Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide

Part 2 The Birthday Party Continued

By Trynia Merin

© Trynia's Journies

Disclaimer: KISS and Gene Simmons are real persons. This story is a work of Fiction,and is not meant to harm or demean the parties mentioned. Terri Mason, and related friends are the author's creation. Note, Jade's character Calen MacGregor appears in this story with her permission. Thanks a lot!

"She called me a gold digging whore!" Liz sobbed to Paul, who gripped her hand. Both of them sat near Calen and Steve, who had just heard the story of what happened.

"You didn't have to hit her," Paul said. "Liz… please… it’s not worth it!"

"But she said that you were so desperate you'd fuck anyone!"

"Well, that's not true!" Paul slapped his thigh.

"And she called you an overdressed has-been ass shaking faggot!"

"Oh man," Paul shook his head.

"I lost it! I couldn't let her get away with that shit, so I decked her! She was asking for it!"

"Paul is not a faggot, right?" Calen said matter of fact. "You know that for sure, right!"

"Yes.. but…"

"It's just names. They were just trying to rile you, sweetheart!" Paul said, hugging Liz against him. "I don't want you getting into fights for my sake!"

"She was asking for it," Calen snorted.

"Calen, that's not helping," Paul sighed. "Hitting never solved anything."

"She has a point," Steve said.

Liz cried, "She said some nasty things about Gene and Terri too! That Gene was so desperate he'd scraped the bottom of the barrel for girlfriends… and that Terri had the taste of a tight assed bitch from the Victorian period!"

"Now you know that's not true," Paul laughed, despite his anger. "Terri's far more of a women than half of those skinny skeletons. And so are you. They're jealous its not them living with one of us!!"

"Well, you should have told them instead of taking it that far," Calen sighed. "Besides, I am sure Terri would have loved to do the honors of smacking that bitch's face for you, or else aske you to wait in line!"

"Please, you gotta let me know what's going on! You could have simply told me!" Paul cried. "Baby, it's not worth you getting into trouble!"

"It's worth it to me!" Liz sobbed into his shirt. "I love you… and I am so tired of the shit people are saying about you! It's not true!"

"I know… so please, stay safe!" Paul cried.

"Maybe we should leave them alone," Steve said to Calen, taking her hand. They both wandered out of the room, shaking their heads with disgust at the whole situation.

As Calen took Steve by the hand, they explored the many rooms of Gene’s newly renovated house. Although she had been there before, she knew Steve hadn’t, so she was giving him the grand tour. It wasn’t too often that Steve was able to enjoy an extended visit in L.A. with Calen, and they were taking full advantage of it.

"This house is so much bigger than I had anticipated," said Steve.

"This is my favorite part of his house. It’s the room where he displays all his KISS memorabilia. Come in here with me." Said Calen, opening the door for him.

They walked inside and found the light and set it on dim. She watched as Steve looked around the room, amazed at how much was there. Calen walked over to the wall beside the couch and started looking though all the pictures hanging there. Pretty soon, Steve, who put his arm around her waist, enclosing her in a tight embrace, joined her.

"I hate that I have to leave tomorrow." Said Steve, still holding her. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in the scent of her perfume.

"So do I, but you have to wrestle in Cleveland on Monday. You have no choice. Its ok, I will join you soon enough." She said, sighing slightly at his touch. She truly missed having him around.

He turned her around to face him and he leaned down to kiss her. She reached up and wrapped her arms around him, gently rubbing her hands over the back of his neck. Again, they embraced, their hands exploring each other furiously.

"Maybe we should go home, huh?" she asked.

"Why not? There’s no one here, why don’t we just stay and give the KISS dolls a thrill?" asked Steve with a devilish grin.

Calen giggled as Steve picked her up and threw her on the large couch. He settled down between her legs, running his hands up and down her thighs. She ran her hands over his ass and up his back underneath his shirt, slowly raising it up over his head. Steve pulled up Calen’s sundress, and while holding her hands over her head, began kissing her neck and moved down to kiss her stomach. Calen threw her head back and groaned at the feel of his goatee softly scratching the delicate skin of her stomach. He released her hands and sat up slightly to remove his jeans and her underwear. He lifted her up to straddle his lap as they kissed again, their tongues intertwining. Slowly, he entered her, listening to the sounds of her intense passion. Holding her in his strong-arms, they moved together in unison, their sweat mingling as their pace increased. Calen tried to stifle her cries, afraid someone might hear and interrupt them, but it wasn’t working.

