Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen

After Mr Dubens had helped me move my stuff into the new room, he had given me, we sat in the front room together on the red leather sofas. He had lit the fire and we sat on the sofa together in front of it. The flames of the fire filled the room with warmth rather quickly and made me feel so content. It wasn't just warm; it was the presence of safety and content...especially the wavering feeling of tiredness that overcame my eyelids because of the war ness that vibrated off of the burning flames.

Mr Dubens had nipped into the kitchen and done us both a cup of tea. I didn't very often drink tea as I was always on alcohol. I hummed at the intense taste of the warm liquid as I swallowed it down. Mr Dubens looked at me as if he was looking at the clouds of heaven, his eyes hooded.

"Nice?"

"Mmmmm..." I hummed, clutching the cup on my hands so it would make my hands heat up. I clapped my eyes briefly and heard him chuckle. "What?" I asked, opening my eyes to look at him. He was grinning widely at me. "You just look so...peaceful."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"No, not at all. It's lovely. You look so calm and happy."

"I haven't had tea in a while." I admitted and blushed. He laughed and took a sip of his own, "Best thing ever. So British." I laughed and slapped his arm. "Don't!"

He laughed and steadied my wrist as I was almost about to spill my tea. "Sorry." I said sheepishly and he slowly took it from my hand and set it on the glass table in front of us. He set his own down onto it as well with two cup mats underneath them. He then turned towards me and I had to blink multiple times when I noticed he was leaning against me. "S-sir?"

"I like it more when you call me Ian." He whispers as he leans further towards me until he is practically straddling me on the sofa, and I have to lean back. Our faces become inches apart and I can feel his breath against my lips. I gulp and I have to blink as he moves even close to me.

"Alice?" He whispers. I lick my lips and look into his eyes. "Yeah?"

"I really want to kiss you, but I don't want to do it without your permission." He murmurs, his lips brushing against mine and my eyes briefly close. I raise my face, so my head is tilted up to his lips. "Please." He groans and brings his hand to the side of my neck as his other leans on his elbow, supporting his frame above me. Our lips brush against each other but before he leans his lips into mine, a knock at the door interrupts us.

"Fuck off." He groans and pushes his face into the crook of my neck. I giggle and place my hands on his shoulders. "I think you should attend to that, Sir." I whisper seductively in his ear and he bites my ear lobe in response. I gasp and he pushes himself off of me. He gets up and flashes me a grin as he walks out into the hallway to where the front door is. I quickly sit up and fix my skirt, noticing it had hitched up my leg after our almost kiss.

I heard Ian open the door and a gust of cold wind blew in. I wrapped my arms around myself and leant forward towards the fireplace.

"Yes?" I heard Ian say in a suggestive voice.

"Hello, bro."

Wait, what?

I turned my head and there was a young man at the door. He looked around the same age as Ian. I couldn't see him very well as the front room was quite a way from the front door due to the hallway and where I was sitting.

It was a long distance, but I could just make out the man who stood there looked very similar to Ian.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Ian say in arrogant tone. The man gave him a hurt look and held his hand on his chest, "Oh, nice to see you to!"

Ian sighed and glanced over his shoulder to me, our eyes met, and he quickly look away. I kept on looking but he made sure I couldn't see the man on the other side of the door, as he pushed the door further in, covering the man from my sight.

"I mean it, what are you doing here?" He growled in a low warning voice. "I came to see my little brother, of course! Why else?"

"Are you honestly looking for a smack in the jaw?"

"Why? What have I done?" I heard the man reply and Ian glanced over his shoulder again. This time, I looked away.

"This isn't the time." He whispered harshly. "Why not? Has my little brother been up to naughty things?" I pursed my lips, 'You could say that.', I thought.

"Shut up! I mean it." He whispered. The man laughed, "Why are you whispering? You got someone in there?" Ian nodded and I heard the man gasp, "Ohh, who is it? Is it a bird?"

"It's one of my students." Ian replied in a quiet and soft voice. The man then became silent and eventually replied, "A student? You're a teacher?"

Ian nodded and I heard the man sigh, almost frustratedly. "I classed you as many things...whether it'd be a counsellor, a doctor or scientist. But, a Teacher? Really, Ian?" Ian shrugged, "I love it, it's what I've wanted to do."

"Jesus." The man huffed. "You going to let me in then, or what?"

"Like I said, it's not a good time."

"You don't want your own brother to come in?" Ian shook his head and the man scoffed, "Either that or you don't want me to see this student of yours."

"Both."

"What is it? A girl? I bet it's a girl!"

Ian didn't answer. "It is, isn't it!?! Oh, this is good!"

"Look, I don't want you to come in because you will get drunk, embarrass me and fucking crash here! That's why!"

"Oh, please. Look, I swear on the holy grave of my...my dick! That I will NOT do any of the things you just previously said." The man spoke loudly, and Ian punched him in the arm to shut him up. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from bursting out into laughter. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Ok, look. I will shut up if you let me up." The man reasoned and Ian sighed.

"Fine! Come in." Ian groaned trough gritted teeth and opened the door wide open, letting the man step through.

The man wiped his feet on the door mat and hurriedly stepped in. I giggled as Ian rolled his eyes as he closed the front door. The man must have heard me giggled as he looked over at me and our eyes made contact. "Is this the student?" He asked. Ian shoved passed him and made is way towards me. They both walked into the front room together and Ian leant against the back of the leather sofa that I sat on.

"Alice, this is my Brother. Craig." Ian muttered and waved his hands towards him. I smiled at the man. His hair was a dark black, shorter than Ian's. He was a lot more tanned than him as well.

The man smiled a wicked smile, almost evil. His eyes held a portrayal of cockiness. He leant towards me and held his hand out in front of me to shake, "Hello, Alice." His smile extended into a grin and hesitantly, I took his hand and he eagerly shook it.