Lena was at her laptop again. Hal observed her as he put on his pyjamas. She was supposed to be in bed and waiting for him at this point in their routine, but she had apparently found something more interesting than him. He reclined against his pillows with a book and waited.

"I don't need that subscription to Cosmo," she said without looking up. "There's a world of gay porn on the Internet." She finally turned to Hal. "Apparently I'm the submissive." She didn't look entirely pleased with the title.

Hal was already aware of their respective roles, but he had hoped that she would remain unaware of them. He should have known better. "Nobody who has spent more than five seconds with you would call you submissive," he said. "You chose the role, but you certainly don't fit the description."

"Good save," she said dryly.

"Thanks. I try. Are you coming to bed?"

"How much of this stuff do you know about?" She countered his question with one of her own.

"As much as I care to," was his clipped reply.

"That's Hal-speak for 'I will teach you what I want you to know and we will ignore everything else because it makes my uncomfortable,' isn't it?" Lena could tell by the unhappy look on his face that she was right. "That totally makes me the submissive," she pointed out.

"A pupil is inherently submissive to an instructor, just as I was to you when you educated me. Once learned, however, the skills can be equally enjoyed by both parties, thereby leaving behind the dominant-submissive roles. Now will you please come to bed?" Hal's rational thinking skills got him through his argument, barely, before his voice became a mixture of demanding and pleading.

Lena turned off her laptop and joined him in bed, but she wasn't finished with the conversation.

"I want to do the male g-spot thing for you," she said. She intentionally didn't call it the 'a-spot' because mention of the 'a' word would probably bother Hal. She quickly realized that she had underestimated his reaction to the whole idea.

"Absolutely not." Hal sat up and crossed his arms. He was suddenly as cold as ice, closed-off, unbending. Lena had triggered the memory of a particularly despicable client of the brothel, a man who had not only raped Hal, but had toyed with him. Hal's young body had betrayed him as the client expertly pleasured him against his will, and Hal had enjoyed the penetration that followed. Hal loathed the client all the more because of it, and loathed himself as well.

Lena had found Hal's firm line in the sand. She sat up when he did but maintained her distance.

"Okay, never mind," she said with a shrug. "I just feel like I've cheated you, that's all. I could have been doing that for you all this time and I didn't even know about it."

Hal softened his stance. "What do you mean?"

"Hal, women have fingers. I could've been giving you double the fun during blowjobs, if I'd known." She frowned, clearly upset with herself. "How could I not know about that, all this time? I practiced with the best, I never refused to try something new. Why didn't I know this?"

Hal couldn't answer her question. He also couldn't explain the thrill of anticipation that ran through him as he realized what she was suggesting. No. Not even her.

Finally he said quietly, "I haven't allowed that form of entry since I became strong enough to prevent it."

"I understand that, Hal. I'm not pushing." Lena straddled him and sat on his lap. She regarded him warmly, her fingers lured to the hair curling away from his temple and the small tuft waving from the crown of his head. She brushed it gently as she leaned in to kiss him. She felt his arms unfold and wrap around her, one hand moving to the center of her back, the other to the curve of her backside.

Hal pressed her against him as their kiss deepened. He forced her down and in until he could thrust his erection against her, enjoying the purr in the back of her throat as she responded to the contact. He could smell her arousal through their clothes; he could almost taste it. Maybe he should.

Hal slid his hand down the back of her pants and dipped a finger into her wet vagina. She inhaled and nearly sucked his tongue out of his mouth in response. Hal decided to stay and play for a bit, as Lena was clearly enjoying it. When he pulled his hand out of her pants she broke from their kiss and sagged against him with a disappointed groan.

"You said I could taste-test," he reminded her. He closed his eyes as he licked the taste of her from his fingers. He wanted more, much more.

Hal threw Lena backwards off of him and, as she landed on her back, leaped after her and pinned her shoulders to the bed. She laughed but didn't fight him. Instead she kissed him and sucked her own taste from his tongue.

"I guess you'll have to go back for more," she whispered when she released him from her mouth.

"I didn't realize I would have to share."

"Technically I'm sharing with you," she reminded him.

Hal responded with a wicked smile as he moved one hand from her shoulder to her waist, where he slowly hooked a thumb over the elastic of her pyjamas and began to push down her clothes. He slid his thumb across her stomach and pushed down the other side of her clothes. Hal worked his way from side to side, teasing her, brushing her skin with each pass across the front of her body, inching her clothes down over her hips.

