Author's note: Thanks for reviewing, Tempest Child!!! I have your fic, "Without You", on my favorites list! You're my first reviewer on this one! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Wishing For Snow by Shelly
CHAPTER FOUR
Morgan was pleased to see that there was plenty of food for them to eat, and she wondered if Stigma was to thank for that, and thinking of him made her realize the situation she was in. This was her first time out on her own by herself, and she wondered if that was the reason why she was so drawn to Leon. Was she feeling this way towards him simply because she needed someone to look up to and Leon just happened to be there in the right place at the right time? Or was she feeling the stirring of something more profound than that?
The questions led to thoughts she didn't want to think about, and she busied herself with fixing a light breakfast since it wouldn't do no good for both of them to eat something heavy after having nothing to eat for so long. She sliced various fruits and arranged them on a platter along with a pitcher of orange juice which she carried back into the bedroom only to find Leon gone, but he soon appeared in the doorway of the bathroom and limped back in to sit on the bed.
She set the tray between them, and they began eating, both of them quiet as neither of them knew what to say. "I hope this is okay," she said. "If you'd rather have something more substantial, I can fix it. The cabinets are stocked full of food."
Leon eyed her as he bit into a slice of apple. "It seems as if someone knew you were coming here."
She kept her eyes averted as she was unsure of what to tell him. "It was my father's house. He died not long ago," she said, telling him some of the truth but not all.
That answered his question as to why she was so emotional earlier. "Why were you being attacked like that? I saw no judge nearby and no one just gangs up on one warrior like that. It was obvious they were after something."
She sighed, wishing that he would stop asking so many questions and making her lie to him like this. But a little voice told her that if there was anyone to blame it was her, and she wondered why it was so hard for her to tell him the truth. And she knew it was because she didn't want to lose his friendship, although if he were to find out later then she would surely lose him, and the pain would be even harder for her to bear.
"The red Liger was something he had worked on for years, and the Backdraft have been trying to get it for some time since it's so rare. They finally got it when my father died and I took it back from them that night," she answered, hoping he would be satisfied with that.
He sensed that she was holding back something, but decided not to press her further as she seemed in enough distress already. "I'm sorry about your loss," he said.
"It's all right," she said, putting down her food and rising to her feet, her appetite diminished. "I think I'll go take a look upstairs and see what's up there. I'll probably take a room upstairs as my own, that way you'll have this one to yourself."
She started to leave, but he reached out to take a hold of her hand as he rose to his feet, making sure to keep his weight off his ankle. "Morgan, please," he said as he pulled her back to look into her eyes. "I didn't mean to pry."
She sighed, her heart beating out of control from their nearness to one another. "Leon, I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't right now."
He nodded his head once. "I see. You don't feel comfortable enough to open up to me. It's all right."
"No, it's not that," she quickly explained. "It's just that...I don't want to lose you right now," she added. "You're all I've got, and I really need someone I can trust. This is my first time being by myself, and I guess I'm a little frightened."
He smiled and touched his hand to her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Whatever you need, just ask. I'll do my best to help you."
She returned his smile, the brightest he had ever seen, and threw her arms around him to embrace him tightly, sighing when she felt his arms come around her and hold her close. It felt so right for them to be together, leading her to wish that they would never part, but they did and she pulled away with a smile to walk out of the room to begin her exploration of the house.
Leon merely chuckled to himself and sat back down onto the bed as his ankle had begun throbbing painfully with every beat of his heart, which was very fast after holding her within his arms. And he couldn't help but wonder how he was going to keep his emotions in check with them being confined here until he was healed.
Finding a room upstairs, she quickly browsed through various closets and drawers and found a change of clothing, planning to take a shower as she guessed it would help her get her mind off Leon and the feelings he stirred within her. He was very handsome and caring, and a good warrior at that, things that she had always hoped she would find in a man someday. But never had she expected him to be so perfect.
Soon she was done showering and rushed back downstairs to find him asleep, and she picked up the platter of food they had shared to take it into the kitchen. Then she turned on the television for a while, and after seeing nothing on that caught her interest, she stepped outside to look at the lake. A path led from the house to the shore, and she saw a gazebo sitting near the water's edge, wondering why Stigma had built it there.
Walking out to it, she sat on one of the benches and watched the play of sunlight across the water, as well as listening to the sound of the water lapping against the shore from waves stirred up from the breeze. But what took her breath away was the beauty of the mountains that overlooked the lake, its crystal clear reflection pictured on the lake. And seeing the snow that capped the peaks, she wondered what snow was like as she had never seen it in her lifetime.
When she returned back to the house, she found Leon still asleep and woke him after seeing how late it was getting. He turned sleepy gray eyes towards her, and she couldn't help but run her fingers lightly through his hair as she knelt by his bedside, smiling when his own lips turned up in a smile.
