Chapter 2

"Mid Life Crisis"

Seth rolled over and placed the newspaper article on the bed side table. Rachel lay beside him, a sheet covering the private parts of her body and she moved a cigarette to her delicate, rose pink lips and inhaled.

"So that's it, your all mine" She smiled sweetly looking up at him as he leant on one arm and hung above her face

"I'm all yours" He smiled and leant down kissing her lips and then running a finger along them gently

"That's perfect" She replied taking another puff from her cigarette "How did you persuade her not to say anything"

"Knowing summer as well as I do, I knew that she wouldn't want the world knowing she had been replaced by something as beautiful as you" Seth ran a hand down her cheek, she was only 8 years younger then him but the age difference was obvious. Her soft skin, her pert breasts and endless legs just made him want her so much.

Something had been lost between him and Summer, they had got married too young and grown tired of each other, well Seth had grown tired of her. Being a household name, girls threw themselves all over him and he had been so wrapped up in Summer that he hadn't even batted an eyelid. But then Rachel had come along, there was something different about her and she offered him time, which Summer no longer had for him.

Her hours at the office got longer and when she came home she was so tired she would just go upstairs and fall asleep. He was only 26 and Seth wanted some fun, late night parties and club openings, that they were always invited to, beckoned. He was suffering from a mid life crisis at the age of 26. 26! Most men hit this stage in their 40's, they needed the urge to be with someone younger then them to make them feel alive and Seth needed that now.

Atomic County was flying off the shelves world wide, action figures were in production and there were talks of animated series and movies. Seth head was in a spin as he looked at the figures of how much money the company was earning. He had grown up surrounded by money, but this was different, it was his, he had made it.

He loved Summer and a part of him always would but they weren't the same people that fell in love in high school and as they grew up, they grew apart. He had been in love with her for so long he figured that he would never want to be with anyone else, but life moves on.

The thing he wanted more then anything was to remain friends with her. For the sake of the business is the reason he gave her, but really he knew deep down that he wouldn't be able to cope with her not being in his life. She was always there when he had needed help and someone to lean on and he couldn't face her not being there.

Summer hadn't meant for it to happen, but it had. His strong arms wrapped around her when she felt dreadful had been the best cure. But no one could know, they both knew that and all they could agree on was it was just about sex. Summer needed someone to hold her and he just needed the company. They had been close friends for ages and one night it just happened. It had only been 2 weeks ago but it felt like years.

And now as she stood there safely wrapped in his arms, her legs felt weak at his touch. His lips slowly kissed the hollow of her neck gently and she moaned quietly needing the release.

He saw the newspaper discarded on the table and he rested his chin on her shoulder

"It will be fine" He said quietly close to her ear

She felt his breath against her neck and it sent shivers down her spine. His words provided her with little comfort but his presence spoke a thousand silent words.

"I know" She sighed "I just wish it wasn't common knowledge"

"Yeh well the reporters always want a story, today's papers will line tomorrows trash cans, I promise" He nibbled on her ear gently and a moan escaped from her mouth

She knew this was the time to ask him what was going on between them but right now she didn't want to know. She didn't want to ruin it with questions, that she didn't want to know the answer to.

She turned around in his arms and kissed him passionately. The touch of his lips on hers made everything disappear, all the hurt, the anguish, the pain and the anger just drained out of her as he devoted all his attention to her.

That was another thing that was different about him, he cared what she wanted, if she called in the middle of the night wanting someone to hold her he would be there. When he was with her, he didn't care if she wanted to talk for hours, he would simply listen, if she cried he would hold her and if she was angry he would let her take her frustration out on him. Seth had never been like that.

She broke apart from him and looked into his eyes, "Thanks Ryan"