44 Be a tease (2/2)
Xavier interrupted her, ”You're not taking advantage at all if anything I'm the one using you.” He ran his hand through his hair, ”I hate being alone all the time, you accepted what I am so easily…” He set her things down on one of the lounge chairs and pulled her directly in front of him.”I'll say it again, it means more than you can ever know that you accept me for who I am. Please consider staying here a while longer.”
As she stared up into the brilliantly blazing, green eyes staring pleadingly down at her; she couldn't stop the sudden memory of Russ giving her the same pleading look. She turned away from him quickly, ”You don't want me around…” her voice trailed off as she walked into the house. ”I'm not evening joking when I say I'm cursed when it comes to men.”
He grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her around to face him once more, ”Joslyn, I'm not asking for more than you're willing to give right now.I'm a very patent man, I literally have an eternity to wait until you are ready for more…” he moved his hand to her cheek and gently caressed it, ”But until then let me just be here for you as a friend… or whatever else you may need.”
Deciding to give up temporarily on arguing with him she replied, ”I at least need to go down to the bar and get my car and stop by the apartment to get some of my things.”
He released her face with a heavy sigh, ”No problem, I can give you a ride as soon as I change.” He shot her a wide grin, ”I wouldn't mind another bowl of sea slop.”
Joslyn let out a surprised chuckle, ”You mean chowder?”
His grin softened, ”You should never let that smile fade, it's absolutely beautiful.” He watched as her smile faded once more but instead of sadness, he could sense something else. He brushed the stray hair out of her face, as he gazed down into the sparkling aqua pool that had captivated his body and soul only a short time ago. [I will win you over. You will be back in my arms…]
Joslyn watched, mesmerized, as the strange glow from the first night they had met returned.He quickly looked away from her as his hand slid, reluctantly away from her face.
She caught the sleeve of his blazer. He stopped walking and glanced back at her, but she lost the courage to ask the question that had been gnawing at her since she first learned what he was. She looked down at where her fingers still clung to the material, ”Um… I…” She glances back up at him, finding herself again captivated by the glowing orbs.
He gently took her hand from his arm and brought it up to his lips, closing his eyes as he did, ”Go take a shower, I'll bring you in a tee shirt to wear.” He quickly turned away and headed toward the stairs.
[What was that about? It's kind of weird he didn't take the chance to try…. Why am I even thinking about… that… with him…] Joslyn watched as he quickly jogged up the stair, not looking back her way once. [Maybe he's not interested in me in that way anymore… why does that thought bother me? But he did say he wanted to be with me 'forever' on the beach…. I really wish I had more experience in this department!] Joslyn scrunched her brows in frustrated, contemplation as she turned to walk toward the guest rooms.
A light tap on the bathroom door brought Joslyn's troubled thoughts to a halt. [Crap I think I forgot to lock the door!]
”Hey I left it on the bed for you, come out into the kitchen when you're ready,” Xavier called through the bathroom door. ”If there's anything else you need, you should be able to find it in the cabinet in there. The maid keeps it pretty well stocked, I believe.”
She listened as the door to the main guest area closed. She let out the breath, she hadn't realized she was holding. ”I need to relax.” She shook her head and pushed herself up out of the water she had been soaking in and retrieved a fluffy white towel from the rack.She shook her head as she stepped out of the tub. ”Shouldn't I be happy that not all men are as sexually aggressive as Russ…” She let her eyes trail over the small gash along her hairline, to the nearly healed claw marks along her upper jaw, then down to the bite mark resting on her shoulder.”I seriously need to rethink this whole situation….but... but... I just... can't...” She traced the outline of the mark on her shoulder as a lone tear tracked down her cheek. Without looking back at the sad reflection in the mirror she headed out of the room to get dressed.As promised Xavier had left her clothes neatly folded on the edge of the bed.[He's such a kind, gentle person…. The kind of person I SHOULD want to be with… A pain-free lover… but… I… don't want to move on…. Not yet…]