"Would you like some dinner?" she asked, enjoying the feel of his hair sliding across her fingers.
He nodded. "Unless you put me back to sleep," he murmured.
She stopped and withdrew her hand, but he reached up and caught it, holding it in his own for a few moments. "It felt wonderful," he sighed.
She chuckled. "I better watch myself around you, Leon. I just might spoil you. Although I must admit I wouldn't mind it."
He laughed. "Neither would I."
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before she rose to her feet to go fix them something to eat. She managed to pull together a meal of chicken and vegetables on rice, pleased when Leon told her how delicious it was. Afterwards he disappeared in the bathroom to take a shower, Morgan hanging around to make sure he was okay. At one point she thought she heard something and knocked on the door a few times, calling his name. Receiving no response, she cracked open the door to see him standing in the middle of the bathroom with nothing on except a towel around his waist.
Her eyes wide, she quickly shut the door and rushed back to the bed, sitting there with one of the pillows cradled against her body, the end covering just enough of her face except her eyes. He stepped out into the bedroom, and she buried her face within the pillow to hide the painful blush that rose to her cheeks, looking up when she felt his hand on her head. She was surprised to see him smiling.
Leon saw the surprise written on her face, but he knew she wouldn't be so happy if she knew the real reason why he was smiling. Standing there fresh out of the shower with a towel wrapped around him, he saw the quick flash of appreciation that had crossed her face before she had left. And to know that she had liked what she had seen filled him with a masculine pride he had thought he had lost after losing so many battles.
"Leon, I'm so sorry," she apologized in a soft voice, thankful he had put on the clothes she had found for him to spare her any more embarrassment.
He sat down on the bed next to her. "Don't worry about it," he replied. "It's all right."
She looked over at him, a small laugh escaping. "It's just that I thought I heard something and I was worried that something might've happened to you."
He ran his fingers through the silky auburn strands of her hair, smoothing it down her back as well as giving her a bit of a back rub at the same time as he gazed into her dark hazel eyes. "You were worried about me?" he asked, thinking of how beautiful she was and how badly he wanted to kiss her right now and end his torment. It was pure torture to want someone so badly and yet want to take things slowly until the time was right for him to make a move, but at this moment his resolve was failing miserably.
Morgan's breath caught in the back of her throat at the feel of his touch, closing her eyes and sighing when she felt his hand on the back of her neck, lightly caressing it and sending delicious shivers down her back. When she opened her eyes, she saw his face mere inches from hers, and her heartbeat quickened in response.
He was going to kiss her. Now.
But a little thought kept her from making it happen, even though her body and soul cried out for it, wanted it with a longing that was sweet pain in itself. She couldn't allow things to go too far between them for fear of rejection once he found out about her past.
She touched her hand to his chest, feeling his heart beating just as furiously as hers and almost giving in, but she remained firm even when she saw the confusion in his eyes give way to pain then acceptance. "Goodnight, Leon," she whispered, rising to her feet and walking out of the room, stopping in the doorway long enough to look upon him before leaving to go towards her own room.
But she didn't make it that far as the weight of her decision bore her down onto the steps, where she gathered her knees close to her chest and laid her head down on them. They had only known each other for today, and yet it felt like much longer, like they had known each other forever. She needed him more than anything else in her life, but she couldn't help but wonder if she was just clinging to him out of grief for her father's death. For his sake, she hoped not.
Leon couldn't help but feel like such a fool for letting his emotions get the better of him, and he vowed never to be so careless again where she was concerned. Settling back onto the bed, he reached over and turned off the lamp at his bedside, filling the room with shadows and moonlight as he tried to get some sleep.
Then he heard footsteps coming into his room and felt the opposite side of the bed sag as weight was put upon it, and he was even more surprised to feel an arm come around his waist as a head laid down on his chest. The scent that filled his nose told him it was Morgan, and it was quite an experience to feel her body pressed against his.
"Morgan, you know this is a bad idea, right?" he asked.
He heard her sniff. Damn, she had been crying.
"I know," she answered, wiping the tears from her eyes. "But I can't stay away from you, Leon. I don't know why, but I can't."
He sighed and pulled her closer so that her head rested just beneath his chin, and he brought his hand up to brush her hair back from her face while his other hand caressed her arm. "This is crazy, isn't it?"
She laughed and sniffed again. "It is," she agreed. "It doesn't make sense. But I think I should be here in case you need something so I can get it for you."
He wanted to tell her that he had what he wanted right here in his arms, but refrained from it as he kissed her hair. "Thank you," he replied.
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Man, this is turning out to be sappy! But do you think I care? NO! ^.^ I happen to like Leon very much, thank you. Thanks for reading! And please review!
