Kikki

He’s the perfect Superman and Clark Kent.

No confirmation yet 👀 but if... what we speculate Henry teased is true. I assume he got a buzzcut for early screen testing or something?

Maybe daddy wanted to prove he is worthy again by sending a video of himself in cosplay?

Chapter 15: Almost Sex in Seattle (Kitara POV)

I was missing him already.

Shane had to go back to Los Angeles for screen and makeup tests. I was stuck in Seattle alone for a bit and then Phoenix, but he said he’d be back by Friday for the Saturday con in Phoenix. I was planning on leaving for Phoenix that night. I kept closing my eyes remembering when he left.

“Don’t look like that,” he smiled at me.

“Look like what?” I asked him as he left his luggage at the door and strode to me and took me in his arms.

“Ah, that’s it,” he murmured, rubbing my back gently. “I’ll only be gone a few days! Everything will be fine–” he tilted my chin up so that our eyes could meet. “promise.” He kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose, and stole a quick peck on the lips. “Admit it.”

“What?”

“You’re going to miss me.” He tickled my sides. “C'mon, say it.”

I looked up at him. “I am going to miss you.” I felt my throat tighten.

“Aww,” he gave me an extra squeeze . “I’ll let you know when I land.”

“Okay.”

He chuckled a little, shaking his head at me. “A month of Saturdays.”

“What?”

“We’ve been on this tour about a month of Saturdays,” his expression was one of humor as he raised an eyebrow at me. “First you were running from me, now you seem like you’re running to me.” When he saw my discomfort, he shook his head at me. “Hid a present in the apartment.”

“What?”

“I will bet you don’t find it before I land in L.A.”

“I bet I will!” I loved games. He knew that.

“To the victor goes the spoils!”

“What…spoils?” I gave him a squeeze.

“Heh.” He turned on his heel. “Better find it.”

I hastened behind him and held him again, kissing the middle of his back, and he turned to look at me. That kiss was pure instinct, I just did it. I was embarrassed.

“I’ll never get out this way,” he shook his head, caressing my cheek. “Missing you already.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, kissed me like he did that day in the guestroom in San Diego. I was breathless when he let me go. “Better?”

I couldn’t talk.

“Time’s ticking,” he smiled, and walked out the door.

I stood there for awhile, just thinking of him. This time I picked a house I absolutely wanted to stay in, but it was a one bedroom cottage. He practically dared me to rent it, almost suggesting that living in such close quarters would be…risky:

“I am perfectly capable of being a gentleman, but I am not perfectly capable of sleeping on a couch,” he said with a mischievous smile.

“So, we share the bedroom?”

“Why not?” he asked. “Is there a problem?”

The question hung in the air, the perfect dare, and I agreed.

Little did I know that living in close quarters with him would be so…enticing. Watching him come out of the bathroom in a towel because he forgot something or watching him sleep because I was such an early riser were perks that I’d’ve damn near paid for. Watching his reaction when I did the same was something. He would stop what he was doing, and I could feel his eyes following me around the room. It was as if he was touching me with looks.

Our days were sort of touristy. I wanted him to see the U.S., and there were honestly parts I hadn’t seen either. We saw the needle of course, but the highlight of the week had been Snoqualmie Falls and Winery, not for the sights or the wine, but the fact that we almost crossed the line there:

“God!” I half whispered, half hissed as he braced me against the cave wall and squatted to lift me. My legs went around him instinctively, didn’t think about it for a second. We were kissing as if we would never see each other again. I started sucking his tongue, tasting wine in his mouth from the first set of tastings on the tour, and he pulled back with a groan to nibble my lips because I had some strawberries and champagne earlier.

“Shhh…” He managed to push my tank top back, and when his mouth closed over my breast, I bit my lip, but the cry vibrated in my throat. He licked my neck and then went back to what he was doing before. We were grinding against each other, fully clothed and risking being caught. I was shaking, gasping because I knew in that moment, I wouldn’t stop him from doing anything. The need was almost painful, my hips kept moving up and down on him for some kind of solace, and he moved with me, his breathing ragged in my ear as he nipped it.

It was the sound of other tourists in the distance that made us stop. He slowly released my legs and slid my body down his so I could feel all that I had missed. I whimpered softly nuzzling his chest as my feet touched ground.

“You,” he panted. “Are a dangerous woman.”

“If I am, it’s entirely your fault.”

