Note: Thanks for reading. I sometimes take requests if they fall in line with my story line. One of my readers had sent me a request asking if perhaps I could add a bit of descriptiveness to any encounter that two characters may have. Because I am one of the few writers here who has 'gone there' before, I have humored her request. So, if intimacy between two characters tends to make you uncomfortable, this is my heads up to you. I don't get excessively graphic when I write intimacy. But, for some it may be avoided altogether if it's not their thing. Just giving a little notice over the next couple chapters for those who prefer to avoid. There is still plot involved here, so it's not all fluff. Thanks to those that read, send PMs & review!

-23-

Jaime leaned against the wall of their room. She sat with a beam of direct sunlight shining through the small window upon her. She periodically glanced over at Maddie's bed. Her friend had been asleep for over 15 hours. The evening before she had helped escort Maddie back into their room after their activities in the shower room. At the time, she was still very much under the influence of the two benzodiazepine tablets she was given. Maddie had fallen asleep shortly after Jaime placed her into bed.

Jaime was waiting for her morning of reckoning. She hadn't slept much the night before. The guilt had been eating away at her, even when the misdeeds were occurring the day before. She felt an enormous amount of self-hate. Wishing that she had just told him that she wouldn't contribute or participate. She felt even guiltier over the fact that there were moments when she had thoroughly enjoyed their interaction.

Realistically, Jaime did know that had she refused, it wouldn't have really changed much. She would have likely had her head dunked under water and been kicked around or pistol whipped for her disobedience. Maddie would have still had to endure the humiliation of it all. Rhiannon was his most compliant trained seal. She had been so well groomed by him. She also must have an enormous amount of fear of him. Even if it may have come to a point where it was neatly stored away in her subconscious. But she would have easily handled Maddie per his directions. And of course, there were likely well over a dozen other girls who would have stepped in if he was intent upon watching a threesome. Still, this reality didn't make her feel less guilt.

Jaime suddenly was brought back to the moment as she heard the door creak open. She turned her head anxiously. A bit of relief came over her when she saw the visitor was a blonde girl of about 15. She wore a plain black dress with short sleeves. Her hair was tied back from her face, showing heavy brows and brown eyes. A leather lanyard hung from her neck with a silver toned whistle attached. She looked down at Aimee, then over to Maddie. She set a tray of sandwiches and canned soda down on the chair.

"A little late for her to be sleeping, isn't it?" Her tone was unpleasant. A definite note of authority in her voice. Jaime glanced up at her with indifference.

"She had a hard day yesterday, Christine." she replied.

"Hmph!" Christine grunted looking down at Maddie's nude form, covered by a small sheet. "I heard of her initiation. No doubt you and Rhiannon jumped on her like a couple of unleashed rabbits." Jaime gave her a sideways glare.

"At least hers doesn't stink like a three-day old fish out of water." She smirked. Christine gave her an aloof look.

"Sticks and stones, slut puppy." Christine proceeded to bend over Maddie's bed and shake her shoulder. "Get up, Madeleine. Time for lunch." Jaime jumped up.

"Leave her be." She protested. Christine looked at Jaime in a most condescending manner.

"Orders, dear. You do understand what those mean, don't you? If he says to make sure you are both awake, I make sure. I don't need any trouble." Jaime rolled her eyes. She bent over and gently rocked Maddie's shoulder back and forth.

"Hey, girl. Time for lunch." She said softly. A moment later Maddie began to stir a bit. A little more prodding from Jaime brought her around.

Maddie's eyes blinked several times as she focused on the room. She slowly sat up and looked around. She began to rub her head as she blinked and saw Jaime and Christine standing nearby. She refocused on Jaime and offered a faint smile.

"Hey. Was I asleep long?" Jaime nodded.

"Yeah, a while. Lunch is here. Why don't you wash up?" Maddie nodded slowly. She still felt an intense headache. She got up, not really feeling self-aware enough to notice she wasn't dressed. Christine looked at her briefly with disdain.

"Well, I will be leaving now. No doubt you have an afternoon delight planned." Jaime turned about to face her. She took a step towards her and pulled her arm back in a threatening motion. Christine quickly grabbed for her whistle and held it near her lips. Jaime's eyes widened briefly and she immediately stopped moving towards her. She let her arm fall to her side. The last thing she wanted was for him to make an appearance. No doubt Christine would have offered him an enhanced version of the truth. Which would have cost her dearly.

