Stepping Stones-5

Chad woke to the feel of a soft warm body next to him. Lazily he traced a pattern on her bare arm. He stopped when he realized this wasn’t a dream. He looked up and noticed the room was flooded with light from the window. He quickly got out of the bed, glancing at the sleeping figure in the bed. The white cotton tank top and boxer shorts that barely covered her sent his imagination into overdrive. He left the room quietly and threw on a T-shirt and sweats.

In the kitchen making breakfast he tried to stop thinking about waking up with Kay curled in his arms. So now he had to try to think of anything besides her.

What was he going to do? And where were these thoughts coming from anyway? Kay wasn’t throwing any hints and he was still reeling from Whitney, wasn’t he? Stop it, he mentally shook himself. Focus, he was helping a friend, ok maybe not a friend, but someone who was definitely in trouble. His goal was to get her back on her feet and move on. Besides, there was no way a person without a soul could have feelings, was there?

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“Beth, Beth, Where’s Chad.” Theresa’s voice broke up Beth and Hanks smooch fest, ruining Beth’s good mood.

“I gave him the weekend off.” Beth gave a wicked chuckle at Theresa’s downcast expression. Everyone had seen she had gone after Chad once the truth about his paternity had come out.. Whitney’s reaction had been to run to Ethan, but Theresa had already burned him beyond recognition.

“But, But…. He wasn’t home last night and I couldn’t find him ANYWHERE.” Her whine had attracted the attention of the entire Café.

Hank and Noah exchanged knowing glances. “Maybe he found himself a friend.” Whitney and Simone both cringed at the mention of Chad, While Noah, Ethan and Reese tried to calm them down.

Unfortunately for Theresa, Sheridan and Ivy overheard her. Sheridan had never forgiven Theresa after she had admitted to lying to Ethan the entire time.

“So now you’re stalking my other nephew too, Theresa.” Sheridan’s cool voice made Theresa tremble.

“No, No, I’m not stalking Chad. We’re friends and I’m just worried about him.” Ethan sighed as he realized just how foolish he had been to believe her lies.

“Just a friend. Just like you were a friend to my son and his fiancée, just like you were a friend to Whitney and to my niece. I have to say Theresa, I wouldn’t want to be called your friend.” Ivy’s venom dripped form her lips, but for once no one stopped her. Theresa’s lies had destroyed lives, Ethan, Sheridan and Luis had all walked away with merely scars, but Gwen had lost her life Theresa’s last ditch effort to win Ethan had put Gwen in a coma, where still lay lost to the world.

When Luis had been forced to choose between his family and the woman he loved he chose his family. Now he was just a shadow of the man he used to be.

Luis had walked in during Ivy’s speech and was frozen at the sight of Sheridan. But Sheridan had changed since Luis had given her up. Not only was she heartbroken, but she was angry. In her pain and anger she had vowed to never let a Lopez-Fitzgerald to hurt the Cranes again.

“Theresa, don’t think I’ll let you hurt my family again.” Sheridan’s voice was cold and hard and made the hole in Luis’s heart bigger. It was his fault, he should have told Theresa to grow up, that he loved her, but that she had to make her own mistakes.

“Luis, you’re here.” Theresa’s relief was short lived because he didn’t respond in any way. He just dragged her out of the coffeehouse without looking back.

“Poor Luis, he deserves to be happy.” Beth’s sad announcement had Whitney silently agreeing. Hank just hugged his fiancée tighter.

Outside

“What were you doing Theresa?” Luis’s terse question made Theresa gulp.

“I, I. I was just looking for Chad.” Luis clenched his fists. His sister seemed determined to end up a Crane bride, no matter the consequences.

“You were just looking for Chad. What do you want from Chad?” Luis almost wished he had not asked the question. Theresa’s tears didn’t nothing for anyone n Harmony, she had cried wolf one to many times.

“He’s my friend, he’s my only friend. I just wanted to make sure that he’s ok.” Theresa’s earnest expression didn’t melt the ice in his gaze.

“Theresa, I’m going to say this once, and you need to listen, stay away from Chad.” Luis saw the anger behind her hurt façade. “That won’t be a problem for long because we’re sending you to live with Paloma, tomorrow.”

Her screech was heard inside the coffeehouse, but Luis was hearing none of it.

“You have no choice Theresa. Momma and I have decided that it’s for the best.” Luis mentally added, maybe Paloma can handle you better.

The Cabin

Kay couldn’t believe how tense she was. Chad wouldn’t look at her, in fact if she had to guess she would bet he wished he had ignored her screams, this none of this would be happening Why would he be happy that he had saved a soul selling family-less, lonely girl. She threw the book she had been trying to read down. She couldn’t take this, she was going to leave before she did something stupid.

She tried to stand up and gasped. One of her bruises was deeper then she thought. Before she could brush him off. Chad was there helping her sit backdown. Every time he touched her she lost control. Suddenly he was in front of her asking if she was ok.

Everything was still and quiet. It was just Chad and her. Each watching the other. Kay knew that what she wanted defied all logic. It couldn’t be helped. So she moved closer without knowing what she was doing. She couldn’t remember when it had started, but they were kissing. It wasn’t like any other kiss she’d had. There was a mix of lighting and fireworks between them. It as hard and demanding and Kay met Chad’s every hungry demand with one of her own. She didn’t know how long it lasted, but when his tongue began to probe her mouth she felt the fire in her body explode.

Chad knew that whatever this was, it was wrong. He knew he should stop it, but it was as if a wildfire had started somewhere inside him. A fire he was powerless to stop. When he felt her hands start to roam something in his brain clicked and he pulled away from Kay so fast she fell back onto the couch.

“This is wrong. I’m sorry, this shouldn’t have happened. It won’t happen again. I promise.” Chad couldn’t believe what had just happened. Kay just sat there, looking stunned and ravaged. Oh god what did I just do. With that he got up and left the cabin.

Kay just sat there. Why did he stop? What did I do wrong, Oh no, what am I doing, throwing myself at another guy? Kay buttoned up her shirt and sat on the couch shivering trying to hold back the tears. It didn’t work, when Chad came back in hours later he found Kay curled her up and tucked her into bed. When he heard start to scream later, he crawled into bed without a word. He left when the sun hit the bed in the morning.

Next Day
Kay woke up strangely comforted. The dreams came again last night, but a presence had protected her. She snuggled up against her pillow. She felt so safe in this place. She had even begun to feel hope that she might get her life back. Chad might be the one to help her get it back.

Chad. She couldn’t even look at him after she had done. How was she going to stay here when it was so obvious he couldn’t stand to be around her?

Chad stood inside the kitchen looking out the window into the woods. Someone had arranged it to make it seem like this cabin was in the middle of nowhere. It was peaceful or it would have been peaceful if it wasn’t for the fact that he had taken advantage of Kay last night.

One night after almost being raped, he had used her. The rational part of his brain argued that Kay had responded with just as much need as he had, but the rest of his mind was immersed in guilt. He was more shaken then he had ever been in his life. Last night he had abandoned every principal he’d ever held dear. He had waited months to kiss Whitney, he never slept with her. But after one kiss with Kay all he could think about was making love to her until they were both exhausted. He had never felt more like a Crane in his life.