Chapter 18: Stag Night

"Indeed. If I'm to participate in the social convention that is the "stag night," then I must embrace all its components, including tobacco, swear words and, yes, alcohol. Jeepers, that's yucky!" - Sheldon

Sheldon had returned to work and he thankfully still had a job. They even had compromised with him, allowing him to work on dark matter if he agreed to teach on certain days. Sheldon loathed teaching but because he was getting what he had wanted, he hadn't complained... that much anyway.

It was the weekend before Howard and Bernadette's wedding, as well as Howard's launch, that the men held their bachelor party. The girls decided to get together as well, claiming it as a girls' night. Penny promised both Sheldon and Carly that it wouldn't end up like the last time- even though she took it upon herself to remind them that if it hadn't been for her that they would probably still be skirting around each other without any intimacy at all.

She was probably right.

However, they were currently skirting around each other since he had gotten back. Sheldon hadn't even tried to kiss her yet and she wondered if he ever would or if she'd have to make the move. Perhaps with everything that happened he was self-conscious. She wasn't sure but she missed it. She wanted to feel his arms around her and his warm mouth on hers, making her mind spin and her heart race.

Carly headed up to 4B that night, wearing an emerald green sweater and a gray knee-length skirt, with dark tights underneath. It was warm and comfortable enough for a time with her friends.

As she reached the fourth floor, she saw Leonard and Sheldon leaving their apartment. As soon Sheldon caught sight of her, he grinned. Her breath hitched.

"Carly! Settle something for me," he told her but allowed her to finish walking up the stairs and approach him to continue.

"What's that?" She asked breathlessly, putting her hands in front of her, threading her fingers. He looked tremendously handsome in his plaid suit and red tie. It was almost too much for her.

Leonard on the other hand rolled his eyes at his roommate. "Just let it go, Sheldon."

Sheldon threw a pointed glare at Leonard before rounding on Carly, making her realize she was going to be brought into an argument between the two.

"Isn't a wonderful train ride through scenic Napa Valley horrendously more appealing for a bachelor party than a stuffy old restaurant that we've never been to?"

Carly bit her lip, glancing at Leonard before holding back a grimace. "Well, although it does sound appealing, the train ride, you have to remember it's about Howard... maybe when you get married you can go on the train," she suggested helpfully, but no sooner had the words absently left her mouth did she realize what she had said and the implications since she was the one currently dating him.

Sheldon's mouth dropped slightly and she looked away with a dark blush, feeling both his and Leonard's eyes search her face for answers she was unwilling to give.

She cleared her throat awkwardly and slid her hair behind her ear, "Um anyway, you all have a nice time! I'll see you later-" she broke off and ran for Penny's door, opening it as quick as she could and closing it behind her before they could say anything else.

"Woah, what's gotten into you?" Penny asked in alarm at her friends' sudden entry.

Carly looked over at her through wide eyes before straightening up, as if nothing had happened. "Nothing," she lied and smiled at her.

Bernadette walked out of Penny's bedroom, coming from the bathroom, and gave her a grin. "Carly! You're here. How's it going?"

"It's going," she said with a smile. Carly was relieved that the attention was off of her odd behavior and walked over to the couch to sit down. Penny was behind her counter filling three glasses of wine up.

There were a cheese and cracker platter on the coffee table. It felt like it would be a nice, relaxing night with just the girls. Carly was glad. After the month she'd had, she looked forward to it.

Bernadette sat beside her as Penny handed them over their glasses, which they took gratefully. "What do you guys want to do tonight?"

Penny shrugged and sat down in her armchair with a glass, crossing her legs to give them a shrug. "Maybe watch a movie? I've been dying to see La La Land."

Bernadette smiled. "That sounds great! I haven't seen it either."

Carly grinned. "I'm in." Yes, it would be nice.

oO0Oo

Leonard held his phone up to his ear, struggling to hear Penny over Sheldon's ridiculously loud voice beside him. He was talking Wil Wheaton's ear off.

