Strange Love

"You really shouldn't dress like that at a man's house, you know." Xavier's soft voice purred into her ear.He watched as her eyes fluttered open and the cloudiness of sleep began to clear their aqua depths before adding, "…. unless your aim is seduction of course."

Joslyn's confusion cleared, quickly replaced by aggravation, "I could say the same of the sender of such outfits!" Before she could grab the shirt she had discarded earlier, Xavier had already retrieved it and was now examining it.

"This is what my secretary sent?" He shook his head, a 'tch' slipping out, as he looked her over again. "And this my friend is why most normal people have female secretaries…" he passed the article of clothing to her before continuing. "I asked him to have you some clothes sent over this morning." Xavier ran his hands through his hair as he tried his best (but failed) to look away while she slipped it over her head. "Retrospectively, I can see where a misunderstanding could have happened."He sent her his most charming smile.

Joslyn rolled her eyes at him, "Ya don't say???" she pushed herself up onto her knees and began gathering the items she had brought out onto the beach with her.

Already bent beside her blanket, Xavier began to help her.When their hands brushed against each other and she began to jerk back, he caught her hand. "Joslyn, look at me." He waited for her to look up from their hands to his face. When she finally made eye contact with him he could see the light blush on her cheeks, bringing a smile to his face."I've never tried to hide the fact that I'm attracted to you.You're a very beautiful woman, and I'm sure any man would think the same.I probably should have ordered clothes for you myself, but I was very busy today and didn't think of it.If the worst thing that came from that was an employee thinking I'm in a relationship with someone as stunning as you and getting to come home to you looking like this….then I can't feel sorry." He watched as her blush deepened as she averted her gaze toward the sand.He caught her under the chin and pulled her face back up to his."I'll not say I'm sorry.Joslyn, I like you." Her checks heated farther as she began to struggle out of his grip. He loosened his hold but did not move his hands away from her jaw. "Don't worry I'm not going to push you.I don't know what exactly changed between the night of the party and now, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know. But I'm not going to push you farther than you are willing to go. As I've told you before, I am a very patient man." A tear ran down her cheek and over his thumb. He used its pad to wipe away the next one as it began trailing down the same path as the first tear. He pulled her against his chest, "I'll wait as long as it takes." He placed a light kiss on her forehead. He waited until her eyes met his gaze. "I can't help but feel like you are the person I'm meant to be with until the day I die."

Joslyn's eyes nearly popped out of her head, "D-d-d-d-i-e????"

He chuckled as he slowly released her face and began pushing himself up from the sand. "What's scarier to you? The fact that I want to be with you until death do we part or the consideration of my lifespan?"

She shook her head, trying to push the shock of his words away until she could properly think about them later. When she finally looked back up at him he was brushing the sand from his lower body. Her eyes bulged again, "What in the world are you wearing!" She slowly trailed her eyes over the strange combination of business formal and swimwear.He sported a black blazer, dark grey tie, white button up, and dark grey swim trunks with a pair of flip flops.

He laughed as he brushed the last of the sand off and extended his hand down toward her.He began explaining as she took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. "I had several conference meetings today over the computer.They could, pretty much, only see me from my hips up at any given time…. Sooo…"He released her hand once she was standing and began loosening his tie. He pulled it off and unbuttoned several of the top buttons.

She snickered as she shook the sand from the towel she'd been laying on, "Well, You'll definitely be a trendsetter in that outfit!"

"Hardy, har har" He laughed as he snapped the tie at her leg playfully. "We should probably head into the house before any tourist in the area get the wrong idea and think we are both hosts/escorts."

Her thoughts moved back to what she was wearing herself, "So exactly what did you say to your… secretary? That had him picking out something like this?"

