Sometimes, you just can't win for losing.

Jessie recited this mantra under her breath as she zipped up her jeans and turned to stare at her reflection in her closet door mirror. Two days ago she came home to find that her roommate had moved out without any warning and had also helped herself to a good part of her wardrobe. Rent was due in a week and she was going to have to scrabble in order to pay it on time. This meant that her ancient Mustang's transmission would again have to wait another month for repairs and she'd have to keep using the public transit to get around in the meantime. And tonight she was expected to show up at O'Malley's Tavern to meet up with friends and help celebrate the 50th birthday of a mutual acquaintance.

She wasn't in the mood to be sociable, but it was too late to back out now without appearing rude. Her well meaning friends had been after her for weeks to quit hibernating and to come join them more often, but she just didn't have the heart to go out and pretend that she was having fun. Things just hadn't been the same since she and…no; she wasn't going to dwell on it. She kept telling herself that it just hadn't been meant to happen and she would just have to accept the fact that some relationships were not meant to be. After all, there was nothing wrong with being single! She had her bed all to herself, she didn't have to fight with anyone over the remote, and any left over pizza was still in the refrigerator waiting for her in the morning.

From out of the corner of her eye Jessie caught the sight of her cat Bubba as he hopped onto her bed and began to sniff at the pile of clothing piled up in the middle of the mattress. Since over half of her wardrobe had been stolen the only clothing left for her to wear that evening was old Levi's, sweat pants, and various tee shirts.

"Whadaya think, Bubba? Jeans and a tee too low brow for my high society friends?" The big cat focused his blue eyes upon her and rubbed his cheek against her out stretched hand, purring loudly as his tail flicked back and forth. His act of affection cheered Jessie just enough to realize that she really needed to get out of the apartment and quit feeling sorry for herself.

Taking one final look into the mirror she flipped her long brown hair back over her shoulder and smiled. Well, at least her makeup looked halfway decent. And they would be serving lots of alcohol - maybe that would help make the men that her well meaning friends would undoubtedly try to hook her up with look halfway decent. If nothing else, she'd sit back and let them ply her with drinks until she reached the point of numbness.

Amazingly, the busses were running on time that Friday evening and she reached O'Malley's at a quarter to eight. As she stepped inside the heavy front door she heard the familiar clatter of voices and the beat of 70's tunes playing from the old jukebox. Glancing around from within the shadows of the entrance alcove, she sighted a group of her friends towards the back near the pool tables. As she started over to join them, the sound of the blender rumbling behind the bar reminded her of how much she'd love a strawberry peach margarita. She would have stopped to order one but someone came up from behind her and slipped his arm around her waist.

"Long time no see, baby. Where have you been hiding?" Max Chase was old enough to be her big brother and in a way he always had been, though there was still a lot of possessive innuendo in the way he handled and spoke to her. He watched her go through good times and bad, held her hand when she cried and held her hair when she puked but he never got the full treatment of a lover. Maybe it was better that way. He really didn't want things to change between them. Jess was a friend who made him feel like he was on the edge of being something more all the time but they never crossed the line. Who knows, maybe someday.

Jess smiled at the sound of his honey rich voice. "Mmmaaax!" Turning to face him, she threw her arms around his shoulders and gave him a fierce hug. He looked and smelled wonderful, as always. Max was one of those men who could wear an old cotton sweater and faded jeans and make it look like cashmere and silk - class personified.

"I have been hiding, and seeing you just reminds me of how much I've been missing!" She sometimes forgot just how many people did care about her and Max had always been one of her staunchest supporters. Why hadn't she thought of getting together with him before tonight? Because she was too busy feeling sorry for herself and Max would have given her a much needed kick in the butt. He was good at that sort of thing. She couldn't stop smiling as he made a growling noise and smacked her playfully on the rear. "Oh you wonderful man - buy me a drink and fill me in on all that's been happening - I feel the need to tie one on this evening."

"I've got that feeling myself. What, is there a full moon tonight?" he cocked his head around to look at her ass again. "Beautiful. So how about a SoCo and lime for starters. May as well do it right." Before she answered he held two fingers up to the barmaid and she knew exactly what he wanted.

"Alrighty then, how's your love life, Jess? As stagnant as mine. Maybe we should make one of those Cinderella promises... like, if neither of us is hooked up by midnight, we'll go home with each other. Deal?" He moved forward and leaned on his arms on the bar so he was looking up at her. "I'll sweeten the pot. If neither of us is married by this time next year, we'll marry each other."
Max's love life stagnant? Jessie found that rather hard to believe, but since he was joking about it, why hadn't they ever hooked up romantically with each other? Lord knew he was attractive, intelligent, financially secure, and certainly knew how to make her laugh…

"You know. You may just be on to something with that offer." She had to admit that on a few occasions she had allowed herself to wonder what it would have been like to get totally naked with Max, but she never seriously considered … "Tell you what …" She kissed him on the forehead and scooted over close enough to rest her head on his shoulder. "I'll take you up on your offer of marriage one year from today, but only on the stipulation that you get my name tattooed across your butt. In return, I'll become your love slave and wait on you hand and foot."

