Shopping for Science

It wasn't like he was oblivious to what Lu was doing - trying to keep Buster's attention on herself so that he wouldn't have to subject himself to the torture of seeing John and Celi together - but he also couldn't bring himself to be upset with her. Whatever her reasoning, be it thinking John was a better match for Celi or simply due to her own attraction to Buster, it didn't matter. He wouldn't hold it against her. He wanted Lu just as much as Celi, if not more.

Especially since she reciprocated his flirting.

Whether Lu was interested in anything deeper than just a physical attraction he wasn't certain, but it was a start and he could work from there. And this time, he'd play the long game if he had to, as long as it worked out in the end. Something inside him whispered that if he was lucky enough to win her favor, he'd be wise to keep her forever. And as his emerald gaze swept over her features he was inclined to agree.

Nevertheless, if they were going to get anything accomplished, they'd first have to get started. And to do that, they'd need to decide on what to have for dinner and also pick up the rest of what was needed for their project. And yet, what was meant to be an innocent question was answered with a coy smile and a sexual innuendo. An Irish sausage with cream. For fucks sake.

His head snapped to look at her so fast that he was surprised it wasn't accompanied by the sound of a whip cracking. As her eyes drifted slowly down his body, heat rushed to his cheeks and blood rushed to his groin despite his efforts to keep things friendly. Closing the distance between them without even realizing it, he leaned down into Lu's personal space, stopping only an inch away from her lips.

It wouldn't take much to lean forward and take what he wanted, to taste her and slip his tongue between her soft lips. The phantom sensation still called to him from the week before, faint but not forgotten, the sweetness of her mouth was the most delicious temptation. Hooded eyes darkened with desire, pupils dilated and fixed upon her with blatant want. The corners of Buster's mouth twitched into a wicked grin as if beckoning her with the temptation inside him. A dark, lustful secret. A hidden danger. A sinful promise.

"Would you like to find out?" His voice was soft, a light of challenge in his eyes.

"Waouf!" Dixie was totally interested in whatever was happening between her boy and this pretty girl, and decided to add in her two cents. She panted happily and licked the underside of Buster's chin as if to give the humans a hint of what should happen next. But her human knew he was already toeing the line between what was appropriate and what wasn't... in public anyway. So he pulled back slightly, eyes still dancing with a whisper of hedonistic pleasures.

"Personally, I'm in the mood to taste something of the Polynesian persuasion." His lips curved as he slid a hand to the small of her back and led her towards an semi-open air market, "Something exotic and delicious." Snatching a hand basket, he procured mahi mahi, rice, tofu, fresh vegetables, mango, and a few other ingredients for their dinner. "Something that makes me think of you." He gave her a flirty wink, then picked up what he'd need to make dessert.

Once they'd had their groceries, he gathered the rest of what they'd need to make the shampoo and purchased the lot of it. "So I was thinking grilled mahi mahi, with tofu and vegetable kabobs, and cream-filled malasadas for dessert. It may lack the sausage you were looking for, but I'll definitely fill you up." He grinned at Lu. "And give you that cream filling at the end."

As the young ruffian let her lead him all around the little shop, he had to make sure he didn't knock things over or break anything. Truth be told, he'd glimpsed this store on previous shopping trips he'd been dragged on - mostly to carry things for his mother, alongside Terry - but he'd never been in here. There was little reason for him to ever bother checking the place out.

But Celi seemed to be enjoying herself, so he supposed the store was okay.

What he wasn't expecting was for Celi to get scent-drunk while she was huffing some cologne that smelled like someone tried to make fancy desserts over a bonfire. The girl swayed as if she'd just chugged some tequila or whatever, and though he was sure she was probably fine, he was ready to catch her if she did fall. When she managed to right herself and return the offending stink bottle back in its place he relaxed.

So it caught him completely off guard when she hugged him.

There was no warning, no buildup. Just grabbing him around the neck, pulling him into an unexpected hug, and burying her face in his neck. John was both shocked and overjoyed, but wasn't sure if he should push his luck. Lu had stressed the need to behave as best as he could, so the Wilder simply enjoyed the feeling of Celi's arms around him. All too soon, she was pulling back and patting him like a good dog.

Well shit.

Whatever. At least she was happy.

He didn't need to understand what was going through her mind while picking out perfumes and such, she was just enjoying herself. John smiled at that realization. Celi was enjoying herself with him. And she was doing it of her own free will, thanks to those pointers he'd been drilled on.

And when he'd told her they could check out other stores and go shopping together, her eyes had sparkled like he'd given her diamonds. It was a simple gesture but her reaction made him wonder if anyone had ever bothered to do such a thing for her before. Just what kind of life did this pampered girl have before coming here?

She darted away to pick out something for herself and he took the opportunity to take the Sex Grenade perfume to the checkout. Celi had seemed to like this one so he'd get it for her. The lady at the counter had to do a double take when she saw him, but otherwise didn't freak out too badly. She was clearly at least in her forties and looked like she was into healing crystals and other New Age shit, so John assumed she was probably stoned.

