Reunion

Author's note: Well, this is a bit different from my usual stuff. For those of you who are interested this is a story about Seth Gecko... , I had a lot of fun writing it so I hope you have as much fun reading it. This story contains bad language and graphic scenes and is therefore not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. As always, thanks to Karen for editing this story and any comments - good or bad - should be sent to . Claire@sparky0138.freeserve.co.uk

"Reunion: A Sequel to From Dusk Till Dawn"

by Claire Hinchcliffe

Seth Gecko opened his eyes slowly. He felt hot and sticky dressed in his trademark black suit. He’d known from the moment he woke up that it was going to be a hot day and yet he’d insisted to himself that he couldn’t wear anything else. It was what he was used to and despite feeling uncomfortable in it....he felt comfortable. It was the warmest day he’d known in ages and consequently the hot sun was tiring him out more than usual. With his arms resting on the steering wheel in front of him, he lifted his head and sat back slowly.  Most days he welcomed the fact that his car had no roof. He could speed down long roads and feel the cool breeze rushing through his short Caesar haircut. He would sometimes even close his eyes on straight roads and lift his face towards the warm sun, trying to add to the golden-brown tan that was already covering his body from head to toe.

He didn’t know why he was so tanned. It was just one of those things. He remembered at school - the days he had actually been there - that his brother used to hate the fact they were so different from each other when it came to looks. Moving from Utah to a small town in Arizona, they were put in the same class despite their one-year difference in age. The all-boys school they had gone to was situated right next-door to the St. Mary’s Catholic School for girls....an accident just waiting to happen, Seth had always thought. Every Thursday, right on time, the same four or five girls would sneak out of whatever class they were supposed to be in and climb the wall at the back of the field to sneak a look at the boys warming up for PE class. Seth would flash them one of his winning smiles every time he passed them on his way around the track, and Richie would glare after him during his struggle to keep up.

The girls would giggle and wave back at Seth, always blushing as they admired his good looks and powerful body, even as a young boy of 14. As Richie finally passed them, they would point and laugh, making fun of his pale, scrawny body and thick-rimmed glasses. And Richie hated Seth for that. He hated the fact that he was the inferior one compared to him. That he was the one who needed to wear glasses from the early age of five and that he was the one who wasn’t as lucky when it came to winning all the girls.

Looking back, Seth considered Richie the lucky one. It was because of those good looks and his charming personality that he led the life he now lived. The life, if he admitted truthfully, that he despised. And yet it was all he knew.  He didn’t know how to live a ‘normal’ life with a wife and kids and a 9-to-5 job. He didn’t know what that felt like and so he asked himself, how can you miss what you’ve never had? The answer, he kept telling himself over and over again, was that he couldn’t, and that’s what kept him going. And it was because of those good looks and that charming personality that HE was the accident just waiting to happen.

When the bell had rung at the end of the school day and the other boys had gone home to do their homework, HE was the one who sneaked into the old house by the railway and made out with one of the girls who had watched him run around the track only hours previously. And HE was the one who did this every day for six weeks running, each time going further and further until there was nothing left that they hadn’t done.

It was exactly a month after their last ‘meeting’ that her father had shown up at their front door, demanding to know which one of the “little bastards” had gotten his daughter pregnant. Seth’s own father had stood up for him, claiming that he knew where both his sons were at all times and that it couldn’t possibly have been either of their faults that his daughter was pregnant. Her father had finally gone away, angry and upset, but still none the wiser about the identity of the baby’s father. Seth had watched sadly from his bedroom window as the girl was pushed up the garden path and down the street, faster than her legs could carry her. It was at that point that his bedroom door flew open and his father stood there, his face red with anger and a leather belt held tightly in his hands.

Seth never could have imagined just how much pain that belt would bring him. The red marks and burning sensations lasted for many days afterwards. The scars from the metal buckle were still there to this very day. He had packed his bags through silent tears and had woken his brother Richie at two o’clock in the morning, pulling him sleepily from his bed and explaining that they had to get out of there as quickly and quietly as possible. Dressing in warm clothes and packing a few things into a case, he followed Seth and had continued to do so until the day he died.

Seth hadn’t seen his parents since. He didn’t know if they were dead or alive and wasn’t sure he even cared. He still wondered what life would have been like if he’d stayed and faced up to his responsibilities. Whether or not he would have that wife and kid and 9-to-5 job and be happy with his life or if he’d still have chosen to follow the path to a life of crime, as he had now.

It was days like this when he realised it was also a pain in the ass to have no roof and the sun beating down on him. He would have pulled up the leather roof to protect him from the heat a little, only it didn’t work, like most of the things in this car. So why did he keep it? He didn’t really know himself. He’d loved this car since it had been given to him by Carlos. It had only been driven “14 times in five years,” or at least that’s what he had told him. So why, from the moment he’d got it to El Ray, did he know it was going to be the worst car he’d ever had? He still hadn’t sold it though. He’d voiced his concerns to Carlos but he’d just shrugged and told him it would take time to get used to. It was now four years later and he was still waiting. Instead of getting better, it had just continued to get worse. But he couldn’t get rid of it now. It was a part of him. There was just something about it that made him keep it, despite efforts by others to take it off his hands and the fact that things kept going wrong with it. He kept telling himself that that didn’t matter though. She was always there for him when he needed her and the good things always outweighed the bad.

He looked at the clock in the car and smiled to himself after momentarily forgetting that the clock was another thing that didn’t work, and hadn’t for several months now. It was a habit and one he realised he should have gotten out of by now. He pulled up his shirt sleeve and glanced at his watch. 2:17pm. He rubbed a hand over two days worth of stubble and looked across the road. It was a busy store considering the stretch of road was a quiet one. Two miles out of town, the customers would stop there for gas and supplies before their long journey to the next town, a total of 80 or 90 miles away. Another car exited the small parking lot, unexpectedly heading back towards the town. He slouched down in his seat and sighed.

Leaning his head back, he admired the car parked in front of the store. If he ever got rid of his car, THAT was the type of car he’d go for.  It was immaculate. Smart, smooth, sophisticated and no doubt fast. Very fast. Suddenly, there was movement at the door of the store and his attention was drawn back. Ducking down further into his seat as a couple left and got into their car, he watched as they drove past him at high speed, throwing a cloud of dust in his direction. He sat back up and coughed, brushing down the right sleeve of his jacket with his left hand. Now was the time. Still on the other side of the road, Seth remained seated in his car and looked through the window.

The store was quiet. A couple of women, both about 30 years old, were standing behind the counter, talking to each other and drinking from styrofoam cups. The only customer was a guy in his late 40’s. A fat man with a few strands of hair combed smoothly across his bald head. He was dressed in a suit and standing with his back to the door, looking at a display on the far side and occasionally turning to talk and laugh with the women. Son of a bitch, Seth thought. It was typical that a man like that would own a beautiful car like the one out front. Seth chuckled to himself as he thought of the years the guy would have scrimped and saved for that car. Seth could get one in a second....if he wanted to.

