Author's note: for the romantics, I am sorry, this is supposed to be saucy.

"Sir?" Barbara said as she cracked open the door.

He held up the book. "May I come in?"

She opened the door and stepped back. She had not expected him at this hour. She was still in her pyjamas, the ones with baby polar bears frolicking in Christmas hats, and wished she had not dithered about having her shower. "Sure."

"What happened to Tommy?"

"Huh? You're standing here. In my lounge room. At six in the morning."

Tommy opened the book and pointed to her inscription. "Tommy... you can't deny it."

She shook her head. "I don't deny it."

"Why did you send me this book?"

She looked at the floor. "I... I found it... interesting. I thought you might too. It's quite popular."

"It was very easy to read."

"Yeah."

He gave her a sly grin. "Surprisingly graphic sex scenes."

Barbara's neck went red. "You could have skipped over those."

"No, I couldn't. I... found them quite... realistic."

"Mmm." Barbara heard her voice squeak at least an octave higher than normal.

"Very vivid. I felt the desire, the jealousy."

She looked up at him, trying to read his eyes. For once, they were inscrutable. "Did you?"

"Is that what you wanted me to feel?"

Barbara smiled briefly then shrugged. "I... Yes, I guess so."

"Yours or mine?"

"Sorry?"

"Were you trying to make me aware of my jealousy, or telling me about yours?"

That was direct. Did he know? She shrugged but said nothing.

Tommy stepped closer. "Bernadette and Tobias. Funny that they should have our initials."

Barbara started at him. She felt her face begin to colour brightly. "Yes, quite a coincidence."

"Like the shower scene? You wanted me to read about that, didn't you... Tobias?"

He had clearly worked it out, but he would have to spell it out before she said anything. "Yes."

"Is that how you felt at Cambridge?"

"In some ways."

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you. I... it wasn't done to tease you. It... Did you... like what you saw?"

Barbara felt a surge of anger. He had known at the time. He must have. "You know I did."

"And Tobias' jealousy when Bernadette danced with others? And her jealousy when he started dating. They were all messages?" Tommy stepped closer. He was now only inches from her.

"I..." She shrugged again.

"But what were you trying to say?"

"I dunno. I was just being silly."

"That's a dangerous game, Barbara." He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Do you know how I reacted to the thought of you watching me shower? Maybe to the memory of it."

"No, how could I?"

"It made me hard."

"Oh!" She knew her eyes went wide.

He gave her a saucy grin. "Rock hard. Thinking about being naked in front of you. Imagining your eyes if I had dropped that towel."

"I would have shut them."

"Would you? What if I had walked over while you were sitting there. Wouldn't you have been tempted?"

Barbara swallowed quickly. "To do what?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

"No! Why are you here? Just to tell me some book titillated you?"

Tommy took a step back and held up the book. "No. To tell you that I was impressed with this debut novel. The characters are surprisingly realistic. I feel as if I know them well. This Ashley Barber is a very talented writer."

"Not really, but it was a good yarn."

"I thought that at first, but then it dawned on me..."

Barbara moved behind her couch and looked anywhere but at him. "What dawned on you?"

"That there was no caravan scene. None of Tobias' underwear in his cutlery drawer."

She looked up at him. "Ah..."

"Where did you learn to write like that?"

"I always could. I just... needed the inspiration."

"And what motivated you now?"

"You left me. I... was devastated and then I knew for sure. I had to tell someone, even if they never knew me, or you, or anything else."

"Your new army of fans may disagree, but you should have told me."

Barbara shook her head. "No. How could I? This feels bad enough."

"Bad?"

"Awkward."

"What if I go first?"

"With what?"

"Saying it. I love you, Barbara."

"Are you sure your not just aroused?" She had watched his fly since he had admitted the shower scene aroused him. His trousers were not straining, but they were tighter than normal.

"I am, partly, I admit that. Reading those scenes, well... this is not the way I would usually phrase it, but I freely admit that I want to fuck you, Barbara. Fast, hard and furiously. But more than that, want to make love to you. Slowly. Tenderly. For ever."

Barbara's knees went rubbery. She had to sit. Holding the couch for support she edged around it and sat. She had to clamp her thighs shut by crossing her legs. "I..."

Tommy knelt in front of her and took her hands. "Why did you write the book?"

"To get it out of my system."

"Did it work?"

"No."

"And why did you send it to me?"

"I... wanted you to guess. To know."

"And what did you want me to do about it?"

"Understand."

"That you're scared?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"And what else?"

"That I love you." His smile made her heart skip two beats then race to catch up. Barbara reached out and stroked his face. "I wanted you to come over. I dunno - confess your undying love. Race me to the bedroom... No, I don't think I expected anything in particular really. I didn't really think you would..."

Tommy moved closer. "What?"

"Want me."

Tommy leant forward and kissed her forehead. "I want you with every breath I take. Every thought I have."

Barbara frowned. "Did the shower scene really make you hard?"

Tommy moved back onto his heels and smiled. "Talk about kill the romance. This isn't just about sex, Barbara."

"I know, but... as a writer... it's nice to know that I can... affect people."

