Kyle was confused, looking between Dawson and I "I'm Kyle, and you are.."

Dawson became rude, ignoring him entirely as he looked down to me "Time to go Jasmine"

He took a gentle hold of my arm and tried to lift me, but for whatever reason, I resisted

"What's the deal here Jasmine? This guy bothering you?" Kyle stood, ready to defend my honour. Instantly I filled with regret for having caused the scene, Dawson and Kyle almost standing nose to nose. I stood and wedged myself between them, keen to leave.

"Okay, that's enough of that, Dawson, let's go" I sighed, pushing through them to leave "It was nice to meet you Kyle" I apologetically smiled to the innocent man on my right

I walked ahead, into the hall and out the front doors. I could hear that Dawson was following, but refused to acknowledge him. Why had he acted that way? Why would he have taken me out only to destroy the one conversation I'd made without him? I knew that he needed to keep me safe, but I couldn't see the problem with me having sat with someone in such a public place just talking as an issue.

When we reached the car, we didn't speak, when we entered the car, we didn't speak. I sat with my head on my hand leaned on the window, focused anywhere but his direction. I hated the tension between us, I hated being angry with him, but it hadn't been fair, his behaviour hadn't been warranted.

The drive back to his home was horribly quiet, suffocating and when we finally arrived into the driveway, the moment the car stopped I exited as quickly as I could. Anger brewed inside of me, I hated the feeling, it wasn't an emotion I was used to, it was one I had trouble understanding and controlling. All I wanted to do was go to bed, sulk at the waste of a night.

When I reached the door, I paused, knowing I was without a key. It hadn't been the dramatic exit I had hoped for, and while I waited for Dawson to open the house, I turned and faced the lake with my arms over my chest. I didn't want to talk, I wanted him to know that I was uninterested in conversing with him in anyway until my frustrations passed.

Listening to the sound of the key open the door, and his footsteps enter, followed by the flicker of lights, I turned and made my way through the dining room. I opened the fridge and hastily poured myself a glass of cold water, knowing I would need it for my sleepy time pill upstairs.

Without a single word or glance, I took the first step upwards toward the shower and bed, hesitantly pausing when Dawson spoke my name

"Jasmine" He sounded calm, which aggravated me more

"Mhm" I mumbled, taking a small sip of water

"Why are you angry?"

It was a stupid question, did he really not know?

I kept my eyes forward as I chewed the inside of my cheek, controlling my emotions

"I'm not" I took another step forward, but this time I felt him move to the bottom of the stairs, his hand reaching out, gently pulling me back by my arm until I was floor level with him again

"You understand why I intervened don't you?"

I shrugged, and then I released it "No, no I really don't" I turned my body to face him, taking a step side wards to place my glass down on the counter, my arms over my chest, ready for the argument "I was just sitting there, talking.."

"To a complete stranger.."

"In a very publicly open place that you took me too" I retorted back "Surely you couldn't have expected me to just sit there with you and your friends for the night? What does it matter if I had a conversation with someone?"

"You and I both know he wasn't interested in just a conversation.."

I scoffed "Oh so because he's a guy he must automatically want to get into my pants, you know I, women in general, we have a right to say no if it came to it remember?"

"And you do remember what field of work I'm in right? Do you know how many women say no and are ignored anyways?"

I threw my arms up, frustrated "Dawson" I said firmly "I was sitting at a bar, talking" I spoke it slowly "Do you not understand that? We were talking!"

He was silent for a moment, watching me, and then he released a heavy sigh "Okay, fine, you know what, fine" He sounded defeated, and I was somewhat surprised that he was surrendering so easily. He turned his back to me and rubbed the back of his neck, pulling his shirt off, undoing the weapon holstered on his chest over his singlet, placing it down on the kitchen bench.

I don't know why I didn't escape then and there, I should have. I had won the argument, I had made my feelings known to him. The argument was over with, it was finished and I should have left, I should have taken the opportunity to leave, but I didn't. Instead I stood motionless in the swirl of tension between us

"I very well may of overacted, and I apologise for that, over the last few weeks I've dedicated my life to ensuring you aren't in danger, that you survive and when I see you with someone we don't know, someone who could have the potential to hurt you, I react.." He said as he leaned his arms down on the back of the couch

Overwhelming guilt overtook me. I no longer felt anger, instead, I felt guilty for having fought against him when all he was trying to do was protect me. We were both irritated by the situation, we were both on edge and frustrated.