"Don’t try to be quiet," Steve, begged, "get as loud as you want, no one can hear us." He said, breathless.

As they peaked in orgasmic ecstasy, they both cried out loudly, neither caring who heard now. Exhausted, they fell together on the couch, holding each other close, Steve kissing her on the forehead lovingly. For anyone who knew them both well, one might say they were in love.

"Man, I'm sorry about that," Gene said to Terri. "Why didn't you tell me about those two social climbers sooner… I would have had them thrown out on their skinny little butts…"

"I didn't want to spoil your party with some stupid cat shit," Terri sighed. Already most of the guests had excused themselves to leave, their mood soured by the models. Others had been rather amused, but knew that Gene's own mood had darkened, and there was not much use hanging around him when he got like that. Both of them sat in his entertainment room before the large HDTV with its DVD player, and the plush sofa she loved so much.

"Terri, you have a right to tell me when this bothers you…"

"I didn't want you to have to worry! And now because of this shit… your party's ruined!"

"It's my job to worry," Gene assured her. "And no, my party isn't ruined. You should be proud of yourself for handling it the way you did!"

"Are you sure?"

"Very," Gene nodded, and pulled her close to him on the sofa. "Now, who said the party was over?"

"But your guests…"

"Haven't all gone home yet. Paul and Liz are still here, and I think we lost track of Calen and Steve… and then you're still here…"

"I don't have much choice," she joked.

"You were going to give me a present?" he asked, pulling her chin to face him.

"Oh yes…" Terri brightened up.

"I can't wait…"

"Sit down…" she pushed him down again. Slowly she leaned over and breathed into his ear, ordering Gene to close his eyes.

"Mm, what is it I wonder?" he smiled slowly. He enjoyed the feel of her breath on his face, slowly followed by soft kisses on his cheeks and chin, then down his neck. Slowly his shirt was undone, button by button, with a kiss after each part of skin exposed. Arriving at his belt, she tugged the shirt out of the waist of his pants and spread the halves aside.

"Ohhh this is definitely good," Gene nodded. Something soft and silky moved over his eyes, pulling taught. It was a blindfold, he guessed.

Slowly her hands stopped at his belt buckle, unfastening it. Soft kisses covered his belly, her hair trailing down and tickling him deliciously. There came the soft tug of her fingers on his zipper, jerking it deliberately down. Gene moaned at the feel of her smooth cheek rubbing against his need, sequestered in his underwear.

"Stand up," she ordered. Gene did just that, and felt her tugging his leather pants down to his ankles. Lifting his feet she pulled them off with his boots. Then she reached into his underwear, slipping her hands down his finely toned ass and rubbing. On the last downward stroke her hands took the underwear down with them to his knees. Cool air fell on his private parts now, and he kicked the underwear free of his ankles.

"Sit down," she ordered. Smiling slowly, he obeyed, liking the command in her voice. She pushed his arms back, and slipped them behind his neck. Cold steel encircled his wrists, and fastened with a click to secure his wrists into place.

"Better and better," he chuckled.

"Now…" Terri's voice came. "For the sweet part.."

Slowly something sticky dribbled down his chest, and over his awaiting passion. Gene felt the warmth surge on his most sensitive areas, and flinched a bit. What did Calen tell her, Terri wondered as she poured the sweet stickiness all over Gene. To hide the smell of a sweating man's passion would make this all the more easier!

His skin rose with small goosbumps at the feel of her tongue licking up the substance, sticky and room temperature, from his bellybutton. Downwards further it moved, to below, and just above his passion. Her hands cupped him; slowly working along his length that became suddenly stiffer. What he felt next was a velvet softness stroking from the shaft slowly to the tip, and he gasped a low moan. Was it what he thought it was?

Hot breath fanned his belly, and slow strokes upwards pulled the stickiness with them. A mass of shivering bliss shot from Gene's groin all over his body like wildfire, causing a low rumbling moan. Slowly the licks increased in number, and Gene realized it must be her tongue! Never in a million years would he have guessed she'd try something like this!

