"You and Forever and Me"

"There’s a cool wind

On the desert tonight

I can almost see your golden hair

Flying in the moonlight

And oh it was a restless kind of free –

When it was you and forever and me…"

Little Texas from the album, "First Time for Everything"

Friday morning I awoke with a smile on my lips and a song in my heart. Today was my 23rd birthday, and after I finished work my friends Shelly, Jodi and Alex were taking me out to help me celebrate.

Arriving at the day care center where I worked, I greeted my coworkers with a wide grin when I heard them wishing me happy birthday. The day flew by quickly, and I was kept very busy running after all of my small charges. When my workday was finished, I went straight home to get ready for my night out. Jodi had phoned me the previous day to inform me that she would be picking me up at 7:00 that night with Shelly and Alex in tow.

Stepping into the shower, I washed myself quickly with the rose scented soap that was my favorite. Kept company by the drizzling sound of the water hitting my shower cap, I couldn’t help but feel that this evening was about to become one that I’d never forget.

After drying off and slipping on a pair of panties and a bra, I powdered my skin with rose scented talc. I loved the Crabtree and Evelyn store at the mall in town and was a regular customer, treating myself once a month to a small purchase or two.

Walking over to my closet I perused through my clothing, sighing the age old woman’s lament about never having anything to wear. Selecting my favorite pair of jeans and a blue sweater that matched my eyes, I dressed and then traveled back into the bathroom to fix my hair and makeup.

After curling my hair, I brushed the strawberry blond waves until they glowed with vibrancy. Putting the last touches on my eye makeup and lipstick, I was ready to go.

Walking into the living room I picked up a magazine, flipping through it impatiently while constantly checking the clock over the television, waiting for my friends to arrive.

At 6:58, there was a sudden knocking at my door.

"Hey girlfriend – are you ready to paaarty?" my friend Jodi called out.

Grabbing my purse and jacket, I headed for the door. Opening it, I stepped out onto my small porch. "Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday dear Tina…Happy Birthday to you…" Jodi sang to me. Laughing, I shook my head at her and then gave her a hug.

Following Jodi out to her car, I seated myself in front with Jodi and then we drove off. Shelly and Alex both chattered from the back seat at me, wanting to know how my day had gone and if I was having a nice birthday. I told them that I had, and was more than ready to go out and have some fun, and enjoy their company.

Pulling up to our favorite bar and grill, we got out of the car, and headed inside. Telling the hostess that we had made prior reservations, we pushed our way through the throng of people who were hovering about the bar as usual, watching different sports channels and chattering loudly.

Finding a table in the back, we seated ourselves, and ordered something to drink. We all then proceeded to catch up on what was new in each other’s lives, as we tended to keep fairly busy during the week with our respective jobs. While we were visiting we scanned the crowd, trying to see if we might know anyone else who had come here tonight. The town that we lived in was a fairly small one, and as a result, practically everyone knew everyone else’s life story.

The waitress arrived with our drinks, and a toast was made in honor of my birthday and to the close friendship we all four shared with one another. As I lifted my strawberry daiquiri to my lips for a second sip, someone bumped into the back of my chair, subsequently pushing my nose slightly into my drink. Setting my drink down and dabbing at the tip of my nose with my napkin, I looked behind me to see who my assailant was.

"I beg your pardon, ma’am, I’m really sorry about that – I’m afraid I wasn’t watching where I was going," a deep voice drawled in a southern accent to me from over my shoulder.

Turning around to match a face with the voice, I saw a pair of beautiful blue eyes staring back at me with an expression of remorse. Laughing, I told him that it was okay, that this time I’d forgive him. Returning my smile with one of his own, I was dazzled by the smile that lit up his handsome features. Hearing several of his friends start to rib him for his clumsiness, a blush began to flow over his features and I laughed anew, thoroughly charmed by his youthful aura. He and his friends then seated themselves at the table next to ours.

We were all on our second drink when a commotion was suddenly heard from across the bar. Loud voices begin to sing, and craning my neck, I was able to catch a trail of heads moving through the throng of the crowd, the person in front holding a birthday cake over their head.

"Come on, everyone, we have a birthday girl in the house and we need your help in serenading her. Is everyone ready…1…2…3…Happy Birthday to you….Happy Birthday to you…"

To my horror, the procession of waiters were headed in our direction. Glancing about the table at my friends, they all smiled at me innocently.

"Happy Birthday dear Tina…Happy Birthday to yooouuuuu….and many more…"

Slinking down in my chair in a futile effort to escape unwanted attention, I motioned the singers away with a quick smile and kicked Jodi under the table, who I knew had been responsible for this. She winked at me, and held up her glass of iced tea to salute my moment of mortification.

Rolling my eyes and laughing, I moved my drink so that the waitress could set the cake on our table. The candles set on top of the cake cast flickers of shadows over the white frosting as I closed my eyes and made my wish. Opening my eyes after a moment, I gathered all the air into my lungs that I could hold and exhaled strongly, managing to blow out every single candle on the cake. Sounds of clapping and cheering surrounded the area, and the waitresses soon left us after setting a knife and some plates down onto the table.

"Okay, okay, I know that I’m 23 today, but did you have to put 23 candles on the cake?" I laughed, reaching my hands up to hug my friend Shelly, who had come over to give me a birthday hug before retreating out to Jodi’s car. She told me that she had to get something, and would be right back inside.

"Look at this cake! It’s huge!" I protested, beginning to cut a piece for each of my friends. Slicing into the dessert I lifted a piece of cake and set it on a plate, handing it to Jodi. The cake appeared to be a strawberry one, with a layer of fresh strawberries and whip cream in the middle. Slicing a second piece, I handed it to Alex who set in on Shelley’s table before accepting the next slice for herself. After I had sliced myself a piece, I popped my thumb into my mouth to taste the icing that I had gotten on my thumb. Closing my eyes in pleasure I sighed, tasting the sweet creaminess of the vanilla icing.

"Hey there, happy birthday," a voice said from over my shoulder. Turning in my chair, I saw the cute man who had made me snort part of my daiquiri a short while earlier. Smiling at him, I told him thanks. Offering him and his friends a piece of cake, he declined, politely shaking his head no. His friends accepted the offer however, and rose quickly from their table to make their way over to ours. I looked up at their faces, laughing at the greedy expressions that I saw reflecting back at me. Slicing them each a large piece, they made their way back to the table. Feeling a sudden tapping on my shoulder, I turned around once more to see my clumsy friend smiling at me somewhat shyly.

"Ah, ma’am, if you don’t mind, that cake looks awfully good. Is it too late to change my mind?"

Laughing and shaking my head at him, I sliced him a piece and passed it over to him. I then looked up to see Shelly returning to our table, her arms loaded with presents. Tears beginning to smart my eyes at my friend’s thoughtfulness, I laughed somewhat wryly and scolded them for their trouble.

I opened up the first gift, which was from Jodi. She had given me a beautiful vanity set, complete with makeup brushes, makeup mirror, a hand mirror and an engraved silver brush and comb.

The next was from Shelly, who had given me a toiletry bag filled with makeup. Spotting all my favorite brands and shades inside, I thanked her for her kindness.

The last gift was from Alex, and was a set of my favorite perfume along with powder and lotion. Laughing at all of them, I told them that I was all set now and thanked them once more for their generosity. I rarely bought such treats for myself, and enjoyed receiving gifts to pamper myself with.

"Hey – are you guys finished with your cake?" A voice said, drifting over to us from the next table.

"Yes – why – are you through eating yours already?" I laughed, looking back at a handsome young man with long flowing blond hair. Looking around to laugh at my friends with our mouths all full of cake, I motioned to him that he could help himself.

"I’m sorry, but that was really good cake and I’m hungry," he said, laughing a bit self-consciously.

"Crimony, Adam, you’re a pig!" My clumsy friend laughed, teasing him good-naturedly. Leaning forward to whisper to us loudly, he joked to us, "Sorry, that boy has a bit of a tape worm. He’s a regular bottomless pit."

Jodi laughed at him and told him that it was no problem, that we were happy to share. Suddenly making eye contact with the man who had lifted the rest of our cake from the table, she blushed slightly, looking away.

"Hey – seeing that this here’s your birthday and all, and you’re having too small of a party to properly celebrate, would you mind if we joined you? My name’s Brian by the way," he said to me, holding out his hand. Reaching mine out to grasp his gently, I replied back to him, "I’m Tina. It’s a pleasure making your acquaintance."

"No, the pleasure’s all mine I’m sure," he responded, grinning at me with sparkling eyes.

Getting up to move our two tables together with his friends help, he took a seat by me and dove into his cake voraciously, a smear of frosting dotting along his upper lip.

"Have y’all had dinner yet?" he asked me after swallowing his bite of cake.

"No, we haven’t," I replied back.

"Well we’re starving," said one of his friends from across the table who slightly resembled Brian. "I’m Brian’s brother Brad."

"I’m Adam," replied the bottomless pit, who had seated himself next to Jodi, to her apparent pleasure.

"Well I’m Tina," I said, smiling at them. "These are my good friends Shelly, Jodi and Alex," I said, pointing at each of my friends in turn.

"Nice to meet all of you," all three men chorused. "Are we ready now for dinner?" Adam said, the hunger apparent in his voice. Laughing and rolling his eyes, Brian motioned the waitress over to our table to bring some menus for us.

After ordering our dinner selections, we settled back and waited for our meals to arrive while making small talk amongst ourselves. Brian told me that they were in town for the evening, and would be leaving tomorrow morning to fly out to Dallas. I asked him what brought him to town and he looked at me with slight surprise. Laughing softly, he told me that they were professional wrestlers, and traveled around the country performing for their company, the WWF. Intrigued by his profession of choice, I listened quietly while he explained that it was a family business for him and Brad, their father having been involved in the business for many years. It was a natural step for both Brad and himself to become involved in the business as well.

The waitress arrived with our meals, setting them onto the table before us. I looked around in awe as I realized that Brian, Brad and Adam had all ordered the largest steaks on the menu in addition to grilled chicken breasts. They were eating the equivalent of 2 meals apiece. Shaking my head in admiration, I wondered where they put it, because they certainly didn’t have the bellies to show for it.

We enjoyed our meal, exchanging jokes and some of the adventures that the three wrestlers had shared together on the road. When dinner was finished, we all sat visiting for awhile longer before calling it a night. The guys had to be up early the next morning to catch their flight, and we all left together after haggling over the check (Brad won) to walk each other out to the parking lot. Taking me over to one side, Brian said quietly that he’d enjoyed meeting me and had enjoyed himself the short time that we had spent together that evening. Telling him that I’d enjoyed myself as well, I was a bit taken aback when he asked me for my phone number. I gave it to him and my address as well, not thinking that anything would come of it. Surely he was too busy traveling around to make many phone calls, and women probably threw themselves at him everywhere he went.

Waving goodbye to him and his companions, we all got back into Jodi’s car and headed out of the parking lot. With a last honking of the horn and wave at the guys, we were off.

After dropping Alex and Shelly off at their apartments, Jodi took me home, telling me that she hoped that I had enjoyed my birthday. Telling her that I had, I hugged her, thanking her once more for everything. She laughed, and then confided to me that Adam had given her his cell phone number and asked her to give him a call. I told her that I had given my number to Brian, and she then told me that she had overheard Shelly telling Alex that Brad had given her his number as well. What a night! With a last goodbye to Jodi I closed the door to the car and made my way up to my porch. Unlocking my door, I gave a final wave to Jodi and stepped inside.

This was one of my best birthdays ever! I didn’t want to count on hearing anything from Brian, so I tried to put him out of my mind. I was unable to however, and slept poorly that night, tossing and turning.

Two weeks dragged by before I heard from Brian. Coming home late from work one evening, I was in a particularly sour mood after an especially rough day at work. Bone tired and ready to curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and my latest novel, I unlocked my front door with a weary sigh. Making my way into the bedroom I swiftly changed out of my work clothes into a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt. Walking into the kitchen to put the kettle on, I flipped through my mail that had arrived that day only to find the ever present junk mail and bills galore.

Carrying my chocolate treat into the living room, I picked up my book and settled in for a nice long read. Escapism my goal, it was one that was easily accomplished within 10 minutes as I became quickly engrossed in the tale unfolding before me. It seemed like only minutes had passed when the phone rang shrilly at my side, loudly demanding my immediate attention. Slightly annoyed at being disturbed I picked up the phone quickly.

"Yes – hello?" I said into the receiver, a bit sharply.

"Is that you, Tina?" I heard a deep voice say.

"Yes, speaking. Who’s this?"

"Don’t you remember me girl? Dang, I’ve only been gone a few weeks and you’ve already forgotten all about me! It’s Brian – you know – I met you at your birthday bash."

"Hi Brian! It’s great to hear from you! How’ve you been?"

"Okay I guess – I’m lonely though," he said, laughing wistfully. "I wanted to call you sooner than this but I didn’t want you to think I was buggin’ ya. Besides, I know you keep busy."

"Not busy enough!" I laughed back at him. "It’s so good to hear from you! How are your wrestling matches going? I’d love to watch you wrestle, but I don’t have cable. I’d hoped to hear from you, and here you are!"

"Yep, that’s me, turning up once more like the bad seed I am," Brian laughed. "I’ve been wondering how you were and finally decided to pick up the phone and give you a call. It gets lonely out here sometimes and it’s nice to hear a friendly voice."

"I know how that is, and we all need someone to talk to. Whenever you feel the need just give me a call, okay? I mean that."

"I know you do, and thank you Tina. I’m happy to have found a new friend."

"Likewise," I replied, laughing a bit nervously at the sudden seriousness of his tone. "So what do your traveling plans look like?"

"Well, next week we’re heading off to Denver, Phoenix, San Diego and then Las Vegas. We’ll be headed back in your direction in another 3 weeks. If you don’t have plans, I’d love to take you out to dinner if that’d be agreeable with you."

"I’d love that! I’ll look forward to your arrival then. In the meantime, don’t be a stranger, okay? If you need to chat with someone, just pick up the phone and I’ll be here."

"Thanks Tina. I’ll catch you later then."

"It’s been nice talking with you, Brian. Take care."

"You do the same."

"I will. Bye…"

"Bye."

Placing the phone back down into its cradle, I smiled suddenly, thinking of his friendly face and the good time that we had shared together the night of my birthday.

During the next few weeks Brian and I spoke with one another frequently. He would call me late in the evening at home, and we would touch base with one another as to the latest happenings in his world and mine. Feeling that we were beginning to open ourselves up to one another, we both enjoyed the exploration of our newfound friendship.

Looking forward to him coming back to town, I contacted Jodi, Shelly and Alex and made plans to attend the WWF event with them. Apparently Jodi and Shelly had kept in touch with Brad and Adam as well, and were walking on cloud nine anticipating their arrival. We had already made arrangements with Brian to pick up our backstage passes at the security check point so that we’d be free to go back and spend some time with the guys before and after they wrestled.

The days dragging by, finally Friday night arrived and we were all buzzing with excitement. Carpooling once more with Jodi, we all arrived at the arena on time and walked over to the security desk. Picking up our passes, we were directed by a security guard through a back door that led to a hallway that ran behind the arena. Passing through another checkpoint, we made our way through a series of doors and looked around us in awe. There was so much hustling and bustling going about that we hugged the walls, walking in a line as to keep ourselves out of the way. Hearing a sudden shriek pierce my eardrums, I turned around to Jodi to see her waving frantically at Adam. Walking towards him we greeted him warmly, laughing at Jodi as she latched onto his neck in a huge bear hug.

Standing to the side making small talk with one another, Adam turned to Shelly and myself and told us where Brad and Brian could be found. Hearing a sudden gasp from Alex, we turned towards her in puzzlement. She was suddenly rendered speechless, pointing at a figure coming down the hallway towards us and gaping her mouth open most unbecomingly like a fish out of water.

"Alex, what is it?" I asked her.

"Look – just look – there he IS!" she hissed loudly in a stage whisper.

"Who?"

"My favorite!"

"Where? I don’t see The Undertaker," I said, craning my neck to see if I could spot his large form.

"No, not him – I – oh please Adam – could you please introduce me to him?" Alex said to Adam, a groveling tone most apparent in her voice.

"You mean Mick? Sure, no problem. Hey Mick!" Adam shouted loudly, gesturing to Mick Foley.

"Mankind? You want to meet MANKIND?" Shelly chuckled at Alex. "Well prepare yourself girl, he’s coming our way."

Walking over to us leisurely, Mick smiled at Adam in greeting and looked around at each of us in turn.

"Hey, Mick, I wanted you to meet some of my friends. This is Jodi, Shelly, Tina, and this," he said, pushing her forward, "is Alex. She’s your number one fan."

"Is that so?" he said to her, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "Well it’s nice to meet you then, Alex."

Placing her hand in his, Alex flushed hotly and smiled somewhat tremulously up at him. "I love all your wrestling characters, especially Mankind. Your book was wonderful, and I hope that you have the opportunity to write another. I’m so thrilled to meet you!" Alex gushed to him, grinning widely.

"Hey guys, would you take our picture? Would you mind, Mr. Foley?" Alex asked him.

"Of course I wouldn’t mind, and its Mick to all my fans," he said, grinning at her adorably, his eyes sparkling.

