"Lighting up the fire"

It wasn't the fragile light that peeked through the curtains what woke her up; it was the awakening of her senses. She could smell a strong scent that invaded her body with the most delicious sensations; coffee. She opened her eyes and saw herself still in Noland's bed, comfortable and warm, but he was nowhere to be found.

She got up and walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside. It was a gray day but that never bothered her, as she enjoyed those days above all. She opened the window with a little push, and the breeze hit her with an even stronger coffee scent.

A knock on the door made her turn around, and there was Noland, dressed in a black cotton pant and a loose long sleeve, turtle neck gray shirt. "Good morning, how are you feeling?" He smiled at her and walked in with two coffee mugs, one of them for her.

"Hi... thank you..." She took the mug and closed her eyes after smelling it.

He walked to the window and smiled. "The Little Coffee Shop is right there, I went earlier this morning and got their special house blend coffee beans and some pastries..." She walked next to him and followed his pointing finger, a small shop with several people walking in and out of it.

She took a sip of it and sighed. "Oh... this is delicious... you were right..." And another sip followed.

"Gregory is going to come by at noon... care to sit? I want to go over the details of what happened yesterday and make sure we are on the same page when we go to the police station."

"Police station?! Why? I don't like those places..." She felt scared only with the idea of it.

"Come, sit..." He led her to the comfortable couch she saw the day before during her exploration, and once she sat, he pulled a simpler chair from his kitchen and placed it in front of her. "Byron isn't going to last long in jail with his present charges, unless we do something about it ."

She closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is something my uncle warned me, and I said I was going to collaborate but from then to now it feels like ages."

He nodded. "Let's begin with what happened yesterday. After I left you here, I met Gregory and a friend of ours who is a private investigator, I also contacted your uncle's friend, the policeman. As you gave me your keys, I proceeded to ask our friend to contact one of his many performers... he uses actors in order to provide a better result for his clients... long story short, we got someone who resembled you, and made her attempt to go in. Byron tried to stop you, meaning her, and that is when your uncle's friend showed and everything else came to play. He tried to force her, to get into the house with her, thinking it was you."

She shivered and her eyes opened widely. "And do what?"

"We can only assume, that is the honest truth, Cat... but I don't think it was anything nice... we do need to go in there and press charges, as your uncle had suggested from the start, or else he is going to get away with it. Curt is furious, and he was mad at me for a quick minute, he wanted to come pick you up but I told him you are safe for the moment, he will meet us later at the police station..."

She nodded and lowered her head, eyes staring at her coffee mug. This wasn't new news, she knew it would come to that some day, she just didn't expect it to be that soon. "Ok..." She finally whispered and Noland stood up, only to sit next to her and pull her into his arms.

"I promise I will be there with you all the way. But I think you don't need anyone to do it for yourself, you are a brave and capable woman, Cat... one of the things why I found captivating..."

She blushed, and instantly her fears moved to second place. He caressed her cheek and sighed, pressing his forehead to hers. She smiled. "Noland, you are the safest danger I have around me..."

He laughed, and she followed him, both looking at each other and holding hands. "I would really like to kiss you now, but..." He wasn't able to finish, her lips met his and his arms wrapped around her with a fierce grip.

In their fiery moment, they both laid on the bed and their hands slid to explore one another; he slid his thumb around her waist, she shivered and moaned softly. It was she who made the first attempt to something wilder when she slid a hand under his shirt. He groaned and nibbled her neck making her arch and gasp when he sank his fingers on her butt.

The doorbell rang and both froze; she blushed deeply and moved aside from him. "I am so sorry..."

He frowned, he was going to grab her hand when the doorbell rang again and he grumbled with annoyance. She quickly moved to the bathroom and he stood up and headed to the door. Just when he was about to open it, he saw his reflection in the mirror at the entrance and slid his fingers to fix his messy hair.

As he opened the door, he wasn't surprised to find Gregory standing impatiently with another man. "Was about time..." He mocked his friend.

Noland didn't reply, he refused to say anything that could be used later by his friend as more ammo to tease. He let them both walk in and sat them in the living room. As soon as Catherine walked in, she was a bit red and avoiding his eyes, she was on the phone and made a small gesture for them to wait. "I love you too dad, I will visit you later today, and make all the arrangements for your moving... see you soon." She finished and put her phone inside her pocket.

"Good morning Catherine, hope you slept well." Gregory half teased, and she blushed even more.

