Disclaimer: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and KISS are actual persons, and they are property of themselves. The portrayal of them in this story is fictitious, and is the work of a fan, for entertainment purposes only, not to demean or harm the people mentioned. Other characters are copyright by Trynia Merin. My thanks to Eisencookie, Ms Starchild and Ilovepaul66 for help with this story!

Paul flopped down on the bed in frustration, flipping the remote control. He sighed as he saw an ad for the spa where Julia previously worked. Banishing that vision away, he changed the channel to TLC.

Suddenly the phone rang. He grabbed it, still pouting, "Yeah?"

"If you know what's good for you..." said a male voice. "You'll give me my job back..."

"DON'T even tell me a little piss-ant like you is calling to threaten ME!" he rolled his eyes, still grumpy.

"You think you're hot shit, don't you?" he asked. "Because you've got her and I don't? Well you can HAVE the bitch. I just want my JOB back...and my dignity!"

"Dignity's something you LOST the hell out of the other night, Pal!" Paul barked. "And if you think you are going to threaten me, or God forbid, HER, you will never work in this town again, you hear me, asshole?"

"You're always Gene's bitch, you know what? And if you don't at least pay me compensation for firing me, I'll make sure everyone knows about you and some VERY uncomfortable things about you and HER."

"I've got some things that can make the press eat you alive!" Paul snarled. He didn't notice that by then Julia has returned to stand at his door, listening.

"Oho, let me guess. You actually think I give a crap about what you tell the press? Trust me, buddy, it can't get any worse than what they've already said!" Paul yelled into the phone, eyes blazing with anger. With the other hand he continued to channel surf, inadvertently turning up the volume to drown out the obnoxious freak on the other end.

"You'd be surprised..." laughed Chad. "Remember Melanie? She's got all sorts of interesting stories bout you... and life on the road...'

"Besides....one call to McGhee Entertainment, and your name is mud all over this town...and this state...and this planet," Paul threatened. He ignored the Melanie comment, but shifted uncomfortably in bed a bit. Julia slowly opened the door, interested to see who he was talking to.

"You really want me to do it, asshole, you call this number again. Don't FUCK WITH ME," Paul snapped. "Or....most of all, with her."

"Yeah right, whatever,' he laughed back, a bit shaken. "Step down and let some REAL talent take your place, you has been."

Paul shook his head and chuckled at this comment for a moment. "Gene and I eat vermin like you for dinner. Sooo....run along and play, Chaddie, and again, tell mommy next time before you use the phone."

With that parting shot, Paul slammed the phone down. He tossed the cordless into a drawer, and shut it. Inwardly he worried a bit about him starting trouble with Julia. Gasping he noticed her standing right next to his bed, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Paul," she said, taking a step toward him. "that was him wasn't it?"

He jumped a bit in surprise, then regained his composure to say, "Idiot thought he'd play with fire and mess with me, can you believe that?"

Julia sat on the edge of the bed, and crawled over to sit on the covers next to him. He laughed and continued, "As many connections as Gene has...and Doc....?"

"That was the sweetest thing anyone's done for me..." she whispered, reaching out her hand to him.

"I admit, I don't play the Hollywood Game as well as they do. Just not interested," Paul snickered.

She moved even closer, and then Paul held his arm out to her. He paused for a moment, before saying, "Jul, I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

"No I'm sorry... for pushing you away... when you only wanted to help me..." she said, wiping away tears.

"All I want to do is be....helpful....stupid word, but that's how I feel, I guess. I had no business in pressuring you. If I can't control my emotions, that's my own damn fault," he sighed.

"It's me who should be sorry," she said with shame. "I've never been good at accepting help."

"And I know you're not looking for anything right now. So....I just need to accept that." he said, matter of fact, as if he was trying to convince himself.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked shyly.

"Am I going to mess it up even worse if you do?" he smiled, and lifted the covers so she could slide into bed next to him.

"Just answer me honestly. When you said you were beginning to like me... did you REALLY mean it?" she asked slowly. "Do I mean THAT much to you?"

He grinned at her, "I thought you said this would be an EASY question."

"I don't want to sound insulting, but I just have to know..." she said with a deep breath.

"I'm probably going to regret saying this, but honestly.....you DO want me to be honest, right?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"It's actually quite lonely here. I moved here pretty shortly after the divorce, so basically I have this gorgeous place all set for pampering and no lovely lady to use it on."

"Oh," she said softly.

"When I'm not working, I'm just sort of....here. I go to functions alone, charity shindigs alone, hell, I even go to movies alone."

