The light streamed through the window and I am woken up in my most favorite way from Cat nuzzling up under my chin as she snuggled in even closer. My arms wrapped around her and I took a moment to enjoy the feel of her in my arms. I told William I'd call for a car to take me home. The only need to rush now was that Cat had to eat breakfast and get to class. I let out a soft chuckle wondering if we could get away with eating spaghetti for breakfast, as anything else in the refrigerator is most likely expired by now.

"What's so funny?" Cat wanted to know. Her fingers trailed across my back sending chills up my spine. She giggled when she felt me shiver.

"Stop that!"

Cat giggled harder. "Oh, I see how it is. It's not fair unless you're doing it to me. Is that it?"

My arms tightened as I crushed her to me. "That's right." I run my fingers up her spine and Cat shook. She tried desperately to push me away but can't. She's trapped and I gave her a mischievous grin.

"Don't you dare!" she warned.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"I don't know but whatever you're thinking, don't do it."

"How do you know what I'm thinking isn't something that you'd like me to do?" I countered. "For example this..." I changed positions so I can reach her neck and trailed kisses down it and across her collarbone. Our eyes met and I hold her gaze as I silently asked if I should continue. She smiled back in agreement.

I rolled Cat over and took position on top of her ever so careful not to put any pressure on her stomach. My hands caressed down her arms until I reached her hands. My fingers interlaced with hers before I pulled them up and over her head to pin them there. "You are so beautiful." Cat's smile grews wider, tempting me to kiss her lips and I gave in to that temptation.

I freed her hands and Cat reached out to grasp my cheeks, pulling me away from her yet holding me prisoner. I'm lost in the love I saw shining from her eyes. She bit her bottom lip, and grinned as she stared at me. I hoped she saw that same love beaming back at her.

Cat pulled my face towards her, taking her time to gently glide her lips over mine. A hunger of a completely different kind grew under such mastery. Yet as sweet as her lips may be, it's not enough. It's never enough. Not with her.

Cat's hands guided me to her breasts. A slight moan escaped her lips as I took my sweet time tormenting, teasing and taunting her with my tongue.

Cat pushed me lower still and I let her guide me, leaving a trail of warm wet kisses in my wake. "Alex." My name came out a sigh on her lips. I smiled against her skin. As her excitement built, so did my own. She gripped my shoulders, digging her fingers into them.

"Please?" she begged, like she must ask. I know what she wanted and I'm still in awe that it's me. I changed positions, laying on my back, putting her in charge and she didn't hesitate. Cat took control and I love watching how passionate she becomes. How clearly pleasure is written across her face.

Cat took as much as she gave until we are both spent from indulging in such gratification. She collapsed on top of me. "God, every time I make love to you it feels like the first time. I feel like I can't get enough. Even now I still want you so badly."

My arms wrapped around her protectively and I kissed the top of her head. "I hope that never changes."

Her chin rose up slightly and I'm surprised to see sadness in her eyes. "I hope so, too."

I can't help but feel confused by her reaction. "What's wrong? What is it?"

Cat slid off of me and sat cross-legged beside me on the bed. Worry creased her brow. "I don't want us to end up like Liam and I did. I don't want us to ever become complacent with one another, taking each other for granted. If you ever feel that way, promise me you'll tell me?"

I propped myself up on an elbow. "That won't happen, Cat."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know how I feel about you. Those feelings only grow stronger with each passing day I'm in your presence. There are so many things I love about you, your beautiful mind, your kind heart, your tolerance of me."

Cat's eyes rolled. "Yeah. You're a real pill to deal with. A nightmare really."

I ignored her sarcasm. "Cat we are just at the beginning. There is so much more we need to learn about one another."

The frown was back. "That's just it. It's all sunshine and rainbows right now because our relationship is new and shiny but we put a few miles on it and I worry that..." Cat turned away from me.

I sat up and pulled her into my lap. "You just talked about yourself like you're a car I'm taking for a test spin. Are you suggesting that I'd get bored with you?"

