The Exception Pt. 00: Prologue

"All done," he chimed coming to stand next to her. "Did you know goldfish have one of the longest life spans in aqua marine life? Forty years. More than any other domesticated pet."

"I know."

'....'

She moved around him and headed for the lavish restaurant entrance. Connor shook his head and followed her example with hands in pockets. She needs help on people skills too.

This might turn out to be slightly embarrassing to a degree. He never used the front entrance so one could only imagine the humiliation of being served by your own co-workers.

They garnered stares from the second they walked in. more followed as they were escorted past throngs of speculative eyes, probably wondering what a girl of her class was doing with him.

Luka showed no shame however which was supposed to be reassurance enough. Currently Samantha, a female of his age was leading them. They never spoke much due to differences in shifts and job titles. She was nothing short of flabbergasted when he popped up asking for a table with Luka standing behind him.

Normally reservations were made three months in advance unless you were staying at the hotel itself. Even if you were an employee.

He took his own seat while Luka had her's pulled out for her. A sigh of relief happily escaped him at being out of the limelight. Why did it have to be here? "Luka. How old are you?"

"Eighteen." She replied flipping through the menu. So his guess wasn't far off. He had her pegged for seventeen but is there really much of a difference? Not that it should matter. All he was here for, were the groceries.

"Sorry." His eyes looked up from his untouched menu to regard her. Everything inside was known by heart anyway. "I was a little hard on you today."

What was she talking about?

'Oh right.'

"I'm used to carrying stuff. Between trays and machine components, I really couldn't care less about a couple of clothes." Wait... That didn't turn out right. "I mean I like your clothes! And shopping with you. I just didn't find them heavy."

Gosh those eyes she stared at him with. They sung of untold stories about what really lay on the inside. He couldn't look away no matter how hard he tried. A feeling of rejection overcame him when they travelled back to the food list. Like he wasn't important enough for her attention anymore.

"May I get you drinks, starter's maybe?"

Aleck. He wore a knowing grin as he looked down in his direction. Connor couldn't help but smile back. "Second last page ma'am."

Connor reached up for the sticky notes and pencil while the brunette weighed her options. After writing something down it was returned to its owner. Aleck nodded to show his understanding.

"Could you give me a moment?" he asked after their waiter left. She didn't even respond still searching for her main meal.

A short moment later he stood outside on the deck. It was mostly deserted due to the sudden turn the weather had taken. Currently he was leaning on the railing, staring at the lit up hotel pools. Only the Jacuzzis were occupied, most of which by promiscuous couples. "So this is how you spend an occasional day off? Going on dates with ridiculously hot as fuck babes then parading them here of all places? Well shit, you sure showed me."

He shook his head in reply, his gaze stuck on the water. "Her idea, not mine."

Kyle joined him by his left. "All things considered, this couldn't have turned out any better."

He disagreed. This was too easy. There had to be a catch somewhere. That plot twist where you find out she's a serial killer, a pornstar, the betrothed wife of some mafia gang leader, a vampire... "But doesn't she already have friends? I mean she's rich and gorgeous as hell. Isn't that just the perfect combination for popularity?"

"Can't you just ask her?" Kyle being direct and to the point again. "Either that or stick around to find out. If she does, you'll meet them eventually." Kyle turned around and leaned against the wood facing the restaurant with arms crossed. "Remember how I got to know you?"

How couldn't he. It was a set up. At the age of ten, Connor disassembled and put together his first motorcycle engine without any help. Such a skill was easy to take advantage of when thrown in with the wrong crowd.

One day the police brought him home after witching hours at age sixteen, caught in a public car sale with grease all over him. While other scholars got summer jobs to make a little extra cash, he took apart car parts and his associates sold them on the aftermarket.

That night, these associates deserted him, effectively leaving him to take all the heat. From that day onwards, his parents decided to choose his friends on his behalf. Something that didn't sit well with him until Kyle came along. "It was a set up."

"It was," he concurred. "Still, it may have been the best thing for us both. I'm guessing she never got that kind of supervision. People that flock to you because of your financial status can't be good friends either."

