Christian                    

            I'd been told that self-control was my most formidable trait. The rock of Gibralter, friends called me-unshaken by the strongest wind. I'd accepted that I'd never be the guy in a bar fight or even the Oppa who dragged a girl by the wrist...until today.

            I searched my brain for an explanation of my actions, but only found a cliché: I don't know what came over me.  It would be easy to say it was because that jerk disrespected her, but I'd been in those situations before and had easily maintained an air of indifference. Yet this time, when I'd seen the myriad of emotions cross her face-hope, resentment, pain, anger-the thought that crossed my mind was simple, not her.

            It was cool outside so I'd put us both into my car. In the confines of such a small space, her scent-a delicate bouquet like sun-dried flowers dipped in peaches-left me...aroused.

Catrina sat quietly wringing her hands then smoothing them over toned thighs. As if feeling my gaze on them, she crossed her legs.

            "Thank you." She said, her voice smaller than I'd expected.

            "It was nothing, I just...can't stand-that guy is a jerk."

She smiled and I gripped the steering wheel to keep myself from caressing her face. I'd already done enough "inappropriate touching" for the day. My gaze slipped from her lips to the swell of her breast as I recalled how close I'd been to their fullness earlier.

            "Do you want to kiss them?"

            "Uh, wh-what?" I looked up.

            "You're staring at my breast," she said, a touch of humor in her gaze.

            "Was I?" I smoothed back my hair then turned to hide the flames on my cheeks. What was wrong with me? I'd never stared so openly at a woman's chest before...not in public at least.

            "It's alright. It happens all the time."

Again, I clenched the steering wheel though not because she'd relegated me to a class of perverts. Instead, I thought about what I'd do when I got my hands on them...the perverts, not her breast. Ok, those too, but jenjang what is wrong with me?

            After mind-singing several rounds of Kim Soo Han Moon to calm my brain and other parts down, I let go of the wheel and relaxed. From the corner of my eye I saw that she'd turned her body to face me, one leg propped in the black leather seat.

            "Sorry, but-uh, would you...mind," I motioned to the leg.

            "Oh-sorry." She eased her leg down and her smile with it. "Guess you're one of those guys."

            "What guys?"

            "You know, don't eat in my car, don't chew gum in my car, don't breathe in my car-those guys."

Instead of waiting for my answer, she leaned over the console to look at the dashboard.

            "Whoa! 7,249 miles! Is this thing new? No, no, you probably don't even drive it, do you?" She turned to me, sending a rush of her scent across my nose.

            Was I aware I'd been asked a question? Yes. Did I realize she expected an answer? Yes. Was I in any way capable of providing one? No. Somewhere between her leaning over: breast threatening to escape their lacey prison and warm breath brushing against my face, everything turned to mush. Body. Brain. Tongue. Mush. All made worse by the proximity of her mouth to mine.  She must have realized it too because she quickly moved back to her seat.

'           "So," she said, back to smoothing hands over thighs. "You weren't able to answer my question earlier."

            "What? Oh, no, no, definitely not one of those guys, I just-"

            "Not that question. I'd like to know why you agreed to this date so easily."

            "Oh." I smiled, turning to face her, "are you surprised?"

            "Sort of, yes."

            "And why is that?"

She started to speak then bit her lip.

            "What?"

            "Nothing I just...well, I didn't think Asian guys liked Black women."

            "Ah." I nodded my head.

Americans were strange people. They always talk about embracing diversity, but when someone actually did, they were always well, surprised. Still, she had a point. Most Asians wouldn't date outside their race. I wasn't most Asians.

            "Hey, I'm sorry if I offended you."

            "What? No, no, it's not that." I said, staring at the hand she'd placed on my arm. "You're right, in a way, though it's not just black women. Its Western women in general. You're a bit more...challenging than we're used to."

            "And what does that mean?" She crossed her arms.

            "See, what you just did." I motioned to her defensive position. "The challenging stances, the neck rolls, the wagging finger...that combination can be deadly for the unprepared."

            "Sounds about right," she said. "So you've dated black women before?"

            "No, I'm just observant."

            "Hmm, you know that's code for stalker, right?"

She laughed for the first time. Its sound a deep, rhythmic trilling of keys I'd no doubt try and replicate on the piano later.  It wasn't until she caught me that I realized I was staring. The laughter faded as our eyes met. I thought she'd look away, but she held on like she was afraid I'd let go.