Cat shrugged. "Liam did. Five years in and he was already looking at new models," she said keeping up the analogy.

"That's because he's the sports model type, Cat. Whatever is the biggest, brightest, showiest thing is what gets him salivating. He wants options."

"And you don't?"

I couldn't believe the honesty of that question, but I did not hesitate in my answer.

"No. I want the minivan that I can fill up with our five kids and a dog. With a roof rack to carry our stuff so we can all go camping together, squashed in a tent that's too small for all of us to move around in. I won't care if the car gets a little dented or scratched up along the way because each imperfection is a reminder of a moment, a memory I now share with you, you and our family."

Cat's eyes glazed over with tears. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked caressing her cheek.

"How do always know the right thing to say to make me love more than I possibly thought I could?"

I grinned. "Guess I'm just lucky that way."

Cat let out a soft laugh. "I guess so."

"So no more worrying about that okay. I'm here to stay, Cat. Until we grow old together and I die or you decided you don't want me anymore. But those are the only things that will take me from you."

"Well the second is never going to happen and hopefully the first won't happen for a very, very long time."

I pulled her towards me and kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose. "I know it's getting late. I don't have anything to feed you for breakfast. Whatever is in the refrigerator has to be expired by now."

"We can have spaghetti," Cat suggested and I chuckled again.

"That's what made me laugh earlier when we first got up. I thought the same thing. Are you sure? I don't mind running to the store to pick us up some breakfast supplies?"

"No, seriously it's fine. Besides anything you get will just go to waste as neither of us will be staying here."

"True." I really couldn't deny her logic. "Spaghetti for breakfast it is then. Why don't you get washed up and I'll heat up things up for us?"

Cat got out of the bed and gave me this come hither stare before she sauntered over to the bathroom, naked. She glanced back at me over her shoulder when she reached the door, striking a sexy pose. "If your looking to heat things up, you sure it involves the kitchen?"

Oh, that look. Images of a wet and soapy Cat raced through my mind. "Breakfast can wait a little longer," I declared. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed I sprung into action. Cat let out a little yelp and a giggled when she realized the chase was on. It was going to be an easy catch, since I know she's looking to get caught.

About forty-five minutes later we were washed, dressed and well at least one of our hungers were satisfied. Now we were both starving for something else, having worked up a genuine appetite and oddly enough spaghetti really hit the spot.

"Is it just me or does this spaghetti taste even better than it did last night?" Cat asked taking another fork full and sighing.

I hadn't eaten any last night so I really couldn't comment. I stuck a forkful in my mouth and nodded like an idiot, but it got me thinking of Tina again. I needed to make things clear with Cat.

"Cat? Are you okay with the whole Tina thing?"

Cat shrugged. "She's just helping you settle things for your dad's funeral, right?"

"Right."

"I mean ... it's not like she got feelings for you? I mean ... how could she? She barely knows you."

"Exactly," I said relieved.

"Alex?" Cat looked worried and I thought we just established why she shouldn't be.

"Yeah?"

"How long will you be gone, do you think?"

I wished I knew that answer. "My father's body is soon to be released to us. Once it is we can make funeral arrangements. I'm still trying to figure out if he had any... last wishes as far as his burial, but that may require me to get my hands on his will."

Cat's frown deepened. "It all sounds so... complicated."

"It is but with Tina's help I'm hoping things will go a lot smoother. However, after all that is done, I will still need to know what my mother's wishes are. I can't imagine she'll want to stay in that large house on her own, and then there is what to do with the company. Should I save it? Can I save it? Should I sell it?"

Going over the list made the invigoration I felt from a good night's sleep and my time with Cat vanish, now replaced with both a mental and emotional fatigue. I pushed my plate away having lost my appetite and I can tell by the look on Cat's face that she felt bad bringing it up.

I reached out and took her hand in mine. "Don't worry. Most of it I can handle in about a week or two. I hope."

