Again, there are adults (well, Alex is almost one) doing adult things.

Chapter Six

"You look great, Lexie…but you're right…Dad would have had a fit if he saw you in that outfit."

Alex grinned. "Thanks, Sis…and thanks for letting me stop by here and change…I'm saving a lot of money by living at home…but there are some issues…like clothes…"

"You really should think about moving out," Alex's sister said. "Just because I screwed up doesn't mean you shouldn't get a chance." She sighed. "And you've always had a better head on your shoulders than me."

"Not always," Alex said wryly. "Besides, you're older…I got to watch you make the mistakes…"

Her sister grinned. "Well, just remember…as far as Mom and Dad are concerned, you're staying here tonight…and you don't have to worry about your big brother either…so stay out as late as you want and have a good time…and if you can't be good…"

Alex laughed. "I know…be careful! I'll try to do both!"

Alex drove the Mustang carefully to Tom's house. She was sorry that her brother, desperately studying for his exams, wouldn't be at the party to run interference for her; she was grateful that he wouldn't be there to watch her every move. She was nervous—she wanted to make a good impression on Tom's family and friends, but above all she wanted to make a good and different impression on Tom. She knew he liked her—she thought there might be an attraction that went beyond that. "'Course," she thought. "I could be wrong…it's not like I have this vast knowledge of men…and my first choice wasn't that good." Alex frowned at the memory of Tommy Flynn. "What do I know," she thought. "Well, whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to be nervous about THAT. I'm not looking for anything permanent." She smiled as she doubled parked the Mustang in front of Tom's house; everyone in the neighborhood did it, and it would cut down on the amount of awkward time in the house. "And, of course, he may not be interested in me at all…it may be the car!" Alex thought as she started to knock.

Tom answered the door before Alex finished her knock. "He's as nervous as I am," she thought.

"Wow," he said. "You…you look great…you do have legs."

Alex grinned. "Yea…I borrowed them for the evening along with the car…You look terrific too."

He wore a dark blue suit on the edge of being black, a pale blue shirt, and a grey tie baring both colors. His dark, curly hair was for once under some kind of control, and when he smiled at Alex she felt the familiar sense of her insides turning to goo.

She offered the keys to Tom. "So, you want to drive?" she grinned.

In spite of her nerves at meeting Tom's family and friends, the evening was a delightful blur to Alex. She later remembered through a haze the admiration of both the Mustang and her by the garage's other employees; her first taste of a decent champagne; the otherworldly feeling when Tom glided her across the dance floor. Between dances and sips of champagne Alex encountered a lively woman in her sixties whose gray hair concealed none of her beauty. Alex shyly introduced herself to this woman that she hoped was Mrs. Wexstein.

She was Mrs. Wexstein, and she was delighted to meet Alex. "Alex Eames," she said. "Of the Mustang and the brother."

"Yes," Alex smiled. "And tonight I'll claim them both."

"Tom has told Murray—his dad—and me a lot about you," the older woman said as she guided Alex to a table. "All of it very good. You and your brother have helped us a lot."

"Tom's been great to us," Alex answered. "It's hard to find a job with such a great schedule and pay when you're going to school…and it's even better when it's something you like to do."

"I know Tom would give you both full time jobs if you wanted," Mrs. Wexstein said. She studied Alex carefully for a moment. "But you have other plans…"

"Yes," Alex said quietly. Although she had just met this woman, she felt she could trust her. "I do."

"I know that you probably don't want any advice," Mrs. Wexstein said with a smile. "But, for what it's worth, here's mine. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do anything JUST because you're a woman. There are some things you won't be able to do, for whatever reason…but it shouldn't have anything to do with your gender…and never settle…compromise, but don't settle…there's a difference. If I'd listened to people and settled, I'd now be an old woman with a couple of marriages under my belt living in a tiny apartment waiting for my children to visit instead of the ravishing and happy creature before you." She struck a pose, and Alex laughed.

She liked Mrs. Wexstein a lot and discovered that it took little encouragement for her to begin calling her Edie. She also liked Mr. Wexstein, a quiet, handsome man with more salt than pepper in his hair and a perpetually bemused expression.

"You're wondering," he said as he handed Alex a glass of champagne, "how Edie and I got together."

Alex smiled. "If I were to guess, I'd say it's because you make each other laugh."

