Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!

Secret, Part 4

She ran up the steps, two at a time, finally kicking off her black heels so she wouldn't break her neck running up the third set like she had done on the first and second set. They clattered on the stairs as she continued on her way up. Her stocking feet thudded on the carpeted hall of the third floor. The neatly done hair, sliding out of it confines of pins, left several strands of thick russet waves to hang against her flushed cheeks. Her hand pushed the door open as she ran across the room to slam open the next. There she stopped, breathing hard, her eyes widened with shock and worry.

Zach arched a brow at her sudden appearance. "This is quite a surprise."

"Your mother called me…told me you got hurt…I left work…to…see…if you were…ok…"

"I'm flattered by your concern, Quat, but I'm fine. My mom overreacted."

Quatrina frowned and dropped her purse on the chair by the door. She pointed a finger at him. "You call that fine?"

Glancing down at his chest and the tightly wrapped bandage that held his cracked ribs and went over his shoulder to also keep the dislocated shoulder in place to heal properly, he shrugged his right shoulder. "I'll mend," he said as he looked back up at her. He saw the worry in her eyes again despite the angry looking expression on her face. He smiled gently and went over to her, enfolding his right arm around her and hugging her tight as his ribs would allow. He pressed his lips against her bedraggled hair. "I'm sorry. I know when I get hurt, you freak out. I'm sorry, but really, I'm ok. It only hurts when I laugh or rollover."

"You always make light of your injuries," she mumbled against chest. He had been in the process of pulling a shirt on when she arrived. He hadn't bothered to finish putting it on, so her cheek was pressed against warm skin. She wrapped her arms around him, careful not to hug him too tight. "I hate it when you get hurt like this. I hate it that you go away so much and make me agonize every minute that you're away."

A soft smile touched his lips as he kept his dark head bent over hers. "I know that you don't like what I do, but I'm good at it. And I promise once we get married, I won't leave you alone so much. It'll be different because I'll have a wife at home and who knows…maybe a kid by this time next year."

A hint of color rushed to her face at the mention of children. She loved children, she adored Zach's two little second cousins, Alex and Rhys, but to have children, she would have to…She shook her head against him and sighed. "I'm just glad you're home again. I missed you."

"I missed you too. I thought about you every day I was away," he murmured as he leaned back and looked down at her. The concern in her amethyst eyes had faded somewhat, but it lingered. Her pretty pink lips were tilted up in a semblance of a smile. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against hers. "I especially missed kissing you," he whispered against her mouth.

She smiled and kissed him back. "I missed having you around."

"You didn't miss my kisses?"

This time she leaned away, giving him a teasing smile at his comment. He was grinning. "I missed you, isn't that enough?"

"No."

"Tough, that's all you're going to get."

Still grinning, he slipped his hand under her suit jacket, letting his fingers play along her side where she was ticklish. "Are you sure you want to say that?"

"You wouldn't dare."

He squeezed her side and she shrieked. Chuckling, he ignored her irate expression. "You're so easy to get to, Quat. That's what you get for saying you didn't miss my kisses. So, did you miss my kisses?"

Amethyst eyes narrowed, but widened when his hand ran up and down her side, daring her to say no again. "Fine. I missed your kisses. Happy?"

"Yes," he said as he bent his head again and kissed her.

Her eyes slid closed as his mouth moved softly over hers. She removed her hands from around his waist to rest them against the sides of his neck. His hair tickled her fingertips. She felt his hand slide around her back, slowly moving up and down her spine. The warmth of his bare skin melted through her jacket and silk blouse. Her lips parted under his, pushing her niggling thoughts to the back of her mind.

Her lips were so soft and warm. He kissed her slowly, deeply, letting his tongue sweep her mouth at its leisure. He let his hand rove over her back in a loving caress, liking the feel of the silk beneath, but enjoying the heat of her skin underneath it even more. He could feel the rise and fall of her breasts against his chest as she moved closer to him.

His touch had a powerful effect on her. Her insides felt hot to the point of melting. And what his mouth was doing to hers made her entire being liquefy. His skin under her hands was growing hotter too as the intensity of the kiss increased. She could still feel his one hand circling on her back, urging her closer to him. It seemed that when he kissed her, all her fears drained away. This time was no different.

Zach felt her weight leaning against him. Slowly pulling his mouth away from hers, he looked down at her. Her eyes slid open. They had a dazed look in them. "It's nice to know that my kisses have a strong effect on you. And kissing you is much better then the pain killers that Leigh tried to shove down my throat."