"I'd like to buy this." He muttered, pulling out his wallet.

She gave him an incredulous look, but when it was clear he wasn't here to break anything, she scanned it into the cash register. "Your girlfriend looks like the type to wear something a tad more delicate while out in public. You should get her this one too." The older woman spritzed a floral scent on a white strip of cardstock and held it out to him. He raised his eyebrow at her in question and she waggled it at him. "Smell it."

Oh. Oops.

John sniffed it and decided that yes, it definitely smelled like perfume. A second sniff alerted his teenage brain that it smelled a lot like Celi. "That smells nice." He said (not quite) eloquently, "I'll take it."

Victory appeared on the older woman's face and she informed him that it was Plum and Freesia, but since John didn't know what the hell a freesia was, she explained it to him. With pictures. It was very helpful. He paid the lady and she bagged up his order. She was saying something else but by this time, he'd stopped listening and was thinking about where he'd seen those kinds of flowers before.

Now he only had to wait for Celi.

The playful yet seductive tugging at his shorts was doing nothing to calm his raging libido, but he seriously doubted Lu wanted that. No, the girl was just as ready for action as he was, a wild and ravenous hunger in her teal eyes. Buster couldn't help but smile at they way she was cuddling up to him - moving his hand from the small of her back to circle around her hips.

A thrill danced in his blood.

Like a siren's song, every word, every action from the surfer teased him, enticed him closer. And he was all too happy to play along, follow her unquestioningly, even if she led him into a watery abyss from which he couldn't possibly hope to escape. Would he even want to?

Ever since their first encounter on the beach, Buster hadn't been able to get her out of his mind. Lu was the leading lady of all of his daydreams, the star of every sweet dream at night. His first thought every morning, the sweetest temptation when he was alone... He couldn't stop thinking about her, even when previous flings randomly texted him for a hookup. He'd turned them all down. It had been a shock to everyone involved.

But there was no way he could stop what he was feeling for Lu, even though he didn't fully understand it yet. Of course he wanted her physically - that much was a given - but it was so much more than just that. He wanted to spend all his time with her. Every day, every night, and all the time between.

And damn all the consequences.

He knew that he shouldn't be feeling so strongly for a girl he'd really only had maybe two encounters with, but when had that stopped him before? Buster was the kind of guy that followed logic most of the time, but there was something about Lu that made him want to follow his heart. It was irrational and he wouldn't even consider calling it the "L" word yet - it was far too soon for that - but there was just something about her that demanded his attention anytime she was nearby.

Part of it was physical of course. It always was, considering how attractive she was and that she was all too willing to fool around with him. And if things didn't work out with Celi, perhaps Lu would be interested in taking their friendship to another level. Granted, he was already dreaming about her that way, the only thing stopping them from getting together now was his inner turmoil over liking two girls instead of one.

Nevertheless, he couldn't have both girls and he didn't want both. He just wanted one... the right one. But he couldn't be absolutely certain which girl was the right one. Sometimes being a teenager was total bullshit. Still, he was going to have plenty of time with Lu tonight between dinner, their project and potentially more. And if he played his cards right they might be spending much more time together in the future.

The feeling of Lu tugging once more on his belt loop made him turn his head so that he could whisper hotly in her ear. "You know, I heard that if I press the clitoris and g-spot at the same time, the vagina takes a screenshot and saves me in the memory bank forever." His lips barely brushed against the shell of her ear as he said it. "Since we're doing our science project tonight anyway, care to help me test that hypothesis?"

The feeling of her soft, delicate fingers interlocking with his calloused ones made something inside John flutter. A warmth curled his lips into a pleased smile and he allowed the dainty girl to lead him out of the frou frou fragrance place and back into the main shopping area. Usually the taller boy avoided this place like the plague - after all, people annoyed the ever-loving shit out of him and he was infamous for lack of patience when it came to stupid people.

But not today.

Quite frankly, John couldn't give less of a shit if Celi dragged him to every store in the mall. As long as she was holding his hand and smiling at him, she could get away with almost anything. He towered over her as they walked, easily dwarfing her in both height and muscle mass. To any tourist onlookers, he probably looked like her personal bodyguard.

And that was fine by him.

He'd play that part if it meant keeping the creeps away and having her all to himself.

Watching her flit around in excitement like some fairy was a lot more enjoyable than when she was angrily trying to shop while he was bothering her. Normally by now she'd be storming around like an angry little thundercloud and hurling insults at him like lightning bolts. And of course it was a hundred percent his fault, but she was just so cute that it made him want to tease her more.

But there was something so intoxicating about watching her enjoy herself while in his company. That it was him who had put that pretty smile on her face was a little nugget of treasured memory he'd hold onto forever. Nevertheless, she was promising not to take too long and telling him she'd need his help to carry things to his truck. She needed him. The mere suggestion was enough to keep him relaxed and happy.

