This story takes place shortly after Great Expectations

"Excuse me," he muttered, storming out. She heard him speaking to what must be the front desk over the next few minutes, when she heard him fuss a bit about the champagne, "Yeah, dinner was OK. The champagne wasn't what we ordered...no....what? Nah, don't worry about it. No, I'm sure."

Trynia marched over and grabbed her purse, noticing her cell phone was not in its usual compartment, but shoved into the main body with her wallet and makeup case. Strange. Had Paul maybe answered it? Clicking it on, she noticed she had a few missed calls. Taking the phone, she walks out onto the patio with it, and looks at who called. Flipping She recognizes the number for Brownies in Ardmore, and then another half dozen numbers from Charlie. Angrily she shakes, out of view of Paul.

"Tryn, room service is coming back up for the dishes. You want anything else?" Paul yelled from the other room.

She didn't answer right away, and she stuffs the phone into the pocket of the bathrobe she's put over her shoulders.

"Uh... nothing honey!" she calls back.

"They said they'd bring up some nice desserts to make up for the mess-up with the champagne," Paul said, leaning his head around the door from the main room for a moment. He looked sorry for his outburst before, clearly trying to put on a brave face for her benefit.

"Fine, order whatever you want," she said, and looked down at the phone.

She again heard it ringing, and wondered WHO it was.

Angrily she notices it's Charlie's cell number.

"Uhhhhh, chocolate cake then, I guess," he called to her, then chuckled as he ducked back into the room to pick up the phone again. "Maybe I should scratch that. Chocolate's an aphrodisiac."

She pulled the cell phone from her bathrobe pocket and then checked the call menu. Her eyes widened as she noticed someone had taken the call from Brownies. Before she could ponder this mystery, the trilling Nokia ring pierced her concentration.

Charlie's number flickered across the screen, and she felt a stab of icy fear mingled with fury piece through her heart. For a full minute, she stared at it in shock, her mind working overtime. Someone must have answered the call, and that someone who had picked up HER phone was Paul. Had he spoken to Charlie himself?

Again, Paul entered the room, jokingly complaining about the champagne again. He touched her shoulder and said, "Trynia, James is calling. Why don't we watch that movie and just relax... I ordered up something sweet cause I noticed that ice cream melted..."

"Who called?" she asked, whirling around on him. His eyebrows rose at her wild demeanor.

"Bond," he said innocently. "James Bond"

"That wasn't whom I meant!" she cried, brandishing the cell phone. He looked at it for a moment and scratched his head. As he moved to take it, it rang again.

Anger and rage flooded Trynia. Before he could stop her she rushed out toward the patio, and wrestled the door open. Paul raced after her, moments before he saw her hurl something off the patio.

Paul gaped at her for a moment in pure shock. He had given her the phone as a present, and two hundred dollars suddenly landed in the decorative hedge two floors below.

"I think you need to change your damn number," he commented slowly. "ESPECIALLY if he's going to bother you."

"He called, didn't he?" she asked. "And you answered?"

"I gave you that phone Tryn... I think you need to..."

"I'm sorry I threw the phone downstairs," she said dully. "I guess I'd better go down and get it..."

"Let me," he said firmly, "You just get comfortable on the bed with the flat pillows and start enjoying your movie..."

"Whatever you say Paul," she said, forcing a smile. Paul sighed and slipped on a pair of sneakers, grabbing his jacket to throw on as he left the room.

"I'll be right back," he said, kissing her forehead. She sighed and shook her head as he Closed the door carefully behind him. Tears burned down her cheeks, the unfairness of the whole night settling in painfully. She could not spend another moment here knowing how this must be torturing him. Surely she wasn't worth it, because his life was already complicated enough.

***

As Paul walked out of the room, he shut his eyes tightly for a moment. He strode to the elevator, past the rooms occupied by other band members, taking up their own floor of the hotel. He smiled at Doc as he emerged from his room.

"Paul, something up?" Doc asked him while they climbed onto the elevator together. The doors shut with a ding, the floor lurching a bit as it headed downstairs. Paul's shoulders rose and fell with a deep sigh.

"Just a lot of personal crap, that's all. Nothing I can't deal with" he smiled weakly.

"Really?" Doc asked. "Everything okay with you and the girl?"

"She's a great girl, Doc, and she's trying really hard. I guess..."

"What's wrong?" Doc asked, as the doors dinged open. "Don't bullshit me Paul, I know you long enough to know when you're doing it..."

"I don't know. I just don't know any more."

"Paul, what IS going on?" he asked, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Hey, do me a favor and leave a message for my lawyer, will you? Linda's being a bitch about me taking Aaron next weekend."

"Uh sure," said Doc, guessing the previous subject was closed.

