Convenience and Compatibility (13 page)

He drops the knife and moves my panties to
the side to touch me. I groan and arch my back, pulling at his
lapel. I need him – now. Dean undoes his pants swiftly and enters
me. Oh, relief! I wrap my legs around him, hooking my ankles
together under his ass, helping pull his ass into me and fuck me
harder. I put my hands under his shirt and along the smooth skin of
his back, wishing we were naked in his bed instead of fucking in
his car outside his parent’s house.

There is no further foreplay as he pounds
into me - this is an ‘all about business’ sort of fuck. We pant in
rhythm together; fogging up the car, lost is our own selfish needs
for release. My body stiffens as I find mine, stifling my screams
into his shoulder. I’m still feeling the aftershocks of my orgasm
when Dean comes. He muffles his groans in my hair before returning
swiftly to his seat.

I have to be honest that it was so quick I’m
left a little in shock as he does up his pants. Nevertheless, that
was the hottest quickie I’ve ever had.

“Every time with you is the best sex of my
life,” he says.

Oh, wow.

Dean reaches over me to the backseat and
grabs a box of tissues. “Here, I came prepared this time.”

I smirk. “Yes you did.”

It doesn’t take me long before I realize that
my tights are toast.

“Dean, what am I going to do about this?” I
motion to the tights that have runs up and down the legs, the hole
he cut is about three times the size it started out.

I look at Dean and he furrows his brows. “I
have an idea.” He reaches by my feet and holds up the knife. “Do
you trust me?” He asks with a grin.

I nod - slowly. Dean begins cutting the
tights around my boots, then pushes the frayed ends into my
top.

“Wow, okay.”

“I really missed you Mallory.”

I look over at him and his messy hair; the
way he is looking at me I can tell he really means it. I fix his
hair with my fingers. “I really missed you too.” I pull down my
visor’s mirror and push my bun back together, readjusting the pins.
“How do I look?”

“Beautiful. Sexy. Are you ready?”

“Yes. Let’s do it.”

We park in front and
enter the house
without knocking. I guess you don’t have to lock your door when you
have a gate and cameras around the perimeter.

Dean takes my hand and we walk into a parlor
opposite the dining room. I was never in this part of the house
before; it’s just as opulent as the dining room and foyer. His
parents are sitting on the couch, having drinks. Their backs are to
us as we enter.

“Go ahead and help yourself. Dinner will be
ready in twenty minutes.” His mother waves from her seat.

We walk over to a credenza filled with every
kind of liquor. They must really like to drink. Dean looks at me
apologetically and starts mixing drinks. I give him a sort of half
smile, letting him know it was okay, but I am a little bothered
that they didn’t get up and say hello. If I had to foreshadow how
this evening will turn out, I’m guessing not well.

“What would you like Mallory?”

“Um, whatever.” Now I’m nervous. Oh please,
get me a drink now.

Dean hands me something and I take a big
swig. Oh my, he must know I needed it, it burns going down my
throat and warms my insides. He makes something for himself and
takes my hand. Dean guides me to the other sofa in the room, this
one across from his parents, and we sit down.

“Hello.” I smile.

“Hello Mallory,” Mr. Collins says as his wife
just looks at me. This is not good. My smile fades to mimic the
stoic expressions on their faces. I glance at the doorway,
wondering how I can make a break for it without a confrontation. I
picture myself running down the long driveway, getting away from
this madness. Who treats their guests this way? Apparently money
can’t buy you manners and civility.

“What’s for dinner?” Dean asks.

“Roast duck, potatoes, and some sort of
vegetable,” his mother says with a wave of her hand. Apparently she
does talk.

Oh, this is so uncomfortable. No one is
talking and the Ice Queen keeps staring at me. If I wasn’t sure
about her opinion about me before, I am sure I know it now. I feel
my face get hot and look down at my drink – maybe she knows what
happened outside. I’m sure they have cameras along the property. I
try to push the thought from my mind when Mrs. Collins excuses
herself and walks out of the room.

Her husband seems to be trying at least. “So,
how long have you two been going out?”

I look to Dean, he can answer this one.

“We first went out in December, but really
started dating last week.” He squeezes my hand.