"Yeah, can you please come to get us? Sheldon's drunk and obnoxious and I've had a little too much as well," Leonard admitted to his fiancé, regretting his decision to let his roommate drink.

He had been hoping Penny would be his saving grace but instead, she slurred her words. "Can't Leonard- I've drunk a wine bottle and I can't keep my eyes open. Here! Here's Carly, she'll -"

She broke off and Leonard frowned. Of course, Penny had drunk too much. Fearing the worst, he shifted on his feet and heard the other side of the line fumble as if it was being handed over and then Carly answered warily.

"Hey Carly, I'm sorry to bother you but could you pick Sheldon and me up? We need designated drivers," Leonard confessed, thoroughly embarrassed.

She laughed lightly though, putting him at ease. "Of course! I'll be there shortly. I had a feeling this would happen when Bernadette left to go get Howard and Raj," she told him in fond amusement.

Leonard sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank you, Carly. I appreciate it. Will Penny be okay on her own?"

"Ummm," Carly seemed to ponder his question, and then she laughed again. "I think so, she just passed out."

Leonard rolled his eyes with an amused smile. "Of course she did."

Carly chuckled and sounded like she was moving. "She's a handful. Don't worry, I'll cover her up and lock the door behind me. She'll be fine."

They said their goodbyes and Leonard took a deep breath, glancing at Sheldon as he called after Wil exiting the restaurant. He supposed he should go and inform him of the situation.

It didn't take too long for Carly to get there and they were standing out on the curb when she pulled up. Howard and Raj had left a few minutes ago and they were the only ones left to leave.

"Shotgun!" Sheldon declared happily, recklessly throwing open the passenger door. Leonard rolled his eyes and climbed into the back seat.

"Hey guys," Carly greeted them as they buckled up. "How was it?"

Truthfully, she knew how some of it had gone. Unfortunately, they had found a video on Wil Wheaton's YouTube page of Raj giving the low down on all of Howard's sex escapades. Ones that Bernadette hadn't even known about.

Carly was incredibly thankful that she wasn't in that car. She glanced over at Sheldon as he gave her a grin.

"Bizarre," he informed her. "They had portraits of dogs in colonial wear all over the restaurant. I'll probably have nightmares from it."

Carly rose her eyebrows as she drove off and Leonard chuckled from the backseat.

"Everything went great. It was nice," he told her.

Carly smiled. "That's great to hear."

"You know what wasn't nice? The scotch," Sheldon said with a disgusted lilt. "The fact that anyone would enjoy drinking it is beyond me."

Carly glanced at him, becoming a little worried for her boyfriend who never indulged with alcohol. "You had scotch? Isn't that strong?"

"You tell me. He started singing the star-spangled banner out on the curb before you got there," Leonard said and Carly bit her lip, stifling her giggle as she watched the road. She'd never seen Sheldon drunk before.

He seemed rather childish, she thought. He was so adorable.

"Heeey," Sheldon cut them off, sounding alarmed as he looked around the car. "When did we leave the restaurant?"

Carly glanced at him, getting worried. "Just a few minutes ago, Sheldon. Don't worry, we're on our way home."

Sheldon caught her eyes and he visibly relaxed into his seat. "Oh thank goodness," he sighed with relief.

Leonard laughed lightly. "And you thought Penny was a handful."

Carly pressed her lips together as she thought about hoping her boyfriend survived going up the four flights of stairs. This would be fun.

When they returned to the apartment, Carly supported Sheldon the best she could with his arm around her shoulders. It was awkward and clumsy since he was so much taller than her but she seemed to manage.

He was hanging off her in all actuality, grinning from ear to ear, and every so often pressing his nose in her hair and taking long inhales, mumbling to himself about cookies.

He smelled of baby powder and alcohol, his hot breath coming out against the side of her head as they walked up the stairs, making her mildly lightheaded. Leonard walked behind them, making sure they made it up all right.

When they finally made it up to 4A in one piece, Leonard unlocked the door for them.

"All right, Sheldon let's get you ready for bed," she softly coaxed him towards the back of the apartment.

