Out of Oblivion (4 page)

What hurt most though was he was trying to sabotage a potential relationship with someone who showed interest in me. Fine. He didn't have to like me, but why did he need to keep me from finding love somewhere else?

*****

When Alexis came home, hours later, I pretended to be asleep. I was so emotionally drained at that point, I didn't want to discuss what was wrong. I couldn't stop my sniffling though, and Alexis must have heard it.

"Are you okay, Haleigh?"

I remained still, hoping she would assume I had sniffled in my sleep or something.

"I know you're awake," she said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "What happened? Why did you leave the party?"

I sat up. "Jason gave me a message from Dominic. He said he found information on Kurt that proves he's bad news."

"He couldn't bother to tell you himself?"

I shook my head.

"Did he at least pass on this proof so Jason could show you?"

"No, nothing."

"I'm sorry, Haleigh. I'll talk to Jason and ask him to tell Dominic to leave you alone. Jason says he's a nice guy, but Dominic seems more interested in interfering in your life than becoming involved in it. That doesn't seem right."

I was so glad my friend understood. At least now I didn't have to wonder if I was being irrational.

"It's possible he's the jealous type," Alexis suggested. "Maybe he's the one you need to steer clear of."

I shrugged. "I don't know if he means any harm, but his indifference has certainly made me feel like shit."

"So don't think about him anymore. I mean at least Kurt seems to like you. Are you going to see him again?"

Alexis' sudden change of heart baffled me. She seemed to be routing for Dominic all that week, convinced he must like me or something. His recent behavior must have made her realize it was all in her mind.

"We have plans to go to dinner tomorrow night."

"Good. Forget about Dominic, okay?"

We hugged. "Okay."

Chapter
4

As much as I wanted to forget Dominic, as Alexis suggested, I couldn't seem to get him off my mind. I went back and forth between wanting to ask him up front what his problem was and wanting to erase him from my memory. As I sat, pushing my food around on my plate, I didn't notice Kurt watching me.

"You seem to have something on your mind," he said.

I smiled. "It's not a big deal."

"Well, it is if it's affecting your appetite. I would like to help if I can."

"Don't be angry okay? Dominic, from the party the other week, has been trying to warn me off about you. It's been upsetting me."

Kurt sighed and set down his fork. "Well, first, I'm not angry. At least not with you. If I'm angry with anyone, it's the people who started the rumors about me that Dominic is buying into. Are you worried they might be true?"

"No. To be honest, I don't even know what it's all about. All anyone has told me is you are bad news, and I shouldn't see you anymore."

"So he's telling you to avoid me, but won't tell you why?"

I nodded. "Well, he sent his cousin to tell me."

Kurt chuckled as he shook his head. "Couldn't even tell you himself, huh?"

I shrugged, my mood lightening. Another person who believed Dominic should have had the decency to tell me himself.

"Don't worry about Dominic. I'll speak with him. Would you like to know what happened?"

I shrugged, hiding my curiosity. "Only if you want to tell me."

"Well, it's not something I enjoy talking about, but since it's out in the open I would prefer you heard the truth."

"Okay."

Kurt took a deep breath before he started. "I met a submissive a little over a year ago at an event in Oakland. We became friends and started playing together. She developed feelings for me, but I didn't share them. It upset her, so she told people I had raped her and tried to force her to be my slave. Things became so bad for me in Oakland, I had to leave. I moved here a couple months ago to escape all that nonsense, but it seems it's followed me here."

My blood boiled. "That's horrible. I hate when people tell lies that destroy other people's lives like that."

"Thank you for understanding and believing me. Few people do. As long as you believe me, it doesn't matter what other people think."

I smiled. "I'd never believe something without proof, and I hate rumors. I hate the people who spread them even more."

"Don't waste your time on hate, Haleigh. It's not worth it. Just acknowledge there are people like that in the world and move on. That's what I've had to do. I refused to allow lies to destroy my life."

Now I was sure he was the better man for me. "I was the object of a horrible rumor in high school that caused me to be bullied for months. In fact, it's why I left Hawaii. So I understand how you feel. I would never wish that on anyone else."

Kurt took my hands in his and kissed them, his eyes never leaving mine. It sent a shiver through me.

