It was a run down strip club in the middle of nowhere. The bar only had two types of beer, both domestics, and everywhere he went, some silicone-chested girl kept bothering him. David shook his head, watching the groom- to-be stuff another twenty into the garter of a big- breasted blonde. "Well," he said to himself, "he is my best friend. I suppose it could be worse."

"Hey handsome, looking for a private dance?" a voice said, resting its hand on his shoulder.

"Umm...no thanks. I'm just here for the beer."

"Too bad, sexy, 'cause the beer sucks." With that, the hand slipped back into the darkness. David scanned the club once more, and found a dark corner near the smaller of the two stages, hopefully where he could hide until the party ended.

On stage was an older woman, perhaps in her late thirties, with obviously fake breasts, and a bit of a bulge to her. She was wearing only a tiny thong and a garter, no money in it. David shook his head and closed his eyes, picturing the trip he had taken to the Louvre two months ago....He saw the Mona Lisa, most famous of all paintings....Eros and Psyche, immortalized in a near embrace.... A sudden noise jolted him out of his daydream.

Sitting across from him at his table was a young woman, totally nude. She was not so gracefully slugging her own beer, staring at him through the bottle. He stared back at her as she finished her drink, dumbfounded. She was thin, with slightly upturned breasts that hung off her slender frame. Her eyes were almost neon green, staring back at him. She ran her hand through her wavy, shoulder length brunette hair, then finally broke the silence.

"So, are you gay or something? The girls are talking about you. They seem to think you're gay or something."

"Me? No, I'm just here-"

"'-for the beer.' That's what they said. I don't believe you. I think you're here for the party...what's his name? Jake, that's it, right? You're here for Jake's party, but you don't want to be here."

"You're very perceptive. What's your name?"

"Ashley. What's your's?"

"David."

"Nice to meet you, Dave." She stood up, then left him as she headed for the dressing rooms. He studied her as she walked away from him; the curves of her hips, the light movements of her breasts as she stepped. Unbelievable, he thought. A lovely girl like her here....

A few minutes later, she appeared on stage. David watched in awe as she moved across the stage, seeing her nervous steps, her awkward glances at the few eyes watching her. She moved about the stage, stopping in front of a group of older men who looked as if they couldn't care less about her.

After a few twirls on the pole at the end of the stage and a dance on all fours, one of the older men slipped a few dollar bills into her garter, then continued his conversation with the other men. She slid on her belly, writhing to the beat of the canned music into the center of the stage, then looked at David again. He saw the shame in her eyes as she moved unconsciously along the stage, until the music stopped and she quickly exited.

A few minutes later, she appeared again at his table, wearing only a pair of green panties and the garter.

"I'd ask you what you thought, David," she said, "But I think I already know."

"No, you were good...very good." he stammered.

"No, I sucked. It's only my second night here. They put me on the second stage until I can afford implants, like all the main dancers have." She glanced down at her chest, then crossed her arms.

"Why do you want implants? I think you look wonderful now."

"Really?!" A spark appeared in her eyes as she lifted her head, then it faded. "All the main dancers have them. If I want to make their kind of money...." She left the thought unfinished as she bowed her head again. David watched her for a moment, just to form a picture in his head....

"How much do you make a night now?" he asked.

"Ohh...seventy five, eighty bucks, if you figure tips and salary. Sandra-" she pointed to the main stage "-makes about two to three hundred a night. Four sometimes."

"Would you like to make that? Four hundred for a night's work?" David suggested.

"Wha....Oh, no....I think you've got the wrong idea! I don't do that!" she said, sliding slowly away from him. David laughed at that, smiling for the first time that night.

"No, no, no...I mean as a model. For me. I'm a photographer."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I don't believe you." she said, but she had leaned in towards him as she said this.

"Believe it. I've even done exhibits at the Guggenheim. See that guy over there, with the red jacket on? His name is Vincent. He's my manager, and Jake, the one we're having the party for, he's my accountant. Ask them about me, if you want."

"Maybe I will...." She gazed at him for a few seconds, then stepped over to where Jake and Vincent were having a picture taken with the blonde from before. He watched as she whispered something to Jake. They both looked at him, then Jake whispered back to her for a time. All the while, she never took her eyes off him.

