Chapter Seven

Kae marched into her bathroom and began to run the bath, adding a generous squeeze of her favourite Body Shop shower gel to the water. As the tub filled with vanilla scented bubbles, she stripped out of her clothing and stared at herself in the mirror.

She had really enjoyed today at Safe Place. Marissa had introduced her to the staff and some of the residents who lived there with their young.

Kae felt her eyes water as Marissa had described some of the cases and her heart had truly bled for the suffering most of them had endured.

But overshadowing today had been her departure from Qhuinn this morning.

Absentmindedly, she touched her cheek where his warm tongue had licked the syrup away. Oh dear Virgin, her heart had raced furiously, her hands had trembled and her breath completely evaporated.

But then she had frozen, ignorant of what to make of her feelings. Qhuinn had looked at her as though he was confused by this. But then why should he be any the wiser about her or her lack of male companionship. Her Father had been a wonderful role model for her and while he and her Mother were still very much in love, they had never really explained to her what to do when her body reacted this way.

The only other male that had ever been in her life had been Lorn and it was not as if she could even remember him…

Kae gripped the tiny dragon charm on her necklace and squeezed her eyes tight until the threat of tears dissipated.

She was not going to cry today. Kae shook herself, pulled the restraining clip from her chestnut hair and stepped into the hot water. She lay back amongst the bubbles and closed her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips. She knew she would have to find Qhuinn to explain her behaviour this morning. At the very least, she owed him an apology. He wasn't to know about her defect as a female, her irrational and obscure fear of letting a male touch her. For so long, she had wondered what it would feel like.

She knew it was fast approaching time for Last Meal and that she couldn't linger for long in the cooling water.

A rapid knock sounded on the door to her room.

"Coming, just a moment," she called out, leaping from the water and quickly dragging on a cream silk dressing gown which hung on the back of the bathroom door; the fabric stuck to her wet skin and her hair dripped as it hung wet and glossy down her back.

She ran to her door, checked that she was not showing anything inappropriate and pulled on the handle.

Outside, Qhuinn stood with his hands stuck into the pockets of his distressed jeans, his black muscle shirt encapsulating and emphasizing every muscle. His hair was spiked tonight and Kae's eyes traced every one of the studs that pierced his ear line. But always, always her gaze was drawn to the green and blue of his beautiful eyes.

"Good evening Kae, do you still want me to escort you to Last Meal?"

Qhuinn's tone was polite and pleasant enough but it lacked the warmth it had previously held when he spoke to her.

His face gave away nothing; it was not exactly cold but Kae could hardly say he was pleased to see her.

"Hi Qhuinn…I'd love to go down with you yes, I just need to dress if you could wait for me please?"

Qhuinn nodded and Kae stepped aside to allow him to step through the door. She closed it carefully and took a steadying breath. Her reaction this morning must have offended him greatly; it was the only way she could explain his behaviour to her now.

"Qhuinn listen…about this morning? …"

He raised his hand to silence her and shook his head.

"You don't need to explain anything Kae; it's what I'm used to…although to be honest, I really didn't think you'd be the same as everyone else."

His tone held a note of bitterness and Kae frowned.

"I don't understand…I just wanted to explain why I froze after you kissed me."

Qhuinn tutted under his breath and looked as though he were about to launch into a tirade but Kae butted in before he could start.

"That was my first kiss ok?"

Qhuinn froze, utter shock dawning on his face, his mouth hanging open. God, Kae felt like such a loser to have to explain this to a male she really wanted to see her as a female of worth.

"I froze this morning because when you kissed me, I had no idea what to do…I freaked ok, I'm sorry."

She looked down at her feet, feeling stupid and foolish.

Qhuinn coughed and dragged a hand through his spiked hair.

"I…uhh…I thought that maybe you didn't want someone like me to kiss you."

Kae looked up, her forehead wrinkling slightly as she tried to figure out what he was talking about.

"Someone like you?"

He gestured to his eyes and frowned.

"Mismatched eyes? Not the kind of defect most females could miss."

Kae rubbed her arms, the cool of the room beginning to seep through the wet silk of her dressing gown.

"What defect Qhuinn?" Kae was genuinely confused, "I think your eyes are gorgeous…"

She quickly closed her mouth and cursed, blushing deep scarlet.

Qhuinn stared at her in complete amazement, realising that she was indeed attracted to him. His amazement soon turned to want and he approached this wonderful, beautiful, intriguing female cautiously. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief that she was not put off by his eyes.

As he stepped up to her, he noticed how the pale silk stuck to her skin. His hands reached out to her folded arms and the coolness of her wet skin told him that she'd been in the bath only a few minutes beforehand. Qhuinn gently rubbed his warm palms up and down her arms slowly, bringing heat back to her cool flesh.

"Kae look at me, please."

Kae looked up and allowed her gaze to meet his.

"I want to do something, just don't panic ok?" he smiled tentatively and ever so gently, kissed her forehead and slowly moved to kiss each of her cheeks.

Kae closed her eyes, swaying in his grip as he held her arms in his strong hands. His scent filled her nose and she inhaled deeply, dragging him deeper into her lungs. Dear Lord, that dark spicy smell was incredible. She waited for him to move his mouth to hers, to kiss her in the special way that males kissed females.

Instead, she felt his lips hover just the tiniest fraction of space over hers, his sweet breath brushing across her lips as soft as a teasing feather.

"Why don't you get dressed Kae, I'll wait just outside for you ok."

Kae opened her eyes. Qhuinn was smiling at her in a way that made her insides melt. She grinned, blushing pink.

He closed the door behind him and Kae pulled some clothes from her bag. He wanted to kiss her but he wasn't rushing her. He understood her.

Smothering a delighted laugh in the wool of her favourite jumper, she fell back on the bed and thought for just a second that she could fly to the stars.

Qhuinn…she was starting to fall for him, very hard indeed.