"Damn…" he got out. "That feels so good…"

His knees quaked in anticipation of what would come next, for he truly didn't know what to expect! Fingers kneaded and massaged, and then he felt soft warm lips close around his shaft's tip. Slowly, gently he felt his hardness slip into soft wetness a third of the way.

"Easy, baby, take your time," Gene urged, holding back his release. "Don't rush… oh God that feels good… don't stop now…"

Around his tip he felt the soft velvet tongue wrap, then tease lightly as it licked more stickiness off. Hot wetness surrounded him halfway, then hesitated as hands braced on his thighs and weight shifted. Gene shuddered, growling low in his throat. How much longer could he stand this before he would demand release? He experimentally thrust his hips forwards, hoping she'd be all right. Along the roof of her mouth his tip traveled, along the bed of her tongue, then back again. Stickiness eased the transition as she moved back and forth with him, his hands straining behind his head as his whole body shuddered. Her hands and fingers supported his hardness, easing it in and out along with the soft moist mouth he savored.

"Oh sweetheart…" Gene got out, unable to hold his passion for another moment. "I'm gonna cum…"

He felt her encouraging squeeze on one thigh, letting him know it was okay to let himself go. Tossing his head back he felt his muscles tighten, and a flood of passion erupted with a vengeance.

Terri had taken a deep breath, backing out slightly as she felt the eruption of liquid into her mouth. Honey mingled with his excitement, sweet and hot on her tongue. She gasped, pulling away from him as she took deep breaths. Down her chest she felt the milk of his cum mingle with the sweet honey in an odd mess.

"Oh god…" she got out, trembling as she lay her head on Gene's lap. The cuffs broke free, his hands curling into her hair.

"Come on up here, doll," Gene urged, grabbing her hands and pulling her up. "Sit in ol Gene's lap… that's it now…"

She straddled him, resting her head on his shoulder as he hugged her tightly to him. Fingers found her cheeks, and guided her lips to his. Surprised filled his face when he tasted honey on her lips, mingled with his own cum and her sweet saliva.

"Happy Birthday, Gene," she laughed, trembling with excitement and triumph. She would have to thank Calen for this little lifesaver. Honey indeed was a natural lubricant, and her aching jaw was all the more grateful for its assistance. His size has been imposing, but she was thankful she had taken some of him in at least.

"That was definitely the best present anyone has given me in a long time," he laughed deeply. "And best of all it fits just right!"

"Even halfway?"

"Doesn't matter. And I'm thinking I'm gonna want to try on something else for size," he chuckled. She gasped as he slipped himself inside her, suddenly hard again.

"Oh, it does fit," she laughed.

Suddenly she heard a loud scream from somewhere else in the house, and let out a laugh. Gene listened for a moment, then gave a slow smile.

"Who is that.. is someone…"

"I don't think we should worry," he chuckled. "That's Calen. And from the sound of it…"

"Why? Oh wait…" Terri suddenly realized when she listened to the cries again, rising in pitch till the last scream topped all in volume.

"You don't really think she wants to be disturbed do you?" Gene joked.

"Duh on me!" she groaned, slapping her forehead, and both of them laughed hard.

"By the way, want to make love here? Or someplace else?"

"I could care less where," she moaned, shifting on his lap with the feel of him so close to her.

"C'mon… I want this to be special. You realized, this is one hundred…" he said slowly.

"Oh god… you're serious?"

"Mm hmm," he said, slipping out. He took her hand, and helped her off the sofa. Not bothering to gather their clothes they hastened upstairs together. Once they reached his bedroom, she gasped. Someone had lit multiple candles leading up to the bathroom, and she was stunned to smell a heavy vanilla scent in the air.

"What did you do?"

"See for yourself…" he chuckled, leading the way. It floored her, that he had not forgotten this simple thing! Through the open door they followed the trail to the large bathtub ringed with small votive candles, each lit and flickering brightly. They climbed almost reverently into the hot foaming water together, and Gene enjoyed the sticky mess of the honey slowly float away from his body once he immersed himself in the hot water.

