The Garabedian house had been a hive of activity for hours. Thankfully, Heather had arrived home in good time that morning - after a wake up call she was certain she was never going to forget - with enough time to shower and regale her brother with an abbreviated version of her night, before the various caterers and hired staff began to arrive. The house had been swept through - everything too expensive or just irreplaceable had been hidden away, a full bar had been set up by the pool, together with the world's biggest barbecue set up. The pyrotechnics were setting up the firework display in the huge garden, and Daddy's Den had been completely transformed. Now they just had to wait for the party-goers to begin to arrive, and that meant it was time to get dressed for the party. Heather smirked at herself in the mirror. She had been intending to wear one of her cut-out dresses, but the bruises left on her hips by Christian's fingers had put paid to that idea. Bruises she was very proud of, nonetheless. Instead, she'd gone with strapless and form-fitting, hair down and tousled, and heels to rival the Eiffel Tower. A brush of light make up later, and she was ready, bursting into Ryan's room regardless of whether he was decent or not. "Dude! Party time!"

Ryan had spent the last few hours getting showered, shaved, booted and suited. So by the time Heather burst into his room (just as he knew she would, some thing never change! Not that he wanted them to.) Ryan was already dressed in black jeans, a purple button down and sandals. Seated before his laptop, he quickly closed the window he'd been pounding in and whirled around to greet his sister. "Well, if I were straight and not your brother, I'd say you're completely f*ckable." He smirked then and leaned back to cross one leg over the other. "When's Chris showing up?"

"I have absolutely no idea," she laughed, and it genuinely didn't bother her. He'd promised to come, and that was all she needed to know. She crawled onto her brother's bed, careful not to get her heels caught in the sheets, and grinned at him. "You're looking pretty tasty yourself, yanno," she complimented him. "Were I not your sister and already taken, I so would. I'd convert you." She winked playfully, glancing at his laptop. "Did I interrupt a little preparatory right hand time?"

Ryan rolled his eyes and smirked. Many women had attempted to and none had ever "converted" him. "No, just writing in my journal, it's private." He made a face at her and then grinned. "Besides, you know I'm left handed," he conceded with a laugh. "So, the grill's going, DJ's ready and pyro is almost done setting up. Have the strippers arrived yet?" They'd hired both, male and female strippers, just to be fair to everybody. "And you put Mom's jewelry in the safe, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and do you really think I'm leaving the diamonds out for just anyone to pick up?" Heather snorted, rolling her eyes back at him. "All locked up, as well as the gallery. We're looking at people arriving from now onwards." Which was about half an hour after the time they'd specified, but they knew their friends too well. "Did you get a chance to look at the photos I gave you? There's some prime meat in there, you know."

"Heather," he sighed, shaking his head. "Quit trying to get me laid. I know that you want to share in the wondrous happiness that involves exchange of bodily fluids, but please. I'm not ready, ok?" Flogging his log was safer and didn't involve complicated emotions. "Let's get downstairs or Gwen and Joe are going to think that we've played a joke on them and get all pouty." He stood then and offered his hand to help her rise from the bed. With those heels, she might need all the help he could give her.

She rolled her eyes at him again, shaking her head. "You're the one who said you wanted to get laid," she pointed out as he pulled her up off the bed, not even wobbling as she found her feet. "Okay, I'll back off. Just promise to have fun, okay? And I promise I'll find a way to get Flynn off your back. I have lots of ideas for that."

Ryan hugged his sister, once she was on her feet. "Thank you," he smiled and then let go of her. "I'll have fun, I promise. And if I end up in some hot guy's arms, then fine," he smirked. "And don't distract Flynn too much. He'll think I'm avoiding him. Which, I am, but I have to give him a chance to show that he's not going to try to be more than friendly, you know." He brushed a non-existent dust ball from her shoulder then and grinned. "You know, subtle. You can do subtle, I think."

"I'm just gonna introduce him to a couple of guys who are totally hot for him, that's all," she assured her brother with a chuckle. "Subtle enough for you, or would you like me to tie him up somewhere and give out invitations to a few guys who know how to seduce properly?"

Ryan laughed, with a shake of his head. "I shouldn't have been worried. You're more resourceful than the U.S. Government." A kiss was pressed to her cheek and then he strode across the room. The doorbell sounded below and his grin widened. "Time to play host and hostess. C'mon, gorgeous."

A couple of hours later, you wouldn't have believed that the party had been a rush job at all. The house was full - not only had friends arrived, but they'd brought friends with them. There were more people than Heather had expected, but not more than she and Ryan could handle, and the hired security were on top of the occasional flare ups as people danced around each other in their social setting. Heather was dancing by the pool with a couple of her girlfriends, something ridiculously neon and alcoholic in hand as she laughed at their jokes, her eyes scanning the crowd around her to seek out her brother in the oncoming darkness. Any minute now ... Right on time, the outdoor lights flickered on, bathing the deck, pool, and garden in a soft, multicolored glow that got a cheer from the party-goers.

Ryan was making the rounds, friends hugged, kisses exchanged and jokes laughed at as he moved from one group to another. He was introduced to half of Atlanta, he seemed to believe. There were people in various states of undress in and around the pool; all laughing, dancing, lounging or swimming. The alcohol flowed like water, loosening and lightening the atmosphere. He spotted Flynn, behind a ficus, making out with one of the guys that Heather had strategically introduced him to. Ryan grinned wryly, glad that Flynn had found somebody to cling to. Passing them, he spotted his sister as she danced and he laughed at her antics. Everybody seemed to be having a great time, and that was a relief. Moving through the crowd, Ryan found himself inside, but the heat only seemed to be intensified by the throng of bodies pressed together. A loud whooping sound came from Daddy's Den and he knew that the strippers were doing their thing. All in all, a good party.

