Forced Affection

‘I need a smoke. Seriously can’t we do this later? I’m already on guard having to look after this girl just because her friends want to go. So I will deal with this tomorrow’ I snap at my father in our meeting. I didn’t want to deal with some rebellion and protest about this arrangement that is happening in the north of the city. Nobody went that way willingly anyway. I couldn’t care less about it I just wanted to get back to Hallie, her lips on mine, her hands around my neck, her hips against mine, her legs wrapped around me and her cool body being warmed by mine. I’d never had that experience before and for once I enjoyed that.
‘Leo you have to take this seriously and besides when will you do it tomorrow? Before or after you take Hallie ring shopping? That was already supposed to be done!’ my father snapped at me. I rubbed the bridge of my nose and tried to focus out everything. I just wanted peace and quiet. I just wanted to leave.
‘Get off my case about it. I will get it done!’ I snarled back. The respect between us had been lost years ago. I never felt threaten by my father-I was so used of having power and being feared. Besides knowing it wasn’t long until I gained my full powers I just got a bit excited.
‘Will you stop behaving like a child and starting thinking like a ruler’ my father says coldly to me as he pours himself a scotch not needing the chaser any longer, he hadn’t for years anyway.
‘Dad, I will deal with it all tomorrow and besides I have Sunday on a plane I can do the rest of it then’ I say obviously hoping it would change his tone and from reading his mind it worked-Dad still had that affect after so many years.
‘Sunday, Plane? Is that so?’ he asked. I had forgotten to tell everyone that I was leaving.
‘Yeah I’m taking Hallie back to Estralia to see her brother and attend her uncle’s funeral we will be back Tuesday I think. Well that is what I have planned.’ I say getting up and pouring myself a scotch. It will be my only one for the night after all I wasn’t going to drink especially not with Hallie out in public. I will need to protect her.
‘Hmm yes that is a good idea. She will need to be with her family for the mourning period. Leo look after her and don’t try and take advantage of the situation. I have already warned her of the media and wanting to have something on her and well now with Madden it will all be spread over the news and you will be questioned’ he answered as I drank my drink.
‘Honestly he won’t take it to the media. He won’t want them to know that a baby slayer did that to him let alone my slayer fiancé’ I say knowing damn well he wouldn’t want it out in the open.
‘Yes I know that. But you must remember the other individuals that were in the room at the time as well’ Craig answered. He had me there-I hadn’t thought about them at all.
‘Ok well we can’t do anything about that for the time being. But for now I’m going to go make sure Lucas has organised this night with Damian so this girls can have a night out and then I can go back to not caring’ I say opening the door and walking out it before Craig even responded. Not that he cared any way.

Walking to the door of Hallie’s room I heard Rae squealing.
‘Billie that was disgusting!! Get the spider away from me you feral’ she squealed again. I sighed I should probably knock but then it would appear that I care; I should just walk in.
‘Anyway now that Rae has stopped being a little bitch. Cortez details now’ Billie said in a tone that I knew she was smirking when she said it.
‘Oh you want details what about you? I can’t believe you fucked around with the Rossini’s McKinnon, so now you are in shit there. Can’t you stay away from bad boys! Honestly I will still have to save your arse’ Hallie shouted back. I heard music playing in the background and I wanted to open the door to go in there and just see Hallie in a whole different light of the care free world she entered when her friends were around. I hope that one day she will be that comfortable around me. I shake my head what was I thinking? Man I was whipped and it was my choice!
‘Yeah well now at least you have connections you can take advantage of my problems. But now give us the details on Parker. C’mon he will be back soon!’ Billie whined. The Rossini’s? I wonder what sort of trouble she was in. After all she hid that information very well but no doubt I will find out when Hallie needs my help to deal with it.
‘What sort of details do you want?’ she whispered no doubt pouting her lips and seductively smiling.
‘Parker. Duh’ Billie said. I knew she wouldn’t open up without a topic or question.
‘Sex’ said another voice that I almost didn’t recognise. It was Avery I decided.
‘Ha. No we haven’t’ Hallie said laughing, but I heard her heart rate increase as she took a drink from something. I smirked to myself. I knew I had that affect on her. I stood just outside the door perfectly still not needing to move but still getting everything I wanted.
‘Kiss?’ Rae asked.
‘Yes.’ Hallie said coyly.
‘Well?’ Avery asked again.