She arched and rolled against the pressure of his hand as he moved, craving more than just the brush of his skin against hers. She twisted into his thumb as he brushed past her clitoris, so he returned and lingered, pressed into her, and allowed her to grind against his knuckle. She nearly sobbed as he moved on, and arched against his hand again when Hal finished with her clothes and returned. He set his hand over her genitals and watched her eyes as his fingers slid between the folds of flesh. He loved to see her pupils dilate as he pleasured her. He slowly dragged his fingers over, up, and out of her. She watched, breathless, as he raised his hand to his mouth and sucked her taste from his fingers. Her hand moved to replace Hal's when he left her, and she began moving with her own familiar rhythm.

Hal let her pleasure herself until he was ready to return to her. He caught her wrist, brought her hand up to his mouth, and began sucking on her fingers as he replaced them with his own on her genitals.

"Oh. Dear. Fuck." Lena murmured as her arousal spiked and she began to spasm. "I need—" She could no longer form words.

Hal knew what she meant because this was a familiar game for them both. She needed something in her mouth, preferably something of his. He shifted his weight so that he no longer pinned her to the bed. He didn't release her hand, however, as he wasn't quite finished sucking her fingers. Her other hand immediately went to her crotch, where she grabbed him by the wrist and brought his hand to her mouth. Hal met her there, and together they licked and sucked her taste from his fingers as she returned to pleasuring herself.

Hal pulled his hand from between their mouths and they locked together in a tangle of lips and tongues. She was in it now, full-on climax, with his fingers plunging into her and enticing an even stronger reaction from her as she worked her own clitoris. He felt wave after wave of muscle spasm as she clenched around him, and he wondered how she kept from losing her mind as they continued. Finally she slowed her movements on herself and rested her other hand over his as a signal for him to slow down as well.

"Holy. Fucking. Shitballs." She stared into nothing with wide-open pupils as her body relaxed.

Hal took advantage of the chance to taste her climax on both of their hands. He brought them together to his mouth and sucked leisurely on their corresponding fingers at once, drawing out the sensation that he knew pleased her. She twitched as his touch sent tingles of pleasure through her body, and her purr was so deep in her chest that it sounded like her body hummed of its own accord.

Hal's own state of arousal was becoming a challenge, but his fangs remained sheathed, even with her intoxicating flavor and smell clinging to him. He couldn't resist completing one of their favourite games from the old days, and he smiled at his use of the phrase. 'Old days' had a unique meaning with five centuries of life behind them.

"Your turn," Lena eventually said, "as soon as I have the strength to move." She pulled up her pyjama bottoms as she spoke.

"I have an idea that wouldn't require you to move all that much," Hal said hesitantly. His thoughts kept returning to her extended climax and her suggestion that she could do the same for him. He also needed to keep his fangs away from her while taking his turn and his idea would make sure he did. Maybe it was time to step across his line in the sand, as she had done hers.

"What's your idea?" She turned her head to look at his face, now that her eyes could focus and make it worth the effort. Hal had the little wrinkle between his eyebrows that meant he was thinking, probably of something awkward that he would try to explain delicately.

"Your female climax can be…lengthy."

"Yes, that's why I love it so." She smiled at him.

"Your male climax, when combined with…massage, can also be extended."

"Yes, which is why I also love it." She added arched eyebrows to her smile.

"I thought the two might have similarities." He was chewing on the inside of his lip. "I would like to enjoy an extended climax," he said at last. "I am currently unable to do so without blood."

"Tell me how you want me to make that happen," she said quietly. "I will do as you ask, and no more."

"I would like you to perform fellatio and—" Hal couldn't ask for something that carried so much shame with it. His memory caused the words to stick in his throat.

"Work your pleasure spot?" Lena finished his sentence.

He nodded.

"Are you sure you're ready for that?" she asked.

"It will have to be done in a manner that will allow me to stop or move away at any point. I will need to be in control."

"Of course. Tell me, Hal. Just tell me." She waited, unmoving on the bed.

"I will need to be on top of you," he said.

The light bulb went on in Lena's brain. "Sounds like fun. Get me the pillows, I'll need to be at the right angle. Unless you want me sitting up. I could sit against the headboard and you could kneel." She was deep into the planning while Hal was still wrapping his head around the idea of actually doing it. Lena saw that he was at a loss and stopped making suggestions. "Sorry, got carried away," she said. She became quiet again and waited.

He frowned, lost in thought, still uncertain that he could see it through.

