"Good pizza." Simone said sipping her tea and giving Walter a glance. "So tell me, Walter- what happened to your merry band of crime stoppers? When I left here after the episode with the 'ghosts', you all gathered together and now I find you encased in dark solitude. What has happened?"

"Too much office interpersonal relations- I am not geared for such involvements. I have a better understanding of computers. Computer language is either zero or one….. people have rheostats that can go from zero to a meg in the span of a breath. Even I cannot compute the vagaries of emotion that fast. My….. lack….. of the 'human touch' relegates me to computers that are supposedly my 'alter ego' so I decided to embrace it." Walter said sitting back with a smile. "You may want to consider that before making your decision and opt for the floor or one of the couches, after all."

"Interesting, but 'interpersonal relations' requires 'two to tango' as it were. Just one person taking on the necessary 'gearing' does not allow for a smooth working transmission," Simone said. "Something tells me your 'lack of the human touch' is possibly more a matter of you not getting the favorable stimuli to elicit a 'human touch'. I cannot guarantee I have the necessary stimuli, but I am not expecting you to get all tied up in emotional relations- so you may very well want to reconsider the offer of your bed." Simone smiled. "There is something to be said for just the feel good of an excellent sexual encounter, you know, without those ties that bind, great expectations, or planning for the future. The here and now, warmth, companionship, good night sleep after physical exertion." Simone laughed, "Come on Walter, so much for this blather- I have had thoughts of running my fingers through your curly hair since the last time I was in LA. My double reconsidered decision is your bed, and the sooner the better- I am not some young woman needing to be pampered with the language of love."

"82%" Walter said glancing at the download display. "Once completed and boxed up for safe transport, shall we see if each has the other's 'favorable stimuli'?" Walter rose to get some coffee from the kitchen, returning he bent to kiss Simone before sitting back at his desk. "How about while you take care of that I bring in my case and go take a shower? Been a long day and I hope it will be an even longer night… can always snooze on the plane."

Walter watched her as she went out the door, brought her small travel case in and went up the steps to the loft. Within a few minutes the water was running and he started to contemplate the rest of the night. Paige said I could not satisfy her- never really did. Maybe I should have said that to Simone…. make her reconsider again. He looked at the display 100%. He disconnected the drive, placed it in a static free bag, placed it in a box and centered it on the desk top. He heard the water shut off and movement in the loft…. the die was cast unless HE wanted to sleep on the floor or one of the couches. He rose, made sure the door was locked, set the security, turned off the light, and went up to the loft.

Simone, wrapped in a towel, was combing out her hair. Walter came up behind her and kissed her neck wrapping his arms around her. She turned in his arms and put hers around his waist and kissed him deeply, then ran her nails up his sides and nibbled on his neck below the ear. "Ahhh, Walter, let's get comfortable." They went into the bedroom she dropped the towel, he dropped his jeans. He was about to turn off the bedside light when she stayed his hand, "I like to look at you, I enjoy the sight of you. Stimuli is vision as well as touch." She pulled him onto the bed with her to kiss him long and slow and deep which elicited the 'human' response she so wanted from him. She elicited his human response to her total satisfaction three times- yes, visual as well as touch was quite the stimulation generating physical exertion for both.

Simone lay on her side looking at Walter as he slept. She smiled- he certainly had made it a very excellent 'feel good' sexual encounter. How is it this man is unattached she wondered. Looking at him she ran her hand up his side and leaned over to kiss him which woke him up. 'Mmmmm, good morning," she said smiling, pushed him onto his back and laid across his chest. "You are certainly a warm one- generate a lot of heat- it is the Irish in you or the Americanization of you, I wonder."

"It is the wanting to be in Simone, I think," Walter said as he threw his leg over her to push her open for entry. "I was told I could not satisfy a woman so I shall I try again until I get it right? Tell me what you need." He thrust deep and moved onto his back so she could drive deeper. When she climaxed he sat up to capture her mouth in a passionate kiss and as he released she clung to him.

They both lay back relaxed and sated. "Much as I hate to say this, we must get up, showered, dressed- the courier will be here shortly. Then, I don't know about you, but I am ravenous." Simone said. "Have any provisions here for a breakfast? I can scramble an egg as good as any great French chef."

"Nope, left over pizza and coffee." He said. "That is the extent of my 'provisions', I'm afraid. You did say something about my eating habits when you first got here. After the currier picks up I will take you out somewhere."

"Well, we have until our flight tomorrow, so any suggestions for spending the day?"

"My days are usually spent here, e-mails come in inquiring about my security systems. However, sounds like the Europeans are in need as much as the Americans. No reason why I can't set up over there for a while," Walter said. "Will have to do a bit of set-up of my equipment for access. That will take a bit of time to program my servers for outside access. Take your shower, the currier will be here in an hour."

"Yes, snoozing on the plane is a good thing." Simone said. "I just remembered, you really had someone say you could not satisfy them? Were you sick, injured, delirious, somehow incapacitated, or were they dead?" She chuckled and shook her head, "some people are just too damned needy, selfish, or malignant."

"Not worth worrying about, as long as you were."

"Well, I certainly was. So, how long you plan on being in France?"

"Depends on how long Interpol needs me, how long you want me to be, and whether any European businesses contact me for security software." Walter said. "That is a lot of 'if's, so we shall see."

"The flight will go faster if I am asleep for most of it," Simone said putting her seat back. "You have given me material for some very pleasant dreams….. and things to look forward to while you are in Paris."

Walter looked at her as she closed her eyes, then put his seat back as well…. but he didn't go to sleep for some time.