*** Chapter Two - Breaking Through

"Hello? David?" her voice echoed through the studio. She opened the large steel door and found a note on a mirror that hung across the room.

Ashley -

Thanks again for coming. I hope you remembered your driver's license and change of clothes. There's a bathroom down the hallway to the left; go ahead and freshen up - no makeup please! I'll be in the darkroom for about an hour or so. Make yourself at home, have something to eat, whatever.

David.

She made her way to the bathroom, stopping to look at the pictures he'd hung in the hallway. One was of a statue of two people embracing, about to kiss, she thought. The winged man was bent over the woman, who was lying on the ground, reaching up to her. The placard on the photo read "'Eros and Psyche' as photographed by David Burnham." From the angle of the photo, she could see the shadow of the photographer fell mostly on the body of the winged man.

Once in the bathroom, she stripped herself and stepped into the shower. The warm jets of water cascaded on her body as she lathered her slim frame. The water pulsated gently on her skin, massaging her as she moved the washcloth under her breasts, down her legs, and across her back.

She sighed to herself as she stepped onto the marble floor, dripping as she searched for her fresh clothes...damn. She'd left her bag in the front room. Wrapping a towel around her, she made her way back into the front room. She stopped suddenly when she saw David in the middle of the room, hanging photos from a line that crossed from corner to corner. "Hey there. I see you're just about ready." he said nonchalantly as he studied one photo, then another.

"Umm, yeah. Just let me get changed."

"Sure thing, but you'll just have to take it off again. I have some clothes picked out for you already. You brought your license, right?" David tried not to stare at her, dripping wet and barely covered by the small towel.

"Yeah, I did...." She grabbed her bag, still holding the towel in place with her free arm.

"Good. Before we get started, I have to fill out a consent form. Legal stuff, you know? First, I need to see your license, just to make sure you're old enough."

"Oh, okay...." She pulled out a worn down wallet and produced her license.

"Date of birth...14 July 86...just turned 16?" "Yeah. I lied about my age at the club." She was nervous for some reason, he thought. She was covering up still, and unsure of herself again.

"Name....Katherine Miller? I thought it was Ashley."

"Oh...no, Ashley's my stage name. My real name is Katherine."

"Alright, just sign on the bottom, and initial where I've recorded your name and date of birth, and we'll be all set. Would you like something to drink? I know you're not old enough, but it'll relax you a bit. It's just a little wine."

"Yeah, that'd be nice. Thank you." She handed over the signed form and looked around the room. "Nice place you have here, David."

"Thanks. It's just my studio. My house is actually in the country, but Jake's using it for his wedding next Sunday, so I'm staying here." David opened a small fridge in the adjoining kitchen and produced a bottle of Chardonnay from an upstate vineyard. He poured two glasses, then brought them back into the front room, where Katherine was studying the pictures on the line. "Which one are you looking at?" he asked as he handed her a glass.

"This one here. It looks like a photo of a chalk drawing of a girl on the beach."

"Oh. That was drawn by a friend of mine who uses chalk on buildings. I take pictures when he finishes, so there's a permanent recording of it. He didn't believe in it at first, because he uses a temporary medium. He says it delivers a message about temporary ideas, but I convinced him eventually."

"That sounds neat. How do you know when he'll do another? I think I'd like to see one."

"He does one every month or so, depending on the weather forecasts. It takes about a day to finish one by himself, plus at least two days of clear skies so it can be seen. In the summer, he does about two or three a month sometimes."

"You know," she said, pausing, "I wanted to be an artist when I was young. My father took me to the Museum of Modern Art, and I always loved the sculptures the best. I loved the real modern ones, the ones that don't look like anything. I always thought I could do that."

"Did you ever try? Take an art class for example?"

"No. My father...he died when I was young. My stepfather, well, he never liked that kind of stuff. He was a real prick. "So, are we going to take a few pictures, or what?"

In the photo room, Katherine sat on a wooden bench, a large white cloth draped across her front, just below the shoulders. Her legs dangled a few inches above the ground, her left arm was crossed over her breasts, and her right arm was clutching the cloth over her lap. David was taking a few photos at a time, then reposing her, then a few more photos; this had been going on for about three hours now.

"Katherine, let the cloth drop into your lap now. Clasp your hands and hold them to your chest, like you're praying." Katherine slowly dropped the cloth, revealing her breasts, and clasped her hands like she was asked. David watched her as she did this, and noticed a look of fear on her face. "Are you alright, Katherine?" "I...yeah, just nervous, I guess."

