[right][sub][color=lightgray][i]Part 2 out of 3[/i]
Timestamp: After Lighthouse Part 1[/color]
[@BrutalBx] & [@LovelyComplex][/sub][/right]
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[color=lightgray][indent][indent]Shocked and a little confused, easily done of course, Clay opened up Cat’s phone which had no lock on it for some reason and he quickly texted Brook to say that Cat had left. Once the message was sent he shoved the phone back in her purse, he grabbed his jacket from Harry the bartender and followed the woman in white out of the Afterlife. 

Once they had reached the car park, he placed his jacket over Caterina’s shoulders and handed her back her purse. [color=BCDD81]“Hey,”[/color] He stood before her and locked his eyes with hers. [color=BCDD81]“Don’t let him or her ruin your night. Let me take you back to town, we can do some carpool karaoke.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Fine, fine,”[/color] Adjusting his jacket, slipping her arms through the sleeves, so she was wearing it, Cat grumbled, [color=9f1b3e]“My night was only good because of you but whatever. Come on. Take me on a joy ride, Casanova.”[/color] Cat would apologize but she didn’t think she did anything wrong. Consequences were a thing. They fucked each other behind her back and she only returned the favor by almost breaking the woman’s skull in. [color=9f1b3e]“Fucking selfish prick,”[/color] She muttered under her breath. 

Clay led her to his car. opening the passenger side door for the annoyed woman to climb into. Once Cat was safely inside the vehicle, Clay himself jumped into the driver's side and quickly pulled out of the Afterlife and turned left back towards Edenridge. He turned on his Bluetooth and Spotify, allowing the music to fill up the dead silence in the car.

His dark eyes fell upon the frown of his passenger; he hated seeing Cat like this and lately he had seen it far too often and it was breaking his heart. Taking a hand off of the wheel, Clay reached out and put his palm onto the back of Cat’s neck and comforted her with a soft thumb stroke against her cheek. [color=BCDD81]“You know, I’m not just saying this but everyone in there was staring at you. Not cos of the bathroom but on the floor, Cat you were dynamite. I think every man, woman and in between fell a little in love with you.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Yeah, sure. I’m fucking worthless and let everyone down,”[/color] Cat didn’t turn to look at the driver. She just returned back to the depths of her mind, thinking of all her family issues, from immediate to outside that, and her never getting anything right. She had no purpose and no one understood how much she did for the family. [color=9f1b3e]“I don’t regret having Sofia, I just wished dad did not force me to marry him to cover face. I feel like I make the mistakes and I’m the one that is doing it all wrong, but when my siblings do the same exact thing? Fucking gold medal.”[/color] Tightening Clay’s coat around her, she continued to brood. Stupid. Her life was stupid. 

Clay sighed through his nose as the car pulled past the [b]“Welcome to Edneridge!”[/b] sign at the entrance to town. [color=BCDD81]“I get that. I really do,”[/color] He stroked her soft face again. [color=BCDD81]“Everyone seems to think that I’m put together, that I’ve had some sort of free ride because I’m a foundling. That’s bullshit.”[/color] He took a turn down onto Westwood. [color=BCDD81]“You know, I am utterly alone in this world.”[/color] That was rewarded with a pout, but the lady beside him didn’t interrupt. 

Clay’s voice wasn’t sad or dependent, it was casual, even jovial. [color=BCDD81]“My parents don’t even know I exist. My twin and I do not get along and the one bit of family I was even remotely anywhere close to has left. I don’t have love in my life. Sex sure and that’s great but love, it ain’t paying me no mind but you Cat, but you,”[/color] He pulled the car to a standstill and took the keys out of the ignition. [color=BCDD81]“Your kids, I guarantee, they may be mouthy little pricks but they worship you. They don’t think you’re a fuck up. Whatever you do, you’re just Mom and they’ll love you for it.”[/color]

For an idiot, he had a way with words. Resting one of her hands on his, the one touching her face, she leaned in on his touch, [color=9f1b3e]“I hope you’re right.”[/color] Sofia was smoking weed and either getting herself into dangerous situations just to tell her mom some juicy gossip or closing a door right in Cat’s face. Dani was reserved, drowning herself with music and her drawings. She didn’t say much, but she didn’t have to. Cat knew simply by her grades. Then there was her sweet Franco at the darling age of ten. He showed the most conflict but he didn’t come to her for anything. Instead he bottled everything up even though Cat knew he cried in his sisters’ arms every night. [color=9f1b3e]“I really hope, Clay. The idea of family is literally crumbling before them not only with their parents but… with a lot more. A lot more is happening behind the Belmonte walls.”[/color] 

