The three of them sat on the floor, Marcie finishing her wine while Kara leaned back against her. Celeste lounged across from them, watching them as the love between them shone like a beacon.

�Do you think I�ll ever find what the two of you have?� Celeste softly asked.

Marcie looked up, a smile touching her face, �Well, maybe if you�d give up on the idea of a man.�

The three women burst out in laughter, the joke between them serving to lighten the mood.

�Are you going to see him again?� Kara asked.

Celeste answered with a sigh, �I�m not sure. I�d like to see him again, but I think it�s more a matter of him wanting to see me.�

�Ohhh, pfft,� Marcie snorted. �What man in his right mind wouldn�t want to see you again?�

�Well, Marcie, we are talking about men, remember?� Celeste laughingly said.

Giggling, Kara stood, walking to the kitchen as she spoke, �I think Marcie was just having a blonde moment and forgot whom it was we were talking about.�

Mumbling, Marcie answered, �Oh yeah, just joke about me.�

Celeste rose and hugged Marcie, �Aw, you know we wouldn�t tease you if we didn�t love you.�

�Well, between the wine and the nail polish fumes, I�m totally confused now.�

The three of them burst into another round of giggles, their friendship strong enough to handle all the teasing and practical jokes that always occurred when they were together.

Kara turned to Marcie, reaching for her hand, �We should get going, you have an early morning tomorrow don�t you?�

Celeste smiled, �Well, not too early. But I can see you two have a late night planned,� the silk skirt swirled around her legs as she rose, the static cracking in the room, reaching up, she unpinned her hair.

Marcie and Kara smiled at her, each giving her a hug as they gathered their belongings, walking to the door.

Celeste watched the two as they moved in harmony together, envying the openness of the love they shared. Sighing, she walked to the door, �Maybe, someday, I�ll have what the two of you have.� Then, with an impish smile on her face, she looked over at Marcie and stated, �After all, I AM the Queen.�

The pillow came flying across the room as Celeste ducked. She�d been waiting for that kind of response. Kara rolled her eyes as she sat down laughing, �You had to bring that up, didn�t you?�

�Oh yes, I did,� she laughed, throwing the pillow back over the sofa at Marcie. �I had to let her know she is but a mere princess.�

They watched as Marcie�s face contorted with the coming onslaught, then, suddenly she threw her head back, laughing loudly. The knock interrupted their laughter.

They turned in unison, looking at the door as if it had never existed, turning, Kara and Marcie looked at Celeste. Shrugging, she walked to the door, slowly opening it. The two women finished packing up their things then stopped as suddenly as Celeste had, looking in stunned disbelief at the man lounging in the doorway.

�What are you doing here?� Celeste asked.

�I see you have company,� he stated. �Are you partaking in any sapphic pleasures tonight?�

Marcie grabbed Kara�s hand, pulling her along through the door, twisting to be sure she was as far from Matthew as she could be. �We�ll talk later, Celeste. Call me at work.� Then, glaring at Matthew as she turned to leave she muttered, �Asshole�.

Celeste� face had turned red, though he couldn�t tell if it was from anger, or embarrassment. He watched as she drew herself up, her head held high, as she looked down her nose, �I prefer men.�

His laugh echoed through the hallway, the clear baritone sending shivers up her back.

�Aren�t you going to ask me in for a drink?�

�Don�t you think you�ve had enough?�

�Baby, do you know how hot you are when you�re pissed off?�

Turning, the growl low in her throat, she opened the door and moved aside. �Fine. Come in. Have more to drink. Make more of an ass of yourself. And then you can tell me why you�re here.�

His smile broadened as he strolled into the apartment, �Why, to see you.�

He was turning all his charm on her, and he knew he could break her down, eventually. The crack of the door slamming behind him seemed deafening in the still room. Celeste just looked at him, not knowing how to deal with his audacity in being there.

�So, what do you want?� the tone in her voice warned of the rising anger.

�You.� His voice taking on a soft charm she hadn�t heard before. The look in his eyes told her she was on dangerous ground and her fingers went to the chain about her neck.

�And you think you can just come in here and get what you want?�

His fingers reached for the chain, tracing along her neck, �Yes, but I�m waiting for you to seduce me.�

She rolled her eyes, and turned abruptly away from him, her voice dropping to a whisper �I wouldn�t even know where to begin.�

He pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her as he lowered his head, his lips touching hers. She pressed to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as her lips parted under his in surrender. The thought kept running through her mind that she had only known him three days and yet, it was as if they had always been together.

