Disclaimer: KISS, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are actual persons. This is a work of FICTION, and is not meant to harm or demean. It is a fictional account of what things might have been like for a personal friend of Gene and a friend of Stan getting to know KISS in their formative years. Raina MacLaren, Karen Valentez, Trisha Malloy and Liz of Sweet Revenge are property of the author, Trynia Merin.

During the time that Gene and Raina had run into certain danger, Stan and Karen were facing their own challenge. For most of the time he drove along, he said nothing. The radio blared Light my Fire by the Doors, and Karen was frightened at the silence that spoke more loudly then any cries or yells could.

She had to put a stop to the strong silent treatment and fast. To come right out seemed the only way, so she finally said, "okay Stan, WHAT's going on here?"

"I don't know what you mean." He answered, staring straight ahead.

"Oh really?" she asked. "I mean you barely say two words in a sentence... since you left the club..."

"I told you, places like that, all that smoke and shit, they give me a headache" he muttered.

"Why did you come then?" she asked. "I mean you are going to play in places like that right? Why is it an issue now?"

He hesitated for a moment, and sighed, "Gene wanted me to come and meet this new supposed drummer. Not to MENTION the fact that I find out that YOU are going to be there and you never bothered to invite me."

"I know you're mad I didn't invite you, but I KNEW you'd be all jealous and everything!"

"Almost made me think you have someone there you'd rather be with," he said in a low, angry voice.

"Stan... you're jealous, I know... but you have NOTHING to worry about. For CRYING OUT LOUD... I didn't even let those men touch me! You didn't have to worry..."

"I don't want to talk about it. I just want to go home." He said as he wiped his eyes a bit.

"Is it because of the way those men were looking at me?" she asked slowly. He suddenly pulled the cab over and stopped rather abruptly.

"Well, NOW that you bring up that topic...yes...I DO have a bit of an issue with the way you were dressed."

"It's a costume, nothing more..." she shot back. "Hell RAYNA had a miniskirt on, so did Trish!"

"Yeah, that's the problem. There was nothing more. Too damn bad. I think you could have STOOD to have a bit more, if you ask me." He said sarcastically. He reached up and angrily flips her finger at her top.

"Don't start sounding like my damn FATHER..." she snapped back.

"God Stan I thought you weren't such a square!"

Stan looked to the ceiling and closes his eyes in anger. He cried, "Do you have any idea how many men in that club wanted to screw you senseless? I KNOW you're not like that, but you damn sure looked like you were..."

"Well what about when those WOMEN want you... when you make it big, huh?" Karen countered. "Can you say you won't strut your stuff..."

"It's different for me" he sighed.

"And HOW is that, Mr. Eisen?" she demanded. "This is the seventies, not the Victorian era!"

"Because...I'm male. I suppose." he said weakly.

"Oh RIGHT..." she snapped. "That makes it ALL RIGHT..."

"And because I don't have breasts that are hanging out for everyone to see."

"And EVERY girl can see what I only see?" she asked. "What if you wanted to strut around topless yourself?

"Listen. Damn it, just listen!" he shouted in frustration, knowing he's digging himself further into a hole.

"I am," she choked.

"I don't want my girlfriend parading around onstage with everything on display. It's just WRONG," he said in frustration, slamming the steering wheel. "Hell, even GENE was leering."

"And it's RIGHT for you GUYS to shake your asses onstage? What if you acted like freaking Pete Townsend from the WHO?"

"You're MINE, damn it, Karen!" he yelled. "And what if I'm not there and some guy tries something?"

"That's what bouncers are for. Security guards. We're making sure to have them at all concerts..."

"I saw that guy right by the stage and if he could have gotten away with it, he would have GRABBED you, Karen!" Stan growled.

"I would have put my heel up his ASS!" she snapped. "Or else Maurice would have done it for me."

"I saw him turn around to his friend and make a hand motion, like you have nice tits or something" he said, eyes still closed.

"Stan, please, it's just a damn ACT. I KNEW you'd get like this..." she muttered.

Stanley's voice grew momentarily soft as he said, "Karen, I love you. I know you don't understand, but I do."

"I love you too, but I will NOT sit here and feel GUILTY for how I perform. When I get up on that stage, I'm indestructible; I'm the woman I always wanted to be... nobody telling me what to do... Don't you think I thought about that when I didn't invite you? I didn't think you'd get it..."

"I do...I DO get it. I just don't like...I don't know...the idea of other men getting it too."

"They DON'T damn it!" she shouted. "They look and don't touch."

"I don't even like them looking," he moped.

"Well how am I supposed to feel when the ladies look at you?" Karen asked him again. "My god Stan, Trish thinks you're a dreamboat... I'm fricking JEALOUS she's going to try and SNARE you..."

"I'm not a dreamboat, Karen. No one even wastes ten minutes on me, other than you," he cut her off. "And I'm NOT into Trish. Or Liz. Or Raina. I'm only into you."

"Bullshit," Karen snorted. "You're gorgeous. And someday women will FALL At your feet."