I took a number of steps towards him until I was beside him

"I'm sorry too.." I told him "I'm trying not to let the situation overpower the trust I have in people, I don't want to forget that there are actually good people out there"

He nodded and then he stood up straight "I don't want you to lose that, it's a horrible thing to have to live with.."

I could understand why he had such distrust in people, I couldn't even imagine the things, the people that he had the unfortunate profession of meeting.

I hated that he had to see the things he did, I hated that it affected him in such negative ways. He needed support, he needed friends, he needed good conversation and good people to surround him and overpower the crap that he had to deal with. He needed to know that people cared about him and that there was still good in the world.

Stepping forward, I became recklessly close to him. Our eyes were chained to one another, focused and unwavering.

I knew what I wanted to do, I knew what I needed to do, and without overthinking it, without giving myself the chance to back out, I moved my body forward and leaned up on my toes, slowly edging my face to his, our foreheads touching while our breathing brushed against one another nervously

Thankfully, Dawson had surrendered to what I had, sealing the small space between our lips. Flashbacks ran through my mind of the moment we had shared previously in the living room, ending with us both pulling away. This time I wasn't going to allow it, I was going to let myself feel what I had been trying so desperately to force back.

As the seconds passed, we became closer, our lips moving more roughly against each other. My hands reached up to his chest, my fingers entangling into the thin fabric, pulling him into me. I craved his skin, I craved him in ways I hadn't craved anyone. I wanted him for who he was, not what he could fulfil for me. This was not a desire, this was a necessity.

Releasing whatever anger there was, Dawson and I gave in to ourselves, surrendering to the tension with what it had wanted, intimacy,

Kissing Dawson wasn't like kissing anyone else, I knew Dawson, I had spent a reasonable amount of time with him one on one, getting to know who he was and what he was about, I felt a deeper draw to him. It wasn't just about a physical attraction, it was a personal one too, I wanted who he was.

I could feel his hands move to my face, holding me on either side as his body moved closer, our chests almost touching. My blood was flowing with adrenaline, my soul energised when I pulled him towards me, with me to the nearest stable piece of furnishing, the kitchen counter. When my back collided with the edge, he had pressed his body into mine, his hands moving to my hips and then in one swift movement, he had lifted my legs off the ground, placing me on the bench in front of him.

My hands wandered from his chest to his hair, my hands entangled but careful not to pull or grip to hard. Instinctively my legs wrapped around his torso, urging him to remain in place, not willing to give him the space or opportunity to flee.

My breathing was rigid, our lips exploring one another wildly when he pulled away. Instantly I expected him to rip himself from me, escape, but he didn't, instead he smiled, a genuine smile that drove me off the edge. All I had ever really wanted was to see him smile, an honest, real and effortless smile.

I chuckled and groaned, forcing a quick but firm kiss to his lips again, unable to control myself. My actions only seemed to encourage him, his fingers at my waist slowly sliding down my dress, his fingertips meeting against my skin.

The contact forced my lips toward him again, eager. Thankfully he did not deny me of the closeness, kissing me back, his fingers roaming quicker around the hem of my dress.

I felt nervous, my skin shivering. I hadn't ever felt nervous about someone touching me the way he did, he was exposing entirely new emotions from me that I didn't know existed.

Before I knew it, my dress was on the floor, and when I reached for his shirt, lifting the hem, his hands moved down to stop me, his mouth removed from mine, his breathing rough

"Not here" He whispered, his tone deep, low

I internally groaned, was this where he cut me off? Was this where it would end? I was beyond frustrated when he moved backwards, our bodies disconnecting.

Throwing my head back, swallowing my irritation I felt his hand take a hold of mine, pulling me

When I looked back to him, he was urging me with his smile, that smile, nodding for me to follow him. Again, excitement raced through me, my body pulling from the counter to do exactly as he had directed. With my hand in his, I allowed him to lead me to the stairs, upwards to the second floor.

Entering the hall, I was taken to a door I had not had access to. This was a room that always remained closed, a room I had seen him enter at night to retreat to bed. I was fast to realise that he was leading me to his room, and I knew that at no point in time he was going to change his mind. Dawson and I were happening, and I hadn't ever been so sure of a moment than I was when we entered the dark bedroom.

The second we had both passed the doorway, he became someone that I had not expected. It was like he had instantly dropped his every guard and wall, releasing his emotions all at once. I was gently pushed against the closed door, his mouth returning to mine.

When my brain caught up, I did as he had, giving in to what my heart, body and mind wanted, there was no thought involved, it was like a natural instinct took over.