Gravity of Love

Morning snuck up on us and I woke up to David squirming out of my arms. I let him go and he slowly stood.

"That has to be the most uncomfortable couch I've ever slept on," he mumbled and massaged the back of his neck.

I sat up and instantly felt the stiffness in my back and neck. My shoulders and arms ached from being wrapped around David and I knew my leg had fallen asleep. I whimpered as I stood up and limped over to David.

"Ren didn't buy it for comfort," I said, "he wanted it because it looked nice."

David let out a dry laugh. "That sounds like him."

An uncomfortable silence eased between us; neither one of us wanting to speak or think about Ren right now.

"Do you need cash for a cab?" I asked, wanting to change the subject.

He shook his head. "I drove. I'm parked around the back."

I glanced at the small clock on the other side of the room. It was quarter after eleven. We had slept longer than I thought and it wouldn't be long before the day shift arrived to open the club.

"David, I hate to just toss you out but we've got to go. Other workers will be here soon."

David nodded. Hopefully he understood what a disaster it would be if Ren's people saw us walking out of the club together. They would assume only one thing and that wasn't a chance I was willing to take.

"Gavin? One last thing?"

I stopped and turned around to look at him impatiently. "What, David? We've got to hurry."

"I don't know when I'll see you again, if at all," he began softly, "do we have time for just one kiss?"

I didn't move as he closed the distance between us and I let my body mold to his as he pulled me close. One kiss wouldn't hurt, would it? Our lips met and I moaned, instantly feeling the lust that dared me to make it more than just a kiss. It wasn't soft like the one last night and whether it was hurting David or not, he didn't say. I concentrated on his warm tongue delving into my mouth and his soft hands that I felt exploring underneath my shirt. I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed him harder. He whimpered but only held on to me tighter. I had completely forgotten why we needed to leave and could only think about his body and how deep I wanted to get inside him.

"Now don't the two of you look sweet?"

David and I separated as quick as possible but it was too late. Mannix was there, leaning calming in the doorway. His hazel eyes looked from me to David and there was a mix of anger, amusement and something else as he watched us sweat. We were so dead.

"You owe me ten bucks, Ren," Mannix said and looked over his shoulder behind him.

Holy fuck, Ren was here too? That made things even worse! It was stupid of me to think that Ren would even let half the morning go by before he started looking for me. But it wasn't like he was afraid to lose me; he just hated not being in control.

Ren pushed his way past Mannix and his fierce green eyes scanned the room, passing over David and finally settling on me. Instead of speaking to me, he looked at Mannix.

"Take your whore and go."

Mannix smiled almost as if he was pleased that Ren was upset. "I bet next time you'll think things through, won't you?"

Ren whirled around to face Mannix and growled through clenched teeth. "Not. Now."

"Just making sure you remember, Renny-boy." Mannix held out his hand to David and snapped his fingers. "Come on, you've had enough fun. Let's go."

The look on David's face was heavy with regret and sorrow and his shoulders sagged in defeat. He walked past me without another word, avoiding eye contact, and walked out of the room. I looked over to Mannix and our eyes met. I didn't attempt to put on a mask and I let him see all the hatred I had for him. I waited for one of his nasty insults but he only laughed.

"Try not to hurt him too badly, alright?" His eyes never left mine as he spoke and I wasn't sure if he was talking to Ren or me.

Ren chuckled. "If I want him beaten to a pulp I'll just call you…unless you're too busy with David."

Mannix seemed to ignore Ren, never taking his eyes off of me. "I wouldn't suggest a fight between the two of you…it won't end well."

I shifted uncomfortably. All right, he was definitely talking to me but why? Did he suddenly think I was going to try and take Ren out just so I could make a run for it? Was he so sure that the stress from this situation would be enough to make me snap? Or was it the look I gave him that finally made him see that I was capable of such an act? Making the dreaded question not if I could kill Ren, simply if I would and perhaps when.

"Oh, I'm not going to fight Gavin to keep him in line," Ren sneered. "I have a much better idea."

Mannix glanced at Ren and shook his head while he rolled his eyes. It did seem funny how Ren was so conceited that he never thought Mannix could be talking to anyone but him.

"So glad to know you have it under control, Ren," Mannix said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's get out of here."

Mannix calmly stood to the side and let Ren exit the room first. He watched him walk down the hallway and then turned back to face me. Instead of leaving the room he walked over to me and embraced me. His hot breath on my ear made me shiver and I tried not to move as his arms wrapped tighter around me.

"Don't try anything or I will fuck you up," he whispered. His voice was dangerously soft yet smooth like he was promising the best sex you'd ever have.

I struggled a bit, fear making me a bit nervous. "Ren's going to come back, you plan on raping me here?"

I gasped softly as Mannix squeezed me until it hurt. "No, I can do that anytime. I meant what I said earlier, Gavey. Ren can handle himself but he may not have the resolve to kill you. I, on the other hand, will do it gladly."

"What happened to all the talk from that night at The Gates? Now I'm back to the no good whore?"

Mannix chuckled and flicked his tongue against my earlobe. "I never said you weren't a whore, Gavin. You're just not in the right place. I know we said and did things that we never had before but it means nothing when it comes to Ren. You mean nothing compared to Ren, you got me?"

I had heard worse from Ren lately, but that stabbed right at my heart. Had I actually thought that the Mannix from The Gates would be the same all the time? "Do you work hard at finding ways to hurt me?" I whispered.

"I figured it was best to go into this with no preconceptions. That's what the other night was all about, wasn't it? No more games?"

"You must love him a lot," I mumbled sadly. I stopped him from saying anything and continued. "Don't argue. No games remember? I'd rather leave Ren first than for it end with one of us dead. I love him too."

Before he was able to respond, Ren's angry voice filled the room. "Mannix? What the hell? You can fuck him later for chrissakes!"

Mannix laughed and let me go. "Just had to have a bit of fun time with him, that's all."

He gave Ren a hard punch on the shoulder on his way out of the room. Ren looked me up and down and at least I didn't have pretend to be shaken up. He snorted and walked away from me and I obediently followed. I dreaded going back home with Ren and his brilliant idea for my punishment. I thought of the men in my life, both Jon and David, and prayed that Ren's plan had nothing to do with them. Not knowing when I'd see either one again was punishment enough.

The drive back home was in silence and I made no attempts to change it. I had nothing to say to him except that he should let me go. A request like that would only leave me bruised so I remained quiet. I looked out the window watching as we zoomed by trees and other cars and thought of David. It brightened my mood and made the rest of the day seem not as desolate.