Who Wants to be Lonely

Part 2

By Trynia Merin with ideas from Jade

Disclaimer, READ FIRST: KISS and Gene Simmons are actual persons, and this is a work of fiction, not meant to harm or insult the persons involved. Terri Mason and other characters are property of the author. This story deals with the issue of stalking, and we do no advocate it by the writing, but rather wish to show the consequences of such actions. This story is rated R for violent content, language, and sexual content. Do NOT read if you are under 18, or if the idea of stalking bothers you! You have been warned!

"This is so freaking unreal," Liz laughed to Terri. "I mean it's just… like what I always dreamed of…"

"I'm happy for you," Terri said with a slow smile. How much had Paul told her about what they had shared?

"And you, girl! Doing it on a pool table with Gene Simmons! That rocks!"

"Did you and Paul go to bed together?" Terri asked.

"Well, not at first… but damn we've come close. But something always happens to screw it up… no pun intended…"

"Well is he still in his blue funk?'

"Yeah… he wanted to be held, and I held him. Poor Paul, that bitch was so manipulative…"

"What bitch?"

"Pam!"

"Did Paul tell you anything about me…"

"He said you were the most talented girl he'd met. And that Gene was damned lucky to have found you…"

"Oh…" Terri said slowly. So Paul had not revealed all yet, had he?

Suddenly Paul sneaked up behind Liz, and gave her a soft kiss on her neck. "Hey, pretty lady. Why don't we check out the sauna? I don't know about you, but it's getting a little chilly out here…"

"The sauna? You have a sauna?"

"Yeah. You can give me a backrub…" he grinned. "C'mon…"

Liz almost gasped when Paul led her away by the hand toward the pool house. She glanced over and saw Gene watching Brad and Allison by the pool. A slow smile came over her face and she got up, moving over toward him. He got up, and came toward her, but she held up a hand and turned away, walking the other direction. Slowly she let her sarong fall to around her ankles, and stepped out of it. Now he could see how her swimsuit curved over her generous and lovely rounded ass like a second skin, the arch of her back curved with muscle and gentle fat that he loved to rest his hands on.

Gene gave a slow smile. He liked it when she didn't make it easy for him. She headed toward the pool house, striding away on those short yet sexy legs of hers. Long brown hair fluttered in the evening breeze. She disappeared through the wooden door.

Gene picked up her sarong, and carried it with one of the towels. He had a feeling he might need both soon.

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

"Ohh baby," Ace sighed, as Christy rubbed his shoulders. She sat behind him, her legs tucked around his waist as he leaned into her body. His auburn brown hair hung damp and flat around his narrow face. He leaned his head on her firm stomach, peering up into her face with soft brown eyes.

"You like that, huh?' she grinned, leaning over to kiss him softly. Ace pulled her face to his, moving his lips with a precision that sent a silver shiver though her like lightening.

"Oops, am I intruding?"

"Oh hey… no…" Ace said.

"Sorry I can go somewhere else…"

"No, it's okay," Christy said slowly, when she saw Gene slowly peering through the door over Terri's shoulder. He held a finger up to his lips, and Christy took the cue. Terri stepped into the hot bubbling water, and slipped slowly inside. Ace and Christy reclined on the long portion of the rectangular shaped Jacuzzi, feeling the jets against their backs. She sat on the first step, first bathing her legs in hot foamy wonder. It felt so good on the soles of her feet.

Slowly Christy began to rub Ace's temples, and he let out a low moan, arching his back. Terri smiled and closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt something brush the back of her neck, and pretended to ignore it.

Luxuriously she stretched, and slipped further into the water. Ace and Christy remained in their own zone of pleasure, stroking each other's faces. She felt the water close over her thighs, then her hips and butt. Currents of heat rolled and boiled over her chilled skin, warming it to the core.

"Ohh this is marvelous…"

"It's awesome," Ace sighed deeply.

Silently Gene put one foot into the water, and sat down next to Terri. Her eyes were closed and her hair was just beginning to touch the hot surging foam. Slowly he slipped one leg around her hip, pulling her to sit before him as Ace was with Christy, except he sat behind the woman.

She gave a slight smile as Gene pillowed her head on his chest, pulling her body to rest on his. Fingers stole over her shoulders, beginning to rub them lightly, then increasing with pressure.

Ace turned around in the water, till he was face to face with Christy. He pulled her to sit on his lap, and slowly fingered her hair. Lower and lower his hands caressed her shoulders, slipping the strap of her suit aside.

Paul took Liz by the hand and led her over to the other side of the poolhouse, stopping first to make sure no one had seen them. He wanted the two of them to be alone for awhile. Liz giggled as Paul wrapped his arms around her waist form behind, pushing her gently into the hot, steam filled room. He shut the door and locked it, turning to Liz with a smoldering look in his eye, making her knees go weak....

"C'mere you…" he whispered.

"Paul…" she whispered. This was her fantasy, alone with him in the sauna. There was a wooden bench they could sit on, and she sat down next to him.

Slowly he began to rub her neck, moving up behind her for a moment. She felt his dark hair tickling her neck, and giggled.

"Like that baby?" he cooed into her ear.

"Oh yes Paul, it feels so good…"

"How about this?" he asked, moving his hands lower on her back. She moaned lightly, arching her back while his hands busied themselves down tight muscles.

"Awesome," she groaned.

Paul moved his hands around her back and slowly started to caress her breasts through her swimsuit top. She gasped and arched again, not believing how good it felt. Paul slowly pushed aside the strap of her bikini top, making her shiver with greater desire.

"Too many clothes baby. It's hot in here after all…" he whispered, lips close to her ear. Perspiration beaded on her bared skin, in small glistening droplets of sweat like rhinestones. The top dropped aside, and Paul moved before her, pulling her close. Her nipples hardened when they contacted his hairy chest. Slowly he rubbed his pecs over her breasts, in a stroking motion that made her gasp. She tossed back her head, and Paul took the opportunity to brush his tongue down her exposed throat. He seized her face, kissing her hard and firm on the lips. She worked her hands over his chest, rubbing harder and harder over his marvelous body. Soon he took both her legs and put them over his, lowering her to the smooth wooden surface of the steamy sauna. Hot air surged into cool moisture, softening his features into a dreamy mist. Lips parted as Paul feasted on her soft mounds, moving down her body with soft licks. He pulled aside her bottoms, and tossed them away.

"Paul. Oh god… that feels so good!" she gasped at the feel of his tongue on her belly, slowly sliding down. When he pushed his velvet soft tongue into her moistening need she arched her back fiercely with a piercing scream of passion.

Paul grinned, parting her knees and moving his finger into her wetness. Slowly he moved back while she recovered, and slowly licked her juices from his middle finger. This undid her completely.

"Oh my fucking god!" she screamed. "You have got to stop…"

"You don't want me to, do you?" he laughed lightly, pulling her up. She suddenly pressed her lips to his in a deep kiss that made Paul moan, as he worked her to straddle him. He poised her hands on his swim trunks.

"Go on, you know you want it, baby," Paul whispered.

"Oh god yes!" she cried, shifting off his lap so she could tug his swimsuit down. He stood up, his marvelous thighs before her face. Her eyes widened when she pulled the suit down and saw the size of his desire for her. Lightly she moved her hands over his marvelous million-dollar ass and gave it a firm squeeze. Paul groaned, and arched his back. She slipped the tip of his erection into her mouth and slowly began to go down. Yet he stopped her with a hand on her head.

"Not now… I have something more fun for you to do. My love gun needs a holster, and I was wondering if you could help me find out if a new one will fit…"

"Oh god…"

Steam rose around them as she pulled Paul down to her. They merged together, his love gun slowly entering her in one torturously long thrust. He stopped to let her get used to his size, feeling the tightness of her interior sweetly embracing him.

He lay on top of her, her hot soft body cushioning him as steam rose around them. When she nodded, he began to rock his hips. He raised both her legs to his shoulders, sitting up as she lay back. Liz felt she would come by the sheer presence of his size achingly huge inside her. It was a far different feel from Terri, who embraced him as well, but the strange jolt of passion that rose choked his throat with sheer pleasure. Her cries were a sweet symphony blending with his low moans.

"Don’t' stop! Please… don't stop!" she screamed. Every thing she had dreamed and more was multiplied in his gift of pleasure to her. She gripped his butt and pulled him as far in as she could. The climb was fast and hard and furious for both, when they reached the moon.

