By Trynia Merin and Jade

Disclaimer: KISS, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are real persons, and this story is not meant to harm or demean them in any manner. It is a work of fiction. Terri Mason and other characters are property of the author, © Trynia's Journies. Veronica is property of Paulswomyn, Shannon is property of Lady Demon, and Melissa is property of Jade. Rated R for sexual content and language, so no readers under 18 please.

Chapter 9

Smoke curled out of the cigarette dangling from his fingers. Leo flicked a bit of ash off the end, and checked the address he'd scribbled down. He'd managed to find the address from information, in a very roundabout way. But he had managed to figure it out, based on the evidence. Wouldn’t' she be surprised to see him show up.

He hoped. When he parked the car across the street, he stubbed out his cigarette, and closed the door. Cautiously he examined the house, and saw the lights were on in the small cottage to the side, which must be a guesthouse. He carefully stole his way up toward the light that burned inside.

Gene had led Shannon to the guesthouse earlier, away from the splashing sounds of Eric and Melissa in the pool. He licked his lips as he took in the swaying of Shannon's hips back and forth, and let her walk a short distance in front of him so he cold admire the view.

"Now… what do you want to see?" he asked her, and moved up behind her, lifting her hair out of the way to expose the nape of her neck. She was pressed between his warm breathing body, and the wood of the door, which tickled her bare skin.

"Well I don't want to see a splinter in me… so if you'll open the door…" she teased back. Reaching under her arm, Gene let his hand brush over her breast teasingly. She groaned at the feel of him reaching around her to massage her chest through her bikini top. Against him, she ground her butt slowly, making him moan.

"We'd better get inside, don't you think?' Gene teased. "Or I might just take you here and now…"

The door swung open when he found the doorknob, and steadied Shannon as she almost pitched forwards into the guesthouse sitting room.

"Oh, this is nice…" she gasped, seeing the small quaint furnishings inside. It was simpler, yet more comfortable. She strode in, Gene's arms around her waist. He closed the door behind them, and locked it.

"Make yourself at home," he offered; gently pushing her further toward the door to what must be a kitchen.

Shannon wandered into the kitchen, and saw the fridge and neat little economy sized utilities. She opened the fridge, and noticed it was well stocked with Diet Coke and Fresca. Her eyebrows raised at the 151, and she took the bottle in her grasp.

"Oh, the things I could do with this," she laughed.

"Show me," Gene laughed, moving up behind her and embracing her from behind. It made her jump to feel his hands stroking her ribs gently.

"In here? I don't wanna cause a fire," she urged.

"There is a patio…" he smiled. He took her out the small sliding door, and pushed a lighter into her other hand. She uncorked the 151's screw cap, and took a small sip without swallowing. Gene stood back from her a ways and she held the lighter out at arm's length. She flicked the clasp, and blew a fine mist. Sizable tongues of flame rose into the air at least five feet from her lighter. Gene watched, hands poked into his pockets.

"Not bad," he said. "But you need a bigger flame source…"

So saying he wandered off for a moment toward the pool where Eric and Melissa still splashed. She saw him take one of the Tiki torches they'd lit to illumine the pool in the evening hours, and return with it.

"Here we go," he winked. "This should suffice…"

"Aww but I liked flicking your bic," Shannon pouted.

"You can do that later," he grinned. "Now… the 151 please?"

Gene took the bottle, his fingers touching hers. Raising it to his lips he took a sizable draught, and held the tiki torch up at arm's length. Shannon saw him suddenly tense his brow in concentration lips puckered as he turned dramatically. In a quick burst, he spewed the mist, and a huge fireball erupted into the night, rising in a fifteen-foot arc of flame.

"Holy shit," Shannon muttered in appreciation. She clapped. Gene handed her the torch and the bottle.

"Show me what you've got, little girl!"

From the bushes, Leo watched the duo. He couldn't keep his eyes off the attractive ass that stood there, its owner holding the tiki torch at arm's length. Why was she drinking that alcohol, he wondered. Till she tipped her head back and suddenly a spurt of flame jetted into the night with a loud roar that startled the scientist.

"They're nuts," he muttered. In the momentary blaze he saw it wasn't Terri, but another woman, opposite none other then Gene Simmons himself. He scolded himself for thinking this was Terri, because she was far too small. So, he thought. Terri isn't here. Perhaps…

The noise in the bushes made Shannon jump, and Gene moved over to catch the tiki torch. "Easy," he said.

