Chapter 33- Breathless

Kate lit a series of candles. The flickers of light bounced off the walls, and danced around merrily. She smiled and then blew out the match.

Jack came behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Kate turned around surprised, but quickly calmed when her eyes laid on Jack's warm smile. "You scared me,"

"We all have a reason to be jumpy,"

Kate nodded and then sat down on the bed. "I felt bad for not offering to help Taylor make dinner, but she doesn't seem like she needs me and besides I'm not good at cooking,"

"You could have fooled me," Jack said sitting down next to her.

Kate smiled, "You thought I was a chef in the kitchen,"

"I would like to believe so,"

"Why,"

"Because when I go away with you, I was hoping for more than takeout boxes from restaurants across the world,"

"I'll learn to cook, if you promise to do the same,"

"I can grill," Jack chuckled.

"Well that's more than I can do,"

Jack looked down and then back at Kate. "Taylor's dress looks nice on you,"

Kate ran her hands along the soft fabric of the floral dress, "It's too nice to wear around the house, but Taylor insisted I wear it because…"

"Because what?"

Kate shrugged, "Oh no reason,"

"No but I want to know," Jack said.

Kate was not going to answer that question, she had slipped up to many times already today. "When is the last time you shaved?"

"I see what you're doing and it's not going to work this time,"

"Mr. Shepard what on earth are you talking about,"

Jack smiled and gave Kate an "all knowing expression"

"What do you know,"

"I think I have an idea."

Kate ran her hands over Jack's dark brown hair which had grown since the first time she had met him. "It looks like you need a hair cut too,"

"Are you a barber?" Jack asked affectionately running his hands through Kate's hair.

Kate reached for Jack's hand.

Jack paused and looked into her eyes. "I was just getting a piece of lint, it must be from the dress,"

Kate squeezed Jack's hand tighter and then brought his hand to her face. With her hand she gently ran his hand down her face.

Jack closed his eyes. Kate's face was so soft.

"Look at you,"

Jack reopened his eyes, "What?"

Kate raised her chin, "You like me,"

"What? Is this high school?"

"I don't know, do you like me Jack?"

Jack chuckled, "Kate, we have more important things to worry about."

"Not right now," Kate let go of Jack's hand and then got up.

Jack didn't want her to leave. His heart was beating, and he was still reeling from having Kate hold his hand like that and run it along her face. Jack felt his cheeks grow warm. He was falling hard for her. "Where are you going Kate?"

Kate raised her hand, "I'm not going anywhere, I just wanted to have some um…privacy with you."

"Oh really," Jack asked.

Kate nodded, "Really," She closed the door and then walked towards a radio in the corner.

Jack leaned forward, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

Kate's mouth dropped.

Jack grinned, "I'm only kidding Kate,"

Kate playfully pointed her hand at Jack, "I'm not one of those girls that Sawyer picks up, I don't fall for just any guy,"

"Well what makes me different?"

Kate straightened out her dress, "Who said I was falling for you?"

"Oh well I must be confusing the signals you are sending me."

"You must be." Kate said.

"So what are you trying to tell me?"

Kate shrugged and then flipped on the radio. She smiled, "I love slow songs like these, classics you know,"

"Why did you really wear that dress?"

"Taylor gave it to me,"

"Possibly because she wanted me to see you in it."

Kate looked down, "What if that was the case,"

Jack stood up, "Then I would feel very special,"

"Why?" Kate asked softly.

Jack looked around at the candles dancing around the ceiling, "Because I just would Kate,"

"I want to ask you something, and I want you to give me an honest answer."

"Honesty is a quality of mine,"

"I've noticed," Kate said jabbing him in the chest.

"So shoot, ask me what you have to and I will give you my honest answer."

Kate sighed, "I don't want to sound silly, but if I make a fool out of myself, I would rather it be with you."

Jack stepped closer.

"What do you really think of me?"

"Honestly,"

Kate nodded. "Please,"

"You must really care,"

"I want to make sure I have reason for feeling this way."

"Feeling what way?"

Kate placed her hands on her hips, "Jack, just answer the question!"

"Okay, let me think, I think you Kate Austin…" Jack paused, "Austin is your last name right."

"No it's Shepard," Kate said playfully.

A smile crossed Jack's lips, "Kate Shepard, that has a nice ring to it."

Kate took in a deep breath, "Now stop playing around and answer my question. You're playing around too much these days…what has gotten into you?"

"You," Jack answered.

Kate stared back at Jack with a smile, the lights flickered off her face.

"Okay, I think you're great Kate, yeah you have a past I don't know completely, but at this point I don't even care, because I've gotten to know you, I met you in May, and now it's September…"

"And between that time you left me two or three times, I can't quite remember but I know it was a couple of times," Kate said with a soft laugh.

"But I came back every time," Jack replied.

Kate nodded, "You did,"

"If I didn't like you then I wouldn't be here, I think that's all you need to know,"

"I guess I can deal with that," Kate turned around.

"Do you want to dance?"

Kate turned around again, her dress flowed easily around her legs, and her hair draped her shoulders. "Sure,"

"I mean when again will we have downtime like this and…"

Kate stepped over to Jack, and linked her hands in his.

