She is eating toast and drinking spiked coffee, staring at maybe the most beautiful man she's ever laid eyes on. The fact that she saw him naked not long ago (and the fact that the view had been really, really unforgettable) isn't helping break the spell. He's telling her a story about him and Miles as kids, and at first she listens. Bass is funny and he tells a good story. But after a while, she loses track of what he's saying and finds herself just staring at his mouth. She likes the way it moves when he talks. She thinks she'd like to know what else he can do with it.

He's rambling and he knows it but he's pretty sure she's not paying attention anyway. She is sipping her coffee and just watching him. He feels a quickening in his gut, a stirring in his balls. Damnit Miles, why does she have to be your niece? He thinks absently. She's looking at him again and he has to admit he's as confused as he is aroused. Does she want him or not? She had better not be a cock tease. He's too old for that shit. He'll just go home to Philly and not look back. She's staring at his mouth now, eyes all hazy and pupils a little dilated. Damn.

"You need to stop that." His voice is lower suddenly, and the change in tone brings her out of her daydream. She lifts her gaze to his eyes and her heart begins to pound. His blue eyes are charged with desire and also with uncertainty.

"Stop what?" she asks nervously, licking her bottom lip.

He groans, "Stop looking at me like I'm on your menu. That's what. You were doing that last night too at the party."

She raises an eye brow in question, "I was under the impression that you weren't opposed to being on my menu. Not even an hour ago, you were ready to…"

He cuts her off, "An hour ago I didn't know who you were."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You are Miles' niece. I can't fuck Miles' niece." He sounds like he's trying to convince himself that this is true. "Besides, an hour ago when I didn't know who you were, but wanted very badly to have some fun – you ran off like a nervous schoolgirl."

Carefully she puts down her now empty mug. She stands, pushing that errant bra strap over her shoulder and walks around the island to stand in front of Bass. She is so close, he can feel her breath on his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt, but she doesn't touch him. "I am not a schoolgirl." She says simply. Then she stands tall on her tip toes and presses her lips against his. He doesn't respond, but he doesn't pull away either. He's suddenly very curious to see where she's planning to take this. She places her lips close to his. "I wasn't nervous. I was surprised. See the difference?" He nods ever so slightly. Then she's kissing him again. It's soft and light and curious. She opens her mouth and very lightly licks his lips, pressing at the seam, searching for entrance.

He can't take any more of this. Screw Miles. Bass puts his hands on her shoulders and pulls her to him, their bodies flush with each other, he responds to the kiss. Deepening it. Expanding it. He is in charge now. He angles his mouth over hers, searching her depths. This isn't light and sweet anymore. He can taste coffee and butter and just a hint of whiskey. She smells like vanilla and every time her tongue slides next to his, his pants feel tighter. Bass moves his hands down her back, until he reaches her ass, cupping the cheeks and pulling her even closer.

Her hands are at the nape of his neck and she is playing with some curls there, when he roughly pulls her against him and she feels how hard he is. She groans into the kiss and their mouths break apart. They are both breathing heavily. Her hands lower to his chest and she can feel that his heart is beating as fast as hers. Her eyes rise to meet his and the heat there stirs her further. He doesn't even need to say anything, just looks at her with a question in his eyes. She nods and he immediately begins to kiss her again, pushing his fingertips under her tank top and it's off and landing on the microwave, and his mouth is on her throat and she begins to pull at his tee shirt and it's off too. He has two tattoos. One she'd noticed earlier, a big "M" on the inside of his left arm. On the right side of his torso, trailing from his ribcage down to his waistband is another. It is a series of hash-marks. She starts to ask what they mean, but he stops her with his lips.

He can tell she wants to ask him something, but he doesn't want to talk. He wants to bury himself inside her heat and with that in mind, he reaches for her shorts and deftly unbuttons them, sliding the denim down over slim hips, revealing the tiniest, sexiest black panties he's ever seen and an elaborate tattoo of orchids over one hip. "Jesus you are beautiful." He whispers against her ear. She purrs against him like a cat, reaching for his waistband with her fingers. He leaves her to it, watching as she works the button and zipper and then as she carefully eases the jeans down – finally giving his throbbing dick the space it needs to grow. He is kissing her again, her lips are like a magnet and he can't get enough of her. His hand moves down, covering her mound and pushing aside the black fabric, taking note of just how very wet it is. He pushes it aside and begins to explore her slick folds. Sliding first one finger and then a second into her tight center, she cries out and he smiles against her mouth as he begins to work in and out, rubbing and stroking. He bends his fingers and changes the angle and he finds that special spot and she begins to quake as he coaxes her to completion. She doesn't last long, collapsing against him as she comes, gripping his shoulders, digging into his skin. That will leave marks, but he does not care.

