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Secret, Part 11.2

Quatrina smoothed her hands over the silk nightgown she wore. It was something Mira had picked out for her. The ivory silk had spaghetti straps with a v-neckline that hinted some cleavage. The bodice was sprinkled with crystal beads and seed pearls. The back of the nightgown showed even more skin, curving all the way down to below her waist. It hugged her body from her hips down to her ankles with two slits to mid-thigh. A matching v-string went with it. Quatrina closed her eyes for a moment and opened them again as she looked into the mirror. She had brushed her hair, thick waves falling just past her shoulders. Her eyes went to her chest. There weren't that many times he had been around her when she hadn't been wearing a bra. She felt too self-conscious without one and didn't trust him enough to be around him without one. However, she was satisfied with her appearance, although her insides were a jumbled mess of fear, anxiety, love, and desire. She flipped the light off and went back into the bedroom. Her eyes fell on the bed again and she stared. Memories flitted through her mind. "I don't want to be afraid anymore. Don't make me fear the man that I love," she whispered as she closed her eyes once more.

Zach made his way up the steps, his pace slow. He wanted to run. Making his way down the hall, his steps quickened and he was suddenly in front the door. He knocked gently. "Quatrina," he called out. There was no reply. Quietly, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. Her back was to him. The door clicked shut behind him. "Quatrina," he said again. This time she turned, her hair whipping over her shoulders as she faced him. Her eyes looked huge in her face and her one hand splayed across her chest. There was a look in her eyes he hadn't seen before. He didn't know what to make of it, but it disappeared in a blink of an eye. A smile touched his lips. "Did I startle you?"

Her breath rushed out of her lungs and past her lips. Her heart was slamming into her ribs. The smile on his lips made one curl hers. "Yes. I didn't hear you come in."

"The benefits of being a Preventer. You learn how to be fast and silent. Especially if you learn it from Heero Yuy."

"I suppose that's true."

"You looked like you were lost in thought. Wanna tell me?"

"It was nothing. Really. Just waiting for you."

Her reply caused him to chuckle before he crossed the room and stood right in front of her. "Did you miss me in those few minutes you were alone, Quat?"

He was teasing her. It made some of her tension drain away. "Yes. I missed you, but not as much as you think."

"Oh, I bet you missed me a whole lot, sweetheart. I know I definitely missed you."

"You're flattering me."

"Flattery can get you anything."

"Like what?"

He smirked. "Want to find out?"

Color raced up her cheeks. Her heart tripped. She pulled her eyes away from his. The soft touch of his hand on hers made her look up again as he brought her hand from her chest to his mouth. He kissed it, his lips gliding over her skin.  His teeth scraped lightly over each finger before drew her ring finger into his mouth. It sent tiny tremors up her arm and down her back. His mouth was hot. Unable to stop herself, she let her eyes meet his again. Watching him, watch her made what he was doing even more intimate. But she had no words; she didn't think she could speak if she even wanted to.

He slowly drew her finger out of his mouth, kissing the tip of it before letting his mouth slide over her wrist. Her blood pulsed beneath his lips. There he could smell traces of her perfume and the scent of her skin underneath. Letting instinct guide him, he made his way up her arm, his lips skimming over her skin up to her elbow. It was then; he slid his other arm around her waist, his hand coming to rest on the bared skin of her back. His fingers traced small circles against her spine as he draped her captured arm over his shoulder, and continued to kiss his way up to her shoulder. She wasn't moving. He could her the quickness of her breathing; he felt her heart beating against his. There was a fascinated look in her eyes, as well as the anxiety hiding behind it. He nuzzled the crook of her shoulder. The scent of her skin and perfume was the strongest here. "You look absolutely gorgeous right now."

The movements of his mouth against her skin made her close her eyes. "You're flattering me again."

Chuckling, he lifted his head and looked into her face as her eyes opened again. "And it's working, isn't it?"

"Yes."

It was then, he felt her take a step closer, her body coming into complete contact with his. He felt her snuggling up against him and his other arm closed around her. There was a deeper meaning to her gesture then just wanting to be held. He had always felt that there was a part of her she kept from him. The last piece of herself and now, she was letting him complete that. He dropped his head, so his chin came to rest on the top of her head. He held her tight in his arms.

Quatrina could smell the outdoors on his shirt. The traces of his cologne clinging to his skin. She could smell all of it. The strength of his arms around her told her that no one or anything would ever hurt her. Here, she felt protected. Safe. She trusted him never to let anything happen to her. Her fingers clutched at his shirt. "I love you."