"Sure thing, sweetheart." John agreed easily, "I'll carry anything you want, don't worry about how heavy it is." As if to demonstrate, he flexed his free arm. The powerful muscles beneath his richly tanned skin looked like he could like he could potentially crush anything placed between them. "I don't mind you puttin' me to work."

Honestly, the sight before him was so incredibly tempting that it was hard to keep hold of his self-control. Sly fingers caressing the delicate skin of her hip, gliding softly over the smooth skin until an involuntary shiver ran up her spine. A tiny exhale of breath gave her away.

Bingo.

He'd gotten to her. And surprisingly faster than anticipated if her reaction was anything to go by. If anything, Buster should probably just back off a little bit and act more like the casual friend he was supposed to be and less like the thirsty pansexual ho-bag he proved himself to be.

But where was the fun in that?

Especially when Lu had been toying with him pretty much all day today. The sexy surfer had been the sole subject of his every daydream since they'd met, the nightly nymph that tempted him into self love. She knew what she was doing each time she snuggled his arm between her breasts or slid her hand over the curve of his thigh.

She was so soft, so open to his touch... would she be willing to go further with him than they'd already had if they grew closer? Would she still be as interested in touching him if she were to find out that he was just as willing to be on the receiving end as he was on the giving end, that he would let her do just about anything she wanted to him?

He didn't know, but rushing into things probably would only be detrimental and severely limiting to any sort of progress. After all, scaring her away - though improbable - was not an option Buster would entertain. No, he'd have to take things slowly and make sure they were on the same page. After all, assuming Lu was looking for a relationship without asking the right questions would be like shooting himself in the foot.

Buster could play the long game, especially if it lead to happiness.

Just looking at Lu made his resolve harden... along with an intimate part of his anatomy. She was calling to his very core whether she realized it or not and he was answering. It might be chance, it might be fate... or it might be the fact that her nipples were hard. Still, he wanted her.

Especially if she was going to be this damn cute.

With her pretty eyes clenched shut and her back ramrod straight as he gently nibbled on the shell of her ear, trying so hard to keep it friendly and casual now that he's turned the tide on her. A little thrill of sadistic pleasure curled up inside him at the idea of having her at his mercy and he was sorely tempted to slip his hand beneath her swimsuit bottoms and make her beg for him.

But when Lu peeked up at him from beneath her dark eyelashes, trembling softly and breathing heavily like that... well, it really made him want to sink as deeply inside her as was humanly possible. But her teasing chastisement prompted the logical part of his brain to take over. Of course he'd back off a little to help cool things down. At least for now.

"If that's what you want, that's what you'll get." Buster nearly purred into her ear, "Besides, if we get too carried away, we may not get our project done on time." He blew into her ear and slowly pulled away from her with a silent promise in his eyes. "Now, which of these houses is yours?"

Celi blushed lightly at the sight of John flexing his free arm, watching in slight wonder as his sun kissed skin tighten over thick ropes of solid muscle.

In her mind, she knew it wasn't polite to stare, but strangely she found it hard to tear her eyes away from the sight of him as they strolled along together. Him leisurely reassuring her in his own manner, devoid of pompous, that she could work him hard if she wanted too. He could take it.

Of course she knew all to well how strong he was, how it felt to have that very same arm draped around her as he acted as both her shield and escort, that cover of heated steel under flesh had offered her plenty of protection these days with the strength and infamy it wielded. And although she'd never admit it out loud, his presence alone had started to give her a sense of security she'd never felt before, a comfort that allowed her to relax for the first time in years with no walls or bite to protect herself with.

It was thanks to that sense of security, the relief that he gave her from just being by her side, that allowed her to relax now even as they walked together, hand in hand, along the busy downtown street.

Normally, if the eyes of many were upon them, she'd turn away from him with a scoff, her nerves getting to her more than anything as she acted annoyed with his antics and over the top parading.

But today instead, even under the gazes of the populace around them, she offered him a small but coy smile, her free hand coming up to cover her lips as she chuckled a bit at his words and light boasting.

"Well alright, if you're sure, but no complaining about it later then" She casually joked with him, silently happy that for once, both of them could be completely at ease with each other.

With a few more steps and twinkling bell, Celi opened the door to one of the boutiques she'd been eying earlier. The building was larger than the small perfume shop, filled with various kinds of chic furniture, décor, and displays, but just as artistically cluttered with its variety of wares and rustic feel, a wonderland of soft pastels and linens for the household that the rosette absolutely adored.

It had decorative glassware glittering by the windows, rows of soft and cozy blankets draped across the backs of couches, and pillows of varying sizes were littered across chairs. Intriguing antiques lined the many shelves, and the tables were covered with towering displays of anything from makeup, jewelry, and hair accessories to decorative boxes, lotions, and more.  

