Flights Of Passion

Chapter 8

Selene woke the next morning feeling groggy and disoriented. Without opening her eyes, she felt sure something was different. A warm lump of buzzing fur, which she recognized as Sammy, snuggled against her shoulder. But where"s Margot? And my sheets have never felt like this, nor do I remember owning a nightgown quite this baggy. Where am I?

But where"s Margot? And my sheets have never felt like this, nor do I remember owning a nightgown quite this baggy. Where am I?Her eyes snapped open and for a moment, she still didn"t know. This is not my bedroom. It isn"t the lumpy sofa at the police station where I crash for an hour or so when I"m too tired to drive.

This is not my bedroomIt isn"t the lumpy sofa at the police station where I crash for an hour or so when I"m too tired to driveInstead, she lay in a bedroom she"d never seen before. Three oversized windows framed in stained oak permitted bright sunlight to illuminate the room. The bedspread, decorated in colorful geometrics, did not resemble her sprays of lilacs. Every piece of furniture—from the bed to the dresser, to a chunky recliner in the corner—had clearly been built for someone much larger than her.

Then she remembered. The fire. My house is gone. Margot"s dead. My whole life in ashes. s**t.

The fire. My house is gone. Margot"s dead. My whole life in ashes. ShitNo! Don"t cry again. You"re alive, Sammy"s alive, and you"re not alone. She made herself remember she had friends, people who cared about her. She had money in the bank to buy new possessions. She had insurance on her car and home. Except for Margot, everything she had lost was replaceable.

No! Don"t cry again. You"re alive, Sammy"s alive, and you"re not alone.And Brandon, dear, sweet Brandon, brought me home with him and cared for me. He washed me, she remembered, dressed me in his shirt, and held me while I slept. What a hero. At last, she remembered what had happened before the fire. Dinner, kisses, talking without words. It all seemed like a dream, except here she lay in his bed. In his bed, alone.

And Brandon, dear, sweet Brandon, brought me home with him and cared for me. He washed me,, dressed me in his shirt, and held me while I slept. What a hero.Wondering where he had gone, she got up, her legs still a little unsteady, and wobbled to the bathroom. A quick search of his medicine cabinet revealed a toothbrush, still in its package, which she appropriated. One thing I"m not ready to do is face the man of my dreams with morning breath. She also borrowed his hairbrush and tried to smooth the tangles left after a night of sleeping on her wet hair.

One thing I"m not ready to do is face the man of my dreams with morning breath.Moments later, she followed the intoxicating aroma of bacon and coffee out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, where she found Brandon, still wearing the boxers he had thrown on the previous night, scrambling eggs.

“Good morning,” she said softly, and he turned. Lord, he"s glorious, all smooth tawny skin and slender, wiry muscle. She"d never seen him so scantily dressed, and for a moment the sight took her breath away. Realizing her mouth was hanging open, she closed it with an embarrassingly audible click of teeth. Shaking her head, she attempted to pull herself together.

. Lord, he"s glorious, all smooth tawny skin and slender, wiry muscle.“Hi, Selene. You seem better this morning.”

She hastened to reassure him with a playful answer. “Yes. I think I"ll live.”

“I"m glad. I was worried about you last night.”

“I know. I was acting stupid, but I couldn"t snap out of it,” she murmured shyly, giving him a look that revealed her vulnerable feelings. “You were very sweet to take such good care of me,”

He removed the pan from the heat and laid it on an unlit burner, then crossed the room, his long strides eating up the distance. He scooped her into a warm hug. Selene laid her cheek on his chest.

“I"m sorry about the fire,” he said softly, “but taking care of you? That"s just what a boyfriend does.”

She smiled. “Boyfriend. I like the sound of that.”

“I bet you"ll like this too.” He tilted her face up with one finger under her chin and kissed her softly, reminding her that yesterday had not been all bad.

Long moments later, they released each other. Sighing deeply, Selene moved to set the table with forks, coffee cups and juice glasses. She sat down in front of a plate of eggs and bacon. Brandon joined her.

“You know,” she said, after crunching happily on a strip of bacon, “I don"t think I"m doing too badly after all.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, eyebrows drawing together. From this close, she could see small vertical lines between them.

He thinks I"m talking about the fire. No wonder he"s confused. “Well, I"ve never had a boyfriend before,” she explained, succumbing to the temptation to stroke her fingers down his arm, “but now, here I am, with you, and you"re the man I"ve always dreamed of in secret but never thought I could have.”

He thinks I"m talking about the fire. No wonder he"s confused“You can have me as long as you want me,” he rumbled tenderly.

“And if I decide never to let you go?” she whispered, daring to say what she had never admitted, even to herself.

