Jim Brass felt jubilant as he walked through Andres with Sofia. He saw the way other men looked at her. And as always, it made him proud. He knew that he shouldn't feel that way, but he couldn't help but be a little gleeful that all the men in the room envied him. Of course, part of his glee was that tonight was going to be the night. After a nice dinner he was going to take his wife home and bed her. His swagger was full of confidence and insinuated that this was a man that was about to score.

Sofia was smiling, trying not to giggle outright. Jim was so full of himself that he was about to pop. She knew exactly what he was thinking. What he didn't know was that she had a room reserved for them and there would be no going home tonight. After dinner, she was taking him upstairs to bed him. They had waited long enough.

After they were seated and looked at the menus, they ordered. Jim was having the Jumbo Crab Cake, Lobster Bisque with a Caesar Salad, and the Filet Mignon as his entrée. Sofia chose Escargots, Vichyssoise and Mélange of Field Greens, and the Seafood Risotto as her entrée. They elected to forego dessert with Jim making a comment about watching his waistline. Sofia smirked.

"Wouldn't want to lose my girlish figure," he jested.

"Right, after ordering steak…" she giggled. She looked down and then her eyes glanced back up at him, flirting. He smiled at her, his eyes not leaving her face until the waiter brought their wine. They took their time moving through the courses of the meal, chatting, flirting and simply enjoying each other.

Finally Sofia approached the purpose of the evening. "Jim, I haven't pressed you but I think the time has come."

"Time for what, baby?" he asked, his smoky eyes glistening.

"Us. You needed time to recover and I know you were a little afraid for awhile but now its time. I hope you aren't expecting much sleep tonight."

His eyes widened and he smiled. "I was afraid. I wasn't sure that I could …well, you know…perform. But the doc says just do it."

"Smart man, the doc." She paused, her eyes revealing what she was thinking. "So, after dinner, we'll?"

"Depends on how fast you drive, honey."

"Oh…..I can't wait that long. We have a room upstairs, just waiting."

A wicked smile crept over him, encompassing his whole face. No one in the room doubted how the night would end for the couple in the corner.

After dinner they made their way upstairs. Jim had retrieved their bag from the car. "I don't know why we need it," he growled. "Its not like we'll be wearing any clothes anyway."

Sofia laughed. "Just get the bag, Jim."

They were alone in the elevator as they rode up. Consequently the only witness to their frenzied make out session was the security camera and the guys in the room watching. Sofia made sure they got an eyeful.

Once inside the room, she ran her hands inside Jim's jacket, working it off his shoulders and then began on the buttons to his shirt. He was too busy to help her, however; his hands were moving all around her body and his lips were all over her face and neck, devouring her. "You been teasing and tantalizing me for weeks you little flirt; tonight you're gonna find out what you been doing to me."

She laughed. "Look who's talking about teasing. You've been undressing me with your eyes for days," she retorted. "And I intend to do a lot more to you than tease." She freed him from his shirt and went to work on his trousers. Before she got very far, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. "Jim," she cried out. "Should you be dong that?"

"Just for that," he chuckled as he dropped her on the bed. "I was going to put you down gently, but…." Then he fell on the bed next to her and renewed his assault on her body.

"God Jim, you can be such a Neanderthal at times," she laughed again.

"And you love it," he chortled.

Their love making was slow, but intense; all the fears of the past few weeks falling away in the fire of their passion for one another. Each reveled in the other until two bodies and souls merged together as one; complete in the perfection of the moment.

Once the fire was extinguished and their bodies began to cool, Jim held her close to him, still in need of her. He would always need her, he knew that. She was a part of him. Without her, life would be something to be endured but not really lived. And lying with her now, it was to be celebrated.

Sofia was having similar thoughts and feelings. "Jim," she murmured as her fingers lazily played in the hairs on his chest. "I was so afraid."

"Afraid? Of tonight?" He asked in soft, gentle tones.

"That tonight would never happen. When you were in the hospital, especially at the beginning…I was so scared I had lost you. And when the mood swings started; you were just so different. I was afraid that you were changed forever; that I wouldn't know you anymore."

Jim thought about what she had said. "Yeah baby, when I would get so angry, it felt like I was different. I just couldn't stop myself. And I was scared too. Scared that I was so messed up that you wouldn't...couldn't love me anymore. I would have been lost if …."

"Don't ever think that, Jim. Don't ever think that I don't love you. To stop loving you would be to stop breathing for me. Even if you…" she fought for air to continue; her heart and lungs felt as though they were being crushed by her thoughts. "Even if you had …died, I would still love you."

Jim held her tightly. "But I didn't die. And you gave me the strength to fight my way through it. Here with you now, I feel …healed." There was no way to hold her close enough, tightly enough. How do you physically complete the connection that your heart and soul have already formed with another? But in that moment it was all that he wanted. Jim realized that his physical need for her had nothing to do with sex, not that he was capable of another round just then anyway. He pulled the covers closer around them, forming a tight cocoon that sheltered their existence as one; it was the best he could do.

Sofia tried to burrow deeper into his body. Her head rested on his chest and she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Mmmm, I wish we could stay like this forever"

They awoke the in the morning as they had fallen asleep, cozy in their cocoon and entwined with each other. Neither wanted to move for fear of losing all that they were feeling, but eventually the combination of stiff muscles and nature's call forced them apart.

Sofia called room service for a light breakfast while Jim showered. The order arrived while she was in the shower. They ate in contented silence, their eyes and hands in constant contact. Reluctantly they packed their bag and left the room, stepping back into the reality of life.

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Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you enjoyed Jim and Sofia's little interlude.