The Stoic And The Beast

The Idea That Started It All

WARNING: This chapter has some strong sexual content. Please stop reading at the part outlined by the ^^^^STOP^^^^ line and begin reading again at the ^^^^START^^^^ line. THANK YOU.

Alicia's POV

I sat, nervously waiting for Luke to arrive at the campus Cafe'. My mind was recoiling all the events from this morning. I was upset, confused and scared all at the same time. My hands were nervously shaking the cup of tea I held in them. I sat the cup down and picked at the rim of the smooth porcelain as soon as I felt his presence behind me. He was close enough to touch but he wouldn't touch me. Not here. And that gave my heart a jerk. He slid around the table and eased into the stool across from me while folding his hands in front of him.

His face was unreadable. His eyes were a dull hunter green which reflected no emotion. His arms were tense as he sat upright. It felt more like I was in the middle of a job interview rather than having a friendly cup of tea with a close friend. My throat was closing at the sight of him. I wanted to reach for his hands and place mine in his. Instinctively I started to reach across the table for his but he pulled his away. So I withdrew mine back to my lap as well. My eyes fell away from his as I started nervously picking at the rim of my cup again.

I felt like this was going to end badly between us. Very badly. This was the beginning of the end. I was afraid to speak. I could feel his eyes on me. Waiting for me to say something first. But in that moment, nothing could escape my lips. I was nervously biting my cheek trying to will myself an ounce of courage to say something to him. Just as I was about to, he spoke. His voice was low and controlled.

"I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to see my best friend hanging all over you, kissing you and throwing you in my face when I think of you as mine. How do you think I'm feeling right now?"

My heart squeezed and I couldn't breathe. I felt a panic attack rising.

"I dunno, you seemed perfectly fine with it. Luke I didn't want him to..."
He cut me off.

"You didn't want him to what? Kiss you in front of me or hold your hand or brag about you to me?" He whispered angrily.

My eyes began to blur and I whimpered.

"It broke my heart seeing you with him like that." He looked around to see if anyone was looking at us or listening.

"I can't... I don't want to share you with him, Alicia."

A tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away.

"What do you want me to do Luke? I like you both. I feel much more strongly for you honestly. But I like you both." I breathed out.

I choked out every word. My throat burned as I swallowed back that urge to cry. He sat back in his chair and scoffed.

"I love you, we shared our first time together. What could he have possibly done with you to make you feel something for him that is the same as what you feel for me?" He questioned.

Another tear streamed down my cheek. I didn't bother wiping at it.

"Nothing, we just kissed. We kissed before I got sick and ended up in the hospital and then I spent that one night with you."

I tucked my hair behind my ears with my shaky hands and trained my eyes on my teacup. I could sense the tension growing in Luke's body language.

"Explain it to me better than that Alicia." He growled low and quietly.

"Jake makes me feel the electricity coursing wild in my veins when we are together. He opened up the wild side of me I didn't even know existed. You make me feel a sense of immense love and passion beyond anything I could have imagined." I tried to explain clearly but it just came out as a weak attempt at an explanation that I couldn't even really comprehend it myself.