"Gene… I heard something," she gasped, moving closer. Again came the rustle of branches, and she jumped into Gene's arms. He held her close, her heart moving a mile a minute.

"Wait here," he urged. Leaving her for a moment, he moved out into the night. There came a skittering as a ground squirrel darted across the patio, and Shannon breathed with relief. She almost jumped out of her skin at the hand clamping down on her shoulder.

"Easy, it's me," Gene urged.

"Shit, you had to do that!" she snapped.

"Why don't we go inside, you're getting cold," Gene said, guiding her inside again. He slid the door shut and bolted it from the top, then turned to Shannon who was rubbing her arms. He'd left the torch to burn outside.

"Well, it is kinda more chilly then I thought…" she admitted, seeing Gene's dark eyes walk up and down her body. He moved over till he was behind her immediately, and rubbed her arms with his hands. She shivered a jolt of desire streaking up from her loins to the outer reaches of her body.

"You're got goosebumps," Gene smiled, a low growl present. Shannon gasped with desire as he slipped down the strap of her bikini. "I think you're overdressed though…"

"Ooh man," she sighed, and turned in his arms. Her own hands rested on his shoulders as he pulled her hips and tugged her to him.

His lips descended, and Shannon leaned up on her bare toes to kiss him. Gene's lips closed over hers warm and perfect. She ground her hips against him teasingly, and Gene lifted her in his arms, his tongue coaxing her lips apart. Shannon groaned in ecstasy at his tongue curling around hers, probing her mouth, which was virgin territory to be conquered. For a moment, he set her down, his hands caressing her ass and back hungrily. His growl through their kiss delighted her and turned her on simultaneously. He slipped down her bathing suit bottoms, reaching in to caress her skin. Slowly he slipped them down her thighs till the bottoms fell around her ankles. Next, he reached around her back to unfasten her top. It whispered to the floor.

Every touch set Shannon on fire. This was her wildest dream come true, alone with Gene Simmons. Wrapping arms around his neck, she kissed him hard and deep, her leg crooking up the outside of his thigh.

"Ohh," she moaned as he reached down to finger her breasts gently. Expertly he worked her nipples to hard peaks, causing her to shiver even more. Her knees turned to water, and she hung around his neck swooning.

He picked her up in his arms, and carried her into the guestroom. Laying her down on the bed, he admired her bare body as he unbuttoned his shirt teasingly, one button at a time. Shannon reached up, grasping his belt and unbuckling it without needing his prompting. She freed him from the confines of his clothes, and pulled him down onto the bed with her.

Gene took a moment to shed his pants, till he was naked as she. He fingered her breasts, her belly, and her hot moistness that seeped in response to his teasing. "You are beautiful, little girl," he growled softly.

"So are you," she whispered.

"You admire me, eh?"

"I worship and adore you," she whispered.

"Ohh I like the sound of that," he laughed. Shannon suddenly got up and lay with her head at his feet, near his stiffness that she caressed with her hands.

"Hmm, this is quite a treat," he said as he instantly knew what she wanted to do.

"Mm, yes," she sighed. Gene groaned as she closed her mouth over him, and he buried his tongue into her red nest of curls. Her tongue slid over his length as he probed her with his own tongue. Her whole body arched against him with passion as she latched her arms around his waist, and he pulled her legs to rest on his shoulders. Their cries blended into a cacophony of passion that erupted into mutual excitement. They feasted on each other's juices for a time, before laying aside each other in awe.

"Nicely done," Gene complimented Shannon, pulling her to rest her head against his chest.

"Mm, same here. You were incredible…"

"Everything you fantasized about?"

"More," she laughed. For a time, they rested on the bed, before Gene reached for a box of condoms to the side. She grinned as he passed one to her, and she worked one down on him once more, for he had risen to the occasion again.

He lay back, letting her straddle him. Their hands wandered over each other's bodies, teasing each other to the brink again. Gene leaned up, seizing her breast in his teeth as she straddled him. Grabbing her hips, he worked her down over his erection painfully slowly.

"OHH NOW GENE!" she screamed as he held her off at the last moment. "PLEASE!"

"Please what?"

"Please. Fuck me!" she cried out.

"You sure?"

"Yes damn it! Fuck me before I lose my control!"