"You're very observant," Mr. Wexstein smiled. "It usually takes people a few meetings with us to realize that." He looked at his wife with affection as she walked towards them. "Forty years, and she still makes me laugh and surprises me…and tells me I do the same to her."

Alex had fears that she might be out of place at the party and with Tom's family and friends, but the evening proved to be the most enjoyable hours she'd experienced since the start of first college semester. Tom's older sister shared her parents and brother's humor, even if she didn't share their love and knowledge of cars. "My form of rebellion," she told Alex. "I barely know where to put the gas in." The employees of the Wexstein shop were treated as members of a large extended family and encouraged to enjoy the party. Alex found herself performing the Electric Slide and the Chicken Dance with an equally uncoordinated mass of bodies, and she was thrilled when, near the end of the evening, Tom led her gently and genially on to the dance floor. He was a graceful dancer, able to deftly lessen the difference in their heights. When the music ended, they walked out to the cold, clear night.

"Do you need your coat?" Tom asked softly.

"Maybe later," Alex answered. "Right now the cold feels good."

Tom quietly moved closer to her. "You may be a little tipsy from that champagne. It can go to your head pretty quickly if you're not used to it."

Alex stepped back so that she could be closer to Tom. "I know," she laughed softly. "Some friends and I shared a couple of bottles once…not nearly as good as what I've had tonight…we all got a little…" Alex shook her head.

"Alex," Tom said in mock shock. "It's not even legal for you to drink right now…don't tell me you've been doing things you're not supposed to…"

She stared up at the sky. "I'm not as innocent as you think I am," Alex said wistfully.

They were standing very close to each other now, so close that Alex could smell Tom's cologne, Tom Alex's perfume. Tom gently laid his hands on Alex's shoulders and nuzzled her hair.

"Alex," he whispered. "You're so beautiful…so sweet…"

She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips met, and Alex's head spun.

"Alex?" Tom's anxious voice broke through the haze.

She blinked and managed to focus on him. "I'm all right," she whispered. "Just a little overwhelmed…"

He pulled away from her but held her hands. "I…the party's breaking up…we should get you home…"

He guided her back into the hall; she retrieved her coat while Tom said good by to the few remaining guests. They walked out to the parking lot; the weather suddenly seemed much colder, and Alex shivered in spite of her coat. Tom cautiously slipped his arm around her waist; she leaned into his warmth and strength. They reached the Mustang, and Tom opened the passenger door for her. Her thoughts racing, Alex sat quietly as Tom slipped into the car, started it, and maneuvered it through the parking lot.

"How can I let him know I'm…well, whatever I am…" she thought. "Without making me look too…too aggressive or something…that I know it's a bad idea in a lot of ways…to let him know that I'm not some naïve kid…that I don't expect some huge commitment…"

"Alex?" She became aware Tom was waiting for a response from her.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Lost in my thoughts…"

She noted that Tom gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white.

"I just asked…do you think you'll be ok to drive home?" His voice was soft and tense. "Or…or…you could stay…."

Alex took a deep breath. "Or I could stay…"

Tom's body became tense, and a heavy silence filled the car. After a few moments, he slowed and stopped the car. He shut off the engine and turned to look at Alex.

"Look," he said quietly and intensely. "I've never been good at romantic games…I can only give you the truth…I've been…I have to be honest…I don't know if I love you, Alex, but it's damn close to that if it isn't…and I've felt that way since I first met you…there are all sorts of reasons we shouldn't do anything…I'm your boss…I'm older than you…and…" He struggled for a moment. "I'm in this limbo…there's a girl…we've talked about…well, around at least, marriage…but she's going to med school in Chicago…and needed to concentrate on that…and she wants to be sure…and I can understand that and I want it, too…" He gripped the steering wheel for support. "I want you to…if anything happens…to have your eyes open…and not to feel any pressure…if nothing happens, this conversation didn't happen…"

Alex returned Tom's gaze. "I…I've thought about most of those things," she said quietly. "I…I don't know if I love you…you're right…I'm awfully young and maybe I don't know enough…but honestly, I'm not looking for anything permanent…there's things I want to do in my life…with my life…I think I can separate my work from my life…maybe I can't…but…but with you…" She bit her lip. "I'd like to find out. But I don't want to hurt or lie to you."

