~Chapter 10: Say nothing at all~

Ahkmenrah could not help but steal to himself as he watched Suzanne glide almost effortlessly on the ice in front of him.

After their first official 'date' and his disastrous attempt to impress her, he knew, ice skating was not for him, but watching her giggle and pull face' as she went past him made him laugh and saw how alive she felt.

Even when she slipped over a couple of times, the way she grumbled and stuck her tongue out in defiance of him laughing at her made him glad to be there.

Tonight was no different.

She'd dressed in those woollen tights and the short plaid skirt that meant, when she fell over, she kept her dignity. He sat and sipped the hot chocolate in his left hand, the other balancing onto of his denim clad knee, thankful for the extra warmth. He'd been starting to feel the cold only when he wasn't up and doing something. But whenever she was close, whether holding her hand or her leg brushing against his, a shot of warmth would go all through his body.

When she whirled around showing off her skills with an Axel jump (which to this point, she'd been successful in doing 3 out of five times), Ahkmenrah was used to seeing her fall over. He'd learnt his lesson the first two times after she'd fallen and he ran on the ice to help her up.

And then proceeded to slip straight over and have her sit up and laugh so hard at him she'd hurt her stomach. The time after that, he'd merely stood up, leant over the railing and called to see if she was alright. When she had replied she was, the next time, he just asked if she'd enjoyed this trip, too which she arched her brow and congratulated him on his first joke.

This time though, he hadn't expected the stranger that approached her. A boy, in his late teens, offered his hand and although it seemed innocent enough, Ahkmenrah sat up a little straighter and watched the exchange closely.

Suzanne, who was laughing at herself, happily accepted and held onto the hand, when the young boy put his arm around her to hoist him up.

Standing together for a few seconds, bodies pressed to steady themselves, Ahkmenrah felt like he was watching an embrace that he should be interrupting.

He stood too quickly and ignored the small splodge of hot chocolate on his clothed leg, letting the small burning egg him on.

When Suzanne pulled away, the guy did not immediately pull back from his hand holding. He said something inaudible to Ahkmenrah, but his body language said enough. Carefully watching Suzanne' expressions, he found himself relieved when she smiled sweetly but then pointed over to Ahkmenrah, obviously explaining to the guy she already had company.

Ahkmenrah held the boy' gaze and gave him a curt nod (which he was sure was not at all rude because he was glaring) and tried not to smirk as the boy looked dejected and skated away, his shoulder' slumping in defeat. He was so overjoyed to see him go, he missed Suzanne skate up to him.

"What's that look for?" She sat down on the edge of the step, removing the skates she had rented and sticking on her own boots.

"Oh...I burned myself," he though quickly, glad he could use that as an excuse, "I Sat up too quickly. Are you alright? You didn't-"

"If you say, 'You didn't hurt yourself on this trip round, did you?' I'm going to push you onto the ice myself and leave you there." Suzanne stood, with her hands on her hips and tried to sound threatening and authoritative, Ahkmenrah only smirking at her attempt.

He leant forward and stole a quick kiss on the tip of her nose, Suzanne immediately shrieking and covering it with her hands.

"Your lips are cold!" She giggled and rubbed her nose red.

"So is your nose, but I do not mind."

Suzanne looked at him before turning away and picking up her skates, Ahkmenrah just knowing she was hiding a blush.

"Come on, we'll be late for the play!" She took the hot chocolate from his hand and gulped it straight down.

"I still cannot understand how you can drink so quickly when it's so hot." Ahkmenrah sipped his, the taste tingly on his tongue.

She'd thrown the now empty cup into the nearest garbage can and handed the guy at the office the skates.

"Simple easy logic. I'm cold, therefore, if I wait for it to cool down, I shan't get warm enough." She winked at him and happily slipped her fingers in-between his as they made there way out of the skate rink and onto the pavement leading to the park.

Ahkmenrah enjoyed the walk and her talking about the stars above them, glad she remembered their trips to the planetarium. He noticed clouds enclosing the sky and scrunched his brow together.

"Don't look like that, it's not supposed to rain for another hour or so."

He looked at her expression as she seemed to be attempting a 'stern' expression, which just looked ready to be challenged.

"Did you bring an umbrella?" He sipped the last bit of his hot chocolate before placing it carefully in a rubbish can near his side as he passed it.

"I didn't think we'd have to," she tried not too look like she'd been caught out, "If we go see the play and then take a quick walk, we'll be at Tess'. And then, if it doesn't stop raining, a taxi for you back to the museum to rest."

"You really do think of everything." He stopped, tugging at her hand for her to stop also and smiled at her, "May I-"

"Ahk! You don't have to ask me every time. I've told you, " She stepped forward until she was right in front of him, "you can whenever you want."

Getting up on her tip-toes, Ahkmenrah allowed her to slightly lean on him as his arms came around her back and his lips pressed a soft, sweet kiss against her lips.

When music started flowing to his ears, he pulled back slightly, Suzanne already pulling him towards the source.

"Someone' getting married!" She squealed happily and pulled him underneath a nearby tree where they got a good view.

In the middle of the cold, threatening weather, there stood two females, both clad in white gowns, surrounded by a few children and adults.

