When Rohan left work, he caught the bus to Annie's. He paced up and down the footpath in front of her block of units. Should he press her buzzer, or shouldn't he? It was now nine-thirty and he had been pacing since nine. If he didn't hurry up it'd soon be ten o'clock. He'd finished work late and had the urge to see Annie.

The thought of kissing her on Saturday had remained in his head and even after Sally had tried to kiss him Annie's image had surged stronger. Yes, Sally would never have the chance to try that again.

Sid and Harry said Annie thought him a nice man. If he hung around too much, she might think him a nuisance but he wanted to see her again. To see if she was okay with the fact, he'd hit that man.

Surely, she wouldn't mind. If she did, he'd be able to tell and he would back off. Rohan took a deep breath and removed his glasses. She liked him without his glasses and he hadn't worn them around her for a while. As he mounted the stairs Rohan put his glasses back on. Stupid he thought, but for some reason they made him feel secure.

He found her name, pressed the buzzer and waited. As he stood, he nervously shook his leg, was about to press the buzzer again when he heard. "Hello."

He inhaled a deep breath before saying, "Hello... ah... is this, Annie Mitchell?"

"Yes."

Rohan could hear wariness in her voice. He instantly interpreted it as her not wanting to see him. Then he heard her voice again.

"Yes, it is Annie Mitchell. Who's this?"

"It's Rohan, Rohan Wayland." He thought he heard her giggle and held his breath waiting for her next words.

"Come up. I'm at the top of the stairs just knock when you get here."

The buzzer went and he pushed the door opened. She hadn't sounded annoyed but she had sounded different. When he got to the top of the stairs, he considered taking his glasses off again but didn't. Rohan knocked lightly, heard movement, and then the door opened.

Annie stood smiling at him in a pretty white sundress, her hair down over her shoulders holding the door opened. She noted he was wearing the same clothes he had been wearing that day and thought he obviously didn't have a lot of clothes.

"I... I came just to make sure... everything was okay. I mean... because I hit that man. I don't want you to be... ah... angry with me. I didn't mean to wake you... I won't..."

Annie chuckled. "Are you talking so much because you're nervous?" She raised her eyebrows and added, "Do you want to come in?" She watched him scratch his head and bounce his leg just once.

"I don't want to bother you, just wanted to make sure we... ah... we're still friends... that you weren't angry with me."

"So, you don't want to come in?"

"It's getting late."

Annie sighed. "Rohan, do you want to come in? If you don't say what you want people won't know so I'm asking you again. Do you want to come in? Yes or no." She wasn't feeling very patient tonight. Annie wanted him to say yes but if he wasn't going to say what he wanted she wasn't going to coach him. She needed him to be more assertive.

He sensed her irritation. Rohan didn't want to make her angry but didn't know how to stop it when people got angry with him. His mind searched for something which had made them both happy. Walking. They had walked and held hands on their two dates. "Will you walk with me, Annie?"

Seeing the anxiety on his face, Annie scolded herself. This was obviously all very new to him and she instantly regretted being snappy but if she was going to help him get over his shyness then he needed to start saying and doing what he wanted not what others wanted. "Walk?" Not what she'd really wanted him to say but it was a good start. "Ok. I'll just get my sandals."

He wasn't at the door when Annie came back to it. She grabbed her keys and trotted down the stairs to find him waiting on the footpath. "So which way would you like to go?" Annie shoved her keys in her pocket and looked left then right. She pointed right. "There's an Indian restaurant that way. We could get a drink there or we could head the other way to the bridge." She looked up at him and waited. He needed to make the decision.

"The bridge." Rohan looked at her quizzically hoping he'd made the right choice. He didn't want to sit somewhere public after the last time.

They walked in silence for a while. Annie was determined to let him start talking first so she focused on her feet.

"Annie, I hope you're not angry with me for hitting that man but I couldn't let him do that to you."

"I'm not angry with you, Rohan." She smiled up at him. "In fact, it made me feel special." Annie sighed and let her hand brush lightly against his as they walked. "It takes a lot of courage to stand up against someone who's doing the wrong thing."

