Full Hearts

Season 1 – Episode #9

Disclaimer: This episode was created by Peter Berg and written by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. As per suggestion from "Velveteen Habit" I will just claim that all recognizable dialogue is not mine. My flashbacks will be in italics. Please feel free to weigh in if I should go back to the original format of using italics for both.

ICanStopAnytime: I try in this chapter to slowly have Eric change his mind about Matt. It is hard because there is a love he has for this kid, but it gets compromised when it comes to his daughter.

Velveteen Habit: I hope this format is less confusing.

Naguabo: Thanks for the kind words. Their parenting style is something I fell in love with from the beginning of watching this show.

To all the 'guest' reviewers: Thank you for taking the time to review.

A/N: I feel like I can keep apologizing for the delays in updates, or I can just do my very best to update when I can. I do love writing these chapter, but it is time consuming. I hope you understand and that people are still reading.

Tami would be lying if she didn't admit how worried she was about Julie starting to date. She felt as if her control was slipping away. She questioned if Julie knew what she was getting into with Matt Saracen. Of all people, she had to date someone on the football team.

Football boys always toyed with girls in a way she did want her Jules toyed with.

She heard Julie on the phone very early this morning and her girlish laughter only told her one thing – she was talking to Matt. As she made her way out to the living room, to complain once again to Eric, she found him reading the paper. He was completely clueless to what's going on around him.

"Almost ready for school?" She asked as nonchalantly as she could. She didn't want Eric to know she was completely freaking out.

"Mmmhm." Eric somewhat replied as he took a careful sip of his hot coffee.

She couldn't hold back. "She's on the phone again with Matt Saracen. I don't think this thing is going away."

"I haven't even had my coffee yet. I don't want to talk about this right now."

"I'm just saying, I think it's becoming a thing. I mean it's a thing. And you know what thing it is? It's that thing we always knew was going to happen to our little girl. It's that thing. That thing is happening right now.

"Well, at least she's not interested in a serial killer or…or one of the Riggins"

Tami laugh, knowing her husband is trying to lighten the mood.

Later that day, Eric overheard Bradley talking to Matt about something having to do with Riggins. Something wasn't right with his boys and he could sense it. There was a disconnect and he knew that part of his job was to fix it. He thought about Tami and how she dealt with kind of thing all day long. He decided to just call her and ask if she knew anything.

"Hey babe!" He spoke when she answered her office phone.

"What do you need Eric?"

"Why do you think I need something? Can't I just call my wife if I want to?"

"You never just call me, Eric."

"Fine." He gave in. She knew him too well. "What's going on with Riggins?"

Tami hated when he did this. She knew those kids opened up to her because they trusted her. She never betrayed their trust and Eric knew that. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm hoping you are going to help me gel my team back together. Something is up."

It always surprised Tami when Eric picked up on these types of things. In front of everyone around him, he pretended he was completely unaware of the personal lives of his players. But Tami knew better. She knew he would run his practices in a way where relationships formed the way he wanted them to. "How many times do I have to tell you that I cannot tell you what goes on in my office?"

"So something is going on?"

From the way Eric was talking, she assumed that word got out about Lyla and Tim. She knew that something like that would cause a rift in his team. Those boys held a certain loyalty to Jason because of his injury on that field. "You know what I hear in my office stays in my office. I can't believe you are trying to ply me for information."

"Fine. I'll get to the bottom of it." He knew those kids could never keep their mouths shut when it came to gossip. "You get the email about us meeting Mayor Rodell in the front office in an hour?"

"Yeah. See you there."

When she arrived at the office, Mayor Rodell had Eric cornered, going over what her game strategy would be for Gatling this upcoming Friday. She loved how her husband had the ability to be so diplomatic when people told him how to do his job. It was part of his southern charm that she always credited his father with. Eric's dad was tough but he made sure Eric always handled himself properly in every situation.

Mayor Rodell quickly explained the hotel situation and how she wasn't going to be able to be there to play mediator between the folks at Gatling and Buddy Garrity. Bypassing Eric she tuned to Tami and asked her to go in her place. Tami was clearly surprised and although Eric should have stepped up and said something on Tami's behalf, he was just happy she wasn't asking him to go with Buddy.

Tami stood there a bit stunned and a bit confused. As if that wasn't enough, the mayor exits the conversation saying, "wear something pretty and you know…" She put her hands on her own chest, pushing her own breasts together. "…you'll have them eating out of your hands."