"But I'm thirsty," he complained, looking down at her with a pout. "My tongue feels like sandpaper."

"I'll get you water while you change, here, come on." She led him into the back, leaving Leonard to himself, and opened his bedroom door. As soon as they made it to the bed, he sat down on the edge and looked up at her with big, wide eyes, swaying a little on the bed.

He was so different when he was drunk. It made her head spin. Is this how he had felt when she had thrown herself at him all those months ago?

She put her hands on his shoulders to steady him. "Can you get your pajamas?" She asked him, a bit uncertain with how his eyes were beginning to cross. Goodness, how much had he drunk?

"Of course I can," he told her smartly and waved her off of him to stand up. As soon as he had reached his feet, he wobbled and she caught him as best as she could, her arms around his middle.

"I'll take that as a no," she said with a light laugh at his failed bravado.

Before she could release him to go get a pair of pajamas out, he threw his arms around her and pulled her to him while dropping back down onto the bed, cheek going right against her breasts. Her heart skipped a beat and was positive he could now hear it. "S-Sheldon?"

"Mmm, you smell like sugar cookies again," he said dreamily, making her even more insane when he rubbed his cheek on her chest as if she were a soft pillow. "And your heart's beating so fast. You should probably get that checked out."

A deep blush overtook her face, her hands going to his back to hold herself up and try to bring them back to what she was trying to do. "H-Hey, we should get you changed. I'm sure you don't want to sleep in your blazer."

"Mmm, you're right," he mumbled and after a couple of beats, reluctantly pulled away. She removed her hands from him and watched as he fumbled with his blazer, struggling to get it off with uncoordinated hands.

She took pity on him and helped him remove his arms, carefully folding the jacket and laying it on the chair behind her by the door. She took the moment to close the door for his privacy and then turned back around to him.

Oh dear lord...

He had pulled his tie off and unbuttoned his white striped dress shirt, tugging it aggressively off of himself, before throwing it haphazardly across the room. The tie was also on the floor. Next was his undershirt. Now completely bare from the waist up, her stunned eyes feasted on the soft planes of his chest, his dark nipples, and the small patch of hair that grew between them.

She gulped. This was going to be harder than she thought. "Um, perhaps if you just tell me which pajamas you wear tonight, I can get them for you," she offered, her voice high and cracky.

He looked up at her then and when his eyes caught hers, she felt a jolt in her stomach. How come he had to be drunk for her to see him this way? Even when they had shared a hotel room at comic con, they had respectively gotten dressed in the bathroom. He was absolutely perfect.

She forced her feet to step over to his dresser and pulled open the top drawer. "Which one do you wear on Saturdays?"

"The one on the left," he told her distractedly, kicking his shoes off, and she looked down to consider her options before grabbing the neatly folded set and bringing it over to him. He took it from her then sat it on the bed beside him. "Thank you," he muttered then tried to stand again.

She was nearer now and could see every hair on his chest. She was surprised to have the strange urge to run her fingers through it. She'd done it once briefly. She knew what it felt like.

She was so lost on attempting to control herself that she hadn't realized he had successfully stood, unbuttoned his slacks, and dropped them down to the floor, unashamed.

She let out a gasp, her hand going to her mouth as she saw him in all of his glory, wearing absolutely nothing except a pair of socks and Superman briefs.

Her eyes practically popped out at the hidden bulge evident between his legs. Her mouth went dry. Oh god...

She forced her eyes back to his face and he was staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She bit her lip before clearing her throat awkwardly. "I- um, here," she said hastily, picking the pajamas back up from the bed where he had laid them down and thrusting them at him, averting her eyes to the ceiling.

Was he trying to drive her crazy?

He took the pajamas and slid the shirt on, not buttoning it, then pulled the pants on- covering himself from her eyes and allowing her to breathe easier.

"O-Okay, um do you still want water?" She stammered, her heart racing out of her chest at the image she could now not get out of her mind. She needed to get out of the room before she did something she'd regret.