Oh God how does he know exactly where to touch her? She's never come so fast or so hard. He has magic fingers. She's coming down from the high of the orgasm and she opens her eyes to look at him. His expression says he's just getting started, and she moans in anticipation. He starts kissing her again, reaching down to work her panties over her hips and they puddle at her feet. Then, as if she weighs nothing at all, he lifts her up onto the kitchen island, pushing a bowl of fruit to the floor to make room. She can hear the bounces of apples and oranges and the clang of the bowl but she only sees him. He pulls her close to the edge. She tries to wrap her legs around him, but he just shakes his head. Pushing her gently onto her back, he puts a hand on each knee and presses them apart. She's up on her elbows, watching him as he makes his way down...

He maintains eye contact, seeing her eyes grow large as he bends and begins to lick and suck at her clit. God she tastes good. His fingers are in her again, stroking her still swollen sex – getting her ready for him and she is ready. She's dripping with it. He stands tall again, pulling on her hands so that she is once again sitting up. She scoots to the edge of the granite surface. This time when she wraps her legs around him, he doesn't stop her. Instead he leans in close and puts his mouth on hers again. The kiss is urgent and filled with need. Both are almost desperate for what's coming next and without further hesitation, he strokes his rigid cock up and down her wet folds. Sure that she is ready, he thrusts into her smoothly. She cries out and he moans. She is so tight. Oh my God she is tight. He can't even think straight. He pulls out almost all the way and pushes back in. He wants to go balls deep but she's so fucking tight. "Am I hurting you?" She shakes her head no, and he crashes his mouth onto hers, once again pulling out before slamming into her deeper still. It takes him a few more thrusts before he's all in. He pauses, panting, "Are you okay?" he asks.

He's deep inside her and for the moment he's still. His forehead is pressed against hers, and he's asked if she's all right. She is shaking and can't speak, but nods. He asks, "Are you ready for more?" Again she can only nod. With that, he begins to move again, thrusting and retreating over and over. His tempo is building and soon the sound of skin slapping against skin fills the kitchen. She can't believe how amazing it feels to be filled like this. Nothing ever prepared her for this experience. She doesn't want it to end. Rolling her hips up to match his rhythm, she brings him even deeper. She can feel him slamming into her cervix with each thrust. She is going to be so sore tomorrow, but right now she does not care. She feels an orgasm building, and she lets it come.

Her walls begin to contract around his dick and he moans heavily. He can feel that he's almost there and he cries out, "Charlie, I'm gonna come." He warns her, trying to pull out, but she clamps her legs tight and buries her heels into his ass.

She can't bear to lose that feeling yet. She wants him to stay inside her. She wants to feel him shooting his seed into her core. "On the pill." She moans out and with that she feels him give in and he spasms into her, her core still contracting; she milks him dry. He collapses into her and they both just stay put – sweaty and satisfied as their breathing steadies and levels out. Eventually, Bass lifts himself from her frame, pulling out of her gently. Their eyes lock and he leans in to kiss her again. It's a deep kiss. It says without words what they are both feeling.

This wasn't a one-time thing.

They locate clothing that has been tossed all over. They pick up the bowl and all the fruit and rearrange the counter. They put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. They don't say anything for the longest time, but they can't seem to stop looking into each other's eyes.

That was amazing. She is amazing. He can't put his finger on what makes her different, but she is. Their eyes meet over and over as they straighten up the kitchen in silence. He feels like there is an entire conversation going on – but without words. There is no way he's leaving for Philly until he's done exploring every inch of her body. If it takes the full three weeks while Miles is gone, so be it.

She's so used to wanting to run away right after sex, that it takes her by surprise that all she wants to do is curl up with Bass and do anything or nothing as long as she can be with him. She's startled by this because for so long she's wanted only solitude and that included after whatever brief (and they were always brief) encounter she may have had with a guy. Nothing about sex with Bass had been brief. He had been thorough and detailed and amazing. She bends to pick up an apple, and she feels some of his come slipping out of her pussy, making her wet panties even wetter. It's a strange feeling, but she likes it. She likes this tangible reminder of having him buried deep inside her. She doesn't know why she feels differently about him, but she knows she's going to want to do THAT again. And again. And again.

Later they find themselves on the sofa, watching old movies and making fun of stupid plot twists, bad acting and fake accents. "That guy is an idiot," Bass chuckles, pointing at the big screen across the room. Charlie is laughing, "Yeah he's a real Paddy O'DipShit."

