***

Chapter 5

"Bye!" Rachel called. "It was LOVELY meeting you…"

"Even if I didn't make out the guest list myself," he added under his breath.

"You handled that well," Rachel teased. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself when she glanced back and saw the round eyes and mouths of the two girls watching them leave. Not to mention the way in which they stamped their feet and flounced away in the opposite direction like something out of Peyton Place.

"Stupid shit, they just think that they're more important because they say they know me from way before," Gene snorted. "I'm sorry about how rude they were to you, if you want I can have them thrown out…"

"Don't bother, they're not worth it," Rachel reassured him. "Nothing worse than a party that you didn't organize," she muttered.

Gene took hold of the necklace gently. "That's pretty… I've seen you wear it before… but I didn't realize you never took it off…"

"Oh this?" she joked. "It's an old piece of jewelry. The clasp's a pain in the butt to get… besides, it's easier to leave it on…"

"Makes sense to me," Gene nodded. She felt his arm around the small of her back as they stood there, surveying the others coming and going. Rachel felt his hand slide down and over her butt momentarily, making her shiver delightfully. While she liked Gene, she was pleasantly relieved that he was interested in her in the same way that she was, and that things were finally headed in that direction. He wore a loose T-shirt and long shorts, which were comfortable and ordinary looking compared to some of the other outfits his guests were sporting. Most of them had designer robes or sundresses, or other stylish outfits instead of the normal summer clothes she and her friends wore.

"Quite a crowd… this is only the second or third time I've been here… and it still seems weird," Rachel chuckled. "How a home looks bigger when there's a party going on… unlike me just coming over…"

While she wasn't necessarily fat, she did feel self-conscious about her body on such display. Unlike others, she was freckled more so, her red hair pulled up into a French twist out of her face. The necklace she never removed hung around her neck, gleaming silver in the sunlight. It was a simple one, two overlapping triangles and about the size of a dime in diameter, but no different from other jewelry of others. She was never without it, and the class ring she'd bought with money from her gramma.

"Now you see what I have to put up with," Gene joked. "And why I wanted you here… Angel."

A pet name just for her. Rachel felt a lump come to her throat, at the sudden openness he'd just shared. The reserved shy nerdy rich kid had let down his armor, and she was seeing a smoldering gaze as he looked down towards her eyes, then at her chest. Rachel coughed, and slid her hand down to the waistband of his shorts. Gene swung her around so she was facing him directly, and she couldn't get two words out of her mouth because she felt his fingers running lightly up and down her bare arms. Goosepimples sprang into being, and she couldn't look at him directly in the face at that moment, feeling suddenly awkward.

His hand slid up, and she felt it cup her chin, and turn her face to look him directly in the eyes. Rachel tried to will her arms to move, but she was frozen in place, hardly believing that he was seriously going down this path, and hoping he wouldn't stop. Seeing all the other couples that were holding hands or wandering off made her jealous, and she knew that it was more than just a case of homecoming dance fever.

"Mmm, I've been waiting to do this all day," he hummed.

While she still stood rooted to the spot, she saw him lean down, and felt him pull her simultaneously flush with his body. Before she could think she had reflexively tightened her grip on his waist, and her next words were cut off with the touch of his lips on hers. Rachel's disbelief faded when she realized he wasn't pulling away, and trying to deepen it. Granted he'd kissed her briefly on the lips a few times, but that was just a casual thing that had started a week or so ago.

"Wow," she whispered when he pulled away.

Gene said nothing, but leaned down again, and she relaxed more this time. Her arms knew what to do as she felt his hips pressed to her belly, and his tongue gliding over her lips. She tried to mimic his movements, letting him open her mouth, and let his tongue dart in and out, sending another wave of ice cold thrill over her body. Her knees buckled and she leaned hard against him. Her tongue thrust into his mouth and she slid her hands up and down his shoulderblades. The soft moan through the kiss encouraged her that she was catching on quickly, and that this sort of kiss WAS a good thing.

"Gene, there you are!" someone said, and Rachel started in his arms. Both turned their heads to see Ace standing there with a slight look between surprise and confusion.

"Can I help you?" Gene asked with an undertone of irritation.

"Just wanted to know where the bathroom was in this joint, Curly," Ace said.

"Good grief," Rachel muttered as she felt awkwardness set in, at the interruption of something that was heating up.

