Reflections of Beauty
By Obsolete Love
Chapter 5

Shanah hummed softly while she rearranged the papers she'd just finished typing then dropped them in their respective folders and categories. He was right… there was nothing to get worried about… Nothing had changed… Everything was great! A quick kiss in the coffee room… or a long lingering one in his office… a meaningful touch…

It was wonderful!

Only one thing changed…

Shanah blushed… Their kisses have become more passionate… Especially after her bandages were finally removed… To feel Quatre's hand at the back of her head… cradling her… meshing his lips with hers…

Her blush turned a shade deeper.

Well… one thing's for certain… he's not that stressed anymore… They do work until past midnight sometimes, but it was all well worth it…

Shanah knocked on Quatre's door, the files secure in her arm, then opened it. Her eyes fell upon his smiling face and once again her pulse heightened. His smile always made her heart beat faster…

"I brought these back." She walked to his side and offered the stack.

"Finished already?" Quatre asked as he reached out and deliberately touched his fingers against her skin. He saw her tremble just as he felt his own body react…

"Yes. It was easy. Knowing what to type before looking at the page helped a lot."

Quatre nodded… Her opinion matters to him- a lot… She pointed out details he almost missed and her views had been clear and fresh… Working late had never been so wonderful!

"Shanah, the Katel-Ward papers needs running over. Would it be alright if you stay tonight to help me?"

Shanah nodded. 'I'll stay all night if you need me to…' but instead she just grinned. "Sure. I'll be waiting with the papers when you get back from your 6 o'clock." She started to walk to the door-

"Shanah, don't forget to eat dinner. The meeting might last until 9."

She nodded. "I won't… Don't worry, I'll be here…" She closed the door.

Quatre smiled… He knew that she would be… She's the kindest, one of the most dedicated people he knew with the most delectable lips and clear emerald eyes and…

'Gah! Quatre! Get back to work…' He quickly righted himself on the chair, faced his papers and forced his mind not to wallow in those beautiful thoughts just yet.

~*~

Shanah brought in the fifth mug of hot cocoa into the room, when she saw that frown on his face while he stared at the paper in front of him… She didn't need any prompting as she quickly grabbed the paper the moment she set the tray down on his table. "I'll do the reading, thank you."

Quatre glanced up at her and saw concern in her eyes. He smiled. "Thanks… they were jumping around again…"

Shanah reached out and held Quatre's hand with her own. "You're already tired. It's no wonder. Remember, I told you I'll do the reading when it starts happening, and it seems like its starting… just listen, alright?"

Quatre grinned. "I always do." Hard, but he did try… He watched her as she sat at the edge of his desk- right in front of him- and started to read the proposal. Her soft voice was like a soothing lullaby to his ears… His hand turned in her hold to entwine his fingers with hers and to be able to rub her delicate skin.

For a moment, Shanah stopped. Her awareness to Quatre heightened… But she forced herself to continue and ignore that familiar fluttering in her stomach…

He watched her lips, only half-listening to what she was saying… He couldn't stop himself and tugged at her hand, stopping her.

She looked at him and saw his soft smile. Then, she felt that gentle tug once again… She looked at him in confusion but his message showed through his clear eyes… She should have said no… but she didn't and complied with the unspoken request, giving up to temptation. She walked to him, turned then sat on his lap for the first time… Oh heaven as his arms went around her waist, tucked her in a secure embrace and then tilted her frame against his chest.

There was a catch in her voice when she tried to start. Once again, but she seemed to have trouble concentrating…

He stared at her long neck… the span of creamy white skin in front of him… no hair hindered his approach… He couldn't resist as his lips touched it, brushed soft kisses along its expanse, and instantly felt a burning coil inside him…

Shanah gasped as she tilted her head, allowing him greater access… Pleasurable shivers went up and down her body while the paper fell down from her hands to the floor… already forgotten. She swallowed… "Quatre…"

"Yes Shannah?" The heat of his breath against the base of her neck when he said her name added to the multitude of sensations she was feeling and she gave up trying to control herself as she turned her head to his.

Quatre's lips instantly went on top of hers, his hand replaced where his lips had been before, caressing… inciting…

Their lips meshed and drowned each other as they suckled in their sweet taste and Quatre's free hand guided her pliant body to a better position. He straddled her legs on his lap without breaking their passionate kiss…

Her hands seemed to have a life of their own as they traveled to Quatre's chin and felt the start of stubble against her palms, then added more excitement as her hands went down to his shoulder… down to his chest… She wants to feel him… so much… The feel of Quatre's hand going up and down her back while the other moved over her leg… frenzy!

She felt his hands move to her shoulders and then down her collar to the first button of her blouse and her body seemed mirrored to him as she did the same thing… She took out his tie and threw it somewhere, unbuttoning his shirt while he undid her blouse…

She was halfway down when she couldn't stop herself and inserted her hands into his shirt, touching the expanse of his slightly muscled chest while he gave up unbuttoning her blouse and cupped her breast.