When Mayor Rodell exited, Tami turned to Eric, but he pretended that what just happened was nothing out of the ordinary. Tami followed him into the hallways. "Thanks for the help with that." She said sarcastically, with a twinge of annoyance in her voice.

"What'd you want me to do?" He asked defensively.

She gives him a knowing look. "Just for that I am going to wear something very promiscuous, just like the Mayor asked."

"What? Why?"

"Just to piss you off!" She said walking away, loving to get the last word.

During practice Eric noticed how the boys were with Tim. There was no flow, almost a divide on the field. Eric figured his best bet was to talk to Matt. He knew Tami wasn't going to help him. Matt was one of the captains and it was his job to inform him of such things going on the field.

"Hey Matt. Come here." Eric caught Matt after practice as he was walking toward his car. Eric noticed the other boy who always seemed to be with Matt. "Hey Lance. How you doing?"

They both tried to correct him. His name was Landry, but the coach was not listening. He was concentrating on getting to the root of his problem. "Can I talk to you over here for a second?"

"What's up Coach?"

Eric figured to put Matt on the defensive so to scare the truth out of him. What better way than to use his daughter. "Big date night tonight?"

"Oh, yeah. But um, I'll have her home early after the movies."

It worked. "Oh, I know you will. I know you will. What's going on with Riggins?" He cut right to the chase.

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"What I mean is I have eyes. I want to know what's going on out there."

"With all due respect sir, I don't really feel it's my place to say anything, so I'm…I'm not going to."

"You know, I appreciate your allegiance to your teammates, but you're also team captain, so if there's something going on out there that's going to affect his game Friday night, I'd suggest that you tell me."

"Well, it's just…It's just a rumor."

"What kind of rumor?"

"About someone he hooked up with….maybe." Matt hated to be a rat.

"Someone he hooked up with?" Eric wasn't a hundred percentage sure what that exactly meant, but he knew he had to get to the bottom of it.

"And I don't even think it's true so that's why…"

"Who is it? Spit it out .It doesn't have to be anything between us. Spit it out."

"With Lyla."

"Lyla Garrity?" Now, all the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together.

"Yeah."

"Alright." Eric couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice. Tim and Jason were best friends. Why would Tim do that?

"Can I go now?"

"Yeah. Have a good time at the movies." Eric was brought back to what was more important at that moment. He raised his arm and pointed his index finger at Matt to get his point across. "Hey, my daughter and I talk a lot."

Later that night, Tami and Eric were sitting at the table finishing up dinner while Julie was in her room getting ready for her date.

"You're awfully quiet." Eric said as he watched Tami toy with her engagement and wedding rings.

"I'm nervous. I'm nervous for Julie."

"There's nothing to be worried about. I spoke to Matt today. He's more nervous than you right now. Don't worry. You need to relax."

Tami looked at Eric, wondering how she could explain where her worry stemmed. "I'm so uncomfortable with this. All I keep thinking is how she is going to behave tonight – how Matt is going to behave tonight." When Eric didn't respond, she continued. "Do you remember our first date?"

"Of course I do." He knew better than to answer that any other way.

"Do you remember how you felt that night? What you wanted to happen that night?"

Eric was more than excited to finally be able to take Tami out on a real date, their first date. He was done, trying to sneak and steal kisses from her. He was tired of waiting for her all together. She drove him insane over the past few weeks.

He planned a relatively simple date. He avoided the movies because he didn't want silence between them. He avoided anything too fancy, not wanting to pretend he was something he was not. Besides, Mo took that route with her. Mo had money. Well, his family had money. Mo had a fancy car. Mo had the best things money would buy her. He needed to take a different approach.

Eric briefly met Tami's mother at the front door, and when Tami came out he couldn't take his eyes off of her. When they walked down driveway, he grabbed her hand and led her to the passenger side of the car. He kissed her deeply, pushing his tongue in her mouth. He wanted more. He needed more. The kiss took Tami by surprise. She pushed him away, afraid of what she might do or how far she would let it go. She couldn't deny her attraction toward him, but she didn't want to give Eric the wrong idea of what was going to happen tonight. She knew what he was used to. She knew what he was probably expecting.

When they arrived at the arcade, Eric pulled into a parking spot in the back of the lot. It was dimly lit and somewhat private. He turned the key in the ignition and before opening the driver's side door, he place a hand behind her head and kissed her again. He pulled her toward him, urging for more.

"Eric…."She said as she pulled away again.

""I'm sorry. I can't help myself." He gave her a puppy dog look she had trouble resisting.