Paul felt her muscles clench and tighten on him, her wetness flooding him. Minutes after her he came, his seed flooding her body. They lay panting together on the hot moist wood, Paul kissing her and cradling her close to him.

IN that instant he knew she had found her dream, and he shared the warmth of her sweet murmuring.

"I love you Paul," she whispered. Paul opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't bring himself to spoil the sweetness of this moment. Tears formed in his dark eyes, for he knew she meant it truly.

What frightened him was that he felt his aching heart reach a place he had only reached once before. What could he say that would not shatter the slim chance at love?

"I know baby…" he whispered. "And it's the world to me… everything."

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

Ace worked his tongue into Christy's moist lips, fingering under her swimsuit. Her brown hair fell over her chest, and he pushed it lightly away. Her moan at his soft feather kisses mad him grin with glee. It had been a while since he had this much fun. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed Gene and his woman getting up close and personal. However right now all Gene seemed to be doing was to bask in the hot water with Terri lying on top of his body. Lightly he caressed her breasts, tracing over the tattoo of the Demon in fresh inks.

"God this is paradise," Terri moaned, glancing up into Gene's soft brown eyes. He let his hair fall down around their faces as a moist damp curtain of black curls.

"Damned close to it. Paul sure knows how to treat his guests," Gene agreed. Terri glanced over where Gene was looking so intently. Christy had her top off, and Ace was suckling her bare breasts now. She saw the top of the bikini go flying, and soon the bottoms were off.

Ace switched places with Christy, lying back against the hottub wall. Gene watched as she slipped off his swimsuit and threw it beside hers on the side. She lowered her head into the water, her brown hair floating around her face like a mass of seaweed.

"Oh baby… do it!" Ace groaned deeply through clenched teeth. Terri tensed in Gene's arms when she saw the look of ecstasy on Ace's face. For she could see his erection poised near her mouth under the water. Slowly she took him into her lips, beginning to slip her mouth around him. Ace bucked upwards, his groans increasing.

"Shit," Terri muttered, squirming on Gene's lap.

"This is better then a movie," Gene laughed lightly into her ear.

"God, they're right in front of us," Terri drew in her breath.

"They don't mind, so why should we?" Gene asked, turning her face to meet his. "Just think of it like a XXX flick! You don't mind those as I recall…"

"Gene. Can we leave now, for a more intimate setting?" she asked slowly.

"You wanna go somewhere more private? All right, that's cool," Gene grinned. Taking her hand he helped her out of the hot tub, and wrapped her in the towel. She was thankful he had brought her sarong to wrap around herself. Both of them slipped out of the pool house as quietly as possible.

Ace moaned as he came inside Christy's mouth, and she swallowed every last sweet drop.

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

"Paul has some guestrooms," Gene whispered, leading her back to the house. Already the sun was setting in strips of green and dark red bands.

"Speaking of, where is he?" she asked. "Unless… the sauna…"

"Hmm," Gene smiled slowly. "Too bad he beat us to it…"

"Ace said he was a smooth operator," Terri smiled. They entered the house, lit by the automatic lights. Past the gold records they climbed the stairs to the second floor where the bedrooms were. Gene reached the room where they had changed, and led her inside. Whenever he stayed at Paul's he would choose this particular room. Their clothing lay neatly on the bed, and Gene moved it aside to the top of the dresser.

"Nothing like the basics," Terri laughed. Gene slowly pulled her to him, kissing a path to his likeness in makeup on her chest. Slowly he pushed the straps to her suit aside. He tugged it off and tossed it over the back of the chair. She slipped her arms around him, sliding her hands up and down his thighs and ass. For a moment she slid her hands inside his suit, and then tugged it down. She leaned over, and picked it up from the floor. Gene watched her in full nude glory as she carried their wet things to the bathroom and hung them up to dry. Her patches of hair were cleanly shaven, as clean and smooth as silk.

He sat on the bed, and held out a hand to her. She joined him, lying beside him when he pulled the sheets aside. They snuggled together for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the sheets' embrace.

Gene sat up in bed, pulling her head to rest on his lap. Fingers stroked through her hair, and she tickled his belly by flipping her hair over his bared chest. "Nice…" he laughed. She felt his hand on the back of her head slowly pushing her down toward his stiffness. Already he was responding to Ace and Christy's little trysting, hungry for action.

"Gene…" she got out, stiffening as she resisted.

"Getting a little frisky, baby?" he laughed. Both hands took her head, pressing her down toward his erection. She braced her hands on his thighs, pushing hard to stop him.

"No… please… I don't…" she got out.

Her words hit Gene like a sluice of cold water. Unlike some men, Gene knew when no meant no. Quickly he removed his hand from her neck, and pulled her face up to peer into his.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked. Terri looked down, shaking spasmodically.

"I can't…I just can't…" she got out, before bursting into tears.

"Terri… what's wrong… tell me…" Gene begged, the lascivious look switching to one of concern for her. "What did I do…"

"I just… can't do what you want me to… not like that…"

"You mean you don't go down?" he asked slowly. "Is that it?"

"It just… just… I can't…" she sobbed, turning away from him. "I'm sorry Gene… I…"

"Babe, take it easy," Gene sighed, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "You're really freaked out here… tell me what's going on?"

"I never was able to go down on someone… not since…"

"Were you sexually abused?" Gene asked slowly, waiting for her to grip her self-control. If that was the case then her increased comfort with him in bed was inconsistent with a victim of rape or sexual molestation. He thought about how she had become uncomfortable just when Christy had gone down on Ace. No, it was the act of fallacio that bothered her, not sex in general. Definitely not sex in general, Gene inwardly chuckled. For that he was extremely thankful.

"No…" Terri gasped. "But… in some ways it was just as bad… I… this is embarrassing!"

"No more then getting caught banging the Demon I hope?" Gene lightly teased. "Come on, do you think anything shocks me?"

"Well, I just don't give a man oral sex. At least not in the way you're accustomed to. Because at one time when I first tried it… the guy I was dating… he pressured me into it. He said if I loved him I would try anything…"

"Oh man," Gene grumbled, his lip curling in disgust. "That just is a bunch of bullshit! If I'm ever with a girl and she doesn't like what I'm doing, I stop! All she has to do is say no."

"Thank God for that," Terri stroked his cheek. "Even so I doubt many women have said no to you…"

"Well, there have been a few… there was one time I invited a groupie up for an encore, and once she saw me all ready to go, she ran out of the room. I was totally surprised!"

Terri laughed at the thought of the big bad Demon, all ready and waiting to go, being turned down flat in a second. It seemed something very different and yet refreshing to know that women had refused Gene. It made him all the more human.

"I've never been with someone besides you and Paul who were so concerned with what I wanted sexually…" she smiled, stroking his chest. He pulled the blankets around both of them, holding her close in his arms. Tenderly he kissed her forehead and cheeks, making a low soothing growl.

"Terri, if there is anything in bed that I try that you don't like, please tell me. There are a lot of things I've learned, and since every woman is different, ever woman's fantasies are just as different. Some things that turn some women on disgust others. I'm just trying to broaden your horizons a little, not make you uncomfortable. In fact, I want to make you very comfortable…"

"Well he didn't. Chet, he just wanted me to get him off. He grabbed my neck, and unzipped his pants, and shoved my face down onto him. He kept chanting, 'do it baby, make me hard… you know you want to..' and 'if you loved me you'd please your man…' "

"Go on… only if you want to," Gene urged, kissing her lips softly and sweetly.

"He shoved himself into my mouth before I could get used to his size. And when he came… I… almost suffocated on his… his cum… I nearly choked… and he laughed at me!"

"Damn," Gene sighed, shaking his head. "That little shit."

"So after that whenever I've dated a guy, I never could bring myself to go down on him. Even with Paul, who was the first man I'd been sexually active with in close to two years… I wanted so badly to do it, but all I could do was lick…. Oh jeez I can't believe I'm telling someone this…"

"I'm glad you are," Gene nodded. "I can't read your mind, doll. I don't care if you get me off with your mouth or your hands. I'm far more concerned about you being comfortable with me in bed then what you think my own fantasies are. They might scare you…"

"Do they scare you?" she asked.