"Okay then Alex – stand next to Mick," Jodi directed, aiming her camera at the two of them. "Are you ready? 1,2,3!"

The picture caught on film depicted Mankind resting his chin on top of Alex’s head, her arm wrapped around his waist.

Turning to him and thanking him once more for the picture, Alex suddenly looked down somewhat shyly. "Um, Mick? Can I ask you for something?"

"Sure, Alex, what’s up?"

"Can I have a hug?" she said, opening her arms to him.

Laughing loudly, he picked her up in a huge bear hug, twirling her around twice before setting her feet back down onto the ground. Giving him one last squeeze, Alex kissed his cheek softly and gave him her thanks.

"No, thankyou," he said to her, smiling. Turning to grin at Adam, he said, "And I’ll thank YOU, Adam, not to mention this to my wife. I’m just joking…"

We all laughed at him and waved goodbye as he strolled back down the hallway. Poking Alex in the ribs I teased her. "So was that your dream guy Alex?"

"Yep," she said, smiling back at me. "He’s the best."

"Who’s the best? What’s this I’m hearing about that ragged ole Mankind being the best of anything?" a deep drawl teased over my shoulder.

Turning around to greet the voice I knew so well, I smiled up at him somewhat shyly.

"Hello, Brian. It’s so nice to see you again."

"And it’s nice to see you as well," Brian said softly to me, looking into my eyes intently. Holding his arms out to me, I stepped into them and hugged him somewhat shyly, my body trembling slightly with excitement. "I missed you," he murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. Kissing my cheek lightly before letting me go, he turned to greet Shelly, Jodi and Alex.

"Hey Shelly – Brad’s that way," he laughed at her, jerking his thumb to gesture at the door behind him. Smiling her thanks in his direction, Shelly walked away from our group and knocked on the door, opening it when she was told to enter.

"So have y’all been keeping out of trouble?" Brian said, laughing at all of us. Leading us down to the catering area he walked beside me, and I caught a delicious whiff of his cologne. Stopping to grab ourselves a soft drink, we continued on down the hallway until we approached a door that was labeled "Guests". Walking into the room, we settled ourselves onto the couches within and caught up with one another. Looking over to see Jodi and Adam engrossed in conversation, I glanced at Alex to see her looking like she felt slightly out of place. Brian made small talk with the two of us, asking us how we’d been and if there was anything new going on in our lives. Teasing Alex, he said to her, "So what’s this I hear about you and your mad Mankind crush?"

Laughing, Alex replied, "It’s not a crush – I just think he’s adorable, that’s all."

"Yeah," I said, nudging Brian’s knee with mine. "She hasn’t seen her real favorite yet."

"Oh really? And who might that be?" Brian asked, teasing her.

"The ‘Taker man," I said, reaching out to pat Alex on the shoulder. "Well then, we’ll just have to track ole Mark down for you then Alex," Brian said, grinning at her. Turning beet red Alex shook her head and picked up a magazine from the table.

"So what would you like to do for dinner?" Brian said in a low voice to me.

"I’m not picky," I replied. "What’s easiest for you?"

"Well, we get out of here pretty late – we’ll have to find a place close to the hotel because I have to get up early in the morning. We’ll be here in town until Sunday afternoon when I catch a flight to Miami."

"That’s great!" I told him excitedly. "What are you doing tomorrow then?"

"Well, we’re hosting a charity function to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital," he replied to me. "We’re participating in a carnival. There’ll be autographs given, pictures taken, and several games played by the athletes – stuff like a volleyball game, dart throwing contest, and several others."

"That sounds wonderful," I told him. "I’m glad that you’ll be here in town for more than an evening."

"Yep – best thing about it is, I’m a free man from Saturday afternoon until I catch my flight out Sunday at 1:00 p.m."

"Well, how about we go to Applebee’s after your performance? I know they’re open late, and I saw one not too far from here."

"It’s a date," he teased me, winking.

Hearing the door open, we turned to see Al Snow entering the room.

"Hey Dogg – we gotta go over some things for our match," he told him.

"Okay bud, be right there," Brian said, rising from the couch. "If y’all will excuse me, it’s almost time for me to work some of my magic. Are you going to watch us Tina? Turn on that television right there in the corner, and you’ll be able to see us. You can also go out into the crowd if you’d like, but space is a little cramped out there by now."

"I’ll stay here and watch," I said, smiling at him. "Good luck!"

After Brian had left, Alex and I settled onto the couch to watch the matches that were taking place in the arena. Seeing Jodi and Edge walk out the door together hand in hand, Alex and I smiled at each other and then turned our attention back to the action.

After Too Cool had won their match over the Dudley Boyz, Al’s music began to blare over the speaker system. Watching him run down the ramp holding onto Head, Alex and I laughed and pointed out how cute he looked, dimples and all. Brian’s music begin to play minutes later, and we watched as he and Al pulverized one another in the ring before Al gave him the snowplow for the victory. We watched sympathetically as Brian limped back up the ramp, Al chasing him and thumping him with hard blows on the back with Head all the way. Waiting to see who the next match up was, we looked up when we heard a voice clearing itself in the doorway.

"Um, ladies? Hi, I’m Bob and Brian asked me to come and let you know that he’ll be meeting you back here in a few minutes after he showers and changes."

Turning to Alex to see that her jaw had dropped down to lay upon her chest, I smiled at Bob. "Thanks for the message, Bob. I appreciate it. Are you a wrestler as well?"

"Yes ma’am, that I will confess to. I go by the name of Hardcore Holly, but my real name is Bob. Nice to meet you," he said, walking over to us. Shaking his hand, I told him, "I’m Tina and this is my friend Alex."

"Ah – the Mankind fan," he teased her.

Flushing, Alex looked down for a second. "Yep – I am. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hardcore I mean Mr. Holly oh.."

"It’s Bob," he said to her gently, a teasing note in his voice. "What are you ladies doing after we’re finished up here?" he asked the two of us.

"Well, Brian and I are going to Applebee’s for dinner and…"

"Great!" said Bob. "I’ll tell Adam and we’ll meet you and Brian there!"

Slightly disappointed that I wouldn’t have some time alone with Brian tonight, I laughed nonetheless, looking forward to spending an evening once more with our new circle of friends.

It wasn’t too long before Brian joined Alex and I back in the lounge area. Slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, he asked if we were ready to go and get a bite to eat. Smiling at him and telling him yes, Alex and I made our way out the door and back into the hallway of the arena. I pulled Brian on the side and told him that our plans had slightly changed, that we were still eating at Applebee’s but we’d have company along for the ride. Laughing at me, he popped a piece of gum into his mouth and told me that it was okay by him if it was by me. Seeing a slightly wistful look passing over my face, Brian leaned down by my ear and whispered that we’d have time by ourselves later on in the weekend. Blushing hotly, I looked up and tried to tell him that I hadn’t meant it in that fashion only to have him laugh at me and lightly tap the tip of my nose with his finger. The sweet spearmint of his breath still hovering about my nose, he took the lead and Alex and I followed him to the end of the hallway.

Brian stopped and knocked on a door sharply, and we heard a muffled, "Come in." Opening the door, I spotted Adam, Jodi, Shelly and Brad sitting around and talking with Jay, Al Snow and Bob. Brian asked them if they were ready to eat and they jumped up, apparently having been waiting for our arrival. We all walked out to a few mini-vans that were parked near the exit and made our way inside the vehicles. Brian told me that he’d drive us out to Jodi’s car so that we wouldn’t have to come back to the arena to pick up our vehicle. Starting the van, I hopped into the passenger’s seat and slid open the rear door so that Adam, Jodi, Jay and Al could hop into the back seat. I spotted Alex walking over to the other vehicle when she saw that there was no room left in our car. Shelly slid open the rear door to reveal a grinning Bob Holly sitting on the rear seat and gesturing to Alex, patting the seat beside him. After she jumped into the van we headed off to find Jodi’s car.

After we had picked Jodi’s car up she and Adam followed us to Applebee’s. Shelly thankfully had the sense to call ahead of time and make sure that they had a table waiting for us. Making our way to the back of the restaurant, we seated ourselves and waited for the waitress to come around.

Making conversation amongst ourselves, we laughed and joked about all the funny experiences the guys had been through on the road. Al and Bob hogged the conversational podium and kept us in stitches with their offbeat mimicry of various people they had encountered. After the waitress had brought our drinks to the table and we had all placed our order, we relaxed for an evening of fun. Midway through one of Al’s many tall tales Brian leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Don’t pay him any mind. The boy’s a born charlatan."

Shivering slightly as I felt his warm breath tickling my earlobe, I laughed at him. "Are you cold?" he asked me. "Do you want my jacket?"

"No, thanks I’m fine, really," I said, smiling at him.

"Can I ask you a question? One of a personal nature?" he asked me, leaning his elbow on the table and directing his full attention at me.

"Um, no. I mean, I don’t mind. Fire away," I responded, sipping my iced tea.

"What’s the name of the perfume that you’re wearing? Because it smells delicious on you," he said, laughing as I choked slightly on my tea.

The waitress arrived and set our meals down in front of us. Digging into my dinner, I laughed at the face that Brian was making at his salad.

"What’s wrong with your dinner?" I asked him.

"Tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes. I hate them," he replied, wrinkling his nose in distaste as he speared a tomato with his fork to set it on the side of his plate.

"Don’t waste it! I love them! Give it to me," I said to him. Brian raised his fork up to my lips, and I popped the tomato into my mouth. Biting down and savoring the sweetness of the fruit as it exploded into my mouth, I smiled at him in thanks.

Looking around the table I glanced at my friends who were obviously enjoying themselves. Shelly and Brad were sitting to our left, engrossed in conversation. Jodi looked like she was having the time of her life as Adam and Jason tried to outdo one another with outlandish tales of their respective childhood.

Seated directly across from us, Alex had found herself sitting smack in between Al and Bob. Listening to the two men debate on endless topics, Alex’s head looked like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth between the two men. Al told many funny tales about his children’s antics, and mentioned how much he missed his family. Alex turned to Bob and inquired as to his family’s whereabouts. Guffawing loudly, Al interrupted before Bob could get a word in edgewise and told Alex that no one in their right mind would claim Bob, which was why he was still a bachelor. Laughing at Bob when he promptly tossed a pea in retaliation into Al’s water, Alex put her hands between the two men and pleaded for peace while trying to maintain her composure.

Al struck up a conversation with Brian about a new wrestling school that had just opened while Alex and I found ourselves being enchanted with the considerable charm of Bob Holly. Offering both of them some of my french fries, I spotted Alex popping one of the fries into her mouth, leaving a slight smear of ketchup at the corner of her mouth. Trying to motion to her with a subtle gesture to wipe her mouth with her napkin, she only looked at me in puzzlement. Turning to Bob to answer a question of his, I saw Bob smile at Alex when he spotted the ketchup.

"Well fancy meeting all of you here," a deep voice drawled, slapping Al and Bob on the back. Looking up I blanched slightly, spotting Mark Callaway, aka The Undertaker, standing directly behind Alex.

"Alex," Bob whispered in her ear.

"What?"

"Look at me for a second."

"Why?" she asked him, turning his way.

Dipping the corner of his napkin into his water, he gently grasped her chin and dabbed lightly at the ketchup at the corner of her mouth. "Evidence," he said to her, his blue eyes sparkling into hers.

"Alex," I hissed at her, trying to get her attention.

"Wha-What?" she asked me, still looking at Bob.

"The Undertaker’s behind you!" I said to her.

"Hey there, Mark, I’d like you to meet some of our new friends. This here is Tina," Brian said, putting his arm around me, "And these are her friends Shelly, Jodi and Alex. You just happen to be Alex’s favorite wrestler."

"Is that so," Mark asked, looking down at Alex.

"Huh? What?" Alex said, still looking at Bob.

"Nice to meet you Alex," Mark said to her. Laughing softly, I told Mark to pull up a chair and join us.

"No thanks, I’m just leaving. We’ve got an early day tomorrow, guys, I’ll see you then."

"Bye!" everyone chorused, waving at him as he departed.

"Hey, I thought he was Alex’s favorite," Brian whispered into my ear.

"I think she’s found a new favorite," I said, laughing back at him.

We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves that evening, and before we knew it the restaurant was getting ready to close for the night and it was time to head on home. Walking out into the parking lot, Brian steered me over to Jodi’s car with his hand gently grasping my elbow and asked me what time I would be meeting him out at the fairgrounds the next day. Agreeing to meet at the bandstand area at 11:00 a.m. sharp, I told him once more how good it was to see him and how much fun I had that evening. Smiling back at me with a twinkle in his eye he opened the door of the car for me and winked, telling me to behave until tomorrow. With a final goodnight said between us, he waited until I had seated myself into the car before closing the door after me. Motioning for me to lock it and not leaving until I did, I laughed and waved him away to go back to his friends.

When Jodi, Shelly and Alex were finally settled back into the car, we left to go home, waving once more at the guys. Dropping Shelly and Alex off first Jodi then drove me home, laughing with me about the impression that Bob Holly had made on Alex.

Jodi and I made arrangements for her to pick me up at 10:30 the next morning to leave for the fairgrounds. Thanking her for the ride and telling her goodnight, I walked back into my apartment floating on cloud 9. After taking a hot shower to induce some semblance of relaxation I hit the sack, careful to set my alarm to make sure that I was up on time.

The next morning I awoke on time and got myself ready for our excursion. Dragging my dead butt to the coffeepot I poured myself a third cup, sipping it between loud yawns. Bringing my mug into the bedroom to accompany me on my never-ending clothing search, I decided on a pair of my favorite levi jeans and a soft yellow t-shirt. Realizing with dismay that my hair was once again not cooperating with me, I sighed in resignation and drew it up into a ponytail. Inserting small blue butterfly pins in my hair to hold it in place, I finished my makeup and after brushing my teeth, was ready to go.

It was a short while later when I heard the honking of Jodi’s car outside. Grabbing my fanny pack, I shot out the door and skipped down the steps to jog out and meet my friends. All of us revved up in high spirits, we were at last off to the fairgrounds.

After finding a parking space and paying out entrance fees we wandered our way over to the bandstand. Spotting a long table up on the stage area where the guys were sitting, there was a long line of people with small children waiting patiently to get an autograph and a picture taken with their favorite star. Taking our place in line we looked around at the festivities surrounding us. There was a small area set aside for a puppet show, a ring toss game set up, darts, volleyball net, petting zoo, several clowns running around and a lot more booths that we couldn’t see from our vantage point.

Shelly and Alex made their way over to the refreshment area to get something to drink for all of us while we held their place in line. Looking up at the guys we smiled when we caught an occasional glimpse of their faces through the line of people that stood in front of them. We were at the foot of the stairs leading up to the stage when Shelly and Alex finally returned with the drinks in tow. Making our way slowly up the stairs, we were soon in front of the table and moving down the line, shaking hands with the wrestlers and deciding who we wanted to pay to have our picture taken with.

Waving at Bob, Alex turned to the three of us. "You guys go on ahead – I’m going to wander around for a little while. I’ll meet you when you’re through," she said.

"Where are you going?" I asked her. "Don’t you want your picture taken?"

"Not if I have to pay $25.00 for it," she laughed at me. "I’ll see you later."

"It’s for a good cause Alex," I reminded her.

"Yeah, Miss, it’s for a good cause," Brian teased her. "Besides," he whispered to her, "If you stick around long enough, I’m sure that Bob will give you a picture souvenir that will REALLY make it worth your while," he said, laughing while jabbing Bob in the ribs.

"Okay then," Alex said, smiling.

"Good morning sunshine. How’re you today?" Brian asked me, giving me a wide grin.

"Just fine, thanks! You guys have quite a crowd here today," I told him. Sipping my soda, he looked at it longingly. "Hey – can I have a sip? I’m really thirsty," he told me.

"Sure," I said to him, handing him my drink.

"Hey Mister – I’m sorry you’re thirsty. You must be hungry too. Have some of my popcorn," a little boy said behind me who must have been about 8 years old.

"That’s okay, kid. I’m fine for now," Brian said, smiling at him. "But I thank you kindly anyway."

I spotted Alex posing with Bob for a picture as Mick Foley came sauntering up to her. "Hey Alex, can I ask a favor? They want me over at the kid’s booth making animal balloons and I need an assistant. Could you help me out?"

"Of course!" Alex told him with a smile. "See you later, Bob" she said to him. "Thanks for the picture!" After paying her money for the picture that was taken, she waved at us and skipped off gaily after Mick with a huge grin on her face.

"She left me. I can’t believe she just left me. And to go off with him of all people!" Bob said, laughing as Brian lightly punched him on his shoulder.

"Well, after all, he’s her favorite," I said to Bob, smiling at him.

"We’ll see about that," Bob growled back good naturedly at us.

When it was time for me to have my picture taken with Brian, I stood beside him grinning into the camera lens. Feeling his warm arm encircle my waist I felt him tickle me slightly in the ribs just as the picture was taken. Laughing and flinching away from him, he apologized and whispered into my ear that he’d see me in a few more hours after they were done. They would finish up at 3:00 p.m.