"No," he stared, sounding clearer than he had and that made her look back to him in surprise. His chest was still visible to her as he had yet to button the shirt. He wasn't swaying any longer on his feet and she wondered if he was beginning to sober. "I want to kiss you."

Carly's heart stopped at the bold declaration. They hadn't kissed since he had left and the situation was reminding her of their first all over again. Except for this time, their roles were reversed.

"P-Perhaps we should wait, you know until, tomorrow when you're not-"

"You don't want to kiss me anymore?" He asked her, sounding hurt. His sad eyes searched hers for answers and she quickly backtracked in panic.

"No that's not what I mean! I just don't want you to be taken advantage of or anything since you know you're... drunk."

Sheldon took a step towards her and she gulped again. Oh no. "I'm in complete control over my faculties," he informed her, his tongue darting out to lick his lips.

His eyes dropped to her mouth of their own accord and she bit her lip nervously.

He sounded like he was in complete control but just a few minutes ago he hadn't been. Could she believe him? She desperately wanted to kiss him, run her hands over his chest, press herself against him - but she also didn't want to do anything he'd regret. She had promised herself she'd take it slow with him since he'd gotten back. This wouldn't be taking it slow.

The way he was looking at her though. It had her swaying on her feet too.

"May I?" He asked her, his voice dropping to a polite murmur, sending little thrills through her body. How was she supposed to resist him?

Heart hammering in her chest she tried to appease him. "How about I give you a goodnight kiss and then you go to bed to sleep off the scotch and we revisit this tomorrow?"

Sheldon quirked an eyebrow as a small smirk grew on his face as if he knew he would win. She bit her lip at the look. "Counter proposal: we make out like two hippies at a love inn and then if I feel like I'm satisfied, I go to sleep."

Carly groaned and put her face in her hands. "You're making this so difficult!"

"What's so difficult about it?" He was actually confused.

She shook her head, her fingertips pressing on her forehead. "Sheldon, you're drunk. You wouldn't be doing any of this if you weren't."

She heard his footsteps approach her then and she was too afraid to peek through her fingers at him, worried she would let him do whatever he wanted if she saw him.

He decided for her when he pulled her hands away from her face with prying fingers. "How do you know that?" He asked her softly and she opened her eyes to find him staring down at her with a gentle expression. Like he was earnest. Like he meant it.

It made her heart ache with love for him despite the revelation.

He ran a delicate hand down her cheek to cup her jaw, creating tingles along the skin and causing her heart to begin racing again as she stared back into his beautiful blue eyes. Eyes that conveyed everything he felt for her. Her lips trembled.

"I dream about you all the time," he admitted but didn't look embarrassed like she assumed he would be if he didn't have liquid courage on his side. "All the time," he repeated in a lower register, his eyes darkening as if seeing things she couldn't.

She swallowed and bit her lip, her breathing picking up at his gaze. His thumb caressed her cheek and his eyes dropped to her mouth. "I need to kiss you, Carly, please let me-" he broke off, sounding pained with furrowed eyebrows. As if it would hurt him if he wasn't able to.

Carly briefly closed her eyes at his plea, knowing she wasn't going to be able to refuse. She couldn't. Heart racing so fast it left her breathless, she looked back up at him just in time to see him leaning down toward her.

She took that as her cue and met him, standing on her toes to catch his lips in an equally tender and passionate kiss. It was all she had ever wanted. He moaned lightly at the feel of her kiss and it made her lightheaded.

Her feet teetered, her knees going weak, and he surprised her by catching her swiftly with his hands, holding her flush up against him to keep her from falling.

His arms wound around her as hers went around his neck, kissing each other softly, caressingly, remembering each other after several weeks of going without. She felt like she had been starving, dehydrated and the only way to quench her thirst was to kiss him.

Then they were moving and she gasped as she felt herself falling forwards. She landed on top of him, her legs struggling to straddle him to keep herself from awkwardly falling over.

During the movement, their lips broke apart and she stared down at him through wondrous eyes, her long hair curtaining their faces as she held herself up with hands on either side of his head.

