Perfectly Star Crossed (3 page)

"Yes, anything to get me away from multiple men wanting to buy me drinks," he laughed quietly.

"You do look beautiful," that caused me to falter in my walking slightly. Beautiful? I had heard men say hot, sexy and other words along those lines, but never beautiful. I recovered quickly.

"You clean up nicely too," he smiled.

"Hey, I'll take what I can get," he said as we reached the middle of the dance floor. He took the hand he was holding on his shoulder as I put my free hand on his opposite shoulder. His hands grabbed my hips and we began to move.

I found myself watching him as we moved together and studied his expression as my hands wandered and my hips moved against his. I was mesmerized by his features, and how he grinned when he liked something I did. Soon he spun me though so my back was against his chest. His hands were like fire on my body, I wasn't repulsed by his touch which was refreshing yet it made me wary. Despite the closeness and the friction, he didn't put his hand anywhere too personal. My feelings about that were contradicting.

The music soon slowed and I again found myself being turned. He took my hands and set them by his neck, running his calloused hands down my arms and back until they settled around my waist. I looked up and found him staring at my face, not many guys looked there.

"Don't let this go to your head, but I like dancing with you," he admitted. I had the feeling he didn't say that much. I shrugged.

"I'll try not to let it get to my head if you don't let the fact that I've never danced with someone as talented in that area as you, get to yours." He smirked.

"Dancing is one of the few things I like to do. It's rare I find somebody who meets my expectations."

"What other things do you like to do? Or is that prying?"

"I think it's a reasonable question to ask when trying to get to know someone," I waited to see if he was going to answer my question. "I like to ride my motorcycle, to read, and to smoke. Those things are my top three next to dancing. What about you?" Should I tell him real hobbies and keep it simple, or lie? I decided to go with the truth.

"I like bubble baths, photography, and purposely stepping on the crunchy leaves in the fall," he busted up laughing and I wasn't sure why. Maybe my answer was a little odd.

"I didn't expect to hear that from you," I raised an eyebrow.

"What did you expect?" His eyebrows came together like he was thinking hard.

"I don't know. You are a mystery to me," I smiled.

"I always will be, unless you are extremely perceptive," his expression was unreadable.

"Do you really believe that?" I nodded. "Well, then I guess it's a good thing I'm extremely perceptive. I'll figure you out, you can't be that complex. I mean, you are a woman," I rolled my eyes and slapped his shoulder.

"Why did you invite me here anyway?"

"To see if you would come. I didn't know if you would or not. I thought if I messed with your pride there would be a better chance, but I didn't know if you would fall for it."

"Well I didn't come just to prove I can dance, which I did indeed prove. There were a couple other reasons as well," I didn't go any further. I would leave him guessing.

"Would you care to enlighten me?"

"No," I laughed at his semi-shocked face. "But only one of the reasons had anything to do with you," his grip on me tightened. I could feel the muscles in his arms and his hard chest against me and my body wanted to react in a way I wasn't about to let it. It was way too soon for that. His face came closer to mine and he brought his lips to my ear.

"Did the reason have anything to do with what you want to do to me?" I involuntarily shivered and felt his lips curve.

"Not at all. I don't even know what I want to do to you," he slid a hand down my butt and leg and back up again to set it on my hip, fingers moving rhythmically.

"I've thought about what I'd like to do to you," I felt heat course through me at the implications of his words, followed by a wave of hate.

"What do you want to do to me? What have you been thinking?" My voice was almost a purr. I smiled in satisfaction when I felt a tremor go through his body as I ran my hands slowly along his torso.

"Probably the same things you've been thinking about me," I doubted it, so I decided to share what I had been thinking.

"You don't know if you want to slap me or screw me? You can't decide if you're intrigued by me or repulsed by me? And you also can't decide if these contradictory feelings are my fault or yours?" My hands balled into fists as I said this, crinkling his nice shirt. His reply was forceful.

"Yes! That is exactly it. You took my thoughts and put them into words," suddenly somebody bumped into me and I realized the music had sped up again. He took my hand in his and led me away from the dance floor.

We stepped outside and I didn't realize how hot I was until the crisp air hit me. It was refreshing. I heard the flick of a lighter and looked up at Isaiah. I was happy to see he looked flushed as well. "Can I bum one? There aren't many places to put them in this attire," I said concerning the cigarette.

"It's menthol," he said it like a question.

"Perfect, I knew not many people liked menthol but I was not one of them. He handed me one and lit it for me. We were silent for awhile. I wasn't quite sure what to say, I usually didn't have to say much at all. Most guys I met talked enough for the both of us. He sighed deeply.

"I've never been in a situation like this," I looked at him questioningly. "I usually stay away from people. It's more for their protection, I'm a dangerous guy."

"I like danger," I did indeed like danger. I fed off of it, and it gave me a rush. Plus, most likely the reason he was dangerous was because of who was after him, and I was on their side.

"I bet you've never been in any real danger," he said skeptically.

"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't," I had to keep that air of mystery around me. Little did he know, like moths to a flame, danger was attracted to me. It comes packaged with the job though.

I saw him moving but didn't do anything to stop him. He moved quickly and pressed me against the cool brick wall. His body was crushed against mine, his hands on the wall on both sides of my face, I could see the lit end of his cigarette and little else.

"If you want to be in real danger, stick around me. I can't promise your safety," he growled. One of my hands slid to the back of his neck and I grabbed it, digging my nails into his skin, bringing his face closer.