After Jodi and Shelly had their pictures taken with Adam and Brad, we stepped off the stage to wander around and look at all the sites. Spotting Mick and Alex over at the balloon booth we stopped and laughed at the animals the two of them were making together for a demanding crowd of small children. Leaving Alex in her element we walked over to the petting zoo to see the animals.

A little while later we heard an announcement over the intercom saying that there would be a puppet show performed by the wrestlers that would start in 5 minutes. Making our way over to the small stage that was set up, we were quickly motioned to the side by a security guard, telling us to go on ahead and step in back with the guys. Walking behind the small set, we took our seats and laughed as we spotted Brian, Billy Gunn, Al Snow and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson squatting beneath the stage, their puppets on their hands, ready to perform.

The play began, and Shelly, Jodi and myself had to fight to keep ourselves from laughing aloud as we watched the men bringing their characters to life. A vicious tag team battle ensued between The New Age Outlaws and The Rock who was fighting with his nemesis, Al Snow.

"The Rock says he’s going to lay the smack down on your candy…bottoms!" Dwayne said, catching himself at the last minute much to the relief of the parents outside.

"Oh yeah? Well we’ve got two words for ya, Rock…su…shut up!" Billy Gunn said, grunting softly as Brian elbowed him in the ribs just in time.

The four men proceeded to fight an admirable battle indeed, with The Rock and Al Snow coming out of the match up victorious. Turning around to grin at me when the show was over, I smiled back at Brian and silently clapped in salute to the wrestler’s performances.

Seeing that he was being pulled away by the WWF publicity manager to go to the ring toss area, I waved goodbye to Brian and the three of us were off once more to go and see if Alex was ready to leave her post. After seeing that she was obviously in seventh heaven, we left her there in good hands and proceeded to the ring toss area to watch the battle royale ensuing between Brian, Brad, Adam and Jay. After a heated match the Armstrong brothers emerged as the winners.

After wandering around the fairgrounds awhile longer the time passed quickly, and soon I glanced at my watch and noticed that it was 2:50. Wandering over to meet up once more with Alex and Mick, who were still keeping their customers entertained, we shut down the booth together and followed Mick up the stairs onto the stage, heading through the back door to the storage area behind it. Meeting up with Bob, Adam and Brad, we were soon discussing our plans for the evening. Brad spoke up and told the rest of us that he and Shelly were headed off to the movies and then out to dinner. With a goodbye said to the rest of us, they were off. Adam and Jodi had made plans to take a drive outside of town and have dinner later in the evening. Waving at them, I turned to look at Brian, Alex and Bob.

"Well?" I said to Brian. "What’s the plan, Stan?"

Grinning at us, he said, "Well, that movie idea sounds good to me. Why don’t we hang out at your place for a little while Tina, and then head on out to dinner and catch a movie later on? If that’s okay with you?"

"Sounds good to me," I replied. "Is that okay?" I said to Alex and Bob.

"Yep," they said in unison.

"We have to ride with you guys since our ride left," I reminded Brian.

Following him out to his rental car, we were soon headed back to my place.

Giving Brian directions to my apartment, we stopped off at the store to buy ourselves a few snacks to have back at my place. Pulling Alex away from Bob to help me shop, we decided to make dinner at my place instead of eating out. Glancing at my watch and seeing that it was already 3:30, I told her that we’d have to hurry up and get home so that we could start dinner. Quickly throwing a few things into the cart, we couldn’t help but laugh at Bob as he sauntered up to us with his contributions of beer and chips.

Arriving at my place, I let everyone inside and walked back to my kitchen. Hurriedly putting the groceries away, I told Alex to go out and keep the guys company while I began to marinate the chicken breasts. Opening my cabinet I was relieved to find that I had just enough brown sugar to add to the soy sauce that I had poured into a bowl. Adding in a tiny squeeze of honey, lemon juice and some sprinkling of paprika and pepper, I mixed the teriyaki marinade well before pouring the mixture on top of the chicken breasts and setting the platter into the refrigerator.

The chicken taken care of, I walked into the living room to see the three of them engrossed in a football game that was on television. At least Brian and Bob were engrossed. Alex looked at me and rolled her eyes.

Pulling the guys attention away from the television momentarily so that we could decide on what movie we were going to watch, we (actually they) decided on the latest action flick. Laughing at the two of them, I told them that next time it was our pick. They agreed, quickly turning their attention back to the game.

Alex followed me into the kitchen and got out a bowl to set the potato chips in. Foraging through my cupboards, she found some mixed nuts to dump in another bowl and brought out the snacks to the guys along with beers for both of them.

Scooping several cups of rice into the rice cooker I turned it on and left it cooking in the kitchen. Joining Alex and the guys in the living room, I took a seat on the couch next to Brian and laughed at him when he reached down to prop my feet up onto his lap. Removing my shoes, he began to massage my feet with firmly, causing me to gasp in pleasure. Attempting to pull away from him, telling him that he didn’t need to do that, he told me nonsense, that all cooks needed to rest up properly before fixing meals. That was the secret to good cooking. Laughing at him, I shook my head and let him work his magic.

After visiting with one another for a few hours I wandered back into the kitchen with Alex and we started to prepare dinner. Directing her to wash the spinach leaves off well in the sink, I had her remove the stems and tear the leaves up into bite size pieces. When the spinach was gathered in the bowl, I had her dump it back into the colander and rinse it off once more. Shaking out the water, I asked her to open the 2 cans of mandarin oranges that I had chilling in the refrigerator. Dumping the juice over the spinach, she shook out the water once more from the leaves before adding the mandarin oranges to the salad mixture. Opening a small bag of pecan chips and adding them in as well, she followed by drizzling poppyseed dressing over the salad. The salad was light and refreshing, a perfect compliment to teriyaki chicken.

Whipping up a new batch of teriyaki sauce thickened with cornstarch, I set the chicken breasts into the oven to broil, marinating them frequently with the new batch of sauce that I had made.

Alex set the table while I finished broiling the chicken and tossing the salad. Removing the rice from the rice cooker, I scooped it into a bowl and handed it as well as the salad to Alex to place on the table. Seeing that the chicken was done, I removed it from the oven and sliced each breast into long pieces, placing the meat onto a large plate and drizzling them with a final layer of teriyaki sauce.

Calling Brian and Bob to dinner, we all settled down and enjoyed the meal that was before us. Looking over to see Bob poking somewhat curiously at his salad, I told him to try a bite, that it wouldn’t kill him.

"Where are the potatoes?" he joked to me.

"Eat your rice," I growled back at him teasingly.

"This is great Tina," Brian told me, swallowing a bite of chicken. "Do you like to prepare Chinese food?"

"It’s Japanese," I corrected him, laughing. "And yes, I do enjoy cooking Chinese food as well."

"Just don’t ask her to fix any sashimi for you," Alex laughed at Brian.

"Sashimi?" Brian asked me.

"Yes. I enjoy it, but it’s hard to find fresh ahi out here. Ahi is actually tuna, and for sashimi I enjoy slicing pieces from a nice ahi fillet and eating it along with some wasabi, hot rice and soy sauce. It’s very good. You should try it sometime."

"Yeah, the best part about that is that it’s raw," Alex said, laughing as Bob choked on a mouthful of rice.

"Raw?" Brian said to me.

"Yep. I’ll make it for you sometime. I’m sure you’ll like it."

"Tell me, Tina, do you always eat your meat raw?" he asked me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Best way to enjoy the flavor," I murmured back at him, laughing softly as I saw his mouth fall slightly agape.

"But this chicken here is cooked, right?" Bob asked me, looking slightly worried.

"Yes, it is. Now eat your supper," I responded to him, with a gentle scolding tone in my voice.

Finishing our meal, Brian offered to assist me with the dishes and I declined. Thanking me for a delicious dinner, he and Bob deposited themselves back onto the couch to see what else they could find entertaining on television.

Alex and I cleaned up the kitchen swiftly, placing the dishes into the dishwasher before joining the guys out in the living room. I asked them if they wanted any coffee or dessert, but they politely declined.

Looking at the clock and seeing that it was almost 7:00, I suggested that we head on out to the theater. Deciding that we would drive in separate vehicles so that we could direct them back to their hotel after the movie was finished, Brian and Bob followed Alex and I as we drove out to the mall.

After finding parking places we stood in line together, laughing and joking about the events of the day. Purchasing our tickets we made our way over to the snack booth, and I gave my customary groan at the high prices of the refreshments. Brian pulled me to the side asked if Alex and I would make our way inside and save a few seats for him and Bob while they picked out some snacks. I told him sure, and began walking away with Alex.

"Hey," Brian called after me. "You have any requests?"

"Popcorn," I told him. "Extra salt."

"Milk duds," Alex said to Bob, who smiled at her while shaking his head.

"Anything to drink?"

"Whatever you’re having is fine," I told him.

Turning around, Alex and I walked inside the theater and spotted some seats near the back. Plopping ourselves down into our chairs, we waited for the guys. Surprisingly enough the theater was semi-deserted for a Saturday night. This was definitely unusual.

Brian and Bob quickly found us, and I scooted my feet back to allow Bob to pass me to sit next to Alex. Brian placed himself in the aisle seat, and after settling himself handed a bucket of popcorn over to Bob for him and Alex to share.

"Here’s our supply," he said to me, his eyes sparkling in the dim light of the theater.

"One would have been more than enough for all of us you know," I laughed, teasing him. Setting our drink between us, I chuckled when I noticed that he had placed two separate straws into the cup.

It wasn’t long before the movie started, and we were quickly enthralled in the action unfolding onto the screen. Midway through the film Alex decided that she needed to go to the bathroom, and rose out of her chair to attempt to tiptoe past Bob. Somehow managing to tangle her feet in his she landed with a plop down into his lap, hearing his low chuckle ring into her ear.

"Now, if you wanted to sit on my lap, all you had to do was ask you know," Bob whispered into her ear teasingly.

"I’m sorry," she whispered back. "I can’t see well in the dark and I need to go to the bathroom."

"You need an escort?" he drawled at her.

"No, I’ll be fine, thanks."

"Okay then."

"Bob?"

"Yes?"

"You can let me go now," she laughed, pulling at his hands that had wrapped themselves around her waist.

"Sorry," he laughed to her.

Laughing at Alex and patting her on the butt as she passed Brian and I, I looked over at Bob and shook my finger teasingly in his direction.

Looking back at me with an expression of, "Who, me?" he laughed and shrugged his shoulders before turning his attention back to the movie.

Alex returned a few minutes later and thankfully reached her seat safely, avoiding all mishap this time. A few minutes later I felt warm fingers tracing themselves down my hand and looked down to see that Brian had entwined his fingers into mine. Looking up at him and smiling we watched the movie in silent companionship, my heart beating so loudly that I was certain that he could hear it.

The movie ended, and we exited the theater only to mosey our way over to an ice cream store next door. Laughing at Brian as he treated himself to a double scoop of triple chocolate chunk, I chose butternut caramel and Alex her favorite, blueberry cheesecake. Muttering something to himself to the effect that if he continued to snack like this much longer he’d soon have an ass like Rikishi’s, Bob gave into temptation and chose a scoop of strawberry ice cream. We took our ice cream cones outside and strolled leisurely through the parking lot.

Brian stopped to look at my ice cream for a moment and I caught his hint. Holding my cone to his lips, he bit off a chunk of ice cream and nodded his approval of my flavor choice. Telling him that it was my turn, he held out his cone to me and I tried his, the chocolate melting deliciously in my mouth. Motioning me to stand closer to him he lightly dabbed with his napkin at the chocolate that had formed a mustache on my upper lip. Hearing laughter, I looked over to see Alex shooing Bob away from her ice cream. For someone who had been expressing such concern over his calorie intake a few minutes ago, he sure was making every effort to wolf down Alex’s ice cream for her.

Back at our cars at last I told Brian to follow me and I’d lead him to his hotel. Driving out of the parking lot, I watched carefully in my rear view mirror to make sure that they were following us. Reaching their hotel a few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot and we got out of the car to meet them.

Walking slowly hand in hand towards the hotel with Bob and Alex up ahead in front of us, I told Brian what a nice time I’d had with him and what a wonderful day it had been. Shivering slightly from the cold night air, Brian pulled his hand away from mine to wrap his arm tightly around my shoulders in response to my shiver. Asking me what I had planned for tomorrow, I told him that my schedule was free and clear.

"How about breakfast then?" he asked me, stopping to look down and smile into my eyes.

"Sounds good," I told him. "Your place or mine, or the waffle house across the street?"

Laughing, he pulled me gently to his chest and hugged me lightly. "I don’t want to put you to any more trouble, so how about you meet me here for breakfast and we’ll go check out the waffle house."

"It’s a date," I told him.

Hearing Brian chuckle I turned my head to see Bob pulling Alex into his arms to kiss her goodnight.

"I guess it’s good night then," I told him, staring up at him nervously.

"Yep, it’s about that time," he replied, smiling at me with those twinkling eyes.

"Okay then, goodnight," he told me, bending down to kiss me lightly on the cheek.

"Night," I replied a little shyly, ducking away to head back towards my car.

"Are you coming Alex?" I yelled to her.

"Yep – be right there!" she responded.

Laughing as I saw Mr. Holly reaching down to steal himself one more kiss from my friend, I walked over to the car and got inside, shivering slightly.

Alex jogged up to the car and both men waited to make sure that we made our way safely out of the parking lot before walking inside together.

"Did you have fun?" I asked Alex, laughing at the slightly bemused expression on her face.

"Um, yeah I did," she said, giggling slightly. "What about you?"

"Yes indeed," I replied. "I’m meeting Brian tomorrow morning for breakfast – are you planning on seeing Bob tomorrow?"

"Yes," she responded. "Can I catch a ride with you?"

"Of course!" I turned into her driveway. "Goodnight, sweet – I mean hardcore dreams," I drawled, teasing her.

"Yeah, you have sweet doggie dreams of your own," she responded to me. I waited until she had made her way inside her apartment before heading home.

Walking through my front door, I plopped my purse on the couch and thought about the wonderful day I’d had with Brian. Looking over and seeing that the answering machine was blinking letting me know I had a message waiting, I pressed the play button.

"Hi doll, this is Brian. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed myself today and I can’t wait to see you bright and early for breakfast tomorrow. Meet me here at 8 a.m., and I’ll be ready. See you then – sweet dreams. Bye."

Sighing softly to myself, I made my way into the bedroom to get ready for bed.

It was a long night indeed.

I woke up early the next morning and decided to make a batch of chocolate chip walnut cookies for Brian to take back out on the road with him. Leaning against my kitchen counter sipping my morning coffee while waiting for the cookies to bake, I reflected back on the nice time that I’d had all this weekend and how much I enjoyed spending time with Brian. He was warm, funny, sincere, sweet, loving and above all a true gentleman.

Leaving the cookies to cool on racks, I wandered into my bedroom and selected my outfit before showering. After finishing my hair and makeup, I packed the cookies up into a tin and left to pick up Alex at her place.

We were at the hotel at 8:00 sharp and Brian and Bob met us down in the lobby, where they were standing in line to check out. A few minutes later after packing their bags into their rental car we were on our way over to the waffle house for breakfast.

Our orders placed and the waitress bringing us fresh cups of coffee, Alex and I sat back and laughed at the sleepy looks on the guy’s faces. They managed to grunt somewhat coherently at us until they had a few cups of java and then proceeded to liven up a bit.

We all ordered separate items for breakfast but ended up sharing between one another. Laughing at Brian and Bob as they squabbled good naturedly over the sausage and bacon, Alex and I contented ourselves with stealing the whip cream off of Brian’s waffles much to his cry of dismay. Our meal soon out of the way, we discussed what to do with the few hours that we had left before we had to leave for the airport. Telling the guys that there was a park down the road, they followed us in their car down to the park. Enjoying the fresh morning air and the sunshine that drizzled through the leaves of the trees, Brian slipped his hand into mine and we wandered off towards the swings, leaving Alex and Bob to find their own playground.

Reaching the swings and finding no one about, Brian gestured for me to take a seat in one of the swings. Standing behind me, he began to push me gently and I extended my legs out and tilted my head back, enjoying the cool rush of air that flowed through my hair. Laughing and telling him to push me higher, he complied, and I soon felt giddy with excitement as I arched up and over the ground. Not being able to remember how old I was when I stopped enjoying such simple pleasures in life, I closed my eyes and listened to the deep drawl of his voice as he shared with me some of his childhood memories. Walking together down memory lane, I shared some of mine with him and we both chuckled at some of the things we used to get into trouble for.

"Tell me something, when did life become so complicated?" he asked me, pushing me away from him and higher into the blue sky above.

"Complicated? What’s so complicated about life?" I laughed down at him. "From up here, it’s all very simple. All I know is that I’m having fun at this very moment, and I’m the happiest that I’ve been in a long time. And that’s about as simple as it gets."

"Is that so?" he laughed at me. "Well then, let’s bring you back down to earth for a moment."

Wrapping his arms around my waist the next time I swung back towards him, he held on and brought me to a standstill. Turning me around to face him, I was decidedly at a disadvantage, my feet dangling off the ground.

"Is it still so simple?" he murmured to me, looking into my eyes intently.

"It is if you want it to be," I replied, smiling back at him.

