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Chapter 8 (rated R)

"Why don’t' we get out of these wet things?" Gene whispered in her ear. He slid one strap down her shoulder and moved around behind her.

"Ohh lord," Rachel moaned as she felt Gene slowly kissing down her neck. She arched back, letting his hands walk down her body. With a hand on her shoulder he turned her around to face him, and she covered herself from his view. Gene gently reached down to take her wrist.

"You've got a pretty body, don't hide it, Angel," Gene urged.

He pulled her other strap aside and tugged her suit down before crushing her close. She felt his back again, and leaned up to pull his head against her chest. Her heart pounded in her throat and she felt her breath heaving in and out, almost deserting her as she went mad with the overload of his hands stimulating her sensitive skin.

"You like that?" he whispered as he moved up again. Rachel grunted her affirmation and pulled his face to hers again, burying her fingers in his hair. She wanted to be closer, feeling the hunger inside that she'd not experienced.

"I need you now…" she trailed off, unable to put into words what she wanted, but he instinctively knew. It all happened so fast, her swimsuit falling to the floor. She found herself tugging down his swim trunks.

"Oh Gene…" she stammered.

"You want this, Angel?" he whispered. Rachel could only manage a nod yes as she felt him back her towards the bed, and claimed another deep kiss. They soon lay there kissing in a long endless embrace as they discovered their passions for one another.

"I've been looking forward to this for a long time," Gene huskily whispered, setting her desires on fire. "You look so good, Angel…"

"Gene… you feel so good," she whispered. " I don't know if I can wait…"

Her breath rasped in and out of her throat as heat flooded her body. Rachel gasped as he touched her and she felt like she'd explode with the newness of the tingling all over herself. Gene didn't make fun; instead he took her hands, encouraging her what to do. Rachel lay back, quivering in anticipation as she gripped his shoulder hard and closed her eyes. It was unlike anything she'd felt before, except in her wildest imagination. But a thousand times better.

As soon as the joy subsided, there was sadness. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she felt something had happened, and the rush of vulnerability and a million questions. Did she do the right thing, she asked herself as she felt him holding her close to him under the covers. After a long pause he turned away and she rolled over on her side. Rachel lay back, panting with tears stinting her eyes Halfway between happiness and sadness she existed, anxiously waiting for the next development that she couldn't predict.

"C'mere Angel," he whispered as she shivered reflexively, and sniffled.

"That was… something else," she stammered, trying to laugh although she felt like crying.

"Why don't you turn over and look at me, Rachel?" Gene whispered softly. "You all right?"

"I don't know," Rachel whispered as she turned over, and saw concern on his face. Why did she feel so vulnerable after what had happened?

"It's okay, I hear you," Gene chuckled as he leaned up on one arm and looked at her with a smile. "First time's not always easy…"

"I guess it isn't," Rachel said softly, not sure of what to say. All the feelings oozing forth from her were unfamiliar and frightening. Had she made a mistake doing this with him? Sure she liked him, but had she rushed into this too quickly?

***

"Are you sure you're all right… I didn't mean to make you upset…" Gene said quietly.

"It's not that…" Rachel trailed off. "I'm just not sure of how to feel…"

"There's no rules or way you're supposed to," Gene said with a smile as he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "I hope you feel good though… because I know I feel incredible right now…"

"That's sweet," she whispered.

"Hey, did I tell you how much fun I had chasing you in the pool?" Gene smirked.

"What?" she asked, blinking at him at the sudden change in subject. It then dawned on her that he was trying to start a conversation just after such an awkward moment. Rather than just get up or fall asleep like her female friends had bemoaned. His eyes and attention were fully on her, and she felt less awkward.

"I couldn't help it. You and Corinne were right that we had some agenda going. You looked like you weren't having much fun, so I figured what the hell. Why not make sure you're enjoying yourself. Can't have you not enjoying the party. I'd be a pretty sucky host if I didn't…"

"I guess you would be," Rachel laughed nervously.

"I was wondering what you thought about the posters…" Gene nodded towards the walls. "Now that you have a good look at 'em."

"The posters…" she asked, and then glanced around the large room. "Oh yeah… Jack Kirby signed those?"

"He did," Gene nodded. "And those…"

"Frank Frazetta… no way," she shook her head as he pointed to a large autographed and framed poster of John Carter, Warlord of Mars. Not to mention a movie poster of Godzilla vs. the Thing.

"I figured you'd like that," Gene said. "By the way, I forgot to give you back the copy of Astounding that you loaned me. It's over here…"

So saying he turned over in bed, and grabbed something from the night table. He passed her the magazine, and she realized it was encased in a plastic sleeve. "Wow, gift-wrapped?" she chuckled.

