And now - the event you've all been waiting for. Well, what are you waiting for - don't just sit there - read on, faithful readers!

Chapter 8 – Found Objects

Piper woke and lay still. She had woken up chilled except for her back. Glancing around she discovered that the fire had gone out and she had moved to lie against Finn for warmth. He too, had turned toward her and they were now curled comfortably in a spoon position, his arm draped over her, his left hand tucked under her shoulder. She could feel his soft breath against the back of her neck.

As she lay there she began to become aware of every part of his body that touched, his thighs pressed against the back of hers, her left foot against his right. Her heart began to beat harder. She'd never been held like this and even though she knew he held her for warmth, rather than companionship, nevertheless she could feel heat rising through her. His weight against her was not uncomfortable, quite the opposite. His arm didn't press her down, rather it lay lightly around her, gently holding him to her. She reached up her free hand and wrapped it carefully around his wrist. Her mind replayed the last few days with him, recalling her newfound breakthrough of her thoughts of him: the way he had amazed her, amused her, cared for her. Part of it she knew was due to having to rely on each other, putting aside the non essential back biting that seemed to be part of their daily routine.

Which is just our own way of playing, I realize that now. I think we spar back and forth because deep down we like it, both of us trying to knock each other off our perches. He's been downright remarkable in his solutions, not to mention his ability to take charge and do what's needed. He saved your life by taking out that barb, even though he had to undress you without your awareness. Some people might have figured that it would be better to get you to safety than 'dishonor' you. I've never had much patience for people who feel that honor was more important than practicality. And then when he was dangling off the cliff – maybe my words changed his mind about untying himself, but I saw that knot. There was no way he could have untied himself. And thank all the stars above that he couldn't, because he would have done it. He really would have let himself fall into the depths rather than endanger me. Anyone ever tell me he's selfish and cowardly and I'll jab 'em in the eye with my staff.

As Piper lay snug in Finn's arms, she gradually began to realize that she was smiling with a mixture of gratitude and affection, her thoughts and emotions adding up how much the young male pressed against her was worth. Once again she became aware of his physical nearness, especially as he sighed and stretched in his sleep. His arm tightened around her, then slowly loosened.

She opened her eyes and stared at the wall opposite. She'd never been an extremely impulsive person, her psyche needing the security of fact over chance. The few chances she had taken were backed up by the faith she had in her own skill and knowledge, multiplied by those of her teammates. And yet she could feel building inside her a need that pushed all intellectual thought aside. Her heart was beating so hard in her chest as to almost burst. Back and forth she fought a battle with herself, the emotional side finally getting the upper hand for once.

She gently pulled Finn's arm from around her and turned to face him. She could just make out his face in the glowing embers of the dying fire. Once again she tallied his features and willingly admitted that he really was good looking. Reaching up her hand, she began to softly stroke her bare forefinger against his cool/warm skin, tracing the curve of cheek and brow, traveling down his slim straight nose to its slightly downturned tip, skipping over his relaxed mouth to explore his sharp chin only to glide up the line of his jaw, back to where she had began. He hadn't stirred, but his eyebrows had lowered a bit and his mouth wore the faintest hint of a frown. Smiling impishly to herself, she retraced her line, only this time she didn't skip over his lips. Instead she followed the contour of the bow of his upper lip, then ran her finger along the fuller bottom. She felt his lips twitch and he opened them a little, letting out a soft sigh. As she watched him, his eyes began to move back and forth behind his lids. Giving in to the impulse that ran through her, she leaned close and kissed the tip of his nose, then gave it a tiny lick. She pulled back in time to see Finn's eyes flutter open. She almost giggled as his look of confusion turned into consternation and finally into realization. She could see his eyes searching hers, trying to comprehend if he had really just experienced what his still tingling skin said it had.

Finn stared into Piper's eyes, his mind racing. She was in his arms, facing him, smiling with a mixture of emotions he really wasn't sure he could name. His face was tingling as if something soft had just run all around it, and he was aware that she was resting her hand against the side of his face, her bare forefinger making soft circles against his temple, the rest of her fingers buried into his hair. And had he really felt his nose being kissed as he was struggling out of sleep? Was she actually looking at him not just in amusement, as if she were playing a joke on him, but in…affection? Even…desire? The look in her eyes was almost scary, it was so intense. The tawny gold eyes fairly burned into his. Finn blinked as he tried to process all the sensations that were assaulting him. Along with the overwhelming reality of waking up to find a smiling, welcoming girl in his arms, there was the physical fact of said girl - her finger lightly stroking him, her breasts against his chest, her legs pressed against his. He could feel the heat of her body and it sent an answering wave coursing through his, setting in motion a volley of physical reactions. And riding over everything was Finn's rapidly swirling thoughts as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

She..she..she's..touching me, and she's smiling at me, and she's looking at me like, like she likes me, no, more than that. Like she…wants me. Can she – really? Does she – really? But she's Piper and I'm Finn and, and….

