A/N: I don't think I even have to say it. Rated M for sexuality…AGAIN. Enjoy!

Part I

Chapter Ten

More than Friends

Sam didn't realize that it would feel awkward to be near her after such an experience. But as he sat at the picnic table with his brothers and Alyssa he felt like everyone knew what they'd done. He stole a glance from her while everyone was busy eating. She smiled back coquettishly.

After the meal was done Sam's half brothers started chasing each other around George's yard. Sam rolled his eyes and smiled. "Mom, they're acting retarded again."

Robin giggled. "They're bored. Take them to the movies Sam."

"No." he answered back dryly.

Adam yelled a suggestion. "Goofy Movie!"

Ryan frowned. "Eww, that looks so stupid."

"Does not!" yelled Adam back. He pushed Ryan. But since Ryan was bigger and older it didn't really do much. Ryan proceeded to shove Adam to the ground. Adam burst into tears. "Jerk!" he yelled.

Sam walked over and scooped up Adam. "Enough. You should know better Ryan." Sam eyed his brother warily.

He swung Adam over his shoulder. Adam started flailing and screaming.

"Whoa, little man. Relax."

Ryan crossed his arms, his blond hair in blowing in the sea wind.

Sam patted Adam's small back gently. "Say you're sorry."

"He pushed me first!"

'I don't care. Say it or I swear to god I'll tell Peter you were the one threw his designer suit in that pool. "

"That was you!"

"Say it!"

'Sorry."

Sam lifted Adam from his shoulder and brought the six year olds face to his, eyes locked with his. "You okay?"

Adam smiled sweetly and brought his little hands up to Sam's hollow cheeks. "Thanks."

Sam beamed. 'Anytime little man." He lowered Adam to the ground.

George's truck was only meant to hold two people. There were no back seats. But somehow the four of them managed to squeeze into the front seats, Alyssa pushed up against the passenger door.

Adam suspected Sam had a thing for Alyssa. Unbeknownst to Sam he was watching them stare at each other with googly eyes. He was a bit jealous. He'd always admired his older brother and now that Sam was nicer, Adam didn't want to share him with anyone else.

"Does she have to come?" Adam whined.

"Definitely, now buckle up."

Of course as soon as they got there Sam and Alyssa realized the movie Adam wanted to see was midway through and the next showing was at 8, which was the children's bedtime. He gave them both money. "Go to the arcade."

They ran happily towards the flashing lights of the videogames.

"So I've been wanting to see Me, Myself, And Irene." Alyssa suggested.

"No." Sam kept an eye on Adam and Ryan.

"No?" She said sourly.

"Alyssa, I didn't bring you here to watch movies."

"So you got to a movie theatre and you don't actually see a movie?"

He looked at her. "So you get in the shower with a guy and expect nothing to happen?"

He smirked at her reaction.

"Shutup, Sam. It was stupid of me. I'm kinda new at the whole sex thing."

"You sure as hell don't act like it."

"Are you calling me a slut?" Her lips curled playfully.

His blue-green eyes were full of mischief. "Maybe."

He took her hand and led her back to a dark corner and pinned her to the wall. She placed her hands on his slim hips. "What happened to just friends?" She whispered.

"If you'd really wanted to be just friends, you wouldn't join me every morning for a shower."

"I have a boyfriend, Sam."

He began to kiss her neck. "Shutup."

She threw her head back, her hands winding around his waist. He raised his head and covered her mouth with his. Her hand was at the nape of his neck, playing with the little wispy curls there. This time he took the lead, moving her lips with his in a deep kiss. He held her face in his hand, his fingers dug into her soft hair. Their tongues danced with each other and she moaned into his mouth. She ran her hands inside his dress shirt and teased his black shirt up, feeling the smooth skin of his back under her fingers.

As much as Alyssa owned her sexuality, as skilled as she was at teasing boys with her flirtatious ways, there were places she hadn't gone. No one had given her such a heady, dizzy feeling. Josh kissed her with arrogance, but Sam kissed her with all his soul, like he had known her for eternity. Somehow he knew where to touch her; he knew how to make her open up, to make her give herself up to him.

He sighed a low octave into her mouth, running his hand over the back of her bare thigh, his fingers met with her silky polyester panties. She whimpered softly. He hoisted her leg up onto his hip and bit her bottom lip. She giggled and pulled away, her nose brushing his. He opened his intoxicated blue-green eyes partially, breathing shallowly. She tried to un-wrap her leg from his leg, but he held her there in a surprisingly strong grip.

She smiled seductively. "You need to slow down." She said in a soft voice.

"Don't talk." He whispered back. He kissed the edge of her lip, her jaw. He felt her palm press against his chest. He lifted his head and locked eyes with hers. "What?"

She was silent for a moment. "You're even more beautiful up close."

He smiled. "Beautiful? I thought that prize went to Josh."

"He's nothing compared to you." She said.

He was still, breathless. A confused look on his face.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing. It's just nice hearing that. Knowing you want me as much as I've wanted you."