"Heh," he laughed sharply, then shook his head. "No, not really. But what other women think I think does. And right now I would like to talk about what you want me to do right now…"

"I just… hold me…"

Gene did just that, pulling her under the sheets. It wasn't long before she fell fast asleep in his arms.

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

"Wake up sleepyheads!" came Paul's voice, followed by the sound of pounding on the doors. Gene sleepily grumbled and opened one eye, pulling Terri close to his nude body.

"Shut the hell up Paul," he grumbled. Suddenly Paul clicked open the door and stuck his head in. He tugged up the blinds and Gene cursed, throwing a pillow at him as sunlight blinded him.

"Gene man it's almost ten! These aren't the old days when you get up at 1! Besides, you don't want to sleep all day when I've got breakfast going, do you?"

"Christ Paul, what's made you so fricking cheerful," Gene rubbed his eyes. Terri began to stir in his arms, and slowly blinked in the cascade of sunlight.

"The word is a wonderful place! That's why…"

"Who and what is that?" Terri asked, blinking and rubbing her eyes.

"Hello sleepyhead! Get Gene to get his ass down for some breakfast," Paul grinned at Terri with a wink. "Unless you guys wanna finish up in here…"

"Paul, close the door," Terri grinned. "Or I'll ask Liz why you spent all day in the sauna…"

"Okay okay!" Paul held up his hands and blushed. Gene glared at the doorway until Paul slowly closed the door and left them alone. Terri and Gene exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter.

"I think he's finally done it," she giggled.

"About freaking time," Gene grinned. "And you, did you sleep okay?"

"Wonderfully," she stretched. "I'm just sorry we didn’t…"

"Don't be. There's always now… or later. That's the good thing about rocking and rolling…" Gene winked. He heard his stomach growling, and realized if he did anything, food would be a good idea first.

"Let's go get some grub," Terri smiled, patting him on the thigh as she slid out of the bed. Gene watched her lovely nude body pass between him and the morning sun, and smiled.

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

Terri slowly scribbled on a legal pad as she ate breakfast. It had been fun, but Gene realized that Paul most likely wanted to enjoy his newfound relationship. Ace and Christy mainly spent time relaxing in their bed all day, only emerging for breakfast to disappear again upstairs.

Allison yawned and passed her plate to Brad, who was helping Paul clear the table. Liz cast a knowing wink to Terri.

"So… did you?" Terri whispered.

"Hell yeah!" she giggled, a flush on her face that Terri knew very well.

"All right," Teri smiled. "I am so happy for you, Liz…"

"Hey, how's the lucky girl?" Allison asked her.

"Wonderful, thank you!" Liz beamed.

"Great! So… well Brad and I… we're gonna be leaving soon. Enjoy yourself…"

"I will," Liz winked. Gene entered the kitchen, murmuring a hello to Ace and Christy who were just on their way out.

"What's with him? You didn't wear him out did you, girl?" Liz teased.

"Well…" Terri laughed. "We have had a couple of late nights lately. Gene's just catching up on his beauty rest."

"That's true, and you're the beauty," Gene said, leaning over and pressing a full deep kiss to Teri's lips. How much of their conversation had he heard, Liz wondered?

"So Gene, you wanna stick around, or is there someplace else you're gonna be."

"I think that Terri and I'll head out soon. There are a few things I need to take care of today. Some record promos to go through… is that okay with you, doll?"

"I think I'd like to go home with you," she smiled warmly, and Liz noted how she quickly shifted the legal pad back into her bag to one side of the kitchen chair.

"Great. I'll just get our stuff together and then you let me know when you're ready," Gene kissed her lips briefly again.

"Thanks," Liz smiled. "Now if I could only get rid of Ace and Christy, Paul and I could have the whole place to ourselves…"

"So you and Paul can catch up on some old business?" Terri winked.

"Hell yeah!"

"Why else would Paul wake Gene and me early?" Terri laughed. "Something's gotten into him, and I hope its you…"

"Well it's safer to say that's he's gotten into me," Liz chuckled. "In a major way…"

"Have fun," Terri laughed, and gave Liz a hug while she went to get dressed upstairs. Paul and Liz exchanged a small smile.

"They're leaving…" Liz whispered. "Just like you planned they would…"

"Uh huh…"

"You're awful inviting them all here and then kicking them out!" she scolded him.

"Well they're volunteering to leave," Paul shrugged, pulling her to her feet and hugging her closely to his body. "Who am I to stop them?"

"But Ace and Christy…"

"Are occupied in his room, and I don't think they're gonna come down any time soon… not when she took the peanut butter and jelly up with her…"

"Ohoo…" Liz chuckled.

"So now what do you want to do?"

"I think a nice hot bath would be perfect…" She winked. "And a little wine…"

"That's my girl," Paul grinned.

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

Later Terri sat in Gene's sitting room, with her feet propped up on the table. She scribbled something on a legal pad, and took a sip of Fresca from a glass. Strange how quickly she had come to like the taste of the citrus soda. She could see why Gene loved it so much.

"He probably keeps them in business," she laughed to herself.

From the other room she heard Gene muttering on the phone to someone. "No, I didn't listen to the demo yet! I promise it will be taken care of at a time that's convenient. Do you know ho many bands want to make it big time, sir?"

She chuckled, and set down her pad of paper. Just then the phone on the other line rang, and she went to pick it up.

"Hey girl! How's things?" asked Allison. "We were just wondering how you and Gene were doing…"

"Oh fine…" Terri said to her. "It's absolutely perfect. I can't imagine anything better. Gene's so… soo…"

"Fucking fantastic," Allison completed. "Well it was awesome to see how well you two are hitting it off. And girl, you're looking incredible these days! Don't think I didn't notice the hair and the shoes… and you are a flirt! Brad said he had trouble keeping eyes off the sexy woman that came with Gene…"

Gene had just gotten off the phone when he heard the sound of Terri's voice. He had left her shortly after she had gotten home, to listen to his demo CD's. Since he was a record producer, part of his job was to listen to new bands to choose which ones his company would promote. In his studio he had a number of CD's piled neatly around his CD player, all labeled with his own distinctive printing. Once in a while he'd surface to give his ears a rest and see if Terri was okay or needed anything. He found she was scribbling on that legal pad when he came in to recharge her glass with Fresca, and quietly left her to have her privacy.

Now he noticed she had moved to another room with the cordless phone, and was talking raptly to someone. What was it that she had been working on so diligently since breakfast, Gene wondered? Glancing quietly he moved into the sitting room and stole over to where she sat. He recognized the chicken scratches that were hard to make out. A slow smile came to his face when he realized what it was. Another poem, which could lend itself nicely to music.

"Damn, this is not half bad," he muttered. The words he read quickly to himself, tracking over the whole page in five minutes. Slowly a tune jangled in his brain when he ran over the scansion of the verses in his mind.

"And so Gene and I got the clue that Paul and Liz wanted us out of the way… since Paul woke Gene and me so damned early…" Terri's voice continued, growing steadily louder. Gene leapt up from the sofa, feeling guilty for peeking. He grabbed her glass and moved away, only to feel her eyes on him.

"I was just seeing if you wanted more Fresca," he said innocently.

"That would be great, thank you!" Terri smiled, muffling the end of the phone with one hand. She sat down once again, and continued her conversation with Allison. Gene put the Fresca at her elbow and pressed a brief kiss to her cheek.

"Soo Terri, have you found an apartment yet?" Allison's next question came.

"Well I have looked at a few places. But they are all so outrageous…" Terri grumbled.

"Well there is an answer to your problem, girl."

"What?"

"Oh don't be dumb! Just keep living with Gene! You've already been there for over a week, and you say it's working great! So why mess with a good thing?"

"I don't want to be in his way!"

"You aren't in his way! At least I haven't heard him calling me up and asking for any advice! Besides if you were, he'd tell you!"

Faintly she could hear music in the background, the sound of an acoustic guitar strumming softly. Gene must be playing his group demos out loud for a change, Terri chuckled. Most of them were the hard thrash/rap groups that were becoming more and more mainstream, sounding like rip offs of Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock. Or else they were alternative driving rock like STP and Everclear, two groups she liked. She had actually met Lars Ulrich of Metallica, earlier that week in a production meeting for a new metal compilation record. He and Gene were negotiating to play some songs together in a large onstage metal fest, and he had been very polite to Terri. Clearly he was just another down to earth guy, who was highly intelligent, and seemed to like women who were also smart. It didn’t' intimidate him. They talked about his stint on Millionaire, while Gene groaned when they teased him for not knowing what Pachyderm meant.