Wishing For Snow by Shelly
CHAPTER FOUR
Morgan was pleased to see that there was plenty of food for them to eat, and she wondered if Stigma was to thank for that, and thinking of him made her realize the situation she was in. This was her first time out on her own by herself, and she wondered if that was the reason why she was so drawn to Leon. Was she feeling this way towards him simply because she needed someone to look up to and Leon just happened to be there in the right place at the right time? Or was she feeling the stirring of something more profound than that?
The questions led to thoughts she didn't want to think about, and she busied herself with fixing a light breakfast since it wouldn't do no good for both of them to eat something heavy after having nothing to eat for so long. She sliced various fruits and arranged them on a platter along with a pitcher of orange juice which she carried back into the bedroom only to find Leon gone, but he soon appeared in the doorway of the bathroom and limped back in to sit on the bed.
She set the tray between them, and they began eating, both of them quiet as neither of them knew what to say. "I hope this is okay," she said. "If you'd rather have something more substantial, I can fix it. The cabinets are stocked full of food."
Leon eyed her as he bit into a slice of apple. "It seems as if someone knew you were coming here."
She kept her eyes averted as she was unsure of what to tell him. "It was my father's house. He died not long ago," she said, telling him some of the truth but not all.
That answered his question as to why she was so emotional earlier. "Why were you being attacked like that? I saw no judge nearby and no one just gangs up on one warrior like that. It was obvious they were after something."
She sighed, wishing that he would stop asking so many questions and making her lie to him like this. But a little voice told her that if there was anyone to blame it was her, and she wondered why it was so hard for her to tell him the truth. And she knew it was because she didn't want to lose his friendship, although if he were to find out later then she would surely lose him, and the pain would be even harder for her to bear.
"The red Liger was something he had worked on for years, and the Backdraft have been trying to get it for some time since it's so rare. They finally got it when my father died and I took it back from them that night," she answered, hoping he would be satisfied with that.
He sensed that she was holding back something, but decided not to press her further as she seemed in enough distress already. "I'm sorry about your loss," he said.
"It's all right," she said, putting down her food and rising to her feet, her appetite diminished. "I think I'll go take a look upstairs and see what's up there. I'll probably take a room upstairs as my own, that way you'll have this one to yourself."
She started to leave, but he reached out to take a hold of her hand as he rose to his feet, making sure to keep his weight off his ankle. "Morgan, please," he said as he pulled her back to look into her eyes. "I didn't mean to pry."
She sighed, her heart beating out of control from their nearness to one another. "Leon, I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't right now."
He nodded his head once. "I see. You don't feel comfortable enough to open up to me. It's all right."
"No, it's not that," she quickly explained. "It's just that...I don't want to lose you right now," she added. "You're all I've got, and I really need someone I can trust. This is my first time being by myself, and I guess I'm a little frightened."
He smiled and touched his hand to her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Whatever you need, just ask. I'll do my best to help you."
She returned his smile, the brightest he had ever seen, and threw her arms around him to embrace him tightly, sighing when she felt his arms come around her and hold her close. It felt so right for them to be together, leading her to wish that they would never part, but they did and she pulled away with a smile to walk out of the room to begin her exploration of the house.
Leon merely chuckled to himself and sat back down onto the bed as his ankle had begun throbbing painfully with every beat of his heart, which was very fast after holding her within his arms. And he couldn't help but wonder how he was going to keep his emotions in check with them being confined here until he was healed.
Finding a room upstairs, she quickly browsed through various closets and drawers and found a change of clothing, planning to take a shower as she guessed it would help her get her mind off Leon and the feelings he stirred within her. He was very handsome and caring, and a good warrior at that, things that she had always hoped she would find in a man someday. But never had she expected him to be so perfect.
Soon she was done showering and rushed back downstairs to find him asleep, and she picked up the platter of food they had shared to take it into the kitchen. Then she turned on the television for a while, and after seeing nothing on that caught her interest, she stepped outside to look at the lake. A path led from the house to the shore, and she saw a gazebo sitting near the water's edge, wondering why Stigma had built it there.
Walking out to it, she sat on one of the benches and watched the play of sunlight across the water, as well as listening to the sound of the water lapping against the shore from waves stirred up from the breeze. But what took her breath away was the beauty of the mountains that overlooked the lake, its crystal clear reflection pictured on the lake. And seeing the snow that capped the peaks, she wondered what snow was like as she had never seen it in her lifetime.
When she returned back to the house, she found Leon still asleep and woke him after seeing how late it was getting. He turned sleepy gray eyes towards her, and she couldn't help but run her fingers lightly through his hair as she knelt by his bedside, smiling when his own lips turned up in a smile.