"And it guess it's just all culminating into one giant headache..." Paul growled to himself, heading out toward the courtyard. It was late, and nobody was around, except for Chris who moved away from the front desk when he saw the two emerge.

"Is that all that's going on?" Doc asked. "Or trouble with you and the girl?"

"That reminds me. She needs her number changed on her cell phone," Paul waved dismissively.

"OH okay..." Doc said. "Whatever you want... Just leave a message on our voice mail."

"Doc, you have a good night," he says as rushed off out to the courtyard, Chris keeping a watchful eye on him.

"Okay, and Paul, relax..." Doc called to him.

"Huh. Oh sure. No problem," Paul waved back.

Trynia sighed while she stared at her empty suitcase, and debated something. Quickly she shoved on a pair of comfortable sneakers and started throwing her clothes back into her suitcase. It only took a few minutes of pulse pounding stuffing to get everything back into the floral soft-sided samsonite luggage. She figured she could wear her T-shirt and sweatpants out under her tan raincoat. Quickly she dialed down the to the front desk.

"Hello, room service?"

"Hello, is it too late to call the courtesy van to take me to the airport?"

"Uh yes, but we can call you a cab, are you sure..."

"Fine, call me a cab and tell them to meet me down by the front door. I need to get to a Greyhound Bus station..."

"Sure Ma'am... but your..."

"Just do it, please," she snapped.

Trynia's heart continued to pound as she scribbled something on hotel stationary. Reaching into her purse, she found the two hundred dollars she had taken out of her bank account. Folding out one hundred and twenty eight, she kept the rest, and found her credit card. Surely, she could pay for an overnight bus ticket with her charge card.

Out of the hotel room she tiptoed, glancing left and right. She didn't' see any security at first and thought she was home free when she headed for the back stairs. She hadn't gotten far when she heard a shout behind her.

"TRYNIA!"

"Shit," she muttered, turning her head for a second to see Andre poking his head out of his door.

"Where the heck are you going?"

"Never you mind," she muttered, going toward the elevator. She ran smack into another road security guy named Fred, who sometimes was one of the men who found girls for Gene.

"Where are you going missy?" he asked, blocking her way. "The encore's not over so soon is it?"

"Stop her!" Andre called, rushing out the door.

"Now WAIT a minute!" Trynia stamped her feet as Fred blocked her way. "I'm not some DAMNED groupie!"

"She sure as shit isn't!" Andre huffed. "That's Paul's girl!"

"What are YOU doing out here?" Fred asked her, surprise in his face that a girl would be sneaking OUT of the room instead of in.

"I'm saving you the trouble of kicking me out," she said innocently. "So he can sleep..."

"Andre?" Fred asked.

"Tryn, you shouldn't be out this late!" Andre demanded, catching up to them. "And what the hell is this..."

"Andre, just let me go," she pleaded. "Please..."

"You have any IDEA what Paul will do to me if he let you get away?" Andre asked. "What is going on here?"

"We had an argument..." she blurted out.

"Well that's even MORE reason to not leave now! Paul will be FURIOUS!" Andre urged. "Let's get you BACK..."

"I'm not some bottle of wine you can just..."

"Just go," Fred urged her. "It's after two, and you should be THANKFUL we're not showing you the door... don't' you realize how lucky you are..."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, utterly defeated as she let Andre take her bag from her and march her back to Paul's room.

Downstairs, Paul hunted for the discarded cell phone. He whipped out his own, and dialed her number, to hear a trilling coming from the direction of the strip of greenery surrounding the pool. Thankfully, it had not landed in the pool he reflected. Soon after a few minutes, probing his hand contacted the slender phone, and he checked it over. Satisfied it was in good working order; he stuffed it into his pocket.

He walked back into the hotel, contemplating the all night gift shop, which sold flowers. Deciding not to push it, he doesn't buy any.

When he arrived back at the room he opened the door, and noticed she was gone. His eyes darted to the note on the bed, and the open drawers. Angrily he seized the note paperclipped around the money, and his blood boiled. Of all the insults!

"This is just GREAT!" he snarled, throwing the money at the television. He kicked the side of the bed, and rushed toward the hotel room door.

"FUCK!" he yelled, totally aggravated. He stormed out of the room, yelling, "ANDRE!"

"Paul! I found her!" Andre said, heading toward his direction with Trynia and baggage in tow. Fred moved close behind them.

Angrily Paul stormed up to her and said firmly, "So, WHAT? You're LEAVING?"

Not knowing what to say, she avoided his gaze. Fred looked tensely at Andre, unsure of what to do.

"Just like THAT?" he looked at her in total frustration.

"I don't know anymore," she started to cry, angry with herself.

"Hey, why don't I help you take this BACK to the room," Andre suggested. "It's too late for anyone to be out... C'mon now, let me help you take this back..."