"Maybe, if I get to be a rock star and make tons of money. But only because of that," Stanley shook his head with an ironic laugh. "Karen, ten years ago, I was a fat little kid and I couldn't have dreamed of spending time with a girl like you, let alone taking her virginity."

"I'm nothing special Stan," she said. "There's a dozen girls like me... Who want to look good. But how many can SING? Or have BRAINS in their head? The only way they pay attention to my voice is for me to show some skin... and hope they notice me sing!"

"Do you realize how damn lucky I am? And how scared I am of losing that?" Stan asked. "Now, it's MY turn to say Bullsh**t".

"I'm some DUMB BLOND... otherwise," she continued.

"Love, you were DEFINITELY hot up there, and I don't want you to think that I wasn't proud as hell of you. I'm just...afraid, I guess."

"Afraid?" she asked. "Then maybe you shouldn't bother seeing my shows."

"Do you have ANY idea how infuriating it was to have Simmons look at me and whisper, "You got a piece of that yet?" he asked angrily. "He's just busting my chops, but crap...."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have to WORRY about me anymore then," she muttered, and turned around to unclip her seatbelt. She grabbed the handle of the cab door, and started to open it. Quickly he seized her arm and pulled her back.

"Stanley, let me go..." she said firmly.

"Don't leave. Please" he whispered. "I have a million things I want to say to you. I just don't know where to start, and every time I do, I just f**ck up even more!"

She glanced back at his brown eyes wide and sad. Sighing, she turned to listen, slamming the door shut again. Hot tears sprang at her eyes, and she stammered, "Stan... I just..."

"I know, hon. You just want to be able to get up onstage and perform your music, the same as I want. It's no different. Only when I'm onstage, I don't have to worry about leering old men and young studs watching you and wanting to get in your pants."

"But I worry about women wanting you..." she said slowly.

"And Gene talking about how I need a piece of you" he sighed. "And you getting so into it you want them more then me."

"The girls, the women wanting you... and you can have ANY of them you want. It will happen Stan."

"But that might be a long time away" he mumbled. "You'll be there before I will.":

A lump formed in her throat, and she sniffed. Tears blurred her vision of him, and she began to sob. Makeup began to run off onto her fingers, and down her neck.

"And not to mention that I didn't even get invited tonight. Your parents and me. I'm no better than they are. You can't count on me. Apparently..." he said sadly, as he looked out the window. Rain began to pitter-patter against the windshield.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, turning away. Again she reached for the door handle, and opened the car door. "Now I've hurt you... I think I'll just go now before I say anything else stupid..."

He took her arm yet again, more gently this time, and whispered,

"You can't leave, Karen. It's raining. And I can't stand to have you leave me like this."

She continued to cry, holding her knees into her chest, "I don't deserve you.

Just then, they saw the shadow of a man comes over, accompanied by a loud tapping on the window. A muffled voice shouted something, and Stanley rolled it down in annoyance as the man shouted about needing to get across town.

"I'm OFF f***cking duty," he snarled.

"Take the fare Paul..." she whispered. "You need the money."

"What about it, man, it's LATE!" the customer shouted.

"Get lost. There's a cab on the next corner!" Stan yelled at him. He rolled up the window as he starts the cab again. "We need to get the hell out of here."

Down one of the more remote streets he pulled, driving again. With no particular destination, they circled the block a few times before Karen asked, "where to?"

"Too bad we have NO idea where they are," Gene said to Raina, glancing up at the clouds drifting over the moon. A sudden clatter made her jump and grab Gene's hand.

"Easy there, sweetheart" he whispers as he holds her tight. "It's just a trash can falling over... some stupid cat got into it..."

"Shit," she cursed. They then heard a distant engine rumbling as a motorcycle speeds by on the street. It passes them in the night, not stopping. In the distance, they heard car horns honking amidst the wail of a police siren.

"Sounds like a busy night," Gene joked.

"Good night New York," she laughed, still nervous.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, clouds sliding over the moon. Again the crackle sounded overhead, and something softly splotched her on the nose. A thousand pitter-patters hit her full in the face, and they leapt up.

"Shit, it WOULD rain," Gene muttered. "C'mon..."

She reached into the coat pocket and found a collapsible umbrella. Tugging it out she struggled to get it open before the downpour soaked them both to the skin again. Gene tugged her under and shouted, "Would you feel better if we go inside? Could switch on a late show and fall asleep in front of TV, if you would prefer."

"Like we have a choice?" she laughed. They raced as fast as they could to beat the rain home.

***

Meanwhile Stanley continued across the bridge to Queens. Karen continued to wipe away tears, glimpsing her smudged eyes in the vanity mirror. Stan reached for her hand and gave it a small squeeze. Raising it to his lips, he kissed it.

"Are you still mad at me?" she asked.

"Let's find out," Stanley whispered. "I think I know just the place..."

"Isn't this where your parents live?" she asked, recognizing the homes.

"Uh huh," he winked mischievously. He passed his parent's home and pulled into a dark driveway. Karen shivered in the cold of the taxi.

"This guy works for my dad and he's out of town. We can stay here and not get bothered."