She had never heard this song, and the words suddenly caught her ears. Slowly she rose, carrying her legal pad in hand toward the studio. Whoever it was it sounded a lot like Gene. But it was surpassingly soft and tender, like some of his solo album music. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that the words on the page she held matched those she now heard! How had he known… unless he had seen what she had just written?

"Believe, you may have a destiny….

Believe, that love is a key

Always a passage of time

A palate of sights and sound

A door you can't open without love

Believe in me… Believe in Love…

Release your pain, learn to trust…

It's all before you life waiting for you… if you believe..

Believe in love, always believe.

A rainbow that turns gray into light

A spectrum that was once hidden

Deep from you're mind sights

Till you believe….

Believe in me… Believe in Love…

Release your pain, learn to trust…

It's all before you life waiting for you… if you believe..

Believe in Love, believe it's all true

Learn to trust in me as I trust you…

Live in the present, forget the past

Be with me tonight…

Make our love last…"

It sounded like a combination of something off his solo album, and his song "A World without Heroes", such was the softness of his voice. As odd and shocking as the softness in When You Wish Upon a Star. If Paul had sung it the song would have been mournful and soul filled, but hearing Gene sing it was far more incredible. Because it was a love song, and Gene normally didn't record love songs.

She approached the studio, and peered inside. Gene sat with his back to the open door, perched on a stool while he rested his leg on its rung. He strummed on an acoustic Ibanez, fingers working the strings with the expertise of a bass. Terri felt tears welling up in her eyes at that moment, and knew she truly loved this man who had unceremoniously fallen into her life.

Terri spotted the CD player to one side on the sturdy table, and glanced at the piles of CD's neatly stacked in their jewel cases. All of them had the names of the band and song written on their fronts in Gene's neat capital block printing. Groups with names like Sweet Crude and Wicked Storm Wild. However she noticed a CD labeled Simmons cut #1, and wondered what that was.

Possibly a new album or track for an upcoming one?

Carefully she picked it up and moved the other CD's over to where it had been placed. She ducked out of the studio before he noticed she was there.

Holding the CD she rushed to her portable player upstairs with her things, and slipped the disc in. She didn't feel guilty about snooping, because he had after all seen her words, and was incorporating them into the song she just heard.

Indeed it did sound like the album she had heard from Paul's demo. First on was a light romp and rock by Ace's choice, which sounded like a combo of chords and riffs from Rip it Out and Into the Void, regarding some sci-fi theme Christy had written. Next up was Peter's choice, with a slight reggae twist reminiscent of CRISS, and The Kind of Sugar Papa Likes. Then she heard Paul's soulful voice singing a song that was very different from what she had heard on the first, incorporating the words of Gene's choice. Strange. It was a sex filled pumping song that sounded like Take it Off, but when she had heard it on Paul's demo, Gene had done it with a raspy driving base beat and it came out more like Domino.

Then Gene's song came on, and she realized it was her words, to the song Paul had picked. His melody intertwined oddly with the words, whereas Paul's version had been mournful and driving like in Tonight You Belong to Me.

Why were the two demo's different, she wondered. Again she listened to the disc Paul had given her, and heard the words to her song, with Paul's melody, and Gene's choice, to Gene's melody. On this one labeled Simmons #1, Gene was singing her words, and Paul was singing the words to the song Gene had supposedly picked. What was going on here?

Feeling a hot flush come over her face, she took both discs down and set them where she had found them. Gene was still fiddling around on his guitar, and she hoped he wouldn't hear or see her.

His head turned, and she froze in place.

A smile came over his face and he said, "Don't be so shy sweetheart. I was just working on some new material…"

"I wasn't sure if you wanted to be disturbed or not…"

"I'll let you know one way or the other? I guess you're wondering about those CD's, huh? Those are the bands I have to pick for the next band I'm going to produce."

"Sweet Crude?" she laughed.

"Yeah, a local Philly band. Interesting and gritty live, because Paul and I saw them performing when we went out a few times on that leg of the tour, but their demo's a bunch of crap. Paul and I in our Wicked Lester days sounded better then that…"

"I have heard a few tracks from those albums… they er… circulated the net… via pirate MP3 press…"

"If you really want to hear something…" he grinned, and beckoned her in. He opened up a CD cabinet and extracted another disc. She saw him place the disk in one tray, and a song clicked on. "Isn't that Dr. Love?" she asked.

"Not quite, it's called Jelly Roll," Gene grinned, looking at the expression on her face. "But that's what it ended up being…"

At that moment she wanted to ask him about the CD she had found. Slyly she pointed to the CD in the jewel case labeled Simmons.

"What's that? More of your own material?"

"That's nothing… just a few rough-cuts of the songs," he waved. "You wouldn't want to hear them… it's mainly rough crap…"

"Well the Wicked Lester stuff could be considered rough crap, and I loved listening to that…" she pointed out.

"Well I really don't think you'd be nuts about this…" Gene said evasively.

"Gene… come on, you know you can't hide something from me… is it something bad…"

Gene let out a huge sigh, and shook his head. "I guess you would know sooner or later… it has to do with the fan album…"

"Did Paul really pick my song, Gene?" Terri asked. "Or was it someone else?"

Slowly Gene rose from the chair, and turned his back. He thrust hands into the pockets of his leather pants, wandering away. His dark eyes fixed out the window, staring into the unknown.

"When we first got all the entries, two songs caught my eye, and Paul's. I picked one, and he picked the other, but when I came in the next day to rehearsal with a demo, I got into an argument with Paul. He insisted he liked my choice better. I told him it wouldn't be fair to the contestants to have to choose again. So, since he insisted on doing your song, I took the other…"

"You both liked my song?" she asked.

"I had originally picked it up out of the pile, but when Paul looked over my shoulder I got the sense that he was struck by its uniqueness, and he didn't want to do the one he had just picked. But it was our original agreement that each of us pick only one song, and once we had chosen a particular song from a fan there was no going back…"

"But you recorded two demos?"

"I pressed him about it, and Paul agreed to let me try a demo for it. Paul hadn't come up with anything yet in way of a tune, and he said he was holding off on doing it till he met the writer, you. I had already mixed a track for your song, and we were all waiting for Paul to see if he could come up with something better. He'd already recorded a track for his choice, which he'd given to me. I went ahead and did both. Then when he came to me after what he'd done, I knew that in order to make it up to you, his tune should be the one for your lyrics…"

"But you… originally picked my song then, Gene…"

"Yes," Gene admitted. "Now you know the whole story…"

"Gene," she said softly and gently put her hand on his shoulder. "I don't know what to say… except I listened to that demo… and I couldn’t' help myself…"

"I wanted to make it up to you," he said slowly, taking her hand. Gene gave a slow laugh, and turned around. Terri smiled and slipped her arms around his waist, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"If you expect me to be livid… don't. How do you know I didn't leave it there on purpose knowing how curious you'd be to see what was on it?"

"So, you really liked my song," she said slowly. She didn't feel like asking him about borrowing her words, because she had a feeling that he was about to tell her anyway, by the look of guilt and shyness present in his dark eyes. She knew how slick he was, and wouldn't put it past him to leave the CD there so she would ask him about the song.

"Yes," Gene said quietly, as she stood back and took his hands in hers. "You're one talented young lady…"

"Aww geez," she grinned. "You are sweet…"

"I was wondering… what exactly goes into producing a song?" Terri asked. "It sounds like a much more complicated process then simply sitting down before a mike and a tape recorder…"

"Hmm…" Gene murmured, and she could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Too bad I can't play guitar worth crap… it is something I always dreamed of doing…"

"You have a nice voice, baby," Gene said, fingering her chin. He led her over to a chair and sat her down next to him as he picked up his guitar.

"And where did you happen to come to that conclusion?" Terri said with a slow smile.

"I heard you in the shower… amazing how bathrooms have better acoustics then even Electric Lady studios!"

"It's not quite rock star style," she laughed. "But I have sung in church and school choruses most of my life…"

"I'm gonna play a few bars on this guitar, and I want you to sing that song you have there…" Gene whispered into her ear. He peered over her shoulder and started to strum something that she had heard the few minutes before.

