Author's note: Yeah...this is becoming a little more suggestive than what I had originally started out with. Can we say "voyeurism" anyone? Oh and I just watched the Sex and the City movie last week and oh my God this first scene is almost the exact same scenario. It's actually kind of freaky considering I wrote this before I saw the movie and that shower scene with Dante. And if you've seen the movie, you might know the scene I'm talking about. (Pause for a moment to reflect...dreamy sigh...) And I've also been re-reading some of my favorite Linda Howard books. I didn't mention this in the last chapter, but I borrowed a name from my first and foremost favorite Linda Howard book, Open Season. On with the story.

Music Suggestions: 'Fly to the angels' by Slaughter, 'Alone' by Heart, 'Waste my time' by Alexz Johnson', 'Still in the dark' by Aranda.

Disclaimer: Don't own Dark Angel. Only the original characters that I have created for this story.

Olive

The first time she'd seen him completely naked, she hadn't understood why his body looked so different from hers. It'd had been shortly after her mom and dad had adopted him into their family and the only boys she'd seen naked had been her baby brothers. She'd never seen one in proportion to her own body before. All she chose to remember from that time was that she'd been jealous he was going to be bigger and stronger than her. Something that would put her at a disadvantage.

Almost twelve years later, she wouldn't at all mind those disadvantages, if only they would slam her soundly against the nearest flat surface and kiss her senseless. She didn't care about the less than appealing, questionable cleanliness of the drab olive colored concrete walls or the fact that this was a community bathing area. Or the fact that she'd been staring for at least a solid five minutes at his bare backside as he showered unawares in the stall directly in her line of sight, as soon as she walked through the door.

The boy had no sense of discretion whatsoever. The perfectly operational shower curtain hung uselessly to one side of the stall he was in, apparently uncaring at all of who may happen by and decide to take a shower as well. He did realize that this was a coed public shower? As in male and female? Did he not realize how undeniably edible he was to the female population as a whole?

He'd definitely changed a lot since the last time. They both had. At the time, he'd barely even looked at her long enough to ascertain–as well as inform her–that she was small for her age. She'd sputtered indignantly at the accusation. She'd only been about five at the time. What was she supposed to look like, an Amazon?

She could now safely say that he'd more than momentarily glance at her if the situation were ever reversed. She wouldn't call herself an exhibitionist–far from it–but for some reason she wanted Sebastian to see her naked...and like what he saw. As if she wanted to prove to him that she'd grown...up as well as out. Which was absurd because he had to have noticed that by now; just about everyone else had.

It was always "Oh look how beautiful you are," or "Wow, sweetie, you look just like your mother," or "Damn, that girl was smokin' hot!" Of course, she'd put the last man and his comment in his place after he'd pinched her ass in passing. Needless to say, she was not unaware of how "hot" she was and she swore up and down that that jerk had just tripped over her foot–twice–and landed on her fist.

But she'd also learned a thing or two about men and their complete lack of admitting to their feelings. At least, the ones a girl wanted to anyway.

Back to the matter at hand.

It made her wonder, were Sebastian ever in her position–practically drooling as she stared, completely captivated–would he react the same? Would he watch as the spray of water cascaded down her back in large rivulets as she pushed her hair out of her face with both hands, almost as if they were moving in slow motion trailing down her neck, past her shoulder blades and further downward until upper level brain function short-circuited itself?

Because she was. She was staring with rapt fascination at someone who, at most times, she considered a best friend. She wasn't stupid or deluded. Pandora knew that her feelings were beginning to change for Sebastian. At least she was proud enough to say she'd started falling for his personality and actions rather than his body. However, it didn't make it any easier to admit to such feelings out loud. Pandora knew she should turn around or at least continue on and make her presence known to him as she took a shower of her own, which is what she'd originally come here for.

And she almost had herself convinced that she could move–when he turned around. Thankfully, he'd had his eyes closed and his face upturned towards the shower head as he rinsed shampoo out of his hair because the jist would've been up right there. Because she could not stop staring, not even to blink, as her jaw went completely slack.

Well, at least she could say with a fair amount of certainty that his backside was only a prelude when compared to the front. Her head tilted to one side and she had to bite back the moan that threatened to escape as she took in the front end. There was no threating that Sebastian wasn't a man from this point of view because the man was stacked in every possible way. When fully clothed, he actually looked kind of lanky and, at times, kind of emo-ish. However, it was a whole different story without such interferences. His pecs were tight and would no doubt be firm yet pliable under her touch (although she sort of already had up-close, first-hand evidence to attribute to with their run-in awhile back). A light sprinkling of brown hair started on his chest and trailed downward. Down the center of the most rock-solid looking torso until...the blush spread both up towards her face and down her neck as her gaze stopped on the most solid difference between them.

She wasn't anywhere near an expert in this area, but it, or rather he was aroused. And she was pretty sure it was more than just the shower considering the expression she'd noted on her perusal down. He was thinking about someone. Or some girl, to be more specific. It made her wonder, did he ever think of her, or had that been just a one-time, "you're a girl and on top of me" kind of thing?

Her hypothesis was confirmed and her knees buckled when he trailed one hand lightly down his wet body and gripped it, stroking back and forth experimentally a few times. Pandora frowned petulantly when he turned back around, bracing one arm above his head against the wall as he started stroking himself more vigorously. She hadn't even realized she'd closed her eyes until she heard Sebastian groan deeply, as if satisfied.

She stood up straight from the wall she'd slumped against and took a deep, fortifying breath before she continued into the room and to a stall opposite from Sebastian's.

