Masked Desire

Chapter 2

Catlynne was indeed measuring up the two men that accompanied Chris. She could barely keep her distaste to herself as they approached. The two men had no shirts on and she could clearly feel the arrogance radiating from them. She could tell by first glance that these were the type of men she steered clear of and she had taken an instant dislike to them. She watched them, eyes narrowed as they scoped her and Drea out. The one was blonde, cute but had that playboy air about him and when his baby blues met her own narrowed ones, he blanched which was the reaction she had expected of him. She had taken on the glaring expression on purpose, just to intimidate him.
She reveled in the fact that she could intimidate such strong-looking and arrogant men. Since such men had taken advantage of her in the past and left her to dwell on what was perhaps wrong with her. No more would she do so, she was the way she was. She couldn’t change that anymore than she could change the air she breathed. Her own father had been such a man, she had depended on him. She had always looked up to him. He was always strong, always right. He had always had to be right, so much so that he would abuse the ones closest to him to make it so. She was glad she had seen through him before it was too late. He wasn’t the great man she had built up in her mind. Her father was a bully and a drunk. She hated him for it.
Catlynne jerked herself out her thoughts before she could go down that dark path. She returned her attention to the men who had by now came to stand before her and Drea. She noticed Drea was watching her as if she were about to turn into some beast and devour everyone.
“Pfft!!” She snorted gaining the attention of three curious gazes. Chris narrowed his eyes at her his face clearly showing that he wanted to know what she thought was so funny. She smirked at him gaining a frown from her playful rival.
Usually he was trying to get Drea out of her clutches rather than paying attention to her and what her personal interests were. She knew he was curious but she wasn’t going to tell him anything. Thus was her strange relationship with her best friend’s boyfriend. They had a love\hate type friendship, the kind that is forced on those who both want to be around the one person they mutually like.
Instead, she looked pointedly at the two men and then back at Chris, raising one eyebrow in inquiry. Chris stuttered, “ O..oh yeah, um…Drea, C..Catlynne these are my roommates, Alec Dennison…” the blonde one cocked his eyebrow and gave a crooked grin which would have been adorable if she’d know he wasn’t a fake. “And Darius Wolfe. They have agreed to help you two ladies move in.” Chris once again looked quite too satisfied with himself.
‘Ugh, he is such a peabrain’, she thought. Catlynne started to say something to knock him down a peg but Drea cut in before she could get the first word out.
“I’m Drea. I’m happy to see that Chris is living with two such hunk-a-licious men. Oh, and thanks for the help, it would have taken Cat and I all day to move in, but I’m sure that now it will take no time at all. You guys look like you have great stamina.” She winked at them much to Chris’s displeasure. He looked at Drea with narrowed eyes while the two men seemed to enjoy her flirtatious attitude.
Darius smiled, “Yeah, I should mention that you will both probably enjoy the view from the floor we’re on. Your apartment should have a balcony, so you should check it out at sunset.” His voice was deep and smooth, like dark chocolate and Catlynne barely suppressed the shiver that ran across her skin at the sound.
She took another look at the dark, enigmatic man beside the sunny playboy. He had tousled dark hair, she couldn’t tell if it was black or brown, his tan skin would make any woman wonder what it tasted like and his eyes were dark as sin. And he was surrounded by this aura of…well, she didn’t know what his aura stank of. She didn’t like him, she knew that much. And when he met her gaze she almost flinched.
He was glaring at her! She stared back at him with the most indifferent expression she had. His corners of his mouth turned up, ‘what the hell,’ she thought. ‘He’s just smiled at me, no wait! I still feel hostility from him, he’s trying to intimidate me! Ugh, that smile is just plain scary, it doesn’t even reach his eyes…’
She jerked again from her inner musings when she heard Drea speaking, “Yeah, I’m sure we’ll love the view. I’m sure it’s nothing short of spectacular.”
Catlynne heard her voice and knew that Drea wasn’t talking about the view from the apartment. She looked at Drea smiling flirtatiously at the two men and Chris’s glowering face and set about to defuse the situation before peabrain made a scene.
“Yes, I’m sure it is.” She said gaining their attention. “And I’m Catlynne… Well, that’s enough socializing, let’s get started shall we?” Cat said with a smile.
Chris smiled at her with such genuine gratitude that Cat found herself smiling softly back. Darius watched them, his expression indiscernible. The five of them began to grab what they could and move toward the apartment complex.