He took a deep breath and got out of his car, looking left towards the town and then right down the long stretch of road in the opposite direction. Both ways were deathly quiet and he proceeded to walk purposefully towards the store. Getting closer and closer to the door, his mind started to wonder. What if this was it? What if this was the job where he was finally going to get caught? It had to happen one day. He’d been lucky so far. Over four years on the run, surviving purely on the money he robbed from stores.  How had he been so lucky? He asked himself this every time and never came up with an answer. Maybe when he was eventually caught, he’d be able to figure it out. He didn’t go in for stealing from banks anymore. Robbing stores was his favourite. Less people. Less commotion. Faster getaway. Sure, a bank had more money but stores away from busy towns were easy targets and kept him going for weeks, sometimes even months.

He held out his hand and pushed opened the door. This was it. His adrenaline pumped to the maximum, he felt like he was ready for anything and totally in control.  He entered the store and glanced around quickly. The women behind the counter both looked up and eyed him suspiciously, the tattoo emerging from his jacket never helping to make a good impression. He pulled his gun out of his pocket and held it up, pointing it towards them and affirming their anxieties. They screamed and backed away from the counter as fast as they could, knocking down packets of cigarettes and a few bottles of liquor that smashed to the floor behind them.

The man, hearing their screams and turning around to see Seth’s gun, also tried to back away. His luck ran out when he backed into the display and the pyramid of cans came crashing down around him. Seth shook his head and snickered as the guy picked himself up and backed away to stand against the wall.

“Okay people, let’s do this quickly and quietly and nobody’s going to get hurt. If you move, I shoot you - it’s as simple as that. Here!” Seth reached inside his jacket and pulled out a large paper bag. He threw it onto the counter towards the woman nearest to him and motioned towards it with his gun. “Fill it with money....NOW!”

The woman did as she was told and opened the cash register. While she stuffed it with dollar bills, Seth’s eyes wandered to the other two people in the room. They stood watching him, their eyes fixed on him like a pair of frightened rabbits caught in bright lights. Kate closed her eyes as she recognised the voice. It was one she would never forget. It had been four years since she’d last heard it but it was just as she’d remembered....unlike his face. Ducking her head, she could see him through a gap in the magazine rack she was standing behind. He looked a lot more handsome than she remembered, obviously a little older but that only added to his appeal.

“Now the safe!” Seth moved closer to the counter and pointed the gun at the woman, pushing the paper bag back towards her.

“I don’t know what you mean,” the woman said timidly.

“Don’t fuck with me, lady! I know there’s a safe under the counter so don’t try pretending there isn’t. Fill the bag, I’ll be on my way and nobody will get shot....now, DO IT!” The woman jumped and grabbed back the bag, stooping down behind the counter to open the safe. “And don’t try anything funny!”

Kate continued to watch as Seth pointed his gun back in the direction of the other two people. She turned her head to look at the man on the  left of her and he glanced at her momentarily, the fright in his eyes understandably visible. She knew Seth wouldn’t hurt these people and she wished she could tell them so and that everything would be okay....but she couldn’t. Further back from where the man was standing, she detected movement and saw the second woman beginning to slide her hand along the ledge of the counter. Kate’s gaze followed in the direction she was aiming and her eyes widened as she saw her getting closer and closer to the alarm button that was situated just a few more inches away.

“Seth! She’s going to press the alarm!” She jumped out from behind the rack and pointed towards the woman. Seth pointed his gun instantly in Kate’s direction and then towards the second woman.

“Get away from the counter....NOW!” The woman did as she was told and stepped away, following the motion of Seth’s gun to stand beside the man on her right. Seth was breathing heavily. He felt like his heart was going to jump right out of his chest. The woman filling the bag had lifted her head to see what was going on and after a glare in her direction from Seth, she returned to the task she had been given.

Kate was now standing alongside the other two people. Nobody said anything as Seth continued to point the gun in their direction, holding it tightly in two hands, both arms outstretched in front of him. Everything had happened so quickly and he no longer felt in control. He hadn’t expected someone else in the store and he certainly hadn’t expected that someone to help him.

When he’d first heard her shout out, he hadn’t fully acknowledged the fact that it was Kate. He’d known the voice and yet he’d dismissed it. It couldn’t possibly have been her and yet as soon as he’d turned his head and motioned for the woman to step away from the counter, he knew. It took less than a second to realise the girl he’d just looked at was Kate. But she was no longer a girl....she was a woman. How old would she be now? 24? 25? Her eyes met his as he studied her face. He concluded that whatever age she was, she certainly looked a lot older but that was to be expected after everything she’d been through. Losing what was left of her family in one night was something no person should have to go through, especially someone as young as Kate had been.

His gaze moved leisurely over her body, down to her feet and then back up again to meet her eyes. He’d only ever seen her in one other outfit and the last time he’d seen her in that, it had been stained with blood and gore and the remains of several deceased vampires. Now, dressed in a smart black jacket and short skirt, she looked amazing. Her hair was fixed at the back of her head, leaving a few strands dropping down to frame her face.

Kate saw his eyes move down her body and then back up. Why had she shouted out? Why had she warned him what was about to happen? The look she had received from the other woman told her that she had been stupid.  Kate had given her an apologetic look. She was really sorry for what she’d done....or was she? Yes, she was. Part of her felt sorry for the other people involved in this. They were frightened and the woman obviously thought that by setting off the alarm, it was the only way they were going to get out of the situation. However, Kate knew differently. She knew Seth wouldn’t shoot them. She knew he was just going to walk out of the store with the money and they’d never have to see him again.

If the woman HAD pressed the button, then maybe he WOULD have shot her. Kate wasn’t prepared to wait and find that out. But there was a larger part of her that did it for a different reason. She liked Seth. Despite everything that had happened, she knew he was a good person. Years ago, before she ever met him, she would never have dreamed that she could consider somebody who robbed banks and killed people as a good person. It was strange, but she didn’t want him to get into trouble. She didn’t want him to get caught and go back to prison or possibly even shot by the police if he provoked them enough. He wouldn’t have surrendered without a fight, that’s for sure.

He was about to take a step in her direction when the woman with the money stood up from behind the counter and handed him the bag. Distracted, he snatched it from her and pointed the gun at her. “Is it all there?” he asked quietly. The woman nodded her head and took a step back. Seth was confused. He wanted to talk to Kate. He wanted to say something to her, thank her, anything, and yet he knew he had to get out of there and fast. He’d already spent too much time in there as it was.

Kate watched as he stood with his head down. His arms were now down by his side, one hand holding the money, the other lightly gripping the gun. It was strange to see him like this. He looked lost. She wanted to say something to him but didn’t know what to say. Without saying a word and without looking back, he turned and rushed out of the door.

Getting into his car, he looked back at the store. Nobody had moved. They were still standing in exactly the same position he had left them in, obviously shocked at what had just happened. He looked at Kate. She was still watching him. He had felt her eyes burning into him as he’d walked from the store back to his car.

He looked down and placed the key in the ignition to start the engine. It started straight away and he glanced back at the store for a second time. His view was the same so he pressed his foot down hard on the gas pedal and within seconds, he was gone.

Seth’s eyes began to close. He’d been driving for nearly an hour and the heat from the sun was getting worse. Despite the slightly cooling breeze on his face, he was dripping in sweat and the heat made him even more tired. He hadn’t slept much in the past few days and the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with him. He didn’t want to stop in the next town but he’d have to. He knew he couldn’t continue driving until he’d had some rest. His hands were gripping the steering wheel in front of him but his head was starting to drop down. His eyes were now completely closed and yet the car continued to move down the long, quiet road in a straight line.

