'Was zum Teufel! What the hell!'
Treyton almost shouted, and was surprised, when Erisha ran his way, and put a hand over his mouth.
'Mmmph..hmm..'
He tried removing her hand, but she kept it firm.

'Ssshhh..please! Don't shout!'
She shook her head at him.

He removed her hand forcefully.
'WHAT!'
He saw her flinch, and lowered his tone.
'Why shouldn't I? What the hell is Huber doing here? Did you invite him?'
Treyton narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.

'No, I didn't invite him! Just like I didn't invite you! And especially when I'm in my night wear..'
She realised that was a wrong thing to say, when his eyes again roamed over her body in a sexual manner. She flushed, and looked at the door again as the bell chimed one more time.
'You have to hide! Come on!'
She pulled at his arm, and felt her fingers burn, even beneath his jacket, as they touched solid biceps, but he was too sturdily built for her to even budge him.

'The hell I do! Why do I have to hide! I'm not scared of him!'
He looked annoyed now.
'And what does he want? Has he come to join you for dinner? How often does this happen?'

Erisha rolled her eyes at him.
'Mr. Elrod..'

'Treyton!'
He interrupted, and she stopped.

'Okay, Treyton! Please! Could you just cooperate right now? I'd really appreciate it..'
Her eyes pleaded with him, as the bell chimed again.

When she thought Treyton would refuse again, he nodded.
'Alright! But on one condition..'

Erisha, who had started to feel relieved, suddenly stiffened.
'Condition? What condition?'
She almost gritted her teeth.

'Erisha! Are you there?'
David's voice came through the door.

'Coming!'
She hollered, in the direction of the door, before turning back to Treyton, who now had an amused expression, seeing her discomfort.
'Come on!'
She took his hand, and pulled him in the direction opposite from the door.

But Treyton was also not one to relent so easily, and he dragged his feet on purpose.
'My condition..'

Erisha stopped tugging, and gave him an exasperated look.
'What is it, for God's sake?'
She put her hands on her waist, rolling her eyes.

'Have dinner with me tomorrow night..'

His request startled her. Their eyes met, and she felt an excitement within.
'D..dinner?'
She cleared her throat, looking away.
'Are you crazy? I don't want to have dinner with you..I..'

'You agree, or I go and face David, right now!'
Treyton turned towards the door.

'No! No!'
She caught his arm again.
'I'll think about it..but for now, please..'

'Hmm, okay! I know you will..where do I go?'
Treyton looked around.

Erisha's first thought was of  hiding him in her bedroom, but, she quickly decided against letting him inside her private domain.
She tugged him towards the door next to her kitchen, and almost pushed him inside.
'Please stay..'
She shut the door and left, hurrying over to her main door.
Quickly fixing her clothes, she opened the door, where David was waiting.
'David! What are you doing here!'

'Been standing in this hallway for the past ten minutes!'
David Huber looked her up and down, before pushing himself inside, and Erisha shut the door behind him, as he went directly to a sofa, and plunked down on it.
'What were you doing? I thought I heard voices..'
He looked around suspiciously.

Damn, Treyton Elrod!
'Voices? What voices? You know I live alone..it was probably the television..'
She mentally slapped herself, as David turned to glance at the screen, which was ofcourse, blank.
'I just switched it off, before opening the door..'
Erisha remained standing, her eyes shifting to the door next to her kitchen, praying Treyton stayed there.
'So, what made you come here? You could have called..'

'I did! But you didn't pick it up!'
He sounded annoyed.

'Oh! I must have left it in my bedroom.'
She shrugged.
'What did you need to talk to me about?'

'I wanted to remind you of our plan..you do remember, don't you?'

***************************

Erisha shut the door, leaving him inside what was a small room.
He turned around to see that it was a powder room, and he shook his head.
Treyton Elrod being hidden inside a woman's bathroom..what has the world come to!

