A NEW DAY by Michelle T © 2000 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN He glared at her and sneered, "Well, well, if it isn't the one and only Michelle." He licked his lips as he stared at her. He swung his legs to the left, never letting go of her hand. He walked slowly to stand right before her. She stared back at him confused. Was it only a half hour ago he had called her crying, saying he needed her right away? Now he was drunk, belligerent and mad as hell at her. "What the hell is wrong with you, AJ!" she shouted while attempting to stand up. He pushed her chest causing her to fall back onto the bench. He clutched the neckline of her shirt and pulled her towards him. "Don't act all innocent with me, Babe! You know damn well what's wrong." He moved closer to her and grabbed her chin, forcing her to tilt her head up to meet his eyes. "You've been fucking with me ever since we met and I think it's time we did things my way." "AJ, I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't done anything to you. I love you, you know that!. I'd never do anything to hurt you." she tried pushing his hand off her face. She'd never seen him like this and it scared the shit out of her. Hell, she'd never even seen him get really mad. He stepped back and pulled her up roughly, yanking her against his body and holding her with his arms. He pushed his face against hers, licking her cheek with his tongue and fighting her struggles. "Knock it off, whore! You know you want me and I've decided you shall have me." He brought his lips down onto hers, mashing them against her and trying to pry them open. She pushed against him wildly and cried out in panic. He shoved his tongue into her mouth forcefully. Sensing she may bite, he withdrew it and pulled his head back, cackling at her. "You see, Michelle, I can do anything I want and you can't stop me," He pulled her several feet over to the sofa and pushed her down onto it. "AJ, stop! Please, stop! What the fuck has gotten into you. God damn it!" she screamed while kicking out at him. He grabbed her feet and flung her clogs off her. He twisted her legs to the left, causing her to turn her whole body towards the edge of the couch. He brought his hand down hard onto her ass, twice. "AJ, stop!" she cried out and proceeded to cry wholeheartedly. AJ froze and sank slowly to his knees next to her, his hand still on her ass and stared at her. He heard her sobs, realizing what he was doing to her. "FUCK!!" His scream startled her and she looked up at him scared. He bent over and leaned his head against her hip. He was deathly quiet, she couldn't even hear his breathing. "AJ?" she said timidly. He didn't respond. She started shaking lightly and her mind was in a turmoil. She wanted to get up, but was afraid of his reaction. She wanted to scream and kick him, yet she wanted to take him into her arms and comfort him. She wanted to get the hell out of here, but she wanted to stay and find out what was wrong. Something horrible has happened to make him act like this. God, he'd never even uttered a single hurtful word to me and now, this? Oh god, have I been leading him on all this time? We've had a natural flirtatious relationship. I'd made it clear to him back in the Keys that it would go no further. What the hell went wrong? She tried to think of anything that she may have done or said to him in the last few weeks to enrage him. He'd seemed so happy before they went on the promo tour, he'd only been gone ten days. She'd spoken to him every morning since, except this morning, and he never hinted anything was wrong. She closed her eyes and laid quietly listening to her own breathing. AJ was horrified at how he'd just acted. He kept his head down, leaning on her hip. What the fuck am I doing? Why am I doing this to her? Of all people, she's the last I'd wanted to hurt. What the fuck is wrong with me? He could hear her. He knew she was terrified and hurt. He couldn't look at her. He felt her warm body beneath his forehead and hand. He slowly moved his fingers over her, not moving his hand. How could I have hit her? How could I have been so brutal to her? He felt the tears sliding down his face. She had trusted me completely. God, she had trusted me from the first few moments we'd met. And this is how I repay her? Berating her, almost raping her, hitting her? His breath caught in his throat and he gasped wildly. Without realizing it, his hand started softly and smoothly caressing the area he had slapped. He started sobbing and whispering over and over, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Michelle froze the moment she heard him, holding her own breath. Oh god, what have I done to him? She sensed immediately that he was sorry. She listened to him for several minutes, the tears sliding down her cheeks. She felt his hand soothing her ass. She felt his shaking against her body. Drawing in a quiet breath, she gently pulled herself up towards the end of the couch. His hands fell off her. She looked at him carefully and sensed he wasn't going to stop her. She pulled her legs up slowly and crouched at the end of the couch. His head was in his hands, sobbing continuously. She slowly got off the couch and stood at the end, hesitating briefly. Her head was telling her to run, her heart won out. She slowly sank to her knees beside him and wrapped her arms around his chest and shoulders. She leaned her head against him and cried with him. AJ felt her pulling away from him slowly. In his mind he was screaming and begging her to stay. Once she was out of his touch, he felt the greatest loss imaginable in his heart. Oh, god, I've lost her forever. Why did I do this? Why did I hurt her? I'm not mad at her, I'm mad at Deanna. God damn it all!