"Look, she's up now. So, just get out of here, bitch." Christine grunted as she opened the door.

"At least I'm not your bitch...bitch." She closed the door and locked the door. Jaime wished there would come a day when she could slap Christine down a notch or two. But it would not be today. She turned and saw Maddie patting her face with a small towel. She offered Jaime a faint smile as she sat down on her bed.

"Our friend leave already?" Maddie asked dryly. Jaime nodded.

"Luckily. I was about to slap her down." Maddie reached over and took a soda and popped it open.

"I guess there's a story there." She said quietly and took a long drink. Jaime shrugged.

"Yeah, but it isn't very interesting." Jaime reached down and picked up some folded clothes from a small pile.

"I have your clothes. All nice and clean." She placed them next to Maddie.

"Oh? Guess it hadn't occurred to me that I should be wearing any. I have been like this for about a day straight now." She pulled her sheet up along her chest. "There, you won't have to get grossed out by me now." Jaime looked at her. Maddie was doing her best to avoid eye contact.

"I'm not grossed out. But I am so, so, sorry. I'm sure you are so angry at me. And I don't blame you." This prompted Maddie to finally look at her.

"I guess I'm confused now. Why would I be mad at you?" Jaime gestured towards her.

"For yesterday. For me taking part in it all. I know you probably hate me." Maddie closed her eyes, then shook her head.

"I don't hate you at all." She said quietly. "Just him... Sitting there watching us. Making me humiliate myself because obviously I had no clue what I was doing. And that damn pill made me not care. Well, I guess now that I think about it, maybe the pill was a blessing. It made it all bearable. Actually if he hadn't been there, and if I knew my way around in that area..." She paused and placed her hand against her head with an embarrassed look. "It might have actually been fun. If it hadn't been for that sick piece of trash making a movie out of it. I might have felt more comfortable. Been more prepared. Because other than me making an embarrassment of myself and having it on video, I guess it didn't really bother me. I just wish it wouldn't have happened under these conditions. You know, being held prisoner and being watched."

Jaime felt a bit relieved. But, while Maddie did not apparently blame her for anything, she was still concerned that the overall experience may make her feel bad. Jaime was not really sure how to reply to her regarding her feelings of not knowing what she was doing or feeling inexperienced. But, she thought it would be best to be honest. Which in this case, should hopefully make her feel better about it.

"Maddie, so if I am hearing you right, you don't feel bad or traumatized by the experience? Or feel that Rhiannon or I took advantage of you?" Maddie shrugged.

"Well, if you are asking me if this was my preferred scenario for my first sexual experience with others, then I'd have to say no. But it wasn't for the company I had with you or Rhiannon. The fact that you guys were there made it all ok. Well, as ok as could be... I mean if it had to happen. I guess I'm just sorry I was so awkward and such." She looked down and sighed heavily. "If you want traumatized, I'm sure that would have happened if he had played an active part. I just hope that never happens." She saw the confused look on Jaime's face. "Are you ok?" Jaime nodded.

"Well, I'm better than I was all night and this morning. I was pretty confident that you were going to wake up hating me for taking part in it all. I just figured that no matter who it was, you would feel justifiably violated and be all screwed up because of it." Maddie shook her head.

"To be honest, I think that pill made me forget a bit of what happened. Some things I remember very well." She said as her face flushed red and an embarrassed smile crossed her face. "But other things maybe not so much."

"Well, hopefully you remember good things." Maddie nodded.

"I think you could say that. But I would like to know something..."

"What's that?" Jaime asked, hoping she could offer some clarity.

"Well, when I woke up, my face felt like a glazed doughnut! Do those pills make you drool all over yourself when you sleep?" Jaime immediately looked away as a smile crossed her lips.

"Uhm, well not exactly." Jaime said with a nervous stutter. "I could, er, explain it I suppose..." She looked back and Maddie was smirking at her and pointing.

"Gotcha!" She said with a laugh. Jaime slapped her forehead after realizing the question was asked with humor.

"Oh, Lord. Girl, you sure did get me!" Maddie shook her head and smiled.

