A RISK I’M WILLING TO TAKE

A.N: Hey, and welcome to my new story! Now, if the characters seem to be familiar, it’s because I’ve used the same names from my previous stories, but let me point out something: THIS STORY IS NOT RELATED TO THE TWO OTHERS I’VE POSTED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS SITE. I just loved the names so much I decided to use them again. This story is already finished (I wrote it on paper in a span of about a month), and since it’s summer vacation already, yes, I’m actually planning to update this. It’s very different from my other stories, trust me, and I’ve done a major editing and re-editing to it, because this is one story I’m actually proud of. And without further ado, I give you chapter one of “A Risk I’m Willing to Take”…….

Chapter One

A Less Than Innocent Welcome

Fall River, Washington. Center of the universe.

But to 18 year-old Kalyn Elizabeth Roberts it might as well have been the middle of nowhere. It was too bright, too neat, too Stepford wives-ish for her---nothing at all like the busy hustle and bustle of her beloved San Francisco. From the moment the plan reached the runway she knew that she was going to hate it here.

Her mother thought differently, however. The moment she spotted a particular face in the crowd, she gave a slight scream and smiled at her daughter.

“Honey, I know you don’t like the fact that we moved here, but the promotion and raise I’m getting with the transfer will be really good for us. Besides, it’s going to be a whole new start again. We’re going to have a great time here, I swear.” She said it with such conviction that Kalyn had to crack a smile. Ever since her dad left them when she was only 2 years old, (thank goodness she wasn’t old enough to remember all the drama, only a bit of it), her mom had tried to make a new life for them, and Kalyn appreciated her efforts.

Except this one.

“Oh! I see Sheila! Come on!” And her mother ushered her daughter forward. Kalyn walked at her own pace, her bags in each hand, looking anywhere but ahead. Suddenly, she collided with a very solid figure, making her and her bags fall to the ground with a loud thump. She expected at least a hand to help her up, but instead, all she got was a voice.

“You should be more careful next time, you’ll never know who you’ll run into,” drawled an undeniably male, deep, somewhat cool voice. Indignant at the way she was being spoken to, she looked up and found herself staring at—

— The greenest emerald eyes she had ever seen before. And right now they were sparkling in amusement. She was taken aback by how handsome the teenage boy-eighteen or nineteen by the looks of him- in front of her was- dark, soft-looking brown hair arranged in the windswept, messy, way, clear skin, a lean athletic physique that his shirt emphasized and a mouth that seemed to be made for so much more than talking. But she couldn’t miss the sight of said mouth curving into an expression of self-assured arrogance, as if God had put him on earth as a gift to mankind-well, at least to the female race, anyway.

“Like what you see?” There was that arrogant voice again, and Kalyn became painfully aware that she had been staring at him for quite some time. Yet she refused to lose her composure. He had already tripped and mocked her, and damn him if she was going to allow herself to admit that she found him quite attractive.

“No, I’ve seen better,” Kalyn raised an eyebrow. She noticed that the boy was giving her body a raking, predatory gaze, from her espadrilles-clad feet to her blue eyes to her reddish brown hair, making her feel flustered, but she refused to lose ground.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Kalyn said coolly. “Now would you mind helping me up? You did trip me, after all.”

To her intense surprise he simply held out his hand, and after some hesitation, she accepted it. In one swift, fluid movement, he had her back on her feet…..

…….And into his arms.

One of his arms somehow found itself snaked around her waist, his other hand interlocked her one of hers, possibly to keep her from struggling. For a moment Kalyn couldn’t move; she was so shocked and surprised that a stranger, of all people, would have the guts to do this. The only time she had ever been held like this was during the Spring Formal, and even then it hadn’t been this close.

But this, however, was far more intimate.

The gleam in his eyes and the smirk on his lips made Kalyn crash to earth. They were in a public place, for goodness’ sake, her mother might see her! Her heart was hammering in her chest, but for some reason, she quite liked the feel of his arms around her—wait, no, that wasn’t right. She had to get away from this crazy person-she didn’t even know his name!

“You are overstepping my personal boundaries. Hands off,” Kalyn hissed at him.

“No, I don’t think I will. I don’t really care. Besides, I’d rather have the original. A picture can get lost easily.” was his reply. For his answer Kalyn could sense that he was the type of person who overstepped other people and did whatever he liked with them, and to hell with their feelings.

“I could charge you with sexual assault, you know,” she threatened. By now she was so desperate to get away, she’d try anything.

“Now why would you do that?” He sounded questioning although the teasing grin he sent her way made her angrily aware that he was just playing with her.

“Because I never agreed to this.”

“Yeah, but you’re not exactly complaining right now, are you?”

It took her a minute to realize that he was right. She hadn’t been complaining. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but then, very suddenly the boy released her and to her great surprise, even helped her with her bags.

Just at that moment her mother and a tall woman whom Kalyn knew to be Sheila Donovan, her mom’s best friend since college, with her. Heart hammering in her chest Kalyn was immensely surprised to find the two women shooting them strange looks.

