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Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'll put them back when I'm done.
Chris stood beside the fireplace, stoking the fire gently. As the flames crept across the new stick of wood in the fireplace, he turned to look at Karen. She lay tangled amongst the sheets and the homemade quilt on the bed. Her hair was fanned out over the pillow with her fingers softly curled around the soft material near her cheek.
He watched her sleep and smiled to himself. Her breathing was slow and even making the quilt gently rise and fall along with her breath. The firelight danced over her soft features, amplifying her beauty if that was possible.
He walked to a storage closet and removed an extra quilt. He walked back over to the sofa where he kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the sofa. It was really too bad that she had passed out on him. He had really and truly wanted to make love to her.
It was almost funny. She had kissed him, not holding anything back and really turning him on. He had held her tightly against him, kissing her deeply and running his fingers through her hair. As soon as he had broke away to ask her if she was sure about going to bed with him, she had passed out. It was almost poetic in its irony. He wondered if she would even remember kissing him tomorrow. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to forget it for a long time.
He had sat there saying her name several times before laughing softly over her unconscious form. He had brushed her hair from her cheeks, watching her sleep off the champagne and wine. He didn't know exactly how long he had held her, but he didn't care. She was beautiful and for one night, she had been all his here in this cabin. He hoped that it wasn't only one night.
He had carried her to the bed and placed her gently onto the mattress. Deciding that her bridesmaid's dress really wasn't sleeping attire, he had helped her out of it as she drifted in and out of consciousness. He held her against him as he slid the dress from her body, exposing more skin to his eyes than was safe. He had left her in her slip to sleep off the alcohol. As he pulled the quilt around her and tucked her in, he thought to himself that he would have to nurse her through a killer hangover in the morning.
He smiled thinking about it now. She would probably take one look at the dress draped across the end of the bed and crucify him, if the hangover didn't kill her first. He knew he'd have a headache of his own in the morning, but that wasn't particularly out of the ordinary, especially since he'd found out Eve was going to get married. He had spent all his free nights trying to drink her off his mind.
Chris stopped and glanced back towards the bed. It was odd but he hadn't really thought about Eve tonight. He had spoken about her to Karen, but he hadn't thought about all the might-have-beens that had haunted him for months. He hadn't wondered if she was happy. He hadn't wondered if she would have been better off with him. In fact, he had been perfectly content spending his time worrying about Karen.
He lay his head against the soft arm of the sofa and pulled the quilt around him tightly. She really was a special woman. She had the things that he had wanted for so long. Beauty, intelligence, a genuine heart. She didn't trust men, and he wasn't in the habit of trusting women. She hated betrayal, and he hated being manipulated. She hated lies, and he hated being used. They actually did have a lot in common when he thought about it.
He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep, thinking of possibilities of his future.
Karen awoke slowly, her head throbbing. She didn't recognize the bed she was in. She pushed herself onto her elbows and looked over the bed. Then she looked down. Where were her clothes? She spotted the dress at the end of the bed and remembered where she was, but where was Chris?
Had they? Had she? She still wore her slip. That had to mean no. She found herself more than a little disappointed in that answer. It was still dark outside, so it had to be the wee hours of the morning. Where was Chris?
"Chris?" She asked loud enough to hear ringing in her ears. She grabbed her head as the ringing seemed to vibrate through every cell in her skull.
Chris opened his eyes immediately. Her voice sounded panicked. He had to find out what was wrong. He sat up and looked towards Karen, "Are you okay?"
"Can I answer that when the room stops spinning?" She remarked quietly, eyes closed and her hand over them.
"Starting already, is it?" He asked, rubbing his sleepless eyes before looking at his watch, "It's three am. A little early, but might as well get over this as soon as you can."
He got off the couch and walked over to the bed. He sat down on the edge and helped Karen lie back. She grabbed his hand and held it tightly, "What happened?"
"How much do you remember?"
"We were on the sofa, and I kissed you."
"You remember that, huh?"
"How could I forget?" She whispered.
"Is that good or bad?"
"Definitely good."
He smiled, "You passed out and I put you to bed. Nothing happened between us more than a kiss, Karen."
"My virtue is safe?" She teased, half-smiling.
"For now," He said, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers, "You should sleep the rest of that alcohol off," He started to walk back to the sofa, but Karen wouldn't let his hand go.
"Don't leave me, Chris. Sleep here with me."
"You sure that won't make you too uncomfortable?" He asked, thinking more about his own comfort than hers.
"I'm sure. I need to know that you're here with me."
