NOTE: Sorry for the small delays in updates recently. I recently lost someone close to me and, while writing has helped me cope, it's harder to get chapters out. I will keep writing as I find it helps to keep my mind busy in moments like this, so you can still expect regular updates. Let me know what you think of this chapter and enjoy :)

Chapter 12: Long Time Coming

"Check," said Oleg, his big hand slamming down a marble chess piece. Pierce looked at the checkered board in front of him, trying to figure out what move got him in trouble and where he could move next without losing. He thought for a moment and rested his finger on his queen. "Are you going to move?"

"Shut up, man," said Pierce. "I got this."

Pierce contemplated his move for a few more seconds before moving his knight, leaving his king unprotected. Oleg smiled and moved his bishop in for the kill.

"Check mate."

"Man, fuck this game," said Pierce, swiping the pieces off the board. He leaned back in his seat and sulked until he saw Shaundi pass by the doorway. "Hey, Shaundi. Whatcha doin' back so soon?"

Shaundi stopped outside the door and looked at the floor. Her arms were flush to her side as she stood silently in the hallway, not wanting to answer his question.

"Shaundi, girl you alright?" he asked, standing up. He walked over to her and leaned against the doorframe. "Shaundi?"

"I'm fine," she replied, lifting her head.

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I'm fine."

"You sure? 'Cause you look-"

"Jesus Christ, Pierce. I said I'm fine. How many times do I need to say it?" said Shaundi, her voice filled with aggravation.

"Damn, girl chill," said Pierce, surprised by her sudden change in tone.

Feeling frustrated, and not wanting the conversation to continue, she let out a huff of air and continued down the hallway leaving Pierce in the doorway. Her arms were now crossed firmly in front of her chest as she stomped toward her room, her heels making heavy clicks on the floor. She hadn't taken five steps when an agent called after her. She closed her eyes and tightened her jaw in an effort to hold back her irritation. All she wanted to do was go to bed and be left alone for the few hours she had left before returning to work.

"Unless this is about the president, it can wait," she said, facing her agent. He held out a tablet for her to take.

"I...um...I pulled up the information you asked for," he said, bringing a file up on screen. Shaundi took the device from him and examined it. Her agent stood beside her and she glared at him from the side of her eye.

"Is there something else?"

"Yes, mam," he replied, slightly nervous from her demeanor. "There's a man outside named Ethan Sommers who wishes to speak with you. He says the two of you know each other."

Shaundi looked away from her agent and down at the floor when he said Ethan's name. She could feel a lump forming in her throat that seemed to constrict her airway as she took a deep breath to keep her composure.

"Escort him off the premises," she solemnly ordered.

"Yes, mam."

Outside, Ethan was eagerly waiting to speak with Shaundi. Two agents held him at bay until a third walked out to the front steps. Ethan heard the agent trudge toward him and stepped forward, hoping to be led inside.

"Sorry, buddy," said the third agent. "She's not accepting visitors. Looks like you'll have to get your autograph some other time."

"No, I really know her. I'm her...I'm her boyfriend," said Ethan, as they grabbed him by his arms.

"Like we haven't heard that one before. Come on, let's go."

They lifted Ethan up and started to drag him away when he protested, "No! I'm not leaving until I talk to her!"

He tried to pull his arms away, but their grip was too tight. In his struggle to break free, his glasses flew off, cracking the lenses as they landed on the sidewalk.

"Shaundi! Shaundi, if you hear me, please let me in! I need to talk to you!" Ethan screamed, pulling against the agents. "Shaundi, I know you're upset about what happened at the bar, but you didn't do anything wrong! Please, let me in!"

"Let him through," said Shaundi, standing on the front steps. Ethan stopped struggling when he heard her voice and her agents let go of him.

Shaundi walked toward him and knelt down to pick up his glasses. He waited for her, hearing her footsteps, until she stopped and gently placed his glasses in his hand.

"We can talk inside," she said, softly. She turned around and felt his hand grace her shoulder. It burned a mark on her skin and a feeling of overwhelming shame entered her soul. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to swallow her indignity before leading him up the steps toward the front door. She took him to The Red Room, a parlor sometimes used for small dinner parties, where they could talk in private. Once inside, she brushed his hand off and dismissed the agents who had followed them in.

"Shaundi..." said Ethan, once he heard the doors close. He clutched his broken glasses in his hand.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" asked Shaundi, doing her best to avoid his grey eyes, which were looking off to the side of her and down at the floor. However, his ears had her full attention as he turned his head to get a better idea of where she was.

"You left the bar so suddenly. I just wanted to talk to you and make sure you were okay."

