Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!
His eyes slid over to her as they made their way to the restaurant/bar that Victoria had secured for Chris's birthday. Her hair was left long, sliding over the shoulders of her chocolate colored corduroy jacket. She wasn't wearing her glasses, giving him a much clearer view of her luminous green eyes. "This is the first time I've seen you without glasses."
Penny turned her head at the sound of Thad's voice. She shrugged her shoulders and gave him a smile. "I didn't feel like wearing them tonight. I thought that I would look better without them since I will be meeting the whole group."
Grinning, he shook his head. "I think you look just as pretty with them as without them. And I know the others will think the same."
She flushed from his compliment and bent her head so he wouldn't see. Despite her protests to his cousin the other day, the blond girl was right. He was attracted to her as much as she was to him. She raised her head and surreptitiously glanced in his direction. His fingers were loosely curled around the steering wheel, like they had been around her hand the other day, although his grip had been stronger. The sensations that his touch had evoked scared her. She never imagined someone's touch making her feel so lightheaded, her heart pound, and making her tingle in places that hadn't done that before. She was used to his casual touches, but sometimes, they lingered longer then a friendly touch should. The way his eyes seemed to look at her every now and then, made her feel breathless. Yet, she couldn't stay away. Thad seemed to understand her so well when it came to her abilities. His fingers moved as he flexed them on the leather. Her stomach did a nervous jump. "What is your cousin's husband like?" she asked, distracting herself from the images her mind were sending her. She had met his cousin, Victoria, and liked her immensely. She was a strong beautiful woman, who probably didn't back down to anyone. She definitely looked like a fighter.
"Chris? In Victoria's words, "a braided baka who doesn't have enough sense to grow up and take more responsibility for his actions…and remains a lecher despite being a married man." But he's not too bad," he said as he pulled into a parking spot. "Chris is just Chris. Still a flirt, but he adores her like she does him. To them, arguing is a habit since they've been doing it since they were kids. In a way, Victoria has always been the one to keep him in line, and it's always been in some way his job to be her protector," he said as he came around and helped her out. His fingers lingered over her hand before pulling away. It also seemed natural for him to let his hand rest on the small of her back as she walked He kept his hand there as his cousin's husband walked up to them. "Chris."
"Thad," the younger man returned with a grin. His cobalt eyes fell on the girl next to Thad. "And you must be Penny. Victoria mentioned a Winner cousin charming Thad to no end. You're certainly something to look at. I would be captivated too."
Penny flushed at the bold flattery. He was still holding onto one of her hands. "Pleased to meet you too, Chris. Victoria's mentioned you quite a bit," she said as she gave up trying to tug her hand out of his grasp.
"I hope it was all good. My wife tends to…exaggerate from time to time," sighed Chris as he cast a look back at Thad, who was glaring at him. "Jealous?" he teased.
"Shut up, Maxwell," he replied as he tugged her hand out of Chris's and put her slightly behind him. "Go flirt with your wife or something before she decides she wants to kill you."
"You know she would never actually kill me," the younger man said, grinning as he laced his fingers behind his head. He shot Penny a smile. "Thad tends to exaggerate about that. Victoria would never actually kill me," he said as he deftly stepped around Thad and grasped her hand again. "You will of course honor me with a dance?"
Penny flushed at his daring, but his smile was infectious as she smiled back. "I guess I could." She glanced at Thad, whose mouth was twitching in a dangerous way. "If Thad wouldn't mind of course," she added as she put a hand on his shoulder.
His mouth softened at her simple touch. "I don't mind." His gaze slid over to Chris, who was smirking. He leaned closer to the other man. "You even think of anything, I'll kill you if your wife doesn't do it first. Try to remember you're a married man, you ass."
Chris grinned at the warning he was meant to hear. He cast another look at Penny. "Until later then, Penny," he said as he kissed the back of her hand; cast a triumphant look at Thad before going to find his wife.
Thad growled softly and looked down at Penny. She was blushing. "I told you he was a flirt. He'll never learn and Victoria will kill him. His charm won't save him with her."
"He was very nice. I can see why Victoria loves him, despite the fact that he's a flirt. When he mentions her…you can see how he feels about her in his eyes," she said as she looked up at him. "What did you say to him? I couldn't hear it."