"Yeah, don't get virgin mixed up with ultra-sheltered. Let's just say my mom and her girlfriend made a reference once I didn't totally understand until now.

"Oh?"

"Well, I remember one morning at the breakfast table my mom and Aimee were tossing around some innuendo. Well, that's what I assumed it was. Something like my mom saying she wished she had a glazed doughnut. And Aimee replies and says something like after last night my face feels like one. My mom gets a goofy smile on her face. So, it really wasn't till after I woke up that I understood what that meant. I had always thought her reply had some sexual context." Maddie looked down somewhat embarrassed. "I mean it's not like I've not explored things. Privately, of course." Jaime smiled. She was glad Maddie didn't feel shame and was actually somewhat self-aware about sex.

"So, it's safe to say you've had an orgasm during such exploration." Maddie found herself turning red again. She paused, then smiled.

"Yes I have. But none of them were anything like what I felt yesterday. If it weren't for being a prisoner and having some psycho involved, it might have been worthy of putting the experience in my diary." Jaime smirked a little.

"You actually keep a diary? Ah, so that's the virgin in you." Maddie smirked back.

"Don't knock it. Something I learned in therapy actually. When we moved to Bayport, my mom thought that with the transition of everything it might help. Plus there was all that happened when my mom got shot."

Your mom got shot? How did it happen?" Maddie took another drink and smirked as she looked down at the can. Jaime looked at her awkward expression. "What's wrong? Soda flat?" Maddie shook her head.

"No, just reflecting how the flavor of Coke can apparently be influenced when one has had a mouthful of vagina beforehand." Jaime was now turning red and looked down with a humorous smile on her lips.

"And here I thought you would be the one to be all embarrassed. Turns out I think it's more me." Maddie sat there for a moment, then looked up soberly.

"I'm embarrassed, Jaime. I promise you I am." She said closing her eyes. "But one thing I definitely learned in therapy as a coping skill. I think that's what they called it. If a situation has you totally ashamed or embarrassed, if you can at all interject some humor into the situation, it can go a long way to help you dealing with it. And that's what I am doing. I guess it's kind of working because I'm not crying full force yet." She sniffled slightly and looked back at her with a hopeful smile. Jaime nodded and smiled back.

"I think you're doing good, girl. So, if you wanted to tell me about your mom getting shot, you can. If it's not a sensitive subject." Maddie gave a wry smile.

"Sensitive subject? I just cracked a joke about how I got this most unusual taste in my mouth. I think we can talk about most sensitive subjects at this point." Jaime shook her head in amusement. She had not really expected this degree of openness from Maddie.

"Ok, but one last question for now about what happened yesterday." Maddie shrugged.

"Go ahead. I can't get any more red in the face than I am already."

"Well, I was curious. How did it feel for you? I mean the fact that you had to be with another girl? I guess I figure most girls dream of dating guys. I'm not ashamed to admit I like both. But, I guess I had you figured for a girl who likely had her sights set on meeting a boy."

"Well, that's kind of hard to say when I think about it. Honestly, it's really only been a couple years since I've had even a little interest. You know, in like dating or whatever. When I moved in with my mom, she was obviously dating another woman. So, I guess my ideas on what was or wasn't normal changed. I mean yeah, I've checked out guys. Kind of hard not to. They seem to be everywhere. And in the last year it seems I've had a lot of them looking at me." Jaime perked her eyebrows at her, having noted that Maddie had long let the sheet she had held against her fall.

"I'm sure they do." Maddie looked down at herself.

"Oh, right." She grabbed the clothes next to her and started to get dressed. "So, anyway, I guess I've always felt that you know a person can choose whoever they like, or get along with if they are going to, you know, go there. So, I guess my answer is that no, it didn't bother me to be with you and Rhiannon. I mean I never met her before So, it was kind of weird you know doing something with someone you had no prior relationship with. But, she definitely knew her way around...uhm, down there." She paused and looked down with embarrassment. "But, sure seemed a heck of a lot better than having to be with the sick bastard that runs this circus. I guess though the only thing that seemed odd to me. I mean for someone who has never done anything before. It was just having to deal with two other people at one time. Kind of like a really strange form of multitasking. I always thought that first experience would be a bit more private...and with one person. And that may be hard for me to cope with. I just keep thinking about how bad it could have been if others had...well...you know." She said looking down again a bit anxiously. Jaime nodded and got up and sat next to her.

