Disclaimer: I don't even own my non-essential organs anymore.

"I still don't really understand how this whole thing happened…"

"Eli, will you stop complaining and help us load up the truck? You may be my son, but out here, you're an intern. Interns don't get free tickets to shows. It's station policy," Bullfrog explained with exasperation. Eli had been on everyone's last nerve all day, the events from the night before setting him on edge. He hadn't heard from Holly J since he dropped her off and he had no idea if she had gone to talk to Darcy. The entire day had been spent in the parking lot of the Air Canada Center, helping out with the station's live broadcast from the Muse show. He had agreed to this in hopes of snagging a ticket, but he hadn't had any luck.

"You're going though, so who are you taking?" Eli threw back as he wound some cables. Bullfrog didn't even really like Muse, but he knew that he would be stupid to pass on free tickets. A bright red mustang pulled slowly up by the truck and Eli couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Hey, baby boy! How's work?" Cece cheerfully asked as she walked over to quickly hug her son.

"Cece? You're bringing her?" Eli asked, unable to believe how his father was completely screwing him over.

"Wow. My day was fine and I love you too," she said back, going over to greet her husband. Eli only smiled sarcastically.

"We're having a date night. Your mom's been wanting to see them for awhile now," Bullfrog answered.

"That Matt Bellamy has a nice, tight butt," Cece said to no one in particular.

"You can drive the mustang home when you're done here."

"And I know you've been feeling a little down in the dumps, baby boy, so there's a little present in your room," and she tossed him her keys. Eli caught them easily, wondering what it could be.

"Go on. Finish that coil you're working on and get out of here, you miserable mope," Bullfrog teased, kissing Cece on the cheek, "And we'll be late so leave a note if you're going out."

"Holly J hasn't called all day so I'll probably just play xbox or something…" Eli mumbled. He couldn't help but feel a little pathetic. Even his parents had a date tonight and here he was, planning on playing video games on a Saturday night because his girlfriend needed to learn a lesson. It was official; his life was lame. Cece shrugged lightly but still offered a knowing smile, one that only confused Eli. Something was up.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a night like this that Eli wished Adam was home, but it was still another two weeks until he and Fi came back to Toronto for school. Sav was at the concert and Eli didn't know Peter or Spinner well enough to stop by The Dot to hang out. Sighing, he parked his mom's car in the driveway and got out, trying to decide which brutally violent game he wanted to play by himself. It felt odd not having heard from Holly J all day, a first since they got together. She was only respecting his wishes but he would have thought that she would have apologized to Darcy by now. The fact that she hadn't made him worry. Maybe she really was as horrible as everyone had said. Maybe he didn't know her as well as he thought.

Eli made his way into the house, leaving his bag next to the door. Cece would yell at him about it tomorrow, but right now, he didn't care. He took the stairs up to his room, excited to see his surprise and deciding that if he was going to have the house to himself for the night, pants were optional. Pulling a hand absentmindedly through his hair, he opened the door to his room and stopped.

Red hair flowed down and over creamy white shoulders, only accented by the last bits of the sunset, long, black satin gloves throwing the porcelain skin into contrast as a set of black lace panties revealed just enough to send Eli's mind into overdrive. Holly J was kneeling on the end of his bed, her feet tucked under her and her gloved hands modestly crossed over and covering her bare chest. She looked back at him over her right shoulder; her lips were painted ruby red and she had cat eyeliner, a set of black cat ears finishing the look.

"Meow."

Eli was speechless. His feet were rooted to the spot and he couldn't get enough of the sight of her. This was by far the sexiest thing anyone had ever done for him. She turned towards him slightly, allowing him to get the full effect. Every inch of her was perfect.

"I know it's not the full vinyl cat suit and I'm not Michelle Pfeiffer, but I was pressed for time…" she said softly, feeling a little embarrassed. He wasn't saying anything. He wasn't even moving. She was so sure that he would like this, that this was what he wanted with no interruptions, but all he could do was stare. She didn't think she could deal if he was still angry with her.

"So, I….uh, I take it that you talked to Darcy?" Eli stammered out, bringing a hand up to rub his neck. The room seemed very hot to him, way warmer than it was when he left his morning. This was better than movie Catwoman; this was real. Holly J was already incredibly sexy and knew how to use it, but this… This was unreal.

"Of course, once Manny let me in. What I said to her was wrong, I apologized and we're okay… well, as okay as Darcy and I will ever be," the girl explained, unable to hide the worry in her eyes. It killed Eli to see her so scared to make any sort of move, so scared of disappointing him.

"That's good," he said in equally hushed tones, taking a step towards her. He itched to reach out and feel her skin, to hold her tight to his body, to press his lips to her own and have that red lipstick leave trails everywhere, but he wouldn't let himself. Not yet. "So, what's this about?"

His question took her off guard. She thought it was obvious what this was about. She thought that at this point, they both would have been completely naked and yet, right now, there was still what seemed like a world between them. Her eyes moved up to his own.

"Eli, I want to be as close to you as I feel."

One.

Swallow.

Two.

Steps.