Paul's eyes flashed in anger as words escaped him. Storming down the hall he snapped, "C'mon, baby, we NEED to talk about this... and NOT out here..."

"C'mon, Miss Merin," Andre whispered to her. "He's in no mood to argue."

Trynia let him take her back, utterly defeated and unsure of WHAT she should do. They followed Paul together, speechless as he hurled open the door, and waited by it. Trynia felt herself nudged in by Andre, who dropped her bag by the door, and motioned her to go in.

"Sit down," Paul said firmly to her, in a voice that would not be disobeyed. He indicated the chair set up against the wall.

Andre said to Paul," Call me if you NEED anything...."

"Thanks," Paul muttered to him. "I will. Now will you just leave me alone so I can talk to her?"

She flopped onto the chair, drawing her knees up into her chest and slowly rocking. Paul slammed the door, and paced back and forth, utterly annoyed. For a moment she felt like a disobedient child caught running away from home.

"So tell me? Was that little scheme to somehow get rid of me?" his eyes flashed, as he whirled to face her.

"No!" she cried, wiping her tear stained eyes. "It was to make it easier..."

"Tell me HOW the hell this makes it easier?" he yelled. "Running away from me! ANSWER ME!"

"I'm not some damned KID you can order around!" she shouted back. "I did it for you!"

"Help me out here!" Paul stammered with an ironic laugh, running hands through his hair. "Just HOW is leaving in the middle of the night helping ME, damn it! Because PERSONALLY, I think I've been pretty understanding."

"Yes you have been... but I don't' deserve it," she said.

"Excuse the hell me?" Paul asked, taken aback.

"To save you the trouble... of having me mess up your life," she said softly.

"Trynia, my life is already messed up" he sighed in anger.

"I can't do anything right," she began to cry again. "And now... you're pissed at me..."

"Trynia, honey please..." Paul sighed, grabbing a box of tissues and kneeling next to her chair. "And it doesn't have anything to do with you. You're the only bright spot sometimes."

"How can I possibly be Anything but a pain when I can't even..." she says, and then stopped as he dried her tears. "I mean I want you so badly, and then you're trying so damn HARD to be the gentleman... And I just don't know WHAT you want from me... and I can see it's killing you."

Paul sighed, resting his hands on the arms of her chair. He cleared his throat and said, "Trynia, he called tonight... and I talked to him."

"I knew you did," she said, anger slowly rising. "Why did you answer my phone? It's my private..."

"I GAVE you that phone," Paul interrupted. "And it IS my business when you're concerned. I care about you damn it! And it's MY responsibility to make sure you're safe when you're with me!"

"Is THAT why you're acting so weird?" she asked. "Why... I'm suddenly relegated to the poor little girl who needs to be protected from the big bad wolf?"

"That.... And other things," Paul said. "I've done nothing but try to do what I thought was right... and I'm screwing up badly... I can tell..."

"Frankly, it is making me feel like I'm damaged goods," she said slowly. "That you don't want to get NEAR me cause some asshole raped me. And yet you KEEP me here in this room and drag me back here like I'm some disobedient child, and then you ANSWER MY phone calls which are private to me!"

"NO, it's not that at ALL. I just wanted him to know that somewhere there was someone who cared about you and who wasn't going to let him fuck with you any more," Paul sighed, rising from the chair and turning his back to her. "And I'm SORRY if that's wrong."

"Oh god... you... stood up for me..." she realized. "Oh god... Paul I'm SO sorry..."

"I told him if he called you any more, I'd rip him a new asshole," Paul said, back still to her. "And I told him to prepare for a long-ass battle in court. Not that he'd remember any of it, he was so plastered."

"Nobody has EVER done that for me before," Trynia cried, rising from the chair and crossing the floor to stand by him. "Nobody..."

Finally, he turned to face her again, taking her arms in his hands and stroking them tenderly, "He said.... He said some nasty, nasty things about you. I told him I'd kick his fucking head in....in so many words."

She buried her head in his chest, sobbing hard. He wrapped his arms around her shushing her as he stroked his fingers through her hair. "Shh honey it's okay... I've got you. And guess what? I got him to admit it too"

"Oh god... Paul..." she gasped, looking up at him. "You know what that means..."

"Frankly, Tryn, today I'm not sure I know what anything means," he sighed, looking up at the ceiling helplessly.

"I only know that I love you so much," she whispered, not sure he'll hear.

"And I wish to God this had never happened."

"I wish to God it never did either," he said quietly, kissing her cheek. "But it did and all we can do is fight his ass in court...and try to pick up the pieces."

"All I can say, is thank you, for standing by me... and how do I reward you? I run away... like some coward... some girlfriend I am..." she sobbed.