"And what if I'm the dangerous one?" I whispered. I heard a soft, humorless laugh and he shook his head. I tightened my grip. "You know nothing about me. I maybe be small, attractive and female, but I'm capable of a lot more than you know," my voice was hard and I had no idea why I was telling him this. I felt him sigh.

"My God, you're beautiful even when you're mad!" His hand came up and stroked the side of my face as he said it. I was again stunned by him saying beautiful. He leaned closer and planted a feather like kiss on the corner of my mouth, the temptation was there to turn my head and get a full on kiss, instead I settled for a weird bubbly feeling in my stomach. I sighed.

"You are so different from any boy I've ever met," a corner of his mouth lifted. "Don't smile! I don't know if it's a good or bad thing yet," he was still so close to me and I felt something I hadn't felt in a very long time: intimidated. I did not like or understand what he was making me feel.

"Where did you park? He asked as he backed away.

"Down the block," he took my hand and we walked toward my car. When we got there he leaned a hip against the car as I unlocked it. I threw my keys into the passenger seat and walked over to Isaiah. "Can I do something?" I asked.

"As long as it doesn't cause any physical damage," I laughed softly before reaching up and running a hand through his hair. It was so soft and silky. I smiled. "Why did you do that?" He asked, amused.

"It's something I'd been wanting to do since I met you," I admitted. I went to get in my car when he stopped me. He cupped my face in his hands. He leaned in and kissed me slowly and gently, and all too soon it was over. I cleared my throat. "Why did you do that?" My voice cracked as I asked, he smiled.

"It's something I'd been wanting to do since I met you," he mimicked. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Good night, Isaiah," I slipped into my car and he held the door.

"Sleep well, Delilah," he spoke before shutting my door. I started my car and drove away. I hated him!

Chapter Seven- Unexpected

My weekend went by slowly. I was spending a lot of time dwelling on my confused feelings. I was pissed. This wasn't supposed to happen to me. Why did I feel this way? So far he wasn't much different from anyone else besides the fact that he didn't try to get into my pants the first time I met him and that he had the same thoughts about people as I did, excluding Emily and maybe others.

I was tempted to see if he was at the club Saturday, to get him to sleep with me so he'd be out of my system. But that would have seemed desperate, and ruined my plan to build a relationship and break him worse. So to occupy my time I went shopping, just because I could. I didn't really need anything, but got some really nice clothes, things I thought would attract Isaiah to me even more.

Monday, I went to school late, just because normal teenagers do it sometimes. I could feel Isaiah watching me, but I didn't say anything to him. I didn't know if I should, or what he expected after Friday.

Finally in history (after a sort of awkward Biology) he talked to me. "Am I always going to have to be the one to start a conversation?" He whispered as the teacher spoke. I looked at him like I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I didn't know you wanted to talk. I thought things were going back to normal. I proved to you I could dance, didn't I?"

"And you thought that is all I wanted?" I nodded. "What about everything that happened after we danced? Like the talk, the kiss, did you think it meant nothing?" I gave him my full attention. I didn't think he'd be the type to think much on those things.

"I don't know Isaiah. I don't know you or what you want… What 
do
 you want?" He was silent.

"I'm not sure," he trailed off, lost in thought.

"Well, I'll be around when you figure it out," I turned back to the teacher and Isaiah didn't say anything for the rest of that class. Sometimes boys are so indecisive.

I was half-way through sixth hour when he came up to me. "I figured it out, what I want I mean."

"And?" He grabbed my hand and I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I want to go on a date with you," I smiled. This was what I needed.

"What do you call what we did Friday?"

"That doesn't count, I was tricking you into a date," I laughed lightly.

"I wasn't fooled, but alright. Where are we going?" He frowned.

"Where do people usually go for dates? I've never been on an official date before, I usually skip that part. Honestly, it's just too much work," I laughed.

"And what makes me any different? Why, all of the sudden, do you want to take me on a date?"

"You said you didn't know me, well, it is a chance for us to get to know each other," I smiled seductively.

"We don't need to go on a date for that," I was satisfied as I felt him shiver.

"Maybe that will come later. But I think you may be special, someone worth going through the trouble of dating for. I want to know about you before I get to know you physically. Which is a change that I don't quite understand yet," this was good. This was what I needed. Not necessarily what I wanted, but what needed to happen.

"So, all you have to do is figure out what we are going to do on the date," he frowned.

"Do you have any ideas?" I smirked.

"Yes, but it's up to you to decide, at least the first time. I want to see how creative you can be," he sighed.

"So dinner and a movie is out of the question?" I laughed.

"If that is what you call creative, you need some work."

"Alright, I'll figure something out. Tonight?"

"Are you that anxious to get to know me or do you just want to get the work part over with so you can 'get to know me'?" He gave me a look, telling me he was not amused. I laughed it off. "I think tonight is possible, what time?" He groaned.

"Dating is going to be hard work!" He said it a little too loudly because all ten or so heads in the library looked at us, shocked. I rolled my eyes and ignored them. "Five 'o clock?" I nodded.

"That works," I found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote my address and number down for him. "How much dating etiquette do you know?"

"Enough to know it is not polite to honk and wait for you to come outside," I smiled at him.

"Good, because I would be disappointed, but we really need to get back to work, this isn't social hour you know," he grinned boyishly.

"Right right. Five 'o clock, go to your door. Will I have to worry about good impressions on parents?"

"No," I could feel his relief.