"Gene… oh god that's intense…" Teri got out as Gene pulled her to him. She felt his substantial size enter her once again, and moaned. Gene's size was different from Paul's, she inwardly reflected. Not the same length, but the size was comparable, and Gene's technique was very different. However instead of hard and fast, this was one of the slow and gentle times that they both savored. He could drive her crazy all night like this, she reflected, coming over and over again, and still not reach his own release till she was reduced to a shivering mass of sensation.

Gene in turn savored how well she had learned to keep up with his insatiable appetite. She never seemed to tire of his steady stream of new ideas for lovemaking, and in fact shows considerable initiative and creativity on her own. Here was a woman he could be with in many ways other then just sexual, for she would enjoy just sitting quietly with him watching a movie just as much as pounding the sheets with him. Her mind for trivia challenged even his, especially when it came to classic SF. True, he beat her hands down when it came to Horror, but she rapidly sucked in the new sensations like a sponge.

They both awakened the next day, sated and satisfied as they sat down to breakfast. Still something nagged Terri from the party, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Why had those two writers been so interested in her? She had to know why.

"That was the best party I've had in ages, sweetheart," Gene said, when they tackled the large stack of pancakes they'd whipped up together.

"It was a challenge, to be sure," Terri nodded. "I've never catered anything if truth be told."

"You outdid yourself. Damn I'm proud of you, you know…"

"Thanks," she blushed slightly, taking a chug of coffee to wash down the bit of scrambled egg she almost choked on.

"Really. You had nothing to worry about. It was perfect… I couldn't have done better myself…" Gene admitted.

"There were all sorts of people you know," she said casually. How would she bring up the subject without him suspecting anything?

"Well what can I say?" Gene shrugged. "I know a lot of people!"

"Especially those two screenwriters. Where'd you get to know them?"

"Various places. Cheryl, I've known her since she was a little girl, and Molly, well I met her through Allison's friend Brad. When Allison and I were dating…"

"Yes," she nods.

"But Gene, there is something I've been wondering…"

"Which is…" Gene asked, chewing a forkful of his second stack of pancakes.

"Molly and Cheryl, did they get along so well with me because they liked me, or because they liked my stories. They seemed rather familiar with some of my work… and I can't help but wonder where they heard of me…"

"Well, I haven't exactly kept it a secret what you do in your spare time," Gene admitted. "When I mentioned you wrote, they wanted very much to see some of your work…"

"Did they want to meet me, or did you ask them to talk to me?" she asked, taking a deep breath. Gene put down his fork, and folded his hands.

"What is wrong," he asked, guessing the look of doubt in her eyes.

"Gene…" she said, glaring at him. "You didn't'… did you?"

"It's not like that…" Gene protested. "Not the way you seem to imply…"

"That's what it is beginning to look like…" she sighed.

"Terri…"

"Don’t' you realize how superficial that makes me feel?" she asked, pushing away from the table.

"What's going on here…" Gene got out before she whirled around on him. "Why is this a problem? I mean after all you use your connections to network in your science career, right?"

"They didn't give a damn about me as a person, did they? Just because of my talent!" she got out.

"No!" Gene protested. "That's not the way it is…"

"Then how is it, Gene?"

"Damn it, would you let me explain?" he snapped.

"Okay, you tell me, Mr. Hot shot," she shot back.

"I wanted to get you into screenwriting," Gene explained, taking a deep breath. "I thought if I could get you to talk to some screenwriters I knew… who were friends of mine… you'd have a chance to see what it was like…"

"What?"

"They both heard me talking about you, at the party. A few weeks back one of them had just happened to call me, and wondered if I had any new scripts I was considering for a movie I was considering producing… once the tour winds down. Well I told them I was considering a new script, but I needed someone to edit it. Then I mailed her a copy of one of your stories you had printed out…"

"So you took one of my stories, my personal stories, without asking me, and showed it to some screen writer?" she got out, stammering.

"Uh… yeah…" Gene said, looking ashamed.

"Why?" she demanded, anger mounting more and more each second. She threw her plates into the sink with a loud clatter. "That is my personal property! I don't go around stealing your goddamned song ideas, do I?"