"It's up the stairs and to the right…" Gene grumbled. "You can't miss it…"

"He could," Peter quipped as he walked by, holding Beth's hand. "Hi Rachel…"

"Um… hi," Rachel muttered, sure that everyone could see the blush on her face, and starting to realize she felt some pride in it. No make that a lot of pride because Gene's hands hadn't left her waist even though they'd pulled apart a bit.

"Um, maybe you'd better show him… Patty wouldn't want him to get lost," Rachel said quickly. "I'll just wait here…"

"Sure, I'll be back soon… promise," Gene said as he leaned down and kissed her on the lips, only briefly before grabbing Ace's arm and hauling him into the house.

"What got into him?" Peter asked. "He seems pissed…"

"Isn't it obvious?" Beth whispered. "You lucky girl! Way to go Rachel!"

"How long were you standing there?" Rachel asked, dabbing her face with the back of her hand.

"Long enough," Beth grinned, nudging her.

"Took him damn long enough," Peter joked.

"Um, I'm just gonna go get my suntan lotion now," Rachel said hastily as she rushed over to the pool and Peter chuckled at Beth.

***

Chapter 6

Water splashed as Paul cannonballed into the pool. Corinne yelped and leapt away from the side of the pool. Other youths, some of Gene's childhood camp buddies and a dozen other hangers on shouted and splashed away from the surging foam of bubbles from the depths. Beth shook water off her body as Patty finished rubbing suntan lotion on her body. Both girls reclined on deckchairs, waiting for their dates to return with drinks.

"Dammit Paul, you could have warned us!" Peter shouted from the side of the pool. A few other guests that Gene only knew through his parents muttered and moved away from the thick accented voice.

"What are you girls doing there, come one in!" Paul shouted as he swam to the edge.

"You big doofus, you KNEW I was standing there!" Corinne snorted at him.

"Only cause you looked like you weren't having fun yet," Paul said as he hauled himself out of the pool, and Corinne got a really good look at him. He was muscular, a bit thin, but still easy on the eyes.

"Um… yeah," Corinne said as she caught herself staring. "You just had to be a ham!"

"Gotta admit he's right, girly," Peter said as he climbed out and wandered over to where Beth was sitting. He nudged her over and gave her a kiss. He was smaller, but still somewhat muscular for a teenager. While people were staring, Beth noticed he was oblivious, or at least not caring to notice their snide looks.

"C'mon let's get some food, I'm starving," said Beth as she grabbed Peter's hand.

"Where is Ace? Is he with your friend Gene? Cause if he's looking at comic books instead of paying attention to me, he's gonna get blasted into the next dimension," Patty muttered. "I was only just with him…"

"Patty, there you are!" came a familiar voice as Ace wandered out, fully clothed still.

"You dingbat where WERE you?" asked Patty, tapping her foot.

"I was just going to the bathroom and I got lost…" Ace chuckled.

"Leaving me all alone to deal with THESE…" She bit off her last word when people stared in her direction.

"Amen, but are we gonna let it stop us from having fun?" Ace asked.

"He's right, why don't you go for a swim, Pat?" Corinne said quickly. "I know I had fun!"

"Gene has a hot tub somewhere," said Paul quickly.

"Sounds good to me… where is it?" Patty asked, grabbing Ace's hand. "You coming, Beth?"

"I'm gonna swim. Might as well…" Beth said as she walked alongside her friends.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do?" Patty grinned as she winked at Corinne.

Shyly Corinne took Paul's hand and walked back to the poolside ladder. They noticed Rachel walking back from the house, her towel wrapped around her waist like a sarong, and looking lost.

"Rachel, where's Gene?" asked Corinne. "I thought you rescued him from those so called childhood friends."

"You tell me! I'm gonna kill Gene when I get hold of him, making me wait around like this," Rachel muttered as she reached the poolside where a few girls were sitting on the edge kicking water up into a lather. Others swam and splashed nearby, flicking water at them playfully.

"Now you just were together, and now he's gone, what is going on here?" Corinne asked.

"He went off to show Ace where the bathroom was, and he said he'd only be a few minutes…" Rachel muttered. "But it's been a half hour!"

"Easy there, he's around somewhere… probably looking for you…" Paul reassured her.

"You sure you're not just saying that to make me happy?" Rachel joked.

"How do you know he didn't send me to come find you?" Paul winked back.

