This story is the continuation of my story Trapped. Thanks to all who encouraged me to write this and helped me along.
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Alyssa stood frozen on the bottom step staring at the door. She could clearly see him standing there on the front porch through the window. How did he find me? It had been three weeks since the most erotic night of her life. Now, the man responsible for it was standing at her door. Alyssa had gone out of her way to avoid him since that night. She hadn't known what to say or even how to act about it. Even thinking about that night could cause her body to awaken in ways she hadn't known existed until Eric.
Shaking herself out of the memory, with a deep breath, Alyssa crossed to the door and opened it. Her eyes soaked up the sight of him, reliving that night was so erotic it was almost painful. Every inch of him was seared in her memory. His every touch etched in her heart. He looked wonderful. "Hi," she said softly.
"Hi," Eric said, just as softly. "May I come in?"
Opening the door wider, Alyssa allowed him in the house. She wasn't sure what to say after avoiding him for so long. Just looking at him was making her knees weak. Alyssa led them into the living room. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked.
"No, thank you," he replied as he sat down on the couch. Wanting to keep a safe distance, Alyssa took the chair across from the couch. She wasn't sure what he wanted or why he was here. She watched him look around her house with interest in his eyes. Thankfully she had cleaned the day before as her brother was coming into town soon. Finally his eyes met hers from across the room. "How long do you want to pretend it didn't happen, Alyssa?" he asked her.
Startled, Alyssa couldn't speak. That was not what she expected him to say. I don't really know him at all, she thought to herself. She'd done nothing but think of him in the time since that night. She'd longed to talk to him but didn't know where to begin.
Taking a deep breath she said, "I'm not pretending it didn't happen."
"Oh, then why have you been avoiding me since then?" he demanded.
Alyssa looked into his eyes and saw not only frustration but also hurt. It was his pain that got to her. How could she explain to him what she felt? How could she tell him that she'd never done anything like that before? Would he understand how she felt? All of this ran through her mind as she fought with herself to come up with an answer to his question. Seeing him sitting on her couch alone affected her in ways she couldn't explain. He looked so right sitting in her house, as if he belonged there. Deciding to stall a little she asked, "What makes you think I'm avoiding you?"
"You haven't been coming into the office very much since then. You haven't returned any of my phone calls. I've left you several messages both here and at your work," he stated, factually. She could hear the anger in his voice.
Why is he so angry, she wondered? It's not like I'm the only woman he's been with. I've seen the women he goes out with. Over the last year that he had worked in the building with her, she'd seen him leave with several different women. All of them were tall, slim and beautiful. Alyssa thought to herself, why is he pursing me? I'm not anything like the women he normally dates. Alyssa knew she was pretty but she could never compete with the women she'd seen him with.
Yes, she had started doing more work from home but she told herself it was because it was easier. As for the phone calls, she didn't know what to say so why bother calling him? Realizing he was staring intently at her waiting for an answer, she decided to ignore the phone calls for now hoping he would too. Alyssa replied, "I haven't been in the office much because it's easier to work from my house."
Eric just stared at her for a long time. Alyssa began to fidget with her jeans wondering what he was thinking now. She'd lost a lot of sleep wondering what he was thinking and how he felt. None of the messages he'd left hinted at what he wanted. They all simply stated for her to call him. More than once she'd picked up the phone to call him back but hung up each time without dialing. 'What do I say?' she always asked herself. Finally he spoke, "Do you have plans for tonight?"
Before Alyssa could respond her front door slammed open causing her to jump to her feet. A tall fit man of about twenty-two came strolling in and said in a booming voice "Lys, honey, I'm home".
Alyssa was shocked. It was her brother Adam; he was the only person who ever called her Lys, her nickname from childhood, but he wasn't due to arrive until tomorrow. He swept her up into a big bear hug and kissed her cheek never noticing Eric sitting on the couch. Finally finding her voice, Alyssa said, laughing, "Adam, put me down. What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming into town until tomorrow."