"Hey, Tryn, look..." he said, parting from her and sitting down on the bed. He patted his lap, gesturing to her. She tentatively sat down, wiping her tears as he supported her with one arm around her shoulders, resting her head against his chest.

"I just think this is a weird situation and neither of us knows what to do, so we go around and around," he whispered. "And we're both mad as hell and we don't know what to do with that anger."

"You're right. Neither of us knows WHAT to do or say or feel," she stammered awkwardly. "I wish I did, other then wanting to scratch his eyes out..."

"You're mad because of what happened and I'm mad because, well, I feel like what I've worked for with you is going down the drain."

"I don't want to lose you Paul," she pleaded, hugging him to her tightly."I don't want to lose you either. Hell, honey, I brought you all the way out here for a reason, and it wasn't just for sex."

"Then what do we do, Paul? If we DO have sex I get the feeling you're going to do a guilt trip on yourself for somehow not being a gentleman..." she said with a sigh. "And if we don't I'll feel like Charlie has won."

"And yes, that's a little frustrating to have to go without, but it's more frustrating to have to worry about what I'm going to say or do," Paul sighed. "And to have to bitch about the pillows when really all I want to do is let out my frustrations on someone. NOTHING is going right for me, Tryn. NOTHING."

For a rare moment, she glimpsed his true emotions, boiling, and it softened the residual anger in her heart. Anger toward Charlie replaced this emotion, and a sense of protectiveness overcame her guilt. She seized his face and said firmly, "Wait a minute, mister... The fact you STILL want me here, after WHAT happened... that's something right isn't it?"

He sighed for a moment, averting his gaze as he said, "I didn't mean you when I said NOTHING. I'm sorry."
"And the fact you feel so strongly about me you want to bust some guy's skull in is a BIG something to me,' she emphasized, and he was able to meet her gaze again. "Nobody outside my family was ever willing to fight for me so hard."

"Enough about me, huh? We're missing the damn movie," he said, trying to change the subject. He dabbed at moisture in his eyes.

"And fuck what happens..." she said, grabbing a tissue and wiping at his tears.

She hugged him tightly, kissing his cheeks and burying her head in his neck.

"Yeah," he said as he wipes tears.

"I'm not going anywhere... not now," she said. He leaned over to the champagne and poured himself a glass, then wound his arm around her.

***

"I just panicked... can you forgive me?" she said after a few minutes of silence.

"Believe me, you don't want to hear all my crap" he chuckled, between trying to dry tears. "And I forgive you, absolutely."

He leaned down to kiss her softly, pulling her to lie alongside of him on the bed. She returned his kiss softly as she twined her fingers in his hair.

"Can I be a real greedy bastard for a moment?" he asked as they parted.

"Please, indulge yourself," she implored him.

"I'd LOVE a back scratch, sweetheart, after the day I've had."

"Turn over and I'll give you one," she whispered, pushing him over. He grinned at her and grabbed a pillow. He lay on his stomach, facing the TV so he can watch the movie. Through his shirt, she began to rub his shoulders as the movie continued. He moaned at her touch. At first she sat to his side, and then can't get the force she wants so she straddles his lower back.

He chuckled. "This reminds me of a psychiatrist's couch.... Like I need to open up or something.'

She rubbed his shoulder blades, and commented," damn you're as tight as a stratocaster!"

"That feels damn delicious" he purrs as he reaches over to rub her leg. She had found a knot in his one shoulder and eased it out VERY gently. Laughing she continued down his spine to his back and then avoided rubbing his butt as she moved back up. He chuckled for a moment when she kneaded his neck.

"I remember when I went to Japan back in the 70's. There were these Japanese bathhouses..." he begins, then laughed again. "And they'd do all kinds of crap for you, pretty much anywhere."

She continued to work on him, applying what she learned from a massage class she took, "This would work better without a shirt between you and my hands.

He smiled, then raised his arms up to remove his shirt. Tugging it out of his jeans, she tossed it aside. Again, she pushed him down, getting to work on his back again.

He moaned lightly, then closed his eyes. She continued to massage, rubbing out the kinks in his shoulders then his spine, and then down his arms to his elbows and wrists. "You're beautiful" he whispered.

"So are you," she whispered back, kissing the nape of his neck as she lifted his hair out of the way.

"There's just nothing like a good back massage" he cooed. "Well, almost nothing."

"I know, I've never really given you one of these before have I?"

"Mmmmmmmm, no."

"Do you remember when you first met me and you were almost afraid to touch me, because I was some kind of Rock God?"

"Yes," she whispered. "That first night we were together..."

"Some higher plane of being," he chuckled, turning over and wrapping his arms around her.

"And you absolutely couldn't stop touching me," she laughed.

