The rest of the weekend, after Shane opened up just a little bit to Pattrick, found her looking forward to when he would show up to class on Monday. Saturday evening, while he was gone downstairs to get the food, Shane sent a quick text to Laura, to let her know that she had let Pattrick come into the room and would be studying with him there and would text her before bed to let them know she was okay when he left.

When Pattrick came back, they were still at ease with each other, talking about their papers, classes they were in for their degrees and the upcoming game for the playoffs. Shane could tell Pattrick was burning to ask her questions about her past but she was very hesitant to tell any information for fear that the ease they had so far would go away. So, she did her best to keep the conversation on him.

Shortly after Pattrick came back, the rain started pounding down on the windows, so Shane went out of her comfort zone and let Laura know that she was letting Pattrick stay in the room due to the rain and would message her in the a.m. when she woke up safe and sound. Pattrick had offered to stay in the main lobby area on the couch, but Shane told him not to be silly. She told him he could sleep in her bed while she slept in Jenniffer’s.

The next morning was Sunday, Pattrick had already left, leaving her a note, letting her know he had left and that he would see her Monday. Shane got up and had done her laundry and got the rest of her homework done, staying busying trying not to think about Pattrick. She had received an email message from Jenniffer to check on her and let her know she would see her later that night since she was still with the newest attraction.

Monday rolled up with clouds looking dark but no rain or action. San Diego was famous for their storms that’s for sure. Shane saw Pattrick walk into the classroom looking around. Trying not to look out at him, she held her breath as she waited to see what he did. She let her breath out when he took the empty desk next to her and said hi. She smiled at him and said hi back as the professor walked into the room.

After class, they went their separate ways after Shane had reluctantly made the suggestion for them to study in her room since they had a huge storm due again that evening, if Pattrick wanted some more help with their assignment given out in today’s class. Pattrick told her he’d come by for a few after practice but wouldn’t stay long since they would be in her room and didn’t want to overstay his welcome.

That evening found them sitting in the floor talking when Shane jumped at the sound of the loud thundering and lighting. Pattrick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in and spoke to her in a soothing tone, letting her know she wasn’t alone. Shane hated storms with a passion since they reminded her of the noise she had heard in her past. Pattrick had held her and talked to her through the storm. She didn’t remember what happened, but when she woke up, she was still in his arms, curled up beside him with her bed quilt over the two of them on the floor.

Shane buried her face in his chest and inhaled. All of a sudden, she had felt a rumble in his chest which had turned out to be him chuckling. “Sorry if I stink. I didn’t get a full shower yesterday after practice. Just did a rush job so I wasn’t late.”

Shane groaned in despair at having been caught sniffing him. “Sorry I was trying not to sneeze and wake you up.” Shane said quickly.

Pattrick laughed. “Okay. How are you feeling? I was afraid I’d squash you during the night if I moved. Are you okay?”

Shane nodded. “Probably think I’m a sissy with being as scared of the storm as I was.”

“Lord no. My mom is too. My sister and I usually crowd her in the bed if my dad isn’t there. How do you normally handle it?”

“I hide in the closet if Jenniffer isn’t here.” Shane whispered.

“You do what?” Pattrick asked again.

“I hide in the closet, so I can’t see it.” Shane said sheepishly.

“Shane, I know you don’t like to talk about yourself, but please talk to me, let me be a friend that is there for you.”

Shane looked away from Pattrick, “Don’t you have classes today? I don’t want to keep you from them.”

“Shane, you’re stalling. Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable. It’s okay, I’ll understand. I just want to get to know you and be there for you as a friend.” Pattrick said, looking down at Shane.

Shane took a deep breath, “When I was younger, Krystal, my mother, made it very clear I wasn’t wanted. She had gotten pregnant at a young age, but was told she could not give me up for adoption. My grandmother had apparently told Krystal that since she did the deed she had to pay the price. My grandmother kept the peace, until she passed away of a heart attack when I was seven years of age.” Shane stopped and took a deep breath when she felt Pattrick pull her in to hold her tight.

“When my grandmother passed away, things went to hell from there. Krystal never allowed me to call her mom, she didn’t want anyone to know that she had a child, she was fifteen when she had me. Krystal started partying with anyone and everyone who would pay attention. She had dropped out of school and basically sold herself for the next drink or whatever drug the john was doing then.” Shane hesitated to continue then when she felt Pattrick stiffen next to her.

“Go on, Shane, don’t close up on me now.” Pattrick said softly.

“When I was eight, my mother started offering me to the johns as well. She would tie me to the bed and let them do whatever they wanted. I was eleven when I got pregnant by one of the johns my mother gave me to. My mother beat me to a bloody pulp, which landed me in the hospital and miscarrying. I was taken away from her and put in a bigger nightmare.” Shane said quietly.

Pattrick pulled her to him tighter and held her close, rubbing her back, up and down. “I’m here, Shane. Don’t hold back on me.” Pattrick said tightly.

“I was put into foster care from the age of eleven until I was sixteen. The foster home I was in basically pimped the kids out, and if someone narced on them, they were beaten and then labeled a bad kid so the system made it hard to place them with other homes. I was sixteen when Laura and her team rescued me during a raid they did on the home. They had been watching the foster dad for something and had been assisting another division when they did the raid. Finding us had been a bonus for them and for us. When they rescued us, there were eight kids all together.” Shane said lost in memory.