She pulled him into a tender hug. He pressed his cheek against hers. She ran her hand through the thick hair on the back of his head, her other hand running up and down his back.

"I love you." He whispered.

That took her by surprise. Before she could find the words to say she heard Sam's little brothers calling out for him. He pulled away from her quickly and walked out of the dark with Alyssa trailing behind.

"What's up?" Sam asked.

Adam walked up to Sam and craned his head at a painful angle to look up at Sam. "More money?"

Sam smiled down at his little brother. "I gave you five dollars Adam."

"I used it all up on one game."

Sam laughed. "Not my problem. You get what you get, little man and that's it."

Adam made a whiny little noise, like he was straining to carry something heavy and Sam imitated him.

"Meanie." Adam said.

Sam smiled with one side of his mouth. "You can't everything you want by being cute. Now stop pouting at me."

Adam stomped his foot and Sam smiled again. Adam was about to have a tantrum. Sam picked him up and spun him around, Adam's short little legs breaking the air around them. His high pitched squeal filled the area. Adam giggled.

"Whoa, little man. I didn't know you could fly." Sam yelled.

"You're holding me up stupid." He squealed back.

"Now I'm gonna have to punish you, Adam." He spun Adam faster. "Whoohoo!"

Sam fell backwards, laughing all the way down to the ground. All Sam saw was a face with big blue eyes staring back at him. Adam smiled a toothless grin. "Money."

Sam feigned offense. "And I thought you wanted to hang out with me. You just want my money."

"Moneeey!" Adam bounced up and down on Sam.

"No, now get off me."

Adam listened. As Sam went to get up Adam got hold of his leg. He started pulling at it, but he was much too small to make Sam move even a millimeter. Sam played along, though. He looked up at Alyssa who was laughing to the point of tears.

"Help, Alyssa. He's going to mug me and take my wallet."

Alyssa stopped laughing. "Looks like we've got company."

Sam sat up and saw a theatre employee walking over. "Shit." He cursed under his breath.

He stood up. "Hi." He said politely.

"If you plan on staying you should stop causing such a commotion. Otherwise the door is that way."

"Sorry."

The employee walked away.

Sam gave them each two more dollars. He looked at Ryan. "Look after your little brother."

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The radio in George's truck played sleepy songs as Alyssa and Sam kissed in the front seat. She sat on his lap, her blue skirt hiked up high, her inner thighs pressed against his hips. His hands fumbled for the clasp of her bra. She giggled against his lips. It unclipped and she pulled it off. She was wearing nothing under her thin camisole and Sam hands ventured under there. Her skin was warm and she breathed deeply under his touch.

He kissed up the column of her neck. Her eyes were shut and her hair creating a curtain around their faces. He kissed the spot where her jaw met her neck under her chin and she mewled. She lowered herself back down onto his lap and felt how hard he was. He seemed drunk as he looked at her. He brought his hand up to her face, his fingers over her brow, the outline of her face, over her raspberry lips. She brought her hands up to his solitary one kissing each gracefully long finger. His hands were on either side of her face as he kissed her softly. He took her hands in his and held them between him and her. Alyssa's heart fluttered against his hands. She was on her back. She could remember only one time she was pinned and that was with Josh. Sam didn't make it obscene. This was the boy she could imagine kissing her during her first time. With Josh she'd been scared which explained why she hadn't let him sleep with her.

Sam was very still. Alyssa liked the pressure of his body on hers, the way his chest expanded harmoniously with hers. His hips were bony. That could have turned her off. But the combination of that and his erection made her ache for him to be inside her. He was so quiet as he gazed down at her. She raised her leg ups up on either side of him. His eyes widened on cue with the parting of his lips. He looked strangely innocent then….sweetly shy. He was hesitant like he had been the first time they kissed. He lowered his lips onto hers. When her hips stated rocking under his he pulled his lips away and exhaled. Her cheeks were flushed and she bit her lip. She rolled her pelvis under his and he said her name breathlessly. "mhhhhh." He brushed his nose against hers and captured her lips with his. His fingers played with the elastic waistband of her underwear.

As much as she wanted him to make love to her, she reminded herself they were in a car and that cheapened it. She stopped his hands.

'Not here." She whispered.

'Alyssa." He whined.

"I want it to be special."

"You want me to be the one you have your first time with?"

"Yes."

"What about Josh?"

"Forget about him. I want you."

"In case you haven't noticed you haven't broken up with him. Are you sure I'm not sort of side dish, some sort of amusement?"

"I've never felt this way with him. I want you."

He laid his head on her chest and twined his fingers around hers. "Don't change your mind."

She started running her fingers through his dark hair. "I won't."

He seemed suddenly younger than his years then. She held him like he was some vulnerable child. She felt his hair brush her chin as he tucked his head under hers. They lay that way for a while. When the radio host announced the time they sat up. It was time to go get the boys.