His face colored and he scratched the back of his head. "It was nothing, really. Don't worry about it. Just some advice."
Her brow arched, but she let hand slide down his arm to grasp his hand. She glanced away when he looked at her with surprise. "I was wondering…if you would also like a dance with me instead of me dance with Chris…"
There was no way he could miss the flush creeping across her cheeks. "I would love to dance with you…but you don't have to give up Maxwell's dance…for me." He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it. "Come, let's go find the others."
She felt his grip tighten on her hand. There was no mistaking the possessiveness in his touch and it struck something in her. Her own fingers curled around his as they walked forwards. Tonight was going to be a fun night.
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Thad watched her over the rim of his beer bottle as she danced with a bunch of the other girls. She wasn't as showy as some of them when it came to dancing. She had confessed to him earlier that she wasn't that good of a dancer, he was inclined to disagree. Crystalline eyes followed her every movement.
"She's pretty cute, Merquise."
His eyes shot to Chris, who was sitting across from him. Victoria was sitting on his lap, but she wasn't paying too much attention. Her fingers were clenched around the glass in her hand and there was an angry expression on her face. His eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"
"If a pretty girl like that was walking around me, single, I would've snatched her up in seconds. What's your problem?"
"She's taken."
"So I heard. But he's not here right now is he? And by the way you're looking at her…"
Thad ground his teeth together. "I'm not looking at her in any way."
Arching a brow, he leaned his elbow on the table, and leaned forwards. "Now, that's just bullshit. It's so damn obvious that you want her. You can't hide it as much as you try to. If I can tell, how many others can? The blond bombshell known as my sister in law, as well as that empath, know it too."
"I'm not chasing after a taken woman. I know better than that," hissed Thad, glaring.
"And she seems to have a crush on you. She's a little better at hiding it, but all I had to do when I had my dance with her, was mention your name, and she start blushing like crazy. So, if the feeling is mutual…"
Thad's mouth tightened as Chris let the sentence hang. He stole a glance at her again. She was laughing with the other girls. She looked so happy out there. It made his insides warm. His eyes followed the movements of her hands as she brushed her hair away from her face. She had let it hang free. He liked it that way. The silky straightness flowed carelessly over her shoulders and back, making him want to reach out and let it cascade through his fingers. Or whenever she turned her head, he caught the scent of her shampoo, making him long to lean over and breathe her in. To feel her hair against his face and her skin against his nose and lips. "He's right you know. She has a crush on me, and if I have trouble hiding it, it's worse for her. And thinking of her skin does not help because all it does is make you want her even more and you know you shouldn't think of a girl that's only a year out of high school that way. She's only a year older then Winners' little sister, and two years older than the Bartons'. She's a child and you're lusting after her," he thought viciously as his eyes went back to Maxwell's. "She's a little girl, Maxwell, or haven't you noticed. She's nineteen years old. She's happy with who she's already got. I'm too old for her."
"Just because she acts happy with who she has, doesn't mean that she could be just as happy with someone else…and using the age barrier…well that doesn't convince me that you don't want her."
"Shut up, Chris."
Thad looked at Victoria as she finally turned to look at her husband.
"You have no business in meddling. Stop egging Thad on before he forgets himself and pounds you into the floor. Penny is a delightful girl, but she's someone's girlfriend. It makes her off limits, no matter what. You of all people should know that."
"What difference should that make? You're the one who said that she would be good for him," Chris pointed out as he looked up at her. "He shouldn't be a baka and let the opportunity slip past him."
"What is it with people calling me a baka!"
"Because you are. How many other guys would let this kind of opportunity pass them by? I know I wouldn't," said Chris in a matter of fact tone. "Victoria was with someone else when I got her. I knew it, but it didn't stop me."
"You were set up, there's a difference. And thank God, I'm not you."
"You should just shut up, Chris. This isn't any of your business or anyone else's. While I do admit that Penny would be a good girlfriend for you, Thad, I do respect your wishes about not chasing after her. It's the right thing to do, and believe me…I should've never fallen into bed with this idiot because I only hurt someone else in the process," said Victoria as she leaned over and gave his hand a squeeze. Then she turned and gave her husband a glare. "And you shouldn't be so proud of being a lech!"