After the arcade, he took her for ice cream. Tami was somewhat grateful they could walk from one location to the other. She sensed Eric was not a huge fan of public displays of affection, so when they did eventually get back into his truck, what was going to happen?

It was unavoidable. He eventually had to drive her home. When they got to his truck he opened the door for her. He gave her a quick peck on the lips before shutting the door behind her.

When they arrived at Tami's house, 10 minutes before curfew, she was the one that couldn't help herself. She leaned in and kissed him goodnight.

"Thanks for tonight. I had fun. It was good to spend some time out with you. Just us."

He didn't say anything, but leaned in and kissed her again. He opened his mouth searching for her tongue. Their tongues circled and Eric's hands started to roam. They started on her shoulders, moved up to her hair, then down her back and around the front of her torso. His hands started to ascend.

He reached his desired area and broke the kiss. "Is this ok?"

She couldn't resist. The heat she felt at her core was almost too much to bare. She wanted him to touch her anywhere at this point. She nodded her head quickly, wanting him to hurry and do so.

His left hand moved to her right breast and she reacted. She arched her back communicating that she needed more. He slipped his hand under her shirt and his fingertips were met with the lacy material of her bra. He squeezed and massaged her breast as he whispered, "You feel good in my hands, Tami."

His voice broke her out of her needy thoughts, realizing she needed to take control of herself and this situation. Just as that thought crossed her mind, he tugged at the cup of the bra so he could now feel flesh on flesh. He teased and pinched her nipple and it quickly hardened.

It wasn't until he moved his hand away from her chest and downward that she became acutely aware of where she was and that she shouldn't be doing this on a first date. When she felt his hand slide between her thighs, she broke the kiss and finally spoke. "Eric, what are you doing?"

"I'm enjoying exploring every inch of you." He said, with a confidence that put her off a bit.

She pulled herself back from him even further. "What do you think is going to happen here tonight? In this car?"

Eric was a bit surprised by her reaction. "I was hoping you were going to enjoy my explorations and maybe do a little of your own."

"I'm not going to have sex with you. Not tonight. Not like this."

"Okay."

"Did you think that was where this was going?"

"I was going to take it as far as you wanted to take it, but if this is where it ends tonight, I can respect that. I do respect you." He wasn't sure how to word this next part without misinterpretation. "No girl has ever made me wait before. Maybe that's what makes you different."

"Different? In a good way?" She asked.

"I think so. I'm not sure what is going to happen with us, but I can certainly say that you have me intrigued."

Tami decided it was time to get out of the car before she changed her mind. The sincerity in his eyes melted her and she needed to break away. "Well, Eric, the best things comes to those who wait." She gave him a killer smile and opened the passenger door and walked slowly away from him.

"Bring yourself back to that moment, Eric. Please think for a moment like the teenage boy you once were. Think of the things you wanted and almost expected me to do that night with you."

Eric could remember the disappointment he felt when he pulled away from her house that night. He remembered how he went immediately into his bedroom to jerk off because he desperately needed to release what she stirred up. He didn't want to think of Julie in that situation, and he was grateful that Matt was the boy taking her out tonight.

"I admit I was a bit of a jerk that night, but I was experienced. I was used to getting what I wanted. Matt doesn't have the experience to put any pressure on Julie. "

"Do you really know that?"

"Yes. I know what I know because my office is right outside that locker room. I know my boys." Eric said that defensively.

"I'm just afraid Julie is not going to know how to handle herself in this situation. I knew how to handle myself with you. My experience with Mo taught me that. I did things with Mo because I didn't know it was okay to say no."

"What do you want me to do? Scare him? Fine, I'll scare him when he gets here."

Suddenly, the bell rang and Eric was ready to play his role. He grabbed his beer off the table and walked toward the front door. When he opened it, he saw a nervous looking Matt dressed like he never saw him before. He clearly put in the effort to look put together.

"Evening Coach."

"Wait, wait, wait. Is that a Member's Only jacket?" Was Tami right? Were his intentions less than honorable?

"Uh yeah. What do you think? You think it's okay?" He asked nervously. At that moment, Eric realized that this kid had no father to bounce that sort of question off of.

Tami interrupted, seeing Eric's face, knowing he was starting to worry. They were always very good at taking turns with their feelings. If Eric was worried, Tami had to stay calm. If one of them was scared, the other had to be brave. If one of them was stressed, the other had to be the voice of reason. It was a dance they perfected over time. Tami saw the way Eric was eyeing Matt up and down and took over, welcoming Matt into their home.