His foot started easing up off the gas pedal and he was now driving slower than what he had been, but still fairly fast. Suddenly, a car sped past him, close to his own, and this woke him up. He brought his head up quickly and pressed hard on the horn. No sound. The horn didn’t work. “Son of a bitch!” he shouted out. It was that car again, the one that had been outside the store. It pulled away from him fast and he watched as it disappeared, throwing a cloud of dust behind it as it went.

He pressed the horn again. It had worked the last time he’d tried using it. He sighed and put his left arm out what would have been the window, had it been a car with a roof, and patted the outside. “Don’t worry, girl. I’m not trading you in for a younger model.” He chuckled to himself and shook his head. He was doing it again; talking to his car. He needed someone to talk to, he realised...somebody who could talk back.

He continued driving a few more miles and the large town in front of him started getting closer. He didn’t want to stop there because the chance he’d get seen by somebody who’d report him was greater, but he realised he’d have to if he wanted to rest, which he did. He reached the suburbs of the town and slowed down a little, looking at the few houses that were scattered around, becoming more and more common as he continued to drive. Something to his right caught his eye and a large sign announced a hotel and bar. He turned the car quickly and parked. He looked around before getting out. There were a couple of people across the road but they were nothing to worry about. However, the car next to him WAS something to worry about. It was the same car that had passed him down the road and the same car that had been parked outside the store.

He reached down beside him and grabbed the bag of money that he’d tossed onto the floor. Getting out of the car and continuing to look around, he carried the bag to the trunk of the car and opened it. He grabbed a handful of bills and stuffed them into the pocket inside his jacket before putting the bag into the trunk and closing it. He locked it and then put the keys into the pocket of his pants.

As he made his way towards the entrance of the hotel, he looked at the car parked next to him again. It was a lovely car. Close up, it was even better than he had first thought. He glanced inside and then looked up to see if he was being watched. He was acting guilty, he realised. He shouldn’t keep looking around so much.

“Can I have a room for the night, please?” he asked the young woman behind the counter. She was writing in a book but stopped to look up as Seth spoke.

“I’m sorry, sir. The hotel’s full at the moment. There’s a convention going on in town and we don’t have any vacant rooms.”  Seth sighed. He needed a drink.

“Where's the bar?” “Oh no, sir. The bar’s for hotel patrons only. I’m sorry,” she said again and smiled politely. He sighed but returned her smile. Just my luck, he thought.

“It’s okay. He’s with me.” Seth turned around sharply to see Kate standing right behind him. His mouth opened slightly in shock and she smiled at him.

“So, we meet again.” Seth couldn’t believe his eyes. For the second time in the same day, she left him speechless. She started walking towards the door of the bar, which was a small distance away to her left. “Shall we?” Seth followed her across the hotel lobby and as they reached the door, Kate opened it slightly and they both looked in. It was full of people. A band was playing in the corner and the room was filled with people laughing and drinking.

“Is it always this full?” Seth asked quietly, finally finding his voice. “It’s this convention. It’s brought in a lot of people from out-of-town.” “And they’re all staying in this hotel?” “Not all of them, no.”

Seth glanced over his shoulder at the lady behind the counter, who had gone back to writing in her book. “But that woman told me the bar was only for people staying at the hotel,” he said quietly. Kate looked up at him, raising her eyebrows and smiling. “Yeah, I get it,” Seth said, nodding his head. “I’m not really the type of guy they want drinking in their bar.”

“No offence, Seth, but that tattoo doesn’t exactly help.”

“Yeah, I know.” He looked sad, Kate thought. He also looked tired and very exhausted.

“Well, we can’t go in there anyway. Somebody might recognise you. We’ll get room service.”

Kate opened the door to her room and pushed it open, stepping aside to allow Seth room to pass. “No. Ladies first.” Kate smiled at him and entered the room.

“Nice place,” he commented, closing the door behind him.

“It’s okay. I’ve only been staying here a few days. This is my last night.”

She walked over to the telephone beside the bed and picked up the receiver. “Room service please....a bottle of whiskey and....” She turned to Seth. “Are you hungry?”

Seth shook his head. “No....I just need a drink.” “That’ll be all. Thank you....Room 28.”

She put the receiver down and sat on the bed, watching with an amused smile as Seth inspected the room. “Does it meet with your approval, sir?”

He chuckled and moved the curtain slightly to look outside. “It’s a little too classy for me.” Something outside caught his eye and Kate stood up to stand beside him. He pointed to a car parked outside and she leaned forward to see it. “See that car down there? That son of a bitch back there in the store tried to run me off the road with that car.”

“You shouldn’t have been asleep.” Kate walked away and sat on the bed again, waiting to see how long it would take her comment to register. “How did you....?”

Seth’s face suddenly flashed a look of recognition and Kate smiled. “It was you! I saw it parked outside the store and I automatically assumed it belonged to the bald guy.”

He looked outside again at the car and whistled, shaking his head. “That’s one hell of a car, Kate.”

“It’s not mine.”

Seth looked at her and raised his eyebrows, a mocking sparkle in his eyes. “You stole it?”

Kate laughed. “No, I did not steal it....It belongs to my fiancé.”

Her fiancé? She had a fiancé? He felt a sudden pang in his chest and stood up straight. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know why that piece of news had affected him like it had. Seeing her again after four long years brought back so many memories. His head was mixed up, he concluded to himself, that was his only excuse.

“Congratulations, Kate,” he said quietly. “I can’t believe you’re engaged.”

She held up her left hand and the ring on her finger sparkled in the light from the window. “Six months.” 

He smiled. “That’s great,” he said genuinely. “I’m really happy for you.”  Seth turned to look out of the window again, avoiding her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said quietly and dropped her head to look at her feet.

A few moments later, their silence was interrupted by a knock at the door and Kate stood up quickly. “That’ll be room service.” She opened the door to find a tall, smartly dressed man holding a tray. On the tray was her bottle of whiskey. She smiled and reached out her hand to take the bottle. “Thank you,” she said, and then delved her free hand into her pocket to find some change but she didn’t have any. “Just wait there, I’ll find you a tip.” She turned around and walked straight into Seth, who extended his arm past her to give the man some money. It was a generous tip and he took the money gratefully. “Thank you. Enjoy your drink,” he said, and smiled before closing the door.

Kate was still standing right in front of Seth. She felt rooted to the spot and although she tried to move, she couldn’t. He looked down at her but she didn’t dare meet his eyes. She kept her gaze forward and concentrated on the material of his jacket. Her throat felt very dry and she suddenly realised just how much his masculinity was affecting her. The feelings she was experiencing frightened her to death. What the hell was wrong with her? She’d been that close to him before and she’d never experienced anything near what she was feeling right now. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him to touch her.

“I could really use that drink,” Seth said in a deep, husky voice, interrupting her thoughts and sending a shiver down her spine.

“Sure,” she said quietly and reluctantly moved out of his proximity to get two glasses. She stood with her back to him and poured the drinks. When she turned around, he’d already sat down in the chair by the window. She took the two glasses in her hand and walked over to him slowly, handing him a drink and then sitting down on the bed opposite. 

“Thanks,” he said, and smiled at her. He watched as she crossed her legs and then took a small sip of her whiskey. She sat with her head down and he sensed that she felt awkward. He didn’t want her to feel like that.