"Thank you for the honesty. I do want you to know that if there are thoughts that develop that make you feel bad or ashamed. Well, just know I am here for you." Maddie leaned over against Jaime's arm.

"Thanks. I will."

"Ok, so feel free to proceed with the story about your mom."

Over the next hour, Maddie told Jaime the story of how her mother had been investigating a kidnapping in Pennsylvania a year before. And as a result ended up getting shot by the kidnapper, but also managing to kill him. Jaime was very moved and surprised by the story.

"So, your mom gets shot and then stabs this nutcase with a needle moments later and kills him?" Maddie nodded.

"She says he shot her and she was still conscious. Barely. Then he gets down on her level to finish her off and his gun ends up being empty. She is able to reach this loaded syringe and plunges it in the guy's neck." Jaime's eyes widened.

"What was in the needle?"

"I think she said it was a hot shot. A combined drug of some kind mixed in with heroin. He was going to use it earlier to kill Aimee. So, after she was able to take him out, she got rescued. Then spent a long time in a coma. But thank God recovered." Jaime shook her head.

"That's quite the story, girl." Maddie nodded as she became lost in thought. She missed her parents. She hoped that they would be able to find her.

"Yeah. I am very much hoping that she can come and make that two for two. I think I would very much enjoy watching this guy suffer."

Jaime rubbed the faint line of a scar along her scalp.

"You and me both." She said thoughtfully.


Chet looked in the mirror. His nervous expression betrayed the front he had been trying to present most of the day. He was finishing up tweaking his overall look. Aimee looked at him from the bed.

"I think you look great, Walter. And by the way, the beard growth you have started there looks perfect. I don't think you could be any more close in looks to the real deal." Chet grunted.

"Great. I look like a fictional character." Aimee pivoted off the bed and walked up behind him. She saw his nervousness as he fretted over his facial hair.

"Well, I look like a fictional character too. So, at least we will match." Chet gave a nervous laugh.

"True. Let's just hope we don't get ourselves into trouble." Aimee pulled him from the mirror and looked at him.

"It has been a while since you've been in a tense situation, hasn't it?" Chet nodded and sighed.

"You might say that. Seems like it's been a long time since I've been in any kind of tense spot. Years since I've worked a case. And when I did, I didn't have my own child in harm's way. I just know that one misstep and things could get bad." Aimee reached up and straightened his vest, then ran her hands down his arms.

"You need to relax, babe. If you are relaxed and on task, everything else will take care of itself. Don't think of how long you've been out of the game." Chet exhaled slowly.

"I know. But we need to sell this story that we are brokering kids. We need to make it believable that we are some kind of perverted couple. Not sure I have it in me." Aimee perked an eyebrow at him.

"Chet, I have been privileged to a lot of stories about you. Some of which were rather bold. You guys did some pretty crazy things back then." She shook her head in mock disapproval. "Honey, by my standards, some of it was definitely on the perverted side." Chet's face turned red as he imagined the possible stories that Callie could have been telling. He nodded and cleared his throat.

"Yes, I suppose there were moments back then. But, I'd never do that today. I mean back then it was different. It just didn't seem like a big thing at the time. You are much more free spirited when you are in your twenties." Aimee smiled back.

"Like little ole free spirited me?"

"Well, yes. I suppose..." Chet looked uncomfortable with the subject. Aimee shook her head with an amused look. She held up a finger.

"You know. I think I know what part of the problem is."

"Oh?" Chet asked, genuinely curious in her theory. Aimee nodded.

"Yes. It seems like you were much more liberal minded and how shall I say...freely deviant. Don't try to argue the term. I've heard too many stories." Chet stood there. He couldn't really argue the fact.

"Ok..."

"And then you all moved to Long Island. As I found out that area is not quite as liberal minded. Is it fair to say that you acquired friends, acquaintances and a general lifestyle that was perhaps different? Dull? Conservative? Predictable? And needless to say a bit obsessed with your financial life more than your social life?"

Chet may not have enjoyed the reality of her speculation. But, he couldn't really argue with it.