A smile came to his lips, as he thought of Erisha's panic. She had actually looked cute trying to get him to hide.
Cute! When did I ever find a woman cute? Besides, Erisha is not cute..she's hot as sin!
Those long, sexy legs, that soft looking bare shoulder, those high breasts..I wanted to just touch her everywhere..
Treyton mentally rolled his eyes at his totally improper thoughts, as he backed up in the cramped space.
I came here for answers to things I didn't understand, yet here I am, thinking how it would be if this woman was writhing beneath me..naked..

He heard muffled voices, as David spoke to Erisha, and strained to hear.
He almost chuckled, when Erisha mentioned the television.
This woman is quite spirited..I like it..

'I wanted to remind you of our plan..you do remember, don't you?'

Treyton's head shot up, and his hand knocked over a potted plant on a mantle, into the sink.

***************************

Erisha stiffened at the loud thud.
Oh no!
She tried to keep a straight face, as David turned his head in the direction of her bedroom.

'What was that? You said you were alone..'
He sat up from his reclining position, to watch her closely.

Treyton Elrod! You couldn't have stayed still..
'Ofcourse, I'm alone!'
She laughed a bit nervously.
'That was..'
She struggled to come up with an answer.
'My uhh..cat! Yes, my cat!'
She quickly straightened her features, as David frowned.

'Cat? When did you get a cat?'
He looked puzzled, as he stood up.

'Just recently! I had been wanting one for a long time, and so I went and got one..'
Erisha lied smoothly.

'Okay..but in the bathroom?'
David moved towards it, and Erisha's eyes widened.
'The door is shut! How did the cat do that?'

Erisha hurried after him, and hit her toe on the sofa's edge.
'Oww!'
She thanked her stars, when David turned back to her instead of reaching the bathroom.

'You okay?'
He asked.

'Yeah! Yeah!'
She quickly lied, as her toe started to throb.
'My cat..well, she likes bathrooms..'

'Okay! You go sit, I'll just go and let it out!'
David turned again.

'NO!'
Erisha almost shouted, and David turned to look at her with a weird look on his face.
Probably thinks I've lost it!
'Sorry!'
She hobbled over near the bathroom door, and stood blocking his entry.
'Actually, she's shy with strangers, a bit skittish..'

'Alright, but it could be unsafe for it to be in there..'
He rolled his eyes at her.

'Hmm..you are right! I'll just open the door..she will get out by herself..'
With that, Erisha opened the door a crack, and made a tutting sound.
'Here..Cat! It's alright..nothing to be scared of.'
She was shocked out of her skull, as a 'meow' came through the door. It sounded exactly like a scared cat.
Her eyes flew to David's face, who seemed satisfied, and she sighed in relief, as he moved back to the lounge area.
She hopped a bit, but glancing once more at the bathroom, followed him.

'So..you rest..I'll talk to you later. But remember what we discussed..I want you to go and meet..'

'Yes, I remember..'
Erisha cut in hurriedly, her eyes going back to the bathroom.
'I'll let you know..'
She went to the main door, hoping David would follow, and thankfully, he did.
'Good night!'
Erisha hurried him out, and finally he left.
Sighing in relief, she slumped against the door, before she remembered the other problem still in her house.
She hurried as fast as she could with a rapidly swelling toe, and called out.
'Mr. Elrod! Treyton! You can come out now!'

The door of the powder room flung open fully, and Treyton sauntered out.
He didn't look at all pleased, and was about to retort something, when he saw an expression of pain cross her face, before she lifted her head to look at him.
'What's wrong?'
His gaze travelled down her, following hers, and seeing her toe, muttered an expletive.
'What in the world did you do?'
He came forward, but she put up a hand to stop him.

'Nothing! I'm fine..'
She looked slightly pale.

'Yes! I can see that! Sit down!'
When she didn't obey him, he pushed her slightly, and deposited her on the sofa, before kneeling in front of her.
He ignored her protests, and her smooth, sexy legs, before lifting her foot in his palm to take a look at it.
'You idiot! How did you do this?'
Erisha was miffed by his attitude, and tried to free her foot from his hand. But he continued to hold it firmly in his.
'This is going to hurt more, if you don't ice it immediately. Tell me where's the ice..I'll get it for you..'

Erisha was nothing, if not surprised by his concern. She hadn't taken him for a person who would care one way or the other about anyone else.
She stared at him, before realising that he was waiting for her answer.