Drunken friends draped themselves over him as he passed them - only some of them guys - full of affectionate gestures and declarations of how terrible it was that he wasn't living in Atlanta anymore, and why didn't he come home so they could see him more often? He probably hadn't realized how much he'd been missed until tonight, though that had been Heather's plan. She'd deliberately invited all the old crowd, just to make her brother feel wanted, even if he didn't want to get his end away with her help. There were a few surprises among the guests - couples who weren't anymore, couples you never would have predicted; even couples who were getting married! As well as a rumor flying around that the playroom downstairs - where the coats were being left - had a reputation for producing long-lasting couples and unexpected babies.

Ryan managed to wiggle his way out of the drunks with a pat of his hand and a chuckle. He did feel wanted and if he admitted it to himself, he missed these people, too. But he had planted some roots in Rhy'din and knew that, eventually, he'd be going back. With that frame of mind, he was able to reacquaint himself with the friends, congratulate the new couples and commiserate with the ones that had broken up. He spotted Christian, and directed him towards the back of the house. Ryan knew what he'd come for and wondered how much longer Heather would be seen at the party. Ryan wandered down to the playroom and spotted an orgy in full swing with four guys and three girls. Interesting, he smirked before returning upstairs and wandering towards the Den.

A loud whoop and a huge splash resounded from the pool, followed by a wicked round of laughter and squealing. Heather and her friends leapt back as water rose up to splash legs and higher, giggling wildly. At least everyone seemed to be having a good time. With an empty glass in hand, she excused herself with a grin, forcing herself not to look around hopefully. He said he was coming. Don't sweat it, he keeps his promises. She hoped. She'd only known him a couple of days, after all - could she really be that confident? A memory of that morning swept through her, and her grin turned secretive. Oh hell yes, I can. At the bar, she ordered a glass of water, knowing her own limits, and found herself locked in a flirty conversation with one of her tutor group. He was usually shy, but apparently just add alcohol, and he turned into a beast with eight hands.

Christian's eyes met with Ryan's and he gave a nod, turning towards the back of the house. He grabbed a beer from the cooler nearby and made his way through the crowd. It wasn't long before he spotted Heather and adjusted his trajectory to meet up with her at the bar. But then some guy dressed in just a pair of jeans seemed to be garnering her attention. Christian hesitated, watching her with a tiny bit of insecurity. It had only been a couple of days, but he wasn't sure if she'd be willing to admit exclusivity, yet. That insecurity turned to anger towards Mr. Eight-hands. Scowling now, his eyes and face clouded as he walked directly and with purpose. She was his woman, how dare any man lay a finger on her?

"Easy, Jake, I'm not on the market," Heather was laughing as Christian came into audio range, one hand on Jake's chest to push him away. "Seriously, you're only going to get yourself punched if you keep this up." She removed a hand from her ass and flicked his ear, hard. Jake yelped, his expression changing to one that remarkably resembled a puppy that had been kicked. "Go and chat up Rose. She's dying to meet someone new."

"I heard the lady say no," Christian's voice was low with the threat and his hands curled into fists. "I suggest you move on." But Jake was persistent to at least get a kiss from Heather and when one hand was moved, he found purchase somewhere else on her body. Christian had enough. He put his hand onto Jake's shoulder and when the man turned, he was met with a fist to his nose. The man crumbled quickly and Christian quickly stepped between Heather and Jake. "You ok?" he put his hands to her face, brows raised with concern.

The punch was sweet and to the point, and more importantly, delivered too soon for the security guys to do more than pick Jake up and take him elsewhere for a little first aid. Heather winced faintly. That's gonna make the next tutorial interesting, she thought, though that thought was immediately swallowed up by, He's here! Her eyes were wide as she looked up at Christian, hard-wired to be in tune with him already as he cradled her face. "I am now," was her welcoming reply, her smile gentle and shy as she held his gaze.

"Good," he smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips as he curled his arms around her to give her a brief hug. "Quite the shin dig," he commented with a smirk. He turned, one arm leaving her and the other laid in the small of her back possessively. "Are there strippers? I think I saw Ryan going into a room with strippers."

Well, there goes my reputation. Heather giggled to herself as Christian kissed her, knowing full well that every one of her friends had just seen her melt for a man who hadn't even said hello before marking his territory with a punch and kiss. With his arm wrapped to her back, she was definitely taken, and she saw no reason to move away, laughing at his comment. "Well, I don't do things by halves, Mr Moretz, you might have noticed," she teased, tipping her head back to look up at him through her lashes. "Yes, there are strippers. And there'll be fireworks later. Just don't look in the pool if you don't want to see a lot more of my friends than you're comfortable with."

"Oh, really now?" Christian didn't notice any crestfallen looks around him, his eyes were for his girl alone. There were more than a few pouts and eyes narrowed eyes at the pair, but it didn't matter. "I'd like to see more of you," he grinned as he led her through the room, avoiding the others by swiveling first this way and then that, until they were outside once again. "Though, I must say that dress makes you look like the sex goddess that you are."

