Hard R ahead! Savor it, people, this story is almost over.

**

"Dana Poole?!" Miss Davis yells accusingly at Harry.

This is the worst birthday ever recorded.

I'm fucking sure of it!

Harry look at me for a minute, probably trying to gain his head after stumbling out of an elevator and into hell. "What are you doing here, Lauren?"

"I wanted to talk to you, I couldn't wait until tomorrow and . . . What is Dana Poole doing here?"

Hoping to get my jollies screwing Harry, but you pretty much stuffed that down the drain.

"What did you want, Lauren?"

Her face is pink as she looks at me, then Harry, then me again.

"I'd rather not discuss this in front of *company*," she states so rudely I can't help myself.

"Actually, I *live* here." Reaching over I slip the keys out of Harry's other hand and go to the door, unlocking it and opening it. "Coffee?"

She's stunned and it feels so good that she's stunned. Not because of years of her biased grading, but because she had sex with Harry. It's an incredibly whacked reason, yes. She wasn't intent on hurting *me* when she did it, but I don't care. Jealousy? Yes. Is that going to make me stop? Not at the moment.

I walk inside MY home that I share with MY roommate and drop the keys on the table. Harry has to pick up on the territorial vibe I'm throwing around because he gives me a look that tells me I don't have to rub her face in it. He isn't going to lengths to stop me though so I back off with a slight smile and go to the kitchen for a drink.

"So what is it?" he asks Lauren as she follows me with her eyes, still pink-faced.

"Can I speak to you alone? I take it your new *roommate* won't object to that."

"Not at all," I answer. "But then, the new *roommate* can understand English and doesn't need to be asked through a third-party."

I think that was rather charming.

I walk past and go into the bedroom, feeling great. A little malicious, but great.

**

I could be with Dana right now. But Lauren wants to talk.

"Dana Poole?!" she asks again, shooting angry looks to the closed door.

"Is there a point to this visit?"

"She's a student, Harry!"

"A *former* student of consenting age."

"This makes it ten times worse!" she bemoans putting her fingers to her forehead and tapping.

"What is going on?" I ask, annoyed. I don't want her back, I don't want a tryst, and I'm finished. I went back to her to forget what I couldn't have and now . . . now I'm incredibly lucky to have Dana. It wasn't like I was the only one trying to use sex as an escape. And now Lauren shows up once more . . . We used each other for more months than we had an actual romance, I don't want that.

"I . . ." She sighs raggedly and looks at me. "I just thought we could work something out."

"Lauren--"

"Don't worry, I'm no longer under the impression that you care for me." Suddenly her face lit. "Is that what this is about? You want Dana Poole because we aren't together anymore? She was just an easy distraction?"

She has that 'awww' face but I shake my head immediately. "No. And she's never an 'easy' anything. I'm with Dana because I *want* to be with her, not out of lack of options. I'm sorry, Lauren, but we've been over for a long time, and I think you know that."

She looks at me, surprising me by the tears almost appearing. "I guess I do. I guess I knew it before I even came. I was just hoping . . . Goodbye, Harry."

"Goodbye."

"I'll . . ." She doesn't finish and shakes her head walking out.

It's over then. I breathe a sigh and look at the closed bedroom door. And I smile.

**

He knocks on the door before he opens it. That's pretty sweet . . . Ugh. If I become one of those women who coo over their boyfriends I'll be very upset.

Boyfriend? Ten seconds ago I was worrying he was going to tell me he and Miss Davis were up for giving it another go.

He looks in my direction and is smiling and I literally feel the relief flow through my body.

"Things go well?"

"Depending on your definition."

"Still single?"

"Depends on your definition," he repeats with a grin.

I get to my knees on the bed and cock my head to the side. "I think that's a good sign."