Ahkmenrah smiled and placed a hand on Suzanne' shoulders.

"Times have changed."

"I'm hoping you mean in a good way." She did not turn around as she spoke to him, but he felt her shift backwards so she was pressed against him.

"Of course," He smiled and leant his head down so his chin rested against her hair, "so many sights to see. So many people working together rather than against one another."

They watched the couple exchange nuptials and all those around them clap in celebration, everyone hugging and congratulating the happy couple, taking pictures.

After a couple of minutes just watching the display, Ahkmenrah placed a kiss against her hair.

Suzanne turned around and placed her palms flat on his chest as she stared at him.

"I keep forgetting you're not my age. Technically," She raised her eyebrows to send him the message, "and...not from here originally."

"Did my accent not give it away?" He smirked at her and laughed when she pouted and tried not to show her amusement.

"You're a pain." She gave into her chuckles and buried her head in his chest.

His hand came round and took hold of her chin, making her look at him again. He smiled at her, briefly wetting his lips with his tongue as he leant forward and stole a kiss without asking, feeling positively wicked about it.

Arms coming about one another, it was perfection. Ahkmenrah allowed his senses to be filled with just her. The smell of her skin, the feel of her beating heart hammering in her chest with the effect he had on her. The taste of her lips against his.

And then, the feeling of something wet on his cheek. Pulling away, he thought she was crying, but seeing only a dry, shocked face, he could only laugh and remain confused for a few seconds as to where it had come from.

However, the drop on his head let him know straight away and he kept his eyes on her face as she felt it to.

"Uh oh."

"I think you're calculation of an hour was a little off." He stepped away when she went to swipe at his arm and looked up to see the clouds had now engulfed the sky.

"No play tonight." She grabbed his hand and watched as more and more drops fell from the sky, in quicker succession this time.

He turned to her and smiled cheekily.

"How far is it from here to Tess' place?" His breathing quickened and the excitement bubbled through him.

"Oh...say...15 Minutes if we run." She seemed to share his exact same sentiments and wiggled her brows at him hopefully.

He squeezed her hand and chuckled, getting ready to run as fast as he could.

"I'm ready to try if you will?"

And with no warning, they both shot off into the night as the rain came down.

15 Minutes later...

The door to the apartment swung open as the two rushed inside.

"Oh my god, I was mistaken earlier," A drenched Suzanne wheezed, "I am SO COLD. The running has done nothing for warmth."

Ahkmenrah (equally soaked), quickly removed his shoes he did not want to trail through the apartment.

He caught his breath for a second and took in her appearance, caught between concern and amusement. Her lovely skirt clung to her legs, her tights where no longer a good source of warmth and her hair had fallen out of its ponytail and was now clinging limply to her face, neck and shoulders. Her mascara had run slightly, so it appeared she had also turned into a panda and Ahkmenrah managed to refrain from the very undignified snort he felt coming, instead, removing his jacket and then hers, hanging them up side by side.

"I'm so glad they are not here to see us," Suzanne hurriedly pulled off her boots and scarf, "they'd tell us off and then laugh at us."

Ahkmenrah couldn't have agreed more and made to say so but it was the stilling of her hands midway down her body and the unsure look she gave him that made him stop himself.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just...well...I have wet feet and I don't really want to walk though the apartment," Although she had claimed coldness and seemed hesitant to stay the way she was, Ahkmenrah had a feeling he knew what she meant, "could you...turn around and not look?"

He nodded and did so, obediently staring at the blue of the door as he heard her shuffle about for a minute.

"Ok, it's fine," She signalled for him to look and caught her lobbing the tights into the laundry basket a few feet away, "I'm going to start a shower and leave some towels out for you...and...well...no water in the apartment so urm...I'll go shower-in the other shower! Yeah, and you can leave your clothes over by there...somewhere and just...well, you know...go shower. Ok, bye then." She almost sprinted away, her eyes not looking at him throughout her awkward speech.

As he undressed and laid his clothes against the nearest radiator, he contemplated their situation.

He knew Tess and Larry had taken Nick away to see a relative for their birthing celebrations and that they'd entrusted Suzanne with the keys, with the understanding Ahkmenrah would make sure she got home safely each night.

So that meant the apartment to themselves.

All alone.

And it wasn't until her was boxer clad, walking over to the bathroom did it dawn on him.

It was just the two of them and it had never been that way, without them being in a public place.

As Ahkmenrah stepped into the hot shower, he thought of Suzanne doing the same thing and realised, that he was about to see her in her nightclothes. At night. Completely vulnerable and with only him to keep her company. And of course, she trusted him.

He sighed as he soaped himself all over and realised, that although he truly cared for her, situations like this, he was definitely no expert at. And then, he thought, neither would she be.

Would they end up doing more than kissing? What if Ahkmenrah did not know any new 'techniques'? What if-

He hit his head slightly against the tiled walls and rolled his eyes at himself.

He had to stop thinking about these things.

After a few more minutes of furious scrubbing and mental slaps, he wrapped the thick blue towel firmly around his waist and made his way out of the bedroom, only to come into a very solid and familiar form the other side of the door.