Connor frowned. "It's not all that different. I'm the one in a financial crisis now."

The chef disagreed; "Were. Were in a financial crisis. Tell me. How are you finding her? Looks aside."

He recalled the giggle, the concern she showed just before, the remorse at the table. "She's pretty cool in a closed book kinda way. I like her."

"I rest my case then," he said pushing off. "You, actually like her. Maybe not much but that may be a whole lot more than what anyone else can say. Not bad for a first day eh?"

It wouldn't be if it wasn't for the control factor. He couldn't help but get the nagging feeling that somewhere in all this was a leash and collar. Could it really be so simple to end at paper bags and opinions? Or was she just starting him off on the lighter tasks?

"I get the feeling you didn't just call me out here to voice your doubts," Kyle asked behind him.

A chilly gust of wind swept past him forcing him to step back. "I need a favour, Kay. It's in relation with Ivy." Connor turned around in time to see his best friend's eyes narrow visibly at the mention of her name. "I fear if I try do it, with the way I feel about her... Well you know..."

**********

She barely ate a thing and they were already on their way out. It made him feel like a pig when in actuality, Kyle just wouldn't tolerate anyone he knew wasting his efforts.

His plate wasn't charged for so at least he walked out with that much dignity. Lord knows he wouldn't be able to afford her meal alone without massacring his entire monthly budget into overdraft.

It was the most silent dinner he'd ever attended to date. She never asked questions, nor did she bring up any topics. Anything he said was replied with utter simplicity, any possible progression of the conversation was killed on the spot.

If he was to be honest; it annoyed him. There, he said it. Her Nonchalant behaviour, like nothing mattered ticked him off. If she was going to ignore him the whole time then why invite him to dinner in the first place?

Yes, 'Invite', because she actually decided to wait for him when he went to put her items down instead of going on her own. They could have easily dropped off her clothes in her room first before going separate directions.

He got that she wasn't much of a talker but if he was going to actually try and be her friend, then shouldn't he know something about her besides what you'd find on a resume? Scratch that. He didn't even know that much.

'At least she tips well.'

Samantha eyed him suspiciously as they passed the reception. He took her mints anyway by the handful.

C'est la vie. Add that to the list of things never to try again.

Once out, he got the bags while she held the lift. Okay so maybe it was all lifts he had a problem with, no matter how smooth. Quite ironic considering he knew how they worked. A single cable alone is capable of carrying one fully loaded small car without strain. This one probably had six attached as per safety standards so why couldn't he just relax? He watched the dial as the numbers flashed, heading higher and higher.

'Hold on a second. Penthouse?'

"What the... Luka, you have crazy standards you know that?"

He knew she'd shrug it off. She removed her phone, unlocked it and tapped on an app. The lights came on.

He'd never been up here before. The lift literally opened into the penthouse. It made his place, the home he was so proud of up till now look like a shack.

The suite double storied. The white and silver themed lounging area was set here at the bottom along with the dining area, kitchen and what should have been a reading area judging by the book shelves, coffee tables and designer bean bags.

There were no walls to separate them either. If you were to look to the right, you'd see an unobstructed view of the night lights. Cars, street lights, offices and apartments. Right now you could see the flashing red lights of a jet passing overhead.

Luka, already on the other end of the massive room, dropped her access card on the counter separating the kitchen from the dining section. She went through a door at the back and re-emerged on the glass balcony above. Scratch that. The whole second floor was sitting on reinforced glass.

"You coming?"

'Oh hell yeah.'

He picked the bags up and traced her steps. There were decorations all over. Fern plants, fruit baskets, clay pots, shelved wine bottles among other things. The designer really went to town on the place.

He jogged up the spiral staircase to see where the bedrooms were. What he would kill to afford a place like this. "Where are you?"

"On the patio."

Of course. There just had to be more. His feet took him to where she was standing a few moments ago, then he rounded the wall there. The first open bedroom lay on the other side. There was no wall between it and the balcony so you could stare directly into the lounging area.

