Everybody loves a party! There's dancing, laughing, drinking and relaxing with friends. And sometimes you get entertainment you weren't expecting.

PART ONE

Stepping past him, Siren headed toward the living room and saw Trevor standing with his back turned away from her door. Clearing her throat, she saw him turn to see her. Under his gaze, she smiled lightly, but seeing the look on his face, her smile quickly vanished. “Too much, huh? Just give me a minute and I’ll change.” She turned lightly to go back to her room a bit disappointed but his voice alone stopped her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

       After showering and shaving and knowing how Allen’s Friday night parties were, Trevor dressed accordingly in dark gray slacks and a lightweight blue v-neck sweater. Pulling the sweater over his head, he glanced at himself in the mirror and almost instantly it was last Christmas morning. Even now he could hear his mother correcting him with a patient sigh… even while her eyes (the same aquamarine-blue as his) twinkled, saying, "It's not just blue, Trevor. It's dark periwinkle blue." In spite of his mood, the memory lightened it for a moment and he smiled at his reflection.

‘Well, whatever color it is, all I know is that it's been a hit with every girl who's ever seen me wear it.’

Putting on a touch of English Leather cologne, a thought slipped across his mind… ‘Maybe you're trying to score a hit with…’, but he dismissed it as fast as it came to him. Finding a pair of shoes in his closet, he put them on, and returned to Xavier's quarters.

A couple of girls he had dated previously came up to him while he waited for the elevator and he made polite small talk with them till the elevator doors opened. He couldn’t help returning Kayla's smile when he saw her wink as she said, almost in unison with Maria, "I'll be at the party tonight, Trev. Save a dance for me." But as soon as the doors closed in front of him, he let the smile slip away.

Xavier opened the door when he knocked and stepped back to let Trevor enter, nodding when Xavier said that he’d let Siren know that he was back. When he came back a moment later, Trevor also heard a lighter step and turned toward the hall to see Siren, the smile on her lips reflected in her eyes.

The way the skirt of her dress flowed and swirled softly around her hips and legs made him think silk, and the color set off her dark auburn hair. ‘You told her you like it best when she wore it down…’ Again Trevor brushed the distracting thought aside. But in that same moment, Trevor couldn’t stop his eyes from scanning her from head to toe… very much liking what he saw even as he saw her smile fade and she said, “Too much, huh? Just give me a minute and I’ll change.”

"It's fine," Trevor said quietly, unable to keep a certain quality from his voice, and watched her stop and turn back to him. "You look… very nice." Then, knowing that Xavier was probably memorizing every word and look between the two of them, Trevor put on a smile. "We better get going," he said then opened the door, waiting for her. As she stepped past him, he looked back to Xavier. “We’ll be back by midnight,” then followed Siren out, closing the door behind him.

It was a quiet, nearly silent trip as they headed for Allen's quarters. Trevor responded to Siren's attempts at light banter as they walked. He didn’t snap or growl at her, but it was also not the lighthearted mood and tone that she was hoping or trying for.

Once at Allen’s door, all it took was one knock and the door opened to reveal their host dressed similar to Trevor and wearing a grin. If the tall logistics technician didn’t know better, he would have sworn that Allen had been watching for them. Before he could even get two steps inside the door, Allen had already turned on the charm at a hundred and thirty percent as he whisked Siren off to introduce her to the crowd.

Deciding against the beer that Allen always got for these parties, Trevor wandered off into the kitchen and raided Allen’s small fridge, snagging the last bottle of his favorite imported beer. Popping the top, he took a long swallow of the cold, smooth brew. Then, leaning against the counter in the tiny kitchenette, he nursed the beer and watched the festivities all ready going at full blast. Taking another swallow of beer, he idly wondered where Siren was.

Siren tried to be lighthearted as Allen swept her off guard as he wrapped his arm around her and started to take her around the room telling her, “You have to meet the group.” Glancing back to Trevor, Siren saw him glancing around the room then disappear.

Allen noticed the look back toward Trevor and he quickly tried to calm her fears. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “He’s probably looking around for her.”

When Siren nodded, Allen couldn’t help but grin a bit more as he began to introduce her to the group – one by one. Once he had made it around the room, he kept his hand on the small of her back and turned toward her. “Okay, now… are you ready for the pop quiz of everyone’s names?”

Siren opened her mouth with shock at his words and then giggled seeing the laughter in his eyes. “Oh… sure… now when I call someone by their wrong name, it’s going to be your fault,” she said lightly. Glancing around the milling people in the room, she looked for Trevor once again but still didn’t see him. Looking back at Allen, she asked, “So, what do you guys do at this party anyway?”

Allen knew that he had to try a bit harder as he saw her look around the room. Even though he had told her that Trevor had a girlfriend when he actually didn’t, she was still interested in him. “Well, we have some drinks, laughs… we dance, mingle and just relax. Sometimes we watch a movie, but tonight, we’re just mingling and dancing and relaxing. Speaking of which, are you thirsty? What would you care to drink, Siren?” he asked as he started to glide her toward the bar that held all the drinks. Luckily, he had acquired a bartender for the evening and any drink that anyone wanted was available.