As easy as it was to joke this way with Max, she couldn't quite shake the sense of sadness she felt. Why couldn't she just fall in love with him? They were so perfectly suited in so many ways, but the problem was that someone else was still very much on her mind and her heart hadn't yet recovered, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. Just then the barmaid returned and as Max reached for his wallet Jessie took her drink and downed it in four quick gulps.

"Better fill it up again, and make it a double," Max advised the barmaid. He added a few more bills to the pile he placed on the bar. He was grinning as he leaned to get his drink but not for long. It brought him into an awkward position and maybe it was the SoCo but something clicked when he found himself nose to nose with Jess.

They were close enough to kiss at that moment, but neither one made the move to do so; the challenge had been offered and perhaps they were both just wondering how far the other was going to take it. Being as she was so absorbed in the moment, she didn't hear someone approaching until he was right upon them.

"Hey Jess, oh, there you are."

She somehow managed to tear her eyes away from Max's intense gaze and slowly turned her head to face the intruder. It was Colin O'Brien.

He had the worst timing in the world. "A little birdie mentioned that your transmission was acting up and I wanted to tell you to bring it on by the garage first thing I the morning, about 7am or so and I'll check it out for ya."

"O....kay....I can do that...I think..." Damn it, she didn't stop to consider that he would also be here tonight. "Hey Col, could I get back to you about this a little bit later?" Why did he have to show up now?

She quickly glanced over from Colin to Max and back to Colin again, so hoping that he'd take the hint. Max, being a gentleman gave the resident mechanic a piss off look but he spoke in his normal tone. "Colin. I thought you'd left town. Be a good guy and go someplace else, huh?"

"I'd love to, mate, but Jess and I have something to discuss."

"She seems to be quite comfortable at the moment. If I should move that would be disrupted. You wouldn't want to disrupt anything now, would you?" Disrupt, interrupt, they rhyme.

Colin took a sip off the stubbie he held and smiled. Extending the index finger on the hand he held the bottle with he stated, "Mm, tell you what Max; you're pissing up a rain pipe and speaking of pissing, maybe you should piss off."

Max wasn't looking for a fight, he didn't need this shit but he wasn't about to piss off unless Jess told him to. He got the urge to shift from the position he was in but kept it at bay, for now. He did however squeeze Jessie's leg gently where his hand lay relaxed before.

"Colin what kind of work do you do?"

"I'm a mechanic."

"Is it proper to discuss work at after business hours?"

His eyes narrowed at the minor defeat. Stressing minor. "I reckon you're right. I think I'll just relax like everyone else. Jess, love, we can discuss your transmission tomorrow. So..." Easing himself down on the bar stool next to her, he brushed Max's hand aside and replaced it with his own. "What were you two talking about? Proper night off from the old grind stuff, eh?" Interesting position she was in. Sandwiched between two fine looking men. Talk about a ham and cheese special.

Jess couldn't help but wonder at all this sudden assertion of territory on Colin's part. He'd never acted this way with her before. Never mind they had spent a weekend together three months ago and had ended up in a motel room, sleeping in the same bed...well, they really didn't do much sleeping...it wasn't like they were ever an item. And it wasn't cheap or tawdry. It was an enjoyable escape where they both shagged each other silly and then went back to their regularly scheduled lives afterwards. It was their little secret and as far as Jess knew, he had never spoken to anyone else about it. As for herself, she had never mentioned the occasion to any of her friends, and it had never happened again. It was something nice that they shared with no expectations afterwards. He went on to date another woman for a while soon afterwards and she was busy working and had no time for dating or romance. Sometimes, things are just like that. And they had remained friends. Oh, who in the world was she kidding?

So, just what the hell was going on? Had he perhaps had a bit too much to drink and was just feeling punchy like guys in bars often do? She flashed Max a look that she hoped conveyed those exact sentiments and turned her attention to Colin. "Did you just get here? Did you bring a date?"

"Naw, love. You know me. I don't go looking for sheilas. I'm more of a, wait and see what happens kind of bloke."

Max huffed. He knew Colin, but Jess had never mentioned him before. "I'm curious and if you don't mind me asking. How do you two know each other?" That little spark in his eyes was Max lighting a fuse, maybe. He suspected there may have been some intimacy.

Jess smiled at Max and gave Colin a sisterly pat on the knee. "Colin and I have known each other for, oh, how long would you say, Col...a few months now? He's the best I've ever had." Somehow, that last part didn't come out sounding quite right.

And of course Colin rode her comment for all it was worth. "You flatter me, Jess, however it's nice to know that you consider me the best...you've ever had."

"I meant that you are the best mechanic who's ever worked on my car."

"Of course, that's what you meant...what else would you be referring to?" His expression was his usual placid calm, but his eyes were sparkling with amusement as they focused upon hers.