"Well, let's call it a day then. Go ahead and get dressed.

I'll order some dinner for us. How's Chinese sound?"

"Chinese is great." she said as she slipped on a white T- shirt and a pair of plaid men's boxers.

"What exactly are we watching again?" David asked. He and Katherine were sitting in the front room, watching cartoons on his large screen television.

"'Power puff Girls'! It's my favorite show!" Katherine blurted out, emphasizing her point by smacking David with a throw pillow. She was seated on the couch, sitting cross-legged, while David sat on the floor below her. Surrounding the two of them were a half dozen empty beer bottles and a number of half-emptied boxes of delivery Chinese.

David had finally gotten into the show, despite the crudity of the animation, when he felt something moving on his scalp. Katherine was rubbing her toes on his head, slowly side to side, barely making contact. David closed his eyes and leaned back, resting his head in her lap. She placed her fingertips gently on his head, tracing intricate designs through his hair. He reached above him, taking her crossed legs, moving them onto his shoulders. He started at her toes, rubbing each one softly between his fingers, then pressing one thumb into each sole, massaging her arches in his strong hands.

She bent over, now eye to eye above him, and kissed his forehead, his eyes, the tip of his nose. her hands made their way down to his chest, sliding slowly over his neck and shoulders, and back up his muscular arms. He followed her movements with his own up her legs and around her knees, now stroking the delicate undersides of her silky thighs.

Their lips finally met, pressing softly and swiftly for just a second. A smile appeared on both lips. Grazing each other lightly, they met again, fuller and more firmly, sharing a warmth as they parted, tips of each tongue exploring the other.

David broke the embrace and stood, offering a hand to Katherine. Her eyes met his with gladness and desire, and stood, falling into his embrace. He sank his face into her neck, lightly kissing behind her ears and along her shoulder bones. She wrapped her arms under his, taking the back of his head into her hands, guiding it as he moved from her chin to the valley between her breasts, meeting the edge of her T-shirt with his nose.

They kissed again, moving their hands down each others back, both stopping where the spine curves inward above the hips. He moved his hands onto her sides, feeling the curve where her hips began, while she clasped her hands behind him. David broke the embrace again, moving backwards as he held her arms in his hands. He grasped her hands in his, then began stepping backwards to where his bedroom was.

"I...I can't...no, I'm sorry...." she stammered as she stopped herself. David froze in place, suddenly struck with confusion which showed in his expression.

"I thought you wanted to...."

"No, I can't. I just can't. I'm so sorry; this was a mistake. I have to go now." Katherine pulled her hands out of his and grabbed her clothes and her bag from off the ground. "Katherine? Are you alright?" David asked, his expression quickly becoming one of concern.

"No, I'm...I'm fine. I just can't...." Tears began sliding down her cheeks as she reached the door. "I'm so sorry...." With that, she left.

*** Chapter Three - Reasons and Trust

"And that's when she left, right?"

"Yes. That was three days ago. She just...left." David was seated across from Dr. Cho, a therapist David had seen before. They were in his office near Central Park, with a wonderful view of the lake.

"I think that, maybe, there's a history of abuse in her past. I think; I can't be sure unless I talk to her. Its well known now that many strippers, prostitutes, porn stars and the like are victims of abuse at a young age. They're used as an object of sexual gratification by others, and soon begin to think of themselves as just that: an object. They build a life based on that. It becomes a vicious circle."

"So now what?"

"Are you trying to have a relationship with this woman? I think the best thing you can do is gain her trust. It won't be easy. She doesn't trust easily. She's been hurt, David."

David knew where to find her. The club still reeked of staleness and booze, and voices still called out to him from darkened corners. He made his way past the second stage, where the dressing rooms were. Pausing for a moment, he looked around the club once more, then stepped inside.

Katherine was sitting in front of a vanity, its mirror cracked in one corner. She was wearing a thin green dress that plunged down the front and stopped high on her thighs. She was applying lipstick when she saw him in the reflection. "You're not allowed back here." she said, still looking at his reflection.

"I slipped the doorman a fifty. He's watching us on the camera." He pointed to the security camera in the far corner. "What do you want, David?" she said, a tone of sadness in her voice.