"More of me, huh?" My turn to tease. "And what if I said you had to be patient and wait?" Blue eyes sparkled impishly as she looked up at him, the rest of her guests completely forgotten now he was there. There was something raw and immediate about Christian Moretz that just destroyed everyone else around him in her eyes. His comment on her dress made her giggle. "Oh, this little thing? It was a second choice. I couldn't get into the latex one I wanted to wear without help, and I'm not asking my big brother to unroll a dress over me like a condom."

"So long as I have to wait right here, instead of across the room from you, I think I can manage." And it was true. Christian didn't want to be out of touch range from Heather. "You're trying to kill me with my own d!ck, aren't you?" he teased in response to her description of the latex dress that she had been planning on wearing. Tilting his head, he nibbled the sensitive spot behind her ear and pressed his crotch into her hip. He was straining against his jeans, already. He was jostled, then, by a couple running to toss a girl into the pool, and down into the water he went with her.

"Who, me? Never." She laughed again, though the sound faded abruptly into a hastily stifled moan as his lips brushed against that sensitive swathe of skin, as she felt him straining against her hip. God, this man is going to have me barefoot and pregnant before the end of the year, and I'm going to love it. And abruptly she felt something change - he lurched and grabbed, and she let out a wild shriek of laughter as she was dragged down into the pool. So much for the heels ... and the dress, but never mind.

Christian came up sputtering. His silk shirt was ruined, and his jeans were heavily laden with pool water. Italian leather shoes were at the bottom of the pool. Still, that didn't matter. Heather had been chucked into the water, too. Her imminent danger had him spinning in a circle, calling her name and looking frantically for her. "Heather!"

She'd flailed in the water for a while, dropping down under the surface to remove her shoes before she sank like a stone. Thank God the dress was form-fitting, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to see at all. A moment later Christian broke the surface, she did, throwing her shoes onto the deck with a laugh. "So not cool, Declan!"

Hearing her call out, Christian whirled about just in time to see her laughing. Relief flooded his features and he grabbed her to pull her to him in a tight embrace. She was alright Thank God. "Let's get you out of here," he murmured against her ear, already in the process of pulling her towards the shallow end of the pool. He glanced up at the laughing Declan and his eyes were cold and glittered dangerously. The revenge was already being plotted out, for putting his girl in danger. Unknowingly, Declan had just made an enemy of Christian Moretz.

It was just as well Heather couldn't see his face, not knowing that he was glowering at her friend. She was laughing, though, despite the surprise of the unexpected dunking. Tugged along, it was just as well she didn't take him entirely at face value. "Why, thank you, kind sir," she teased fondly. "I should have known I'd end up in the pool at some point."

Declan paled under that murderous gaze and quickly turned to find something else to do. Christian pulled back from her once his feet hit the concrete bottom of the pool and his face transformed from anger to concern once again. "You're alright?" His hands smoothed down her back, then back up to her waist, just to be sure. "It should have been up to you, when you got into the pool. That asshole should have been more careful."

"I'm fine," she assured him with a giggle, still treading water when his feet touched the bottom. But hey, without the shoes, that was easily done. "It's a party, Christian, things like this happen. He'll apologize when he works out what he did. Which could take a coupla days, given how much he's drunk, but it will happen." She floated closer, curling her hands to his face to kiss him tenderly. "I like you slippery when wet."

Christian's ire was soothed by her reassurance. "Do you, now?" he chuckled and settled his bum onto a step, then pulled her into his lap. "We're a hot mess, you and I." Leaving her to sit in his lap without the aid of his arms, he peeled off his shirt and tossed it onto the deck with a plop.

The envy in certain female ? and male - eyes intensified as he stripped off his shirt, Heather laughing in amazement at the sheer confidence he displayed in that moment. "Mr Moretz, are you stripping in my pool?" she asked teasingly. "In front of all my friends? Could it be you're showing them what they're missing?"

It hadn't occurred to him that he was doing anything out of the ordinary. Christian worked out every day and was not self conscious about his physique. But when he glanced around to see more than one set of eyes wide with staring, did he realize the implications. "In no way am I trying to persuade the ladies," he chuckled and brought his arms around her again to not only claim his prize, but to let the others around him know that they were an item. A single unit and not to be tampered with. "I just don't like wet clothes," he murmured, kissing the corner of her mouth. "They chafe."

"What, you're after the guys?" He'd fed her the perfect line, despite the sweet way his arms wrapped around her, establishing once and for all that they were a couple. Gramma's gonna flip her lid if this gets out. Her own arms curled about his shoulders, one hand flipping the bird at a grinning friend or seven as she relaxed into him. "Is this a good moment to mention that my panties are chafing, then?" she murmured back to him, returning the tender brush of lip to skin with a smile.

He gave her a screw you look before laughing at her tease. Yeah right, strictly hetero, baby. He took to paying attention to her neck and shoulder, drifting kisses in a very public display of attention. He simply couldn't get enough of her soft, silky skin. Lifting his head when she spoke, he lifted a brow and grinned. "Well I suggest we get you out of them, post haste, Miss Garabedian." His voice was light with laughter as he hauled her, and himself, out of the water and towards the house.

Ryan watched with amused interest as the dripping wet couple went inside, just knowing that he wouldn't see Heather again for quite some time. He shook his head and wandered out towards the pool, very aware of the whispers being passed about Heather and Christian's very public announcement of their pairing. Grabbing his first drink of the evening, he settled down into a lounge chair and got ready to watch the fireworks as the sun settled behind the trees.

