Alyssa carefully kept her eyes averted as Damien came closer. She grinned as he tugged her ponytail as he passed. She turned just in time to catch his answering grin before he disappeared down the aisle. She blushed as she turned back to the computer screen, and silently groaned in misery.

This is ridiculous, she silently decided, leaning forward to rest her head in her hands. She was thirty years old, and too old to have a crush.

They'd known each other for about a month now. The first time she'd seen him she'd done a double take. Then, when she'd heard him speak, she nearly fell to the floor. He looked and sounded much too much like AJ McLean for her peace of mind.

Alyssa's phone beeped and she blushed, listening to the customer bitch on the other end of the phone. A last glance down the aisle showed Damien back in his seat, watching her with a grin on his face. He winked, then turned back to his computer. Blushing rosily, Alyssa turned back to her computer as well.

One o'clock in the morning arrived, and Alyssa logged off the system. "Finally," she breathed, her hand rubbing the back of her neck.

Hands gently massaged her shoulders, and she jumped, whirling to find Damien grinning down at her. "Hi," she said lamely, smiling slowly back up at him.

White teeth flashed as he grinned. "Hi. You all logged off?" he asked, gesturing to the computer. She nodded. "Well, in that case, could you do me a favor?"

One dark brow raised in question. "A favor?"

"Yeah, I need a ride home tonight. Could you help me out?"

Her mouth dried instantly. "Take you home?" Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Well, I know you've taken some other people home who've needed rides, and I was hoping..."

"Sure," she croaked out, wondering how in hell she was going to survive being alone with him in her car.

He grinned at her. "Great! I'll just meet you at the back door." He winked at her and walked away.

Trembling hands put her notebook back into her backpack. "oh, shit," she whispered, "what the hell am I getting into?"

Damien met her at the back door as promised and took the backpack from her. "Here," he said, "let me carry that." He shouldered her pack, then held the door for her.

Alyssa stepped out into the night, and breathed deeply of the cool night air. It cleared her mind a little. He just wanted a ride home. That's all. Nothing more.

Damien's hand found the small of her back, and she started. "Where are you parked?" he asked. Smiling shakily, she pointed, then suited action to words and started walking toward it. "I really appreciate this," he said, keeping his hand on the small of her back.

She was half tempted to trot a step or two ahead so his hand would fall away. Just a small touch, and her heart was racing, pounding in her ears. "No problem," she said as they reached the car. She unlocked the door. Still not looking at him, she spoke with a nonchalance she really didn't feel. "Where do you live, by the way? It would be really nice to know how I'm going to make it back to the highway once I drop you off."

"I'll give you directions," he said with a grin.

'Oh, shit,' Alyssa silently decided, dropping into the driver's seat. AJ's grin. He even had AJ's grin. 'I am in sooo much fucking trouble.'

Damien dumped her bag into the backseat then sat beside her. Alyssa keyed the ignition, and the engine roared to life. She revved the engine a few times, willing her heart to slow it's breakneck pace. 'Ridiculous', she kept thinking, 'this is so ridiculous. You're only taking him home. You're only taking him home. Where he'll go to sleep. In bed.' The image of Damien in bed had butterflies taking up residence in her belly. 'Damn!' "So," she asked, glad to hear how calm she sounded, "where am I going?"

Part Two

In no time at all, they reached Damien's apartment. "This is it," he said, pointing to his first floor apartment.

Alyssa smiled at him. "Home sweet home," she said, then hid a yawn behind her hand.

Damien didn't move, only sat there, watching her. "You okay to drive home?" he asked.

She nodded. "I'm fine," she said, then yawned again, unsuccessfully hiding it behind her hand. Damien raised one dark brow skeptically. Alyssa sighed. "Oh, okay. I didn't sleep well last night, and I guess it's catching up to me." He reached over and plucked the keys from the ignition. "Hey!" she protested, reaching for the keys.

He held them out of her reach and shook his head. "Uh-uh. You're spending the night here."

The words stilled her, but only for a moment. "It's already morning," she said, reaching for the keys again. The seatbelt hindered her movements, so she unbuckled it, and reached for the keys once more. Her chest brushed against his, and their faces were a breath apart.

Alyssa froze, eyes trapped by Damien's dark gaze. He leaned forward, closing the distance to softly press his lips against hers. Alyssa gasped, and Damien took advantage, his tongue flicking into her mouth. She trembled, tentatively stroking his tongue with her own. She felt more then heard his answering groan.