[color=BCDD81]“I’ve told you before, Cat. Anything you need, I’ll be there,”[/color] Clay kept his hand on hers and on her warm face. [color=BCDD81]“I can’t pretend to know what is going on in your life and I can’t promise any solution but what I can say is that you are an amazing person and that whenever you are struggling, all you need to do is call me and I'll do what I do best, be a distraction.”[/color]

He climbed out of the car and made his way to the other side to let Cat out. This was very obviously not her home. This place was small. a single story building that looked like it was once some kind of store based on its outward appearance. [color=BCDD81]“So this is my place, it’s not Scott Street I know but it does the job. You want some coffee or some food? There’s a fantastic Korean joint a few doors down and they’re open all night.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“You do know I don’t live with my dad, right?”[/color] Cat smiled before hopping out, almost stumbling over, latching onto Clay almost immediately, [color=9f1b3e]“Can you do take out? I don’t think I should  be out anymore,”[/color] Playfully, purposefully, she dropped her weight to see if Clay would grab onto her. 

Holding onto her tightly, Clay was inches from Cat’s face and every manly bone in his body was a screaming, burning, firing on all cylinders to kiss her. [color=BCDD81]“Yeah I’ll get us takeout.”[/color] He walked her in his arms to his front door. He reached into the pocket of the jacket Cat was wearing and pulled out his keys so he could unlock the front door. [color=BCDD81]“Get yourself comfortable. Get a glass of water, I’ll be back before you know it.”[/color] The front door opened up and he switched on the light, allowing the lady to enter before closing it and walking down the street to the food place.

Instead of getting water, Cat took a beer out of the fridge, slammed it against the counter to get the cap off, and then began drinking his alcohol. She didn’t know how much time she had but she was going to raid his things. She was Caterina Belmonte! The curious kitty cat! Where should she start… her gaze went from the living room to the bedroom door. A mischievous, impish grin fell on her face as she ran into Clay’s bedroom.  

About ten minutes later, Clay returned to his barren home with the takeout. He glanced around the living room and saw no sign of Cat besides his refrigerator door hanging open and a beer being missing. He placed the food on the countertop next to a bottle cap as he closed the fridge door with his foot. He almost reached for his spare gun when he heard a rumbling from his bedroom but then he put two and two together. The police officer let out a soft chuckle as he placed his hands upon his hips and walked towards the bedroom door. [color=BCDD81]“And what are you doing in here?”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Wearing your shirt!”[/color] She showcased on her knees as she crawled on his bed. Her white dress (and nude plunge bra) was lying on the floor. [color=9f1b3e]“I don’t have pajamas, so this felt like the next best move.”[/color] She dropped from her knees to lay on her stomach, kicking her legs up and staring up at him, [color=9f1b3e]“Did you get the food?”[/color] She rested her face in the palm of her hands, her elbows lifting the weight of her head up.  

This was some kind of agony. Cat Belmonte, the woman he had dreamt and fantasized about for years was in his bed, wearing literally nothing and giving him all the signals in the world. Was this the twilight zone? Where was Rod Serling? The fuck was happening? [color=BCDD81]“Course I did,”[/color] Clay managed to muster. [color=BCDD81]“You want to eat in here or you want to go to the couch?”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“You’re the boss! This is your house, sir,”[/color] Picking herself up, she got off the bed and made her way to him, smelling the delicious food, [color=9f1b3e]“Here or there?”[/color] She looked up at him, batting her eyes and smiling from ear to ear. The mood swings of Cat when she drank, she went from sadness to excitement to sadness again to anger to now, playfulness and desperate for cuddles. [color=9f1b3e]“Where to?”[/color] 

Kiss her.

Kiss her you fucking idiot.

This is your fucking chance.

Before he knew it, Clay’s hands were gripping Cat’s waist and they were inches from one another. Inches. He could feel her breath on his face, the warmth of her body. This was different to when they were dancing earlier. There was no music save the song in their hearts. No prying eyes. It was Cat, it was Clay and they were alone together in a bedroom. [color=BCDD81]“You are making it incredibly difficult not to kiss you right now,”[/color] He looked deep into her hazel eyes. The eyes that he had longed to drown in. [color=BCDD81]“I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret.”[/color]

Tilting her head, confused at what he meant, she wrapped her arms around his neck like she did on the dance floor but this time there were only two motives: to have his company and to keep him close, [color=9f1b3e]“Regret what?”[/color] Cat hadn’t realized until tonight but she was really comfortable with Clay, age difference or not, she could be herself, [color=9f1b3e]“You’re the one that brought me to your apartment, Clayton.”[/color]

Fuck it.

