New Beginings: Chapter 9

Thanks to everyone who commented, it really means a lot. I hope that I don't disappoint*****

Alexis marched purposefully out of the elevator and onto the executive floor of Maitland International. It seemed like years ago that she had sat in the lobby waiting to beg Tyler Maitland to keep her business running.

Today was different today she felt as if she had far more to lose. She squared her shoulders as she approached his personal assistant's desk. "Ms Lang" she greeted pleasantly surprised "It has been too long"

"Morning Daphne" she smiled but she had a determined look on her face "Is Mr Maitland available?" whether he was available or not, Alexis didn't care she was seeing Tyler one way or another.
The other woman eyed her skeptically as if sensing Alexis's intentions "He's actually on a call to London and has asked not to be disturbed."

"I'll only be a minute" Alexis quickly informed her and marched passed the desk and without hesitating or knocking opened the door to his office and snapped it shut behind her. Tyler was indeed busy on a conference call but when he heard the door open he looked up. She watched as his expression changed from annoyed and then when he realized who it was that had barged in, softened and then hardened as if in defense. "Gentlemen" he said looking to the widescreen mounted on the wall "can we continue this later? You know where I stand" whoever the gentlemen were, agreed in unison and then Tyler flipped a switch on a remote and the screen disappeared behind two closing cabinet doors. He took a minute and then rose from his seat "Alexis, what are you doing here?"

Alexis took a deep breath and then she was moving to where he stood, she saw him suck in his breath as she approached and ignored it; she came here with mission and she was going to see it through "Do you remember" she began "six months ago when you told me you were giving me the one thing you knew would make me happy?" he nodded wearily and she got the impression that he was confused "Well you were only half right" he remained silent and she continued "there's something else that I need" he still remained silent and she bit her lip watching as his eyes followed the movement "Six months ago I didn't want to forgive you, in fact I didn't want to see you again. But then you came back and all those old insecurities came back with you" She closed her eyes trying to gain courage from somewhere deep inside "I realized last night when I was crying myself to sleep" that got a reaction she thought when the nerve in his jaw started to pulse "that I need you, in order to move on with my life" she finished quickly. "You obviously represent some sort of rite of passage that I have to go through and overcome"

He took a step back and folded his arms across his chest "let me get this straight" he paused considering his words carefully "You want to use me in order to get me out of your system so that you can then move on with your life, without me?"

Alexis bit her lip again, actually she wanted to use him to feed her love and in the process she hoped that he would fall in love with her and they could move on with their lives together. She couldn't tell him that because he would run in the opposite direction. She had guessed as much that Tyler believed that he would never be able to commit again but she hoped that if she loved him enough if she gave enough that he might change his mind...about love and about loving her. The whole thing seemed so juvenile now that she was actually standing here telling him of her intentions but last night she had made up her mind to be proactive so far the ball had been squarely in his court and she wanted a chance to play the game. She nodded "Yes that about sums it up"

"And just what are you proposing exactly, dinner, accompanying each other to parties...?" he trailed off when she shook her head

"No I was thinking of activities that take place behind closed doors"

"Ah" he responded

Alexis frowned confused by his less than enthusiastic reaction, yesterday he had practically told her that he wanted her now here she was willing to give herself to him and he was replying in monosyllables.

"Alexis, love I hope you know what you're asking" he moved forward until he had her against his desk "It would mean that you're mine. Whenever, however" He titled her chin up with his forefinger "are you prepared for that?" she swallowed "Also I can't promise anything more than physical pleasure and I will pleasure you Alexis but I can't and won't do the couple thing we are and will never be more than what you're suggesting right now"

There seemed to be some warning in what he was saying, Alexis thought he even sounded angry, but she ignored this and thought; I change you, I have to. "Yes" she whispered "I accept all terms and conditions" it was so cold and calculating like a business arrangement. He had turned their passion into business and she hated him for it.