“So, what do you do?”  She looked up at him, grateful for the distraction of being able to talk about what she did for a living.

“I’m a sales rep,” she replied. “I sell cars. I’ve been doing it for about a year now. Matt got me the job.”

He took a sip of his drink. “Matt?” he asked, looking at her questioningly. “Matthew. My fiancé.”

He nodded his head and swirled the drink around in his glass. “Are you here for the convention?”

“No. That has nothing to do with me. I travel around the country promoting them.” She relaxed a little and uncrossed her legs. She saw his eyes glance at them and instinctively pulled her short skirt down as much as she could to cover them.

He raised his eyebrows and motioned over his shoulder towards the window. “You sell cars like the one you’re driving?”

“That’s one of the models, yes.”

“How much would something like that set me back?” He emptied what was left of his glass and set it down on the floor beside him.

She shrugged her shoulders. “About $75,000.” 

Seth’s mouth opened in shock. “You’re kidding?”

“No.” She smiled and downed what was left of her whiskey too.

“Are you trying to tell me you’d actually BUY a car like that?”

“As opposed to what?” Seth knew what she was implying but decided to play along anyway.

“As opposed to stealing one.” She smiled and he shook his head.  “I saw you looking at it outside.”

“I don’t need a new car. I’m perfectly happy with the one I’ve got.”

“Really?” She raised her eyebrows

“Yes, really,” he confirmed.

“Which one of us are you trying to convince?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my car. When Carlos gave me that car....” His voice trailed off and he looked down, chastising himself for bringing up something that would remind her of that night. It was inevitable though. It was his fault that night had occurred and he was in the same room as her. It didn’t matter what he said, he’d always remind her of that awful night.

“I’m sorry, Kate.”

“What for?” She looked up and met his eyes. Why had she asked him that? She knew what he was apologising for. Asking him that was like forcing him to talk about it.

“I’m sorry for what happened....that night....” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, covering his face with his hands.

She reached towards him and touched his arm gently. He immediately shrugged away from her touch, taking his hands away from his face to look at her. “There’s no need to apologise....It wasn’t your fault.”

“How can you say that, Kate? How can you sit there and tell me it wasn’t my fault? I forced you and your family across the border to spend a night in living hell! They died, Kate! They died!” Seth looked down and sighed.

Lowering his voice, he continued. “Richie too....and it’s my fault. It’s all my fault.” Kate stood up quickly and took several steps away from him.

“It’s not your fault, Seth,” she said quietly. “You didn’t know they were vampires.”

“That’s no excuse,” he scoffed, sitting back in his chair. 

“Seth, listen to what I’m saying. It wasn’t your fault and I don’t blame you at all. It was those fucking vampires that killed my family....not you. What happened, happened. It’s over. We just have to get on with our lives.” 

“But I-”

“Seth!” She cut him off and turned around. He was watching her, a sullen look on his face. His eyes moved over her and then stopped to rest on her face again. He stood up slowly, making his way towards her and continuing to keep his eyes fixed firmly on hers. He was now standing in front of her, like he had been several moments before, only this time, she didn’t feel confused. She knew what she needed and so did he. He needed it too.

Simultaneously, they put their arms around each other and held each other tight. Kate closed her eyes and let his strong arms engulf her, wrapping around to hold her to his chest. It felt so natural and she felt warm and protected. She wanted to feel like this forever.

“Have you told you fiancé what happened that night?” he asked softly, his hand resting gently on her hair. “No,” she answered simply.

“Why not?”

“Because he wouldn’t believe me.”

“How do you know that?”

“Would you?”

Seth thought for a moment. “No, I don’t suppose I would.” He felt her grip tighten a little and he closed his eyes. They stayed that way for a few minutes, neither one of them speaking, just enjoying the closeness and the benefits of being able to hold onto someone who understood.

Seth opened his eyes. He didn’t know how long they’d been holding each other but he realised he was beginning to feel a little bit too comfortable. He relaxed his arms in the hope that she would do the same. She did.

“I’m sorry about that,” she said, pulling away from him and turning her back towards him.

“There’s no need to apologise,” he said.

Kate stood quietly, thinking. She realised she’d needed that hug for a long time. She never thought Seth would be the one to give it to her. She was so confused. She felt so comfortable around him. This was the second time she’d seen him in four years. Thinking about it, they’d spent very little time together....and yet they’d gone through so much.

Movement behind her interrupted her thoughts and she turned around to see him sitting in the chair again.

“What happened at the store after I left? he asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t wait to find out.”

“Didn’t they say anything? Didn’t they ask why you helped me?”

Kate turned around with her head down, avoiding his gaze. “They did but I didn’t say anything. I figured it wouldn’t be long before the cops arrived and so I left.”

“And they didn’t stop you?” he asked, incredulously.

“No.” She shook her head. “I was really surprised. The guy was still in
shock, I think. He didn’t say or do anything. You really scared him, Seth.”

She looked up at him and then continued. “The woman who filled the bag for you started phoning the police and that’s when the other woman asked me why I did it.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“I told you, I didn’t tell her anything. That’s when I left.”

She sat down on the edge of the bed again. Looking down at her feet, she sat in silence, waiting. She could sense he was going to ask her.

“Why DID you do it?”

She swallowed hard. That was the question. That was the question she knew he was going to ask and that was the question she dreaded answering the most. She didn’t want to tell him the truth and yet she couldn’t lie to him. “I didn’t want you to get caught,” she answered truthfully.

Seth continued to look at her. She was avoiding his gaze and he knew it. Was she telling the truth? Did she honestly not want him to get caught?

“But why?” he asked, conveying the confusion in his mind. “Why
would you not want me to get caught? You know what I’ve done. You know I escaped from prison. You know I’ve stolen money from banks. You know I’ve KILLED people! Why wouldn’t you want me to get caught? I CAUSED that night!” No matter how much he wanted what Kate had said previously to be true, he couldn’t dismiss the fact that it was his fault Kate’s family was dead. Two innocent people. Richie too. He could hardly be described as innocent but he was all that Seth had.

“Seth, you did NOT cause that night! How many times do I have to tell you that?” She looked straight at him, the feeling of distress clearly visible in her eyes. He wanted to reach out and hold her, but he knew that he couldn’t.

Her head dropping down again, she closed her eyes. “I helped you,” she said quietly, “because I didn’t want you to get caught. I didn’t want you to get caught because I don’t believe you belong in jail.”

What the hell was she talking about - didn’t belong in jail? Along with his brother, they’d just about committed every crime possible. From what he’d seen on news reports and read in newspapers during the past four years, most people would like to see him hanged for everything he’d done. His brother too, had he still been alive. So why should she think that?

Daring to look at him, she answered his silent question, the scepticism obvious in his eyes. “You don’t belong in jail, Seth. Despite what you’ve done....everything....you just don’t deserve it. I don’t believe you really mean to do what you do.”

“How do you know that?” he asked, ticking his head slightly. “How do you know I don’t love doing what I do? You don’t know me.”

“I know enough,” she said, continuing to look at him. “I know you wouldn’t hurt anyone unless you had to. I know you don’t enjoy stealing from people.”

“I do,” he said, almost too quickly, trying to convince himself as well as Kate. He got up from his chair and stood with his back towards her, looking out of the window.