"So, what you are saying it that since my environment changed, so did I?" Aimee rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Yes. Of course that is what I'm saying. You need to get shocked back to where you were before you moved into that snooty hood!"

"Well, I never really thought of the Hamptons as a hood." Chet mused. "But how do you propose I get shocked back to that place I once was? I doubt Cal will take it too kindly if I text her and ask if I can come over and watch her and Iola." Aimee turned and threw up her hands. She walked over and leaned against the chest of drawers. Chet noted her peevish expression. She turned her look back on him.

"I don't think we need to impose on Callie and Iola. I think you have it in you still. I've seen little bits of it emerge from time to time. Seems to be more evident when you have had a couple drinks."

"Well, as much as I'd like a drink, I don't think today is a good day for that." Aimee gave a brief nod.

"Probably not. So, we can improvise a little."

"How so?" Chet looked at her questioningly. He supposed that Aimee had been correct with her assertion that Chet had changed due to his environment. He was a good deal more conservative because he had adapted to those around him on Long Island.

"You know, I used to be a bar maid in at least half a dozen dives and a couple casinos. And almost every night I would have to field at least half a dozen guys propositioning me. And no doubt several others just checking me out. And it got tedious. But, even though it was, I still became desensitized to it over time. Not that it didn't bother me to some extent. But, in the last year or so, I haven't had that happen as much. I mean yeah, guys still hit on me. But, when you remove yourself from an environment that serves alcohol it happens a lot less. And that's very nice to be sure." Chet looked a bit confused.

"Well, what are you saying?"

"Just that even though I am more conservative as a result of that change in environment, I am still not going to be offended if it happens. Especially given it is something we are essentially role playing."

"If what happens?" Chet was still off track. Aimee took a deep breath and looked at him.

"If I am to become objectified! Everything I've heard tells me you are quite capable of being a guy. Even some interactions we have had show you have it in you. I mean look at me in this getup! Are you really telling me that you don't have a little voice in your head telling you that it would be ok or saying check that out? And I am not trying to be full of myself in saying that." Chet gulped and gave a slight not. She stood back up and placed her hands back on his vest and smiled. "We are also connecting on another level. A level that has nothing to do with role playing or trying to come off as some white trash couple. Unless that was some other guy last night that almost kissed me." Chet looked down at Aimee. He shook his head.

"No, that was me. But, it just seems so confusing. I mean we are supposed to be role playing and I just figured that maybe you were just trying to be persuasive. I mean Callie did tell you to do whatever was needed to make this all convincing." Aimee placed a finger on his lips to silence him.

"I can see where that may confuse you. Heck, it confused me to be honest. And this whole role playing to make our act convincing. I can see where you might see mixed signals. But, you see, last night when we were playing cards and you very openly admitted that me just being next to you made your life bearable. I was very moved by that. And as I said myself, you made me feel less empty as well."

Chet looked down and clearly didn't know how to respond. He just knew that she made him very comfortable in a time when he would otherwise be pulling his hair out. "You are the first guy who I have laid in bed with who wasn't expecting me to put out. And you derived something from that non sexual encounter that was very moving and meant more than anything that could have happened physically. I felt that same way. I thought wow, here is a guy who didn't initiate anything when he clearly had the chance. We actually made each other feel good. Less empty. I may not be Maddie's parent. But, I've gotten to know her so well, that I feel like one. Knowing her on that level made me break down to tears when I first heard. It's been hard for me to not cry when I think about all the negative things that could be happening right now."

Chet put his arms around her and held her close.

"We will find her. I don't care what it takes. We need to bring her home." Aimee nodded and placed her head on his chest.

"Yeah." Chet fidgeted a bit and looked down at her.

"As for the rest of all of this. I am sorry I am not more able to focus. I'm sorry my feelings are all over the map. We entered into some strange idea that we could pose as a couple. And while I am sure we can do that, I just didn't count on other feelings entering into it. I mean we haven't known each other long. I guess we have known of each other. But that is even more confusing. I was led to think of you for over a year as some adversarial figure in all of this. That you had taken my wife away. But, obviously there was something much more personal to that situation transpiring. And it had nothing really to do with you."

"I feel the same. I'm not saying Cal or Iola bad mouthed you. Well, not as much as you may have thought at times. But, I was in this apprehensive state of mind that if you ever did reenter the picture that you and I would be very much adversaries. And it turns out that you and I relate to each other much better than either of us probably thought."

