They do not belong to me but it would be nice if they did. Needless to say, I absolutely love borrowing them to indulge my own fantasies especially this one.

Thank you to CreativeGirl29, QuestRunner & Waterfowl for reviewing the last chapter, your comments are very much appreciated.

Ch12

Adept at moving from an unconscious state to one that required immediate action Kayo had woken, processed and responded within seconds as she realised that she would be left on her own, ill-equipped to face Scott without mental preparation. Waking to Penelope at the doorway engaging with him in whispered conversation gave her only seconds to buy a little thinking time. Behind the lock of the bathroom door seemed the only place where she would be undisturbed and not forced into a conversation she was not yet armed for. This she reasoned was not running, this was time to gather herself and work out how she was going to act or react. An apology had seemed necessary for the way she had dealt with his actions earlier; still it was foreign territory and a rehearsal seemed essential. Apologies were something she rarely delivered, in her own mind her actions never faltered from the vital but in this instance it was clear her immaturity had won out and he had not deserved her outburst.

The shower pounded water down onto her body relaxing both muscle and mind as she considered the stance she was going to take once she left her room and faced him. There was nothing for it, a simple sorry would have to do any elaboration would come too close to revealing a little too much. Closing her eyes she submitted her face to the glorious awakening of the jets, clearing her head of the forthcoming contrition, now drifting, trying to think of the time when the shift in feelings had consumed her past the point of recognising herself. A year ago she had five brothers, no question in her mind that then the family unit consisted of six siblings. As the water continued to beat down it became an interesting question, to find the turning point, when had she allowed herself to think of him differently. It occurred that she hadn't really understood that there was a difference until Penelope had practically dragged it out of her, so now this thing, whatever it could be described as was barely a week old and remained undefined.

There had been no thought of taking the shower for anything other than head space and avoidance so she stood inactive under the jets of water trying to get her brain to find the precise point in time when her reactions to Scott changed beyond her own recognition. The more she tried to pinpoint the precise moment she considered it could actually be captured in two defining actions by Scott both within incidents that involved her uncle. Scott's voice screaming out her name in her ear when she had all but destroyed Shadow, it was nothing more than that but enough as she played it over for her to create a deep down a significance in its tone and a now a hope it meant something. Weeks later, at the Island, as her brothers all instinctively believed that she was capable of betrayal there was one lone voice that refused to convict her before she'd had her say. He had trusted her beyond the evidence and insisted she would not face her uncle alone. Could all this be clinging to him, using him as a convenient security blanket to help her to face her own fears, her need to love to someone because she had ignored her own private hell of a loveless childhood for too long? It became clear Scott had been chosen as a surrogate precisely because he always made her feel safe, faced with an onslaught of conflict Scott always guided her to a calm safe place. Any-time she had faced her uncle it had been Scott who sought her out and wrapped her up in one of his 'great job' chats that immediately made her feel good about herself. Maybe feeling good about the person you were was more important than she had ever given credence to, maybe someone telling her she was someone special had actually shifted her focus to something that wasn't there.

This was getting easier, the problem was clear, she had convinced herself after her conversation with Penelope in England that she loved him. Maybe a little quick off the mark she considered as it occurred to her that she didn't really know herself beyond the focus of work. She had no real experience to compare feelings with, one high school sweetheart and a brief madness with a GDF captain could hardly be considered as life experience, how was she supposed to recognise what being in love meant. She caught herself in a smile, god she had been such an idiot she had talked herself into something that she conceded was possible but quite unrealistic after a lifetime knowing someone. The ridiculousness of her recent actions had dawned like an epiphany in the safety, solitude and comfort of the water; that was until her mind allowed her to think about the man. He was handsome for sure, funny at times, most definitely one of the most caring people she knew, there was no-one she trusted more, he was someone who knew her better than anyone else and then shit .. bang it hit her like a freight train, she was full circle, no matter how she dressed this up or tried to talk herself down he was quite possibly the only person she could ever love. She turned the shower off, the thinking space she had initially needed to formalise the correct apology had taken her on a journey through self-analysis that served only to confirm she needed to acknowledge and then suppress any hopes in that quarter. She couldn't live without him, she wasn't in a position to love him and expect its return in the same way, she needed to find some sort of newly defined middle ground, a friendship zone because brother was most definitely off the table.

Scott needn't have worried about the opportunity to lay the leather jacket on her bed undetected; Kayo seemed to be indulging in the longest shower in history. His resolve to wait on the couch for her appearance changed into impatient pacing, he couldn't wait to see her face when she started to realise his plans for the evening. He stopped pacing after a few minutes in favour of returning to the couch when he heard the bathroom door open. Expectation built, the great thing about giving a gift to someone you love was the anticipation of their reaction and the pleasure you know you have bestowed when the gift is returned ten-fold the moment you see the sparkle of gratitude in their eyes. As Kayo stepped out of her room, her hair still wet clinging to her shoulders and wearing the jacket he had arranged for her, he could barely contain his excitement when he was greeted by one of her rare effortless, infectious smiles delivered as she span round mockingly modelling the jacket.

"My way of saying sorry Kid, if you'll let me."

Kayo took a seat beside him trying to work him out; this seemed to be something out of the ordinary a gift imparted as an apology that was not his to make. This was very un-Scott like behaviour and to say she was intrigued would be an understatement. There was something else, something in his eyes deep and familiar that almost took her breath away. As unprepared for this precise situation as she was as she was the feelings now whirling around hitting her with unguarded hope were relentless, she had to take a moment avoiding his look, after all she had practically talked her way into this interpretation with her see-sawing indecision in the shower.