Blinking her eyes, Quat shook her head to dispel the drugging effects of his mouth. "Such conceit," she teased back but her lips pulled into a slight frown, "You should take the painkillers she gave you."

"You know I don't like taking them."

"Don't be silly. You hurt yourself badly this time. I want you to take them."

"You can't make me."

She sighed and shook her head. "Zach, please."

He pouted and widened his eyes, giving her the most sorrowful look he could. The look usually got him anything he wanted or got him out of things he didn't want to do as a child…and sometimes as an adult. Many had said when he gave them this look it was too hard to resist. It didn't work all the time on her, but it was always worth a try.

She rolled her eyes. "You're such a baby. Taking the meds won't kill you. They'll make you feel better."

"They make me sleepy."

"They're supposed to."

"Do I have to?"

Quat sighed in exasperation, although a slight smile touched her lips as he continued to give her that look with his widened ice blue eyes. "Yes. You have to."

"Damn, there's just no way around you, is there?" he sighed as he rested his forehead against hers. There was an amused look in her eyes. "Well, if I take them, would you do something for me?"

A russet brow, a shade darker then her hair, arched. He was giving her an angelic smile, too angelic in her opinion to be trusted. "Like what?"

"Well since then make me sleepy, stay with me."

Her mouth twitched.

"Please. I promise to be good. Besides I'm incapacitated. I can't do…much."

He was wearing that expression again. For the most part she could withstand the puppy dog look from him, but sometimes, he looked so boyishly handsome and irresistible, she couldn't say no to him. She sighed. "I suppose."

Grinning, he pressed a kiss on her lips. "Good. Now, I'll take my medication like you told me to. I'll be right back," he said as he turned on his heel and went into the adjoining room to retrieve the painkillers Leigh forced on him.

Shaking her head, she reached up and pulled out the rest of the pins that kept her hair up. She placed them on the bureau's polished surface. She shrugged out of her jacket and hung it over the back of the chair, at the same time, pulling the silk blouse free of the waistband of her skirt. Making sure he wasn't around, she pulled up the hem of her skirt and proceeded to roll down the lacy thigh high stockings she wore.

Zach swallowed down the two pills that had been instructed before turning around and going back into the bedroom. He stopped when he entered again. He blinked his eyes again to make sure he wasn't imagining things. He wasn't. Sure enough she was sliding a stocking down her legs. Definitely interested, he stood silently and watched as she tugged the hem of her skirt up her legs, revealing slender toned thighs and the stretch of lace and silk that still encased one. He'd seen her legs before, but nothing was quite as stimulating as watching the material slide down her leg, and wishing it was his hands taking it off. His mouth felt dry and his heart was triple timing in his chest.

Dropping the stocking on the chair with the other one, she became aware of the eyes on her. Raising hers, she met his. His eyes darted away from hers, but by the look in his eyes, he had been watching her. "I suppose you didn't miss anything?" she asked dryly.

By the tone of her voice, he knew she wasn't mad at him. Grinning, he shook his head. "I only saw the one leg. I can't help admiring your gorgeous legs."

His admission and compliment made her smile. "Did you take the meds?"

"Yes, dear," he said on a sigh as he took her hand and drew her towards the bed.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Her eyes flickered towards the bed's headboard. The carved wooden rungs made a memory shoot through her head. Mentally shaking it off, she reminded herself that this was something different. She sat down on the edge of the bed and slid back until her back hit the headboard. It was then he chose to slide in next to her, and pull her down to a lying position. "Zach?"

"What?"

"You'd better not get any ideas."

The quiet warning made him turn his head and give her a guileless smile. He put his good arm around her and pulled her close. "I'll be good…" he yawned, "…I promise…" Pressing a kiss on her temple, he closed his eyes. The medication worked fast, making him drop off to sleep.

Quatrina instinctively snuggled closer to his larger and warmer body. She turned on her side, resting her head against the hollow of his shoulder. The slow even breathing above her, soon made her drowsy. "It wouldn't hurt to take a nap…" she yawned as well, "It's been a long day." Not long after, she too was asleep.

