A/N: We've got some sexy times here :D

Chapter Ten

Three hours later, they returned to the cabin, both a little tipsy from too much good food and wine which seemed to be never ending. When they entered the room, a large gift wrapped box sat on the coffee table.

"What's that?" she asked as she took off her coat, and placed her hand on his shoulder for balance as she took off her shoes.

"Looks like a present to me," Emmett said casually as he took off his jacket and hung it up. He assumed it was the thing House mentioned a week ago during one of their calls when he asked what she might want for her birthday.

Althea looked confused. "Emmett…"

He merely shrugged. "Open it and see."

She took the lid off the box and gasped when she saw what was inside. "Oh my…"

"What is it?" he asked.

She lifted the leather guitar case out of the box and then opened the latches to reveal a very nice acoustic guitar.

"This…how did you get this?" she asked as she ran her fingers over it gently.

"House told me you enjoyed playing it, also that you were a very fast learner and were getting quite good. So since he doesn't really play it anymore, he wanted you to have it."

"How did it get here?"

"He had it sent to the house a few days after you got there and I brought it with me. You'll have to play me something later."

"Maybe tomorrow. I'm too drunk to play or sing much of anything," she giggled.

"I'll look forward to it. I remember you played the lute very well."

"That one's easy. The guitar is a little more difficult. I could teach you some chords."

Emmett laughed. "Not with these hands," he said, holding them up to display his short, wide fingers.

Althea held up her hand against his and laughed at how her fingers were longer and thinner. "Good point. I suppose you'll just have to make do with my playing then."

"That's alright with me. So, what would you like to do? It's your day. I'm merely your humble servant," he said with a deep bow that made her giggle.

"You're drunk."

"And you, Princess," he said as he reached for her hand and pulled her into his arms, "are beautiful."

"Oh, Emmett," she sighed as they swayed back and forth. "Where's that Beatles song when we need it?"

"Hold that thought," he said as he went over to the MP3 player, plugged in his phone and the room was filled with her favorite song.

"You really have thought of everything," she whispered as he took her in his arms again. "And did I tell you how handsome you looked tonight? I don't think I've ever seen you dressed up like that before."

"It's not something I care to do on a regular basis."

"You should."

"Only for you," he grinned down at her.

She seemed so at ease whereas he was a nervous wreck. What was he supposed to do now?

Her hand slid up his arm and wrapped around his neck, gently running her fingers through his hair. She hoped he'd get the hint when she requested that song but she didn't know what was going on behind those dark eyes. She wondered what he'd be like. Would he be intense like House? Or would he be slow and gentle with her? Well, there was only one way to find out and she figured it was on her to move things along in the right direction or they'd be dancing all night.

"Emmett?"

"Mhm?"

"I'm just going to change out of this dress and put something else on."

"Oh, alright."

Emmett paced the room while she was gone. If he was nervous before, he was now having a panic attack, and there was a raging war going on in his head.

"Get a hold of yourself, man. It's not like you've never been with a woman before."

"Yeah but that was before disco died."

"Just relax and go with it. She wants you, you want her. Everything's going to turn out fine."

"Emmett?" Althea called to him from the doorway of the bedroom. "Are you alright?" she asked, looking concerned. She'd been standing there watching him pace for over a minute.

He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. She was standing there in a lavender silk robe which was very short, showing off her long legs.

Oh, sweet Jesus…

"Of course, why do you ask?"

She held out her hand to him and he went to her, closing the bedroom door behind them. The room was dark, lit only by the flames of the gas fireplace in the corner.

"Emmett? Why are you so nervous?"

"What…what makes you think that?"

"Because you've become quiet since we got back here and I know you don't pace unless you're working things out in your head."

"You know me too well, Althea," he sighed. "I suppose you could chalk it up to a case of…umm…what do they call it? Oh! Performance anxiety."

She blinked, looking confused. "Performance…anxiety. Do you think I'm going to compare you to House?"

"Not exactly but…you have a lot more experience than I do and you were with him first, so it's only natural that you'd-"

She placed her finger over his lips. "Emmett, just stop. We've had many moments this last week where I knew that you were 100% in the moment with me. Were you thinking about being compared to House then?"

"No."

"Right, so forget about House. Just forget him. I'm here with you. I want to be with you. And I don't know what's going on in that head of yours, so I'm only going to say this once. There's no right or wrong way to do things. And I'm not some delicate flower. You're not going to break me."

As she said that, she had a flashback of a time when House was genuinely concerned that he had been a little too rough with her. However he was relieved to discover that she was rather turned on by it.

She smiled up at Emmett and wondered if he had it in him to be a little rough and it made her warm all over as she thought about it.

Emmett smiled down at her. "Are you blushing?"

She laughed. "Maybe. Look, I've learned a lot of things since I've lived in this time. I just want you to know that I love you and you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Tonight it's just you and me."

Emmett looked a lot less panicked and he nodded. "Yes. I understand what you're saying. I suppose I'm just afraid of disappointing you."

Althea shook her head vigorously. "That's not going to happen. Remember last night when I said I was going to tell you what I really wanted for my birthday?"

