Shizuka was one of the sweetest people he knew and it made him sick to his stomach that terrible things happened to good people. Like many things in life, it wasn't fair. Frankie was right; it was supposed to be safe here. "There are dangerous people everywhere. It's awful, but it seems to be true," he remarked. "I hope the security will be able to catch whoever it was if Shizuka doesn't know." Feeling safe worked both ways - she made him feel more secure with her very presence and her fire ability. They would protect each other. That was what couples did.
He laughed at her reaction to his footrub, feeling the tiniest bit guilty that he tickled her when it was not his intention. Exploit it, him? "I'm the picture of innocence and would never tickle your feet just to hear your sweet giggles." Okay, she was very cute and he liked making her laugh. Right now he wasn't going to ruin things by overthinking them because it did not have to be complicated. Nathaniel held her again, inhaling her lovely scent that he had missed and rubbed her back gently. "Okay." Her proximity meant he had a hard time keeping his hand from moving and it slipped underneath her top to stroke her soft skin.
Another thought came to mind. "May I kiss you?" he asked. Yes, he had told her he loved her, but he felt he did not deserve it after what he did to her. Nathaniel cupped her chin to gently bring her face in front of his and closed the distance for a brief and sweet kiss. Like she had done to him, he planted kisses on her face. Oh, Frankie made him so happy! He didn't know how to express his feelings in words because words failed him, so he could only hold her and kiss her all over to make her feel good. No, wonderful because she deserved it for coming back to him.