Pulling me closer towards him, he gave me time to pull back before letting his lips close over mine. Lifting his head away from me after our brief kiss, he smiled once more into my eyes before settling his mouth over mine once more, his lips slowly moving across mine with aching sweetness. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I let him work his considerable magic on my senses and gradually opened my mouth to his. Softly tracing the inside of my bottom lip with the most tentative touch of his tongue, I moaned softly and pulled his body slightly closer to mine. Becoming slightly bolder, he gently flickered his tongue against mine and I tasted the man before me, an intoxicating mixture of coffee and sweet maple syrup.

Lifting his head from mine he smiled at me while I felt myself falling into the deep blue pool of his beautiful eyes. "You taste like strawberries," he whispered to me, his thumb softly gliding over my skin to move a lock of hair away from my cheek. "And you smell like heaven."

Blushing hotly, I looked away to see Alex and Bob walking towards us.

"We have company," I whispered to him.

Releasing me with a small laugh he turned around to greet our friends.

"Is it play time?" Bob called out teasingly to us.

"You bet," Brian replied. "Looks like we have the playground all to ourselves."

"Great!" replied Alex, bounding over to the slide. Climbing up the ladder, she paused at the top, setting herself onto the slide. "I can’t remember the last time I did this!"

Positioning himself at the bottom of the slide to greet her, Bob told her, "Are you ready? Come to Papa!"

Laughing at him, she slid herself down the cold metal, giggling as his arms encircled her to wrap her up in a bear hug at the bottom.

Stepping out of the swing and laughing at the two of them horsing around on the playground equipment, I shivered slightly when I felt the warmth of Brian’s arms surrounding me, pressing my back against his firm chest.

"Are you cold?" he murmured to me, reaching down to plant a kiss on my cheek.

"Not now," I replied, cheering Alex on as Bob raced around, playfully chasing after her.

"It’s about time for us to head on out," Brian said, glancing at his watch. "I’ve had a wonderful time with you, Tina, and can’t wait to get back here again. Would you like to see me again?"

Looking back at him over my shoulder I said, "Of course! I’ve had so much fun and I’m just sorry that it has to come to an end. I’ll look forward to your calls. Do you have any idea as to when you’ll be back here?"

"Nope," he sighed. "I’ll ask the office though, and you’ll know as soon as I do."

Calling out to Bob and Alex that it was time to get to the airport, we all walked back to our cars. Setting himself into the car with me, we left the park and drove away with Bob and Alex following behind us in the rental car.

Stopping to return their rental car at the airport, we managed to squeeze their luggage and ourselves into my car as I drove into the parking lot. Walking into the terminal, we waited with them while they checked their baggage and then walked towards their departure gate with them.

Reaching down into my backpack that I had carried into the airport with me I gave the tin of cookies to Brian, enjoying the look of surprise that crossed over his face.

"Cookies?" said Bob, immediately leaning over to inhale the aroma when Brian lifted the lid.

"Yeah, and they’re mine," Brian replied to him. "I’m not sharing these babies!"

Laughing at him, I saw him grin at Bob and offer the tin towards him. Seeing both men inhaling their cookies in 2 large bites I laughed at Alex, both of us making a mental note to ourselves to bake some more when they next returned.

When their flight number was finally called, we said our good byes. Hugging him closely, I told him to take care of himself and call me when he had the time.

"I’ll make the time, don’t worry," he chuckled, reaching down to kiss me softly. "You take care of you. Thanks again for everything. Next time though, can we go out by ourselves?"

Smiling up at him, I told him that I thought that arrangements could be made. Leaning down to steal one last kiss from my lips he turned and walked away with Bob. Waving at him when I saw him pause at the ramp to turn around and face me, I caught the kiss he blew to me and placed it on my lips.

With one last wink he turned back towards Bob and was gone.

I heard from Brian a few days later, and he and I spent about an hour talking with one another on the phone before I insisted that both of us needed to go to sleep. He told me that he was expecting to receive their schedule listing in a few more days, and would let me know when he would be back in town.

Getting together with Shelly, Jodi and Alex when the weekend came around, we all went out on a shopping foray and enjoyed spending some time with one another. It seemed as if all of them were keeping in touch with their respective sweeties over the phone just like I was, and Shelly mentioned that she was planning on flying out to Minneapolis the following week to visit Brad. I asked her if she would deliver something to Brian for me and she told me that she’d be happy to.

Brian let me know that he would be coming back to town in another 2 months. Telling him about Shelly’s plan to visit Brad, I told him that I’d bake some more cookies for him and send them up with Shelly. I told him that Alex would be sending cookie contributions as well to Bob, and was even planning on making a batch for Mick Foley to enjoy all to himself.

Brian and I spoke at least three times a week, trying to limit the length of our conversations to keep the phone bill down. We should have known then that it would be a futile effort. Shelly left for Minneapolis, with a good 15 dozen cookies packed into her carry on bag, grumbling all the while. She laughed, telling us that this would be the last time she’d be hauling that many cookies around. We agreed that from then on, we’d all have to take turns.

Brian and I got to know each other very well during the time he spent traveling about. During our countless phone conversations, we seemed to discuss every topic under the sun with one another, even carrying on a rather heated debate one night as to what was the greatest children’s cartoon of all time. His vote was for the Flintstones, and I insisted that it was Scooby Doo (pre-Scrappy Doo, of course).

Shelly came back from her Minneapolis trip glowing about the wonderful time that she had with Brad. She brought back a bottle of perfume for me that Brian had bought as a thank you gift in exchange for the cookies. Inhaling the light flowery fragrance, I told him over the phone that I loved it and would make sure and wear it for him when he came back to town.

Alex was rather envious about my gift from Brian. Bob had sent a thank you note back to her through Shelly for the cookies and he mentioned in the note that the next time he and Brian came through town, he had a surprise waiting for her. It turned out that the surprise he had in store for her was an early morning fishing trip on his day off. He wanted to check out the lake that was a short distance from where we lived. Alex soon brightened up, however, when she saw that Mick Foley had sent a Mr. Socko back with Shelly to give to her as a thank you for the cookies she had made for him. I told her that I wouldn’t be surprised if she bronzed the damn thing, she was so thrilled with it.

The time seemed to drag by before the WWF finally made its way back into town. Making prior arrangements with the daycare center where I worked to take the day off when they came into town, I counted the days until Brian’s arrival. It seemed strange that we had gotten to know each other so much better during his time away, and yet we had still spent so little time physically in one another’s presence.

The day that I’d been waiting two long months for finally arrived and I was giddy with excitement. Deciding to treat myself for once, I went to my hairdresser’s to have my hair done for that evening and even treated myself to a manicure. All of us girls had made prior arrangements to ride to the sports arena together to meet the guys. Literally watching the clock as the seconds seemed to drag by, it was finally time to leave. Jodi drove up to my apartment on time as usual, and the four of us were soon off to the arena.

Picking up our backstage passes, we passed through the security checkpoint and headed off to find everyone. My heart kept pounding in my chest and my stomach wouldn’t stop fluttering with butterflies as I couldn’t help but wonder if the same physical chemistry would still exist between Brian and myself that I remembered from the last time that we were together.

Suddenly left by myself as Jodi, Shelly and Alex located their guys, I pulled someone aside and asked them where I might find Brian. Directing me to a dressing room, I knocked on the door and was told to enter. Opening the door, I grinned as I saw Brian taping his wrists up for his match that night, his attention focused on the task at hand.

Tapping against the door lightly with my fingernails to get his attention, I waited in the doorway for Brian to look up and see me. Raising his head up as soon as he heard my tapping, a huge smile crossed his handsome face as he rose to his feet to greet me.

"Hey there, sweetie I missed you," he said, quickly crossing the distance between us to enfold me into his embrace.

"It’s so good to see you, I missed you too," I murmured to him, my voice slightly muffled against his chest. Pulling away from me so that he could get a good look at me, he bent his head down and softly kissed my lips. "Mmm…you still taste like strawberries," he whispered against my mouth, running his hands around my waist to lace them together against the small of my back. "And you still smell like heaven. Is that new perfume that you’re wearing? The one I bought for you?"

"Yes it is," I confirmed, smiling up at him and lightly tracing the back of my hand over his stubble roughened cheek. Grasping my hand in his, he pulled it to his mouth and tenderly placed a soft kiss in the center of my palm. Gesturing for me to have a seat, he and I proceeded to catch up on the plans for the weekend.

Brian told me that he had a flight out on Sunday morning, giving him all day Saturday as his only day off. I told him that whatever he wanted to do was fine with me, that I knew he was tired. I let him know that he could call me at my place and let me know if he wanted to do something, or if he wanted to sleep the entire time then I understood. Laughing, he told me that he meant to make the most of his time spent with me.

Brian looked up as he heard someone knocking on the door letting him know that it was almost time for him to go on. Telling me that I could stay here or wander about, I told him that I’d try and find my friends. Opening the door for me, I walked past him and he guided me through it by gently placing his hand at the small of my back. Taking my hand in his, we walked down the hall together and spotted Jodi, Adam, Shelly, Brad, Alex, Bob and Al Snow in the lounge area, watching the show out front over the monitor that was in the room and laughing aloud boisterously. Plopping myself down next to Al Snow, I greeted all of my WWF friends and blushed when Brian leaned down to collect a "good luck" kiss from me.

Hearing the roar of the crowd as they listened to the beginning of Brian’s introduction, my heart warmed as I saw him make his way down the ramp and into the ring, revving up the crowd effortlessly as he went. He had such a strong aura of finesse and style about him; all eyes were magnetically drawn to his charismatic figure. In another moment his tag team partner Mr. Ass was introduced and before long they were battling The Dudley Boyz. A ferocious battle ensued, and the New Age Outlaws won the match after Mr. Ass pinned Bubba. I watched with pride as Brian and Billy made their way back up the ramp, the roar of the crowd’s approval ringing throughout the arena.

"Hey everyone! It looks like we’re having a party in here!" Mick Foley said cheerfully, strolling through the door and walking over to where we were all sitting.

"MICK!" Alex cried out, jumping up off of the couch and launching herself at him.

"Hey, easy there, don’t hurt me," he laughed, sweeping her up into a bear hug. "How’ve you been? Thanks for the cookies – I ate every last one of them," he announced proudly, patting his belly.

"And does it ever show on you!" Bob laughed, pointing at Mick. "Alex, don’t make any more cookies for that man okay? He doesn’t need any more sweets!"

"Hey Al," Mick said, turning to Al Snow. "Have you tried checking into our hotel room yet? I called them just now and they told me that they didn’t have our reservation. Didn’t you make one?"

Slapping his hand on his forehead, Al looked up at Mick apologetically. "I’m sorry, but I forgot – don’t worry, we’ll find a place."

"Hey guys, why don’t you stay with me?" Alex told both of them. "I have a spare bedroom, and one of you can sleep on the couch. I’ll let you two fight over who gets the bed."

"What do you mean?" Bob asked Alex. "They get to stay with you? Al and Mick? How about I stay with you and they sleep with Brian?"

"Oh no," a voice that was slightly out of breath called out from the doorway. "I’m not sharing a room with those two. Especially Mick – the last time I shared a room with him, he snored so loudly that the people next door were banging on the wall telling him to shut up."

Laughing and walking over to me, Brian leaned over and told me that he was going to take a shower and would be back in a few minutes. I whispered to him that I would be waiting right here, and he smiled and blew a kiss to me while walking out of the room.

"Come on Bob," Alex cajoled him. "Mick and Al need a place to sleep, and I’d be happy to have the company. Besides, didn’t you tell me that Mick is always trying to save money? This will help him save," she laughed, looking up to see Bob’s look of disappointment.

"Why can’t I stay with you?" Bob asked her.

"Because I’m a gentle lady and I don’t know if I can trust you, sir, not to take advantage of me," she told him playfully, wiggling her eyebrows at him in fun.

"Me? Not be a gentleman? Come on fellas, back me up here. Mick, Al, have you ever known me to be anything but a gentleman?" Bob asked his friends.

"Frequently," Mick snickered, laughing with Al at Bob’s expense. "What about that time in Des Moines when that waitress leaned over and you…"

"Okay I think that’s quite enough," Bob said, cutting him off with a mock glare. "You win, Alex. I’ll stay with Brian and Mick and Al can stay with you. Of course you’ll have an extra full house, because I’ll be there with you practically the whole time," he said, leaning down to kiss the back of her neck.

"Fine by me," she said, turning her head around to smile at him. "Hey Al, do you like cookies?"

Laughing at Alex, Bob shook his head as Al put in his cookie orders. Mick let her know that peanut butter chocolate chip walnut was also a favorite of his in addition to snickerdoodles, sugar cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal, oatmeal raisin, plain chocolate chip, and chocolate chip and m & m’s.

Shaking my head as I heard the men suddenly begin to squabble over cookies, I left Alex to her undoubtedly busy weekend full of baking and told Jodi and Shelly that I’d see them later on. Wandering out into the hallway, I looked around me at the hustle and bustle that was going on backstage. Hearing my name, I turned around to see Brian waving at me down the hallway. Walking down to meet him, he tucked my arm in his and left with me quickly, joking that this was the only way that we were guaranteed to have any semblance of privacy. I asked him what he wanted to do next, and his stomach grumbled the reply. Laughing at him, I told him to come with me and I’d make sure that he was fed.

Asking him what he wanted to eat and where he wanted to go, he asked if it was okay to go back to my place and eat dinner. I told him that was fine by me, but I didn’t have my car with me as I had caught a ride with Jodi that night. He laughed and told me that we’d take his rental car, as he was sure that Bob would be riding home with Alex that night to hang out with her, Mick and Al.

We drove back to my place, managing to dodge the fans that had mobbed the parking lot trying to catch sight of one of the stars. Turning my head to gaze at Brian’s strong profile as the streetlights lit up his features, my stomach fluttered at the thought of spending the rest of my weekend with this wonderful man.

Arriving back at my apartment I told Brian to make himself at home while I wandered into the kitchen to get dinner started for him. I began to brown a few pork chops in a frying pan while rummaging through my refrigerator to see what else I could throw together to make a decent meal for him. Having been caught unprepared, I managed to find a few baking potatoes to make him some mashed potatoes and gravy and fresh green beans that I threw in with some bacon to go along with the smothered pork chops that I was getting ready to set into the oven.

After I had placed the pork chops into the oven and peeled the potatoes, I set the kitchen time to remind myself when to start the potatoes and green beans and walked back into the living room to join him on the couch.

Placing his arm around me to pull me up against him, he murmured against my hair, "What’s for dinner?"

"Smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans with bacon," I replied to him. "Will that be okay?"

"Damn! Sounds great! Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I’ll eat with you. There’s some yogurt and granola that’s calling my name."

Laughing at me, Brian dropped his head to rest it on top of mine. "How is it that I end up eating pork chops and you end up eating yogurt?"

"Well, I was planning on making pork adobo tonight for myself. I don’t think you’re ready for that quite yet, however. All that garlic and vinegar might scare you off, so we’ll try it another time. I went for the safer option," I said, laughing at him.

We sat watching television while cuddling on the couch waiting for dinner to be ready. When it was time to eat we sat down together and enjoyed a leisurely meal. After dinner was over and he had graciously helped me to clear the table, he followed me into the kitchen to wash dishes while I dried. I kept marveling to myself how warm, friendly and loving this man was.

Wandering back into the living room to settle once more on the couch, we chatted for a little while and he entertained me with some tales about some of the cities he’d been to, and a few of the adventures and mishaps he’d experienced on the road during the last two months. Seeing him attempt in vain to stifle a large yawn, I laughed and told him that he’d better head back to the hotel and get some sleep. He asked me what I’d like to do tomorrow and I told him that I wanted him to sleep in however late he wanted to and then give me a call when he was up and we’d play it by ear. He thanked me for dinner and gave me a gentle kiss goodnight, before leaving to go back to his hotel room.

The next morning I awoke early, not having slept well the previous night. Padding about the apartment in my favorite ratty flannel pajamas, I put some coffee on and managed to put some muffins in the oven while still half asleep. Hearing a soft knock at my door I wandered over and peeked out the window wondering who my early morning caller could be. Seeing Brian standing on the porch, I opened the door, laughing at him while I pushed a hand through my tousled hair.

"Good morning sunshine," he chirped to me as he made his way into my living room.

"God it’s early – what are you doing up?" I asked him. "I thought you were planning on sleeping in today."

"Nope – couldn’t sleep and got tired of waiting around so I decided to swing by and take a chance at you being up. Bob left at the crack of dawn to take Alex fishing with him."

Laughing, I poured the two of us some coffee. "Fancy that – Alex out somewhere fishing. She’s not exactly the nature type," I said to him.

"Well, we’ll see won’t we?" he replied, smiling at me. Lifting his finger up to tap me lightly on the tip of my nose, he told me, "you’re kind of cute in the morning - you know that?"

"Mmm…I’m a whole lot more cute when I’ve had some caffeine," I said dryly to him. We sat in the living room and watched the birds outside while drinking our coffee and having a muffin.

Yawning, I asked him what he wanted to do that day. "Well, I figured that we could just hang out and visit," he told me. "Would you like to go to the zoo later?"

