A/N: Thanks for all the kind words about the last chapter. I really do appreciate them. Obviously I've never written a 'first time' before so I was a little nervous about how it would turn out. But it seems that I wasn't too bad at it.
A/N2: I'm getting a bit of encouragement (and a few threats) about continuing this story, but it's not going to happen. I have almost finished Chapter 25 and that will be it and I'll take a break. I know that some writers seem to be able to take things easily and update every week or so but once I get started on a story they seem to take over my life and I can think of little else. And so I need to write in spurts. Of course that doesn't mean that there won't be a sequel some time in the future. And your encouragement certainly helps. I had offered this idea up to a few other writers who chose not to go with it and now I'm glad because I have enjoyed writing this. Now I'll stop chatting and put up the next chapter.

Chapter 24

They lay quietly in each others arms for quite some time until Ryan asked "Are you hungry now?"

"Only for more of you." Marissa replied. "It seems that you've awakened a new appetite in me."

"Well I'm not going anywhere." Ryan replied. "But I think that you should take it slowly. This is all new and your body may object. Are you sure that it didn't hurt too much?"

"It hurt a little." She replied honestly. "But the pleasure that came after it more than made up for it." She explained. "And guess what?"

"What?" he asked picking up on her good mood?

"It fits." She laughed.

"Thank goodness for that." He replied laughing with her. "I told you that it would be the right size." He assured her. "I think that we were made for one another."

"I think so too." She agreed kissing him sweetly.

"But this weekend is all about you." Ryan assured her. "So you need to decide what would you like to do now?"

"What are my choices?" Marissa asked.

"Well … I thought that maybe you'd like a relaxing bath. Kirsten picked out some aromatherapy bath oils that she assured me would relax you."

"Did Kirsten know what I would be relaxing after?" Marissa asked.

Ryan shook his head. "No. I think that she probably suspects that we might be sleeping together by the end of the weekend. I'm sure that she figured out just how much you mean to me. But she has no idea that you are … oops sorry … were … a virgin."

Marissa smiled. The fact that he'd kept her virginal state a secret meant a lot to her after the horrors of Spencer. "It is past tense, isn't it?" she admitted, smiling.

Ryan nodded. "Afraid so. You can't get it back."

"I don't want it back." She assured him. "But Kirsten did know that I was a virgin." She corrected him.

Ryan frowned "How would she know something like that? Surely she didn't ask you?" he felt mortified that Kirsten may have grilled Marissa about her past.

"No. It just sort of slipped out when we were talking." Marissa explained.

Ryan shook his head. "I can't believe the intimate details that you two seem to have covered and yet you were virtual strangers. What should I expect when you actually get to know one another?"

Marissa laughed. "I think that it will be great to have someone that I can talk to about virtually anything. My mother has never been that sort of person."

"You can talk to me." Ryan pointed out.

"Yes. I can. But it's still nice to be able to get another woman's perspective sometimes and Molly's ideas can be a little 'out there'." Marissa explained.

"Why does that not surprise me?" he laughed. "However I will always be in her debt. She did send me to help you with your 'problem'."

"It's not a problem any more." Marissa laughed. "So are you going to share this bath with me?" she asked.

"I'm not sure how relaxing it would be if I was in there with you?" Ryan admitted.

"Why don't we give it a try and find out." Marissa suggested as she moved to stand up and as she did so she realised that there was a spot of red on the soft blanket that they had been lying on. She was instantly embarrassed. "I'm so sorry."

Ryan looked at her lovingly. "Don't be." He said as he shook his head and picked up the blanket. "It can be washed and no one but us need ever know."

Marissa held him to her, burying her head in his chest. He was everything that she'd ever dreamed of.

---

Sometime later they emerged from the bathroom. Marissa had tried to convince Ryan to do it again in the bath but he had resisted, assuring her that they had plenty of time but that he didn't want her to over do it and end up so sore that she'd barely be able to walk on her birthday. That would really have her guests wondering. He'd gently dried her and then led her into his bedroom where another gift was sitting on the end of his bed.

"More?" she asked as he picked it up and handed it to her.

"There all just small." He explained.