"You listened to the tracks I believe," he pointed out. "If you hadn't been curious about what was on those demo CD's you never would have discovered I'd written that song with your lyrics! And I don't recall you asking my permission for that!"

"That's not the same thing! You left those out there for me to find on purpose1 And anyway I'm not a screenwriter! You didn't even think to ask me! So don't even try that 'tit for tat' crap with me, Gene!"

"Why are you so insecure about your writing?" Gene demanded. "You've got talent! It kills me to see you moping around and trying to find a job in science when you could make a hell of a lot more money in writing! Your ideas are ten times more real then half the shit I see coming out of Hollywood!"

She buried her head in her hands, shaking from head to toe. Part of her was furious, the other half was floored at what he had just said. No one had put it more plainly, paring down the sources of her fear.

"Because… I didn't think I was good enough…"

"Bullshit," Gene said. "You've got a gift, baby. And don't ever sell yourself short in front of me!"

"I… don't know what to say," she wiped the tears from her eyes. "But… the thing is… that I had hoped to make it on my own… and…"

"Everyone needs someone to give them a leg-up in this industry," Gene said quietly, taking her hand. "There's no shame in it. Everyone has a patron…"

"I never thought anyone would do something like that for me… but it just doesn't feel like my thing… if you just hand someone a script…"

"Don't you think I knew that about you? I wanted to create a situation where you felt you were doing it yourself… but you’re so damned smart… it's not easy. "

Terri let out a sigh, and flopped down in a chair. "Well I wish you would have asked me first."

"Next time I will, promise," Gene said.

"What are you working on, sweetheart?" asked a voice behind her later that afternoon. Terri had wandered off to type on her computer, and clear her head. So far she was unsuccessful in conquering the blank screen before her now, and any distraction was welcome.

"Oh god, you scared the crap out of me," she groaned, wincing at the soft buzz of his lips on her earlobe. Strong arms kneaded her breasts from behind.

"You live on that computer," he scolded her.

"Well you wanted me to be a writer, remember?" she shot back.

"All right," he acquiesced, holding up his hands. "That's one thing, but you live on Cyberspace, sometimes! Are you trying to break Ace's record, or get lost in Cyber hell?"

"I know you hate the Internet, but I still need some inexpensive way of keeping in touch with my friends…"

"You can use the phone, you know," Gene reminded her. "Meatspace isn't so bad after all! And they haven't perfected anything in virtual reality that can rival this…"

Leaning over her face he pressed a soft slow kiss to her lips for a few minutes. Terri's protests vanished at the force of his kiss, before parting to catch her breath.

"I need to continue with my creative outlet," she pointed out to him.

"So do I, and you're mine," he growled, leaning over her and whispering into her ear.

"Don't you have some studio recording to do today?" she asked him.

"I remembered you asked me what was involved in producing a record. And as you know, I'd love the pleasure of your company yet again…" he hummed against her neck.

"Gene, you never cease to amaze me," she sighed, acquiescing. It would be more interesting then struggling with her uncooperative muse. That blank screen loomed like a bad dream, unable to be filled with even the simplest of sentences.

"I hope I never fail to amaze you," Gene whispered, taking her hand and kissing it.

They stepped out of the recording studio, from Gene's limo. Already the technicians had assembled their microphones amidst the band, who were just beginning their sound checks. Unlike KISS, this group was far from the bigtime, just starting out in the wild unpredictable world of music. Stars would rise and fall only to be forgotten six months later on a one hit wonder, or else fade into the oblivion of obscurity. So many more never even saw the recording studio.

"Mr. Simmons, glad to see you," the recording artist shook his hand quickly. His eyes walked up and down Terri momentarily, before returning to Gene's attention. "And your lovely companion…"

"Terri Mason," he said, introducing her. "She's come along to see you guys work a little magic here."

"They're just about ready. These are the ladies and gentlemen of Sweet Crude…" Charlie introduced them. The willowy auburn haired girl turned around, her green tank top exposing creamy white shoulders and chest. Along one arm spread a tattoo of an ocean waves and cascade of circles that terminated on her right hand. Light blue eyes fixed with mixed nervousness and excitement into theirs.