"These are sort of like they have in doctor's offices. They protect magazines. They make 'em for comic books too…"

"Go figure…" Rachel said. "I used giant zip lock bags…"

"Well these are especially for collectors. Speaking of… I noticed you read Dragon just like I do…" Gene said. "If you wanna borrow a few issues, I got them going back since 1…"

"Thanks," Rachel chuckled, feeling easier now as she snuggled up to Gene. "I wanted to ask if you minded that us girls wanted to join you guys…"

"Are you kidding?" Gene chuckled. "Why else do ya think I'd offer? Not just ANYONE borrows my magazines…"

"Silly me," Rachel smiled. "Well, if you want to borrow my Ellery Queen collection…"

"I think I'll take you up on it…" Gene smiled. "Mystery's a good chance of pace once in a while…"

"Well after you loaned me The Two Towers," she said. "That was a change of pace enough for me to get hooked on those sword and sorcery books… don't ever seem to be enough… I mean thank goodness for Conan…"

"It's a whole new market," Gene said as he traced a finger down her bare arm. "Comic's not bad either…"

"You should read the real novel," Rachel said as she traced a finger over his chest. She didn't feel quite so shy being next to him at that moment.

"I will," he smiled as Rachel moved closer, and hesitated before his lips. "Whatcha thinkin about?"

"Oh… just… how I didn't quite expect this… I mean I wanted it but…"

"If something's bothering you I want to know…" Gene reassured her, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Don't be afraid to tell me anything. You can always trust me… right? We're friends…"

"I can…" she nodded. "It's just that I feel strange… like we shouldn't have the same things that we did before we did this… I don't know how people act when they're… lovers… I mean friends don't get THIS close do they?"

"Who says they don’t? Just because we did this doesn't mean we can't still talk about the same things…" Gene said with a smile. "Just because we went to bed doesn't mean we stop being friends… I mean they do call them girlfriends and boyfriends for a reason…"

"I never thought of it that way," Rachel said reflectively, leaning up to look at him.

"It's okay," Gene said as he gave her a hug. "We don't have to do this again if you don't want to, Rache…"

"I want to, believe me… it's just… well… um…" Rachel stammered. "I'm glad it was you, and I wanted it to be you… I just… sheesh, I'm not making any sense. I really enjoyed it but why do I feel weird?"

"I understand. You don't have to worry about what to say around me, cause I'm just glad you're here, in any way you want to," Gene said as she leaned her head on his chest and he wrapped an arm around her. He kissed the top of her head.

"I'm glad to be here with you too, Gene," she sighed as she snuggled next to him and listened to his heartbeat. She tried to stifle a yawn, and then looked up at his amused smile.

"I wore you out, huh?" Gene joked. "Come to think of it, I need a nap myself."

Rachel felt him draw her closer, and his body shifting to get comfortable. Not bothering to question it, she realized he wanted her to stay where she was. A tingle of awkwardness still lingered at this new experience, but she didn't feel much like moving out of the warm comfortable bed. Emboldened she shifted and moved up to kiss him. Gene moaned through it, wrapping his arms around her possessively.

"This is kinda nice… no make that extremely nice, lying next to you here," Rachel sighed as she surfaced for air. "Different… in that I'm not in the habit of sleeping next to young men in bed…"

"Glad you think so. I think you need the rest too," Gene nodded. "Although I'd be lying if I said that I just wanted to cuddle… it's hard to resist wanting to turn over and take you all over again…" he added, kissing the top of her head.

"What about your guests?" she chuckled. "I mean your parents DID invite over three quarters of the people? I didn't THINK they knew you…"

"Secret's out, huh?" Gene chuckled. "How well you know me. But let 'em entertain themselves. I've got my own party up here… Relax. You don't have to leave if you don’t' want to…"

"Happy birthday Gene," she giggled as he rubbed her breast playfully. "I guess you liked your present…"

"Perfectly," Gene nodded. He pulled her alongside him, and yawned meaningfully. Rachel grinned and went to his arms, sealing his lips in a kiss. She felt him smile against her lips and she opened her mouth to let him deepen it.

Before long they lay together fast asleep as the party continued without them. Rachel knew she'd have a smile on her face for the rest of the week, no make that the rest of the month. And she couldn't help but smirk before she dropped into sleep when she thought of Maxine and Sharona. Rachel wished she could see the look on their faces when they looked in vain for Gene, and had no clue where he was. Granted she would see their reaction soon enough because Gene had implied she was his girlfriend, and she just KNEW she'd run into them in some way shape or form in the weeks to come.

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