One Thing Leads to Another (Christine)

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek evaluated her. He didn't fully understand why she was so intent upon hearing all of his deep dark secrets and familial history. It set him on edge the more she pushed about it.

"Any secret?" he asked with a cunning grin. "My sister still sleeps with a stuffed toy. She is an adult, mind you."

[Christine Montgomery]

"Not about Lex," she moved forward til they were nearly chest to chest, "something about you, something true." she demanded her eyes searching his.

'Give me something Alek.'she begged with her eyes.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek turned away from her and walked over to his desk, setting his glass forcefully upon it. "Your persistence is obnoxious," he said coldly, his back to her.

[Christine Montgomery]

She felt his rejection like a slap in the face, and through the emotional haze of too much alcohol it intensified the wound, but not before magnifying her anger first.

She set her bourbon down in much the same fashion he did and stood with her hand on her hip, "Because the arms length you keep me at is so appealing." she scoffed, "Why is it so hard for you to just talk to me?!"

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Is it not enough that I rescue you from the woods or take you in out of the pouring rain in the middle of the night?" Alek turned around abruptly. "I've given you a sanctuary to escape from your family. I've given you more than you've asked for and you've asked for more than is appropriate. I request my privacy in return and selfishly you ask for that as well!"

[Christine Montgomery]

She took a few steps back from him. She had no ground to stand on. The fight was still in her eyes, but as she processed his words, her insecurity overcame her.

She was asking for too much. She wanted and expected more from him than he was willing to give, and he was right it was inappropriate.

Then she frowned. It might have been inappropriate, but she was hardly the model of propriety, that title went to her cousin. She had a gut feeling about things and she followed those feelings, even if they were hasty and uncertain.

"Yes!" she barked.

"Yes I'm asking for more!" she stepped toward him, "Alek, I am so incredibly grateful for everything you have done for me. I don't think I can ever repay you. But wanting to know you, comes with the territory of caring about someone. I care about you. I just want to know you." she said placing a hand against his chest.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

His eyes narrowed as she neared him. He glared at her with malicious intent, his status quo disrupted by her prying and his anger fueled by alcohol. When she placed her hand on his chest he lost control of himself.

"You want to know me?" he asked menacingly as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her body flush with his. "My secrets would terrify you," he said in a low growl. His fist tightened around her wrist and his eyes flashed something animalistic she hadn't seen in him before.

[Christine Montgomery]

"Try me." she returned, though there were fresh tears in her eyes from the pain of his hand on her wrist. She endured it. Not because she wasn't fully capable of defending herself against him, but because she wanted to believe that he wouldn't truly hurt her. He was lashing out and if she stood strong, if she just showed him that she wasn't afraid, maybe she could break through.

She didn't know when or why breaking through had become so important to her. Perhaps it had built up in little ways over the time they knew each other, perhaps it was the bourbon.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek snarled as she continued to push, his teeth bared. He heard the beating of her heart quicken. With a deep, guttural growl he let go of her wrist and pushed her away.

"You're a spoiled little rich girl who's not used to being denied anything," he sneered.

[Christine Montgomery]

She grabbed her wrist and stumbled away from him. When she regained her balance she held her wrist to her chest. His rejection hurt, his words burned. She had let her guard down with him, because he had rescued her so many times, and because he had always supported her. She shared her history, her secrets, hopes, dreams, everything with him, and suddenly realized why he was right to keep himself closed off. It was painful when you gave someone the weapon to hurt you and they used it.

To her credit only a singular fat tear rolled down her cheek, which she hastily wiped away with her back still to him.

She took a deep breath, lifted her chin, "And you're a lonely little boy playing at relationships because you don't know how to have one." she retorted over her shoulder before leaving the room.