"I never paid you. I came to drop off your check. I also wanted to see if you're alright."

"Thank you. I'm fine." she said as he placed an envelope on her vanity.

"Why don't you come back with me tonight. You can stay with me if you'd like. No strings attached. I need a good model."

"I'm doing fine here, and I have an apartment in Yonkers with one of the other girls. I'll be alright."

"Okay then. Take care of yourself." With that, he left.

David stumbled to the door, still half asleep. Ordinarily, he would have ignored the door buzzer, but he had a feeling he knew who it was. Katherine was seated on the ground, her head in her hands. He heard her soft sobs as he knelt beside her. "Katherine, what's wrong?"

"I couldn't take it. It was...it frightened me." David lifted her by her shoulders, leading her inside. Sitting on his couch, she tightened her leather jacket around her shoulders, smoothing out her green dress on her lap. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were stained with the trails of her tears.

"When I went on stage tonight, I saw all those people looking at me. I froze. Everything came back to me at once. I ran out of there as fast as I could and hitched a ride back here to the city. I thought it was happening to me all over again tonight."

"What? What was happening again?" David poured her a glass of wine, sitting next to her.

"When I was young, my father died in a car accident. A few years later, my mother married a guy named Frank. I was twelve at the time. At first, Frank was a nice guy, taking me to concerts at the arena he worked at. Then he...he began to drink more. He lost his job on my sixteenth birthday, and spent the whole day in a bar.

A few days later, he started touching me. Not blatantly at first, it was 'accidental' brushes with his hands, then it grew into 'accidentally' coming into my room while I was changing. One night I told my mother about all this, and she told me that it was all in my mind. I convinced myself that was all it was. "One night, he came home raging drunk. I woke up, and he was sitting next to my bed, just watching me. I was so scared, but I didn't move, 'cause I thought he would just leave me alone. Then he reached over and started stroking my hair.

I froze in my bed, my eyes shut tight, and I prayed to God that he stopped, but he didn't. His hand moved under my sheets, and he grabbed one of my breasts. He felt it for a while, then I heard a zipper open. His hand moved down to my belly, then he put it right in my crotch, feeling my pussy. I almost started crying when I heard him start groaning as he ran his fingers up and down my slit. He groaned louder and louder, then he put a finger in me, just a bit. He moaned, then he just stopped. He took his hand away, then left me alone.

"I stayed up all night crying. When I finally got out of bed, I stepped in a puddle of his cum. He had been masturbating as he groped me. I ran to the bathroom and threw up in the toilet when I thought of it. I had to clean up his cum from my carpet."

"That happened once a week or so, and I was so scared, I never told anyone. I thought it was my fault somehow, that maybe I was to blame. It never ended." David poured another glass of wine for her. She had started crying again, so David wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Then one night, he brought home two guys he'd met only a few minutes before at the bar. I could hear him almost yelling to them, you know, like drunks yell instead of talking. I heard him say 'A fine piece of ass' to them, and then they were in my room. He grabbed my arms and shook me, trying to wake me. He told me to get up and 'suck some cock' or else.

I tried to scream, but he just slapped me. His buddies grabbed my arms and legs and threw me back on the bed. Frank tore my nightgown off, then my panties. I cried and screamed for help, but he just slapped me again and stuffed my panties in my mouth. He climbed on top of me, kissing my face and breasts. I smelled the alcohol on his breath, and listened as his new friends just laughed at me. He pulled his pants down, then fell on top of me. He was so heavy, and I could feel him prodding around my pussy, trying to put it in.

I pleaded with him as best as I could, but he thrust into me, tearing me open. I almost passed out, but I wasn't that lucky. I felt him fucking me as his buddies held me down. He came in me a few minutes later. By then, I'd stopped trying to fight and just laid back, sobbing to myself. I hoped that he'd leave me alone, but he just moved out of the way for his buddies.

They took turns raping me, sticking it in my pussy, then my ass when they got it hard again. Five times that night I was raped, twice by my own Stepfather. They raped my pussy and my ass for two hours. By the time they were done, I couldn't even cry anymore. I just laid back, hoping it would end.

"They left as soon as they finished with me. The last thing Frank did was put his cigarette out on my shoulder." she said, lowering her jacket and dress to reveal a small circular scar on her back.