"And the rest?" Cat asked cautiously, not wanting to stress me out but needing an answer to dampen her own stress levels it seemed.

"I should be able to handle the rest from here. It'll take some time to sort through this mess and there is no reason to jump into any decisions in regards to the company. It's currently solvent and can keep paying its employees so it will be business as usual until I can figure things out."

Cat gave me an encouraging smile. "Okay, so we aim for two weeks and we'll be back here."

I nodded.

"I can do this. WE can DO this," Cat corrected, I'm assuming to sound more enthusiastic about the plan.

We finished breakfast. I took a moment to empty the contents of the refrigerator into a trash bag and dumped it into the trash. We walked outside and I got those flutters of panic again, knowing I'm out of options. I have to say good-bye for now to Cat and we both must get on with our day.

She leaned her back against her car and holds her arms out to me. I don't need to be asked twice. I gathered her up and she rested her head on my chest as my chin rested on her head.

"I miss you already," Cat whispered. She wore a slight pout and looked adorable, although miserable.

I smiled at her. "The weekend will be here before you know it."

"This weekend. Okay," Cat pulled out her phone and gasped at the time. "Crap, I gotta go, or I'll miss my first class." She squeezed me tight around my middle. "I hate this."

"I hate this too. But it's only temporary, Cat."

"Promise?"

I kissed the top of her head. "Promise."

I reluctantly let her go and opened her car door for her. She slid in and buckled up as I closed the door. The engine started and she rolled down her window. "Call me as soon as you can, okay?"

"But what if you're in class?"

"Then text me but just let me know you made it back home, alright?"

"I will," I promised and leaned in and gave her a kiss.

Cat kissed me back and my stomach dropped as I watched her pull away and I waved until I couldn't see her anymore. This sucks! The moment Cat's gone my miserable mood returns with a vengeance. I don't want to have to go back home and deal with all that is waiting for me there. Determined I vowed I was going to wrap things up as expedient as possible, my goal... to get back to Cat and never leave her again.

------

The car I called showed up to pick me up about twenty minutes after Cat left. In that time I straightened up the apartment and called William to fill him in on how things went with Cat. I kept to key points, leaving out a lot of detail, for obvious reasons. We ended our conversation proming to catch up with each other soon.

I reached home and the car stopped at the gate. I've already paid the driver through the app on my phone. I got out and walked up the path to the front door. I dug in my pocket for my keys. "Damn it. Where the hell are my keys?" I had to have them with me, I couldn't have gotten into William's without them but then I remembered he answered the door when I knocked.

I think of our apartment but no, Cat opened the door. "I know I had them." Silently I cursed myself out as I searched my pockets again.I had my wallet, my phone. Did I leave them back at the apartment? Then realization dawned. I put them in my backpack, the backpack I put in the trunk of Tina's car. "Shit!"

I called my mother's mobile phone but it went straight to voice mail.

I called the house line. "Mom, it's Alex. I'm trying to get into the house but I forgot my key if you're there can you please pick up?"

Nothing. Really? Where the hell can she be? I called the only other person I could think to call.

"Hello?" Came a groggy voice on the other line.

"Tina? Are you okay? Are you sick? I'm sorry to disturb you." It was nearly 10 o'clock I didn't think she'd still be sleeping at this hour.

"Huh? Who is this?"

"It's Alex. I've locked myself out of the house and my mom isn't answering her phone," I informed her as I stood on my front step.

"Alex?"

"Yeah, do you know if my Mom has a spare key hidden anywhere or are there keys at the office?"

"Hold on a moment, will you?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

I heard the door unlocking. Great!

"Tina never mind, my mom must have got my message. She's opening up the front door... I'll ..."

The door opens wide and Tina, dressed in a silk robe with bare legs and feet, is standing in the doorway.

"Tina, what are you...?"

She puts her hand on my shoulder. "I'll explain everything once you come inside."

I nodded my head and stepped into the house. Tina shuts the door behind me.