She sat on the end of the bed with only a towel wrapped around her and lifted the lid from the box and then very slowly removed the contents. Nestled in tissue paper, was a beautiful white velour bath wrap. She looked up at Ryan completely over come by her feelings for him yet again.

"I thought that you might need something to wear until Molly brings your things over tomorrow." He explained. "And then maybe you can leave it here." He shrugged shyly "For when you stay over."

The inference that she would be spending a lot more time with him, not lost on her and it was almost another gift in itself. Marissa dropped the towel and pulled on the wrap. It was soft and luxurious on her bare skin. "Molly's coming over tomorrow?" she queried.

"Only to drop off some of your things." He explained. "I couldn't very well ask you to pack a bag without spoiling the surprise. But I figured that if you were going to stay here until your party then you would need some other clothes to wear."

"Maybe I won't wear any?" Marissa suggested.

"Really?" Ryan queried. "You don't think that you'll get cold?"

"I could always wear something of yours." Marissa offered.

"I can just see you arriving at your 21st birthday party dressed in my clothes. That should go over well." He laughed.

"I'm starting to think that I don't want a party. I'd rather just stay here with you." She said pulling him towards her. He had just pulled on boxers and donned a fresh t-shirt.

"That does sound good." He said kissing her. "But I think that we should go and eat dinner now, before it's completely dried out."

"I'm not really hungry Marissa replied … except for you."

Ryan grinned. "And I keep telling you, I'm not going anywhere. But you need to keep your energy levels up. I think that you're going to need them."

---

After dinner there was no way that Ryan could stop Marissa from escorting him to his bed. Nor did he want to.

She had a new skill that she wanted to practise and he was more than happy to oblige.

What he hadn't been expecting was how adventurous she would be. He'd thought that they would be sticking purely to the missionary position for the foreseeable future but it seemed that Marissa had very different ideas. She wanted to put her library research to the test. And who was he to refuse her? After all it was her birthday weekend and she was the boss.

He had been concerned that she may have still been tender from their previous activities and he'd intended to take it very slowly again but as he'd gone to roll on top of her she had stopped him and declared that she wanted to try being on top.

He figured who was he to deny her the experience? And so he'd lain back on the bed as Marissa straddled him … grinding into him as their lips fused together until she could take no more. She'd sheathed him quickly and then had positioned herself above him and then gently lowered herself on to him. He wanted desperately to push in to her but he stayed perfectly still, not wanting to chance hurting her. At least this way she could control the rhythm.

Marissa slowly tried moving upon him, finding out what felt good and within a very short time she was riding him like a pro, her breasts bouncing as he held her hips and drove into her. This time there was no holding back as they tried to satiate their need for one another both pushing themselves to new levels until their bodies could take no more? They reached a cataclysmic orgasm within moments of one another and Marissa collapsed onto his chest completely and utterly spent.

---

Saturday morning dawned brightly but it made little difference to the two naked bodies curled tightly together in Ryan's bed. Neither wanted to move. Ryan was spooned around Marissa's back his arms holding her closely to him. They had had an interrupted night's sleep but neither would change it for the world. Twice, Ryan had woken to the feel of Marissa's hands running over him, closely followed by her lips and he quickly joined in with the exploration games that she seemed so intent on. He was amazed at her stamina but delightedly so. Lying there he couldn't help but lose himself in thoughts of the feeling of finally being able to consummate their relationship. It was better than anything that he'd ever imagined. As he laid thinking about what it was like to finally make love to her, his body started to react and he wondered if maybe this time he could be the one to wake her, when he felt Marissa move. She rolled onto her back and smiled at him.

"Hey." She offered up softly.

Ryan kissed her gently on the tip of her nose. "Hey."

"I could get used to waking up like this." She said moving in his arms until they were face to face.

"Me too." He said bringing his lips to hers and kissing her deeply.

After some time she pulled back a little and asked. "What's for breakfast?"

Ryan laughed. "I was about to say me but I get the feeling that you're looking for actual food?"

"Well I did work up quite an appetite." Marissa explained.

"Yes you did." He commented indulgently. "How about I make you some pancakes?" he suggested assuming that the other type of 'activities' would have to wait until later.

"Mmm. That's sounds good. But …" Marissa started.

"But?" Ryan questioned.