“Alex,” Sheila said, raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing her with Kalyn? We’ve been looking for you two.”

“I was just helping her with her bags, mom. She tripped awhile ago and I, being the gentleman that I am, helped her,” Alex said smoothly.

Recalling Alex’s words to his mother (she couldn’t believe a nice person such as Sheila could have a son like Alex, but oh well), Kalyn gagged inwardly. Alex Donovan? A gentleman? Wasn’t this the same arrogant jerk who had practically harassed her awhile ago? Well, it wasn’t like she really disliked his attention, but—

“Kal? You okay?” Her mom asked her, and Kalyn realized that her face was growing hot and probably already red. She didn’t blush easily, but when she did, it was more than obvious. She shouldn’t have been thinking about his like that, she barely even knew him! Still, she struggled to keep her emotions-and hormones- under wrap, forced a smile to her face and nodded. Seemingly satisfied with her answer, the four began formalities, and not surprisingly, Alex charmed her mother.

“Oh mom, if you only knew,” Kalyn thought with a sigh.

Presently they decided to leave. “Why don’t we go? I think you two want to go rest in your new home. Alex, since you brought your car, would you mind taking Kalyn home? You know the way, and it’ll be a chance for you two to get to know each other more.” Kalyn’s mother nodded in approval.

NO! Kalyn wanted to shout, but before she could protest Alex interjected, saying, “Sure, mom, I’ll be glad to.” To Kalyn’s mother he said, “Don’t worry Ma’am; I’ll take good care of your daughter.”

The wink he sent in her direction afterwards made her think the exact opposite.

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Within minutes Kalyn found herself in the front passenger’s seat of Alex Donovan’s sleek silver Porsche, without her mother and only armed with her favorite Gucci bag to defend herself with if ever Alex tried anything like that with her again.

Her heart in her throat, she kept perfectly still as Alex entered his car and started the engine. Within minutes they were on the main road headed to Fall River suburbia, and Kalyn carefully maintained her distance from him, watching him intently. Alex didn’t seem to notice, he seemed so concentrated with his driving, but after awhile he spoke up.

“I’m not going to rape you or anything, you know,” He informed her, voicing out her worst of thoughts as if he was discussing the weather. “I have my faults, but I wouldn’t sink that low.”

“How very honorable of you then,” Kalyn remarked dryly, giving him a wary look.

“I know,” Alex turned right before adding, “And besides, rapists are only guys who can never get the women they want without force. I, on the other hand”-There was that infuriating smirk again-“Have the ladies practically falling and crawling into my bed by their own free will every night. I have a very busy…social life.”

She gave him a disgusted look, her suspicions of him being a player confirmed. “I take back what I said earlier then.”

Alex gave a mock sigh of dismay. “Oh well, at least you’re being honest. ‘Honorable’ and ‘Alex Donovan’ don’t exactly mix well.”

Despite herself Kalyn gave a laugh, now knowing that this guy probably had more notches in his bedpost than all her books put together. “Exactly how many girlfriends have you had?”

“Hmm…..I’d say about seven or more, I’m not sure,” he responded easily.

“Have you slept with any of them yet?” The question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

“Of course I have. They practically begged me to,” He responded easily, as if the subject they were discussing wasn’t an intimate one. “But then again, with looks like mine, I could understand why they wanted me.”

She gaped at him—never had she met anyone half as arrogant as Alex. Sure, there had been guys back in her old school who thought more with their hormones than with their brain, but she’d been able to handle every single one of their passes and comments.

But not Alex. His arrogance was unlike anything she had even encountered before, and it took her breath away. He was the only one who had the power to render her speechless in a matter of a few minutes as well. What was up with this guy? It had only been minutes since she met him, and he already dumbfounded her.

“Only seven?” She teased him, getting back into the game. “And here I thought you were a real ladies man. How could someone like you only have and slept with seven girlfriends?”

To her surprise, he simply smiled, showing full white teeth. “Kalyn,” He said, his tone turning itself to one likened to someone who was explaining to a small child that the sky was blue. “I don’t date much. I said I had seven girlfriends. But then again, I didn’t say that I only…did stuff with them. As far as I recall, I’ve slept with many more. Like I said, I have a very busy social life.”

For the second time in a span of five minutes and possibly for the first time in history Kalyn fell truly silent and gaped at him.

“Man-whore,” Kalyn whispered under her breath, just loud enough for Alex to hear. To her irritation he simply gave her one of his smiles again. It was a nice smile-no, it was gorgeous, Kalyn had to admit, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was silently laughing at her through his eyes.

“I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Alex drawled as he entered a village full of big and neat cream-colored houses. “I’d rather refer to myself as a ‘connoisseur of women,’ if you don’t mind.” Kalyn simply rolled her eyes, disgusted at his behavior. Guys like him irked her—those that were so sure that all women would be willing to practically wait in line just to sleep with them. Disgusting and sad, really.

