Naomi had been tying herself in knots all day, she really wanted to hang out with Kyle at Sanctuary but she had a feeling something disastrous would happen. Something like Kyle had just been joking and hadn't really meant it, at one point as she was getting changed Naomi had considered just staying in and making an excuse next time she saw him at college. But a bigger, perhaps slightly braver part of her thought of how he'd told her of his mother dying - that stuff wasn't common knowledge in their classes so Naomi deduced she must be one of the few who knew. Should he have lied about something so tragic Naomi knew she would never speak to him again but she'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

Kyle leant against the bar, the Howler's were setting up, Remi was guarding the door to the house, Dev was behind the bar with Aimee and Fang and Zar was being bouncer tonight. Everything was just as it was when his mother and father were alive but Kyle knew that all the Peltier's felt their absence as if it were a knife in all their hearts. He flicked his eyes towards the clock and then to the door, his breath whooshed out in relief as Naomi came walking through looking a little nervous but pretty and happy. She wore jeans with tan boots underneath, over a white t-shirt she wore a tanned leather jacket and around her waist, purely for decoration it would seem, was a brown belt with a big buckle - Kyle's lips quirked at the irony, she had a bears head on it. Her hair was tied back from her face in a ponytail and in her ears she wore small, teardrop earrings. Kyle felt his palms go sweaty but he smiled casually as she approached.

"Hello gorgeous," he said in a rather good Irish accent, Naomi beamed at him, silent laughter roaring in her eyes.

"Hello charmin'," she responded with an even better imitation, Kyle laughed.

"You're good."

"My family are Irish," she explained and Kyle gasped.

"With a name like Riley, no way!"

Naomi punched him lightly on the arm, "smart ass!"

"C'mon, let's get playing before you hit me again."

Without a thought Kyle laid his hand on the small of her back and guided her over to the pool table, he felt that thrill that he was becoming familiar with shoot up his arm and he smiled at her, looking more handsome then ever as he flicked his hair out of his eyes with a jerk of the head.

Dev stood watching from the bar area, his mouth hanging open, Aimee came up behind him and took the glass from his hand in case he dropped it.

"Are you seeing this?" Dev asked Aimee, Aimee looked to where Kyle was and smirked.

"Yeah, she works in Bride's store," Aimee said and then added with a wicked laugh, "he was in there with her today."

"But …but …"

"But?"

"Isn't he a bit young?" Aimee burst out laughing and shook her head.

"Don't you think that's a bit rich coming from you?"

Dev threw her a filthy look, "you're so funny."

"Besides Kyle's Arcadian, he may mature faster then Katagaria cubs that have just come out of puberty."

"Damn, maybe we should tell him to keep it in his pants for a while. What if -"

"Don't interfere, Dev," Aimee warned sternly, "we're all left to make our own destinies. It was my right, your right and now its Kyle's right. I think everyone knows when they have found the one. Like Mama said, it's a feeling you only get around one person."

"True, but this could be very awkward if he gets too happy with her," Dev raised his eyebrows knowingly, Aimee shook her head and moved away from him leaving Dev to stare at the couple with a frown on his mouth.

Kyle waited in the empty lecture theatre; he kept flicking glances to the door even though he was trying to act casual. He took out his phone and looked at it, biting his lip. He and Naomi had swapped numbers and all weekend they had been sending texts to each other, he thought it would be a bit too much if he text to ask her if she was in college yet. Unexpectedly the door opened and Naomi poked her head through the door, Kyle breathed a sigh of relief and gave her a wave to get her notice, she moved into the seat in front of him.

"Hey you," she said gently, her happiness at seeing him just as evident as his was at seeing her.

"Hey you," he repeated, "I completely forgot my notes today."

"You can use mine if you like," Naomi offered, "I'll use my friend's notes."

"Cool, get your friends to sit up here today," Kyle said, "by the way have you got anything after this?"

Naomi shook her head, "nope. Monday morning is my only lecture for the day. Thank God!"

Kyle smiled, "So are you going straight home or what?"