"I'm no fool," he teased.

"I remember that morning on the bus, when Gene wanted to put me off..." she laughed, flipping off the lights. "And you came up with that cock and bull story about me writing a book for you."

"You didn't fit into the equation," Paul teased. "You hadn't gained entrance to Gene World yet."

She laughed at this, as he nuzzled her neck, "I don't think I want an e ticket ride to that thank you very much."

"And not to mention that his girlfriend was still hating me at that point."

"Oh god the Terri factor. No wonder you're so messed up," she teased. "Terri's ok... but I wish she'd lighten up."

"My head was so far gone with that, Tryn, it was nuts. I was with Terri, but Linda kept calling me and I believed all her b.s. About getting back together."

"I don't blame you," she turned over to look at him, pressing her chest against his.

"And the next thing I know, Terri is just about hog tying me backstage, screaming about what an ass I was. And Gene's right there behind her."

"Well, didn't she KNOW that she was getting into complicated stuff?" she asked.

"Of course it wasn't too long after that when I found out they were sleeping together, so it fit together."

"I mean hell she KNEW you were trying for reconciliation, didn't she?" Trynia asked, sighing as he rubbed her back while reaching around her.

"Well, " he started, then stopped. "I wasn't totally honest with her."

"Ah," Trynia said. "Well considering you only just MET her, I don't blame you there either."

"I get this call one night that Linda's been hurt and she'll calling for me. What I SHOULD have done is call Terri right away."

"You can't change the past."

"Nah, I can't," he sighed, flipping off the movie to a channel of soft music.

"You have no idea how long Linda has been an aggravation to me..."

"I can guess you loved Linda, and still do," she said. "But what about Terri?"

He waited for a moment, "Linda, definitely. I loved her so much at one point, I thought it would reach out and swallow me."

"Sounds like she seemed the love of your life," Trynia said, reaching under to pull the blankets aside. She pulled off her sweat pants and threw them down, after removing her shoes. Paul slid under the covers next to her automatically.

"The day we married, I would have done anything for her.... Given up KISS, the works," he said, lying alongside her in the expansive bed.

"But that's ok Paul," she said, snuggling against him. "That' doesn't bother me, if you think it does..."

"But looking back, it taught me that love and cohabitation are sometimes two separate things," he observed.

"They are," she nodded. "Maybe Terri and you would have driven each other nuts. I like the girl like a sister, even though I only knew her a couple days, but I can see how she can be a real bitch."

"Hey, yeah. It's like how I love Gene like a brother, but if I had to be with him 24/7, I'd go insane" he chuckled. "You know what attracted me to Terri, believe it or not? Her innocence."

"Terri INNOCENT?" Tryn laughed. "GIMME a BREAK!"

"Tryn, you should have seen her when she first came backstage. She had eyes as big as pennies."

"Was she a lifelong KISS fan?"

"Yeah, she was, and she was just in the process of leaving because she thought somehow she wasn't pretty enough to get any of our attention."

"But she IS pretty," Trynia nodded, resting her head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat.

He laughed, "And I was so intrigued with the idea that someone would meet the band and just walk out, I had to meet her."

"I thought Gene pushed you to talk to her," she joked, tweaking his nose. "That is what she said to me."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but either way, she pretty much made a real impression on me."

"Gene probably thinks I'm just a damn groupie, who wants into your pants," she shrugged. "And won't go away."

"And she was REAL innocent in bed." he smiled. "Like you were."

"I can't imagine her being innocent in any way," Trynia laughed.

"I hope that doesn't offend you," he said, looking back at her in the darkness.

"Not at all. It's the truth, considering before I met you, I had only been with one other guy."

"Maybe it's just the way I saw her. Terri's got a lot of bark to her, but deep inside, she's just a baby doll," he chuckled. "And she'd KILL me if she heard that. Trust me, I KNOW."

"And she comes across like the sophisticated woman..." said Trynia with a chuckle matching Paul's. "Who looks like she'd be bad ass fire in bed... or like she would be..."

"I would imagine she is now, after a few rounds with the Demon."

"Just oozing charm and charisma from every pore. It's WIERD to see a girl her size just RADIATE sex... she's like Anna Nicole Smith," Trynia said, then winced. "In a GOOD way. She's the size of Anna Nicole and she looks GORGIOUS."

"Terri's alright. She can't stand me, but she's OK."

"I'm surprised that she liked me, and didn't think I was the bitch from hell trying to be corrupted by you, or corrupting you. I almost couldn't believe she had so much in common with me," said Trynia softly. The moon had slid out from behind the clouds and beamed softly through the windows of the main room. Paul realized she seemed much more relaxed lying alongside of him in the bed now, and capitalized on the comfort.