He smiled faintly and climbed into the bed beside her, still holding her hand. She curled up against him, placing her head in the cradle of his arm and a hand on his chest. He took her into his arms and held her tightly as they drifted off to sleep.
The daylight trickled into the cabin, and slowly crawled across the floor towards the bed. The light was soft and white barely glowing in the cabin. The fire softly crackled in the fireplace, still burning on a pine log.
Karen woke slowly, stretching softly and feeling a warm body behind her with an arm around her waist. She smiled as she felt Chris's warm breath on her neck. He was sleeping peacefully, and she had no intention of disturbing him. This felt wonderful, almost too good. She felt safe and secure, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
The events of the day and night before played through her head. She instinctively reached up to touch her lips, thinking of the kiss that she had shared with Chris. It had been perfect and painfully erotic. She wanted more than just a few kisses from him. She wanted Chris Ramsey.
She thought about absurd that sounded. He was the quintessential bad boy, but she had a feeling that was part of the reason he was so attractive to her. She had always been attracted to the bad boys. Joe had been an exception.
She absently ran her fingertips along Chris's forearm, lacing her fingers with his at her waist. This felt good, and that was something she needed. She needed to feel good, to feel wanted, needed. After the entire affair with Joe, she hadn't thought that she would be feeling this way again. And then to find out it was all for nothing.
Frank had been so smooth. Damn him. It hurt that he had been her betrayer. He was supposed to be her friend, her rock. He had helped her through the breakup. How could she have been so blind?
Just as she felt the tears well up, Chris's breathing changed and Karen knew he was waking up. She squeezed his hand and smiled.
Chris smiled slowly without opening his eyes, "Good morning."
"Good morning," She replied as he stroked her fingers with his.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked, pulling her a little tighter against him.
She grinned as they were only a breath apart, "Very well. Better than I have in a long time. Thank you, Chris."
"No thanks as necessary. Any morning that I get to wake up beside an incredibly sexy intelligent doctor, I'm happy."
Karen laughed, "You've even got something cute to say this time of the morning?"
"Sure," He grinned.
"What time is it?"
Chris moved his other arm to glance at his watch, "It's almost eight am."
"Eight?" Karen asked, "I was suppose to be on duty at the hospital this morning."
"Funny thing about that, me too."
"Well, I hope they understand."
"They will. They always do."
"Really? And you know this how?" She asked, turning in his arms to face him.
"No comment," He smiled, "You're beautiful in the morning light."
She felt the pink stain her cheeks, "I want to thank you."
"For what?"
"For not taking advantage of the situation last night."
"I wouldn't have under any circumstances. I'm a snake, but I'm not that kind of snake," He winked at her.
"I'm glad," She said, looking into his brown eyes and getting lost for a moment, "I'm glad that we're like this."
"Like what?"
"Still friends."
"Meaning?"
"I'm glad last night didn't change anything."
"It did. It changed a lot."
"How so?"
"I fully intend to make love to you, Karen. I just want us both to be completely sober so that we can fully enjoy and remember every last second of it."
Karen's cheeks flushed to full crimson. She didn't know what to say to that. It was incredibly arousing to hear him announce his intentions that way. It was almost all he needed to do. She took a breath and placed a hand on his arm to steady herself from the amazing dizziness she felt. She could have copped out and blamed it on the hangover, but it was all because of him, "Sounds divine."
"It will be," He said, totally assured of his words.
She smiled and sat up, remembering that she only wore her slip. She turned her face towards him and smiled, "Did you enjoy taking my dress off?"
"Of course," He grinned.
"You're such a devil."
"Of course," He repeated.
"I wonder what it looks like outside," She said, noticing that the sun wasn't shining, but the light was gray in color, "Looks like it's still cloudy outside."
"Probably is," Chris said, rubbing his eyes before stretching out. He slowly climbed out of bed and walked over to the closet, "You're never going to believe this."
"What?"
"There's clothes in here."
"Are you serious?" Karen asked, getting out of bed without bothering with her dress and joined him at the closet. She pulled out a T-shirt and grabbed a pair of jeans. They were a few sizes big, but she didn't care. They were clothes and she'd be able to wear them.
"I'm very serious. There's a shower if you want one," He smiled pointing towards the bathroom.
"I'd love one. How's the hot water here?"
"A huge water heater," He smiled, "Take your time. It reheats quick."
"Good," She smiled, taking her clothing choice towards the bathroom before turning to smile at him again, "Thanks Chris."
"For what? All these thank yous are
going to go straight to my head if you aren't
careful."
She grinned, "For being a good guy after
all." She didn't wait for a reply. She just went into the bathroom
to get her well-deserved shower.