In a hesitant voice she began to try to pick the melody out, purposefully screwing it up. Gene's own baritone voice moved in under with its low growl undercutting hers. It supported her efforts, singing one chorus with her. Till she sung the line back to him, and he nodded. Together they traded back and forth, Gene accompanying her on guitar, but insisting she sing the melody. Instinctively she knew this was his way of apologizing for "stealing" her lyrics, and not admitting it.

They continued for quite a long time afterwards, simply trading ideas this way. Terri showed him other lyrics that she had not dared share others before. In turn Gene shared some new ideas, and insisted she sing along. It was almost dinnertime before they took a break. Far into the night they continued.

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

"Mm, I think I'm getting wrinkled," Liz chuckled. Paul slipped a bite of cheese onto a cracker, and placed it into Liz' mouth.

"You don't see me noticing, baby," Paul smiled, and embraced her from behind. She ran a hand up his thighs that brushed against hers in the tub. He picked up the crystal goblet to one side, and took a sip of Cabernet Sauvignon to wash down the bite of Brie she fed him seconds later.

Paul leaned back, stretched his legs on either side of her hips as she leaned back against his chest. Slowly she chewed another mouthful of Brie he fed her on a cracker. She felt so damned good against him, and their activity of a few minutes ago still tingled his body with its afterglow. Whenever she was with him he felt the ache inside ease a little.

Now Paul, don't go rushing into something just after what happened to Terri, he thought to himself.

But this one is different. Terri was a sweetheart, but it was the wrong time, then Gene moved, and it was too late. This woman practically is right in your lap, and worships the ground you walk on.

No… another side of his mind said. Remember what Pam did to you, dummy. Keep your walls up and just enjoy the sex! After all, You are Paul Stanley…

Yeah, and what the hell did that get me? He sighed, shaking his head. I'm every groupie's fantasy, and I still can't keep a marriage together. Can't I ever have one woman to myself… to love me for who I am inside, and not the image?

Paul, you dummy! This woman loves you. If you don't tell her how you need her, want her as part of your life…you could loose her!

But I can't… my heart still aches…

Can you afford to be without her? Do you want to be lonely?

Paul sighed deeply, letting out a low moan. Liz turned around in his arms, and saw the thoughtful look clouding over the dark soulful pools. She slipped into his lap, pressing a deep soft kiss to his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. Automatically Paul responded by burying his head in her shoulder and letting her hold him.

Liz sighed and let her hold him close. She loved him so much, but could he see that?

"Paul, sweetie, what is wrong?" she asked, fingering his hair away from his face. "I know something's bothering you… please tell me."

"Baby, you're such a sweetheart," Paul sighed deeply, and pressed a soft gentle kiss to her lips. "I've been a total dud doing nothing but vent my problems to you since you've visited, and you've done nothing but fall all over being nice…"

"You're not a dud, and I love spending every minute with you…" she put a hand over his lips.

"This isn't easy for me to admit…" he sighed. "I… well… I…"

"Paul… you know you can tell me anything… I care for you, and I love you…"

"Oh baby," Paul sighed again, and she saw the tears brimming in his dark eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I've always loved you," she said, voice lowing to a whisper. "And I don't care if you're living in a mansion or a cardboard box. If you're worried about me wanting your money, I don't. I want you… to be happy…"

Paul started to feel the tears dripping down his face, his heart aching. As much as he didn't want to loose control in front of her, he couldn't help himself. He started to wipe away his tears, and buried his face in her neck. Liz held him again, stroking his back as he began to sob into her again.

"Baby, I don't deserve you," he got out, voice catching as he drew back and peered into her eyes.

"Don’t' you dare say that, Paul Stanley!" she said firmly, grasping his cheeks. "You deserve to be loved… and don’t' think for a moment I don't love you any less if you were famous or not!"

"Liz… I… I…" he stammered, summoning up his courage. "It hurts so much but I have to tell you…"

"Paul…" she asked.

"Liz… I… I love you too…but I don't want to hurt you…"

"Oh Paul…" she whispered. "That's all I wanted to hear…"

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

"Damn, I forgot to pick up the printer cartridge!" Terri laughed to Gene.

"Are you sure you don't want me to send out one of the guys for one?" Gene asked her as she climbed into her car. "Or a limo?"

"No, I want to go and get this myself!" she laughed. "I want to remember what it's like to walk into a Staples, even if it is a Beverly Hills one!"

"Take the convertible. It's a nice day out, and you might as well make the most of it," Gene insisted.

"Uh… thanks…" she grinned when he threw her the keys. She moved toward the door, and Gene followed her while she walked down to the sleek black convertible parked after his Mercedes. Terri had decided, at Gene's suggestion, to sell her old car to someone in Philly rather then spending the money to have it delivered, considering it was a used vehicle.

Ever since she'd come to live here, she had driven one of Gene's cars, or taken a limousine. It took some getting used to, but she loved the feel of either vehicle with its powerful stereo system and all leather interiors.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Gene asked, holding her purse in his hand.

"Shit, I am loosing it!" she grinned as he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She took the purse from him and pulled out of the driveway. Gene watched her pull away, and suddenly felt a chill creep down his spine. It was a warm California day, just a few hours before sunset, so why did he feel as if something sinister was in the air?

Terri pulled out, and into the main road. She drove along the lines of expensive houses, stopping to look here and there. She drove past Paul's gated community with a chuckle. As she adjusted the rear view mirror, she noticed one particular car driving lazily behind her. At first she gave it no mention while she pulled into the local shopping center and parked.

Minutes later she came out with the printer cartridge, and slipped Gene's credit card back into her purse. It still made her head spin how she'd found it there, when she realized she had forgotten her own. It wasn't in his professional name, but his private. Even so it made her shiver to think he'd even trusted her with it, ever since she first found it tucked neatly into her wallet the first time she and Liz had gone out clothes shopping.

She settled into the car, and clicked her seat belt into place once more. As she pulled out of the lot, she spied a familiar car out her side view mirror. Weird.

As she drove back toward Gene's home she noticed the car was still trailing her. A shiver of fear tinged her, and she pulled onto a side street. The car veered away and pulled to a side turn. Terri pulled around past Paul's neighborhood, before pulling onto a street she knew would take her to Gene's home.

Slowly the car pulled out, and drove at full speed toward her. She gasped, veering away, but the car blew past her at a speed much faster then she anticipated. Her car rolled up onto a curb, almost hitting a mailbox when she jammed her foot on the gas.

"Shit…" she gasped, heart pounding as the car roared away. "Goddamn Son of a bitch!"

Probably some nut on crack or drugs, she told herself. Weird. Terri pulled back into the driveway, and saw that Gene's Mercedes was gone. He must have slipped out on some errand of his own.

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

As the bright shown overhead, Brenda sat in her car alone, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. She had been out there for days, endless days watching the house, waiting…. Waiting for that woman to emerge. She had to know what was so special about a woman like that, something so special that her demon would move her in to his house.

Finally, a car begins to pull out of the driveway. Brenda smiled; thinking it was her Gene. As the car approached, however, her hopes were dashed as she saw that woman. Brenda felt her face turn bright red at the thought of this woman driving Gene’s car. She now knew that she was living there. She had to know where she was going, so Brenda started the car and began to follow. When Terri pulled into the local Staples store, Brenda took a parking space across the row. She got out and walked into the store right after her, hoping to get a better look at her. Careful not to be too obvious, Brenda strolled right behind Terri, watching her check out the aisles. She purchased a printer cartridge and headed to check out, with Brenda right on her heels.

"Well, hi Terri!" said Bruce, the clerk from behind the counter. Brenda was close enough to catch the name. She registered the name in her brain for future reference.

"Hello Bruce. How are you?"

"Great. How’s Gene?" Bruce asked.

"Wonderful, I was out of printer ink and just thought I would come out and grab some, but you know Gene, he insists I take an army with me." Terri said, shaking her head, remembering his persuasiveness.

"Gene just likes to protect what’s his…don’t worry, it’s a guy thing." Bruce laughed, watching Terri walk toward the door.

"See you later!" Terri shouted over her shoulder.

Brenda walked out right behind Terri, anger beginning to swell with each step. She stared at her as she got into her car. What does he see in her? She seemed so plain, so ordinary, just like her.

‘ Who is this woman? Why is she with my Demon? Something has to be done and now, but what? ’

Brenda started her car and began to follow her again, this time determined to do something, something to end the madness that was boiling inside. It was all her fault, this new woman, he was the cause of all of her heartache and misery, Terri was a virus in her system, and she had to be taken out.