He gave her a small smile in response and slid his hands up her back, feeling her through the sweater she was wearing. She glanced down helplessly, seeing how the pajama shirt splayed open at his sides, revealing all of his chest to her in its glory.

"I missed this," he whispered and she gave his eyes another look, the words she desperately had been yearning for while he was gone embracing her heart. "I missed you."

"I missed you, Sheldon," she murmured. Suddenly it didn't feel like he was drunk anymore. It was just him. In the back of her mind, though, she knew the scotch was loosening his tongue whether he liked it or not.

Or perhaps this is what he wanted to be like, how he felt normally, but was too afraid to let himself.

His hands slid experimentally down her legs on either side of his hips and she wished that she hadn't decided to wear tights so she could feel those large hands caress her bare skin. Even so, the warm tingles he created in their wake made her shudder.

She leaned down then and kissed him, unable to help herself, showing him with her mouth just how he affected her. His words, his touch- everything.

He returned the kiss heatedly, latching his hands back to her waist and holding her there. It felt sweet but it was slowly becoming more sensual as they opened their mouths and his tongue found hers. It sent a hot thrill through her with her body.

He moaned softly into the kiss, tasting every aspect of her mouth. She idly thought he tasted of scotch and something else and melted into it, abandoning herself to him. She needed him so badly.

She had needed him for so long and although they had put the past month behind them, she was still recovering. She still needed to convince herself that he was there with her. She had been a shell of herself without him, never expecting to feel so utterly lost with him gone. How had he enraptured her so quickly in just a matter of a few months?

His hands moved back down to her thighs, squeezing and caressing. She absently pressed herself closer to him, needing to feel him as much as possible. She slid a hand down to his chest, relishing in the soft, wiry hairs upon it. She ran tentative fingers over a nipple and his breath hitched into the kiss, his hands tightening on her, spurring her on.

She had never touched him like this before and she found it exciting, exhilarating. She broke from his mouth, trailing sloppy hot kisses down his jaw, his breath coming out in heavy pants against her hair. His hands slid over her posterior, her skirt up to her waist now.

"Mmm," she moaned low in her throat while moving herself down, needing more access to his neck and collarbone. He sucked in a breath as she hit a sensitive spot, his fingertips pressing in response.

Her nose skid along where his chest hair began, running her mouth down the planes and lines, and then over to a nipple, encasing her mouth around it.

His response was surprising. A hand went to her hair immediately, tangling itself in it as he let out a surprised groan. "Ca-Carly..."

She glanced upwards at him then, her tongue rolling over the hardened nipple experimentally, to see him looking down at her in awe with darkened eyes. Like he hadn't thought of doing that.

Mind spinning with arousal, she let his nipple go, and no sooner had she done so that he grabbed her by the face, bringing her back up to his mouth for a fierce kiss. His lips were hot, wet, and needy. She kissed him back with just as much fervor, her body running along the length of him and feeling just how he was reacting to her.

He broke off abruptly and her whole body spun. She was shocked to be flipped over so suddenly, with him hovering above her. She gasped, but it wasn't even another second longer before his mouth was kissing down her neck and pulling her sweater away from her shoulder to press hot kisses to it.

She moaned, panting herself at how excited he was making her. A hand ran down the side of her, hesitating where her sweater had risen to reveal a sliver of skin. His fingers trailing over it, along with his open mouth sucking and licking at her skin had her trembling with need underneath him.

He rocked his hips into her absently, needing to feel the friction against her, and he groaned, thinking she tasted just like she smelled. Even better than she smelled. He had never even thought it would be possible to want someone this much.

He knew that he was still intoxicated but he couldn't stop. No. Not at the moment. He needed more of her. Just her. Just Carly. He'd been deprived of her for so long. Laying underneath him, panting and moaning for him, it unleashed a primal instinct inside of him he didn't know he had.

How she made him feel inside and out. He needed that. She made him feel strong, invincible. She wanted him. Needed him. Loved him.

His hand slid upwards under the sweater she wore, needing to feel that soft skin that plagued his dreams ever since he had seen it on display in that bikini at comic con. His eidetic memory remembered exactly how it looked, and now he wanted to touch it.