They moved in closer to each other and- 'Oh my!' It was the only thing she could think of as she felt his crotch against her own center… Another wave of excitement flooded her that completely washed reason away.

"God Shanah…." Quatre muttered against her lips and did not lose contact as he created a trail of kisses down her throat… to her breast…

"Yes… Quatre…?" Shanah whispered back, her mind dazed with passion… She could feel herself becoming wet… she could feel Quatre's tongue lolling upon her nipple… Everything is pure heaven!

CLICK!

The unbidden sound kicked them back to reality… Their shocked, wide eyes met each other with Quatre's lips still against her breast while her hands were around his upper torso…

TSHIIICK!

Quatre stared at Shanah who stared back at him… They were frozen in place…

CREEEAAKKKK…

Both knew there wasn't any time… In a flash, Shanah scrambled off Quatre's lap, and went to the only place she could hide- under his desk- while Quatre stood up and tried to arrange his shirt. His breathing was haggard with passion and shock and he only had control over half his brain!

Rashid walked inside and saw a nervous, breathing as if he just ran a mile, shirt rumpled, hair tousled, dazed eyed… Quatre?

Quatre's blood ran cold while under the desk, Shanah stifled a gasp when she recognized Rashid's shoes… Then her gaze fell upon Quatre's tie… Right in the middle of the room… 'Oh God!'

"Quatre, what happened to you? Why is your shirt open?" It was the only way that Rashid could phrase his real question - why do you look rumpled?

"Uhm… it's… hot…Rashid… very hot." Quatre stuttered out.

A blast of cold air from the air conditioner drifted in the room and Quatre involuntarily shivered. 'Oh Damn!'

Rashid's eyes slanted as he noted Quatre's shudder… Something's amiss… and IF it's so hot… why did he shiver? He looked down and saw Quatre's tie on the floor…

Quatre saw Rashid starting to bend and leaned over his table only to see his tie! Memories started to crash in his mind and at the same time- the fact that Shanah might be discovered!

"No!"

Rashid stopped and looked up.

Quatre gulped. "No… Rashid, I'll do that… why are you here?"

"I forgot my e-book." Rashid answered as he walked to his small desk and took the electronic gadget.

"Okay, well… I have a lot of work to do…" Quatre blurted out the fragment sentences and instantly felt the want to kick himself… 'Shut up, Winner!'

Rashid nodded… He knows what that means… Leave… "Yes, Master Quatre… Good night."

Quatre held his breath as he watched Rashid leave and close the door behind him… Then his legs finally gave up on him and he fell into his chair while he looked at the opening of his desk.

Shanah was busy buttoning up her blouse in a half sitting, half laying position… She looked up and their eyes met… Nobody spoke… and then, the ridiculousness of the situation entered their numb shocked minds and at the same time, their lips turned into wide grins and laughter erupted in the room.

Slowly, still laughing, Shanah crawled out from under the desk and straightened her clothes.

The whole thing might be funny… but there was something that tugged at Shanah's heart and the moment they both stopped laughing, Shanah decided to tell him.

"Quatre, this isn't like me, you know…."

Quatre nodded as he stood up from his chair and walked to her, stopped a good distance away from her tempting body and just reached for her hand.

"I know… you don't have to tell me. This isn't like me either, you know…"

Their serious eyes met with no challenge, open to each other.

"Shanah, I… really feel something special for you… Please… I mean… I hope what happened doesn't change-"

Shanah saw how hard it was for Quatre to say what was in his mind… the same things she herself would like to utter… and if she couldn't reveal it, she didn't expect him to, either. So, she placed a stopping hand on his lips. "I feel something special for you too… And I hope so too…"

Their eyes showed their understanding and bonded them for what soon may come…

Shanah grinned and took her hand off his lips. "I don't think we'll be able to do any more work tonight…"

Quatre shook his head with a smile on his face. "You're right…"

A twinkle appeared in her emerald eyes. "Maybe we should cut back our hot cocoas."

Quatre laughed. "Maybe…"

Silence… Comfortable silence.

"May I take you home, Shanah?"

Shanah shook her head. They have to be reasonable. "Thank you, but no… not tonight anyway. Maybe some other time."

Quatre nodded. The reason and logic behind her answer obvious… She's right anyway. "See you tomorrow then?"

Shanah nodded. "Yes, see you tomorrow."

Quatre leaned down, turned her hand and leaned down to kiss her wrist… He felt her shudder, as he did himself. Gently, he let go. "Until tomorrow then."

Shanah nodded, not able to talk anymore. She turned and walked away as calmly as she could. The she stopped as she opened the door. "Quatre?"

Quatre looked up from his the papers and saw how the small tendrils of her brown hair framed her face that added an aura of softness around her… "Yes, Shanah?"

"Please go home and rest."

The request made Quatre smile and nod. "I will. Just cleaning up."

"Alright…" With one last smile as her good bye, she closed the door and walked out of the office with a light heart…

Quatre stared at his closed door. A smile stayed on his face while he finished his work…