Tricking Astrid ( Ch 5.2)

Chapter 5 (part 2)

Calder politely paid the entrance fee, waving off her protest. Then he placed his hand on the center of her back, ushering her towards the bar. She saw the looks the half dressed women gave him openly but Calder didn't seem to notice as he pointed to two empty bar stools.
They ordered then chatted about the music. After two hard drinks, it became clear Astrid was inebriated. Calder bought her one more, a double, but refused to drink anymore saying he was the driver.
Astrid laughed at his witty remarks, listened to his bitching about not cutting classes for all night parties OR whoring around in college. She listened to him, made sensitive remarks to perk him up when he'd go into great dejected detail about how his uptight father would do random professor checkups just to rattle his cage.
"You're out of school now," she drunkenly patted his wide shoulders, "Now is the time to put that all hard work to good use Calder. You have a chance to make someone's life better. Justice Law is not easy, so you have a gift obviously. Use it! Don't abuse it!"
He leaned closer, gazing into her chocolate eyes, "I won't buddy. Come on, let's go dance, Astrid."
She stumbled off the stool after him. He caught her easily, swinging her until his arm looped around her curvy waist. They joined the small crowd on the dance floor laughing at each other's drunken state.
Astrid felt comfortable with Calder. He was not as secure as he appeared. He had doubts. He had fears. His family placed such a high bar for his standards. She got that. He needed a friend among the wolves. She was glad to help. To be his buddy.
They moved smoothly against one another to the rhythm. Calder's warm, large hands slid along her torso until firmly landing on her hips. She allowed him to hold her close, their bodies pressing a little too comfortable. Astrid wasn't thinking about Remy. She was thinking about the handsome, grinning man before her and how he held onto her hips like he'd never let her go.
She had her breast against his chest, "You dance great!"
He moved his splayed fingers lower, touching her ass, "You make it easy."
Calder cocked his head, gazing at her with clear enjoyment. She could not look into those dreamy emerald bedroom eyes, so instead focused on his chest, which rose and fell rapidly. His hands fell to her ass, pressing their pelvises erotically together. She was so turned on. His hard-on was gyrating against the covered wetness of her body, creating wonderful friction. She stiffened as the sensation grew alarmingly TOO erotic.
He stopped pressing her to him, seeing her slight shiver. She absently smiled to the floor.
The song ended.
"Let's go," she touched her sweaty forehead, "I have to work tomorrow you know. It's nearly midnight."
Calder only nodded, taking her hand gently. He led her silently outside. The fresh air slapped her in the face with reality. What was she DOING? Flirting with Calder was bad. Very, very bad.
He opened the passenger door, "Feels good out here, huh? I sure was getting hot."
She avoiding his gaze, jumping up into the cab of the pickup. He closed the door then jumped in on his side. Once on the almost deserted road, the silence made her uneasy.
"You okay?" he asked.
She smiled shy like.
"Astrid, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable at the club," he softly muttered, "I like you."
Startled, she finally looked up at his shadowed profile. HOW did he like her? Friendship HOW she dearly hoped. Remy was someone she couldn't hurt. Just by thinking his name she felt dirty and guilty. Calder couldn't possibly see something besides sex with her. Could he?
"I like you too," she smiled, "My boyfriend and you would get along. He's great."
He showed no outward agitation, but his tone of voice did, "Oh yeah? So what's his name anyhow?"
"Remy."
"How long you two been hooked up?"
"Three months. We met at that club, actually." she smiled at the memory fondly.
He slowly smiled, "Three months? That's all? Do you love him?"
"Excuse me?"
He turned onto her street, "Do you think you love him, Astrid? Three months isn't a very long time."
She frowned, "Long enough. But... sort of I guess. I care a lot about him."
He gave her a smile that nearly stopped her heart. Gah, he was handsome. Those eyes had reached down inside her and fucked her soul in one glance.
Slowly he maneuvered his truck alongside the curb, cutting the engine. Then, he turned inside the quiet cab to gaze at her with a seriousness that stilled her from getting out.
She fiddled with her purse, "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow I suppose."
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked her, voice deep and husky.
She swallowed, reaching blindly for the door lever, "I don't think that's a good idea Calder."
He chuckled as she continued to try to open the door, "Why not? Wait, a second."
To her dismay, he got out. Then, as he circled the truck to open her door, Remy's car zoomed out of the darkness, parking directly in front of the truck.
Oh Shit! She let out an audible gasp. Remys tall figure climbed out of his car, slamming the door behind him as he watched Calder open the passenger door of the truck for Astrid.
Astrid tried to look calm. She tried with very breath to appear nonchalant as Remy's disapproving scowl heated her cheeks.
"Hello." Remy snapped.
Astrid smiled at both men, "Calder, met my boyfriend Remy. Remy, this is my new boss. Another Lewis man."
Both men seemed to size each other up as their hands shook, muscles flexing. Astrid was a little tickled at the jealousy she saw in Remy. Calder looked his usual smiling self as if he hadn't just asked Remy girlfriend if he could come inside.
"Nice to have meet you," Calder nodded at Remy, "Astrid you're a buddy. Thanks for showing me around. See you tomorrow at the office."
Remy didn't even pay attention to him, staring at Astrid. She said goodbye, then quickly walked up to her front porch.
Remy followed, stopping on the tiny front steps, "I got your message. I tried calling you back."
She opened the door, leaving it that way as she silently entered the house. She glanced down at her phone on the nightstand as she stood in the darkness. Well, SHE'D called him all day and night.
She was still a bit tipsy. She heard Remy closing the front door as she struggled to remove her blouse. Finally undressed after several attempts she was able to brush her teeth then fall into bed.
She was tired and confused by Calder's easy way of making her feel good. The whole night it had felt like it was just he and her in a little bubble of easy-going companionship. In one single day, Calder had become someone she could see herself becoming attached to.
"Babe," Remy entered her bedroom, "What are you doing?"
"Going to bed," she muttered, tossing the quilt over her naked body, "I'm tired. I called you yesterday and all fucking day Remy. You ignored me."
"My phone was dead. I left it at home on the charger. I got your message too late I guess."
She didn't believe him. Why she didn't know. She was tired though, so ignored his remarks as she curled up with her fluffy pillow. The darkness hid him. But, soon she felt him slip in the bed opposite her. Her chest leaps in anticipation. Was he going to stay the night with her? He never had before.