"Very true. So, what do we do?" Aimee looked into the mirror they were standing near. The fact they were standing there in each other's arms spoke of a potential connection. But she knew that anything this complicated could certainly not be rushed. Even though she felt certain temptation. She looked up at him.

"We do our jobs. We play this couple thing out as best we can. We accept what happens along the way and have an awareness enough to know what is real and what isn't. We get Maddie back. Then we see where we are at." Chet smiled as he seemed quite happy with this suggestion. "But..." she continued.

"But what?" Chet asked with a little anxiety in his voice.

"We need to get a thing or two out of the way. Which may incidentally help with our pretense in the process.

"What's that?" Aimee suppressed a desire to giggle at his inability to catch on.

She leaned up and kissed him soundly. Chet was taken slightly by surprise. But he did not pull away. She smiled up at him.

"That wasn't terrible, was it?" Chet shook his head.

"Not a bit. You just took me by surprise. But, I think now that I am aware, I can improve on that." He leaned back down and kissed Aimee passionately. The two remained this way for several moments. Aimee was totally taken back by his sudden assertiveness. His kissing electrified her well beyond anything she could have anticipated. She smiled broadly at him.

"That was very improved. Can we practice that again?" Chet's right lip curled into a smile and he nodded. He again leaned in and the two shared a very deep kiss. He felt Aimee's hands running along his arms. He grunted as her nails dug into his exposed upper arms. Aimee stepped back to regain her composure. She looked at him with a look that he instantly recognized. Her eyes were locked into his and she had a devilish smile. He smiled and cleared his throat.

"I know that look, girl. I think we had better take a step back." She raised her brows and assumed an innocent look.

"What look is that, Walter?" She said advancing back towards him. Chet backed up until his legs hit the bed and he found himself just off balance enough to fall into it. He looked up at her as she slowly neared the bed.

"That cat like look. Callie had it years ago..." Aimee proceeded to the edge of the bed. She looked down and started rubbing her hand along his chest. "When she was in a certain mood...and..." Aimee proceeded to throw her right leg over him and began to straddle Chet's waist.

"Oh? What kind of mood was that?" She purred as she leaned down and kissed him again. She sat back up, still straddling him.

"Well, that should seem kind of obvious at this juncture..." he said without offering much actual resistance as she subtly gyrated her hips into his crotch. "Oh my!" She smiled wickedly down at him.

"What's wrong, Walter baby? I heard you liked a good lap dance." She kept up the motion for several moments. Chet cleared his throat.

"Well, yeah, I am kind of fond of them. Not that I've had too many. But when I do, I kind of get... excited." Aimee perked her eyebrows down at him as she continued moving her hips. She grunted.

"Yeah, I think I kind of feel your excitement now." She said with a pleased smile. Chet raised his head just high enough to watch her shapely bottom which was barely covered by her short cutoffs, shift front to back in a rhythmic motion. He ran his hands along her bare legs and slowly glided them up. He ran them over her bare midsection, and finally up under her crop. Aimee closed her eyes and bit her lower lip in pleasure upon feeling his firm grasp upon her breasts.

As wonderful as it felt to him, Chet realized he was at a point where he could easily take this to its next place. Feeling her motion back and forth was causing him to make a judgement call one way or the other. He slowly pulled his hands from her chest and closed his eyes. He raised his knees somewhat to interrupt the stimulating contact she was giving. Aimee looked down at his now pensive expression. She frowned.

"You don't like when I do it?" Chet returned a weak grin.

"Oh, actually I like it very much. As you could probably determine, I was rising to the occasion very willingly. But..." Aimee nodded. She understood. Or she felt that she did.

"I know. I know. And I would agree. Too much, too soon." She bent down and gave him a long kiss, then sat up and pulled her leg up from it's position. "But one thing I am happy to finally know. That I actually do turn you on. I wasn't quite sure." Chet looked up at her with a perplexed look.

"You weren't sure? I thought I tipped my hand pretty well. Or so I thought." Aimee nodded.

"Well, at times I think you did. But the very fact we spent two nights in bed together and you didn't as much touch my breasts or make any other move. Well, I wasn't sure."

