Another text message.

Then three more.

You have a minute.

I stared at my phone in disbelief. When the knocks at the door became louder I opened only to have Alex walk inside slamming the door shut behind him. He looked insane.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked with a frown.

"Who is he? Why the hell did you have a panic attack? And why the fuck didn't you tell me you were running from someone?"

I gaped at him unable to answer all the questions he was shooting off. The way his jaw clenched was proof that he wasn't in control now, his fury taking over. But why was he angry? It's not as if he had attempted to contact me anyways. Alex ran his hands through his dark hair while muttering a curse.His eyes lingered on my face for a moment before he walked towards me and pulled me into his embrace.

I stilled.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was when Luke told me what happened?" He murmured, his fingers rubbing soothing circles on my back.

I slowly began to relax in his arms, for the first time in years allowing someone to provide me comfort. His heart was beating loud against his chest, proving just how true his words were.

"I thought you were mad at me." I whispered.

"I'm a man of my word, Eileen. You looked like you needed space so I let you have it. I should have known you wouldn't contact me though, you're too proud."

I looked up at him, those stormy hazel eyes saying more than the actual words coming out of his mouth. His gazed dropped to my lips and he hesitated before cupping my face in his hands.

"Stop fighting this. Stop shutting me out."

Before I knew it, his lips were against mine. I felt a shiver run down my spine, but it wasn't fear. The sensation was so strange that I wasn't able to move, my hands dropping to my sides in fists. My eyes were wide open while his strong arms pulled me closer to him.

He pulled away from me, but his lips were still just millimeters away. His eyes had darkened considerably and I couldn't quite place what he was thinking.

"Kiss me back, Eileen."

My lips parted in a silent gasp and he took the opportunity to kiss me once again. My body obeyed his words, my lips now moving against his in perfect synchrony. I was sure he could feel my wild heart beat matching his. It wasn't anything like I expected, being kissed. I wasn't sure what to do until I felt one of his hands guide mine to his hard chest.

His tongue seeked out my lower lip and suddenly I was tasting him. It was as if my body knew what to do, our tongues dancing to their own seductive rhythm. His masculine scent enveloped me, pulling me into an alternate universe I didn't even know could exist.

Alex griped my hip, digging his fingers in a possessive manner and a sound that I didn't know I could make left my lips. The deep need that was brewing within me proving more than any fear I may have had. The way he held me so close to him, as if it wasn't enough to be kissing me was intoxicating.

My body felt foreign, yet so alive. The fireworks going off in my belly couldn't keep up with my galloping heart. His kiss was bruising, intense yet so full of something that I don't think either of us comprehend.

He finally broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as we tried to regain our breath. I didn't dare open my eyes, I was too afraid of what I would see in his. He hummed,nuzzling my neck and I exhaled shakily. This wasn't normal. There's no way that the way my body had reacted to him could be.

"I've been wanting to do that for a while," he breathed.

I heard the smile in his voice and finally opened my eyes, his eyes shining with unspoken emotions.

"You don't even know, do you? What you do to me, you don't see it."

I swallowed at his statement. I didn't.

Not once had I ever stopped to consider that perhaps he did care, that he was being honest when he said he wanted to be there for me. Once again our lips made contact, gently this time. He was trying to tell me, to show me that he was speaking the truth.

I looked at him in awe when we once again took a breath as realization sunk in.

This was my first kiss.

My first real kiss.

"Alex..." I whispered, my hand traveling up to his stubble covered cheek. He was surprised at my action, but let me touch him, the adoration in his eyes almost too much for me to handle.

"You really are a special one," he said, bringing the back of my hand to his lips. "Tell me what's going on. Who was that?"

"My dad."

My answer came without hesitation, not after the moment we'd shared. He guided me to the sofa and helped me sit, placing my feet over his lap. He took the slippers that he'd given me off, making me curl my toes out of shyness. Alex smiled, beginning a massage on my tired feet. His fingers brushed over the cut the shattered glass had made on my foot the last time he'd been here. Finally, he spoke.

"Did he kick you out when you got pregnant?"

"No, not at all. I ran away. He said that he's been looking for me since I left.."

He nodded, though I could see that he had many more questions that he wasn't sure he should ask. His gentle massage on my feet didn't stop though, easing tension that I didn't know was there. Being up on my feet all day was more tiring than I could imagine and the way his fingers worked their magic on them brought a smile to my lips.

"I never took you for a massage type of guy," I said.

"Yeah? Me neither," he replied, lost in his thoughts.

"Don't worry about it," I said quietly when his eyebrows furrowed in worry. "It's just that I wasn't ready to see him. It was too much."

"Who are you running from, Eileen?" Alex question was barely a whisper, it was laced with curiosity and a hint of anger.

Shame washed over like a bucket of ice cold water. What would he think if he knew? Would he think less of me? My heart said he wouldn't, that he'd stay like he had promised. But my mind, it repeated what it had said time and time again. Anyone would be disgusted. No one would ever understand.

He pulled me up on his lap, so that I was straddling him.

"I'm staying here tonight," he said, giving me a kiss.

"No, why? I don't have an extra room and I don't want you to sleep on the sofa."

"I want to be sure you're okay, that you won't get another panic attack. Besides," Alex said, tugging on the top buttons of his shirt, "you have a bed, don't you?"

"Wh-What?"

"A bed. You sleep on a bed, correct?" I nodded, speechless at his suggestion. "I believe sharing a bed is something we could do."

He smirked, enjoying my reaction before kissing me senseless again. Before I knew it, I was being carried to my bedroom and laying on my bed, not once our lips separating. He stood up, unbuttoning the rest of his shirts, exposing his bare chest.

Was he expecting me to sleep with him?

I did not know men could look like that.

Alex considered me for a moment before taking his shirt off completely. He was strong, the muscles on his arms being a testament to that. But no matter what just happened, I couldn't have sex with him. I wouldn't be able to. He threw his shirt to the floor before pulling back the covers.

"I can't sleep with a shirt, never have," he explained, laying down next to me. "I'll keep these uncomfortable jeans on, although we may take them off for your convenience."

"Not happening," I said. It was obvious he sensed my discomfort and that was the reason he was keeping them on. He pulled me to him and I rested my head on his chest while he took my hand in his, intertwining his finger with my own.

"At what time does Angie have school?" he asked.

"Shit," I groaned. "I have to wake her up around six to take her and I forgot to set the alarm."

"No, stubborn woman. I'm here, I'll take you. Besides, you're off tomorrow aren't you?"

I nodded and he pressed a kiss on my head.

"Now sleep, tomorrow's a new day. We'll talk then."

☆ ☆☆

Aaannddd, so they kissed!

We meet the pissed off side of Alex, too.

We will see what happens next ;)