She said it so quietly that he almost didn't hear her. A smile touched his lips as he kissed the top of her head. "I love you too," he murmured softly before stepping away from her. His eyes caught hers as he tugged the dark blue dress shirt over his head. All she did was watch him and clasp her hands behind her. He tossed it over a chair. Then his fingers went to his pants. It was strangely erotic having her watch him. He stepped out of them, leaving him in black boxers. He held his hands to his sides. "Well?"

The color in her cheeks brightened as her eyes took in the well-muscled body in front of her. "I…don't know what you want me to say. You…look…good."

"I like it when you blush like that."

Her hands came up and pressed against her cheeks. They were burning. "I can't help that."

"You don't have to," he said as he stepped closer to her. His arms slid around her waist and he looked down into her face. "I find it a real turn on when you do."

Her eyes darted away from the directness of his before she found herself being soundly kissed. It made her toes curl into the rug. Closing her eyes, she let her mind go blank, feeling his hands running up and down her back and the warm resilience of his skin under her hands as she pressed them against his back.

His fingers traced over the delicate arch of her spine and down to the small of her back. There, his fingers wandered over the warm silk to her hips. He could feel her fingers pressing against his shoulder blades as she leaned into his kiss. The rise and fall of her breasts was distracting. His hands dropped down even further to press against her rear, pulling her tighter and higher against him.

The movement caused her stomach to drop as she became aware of him pressing completely against her. It was leaving a curling sensation up through her middle and straight up to her breasts, which tightened in response.

Without breaking their kiss, he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. There was a soft catch in her throat. His knee pressed deep into the mattress as he set her down, but he didn't push her down to the sheets. Instead, she remained in a sitting position, his hands on either side of her hips as he leaned forwards.

Her heart had leapt in her chest at his sudden movement. It had caused her to immediately tense, but when he didn't lay her down, she relaxed again. Her hands came up and pressed against his cheeks, her thumbs just brushing against his ears. It made him lean into her more, his chest bumping against her knees, and causing her to lean back and her knees to part to accommodate him. The movement made the silk of her nightgown to part, the slits exposing both of her legs.

To steady himself, he moved his hands from the bed to her thighs. They were warm and smooth like he thought they'd be. He lifted his mouth from hers and turned his head, kissing the palm of one of her hands. He let his mouth travel up the opposite arm until he reached the slope of her neck. His hands slid from her legs up to her hips as he leaned forwards more, slowly and gradually laying her down. Kissing down the side of her neck, he could feel her pulse against his lips. It was racing. "You're pulse is racing," he murmured against her skin.

Her eyes were closed. "I know. I can't help it."

"Relax, I'll take good care of you."

She nodded her head and let his lips continue their exploration of her neck. His weight was beginning to press down on her, making her feel a little apprehensive, but she forced herself to calm down. Only her one elbow kept her elevated, while her other arm was draped over his shoulder. She kept her eyes closed, concentrating on the feel of his lips. Every now and then she would feel the hot brush of his tongue and the soft scrape of his teeth. The sensations they produced were all pleasurable. She whimpered softly.

The vibration against his lips made his heart beat faster. He knew she liked what he was doing. The light caress of her fingertips on his back was even turning him on. "God, this is driving me crazy. Just a mere touch from her makes me want to devour her. I have to calm myself down. This night is for her," he thought wisely. Moving his hands from her hips, he rested them on the bed beside her at the same time he started moving his lips lower. With an open mouth, he applied some suction to her skin, but not too hard, he didn't want to leave marks. Taking his time, he finally could feel the rise and fall of her breasts under his chin. He was resting on his forearms now, his body pressed against her. Her heart was beating against his.

When she had finally felt his weight, she had already braced herself for it. And she found herself liking the solid weight of his body on hers even though the darkness was still slinking about the corners of her mind. Both her hands were pressed against his back, kneading the muscles in his shoulders. They were firm. Then she felt his breath slithering down between her cleavage.

Her skin was fragrant and warm. Pressing his lips against the fullness, he felt her intake of breath. He kissed the flesh already exposed by the neckline by brushing his lips against her skin. Moving his head lower, he pressed his lips against the silk. There was another intake of breath from her. "Relax, sweetheart," he murmured, knowing he would have to reassure her every now and then.

Nodding her head again, she let her breath out slowly. She could feel his hot breath through the gossamer material. It made her skin tingle and her breasts automatically tighten in response. Then she felt his mouth again pressing against her nipple.  She whimpered as his teeth scraped against it.

The bead of flesh pressed against his lips, begging to be taken inside. He used his teeth again, wringing another whimper from her. He moved to the other one, using the same tactic, each time rewarded with a sound of pleasure from her. Lifting his head up, he touched her skin again, using his teeth to draw the material down as far as it would go. More cleavage spilled over. This time, he ran his tongue over the warm curves, imprinting the taste of her in his mind forever.

