A/N: Some naughtiness ensues...thank you everyone for reading, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!! Luvs ya...

* * *

"Rita?"

His hand sliding lightly over her back...

"Rita Ryan?"

His warm lips, parted, pressing against her mouth....

"Miss Ryan! Do you plan on joining the rest of us earth-bound creatures in this discussion, or have you already left the planet?"

The voice of Mr. Alvarez, Rita's sixth-period English class teacher, finally broke through the fog of Rita's brain.

"Huh? Oh! I'm sorry, Mr. Alvarez, what did you say?"

"Oh, nothing! It's not important. I was just wondering if you, too, would like to comment on the role of women in the Transcendentalist Movement, seeing as how that's the topic of the essay you're supposedly working on? You know, the one that counts for fifty percent of your grade this semester?"

"Uh..."

"Oh, I beg your pardon, never mind, don't let me disturb you...." Mr. Alvarez irritably moved on to his next victim, and Rita sank lower in her chair. Her essay. Shoot. She needed to get to work on that. But...it was hard to care about that or any other time-sensitive school work, knowing that tonight was the first night that her mom would be back on the late shift...

A little shudder ran through her, and she pushed her hair out of her eyes, feeling an involuntary grin stealing over her face as she reluctantly tried to follow the class discussion, looking back on something that happened a hundred years ago.

She much preferred looking forward.

* * *

Jack was tinkering with a small prototype of a remote detonator he'd concocted out of spare parts. He didn't have any immediate plans for such a thing, but he thought it might come in handy someday. There was a flaw in it somewhere, and he was beginning to think he'd have to take the whole damn thing apart to find it, when he heard his neighbor's door creak open and slam shut. He grinned; that would be Rita, coming home from school. She got home a lot earlier now that she had her license and a car...still, he knew he wouldn't see her for another few hours. That was ok...they had the whole night ahead of them.

* * *

Gail Ryan gathered her purse, jacket and lunch--or whatever it is you call it when you eat at one o'clock in the morning--and reluctantly hugged her daughter goodbye.

"Rita..."

"Mom, for heaven's sake, I'll be fine! Go, just go, already...."

Gail sighed. She didn't like leaving Rita alone overnight anyway, but after what happened on that awful night....

"Keep the phone right with you at all times..."

"Yes, yes, yes, I know, Mom, I got it. Go!"

Gail nodded and headed out the door. She had to learn to let go, and she had to have some faith in her daughter's common sense. Anyway, Jack was right next door. He was a skinny little bastard, but she saw something fiery in his eyes--and those scars...she was willing to bet he could hold his own in a fist fight. It wouldn't have surprised her to find out that he even owned a gun.

Knowing he would be available made leaving just a little easier.

* * *

Telephone handset in one hand, Rita straightened her thrift-store cowboy shirt, smoothing the tail into her jeans, and tapped on Jack's door; she was trying to keep from grinning like an idiot, but when he answered, nothing could have prevented her from throwing herself into his arms.

"Whoa, there, beautiful!" he chuckled, using the momentum from her propulsion to swing her around, literally sweeping her off her feet. "Isn't it enough you knock me out with your gorgeous blue eyes, do you have to knock me off my feet, too?" he laughed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just glad to see you..." she replied breathlessly. "I've missed you, Jack..."

"Yeah, me too, babe. Hey, what's with this outfit, Western Day at school? We need to get you some cowboy boots...come on in, have a seat, let's catch up. Did you eat?"

"Uh-huh, Mom and I had dinner...."

"Well, good...you're going to need your strength if you're going to hang around with me tonight. I'm just warnin' ya!" he grinned with a very naughty raised eyebrow, wagging a finger at her. "I've been looking forward to this, ya know...."

Rita blushed, but smiled. She was excited, still nervous, but very glad to be with him. She took a seat on his couch and he sat close, right next to her. For a moment, she sat, fidgeting as he gazed appraisingly at her.

"What?" she finally asked, apprehensively.

"I was just thinking of all the stuff I want to do to you," he said, his voice suddenly low and silky. He bit his lower lip reflectively. He'd been patient all these days since the last time, and to have her here, now...he didn't feel like being patient anymore.

"Like...what?"