"You're an amazing woman, Haleigh Lucas."

I smiled, until realized I never told him my last name. Oh well, it didn't matter. He must have heard it from someone around town. It was a small college town.

"Have you thought anymore about whether you will stick with graphic arts?" Kurt asked.

"I'm not sure. I want to. I enjoy it, and I would love to make a career out of it, but I'm not as good as some of the others. I worry I'll get through school only to find I'm not good enough to find work."

Kurt released my hand and picked up his fork again. "You shouldn't sell yourself short. With practice you can be just as good as anyone else. Don't give up because you haven't found your groove, yet."

"My groove?" I giggled.

A smile lit his face. "Yes, your groove. Did I show my age?"

"I think you did, but I won't tell anyone if you don't."

"Thanks."

I took a bite of my food, my appetite suddenly returning. "You know, you're the first person, aside from my parents, to tell me that."

"Oh? Do they live nearby?"

I shook my head as I swallowed another mouthful of food. "No, they still live in Hawaii."

"Are you close with them?"

"Very. I've always been close with them, even when I was growing up. I never went through a rebellious teen stage most kids seem to go through. They respected my independence, and I respected them enough to stay out of trouble."

"Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood."

"I did. I think my parents are the best in the world."

Kurt grinned. "Do they visit often?"

"No, unfortunately they used all their savings to pay for me to go to school. They live off of their retirement fund now, but it's not a lot. Just enough for them to live comfortably, but not enough for traveling. I plan to stay with them for a while after I graduate. First, I'll need to get a temporary job and save up for a plane ticket. I wanted to work and go to school, so they wouldn't need to spend all their money on me, but they insisted I focus on my studies."

"They sound like great parents. What about other family?"

"Nope, just me and my parents. They were both only children and my grandparents all died before I was fifteen. So it was only us growing up, but I think that's why we were so close. I don't mind it so much."

"You must have friends here you are close with."

"Well, there is Alexis, but I'm not close with anyone else. We go out with others on the weekends, but they are more like acquaintances. I'm not a social person. It could have been because I grew up in such a small town with only my parents."

"Perhaps. It certainly explains why you were so standoffish with me to start with."

Well, that, and I was uncomfortable around him for some forgotten reason, but I didn't want to tell him about that, so I shrugged.

*****

By the end of our meal, my mood lifted. Dominic was forgotten, and I was more certain than ever there might be something between me and Kurt. He understood me where most people didn't, and now I knew it was likely because we shared a similar bad experience. I was certain I would support him no matter what anyone said now. He deserved no less.

"Are you ready to go back to your dorm, or would you like to go back to my place for coffee and dessert?" Kurt asked as we left the restaurant.

I smiled. "I would love to join you for dessert."

When we reached his car, he opened the door for me and waited there until I sat, so he could close it. Such a gentleman. It made me smile. No guy had ever done that for me before, and it made me feel like a princess.

"You know, Haleigh. I meant what I said when I told you how amazing you are. I've never met anyone like you, and I enjoy spending time with you. I would love to continue seeing you if you like."

"I would love that too, Kurt. You're the first person I've met since coming here that has been supportive and encouraging. It's a nice change."

Kurt smiled and reached over to caress my cheek. "I'm glad."

It sent a shiver through me and something stirred. I bit my lip. When I glanced at him, I noticed his breath quickening. I was glad it was a short drive to his place because it seemed he wanted me as badly as I wanted him. We were kissing before we made it inside, and the minute the door closed we were practically ripping each other's clothes off.

"Do you think we're moving too fast," I said in gasps as he inched us toward his sofa.

"Perhaps, but in my experience, I've learned sometimes you need to go with your feelings, Haleigh. And I want you now."

"I want you too."

He pulled my head to his, and his lips were on mine again, stealing my breath. As soon as we backed into his sofa, he guided me onto it while he knelt next to me, his mouth never leaving mine. He pulled my legs open, so he had easy access as he pushed my underwear aside and slid a finger in and out of me, rubbing my a-spot as he did. I lifted my hips to push his finger deeper and get some friction on other sensitive and needy areas, but he pulled out of me.

