Epilouge

Taking a vacation in the sunny hills of California had been one the best ideas Daphne ever had. Every day spent here with Fred was gradually erasing the heartbreaking memories of the last few months.

The couple had spent the days swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the privacy afforded by the tall fences for more…pleasurable activities.

Fred lounged on a floating raft, half asleep from the calming waves of the pool. He didn't notice a sneaky, red-headed woman slip under the water. Being careful not to splash, she swam silently underneath him. Bracing her feet and pushing upwards, she sent him crashing into the water.

He popped up immediately, shaking the water from his hair as he gave chase. Daphne was much faster, both of them laughing as they circled each other in the wide pool.

Determined to win, Fred swam to the steps, blocking the only exit. Flashing a charming smile, he purred, "Sorry, Miss Blake. There's no where else to run. Time to pay your dues."

Placing her hands on her hips, she giggled, "Oh, is that so?"

Turning around, she climbed out of the pool without using the steps and ran to the sliding glass door of her parent's cottage

"That's cheating, you know." Fred called out.

"Only if you tell," she said with a wink.

Swimming to the edge, Fred held Daphne's eyes. Without a word and only a mischevious smile, she reached up and undid the ties that were holding her bikini top in place. Fred was fixated on her every move and watched as her loose top fluttered to the ground.

Making no move to cover herself, she saw his gaze go from her discarded top, straight back up to her breasts. His fingers twitched as he watched her nipples peak in the afternoon breeze. Sliding open the glass door behind her, she wordlessly beckoned Fred to join her with an index finger.

As if enchanted by a spell, Fred was powerless as he climbed out and followed her. It's a good thing she wasn't secretly a masked villain, because he could easily be her willing henchman, do anything she bid him. In all his years of being her friend, co-worker, and lover, he had never mastered the art of telling Daphne "no".

Once inside, she presented an alluring picture, already lying down on the bed with her hair fanned out across the blanket. Fred stopped when his knees touched the mattress, but he didn't join her, not yet.

Confused at his hesitance, she asked, "I'm laying here half naked, how much more convincing do you need?"

He kept grinning, but didn't answer, bending down to place a kiss to the side of her ankle.

"Mmmm," she sighed, "Whatever trap you're planning won't work. Just come over here."

"You don't get off the hook that easy. It's time to pay up for pushing me off that raft." He said as he placed another gentle kiss to the top of her shin.

"That tickles," she laughed.

This time he kissed right above her knee, before moving upwards to brush his lips across her thigh. Her breathing hitched as his mouth passed over her mound, landing in a kiss right above her bottoms.

She huffed, about to complain, when his fingers grazed ever so lightly across the material. Teasing her senseless before sliding the final covering down her legs.

Growing inpatient with his tormenting touches, she tried to pull him up to her, but Fred pushed her hands away.

"I told you, Daph. You have debts to pay," he explained, noticing her confusion.

And without giving her any time to process his words, he bent down and finally kissed her heated center, right where wanted him.

Suddenly breathless at the sensation, she looked down, eyes wide in shock, "We've never actually…done that together."

He chuckled against her core and the vibrations sent stars to the edges of her vision.

"First time for everything, I suppose," he said.

Seeing Fred doing something that was so drastically intimate was easily the most erotic thing that Daphne had ever witnessed. And god, he really was good at it, completely confident in his skills. For a split second she was filled with jealously. He had to have learned this talent from someone, but then again…she may have to thank them instead.

The noises he made while he gave her clit his utmost attention were sloppy and obsene, adding to the pleasure already building tightly in her belly.

The sounds coming from her own mouth were just as lewd. At first, she tried biting her lip to supress her moans, and then abandoned that plan all together as pointless when she openly cried out.

Pulling his mouth away without warning, Fred's expression was anxious, desperately wanting her approval, "So, what do you think so far?"

She scowled, "Don't you dare think of stopping now, Fred Jones."

Her serious veneer cracked and she grinned as she pushed his head down again between her thighs.

XXXXXX

An hour later, they lay intertwined together, damp with sweat and exhausted, but sated.

Fred was absently playing with her hair, twirling a few loose strands around his finger. He watched as her eyes became heavy, both of them still drunk on post-sex endorphins.

When he spoke, it was a breathy whisper, "I love you."

Daphne lifted her head up from his chest, "Even after…well…everything?"

Fred grinned, "Yeah. I really do."

When she didn't answer he continued, "I've been trying to tell you that for ages. But you never let me finish."

Daphne smiled. His words had left her heart feeling warm, but Fred wasn't done, "You're so beautiful…"

Laughing, she waved him away, "Not like this. I'm all sweaty, and I know I smell like chlorine."

Fred shook his head, "Exactly like this. In fact, I want to remember you like this forever."

Reaching over to the nightstand, he grabbed his cell phone and flipped the camera to selfie mode. Cuddling up tight to her, he snapped the photo, making sure it was modest and only showing from their necks up.

Grinning proudly, he showed her the snapshot, "See? You're absolutely gorgeous."

Daphne didn't want to admit that he was right, but it really was a nice picture. "We do look good together."

Taking his phone back, he kissed her on the head, "I think I'm going to frame this one."