"Like this...." He nuzzled her under her ear, took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. He was gentle at first, but gradually became more demanding, nipping her lower lip, licking down the line of her throat into the neckline of her shirt. Pushing away the material to reveal her shoulder, he bit into the soft skin he found there, softly at first, then increasing the pressure...running his tongue over the marks he left.

Moving his hands over her body, pulling her closer, leaving her breathless...he listened for, and was rewarded with, first her sighs, then gasps...it was from surprise, he thought, then pleasure...not pain, no, he wouldn't hurt her, he might come close but...ah, ha ha, the way she arched her back, pressing herself closer to him, there was no question now, he knew she was ready for this...

"Bite me..." he instructed firmly, and she began tentatively returning his nips, experimenting with how hard she could press her teeth into his flesh and still not hurt him...he tasted slightly salty, strange...mixed with his scent, delicious....

"Harder...don't worry babe, you can't hurt me...go ahead, harder..."

Rita was amazed when she was able to elicit a deep moan from him, and was more astonished to realize what that moan did to her own arousal. It was exhilarating...it was ...scary.

"Jack..." She was lying on her back, he was on top of her, and she looked up into his smoldering dark eyes--what was she seeing? This wasn't her Mr. J anymore, it was someone...a man, not a boy, no longer an innocuous tease, not her gentle, if strange, playmate, but a man, wanting her...demanding her to....

"What, Jack?....What do you want?" she asked suddenly, bewildered.

"I want...everything," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "And, I think you're gonna give it to me..." He buried his face in her neck, biting down a line to her breasts, jerking the snaps of her shirt open, pulling her up so he could yank the garment from her back, expertly popping open her bra, pulling it off of her. He stared at her bare breasts, then fondled them, his hands warm, familiar. She shivered down to the bone, and her breath hitched as his fingertips brushed her nipples.

Suddenly, he stood, grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, leading her to the bedroom.

"Take 'em off," he ordered, gesturing at her jeans as he began taking off his shirt. She hastily complied,

He stripped off his clothes as though they disgusted him. He lay down on the bed, took a condom from the nightstand and put it on. When she approached the bed, naked, he dragged her down next to him and began kissing her, harshly, needfully, he slipped his hand between her legs, searching for her wetness, getting her ready for him, kissing her, kissing her until her lips felt bruised...

Rita took a deep breath, and for just a moment, before he entered her, she looked into his eyes again, feeling a little lost, a little overwhelmed....she put her hands on his bare chest, stopping him, and softly uttered a plea: "Jack...wait". He was breathing heavily, powerfully aroused, wanting, but there was something in her voice...

"What's the matter, kid?" he asked, his voice ragged.

"N-Nothing, it's just..."

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he asked.

"Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"You're scaring me a little..." she whispered, embarrassed.

He paused, looking at her. Well, for fuck's sake. What was he doing? He thought he was being careful, he was going so much slower than he wanted to, but...aw, jeeze, it was just her second time. He needed to pull back, give her some room...he understood that. He lay back, and pulled her into his arms.

"Sorry, babe, I...you're right, I'm being a real asshole...let's take our time, huh? No rush, we've got all night."

"Oh, Jack..." she burrowed into his side, felt herself relax. They lay quietly for a while, he absently ran his hand up and down her arm, then he felt her small hand timidly trace its way down his chest, over his stomach, to his hardness. She lightly stroked him, then grasped, squeezing him inquisitively....

"Ok, I'm getting some mixed messages, here..." Jack said in amusement. He looked down at her, and she smiled up at him. He ran his fingers through her dark hair and tilted her chin up.

"Wanna take another stab at it?" he asked, smiling kindly at her.

Rita nodded.

This time, he made himself go slowly. He took her into his arms, pulling her up on top of him, and, gripping her leg and sliding it over his waist, guided her into a sitting position on his thighs, his erection nestled at her crotch. Jack took her hand and placed it back where it had been before, wordlessly indicating that he wanted her to continue to touch him.

He was letting Rita take control, letting her take her time. She was uncertain at first, but soon leaned forward, raising herself up, and he helped her slide onto his erection.

