Chapter 17: Chapter 17

He leaned on the table with his left elbow obscuring her view of everyone else. He wanted to create their own bubble where it would be just her and him. Where she was relaxed enough to tell him everything. It would be the first time that she would trust him with any of her problems. Maybe if he played it right, she would learn to trust him little by little.

"So? What's bothering you?"

She sighed. And for a second he thought she wasn't going to tell him anything but she must have made up her mind because she started talking. "I just.... I miss Jim so much. If he were here, he'd know what to do. He was so good with that. Giving me advice on how I should react in some situations. I depended on him too much and now I feel like everything I do is wrong but I have no one to tell me what's right."

"I understand you. I felt the same way too when my mother died. But you know what?"

"What?" she asked imitating his position by leaning on the table too. The action brought her a little closer and when he caught a whiff of her perfume, it took everything in him not to close the distance between them and bury his nose in her hair.

"I realized that even though she was gone, I wasn't alone. I had my dad and Jasmine and even you. Remember how you wouldn't stop pestering me?" not being able to control himself, he took a lock of her hair and sifted it through his fingers. He had to touch her somehow, even if it was just her hair which was so soft. If he ran his hands through it, they would slide down with no problem at all.

"Yeah. You didn't want to talk to me though" she scrunched up her face in that cute way she always did when she couldn't understand something.

"That is because I was still grieving. There is no fixed time to get over the loss of someone you love. It's different for everyone"

"I know. But I just wish he was here. He was the one person who really understood me"

"Then find someone else you can trust." He told her hoping she would pick him. He'd give anything for her to confide in him. "But until then, I'll just have to take it upon myself to make sure you're okay. So tell me what's bothering and I'll fix it in no time" she studied him, wanting to make sure he was serious. She must have been satisfied with what she saw because she told him what had been happening in her new workplace.

Ray felt content to listen to her talk. Some parts were really funny but he held in his laugh. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was laughing at her expense since she looked so mad. He heard about her boss whom she referred to as 'Jerkface' and her new friends Anna and Donnie, although, he didn't like that she had a male friend he didn't know. He'd investigate that later. By the time she was done, he knew about everyone and their character. It sounded like if it wasn't for her asshole boss, she would be having the time of her life. He didn't know that many people who were in place that would choose to get themselves a job. He was convinced she'd be a model or socialite or just a spoiled brat looking for a rich man to marry so she could keep living her luxurious life. He was also ready to be that rich man, in case you were wondering. But clearly, his Princess wasn't just beautiful. She had brains too. And he was so proud of her that he had to restrain himself from kissing her.

"What do you think I should do?" she asked reminding him that he'd zoned off while she was talking to him. In his opinion, he really didn't want to know about what Chuck smelled like or how Holly was always away from her desk probably scratching an itch. So he blurted out the only solution he had. The only thing he would do.

"Take the business from him"

"What?"

"You have three more weeks to prove Jayden wrong. Right?"

"Yes...."

"Then use them to learn how the business works. You're smart, which is why I'm sure three weeks is more than enough for you to learn how it all works. You don't have to know everything, Just the ins, and outs. Then buy it from him at a really good price he won't be able to refuse or start your own and run his to the ground"

She looked at him with wonder and a bit of respect in her eyes. Ray felt like beating his chest with his fists and telling the whole world that finally, his Princess had started seeing him. But he restrained himself again. Soon he would be able to do that. Soon. "Wow, that's brilliant coming from someone like you."

"Someone like me? What do you mean?"

She realized what she'd said and swallowed. He knew she didn't think much of him and he wasn't offended because she saw only what he wanted her to see. There was so much she didn't know about him. So much he wanted to tell her. "I.... I didn't.... I mean..."

"It's okay. I'm just messing with you. I did tell you to use me as your punching bag. Physically or verbally. I won't hold any grudges"

"Sorry. You're just... You"

"It's a good thing I am. But that doesn't mean I can't come up with a good plan once in a while. I have my moments" he tucked her hair behind her ear. Restraint. That is what he needed at the moment. In plenty.

She graced him with one of her smiles that made his stomach drop. He understood why his father and Nick and everyone else gave in to her. With that smile directed at him, he would find a way to walk to the moon for her. All she had to do was ask. "Like right now. I don't know why I hadn't thought about that. They don't know who I am so I pose no threat to them. By the time they realize what I'm doing it'll be too late and I would have gotten what I want. That's like a really solid plan a genius would come up with. Thanks, Ray" she flung herself in his arms catching him off-guard. He only had a second to brace himself on the table before they tumbled to the floor.

She stiffened realizing what she had done and tried to pull back. But he tightened the arm he had around her, keeping her in place so she wouldn't run. Her eyes flickered from his, down to his mouth and back up. Ray knew this was a bad idea. He should let her go. He was a little drunk. She wasn't ready yet. It was too soon to even think about doing it. Even if she kept staring at his lips in a hungry way, she didn't want him to kiss her. But dammit, that look in her eyes was telling him what he wanted to hear. Kiss me. He reminded himself about the baby steps and tried to come up with valid excuses for why he shouldn't do this, then her tongue darted out and licked her lips, leaving them shimmering in the dim lights and he lost the fight.