Thad rolled his eyes as Chris started to get reamed out by Victoria. Not, wanting to get involved in their marital dispute, he pushed away from the table and went over to the bar. He sat down next to his brother, but he kept his eyes on Penny as she laughed and danced with the other girls. He smiled, but then frowned. His feelings for her were too obvious like his cousin by marriage had pointed out. It was so hard to hide them, when he knew that no other girl made him feel the same way that she did. He motioned for another bottle with his hand, still watching her over the top of it.
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Penny turned her head slightly so she could see Thad. He was standing at the bar now, next to his brother. She pushed her hair back over her shoulder as she turned around again. She could swear she had felt his eyes on her before, but he hadn't been looking at her. She sighed. Her dance with Chris had been a little embarrassing. He teased her and made her face feel like it would never return to its normal color, before his wife came over and dragged him away by the braid. He had been teasing her about Thad. "It must be obvious," she said softly so no one else could hear.
"Here you go."
She looked up as Veronica handed her a glass. "Oh, thank you." She took a sip and then made a face. "What is this?"
"It's called a Long Island Iced Tea," replied Veronica as they sat down at one of the many tables.
"I shouldn't be drinking this. I'm still underage."
"Not in this country, you're not."
"But I…"
"If you don't finish it, Penny, I'll drink the rest of it."
Still not sure, she glanced down at the drink. "This is pretty strong. Can you finish one of these by yourself?"
"I have before. Just as long as you ate something beforehand, you shouldn't feel too bad after drinking one of those."
Taking another sip, Penny let the alcohol laced drink slide down her throat. Her eyes went to Thad before returning to Veronica. "Is your brother in law always like that?"
Veronica looked up from her drink. "Chris likes pretty girls. You fall into that category, so he feels the urge to flirt. What did he say to you?"
"Just things," she said, her eyes flickering towards Veronica's cousin again. "Nothing important."
The older girl arched a brow. She knew Chris had picked up on Penny's feelings for Thad and vice versa. They both tried to hide it. And knowing her brother in law, he could be very tactless, but with Penny…She studied the other girl. Purity and innocence were written all across her face. "Then again, Chris makes most women blush, but with a girl like her…he probably wasn't at his worst. Considering he's been on his best behavior tonight…for the most part," she thought as she took a sip out of her margarita. She turned to glance at her cousin. He was watching Penny again. He had been doing it a lot when he thought no one was looking. She smirked at him when his eyes met hers. His mouth twisted into a scowl before he turned away again. "Why does he keep on denying it, the idiot," she muttered under her breath. She cast a look in Penny's direction again. "So, did Thad promise you a dance?"
"Yes, he did," the Winner girl replied as she set down her drink on the table. "He hasn't claimed it yet." Her bright green eyes cast a fleeting look over at him, still at the bar. His back was to her, his shoulders, seemingly hunched in a defensive manner. She took a sip of her drink again. It was making her blood feel warm and lightheaded. "I guess I could ask him…"
"You should. I think it would be a splendid idea," said Veronica, nodding her head. A smirk she didn't let the other girl catch crossed her lips once her back was turned. "This is definitely going to be interesting," she said as she crossed her legs and sat back to enjoy the show.
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Penny felt warm all over. She knew it to be the drink. She had alcohol before, but it had been in tiny sips, and it had been wine. The effects of the hard liquor were not something she was used to. She felt steady on her feet as she approached him. "Thad?"
He turned around when he heard her voice. Those green orbs were sparkling brilliantly. "More than usual too," he noted as she smiled up at him. He had watched her with his cousin, knowing how devious Veronica could be when she got something into her head. She was a Yuy after all. However, he couldn't help but smile back at her. "Are you having a nice time?"
"Yes, I am…I was just wondering, if you would like a dance now," she said as she smiled back at him. He was way too handsome for his own good and the alcohol she had consumed was making her a little more forward then usual.
There was no way he could say no with the way she smiled back at him. "Yeah, sure, why not?" he replied as he reached for her hand. He felt her fingers curve around his like they had earlier. It made him smile inwardly as they reached the dance floor. The song was slow and his one hand slid around her waist and the other one kept possession of her hand. The heat of her skin melted through his shirt as her hand rested on his shoulder. Looking down at her, he didn't really realize how small she was compared to him. Like his brother, he stood at six five, but Penny was tall for a girl, but still, the top of her head just barely touched his chin. He could smell the shampoo she used and he relished in the feeling of her shirt under his hand. He was also consciously aware of how close they were, that just another step forwards, they would be in complete physical contact. The muscles of her back played under his fingers. He frowned inwardly, he was just too aware of her. She had such a strong effect on him. He sighed and gave into the urge of resting his chin on the top of her silky hair.
