Note: First of all, thanks for all the reviews! =)
As a warning, Baze and Cate are finally going to have their second time together. The scene is somewhat detailed. I don't know if this story is rated appropriately, but if you're not comfortable reading about that, skip this chapter.
Now to answer a few questions people have asked:
Everyone at school knows that there is something going on between Cate and Baze. They went to winter formal together.
They're not officially together. I did that on purpose. They both have commitment issues and I don't envision either of them feeling comfortable having the talk and deciding what they are early on. I've seen a lot of people hang out/casually date before actually becoming an official couple. That's where Cate and Baze are right now. Eventually they'll make it official.
Lux woke Cate up bright and early as usual. Usually Cate sat down in the rocking chair half-asleep with Lux and took her time waking up before getting ready for school. This morning was different.
Cate had wanted to get up early anyway. She sprung into action as soon as she heard her daughter. She held Lux, patting her back gently, as she searched through her wardrobe.
Cate wanted to look nice today. She discarded several possibilities before settling on a black dress.
Most of Cate's underwear was basic cotton. She had stopped by the mall after Baze left the other night to buy something different. Something special.
She slipped into the black lace bra and panties. She admired her reflection in the mirror. She knew she looked sexy. She just hoped Baze would think so, too.
She slipped the dress over her head. She took the time to tease her hair and apply make-up.
"What do you think, Lux? Does Mommy look pretty?" Cate asked her daughter. Cate smiled at the baby. "Not as pretty as you, though. No. You're the prettiest girl."
Cate changed Lux from her pink fuzzy pajamas into a sweet little dress. Cate truly believed her daughter was the most beautiful thing in the world. She smiled as the baby looked up at her with her daddy's ocean blue eyes.
Cate was already ready to go when Laverne was just getting up. Cate passed her mom in the hallway on her way out.
"You look nice," Laverne said.
"Thanks!" Cate replied.
Cate bundled Lux into her car seat and drove to the grocery store. Cate hadn't taken Lux shopping yet. She struggled slightly setting the little seat up in the grocery cart before carefully placing Lux in the cart.
Since Cate wasn't much of a cook, she'd rarely gone grocery shopping. She glanced around, reading the signs in the aisles until she found what she was looking for.
"I'm gonna surprise Daddy," Cate told Lux, as she grabbed items and put them in the cart.
Cate felt very much like a mother as she made her way through the grocery store with her daughter in tow. She'd never really wanted to grocery shop with a kid. She was only seventeen after all. But it felt kind of good in a weird way.
Cate put Lux back in her car seat. She carefully arranged the food she'd chosen in the picnic basket she'd stuck in the trunk earlier.
She put the basket back in the trunk so Baze wouldn't see it until she was ready for him to see her surprise.
Baze slipped into his now-usual seat beside Cate in the front. "Hey." He grinned when he saw her. She always made him smile.
"Hey." Cate smiled, blushing slightly under his gaze. He was looking at her like he wanted to take her right there in the classroom.
She knew he probably did want to take her right then and there. They hadn't had five minutes alone because of Lux.
Cate loved her daughter, but she also loved Lux's father. She wanted to be with him.
It seemed like every time they tried to be together, something happened. It was beginning to feel like they would never be alone together. That was why she'd decided to surprise him today. That and he deserved it, Cate knew.
Baze had been so great lately. He'd helped her with her college applications and he'd never complained once. He'd gone above and beyond when it came to helping out with Lux, especially the past week.
And, to Cate's surprise, he'd been incredibly patient. Most guys would get frustrated with the constant interruptions, Cate knew. Baze hadn't acted the least bit upset.
"Did you find out if you got those scholarships?" Baze asked.
"They weren't due until last week. I probably won't find out for awhile," Cate replied.
"You'll get them," Baze said confidently.
Cate smiled.
Baze tried to pay attention to English, but he couldn't keep his eyes on the board when Cate was sitting next to him.
She looked so good. And she smelled even better. Her scent filled his nostrils. What was it?
She smelled like some kind of fruit. Citrus, Baze thought.
"Baze." Cate smirked. She waved a hand in front of Baze's face.
Baze blinked and looked around. The classroom was empty. Cate and he were the only two left.
"The bell rang, like, five minutes ago," Cate told him. "You've been staring into space."
Actually he'd been staring at her. Thinking about her, but she didn't know that. He shoved his notebook into his backpack and followed Cate into the hallway.
