KISS (10 page)

“
Rest assured, I would
never bring you to such a place. I’m grabbing a jacket. I don’t
want you to catch a cold. Wait here and don’t move.” Iris nodded as
she watched as he disappeared quickly from view. She was glad that
he wouldn’t stoop so low.

“
Hmm, you’re not his type.”
Iris eyes flickered toward the brunette who watched her with dark
eyes and a dark pixie cut. It was edgy and sleek.

Bitch. I’m turning into a
regular sailor. It’s a good thing people can’t read
minds.

“
Look there
isn’t—,”

“
Iris!” She smiled relieved
as he rushed quickly to her side. Taking her into his arms she
wanted to rebuff the woman, but there was something weird going on.
She held in the blush that threaten to rise when both his hands
came down on her hips as he pulled her into body. It was the first
time Iris had been pressed flushed against a man. She didn’t know
how to feel, only that her breathing hitched when Jean-Pierre lips
grazed her ear.

“
Relax,” he whispered.
Immediately, Iris felt all the tension leave her body as she sunk
into the embrace.

“
Jean, I miss you.” The
woman pouted watching her. Iris felt Jean-Pierre’s hands tighten
reflexively on her waist. This woman did something to hurt him. It
opened her eyes a little; it explained a lot of things about
him.

“
Kimberly. I can’t say it
was a pleasure. Iris come.” Iris heart—a humming bird who flitted
around wildly, singing its tune, weaving its song caused her brain
to scramble.

“
Don’t be that way Tig,”
she said reaching for Jean-Pierre. Iris heard his sharp intake and
fury rushed savagely through her veins. She would not allow this
woman to bullying him or dismiss her. She slapped her hand away
from him.

“
Don’t touch him! He
belongs to me. You’re nothing but a relic from the past. Jean has
moved on. It’s not very becoming of you to continue pursue him and
display yourself in this manner.”

Wait! Huh? What?! What the
hell am I doing?! He’s not mine! I don’t know why I’m doing this.
Or why I get sick pleasure in seeing hurt flash in that woman’s
eyes. That’s it. I’ve lost it.

Iris turned and stared into
Jean-Pierre eyes. She didn’t know what made her do it. It was such
an intimate gesture, but she reached up and caressed his face. He
grabbed her hand and held it in place. Iris had a knack for solving
mysteries, but right now she just wanted to protect him. She didn’t
notice the woman storming off. She cleared her throat as the blush
finally tore through her. What was she doing here? She had enough
boy troubles. She didn’t need to be adding anymore to the mix. He
released her. Iris was afraid to be alone with him. She didn’t want
to get to know him. He was supposed to be some sleazy perverted
guy.

“
I think I should get you
back to your parents.” She glanced him but he wouldn’t meet her
eyes. Iris didn’t like this feeling, she wanted to take him into
her arms and tell him everything will be okay; but she was afraid.
She needed to get away. Clear her mind and return to her safety
net.

***

The moon was high in the sky the tempo
of his heart matched the pace he ran as his feet repeatedly pounded
the pavement. This was the only time he could be free, the only
time he could be himself. He was running and hadn’t figured out
what he was running from. There was something they had in common.
They wanted her. They wanted Iris McDerman.

Iris was glad to be back home. She
searched for Chester but he wasn’t there. Whatever happened between
her and Jean-Pierre scared her. She wanted nothing to do with it.
All she wanted was Chester. She would have to tell her mother that
she couldn’t hang around Jean-Pierre anymore. She wasn’t being a
coward, everyone was entitled to make choices and she chose to not
hang around him.

“
Iris?”

“
Eep!” she squealed. “Baby
are you okay.” Iris sat at the counter having a cup of tea. Her
mother caught her off guard.

“
I’m fine mom. Thanks for
asking.” Her mother sat next to her. Iris glanced at her from her
peripherals. Her mom was so beautiful. “I want you to know that I’m
here for you. I know you take after your father, but I’m here. When
you need me I will always be here waiting.”

Iris felt her heart freeze in its
tracks, she nodded slowly at her mother’s words. She was so
emotional and all over the place, she didn’t even understand what
was happening. Her mother left her to her tea. Iris had to
appreciate her mom even though she drove her crazy with all the
dresses and whatnot, her mother always knew when to push and not
to. She was grateful to her. She finished her cup of tea ready to
turn in for the night. It had been a long one. She climbed the
stairs showered and dressed in a thin silk night gown in hopes of
cooling her overheated body.

She stretched slowly waking. It was
Sunday.

Guess, I better enjoy the
day before I have to return to the boxed building and deal with all
the misery and woe that comes with it.

She ran her hand through her blonde
hair when the door swung open. It was Chester. What’s wrong with
him? He stood staring at her like a fish out of water. She
combusted as she remembering she wore nothing but a thin silk gown.
She opened her mouth to scream when he moved. He covered her mouth
with his own kissing her.

“
You’re so beautiful,” he
whispered staring into her eyes. He quickly pecked her on the lips
and ran his eyes down her body. She had all the curves in the right
places. He groaned releasing her.

“
I’ll let you get dress.”
Iris simply nodded as he left the room. This was the closest anyone
came to ever seeing her in the nude. She swore steam was pouring
out of ears right now. She hiccupped and ran to the bathroom. She
didn’t want her friendship with Chester to change but secretly, she
was glad she was the center of his attention. She only had to
figure out Axel and just stay away from jean-Pierre.

Easy as stubbing my big
toe on the corner table.

In the end, Iris ended up at the
library. Chester had to go the studio. When did he sleep? Ah, the
price of fame. People didn’t understand why she spent so much time
in the library with all the technology out there, but she loved the
feel of books in her hands. Most people would just by an eBook, it
was faster and more efficient. Don’t get her wrong she has a tablet
to read all her various collections, but she loved the smell of
books and enjoyed hunting for old stories. It was here she stumbled
into him.