When she tried to sit up Sam's hands were on either side of her on the car's leather. His forehead pressed against hers. She felt his fingers on the bare skin of her waist. He started to pull her camisole up. It stopped just under her breasts. He palmed the mound of flesh over her heart. He could feel her nipples harden under thin fabric. And then he moved his hand down, first the bunching of fabric and then her warm belly. His fingers were sprawled out. He ran his hand over the slight round rise of her lower belly in a circular motion. She rose and fell under his touch. He lowered his head and she felt his soft mouth graze the skin around her navel.

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She stepped out of the car and pulled down her shirt. She checked her reflection in the window. "Sam, you destroyed my hair!"

She saw his figure behind her. He was blurred and distorted but she could definitely make out a devilish smile on his face. His hands were on her head. He messed her hair up again and she yelled a loud "what the fuck!" into the parking lot.

Sam chuckled. "Was that a swear?"

"I'm not a 5 year old, Sam."

"Yeah, but you're as prissy as one."

"You're a jerk."

This time Sam was merciless. He ruffled her hair zealously and she screamed at the top of her lungs. A family getting into a nearby car stared at them. The father rolled his eyes. "Crazy kids."

She tried stomp Sam's foot, but he was wearing boots and she was wearing sandals. He didn't even react as her foot came down on his. Instead he chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. She wriggled until he brought his lips up to her ear. "Lighten up."

His breathe sent shivers down her spine. "Look who's talking."

Sam pulled her to him, her back pressed against him. His hands slipped under her camisole, his palms and fingers traveling the expanse of her belly. His mouth was still tantalizingly close to her ear. "You're so soft."

Her knees were weak. She placed her hands over his and pulled them away from her. 'Seriously Sam. We need to go."

He walked off with a satisfied smile on his face. He locked the car and started for the theater.

They were close to the arcade when Adam ran over excitedly, his mouth surrounded by something blue and sticky. 'I won 5 times, Sam!"

Ryan didn't look impressed. "Yeah, because you played the easiest game in the arcade!"

Sam kneeled so he was eye to eye with Adam. "What did you win?"

"Tokens. I bought candy with them!"

'I can see that."

Alyssa meanwhile had gone to get napkins. She wiped Adam's mouth. "You'll make us look bad babysitters."

On the drive home Adam began singing Akunamatata from the Lion King as loudly as he was physically capable of doing.

Alyssa was doubled over laughing to the point of hyperventilation. Sam smiled. "You guys are going to get me into an accident.

"It means no worries for the rest of our days!"

Alyssa wasn't laughing loudly anymore, instead she went back and forth between quiet giggles and whines. "Stop, Adam."

The car gradually quieted. Alyssa was confused with herself, with her reaction to Sam. She'd never felt that way around any other guy. Was it actual feelings or a fleeting sexual attraction? Was it the fact that he was mysterious, a bit of a bad boy? That's certainly what had attracted her to Josh. She was losing interest in Josh. He had become predictable. Once she knew everything about Sam, after all the mystery would she lose interest? Was it just the thrill of the chase?

She remembered having a crush on Sam's dad when she'd see him and her mother after their dates. He'd kiss Colleen passionately on the porch. He kissed her like the main characters of a romantic movie kissed each other at the end of the film. Was is just her boy crazy nature or was Sam special?

The car slowed in front of her house and Sam said "See you tomorrow."

He turned around and drove home with Adam and Ryan.

Alyssa walked to George's house instead of hers. He was lying on the bed sleepily.

When she bent over him seductively he looked confused but he didn't move. She lowered her lips to his and kissed him, not a peck, but full on the lips with tongue. She felt…..nothing, not a spark. There wasn't the humming of desire between her hips. It felt extremely mechanical and dry.

"That's not what I was expecting."

"What did you think it would be?"

"I don't know…she realized breathless, 'more like when I kiss Sam."

Sam. She remembered his arms around her in the shadows. The tender "I love you" he whispered.

It was clear she liked him more than a friend. And it wasn't a crush either.

The image of his six year old face flashed before her eyes as he blew air into her face. "That's what my mommy does for my boo-boos." And moments later he pushed her on a swing. In her mind the memory changed seamlessly. She went back on the swing and then forward and Sam was older, eleven. She crashed into him and he laughed. Then he hugged her, a sweet, profound hug. And the kiss after he broke her teacups. And the kiss in the shower. And the one in the movie theater. And the ones in the car.

It was clear Alyssa had feelings for Sam. Ones that edged dangerously close to a four letter word that was stronger than the word like. Her relationship with him had perhaps always encompassed those feelings. More than friendship. Deeper. One-ness. One soul in two bodies. Puzzle pieces that fit together. Sam didn't have to say anything to her. All he needed to do was look into her eyes and she knew what he wanted to say. All the moments from when she was six to now were wrapped up in him. He didn't even need to be there. Her past didn't exist without him in it. And maybe her future wouldn't either. Maybe she loved him. Even if it scared her to death to love someone like that. To love someone so broken and fragile. She'd be lying to herself if she denied it. She could put different names on it. She could rationalize it anyway she wanted.

But there was no other word to describe the odd sense of both calm and thrill she felt around him. There was no other word for the breathlessness, for the dizziness, for the warmth, for the electricity along her body when he touched her. There could be no other word. She loved him.