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Secret, Part 2

Zach whistled as he left his brother contemplating his last remark. "He's going to get himself into a heap of trouble if he can't control himself. But maybe, he'll take my words to heart. You don't take advantage of nice girls," he sighed. Climbing into his car parked outside, he drove over to the Sanc Kingdom branch of the Preventers and received an earful from Victoria for the obvious reason hiding in the frame, lying face down on the table behind her desk. He winced as the object of her diatribe grinned at him before going into the lion's den. A moment later, he heard glass shatter. "I don't want to be him. I hope being married to Quat is nothing like what goes on between them." He frowned as he got back into his car. "At the moment, she's not even talking to me. This is getting ridiculous. I'll just have to go see her instead, the paperwork can wait," he thought with a grim look coming over his face as he turned the car in the direction of Winner Corp.

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Quatrina leafed through the contracts on her desk. She was one of the corporate lawyers for the family. "Dammit! Where is that one that Damien asked for?" she muttered, as she went through the pile again.

"Looking for this, big sister?"

She looked up to see Vaughn waving the paper in front of her nose. "Where did you get that?"

"From the pile you haven't looked at yet. You're getting lax," he smirked as he leaned against her desk.

"Well give it back, I need to look at it before it's returned to Damien."

"You've already looked over it. You put it in the wrong pile," he remarked. He arched a brow at her. "Is something bothering you, Quat?"

Her amethyst eyes darted away from his before returning. "No."

"That's bullshit."

"Vaughn," she warned.

"Oh, don't go getting your panties in a bunch, Quat. I was merely asking the question since you hate it when I delve into your feelings without permission."

"You do it anyway. You never ask anyone's permission. You feel it's your right."

Both of his brows arched high. "By Allah, what has put you in bitch mode as of late? Past two days it's like working with a fire-breathing dragon. You spent the other night at Zach's. I thought that would put you in a better frame of mind," Vaughn snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"That's none of your business," Quatrina snapped, giving him an icy glare.

"Ahh…so it's Zach that's bothering you. Maybe if you got laid, you wouldn't be such a witch all the time."

Her hands slammed down on the edge of the polished desk as she stood up. "Shut. The. Hell. Up! You know that can't happen!"

"And why can't it! You let your fears take control of you and they'll eat you up alive. I know what you've been through, quite by accident because I could feel you. You're just too scared to admit that you want him like he wants you!" he lashed back. "And to top it off, you've never even told him!"

"I don't want him to know!"

"Why not? You're lying to him and you know it!"

"I don't want him to know. He can never find out what happened," she replied softly. "It's not necessary for him to know what happened."

"Quat, it will only hurt you more in the end if he does find out."

"Vaughn, there a handful of people that know. That handful has been sworn never to tell what happened. And you promised dad you wouldn't. It'll stay a secret. It's dead and buried."

"Quat…"

"Just go, Vaughn. You have the document you wanted. Go on, leave me alone."

Vaughn sighed and shook his head. "You're making a big mistake. You're locking him out and in the end…I don't think I have to say what will happen if he finds out…" he trailed off as he finally left her office.

Once her brother left, she slumped back into her chair. She rubbed her temples as she let her chin rest on her chest. "Why does he have to be so difficult about this? Why can't he understand?"

"Understand what?"

Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice. He was leaning against the doorframe looking as handsome as ever. "Zach, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," he replied as he pushed away from the door and shut the door behind him, "And to find out why, you're not talking to me."

"I have a lot on my mind with all this paperwork," she replied as she tidied up the pile of papers on her desk before taking one off the stack she had to go over. Her eyes centered on the paper as she followed the words with her pen. "A lot of contracts have come in and I have to look them over before…" she was cut off with a sound kiss.

Zach pulled away and looked into her shocked face. "Had to do something to keep you from avoiding the subject," he said as he trailed his fingers down her cheek to curve around her chin, stroking it with his thumb. "This is important, Quat."

"I'm not mad at you if that's what you're asking."

"You were last night and at least six hours ago when I last saw you."

"I wasn't mad," she mumbled as her eyes darted away from the directness of his.

"You were upset?" he prodded as he sat down on the edge of her desk as he grasped her hands in his.

"…No…"

"Quat, you were, weren't you?"

She sighed and looked down at her hands clasped in his. "Just a little."

Zach knew she wasn't telling him the complete truth. He slid off the edge of the desk. "Get up."

"What?"

"Get up," he repeated as he tugged her into a standing position. He sat down in her chair and pulled her onto his lap, her back against his chest. He turned it so they were facing the windows to the courtyard outside. He sandwiched her hands between his and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You know I love you, don't you?"

Quat looked down at their hands again. His covered hers completely. "Yes. I know."

"I just want to know what upset you last night, that's all. And why this morning, you rushed out of the house, avoiding me."

"I thought you would be mad at me."

"Why would you think I would be mad at you?"

"Because of last night. Because I…" she trailed off, as she looked out the window. Her eyes met his in the glass reflection. "…Because I turned you away…"

"Believe me, I was not mad at you. Frustrated, yes. Mad, no. But there has to be more than that, that made you upset?"

"No, that was all," she lied as she closed her eyes briefly.

He lifted his chin off of her shoulder and pressed a kiss on the back of her neck. Strands of silky red hair that had escaped from the simple bun tickled his nose. "Is it?" he murmured against her skin.

Hanging her head, she looked down at the material of her pale blue skirt. She could feel his lips resting on the back of her neck while he waited for her answer. "Really, that was all, Zach."