“Hmmm,” is the only reply as Mr. Collins
takes a sip of his drink.

His wife suddenly appears in the doorway,
carrying a glass of wine this time. “Dinner is ready.” She says it
a little too happy for the moment, and I wonder if she meant to
sounds so fake.

Dean leads me into the dining room and pulls
my chair out. I thank him and he sits next to me. His parents sit
across the table and thankfully I have Mr. Collins sitting across
from me. He seems to be the nicer of the two. I finish my drink and
Dean doesn’t even ask, he immediately pours me a glass of wine from
the carafe on the table.

Dinner is served and it is indeed duck –
something I’ve never had before, baby carrots, green beans, and
roasted potatoes. The meal goes really well with the red wine at
the table and I drink it easily.

Dean’s parents make small talk with him, but
really there is very little talking going on. I excuse myself to go
to the bathroom, and then get out of the room before realizing that
I don’t know where I’m going. I walk towards the rear of the house
and open a door at the base of the stairs – nope, just a closet.
Common sense tells me that there should be a bathroom in this wing
of the house somewhere. I get to the end of the hall where I
thought the kitchen would be. There is nothing but more hallways,
left and right. I feel like Alice, after falling down the rabbit
hole. Everything is surreal and think I’m a little drunk. Yea, I’m
pretty sure I am because I stopped caring what Dean’s parents
thought of me a while ago. I feel numb and think of the Pink Floyd
song Comfortably Numb. Yep, that’s me right now. I hum the tune as
I open a couple of other doors and don’t find the bathroom; just
closets and more rooms. From the front this house didn’t seem so
big.

I decide to open one more door and if no
bathroom, I’ll retrace my steps back to the dining room and
embarrassingly ask. I open the door and find the bathroom! I
breathe a sigh of relief and go inside.

After finishing, I come out in a hurry,
knowing I’ve been gone a long time and I want to get back. I open
the door and jump – there’s Dean’s mother standing outside of the
door, leaning against the wall. I have a sinking feeling that she
is waiting for me, but pretend that everything is normal.

I smile, as non-condescendingly as I can. “Oh
hi, you scared me.”

She ignores me. “Get lost dear?” Her tone
tells me everything and I walk around her and away quickly, hoping
that I’m going the right way and ignore her comment. I wonder if
she is trying to challenge me, or just intimidate me.

I take my seat next to Dean and he raises my
eyes at me. “I couldn’t find the bathroom, then I got a little
lost.” I whisper.

“Oh, sorry. I was wondering what was taking
you. I was about to come look for you.”

Dean’s mother joins a little while later and
I pretend that I don’t notice and keep my head down and eat my
food.

We get through dinner and dessert is served –
pumpkin pie. I’m so nervous about the evening; I’ve barely eaten
and pass on the dessert. I can feel myself about to cry, but force
it down and try to smile as much is socially acceptable. I’m good
at pretending that everything is alright. Just like the other time
I was in their home, I can’t wait to get out of here. I just don’t
see how Dean and I can stay together if his family, the two people
sitting across from us, will not accept me.

The dessert plates are cleared away and Dean
quietly asks me if I want to stay a little longer. I shake my head
no. I can’t wait to get out of this place.

“Well, thank you for dinner, I think we’ll be
leaving.” We haven’t known each other very long, but I can tell
from the tone in his voice that Dean is pissed. I feel so bad, but
what more could I have done to make them like me?

Dean stands and I follow his lead. “Yes,
thank you.” I glance at them briefly, not wanting to be accused of
being rude.

Dean takes my hand and, without waiting for
his parents to reply, and we walk out the front door. He opens the
car door for me and as much as I try to hold them back, the tears
start coming. I’m trying to keep them at bay so Dean won’t notice.
I find the tissue box on the floorboard and dab at my eyes quickly
before he gets in the car. But Dean doesn’t get in the car. Where
did he go?

The tears stop just as suddenly as they began
as I look back in shock at the front door. He must have gone
inside. A few minutes pass and he still hasn’t come out. Maybe I’m
wrong and he hasn’t gone into the house. I look around the car then
hear the front door slam. Dean is stomping to the car and he looks
upset.