She whimpered under him, her breath hitching and her hands slipping under the pajama shirt he wore, feeling his shoulders that tensed underneath them. The shirt slid down to his elbows, but he wasn't caring about it.

No, he was busy sliding his hand up across her soft stomach and up to her where her brassiere wa-

He froze.

His eyes flew open and he lifted his head, looking at her stunned. "You're not- you don't have... a brassiere-"

She shook her head, her voice was raspy and full of desire that made his head spin. "I don't wear one when I wear a thick sweater."

He gulped, his fingers brushing along the underside of her soft mounds of flesh, begging for him to touch it. "Do you ever wear one?" He whispered curiously, remembering how she hadn't worn one to bed either.

She laughed despite herself and he blinked uneasily. "Of course I do. Just not when I can help it. It's my advantage for not having big ones."

Big ones. No, she definitely didn't have big ones. He was very all right with that.

For some reason, he felt shy, his heart racing in his chest. He lowered his eyes to where his hand was, under the sweater and causing a disturbance to the material. The bottom of the sweater was bunched up around his arm, exposing creamy skin to his curious eyes.

At his silence and hesitance, Carly slid a hand to his hair, running her fingers through it softly. He looked up at her then and she gave him a small encouraging smile. Or at least he thought it was encouraging.

He dropped his head to her shoulder, feeling like he was suddenly doing something embarrassing but too curious to stop. He'd never gotten this far before with her. He didn't want to stop.

He needed to know what it felt like. What she felt like.

Swallowing down his nerves, he pressed his mouth to the side of her neck and went for it. Fingertips graced over the soft, pliable flesh until he felt the small, tiny pebble of a nipple.

Her breath hitched in his ear and her hands grabbed at his bareback, startling him because he hadn't realized his shirt had fallen, but he was glad it did. Her hands felt so good on him.

She moaned quietly and arched her back a little, pressing herself into his hands and mesmerizing him. He was doing this to her. He was making her feel his way. It was invigorating. She felt amazing.

He experimented with her breast, caressing, squeezing but it wasn't enough. He needed more of her. It was making him go insane. Remembering what she had done to him prior, and how it had felt, he wondered if she would enjoy it as well.

But he'd need to remove the sweater and there was no going back then. His heart pounded with nerves and need, then made himself sit up. He looked down and saw the desire, the want for him in her eyes. Her pupils were dilated, her mouth was flushed and open, panting heavily with force.

He gulped and withdrew his hands. It surprised her and she looked up at him, almost worried. "What's wrong?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Nothing it's just... I want to-" he broke off, his mouth running dry. "May I, um- can I remove your sweater?" He licked his lips nervously, hoping he didn't sound like an idiot to her.

He hated his lack of experience.

Her eyes widened slightly and instead of voicing her answer she dropped her hands and grabbed the hem of her sweater. His eyes latched onto the action and watched as she slid it up, up, and then finally over her head.

"Oh dear lord," he muttered, taking in her bare breasts for the first time. They were very small, but oh so feminine and oh god- it was enough to send him into a full-blown panic of how aroused he was.

She shrugged her arms out of the offending sweater and dropped it by her head on the bed. When she looked back up at him, his eyes were running over her body with greed and it made her bite her lip anxiously.

"God you're so beautiful," he whispered breathlessly before lowering his head to press a soft kiss to the top of her chest. She sucked in for air at his words and his mouth so close to her breast, leaning her head back to allow him full access. He ran his nose down her skin, giving her goosebumps as he got close and closer to her nipple.

She'd never been so exposed before. It was awkward but so thrilling. To have Sheldon see her this way, was too much.

She lay her hands down by her face, allowing him the full range to do what he wanted to her. He appreciated it and trailed kisses around her breasts, avoiding the nipple completely and making her go crazy. She fidgeted under him, feeling his erection press against her thigh. "Oh..."

Sheldon opened his mouth, darting his tongue out to lick her skin around the nipple, drawing a surprised moan out of her. Good lord, how was he doing this to her?