Tommy laughed softly. "I can't speak for people, but yes, it affected me. In the scene where Tobias imagined stripping off Bernadette's dress, it affected me a lot. I was imagining doing that to you. That dress your wore at Howenstowe. I was behind you. I kissed your back. All the way down your spine. I undid your bra. I had your breasts, full and heavy in my hands. You sighed as I nibbled your skin just here." He ran his fingertip down her neck and stopped at the junction of her shoulder.

Tommy leant over and kissed the spot beside his finger. Barbara groaned softly as she felt blood surging towards her groin. "Mmm, yes, just like that. Then you leant forward so that your bum brushed me. I nestled my cock against you. You had on these skimpy lacy knickers, but..."

"Mmm?"

"I tore them off you."

"Oh!"

"Are you shocked?"

"Yes, a bit." He smiled at her in a totally new, devilish way. It made her want him immediately. Hard and fast as he had said.

Tommy tilted his head to one side. "Why?"

Barbara closed her eyes. If she kept watching him, she would pull him into the couch with her. She wanted the inevitable, but she had hoped it would be more romantic. At least the first time. "Who am I kidding?"

Tommy chuckled. "What?"

"Nothing. Tell me... How?"

"You opened your stance and leant forward a little more. You wanted me. You were hot... and wet... and when I plunged into you, you were wonderfully tight."

"Tommy!"

"You asked. And you wrote about Tobias stroking himself."

She nodded. "Did you?"

"Yes. Furiously. To climax. I wanted to be inside you. I wanted to feel your muscles clench around me. I wasn't selfish. I made sure you came first, but when I did... it was better than real sex with someone I don't love."

"Real sex with someone you do love might not live up to your expectations."

"It will surpass them."

"How do you know?"

Tommy moved closer. "Because I am going to spend the day finding out exactly how to drive you wild."

"What happened to romance?"

"I will do it slowly."

"What if I want fast and furious?"

"Your wish is my command."

Barbara laughed. "I need a shower. I was going to have one when you arrived."

"We can do that."

"We?"

"We can take a shower."

"Naked?"

"I find it is a more efficient way to shower than clothed."

Barbara laughed nervously. "Are we moving too fast? You haven't even kissed me."

"I will, but if I do, we won't move from this couch will we?"

Barbara shook her head. "No."

Tommy stood and held out his hand. "Let's shower."

It was hard to believe that he had suggested that, but as she stood and accepted his hand, Tommy promised himself that she would climax at least twice before he did. He had every intention of being romantic and slow. Barbara deserved that, but he sensed he was going to have to first show her that her sexuality was not something to be ashamed of.

He stepped forward so that their bodies touched. She instantly pulled away from him when his erection brushed her abdomen. He pulled her back. "Are you scared?"

"A bit."

"Don't be scared of me. I would never hurt you. Never rush you."

"I'm not scared of you. I'm frightened about... my passions."

He smiled. "I think you will find a satisfactory outlet for them."

As she smiled, he bent down and kissed her. Both of them pressed their bodies firmly against the other. They exchanged a series of small kisses. "I love you," he reassured her.

"Me too."

As he was about to suggest they move to the bathroom when her tongue slipped into his open mouth. He groaned with the delight of her rolling her tongue around his mouth. His tongue trapped hers, then began to caress it. Barbara tugged at his shirt and ran her hands up his back.

He broke away. "We should slow down. I want to watch you shower."

She gave him a wicked smile. "That's kinda kinky."

"Is it? Let's find out."

Barbara took his hand and led him through her bedroom to her bathroom. Her double bed was neatly made. That would not last long. Her shower was perfect. It was over the bath and encumbered only by a curtain and not glass.

"Do you take my clothes off or me?" she asked.

"You. I want to watch."

Barbara slowly undid the buttons on her pyjamas until the top hung loosely from her shoulder. Tommy could see the barest glimpse of her left breast with her hard rosy nipple holding the cloth away from the skin. He could also see how nervous she was, and how her hands moved to cover tint white scars. Tommy wanted to find a way to let her know they were not ugly to him without actually mentioning them.

"No, on second thoughts, let me." He pushed the playful polar bears off her shoulders. The shirt fell to the floor, and he kicked it away. "You're beautiful."

"You're blind."

He laughed. Although he wanted to cup those breasts and play, he bent and kissed each nipple. Barbara shivered. He knelt and reached up to kiss them again. As he did, he grabbed the legs of her pyjamas and pulled hard. They slid down to her knees.

"Tommy!" Her shock was underlined by a groan of approval.

"I have 20/20 vision and a lovely vista." He kissed her stomach in random places, making sure he kissed some of her scars. She giggled when he ran his tongue around the rim of her navel, but it became a groan as he pressed hard into it with his tongue before kissing a line down to the top of her curls. He stood. "Now, let me watch you shower."

Barbara's body flushed. It seemed to creep up from her feet. Tommy unbuttoned his shirt as he kicked off his shoes. Stepping on the toe of his sock, he pulled his foot free, then repeated it with the other foot. His eyes never left Barbara as she stepped into the bath.