…… What?? She's not going? Oh god, I don't deserve her. Oh god, she's holding me, crying for me. Michelle forced AJ's body to turn towards her and she tucked her arms under his and held him for dear life. He automatically wrapped his arms around her and clung to her just as tightly. Her face was at his neck. She could smell a mixture of cologne, sweat and alcohol. His goatee rested against her ear, causing a small tickle as his sobs raked his body, causing him to move slightly back and forth. She pressed her lips against his skin and murmured soothing words to him over and over. She pulled her left arm from his side and brought it up and over his shoulder to hold him tighter. Her upper body was pressed tightly against his. She ran her fingers lightly along the back of his neck, hopefully soothing him with her touch. She absentmindedly ran her right hand over his back in small circles. She felt his sobs decrease and his body shook less violently. She continued kissing his neck and throat, telling him everything was okay and that she loved him. She moved her body slightly and placed her left leg over his bent knees, so that she sat directly in front of and against him. His arms pulled her tighter once again. She felt one of his hands move to the back of her head and he started stroking her hair. They stayed that way for twenty minutes, crying against each other. Michelle pulled her head away from his throat and slowly turned his face towards her. The anger, rage and hate were gone from his eyes. Only sorrow and disbelief were evident. She ran her fingers gently across his hairline, and then down to his eyes, which shut automatically as she leaned forwards and kissed each one. She pulled back and watched his eyes open, staring at her with shock, amazement and guilt. She moved her eyes to his cheeks and nose and softly caressed them as well. She ran her thumbs across his swollen lips and along his jaw line. She looked him straight in the eye and brought her lips to his, kissing them ever so lightly. She pulled back and whispered, "I love you , AJ, and no matter what you do, I will continue to love you, because I know the real you. And this isn't you. I know you're sorry and I know you didn't mean any of it. I'm sorry for making you this way." New tears came rushing from his eyes. He gently grabbed her face in his hands and leaned his forehead against hers. "Oh god, Babe," he gasped, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," They both cried again, clinging to each other. When their tears slowed, their mouths joined together as if magnetized. The kiss was incredibly passionate as if they couldn't get enough of each other. AJ's hands spread across her back, pulling her closer, deepening his kiss. His tongue searched wildly inside her hot mouth. Hers was equally as frantic. She moved her hands to his shoulders and clutched at him pulling him closer still. When they finally broke apart, both were totally breathless. Michelle moved her hands between them and grabbed the bottom of AJ's shirt, and pulled it upwards and off, never tearing her eyes from his. Taking her lead, he quickly removed her shirt and threw it aside. She lowered her mouth to his chest and licked and sucked his damp skin, while moving her hands to his belt buckle and struggled to release it. AJ's hands entangled themselves in her hair as she sucked at his nipple, causing him to groan loudly. He moved his hands down and over her shoulders until he reached her bra, quickly unclasping it and drawing it away from her, pushing her away from him to remove it completely. His hands engulfed her chest, kneading and stroking and lightly pinching. He found her mouth again and she eagerly clamped her lips to his. Her hands frantically trying to unzip his jeans. She groaned in frustration and he pulled back and unzipped them himself. He pushed her up so that she sat on the edge of the couch, while he quickly stood and shed the rest of his clothing. He dropped to his knees again and reached for her zipper, carefully pulling it down swiftly. He pushed the fabric apart and leaned his head down to kiss her lower abdomen. She moaned and entwined her fingers in his hair. Never taking his lips off her, he quickly pulled her jeans over her hips and legs and threw them aside. His hands grabbed the back of her thighs, pulling her crotch higher as he lowered his kisses. He breathed in deeply, enthralled with her feminine scent. He ripped her panties off and shoved his tongue deep into her, squeezing her ass with his fingers. She moaned loudly and ground herself against his mouth. He groaned as well and pulled her down onto his lap, impaling her. They frantically rode each other, as tears continued to cascade down their faces. When they were exhausted they fell against each other. AJ only lifting her briefly to slide out of her. They clung together sobbing for several brief moments.