Where was all this interest on his part after their time together some three months ago? Whatever was happening, she wasn't amused. Taking Max's hand in hers, she gave him a pleading look. "You know, I'm hungry...could you and I go in search of something to eat besides beer nuts and M&Ms?" She gulped the remaining contents of her glass down in one quick swallow and sat it down on the bar in front of Colin.

"I'm sorry love. I have intruded on something here." It was the look on her face that gave it all away. The last thing Colin wanted to do was get her all mad as a cut snake at him. He couldn't pass by without letting her know that he thought about her. More often then he'd like to admit. "Jess, I'll take a squizz at your car tomorrow. I reckon I should leave you two to your intellectual conversation." Grinning kind of apologetically he looked down at the floor. It was then he noticed Max's shoes. "Brother, I gotta tell you; if you want to score a sheila like Jess here, you'd be better off chucking those shoes. Looks like you ran a ponce down for them, mate."

Max leaned back and raised his foot up to look at his fine Italian loafers. "You think I look like a ponce? Colin, you can be such a cretin." Giving him a firm pat on the back, he shook his head and grinned up at him. "But I know you're teasing. Best you tell Jessie that before she gets the wrong idea and think you are really an asshole."

"I think she knows better." With a wink, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Reckon you better get her some tucker before she starts thinking we're all arseholes. Time for another VB for me. I'll catch up with you two later. Maybe." Leaving the bottle on the bar, he moved off without a further word.

Max watched him walk away before he turned back to Jessie. "If you're really hungry we could forget about the party snacks. I know a nice diner not too far from here. They serve a good old American cheeseburger with fries and gravy…"

Jessie's mind didn't immediately register what Max had been saying. She felt guilty for being so rude to Colin and for a brief moment considered running after him to apologize, but she chickened out. What was the use at this point?

Maybe it was the look in Jessie's eyes as the mechanic walked away that tipped Max off and he suddenly had this realization that they may have been more then just friends, though outwardly neither one of them seemed to willing to admit it. What was that old saying? Ah, to the victor go the spoils. He sure didn't feel victorious. Whatever happened from here on out, the choices would be Jessie's.

Taking the glass from her hand, he set it down on the end table along with his. "It'd probably do us both some good to get out of this smoky old bar anyway. Get some fresh air." Clear the air was more what he meant. It had gotten a little thick.

He offered his hand to her and led her to the front door. He didn't want any good byes or obstacles. He just wanted to get out.

Max stayed silent until he slid into the driver's seat of his car before he spoke again but he had a question for her. Whatever the answer was, he had a gut feeling that he and Jessie would remain friends.

"Can I ask you something of a personal nature?" He shot a quick glance in her direction before returning his eyes to the road. "I won't be offended if you say no, mind you."

Jessie knew that the question would have something to do with Colin. "Ask your question and we'll see what kind of answer I'm willing to provide."

"I'll put it to you straight. The look on your face when Colin left didn't just whisper the fact that you might have a vested interest in him. It screamed it. You and I have always flirted with each other, but I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't want to interfere with what you might or might not have with Colin, but I do want to see you on a different level. If it's going to be just as friends forever I'd rather we just get that out now. No more silly ideas of us hooking up." He liked her company far too much to not take a slice of it. In whatever capacity she'd offer. "No matter what you say, I'm still buying the burgers."

A vested interest in Colin? Was it that obvious? "Trust me, Colin and I are simply friends, nothing more." And trying to lie to Max only made her feel worse than she already did. She realized that he had picked up in a matter of seconds what she had been denying for weeks. She was in love with Colin, and had been since the beginning. And man, had she ever blown her chance with him big time.

She decided to be honest. "Well, that's not entirely true…um…Colin and I almost had a vested interest in each other, but it never went anywhere...over almost before it began."

Nudging his head toward the now visible sign that towered above the diner that they were going to, he grinned. "Sometimes a sign says everything about a place or person as the case may be." The well lit sign was missing a letter. It said .... Just Goo Food. "Either a rogue wind took the D away or they serve Gerber products. You see? We can only read the signs as they are presented, if you get my meaning. We can only see what we see and I'm seeing something different then what you are saying.

"Can you smell that, Jessie? They don't need to hang signs outside of this place to tell you that the food is good....or goo. I think the cook throws all kinds of things on the grill, aromatics like onions then just to make passing drivers hungry, he turns the vent fans on. He's baiting the trap." Chuckling lightly, he pulled the car into the lot, parking it right near the entrance. Always the gentleman, Max hopped out and moved around the vehicle to open her door. As he ushered her out, the diner showed its full glory. It was one of those old fashioned aluminum type places with red naugahide booths "The food is goo," he laughed again. Leave it to Max to find a restaurant with loads of atmosphere straight out the 1950's.

The cashier near the door smiled as they entered, instructing them to go ahead and take a seat and that someone would be along shortly to take their orders. Max reached for Jessie's hand and told her to lead the way. The place was comfortably busy as the majority of the dinner crowd was finishing up and there were a couple of empty booths available along the front window. As they made their way down the aisle with booths situated on their left and the snack bar on the right, Jessie's eyes were taking in the various meals the other diners were enjoying; hamburgers, chips, onion rings, chicken fried steak, what looked like Porter House...good old American comfort food. Her stomach growled in anticipation as she chose the booth furthest from the front entrance and as they slid into their seats across from each other her eyes settled back upon Max who had watching her intently with an amused half smile.