As Terri made her way home, turning on a side street, Brenda went around the other side to wait. When she spotted her car coming around the curve, she floored the gas, determined to hit her head on. She smiled when she saw Terri’s car run up on the curb, narrowing missing a mailbox. Though she hadn’t totally accomplished her mission, she was, for the time being, satisfied. Now maybe she would take the hint and go away and leave her Gene alone.

Brenda made her way home, pulling into the parking lot of her apartment building. She opened the door and went inside her modest one-bedroom apartment, sitting down on the couch in disgust. Her home was quite messy, nothing was kept up but the multitude of KISS posters and pictures and her make-shift shrine to Gene, all of which was covered in red lipstick kisses. She made her way around, as was her routine, and kissed each picture. Some items she had collected for years, some that were quite new. Though she had money for groceries, some days she didn't even bother to eat, preferring to spend her money on anything she could put her hands on that was related to KISS, especially her Gene. Everything seemed to be going so well, she felt. She thought that Gene was finally coming around to see how much she loved him. He hadn’t been with another woman for quite some time, and when she saw him in concert over a year ago, she swore that he had told her so, but when she tried to get back to see him, security wouldn’t let her. She then spotted Gene heading for the dressing room and she called out to him, but he must not have heard her.

She snuggled his shirt, a souvenir from a past show, and curled up on the couch, crying again at her helplessness to rid her Demon of the influences of this woman who is determined to steal his very soul.

‘ Why do I bother to even leave the house? I go out and find that I am totally alone in the world….no one understands me, understands why I need to find him. He needs me to help him…oh god, he doesn’t even understand why. Someone help me!!! Help me understand why I can't get him out of my mind……

Ya see…I see him with this woman…and they're in this magazine together and they are like hugging, and all.

Oh God Gene, why? Why have you let this bitch destroy you….destroy us?

Somehow, I will get to you my love, my Demon….someday it will be us, no one else but us….’

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

Terri walked up to the front door, and punched in the security code to let herself in. She found the house much as she had left it, and went up to put the printer cartridge in. Up in this extra bedroom Gene had told her to make her own activity room. Cases of her chemistry books lined two of the walls, by a desk that had once sat in her apartment. Her own computer and printer she had taken out of storage to set up here. She set about putting in the cartridge, and waited for the system to initialize.

Still that strange incident shook her up. Apparently there were nuts in every town. Her heart yearned for Philadelphia at that moment, her head buzzing with thoughts. Then she remembered something that would always clear her head when she couldn't get the cacophony of ideas to settle down. She somehow didn't feel like writing, and perhaps a nice walk down the street would calm her down.

Terri slipped on a pair of her Villanova sweat pants, and her KISS T-shirt, pulling an Old Navy fleece over her shirt. Most people she'd seen out jogging wore tight spandex pants and thongs to do their paces in, but she didn't care to wear something so clingy when she wanted to relax. Right now she needed a shot of comfortable normalcy.

Out the front door she punched the code in, and stood on Gene's front porch. It was a little too brisk for a swim, so this was a good substitute. She leaned over, stretching her calves, then sat on the grass to stretch her quads and hamstrings. So far so good. Down the walkway she started to jog, checking to make sure her knee brace was in place.

It was a short pace down to the gate, where she let herself out. Then she ran along the sidewalks, peering up at the glorious red disk of the sun slowly setting over the wall of blue peeking behind the mansions. She chose a quick but steady pace, not too fast, but challenging enough to set up a good sweat.

Halfway along the street she noticed the first car pass her by. She thought little of it, and continued her jog. Already the evening lights of LA started to echo the starry sky above, barely visible through the haze of smog. The sun's light died down, and Terri wondered if it was safe to be out this late.

There was the sound of a car engine, and Terri increased her pace. Slowly the sound grew louder, and the car blew past her. She thought little of it till the car swung around and came at full bore toward her. Terri threw herself to the side of the road, rolling over and over seconds before the car hit. There came a sharp pain in her ankle when she tried to keep her wits about her, rolling with her momentum into the bushes at the end of someone's driveway. She scrambled inside, holding her ankle.

Quickly she found her cell phone that Gene insisted she carry. It seemed like a pain, but she quickly dialed up someone, anyone. As she looked up she saw the car had stopped. Terri froze in terror as the person rolled down the window. She quickly dialed Gene's number, begging against hope he'd pick up. Unfortunately she got a busy signal. Again she called.

Footsteps echoed close to where she lay. Terri froze stark still. Tense silence came, and Terri held her breath. She saw pair of platform sandals through the gaps in the bush stop, and then a laugh sounded.

Then, the person's feet walked by. There came the sound of a car door opening, then shutting as the engine fired up. Her ankle throbbed with pain, and she heard the car roll away, unable to see any distinguishing features.

"Hello baby," came Gene's voice. "Sorry I didn't pick up… I just got back home… and I didn't realize you'd gone out again! Why are you calling my cell phone, sweetie?"

"Gene… I…" she got out. "Something happened…"

"What's wrong?" came his voice. "Where are you?"

"Out… on the next street over! Someone… tried to run me over… and I don't know if I can walk home…"

"What?" came his exclamation. "Stay there! Don't move! I'm coming to get you!"

She rolled to her feet, feeling the sharp aches of pain in her left ankle. By working up the wall she could stand and barely hobble toward the lights of the car that pulled up five minutes later.

"Terri!" came his voice, anxious. She stumbled toward him, shivering in the chill of oncoming night.

"Gene… over here!" she called, trying to hide the shakiness in her voice.

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

Later, she subjected herself to examination by a doctor; her foot propped up on the sofa as Gene paced back and forth anxiously.

"Don't go ballistic Gene," she sighed, her heart still pounding. "I'm okay…"

"Bullshit!" he shouted. "You're limping, and some asshole tried to run you down? What were you doing out this time of night?"

"I've seen other neighbors running at dusk!" Terri shouted back, fear pounding the adrenaline in her body. "I didn't think this was going to happen!"

"Mr. Simmons, please I'm trying to help your girlfriend here," the personal doctor said. He was one of the ones that accompanied KISS on their tour. Rather then calling the emergency room or taking Terri to the hospital, Gene had called him to meet them at the house.

Gene shut up, and folded arms across his chest. The doctor completed his examination, and started to wrap Terri's foot in a clean dry ace bandage.

"No broken bones. Just a mild sprain. You just twisted your ankle. But I would stay off it for a few days. I can have crutches made up and brought out here. But take it easy.."

"What exactly did happen again?" Gene said, struggling to grasp control of his temper. He was furious. Again she related the story, filling in any details that were necessary.

"Did you see the license plate?" the doctor asked.

"No… it was too dark. But it was a white Ford Festiva," she said slowly. "And it was driven by a woman… I couldn’t tell how old she was though… but she was wearing four inch platform sandals… and her toenails were painted blood red… or at least that was what it looked like when I was looking at her through the bushes…"

"Did she say anything?"

"She looked like she as trying to see what happened. Then she just got in her car and drove away."

The doctor moved away as Gene sat down next to Terri on the couch. He slipped his arm around her shoulder, puling her to lean against him.

"So, Gene you going to call the police?" Terri asked shakily.

"I don't know…" Gene muttered, stroking her hair. "Sounds like some punk ass kid who stole her daddy's car so she could joyride, and probably was high as a fucking kite on lewds…"

"Sounded like someone on drugs," the doctor confirmed. "I'd just let it go… but I'm no policeman. You'll be fine, Terri if you just take it easy and take Tylenol extra strength for the pain… and keep it wrapped…"

"Thanks," Gene muttered, and shook his hand. "I'll take it from here…"

Once the doctor had left, Gene continued to hold Terri in his arms. After a few minutes he finally said, "I'm just glad you're ok, love. But you have to watch it!"

"It scared the shit out of me…" she admitted. "But I never thought…"

"Look, there are some crazy assed people in this town. I wouldn't worry about it. Next time just go to the gym and use the treadmill, or get me to come with you… next time you want to jog…"

"I was so used to being able to jog wherever and whenever I wanted at home…" Terri sighed.

"You just have to be careful," Gene cautioned her. "I'm not saying you can't do what you want, but you have to be smarter about it. Don't fuck with fate, or it will fuck with you…"

"Gene…" she said.