"I'm sure there were a few raised eyebrows, after all, you ARE with me. I guess in the end she couldn't resist your charm."

"Me having charm," she laughed. "Get real."

"She loves you. She just thinks you have crappy taste in men." he smiled.

"Hon, scratch a little lower?"

"Well considering I slept with Gene,' she trailed off, hoping he didn't hear that. She rubbed down his chest, fingering his soft hair.

He chuckled, "I doubt she cares much about that. You DID sleep with me and that makes you devil spawn. Ohhh God, REALLY hard... that feels WONDERFUL!

"And honestly, he was good, but it was like he was punching a ticket," she giggled. "His mind wasn't totally on me... it was like he was waiting to say NEXT!"

"He was," Paul confirmed. "Only, you know, Terri would say that exact thing about me."

"That's what floored me. You made love to me, and it wasn't just sex. It was scary."

"This is going to sound really corny, but when I'm with a woman, she's the only one that matters," Paul said softly, kissing her cheek again. "And I don't play crap. If it's a one-night stand, I'll tell her upfront. "And let her make the call."

"I think that's SWEET!" she purred, kissing his ear. "I wondered what made me different, because you could have just ended it then and there..."

He laughed, "The million dollar question. Scratch a little more and I'll tell you..."

She rubbed down his back to slip her hand inside his jeans, hearing his soft moan as she rubbed his backside. Then her hand traveled up to knead the knots at the small of his back.

"You know, you need to travel with me all the time and work out the kinks at the end of the show."

"I wish I could," she said.

"There might be good money in that" he nodded.

"I'm nothing special, there are others better then me in massage," she laughed.

"And besides, I have to finish that damn degree..."

"I know," he said sadly. "And even if I flash my wallet, you won't change your mind?"

"I wish it were that easy..." she whispered. "Part of me WANTS to do that... Just give it up and be with you..."

"I could take good care of you."

"I know," she choked. "I just don't know if..."

"But hey, now is not the time. I know that."

"So it's OK" he says as he sits up for a moment and kisses her.

"I guess when it comes to letting someone take care of me... I'm not used to it," she laughed sadly. "I make a shitty person to care for... cause I'm too damn stubborn."

"First off, get used to the fact that while you're with me, you'll pay for nothing. That's the first step" he smiles. "AND get used to the fact that when you fly out to see me, you'll have the best of accommodations."

"Like this?" she asked. "King sized bed in every hotel room?"

"Yes"

"Good tax write-off huh?" she teases.

"AND get used to the fact that you can't scream during sex because this whole damn floor is KISS people and you'll hear about it at breakfast...and if Gene happens to hear you, you'll hear about it ALLLL day" he grinned.

"What if I hear THEM scream?" she reached out to touch him.

"Well, then...feel free to bring it up tomorrow."

"Tell me, if a groupie screams and there is nobody around..." she teased. "Did it REALLY happen?"

He chuckled, "I've made a few groupies scream in my day."

"And this is the sound of one hand clapping," she giggled, holding one hand up as if to clap against nothing.

"You are an absolute nut" he grins, pulling her toward him. He leaned down to kiss her passionately. She could tell he's trying to hold back on his appetite.

She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him back. Burying her hands in his hair and rubbing his scalp, then working down to his back.

"I love you" he whispered to her when they finished. She whispered and nodded back, mouthing the words to him. He leaned in again and begins to kiss her neck, and Trynia knew that was his usual introductory move to sex. She arched her neck and moaned softly.

He pulled up, breathlessly, "Am I making this worse?"

"No," she whispered. "Not at all..."

"Is this something I shouldn't do?" he asked.

"I'll let you know when to stop," she affirmed.

"OK" he whispered. He leaned down toward her again and kissed her neck lightly again. At one point, he nipped her lightly as he caresses his fingers down her arm. She gasped and dug her nails into his back for a moment.

"You don't like that?" he whispered. "I'm sorry..."

"I love how you're touching me," she says, returning his hand to her chest. He continues to rub his hand along her shirt, stopping to gently run circles around her chest with his finger. She could tell he was debating if he should go any further. He continued to kiss her, tentatively slipping his tongue along her lips. She opened her mouth and let him taste her. He did so, appreciatively.

He began to slowly slide a few fingers between her shirt, tugging it upward, testing the waters still. Encouraging him, she rubbed his back and chest with her fingers. He pulled up her T-shirt, still watching her with dark eyes, as if it is the first time.

She breathed with anticipation, squeezing his thigh to encourage him. Something hard pressed against her leg, showing full arousal. She sighed deeply and brushed her hand along his inner thigh.

"Shit, I'm sorry" he murmurs as he moves away a bit.

"No, I want to feel you it's okay," she interrupted.