His hands came out to steady Suzanne as he pushed against her, fearing he'd end up crushing her body under his against the floor.

Suzanne had something wedged between the two of them, her arms folded so he could feel the slight chill from the back of her hands.

"I am so sorry," he pulled away slightly and looked down into her flushed expression, "I should not have ran out like that."

"No, no, I was about to knock, I'm so sorry, I forgot to bring you a spare change of clothes!" She said hurriedly and thrust out the shirt and trouser bundle for him. Although he took it in his hands, they still stayed close to one another and just stared into one another' eyes, very aware of one another' close proximity and Ahkmenrah' practically naked body.

Ahkmenrah looked down at her and noticing the long, white Shirt she wore with her pyjama shorts and the ballet slippers to keep her warm. Although it didn't seem to exciting, the sight of her bare arms and legs made his breathing quicken and he turned his gaze back to her, to find her looking straight at his body.

"I-I can leave," she turned suddenly and put the bundle on the bed, "I just-I need to set up the room VCR and I promise I won't look, though I can leave if you still don't feel-"

"Shhh," His steadying hand on her shoulder silenced her and he controlled his own nerves, "You can stay, I trust you. You trusted me."

Suzanne took a few controlling deep breaths and heard him rustle, the sound of fabric falling against the floor had visions swimming in her head that made her want to smack herself for being so cheeky to think about.

As he adjusted the loose waistband of the sweatpants, Ahkmenrah then moved to the shirt, raising his arms out, but not even getting it halfway up his arms before a burning sensation spread where the fabric grazed his arm.

Ahkmenrah winced in pain and tried not too call out, but Suzanne heard his hiss anyway and turned.

"What's wrong? Oh sorry!" She tried not to look and then she did, opting to never keep her eyes on more than one place of his body for a few seconds, "What happened?"

"I'm fine, I think that man with the bad temper and sharp umbrella I ran into nicked me," Ahkmenrah turned his arm, attempting to see the damage, "Probably a slight scratch."

Suzanne had not known how she'd gotten over to him so quickly, but she was gently holding and expecting his arm, gazing at it in concern. Ahkmenrah allowed her to handle his bicep ever so tenderly between her hands.

"Oh, horrible man," She scrunched her brow up as she looked at the damaged area, "It's a little red so it may bruise, but no scratch."

Ahkmenrah watched her head lean down and he felt her cool lips press against the sore area, his overheated skin feeling as if the effect was like an instant pain relief.

She straightened herself up and gave him a sheepish smile, as if what she had done she was not entirely sure of.

"Sorry, my mother used to do that to me."

Of course, he quenched her worries by placing a chaste kiss against her cheek, but she shifted her head at the last moment and caught his lips in what was supposed to be a peck.

In the jumble of the kiss, a small spark started.

To correct the original mistake, they kissed again.

But as they separated and looked at one another, Ahkmenrah felt something stir inside of him. His lips came down, one, two, three times against hers before arms encircled her waist and whatever it was that was happening, they allowed.

Their lips were pressed firmly together and his palms pressed her lower back against him, whilst her arms weaved around his neck and clung on desperately to his shoulders. Suddenly on her tiptoes and pushing herself against him for more contact that released something in her chest, she caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards and was forced to sit on the bed. Trying to get comfortable in the awkward angle, she stumbled down and ended up half sitting and half leaning on the bed next to him, his arms holding her tightly.

She felt him ever so slowly lower her to the soft mattress, his arms coming out to either side of her body as too create a distance between both their torsos as he separated from her for air.

"Suzanne." He whispered her name and placed his forehead against hers, trying to control his breathing.

Suzanne felt so hot, not just in her clothes, but in her skin. It was a strong urge to reach up and kiss him and she couldn't control it. She placed one hand on the back of his neck and one hand open palmed against his cheek as she took the next step.

Parting her lips ever so slightly, not knowing what she was doing.

Suddenly, her wrists where pulled away from him and he sat back, his eyes shut tight and his head shaking as he seemed to fight an internal battle.

"We mustn't."

Suzanne blushed when she realised his implications meant something she was not ready for and sat up very embarrassed at herself and her lack of control.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me." She could not look at him and looked almost ready to cry when she felt his hands gently take her shoulders.

"It's ok, really." He looked at her when she grimaced.

"Oh God Ahk, I'm just-I'm knew to this!"

"If you want me to leave, I can go," Ahkmenrah looked displeased with his words but covered them with a forced smile, "I don't want you to be here like this with me."

"No, no, it's alright!" Suzanne took his hands in hers when she felt them pull away, "I want you to stay. I think...I think I'm ok now with everything it's just...I'm not ready."

Ahkmenrah smiled at her, for real this time and nodded.

"Then we talk no more about it," He knew changing the subject what make the atmosphere easier, "right, I heard about a movie."

As Suzanne took up the distraction, she set to work, turning the right channel on, putting the movie in and setting her alarm for a few hours time when they were ready to go, encase they fell asleep.

And until Ahkmenrah was ready to leave, they slept comfortably for a few peaceful hours, missing the film completely, but neither caring.