'Ice?'
He had an eyebrow raised enquiringly.

'Uhmm..yeah..in the freezer..in the kitchen..'
She cocked her head in the direction, and he let her foot go, and stood up.
Erisha let out a sigh, wondering what in the world was wrong with her.
He's asking me something..and all I can think about, are those strong fingers clasped around my calf..it feels so..
She saw him move away, and hurry back with an ice tray.
As she looked on in amazement, he took out a cube, wrapped it in a tissue paper from the table, and placed it over her swelling. She shifted her toe at the cold sensation, but he held her foot again.
Sensing her eyes on his downbent head, he looked up, and their eyes met.
He saw the astonishment in hers, and she saw something like concern in his.

Treyton iced her foot, till the swelling began to go down.
Erisha watched him, surprised by his tenderness.
She knew him to be a rich, cynical man, who didn't think twice about running roughshod over anyone or anything that got in his way. He was successful, powerful, and good looking to boot. A dangerous combination.
She didn't want to see him as someone with feelings and emotions like everyone. A normal guy.
She couldn't afford to..

'Does that feel better?'
His question startled her out of her thoughts, and she blinked at his questioning gaze.

'Yeah!'
She moved her foot away from his hand, looking away from his gaze.
'It's fine now..thanks!'
Her tone was cold, and Treyton frowned. He stood up and looked down at her, then shifted back, as she got up from the sofa as well.
'I think you should go..it's late..'

'You should eat something, then maybe take a painkiller..'
He was watching her closely.

'Yeah, sure! Thanks..'
She moved forward without looking at him, but he caught her arm, and turned her to face him.
'What the..'

'Why the cold shoulder? You were behaving normally with me before..'
His eyes narrowed.
'Before David got here! That's it, right?'

'What's that got to do with you?'

'It's got everything to do with me!'
He pulled her closer, his face really close to hers.
'What do you see in that manipulating man? He's just..'

'Maybe he's less manipulating than you!'
She met his gaze, her eyes flaring.
A flash of anger passed through his eyes, and he tightened his hold on her arm.
'So typical! Use your strength against a woman! But let me tell you one thing, Mr. Elrod! I'm not one of your floozies who will let you do anything and get away with it..'

'What the hell?'
Treyton frowned furiously.
'Use my strength? When did I ever..'
He stopped when he saw Erisha glance at his hand gripping her arm, and he quickly loosened his hold, dropping his hand.
'I don't believe in violence, especially on women..'

'Look, Mr. Elrod!'
Erisha sighed.
'I'm really tired..and hungry..and there's no point to this conversation..so..'
Erisha moved to the door, and opened it, indicating for him to leave.
She avoided looking at him, but felt him come behind her.
She turned, only to be caged in between the door and Treyton, as he put a hand behind her to shut it.
Before she could protest, his hands were in her hair, and his lips had covered hers.
Surprise had her open her lips, and he wasted not a second, before taking advantage and pushing his tongue inside.
Her eyes closed of their own volition, as he raided her mouth.
The fire that erupted was just like the last time, raging..and uncontrolled.
She moaned, as he pushed against her, one hand sliding over her waist, upwards to the mound of her breast, his thumb finding her nipple, puckering it.
His tongue played with hers, while his thumb stroked, and Erisha knew she would have pooled to the floor if there had been no door against her back.
So, she was stupefied, when he moved back suddenly, not even touching her. Her eyes flew open, and she saw a smug look on his face, as he watched her. She felt her cheeks burn in shame.

'I've never had to use violence on women. I find this method works best.'
He planted another kiss on her shocked mouth, and opened the door.
'I'll pick you up at 7:30.'

Erisha came to, and sputtered.
'What? What for?'

'Dinner! Remember? I hid in a bathroom for you..even became a cat! It's only fair that you go out with me..so..see you!'
He made a salute like gesture, and before she could huff and puff, he had gone.

Erisha stood there, stunned, her body still strumming from his touch,  as she leaned against the door.
Damn you, Treyton Elrod! Damn you!

To be continued...