"Please?" Her fingers were weaving through his hair, holding him close. She knew him well enough to know that any minute he would back away.

"I love you, Chrissy, you have to know that."

"But?" There was always a *but* and she had no desire to hear it, not *now*.

"I want you, but ..." he leaned back on his heels, holding her hands in his own.

Suddenly she realized that his fingers were absently twisting her wedding band back and forth. God, of all times to realize that she was falling for a man with scruples.

"Kevin, he's left me. He's made it plain that he wants nothing further to do with me." Leaning forward once more, she brushed her lips against his.

"Chris ..." Groaning her name, he traced her lips with his tongue, his breath becoming ragged.

Her tongue met his and he hardened painfully.

"Hmm?" She followed the rim of his ear with her nails and he trembled.

His eyes dark with desire, he pushed himself away. "I can't make love to someone wearing another man's ring."

"Then take it off ..."

"Baby, I can't. That's not my decision to make." Tenderly he touched her cheek with his hand.

Sitting back, she bowed her head. It seemed an eternity before she moved and Kevin was scared to death of what might come next.

Fingering the gold band, she relived all of the memories that accompanied it. A single tear fell as she pulled it from her finger and held it out, an offering of sorts. "This hasn't belonged here in a long time," she said sadly as he took it from her.

Holding on to her hand, he pulled her to his embrace, tossing the ring over his shoulder into the embers.

His voice hoarse with emotion, he whispered, "Make love with me Chrissy."

Wrapping her arms around his back she held him tightly, there would be no turning back now.

As if sensing her resolve, he moved away, tugging his t-shirt over his head and tossing it away. The firelight danced in patterns across his skin and her mouth watered.

Their eyes met and held as Chrissy's fingers moved to the buttons of her blouse, releasing each one slowly. God, he wanted nothing more than to rip the garment in two to end the suspense, but there was only one first time for them and he was going to make this last as long as he possibly could.

Her fingers reached the last button and she slowly parted the fabric revealing nothing but skin. She knew he'd been expecting at the very least a camisole or bra, and the shock on his face was priceless. Moving to shrug the blouse over her shoulders she was startled when he stopped her.

"Let me ..." Reaching beneath her blouse, he moved his hands up her back relishing the heated skin under his fingers. His hands moved to the front, gently cupping her breasts and thumbing the hardened peaks.

Oh sweet lord, it felt so wonderful. Chrissy closed her eyes and whimpered at his touch.

Immediately he pulled back. "I hurt you ... Chris, I'm sor--"

"No, Kevin, don't stop, please, don't-" Shrugging the shirt off onto the floor, she leaned against him, her breasts flattened against his chest. Lifting her face to his, she saw right through to his soul.

He kissed her hungrily, his hands beneath her bottom holding her against his hardness. His erection swelled with need and they ground together.

Slipping her hand between them she pressed it against the straining fabric of his jeans. Hot and hard, he pulsed at her touch.

"More ..." he groaned and she stroked him steadily.

Every sound he made, every breath that caught in his throat made her wetter than she'd ever thought possible. She wanted this to last forever yet she wanted it to end now before the torture killed them both.

Somehow, with only one hand, she managed to pop the snap at his waist and fumbled with the zipper, cursing at its obstinance.

"Patience, baby," he chuckled against her mouth. Rising to stand by the fire, he slowly lowered the zipper, sighing as the pressure on his strained flesh was relieved. He watched her intently, saw the way her eyes followed his hands as he pushed the denim over his hips to drop at his feet. He saw her eyes darken as she gazed at the shape now hidden only by the dark silk of his boxers.

This was for her, only for her. Just before dropping the silk to the floor he paused, his right hand stroking himself slowly, steadily. Kevin barely had time to register the sound she made before she was before him, on her knees, her hand joining with his.

"Chris-" he made a strangled sound as her nose playfully nuzzled his navel, her hand doing incredibly awesome things to his swollen flesh.

She licked a circle around his navel, at the same time deftly ridding him of his boxers, his scent filling her head with a thousand and one delicious ideas.

"You like?" she teased, kneading his bottom in her hands and peppering love bites across his hips.

Mumbling something completely foreign, he grasped her head in his hands to hold her still.

"Patience, baby," she mimicked, blowing a soft breath against the tip of his erection and watching in delight as a crystal drop of moisture formed.

Pulling back slightly, she stopped. Tipping her head back, she looked up at him, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. It wasn't a long wait.

Looking down at her, seeing her on her knees before him was the most erotic thing he'd ever witnessed. Never mind the dominance factor, there was no doubt at all who was in charge. *She* was. She held his entire future in her hands and at that very moment he would have gladly given his life for her.

Breaking eye contact, she leaned slightly forward touching the tip of her tongue to the shimmering droplet.

"Oh my sweet God," he groaned, closing his eyes in ecstasy as she took him in her mouth, its warm wet heat threatening to destroy what little of his composure that remained.

He tasted as magnificent as he looked and Chrissy hummed in contentment, the vibration of the sound pushing him one step closer to the edge.

When he could take no more, he pulled her to her feet, his lips fastening to the hollow of her throat. Suckling gently, he moved across her chest drawing unknown designs with the tip of his tongue. The path led lower, and after what seemed an eternity he pressed his mouth to her breast tugging on the turgid flesh. His fingers teased its mate, rolling the nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

The motion of his hands and mouth sent a charge right to Chrissy's core and she was almost embarrassed to feel the resulting flood between her thighs.

"Please, no more ..." she whimpered as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

Ignoring her plea, he merely switched sides, lavishing the same loving attention on her other breast.

She took it as long as she could before pushing him away, a frantic look in her eyes. "Kevin-"

Pressing his lips to hers, he knelt before her in an exacting mirror of her own actions only minutes before. Swirling his tongue in her navel he hooked his thumbs in her leggings, pulling them down her body to pool around her ankles. The heat emanated from her in waves and he could smell her desire.

"C'mere," he whispered.

Dropping to the floor, she smiled shyly into his eyes shaking her head. "What are we doing here?"

"Taking it to the next level, sweetheart." He smoothed his hands over her back, tracing her curves. "You ok with this?"

"Yeah, I am..."

"But what?" His hands were still soothing her, calming the last remaining hesitancy.

"If we do this, will I lose my best friend?"

"No way, baby. It just gets better from here. Let me show you."

He slipped a hand between them, his fingers sliding easily through the heated moisture between her thighs and she arched against him, shuddering beneath his touch.

Instinctively she found his shaft, stroking him as their hands moved in tandem, their bodies straining for release. But it was not enough.

Tumbling together onto the soft rug by the fire, they were oblivious to the storm that still raged outside, the flashes of lightning that occasionally illuminated the room.

Kevin settled between her thighs, staring intently into her eyes. Pressing against her, he seemed to ask silent permission before claiming her body with his own, a permission she willingly granted.

Reaching between them, she guided him into her moist heat and they sighed in unison. For several beautiful moments neither moved, simply relishing the feeling of completeness that enveloped them.

Slowly he began to move against her, and she against him in a dance older than time. Chrissy locked her ankles behind his back and pulled his mouth to hers, their tongues expertly imitating the timeless mating dance. Slowly, steadily it built within them, the glorious tingle that begins in your fingers and then spreads to your toes and you move faster and faster and work harder and harder to find until ...

It explodes throughout your being and you feel yourself hurtling through time and space never wanting to return to the confines of earth.

They lay spent in the aftermath, loath to pull apart. Their breathing began, finally, to slow to normal and still they lay joined.

In the glow of the firelight she touched his face in wonder.

"Tell me what you're thinking," he asked.