"Should I get the lube?" she asked calmly. He shuddered. "Saliva? Although my mouth will be otherwise occupied," she pointed out.

The cloying-slick sensation of grease and blood inside him, the rheumy sound of old men spitting into their hands. He swallowed thickly, choking on the memory. "How much do you know about…me?" he asked.

She took his hand. "Only what I felt from your nightmares. I know you were badly hurt. And I know from your soul that you were…damaged. I didn't pry into the details." She had been respectful of his privacy.

"If you saw my nightmares then you know enough to see the trauma that is attached to every part of what I am contemplating." He gave her a humorless twist of lip, a parody of a smile. "It is a gauntlet through which I believe I should pass."

"I can vouch for the reward that awaits you, should you choose to do so," she said. "Thanks to you," she added with a smile and an eyebrow flick. He couldn't help smiling back, a genuine smile at the reminder of how well he had been satisfying her of late. Pet had become a regular addition to their bed.

"Are you still moist?" he asked.

"Oh, very."

"Good. Take your bottoms off and move to the centre of the bed." Hal gave the order as he gathered up their pillows.

"Got it. Happy to oblige. Now bring me that hard-on," she said as she took off her pants.

He gave her the pillows so she could position herself, then took off his clothes. As he turned and knelt next to her, Lena stared at his erection.

"That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she whispered, as Hal straddled her and she guided him into her mouth. Another familiar, well-loved game, but with an added twist that Lena took seriously.

She released Hal's erection and let his smooth stroke carry him into her; she cupped her tongue against the sensitive length of his shaft while she grabbed his fabulous ass with both hands and enjoyed the flex of his muscles. Lena caressed her way toward his crack and felt him catch his breath and freeze as her fingers brushed his hole. She gave him an encouraging suck and a tickle with her tongue, and Hal growled and began moving again.

She slid a hand down the back of Hal's leg and found that she could reach her own genitals, which were way beyond moist, without a great deal of effort. She got the fingers of both hands well-lubed and returned to Hal's backside, where she began to massage him as she remembered him massaging her. Again he paused, but shook his head as if settling an internal argument. She continued her gentle massage and slid a finger inside him. He clenched around her and she stopped moving into him. She carefully re-moistened her free hand and returned to him so she could moisten and massage the tense muscles. She felt him relax and she moved forward again, looking for the magic spot.

Lena found the walnut-sized bundle of nerve endings just a few inches in. It wasn't very pronounced, but when she pressed against it Hal's reaction was immediate. His sharp intake of breath and his full-body jerk told Lena that she was on the right track. She pressed harder and he moaned. She began to circle the bump and he encouraged her to continue. With Hal's guidance, Lena quickly found the movements that had the most effect.

As she felt his reserve slip away, Lena was deeply moved by the trust Hal had placed in her, and she was determined to do her absolute best for him in return, even though this was new activity for her. She kept one finger inside him and used her other hand to stroke and caress him, tease at his sensitive outer tissues, and play with his testicles. She was able to divide her attention between her mouth and hands and stayed with Hal as he gave himself up to the pleasure.

She could tell when he began to really feel it, because he lost his rhythm and fisted the sheets as his body tensed and spasmed. Another spasm rolled through him and he threw back his head and gave a strangled cry. He began panting through gritted teeth as he tried to contain the fierce, exultant noises that forced their way from him. He owned this! He owned his body, and he owned his lover, and fuck you, brothel! This belongs to me!

Hal laughed out loud as he came, the triumphant laugh of a victorious commander. She swallowed and breathed and grinned around his erection, which was quite a feat if she did say so herself. Damn, I'm good! she thought.

Hal slowed his movements and she did the same. He shakily moved off of her and flopped onto his back next to her on the bed.

"Holy. Fucking. Shitballs." He had no words, so he used hers.

"Yeah…..I'm horny again," Lena said.

Hal laughed. "Christ, woman, you will be the death of me."

"I'll give you a few minutes to catch your breath," she offered. "In fact, I'll go to the bathroom and wash up."

Lena pulled her pyjama bottoms on while walking to the door, and as she stepped out of their room she heard a noise down the corridor. Lena turned to see Tom jump guiltily back into his own room and slam the door. Alex stood in the corridor with an odd expression on her face. Lena just shrugged and went to the bathroom to wash her hands and face. Alex walked rather than rent-a-ghosted so Lena had time to check in the mirror for stray Hal hairs before she got there.