Behind the counter, a peppy looking blonde stood up a little straighter at the sight of them, her smile brightening quite a bit as she adjusted her girls in her tight fitting top. Her eyes locking, not on the customer that Celi obviously was, but on the tall and handsome figure of John beside her.

Boy, was it her lucky day!

Her friends were never gonna believe her when she told'em that the Rodeo had just walked into her mama's shop! They'd be so jealous for sure! They all loved seeing him. She wondered if she should try and sneak a photo for later, or maybe instead, she could try and convince him to take'er for a night on the town after work!

That'd get'em jelly for sure!

Word on the street was that he was a literally god in bed, and no girl had ever regretted spending a night with'em.

She'd love it if he took her for a ride too!

If only her mama didn't make her stay by the counter the whole time she worked, otherwise she'd have saddled up to his side already to ask him bout his nightly plans...

Course, her face soured a bit, he had her with him like he always did these days, which would make her plans a little harder to come by. Her freckled nose scrunched up in distaste as she took in the sight of the lil'miss who'd somehow had all the hottest guy's in school falling over backwards for'er, tugging Rodeo along like some kind of puppy, all cuddled up to him and crap as she cooed over her mama's wares. She didn't remember the girl's name, Kelly or something like that, but she already didn't like her one bit. Girl used her hotty-totty looks and smarts and money to make all the guys swoon, and was probably spreading her legs for'em all too. It was no wonder she didn't have any other girlfriends aside from that new missy who'd showed up today, but for the looks of'er, she was no different.

Once that strawberry tart finally finished her damn shopping and brought Rodeo over to the counter, she'd for sure offer him up a fun time after'er shift, she was sure he'd like that much better than playing cart horse for that missy!

The rosette for her part, paid no mind to the blonde behind the counter giving her sour looks aside from a polite "hello" as she eagerly bounded over to the display she'd spotted earlier, John in tow beside her. Dropping his hand for just a second, Celi picked up the beautifully woven blanket that had caught her eye with obvious glee. It was a fair lilac and cream colored throw with a cable knit weave that was surprisingly light despite it's apparent thickness, which was perfect for the island's tropical weather, but it's fluffy and velvety yarn would still keep her warm and toasty on those chilly nights outside.

Turning to her companion, she held up her find to him in delight. "Look! Isn't it great? I've always wanted a blanket like this one!" She happily exclaimed, hugging the soft material close to her chest as she snuggled into its warmth.

"Let's hurry and grab the other things I wanted, kay? I wanna get home so I can put this on my bed"

Taking his larger hand back in hers once more, blanket clutched lovingly in her other arm, Celi led the boy around the store, cheerfully pointing out various other things she'd like to buy and for him to carry, all while chatting with him of why she liked them and where they'd go in her room once they were back home.

So far, she'd picked out a collection of small cut crystal perfume bottles for her newly bought fragrances, a matching pillow to her blanket for her bedroom loveseat, a series of stained glass mandalas for her windows, a pair of mosaic vases for her end tables, and a few lovely bouquets of dipped flowers for display.

A nice little array of things just perfect for her room if she had to say so herself!

But...she was a tad worried that it was a bit too much though...

Looking over at her taller companion, his other arm loaded down with her many items piled high, made the rosette pinken a bit at her overzealousness.

John didn't seem to be struggling with her things at all, and with every item she'd sheepishly handed him, he'd only remind her that he didn't mind her putting him to work. If anything, he only seemed a little bored looking from all the shopping. But still...she looked down at their joined hands hesitantly, he'd probably have an easier time if she let go, right?

"Do you want me to let go so you can carry all that? You'd probably have an easier time" Celi asked him quietly. She didn't know why she felt so unwilling to free his hand now when normally she'd brush it away, it'd certainly help him out and she was basically done shopping by now anyway. There was no need to drag him along...

But, admittedly, she'd grown rather found of his large hand holding hers softly, and she only felt cold when his warmth left her skin.

She'd do it, if he needed her too, but still...

Unable to help herself, Celi walked over to a random shelf farther away under the guise of inspecting its wares, dragging him along with her as she waited for his answer.

It wasn't like she hoping to postpone it or anything, she simply wanted to look at the items that had caught her eye was all.

And the discovery of a series of wooden boxes, of all different shapes and sizes, was certainly a lucky find now that she really got a good look at them. Some were more extravagant than others, with metal corners or fancy stands, while others were brightly painted with colors or with intricate detailed motifs.

The one that stood out the most to her though, was the tiny round wooden box that was tucked away to the side.

With great care as she delicately picked it up with her free hand, turning it this way and that to have a closer look at it. It was no bigger than the size of her hand, fitting in the small of her palm rather well, and its smooth polished finish had no ornate designs aside from a single lotus flower relief on top and a tiny gold key sticking out of the side.

Carefully, almost as if she was afraid she'd break it, she turned the key a few times and opened the lid. Slowly, the soft tinkling sounds of the music box could be heard, and almost immediately Celi found herself humming along quietly to the tune.

