Something Gained

Chapter Eight

I woke up to the sun streaming through the window, casting a warm golden glow across the room. For a moment I forgot where I was and just lay in the silence, letting my eyes lazily open and close, adjusting to the day.

Only when I stretched my body out, did I make contact with something else, confusing me. Until I noticed the two tanned arms wrapped around my waist, warm and comfortable.. and on my bare skin.

The events of last night trickled into my brain, reminding me what had happened.

I thanked god that Daniel seemed to be a heavy sleeper, as I wriggled out of his arms and stood quickly, finding my clothes around the room and pulling them on in a rush. Hoping to get out of Daniel's room, unnoticed by him or by anyone else.

I did not need the awkward conversations. I didn't need to explain myself or rethink my actions and what could happen.

Not that I could allow myself to regret it right now. Every step I took down the corridor moved my body in a way that pulled at certain muscles, feeling the soreness that was a reminder of last nights antics.

I knew leaving the room while he slept was just as bad. So which ever way I looked at this situation, I was in a tough spot.

An hour later I was showered, dressed, hair and makeup done and ready for the day.

I had my suitcase packed, my bag over my shoulder containing my laptop, two phones in my hand and was down in the lobby by 8am, the time we were all meeting.

As I stood at the front desk, checking out. Someone slid into the spot next to me, standing just a fraction too close to not notice.

Daniel.

I signed my paper work, not saying a word and handed over my room key.

"Did you plan to sneak out?" I heard him mutter the words quietly, only for me to hear which I was grateful for.

But I didn't have an answer. Sneaking out looked bad, but doing what I did with Daniel last night was equally as bad. Before I could answer, my name was called from behind me.

"Alex!" Lando made his presence known, even at this early hour. I turned, pulling my suitcase with me as he walked my way. "Where were you last night?" He questioned

My blood ran cold. I jumped immediately to the conclusion that Lando knew and I was caught out. I saw Daniel turn to face Lando in my peripheral vision.

"Where was I? What do you mean?" My voice was a little higher pitched than normal, not that Lando noticed

"I had your jumper with me, I came to drop it off as I thought you'd want to pack it" he said, he looked like he was waiting for some sort of explanation, and I couldn't give him one.

"Oh sorry, that must of been when k went for a walk" I lied. I hated lying. It always came back to haunt you.

"Oh fair enough" Lando said quickly, pulling my jumper from his bag and chucking it my way before breezing past me towards the desk.

"I've already checked you out" I said to him quickly and he smiled and stopped

"You're an angel, what would I do without you"

"Probably be late for everything" I raised an eyebrow waiting for him to argue, but he just laughed before he took my suitcase off me and wheeled it out with his towards the car.

I didn't hang back to see if there was anything else Daniel was going to say or do, and made my hurried escape. Rushing after Lando towards our waiting car.

I spent majority of the flight, and journey once we landed caught between avoiding Daniel's gaze or any situation where we were alone or together and stuck on an endless loop of repeating memories and details for last night.

As much as I hated to admit it. I didn't regret it, and it was now harder to not think about Daniel and want to be next to him... or even repeat those events.

Even when we arrived at our hotel in a dreary England, I was the first out the car and into the hotel, checking everyone in.

I had a permanent home in LA, I didn't live in England anymore, so when I was working, I was in hotels. Daniel was the same, much like Carlos was before him before he rented somewhere. Lando stayed in the hotel to save the unnecessary travel back and forth to his family home, as he now lived in Monaco.

So I had already made sure we had arrangements for our stay.

"Thank you Miss Walker, your rooms are 512, 515 and 516. Enjoy your stay with us once again" the receptionist spoke.

"I'm hungry, can we dump our bags and go for dinner?" Lando questioned, as soon as I had placed his room key in his hand.

"It's 3pm Lando" I said, before turning to Daniel and handing his room key. His fingers brushed mine as he took the keycard and I looked up at him immediately, looking him in the eye for the first time

"I don't care, meet you back down here in half an hour" he threw the words over his shoulder at us and he was already on his way.

"Are you going to talk to me?" Daniel asked quietly. I took hold of my suitcase once more and pulled it with me, going in the same direction as Lando.

"Not here" I said, just as quiet

"I just need to know one thing" Daniel spoke.

By the time we got to the elevators, Lando was gone and we were the only ones in the corridor. I pressed the button and looked up at the screen about the doors as it counted down the floors.

"What?" I answered him

"Well two things" he said, I didn't answered and waited for him to speak, "why did you sneak out and do you regret it" he asked

The elevator dinged, signalling it had arrived and I made my way in quickly.

"I don't know, and no" I answered simply. Standing as far away from Daniel as possible.

I didn't trust myself. I knew if I stood too close, or let myself look at him, or even feel him for too long, my body would betray me again. Even worse, I wasn't sure I would want to stop whatever followed anyway. Much like last night.

Daniel

She had been quiet all day. She had avoided me all day.

After waking up to an empty bed, my first instinct was to see if she was okay. Which isn't something I normally did. If I woke up to an empty bed after a night with a woman, I was glad.

I could avoid the awkward chit chat and trying to get them to leave. It was quite the opposite with Alex, I wanted to talk to her.

She avoided everything. Being near me, sitting near me, I could see her deliberately doing things or moving to make sure she wasn't near me. She didn't even look my way.

But as soon as her fingers grazed mine as she handed me my room key, the way she looked at me suggested she was avoiding me because she enjoyed herself.

It left me smug. Especially when she said she didn't regret it. So I didn't push her. We rode the elevator in silence, although she kept away from me like I had some sort of plague.

We silently exited the elevator, walked practically in step down the hallway to our rooms, and she didn't even say a word. She practically ran into her room and slammed the door behind her.

She couldn't trust herself around me.

But Alex was like a drug. Something about her pulled me in from the first time I saw her, and then once you taste something, you just counting down the minutes until you can finally have it again.

I would have Alex again.