Welcome to New Haven (67 page)

“No. I think he’s trying to protect you
and
his friendship with Alex.”

“Why would he need to protect me?”

“He’s known you since you were six, right?” Dev nodded in reply. “Alex is, maybe, like a brother to him and seeing or ‘saying’ he sees you like a sister protects his friendship with Alex and protects you. Because if, for any reason you didn’t feel the same or, maybe you had a falling out, it may cause bad feeling between you, him
and
Alex.”

“So you’re saying he doesn’t see me as a sister?” asked Dev, a smile spreading across her face.

“I am. But…I think
he
needs to figure that on his own. Somehow I don’t think he would react well to anybody telling him what to do.” She hoped she was right.
 
Ben sure had been watching Dev in the shop as they were having fun with Justin, and he looked as distressed as Alex did.
 

“You’re right there.” Said Dev. “Ben
hates
being told what to do and what to think… ok. I’ll wait. But, he better not take too long though.” She said.
 

“Yeah I know.” Replied Holly. If Ben didn’t get his butt into gear, Dev might agree to a date with somebody, just to piss him off. That wouldn’t end well for anyone.

He needs to wake up
.

They left the bathroom and joined the guys at the table.
 

Holly immediately leant into Alex as he moved his arm for her to cuddle into his side. As he lowered his arm, he laid his hand on her backside and gently squeezed.
 

She snapped her eyes to him and he leant in to whisper into her ear.
 

“Was that little display some payback?” He said as his breath caressed her skin.
 

She gasped and gripped the edge of the table.
 

“Guys, seriously.” Said Ben.
 

“Oh shush.” Said Dev. “They love each other. Deal with it.”

Ben rolled his eyes.

 
Holly licked her lips as she turned to face Alex. She moved her mouth to his ear.
 

“Maybe…But I’m just getting started.” She said before pulling back and kissing his lips. She reached her hand under the table, rested it on his upper thigh, and gently brushed her hand to his inner thigh and back up. Alex jumped in his seat.
 

“Fuck!” He said and Holly gave a satisfied smile.
 

“Guys, come on, keep it clean.” Said Ben with a smirk.
 

“I have no intention of anything other than extreme cleanliness.” Said Holly with a straight face as Dev laughed.
 

Alex put his lips right up to Holly’s ear, and she felt them graze the outer shell.

She shut up instantly.

“Limpio no es divertido.” He whispered in his low, sexy, skin tingling tone.
 

Holly had to squeeze her legs together as a flush of heat travelled there.
 

“Not in here, Alex.” She warned as he threw back his own satisfied smile.
 

Holly took out her phone and handed it to him.
 

“Type what you said.” Holly cocked an eyebrow as Alex took her phone and typed in his comment.
 
He handed it back, and Holly pressed ‘translate’.
 

‘Clean isn’t fun.’ Heat crept up Holly’s neck into her cheeks.
 

“What is it?” asked Dev.
 
Luckily, she hadn’t heard Alex.
 

“Alex, what did you say?”
 

“Erm…I don’t think you want to know, Dev. Honestly.” Said Holly.
 

“Dude. I meant it when I said ‘who are you and what have you done with Alex?” Said Ben, shaking this head.
 

“That…we agree on.” Said Dev.

Once they finished in Cal’s, they went to one of the bedroom stores.
 

Walking through the automatic doors, they walked around and looked at the different mattress types and the number of ‘firmness’ they were.
 

“Holly, come see this. I’ve got this one. It’s a two.” Said Dev, motioning her over.
 

As Holly walked to Dev, a female assistant took no time in approaching Alex.
 

“Hi. I’m Josie. Can I help you?” she’d managed to unbutton the top of her blouse and was swishing her blonde hair back. “I can show you some amazing mattresses.
 
Even help you test them out…” She said, biting her lip and batting her eyes.
 

“Seriously?” asked Alex.
 