Piper watched as a thousand different thoughts sparked across his face. Deciding to put an end to his debate and give him a definitive answer, she leaned forward while pulling his head to her, closing the gap between them. She felt his entire body stiffen as she kissed him, his hand grabbing her. For a minute she thought she had made the worst mistake of her life, and was just about to pull back and begin to apologize, hoping to mend this awkward situation as best she could.

The next thing she knew, Finn had wrapped his arm tight around her and was pulling her close and his lips pressed back just as firmly. She moved her hand around and placed it against the curve of his neck. Both of them simultaneously pulled tight, the kiss deepened further. Piper was vaguely aware that she had flung her leg around Finn's.

Just as suddenly they broke apart, to search each other eyes and faces as they tried to catch their breath. The two were stunned by the strength of their need, feeling excited and not a little scared.

Finn's mouth worked as he tried to utter something, anything. He had known that he was beginning to feel a stronger attachment to the attractive dark skinned girl who now was in his arms, but he'd had no idea she had felt the same way toward him. He had pretty much figured it was just hopeless infatuation, something that he'd probably work out of, especially since he'd assumed he hadn't a prayer's chance in the Murklands of her sharing the same attraction. And now? And now she was looking at him with more than just friendship, her eyes alight with a fire that glowed. And her face, that pretty face of hers which was smiling at him, her lips curved in pleasure and anticipation. As he gazed at her, his brain gave one last questioning thought, but it was quickly outvoted as he answered his own overwhelming need of her. He pulled her into another kiss, just as long and deep as the first one. Yielding to instinct he rolled over onto her.

Piper was aware that there was a center of her brain that was sending out all sorts of alarms, warning signals and frantic signs of danger. She thrust them all aside as she enthusiastically embraced not only the young male on top of her, but also the deep recesses of her mind that she had kept locked up. For the first time in her life she gave into the purely physical, allowing the long buried desires and yearnings, wants and needs to skyrocket out. She wanted this, she wanted him, she wanted to give herself to this person who had suddenly become the most desirable thing she had ever known. If a helix crystal had dropped out of the ceiling she wouldn't even have glanced at it.

They kissed for a long time, changing position only long enough to gain a better arrangement, seeking a deeper bond. Their mouths were open, tongues freely exchanged. Small noises of delight escaped from their throats. Eyes closed in rapture only to open long enough to search out the other, exchanging glances that said more than words ever could.

Abruptly Finn pushed himself up, kneeling above her. Panting he regarded the beautiful female under him. She gazed back at him adoringly, her face welcoming and her mouth open, smiling in desire. Finn suddenly realized he craved contact with her, his gloves and clothes constricting, barring him from being even that much closer to her. He ripped of his gloves, throwing them to the side, his tunic and under shirt following rapidly after. Finn wanted nothing more than to tear off the rest of his clothes, rip off hers and join madly together. Yet some faraway place stopped him, a tiny spark of sensibility. He cupped her face, pulling her to look at him. He almost lost it again at the burning desire in her eyes, but somehow forced himself to concentrate, focus.

"Piper?" he whispered, his voice husky. "Are you sure, I mean, should we, that is, I want to , but, well…." Finn stopped and closed his eyes, gathering himself, seeking out that area within him that was his own personal center of gravity. Opening them up, he regarded her with the most serious look he ever possessed. "Piper, darling, if we don't stop now, we aren't going to. And it's not that I want to stop, I don't. But I just don't want to…hurt you."

If Piper had had any doubts about her newly found feelings for the handsome young blond in front of her, they were instantly, joyously thrown aside. Even in the midst of his passion, and she had been very aware of both his mounting emotional and rousing physical needs, here he was more concerned with her than of himself. She said nothing, just placed both her hands on either side of his face and pressed her lips softly against his. She held him for a long time, then pulled back just enough to be able to form words and whispered.

"Yes."

Finn didn't have to ask what she meant. Every male fiber in his being knew without a shadow of a doubt that the female in front of him had offered herself wholly to him. He gathered her close to him, held her in a tender hug, knowing that she was the most precious, fragile thing he'd ever had.

Within moments the two youths were locked tight around each other, going farther than either one had ever thought they would go…