ried

for　it　over　and　over。　And　here；　in　one　shot；　you've　done　it　again；　and

more。〃

〃Not　me。　Us。〃　She　touched　him　lower。

He　gasped。　〃You're　gonna　do　it　again；〃　he　said　and　kissed　her。

This　time　was　slower；　more　leisurely。　Ross　was　the　connoisseur；　showing

Chloe　how　to　tease　and　withhold；　playing　the　martyr　when　she　did。　She

took　delight　in　learning　the　nuances　of　holding；　caressing；　leading　him

to　the　brink；　staying　there；　and；　incredibly；　the　force　of　the　passion

was　even　greater。　This　time；　when　it　was　done；　there　were　no　tears。　Eyes

closed；　she　nestled　against　him；　replete　and　happy。　She　didn't　have　a

care　in　the　world。

Oblivious　to　the　steady　rain　that　beat　down　on　the　roof　of　the　house；

they　slept。　Their　twined　bodies　offered　warmth；　the　soft　rug　offered

fort。　It　was　nearly　four　in　the　morning　when　Ross　gently　woke　her。

〃Let's　go　upstairs；〃　he　whispered；　kissing　her　ear。

Groggy　and　disoriented；　she　reached　for　him。　〃What　is　it？〃

He　was　on　his　knees；　gathering　her　into　his　arms。　〃Nothing。　I　just　want

to　take　you　to　bed。〃

〃You're　not　leaving？〃　Her　arms　tightened　around　his　neck；　but　he

chuckled。

〃I　want　to　take　you　in　bed…〃

〃Are　you　。。。　again？〃

〃Shhh。　I　want　to　be　able　to　remember　what　your　bed　feels　like；　for　all

those　long　lonely　nights　ahead；〃　he　drawled。　He　crossed　the　living　room

and　took　the　stai