"You should sound-proof your room," the ghost said.

"Sorry. Not really sorry."

"Tom thought you were killing Hal for a minute, until we heard him laugh." Alex shook her head. "Do you know how hard it is to sleep with a man you can't have sex with while your housemates are at it like rabbits just down the way?"

"You are Tom aren't having sex yet? What's the holdup?" Lena asked as she dried her face and hands. She reached for the mouthwash and Alex grinned.

"That explains some of the noises," she said, as Lena gargled. "You know what the holdup is. Me. I'm it. I'm the problem," Alex continued. "We can't get past the tights. Tom is good as gold, and patient as a saint, but you two aren't helping."

Lena spit into the sink, wiped her mouth with the towel, and shrugged. "Don't blame me if you're frigid."

"Ha ha, very funny. Ghost humour, now? Really? Is that the best you can do? I'm tryin' to get my tights off and imagine body parts that don't actually exist anymore, and my best friend is making jokes. Thanks." Alex was becoming genuinely upset by Lena's casual response to her frustrating situation.

Lena just arched an eyebrow at her friend. "Your mouth seems to work just fine. Why don't you suck him off?"

Alex's mouth formed a perfect 'O' in shock at the idea. Why hadn't she thought of that? Tom had certainly earned it, after all of her failed attempts at sex. The poor man was getting friction burns from rubbing against her stubborn tights. With a grin, she disappeared.

As Lena returned to their bedroom, she heard noises from Tom's room: his inarticulate squawk and Alex's confident voice. "Trust me, Tom, you're gonna love this!"

Hal hadn't moved since she left except to stick a pillow under his head. He looked content. Lena wasn't sure she'd ever seen that look. When she stretched out next to him, Hal raised his hand from the mattress and she met it with her own. He locked their hands together.

"Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome. My pleasure."

They were quiet for a few minutes.

"I have another idea," Hal said. He spoke precisely, with the slightly-worried tone that told her he was feeling awkward again. "I've never done it, of course. I didn't believe I would ever want to. I've not had a partner I could trust enough to even discuss it. Until now."

"I'm ready to listen," Lena said quietly.

"It will require you to become Pet."

"I have no qualms about that."

"It may require you to adjust your height. As I said, I've not done it so I am uncertain of the logistics."

"Sounds like an interesting challenge. I'm up for it."

"I will confess that I have seen it, during vampire blood orgies, but it didn't end well for all participants."

"I would prefer we have a happy ending to whatever it is you are about to propose."

"Mutual fellatio. With stimulation. Anally." He placed the words carefully between them and waited for her response.

"Dude, you need to stop with the love poems. Do you know how glorious that sounds?" Lena rolled on top of him and kissed away any worry he might have had about her reaction to his idea. Hal rolled them both onto their sides and continued kissing as his hands worked their way under her shirt so he could have her skin against his. Finally he stopped kissing her and rested their foreheads together.

"You are minty fresh whereas I taste a bit used," he said. "You also smell clean, and I do not." He reluctantly moved away from her, put on his boxers and headed toward the door. "I want to wash myself for you, as you have done for me. It will also give us a few more minutes to recover from our previous endeavors. We're good, but we're not Superman."

He left her laughing at his comment and the delicious grin that accompanied it. Lena was pretty sure she didn't need any more time to recover, especially after that last round of kisses. Hal could light her up like a Christmas tree with the flip of a switch. She stretched and considered how best to spend her time.

When Hal returned to their room the bedspread was neatly folded and laying on Lena's desk. The sheets were straightened. Pet was naked in the middle of the bed, his feet casually propped on the headboard. He was fondling his erection. Hal closed the door and leaned against it, primarily because he wasn't sure he could remain upright otherwise. He carefully locked the door behind his back and took a long breath to calm himself.

"Seriously, how do men ever get anything done?" Pet asked. "If I had one of these to play with all the time I'd never make it out of the house. I was so uptight about doing everything right last time I was a man that I never learned how much fun it can be."

"Will you please stop doing that? You are going to spoil our fun." Hal managed to keep his voice steady.

"Sorry." Pet put his hands behind his head and waited for Hal's next order. He knew that Hal needed to be in control for this to work, and Pet very much wanted it to work.