They'd probably gone back out to the bar to brag to the other drunks, I thought. I crawled out of bed to the bathroom. When I turned the lights on, I almost fainted, there was so much blood. I was bleeding so badly there was a trail from my room to the toilet. I bled for three more hours as I just bawled and tried to stop the bleeding. I hurt everywhere; my arms were bruised, my ankles and thighs were bruised, I had a black eye and a bruised cheek from them slapping me, but inside of me, it hurt the most.

I could barely walk, but when the bleeding stopped, I dressed myself and tried to leave. That's when I saw my mother in the doorway, crying as she watched me. She begged me not to go, apologizing for him, grabbing my clothes and pulling my hair. I didn't say anything to her. She'd heard the whole thing for two hours and didn't do anything. I left that night, and I haven't seen them since.

"That was a year and a half ago. I came up to New York, hoping to find a job or something, staying at different homeless shelters. I hooked up with another girl, who was a runaway too. We managed to get part time jobs together at a supermarket out in Queens, and even a tiny apartment.

It was going well until about two months ago. The police came and took her while we were sleeping. She'd been selling drugs on the side, and someone died when they OD'ed on her stuff. They dragged me away too, and I spent two days in jail. I finally got a lawyer from Legal Aid, and he managed to get me out, but she ended up doing five years. It would have been more, but she rolled on her supplier.

"I drifted on the streets again, until a few weeks ago, I was starving. I finally ended up in an audition for a commercial they were shooting in the park. I'd managed to take a shower, and I shoplifted some makeup and a few snacks from a grocery store. I didn't get the part, obviously, but some guy hanging out there said he wanted to give me another audition up in Yonkers. I thought it was for a commercial or movie, but when I took the bus out there, I saw the strip club. I didn't want to go in at first, but I convinced myself that I could just tell them 'no' and get on with it.

"What changed my mind was all the money I saw. There were three girls there, all counting lots of money out of a jar they all had labeled 'tips'. I thought that if I could make that kind of money, I'd be able to go to school, maybe make something out of myself. My first day was the day before I met you. I thought I'd be alright, but tonight...tonight, they all looked at me, like Frank and his buddies had looked at me when they held me down and raped me. I had to leave."

"Now if you don't mind, I'm tired, and I'd like to go to sleep." She fell back onto the couch and closed her eyes. David held her hands in his as she snored softly.

*** Chapter Four - Beginning Again

David awoke the next morning to find an arm draped across his chest. Next to him was Katherine, lying on top of the blankets, still in her leather jacket and green dress. He got out of bed and covered her with a sheet, then made his way to the kitchen. There on the table were two bowls filled with Cheerios, each with two slices of toast, and a note on the fridge.

Dave,

Your couch sucks for sleeping on, so I hope you didn't mind I crashed next to you. I wanted to make eggs, but I can't cook anything more than toast. and besides, you're all out. Wake me up when you get this note.

Love,

Kat.

It was an hour before she finally woke herself up. David was sitting beside her on the bed, reading the front page of the New York Times. She glanced up at him and smiled.

"I thought I told you to wake me up!" She yawned as she talked.

"I tried. You snore so loudly nothing on Earth could compete." he said, not looking up from his paper. "Bullshit!" She laughed. David heard her and finally looked at her. Her hair was a mess, and her makeup was smeared. She was beautiful, he thought. He leaned in and kissed her. She reciprocated for a moment, then pulled away.

"Hold that thought!" She said as she crawled out of bed and scampered to the bathroom.

"Anyway, Cheerios are fine. I don't eat eggs anyway."

"Why not? High cholesterol or something?" Katherine asked. "No. I'm a vegetarian." David said, scooping another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. They were eating breakfast now that Katherine had showered. She was wearing a pair of running shorts that were two sizes too big and a sweatshirt, both borrowed from David.

"Really? What about the Chinese food?"

"All soy. No MSG either. Just veggie goodness."

"What about the milk? What's on my Cheerios?"

"Soy milk. It's good for you, drink up."

"Whaddaya know? I guess that means I'll have to do all the shopping if I'm going to stay here. You don't mind, do you?" she asked, her eyes pleading with him.

"No, I hate shopping. You can shop all you want."

"No, silly! I meant do you mind if I stay here?" "I'd like that. I really would." David said, meeting her gaze.