“Sounds perfect.”

Perfect? Is there a stronger word than that? Perfect isn"t nearly enough. Selene squeezed his arm, but changed the subject, not wanting to overdo the intensity. “Once we"re done here, I have to call my work. Tony said I needed to come in.”

Perfect? Is there a stronger word than that? Perfect isn"t nearly enough.Brandon accepted the new topic with only a wry twist of his lips. “The chief called about an hour ago. I don"t know how he found my cell number, but I told him I didn"t want to wake you, and besides, you didn"t have anything to put on. He agreed it was unrealistic to expect you at the station when you had nothing to wear. Once we get you some clothes, they want you to come in and make a statement. They think the fire was arson.”

Suddenly, Selene"s delicious breakfast tasted like ashes. Ashes, like my life.

Ashes, like my lifeNo, she reminded herself, my stuff is ashes. My life is actually not that bad. “Why would someone burn my house on purpose? I don"t know anyone well enough to have that kind of enemy.”

Nomy stuff is ashesMy life is actually not that badSeeing her distress, Brandon took her hand in his, warming her fingers and sending her his strength. “I don"t know,” he replied, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Maybe it was a pyromaniac. Maybe a police hater. Your friends can figure it out, it"s their job. Meanwhile, you can stay with me as long as you like. I"m here for you, Selene.” You won"t have to face this alone, his thoughts pulsed into her.

. You won"t have to face this alone, You won"t have to face this alone, Who would have guessed I had such a source of support right at my fingertips? “Thank you, Brandon. But staying here? Are you sure it"s a good idea?”

Who would have guessed I had such a source of support right at my fingertips?“I"d like it if you would stay. That way I know you"re safe.” His fingers tightened gently on hers.

She stroked her thumb over his. A sizzle shot through her, and she took a deep breath. “Don"t you think it would be…a little much?”

An image flashed into her mind of their naked bodies twined together. He acknowledged his unruly thought with a wry expression but offered no apology. “I can"t imagine having too much of you. I understand you want to take this slow. I can make up the guest room if you want, but I don"t like the idea of you being on your own when someone dangerous may be after you.”

A guest room…in the house but not in his bedroom. Rationally, it"s the best solution.

A guest room…in the house but not in his bedroom. Rationally, it"s the best solution.She opened her mouth to agree when in opposition to the logical thought, Selene"s intuition jangled. The timing of the fire seemed almost too coincidental, like a message from fate. She had just begun a relationship with the man for whom she had harbored a desperate, secret crush for years. She had felt she ought to take it slowly, had tried to slow down, and then her house had burned leaving her stranded. The meaning became clear. Slowing down wasn"t part of the plan.

Maybe it doesn"t need to be. What"s the reason for taking a new relationship slowly? To get to know the person? I know Brandon well, have known him for years. I know he"s an honorable man who takes his responsibilities seriously. He"s fun and charming, but definitely not a player. He"s a great father to his daughter. It wouldn"t be so bad to move this forward quickly.

Maybe it doesn"t need to be. What"s the reason for taking a new relationship slowly? To get to know the person? I know Brandon well, have known him for years. I know he"s an honorable man who takes his responsibilities seriously. He"s fun and charming, but definitely not a player. He"s a great father to his daughter. It wouldn"t be so bad to move this forward quickly.“If you want me in a guest room, Brandon,” Selene said, her shyness creeping into her voice, “then that"s fine, but I slept really well last night, much better than I usually do. If it"s not too much trouble for you…I enjoyed sharing your bed.” She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks again.

He gave her a long, speaking look, his dark eyes glowing like coals. “Selene, I would like nothing better, but you have to understand where that"s going to lead.” That image played in her mind again, this time not quickly suppressed. Brandon let her see what he wanted to do to her, in all its enticing foreignness, making no secret of his desire.

“Yes, I know.” She blushed even more deeply, her skin tingling with heat. Her breathing became ragged and shallow. “I would appreciate not going there…right away, but isn"t that kind of the expected outcome? I mean, why else are we doing this?”

“Honestly?”

She nodded.

“Yes, I want to make love with you, though that"s certainly not something I want to rush you into. You"re sexy, pretty, smart, driven. I just find you…intoxicating. I think it"s possible you might be the woman for me…for life. If I didn"t think so, I wouldn"t be here. I"m not interested in one-night stands. Sorry if that"s too much. And to answer your question, I don"t expect you to let me make love to you, but I"m hoping you will want me to, eventually.”

expectHis words and the accompanying images and feelings caused a swirl of confused, contradictory sensations in her. “I do, and I don"t. It"s strange.”

“Level with me, Selene. You hinted very strongly last night that you"re a virgin. Is that true?”

