"Be right back, Alec."
"Where are you going?" Alec asked.
"Storm needs to go to the bathroom," I said then looked to the kitchen only to find it empty. I looked to the sitting room then and gaped at Alec's body lying across my sofa making it look smaller than it was. He was reading something.
A book.
"What are you readin'?" I curiously asked.
"That porn book we were talking about earlier at my house. This dude is my God! He just fucked this Ana chick while she was on her period."
"Stop it!" I screeched. "Stop readin' and put the bloody book down!"
He was reading Fifty Shades of Grey.
I was both horrified and mortified.
Alec got up from the sofa, placed the book on the coffee table and turned in my direction.
"Why are you blushing?"
Him noticing my embarrassment only caused my already red cheeks to heat up even more.
"Oh damn, your cheeks are so flushed," Alec said and took a step towards me.
I held up my free hand. "Hold it right there, buddy. I've to bring Storm outside so just rinse the dealf like I asked you to do half an hour ago and if you have a minute please clean up Storm’s food and water on the floor. We're supposed to be a cleanin' team."
Alec bowed. "Yes dear," he said and moved out of the sitting room and into the kitchen.
I left the apartment and hurried down the stairs of my apartment with Storm before one of the neighbours caught me. The apartment complex doesn't have a ban on animals but if enough neighbours complain about one, the animal or the tenant has to go. Storm is a good dog, but I still don't want to give any of my neighbours reason to report me so that's why I whisk him in and out of the building without being noticed.
Once we got outside I headed in the direction of the park that was located directly across from my building. I never let Storm off his lead for the simple fact that he never comes back to me when I call him. I was terrified he would run out of the park one day if I let him off the lead and get hit by a car. So to keep him safe and my nerves tamed, I bought a lead that extends pretty far so he feels like he is roaming free whilst still being secured on the lead.
Storm relieved himself as soon as we got to the park; I grabbed one of the doggie poop bags that were located around different stations throughout the park to bag it up. When that nasty business was bagged and placed into the bin, we spent half an hour walking around so Storm could stretch his legs. When he was ready, we walked back to my apartment. All the way back I was cursing myself for forgetting my hand sanitiser, I wanted to wash my hands so bad.
When I made it back into my apartment building, Storm and myself hauled arse up the stairs and down the hallway of my floor. I heard laughter coming from inside my apartment so I stuck my ear to the door to see if I knew whom it was.
I fumbled with my keys to open the door, when it opened wide Storm shot forward and because I had his lead in my hand, I was jolted forward and face planted on the ground.
Things went silent then.
"That looked painful," Alec's voice commented after a moment or two.
I groaned.
"She's fine, she can be very clumsy. Never mind Keela, let's talk about you Mr. Slater."
"Please, call me Alec."
"Okay, Alec."
I groaned even louder when I heard my mother's voice.
If there was a Hell, I was in it.
"Are you okay?" Alec asked me as he helped me to my feet.
I nodded my head and brushed down the front of my dress as I ignored the throbbing pain in my knees and chest.
"I'm okay."
I wasn't okay, I was pretty sure I cracked a bloody rib.
"Are you sure, kitten?" Alec asked me, worry laced in his tone as he rubbed the back of his fingers across my cheek.
The sign of tender affection did nothing for me, but when I glanced to my mother I could see the smile on her face as she watched Alec interact with me.
Did she like him?
"Hey ma, I didn't think you would get here until later," I said as I straightened myself up.
My mother cut her eyes to me. "Mam or mother, Keela, never ma."
I inwardly bitch slapped her.
She was one of the few Irish mothers who had a preference on what her child should call her.
"Sorry, mother," I mumbled.
She made me feel like a kid again and I despised it.
"Come sit so we can talk," my mother said and moved to the one seater settee which left me and Alec to sit on the two seater settee.
"How and when did you two meet?" my mother quizzically asked when we were all seated.
Fuck!
I swallowed my tongue horrified that I didn't even think to go over questions like this with Alec on the drive from his house so we would have the same answers.
I started to sweat.
"Um... Well... Um."
I jumped a little when Alec's fingers suddenly threaded through mine.
I looked at him and relaxed when he winked at me.
He had this... or at least he better have it.
"We met three months ago in a night club, Ms Daley. We hit it off straight away and went on a few dates after that night. Three weeks into dating I knew she was the one so I asked her to be my girlfriend and she agreed. The days sort of meshed together then and flew by and before we knew it, we decided to move in together. As you can see, we just started the process today since all of my stuff is still in my bags."
My mother glanced over to the apartment door and to the two large duffle bags next to it.
"Are you sure your things will fit in this box?" my mother asked, a grin on her face.
I clenched my free hand into a fist, I knew my apartment was tiny but no one else could hate on it except me.
"We will get somewhere bigger in time mother," I said, my tone clipped.
My mother hummed in response as she glanced around the sitting room.
She was probably looking for a spot that was untidy so she could rub it in my face.
It wouldn't surprise me.
"Alec, could you be a pet and go make me a cup of tea, please?" my mother asked Alec, smiling brightly at him.
I raised my eyebrows.
My ma didn't drink tea.
What was she up to?
"Of course, Ms Daley," Alec smiled.
He turned to me and mumbled, "Don't slap me."
I wondered why he said that, but realised why when his lips connected with mine. Alec's free hand cupped my face as he slipped his tongue into my mouth that was open with shock. I quickly realised what the fuck was happening and bit down on Alec's tongue making him whimper.
I released his tongue then pecked his lips and smiled evilly.
Alec's eyes were filled with tears, probably from the stinging pain in his mouth and it made me smile.
"'Ucking 'itch," he muttered, and rolled his tongue around his now open mouth.
I yelped when I felt a pinch on the outside of my thigh.
Alec hid his grin and made a move to go into the kitchen, but couldn't move very far because I wouldn't let go of his hand.
"Um, Keela, can I have my hand back?" Alec chuckled, but started to squeeze my hand to the point of pain.
He was hurting my hand, but I slightly shook my head.
"Don't leave me alone with her," I murmured.
Alec pulled his hand from mine and gave me a stern look that made me itch to bite him again.
"Talk to your mother," he smiled.
Bastard!
He moved off into the kitchen and since my mother had her back to him, he made a show of sticking his middle finger up at me then pointed to his tongue and mouthed, "That fucking hurt!"
I rolled my eyes at him and turned my head to face my mother who was staring directly at me.
"Did you lose a bet?" she asked me.
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Is Alec really your boyfriend or did you lose a bet?" she asked.
I hate that Alec could hear this because it made everything worse.