She stared at the door, teetering between hurt and pissed off. The key felt hot in her hand, burning with whatever it was that felt like betrayal.

“Unlock the door.” His voice shivered down her spine and Jen couldn’t help but lean back against him. His lips brushed her earlobe. “Quickly.”

Jen slid the key in the lock, turning it. The door swung open and she gasped softly. The room was awash in candlelight, smelling softly of flowers. “I thought…”

“I know what you thought.” He nuzzled her neck, hot breath like elixir. He pressed his body to hers, letting her feel how aroused he was. “Do you know what I’m thinking?”

Jen moaned softly as she slipped out of his embrace, catching his hand and pulling him into the room behind her. The door shut behind them, locking them into the dim room. She pushed him back against it, running her hands over his body. “Does it have something to do with getting you out of this damn uniform and into something more along the lines of a college co-ed?”

He captured her face between his hands and pulled her into a long, slow, hungry kiss. She leaned against him, her soft body against his hard one. She slid her hands between them, her fingers easily unfastening the buttons of his slate blue, uniform shirt. She tugged it free of his body, easing it down his arms.

Doug stopped touching her long enough for her to strip his shirt off of him, then reached down to pull his own undershirt out of his belt and over his head.

“I’ve missed you,” she breathed as she moved back against his chest, her mouth hot as she kissed the firm muscles, making her way down to the dark skin surrounding his nipple.

His large hands moved over her shoulders down to her slim waist, holding her closely. Jen moaned against his skin as he found the hem of her sweater, pulling it upward. She left his embrace reluctantly as he stripped her slowly. The curly mane of blonde hair tumbled around her face as she came free of the blue wool.

Doug made a soft sound of appreciation as Jen stood in front of him, her chest barely covered by the pale pink camisole. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, bending his head to kiss her neck, his tongue tasting her warm skin.

“Yeah?” She undid his belt and then unzipped his fly, pushing the dark blue slacks, waiting for the comforting thud of his holster. Her fingers hooked under the waistband of his black boxer-briefs. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

He rubbed his thumb over the silken strap of her camisole. “I’m going to strip you,” His voice was as silky as the material, thick and husky. “And I’m going to make long, slow love to you.”

“What are you waiting for?” she asked breathlessly as his hands moved down her back, his fingers gripping the fabric and pulling it slowly over her head.

“Just taking my time,” he assured her, his hands now smoothing over her bare breasts. His thumbs grazed her nipples, teasing the hard tips as his tongue trailed down her neck. “You complaining?”

“Only if you stop.” She tilted her head back, one hand moving away from his waistband to gently rub the material that did nothing to hide his erection.

Doug inhaled sharply, his hands leaving her breasts and moving along her flat stomach to the zipper of her jeans. He concentrated on stripping her, trying to ignore the thrills of sensation her roving hand sent through him.

Her pants fell to the floor and she stepped out of them, slipping out of her shoes as well. She took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

Doug resisted her, kicking his shoes off and stumbling out of his pants. He chuckled softly as she giggled, taking his other hand in hers. She bent forward just a little, her creamy breasts tantalizing. “Come on.”

“What’s the matter?” He let her lead him to his bedroom doors. “You act like it’s been three months or something.”

She tossed him a dirty look over her shoulder before opening the French doors and freezing. Candlelight winked at her, highlighting the rose petals littered across the floor. “Doug…”

He took the lead, guiding her deeper into the room. The bed itself was sprinkled with petals, but he bypassed it, leading her to the bathroom.

Soft music played from somewhere as steam rose off the scented water. “How much did this all cost you?”

“Monetarily? Or the emotional abuse I had to endure from Pacey?” He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“It was nice of him to do this for you.”

“He did it for you.” He felt her stiffen nervously and chuckled, the soft rumble relaxing her. “Because he knew you’d like it, not because he harbors any residual romantic feelings for you.”

“Oh. Good.” She sighed and turned around, her gaze intent. With the practiced ease of someone who knows what she wants, she stripped his boxer-briefs off of him then turned back toward the tub, leaning back against him, reveling in the feel of his nakedness. “So…you wanna get wet?”

“Not really.” He let his hands drift lower, teasing the waistband of her panties. “But I’d really enjoy getting you all wet.”

She shifted slightly. “You’ve already succeeded admirably in that regard.”