"I’d love to," I said, smiling at him. "How about we do that around lunchtime? That way we can take our time and enjoy walking about. What would you like to do tonight? Do you want to see a movie?"

"Yes I’d like that, but can we watch one here?" he asked me. "I don’t really feel like going anywhere tonight, if that’s okay with you. And if it’s not too much trouble…I miss home cooking so much and…"

"Okay, okay, you’ve got it," I laughed at him. Leaning against him, I yawned once more and rested my head against his shoulder. Feeling myself gradually drifting away, I grumbled slightly in protest as I felt Brian stand up and lead me by the hand into my bedroom. Settling back on the bed, he turned to lie on his side and pulled me up against his chest. Warming my back with the heat of his body, he curled himself around me and soon we both drifted off to sleep, adrift on a sea of bliss while napping in the early morning sun as the world came to life outside.

I awoke a few hours later, feeling Brian’s arm wrapped around my waist and his breath warm against the back of my neck. Gingerly attempting to extricate myself from his embrace, he pulled me back against him with a soft growl.

"Where do you think you’re going there, darlin’?" he asked me softly.

"It’s time for us to get up! Look – it’s already almost noon! I’ve got to hit the shower" I told him, laughing as I felt him hug me once more before letting go. Getting my clothes together I showered quickly and met him in the living room when I was ready to leave.

We left my place a short while later and headed off towards the zoo in Brian’s rental car. Arriving at the zoo we paid our admission and grabbed a map to guide us around the zoo to see all the various animals. Passing the baboon and monkey exhibit, we headed over to see the pygmy hippos that were in the pool. Unable to contain myself, I squealed with excitement when I saw that a few were lying blissfully in the sun directly underneath us. We stood there for a few more minutes watching them as they slowly rose to their feet and waddled off to join their friends in the water.

Stopping at the snack booth to get a bag of popcorn and a soda to share together, we wandered over to see the lions in their large enclosure and then the black bears. Looking at the bears staring back at us, I told Brian quietly, "You know, I really don’t like these places. I love to see the animals up close but it’s insane to keep them here confined for our pleasure."

Sighing he agreed with me, and on that changed note we walked over to see the elephants and the aviary. Taking a seat on a bench under a shade tree, we sat and spent some time talking with one another about what we both wanted out of life. He told me that he loved his career and felt so lucky to be able to make a living at what he was doing. He and his brothers had been surrounded by the business for so long that it was almost a given that this is what he’d do with his life. He turned and asked me about my life here, if I was happy with what I was doing and I told him that I loved working with children. Sometimes my fellow employees and the parents got on my nerves, but all in all I enjoyed what I was doing.

He asked me why I didn’t have a boyfriend and I laughed and turned away, suddenly embarrassed. I explained to him that I’d been so busy while going to school that I hardly had time for a social life, preferring instead to concentrate on my schooling and then my career. Turning my face back gently towards his, he kissed me softly. "Guess that’s lucky for me then, huh?" he told me.

"What about you? What’s your excuse?" I asked him.

"It’s almost impossible to have a relationship while you’re on the road unless that person is lucky enough to travel along with you," he told me. "So many divorces take place and people change so quickly in this business – sometimes it’s easy to let the fame go to your head and let yourself become a completely different person. I told myself that I would have to wait until I retired before finding someone who would put up with me," he laughed.

We spent another few hours hanging around at the zoo and the park next door to it. Walking hand in hand around the park enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, I suddenly felt sad when I thought about the fact that he’d be leaving tomorrow morning. I asked him if he knew when he’d be coming back to town and he told me no.

Eventually we made our way to the grocery store, and Brian let me know what he wanted for dinner. Arriving back at my place after making a stop over at Blockbuster, we sat around and watched a movie while cuddling on the couch. When the movie was over it was time to make dinner, and after I had placed the lasagna in the oven I joined him back on the couch, watching him flipping through my photo albums. Leaning over his shoulder I pointed out all the members of my family and told him when the pictures had been taken.

We enjoyed our dinner together, eating too much lasagna and drinking far too much pinot noir. Settling back on the couch to watch our other movie I was soon distracted when I felt Brian reach down and gently kiss my forehead, then move his lips in a lingering fashion over to my ear, kissing the soft skin beneath my earlobe.

Feeling myself suddenly drowning in a whirlpool of sensation, I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders as his lips hungrily devoured mine. Leaning me back to lay against the couch, Brian coaxed my lips apart as his tongue reached in to taste mine, stroking my senses with exquisite longing. I moaned and pulled him closer to me, sighing as I felt his body fitting itself over mine. His lips moving from mine to travel leisurely down my neck, his mouth fitted itself over the hollow of my throat to suck with gentle pressure. Running his large hands up my waist, he gently cupped the curve of my breasts through my shirt and I let out a small gasp at the sudden fire that traveled through my body, seeming to center in my groin.

Pulling back from me slightly, Brian’s eyes gazed deeply into mine and he kissed me so softly and sweetly that it brought tears to my eyes. Reaching up to gently cup the side of my face with his palm, he whispered to me that it was time for him to head on back to his room.

Attempting to pull my senses back into some semblance of order, I walked him to the door. He told me that we were invited to Alex’s tomorrow morning for breakfast. I told him that I would look forward to seeing him then, and that I knew he had to leave for the airport at about 10:00 that morning. We agreed that we would meet up at Alex’s at around 8:00. Bending down to steal one last kiss before leaving, he turned and waved at me over his shoulder, smiling as I blew a kiss to him. I closed the front door and stood at the window watching as his taillights were gradually swallowed up by the blackness of the night.

I got up early the next morning and made some cinnamon pecan sticky buns to bring to Alex’s place as a breakfast contribution. Leaving the rolls rising in the kitchen before baking them, I wandered into my bathroom to shower and then got dressed, picking out my attire for the day with care.

Making my way back into the kitchen, I set the buns into the oven and mixed together the icing to drizzle over the top. Noticing that I had a large unopened container of orange juice in my refrigerator, I made myself a mental note to bring that along as well.

After the buns were finished baking and had cooled for a little while, I packed up everything into my car and drove over to Alex’s, arriving at 7:30. Knocking at the door, I heard loud shouts of laughter emitting from inside her place. Shaking my head slightly, I smiled at Alex as she opened up the door to greet me. Following her into the kitchen, I set the rolls on the dining room table and placed the juice into the refrigerator.

Alex was busying herself about in the kitchen, preparing a fruit salad while she delegated cooking duties to Mick and Al. Mick was left in charge of stirring the sausage gravy and Al was supposed to be rolling out biscuit dough; instead, he looked like he had somehow managed to roll his whole head into the flour bin.

"Mick, I’ve told you twice already! Keep your fingers out of that gravy!" Alex laughed, smacking Mick hard on his hand.

Hearing another loud shout of laughter, I turned to catch Mick drizzling the top of Al’s head with flour. Smiling to myself, I shook my head and headed out into the living room, deciding that there were already too many chefs in the kitchen.

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and I opened it to see Brian, Bob and "The Big Boss Man" standing on Alex’s doorstep. Saying hello to the other men and giving Brian a good morning kiss, I asked him where Brad and Adam were. He told me that they had made plans with Jodi and Shelly for a double breakfast date that morning at the hotel.

Hearing Alex suddenly call out, "OUT! Out! Both of you!" I left Brian’s side to walk into the kitchen, laughing with Alex as I saw that Al was practically covered in flour. "Okay, I’ll leave and take a shower before breakfast," Al called out. "No you won’t!" Alex told him. "You’ll walk out back and shake off that flour first before carrying it through the living room and into the bathroom! Now get! You go and help him, Mick," she told both of them, scooting them out of her kitchen. Looking at me and rolling her eyes while giggling, she turned to see Bob standing in the doorway, crooking his finger in her direction. Giving her a good morning kiss, he promptly gave her a sharp smack on the butt to her "oof" of surprise before going back into the living room to join his friends.

Hearing Steve Perry’s voice suddenly floating through the air, we thanked Brian for putting "Journey’s Greatest Hits" into the cd player. Bopping about the kitchen with Alex while "Only the Young" played, we laughed at the sight of Mick and Al walking back into the kitchen, sans flour and wide boyish grins on both of their faces.

I scrambled the eggs and cooked the bacon and sausage for Alex while she finished up the fruit salad, biscuits and sausage gravy. Putting on another pot of coffee when I realized that there wouldn’t be enough for everyone, Brian peeked his head into the kitchen to see if he could help. He grabbed the plates and silverware that we had set out onto the kitchen counter and proceeded to set the table for us and cart everything out to lay on the table. Searching around the place for extra chairs, we managed to squeeze everyone around the table, but just barely.

Calling the guys, we sat down and dug into breakfast.

"Hey there my buddy Bob, why don’t you set me up with a few of those bad boys there," Mick said, gesturing towards the buttermilk biscuits.

Rolling his eyes good naturedly, Bob threw two biscuits onto Mick’s plate and passed him the gravy. Alex and I looked at one another, making a mental note that if we had breakfast with all of them again, a dozen eggs and two packages each of bacon and sausage wouldn’t be nearly enough.

Enjoying our meal and the wonderful camaraderie that we all shared, I hummed along contentedly to "I’ll be Alright Without You," the song that was playing on the stereo.

"Brian, pass me the hashbrowns please," I whispered to him. Smiling back at me, he served a spoonful onto my plate and I asked him if he liked the sticky buns that I had baked that morning. Nodding his head yes while his mouth was busy chewing, I looked up and caught Alex smiling at the two of us.

"Hey, are there any more biscuits?" Mick asked, a plaintive note apparent in his voice. Laughing and reaching over to pinch his cheek, Alex got up and made her way back into the kitchen to fetch the rest of the biscuits. Bringing out the rest of the sausage, bacon and sticky buns while she was there, she came back out once more and refilled everyone’s coffee.

"Thanks, Miss," Bob told her, reaching out to pinch her butt lightly. "Is that my tip?" Alex laughed, looking down at him. "It always worked for me before," he said, smiling back wolfishly at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Is he always that frisky?" I turned and murmured into Brian’s ear. "Sometimes he’s worse," he laughed back at me. "Speaking of frisky…" he told me, reaching under the table to lightly squeeze my knee when "Lovin, Touchin’ Squeezin’" came on the stereo. "Stop that," I hissed softly at him. "Okay," he whispered, leaning over to kiss the side of my neck.

Before long it was time for the guys to get to the airport. Walking out front with Brian, I told him that I would go to the airport with him and he told me no, that it was out of the way and that we should just say our good-byes here.

Looking down at my feet, suddenly feeling curiously empty, I silently wondered how his absence could effect me so much when it seemed like we’d hardly spent any time around one another. He pulled me into the circle of his arms, murmuring against my hair that he would call me within the next few days and let me know when they would be coming back to town. Nodding against his chest as my eyes stung lightly with tears, I reached my arms up to hug him tightly around his neck as he cupped the back of my head to hold me closer to him.

Leaning down and kissing me lightly on the lips, he smiled and thanked me for everything. "Be careful," I told him. "Take care of yourself. I’ll talk to you soon."

Giving me one last hug and kiss he walked over to the car with the others.

I looked over to see Bob giving Alex one last kiss goodbye, and he scooped her up into his arms and grinned at the squeal of surprise she emitted as her feet left the ground. Kissing her one last time, he stepped aside as Mick and Al came up for their goodbye hugs. Looking down, I laughed as I noticed the large bag that each man carried; undoubtedly full of cookies.

Alex and I stood together and waved as the two cars drove away before turning to go back inside to clean up her kitchen. I stayed at her place for awhile and visited before going home, managing to devote my restless energy to housework and laundry.

I missed him already.

************************************************************************

"And so it’s there my homage’s due

Clutched by the still of the night

And now I feel you move

Every breath is full

So it’s there my homage’s due

Clutched by the still of the night

Even the distance feels so near

All for the love of you.."

"The Mystic’s Dream" by Loreena McKennitt

True to his word, Brian called me later on that week and let me know that he wouldn’t be back in town for another three months. Hearing my sigh of disappointment, he told me that he’d work something out so that we wouldn’t have to wait that long to see one another again. Laughing softly into the phone, I managed to spit out the question that had been stuck in my craw for the longest time.

"Brian, I need to ask you something. I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve spent with you, even though it’s been brief. Because we’re talking so regularly on the phone, I feel like I know you so well. I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just come out with it. What’s going on here between us? Are we dating?"

"Yes, ma’am that we are," he chuckled back at me. "I’m a one woman man and right now my attention is solely focused on you."

"Well, the feeling is mutual," I told him, my smile carrying itself over the phone. "I’ve never really had a serious relationship. All I know is that right now you make me happy and I look forward to every phone call with butterflies in my stomach."

"Well, I know this is an odd way to date, but I’d like to pursue this because I’ve had more fun with you lately then… I can’t remember the last time I felt this good about spending time with someone. I’ll admit this to you though, I had a one heck of a time keeping my hands to myself when I was there with you. That night that we were at your place I had to force myself to leave, because I knew that if I kept kissing you, I wouldn’t be able to stop," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Closing my eyes in reaction to the sudden huskiness in his voice, I lifted my hair up off of the back of my neck in a futile effort to cool the sudden heat that was flooding my body.

"Well, just to let you know, once more the feeling is mutual," I told him, my voice suddenly breathless. "I, well, what I’m trying to say is that I’ve never felt before what you made me feel that night. This is really hard to say and embarrassing…I don’t know how to say what I’m thinking. I’m glad that you were able to leave, because I don’t think that I was strong enough to push you out the door."

Chuckling softly into the phone, Brian told me that if it were possible, he’d like me to put in for a few days off so that I could fly up and see him in one of the cities that they would be performing in.

I told him that I would check with my boss, and let him know when I would be able to take a few of my vacation days. We said goodnight, and he smooched his lips loudly into the phone to give me what he called "froggy kisses".

The next day I put in a vacation request and was told that I would be able to take a few days off from work in another three weeks. As soon as I received the answer I passed on the information to Brian, and he told me that he’d find out what city they’d be in so that I could make my flight reservations.

By the end of the week, it was decided. I would be leaving to fly out to Buffalo, New York at the end of the month to see Brian at his treat. My heart raced and my stomach fluttered at the thought of seeing him once more, spending more time with him and being on the receiving end of yet more of those sweet kisses of his.

The next few weeks drug by and I was antsy with excitement and so restless that it was hard to concentrate on much. I took myself shopping one night and bought a few new outfits to take with me on my trip. Stopping by Crabtree and Evelyn on the way out of the mall, I made a detour and treated myself to some new rose scented soap and powder. Walking down to Macy’s I passed by a Victoria’s Secret store, and found myself making another unscheduled stop. Browsing through the racks of clothing, my eye was suddenly drawn to a peach colored silk chemise. Tracing my fingers lightly over the delicate lace that bordered its top, I looked up at my reflection in the mirror, hardly recognizing the woman that stood before me. Was that really me standing there, the newly sensual creature that was tentatively allowing herself to feel and revel in sexual sensation? Laughing at my flushed cheeks, I impulsively walked over to the register with my purchase, blushing hotly when I saw the matching thong panties that accompanied the chemise.

Arriving back home with my purchases, I immediately tried on the chemise, standing in front of the mirror over my dresser twirling about, admiring the soft sheen of the fabric. Running my hands over my breasts to my waist, suddenly hypnotized by the mirror, my eyes closed as I suddenly felt my touch replaced with Brian’s. Opening my eyes to see my skin flushing lightly with pleasure, my nipples suddenly hardened and I tilted my head back, my eyes closing in pleasure as I felt the silk of my hair caressing my shoulders, picturing Brian standing before me. I smiled wistfully and shook myself out of my daydream. What was happening to me?

A few days before I was to leave for Buffalo, my phone rang late one night, and I fumbled around blindly for the receiver in the dark.

"lo?"

"Tina? It’s Brian. I’m sorry to wake you, I just had to talk to you. I miss you…"

"I miss you too, but I’ll be seeing you in a few days…"

"Well I…nevermind. I’m sorry to have woken you up. Go back to sleep darlin’ and I’ll see you in a few days."

"What is it, Brian?"

"I, well, I just wish that I was there with you right now, right at this very second."

"And if you were?" I said quietly to him, a little shocked by my boldness.

"Oh sweetheart…I’d keep you up for the rest of the night…you wouldn’t get a lick of sleep, so it’s probably better that I’m not there."

"You’d keep me up, would you? Doing what?" I laughed softly at him.

"I want to make love to you, Tina," he told me quietly.

"Oh I…well I…umm..oh Brian, I’d like…," I whispered back at him.

"Shh…just let me touch you…," he murmured quietly to me.

"But we aren’t," I began only to have him cut me off. "Yes we are," he replied to me. "Kiss me, Tina," he whispered once more to me in that tantalizing voice of his. "I want so badly right now to nip that small earlobe of yours. I want to wrap my arms around you and bury myself into your softness. I want to greet the dawn of a new day holding you in my arms."

Feeling the warmth of the sun beginning to uncoil itself from the center of my being, I closed my eyes, lulled by the husky promise of his voice. Running my hands up to gently cup my breast in my palm, I squeezed the soft flesh lightly, feeling my nipple hardening in response.

"Tina…talk to me Tina…tell me what you’re feeling…" he whispered to me.