Looking to the far end, he could see her elegant form through the transparent sliding door, her hair waving in the wind, in tune with the flapping of her layered dress. She appeared only interested in the view. "I'm just gonna place them here on the dresser."

'What. A. Day.'

This wasn't so bad at all. Sure she may be as sociable as a statue but who offloads everything about themselves on the first day. The door closed itself when she came in. That iPhone of hers probably acted as a remote control here. Her heels were gone. She gracefully flung herself onto the bed and hugged her pillow against her head muttering something about being tired.

'That's my line.'

He watched the young goddess a while longer. She lazily lay on her stomach with feet in the air, her pigtails fanned out on each side. The time on his phone read '20:37'. "Later Luka-chan. I'll show myself out." he said stretching an arm above his head and the other pulling at its elbow.

"What do you mean?"

Did she have any idea how cute she looked lying there like that? She had to right? "Well it's eight-thirty and I... I got to be heading home."

"But I didn't say you could leave."

That caught his attention. "I uh... I'm sorry. I saw you lying there exhausted and all. I thought you were done for the night."

She sat up and smiled with her head tilted a bit to the side. It was done so in an almost fond fashion, but there was something else in her eye.

'Right. Serial killer it is.'

She started giggling again and he choked back the involuntary sigh it provoked. "There's nothing to be nervous about."

"I-I-I I'm not nervous." Why did she have to look at him like that?

Luka got up on delicate feet and they soundlessly closed the gap between them, almost as if she walked on air. She looked up to him, helplessly capturing him in her blue gaze. "I don't have anything to do 'till I go to sleep, so I want to have some fun."

"Have... Fun..." Thinking was so much harder with her this close. And what was that citrus scent all about?

Her hand came up to his tie and traced it up and down.

"You know..." she continued, "We were gonna do lingerie next." Her hand then ignored his tie and went right for his chest. The sensation was like his shirt wasn't even there. "I was going to try on a few. And you were gonna tell me which one you liked best. In any way you could."

"Luka... Stop." Sadly he himself made no effort to end it. Heavens knew he was way stronger. So why couldn't he at least pull his eyes away?

She bit her bottom lip briefly. "But that little accident happened with your nose." She spoke to him like she would a child. "I didn't want to push you too hard on the first day. You looked miserable."

"L-Luka... Just stop." He hadn't even noticed her do it, but out of the blue, he felt his white top pull apart and her soft palm on his chest, sliding around. Her touch was electric, leaving his skin sensitive all over.

"You know, if you're feeling any better, I've got panties and bra's and even corsets I could put on." Her second hand came up to grip the low cut neckline of her dress and tugged it down a little, her cleavage demanding his attention. "Wanna see?"

The little bitch. She knew exactly what she was doing. How insanely stunning she was, the lust she invoked, the carnage she could wreck on a man's libido. She was fully aware of every last bit.

'Make friends he said... He didn't mention diddly about her being an effing tease!'

Her hand stopped by the waistline of his trousers and simply rubbed along it. Her eyes kept their focus on his the entire time with that evil grin playing across her soft pink lips. "Still think I 'lookokay'?" His hips involuntarily jerked when he felt a finger run along his aching length through the trousers. He could have crushed his phone right then. Maybe still might.

'This here, all this shit, wasn't part of the deal. He didn't sign up to be a toy.'

"Luka."

"I know... I know. Stop." She left him altogether and walked languidly back to plump back down on her bed, legs crossed with her hands supporting her. He felt like an aroused mess just standing there with a barely contained tent in his pants, breathing heavily. The blood could be heard pumping through his ears.

"You really don't like me much do you?" If he heard correctly, then there was a touch of well-hidden disappointment in her tone.

His next words came out all jagged. "Liking you has nothing to do with it. This is just as inappropriate as it gets. Besides, you're a child dammit."

'Don't you have people your own age to fuck with?'

She raised her brows curiously. "Doesn't he have a say in this?" she asked looking at his groin. That came out a lot like a taunt. "I mean clearly he doesn't care. Don't you like them young Connor?"

His nerves were not cooling down. Not with her sitting there like that. His legs took him over to the mirror that was her eastern wall. Still, the effort counted for naught if she was still in the reflection, smiling mischievously and playing with that lock of hair.