"You already have," he laughed, and shoved up into her roughly. Bucking under her he delighted as Shannon rolled her hips to meet him. For a good fifteen minutes she road him to a trail of blazing hot fire that exploded between them both. Gene again took her breast in his mouth, suckling her to a second climax. Her orgasm thundered in a blaze of sensation that exploded every other thought from her brain.

When she came to she was lying in his arms, and he was stroking her hair softly. He had exploded inside her with such force it had almost made her faint.

"You all right?" he asked her.

"Oh you have to ask…" she sighed, stretching like a contented cat. "That was AWESOME!"

"Good," Gene laughed. "Nothing but the best for such a devoted fan…"

"I'm exhausted," she sighed, barely able to keep her eyes open. Slowly she fell asleep in Gene's arm. He admired the tattoo on her ankle, rubbing it lightly before resting himself. He curled around her naked, sated body, pulling the blankets to form a warm nest around his anniversary present.

He hoped Terri was enjoying hers, he smiled before committing himself to sleep.

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

"What in the world is Gene gonna do with that Tiki torch?" Melissa asked, watching Eric swimming back and forth in the pool.

"Knowing Gene, he is going to show Shannon a trick or two." Replied Eric, moving closer. He noticed the chill bumps forming on Melissa's skin. "You cold?"

"A little. I didn't anticipate that it would get chilly so soon."

"Why don't we get out then? We can go inside and get some warm coffee to warm up." Said Eric, getting out of the pool and extending a hand to Melissa.

"Sounds great, thanks." She replied, taking his hand.

They started walking towards the house, with Eric lagging slightly behind. He wanted to get a better look of this attractive young woman in her bathing suit. At first he was slightly disappointed that she wasn't wearing a bikini like the others, but when he saw her lovely figure, that notion quickly disappeared. It had a top that wrapped around her waist, with the bottom, which connected to it at the back. It was black, and very slimming. Eric noted to himself that it accentuated her soft blonde hair. Melissa stopped by the lounge chair to place a soft black wrap around her hips, while Eric put on his shirt. When they made it into the kitchen, Eric sat down at the long dining table, while Melissa began making the coffee.

"So, do you plan on writing anymore novels?" Eric asked, keeping close eye on her form as she moved around the kitchen.

"I want to, but sometimes modeling takes up a lot of my time right now. I hope to get back to it soon." She replied.

"I hope you do, you have a great flair for getting inside a woman's heart."

"Well, I would hope so, since I am a woman." She laughed.

Eric smiled. "And one you are too......" Melissa blushed.

"You aren't used to compliments, are you?" he asked.

"No, I guess not. When you grow up being told that being overweight made you ugly and unwanted, you start to believe it. It took me a long time to realize that beauty IS only skin deep."

"People can be really cruel. You are a beautiful woman, no matter what. Don't let anyone tell you different, if they do, send them to me."

She blushed again. Never had she gotten such wonderful attention from someone as nice as Eric. She was so attracted to him, and felt he was also attracted to her.

"Um, not to change the subject, but do you know where Gene keeps the sugar?" she asked.

"He takes his black, so the sugar is on top of the refrigerator." He said, pointing upward. He got up. "Let me get it." He offered.

"Its ok, I think I got it." She said, attempting to reach up. Eric came up behind her. "Be careful, that's high." He said, but it was too late. She stumbled back, right into Eric's arms.

"You ok?" he asked, laughing.

"I am now..." she replied also laughing.

When she turned around, she was caught up in a passionate embrace. His lips on hers were warm and soothing. His arms ran down her back, exploring her seemingly endless curves, causing her to moan against his mouth.

"Oh, that's so nice." She whispered in his ear.

"I'm glad, cause there's more, much more......if you want it." He said.

"I do want it, and I want you." Melissa sighed.

"That's just what I wanted to hear."

Gently and effortlessly, he picked her up and sat her down on the dining table. He kissed her once more while his hand ran down her thighs, untying the wrap and letting it fall to the floor, while her hands found the buttons of his shirt. She undid each one by one, so painfully slow that Eric was about to lose his mind. He put one knee up on the table, pulling himself up while gently laying her down on her back, pinning her with his body. Burying his face in her neck, he began kissing and sucking on her soft skin, listening to the sounds of passion escape her very soul. She ran her hands over his firm ass, squeezing it along the way. When she reached around, she stroked his growing hardness that was struggling to stay inside his bathing suit.

