| Chapter Nine Kat lay in her borrowed bed, starring at the ceiling unable to sleep. The nights events on continuous replay. She knew Howie was innocent in the nights events, even when Sasha had blown him a kiss as they were leaving wasn't his fault. Of course he thought she hadn't seen and she had chosen to let him believe that. No sense in making the last few hours in Orlando miserable for both of them. But now hours later, she WAS miserable. Doubts ate at her and no matter how she tried, she couldn't shake the thought that as soon as she was on a plane back home, Sasha would be there filling her space. Jealousy was a new emotion to her. Being a secure person, she'd never known cause to be jealous, but that was when she and her boyfriend were in the same city and when they could see each other whenever the notion struck. But this...this was a whole new ballgame. Trust would play a bigger role, and much sooner in her relationship with Howie. They didn't have the luxury of time. Time to get to know each other, time to build the trust. It just had to be given and by doing so she was leaving herself open to the worst kind of pain. Her sigh was heavy and filled with worry. She knew that she couldn't withhold her trust from him and still claim to have feelings for him. And she did have feelings for him, there was no doubt about that. So what other choice did she have than to trust him? With that finally settled, Kat curled on her side and fell asleep. ~~~****~~~ Howie arrived at Kel's at ten a.m., a bag from the local bakery in one hand and a drink carrier with three coffee's in the other. Kat opened the door and pressed a lingering kiss against his lips before stepping back and letting him in. "What a way to start the day" Howie said with a bright smile as he stepped inside. "My thoughts exactly" Kat said as the two of them walked into the kitchen. Howie set about pulling the danishes from the bag and setting them on plates while Kat put the milk and sugar on the table. "Oooh! Breakfast" Kel said as she reached over Kat and snagged a cherry danish. Howie and Kat laughed and sat down, each taking a bite of their own danish. Kel watched them as they ate, totally oblivious to the fact that they weren't alone. They stared deep into each other's eyes, neither speaking, but their eyes said volumes. Finishing her danish, Kel stood and said, "I'll be home by noon to see you off. If you need anything call me." Kat waved at her and Kel smirked as she turned on her heel and left the room. She doubted that either one of them heard her. "What would you like to do on your last morning here?" Howie asked. "Do we have time to go the beach and be back here in time for me to leave?" she asked as she drained her coffee. "It's doable. Go grab your things and we'll pack 'em in the trunk, that way if we're running late, that will already be done." Kat agreed and quickly went upstairs to gather her bags. Her worries from last night had eased, not totally subsided, but some of her confidence was back and she didn't dread leaving as much as she had. She trusted Howie and time nor distance could change that. "Ready?" he asked as she stepped off the stairs. "Yep! Let's go." Within the hour they arrived at the beach, the same place they had come after the reunion. The ocean was bright blue, and a breeze was blowing, lessening the affects of the hot morning sun. They spread a blanket and stretched out on it, laying side by side, holding hands. After a few minutes of silence, Howie leaned up on one elbow and looked down at her. Before she could say a word, his lips were on hers, stealing her breath away. Her lips parted beneath his and his tongue darted past and into the warm moistness of her mouth. His tongue swirled in tiny figure eight's, and a low moan of pleasure rumbled from deep within Kat. The feeling of floating spread throughout her body and left her feeling weightless under his tender assult. Her hands rose to his shoulder's and her nails dug in, tethering herself to what little bit of sanity was left. He groaned as she stepped into the ring of fire and began trailing kisses down to his chin and over his jaw to press a kiss against that spot right below his ear. Her tongue darted out and licked the spot and he shuddered as his hands tightened on her waist. "Kat" he breathed her name on a sigh and her lips found his again. They would have continued their kissing had it not been for a small voice laced with giggles. "Momma, look! They're kissing." They broke apart to find a small girl about three years old standing in front of their blanket, her eyes shinning and pointing at them. "Come on young lady!" Her mother said as she scooped up her child and marched off, throwing a disgusted look over her shoulder at Kat and Howie. Kat buried her face in Howie's chest to stiffle her laughter. "Well that was fun" Howie joked as his shoulders shook with laughter. "Uhm very!" Kat said as she nibbled his chin. "Come on. Let's take a walk" Howie suggested as he stood to his feet and pulled Kat with him. ~~~****~~~ Kat smiled softly as the plane took off down the run way picking up speed. There had been tears, both hers and Howie's when her flight had been called. She promised to call as soon as she got home and he promised to call as much as possible. Her fingers touched her lips, reliving and refeeling the last few minutes in the airport. His lips had felt so soft, yet so firm against her own. The feel of his tongue moving against hers had weakened her knees and her breath hitched as a bolt of awareness shot through her. They stood together, whispering softly and kissing until the last call for boarding was given. They said their final goodbyes tearfully and she had walked backwards, prolonging their visual contact until she had to turn around to step on board. She gazed down to the airport below and blew one final kiss his way, then she sat back and closed her eyes. She was going home. Reunion Index Onto Next Chapter Main page |