"Brian, I’ve never felt this way before…I’m a little scared and…God…the things that you’re making me feel…" I moaned to him softly over the phone.

"Tina I need you so badly, I need you right now. I can’t wait," his voice rasped at me. "If you want me to stop, I’ll hang up right now before we go any further. I don’t want to make you feel awkward or pressure you into anything that you don’t…"

"Touch me Brian," I murmured to him. "I’ve waited so very long for this…"

Feeling my body rising on a tide of sensation, my hands raced on their own accord down the pliant heat of my flesh, drawing involuntary gasps from my being. Lulled by the husky accompaniment of his voice, I gave into my body’s need and my senses soon hummed with pleasure, quickly rising to a crescendo of ecstasy as a harsh cry flew from my lips to be answered by one of Brian’s over the phone.

Leaning back, feeling my skin gradually cooling and my breathing beginning to slow, my face burned with embarrassment as I heard Brian’s voice coming back on the line.

"Tina..Tina my darling…that was the sweetest…that was wonderful. What a treasure you are," he murmured to me over the phone. "Get some sleep now," he continued on gently. "I’ll see you in a few days."

"Goodnight," I whispered back, suddenly painfully shy. "I’ll see you soon."

Setting the phone down, I felt light headed and weak, my body spinning slowly down into a spiral of sleep. My mind soon followed.

**************************************************************************************

"If the world around us

no longer resembles us,

share it with me;

I shall take it and cast it far away.

And bright in the evening

You will be the moon that is not there.

In the lighter air

Your warm hand is on me

And perhaps you do not even imagine

How big this sky is,

How much space there is here within me,

And will be now that

You too want me like this.

You will find your magic again,

Little star in love,

For how much night there is still

In this night that has just been born!

With how much tenderness

You come closer and mingle with me…"

"The Moon That is Not There" from the album "Romanza"

I stepped off of the plane, my hands sweating lightly and my stomach giddy with excitement. Walking up the ramp that led to the airport terminal, my hand rose up to nervously smooth my hair down for what seemed like the zillionth time. Making my way through the doorway into the airport, my eyes raced around excitedly looking for Brian. Spotting his grinning face through the crowd of people, I pushed my way impatiently through the throngs and felt myself swept up into the soothing strength of his embrace.

"I missed you," he whispered to me, drawing back a little bit just to gaze at my face. Smiling down at me he leaned forward and kissed my lips with sweet tenderness, hugging my body closer to his.

"I missed you too. I’m so happy that I’m finally here," I murmured to him.

"Come on – let’s get out of here," he told me, grabbing my two carry on bags and leading me back through the airport. Making out way out into the darkness of the parking lot, he placed my bags into the trunk and unlocked the door for me. Holding open the door so that I could get into the vehicle, he suddenly turned me around and his mouth swooped down to latch itself onto mine. Running my hands up his back to clutch him tightly to me, I instinctively opened my lips to his and tasted the sweetness of his mouth as he slanted his lips over mine.

"I’ve been waiting for almost a month to do that," he grinned down at me, not one bit contrite. Laughing at him, I got into the car and we left the airport a few moments later. Driving to his hotel, he told me that he had already booked a room for me that was down the hall from his. Asking if I had eaten dinner yet, I shook my head and told him no, that I had left for the airport straight from work.

Stopping at the front desk to pick up my room key card, we made our way up to my room. Dropping my bags on the bed Brian turned to me and told me that he’d let me freshen up for dinner, and would pick me up in 15 minutes to go downstairs for dinner.

After changing, quickly running a brush through my hair and freshening up my make-up a bit, I sat on the bed while flipping through television channels waiting for Brian. Hearing his knock at the door, I stood up and greeted him with a smile. We walked hand in hand down the hallway to the elevator, we made our way downstairs to the hotel restaurant. Following the hostess over to our table, she gave us our menus and took our drink orders. Returning shortly with a glass of wine for each of us, we placed our orders and sat back to gaze at one another for a moment in silence. After a short period of time had passed Brian lifted my hand up to his mouth to kiss the back of it gently while caressing the soft flesh of my palm with his thumb.

"You’re so beautiful," he murmured to me, chuckling as I looked away in embarrassment.

"I missed you," I said to him, feeling myself drowning in the turbulence of his passion filled gaze. His eyes suddenly the deep blue of a stormy tumultuous sea, his gaze dropped from mine to focus on my rapid heartbeat fluttering in the hollow of my throat.

Lifting his wineglass up to meet with mine, the glasses clinked together softly. "To us," he said, smiling at me.

Relaxing we enjoyed a leisurely meal, my heart still making the occasional somersault in my chest.

"Per amore,

hai mai corso senza fiato

per amore,

perso e ricominciato?

E devi dirlo adesso

Quanto di te ci hai messo,

Quanto hai creduto tu

In questa bugia.

E sarebbe come se

Questo fiume in piena

Risalisse a me,

Come china al suo pittore…"

The beauty of the music beckoned to us, and Brian took my hand in his to head out onto the dance floor. Stepping into his embrace, our bodies flowed together in harmony as I closed my eyes, melting into his warmth, the scent of his flesh drowning me in a sea of desire. Suddenly drunk with sensation, I raised my head up to his to see his eyes upon mine, searching out the secrets of my soul as he gently cupped the back of my head to raise my lips to his. Kissing me softly, I gave myself up to the delicious shivers that were coursing through my body.

"I’d better get you upstairs," he murmured into my ear. "It’s late and you must be tired."

After paying for our meal we took the elevator back upstairs, my body still singing from the sheer joy of being near his. Stepping off of the elevator he escorted me down the hall to my door.

"Will you come in for a little while?" I asked him, smiling when he nodded his head yes.

Walking through the room to stand in front of the window, I gazed silently at the magical beauty of the carpet of lights that lay beneath us. Hearing him walk up to stand behind me, my eyes closed as I felt the warmth of his hands descend upon my shoulders, imprinting his heat onto my skin through the silk of my blouse.

"I’d better go now," he murmured to me after a few moments had passed that were spent gazing out silently into the beauty of the night.

"Don’t," I said to him simply, lifting my hand up to wrap it around the back of his neck. Tilting my head up to meet his lips, I twisted myself around in his arms and surrendered to the magical adagio that his hands were beginning to play across my body.

"I’ll be right back," I told him, walking over to the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I silently studied myself in the mirror as I slowly undressed. Reaching over onto the counter to pick up the peach chemise that I had purchased, I felt the silk of the material sliding over my skin and closed my eyes in pleasure. Stepping into the matching thong panties, I smoothed my hands one last time over the curve of my hips.

Opening the door, I stepped out into the room to walk over to Brian, the bottoms of my feet padding silently across the thick carpet. Seeing him sitting on the bed staring out the window, I walked over to stand in front of him.

Stopping in front of Brian, I placed my hands on his shoulders and smiled at him as he raised his head up to meet my gaze. Looking down at him, my breath caught in my throat as I saw the embers of desire glowing in his eyes. The moonlight cast a halo around my frame as I bent forward and kissed his lips gently.

Running his hands up my legs to wrap his arms around my waist, Brian pulled me forward gently to stand between his legs. Burying his head between my breasts, I heard him sigh deeply and I instinctively cupped his head in my hands, holding him to me tenderly. We remained motionless, wrapped in one another’s embrace for a long period of time.

"Let’s go to bed," he whispered to me, pulling back from me slightly and running the tip of his fingers gently across my cheek. "Okay," I told him. Walking over to the bed, I pulled the covers down while he removed his shirt, pants, shoes and socks. Sliding under the covers I nervously waited for him. Feeling the bed dip slightly from his weight as he sat on the bed, I felt him settle himself onto his back and then his hand wrapped itself around my shoulders, pulling me into his embrace.

Tilting my chin up with his hand, he kissed me softly on the lips. "Goodnight," he whispered against my mouth. "Sleep tight."

"You do the same," I told him, as I snuggled down to lay on my side cuddling against him, his shoulder pillowing my head.

Placing my hand on his bare chest, I felt the steady comforting rhythm of his heart. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, we gradually drifted off, companions entering the realm of sleep with one another.

I awoke the next morning cushioned by the delicious warmth of Brian’s chest. Burrowing myself closer to his body, I heard him emit a soft sigh in response and felt his arm wrap itself tighter around me.

"I love you," he mouthed silently, bending down to kiss my forehead gently. "Good mornin’ darlin’."

Looking up into his eyes that were still slightly hazy with sleep I reached upwards to kiss his lips softly. "And good morning to you as well."

Laying back down into the circle of his arms we watched as the sun rose over the skyline, sending beautiful rays of light beaming into the room.

Turning over onto my right side, I pulled up the covers to my chin and snuggled deeper into my pillow, sighing contentedly. Brian scooted himself over to spoon his body around mine, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist while burying his nose into the curve of my shoulder. Feeling his warm breath on the back of my neck, I closed my eyes in pleasure when I felt his lips moving softly down my neck vertebrae.

Tilting my head to the side to allow him more accessibility to my neck, I moaned aloud as I felt him pull my body tightly to his, my hips jerking in surprise when I felt his hardness pushing insistently into my backside.

His hand began to lightly trace lazy circles across my stomach that widened increasingly until his fingers began to barely skim across my nipples with the lightest tantalizing touch. Leaning forward to gently grasp my earlobe between his teeth, he nuzzled my tender skin softly with his nose and I laughed as his stubble tickled my flesh.

Turning my body to lay on my back I gazed up at him, my hand reaching up to gently caress his face.

"Make love to me, Brian," I whispered to him.

Gazing down into my eyes intently, Brian reached down to smooth the lock of hair aside that had fallen across my forehead.

"We don’t have to do this right now, we can wait," he told me softly, picking my hand up to tenderly kiss the tip of each finger. Cupping my hand to his cheek, he interlaced his fingers with mine and brought my palm to his lips.

"I don’t want to wait anymore," I whispered to him. "I’ve waited 23 years for this moment and now that you’re here with me, everything is perfect."

"I love you, Tina," he murmured to me, bending his head down to claim my lips with his.

"Love you too," I whispered back against his mouth.

Moving his lips softly across mine, he settled his body down on top of me, resting his leg in between mine. Running my hands up along his shoulders, I cupped the back of his head to hold those wonderful lips to mine. Opening my mouth to him, I felt him draw my tongue into his mouth with aching slowness. Arching my back slightly when I felt him glide his hands up along the slope of my ribs to cup my breasts, my breath caught in my throat as I felt his lips leaving mine to make their trek down the underside of my chin along the curve of my throat.

Sucking softly on the hollow of my throat, he ran his hands underneath my chemise to gently stroke my soft skin with his callused fingers. Pulling back from me, he gently grasped the bottom of my chemise and pulled it up and over my head, tossing it onto the floor. Suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable, I raised my hands to instinctively cover my breasts from his view.

"No, don’t," he breathed to me. "You’re so very beautiful…don’t you know how lovely you are?"

Blushing hotly, I looked away only to have him tilt my head back to gaze into his eyes. Lowering his head, my breathing almost stopped when I felt his lips moving down the center of my sternum. Making his way leisurely over to one of my breasts, he softly kissed my nipple, causing me to gasp softly. Chuckling under his breath, he opened his mouth and drew my nipple into his mouth, lightly flickering its tip with his tongue. A sensation shot through my body that I’d never felt before, and I involuntarily arched my back towards him, my toes curling of their own accord as I felt him begin to suckle.

Clasping his head to my breast, I softly sighed as I felt him glide his tongue across my chest to worship my other breast. My hips began to move restlessly under his as I felt his tongue slowly move down the center of my stomach, stopping to make a momentary detour at my bellybutton.

Lapping his tongue into my bellybutton, I couldn’t help but giggle softly at the tickling sensation. Raising his head up to grin mischievously at me, Brian quickly returned to the task at hand and slid his body further down the bed to rest at my groin. Running his hands up my thighs, he positioned himself between them and gently grasped the sides of my panties.

"I need some help here," he said, smiling up at me. "Lift up your hips for me, darlin’."

Obeying him, I felt him slide my panties down my legs and soon they were tossed aside, a forgotten memento like its chemise sister.

Raising my legs Brian bent my knees, resting my feet flat against the sheet. Leaning forward he reached out and softly kissed the inside of my right thigh, running the fingers of both his hands up my legs to rest at the juncture of my thighs. Feeling my body beginning to tremble slightly, I jumped in surprise as I felt him gently parting my lips with his fingers. Leaning forward, I felt his tongue running up between my lips, sliding them further apart.

"Brian, I…that’s…oh!" I gasped in surprise as I felt his tongue gliding itself into my warm wetness.

"Shh…sugar…you talk too much…" Brian murmured to me. "Just relax your body for me…don’t think…feel…"

Lying back against the bed I felt him grasp my hips with both of his hands to hold my body in place as he proceeded to worship me with his tongue.

"Brian…I can’t…I…" I moaned, thrashing about on the bed as I felt him slowly push his forefinger into my tightness. Crying out and arching my back up off of the bed as I felt him grasp my clitoris between his teeth, he lashed my tender nub firmly with his tongue while gliding his finger in and out of my slippery depth, establishing and maintaining a rhythm that gradually quickened in pace.

Feeling a tight circle of warmth beginning to uncoil in my center, I was a little frightened at the intensity of my body’s reactions. Attempting to pull away from Brian, a bolt of pleasure suddenly began to shoot through my system causing me to push my hips back towards him. Feeling him holding onto my hips more firmly, I began to cry out and buck my pelvis frantically towards his mouth.

"Let it come, don’t be afraid, let it happen…" his voice husked to me. "Come for me now, sweet Tina…"

Screaming his name aloud, my hips jolted upwards as his teeth and tongue latched onto my clitoris firmly, refusing to let go as my orgasm rushed through my being. Feeling my limbs turning themselves to jelly, I collapsed back onto the bed, spent. Feeling a tingling sensation in the tips of my toes, I looked at him and pulled his body upward to lay itself flush with mine. Pulling his lips down to meet mine I kissed him ravenously, tasting my salty musk on his tongue.

Maneuvering himself between my legs, I felt his hardness pressing itself insistently at me through the cotton of his underwear. Instinctively I opened my legs to it and felt him begin to rock himself against my wetness while murmuring sweet nothings into my ear.

Pulling away from me he quickly discarded his underwear and lay down beside me, his elbow supporting the weight of his body as he leisurely drew caressing circles over my flesh. Looking at his neck I leaned forward and latched onto his adam’s apple, suckling gently while gliding my fingers up through the light smattering of hair on his chest. Lowering my head to his nipple, I took him into my mouth and heard his breath hissing into my ear as I bit him gently.

Pulling away from him I let my gaze wander down his long frame, stopping at the hardness of his shaft that was pressing itself insistently against my leg.

My eyes widening in surprise at the size of his member, I looked up at him with uncertainty in my eyes.

"It’s okay darlin’," he said to me, leaning forward to kiss me gently.

"Brian, I have to tell you something. I’ve never…"

"Shhh…I know," he murmured back to me, leaning forward to take my breast into his mouth. Raising his body up over me once more, he slanted his lips over mine while running his hands down the soft curve of my hip. Parting my thighs to grant him access, I moaned into his mouth as I felt him delve his fingers once more into my moist flesh. Moving against his hand as I felt him slip a finger back into my sheath, I rocked against him, my breath quickening with every second that was passing.

Positioning himself between my legs, Brian ran the tip of his thickness over my slick heat, and I moaned at the sensation of his velvet steel against me. Slowly pushing himself into my tightness, he grimaced slightly while attempting to control his body.

"Wrap your legs around my waist darlin’," he breathed down at me, sweat beginning to glisten against his skin.

Doing as he asked, I felt him grip my buttocks tightly with both hands.

"I love you Tina," he said to me as he entered me swiftly, breaking through my barrier and planting himself deep within my depths. A sharp cry involuntarily flew from my lips as I felt a sudden stinging sensation that rocketed through my system. Feeling him pull out of me, he slowly entered me once more, and all at once I realized that I instinctively remembered this sensation, this primal feeling that was welling up in my soul. Locking my ankles behind his back I pressed my hips upward to meet his as he once again meshed my flesh with his.

Gradually quickening his pace, I pulled at him impatiently, growling with frustration when he held himself back.

"Brian, please, oh god PLEASE NOW!!" I cried out to him, sinking my fingernails into his back. Pulling himself out of my body he paused at my entrance before slamming himself back into me, hearing the grunt of pleasure that left my body.

Leaning down to ravage my lips he raised my hips further up off of the bed and begin to pump himself into my body with fast hard strokes. My cries of pleasure spurring him onwards, he pulled back slightly to press my clitoris firmly with his thumb. Suddenly feeling myself rocket once more into orbit, he soon followed as I felt him buck up against me, spurting his seed into me in several short jolts. Feeling his cock still pulsing slightly within my body, I looked up at him with a look of unspoken awe on my face.

Reveling in the sensation of being joined together with him, I lifted my hand up to his face to caress his cheek gently, my eyes filling with tears.

"What is it angel? I’m so sorry if I hurt you, I was too rough…"

"It’s not that," I said to him, my voice breaking slightly. "I…oh Brian my feelings are so raw right now that I’m scared to…"

"Shhh…," he said to me, sliding his body upward to draw me into the circle of his arms. "I’m here now with you, and that’s all that counts. I’ve waited so long for you, and I don’t want to waste a single second now that I’ve found you."

