An Illicit Gentleman II

                                                Chapter Eight

AJ’s eyes slowly opened as the smell of vanilla and peaches teased his nose.  His forehead rested against her neck as he woke up in her arms, still on the couch.  He didn’t want to get up so he pulled the blanket tighter around them and closed his eyes letting himself fall back asleep.

…As Mats returned to his feet something caught AJ’s eye and he looked over to his right.  He saw the gun sitting by the chair leg on the floor.  Quickly AJ scrambled for it and grabbed it in his hands but a shoe came down on his fingers and he shouted in pain.  Grabbing Mats ankle AJ pulled as hard as he could with his free hand and took Mats legs out from under neither him.  He heard Mats shout in pain when the man hit the floor and AJ immediately jumped on top of him. 

“Asshole!” AJ shouted as he grabbed him by the shirt and picked him up, slamming him back down against the floor.  “You took her!” AJ shouted.  “You took her smile from me!” He yelled at Mats as his fist slammed into the man’s face over and over. 

AJ shouted in pain as he felt Mats fist slam into his side and it caused him to lose his breath and his grip.  It was enough for AJ’s former friend to get leverage on him and shove him to the floor.  He coughed as he tried to catch his breath and then he rolled onto his back.

“You’re a tease!” He heard Mats shout.  “You’re a fucking tease, you’re a whore and you deserved everything you got in that van!” Mats continued as AJ looked up as saw his former friend pointing the gun at Eve. 

“No” AJ coughed out as he reached for Mats pant leg.  Then he felt a kick to the face, his nose stung in pain, and then a loud bang echoed around the room.

“Alex!!”…

“No!” AJ called out as his body violently woke up.  He still laid in Eve’s arms, panting, sweating, and trying to grasp the nightmare.

“Alex.” Eve said as her hand rested on his upper arm.  He pulled away and looked at her.  “Nightmare?” She asked with a frown and he nodded catching his breath.

“I’m ok, just need a minute.” He replied.  They both sat up and she grabbed her shirt and put it on.

“I’ll get you some water.” She told him as she kissed him.

“Thanks” He replied as she got up from the couch.

AJ ran his fingers through his hair as he took a deep breath and relaxed a little, more aware it was just a nightmare.  A minute later Eve came out with a glass of water and handed it him as she sat down.

“Did you want to talk about it?” She asked.

“Naw, nothing you haven’t heard before.” He replied with a light smile.

“That night in my apartment or at the hotel?” She frowned.

“Apartment” He replied.

“You still have them too huh?” Eve said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“Yeah” AJ sighed as he reached over and ran his fingers through her hair and rested his hand on her neck.  “It was hard waking up and you not being there, not being able to talk.

“I know” She replied. “When ever I went back to California I wanted to go see you.”

“When were you back?” He asked.

“I had Sean removed from the city part of the cemetery to some place much nicer.” She told him as she lifted her head.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” AJ said with a frown, even if they weren’t together he would have been there for her.

“I’ve only been back once since then though, been really busy with the restaurant.” She told him.

“Well you’ve worked your ass off and it shows.” AJ told her as he kissed her on the forehead.

“So when are you going home?” She asked as he took a drink from the glass.

“Two days.” AJ told her as he put the glass down.  “But I could stay longer if you want me too.” She lightly smiled.  “Don’t start any recording back there till Monday.”

“And you could stay here.” Eve replied and it was his turn to smile.

He leaned in and kissed her. “Sounds good to me.”

“Are you feeling better?” She asked her hand rested on his neck.

“Much” He replied with a gentle smile.

The couple sat and talked for a little while long and then they both took a shower together.  When they were dressed Eve took AJ back to the hotel and this time she went up with him.  They stood in the elevator holding hands waiting to get to AJ’s floor.  When the doors opened they walked out into the hallway and saw Howie, Leigh, and Nick talking in the hallway.

“Hi Eve” Howie said when he saw the two coming down the hall.

“Hi Howie.” Eve smiled as he hugged her. 

“This is my fiancée Leigh.” Howie said as he introduced the girls.

“So how was the breakfast?” Eve asked Nick as she looked at him.

“Awesome.” Nick sighed and Eve smiled.

“I’m going to go get changed.” AJ said and they waved goodbye. 

When they went inside AJ walked over to his bag and started pulling out clothes as Eve sat down on the edge of the bed.  Just as he had finished getting dressed there was a knock at the door.

“What?” AJ said as he saw Brian on the other side.  “I talked to Kevin he’s having a get together, I’m suppose to invite you.”

“Sweet when?” AJ asked.

“Saturday.” Brian told him.

“Oh I’m not coming back till Sunday night.” AJ said.

“Why?” Brian asked.

“Because I’m staying to spend some time with Eve.” He said with a sigh not wanting to get into with Brian, especially with her on the bed.

“Well I’ll let him know.” Brian spoke his lips tense in anger.

“Please do I’m sure he’ll understand.” AJ said with a hint of sarcasm.

Brian rolled his eyes and walked away as he closed the door and walked over to the bed.  “As you can see he’s still an ass.” AJ sighed.  Eve lightly smiled as she took his hand.    He looked at her as her fingers tangled in his, her eyes fixated on their hands; AJ reached up and lightly placed his fingers under her chin and turned her head to face his.  Slowly he leaned in and kissed her.  His tongue lovingly flicked against hers as he let his fingers drift down her neck and then to the side.  A feeling of calm came over him, a calm he hadn’t felt in a long time and that’s all he wanted at that moment.  He pulled his lips away and opened his eyes, a smile broke from her lips and she pulled him into her arms.

AJ stood against his door as the elevator doors closed over and she was on her way down.  They just spent the last hour lying on the bed in each others arms and it didn’t matter that his world had been flipped upside down.  He went through his days pretending to hate her, pretending the memories of the house didn’t haunt him, and pretending he didn’t need her but now he was falling back in love with her, not that he ever fell out of love with her to begin with.

…“This place is amazing.” She said once the waiter left and she looked around.

“Yeah it’s one of the best in town.” AJ told her as he opened up his menu.

“I’ve never been to a restaurant that didn’t have ketchup already on the table.” Eve commented as she looked at him.  A smiled broke from his face and he started to laugh.

“Evie.” He chuckled with a smile.

“I’m serious.” She smiled back.  “You’re not going to go all Richard Gere on me tonight are you?” She asked.

“Richard Gere?” AJ said confused and then it hit him and he started laughing again.  “No I just wanted to take you out to a nice dinner, would you relax.”  He looked back at his menu and then quickly added.  “Besides your way hotter than Julia Roberts anyways.”…

“Hey” Nick said and it broke him from his thoughts.

“Hey” AJ replied looking at Nick with a smile as he laughed to himself about the memory.

“Where’s she going?” Nick asked.

“Work” AJ replied.  “What’s up?”

“Been a weird week huh?” Nick smiled.

“Pfft, fuck yes.” AJ said with a laugh.

“Brian says you’re staying till Sunday?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, going to check out later today and go stay with Eve for a lil bit.” AJ replied.

“That’s why he was so pissy.” Nick chuckled.

“I guess” AJ sighed.  “Wait till he goes to bitch to Kevin.” He smiled.

“To be a fly on the wall.” Nick joked as they headed over to Howie and got ready to leave to the studio.