She still couldn't believe that she'd practically leered at Sebastian, appraising him as if he were a piece of meat. And while most girls would have probably given a finger or a toe to have been in her shoes, it wasn't like her to ogle naked men as they were showering. Any other time she would have shielded her eyes and passed on by without a second thought, and perhaps given a severe scolding for their inability to properly use a shower curtain.

She was changing, and she wasn't yet sure if it was for the better.

She dropped her bag of toiletries more forcefully than necessary to make her presence known, and then pulled her t-shirt over her head slowly out of spite and dropped it on the bench in front of the stall she'd chosen.

"You know Bastian, a little modesty goes a long way." Pandora said in a patronizing tone, sneaking a peek over her shoulder at him as his head shot up in surprise. She hid her smirk into her shoulder as he turned to face her and yanked the shower curtain across the lower half of his exposed body.

She couldn't tell if the slightly red tinge in his cheeks was from embarrassment of just the heat of his shower as he shrugged.

"You know what they say..." Sebastian remarked smoothly, an unrepentant grin forming on his lips. "Flaunt it while you've got it." he finished cheekily.

"Uh huh." Pandora retorted disbelievingly.

As far as she was concerned, he could flaunt it in front of her whenever he wanted.

oooooowoo*ooooocooo

Sebastian stared down at the floor where Pandora stood, lost in thought and unable to look at her for too long considering how she was standing before him in only a bra and a pair of well worn jeans.

How had he not even known she was there? Ever since he hit puberty, she was the only girl he could think about. And he wasn't about to deny and say it wasn't mostly sexual. He'd realized how truly stunning she was a long, long time ago. She honestly did look just like her mother, Max. From the luscious wavy brown hair and full lips to her petite body structure, she was almost a spitting image. All for the eyes, which were a clear unwavering green, and her height. Standing at six foot himself, the top of her head was at his nose level while they were both standing. And as most men that had seen her in a mini-skirt would attest to, Pandora had legs for days. To him, there was nothing about her that didn't scream perfection. He was constantly aware of her presence and the littlest things about her would turn him on at the most unusual times. He couldn't get her out of his head, no matter how hard he tried.

That little episode that had happened between them a few weeks back hadn't helped matters much, either. He couldn't believe what he'd almost done with her. He'd almost gone and messed up everything, all because he had trouble controlling his baser instincts. She probably hadn't even realized the power her body had over his and what that last movement had meant to him. He'd almost followed through right there. Fortunately, he'd been able to pull himself back once again. But it had been so undeniably hard this time.

Hell, she probably didn't even really want him like that but rather her baser instincts had told her that he would be a suitable mate. Outstanding if he didn't say so himself.

There was something about her, something that was so addictive that he'd long since given up on resisting. It'd been easier to control before he knew how utterly wonderful and perfect her legs felt wound around him. It made him wonder how they would've felt draped over his shoulders as he thrust into her. And then she'd bucked her hips up and rubbed against him...he had about died the pleasure was so intense. And the acceptance. The invitation he'd almost given into, if the small bite mark just under the collar of her t-shirt had been any indication. It had taken everything in him to not mate with her right there in the woods on the forest floor as if they were nothing but a couple of animals.

And while he wasn't so sure about himself, he knew for a fact that Pandora was better than that.

He did try to get her out of his head. In fact, he'd actually become kind of good at it over the past couple of years. He didn't like to brag, but he'd been around the transgenic female block a time or two. He even kind of had an open ended arrangement with Pandora's friend, Bella. Since he seemed to be unaffected by the heat cycle, which was an oddity of sorts considering there were only a handful of males that were, he'd agreed to keep her "occupied" during hers. It was a win-win situation for both of them. He was able to keep his head in the game and not get her pregnant, while she was really the only friend he had who had any chance of understanding his confusing feelings for Pandora. Because she was, in fact, falling in love with someone who hardly even looked at her twice.

It didn't help the situation any that he was an ordinary and Sebastian's other best friend. But crushes could be bizarre like that.

Pandora's voice momentarily broke through his thoughts.

"Do you mind? Kind of need to take my clothes off now. You know, for the whole shower thing." Pandora said casually, shrugging one shoulder slightly with one corner of her mouth twitching upward.

"Oh, um...right. You mean I don't get to watch?" Sebastian retorted as he ducked his head down almost shyly, close to tripping over the words before the familiar banter kicked in and he tilted his head up to look at her with a suggestive tone in his hooded eyes. An entirely playful and innocent expression, of course. A look that, had it been directed at any other woman, would have had her undressed and in his shower faster that one could blink.

He hid the triumphant smirk when Pandora visibly floundered a moment before responding.

"Just shut up and turn around." Pandora finally forced out, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

He liked to think he almost had her.

ooooooaooo*ooooooovooo

Well?! Was I right, or was I right about the M rating for this chapter? Anyway. I pretty much listened to 'Still in the dark' on repeat as I wrote this whole chapter. It just screams "Sebastian" to me. Yeah, it's kind of scary sometimes how much influence music has on me. Yeah...I should probably ask you all what you thought of the chapter and not just go on about music all day. So...what'd you think? Thoughts? Ideas? I plan on going into more detail about the whole Bella/Sebastian "thing" in the next chapter and the "Fit just might hit the shan" when it comes to the Pandora angle of the triangle, if you get what I'm saying. I haven't yet worked out all the details yet. That's kind of the plan. Okay...going to stop talking now :-) Until next time...