‘I don’t know they have either been fuelled by alcohol, anger or sympathy. And each of them was different. I think we kiss more than two individuals hating each other should’ she said confused. The girls all started laughing and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Yeah I think we kiss more than what normal enemies do. Given the chance I would do so much more with her as well I thought. Fuck where were these thoughts coming from? Maybe it is just because I have been around her without a break for so long I tell myself knowing damn well that wasn’t true.
‘Best out of them?’ Billie asked this time.
‘The angry one, what kind of stupid question is that? Yelling, swearing, insulting and threatening. What could make a better hook up?’ Hallie asked laughing.
‘One that was reciprocated, honestly Cortez you have fallen for him bad.’ Rae said as soon as she had finished.
‘Wow! Where did that come from?’ Hallie asked back in the same tone Rae had used.
‘Please I see the way he looks at you, and the way he wants to protect you. You have no idea how much you have both changed since three weeks ago when we last saw you together’ Rae finished.
Hallie was silent. All the girls were silent and I knew that Hallie was probably staring at Rae as if she had something wrong and knowing their friendship Rae wouldn’t back down.
‘Well. What? No I mean. You know what don’t worry’ Hallie said in a quiet tone.
‘Why’d he take you today?’ Avery asked breaking the silence.
‘To talk about his anger issue, the family, my friend’s issues and Lachlan, nothing that concerned everyone present. I hate bringing that up’ Hallie said the last part extremely quietly. I automatically tensed, I hated this guy and I didn’t even know him.
‘Lachlan?’ Avery asked.
‘He asks about you’ Billie said practically at the same time.
‘He loves you know. If you ever wanted out he would run with you’ Rae said ever so quietly that I almost missed it. That made my heart rate race. She said there was nothing to worry about. This guy was so in love with her, he was willing to give up his life basically and she told me not to worry about it.
‘He may love me. But I never loved him. We tried at the couple thing and we all know how that worked out. We were always better friends. Besides he hasn’t tried to get in contact with me. I sent him a couple of messages but he never replied’ Hallie answered emotionless.
‘But he would run for you’ Avery said as if that was the break point.
‘I wouldn’t run. There is no point. His friend is the best tracker; I would never escape Leo and Nathan. I would always be on the run and that just isn’t me. I could never to that to Lachlan’ Hallie said honestly and I could feel the anger returning. She thought I was keeping her here. I felt the worst I had ever felt, my heart was hurting as if I actually cared about her.
‘You wouldn’t run anyway’ Rae mumbled.
‘You’re right. There is only one person I would ever run with and risk their life like that. And well there is no point running with him when together we can stand and fight and no doubt take on the entire world’ Hallie said as if her heart was breaking.
‘It is weird, isn’t it? I mean Leo. It wasn’t long ago you were so against this and now. It just fits?’ Billie said.
‘This here doesn’t fit. I hate being here. I miss my friends and family too much and this doesn’t feel like a home but Leo. Leo fits better than he should. He fits as if it was just meant to be’ Hallie said as if that was the worst possible thing in the world.
‘Why so sad?’ Avery asked-the exact question I wanted to know.
‘He would never feel the same way I think I might possibly do’ Hallie sighed and that took my breath away. That was not supposed to happen. I felt dirty for listening to their conversation and turned to leave. Only to see Drew standing next to me.
‘Wow that is big’ Drew whispered.
‘Fuck. How long have you been there?’ I snapped knowing the girls wouldn’t hear.
‘Long enough to know when you think about her, you are so easy to take, long enough to know that Lachlan guy is no threat after all and certainly long enough to know that she loves you. Wow I can’t believe I knew how to say that word’ Drew joked.
‘I don’t love her though’ I said back straight away.
‘Mate I don’t do feelings. You want feelings-go talk to Lucas. So we going to interrupt them to get the party started?’ Drew said winking at me.
‘Lucas? Please he is too caught up on her’ I mumbled knowing I shouldn’t have said that.
‘What?’ Drew practically yelled.
‘What the fuck dude?’ I said back knowing the girls had heard us now.
‘He? Nooo’ Drew said wide eyed.
‘Yeah. Nothing can hide your deepest emotions. He hasn’t even realised’ I say as the door opens.
‘May I help you?’ Rae said leaning on the door but not opening up for us.
‘Wow fancy meeting you here?’ Drew winked.
‘Yeah right. What do you want?’ Rae asked again no longer being seductive.
‘We are here for pre drinks of course’ Drew said obviously.
‘Ha you actually thought you were invited to our pre drinks? That’s cute! No we are talking all things girl which means emotions and period central’ she said as I mentally cringed. This girl was ruthless.
‘Wait. I’ll just go get Lucas’ Drew said being a smart arse and rolling his eyes.