"I forgot my coat." she muttered. He looked at her quietly and put his arm around her softly. She shivered and lay her head on his chest.

"Plus this way, you can't jump out on me because we're in the middle of Queens and it's a long way back to your place," he smiled a bit.

"My place," she laughed ironically. "That I share between running away from home... and the studio..."

"Well, SORT of your place," he winced.

"I well... I've been staying with Liz... but with her new boyfriend... And Trish has a new man home each night... till Max came back."

"I'm sorry, love," he said as he rubbed her shoulders.

"I feel so... lost sometimes..." she sighed. "I told my parents to shove it. And my father said, if you walk out that door don't come back... So, I walked out. They thought I'd run back home, but I never came back."

"I'm sorry honey," Stan kissed her on the cheek. It was time for a humorous change of subject. He pointed to the house and chuckled a bit, "This guy took his family out to Yellowstone Park. Can you possibly get more obnoxiously middle class than that?"

"Really," she giggled.

"Do you think we'll ever be taking our kids to Yellowstone?" he asked quietly.

"Or will we get famous and go our separate ways?"

"I hope not," she answered. Again, the memory of her parents surfaced, painfully new.

"Karen... you okay honey?"

"I don't exist to them..." she began to softly sob again. "But they never did understand me. I can't go back home, ever again..."

"No, you can't go back. They were holding you back," Stan reminded her, pulling her to lean next to him.

"When I'm onstage I belong. Kind of like I sort of did tonight," Karen sniffed, burying her head in his shoulder. "It's the one place where I feel as if I belong... truly. The lights and the camera, behind them are my home... but when they turn off, where do I go?"

"I wish I had a place, Karen, I'd ask you to stay with me," he choked.

He began to run his finger lightly up and down her arm.

"Stan..." she said softly. "I don't know what to say..."

"Hmmm?" he murmured as he leaned over to give her a soft kiss. She sighed and kissed him back, shivering. He reached down and started twirling his ring around his finger.

"You wanting to live with me... it's so sweet how you take care of me."

"I'm so sorry, Karen. About tonight. I f***cking blew it!" he muttered as he looked out the window into the rain.

"Stan... you didn't. I... I'm angry at me... for letting you down."

"Yeah, yeah, I did. You didn't invite me for a reason and apparently, it was a good call. I was just hurt that you didn't. Hell, even Gene got an invitation. And I was hurt, seeing those leeches crawling all over you."

"I acted like a hussy..." she started. "And I just... Acted like my parents always said I would... if I dared sing onstage."

He reached down and placed his finger quietly on her lips, scolding,

"NEVER a hussy, Karen. I don't ever want to hear that again. No matter how you chose to act onstage, what you mean to me is deeply private. And I need to learn the damn difference".

"Stan," she cried, hugging him, sobbing bitterly.

"Sweetheart, please don't let me ruin your night." he whispered as he held her.

"Just... be with me," she cried softly. He kissed the top of her head quietly.

"Any time," he whispered. He pulled away a bit and looked at his ring again. Thinking for a moment, he pulled it off his finger and weighed it in his hand. Taking Karen's hand, he gently pried open her fingers.

"What are you doing?" she asked in shock as Stan placed the ring in her hand and closed her fingers over it. "I can't take this... It's your high school ring!"

"I'm giving this to you. It's not much, but it's all I have right now. All I can afford."

"Stan..." she choked, and looked at it, feeling the weight.

"Well, as mom would say, it's not helping me much. I'm just about failing everything I'm taking." he smiled.

"Stanley..." she said. "Why didn't you ask me for help? I'm going to try and finish... Get my diploma. I took a lot of classes... and I can finish this semester early..."

He smiled self consciously, as he tickled her a bit. Laughing he said, "I'm just not interested, I suppose. I've got myself another, more lucrative plan to get out of this hell hole but I promised mom I'd go to art school..."

"Stanley..." she says, and reaches for something in her purse. "I got a job as a waitress... Its nights and weekends, but it pays well..."

"You did? When?" he says, eyes wide.

"Two months ago. I am switching to half days at school to finish..."

"Sweetie, you don't have to do that. I make enough to take us out for meals and such.... Sometimes. It's not much, but...."

"And if it takes more money I'll quit and go for my GED," she interrupted him. "Raina, she's sold all her jewelry to help us... And Liz is bankrolling us with her modeling job... and Trish is working in a nightclub."

"And you feel like you have to do something, right?" he finished for her.

"Yes. I have to at least pay my share of the rent."

"I just want you to be careful. It's not some dive, is it?" he asked.

"No it's a diner. It's a nice place... in Manhattan. Lydia helped me get it... she knew the manager."

"Hey, keep me in mind if you need a cook, OK? Personally this cabby bit is starting to become a drag," he asked.

"Well they do," she said, and he smiled and reached over to kiss her neck. "It's a Greek run place."

"Hmm, then I'll be able to keep an eye on you..." He narrowed his eyes at her a bit. "Just make sure they are taking good care of you."