"Well, you talked me and I'm fine," she said, keeping her composure. "If that's all you wanted, I guess you can go. I'll have my men give you a lift home."

She turned to leave, her heels clicking on the floor as she walked to the door, when Ethan stopped her, "He lied. You and David didn't do anything. He made the whole thing up to try and keep me from being with you."

"I know," she said, turning to face him. Ethan furrowed his brow.

"You do?"

"Actually, I didn't know, so I had one of my men pull up his file from a few weeks ago. It turns out, that in the time I attended Stilwater University, he was busy flunking out of a low-grade community college in Tampa, Florida."

"Shaundi, I am so sorry." Ethan walked toward the sound of her voice until he smelled the wonderfully clean aroma of her shampoo, radiating from her hair. He reached out to touch her and she pushed his hand away.

"Don't-don't touch me," she told him, feeling unworthy of his affections. "And, don't apologize. It's my fault that his happened, not yours. I haven't exactly live the most 'pure' life up 'til now."

"I don't care about-"

"Ethan, please. Do yourself a favor. Before things go any further between us...and before you start saying all the right things...just leave."

"No, I'm not going anywhere," he protested. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because, he was right," said Shaundi, her voice finally showing her true emotions, cracking under the strain of the lump in her throat. "I'm not the girl for you. So, just go. Go find a nice, sweet, quiet girl. Get married and start a family, live a safe life. You deserve that and you'll never be able to have that with me."

"Who says that's what I want? And, who says you can't have that?"

"Trust me, Ethan. I am not family material," she said. Ethan reached out to her again and she shrugged him off. "I said, don't touch me."

"I still don't understand why you're doing this."

"Ethan, just go, please."

"No, not until you tell me the real reason why you're acting this way. If this is how you really feel, why waste your time on me in the first place?"

"Because..." Shaundi's words trailed off for a moment. "Because, I loved the way you talked to me. Your words were warm and sincere, not greedy and impatient. You made feel that I could have a relationship beyond what I was used to. You...you made me feel beautiful."

"Then, why are you turning me away?"

"Because I don't deserve you," she told him, on the verge of breaking down. "So, please, just go."

Ethan didn't budge and Shaundi's face grew red with emotion, "I said, go...LEAVE!"

Her agents opened the door, hearing her yell, and rushed inside. They took Ethan by the arm and pushed him toward the exit. He resisted for a minute and dropped his glasses on the floor.

"Okay, fine," he said, causing the agents to back down a little. "I'll go, but not until you answer me one question. Do you have feelings for me?"

"What?"

"You heard me," he said, pulling his arms free of her agents. "Shaundi, I don't care about what you did before we met, all I care about is how I feel. Since I've met you, you're all I think about. When you're not around, I long for your touch and when I go to sleep, I dream of your voice."

Shaundi remained still as he stepped toward her, stopping inches in front of her before he continued.

"I may have no idea what you look like, but I don't need to, to know that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met," he said, his glossy eyes wildly glancing over hers. "But, if you want me to go, I will. I'll leave right now and you'll never see me again. All you have to do is tell me how you feel."

Ethan waited for her to answer him. He could hear her breathing become heavy and the thump of her heartbeat pounding from her chest.

"Shaundi?" he asked, trying to get her to answer.

She swallowed hard and was unable to contain her composure as a small tear fell down her cheek.

"Shaundi, I'm not leaving until you answer my question," he persisted. "Do you have feelings for me?"

Taking a deep breath, and trying to keep another tear from falling, she quietly answered, "Yes."

"Okay," said Ethan, reaching out in front of him until he felt her jacket. He grabbed hold of it and pulled her toward him and into a kiss. His missed her mouth, just barely, but quickly readjusted himself before wrapping his arms around her.

Shaundi's eyes fluttered and a short moan escaped her lips in surprise. She felt Ethan pull her closer, intensifying the kiss, and she returned his embrace. Running her fingers through his hair, she closed her eyes causing a glimmering tear to fall. He cupped her cheek and broke the kiss before resting his forehead on hers.

"I've been wanting to do that for a long time," he said, his breathing fast. Shaundi let out a soft breath of air and smiled gently.

"What took you so long?"

"I don't know, but I'd really like to do it again."

Shaundi caressed his cheek and looked into his eyes, finding beauty in their ghostly glow before leaning in for another kiss. She teased his lips with her tongue and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her gently off the floor. Letting him inside, Shaundi deepened the kiss, getting lost in his touch and loving the tender caresses of his hands along her back. It had been a long time coming, but his kiss was definitely worth the wait.