I barely finish when he's kissing me and it feels good. At this moment I can actually let myself think of him as, if I allow a little possessiveness, MINE. And because of that something in me is a little more calm, and I don't feel like I have to rush anymore. It's not that I don't want to be with him at this moment, it's just that . . . I don't want this to seem like a fling. If we do it today, on my birthday, it's going to feel like we just waited until then and everything will get weird.

I pull away and look at him. "Harry?"

"Yes?" He's so happy, I almost feel bad for saying it.

"I think we should wait."

Pause.

"Okay."

"Really?" I ask with a grin at his response.

"Of course. I'm not going to pressure you into doing something you don't want to, and if we did it today . . . I don't want you to think I was just waiting in the wings until you turned eighteen."

"I don't think that," I tell him, moving closer and putting my arms around him.

"But it's better we wait anyway?"

I nod and smile a little. He seems agreeable, if not a little downtrodden, but so am I. Sex with Harry would be incredible, but maybe if we wait a little longer it will be making *love* to Harry . . . And not only on my side of the opinion.

**

She feels good in my arms. We've been laying in bed for a long while now, watching the television and I glance down at her every once in a while and she's genuinely smiling. The fact that I gave her a happy birthday is amazing. I should . . the camera.

"I'll be right back," I whisper and she seems a little reluctant, which is kinda nice for once, but she let's go anyway.

I head down and get the camera, forgetting it earlier because of Dana . . . Dana the surprise. I smile as I get back in the elevator and remember kissing her, remember holding her against me . . . The ding comes and reminds me who we saw after we got off and that's enough to sober me up.

I enter the bedroom and snap a picture of her, just noticing me, a grin on her lips . . .

She should be celebrating . . .

"Ready to go?"

**

"Go where?" I sit up. He was off preparing a surprise, huh? I grin so widely I think it's impossible to have it grow.

"Out."

"Informative, really."

"Just as I meant it," he answers as he goes to pull out some clothes.

"How should I dress?"

"Surprise me," he throws back as he heads to the bathroom.

"Harry!" I laugh.

He turns and smiles, "Dress nice."

With that little hint he closes the door and leaves.

It takes me less the five seconds to reach the closet and rip it open. And I'm sure if I choose something quickly it'll only take me ten to get dressed, but I need a shower.

A shower.

I hear the water running and I know that's what Harry's doing, wrapped up in a long . . . all . . . wet . . . You know, I'm the female, according to my mother I'm suppose to be *resisting* situations like this, not being happily drawn into them. Of course if that was true I'd have no sex drive, and I do, so the thought of Harry all wet in a shower is . . .

I actually growl when I throw down the dress I was holding and smack my hand to my face. I can't handle this, and that little fact is so . . . stupid! I'm behaving like some wanton little harlot or something! Or I'm behaving like a woman who is undoubtedly lusting for some . . . Okay. Time to sit on the bed and wait and then take my own shower and not think of joining Harry in his. Right.

I should think of Lauren Davis, which'll kill any urge imaginable.

**

I'm at the point where soap bubbles will pour into my eyes if I open them. When Dana steps into the shower it doesn't matter much.

"Ow!"

"Are you okay?" she asks, coming up against me and placing a wet hand on either side of my face. Yes, it's stupid to open them, but the male brain is dim when it comes to seeing a very nude female body.

"Yeah, I'm great," I tell her scrubbing at my face. When vision returns I see her, Dana, looking up at me, her hair still dry and her smile wide. "What's goin' on?"

Casual. Nice.

"Mmm, nothing much. It was just that since you mentioned a surprise I thought you hid my birthday present and, well, gee, here it is." She reaches down and grabs my already-pleased manhood, making me jump back and almost hit my head.

"Happy Birthday," I manage to mutter.

"Thanks," she says sweetly, moving closer and taking one hand to slide over my chest. The mere action of thinking is becoming more and more impossible with her ministrations but, what the hell, I'll try.

"What about waiting?"

"It's overrated."

"No. No, I don't think it is, see, we should . . . oh, okay." Focus isn't my strong point now, least focusing on speech.