“I haven’t even started.” Doug stripped away her panties, helping her step out of them before leading her to the bath. He held her hand as she climbed in, a soft sigh escaping her as she sank into the warm water.

She took a deep breath, inhaling the soft scent. “What is it?”

He knelt beside the tub and smiled at her, scooping up a handful of bubbles that he lay across her chest. “Strawberries and champagne.” His soft breath scattered the bubbles, dancing across her skin. “To go with…” he reached over and grabbed a silver bowl off the toilet, which had been covered with a thick, blue towel. “Strawberries.”

Jen giggled as he fished one out of the bowl and held it to her lips. They parted slowly, her tongue sneaking out to lick the tip before her white teeth sank into the succulent flesh. Her giggle dissolved into a low moan of satisfaction as the sweet juice spread over her tongue.

Doug pulled the strawberry away from her and moved in, his lips warm against the cool juices that decorated hers. Jen swallowed the bite of strawberry and let his tongue take its place, warming up her mouth as he kissed her.

She pulled back, breathless, both hands scooping up bubbles and bringing them up to her chin, her arms barely covering her breasts. She lifted them higher, poised in front of her mouth, and then bit her lower lip as she smiled at him. Doug couldn’t help but return her grin as she let out a soft puff of air, sending the iridescent orbs rushing toward him.

Her golden hair curled damply on her shoulders, Jen leaned into him. “You’ve got a bubble on your nose.”

“Do I?” His voice was husky and thick. She tilted her head slightly, moving even closer. She rubbed the tip of her nose against his, coating them both with the silky soapiness of the exploded bubble before kissing him again, no teasing this time as she fit her mouth to his.

Doug raised up on his knees, one hand curling around her neck as they kissed; hot, searching tongues seeking out crevices of warm skin to tease and taste. Her mouth was sweet and hot as his tongue tangled with hers before he pulled away, sucking at her lower lip for a second before they parted.

Jen sank back into the hot water as Doug released her, her whole body hungry for more. Jen held his eyes, her gaze burning. “Doug…”

“And champagne.” He lifted the bottle and poured the golden liquid into a champagne flute. “Although you have to promise not to report me to the authorities. I’d hate to spend the rest of the holiday in jail for contributing to your delinquency.”

“I promise.” She licked her lips as he brought the glass up to them. “Although tonight when I stumble home drunk, you’ll have to do the explaining to Grams.”

Doug tilted the glass slowly, watching the icy liquid pass her pink, parted lips. His voice was a low growl of promise. “You’re not going home tonight.”

Reaching up, Jen took the glass from him and set it on the side of the tub then she reached for his free hand and brought it to her cool lips. “As much as I enjoy the wining and dining,” she kissed his palm, her tongue tracing his love line. “I want to make love to you.” She kissed him again, then took his thumb into her mouth, sucking on it lightly.

His eyes half closed with wanting, Doug carefully slipped his thumb from her mouth. “Damn it, I’m trying to seduce you.”

She smiled, a soft sigh of pleasure. “You’re doing a wonderful job,” she whispered. “But,” moving forward in the tub, she edged closer to him. “Can’t you seduce me later and make love to me now?”

“Is that what you want?” His thumb rubbed her lower lip. “Just some quick romp between the sheets.”

“I didn’t say it would be quick.” Capturing his hand, Jen brought it down to her breast, shivering as his thumb brushed over the hard nipple. “In fact, quick is about the furthest thing from my mind.”

“Really?” Doug removed his hand and reached for the washcloth that lay draped over the side of the tub. He let it slide along the porcelain until it vanished into the water, the dark blue cloth turning almost black. “I can think of a lot of things I’d rather were further from your mind.” He grinned and ran the washcloth over Jen’s thigh; his hand strong and firm against her.

Jen lay there, enjoying the warm sensation of his hands moving over her, the soft hairs on his arm brushing her erect nipple as he moved slowly, seductively. Finally, after agonizing minutes of his touch, teasing but never satisfying, Jen braced her feet against the end of the tub, her muscles tightening painfully as Doug casually ran the cloth along her inner thigh, the fabric lightly brushing the swollen lips that ached for his touch.

Shifting her hips, she muttered a soft grunt of frustration and reached down, pulling the cloth from his grasp. “Please?” She arched her back, pressing it hard against the porcelain as she raised her hips. “Please, Doug?”