Several hours later, Zach's slowly opened. They still felt heavy from sleep, but he felt better and he didn't have the bothersome pain in his shoulder and ribs. He felt weight on his right side, making him turn his head. A smile touched his lips as loose russet curls and waves fell across her cheek to puddle on his shoulder. She looked incredibly beautiful when she slept. Her skin felt warm under his hand as he trailed his fingers along her spine under the silk. Turning his head, he pressed a kiss on her hair, then her forehead. A soft whimper escaped from her lips, drawing his eyes to the rest of her face. There was a pained look on her face before it relaxed again. He frowned. "What made her do that? A bad dream?" he thought as he touched his lips to her forehead again. He felt her fingers curl against his skin making it tingle in their wake. Distracted by her touch, he caught her fingers with his left hand, wincing slightly from the pain. He kissed each finger, then her knuckles, and the back of her hand.

Her memories flared in the back of her eyes as she slept. The pain made her wince in her slumber, but she was slowly being drawn out of it when she felt something hot and soft against her hand and wrist. Her eyes slid open and watched as he kissed the palm of her hand and down to her wrist. Amethyst eyes sought his. He was watching her intently. The heated look in his eyes made hers dart away. She was aware of the movement of his hand on her back under her shirt. His touch sent chills down her spine as well as the faint alarm in her head. She continued to feel the heat of his lips against her wrist, drawing her flesh against his teeth as he reached her fingers. It felt like an electrical shock as the sensation shot up her arm. She couldn't say a word. She wanted him to stop at the same time she didn't. The orgy of touching he was lavishing on her wasn't scaring her, although warnings tolled in the back of her mind. It seemed silly to ask him to stop since all he was doing was kissing every inch of her hand, and gazing into her eyes while doing it. It made her own heart race and heat rush throughout her body. "Zach?"

"You taste good."

His muffled reply caused her cheeks to flare with color as he drew the tip of her ring finger into his mouth. Sensations shot straight up her arm and down her back.

The tell tale flush on her face made him grin as he nibbled and sucked on each one of her fingers. It made the color brighten in her face with each finger. There was a touch of heat in her eyes, flickering in the amethyst depths. He knew certain things got to her. This usually was not one of them. Placing her hand over his heart, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

His kiss was gently insistent, making her feel lightheaded. She responded by kissing back. Her hand curled against his chest, his heart pounding into her palm. Her own heart was speeding up as he continued to kiss her, nipping at her lips before running his tongue over them. Heat infused her blood and spread throughout her body, making her breasts tighten, and weightlessness settle in her abdomen. Memories hung along the fringes of her mind, but they were dissipating as he teased the tip of her tongue with his.

A little surprised that she wasn't immediately resisting, he wasn't going to waste the moment. He shifted his weight to his right arm, so he was leaning over her. He didn't break the contact of their lips, enjoying the way that hers yielded so easily under his. There wasn't a better time for him to languidly explore the silky wet contours of her mouth while sliding his tongue over and under hers. He made love to her mouth. He heard her breath catch in her throat. The simple sound made his skin tighten and heat envelope his skin from the inside out. He didn't stop when he left her lips to trail them across her jaw to her ear, and then down the side of her neck. The smell of her was intoxicating, the taste of her, drugging, the feel of her, invigorating.

Her eyes opened when she felt his mouth leave hers. She was aware of his body pressing against hers and wondering how her hand was now resting on the back of his neck. However, the gentle nibbling on her earlobe made most of her rational thoughts scatter. She felt like dozens of strings were being pulled inside of her, tugging on every erogenous zone she had. His breath was hot against her skin, making her insides vibrate with even more awareness.

He didn't even acknowledge the pain in his shoulder or ribs as he slid his left hand around one side of her neck. The skin underneath his fingers felt like satin as he trailed them along the side of her throat. They encountered the delicate necklace she wore, a platinum chain with a crescent moon pendant on the end. His fingers toyed with it briefly before letting them slide away. They encountered her pulse, which was racing. His fingers met his lips as they both reached the hollow of her throat. He could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breasts against his chest, their movement proving to be a huge distraction and temptation. Usually he would have much better control of himself, but her nearness, her acquiescence, and the painkillers throwing him off kilter, made the tight reign he kept on himself, non existent. And he didn't want to stop if she wasn't going to. He softly sucked on the hollow of her throat as his fingers continued their explorations. The soft silk of her blouse brushed against them. "So soft. I wonder if the skin underneath is the same?" he thought as his fingers slid under the modest v-neckline to the first pearl button. Her skin was velvety soft and warm.