"So glad to meet you… hope you like what we've got…" she smiled, shaking Gene's hand. He picked hers up and pressed a light kiss to the back.

"Lead singer Jasmine Fuentes."

"Pleasure to meet a lovely young thing such as you," Gene said smoothly.

"This is Rogde, on lead," she indicated the tall young man, with a mullet hairstyle and loose bowling shirt that reached the top of his baggy jeans. His ruddy tan showed off the pleasant features, topped with multiple piercing in his eyebrows and lower lip. Terri's eyes admired him, then flickered over the drummer, who moved up to take her hand in his firm grip. Smoldering black eyes fixed into hers, and she felt the electricity behind them. Caramel skin contrasted smooth and clear against her small hand in his. He gave her a slow smile, his lips curling with admiration.

"Name's Michael. Pleased to meet you, lady," he whispered. Slender and well muscled, his tank top didn’t' do much to hide the firm chest underneath, his dark hair reminiscent of Paul. Short shaved hair was hidden by the backwards baseball cap he wore.

"Then our lovely basest, Star," she pointed out, the other young woman, more amply endowed with firm breasts under a spaghetti strap tank top like jasmine's, except she wore sports pants and flip flops. Terri noticed the multiple tattoo sleeves up and down her arms, brown eyes looking past Gene, and fixing oddly into hers. Was it her imagination, or was Star giving her the once over, while she totally ignored Gene's lascivious "I'm gonna eat you alive" grin. She winked at Terri, who gave a modest nod. Terri's experience gave her the benefit of knowing this woman's interests only lay with the female gender. A very interesting game that Gene had no hope of winning, even though that he was turning up the smolder in his examination of Jasmine.

"Let's go, peoples!" Charlie clapped his hands. "Mr. Simmons, Ms. Mason if you'll follow me…"

"I'll look forward to meeting you later," Gene whispered into Jasmine's ear. She took the business card he offered her with a slow smile. Terri felt a bit of a jealous pang, and moved over past Michael, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. For a moment she felt his eyes undressing her as she turned around. She threw a wink to Star, who licked her lips invitingly.

"Ditto for the rest of you," Terri whispered to her. Gene noticed this exchange with a strange look in his eyes, and Terri gave herself a small smile of satisfaction. Keep him guessing, she told herself. That certainly got his attention.

They settled behind the mixing board, through the glass windows of the sound booth. Egg crates lined the walls, behind the quartet who pulled their instruments into place.

"You chose Sweet Crude?" Terri whispered to him. "A Philly band?"

"Hey, they were the best out of the demos, why not?" Gene shrugged.

"Why am I not surprised," she sighed. Gene's eyes kept wandering back to the lead singer, while Terri couldn't help but admire the fine lines of the lead guitarist. The game had begun, and Terri realized that she could play just as well as Gene could. After all, she had been observing him for a long time.

Their first number ripped through with a raucous cacophony that made Terri wince at its discord. Gene seemed rather oblivious, choosing to notice the swaying hips of Jasmine as she began her first verse. Michael's pecs flexed and glided under caramel skin while he pounded out the lines.

Gene glanced sidelong at Terri, watching how her eyes walked over the feast before her. A slow pang surfaced, rushing outwards over his body. Strange and odd, it sent a hot rush through him that made him gasp. He'd never seen her try this before, and he found he was rather liking the change.

"Well little girl, we'll see who can hold out the longest," Gene grinned to himself. Very slowly he raised his hand, lightly brushing it against her bare knee. Terri appeared not to notice, her gaze still firmly fixated on Michael and Rodge.

Lightly Gene's tongue licked over his curled lips, casting a smoldering gaze to Jasmine. She winked through the glass, turning and shaking her booty at him. His hand traveled steadily up Terri's thigh, ever northwards with a slow rub.

Out of the corner of her eye, Terri saw the tongue action, and felt the jolt of energy surge over her skin. Goose pimples rose, but she focused all her attention on Michael's smoldering gaze, locking with hers. Small fingers reached over into Gene's lap, lightly squeezing his thigh under the control panel. How firm he felt under the leather pants that seemed a crime.

Star turned, giving her hips a little shake, winking in Terri's direction. Gene's hand drew small light patterns under Terri's skirt, admiring the sweat glistening from Star's creamy white chest. A light gloss of sweat beaded up on the bare skin of each band member, as their song continued.