It was a beautiful lullaby, gentle, almost like a fairy dancing in the rain even. But it was also so very soft and full of melancholy, like a woeful dream that you couldn't quite remember, but it filled you with a sense of nostalgia that left you yearning for the unknown.

In a way, it reminded her of her childhood, when she and Mimi were just little girls, alone and afraid of the world, where all they could do was tuck themselves away in their bed to hide.

Those days, those long and lonely days seemed so far away now, now that they were finally happy and free on the island. And as she peered over at her companion, who had been dutifully by her side this whole time, Celi gave him an almost secretive smile before placing the little box safely in his hold for her to buy.

She wasn't alone now, and she no longer had to hide, and a lot of it was all thanks to the dumbass right next to her she was realizing.

"Ready to go now?" She asked him softly, tightening her hold on his hand just a little bit to keep him closer still. But even if he did let go to manage his load better, Celi knew he'd stubbornly stay by her side like he always had been, and secretly, she was grateful he did.

The longer they wandered around the store, the more John got the distinct feeling of being watched. And he knew exactly where the feeling was coming from, too. That blonde chick behind the register had focused on him immediately instead of Celi, who was actually here to buy shit. It had been obvious by the way she'd brazenly adjusted her tits in her too-tight shirt. And it had been a poorly-disguised attempt to get him to notice her.

In a way, it had worked.

He had looked, because what teenage boy wouldn't? But then he'd realized that it was just some cheap trick to get his eyes on someone and he quickly lost interest. He was here with Celi, and was only interested in Celi. Some floozy who had the hots for him wasn't someone who'd be able to hold his interest for long.

But if Celi noticed the bimbo she didn't seem to care. Perhaps it was because John had been more than willing to accompany her and carry all the decorative junk she was buying. And all without complaint.

Granted, he wasn't sure what to say in a store like this anyway.

With all the seemingly random stuff the rosette was handing to him he had no idea what to say about them. Crystal perfume containers? Was there something wrong with the containers the scents came in? He understood the blanket because it was practical and soft. Pillows, sure, also practical.

But what the hell was she going to do with 'dipped flowers'? What even was a dipped flower? He looked at the packaging for a description and found that they were wire shaped into petals and dipped into colored resin. It took John an embarrassing amount of time to realize that resin was just a hard plastic. So these things were just hard plastic flowers that served no practical purpose. Why did she feel the need to buy these?

High class girls were hard to understand.

Either way, she'd turned to him often to make sure she wasn't overloading him. It was actually pretty sweet of her to make sure she wasn't overworking him. He could take whatever she could dish out, but it was still nice. Celi had also seemed bent on keeping her hand in his. Perhaps it was because of his good behavior. He was practically on cloud nine, holding her soft, dainty hand.

And she seemed to not want to let go of him. John liked that. So much that he decided not to tease him about it. Not yet anyway. By now she was ready to get out of here. That was fine by him. "Lead the way, sweetheart." He said with a smile.

As Celi lead them to the counter so she could buy her things, a small smile playing on her lips as she held firmly to John's hand, she became increasingly aware of the blonde behind the counter and the nasty looks she was throwing her way.

The rosette, for the life of her, couldn't fathom why though.

Had she accidently done something to make her mad? Perhaps she'd messed up a display without knowing? Or maybe she had picked something up that the girl had put to the side for herself? But as she pondered just what it could be, the answer became all too clear as the blonde switched her attention from glaring daggers at her to smiling prettily at the boy beside her, making a show of "casually" adjusting her tight fitting top as they approached and putting her best flirtatious smile on with a bat of her hazel eyes.

Oh...so that was it...

She liked John.

The revelation, in all honesty, shouldn't have hit her as hard as it did. But despite herself, Celi could feel her happy smile straining just a tad as she unconsciously gripped John's hand a little tighter the closer they got.

The rosette had, in the week of knowing him, become quite aware of the boy's many fans and admirers both in and out of school. It was rather hard to miss the gaggle of girls that would blush and sigh in his direction as he walked by after all. And even she could admit that his rough and rugged appeal was quite eye catching, his looks and manner having caught the attention of many girls. But only a few, apparently, ever dared to step forward when his temper allowed.

And there was simply no missing the bathroom gossip of him either.

"Seriously packing", "left her shaking", and "he couldn't even fit all the way" were just to name a few...

Admittedly, and it wasn't because she had been keeping an ear out for anything either! Since he'd started following her around, Celi had been hearing less and less of girls planning to ask him out when his mood allowed. Their chances, in their minds, seemingly much slimmer now that he had a "new main" on hand.

But even then, he'd still been asked out on a date at least twice since she'd been around him, and he'd even been invited by a group of girls to join them for some fun just yesterday too!