Dean gets in and doesn’t say anything to me.
I’ve never seen him mad and I’m a little afraid what to expect. The
tires skid and rocks fly as Dean drives away from the house. I look
over at his profile, the pale light from the dashboard illuminating
his features. “What did you do Dean?” I whisper.

Dean doesn’t answer and looks ahead. “I’m
sorry, I’m just really upset. I just yelled at my parents.” Oh. Now
I feel horrible.

We’re quiet all the way back to Laurelhurst.
Dean drives to my apartment building and parks the car. I’m a
little sad that he doesn’t want me to stay over but before I can
say goodnight, Dean gets out of the car and opens the door for
me.

“Thank you Dean.”

“Sure.”

We walk up to the front of the building and I
unlock the front door. Dean follows me right in. I hesitate; does
he want to spend the night?

“Do you want to sleep over?”

“No. I want you to pack some clothes and come
over to my place.”

“Okay.” This is new - Mr. Bossy. I’m not sure
what to think of it, but I’m glad that I don’t have to say goodbye
tonight.

I let us in the apartment and Adam and Tara
are sitting on the sofa. Adam rolls his eyes and Tara frowns at us,
but at least they don’t say anything. I ignore them and grab Dean’s
hand, leading him into the bedroom and closing the door behind us.
Given Dean’s mood, I’m hoping he didn’t notice their reaction. What
do they think, I’m going to break up with someone because they
don’t approve? Tara and I are best friends, but I’m pretty sure
that I already care for Dean more than her.

Dean sits down on the bed and I can’t help
but thinking that he looks like a sad little puppy. His head is
bowed and he’s looking at his hands clasped in front of him. I grab
my overnight bag and start packing what I’ll need.

“You know, your roommate and her boyfriend
are pretty ridiculous.” Shit.

“You’re right.” I nod.

“You should really move Mallory.”

“I know, but I’ll have to look for an
apartment soon enough with Tara getting married.” I finish packing
up my bag and look to Dean, “All ready.” I hope I’ve packed
everything I’ll need, I’m unsure when I will be coming home and
what Dean and I will be doing. I’ve packed for ‘sexy casual’ – that
should cover most occasions with Dean, I think.

“I think you should move in with me.”

Um, what? I’m shocked that he’s asked me this
– we’ve only really been going out for a week. There is no way I
would move in with him, especially with his parents not approving
of our relationship.

“Dean… I am not going to move in with
you.”

“Why not?” He looks up and I can see hurt in
his face. I suddenly feel bad that I didn’t turn him down a little
gentler.

I sit on the bed and face him. “Well, we’ve
only been going out a short amount of time, and…”

“And what Mallory?” Dean interrupts me and is
curt with his response, but I try to remember that he’s had a
crappy evening. He also looks a little pissed and I’m afraid to
finish the sentence. His face softens a little before starting
again. “I’m sorry I was being rude. Please continue.”

“And, um… do you really think our
relationship has any longevity with your parent’s disapproval?”

“Yes, I do. I take it that you don’t?” Dean
really seems hurt now, but why should I sugar-coat something that
is inevitable. I take a deep breath and decide to be honest – pull
the bandaid off swiftly.

“I just don’t know Dean.”

“Then why are you coming over? Why don’t you
break up with me now?”

I’m at a loss for words while Dean and I sit
looking at each other. My thoughts are in a jumble in my mind and I
don’t know what I can say to make things better. Maybe this is it,
maybe we’re breaking up. Dean’s eyes fill with tears and he looks
away, wiping them on his sleeve.

“Let’s not talk about this now. It’s been a
long day for both of us.” I grab my bag and stand by the door.

Dean nods and I take his hand, leading him
out of my room and the apartment. I ignore Tara and Adam as I shut
the door behind me. Dean has walked ahead and he is wiping his eyes
again. Maybe he wants to be alone? I decide it’s best not to ask
and follow him to his car.

By the time we get to Dean’s house he is in a
better mood, but not by much. I sit on the couch while he’s in the
kitchen making himself a drink. He joins me, falling to the sofa
with a thunk and putting his feet on the coffee table. He looks
stressed drinking his scotch and looking out into space. I’m sure
he’s deep in thought about our disappointing evening.