"I thought you would have had any woman you wanted." she said honestly, looking down at her hands fumbling with the edge of his comforter.

"This is going to sound like I'm full of hot air, but really and truly, for me, it's so easy just to get sex, that it's almost not...I don't know...not a challenge," he admitted.

"But not a relationship, huh?" she asked.

"There are enough ladies just looking to go to bed with a rock star, and that's fine, but after awhile, you'd like to be able to actually DISCUSS things with them."

"I would love to go to bed with someone like you,'" she laughs. "but I want MORE then that," Julia said shyly. "Just BEING with you I love. With Chad it was just sex... and being seen with him."

"I want a lady I can watch Discovery Channel with, and discuss lyrics with, and get to try strange squishy foreign foods just because I've never had them before... And someone who still enjoys it when I pull out my guitar and sing for them." he smiled.

"What woman wouldn't enjoy that?" she wondered, moving closer. "Paul, you're a wonderful man, you know that?"

"...and someone to tell me that the color of beige I picked for the third level bathroom looks CRAPPY."

"IT is," she laughed.

"Oh, THANKS! I happened to LIKE that color when I picked it out," he protested, hitting her arm playfully.

"Would it be very silly of me to lay against you and watch TV?" she asked.

"Not at all," he smiled as he held out his arm to her. She lay with her head on his chest, and he snuggled her under his chin. Handing her the remote, he let her pick the next show.

"And....someone to get intimate with, when the time is right," he whispered in her ear. She laughed and ran her hand over his chest for a moment.

"Do you usually adopt this minimalist bedtime wardrobe?"

"I hate wearing clothes to bed," he playfully fussed, "They just end up getting all twisted, not to mention that it's practically a sin to wear clothes to bed in sunny California. New York....sure......if I was 19 and just coming off my cabby shift."

"Then do you ever... sleep in the nude?" she asked.

"Umm, yes, I do," he admitted, flushing red. She laughed and snuggled closer, kissing his cheek.

"Now it's your turn to tell ME a playful little secret," he said, tickling her side. She laughed and shrieked, thankfully not pulling away.

"OH?" she laughed, more comfortable now.

"When you were that 8 year old girl, who was your favorite?"

"Ohh, not fair," she sighed.

"Dogged!" he chuckled loudly.

"Actually I liked Ace," she laughed.

"There goes my next question," Paul threw up his hand.

"I actually thought Gene was interesting for a while..." she laughed.

"Well, Gene is... uhhhhhh... interesting," he smiled.

"But when you took your makeup off... That's when I fell for you," she laughed. "You have such a beautiful face..."

"This old mug?" he chuckled. She smiled and strokes his cheek.

"Julia, you are incredibly sexy," he sighed, with great desire. Her touch was soft and tender, so gentle and undemanding. She drew her finger along where the scar would be for the recent surgeries. She could see it, because she was trained to, and could tell a facelift when she saw it.

He looked at her for a moment, carefully as he asked, "Does that bother you?"

"No," she said. "I see it every day. But in my professional opinion botox would be better. No knives, and it's less invasive."

"And you happen to know someone who can take care of me, right?" he says, turning to her with dark sexy eyes.

"Yes," she smiled shyly. "Although I think you'd look just as gorgeous if you did nothing at all..."

He chuckled a bit, "Not possible, I'm afraid. You're forgetting, this is the guy that fans want to look EXACTLY as he did 30 years ago."

"Yes," she sighed. "You keep people like me in business."

"Some day, when this all over, I'm going to move to a nice little house on the ocean and get fat, hairy and old and be DARN proud of it" he smiled as he kissed her nose. "But until then...."

"And I'd still feel the same way about you,' she laughed. "Just don't go for the Michael Jackson look... Botox IS better."

"That's assuming, of course, that you let me take care of you for that long," he whispered into her ear, tickling it deliciously. "And, your recommendation is duly noted."

"Any woman who wouldn't want YOU to take care of them should be committed. Especially from psycho ex boyfriends."

He hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "I had the wildest dream tonight."

"What about?" she asked slowly.

"Me.....and you."

"Oh," she laughed. "Weird. I was dreaming about you... and me... In a dressing room of all things..."

He laughed, "You weren't washing my clothes, were you?"

"Uh... no..." she blushed. "You were pressing me up against the wall, all hot and sweaty and... you tore my clothes off and ravished me."

"Not very gentlemanly of me, now was it?" he teased lightly.

"I was turned on... but I wonder if you'd REALLY do that to a girl..." she blushed.

"And let me guess, like some bad take-off of Gone With the Wind, you slapped me silly."