Adam replied, "I got an earlier flight and thought I'd come to stay longer. Hope you don't mind." Hearing a throat cleared, Alyssa turned to see Eric watching them intently. Realizing he thought the worst, she quickly said, "Eric, meet my brother Adam. Adam meet," she paused, not sure what to call him. Eric supplied the generic answer of "just a friend" as he stood up. Shaking hands she could see them each sizing up the other. Adam was rather overprotective of her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Eric said. Alyssa could feel the tension in the air. Eric and she still needed to talk, but she couldn't do that with Adam so close by. Her brother had always been protective of her; ironic, as he was six years younger than her. Adam looked from Alyssa to Eric before saying, "Lys, I'm really thirsty will you get me a drink?"
"What's the story with your friend?" he demanded as soon as the kitchen door closed. Alyssa rolled her eyes while her back was to him as she got his glass of water, but couldn't stop the blush she felt brighten her cheeks. How does one tell their little brother about such a thing? Deciding it was in her best interest not to try, she replied, "Eric and I work in the same building."
Adam gave her a knowing look as she turned and handed him a glass. She prepared two more glasses before returning to the living room with Eric. Adam headed for the door, saying, "I have to go unpack; I'll be back down soon."
Thankful her brother was astute enough to realize she wanted to be alone with Eric, Alyssa smiled at him. Turning back to Eric, she saw him watching her intently. "I guess you do have plans for this evening," he said, standing.
She didn't know what to say. She couldn't honestly say if she would have said yes even without Adam's timely arrival. Walking Eric to the door, Alyssa still couldn't find the words she needed. As she opened the door for him, Eric gripped her tightly to him and kissed her passionately. Alyssa forgot all else in the world as soon as his lips touched hers. It was as if they were back in the elevator and time stood still. Her heart accelerated, her body went limp against him as he delved deep in her mouth. Breaking the kiss, Eric smiles softly and said, "We will have this talk and soon."
With those parting words he walked out of her house to his car. Alyssa shut the door slowly, her mind in a fog. How can he reduce me to a puddle of desire with just a kiss, she wondered to herself as she leaned back against the door to steady herself. Looking up the stairs she saw Adam watching her intently. Smirking, he turned back to the room he was going to be using for the next week. Damn, thought Alyssa, I don't need this now.
As Eric drove away from Alyssa's house he couldn't keep the smile off his lips. He knew she wanted him. It was enough for now, but he wanted more. All of his life women had pursued him, but the one woman he wanted had eluded him until now. He could still remember the first time he saw her; she'd been crossing the street to his office building.
The first thing he noticed was the sway of her hips as she walked; she had a bounce to her step as if she didn't have a care in the world. The second thing he'd noticed was her shiny auburn hair that shone with gold highlights in the morning sun. Eric had walked a little faster so he could hold the door open for her. When she turned to say thank you his heart almost stopped looking in her emerald green eyes. They had a gleam to them as if she knew some private joke about the world. Since that day Eric had gone out of his way to see her. He'd been trying for over a year to find a way to approach Alyssa. Every time he saw her she would give him a small aloof smile and move on. How ironic it had taken a broken elevator to bring them together. Now she was acting as if it never happened. He'd be damned if he let her forget. Eric had waited for over a year to get Alyssa to notice him. Now that he'd had her, he wanted her again. He couldn't explain this need inside of himself.
"For the last time, it's none of your business," said an irritated Alyssa. Adam had been grilling her all night about Eric. It had started just before dinner and now, doing dishes, Alyssa was fed up. "Adam, you're my brother and I love you, but back off," she said.
"Lys, I love you too. I just don't want to see you hurt again," Adam said as he walked out of the kitchen. Alyssa stood still next to the sink. She knew what Adam was talking about; it still hurt to think about. It had been three years since then. Alyssa had met what she thought was her dream man in Greg; instead he turned out to be her nightmare. She'd caught him in bed with her best friend the night before they were to announce their engagement. She could still feel the shock at finding them wrapped in each other arms. It had taken a few minutes before either of them noticed her in the doorway. When they finally did all Alyssa could do was run away crying, ignoring their pleas to wait. Ironically, she missed her friend James more than she did Greg. Just goes to show what a great judge of character I am, thought Alyssa as she put the last dish in the dishwasher. Closing it and heading to turn off the lights, she couldn't help but think about the pain she went through back then. She'd spent months re-building her self-esteem and she knew she still had a long way to go. Finally shaking herself free of the memories, she climbed the stairs to bed.
