Chapter 27

Impulse was never something Thomas Lynne gave into. He prided himself that he had more control over himself but now that his lips were shadowing Avril's, their breaths mingling and her sweet scent cascaded around him, he was beginning to question whether he'd had control or whether he hadn't been tempted enough before now. The pain in his body suspending the thoughts that would usually hinder him. His filter was disarmed.

He snaked his hand around her neck, holding her in place. He leaned forward until his lips were cushioned against the softness of hers. He exhaled as if he'd been holding that breath since the first time he saw her. He'd been anticipating this moment. His foremost desires coming to pass. At first, she stilled as his lips pressed down on hers. His own moved slowly against hers, her body unresponsive. Then he felt her lips following his guide and kissing him back with equal intensity.

He didn't know how long they continued with that motion, all he knew was that he never wanted to stop. He liked the softness of her lips, of her body so close to his own.

He felt the palm of her hand press lightly against his chest and he took the cue to move away.

Avril wasn't sure how exactly that kiss had occurred. Her brain felt muddled and scrambled. She couldn't really recall when she had actually started to kiss him back! Nor had she ever knew that she would know what to do when someone actually did kiss her. It was all...surprising. Her body had reacted before her brain had time to process.

She looked back at Thomas, who'd laid back onto his bed, eyes closed. She'd been waiting for this moment. Not the moment that she'd have her very first kiss, but the moment that Thomas would kiss her or express any sort of definite emotion towards her. She pressed her index finger and middle finger against her lower lip. The feel of Thomas on her lingering moments after.

She couldn't tell what possessed her to stop him. She didn't want him to stop and if it wasn't for his injury she would have kissed him again. Or so she thinks. It was easy for her to say that at the moment but she was certain that if the moment did arise she would feel shy.

Avril sat beside his bed gazing at the sleeping man before her. She took the opportunity to wipe a strand of hair away from his face.
At least one of them would be able to sleep tonight.

************
Thomas woke up feeling terrible. He tried to get off his bed, the pain shooting through his abdomen causing the events of the past few days to come flooding back.

There was one memory that lingered on in his brain. The memory of Avril's lips moving against his own. Did he dream that?

No. He immediately shut down that line of thought. Nothing he ever dreamed had been so real. So satisfying. He had touched her, tasted her. No dream could be so enticing. He should know. He had countless dreams of her in his anxiety to possess her, but none of those dreams compared to the memory replaying in his mind.

"Oh good, you're awake." Avril walked into his room.

He tried to sit up, but it was not effortless when every movement he made brought some awareness to his injured person. He tried to keep the pain from his face.

"What's up?" He stared at her as she fidgeted with a loose strand of her hair.

"I have a million questions." She seemed to be gazing at any where else but at him.

Of course she did.
What was he expecting? He couldn't kiss a girl who never kissed anyone before and expect her to not have questions.

"Oh?" He tried to stall as much as he can so that he could organise his thoughts.

"Well, its more like four questions. How? When? Why? And uh..." She gazed around the room for a second. "Nope just those three."

"I don't see how I can explain how and when...you were there...I think you can grapple with those two." her saw her cheeks flush crimson.

"As for the why... I kissed you because I care about you. I wasn't sure if it was the right thing seeing as, how...uh...we are different. But I am willing to try-uh-I am willing to see where it goes, if that is what you want." he finished. Waiting for her response put him on edge. It had been ages since he'd put his feelings on the line and he almost stapled his mouth shut for doing it this time. He didn't know what possessed him to make such an impromptu promise.

Avril was speechless, her mouth in the shape of an O. She smiled.

"I was actually talking about your injuries. As in how, when and why did you get them." She bit down on her lower lip, her eyes staring at the floor. She didn't think she was ready to talk about the kiss just yet. She had to admit that her heart was racing at his bold assurances but she didn't know if she wanted to believe him just yet.

"Oh. Right." Thomas hadn't thought about the fact that he had basically exposed himself to her. He didn't know if he should tell her the truth... Or make up some wild story. A robbery perhaps? Doesn't explain how he knew how to direct her in removing the bullet or his resistance to call an ambulance. She was too smart for him to make up a story with obvious holes.

He wanted to tell her the truth. Anything less would mess up his chances of her believing him if that lie shattered. Besides, if they were going to have any sort of romantic involvement he wanted her to know exactly what she was getting.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." he cocked his head to the side and regretted it. His neck was stiff from his sleeping position.

"You never gave me a reason not to believe you." She responded encouragingly.

"Okay...in simple terms...I am an assassin or spy...I am not picky with labels."

Avril laughed sarcastically. She rolled her eyes at him. "I am sorry, but if you don't want to tell me just say that." Avril snapped, "You don't have to make up ridiculous stories.

"I kill people, Avril" He pronounced each word as if they were his last. As if his life depended on him being heard, understand, and believed. Avril's features sombered, he could see a million thoughts running through her mind from the look on her face. She settled, finally believing him, her eyes widened and she took a step back. He expected her to run out of his room and be on the next flight back home.

"You kill people?" Her voice cracked, images of their first encounter rushing through her head like some sick slideshow.

"Bad people, but yes. There are many agencies, and the primary concerns are dealing with crimes that the legitimate authorities cannot. We don't go around killing innocent people." He tried to explain.

"I am having mixed feelings about this. I am not sure if I should be proud or scared." She replied honestly.

"There is no need to be scared. I am just a normal guy, and I don't hurt innocent people." he emphasized again hoping that she'd give him the chance to answer her questions and quell her fears.

"So, you were injured doing...?" her voice trailed off at the thought of what he was most likely doing. She swallowed hard.

"Infiltrating a human trafficking ring before they harvested about twenty persons organs." He couldn't help a bit of pride from over washing him. He loved knowing that he had done something meaningful.

"Oh. That's great." She responded unsurely. "But, isn't this so dangerous?" She questioned. The thought of Thomas risking his life for others warmed her for his service and it chilled her for the fact that his life span is shortened.

"It is. But its my family's legacy. I tried to get away from it, believe me... I even went of to college. But my father needed me." He shrugged.

"Family legacy?" She mouthed the words unbelievably.

"Yes."

Avril nodded her head, while she thought about this. It was a lot to swallow.

"So about that kiss?" Thomas interrupted her thoughts.

"What about it?" She questioned as her heart began pulsing excitedly.

"What are we doing about it?" His gaze made her mouth dry and her palms sweaty.

"This is not really my area of expertise...or general experience." She responded breathlessly.

"Well I told you that I liked you. I still don't know what you feel." He laid the foundation for her to say the words that would ultimately decide what they were going to do about that kiss.

"Well..." She swallowed over the lump in her throat. "I...feel the same." She avoided his gaze once again.

"But Thomas... I don't know if this is a good idea. I mean I am not the girls you usually date. Things with me might not go at the pace you have grown accustomed to." She tried to warn him. He was a grown man. He was accustomed to getting everything out of a relationship, and she didn't know how long it would take her to give that much.

"I know, Avril. But I am saying I want you anyway. It's exhausting trying to avoid my urges to hug you or kiss you. I am willing to try, if you are."