Acting out of instinct her arms wrapped around him, holding his head against her. All of it felt good. Each touch was making her ache inside. She never let herself think about how she wanted him in the same manner that he wanted her. It scared her. It still did, but the way he was making her feel, made it all right. "Zach, I love you so much," she whispered.

He heard her words, prompting him to lift his head away from her chest and look at her face. It made him smile and slide his body up hers. "I love you too," he said as he touched his mouth to hers once more.

She held onto him tight, her fingers digging into his back.

He lifted his mouth away from hers and looked down at her. There was a contented smile on her face. "Look at me, Quat."

Her eyes opened to look up at him. Ice blue eyes gazed down at her with intensity.

"God, you have no idea how long I've waited to be with you like this. I never wanted anyone as much as I've wanted you. I never loved anyone as much as I love you. Every minute of my life is special because I spend it with you. And it's killing me to go as slow as I am because all I want is to be is inside you right now, but I am because I want you to enjoy every second of me, touching every inch of your body."

Her lips parted in surprise and a bright flush encompassed her face. She removed her hands from his back to brush her hair away from her face. Then her lips curved up into a smile. "And thank you for making me feel special. I would like you to be…um…"

He grinned, as her blush grew brighter. He kissed her, his hands reaching up to hers. Lacing their fingers together, he leaned into her, persuading her lips to part with his tongue.

All of his love, all of his affection, she could feel in his kiss. She squeezed his hands tight in hers as she kissed him back with all her heart. The sheets underneath her rustled under their hands as they pressed against the bed. They were pushed out to the side. Her heart skipped a beat.

Slowly and surely, he pushed their hands out to the side. He could feel her heart pounding. He could hear his blood rushing in his ears. His whole body was buzzing with awareness. The curves and hollows of her body were meant for him as he felt her knees instinctively press against his hips. Desire shot through him as she shifted ever so slightly, her hips rotating against his. Their hands rose to above her head.

Her heart skipped again with some fear. She could feel her arms being stretched over her head, but she fought it. "Don't panic! Not now! I'm all right!" her mind shouted frantically, trying to push back the darkness threatening to spill over. Then, she felt them being pushed all the way above her head. Her fingers automatically curled around the rungs of the headboard. An image flickered in her mind. "NO. Don't!"

Unaware of her inner turmoil, Zach linked his hands around her wrists as he pushed her higher on the bed.

As soon as she felt his hands lock around her wrists, her hands curved around the rungs, the images and the darkness broke free. It was too much. Her memories of that night crashed through the defenses inside her head. She could hear herself screaming inside her memories. The pain. The fear. Everything came back in stark clarity. Her heart thumped wildly. She had to get away. It was just too much. She tore her mouth free of his. "Zach, stop! Stop!" Her hands jerked out of his grasp as she used them to push him away.

"Quat? What's wrong?" he asked startled by her sudden movement. He lifted himself away from her and looked into her face. It was white as a sheet. Her amethyst eyes stood out starkly against her skin. They were wide and huge with tears, pain, and fear. "Quat?" he asked again.

The tears spilled over. She drew her legs in, folding them beneath her. Her hands came up and covered her face. "I thought I could do this. I thought I could get through this and be okay, but I can't. I just can't. He was right. He was so right. I am too afraid and he knew it," she sobbed. Her fingers parted as she looked at her husband. Guilt raced through her at the shocked and hurt look on his. More tears came. "I'm…I'm so sorry, Zach…I can't," she whispered as she got off the bed and into the bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she collapsed against it, in a fresh torrent of tears.

Confused and hurt, he got up off of the bed. "Quatrina?" he called through the door. He knocked. "Quat, sweetheart. Open the door," he called again. All he could hear was the sound of her crying. Resting his forehead against the door, he let a deep breath and thought of her words. They echoed in his ears and the look in her eyes imprinted on the back of his eyes. "Quatrina, sweetheart, please?"

She could hear the plaintive note in his voice. It made her cry even harder.

The sounds of her sobs were the only thing he heard in response. Letting out a sigh, he turned, leaning against the door and sliding down, until he was sitting on the floor. He rolled his head back and forth. He didn't understand what was going on. He kept turning them over in his mind and several phrases stuck out. "…He was right. He was so right. I am too afraid and he knew it." "Whom was she talking about? Who the hell knows something I…don't," he said to himself as that person finally registered in his mind. "Yuy," he growled as he pushed himself off of the floor. Grabbing a shirt, he pulled it on as he left the room to find out what the hell was going on.

A/N: Well, here's the second part that you all were waiting for. I hope you enjoy it and I promise to update really soon! XOXO!!