“Yes.” She met his eyes, and then glanced away, face burning.

He nodded. “Well, then, I"m not surprised you find the idea of intimacy a little scary. I promise I"ll let you set the pace.”

Let me set the pace? I"d be afraid to ask for more than a kiss! “It may not be the best idea, letting my nerves decide what to do and when. We"ll never get anywhere that way.”

Letset the pace? I"d be afraid to ask for more than a kiss!“Do you need to be pushed a little?” Eagerness pulsed in him.

The truth refused to pass her lips, so she settled for, “Maybe,” while breaking eye contact.

He placed his free hand under her chin and lifted her head back up. His gaze was filled with desire, but also with tenderness. “Well, if we"re sharing a bed, things are probably going to progress pretty quickly. I don"t know if I"m strong enough to sleep beside you and keep my hands to myself for very long.”

I know that. It"s obvious. But she could feel his uncertainty, so she reassured him, forcing the words past the burning, choking sensation of her embarrassment. “Maybe I don"t want you to. I mean, the reason I"m here is that I"m pretty sure you"re the man for me too. I don"t want us to regret anything, and that includes waiting so long that our relationship fizzles.”

I know that. It"s obvious“I won"t fizzle, Selene. I want you too much.”

He pulled gently on her hand, lifting her to her feet and guiding her onto his lap so she straddled him. The kitchen chair was just wide enough for her to plant one knee on each side of his thighs. His hands slid up her arms to the back of her neck. Easing her down until her lips lay against his, he kissed her deeply. He skimmed his fingers down her back, gathering up the folds of fabric and sliding his hand under the tee-shirt. He caressed her bare back. Just a little push, he thought as he caressed her. Don"t scare her but let her know how much she"s desired.

Just a little push,Just a little push,Don"t scare her but let her know how much she"s desired.Don"t scare her but let her know how much she"s desired.Brandon"s arousal seared Selene"s senses. She made a quiet sound of pleasure against his lips.

After a long, heated moment, he pulled back, his fingers still on her skin. “I hope you"re serious about everything you said. I don"t know how long I can wait for you.”

“Just a little while, Brand. Let me get used to the idea.” She brushed his full lower lip with the tip of her thumb, feeling the wetness of their kiss still lingering there.

“Okay. I"ll try.” He sounded both encouraged and hopeful.

She touched her mouth softly to his and then slid off his lap. “Now, I need to figure out how to get to the store and buy some clothes without being arrested,” she quipped, trying to lessen the intensity between them just a bit.

He took the subtle withdrawal graciously, sitting back in the chair and regarding her with an understanding expression. “I called Maggie while you were sleeping. She stopped by on her way to work and brought you some things. I think they"re hers, so I don"t know if they"ll fit well, but they should be enough for decency. The bag is in the living room.”

“Bless you, Brandon. Oh, and I stole your toothbrush, the one that was still in the package.”

“Sure, no problem.” One corner of his mouth quirked into a smile.

She smiled back and wandered into the living room. Sure enough, on the sofa lay a white plastic grocery bag. She scooped it up and padded across the carpet to the wooden floor of the hallway, and then to the bathroom, where she washed her face before pulling out the clothing.

Maggie had, as expected, brought a black tee shirt featuring a band Selene had never heard of and a pair of black yoga pants. Looks like they"ll fit in the waist, but I bet they"re too long. Reaching into the bag again, she pulled out a new package of underwear. The bra she had been wearing was still relatively clean, so she retrieved it and dressed. Instantly she felt better, more in control. Although, if Brandon"s right about where this is headed, I"ll soon be wearing even less for him. The idea both terrified and excited her.

Looks like they"ll fit in the waist, but I bet they"re too long.Although, if Brandon"s right about where this is headed, I"ll soon be wearing even less for himDeciding to think about it another time, she returned to Brandon and together they walked hand in hand to the garage. He helped her up into his truck and then circled around to hop into the driver"s seat, firing the ignition.

“Selene, this shopping is going to be a strain,” he reminded her. “You have to take it easy. You haven"t been looking like your usual strong self lately, and that was before all this happened. Do you want to go to the mall?”

Ugh, never. “No, just the department store. Everything I need will be right there.”

Ugh, never.“Isn"t it ironic,” Selene commented idly as they drove to the police station, the backseat of the truck piled with new business and casual wear, pajamas, undergarments and makeup, “that a place most people would gladly never go inside feels like home to me?”

“It is. You know, the only time I"ve ever been inside a police station was when I was fingerprinted for my background check. I don"t think I"ve ever been that uncomfortable in my life. Everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of drug dealer.” He shut his mouth abruptly, cutting off his runaway words.