"I want you to have this...I was going to give this to you before..." she interrupted him, and grabbed his hand this time. He looked down at what she is offering, a ring dangling on a chain from her fingers.

"What the hell is this?" he asked.

"Since you took it away, it's only fitting you should wear this..." she said, holding it up before his face for him to see. He reached out and took it, looking at it.

"God, Karen, I don't know what to say."

"I sold the rest of my jewelry..." she whispered. "But this is all I can afford to give you... as a promise..."

"Your parents would FLIP!" he grinned widely. "Giving your virgin ring to a Jewish cabby."

"They don't speak to me anyway..." she whispered. He reached over and kissed her sweetly.

"I'm their hussy daughter," she whispers sadly. "Up to no good..."

"Shhhhhhhh!" he reprimanded, placing his finger on his lips again, and massaging them lightly. "Karen, I love it. I love you. I'll kick the ass out of anyone who says that about you. I sure as hell don't want to hear it out of you."

She kissed his hand and cried again. Her makeup was all smudged over her face, and she felt far from beautiful. He took the necklace and placed it around his neck. Again he leaned over and kissed her a bit harder. Moaning she yielded to the kiss, shivering more.

Down her neck he traced a path of kisses, and sucked lightly on her ear lobe.

Since it was a public place, in a way, with a hint of danger, he felt wildly aroused. Rubbing his chest through his shirt, she began to slowly unbutton it to feel his soft hairy chest she loved so much.

"I don't THINK that Mr. Baker is supposed to be back tonight. At least I HOPE not," he teased in her ear.

"Stan..." she whispered.

"Yes, love?" he asked as he dragged his tongue lightly on her neck.

"You think we'll have enough room in here..." she asked.

He pulled away quickly, "Shit!"

"What's wrong?"

"I just...realized I don't have something VERY important."

"Oh no... but Stan... I am only one week from my period. It will be ok."

"Yeah.... Oh no..... I meant to put another one in. I've got a box hidden in my drawer, and I guess I didn't think I'd be seeing you tonight, and...." he sighed loudly.

"These old fashion catholic training's are good for SOMETHING," she chuckled. He opened his eyes and looked at her in the darkness. "My mom always told me to keep track of it... to get into the habit when I have a family of my own."

"You mean we could do it with NOTHING?" he gasped. "I mean... nothing... I've never...."

"I mean... yeah... and also they say if you do it the first time you won't get pregnant..." she blushed. "And well since we always did it with a condom..."

"Oh, God, Karen. I want you so badly" he groaned. "I'm such a damn idiot. And nothing's open, it's too damn late, and it's raining..."

"No it's okay," she said. "Besides... it is kinda cramped in here... and there is a glass window separating us from the back..."

"Plus we'll end up with another assh**le who wants a ride in the cab" he smiled.

"Are your parents home?" she asked.

"No, uh, actually not." he smiled.

"Then... maybe we could... uh... Go back and get one?"

"Only one problem. Julia is there."

"OH great..." she groaned. "But I could... uh... climb up to your window... and you could let me in..."

"And knowing her, she has her ass positioned right in front of the TV. VERY dangerous" his smile gets bigger.

"And... well... you could just hide me up in your room..." she joked.

He chuckled, "We'd have to be very quiet. Julia would sing like a bird if she found us. I'm still her baby brother, don't forget."

"Shall we try?" she asked. "I'm freezing..."

He rubbed her arms, and grinned mischievously, "If you want to."

"Yes... I'm getting a bit cold... out here in the rain..."

"Or...." he said with a bigger grin, "There might be a way into that house there..."

"OMG..." she gasps. "You don't think... we could... When will they come home?"

"Now, it's not what you think. Mom's supposed to be watching their cats. If we get caught, well, it's a cat thing."

"Oh thank god... well... uh... anything's better then out in the rain." She laughed, resting her legs teasingly over his lap.

"Spare keys hidden in the backyard," he grinned. "If you're game, that is."

"DO you have anything... dry for me to change into?" she asked.

"I've got an extra pair of jeans and a shirt in the back, just in case. You never know when you need to get out and help some nutcase get his luggage into the cab in the pouring rain. And if not, they have a daughter," he nodded again to the house.

"Let's do it," she whispered. He reached over and kissed her as he laughed.

"My little break-in artist" he teased as he opened the door. She yelped and waited for him to hold an umbrella for her. For a moment he grabbed the duffel out of the trunk, and ran around to open her door. Huddled under it, they ran around to the back door through a gate. Finding the key under the mat, he entered through the back.

Once inside he whispered for her to wait while he locked the door behind them. He took the umbrella and set it in what sounded like a metallic clanging object. Everything was pitch black of course. Finally he returned, and whispered, "We might not want to turn on any lights, just in case there are nosy neighbors."

"Let me... just take off these shoes..." she said, leaning on his arm to take off her spike heels.

Against her legs something rubbed, and she heard a purring sound in stereo. Bright eyes gleamed in the light of a nearby street lamp.

Stanley reached down to rub their heads.

"AWWW kitties," she smiled, and scratched one under the chin.