"Umm, that feels so good." he moaned as he lifted up her bathing suit top slightly, taking her hard nipple into his mouth.

"Umm, you're not kidding......" Melissa whispered.

Once they were both free of their bathing suits, Eric was free to explore her nude body more extensively. His lips ran down her stomach, down her legs, and to her ankles, before coming back up again. He took his sweet time, torturing this young woman to the point of insanity. He was in the driver's seat, and she now knew it.

Once he was satisfied that she was on the edge, he grabbed her by her hips and entered her with one large thrust, making her cry out momentarily. He thought for a moment he might have hurt her, but she looked up at him and smiled.

She wasn't about to let Eric have the last word. She threw her legs around his waist and flipped him over, pinning him down on his back. She threw her head back and ground herself against him, while her hands ran up and down his chest. Bending down, she flicked her tongue over his nipples and up to his neck.

This was driving him crazy. He tried to control the situation but now found himself totally helpless against this sexy woman. Grabbing her hips once more, he thrust himself upward, deeper into her, determined to keep her with his own pace. He could see her smile, closing her eyes and following his rhythm.

Faster and faster their pace increased, sweat beading on their foreheads and dripping down. When he felt she was ready to explode, he sat up and gathered her in his arms. When her release came, it was loud and intense, followed by Eric's, which was equally strong. They held each other for a moment before Eric lay back down and pulled Melissa to his chest. They lay together, drifting off to sleep together.

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

"I definitely was at the wrong door," Leo shook his head as he stepped away from the hedge. Fortunately that squirrel had rushed across the patio at the same moment he bolted away across the front lawn. He rushed to the side, and the long curved driveway that snaked up to the front.

Leo made his way to the front door, and tried the doorbell. There was no answer. He then knocked, waiting for a while. At whim he tried the doorknob, and was surprised to find the door swung easily open. He strode into the main room, glancing back and forth.

"Anybody there?" he asked. He could hear music everywhere, loud and raucous. It sounded like what Terri sometimes liked to listen to, called Heavy Metal. The house must have a stereowide system that piped into every downstairs room.

"Terri?" he asked. But he was not sure of where she would be. Apparently nobody seemed interested in opening the door. Perhaps she was throwing a party for her two female friends, and since Gene Simmons was with that one girl, Terri could be anywhere.

He reached a likely entrance to what seemed the main sitting room. A fire flickered brightly, conveying its warmth and light in hues of amber and gold in a distant brick fireplace. There was a pool table midway through the room, and several banks of couches positioned around the fireplace in a sectional sofa at the far end. It seemed like an entertainment rec room, for he saw the huge DVD player at the other end, with the HDTV with another sofa ensemble before it.

The sounds of giggling came over the fire crackling, and the hard rock beat, and he crept over to the edge of the sofa. Two people lay on it, the man's face fused to that of the woman he lay upon. Leo froze when he realized they were naked! Quickly he darted through the room, toward the next pool of light. It appeared to be a dining room area with a huge Tudor style table with ornately carved chairs. In the far corner of the dining room was a square of light that resembled a kitchen entrance.

Leo glanced tentatively inside. Nobody was there, but he saw the flickering from a small television set fixed under a counter. Two large islands dominated the kitchen, with ovens and twin fridges, and a set of French Doors that were left open to the night air.

He ducked behind the door and peered around to see two people laying on the dining room table. The man had short dark hair, and bright blue eyes that were fixated on the generously built blonde next to him. Her ringlets were plastered to her shapely face, and she had her full attention wrapped in her companion. Both of them were also wearing no more then what they must have come into this world with, and Leo turned away, face crimson.

"I have got to find Terri," he shook his head as he turned away and wandered back into the maze of rooms. The house was HUGE. Room after room he wandered through, trying to get the gist of the layout of the place. He finally made it to anther area, and despite his aversion to Hard Rock, he was impressed with what he saw. Stepping inside he realized he was in KISS central. Every wall was loaded with pictures of the band, while row upon row of shelves was stocked with dolls, videos, and other KISS merchandise. A whole collection that would rival that of the most fanatical member of the KISS army.