And three seconds later, his lips captured hers, all lessons and control vanishing. He didn't want to pretend to be mad at her anymore. This stunning goddess had done everything she could to make it up to him and now it was his turn to please her. Her soft skin seemed to melt at his touch as he pulled her even closer to himself, needing to feel her every curve. Her tongue darted across his bottom lip, begging for entry as she deepened the kiss, letting her own fingers play with the hem of his shirt.

"You're so beautiful," Eli whispered against her lips as the cat ears fell somewhere over the side of the bed. Breaking apart just long enough for his shirt to come off, they connected again, Eli kneeling on the bed with her.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," and Holly J ran her gloved fingers over his abs and up his chest, finding their way behind his neck. He traced her jawline with small kisses, down her neck and over her shoulder.

"Oh, I think I do," he growled, slowly peeling the glove from her arm, making sure to kiss every inch that was revealed. Taking her petite hand in his, he brought the top of it to his lips, meeting her gaze. Her smile was all he would ever need in life. If Holly J was happy, then Eli could be happy. He had fallen for her, despite everything.

A contented sigh escaped from her lips as he made a path across her chest to repeat his actions down her other arm. All of her nervousness and worry fell away at his touch. The future didn't matter in this moment. Right now, this was where she was supposed to be and who she was supposed to be with. Holly J's fingers moved down again, managing to undo his belt buckle fairly easily. His hands cupped her own as she messed with the button on his jeans, stopping her.

"Are you sure about this?" Eli asked gently, his eyes softening as they met hers. He never wanted to be the guy that pushed girls too far too fast and if she wasn't ready, then they needed to stop now.

"Of course I do. Unless… you don't want to." He took her hands from his jeans and turned them over, lacing their fingers together as he smirked.

"You would be the only force on earth that could stop me," and he tenderly pressed his lips to hers again, squeezing her hands in his own. He placed them back on his jeans and helped her pull them off along with his shoes and socks. Eli never really thought this day would come. Sure, he had joked about it with her and they had gotten close a few times, but he had no idea how long she and Declan had waited, if she had made him go through the prep talk too. None of that mattered at the moment though as her long fingers wrapped around him, sneaking under the waistband of his boxers. "Fuck, Holly J," he hissed.

Holly J couldn't help but smile at his reaction to her touch. She started a slow but steady rhythm, each long stroke pulling a new sound from him. Eli's head was buzzing; it had been far too long since anyone had touched him like that. Her breath at his ear and her skin against his was driving him crazy. The things she could do to him… it wasn't fair.

A finger slid along her opening, making the girl gasp against his shoulder as she continued her ministrations. Another one followed right after and her hips instinctively moved against them, trying to get them to give her some release. Eli took her movements as a sign and lightly laid her onto the bed, hooking his index fingers over the elastic of her panties and pulling them off.

A hand at the side of her waist steadied him as he used his free one to rid himself of the uncomfortable fabric separating them. Her fingers tangled themselves in his dark hair, pulling his lips down to her own, refusing to let him go. Holly J had lost so much; she wasn't going to lose him too. He pressed his hips into hers, letting her know how ready he was and she responded in kind, a small moan falling from her lips.

"Hold on one second…" he panted against her neck, reaching over to his bedside table and opening the drawer. Taking out a condom, Eli unwrapped it and slipped it on. Their eyes met for a moment, each of them in complete admiration of the other. Without even saying a word, they knew.

Eli placed a gentle hand on the side of Holly J's face, pressing his forehead to hers and kissing her sweetly. "You ready?" The girl nodded with a smile. She couldn't have been more ready.

He pushed into her slowly, letting her adjust before he moved again. She couldn't help but take a breath; it didn't hurt but it had been a while for her. She moved her hips up to meet his and he responded, moving slowly at first. She felt so good around him, better than he imagined. Leaning forward a bit, he thrust deeper in her, each one pulling more and more sounds from her.

"Fuck, Eli…" she panted against his ear, gripping his back tightly. Her fingers moved down, leaving pink trails in their wake. The slight pain only spurred him on. His hand found her crimson hair as his teeth scraped across the delicate skin on her neck, pulling another soft cry from her. They built up a rhythm, the pressure building between them.

"Holly J…" he whined softly, doing everything he could to hold on. Holly J moved her legs up and over his hips, letting him thrust fully inside of her, hitting every sensitive spot. She threw her head back as he found the spot that had been begging for attention this whole time. She needed him. He was her everything, her entire world.

Letting out a low moan, she felt her release, every muscle in her body simultaneously contracting and relaxing, the chemicals flooding her brain as she road the waves of her orgasm, Eli not far behind. He reached his own peak, his thrusts slowing and eventually stopping, both their bodies covered in each other's sweat. Eli softly collapsed on Holly J's chest, completely exhausted.

"That was…" but she was interrupted when Eli pressed a finger to her lips, looking up at her. This moment was too perfect; there was no need for words, any words to ruin it. Her hair was tousled and her cheeks flushed, eyes sleepy and lips swollen, the slices of moonlight from his window making her skin glow. This woman couldn't be real, but she was, and she was all his.

A/N: Thank you so much for your patience. A couple of weeks ago, I got really sick and, long story short, I had to have my gallbladder removed this past week. Besides the pain from the surgery, I'm doing fine now, but I could barely get in a head space to write for those few weeks. Only a few chapters left! Reviews are smoothies because that's all I can really have right now!