"You used a pair of wardrobe scissors to cut my dress..." she stammered.

"Are you asking me if I've done that before?" he said, with amusement, enjoying the turn of the conversation.

"Uh..." she blushed again. "And you had me against the wall, and were doing me from behind... then in front... then... you get the idea."

Winking at her he leaned over her to pull open his bedside drawer. He rooted around in his drawer for a moment. Then he pulled out a king size container of Reeses' peanut butter cups. Opening the foil on one, he ate it slowly. Then he offered her one.

"Oh, I thought you were getting those scissors." she laughed nervously.

"This conversation is making me hungry" he teased. "Like I'm Edward Scissorhands or something. I only have boring things in there. The fun stuff is in my top drawer..."

Still he held one out to her, as he licks chocolate off his fingers. She took a candy, and ate it slowly. Then she gasped as he licked his middle finger inadvertantly.

"This are a terribly guilty pleasure. They are definitely not on my diet, but occasionally, I splurge."

"There you ARE a human being," she laughed. "And I admire the fact you do it without lipo! The plastic surgery on the face is one thing, but sucking out fat cells, that is where I draw the line... Chad would never let me do this."

He grinned at her, with her fingers in her mouth momentarily, "Trust me, I've fought the battle of the bulge my whole life. Even when it didn't look like it, I was still fighting it."

"I have fought with weight issues my whole life too," she sighed.

"My ex wouldn't let me do this either. I keep telling myself, one more tour and I'm going to buy me that house in nowhereville, so I can stop shaving and start eating. I'll look like friggin' HAGRID." he laughed. "Sorry.....took Evan to see Harry Potter."

"I LOVE harry potter!" she laughed. "I want my daughter to see it, when she's old enough... but she's only 3."

"That's going to be ME!" he laughed in delight, "That big hairy guy."

"I have the books for her when she gets older... and by the time the LAST book comes out she'll be old enough to start the first...'

Enjoying her laughter, Paul impulsively leaned down and kissed her firmly. He tasted of chocolate. She moaned softly, falling into the kiss. She stroked his hair, then rubbed up and down, feeling his hair and the contours of his muscular chest. He enjoyed her getting bolder.

"We can stop any time," he whispered as they pulled apart for a moment. "I just wanted you to know that."

"I know," she whispered. "I appreciate it. It's been so long since a man kissed me like that... and made me feel special."

He moved the package of candy off his lap and put them quickly on the table next to him. Softly he sighed, "You are incredibly special to me."

"And you're even more special then I ever could have hoped," she murmured. "I think it was fate I ended up in your backyard..."

"Even if you almost ended up as Buster chow" he teased as he kissed her lightly.

"HE smelled Rusty. He knew I was a dog person," she laughed, thinking of her dog who was curled up downstairs on his cushion by Bogie. "Rusty and Bogie get along..."

"Bogie's a big goofball. He gets along with everyone.....except Buster, that is."

She laughed again and kissed his ear softly, taking his earring in her mouth and sucking on it. He chuckled a bit and wound his arms around her, feeling the sheerness of her nightgown. He moved his hands up and down her back. Sighing deeply through the embrace, she rubbed his chest, then downwards further.

"No fair!" he pouted. "When's my turn?"

Taking his hand she put it tentatively on her chest. She whispered into his ear, "You can touch me here you know..."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I want to know how it feels... for a real man to touch me there."

He took his index finger and traces it in a circular motion around her breast. Intently he looked at her body through the nightgown, as if in awe. She looked up at him, panting with desire, and then thought of Chad's fumbling hands squeezing her. He continued to trace along her chest to the other side. She could see him intently watching her growing excitement with his dark eyes.

"You are worth the time," he whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered back, tracing his lips with hers, and laying her head on his chest again.

"But let me tell you, it's going to be damn hard," he smiled.

"I know but I appreciate it,' she whispered.

"Tell me what you like. Can you do that?" he panted in her ear.

"I like being touched," she whispered. "And I like being touched softly all over... something he never got..."

"Ticklish?" he teased, as he lightly shivered her with his fingers.

She giggled, "I love that..."

He moved down her back to her rear end and slowly ran his fingers along the contours. She reached down between the bed and gently squeezes his behind, before pulling her hand back with a shy look. She apologized, "I couldn't resist. It feels so good."

"You don't have to be afraid to try anything, baby," he cooed in her ear. "There's nothing you can do that won't totally turn me on."

She returned her hand to the Southern Hemisphere, stroking his rear and rubbing his back with a vigorous massaging motion. "Feels sinful," he sighed as he closed his eyes, "Just to have you touch me.....delicious."