He nodded his compliance and brushed his fingers over her smooth thigh one last time before slipping them easily inside her.

Jen’s shuddering groan of relief echoed through the tiled room as his thumb brushed over her clit, his fingers penetrating her, disappearing into her slick heat.

She wrapped her hands around the edges of the tub, the cool white surface providing her some stability as Doug pressed into her, his own breathing as ragged as hers.

Her body slid lower into the water as he wrenched control away from her, the rush of her orgasm coupling with the overheated sensation that permeated the room, leaving her light-headed and weak.

Her breath shivered out of her, sending ripples along the surface of the water. Looking up at Doug, she managed a weak smile. “I really think I should get out of this tub before I melt and simply slither down the drain.”

Doug eased away from her, taking the glass from the side of the tub as he did so. Drinking the rest of the champagne quickly, he got to his feet and set it in the sink before turning back to Jen. “C’mon.”

She took the hand he offered her and got to her feet, standing calf-deep in the still warm water. “Doug…”

He shook his head and lifted her out, bringing her body against his. “Shh,” he whispered softly in her ear. “I’m going to dry you off slowly, torture you just a little bit more, and then I’m going to make love to you.”

“No,” she whimpered helplessly, shaking her head. “Please?” She wrapped her legs around him, the damp tendrils of hair clinging to his thick cock. “Go…ah…God,” her breathing was pained, desperate. “Please?”

He gave in as her lips closed over his earlobe, sucking at the tender flesh. He groaned and shifted her weight, carrying her the short distance to the counter. He settled her on it carefully, holding her hips as he pulled away from her. His hand shook against her pale skin as he nuzzled her cheek, his mouth finding hers as he nibbled on her full lower lip. “I wanted to pin you up against my desk in the police station today,” he murmured into her open mouth, stroking her tongue with his own. “I wanted to sweep everything off my desk and undress you and make love to you until you begged me to stop.”

“I don’t ever want you to stop,” she assured him, her legs wrapping more tightly around his as she urged him closer. “But I do really, really want you to start.” Her hands slid around his waist and came together in the small of his back. “I want you inside me, Doug. Deep and hard and…” her words died out in a broken sigh as he slipped inside her, his cock pressing into her wetness, her body grasping at him hungrily.

Doug’s hand slipped down under Jen’s ass, lifting her up just enough that he could move, pumping his hips back and forth, slipping inside her in a slow, steady rhythm, determined to drive her crazy. Her heels dug into the back of his thighs as she threw her head back, inviting him to feast on the succulent skin of her neck.

Doug’s lips and tongue moved over the warm flesh, sucking softly as he continued thrusting inside her, whispering her name against her skin. Jen groaned and tightened her grip on him, leaned back, her hands reaching out to grab the counter for support.

The crash and crinkle of glass did nothing to separated them, the sickly sweetness of the scented oil that was slowly spreading across his floor not even entering the rarified atmosphere of their lovemaking as one of Doug’s hands snaked up her body to tangle in the cascade of blonde curls.

Jen moaned his name and brought her hands up to frame his face, finding his lips with her own. She sucked on his tongue voraciously, thrusting toward him wildly until she broke away, crying out in intense relief. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck, licking the droplets of sweat from her skin as he moved inside her, in search of completion.

Burying the fingers of one hand in his short hair, Jen tugged lightly at the strands while the other hand rested on the nape of his neck, holding him to her overheated skin. Doug shuddered as his body reached its breaking point, his orgasm crashing through them both.

They slumped together, leaning on one another, both spent. Doug raised his head slightly, his breath warm on her neck. “I love you.”

Tears stinging her eyes, Jen nodded just enough. “I love you too.” Her hand rubbed the short hairs at the base of his neck, still holding him close. “There are still strawberries?”

“And champagne.”

She smiled as he pulled away from her, easing their bodies apart. “And there’s a bed in there sprinkled with rose petals just for me?”

“Well, I thought I might share it with you.” He helped her off the counter, catching her as her legs threatened to give way. “If you don’t mind too much.”

“I want to do that again,” she tilted her head in the direction of the counter. “About a hundred times before sunrise.”

Doug gathered the champagne bottle and the bowl of strawberries, smiling at her contagious grin. “I can’t promise a hundred times.”

Jen bit her lower lip and lowered her lashes flirtatiously. “But you’re not saying we can’t try, are you?”