He didn't want to leave her. He didn't know how he'd get through his next class without Cate there to distract him.
"Do you wanna go out to lunch today?" Cate asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Baze raised his eyebrows. "Out? As in off campus?"
"Yeah," Cate replied.
"I didn't have you pegged as a rule breaker," Baze said lightly. "I think I've been a bad influence on you."
Cate smiled. "You've corrupted me." She grabbed Baze's shirt and pulled him to her, kissing him softly.
Baze stared as Cate walked the opposite direction. She never stopped surprising him. Exciting him.
The day dragged on. Second period felt like it took forever. Baze didn't know if he could make it until lunch. He was hungry, but food wasn't the only thing he wanted.
He wondered where he should take Cate for lunch. It would be their first real date. They'd been hanging out, but he hadn't actually taken her out anywhere.
Cate smiled when she saw Baze leaning against her locker casually.
He draped his arm around her shoulders and they headed toward the parking lot. He turned toward his car.
Cate shook her head. "I asked you to lunch. I'm driving."
"I'm the guy. I'm supposed to drive," Baze protested.
Cate rolled her eyes. "No. Sorry. I'm driving."
"You're bossy," Baze said, but he gave in and followed her to her car.
Baze frowned when Cate pulled up to her house. "Cate, I can take you out."
"I have a better idea," Cate said.
Baze's brow wrinkled in confusion. He knew Cate couldn't cook. At least not well.
Baze watched as Cate pulled a picnic basket out of the trunk. He grinned. He had some reservations about eating anything she'd made, but it was cute that she'd tried to put lunch together.
Baze took the basket from Cate and carried it. Cate unlocked the front door and held it for him.
Cate instructed Baze to set the picnic basket down on the kitchen table. He opened it curiously. There were two pre-made sandwiches from the Deli, several different kinds of cheeses and crackers. He was relieved to see that none of it was homemade.
"The best part is that we have the house to ourselves," Cate said, blushing slightly. "Mom's at work. Abby's at school. And Lux is at your house."
Baze stared at Cate. The expression on her face told him she was thinking the same thing he was thinking. The same thing he'd been thinking since the night of Winter Formal.
Baze grinned, his eyes skimming Cate's slim figure.
Cate smiled when she felt Baze's lips on hers. The kiss started out soft. Baze deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring Cate's mouth.
Cate tore at his shirt before taking her own dress off. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the black lace of Cate's bra against her golden skin. She always looked good. Today she looked incredibly sexy.
Baze swiftly removed Cate's bra, a skill he'd acquired several years ago. Cate leaned back against the fridge as Baze kissed her neck, working his way down to her chest.
"Mmm," Cate murmured, arching her back against the fridge.
Baze's jeans soon joined the growing pile of discarded clothes on the kitchen floor.
They grasped for each other desperately. Neither of them could wait any longer. They'd waited too long already.
Cate kissed Baze gently, tracing patterns on his chest with her fingers. Her touch was driving him crazy.
"Please tell me you have a condom," Cate said as she worked her way down Baze's stomach.
Baze laughed.
Cate moved to the floor, waiting impatiently. She looked so beautiful laying there waiting for him.
Cate was so ready. She groaned when she finally felt Baze inside her.
Baze's blue eyes watched Cate's face while they were together. He smiled every time she showed a sign of pleasure.
Their bodies were intertwined on the kitchen floor. Their chests heaved as they breathed heavily, perfectly in sync with each other.
Cate rested her head on Baze's chest. She wanted to stay in his arms forever.
Cate fit perfectly against Baze. It felt like their bodies were molded to fit together. Baze had been with a lot of girls and it had never been like this. Like they were meant to be together. Made for each other.
Cate wondered if it had been as good for him as it had been for her. She knew he was more experienced than her. She couldn't help but wonder how she measured up.
Cate had only ever been with Baze. The first time had been awkward. The second time had been pretty much perfect as far as Cate was concerned.
They'd always had chemistry. Now they not only had chemistry, but they were also comfortable with each other. They knew each other. They cared about each other.
Baze had been so gentle. Loving even, Cate thought hopefully.
Baze sighed contentedly. He had to admit, he'd wondered if the passion he'd felt for Cate would fade after they were together again. If being together would get her out of his system. Now that they'd been together, he knew that would never happen. He still wanted her just as badly as he had before.