Closing his eyes for a moment, he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry if I made you upset, Quat. I know sometimes I come on a little strong, but it is only because I love you so much. I know you want to wait until marriage and that's all right, but why do you get upset when I try anything more than just kissing? Like I said when you and I first started dating, I would never push any further than you're willing to go. But whenever things get too much for you, you push me away."

"Tell him," her heart whispered. She raked her teeth across her lower lip before turning on his lap so she was sitting sideways. She lifted her eyes to his. "…I don't mean to push you away. I just react before I think about it. I know you would never push for more unless I told you it was ok. It's just with all the sexual activity that goes on around us, I can't help but be a little more prudent and little more guarded. One can't be too careful," she replied as she twisted her diamond engagement ring around her finger. "I guess you could also say that I'm a throwback to another time when a woman's virginity was important. And in being one…" she paused as she gave him a half smile "Liar." "In being one, sex makes me feel a little apprehensive."

Zach caught her hand in his and brought it up to his lips. He smiled. "I haven't heard this before. But I think I understand a little better now. But you know what, I like the fact that you're a virgin. It just means you'll be all mine when the time comes. And I'll be the only one to see that beautiful body of yours with nothing on," he said, grinning.

A flush raced across her features at the same time her lips parted in shock. "You like it that I've never…"

"Yes. I do," he replied as he let go of her hand to slide it across her cheek so he could gaze into her eyes. He liked that blush that was still encompassing her face. "Because I would like teach you…be the one to touch you…" he breathed as he drew her mouth closer to his, "…. to taste you," he whispered before he kissed her.

His words had thrilled her. She had felt her body getting warmer in the passing seconds as he spoke. And his lips were evoking pleasant sensations that washed away the memories of the night before. Parting her lips, she allowed the gentle invasion of his tongue. Her body tightened and then forcibly relaxed.

When he felt her melt against him, he slid his fingers around the base of her neck and his other hand came up, sliding through her pulled back hair, tugging curls and loops free. They ensnared his fingertips. He rubbed his tongue against hers before stroking the inside of her mouth. She tasted sweet, like cinnamon and sugar.

With each passing minute, Quatrina's hands crept up his chest to hold onto his shoulders. His tongue was rendering her thought process useless. With every stroke, every sweep, her senses became attuned to only him.

Zach lifted his mouth from hers. "I love you," he murmured against her mouth.

She smiled. "I love you too," she sighed as she gave him a tender kiss in return.

He liked how her lips would almost shyly nuzzle against his and the way they made his tingle with expectation. He loved how her hair felt against his hands and against his face. He just liked being surrounded by her.

Her insides trembled, but it wasn't from her fear. It was the love she was feeling when he began to masterfully kiss her back. She loved him with all her heart and allowed herself to show how much by wrapping her arms around him.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Quatrina tore her lips away from Zach's to see her father standing, leaning against the doorframe. "Dad! What are you doing here?"

Quatre waved his hand in response to his daughter's reddening face. "Don't be too embarrassed, dear, I've seen worse. Besides I can hardly find fault when he is marrying you," he said with a smile.

Zach grinned. "I'm glad you think that. But I should be on my way home. My lovely, albeit pissed off cousin, tossed me paperwork before she went into a full-fledged diatribe at the poor guy after me. I should finish it so I don't incur her wrath. It's not pretty," he said as he lifted Quatrina off of his lap, his hands resting lightly on her hips. He pressed a short kiss on her lips. "Come out to dinner with me tonight."

"…All right…is there a special occasion?"

"Nah, I just want to take out the woman I love for dinner."

She smiled up at him. "In that case, I'll be looking forward to it."

"Good. I'll be by around seven," Zach said as he pressed another kiss on her lips and gave a nod to Quatre on his way out. He smiled when he got back into his car. "I'm glad that's over with, now to make reservations."

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Quatre watched as his daughter tucked her hair back into her bun before closing the door. He smiled as she smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from her blouse and skirt. "Quat?"

She looked up when he said her name. "Yes, dad?"

"Was he the reason you came home upset this morning? And why I felt distress coming from you last night?" he asked gently as he came around and pulled her down on the couch next to him.

Glancing away, she absently rubbed her arms. "It was nothing. I got a little upset over nothing."

"Why was he frustrated?"

"No reason."

"Quatrina, please?"

"…I turned him away…I found myself getting into a panic…I overreacted."

He sighed and grasped her hands in his. "And did he ask why?"

She could feel those aquamarine eyes on her, boring into the top of her bent head. "Yes, he asked why…and I didn't tell him. So, I lied to him."

"Quatrina, you should tell him."

"I can't! I don't want him to know. He's better off not knowing."

"If you don't tell him, he's bound to find out, sweetheart," Quatre said as he drew her forwards into a hug. "I know it's hard for you, but you have to be strong. You have to trust him. You have to let go of some of it," he whispered against her hair.

Tears threatened to spill over, but she managed to keep her composure. "I just don't want him to know. You promised me, dad, that we would never speak of it. It stays dead and buried. You all promised."

"I know, I know, but sometimes, a secret is meant to told, especially as someone as important as Zach is to you."

"I don't think it's necessary to dredge up the past."

Quatre continued to stroke her back in wide circles. He closed his own eyes and let out a sigh of his own. He saw the apprehension lurking in the depths of her amethyst eyes and it disturbed him. "A past that makes you who you are."

She lifted her head away from her father's and looked into his face. "And a past that I don't want to relive," she replied, her voice faint as she lay her head back down and let the calming circular motion of his hands dispel her worries.

A/N: Well, here it is! Hope you enjoy! XOXO!!