Chapter Three

"Hey Cate, are you still with me?"

Catelyn blinked as a piece of popcorn bounced off her cheek.

"Hmm, what?"

Her friend Laura straightened her long ponytail and laughed playfully as she began to restock the crisps in the snack counter.

"You're miles away today mate. What's wrong?"

Catelyn sighed, putting a fresh stack of extra large drinks cups under the counter.

"It's nothing really, I just..." she broke across the sentence, unsure whether to tell Laura the entire truth of her ordeal the previous night. She would only worry and Catelyn would feel worse for putting her friend though unnecessary stress.

Laura stared at her defiantly, her fierce green eyes boring into Catelyn's conscience.

"It's nothing honestly; I just had a little trouble on the way home last night..." she paused and fumbled distractedly with the keys hanging from her belt "...in the park."

"The park?!"

Laura's mouth hung open in disbelief, her brows raised so high they damn near disappeared into her hairline.

"Have you lost your mind Cate? What the hell were you thinking, running into the park after dark?"

Catelyn furrowed her fine brows; she'd half expected a telling-off from Laura and knew fully that she deserved it for her stupid behaviour the previous evening.

Still, she felt slightly irked at being spoken to as though she were a child.

"Ok, ok! I know what you're saying and I know it was stupid. I don't need reminding of just how dumb it was ok."

She slammed the remaining cups back into the storage box and strode off to the supply cupboard angrily. Laura followed on her heels, not deterred by Catelyn's mood but knowing her friend well enough to recognise when she was being fobbed off.

"Cate…honey, what happened last night?" she quizzed her gently, laying a hand on her shoulder. Catelyn stood in the doorway of the cupboard, her back turned to Laura, unwilling to recall the grisly details of her ordeal. The memory brought a swift chill to bones and she physically shivered. Turning to face her dear friend, Catelyn took her hand and repeated every sinister detail of the rape that almost happened, of her stupidity at entering the park after dark, her struggle to escape from her violent attacker and her rescue by the mysterious stranger.

"He was just there? In the park? What was he hanging around for?" Laura raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"I was lucky he was there at all Lor, otherwise God knows what would have happened to me. I might have been raped or worse…."

She bit her lip as her voice broke into a stifled sob. Laura put her arm around her friend quickly and hugged her.

"You're right love, I'm sorry. It's a good thing he was there at all. I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to you. Tonight, you are not walking home on your own. I'll drive you ok?"

Laura handed her a tissue and smiled sympathetically.

"Have you at least been to the police yet about all this?"

Catelyn shook her head, wiping her eyes.

"After all that happened last night, I don't think I could handle all that fuss Lor, I just want to forget it ever happened."

Laura frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something but she knew that once Catelyn dug her heels in about something, nothing short of divine intervention would make her change her mind.

"Well if you're sure hun. You know what I would advise but it's up to you. Either way, I'll be driving you home tonight to make sure you're alright."

Catelyn smiled weakly and they went back to refilling the snacks, working in comfortable silence. Her mind was still working overtime from the previous night but strangely enough her thoughts were not occupied with her ordeal. Rather that of her personal saviour and the intense kiss that had consumed her beneath the boughs of the oak tree.

At ten fifty, Laura collected their coats and bags from their lockers while Catelyn clocked them both out, the rest of the staff making their way to the main doors while the manager prepared to lock up for the night. Catelyn shrugged into her thin coat, already shivering slightly from the chill air and waited for Laura at the door.

"Well that's us done for another day," she yawned, pulling out her car keys from her handbag and stepped out of the door the manager, David, now held open.

"You girls make sure you travel safe now," he fussed in his kindly manner. Catelyn smiled.

David Trent had been the manager of the cinema for over fifteen years and had always been considered a good boss, if a little old fashioned but every employee he'd ever had had nothing but good things to say about him.

Everyone chorused their goodbyes as the strolled out into the crisp night air.

Catelyn stood and waited on the steps while Laura walked with the rest of the group to get her car from the far side of the car park. Beneath the glaring lights, she shivered in the chill breeze and pulled her thin coat tighter. One of these days, she was going to have to remember to actually buy something that would keep her warm when it got so cold.

