50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

50SOD II: Chapter Fifty-Five

    After work, Destiny spent the afternoon chatting it up and watching chick flicks with Carlos, who had a penchant for giving away spoilers. Since her mind continued to drift elsewhere, she didn't care about the spoilers. Carlos giving away the plot points of the movie were the only reason she was halfway keeping up with what was going on.

    Work clothes still on, sans shoes. Posted in one of her living room chairs with her legs draped over the armrest, she stared blankly at the television screen. The movie starred Gabrielle Union and Michael Ealy. She found Michael Ealy positively dreamy, but couldn't keep her focus on those dazzling blue eyes for the life of her. Her thoughts were volleying between Aubrey and Brian and work. Chances were that Aubrey was in his home office working right now, and she should be doing the same thing. She felt guilty for hanging out with Carlos when Graham Enterprises was sinking further and further into murky, media quicksand. Then again if she were with Aubrey working, she'd feel guilty for not spending more time with Carlos. It was a lose/lose situation.

    "Oh my God, is this the part where she cusses him out for making out with that other girl?" Carlos asked, leaning so far forward on the couch that it was a wonder he didn't topple over. His eyes were wide as he tossed popcorn into his mouth.

    She glanced back at him and had to hold back the urge to laugh. Turning back to face the television, she ran a hand through her hair. In vain, she tried to block the memory of her interaction with Brian. Tried to forget her body's response to his touch as he had cared for the cut on her finger. I'm not supposed to feel that way for anyone except Aubrey, she thought while keeping her eyes focused on the television screen. How is it possible to have a reaction that strong from two people? And Brian didn't even do anything...he just held my hand while he put the Band-Aid on. Not to mention the fact that I love Aubrey. I don't even know Brian. Not really.

    "Shit, and this is the part when they kiss, isn't it?" Carlos asked, covering his eyes with his hands. "Oh, no it's not. But wait. Yeah it is."

    She arched a look at him over her shoulder. "You've already seen this movie," she pointed out. "Why are you covering your eyes?"

    "Because shit like this gets to me," he responded, peeking at her through the gap between two of his fingers.

    "Yeah, but this isn't a scary movie or anything," she said. "What are you scared of seeing?"

    "I don't know," he muttered, dropping his hands.

    This time, she did laugh. If it weren't for moments like these, she didn't know how she'd keep it together. There was too much going on in her life, too much confusion and uncertainty.

    Instead of trying to figure out why I'm starting to like Brian without even really knowing him, what I really need to figure out is how to stop these feelings. When you don't want to feel a certain way, how do you stop? How do you control what you feel for someone? Because the last thing she needed in her life was some messy, soap opera type of love triangle.

    After the movies, she hugged Carlos goodnight and returned to Aubrey's condo. She had expected to find him in his office, but he was seated at the piano again, eyes closed playing a lighthearted melody. No singing this time, just an enchanting instrumental. This is the man you love, the only man you should have feelings for. This is the only man your body should respond to. With a heavy heart, she walked across the room and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

    He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly, but continued to play.

    She squeezed his shoulder affectionately before turning and heading to the master bedroom. With steady hands, she affixed the black collar resting on the nightstand to her neck. Then she undressed and threw on a black tank top and pink shorts.

    It was approximately ten o' clock at night, the time when she was usually ready to go to bed. But tonight, her mind was working overtime, thinking about all sorts of things. There was no way she would be able to go to sleep now, and if she couldn't get to sleep, she might as well make productive use of her time.

    She pulled open the nightstand drawer near her side of the bed and rummaged through it for a hair tie. Glancing around the room, she raised her hands, gathered her hair up, and pulled it into a topknot. While still securing the topknot with the hair tie, she walked around the bed. Once her topknot was perfected, she leaned down and picked up a black satchel.

    Aubrey was still playing when she returned to the living room. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked over to the couch and plopped down on it. If she was doomed to stay awake for the next few hours, she might as well work.

    The piano music stopped. "What are you doing?" Aubrey asked her.

    "I'm not ready to go to bed yet, so I'm going to work," she told him as she unzipped her satchel and withdrew her laptop from it.

    "I don't want you to overwork yourself," he cautioned. "That can't wait until tomorrow?"

    "I'm fine." She tugged on a free strand of curly hair while waiting for her computer to boot up.

    He pressed a few of the piano keys idly and told her, "If you're going to work, make sure to log the time you've worked so I can make sure you're paid accordingly."

    "Got it," she replied, sounding distracted.

    "If you're working, then I should be working," he said, standing from the piano.

    She looked over at him. Shirtless, just the way she liked him. Wearing black, drawstring pajama pants. Look how fucking beautiful he is. Just look at him. There's no way I'd even risk losing that beautiful man...and over what? Some crazy, silly thoughts I'm having about Brian.