Axel.

13

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The typhoon swept through the library
obliterating everything in its path; it raged on drowning her in
its mist and silencing anything that may have been spoken. The only
thing that could be heard was the sound of her beating heart as it
attempted to lodge itself out of her chest. She wondered if their
hearts beat in tune, harmonized in only a song they could
comprehend.

“
I’ve been waiting for
you.” Iris fought the painter with great strength as he planned to
paint her cheeks a creamy red and expose all her secret desires.
She cursed him as he danced away in glee satisfied that her cheeks
matched the color he desired. She shook away her rampant thoughts.
“How did you know I would be here?” she asked biting her lip
nervously. He behaved so strangely the last time and she never got
around to asking him about Brad.

“
Let’s call it a lucky
guess,” he said sauntering closer towards her. Iris took a
reflexive step back. She was a little lamb trapped looking at a
pack of wolves snarling hungrily at her, licking their chops and
imagining her savory favor in their bellies. She turned her back on
him and clutched the book to her chest. What was going on? He
confused her so, but she still loved looking into those startling
azure eyes. She made the biggest mistake of her life by turning her
back on him.

Thump!

His arms wrapped around her pulling
her back into his chest. This was wrong, no one but Cheese had ever
held her in such a manner.

Why does he feel so good
against me? He’s not Chester, this shouldn’t be
happening!

She detonated; blasting everything a
part causing mayhem and chaos. Why was the organ in her chest
careening through her body, bullying the other organs so only the
sound of its beat could be heard? She stood still. She shouldn’t be
here. A gasped escaped her when he placed his left hand on her
forehead pulling her closer to him.

“
I like this side of you.
The blush it’s cute.” Speaking was tough, she’d been trapped on a
desert island for so long with only salt water. She longed for
fresh water to quench her thirst. “You know what I’ll like better,”
he whispered in her ear.

“
Axel—I” her words had been
silenced by the storms his eyes became. There was rage, self-loath,
pity and desire in them. She took shelter as the power shook
her.

No. I can’t keep doing
this. There’s something going on. Why all the self-loath? What did
those expressive eyes mean? I want to know the reasoning behind his
pain.

No more running. She reached for him,
but was stunned when he slapped her hand away. “Stay away from me.”
Ignoring the sting in her hand, she couldn’t help but question
him.

“
Jay what’s wrong?” she
asked thunderstruck. She kept her hands behind her back. His frame
was slightly hunched and his beautiful black hair a mess. He looked
lost like no one wanted him. She would fix him.

“
How’d you know?” he asked
her. “How’d you know it was me? Tell me!” Iris didn’t speak. She
pulled him into her arms. She’d known, she did the right thing when
she felt the wet tears on her neck. Tiny streams flowed across her
skin searching for the crevice to hold their sorrow until they
formed a great lake overflowing full of pain.

He held on to the girl tightly. He was
losing himself and fast. “Iris won’t you stay with me?” He held her
closely. He didn’t want her to slip away. He was just happy that
someone finally knew the truth. He wouldn’t let her leave him. She
must stay. She smelt of summer and sunflowers; she seemed safe. He
could trust her. Releasing her, he gazed into her golden eyes. He
was afraid of what he would find there, but he relaxed when he
realized she didn’t pity him. Grabbing her hand he led her to the
couch and they sat.

“
There’s so much I want to
tell you; but I want to show you something first. Meet me here
tonight,” he whispered kissing her on the cheek before leaving. She
was on an adventure, a journey of discovering mysteries and
devouring their untold secrets. Soft as a butterfly’s wings was the
kiss Jay left behind. She touched her cheek reminiscing. She
couldn’t meet him tonight. She was going to be with Cheese. It
still didn’t stop the waves from roaring in her ears when she
thought about it; but she longed to free the prince in the tower.
He was gone. What was she going to tell her family? He didn’t even
specify a time. She wouldn’t tell them a thing. She would steal
into the night like star crossed lovers rebelling against their
family wishes.

Wait a minute…they weren’t star
crossed lovers. She had Cheese and he had her. She didn’t know what
they were yet but they were something. She cursed her thoughts as
an image of Jean-Pierre briefly flashed through her mind. Why were
boys so complicated? Although, she really couldn’t call Jean-Pierre
a boy. He was a man. He was twenty-four years old. Iris ran
screeching through the library as she remember his hands on her
waist that night, they were hypnotic and their imprints had been
seared in her skin.

I’m such a whore! Lusting
after all these men. Please someone help. This girl needs to cool
her libido. I’m starting to think someone casted a sex spell on me.
Why else would I be slowing drowning under all these hot
males?

“
Iris what’s got you acting
so erratic?” her mother asked. Iris couldn’t help that her heart
was racing in her chest and her adventures were just beginning. She
would not allow the fireworks to ignite and give away her feelings.
Her mother smiled.

Damn you
fireworks!

“
Is it a boy?” her mother
asked squealing. Iris stood doe eyed looking at her mother. She’d
been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, and the chocolate and
crumbs were still around her mouth giving her away. “Tell me!” her
mother asked hugging her. “Oh Iris! It’s about time. I was worried
for so long!”

“
Mom, your smothering me.”
She did not want to be crushed in between the valley of her
mother’s breasts. “I’ll tell you! Just let me go woman!” she
shouted breaking free of her claws.

“
What’s going on in here?”
her dad asked. “Iris has a crush!” her mother answered. Surely
there was a brief case hiding in some obscured corner with a bomb
in it that would detonate in a minute and save her from her
impending doom.