I want a serious relationship either, I don’t. But I’m not sure I can handle getting involved with you, even if it is short term. I’m sorry, but I think it is for the best.” She looked down again.

“God damn it, Katrine! Do you always do what you think you’re ‘supposed’ to? Why can’t you just go with it and let us enjoy each other? Why do you have to mess it up by over thinking it and trying to categorize everything? What we have is phenomenal and I’m not going to let you just end it. How about that?”  He was really pissed. No way he was going to get dumped after the night they had just spent together. 

She wasn’t sure how to respond. So she didn’t, she just stared at him like a mute.

“You don’t have anything to say? That is fucked up, Katrine!”

She finally forced herself to speak, she was just too stunned before.

“First, calm down and stop yelling at me. I’m confused and I was doing what I thought best, slowing things down. I’ve been through a lot emotionally and I just can’t afford to be hurt again, plain and simple.” She crossed her arms in front of her.

The expression on his face softened and he put his hands on her upper arms. “I have no intention of hurting you, Katrine. I care about you. Yes, I live in New York and yes, I will be leaving. But, is it so bad that I want to be with you until then? Why is that so wrong? It doesn’t have to end badly, not if we know what to expect. Please Katrine, please reconsider. Damn it! I hate that I’m begging.” 

After a moment he grabbed her face and tilted her head up to meet his. 

“Please just say yes. Let’s just see what happens… please?” As he said the last please he bent down and kissed her softly, then it became something more desperate, like he was trying to convince her with his mouth. She gave into him and kissed him back, matching his desperation. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but in that moment she just didn’t care. Xander scooped her up in his arms and carried Katrine towards her bedroom.

Chapter 22

When they hit her bed, she didn’t even have time to think. Their clothes were on one moment and they were slamming into each other the next. It wasn’t gentle or sweet. It was frenzied, and there may have been a little bit of anger and frustration in there too.

When they finished, their bodies were slick with sweat and other things. They hadn’t taken time for precautions. That was just careless and stupid, and that pretty much summed up this whole affair for Katrine. But even with that realization, she knew it was too late. They could never go back to the way it was before. The strictly professional relationship no longer existed. 

She had her arm across Xander’s bare chest and one of her legs was draped over his. They were just laying there in silence. Katrine was kicking herself internally. She had gone from trying to slow the train down, to hopping on board and blowing the damn whistle.

“Please trust me when I say that I always use protection and I get regular physicals. I’m sorry I totally lost my senses. I never do that, it was irresponsible. I was just so incensed when I got here. I plead temporary insanity.”

“It’s my fault too, I didn’t even think about it and I should have.” 

Thankfully she was on the pill and he knew it because the topic had come up, awkwardly enough. Well it was awkward for her, but he seemed totally comfortable with talking about it. She was obviously the casual sex neophyte in this scenario. Katrine was on them to regulate her cycles and probably didn’t even need them for contraception. She and David had tried for years for a second child with no success. 

Katrine was totally becoming one of those girls in the novels she made fun of. That was the fourth time she’d had sex in twenty four hours. She needed to give her parts a little siesta.

“I’m still unsure about all this, but I will try to relax. I’m not making any promises Xander. You are used to this fling business, I’m not.”

“This isn’t exactly a casual fling for me either. Do you think I go around begging women to spend time with me? Or do you believe I act like this all of the time?”

“Honestly, I have no idea how you act around other women. This could be some game you’re playing. You are used to getting what you want. I just don’t know. I want to believe you, I really do.”

He leaned up on his elbow and looked into her eyes. “Katrine, you are different than anyone I have ever met and I’ve never acted this way before. I don’t know what that means, but it has to count for something.” 

“All I can tell you is… I am hungrier than hell, and if you don’t feed me soon, I am going to get very violent, very fast...” She smiled up at him, eager to get off of this heavy topic. 

He laughed, “Ok, let’s go eat.”

Hand in hand they walked along the sidewalk, the heat was still oppressive but the intensity had lessened slightly since the sun had gone down. They decided on a little pub around the corner from her house. The dark room was framed with booths along the walls and small round wooden tables in the center. The main bar was lined with dozens of taps, oozing foam. The beer-soaked floor boards offered that familiar pungent odor. It was quaint and lively, especially on a Saturday night. Despite the capacity overflow, they managed to catch a couple in the process of paying their tab. Thankfully they paid and quickly vacated the coveted spot. Katrine got into the booth and was surprised when Xander slid in after her.