"Man, I'm not surprised," Leo laughed when he walked up to the huge boxes, upon which were placed two foot dolls, fully articulated. He couldn't' resist playing with the nearest figure, positioning it playfully. He turned to he Gene figure, and burst out laughing at the gaudy tongue hanging out.

"How appropriate," he smirked, and then bent the Gene's arm into an odd position. He posed the Paul figure with one hand down, and the other up in a flaming pose that made him guffaw.

This wasn't helping him find Terri. Leo moved out of the room into another, and it was a large bathroom. Closing the door behind him, he took advantage of the situation.

In the studio down the hall from the occupied bathroom, Bruce sighed as Terri helped him up. He was not tiring of her yet, and she gave him a knowing wink. Veronica smiled, helping Paul to stand up as well.

"There's a guestroom upstairs if you want to use it," Terri told them. Taking Bruce's hand in hers, she helped him gather up his clothes. He pulled on his shirt and jeans, and was surprised when she didn't bother to dress.

"Aren't you going to need this?" he asked, taking her blouse and handing it to her.

"Not particularly," she winked, shaking her bottom at him. "Want to take a dip…"

"Sounds great," Bruce nodded. "But I don't have a suit… but knowing you, you won't need one… more then I would…"

"That's right…"

"But we should get some towels at least…"

"Gene keeps a supply by the pool, in the poolhouse," she told him. "C'mon…"

Bruce handed Terri his jacket, and she glanced at him with a question in her face. "Please, I know Gene's sense of modesty had rubbed off, but I just feel better if I was one of the few men who could admire you like this…"

"All right," she grinned, and slipped on his jacket. She put on her skirt at least, and left the other clothing behind. The last thing she wanted to wear was work clothes right now!

Laughing, they walked hand in hand past the bathroom without giving it a second thought. Moments after they passed, the door slowly opened. Leo had heard them in the background, especially Terri's distinctive laugh. He rushed out after the source of the voice all set to say something when he noticed where they were going. All he caught sight of was the back of their heads as they exited the main room through a set of French Doors. They led to a patio, where he saw the lapping streaks of water shimmering with light from below. It was a swimming pool, and he could discern the two dark shapes by it as clothes were tossed down, illuminated only by the light of strategically placed tiki torches.

Again he heard her laugh drift to him on the night air, and saw the curves of her body with nothing to hide them now from his view as she shed the garment around her shoulders. Next to her the tall slender figure stripped off his own garments. She leapt in first, the water billowing up into a splash of streaming liquid moon.

"Coming, Bruce?" she asked.

"You bet," he laughed, and leapt off the side in a spectacular dive. There was but a small splash as he darted past Terri and surfaced. Bruce arched his back and cut into the water with powerful strokes while Terri took after him with a slow easy freestyle.

"This feels soo good," Terri sighed, turning on her back to float by Bruce. He floated too, on his side slowly scissors kicking.

"Definitely. And I know just the lady to thank for it."

Bruce, Leo muttered. Who was he? Some other friend of Gene's? Perhaps a rock and roller? He didn't know KISS from other bands except for the makeup years. The KISS he remembered consisted of Ace, Peter, Gene and Paul. So far he'd seen Gene, but these other two men were strangers. The other couple he'd run across in the rec room must have been Paul Stanley and his present fling.

Why was Terri with this man? Wasn't she with Gene? From the looks of things, she wasn't now. Especially since she and this stranger Bruce seemed awfully familiar with each other, playing and splashing in the altogether.  Slowly they came together, and Bruce took Terri in his arms.  They sank together under the water, their mouths fused together in a passionate kiss.

Leo turned and rushed out of the house as quickly and as quietly as he could. It would be wise to get out now before someone caught him, and he'd have to answer a lot of tricky questions.

"All right, what the fuck is going on here!"

Terri awakened to the sound of Gene bellowing distantly. She turned over in bed, her hand falling across a breathing male body. Sitting bold upright she realized it was Bruce next to her.  By the looks of it, she remembered it was one of Gene's multiple guestrooms.  Bruce moaned and stirred, blinking awake.

"What is Gene going on about?" he wondered, glancing at Terri. For a moment they caught sight of each other in the morning sun, hair tangled into a mess and bleary eyed. They both burst into laughter.  Bruce pushed a strand of hair out of Terri's face, and handed her the pair of glasses from the bedside table.

"Thanks," she told him, slipping them on.

"Welcome.  did you sleep all right?" he asked her.

