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Lexi's POV

"Watch it" a loud, urgent cry hits my ears with the most delicious deep gravelly voice.  To his disappointment and my own, I was too far gone to "watch it", ultimately bowling him over.

"Shit, I'm so sor...." my words disappear as I find myself lost in the most alluring eyes I have ever scene.

"You're sor?" he chuckled, a musical rumble of classical notes rolls deep from within him, I can't help but notice the effect it has directly in my core.

"Oh, ah, I, er." I begin to helplessly stutter, inwardly cursing my inability to string a sentence together, as he erupts into more delicious laughter.  Oh dear lord, give me a hand with this one please?!  Or perhaps a corner I can crawl up in to die of embarrassment, seriously either is fine at this point buddy.

"How about we slide you off me, then I can help you get up?" he suggests, as I stare back at him quizzically.

Looking down I notice this beautiful creature had broken my fall, me landing on him.  Instinctively, I flex my fingers, feeling his taught, muscular frame beneath me, before registering that he had suggested I move off of him.

I shuffle across, reluctantly removing my hand from his chest as well.

Standing up, he reaches down offering his hand to assist me up.

"Hey, my name is Zac, you are?" he held out a hand for me to shake.  I take his hand and the instant we touch, it was like fireworks were lighting up on the fourth of July, the skin on skin connection feeling absolutely incredible.

"Hi, I'm Lexi."

"Do you live here?" he asked, looking me up and down, slowly, his eyes drinking me in.

"Yes." Hmmm, perhaps I will work my way up to sentences with more than one syllable.

"Well, Lexi.  Looks like we'll be neighbours, I've just moved in.  I have gotta go unload more boxes, but maybe I will see you around?"

"Sure," Okay, looks like I'm sticking with one syllable replies after all, "Bye."

Awkwardly taking out my keys, I hurry to the elevator to go upstairs, I need to hide from my own embarrassment until it's time for work.

Later that night -

I snuck into my apartment after work as quietly as possible. The last thing we need is anyone waking up. I slip my sneakers off and place them next to the door. Checking the locks again, I make my way inside and pad down the hardwood floors into the kitchen, eager for a toasty hot chocolate before I head to bed.

"You're later than usual," a voice came from behind me, causing me to jump in my own skin.

"Jesus Coni, you bloody scared me!" I squeaked, turning to see her grinning in the doorway.

"Sorry babe, oh are you making a drink?" she giggled, slipping another cup in front of me on the benchtop.

"Sure hun. What are you doing up anyway? I thought you would be sound asleep by now." I ask, turning my attention to make our drinks.

"She's been unsettled tonight Lex, I've not slept a wink yet. You might wanna make those coffee's instead of chocolate."

I turn to my friend to see just how exhausted she really is, the light in her eyes and all I can see if glazed over tired eyes.

"You wanna go try get some sleep, I take over and give you a break?" I respond, handing her the hot chocolate. There was no way I was going to make her coffee, she needed rest, "maybe she's teething?"

"Mmmm, maybe. Oh god, this is so good. I'll drink this and then see what happens. She's just gone back down so fingers crossed it'll last more than ten minutes." she said, taking sips of her hot chocolate. We wander into the living room and take a seat at each end, I curl my legs up under myself in order to get comfy. This is my favorite place in the whole apartment. In the morning, when the sun comes up, i get to enjoy the soft warm glow, and this couch is so dam comfortable.

"Did you manage to get the groceries today, Coni?" I ask, looking over to see she's practically asleep on the couch.

"No. I tried, but we got stuck waiting for the lift in the hallway, someone is moving in. Then she started crying so I decided it could wait till tomorrow." she sighed, her disinterest obvious.

"Yeah, I met the new guy on my way up."

"You did? It's a guy!! What's he like, is he hot, how old?" She babbled, suddenly full of life.

"Whoa easy on there Coni, one question at a time please," I giggle, nudging her with my foot, "But, to answer your question, I guess he seems nice. He's okay looking."

"Girl, you just blushed! He's hot isn't he, omg he is!! And he lives on our floor!! This is great Lex, we can get you..."

"Don't say it"

"But.."

"No, Coni. I am not interested in any of that, nothing. No sex, no men. I don't need the drama. We have enough to deal with anyway and you know that!"

"Alright, alright! I just thought you might enjoy some time out, you know an orgasm or two will relax all those tense muscles."

I can't help but laugh at her last comment, my muscles are tense as hell, but I can't face the idea of bringing someone into this insane life we're living at the moment.