It was strange and slightly uncomfortable at first, almost too much, but gradually Rita found herself relaxing, daring to take him deeper, soothed by his now-gentle encouragement. He began teaching her to rock up and down, back and forth, to use her hips to grind into him, whatever she wished, and she quickly found her own rhythm. Somehow, she found the right spot for the best friction, rubbing his swollen member against her most sensitive spot.

Later, when he sensed she was at ease, he began thrusting upward. Watching her face, he could see she liked it; he ran his hands over her breasts, over her tummy, down her thighs, pressing hard, wanting more contact...together, they found the right pace, and she became caught up in the give-and-take going on between them until her insides flooded with joyous pleasure and she cried out in release.

"Now we're getting somewhere..." he murmured, pleased. He quickly flipped her onto her back, staying inside, and began rapidly driving himself into her with long, deep strokes, filling her, taking full control while still holding himself back a little. Rita was lying under him, now dreamily lost in the rhythm of his body's demands, her eyes closed. When she opened them, she found that he was staring at her with a burning intensity, making occasional grunts of effort, then groans of pleasure, breathing hard. His orgasm overcame him like a tidal wave, and he seemed to lose the use of his muscles, relaxing into her until his breathing slowed.

Afterward, he let her snuggle up against him even though he would have much preferred to just turn over and go to sleep, but she was so cute, and she felt kind of warm and squirmy against his skin...he found he didn't mind having her there so much, after all. She looked up at him, a grin on her face, and he couldn't help but smile back at her.

"So, what's been going on with you, kid? D'you like the car?"

"Yeah! I love it! It's like...freedom, you know?"

"Mm-hmm. You need wheels in this day and age..." he said absently.

"I know, I'm going to get a job to cover gas and oil, and also start saving for college."

"Oh, yeah? Well, that's good, sweetie, that's real good. You're a smart kid, you'll do great."

"Well, I hope I can get a scholarship...where did you go to college, Jack?"

"College? Oh, God, kid, I never went to college. Hell, I didn't even finish high school..."

"You didn't? How come?" Rita asked, amazed. Mr. J was extremely smart, she assumed he had a college degree, how could he have not finished high school?

"'Cause of these, baby." He gestured at the deep scars that interrupted the smooth lines of his handsome face.

"Oh...what do you mean?" Rita asked, puzzled.

"Well...the whole situation kind of got to me. I...just lost it, you know? Kind of went off the deep end...I ended up spending my senior year of high school in the loony bin, strapped to a bed, straight jacket, electric shock, the whole bit."

"That's...terrible...what...what did you, you know, do? To get sent to a..."

"Uh...well...it's all kind of hazy now...but apparently I...kind of tried to kill my step-father."

Rita's eyes grew large and she propped herself up on her elbow.

"How?"

"Went after him with a knife, I believe..."

"Oh, my God...."

"They put me in jail at first, but I tried to hang myself, so they sent me off to Crazy Acres."

"Oh, wow...."

They were quiet for a long time, then Rita continued.

"But, you got well, right?"

"Yeah...I'm fine, now," he assured her, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"That's good," Rita said, sounding slightly worried. He burst out laughing at her discomfiture.

"Really, babe, I'm not gonna go nuts on ya. You don't have to sleep with one eye open..."

She giggled a little at the thought.

They were quiet again, then....

"But, about school...couldn't you have gone back, later?"

"Oh, honey, I was way past the point of giving a shit about school by then...my mom...she took it all pretty hard. She wasn't exactly the picture of stability to begin with and...well, she, you know, she killed herself while I was locked up."

"Oh, no...."

"Yeah..." Jack caught himself. Why the hell was he telling her this stuff? He'd never told anyone....

Suddenly, Jack disentangled himself from Rita, and moved over to his side of the bed. She looked at him, concerned.

"Are you ok?" she asked softly.

"Sure, angel. I'm just ready to conk out, you about wore me out! And, we've got to wake up early enough for you to get back in your own little bed so Mommy won't know what shenanigans you've been up to..." His lips were curled into a teasing grin, and she nodded in agreement. Sensing he needed to be left alone, she turned over and settled down to try to sleep, but she found her brain re-running the evening's events, Jack's words, her own feelings...she occasionally checked the clock, hating how time flew by, dreading the moment when the alarm clock would rouse them in the wee hours of the morning.