“So why do you do it?” she asked. “What do you love about it so much that makes you keep doing it?”

He stood for a moment, thinking. Why did he do it? He knew why he did it. He had no other choice. “I do it for the thrill,” he lied.

“The thrill?” she asked, disbelieving. “You spend your life on the run just for the thrill of it? You kill people and steal from people just for the buzz you get from it? Don’t lie to me, Seth.”

“I’m not lying!” he said, turning around angrily. How dare she accuse me of lying, he thought. But she was right, he was lying.

“You wanna know what I think?” she asked, not waiting for him to answer. “I think you do it because you feel you have to. You don’t know how NOT to do it and you’ve convinced yourself it’s all you CAN do.”

“That’s not true,” he said, turning around again. He heard her laugh and get up from the bed. She was standing directly behind him.

“Why lie to me, Seth?” she asked quietly. “I can see it in your eyes.”

He turned around and faced her, looking down slightly to meet her gaze. God, she was beautiful. He thought of all the times in the past few years he’d tried to remember those eyes. He just couldn’t do it, no matter how hard he tried and no matter how desperately he wanted to. He hadn’t thought about her at first. He’d tried to get on with his life as best he could. Being on the run from the law wasn’t exactly easy but it kept him busy. But then, when he was alone at nights, he’d think back to her and realise he actually missed her. He couldn’t understand it because he’d known her less than 24 hours and yet she’d made such an impact on him. She was so young, and yet she was the strongest, bravest girl he’d ever known. He didn’t know anyone else like her.  He’d kept asking himself, what if? What if he’d allowed her to accompany him to El Ray? What if she’d still been with him now? What if he’d continued to do the only thing he knew how to and turned her into the same thieving criminal that HE was?

But that’s all it was - what if? It didn’t matter because now, she was standing in front of him. Now, he could look into her eyes and see what he’d tried to remember with such difficulty all those times before. She was smiling at him and he realised, unconsciously, that he was smiling back.

“You should smile more often,” she commented. “It suits you.”

“I don’t have a lot to smile about,” he told her, truthfully.

“I like your tattoo,” she said, shifting her gaze to his neck. “It’s.... different.” She’d wanted to say sexy.

“Like you said, it doesn’t help much when I’m trying to make a good impression.”

“You? Make a good impression?” she laughed, wanting to reach up and touch it.

“I have one.”

“A tattoo?” he asked. “What of?”

“I’m not telling you. I don’t think it would appeal to your character.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You wouldn’t like it,” she said, shaking her head.

“Try me,” he challenged, now very intrigued as to where and what it was.

She paused for a moment, seeming to consider showing it to him. “You first.”

“You’ve seen my tattoo. You know what it looks like.”

“I haven’t seen it properly.”

He chuckled. “You show me yours, I’ll show you mine?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

She was smiling again and he couldn’t resist. Something in her eyes made him comply. “Okay,” he said, unbuttoning his jacket and taking it off. He threw it onto the chair and rolled up his sleeve. “Now you.”

“Not so fast. I want to look at it.”

“You’re looking at it.”

“I want to touch it,” she thought, unaware she’d said the words out loud. She reached her hand up and followed the dark design, tracing a finger lightly down his arm and over the frequent gaps of tanned skin. Seth shivered. He wasn’t cold but the feel of her finger on his arm tickled. He smiled slightly and watched intently as her gaze followed the same path as her finger.

“Now it’s your turn,” she heard him say, but not quite comprehending what he’d said. “Kate?”

“Yes?” she looked up blankly. What did he want? “Oh, right,” she said, finally recalling what she had to do in return. “Are you sure you want to see it?”

“I’m sure,” he replied. Boy, was he sure.

She unfastened the buttons of her jacket, taking it off to reveal a thin, white shirt. Throwing the jacket onto the bed, she paused for a moment, her fingers at the top button of her shirt. Slowly, she turned around and unfastened her shirt halfway down, pulling it off her shoulder to reveal a small tattoo on her back. “You see it?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at Seth.

“I see it,” he replied, looking intently and nodding his head.  The tattoo was of an angel. A small angel, dressed in white with big wings and a halo. “It’s nice,” he said sincerely. “I like it.”

She has beautiful skin, he thought. So soft and smooth. He reached up to touch her back but just before he could make contact, there was a knock at the door. “You expecting anyone?” he asked, as Kate pulled her shirt back onto her shoulder and started buttoning it up.

“No. Matt’s in California. I don’t know who it could be.”  She finished fastening her shirt and walked towards the door. Taking a deep breath, she opened it slightly and peeped around the door. “Can I help you?” she asked, looking at the two men standing outside in the hallway.

“Sorry to bother you, ma’am. I’m Officer Wagner and this is Officer Thornton,” he said, indicating the man standing next to him as they both held up their police badges. “May we come in?”

“Erm....” Kate hesitated. Looking back into the room, she saw no sign of Seth. “I guess so,” she said reluctantly, opening the door further and standing back to allow them room to pass. “How can I help you?”  She closed the door and the two men glanced around quickly before turning to face Kate.

“We’re looking for a convicted criminal and we’ve had reports of someone fitting his description accompanying you to your room.”

“Me?” she asked, as innocently as she could. Oh, shit! She couldn’t lie even if her life depended on it. But she had to. It wasn’t her life at stake, it was Seth’s. “I’m here alone,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“I can see that, but the lady downstairs clearly remembers a man fitting his description coming upstairs with you,” he said again, impatiently. He handed her a photograph and she took it, trying to control her shaking hand as she saw Seth’s eyes gazing up at her from the police mugshot.

“I’ve seen him, yeah,” she said, nodding, “but he isn’t here. He got in the elevator with me but when I got out, he stayed in. I think he pressed the button for the third floor.”

She saw his eyes narrow. “You sure about that, lady?” he asked, sceptically.

“Yes,” she said, as confidently as she could.  She wasn’t sure he believed her. He eyed her carefully and then glanced at his partner. “You mind if we look around?”

Oh, fuck! “Sure,” she said, raising her hand to permit them to search the room. Where the hell was Seth hiding? She watched nervously as the two men walked around, casually searching for any clue that he might have been there or that he still was.   They searched everywhere he might have been hiding, under the bed, in the closet, even in the large cupboards on the far side of the room. Nothing. Then the first guy, the one who had done all the talking, opened the door to the bathroom. He must be in there, Kate thought. There’s no other place he could be.

He took a few steps into the room and almost instantly turned
around. “The shower’s running,” he said, looking back at Kate.

“Oh, I was just about to take a shower when you knocked at the door,” she said, thinking quickly. She pointed to her jacket strewn across the bed and he gave a satisfied nod, closing the door behind him.

“I’m sorry to have troubled you, ma’am,” he said, making his way to the door along with the other police officer. “We’ll check out the third
floor. Thank you for your cooperation.”

“No problem,” Kate replied with a smile. “If I see him again, I’ll give you a call.” What a stupid cop, she thought. He didn’t even check the shower!

“We’d appreciate that,” he said, returning her smile before she closed the door and gave a huge sigh of relief. She felt ready to have a heart attack.

Grabbing a towel from the closet, she made her way into the bathroom. “They’ve gone,” she shouted, over the sound of the water. She heard it stop and the curtain was pulled back to reveal Seth, fully clothed and dripping wet. She laughed and threw the towel at him. “You like hiding in showers, don’t you?”