"I love touching you..." she said, rubbing his thighs.

"Aha, now she's getting serious!" he smiled, as he allowed his hands to roam lower, caressing her stomach lightly. As he was doing this, he lowered himself slightly to take a nipple lightly in his mouth through the sheer fabric. She sighed deeply, and kissed his neck. He pulled back a bit and ran his tongue lightly along it.

"Don't suppose a poor fellow such as myself could convince you to take off your nightgown in exchange for a piece of candy, could he?"

She laughed, "You don't want to be the only bare chested one around her do you?" she joked. Slowly he slid her strap down her arm.

"Just for that, I'm putting my shirt back on," he teased, with his famous pout.

"No you DON'T!" she pouted, slipping her other strap down.

"About time I started catching some breaks," he says as he pulled her hips closer to his. Leaning against her he lowered her gradually to the bed. Under her the mattress was firm and comfortable, as she was sandwiched between it and his muscular body.

"Too much weight on you?" he whispered.

"No I'm fine," she whispered. "Besides, I'm not exactly... a skinny little thing."

"Mmmmmmmmm, more than fine," he moaned softly. She sighed deeply and rubs his back. Then she ran her hands down his spine, kneading along his shoulderblades to his rear again. He took his hand and slowly moves it lower, reaching the elastic on her panties. Sliding his finger underneath, delicately tracing there.

She reached a bit teasingly into his boxer shorts to rub his backside. Playing with her elastic, he tugged the nightgown off while leaning up a bit.

He gently moves up from her underwear, bringing her nightgown with her. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her close to him, his body hair tickling her bared chest.

"Your skin feels so good next to mine," she sighed after he does that. He moaned audibly as he leans down again to kiss her neck.

"This is going to be amazing" he whispered into her ear. She felt his lovegun hardening as it pressed against her thigh. His breath quickened as he began to tickle down her waist.

"Oh god," she moaned, whimpering at how good his hands felt on her.

"Unless you want me to stop... to wait..." he whispered soberly.

"I want you so badly," she cried, tears in her eyes. "But I don't know if I can..."

"Relax," Paul whispered, pulling his hand away. "Oh damn I know I shouldn't..."

"You're all aroused and I'm a cold fish," she sighed.

"You are NOT!" he gritted, feeling the hardening of his desire. "I don't want to push you! You are in control. You do whatever you want..."

Slowly she reached her hand inside his boxer shorts, feeling him for the first time. Paul shut his eyes in desire, moaning as she slowly kneaded and massaged him intimately. Taking his other hand, she put it where he had in the dream, nodding. How good he felt when he was inserting those long fingers into her, feasting his eyes on her nude body for the first time. Still she was half shrouded by blankets as he was, to his waist.

Paul leaned over and kissed her, shifting his boxers down with one hand. He thrust his tongue between her lips and massaged her pleasure center harder. She whimpered through the kiss, rubbing and squeezing him harder and harder. Cupping her hands around him, she made a soft pocket for his lovegun.

"I'm sorry I'm not ready yet," she whispered.

"Shh, don't spoil it, this feels WONDERFUL," he moaned.

"When you... come..."

"Shh..." he urged, kissing her passionately. She whimpered and moaned through the kiss again, her hands vigorously stroking harder and harder as Paul pounded into them, leaning over her as if he were making love to her for real. Sweat dripped off his glorious body onto hers, and she closed her eyes to hear the sounds of his passionate cries. His fingers wrung her own orgasm, spreading like an expanding wave of fire throughout every cell of her body. Again, he worked her to a second, before he let out a gasp and froze stiffly into her grasp. Warm wetness cascaded onto her belly, and she was amazed at his cry. Arching over her, he finally lay down across her with his solid weight again. For a time they lay together, locked in a mutual embrace of warmth and comfort. Still Julia did not know if she was ready to feel him inside her, for it meant crossing a chasm that she was afraid she would fall into.

Paul's breathing rasped in and out, and she felt his head lying on her shoulder, his body pressing her down. She whispered into his ear and kissed; suddenly realizing his eyes were shut. Shifting under him, she realized he was fast asleep. She just managed to slide out from under him enough so she could pillow his head on her chest, and breath a bit easier so she wouldn't be crushed.

Despite herself, she could not resist falling into exhausted sleep. Everything seemed to assure her she would be all right, that he wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't' want to do. How badly she ached for him to be inside her, but something told her she had to wait. Just why she felt the need to stifle this impulse she didn't know, but she guessed it was far better to grow accustomed to him more slowly. Safe and secure she slept soundly.