"But you don't want us to culminate...." he started

"I didn't say that," she said. "Don't put words into my mouth!"

"Do you want me, Trynia, because if you don't..." he said breathlessly.

"I want you SO badly," she whispered. He reached down to pull his underwear down. He's going nuts.

"I need you damn it," she whispers, lowering her face to him.

"If you don't want me to, please tell me" he whispered. "We're perfect in bed, you know. You and me... did I ever tell you that?"

"I'm glad to know," she laughed. "I want to try it..."

"Try...sex? Oral?" he looked at her questioningly.

"Anything, just make me yours again," she panted. "Please!"

"What if I made love to you so sweetly that it would never make you feel frightened, even for an instant?"

"I would love you forever," she whispered.

"Forever is a long time." he smiled. "But then again, you've loved me since you were a kid, right?"

"Yes," she nodded. "In my dreams."

"So maybe its not THAT long," he teased as he climbed on top of her, bodies pressed close weight very little between them. She laughed and lay back trying to relax.

"You know, you can say stop any time," he whispered. "And I will right away."

She nodded, feeling his hands on her body, thankful she can remember and FEEL everything he's doing. He continued to kiss her neck, then her face lightly, brushing over her lips, whispering her name again and again. Her underwear was peeled away, till nothing but skin pressed against her skin.

Distracting her with his kisses, he lightly positioned her hips. She relaxed into his kisses. He leaned up over her arms on either side of her face, trying to sense if she is still with him. She moaned his name again, fixing her eyes into his, trying to focus on him. Thankfully, she remembered she was still on the pill, and knew that he had been totally frank in his revelation of his sexual history, at least as far as she knew. Except she feared what Charlie might have had.

"Paul... shouldn't we... I mean I don't know where..."

"You're right," he whispered. "Wait a moment...."

"I have something in my suitcase. Wait a minute..." she said, and rolled over to stand for a moment. He waited anxiously when she returned with a white box, and opened it.

"This is different," he chuckled. "I've heard of these..."

"The female version," she giggled, and he watched as she lay back, putting it into place. Again, his hands positioned her hips once more.

As he leaned down for a warm, wet French kiss, he slowly entered her. She groaned and tensed for a moment. "Shhhhhh..." he assured her. "Remember what I said."

"You feel so good," she whispered.

"Oh, jeez, so do you!" he moaned, although her barrier separated them.

"Nobody can take THIS away from me from us," she panted. His full length buried inside her, rocking gently.

"HELL no," he teased between kisses. Judging her momentary discomfort, he slowed his pace, choosing long deliberate strokes. She tried bravely not to cry, and leaned into the motion slowly. Almost at a maddeningly slow pace, he made love to her, so it hurt far less. She grew accustomed to him again, feeling his soft caresses and loving kissing raining over her skin. Through the dark, she could hear his labored breathing, feeling the sweet sweat of his skin against hers.

"Damn," he muttered to himself as he enjoys the feeling.

"It feels so good," she whispered. "Just nice and slow like this..."

"It's perfect," he murmured, but she knew that he would have preferred a faster pace.

He was doing this for her. She squeezed his arm in support, and succumbed to the passion flaming between them. He tilted her hips up slightly so that he is brushing gently against her in just the right way. Trynia emitted a loud cry that startled her in the depths of the darkness.

As he realized he was bringing her to orgasm, he begins breath louder.

She gripped his shoulders, crying out his name with tears in her eyes. His answered cry of her name met her ears, as he throbbed and buried himself deeply inside her with a firm expert thrust. Holding her to him, he climaxed inside her with an incredible force that took her breath away. Burying his face in her neck, he groaned loudly.

For a second she felt white-hot bliss, and came into awareness of her blood pounding in her temples, her senses overloaded. Remarkable reality dawned on her and she felt him laying on top of her, spent and panting for breath.

"Damn," she choked, wiping away tears. "That was..."Head still buried into her neck; he panted with the force and emotion of his climax. He slowly raised his head and smiled at her. Slowly he pulled out of her.

Softly he stroked her cheek with the back of one hand, whispering, "You have no idea how much that meant to me."

"I think I do..." she whispered.

"Because I know you didn't want to."

"You made me YOURS again," she whispered. He smiled broadly as he hears her say that.

"That's what I've wanted to do all night, I just haven't been able to find out the damn way to do it."

"I'm glad we did..." she whispered.

"So am I," Paul whispered, pulling her into his arms for some much needed rest. There was nothing else between them at that moment but silent triumph.

She awakened to the morning news, sun beaming into her face as she heard Paul on the phone with someone. Groaning she turned over in bed, and sighed at the sweet ache coursing through her body, realized she remembered every moment of what occurred.

"You're ready to meet us in Philly? Great... I'll be heading out there this afternoon. Did you call the police station?"