His hand slid into her hair, and she tried to pull back. His dark eyes bore into hers. "Stay." She shook her head, tried once more to pull back. His hand tightened in her hair.

She trembled. "I...I..." She swallowed hard, and shut her eyes. "Damien..." she breathed.

He leaned his forehead against hers. His hand massaged her scalp. "Stay," he repeated, his voice husky.

One hand lay on his hard, muscled thigh, and his heart pounded beneath the other. She stroked his chest, fingers toying with the cloth. "Are you sure?" she asked softly. In answer, his mouth took hers. His tongue plundered her mouth, rasping across her lips, her tongue.

They managed to pull apart long enough to climb from the car. Alyssa paused with her hand on the door handle. Damien opened her door, and held out his hand. "Damien..."

He reached in and drew her out. "No turning back," he said, gently pulling her up into his arms.

"But..."

He cut off her protest with his lips, kissing her deeply. "No turning back," he repeated. Using his hip, he shut the car door. "Don't make me carry you," he warned, one dark brow cocked in question.

She chuckled, "Wouldn't want to break your back." She cupped his face in her palms, then kissed him gently.

Damien led her up to the apartment. Never letting go of her hand, he shoved her keys into the front pocket of his jeans. He fished his keys out of his jacket pocket. Alyssa watched as he opened the door then held it open for her. She hesitated, but he ushered her into the apartment. A light burned, casting a soft warm glow into the living room.

The door shut behind her with a soft click, and she fell against it. "I...I don't think..."

The length of his body covered hers. "That's right," he said, "Don't think." As his hips pressed against hers, she could feel her keys in his pocket as well as the long hard bar of his arousal. "Just feel," he breathed against her lips before claiming them. His mouth devoured hers, his tongue slipping into her mouth to mate with hers...to tease. She groaned, her arms wrapping around his neck as she rubbed her body against him.

When he pulled back to let her breathe, she murmured, "This is insane."

"No," he said, taking her hands, pulling her with him. "This is right."

"But...we don't know each other...not really and..."

His lips covered hers, cutting off her protest. "You talk too much," he chuckled against her mouth. He kissed her again, and she groaned, losing herself completely. The man knew how to kiss.

She felt something soft at her back, realized she was on her back on the bed. She had no idea how she'd gotten there, and didn't really care. His body covered hers. He was right, she decided, twining her arms around his neck once more. Don't think...just feel.

Before she realized it, he had caressed the clothes from her body. The soft abrasion of his calloused hands over her skin had her melting into the mattress.

Their clothes fell away. Alyssa's skin burned as his hands learned all the secret places that had her arching up into his touch. His name was a whispered litany as his mouth tugged at one rosy nipple, dragging his teeth over it, nipping gently. She turned the tables on him, rolling with him so she straddled him. Her lips burned a trail down his body. Her tongue flicked out to taste, to tease, as she slid lower. His cock bobbed in front of her, begging for attention. Her tongue traveled the long, rigid length of him, swiping away the pre-cum at the tip. His harsh groan made her smile as she continued her torment, flicking experimentally before taking him into her mouth in one rush.

He dragged her off of him. When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed her, devouring her mouth as he set her beneath him. One knee parted her legs, then he was inside her. She cried out, her body welcoming the invasion as he filled her. He slid back then buried himself once more. The pattern was set. His hips plunged back and forth, filling her over and over until she felt him press against her cervix. She met him thrust for thrust. Her hands roamed over his sweat slick skin; her nails scored his arms, his back, as her climax built. "Close," he murmured against her ear, sliding one hand between them to find her clit.

Her world exploded in a flash of heat and light. Rainbow sparkles filled her vision, and she clung to him, riding out the storm. Dimly she was aware of his own hoarse cry, and knew he'd followed her.

Damien's body collapsed on top of hers, and she held him, running her hands up and down his sweaty back. His lips moved over her neck, kissing gently, before he rolled over, taking her with him. He held her, her head resting on his chest.

She ran one hand over his chest and stomach, then froze. Her skin looked so white against his naturally tan skin. She sighed.

"Tired?"

She glanced up. His dark eyes were closed. His hand idly stroked her back. He looked like he was already falling asleep. "A little," she murmured, snuggling into his arms. Her eyes slid shut. Before she fell asleep, she felt him place a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Safe in his arms, she slept.