You'd almost expect to see a waitress like Flo from Mel's diner bounce up to the table but that'd be wrong. She was pretty, young, college age maybe and instead of the traditional pink frock, Pat Sullivan, waitress extraordinaire, was dressed in jeans, a light blue cotton blouse and a pair of shiny New Balance sneakers. Her beige blonde hair was tied up in a tight ponytail that sat high on the back of her head. One thing that was hard to miss about her was her apparent birth and rearing place. South of the Mason Dixon line.

"Hi y'all," she chirped as she laid two menus on the table. "Bless me, Max Chase, I haven't seen you for a dog's age. Where ya been?"

An ear cocked from behind the high red seat in the booth behind them. For some reason Pat's southern accent always reminded Max of the ones from in and about Birmingham, Alabama. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but every so often a word had to be repeated several times before he figured out what it was.

"I've been busy with the work," he replied as his eyes darted to Jessie. "Pat, this is my ...friend...Jessie. Jessie, this is Pat Sullivan."

"How do Jessie. Pleased ta meecha." Pat switched the coffee pot she was carrying into her left hand then she wiped her right hand on her jeans before jamming it towards Jessie. With the introduction done and smiles exchanged, she poured them each a cup of joe. "I'll be back to take your order in two shakes."

"Thanks, Pat." Max wasn't actually sure he wanted coffee but the smell of the fresh brew was pleasant. He waited for the woman to depart before turning his eyes back to Jessie. Clutching the cup between his hands, he dipped his head, causing that one stray curl to lie flat against his forehead in a most peculiar way. He swept it away once but it just fell back. Persistent unruly coif.

"I'll keep talking while you look at the menu. Where was I? Oh yes. Colin." He took one more fruitless swipe at his hair. "I have to tell you, for as many times as he and I've engaged in friendly banter, I've never seen him relent like that. Aside from the look on your face, I felt something from him that maybe you just aren't feeling. Never saw him act that way before, Jess, and it put up a big red light from my standpoint. The sixty four thousand dollar question is what are you going to do about it?"

Some relationships just have a certain chemistry that shouldn't be tinkered with. This might just be one of them. Even though something had kept Jessie and Colin apart for some time, Max might be the E in that MC2 theory. It's hard to mix oil and water unless you shake it. Add a bit of spice and you've got something nice to pour on your salad.

"Don't blow smoke up my ass, Jess. I firmly believe in being straight forward and honest."

Max didn't anticipate the hand that would come up over the back of the booth to swat the back of his head.

"For fuck's sake!" That was a bit out of character coming from Max's mouth.

"That any way to talk, mate? Especially in front of a lady," Colin exhaled the smoke from the drag he just took off his cig. Crushing the butt out in the ashtray, he wound his way around the back of the booth and slid in next to Max. Poor dear Jessie was now faced with the dynamic duo again.

"Ain't this a coincidence? I wiggled away from you two only to find we all ended up in the same spot." Crossing his arms on the table, he pushed Max's coffee cup away with the tips of his fingers, just to make more room for himself. "Don't let me interrupt. Go on with your answer, Jess. My curiosity is at an all time high."

Oh shit. Talk about being put on the spot. The men turned to Jessie, both looking just a little too pleased with themselves in knowing that they had the upper hand. If she could have somehow slid underneath the table without attracting too much attention at that moment she would have; her cheeks burned; she felt them turning six different shades of red and was afraid she was about to start hyperventilating from the embarrassment. Thankfully, she didn't. Figuring that there was no way to possibly feel any more embarrassed thaN she did at that moment, she lighted her gaze upon Colin and they regarded each other silently. His eyes were sparkling and he knew that he had her.

She took a deep breath. "You tell me, Colin...what do you think I should do?"

"Stop trying to convince yourself that nothing exists when it's as plain as the bleeding nose on your face." Reaching into his breast pocket he fingered a pack of fags out and shook it until one cig popped up above the rest. Colin seized it with his lips, near crushing the filter with the pressure he applied to it. With a tilt of his head, he struck a match and sucked deeply to draw the flame into the tip of the cig. Exhaling, he had a thought. Maybe it was he who should come clean. He should tell her that he'd called a one night stand 'Jessie'. He should be telling her that he wasn't able to stop thinking about her no matter how much of the amber liquid he poured down his gut. This was not intentional. No way! It was a force of nature.

"Take it easy, Col." Max turned his back to the window if for nothing else than to avoid the smoke. "So you had a tryst and the tryst left you both with a permanent mark. One that everyone else in creation can see but you both seem to be blind to it. Or afraid to admit to it."

Colin flicked an ash on the floor before crossing his arms over his chest. He raised his eyes up to Jess and cocked his head as the corner of his lip twitched. A few moments of discomfort passed before he spoke. "Reckon I'd like to give it another go, Jess."