"Paul?" Trynia asked slowly, climbing to her feet. She stumbled as she almost lost balance on her wobbly legs.

"Hold on a moment..." Paul said, and entered the room, clad in a white terrycloth bathrobe with Hilton stitched over the breast.

"Who is that on the phone?" she asked.

"Your lawyer," he said. "Which reminds me, I called Sharmane earlier this morning and asked if she called the police..."

"You didn't have to," Trynia said.

"I did," he said. "I didn't want to wake you. She said that they wanted you to come home as soon as possible to give testimony. She'd told them you were out of town... but I told her your phone number and asked her to tell them you were getting a lawyer before you said anything else..."

"A lawyer," she gasped. "Paul... I can't afford..."

"Remember I said when you're with me I'm footing the bill?" he asked, steadying her. "Her name is Kelly, and she's very nice. And I told Sharmane to give the police her number... don't' worry, she's handling things till we get to Philly today..."

"Paul, I thought you had another concert to play..."

"Actually we have the week off," Paul said. "And if we pack after breakfast we can make the flight to Philly before this evening..."

"You don't have to come back with me..." she protested.

"I do. What if I need to testify?" he asked, sitting her down on the bed next to him.

"I don't know what to say..."

"Tryn... just let me help. We'll get through this together..."

"Paul, about last night... I want you to know it was wonderful," she said. "I really am glad we did..."

"So am I. Damn..."This is very much like a husband and wife thing." he chuckled awkwardly. "It's a bit heady if you know what I mean."

"I don't have any comparison," she says shyly. HE leaned down to kiss her gently.

"Just weird to connect with someone like that, so quick," he explained. "And have it be so intense...you and me."

"It hurt at first, but then it didn't... it just felt so good... and then..."

"You.... Umm.... You scare me sometimes, Trynia Merin," he blushed.

"It was like making love to you for the first time..." she answered, then looked down at her body. She was completely bare, all bruises and scrapes still visible. Shyly she put her hands over herself, hiding her nakedness from him.

"Here you go," he whispered, getting up to toss her a robe and help her into it.

"I am glad I don't remember how I got these," she commented. "The bruises I mean..."

He looked at her for a moment, "They can't go away soon enough for me."

"He didn't win after all," she says slowly. "I wouldn't LET him."

"No, he didn't, and he's going to lose even MORE when we get him to court. And that's a promise," Paul said, joining her on the bed again.

"I can't believe you're doing all this for me..." she said softly.

"You deserve it," he said. "I take care of those close to me..."

She hesitated asking the next question. Was it out of friendship or romantic love? Anticipating her query he put his finger over her lips and said, "Let's eat some breakfast. We've got a long trip ahead of us..."

***

She still wasn't used to the security when Chris and Andre bracketed them on their way through the airport. They boarded the small private band leer jet, wind whipping through her jeans. Soberly she realized he was doing everything in his power to make it right, and she couldn't help but feel a small twinge of guilt.

Dressed in her Farewell tour shirt and jeans with band patches, she shivered in the leather jacket till Paul led her into the cockpit and they sat down next to one another. Andre and Chris took seats further back, and the door closed on the small group. On the two-hour flight she leaned against Paul, dozing quietly.

"What's the plan again?" she asked as she came out of her nap.

"We meet Kelly at the airport. She's your lawyer, and one of the best. She has experience with cases like yours. And we'll go to the police to file an official report..."

"You have it all planned out," she whispered.

"I hope you don't mind... I need to do something..."

"No it's all right," she raised her hand. "I'm just relieved."

"You'll like Kelly. She's very nice. And if you don't want me there at the police station..."

"I do... you're part of the action," she joked. "But where are you thinking of staying?"

"I figured you were going to get some kind of hotel," Paul said.

"Actually with me is a good idea," she cut him off. "After all, we do have two bedrooms... and well..."

"It won't be a problem to get a hotel..."

"I want to go home," she said firmly. "If that's okay with you."

"It's fine,' he said, seeing the determination in her eyes. "And I'll be happy to stay a few days... till you feel more comfortable..."

Now it was Trynia's turn to protest, "Will it interfere with your schedule?"

"Not at all. Gene says we have the next week off. And if I were you, I'd ask your professor for a little time off, if this case goes to trial..."

"Mr. Stanley, we're landing," said the pilot over the loudspeaker.

"We have that rental car waiting," Chris told Paul. "For you at the airport... and the hotel..."

"I'll be staying with her," Paul said.

"But sir..."

"With you at a discreet distance of course," Paul added. "If you don't mind Tryn..."

"If it's band policy," she waved. "As long as they don't watch us when we sleep..."

"Ma'am I'm a professional," Chris joked.

***