"I was thinking that perhaps we should have a shower first?" she suggested.

"When you say 'we' do you mean …?" he asked.

Marissa smiled. "I mean 'WE'." She explained. "As in 'together'." She replied.

Ryan could feel his dick spring back to attention. For a moment there he'd been thinking about pancake batter but all of a sudden things had taken quite a different turn.

Marissa smiled as she felt his arousal. "Well somebody thinks that it's a good idea." She said grasping his firmness in her hand.

"I assure you that all of me thinks that it's a good idea." Ryan replied as he removed the covers and picked Marissa up in his arms moving in to the bathroom with her.

He gently placed her on the ground and turned on the taps waiting for the water to heat up.

Once inside the shower stall, Ryan lathered his hands and slowly and gently started to run them over Marissa as he cleansed her body. She returned the favour. But the paths of both their hands were leaving trails of fire in their wake. They were staring intently into one another's eyes, the lust evident and playing a silent game to see who would crack first.

Not a word was said as Marissa moved her hands lower, wrapping one soapy hand around his erection as Ryan's fingers sought out her folds and he slipped a finger inside her.

Marissa leant back against the wall of the shower parting her legs to give him better access and pulling him towards her. Her intent was obvious as she guided his dick towards her centre.

Ryan hesitated. "I haven't got a condom."

Marissa shook her head. "Please. I'm on the pill. Just once let me feel the real you." She pleaded. "Without the rubber. I just want to know what it's like. You can pull out before the end." She suggested.

There was no way that Ryan could deny her request. He pressed his chest against hers, their slick skins supersensitive as they moved against one another and then he ran his hands down over her rear and lifted her slightly until she was at the right height and he nudged his hardness at her entry. Finding her ready, Ryan plunged into her. Marissa wrapped her legs around him holding him deep within her as her internal walls tightened their grip on him. It was all he could do not to come on the spot. She felt so good.

Marissa's head was pinned back against the wall. Her eyes were closed and he hesitated momentarily. Both because he was concerned that he was hurting her and because he needed to regain some control.

Marissa's eyes opened and she stared at him their eyes connecting at one end as their bodies connected at the other.

"I love you." She whispered, so softly that he wondered for a moment if he'd imagined it.

But it was there, written in her eyes.

"I love you too." He replied and then … very slowly … he began to move within her. But the feeling of her walls tight around him was so perfect that he knew that he would have no chance of holding on until he could satisfy her. His senses were on total overload. Nothing … had ever … felt … this good. He plunged into her again and again and he could feel the tug in his balls threatening to explode. He quickly withdrew, resting Marissa back onto the floor and grabbing at this dick at the same time as he came all over Marissa's stomach.

He looked up into eyes. "I'm sorry." He said trying to clean up and wash off the evidence of his haste.

Marissa smiled. "I guess that means that you liked it too?"

Ryan stopped what he was doing and met her eyes. "You have no idea."

"I think that I have some idea." She suggested, the flush of her excited state still evident on her cheeks.

Ryan smiled. "I guess that you do." He said. "Just give me a minute." He suggested. "And I'll see if I can help with that." He said as he slid to his knees and spread her legs wide, his tongue zeroing in on the centre of her pleasure.

---

After finishing in the shower, they dried off and then made their way back in to the bedroom. Marissa donned her new robe over her naked body and as Ryan dropped the wet towel on the floor and went to get dressed Marissa stopped him.

"Who said that you could get dressed?" she asked smiling.

Ryan turned his head to look at her, the boxers half way up his leg. "Excuse me?"

"I thought that I was the boss?" Marissa asked.

"You are." He replied.

"For the whole weekend?" she reminded him.

Ryan nodded. "So what am I supposed to do? Walk around naked?" he asked.

"Sounds good to me." Marissa replied, smiling. "But if you aren't comfortable then I guess that you can wear a towel. As long as I can get it off quickly and easily then I suppose that I can put up with it spoiling my view."

"I have no idea what was in those books that you read but you are definitely not the shy, retiring type." Ryan laughed dropping the offending boxers back down and stepping out of them. "Am I allowed to at least get a dry towel? Instead of this damp one?" he asked.