"Yeah, right," Corinne chuckled. "You guys and your secret plans… you got some bet going or something…"

"What would we bet on?" Paul pretended to look innocent.

"I dunno, maybe about who you can throw into the pool first so you can see her wet and gape at her?" Rachel chuckled.

"You are so mean," Paul laughed. "Especially when YOU are the one…"

He shoved Rachel quickly, and she hit the water with a splash and a squawk of surprise. Corinne gasped and turned on Paul, "what the hell are you doing?"

"This sweetie," Paul laughed as he grabbed her up and leapt in next to her. She screamed as his arms closed around her and they sunk under the water together.

"You are MEAN!" Corinne yelled as they surfaced, and Paul swam after her.

"No way, I had a reason," Paul cried as she leapt on him and dunked him.

Water closed over Rachel's head and she heard the sounds of people moving. Something seized her under her knees and back and pulled her out. She gasped, feeling someone's wet body clutching her close and blinked.

"Look what I caught," Gene said as he looked at her, and she realized it was he who was holding her and walking towards the shallow end of the pool.

"Where were you?" Rachel sputtered. "I didn't see you…"

"Waiting for my opportunity," he teased.

"I thought you'd gone into the house to show Ace your comic books!" Rachel said.

"Sure, and while he was at it, he wanted to know where the bathroom was," Gene laughed. "So I left him to his own devices…"

"So you just left me there for a half hour…" Rachel asked, annoyed. "Looking like an idiot?"

"Not intentionally," Gene apologized. "I was just playing a game… nothing serious…"

"Playing a game? Did you and Paul make up some plan to get us wet so you could stare at us?" Rachel asked. She grabbed Gene's shoulder as he pulled her along with him.

"MMmm… Could be," he said, in a cute and annoying cartoon voice. Rachel flushed when she realized that he was wearing little else but a pair of swim trunks, and was seeing her in a LOT less than she normally wore.

"Gene where's that hot tub?" Corinne asked as she swum over, pursued by Paul.

"Good question. Paul knows the way… why don't we follow him," Gene suggested.

"This way," Paul said as he helped Corinne up the ladder, then followed her. Rachel shyly let Gene nudge her towards the stairs, and then followed close behind.

***

Chapter 7

Slowly they approached the steaming cauldron; eight sided and set into the floor of an indoor region. Sliding glass doors separated it from the rest, and there were one or two people already sitting inside. Taking Corinne's hand, Paul slowly slid down into the water. Gene did the same, and both guys looked up at the women with raised eyebrows.

"C'mon in, water's fine," Paul urged. Corinne chuckled and set one foot into the water. She slid down beside Paul, and sat next to him. Softly she moaned as the heat surged into her muscles. Paul guided her by the shoulders to sit between his knees, and she lay back with her head against his chest. Emboldened, Rachel stepped down, guided by Gene's steady hand. She sat automatically between his knees on the lower step, her chin just touching the bubbling water. His hands closed on her shoulders, slowly rubbing as she leaned back and peered up into his face.

Rachel noticed the one couple who was kissing each other. Corinne glanced back at Paul, nervously as he slid his arms around her from behind. Rachel felt Gene's hands moving over her back and slowly downward and felt desires twinge her. Other teens walked by, hand in hand as they went to and from the pool area to the party inside.

"Man how many people are here?" Corinne asked muzzily as she felt Paul's lips by her neck.

"150," Gene muttered as he lifted Rachel's hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. Shivers of ice shot down her back and she inhaled deeply.

"A lot," muttered Paul. "And how many do you know, man?"

"Other than present company, about 20," Gene teased. Rachel heard Corinne's soft moan, and already her friend had sat on Paul's lap. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and Rachel loved the feel of Gene's hands slowly creeping over her chest. He stopped, and then she relaxed to reassure him he could continue.

"I like that," Rachel muttered.

"Good," Gene muttered.

"The only bad thing, is that we'll freeze to death when we get out," Rachel chuckled, feeling her body flushing hot quickly. It wasn't just the water; it was due to Gene's fingers tracing the curve of her breasts through her swimsuit. She could already feel her body responding to the gentle teasing. Seeing Corinne's hands tracing over Paul's wet chest added to her eagerness and arousal.

Gene's hand on her shoulder guided her to turn towards him. Rachel closed her eyes automatically, resting her hand on his face. His kiss was not unexpected but surged through her and she felt her arms closing around his neck tightly. It was an automatic response and before she knew it she was pulling closer, climbing on his lap and turning so their bodies faced one another.

