Fresh Air (NC-17)

Margaret felt claustrophobic in her room. She hadn’t been at Schilling Lane that long but she hated feeling confined and this place definitely gave her that feeling at times. She decided she needed some fresh air. She quickly threw on a skintight black tank top and a short black jean skirt and headed toward the door, grabbing her sketchpad and a pencil on her way out.

She made her way over to the garden and sat down on the bench, enjoying the fresh air and the feeling of sunshine on her skin. She looked around a noticed a sexy Hispanic guy not top far from her. She opened her sketchpad and began to draw his features, looking up a couple of times to make sure she was capturing his perfection properly. After a few minutes of drawing she stopped having to see her subject, his features now burned into her mind as she got caught up sketching.

Exhaling, Alex was quick to evacuate his room. He very rarely was spotted inside of it, unless of course it was time for him to catch up on his sleep. He avoided the nurses and doctors at all costs, abandoning all of his medications in the same damned plastic cups they came in. There was nothing wrong with him, as far as he was concerned. There was zero reason for him to be confined to such a place. He hadn't killed Sophia out of spite, it had been for her own good! Though her bastard boyfriend had to go, but that was besides the point. He truly saw no error in his ways, though apparently he was one of the only ones to be stuck in such a place. Mental hospital. He was perfectly sane, and he'd stick to that.

Sauntering down the corridors he glanced around quickly before slipping outside. He was new to the place, so he wasn't technically supposed to wander without either someone with him or at least a mention of where he intended on going, but of course he planned on doing neither. He did what he wanted, when he wanted, according to his own rules and no one else's. Putting in this damned place wasn't about to change him, that was for sure. It didn't take him long to stroll through a particularly pretty part of the grounds, which he quickly guessed were the gardens. It was sort of secluded from the actual building and he immediately found that he liked it just for that reason. He could do without most of the flowers and bushes, but those would just have to do for now. If it meant being shielded from those buffoons of people inside, he'd endure it.

Licking his lips, he settled upon a stone bench and leaned back against the trunk of the tree beside the bench. He wasn't sure how long he was resting there before he felt the weight of someone's gaze on him though. Exhaling heavily, his dark eyes slowly began to search for the culprit, complete disinterest on his features. Here he'd been, thinking things were all fine and secluded, and now he'd been found already? Though when his eyes finally stopped short on the person, a woman to be exact, he didn't bother looking away. His gaze lingered unnervingly, instantly taking in her provocative attire before noting the sketch pad. His first idea was just to ignore her and to look away entirely, but something told him to do otherwise. Before he really knew what he was doing, he'd stood, lazily sauntering in her direction. He came to a stop directly behind her, eyes easily catching the sight of his own face on the pad. At first, he was a bit surprised, but then a dangerous hint of a smirk crawled onto his lips as he leaned forward slightly. "And what do you think you're doing there, cariño?"

*Cariño translates to sweetheart.

Margaret caught movement out of the corner of her eye but choose to ignore it as she continued her sketch. When she heard a voice speak, right behind her she jumped slightly, as a shiver ran down her back. She realized that her subject had snuck up behind her while she was engulfed in her newest masterpiece. She felt her face flush slightly but she did not let it affect her. She slowly set her sketchpad aside and turned to face the mysterious man. “Just enjoying the view señor.” She winked, and then smiled as she let her eyes wander across the man’s body. She had to admit that he was even sexier up close. She brush the hair out of her eyes before she spoke again. “It’s hard not to admire such a view, especially when one does not get the chance very often in this hell hole of a place. And when the view is as guapo as you it makes it that much harder.” She said flirtatiously.

Alex didn't take to being ignored lightly, but he figured she was just engrossed in the sketch she'd been drawing out. He was still slightly amazed to see she'd been using him as her subject, though he figured now that he'd moved from his spot he'd ruined her attempt entirely. Jaw clenching and unclenching, his eyes were quick to drink in the way she jumped by his sudden appearance behind her, but it only served to make his smirk grow. "Someone's a bit jumpy." He commented in amusement, his voice low and laced with growing malice. He was quick to catch the flush too, which only caused his entertainment to grow. His gaze met hers instantly, and he didn't look away. He had a way of staring at people that made them feel like they were nothing, but that wasn't what he was trying to do. Not yet.

A single eyebrow arched at her words, and he couldn't help but allow a humorless chuckle to escape past his lips. "Oh, are you, señora?" He tossed in return, leaning even closer, his eyes practically drilling into hers. Until she decided to break the eye-contact and admire his toned physique. Scoffing, he leaned back again, his fingers still resting on the back of the bench. He'd played this game many times before, and if she thought she'd instantly have the upper hand, she was very sadly mistaken. Her next set of words just brought more amusement to the man, and he reached up to run his fingers through his tousled hair. "I can agree with you there," He replied, his Spanish accent laced in his tone.

Slowly he moved around the bench, slouching into the seat beside her so that he was half-lounging, an arm lazily slung across his toned abdomen. "Usted habla español?" He announced suddenly, eyes back to staring at her. He didn't take well to people that didn't know his language trying to use it just to impress him. It had happened many times before, and it only served to annoy him more than anything. He was still trying to decide if the little artist was worth his time.

*Usted habla español? - You speak Spanish?