            My gaze roamed to her collarbone as I imagined playing a symphony on her chest; fingers caressing her neck then trailing the planes of her chest to the soft mounds of flesh. I watched them rise and fall with her breath. Swelling and falling beneath a flimsy piece of lace that only reminded me of our first encounter.

            "You definitely want to kiss them."

I looked up, willing the redness away from my face. "Is that a bad thing?" I asked, emboldened by the flames glowing in her eyes.

She dropped her head and fiddled with a bracelet on her arm. Without asking permission, my hand nudged her chin upwards. When she gazed at me with hooded eyes and parted lips, I felt my body ease toward her before I could stop. I leaned over the console, penetrating an invisible barrier.

 Jasmine by Bud Shank sang out from my pocket, and just like that, the moment was lost. Flames extinguished. A spell broken.

Catrina blinked, looked down at her heaving chest and tightened the light blazer over it. 

            "I should go," she said, turning towards the door. The saxophone continued to play, its pleading notes echoing my sentiment. I'd get an earful for not answering, but it was alright. She could wait. Catrina could not.

            "Sorry, I...I'll help you out."

Quickly, I trotted to the passenger side and held the door open. She looked at me, hesitated then stepped out of the car.

            "Umm, it was really nice meeting you, Christian."

Had I signed up for an ice bucket challenge? The feeling couldn't be much different from her words over me. I knew they were the "kiss of death", I'd heard them before though normally I was delivering them. Most times I didn't care either way because I never took dating too seriously.

But this time...this girl with wild hair and gentle eyes. Something was different.

            "Give me your phone." I held out my hand.

She raised an eyebrow, but complied. The silly girl didn't have a password lock. We'd do something about that later. For now I scrolled through her contacts for my name, but came up short.

            "What are you looking for?"

            "Oh umm, I guess you didn't have a chance to enter my number yet." What was that they said about making assumptions?

            "Oh, it's...not under Christian," she took the phone, swiped a few times and handed it back.

            "Ears? I have a nickname already?"

            "Whatever. Do you need the phone or not?" She shifted her weight and cocked her head to the side. It was the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.

            "Yes." I answered, placing a call to my phone before handing it back to her.

I glanced over her body then entered the contact.

She retrieved her keys and hopped into her Jeep. 

            "Hey, why am I ears?" I caught the door before she could close it.

            "No reason," she shrugged.

            "Come on, you can tell me." I said, pulling a strand of her hair then regretting it. "Oh uh, I'm sorry I just-"

            "It's ok. You're excused for tonight."

            "In that case..."

I stepped closer. For some inexplicable reason I slid my hand up the side of her neck and into her hair. The soft and textured ringlets felt both foreign and familiar. I fisted the pitch black coils and eased her head back. When her breath escaped in a whoosh I smiled. With my nose at the base of her neck, I inhaled, memorizing that subtle scent before caressing her collarbone with my tongue.

            "Christian." She breathed my name like it was the only word she knew. My tongue trailed up to her ear.

            "Christian."

This time with more urgency. I abandoned her ear and went straight for the lips.

            "Earth to Christian!"

I shook my head and looked around. I was still standing just inside her door, but my hands were tucked in my pockets. Had I just imagined that? What the heck was wrong with me?

            "You ok? You were about to say something, but stopped."

            "Oh, right, sorry." I said. I tried to stretch my pockets to hide the bulge in the front of my jeans. Hopefully she'd be the tactful one and keep her eyes above the neck.

            "I was just...just wondering about the ears thing. Tell me before you leave."

She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

            "It's nothing, just- air mute." She mumbled.

            "Huh?" I leaned in.

            "I said, they're cute."

            "Mmm," I smiled. "So are you."

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A/N: If you love it, vote, comment, share, etc! I'd love to hear what you guys think of what's happening so far. Also, I'm totally sorry if some details seem off, but I'm kind of writing this "organically" ya know, no pesticides, fillers, preservatives, etc. Once it's finished, I'll go back and fill in the missing pieces.

Ok, so I generally hate stories that switch POV and be all up in errbody's head....buuuuuttt...I'm writing this off the cuff (no outline) and Christian kinda begged me to include him in the mix. I promise the chaps will ONLY be from either him or Catrina!

I'm so so sorry it took so long to post. I just haven't had the time I once had. I wanted this chap to be longer, but I figured you guys waited long enough, right?

Thanks a bunch to everyone who sent their positive vibes for this chapter. I couldn't have done it without you!