He smiled sheepishly and stepped out. “Only when I can see you with your panties around your ankles,” he joked, referring to the last time she’d seen him having to hide from the cops. He opened the laundry basket by the door and reached a hand in to pull out his jacket.

“Quick thinking,” she said, impressed that he’d had the sense to grab his jacket before making his hasty retreat into the bathroom. She made her way into the main room and he followed her, walking past to hang his jacket on the back of the chair and dripping with every step he took. She watched him and couldn’t help but smile. He looked gorgeous. Standing there, drying his hair absently, she was mesmerised by the sight of him, his clothes and hair soaked. He looked so sexy.

“I don’t suppose you’ve got any clothes I can change into?” he asked hopefully, waking her from her daydream.

“Not unless you enjoy wearing skirts,” she smiled, taking a small step towards him. She wanted him so badly, she realised. She wanted to walk up to him and kiss him. She wanted to see what he tasted like.

“Ah, it’ll be okay,” he said, looking down at his clothes. “It’s only water. I’ll dry eventually.”

Kate had never seen him like this before. He was acting so differently compared to the short time she had spent with him in the past.  All she’d ever seen of him was his aggressive “you don’t fuck with me, I won’t fuck with you” attitude. But with her, he was different. Almost human.

“They’d dry a lot quicker if you took them off,” she said, continuing her walk towards him. Had she really just said that?  Seth looked up at her. He saw the suggestive look in her eyes....or was he just imagining it? Standing in front of her, she confirmed his suspicions and reached up to touch his face. Her hand was soft against his stubbled chin and he closed his eyes. Maybe he was imagining it. Maybe he was dreaming. Maybe she wasn’t really there....but she WAS there. She was real and she was continuing to stroke his face. He opened his eyes quickly and grabbed her hand in his.

“No!” he said, letting go of her hand and making her take it back. He couldn’t let it go any further. “I can’t do this.” He turned and walked determinedly out of the room, not bothering to think of the consequences. The police could have been waiting to arrest him outside but the only thing on Seth’s mind was getting out of the room as fast as possible. She was left standing speechless. And alone.

Kate opened her eyes. The clock beside her bed read 11:27pm.  She hadn’t been asleep. She couldn’t sleep. Her mind was filled with Seth and no matter what she did, she just couldn’t stop thinking about him. It had been about seven hours since she’d last seen him. He hadn’t returned. He hadn’t called. She was beginning to worry. His jacket was still hanging on the chair in her room and she’d been sure he’d return for it. Why had he run away like that? Had she really scared him that much? Funny, she couldn’t imagine somebody like Seth being scared by anyone.   
But what if he couldn’t call? What if he’d been caught? He’d just fled from her room like that, so fast, not caring if the cops were outside waiting for him or not.   He’d been lucky to escape them so far, especially after their friendly visit from Officer Wagner and partner. What if his time was up and they’d finally caught up with him? What if they’d arrested him? What if they’d killed him?

She couldn’t bear to think like that. Sitting up in bed, she reached over and turned on her lamp. It cast a dim glow across the room and her wandering gaze laid to rest on his jacket. Maybe he didn’t need his jacket. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t come back.

She pushed back the covers and walked barefoot to stand in front of the chair. She shivered and hugged herself, suddenly remembering her choice of nightwear. Dressed in only her bra and panties, she looked to the inviting warmth of Seth’s jacket hanging on the back of the chair. Hesitantly, she reached for it and wrapped it around her. Slipping her arms into the sleeves, she smiled to herself, amused at the fact that it was too big for her. That was an understatement; she was drowning in it.

Suddenly conscious of something heavy weighing her down slightly, she stretched a hand out of one of the oversized sleeves and delved into the right-hand pocket. Her fingers hit something hard. Something cold. Memories of that awful night almost four years ago flooded back to her and she was disturbingly aware of just what it was she had hold of. Slowly and very carefully, she pulled out Seth’s gun and placed it gently on the floor in front of her. Surely he would have to come back for his gun? But then again, maybe not. It wouldn’t be too hard for someone like Seth to acquire another gun without any trouble. Why should he come back for that? Hopeful that there was something else she might find to bring him back, she checked the other pocket but it was to no avail. It was completely empty. Undeterred, she slipped her hand inside the jacket and into one of the pockets there, her eyes widening as she pulled out a handful of dollar bills. She wasn’t sure how much there was but she knew it wasn’t all the money he had stolen from the store earlier so she figured he must have the rest of it hidden somewhere else. Her face dropped. He wouldn’t be coming back, she realised. A handful of bills wasn’t worth the trouble of facing her again, not to someone who could just go out and get another handful, if not more, in a second.

She stuffed them back into the pocket and pulled the jacket around her again. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around herself. Why had she pushed him like that? Why had she spoiled things? She’d gone too far and she’d known it the moment she suggested he take his clothes off, even though his being wet was a valid reason to make the suggestion. He’d realised her hidden meaning and as soon as she’d touched him, he’d run. Run away as fast as he could. She closed her eyes tighter to hold back the tears she felt welling in her eyes.  She was never going to see him again.

Opening her eyes wearily, she saw Seth’s face in front of her.  He was kneeling down and holding her face in his hands. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

“Kate,” he said, shaking his head gently, “you shouldn’t have done that.”

“I know and I’m sorry,” she said, placing one of her hands over his. “I didn’t think you’d react like that. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry.”

“You will be,” he cautioned, removing the hand resting on her face and reaching down to his side. He lifted his gun and pushed it against her forehead.

Kate woke with a start. Curled up in the chair and still feeling warm and protected in Seth’s jacket, she looked over at the clock and acknowledged the fact that she’d fallen asleep and had remained that way for several hours.

2:47am.

She yawned and stretched, aching all over due to her unintentional choice of resting place. He’d been there. He’d been in her dreams. Disturbing though they were, she’d heard him, she’d felt him, she’d smelt him. She looked down at the jacket she was still wearing, the warmth of it continuing to make her feel strangely close to him. She picked up the lapel in her hand and lifted it to her nose, closing her eyes and inhaling the erotic male scent of it.

She opened her eyes slowly and jumped. Seth was there in the room. Standing right there in front of her, she knew she wasn’t dreaming. This time, he was real.

“I knocked but you didn’t answer,” he explained. “I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

Kate could hardly speak. “That’s okay,” she said, suddenly finding her voice. She opened her mouth again to speak but she couldn’t think what to say. She had so many unanswered questions that she didn’t know which one to ask first. She decided it would be best if she just kept quiet and closed her mouth again.

Getting up out of the chair, his eyes moved down to the jacket she was wearing and she followed his gaze, bringing her head back up to meet his. “Oh shit, I’m sorry,” she said, attempting to take it off.

“No, it’s okay,” he said quickly. “It looks better on you than it does me.”

He took a step towards her and forced a smile, or at least that’s what Kate thought. Why did he have to get so close? It was like he was teasing her and while she hated the thought of being tormented, his closeness was overwhelming her in the nicest possible way.

His chin dropped to his chest and he gazed at the small expanse of carpet on the floor between them. “I owe you an apology, Kate,” he said, lifting his face again to look into her eyes.

She took a deep breath. “You don’t owe me anything, Seth.”

