Gravity of Love

Quite some time has passed since an update but life and a serious case of writer's block made things a bit difficult. Thanks to Madison for renewing the fire and to my partner in crime, Janette, for listening to my rambling brainstorm sessions.

The next morning, Jon and I didn't play the 'Late For Work' game. I'm sure his boss understood but how many excuses could he give before he got into trouble? I felt like the perfect housewife as he gave me a quick kiss on the lips and left for home to get ready for work. In some ways I was jealous of that. Getting up, having a normal nine to five job and having conversations with customers instead of giving them lap dances. Then I'd think about Jon and switching lives for a day. I could hardly see myself trying to geek out and sell and fix pieces of equipment I had no idea how to run. And I'm sure that Jon would be booed off the stage if he tried to do one minute of my dance sets. No, we all had our places and our own talents. Mine was getting people off and I was damn good at it.

It was an odd moment to think of such things, but my mind wandered back to Ren and my old life. I had made several friends at On the Lash and Freaky Coffin but now because of the choices I made, I was cut off from them. Showing up as if nothing happened wouldn't work, and I'm sure they've all moved on without me there. Just like I'm sure they did in high school when they thought I was dead. But Ren…

I felt a rush of warmth between my legs at the thought of him and tried to stop the flood of memories in my head. It was the sex I missed, not Ren. Don't get me wrong, Jon was wonderful in bed but Ren knew every inch of my body. The way he'd take me and plunge into me and—

What the hell was I doing? How could I fantasize about him? I hopped out of bed and tried to find something to occupy my mind with to keep it off of Ren and sex.

That 'something' ended up going to work in hope that someone called in sick and I could fill in for them. I went to Yasmin's office and knocked softly on the door.

"Come in," her silky voice called from inside the room. When she saw who it was she frowned. "Gavin? Why are you here?"

I chuckled. "Hello to you too. I just came here to see if you needed me for anything."

Yasmin laughed. "Sit down, Gavin."

Hmm, not exactly the response I was expecting. I closed the door behind me and sat down while giving her my best smile. "Uh…is something wrong?"

"That's my question for you," she said. "After working a double shift you're telling me you want to come in on your only day off this week? There's only two reasons why you'd do that. Either it's a cover to tell me you're quitting or a distraction from issues at home. And why would you quit after working so hard to get me to hire you?"

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water gasping for air. How the fuck did she see through me that quick?

I sighed. "I've got someone on my mind and I wish I didn't."

"Did you and that handsome blonde of yours have a lover's quarrel?"

I shook my head. "No, we're fine. Just someone from my past. So does that mean you don't have any work for me?"

"Of course I don't," Yasmin snapped. "I want you rested when you come back tomorrow. In the meantime I have something I want you to think about. My grandfather had a saying: 'We may long for the beauty and scent of the Irish red rose but forget the thorns that prick us.'"

I raised an eyebrow at that. "He said that, did he?"

She laughed. "No, but if he did have a saying that might have been it." Her face grew serious. "It may not be an old saying but that doesn't make it any less true. Don't forget the thorns, Gavin."

I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Yasmin was staring hard at me and her little 'saying' was beginning to sink in. Irish red rose….thorns….

Did everyone on the entire planet know I used to be Ren's whore? Fucking hell!

What confused me even more was that when I first tried to get a job no one would hire me because I used to be Ren's property. I was relieved because I had thought that Yasmin was one of the few that had no idea where I had come from. So she knew all along and didn't say anything? I would have kissed her if she wasn't my boss.

"Thorns are pretty hard to forget," I said instead. "I'll go home and get some more sleep."

"Sounds like a good plan," she said with a nod.

I left her office, closing the door behind me. Ren was the beautiful rose that had captivated me when I was too young to know any better. I was easy prey to the promise of love and all the while an invisible collar was being tightened around my neck. Yasmin was right; I could long for Ren but the pain he'd caused me for so long could not be forgotten just for lust.

I was so caught up in thinking that I didn't pay attention to where I was walking and bumped shoulders hard with someone in front of me.

"Fuck, I'm sorry," I instantly offered, "I was just—"

My breath caught in my throat and I was left speechless.

I recognized the face instantly since I had seen it so many times even if it was just from photographs.

Phillip.