"On that note, I think I'll excuse myself to the head. Coffee, you know." Max didn't hide the grin on his face as he pushed Colin out of the seat. He wasn't sure if he'd still find the two of them sitting there when he got back or not. It didn't matter. He'd done his good deed for the day. As he walked off to the men's room, Colin slid back into the seat.

"Jess, my ute's just outside." He nudged his head toward the door. "Don't reckon Max'd mind, eh?"

It took Jess a moment to get her bearings. Her heart raced. She felt stupid, embarrassed, sad, happy...Colin was, in her opinion, one of the finest men that she knew and yet the thought of what could possibly happen between the two of them if she just took that leap of faith that was making her feel ready to bolt. Taking a deep breath, she forced her eyes to meet his gaze and saw all the things about him that had gotten her so tied up in knots from the very beginning; his off beat sense of humor, his kindness, his intelligence, his unflappable calm demeanor that so many mistook for indifference, his masculinity... the way he had made her feel... the way he was looking at her right now...

"Colin, I'm scared." It took a lot for her to admit that to him. Reaching her hand across the table to take his for reassurance he gave hers a gentle squeeze in answer.

Then he winked and flashed his cheeky half smile. "Nothing wrong with being scared Jess, unless you're all alone. And I'm right here."

Before she had the chance to think of any reason to disagree, he slid out of the booth, still holding her hand in his, and gently pulled her up from her seat to face him. "Let's go back to your place and talk a bit."

If they went back to her place, she knew they would end up doing something else besides just talking. This was it - take the chance to feel happy and whole and love the hell out of this man or continue running away out of fear and lose him forever.

It was a no brainer. "Let me just leave a quick note for Max."

w

They were on the road a full ten minutes and Colin had been silent the whole time. He wanted to tell her some things and he had been concentrating on finding the right words.

"Jess....Jess honey; I'm really sorry 'bout the way things went tonight. I reckon things would have been easier to deal with if I didn't butt in, eh? I mean, I dunno what you had going on with Max but I really didn't want to..." He sighed in a frustrated way and glanced over at her, "break anything up". Facing the road again, Colin tripped over his thoughts. He never staked a claim on her. He didn't want her to feel that way but given the chance before he reckoned he should have never let her go. Their whole relationship seemed to be jinxed from the start and maybe it was his fault. He sure didn't feel as if he were as good a man as Max Chase. Maybe it was a mistake taking her away from him. He'd be much better to her for Christ's sake. Colin was just a friggin' mechanic. He barely made enough money to keep himself in fags let alone make any significant difference in Jessie's life. She deserved more. She deserved better. A man like Max would see her right.

"I don't want you to be afraid, Jess. I won't hurt you again. I promise you that."

His eyebrows were furrowed as he concentrated on the road ahead and the uneasy silence that followed was almost more than Jess could bear. "Colin, could you pull over?"

Unsure as to what she was about to do, he hesitated for a moment before pulling over sharply and bringing the vehicle to a stop. As Jess went to unfasten her seat belt his grip tightened on the steering wheel as if he were steeling himself for the blow to follow. He seemed relieved and surprised when she scooted over closer and put her hand on his arm.

"I wish you knew just how much I missed you and how many times I tried to work up the nerve to call you…" The way he looked at her as he absorbed her confession hinted that he had faced the same dilemma. Seizing the moment, Jessie snaked her arm around his neck and kissed him hard. She didn't want to let him go and the way he kissed her back reassured her that he was thinking the same thing.

"Stay the night with me and I'll fix you a big breakfast in the morning."

He smiled as he kissed her. "Only if you let me fix you lunch and dinner afterwards."

She didn't argue.

He threw the truck into gear and they drove the rest of the way to her flat in companionable silence. It wasn't for lack of things to say it was because his mind was working. So many women had crossed his path but none made him stop for any length of time. It wasn't like he planned for it either. He wasn't the type to be out of control of his emotions.

Pulling up in front of her place, he put the car in park and shut the engine off but he didn't move right away. "Jess. I have to tell you. Nothing's gonna happen here unless you agree to it. I just want you to know that." Giving her a long look, he didn't even realize that he'd moved forward to kiss her again. It wasn't until that familiar tingle in his belly made his eyes snap open that he realized that his hand was on her breast. Backing off a bit, with his eyes still locked on hers, he pushed away. "Not here. This has to be right. Right for both of us."

Jessie caressed her hand over his crotch and smiled. "Shut up and let's go inside." She was feeling the effects of the alcohol but the desire to spend the night with Colin was stronger than any form of drug or drink. Not that he was hesitating. Her comment was just what he needed to spur him into further action and he couldn't get out of the truck fast enough. Wrapping his arm around her as they made their way across the street and up the stairs to the front landing of her flat, he caught sight of Bubba sitting by the door waiting for them.