"I won't want you going out without someone with you," he said firmly. "That's why we have security guards and cell phones. Which thankfully you had with you. So let me know where you're going, and when you're going to be back…"

"Because I'm your girlfriend," she said soberly. Gene said nothing to this, and didn't see the look on her face.

"Look, why don't you just relax and I'll start a nice hot bath for us both. And forget about that stupid bitch. It's probably just some flaky broad who couldn't stop exacting road rage on Beverly Hills joggers…"

"Hopefully when I get my own place I won't have to worry about this," she sighed, rubbing her head. "This whole thing is making my head hurt…"

Gene tightened his jaw in surprise. Apparently after all this time she still considered needing her own place. Why? Hadn't he made it clear that he wanted her with him? Now more then ever he didn’t' want to lose her.

"Terri… maybe it's better if you continued to stay here," Gene said slowly. "I had thought that you'd settled in and felt at home…"

"I do Gene, I really do. But part of me just feels weird about it…"

"Why?" Gene asked. "I don't mind, and why should you? After all, you are my girlfriend, and what you and I choose to do is our business, not anyone else's."

"Oh yes… I'm just… never mind… forget I said anything…" she waved her hand dismissively. "You said something about a bath? That sounds just like what the doctor ordered…"

"Most definitely," Gene nodded. A plan was forming in his mind, and he tried to hide the obvious brainstorm from her. With the greatest care he slipped his arms under her knees and back and carried her upstairs to the bathroom.

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

"Are you going to carry me for the next few days?" Terri joked as Gene carried her out of the bathroom and into their bedroom. Their bedroom, she inwardly reflected. The idea seemed natural and yet so strange. Wrapped in a silk Victoria secret robe, she stretched as he lay her on the bed, and lay alongside of her. The events of the last few hours were still fresh in her mind, but already it was beginning to subside.

"Where were you headed anyway?" she asked.

"Production meeting," he laughed. "Another attempt by one of the band's I'm reviewing to kiss my ass by inviting me to dinner."

"So why didn't you go?"

"I told them I had other more important plans for tonight," Gene said, lightly kissing her hand. He began to wrap her left ankle in a fresh ace bandage, lightly kissing her foot as he turned each strip and tugged it firmly. Terri lay back on the bed, stretching as she relished the feel of the firm mattress. Right now the gentle warmth of the bath still clung to her, beneath the robe. His soft kiss on her knee indicated he was finished, for his dark eyes fixed into hers.

"I was just thinking, there's another little game I wanted to show you," Gene whispered. "You in the mood?"

"I'll try anything now," Terri sighed. "Anything to get my mind off of what happened…"

"Good," he smiled, and got off the bed. He reached for something draped over the wrought iron headboard. It was a length of soft red silk, which he rolled into a flat strip.

"It's like blind man's bluff," he explained. "And I'm going to blindfold you."

"What do I have to do?"

"Just lay down, and do what I tell you," he grinned wickedly. "Now, lean forwards… while I tie this on… and no fair peeking!"

"Since when was any game with you fair?" she teased.

"Now, lay down, and put your hands over your head…"

"You didn't say please," she joked.

"Please," Gene laughed lightly. "Now lie still…"

She waited, anxious to see where this would go. There came a rustling noise and a jingling of what sounded like metal on metal, and a soft whisper of silk. Soft kisses covered her hands, as she felt his hands take hers and raise them, slipping something metal padded with soft felt. There came a sharp click, and she couldn't move her wrists. Down her leg traced a soft fluffy object, which wrapped around her right ankle a few turns. Over her bandaged foot the other object traced, securing her left knee into place.

"Is this what I think it is?" she laughed.

"Depends on what you think it is…" he answered. "Now…I have you right where I want you…"

A slow kiss started at her toe, working up her freshly shaved leg to the inside of her thigh, as he muttered, "You feel so fresh and new… I didn’t have a chance to explore this yesterday…"

"Well, considering the circumstances…"

"Now you can't go jogging in the big bad world," he laughed. "I might just keep you like this for a while… so I can keep an eye on you…"

"Verry funny," she joked.

Through the fabric of her robe she felt his fingers trace over her chest, lightly rubbing down to the belt. A quick tug and both halves fell open. Something soft and stiff tickled her neck, and traced a line from her collarbone to just above her belly button. It hesitated, then darted down to her hip. Terri shrieked at the shivers, for this was one of her most ticklish spots. When she stopped laughing she felt something soft and viscous dripping onto her chest. Sticky and warm, it dripped slowly over her breasts and down her stomach. Stroke by stroke it was removed, sending shivers of hot fire erupting over her skin. Writhing against the restraints she laughed out loud, all thoughts focusing on the delicious sensations.

Now the first object touched at her hips, stroking across. She gritted her teeth to stifle the shrieks of explosive laughter. The strokes continued, driving her to the edge of sanity as she wriggled and squirmed with the silver shivers of pleasure flooding her body.

"You're driving me crazy!" she guffawed, almost loosing her breath. "You're nuts!"

"No I'm crazy too," Gene cooed. "Crazy for you…"

"Oh god it feels so good to laugh," she panted, quivering spasmodically. The weakness of mirth quaked away all resistance now.

Firm thighs straddled her, and she heard the soft whisper of his robe falling away. Her cheeks felt the dark curtain of his curls enveloping her face as he brushed a soft kiss to her waiting lips. But he pulled back before she could tease his lips apart.

"Not yet…" he said. "There are still so many possibilities…"

Something organic and slick dabbed her mouth instead of his lips this time. The smell of leaves and roses wafted into her nose. Sharp pricks bounced off her sensitive cheeks and necks, to be followed by the slick softness of petals. Down and over her licked chest the shape moved, stopping on her belly. His breath ticked at her ears, whispering his secret fantasies of what he was going to do, all over her body. They banished once and for all the fears to the world outside this new one that Gene had created just for her.

"Now…" he whispered, stroking the flower over her dark patch of hair, newly waxed and shaven. "What is next?" she asked, voice barely a whisper. "You're not going to untie me are you?"

"Not now. I think I like having you here, completely at my mercy…"

"Well talk about overprotective," she joked with a soft laugh. "Tying me to your own bed! As if I was going to run away…"

"I always protect what's mine," Gene's voice came, and she felt him poised at her vagina, lightly teasing with his skillful fingers. Already she was wet with her own intense desire.

"So baby, are you mine?" he asked, slipping his fingers inside. The last time any man did this it hurt, but Gene's fingers were soft and firm, finding the hungriest spots that ached and burned for touch.

"That is how it seems…" she got out.

"Do you want me?" he asked slowly. "Really want me?"

"Yes Gene…" she whispered softly.

"I didn’t hear you," he said, pulling his fingers away. Already her loins were on fire, begging to be quenched with him.

"Yes… I need you," she said slowly, voice louder.

"I can't hear you," he laughed. She felt him thrust into her, in a long torturous stroke that made her burn. She squeezed her muscles within, slowly rocking her hips. His low moan was music to her ears.

"Perhaps you're not listening carefully enough," she laughed back.

"Mmm, clever thing aren't you," he returned, trying his best to stay still. Strangely she had turned the tables on him! Gene desperately didn't want to pull out of her that minute, but what he had carefully planned was coming undone before his eyes. Instead he remained where he was, struggling to think of how he could regain control.

"I aim to please," she whispered back.

"Do you want me… to please you?" he asked slowly.

"Yes," she said.

"I wanna hear you say it again…" he urged, giving a slow delicious thrust that made them both burn.

"I want you, Gene," she said again, voice more confidant.

"I want to ask you one more question…" he said. "Will you stay here, with me? Continue to live with me?"

"You're picking a hell of a time to ask that," she groaned.

"I know… but I want to know… I want you in my life and you in mine. Please… stay here and live with me. Don't worry about getting an apartment… because you'll always have a place with me, for as long as you want…"

"Aww Gene," she choked. "This is not fair…"

"You should know by now I don't always play fair," he whispered. "Not when its something I really want… and I want you… here with me…"

"You're completely devious sometimes!" she couldn't help laugh.

"I know. And I'll make it worth your while… really, really worth it… and you'll be mine every night…" he laughed lightly, thrusting with each word. Passion carried both of them away with its wave. Her arms fell free at last from the shackles. Terri laced her fingers into his hair, pressing a deep full kiss to his lips.