“Yes, I do. I shouldn’t have run out on you like that, just like I shouldn’t have left you at the store the way I did.”

She laughed nervously. “You’re not still going on about the store, are you?”

“I shouldn’t have left you there. If the cops had arrived there sooner, you could have been in serious trouble for helping me.”

“But I wanted to help you.”

“That’s not the point, Kate. The point is I left you there, just like I did this evening.”

“You mean yesterday evening?” she asked with a smile.

He smiled back. “Yeah, yesterday evening.”

Silence followed. She tried to read his thoughts by searching his eyes but they were expressionless, giving away no secrets. She would just have to wait until he was ready.

“Sit down, Kate,” he commanded, taking her hand and leading her to sit down next to him on the bed. He continued to hold her hand in his and looked down at their fingers entwined. “There’s something I have to tell you....the reason I came back.”

“I know why you came back,” she said quietly, compelling him to lift his head and look at her.

“No, Kate. You don’t.”

“I do,” she insisted. “You came back for your money. Not that I thought you would. I mean it wouldn’t be too hard for you to get-”

He cut her off. “I didn’t come back for the money.”

“Your gun?” she asked, after shifting her gaze briefly to the weapon still lying on the floor.

“No.” He shook his head and looked at her with his head down, trying to find the words to explain. “I came back because I had to tell you why I left like I did.”

“Was it because of Matt?”

“What?”

“Was it because of Matt?” she repeated. “You remembered I’m engaged.”

“Hell, no,” he said. “I hadn’t even thought about him.”

Me either, she thought to herself. From the moment she’d seen Seth in the store, her mind hadn’t once thought about the fiancé she had  waiting for her in California. Only briefly when he’d come up in conversation had she thought about him and just as quickly had she banished him from her mind, the rest of the time thinking of Seth and the amazing way he made her feel.  She realised she felt guilty. Not because she admitted to herself that she actually wanted to cheat on Matt and sleep with Seth, but because guilt hadn’t even entered her mind. She just didn’t feel ashamed of what her body and mind craved to do.

Her thoughts went back to the last time she’d seen him four years ago. She’d asked if she could go with him to El Ray and he’d turned her down. “I may be a bastard,” he’d said, “but I’m not a fucking bastard.”

“The age difference?” she asked. “You think I’m too young for you?”

He seemed to consider this. He didn’t answer her straight away and when he eventually did, she thought he might say yes.

“I did,” he admitted, “four years ago.”

“The age gap’s still the same,” she smiled.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling back, “but you’re older now. It makes a difference.”

“A man with morals,” she teased, “I like that.”

“I don’t want you to think it’s because of you,” he said, suddenly returning the conversation to the reason why he’d come back.

“But it IS because of me,” she said unhappily, suddenly realising. “Seth, I know I’m no supermodel but if the thought of getting close to me disgusted you that much, I’d rather you’d just-”

“Kate, believe me when I tell you it’s not you,” he insisted. “If anyone’s to blame for what happened, it’s me.” His hand tightened around hers and he sighed. “If I tell you why I ran out on you....” he paused a moment, “do you promise not to laugh?”

“Seth, don’t be stupid.”

“Do you promise?” he asked again. It was more of a demand than a question.

“I promise,” she said, nodding her head. Whatever it was he had to tell her, he was obviously finding it very difficult.

He took a deep breath and put his head down, avoiding her gaze. “Kate, I haven’t....I haven’t been with a woman in years.” He finally looked up at her and there was no hiding the embarrassed look on his face. She didn’t say anything. Instead, she just squeezed his hand, silently urging him to continue. “Ever since that night....” He ran his free hand through his hair and continued. “Ever since that night, I’ve had nightmares. I haven’t had them every night, just some nights. They’re always the same. I dream I’m with a woman and when I go to kiss her....she turns into a vampire.” He turned towards her and chuckled nervously. “Pretty stupid, huh?”

“Not at all,” she said softly, shaking her head. “But you know that’s not going to happen with me. I’m not a vampire, Seth. You know that.”

He nodded his head. “Yeah, I know.”

“So what’s the problem? You do want to, don’t you?”

“More than anything,” he said, without hesitation.

“So why did you run away?”

“I was embarrassed.” He put his head down again.

“I wish you wouldn’t keep doing that. Look at me, Seth.” She reached a hand out and guided his chin in her direction, forcing him to look at her. “Tell me, Seth. Talk to me,” she begged.

He didn’t say anything. She could tell he wanted to look away but her hand on his chin made him continue to look at her. His eyes pleading  with her to understand, she realised what it was he was trying to tell her. “It’s been so long,” she translated, “you’re worried you won’t be able to respond.”

He nodded his head and she let go of his chin. He looked away, grateful for the chance and thankful he hadn’t had to tell her himself.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Seth,” she said softly.

“I guess I’m not the person you thought I was,” he said, still avoiding her gaze.

She smiled. “No, you’re not. You’re so much better.”

This time he looked at her with a questioning look on his face, wondering what she meant. Rising slowly from the bed, she walked to stand between his legs, taking hold of both his hands. “I found out something  today I never knew before. I had my suspicions but I never thought I’d actually be able to prove them right.”

“What’s that?” he asked, a warm smile on his face.

“You act all tough and macho on the outside....but inside, you’re mush.”

“Is that so?” he chuckled, reaching a hand up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yes,” she replied, moving closer, “and I like it.”

A smile played on his lips and she returned it. Releasing her hands, he rested them on his thighs and she placed hers gently on his shoulders, leaning forward to press her mouth to his ear. “Relax,” she whispered, briefly touching the lobe of his ear with the tip of her tongue.

She pulled back slowly and he reached up to pull his jacket apart, looking at her body underneath it and drinking in every inch with his eyes. “You’re beautiful, Kate,” he said huskily, stretching his hands up until the jacket fell to a puddle of darkness on the floor. “And I was
wrong.”

“You were?” she asked, her eyebrows raised slightly.

He nodded his head, smiling seductively and laying his hands to rest on her waist. “My jacket does look better on me.”

“Are you saying it doesn’t suit me?” she teased, knowing his real meaning.

“No. I’m just saying it looks even better when you’re not wearing it....or anything else for that matter.”

He pulled her closer and the hardness she felt between his legs was
unmistakable.

“I don’t think you had anything to worry about, do you?” she asked, dropping her hands to his chest as she started to unbutton his shirt. He kept his eyes on her face all the time, helping her to pull the shirt from his pants as she reached the bottom.  She discarded the shirt on the floor and then looked up to meet his amused expression.

“What’s this?” she asked, bending down to take a closer look. Above his left nipple was another tattoo. Similar in size to her angel, this one was a picture of the devil.

“I like it,” she said, reaching forward to kiss it gently. Moving down with each kiss, she paused at his nipple, kissing and caressing it with her tongue.

After several moments, Seth pushed her back gently. “Your turn,” he said, reaching behind to unclasp her bra. He pulled it down her arms and dropped it to the floor, taking in the fullness of her breasts.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, leaning forward to take one in his hand, the other in his mouth.  Kate put her hands on the back of his head and sighed. Weaving her fingers into his hair, she held him to her, closing her eyes and enjoying the immense heat that was building up inside her.