They spent the day shopping for clothes, a few CDs Katherine swore she absolutely had to have, and during lunch, they sat in Central Park, watching a performance of "Hamlet" given by an acting troupe David had worked with before.

On the way back to the apartment, David stopped at a large brick building in Greenwich Village.

"Where are we?" Katherine asked.

"This is an art house run by a friend of mine. Come on in, and I'll show you a few of my pictures."

Inside were a few well-dressed people wandering about looking at photographs hanging on the wall. When David entered the lobby, scattered applause broke out. A few people came forward to offer handshakes or kisses on the cheeks.

"Fans of yours?" Katherine whispered in his ear. "You could say that. My exhibition is upstairs. I'll show it to you." She followed him up the large staircase to a whitewashed room, with studio lights on all four walls illuminating different photos. there were photos of people underwater, of busy streets and country roads together and of a few celebrities in various poses. Katherine stared at a few photos of different sculptures, including the one she saw at his apartment, with the winged man embracing the reclining woman.

"'Eros and Psyche'. You probably saw it at the apartment. Its from a series I did of sculptures at the Louvre in Paris. this sculpture is of Eros, the god of love, who revives Psyche, who was put to sleep eternally while trying to win him back. I think the idea of this is that love overcomes. Eros and Psyche were great lovers, but they were tricked into being separated. Psyche literally went through hell to get back to Eros, but in the end, she died trying. Zeus took pity on her, and now she and Eros are together eternally, never to part."

"And this space here, what's going there?" She pointed out a space on the wall with no pictures.

"That's where you'll be in a few days."

Back in the studio, David sat on the couch, holding

Katherine's hands as she reclined across his lap. They watched as raindrops fell on the window they stared out of, leaving streaked shadows behind them. A ding snapped them back into reality as the egg timer on top of the television chimed.

"Ready?" David asked. Katherine nodded.

They made their way through the studio to the darkroom, where many photos were drip-drying. David grabbed a few of the driest ones, then brought them back into the front room, hanging them on the wire there.

"What do you think?" He asked. Katherine looked them over, studying herself in each pose. She moved from photo to photo, wringing her hands as she made her way across the room. "They're beautiful, but...." she trailed off.

"But, you don't like them."

"No! It's not that...."

"No, I understand. At least I think I do. You've come so far in just a few days, right? I think you're beginning to feel a little self-conscious again. It's alright, darling. I understand." "I mean, I know it's different. It's not dancing in front of a bunch of weirdo's, but I feel so exposed. I don't know if I'm ready for that anymore."

"I know, darling. I know...." He took down each of the photos, one by one, bringing them into the bedroom. Kneeling in front of the fireplace, he placed the stack of photos inside, then lit a fire. They both watched as the photos burned slowly, their corners curling inwards as the heat blackened the paper.

She was on the bed now, curled up nearest to the fire, watching the rain through the picture window. He was lying across from her, his head by hers, watching her watch the rain. She stared at him for a moment, then spoke.

"I'll never know how to thank you. Ever. You've done so much for me."

"It's alright. I think I could get used to having someone here with me. I'm especially glad it's you, Kat." He kissed her on the forehead, stroking her cheek with his hand. She sighed contentedly, closing her eyes and moved into his embrace. She pressed her lips into his, wrapping her arms around his neck. He kissed her again, running his fingers through her hair, stroking her neck behind her ears.

She sat up in the bed, lifting the sweatshirt above her head, then kicked off her shorts. Sitting in her bra and panties, she leaned over David, unbuttoning his pajama top. He slipped out of it as he sat up to face her, their eyes meeting as their lips found each other again. Katherine reached behind his back, helping him to remove his bottoms. Their arms wrapped around each other, each kissing the other lustfully, arms and hands roaming along the others' body.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" David asked her. She paused for a moment, shocked by the question.

"No...." she said, her head bowing. She started sniffling again, a tear falling onto the satin sheets.

"It's alright, darling. Not until you think you're ready." David said, cradling her in his arms. He pulled her down to the bed, holding her as she wept into his shoulder. She cried for a few more minutes, then rolled over to face the fire again. She inched back towards him, feeling the heat from his body against her back and legs. She let out a deep sigh.

"Thank you," she said.