Penny closed her eyes as she felt his breath brush against her temple. It felt good being in his arms. She hadn't been completely aware of it until this point, but they were now pressed together, chest to toes. She attributed it to the fact that her drink had made her a bit unsteady on her feet. His arm tightened around her waist, making heat rush to her face. Grateful for the dim lighting, she didn't turn her head away when he looked down at her. They were way too close. Inches separated their faces, but she couldn't make herself look away.
There was no way he could stop getting lost in her eyes as she looked up at him. He could tell that she was blushing, but that didn't stop him from gazing back into her glowing eyes. He could feel the movement of her body against his. It had taken him a minute to realize that they were molded together. They fit well. He was aware of her breasts, rising and falling as she breathed. Having surreptitiously studied her figure, he knew that they would fit his palms perfectly. He was also aware of the way her hips were pressed against his, the way they moved. He unconsciously tightened his hold on her. She was watching him. Her face flushing even more. A slight frown crossed his lips as he studiously ignored his body's reaction to her nearness. "Did you have anything to drink, Penny?"
Blinking her eyes rapidly, she nodded. "Yes. Veronica got me one, but I didn't finish it. She got me a Long Island Iced Tea."
Her response caused him to frown even more. "Do you normally drink at all?"
"No. In my country, the drinking age is twenty-one. I've had sips of wine, but that's about it. Come to think of it, I think I drank too much of it because I feel kind of funny."
"Stupid Yuy," he muttered under his breath as he glanced in Veronica's direction. He looked down at Penny again. "What kind of funny?"
"A little jittery…I don't know…a bit dizzy…" stammered Penny as she looked into his ice blue eyes. She leaned into him a little more.
"And your face is flushed more than usual," he said as he brought a hand up and laid it against her cheek. Her skin felt hot, but it also gave him the opportunity to feel the softness of her skin. "You want to go?"
Every cell in her body gravitated towards his touch. His hand felt warm. It was a little calloused, but his touch was gentle. It made it hard for her to breathe and she could feel her heart pounding like a drum against her ribs. His fingers stroked her cheek. "It makes me want to lean up and kiss him," she thought as his fingers lightly traced her cheekbone. Her face went scarlet when she realized what she had just thought. Mortified, consciously blaming the alcohol she consumed, she leaned away. "I guess. If you don't mind," she said as she looked away.
His hand fell to his side as she moved away. "You're obsessed with touching her. You know you can't. It's wrong. What you feel is wrong. If you want to persevere your sanity, keep your hands to yourself," he thought, acidly as he watched her face bloom with color. "No, I don't mind," he said, his voice low. "I think it's time we left, anyway," he said as he grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor. He went over to Veronica while Penny went to get her sweater. "What the hell were you trying to pull?" he hissed.
Veronica gave him a sidelong glance. "I was helping. Alcohol does wonders doesn't it? You two looked like you were going to kiss out there."
"Back off. I don't want your help. Matter of fact, I don't need it. She has Anthony. I don't want her to feel guilty for anything. So don't fucking meddle, Veronica. Leave it," he growled as he turned on his heel.
The blond tapped her nails on her lips thoughtfully. She knew he was angry with her. Sighing, she stretched her hands over her head. "Idiot. As if I take a threat from a Merquise seriously." With a shake of her head she watched Penny and Thad leave. "You want her, you need her. And I'm going to do something about it, whether you like it or not."
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Penny glanced at Thad from under her lashes. There was an angry expression on his face. Sighing, she let her eyes wander at the passing scenery. Her stomach rolled a bit, making her feel slightly nauseous. Placing a hand over her stomach, she silently cursed the alcohol that Veronica had talked her into drinking. It rolled again. "Thad?"
"What?"
"Stop the car."
"Why?"
"I think I'm going to be sick."
He immediately pulled over to the side of the road. "Shit!" he muttered under his breath as he got out and ran to the other side, just in time to pull her hair back.
