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"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. She felt his hands reach around and gently take a breast in either one. Her breath escaped her when he began to rub each with a slow kneading motion that made her body burn.

"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 her chest with her hands. 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 to her breasts. They ached for his touch and she yelped at the feel of his lips and tongue on the sensitive nipples. 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 and she leaned to kiss his chest. 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 experience and the aching between her legs that wanted something to fill it. She slid her arms around and gave his backside a squeeze, wondering if men liked the same thing. It got a response because she heard his moan, and felt his lip pressure increase on hers.

"Mmm I need, I need," she trailed off, unable to put into words what she wanted, but he instinctively knew. It all happened so fast, him peeling off her swimsuit and covering her flesh in kisses. She found herself tugging down his swim trunks and letting him guide her hands to touch him. While she expressed surprise she couldn't' help but caress and touch tentatively at first, but with increasing courage with each passing moment.

"That's it… touch me right there…"

"Ohh 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. Somehow they were lying together, and his body loomed over hers between caresses and fevered gropes.

"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 damn good," she whispered. "Mmm, I don't know if I can wait…"

Her breath rasped in and out of her throat as heat flooded her body, and she tossed her head back and forth with her soft cries of surprise. She shrieked and laughed as he caressed her breasts, pinching lightly and then tracing his fingertips down her belly before parting her legs and sliding his fingers down. Rachel gasped as he touched her and she felt like she'd explode with the newness of the tingling shock.

Gene didn't make fun; instead he took her hands and put them on his chest, encouraging her what to do. She did so, trying to feel every contour of him, touch him with fevered fingers and grab his flesh like he was hers. He momentarily reached under his pillow and his eyes held a question. She nodded, realizing something was growing firm under her hand. He nodded, moaning encouragement as she felt the slick hardness of his shaft growing to life, and marveled at it. Taking her breast in his lips he reached over and slid something overtop himself, and then moved quickly into place. Rachel lay back, quivering in anticipation as she gripped his shoulder hard and closed her eyes.

"Ready?" he whispered.

"Please, yes," she panted. "I can't stand it…"

"Relax," he urged. He thrust in quickly, his lips covering her cry of momentary pain. Rachel's legs wrapped around his waist and he stopped for a moment, shifting his weight to his wrists. He kissed her once more, and Rachel whispered her encouragement. That and rocking her hips slowly let him know he could continue. Only he could fill that aching between her legs and he thrust slowly, torturously in and out. Whimpering she felt that it wasn't enough, and bucked against him to try and pull him back in as he pulled out.

"Please, don't stop… I need… I need…"

"That's it baby… give it to me… let me take you there…" he grunted, and she wondered what he meant at first. Something happened and she was quaking from head to toe as he made one deep thrust and held still. Reflexively she felt herself tensing all around him, and heard his moan in response.

"Oh god…" she half screamed, her nails digging into his shoulder. "I can't stop…"

"Almost, almost!" he gritted; resuming his inevitable thrusting in and out, and Rachel fell into the movement. Their desperate gasps and cries accompanied the grasping fingers and hungry nips that belied their appetites. Rachel let out a scream as he made one last slam that seemed to pierce her to the core, and the throbbing from deep inside mirrored her own desperate quivering.

"Mmm that's IT, yeah…" he gasped, throwing back his head and gritting his teeth as he reached his climax.

"I…" she trailed off when she lay under his body, gasping and panting with the incredible rush that pounded through her. It was unlike anything she'd felt before, except in the times where she'd investigate that tingling hunger between her thighs with her own hands. But a thousand times better.

***

Chapter 9

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 the afterglow faded, and she heard his own voice and felt his body collapse on top of hers. After a long pause he withdrew and she lay back, panting with tears stinting her eyes. He turned away and she rolled over on her side. Halfway between happiness and sadness she existed, till she felt his hands around her and the warmth of his body from behind.

"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 naked in the figurative sense of the word 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 having sex 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 naked and in bed next to him.

"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… unless they're talking about just straight sex partners… and I wouldn't go to bed with just anyone…"

"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… shit; 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 as she pressed her body to his.

"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…"

"Hmmm, I wonder," he teased. Rachel flushed and started to snicker. He glanced at her, daring her to share.

"It's stupid…"

"Try me," Gene urged.

"Well, did it fit?" Rachel giggled awkwardly.

"Perfectly," Gene nodded as he licked his lips and snuggled down. He pulled her alongside him, and yawned.

"I'd like to make sure it did fit," Rachel whispered in his ear, and Gene smiled.

"I'm sure I can accommodate that… or rather you can…" he responded 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. Giving him control, she enjoyed his hands roaming over her body, and the hot surge of body warmth that shot through them both. It renewed the tingling ache in her core, and she knew the remedy for it now.

As she broke away, she chuckled, "I'll accommodate you anytime you want…"

"I'll take you up on that now… up for another round?" Gene panted as he leaned over her, and she reached up to touch his cheek. Her red hair spilled loosely over the pillow as Gene rolled her over. This time she lay across his body, and felt the reactions of his body to hers again. Their bodies joined and Rachel at first felt embarassed at the noises coming out of her mouth, but it was cute to see their hushed whispers as Gene cut her off with his firm kisses.

It wasn't belong before his room was filled with the sounds of her laughter for the next hour. 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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