"No, Coni. Just, No. Now, we should get some sleep while the bundle of joy is also sleeping."

"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight babe." She climbs up and heads to her bedroom, sleep clearly due to take over her at any given moment.

I remain in the living room for a bit longer, winding down from a long day. I know Coni is trying to look out for me, but I wish she wouldn't encourage me. My life is too complex, too complicated for any form of relationship. When the hell would that even happen? I have dance, the bar and then of course at home we juggle the standard work load that living with a baby offers. Nope, it is not an option.

I find my mind wandering back to my encounter with the new neighbor tho... Zac, did he say? He was definitely attractive though, I will give him that.

Closing my eyes, I allow myself to think back to our brief moment downstairs. Just the thought of those rock hard abs beneath my hand was enough to make me shiver, a trail of goosebumps gracing my skin. Okay, he was more than attractive. The man was a freaking greek god, those beautiful grey blue eyes, that dark hair begging to have fingers through it. His tall, strong frame that oozed a sense of dominance and power without causing me to feel fear.

That's huge, for me. Being around men in general strikes fear in my heart. Ever since that fateful night two years ago. The only men I let get within five feet of me are Arden and Sam. Oh, and Kai when they visit, but that doesn't happen often. Even then, though I do feel safe, I'm still extremely cautious and weary of their every move. Coni has suggested therapy might help me move on but I keep explaining that therapy costs money that our budget doesn't really allow for. I wonder what she would say if she knew bout my reaction to the new guy.

Coni is the sweetest person I know, I can't thank her enough for everything she does, and has done for me. All those months ago when I was cold and homeless, she was the first person to reach out, the first person to put a roof over my head. Even when things got really tough, really strained with a new baby around she still didn't turn me away. Instead we became a tight, close knit family consisting of two ladies and a baby fighting an uphill battle for our place in the world.

Things at least are looking up for us now. I'll never forget the day I first met Emerson and Arden. Well, when I say meet, I mean the day they saw me dancing in the park. I remember a look of appreciation in her eyes as she'd watched me dance, showing her love and knowledge in dance. Then, she dropped money in my tin, large notes, nothing like I'd ever received before. I admit, I was curious as hell, enough so that I had planned to try speaking with them after I'd finished my routine. That didn't happen though, it couldn't as those annoying bloody guards turned up again. This had been the third or fourth time they'd caught me so I knew I needed to get the hell of there if I wanted to keep all the cash I had just made.

Lord knows, we needed that cash. I was still staying with Coni and we hadn't made rent for quite sometime. I think we were both walking on egg shells waiting for the landlord to toss us out. But, we scraped by. For several more months we managed to keep things at bay, keep food on the table. I'd had to limit using the motorcycle though which killed me. We just couldn't afford the gas, nor risk it needing repairs. So it had spent many months parked up under a cover, hidden away from prying eyes.

I'd later found a card from Emerson, her dance class business details on, confirming what I'd suspected all along, she loved dance. I'm not quite sure why, but I had tucked the card in my wallet for safe keeping. It's crazy really, must have been wishful thinking cause I sure as hell was in no position to consider taking any classes. A pity really because I was really starting to feel out of shape, not to mention that despite practically starving I've gained a few pounds.

Chance would have me call her, but not for what I'd hoped I would be calling for. No, instead I was calling as we had finally lost all hope. Our luck had run bone dry, being thrown out of our single bedroom flat, newborn baby tucked under our arms and not a penny to our name. I'm a proud woman, but I wasn't going to have a baby or a friend spend another night on the streets, the weather and the conditions really starting to take it's toll. So I did it, I called her. I called the kind woman who'd left me money and her card. I called her from a payphone with the last coins we could pull together. I called her in tears, trying to hide from the rain. I called her as my last shot to protect those I loved.

It will sound cliche, but Emerson really was god sent, her voice at the other end of the phone that night was sweeter than honey, welcoming and not at all judgmental of the entire situation. In fact, she really didn't ask a lot of questions. Just things like where to find us and if we needed anything. I mean who else would do that, other than an angel? We were complete strangers but she went out of her way to accommodate me, to get me back on my feet. Of course, her incredible sexy husband has played a role in helping too, but for the most part it has been Emerson who has given me a chance at life again.

They are so kind and caring, first to come along and save a stranger in the middle of the night, but next to actually set me up with my own apartment, a job to earn some money for expenses and above all, the chance to dance again. They make it seem like I am helping them, if only they knew just how much they have assisted me though. They have no idea.

