Chapter 14

Michaela walked quietly through the dimly lit corridors of the only home she'd ever known. Casey followed her silently, sensing that she wasn't ready to talk.

They walked from the residential side of the mansion to the office section before she finally stopped, and turned toward him.

"I'm not going to hide how I feel about you anymore," she murmured, moving into his arms. Looking into his eyes, she said, "I love you!"

Casey put his arms around her, pulling her as close to him as he could, "Good, because I'm tired of denying my feelings, too!"

Their lips met in a kiss neither wanted to end.

* * *

In many ways, the two days of enforced inactivity dragged by for Michaela. She wanted to be out there, tracking down Drakon, bringing him to justice. In other ways, the days seemed to fly by, as she and Casey explored their feelings.

Casey kept his promise to Doctor Metzler. The most strenuous activity he allowed Michaela to do was walk – pace, really – through the mansion.

When she would eventually tire of walking, Casey would persuade her to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with him.

This was what they were doing the evening of the second day.

Michaela was leaning her head on Casey's shoulder, doing her best to follow the movie. Casey was toying with her hair, driving her to distraction. She didn't think he was even bothering to multitask so he could watch the movie.

He had turned his head so his face was being brushed by her hair.

"Your hair smells so good!" he murmured dreamily in her ear. "When I was first brought on-line, I never imagined anything like this happening to me. Now, I could never imagine my life without you in it!"

Michaela had given up on the movie several moments before. Now she was gazing up at Casey, her eyes shimmering, lips slightly parted.

Casey laid his hand gently against Michaela's cheek. Then he leaned forward, his mouth covering hers possessively, greedily. What are these feelings of want and need I'm experiencing? How is it possible that I want so badly to make love to her? Casey wondered.

Michaela answered his desire with her own, surprising herself with the intensity of her need to claim him, body and soul.