He sucked and nipped gently at her nipples, making them firm under his delicate touch, first one and then the other, exchanging hands so that he could stroke and caress the other at the same time. Reluctantly, she pulled his head away from her breasts and guided him back slowly onto the bed.

She climbed up over him, using her lips to kiss her way from his navel to his neck. Her knees either side of him, she held herself over his body, looking deeply into his eyes. The lust she discovered in them matched her own and he carefully brought her head down to his for that first intimate kiss, the one she’d been longing for all night.

Her lips tingling with desire, that first touch was electric. His lips burning with hers, it was the most passionate kiss she’d ever experienced.

“Open your mouth,” he instructed against her mouth, separating her lips gently with his tongue. She complied and parted them, allowing him easier access and moaning as she felt his tongue searching for her own, teasing and playing.

Tugging at the belt of his pants and then writhing about beneath her, he wrestled them down over his hips along with his boxers until they joined his shirt and jacket on the floor.

Rolling her over onto her back, he transferred his wet kisses down her neck to her breasts, continuing what he had started earlier. Her chest arched towards him and her hands held his head. He laughed. A low, sensuous chuckle that came from somewhere deep in his throat and vibrated delicately against her skin.

His mouth continued its trail down her body, pausing briefly at her panties. She felt his tongue progress underneath the laced hem and felt his warm hand move down over her skin to pull gently at the silky fabric. He eased them down her legs, his hand always remaining in contact with her skin as he abandoned them to the floor. As he returned his lips to their original position on hers, she felt his hand move between her legs. Needing no encouragement, she parted them, allowing him entry with his fingers.

He moaned at the wetness already there, stroking her arousal and increasing the pressure as he saw she was on the verge of coming.  Her body suddenly erupted into an explosion of heat and passion, a throaty moan escaping from her lips. Throwing her head back, she inhaled and exhaled in a series of short, sharp pants that escaped without restraint. Amazed at how quickly she’d come, he continued to caress her leisurely, nuzzling against her neck as he felt her breathing returning relatively back to normal.

“I want you inside me, Seth,” she demanded huskily. “I want to feel you inside me.”

5:33am. Kate opened her eyes, taking a few seconds to realise where she was and more importantly, who she was with. Seth’s arm was wrapped protectively around her, holding her gently against his body. He was asleep and she laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, moving up and down with the rhythm of his breathing.

The night had been wonderful, she thought, thinking back to the last few hours in particular. He’d surprised her. A lot. He’d been so unlike she’d imagined he would be. Gentle. Tender. Caring. Loving. She wasn’t quite sure exactly what she’d expected, but it was nothing like what she had actually experienced.

She’d told him she wanted to feel him inside her and he’d complied, asking her first if it was what she really wanted. He was giving her the chance to turn back, she thought, but even if her mind had told her to do that, which it hadn’t, her body would never have allowed it. Her body craved him, longing to be fulfilled. Her answer to his question was to pull him down on top of her, kissing him with all the passion and desire she could muster. But still, he’d been considerate, slipping inside her; not just having sex with her, but making love to her. He’d kissed and caressed her all the time, using his hands, lips and tongue to show how much he desired her, whilst thrusting into her gently, almost as if he was scared to hurt her. It was the most wonderful, loving experience she’d ever had in her entire life.

And now he was asleep beside her and she was lying in his arms....but for how long? She knew this moment would eventually come but she’d pushed it to the back of her mind, hoping it would go away. But it would never go away. It was impossible. She had to face the fact that if she fell asleep, the next time she woke up, he might not be there. She had to do something. After all, if her suspicions were correct, she might never see him again and she couldn’t cope with that.

As carefully and quietly as possible, she lifted his arm and escaped from the protective hold he had on her. Crossing the room to pick up her purse, she opened it and took out a pen.

6:44am and Kate’s suspicions were proved to be correct. She opened her eyes to see Seth putting on his jacket. She watched silently as he bent down to pick up his gun off the floor, placing it into his pocket and then continuing to fasten his jacket. She closed her eyes again, pretending to be asleep, as he made his way over to the bed and sat down. She listened but could only hear the sound of his gentle breathing and then the noise the bed made as he leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

He got to his feet again and Kate opened her eyes to see him walking towards the door.   “Going somewhere?” she asked, as lightly as possible.

She watched him stop dead in his tracks and then turn around slowly to face her. “I thought you were asleep,” he said, a smile curling his lips.

“Obviously,” she said with a sarcastic tone, “but you could
have said goodbye.”

“I wanted to,” he admitted truthfully, retracing his steps to sit on the edge of the bed, “but I also wanted to avoid the morning-after talk.”

“At least you’re being honest,” she said, looking away because she didn’t want him to see the hurt in her eyes.

“Kate, last night was wonderful,” he said, taking her chin in his hand to make her look at him, “but let’s be honest, it can’t happen again.”

“Why not?”

“You know why not. I’m a criminal. I’m on the run from the law.”

“You know that doesn’t bother me.”

“Okay, what about your fiancé?” he asked. “What about him?”

“Exactly, what about him? I don’t love him.”

“And you don’t love me either, Kate. I can’t give you what you want. I’m not that type of guy.”

“How do you know what I want?” she asked as she watched him get up from the bed and sigh, making his way across the room to the door. He  paused for a moment and then turned to face her.

“Because I do. You want what every girl wants. You want kids and a nice home and a husband that makes his living going to work every day in stead of using a gun to steal money from stores and banks. I’ve told you, I’m not that guy and I can’t give that to you.”  He turned around and placed a hand on the doorknob.

“Seth!” she called out, making one last plea for him to stay.

“I’m sorry, Kate. I can’t,” he said, opening the door. “Stick with Matt. I’m sure he’ll give you everything you want.”

He left the room and closed the door behind him. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do in his life.

“But I don’t want Matt,” Kate called out into the empty room.  “I want YOU.”

Throwing his head back, Seth downed the last of his drink and lifted a hand to order another one from the bartender. It had been two whole days since he’d last seen Kate and two whole days that he regretted more than anything in his life. He missed her, he realised, even as soon as he’d closed the door to her hotel room behind him. And yet, he couldn’t go back. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t be that selfish. Kate didn’t want him, not what he could offer her anyway. He couldn’t subject her to his way of living. It just wouldn’t be fair.  And besides, it was impossible for him to go back anyway. She wouldn’t be there. She’d told him herself that it was her last night there.  She’d probably be back in California now and he’d never see her again.

For some reason, that thought frightened him more than anything. How could he have grown so attached to her in such a short space of time? There was just something about her. Something that made her different from all the other women he’d known in his life. She didn’t just turn him on in bed, she was strong. She was a strong person with a good heart. But was she strong enough to turn his life around? Could he really change enough to give her what she wanted? Was Kate the person to make him do that? Perhaps she was.

“There you go, sir,” said the bartender as he placed another drink on the bar in front of Seth.  Seth took the last bill he had out of his pocket and handed it to the man.  “Keep the change,” he said and pulled the drink towards him.

But what was that he’d felt in his pocket as he’d reached his hand in to pull out the money? He put his hand back in and pulled out a card. He looked at it with a frown on his face. It was a business card. Kate’s business card. He flipped it over in his hand and there on the back, in Kate’s handwriting, was a date and room number. Five days from now in exactly the same room. He smiled and placed the card safely back in his pocket. Perhaps she WAS that person.


THE END

July 14th, 1998.