Rohan didn't answer. That slight touch of her hand had him on edge. He so wanted to touch her but he couldn't lose control again like he had on Saturday. He wished there was a book or something which told him what to do next.

"Are you okay, Rohan?" Annie stopped at the beginning of the bridge. The lights of the city glistened on the water. She wished she knew more about him. When he looked at her she said, "What was the reason for the other time you hit someone?" His eyes glazed over. She regretted asking but he had to start talking about himself otherwise she'd never understand how to help him get through his shyness. There were times when she thought she'd made a break through, and then he'd slip back to when she'd first met him. Annie reached up and took his glasses off. "You don't need these."

Rohan smiled and put them into his pocket. He took a breath. "He hurt me. The man I hit. I... I was defending myself." He swallowed and stared at her hoping his answer was enough.

"How did he hurt you?" Annie took hold of his hand and fiddled with his fingers to help him relax.

"I... I can't remember. It was a long time ago." Rohan looked out across the water. She'd never understand. He looked back at her. She was so pretty, so kind. He touched the side of her face. "Thank you for being my friend, Annie, for being so patient with me. I know I'm... I'm not an easy person to... to be friends with but you... you being my friend has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I... I..." He wanted to tell her he loved her but that was too weird. "Haven't had a life like yours. I'm sorry..."

Annie stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. She put her head against his chest and felt his arms draw her close. "It's okay, Rohan. Don't apologise. You have nothing to apologise for." She smiled up at him. "We'll work it out." Annie touched his face. "Your friendship means a lot to me too." She paused. "If I seem annoyed it's only because I'm trying to get you to tell me what you want but I don't want you to feel pressured."

She was so special. Rohan was mesmerized. Could he kiss her? Hold her like he had on Saturday. She said she wanted him to tell her what he wanted. Well, he wanted to kiss her. To have her against him. Rohan stroked her face, and then put his lips lightly on hers. Annie sighed as they touched. Her warm breath caressed his skin. She brought her arm up and put it around his neck. Rohan moved his lips slowly not wanting to rush then he ran his hand down her back and cupped her backside. She felt wonderful. He ran his hand upwards and felt her dress come with it so he lifted her and stepped into the shadows. He felt her legs wrap around his waist as she clung to him. She was so light, so supple.

Rohan pushed her against the brick column, held her backside with one hand and ran his other up her thigh. Her warm silky flesh was intoxicating. His fingers touched the edge of her panties and followed the elastic around. Rohan pushed underneath fabric to touch the bare surface of her bottom. His fingers close to where he wanted to be. He could feel the heat of her. Did he dare touch her soft moist flesh? His fingers twitched. Should he? No. He gripped the firm smooth skin of her round tight backside instead and kissed her harder. Rohan groaned as he tried to prevent Numb Skull from surging in his trousers.

A car's horn blasted as its lights caught them in its radiance. Rohan let her go. Stood her on the ground and leant his forearms against the column on either side of her head. He struggled to get his breathing under control.

Well, there it was again, that strong masculine side of him which left her stunned. Annie gasped for breath. He'd nearly touched her, was so close. Oh, and how she had wanted him to. If that car hadn't put him off who knows what they'd be doing right now. She smiled to herself. She'd said she wanted him to let her know what he wanted and if she hadn't known it before she definitely knew now but she wasn't going to push it. All in good time. They'd work it out.

He took her by the hand and led her back to her flat. Annie felt awkward as they stood in front of each other. He hadn't said anything so now she didn't know what to say. She smiled. "Thanks for coming by, Rohan." He nodded at her so she reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow at lunch." He nodded again and smiled as he lifted his hand in farewell. Annie climbed the stairs and looked back to see him sauntering down the road knowing she couldn't wait to see him again.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Rohan focused on the footpath as he walked away. He knew he'd made her uncomfortable by not speaking. What could he say? Sorry for getting so intense, for touching her. But he wasn't sorry. It felt so good and Annie had let him. Like she had at the museum and when he'd kissed her at the bus stop. She was letting him do what he wanted in his own time and he loved her for it. Though he wanted to do more he knew when that time came, he'd have to expose himself to her completely.

All...

In...

Good...

Time... 

That was close. 

Do you have any advice for Rohan?

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