“So, that thing at the airport earlier…” Kalyn said, trying to keep her voice nonchalant. “Is that your little technique? Intentionally tripping females so you can make a pass while helping them up?”

“Baby, I don’t need any technique,” he said as he made a turn. “I don’t need to use persuasion. I beckon, and they flock to me like sheep.”

“Baby?” Her eyebrow raised and her tone became cool. She was slowly beginning to hate this guy. It was bad enough that they had to move, but to deal with someone like Alex Donovan during her stay here was too much. Oh well, at least she only had one more year to go before college, thank god. “Careful Alex, you make that little endearment sound like I actually matter to you. Do you use that on other girls too?”

“Why should you matter? I barely know you,” he replied, waving the subject away.

Kalyn felt like she had been stung. First he makes passes and suggestive comments at her, then he reverts to saying something insulting? That jerk. True, he didn’t know her, but for goodness sake, he didn’t have to call her something like that and then blatantly tell it to her face. But she kept quiet, leaning her elbow on the windowsill of the car, temper simmering in her eyes and everywhere else.

Within minutes his car stopped in front of a neat two-storey cream house with white trimming and a wide porch. The lawns were a fresh green and there were fresh flowers blossoming. In spite of her initial obligations about the move, she had to smile in approval. This house was way, way, better than their San Francisco apartment.

Sheila and her mom were already waiting for them inside. The interior was nice and neat too, and most of their old belongings had already been shipped in. “What do you think, Kal?” her mom asked, looking hopeful.

“It’s….nice, mom,” Kalyn said, giving her a small smile.

Kalyn’s mom gave her a warm smile. “I’m glad you like it. So, did you have a great time with Alex? Any interesting, intellectually-stimulating conversations I need to know about?”

Kalyn very much wanted to yell out, “Oh yeah, mom, sure, if you consider discussing about Alex the maniac’s crazy sex life intellectually stimulating, then yes, we did!” But she didn’t. Instead she merely gave her mom a smile and said, “Nothing, mom.”

Satisfied with her answer, her mom gave her a radiant smile and left the main room to join Sheila in the kitchen.

Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.

She looked around and called out, “Mom…can I go upstairs and choose my room? I wanna explore the house a bit. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” her mother beamed. “Go ahead. Better yet, why don’t you take Alex with you? I’m sure you haven’t finished your conversation yet, and besides I need to help Sheila with dinner. Go on. Dinner will be in an hour.”

“Well” Before she could speak Alex had already pulled her back in the foyer and led her up the stairs. Once they reached the second landing Kalyn turned to face Alex, who still had that lazy, arrogant expression on his face.

“What the hell was that for? Why’s you drag me here?” she demanded

“To get you alone, of course,” Alex said teasingly, licking his lips in a suggestive way.

She turned away from him, disgusted. “You really are a man-whore,” she remarked as she walked in search of the perfect room. Behind her, Alex chuckled.

“Man-whore?” He echoed, looking for all the world the very picture of innocence. “Don’t you think that kind of language isn’t proper for a girl like you?”

She gave him a sardonic laugh. “Oh yeah, Alex, like you’re the very essence of virtue yourself,” she said sarcastically. She opened one door at the end of the hall and stepped inside. It was a big enough room, with a big bay window and peach walls. She stepped back and smiled.

“Yeah, I think this’ll do for my room. It’s nice,” she said, momentarily forgetting that she wasn’t alone. She was quickly brought back to reality, however, when Alex spoke once more.

“I agree,” he said, stepping beside her. “And I’m glad I got to see it with you, since now I know where your room is. You see, I have a feeling that I’m going to be….staying in this room quite often, if you catch my drift.” He gave her a smoldering gaze which made her all too aware that he was implying something less than innocent.

“Alex, you barely even know me. So why the hell do you seem so eager to sleep with me?”

“No reason,” Alex waved dismissively. “I just think that it’s fitting for men like me to…share our talents with the fairer sex, that’s all.”

“Man?” Kalyn gave him a once over and stared him down. “I don’t see any men around here. All I see is a testosterone-charged boy whose ego is larger than the Atlantic Ocean.”

In one fluid movement Kalyn found herself pressed against the wall, pinned down by Alex. His face was very close to hers and she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. It sent shivers down her spine.

“Shame,” he whispered in her ear, the deep, rumbling sound of his voice almost enough to make her knees buckle. “But still, if you’re ever in need of a real man, I’d be happy to help and give you a demonstration. Just say the world and I’ll prove it to you in 5 minutes.”

His words brought her down to earth once more and she stiffened, feeling anger for this one person who had gotten past all her walls in just a matter of one day. Fire burning in her eyes, she placed a hand on his arm and spoke, looking him square in the eye.

“A real man wouldn’t need 5 minutes.”

And with that she pushed past him and walked out the door, closing it with a bang as she went, leaving an equally dumbfounded and amused Alex Donovan behind.

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A.N: So, what do all of you think? Please read and review, constructive criticism is always welcome!