K is for Kiss

[parallax23]

KISS

 

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” came a voice from the dispatch counter that made Alec cringe when he walked into Jam Pony.

He had just returned from his last run of the day and was hoping to make a quick exit before he had another confrontation with her. But she had probably expected as much, which was why she was there waiting for him when he arrived. Damn that sign-up board.

“Isn’t it nice running into you here?” she said in a friendly tone that Alec knew was anything but friendly.

Alec didn’t even bother to attempt a smirk in her direction. It would just encourage her. Normally, he wasn’t intimidated by anyone but she wasn’t just anyone. She was Normal’s new girlfriend, Chelsea.

When Alec first heard that Normal was dating a woman, he had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at the image of what kind of woman would date Reagan Ronald. Then when she had dropped by Jam Pony a few months later to visit Normal at work, it wasn’t a laughing matter for Alec. It amused the hell out of Max and Original Cindy though.

Chelsea was a recently divorced housewife who believed in going after whatever she wanted after discovering that her husband had the same philosophy while they were married. He had been doing more than just overtime at the office, namely the new secretary. Before the ink could dry on the divorce papers, she was out on the town looking for love in what could only be called “all the wrong places,” because she had found herself with Normal. Her looks were nothing remarkable, but she wasn’t ugly either. Big plastic-rimmed glasses, old-fashioned flower print dresses, dishwater blond hair and not overly made up. Normal had done all right for himself.

A plain woman in her forties who had been just as plain in her twenties, she didn’t have high expectations for the kinds of men available to her. Then Alec had been called over for a delivery by Normal. He sauntered over to the dispatch counter and had decided to turn up the charm for her, flashing her one of his trademark smiles and complimenting Chelsea on her youthful appearance. He had been trying to bolster Normal’s ego, and in effect ask to be left alone when he went an hour over his lunch break that afternoon. Of course Chelsea didn’t know that. She had swooned over the fact that someone, a very young and very handsome someone, had taken an interest in her.

For the rest of the day, Alec could feel a pair of eyes that weren’t Normal’s following him around Jam Pony. It wasn’t that he was unused to the fawning; it was just so damn unsettling that a woman that was willing to have sex with Normal was fantasizing about him too.

It didn’t help much to see her bright and early the next day, working as a new full-time dispatcher and part-time Alec gazer. It was more than obvious that she had taken the position to get closer to Alec. Well, it was more than obvious to everyone except Normal who thought it was completely normal to ogle Alec and talk about him nonstop.

However, thankfully it wasn’t Normal who called Alec into back room one afternoon and tried to molest him while he reached for something on the top shelf. Tried was the key word. She had attempted to invade his space but he was faster. Alec had hoped that she had gotten the clue the first four times she had tried, but the fifth time she decided to put the lock on the door. There was no getting away from her.

“Look Alec, there’s no hiding from what we feel. We’re two people who go after what they want. Let’s just stop dancing around each other,” she said flatly.

“What about Normal?” Alec had managed to choke out in a higher tone than he wanted. If his boss tried to come into the back room, he would surely lose his job and that wonderful sector pass.

“He’ll get over it,” Chelsea said, closing in on him.

He darted over to the other side of the room. Alec had been many things in his lifetime – soldier, breeding partner, piano teacher, pool hustler, bike messenger by day, cat burglar by night. However, he was not the kind of guy to steal someone else’s girl. Especially not when that someone provided him with a paycheck and valid sector pass. At least he wasn’t attracted to her, or he would have been in even more trouble.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place. He needed to come up with something and fast. So he did what any other man in his position would do – he lied.

“Well, you see… I’m flattered, I really am… but I’m already seeing someone,” Alec told her.

That stopped her in her tracks and he got to the door and unlocked it.

She shot him an incredulous look. “Who?”

Who? Damn it, he’d have to choose someone that Chelsea had seen him spending time with. Sketchy was his only friend. No way was that going to work. Burn that thought and send it back to hell. Original Cindy? No, everyone knew which team she played for. That left only one other person. Alec drew in a deep breath, knowing that what he was about to say would be worse than anything Normal could dish out. “Max.”

Chelsea stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out whether to believe him or not. “Max? Max Guevara? The one that smacks you around all the time?”

“Yes, that Max… See, it’s all a cover. Normal’s got this rule against office romance, so we’ve had to keep this off the radar or he’ll can both our asses,” Alec explained. Actually, the truth was that Normal would use it as an excuse to fire just Max, but Chelsea didn’t need to know that.

“You really expect me to believe you’re seeing her? She doesn’t even seem happy to see you.”

“Told you, it’s an act. Why else would we spend so much time together if she didn’t like me? And have you seen that girl? Hot body and hot temper? The sex is explosive,” Alec chattered on. Well, that was his theory about how sex with Max would go… and the way a couple of very vivid fantasies went. An evil smirk was starting to cross his face, but he realized now wasn’t the time for that sort of thinking. Him, Max, a closet. Too many fantasies. He almost had to smack himself back to reality.

