Vertigo

© Sweet-Kisses™

~*~

Music was blaring and people swarmed around one another with champagne glasses in their hands in a massive area with high ceilings. Waiters in suits approached the patrons with the drinks on large round dispenser. All were dressed to the full extent of society, and paparazzi surrounded all the showbiz surrounding them, hoping to strike gold on an exclusive scoop.

The party had been described as "a party for you that's not actually about you", which confused the hell out of all five men. In other terms, it was a gathering in which exposure was the key. They had a new album hitting the public in the forthcoming two months, the public had to know that they were still around and still surviving the industry. That was why all five of them found cameras in their faces at any time they tried to talk to someone or tried to do something. It was like having a permanent shadow.

Andrew held a glass in his hand, frowning. "Where the hell is Lyra?" he grumbled to himself.

"You have that quietly enraged look on your face that I know so well," A.J. joked, moving closer to his manager.

Andrew nodded quickly, sighing and scanning the masses. "Yeah, well, she's disappeared again. I haven't seen her for a while."

A.J. let out a loud laugh and pointed in the direction of the grand staircase. "Ladies troubles, my dear Andrew."

Andrew frowned as he watched his sister move away from the direction of the restrooms and weave through the crowd. He eyed her every move closely. She smoothed down her skirt and her hair. As he focused more on her, he realised that she appeared flustered. He figured she'd been helping herself to what the label had been paying for.

"What?" Lyra asked innocently when she saw the look she received from her brother, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Something wrong?"

"Where the hell have you been, Lyra?" Andrew bellowed. Several people around them actually glanced their way because of how loud his voice became. "You know you're not supposed to disappear like that!"

"Andrew - " A.J. began with a slight laugh.

"You're embarrassing me," she hissed in his ear.

"Have you been drinking?" Andrew demanded.

"No!" Lyra exclaimed. "All I did was go to the fucking bathroom!" She paused and turned toward the grand staircase. "Look. Kevin had to go, too! Does that put him on the CIA watch list?"

Andrew watched Kevin emerging from the direction of the staircase, adjusting his tie slightly. His eyes suddenly met Andrew's. Kevin stopped suddenly and offered a small smile before disappearing into the crowd. Andrew turned around to find Lyra had disappeared, as well. "That girl, I swear..."

A.J. chuckled. "Look, I really think you over-reacted there. I mean, she had to - "

Andrew threw A.J. a look of anger. A.J. suddenly stopped and glanced away. "I want you to keep an eye on Lyra."

"Lyra? But...but Kevin..."

"Just do it!"

~**~

The morning was passing in silence. All five men had their eyes downcast, deep in their own thoughts at the table they were sitting at. Reasons for the silence differed between the five, either from the gruelling schedule that had been forced upon them, lack of sleep, or the fact that the industry that once seemed so fascinating and appealing had somewhat lost is lustre. It was safe to say that the boys had become quite disillusioned in the last months.

The men greeted each other when they saw each other, but didn't both with more than pleasantries. The friendly banter, described as even brotherly, had disappeared. They no longer bothered with it. 

After many minutes of silence four of the men left the room periodically. The one left behind was Kevin. He sat staring at nothing in front of him, a mug of coffee that had since gone cold. His thoughts turned to his wife. Again, for the millionth time that morning. He hated himself for what he was doing with Lyra, but he couldn't stop himself. He was powerless, and it took a very strong force in any normal circumstance to make him feel powerless. And he was beginning to hate his wife for what she was doing to him. He didn't think that he would ever use that word and his wife's name in the same sentence.

Ever.

But now, he did.

Suddenly, his attention was diverted to someone walking toward him. He caught the image out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head slightly and saw Lyra sauntering toward him. As soon as he made eye contact with her, he felt his resolve melt into thin air. He wasn't even sure if she completely understood what she was doing with him, or if she comprehended the power she could possess over someone so much older, so much stronger.

Or, someone that used to be stronger.