"I'm not an expert at slow dancing or anything so if I step on your toes then I apologize in advance," Jack said.

"I never really slow danced before either so I'm warning you…but from what I hear it isn't too hard."

"It's not," Jack rested his chin on top of Kate's head.

Kate looked up, and then closed her eyes. This was perfect.

They moved along with the beat, a slow R&B song started to play.

Jack grinned, "The Isley Brothers,"

Kate smiled, "The right songs seem to play whenever we listen to the radio."

"I'm thinking we should get a radio and walk around with it."

Kate leaned away from Jack, "So we can create more memories like this?"

Jack's chest rose against Kate's.

"You never asked me what I thought of you," Kate said leaning away.

Jack raised his chin from off of Kate's soft hair. "Well what do you think?"

"Well sometimes, I think that you need to loosen up because you worry too much, and then I worry about you, and it's not a good cycle,"

Jack nodded, "I can't help the worrying, it's just a part of me, but you have to give me my credit Kate, I have been a more kinder and gentler Shepard these days."

"You've always been gentle," Kate said.

Jack smirked, "Not all the time…Sawyer, and some other examples we don't need to bring up…"

Kate reached for Jack's face with her hands, and gently squeezed together his cheeks. "You've always been gentle with me,"

Jack nodded, "Because I…"

"You what?"

"I care about you, and it's important to me that you're taken care of."

"I can take care of myself,"

"I am very aware of that," Jack grinned.

Kate surprised Jack by grabbing him by his arm, turning him towards her, and then bringing him down on the ground. "You see,"

Jack caught his breath quickly, and then laughed. "You sure know how to take a man by surprise."

Kate leaned forward and her hair grazed Jack's cheek. "You're to tall, I had to bring you down to my level,"

Jack reached forward and tucked Kate's hair behind her ears, so he could see her whole face.

"Remember when Sawyer held us hostage,"

Jack grinned, "You held me hostage too,"

"Shh," Kate placed her hand against Jack's lips, "I don't want to scare you away again, so I'm going to blame it all on Sawyer…it's easier that way. But anyways, the first thing I noticed was your eyes."

"I noticed yours too," Jack said.

Jack sat up, and placed his hands around Kate's waist. "Now what about my eyes,"

"They're sexy," Kate laughed, "I can't believe I just said that,"

Jack stared into Kate's eyes, "Your eyes are sexy too,"

"I bet this is the first time you have ever used the word sexy,"

"No I have,"

"Jack I don't believe that!" Kate laughed.

"I went to college you know, I'm not as square as you think,"

Kate ran her hands along Jack's tattoos on his arm, "I've noticed, you must have been wild in college huh?"

"No," Jack stood up, and then held out his hand for Kate.

Kate grabbed onto Jack's hand, and he pulled her up. "When I first saw you I was a mess, the cops were looking for me, and they still are, but that day I had lost the one person I truly cared about."

Jack's expression softened.

"His name was Tom and he died that day,"

"Kate, I'm sorry."

Kate shook her head and fought the tears, "But you don't understand I was so emotionally distraught after losing him, and I thought I would never be able to get myself back together, but…you came along and put me back together, you fixed me."

Jack looked down, "Sarah said something just like that to me after her surgery."

"Oh,"

Jack wiped at Kate's tears.

"I guess we shouldn't be doing this,"

"Doing what?" Jack asked.

"You have a fiancé and I'm sorry,"

"Kate," Jack said.

"Yes,"

"I've known Sarah more than I have known you."

"I know," Kate turned down the radio.

Jack reached for her hand and led her towards the bed. "But although I've known Sarah all this time, I've never felt as close to her as I do to you,"

Kate looked up. "Then why were you going to marry her,"

"It's complicated, but I know for a fact that I…" Jack paused, "I don't know how to say this, but I love you."

Kate's mouth dropped. "You love me,"

Jack smiled, "Woah, I guess I really did say it out…"

Before Jack could finish Kate placed her hands against his face and then brought her lips onto his. They fell backwards onto the bed.

Jack placed his hand on Kate's lower waist as he kissed her back. Letting her know just how much he cared about her.

Kate leaned away.

"Why did you stop?" Jack asked.

Kate kissed him on the cheek, "Because I never got the chance to tell you that I love you too,"

As Kate and Jack kissed the candles swayed like dancing beams of light against the dark wall.

"We'll take it slow to make sure this is right," Jack said kissing Kate's nose.

"I agree, I doubt my feelings for you will change anytime soon, so there's no rush, and I don't think anyone needs to know about this…us I mean."

"Can I get one last kiss before dinner?"

Kate nodded, "I was about to ask you the same thing." She leaned forward, but Jack met her halfway.

"I love you Kate,"

(Thanks for the reviews everyone!

Lindsay- They will stay in NC for a while, and this is one of my favorite stories so I can't imagine finishing it anytime soon, and when the new season starts I might get more ideas, over the ideas I already have, this story still has a way to go.

Austin B.- I completely agree with you, and I would write a Sawyer and Kate too, but I've been stuck on Jack and Kate for a while, and I like them together.

Orlando-Crazy- I sure hope not

October Sky, Nikki-da-latina, rain1657, Angel, Clarkson04, and Sunny102, thanks for continuing to review, I appreciate it! I'll update soon.)