Bass sits up straight, "You gave him a 'Mick-Name'!" He's grinning at her. "Did Miles teach you that?"

"Yeah, when I was a kid. He would take me to Cubs games and we'd people watch and give them to everyone. You know that game too?"

"Know it? I invented it! I was maybe fourteen, and my kid sisters and I were at a St Patrick's Day parade and we were waiting for things to pick up and the girls were getting restless so I made that game up for them. It was fun. Later I did it with Miles. Hell we've been giving people Mick Names for years." Bass is smiling at his memories.

"I gave you one, you know – at the wedding."

"Yeah? What was it?"

"Broody McSexPot." She chuckles, "Because you know, you were all frowny but dead sexy at the same time."

"Oh yeah?", he grabs her hand and pulls her into his lap, nuzzling her neck. "I gave you one too."

"No you didn't?"

"Yes Hottie O'StaresALot, I certainly did."

They are both laughing and he leans in and kisses her and the world contracts and they are focused only on each other.

An hour later, they are lying on the floor in front of the sofa, naked and out of breath. She smiles at him and he's smiling back. God he is unbelievable. She rolls up to lean on her elbow, looking down at him. "Tell me about your family. You mentioned sisters. What are they doing now?" She is just making conversation, but she swiftly realizes she's said something wrong. His face goes cold, the light in his eyes dims, his smile fades into a thin line.

"I don't talk about my family." He says simply, standing he picks up his jeans and yanks them on commando. He doesn't look at her – just picks up the rest of his things and leaves the room.

He knew it was coming. It always comes. No matter who it is: a drinking buddy, a co-worker, a new lover… they always ask about his family or the war or both. They usually don't know what they are asking – Charlie certainly didn't, and he knows that he owes her an apology. She's a great girl and he doesn't want to hurt her, but he also doesn't want to talk about his sisters or any of the others he has lost. He has to think about it. He has to decide if he even can talk about it, and if he can, he has to decide if he wants to dredge that up. The answer, he's sure, will be no.

He gets his stuff from the room they had 'shared' the night before, as well as the few items he'd left in the bathroom. He takes these things down the hall to the other spare bedroom. It's smaller, but it will do. She probably won't want to see him after the way he just blew her off anyway. Damn. He really likes her. He needs to think about this.

She orders pizza, but he never comes back down. She eats a slice and then shoves what's left into the fridge. If he gets hungry it will be there for him. She's tired, but she knows she won't be able to sleep. She searches Miles' cupboards for liquor, cursing herself for not bringing any with her. Finally she finds two bottles of wine. It's not good enough, but maybe it will help a little. She takes both with her as she climbs the stairs. Settling in her room – which now seems empty and far too big without Bass in it; she pops the cork and takes a swig from the bottle.

She's almost done with the second one when she hears the knock. It is tentative, and obviously she knows it's him. Her heart jumps as he knocks again. "What do you want?"

He opens the door and peers inside the room sheepishly. Charlie is sitting on the bed, relaxed against the headboard - a wine bottle in her hand. She's wearing a baggy tee shirt and white cotton panties. She is obviously tipsy and not entirely happy to see him. "I said, what do you want?" Her voice is tinged with anger, but he can hear the hurt that lies just below the surface.

He crosses to the bed, sitting on its edge – not yet sure she'll allow him to get any closer, "I'm sorry." he whispers, reaching for her hand.

Why does her heart beat faster just at the sight of him? He's wearing loose cotton pajama pants and nothing else. He is beautiful and perfect and she's really mad at him. "Why are you sorry?" she whispers back. "Sorry for fucking me? Sorry for running away when I asked a question? Sorry for what exactly?"

"I'm sorry if I hurt you." He reaches out and tilts her chin high. "As long as I live, I will never be sorry I fucked you." He grins at her then. "Never."

He's charming and his grin is contagious. She smiles slowly, forgiving him the moment he leans in to kiss her. "Okay, you're sorry. I forgive you. What do you want?"

Bass runs a hand through his hair, unsure. "What I want, honestly?" she nods. "I want to sleep, and I haven't slept like I did last night in… years. May I," he pauses again, "May I sleep with you tonight? Just sleep?"

She sighs. "I slept last night too... and it was glorious." She pulls back the covers and he crawls in. She puts her wine bottle on the side table and without further discussion; they resume their positions from the night before. He's spooning her, holding her close when he falls asleep. She drifts off soon after.

They sleep, and it is glorious indeed.

Author's Note: I know that sounds like an ending, but there is more to this story so stay tuned. Review if you have a minute.