Parking carefully between the sun-faded lines, trying to avoid a deep pothole that had not been repaired after the spring thaw, he turned off the ignition. Selene hopped out of the truck before he could open the door for her, hurrying into the station.

The vestibule consisted of a bare, white-tiled, white-walled room with a single service window blocked off in Plexiglas. The opening was only large enough to admit an object the size of a credit card. The officer inside the little booth looked about bored enough to fall asleep right there.

“Hey, Jack.” Selene knocked on the glass, making the young man jump. “Buzz me in. I don"t have my key.”

“Right away, Selene.” The man pushed a button, and a door swung open. Selene led the way through, clutching Brandon"s fingers.

They entered a large open space that matched the waiting room in color but was filled with rows of cubicles. The consensus seemed to be for disorder; most workspaces overflowed with jumbles of paper. Doors around the perimeter were labeled: FINGERPRINTING, POLYGRAPH, INTERROGATION, LAB. To one side an office, separated from the rest of the room by a wall of glass had been labeled JAMES BRADY, CHIEF OF POLICE.

Despite being Sunday morning, the station teemed with activity. Cops, both in and out of uniform, escorted people from the reception area, through the workspace, and into one or another of the rooms. Other officers stood around, chatting and drinking coffee.

The moment Selene walked in, a mob of her co-workers descended on her; hugging her, patting her back, and generally repeating to her how sorry they were about the fire. Tony—the police officer Brandon recalled from the fire—hugged her hardest. Slinging a muscular arm tattooed with an anchor casually around her shoulders, he led Selene away to take a statement. Brandon was left standing awkwardly in a room full of cops he didn"t know. He would rather have waited outside.

His discomfort turned to alarm when the chief beckoned to him from inside the glass office. I"ve never gotten so much as a parking ticket, but there are plenty of folks who will take one look at me and assume that any Indian is up to no good. I hope this Chief Brady isn"t one of them. He entered with more than a little trepidation.

I"ve never gotten so much as a parking ticket, but there are plenty of folks who will take one look at me and assume that any Indian is up to no good. I hope this Chief Brady isn"t one of them.The police chief, middle-aged but slim, had keen, dark eyes and a face like granite. Brandon swallowed hard.

“Are you the Brandon Price I spoke to on the phone this morning?” Brady asked in a tone that was curt to the point of unfriendliness.

“Yes, sir,” he replied politely.

“Tony tells me you took Selene away from the fire. Is that right?”

His disapproving tone unnerved Brandon, which, in turn, made him feel a little angry. He crossed his arms over his chest and felt his expression harden. “Yes.” No sir this time.

sir“Who are you, anyway?” Brady"s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I"m her boyfriend.” Brandon could hear defiance in his voice. I"m not looking for trouble, but I"m no doormat.

I"m not looking for trouble, but I"m no doormat.To his astonishment, a broad grin broke over Brady"s stern features. “Ah, I wondered. Good for her. Everyone will be delighted to hear she has someone to look out for her. She does a terrible job taking care of herself.”

Brandon didn"t know what to make of the abrupt shift. He spoke without reflection. “Well, that"s true. Of course, if her employer didn"t insist she spend so much time at work…”

The chief gave Brandon a hard look.

Brandon"s temper peaked. “Seriously, don"t you think she"s overdoing it? She"s terribly thin and pale, and I"ve never seen her so exhausted. She isn"t sleeping well either. She"s worn out. What are you going to do if she has a nervous breakdown?”

“Simmer down,” Brady growled, a hint of humor sparking in his steely eyes. “No one insists. She can always refuse to come in when she"s not on duty. She just never does.”

“She sees this job as her reason for existing,” Brandon explained.

“I don"t blame her. She"s excellent at what she does.”

“Which is what exactly?”

“That"s classified.”

Funny. He didn"t say that as firmly as I expected. Brandon decided to press a little. Placing both hands on the desk, he leaned forward and told Brady earnestly, “I"m the closest thing to family she has. I won"t spill your department secrets, I swear, but how can I take care of her if I don"t even know what she"s doing?”

Funny. He didn"t say that as firmly as I expectedThe look on Brady"s face suggested he was suppressing a grin. “So, you"re her protector as well. She needs that. Fine, come over here.”

He motioned Brandon around his desk to look at the computer monitor. A couple clicks of the mouse brought up a video feed from an interrogation.

“You know about Selene"s…gift?” Brady asked.

“Yes,” Brandon replied.

Brady nodded. “Her job is to interrogate suspects. Most of the time she clears them instantly of guilt and saves us the headache of following up on details for weeks. Sometimes, she determines they"re guilty, and she"s incredibly skilled at asking the right questions to get them to confess, or at least to slip up enough so we can move forward with the case. Of course, this is not open for discussion with anyone. No one can know what she does or every interview she has conducted would become inadmissible. You understand? Murderers would go free.” His commanding expression no longer seemed amused.

anyoneBrandon nodded.