Margaret had to remind herself to breath for a moment, as the man’s stare pierced her. “Wouldn’t you be jumpy too if someone snuck up behind you in this place?” She tried to sound casual, as if this man wasn’t affecting her, but he was making that hard to do. She heard his chuckle, which made a small smirk appear on her lips. When he leaned closer she inhaled his scent, it was purely masculine and made her react in a way she hadn’t for quite a while. “Why wouldn’t I be enjoying the view? It’s such a nice day.” When he leaned back she felt herself let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. This man had an effect on her that she wasn’t used to and she could tell he knew it.

She smiled as he ran his hand through his hair. She felt herself wishing she could do that to him, plus much more. “Which part are you agreeing to? That the view here is amazing or that you are handsome?” She smirk slightly. She watched him as he slowly made his way next to her on the bench. She heard a hint of accusation in the next thing he said as he started to stare at her, unnerving her slightly more than she liked. “Sí, yo hablo un poquito. I was learning Spanish before being sent to this place." She felt herself stare into his eyes as she answered. She didn’t know why but she was finding herself drawn to this man.

*“Sí, yo hablo un poquito." - Yes, I speak a little

Alex pretended to actually consider her question for a moment, though it was obvious he wasn't really. After a second, he casually shrugged. "No, actually." And that was the truth. He was capable of really anything, though he realized he probably wasn't the most dangerous person living at the mental hospital, he had every capability of being just that. "Never show your weakness." He said simply. Though he wasn't sure why he was telling her this; he was the very type who preyed upon it. It brought necessary fun and excitement to his life. Chuckling when she commented on how nice the day was, he bluntly stated, "It wasn't the weather you were enjoying." He pointedly looked right into her eyes as he spoke, showing just how much he saw right through her. She couldn't fool him. What was the point of even trying? He was the king.

After he'd sat down, he lazily glanced back over in her direction as she continued to speak. So far, he was still bored. It was nothing personal to her, his attention was just had to capture, and even harder to keep. "Both." He replied, matching her smirk easily. Obviously he was handsome, and the day was actually rather nice out. Then he'd gone and asked her about her Spanish, in which he continued to stare at her closely. He could detect a liar within seconds, and he wouldn't hesitate in making a fool out of her. It was actually quite a fun game to engage in. He would say he was slightly surprised when she managed to stare back, but not enough where it would matter.

After a moment he shrugged, his eyes sliding away from her almost like he was disinterested. "You better not be lying to me," He toyed, his voice firm and twisted all at the same time. "Because you won't like the outcome." It wasn't a threat as much as it was the truth, and he gave her a sickeningly sweet smile that was tainted with honesty, his eyes flashing. He wondered how she would take his words. His expression held an underlying message - Can you handle it?

Margaret considered his answer for a moment. “I shall have to remember that.” She said coyly. She knew he could see through her little game so she decided to be up front. “I was enjoying the weather until something better came along.” She smiled. He was definitely better to enjoy than the weather was. “I can’t help but enjoy such a good view when it happens to show up.” She brushed her bangs out of her face. She felt nervous but wasn’t sure why this man was making her feel that way.

She laughed at his response. She had a feeling he would answer that way. “Pretty confident there. I would be too though if I looked as amazing as you do.” She smiled. She felt slightly disappointed when he began to act disinterested. This man was hard to figure out but she figured it would be fun to try. His next words she took to heart. She could hear how true they were. She noticed his eyes flash and felt a shiver run down her spine. She was playing with fire and she knew it, but more than that she was enjoying every moment of it. “I’m not lying. I was learning Spanish before being sent here. It’s a beautiful language.” She answered honestly. She debated her next move carefully before making it. She had a chance to leave but in all honesty she couldn’t; this man had her captivated. “I’m Margaret by the way.” She said as she held her hand out to him.

Alex reached up, rubbing his chin between his index finger and thumb, the stubble rough beneath his fingertips. He merely grunted in response to her saying she'd have to remember that tid-bit of information. His eyes flickered toward her face again when she decided to switch gears with the entire situation, no longer talking in riddles but being up front. Lazily, he smirked at her, licking his lower lip. "Honesty. I applaud you. Though I already knew the truth." He toyed, a chuckle escaping with the words. "Can't blame you. Not a sight one is lucky enough to see everyday." He tossed back arrogantly. And that was the complete truth.

Both eyebrows rose as he watched her, almost as if he wasn't quite understanding where she was going with her words. "I have every reason to be confident." He said, still acting as if he was genuinely confused. Confidence was never something he lacked. Another half-smirk developed when she complimented him. "Quick learner." He murmured, eyes glancing along her body for a couple of seconds. Either that, or she was quick to want to please. Which could work to his advantage in either case. He was back to watching her closely, and the disappointment didn't escape past him. Neither did the fact that his words seemed to easily get through to her, and he wanted to grin in triumph. This was easy. Almost too easy.

So, she claimed not to be lying. "I'll hold you to that." His voice was rather gruff, his eyes again hooked onto hers so she knew he meant business. No one lied to him and got away with it, he didn't care who she was and what she was capable of. She would pay if need be. "It is, actually." He added, agreeing with her sentiment of it being a beautiful language. And then all of a sudden, she was introducing herself. He paused, eyes lingering on the extended hand before he reached out. "Alejandro Cruz." He supplied easily, his tongue forming the syllables to his name almost in a purr. "Alex for short, if you so choose." With that, he brought her hand to his lips and ghosted a kiss along the back of it before letting it drop. "How very nice to meet you, Margaret."