A/N: I had originally planned for this chapter to be longer, but I'm in the middle of moving and I probably won't be able to update for a week or so. So, I thought it'd be a good idea to go ahead and post what I had. Nothing major happening here, just a little more fun with our favorite couple and some build-up to what you all know is coming - the talk, the reconciliation, blah blah blah. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Oh, and by the way, this chapter uses some less-than-appropriate language and has mild references to underage drinking. If that sort of thing offends you, you may want to skip this one... And possibly the rest of the story. *wink*

Chapter 5

Tommy's warm breath fanned over Kimberly's lips, threatening her very sanity. She could not believe how attracted she was to this man after all this time. She wanted to kiss him – wanted to ravage him, to be more exact – but there was one thing she wanted even more.

She wanted him to kiss her first.

He really looked like he might. He certainly looked like he wanted to. But just when she thought he would, he shook head slightly, almost as though he were shaking himself from a daze. Despite this minor disappointment, she smiled at him brightly, still happy to be right where she was.

"Still going to try to cut out early?" she whispered softly.

"Nah, I think I'll stick around for a bit."

Kim nodded, still grinning at him brightly. "Good."

"Why? Isn't your curfew like 10:00 anyway?" he retorted, winking at her.

She giggled. "I'm all grown up now. No more pesky curfews, and I was hoping you'd hang out with me for a while afterwards."

Tommy raised his eyebrows, then shrugged. "I'll consider it."

She chewed on her lip and gave him her best puppy dog stare. As she opened her mouth to speak again, another voice broke through their bubble in an exaggerated tone.

"Well, since my 'date' has abandoned me for some guy that she hasn't even introduced me to, I guess I'll just be leaving…"

Kimberly lifted her head and pulled away from Tommy slightly, much to his dismay. She turned to face Geri as she strolled past her with a wide, expectant smile, having abandoned her brood of groomsmen. She rolled her eyes at her friend's antics. "Geri, this is Tommy. Tommy, this is the best coworker I've ever had the pleasure of working with."

Geri slapped on a faux-bashful smile as she extended her hand in Tommy's direction. "I'm flattered. And honored to meet you. And really, I'm not always this obnoxious."

"Right," Kimberly muttered as Tommy laughed.

"Well, I'm sorry for stealing your date. Do you want her back?"

Kimberly widened her eyes at her friend as if to say 'Don't you dare'. Geri grinned deviously, but then waved her hand in his direction. "I wouldn't dream of it. However, Connie and I are leaving… I'm assuming you won't need a ride home…" she said suggestively, turning her attention back to Kim as she waved at another of their coworkers seated patiently at their table.

She shot a death glare at Geri, having picked up on her insinuations. Then, keeping her cool, she simply replied, "No, I'll just catch a cab. Tommy and I are going to hang out for a while longer."

Nodding slowly, Geri glanced back up at Tommy quickly, only to find his eyes fixed on Kimberly. "Okay, then," she said with a smile as she leaned in to hug Kimberly.

"Thanks, Geri. I'll call you later," she whispered.

"No, you'll call me in the morning. He's delicious. Remember to use a condom," Geri hissed back, pulling away before Kim could reply. "Nice meeting you, Tommy! I hope to see you again soon!" she proclaimed loudly as she bounced away.

"Please tell me you didn't hear that," Kim muttered, turning back to Tommy's embrace.

"Hear what?" he said with a smirk that told her he had heard every word. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned in so his forehead was almost touching hers. "Besides, you're cute when you blush."

The scarlet in her cheeks deepened and she tried to turn her face from him, only to find her cheek cupped in his hand and her eyes pulled back up to his.

This is it. He'll kiss me now.

But Tommy didn't. Instead, he stared at her with a satisfied smile, running his thumb delicately along her cheek. "You know," he said softly after a moment, "I never did agree to 'hang out' with you."

"Are you really going to tell me no?"

He sighed, dropping his hand back to her waist. "Have I ever been able to before?"

"Sex On The Beach, please."

"You got it."

The bartender in the hotel lounge got to work preparing Kimberly's beverage as she made herself comfortable. After dancing for a few more smoldering moments, they agreed to part and say goodbye to their respective bride-and-grooms. Since both receptions officially ended at 11:00, they agreed to meet in the lounge immediately afterwards.

And Tommy was late.

As the bartender slid her drink across the bar to her, Kimberly dug for her debit card as she fought the urge to run. Every moment that she sat there was another moment she questioned her intentions for the evening, and it would be much easier to just leave now, before she was confronted with the ultimate question. What do I feel for Tommy Oliver?

She knew deep down that the answer to this question would lead her down one of several paths, but no matter which path she chose it would be a different one than she was on now. She sighed resignedly as she produced the card and handed it to the bartender. The damage has been done.

"Ms. Hart?"

Her eyes shot up to meet with the bartender, who had taken her card but was now offering it back to her. "Is there a problem?"

"No, ma'am, I'm just under strict orders to charge your drinks to room #643."

She accepted the card back from the man with a sweet smile as understanding dawned on her face. If Tommy made these arrangements, where the hell is he? She sighed and settled back on her barstool.