Her sounds were spurring him on, relaxing his nerves and suddenly he was grabbing her sides and caressing anywhere he could find, while using his mouth and tongue to kiss and lick her breasts, making her writhe under him.

Then he did it. He fully captured a nipple in his mouth and sucked lightly, and she almost came off the bed. She felt a rush of wetness engulf her. "Oh!" She gasped out, mystified by both his mouth, the feelings he was creating, and her reaction to them.

She had never imagined this being as extraordinary as it was.

He pulled off of her nipple with a pop and he stunned her by lifting his gaze to grin at her boyishly, thoroughly enjoying himself. The sight of it made her heart stop and she couldn't form coherent thoughts to respond to him.

He grabbed her other breast with his hand, palming it and squeezing it, her body hot and needy and needing him. She couldn't take it anymore. She needed to feel him.

She pushed him back slightly and he looked at her in confusion before he sat back on his knees, she drew herself up and latched onto him, her arms wrapping around his neck and pulling his mouth to hers.

He met hers with just as much want, a dam suddenly breaking between them. Their hands roamed, their noses pressed tightly against each other, their breaths heavy when they broke for air in between kisses. His hands were at his newest discovery, feeling every part of her bare body: her breasts, her nipple, her stomach, her back- everything.

She was sliding her own over his chest, his shoulders, dropping the shirt from his elbows to the bed to leave them both exposed from the waist up.

She then pressed herself against him, needing to feel his bare skin against hers and the moment her breasts hit his chest, they both groaned in unison. Neither had felt such an amazing sensation.

His hands tangled themselves in her hair, tilting her head to kiss her senseless. Her hands slid over his shoulders, clutching him to her- never intending to ever let him go...

But then he was pulling away, breaking apart from her and putting a foot of distance between them. It was like waking up from a dream. A very hot, sexy dream.

His hand held her shoulder as they both tried to slow their breathing.

She looked up at him through heavy eyes and saw the widened, scared look in his. He was panicking.

She frowned. He was stopping it. He didn't want to go any further, she realized. The scotch had done its job but it wouldn't make him lose all of his inhibitions.

She dropped away from him on the bed and he put his hands on his knees to calm himself. She couldn't help but curiously glance down between them and see the bulge in his pajama pants, knowing she had been the reason for it.

She darted her eyes away as she trembled, feeling more turned on than she ever had in her life. Her whole body felt like it was on fire.

"S-Sorry," he rasped out, unable to look at her. "I can't- I just can't."

His voice shook with emotion and she snapped her eyes up to him, worried he was going to cry but he didn't look to be crying. Just anguished. Frustrated.

"It's okay, Sheldon. I understand, it's okay," she assured him, despite herself. The fact that he still wanted her was enough for now.

He looked away from them, ashamed of himself and she caught it. She got back onto her knees and reached over, intent on touching him but he got off the bed so fast it left her dazed.

He ran a stressed hand through his hair and then looked down at the floor. "I can't, Carly. If you touch me then I'll do something I'll regret."

So he did want her just as much as she wanted him. But he wasn't ready. Her heart hammered in her chest, relishing in the thought. He wanted her.

"It's okay. Here I'll- I'll put this back on," she offered and turned, grabbing her sweater.

"That's probably a good idea," he told her with a firm nod. She slid her arms through and put the sweater back on, then got off the bed, adjusting her skirt.

"Is this better?" She asked him timidly and he glanced up at her, trailing his eyes down over her.

"Yes but I now know exactly what you look like and it's burned into my brain forever," he told her seriously, making her breathless at the intensity of his words and eyes.

"Oh," she let out dumbly. If he was trying to stop their behavior, he was doing a bad job of it. Was he going to be thinking of her like that even after she left?

The idea of him pleasuring himself made her body get hot all over again.

"You should sleep," she told him instead. She needed to go before she also did something she'd regret.

"I'm not tired," he told her and she bit her lip, thinking she wasn't tired either, before smiling softly.

"Either way, I should go," she told him. "It's late."