She watched her breath form delicate clouds in the cool air and felt the strangest of sensations sweep over her. She felt as though heat was creeping through her veins, moving outwards from her core. The breeze seemed to lose it chill and she gradually stopped shivering.

Feeling someone's eyes focused on her, her eyes were drawn across the road to where the shadows seemed deeper, as though someone was standing there.

A moment later, Catelyn sucked in her breath as Taine stepped out onto the pathway, six and a half foot of broad, solid muscle. She smiled, feeling a flutter in the pit of her stomach as his dark eyes burned intensely. She could not tear her eyes away from him, caught under his almost hypnotic presence. Had he come to walk her home? Had he been as tortured by their brief kiss yesterday as she?

'Don't be stupid Cate, look at the man! He can have the pick of any woman he wants, probably fights them off with a big stick,' her thoughts reminded her as her over active imagination supplied her with an endless stream of wildly sensual scenarios, each more passionate than the last. Catelyn raised her gaze to him, feeling her cheeks flush, wondering if Taine could read her mind. Still he stood there, partially in shadow as if waiting for her to join him.

What seemed like an eternity later, Laura pulled up in her somewhat battered Ford Escort and wound down the window.

"Get in then girl, some of the others are meeting up at the pub for a swift one and I said I'd come along," she rambled on, pulling a slightly crushed packet of cigarettes from her coat pocket and lighting one, "You wanna come with us or do you want me to drop you off at home first?"

Catelyn looked across the road once more, Taine still stood in the shadows and she saw him incline his head ever so slightly, as if beckoning her to go with him.

"Actually Laura, you go on without me. I've got someone to walk me home, you go and enjoy yourself."

Laura blew out a thin stream of smoke and looked over to where Catelyn's gaze was resolutely focused before turning back to her friend, her eyebrows raised in apparent approval.

"Let me guess, Mr Tall-Dark-and-Handsome, your personal knight in shining armour?"

Catelyn blushed profusely, hoping that Taine had not overheard Laura's appraisal of him. Laura laughed at her embarrassment, though not unkindly, and shrugged her shoulders.

"Are you sure about this Cate? Call me later and let me know you're home safe babe. I'll split and leave you to pick up your tongue before he trips over it."

Her laughter ringing into the still night, Laura pressed her foot to the accelerator before Catelyn could retort.

As the red glow of the car's brake lights faded into the distance, Catelyn crossed the road to where Taine stood waiting, his eyes warming to pools of melting chocolate.

Catelyn cleared her throat nervously. Despite saving her life the night before, essentially he was still a stranger to her and her body's reaction to his presence unnerved her.

"Hello," she greeted him, her voice no more than a breathy whisper in the night breeze. Taine's expression relaxed a little, although he did not smile.

"Hello Cate, I came to escort you home this evening," he informed her, stepping close and looking down, his expression one of soft concern, "After what happened last night in the park, I did not think it wise for you to walk the streets unattended."

Catelyn raised her brows at this remark.

"You thought perhaps that I was too dumb to find someone to take me home tonight?"

Taine chuckled; the sound was deep and rich.

"Perhaps I should rephrase that, I came to offer you an escort home if you should need one?"

Catelyn regarded him for a moment before smiling and nodding.

"Well seeing as Laura has now abandoned me for a pint of lager, I'd be very grateful if you could walk me home tonight."

Taine's lips twisted at the corners slightly, as if pleased that she had accepted his help. He held out his hand and Catelyn took it without question, finding a strange, soothing comfort in the warmth of his hand as it squeezed her fingers reassuringly. Fire seemed to be skating up the length of her arm at his touch and she found she was glad of the dark night to hide the blush that now coloured her cheeks.

Taine did not say anything as they walked steadily and Catelyn felt a sudden awkwardness at their silence. Last night and all through the day today, she had not been able to get him out of her mind, remembering the feel of his mouth on hers, his arms around her as he held her against the tree in the park.

Perhaps she had not been as memorable and that thought make her feel very foolish indeed. Clearing her throat, she tried to break the silence.

"I wanted to thank you again for helping me last night Taine. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't have been there."