Several moments later the movement of the barstool next to her broke her daze, but as she swiveled to meet her companion she found herself disappointed with what she found.

"Why, hello…" the young man babbled, clearly inebriated.

Kim smiled an artificial smile at her would-be suitor. "I'm sorry, but this seat's taken."

"Really," he slurred as he settled in and started to remove his jacket. He was dressed in what had, at one point in the evening been a very nice suit and tie, but it now hung sloppily over his drunken body, and Kim found herself wondering if he had been a guest at one of the two weddings she had attended this evening. "It don't look taken to me. Bartender!"

She rolled her eyes and scooted away to the best of her ability, refusing to acknowledge him. Under normal circumstances she would have probably knocked him out of the chair herself and fed him a piece of her mind, but this man was so far trashed it would lose all its satisfaction.

"I'll take a Jack and coke. And while you're at it, get this little sex kitten whatever she wants." The man made a show of lifting a $20 from his wallet and laying it on the bar.

"Excuse me?" Kimberly exclaimed, whirling back to face him. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to like that, because it's certainly not me." She was finding it more and more difficult to keep her temper under control.

He leaned in towards her, and she could smell the whiskey radiating from his pores. "It's okay, sweetheart, I got this." Refusing – or possibly unable – to interpret Kimberly's all-too-clear signals, he reached over and ran a hand across her thigh.

Acting on reflexes she was glad to have refined so many years ago, she seized his hand in a death grip and shoved it back towards him violently, twisting it as she pushed. "You listen to me, fuckhead, you lay a finger on me again and I swear to God I'll castrate you with a bottle opener." She kept her voice low but serious, with a frighteningly calm smile.

"I love it when a lady plays rough."

Kimberly saw a flash of red and briefly contemplated whether or not she'd be willing to do jail time for assault. She moved her other arm to jab in his direction when the man was hauled roughly from his seat with a single hand to the center of his chest.

"Excuse me, you're in my seat."

Kimberly's eyes darted to her savior, not surprised to find Tommy glaring murderously at the jerk. Her eyes quickly flipped back to the bartender to gauge his reaction, but he had made a point of turning away, purposefully ignoring the activity at the other end of the bar.

The man struggled sloppily against Tommy's hold to no avail. "Hey, dude, I'm –"

Tommy interrupted his babbled apology by pulling him closer and slightly off his feet, His firmly set jaw expanded into a maniacal smile, and Kimberly could have sworn she saw a flash of green in his eyes. "You listen to me, asshole. I'm going to give you one chance to walk away. You do so much as look back in this direction, and I will tear you apart. And if I ever see you again after tonight, so help me I will kill you with my bare hands."

His words, spoken in a low hiss sent chills down Kimberly's spine and excited her all at the same time. She repressed the urge to smile as she watched Tommy shove the man backwards effortlessly toward the door. He landed in a heap on the floor and scrambled to his feet as Tommy took several menacing steps in his direction. "Try me."

'Drunky' took one more look at Tommy before darting back into the hotel lobby.

Kimberly expressed her gratitude for his extreme, yet sweetly protective show of male dominance with an inviting smile. He sunk into the chair next to her with a sigh.

"Thank you," she said tenderly as she reached for his hand. "I really did have it under control, though."

"I know you did," he said, his tough façade fading away into a proud smile. "I almost wish I had stood back and let you have at him. Nice reaction time."

She grinned earnestly at his compliment, slowly letting her hand slip away from his. "You know, if I hadn't been sitting here by myself he probably wouldn't have come up to me in the first place." She said it delicately, hoping to lighten the mood.

Tommy sighed. "I'm sorry."

She giggled, much to his delight. "It's fine, Tommy, I was just kidding. It's comforting to know that some things never change."

He laughed a little at her gentle ribbing. "I really would have been on time, but John needed some help with some of the guests that were a little out of hand, much like your 'friend' I just met. I helped put some of them in a cab."

"I thought there wasn't a bar at the reception."

He shrugged. "Kids get creative. And creativity usually leads to… underage overindulgence." He swung his head back to face her as he spoke. "Are you really alright?"

The comforting familiarity in his concerned gaze was the only thing that kept Kimberly from bursting out laughing. "Yes, I promise, I'm fine. If I had a dime for every man I've had to physically threaten, I'd be a very rich lady." She waved the bartender in her direction before leaning in towards Tommy, hoping to rekindle the flirtatious banter they had enjoyed earlier. "You're just lucky I didn't take you down when you made me dance with you earlier."

There it was… that heart-melting smile she had re-accustomed herself to in just a few short hours. "Yeah? You think you could take me?"

"You wouldn't fight back."

"One point for Pinky," he conceded as the bartender arrived in front of them. "Did Marty take care of you?"

Kim nodded and motioned to her near-empty glass. "Yes, thank you, but I'd say you have some catching up to do." She turned her attention to Marty. "Whatever he orders, make it a double."

He nodded with a smile and turned his attention back to Tommy. "I'll have a Captain and diet, no lime."

"Yes, sir, a double Captain and diet." He nodded kindly and turned away, allowing Tommy to refocus on the woman to his left.

"You know, I certainly didn't hear you complaining when I was holding you earlier," he murmured as he waited for his drink.

Let the games begin.