Part Five

Delaney woke up as the sun began to creep through her window. She still could still feel the exact spot where Sharki had placed the kiss. She unconsciously placed her hand on her face. "I must have lost my mind."

Wheels stretched before he made his way up to his owner's head. He rubbed her face all around and began to purr.

"I know what you want and you'll just have to wait until after I take a shower." Delaney brought Wheels into her arms and cuddled with him for a few minutes.

"Okay, big boy time to get up and face the day." The blonde gave the orange cat one last scratch and hug and let him go so he could do whatever he does whenever she is in the shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good morning, Honey," Esta smiled as she walked into her kitchen. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Hi, Grandma." Sharki replied with a yawn before she got up and grabbed her Grandma a cup of coffee. "I slept okay."

"Just okay?" Esta prodded as reached for the cup that was handed to her.
Sharki added more of the black liquid into her own cup before she sat back down.
"I couldn't keep her out of my mind."

"Delaney?" Esta asked already knowing the answer.

Sharki nodded her head a few times. "I could still feel her next to me. Like when we were dancing. It felt so good."
"That's what you said last night." Esta hopped Sharki would get better at describing what was going on with herself.

Sharki sighed, "she fit perfectly in my arms. I could feel her breathing through my shirt and it sent shivers down my spine." She looked over at the woman who raised her. "I've never had that happen before. It was like we connected and it felt cold when we stepped apart."

"Well, do you have any idea how it effected Delaney?" Esta raised both eyebrows.

"I felt her shiver when I kissed her goodnight." The younger woman confessed.

Esta stopped her cup that she was bringing to her lips. "Kiss?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I think I'll go get some breakfast at the café at the corner." Delaney says as she grabbed some cash out of her purse and her coat then headed out the door. Wheels didn't even look as he was to into the breakfast Delaney had poured for him minutes before she left. As soon as she stepped outside she quickly zipped up her winter coat. "Damn it is getting colder and colder as the days go by."

"Good morning, Delaney." An older man who lived to salt his sidewalks yelled from across the street. Delaney waved back and smiled, "how many bags so far?"

"This is just the first one today. Can't have anyone breaking their necks and suing me now can I?" The man laughed as he continued to take handfuls of the white substance and spread it out on the cement. "Have a good day."

"You too," Delaney gave one last wave before she started to jog to the corner. "Oh, love that smell." She whispered when she was close enough to smell the fresh backing croissants.

The heat from the café hit her face as soon as she opened the door. Unzipping her coat she looked around and spotted an empty table by the window. "Cool, now I can watch what's going on outside." A waitress quickly walked over and took Delaney's order of two fresh croissants and a cup of hazelnut coffee.

Delaney took off her coat and dropped it in the other chair at the table. She watched several people as they hurriedly walked by or made their way to their cars.
"Cannot wait until spring." Delaney mumbled as one person who she was watching almost slipped on a patch of ice.

"Here you go." The waitress sat the food and coffee down on the table. "Enjoy."

"Thank you," Delaney grabbed her croissant and splits it open. It was right out of the oven and the steam floated up past Delaney's nose. "Yummy." She reached for her knife and spread a large amount of butter right in the middle of the roll.

As she ate her thoughts went to Sharki and how it felt to be held in the strong arms of the other woman. "Second most safest place I have ever felt in my life."
Delaney couldn't help but think of the first place she ever felt safe in.

"Grandma can I sleep with you?" A small five-year-old asked softly from the open doorway. "I'm scared."

"Sure, come on up here and snuggle with me." Her Grandma tossed back the large quilt and held open her arms. The small blonde child jumped up into the warm bed and wrapped her arms around the older woman's body. "Love you Grandma. The thunder was really scaring me." Just as she said that the house shook from a large pounding of thunder and the night sky lit up from a streak of lightening. Delaney grabbed a hold of her Grandma's pajamas and closed her eyes.

"Calm down, calm down." Her Grandma smiled. "You don't have to be scared of those things. It's just Gods way of keeping thing interesting."

"I think a pretty flower is a better way." Delaney mumbled.

Delaney's Grandma laughed and nodded her head. "I would have to agree, but you do have to agree it is pretty exciting."

"God sure has tossed in a new way to keep things exciting." Delaney grinned at her reflection in the window. She caught site of some movement and she turned her head to see what it was. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized it was Sharki looking at her through the window.