Sobbing quietly into his shoulder, I felt his arms surround my body and hold me tightly to him.

Quieting down after a period of time, I drew my head back to gaze up at him, whispering "I love you."

Tapping the tip of my nose gently with his finger, he mouthed back at me, "I love you too sweetie."

Drowsing within the circle of Brian’s arms, I turned to look at the clock and saw that it was definitely time to get up. Glancing over and seeing that Brian was still asleep, I quietly got out of bed, wincing slightly at the aching soreness between my legs. Making my way somewhat gingerly into the shower, I turned the water on and stepped beneath the warm soothing blanket of water, sighing in pleasure as I felt it course down my body. Standing underneath the spout and letting the water course in sheets onto my head to run in rivulets down my face, I picked up the soap and began to wash my face. Rinsing the soap off of my skin, I let out a gasp of surprise as I felt a pair of strong arms slide around my waist.

"Is there room in here for me?" Brian chuckled softly into my ear.

Turning around to face him, I smiled brightly at him as his lips descended onto mine. Walking us both backwards so that we were underneath the shower spray, I reveled at the feel of his water slick skin sliding slightly against mine.

"Do you need some assistance with your bath ma’am?" Brian drawled down at me. Laughing up at him, I nodded and handed him my soap puff with a generous squirt of rose scented soap in its center. Allowing him to maneuver my body off into the far corner of the shower, I sighed in pleasure as he became quickly absorbed in his task. Gently running the puff over my skin in small circles, he thoroughly lathered my back and shoulders, before turning me around to face him in order to devote some much-needed attention to my breasts. Leaning my head back and arching my breasts further towards him, I sighed as I felt his lips sliding down my neck and then pausing to nip softly on my collarbone. Sliding his fingers through the fragrant foam of the soap that was coursing down my stomach, he squatted down to leisurely clean both of my feet, one at a time.

Moving his hands up to cup the curve of my calves, he massaged the scented soap into my skin and I moaned aloud when I felt his hand sliding up the inner slope of my thighs. Instinctively closing down onto his hand, he chuckled and looked up at me, beads of water dancing like crystal jewels off of his skin. Turning me around to face the spray of water he rinsed the soap off of my skin, his hands reaching around to grab a washcloth. Moistening the material, he slid the washcloth between my legs, washing my slightly sore skin with utmost tenderness. Looking away and feeling suddenly a little shy with this newfound intimacy, he seemed to sense my awkwardness and leaned forward to kiss me softly, his lips gradually moving across mine in increased urgency and my hesitation soon vanished into a growing haze of pleasure.

His hands sliding down my slick skin to slowly glide into my inner moistness, I moaned aloud and felt him promptly lift my body up, sliding my legs around his waist as he leaned my back against a wall to support the two of us. Sighing in pleasure as I felt him enter me with exquisite slowness, I groaned my pleasure only to have him devour my mouth with his, swallowing my soon to follow cries as his hard heat moved into my depths with increased urgency.

Steam filled the room, coating us in its delicious blanket of sensuality as soft groans and loud cries became the only other accompaniment to the sound of the pulsing water.

**************************************************************************************

"Ah, come on Alex, let’s go camping – it’ll be fun, I promise," Bob cajoled to Alex over the phone, the infectious smile in his tone drifting over to mingle with hers.

"Okay, we’ll go," Alex replied, smiling when she heard his soft chuckle. "When are we planning this little camping excursion for?"

"Well, let’s see – I have some time off in another two weeks – why don’t we go then?" Bob told her. "I’ve been looking at some maps and I already know where I want to go. You don’t need to worry that pretty little head of yours with a thing – I’ll plan everything."

"Glad to hear that," Alex said, laughing at him. "Won’t it be too cold to sleep outside though?"

"We’ll be in a tent," Bob told her. "Don’t worry – I’m fully trained in wilderness survival techniques," he said, laughing softly.

"Um…we’ll be sharing a tent eh?" Alex said. "Can you keep your hands to yourself Mr. Hardcore?"

"Scouts honor," Bob replied, crossing his fingers behind his back. "Trust me."

Two weeks later, true to his word, Bob arrived back in town and Alex picked him up at the airport. Making their way back to her place, they stopped off at a sporting goods store to pick up a few last minute items that they would need on their excursion. Arriving back at Alex’s, they ate a quick dinner and turned in early, determined to get a jump-start on the next day. After ensuring that Bob had everything he needed in the guest room and kissing him goodnight, Alex retired to her room, tossing and turning throughout the night as she fantasized excitedly about the prospects that just might lay before the two of them this weekend.

Early the next morning, somewhere in the vicinity of dark thirty, Bob woke Alex up and told her with barely concealed excitement that it was time to get ready for their trip.

"Ugh," she mumbled at him, rolling over in bed.

"Come on, we have to leave soon," he told her, prodding her none too gently.

"Leave me alone you big bully," she said, swatting at him in vain over her shoulder.

"I’ll make coffee…" he told her insistently.

Opening one eye to stare balefully up at him, Alex hissed at him once more to leave her alone for the love of God.

Realizing that he was in the mood to do no such thing, she sighed in resignation and allowed him to point her in the way of the shower.

Showering leisurely, she dressed and then joined him in the living room where true to his word, he indeed had coffee waiting for her.

They left Alex’s place shortly thereafter and drove to the nearby grocery store to pick up some last minute things that they needed. Bob then drove the two of them some distance out of town and they arrived at their destination at around noon that day. Reaching the campground they unpacked their gear and set up the tent, Bob swearing all the while when the tent refused to cooperate with him at first.

Finally they managed to get the directions right and the tent was set up. Alex arranged their individual sleeping bags in the tent while Bob set up the remaining camping gear. After everything had been properly arranged according to Bob’s high standards, Alex was about ready to choke him most cheerfully when he insisted on an afternoon hike. She caved into his wishes however, and proceeded to somewhat gingerly follow him up the nearest hiking trail, grimacing now and then when looking up at the steep incline awaiting them.

"Okay, this has been fun but can we go back now?" Alex asked Bob, huffing and puffing a bit as her calf muscles began to scream in pain at the exercise.

"Not yet, come on, this will be fun," Bob coaxed her, smiling as he extended a hand back to help her over a large rock. "You really need to get out more you know," he told her. "This is merely a leisurely stroll.."

"Leisurely STROLL?? I don’t think so! You’re a sadist Bob," she panted at him.

"Let’s not be a poor sport about this," he replied to her, ducking with a laugh as she swatted at him in retaliation. "Temper temper…behave yourself and I’ll give you a piggy back ride back to camp."

Rolling her eyes, Alex nevertheless followed Bob further into the canyon on the other side of the hill. Scooting herself somewhat gingerly down the large rocks, she persevered in their hiking quest until they came to a large pool of water hidden in the bottom of the canyon. Stopping to rest for awhile and share some lunch, they basked in the warmth of the sun and playfully flicked one another with the icy water from the pool. Bob eventually glanced at his watch and told her that it was time to head back to camp.

Struggling back up the incline of the canyon, Alex followed Bob while cursing silently that this would be their first and last "leisurely stroll". Making their way eventually to the top of the canyon, they began to head down the hill, stopping mid way to rest for a few moments. True to his word, Bob turned his back to Alex and motioned to her while bending over at the waist. With a sigh of relief, she hopped onto his back and wrapped her legs around his waist, and they walked back down to their tent. Setting her down when they had reached their destination, Alex realized that the sun would be setting soon and told Bob that she wanted to bathe. Making her way down the road a short ways she reached the outside showers provided by the campground, and heaved a small sigh of relief when she thought of the nice hot shower that would ease her aching leg muscles.

Turning on the showerhead and readying her shampoo and soap, she was soon horrified to discover that there wasn’t a lick of hot water. Cursing Bob vehemently she gritted her teeth and stepped under the icy blanket of water, proceeding to wash her hair and the rest of her body in record time. Shutting off the water with a gasp she quickly dressed herself and headed back to the tent, wrapping her arms as tightly as she could around herself, the chattering of her teeth accompanying her rapid footsteps.

Reaching their camp she was relieved to find that Bob had mercifully started a campfire. Dropping her things onto the ground she rushed over to hold her hands out to the fire, shivering as she glared over at Bob.

"There wasn’t any hot water!!" she told him. "I’m freezing!"

Chuckling, Bob brought a chair over for her to sit on as she towel dried her hair, savoring the warmth of the flickering flames. He handed her a cup of hot chocolate that he had made in her absence, and she managed to forgive him just a tiny bit as she drank deeply of the blessedly warm substance.

"I’m heating up some beef stew on the cookstove. Will you watch it for me while I go and shower?" he told her.

"There’s no hot water," Alex repeated to him. Bob shrugged, apparently unconcerned. "That’s okay – it’ll put hair on your chest," he grinned back at her.

"Just what I’ve always wanted!" she replied, smiling up at him in spite of herself.

Bob returned to their camp shortly afterwards, whistling cheerfully as he saw that their dinner was ready. Sitting in front of the fire eating a bowl of stew and sharing several slices of French bread, they caught up on their respective lives in the weeks that they had spent apart from one another. Bob told her that he had tried to go to dinner with Brian and Tina one night, only to be turned down quickly as he realized their reluctance to leave their hotel room.

Curling her legs up beneath her, Alex yawned loudly and glanced over apologetically at Bob. He told her to go to bed, that they had a big day ahead of them tomorrow and she would need her rest. Rising up from her chair she walked over and kissed him goodnight before entering the tent, changing into her flannel pajamas and settling herself down into the freezing cold of her sleeping bag. Curling herself up into a small ball on her side she gradually drifted off to sleep, the warmth of her body eventually heating up the freezing cocoon of her bed.

Sometime during the night Bob came to bed, settling into the bag beside hers. Reaching over to kiss Alex’s forehead gently he felt her shivering in the dark, and shook her shoulder gently to awaken her.

"Alex, come here," he told her.

"Mglurghghessss…" she mumbled at him sleepily.

Unzipping his double sleeping bag he reached over to pull her out of hers.

"What are you doing – I’m freezing!" she told him through chattering teeth, protesting loudly as the cold air hit her body with a rush.

"Get into my bag," he told her. "You’ll be warmer."

Quickly climbing into his bag she turned away from him to curl up once more. Bob leaned over her and zipped up the other side of the bag before settling back down and spooning the heat of his body around hers. Murmuring contentedly, Alex nestled her backside into his heat and slowly drifted back off to sleep, failing to hear Bob’s soft curses as he realized that with her backside pushed up against his sudden hardness this would be a very long night indeed.

Snuggling deeply into the warmth of the large sleeping bag, Alex sighed contentedly in her sleep. Meanwhile, Bob lay on his side curled up around her sleeping form, trying to sleep without much success. The faintest whiffs of lavender circled around his nose maddeningly, tantalizing his senses as Alex pushed her hair back from her shoulders in her sleep. Sighing deeply, resigning himself to a long sleepless night, Bob drew his arm tightly around Alex's waist and attempted to involve himself in an in-depth fly-fishing fantasy in order to hopefully lure himself into the realm of sleep.

Sighing softly as she felt Bob's nose briefly brush the back of her neck, Alex pushed back instinctively towards the wealth of warmth that was surrounding her backside. Rustling around slightly and trying to achieve a comfortable position, Bob gritted his teeth as each bump of her soft bottom against his pelvis sent jolts of lightening up through his system. He grasped her hips with his hands gently, attempting to still her movements. Remaining motionless for one moment, he waited until he heard her breathing even out once more before relaxing, knowing that she was fast asleep once more.

There he was, wading out into the wide stream in his thigh high boots, readying his pole over his shoulder while preparing to cast out. Lifting the pole up into his arms he…

Bob's eyes snapped open in surprise as he felt Alex run her hand down and grasp his hand, still placed on her hip. Lacing her fingers through his, she murmured softly in her sleep and ran his left hand up over the curve of her hipbone to clutch it tightly against her breast. His breath exhaling slowly into the darkness, Bob tried to remove his hand somewhat gingerly, only to have her cover it with her own once more, forcing his fingers to begin to gently knead the soft cushion of her breast through the flannel of her pajama top.

"Oh Lordy," Bob whispered to himself. "Lordy, Lordy, Lordy…" Pulling himself slowly away from Alex, he rolled onto his back and reached his hand under his neck to pillow his head. Exhaling loudly through his nose, he gazed up into the darkness before closing his eyes and straining once more for the suddenly elusive fishing fantasy.

Tilting his head back he lifted his face towards the sun, letting the warmth of the rays seep down into his skin infusing his body with the warmth of the…

Alex suddenly rolled over in her sleep, pillowing her head onto Bob's chest and throwing a leg between his. Sliding her body up against his tightly, she ran her hand down Bob's sweatshirt lightly to rest it against his lower abdomen. Bob's sudden hiss was the only sound heard in the tent as he reached down and tried to once more extricate himself from her embrace, with little success.

"Alex honey…" Bob leaned down to whisper softly into her ear. "Alex, wake up sweetie - I think it's time for you to get back into your own bag…"

Mumbling incoherently, Alex shifted once more until she was lying practically on top of a now exceedingly uncomfortable Bob. Rocking her hips lightly against his until her legs fell in between his muscular thighs, she was oblivious to the loud groan that unwittingly escaped from his lips.

"Alex…" Bob managed to barely croak out into the darkness of their tent. "Wake up - you need to move now…"

Sighing, Alex cushioned her head against the side of Bob's neck as her hand ran further down his abdomen, lightly resting against his growing hardness before cupping it lightly. Responding instinctively to her touch, Bob hissed as he felt Alex's small hand massaging his shaft firmly.

Groaning in resignation, Bob gently cupped the back of Alex's head with his hand and held her body to his as he rolled them both over in the sleeping bag. Raising himself up over her while supporting the weight of his body with his hands, he leaned down and kissed the side of her neck leisurely, running the tip of his tongue up the soft skin before him, pausing to nip gently at her earlobe. Alex sighed with contentment, pressing herself up against the hardness of his frame.

Opening her legs, Alex encircled Bob's waist with her thighs, squeezing him tightly while pulling his weight down to lay against her.

"Alex…" Bob said, shaking her gently to awaken her. "Alex!"

"Mmslsh…hmmm?" she murmured sleepily.

"Wake up!"

Gradually fighting her way upwards through a heavy blanket of sleep, Alex's mind slowly began to grasp the sudden curious position that they were in. Letting out a startled gasp as she felt Bob rock his pelvis against hers, Alex felt her face suddenly flush scarlet with embarrassment, thankful that the darkness of the night covered the humiliation of her blush.

"Bob, what's going on?" she murmured to him.

"You tell me!" he replied to her. "I was trying to sleep and you apparently have other ideas…"

"Sorry," she squeaked out as she felt the softness of his breath caressing her lips. "Bob?"

"Shhh…" he breathed against her mouth, before his lips slanted across hers hungrily.

Opening her mouth beneath his, Alex murmured against Bob's lips as she felt his tongue slowly snaking itself into her mouth to leisurely mesh with hers. Running her hands up along his back to wrap them around his neck, she cried soundlessly into his mouth as his hands ran themselves underneath her pajama top, up over the slope of her ribs to cup her breasts gently.

Rolling her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, Bob lifted his lips from hers to slowly graze his way down the side of her jaw, pausing to nip her gently. Reaching down to the bottom of her pajama top, he pulled it up and over her head, tossing it unceremoniously into the corner of the tent. Bending his head back down to hers he paused to flicker his tongue lightly into the hollow of her throat before placing gentle kisses down to her breasts. Reaching out to circle one of her turgid nipples lightly with his tongue, he drew the stiff nub in between his lips and suckled insistently while lashing the tip rapidly with his tongue, biting down softly all the while. Feeling Alex beginning to slowly writhe beneath him, he ran his hands down to the waistband of her pajama bottoms and snaked his hand beneath her cotton panties, combing her soft nest of curls with his fingers before dipping one digit deeply into the warm slickness of her swollen flesh.

Moaning aloud and raising her hips upward to meet the torturous slowness of his thrusts, Alex reached down impatiently and wrenched her pajama bottoms and panties off. Suddenly sensing that Bob was hesitating for some unknown reason, she sat up and reached out to him in the darkness.

"What is it Bob?" she panted at him.

"Alex, I'm sorry, this is all completely my fault and I apologize. It wasn't my intention to bring you out here with me and then take advantage of you."

"Take advantage of you?" she snorted back at him incredulously. "I hardly think that's the case! After all, I'm the one who started this according to you!"

"Well, I chose to react to you - look, I'm sorry Alex, maybe you should just get back into your sleeping bag and…" his breath suddenly left his body in a rush as Alex pushed him back onto his sleeping bag forcefully. Straddling his waist, she leaned down to nip his earlobe lightly. "Now who's taking advantage of whom Bob?"

Raising up to grasp his sweatshirt in her hands, she pulled it impatiently off of him before leaning forward to lightly trace the faint lines of his ribs with her lips and tongue.

"What I was saying was…oh hell," Bob broke off, closing his eyes and reveling in the feeling of her lips moving against his flesh.