"Seems the prodigal cat wants in," Colin hummed as she opened the door. There was no hesitation from Bubba. The spoiled cat darted between Jessie's legs to find his bowl of Purina's finest. Colin on the other hand stood in the door frame and rested against a bent elbow. He didn't look like a big man until that moment; his muscular body filled the entire void like some silhouette from an art deco piece. Lowering his arm, he reached into his pocket and took his cigarette pack out. With a snap of his wrist he pulled one of them from the pack with his teeth. Maybe it was just to sate his nerves but he raised his eyes to look at her.

Who had a right to be so beautiful? Peeling the smoke from his mouth, he flicked it behind him, not caring where it landed. In seconds flat Jessie was in his arms. A few tics more and she was on the sofa with him on top of her, kissing, groping for all he was worth. Seems his stock went up a bit at that moment.

"Mmmm... Jess. Jess I've missed you, love." Murmuring between kisses he latched on to the hem of her shirt and peeled it over her head, shucking his off right after, before kissing her again. The familiar taste of her mouth still held a hint of the alcohol that she'd been drinking and he reveled in it. "Jess..." He rumbled against her lips. Slipping a knee between her legs, he turned them both until they landed on the floor, with her on top now. Amazing how deft his big hands were as he unhooked her bra. Lifting it up he looked down at her glorious breasts and groaned, barely able to tolerate the pressure and significant tightening of his jeans. It only got worse when those firm globes flattened against his chest. "I need you..." he hissed, as his lips pressed against her neck. "I want you." One hand wound into her hair to tilt her head. Open mouthed claiming of her lips again sent another twinge to his groin as his right hand purchased the firm flesh of her breast.

She could feel his hardness through the heavy denim of his jeans as she ground her hips into his, rocking back and forth in a shared rhythm of need and desire. His body was warm and hard where hers was soft and smooth, molding against him in a perfect fit as she let go of any coherent thought, aware only of his touch and scent. Wanting more of him, she edged her way down, her mouth trailing soft bites and kisses along his neck and chest, the palms of her hands flat against the taunt muscles of his stomach, her fingers deftly unfastening the buttons of his jeans and sliding them down over his hips to give her access. His breath caught in his throat as she caressed her fingers over his cock, the tip wet and dripping as his body responded to her touch. And then the delirious sensation of her tongue as she took him into her mouth, humming softly in her own pleasure at the taste and smell of him; salty, musky, and warm.

She wondered if he really knew how much she enjoyed this act, the giving of pleasure and intimacy of knowing his body through the use of her mouth and tongue. His hands tangled in her hair in response as she developed the right rhythm, his fingertips caressing her lips as they encircled him, his mind and body aware only of this moment in time and the sensations she was causing. All the while that her mouth was busy, her hands were busy as well as she shimmied out of her jeans and toed off her sandals, then concentrated on edging the waistband of his jeans down over his hips and thighs. The pressure of her breasts warm and soft upon his thighs and the feeling of her bare skin against the inside of his legs heightened his arousal to a near fever pitch of the need to possess and claim her for his very own.

He watched her under heavy lidded eyes and the tingles in his belly roiled and subsided then roiled again each time his thick prick slipped in and out of her wonderful mouth. "Can't promise I'll be able to please you love, keep that up. Can't promise." The sound of his own voice amazed him and when he saw her withdraw with his words, leaving a tiny drop of pre-cum to coat her lower lip, all he could do was close his eyes and lay his head back groaning as the glistening vision refused to clear from his mind. Fisting the base of his cock in one hand he squeezed as she sank down on him again and released as she sucked her way back to his throbbing head. His body began to fold and quiver and he could smell her musk in the air. She had to be wet and slick. The mere thought of her heat made his balls rub together and he lowered his hand to stroke them. Pressing his tongue to his lips made him imagine how her sweet clit would feel as it swelled between them. "Ah...Jess...sweet, sweet Jess..." Colin rumbled just before an uncontrolled jerk sent a stream of his seed down her throat. One, two, three. His knees drew forward and his upper body lurched. Both hands went to her head as he emptied completely. "Ah...baby." The shudder that came along with him set his voice up an octave higher than normal. His spent shaft became flaccid in her mouth, but it didn't lack any sensitivity. He winced and cried out when he pulled her off and up, craving a kiss of sharing.

It was nice; sweetness from her, salt from him and the still lingering taste of Southern Comfort. He held her tight in his arms for a moment before one hand rolled down her body, savoring her curves. Rolling it up over her hips he buried it between her ass cheeks to reach for the moist portal of her sex. The tip of his finger barely breached her before he withdrew to drag his hand between their bodies. Mmm, yeah there it was. That magical pearl he'd longed to stroke. Slick with her want and hard, he could feel her heartbeat pulse with the tip of his finger. "More?"

Opening her legs wider as she arched up against him in answer, her head lolled back over the crook of his arm, exposing her throat to him in that primal sign of trust and surrender. "Mmmmm .... more..." Her voice came out in a soft sigh of acquiescence as she then reached down to place her hand over his in a physical plea to continue. As if to further demonstrate her desire, she lifted one of her long legs and draped it over his hip, splaying herself wider as she put pressure on his hand with her own, urging it downward and his fingers back inside her.