From the look on Chelsea’s face from seeing his reaction, that had been a sufficient response to keep her at bay. All men were the same – sex, sex, sex or work, work, work. Apparently, if they could mix the two, that made them even happier.

“Listen, we should keep this incident to ourselves. On top of Max’s temper, she’s also very possessive. If she hears someone put the moves on what is hers, she tends to put those people in a world of hurt. You seem like a nice person, so I’m just warning you,” Alec said as he opened the door.

There. Crisis averted. Max wouldn’t know. Normal wouldn’t know. And Alec was safe. Or so he thought until that evening.

“Hi, Chelsea. I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to meet Max or she’ll have my ass,” Alec said and kept walking to his locker.

“Really? I’m sure she won’t mind too much, seeing as how she left here with her boyfriend not too long ago,” said Chelsea.

He couldn't let his panic show. Damn it, Logan just had to come by, didn’t he? How was Alec going to explain this one? He needed an excuse and fast. Stall. “So you met Max’s boyfriend Logan?”

Stepping out from behind the counter, she said, “Funny, I thought you were her boyfriend.”

“I am. Her real boyfriend. Have you seen that guy? He’s some rich guy who likes to buy her things. So she plays along with him to keep up the fringe benefits. They don’t even touch, ask anyone. She’s got this two foot rule with him, but he’s still okay with it as long as he can say he’s dating her,” Alec said, surprising himself with how easy it was to lie about dating Max. Or how much the truth actually helped to make it seem plausible. “I know it’s not right, but we’re living in a post-Pulse world and you do what you gotta do to get by.”

“Yeah, I’m not buying it,” Chelsea said. “Are you really that afraid of what’s between us? Because you don’t have to be. I know you’re not the type to settle and this must be difficult—”

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Alec said, putting his hands up to guard himself. “Where’s Normal?”

Great, this woman could not take a hint. How was he going to get out of this one?

“Reagan left early to deal with some client, so I’m locking up tonight,” Chelsea informed him.

“Look, I’m not making this thing up about Max. And I’m warning you, she seriously has this thing against people who mess with me. No one kicks my ass around but her,” Alec said.

“Then prove it. I’ll go to Crash with you, and I’ll see for myself,” Chelsea said. “You don’t have to keep hiding from the reaction between us. I’m sure Max will agree.”

“Fine,” he said. Then he sighed to himself, “Your funeral.”

Well, this was just splendid. He was dead either way this went. Chelsea would throw herself at him and Normal would fire his ass. Or Max would kill him for ever implying that they got busy. Max was going to sell him out. He could just feel it. Maybe if he hadn’t been an ass to her all those times – oh, who was he kidding? He wasn’t going to live like some neutered puppy on the off chance that he’d need a favor from Max. Besides, how much of an ass he was never stopped her from saving him in the past. He would just have to beat Chelsea to Crash and hope Max was in a good mood. Of course, she was with Logan and she was usually pouting and staring longingly at him when they were together. For a moment, Alec wondered if the pizzeria was looking for delivery boys.

Zooming through traffic on his motorcycle, he knew he didn’t have much time to convince Max to go along with this scheme and save his minimum wage job. Chelsea was taking her car to get there after Alec said that he didn’t have an extra helmet. Fortunately, no one had taken his usual spot in the back alley beside Max’s bike when he got there. That gave him a whole five minutes before Chelsea arrived.

He plunged into the depths of Crash. Where was Max? The one time he was looking for her and she was nowhere to be found. He did finally spot Cindy chatting up that cute blonde Dora or Danielle or something that he’d taken home last week. He almost got distracted by the idea of taking her out again. He cursed the entire female race for being so distracting and frustrating. Focus. There would be time for cavorting if he didn’t have to spend his time looking for a new means of employment.

“Where’s Max?” demanded Alec.

Original Cindy glared at him. Doreen, Delia, or whoever looked him up and down with a lustful look.

“Hello to you too,” Cindy greeted him.

“Look Cindy, I’m in real trouble and I need to find Max,” Alec said.

She rolled her eyes. “Okay. Then why you trippin’ up my game when she’s right over there?”

Alec looked in the direction that Original Cindy’s head pointed toward. Max and Logan were sitting at a table in the back. How could he have missed them? He rushed over as fast as he could when he saw Chelsea enter the bar.

“Quick, Logan, I think someone is selling stolen puppies out of a van in the back. I think you can still catch them,” Alec said, pushing Logan out of his seat so he could sit there.

“Alec, what the hell are you doing?” demanded Max, whose expression had gone from moping to pissed in two seconds flat.

“Look, Max I need you to do me a favor. But first, Logan needs to hit the road. There’s a donation to Eyes Only in it if you leave in the next ten seconds,” Alec quickly replied. He glanced over to where Chelsea was still looking for them. “Two missions and the names of three of the guys I do business with.”

Logan looked to Max to see if he ought to take the deal. She shrugged. It wasn’t a bad offer. “Four missions and three of the guys you do business with.”

