Chapter 7 Part 1
Chapter 7

As he turned the corner out of her condominium complex, her eyes glazed over, looking at the spot where his classic 57 Chevy sat. Her chest felt tight and it ached in the spot above her ribcage, and she felt her throat grow taut, she wanted to cry.

Anytime she felt so near to tears, she knew she'd blown it. He thought she was playing games with him. Khrystine didn't look at her actions as playing games. She really did have interviews to do, and she really was concerned about the time that these would take. However, even when she agreed that she would go back to Dylan's place, that didn't solve the problems. She wasn't used to being told "no". Somehow things usually fell into place.

Her insides began to jostle and buck like the wild current of the winding sea. If she was paler, she would be green. She felt sick and the heat was beginning to burn the crown of her head. She needed to get inside.

She brushed absentmindedly past the doorman, mindlessly punched in the correct floor on the elevator, walked down the hallway and slid her key across the swipe.

Letting herself in, she plopped down onto her Italian leather sofa, letting herself sink heavily into the comfortable cushions. How did she feel about Dylan?

How had they ended on such a sour note. It seemed like there were so many delicate hedges when they discussed things. She'd probably over reacted when he called her a thorn. But he'd definitely over reacted when she told him she had things to do. It did seem to her that he'd thrown a totally spoiled fit because their date ended earlier than he'd expected.

Instead of getting easier to figure out Dylan, it was getting harder. At first she'd been embarrassed confiding in him about Lance, but when he'd comforted her, she'd felt a warm shiver run up and down her spine from the crown of her head to her bottom. It felt more "right" than anything she'd ever experienced, lying close to his heart, the proud thrumming of his heart, the spicy smell of Cinnamon tickling her nose through his shirt. She'd literally had to struggle with herself to remain within his embrace, because it culminated feelings she wasn't ready to experience. She felt safe with him, she felt protected.

She couldn't feel this way with a man she hardly knew. It was obvious she hardly knew him the way he'd reacted when she talked about other plans, his speed, the aggression, the anger that crossed his beautiful hazel eyes scared her. How could someone who'd cuddled her so tenderly turn nearly violently angry at the touch of a button. If he was that out of control of his feelings, what else was he capable of.

Yet the very same things that were frightening about him were the things that made the pit of her belly tingle fiercely. He had passion, fire, and he was not a man that could be manipulated. He seemed dashing. Maybe perhaps like a modern day knight. Axe the horse and insert electric guitar.

She was being girlish again. She wanted to call him, and apologize but resisted the urge. Dylan Taylor was a dangerous man. He stirred up feelings in her, she was nearly powerless to resist. The roughness of his fingertips, coupled by the delicate way with which he touched her shoulder when she turned away drove her mad. That was why she'd shouted at him about her need for air. There could be no air with Dylan Taylor around, he consumed her thoughts, and changed the way she normally reacted though she desperately tried to play it cool. She didn't have time to get involved with a charming rock star who may, or may not have good intentions.

The quickest way to insure the success of the Khyrstine Morgan empire was to focus her energies into her career. The LA times had just made a coveted quote about her recent success. They'd said "she could be the next Whitney Houston". Now was no time to rest on her laurels and ruin what could be the most important career moves she'd made yet. She had no time to get involved in a tabloid soap opera. She'd live up to Dylan's end of the ultimatum. She would not contact him, because at Twenty-One, with the most promising new r&b career to be launched this year, she didn't have any use or time for a man that she couldn't "turn on and off".



- posted by Mahogany @ 5:48 PM