"I guess that would be okay." Marissa answered. "Actually a hand towel would be even better … then I could admire your legs." She laughed.

Ryan sighed but couldn't help but chuckle. "I think that I have created a monster." He replied heading towards the bathroom to find a clean towel.

"A hungry monster." Marissa replied. "I'll go and start on the pancakes while you find your towel." She suggested moving back in to the lounge room.

As she neared the kitchen there was a knock at the door. She pulled the robe more firmly around her making sure that her modesty was intact and opened the door only to find Molly standing there with Marissa's bag in her hand. She opened the door fully and allowed her friend to enter.

"Whoa. Look at you." Molly commented as she placed the bag down. Marissa had such a spring in her step that she looked like she was floating on air.

Marissa smiled at her friend. "What can I say? I'm in love." She said as she twirled around unaware that Ryan was coming into the room. He was fiddling with the towel that was wrapped loosely around his hips and trying to secure it and he looked up at her words only to be confronted by the shocked face of Molly.

"Holy fuck." Molly exclaimed as her eyes washed over him. He was the finest physical specimen that she'd ever laid eyes upon. And she had quite a few to compare him with. She desperately wanted the towel to fall from his hips so that she could get an even better view. Surely his dick would have to have a kink in it or something? No one was supposed to be that perfect. She'd never imagined that she would be jealous of Marissa but right at that moment she was positively green with envy. "If you two ever want a three way please let me know." She said the drool almost running from her mouth.

"Since when do you do three ways?" Marissa asked surprised.

"Since I got a look at that." Molly replied indicating Ryan with a nod of her head.

Ryan blushed at her words.

"I think that I've changed my mind." Marissa commented to Ryan. "You can put on clothes. At least until Molly has left. Then they can come back off again." She added smiling and making sure that he knew that it was only for a short time.

"I'll be back in a minute." Ryan replied as he returned Marissa's smile and quickly retreated from the room, heading off to get some clothes on.

Molly looked at Marissa incredulously. "You can just get him to do that? Put clothes on or take them off whenever you feel like it?" she asked amazed.

"Uh huh. It's my birthday weekend and I'm the boss." Marissa explained.

"Oh God. I want to be the boss of something like that." Molly said her eyes telling Marissa exactly she was talking about.

"There isn't anything else like that. He's one of a kind." She assured her friend.

"I think that you might be right. And I handed him to you on a plate." Molly commented. "I can't believe that I was so stupid. Why didn't I keep him for myself?"

Ryan walked back out this time in boxers and t-shirt and stood behind Marissa quickly wrapping her in his arms. "Because I was already taken. I was Marissa's from the moment that I laid eyes on her."

Molly smiled at the couple before her. "From the glow in this room I'd warrant that you've laid a lot more than just your eyes on her."

Marissa smiled as Ryan blushed. "You have no idea." She assured her friend.

"I think that I do have some idea." Molly replied. "I gather the New Year's resolution has been taken care of this time?" she addressed them both.

"Well and truly." Marissa replied, the grin plastered across her face, as Ryan simply said "Uh huh."

"Congratulations." Molly said grinning from ear to ear. "But obviously I'm getting in the way here so I'll make myself scarce." She said moving towards the door. "Your clothes for tomorrow night are in there plus another pair of jeans and a couple of shirts although I'm guessing from the looks of things that you probably won't be needing them."

"I doubt it." Marissa admitted. "I seem to have everything that I need. She said turning around and wrapping her arms around Ryan and making her intentions obvious.

"Hmm. Okay going now." Molly commented. "Jealous as all hell and now horny to boot. And you've even gone and gotten rid of Luke. I swear if he was here then he'd be getting lucky right about now." Molly laughed as she moved away from the door. "I'll see you two tomorrow. And don't be late. I don't want to have to tell everyone where you've been all weekend."

"Yeah. About that." Ryan said and Molly hesitated. "If we're not there … start without us."

Marissa laughed. "Yeah. It's possible that we'll be too busy to come."

"I suspect that if you're too busy, it will be because you're coming." Molly laughed.

Ryan looked at Marissa. "She could be right?"

"Definitely." Marissa agreed.

Molly shook her head. The loved up couple in front of her obviously didn't need her presence any longer. "Okay I'm so outta here."

---