Doug caught her in a kiss before she slipped out through the bathroom door into the bedroom. “I’m not saying anything of the kind.”

Jen swung open the dorm room door. “This had better be fucking important.”

“Well, the adjective is correct.” Doug smiled sexily. “I’ll let you gauge the importance.”

“Doug!” She moved into his embrace, hugging him tightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Ah, asked like a woman with something to hide. Tell me there aren’t boys tied up to the bed in the other room.”

“No.” She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes alight with happiness. “Not tied up, no.”

One eyebrow raised in response, he let her tug him into the room. The living area was littered with papers and pizza boxes, some of questionable age. She pulled him down the short hall and knocked on one of the doors. It opened and a tall, blond guy poked his head out. “What?”

“Dave. Doug. Doug. Dave.”

“Hi, Dave.”

Dave nodded and held out his hand. “You’re, like, Jen’s cop boyfriend, right?” When Doug started to agree, he looked at him suspiciously. “You’re like out of your jurisdiction, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Nice to meet you, man.”

“Likewise.” Jen tugged him further down the hall and knocked on another door. “You have guy roommates?”

“The girls and I didn’t get along living together. So I switched rooms with one of their boyfriends.” As the door opened, she smiled. “Tim. Doug.”

“Tim.” Doug didn’t even bother to smile. Tim looked surprisingly like Jack, though not quite as sculpted. “Nice to meet you.”

“So, you’re the mysterious boyfriend we’ve all heard so little about. Jen keeps information about you like a closely hoarded secret.”

“I do not. You guys just got sick of hearing about him.” She squeezed Doug’s hand. “Are we still going out tonight?”

“Yeah. I’ll add one more to the guest list.” Tim looked at Doug for a moment. “Unless you’re not staying?”

“He’s staying.” Jen bit her lower lip as she smiled at Doug. “Aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Great.” Tim nodded to them both. “See ya.”

Jen giggled and pushed open the door on the opposite side of the hall. Suddenly urgent, she pulled Doug into the small room and shut the door behind them. She leaned against it, looking up at him shyly. “Hi.”

“Hey.” He took a step toward her, his hand cupping her face. “I hope it’s all right that I showed up unannounced.”

“It’s fine. Good. Excellent, even.” She leaned into his touch. “I can’t think of anything better. Ever.”

“I didn’t ruin any plans? Sounds like you guys have something big planned for tonight.”

“Just a pre-Christmas celebration. We’re going to a club to have dinner and listen to a band. Exchange some gifts. That sort of thing.”

“I could stay here. Or go back to my hotel.”

“You can go back to your hotel,” she agreed. “To check out so you can come stay here. Why would you get a hotel?”

“Better safe than sorry. Be prepared. All that.” He leaned in to brush his lips across hers gently. “I was a Boy Scout, you know.”

“I’m not surprised in the least.” Jen grinned and ran her tongue lightly over his lips. “How close to your heart do you keep that be prepared edict?”

“I didn’t leave everything I brought with me back at the hotel, if that’s what you’re asking.”

She ran one fingertip down his T-shirt, curling it under his belt. “That was sort of what I was asking.”

“Sort of?”

“Yeah,” she admitted, using her finger to pull him closer. “Except I really didn’t care what the answer was. I’m gonna fuck you anyway.”

Doug bent his head down and nuzzled her neck. “Thank God.”

Jen slit open the wrapping paper and gave Tim a look, laughing as she pulled the gift free. “You think you’re so funny.”

“You know you needed it, Lindley.”

“Whatever.” She set it down and smiled as everyone at the table laughed. “Thanks, Tim.”

Everyone but Doug. “An alarm clock?”

Tim looked over at Doug, his laugh self-conscious. “Its sort of…Jen’s snooze alarm doesn’t work, but every morning she hits the damn thing and falls back to sleep. So every morning, I have to haul my ass out of bed to get her ass out of bed.”

“Like you don’t fall asleep in there half the time anyway,” Dave reminded him. At Doug’s look, he quickly added, “Studying with the door open.”

“At least with this I’m spared waking up to your face every morning.”

Tim shrugged. “Like I enjoy your morning breath? You’ll remember that my bed’s a hell of a lot more comfortable than yours.”

“Anyone want another round?” Jack grabbed the pitcher from the center of the table. “Doug? You wanna help me?”

“You need someone legal to buy the beer, Jack?”

