The ride back to the hotel was pure torture for AJ. The only thing different about this trip and the very first night he found her was the fact that it wasn’t storming…at least not outside. There was a storm raging inside him and AJ struggled to figure out how to deal with it. As he drove, he stole glances at Stormy who remained silently pressed against the door. He knew she was scared and confused and he knew he was completely to blame.
On her side, Stormy was dealing with the same storm that AJ had raging. She knew he loved her but he got so angry. What Sarah had said kept echoing in her mind as well. She didn’t want to lose him, not now that she’d found love.
Reaching the hotel, AJ pulled up front and jumped out leaving the car running.
A valet met him on the passenger’s side and handed him a claim slip as he said, “I won’t be needing it until late tomorrow afternoon.”
“Very good, Mr. McLean. Enjoy your evening.”
AJ opened the door and extended his hand to help Stormy out of the car. He held his breath waiting for her to take it and when she did, he let out a sigh of relief. As she stood, she looked into his eyes and he saw that look that terrified him, the same look she’d had when they first met. Despite the obvious fear and confusion, she allowed him to lace his fingers with hers as they walked into the hotel together. On the elevator, she even went so far as to put her head on his shoulder. Maybe he hadn’t lost her but she wouldn’t say a word.
As AJ closed the door behind them, he watched her and knew he couldn’t push her. Reluctantly, he said, “Howie won’t be back tonight. I’ll take his bed.”
She didn’t say anything and didn’t give him any sign that she wanted it any other way. Instead, she headed to their bedroom to get ready for bed leaving him standing in the living room.
Shit!! Sarah managed to really fuck up tonight! He moved to the in-room bar and stood staring. Would it really make him feel better? What would Stormy do if he did? How would she know anyway? She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want me with her tonight.
First a few cubes of ice, then he reached for the bottle of Jack Daniels that sat on the end of the bar. As his hand touched it, hers covered his. Soft and tender but there was no mistaking that she didn’t want him to do this.
Looking down at her, she said softly, “It’s not going to make things better. You are the only one who can do that.”
“But what do I do? How do I make it better?”
“Tell me that being a virgin doesn’t matter to you.”
“I can’t do that, Stormy.”
Thrown off guard by AJ’s response, Stormy felt like she couldn’t breath. “What?” she choked out.
“I can’t tell you that you being a virgin doesn’t matter because it does.” Giving up the desire for the drink, AJ took her hands in his and led her to the couch. Pulling her into his lap, AJ pulled her tight against him and took a deep breath. “Danielle, the fact that you are a virgin means the world to me. You haven’t been with any other man and if we make love, you’ll be giving me something special. This sounds so old fashioned and it’s definitely double standards, but I’ve ALWAYS dreamed of marrying a woman who had saved herself for me.”
“But Sarah said….”
“Forget what Sarah said. She never knew my deepest desires. You and I have spent more time in the two weeks we’ve known each other talking and sharing than I did the entire two years I was with her. Besides, experience isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially the way it’s obtained.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sarah slept with every man she thought could help her with her career. Things between us started going south when I found out she was sleeping with one of the guys I’d lined up to produce her while I was in rehab but I tried to get past it. I rationalized that I’d driven her to it with my drinking and drug use and I asked her to marry me. She didn’t stop there. She slept with several more record execs I knew and they made sure to tell me. When I confronted her about it, she told me that she was only with me because of my name and the fact that I was in the business and that’s when we broke the engagement.”
“But it was in the tabloids that you were the one who cheated on her.”
“Yeah, it was and that was because Sarah or her friends always made sure to let it slip to the press all my indiscretions, especially after I broke it off with her.”
“So it was all her?”
“Not necessarily. I was just as guilty because of my addictions.”
“Then why were you going to take a drink earlier?”
“It’s all I know. Something goes wrong in my life, I take a drink, snort a line of coke...whatever I can find to make the pain and hurt go away.”
“But why do you feel pain and hurt now?”
“Because of what Sarah said to you…the way she made you feel and I thought I’d lost you. She was looking for a way to destroy my happiness so she went after you and she found your one insecurity.”
Stormy tucked her head against his shoulder and played with his necklace. “The only way you’re gonna get rid of me is if YOU say it’s over,” she whispered.
“You listen to me. I want to do this right. I love you with all my heart, Danielle, and one day, I want you to be my wife but YOU are going to have to give me a sign when you think it’s right…the same with making love. I am NOT going to rush ANYTHING!! If it means sleeping in separate beds, fine. If it means cold showers all the time, fine.”
Yawning, Stormy said, “I don’t want you to sleep anywhere but with me, Alex. I like the feeling of your arms around me every night and waking up to the warmth of your body next to me.”
“It does feel good,” smiled AJ. “You’ve had a big day. Why don’t we go to bed?”
“Sounds good to me.” As AJ helped her up, she asked, “Why didn’t Howie come back tonight?”
“He had a little reassuring of his own to do,” grinned AJ guiding her to their room.
“What did Sarah mean by what she said to Kryss?”
AJ went on to explain Howie’s relationship with Kryss as he tucked Stormy into bed and then got ready for bed himself. Snuggling in next to her, he took her in his arms running his hand across the silky material of her gown. Tears of joy that things had worked out slid down silently as he buried his face in her hair. She ran her hands across his arms as he held her and slowly, they both gave in to the exhaustion brought on by all the emotions of the evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Despite the rocky start to their trip, AJ and Stormy still had a wonderful time. AJ poured on the attention and affection leaving no room for doubt about his feelings for Stormy. At the premier, he proudly announced that she was indeed his girlfriend and that he was very much in love with her. And even though they’d both envisioned consummating their relationship, it never happened but they seemed okay with it. They knew that when the time was right, it would happen