"They're not so bad. For the most part, they leave you alone."

"I like cats..." she smiled, stroking the one's head and rubbing its back.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked, very aroused by the adventure.

"Is there a bedroom we could use... or is it better down here?"

"They have three bedrooms, plus a nice couch in the basement. Your choice madam." He leaned over and tickled her playfully. "Wait, I have an idea. They've got a good-sized guestroom up here, where the cats like to hang out. We can kick them out and well, make ourselves comfortable."

"Oh wonderful," she smiled, shivering.

"And I'll just tell mom that I stopped by and the cats got sick on the sheets..."

"Great..."

"I'm such a GOOD son," he grinned.

"Brr..." she shivered again, leaning into him. He pulled her close to his chest, wrapping her in his strong arms to kiss her. She groaned and slipped her arms around his neck standing up on tiptoes to reach him.

As he kissed her, he moved her toward the stairs. She giggled and took her purse in hand.

"You ever learn the fine art of climbing stairs in the pitch black?" he teased.

"That's why I took my shoes off..." she whispered, and stumbled.

"Be careful." he whispered. "They have a friggin' STATUE in the hallway. Just don't bump into it."

She grabbed onto him and yelped. HE caught her and laughed, "Shhhhhhh. Just stick with me. I know where I'm going...I think..."

With his help, she stumbled upstairs, soft carpet underfoot. Stopping at the top floor, he teased, "Need to freshen up? There's a bathroom right here... and it's an inside one. The one room in the house where we can turn the light on..."

The fan buzzed as the night light flipped on, and he grabbed her purse to find her cigarette lighter and light a candle on top of the back of the toilet. She smelled a thick fragrance.

"Rose scented soaps" he laughs, "Can you believe it?"

"Let me wash off this makeup," she urged, going over to the sink and starting to wash her face.

"Sure thing, love. I'll be making things just a bit more comfortable. I'll be just across the hall when you're feeling lonely," he said as he gave her a parting kiss.

Stan entered the guestroom and fluffed up the blankets to make a nice nest. They had a large double bed, antique with a lace bedspread and linen sheets beneath. Stripping off his clothes, he lay them aside and climbed into the warmth of softness. For a moment, he glanced out the window at the streetlight beaming in.

IN the bathroom, Karen finished washing her face. She shimmied out of the cat suit, because it was wet. Over the shower rod, she hung it, letting them drip over into the bathtub. That left her in her panties and bra. She wrapped a towel around herself over them, and then dried her hair lightly with another towel.

Stanley propped himself up on the pillow; anxious to see her in the moonlight when she enters. "Over here, love" he whispered.

She strode in, trying not to trip. She closes the door behind her, and puts her purse down on a chair. Her hair spilled around her shoulders in a golden rain painted a strange yellow in the sodium lamp outside.

"Beautiful. Just beautiful" he said softly as he admired her. Just in a bra and panties, she made her way to the bed.

"Are you here, Stan?" she whispered.

"Yes, and I missed you something awful" he whispered back. She sat down on the bed, and reached for him in the dark. Still she was amazed that his chest was so hairy. The bed was roomy and very comfortable, receiving her tired body with soft flannel and linen. It felt far too luxurious to one who had slept on a mattress in borrowed cheap cotton sheets in a loft. Pulling her close to him, he kissed her. She yelped and felt like she was sucked into the bed.

"It's chilly in here," she whispered. At first he kissed her lightly, teaseling her by not using his tongue.

"They probably turned off the heat. That' means I'll have to work doubly hard for you" he whispered in a low voice.

"Aren't you missing something?' she asked, feeling his chest, and then where the blankets cover him.

"Oh, you mean those damn clothes?" he winked. "I won't have any use for them. Not where we are going."

"Yes..." she giggled. He took her hand and puts it on his chest. She slipped under and sighed as she feels his skin against hers, hair tickling her skin.

"Part of the challenge is going to be wanting to scream my head off, but knowing I can't," he said as he teased her. Again, he kissed her, still using no tongue. She moaned and tried to open his lips with hers.

Up and down his chest, her fingers danced, feeling his hair. He chuckled as he saw that his teasing was working.

"VERY impatient tonight, angel?"

"I don't know," she laughed back. "I'm not the one laying under the sheets of this VERY comfortable bed... with NOTHING on..."

He laughed, "Aha, I'm giving myself away, aren't I?"

She groaned and slipped closer, pressing her body to his. Her underwear and bra were silk warmed against him.

"I want you so much, Karen," he groaned back. "Is they're anything different you want to try?"

She rolled him onto his back and straddled him. Blushing she laughed,

"I don't know... I don't know anything else..."

"Don't let me stop you." he teased. "It looks like you have things well in hand.'

"Stan," she whispered again, stroking her fingernails up and down his chest, only her underpants between his desire and her own. "You feel SO good under me..."

"And I could feel even BETTER," he growled. "If you'd only let me get rid of these."

"My turn to tease," she laughed.