"Yes."

She reached down and took both his hands and stepped back towards the large bed. "I want you to make love to me, Emmett."

She stretched out on the bed crooked her finger and gave him her best "come hither" smile, which worked, as he climbed onto the bed next to her. "This is just like last night in front of the fire," she whispered as she rubbed his chest. Then she slowly began unbuttoning his shirt until they were all unfastened and she helped him take it off and toss it on the nearby bench. She gently touched his bare chest and while he still looked nervous, he watched her intently.

"What do you want, Emmett?" she whispered as she noticed he was looking at her with the same intense adoration she remembered from years ago.

He didn't say anything at first, just reached out and untied her silk robe to reveal the very short satin and lace nightie underneath. "You're so beautiful," he whispered.

"You make me feel beautiful when you look at me like that. And when I feel like that, it makes me think about certain things."

"Like what?"

She reached down to unbutton and unzip his pants. She realized she was going to have to take the lead for a while because he seemed completely overwhelmed.

"About my eighteenth birthday. When I came to your lab to see you. I started doing this," she said and then started kissing his neck and his throat. "And then you kissed me, literally took my breath away. I didn't want you to stop."

"I didn't want to stop."

"But then the next day…" she said as she removed her robe and shifted so she was facing him and she slid her leg across his. "I came to you and you kissed me again..."

"It was quite a kiss," he grinned as he slid his hand down her long smooth leg.

"Yes it was. Every time you kiss me, I just want to melt. My whole body heats up."

His hand slid higher up her leg and she closed her eyes. "Mmm yes. I love it when you touch me. Don't stop," she said as she placed her hand over his and guided it down and under her satin sleep shirt. "Do you like this?" she asked him as he seemed content to caress the fabric.

"Yeah, it's very soft."

She slid her hand over the bulge in his pants and gave him a sexy smile. "God, I love touching you," she said as her hand slipped inside his pants.

Emmett gave a bit of a hiss and then a groan when she stroked him slowly. He was rock hard and she became wet just thinking about the things he could do to her.

She closed her eyes and rolled onto her back as he continued to touch and explore her body with his hands. Her nightie inched up and he could see her matching silk panties, which he also touched so softly with the tips of his fingers, trailing back up her stomach and down again to the inside of her thigh.

"I want you to touch me anywhere you want, kiss me anywhere you want. I love your hands on me," she whispered, keeping her eyes closed. Everywhere he touched her seemed to electrify her and she shivered. When he didn't touch her for a minute, she opened one eye to see that he was kicking off his pants, but kept his boxer briefs on for the time being. She smiled in anticipation to see what he'd do next. Her hand reached for him once again and began stroking him through the fabric of his shorts.

He grunted a little and she gasped when he shoved her nightie up and began placing kisses across her stomach, up to her breasts which he gently caressed and then when she felt him take one of her nipples in his mouth she gasped. "Yes!"

His other hand continued to stroke her leg as he spent another several minutes with his face between her breasts. His fingers were kneading the back of her knee until she didn't think she could stand anymore. His kisses continued down her torso, across her stomach and when she felt his fingers tuck into the waistband of her panties, she nearly came right then. He didn't seem so shy or nervous anymore, judging by the way he tugged them off as if they were nothing but a nuisance. She occasionally opened one eye to see what he was up to and she felt her body heat up when he moved in between her legs and spread them a bit wider.

"Emmett…"

He didn't say anything, just kissed his way up her leg, ignoring the one spot that she needed him to touch. When she felt his fingers rubbing her inner thigh, she began to gyrate her hips, trying to get him to touch her. He seemed to get the hint and she could have sworn she heard him growl before he kissed and nipped the inside of her thigh, making her gasp. His fingers found that one spot she'd been aching for and she cried out. As he stroked her, he kissed a trail all the way up her body until his mouth crashed on hers.

Emmett felt like something had clicked in his brain and every dirty article or picture from his years of reading Playboy were finally paying off. Althea was clearly enjoying herself and what he was doing seemed to please her so he just kept going. His anxiety had taken a backseat and he felt finally in control for the first time. With his ex-girlfriend, she was the one in control and he was just along for the ride.

"God, Emmett, so good…don't stop…"

He stroked her faster until she cried out and he felt the orgasm rip through her as she coated his fingers with her juices.

He then moved down between her legs once more and she gasped when he began lapping up her juices, his tongue used long, broad strokes and she came again.

She squirmed under him and her breathing was quick. "Emmett…now..I want you.."

He quickly kicked off his boxer briefs and resumed his position between her legs. When their bodies finally joined, he found her incredibly wet and tighter than he could ever imagine.

"Althea…"

"Yessss…."

He almost felt like he should apologize because he knew he wasn't going to last long at all, but she didn't seem to care. She wrapped her arms around him and held him against her as he gave her exactly what she wanted until he couldn't hold back anymore.

When he went over the edge, it was so powerful that he closed his eyes and held onto her, burying his face against her neck. It was all so intense and overwhelming, he didn't know what to make of it. His whole body was on fire and he could feel Althea's body heat as he lay on top of her, both of them breathless.