He’d had enough. “My girlfriend
just
walked away for a minute, and you say
that
disgusting shit?”
 

The girl looked surprised.

“What? Um…I just thought…” she stuttered.

“Yeah, well don’t.” He said with a repulsed expression. As he turned round, he saw Holly standing, watching the exchange.
 
She was standing eerily calm, staring right at the assistant. Alex took her hand and gave her a gentle squeeze as he stood behind her.
 

“Take your slutty mouth away from my boyfriend.” She said in a flat, menacing tone. “Before I put my fist in it and break all of your fucking teeth.” She was fuming inside and was ready to physically hurt the girl if she tried anything else.
 

“I…I…” the girl said as she looked around.

Holly cocked an eyebrow, and the girl scurried away as fast as her stilettos allowed.
 

“Cheeky cow!” Said Holly as she turned round. “Are you ok, babe?” she asked, immediately calming when she faced Alex.
 

“I am now.” He smiled.
 

“You?” He stroked her cheek and she nodded.
 

“People looking at you is one thing, and I know they’re going to, but
that’s
just…just what…”

Alex knew exactly what Holly meant, and she was trying hard not to talk about it.
 

She closed her eyes tight for a second, and Alex cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers.
 
The assistant had said something Stacey would probably have suggested to him.
 

“I’m sorry.”
 

“Don’t be babe. I was thinking the same thing and it made my skin crawl.” He whispered. “Now… Let’s go check out some bed springs.” He waggled his eyebrows and laughed as Holly’s mouth dropped open.
 

“Alex! Oh my God!” She said.
 

“What can I say? You’re a bad influence, Miss. Edwards.” He said in a low voice.
 

“It’s your fault, Mr. Valencia.” She replied as her skin prickled, and her legs trembled at Alex’s suggestive tone.
 

“Eso es tan jodidamente fantástico.” He whispered into her ear.
 

“Stop it, Alex! Not in here!” She squeaked as he held his tongue between his teeth mischievously. “I really need to learn what you say to me. I have a sneaky suspicion it’s not sweet and innocent.”
 

Alex gasped in mock offence, his hand to his chest.
 

“What? Me? I am
shocked
!”
 

Holly narrowed her eyes.
 

“Hmmmm.” She said, raising her eyebrows.
 

Alex pulled her close, his arms around her waist.
 

“No puedo ayudarme a tu alrededor.” He said.
 

“What did you say?” she asked, breathlessly. Her insides were swirling, and her knees were weak.
 
Hot lava was pooling in her lower half, and she was fighting the urge to rip Alex’s shirt from his body.
 

“He said he can’t help himself around you.” Said Dev from behind them. “I don’t want to know what came before that comment but seriously, you guys are getting some funny looks. So, let’s move it along."

Alex took Holly’s hand and led her around the store, chuckling at their embarrassment.

They looked for Ben and saw that the same assistant was talking to him, and he didn’t look happy about it.

She was a bit taller than the girls, possibly because of the insanely high stilettos she was wearing. She was wiggling about in her sky blue uniform blouse, and a tight black pencil skirt that stopped mid-thigh. They didn’t catch what the assistant said, but her body language gave away the fact that she was flirting with Ben.

Holly saw Dev’s face, and she appeared upset as she was trying to look anywhere but at them.
 

“No, mine is fine and I like it empty and cold.” He said to her.

“What
is
this? Sluts ‘r’ us?” Holly said when she heard Ben’s answer.

She’d taken all of the disgusting comments she could, and seeing Dev upset had tipped her over the edge.
 

“Excuse me?” the girl said in surprise.
 

“First, you try it on with my boyfriend the
second
I leave his side, and now you’re harassing
him?
” She asked with a tone so cold that it could chill the air.
 

“Did you
not
see us all come in together, or are you just so fucking
dense
to think it’s ok to practically spread your legs in front of them? Have some fucking self respect?” She spat. “Oh, and do you realise they’re still in high school? Do you even care? Fuck off!”

