It still felt like a dream, what had transpired between she and Tristan. Claire had been with him all through after they had spoken in his room and then she said yes to him getting her a private tutor. When she had said yes, he explained that he would make certain that she also takes her exams privately since that was her greatest fear. Claire had been looking at him with hopeful eyes but she could not help but wonder what there really was to him that he wanted from her. He seemed strange in her eyes and maybe that was because he was the only human save for Jake that saw her as human and wanted to know her opinion on things before forcing them on her. Jake, the thought of the young man stratled her as she somehow did not want anything to jeopardize what she had upcoming. Either way, it was Friday already and the funny aspect was the forth coming outing with Andrew and his silly friend Jasper. Sundays were her only day off work as she was expected now to turn up on Saturdays at Tristan’s. Claire did not want to fall on Andrew’s bad books yet she could not help but feel like she needed an excuse.
When they had finished talking about all that, as if something was itching her on the bum, Claire got up suddenly from his bed in a way Tristan himself noticed. She could tell he did with the way he smiled at her and asked if there was a problem. Of course there was a big problem that had everything to do with his habit of kissing her randomly and unawares. Not like she did not like him doing it, infact she had begun developing feelings for him but she was smart enough to know that no good would come out of it. Tristan was way out of her league and she did not want to misuse the fact of his leniency towards her to get him into any form of entanglement. Bad as it would turn out to be, Claire also was not certain she would want to deal with the press should it get out that she was having anything intimate related to do with Tristan. It was bad enough that the other man had tried taking a picture of both of them. How much more the others and their reaction when they find out who she was.
It was not about her genius parents alone but her dyslexic self. Her former classmates would definitely find a way to make her feel all forms of embarrassment. Then what, the world would have it in their records that a dullard like her was dating the almighty Tristan Jenkins. No way in the world was there a match between the both of them. He was out of her league. And perhaps he chooses to keep her in the dark, Claire was not certain she would also want that to happen. She wanted a man that would boldly flaunt her and still have nothing to loose. Jake fitted that description well enough. His life was simple and he did not have a thousand press members chasing after him to know what he had for breakfast. He too had accepted her for being who she was without making any form of judgement. Perhaps she would just have to give him a try and love him regardless. It would never be as she did Tristan but it definitely would be better. Though choice to make that moment as Tristan was looking up at her, his eyes twinkling. He had been waiting for her to answer all the while she had been spacing out. Claire flashed him a smile rather brief and told him that all was well. She simply wanted to get back to her duties.
“Duties? You mean the ones you ran away from.” he said obviously trying to torment her
“I didn’t run away. You made me angry.” she shot back at him.
Tristan smiled and stood up not moving his eyes from hers. He held her there in a way that seemed she was being hypnotized. All her insides began to melt and she totally forgot her earlier resolution not to have anything of the sorts to do with him anymore. Alright, maybe she would have to wait until the next day to bring forward her resolution. Tristan closed the little gap between them. By the time he raised his right hand and put it on her shoulder, Claire’s legs had turned to rubber. She was barely standing. His left hand found her chin and tipped it up for him to look directly into her eyes. It no longer was a surprise to her, what he was about to do but her mind was regaining it’s sense of questioning.
“Is this how I get to repay?” Claire asked
“Claire… what would make you think that? This has nothing to do with anything.” he said to her
“The what is this?” Claire asked him begging her voice to at the very least sound seriously questioning
“This… this is something else Claire. This is me loving you.” Tristan said and kissed her.
Wait a second, Claire suddenly could not hear anything but the thousands of myriads enveloping her thoughts. For a moment, it seemed like the earth had stopped and everything was suddenly too quiet. Was it her mind or had Tristan Jenkins just professed his love for her. It was unbelievable and she might have thought it a figment of her imagination had he not still been kissing her all this while. As he kissed her, the had that had been on her shoulders brushed her arms, breaking into a caress and coming over to her shirt. Something was asking her to stop him that instant but she was tongue tied. This which was wrong suddenly felt so right to her. One button came undone and then another. It dawned on Claire that this was no longer a game of fulfilled imagination. Tristan was going to make love to her.
As if reading her mind, he suddenly carried her, lifting her so that automatically, her legs came around his waist.
Tristan still had not broken the kiss as he turned over to the bed. Laying her on it. Only then did he break the kiss to look at her. Claire wanted to look away as those eyes of his were having hypnotic effects on her each time but it was too late as he already held her gaze captive.
“I’ve been thinking of this since when I met you Claire.” he said suddenly
“Of…. ahem. Of what sir?” Claire asked naively after struggling with a hoarse voice
“This. I want to make love to you right now badly.” he said.
Alright, perhaps the heavens were being merciful that they handed her a little of her voice she had seemed to be missing. Claire was really worried now.
“I’ve never done this before Tristan.” she said.
He looked at her briefly for a split second and started laughing. Claire did not understand what was so funny that he had to be laughing. He looked at her again and he saw the seriousness on her face.
“Wait, you’re serious Claire? You’re a virgin?” he asked her
“Yes.” Claire replied
“That’s impossible.” he said
“What’s impossible?” she asked
“Nevermind.” was his response.
He suddenly kissed her on the forehead and then moved away from her. Claire still could not understand what was happening and why. He turned away to go sit at the edge of the bed with his back the only thing she could see. Claire began to reminisce through what she had said wondering if she had actually said something really wrong to him for she suddenly felt rejected. She laid there for a moment and then sat up. She should have gone out of the room that instant but another part of her was coming to play.
“What is the matter? Have I done something wrong?” Claire asked
“No. You did nothing wrong. You’re perfect. Too perfect Claire and I’m a brute.” he said
“But why did you…?” she did not finish her sentence. Stopping midway as she did not have the balls to say it out as it should be from her lips. However, he knew what she was going to say.
“Go away Claire. Go now. Once I start, I cannot stop. Just go so I don’t hurt you.” he said
“Hurt me? How?” she asked
“Claire, I’m barely holding it in. You have to listen to me.” he said
“But I want to stay with you.” Claire said.
She was surprised at herself that she was saying that to him that moment when she had been granted grace to escape. Tristan looked at her with such hunger in his eyes that she was not just frightened but had begun questioning her response from earlier. She knew this was basically her last chance to leave the room but chose not to. He looked into her eyes for a really long time unblinking.
“You asked for it.” he said suddenly and drew her closer with his hand at the back of her head.
As he kissed her, Claire’s eyes closed.