“Sure,” Alec snapped. “Now go!”

“Max, I’ll call you later,” Logan told her. He made a fast exit, figuring that the boy had gotten himself into trouble yet again and only Max could bail him out.

“Alec—” Max gritted through her teeth.

“Normal’s girlfriend Chelsea has been trying to score some action from me, but even I have standards. So I might have told her that you and I were hitting it to throw her off my case,” Alec informed her. “All of this was going fine til you and Logan had to PDA all over Jam Pony today. Technically, this is all your fault, so you have to fix it.”

Quiet fury was painted across Max’s face. And it was that moment Chelsea chose to spot them. “Oh hell no.”

“Please Max? I’ll owe you big time.” He attempted the saddest and most sincere expression he could muster, but she was unfazed. Wait, this was Max he was dealing with.

“No.” So predictable.

Alec put on his poker face. “Don’t make me tell Normal who put that new dent in his car.”

“That was you!”

“But who do you think he’s gonna believe?”

They were locked in a stare down when Chelsea found her way to their table.

“Hi Max, Alec. I heard this place was popular but I didn’t think I’d see so many familiar faces,” Chelsea said. It was more than obvious she was evaluating them and the position they were in, trying to discern the truth.

Max plastered a fake smile on her face. “Hey Chelsea. I didn’t know this was your scene.”

“Usually it’s not, but I heard everyone talking about it and wanted to see for myself,” she replied, giving disapproving glances all around her. Oh this woman was the worst recon specialist ever.

“Where’s Normal?” asked Max. He couldn’t possibly have been in Crash or the whole bar would have run out the moment they saw him.

“He wouldn’t set foot in here. Doesn’t like mixing work and pleasure,” Chelsea said pointedly. “How come you two are sitting here by yourselves?”

A nervous laugh erupted from Alec. He was going to make some comment about being caught, and that he and Max were on a date, but Max didn’t give him the chance to.

“What’s this I hear about you putting the moves on my boy?” asked Max in a stern tone. Well, that sounded as wrong out loud as it did in her head. “And I may not be Normal’s biggest fan, but creepin’ behind his back is straight up wrong. So, I suggest you back up outta here before I decide to bounce you on your flat wannabe playa ass for deciding to run your game on my turf.”

The older woman didn’t look the least bit taken aback. “How do I know he’s really ‘your boy’? From the way you treat him, I don’t think you deserve him. Or any man.”

Okay, now this bitch was getting on Max’s nerves. Any person willing to do both Normal and Alec in the same week had to have some screws loose. But no one was allowed to say that Alec was too good for her. No one.

When Max’s hands left the mug she had been holding, Alec really thought she was going to clock the older woman. Instead, they grabbed him from across the table and brought his face crashing down against Max’s.

She was kissing him.

Alec didn’t need to be told to get with the program, and when her mouth opened slightly more, he seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss. He knew very well that she could have bitten him, but it was a risk he was willing to take because he would surely be a dead man once this was all over. Fortunately, she didn’t bite him but further encouraged him by angling his head for better access to her mouth. Alec had no idea Max was so skilled with her tongue. It was the first time that someone had actually kissed him senseless. X5s had immense lung capacity, and theirs had finally been put to good use.

After a minute and a half, along with a couple of howls and whistles from the other patrons of Crash who happened to see, Max pushed him back into his seat. He hadn’t been expecting it and toppled backwards, taking the stool with him onto the floor with his head spinning.

Max smiled with evil sweetness. “You were saying? Now if I hear anymore about you getting all up on him again, I will show you what else I’m capable of. And what can I say? Some boys like it rough. I doubt you’d know how to handle him.”

Chelsea nodded dumbly. Well, she knew when to let something go. Alec certainly was not worth the trouble or wrath of Max. She turned and made a beeline for the exit. Max quickly started drinking her beer in the hopes of removing the taste of Alec, but she was sure that not even rubbing alcohol could do the trick.

“Thanks Max—” Alec began, having regained his composure. He was about to sit up, but Max’s kick to the chest had him back on the ground.

“You listen, and you listen good smart ass. The only reason I helped you out was because I was worried that you’d take up something stupider than cage fighting if Normal canned your ass. So I was doing us both a favor,” Max said, her boot pressing into him. “You’re doing my deliveries for the next month or I will tell Normal about this. And if you ever repeat what happened here to Logan or anyone else, getting fired will be the least of your worries? Got it?”

“So, I guess this means the date’s over?”

Max groaned and kicked him again before getting out of her seat.

“Well, I guess all those fairytales were wrong. Kiss a frog, it just stays a frog.”

“Is that a stab at my genetic cocktail? Because if it is, I’m hurt.”

Alec finally managed to get back on his feet, brushing himself off. Then he gave her an exaggerated look of hurt, but a grin was pulling at his lips.

Max rolled her eyes in disdain. “You can kiss my transgenic ass… And no, that’s not an invitation.”