Lost under the soft ministrations caused by his lips on her neck, she was unaware that his fingers were doing some investigating. Her own fingers were clutching the back of his neck as more pleasant tremors ran through her. Her eyes flew open when she felt fingers gliding down the hollow of her breasts, just under the lace edging of the silk camisole. Then she felt his breath slithering underneath too, but it was his words that registered in her brain.

"…Lovely…and its all mine…"

The murmured words triggered her memories. "…Such a lovely body. And it's all mine…" Panic set it. "Zach!"

He jerked away as her voice rang his ears, his eyes centering on her face. He caught the split second of fear in her eyes before they became shielded with annoyance. "What?"

"What? You have the nerve to ask me WHAT? You said you wouldn't try anything?"

"I told you I don't like taking meds. They alter my judgment."

"You promised!"

He frowned as he leaned away from her. "It's not like I'm going to harm you or do something you don't like."

She could see hurt flash in his eyes. Turning her head away on the pillow, she gazed at the far side of the room. "I'm not saying that you were…" "Liar," her mind whispered. "…It's just…it's just that you promised you wouldn't try anything…"

Crossing his arms, he sat up completely. His cheek was twitching with annoyance. "God forbid I try anything at all. You're hot one minute and cold the next. Make up your mind which one you want to be, Quatrina."

The sarcasm in his words made her flinch inwardly, but they also made her angry. "I'll be any damn way I please," she hissed as she swung her legs over the side and stood. Grabbing her things she turned on her bare heel and left the room. "If you kept your promise, maybe I wouldn't be leaving," she snapped as she slammed the door behind her.

"Dammit, Quat!" yelled Zach as he got up off his bed and yanked on his shirt, before running after her. "You can't walk away from this!"

"Watch me!"

"All right, so I broke my promise, it's nothing to get that upset over! If you didn't want me to go that far, you shouldn't have encouraged it," he said as he ran down the steps behind her.

Whirling around in the middle of the steps, she faced him. "You're saying I encouraged you?"

He crossed his arms. "Yes. I am."

Her hands fisted at her sides. "I didn't encourage anything! I never encourage anything!" She turned on her heel and continued down the steps.

Growling, he continued to go after her. He grabbed her arm as they went down the last set of stairs in the front entrance hall. "That's bullshit! You had your arms around my neck and you weren't intending to let go anytime soon! You were also whimpering too, so if that's not encouragement, I don't know what is!"

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Unfortunately for them, they had an audience. Noin, Zechs, David, and Kellie came out of the library. Thad and Penny were walking in the front door.

A worried look came over Noin's face.

Zechs frowned.

Kellie, David, and Penny had shocked looks on their faces.

Thad sighed and shook his head.

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Quatrina's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. His crystalline eyes were filled with anger and frustration. Her hands fisted even tighter. "I don't entice, encourage…or whatever…" she sputtered once she found her voice again. "That only leads to trouble as I just found out. So I won't stand here and take this crap from you. So you just go straight to hell!"

"Hell would be preferable since I wouldn't have to deal with women as frigid as you!"

Her mouth fell open.

His eyes widened in a split second when he realized what he had just said. Her eyes were wide and shocked, before a cold fury clouded their depths.

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A moment later the onlookers watched her lay a devastating slap. It sounded like a shot in the silent foyer. It had been strong enough to make his head turn sideways. Then they watched her march down the rest of the steps, pick up her keys and slam the front door behind her.

Zach stood on the steps with the one side of his face burning. His eyes closed. "Shit."

Thad was the first one to regain his voice. "That was a first."

"Oh shut up!"

"You certainly let your temper get the best of you."

"Thad… you're not helping!"

"And you said I was a baka. I'd say I'm looking at an even bigger one."

"This is your fault! You're the one who put the word in my head!" snapped Zach as he pointed a finger at his brother.

"Me? When did I do that?"

"When I called several days ago, I asked you how Quat was and you said, "Frigid as ever," you ass!"

"Yeah, but you said it to her, I didn't," Thad pointed out as he studiously avoided the looks of the others. "You opened your mouth and inserted your foot. It looks like you're the ass or should I say jackass."

Zach snarled at his brother in Italian before turning on his heel and going back up the stairs to his room. He sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the floor beneath his feet. "You idiot. Losing your temper like that," he sighed as he ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair. An image of the look in her amethyst eyes ghosted though his memory. He squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm sorry."

A/N: I'm doing my current stories on rotation, so it might be awhile before I get the next part out. Hope you enjoy! XOXO!!