Milk (closed for heartofcourage)

[Baelnorn]

Dominic chuckled at her comment, returning her smile and her squeeze, even though that “or something” in her sentence made his mind conjure various images that were not quite as innocent as a harmless jog. Mentally chiding himself, he quickly tried to push aside the thoughts of them laying sensually entwined in his bed, but could only garner a partial success. Some of the mental images decided to stay and haunt his thoughts for a bit longer.

“You wouldn’t want to go jogging with me. I haven’t done that in years, and I’d probably collapse after a minute, gasping for air, while you were running circles around me. But if you want to go biking or hiking some time, I’m game. There’s a great section of the Appalachian Trail up in Pennsylvania, which I’ve been to last year with a couple of coworkers. I’d really like to show you, the view’s phenomenal…”

Holding Susie’s hand felt so wonderful that his voice trailed off at the end. It’s been far too long since he last felt someone else’s skin touch against his own in such a gentle and sensual way. The lingering thoughts from before came back, making him wonder how the rest of her body would feel. He wanted to make her feel good, to forget all the pain she had suffered, to make her happy. It took Dominic a moment to realize that he was absentmindedly starting at Susan. He quickly cleared his throat and took a large sip at his coke, which did not help a bit with cooling his blushing cheeks.

“Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. I didn’t mean to… stare.”

 

[heartofcourage]

“Then I’ll make sure that it’s my mission to whip you into shape.” Susan said, laughing with Dominic as he talked about taking her to Pennsylvania. “Really? You’d take me to Pennsylvania?”

She squeezed his hand as he seemed to get a far away look in his eyes, lingering on his thoughts a bit too long. She could only imagine the pain that he had seen in his life and the thoughts that he must have. His thoughts shouldn’t have been her concern, but she was finding that it was incredibly easy to care for Dominic. He was a handsome man, a kind man, and one that she wanted to get to know better.

“I don’t mind you staring.” She said softly, blushing as he took a large sip from his Coke. “In fact, I kind of like it when you do…”

She squeezed his hand again and only let go when the waitress came back with a slice of cherry pie each. Susan felt her stomach all tied up in knots, her mouth dry as she picked up the fork in front of her and took a large bite of the delicious dessert. She let out a long moan and sighed softly.

“If you thought the chicken was good, this will blow your mind.” She teased, wanting to lean across the counter to kiss Dominic, but she held herself in check. She needed to slow down, take things one step at a time.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic smiled at Susan’s words, still sorting his thoughts when their desserts arrived. The slices of cherry pie looked and smelled absolutely fantastic, and he could barely wait to taste it. However, he needed to answer Susie’s points first. He had been thinking about her statements. How surprised she seemed to be when he suggested taking her for a hike on the AT, and that she liked him staring at her.

“A word of warning, trying to get me into shape could turn out to be a daunting task. Don’t forget I’m an engineer… my kind is always preoccupied with other things and naturally lazy. I try not to wolf down too much of all that delicious food around, but I guess good shape still sort of looks different.”

He took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of his slice of pie, before he continued.

“Of course I would take you to Pennsylvania, or whatever other place you’d like to see. I know money can’t buy happiness, but I’ll rather spend it on you, trying to give you back a little happiness, than seeing it collect dust on my account. And… I’d also like to spend more time with you, and get to know you better. I mean, only if you really wanted, of course.”

He chuckled softly, and watched his companion take a large bite of her slice. Dominic picked up the fork in front of him and grinned at Susan, before he started to eat his own dessert.

“But now for that pie…”

 

[heartofcourage]

“Oh, I couldn’t allow you to spend everything on me.” She said, dismissing his attention with a wave of her hand. Susan did have to admit that the idea was appealing, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t let him do what he was thinking about.

“A trip to Pennsylvania sounds really fun, though.” She finally said, taking another bite of her pie as she tried to focus on the task that she still had to do that afternoon.

Her apartment would have to be gone through and while that wouldn’t take very long, it was daunting to think about. She hadn’t been prepared to make a sudden move and it would be hard to sort through everything that she had gathered through the years of living there.

“But I guess we have to get through this afternoon first.” She said gently, her eyes lowering to the remnants of her cherry pie.

 

[Baelnorn]

The slice of cherry pie did not only look and smell wonderful, but also tasted just as great. Dominic let out a soft moan as he took the first bite of his own portion. While he was eating, he looked over to Susan, and wondered whether they would be sharing more meals in the future, or whether she would prefer keeping their lives as separated as possible. Obviously, he hoped for the former. When she mentioned getting through the afternoon, Dominic knew she meant picking some of her possessions from her place. He showed her a warm smile, and reached out with his free hand to touch hers.