Then it happened. Julie came out of her bedroom in a dress showing way too much cleavage, shoes that had too high of heels and the skirt so short, it didn't leave much to the imagination. They were going to the movies right?

"Uh-uh!" It was all Eric could muster.

Tami stepped in and took control of the situation. She ushered Julie back to the bedroom to change. Eric began to really worry as he watched Matt staring at his little girl. Now Eric was pissed. "Why don't you take your members only jacket and hang it on the coat rack?"

Matt, still staring at Julie as she walked away, turns back to coach. "Sorry. What?"

"Hang your jacket up Matt!"

Matt was still staring at Julie when Eric interrupted his thoughts. "Take a seat on the couch. Want a beer?"

"No thanks, I'm driving."

"I was joking." Did this kid really think he was being serious? Eric knew his boys got offered drinks all the time, but never by him. Never in his home.

When the door closed behind Julie and Matt, Tami turned to Eric seeing the concerned look in his eyes. "Now, you are going to worry?"

"What does the term 'hooking up' mean exactly?"

"Well, that answers that question." She said with slight smile.

"I'm serious. How far does that term stretch?"

Tami thought it was odd that her husband would ask this question. "What? Why are you asking me this?"

Eric told Tami about what he learned from Matt. Lyla and Tim 'hooked up'. Did that mean they had sex? Did that mean they just shared a kiss? Eric had trouble processing the betrayal and wanted to define how much of a betrayal it actually was. "This must be killing Jason." He finished his story with an empathizing tone. "Did you know about this?"

Tami frowned. "You know I can't answer that."

"Why the hell not?"

"You know why not!" She raised her voice, feeling like she needed to protect her job. "I can't be running to you every time I hear something that goes on with your players."

"I asked you today if you knew something was up with Tim and you didn't say anything."

"Exactly! I won't. I can't." Tami wondered why he cared so much. "Has Tim been having trouble focusing?"

"Tami, you know Tim never really is engaged one hundred percent during practices."

"Then what's with all the questions?"

"Jason." He simply stated. "My heart breaks for that kid."

"It's not your fault, Eric."

"I know that. It's taken me awhile, but I know that. It's just…." He thought about how to ask this without opening up old wounds. "…how far did Tim take it? How far is 'hooking up'?"

"Does it matter?" Tami wondered if a certain level of physical contact with another woman would hurt her any less. "Want to define it?"

Eric turned his head a little too quickly, his eagerness bared to her. "Huh?"

"Want to hook up? We can define it right over there." She said nodding her head toward their bedroom.

He didn't answer her with words, but immediately with his lips. He walked her backwards, and spun her around as he entered through the doorway of their room. He shut the door behind her and playfully pushed her back until she was leaning against it. "I think I need a little clarity." He said with a wink.

The next day Eric decided to go see Jason. He couldn't keep his mind off of the hurt he must be experiencing. When he walked in, he made small talk about Quad Rugby. He also brought up Tim in a very generic way to get a read on how serious the situation was. Jason cracked first.

"Did you hear anything else?" Jason assumed he heard.

"Yeah. Yeah, I heard." Eric said sadly. If judging by how he and Tami defined it last night, he assumed Jason was hurting badly.

"Sorry I laid your fullback out." He wheeled away from Eric, afraid to let him see him cry.

Eric noticed how upset he was. "You ai'ght?"

"You know? It's just you think you know somebody and then you don't." He shook his head. "Just don't"

Eric wasn't sure if he was talking about Tim or Lyla. "I didn't come here to talk about that. I want you to know, you know, you don't have to be alone with it either. I want you to know that." Eric paced and stared at the ground as he said it. He didn't want to look Jason in the eyes, fearing he would read more into what he was saying. He didn't want Jason to know that he was not only sympathizing with him, but also empathizing. Betrayal is an ugly thing at any level.

During that summer before going off to college, there was a time when Eric felt that same kind of betrayal. Although Tami would not give into his wants and needs for sex, he knew he was falling for this girl in ways he never thought possible.

They started going out more frequently and some of their classmates started to notice. It wasn't long before word got out that they were officially an item. Unbeknownst to Eric, Mo made several attempts to get Tami back. He called, he wrote her letters and he even waited several times after school offering her rides home to make his pleas. He had no idea Tami moved on, let alone moved on with one of his teammates. This was the precise reason Tami didn't want anyone to find out about the two of them, especially in the fragile beginning of their relationship.