"Karen, the idea of me and you.... with nothing in between...is driving me NUTS," he panted. She rocked over him and rubbed herself against him. He groaned and threw his head back. For a moment she lay down on top of him, and licked his lips with her tongue, before pulling away. He groaned again as she pulled away, flipping her hair in his face.

"My own private show. Now this is more like it," he laughed. Rains stopped, and moonlight streamed in. She reached up and started to teasingly undo the hooks on her bra, white silk gleaming in the silvery light. He gritted his teeth as he watched her. Reaching up he attempted to massage her breasts, if she will let him. She lets the bra fall away and took his hands to put them just where she wanted them.

"God, you are so amazingly gorgeous!" he whispered in awe.

"So are you," she whispered back. He rubbed himself on her the best he could, extremey aroused. She groaned and felt him under her.

"Karen...." he whispered.

"Stan..." she whispered back, rubbing his chest hair and sighing.

"If we do this and something happens.... I want you to know.... that I will take care of you, and well...him too."

"What?" she whispered.

"You have my promise on that." He flushed a bit. "If this ends up...I don't know.... we don't have PROTECTION, Karen..."

"I don't know what to say, except I love you even more for that."

"I love you too," he whispered. "And you have no idea how badly I want you right now."

She took his hand and hooked it into her waistband of her panties. He sighed loudly as he shut his eyes briefly. In contentment he murmured, "I can't believe you are going to let me..."

"I trust you," she whispered, her fingers swirling his chest hair playfully. "I love this... you're so soft..."

"I hope so... Mmm... Damn..... You are so incredibly intoxicating" he smiled as he played with her fingers. He ran his fingertips up her arms to her breasts again. This time she moaned and tossed her head back. Down across him she lay, and kissed his chest up to his neck. Her fingers stroked his muscular arms, and she lay her head on his chest for a moment to listen to his heart. He began to rub himself against her again. He aws having a hard time holding off.

Reaching his hands to her ass, he began to rub them down her backside as he gently eased her to roll over. On top of her he placed his body and kissed her. She sighed and leaned back into the comfortable sheets. Long guitarist fingers peeled off her underwear. Her desire was burning and she shivered again from its heat.

"Karen," he shivered. "Unless you want to wait, I'm just dying to be with you."

"I can't wait..." she moaned.

"Are you ready?" he asked shyly.

"Please... make love to me," she whimpered.

"Oh, God!" he whispered as he shut his eyes and climbed firmly on top of her. He parted her legs and prepared to enter her. She tensed a bit

remembering the last time. Up high, he lifted her legs so that he could get a good angle.

"Easier this time, remember, love?" he panted. She nodded. He tried to connect with her visually in the dark. "I don't want you to be scared"

"I'm not..." she whispered. His chest heaved in and out, breathing hard now, visibly hard. She leaned up and sat on her hands. Slowly he entered her, trying to gauge by her reactions how she was doing. It was easier, but she felt his flesh on hers and it's driving her mad. He was a bit more aggressive this time, because he was having a hard time controlling himself. He nibbled her neck a bit as he thrust.

She let out a cry, and tossed her head on the soft feather pillow, a contrast to the hardness sweetly impaling her insides.

"You feel sooooo......ohhhhhhh, Karen, God, I can FEEL you!" he moaned.

She whimpered and moaned her answer, thrashing her head from side to side. She realized the more she lifted her legs the better it felt. Stan thrust harder so that she felt it much deeper.

"Oh GOD... let me just..." she groaned and tries to put her legs on his shoulders. She heard him whisper, barely audibly, to himself. He continues to thrust as deeply as he can, moaning with every push.

"I can.... Oh, God, oh, Karen, you feel so perfect!" he whimpered.

Karen groaned back, reaching up to him, fingertips extended.

"Karen...I'm going to.... oho.... Jeez...Karen...."

"Oh GOD..." she screamed loudly.

"Are you sure it's OK?" he groaned through gritted teeth. As she felt something exploding in her head, she shuddered, realizing she hadn't felt it this intensely before.

"Please don't stop!' she cried. He moaned loudly too and watched her orgasm through slatted eyes. Inside she clenched his hardness.

"Karen.... My love," he whispered, as he felt himself go to the destination of bliss.

Her fingernails dug into his arms, and she screamed, "PAUL!"

One last time he stabbed hard into her, yelling from the depths of his soul a release. He buried his head into the blankets so that he could cry as loud as he wanted. Something flooded her and she whimpered because it felt so good. She muffled her scream with her hand and bit her wrist hard.

Stanley waited for his white-hot orgasm to fade. Tightly to his chest, he held her, visibly panting. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. He was clearly having a hard time coming down. Goosepimples erupted on her skin as they shook together. Even inside her, he quivered, slowly softening.

"Tell me we didn't just do a dumb thing," he finally broke the silence.

"Oh god... that was..." she stammered, and held him close. "It was soo... soo... like nothing I've felt before!"

"I think I'm spoiled now," he grinned, still panting somewhat hard. "No condom will ever be the same as feeling you, really feeling you, from the inside."

"I know," she whispered. "I wish I could afford the pill, damn it but I've got no insurance..."