Dipping his head, he kissed her. Well, it was more like he'd placed his lips on top of hers, testing the waters, but that counted as a kiss in his book. He waited for her to push him away, slap him and call him names. God knew he deserved it. Her boyfriend was in jail, her boss giving her a hard time and here he was moving in on her instead of offering to help her. He'd get it if she got mad at him if she decided not to talk to him ever again. It would be horrible knowing he blew his chance with her because he couldn't control himself. He wasn't one of those people who gave up easily so he'd probably chase after her for the rest of his life but it would really suck to see her with someone else after Connor. He's supposed to come after that imbecile and stay forever. That was the plan.

Her lips moving against his cut his muddled thoughts short. She was kissing him back and Ray could have jumped in joy if he wasn't busy memorizing the taste of her lips.

She still tasted the same. Just like he remembered. Chocolates. As he angled her head to deepen the kiss, he wondered if she walked around with chocolates in her bag. Her lips were so soft and he could kiss her all night, but he wanted to devour her mouth. Who knew how long it would take for her to kiss him again? It had been eight years since he'd stolen her first kiss. Back then she hadn't known what to do so she'd just stood there and let him do all the work. He'd been happy to.

But it seemed that over the years she'd mastered the art of kissing. He didn't want to think about the guys she practiced with because it would put him in a bad mood. So he nibbled on her lips, sucking, biting and when it wasn't enough, he pushed his tongue into her mouth. Ray thought he'd gone to heaven and come back the second his tongue found hers. He tagged her onto her lap and as she straddled him, his other hand found its way into her hair. Thank God for the jeans she had worn because now her center was on top of him, the only thing separating them their clothes. He should do away with them. They were an obstacle that needed to get out of his way. Her hands grabbed the hair at the nape of his neck making him think she needed something to hold on to.

It was a kiss, a really nice hot kiss until she started rocking against him. The sounds she was emitting were driving him insane. Skin. He needed to touch her, feel her. His hands caressed her back, going down then up with the intention of pushing away the cardigan she was wearing when loud cheers snapped him back to reality.

Fuck. He'd forgotten they were still in the bar. Taking her shoulders, he pulled her back and was glad, really glad, to hear the sound of protest coming from her. She didn't want to stop. "Stop. If we keep doing this, I don't know if I'll be able to control myself"

"So then don't" she snapped. If they had been anywhere else, he'd have taken that as an invitation and showed her what happened when he lost control. But they were in a bar for Christ's sake. He wasn't going to let their first time be in a bar. Bathroom of all places because that is where they would end up if they continued their kiss. Alexis deserved better than that. She deserved dinner and candles and flowers and even chocolate if she wanted some.

Sweeping his hand in the air he said "We're in a bar Princess. Hardly the appropriate place for this to continue" she furrowed her brows taking in the people around them, then blushed all the way to the roots of her hair. It was endearing to see how one second she wanted to devour him and the next she couldn't look into his eyes. "Don't go shy on me now. I like it when you're feisty"

"I.... I think I should...." she pointed to her chair indicating she wanted to move off his lap. Well, too bad for her.

"No. I don't think you should" Ray said then thrust his hips up into her. His solid length earned a gasp from her. "It's embarrassing, so I need you to stay still until I calm down" it would be impossible for him to 'calm down' while she was on top of him but he liked her there and he would rather suffer all night. As long as she was close.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault"

"It is but you shouldn't be sorry. If anything I would like it if you can do that more often. Jump me" he told her grinning.

She pushed at his shoulder jokingly "I didn't jump you."

"Yes, you did. Gee Alexis. If you wanted a kiss all you had to do was ask. I told you, I'm like your own personal genie now. Your wish is my command milady. "

"You are such a knob" she joked. He realized that she was straddling him, making jokes right after they'd shared a really scorching kiss and not once had she said or acted like she regretted it. Neither was she pushing him away. He knew very well that she hadn't touched her drink because he'd watched her all night. Which only meant one thing. She was starting to let her guard down around him. Maybe it was the advice he'd given her, or Marj and Henry's influence -who were still making out btw- or maybe she was finally seeing him for who he really was. Whatever her reason for kissing him back, he didn't know. What he did know for sure was that they'd made progress. They were moving forward.

"Jesus, haven't they run out of spit yet?" Alexis asked turning to where Marjorie and Henry were still at it.

"That could be us, babe. Just say the word" he yanked her attention back to him.

"Gosh, that's just cheesy. And lame"

"Nothing about me is lame. I have proof" cheekily, he bumped his hips into her again. It felt too good. "See what I'm talking about?"

She buried her face in her hands groaning "Oh God. We need to go home. Right now" his face was telling her a different story. He was sure of it. Otherwise, why would she feel the need to clarify? "And I don't mean go home together. You drop me off then go back to your place"

"You'd send me home in the state I'm in?"

"I would send you home especially because of the state you're in. Now move it, cowboy"

"Yes ma'am." he reluctantly lifted her off his lap praying it would always be like this for them. Hot kisses, jokes and then more kisses. He would be happy for the rest of his life.

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first .

I've edited this chapter like three times since yesterday. I hope you like it.