He moved her slowly to the bed behind them, his hand gently lifting her blouse over her head, moving his mouth to her neck as he removed it completely.

He would have her, she would be his, and it would be tonight. He needed her softness tonight. It had been a bad night and the tension he felt could only be relieved two ways. To fight with her, or love her. Her sweetness had solved the dilemma; he would love her as he had loved no other.

He moved back to her lips, kissing her more passionately, his tongue entering her mouth to play with hers, the soft sounds she was making encouraging him. His hands moved down her belly, feeling the muscles quiver beneath his fingertips. She moved slightly beneath him, fitting to him, sharing his warmth. Her fingers moved to the back of his neck, tickling him slightly and he shivered against her.

While the one hand rested on her abdomen, the fingers splayed across it, his other expertly removed her bra, releasing her breasts for his touch. He moved down her neck, watching as her flesh reacted with fine goose pimples, his hands then moved to her skirt and deftly removed it. His mouth followed his hands, creating a trail of fire across her skin. She arched up to him as his mouth moved between her thighs and her abdomen, whispering to her "Tell me if it's okay."

She answered with her body, her slender fingers entwining in his short brown hair, her hips raising to his mouth. He tasted her sweetness, burying himself in it. His tongue sweeping along the edges of her smoothness, as his fingers entered her, his thumb sliding along behind.

Her whole body was on fire from his touch, his caresses fueling something she had never felt before. She tried to reach for him, to feel his hardness, but he stopped her, laughing gently "It's your turn, babe" She moaned softly as she surrendered to his expertise.

His hand moved behind her, cupping her buttocks, raising her to his mouth and tongue, while his fingers continued to move within her.

"Come on," he crooned, "you want this too."

Finally, as the heat exploded around her, she allowed the release she had been fighting. Her hips lifted off the bed, meeting his tongue and fingers full force, the throbbing began slowly, but came faster as she gave into it. He felt her surrender against his mouth and raised up to watch her, his fingers never leaving her, as he pressed down on her pelvis, creating a fiery friction, moving to her rhythm.

As he felt her begin to slow, he raised up over her, kissing back up the fire he had previously created. He paused at her mouth, whispering against her lips "I want to be inside you.

A ragged "Yes" escaped her lips, her breath coming in small gasps as she settled back against the cool sheets. His heart leapt at that one small word as he took her mouth with his. He let her finish removing his clothes, finally allowing her the exploration of him that she craved. She caressed him with her fingers, circling his hardness with her thumb.

His eyes closed as her hand slipped around his shaft, a slight smile touching his face.

Her mouth moved over his neck, tickling at his ear as she gently sucked on the lobe. He quivered against her, "No one's ever done that."

She giggled softly, "No one?"

"No one," he answered gruffly.

A gentle laugh escaped her "Well, I never thought there would be anything you hadn't experienced."

Leaving his ear, she moved down his neck, to his chest, alternating between licking, kissing and sucking, her breasts caressing his skin, the nipples hard against him. Her fingers brushed along his inner thigh, gently teasing him with her touch. He jumped slightly as her tongue caressed along the tip of him, not having realized where she was, so lost in his senses. His hands moved to her shoulders, gently guiding her as she slowly sucked him into her mouth. With ever increasing pressure, she moved against him, finally a purr escaping from her as she surrounded him. He quickly pulled her up with that, "It's too sensitive for that."

He rolled her over, and entered her swiftly, pulling her to him as she moved under him. He could feel how ready she was, and looking down at her half-closed eyes and bruised lips, he lost all control, taking her completely. She met him, thrust for thrust, her head dropping back as he pumped into her. She tightened around him, her legs wrapping around his hips, holding him tight into her, as she climaxed around him.

As they lay, quietly absorbing what had occurred, she softly whispered against his neck "Can I cuddle?"

He laughed, rolling over with her, "You're so sweet, of course you can, baby."

She smiled as she rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart.

"You seemed upset earlier," she spoke as her fingers traced small circles on his chest.

"It was a bad night, indeed," he muttered.

She lifted her head to look at him, "what happened?"

"Just some heckler's. Damn marines," he shifted under her, his body tensing.

Her leg moved over his, "hecklers?"