The nights were the best. We had s'mores on the firepit, an American camping snack, sinful concoction of chocolate and marshmallows on graham crackers. We were both trying to watch our diets, so we only had one each the first night we did, and shared one each night after. We even roasted beer brats on the fire. We lounged in the hot tub almost every night, watching movies or listening to music on our phones or laptops. And then there was the making out–or snogging. We couldn’t seem to help that, not after we’d toured Snoqualmie…

I snapped from the memory. I had to find this present!

I started in the yard. We’d spent a lot of time there. By the time the sun was high, I knew he didn’t hide it there at all. I stopped to eat lunch, frustrated. He could be landing soon!

I looked over at Zeus, who was barely awake in his basket bed, and I was sure I was the one that got him up with my racket. “Some help you are!” I grumbled. He stood and…he tinkled! Tinkled?! “Zeus?” I looked at him, and thought I saw something flicker from around his neck. I immediately hit the floor in a elbow plank for a better look. “Oh, my God!” I squealed and crawled over. “Zeus, you wonderful little mutt!” I laughed, picking him up. Hooked on a ring to his tags were charms-Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle, but there was also a key? “Oh, my God!” I scrambled for the bedroom and started going through drawers which were mostly empty. “A key means a box. I got charms, Zeus! That means a bracelet, I know it does!” I looked under the bed, pulled off the sheets and pillows, this was an all out ransack. He was landing soon-I didn’t have much time! “Damn it!”

My cell started playing Hungry Like a Wolf, and I rolled my eyes. I clicked on my earpiece and kept searching.

“Hello?!” I was looking under the bed.

Shane’s laughter held triumph. “Ha, I knew it!”

“I found the charms-cute by the way-” I got to my feet. “But this isn’t fair!” I’m looking for two things! Charms and a bracelet, right?“

"Really?”

“Yes, really!”

“But, sweetie, you overlooked it.”

I stood still. Overlooked it? I backed out of the bedroom, grabbing the phone on the way. I was here, with the dog…“Oh, my God!” I heard him laughing as I returned to Zeus’s bed, and pulled up the pillow he had been laying on. And there under him was a box, a flat jewelry gift box with no lock. I was confused. I opened the box and pulled out the charm bracelet. “Oh, Shane, it’s beautiful.” I breathed. “But what is the key for?”

“Let a man have a secret or two.”

“Sha-ane!”

“Darling, that’s it…for now.” he chuckled. “Ride’s here, talk you later.”

I sighed, “Alright, be safe.”

He laughed softly, making my heart flutter. “You too. Cheers.”

I sat there on the couch, and began assembling my gifts. Oh, it was more beautiful than I thought. I lifted my hand to the light, admiring the sparkly thing, and I swallowed hard, tears in my eyes. I had ten more cities with him. Ten. Oh, God, what was I going to do? I took a picture of my gift, sending it to Laura immediately. My cell played Vogue by Madonna, and I picked it up. She’d gone to the concert recently, so I changed her ringer. “Oh, Lala!”

“Hey, what’s up? Nice sparkly, by the way,” Laura said. “Been shopping?”

“No.”

“Oh…is that a gift?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Well, damn, honey, what’s wrong?” she asked. “I mean, I’m guessing it’s from Shane?”

“Yes!”

“Falling, are we?” she asked teasingly.

“He’s too good to be true, Lala,” I said, looking at my bracelet. “He’s…”

“Don’t ruin this, Kiki,” Laura warned. “Maybe he’s just an overdue gift from the universe.”

“Lala.”

“Things are finally working your way after so long,” Laura said softly, her voice feeling like a hug. “Your books are flying off shelves and sites. Two are in the works for movies with no one better than your dream guy, and don’t deny that he is, it’s pointless with me. Go with the flow, hon.” There was silence. “Kiki, I mean it.”

“I know, I know you’re right,” I breathed. “We shared a bedroom this week, you know.”

“Yes, I know,” her mischievous voice returned. “How’s that going?”

“Not…yet.”

“I’m going to say this one more time,” Laura said sternly. “Go with the flow, see where it goes. You will either end up happy as hell or with a hell of a memory. Is that bad?”

I didn’t answer. “Thanks, Lala.”

“Anytime, hon,” she said gently. “See you in Vegas. It’s your first panel.”

“What?”

“They’ve got a panel of writers who went from digital to screen,” she said happily. “You’re in, and yes, bring that man with you, he’s good for you.”

“Like…we might be tempted to call him a himbo but, he’s not dumb…he knows exactly what he’s doing.”

“That bicep just making an appearance.”

“My god that assssss”