"Good" he murmured before lifting her onto the desk and moving into the gap between her legs. She wound them round his waist and waited breathlessly as he began to unbutton her shirt. His eyes blazed over as he moved the shirt aside revealing her taut breasts beneath the lacy bra. "God but you're beautiful" he looked into her eyes "I have waited a very long time for you Alexis Lang"

"And me too" she whispered back and then she wrapped her hand around his neck and brought his mouth down onto hers. The kiss was rough and hard both of them finally giving into the suppressed hunger and need they felt for one another. When he withdrew it was only to trail a blaze of hot kisses down her neck and when he caressed her breasts with kisses she almost came undone. She knew it would be like this that his very touch would drive her crazy and he was, she wanted more and but he refused to be rushed. "Wait" he told her placing his hand on her chest to push her flat against the desk "stay with me" she nodded and he quickly discarded his tie and shirt, she rose so that she could run her fingers over his solid and muscled torso "very impressive Mr Maitland" and he grinned

"I'm glad you approve Ms Lang" He commenced to rid himself of his shoes and pants and then he rose above her in all his magnificence and she thought she would cry from how beautiful he was. He took his time in ridding her of the remainder of her clothes and then he kissed her again and this time it was sweeter. "I want you now" she whispered into his hair and with a groan he obliged her. He was hard and precise and she matched his movements as he drove deeper into her always taking her higher and higher. Finally he collapsed onto her and she wound around his waist claiming his as hers. "beautiful Alexis" he raised his head to kiss her "I don't think this is going to work" a look of horror passed over her face and he quickly kissed her "because I already want you again and it's not even noon"

Alexis exhaled in relief she was certain that she had not been enough "I thought you were going to say..." she trailed off when he got off the desk and started to change, she watched him for a moment puzzled by the change in his mood, and then she too slowly began to dress. Had she done something wrong?

Tyler's Pov
He was angry but he also wanted her so he had agreed to her damn degrading idea of using each other for sexual pleasure. She sure as hell wasn't as innocent as he thought she was. He watched as she dressed and tried to suppress with little success the desire he felt welling up inside him. Damn her he had wanted a clean start with her, last night he had been so filled with hope that he actually thought he might be willing to give anything a try but she had crushed all of that when she marched into his office demanding sex.

She would never love him, nor would she ever think of him as someone good enough to stand by her side. All she wanted from him was sex and when she was finished with him she would move on and up. The idea made him sick. His telephone rang and he snapped it up, all the time watching her out of the corner of his eye "Yes mother" he paused listening "no I'm not busy" he listened again "No I promise you I am not doing anything groundbreaking or important contrary to what Daphne told you" he chuckled as his mother continued to badger him "fine lunch in an hour" he rolled his eyes "yes it's fine if you bring Sarah".

Alexis's Pov

She listened with dismay as he told his mother that he wasn't busy with anything important. So much for loving him and getting loved in return. She obviously hadn't made much of an impression. She dressed in silence hearing him laugh and then inform his mother that he would be joining her and the very beautiful Sarah for lunch. So he's keeping his options open she told herself, he did say that he couldn't promise anything else but sexual pleasure. So why did she all of a sudden feel so dirty? The most beautiful experience of her life had just been tainted? She was just gathering her handbag when he put down the phone

"Sorry about that" he smiled easily across at her but there was a hidden anger there she sensed it and was hurt and confused by it.

"Not a problem" she returned icily "like you said...not important right" She straightened "Thank you"

"Why does that sound like a goodbye" he perched on the edge of his desk, fully dressed and in business mode

"Well because it is, I got what I wanted" she shrugged nonchalantly

"Ah, I see you think this is over" he lowered his lashes "not by a long shot Alexis" he raised harsh eyes to hers "You agreed to be available to me whenever...however...and I'm afraid I'm not finished with you yet"

Alexis gasped "How dare you"

"No" he silenced her "how dare you" he looked out the window and for a while he didn't say anything and she let him stare out of that god forsaken window looking at what, she didn't know. Finally he turned back to her and his face was devoid of emotion "I have to continue that conference call and then I have a lunch date, we'll talk about this later"

Alexis exhaled slowly before collecting whatever dignity she had left and walked out the door. Outside she closed her eyes what had he meant "how dare she what?" Wasn't she giving him exactly what he wanted? When she had walked into his office she had been sure of her intentions now she felt inexperienced and out of her depth, Tyler was obviously far more experienced in this game and she finally contemplated the idea that she might yet again end up the loser.

Tyler's Pov

He watched her leave and when the door finally closed he relaxed and slumped into his chair. He knew she was upset he had all but told her that their love making meant nothing. But he couldn't trust her with his true feelings, he couldn't tell her that she had filled him with such love that he thought his heart might implode from it. Why did she have to go and make things so complicated when it could have been so simple, he had even told her what he wanted last night, he had said he wanted her but she had interpreted that in the most twisted way possible. Now he was going to play out this little charade even if it killed him.

He picked up his phone "Daphne make a reservation at that new Thai restaurant that I like, for eight" he hung up maybe a little wining and dining was in order to get to the bottom of this. He turned around his chair to stare out the window and sighed.