Taine looked down at her as they walked and merely inclined his head.

"As I told you last night Cate, there is no need for thanks. I was just in the right place at the right time," he shrugged, leaving Catelyn to dwell in silence on her own thoughts. She felt awkward, unsure of what to say and, despite the warmth of his hand as he held hers, the air between them felt cool. Perhaps, she thought, she was overcome with hero worship and needed to cool her heels a little. However, she could not account for his suddenly frosty behaviour when he had seemed so warm and attentive the night before.

'You're reading too much into this,' her scolded herself silently, 'Stop over thinking things and just let him get you home safely.'

The walked over the busy crossing that intersected Bristol Road and Southgate Street and headed along the road that skirted the park. Despite being under the bright street lamps and the many cars that were rushing along beside them, Catelyn felt the fear of the previous night return like a black shadow across her mind. She felt the same compulsion to walk into the park, to take the dark and dangerous pathway there.

The memory of her attacker, the stench of his sweat and his hot breath on her face, made her knees buckle slightly. Taine caught her waist before she fell to the floor, his arms supporting her back.

"Cate, what's wrong?"

She shook her head, her chestnut hair coming loose from the restraining clip that held it back. The moment of madness passed but left her cold and shaky.

"Just the memory of last night…I felt so strange just now."

She looked at Taine, wondering if he thought her strange. Her own reaction puzzled her immensely. Taine reached behind her and pulled her hair clip away from the slightly tangled weighty mass, her hair falling in a graceful sweep down her back, brushing his hand.

He took a look at the darkness of the park and frowned, his brows knitted and his coal black eyes fairly seething with anger. Catelyn felt weak and trembling, her sense of foolishness increasing by the minute. She was foolish in her reaction to being here and twice as foolish in her insane attraction to the man stood next to her.

"Take me home please Taine."

Taine looked down at her; her head was hung low as she fiddled distractedly with the buttons on her coat and he could feel shame coming from her, along with a dark hint of what seemed like…rejection? Had he hurt her in some way? Since the kiss he had forced on her the previous night when she had been at her most vulnerable, Taine had sworn silently to himself that his intentions would be strictly honourable and that he would try to maintain the distance he has so carefully kept around himself in the many years of his existence. In his experience, letting anyone close led to disappointment and pain for both parties and Taine was not confident his emotions could take another blow without failing altogether.

"Come on," his voice soothed her fears, warming the chill that had started to spread within her. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and steadied her shaky body against the solid strength of his own, "Lets get you home and in the warm. You're probably still in shock from last night."

They made their way steadily along the road, taking only a few minutes before they reached the memorial that marked the entrance to the park.

With his arm still around Catelyn's shoulders, Taine crossed them over the near deserted road and up the steps towards her house. The doorway seemed a little forbidding in the darkness that seemed to swell from every shadow.

With her head still bowed, Catelyn rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a set of house keys, fitting the right one quickly to the lock and pushing open the battered green door.

"Would you like to come in for a few minutes? I'll feel a little safer if you could stay while I check the house," she asked quietly, still refusing to meet his gaze.

Taine nodded, still reaching out to read the strange array of mixed emotions pouring from her. As Catelyn hung her coat on the hallway stand, Taine went upstairs and checked all the rooms for any sign of an intruder. But he encountered nothing out of the ordinary, nor could he detect any hint of another strong mental presence in the house which eased his fears a little. The Controller had not yet found her home which meant she was safe still for a while longer.

Coming back downstairs, he found Catelyn stood in the kitchen, trying to pour hot water from the kettle into a cup. However, her hands were badly shaking as she held the cup, spilling the scalding liquid onto the black marble worktop of her kitchen counter.

"Cate?" Taine frowned and took the cup from her, "You're trembling, what's wrong?"

Catelyn shook her head, not speaking. She didn't want to make Taine anymore uncomfortable than he obviously already was.

Her nerves were still shot from yesterday. Adrenaline and fear like ice through her veins. Taine's touch seemed to be the only thing that soothed her. But she couldn't ask him for that. She shouldn't.