“Yes.” He pulled Doug out of his chair and started walking. As soon as they were out of earshot, he sighed. “Plus, I thought it would be a good idea to get you away from Tim before you did something illegal.”

“I’m not wrong, am I?” Doug sat on one of the empty barstools.

“You’re not wrong.”

“But she doesn’t see it?”

Jack flushed and looked away from Doug for a moment. “Nope.”

“Not even that it’s a blatant opportunity for her to have sex with you without compromising your friendship in any way?”

“She says he doesn’t look a thing like me.”

“I see.”

Jack ordered another pitcher and sat beside Doug. “Tim really doesn’t give a shit that she’s involved. I have a strong suspicion that, had you not shown up this weekend, he’d have tried to give her something else as a present as well.”

“Would that be bad?”

“What?” Jack looked at him shocked.

“A boyfriend her own age, right here?” Doug shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Maybe she needs that.”

“She loves you.”

Doug turned slightly and looked back at their crowded table, his eyes trained on Jen and Tim laughing together. “Doesn’t make me what she needs. Or wants.”

“She talks about you all the time.”

“To you. Because you know me.” Doug sighed, pursing his lips together. “But she talks about him too, right? Stupid, annoying, cute things he does? Offhand comments that have no bearing on what you’re talking about that she blows off as just so irritating she can’t get them out of her head?” Doug turned in time to see Jack’s guilty expression. “A cop boyfriend ten years her senior isn’t what she needs right now. And I’m sure it isn’t the cool, social cachet everyone thought it’d be.”

“She loves you.”

“That’s a pretty feeble excuse, don’t you think?” Doug picked up the pitcher and headed back to the table. “Look at them, Jack.”

Jack did and sighed. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, he’s sexy, sure. I’ll buy that. In like an underwear model sort of way.” Trisha watched Jen’s expression in the mirror that backed the bar. “And he is older, which is a major bonus.”

“But he’s a cop,” Kari threw in.

“Bad news,” Trisha agreed. She looked back at their table in the reflection. Doug seemed to meet her eyes and she flushed. “He is sexy.”

“You guys just don’t know him. He’s incredible.”

“He’s also not around, Jen. College is about getting play.” Kari faced Jen. “Your boy – or whatever, he’s down there in Hicksville every day, every weekend. College is about life, girl, and you seem to think you left yours back home in a police uniform.”

“I have no desire to sleep around. Or get loaded at parties.”

Trisha watched Doug walk toward them, her manner cool. “But you know you’re hot for Tim. And that boy is achin’ to get in the Lindley panties.”

Jen blushed. “He tried some drunken fondling the other night.”

“And you said your typical, unequivocal no?” Trisha continued to watch Doug out of the corner of her eye, knowing he was listening to every word.

Jen paused for a minute, her blush deepening. “Eventually.”

“What?” Her full attention whipped back to Jen. “What?”

“I was a little drunk too. And I didn’t…he didn’t get far.”

“You bitch. Holding shit out on me? How far?”

“A little…” Jen ducked her head and closed her eyes. “Digital manipulation. But I stopped it before it went too far.”

“Jesus, Jen.” Kari shook her head. “How do you stop a guy with his fingers inside you?”

Jen shrugged, drunk, embarrassed and, with Doug in town, suddenly guilty. “You come.”

Trisha shook her head. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on us.”

“It was just the other night. It’s not like I’ve been harboring state secrets. I was lonely, he was handy, no pun intended. And we were both horny.”

“Did you return the favor?” Trisha finally managed to look back at Doug once more. He looked hurt, but not surprised, which surprised her.

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Kari poked Jen in the arm. “What the hell is sort of? Either you jacked him off or you didn’t.”

“I didn’t.” Jen scrunched her eyes closed and dropped her head onto the bar. “I went down on him.”

“Jen!”

“I know!” She shook her head. “I suck.”

Trisha watched Doug’s face harden, sadden. “Evidently.”

Kari leaned down. “Are you gonna tell the big, bad policeman?”

“I can’t. Doug’s this amazing guy. Sweet and loyal and…”

“And so you’re gonna lie to him?” Trish raised an eyebrow. “And what about the next time you’re lonely and horny?”

“Self-satisfaction is my new credo,” Jen assured them.

