Zenon's Game Chapter 43

We were in Axel's basement.  Heat and pool water in the grotto had made us wet.

Zenon stood at the base of the staircase.  I was a few steps above, my arms extended against the banisters.  His hands were on my body, as he traced his fingers down my side. 

I felt his finger hook onto my b-ra, tempting me, before he let go. His touch sent waves of desire pulsing through me. I restrained from ripping his shirt. His eyes had me hypnotized. And I was weak to his touch.

I craved it.

His finger trickled down to the side of my skirt. He pushed it up and rested his hand on my outer thigh. He lowered his lips towards mine.  

Champagne showers sprayed over us.

I gasped, wiping it out of my eyes.  Bianca was standing in her bikini with a champagne g*un in her arms.

"Open your mouths!" she giggled, spraying us with more alcohol.

Zenon stepped up the stairs to my level, his back shielding me from the champagne.  

"Let's go," he said, his hands on my waist, pushing me forward.

I hurried up the staircase with him following easily behind.  Bianca was drunk and she didn't stop aiming at us, accompanying the sprays with her screams.  I shoved the door open and we tumbled out into Axel's corridor.

What a stark contrast.

Classical music trickled out of a little radio.  Old fashioned furniture decorated the room.  It was peaceful.  Nothing like the dance crazed grotto underground. 

Gloria's shrill voice chastised us, "You're not allowed up here! Oh, Zenon it's you.  Welcome back.  Care for a towel?"

Gloria's attitude changed entirely when she saw Zenon. Only Axel's close friends were allowed in the house and Zenon was her favorite.  Gloria guided us to the kitchen, where the marble tiles could be cleaned easier than the living room carpet if we stained them with the champagne dripping off our bodies. 

She gave us a towel each and left us to check on Bryce, who was passed out on the couch. I found it funny that Axel's nanny was taking care of a grown 17 year old.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, feeling dizzy after being in a sauna for the last few hours.  The rush of cool air was getting to my head.  Zenon picked me up and set me on the counter.  I leaned back against the wall.  He poured a glass of cold water for me to drink, one hand still resting on my leg, as he raised my hand for me.  

I downed the glass in a couple seconds flat and handed it back to him.  Zenon used the same glass to pour himself water.

I avoided his gaze.  I was nervous to be around him.  I wasn't quite sure what had happened downstairs.  What almost happened.

He took the towel and walked closer to me.  He stood between my legs, wiping the sticky alcohol off my neck and down to my-

"Zenon, I have your girl-" Axel barged in with a girl behind him. 

As soon as he saw us, he cursed loudly and tried to close the door on the girl that was walking in.

"Shoo! Shoo!" he told her.

My lips were expecting Zenon's lips – but a big divide separated us now.

Zenon backed away from me and exhaled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. 

"What?!" he commanded Axel.

He looked pissed. I bit my bottom lip.

"Don't do that," Zenon growled at me.

His breathing was still uneven. I don't even know where mine went.

The girl started knocking from the other side of the door, "Hey, what's happening? Is Zenon in there?"

"What should I say?" Axel asked, "I didn't realize you two were... you two should definitely... hey Candace," he nodded at me, realizing a bit late that he hadn't fully acknowledged my presence.

"Hey Axel," I said, breathlessly.

Zenon pushed past Axel and shoved the door open. I heard the girl squeal with delight before the door shut us out. I was left in the kitchen with Axel.

"Who was that?" I asked him.

"Who?" Axel played dumb.

"The girl, Axel. Who is she?"

He mumbled something.

"What? Say it louder," I asked him.

"The coach's daughter."

Oof. Zenon was not going to mess around with that. In fact, being the player he is, I could totally see him going for the coach's daughter in his daily - and twisted - efforts to become the best basketball player. 

If there's only one thing Zenon is serious about, it's basketball.

So to answer my earlier question – Zenon and I may have s*e*x*u*al tension, but he may also have a girlfriend.

I felt something stir inside of me. Pain.

I couldn't leave without Zenon.  He had driven me here and now I was stuck.  So I stood in Axel's living room, next to an unconscious Bryce, holding onto a beach towel.  And I was in pain.

Bryce swung an arm in his unconscious state and almost hit my leg. 

I stared at him, his head plastered against a cushion, drool dripping from his mouth. I remembered how Stacey and her friends had taken advantage of me when I was asleep, using the camera on their phone...

I helped move Bryce's arm in a more comfortable position.

I wouldn't do that to anyone.

Phone!

I grabbed my phone out of my jean skirt pocket and ordered a Lyft.  Forget this crap, I wasn't stuck here, I was going home!

3.5x surge price and driver 12 minutes away. 

That's gonna hurt my bank account.  I guess this is what happens when you live recklessly without a backup plan while out in suburbia.

Axel cleared his throat.  I looked up and saw him stand uncomfortably by the door.  Zenon and the coach's daughter were somewhere else, doing who knows what.

"Thanks for inviting me," I said, awkwardly, "It's a great party."

Axel shrugged, "This place is one hour away from being an orgy."

"More like ten minutes late," I said. 

He smiled at that.  "Listen, Candace, it's not what you think.  Zenon was really excited you were coming today."

"I don't believe you.  He has a lot of girls-"

"Not like you."

"You always have his back, Axel, I get it.  But I lived with him.  I know what he's like too." 

"Don't make that same mistake. You should know by now that he's not the image people have of him."

"I know that. I think he's incredible," I said truthfully, "I really do.  But I also know that what keeps me in his orbit is our deal. As soon as I pay that laptop, it's over."

Axel was about to respond but the door opened and Zenon walked in.  His expression was despondent and the girl was nowhere in sight. 

"I'll leave you two to talk," Axel said.

Bryce snored loudly in the background.

"Or you could go somewhere more private," he suggested, shoving an unconscious Bryce to keep him quiet. 

"Meughli," Bryce mumbled in his sleep, slapping the air in response.

Zenon was looking at me, trying to search my face for an expression. "I'll drive you home, Candace."

"No thanks. I have a Lyft coming," I checked my phone, "Oh, it's here."

I lied.  It was still a few minutes away, but I didn't waste any time.  I folded the towel onto the arm of the couch and left without saying more than a goodbye.

The sun was coming up. It was already morning.