He'd turned them all down amazingly enough, never once even batting an eye to their dejected faces as he went on his merry way with her firmly by his side. And Celi, to her great confusion, had found herself relieved more than anything when he'd done so, telling her later in all confidence that he wasn't interested in dating anyone else aside from her.

At the time, she'd simply brushed him off, huffing at him in embarrassment as her cheeks flushed red, telling him to stop messing around as he dutifully escorted her home.

So, certainly, it wasn't like Celi was at all unused to seeing other girls falling over themselves to try and flirt with John when they had the chance.

This girl would just be one more of many that would try, and probably fail, she was sure to grab the boy's attention. But despite knowing all that, that knowledge did nothing stop the unpleasant tightening in her belly as they approached the counter with her things in hand.

Her unease, whether she liked to admit it or not, lying in the fear of her new found friend possibly abandoning her some day for someone else.

But as pleasantly as she could muster, Celi smiled at the girl, just wanting to pay for her things and leave as fast as they could. But the blonde had other plans as she all but ignore the rosette and leaned over the counter, her elbow and hand propping her head up as she casually stroked John's loaded arm with her free hand, her cleavage on full display for him to see.

"Hey there Rodeo, you're looking a little bored with the missy there, how bout you come play with me for a bit? I promise I'll make it worth your while~"

Wow, she really was stupid enough to hit on him with Celi standing right next to him. He looked at the blonde as if she was a complete idiot. "No." He said flatly, and set the items in his well-muscled arms on the countertop.

She looked taken aback for a moment, but then opened her mouth to spew more nonsense.

"Oh, but I can offer you so much more than you can get from anyone else!" She insisted, shifting so that her breasts revealed enough to almost be showing her nipples. "I can do so much more than this frigid little missy here and - "

But John cut her off.

Not by yelling or glaring. Instead, he simply slammed his fist down onto the countertop with such force that it cracked in half completely. The girl at the register shrieked in surprise but John simply picked up the items one by one and started scanning them himself until they were all scanned in.

Trembling, the girl pulled up the total and - with John's murderous glare - quickly rung out Celi's order.

Everyone who'd glimpsed John's darkened expression as they left the store and headed towards the parking lot quickly gave the two of them a wide berth. Locals and tourists alike took one look at the intimidating boy and made themselves scarce, which was fine by him. After dealing with that dumb bimbo behind the counter he certainly didn't need to put up with anyone else's stupid bullshit.

His icy blue eyes flicked briefly to the rosette still miraculously holding his hand. It was painfully clear that she'd definitely been startled if the sudden jolt of fear followed by the tightening of her grip on his free hand was anything to go by. Honestly, he'd half-expected Celi to shriek in terror the same way the blonde had and was baffled as to why she hadn't.

He'd split a solid marble countertop in half after all.

Now his intense martial arts training under his mother's tutelage had built his skills to the point where he could break stacks of concrete bricks easily, and he'd moved onto other things since then. But that marble had been pretty solid and though he hadn't so much as flinched, his knuckles stung from it. It had been a knee-jerk reaction that out-raced his brain and it had been more than a little unreasonable, but it got his point across.

His point being that he hated having to repeat himself.

So at the sound of Celi's dramatic sigh and question, he paused, considering. Did he really have to go and break the countertop over something like that? Standing for a moment or two in silence, he came to his conclusion after thinking it through. He turned to her, looked her in the eyes meaningfully and spoke.

"Yes."

Then he unlocked his truck and carefully loaded all of the decorative trinkets she'd purchased, along with the stuff they needed for their project before turning back towards her. Celi was still holding his hand and at some point, had swatted him half-heartedly. She might as well have been a kitten for all the force behind it. Soft and tiny, yet fierce.

John smiled, reaching up with his injured hand to gently tangle her soft tresses around the throbbing knuckles. Even this was enough to ease the pain a bit. He wasn't going to admit that it hurt or that he was wrong, but he didn't notice a tiny sigh of relief leaving him.

Shit, he was busted.

Of course she would be worried about him and some petty little injury he'd gotten during a bit of irrational anger. Because despite her cold and untouchable act, at her core Celi was really a sweet girl who was just afraid to show her true self to others. She was someone who truly cared about the people around her with all her heart but had been forced to protect herself and her sister from the cruelty around her.

He'd been able to see through her act since day one. And even though he'd provoked her for no reason other than because she was pretty, it had been so obvious that she was using her prickly attitude to defend herself from an unknown threat. She was a tiny kitten hunching her back and hissing at him, a wolverine in comparison, trying to appear more threatening than she actually was. Launching into an attack on him that was hilariously ineffective against him as he grinned down at her.

He was particularly fond of kittens for that very reason.

It was no surprise he'd wanted to scoop her up and take her home with him. One of the island's best kept secrets was John's love for the small and fragile, being a big brother to seven children. He and Terry had wordlessly taken it upon themselves to become protectors of the weak, be it their siblings or baby animals. As children, they'd bring home fragile, injured, and homeless animals. As teenagers, they beat the shit out of bullies and scumbags.