"You talk too much Bob," Alex murmured against his skin. "Like the song says, 'Shut up and Kiss Me'…" This was all it took to dissolve the last barriers of Bob's resistance, and heavy breathing was the only sound that was heard in their small tent for the next few moments.

When Bob felt Alex begin to tug at the waistband of his sweats, he hurriedly cast them aside. Laying back and pulling her on top of him, he cupped his hands against her shoulderblades, forcing her breasts to his hungry lips. Running his hands down the soft pliant flesh of her back, he paused to knead her buttocks before reaching around and dipping his hand back into her slippery heat, stoking the embers of her latent passion as she pressed her pelvis frantically against the hardness of his groin.

Sliding his body down with a groan he held her in place and suddenly his lips and tongue had replaced his fingers, his nose nudging open her moist folds as he gripped her hips tightly with his hands to hold her body in place. Feeling somewhat awkward, Alex straddled his face and pushed her palms lightly against his shoulders to lift herself up and off of him.

"Bob - what are you do-doing?" she managed to squeak out as she felt his tongue sliding into the slick tightness of her tunnel.

"You talk too much Alex," he muttered back to her, his voice muffled against her flesh, the delicious vibration making her squirm as it shot through her system.

"I don't normally do this…" she continued on somewhat breathlessly. "I've never really enjoyed doing this that much so you don't have to…"

"Not enjoyed it, huh? Wrong man sweetheart…" Bob chuckled, turning his head to the side and nibbling on her inner thigh. "Just relax 'darlin…relax and trust me…I'll take the reins from here…"

"I can't….oh God I don't know how to tell you this but I've never…well, you're wasting your time - I've never had an orgasm," she whispered shamefully into the darkness, regretting having said the words the moment that they had left her lips.

"We'll work on that," he promised her before turning his attention back to the business at hand.

Trembling slightly as she felt him push her pelvis back onto his face, she arched in reaction as his teeth gently grasped ahold of her clitoris, lashing the small nub forcefully with his tongue while simultaneously reaching a hand up to thrust two of his fingers into her tight heat.

Minutes later she was grinding herself into him without inhibition as her world suddenly became sucked into a spinning vortex of lips, tongue, teeth and deliciously stroking fingers. Feeling her body slowly beginning to build up tension and tremble slightly in response, Bob intensified his assault, holding her into place when she would have moved away, the feelings having become too intense.

"Bob I can't…I can't…" Alex panted, a light sheen of sweat covering her quivering flesh as a throbbing heat intensified in her center, frightening her with its forcefulness.

Finally bucking against him uncontrollably, Alex let out a harsh cry, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly as she came against the heat of his mouth. Whimpering as he milked the last remnants of her orgasm from her trembling body, Bob lifted her up off of him and slid back up on the sleeping bag. Grasping her hips in his hands once more he slowly brought her down to sheath his hardness with her slick depths, moaning aloud in pleasure at the sensation of her tightness fitting him like a glove.

"God you feel good," he hissed out to her. "Alex…sweet Alex…" Pulling her downwards with a sudden tug he was instantly impaled by her velvet vice. Arching her back, Alex began to roll her hips slowly forwards and backwards, pausing now and then to grind herself into his hardness in small rapid circles. Leaning forward after a moment she braced herself against his shoulders, letting his thick cock slide out of her before ensheathing him once more in her warmth.

With a growl of impatience Bob suddenly grasped her hips firmly in his large hands and began to move her up and down onto him, his hips rising frantically to meet her every downward plunge in order to max the penetration.

Pulling her forward to lay on his chest, Bob rolled the two of them over in the sleeping bag, feeling her legs wrap around his waist before he began to thrust more into her, rapidly establishing a deep smooth rhythm. Ignoring Alex's pleas, Bob continued to move in a slow steady rhythm for some time before gradually picking up the pace. Moving his hand down to find her clitoris once more, he massaged the nub insistently with his thumb while supporting his weight with one arm.

"Bob please - I can't take this anymore - please Bob…OH GOD YESSSS!!!!" Alex screamed as she felt him pull her calves up to lay over his shoulders before impaling her with a single devastating thrust.

Urged on by her keening cries of uncontrollable lust, Bob proceeded to ride her without mercy, slamming his hips into hers while emitting feral cries of his own.

Feeling a sudden tightening at the base of his scrotum, Bob clenched and buried himself deep within her depths one last time, a soft cry issuing from his lips as his seed flew from his body in pulsating jets to flood her system.

"Alex," he murmured softly, leaning down to softly kiss her forehead. "Shh…come here," she told him, enfolding him into the warmth of her embrace. Thus satiated, they finally slept.

************************************************************************

All too soon our delicious weekend had come to an end, and it was time once more to say goodbye. Riding to the airport with Brian in shared silence, I quietly reflected back on the events of the weekend and knew that if nothing else came of this, it would be a weekend that I would never forget as long as I lived. Brian had permanently etched his very essence into my soul, and we had both taken a small piece of each other this weekend to carry with us forever, for better or worse.

Walking me over to my departure gate, Brian held me silently, bowing his head down to whisper into my ear.

"I love you Tina - thank you so much for coming to see me this weekend. I can't wait to see you again - I'll call as soon as you get back okay? Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we're back in town for another performance and I can see you then - if not, I'll fly you out to meet me somewhere okay? It won't be long before we see each other again - I promise you that," he told me fervently before leaning forward and kissing me tenderly on my forehead.

Staring up into the deep blue haven of his eyes, my own filled with tears and I silently cursed myself for acting like such a child. "What is it sweetie?" he asked, concern in his voice as he saw my lower lip begin to tremble slightly.

"I just miss you already," I told him in a broken whisper before closing my eyes and letting the tears roll down my cheeks. "I'm sorry - I don’t mean to make a scene about this. I just…I…"

"I know," he said softly, enfolding me into his arms once more. Hugging my body tightly to his, we both savored our last few moments together before the final boarding call for my flight was announced.

"Love you," he whispered, giving me one last soft kiss before I turned around to board the plane.

"You too," I replied, smiling back at him somewhat tremulously.

Flying back home, my emotions were in such an upheaveled state that I couldn't think straight. Trying to go to bed early that night, I tossed and turned, thinking of all the time we had spent together.

He called me the next day, wanting to make sure that I had arrived home safely and telling me that he couldn't wait to see me again. That afternoon there was a flower delivery for me at work, a dozen long stem red roses and a stuffed teddy bear to accompany the flowers. Flushing with pleasure as I heard my co-workers exclaiming over the beautiful flowers, I took them home with me and set them in the middle of the dining room table. Their very presence made me feel a little less lonely, as if he were at least here in spirit.

That night he called, wanting to make sure that I had gotten the flower delivery. Thanking him profusely, I told him that I was overwhelmed by the gesture and that he didn't need to do that.

"Of course I did," he told me in a soft drawl. "You're my lady Tina - why wouldn't I do that for you?

Blushing, I thanked him once more and then asked him if he'd found out when they'd be coming back to town next.

"In another month," he told me with a heavy sigh. Pausing for a moment, I told him that would be okay, and that we could wait until then.

"Maybe you can wait but I…" he grumbled, stopping himself before he continued. "These phone bills are going to break us - you realize that don't you?"

"We'll do the best we can," I promised him, hanging up with him shortly afterwards. One more month. If he could do it, then I could as well.

And we made it.

The Monday of his arrival finally came around and I was off to see him at the arena that night.

Or so I thought.

The day of Brian's arrival back into town, I kept myself occupied, buzzing nervously around my apartment while trying to get everything ready for the evening that we would share together. I had taken the day off from work in order to get some last minute things out of the way. Brian and I had already agreed that I would meet him at the arena for his performance and then bring him back to my place, where he would stay with me. I'd give him a ride to the airport the next morning. I wasn't happy about only spending one night with him, but if that's all the time that we'd been given right now, we'd have to make the most of it. We'd have more time together down the road.

Shelly had phoned me earlier, asking if I'd like to ride with her to the sports arena and I'd told her no, that I planned on driving because I'd be bringing Brian back home with me. She told me that she'd meet me backstage with Alex and Jodi and see me then.

At 5 p.m. I left for the arena, stopping at the bank on the way to withdraw some money from the ATM. Tucking the money into my purse, I was taking a short cut behind the building back to my car when I was suddenly hit from behind.

Crying out in fear, I fell to the ground and my purse was wrenched savagely from my grasp. Staring up in a dazed fashion at my assailant, the young punk sneered down at me while rifling through my purse. Struggling to my feet to attempt to get my purse back, I grabbed at the strap and was immediately hit hard upside the head twice for my trouble. Falling back to the ground, everything immediately went black.

"Ma'am - are you okay?" A voice drifted in my direction, an accompanying hand shaking my shoulder insistently. Groaning, I attempted to raise my body up slightly and gasped when a bolt of pain raced through my head.

"Don't move - lie still okay? We've called an ambulance," the man said, laying a hand soothingly on my arm. "Just stay where you're at - they'll be here soon."

"Have to go," I murmured, knowing that Brian was expecting me. "What time is it?"

"5:45," he responded.

The shrill keening of the siren raced over in our direction as the ambulance stopped in front of us. The two EMTs emerged from the vehicle, walking swiftly over to me. Kneeling down next to me, they softly prodded at my neck while asking me detailed questions about what had happened and what I could or couldn't move.

"I'm fine," I told them. "I need to go somewhere - someone's waiting for me and I'm late."

"You need to come with us," I was told. "You might have a concussion, and you have a cut on your forehead that needs to be stitched up."

I slowly rose to my feet with their assistance and made my way over to the ambulance, where they helped me inside. Arriving at the hospital a few minutes later, I was told that I had suffered a slight concussion and several severe bruises. My forehead received 10 stitches in the process and my head was throbbing so badly that I thought I wouldn't make it.

By the time I was able to phone Jodi on her cell phone, it was almost 8 p.m. "Tina!" she yelled into the phone, and I winced in response, holding the receiver away from my ear. "Where are you? What happened? We're worried sick!"

"I'm at the hospital," I told her. "I was mugged and got banged up in the process - can you please come and pick me up?"

"I'll be right there," she promised.

Arriving at the hospital a short while later, I saw both her and Brian race through the waiting room, looking around frantically for me. Spotting me sitting in the corner, they quickly made their way over to me.

"Baby," Brian breathed, kneeling down to look at me with deep concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I smiled at him. "I'm sorry if I worried you."

"Come on - we'll take you home," he told me, helping me up and placing a firm arm around my shoulders as he led me out of the hospital. Jodi drove us back home and then took the extra set of car keys that I had, asking Brian to accompany her back to the bank to pick up my car. They came back within half an hour, and Brian parked my car out front.

Telling him what happened, he gathered me close and sat holding me for a long time. "Thank God you're okay," he said softly, kissing me gently. "How's your head? What did the doctor say?"

Telling him what I'd been told, we sat together for a few minutes longer before he carried me to bed. Lying down next to me he cuddled close, spooning his body around mine.

The next morning I awoke with a throbbing headache, feeling as if my body had been punished beyond belief. Brian was sweet enough to bring me some aspirin and a glass of orange juice, then told me that he was calling a cab to take him out to the airport.

"I'm sorry," I told him, crying silently. "I wanted to…"

"We'll have plenty more time together," he told me, kissing my forehead gently. "Tell you what - we'll be in North Carolina next month - why don't you come out and see me then? We'll take a few days vacation at the beach. How does that sound?"

"You mean it?" I asked him. "Of course I do," he said, smiling back at me.

"Okay," I said and then kissed him gently. "Love you."

"I love you too. I'll call you tonight," he promised, kissing me one last time before leaving for the airport.

So much for our romantic evening…

One night about two weeks later there was a knock at my door. Walking over to the door and answering it, I was shocked to see Brian on my doorstep, his bags on my porch and a large bouquet of flowers in his hands. "Brian!" I exclaimed when I saw him. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to greet a loved one?" he grinned at me.

"I'm sorry - come in!" I said, leading him inside. Setting his bags down in my front entryway, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me deeply. Hugging his body tightly to mine, I reveled in the feeling of his strong arms surrounding me. "I missed you," I murmured against his lips.

"Me too," he said, drawing back a little to look closely at me. "How's your forehead? Are you feeling okay?"

"Much better now," I replied softly. "Am I dreaming? Please don't wake me up if I am - I've waited an eternity to feel your lips on mine once more. Just kiss me and…"

His lips cut off the rest of my sentence, and I willingly surrendered to the love and passion that was overwhelming my senses. Tossing the flowers onto the couch, I felt him pick me up into his arms before making his way down the hallway and into my bedroom. Placing me gently on the bed, he knelt at the bedside and buried his head between my breasts. Wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, he heaved a sigh of contentment and we remained locked in a silent embrace for a few moments.

Pulling away from me slowly he looked up into my eyes lovingly, reaching his hands up to cup my face gently in his palms while lightly caressing my jaw with his thumbs. "Come here," I whispered to him. "I need to feel your arms around me - I don't want to waste a second of the time we have. I don't know how long you're here for, and right now it really doesn't matter; all that matters is that we're here together now - and I want this night to last forever."

Raising himself up he covered my mouth with his hungry lips, pushing me back onto the bed so that his body came to rest upon mine. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I returned his embrace eagerly, my body heightened with desire and my senses aflame as I felt his lips moving their way down the side of my neck, the stubble of his beard leaving a wide swath of sensitized skin in its wake.

"Love you Tina," he whispered, burying his head between my breasts once more and nuzzling me through the thin silk of my nightgown. "I couldn't wait to see you at the end of the month - I had to come see you tonight. I think of you all day and dream of you all night. I wake up clutching my pillow every morning, praying that I'll open my eyes to find you lying in my arms instead of waking up all alone again."

"Brian," I moaned as I felt him sliding my nightgown up my legs, the silk material coming to rest in a pool of heated desire on my stomach.

"You smell so sweet," he told me between soft kisses and tender caresses. "Just let me love you tonight - I need you so badly - I've waited to make love to you for so long that I'm going crazy. Just let me love you," he repeated once more, his long fingers blazing a trail of fire up the insides of my thighs as they came to rest at my groin.

And love me he did.

************************************************************************

A few weeks later, I was on my way to North Carolina to spend the weekend with Brian. He met me at the airport and then brought me back to his hotel, where I took a few minutes to organize my things in his room and freshen up before going out to dinner with him.

A leisurely evening passed and soon found us walking along a wide swath of sandy beach, our shoes off and laughing as we danced in and out of the waves, daring the ocean to lick at our toes with its cool frothy foam. Stopping after a short while to gaze up at the beauty of the full moon shining above us, I sighed with contentment as I felt Brian's arms encircle me in a tight loving embrace. Leaning my head back against his shoulder, I closed my eyes as I felt his lips slide slowly down the curve of my neck to nip at my shoulder blade gently.

"Can we stay here forever?" I asked him, my hands reaching up to rest on his which were wrapped around me. "Sure thing darlin'," he answered, pausing momentarily to place a light kiss against my earlobe.

"I feel like swimming," I said suddenly, lifting my shirt over my head quickly and laughing as I caught the look of surprise that flew across his face. "Here?" he asked, looking around to see that there was no one in sight around us on the beach.

"Yeah, here," I giggled, unzipping my jeans and pulling them down my legs before skipping down the sand towards the water in my bra and underwear. "Are you going to join me?" I called over my shoulder.

"Uh - yeah - give me a second," Brian laughed, yanking his shirt over his head and soon joining me in the water.

Reveling in the feeling of the cool satin of the water against my skin, I quickly began to swim across its surface, pausing momentarily to tread water while ducking my head back into the water to get it wet. Seeing Brian swimming towards me I smiled at him in greeting, thankful that the full moon overhead cast a shimmering light across the water and I could see him clearly as he approached.

I don't know what came over us, but suddenly we were like two teenagers making the most of the moment as we began to neck while in the water together. Swimming back towards the shore a bit so that Brian was able to touch bottom, before I knew it my head was swimming with desire as Brian began to make love to me. Gentle and slow as the waves lapping up against us, his body rocked into mine in a rhythm as old as time itself. Surrendering to the sweet bliss of his water slick body sliding against mine, I clasped him tightly to me and reveled in the sweetness of our world that we had created for one another.

The remainder of the weekend passed altogether too quickly and soon it was time to go home. Brian and I continued to see each other as often as possible, whenever they came to town or I could fly out to meet him at a nearby location. We spent long periods of time on the phone together, and our phone bills were soon outrageously expensive. Both of us realized how much sacrifice and effort that this relationship was going to take, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

It was on my next birthday, the one-year anniversary of our meeting, that Brian proposed to me. Presenting me with his great-grandmother's engagement ring, I cried tears of joy and told him that he had made me the happiest woman alive. We made the decision to set up house in Florida, and when he had a few days off we flew down together to scout out some homes. Selecting one that we both liked, we purchased it and moved in together before we were married six months later.

On a warm June afternoon I became Mrs. Brian Armstrong. The ceremony was held in a small church in Brian's hometown, and the reception was at the country club just outside of town. Brian made me cry when he jumped onstage to serenade me with the song "I Love the Way you Love Me" and we all danced together until the wee hours of the morning.

Two years later our son was born; our daughter followed three years later.

Are we happy? You betcha.