My lips lightly touched hers. I was hesitant, but who could blame me. Yet it wasn't just hesitance it was fear. That would not be as I remembered once upon a dark club.

I moved away, my eyes searching her face but her closed eyes opened peering directly into my soul. I touched her chin drawing her face nearer. This time I infused an intensity into the kiss. And it was like everything I'd imagined it would be. It was even better than the drunken night at the club because my senses were clear, with the exception of my head which was only filled with her. I could taste the wine on her tongue mingles with a dewy sweetness that was just hers.

We both broke away to breathe, gazing at the other's faces. Her hand touching her lips seriously pondering over a silent issue.

I didn't want her saying anything that would ruin the moment and chase away my courage fueled by a kiss I wanted again.

'I have fallen for you, Keziah Mills.'

She softly gasped, her hand on her heart and the other still in my grip. I held on, not wishing to lose contact with her lest it breaks the spell.

'I... don't... I'm... You kissed me.'

'Yes, I did.'

She shook her head. 'I felt... I mean...'

She scooted closer, 'I need to check something, one more time.'

Our lips locked in a dance that started off at a soft slow pace and quickly elevated with the beating in my chest and the heat coursing through me.

'This...' her thumb grazed my lips. 'kissing you...'

'Shhh,'

I bend the back of her head slightly and I rapidly lose a sense of our surroundings when she leans closer into me and by gosh, I can't discern where I end and where she begins, I feel hot enough that I'm melting into her.

Her hands gripped my shirt and I wanted to take it off but would I be doing too much too fast?

                        ****
There was an incessant thump on the door which startled me awake into sitting position.
'Keziah, are you awake?'
She knocked again.
And my phone rang and it was Eun.
Keziah only moved on her side mumbling incoherently.
Was this the time? And also, messages, a number of them from Eun asking where I was? As it appeared she'd been at my door previously. I jumped out of the bed picking up my discarded tee from the floor and making a quick escape.
I had stupidly agreed to go to the homeless shelter with a group from LC!
I found a new message on my phone two minutes later after I had taken a more than a quick cold shower. Eun was asking if Keziah was with me.
I hopped on one foot drawing my leg through the pant leg and while forming a reply.
Warm droplets of water slid from my hair down my back which slightly irritated me because I hated being wet and having to wear clothes. But this was my fault and so I had to curb the irritation.
'Hi, I was in the shower. I left my phone on charge. Be out in a few.'

'Good. Is Keziah coming?'

I gazed at the door, it didn't take too long to make up my mind.
'No. She's not.'

Nothing happened.
Last night I mean.

That was the truth and I felt someway about it. I pondered on it for a while and then I realized the core truth of it all was that I made the right choice. So that felt good.

Another thing that felt great was Keziah's smaller frame in my arms. I nuzzled my face into her neck and inhaled her floral fragrance.

When I said nothin happened, I meant that we did not have the sex. No. I respected her too much to try that right now. We only kissed, touched here and there but it was perfect... And other things.

With the morning light came questions. Like how was she going to react? What if last night for her had been a mistake. I didn't want it to be.

Somewhere along our intense open-mouthed exchange, a steady hunger grew. It reminded me of my celibacy until now. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been with anyone. My stomach dipped with every breath Keziah took and every touch she tried to mask under innocence. Her desire for me was apparent, but I wouldn't go far to attribute it to anything other than the fact that she hadn't been with anyone either.
This could only be purely on her part. It wasn't on mine, however, I wasn't going to stop this progressing of events on that count. I wanted her. I needed to be with her and I was willing to take it whichever way I could.
Desperate and pathetic, I very much think not.
My hands found her small waist underneath her shirt. The touch of lace on her back made me even more excited. Just beyond that barrier were her round breasts. Which I did not touch despite wanting, not without her permission.
I removed my shirt to alleviate the furnace under my skin. Her touch cooled and intensified the sensation all at once.
I gently laid her on the carpet, my hand sliding up her calves, to her things making its way to the backside I had since longed to feel.
She moaned when I ...

Okay!
I needed to breathe. The homeless man's expression of gratitude for the meal went unanswered.
I looked out the window of the pop-up soup kitchen wondering why Eun was taking so long to bring Keziah.
Two vans, one with a network name painted on the side and one with nothing on it, parked along the sidewalk. Men and women stepped out with cameras. The paparazzi, if I could call them that, we're here. And now the act of goodwill had lost its potency.
Still, I wasn't at all naive to the effect of having our good deeds publicized, hopefully, all the homeless people could gain from it.

I continued serving not paying much mind to the pictures being taking or the people being interviewed.
'Excuse me, sir?'
It was at the second 'excuse me.' That's I became aware of who he was talking to.

The camera flashes into my eyes the instant I gave them my attention.
'Wow, he's a natural.' The photographer commented showing my picture to the gentleman who previously advocated my attention.

So they decided to take a few more pictures.
'Please, continue as you were. We want the natural- off guard photos.'

I hid my discomfort and continued as I was when something from the entrance caught my attention.
A wide smile spread across my face, it came without thought. Just seeing her made me happy. I would have greeted her warmly but the frown on her face discouraged me from doing so. If I was not mistaken, it looked directed at me.

And then the awkwardness set in. My mind raced with endless possibilities of what I could have done to mess up after last night. Or maybe that was it, she was angry about last night. But neither one of us had been that drunk unless I'd misread the situation.
My heart thudded like the drum of war and the ladle in my hand turned slippery.
I braced for impact.

'Can I talk to you?' She smiled at the camera but she wasn't fooling me.

'Wow. Just when I thought you'd changed.'

Huh? I searched her face and even looked to Eun who was coming over for a clue as to what sparked Keziah's anger.

'I'm lost.' I said.

'Of course, you are. After last night...'

Oh, it was about what had happened between us.

'... night's conference.'
Huh.

'I really thought you were a different person. You coming here without me is just another stunt to be seen a better light than me, right?'

I opened my mouth in mild shock.
'So what you let me have the spotlight last night so you could pose as the poster boy for LC?'
I closed my mouth nodding at the clarity of the situation.
Keziah had famously jumped to a conclusion that wasn't entirely true.

'You keep doing this to me over and over again. First at the Hartfield and Gold fundraising event, then at Comm-connect and now her too? Is that why you didn't wake me? If it hadn't been for Eun...'

Eun stepped in right then to clarify the situation before I could stop her. Quite honestly, I wasn't going to say anything in my defense because why would I when she wouldn't believe a word I would say in that respect.

'Actually, it was David Oppa, who asked me to come and get you.'

I walked away dropping my apron on my way out. I'd taken enough pictures for the day. Besides I didn't want to hog the spotlight.

I was going to sleep in the car, they'd know where to find me when they were done basking in the sun.