Four is lying beside me, sleeping on his stomach. From this position I have a nice view of the huge tattoo spread over his back. It looks like shards of glass and sword blades pointing out in every direction. Down his spine is a series of black and white pictures. I've seen them before. In the military they represent status symbols and you can only get them by completing extremely difficult special assignments. Knowing someone with just one of these marks is rare. I happen to know there are only five, and he has them all. The first one represents bravery. The next selflessness. Then intelligence, honesty and kindness. Damn, he is the whole package.

At the base of his neck is a solid black circle. It looks out of place among the other intricate designs. I touch it gently with my fingertips and confirm my suspicions. It is covering up a sixth symbol. The texture of the scar tissue is a dead giveaway. The damaged skin swirls in a spiral with a perfect circle in the center. Tear droplets drip down the spiral design and collect on a pool at the bottom of the covered up mark. It's not easy to see, but even the slightest touch helps me identify the mark.

The black spiral is not the only scar being hidden by his tattoo. Each blade of black ink is deliberately placed to hide a deep scar. Some are longer than others, stretching out only a few inches, while others are long and wrap around the tops of his shoulders and to the front of his torso.

From almost any distance away, you wouldn't be able to see the scars under the black ink, but being curled around him this intimately it's impossible not to. I remember what he told me about being tossed through a window when he was five. Are these scars he is hiding the permanent reminders of that day?

My fingers trace each line, each edge of his tattoo. I wish I could somehow take the scars away. His skin is so warm under my touch. I pull myself in closer to feel him along the whole length of my body. I know he'll be waking soon, and it scares me.

I wanted this as much as he did last night, but now I fear our time together will come to an end. Peter never spoke to me after the night I gave him my virginity. Unless you count the twenty second phone call when he broke up with me. Four has become a good friend, but I am petrified he will be done with me now to. Being only my second time, I know I'm not good at it. I was nervous and lacked confidence. Never sure exactly what I should or should not do. There is no way he didn't pick up on it. Peter told me I was horrible in bed. That was the reason he gave for ending our relationship.

I picture in my head, Four waking, jumping out of bed and dressing as quickly as possible. I'm positive he'll regret the whole thing and tell me it only happened because he was feeling so alone after Carlos passed. I've seen this movie before, and it didn't end happily.

I thought last night, I'd be ok with this. To tell the truth, I don't think anything would have changed my mind last night. He had me truly believing that I was beautiful and I've never felt that wanted. Though I was nervous, it really was amazing. After my experience with Peter, I didn't think sex would ever be enjoyable for me. I don't believe that anymore.

He groans lightly as he turns under the covers. Now he's facing me and my heart aches. His jawline is perfect, his eyes are like deep pool of water and don't even get me started on those lips. I could kiss him for hours and still want more.

I place my hand gently on his cheek, just to feel my hand against his skin again. His eyes flutter open, staring into mine. "Good morning beautiful."

I blush, not expecting a compliment. "Hi. Did you sleep ok?"

He smiles slightly. "Yeah, surprisingly I did."

Surprisingly? That's not good.

"I don't usually sleep soundly unless I'm in my own bed. I must have been really tired."

"Yeah," I agree, knowing this would be the first part of his reasoning for his advances last night.

He reaches over, tucking a lose lock of hair behind my ear. "Tris, I need to ask you something."

His cheek is still pressed against the pillow we shared, but I see it twitch anyway. "What's that?" I'm please he didn't jump out of bed, apologizing for the mistake we made last night.

"Was that your first time?"

Damn, I knew it. I'm still horrible in bed. "No." I whisper. "I did it once before."

He studies my face, as I watch for any sign he's about to bolt.

"I wish you would have told me sooner."

"Why?"

"We could have gone a little slower." That was not what I was expecting him to say. "I could tell you were nervous. I though once we got going, you'd relax. When you didn't, that's when I thought maybe you hadn't done it before. I tried to be gentle after that. I was afraid maybe I'd hurt you."

If I wasn't already laying down, I may have fallen over. I remember asking Peter to be gentle. He didn't. I asked him to slow down. He said he couldn't. I told him it hurt. He said it was supposed to the first time and did nothing to make me more comfortable. "You didn't hurt me. It was actually really nice."

His eyes lit up when his mouth curved into a smile. "Nice. Nice is good, right."

I smiled shyly. "Nice is very good."

Four put his hand behind my head and pulled me in close for a warm kiss. "It will be better next time."

"Next time?"

His face froze. "I mean, if you want to do it again, sometime."

I couldn't believe it. Was he really saying there might be a next time or is he just trying to convince me I wasn't a one night conquest?

"You don't have to say that. I know what really happened last night."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Everyone's heard the song sexual healing. You don't need to pretend it was something it wasn't."

He looked hurt by my comment. "That's not what that was last night."

"Four. Please don't make this harder than it already is. I know there won't be a next time. I know I'm not any good at it and that you must have plenty of women, who are good at it, just waiting by the phone for a booty call."

Four opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a loud voice coming from the living area.

"What the hell?" Christina was at the door, pushing it open, only to get caught on the slide chain lock.

I jumped out of bed, grabbed the clothes off the floor and dressed as quickly as I could. Four followed my lead. "You need to get out of here," I whispered.

"Tris?" Why is the chain keeping me out of my own room?" Christina's voice echoed throughout the whole apartment.

"Shit. We never use that lock." I'd forgotten Four had slid it into place during the previous night's game of werewolf tag.

"Sorry. Be right there!" I buttoned my fly as quickly as possible, before pushing Four into the closet and closing the door. I ran for the main door, and slid the connector free of the channel. "Sorry Chris. I was just freaked out being alone last night. Never can be too careful."

Christina came into the living room, looking skeptical. "Do you always do that when I'm not home?"

"Yes, every time."

She was about to fall for it when a loud crash came from my room. Christina ran toward my door, pushing it open quickly. Four is crouching on the floor in front of the closet, now wide open. He looks up at me apologetically when I appear by her side. "Sorry, claustrophobic," he replies sheepishly as he continues to breath heavy.

I brought a palm up, planting it against my forehead.

"Interesting." Christina was smiling from ear to ear. "Maybe next time you should lock the door before the freaky bartender hides in your closet.

"I can explain…"

"No need Tris. I know what happened." She approached Four, crouching down to his level. "I'm just going to continue to mind my own business." She stands and looks at me again. "I'm not staying. I just swung by to pick up a dress for tonight. Will and I are going out dancing."

"Oh, that sounds fun." My cheeks are bright red.

"It will be. You guys should join us." Without waiting for an answer, she leaves my room in search of the perfect outfit for tonight's festivities.