Clay gave in to every negative impulse in his body and pulled her closer, exactly as he did at the Afterlife and pressed his lips to hers. His first kiss with the woman of his dreams. He held her in his arms as he could feel the pure electricity fly between them. This was everything he had always wanted, everything he had always craved. The feeling he had was different to any other time, any other girl. He pulled away to look into her eyes again. They were glassy and cloudy. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it to her. It was wrong.

[color=BCDD81]“Food is getting cold. Let’s get comfy and watch some TV, yeah?”[/color]

The Siren was not easily embarrassed but this while she did expect, she didn’t expect it to be as intense as it was. Out of breath and covering her face with one of her arms, hiding how red she was turning, she nodded and mumbled, [color=9f1b3e]“Uh-huh.”[/color] What was going on? This was Clayton! She watched him grow up. They were ten years apart. He didn’t deserve this. He deserved so much better than her. 

Quickly, she went past him to the living room, her heart racing. Jumping on the couch, she grabbed one of the pillows and hugged it. She wasn’t a teenager anymore; she shouldn’t be playing this dangerous, dangerous game. She was still [i]technically[/i] married. 

And yet why was she feeling so funny? 

Clay ran both hands through his hair in frustration. Cat Belmonte was in his bedroom and he let her go. The fuck was wrong with him? He had a moral bloody compass that’s what. He closed the door partially as he stripped off his clothes and changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

He should’ve just gone straight home after work.

He emerged back into the living room where he glanced at Cat curled up on the couch. He made his way past her to the kitchen and unboxed the food he had gotten for them. His eyes were drawn to the one photo he had on the wall of the basketball team and David’s voice rattled around his brain, calling him an idiot for not taking advantage of the situation he was in. Clay tried to quiet the voices by clicking on the tv and heading over to Cat and the couch. He sat down next to her, placing the food in front of them. He wasn’t sure why but he decided to wrap his arm around the woman and pull her into his chest, as if he was protecting her from the world. He dropped a gentle kiss onto the top of Cat's head as they snuggled together.

When he pulled her in, she melted in his arm. After he kissed her forehead, she subtly glanced up at him as he stared at the TV. She never thought she’d have these thoughts of him but she wanted more. If she wasn’t scared to ruin what they had, she would kiss his neck and push him down. In all honesty, she was sobering up and she knew these feelings were entirely her own. Turning back to the TV, she closed her eyes, inhaling in and then out. She needed to be mature. She needed to act like the kiss never happened. Releasing the pillow, she reached for a container and a fork. Was it weird that she wanted to feed him? Probably. Focus. [color=9f1b3e]“What are we watching?”[/color] She took a bite of the food. 

[color=BCDD81]“I actually have no idea,”[/color] Clay squinted at the screen. He was trying to work it out but he was technically not really paying for his tv license. [color=BCDD81]“I think it’s like a telenovela? I don’t know, I get three channels and they’re all in a different language.”[/color] He laughed a little as he naturally tightened his grip on Cat, his hand slipping beneath the hem of the t-shirt to touch her bare waist. He reached down for the food with his free hand and took a bite out of some prawn toast. [color=BCDD81]“I’ve been following this though, apparently that chick has amnesia and her stepbrother is like claiming to be her husband or something I don’t know I failed Spanish.”[/color]

Nodding to Clay explaining the show, Cat’s mind was on nothing but him touching her. She and her husband hadn’t had sex in [i]awhile[/i]. The only touch she’s gotten the past year or so was from her own hand. Keeping her eyes on the show, she put more food in her mouth, preventing herself from responding. Silence was the best answer because if she said anything right now, she would say how bad she wanted to fuck him. Her chest went in and out as she tried her damndest to watch the show. His hand was on her waist and it felt so good. 

He reached behind the couch and pulled out a small throw cover, placing it delicately over Cat. Clay wanted to make sure she was as comfortable as possible. She was a lady of taste and luxury and the most luxurious thing in this apartment was his hair. He wrapped both his arms around the beautiful woman, taking in her scent and staving off the need to tear off that shirt of his she was wearing and giving everything he was to her. Instead they cuddled up together, watching a show neither could understand eating Korean food.

Clay Costigan was in hell.
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