"Harry, we both want this, and . . . I really want this."

"Really?"

"Really," she confirms, dragging her fingers over . . . fuck. But I have to make sure she won't regret . . . damn.

"Are you."

"I'm sure," she singsongs, pressing her breasts against my chest and kissing my neck. I'm pretty sure that's a yes.

"Sure?"

"Sure," she whispers.

**

He kisses me again and it is SO very good that Lauren Davis herself could be standing there watching and I still wouldn't pull back. He's so wet and slippery and it feels incredible to run my hands over his skin and I think he's enjoying it too. I feel the water start to soak me and I hadn't even realized we'd moved to where I'm under the showerhead.

He breaks away to drag his mouth down my throat, sucking on the skin and making my breasts tingle with the sensation it runs through my body. The man is a magic maker. If I could bottle him . . . hell, I wouldn't make a thing because I wouldn't want to sell one bit . . . Mine.

Woah-kay. When he touches me lightly, slipping one finger against . . . Best birthday ever, BEST EVER.

**

I want to make this good for her, I want her to feel as good as I do, and it might take some doing because I feel insane with the stuff she's done. I managed to get us to the bedroom and her hair, her body is soaking wet and lying in my bed. Fuck, that's pretty powerful.

"Harry," she moans trying to bring me closer as I touch her, it runs straight through me. Yeah. Feel good, I want you to feel so good.

My hand is stroking her, touching searing, wet flesh. She's flushed and pursing her lips and trying to raise her hips up to help my hand. Damn. But I'm going to wait; I'm not just going to crawl between her thighs and . . .

"Harry," she says again. She doesn't draw it out; it's short, breathy, like it took every bit of her strength to say it. And it's MY name. I should have done something before she came into the shower because the way this is going I'm not confident I'll last long. All the more reason to make her happy . . .

I lean down to kiss her mouth before she bites it once more. Then her throat, wet from the shower and the heat we're creating. Her shoulder, dragging my lips down, licking her skin until I reach her breast --

**

"HARRY!"

. . . My whole body is one giant match, completely on fire, I can't move at the moment and he's still . . . Hmm . . . seem to have lost my motor functions . . . His mouth is all over me, and then concentrated on the one spot that seems like the ONLY spot there is. Oh boy . . .

How could . . .

Right . . .

I'm . . .

"YES! Oh, please, keep going. Yes. Harry . . ."

I'm . . .

**

She lets out a moan, her chest hiccuping as she does. On of my hands, still cupping her breast, is now locked there with her hand, her nails sunk into me. I don't move from my spot, and she seems happy about it. And I'm not too unhappy myself.

**

. . .

Okay . . .

. . . Okay

My grip on his hair was tight, but he doesn't complain, he just makes an 'mmm' sound that reverberates through my whole body and makes me catch me breath. My hip tenses in the position it's in when I thought I'd never be able to use any muscle ever again. He pulls away panting a little, a matching set we are. I think I manage a grin, but I'm out of it, I'm sure he gets the picture. He comes up my body and every part of him is in the just-right spot, *every* part, and I'm so sensitive at the moment that even the slight pressure is making me lock my legs around him.

"Feeling better?"

Better?

Smartass. Like always. And people wonder why I love him, well, *I* wondered . . . I think I got my answer. He's Harry. His thumbs meet my cheeks and I finally realize that my eyes are watery, it just felt so incredible, and frustrating here and there, that I actually cried. Damn and I said I wouldn't do that anymore, at least it was a _good_ reason.

"Kiss me."

"Birthday orders?"

"Just kiss me!" I laugh and his grin meets my lips as he does it, tasting like sex. It jars me for a second, how mind-blowing this moment is. I'm so filled with everything right now I want to tell him that I love him, before, so that he doesn't think that I'm saying it because we're having sex and it's the heat of the moment. Do guys think that way? But I won't, because even if I am in love with him, he probably isn't in love with me, and I don't blame him. It's not mandatory the one you love has to love you back. Unfortunately. But his kiss . . . him . . . that's enough. I love him, and that's enough.