The pavement beneath her hands felt cold and gritty as her stomach got rid of everything in it. She was dimly aware of his hand holding back her hair as she continued to retch. She felt shaky, as she was sure that she was finished. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm never drinking again," she mumbled as she sat back on her heels. She felt his hands smooth out her hair before she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist to help her stand. "I feel horrible."
"I know. Getting sick is not the fun part, trust me," said Thad as he let her back rest against his chest. He mentally choked Veronica for letting her drink. "Come on, I'll take you back to my house since we're closer, rather then your cousins,' ok?"
"Ok," Penny replied weakly as she was helped back into his car, grateful for the support of his arms. She laid her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes.
As he drove back to his home, he muttered under his breath in Italian about his meddling cousin. Once there, he looked over at her. She was asleep. He didn't have the heart to wake her, so once he was out of the car, he went to her side and gently scooped her into his arms. Her slight frame pressed against his chest as he shut the door with his foot. Since he had parked in the garage, getting inside the house was much easier. When he reached the top of the stairs on the second level, he debated what he should do. "I should put her in a guest room so she could sleep it off, but there's no telling if she'll be sick again. And that means I can't leave her alone. So, the only thing I can do is take her to mine," he sighed as he turned and went up to the third level. Shadows from the November moon danced over the floor and walls from the wide expanse of windows on the back walls. He carefully put her down on his bed, trying not to wake her up. Her lashes fluttered. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Thad's face came into focus as she looked up at him. "Where am I?" she murmured.
"In my room. I didn't think leaving you alone would be a good idea since you could be sick again. And my parents have Dylan in their room tonight, so I didn't want to wake them," he replied as he sat down on the edge of the mattress. "So, how do you feel?"
"Woozy."
He bent his head; silvery blond strands falling forwards over his forehead. "It's my fault. I should've been watching you a little more closely. Veronica should've known better not to get you a drink."
"No, it's all right. I should've been more insistent about not having it. But at least I know now that drinking is not something that sits well with me," she said as she sat up and tentatively touched his back with her fingers. "Don't blame yourself. You didn't know alcohol would do this to me…I didn't either. It's not your fault…. but I…"
"But what?" he asked, startled by her simple touch. It made sensations course up his spine.
"I think…I think I'm going to be sick again…"
"Shit!" he cursed as he got her to the bathroom as fast as he could. He held her hair back as her stomach emptied even more of its contents into the toilet. When she sat back on her heels, he softly stroked her hair. "Finished?"
"I think so…for now anyways."
Her voice sounded weak and vulnerable. It tore his heart. "Why don't you wash your mouth out? Is there anything out of your bag you'll need?"
"The container for my contacts," she replied as she attempted to stand. She felt his arm slide around her, pulling her into an upright position. Grateful, she let her back rest against his chest briefly before she rested her hands on the sink and he went to get her purse. Washing out her mouth and splashing water on her face, she examined her reflection in the mirror. Her face was unearthly pale now.
Thad brought her purse and stood in the doorway as she took out her contacts. He didn't like her color. It was too pale. He knew that some people couldn't tolerate a lot alcohol in their systems. His sister was one of them, having held her head, as she got sick from it when she was eighteen. His eyes went back to hers as they met in the mirror's reflection. She had pulled her hair back, away from her face. "You feel better?" he asked when she turned to face him.
"Yes. Just a little."
Walking forwards, he reached out and ran his hand along her cheek. It was still pale, but he noted the color returning to her cheeks from his touch. However, he didn't remove his hand. Her skin felt cool and soft under his hand. His fingers pushed back strands of her hair behind her ear. His eyes caught hers again. She was watching him. Finally realizing what he was doing, he let his hand fall away. "You can sleep in my room. I'll sleep on the couch in the other room. If you want you could wear something of mine to sleep in…it might be more preferable to wearing jeans. So, if you need anything…just call for me, alright?"
"Alright," replied Penny as she watched the conflicting emotions dance across his face. "Thank you."
"Its nothing. I'll be in the other room. Good night, Penny."