“And the next time you’re drunk?” Jen didn’t respond, letting her hair fall in her face. Trisha slid off her stool and patted Jen on the back. “Sounds like your long distance love affair isn’t as easy as you thought it’d be.” Walking back toward the table, she stopped beside Doug. “I hope you got the message loud and clear.”

“You made sure of that.” His expression was flat as he looked down at her. “Why is that, exactly?”

“Person like Jen needs her freedom.” She moved past him, her hand brushing his crotch. “Maybe you do too.”

“I’m really not interested in anything you’re offering.”

“You haven’t heard any of my offers yet.”

“I don’t need to.” He smiled thinly at her and moved to join Kari and Jen at the bar. “Hey.”

Jen looked up, her skin flushed. “Hi.”

“I’m going to head out.”

“Why?”

“It’s late. I’m not quite sober.” He captured a curl and rubbed the silky texture between his fingers. “You want me to take you home, or do you want to go with Tim?”

“And Dave.”

“Right. And Dave.”

“No. I’ll go with you.” She slipped off her stool. “Let me get my stuff and we’ll go. And I’ll see if I can persuade the guys to stay out for a while.”

“You don’t have to…”

Jen gave him a smoldering look. “I want to.” She took his hand and tugged him back toward the table. She hugged everyone before gathering up her gifts. “We’ll see you guys later.”

“Breakfast tomorrow,” Jack reminded her.

“Right. We’ll be there.” She hugged Tim last. “You and Dave’ll be out late. Right?”

“Anything for you.” He hugged her tightly in return. “Don’t forget to toss the old alarm clock. I don’t fancy walking in on you and Mr. Policeman in the morning.”

“I won’t.” She shouldered her bag and took Doug’s hand again. “Night.”

Doug waited as Jen unlocked the door to her room, watching her, taking in every movement. “Your friends seem nice.”

“Jack despises Trisha. She put the moves on him first thing. She reminds him of Abby Morgan.”

“I can see that.”

“She’s harmless though. More bark than bite.”

“You think so?”

She opened the door and stood sideways, forcing him to touch her as he entered the room. Body against body, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Maybe I just know that no matter how hard she tried, she could never get to you.”

“Yeah?” He smiled and closed his eyes, their bodies swaying slightly.

“Yeah.” Feeling Doug’s arms circle her, Jen began tugging his shirt loose from his jeans. “Because you’re head over heels in love with me.”

“I am, am I?”

“Oh, yeah.” She slid his shirt up his chest, her thumbs brushing over his hard nipples. “I’m surprised you’ve managed to resist me this long.”

“I attribute it to all the torture resistance training I received at the police academy.” Doug lifted his arms so she could pull it off of him.

“Well, I suppose that’s a good thing. Otherwise, we’d have been kicked out of a lot of public places.” Her lips grazed his bare chest, feather light.

Doug closed his eyes for a second before reaching down to grab Jen’s hand. He pulled her into the room and shut the door behind them. Lifting her up, he placed her so that she was standing on the bed. He unbuckled her belt and pushed the thick black leather out of his way. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he slipped her faded jeans down her legs.

“What are you doing?”

He shook his head and smoothed his hands over her thighs, stroking the creamy flesh with his thumbs. “I just want to look at you.” He bent his head and kissed her milky white skin.

Jen kneaded his shoulders as Doug kissed his way along her soft skin, each touch a haunting caress. He held her hips with shaking hands as he brushed his cheek against her stomach.

Sinking to her knees, Jen captured Doug’s face in her hands and stared into his clear, blue eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he assured her. “I just don’t want to rush this.”

She placed her lips against his, their foreheads touching. “Do you spend the time we’re not together thinking of things to say that will make my knees melt, or is this the product of 28 years of sexual repression?”

“29.”

She pulled back, “What?”

“29.” He smiled and shrugged.

“What?” She touched his lower lip absently. “When was your birthday?”

He glanced at the clock on her bedside table, waiting as the numbers changed, midnight glowing red. “Today.”

“You bastard,” she pushed at his shoulders, shoving him away with a regretful chuckle. “And when was I going to be informed of this?”

He reached out for her hands and pulled her close again. “I’d like to enjoy my birthday present now.” He placed her hands at his waist and started unbuttoning her shirt. “I can’t wait to see what you got me.”

She watched him undress her, unable to look away from the pure desire in his eyes. “Doug?”

His hands stopped moving and he sighed softly. “Don’t?”