"I should be the one apologising Scott, I was out of order. I could give you excuses but I haven't got any, so I'm sorry OK. If you could forget it then it would be good for me." She felt the slight quiver on the edge of her voice betrayed her.

"Nothing to forget, I'll remember next time to let you get your own punch in."

She was grateful to be back on steadier ground which required a less emotional response "Well I was close I have to admit, that bloke had bad breath."

Scott grinned, his fears that an awkwardness would need to be broken down before they had a little fun seemed to have been unfounded. "You ready to go?"

"Go?" It dawned that the jacket was the appetiser for something bigger he had planned "Well it's either a rock gig and you didn't want to stand out in the crowd or you want a lesson in ground speed on two wheels from the master."

Scott threw the keys at her which she caught expertly with one hand, he had noticed the spark in her voice "Who said I'm pillion?" he couldn't resist a little of his own mischief showing in his voice.

Kayo took up the challenge "Well…. I'm guessing it's a bike and as I'll be on it, you my friend will be watching my back literally."

"You think, how about tag team?" The relief their exchange was back to easy with no uncomfortable forced responses meant he couldn't keep a smile off his face.

"Not a chance." She shook the keys at him in mock defiance. "You ready for the rush?"

Kayo could not hide the joy when she set eyes on the bike Scott had hired for them; this machine had a spec she could only dream of, the bike at Penelope's paled into insignificance. Before she was ready to feel the power between her legs she walked round her laying a hand to the shiny black fairing. God she was going to enjoy this girl and enjoy drinking in every minute of the experience.

"I'll be sensible in the city that goes without saying; do you want a warning when I open her up?"

"I'll expect it."

"Grab rails or waist?"

"What?"

"Scott I'll be giving her a run for her money, I need to know there won't be any surprises at full pelt, make a choice before the coast road and stick to it." She grinned at him; it seemed she had managed to render him speechless. "Oh and if you've had enough, I won't be able to hear you just tap me on the shoulder and I'll pull over."

Kayo grabbed the helmet off the handle bars and straddled the bike resting her hands on the throttle waiting for Scott to join her. Her huge grin masked by her helmet when she felt one arm around her waist, she imagined he was hedging his bets and his other arm behind him grasping the grab rail. She couldn't resist revving her for a while, the sound hit her in the chest and the vibrations pulsed through her system. Keeping to her word the ride through the city was leisurely, anticipation built for the open road, as soon as city was left behind and the traffic was replaced by a grey strip with nothing on it as far as the eye could see Kayo pulled back lifting one wheel off the ground, gave a whoop and grinned as she felt Scott's grip tighten around her waist. This girl could shift even with the additional weight of a pillion and god it felt good. The power she was in control of left her giddy, shifting her weight to take bends with Scott mirroring her action almost attached to her back forming an unbroken silhouette was an indulgence she enjoyed with no fear of being discovered. This was more than the night at the beach when she had allowed herself a similar pleasure, she was in control and the fantasy was hidden behind her visor. They had put over a hundred kilometers between them and Perth before she felt the tap on her shoulder. True to her word, she reduced speed and pulled over into a lay-by with a view of the Indian Ocean and a breath-taking sunset, a golden orb resting on the dark horizon, kissing the cobalt water and spreading its warm glow out in front of it, the red sky imprinting the clouds with an orange tint giving the impression the atmosphere above was on fire. She felt Scott's weight leave the bike, took off her helmet rested it on the handle bars and went to join him at the cliff edge.

"It was a great idea to hire the bike. Wish we'd done it last night, this is much better than you holding my hair off my face while I leave you with an attractive image you won't forget in a hurry." She turned to drink in the view as the orb made its last impressions on the water below. "I don't think I've seen anything more beautiful in my life."

Scott gave her a sidelong glance "I have." Jeez had he just said that out loud "I didn't say I'd hired the bike Kiddo. She's all yours."

Now she was stood there leaving him with an attractive gawp as she struggled to get any words to leave her mouth and this gift deserved an eloquent response.

She turned from the view to face him. "You're shitting me."

"No, definitely not shitting you." He laughed at the reaction he wasn't expecting "It'll probably be a rare treat though, no point taking her to the Island but when you're in Perth she'll be in the office garage waiting for you."

"I don't know what to say, I mean seriously Scott, really she's all mine?"

"All yours." Scott grinned at the delight now radiating from her face which was thanks enough.

"Thank you." Kayo linked his arm and kissed his cheek leaning her head on his shoulder "You know I might find a few excuses to beef up the office security now."

"You gonna invite me?"

"Why got the bug? Never worked out why you preferred four wheels, the wind hitting your body is something else you gotta admit. Bet you can't resist taking her out yourself next time you're here."

"She's yours Kayo, not part of the family fleet."

Kayo retrieved her arm and made her way back to the bike before turning and throwing the keys to Scott "I always share my toys, let's see what you've got hotshot."

The challenge was issued and served to indulge Scott's competitive spirit, Kayo loved speed, she absolutely craved it and he wasn't going to disappoint. "Just tap my shoulder when you've had enough."

"That's not likely." Kayo winked before pulling her visor down.

"Grab rail or waist?"

As Scott pulled away he couldn't resist a wheelie of his own, he smiled as he returned it to the asphalt and felt her arms stretch around his waist and her head lean onto his shoulder. Penelope was right, just the two of them having fun in a setting far removed from the usual stress and bubble of the Island, without any pressure from him was just perfect.