She didn't want to tell Taine she had been unable to stop thinking about him since they had met the previous night. She didn't want him to know how his searing kiss beneath the oak tree seemed to have been burned into her memory so deeply that the rest of her body craved the same touch.

But most of all, she didn't want him to touch her now because if he did, she knew she would be hard pressed to stop herself from touching him in return, to feel those solid, hard muscles tense beneath her fingers.

Taine cupped his hands around her trembling fingers, soothing the shivers that coursed through her. Catelyn stilled instantly, not daring to look at him, hoping her own emotions were not betrayed by the stormy blue of her eyes.

"Cate, look at me," he coaxed gently, raising her chin so that he could meet her eyes. Taine smiled warmly at her, understanding seeming to dawn in his own dark gaze as he slid his fingers softly long the delicate curve of her jaw line.

He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers, a slow, sensual smile curving his firm lips. Catelyn sighed, her feeling of foolishness dissipating as her senses absorbed his scent, his warmth and his sweet breath as it caressed her skin, as soft as a warm summer breeze.

"Do you not know how much I have wanted to kiss you again since last night?"

His hands slid to her waist and Catelyn drew in her breath as her own hands instinctively gripped his broad shoulders.

"You tasted so sweet…," his breathing grew ragged, his mouth taking hers in a swift, burning kiss that teased, tasted and possessed her all at once.

Catelyn felt his body flush with heat, raw desire emanating from every pore. Her own skin seemed to burn with it, her hands fisting into his coat, gripping him hard as he picked her up by the waist and sat her on the kitchen counter. Catelyn caught his hips between her parted thighs, her arms around his neck, her mouth desperately trying to keep up with the onslaught his lips wrought on hers.

Last night, his attentions had been slow and sensual. Tonight, there was an eagerness and raw energy about him that fair left her breathless with desire. Every taste, every touch, every scent seemed a thousand times more intense. But the most disturbing thing was that he was still a stranger to her and yet, this did not bother her as it should have done.

Feeling daring, she probed past his full lips, her tongue seeking and tasting, reaching for his. She had never tried this before but she found his was a taste she could not forego. It made her burn hotter, eager for more, feeling an urgent need to take him inside her body. Damn, he had but to ask and she would surrender her innocence to him this very night, something she had kept closely guarded for many years.

Taine felt eager surprise at Catelyn's response to his touch. It was like stroking a live wire and waiting for the electric shock. Her body melted against his and his own body reacted to her heat. The erection pressing against the fly of his jeans urgently demanded to be released so that he could take her swiftly. Maybe….maybe just this one night, she would allow him to bed her, to make love to her, to cover her body with his. He would protect her with nothing but his skin if necessary He just needed to be naked with her.

Except…

Taine sighed and tried to reign in his raging desires. No, this wasn't right. He barely knew the girl and his conscience kicked him hard when he thought about taking her right here on the counter. Even though he'd had countless, nameless encounters over the years, he didn't want the same anonymity with Catelyn. He wanted their first time together to mean something for some reason, not just be another orgasm. He pressed a deep kiss to her mouth and pulled back reluctantly.

Catelyn waited, panting softly, her eyes hazy with desire and sexual heat.

"Taine? Is something wrong?"

Taine shook his head and smiled warmly at her, trying his best to hide his straining erection.

"Nothing's wrong Cate, nothing at all. I just don't want to rush this with you."

He cupped her jawline and threaded his fingers through the soft waves of her chestnut hair.

His heart jumped into his throat when a shy, warming smile touched her lips.

"You mean you'd like to do this again? You would actually want to see me again?"

Taine nodded and curled his fingers around her neck, pulling her closer. The air between them was warm and smelled faintly of musk.

"Tell you what, why don't we put a movie on or something and I'll fix us something to eat," Catelyn offered, slipping down from the counter and trying to steady her shaky knees.

She knew she had some leftover lasagne in the freezer and somehow, a quiet night in with this guy seemed very appealing all of a sudden.

Taine grinned and removed his coat, draping it across the back of a chair.

"Sounds good to me, you find the grub, I'll line up a movie."

Catelyn smiled and watched him saunter towards her lounge. Tonight was a very good night, she decided, a very good night indeed.