“I almost had sex with Tim.” She couldn’t look at him as she said the words, turning her head to the side. “I stopped it…I kept it from progressing to that, but…” Tears clogged her voice and she paused to swallow them back. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Doug captured her chin and turned her face back to his. He looked at her for a long moment, silence thick in the room. Finally, he released a soft breath and kissed her. Jen pulled away, confused. Doug sighed and bowed his head, shaking it slightly. “At this moment, Jen? Right now? Do you love me?”

“Of course I do!”

“Then it doesn’t matter what happened. I don’t want to know.”

“But I cheated on you.”

“You did what 99% of women your age would do when confronted with someone they were attracted to while their boyfriend was gone.”

“You’ve got a low opinion of women.”

“Justifiable, don’t you think?” He closed his eyes and shook his head more vehemently. “Sorry. That was out of line.” He looked up at her and brushed her cheek with his thumb, sighing as it came away damp from the tears that trembled on her lashes. “I just…I don’t care about Tim right now, Jen. I didn’t need to know something had happened between you to hate him. I despised him the second I met him, because I knew immediately that he was interested in you.” He moved his hands back to her shirt and resumed unbuttoning it, slipping it off her body. “But that doesn’t matter, because the only thing that concerns me right now,” he unfastened her bra and eased that off her as well. “Is making love to the woman I’m desperately in love with.”

She barely caught the sob that threatened to escape, swallowing the heartbreaking sound, feeling it rest, thick in her throat. Her hand stretched out, brushing his cheek with infinite softness. “She’s in love with you too. More than she ever thought possible.”

“Do you think she’d care to prove it?” He turned his head and kissed her palm, his lips hungry for the taste of her.

“Oh yes,” she sighed, using her hand to bring his face to hers. “She wants to prove it to you so much it hurts.”

“Well now, I can’t have that.” Doug moved forward, sleek as he smoothed over her body, moving on top of her. His hands framed her face as he settled above her, his knee slipping between her legs. He stared down at her, his blue eyes serious.

Her hand moved tentatively, trembling as it touched his cheek. “This…this is goodbye, isn’t it?”

His smile didn’t do more than lift one corner of his mouth, sadly, regretfully. “This is me,” he admonished her with a tender kiss. “Loving you.”

Jen ran a finger lightly over his eyebrow, trying hard to meet his eyes. “So,” tears threatened in her voice, “what do you want for your birthday?”

“This,” he murmured softly, his lips warm against the hollow of her throat. He moved over her body, his hands exploring her soft curves as his lips found her breast, suckling the hard tip. “And this,” he whispered, his tongue curled around the nipple.

Jen’s hips arched off the bed, grinding against him as he released her, raining kisses over her stomach to the silky hair between her thighs.

Doug moved down the bed, his body cradled between her legs. He used his thumbs to part her swollen lips, his warm breath teasing over her clitoris. “And this.”

She came off the bed as his tongue found her clit, brushing the hard nub with the tip, working over it as he slowly slipped two fingers inside her, bathing them in her liquid heat.

Doug feasted on her, his fingers moving rapidly, pushing into her as she braced her feet on the bed, inviting him deeper. Doug groaned, his tongue trailing down and tasting her, licking the succulent flesh that trapped his fingers.

Her breathing changed, shifting to halting gasps as he increased his pace, fingers and tongue working inside her, stroking the slick walls. His tongue slipped up again, this time attacking her clit hungrily. She lifted off the bed, crying out as her hands found his shoulders, kneading them harshly as she came around his thrusting fingers.

Doug stroked her gently as the rush ripped through her, coaxing her down from the euphoric high. His tongue continued to taste her, licking the length of her, diving into the warm crevices as he chased the pearly droplets that coated her rosy skin.

As she sighed, shuddering to a stop, Doug moved up her body, feeling her shake as their bodies touched, alive with sensation. His lips marked the path along her skin until her hand tangled in his short, dark hair, bringing him up to face her.

His blue eyes were heavy with desire as they met hers. Jen brought his lips down to hers, kissing him softly before gently pushing him off of her. Doug rolled onto his back, beside her on the small bed as Jen turned on her side. She kissed his cheek, laughing quietly as she got up and straddled him, sitting on his stomach, the heavy pressure of his cock firm against her ass.

“You were going too slow,” she told him with a sexy smile.

