CHAPTER TWO :: Andy

I knew when the kid called me this evening that he was worried, but seeing Rusty's face as he pulls open the door tells me that I woefully underestimated just how much. His eyes are wide and his relief at my arrival is palpable.

"I've never seen her like this," he mutters in a small voice. He leaves the next words unspoken but we both know what they would be: He's scared. I take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. He's right to be.

When Sharon left the office earlier she was shaky, to say the least. I offered to drive her home but she flatly refused, darting away from me as quickly as possible. Unable to think of a convincing reason to follow her - or one that wouldn't get my head bitten off - I let her leave. I wish now that I hadn't.

Touching Rusty's shoulder in an attempt at reassurance, I wait for his eyes to find mine before I speak.

"She'll be okay, kid. Today was a bad one, but she'll come through it, I promise. Sharon's tough."

"I know she will. It's just…she won't talk about what happened. Obviously someone hurt her, but she won't tell me who, or why… She's barely said two words since she got home." He looks down at the floor and shuffles his feet. "She just drank the wine and then headed outside."

I feel the anger that has been simmering inside me since the events of this afternoon threaten to bubble over once more.

Seeing what that little sociopath did to her, I had a hard job restraining myself from shooting him. He played us all, but her more than anyone. But that's not even why I'm angry, although I know it should be. I'm angry because he hurt her.

Not just because she was vested in him emotionally, either. No, he hurt her physically - took her down trying to escape the small conference room, once he realised she'd figured out what he'd done. She has the bruise on her cheek to prove it. I shake my head as my mind plays over what might have happened if Julio and I hadn't been walking past just at that moment…

Finally, I manage to contain the rage, pushing it back down inside as I paste a smile on my face for the kid's benefit.

"I'll take care of her, Rusty," I promise him.

"Thanks, Flynn." He nods thoughtfully in response and heads towards his bedroom, offering me a small wave as he leaves.

Taking a deep breath, I walk slowly towards the balcony - and Sharon.

The first thing I notice as I step onto the balcony is how small she looks tonight. I immediately long to reach out to her, to ease her pain somehow, but her walls are up in full force and I honestly have no idea how to even begin to get around them. She makes it absolutely clear from the moment that I arrive that she does not want me here. I know that this comes from a place of pain and not from any real animosity towards me, but still I can't prevent the hurt from clouding my face and I am grateful at this instant that she refuses to look at me.

She doesn't speak until she hears me take a seat across the balcony from her, and even then it is only to reiterate her desire for me to leave. There is a bitter edge to her voice that I haven't heard in years - not since she was still in FID and I was still a hotheaded pain in her ass. Certainly, she has never directed that tone at me since we have become friends and again, the rejection stings.

I tell her, with more confidence than I feel, that I am not leaving and she quiets again. I watch her fidgeting for a while before she stills, seemingly resigned to my presence.

Gradually, I begin to sense a change in her, although I am not sure that she is even aware of it. Resignation has given way to a calm acceptance and I decide to take the chance that she is ready for more.

I startle her when I move my chair closer and I am immediately sorry for that, although she doesn't appear angry - just wary and more than a little exhausted. She doesn't look at me as I reach for her hand and my chest tightens with concern as I realise how cold she is. I had thought the kid was exaggerating, but she really must have been out here for hours.

I feel the next shift in her right away - she relaxes into me, her fingers linking with mine and holding on as I stroke her hand. I almost feel like she has come to a decision and although I don't know what it is, I squeeze her hand in support. All I know is that nothing has ever felt as good as holding her, being here for her as she gradually lets go of the pain. I kiss her hair softly to let her know that I'm still here. That I'm not going anywhere, no matter what happens.

Finally, Sharon turns and faces me for the first time. I feel the anger burn again at the sight of her beautiful face, marred by that painful bruise, but it dissipates just as quickly as her eyes seek out mine. She is searching for something and I hold my gaze steady, my heart thumping in my chest as I wonder whether I am meant to hope that she finds it - or that she doesn't.

Whatever answer she was seeking, she seems to be pleased with the result and I release a breath that I haven't even realised I am holding. Strangely, I don't become consciously aware of her proximity until the moment that she reaches out and touches me, her delicate fingers brushing my face gently. She is close enough now that I can feel her breath on my skin and I have to fight the urge to lean in to kiss her, but my terror at breaking this spell that we seem to be under prevents my movement.

When she kisses me, her lips pressed tenderly against my own, she absolutely blows my mind.

Suddenly, I have no idea what to do. I have dreamed of this moment for so long, but now that it's here I hesitate. As much as I long to take her in my arms and spend the rest of my life making love to her, I am afraid that this is somehow unreal - a reaction, rather than a genuine desire. My body is screaming at me to act even as my mind is screaming at me not to - and I am completely torn.

If I take advantage of her now, she will never forgive me - and that is something I cannot live with.

Her eyes are on mine again, her hands cool against my skin as she touches my face.

She is smiling, the look in those emerald eyes positively bewitching and when she releases a tiny hum, arousal mixed with contentment, I cannot control the way my body responds.

I am painfully and obviously hard now and I don't know how much longer I can stall her advances. I only know that I have to be sure she really wants this - I would give anything in the world not to hurt her. However, her voice is steady when she tells me that she is sure and my heart skips several beats at the low timbre that hints at barely-concealed desire. I tell her that I'm not here for this, but she already knows. And when she tells me in that soft, low voice that she trusts me, I know I am lost.

Whatever the trigger, she needs this tonight and as those luminous green eyes alight on mine I am powerless to refuse her any longer.

Finally, I let myself touch her, running my fingers through that perfect hair as I at last return her kiss. She tastes exquisite and as my tongue enters her mouth I am instantly certain that I will never be able to get enough of her.

She lets out a tiny squeal when my arms go around her waist, lifting her into my lap. The weight of her is delicious against me and when she begins to move her hips, her hot centre grinding against my throbbing length, it takes all the self-control I can muster not to let go right there. The keening sounds she is making in her throat only serve to heighten my arousal and I am suddenly overwhelmed by the need to be inside her.

I am in the process of removing her blouse, desperate for skin contact, when my barely-functioning brain realises that we are still in a rather public place - and we are starting to get pretty loud.

I catch Sharon's eye, smiling reassuringly when I see the insecurity welling up in her gaze again. I don't want to stop, but we need to move this to the bedroom - before Rusty comes out here to check on her and gets the shock of his life.

We hold hands as we make the journey along the hallway and Sharon stops for a moment, tapping on the teenager's door as we pass.

"I'm going to bed, honey. Don't stay up too late."

"I won't. Are you…um…are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Rusty." She smiles up at me as she gives my hand a quick squeeze. "Much better."

"Okay then. Goodnight, Sharon," comes the instant reply. The kid waits a beat before speaking again, a note of mild amusement creeping into his tone. "'Night, Flynn."

I chuckle at the light blush that immediately colours Sharon's cheeks at his words and lay my arm reassuringly around her shoulders, tucking her into my side.

"Yeah, 'night kid."

I lean down to kiss her softly, before she pushes open the door to her bedroom and leads me inside.