"I usually do. All my friends have other classes to go to, so I head home."

"Same here."

The lecture hall soon filled, Naomi's friends filed into the row in front of Kyle, she introduced them briefly before Professor Alexander came in. Travis as usual forced his way into the seat beside Kyle and greeted him in his usual way. Seeing Naomi in front of him Travis smiled and leant forward to yank lightly on her hair, Naomi turned and smiled at him, Kyle couldn't help feeling a small stab of jealousy.

"Hey girl," Travis greeted her, "you good?"

"Not bad. You?"

"You know, how it is."

"Yeah, I do."

Kyle noticed that Travis's whole attention was wrapped up in Naomi, when she spoke he stopped to listen. He laughed with her in a way he did not laugh with other girls, teased her the same way Kyle teased her. Kyle felt his mouth go a little dry, his were-hunter senses picked up the sent of Travis's desire for her and it made him want to rip his friend's throat out. He felt the need to stake his claim and it had his heart pounding wildly, what was happening to him?

The hall went silent when Professor Julian Alexander walked in and set about hooking the overhead projector up for his slideshow. Kyle took the opportunity while Travis was sitting quietly to pass a note to Naomi. He aimed it over her shoulder so it landed right in the crease of her book. Travis noticed what Kyle had done and his eyes narrowed, so did Stephanie but Kyle refused to look at either of them. If it wasn't for that fact that Kyle could smell how much Travis desired Naomi he would still be ignorant of the guy's feelings towards her. Travis had said that he had no designs on her, Kyle reminded himself of that as he tried to make himself feel better about pursuing Naomi. He'd decided in all of two minutes while Travis had had her attention that that was what he was doing. Pursuing her. As new as the feelings of attraction and desire were to him, he recognised that he wanted her to himself. Naomi looked at the note.

Wanna get some lunch with me?

She glanced back at Kyle with a smile, he sensed her pleasure and his whole body reacted to it, she nodded and turned back to listen to Julian. Halfway through the lecture Professor Alexander gave them a ten minute break, Travis immediately got up and said he was going for a smoke, Phillip and Andrea went for coffee. Naomi turned to face Kyle, they both ignored the pointed stares and smiles from her friends, they both started to speak at the same time.

"Where shall we -?"

"Where do you want to -?"

They laughed and Naomi threw his note back at him, she turned around when her friend tapped her on the arm. Stephanie had watched the exchange with a livid face and when Naomi turned around she slipped up the row to Travis's seat.

"You and her seem close," she commented, her eyes giving Naomi's head a scathing look, Kyle knew that Stephanie was not taking care to keep her voice down. Kyle didn't say anything and Stephanie shrugged looking coy.

"She just …" her voice trailed off.

"She just what?" Kyle whispered.

"She just doesn't seem your type," Stephanie said simply, still staring at Naomi's head as if trying to bore a hole through it.

"How would you know my type," Kyle responded sharply, giving Stephanie a warning look. They had never really been friends, they were just in the same crowd and were just friendly by association, Stephanie shrugged with a fairly malicious smile.

"I know it ain't her," she said, and Kyle watched Naomi stiffen slightly, he knew she'd heard and his stomach clenched worriedly. "Was it a bet?"

"Excuse me?" Kyle spat, knowing for her own safety Stephanie needed to remove herself from his presence.

"Or a dare?" Stephanie continued with a small giggle, "You lost a bet and this is what you have to do?"

She put lewd emphasis on the word 'do' and Kyle watched as the back of Naomi's neck began to grow scarlet. Kyle turned his head very slightly and moved his lips so discreetly that it was almost imperceptible but what he said was very clear.

"If you don't get the hell away from me I will break your fucking neck!" he growled, sounding like the bear that shared his soul. Stephanie blinked in surprise and a muscle jumped in her soft cheek betraying her fear.

"It was just a joke," she murmured before slipping further up the row, she studiously avoided Kyle's eye for the rest of the lesson and, mores the pity so did Naomi. Travis on the other hand came back after his smoke and apart from being more focused on his work then usual didn't seem very different.