Long firm strokes reached further northwards on Gene's legs, making him shift slightly in his chair. It was hard to focus on what his hands were doing, torn between her delicious ministrations and the eye candy gyrating before him. Carefully the small fingers explored his ever growing trend, their touch electric through the confining leather. His own fingers found the boundary of her garters, moving ever northward till he saw her breath rise in fall in her chest.

"Oh god," she got out, stifling the words in her throat. Gene stifled his own groan by biting down on his tongue. Ever faster her fingers moved, rubbing in long teasing strokes that drove him to madness.

"You're driving me crazy," he gritted, leaning over to whisper into her ear.

"Am I?" she whispered back, eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Shall we find out?" he asked in a low seductive tone.

"Aren't you in the middle of business?" she asked, struggling to choke down her raging hormones that screamed for release.

Gene nudged Charlie, muttering, "Excuse me, I'll be right back. I have to make a phone call…"

"Is everything all right?"

"Fine," Gene gritted. "It's urgent business. Go on without me. Sounds great so far…"

"Okay, we'll keep on going then," Charlie nodded with relief. Gene rose slowly, tugging Terri by the hand in front of him and nudging her out the door.

"Come with me," he whispered. They carefully made their way out of the studio, and wandered down the hall. Gene led her to a door marked "Private", and knocked. There was no answer, so he nudged her before him, reaching around her to open the door.

"Step into my office," he whispered into her ear.

"Sure I'm not detaining you?" she asked with a slow laugh. He urged her in, then closed the door behind him, locking it before turning to her.

She backed slowly away, a smile forming on her lips at the appearance of his hungry gaze. Slowly, deliberately he advanced, till she felt something slam against her backside, making her wince. It was hard and firm, and oblong. Glancing backwards she saw she was leaning up against the desk. Gene pinned her between the firm wood and his own body, hands tracing over her back with precision touches of incredible pleasure. Crushing her to his body he closed her mouth off with his eager lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Firmly his tongue thrust between her lips, wrapping around her own and stifling the moans of pleasure present at the feel of his hands kneading and caressing her chest.

"You're a naughty little girl," he whispered against her lips. "And you know what I do to naughty girls…"

"Same thing I would do to a naughty little boy," she whispered, hands clenching down his back to his butt and thighs. "Who sneak away when there's work to be done…"

"Can I help what you just did?" he asked, rubbing himself against her belly, his need apparent. He seized her hands, placing them on his belt while he shoved her skirt up her thighs. His hands tucked under her thighs, tickling them as he lifted her up onto the desktop. Binders and CDs clattered with a sweep of one arm, clearing the desk in one fell swoop. Terri unfastened his belt and the top button of his leather pants as he straddled her there on the desktop, hard and smooth under her back. In a single movement he tugged her dress up and off her body, tossing it neatly over the office chair. Another movement ripped her underwear aside, throwing them down on the floor carelessly. Her fingernails curled into his shirt, almost ripping the buttons in her effort to get it off him. He undid the top button, shedding it without even undoing any of the others, tossing it over her discarded dress.

"I am sorry," she whispered. "For distracting you… if you have a job to do…"

"Don't be," he whispered, returning her hands to his pants. She unfastened them, helping him to wriggle out of them and shed them while he shifted off of him. Eagerly he climbed on top of her, silencing any further words with a thrust of his tongue in her mouth. Still kissing her deeply he moved between her legs, shoving deep inside her with a single movement. So hard he pushed it brought tears to her eyes at the pain that flared up, then momentarily subsided. She brushed her tongue against his, while his danced over her own in the hot space of their merged mouths. A loud guitar chord slammed home, Gene finding his hammering thrusts in the beat of the loud drums that permeated the office walls. Frantically he searched for the release of the pent up sexual energy they had both unleashed. She loved the feel of his skin slipping against hers, and his musk and sweat enveloping her in a cloud of hot pheromones. Balanced on his knees, her raised legs rested on his shoulders as he pulled out of a kiss, slamming harder and harder in and out of her. She could never had withstood this before, she inwardly reflected, if not for their previous times together.