For now I don't think of it, I just reach down to curl my hands around him and take him into me.

**

The way she kisses is unbelievable; it's better than . . . I don't know. Anything with her is better than anything else with anyone. And she wants ME and no one else. A year ago I wouldn't have thought in a million millennia that we'd be in my bed, at my place even. But she's not that person I knew anymore, she's a woman who's gone through too much and still manages to be considerate and strong, and love people . . . Like me.

When she wraps her hand around me I jerk forward. I need a condom. I break away and pull it on quickly, wanting to get back her touch . . . her. I don't drop the rubber once. I come back to her and she's looking up at me with complete reception

Now her hand is drifting down again and she's letting me have her, and it's even more powerful than you'd think. She holds her breath as I meet her entrance, wet and hot, and welcoming. I slide into her slowly and I have to grab handfuls of the pillow at the sensation. I don't want to rush her, but she's tight, and warm. Dana wrapped all around me, moaning just a little, low too.

When I'm fully sheathed inside her I want to swear, like I do when I'm inside Lauren, but it's Dana, and all I can say is her name. Once, twice, then over and over when I'm moving, thrusting into her. Dana. Dana. Dana. Dana.

"Harry!" I grit my teeth to concentrate as she speaks into my ear. Her back arches, hardly noticeably, as her fingernails dig into me, then she arches higher and she can't reach as well, leaving hot burns where her nails refuse to lift from my back. "More, more, more, MORE."

She makes little noises, like whimpers into my ear, my name a desperate little breath among them, making me go faster. I want it good for her, like this, with her . . .

**

The feeling of him inside me is making my heart hurt, filling me up in every way. He's whispering in my ear, things that slip by so fast I don't catch them all. Words about how I feel, how he wants me, needs me, more . . . Beautiful things . . . Then kisses, soft and quick, then slow . . .

I love him.

I love him.

**

"Harry . . ." She's moaning softly, her nails still crossing over the lines she already made, making the pain pleasurable. "Now, Harry, please."

The words are bouncing around in my head. Inside her, fiery, tense, now. Fire, tight fire . . . Dana.

Now.

Now.

"DANA."

**

That 'after bliss' thing? I used to think that was such a crock. The men from the club hardly seem the types to stick around and cuddle. But Harry isn't one of them.

I laugh, a great bubbling, uncontrollable laugh and I turn ever so slightly to Harry's face, half hidden in a pillow and still panting from the incredible intimacy we just shared. He smiles and pulls me closer.

**

Maybe it wasn't the most dignified or gentlemanly thing of me to do but it took a *good* five, long minutes afterwards before I thought I might be crushing her so I managed to make myself leave her body and fall to the side. One arm across her stomach and my faced half smooshed into the pillow I looked at her with a smile that was possibly the biggest I've ever managed, hell I don't think I've ever been this excited *after* sex since my first time. I must have been acting like an ass, like I conquered a mountain or something, but come on, I was with Dana, that's a hell of a thing. But she looked at my stupid grin, still breathing like I ran a marathon, and matched me for it. Laughing even.

Sweaty and sticky, I sidled up to her body and she wrapped an arm around my neck, kissing me.

"Happy Birthday."

"So I gathered," she says before winking. "Seems pretty standard, like what I do everyday."

"Really?" I question, taking care of after-sex necessities and tossing it in the trash.

"Oh, yeah. In fact I plan on doing the same thing tomorrow. I enjoy a good routine," she hints.

Pulling her close and stoking her hip she puts her head on my shoulder, already setting in. "I don't mind a good routine either."

**

I smile against his chest and close my eyes. This is what I needed. Him. I know he must be tired and, hell, I am too, I'm hungry too but there is no way I'm going to be able to leave this bed. If Harry wasn't a big enough pull to stay I think he rendered my legs jelly as well.

A good routine.