Pretender

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Dawn Marie returned to the room she and Test were sharing, guilt wracking her.

How was she ever going to be able to face him again? And when she really thought about it, she wasn't sure exactly who was the 'him' she had in mind - Test or Sean...

Her suitcase in one hand, she reluctantly knocked on the door. When there wasn't an immediate answer, she wondered if her boyfriend had 'company,' and she began to grow angry again.

The door suddenly opened, and Test said, "Why did it take you-" The blond man stopped in mid-sentence, his face registering surprise for a split second upon seeing her there.

"Hi, babe," he said, flashing her a grin.

The brunette's guard was up. Certainly, he hadn't been expecting her... She wondered who he had been expecting. But instead of pressing the issue right now, she decided to ignore it at least for the time being.

"I'm sorry... for walking out on you earlier..." Dawn Marie said, swallowing long and hard. In reality, that was definitely not what she was sorry for - and the memory of Sean's touch - his hands, his lips, his body - were all still fresh in her mind.

"Don't sweat it, babe." Test flashed her another grin, one that exuded confidence. He looked damn smug, but that wouldn't last very long if his floozy suddenly showed up.

"So..." the Canadian began as she set her suitcase down next to the bed. He flopped down upon it casually as he studied his girlfriend. "What have you been doing in the time you were out?"

Dawn Marie bit her lip as she thought, Sean O'Haire... The man's handsome face, his gorgeously sculpted, muscular body sprang into her mind, and she had to get hold of herself before she started screaming at the memory of what had happened between the two of them less than an hour earlier - as she had during their encounter.

"Um... Nothing," she answered, hating herself for basically calling O'Haire 'nothing.' She noted her quickening pulse and the way her heart was suddenly pounding faster and hoped she wouldn't suddenly hyperventilate. She sucked it all down as she reminded herself that Test was certainly no angel. "So, what about you?"

"What about me?" the big blond asked.

"What have you been doing while I've been gone?" Dawn eyed him warily, suspiciously.

"Not much... Watching a little TV, that's all," Test replied, his arms crossing over his chest.

The brunette arched an eyebrow. He really did seem to be sincere, and unassuming. He could look her right in the eye and act as though he were innocent when it was beyond obvious he'd been waiting for... someone. When he'd opened the door to her, he'd been asking why she'd taken so long but stopped in mid-sentence. Did he think she was born yesterday? If he'd really meant the question for her, he wouldn't have cut off his words.

Nonetheless, Dawn sighed, and she realized she needed a shower or a hot bath. Damn it, why hadn't she noticed a few minutes ago that she smelled like Sean's aftershave? Thankfully, Test didn't seem to notice, but then, he hadn't gotten near enough to hug her, and she wasn't standing all that close to him now.

Trying her best not to appear self-conscious, Dawn Marie quickly rummaged through her suitcase for a nightgown.

"I'm going to take a shower," she said, her brown eyes barely able to meet his. Then, before her boyfriend could respond, she practically bolted toward the bathroom.

She stood with her back against the closed door, her breathing heavy as her nerves seemed to get the better or her. And then, again, Sean's visage danced around in her head, his intoxicating smile lingering.

She felt a twinge of guilt and winced. Damn it, damn Test and damn herself. She'd never meant to use him - or hurt him, which she'd probably done in walking out. Then again, he was a guy, and guys usually didn't care about that sort of thing, so long as they got sex... Well, at least in her experience, that was how they were.

Shaking these thoughts from her mind, Dawn Marie fiddled with the faucets in the shower.

*

"You can't come now!" Test said in a loud whisper into his phone while Dawn was in the bathroom. He listened to the angry voice on the other end and sighed. "Yeah, I know - I'm sorry, but what can I do? She came back..."









Part 11

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