“Don’t worry, Susie. It will be fine, I’ll help you. You also don’t have to pick everything today. We’ll probably need more than one trip anyway, so no need to stress yourself. And don’t forget: we will be picking things based on your needs, not on how they could look in or fit into my place.”

Dominic gently squeezed her hand, and renewed his smile, hoping to see that beautiful smile on Susan’s face. He would probably not admit it already, but during the events of the last day he had grown fond of seeing her smile. It was much better than the expression of despair and pain in which he had first seen her, and he would do anything to make Susan smile as often as possible. After what she had been put through, this was the least he could do for her.

As delicious as the pie was, it did not last very long. After a few minutes, only a few scattered remnants of their slices remained on their plates. Dominic leaned back into the booth, and let out a happy, satisfied sigh. He teasingly patted his belly, and grinned at Susan, reminding her of what he had said previously about her having to roll him home.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan did smile from him as he squeezed her hand, telling her that everything would be fine. He was perhaps the only man that could make her smile so easily and she was incredibly attracted to him for that reason alone. She squeezed his hand back, waiting for him to finish his pie.

She paid their bill as the waitress came around again. Making sure to leave a generous tip, she was soon taking Dominic’s hand yet again as the two left the diner to begin the long task of gathering items from her apartment. The idea of letting him peek into her private little world was terrifying, but Susan knew that if there was anyone in the world that she trusted to do this, it was Dom.

She pulled him to a stop just before he started around the car to his side and she looked up into his eyes with her dark gaze. A slow burning blush coated her cheeks as she suddenly turned shy.

“Dom…I was thinking…” She started, butterflies hopping around in her belly. “Well, that kiss back at the hospital…I really kind of liked it. I was wondering…would you like to give me another one?”

 

[Baelnorn]

Eventually Susan paid their bill, and a few minutes later, they were back outside, heading for the car. Dominic had put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, holding her close, and enjoying the feeling of her being right next to him. He was about to release her and walk to the driver’s side, when Susie suddenly put her hands on his arm and stopped him. Dominic looked at her a bit unsure, wondering what was up, but still met her action with a soft smile.

When Susan then mentioned the kiss in the hospital, he was afraid for a second that she would regret it. Instead, she told him she had liked it, and asked him if he wanted to kiss her again. His soft smile widened, and Dominic’s eyes lit up the moment his brain had finally processed her words. He held her gaze, moving his hands to her arms to hold her gently.

“Susan, I… yes, I’d like to kiss you again. Are you sure you want me to do it?”

Smiling at her response, Dominic tenderly rubbed Susie’s arms, before he slowly leaned in closer. He swallowed, and quickly moistened his lips with the tip of the tongue. Dominic pulled Susie into a warm embrace, holding her softly against his body, as he finally closed the last inch of distance and made contact with her lips. His eyes fluttered closed as the sensation of their kiss burned itself into his mind, easily washing away any other thoughts. Dominic just stood there and held her close, tenderly pressing his lips against hers, kissing her with a growing passion and desire he had not felt in years.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Absolutely.” Susan answered without hesitation as Dominic rubbed her arms tenderly and smiled down at her with that sexy grin.

She watched as he slowly leaned closer to her, his body pressing more firmly against hers for a moment. He seemed so nervous as he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her against himself as he close the last few inches of separation and pressed his lips gently against hers.

A sigh left Susan’s lips as he eyes fluttered close. She allowed herself to revel in the feel of his lips pressed against hers in the most intimate of ways. Slowly, her arms looped themselves around his neck, holding him tight as her chest pressed against his. The passion that they shared was growing and soon Susan was parting her lips, allowing him access if he wished to deepen the moment that was being shared between them.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic lost himself in their shared kiss, gently pulling Susie even closer against his body. He could feel her arms around his neck, holding on to him, and her breasts pressing against his chest. He kissed her softly, gently, at first, but quickly their kiss heated up, and soon their lips were pressing and rubbing passionately against each other. When she then parted her lips for him, a soft moan escaped from Dominic’s throat, and he carefully slid his tongue into Susie’s mouth.

He did not think much, only caring about the wonderful moment he shared with Susan in this instant. His tongue gently probed her mouth, softly sliding against her tongue. Dominic could taste the cherry flavor in her mouth, and smiled as he kept kissing her. His hands roamed over her body, softly, yet firmly, rubbing and massaging her shoulders and back. Like lovers, they held onto each other, desperate not to let the other one go, nor to let their kiss end. Eventually, Dominic reluctantly broke their hot kiss, gasping for air as he opened his eyes and looked at his companion.