He brought his head up to kiss her lightly, "So do I. Maybe if we pool our money together."

"I could get an IUD," she chuckled. "They say those are very effective..."

"I would DEFINITELY be willing to pitch in for this," he teased. She felt suddenly tender and whimpered again.

He chuckled a bit, "That might be better than bringing my teenage rock star wife and baby son home to live with mommy and daddy".

"Oh god," she laughed. He pulled gently out of her, not wanting to hurt her. She let him go, lying on her side and hugging herself.

"Are your legs OK? I mean, I think I got carried away a bit," he blushed.

"I have a cramp," she laughed.

He laughed as well, "Damn, and I promised I'd never hurt you."

"It was worth it," she laughed, turning over to face him. "Just let me... go to the bathroom for a minute..."

She slipped out of bed, and shakily attempted to stand up, but her legs were wobbly. He glanced at her with concern, and said, "Sure, Hon, uh, sure I didn't hurt you?"

"No I'm okay... really..." she laughed. "Stupid lamp... Oh shit..."

"I TOLD you. They have useless shit all OVER this house," he laughed.

"Dammit... this is IRONIC," she cried.

"What's that, love?" he called, from the bed.

"I forgot... I had... in the bottom of my purse... oh SHIT..." she moaned.

"Uh-huh? Something wrong?" he called.

"How STUPID can I be..." she groaned. She flipped on the light for a moment, and held up a package. He shut his eyes quickly as the light snapped on.

"KAREN!" he hissed. "Careful!"

She snapped it off, and sighed. As he opened his eyes, he noticed what she has, and chuckled a bit.

"I'm so stupid." she muttered.

"That might have been Stanley Junior's lucky break.... you not finding that," he laughed, then stopped and grew quiet. "Sorry... not funny, I know," he said quietly.

"I know... I am sorry I didn't know about this..." she sighed, sitting on the floor, hugging her knees.

"Nah, it's too late now," he leaned over and wound his fingers through her hair. "I just hope you are going to be alright unless you feel... up to a repeat performance later..."

He smiled widely and said, "Oh, yeah, baby!"

"And besides, I won't get pregnant... not on the first time I uh... well... that's what my mom told me. I mean that's what they say anyway..."

"Hon, I have a little money stashed away. It's not much and it was for a new guitar, but I think this might be more important...."

"Stan... what are you saying?"

"You can have some...for the pill or for an IUD."

"OMG," she shuddered. "I can't accept that..."

"Yeah, but it's for me. It's either that or a baby," he sighed. "And we're not exactly ready for that, are we?"

"No we aren't," she shivered.

"And I don't want to stop...THIS," he said as he kissed her. She was still on the floor, and she moaned and shivered.

"Even though you are so beautiful and I'd love to have a baby just like you."

"Or one just like you." she answered.

"But I think you've got other things to do first and I think we both know that."

"I can't raise a child on my salary... or yours," He fell silent for a moment. "No, not the way things are going. I guess I'd have to quit the band and try to get through art school as soon as possible. Take a boring job somewhere so I can put food on the table."

"No, I don't want to hold you back. Besides, I have this 200 dollars I made tonight. We had forgotten all about it. I'll take it,.and make sure not to have a problem," she sighed.

He reached over and kissed the top of her head, "But I meant what I said. If you are...uh...pregnant.... I will take care of you."

"I know," she nodded. He sat up hard for a moment.

"Wait! What did you mean just then? NOT have a problem?" he asked with alarm.

"I mean get an IUD, or Birth control pills! After I see a doctor and have a pregnancy TEST!" she answered. "I didn't mean the other thing, I SWEAR!"

He looked visibly relieved and sinks down in the bed again, "Oh... thank GOD!"

"I would NEVER kill a child, an innocent child."

"Not ours. Never ours" he whispered.

"You should know by now that even if I don't believe in many things, I still believe in that old catholic saying about children being a blessing... And life beginning at conception," she clarified.

"Because I can take a boring job like dad's if I have to. I can be a man if I need to, Karen," he said.

"You already are a man," she answered. She knelt on the floor and kissed his hands.

He smiled at her, "I'm not exactly where I want to be yet."

"I know..." she laughed and wiped away a tear.

"And someday I'll be rolling in the dough and I'll be able to afford a nice luxurious hotel room where I can take you and we can scream our heads off," he laughed. "And not have to worry about two damn cats"

She heard a meow from the hallway and felt a cat brush up against her back. Yelping she leapt into the bed with him in fear momentarily. Chuckling Stan said, "Remind me to actually FEED them before we leave, so my story sounds plausible. AND grab the sheets too, because Mrs. Lipshitz goes to synagogue with mom and dad. A stain on the guest sheets might raise an eyebrow or two."

"Especially if she figures out what it is," she laughed and slipped under next to him, shivering. He laughed even harder.

"I can just picture mom now.... Oh, my GODDDDD, Stanley, what were you THINKING?"

"I can picture my mom..." Karen sighed. "Crossing herself and saying 100 Hail Mary's... and trying to stop my father from going ballistic...