“Uh, there’s plenty of room on the other side of the booth, by the way,” she teased.

“Uh, but that side doesn’t have a completely gorgeous woman sitting in it.” He gave her a very convincing kiss.

“Okay, I guess you can stay on my side.”

They both ordered pints and looked over the menu. 

“So what’s good here?” he asked her.

“Almost everything. Their haddock and chips is my favorite, but their burgers are really good too. Oh, and they have an awesome beefeater sandwich with the tastiest au jus!”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I have never been around anyone who enjoys food as much as you do, Katrine.”

“That’s because those stick figure model types you bang in New York only snort their dinner.”

“Wow. I’ve never seen this judgmental and jealous side of you before. It’s kind of a turn on.” He grinned.

“I apologize. I am sure they occasionally eat the olives from their martinis too. And I am not jealous. I am sure the sluts you screw are simply enchanting.” 

“I will tell you this, it will be a lot harder to stomach those sluts after you. You my girl, are one of a kind.” She smiled. That was kind of sweet coming from him. If she didn’t focus on the him going back to New York and banging sluts part...

They continued to drink pints after they had dinner. The atmosphere in the bar was starting to get spirited, so they decided to stay for a while and enjoy themselves. They were doing a lot of snuggling and kissing too, thanks to the secluded booth. Katrine noticed that Xander was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself.

“I’m going to the restroom. Be back.” Xander said, as he gave her a quick kiss and a stroke on her upper thigh. She watched him make the slow weave through the crowd. She was still smiling like a smitten nut case long after he was gone.

“Hey, Katrine.”

When she looked up and saw it was Ian, she almost spit out her beer.  And for once he did not look happy to see her, at all. 

“Hi Ian. How are you doing? It’s good to see you.”

He didn’t answer right away. 

“I wish I could say the same. But really, watching you all night with that guy… has been the exact opposite of good.”

“Ian, please don’t be upset.” Katrine pleaded and reached for his hand. He let her take it.

“Can I help you with something?” Xander said aggressively, as he approached the booth. He was looking at their clasped hands.

“Wait a minute, I know you, don’t I?” Then he looked at Katrine and pulled his hand away, “Isn’t this your boss? What the hell are you thinking Katrine!”

“I don’t know about her, but I’m thinking it’s time for you to step away from our table, before you get your ass handed to you.” Xander said in a low and menacing voice.

“Hey, no one will be handing anyone their ass. Xander, this is Ian.” 

Why she thought that introduction would help the situation she would never know.

“So this is Ian... I am going to say this one time, stay away from Katrine. Do you understand me?”

“I understand that you are a presumptuous asshole. And I can do whatever the hell I feel like, including Katrine.” Ian snapped, the insinuation not lost on Katrine or Xander. 

They were standing two inches away from each other. This was not going to end well unless she handled the situation.

“Oh for God’s sake, what’s next, pistols at high noon? By the way, I’m right here. So you two can stop talking about me as if I weren’t, or as if I belonged to either of you. I am too old for this. Goodnight and goodbye, to both of you.” She grabbed her purse and started for the door. They tried to stop her, but she ignored them both. 

She was small, so she made her way through the crowded pub a lot faster than the two of them. She ripped the door open and started speed walking down the street. Ian was the first to catch her. He grabbed her elbow and briskly whipped her around to face him.

“Katrine I’m sorry, but what am I supposed to think? You say you don’t want to see anyone right now and then I see you here with your boss, all over each other I might add. You said you were interested in me, or was that bullshit?” he yelled.

“No it wasn’t, and I didn’t start seeing him until after we went on that date. He’s leaving at the end of the summer, so we are just kind of having a fling. It’s nothing serious.”

“Bullshit. I know you, Katrine. I saw you, the way you looked at him. He is going to hurt you, I can see it. Damn it! I really care about you. I could even love you if you’d let me. Why would you put yourself through that?” He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her towards him so that they were looking into each others eyes. She let herself fall into his grasp.

Xander was watching the whole exchange. He winced twice. Once when Ian said that he was going to hurt Katrine and a second time when Ian said he could love her. It was time to step in, before this guy did anymore damage. He also wanted Ian to get his hands off of Katrine before he really lost his temper.