‘Great we wanted the hot one in here. Is he any good with a stripper pole?’ Rae asked. I glared at her.
‘You are very funny. I think I like this one’ Drew said with the biggest smile on his face. She held her composure well-her heart rate didn’t increase but I read in her mind she was much happier.
‘What cat got your tongue Parker?’ she asked ignoring Drew. That’s right treat them mean-keep them keen. Worst idea ever.
‘Get Hallie’ I ordered using the compulsion not even bothering with her.
‘Hallie’ Rae called.
Hallie appeared at the door.
‘What?’ she questioned Rae. One glance at me she knew I had used compulsion.
‘Parker. Don’t use compulsion on her’ she snapped coming out the door in a short black dress. I raised my eyebrow in a mocking way.
‘Rae go back in. Start drinking or we will never get through the night’ Hallie said looking at her friend and closing the door. Rae smirked ‘sure that must be it’ and left.
‘Matthews. Leave’ she said not even looking at him. He smirked and winked only to leave.
‘Your office’ she ordered me pushing me in the back to go.
‘We can talk here’ I say not moving.
‘Not likely. Now go’ she said walking in front of me. The dress was a silky material that hugged her body and left nothing to the imagination. She looked amazing but I didn’t want others to see her like this. She walked and the dress rode up high in her thighs I knew that I wasn’t letting her out of the house in that. No matter what she argued.
‘Find another dress’ I say opening the door to my office that I had not been in for nearly 2 months. I generally just worked from my apartment or actual work. After all before Hallie there was no reason to come to this house.
‘I like this one’ she said closing the door behind her. I went to the seat automatically behind my desk and sat down in my chair.
‘So do I on a shorter girl, who has smaller boobs, has less to reveal and isn’t my girlfriend’ I say not even thinking.
‘That would imply I was your girlfriend’ she says sitting down on the armchair in front of my desk and made herself comfortable in it.
‘Whatever. You’re not’ I say not wanting her to read too much into the situation.
‘Yeah because being your fiancé with no ring is so much more impressive’ she said rolling her eyes.
‘You just want to start a fight don’t you?’ I say tired as I rub the bridge of my nose.
‘Well I just think that is funny I wasn’t even asked to be your girlfriend’ she mocked in fake girly voice looking at me up through her eye lashes.
‘Shut up. Seriously you annoy me so much more than anyone else in the world’ I say leaning back in the chair and running my head through my hair.
‘Whatever. I know that isn’t true’ she said getting up and walking around my office. She walked straight to the book shelf and looked through.
‘Fine name one person I hate more than you. That is all I’m asking’ I say just wanting her to remain in my company longer.
‘Martin’ she said smiling as she licked her lips and got to my alcohol cabinet near my chair.
‘Smartarse’ I chuckle knowing she was right. She turned and smiled at me knowing she had won.
‘What can I say? I’m much better than you at this manipulative game’ she said winking as she stood in front of me at the side of my desk. I couldn’t hear her heart rate increase, or even her breathing get quicker but I knew that my heart rate had definitely increased and was glad she couldn’t tell.
‘So we fly out Sunday. For the funeral’ I say knowing it would be a mode killer.
‘Thanks’ she said turning and walking out the door.
‘Hallie’ I called as she stopped in the door way.
‘Yes?’ she queried turning around. I was standing in front of her now.
‘Find another dress’ I say looking down at her-the advantage of being 8inches taller.
‘Or what?’ she said raising her eyebrow and looking up at me.
‘Or I will rip it off so you have to find another’ I say leaning down a bit.
‘Is that so? Well what is stopping you?’ she said leaning up. There was no point even thinking of another answer. I bent the rest of the way and took exactly what I wanted.
My lips crashed onto hers-knowing she would kiss back I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her back into the office; I closed the door and walked over to desk and rested her bum on it. Her legs didn’t wrap around me like I expected but stayed closed. Her hands where running through my hair as I stopped kissing her and kissed her neck.
‘Parker’ she said breathlessly that excited me.
‘Mmm’ I said still kissing her neck, wanting so much more.
‘You’re the only person I have ever let touch my neck’ she said before moaning and moving closer to me. Her knees moved apart and I moved in closer to her so our bodies touched and she moaned again. I couldn’t help but smirk as I kissed her neck. I kissed her on the lips and played with the strap on her dress, moving it from her shoulder she pulled me closer but shook her head.
I ignored her and went to remove the other strap on her dress. She pulled back from me and laughed.
‘No Parker. I don’t think so. My friends are waiting’ she said pulling the straps back up and kissing me again softly on the lips. Her cheeks were rosy red and I could hear her heart racing. She slid off the table and pulled her dress back down appropriately.