Hal's boxers were on the floor before he reached the bed. Pet stared in open, lustful admiration that Hal returned happily. There was no threat in Pet's eyes, only anticipation and the gleam of good humor. Pet was ready for their new game. Hal knelt on the bed, kissed him, and slid a hand into Pet's irresistible curls. He played with them as he held Pet's head still and pushed his tongue into Pet's welcoming mouth. Hal stretched out on top of Pet and rolled his hips slowly. He wanted to feel the length of Pet's body under him, and he wanted Pet to feel his weight and accept it.

Pet didn't just accept Hal's weight, he hooked his feet around Hal's legs, grabbed Hal's ass, and pulled them closer together. Pet's hips moved in time with Hal's, a slow, luxurious sway like a deep ocean wave. He drew Hal's tongue further into his mouth and flirted with it; he offered lewd promises of pleasures to come when Hal replaced his tongue with the erection Pet felt rubbing against his own, oh so slowly.

Finally Hal pulled away from Pet's mouth and looked down at the strangely-familiar face of his lover. She was in there, shining out of Pet's brown eyes, ready to follow his lead and eager for the new experience he offered them both. Hal smiled.

"You know I need to control this," he said quietly as he tucked a stray curl behind Pet's ear.

"Why do you think I'm spread-eagle and ready?" Pet returned his smile. "Just tell me what to do."

Hal hesitated. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Pet's. "Only with you," he whispered.

There was a quiet moment. "Only with you," Pet whispered back.

A promise and a commitment had been made. Hal got off of Pet and got the tube of lubricant out of the bedside cabinet drawer. They would share it. He knelt at Pet's head and lowered himself as he had done with Lena so many times. Pet bunched a pillow under his arched neck and relaxed; he guided Hal into his mouth and gave a quick suck. Pet felt Hal settling his mouth over Pet and shifted a bit to help Hal get the right angle. Hal mimicked Pet's actions, took a quick suck, and waited. Pet shivered at the sensation and pushed further into Hal's mouth. Hal pushed into Pet and suddenly Pet wanted to swallow Hal's erection whole and suck it dry, because that's what he hoped Hal would do to him.

Once again Lena found herself in familiar territory that felt wonderfully new. How many times had she been in this position with Hal's dick in her mouth and his face buried in her crotch? She knew how to excite him, knew the sensitive spots that made him jump and tremble. She knew even more now, but she also had intoxicating sensations flooding through her from Hal's touch on her male body.

She realized that he was letting her move first and taking his cues from her, which meant that the more she did for him, the more he would do for her. The first lesson of making love, she had told him, and he was bringing it back to her in thrilling fashion. She closed her eyes and began to do everything she could think of to please Hal. She remembered to stroke him delicately with her tongue as he moved in her, and she added gentle caresses as well. Her fingers brushed along his outer sensitive tissue and she felt him quiver.

Hal realized that choosing a dominant position had drawbacks. He needed one arm to support himself, which left just one hand to fondle his Pet and only his mouth to use on Pet's erection unless he became a contortionist of sorts. Hal hoped Pet didn't notice a deficit of attention; Hal was less practiced in this area than Lena, and Pet had all of Lena's skills plus a few ideas of his own. Pet was definitely a fast learner. Hal followed Pet's lead and became immersed in an intoxicating synchronization of giving and receiving pleasure.

Hal reached for the lube—Pet handed it to him but Hal refused to take it. Pet quickly caught on and squeezed some lube on Hal's fingers. They moved together into the next step of their lovemaking, but Hal took the lead now. Pet pushed Hal up and out of his mouth; Hal pulled away from Pet.

"I just—didn't want to bite you," Pet said as he twisted with pleasure into Hal's probing finger.

"It's fine. I don't mind," Hal said. Then he felt Pet carefully enter him and he clenched. Pet massaged the entrance to Hal's hole gently and waited for him to relax. When Hal didn't do so immediately, Pet returned his focus to Hal's marvelous erection. Hal quickly forgot his inhibitions and Pet was able to proceed to Hal's special spot and begin the very special activity that he knew would drive Hal crazy.

When Hal caught Pet's erection in his mouth again Pet nearly went crazy. The phrase flashed into his head: we're not Superman. Pet knew that he could easily throw Hal off the bed or injure him if he lost control of himself, so he fought the urge to drive himself as hard as he could into Hal. He fought the need to buck and heave as Hal brought him closer and closer to climax. Pet focused on Hal's building excitement instead, and the sharp sensations of his own desire softened. Pet's attention to Hal was repaid in kind, and they moved in a spiraling harmony toward orgasm.