Xavier's laughter died as he became serious. He grabbed her free hand and brought her fingertips to his lips, "I simply told him, I needed clothes delivered to the house for my beautiful house guest to wear. And I gave him a… reasonable description of you so that he could pick the right sizes."He looked her over, "Looks like the description worked…"

Joslyn blushed as she turned her gaze down to the sand at their feet. "You're right we should head back in…" she began walking back toward the beach access of his property. Xavier came up quickly beside her and took the things she was carrying.She glanced up at the handsome face smiling cheerfully ahead. "Thank you." [I don't deserve to be treated so kindly by this person.Any other person would have washed their hands of a situation like this long ago.] "Um… so I was thinking…. I've taken advantage of your hospitality long enough, though I do seriously appreciate it…"

Xavier interrupted her, "You're not taking advantage at all if anything I'm the one using you." He ran his hand through his hair, "I hate being alone all the time, you accepted what I am so easily…" He set her things down on one of the lounge chairs and pulled her directly in front of him."I'll say it again, it means more than you can ever know that you accept me for who I am. Please consider staying here a while longer."

As she stared up into the brilliantly blazing, green eyes staring pleadingly down at her; she couldn't stop the sudden memory of Russ giving her the same pleading look. She turned away from him quickly, "You don't want me around…" her voice trailed off as she walked into the house. "I'm not evening joking when I say I'm cursed when it comes to men."

He grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her around to face him once more, "Joslyn, I'm not asking for more than you're willing to give right now.I'm a very patent man, I literally have an eternity to wait until you are ready for more…" he moved his hand to her cheek and gently caressed it, "But until then let me just be here for you as a friend… or whatever else you may need."

Deciding to give up temporarily on arguing with him she replied, "I at least need to go down to the bar and get my car and stop by the apartment to get some of my things."

He released her face with a heavy sigh, "No problem, I can give you a ride as soon as I change." He shot her a wide grin, "I wouldn't mind another bowl of sea slop."

Joslyn let out a surprised chuckle, "You mean chowder?"

His grin softened, "You should never let that smile fade, it's absolutely beautiful." He watched as her smile faded once more but instead of sadness, he could sense something else. He brushed the stray hair out of her face, as he gazed down into the sparkling aqua pool that had captivated his body and soul only a short time ago. [I will win you over. You will be back in my arms…]

Joslyn watched, mesmerized, as the strange glow from the first night they had met returned.He quickly looked away from her as his hand slid, reluctantly away from her face.

She caught the sleeve of his blazer. He stopped walking and glanced back at her, but she lost the courage to ask the question that had been gnawing at her since she first learned what he was. She looked down at where her fingers still clung to the material, "Um… I…" She glances back up at him, finding herself again captivated by the glowing orbs.

He gently took her hand from his arm and brought it up to his lips, closing his eyes as he did, "Go take a shower, I'll bring you in a tee shirt to wear." He quickly turned away and headed toward the stairs.

[What was that about? It's kind of weird he didn't take the chance to try…. Why am I even thinking about… that… with him…] Joslyn watched as he quickly jogged up the stair, not looking back her way once. [Maybe he's not interested in me in that way anymore… why does that thought bother me? But he did say he wanted to be with me 'forever' on the beach…. I really wish I had more experience in this department!] Joslyn scrunched her brows in frustrated, contemplation as she turned to walk toward the guest rooms.

A light tap on the bathroom door brought Joslyn's troubled thoughts to a halt. [Crap I think I forgot to lock the door!]

"Hey I left it on the bed for you, come out into the kitchen when you're ready," Xavier called through the bathroom door. "If there's anything else you need, you should be able to find it in the cabinet in there. The maid keeps it pretty well stocked, I believe."

She listened as the door to the main guest area closed. She let out the breath, she hadn't realized she was holding. "I need to relax." She shook her head and pushed herself up out of the water she had been soaking in and retrieved a fluffy white towel from the rack.She shook her head as she stepped out of the tub. "Shouldn't I be happy that not all men are as sexually aggressive as Russ…" She let her eyes trail over the small gash along her hairline, to the nearly healed claw marks along her upper jaw, then down to the bite mark resting on her shoulder."I seriously need to rethink this whole situation….but... but... I just... can't..." She traced the outline of the mark on her shoulder as a lone tear tracked down her cheek. Without looking back at the sad reflection in the mirror she headed out of the room to get dressed.As promised Xavier had left her clothes neatly folded on the edge of the bed.[He's such a kind, gentle person…. The kind of person I SHOULD want to be with… A pain-free lover… but… I… don't want to move on…. Not yet…]