"Marevelously," she smiled, stretching.  Again they heard the shouting, and shook their heads with a mutual sigh.

"Gene wont' give up. He sounds pissed," Bruce said, reachign over to grab a pair of boxer shorts from the floor.

"Whatever it is, I'm gonna go down and stop him before he kills someone for breakfast…" Terri muttered, throwing the covers aside. She rushed out the door with almost nothing on, till Bruce tossed her his bathrobe. Nodding her thanks she rushed out into the hallway and down the stairs. Bruce grabbed a shirt to put on as he followed close behind.

"Who the hell left the door open!" Gene bellowed from the front landing. Sleepily Paul Stanley dragged himself out from where the front sitting room was, wearing only boxer shorts. Beside him Veronica had a towel wrapped around her.

"Jeez, Gene, do you know what time it is?" Paul shouted back. "It's too early in the morning for this bellowing crap!"

"Did you leave the door open, Romeo?"

"How the hell should I know?" Paul protested, rubbing his bleary eyes.

"Anyone could walk in her off the street you know!" he snorted, folding arms across his chest.

"No shit, Sherlock! Gene, we closed it behind us when we came in, okay?' Veronica snapped irritably at Gene. "Now stop throwing a wild dog act and let us think straight!"

"Gene, what's going on?" Terri demanded, reaching the bottom floor, clad only in Bruce's robe. "If this is your idea of waking people up, it stinks…"

"Terri, did you leave the front door open?" Gene asked, settling down. Sleepily Eric and Melissa emerged from the direction of the kitchen, both wrapped in only towels.

"No, I don't think so… why?"

"When I came down this morning I saw the door hanging open, that's why," Gene snorted. "Somebody was apparently so occupied that they forgot to close it!"

"Well some of us were having fun," Eric grumbled.

"Did you leave it open, Singer?" he asked.

"Nope," Eric said, exchanging a gaze with Bruce who was still rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Damn it, someone did!" Gene snorted.

"Gene, put a lid on it till we've had some coffee, please?" Terri snapped at him irritably. She moved off in the direction of the kitchen, her good mood from the night before in shambles. Gene shut up immediately.

"She has him well trained," Veronica whispered to Paul. "Go womyn."

Melissa shyly looked to Eric, and then to Veronica. They shared a conspiratorial smile, and moved off, hand in hand with their dates, Veronica following them to the kitchen.  Paul remained in the foyer with Gene.

"So where's Shannon?" Paul asked his friend.

"Sleeping in," Gene said slowly. "She's in the guesthouse. Poor kid got all worn out."

"Didn't you sleep there?" Paul asked matter of fact.

"Yes I did. I got up to see if anyone was awake yet, and to turn on the coffeemaker. Then when I was about to come upstairs to take a shower, I saw the damn door hanging open!"

"Well, nothing's gone is it?" Paul asked practically.

"I left it open for you and Veronica…" Gene sighed, shaking his head with disbelief.

"Drop it then and let's eat some breakfast," Paul told him. "I can't think without food this time of morning…"

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

Later they all sat around the table eating bagels, cream cheese, and chocolate chip pancakes.  Eric and Melissa had fixed them with a hand from Terri.  It seemed just the thing for the morning after their midnight olympics.

"Better take some out to Shannon," Terri suggested.

"She'll come in and join us I'm sure," Melissa told her.

Gene grabbed Terri around the waist as she walked past, and pulled her down onto his lap. "sleep well, Sweetheart?"

"You've finally decided to become civilized again, I see," she commented.

"Only as much as it takes," Gene growled against her ear, kissing it softly. She moaned as he licked and sucked her earlobe.

"Guys, get a room," Paul groaned.

"You didn't bother, last night as I recall," Bruce nudged Paul. Shannon wandered into the room, bleary eyed as she sat down between Bruce and Melissa. Eric sat at the other end of the table, his hand clasped in Melissa's as he attacked a bagel with the other.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Gene commented, noticing Shannon had joined them.  Eric got up to fetch her some coffee, and placed the mug next to her plate.  She grabbed an onion bagel and slathered it with cream cheese.

"Mm, good morning yourself," she sighed with contentment, and stretched. Paul rolled his eyes, and Veronica thumped him under the table.

"It was Terri's choice as much as his," she whispered into Paul's ear, leaning over. She grabbed some bacon from his plate and nibbled on it.