Releases exploded fast and furious when Gene rammed himself the deepest yet, impaling her deliciously, pressing her under his weight. Terri's scream and his were lost in the single wailing guitar note that rose above the din outside. Spent, he collapsed on top of her, burying his head in her shoulder. Gentle kisses covered her face as she held him close, their beating hearts slowing down together. Tenderly she stroked his hair, feeling his spent excitement softening inside her where he had buried it moments before.

"Mm," he whispered, giving her a last gentle kiss while he raised himself up off of her. "I've created a monster!"

"I learned from the best…" she whispered, relishing the glow of satisfaction in his dark eyes that regarded her tenderly.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, love," he laughed. "I thoroughly enjoyed that!"

"So did I," she whispered back. Leaning over her brushed his hand against her cheek. Gene handed Terri her dress and stockings while he hunted for his own clothing. She tossed him a package of wetnaps she always carried lately in her purse. One never knew when they would come in handy, she inwardly reflected. They helped put each other back together by the time they heard the rapping on the office door.

"Just a minute," Gene called out, buttoning his shirt. He traversed the office and reached the door to answer it. Blocking the view with his body, he opened it only a few inches.

"Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Simmons. But we have the first two tracks in the can. Should we continue?"

"I'll be right out. Give me five okay?" Gene asked, then closed the door behind him. Terri thrust her feet into her sandals and joined him, reaching around to hug him from behind. He kissed the backs of her hands lightly and sweetly.

"Ready to go back?" he asked her.

"Yes, it's been a most interesting experience…" she added.

Hand in hand they strode out toward the studio once more. Already the band had commenced their next number, a slow and grinding tune that rattled the windows.

Just then Terri heard a ringing sound in her purse. She excused herself and reached into her pocketbook for the slim Nokia phone Gene always insisted she carry with her.

"Hello?" she asked, stepping into the hall.

"Is this Ms. Mason?" a familiar voice asked.

"Crystal…" Terri asked. "God, it's been a long time! How are you?"

"Terri, I'm so glad I got hold of you. Good thing you gave me this cell phone number!"

"Aren't you at work now?"

"Yes. And it's a work thing I'm calling you about…"

"What?" Terri asked. "That supervisor isn't giving you hell is she?"

"Well, to tell the truth, she's been fired."

"Ding dong, the witch is dead!" Terri laughed aloud.

"Wanna know what house dropped on her?" Crystal's laugh came.

"What?"

"They found out she was falsifying data on the Prometheus project!"

"Oh god," Terri laughed. "That is so hilarious!"

"So they called her into the Director's office, and the whole story came out. It also turns out she was trying to file a NDA… a new drug application to the FDA without Orphan's approval. She had heard that the new drug Thiralophen was gonna be out from Merck, and wanted to beat them too it! But when Orphan found out, they called her onto the carpet! Then the FDA wanted to do a preapproval. When we reviewed the data, we found the fake records! She had been hiding the bad data ever since last year!"

"So what now?"

"They're looking for a new supervisor for the Thiralophen project!" Crystal announced. "And they were wanting to get in touch with all of the scientists who worked on it… and since you handled the HPLC validation work…"

"You mean they asked you to find me?" Terri asked.

"Yeah! The director went through your notebooks and found your data was the best, and it was accurate! He asked what had happened to you… and I told him you'd been fired. He demanded that they review the grounds for your dismissal… and guess what…"

"What?"

"They want you back, Terri," Crystal told her.

Terri felt her knees grow weak, slowly sliding down the wall as she caught herself. She almost dropped the phone. "What did you say?"

"They're wondering if you could come out to Philly this weekend… they'll pay for tickets to fly you out… and discuss the Thiralophen project with you… what you remember… they need someone who worked intimately with it. And you're one of the most knowledgeable people they could get hold of…"

"God… are you serious?"

"I am! They're promoted me to Chemist, grade 15! A five thousand dollar a year raise, and another after six more months! And they want to talk turkey with you…"

"You can't be serious, really?"

"For real, girl! And that new supervisor position… they want you to consider taking it…"

"Oh my god…" Terri got out again, unable to contain herself. She felt her knees shaking as she shivered with strange joy and fear.