Jake's wedding had gone spectacularly, due mostly in part to David allowing them to use his house for the ceremony and reception. A three story Tudor style home on a large plot of land in a rural community, it was decked out in floral arrangements and silk ribbons streaming from crossbeam to crossbeam. Katherine had accompanied David, and was especially amused when Jake asked if they'd met before. "Probably. Ever go grocery shopping in Queens?" she asked, jokingly.

David was wandering about with his camera, taking pictures of guests and family members. Katherine flittered about, studying the home she was moving into that night. She'd grown fond of the apartment, but now that she'd seen the house, she was in love. The rustic charm reminded her of a cabin her father had taken her to when she was young. The hallways alone were almost as wide as that whole cabin had been, she thought. Upstairs, there were six bedrooms, three on each floor. The master bedroom on the third floor was bigger than her old apartment, and the bathtubs looked as if they could hold four people easily.

As she came downstairs, she saw David standing near the bottom, watching her. He motioned for her to stop, and held up the camera as if asking if he could take her picture. She smiled and leaned against the railing. The flash went off, illuminating her black, knee length dress, made of a shimmering silk. "How does a photographer that doesn't work 8 months of the year afford a house like this?" she asked sarcastically, slipping her arm under his.

"Inheritance. This house is about one hundred years old or so. My father's father was born up in the bedroom I sleep in. I come from a long line of stock market geniuses."

"And I suppose you're making a killing?"

"No, that gene skipped me, but my twin brother runs the family investment house. His house is bigger. I think you could fit this building in the foyer of his house." he said. As they entered the main room, a slow, jazzy tune began playing.

"Shall we dance?" David asked, bowing to her.

"We shall," she said.

He took her by the hand to the open floor, where a few couples were already dancing. He put his arm around his waist, holding the other close to him. They moved about the floor, never taking their eyes off the others'. The song continued as David pulled her just a bit closer to him, their bodies pressed up against each other, almost nose to nose. As the song ended, he kissed her gently, squeezing her hand lightly.

"I love you," he said, gazing into her eyes.

"I love you too, David," she said, tears welling up.

*** Chapter Five - A New Home

It was late in the evening, after the party had gone and everything had been cleaned up, when David and Katherine finally brought their luggage in. A butler brought the bags upstairs as the two made their way to the dining room. A cook prepared a meal for them; chicken breasts with alfredo for her, a salad and pasta dish for him.

"I suppose you have a maid too?" she asked as she drank her wine.

"Only on the weekends. She's a sweet old lady named Maria who moved here from Mexico. She's got three kids in college, and another who's a doctor in San Diego. My brother invested a lot of her money when she first started here. We were kids then, and already he was making her tens of thousands of dollars a year. Me, I took her picture all the time. I guess we were early bloomers." Katherine laughed at the thought of a young David with a tiny camera chasing a maid around the house.

After dinner, David dismissed the staff, then started unpacking while Katherine drew a bath. Grabbing a bottle of wine and two glasses, he knocked on the bathroom door, then stepped in. Katherine was seated on the edge of the tub, dangling her feet in, totally nude.

"I'm glad you came in. I'm afraid I'll drown in this thing." she said as she lowered herself in. David sat on the edge, handing her a glass of wine.

"It'd be a first, I think." He grabbed a bottle from a cabinet, and poured a scented liquid into the water. Jasmine and lilac filled the room as he took out a bottle of shampoo. David stood behind her, wetting his hands in the tub, then poured out a small amount of the shampoo in his hands. Delicately, he worked his fingers through her hair, around her scalp and behind her ears, almost tickling her sensitive spots. She let her head fall into his hands, closing her eyes as he lathered her hair. Scooping handfuls of water from the tub, he rinsed her hair, then let a little trickle over her face and neck.

He took a cloth next, wetting it and soaping it as he lowered himself into the tub, facing her. He took her hand, lifting her arm from the water. He started with her soft hands, massaging the soap into her fingers and palm, then slowly led the cloth up her arm, passing her elbows and shoulder. He released her hand and took the other, repeating the process.

Next were her feet and legs. He started high on her thigh, moving the cloth down the toes over her shins and around her foot, then caressed her calves and thighs once more. Kneeling in front of her now, he reached around her with both arms, pulling her into his chest. He could feel her breasts pressing into him, her belly barely touching the fabric of his now soaked shirt.