“What happened to them? The other kids and the foster parents?” Pattrick asked.

“When we got rescued, Laura and the team all stayed with us at the hospital to make sure we were okay. They were our protectors to make sure no one tried to harm us and to let us know that we had someone in our corner. All of us were placed in a home that the team had found and worked closely with to make sure we got rehab for the drugs and counseling for the years of abuse and rapes. Laura and Lindsey stood by my side for the first year I went through this. I talked to me when I was at my lowest and helped me get my life back. They were the ones who got me into Krav Maga and other self-defense classes. They were the ones who got me into working out to rebuild my strength.” Shane paused to take a breath and started to hide her face farther in Pattrick’s shirt.

“I’m glad they found you.”

“You don’t think I’m broken or crazy?” Shane asked quietly.

“Shane, you were forced into a situation that was beyond your doing. You fought and beat your mother’s treatment when you were rescued. You are now in college, acing all your classes and you have goals. You’re not just here partying, sleeping your way around campus. While I may have seen you in class once a week, I wasn’t aware of you because of the fact you didn’t do what other girls on this campus normally did. You were focused on you and that to me makes me more in awe of you. I would love for you to meet my aunts. Each one met my uncles in some situation or another. They would tell you their stories in a heartbeat to show you that your past can only make you stronger, if you use it to rise above. My dad and my uncles have all taught me that you look at the woman, not at her past or her situation, to truly know a woman. I haven’t walked in your shoes, but what I do see lying here next to me right now is a woman who has fought through hell and back and has beat every odd that was placed in front of her to become one of the most amazing women, I’m glad I’ve gotten to know.” Pattrick smiled as he looked into Shane’s eyes.

“I know it’s only been a week Shane, but I have come to look forward to seeing you every evening and I even love Mondays more because I know I get to see you for a little longer, than just sitting next to you in class. You telling me what happened to you, only makes me want to be here for you more, to protect you, fight for you and help keep your demons at bay. Maybe it’s too soon, what I’m feeling for you, but Shane, I’ve never felt this feeling before, this Alpha as fuck mode that I have. I hope I’m not scaring you.”

Shane looked into Pattrick’s eyes. Part of her was scared as hell, but at the same time it made her feel warm and fuzzy. “I am scared but not because of what you said. I’m scared of not being good enough. I mean, you’re a man who likes the physical, what if I’m not ready to go all the way? What if I can’t?”

“Shane, I don’t care about sex. Any man who places a relationship based solely on sex isn’t a real man. My dad and my uncles will tell you the same thing. If I can only hold you like this and talk to you for the next however many years, then that’s fine with me because I’m right here with you. That just means that when you are ready, it will make it so much more special. We will take it one day at a time. That’s all I’m asking. If you’re unsure, then I’d be more than happy to meet Laura and Lindsey, talk to them and let them feel me out and you can go by their decision. I’m here for you, Shane.”

Shane closed her eyes and allowed herself to breathe deeply before she nodded her head. “Okay. We can give it a shot. But Pattrick, what about after we graduate? What if I get into the academy? You’re going into boot camp and then your other training. How will we work that out?”

Pattrick chuckled. “I love that you’re looking that far ahead. We will work it out Shane. Come hell or high water, we will work it out, if I have to beg and plead to be sent to the teams in Little Creek, once training is done, or if you wind up coming back to the west coast with the FBI offices here. We will make it work.”

Shane smiled, “Okay, just be patient with me if I fall back into my pattern, Pattrick. This isn’t something I’ve ever thought about before, I’ve only been focused on getting my degree and what to do with it.”

Pattrick nodded, never breaking eye contact with Shane. She loved that he wanted to make sure she was comfortable with him and that she had his attention. “Just promise me Shane, that if anyone comes up to you and says anything about me, you will talk to me before getting upset or walking away from us. Because I can tell you right now that when word gets out that you and I are going out, there will be some catty ones out there, especially Cynthia.”

Shane laughed, “I can handle the Barbie brigade. But I will come and talk to you, I promise as long as you promise to be patient with me and talk to me if I do something or start to shut down.”

“Deal, may I kiss you? I really want to, but understand if you’re not ready yet.” Pattrick said to reassure Shane.

“Yeah I’d like to.” Shane replied huskily.

Shane looked down toward Pattrick’s lips as he leaned down and slowly teased her lips with his. Shane gasped when she felt his tongue lightly tease her lips, curling her fingers into his shirt, trying to pull him closer. She’d never felt the emotions that were building up inside her before.

Pushing up on her arm that was beneath her, she molded her lips to Pattrick’s. She felt his hand slide up her other arm, around her neck to her nape and up into her hair, holding her still as he slanted his head and drank from her lips. Pattrick nipped her lower lip which had her growl at the feeling and gasp again at the same time, allowing Pattrick to slip his tongue into her mouth. Shane dueled Pattrick’s tongue for control of the kiss, as she pushed herself up against his body, pushing his back into the loveseat.

Shane felt Pattrick’s other arm encircle her, molding her body to his, feeling the muscles in his arm jump at her touch. All of a sudden she felt air on her lips and Pattrick’s forehead connecting to hers.

“What’s wrong? Am I that bad?” Shane asked confused.

“Fuck no, you’re perfect. I had to stop because I was in the process of losing control and trying not to take this further. You’re not ready for that yet and the last thing I want to do is scare you away when I’ve just found you.” Pattrick whispered to her, kissing her forehead.