Phoenix was sitting down on the couch in the office with his suit jacket wrapped around him, and Maya's legs were on top of his as she was lying down on the couch with a warm blanket wrapped around her. It was about 8:00 at night, and it was well under 50°, quite odd for the usually nice weather of Los Angeles.

Phoenix was reading a newspaper and drinking coffee while Maya was taking a short nap.

Maya woke up, started shivering, and complained, "Niiiiiiiiiick! It's sooooooo COLD in here! Is the heater even on?"

Phoenix looked up from his newspaper and answered, "Maya, you don't need to yell. I'm sitting right here next to you. And the heater is on full blast."

Maya whined again, "Well, why is it still COLD?! And why don't you seem cold?!"

Phoenix thought to himself, Because your legs on top of mine are warming me right up!

Maya pouted, snuggled up in the blanket, and closed her eyes. Phoenix lately had started to notice Maya more often, and noticed he wanted to be with her more. He looked over from his newspaper to stare intently at Maya. The 19 year old girl opened her eyes suddenly and turned to Phoenix.

"Nick, why are you staring at me like that?! It feels really creepy!"

Phoenix shook his head, turned a light shade of red, and apologized, "Sorry. I didn't even know I was doing that."

Maya thought as she turned over in the blanket again, Your staring at me is making me blush!, and turned a light shade of red. It's so hard liking you! Maya then just absolutely gave up trying to avoid him in that way since; after all, her legs WERE on top of his.

"Hey, Nick?"

Phoenix looked up from his newspaper once more and turned his attention to Maya.

"I'm going to head on upstairs and take a hot shower, kay?"

Maya quickly ran up the stairs with the blanket still wrapped around her to Phoenix's apartment upstairs.

Maya came back down to get her Steel Samurai manga immediately after she took the bath. Phoenix glanced at her for a second before doing a double take and almost spit out his coffee. Maya was wearing an extremely skimpy robe; the edge of it was way above her knees, and even though she was only 19, Phoenix noticed that Maya was developing curves in all the right places, Phoenix turned redder and redder as he imagined what WAS under her purple acolyte clothing...

No, Phoenix! Snap out of it! This can't be happening! He thought to himself as he shook his head vigorously.

Maya noticed and gave him a questioning look. She started walking towards him.

No, Maya! Don't come here! Nooooooo! Phoenix panicked.

"Umm, Nick? Is there something wrong?" Maya asked worriedly.

"Ha. Um, there's nothing wrong. Nothing. Ha ha," Phoenix responded quickly.

Maya shrugged it off and asked if he had seen her manga anywhere.

"I haven't seen it. Maybe you left it under the cushions of the couch or something," Phoenix said lazily.

Maya's eyes brightened and said, "Ah! Nick! Great idea! I think I DID leave it there!"

She then frantically started to look at the under the cushions, which needed her to bend over. Maya passed in front of Phoenix to check if the book was under his cushion or nearby. She stuck her hand in the back of one of the cushions near Phoenix, and Phoenix had a good look down her robe.

"HA! Found it! Thanks for the help, Nick! ... Huh?" Maya gave a questioning look at a tomato-red Phoenix. "You're all red! What's up with that?"

Phoenix turned even redder when he noticed how close Maya was to him in this form. Phoenix couldn't help but reach out and hold Maya. She yelped with surprise as Phoenix slowly started to pull her closer to him. Phoenix set Maya down on his lap.

Maya was wondering what Phoenix would do to her. She's never seen Phoenix act like this, and she was scared. She led her scared eyes to Phoenix's eyes and asked, "Wh-What a-are y-y-you g-gonna do t-to m-me?" Maya thought, I'm so scared, but... My heart's beating like crazy! Maya was sure Phoenix could hear her heart going b-bmp, b-bmp.

Phoenix was in a daze, feeling Maya so close to him. He realized the scared look in Maya's eyes, and realized he could feel her heartbeat going very rapidly, as well as his own. And then he realized that Maya asked him a question, and she was waiting for an answer. Instead of answering Maya with words, he gave her a kiss.=

He then lost complete control of his actions and started begging for more. He licked Maya's lips, asking for entrance. Maya jumped at the act and tried to pull away. They disconnected to get air. Maya could feel her heart beating at a thousand miles per second.

Maya gasped, "Phoenix? Wh-What's going on?"

Phoenix just responded, "Maya, I..." He shook his head and grabbed Maya for another kiss again. Phoenix licked Maya's lips once again asking for entrance, and Maya finally granted it. She opened her mouth a little wider and let Phoenix's tongue inside her mouth. She could literally feel him drinking out of her.

Maya had never felt anything like this before, and she was so scared and confused that she started shaking. It started out as a tremble, a shiver, and finally a very noticeable shake. Phoenix stopped kissing her to realize she was shaking in fear. He looked at her with soft eyes and gave her a warm hug. He put his mouth up to her ear and whispered oh so sweetly, "Maya? Just to let you know, I love you a lot. No, really, I do. I came to realize that... just moments ago. And, even if you don't love me back now, I'll wait for you. I'll wait for an eternity, or more. But... decide soon, okay? Sometimes waiting just doesn't work out for me."

He hugged her tighter, and rested his face on her shoulder. Phoenix felt Maya relax a bit and stop shaking. Her breathing slowed, and Maya returned the hug completely, smashing her face to Phoenix's chest.

Maya pulled away and grabbed Phoenix's hands, and started to cry. Between sobs, she said, "Nick. Of course I love you. I-I didn't know whether you li-liked me, s-s-so I tried to keep it normal, b-but I couldn't anymore. I had my legs on top of yours earlier, a-a-and... I-I'm cold, a-and..." Maya started crying harder. Phoenix hugged her once more and said softly, "Maya. Let's bring you upstairs where it's much warmer." He then carried Maya up the stairs, with Maya crying and wondering what Phoenix would do next.