He'd chosen a seat beside someone else who seemed to have been wandering through the gathering without really engaging too much with anyone. Leo Gregory glanced toward his new lounge-chair companion, smirking a little at the look on the guy's face. "Either you're her brother, or her ex, to be grinning and looking pissed all at once," he commented cheerfully. "And you don't look like an ex, so ... Hey, I'm Leo. Nice to meet you, Ryan, Great party."

It took a moment for Ryan to realize he'd been spoken to. Turning his head, he glanced up to where he saw Heather disappear, then back down to the man who sat beside him. "I, oh, umm..." he shook his head with a chuckle. "Nice to meet you, Leo. And I'm grinning and looking pissed because she won't come up for air for hours, leaving me with the entire party in my own hands. But, she's happy so what's a guy to do?" Ryan felt an instant attraction: Leo had the dark hair and hazel eyes that were the first thing that Ryan typically looked for. The fact that he was hot as hell with that grin and tanned skin didn't hurt things, either. "So, who did you come with, Leo?" Ryan let his head fall back onto the lounge as he sipped his cocktail, sneaking peeks from the corner of his eye at his new found friend.

"Uh ..." Leo snorted with laughter, looking around curiously for a moment. "I think I came with Dawn, but she ditched me in seconds as soon as we got through the door. Seems to think I need to get laid and I'm boring as hell to be around." He laughed, shaking his head as he leaned back, taking a pull from his beer. "Little sisters, huh?"

For a moment, doubt creeped in when he'd mentioned being here with Dawn. Well, ok, so maybe he's not gay. Doesn't hurt to have a friend, right? But that last comment had him wondering again. Nah, probably not. I'm not that lucky. "Yeah, I guess I'm lucky then," how appropriate to contradict yourself, hot shot. "Heather and I are pretty close. But she's still a pain in the ass sometimes."

"Should be glad she's being a pain in someone else's ass these days, then," Leo laughed once again, stretching comfortably. "Don't get me wrong, I love my little Dawn. I just don't get the whole dragging me anywhere and everywhere in an attempt to find a guy who'll drag my pants down and give me a good shag at random."

Oh really now? "Ah, they're just looking out for us, that's all. Besides, who doesn't want the entire world to be blissfully happy when they are." Wonder if he wants to drag my pants down and give me a good shagging at random? Ryan sputtered into his drink at that thought. Where did that come from? "Don't think Dawn's ever mentioned you, though I don't really pay much attention once the girls start going into chatter mode. What's the point?" he laughed.

Leo chuckled, hazel eyes grinning at his companion in familiar sympathy. So he's got the same problem. Interesting. "Blissfully happy? Sex mad and insatiable, more like," he laughed, shaking his head. "I'm not really her brother - her dad married my mom a few months back. I'm supposed to be getting to know my new stepsister while I'm on vacation leave."

Well, that explains that. "Right, too right. Describes Heather to a T," he chuckled. "So where are you on leave from?" Ryan took another sip of his drink and attempted to keep from staring at Leo. It was a difficult task, at best. If I could just touch him... Ryan sighed and looked up into the sky as the first of the fireworks began to boom. It was synchronized to music and a hushed awe fell over the crowd as they were entertained by the brightly lit up sky.

"Oh, it's a little publishing house in New York," Leo told him, and had to quiet as the fireworks started up, not particularly wanting to shout above the noise as the attention of the whole party turned to the sky above them, littered with bright sparks and swirling patterns. Why do people ask these questions? Does he think I'm in the army or something?

"Oh," he sighed with a murmur. Bolstered with the alcohol, Ryan's courage grew. He reached out across the short span of chairs to gently touch Leo's forearm. His skin was warm, sun kissed and like velvet to the touch. Keeping his gaze starwards, he moved his hand down to Leo's wrist.

Eyes on the sky, Leo smirked as he felt Ryan's hand on his arm. He doesn't waste time, does he? My kinda guy. Ostensibly glued to the glittering display above them, he let his hand turn over, palm upward as Ryan's fingers moved down over his wrist. Strong fingers captured Ryan's hand, drawing a thumbnail gently, slowly, across Ryan's palm.

Ryan didn't have time to waste, as he saw it. No longer able to keep his eyes on the fireworks, Leo's movement against his palm had Ryan turning his head to level a blue eyed gaze onto Leo. Instinctively, Ryan's fingers curled against Leo's palm in a move that was subtly submissive. He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes again. It felt so good to be touched.

The hazel eyes didn't turn to his, but Leo's smirk stayed in place as a deft movement of his hips thrust his chair closer. His hand abandoned Ryan's to draw his fingertips up along the sensitive skin of the other man's inner arm. "Great fireworks!" he yelled above the noise, flashing a charming, somewhat wolfish grin toward his companion. And being completely confident that the loud noise was going to cover anything he said, he turned his head to yell into Ryan's ear. "You gonna c*m in your pants, or save some for me?"

It didn't go unnoticed, the scooting of the chair, much less the drift of fingertips across Ryan's bicep. Definitely fireworks going on, but the ones on the ground are far better! Opening his eyes, Ryan saw the smile and confidence that simply oozed from Leo. He definitely knows just what he's doing, cheeky bastard! The undercurrent question had Ryan grinning and he reached down to cup his own balls with a soft moan. "It's yours if you want it."