And never speaking to me again. But it's no surprise, considering they are already not speaking to me..."

"A good boy does NOT take a good girl for a roll in the hay, ESPECIALLY if it involves breaking and entering.... AND my friends," he laughed softly with her, knowing that it made her sad.

"But, they don't understand me."

"Their damn loss, because they have so much to be proud of you for."

"I would NEVER treat my children like that," Karen said bitterly.

"NEVER."

"Our children" he said to himself, and looked up out the window. She shivered and moved up close to him.

"It's stopped raining..."

"Has it?' she asked, laying her head on his chest.

"Yeah. Hopefully none of the neighbors will wonder why the Lipshitz's have a cab parked in their driveway," he laughed. "Besides, miss, do you have ANY idea how much this is going to cost you? My meter's running, you know."

"Aww..." she groaned.

"And I DON'T come cheap...no pun intended," he laughed.

"Nor do I," she said, playing with his ring on her finger. It was so large she had it on her middle finger of her left hand. "I need to get some string or a chain for this."

"Sorry about that" he chuckled. "I have big hands."

"I love your hands, and what they do on a guitar...but I especially love them on me," she purred.

"Oh, is that right?" he said slowly as he began to shiver her skin with his fingertips.

"I see what those fingers can do, and I am GLAD I'm the one you're doing it to..."

"Are you saying you haven't had your fill of me yet?"

"Umm, could be."

"I wonder what time it is," she muttered.

"Gene is probably talking Peter's ear off by now."

"Shit, I don't know," he murmured as he proceeded to nuzzle up to her.

"Stan... Paul... did you notice that Ray was a bit freaked... tonight?"

she asked, letting him hug her and rub her breasts from behind.

"Honestly...I was too busy sulking about you," he blushed as he watched his fingers run over her breasts.

"She was VERY freaked all of a sudden..." she muttered, rubbing her backside against his front teasingly.

"Huh. I wonder why?" he said, enamored with what is going on.

"Well Gene was grilling Peter, my friend Liz... well she was trying to keep her focus on Peter's brother... and then Lyd was trying to keep Peter's attention on Gene... and I was telling Lydia all about our act, and you were sulking... And then I saw Raina look over at one of the other tables and she was FREAKED..."

"Hmmm. Strange" he says, preoccupied. "Knowing Gene, he probably liked it," he said as he licked her earlobe. The cats moved around the bed, and she felt one brush up against her as it leapt up and purred.

A sudden thought passed over his mind, and he asked, "Shit, Karen, was it too much? I'm...damn.... sorry.... It just felt sooooo good."

"I don't know... it was just you were so STRONG and forceful... So much STRONGER then the last time... It took my BREATH away..." she recounted.

"And you've gotten so much better than before," he whispered.

"Have I?" she asked.

"That last time.... amazing. I'm just sorry that...." he starts, then stops. He leaned his head down again, feeling ashamed.

"Stanley," she says, turning over to him.

"What you did to me was incredible... I've just NEVER... experienced... anything like that before."

"It's no excuse, but God, Karen, you feel like heaven to me, and I'm so in love with you." he rambled.

"Stan, I feel the same way," she whispered, laying alongside him and kissing him softly. "There was so much ... passion there... Like an animal struggling to break out."

"I can't get enough of you," he said quietly, "It's like tonight at the club. I just need you so much that sometimes it hurts. Literally. And when we're together, I want you all to myself, and I don't ever want to let go."

She hugged him and wraps herself around him. "I don't want to let you go either."

"I wish I could hold you tonight, instead of having to get back into the damn, cold cab and drive you home."

"I don't want to go home," she whispered. "Can't I just sleep here in your arms?"

He sighed a moment, "God, don't I wish? I don't think they are going to be back until tomorrow."

"You could drive me home, but then you could sleep in my little bed," she laughed. "Home to where us three girls are living that is... in the roach hotel."

He reached over and kissed her, "That's probably a better idea, if you don't mind, sweets. At least that way we can sleep in peace."

"Trish is with her boyfriend in his place tonight... And Liz is probably there with Peter's brother... but you never know."

"I love you" he whispered impulsively as he kisses her cheek. He was enjoying listening to her chatter.

"Besides, there is Plenty of room if I sleep on top of you," she joked as she lays down on top of him, her body pressed to his, her head under his chin. "Like this..."

He laughed, "Oh, now I LIKE the sound of that! I am going to get NOOOO sleep tonight!"

"I wish this was our house..." she sighed.

"You know, I thought the same thing," he said sadly.

"Can't we just... stay HERE a few hours, and then leave when the sun comes up?"

"I tell you what, baby, let's stay here. If worse comes to worse and they come back tonight, I'll just have to live through the hell of my mother's never ending lecture."

"Go to sleep, sweetheart" he purred. "We're comfortable here. Besides, if they come back, our story is, we came to feed the cat, I brought my girlfriend, we got tired and hot and well, we ended up here."

She lay alongside of him, and listened to his heart. Soon she fell fast asleep. He chuckled softly at his own joke and began to rub her hair as she drifted to sleep.