“Susie…”

Dominic hugged her closely, drawing in the scent of her skin and hair as he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan let out a moan as she felt Dominic’s tongue gently slipping between her lips. She shivered from the contact, her body pressing even more firmly against his own as their little moment continued beyond her wildest imagination. The feel of his tongue sliding against her own was incredible, his hands roaming the length of her shoulders and back simply adding fuel to an already raging fire.

She did much the same, her own hands exploring the make up of his arms, squeezing his muscles before slipping behind him to his back. She whimpered softly at the feel of the strong, honest man in her arms. This surely had to be heaven. She had died on that bridge and this was her reward.

The kiss ended too soon, leaving them body gasping for air. Her dark eyes slowly opened and she was staring into his handsome face, her name upon his lips as she was suddenly hugged tight and his face was pressed against the curve of her throat. She let out a satisfied sigh, her lips tingling in appreciation.

“Dom…” She murmured softly, letting him hear the happiness in her own voice as she pressed her cheek against his head. “That was…amazing.”

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic’s heart was still beating a mile a minute after the kiss while they hugged each other. Susan murmured in his ears softly, telling him the kiss was amazing. Hearing her words, Dominic smiled and hugged her even tighter, feeling her body pressing against his own. They were standing next to his car, embracing each other in the aftermath of their passionate kiss. It was the first time in over half a decade that he felt happy. Dominic took a deep breath, gathered his senses, and whispered in Susan’s ear.

“Yes, it was amazing. Thank you, Susie. Thank you…”

His voice trailed off as his mind could not come up with anything else to say. He wanted to keep hugging her, to keep feeling her this close, but he knew they had to get to Susan’s apartment. Eventually, Dominic released her from his embrace, gently rubbing her arms as he looked at her. He could feel his cheeks burning with the flush of excitement from the kiss, and took another deep breath, trying to calm down. However, it was easier said than done; the sensations of their passionate kiss and her hands exploring his arms and back had burned themselves into his memory.

“I hope I didn’t go too… far?”

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan let out a whimper as the kiss ended much too soon. Her dark eyes slowly opened, her lips still searching as Dominic stared down at her and thanked her for such a wonderful moment. She gave him a shy smile, laughing softly. He was the kind of man that she could love for a long time, if not forever. He was sweet, he was loving, and he was also incredibly handsome. How had her life turned so sharply in just a short amount of time?

"You didn't go too far." She said, still trying to catch her breath as he stood her at arms length and gently rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

In fact, you didn't go far enough, she thought with an intense blush upon her cheeks. Her thoughts were clouded of all the intense thoughts of what she could be doing with him right there and right then. It was an amazing dream, she told herself.

"I guess we should start towards my apartment." She said softly, leaning into his embrace once last time as she wrapped her arms tightly around his chest.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic returned her hug and gently held her, smiling at the way she wrapped her arms around him and leaned against him. He could have stood there forever, and simply embrace Susie like this, making her feel safe and happy. Dominic moved his head a little, and watched Susan’s face, smiling at the blush on her cheeks as she hugged him once more. When she mentioned that they should start towards her apartment, Dominic frowned for a second. He was quite unwilling to release her from his embrace and let this wonderful moment end. However, eventually he nodded, and let out a heavy sigh as he released her.

“I guess you’re right. You mentioned it wasn’t far away from here, right? We should still take the car though, so that we don’t have to carry your things that far.”

As they got into the car, his mind was still in turmoil. The kiss was wonderful, so good that he wished it had never ended. Inside his head, two voices were arguing with each other. One voice said that Susie needed him, needed comfort, warmth, and love after what had happened to her, and that Dominic was the perfect man to give her what she needed. The other voice scolded him, telling him that she was only looking to him for affection because of the hurt, that she would not do so under normal conditions, and that he was abusing her vulnerable state for his advantage. Despite his best efforts to believe the first voice, Dominic could not fully manage to silence the second one with arguments.

Susan’s place was really nearby, almost only around the corner and then down the street. It took them only a couple of moments to get there, and Dominic managed to grab a parking spot just outside the building, on the other side of the road near the main entrance. They left the car, and Dominic joined Susie on her side, holding out his hand to her, and giving her a reassuring smile.

“Okay, here we are. Since this is your place, this time you lead the way.”