Celi, and by extension Mimi, were like new kittens on their own. All by themselves on an island far from their previous life and in need of someone to look after them. Ironically, he had the feeling that Celi needed protection more than Mimi, since she was so tempting to guys. Perhaps he was the one she really needed protection from, but who better to protect her than the one who wants to gobble her up?

Still...

As Celi was fussing over his sore, reddened knuckles and slathering them with healing salve - which, admittedly, did feel pretty good - he slyly moved his free hand to circle around her and pull her closer to him. Holding her close always brought him comfort, so he took every opportunity to do so. And doing it while she was patching him up wasn't so unreasonable that it'd put her in a mood.

Without really giving his actions much thought, he pressed his lips to Celi's forehead as she finished fussing over his hand. It was a simple act, nonsexual. "Thanks for fixing me up, sweetheart." His voice was soft, tender, "I appreciate it, knowing you care about me enough to do this."

Perhaps John had gotten a just a little bit carried away, but once he'd pressed his lips to her forehead he definitely wanted more. Of course Celi noticed right away. It did, however, take her several moments before she started making a fuss over his actions. Her little whines and squirming were enough to make him want to whisk her away and keep her all to himself but he managed to keep Lu's advice in mind.

Barely.

For now, he'd back off a little.

But only a little. Just enough to give the rosette enough space to realize that he was trying to follow her wishes, but not give her the idea that he might not be interested. He was definitely interested. More so than what she might realize, but that was alright for now. In time, Celi would be his girlfriend, then his wife, then the mother of his children, then the grandmother of their children's children...

Okay, perhaps he needed to calm his ass down.

Heaving a little sigh, he gave her forehead one last kiss - a particularly long one - and finally pulled away to look down at her with a content smile. "Alright, I'll stop." He allowed, "For now. Let's get over to your place and get started on our project." With that, he pulled open the passenger door for her and loaded all her purchased goods into his truck. "Ladies first."

The rosette had practically leapt into her seat once John had freed her from his embrace, the boy acting once more like his usual confident self as he sauntered around to the other side of his truck with a happy little hum to himself. Acting for all the world as though nothing had even happened. While she sat there, her face burning red in her hands and her heart pounding in her ears as his satisfied smile, husky words, and the soft memory of his lips against her skin lingered in her mind.

What in the name of the seven holy saints even was that?!

In the entire time since she'd known John, he's acted in a whole number of different ways, some good, some bad, some annoying, but he'd never behaved like this before!

Admittedly and logically thinking, the rosette did know that the boy was a incorrigible flirt, he made a pass at her at nearly any chance he got and it didn't stop at only when they were at school what with his habit of following her home. She knew also that he loved teasing her more often than not to get a rile out of her for his own amusement, so if one were to think things through clearly, then it would be quite obvious to assume that he was simply be pulling her leg once again to get a rise out of her while filling his daily quota.

But that...that...didn't seem quite right somehow...not with how he'd been looking at her...

It was different.

And honestly, what he'd just done was so far beyond any teasing or flirting that she was used too, that right now, it was throwing her through so many loops that it was leaving her thoughts in one hell of a mess!

Certainly, even after such a short amount of time knowing him, Celi had gotten very accustomed to his physical side, his persistent need to touch her in some manner for his own satisfaction, despite her annoyance over it and desire for space.

But John's touches had always been...friendly? Protective? She didn't quite know how to describe them really aside from that they made her feel safe.

He always held her as though they'd known each other for years, walking together with her easily as he shielded her with his presence. His hands resting snuggly around her shoulder or hip, but never once making her feel uncomfortable.

Even holding his hand all afternoon today had felt natural and easy, even if she had only done so under the pretext of keeping him "in line", so to speak, as they shopped.

But those kisses...the way he held her...it felt...different somehow...

It wasn't bad per se, she didn't hate it, not really. But it made her feel strange, it made her heart race and made her feel self-conscious even, and she hadn't felt like that in years! Not since she was an awkward preteen wondering why everyone was staring at her so much.

But now, here she was again, feeling awkward and self-conscious as she tried looking everywhere except at the boy right next to her who had caused all this in the first place.

She'd managed to tame her blush some as she dutifully watched the scenery go by, the red hues now only dusting across the bridge of her nose and the tips of her ears, but she just couldn't stop herself from fidgeting as they got closer and closer to her home in Westside Vepigo. Her fingers brushing or tangling in her wavy hair, or tugging at the hem of her skirt nervously.

Did her hair look like a mess after the long day they'd had? Her skirt felt way too short now. He wasn't saying, should she say something? But what would she even say after all that?

So lost in her own thoughts, Celi never noticed the boy's hand sneaking closer to her until she felt a large warmth resting on her exposed thigh, the contact making her jump in her seat and "Eep!" in surprise, looking at his amused smile with wide startled eyes.

"You're so quiet sweetheart, did me driving all safe-like put you to sleep?"