"Well, if I am to be honest with you, I can tell you that part of me was pretty excited. But, I just don't feel it would be right. I mean with not knowing where Maddie is and if she is safe or not. I can't put my heart or mind into it. I might have a few other body parts willing to participate..." Aimee started giggling and nodded.

"Well, I just figured that part out, babe." He nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"But without those more important parts all being on board, I just don't think I would want to do anything more. Trust me, I would have loved to have ripped your clothes off and...well...you know."

"Yeah, I definitely know." Chet shifted his legs over the bed and gave her a sideways glance.

"Guess this also means I can't call you a lesbian again." Aimee smirked.

"Yeah, definitely proves I am bi." She looked down. "I swear I just started out to get that kiss out of the way, you know? I think we have both come close to that a few times already. Just figured we could dispense with that and it would do us both good. Then, when I realized you were very skilled at the art of kissing, I felt my body melting and just went a little further in spite of myself."

"Yeah, gotta say I've not been kissed that way before myself. I was quite moved." Aimee smiled at him.

"Nice to know I am good at that. So, if we have to practice in front of anyone, it will at least not appear stressed or undesired." Chet nodded nervously as he seemed to sense something. He grunted knowingly. He stood up and walked over to the chair by the table. Aimee looked at him a bit perplexed. "Did I say anything wrong?" Chet looked a little surprised and shook his head vigorously.

"Oh no. Not at all. I just was getting that sense of our brief interaction and it was messing with my head a bit. I thought I'd step away before I thought twice and acted on it."

"Sense of our brief interaction?" She repeated. Chet got an embarrassed expression and looked down.

"Well, you know. The pheromone thing. When a woman gets excited, she secretes a certain smell. And it tends to drive guys a bit wild. I was just distancing myself from it." Aimee closed her eyes and nodded her acknowledgment.

"Oh, I got it. Yeah, guess I did get a little damp. I've never had a guy tell me that I put off a scent though. I know it's happened with Cal. I just never really thought about it, or what caused it."

"Oh. Well, I promise it's a very good one. All women tend to secrete it when they are excited. Makes the man very receptive. So, I just needed to step away before getting impulsive."

"Well, I admire your restraint... I think." She winked at him. "Well, I best fix my face."

"Thank you, by the way." She looked back with an inquisitive look.

"For what, babe?" Chet shrugged.

"I don't know. For breaking the ice, I guess." She returned a knowing look.

"Well, you're welcome. And thank you for not letting me break all the way through the ice on the first go around. I'd really hate to give the wrong impression."

Chet sat back and watched her as she stood before the mirror on the opposite side of the room. As if his life wasn't complicated enough. He thought of the various reasons why pursuing anything with Aimee might be unwise. Good reasons. Not the least of which were the fact that he was married. Though the fact that this was his wife's lover altered the dynamics of it all considerably. Chet even allowed himself to consider that perhaps this was all staged so that Aimee could later discredit Chet's dedication to Callie. But this scenario seems unlikely. Things just happened a bit too randomly for that to be considered an actual premeditated plan. Still, there was little doubt that if he did pursue things with her, assuming that prospect was even allowed to happen, it would be dicey. Chet refused to allow himself to really even think about what had just happened and how it may have opened the door. All he knew was that he needed to get Maddie back to safety.

For her own part, Aimee was also internally fretful about how she had just acted. What was meant to be a simple kiss to relieve the tensions between them, escalated quickly. She was glad that Chet had the forethought to know that now was hardly an appropriate time to act impulsive. She hadn't kissed a man in what must have been about three years. She was surprised by Chet's ability to be a strong minded man when he wanted to be. He was also about twelve years older than her. She guessed his maturity and lack of need to jump right into bed with her was what held a bit of the appeal. Still, she couldn't help but think about how this attraction. In an actual real sense, not a pretense, could complicate her relationship with Callie. It's not just that she chose to become attracted to someone else. A man. But, the man happened to be Callie's husband. Definitely not something she had anticipated!

And while she couldn't fully justify or understand why she had become so attracted to him. The reality was quite evident in that she was attracted to him. She knew though, that rushing into anything would hold potential to hurt a lot of feelings.

Only fools rush in. So she had once told herself in an Atlantic City hotel room.