~*~ Love’s Narrow Escape~*~
At ‘Tabu’, Howie was finishing the paperwork for that night when AJ and Andi arrived. He looked up at the two as they entered the office and his first instinct was to be angry with AJ but seeing the streaks on Andi’s cheeks and the glassiness of AJ’s eyes, he realized that wasn’t such a good idea.
"Seth didn’t see you together, did he?"
"No, Marcus just met me at the door and said Raoul followed him to his house."
"Is Marcus sure it was Seth’s house?"
Andi nodded, "It was. They gave the address."
"Cool."
"Has my grandfather called here?"
"No, he hasn’t. The only one who has done anything is Seth. Are you worried?"
"Not really. Unless Seth called him, Grandfather won’t say anything about me being late."
"If he does, just tell him I got tied up with club business and I didn’t want you taking a cab."
Andi looked into AJ’s eyes for reassurance, then said, "No, I’m going to tell him the truth, Howie. I…we appreciate what you’re doing for us but if we have ANY hope of being together, then I have to be honest. I’ve never lied to my grandfather before…stretched the truth, yes; neglected to tell him all the facts, yes….but never out right lied to him."
"Andi and I are going to talk to her grandfather when she gets out of classes…with her mother."
"Smart move."
Andi hugged AJ as she said, "It may only serve to make him madder but at least we will have tried."
Howie watched the two and his heart ached to fix this for them. He had the same questions running through his head that they had and he hoped they could find the answers. Their whole relationship had exploded but there was no mistaking that they were very much in love.
"We need to get you home," said Howie gently.
AJ, his voice trembling, said, "Give me a minute with her…please."
"I’ll wait for you two at the door. Turn out the light when you leave."
Howie left the couple alone in his office.
AJ moved to the desk to lean on the edge pulling Andi with him. She stood between his legs, her hands on his sides as he ran his hands gently over her arms.
"I can’t be long, Alex," she whispered.
"I know."
"Promise me something. If the only way for us to be together is for me to walk away from my grandfather and the tribe, you’ll accept it."
"I can’t, Andrea."
"Alex, please," she begged.
Cradling her face, AJ wiped her tears with his thumbs. When he spoke his voice was raspy with emotion. "Close your eyes, beautiful."
Andi obeyed.
"Feel my kisses on your lips, my hands on your body touching you…your breasts, your stomach, your thighs. Smell me, the sweet scent of my cologne that you love. Hear me whispering all the words you ever dreamed of hearing. Taste me, the salty taste of sweat. See me, my eyes taking in your erotic beauty."
As AJ painted the picture, Andi slipped into it and her body began to react. She felt the rush of warmth between her legs and her nipples hardening.
AJ moved to her slowly, his lips, so soft, touched hers like a butterfly. She opened to take him and his tongue slid in to caress hers. As he made love to her with his tongue, her hands clutched at his sides as if she were falling and he was her only lifeline.
"Go, baby," he gasped pushing her away from him. "Go now before I change my mind."
"I love you, Alex," was her tearful response.
Her hand slid from his as she backed away slowly. Their eyes locked on each other, not wanting to let go. At the door, Andi started to turn to leave but stopped.
"Alex…."
"I love you."
She flashed a sad smile and disappeared down the hall. He wanted to go after her but he didn’t. He stayed where he was running his hands through his hair. He wanted to believe the promises he made her…that they would be together…with all his heart. In a matter of just a few days, his life had taken on a whole new meaning. She loved him so completely and so freely. She craved him as much as he craved her. She satisfied an ache he’d felt for so long but never hoped to ease.
In the car, as they headed through town, Andi closed her eyes to see the picture AJ had painted for her. Lost in the image and memory, Andi didn’t realize she’d actually moaned.
Howie looked over and took her hand. "Andi, you’re in the car…not AJ’s bed."
"Huh?"
"You were daydreaming," laughed Howie.
Andi groaned. "What did I do?"
"Moaned."
Andi covered her face with her hands and scrunched down in the seat. "Oh god! How embarrassing!"
"I think it’s wonderful," he assured as he put his hand in her hair.
"You aren’t gonna tell Alex, are you?"
"Oh, I don’t know. What’s it worth to keep me quiet?"
Andi looked at him and thanks to the streetlights, she caught the twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, you are SOOOO mean!"
Laughing, Howie pulled her to him to hug her, "Nah, but I had you going…and I got you to laugh."
"Thank you," she sighed as she hugged him back. Not moving away from him, she asked, "Howie, do you think Alex and I are going to fast?"
"Are you having regrets?"
"No, no regrets. Its just…well…the way Alex and I met wasn’t exactly the type of first impression that a couple builds a lasting relationship on and then we slept together on our first date."
"Yeah, so? Alex never does things the easy or conventional way. You told him you wanted to follow your heart…you gave him your heart. Love doesn’t make sense and no one can explain it but you know when it’s right. Don’t look back. Don’t try to analyze it. Just trust it."
"You’ve been so wonderful. I don’t know how to thank you."
"By loving my best friend with all you have. He’s a good man, Andi. He’s been hurt before and he doesn’t always make the right choices or do the right things or say the right things but he’s honest in what he does." Stopping at an intersection, Howie looked at her. A teardrop glistened in the light and he could see her jaw trembling. "Don’t cry, Andi," he whispered taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
"I’m scared, Howie. I have NEVER felt this way about anyone. Alex makes me feel so…alive."
Howie smiled, "It’s okay to be scared but trust him. He’s scared too but I promise you, he’s going to fight for you until…."
"Until his dying breath," smiled Andi. "He made me a promise the other day at breakfast…a promise to love me with every ounce of his being until his dying breath, to be together, to be more than a pop star’s girlfriend."
Pulling up in front of her house, Howie smiled, "He’s not gonna break that promise, Andi. Want me to walk you to the door?"
"Nah, I’ll be okay." As she started to get out of the car, she hesitated and looked at Howie. "What about Star and Kim? Weren’t they there tonight?"
Grinning impishly, Howie said, "They’re banned from the club. I fired them yesterday for the trouble they started this weekend. Here, take my card. It’s got my numbers on it. Call me if you need me."
Andi gave Howie a quick peck on the cheek and headed up to the house. He watched until she was safely inside, then headed back to check on AJ. If Andi was this scared, he was certain AJ was too and he wanted to reassure his best friend too.