“This video is one of her most memorable achievements. The suspect here was brought in for questioning on a minor hit and run that damaged a parked car. Watch.”

The video showed a small room in which a young man sat, visibly sweating and nervous. Selene entered, dressed in a black suit with her pale golden hair pulled back into a bun.

“Good afternoon, sir,” she said politely. “I"m Officer Johansen. I need to ask you a couple of questions.” She held out her hand.

She"s offering contact to a stranger? That"s what she does? Whoa!

She"s offering contact to a stranger? That"s what she does? Whoa!The young man grasped her fingers gently. Instantly, Selene"s whole face changed. Her eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched. She looked mad as hell. “What did you do with the body?” she gritted out between her teeth.

The suspect gaped.

“Did you think we wouldn"t find out? That you could just hide what you did forever?”

He shot her a panicky look. “She…she deserved it.”

“Deserved to be murdered?” Selene demanded.

“No, it was an accident,” he whined, eyes shifting from side to side.

“Maybe her death was, but you slapped her, knocked her down so she hit her head, and that"s how she died. It"s manslaughter at the very least. And what about her poor family? Do they deserve to spend years wondering what happened to her? Is that right?”

“How did you know?” the suspect whimpered.

“We know all kinds of things about you. You can"t hide. Tell us where she is, and we"ll go easy on you, but if you don"t confess right now, it"s a murder charge.”

“She"s…buried in the sandpit, north of town. I swear I didn"t mean to kill her.” He burst into noisy sobs.

The chief pressed a button, and the video stopped. “We didn"t even realize a crime had been committed. That young man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a few other charges and was sentenced to a few years in prison. Without Selene, we might never have made the conviction.”

Of course, she can do it well, intuitive as she is. After all, it had been his professional suggestion she go into law enforcement, but until today he"d had no idea just how good she was at it. The hard-eyed professional on the screen bears little resemblance to the shy lady I kissed this morning at the breakfast table. She looked so fragile and vulnerable then. Which brought him back to his original point. “Why was she questioning someone about a hit and run? Couldn"t regular officers deal with the mundane stuff and save her the time and trouble? Keep her in reserve for the big cases so she doesn"t have to spend her life at work? She"s completely out of balance.”

Of course, she can do it well, intuitive as she isThe hard-eyed professional on the screen bears little resemblance to the shy lady I kissed this morning at the breakfast tableShe looked so fragile and vulnerable thenBrady agreed with a curt nod. “You"re right, she is. I suspect she never had a reason to want to head home. Maybe it"s up to you to give her that reason.”

“So, if you call and she"s not available?” Brandon pressed.

“She"s not available,” the chief conceded without rancor, “unless it"s an emergency.”

“Well, she"s a cop. That"s to be expected.”

Brady gave Brandon a considering look. “Price, take good care of our girl. She"s a treasure. All the guys love her. I"ve been worried about her myself. She seems very on-edge right now. This fire won"t help.”

“Of course, I"ll take care of her,” Brandon agreed, “but I do want to know one thing. Why is it that she"s surrounded by guys who, as you say, love her, and I"m her first boyfriend? What"s wrong with them? They can"t all be married. Selene"s looks alone ought to be enough to tempt someone.”

“They"re scared of her.” Brady shrugged, dismissing the answer as obvious. “She intimidates everyone. No one wants to be with a girl who can read minds. Doesn"t it worry you?”

Brandon had considered that question ages ago and knew his answer. “No. She"s more than her gift. She"s also a warm, caring person who deserves to be loved.”

“Well, you love her then,” Brady replied, a hint of a grin lingering around his mouth again… or was it a smirk? “Maybe you"re the only one who can, at least the way you"re talking about. But be sure you treat her right because she has about a dozen big brothers here who will not be pleased if you hurt her.”

you“I promise.”

The chief returned to his work, and Brandon walked out of the office, looking for Selene. He approached Brady"s thickset secretary, with her long graying hair and a hint of a mustache. “Do you know—?”

Without looking up, she extended one arm, pointing him in the direction of the interrogation room.

“Thanks,” he muttered, heading towards Tony, who stood outside the door, observing through the one-way glass.

“You"re a cop?” a surprised male voice emerged through the speakers.

“I know I don"t look like one,” Selene replied wearily. “Anyway, do you know this woman?”

“Oh no, it"s Carly!” The voice turned frantic. “Is she all right? What happened?”