He took a moment to gaze upon her face as she lay in his arms, her long hair fanned out around her head like a halo, dark brown eyes shining with desire and watching him in anticipation; it was a moment that would stick in his memory, eliciting a private smile upon reflection even several months later. But his mind was quickly pulled back to the present as her hand slipped underneath his and she began to rub her clit, a soft laugh and a smile gracing her lips as her eyes focused upon his in playful challenge.

Damn she was beautiful; warm smile, warm heart and very warm body. Watching her touch herself drew his eyes from her face but not for long. He could feel what she was doing, he could feel the slick wet clasp of her velvet sheath but he wanted to see those eyes. It was the way her lids dropped, so very slow, pausing for a moment before she opened them again. What a lucky man to experience so many sunrises in one day. Did he love her? Would he spend time relishing a woman he didn't in this way?

His hand was drawn to his mouth for a taste of what he felt. The sweet dew of her want clung to his digits ripe with her musk and its essence had a very arousing effect as did the sound of her voice. A voice never did that to him before. What was it about her?

"Jess, you taste so...mmmmm." It was a subtle way of asking her, telling her he wanted more. He wanted to bury his face between her thighs to scent and taste her, to tease and bring her to the place she'd brought him. Licking his lips in anticipation, he moved to gently ease her to her back. There may not have been any grace to his moves as he crawled between her knees, but he'd make it worth it. Colin eased her hand back between her legs and he spread her to watch how and where she touched. Dipping down he played around with his tongue, touching the tip of her finger, circling the area she touched, moaning from way down below as he slipped it deep into her sheath.

Entwining her long tapered fingers in his hair and arching up against his mouth, she was lost in the onslaught of sensation; his tongue thrusting and tasting her, the delicious tickle of his evening stubble as it rubbed against her delicate skin, the pressure of his strong arms and hands as he hooked them around her thighs, holding her open to him. Reaching over for one of the throw pillows that had fallen off the couch, she placed it behind her neck for support so she could watch. For a brief moment her mind wandered as she reflected upon how glad she was that she had shaved her legs that evening. How many times in her head had she imagined being with him again like this, wanting him so badly, that it physically hurt?

"Oh...Colin....."

Looking up at the sound of her voice, a soft breathy sigh as she said his name, their eyes meeting and the silent words that passed between them in that moment, he realized all these things about her and more. A shared unspoken promise to not let fear and doubt spoil whatever was to follow after this evening, mirrored in her gaze as she watched him, the gentle thrusting of her hips urging him on and asking for more as she cried out his name again.

What did this feel like to her, he thought as their eyes met. Did she feel the same swirling tingling things he felt when she touched him? Her reactions made him sense them all over again. Yeah, he was loving this. If he touched her on the inside of her thigh she kind of mewed and if he probed deep with his tongue she growled low and sultry. What kind of power was that? Let's see what happens if...

Running a hand up her body he felt her belly quiver as it passed over. He could picture the shimmy of her firm flat tummy and her deep sunk navel. His palm came to the rise of her breast and he hooked his hand under it just to wave the pad of his thumb over her nipple. It made him wrench his hips to hear her sweet sigh and to feel the flesh pucker up under the stroke. Kissing her sex, tasting and testing, he pressed his mouth to her entrance and sucked before slipping his tongue back inside. Exploring it the same way he'd explored her mouth earlier, kissing deep, he found that if he lowered his chin and arched his head just right, the tip of his nose brushed over the hard little pearl that was buried in her folds. Umm... he was really aroused now and every sound she made had him squirming and waiting for the moment her legs would snap shut on his body.

And then it hit her; she had been trying to hold back, but the pulse of sensations he was causing had built up to a dizzying crescendo so intense that she could no longer fight her body's need for release. The wave hit all at once, causing her to jerk back from him, but his strong arms held her close, easing her fall as she spiraled into the abyss.

Her legs tightened and her thighs pressed hard against his head as his tongue hungrily lapped at her creamy essence; he didn't think he could ever tire of tasting her, and the hum of her voice as she softly, urgently called out his name at that moment became his favorite sound in the world.

God, but she wanted more of him. She wanted his body pressing down upon hers, to feel his hard cock deep inside her and to wrap her legs around him and taste herself on his mouth. She grabbed for his hand and tugged; if he didn't take her now she didn't think she could bear it. His eyes gazed into hers and she felt her stomach lurch as he wiped his face on the inside of her thighs before making the slow ascent back into her arms, his mouth slowly trailing its way back up across her belly, suckling upon her breasts and nipping softly, lingering there as he rolled his tongue over her hardened nipples. Wrapping her legs high around his back she clung to him, almost beyond herself with need.

"Oh Colin....please..."

Easing back as the vice like grasp of her legs subsided, he sat on his knees between hers for a moment. As if there was a need to test, to check to see if she was ready for him, he stroked her with light fingertips, loving the sensitivity that was left behind from her release. His other hand fisted around his cock, pulling at the steel lined sheath of silken flesh.