The assistant teetered rapidly away.

“I guess that was the ‘don’t piss Holly off’ thing that Em was talking about.”
 
Laughed Dev.
 

They left the store, and Holly was still fuming.
 

“The audacity of that horrible…oomph!” She growled.
 
She was so mad thinking about what the girl had said to Alex, and then she had turned it on with Ben. It made her think about the comments Stacey had made to Alex at school.
 
She felt nauseated.
 

Seeing Dev upset had only made things worse.

Alex put his arm around her and pulled her close as they walked towards the car.
 

“We’re not going there again, babe. And anyway, you are seriously scary. That girl ran away as if she’d seen a ghost!” He said as he grinned.
 

“Hey!” She said and Alex leant in closer.
 

“But, I also think it’s seriously hot.” Holly’s eyes snapped to him in disbelief.
 
How he found her ‘hot’ when she was enraged was beyond her.

Alex flashed his panty melting smile and Holly’s lips parted before biting into the lower.

“Down girl.” He said quietly into her ear, making her breath hitch.
 

“Right. I’m riding in the back with Dev.” She said, and Alex laughed again.
 

“Aw, I’m sorry, babe.”
 

“Oh really? Why do I not believe you? My nerves can’t handle any more, Alex, and I think Dev would like the switch anyway.”
 

Holly’s body was alight and if Alex turned her on with his sexiness any more, she may get arrested for inappropriate behaviour in a public place.
 

“Yeah, it’s cramped in the back, man. I need room for my legs.” Said Ben. Glad he was going to ride comfortably.
 

“Oh, ok.” Said Alex with a pout. He loved that he was able to do that to Holly.
 

He didn’t like the way other girls reacted to him. But with Holly…it turned him on.

A lot.

He didn’t even have to do much either. Just get in close, talk quietly and low… Speak a little Spanish… Kiss her just under…

”Alex?” Said Ben.
 

“What?”
 

“Snap out of it. I asked where are we headed?” Said Ben, shaking his head.
 

“Oh.
 
Dreamworld.”

“Oh my God. How fucking appropriate.” Laughed Ben.

As the girls opened the doors to get in the car, Alex held Holly back, turned her around and kissed her…hard. His tongue seeking hers as he pulled her tight to his body. He let a hand wander, to cup her ass, and he gripped.
 
He looked into her eyes as he pulled away, and saw his own passion reflected in hers.
 

“I needed that.” He said and released her.

Holly let out a shaky breath.

“I need to sit down before I fall down.” She said as she tried to catch her breath. Alex held her door whilst she got in the car, behind his seat. Holly leant towards Dev and they whispered something to each other. Alex got in and as he fastened his seat belt, he felt Holly’s left hand on him.
 

Holly caressed over Alex’s chest, down his stomach, and his waist before removing her hand. She sat forward so her face was next to his head rest, allowing her to whisper to him.
 

“Esto se siente sabroso.” Alex froze as Holly giggled. “Payback’s a bitch.” She said quietly as she sat back.

“Are we going?” Ben asked as Alex’s hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight; his knuckles were white.
 

“Holy shit.” He whispered.

Dev was trying not to laugh as she covered her mouth.
 

Holly had asked for a translation as she got in the car so Dev knew
exactly
what had happened.
 

“What? What’s up?” Ben asked.
 

Holly, taking a different meaning to ‘what’s
up’
 
snorted a laugh that she could no longer hold in.
 

“Nothing. We’re going now.” He said as he started the car.

In Dreamworld, the assistants didn’t bother them after Dev had said…
 

“We’ll ask if we need help, thanks.” As soon as they’d walked in.
 

They walked around and saw a bed the same as Holly’s.
 

“That’s yours.” Said Alex.

Ben and Dev exchanged a look.

“What? We
sat
on my bed. Big deal!”
 

“Mhmm.” Said Dev as she sat down on a bed.