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan smiled as Dom offered her his hand. She took it instantly, wrapping her fingers around his as she lead him into her apartment building. The building was a ten story place, nothing fancy or updated like Dominic's place had been. She still used a regular key to open the lock, didn't have an electric butler, or a parking garage.

She lived up on the forth floor, the second apartment from the elevator. Walking into the lobby, she pressed the button and waited patiently. It was nice simply holding his hand though she wished that he would turn and sweep her up into his arms, kissing her senseless again. Letting out a little sigh, she tugged him into the elevator when the doors slid open.

"It's nothing fancy." She commented, suddenly feeling embarrassed that he was going to see the place that she called home. "But it was my first place so I was always proud of my little apartment."

She was talking to fill the silence, a nervous habit that she'd always had. She gripped his hand just a little tighter as they stopped on the fourth floor and she guided him to the door which lead to her apartment. It took a long moment before she finally fished the key out and pressed it into the lock. She then twisted the knob, pushing open the door to give Dom his first look into her private life. She was incredibly nervous....

 

[Baelnorn]

He returned the soft squeeze of Susan’s hand, following her into the building, and then the elevator. When they finally stood in front of her apartment’s door, Dominic could feel the sudden anxiety in her voice as she told him about her place. He could only imagine how she felt, showing him her small place after having been to his apartment.

Just before she could push the door fully open, he reached out and carefully grabbed her wrists. With gentle force, he turned her around to face him. He was aware that she was about to show him everything about her private life, sharing things with him what would normally take months or even years of building trust. Dominic wanted her to feel safe, not threatened, by his presence, and so he gave her a warm smile, and offered to wait outside.

“Susie, it’s okay… I know this is difficult for you. If you don’t want me to go inside, I’ll just wait here while you grab your things.”

Dominic held Susan’s wrists for a few moments longer, and then released them. He gave her a reassuring smile, watching how she pushed open the door. With soft steps, he followed her inside, taking in the impressions of her small apartment.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, I want you to come inside." Susan said the moment that he told her he didn't have to go. "I need you by my side."

She wasn't really sure why it was so important that Dominic was there, but she felt a million times better when he was at her side for all the trials and tribulations that she might face along the way. She gave him a shy smile as she turned to open the door into the apartment, letting him see inside of her personal life for perhaps the first time.

The apartment was a small, one bedroom space. It was warm and cozy though. She had decorated with dark browns and bright reds, making up for the lack of natural light with lamps scattered throughout. Walking into the front door, she entered her small living room and turned on a side lamp by her sofa. It illuminated the space, allowing light to filter into the tiny kitchen just beyond the living room and the darkened doorway which led to her bedroom and bathroom.

"Home, Sweet Home." She said with a nervous laugh, pulling off her coat before she placed her things on the sofa and turned to look at Dominic again. "It's not much, I know, but it was the first place I had out of my dad's house."

It was also the place that her entire world had been turned upside down. She sucked in a deep breath with that thought, shaking clear the webs that threatened to cloud her brain before she moved towards the kitchen.

"Let me get you something to drink." She said over her shoulder, simply wanting to stay busy.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic's gaze wandered, taking in every detail of the cozy space Susan had created for herself. It was small, all rooms combined were probably smaller than his own living room and kitchen, but he could see that it was truly hers. While he had needed an interior decorator to design his apartment, she had created this warm place all by herself, and he admired her for that.

He followed her example, and put his coat on the sofa. The nervousness in her voice was obvious, and it made Dominic feel uncomfortable. He did not want her to apologize for her small space, or even feel the need to justify it. He knew that many people in the health sector were paid much less than they rightfully deserved, and hearing her words did hit him. Dominic listened to her explanation, and met her gaze as she turned to look at him, returning a soft smile when she asked him about a drink.

"Can I have some water, please?"

Dominic did notice the deep breath she had taken, and slowly moved towards the small kitchen, following her. Unaware of the true reason for her action, he thought it was him, and his place, making her feel inadequate, and he wanted to correct this perception. Carefully he followed her into the tiny kitchen, which offered barely enough space for them to just stand there.

"Susie, you don't have to explain or justify your place. It's yours, and yours alone, and it's wonderful. You really shouldn't feel bad about it. Remember when I told you I couldn't decorate a living room to save my life? This apartment looks better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I simply paid someone loads of money to make my apartment look good, but you've invested your time, and soul, into this place to make it your own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's not that, Dom." She said softly as she pulled down a glass and filled it from the tap before she turned and offered him the water that he'd requested. "It's just that...well, this is the first time I've had someone here since...I was given the Milk."