Pet thought his body must be glowing; he was permeated with desperate, aching ecstasy. He was almost surprised when he came; he was anticipating Hal's climax instead. It followed almost immediately and Pet felt Hal relax at the same time he felt the desperation leave his own body.

Ecstasy resolved into deep-seated fulfillment. Hal pulled them apart and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. He would have to rethink that dominant position for the next time. He felt like he'd been doing one-armed press-ups. Very satisfying one-armed press-ups, with unique benefits that he had never considered, but still. Hal noticed that Pet was sprawled on the bed alongside him, also breathing heavily.

"I'm just—going to—take a nap," Pet murmured.

Hal thought he was joking until he heard Pet's breath and heartbeat regulate. Hal decided that Pet was onto something. A nap was an excellent idea. He drifted into sleep.

Hal was cold. He wasn't fully awake, but he was definitely cold. He needed Pet's warm body. Hal felt Pet's leg next to him on the bed. He grabbed the leg and started hauling Pet toward him. Pet woke up enough to be cranky about being disturbed.

"Hal? What the fuck, man!"

"Come here." Hal tugged Pet's leg again.

"Come here. Come there. How many times do you think I can come in a night, anyway?" Pet grumbled, but he turned on the bed and let Hal pull him into an embrace. "You're cold."

"Warm me up," Hal demanded.

Pet wrapped himself around Hal and kicked up his internal thermostat to reheat his popsicle boyfriend. "Asshole," Pet muttered. "Good thing I have the innate ability to keep myself warm."

"Go back to sleep, Pet," Hal whispered into his lover's ear. "And thank you."

"Welcome," Pet whispered back.

When Hal woke up for the day his Pet was still with him. He looked at Pet questioningly.

"You didn't change back."

"I would've had to get dressed."

Of course. It wasn't safe for Lena to lie with him unclothed. She had realized that and maintained Pet's form in her sleep.

Hal and Lena made it to breakfast before their housemates left for work, but only because Tom was also tired and moving slowly. Alex was singing a cheesy '80's power ballad when they entered the kitchen. She promptly grabbed Lena for a hug.

"Lena! You're brilliant! I can suck on Tom all night if I want!" Alex slapped her own cheeks. "No muscle fatigue!"

Tom turned deep red and stared resolutely at his empty plate as Hal joined him at the table.

"She isn't the only one who can get muscle fatigue," Hal said quietly, nodding toward Alex. "Are you all right, Tom?"

Tom looked gratefully at Hal. He appreciated the frank simplicity of his tone and question. "Yeah, I'm a'right. Just a couple of days until the change, so I could keep up wi' her. I know what you mean, though. Thought I might be walking funny today." He ventured a man-to-man smile, which Hal returned.

"You have the right to say 'no' to her," Hal reminded his best mate.

"Yeah, that's good advice. I don't hear that word comin' from your room, though," Tom teased. "I hear 'yes' and 'more' and some interesting noises."

Hal sat back and let Tom take the piss. He didn't get the opportunity very often.

Tom continued, "I can't tell what's goin' on in there, but it sure is entertaining at times. I can't even tell how many of you there are and who you're with."

"Neither can I, to be honest," Hal said. "My girlfriend is astonishing."

Lena set a cup of tea in front of Hal with a smile. "I like it when you call me that," she said.

"Astonishing?"

"Girlfriend," she replied as she sat down, "although I don't mind 'astonishing'. It's a step up from 'terrifying'."

"You are that as well, my lady," Hal said.

"Right now I'm hungry. What are we doing for breakfast?"

"What would you like? Sausage?" Hal's question was innocent, more or less, but Alex sniggered like a schoolgirl. Lena was unfazed.

"Couldn't possibly compare to the one I had last night," she said. "Let's run to the bakery for something."

"If by 'run' you mean 'drive,' I am happy to do so," Hal said. He got up from the table. "Tom, can we bring you anything?"

"I'll be off to work before you get home. Maybe some fresh rolls for supper tonight," Tom suggested.

"Simple enough. Shall we?" Hal turned to his lady with a flourish and escorted her to the door.

Alex shook her head at the couple as they left. "A gentleman on the streets and a freak between the sheets," she said. "Hal brings a whole new dimension to it."

"It's not just Hal," Tom reminded her. "Lena can be a lady when she wants, but I bet she can outdo Hal in the freak department. If by 'freak' you mean what I think you mean."

"I'm sure I do." Alex smiled at her tired, much-less-naïve-than-he-used-to-be boyfriend. Tom was catching on nicely.