At the lectures end after they'd quickly scribbled down the reading they were asked to do and shoved their books and laptops away, Kyle stood up and said nothing but kept a close eye on Naomi. Stephanie left the lecture hall with Phillip and Andrea, Andrea and Stephanie looked like Siamese twins where they were bent so close together. No doubt talking about him and his threat, Kyle thought biting the skin of his lip, he wondered whether he'd been a bit over zealous with his warning. He waited for Naomi at the end of the row and they walked out of the lecture hall, they didn't bother to talk because it was so loud in the corridor beyond, but Naomi kept throwing him shy, happy smiles that made Kyle's stomach do a pleasurable but at the same time uncomfortable squirm.

"Wanna grab a burger on the go? Or sit and eat?" Kyle asked, Naomi turned to him shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. The guy never failed to take her breath away, his dark blonde hair that was naturally sun streaked with lighter shades fell accidentally into his eyes and it took a flick of the head to get it out. He had strong forearms that were tanned and blanketed with golden hair hanging gracefully out of the sleeves of his Abercrombie and Fitch sweater. Over on broad shoulder he carried his black rucksack and in his hand a textbook. Naomi wanted to blush. She was forever aware that her clothes were old or second hand and that her mother had cut her hair for her instead of the salon. She saw that her bag wasn't the huge, fashionable carrier kind that all the girls had nowadays, but a serious, leather satchel that although in excellent condition she'd still had since her last year at high school.

"Why don't we grab a burger and sit and eat that?" She suggested, Kyle waited for the smile which was quick to come and nodded, fascinated by her perfectly straight, wonderfully white smile, that showed a faint dimple in one cheek.

"A compromise," he said nodding, then added in a heavily, drawling southern accent, "sounds good to me, Miss Scarlet."

"Why, Cap' in Butler, you are so kind," Naomi played along perfectly, loving that he got her humour down to pat.

"Gotta love Gone with the Wind, right?" Kyle chuckled and Naomi scoffed.

"If you say so, personally I'd rather pull teeth then watch it."

"Without anesthetic," Kyle added and they laughed together, Kyle swapped his textbook to his other hand and let his liberated one swing free. As he hoped their knuckles brushed and a pleasurable zing of heat rushed into his lower abdomen. They walked past a guy who had a large tattoo of a scene from the Godfather on his bicep.

"I like the third one best," they both said at the same time, Kyle let his fingers twine with Naomi's,

feeling complete now her hand was in he's.

Kyle leaned against the hood of his car with his arms crossed across his broad chest; he was eyeing the corner at the end of the street apprehensively. He'd told Naomi that he wanted to introduce her to some of his friends that didn't go to their college; he'd told her that he'd pick her up at eight but she had declined. So as she asked he was waiting for her a few blocks over from Bride's store as their official meeting place, Kyle had posed going out casually but he'd wanted it to be a date in everything but name, but meeting like this lessened the romance he'd been planning to create. Abruptly she came strolling into view and Kyle let his breath out slowly through his mouth that fell open in appreciation, he raised his hand in greeting and waited until she was close to him before speaking, he took a deep breath.

"Hi," was all he said and he felt a little stupid, Naomi laughed nervously and returned the greeting.

"Hi," she said, trying to discreetly pull up the dipping cleavage of the black dress she'd loaned from Bride's store, Kyle saw this and his eyes flared.

"I hope I'm not too underdressed or anything, but I wasn't sure what to wear and since you refused to tell me …" she gave him a mock glare and he laughed.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, instead of saying something humorous and flip as he had planned. Naomi blushed and Kyle knew it was time to get going because his emotions, like that of an over-sexed teenager, were running amok inside him. They got into the car and Kyle started the engine, he looked across to Naomi who was running her hands over the creamy, leather seats.

"Who's wheels have you stolen for the night?" she said turning her eyes on him, Kyle cleared his throat, trying to pretend he hadn't felt warm tingles at the sight of her hands caressing his car.

"Nobody's," Kyle assured her and saw her eyes widen slightly, "its mine."