Susan couldn't believe that she was confessing that to him. She hadn't wanted to, but she supposed that he was the one person that she could trust above anyone else. She gave him a little smile, reaching out to touch his forearm to show him that she was alright. It was sweet and very welcome that he cared about her so much.

"I think I'll just get a few clothes packed and maybe a few prized possessions. The rest we could sort through later." She said before she stepped forward and kissed his cheek with a gentle press of her lips.

She brushed past him then, letting out a long sigh as she went to pull out her suitcase. Then she started the long task of deciding what she wanted to take with her. It didn't seem that it would be an easy time, but she was sure that she could make Dominic proud.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic took the glass of water Susan offered, and listened to her confession. He saw the effort, and struggle, it took her to say those words, and Dominic wanted to hold her and reassure her that she did not need to be ashamed in front of him. Before he could act on his intentions, the young woman stated she was going to start packing, and gave him a soft kiss before brushing past him towards her bedroom. Dominic sipped on the water and let out a sigh, then followed her.

“If you need any help, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’d like to make myself useful, only if you let me, of course.”

He offered his help, and waited leaning against the bedroom door’s frame. His eyes followed her every move, as she rummaged through various cabinets and drawers, deciding what to pick now and what to leave for later. Dominic could not help but smile softly, as he watched her pull out different pieces of clothing. Soon he blushed again when he noticed that he was staring again, and imagining what she would look in those fabrics.

“If you’d like to hear this old man’s opinion, I’d suggest mostly sticking with comfortable wear for at home. We’re likely neither going to go to the opera nor go skiing any time soon, so you can leave those pieces for a later trip. By the way, is there anything I can already fetch for you while you’re still busy with your clothes?”

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan paused as he suggested what she should take this time around. It was true that she had much more clothing then they could take in one trip, she thought to herself. She would only take what she really needed...maybe a nice dress or two just in case. She gave him a smile as she held out one suitcase to him.

"If you would put this by the door and then there is a stack of books that I've been meaning to read on the table in the living room. Would you pack them up for me?" She asked him sweetly, sweetening the deal even further by pressing her lips against his cheek in a gentle kiss. "Please?"

Dominick made her smile. He made her heart feel so full that it threatened to burst. She could only imagine what those lips, the ones that had kissed her so well outside the restaurant, would feel like on other parts of her body. Her thoughts turned towards images of them tangled together in a heap on her bed, writhing and slipping against each other as they each sought to pleasure the other. She had to blow out a breath, her cheeks heating up as she suddenly turned her eyes from him.

It wouldn't do to have those thoughts about him so soon. They were friends that were just learning what made one another happy. That was the kind of relationship that she needed from him, the kind that would heal her heart and soul. Still, the thought of him in bed, it certainly got her engine running....

 

[Baelnorn]

He quickly took the suitcase from her, and then listened to her asking him to pack up a couple of books from the living room. The sweetness of Susan’s request, especially the soft kiss she pressed against his cheek, made his lips curl into a happy smile, a soft laugh escaping from his lips. Eagerly, Dominic nodded and looked her right in the eyes, wondering what she was thinking right now. As he looked at Susie, he felt a soft shiver run down his spine, making his lips part slightly.

“Yes, of course I’ll do that.”

They were still standing close to each other, less than an arm’s reach away. Dominic almost felt her gaze on his skin as it wandered from his eyes to his lips, lingering there for a long moment. Involuntarily he moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue, still watching Susie looking at him so closely. A moment later, she blew out a breath and looked away, leaving him standing there a bit dumbfounded. Dominic cleared his throat, and turned to leave for the living room. Looking back one last time before leaving her bedroom, he wondered what was going through her mind right now. They had been standing so close to each other, and after the kiss on his cheek, the memories of their other kiss earlier had come back with a vengeance.

Letting out a deep sigh, Dominic took a quick detour to the door, and placed the suitcase where Susie told him. Back in the living room, he picked the books from the table and put them aside, looking for a suitable bag or box. He had to search a little, but eventually he found a small folding box. Dominic unfolded the box and carefully put the books inside. He looked at each book’s title and cover as he put it in the box, smiling at the mixture of works she wanted to read. His thoughts were already drifting away again, conjuring images of them laying on a blanket in front of the fireplace, snuggled up against each other, while Susie read from her books. He quickly shook his head, clearing his mind, and continued with packing the books. When he was almost done, he frowned as he realized that he had to leave out one book or the lid wouldn’t close. Making a mental note to tell Susie that the last book would have to ride in her backpack, he put the box and the leftover book next to the suitcase.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan tried to make short order of packing up her things. Every time she would put a piece of clothing in her suitcase, another item would show itself that she had completely forgotten about. It was a trip down memory lane, one that she didn't think she had time to take. Dominic was waiting...and she wasn't so sure how long he would wait for her to sort through her things.

