Chapter 9: The Next Level? Laura smiled again.  “Do you want to watch a movie?” “Yeah sure.” “Do you want to change?” “With what?” “Hold on a sec.”  She ran upstairs and came back down with a pair of black sweat pants.  “Here ya go.  I think these are your size.” “How did you get sweat pants in my size?” “I found them in the closet.  Mr. Jessup must have forgotten them here when he left.” “Alright, cool, I’ll go and change.”  Alex went to the bathroom while Laura made some popcorn.  “Need some help?” Alex’s voice called.  Laura turned around and saw him: No glasses, no dressing up.  He was in his sweat pants and a tank top that showed off his tattoos nicely.  “No… thanks.  Why don’t you find a movie to watch?”  Alex went into the Jessup’s movie collection to find something to watch.  When Laura came out, Alex had put in the movie “Pretty Woman.”  She set the popcorn down on the table and sat down next to Alex. This was one of Laura’s favorite movies, and was one of Alex’s too.  They laughed at all the same parts.  This is what Laura needed, but it wasn’t the movie.  It was Alex.  She glanced at him while he was watching.  He’s here—he ditched his whole night to be here with me, she thought.  She laid her head on his shoulder.  Alex responded by resting his head on top of hers.  Later on in the movie, when the big love scene was about to happen with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Laura and Alex found themselves strangely quiet.  Laura put her arm across his stomach as he laid his arm on top of hers.  When Julia and Richard kissed for the first time, Laura looked up into his eyes.  Alex lifted his head up to meet with her eyes.  “What?” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I… just want to thank you,” she said.  “For being here.” “I told you, I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” “I know, but you don’t know how much this means to me.” “I do, ‘cause it means as much to me being here.” He lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her forehead lightly, then slowly dragged his lips down the bridge of her nose to her inviting lips.  They kissed intensely; with Alex’s one hand entangled in her now messy brown hair and paused the movie with his free hand.  Laura climbed onto his lap, still enjoying the same kiss.  Alex searched her back with his hands and with a force of passion, laid her down on the couch. Alex pulled away from her lips, and moved down to the base of her neck, nibbling and sucking.  Laura arched her neck in response to his kisses, her hand combing through his hair.  Her hands made their way to his back, moving in a clawing motion up and down.  Alex moved back up to her lips, kissing her in ways that made her body quiver.  His hands moved to her stomach, where he felt the bunch of her tank top along her waistline.  He started to gather it in his hands and then pulled away. “What?” Laura said out of breath. “We never talked about…” “Sex?” “Yeah.” “My answer is yes,” she leaned over to kiss him again. “Wait a minute,” said Alex.  “Are you…” “No, when I was 17 with my boyfriend of a year.  You?” “16, with my girlfriend of a year and a half.” “Ok, so what’s the wait about?  I want to, and I know you want to.  We’ve waited for a long time to know each other and we do.” “I want to, oh God I do want you so badly,” Alex said in a desperate tone, his lips now centimeters from hers.  He planted another kiss on her lips.  “I’ve wanted you since I first kissed you.  But…” He put his elbows on either side of her head. “I think we should wait.” Laura sighed.  “You know, you’ve done this before.”  She turned her head to the side. “Hey, look at me.”  Laura turned her head to face him.  “You’ve been through a tough time tonight.  Making love tonight would make things more complicated.  Our first time should be without all these other emotions tied up in the process.  Please promise me this is OK.” Laura smirked.  “Yeah, you’re right.  Although there’s nothing more that I want, I can wait.” “We can compromise though.” “How?” Alex caressed her cheek with his hand.  “Let me stay,” he whispered.  “I want to feel you next to me when I wake up in the morning.” “You got a deal, Mr. McLean.” “So you want to watch the rest of the movie?” Laura proceeded to put her hands around his neck.  “I want to enjoy our own little romance we’ve got going now.” Alex leaned down.  “I couldn’t agree more.”  He tilted his head for a strong kiss. Chapter 10 Contents Chapter 8