Tami never told Eric about Mo's attempts. She didn't see the point in disclosing that information. It wasn't as if she would ever act on it. It wasn't as if she had any interest in taking Mo back. She knew Eric would get upset and frankly she didn't see the point in that.

It scared Eric when he saw it with his own eyes. His anger drew up conclusions in his mind that broke him to pieces. She didn't see him across the street while she was waiting for her friend Melissa to finish her shift at the diner. It was a warm Texan night as she leaned against the exterior of the building, hoping they were going to make the movie they planned on seeing.

She heard the rumble of his fancy Camaro. Mo was the only 18-year old with a car that fancy. He pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car in front of where she was standing. Mo didn't notice Eric across the street either.

He asked her if she needed a ride, but she quickly explained that she was waiting for a friend. He pulled away, but she had a gut feeling that wasn't the last she would see of him. After he parked his car, he made his way over the where she was standing. As she leaned her back against the concrete wall, he leaned in close to her resting his right hand against the wall, beside her head.

Eric was frozen. A million thoughts swirled through his brain. Didn't she say she was going to the movies tonight? Why was she meeting Mo here? Did Mo know that she was his now? Why would Tami lie? How long have they been meeting like this? How could she do this to him? He only wished he was closer so he could hear their words.

"So I guess we are officially over? I should stop trying to get you back." Mo said in his typical cocky way. He never lacked self-confidence, Tami thought.

"I never asked you to try in the first place." She shot back.

"Taylor?" He asked. He heard from one of the guys on the team. "That's what I heard. Taylor? What's he got that I don't?" He was sure he could change her mind.

"He has a heart."

"Taylor?" He asked, startled by her defense. "Are you crazy? The only thing that guys feels is through his pants."

Tami knew that is what everyone thought. Heck, she thought that at one time too. Time changed her mind and Mo's words irritated her. Tami thought to defend him, but what was the point. She knew Mo was just trying to make her feel bad about her recent decision to take a chance on Eric. As her frustration built, she became completely unaware of what was going on around her. If she did take a moment to pull herself out of this situation, she would have seen Eric standing across the parking lot, staring at the interaction unfolding right in front of his eyes.

Mo moved in even closer. "I know what I did wasn't right. I know I could have been better. We were together for two years, Tami. Two years of really getting to know one another. I loved you. I still love you. You can't tell me those two years meant nothing to you. Please stop pushing me away."

Tami softened. She never seen Mo so exposed, so vulnerable. He seemed so sincere. She thought about all their good moments. She thought about how she felt the first time he told her he loved her. She thought about the first time she had sex with him. She thought about the countless kisses, the countless dates, and the countless laughs they shared.

She felt his hands cupping her face and her knees weakened a bit. She didn't know why she didn't stop him as she felt his lips on her. She stood still, almost in shock.

Eric couldn't take his eyes off their interaction. He wanted to turn away but he couldn't. It was like when you passed a bad car accident on the highway. You really don't want to see the wreck, but you look anyway. When he saw Mo touch her, he felt one of his buddies pull him away. He heard them offer some words, something along the lines that she wasn't worth it. He started to walk away, not seeing how the rest unfolded.

When she felt Mo's tongue probing at her lips, urging her to open her mouth, it sent an alarming siren off in her head. She moved her hands to his chest and pushed hard. When their kiss broke, she shouted. "What are you doing?"

"God, I missed kissing you. I missed doing lots of things with you."

"That can't happen again, Mo! I can't be with you because I can't trust you."

"And you can trust Taylor?" He asked incredulously.

"He has yet to give me a reason not to trust him."

"Tami, don't be a fool. He has slept with more girls by the age of eighteen than I will probably sleep with in my entire life. That doesn't worry you? You think you're going to be his last."

Tami didn't want to tell Mo they haven't slept together yet. It wasn't his business and it was likely Eric would not want that information revealed. "It's none of your business, Mo."

It wasn't for another two days and two nights that Tami had to explain to Eric what happened. Tami quickly learned that trust was a two way street. It wasn't all about her trusting Eric. She needed to gain Eric's trust too.

"I'm sorry you are going through this." Eric said to Jason. He wanted to let him know he once wore those shoes. "I have an idea how it feels and it hurts like hell."

Jason looked at him waiting to elaborate, but Eric would never reveal that much about himself. "I didn't come here to talk about that either." He said with a slight smile.

