I'm sitting on my bed, doing homework. Patch went to Bo's to play a few rounds of pool. He said he'd back soon. My mom is out of town again, some sort of business trip. I'm kind of glad she's not here. I mean don't get me wrong, I love her with all my heart. But if she was here I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Patch as I do. He's pretty much over here all the time. He stays until I go to sleep, then I don't know where he goes or does until it's time for school in the morning.

Downstairs, Dorthea (Is that the housekeepers name? I forgot!) is cooking dinner. She's pretty much used to Patch being here, even though he always kindly turns down her food. I mentally curse myself for thinking about him so much. It's like he never gets out of my head! Ever since he said that I need to get over it, that I've got it bad for him and he's got it bad for me....I've stopped trying to avoid thinking about him. I love him. Even though we've been through A LOT (including him trying to kill me, for one....) I'm crazy about him. And I can't even say why. He's just....I don't know.

I attempt to get the rest of my work done, then lie in bed, thinking about my two favorite people who you can probably guess. I'm sure Vee's going to call any minute now, and Patch might even be on his way over here right now. But Dorthea can wake me up any of that happens. I'm just really tired right now, from all of this thinking or it might be my iron...either way I'm taking a nap.

Hours later, I feel a hand brushing my cheek. I try to peel my eyes open, already knowing who it is. I sigh in contentment and kiss the palm of his hand. He tilts my head and kisses me softly on the lips in return. Like many of our other kisses, this turns into so much more. I hear him whisper my name softly inside my head between kisses and I pull him down onto the bed with me.

But then I think about Dorthea. She might still be here.

She's gone. He says and starts toward my lips again. I have to be careful, watch myself. He gets really hot and bothered when we're in a closed area, with no one near. From past experiences, he'd probably prefer us be in a girls' bathroom, me on the counter with him drowning me in his kisses like he's doing now. It's really hard to come to your senses when Patch is kissing you. He's been seducing girls for years, to think about it. He's obviously got practice, and lots of it and it's driving me insane.

I feel him grin through his kisses. He's listening to me. Again!

How we are positioned now, we are side by side. Patch doesn't respect this position, so he shifts so I'm under him, my legs around his waist. He feels up and down my legs while he kisses my neck and shoulders, moving lower and lower. The heat inside of me is seriously getting too high. I'm sure I'm as red as an apple right now. Pretty soon I'll get all tingly and want him want him, which I know can't happen....Can it? Is it wrong to....do things with an Angel? I give up thinking about it and just let myself go.

His hands are under my shirt, and they're just a little cold, which makes me shiver and also turns me on. He tugs at the hem, and I assume he wants it off. I pull away from him and start to lift it up, but his hands catch mine and he takes it off himself. I think that was what he wanted all along. The problem is, he's too clothed.

No fair, I tell him in my head, not trusting my voice, since I'm gasping like a chain smoker. He pulls away again reluctantly, and pulls off his fitted black T-shirt. Then he eagerly returns to my lips. I let my hands explore his stomach, roaming over the strong muscles there, and scratch him a little here and there. I earn a low groan from him and do it some more, moving over his lower abdomen, right above his waistline. He sucks in a breath and I hear my name again.

But it's not Patch's voice.

My eyes snap open and he pushes back off of me. I hear my name again. It's my mother. Great. What is she doing here?

"Yes?" I call, grabbing my shirt and throwing it back on.

"I'm home, sweetie. But I'm leaving out again soon. I've been gone for a while I just wanted to check on you."

I hear her footsteps coming up and I look at Patch. He grins, and next thing I know I can't see him anymore. Yeah, he's screwing with my head. There's a few knocks on my door, then my Mom comes in, smiling.

"Hi, honey. I've been gone for so ling I just had to see you." I smile back and give her a big hug. She kisses my cheek then says,

"Nora, since when do you smell so minty?" I try to keep from laughing and just smile.

"You come home to see me and all you care about is my smell?" I say, pretending to be hurt.

"Oh, no, honey, no. I just noticed. But you're okay? School and everything?"

"Yup. It's all great."

"Good. What about you and Patch?" I might have blushed a little. I really hope I didn't.

"Still going strong."

"Good, Nora. I'm glad you're happy. Just be careful." I couldn't get any more careful than I did with Patch.

"I know. Thanks Mom."

"Well I've got to hit the road again. I'll see you soon." She hugs me again and kisses me on both cheeks. Thank God she didn't look directly at my neck...

She gives one last wave and not long after, I hear the front door close. When I turn around, Patch is standing right smack in front of me, so I kind of collide head to chest with him. Bare chested him. I look up and he's grinning that crooked smile of his.

"Close call." He says, running his fingers through my hair.

"Yeah. Really close call." He wraps his arms around me and his mouth is to my ear, sending chills down my spine.

"Where were we?"

"Uh...." I stutter. "Here?" I say, twirling my finger in a circle on his lower stomach. His breathing speeds up a little then calms down again.

"And here." Patch says, taking my shirt off again.

"Right." He picks me up and with amazingly quick speed, I land on my back on the bed. He's kissing my stomach all over and taking great care in digging his tongue in my belly button which makes the heat start up all over again and I let out the softest moan in response. He uses this as motivation and starts playing with the button on my jeans, not really doing anything with it. He wants them off too, I know that. But I don't think I'm ready to go that far with him yet....

Why? He says in my head, still kissing me up and down. I really hope he doesn't push this on me....

I won't, I just want to know why.

I pull his head up and look him right in the eyes, seeing if he's tricking me. I don't think Patch would force....that on me, but I also thought he wasn't trying to kill me either....

"I...I'm just not. I can't do it yet." I said.

"Is it because of me?"

"No! No, Patch, you drive me crazy, but....I don't know."

"So you don't want to go any further than this with me?" He said, sounding slightly hurt.

"That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that maybe we should wait. A little longer."

"For what?"

"I don't know, Patch. Can't you just trust me?"

"I was about to say the same thing."

"Well....I do trust you....to an extent." I barely spoke the last part in a whisper.

"You don't trust me."

"It's kind of hard to trust someone who can make you think whatever they want."

"So it's not my....past? It's just that you want your own mind?"

"Well yeah."

"Angel, you always have your mind. I wouldn't want you without it. I only sneak in there to see what you're thinking. I swear I'll only play with your mind if it's a joke, Nora. I can't do anything to lose you. I'm in too deep to even think about doing anything that would risk not having you."

And I believed him. Because I also, was in way, way, way too deep.

And I loved every second of it.