His eyes, a much more piercing blue than in his pictures settled on me. "Do you have a problem?"

"No, no problem," I quickly replied. "You just look like someone I knew."

He smiled. "I'm sure I'm not…but we can fix that."

What? He thought I was trying to pick him up. Shit! Think fast Gavin, think fast.

"It was my mistake and I'm sorry I bumped into you," I told him, hoping that would be an obvious but polite rejection.

Phillip frowned. "You're not interested for a drink? I'm not asking for a quickie in a bathroom, you loon."

I laughed. "And you wouldn't have gotten one. Look, I apologized for bumping into you but don't get an attitude because it wasn't what you thought. There are plenty guys inside, I'm sure you'll find one that absolutely adores you."

Did I have to be that nasty? No, but it felt good. No one ever wants to run into their current boyfriend's ex and it was actually pissing me off. I didn't have the details of the breakup but standing in front of someone that had parts of Jon that even I don't made me want to hit something.

And kick it.

Then hit it some more.

I ignored my violent urges and gave Phillip a sweet smile. "Have fun inside." He was about to respond but I quickly pushed my way past him and to the car. Please don't follow me. I glanced over my shoulder and let out a sigh of relief as Phillip disappeared into the club. That went better than I expected, maybe today was going to be a good day. I'd patiently wait for Jon to get off of work and call him to come over to my place and be naked when he shows up. What better way to unwind from a long day at work than hours and hours of blissful sex?

And when the sun went down we'd---

A chilling thought ran through me. What if David came back? My invitation was already revoked but what if he just hung around my door like last time? If Jon and I did go out to have fun, would I have to worry about a vampire stalker?

Maybe I could contact the VHR—Vampire and Human Relations—center and leave a message as a helpless human victim in danger from a crazed vampire. If I did that there was a chance I'd get David killed. Staked? Fried in the sun? Whatever.

No, if David did show up again I think I could handle much better than I did last night. I was also curious about what would have brought Mannix to nearly kill David so soon after the last time. I remember that night David came to me at On The Lash, beaten and bruised and I didn't have the heart to turn him away. That was always my problem; I kept letting him back into my life even when I shouldn't have. And yet if I had never met David I'm not sure where I would be. Perhaps his fate would have been mine as Ren eventually tightened the noose around my neck.

I made a few stops before I headed back home and when I finally arrived at my apartment it was late in the afternoon. Jon would get off of work in a few hours and I'd be able to lose myself in his touch, a very easy task with hands as skilled as his. I unlocked the door and stumbled in, juggling several bags in my arms. I was heading for the small kitchen when I saw a light in the living room turn on.

What the fuck? Someone was here?! I sunk down to the floor and tried my best to keep quiet. What was the point? The front door and kitchen were separated from the living room but the person must have heard the door when I came in. Fuck. And all the noise I made with the bags. Double fuck!

I didn't have a cell phone and the only phone was out in the living room. I tried to concentrate past my fear and crept along the floor to my knife drawer. Whoever it was came for a specific reason and I wasn't about to give them enough time to get it. I went into the drawer as quietly as I could and pulled out the biggest knife I could find. Of course if the intruder had a gun I would be up shit creek but it was a chance I had to take.

I took a deep breath and stepped out into the living room. To my surprise the room wasn't being torn apart and there was no man in a ski mask waiting to jump me. On the love seat was just one man sitting calmly as if the apartment belonged to him. No, not just the apartment, the entire fucking world was his.

What else was new?

I stared at the intruder as the little world I had built came crashing down around me. Reality seemed to buck and bend and one moment I was holding the knife and the next I heard it fall to the floor. A knife wouldn't help me from him. Nothing could.

"I thought you'd be a bit happier to see me, love."

Happy to see the source of every nightmare and wet dream I've had for the past five years? Not fucking likely. So why couldn't I move? Why couldn't I speak? It took me several tries to find my voice and when I did speak it was strained.

"What are you doing here, Ren?"

He smiled at me. Dear God, that sexy smile that I did anything for. "I missed you, Gavin," he purred.

Missed me? And I had sworn this was going to be a good day too. Life's a bitch, ain't it?


It's fairly short but I hope you enjoyed. I hope to have another chapter out in another week or two. Until then!!!
Later,
Peccavi