3 hours later…
Catlynne dropped into the chair with a thud. “I’m exhausted, I couldn’t lift another finger, even if you wanted me to. We are done aren’t we?” She queried Drea who had just walked in with the last of the boxes.
“Yep. Now I can go and spend some time with Chris.” Drea giggled. “Did you see his face when I flirted with Alec and Darius? It was great! I wish I’d had a camera. I do believe we have a case of the little green monster! Haha”
“Yeah, that was kinda wrong though, don’t you think. You shouldn’t tease him; he was looking so forward to getting to be alone with you. And he did try pretty hard, it being him and all, to get us moved in pretty quickly.” Catlynne looked at Drea, her eyes softly chastising.
Drea sighed, “You’re right, I’ll make it up to him. But sometimes a girl’s gotta make her man a little jealous, you know…to liven things up a little.” She smiled entreatingly at her friend.
“Ah, alright, I don’t even like him. So I don’t know what I’m sympathizing with him about, knock him dead gorgeous! But…just so you know …you’re a very naughty girl.” Cat wiggled her eyebrows and Drea laughed.
The guys walked in then, now looking at Drea inquiringly. “God, she is so funny! I love her.” Drea sat on Cat’s lap, hugging her and Cat laughed. Chris just smiled and shook his head and the other two looked at Cat for the second time that day seeming to try to put the shy, enigmatic woman from earlier and the bubbly one they saw now together.
The three watched the two hysterical girls for several more minutes.
Chris finally asked “Drea, did you want to go out for a while?” Drea looked up and nodded.
“I guess we should stop before they decide to call the men in white. Ah ha ha ha” Drea said as she got up. Catlynne sat up too, the bun on top of her head askew. She cocked her head smiling impishly, knowing full well the picture she made which sent everyone into gales of laughter.
“You know what Chris? I think you were right,” Alec said. “You think she’s a bitch, but she turns out to be really cute and funny.”
Chris looked at Alec like he was the stupidest creature on this earth, both girls had stopped and were now glaring at the trio of men, who suddenly felt like they were caught in a spider’s web. “And just who would you be referring to? Hmmm.” Cat asked, as she and Drea advanced on them. Drea looked at Chris and he sighed, ‘So much for our alone time,’ he thought.
Alec stuttered, realizing his mistake immediately, “Well, y..you see…um…yeah. It was really a compliment, you know.” He tried, trying to avoid using a name. The two women were having none of it; they advanced upon him like two sleek cats hunting prey.
Darius intercepted them, quietly stating “He was talking about you Catlynne. So now the question is, what will you do about it? Obviously intimidation has been used up. What other trick do you plan on employing? Or perhaps you have nothing more to utilize. I wonder, will Drea be the one who protects you or will you stand up for yourself? Do you like to gang up on people or is it just men?”
Catlynne looked at him, eyes narrowing in anger. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything to him but making a little fun. But you, you’re just malicious. What do you know about me to make such judgments? And if you want to make premature judgments, let’s look at you shall we? I wish you wouldn’t smile because it’s fake. It never reaches your eyes. Oh and everything about you screams of deception. It’s like you never show yourself, but just a sham of yourself. You’re just fooling others or maybe you like to play with them before you attack” Darius just smiled. “I don’t like you and I would like nothing more than to wipe that smug smile off your face.”
Everyone just gaped at the two individuals standing off to one another. No one wanting to interfere for fear of turning either person’s wrath on them.
Darius’ eyes gleamed. “Well, Kitty Cat, Bring it to me with all you’ve got. But I think you’re claws are quite harmless.” He moved closer but Catlynne didn’t back down, if anything the air around them grew more heated…intense.
Cat smiled, she looked positively wicked “Oh, I will. And you’ll be begging me for mercy when I’m through.”
Darius just smiled.


And that was the second chapter^_^ Sorry it took so long, but I got exams and school and that’s just how life goes I guess;P I know the part about Catlynne’s dad is kinda threw in there, but I wanted the readers to get to know that he’s part of her problem with men and that she’s got some issues that go way back, like in the first chapter where Drea is talking about her demons and such. And I also wanted to set the background for other moments taking place on memory lane for Cat. I also wanted the readers to know that she is a complex character and her dislike or rather hate runs pretty deep. Then her dark moods and the ridiculously intense struggle with Darius she has won’t seem so off base. Darius has his own history but don’t worry, he’s not some evil guy. I have plans for him. Mwuhahahaha!
I didn’t get as many reviews as I would have liked so I would like the feedback! I don’t want to continue writing something that no one likes. I would appreciate constructive criticism so that I can learn more about my writing and perhaps the approach I should take toward it to entertain my reading audience better;P See you soon guys! And remember, Review!