The next morning Tami got out of bed first and Eric rolled over to watch her pick out her clothes for work. He knew she had to go to that meeting with Buddy, noticing it took her a little longer to pick out the right top. "Just because the Mayor told you to use what the good lord gave you as a bargaining tool, doesn't mean you have to. You know you can convince people with your brains."

She chuckled softly. "Yes, because it was my brains that attracted you to me, yes?"

"I don't want you attracting the attention of men to get what you want."

"Are you worried?"

"I'm not worried. Should I be worried?"

She ignored his question. "Are you jealous?" She said as she started to undress, so she could take her morning shower. "Because when you are unnecessarily jealous, I find that extremely attractive."

Eric climbed out of bed and closed the space between them. Tami was about to enter the bathroom when she felt Eric's arms envelop her from behind. She was facing the mirror watching him stare at her.

"Well then, of course I'm jealous, since you find that so damn attractive." His fingers played with the bottom hem of her Panthers t-shirt and in one swoop lifted it over her head. He rested his hands on her hips and his lips made their way to her neck and close to ear. "I'm jealous these men get to share a meal with my wife. I'm jealous that they get to stare at you all afternoon when I get to stare at Crawley and Mac."

She laughed again, loving Eric when he is playful. So many people know so many sides of him, but not this side. This side was reserved for her.

She spun around in his arms, facing him. "So confident on the field, so unsure of yourself in the bedroom."

"I'm not unsure. I know exactly what I want." He moved his hands to her face, and leaned in to kiss her. As he did so, he leaned his hips to crash into hers. She could feel his growing erection as she felt her backside being pressed against the countertop. He pulled back, staring into her ocean blue eyes. "I also know that other men want the same exact thing when they see you."

Her hands moved to the waistband of his pajama pants he wore. She slipped a finger underneath the elastic, running it alongside the material teasing him. "Good thing for you, I don't want any other men." She continued to tease him.

She removed her hand from his elastic and started to remove herself from him altogether. She needed to get in the shower. As she turned, topless, toward the bathroom door, he spoke his mind. "Don't want you getting any ideas of walking away from me."

She walked back and resumed her position in his arms. "Tell you what?" She cupped his face this time and kissing him softly. She moved her hands to the bottom his shirt and pushed it up and eventually pulled it over his head. She lowered her voice, giving him her sexiest tone. "Join me in the shower."

"Really?" He asked like he was a kid in a candy store, half surprised and fully intrigued.

"I think I need to remind you of how I feel about you."

He didn't answer her, but took her into the bathroom and shut the door behind them. Their kisses were sloppy and rushed. Eric felt like there was no time. A part of him didn't want Tami to change her mind and the other part of him didn't want to wait. All that teasing got to him and he needed her immediately if not sooner.

She once again played with the elastic, but only for a mere second or two, before pushing them down past his erection. He moved his hands to his boxers and assisted with pushing those down. Tami stepped back from him, locking her eyes with his, and playfully pushed down her shorts. Eric couldn't help himself as he grabbed his penis and stroked himself slowly.

Tami faced the shower to turn the nozzle and adjust the temperature just right. When she turned back to face him, he was still touching himself.

"Nah-Ah." She said pushing his hand away. "Get in."

He laughed, wondering what she was up to. "Don't play with fire, Tami."

"Get in." She said again, smiling back.

"Fine, I'll get in. I trust you." He said it to make sure she knew how vulnerable he was at that moment.

Eric let the water cascade over his head and down his muscular body. He felt Tami getting as well, but when he opened his eyes, she was not eye level with him. She, herself, was cascading lower. The combination of her lips around him and the pressure of the water was almost too much to handle.

"Tami…"

"Hmmm…."

The vibration of that small response nearly set him over the edge.

"I should be…." He tried to get the words out but her mouth was doing ungodly things to him.

"Should be what?"

"I should be…." He tried to tell her that she was the one who was going to be surrounded by men. He was the one who should be taking care of her at the moment. Once she started to circle her tongue around his tip, he pulled her damp hair back and away from him. He looked down and smiled weakly. "C'mere."

He pulled her up to him and kissed her hard. He pushed her again the back wall and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt his tip at her entrance, but stopped himself. "I trust you, always and completely." He plunged into her and gave her everything he had within him.

He gave her warning that he was about to come, but she couldn't get herself there in time. When he came down from his high, he kissed her again. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not. I got my point across."

He moved her under the water because she looked like she was getting cold. "Yeah?"

"You are all I need."

They showered and went along their day as if what happened in that shower was existent in all the marriages around them. They both knew that wasn't true. They both knew they were lucky.

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