I've spent a great deal of time looking over my shoulder over the past two years, not knowing if they will come. If he will come, or when he comes, I should say. I know him, he will come, it's only a matter of time. At least now, in a residence that is not in my name, I'm not a sitting duck like I was on the streets. Coni and I can do our best to raise this little lady without fear she'll catch pneumonia every other day. We both know we have a roof over our heads. I'll never stop looking over my shoulder though, never feeling completely safe from harm, but at least for now, I'm one step closer.

Getting up from the sofa, I quietly make my way into the room we set up as a nursery. I often sneak in before I go to bed, peeking in at her sweet innocent cheeky face. Bianca, now more of an infant/toddler than a baby sleeps soundly as I caress her soft, perfect skin. That's all it takes after a hard day, to look at the absolute gift that life can bring in the tiniest of packages. I already know that Coni and I would do whatever it took to see her get the best of life possible. To keep her safe, well there's no question about it. Coni and Bianca are who I live for, fear or not I will make sure I stay hidden from danger so I can keep helping support us.

Bianca stirs slightly, like she's aware she isn't alone so I back out of the room, careful not to make a sound. The last thing Coni or I need is to be up the rest of the night with a screaming, grumpy infant. Jumping through the shower quickly, I ready myself for bed before climbing onto my soft queen mattress, snuggling into the piles of cushions I'd managed to accumulate through store sales, my most common weakness.

I drift off into a restless sleep, haunted by alluring grey blue eyes and dark brown hair, mostly short but longer on top, swept off to the side in a soft wave. His strong jaw line showing signs of an early five o'clock shadow, increasing my desperate need to nibble at it. Hell, even his neck was sexy. In my dreams he leans over me, lifting my chin so our lips can meet, his tongue pressing at the part in our lips, urging it's way into my now parted lips. His kiss takes my breath away, his strong arms pulling my body up against his own, to a point when I can no longer sense where my body ends and his begins. His manhood is firmly pressing against me through his jeans, doing nothing to ease the desire building inside me. His lips my own, only to trail them down my neck, off to the side in search of that magic spot. Laying me back as he goes, his hands begin to make a journey of their own, travelling up my hip and reaching up under my shirt.

"LEXI!" Coni called from the doorway, followed by banging "Babe, wake up, don't you have to got to the studio today?"

"Argh, Coni...babe. I could bloody kill you, you know. Like, did you have to wake me now?" I ask, stumbling to open my door. To my surprise and elation, she is standing holding a mug of hot coffee.

"Good dream was it, Lex?" she asks me coyly, oh my god what have I said?

"I have no idea what you're talking about Con, but as you have pointed out, I need to get myself ready to go out." I say, hoping it's enough to change the topic before this conversation gets awkward.

"Sure, but we have a little time for gossip still, you know, like how you said 'Zac" was okay looking and yet here you are only hours later having dirty, dirty, wet dreams about him." she giggled, following me back to the living room.

"What? Oh I was not, don't be silly." I whip around to face her, almost wearing my coffee in the process. Oops, talk about giving myself away. Coni simply erupts with laughter, knowing she's busted me completely now.

"Oh buzz off, Coni. It was just a dream." I snap, moving through to the sofa to enjoy the rest of my coffee.

"Relax Lexi, your secret is safe with me."

"What secret?" I inquire, genuinely confused at this particular moment.

"The one where you're actually still human and capable of forming an attraction to the opposite sex!" she explained, all the while trying to contain her laughter.

"You really don't give up do you, Coni. If you like him so much, why don't you date him."

"I haven't even seen him Lex, besides, I'd never do that now I know you like him..." she trailed off as she headed in to collect Bianca from bed, having heard her little baby babbles through the monitor.

I reach out for her to hand Bianca to me, having missed having cuddles last night. Looking up at Coni disapprovingly, I shake my head.

"I don't know him Coni, how on earth do you expect me to like him? He's just nice eye candy." I turn my attention back to Bianca, giving her little smooches on her plump little cheeks, "And how's our favorite little angel today huh?" I coo, receiving adorable smiles in return.

Cuddling her close to my chest, I take in the adorable sounds, the baby powder and formula smells and most of all the softness of her beautiful baby skin. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to have moments like this, it reminds me that not all is bad in the world.

Handing her back to Coni, I head back to my bedroom to change, it's almost time to head into the studio. I'm teaching a junior hip hop class today, so I can't afford to be late. I take a moment for a quick glance back over my shoulder for one last glimpse of my new wee family, smiling at the beauty I see, Coni blowing little raspberries on Bianca's nose, earning a giggle each time.

Okay, get a move on Lexi, life awaits you.