"Jess, this is different, making love to you." His whisper was meant to tell her, in his own way, that he didn't feel like she was a one night stand. This time brought them beyond the friends who fuck title to something a lot more significant.

With his hand still on his shaft, he leaned forward, falling to seal her mouth with his. Winding one hand in her dark locks, he fed his cock into her slippery chamber and stabbed forward with a thrust of his hip. It felt to him like he'd had the wind knocked out of him and the grunt that came with was followed by a whimper. Her perfectly curved body accepted his tunneling thrusts one after the other. The steady methodical rhythm he settled into was a slow burn that took a gust of wind when she hiked a leg up on his hip. Good Lord that angle change had parts of him touch parts of her that had been neglected for some time.

"Mmmm, Jess...baby...feels so good. Gotta hold on love, gotta hold on..." Faltering in his rhythm a bit he gasped, feeling the edge approach.

She was right there with him. Gazing into each other's eyes as they both stopped trying to hold back the release their bodies' demanded, her fingers caressing his face as his fingers entwined in her hair, so many unspoken things between them conveyed in that one moment before she felt the tightening of his stomach muscles as he fought to hold back just a little longer. "Cum hard...I wanna feel it...oh God, your cock feels so gooooood..." Hardly something she would have uttered if she weren't in the throes of passion, but he was hardly in the frame of mind himself at that moment to care.

So close now, arching her back and meeting him thrust for thrust, she tried to hold back but the sensation of his balls thrumming against her perineum and the sound of him sliding in and out of her was the last push needed. Clinging to him, she cried out as the first jolt of her orgasm reverberated through her body, throwing her head back and gasping as she tried to remember to breathe, fingernails cutting into her palms as her whole body seemed to spasm inward. Another cry, but this time the voice was his as she bit into his shoulder, sucking hard against his skin in some deep need to mark him as hers.

The second coming of Colin was even more thunderous then the first. It took longer but hoh baby did he let go. How she managed to bite into his shoulder at the perfect moment in time will remain forever unknown but he was there, teetering, praying to the cum gods to help and then it happened. Her body seized on his and her teeth clamped down. It was a sudden rush that stole moments of consciousness, moments he'd never recover because he went someplace without a layover in Atlanta. The total darkness had him gasping for air and when he could finally see again, his eyes became filled with the perspiration from his brow, and he squeezed them shut again. "Goddamn…goddamn, Jessie. Never even did that to myself before ... goddamn." He giggled a little before licking the sweat from her cheek. Odd, yes, but everything was a bit haywire. Lying there with his full weight on her, he finally caught himself dozing off. It was one of those I think I'm falling twitches that jolted him awake.

"Love, we should just go to bed." Easing off of her, he shivered with the loss of their joining. He moved to lie by her side, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He loved the way her skin smelled after they made love. He never ever forgot that. Breathing in her essence, he raised a hand to lightly cradle her face. With his lips pressed close to the lobe of her ear, he whispered something. Something he thought before but wasn't too sure of. His mouth was dry, and it could be heard in his voice, still raspy with lust as he said those words he'd tried not to because of his own fear.

"Jess...Jess...I love you, baby."

She wanted to cry when she heard those words, but she clung to him and whispered a response that made him smile. "I've loved you from the first moment I saw you."

It suddenly felt very cold and uncomfortable, lying naked together on the rug and she reluctantly eased out of his grasp and sat up to face him. The comfort of her bed was calling. "You know, you may have to fight with Bubba over who gets the lion's share of the mattress."

As if on cue, Bubba felt the need just then to come over and investigate the whole situation. So okay, here was the test...if Bubba liked him, Colin was in like Flynn. However, Bubba was a true ladies man and rarely suffered the presence of other males in his domain. Sniffing at him with far more daintiness than his 19 lb frame suggested, whiskers twitching and tail swishing, Colin held out his hand for him to examine and then the amazing happened; the rotund feline rolled over onto his back and meowed, purring loudly as Colin scratched him underneath the chin. "That's not a problem...looks like Bubba and I are gonna be mates after all."

She got up from the floor and looked back over her shoulder at the two of them. "Be careful...he suffers from chronic gas. Nothing worse than a cat fart next to your head first thing in the morning, trust me."

"Ah, don't listen to her, Bubba...that's simply another term for male bonding." He gave the cat a final pat as he pushed himself up off the carpet, winking at Jess as his knees made a loud cracking noise. "Getting' old, Jess...too old to be rootin' a woman on the floor."

"Well, we'll just have to make sure to find a more comfortable place to root next time." Winking back at him, she took his hand and led him down the short hallway into her room where the king sized bed beckoned to them.

A full moon shone in through the window and illuminated her form as she crawled across the down comforter, allowing him the chance to once again enjoy the sight of her naked before him. He liked watching her body and how it moved with almost feline grace as she settled in beneath the covers. The sheets felt smooth and cool upon his skin as he slid across them to join her, pulling her into his arms as he adjusted the blankets around them. A few seconds later, Bubba hopped up to join in the sleep over, but decided that he liked the idea of lying between Colin's legs better than his usual post at the foot of the bed.