"She didn't, actually, she was worried and had a headache. So let's keep this short and direct Greg." Noland interrupted and saw Catherine sigh in relief.

Gregory went into a full serious mode and nodded. "Sorry Catherine. Well, Byron is in jail now, this is Christopher, he is the officer in charge of the case, who agreed to come here to take your statement. Now, Christopher is also the partner of your uncle's friend, he knows what happened before and understands what happened yesterday too. So feel free to talk Catherine, he is here to help."

"Thank you..." Catherine spoke as she sat in front of them.

"Miss, if you feel well enough, I would advise you to present the complaint about the attempt of assault from yesterday, together with the previous problems you had with him together. I already have the report of the first assault at your office which was made by my partner, anything else we could add to this will be of valuable help."

The conversation went on for two hours, and during this time Noland remained quiet and attentive, he paid special attention to all the things Catherine detailed and held his anger growing towards Byron. He knew that sooner or later he would have to confront him, and he wasn't sure if he had it in him to refrain from being violent.

Gregory and Christopher left Noland's apartment after coordinating to all meet together at 5 pm at the station. After locking the door, Noland found Catherine sitting on the same chair, going through the papers Gregory left for her. "Are you ok?" He asked.

She lifted her head and smiled with a small nod. "Yes, I am ok... I think I am a little bit hungry, though, can we order something?"

He smiled broadly. "I will cook... one of my hobbies." And he headed to his small but comfortable kitchen, where she followed him curiously.

He was quick and the food was smelling great when she walked into his space and surprised him with a hug from behind. It would be amusing probably if a stranger saw this, to watch her tiny frame lean on him from behind. He froze, for a few seconds, then rested his hands on top of hers, releasing a sigh.

They remained silent like that for a while, until he had to remove the food from the stove. "This recipe; I learned it watching a chef tv show, you will let me know if it is good."

He placed the macaroons and cheese with a special extra sauce on two plates while she put the cutlery and glasses on the table. Once she sat, he placed her plate in front of her and she waited for him to take a seat as well. He was excited and expectant from her, and she giggled at his simple and joyful reaction.

Then she took a bite, he held his breath and waited for any sign of dislike on her; but there was none, she sighed and moaned softly, then her eyes opened wide as she focused on him. "Noland... this is delicious!"

He finally was able to breathe, and only then he chuckled and started to dig his own plate. Both enjoyed their lunch, talking about common things and sharing different opinions. When they finished, she took his plate with hers and insisted on doing the dishes while he cleaned the table.

She was finishing with the dishes when she felt him behind her, his shadow and his heat were nothing compared to the reflection on the window of his closed eyes and doubting hands wanting to hold her. She blushed even before he touched her, and after seeing his doubt, she leaned slowly against his chest and felt the instant grip of his hands on her arms. "Cat..."

She stopped the water and held to the edge of the sink, as his tight grip on her arms slowly became a firm but tender hold. She tilted her head to the side with closed eyes and felt his heart beating fast. "Yes...?" She barely whispered back.

He brushed his lips on the top of her head and she smiled. "Earlier today... you... we kissed..."

She nodded and opened her eyes, then slowly turned to face him, and both locked eyes. "I... I am so..."

He put a finger in front of her lips and stopped her. "Don't... don't say you're sorry... unless you really are... and if you do, I promise I will never touch the subject again..."

She blinked with surprise a couple of times before speaking again. "I am not sorry."

He smiled, and his lips met hers with a deep and intense kiss. His hands crept up her back and she gasped, then she kissed his jaw and neck, finally both settling with holding each other for a while and then he pulled away and took her hand. "When is your father coming out of the hospital? I heard you talk to him."

"The day after tomorrow, he is going to move home with a rotation of three nurses to look after him; I need to get confirmation with the nurses and coordinate the doctor's visits." She said as she followed him back to the living room.

"Ok, let's go to the police station in about an hour and then I can take you to see your father. I will wait for you outside, and I will take you back to your place." He said as he sat on the two-person-couch and guided her next to him.

"Ok... I like your plan." She smiled, still a bit shy about it.

He caressed her face and brushed his thumb over her lips. "Are you ok... about this?" He felt his own nerves and fears betray his secure facade.

She nodded slowly. "I like you, Noland... I am just not very good with words... but I do like you..."

He smiled, and she saw relief in his eyes. Whatever it was happening between them, was wanted and desired by both, and that made the experience much more intense.