It took a while this is finally the end of chapter fifteen. I hope you enjoy it.

After arriving back at the boarding house, Gavin walked Zorell to the front porch. He held onto her good hand, helping her climb the steps.

"It was quite an evening," Gavin said in a half joking tone.

"It was quite unique," Zorell said, trying to keep her tone light. Her wrist was still in the wrap, and she was careful not to bump it.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, pointing to her injured wrist.

"No, not really," she said, while moving her fingers a bit to prove it to him.

"I would feel better if you had a doctor look at that," he said in concern.

"I will if I have any more pain," she said, trying to reassure him. "One of the perks of working in a hospital is there's always a doctor nearby."

"I'm just sorry this happened at all," he said, while looking deep into her eyes.

She just stood there frozen, lost in his dark eyes unable to move, but even if she could she didn't want to. Before she could put up a protest, he drew closer to her until his lips touched hers. They weren't harsh like some girls would say when they talked about the liaisons they had with men. Ava told some outlandish stories that Zorell had a hard time believing. She had never kissed a man before, and in some ways, she was afraid she was doing it all wrong, but she followed his lead and hoped that nature would take care of the rest.

After the kiss ended, Zorell was feeling quite breathless. She had no idea a mere kiss could feel like this.

"Are you alright?" Gavin asked her as she took a few deep breaths.

"Yes, I just wasn't expecting that," she said as he held onto her arms, fearing she might fall over.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have done that," he said, which brought a shocked look to her face.

"Oh, no," she said, thinking she had offended him in some way. "I was kind of hoping you would. It's just that, I've never done that before."

"Never?" He questioned, while scratching the back of his head. "I had no idea. I thought..."

"I was more experienced?" She turned away, feeling embarrassed. He came up behind her, touching her shoulders. "I had a very strict father. Courting wasn't allowed along with everything else that was fun."

"You managed nursing school," he said, and she burst out laughing. She turned around to face him, but he looked confused at what she was laughing about.

"That's because I blackmailed him," she said, and that sly look came to his eye.

"And how did you do that?" he asked as she suddenly looked embarrassed.

"With the contents of his cellar," she said, dawning a sly look of her own.

"Ah, so you are a little devil, eh," he said, and she became shy again.

"Not really," she said with a bashful look coming upon her face. "It's only when I want something that I don't stop until I get it."

"That's one thing we have in common," he said, coming closer to her.

He raised his hands to her face and cupped her cheeks in his hand, and he leaned in close to her for a tender kiss. Most of her nervousness had ceased, and she was adventurous enough to wrapped her arms around him.

They were so involved with each other that they didn't hear the creak of the screen door. Someone was watching, because they had loudly and deliberately cleared their throat.

Startled, Zorell quickly turned her head to see Miss Kastor standing in the doorway. Her face turned blood red at seeing the older woman not realizing Gavin was still holding her. She quickly moved away from him embarrassed that they had gotten caught in a compromising situation.

"Miss Kastor, good evening," Zorell said awkwardly with her hands behind her back, acting like a child who got caught doing something naughty.

"Good evening, Miss Dupree, Mister Lorio," she said in a formal way while nodding her head. Miss Kastor only did that with people she knew well when she was upset or annoyed by something. "I'll see you inside?"

"Yes, Miss Kastor," she said and stepped back in the house but left the door open a crack. "Sorry about that."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Gavin said, then his face turned pale as he spoke again. "I would like to see you again. I mean, if you want to see me."

"Sure, I do," she said with a smile as she walked inside.

He gave a wave goodbye before she closed the door. Zorell was in a dream-like state and didn't realize Miss Kastor was standing there waiting to talk to her.

"Did you have a nice evening?" she asked, which surprised Zorell thinking she was going to get a lecture.

"Yes, it was wonderful," Zorell said as Miss Kastor looked down at her bandaged wrist.

"Was it?" She asked and pointed to her wrapped wound.

"Oh, this," Zorell said almost forgetting about her injured arm. "This was just an accident."

"He didn't do that to you, I hope." Miss Kastor said.

"Of course not," Zorell said, shocked that her landlady would think she would go around with someone abusive. "A man attacked me in the lady's room. Gavin tried to come to my rescue, but I sort of handled the situation on my own."

"Where did he take you that such of thing would happen?" she asked as she followed Zorell into the parlor.

"His club," she said as if it was the most natural thing.

Miss Kastor looked shocked, which confused Zorell.

"How could he have taken you to that godless place," Miss Kastor said with anger in her voice. Zorell couldn't understand her behavior.

"I had a wonderful time," Zorell said with a grin on her face. "Accept for this." She pointed to her injured wrist, which make Miss Kastor shake her head. "I had a lovely evening, but I'm very tired now."

"Then it's off to bed with you," Miss Kastor said just as Zorell raced for the stairs. The older woman was a kind-hearted soul but a bit motherly when it came to particular girls. In some ways, she liked that fact that Miss Kastor worried about her. It was like having a real mother, but it also annoyed her as well.

Zorell had no trouble making it to her room. All the other girls were either out or already asleep in their rooms. She entered her room and grabbed a nightgown out of her dresser drawer. She quickly put it one careful not to bump her wrist.

That night practically she fell into bed, and even though she tried to not think about Gavin and how they kissed on her front porch it was the only thing on her mind.

There's more to come in the next chapter. While Zorell and Gavin grow closer in their relationship, Leland has a big surprise for Shanee. Zorell also gets some news from home. Could her days of freedom be over?