He eyed her carefully, watching her every move, as she slipped into a chair and stared deep into Kevin's eyes. Before she could say anything, Kevin knelt down in front of her. He quickly entwined her hands with his, ignoring the confused expression on her face. He gently kissed her hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered and quickly stood up to walk away.

Lyra frowned and felt a surge of anger. This was not how it was going to end, if Kevin had in fact been trying to end it. "Kevin!" she called out, running after him. Once he had turned around, she was hit with a tortured look from his eyes. She slowly stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around him. Immediately she felt him cling tightly to her. Her eyes widened. She had no idea what was going on.

Lyra pushed him away. "What the hell is this, Kevin?"

Kevin didn't answer, he simply took her by the hand and led her toward the elevator. Soon the doors opened and Kevin pushed Lyra into the elevator. Just as he was about to step in after her, he heard his name being called. Swearing inwardly, he turned around. He saw A.J. walking quickly toward him. 

"What? What is it?" Kevin asked tersely, trying to block any view into the elevator.

"Andrew wants us ready to leave in ten. He's not in a good mood today, so I suggest that we all be on time."

Kevin nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah, will do. Out in ten. Sure."

A.J. stared at his friend closely. His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you okay? You seem...nervous."

"Me? Nervous?" Kevin laughed, trying to brush the comment off as easily as he could. "Never."

"Yeah...well..." A.J. frowned. "Have you seen Lyra? Andrew's looking for her."

"Nope, no," Kevin replied, shaking his head. "Haven't seen her."

He continued to do his best to get rid of his friend. Finally, he was successful. He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the elevator to find Lyra leaning against one of the walls. She raised an eyebrow at Kevin as the doors closed behind him. Instantly, the elevator began to ascend. Kevin glanced down before putting his eyes back onto Lyra. He then pressed the emergency stop button.

Lyra smirked. "Aren't we adventurous?"

Kevin threw back a smirk. "Sorry about that before."

Lyra giggled softly as she watched her skirt fall to the elevator floor. "Hmm, I wonder what's going to happen here?"

Kevin pushed his body against Lyra's and stared directly into her eyes. "Just a good time for all involved."

~***~

As Kevin wandered through his dark room, light from the city's buildings and skyline drifted through the glass doors. It gave the room a glowing effect. The city below him looked asleep, apart from twinkling of yellow and blue.

He held his cell phone in his hand as he quietly walked through the living area and back into his bedroom. Lyra was fast asleep in his bed, the sheets wrapped around her naked body. He stared at her for several long moments. She was breathing deeply, rhythmically. Her long dark hair slipped down her back, a dramatic contrast against the white sheets.

She had quickly invaded his life and now, he couldn't get her out of his thoughts. What he wanted, she was prepared to give, whenever he wanted. It worked for both of them and for some reason, when he was around her he just couldn't keep his hands off her. It had been difficult to resist her in the beginning, but now he didn't want to do such a thing. He didn't know where she had learned to use herself to captivate him, but it had worked. In every sense of the word.

The more she taunted and resisted him, the more he wanted her in his bed, and she was more than willing to oblige to that arrangement. And still, she refused to kiss him. He had tried, and on more than one occasion. Oh, he had tried. But she had a way of refusing him, and it made Kevin want to pursue her even more. He wasn't going to stop until she gave in.

Kevin placed a hand on her shoulder, gently waking her out of her sleep. She raised her head slowly and pushed the sheets away from her body. Kevin's eyes slowly trailed over her curves as she sat up and ran her fingers through her long hair. Kevin took her in his arms, pulling her into his lap. Lyra wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs fixed themselves around his waist.

Lyra titled her head back as Kevin began to nuzzle at her neck. Lyra sighed deeply and ran her fingertips against the nape of Kevin's neck. She felt her body waking up quickly and responding to Kevin. Moments later, she found herself staring down at Kevin as he slowly and carefully kissed over her every inch of her, leisurely moving down on the bed. She exhaled small gasps and moans and squirmed against the sheets.

Resting his hands on Lyra's thighs, he moved his face close to Lyra's. As close as he could without kissing her, which he wanted desperately. "Kristin wants to see me."

~****~