"Oh cut me a break already," he scowled. The damn buttons just wouldn't get in those elusive slits. His unsteady fingers weren't helping any either. "All you care about is riling me up and I dare you to tell me otherwise." Unamused eyes locked in on hers through the mirror.

A look of genuine confusion was portrayed on her features before they hardened. "Let's not make me out to be the bad person. I did offer." her head dropped to look at her knees by the edge of the high bed, unable to face his glare. "The only reason you're not getting laid right now is because you insisted I quit it."

His fingers faltered as if to ask him if he really wanted to finish buttoning up. He cursed at his lack of resolve, then cursed at the last shreds of resolve that actually remained.

He heard her shuffle to her feet. He couldn't see her in the mirror anymore. "I'm not stupid. I get that this is awkward for you. You probably like to go on dates first and share intricate details about your personal lives over long, interactive conversations." A hand snaked its way around his torso, into the lower section of his shirt yet to be buttoned up and played along his abs.

His treacherous body let out a content sigh at the soft electric touch. "Maybe meet each other's friends and families, exchange sentimental clothes, buy each other love tokens." He bit back a groan when she centred in on a nipple and rubbed. He didn't even know he was sensitive there.

"But I'm not good at any of those things. I don't talk much, I'm socially awkward and very selective of the people I hang around." Her other hand came to unbutton the few he'd redone. "It's for those reasons I don't often have someone new over." Her left hand joined the right in its exploration, rounding every smooth contour and revelling in his texture.

No resistance was made. He was even less inclined to when her body pressed against his back, crushing her chest against him. His eyes were shut, breathing shallow, pulse racing all over again.

He felt her rise to the balls of her feet. Then that soft touch came up to his shoulders and gripped the lining. "This is how I do things Connor." So mesmerising, cool breath cascading along his ear. "It's faster, safe, there's no deceit and no-one walks away hurt."

Hands pulled the shirt off arms and let it fall to the floor. She then pulled him around and pressed his back against the cold surface. Her perfect form pushed against him once more but this time, ground against his throbbing excitement. A lengthy groan fought it's way out of his throat. He was back to staring into her orbs through heavy eyelids. God, the nymph was good at this.

She traced her fingers up his sides, shoulders and locked them behind his neck. "You'll find this is a lot easier if you do it my way. Soon it won't even feel like a chore you're bound to. I'll let you do anything you want to me too. No matter how degrading, filthy or taboo, so long as you can earn it first." She looked at him with mischief twinkling in her eyes. He couldn't think straight anymore. He couldn't think at all. All his head could process was how fuckable she was right then. "Wouldn't you like that?"

He hauled her off the ground by the back of her thighs like she didn't weigh a thing. Luka giggled infectiously, wrapping herself around him as he dashed across the room and dumped them both on the comforter.

She scooted back excitedly, giving him room join her. "You know the worst thing about you in that dress?" He grabbed it by the waist and unceremoniously flipped her over onto her stomach. Luka's weight made her so easy to toy with. Like a live ragdoll.

"The price tag?" she asked pushing herself up onto her elbows.

"How I know you have nothing underneath," he growled, pulling down the zipper in a single motion.

"How could you tell?" She wiggled out of it as he tried to bunch it up by her hips, revealing the creamy skin of her bare back.

"See through night wear." It came off down her legs and where it fell from there was none of his business.

'What?!'

The tease started laughing into the mattress. "I'm wearing nude dummy."

She was. A small tight the colour of her skin separated him from his prey. "You're soaking."

Her amusement stopped dead as she bunched up the covers to her face. "Just pull it off and do it already," came her muffled reply.

A cocky smile lingered on his lips. Just what did she think this was anyway? A porn film?

Connor kicked off his shoes and trousers, before crawling up to straddle her between his knees.

He moved his hand to her neck, and began to massage the nape, hands moving in slow, firm circles. "My, my. So bossy. Last I checked, I was on top." She felt his warm breath tantalizing her ear as his calloused hands added pressure. "Behave Luka."