He lathered her shoulders and back, making tiny circles downward until he reached the small of her back. He set her down, starting between her breasts, then over the tautness of her stomach, stopping just below the navel. He let the cloth fall into the tub, then, soaping up his own hands, he began tracing his fingertips along the curves of each breast, gently brushing against her erect nipples. He traced his fingers along the underside of her breast, then back to the breastbone. He lowered his head, kissing her on the forehead. He descended past her nose, placing a longer kiss on the tip, then pressed against her lips.

He paused there for a moment, tasting her young breath in his mouth as his tongue met hers again. He resumed his journey, sucking and nibbling her chin lightly, then under her jaw line, and her neck where it met the shoulders. Going further, he nuzzled his nose into her breastbone as he kissed the side of each breast, then began moving his hand lower under the water. He took one nipple in to his mouth, twirling about it with the tip of his tongue. His fingers found their mark as he did this, causing her to jump a bit and gasp.

"Please," she said.

He kissed her lips again, his fingers moving up and down along her spreading folds. He began gently rubbing her clit with his thumb as he pushed his middle finger into her, kissing her over the face and neck. He'd discovered a few particularly sensitive spots behind her ears, which he kissed with all the passion he could muster. Deeper inside her, he began moving in and out, still stimulating her with his thumb.

Her breaths came quicker now, and he could feel the pounding of her heart through his own chest and lips. He slowly pressed his index finger into her now; she responded by moaning into his ear as she kissed him back. Her back was arched now as he sped up his thrusting. She was almost panting now.

He kissed her lips, hard, his tongue frantically burrowing into her mouth. She rocked her hips back and forth, moving to the pace of his fingers inside her. She wrapped her arms around his torso, her legs already entwined with his. She began to shake as David sped his fingers up once more.

She'd closed her eyes and was writhing and squirming from his touch. Her panting gave way to moaning, Her back arched itself almost painfully, and her legs were stretched so far she could feel the opposite wall of the tub. He pressed a third finger into her, sending her over the edge.

Her eyes flew open, she gasped for breath between moans, and David felt the trembling of her body around his fingers. She remained like this for about ten seconds, then came back to Earth slowly. She stared at him now, still trying to catch her breath. He kissed her gently once more, lifting her out of the tub into his arms. He brought her into the master bedroom, laying her on the large bed in the center.

He unbuttoned his dress shirt, then his pants. He slid into the bed next to her, both naked bodies reaching out for the other. He wrapped his arms around her, rolling over so she was on top of him. She began sliding her hips back and forth along his stomach, her hands squared on his chest.

She moved further and further back, feeling him pressing against her. Lowering her body until they were face to face, she kissed him and pressed back onto him. She gasped as he entered her for the first time, slowly sliding back until he was entirely inside her. He began rocking his hips up and down, pushing in and pulling out of her as they wrapped their arms around the other. She leaned her body to the side, rolling him on top of her. He began thrusting harder, their eyes locked as they shared passionate kisses and nibbles.

He could feel the tension building, the warmth of her body as she approached another climax. Her legs were around his thighs now, pulling him in tightly to her. She met his thrusts as they intensified; he was swelling inside her and it felt wonderful. "Please...inside...me..." she gasped, feeling her body shiver as another orgasm jolted her. He gave one final thrust, spending himself deep inside of her.

*** Epilogue - Six Months Later

"Investment banker."

"No, that's my brother. How about football player?" David asked her.

She was sitting in his lap on the porch behind the house, overlooking the snow covered fields and woods. His hands were around her waist, holding hers, resting on her now swollen belly. "What if its a girl?"

"Cheerleader then."

"How about another photographer in the family?" Katherine felt the platinum band around her finger, reminded of the reception two months ago.

"No, they're too temperamental. That, and I don't like being upstaged."

"Art critic?"

"No!" David grabbed her tightly, lifting her to her feet.

They kissed, laughing, then headed inside as snowflakes began to fall. They were in the bedroom, making love to each other. A fire was burning steadily, casting a reddish light about the room. As David lowered himself onto her, she watched their shadow on the wall. Her hands slowly slipped over his sides, resting on his shoulder blades. She spread her fingers, the shadows stretched by the distance, until they formed long, thin extensions of his body. Like wings, she thought, like an angel's wings.

The End