Melissa and Shannon exchanged smiles, and reached around behind themselves to high five. "You'll have to tell me later," Melissa whispered to her friend.

"I sure will. The girls on the list aren't gonna believe this…"

"I am sorry I yelled at everyone this morning," Gene apologized, with Terri still across his lap. "I guess I just panicked… I don't want anything to happen you know…"

"It's cool, man," Paul raised a hand. "Just don't make a habit of it okay?"

"Next time we visit, I want to wake up to something a little nicer," Eric joked.

"If you do that again, I'm taking you down," Terri scolded Gene, tweaking his nose playfully.

"I look forward to that, sweetheart," Gene laughed. He tipped her chin with one hand, reaching around her body with his arm to hold her close. In front of everyone he pressed a deep kiss to her lips, his tongue wrapping around hers deliciously.

"While Gene's having his main course, I'm gonna work a little on that new song," Bruce said quickly.

"What new song?" Veronica asked, but stopped when Paul nudged her.

"I'll give you a beat for it," Eric offered, and nudged Melissa. "Wanna sit in, babe?"

"Sure. Shannon?" Melissa nudged her.

"Mm, I'll just go and take a nice cold swim," Shannon sighed, and got up with a wistful look in her blue eyes toward Gene and Terri. That left Veronica and Paul still finishing off their mouthfuls.

"Well, you wanna go for a swim, or something else?" asked Paul.

"Well, for now… but Terri and me are gonna have some quality time later… as womyn… and we'll invite Shannon and Melissa too."

"C'mon," he said, taking her hand as Gene and Terri continued their heated kiss. Gene's hand wandered under Terri's robe, as her hand slipped down under the table. If they noticed they were alone, it was not evident to Paul or Veronica who slipped out quietly.

Chapter 11

Terri had to return to the AAAS convention to deliver another lecture, this one regarding her research from Orphan.  Even though she had left that job behind a year ago, the subsequent job interview six months later had given her due credit for all her accomplishments there.  It had only been a month when she had taken a new job in Philly, only to leave it behind in dissatisfaction.  Still, she published a landmark paper as a result of her research there.  She was very nervous as she got in front of the much smaller audience to deliver a lecture on her research she had left so far behind. This time there were no hang-ups, but she couldn't help almost slipping up when her eyes fell on Leo in the front row again.

After the speech she stood up front to shake hands. When her eyes met Leo's, she fell silent. Slowly she looked up again and found his eyes on hers. "You did an exemplary job with that lecture," he said with a smile.

"Hello, I didn't expect to see you here," she said.

"That's a fine hello to a good friend," he laughed. "I thought you'd be happy to see me…"

"Well it's not that, it's just… I don't know if it's a good idea for us to keep spending time together?"

"Why not?" Leo asked her, taking her hand and leading her out of the room. He picked up her briefcase for her, along with the box of slides she was putting away.

"Leo, it's complicated. It's just not easy to be around you… because when I'm around you I start remembering things. Things I didn't want to remember that I had sorted out in their proper place, filed away so they couldn't hurt me anymore…"

"Why didn't you want to remember them? What things? Memories of us?"

"Yes. Do you realize how painful it was when you just took me for granted? I was really hurt when you put your career above me…"

"I did it because you were in school, Terri. Your career was as important to you as mine was to me. I couldn't jeopardize that for you."

"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place!" Terri snapped.

"I guess I assumed you knew. And why didn't you ask me if you were so hurt! I would have been willing to talk to you…"

"That's nice, but it doesn't do any good now," Terri sighed.

"I'm sorry I did take you for granted," Leo sighed, taking her hand. "Look, I apologize for being a jerk. Please can't you see that I want to make amends? I hurt you, and I'm sorry. Isn't there something I can do…"

"I don't know…"

"Terri, I shouldn't have left you like that. But you have to understand I only wanted a career, a steady job so I could take care of you. Take care of us. I wanted us to both be in a steady place in our lives so we could do what we wanted. I was going to come back for you when I had finished my post doc! But then you stopped taking my emails and letters!"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me that! All those times I asked you if you wanted to be with me, if you thought about us, a future, you always gave me this shit about 'I've thought about it honey…' and you'd clam up! Why!"

