AN: Happy new year, everyone! Wow, I can't believe 2004 is here. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me. Here's a Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year present to y'all… a new chapter!!! I think you'll like it. ;D

I'm gonna warn you in advance, there may be some sexual content later in this story. Tell me your preference—would you rather have it implied or not so implied? I don't want to offend anyone who doesn't want to read it, and frankly, I don't think I could write it… but I can try. Anyway let me know.

Here's the next one!

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Golden Child

Chapter Thirteen

          As I look back on that day, I smile. Always. It's one of my cherished memories. You know those memories that you can remember every detail about? What you were wearing, the atmosphere around you, the people with you… I envision the lowly trailer we lived in, the warm June air around us, the soft buzzing of the lights and the refrigerator as the only sounds that I could hear, other than the sound of my heart beating.

          When Loren kissed me, a million things went through my mind, all along the lines of "Oh, my God!" I felt… violated, thrilled, fearful, needy, unsure, happy, crazy, and loved, all at once. Still, though, as his tender touch radiated through me, I couldn't help but melt. His lips, they felt so soft against mine, moving so slowly, carefully, tenderly, not too fast, but not super slowly, either. I couldn't think. One part of me was screaming to stop, but the other, lonely, needy part of me didn't want to. After a few more moments, the rational part of my brain took over and I pulled away abruptly. Then, of course, the non-thinking person that I am, I slapped him again.

          He held his cheek. "What was that for?"

          "I… I'm sorry." I leaned up to kiss the cheek I had offended—twice—but I guess he was too fast, or he was intending something else, because our lips ended up touching again. This time, there were no reservations. There was passion in this kiss. I could feel Loren backing me up against the wall, his hands roaming up and down my back, our bodies pressed tightly against each other, and somehow my hands found his way to play with his hair, and even underneath his shirt. I could feel his body react when my hand grazed his chest, and a thrill went through me. And then, out of nowhere, he pulled away abruptly.

          "I…" He looked, speechless, at me. Suddenly, the tension and the awkwardness returned with a vengeance, and we couldn't even look at each other. I snuck a glance at the mirror near me to find my lips swollen and my hair slightly undone.

          "Sorry," I whispered, after many moments of silence.

          "For what?" Loren asked, just as quietly, now only daring to look at me.

          I sighed, and touched his cheek as softly as I could. "For that." I leaned up to try and kiss it again, and as my lips made contact with his offended skin, I saw him close his eyes.

          "Did that hurt?"

          He nodded. "Please…" His voice cracked. "Please don't do that again. It hurts too much."

          "I can get you ice or something—" I began, rationality finally coming back to me, but he cut me off.

          "Physical pain doesn't hurt me." He then retreated to his end of the trailer and pulled the curtain shut. I sat in the dining area with my head in my hands. "Oh, what have I done?" I asked myself, sighing heavily.

          I don't think either of us got much sleep that night. I could hear rustling on his side of the trailer all throughout the night. I tried cranking up my music (my current taste—Michelle Branch) to help me to sleep, but that didn't help either. It was a very trying night. Thoughts kept going through my head—what did he want from me? And, more importantly, could I give him what he needed? I knew that his life had been more solitary than anyone else I had known, so I knew any type of "relationship" (I despise that word with a passion) might be hard to start off. I didn't even know what I felt. That kiss… it was so intense, so incredible… I hadn't felt anything like it before.

          Finally, after many, many different thoughts and not enough sleep, we met up at the table when the sun was out. We looked wearily at each other for a while, and then I asked the inevitable question, just because I could.

          "Not enough sleep, huh?"

          I could tell Loren wanted to retort, to revert back to the person I knew him as before we were living together, but that he was just too tired. So he just nodded. I studied his face and saw the ugly mark I had left him with, and I winced.

          "What, I'm that ugly in the morning?"

          His remark broke the silence and we both laughed. "No. It's your bruise."

          Loren shrugged. "It'll heal," he said simply. I knew better this time to just let it go, so I asked him, "What are you doing today?"

          He shrugged again. "I don't know. My usual."

          "You going into town?"

          "Of course, I have to follow you, right? So if you are, I will, too."

          "I'm gonna go visit Bella. I don't think I'll need you," I told him. I didn't understand why I would need my self-appointed bodyguard when I had five or six around where I was going to be.

          Loren smirked. Even in his sorry state he still had some cynicism. I shook my head. This guy was too much. "If you're gonna go visit your sister, then I have to be there."

          "Why?" I nearly whined. Granted, it's not much fun to girl talk when the guy you're girl talking about is right there.

          "Think about it. You convinced Sonny to make me your bodyguard, and the next time he sees you, I'm not there. How does that make me look?"

          "Oh, so it's all about you now."

          "Kristina, would you rather have me as your bodyguard, or would you have one of Sonny's thugs watching you all the time?"

          "You have a point. Besides, I like you being my bodyguard. You know how to guard my body well."

          I swear, after I said that, Loren turned so red he matched his flaming red sleeping pants. "What, you do," I said simply.

          He nodded, his smile tight. "I know."

          Later, showered, dressed, and running on caffeine, we headed into Port Charles. We walked down the path, since it was daylight and easier to get around. There were still so many unsolved questions I had about the two of us. "Loren."

          He turned and looked at me. "Hmm?"

          "What would happen if I did this?" Boldly, I took his hand and interlaced his fingers with mine. I looked up at him, expectantly.

          "Okay, okay. I'm only going to say this once. I like you, Kristina, I really do. Where we go from here, time will only tell. But there's no need for conversation, asking what we are and what we aren't. Just go with what you feel, okay? 'Cause that's what I'm doing."

          Not the answer I expected. Still, though, I couldn't help the smile pasted on my face, for his hand never left mine.

          "I don't know, Loren. Going in with me isn't such a good idea…"

          "But what do you expect me to do, just stand out there while you and Bella gossip about who knows… oh, my God. I know what you two are going to talk about," Loren groaned. "This sucks."

          "Come on, it's flattery."

          "But…" He sighed heavily. "Don't tell her too much."

          "I won't. I promise. Besides, I don't think I'll have much time anyway because Sonny will be grilling me about stuff. He's bound to have found out about last night and the person who tried to get me."

          "True. Tell him not to worry. You've got me." And before I expected it, he pulled me into a close hug, just before the elevator doors opened. Once those doors to the outside world opened, our act began. I could tell already that he wanted to keep this very, very low profile, so I casually walked up to the guard at the door—Max today—and said, very politely, "Excuse me, may I see Bellatrix?"

          "You are Kristina, right?"

          I nodded. "Yes."

          "Very well." He opened the door and called out, "Ms. Corinthos, Ms…." He trailed off, for lack of a better term. "Your friend Kristina is here to see you." Max motioned for me to come in. I turned to see Loren try to proceed in as well. "I'm sorry, sir, but you can't come in."

          "I'm Kristina's bodyguard!" he protested.

          "Then you wait out here. I can teach you a few things. Judging from the mark on your face, you have some things to learn."

"That was from Kristina!" Loren protested again, and as he continued, the door shut, and Bella and I laughed. "What was that all about?" she asked. "And it's good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too, Bella." We exchanged a hug. "I told you I'd come back to visit you."

My sister nodded. "I believed you. Now what brings you to see me?"

I sighed. "A whole lot, Bella. It's been an eventful twenty-four hours."

The next chapter may be a little boring. Who knows. Anyway, at the rate this is going, don't be surprised if the story isn't done by 30 chaps. Hehehe… anyway, you know what to do! OH! I'm 8 reviews away from 100!!!! You guys, that would be super awesome. *hint hint*