Note: A thousand pardons to all of you who are waiting so patiently for further chapters of this fic! I promise you I am writing as fast as I can! You know what to do...
Benny stretched when he reached the street. He always knew Maureen would be hot in bed, but damn! She had boundless energy! Maureen was like a spoiled child when it came to sex; the more she got, the more she wanted. Benny was more than willing to give it to her.
He yawned and trudged up the stairs to the loft. He was surprised to see Collins relaxing on the worn couch, engrossed in a book, when he walked in.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I live here, remember?" responded Collins.
"I know that! I thought you were away," said Benny irritably.
"I was, but I decided to come home early. Is that ok with you, sir?"
Benny rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I had a late night at the office. My boss found me asleep at my desk this morning. He woke me and told me to take the day off."
He hated lying to Collins, but he couldn't tell him he slept with Maureen last night. Collins regarded Maureen as his little sister and was fiercely protective of her.
"Nice guy," commented Collins as he turned a page.
"Only if you work your ass off," Benny grumbled.
"Hey, if it helps pay the bills…"
"I know, I know." Benny yawned again. "Listen, I'll catch you later. I need to finish up my beauty sleep."
"Amen to that!" Collins chuckled after Benny closed the door to their room.
He wasn't alone for long. Maureen came bounding out of her room, her dark curls bouncing. She pounced on Collins and kissed him.
"You're back! I missed you so much! Why didn't you call to tell me you were coming home early?" she squealed.
"I missed you too, Gorgeous," he replied, grinning widely. "I didn't call because I wanted to surprise you."
Maureen hugged him tightly. "Now you'll be home for Thanksgiving!" she cried happily.
"Yup. You're in a very good mood, by the way. It can't just be me. Spill it, girl."
Maureen sat up and crossed her arms under her bust. "Nope. You can't make me," she said matter-of-factly. She shook her head emphatically making her curls dance.
"That means you got laid."
Maureen's face reflected mild shock. "Pig," she shot back playfully.
"That's definitely a 'yes'. Bow-chika-wow-wow! You naughty girl!" Collins said with a laugh.
Maureen stuck her tongue out at him. "Don't be jealous of me because I get all the guys," she retorted.
Collins nodded in agreement. "That is true, but I go for men of a different variety if you recall."
Maureen hit him playfully on the shoulder. "I know that!"
Collins feigned pain. "Not so hard!" he protested jokingly, rubbing his arm.
Maureen rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
"What are your plans for today besides beating up poor, defenseless men?" asked Collins.
"you're hardly helpless, sweetie." She took a small sip of her tea. "I dunno. That new club down the street is hiring. Maybe they're looking for some starving artists to parade in front of their drunken patrons."
She rejoined Collins on the couch. He promptly rested his feet in her lap. Maureen raised one eyebrow in amusement.
Do you mind?" she drawled.
"Not at all," Collins returned with a smile in his eyes.
"You're lucky I love you."
"That I am."
A loud belch announced the awakening of Roger. Maureen rolled her eyes.
"It's nice to see the human race has evolved so far from its neanderthalic origins," she remarked sarcastically.
Roger merely grunted.
"Why don't you hit the showers, Tarzan," suggested Collins.
Roger obediently shuffled into the bathroom. The muffled sound of running water came a few minutes later.
"You gotta teach me how to manipulate him like that," Maureen said before taking another sip from her mug. Collins shrugged.
"It's not that hard. You just have to make it sound like a question or a request instead of a command."
"You've never known me to be subtle, so it may take a while."
"I wouldn't want you any other way," he said while he poked her in the tummy with his sock-covered toes.
Maureen jerked and squeaked, nearly spilling her tea. She swatted him on the thigh.
"Cut it out! I almost burned you!"
Collins couldn't stop laughing. "That is the cutest noise I've ever heard you make!"
"Yuk it up, Buster. When I'm dragging your sorry ass to the emergency room for second degree burns we'll see who's laughing."
Collins fought for breath. "Ok, ok. Whew! Point taken." He picked up his book and resumed reading.
Five minutes later, a yodeling call worthy of the Man of the Apes was heard from the bathroom. Collins and Maureen exchanged a look before bursting into giggles. They were still laughing when Roger emerged with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"You Tarzan, me Jane," Maureen responded while beating her full chest.
"Ha ha. Very funny. Don't you know a vocal warm-up when you hear one?"
"Of course I do, but that wasn't one of them."
Roger made a face at her, then went to the room he shared with Mark to get dressed.
"Jerk," Maureen muttered into her mug of now lukewarm tea. Collins gave her a knowing glance. "What?" she asked with a wary smile.
"Nothin'," he replied.
"Don't 'nothin' me." She poked his foot. "What gives?"
"I just find your interaction with Roger amusing. Is there something you wanna tell me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember in grade school when the boys would tease the girls they liked?"
Maureen nodded slowly. "Yeaaa…"
"Do you think that changes as they grow older?"
Realization dawned in Maureen's eyes. "Are you serious? You think Roger has a thing for me?"
Collins shrugged. "What do you think?"
"Ugh! That is the most absurd notion I have ever heard! He despises me!" scoffed Maureen.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that."
Roger returned before Maureen could continue arguing Collins' theory. He violently ruffled her hair and sat down in the ratty armchair perpendicular to the couch. Maureen glared at him through displaced curls. She quickly finger-combed her hair back into place.
"Was that necessary, Mr. Davis?" she inquired.
Roger stared at her, a smile playing on his lips. "No, but it was fun pissing you off," he responded.
Maureen gave a grunt of annoyance and shot Collins a 'do something about him' look. Collins only laughed and went back to his book. Maureen could see she wasn't going to get any help on this one.
"I'm going for a walk," she announced to no one in particular.
Roger watched her backside as she walked away. Maureen didn't notice.