Celi had been quiet during the entirety of the drive back to her place.

John wondered if he'd overstepped a line somewhere and made her upset, but to his surprise she wasn't launching into an angry tirade. Instead, her attention was on her hands, her skirt, the dashboard of his truck, the passing scenery, everywhere but on him. Every time he snuck a peek at the rosette it seemed as though her cheeks flushed a little darker.

Was she really so embarrassed?

Shy, perhaps?

That thought alone made him wonder if she'd ever had any experience dealing with guys in general, much less relationships. Was it possible that he was actually the first guy who had ever really gotten to her? He'd considered the possibility before, but now it was really clear in his mind. Celi was completely unprepared when it came to dealing with him kissing her sweetly.

Hell, she was unprepared to deal with him kissing her at all.

And quite frankly, it made her even more tempting. So of course he reached over and put his large warm hand on the skin of her exposed thigh. The contact made her squeak in surprise and jump at least an inch off the seat. John grinned in amusement at her and asked, "You're so quiet sweetheart, did me driving all safe-like put you to sleep?"

As if to prove his point, he pulled into her driveway smoothly. The entire ride had gone by without him breaking a single traffic law or anything. He'd even passed a stopped cop car on the way and had watched in sadistic glee as the stunned officer's jaw dropped in shock at the Wilder's exemplary behavior. Heh. Stupid fucker.

Nevertheless, he was out of the car and opening the door for Celi before she could even get her bearings. Without waiting for a prompt, he gently removed her from the seat and carefully set her down, then scooped up everything she'd purchased on their trip. Bumping the truck door closed, he nodded to her. "C'mon darlin', we doin' our project or what?"

John watched in quiet amusement as Celi fretted to herself over her sudden shyness.

Considering all the things he'd said and done prior to gently kissing her the top of her head, it was ironic that she was blushing like crazy over something so simple. Nevertheless, watching Celi freak out over him treating her tenderly was like having a rare treat. It kind of reminded him of a stray kitten being adopted and discovering what it was like to finally feel love.

It was cute. She was cute.

The rosette had been holding his hand practically all day as well, which was a huge victory for the taller boy. He'd definitely have to thank Luce for those tips she'd given him earlier in the day because they really had done him a lot of good. Clearly he'd gotten on Celi's good side, despite him losing his temper with that dumb bimbo of a cashier earlier. But that little slip up seemed like it slipped right out of her recent memory.

Instead, she was far more preoccupied with the fluttering of her maiden's heart and her inner turmoil over the fact that yes, he actually could be gentle with her. After watching her fumble with her keys and then try to force herself to act normal, he simply carried her purchases along as she led them upstairs and to her room.

He was here practically all the time and was used to seeing their house, but it still surprised him that none of the furniture had been put together. It had arrived a while ago. Perhaps he should offer to help Celi out and put it together so she and her sister would be more comfortable. It would mean he'd be here even more than he already was, and that was an even better reason to do so. He chanced a glance at Celi and heard her scold herself for her behavior.

It's only John, eh?

He grinned, his white teeth glinting in the room's light. Setting her stuff down on the couch without letting go of her hand, he turned to her. "Celi?" She jumped a little in surprise, but he went on, "Looks like your furniture isn't puttin' itself together. How 'bout I lend you a hand with it? We'll get you all set up and cozy in no time."

John turned to her fully, a smile on his face as he did.

"Well then, since we're gonna be partners for a while, how 'bout I just bring you and Mimi home everyday? We can do our homework together and I can put a piece of furniture together for you afterwards." The tall muscular boy offered casually, "That way it's like a trade. I get help with my homework, you get your furniture together, and we both get to spend time together. Everybody wins."

Of course, he could probably have all their stuff together for them in less than a week if he wanted but where was the fun in that? No, it would be much smarter to do it little by little, one piece at a time. That way he could get her into a routine. Get her used to him being at her house and spending time with her so that Celi would miss him when he wasn't there.

Maybe he could find little maintenance tasks to do for her as well.

He could change lightbulbs, re-shingle her roof, mow her yard, install an entertainment system, do landscaping for her... really, he could probably take care of whatever task she could think of. Even if it was as simple as opening a stuck pickle jar. And if the jobs were more difficult or if it was hot out, he might just take his shirt off and conveniently "forget" it again.

Especially considering that Celi had never scolded him about leaving the last one here.

Granted, the rosette might have just thrown it in the garbage and washed her hands of it but John didn't think that was the case. If it had been a bother to her, he'd have definitely heard about it. She would've brought it with her to school, tossed it at him, and given him an earful about leaving his clothes at her house, in her room.

But he hadn't heard so much as a peep from the girl about that shirt, which made him wonder if she kept it. She had been ogling the way his muscles moved and flexed as he put her bed together. Maybe, just maybe, she even used it as a nightshirt and dreamed about him.

"Does that sound good to you sweetheart?"