"Cool." Teeth found Ryan's earlobe, tugging for a moment as he growled teasingly. "Hands off the goods, then," Leo ordered, wondering if Ryan was really as submissive as he seemed. He wasn't a top all the time, himself, but it could be difficult finding a guy who liked to switch. He raised his hand from Ryan's arm and patted his cheek almost platonically. Almost platonically. The words then uttered made a mockery of any hint of cooling off. "Got a childhood memory you wanna have busted with a mind-blowing shag?"

Ryan's hand returned to the arm of the chair he was sitting in. No longer looking at Leo, he stared into the sky with unseeing eyes. It took everything in him not to say "yes, sir" in response to the demand. The nibble to his earlobe caused Ryan's lips to part in a sharp intake of air. Childhood memory? He wants me to even think right now? I can't even remember my own name! He exhaled and blinked slowly, shaking his head. "No memories," he uttered breathlessly. Jesus, Ryan! Turn to Jell-o, much?

Chuckling at the glazed-over look in Ryan's eyes, Leo smirked, handing him his beer. "Just hang on a second, then," he told him, pushing himself to his feet as the fireworks eased off for a few minutes. He disappeared into the crowd, seeking out his step-sister to wheedle a few things out of her before returning. And when he did, his eyes had more than a bit of promise in them. "C'mon, Ryan," he grinned, jerking his head in the direction of the garden. "Things to do."

When Leo left, Ryan blinked rapidly and stared out into space. Anybody looking would have thought he was in awe of the sparkling shapes and booms that accompanied them in the darkening Georgia sky. But his thoughts were far from that. Just calm down, he'll f*ck you then you'll go your separate ways. Nothing long term here, but hell he's so damn fine! Maybe we'll f*ck a few times before I have to go back. I don't think just once is going to be enough. Will it be enough? Well if he's terrible in the sack, I've got nothing to lose. And then his name was called and he looked up at Leo. Ryan's cheeks flushed with excitement and a little bit of embarrassment And those eyes, they caused a fire to spread that burned. Nodding, he stood and began to walk towards the garden. He kept the pace casual and cool, and even smiled to those that were acknowledging what a great party and fireworks. Finally, reaching the peaceful respite of the garden, he turned to see if Leo had actually followed.

He turned just in time to prevent himself being spun about. Leo's mouth crashed onto his, answering finally the near instant spike of attraction that had made itself known when Ryan had started to touch. Hips pressed against hips, one hand curled to Ryan's jaw, the other gripping his ass as Leo pushed him further into the darkness, away from the party. And up against the tree that held Ryan and Heather's childhood tree house Dawn had definitely shared a couple of things.

It startled Ryan, the sudden attack upon his senses that left him without a single thought in his mind. Backed up against a tree, he wasn't even aware of the tree house above. His outstretched arms relaxed and his hands settled onto Leo's hips. He was being taken, and Ryan felt panic, terrified and thrilled to his core. The grinding hips had his already throbbing c*ck now straining against his jeans. Leo lived up to his name, and Ryan felt as if he were about to be eaten.

"f*ck, you taste good." Leo broke off the kiss abruptly, drawing back with another of those wolfish grins as he looked over his handiwork. God, how long is it since he got kissed like he meant it? The guy looks like he's going to pass out. One brow rose as he looked Ryan over, his grin turning wry despite the obvious bulge of his own straining c*ck. "You okay there, sparky?"

"Yeah, I'm alright," the question caught him off guard and he wondered if Leo was regretting what they wee doing. "Never better," he recovered himself enough to begin breathing normally, once again. "Just, don't stop or I might never be alright, ever again," he teased, relaxing against Leo's chest. "And neither might you," Ryan pressed a kiss to Leo's mouth as his hand discovered the bulge in Leo's pants.

Leo groaned as that clever hand found more than a handful to play with in his jeans, deepening the kiss with fierce dominance once again before pulling back abruptly. "Get in the tree house," he whispered, groping Ryan's ass with a grabby hand. "You're never gonna be able to look at it the same way again."

"Oh, yes sir," Ryan grinned back and turned to quickly scamper up the ladder and into the cramped tree house It was bigger than most, and solidly built. The ceiling in the room that they were in was six feet high, just enough that he had to stoop to keep from hitting his head. But he didn't stop there. Twisting, he climbed further up, knowing that just two stories up was a wide deck with railings and no ceiling to impede their standing and wide enough to allow freedom of movement. Ryan's heart beat raced in his chest, and he radiated the excitement of things to come. "Up here," he called, once reaching the deck.

With a grin, Leo clambered up after him, pleasantly surprised by the unexpected mufti-level This is some tree house Spoiled kids. Briefly, he wondered how many childhood memories he was about to taint before snorting with laughter, rising up the last level to hook his hand into Ryan's jeans and pull him close. It was time to make all his little sister's hopes happen, and a few of his own, too.

Ryan's hands went to Leo's shoulders as he was pulled closer. "Hi," he murmured with a soft laugh. He hadn't been in the tree house in years. "Come here often?" he teased, playfully. Hope played in his face, followed closely by desire. Take me before I lose the nerve.

As Ryan was being taken in the tree house - more thoroughly than even he might have expected - Heather stood in the window of her own room, wrapped up in just a towel, her eyes on the fireworks that were still going on. Her hair hung damp about her shoulders, her lips curved in a soft smile as she enjoyed the childlike excitement over fireworks, oblivious for the moment to the extremely sexy man in the room with her.

Christian was wrapped in a towel about his waist, water still beaded upon his chest. The shower had been another lesson in the pleasuring of each other and the world of vanilla sex. Seeing her at the window, he stepped behind Heather to wrap his arms around her waist and deliver a gentle kiss to her shoulder. The look on her face was adorable and he turned his gaze skyward to watch the fireworks with her.