Sheldon nodded, glancing over at her finally. "Very well."

Carly hesitated, not wanting to leave him. Not after everything they had just done. He caught on to her reluctance and looked up at her in question.

"Aren't you leaving?" He asked in confusion.

She nodded. "Yes, I..." She trailed off much to his chagrin.

"Yes, you what?" He eyed her as she looked away awkwardly.

"I'm having a hard time wanting to leave you," she admitted honestly and chanced a glance at him.

Sheldon softened. "Of course you are," he said with a smile. That broke her and she laughed lightly. He was always so cute.

When she still didn't leave, Sheldon approached her. "Are you okay?"

Carly nodded and felt her face flush, affected by his nearness. "F-Fine," she stammered embarrassingly and he frowned.

"Why don't I believe you?"

Carly let out a breath. "Because I'm lying," she confessed and put her warm face in her hands. After a couple of beats, Sheldon once again took her hands away and caressed them gently in his hold. She bit her lip with embarrassment.

"Why are you lying to me?"

Carly looked away from his searching blue orbs. "I want you," she admitted in the tiniest of voices. She could barely hear herself, but he definitely did with his Vulcan hearing because he sucked in a breath and dropped her hands.

She felt rejected at the loss of touch but tried hard not to take personal offense. "I knew you wouldn't want to hear it so that's why I lied," she told him honestly.

"You didn't need to lie," he told her, clearing his throat and crossing his arms over his still bare chest. "And I do want to hear it. It's a relief honestly because I want you to. But we can't Carly. Not right now."

Carly felt relief at his words but was still disappointed. She nodded. "I know Sheldon."

"What we did tonight is leaps and bounds away from what I would normally be comfortable with. In the past, I would have never thought about touching you... there," he continued, needing for her to understand where he was coming from.

But he didn't need to explain. She knew. Of course, she knew. "I know. But... did you like it?" She wondered to him. "You know, for the experiment."

Sheldon licked his lips nervously and attempted to act casual about it. Inside he was remembering exactly what he had done, how she had felt, her sounds- he struggled to keep his voice level. "It was new to me but... yes. I wouldn't object to doing it again in the future."

Carly's heart skipped and she smiled then. They had picked up where they had left off then, she thought. "That's great. I'm glad to hear it. I do have to admit, I enjoy seeing you without a shirt." To prove her point she reached over and slid a finger down his chest, running through his chest hair.

She loved him so much.

He caught her hand swiftly before she could touch him any longer and she snapped her gaze up to his face to see his eyes closed briefly before opening slowly, looking as if he was trying to have patience. "Carly... please. You're not making this easier for me."

Carly knew he was right but she hadn't been able to help herself. "Sorry," she told him with a small smile. She went to pull her hand back but he didn't release it. Instead, he lifted it to his mouth and pressed a warm lingering kiss to her palm, his eyes capturing hers as he did so revealing exactly what he was thinking.

She gulped. She needed to go.

He finally released her and she pulled back her tingling hand, holding it to her chest. "Goodnight Sheldon," she said weakly.

He smiled at her then, seemingly knowing how she was swooning over him. "Goodnight Carly."

She hurriedly left him there in his room. On her way out, she didn't see Leonard, and so she slipped out of the apartment quietly in case he was sleeping.

Alone in her apartment, she stripped down to her cotton underwear and jumped into her cold sheets, it cooling off her hot skin. She stared at the ceiling, unable to wrap her mind around the fact that Sheldon had not only saw her topless but had sucked and licked every part of her chest. She shuddered, feeling again the gush of wetness between her legs.

She grabbed her second pillow and put it on her face. She would never get sleep that night.

Surprise! For those of you still reading this story, I want you to know that from here on out, this story will be updated Monday's and Fridays. It is now completed and has a total of 33 chapters. I hope you enjoy them! Thank you again to all who have supported the past chapters and how slow I've updated. I needed to make sure I finished the story while also promising updates at a consistent rate!

See you on Friday! Sheldon's going to have another freak out haha - when will he get better at these things? Well, we love him anyways.