Tom leaned over and tenderly kissed her on the cheek. "And I don't want to hurt or lie to you." He turned the key in the ignition and eased the car back into traffic. The few minutes drive to Tom's house went by both too slowly and too quickly. Tom carefully parked the Mustang in the narrow drive next to the house. Before he unbuckled his seatbelt he turned to Alex.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," she said without hesitating. "Although…I have to tell you…I'm not on anything…for protection…"

Tom smiled and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. "That's ok…I've got that covered…a guy should…"

As they left the car and entered the house, Alex's thoughts wandered unwillingly back to the night she lost her virginity. "This," she thought. "Is so different. Tom is so open and honest…he actually seems to care about me…he isn't pressing or pushing me…"

He took her coat from her when they were in the house. "You want a drink?" he asked.

"No…I just…I want you." She stepped up to him with a confidence she didn't feel.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply and passionately. Alex's head spun; if Tom hadn't held her so closely she might have fainted.

"Alex? Are you ok?"

"Y-yes," she whispered and rested her head on his shoulder.

He led her up the stairs to his bedroom. Tom turned on only the small lamp resting on the tiny table next to his bed. In the soft faint light Alex saw the small room glowed with a pale, warm color; the bed was covered with a reassuringly deep brown spread. Tom pulled it back to reveal soft cream colored sheets.

"Safe," Alex thought. "I'm safe here…I'm safe with him."

He sat on the bed and slipped off his shoes and socks. He looked up and smiled at her, and Alex shivered.

"Please," Tom said, his arms reaching for her. "Come to me."

Still shaking, she stepped up to him; he wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her chin on his head.

"Alex…beautiful, sweet Alex…am I the first…are you…"

"No," she answered her voice shaking. "But I wish you were…"

His arms tightened around her for a moment. "Someone…treated you badly…" There was a trace of anger in his voice that quickly disappeared. "I won't…don't you let me…tell me when you like or don't like what I do…"

"Kiss me again," Alex pleaded. He did, standing and gently placing her on the bed as he did.

"Please," he whispered. "May I undress you?"

"Y..Yes."

He removed her clothes agonizingly slowly, stopping to kiss and lick and touch the skin as he revealed it. His hands were large and gentle, and Alex cried out in pleasure as his callused fingertips brushed and teased her breasts. His lips sent sparks across her body as he murmured words she barely understood. "Beautiful, lovely Alex…so strong…so sweet…I love to touch you…" Her fevered brain managed to understand that he wanted her to respond—that it pleased him to know he was pleasing her. He briefly abandoned her body to remove his clothes, and when he turned to stand naked before her, Alex gasped.

"You're…you're beautiful," she whispered.

He pulled a small packet from the table. "Not nearly as beautiful as you."

Tom stretched out over Alex and resumed his sweet torture of her body. She lost sense of time and place; her mind was barely able to respond the sensations pouring over her. The soft touch of the sheets, the lovely scent of her and Tom's arousal, and his ministrations blurred together. He kissed and nipped at her body; Alex became aware his hands and tongue were tenderly, slowly reaching and pulling inside her, sending waves of pleasure through her. For an agonizing moment, he was gone, and Alex heard the rustle of a package. Then he returned, hovering over her.

"Are you ready…may I?" Tom asked in a husky voice.

Alex could scarcely speak. "Yes…yes…please."

He entered her slowly and carefully. Alex felt a brief, almost gentle pain, and then he filled her, steadily, wonderfully. Waves of pleasure again pulsed through her. She heard strange whimpers and realized she was the source of those sounds. And then the waves crashed within her and swept her away.

"Alex? Baby? Are you all right?" Tom's voice came to her through a lovely haze.

She blinked and gazed up at Tom, who looked down at her with a combination of tender amusement and concern. She smiled at him and raised a shaky hand to touch his chin.

"Wow," Alex said. Her voice was unsettlingly unfamiliar to her. "That…that was wonderful…"

Tom smiled at her. "Good…you were pretty wonderful yourself."

He carefully and gently moved Alex so that she rested in his arms. "Thank you," he whispered as he drew the covers over them.

"Thank you," Alex murmured as her body relaxed and curled against his.

"So," she thought as she drifted to sleep. "This is how it's supposed to be."

End Chapter Six