“She was…hurt.” Even through the speakers, Brandon could hear how carefully Selene chose her words. “She"s in the hospital. We"re trying to find out what happened, so we"re checking with all her friends. Were you with Carly last night?”

Brandon turned to Tony in disbelief. “You"re making her work? What the hell is wrong with you?”

The cop gave Brandon a clueless look, clearly oblivious to Selene"s fragile state. Brandon wanted to shake some sense into him when he said, “She wanted to. It"s a bad rape case. She insisted on getting right to it.”

“Her house burned down last night. She"s in no condition to interrogate suspects.” Brandon shook his head. I"m going to have to talk to Selene about setting boundaries at work.

I"m going to have to talk to Selene about setting boundaries at work.She left the room a moment later. “He"s clean,” she said wearily. “He was worried about running a stop sign until he saw the pictures.” She swayed.

Brandon wrapped his arm around her waist. “Come on, sweetheart. You"ve had enough for one day. Let"s get out of here.”

Tony looked askance at the embrace but said nothing.

Brandon led her to the door. Outside, by his truck, he pulled Selene close and hugged her. She laid her cheek against his chest and he petted her hair. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she answered automatically, but her slender body trembled in his embrace and she leaned on him heavily.

“No, you"re not,” Brandon insisted. “You"re shaking. Why were you working?”

“That poor woman,” she said by way of an answer, her tone mingling rage and sorrow. “You wouldn"t believe what some bastard did to her. I have to help.”

He put one hand under her chin and lifted her face, so he could give her a serious look. “How can you help if you don"t take care of yourself, Selene? I"m not kidding. You"re on the brink. You can"t save the whole world alone. No one can. And don"t forget that you"ve just gone through a hard time yourself. You have to take it easy. Come on, let"s go home.”

Back at the house, Selene looked ready to drop. “You"d better lie down,” he urged, escorting her toward the bed.

“I never sleep during the day,” she protested. “Even sleeping at night is a struggle.” A huge yawn forced its way up out of her.

“Just rest your body,” Brandon suggested, lying down and tugging her with him. He settled her in front of him, so his arm rested on the dip of her waist and her bottom compressed his crotch. His p***s reacted instantly to her proximity. Down, boy. This is not the moment.

Down, boy. This is not the moment.Selene seemed not to notice. “You"re so warm,” she murmured before another yawn overcame her. A soft inhalation told him she"d gone out like a light.

While Selene slept, Brandon slipped out of the bed and ran her new clothes through the wash, thankful she"d purchased stuff that didn"t require special handling.

It"s nice living with a woman again. It will be even nicer when we used to it, he thought. Right now, she looks ready to jump out of her skin. I wonder if she was serious when she said I was her fantasy, her crush. Imagine, all that time and I didn"t have a clue until recently.

It"s nice living with a woman again. It will be even nicer when we used to it, Rightnow, she looks ready to jump out of her skinI wonder if she was serious when she said I was her fantasy, her crush. Imagine, all that time and I didn"t have a clue until recently.Once the dryer finished spinning, he hung her work clothes next to his in the closet and shoved over a pile of socks in his drawer to make room for her new underwear and pajamas. The fabric slid silkily through his fingers, reminding him of Selene"s hair. This is going to be amazing. He felt a thrill of anticipation and had to remind himself it might be a while yet.

This is going to be amazingChores completed, he checked the clock. About an hour since Selene fell asleep. I don"t want her internal clock to get too far out of whack. Brandon kissed her awake and took her out to dinner.

About an hour since Selene fell asleep. I don"t want her internal clock to get too far out of whack“What"s the name of that burger?” Selene asked, as Brandon carefully parallel-parked along the curb outside alongside Max’s, a famous dive.

“The Juicy Lucy,” he replied. “There are a couple of places that have them, but this is my favorite.”

“That"s such an odd name,” she said, laughing. “Why do they call it that?”

“You see,” Brandon explained, “it"s two patties smashed together with cheese inside, so when the whole thing cooks, it gets really, well, juicy. There"s no such thing as a dry one.”

He hopped out of the cab and walked around to open the door for her. Instead of just offering a hand to help her out of the cab, Brandon slid his arms around Selene"s waist and lifted her down, letting her body slide against the length of his, and pulling her close for a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and enjoyed a brief cuddle before closing the door of the truck.

Brandon clicked the lock button on his keychain and escorted her into the dim interior. They found two empty stools at the bar, and they quickly claimed them. An old-fashioned black menu board—the kind with white letters that slid into place—had been mounted on the wall, and Selene scanned it.

“That"s not necessary, you know,” Brandon told her. “Just get the special.”

She glanced down the bar where several patrons were devouring massive sandwiches, dripping with grease and melted cheese. “That"s too big for me. I think I just want a plain hamburger.”