"Wow," was her only response as she sat back to enjoy the ride.

Kyle wound down the window and tried to suck in as much fresh air as he could, something utterly unfamiliar was happening to him. Every time the car stopped or he took his eyes from the windscreen, he found them drawn to Naomi's cleavage, or the smooth skin of her legs, just behind her knee. Kyle had never had the capacity to be attracted to a woman before, now he felt like the ultimate sleaze, perving on her as she gazed out of the window.

Kyle pulled up outside club Vampyre and got out, he watched Naomi's eyes widen at the sight of the club's sign, fangs dripping with blood. Kyle knew the current movie and literary markets fascination with vampires and werewolves and used it to maximise the profit he would have taken when he entered partnership with the Charontes. Naomi stepped up beside him and he sensed her nerves, Kyle slipped his arm lightly around her shoulders, staying the polite gentleman, even though what he really wanted to do was hold her to him by the waist. He led them straight to the door where the bouncer asked no questions, simply unhooked the red rope barring their entrance and nodded to Kyle as they passed him.

"You must know these people very well," Naomi murmured to him.

"I do," he replied and pushed her in front of him so that he had her back covered possessiveness flaring to life inside him. With his warm hands on her bare shoulders, he guided her towards the V.I.P section up the stairs and to the back, to a comfortable room overlooking the dance floor. The Charonte that led them into the room shook hands with Kyle and exchanged a polite greeting before turning to her and bowing, Naomi bit her lip and tried not to laugh at the chivalric, old world gesture. He then opened the door and snapped his fingers, another Charonte came in holding champagne and glasses, he popped the cork, poured the alcohol and placed it neatly in an ice bucket then left with the first Charonte. Kyle picked up both glasses and handed one to Naomi, she took it and after a beat of silence squealed and rushed to the glass to look down at the dance floor.

"Oh my God! Kyle!" she laughed, turning around and taking the room in, Kyle sipped his champagne and watched her with a smile. "This is amazing!"

"Thank you." A deep voice said from behind her, Naomi looked over her shoulder at a handsome man in his late twenties, he was lean with dark hair, he looked to Kyle who came forward and they shook hands like old friends.

"Naomi, this is Xedix, the owner of the club. Xed, this is Naomi Riley, a good friend of mine."

Xedix bowed low, "it is a privilege to have you here, my lady," he said seriously and Naomi found herself blushing.

"Thank you, very much. You own a wonderful place here," she said, remembering that her mama always told her to compliment people, the serious man's mouth twitched into a kindly half-smile.

"Part own," he corrected, "but thank you anyway. It was Kyle's baby as much as mine, he thought out the structure and design of the place."

Naomi frowned before turning disbelieving eyes on Kyle whose cheeks glowed scarlet, even in her shock Naomi noted how sexy it was.

"You own half of this place?"

Kyle shrugged half heartedly then changed the subject, turning to Xedix he asked "how's Kerryna?"

"She's well, a little tired but it's to be expected. I try to get her to lie down and to eat more but she doesn't."

Naomi wondered who he was talking about; surely he would not talk about his pet with such love in his voice?

"Xedix's wife is pregnant with their first child," Kyle explained and Naomi's smile was bright enough to have Xedix's serious face softening.

"That's wonderful, congratulations!" she cried, "do you know if it's a girl or boy yet?"

"I believe it's a girl," Xedix replied, trying hard to stop himself smiling with joy.

"What will you name her? Or haven't you decided?"

"I want her named after her mother but she wants to give the child a female variation of my name."

Naomi smiled and nodded politely but inside cringed with sympathy for the poor child, Kyle must have gathered what she was thinking because he snorted into his champagne.

"I'll leave you to your evening," Xedix said suddenly, "I might be back later, and bring Kerryna if she feels up to it."

Xedix left and once again Naomi and Kyle were alone together, they sat on the comfy couch like seats and sipped their drinks. Kyle kept flicking looks towards Naomi's quiet face; he put down his glass and turned so he was angled towards her.

"I wish you would have let me pick you up tonight," Kyle said, "I was worried about you walking around so late. Especially looking like that."

