Chapter 10. What Should I Call You?

A/N: I should tell you guys that I am not a musician. I had some rudimentary piano lessons. I know nothing about recording business. If anyone out there spots inaccuracies about the world of music, please correct me.

A/N: So sorry, guys. I was working from the tablet and this site is kind of new to me. Here is the actual chapter 10.

Kim POV

Thursday afternoon.

We lay exhausted in each others arms, my head pillowed on his chest. The mad drums of his heartbeat slowed to a reassuringly steady rhythm.

He was slowly running his hand through my hair and planting soft kisses on any part of me he could reach. I was floating in this cloud of contentment, happiness, tenderness...

"Kimberly, Kim, Kimmy, Kimmiken... What should I call you, sweetheart?"

"Anything you want," I didn't care, so long as it was him.

"I'll think of something special. Just for me," he kissed the palm of my hand. "Why didn't you tell me? That I'll be your first? "

"At first, I didn't know how. I was embarrassed. Then, it didn't seem to matter..." I whispered into his chest.

"I should have realized it myself... I am sorry... Did I… did I hurt too much? Was it... Was it good for you?" His voice has gone soft and unsure.

I nodded again, still embarrassed.

"Please tell me, Kim. I want to hear it."

"It was good. So is this."

We were silent for a while. Suddenly Jack huffed a little chuckle. "All the guys in your school are idiots. None of them figured out what a wonderful girl you are."

"If they did, then we wouldn't be here."

"I know. And I am glad they are idiots. It just… why waste education on them? Such idiocy is endemic."

I laughed quietly, but stopped short when my lower body tensed with soreness. Jack, perceptive Jack, got up from bed and went to the bathroom. I tried not to stare at his strong, capable, body, heat flashing through me again.

"I'll draw you a bath. It should help with soreness." He sounded both apologetic and smug.

I wrapped myself in Jacks shirt and slowly shuffled to the bathroom. I stopped short when I saw Jack's body under a bright light. He had bruises of various colors on his arms and torso; there were multiple scars and a series of butterfly bandages on his left arm.

"Is your work always so dangerous?" I traced the scars watching the muscle contract and release.

"Not always but, yes, it's dangerous."

"Jack, I am scared."

"You shouldn't be."

"Not for myself."

"I know. You still shouldn't be. I am trained for this. I've been through a lot and I survived. You won't get rid of me so easily," Jack tried to diffuse situation and I let it go.

Jack POV

Wednesday evening

We spent a lazy afternoon in a bubble of touching, laughing, talking... Kim was too sore to do anything again, but this tenderer reunion was just as good. Kim spent time studying my collection of scars and kissed and touched every single one of them. I had to stop her at some point… there is only so much a man can take…It was unbearably sweet. I had not had anyone care about me in this very open and tactile way since my mother passed. Dad and I had too much of misunderstanding and my stupid youthful resentment standing in the way. I knew he cared, but he would never be so open and direct about it. My previous lovers had their share of "kiss the boo-boo better," but it was always a foreplay tactic. Kim... Kim was caring and careful; she was guileless about her affections and it touched me in a way that was new and exciting.

Really, I didn't want it to end, but Kim had a short shift at a Blue Whale. I was once again on a short post mission leave, so I simply tagged along with her.

Kim's new stage look involved black long sheath dress with silver trim around the bust line and a long slit on one side. There were these sharp angled cut outs on her torso that made the dress both demure and very-very sexy. She put a long black wig with straight hair and was wearing heavier makeup. All in all, she was practically unrecognizable.

She was very good at this. She sung and played and interacted with audience like a pro. I was mesmerized. She was singing King of Sorrow and it put me in a very thoughtful melancholic mood. How did I land this talented, beautiful, smart woman? What have I done to deserve her? She gave me her trust, her innocence... Me, the scarred cynic, who has seen already too much of this ugly world. She was a songbird and I waded through the trash of human society on the regular. She should not be with me, but I was selfish: I won't let her go.

Is this how dad felt about mom? Thar she was something precious that he did not deserve, but was grateful for nonetheless. She died when I just started high school. She was sick for a while and her death was not a surprise, but the feeling of loss was still a shock. Dad was inconsolable. He slowly drifted away from friends and focused on work just enough to keep his dog breeding business afloat. He never looked at other women again and, really, I was the only connection to the world that he cared about. I was too young to fully understand then the full extent of his grief, but I knew enough to decide that I did not want to end up like that. I dated easily without truly being close to all the girls I was with. Until Kim… Now, I think I could understand dad better.

My thoughts, at once poetic, possessive and melancholic, were interrupted when I saw a youngish and nerdy looking guy talking to Kim. She was smiling, but I could see that she was clenching her teeth. Alright, time to step in. I swaggered up to Kim and threw my arm around her waist, "Baby, you were awesome... Who's this?"

The guy extended his hand, "I'm Mark. I am trying to get your girl to record couple of songs for us." He didn't look like the artistic type. If anything, he had the 'IT guy' written all over him. I shook his hand giving it a squeeze harder than necessary. He visibly flinched, then ran an appraising look over my arms and upper body. His eyes had a gleam in them, like he had an idea. "Do you know any fighting techniques?"

"What sort of recording label are you guys?" Was this guy for real?

He just laughed. "No, no, no. Not a record label. We are game developers. We need a musical score for games. Sometimes we need songs..." He turned to Kim, "your voice will fit the feel of the game we are going for. It's a fantasy world, of course, and you sound like an angel. Or a fairy… You voice is magical is what I am saying," Mark was excited and Kim's smile softened at this sincere praise. Mark passed his card to Kim and asked, "Would you at least think about it? Call me to let me know either way."

Kim's shift was over and I took her to my place. On the way I asked her what she thought of Mark's offer. She was unsure: apparently guys often approach young attractive girls who sing with offers of a recording career. It was a common pickup trick. But Mark could be legit, since he stuck to the story even after meeting me. At the very least he wasn't interested in Kim just to get laid. I offered to check him and his company through my channels.

Kim was a little unsettled; she half jokingly asked if I checked her the same way. We were at home now and she was facing me unflinchingly. I think I understand now what was bothering her: she obviously had something going on in her life that she tried to keep under wraps. I won't lie I was tempted to find out, but I wanted her to tell me herself.

"I did. That first time we met. But I only got the basic bio info on you. And, whether you showed up on any national security databases. I don't know any of your dark secrets. That is if you have any. I told you that we'll go at your pace. I'll wait for you to tell me everything when you are ready."

Kim's eyes softened and she smiled at me. "Why are you so good to me?" She said and raised herself on her tip toes and kissed me. I responded with hunger that seemed unquenchable. I burned for her and soon, there was no more talking.