"I love you sweetheart, and you are mine…" Gene got out when she drew her lips from him to catch a breath.

"I know…" she whispered back, yielding to his passionate assault as he in turn yielded to hers. Over and over they rolled, merging into one being.

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Pacing back and forth like a caged animal, Brenda contemplated her next move. Now that she knew for sure that Terri was living with her Gene, this was unacceptable. Gene was slipping farther and farther away from her, and she knew that this bitch was to blame. She help tight to the shirt, still covered with his scent, as she tried to come up with something to relieve this intense aching she had inside.

‘ Over and over, round and round…my head spins in agony….knowing his love for me is beginning to run cold…no more will I wait, no more will I wish he were here. He unknowingly chose this woman, I understand….he doesn’t want her, he doesn’t deserve her. He is waiting for me…I know it…I have to let him know I am listening….leave him a message….. ’

Brenda went to the kitchen, smiling as she finally came up with a solution to her dilemma. She took out a large kitchen knife and a cup that had a lid. She took them and went to her bedroom. Staring at her wall, that contained her make-shirt shrine, she ran the knife over her forearm, grimacing slightly, but enjoying the sensation of cold steel against her flesh. As the blood began to flow from the wound, she caught it into the cup, but the would healed too quickly, and she felt that there wasn’t enough for her purposes. Again, smiling, she took the knife and ran it over her arm, right above the previous wound, taking great care to run the knife deeper than before to assure the right amount of blood. The second wound began to pour and she relished in the red liquid as it dripped into the cup. When the cup was full, she wrapped her arm in a towel, covered the cup and placed it in her refrigerator. Weakness began to set in…part hunger and part blood loss, and she made her way back to her bed and passed out.

When Brenda awoke, it was still dark, so she turned on her light to check the clock. She removed the bloody towel from her wounds and bandaged them. She could see that it was early morning, but not quite dawn, a perfect time to pay a visit to her Gene and leave her message, knowing that Gene would understand. Silently, she made her way to her car, cup in hand and started for his house.

She parked her car in the bushes outside the gate and made her way up the long driveway, slowly because she was still weak. She walked around the outside of the house, looking for just the right spot. When she spotted the white front door, she felt that it was just the right place. She knew that eventually, one or both of them would come out and see it. She hoped that Gene would see it first, knowing he would understand the message, and explain it to the girl.

‘ Ignorant girl…you'll never understand anything about him, not like I do…he shouldn’t even bother to tell you anything, you’re so stupid…you wont get it. ‘

She brought out a handkerchief out of her pocket, and then opened the cup that contained her blood. Slowly and deliberately, she wrote out the message in big letters, making sure it would be seen. She loved the cold wetness of her blood soaking through the fabric. With each stroke she made, she could feel the Demon’s soul speak to her…

‘ I hear you my love… I am waiting, come to me…. ‘

Walking backwards toward her car, she could see the door and the letters she had written getting smaller and smaller. Satisfied, she wiped the blood on her jeans and got back in her car to make her way home before the first light of day peaked through the clouds.

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For a moment she forgot where she was, and Terri could swear she heard something scratching or tapping at the window. It made her shiver for a moment, and her eyes popped open. Morning sunlight pixilated in the shadows of what appeared to be branches. Relief came in when she guessed it might be just a few stray twigs tapping the glass. His arm wrapped around her front, his chest cuddled against her back. Gingerly she worked her way out from under him, trying not to wake him. He looked so peaceful asleep, and she felt a sense of protectiveness and warmth. Today she wanted to return the favor.

Slowly she tried her foot on the floor, standing the weight on the right ankle. She could hobble a bit if she was careful, and strapped on the Velcro foot brace the doctor had left. Grabbing the silk chemise Gene had given her, she slipped it on. Not much she realized, so she pulled on the red silk bathrobe overtop.

Thankfully the crutches had been delivered last night before they had finished their bath. She scrambled over to balance on them. It was easy to thump down the stairs holding the railing, and make her way out to the kitchen. Terri grabbed the eggs out of the fridge, and wrestled a frying pan from the cabinet, and got to work. She loaded the filter of the coffee machine, and then poured fresh filtered water into the back. It had been a while since she recalled making any food for herself let alone someone else and it brought her warmth that she felt flushing her cheeks.

Just how she was going to get this all upstairs with a sprained ankle was a problem, but she had an idea for the coffee anyway. There were a few pots with lids and other various dishware she could improvise with. Fifteen minutes later she took the first load up, waiting to see if he was even awake.

Gene had turned over, dead to the world as he continued to slumber. She placed the tray at the side of the bed, with a small note she'd scribbled. She hoped he'd wake up soon so it wouldn’t' be cold. Now for the coffee. Five minutes later she trekked up, with a thermal lined pot and two mugs. She set those on the bedside table, near the tray and the note. Gene lay on his stomach this time, face buried in the pillow.

"Considering what he did, I'm amazed he's not dead," she laughed, and leaned over to press a soft kiss to his lips.

"Mmmn," Gene muttered, smacking his lips. Dark eyes popped open, to smile up at her.

"Thought you'd like some coffee and breakfast," she smiled with pride.

"Great…" he muttered, rubbing his eyes, then did a double take worthy of the Three Stooges. "But how did you with your ankle… the doctor said…"

"Shut up and eat," she laughed, and leaned forward to press a kiss to his lips. Gene seized her about the waist, holding her close. She set the tray down next to him, and poured them each a cup of hot Java.

"Wait there," she said, standing up again and limping to the door on one crutch.

"Where are you going?"

"To get you the paper…"

"Terri I don't think that's a good idea…" he started to say.

"Are you gonna let it get cold, after I slaved over a hot stove?" she pouted, puckering her lips worthy of Paul. "Besides, I'm not putting my weight on it, see?"

"Okay you win," Gene said, throwing a pillow at her playfully. She shut the door, giving him a sly grin.

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

She opened the front door, inhaling the morning air. There was just a tinge of coldness to the air, and she could smell the salt of the sea mingled with a bit of the smell of wet concrete. Fruits of progress, she chuckled. Terri leaned over to pick up the paper, and pushed the door aside. Placing the crutch on the paper, she tugged it in. Thankfully the doctor had a pair of the crutches delivered last night, as they were about to come out of the bath. Still she had to lean over to get it, and grab the doorknob to stop her from falling. Slipping the paper under her arm, she grabbed her crutch, then happened to look at the door.

Something was spelled out, on the rich mahogany, in faded red. Terri stumbled backwards to get the full effect, her blood running cold. "Oh nnnoo…" she stammered out, her breath rasping in her throat. Her legs seemed to fail her, and the safeness of the world shattered in a single moment.

"Nooooooo!" she screamed, amazed in some detached corner of her mind that she had such a loud voice.

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

When Gene bolted down the stairs he found her, shivering against the open door, her dark eyes staring off into space. Teeth chattered as she huddled on the floor.

"Baby… what's wrong…" he got out before she slowly and silently pointed to the door.

Gene's dark eyes widened in shock and horror as he read the words there inscribed in what appeared to be red paint at first. On closer inspection, he realized the grim truth. It was blood, and whether it was animal or human he didn't know. But he did have a nasty suspicion.

"Release my Demon, Bitch, or Die!" the letters spelled out, in drippy script, letters almost six inches high and filling the whole door.

"Ohhh shit…." Gene managed to get out before he felt his own knees growing weak, and the strength flooding from his limbs. Terri shivered, holding her knees and staring past him as if he did not exist. Slowly she rocked back and forth, mumbling to herself, "Dear god no… no…"

Gene pulled her into the house, and slammed the door shut, locking it. Pressing his back against the wall, he pulled her to his cold body tightly. His arms shook along with her, when her teeth began to chatter and spread the waves over her whole body.

"Terri…" he whispered, kissing her on her cheeks. It seemed as if he clutched her tightly as a teddy bear, wrapping his long arms around her with his knees cradling her as well huddled up between her and that door.

"Oh God Gene! Someone… wants me dead…" she shook, too frightened to even cry. Shock set in; her rational mind detaching to view herself nestled there, paralyzed by fear.

Gene too froze that instinctive flight or fight seizing him. Not even he could think for that full minute, only focusing on protecting the woman in his arms now. But could he?

With all the wealth in the world there were still ways to infiltrate the best gilded cage…

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