"Don't," he said, breathlessly. "Let me. I will make you come, just let me do it, okay?"

I nodded, and he began again. I tried not to move, but it was hard. When I lifted my hips again, he pulled out. I groaned, making him chuckle, but he didn't start again until I relaxed. Every time I moved, he stopped again. It wasn't long before I realized I would be tortured all night if I didn't stay still, so I forced myself not to move. I needed an orgasm.

It paid off to stay still. I was so close now, but as I was about to come, he slid his fingers out. At first I thought he would stop, but he slid my underwear off. I lifted my hips to make it easier, then wrapped my legs around his waist as he climbed on top of me. He rammed himself into me. I cried out, partly from the pain and partly from the shock. It had been a while, but the pain lasted only a moment. Soon I was meeting his fast-paced thrusts as my orgasm built again, and I exploded around him.

It wasn't long before he came, and we lay there catching our breath. Suddenly something occurred to me.

"Shouldn't we have used a condom?"

"A little late for that now, but I have some upstairs. How about we move our recreational activities to my room, and you can be my dessert this evening?"

I smiled and bit my lip. "I think I would like that."

*****

I wasn't sure what time it was when we went to sleep or how many times we had sex, but I was sore when I woke. Deliciously sore. I had no idea my body could orgasm over and over like that. He didn't stop until I begged him, and by then I could barely keep my eyes open. He rolled me onto my side, and that was how I woke up in his arms.

I rolled over carefully, so I wouldn't wake him, and watched him sleep. When I first saw him, he didn't seem very attractive, but now I knew him better, and I saw things I hadn't noticed before. His skin was smooth and youthful looking. His olive complexion made him appear to have a permanent tan, his dark hair was short, curly and so soft, and I saw gold flecks glinting in his brown eyes while we made love. His features were angular as though chiseled from stone. He was a beautiful man.

He had a great body too. Not as muscular as Dominic seemed to be, but he was definitely fit. It was obvious he worked out and took good care of himself. A plus. And he was so smart and wonderful and caring. No man had ever cared whether I had an orgasm, and one had even asked, "Was it good for you too?" Not very romantic.

Kurt was a man who would look after me. He was someone I could learn from and grow with. He would support me and accept me as I was, and I would happily do the same for him. In many ways, he reminded me of my father and how he treated my mother. My father always doted on her and treated her like she was the best thing that ever happened to him. That's how Kurt made me feel the night before.

With him, I could have a relationship like the one my parents shared. At that moment, I was sure he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

*****

"He does things to my body I didn't know was possible," I told Alexis. I had been going on about my night with Kurt all morning.

Alexis lay on her bed staring off into space. "Yeah, that's cool"

I sat next to her. "Is something wrong?"

"Jason and I broke up."

I gasped, covering my mouth. Here I was blathering away about how great things were in my relationship, and she was in pain over hers falling apart. "I'm so sorry, Alexis. You should have told me to stop talking or something."

She shrugged.

"What happened? Everything seemed so great between you two."

Alexis rolled away from me. "I don't want to talk about it."

"It might help if you…"

Alexis sat up, glaring at me. "Would you drop it?"

"I'm sorry," I said.

I wasn't sure if Alexis heard me as she stormed out the door.

*****

Later that day, Alexis returned to our dorm in a foul mood. She was upset over Jason, but she had broken up with guys before. I'd never seen her act like this. I wished she would tell me what was bothering her. She wouldn't even look at me.

"Is everything okay?"

Either Alexis didn't hear me, or she was ignoring me.

"Lex?"

She turned and glared at me. I sighed and left the room, heading to the library. She probably needed space. It was as though she blamed me for her breakup with Jason. The more time I spent with Kurt, the angrier she grew. Every time I tried to ask her about it, all she would do was glare or tell me to bud out. One afternoon I returned to our dorm, after my morning classes, to find everything Alexis had ever borrowed from me piled on my bed. It was also clear she rummaged through my things. Nothing was missing except for a few things I borrowed from her and a couple shirts she gave me because she didn't want them anymore.

I tried not to let it get to me, but when I ran into her and a group of our friends that afternoon they were talking about plans for that Friday. They wanted to do a girls' night out.