‘Later Parker’ she smirked and winked as she walked out of my office leaving me completely and utterly dumbfound.

On returning to the room I knew I wouldn’t escape question.
‘We know you won’t give us the gossip. So we are playing “I’ve never” with the boys’ Avery said as soon as I walked in. She had in her hand a bottle of wine and a wine glass in the other, the expensive drinker. Billie smirked with her wine glass as well, the whatever drinker.
‘Whatever he only told me we were flying out Sunday for the funeral’ I said walking over and grabbing my glass and the vodka, the solid drinker-I could keep up with anyone. I had always drunk vodka and handled it well. Rae though was much more into the beer, always having drunk that.
‘Oh wow.’ Billie said stopping.
‘Let’s not ruin the mode’ I say walking down stairs leading the girls to the kitchen. Already sitting there was Lucas and Drew in deep conversation, heads bent over the tables.
‘Wow sorry guys didn’t realise we were interrupting’ I say being a smart arse standing in the door way as the shot apart and ignored me. Lucas refused to look me in the eye and Drew smirked.
‘Sit down and shut up Halo’ he replied to me indicating to the seat next to him. The girls walked in and all took a seat Avery and Billie next to each other sharing alcohol, Lucas next to Billie and then a spare seat. I took the seat next to Drew and Lucas. Rae made her way in and looked confused. She sat next to Avery and left 2 spare seats in between her and Drew. Nathan and Leo walked in last, Leo sat next to Rae and Nathan took the remaining seat next to Drew.
‘Guess Lucas get’s the ladies tonight’ Nathan said smirking.
‘Don’t worry Nathan you can have all the guys you want’ Lucas said laughing at Nathan as he gave him the finger.
‘Can we put some music on?’ Avery asked nodding to the stereo sitting on the bench.
‘That’s why it’s here’ Drew said. Avery got up and hooked her phone up to it. ‘Black dress with the tights underneath, I got the breath’ stared playing before I joined in-this was my song after all. I immediately got up to dance in my slinky little black dress I hadn’t changed ‘of a last cigarette on my teeth. And she’s an actress, but ain’t got no need; she’s got money from her parents and a trust fund back east. Tongues always pressed to your cheeks while my tongue is on the inside of some other girls teeth. You tell your boyfriend if he says he’s got beef that I’m a vegetarian and I ain’t fucking scared of him’ I sung dancing with Avery. We were both laughing and as soon as the start had finished we both took our seats back.
‘Wow that was hot. I cannot wait for tonight’ Nathan said lifting his beer in congratulations to us. I smirked, ‘Get a life’ I say taking a swig of the vodka and lemonade-bit more vodka in there than necessary.
‘Are we playing I’ve never or not?’ Rae asked leaning back in her chair as her beer sat in front of her not even opened. Wanting her to open her drink I started.
‘I’ve never picked up my cousin’ I said smiling straight at her who sat across the table from me.
‘Bitch, we are only cousins by marriage. We aren’t blood related’ Rae clarified as she opened her beer and took a swig. No one else touched there drink.
‘I’ve never picked up a slayer’ Drew said-Rae, Avery, Billie and I all drunk our drinks. Leo took a drink of his and so did Nathan.
‘Eww I would not admit to that, let alone remember it’ Leo said looking disgusted at Nathan.
‘Shut up. I was very drunk’ Nathan defended.
‘Geez that is bad. Was that male of female?’ Leo asked laughing clearly reading Nathan’s thoughts. Nathan hit him over the head as Rae kept trying to catch my eye.
‘I’ve never picked up a guy’ Nathan said not drinking. All of us girls drank and looked around at the guys-none drank.
‘I’ve never picked up a girl that looked like a guy’ Leo said laughing as Nathan took a drink.
‘That’s disgusting. Seriously?’ Billie asked.
‘Serious’ Leo said still looking at Nathan.
‘I’ve never had sex with Chuck Bass’ Rae said as I burst out laughing-she took a drink.
‘I’ve never had sex with Chuck Bass twice’ Avery continued as both her and Rae drank. The girls all being massive fans of the show burst out laughing, the guys didn’t get it.
‘Should we understand that?’ Lucas asked Leo as Leo shook his head ‘No-tv show’ he clarified.
‘Three words, eight letters, Say it and I’m yours’ I say quoting Blair from Gossip Girl.
‘I don’t love you’ Billie said finishing the quote from Gossip Girl.