It took almost thirty minutes before she finally zipped up her suitcase, happy that she had enough to last her a few weeks. The rest she could get later. She made a mental note to call her landlord and talk to him about paying rent for a couple of weeks further so that she could get the remaining items out on her own time. The extra time would be good for herself. She didn't need the added stress.

"I think I'm ready." She called as she wheeled her suitcase into the living room and took the extra book, stashing it in a book bag before she turned to gather a few personal photos of her family to take with her as well.

"The rest we can get later. I'll talk to the landlord about what he would let me do for the time being. That way we're not in a rush for anything."

 

[Baelnorn]

After having packed her books, Dominic waited patiently in the living room, listening to the sounds of Susie rummaging through her wardrobe. He imagined that she was feeling terrible. The mere thought of having to sort through your clothes like this, only being able to take a small part of your life with you, was abhorrent to him. While he waited, he took a look around the living room, trying to take in the small details of how she had decorated her place. Dominic wondered what sort of stories were attached to all the small items and images she had placed on her furniture. When his gaze came to rest on a couple of photos that he assumed showed her family, his heart sank again. At some point she would have to tell her family about her situation, and he did not know if he could help her with that.

The minutes seemed to grow longer and longer. A part of him wanted to go back to the bedroom, but in the end, he decided to stay where he was. This was a very personal moment for Susie, and she would call for him if she wanted him to be part of it. They would have more than enough time to get to know each other better, there was no reason or justification for him to force himself into her life. Finally, after half an hour, Susie called out for Dominic, and told him she was done. A moment later she entered the living room, pulling her suitcase along. Dominic welcomed her with a soft smile.

"Sounds good. I got your books in this box, but one didn't fit. You got a space for it?"

He handed her the left over book, and watched her stash it away, together with several of the photos he had looked at earlier. When she mentioned her landlord, he simply nodded. He had told her already that if she needed help with anything, she could simply tell him and he'd try to help her out as best as he could.

"Not being in a rush is always a good thing. Just let me know when you have everything you need and are ready to go."

A few minutes later, they had safely stored her suitcase and the box with her books in his car's trunk, and were sitting in their seats, ready to leave. Before he started the car, Dominic turned to Susie, and reached out to gently squeeze her hand.

"Are you okay?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan was staring up at front entrance of her apartment building when she felt Dominic's hand wrap around her own, squeezing it gently as he asked if she were alright. She let out a little sigh and finally turned her eyes back towards him, managing a smile. Squeezing his hand back, she nodded slightly before she found the words to speak.

"I'm sad, but I know this is all for the best." She said softly. "A part of my life is ending. I suppose that would be enough to make anyone sad."

Smiling at Dom once more, she let go of his hand and leaned across the interior of the car, hugging her dear friend as tightly as she could manage. It felt like the right thing to do and as he arms wrapped around his chest, she let out a little sigh of contentment.

"Thank you for all that you've done for me, Dom." She murmured against his ear, kissing his cheek gently before she pressed her cheek against his own. "You really did save my life last night. I'll never be able to repay you for that."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic's heart sank as he listened to Susie. Hearing her talk about part of her life ending made him sad. He wanted to respond, but then she leaned over and pulled him into a tight embrace, hugging him closely. Dominic instantly hugged her back, closing his arms around her body. The sensation of having her press her soft curves against his chest soothed his worries. He listened to her words, and let out a soft sigh.

"And you'll never have to repay me. I'm just glad I could help you. And I'll do anything to make you happy again. What you said, about part of your life ending... it doesn't have to be that way. Perhaps some day you can see it as the beginning of something new, something you don't have to fear or be scared of."

He gently returned the kiss, pressing his lips against the curve of her neck. They held on to each other for some more long moments, before reluctantly letting go. Dominic took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, as he started up the car.

"But for now, let's get back home, okay?"

Realizing what he had just said, he quickly corrected himself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to assume anything. I meant my place, even though I'd love you to be able to call it home at some point in the future."

He told the nav system to take them back to his place, and leaned back into the seat as the car pulled out of the parking spot.