22"I can't help but imagine what you look like beneath all those layers of clothing," a voice whispered into Derek's ear, another body suddenly at his side pressing close to him.
The books he had so carefully arranged in his arms plunged to the floor as he scrambled away. His back slammed against another shelf of books, knocking several more to the ground, their resounding thuds echoing through the nearly silent library. He froze, eyes widening as they landed on the amused young man watching him casually from the floor where he had been kneeling only seconds before. The man slowly rose to his feet and leaned against the shelf of books Derek had been organizing.
"Aren't you supposed to be quiet? This is a library, you know?" he murmured, raising a dark brown eyebrow in question as his long, muscular arms crossed over his broad chest.
"What did you say?" Derek demanded, forcing words out his suddenly dry mouth.
The other man chuckled softly. "When?"
"You know." Derek's trembling hands balled into tight fists at his side as the other man's dark eyes met his, the other stepping toward him. "You heard me. Do I really need to repeat myself?"
Derek edged away, not liking the lack of space developing between them. "Why? That wasn't funny."
"I wasn't trying to be funny. Although, if that's what you want, I can make you laugh as much as you like with pleasure," he replied, leaning forward, one long arm sweeping out to block Derek's attempted escape. Derek stumbled back, swallowing hard. "This isn't funny, damn it. Stop it now."
The dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Come on. There's no reason to get so uptight over this. Take it in stride. How often does someone as hot as myself devote his attention to you? You should be pleased."
"Pleased? Are you out of your mind?" Derek hissed angrily, shoving the other man back. "I don't want anything to do with you, much less your devoted attention. Get lost."
He turned his back on the other man, hoping giving him the cold shoulder would send him on his way, and knelt to collect the books scattered across the floor. Suddenly he was flying forward with barely enough time to brace his hands out in front of him to prevent his face from slamming into the floor. Derek grunted as a weight landed on his back and a firm arm curled around his waist.
"That wasn't nice," a voice whispered into his ear, lips moving against it and a tongue flicking out to trace the outer shell of his ear.
"Get the Hell off me!" Derek slammed his elbow back but the other man dodged the blow.
"Calm down, my little tiger," came the amused chuckle in his ear.
Gathering his strength, Derek lunged upward, successfully knocking the man off his back. He whirled, pressing against the shelves as his dark eyes blazed angrily. "Who the Hell are you?" he demanded, his breaths coming out in jagged puffs.
"I am Strife, and you are…?" Strife asked, leaning toward Derek. Derek shoved him back. "Back off, asshole. This shit isn't amusing, so cut it out! What the Hell do you want?"
"I thought that was obvious," Strife replied, heaving an exaggerated sigh.
A soft growl whispered from Derek's lips. "Leave me alone. I already told you that I didn't want anything to do with you. Now go away!"
Strife stepped forward slowly, tauntingly. Derek held his ground, refusing to be intimidated, and soon found himself pressed against Strife's hard body. Strife lowered his head and touched his lips to Derek's cheek. "Why so cold, hot stuff?" Strife whispered, running a hand down the side of Derek's body and slipping it under his shirt. Derek's breath caught in his throat as the warm hand settled low on his belly, the fingers gently pressing into his skin.
"Get off me, now," Derek whispered, fury coursing through his words. White hot rage exploded through him as his words met soft laughter.
"Not until you agree to meet me tonight. We need some time…alone, don't you think? You could come to my hotel. We could have some fun. I'll bet no one's ever made you scream. No, you're too controlled for that, aren't you? Well, I promise you, baby, you'll be screaming all night tonight. Maybe even begging. Oh, yes, I would like to hear you beg," Strife murmured, his hand drifting up to cover a nipple with its warmth.
"Son of a bitch," Derek whispered and slammed his fist into Strife's face.
Strife stumbled back, one hand covering his eye while the other eye stared at Derek in shock. "What did you do that for?"
"Get a clue, asshole. You were touching me against my will. Does that mean anything inside that thick head of yours?" Derek demanded.
"Pardon me for misinterpreting, but you liked it," Strife countered.
"How can anyone like being groped by a buffoon? Are you retarded? I ought to beat the shit out of you for what you were doing!"
"Watch it, babe. I might just like it, sweetheart."
Derek's hand clenched into a fist. "Don't make me hit you again, asshole. Leave me alone. I don't want you to say another word to me. Just stay away from me."
Derek turned to leave but an arm circled around his shoulder and jerked him back. Strife leaned against his back and lips trailed over his neck. "I like you, librarian. Don't give me a hard time. Meet me tonight. You won't regret it."
"Did you not hear anything that I just said?" Derek demanded.
Strife chuckled. "Oh, I heard, but I also saw what your body wanted." His hand slipped down to Derek's waist and lingered over his belt buckle. "I know what you want, and I know you'll like it. It must get boring carrying on with the same activities day in and day out. I could give you some excitement. No one would have to know. Just you and I. And you'll never have to see me again. What could be better? Think about it, sexy."
Derek frowned as his hand was caught and lifted. Strife withdrew a marker from his jacket pocket and quickly wrote a phone number across Derek's wrist. His lips curved into an amused smile as he leaned forward and kissed Derek's palm.
"I hope I'll be seeing you tonight," he whispered and walked away without even the slightest glance over his shoulder.
Derek leaned against the shelves behind him, suddenly feeling very drained as he stared at the numbers written onto his flesh. What the Hell?
Author's Note: If you liked this and would like more, please review.