Marti stared across the table as she and Dennis ate dinner. The small talk was killing her and she wished he would just bring up the reason she agreed to meeting him for dinner. She had to know how he felt about thinking of a possible relationship.

"Dennis…" Marti said as she interrupted a sentence in which he was discussing a colleague of his. "I really would like to know if you thought about it…"

"Of course. I guess I was just trying to avoid the issue, but I suppose it's time to stop avoiding it and face it head on." he said as he raised his wine glass to his face and took two huge gulp of the burgundy liquid.

"Dennis, I know this is inappropriate in other people's eyes, but if we feel it's right, then it shouldn't matter what everyone thinks."

"That's not it, Marti." Dennis said as he set the glass of wine down. "You're sweet and kind and trusting and people would take advantage of that."

"Like Kent? Look, I'm not stressing over what he said. He's an ass, but I know most of your co-workers would think the same way about our relationship. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's totally a pervert. I know you don't think the way he does.

"You don't know for sure. I'm not going to lie…there really isn't that much difference between Kent and I. I've thought about sleeping with you so many times, I feel so dirty being in the same room with you knowing what I think about you."

"Well, what if I wanted you to act on your thoughts? I mean, what's stopping you from doing it, now? We're alone…having a nice candle-lit dinner together…"

"My morals. That's what's stopping me. Look, after the gallery opening party, if I didn't stop myself, I would have had sex with you in the limo, but…"

"You're not listening to me, Dennis. I wanted you to. I wanted you to touch me and kiss me and fuck me in that limo. And you wanted to…I could tell." Marti said as she leaned forward and stared into his eyes. Dennis shifted, uncomfortably, in his chair. "I know you think you would be taking advantage of me, but you wouldn't if I wanted it."

"You don't know what you're saying. You think you want this because I'm being nice to you. Because I buy you things and treat you differently than I treat my daughters and differently than how George treats you. That's the biggest mistake you can make."

"Where is the mistake in being attracted to you? You're attractive, smart, and funny…"

"Marti, I'm your step-sisters' father, and, honestly, I think you're doing this to spite Derek and Casey for their relationship." he said and Marti felt as if he physically struck her.

"That is not true!" she screamed and Dennis looked a little guilty for upsetting her. Marti felt as if he betrayed her. It wasn't true that she was doing this to spite Derek and Casey…at least, she didn't think it was.

"Look, whether it was your intention or not…I feel you're only doing this to show Casey and Derek up. Everyone is taking their relationship hard. You think I like the fact that my daughter is dating her step-brother? I don't."

"Then, why do I feel like I'm the only one that's hating this?" Marti said as she leaned back in her chair. "They weren't there when dad and Nora were arguing constantly. They just continued on as if they weren't tearing our family apart and I had to put on a good face for Simon. And Lizzie and Edwin weren't there either…I had to deal with this on my own. Why shouldn't I get the same happiness they had? Why can't I be with you?"

"Because it's basically the same thing as Casey and Derek's relationship. So much…I wanted to say that it isn't, but it is. If I could just push all the dirty thoughts of you out of my mind…if I could only just see you as a daughter figure in my life…I wouldn't feel so dirty spending time with you. But I don't. I'm sexually attracted to you."

"I'm sexually attracted to you…What's wrong with this?" Marti asked as she leaned forward. She was determined to get an answer out of him, because it seemed he was merely trying to justify why they shouldn't be together in vain. She could tell he really wanted her, but he was still trying to stop himself.

"After you asked me that first time, I was thinking over and over if you were doing this because I was spending money on you. I wanted to believe that I wasn't like Kent, but I'm exactly like him." Dennis said as he threw his napkin down on the table.

"You're not. If you were like him, you would have me on my knees blowing you, remember? I know you feel uncomfortable about this, but you have to understand that I think the same way you do. I want to show you how much I want you. You could be dirt poor and I would still want you. You didn't have to buy me things or take me to parties or take me on trips You didn't even have to do half of the things you do." Marti said as she got up from her chair and walked beside his chair. "I would want you no matter what…"

"Marti, what are you doing?" he said as he turned to stare at her with slight defeat in his eyes as she straddled him in his chair. "Marti…" he moaned out as she shifted and rubbed against his growing erection. The motion was an accident, but she loved hearing a low moan from him.

"Dennis, this is something I want…I want to do more than just spend time with you to make you happy. Can't you feel it? Can't you see how much I want you?"

"Marti, I see it, but we can't…" he sighed out as she rolled her hips against him. "Please stop doing that…" he begged as he stared up at her.

"I want you, Dennis. I never ask for any of the things you give me, but I'm asking for this."

"This is something I'm reluctant to give you…" he said before he let out a shaky breath. Marti bit her bottom lip as she moved against him with purpose. "Marti…" he moaned out and it sounded as if he had given up trying to stop her.

Suddenly, he wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed her neck. Something in him was unleashed and Marti knew it was the thing he's been trying to fight. He pulled her sweater over her head as she fumbled with the zipper on his pants. When he stopped her, she was confused.

"Wait…I have to get something first." he, weakly, said as he stared into her eyes. She stood up and allowed him to get up from the chair. He went into his bedroom and rummaged through his dresser drawers for something and she wondered what it was. She grabbed their glasses of wine and went into his room. She had seen his bedroom before, but never like this. She had taken naps in his bed, but he would usually be in his office.

"Dennis…" she said as she stood in the doorway and he stared at her with an intense look of lust in his eyes. "What is it you're looking for?"

"I…um…I'm looking for condoms." he said with an embarrassed look on his face that caused her to laugh a little.

"Why didn't you just tell me? Be right back…" she said as she went to the coat rack by the front door and grabbed her purse. She paused in the dining room to take off her jeans and grab the bottle of wine. When she returned, Dennis had polished off the wine that was in his glass. She pulled out a few packets of condoms from her purse.

"You came prepared…" Dennis said with a chuckle and Marti tossed him the packets.