"Ah, I don't want to ruin a good afterglow," he pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head as she snuggled into his arms. "Fair enough," she whispered against his lips.

A sigh left his lips, "Baby, I have to go," he whispered against her forehead.

"I know you do," she softly replied, "I don't suppose I'm going to hear from you again, am I?" The tears she was fighting making her voice shaky and child-like.

He pulled her tight against him, his arms wrapping completely around her, creating a cocoon, "Oh, you'll hear from me again. Promise."

He gave her one final squeeze, kissing her nose softly as he caressed her cheek, "I promise."

She watched as he dressed, wrapping the sheet around her, still fighting the tears, wondering how she had ever allowed this to occur. As he walked out the door, she slid off the bed, walking to the window. Standing in the dark, she watched as he lit a cigarette, the flame cupped in his hand, as he paused to look back at her window. He then turned and slowly walked away, turning back to look every so often, until he finally turned the corner, out of sight.

She crawled back into the bed they had just shared, wondering when she was going to hear from him again, feeling abandoned and alone.

The ringing in her head wouldn�t go away. She moved her hand up to cover her eyes, the sunlight glaring in across her bed. She rolled to shield her bloodshot eyes, the jarring sound continuing. Dazed, she realized it wasn�t her head, but the telephone. She reached for the phone, wincing as it fell and hit the floor.

�Hello,� her voice was tentative, barely above a whisper.

�Celeste, do you have any idea what time it is?� Marcie�s voice was sharp, �you were supposed to call me at work.�

Celeste sat up, looking around the room, in search of the clock. �I�m sorry, Marcie, I didn�t sleep much last night.�

�Oh my gawd, you didn�t !?� The tone in Marcie�s voice made her blush, knowing Marcie knew exactly what had occurred between her and Matthew.

�Well, actually, yes, I did.�

�I can�t believe you fucked him. What were you thinking?�

Celeste smiled, the laughter in her voice, �I wasn�t exactly thinking.� She held the phone away from her ear as Marcie�s laugh came through.

�Of course, you weren�t, hon. I certainly hope he was worth it.�

�Oh yes, he was definitely worth it.�

�So has he called you yet? He did say he would, right?�

�No, not yet, maybe later.�

The sarcasm dripped from Marcie�s voice, �right, maybe later.�

�He�ll call. He�s not like that.�

�Hon, they�re all like that. I�m going to be totally shocked if he calls, but if he does, it�s �cause he just wants an easy lay.�

�Thanks,� Celeste sharply stated. �Never thought of myself as easy.�

�You know that�s not what I meant.�

�I know�

�Okay, change of subject, are you coming over tonight? You did remember the party was tonight?�

�Dammit, I totally forgot. What time is it again? I have to get ready.�

Marcie laughed, �you have plenty of time, hon. It�s not until nine tonight. You have about, oh, three hours before you have to be there.�

�Alright, alright, I get the hint. I�m getting up, just chill, would you.�

�Just hurry up, you know how I get when you�re not on time, like that never happens. Besides, you�re cooking, remember? And you do need the work.�

�Oh gawd, I forgot about that too. You did buy everything on the list?�

�He must have been damn good. Yes, everything�s here. Just need you to come cook it all.�

Celeste laughed, �don�t worry about it. I�ll be there and everything will be perfect as always.�

As she hung up the phone, Celeste glanced at the clock, 2:00pm. She�d have to hurry. She walked across the room, her toes curling into the sheepskin, bracing for the cold of hardwood floor. Quickly, she walked to the bathroom, flipping the lightswitch as she entered.

She reached into the shower, turning the handles, the cool marble in her hand. She stripped her nightgown off, the steam filling the air. She stepped into the shower, the hot water stinging her skin. As she washed, her hands traced the path Matthew�s had followed. She shuddered with the memory, wondering if what Marcie had said was true. She felt a small part of her would be lost if she never heard from him again.

She finished bathing, the water dripping down her skin. She wrapped her hair in the towel as she stepped from the shower, grabbing the other hanging from the door. Still lost in thought, she wrapped it around her, brushing droplets from her shoulders.

Finished with her shower, she continued with readying herself. As she applied her make-up, she thought again about what had occurred. She didn�t really know very much about this man, only how he made her feel. The black dress slid over her body, settling into place, as she once again checked to make sure everything was perfect. Then, grabbing her keys, she turned on the answering machine and swept out the door.