“You"re going to eat at a famous dive and not get the signature sandwich?” He looked dismayed. “Why?”

not“It"s too much food,” she insisted. “If I eat all that, I"ll get sick.”

He shook his head as the bartender approached. As he ordered the two burgers, a cherry Coke for Selene and an iced tea for himself, Brandon slipped his hand into hers again. She turned to meet his eyes. He conspicuously scanned the room. No one was looking, so he pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. She beamed, glowing with joy from the inside out.

A few minutes later, the food arrived. Selene picked at her hamburger while Brandon piled into the legendary sandwich.

After swallowing a mouthful, he extended the molten, dripping mass to her. “You have to at least taste it,” he insisted.

She nibbled and closed her eyes, enjoying the astonishing flavor. “Amazing,” she told him softly.

Half an hour later, despite Brandon"s urging, Selene had consumed only about two-thirds of her burger. He"d had no trouble polishing off his.

“How would you feel,” he suggested, “about going for a walk? I"m a little overstuffed. I"d like to move around a bit.”

“Sure,” she agreed easily. “Where?”

“How about Lake Calhoun? They have a great walking path. We should have enough time. That storm isn"t predicted to hit until later.”

“Perfect.” She flashed him a grin.

Brandon paid the bill, and they headed out to the truck to drive to the nearby waterfront. In the distance, the IDS Tower loomed blue and shiny above the Minneapolis city skyline"s multiple skyscrapers. Vibrant green trees crowded close, as though standing guard between the marina and the sleeping giants.

A gentle breeze stirred the boats and sent the water lapping over the shore in soft soothing splashes, barely audible over a hundred conversations. Selene let Brandon help her down from the pickup once again and clung to his fingers as he led her to the cement walkway. They strolled hand in hand, drinking in the sunset over the water while skateboarders, bicyclists and dog walkers flowed around them.

Selene also drank in Brandon"s contentment. I"m so happy to be here with her, he thought. It warmed her more than the spring sunshine.

I"m so happy to be here with her,I"m so happy to be here with her,“Look,” he said, pointing in the direction of what appeared to be an oversized, chrome-sided camper.

“What?” Selene asked, squinting against the scarlet sunset light as it reflected painfully off the vehicle.

“It"s a food truck. Ice cream. Let"s get some.”

She started to shake her head, but he dragged her forward anyway.

“I"m full,” she protested.

“You"re never too full for ice cream on a warm day,” he replied, dodging an overly excited Labrador retriever, who tried to tangle them up in his trailing leash. A boy with a red baseball cap perched sideways on his golden hair chased panting after the escaped dog. “This is some of the best in the city. It would be a shame for us not to have some since they"re here.”

Unable to summon a sufficient argument against his logic, Selene allowed herself to be escorted to the truck. Once they passed out of the blinding sun under the shade of several towering maples whose branches laced together to form a natural bower, she was able to read the sign hanging over the service window. Hot Ice.

Hot Ice.“What kind of name is that?” she asked under her breath.

“They specialize in adult flavor combinations,” he replied. “You know, hot like sexy?”

Selene rolled her eyes but peered at a second sign that seemed to show the flavors. Hmmm. Cinnamon. Chocolate strawberry. Chile cocoa. Interesting. “Glad they don"t have oyster flavor,” she quipped.

Hmmm. Cinnamon. Chocolate strawberry. Chile cocoa. Interesting.Brandon snorted. “What a strange thought. Do you know what you want?”

She shrugged. “I"ll wing it.”

A lady with dozens of blond braids hanging down around her shoulders leaned out. A silver loop in her left nostril flashed. “Can I help you?”

“I"d like a two-scoop waffle cone,” Brandon requested. “One scoop of Apple of Eden, one of Cinnamon Seduction.” He grinned, and the woman"s expression melted into a dopey smile.

Selene scowled. “I"ll have a chocolate-dipped strawberry temptation,” she said.

The woman seemed reluctant to turn her direction and then frowned at the sight of their joined hands. Then her unhappy look lifted into a sheepish smile. “Coming right up,” she said, ducking back inside.

“Did I miss something?” Brandon asked.

“No,” Selene replied, but she couldn"t help wondering how long Brandon would remain interested in the face of so much obvious flirtation. Having a super-hot boyfriend may not be all sunshine and roses. Still, any time I get to spend with Brandon is a blessing.

Having a super-hot boyfriend may not be all sunshine and roses. Still, any time I get to spend with Brandon is a blessing.On the ride back, Selene began to feel nervous. Brandon said he was willing to wait, but we"re planning to sleep together in the same bed. Last night had not been premeditated, but tonight they had chosen a path that had a predictable ending. Though both of them wanted it, it was still life-altering, and therefore a little scary. She spent the rest of the drive vacillating between fretting and bubbling with excitement, so that, by the time Brandon pulled the pickup into the garage, she felt nearly ill.