"Oh god, I was stupid," Leo sighed. "Look, I was never good about expressing my feelings. I was so much in love with you, I didn't realize it. Then when I lost you, it was like losing a part of me. I tried to bury it away, tell myself that you were getting on with your life. I tried to get on with mine."

"You did. You're the scientist you've always wanted to be…"

"Which is why it was so important for us to wait, for my life and yours to be in the right place, which is why…"

"Why what?" Terri asked, breathing deeply as she leaned back in her chair.

"I wanted to tell you for a long time, but I couldn't find you."

"Tell me what?" Teri demanded, her heart pounding in anticipation.

"Terri, I love you. I have always loved you, but I've been stupid and stubborn not to admit it," Leo admitted.

"Oh god, I knew it," Terri sighed, shaking her head.  A sinking feeling rose up in her stomach, and she suddenly felt very ill and queezy.

"I had to tell you. When I saw you up there giving that lecture, I realized what was missing in my life. I have dated a number of women, but nobody is like you. You and I… we're just perfect together. We like the same things… and…"

"What good is it for me to know this now? I'm in a relationship…"

"I know, but Terri I can't just let things go without telling you how I really feel. I want to be honest…" Leo protested.

"I appreciate it, but I just can't turn off five years worth of anger and hurt. We've grown you and I. And we got on with our lives…"

"That's what I'm doing, getting on with my life," Leo admitted. "Look, I love you. I can't deny how I feel. The logical thing to do is to tell you."

"What am I supposed to do with that knowledge now?" Terri asked.

"You could look into your heart and see if you feel the same. Admit to me and yourself how you really feel…"

"Leo, please don't do this," Terri shook her head. "Don't ask me that… it's not fair, damn it…"

"You still do love me, don’t' you?" Leo demanded. "Can you honestly look me in the face and deny that?"

Terri glared right into his face, fixing her gaze into his as she said, "Leo, I still care for you. Yeah part of me still loves you. But most of me loves Gene."

"Gene Simmons of KISS you mean?" he said. Terri froze.

"I know," Leo admitted. "I figured it out. I saw the pictures of the two of you. Terri, why didn’t' you just admit it to me?"

"It wasn't your business."

"It is my business, Terri! I am your friend, someone from your past who once meant the world to you. Don't I deserve…"

"What you deserve is what I chose to give," Terri snapped back.

"Do you deserve to be jerked around by a man who sleeps with other women?" Leo shot back.

"What do you know about that?" Terri demanded.

"I came to your home the other night to drop in and meet your friends. And I tried looking for you. The door was open, and I thought you might have been expecting me…"

"You came by my house and just walked in?" Terri's jaw dropped. "Were you spying on me?"

"No, it wasn't like that! Terri, I saw Gene with that friend of yours!"

"I know all about it, for your information," Terri hissed at him. "And I can't believe you took such liberties with my private life! Who the hell do you think you are!"

"The man who loves you," Leo protested. "Who cares about your future. What kind of a future can you have with a man who sleeps around! Can he give you a family and be your husband? Stability?"

"I… well I don't know if I want to be married…"

"You always wanted it before. That was the issue you constantly brought up when we were together. You wanted to be a wife and mother, with a family of your own, remember? Well, I can give that to you now, Terri. What can Gene offer you that I can't other then money?"

"Honesty," Terri said immediately.

"And a big house, empty of warmth and family? Terri, the only woman I want now is you. And if you and I were going to marry that would be the case! I would offer you a family, a home, a life with me!"

"Please leave me alone…" Terri shouted, walking quickly away from the table. Leo followed, catching hold of her arm.

"Terri, don’t' walk away from me! You have to be honest with me, with yourself! What can he offer you, that I haven't before?"

"Let me go!" Terri shouted, wrenching her arm from his grasp. She rushed quickly from the room into the gathering crowd.

"Terri, I love you! Please don't shut me out again! I can't let you slip away!" came his anxious cry. Tears blurred her vision, dripping down her cheeks as she rushed away to her car. Pain erupted in her chest, choking the words from her throat along with the sobs that wracked her now.

Right now Terri's immediate concern was to get as far away from him and her past as possible.  Uncomfortable truths had been brought to light, and she could barely stand the pain unleashed that crashed forth from behind those damns she'd erected.  Memory was a careful balance of emotion, hidden behind her work, and other relationships.  Now she felt as naked and vulnerable as she did the day she decided she was no longer in love with him.