She panted, pulling away and looking up at him. "Wow, it's warm…"

"I know. Wanna go somewhere where we can be alone?" Gene whispered huskily.

"Okay sure," she said, her voice quaking.

"Have fun," Corinne teased as Gene got up first, and then stepped out. She took his hand, and hoped he didn’t' realized how nervous she was.

"I just realized I never saw your room," Rachel said as Gene wrapped a towel around her, and pulled her close for a kiss. She only caught a brief glimpse of him as he hugged her tightly, and slid his hands down to pat her dry. Rachel had to lean up on tiptoes to kiss him, so Gene bent down a bit.

She smiled shyly, and Gene cast her a smoldering glance. As she drew back he hitched the towel around her body, and she pulled the ends of his towel playfully. She again stepped back and got a better look. While he was a bit on the chubby side like she, he had a great set of legs, she had to admit. He wasn't grossly overweight, just a bit well-covered, and attractive in his own way.

"Whatcha thinking?" Gene asked as he slid his arms around her waist and tugged her along with him.

"You've got a great pair of legs," she whispered.

"And you're pretty easy on the eyes yourself. Glad you decided to wear that swimsuit…" Gene whispered back, and she realized they were walking up a flight of stairs as they continued to touch one another. Each touch and caress was driving her nuts and as they passed the other guests she saw they weren't the only ones with adult games on their minds.

Gene's touch on her back and her breasts was sure and even. While he seemed a bit on the inexperienced side like she, Rachel was sure he'd probably had more experience than she had. Now more than ever seemed a better time to remedy that stigma of being a virgin. She was tired of the jeering remarks sent her way by others. Here was a willing guy, and she was caught up in the moment.

He separated himself from her, and then held her by the hand. Jerking his head in the direction of the back stairs, he smiled mischievously. Rachel let him walk up first, then followed, her legs shaking as she took that first step. Quietly they tiptoed up to the first landing, and then the second, down a hallway that was lit by daylight. There were more than two or three rooms on this floor, and she marveled at the size of the Victorian house that had more rooms than she'd imagine.

Gene walked past the entrance to the third floor, and she stopped. "Your room's up there?" she asked.

"You got it. Although that's where the servants would have slept when this house was 100 years younger," Gene whispered, pulling her along with him by both hands. "These are the guestrooms and my parent's master bedroom… I've got the top floor to myself… besides some other rooms we can just gloss over…"

She stumbled on the steep steps, and Gene caught her. "Careful," he whispered. "Don't want you getting hurt… because we're gonna be doing something physically demanding soon…"

"Sounds fun," Rachel chuckled, hearing the deep tone coming through his voice that sent the tingles to her inner core. When they reached the top of the stairs, Gene led her past two doors on the right. One was open partway, and she saw it was a private bathroom. The girls had changed in one of the downstairs large rooms, which had a sizable bathroom interconnecting two rooms. There were at least four guest bedrooms there, and the large master suite. Then up here was the third floor, with another room that contained large boxes and other items that she knew was Gene's comic book collection. And he nudged the door open with his toe, and she saw his private room for only the first time.

Saying nothing else, Gene smiled at her, and pulled her towards him as he stepped inside. She began to take in the size of the room, illuminated by two big windows covered in long curtains, and the double bed in the corner. A stereo sat on its own stand, surrounded by a record cabinet and quadraphonic speakers on either side. Shelves loaded with books covered one wall, and she noticed the drafting table to one side, flanked by an art cabinet and pots filled with inking pens and India ink. He had an electric typewriter that was covered with a dust jacket on a private desk, along with books that said accounting on the spine. She was also surprised to see a small thirteen inch screen television on top of one bookcase. Not many people she knew had their own TV in a bedroom. And it looked like a color one.

Gene walked over, smiling as he pushed the button on the stereo, and it hummed into life. He separated himself from her again and reached for an eight track cassette, and she saw the words "Hard Day's Night Soundtrack" on the cover. An oldie but goodie, she figured as she heard a familiar track cue up. Gene then pulled her back towards him, and his hands roamed all over her back as he kissed her neck. She slid her hands up and down his chest, feeling the texture of his skin and hair, while feeling the moisture still clinging to their bodies. There came a gentle tug from his hands on her hips, and she realized he was pulling at her suit.

***