“I thought you liked it slow,” he returned her grin, his hand lifting to brush over her hard nipple.

“I like it slow,” she agreed. “I also like it fast. Or hard. Or easy. Or any combination thereof.” She moved slowly as she spoke, easing down the length of his cock. “I like it pretty much however you and I do it.” She stay still, reveling in the feel of him filling her. “However, if I didn’t feel you inside me soon, I was going to shove you off the bed and take you against your will.”

“You think you could take me?”

She glanced down at their joined bodies, the thick dark hair of his tangled with the dark blonde of hers. “I think I just did.”

“You may have a point there.” He licked his lips, his eyes closing slightly as she lifted off of him, her thigh muscles pulling tight until just the tip of his cock remained sheathed inside her.

She lowered herself slowly, letting him slide up inside her until she rested on his body once again. “Now,” she leaned forward slightly, letting him slide out of her again, her muscles clenching around the swollen tip at the last moment. “What do you really want for your birthday?”

“I need a new gun.”

She grinned and moved down on him again, building a slow rhythm, determined to drive him crazy. “Yeah? This one feels pretty good to me.”

He closed his eyes as she raked her short nails down his chest, his hips rising to meet hers as she thrust down on him. He captured her hands, grabbing them by the wrists and pulling them back, trapping them behind her back. Her breasts jutted forward as her back arched, driving her down harder on his cock. “Just good?”

Her clit brushed the rough, dark hair at the base of his cock and she trembled, her breasts heaving with every breath. Doug forced himself into a sitting position, holding her on his lap as she rocked down onto him, taking him deeper.

Her nipples grazed his, their chests held together by sweat and desire, as he kept her arms pinned behind her. Jen bit her lower lip, her white teeth brilliant against the swollen red of her mouth, her hot breath dancing along his neck as she leaned into him. Her knees dug into his thighs, fighting for leverage as she ground against him, their locked hands brushing her ass with every stroke.

Jen released her lip, letting her teeth sink into the damp flesh of his shoulder, her tongue sucking the salty sweat from his skin. Doug shuddered beneath her, falling back as his hips arced off the bed, pressing up into her, burying his orgasm as deeply inside her as he could. He released her arms as he fell, his right hand flying off the bed and sending the alarm clock crashing off the nightstand and skittering across the floor.

Jen stared at the plain white face of the clock as she stopped moving, the static buzzing freezing her. “Oh.”

Doug closed his eyes and covered them with his hand, his chest rising and falling rapidly with his erratic breath, the ache of tears suddenly dry in his throat. He forced his hand away and made himself look up into her guilty eyes. “Don’t.”

“I wasn’t thinking…”

“It was a gift, Jen. Not something that you went out and bought.” Doug managed a grin. “Besides, what college student doesn’t need a snooze alarm? And I’d much rather you had one than know that he’s coming in here and getting you out of bed every morning.”

“I remember the night we broke it…”

“Jen…” Doug nearly cursed as she moved off of him, crossing her arms over her chest as she moved away from him. “Honey…”

“Don’t.” She shook her head, sending the tears sliding down her cheeks. “How can you do this? How can you be with me?”

“I love you.”

“I cheated on you. I…I started to fall for another guy and I did all the things I swore I’d never do when I found someone who loved me. But instead I did exactly what always destroyed me.”

“Jen,” he got off the bed and moved over to her, his hand wrapping around her shoulder as he drew her close. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a clock.”

“I lied to you.”

He looked down at her, wishing he could block out her words, the look on her face. “Jen…”

“You should go, Doug. Because if you stay here I’ll have to tell you what I did and I don’t know if I can hurt you like that and still live with myself.” She reached out with a trembling hand, her eyes wet with tears, her vision blurry. He stepped back before she could touch him, bending down to gather up his clothes. He dressed without speaking, his own thick breathing masked by her sobs.

As soon as he finished dressing, he moved to the door and stood there, his hand on the knob. Jen stood behind him, her hand hovering over his back. Reaching into his jacket pocket, Doug pulled out a small box wrapped in Christmas paper and set it on her desk. “Merry Christmas.”

The door shut behind him before she could respond. Making her way slowly to her desk, she took off the crumpled bow and carefully opened the paper, determined not to tear it. The small velvet box brought another sob to her throat, making it almost impossible to breathe.

She set it down on the desk, unopened, locked her bedroom door, buried herself under the covers and cried.