She went to pull the curtain. "No, don't. I want to watch, remember?"

"I thought you'd watch from in here."

Tommy tore at his belt. The damned thing caught on the belt loop of his trousers. "Grrrrr!"

It cane free and he let his trousers fall. His trunks bulged and he let Barbara's eyes linger a moment. She licked her lips. It was an unconscious action, but it made his cock twitch. Barbara grunted. His thumbs pushed under the elastic of his trunks. He smiled as he pushed them down, letting his cock spring free.

"Oh hell, yes."

"So, you approve?"

"He's... just as I imagined."

"Really? Did you think about him often?"

She nodded as she turned on the water. "Far more than was good for me."

"I think he will be very good for you."

She splashed him. "Not if you don't get in here."

Tommy did not require a second invitation. He stepped into the bath and wrapped his arms around her. His cock nudged the place that he had fantasised about.

"Already?" she asked. "I thought I was showering for you."

With his hands on her waist he turned her gently. "You are. I just wanted to remind you to save water..."

Barbara laughed. The red hue of her skin faded as she looked into his eyes. "We're mad."

"For each other. Here's your soap."

Tommy sat on the ledge at the end of her bath. Barbara turned away from him and stood under the water and let it run over her. She ran her hands across her wet hair, plastering it to her head. Tommy studied her back. It was smooth and marked only with a few moles and blemishes. He started to mentally map each one. She lifted her right arm and soaped it and her armpit, then mirrored her actions on the left. She rubbed the lather around her neck, then turned to face him. With a sly smile, she rubbed the slippery soap down between her breasts then circled them, slowly working t onwards her rocklike nipples. Her hand moved across the triangle of skin from her waist to her groin. Her body shone in the light.

His balls clenched so tightly that they ached. She was watching his reaction and he was pleased that his body was showing off. He smiled then made a loose fist around his shaft. He pulled the skin down so that the purple head stood proudly above his hand. Her eyes zoomed in on his hand. He stroked himself three or four times until her eyes looked alarmed. He laughed and let go. "Don't worry, he's all yours."

Barbara nodded then lifted one leg onto the rim of the bath giving him his first glimpse of paradise. He groaned as he watched her soap her leg and foot. She turned to lift the other one. He knew she was teasing him when she bent slightly forward with her legs spread just enough for him to see how she was already red and swollen and ready.

"Oh, Barbara." Tommy stood moved behind her. He nudged his cock against her. She wriggled, clearly expecting him to enter her. He put his hands on her hips and stopped her moving back. "Not yet."

"This is torture, Tommy."

He pulled away and let her stand. "As It should be. Pass me the soap."

He soaped her back, and massaged her as he washed it off slowly. He reached between her legs making sure only the soap and not his hand touched her. Barbara groaned and put her hand on the wall.

He put the soap down, then returned with his hand. Carefully, he washed the soap from her. Beside the soap, there was a thicker slipperiness. "Do you want me?" he asked as he began to nuzzle her neck.

"Yes!" Her head came back against his shoulder.

"How much?" His hand ceased to cleanse and began to explore.

"We should move to my bedroom."

Tommy pressed his cock against her hip. "No, we should stay here."

"Oh, good... ah..." Tommy had found his target. He circled it slowly with the pad of his forefinger. Barbara's breathing became heavier.

"You're gloriously wet."

"We're... standing... under... a shower."

"Not in here." He slid the middle finger of his other hand inside her. Barbara jumped and nearly slipped on the wet floor of the tub. "Oh, yes. So wet... so hot... so cosy... I want to be in there so badly." He rocked against her hip.

"Oh... good... fuck."

"Is it? Am I turning you on?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to come hard for me?"

"I... want you... inside me."

"Oh, I will be, but not yet." He continued to circle the hard nub of her clit as he eased his finger in and out. "My cock..." He pushed his finger in further. "Is longer... and thicker." Barbara began to arch her back and push her hips forward. "That's it. All those fantasies... and now... these ARE my fingers. That IS my cock digging into you. This is me kissing you."

Tommy found her mouth. Open to breathe, he covered it with his, and quickly found her tongue. They kissed hard as he brought her to within a hair of release before backing off. Twice he teased her this way until,he misjudged it. As he forced his finger deeper and bumped over her womb, Barbara pulled her head away. She jerked against his other hand and began to moan in a loud continuous sound that morphed into a howl.

Tommy rubbed his cock against her hip. He wanted to come too, but he had promised himself it would be two to one. "I love you," he whispered into her ear.

"Oh... sh... eeeeeeeee!" Her pussy gripped his finger like a vice.

Barbara panted loudly. She rested her head against Tommy's chest. "That was..."

"It was," he agreed.

"Your turn?"

"Not yet."

"Oh, I think it is." Before he could protest, Barbara had grabbed his cock and began to strum it. "Oh, yes. He's so hard... and hot... and..."

"And?"

Barbara needed to feel him inside her, but her pussy was still recovering. Holding him firm, she sunk to her knees and guided him into her mouth.

"Barbara!" Tommy tried to pull away, but her hand closed around his balls. He stopped wriggling. "Oh, Barbara."