Naomi immediately looked down to see if she was showing too much chest area, Kyle laughed and Naomi swatted him.

"That's okay, my mama would only have invited you in and made us late," she sighed, sipping her drink.

"I'd like to meet your mom," he said lightly and Naomi laughed, suddenly she stood up and grabbed his hand, pulling him up.

"C'mon lets go downstairs and mingle by the bar," she said excitedly, Kyle blanched.

"I'm not dancing!" he said firmly, immediately, Naomi snorted.

"Oh hell no, neither am I. But we might as well go down with all the worthless plebs instead of staying up here like a king and queen."

Kyle chuckled and they descended to the main part of the club, where it was noisy and rambunctious, they pushed their way to the bar. Kyle was entranced by the way Naomi seemed to glow amongst the dim crowd, though other females in the club had sexier dresses, and the rocks on their hands were expensive for Kyle they barely registered. Unconsciously he fitted himself at her back so he was pressed against her where she sat on her bar stool, Naomi didn't seem to notice and if she did she wasn't outwardly reacting to it. Soon they were chatting to young couples at the bar, the drink flowed faster and the laughing became louder. During the course of the night Kyle went to the bathroom and Naomi looked over her shoulder to see him stopped every few seconds by people wishing to speak to him. The night had been exciting and fun yet she could not shake the feeling of inadequacy, the way the women eyed him as his made his way back to her, as if he were made of chocolate. He came back to her side and put his arm around her shoulders, had she have been used to alcohol she would have blushed, as it was that one glass of champagne had put her head into a bit of a spin and Naomi made a contented noise and leant back against him, her eyes looking sleepy as she stared at him.

"Shall we go?" Kyle asked, leaning closer, pretending he could not hear her over the music, Naomi inhaled his scent and nodded, her hair whispering against his neck. Kyle held her hand as he guided her to the door, he nodded his goodbyes to a few people and suddenly they were out in the cold early morning air. Naomi shivered and found the change in atmosphere made her feel slightly drunker then she thought.

"How was it?" Kyle said when he joined her in the car and Naomi smiled sleepily at him, she raised her hand and moved his hair from his eyes with delicate fingers.

"It was nice," Naomi said and Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"But?"

"I felt very out of place," Naomi murmured, and she twisted in the seat so she was facing him but laying her head on the seat.

"Out of place?" Kyle repeated, glancing at her.

"Yeah, I mean, you're so popular and …"

"And?"

"Well, rich. We're so different," Naomi yawned; Kyle felt his body go a little cold.

"Different," he repeated again, he glanced at her and she was staring at him, "how?"

"You're a beautiful, exclusive diamond and next to you I feel like rhinestone. I glisten next to your shine."

"I don't know exactly how I can respond to that," Kyle said, he licked his lips, "but … for me you are the one that shines."

Naomi laughed suddenly and leaned forward so she could hold his hand, Kyle drove back to where they had met earlier in the night but did not stop.

"Where do you live?" he asked and Naomi suddenly sat up.

"Its fine," she said quickly, "you can let me out here."

"No, I'm not letting you walk the streets -" Kyle began seriously, but Naomi leant in as fast as lightening and given him a peck on the cheek, she cried a quick goodnight and was out of the car. Kyle felt the warmth from where her lips had been fade and he started the engine, preparing to follow her at a good distance. He did so, for far longer then he liked when thinking about her walking seemingly alone in the early hours of the morning. She came to a house, it was small and simple looking from the outside, if not a little shabby, but the yard was tidy and the curtains and windows were immaculate. Kyle felt an uncomfortable niggling at his chest, surely she wouldn't risk being raped and murdered on a New Orleans street because she was ashamed of her home? Naomi was smarter then that. But then his father's voice floated through his mind, just because someone is smart doesn't mean they can't act stupid ….

Especially when there was pride involved, and Naomi had a stiff necked pride in her that Kyle had noted and respected in her, he just hadn't realised it ran so deep. He waited for her to get in the house and lock up, then he went home.