Her smile deepened as she felt him come up behind her, leaning easily back into his arms as he kissed her shoulder, leaning her temple against his. Her fingers stroked over his arms as rockets exploded high above them. "You make me feel like that," she murmured softly. "Like I'm exploding into sparks and falling to ground, and you're always there to catch me."

Christian liked the analogy, and chuckled softly. "I'll always be here to catch you when you fall, baby," he promised with a soft sigh as his fingers curled to lace with hers. So many firsts, Heather. He'd never been with any woman more than a one night stand, never wanted to take care of another person, never had Vanilla sex. And, as overwhelming as it all could be, he was taking it in stride. "I brought an overnight bag," he admitted. "I've got breakfast with the parents in the morning and was hoping you'd join me."

She sighed happily, her face turning to nuzzle her lips against his jaw fondly. Wait ... did he say parents? She blinked, drawing her head back to look at him in wary surprise. "You want me to meet your parents?" she asked in quiet shock. "Really?" She couldn't hide the unexpected reaction, her eyes wide as she studied him. "Are you sure? Because, you know, you only dumped Monique on your Mom yesterday."

"I'm positive," he smirked and turned his head to kiss her briefly. "Perhaps she'll finally see that I'm a grown man who can make his own decisions." He sighed at that and lowered his chin to her shoulder. He was still in uncharted land and not quite sure what to say or how to say it. "I can't wait to see her face when you walk in on my arm."

"I don't have the best reputation, you know," Heather murmured, a little worried about being introduced to his parents. Mrs Moretz was notoriously difficult to please, and Heather knew she didn't react well if someone prodded at her too much. And frankly, if she could be blunt with her own grandmother, what was to stop her being blunt with Christian's mom? "I don't think she's gonna approve of me."

"I approve of you, babe," he reassured with a bit of spine in his voice. "I don't care what the bat thinks of you or your reputation." His mother's own reputation be damned. He'd found a kindred spirit in Heather and he wasn't going to let her go just to please his snobbish mother. "Besides, Dad will be there to temper things a bit. She won't be overly nasty with him in the room." His father had always been supportive of his only son, and had a reputation that had many agreeing that opposites must have attracted in the Moretz's marriage. "Don't worry, I won't allow her to try to railroad you."

She snorted softly. "I'm not worried about her railroading me," she giggled softly, nuzzling against his jaw once again as she drew his arms tighter about herself. "I love your smell." Her lips parted, the tip of her tongue drawing softly over the sharp line of his jaw. "You're incredible, Christian. Completely incredible."

"Oh, well then, railroad all you want," he chuckled, enjoying the close intimacy of the moment. His hooded eyes took in the dark sky now that the fireworks had ended. "I am, aren't I?" he snorted and smirked with mocked modesty. "I suppose it's because I'm with an incredible woman. You're rubbing off on me." His voice had softened and his eyes closed as he lowered his head to kiss her shoulder, once more.

She giggled softly, her lips brushing his cheekbone as he kissed her shoulder again. "No, I'm pretty sure you were incredible before I met you," she assured him, one hand curling up from his hand to stroke against his cheek, holding him close as her lips touched the corner of his mouth. "Never thought you'd want me, though."

"What's there not to like?" He twisted his neck, placing a kiss to her lips full on. "You're beautiful, intelligent and your oral skills are incomparable" His lips captured hers again before she could argue and she could take that last compliment any way she liked. With her sharp tongue and instant wit, and her ability to make him quake at the knees when she sucked him off, either way was the truth.

She could have given him a list a mile long of her flaws, but he had rather intelligently cut her off before her mouth could open. His compliment filled his own mouth with her laughter as she twisted, her shoulder smoothing across his chest as she half-turned into his kiss, her toes curling at the way he touched her. The way he wanted her.

And he wanted her, more than anything or anybody who came before her. Without breaking contact with her mouth, he arched his body so that she could turn in his arms. And once that was accomplished, his arms tightened around her and he crushed her to his chest as he opened up and poured what he could offer into that kiss.

God, you'd be so easy to love. Just thinking that four-letter word should have set alarm bells off in her mind, but Heather was distracted, looping her own arms around his neck as he crushed her to him, up on her toes to return that kiss with something just as longing, just as lustful, just as affectionate. Does he need me as much as I need him?

Devoid of thoughts, Christian went into instinctive mode and moved his hands to her ass. He squeezed, firmly pressing her against his growing member. "God," he breathed into her mouth before his lips smashed to hers again and his hips thrust to rub his terry cloth covered crotch against her own. She's going to kill me with sex, but what a way to go!

Feeling him grind to her, Heather moaned softly, feeling him pressing her close and setting her body on fire far too easily. No one else could do that. No one else.
?

Slut? Part of her bristled at that - the feminist side she'd grown into over the last few years - earning him a scrape of her nails over his scalp as she growled softly. "Don't call me that," she warned him, her voice rough and husky. "Your slut, no one else's. Christian, geez ... you're such a tease!"

"Tease?" He stilled at her accusation, then stepped back from her, releasing her from his grip. "Now, that's a tease," he commented. Turning on his heel, he walked back into the bedroom with a Chesire cat grin on his face.