"Would you like some dinner?" she asked, enjoying the feel of his hair sliding across her fingers.
He nodded. "Unless you put me back to sleep," he murmured.
She stopped and withdrew her hand, but he reached up and caught it, holding it in his own for a few moments. "It felt wonderful," he sighed.
She chuckled. "I better watch myself around you, Leon. I just might spoil you. Although I must admit I wouldn't mind it."
He laughed. "Neither would I."
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before she rose to her feet to go fix them something to eat. She managed to pull together a meal of chicken and vegetables on rice, pleased when Leon told her how delicious it was. Afterwards he disappeared in the bathroom to take a shower, Morgan hanging around to make sure he was okay. At one point she thought she heard something and knocked on the door a few times, calling his name. Receiving no response, she cracked open the door to see him standing in the middle of the bathroom with nothing on except a towel around his waist.
Her eyes wide, she quickly shut the door and rushed back to the bed, sitting there with one of the pillows cradled against her body, the end covering just enough of her face except her eyes. He stepped out into the bedroom, and she buried her face within the pillow to hide the painful blush that rose to her cheeks, looking up when she felt his hand on her head. She was surprised to see him smiling.
Leon saw the surprise written on her face, but he knew she wouldn't be so happy if she knew the real reason why he was smiling. Standing there fresh out of the shower with a towel wrapped around him, he saw the quick flash of appreciation that had crossed her face before she had left. And to know that she had liked what she had seen filled him with a masculine pride he had thought he had lost after losing so many battles.
"Leon, I'm so sorry," she apologized in a soft voice, thankful he had put on the clothes she had found for him to spare her any more embarrassment.
He sat down on the bed next to her. "Don't worry about it," he replied. "It's all right."
She looked over at him, a small laugh escaping. "It's just that I thought I heard something and I was worried that something might've happened to you."
He ran his fingers through the silky auburn strands of her hair, smoothing it down her back as well as giving her a bit of a back rub at the same time as he gazed into her dark hazel eyes. "You were worried about me?" he asked, thinking of how beautiful she was and how badly he wanted to kiss her right now and end his torment. It was pure torture to want someone so badly and yet want to take things slowly until the time was right for him to make a move, but at this moment his resolve was failing miserably.
Morgan's breath caught in the back of her throat at the feel of his touch, closing her eyes and sighing when she felt his hand on the back of her neck, lightly caressing it and sending delicious shivers down her back. When she opened her eyes, she saw his face mere inches from hers, and her heartbeat quickened in response.
He was going to kiss her. Now.
But a little thought kept her from making it happen, even though her body and soul cried out for it, wanted it with a longing that was sweet pain in itself. She couldn't allow things to go too far between them for fear of rejection once he found out about her past.
She touched her hand to his chest, feeling his heart beating just as furiously as hers and almost giving in, but she remained firm even when she saw the confusion in his eyes give way to pain then acceptance. "Goodnight, Leon," she whispered, rising to her feet and walking out of the room, stopping in the doorway long enough to look upon him before leaving to go towards her own room.
But she didn't make it that far as the weight of her decision bore her down onto the steps, where she gathered her knees close to her chest and laid her head down on them. They had only known each other for today, and yet it felt like much longer, like they had known each other forever. She needed him more than anything else in her life, but she couldn't help but wonder if she was just clinging to him out of grief for her father's death. For his sake, she hoped not.
Leon couldn't help but feel like such a fool for letting his emotions get the better of him, and he vowed never to be so careless again where she was concerned. Settling back onto the bed, he reached over and turned off the lamp at his bedside, filling the room with shadows and moonlight as he tried to get some sleep.
Then he heard footsteps coming into his room and felt the opposite side of the bed sag as weight was put upon it, and he was even more surprised to feel an arm come around his waist as a head laid down on his chest. The scent that filled his nose told him it was Morgan, and it was quite an experience to feel her body pressed against his.
"Morgan, you know this is a bad idea, right?" he asked.
He heard her sniff. Damn, she had been crying.
"I know," she answered, wiping the tears from her eyes. "But I can't stay away from you, Leon. I don't know why, but I can't."
He sighed and pulled her closer so that her head rested just beneath his chin, and he brought his hand up to brush her hair back from her face while his other hand caressed her arm. "This is crazy, isn't it?"
She laughed and sniffed again. "It is," she agreed. "It doesn't make sense. But I think I should be here in case you need something so I can get it for you."
He wanted to tell her that he had what he wanted right here in his arms, but refrained from it as he kissed her hair. "Thank you," he replied.
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Man, this is turning out to be sappy! But do you think I care? NO! ^.^ I happen to like Leon very much, thank you. Thanks for reading! And please review!