Brandon said he was willing to wait, but we"re planning to sleep together in the same bed.Hopping down without waiting for his help, she bolted into the house. Sammy greeted her at the door with a flurry of wailing complaints and a tickly brush of his fluffy gray tail against her leg. She scooped the kitten into her arms. “Hello, baby.”

He stopped squalling and began to purr. She scratched behind his ears.

“You okay, babe?” Brandon asked, stepping into the mudroom.

“Sure, fine,” she replied. Tucking Sammy against her shoulder with one hand, she reached past Brandon to turn on the alarm.

“I can still make up the guest room if you want.”

She shook her head. “No, it"s not that. Remember, we"re not letting my nerves make any important decisions. My intuition and logic say that we care for each other, can"t keep our hands off each other, and we live together.”

“And even then, if you"re not ready, separate beds are fine. Take your time, Selene. Don"t push yourself.”

Selene considered the offer and shook her head. “No. No, I want to be with you. The guest room sounds worse.”

“All right. Let"s get ready for bed then. You go first. I want to run the dishwasher.”

Grateful for the reprieve of at least not washing her face and brushing her teeth next to him, she made her way to the bathroom.

She brushed her teeth and braided her hair to keep it from tangling so badly in the night. Then tugged her new pajama set"s baby blue tee-shirt over her head. She gulped to see just how much her n*****s had hardened. Nothing to the imagination there. Shaking her head, she stepped into the soft blue striped shorts and made her way down the hall to the master bedroom.

Nothing to the imagination there.She stared at the bed for long moments while Brandon brushed his teeth, and finally made herself get under the sheets, just as the promised storm arrived with a crash of thunder and a shower of heavy rain. The sounds of loud splashing on the bedroom windows enveloped the house as though in a blanket, shutting out the world and ensuring the privacy of a couple on the brink of intimacy.

Brandon joined Selene a moment later, wearing only boxers again. His coppery skin contrasted with the white bedding. Also, with my own pale coloring, she realized, as his arm snaked around her waist.

Also, with my own pale coloring“Well,” she asked, “now what?”

“I don"t know. Normally when a man and woman go to bed together, it"s for s*x. Tell me, Selene, do you want to be pushed a little tonight, or just go to sleep?”

“Um, that"s a tricky question.” She blushed with embarrassment. How does a woman ask a man to touch her? I have no idea. Even admitting to desiring it seems monumental.

How does a woman ask a man to touch her? I have no idea. Even admitting to desiring it seems monumental“Not really.” He shrugged. “Just say what you want.”

Easy for you to say. She prevaricated again. “If we…play around, won"t that be uncomfortable for you?”

Easy for you to say.“What I have in mind for tonight won"t be too bad,” he said. “Later, there may come a time when, if you"re not ready for intercourse, I"ll have you help me…relieve the pressure.”

She thought about what that might mean, and then quickly stopped herself. Take it one step at a time, Selene. “Oh, okay. Yes, I think I would like to…explore a little.”

Take it one step at a time, Selene.His lips curved into a wicked and beautiful grin, and her heart started to pound as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply with seductive thrusts of his tongue. Lord, if this is what he means by not too bad, I"m afraid of what comes next.

Lord, if this is what he means by not too bad, I"m afraid of what comes next.Thinking it wise to begin with familiar territory, Brandon reached under Selene"s shirt to caress her silky back. He could feel her fingers twining in his hair.

Now, for just a little more. He removed his hands from inside her clothing and slid around her body to caress her breast through the tee. It was a lovely handful. Maybe not the biggest ever, but soft and round, with a sharply jutting n****e in the center. He shaped and fondled the dainty globe with increasing intimacy, finally grasping the peak through the fabric and rolling it gently between his fingers. Selene gasped against his mouth, and he could feel the tension in her thighs slackening as her pleasure increased.

Now, for just a little moreHe transferred his attention to the other breast, treating it to the same caressing. She again responded eagerly. Oh, this is very good. Brandon reached for the hem of her shirt and began to lift it, wondering when she would stop him. She didn"t, so he stopped himself. No rush. He leaned down and kissed her belly before lowering her shirt back into place. Selene looked up at him, a little surprised.

Oh, this is very good.No rush“Why did you stop?” she asked after drawing a shaky breath.

“That"s enough for tonight.” He kissed her once more, sweetly. A telling mixture of relief and disappointment flashed in her eyes. She turned and snuggled close so her back pressed against his chest. His arms tightened around her. He kissed her temple and smiled as he closed his eyes.