She gasped, shocked when he abandoned her there on the balcony, so close but nowhere near reaching satisfaction without his heat and urgent immediacy. "Christian!" Turning on shaking legs, she glared after him, pushing herself from the railing in pursuit. Her small hands planted themselves against his back, pushing as hard as she could. "You don't do that!"

His smile disappeared the moment her hands made contact with his back. Pushed forward, he stumbled a few steps before regaining himself. Then, he turned very slowly around to look down at her. His face was stoic, as if he possessed no emotion at all. "I do what I want, when I want, Miss Garabedian." His chin was held aloft and he looked down at her over his nose.

That sudden blankness, that lack of emotion, stopped her in her tracks, her face paling as he looked down at her. Who is this Christian, now? Biting her lower lip, she took a step back, a wary frown on her frustrated face. "Then you should go home," she suggested softly. "Or watch your language."

"Are you giving me an order?" His tone was amused, but he showed none of that in his expression, still. "Because I don't take orders very well." He moved a step or two closer, and considered her with his brows slightly raised. "Subbing was never my thing."

The word she might have let go had he not abandoned the moment solidified in her mind, and Heather's expression tightened, her eyes narrowing as she glared up at him, refusing to be intimidated. "And I am not a slut," she told him sharply. "Or is that an order, too? Are you gonna be like this every time you don't get your own way, or every time I object to something you call me?"

"Is that what this is all about?" This time, Christian couldn't help but snort a bit of a laugh. "My humblest of apologies, Miss Garabedian. It was said in the heat of the moment. I won't do it, ever again." He kept his eyes on hers to avoid rolling them at the utter idiocy of this entire argument. "You called me a tease, so I showed you just what a tease does. Now, do you still think that I am one?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do. And I think you're an ass for going cold on me like this." His laughter did not help, either. Clenching her jaw, Heather made to brush past him, the moment lost. She felt exposed and vulnerable, and worse, that he was laughing at her because of how vulnerable she had been to his teasing.

"You pushed me! Was I supposed to be turned on by that?" Oh this was all just too much. Walking over to the bathroom, he grabbed his boxers and slipped them on. "You might be little, but I'd like to think you'd outgrown the spoiled brat phase now that you're an adult."

"Oh, and I suppose leaving me naked and completely vulnerable on the balcony was an adult thing to do, was it?" she demanded, snatching her robe from the back of the door to wrap herself up. "I'm supposed to be turned on by anything you do, is that it? We're not in your playroom now, Christian, I'm not your sub. You can't treat me like something so easy to throw away and expect me to be able to handle it!"

"You wanted to be naked and vulnerable out on the balcony. It turned you on," he smirked and sat down on the edge of her bed. "But, you're right. You're not my sub, this is not the playroom." Shrugging then he watched her do whatever it was that she was doing. "Would you like me to leave, Miss Garabedian?" Oh come on, Christian, stop antagonizing her and just apologize! But he was just too stubborn to listen to his own good advice.

"With you, I wanted that," she snapped, infuriated not just by how stubborn he was being, but by the smirk on this face. "You think this is funny? Can you see anything to laugh about here? Because I can't. And you know what? If you wanted to leave, you should have said so. God forbid you should stick around just to make me feel better."

"You're really angry about all of this, aren't you?" This was interesting to Christian. He hadn't seen or heard a woman angry with him, other than his own mother. "What are you so angry about, Heather? Come, talk to me." Patting his hand on the coverlet beside him, he invited her over... to sit on her own bed.

She stared at him. "I'm sorry, you really can't see what's wrong here?" she asked, gobsmacked by his obtuseness. Rolling her eyes, she twisted away, throwing her hands in the air. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation in my own bedroom."

"You're adorable when you're angry. Did you know that?" he offered with a boyish grin. "Come tell me what's wrong that I'm not seeing, because I really don't know what all the fuss is about. It won't be the last time I'll deny either of us an orgasm. Might want to get accustomed to it." He was making stabs in the dark, trying to figure out a woman's psyche was hard!

"Oh, for God's sakes ..." Her back to him, she was silent for a long moment, the only sound the bone-juddering sound of her teeth grinding as she fought to make herself calm down enough to explain this to the single most stubborn man she had ever known. "It's not about the orgasm," she said finally, turning to meet his gaze with her own heated glare, her arms crossed over her chest, refusing to get any closer to him and risk his distracting or confusing her. "I'm not an adventurous person, okay? I've never done anything like the things I've done with you, and tonight? That was unusual for me. I put myself on the line trying something new, and all it got me was pushed further than I can cope with, teased, and left alone in the cold while you smirked and walked away from me. I put myself out there, and you let me drop like a stone. Still think it's funny?"

"Well, no," he frowned, after listening to her explanation. "But I wasn't going to just leave you out there, Heather. Jesus, what kind of man do you honestly think I am?" He shook his head and sighed then. "I may be many horrible things, but cruel isn't one of them."

"How was I supposed to know that?" she asked him pointedly. "Am I supposed to be able to read your mind, Chris? I left myself completely open, I got about as vulnerable as I've ever been, I let you call me a slut - which really stings, by the way - and the next thing I know, you're walking away. Was I supposed to fall on my knees and beg for you to come back? Did you want to see me lose every last scrap of my dignity?" She sighed. "Look, I know I come across as a spoiled brat, okay? I know people look at me and see a blonde airhead living off Daddy's credit cards, but I actually have a heart, I have feelings. Hell, I have feelings for you; I care enough about you to take a risk because I thought it was something you'd like. I'm angry because I'm hurt, Christian. And you laughed at that."

