Chapter 31

Leila POV

The picture was burned into my mind, as I stood, absentmindedly stirring the pot of ragu on the stove.

"Lala, I'll catch you tomorrow"

Turning I see Alec standing there with a bag sling over his shoulder.

"Where are you going? Hot date with Mon?"

"Yeah... And I'm kinda staying over her's tonight"

"First sleepover? That's hot"

He rolls his eyes with a shy grin "Don't make a big deal about it"

"I am, and I will be sending flowers"

"Don do that"

"I'm kidding, I won't, I'm so happy you guys have hit it off and are getting serious, you both deserve good people"

"Ok stop" he said with a bashful smirk "ill see you later Lala"

"Bye Romeo" I laugh at him as he leaves the kitchen, then hearing the front door open and close.

I turn back stirring the pot, humming along to a familiar song that came over the speakers As I started to move my hips and dance to it.

"Damn, would you take a look at you girl"

I froze as once again my present echoed the past, turning around slowly, making sure that it was in fact reality, because I sure was having a lot of flashbacks lately.

There he was in all his bearded 5'8 glory, smirking at me, leaning up against the doorway with his arms crossed.

It wouldn't be so bad and cliche if his song Crazy In Love wasn't playing pretty loud behind me.

Irony really.

I spun around hitting the pause button on my iPhone, turning back to him, only to come in view of his white t-shirt covered chest.

"Marshall, what are you doing here?"

He shrugged, as his eyes moved off me and he sets them on the stove, reaching past me lifting the lid off the pot, investigating the ragu "Thought I'd come for dinner"

"How did you get in?" I said frowning at him.

He looked back down at me "Alec"

I stepped back hitting the stove "And who said I want you to come into my house and make yourself at home?"

"I do" he said leaning in, lips millimetres from mine, suddenly putting a piece of cooked pasta in his mouth and then leaning back "We turn up uninvited remember?"

He walked back into the hallway then returning with a smug smirk and an expensive bottle of wine and handing it to me.

"At least I don't turn up empty-handed"

------

I subtlety looked at Marshall through the side of my eyes.

These scenes were getting eerily familiar, I was struggling to keep my composure, because these same scenes played out in a pool room over a decade ago, the only things missing was the smell of weed and alcohol.

The man still smelt the same.

"I have to admit, I was hoping you were a terrible cook at least"

"Nope, it's one of my hobbies"

"Here I was thinking your only hobby was being a man-hater"

"No, I enjoy making a cheesecake too, after all, revenge is best served with dessert" I said giving him a playful smile.

He was seated lazily leaning back, arm across the back of the couch behind me.

"Does Alec live here?" He asked reaching across me, fingers brushing my knee as he grabbed his drink from the coffee table in front of us.

"No, he just treats it like a second home, he has claimed the guest room, but I know he's basically doing it to keep an eye on me"

"That's cool, I get it, so that night I came over when I, you know?"

"He wasn't here" I laughed "Don't worry"

"Right" He said kissing his teeth and looking down at me with his blue eyes, the intensity of the gaze making me move in my seat awkwardly, then he stood up, walking over to where my stereo system stood and started to flick shamelessly through my wall filled CD collection "Impressive collection you have here"

I shrug, standing up and moving beside him "Well Tommy raised me on music, I can't help that I have taste"

"Tommy raised you right" He said as his fingers landed on LL Cool J's Bigger and Deffer album, pulling it out, flipping the cover open and placing the CD in the player.

"Well, I mean you were obviously one of his biggest influences"

Marshall turned to me, side-eyeing me with a smirk as he hit play, the beat of I Need Love filling the room.

I look at him pulling an amused face, raising my eyebrows.

"Really?"

"No? This song not giving you the WAP?"

I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder as he laughed, as I walked back to the couch, Marshall grabbing my arm, sending a shockwave down my spine "I'm kidding come on, I'm trying here"

I thought I was on the nice buzzed level of the wine, but if obviously drunk more than I intended.

"Trying my patience" I huffed, fighting the smile that threatened to erupt on my lips "You're funny, I'll give you that much"

"So you think I'm funny?" He grins at me, letting my arm go, tapping his chin with his finger "What else?"

"Irritatingly obnoxious" I snap.

"Hmmm, well" He said leaning down into me "I believe you once thought that was an attractive trait of mine"

"Don't be so cocksure of yourself Superman, I liked your music"

"Did my posters on your walls play music then huh? How Magical"

"I'm going to kill Alec, I can't believe he told you that"

"It's kinda hot, I'm not gonna lie, did you fantasise over me?"

I glared at him "Fantasy? No"

If only he remembered.

Marshall chuckled and bit his lower lip, tilting his head while staring at me

I spent most of my twenties and early thirties denying myself of the reaction to men, and now here I was standing in my living room, in front of the cause of most of my anger, all but panting like a fucking dog in my fake composed blank expression.

I was annoyed at the whole atmosphere of tonight, any time he standing with me, I was more comfortable the I wanted to be, the resentment I held seemingly disappearing, but still there in the background, a chaotic reminder of the past, present and if I as to be honest, obvious future.

I found myself forcing myself not to break.

"So how long is this game of chase going to last until you get bored?" I said, finding words finally, trying to sound like I had my shit together again.

"Well, I like a challenge so I don't stop until I get what I want" He said rubbing his hands together "And I know you're going to chase me as long as I ignore you, so I figure we're just gonna keep turning up at each others house uninvited until you give in"

I crossed my arms across my chest and snorted, unimpressed by his revelation.

"So you think I'm just going to give in to you, just like that?"

He nods confidently, his body still inches away from mine.

"You really want to play this game?"

"Yep" He scoffed at me, smirking mischievously, his stance relaxed, shoulders casually slumped forward, oozing that ridiculous cocky attitude that got under my skin.

"Fine" I said simply "You're on, you were easy to break last time, what's the prize?"

"You win, I'll do anything you want" He cooed, in that velvet voice, goosebumps running over my body, well aware of how dangerous that tone was.

And I was having a hard time pretending to be tone deaf.

"And if you win? And I cave, like you assume I will?"

He thought for a moment, and at that moment I couldn't help but think of all the nasty, vile illicit things he had in mind that he wanted to do to me, and I had to stop myself because I started to feel the hot prickling sensation eise to my skin.

"You tell me why you have a problem with me, no excuses, no changing the subject"

I was confused "What?, you could literally choose something else"

He shrugged "I just want to know why"

I was confused but the fact he was more interested in what I thought about him than getting to so what he wanted to me.

"Deal" I said, holding out my hand.

He wagged his finger at me, pulling me in that little bit closer "I want it sealed with a kiss"

I rolled my eyes leaning in, feeling the familiar softness of his lips as they connected with mine.

Suddenly he grabbed me, kissing me hard, his tongue slipping in and the kiss moving between passion and almost on the verge of violent.

I was certain I momentarily forgot how to beathe as he pulled away, sucking his lower lip as if he was savoring the taste our kiss.