‘You know you love me xoxo Gossip Girl’ Rae winked as we burst out laughing.
‘Honestly enough, get back to the game-Billie’ Drew said clearly going insane.
‘I’ve never dreamt about having a threesome’ Billie said smirking at Rae. All the guys drank, not even ashamed as both me and Rae took very quick sips of our drinks. Before we could even pretend we didn’t Avery and Billie were clenching their stomachs laughing so hard remembering a time in which Rae and I had both stupidly admitted we had dreamt about a threesome.
‘Wow. Hallie. Rae. Join later’ Nathan winked at me and Rae. I shook my head and Leo hit him over the back of his head.
‘I’ve never had a threesome’ Lucas said drinking, so did Leo and Nathan.
Realising I could use this situation to my advantage I thought about how much I wanted to know about Leo.
‘I’ve never had a foursome’ I said directly looking at Leo. Leo raised his scotch and drank it again. I didn’t raise my eyebrow or anything, but did notice Nathan also drinking.
‘I’ve never had a, what comes after foursome?’ Drew asked.
‘A gang bang’ I answered still looking at Leo.
‘Yeah one of them then’ Drew said drinking his drink, so did Nathan and Leo.
‘I never been with a fairy’ Nathan said taking a drink. So did Leo and Drew.
‘Lucas you’re falling behind’ I say elbowing him in the ribs smiling.
‘What can I say-I’m conservative?’ Lucas quizzed before I could even answer Leo spoke.
‘I’ve never had sex’ Leo smirked. I wanted to drink just to hide my virginity but knew it wouldn’t be worth it. Everyone drank but Billie and me.
‘Really?’ Nathan said absolutely amazed ‘what is the point of you playing then?’ he finished. I didn’t say anything but just glared at Leo.
‘I’ve never had real emotions for anyone of the opposite sex’ Rae said looking at me. I smiled and sculled my drink lying but wanting to hurt Leo. Drew sat for a while before drinking. So did Avery and Billie. Leo glared at me but did not drink his drink.
‘I’ve never been in love’ Avery said to which only Lucas drank.
‘What happens if someone lies?’ Drew asked staring at me.
‘If you can prove it they must skull their drink’ I said still glaring at Leo.
‘Well I know at least one person lying’ Drew mumbled.
‘Can you prove it?’ Rae asked.
‘Nope’ he said popping the ‘p’.
‘Nathan drink’ Leo said still glaring at me. Nathan drank and refused to look anyone in the eyes.
‘You better finish the whole drink for lying before’ I say still glaring at Leo.
‘I’ve never felt awkward in this room’ Billie said sculling the rest of her drink. Everyone around the table drank.
‘I’ve never cheated on my partner’ Lucas said. Leo drank, Nathan drank and Billie drank-she cheated on my cousin Calvin with our friend Jake.
‘I’ve never had sex in a church’ I say still glaring at Leo but not indicating the comment to him. He raised his eyebrow like I was an idiot.
Rae drank ‘It was one time, out the back it doesn’t count’ she snapped still drinking as I laughed.
‘I’ve never been in a church’ Drew said as all the boys drank.
‘I’ve never slept with a nun’ Nathan said shrugging his shoulders. Leo drank.
‘Oh fuck off’ I say-I guess the vodka was starting to kick in. About time I had already had 3 before this one.
‘Halloween party-he never said a real nun’ Leo snapped.
‘I’ve never had sex with a hooker’ Leo said glaring at Nathan-he was the only one to drink.
‘I’ve never played a more tense game of I’ve never’ Rae said laughing as she sculled her beer and grabbed another one. I smiled and took a sip-as everyone did.
‘I’ve never thought this was a better time to get a taxi and go out’ Avery said finishing her drink. We all drank again. Nathan stood up from his seat.
‘I shall call one now’ he said leaving the room.
‘Wow that was a good game’ Rae mumbles as Leo finishes his drink and puts the empty glass in the sink.
‘Crack another-have a beer with me’ Drew said to Leo.
‘Nah I’m not drinking anymore tonight. Someone has to be the sober one’ Leo said leaning on the bench with his jeans and a shirt I had never seen before-but he was very hot.
‘I’ve never been the sober one before. Leo drink’ I snap.
‘Bite me’ he replied rolling his lip at me.
‘Isn’t that what you do?’ I replied back standing up. Yep the alcohol was really going to my head.
‘Hallie, just go change’ Leo snapped walking away from me.
‘I’m not changing Parker. Get used to it’ I say staring after him as he walks away from me.
‘Taxi’s here’ Nathan shouts from the front as we all make our way to the front door.