firecracker

Ginny's POV

"Ugghh!!" I swore at myself, slapped my hands against my face a couple times, and marched myself to the bathroom, where I turned the shower on full blast to warm up. I stripped out of my shorts and tugged the camisole up and over my head, where it tangled in my messy bun, pulling the hair tie almost all the way out. I yanked it free, swearing some more, before dropping the top on the floor and attempting to work the hair tie out of my rat's nest of hair.

Another knock at the door drew an exasperated sound from my lips and I stared myself down in the mirror, willing the redness in my eyes to go away. I am not still upset about Aaron. I am not still pissed at my ex best friend. I am not still hurt that two people I loved completely betrayed me.

Although I am still holding on to that ring. I bit my lip guiltily, remembering the lie I told him.

More knocking, harder this time, drew my attention away from the mirror. Fuck him.

"Fine," I said, resolved. I just wanted Aaron to leave me alone, and if this is what it takes... "Fine."

I yanked my camisole back on and flung the bathroom door open.

Before heading back to the front door, I stopped in my bedroom and pulled open the top drawer of my dresser, fishing out the velvety box from the very back. I wanted to look at the ring again, but I stopped myself, instead squeezing it tightly in my fist as I trudged back to the front door.

Steeling myself, I grabbed the doorknob and flung it open, at the same time thrusting my arm straight out, the small box clutched in my small hand.

"Just fucking take it and leave me the fuck alo---Oh." My voice trailed off as my eyes met his.

Cool crystal blue, they were narrowed slightly, full of suspicion and concern, framed by furrowed brows and high cheekbones. Derek's jaw was clenched so tightly I knew it must be painful, and I longed to reach out and run my fingers along it to help it relax.

The thought jammed in my head like a cassette tape ribbon and I subconsciously grabbed it and ripped it from the spool, refusing to allow my head to listen to such nonsense anymore.

I began to withdraw my hand, but he caught it easily, prying the velvet box from my fingers deftly and flipping it open to assess the contents. One eyebrow twitched. The jaw relaxed slightly, then tensed again, tighter than before, if that was possible.

I watched, frozen to the spot as he let the box snap closed and directed his gaze back to me, starting at my bare feet and climbing ever so slowly up my smooth legs to linger on my tight boyshort panties. I watched his jaw relax and tense again before his eyes slid up my stomach, over my thin camisole where my pierced nipples strained against the sheer white fabric.

Suddenly self-conscious, I crossed my arms over my chest and shifted my weight onto one leg, jutting my hip out as I waited for his eyes to meet mine. When they did, there was a hint of a smile in them, but his jaw stayed hard and dangerous.

"Virginia," he said in greeting, nodding his head slightly.

"Derek," I responded, attempting to quell the sarcasm that dripped from my voice as I obediently responded to my full name. I remained steady under his crystal gaze.

Then, without thinking, I stepped aside and gestured with one hand as I added, "Would you like to come inside?"

Derek was already at the threshold, letting himself into my home before I had even finished speaking. I was surprised to find how little I minded that. He paused as he stepped through the door, his thumb coming up to the door frame to run along the crack I had left there minutes earlier.

Silently, he examined the indention where my knuckles had dented the wood, his fingers caressing the shallow waves as he exhaled loudly through his nose. He raised an eyebrow at me. I could feel the raw anger radiating from his body, but he said nothing, instead gesturing for me to show him the way.

With a deep breath, I closed the door behind him and led him into my living room.

As I stepped in front of him, his hand caught my wrist and pulled, stopping me in my tracks. When I spun angrily to face him, yanking my arm away, I saw his face soften with concern, two thin lines furrowed between his brows as he studied the knuckles of my right hand, which were blood red and beginning to swell.

He still hadn't spoken a word, but I could feel the fury welling up inside him as it matched the level of my own. I just couldn't tell if it was directed at me.

Derek's POV

"You're hurt." I growled, surprising myself with the gruffness of my voice as I gingerly examined Virginia's soft, delicate fingers. "You punched the door frame." I didn't phrase it as a question, but she nodded defiantly anyway.

Feeling the tense, electric vibe in the air, I dropped her hand and asked no further questions for now, nodding my head to indicate she could continue.

"Follow me," Virginia chirped.

I would follow this woman anywhere in the known universe if I could have that view of her all the time...

Mentally slapping myself a couple of times, I followed her through her apartment and sat down stiffly on the green velvet couch that dominated the small space, attempting with all my might to keep my eyes trained on her face, and not on her heart shaped ass straining against the seams of those nude boyshorts, or her voluptuous cleavage swaying to the same rhythm as her hips.

Virginia was perched on a leather ottoman near the fireplace, her long legs folded beneath her as she watched me with her big, emerald cat eyes.

I cleared my throat.

"Uhm, is there water running somewhere?"

Virginia's eyes fell closed defeatedly and she nodded.

"It's my shower. Probably getting cold." She shrugged and slumped a little, her face emotionless.

I turned over the ring box in my hand and studied it, unable to think of anything appropriate to say. I wanted to throw the ring in the garbage disposal along with the cheap jackass who gave it to her.

Need the ring back.

What a waste of oxygen. It didn't even look expensive, just diamond chips in a cheap setting. I wanted to crush it to dust and let Virginia toss it into the wind.

Along with the pulverized bones of that lumbering idiot.

Virginia broke the silence, bringing me back to reality. I realized I had my fists clenched painfully.

"Derek? I don't know if I'll be able to start work today. I'm really not prepared..." she trailed off, gesturing around her helplessly, at herself, the room, the box in my hand.

I considered her for a moment, nodding slowly as I took in the setting and the situation. After a moment I made up my mind and stood up. I couldn't leave her here to wallow over that douche bag.

"No excuses, Virginia. Are you physically well?" After a pause, she nodded. "Then everything else can be set aside, unless it's an emergency."

I watched, amused, as she set her jaw, and pursed her lips at me. I could feel her assessing me, sizing me up as an opponent before making her move. It was sexy as hell, but I could tell her usual fire was on its last embers today.

It reminded me of the Charmander in Pokémon. I wanted to rescue her, wrap my hands around her warmth and tend those flames until they blazed hot and mesmerizing again.

"Of course," she said in a soft voice. "Obviously whatever you have planned for today is more important than I assumed. Is it so urgent I need to accompany you as I am, or may I clean up and get ready first?"

I stared at her, sitting on the ottoman, legs still tucked neatly under her, hands resting lightly on her incredible thighs, watching me intently, her face still expressionless.

I swallowed, fighting yet again against the speechless fuzziness that took over my brain when she looked at me. Suddenly I felt guilty for demanding so much from her, for barging in and witnessing her vulnerability.

Afraid she would resent me for this, I opened my mouth to apologize but she had already lost her patience.

"Well which is it going to be, Derek? You didn't become a successful businessman by staring at people in silence, did you? No. So spit it out. You blow up my phone with calls and texts this morning, blindside me with an immediate start date, and barge into my personal life, all for the sake of this 'urgent' and 'time-sensitive' business."

Her eyes shot daggers into mine as she air quoted my words from earlier. I held back a grin.

There's the fire again.

"So before I go spend an hour getting ready, you'll probably want to decide if we have the time for that. Otherwise, I'll grab my shoes and we can go." She stood up for emphasis and moved towards the door.