Christian sat and listened attentively, watching her as she spoke. His eyes widened at her admission to having feelings for him, and a spike of fear ran up his spine. "Oh God," he murmured, then lowered his head to look down at his feet. "You shouldn't do that," he spoke quietly. "I'm the worst guy in the world for you." It was a knee jerk reaction and one usually said to a sub who thought there would be more to the relationship than there was. But Heather's no sub. He brought his chin back up with a startled look on his face. "Even so, there's just something about you that I can't physically stay away from." Like a moth to a flame.

"You can't stop me from falling, if that's what's gonna happen," she told him. When did I become the guru in this relationship? "You can't stop anyone from feeling the way they do. But ..." She bit her lip, pain etched in her gaze as she looked away, not wanting to see his face as she went on. "If my having feelings for you is a hard limit, then you should walk away now. Because I will never be happy with something wholly physical, Christian. If I'm with you, I'm with you, all of you. f*cked up or not."

"Come here, Heather," he spoke quietly, but with authority in his voice. Lifting his hand, he reached for her. "I keep hurting you, and that's a hard limit for me." Christian's usual stoic expression was gone and confusion was clearly left in it's place. "I don't know how I feel, truly. I just know that now that you're in my life, I can't imagine life without you in it."

She couldn't deny the authority in his tone, obeying without a moment's thought, her hand sliding into his as she hesitantly lowered herself onto the bed beside him. Oh, baby, what is there to be confused about? I'm on my way to loving you, that's all. It doesn't mean you have to love me back. "I'm gonna get hurt," she said softly. "It's not something you can stop, it's not something anyone can stop. I'm not as hard as people think I am, Christian. Sometimes I need gentle handling, sometimes I can't take playing the game. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna run away."

"You have to let me know," he kept his hand in hers, holding her fingers loosely. "And you have to trust me if this is going to work. I wasn't going to walk inside to go to the bathroom, get dressed or take a nap. I promise, I would never have done something like that. I wanted to tease you a little, and was hoping that you'd tease me right back by being brazen and letting me get a good look at what I was missing when I stepped away." Ah, such lofty dreams, but quit thinking about what she has to offer. You're giving yourself wood in the middle of a moment!

"I put myself out there," she reminded him softly, embarrassed that she needed to explain this, wondering what he hadn't learned as a child not to be able to recognise when something was way outside a person's comfort zone. "It's hard to talk about it, especially when I'm in the moment. It takes a lot of courage to go there. I'm sorry I didn't make it clear."

Picking up her hand, he squeezed her fingers between his own and kissed the tips of her fingers. "Baby, don't ever be ashamed to talk to me about anything. I honestly want to know what you're thinking, how you're feeling. It keeps me from making an ass of myself." And, though veiled, there was the apology he should have given nearly a half hour ago.

She almost melted as he kissed her fingertips, as he offered up the closest thing to an apology she was likely to get. Almost. Heather steeled herself not to give in so quickly, though. "You understand why I got mad, though, right?" she asked gently. Please understand this, I don't know how else to explain it.

"I do," he nodded. "You thought I was going to let you fall without a net." Lifting his head a bit, he canted his head. There was no question that Christian got it now. "I just thought you were angry over a stupid word said in the heat of the moment that meant nothing. I know that in an argument or from an unkind person the word is hurtful, but it just slipped out. I didn't mean to impune your character." And, another apology of sorts.

"You weren't to know that's not a word I'm ever gonna be comfortable with," she admitted with a soft sigh. "If you'd kept going, I'd have just ignored it, heat of the moment, like you said. It just ... it hurts because through all of my senior year in high school, everyone called me a slut. Said I was easy, said I'd spread my legs for anyone. Just because I said no to one asshole who decided to spread his own version."

"Who is he?" Christian's eyes narrowed, his back straightened and his voice deepened with anger. He studied her face, seeing the sadness at being treated badly in her eyes. "Tell me who he is, Heather."

"It's not a big deal, Christian." She shook her head, forcing a smile to try and ease the anger that was suddenly radiating from him. Her hand rose, gently caressing his cheek. "Baby, it really doesn't matter. We were kids." Kids, yeah right. Four years ago, you were a kid. "It hurt, and it left an impression, but kids do things like that. High school's supposed to be a bitch."

He calmed at her touch, but only incrementally. "It's not supposed to be a bitch, it's supposed to be the time of your life." He shook his head and let the anger fall off of his shoulders. "I think we should get back to the party," out of the blue changing the subject. "Or your brother is going to send a lynch mob after me." He smiled then and brought her fingers back to his mouth for a soft kiss.

"Unless he got lucky." Her smile relaxed, relieved that Christian had dropped the subject so easily. "You didn't c*m," she pointed out quietly, glancing down at his crotch with an apologetic shrug of one shoulder. "Kinda my fault."

Christian looked down at his semi erect penis, then back at her. "Don't worry about it. It's not the first time, and as I said earlier, it won't be the last." He chuckled and let go of her hand to wrap an arm around her. "You ready to go back, or do you want to sit in the quiet for a while?" Considerate Christian was back at the helm.

"That's not how I roll." She flashed him a wicked little smirk, twisting to press a kiss to his cheek as her fingers brushed gently up along his inner thigh. "I owe you one," she murmured, trailing her lips toward his mouth, gently pushing to lay him back as her hand stroked against his semi-erect c*ck. "And I always pay my debts."

(Huge thank you to Heather's player for indulging me!! You're da best!)