The Split

Chapter 7

"These stars are really beautiful tonight. Can't see them like this in the city."

'Why not move here full time, you can still work.'

"Yeah i could, move here and live with Olivia in our house and work in our nevada office which is in need of much repair personnel wise."

' that could work.' Zak agreed with her. Excited at the thought of him being able to see her again.

"Except, i'm on the road for partnership at our firm and if I leave, it won't carry over. I would end up just being a consultant. Not what i have been working towards."

'Ah. so what about once you become a partner, we already know your a shoe-in'

"From your lips to god's ears, i would be figurehead there and would only travel when needed."

' so that kinda knocks that plan out.'

They sat back and just thought, he wanted her to be close to him. Their budding friendship was his way into Olivia and making sure she was okay. If and when she left then that link would be severed, only possible way he could keep tabs on her would be personally talk to her. It would be difficult because he couldn't forgive himself for the way things ended. But then he was sitting right next to her confidant, she had this soothing presence to him. It had been a long time since he felt at ease, so much traveling to avoid being stuck at home wondering what might have been.

As bad as it sounds, he had thought what it would be like if he had chosen Levi but truth was he couldn't see them going the distance, she would get bored and they wouldn't have time together. She worked, he worked. They both traveled so much that a long distance relationship that revolved around IM, phone calls, and texting wouldn't be ideal for either of them.

But right now, they sat in the same location, less than a few inches from each other. He could smell her fragrance, spicy and light with the touch of cigarette smoke lingering which would bother him but not tonight. Her skin glowed in the fire, light brown with a face he never studied for longer than to tell what type of mood she was in. her emotions and expressions were easily readable, she never hid how she felt except if she knew it would hurt someone else. Being an empath he used it to get inside someone's feelings, yes it was cheating but how else could you understand the human condition or emotion without seeing how the body reacted to the smallest thing.

'Zak, why are you staring at me like that?'

Shit. how long had he been looking at her. He found his glass and switched gears. Clearing his throat with a sly smile.

"Sorry. I guess I zoned out for a bit there."

'You sure? Do i have something on my face?'

Yes, the absences of someone worshipping your lips for hours on end. Oh, god. What was he saying? That's the last time he drinks without eating during or before.

"No your fine. Just got caught up in thoughts."
'Okay.'

It had been awhile since they came outside, the fire still going and they had finished a bottle of brandy, either they switch to whiskey or call it a night.

"Looks like we killed the bottle." she tapped the empty bottle for emphasis.

'You drunk?'
"No. you?"
'No. whiskey?'

She nodded and he walked inside with his glass and hers. She was getting chilly and pulled her jacket closer to her, looking at her phone she saw it about 2 am and they had spent most of the time talking, then comfortable silences, back to talking and then star gazing. It felt like a date but then she was off by a lot because she and he weren't together, and to imagine such is wrong.

'Glasses are dirty so i put in the dishwasher. Mind going rouge and drinking from the bottle with me?'
'No paper bag?' She joked.
"Nah, gets in the way." he took a swig, made a grimace and handed to her. She took a swig and made no face. ' smooth'

She handed back to him and he took a sip and gave it back to her. Another sip and passed it back.
He took another sip and passed it back.
They did this a few times and then put it on the table.
Somehow her legs ended up in his lap, his big hands rubbed along her legs and they watched the fire dance. It was a while until Levi noticed that he had moved closer to her that her lap was nearly draped across his legs, and her fingers had been absent-mindedly worked through his hair, just gentle strokes and feeling how soft it was. How long it was. How his head had fallen into her hand as she moved it. He was enjoying it, so was she.

He took a deep sip and passed it to her, this time the burn was welcomed but he didn't make a face. With his ringed hand, he kept a hold on her thigh and took occasional sips from the bottle with the other.
'You gonna share that?'
He gave it up with a few funny pull backs that caused her laughter and eventually she got her sips in.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet up with me."

'Anytime.'
She gave the bottle back to him, he leaned forward and put it on the table, he leaned back and went back to watching the fire while running his hands across her legs. Zak made a hummin sound as he felt her fingers started playing his hair.

"I like it when you play with my hair, its soothing."
Her hand halted real fast, had she been doing it that long?
'Sorry, i didn't notice.'
"Don't apologize, it felt great. Gave me goosebumps."
'Should I continue?'
"No complaints here."
'Then let's change positions.'

Levi positioned his head into her lap, his long body draped across the lounge and she went about playing in his hair, massaging his scalp and temples. He closed his eyes and was transported into a paradise, surrendered to the peace and feeling of hands. Like getting a rub down but this was more personal. He sighed deeply and relaxed into her hands, Olivia used to do this when he was stressed out to soothe his inner beast but the comparison between her hands and Olivia 's was vastly different..both women knew how to get him to surrender and fall to his knees. Her lap was cushy, he could lay here for a long time. The mix of alcohol, the fire, pleasant conversation had made this night easier than he had predicted when he had first texted her.

Levi had looked down on him, his eyes closed, his breathing was slow and easy. He had been either quietly mediating or just shut off all thinking and gave into the feeling of her fingers in his hair. Her thumbs brushed his forehead, running along his temples and down. The same motion over and over. Levi liked being apart of his peace, she knew the internal torment he may be consumed in but to bring him a moment of peace was a triphument to her. She still wanted him, and this setting would be a perfect moment for her to act...but she couldn't bring herself to do so.

It wasn't long until his left arm moved upwards to stretch and his hand laid on her upper arm, his right hand had found hers and next thing you know, their fingers were entwined. His eyes opened to see her looking down at him, deep dark brown into dark blues. They just looked at each other, they didn't speak. Zak lifted his head up out of her lap and turned to face her, to really see her. Both their right hands still we're entwined, he moved his fingers from the grasp. Instead of getting up, he moved his hands to her face and cupped it. Soft skin, she sucked in a breath the moment he touched her and looked down to avoid his eyeline. Was she seeing what he was planning? Did she know what he was thinking?

It was a brief moment until he pulled her into him, he felt her start to shake and slowly shy away from him but he wasn't budging. Zak grasped her chin in his fingers. Ran his thumb against the bottom of her lips and kissed her.
Zak.
Kissing.
Levi.