"Goodnight," she said as he left the room. Feeling marginally better since her stomach was now emptied of the offending alcohol, she shrugged out of her sweater and laid it across the chair by the window. She went over to the closet and opened it, deciding to take him up on the offer of wearing something else. She tugged a shirt off a hanger and quickly stripped. The cotton felt good and it smelled like him. She rolled the sleeves up, since they went well past her fingertips. She looked down at herself. She supposed it covered her decently enough since she wasn't going to riffle through the drawers for boxers. Walking out of the closet, she eyed the bed on the opposite side of the room. It was big. Her face flushed. Shaking her head to dispel the flitting images in her mind, she pulled back the blankets and climbed under them. "It's only the alcohol making me think like that," she told herself as she lay on her side and gazed out the windows while his scent wrapped around her just like his arms would. It lulled her to sleep.
In the other room, Thad stood at the windows, staring out across the lawn and the forest beyond. The property stretched out beyond the edge of the forest. More then half of the property was allowed to grow wild. And every edge of the property was hemmed in by a high stonewall with high tech security cameras, which was his uncle's and his father's doing. Sighing he rested his hand on the glass and bent his head to stare at the hardwood flooring. Twenty feet separated him from the woman he wanted to claim as his. "No, she's a girl, she's not even twenty yet. She's…" he trailed off, continuing his study of the wood flooring, "…she's something else…" he finished, thinking of Penny in his bed next door. His bed. "Don't even go there," he growled at himself as he turned away from the window and flopped down on the couch. Kicking off his shoes, he laced his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. He studied the intricate carvings in the plaster; desperate to make sure he fell asleep without imagining her in his bed…with him there. "Dammit!"
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The next morning…
Waking up with a stiff neck was not something he was accustomed to. Groaning, Thad rolled over on the couch and stared at the bedroom door, several feet past the television. He checked his watch. It was well after eight. It had taken him forever to fall asleep, wondering if she was all right…and to get rid of the images in his head. Luckily, he hadn't heard a thing. Swinging his legs over the side, he finally stood. His back made several cracking noises as he stretched before he walked over to the door. He pressed his ear against it and hesitantly placed his hand on the doorknob. "You're only checking to see if she's awake," he told himself as he turned it and opened the door. The door clicked shut silently as he closed it behind him.
The sunlight spilled throughout the room, flooding it with a soothing yellow light. His eyes landed on her before they jerked away guiltily. He swallowed and raked a hand through his sleep-tousled hair before his eyes dared to fall on her again. Knowing how hot this floor could get when the heat was even on it's lowest setting, made some feel uncomfortably warm. It was obvious that Penny did since she had kicked or pushed all the blankets off of her and was sleeping in the middle of the bed without them. And it left her slender legs bare to his roving eyes. They traveled over the delicate bones of her ankles and the graceful curve of her calves, to the gentle bend of her knees, and higher to the creamy expanse of her thighs. He should've pulled his eyes away when they reached her knees as his hands tightened into fists and he squeezed his eyes shut once they went higher. Her restless sleep had caused the shirt to ride up to her hips. There was no way he had missed the pale yellow panties peeking from beneath the shirt's twisted hem. "Someone must really hate me to torment me like this," he muttered in deprecation as he opened his eyes again, but kept them resolutely on her sleeping face, however, he was hard pressed to keep his eyes on it, while so much was exposed to his view and firing his vivid imagination.
"I should cover her up again," he said as he went over to the bed and grabbed the edge of the sheet. He kept his eyes on her face, but she rolled to her back, making the material of the shirt stretch across her breasts. "Shit!" It wasn't that she was that busty, but the fact that she was showing ample cleavage was enough to make him notice. Jerking his eyes away from her chest, he quickly yanked the sheet over her slim delectable looking legs and up over her chest. He felt too hot. His skin felt like it had been stretched. His insides were rioting. His heart pounding so hard, he thought it would burst through his ribs. Turning abruptly, he made his getaway. Breathing hard, he leaned against the other side of the door. His head was bent, his chin touching his chest. "What the hell is wrong with you? She's a child. Get that through your skull, Merquise! She's promised to someone else. Don't be a fucking idiot, if you care about her at all, you have to leave her alone!" he hissed at himself before raking an agitated hand through his blond hair. "If you care about her at all…if you…love her at all…you'll leave her alone," he whispered as his heart clenched painfully in his chest.
A/N: I know it took such a long time to get another part of this story out, but there's been so much activity in my life, I kept on getting away from it. But here it is and hopefully the next part and parts of my other stories won't take so long! Enjoy! XOXO!!