"To drink?" Siren saw the bar that Allen was taking her over to and she lightly shook her head. "I... I don't want any alcohol, Allen. I don't drink."

"You don't or you won't?" Allen asked as he looked at her with a smile. Slowly though, he turned so that he was standing in front of her. Laying his hands on her shoulders, he leaned toward her. He could smell her cologne and it smelled so good, he’d love to just hold onto her for the rest of the night. Softly, so only she could hear it, Allen said, as he gazed intently into her eyes. “Siren, dear, this is a party. A time to celebrate, and relax with the people you work with. Don’t be a party pooper. Just one drink. Something simple. Please, for me?” Allen used his best look – the puppy dog. It always worked on every female, except for his mom.

Looking at Allen and seeing the look on his face, Siren considered his words then looked around at the people scattered around the room and found Trevor talking with a couple of girls, one of which was draped around him. Turning back to him, she said, “I guess one won’t hurt.”

Allen smiled at her and lightly placed a kiss on her cheek then turned around to the bartender.

Siren slightly turned back toward where she had seen Trevor and saw the young woman that was still draped over him, kiss him lightly on the lips. Nodding, she said again, “One won’t hurt.”

Hearing her say once more that one wouldn’t hurt; Allen licked his lips as he looked at the man standing behind the table. “Sex on the Beach for me… and a Long Island Iced Tea for the lady, please.” Allen watched as the bartender made the drinks then very carefully turned and handed Siren her drink. When she looked down at the drink and asked what it was, he told her plainly, “Long Island Iced Tea. You’ll like it. Honest.”

Siren took a small sip of the tea and was pleasantly surprised. Taking another sip, she let Allen continue to maneuver her around the room. Every few minutes though, Siren found herself searching Trevor out in the crowd and seeing his girlfriend constantly draped over him.

Trevor’s hideaway had soon been found out and in spite of his protests that, “I’m not good company tonight,” to Kayla of the waist length blonde hair and blue eyes; he lost the battle of wills. Not that he was unsociable enough to argue with her, but he could not let those eyes weep.

Once out in the room, Kayla got him over to the ‘band’, also known as Allen’s "super deluxe" CD/stereo surround sound system and, before he could turn around, several friends and their dates joined them. In spite of himself, in a little while his mood had lifted considerably, even to the point that he had started picking and teasing at Kayla, Maria, Susan and even shy Daphne with her beautiful dark brown 'doe' eyes. It wasn’t until one of the guys nudged him and nodded his head that he followed the nod and saw Siren sitting on the couch. Trevor knew the guy she was talking to...he was safe enough. Seeing her so animated with him struck a note in him, so when Maria started in on him, he slid his arms around her and held her, casually and bickered and teased with her.

Siren sat on the couch a few minutes after being led around by Allen and began talking with David McMillian about what he did at work and started laughing at a joke he had just told. She had almost finished her drink and was in the process of actually craving another. Looking up, Siren saw Trevor looking at her, but she quickly looked away from him.

When she drained the last of her drink, she looked up to see Allen standing before her. She smiled and suddenly began to feel the warmth that began to flow from the center of her body and out toward her limbs. Placing her hand on her chest, she swallowed and gasped. When he knelt down beside her, she felt giddy and lightly giggled at his look.

Allen could see it in her eyes and by the way that she was lightly giggling that the alcohol was starting to kick into her system. “May I propose something to you, Siren?”

Laughing at his question, Siren licked her lips and looked at him with her head tilted slightly. “I hope that you’re not proposing anything outlandish, now… are you?” she asked silkily.

Allen was about to say something very seductive to her when Jacob Denny passed by him and bumped into his back causing him to fall into her lap – as well as the drink that he had - all over her dress. Siren yelped at the coldness that had been flung at her then almost in the same instant, began to laugh lightly at the situation. Allen did his best to stand back up and look at her apologetically when he saw that her dress was soaked from her chest to her waist. “Oh… Siren… I’m so sorry.”

“I… I guess I better go change so it won’t soil,” she said softly as she sat and swiped at the liquid on her dress. She was about to say something else when a shadow dropped over Allen. She looked up and saw Trevor standing beside him.

The way that she swayed slightly and giggled when he had to catch her to keep her from tumbling back onto the couch, Trevor looked just past her to Allen, giving him a narrow-eyed stare.

“What have you been drinking?” he asked her quietly. When he heard “Tea,” the look he turned on Allen would have fried granite to a crisp. But for Siren’s sake and to not spoil the evening for her any more than this accident might have, he stepped around to put himself between her and Allen then asked, “Oh, is that you’re ‘usual’?” Her negative answer knocked Allen down another notch on Trevor’s list.

And his friend putting on that puppy dog look... Trevor saw in a glance that Allen remembered the second he did it; remembered that his best buddy recognized the ploy. But to his surprise, Siren wasn't all that eager to leave the party, the point made quite plainly when she went along with Allen when he said that she could put on a robe or something of his until her dress dried.

‘If there weren't so many witnesses...including Lothos,’ Trevor thought as he watched his best friend leading a very tipsy Siren into his bedroom, ‘I’d punch his lights out and carry her back to Xavier, kicking and screaming if necessary.’ But for now, all he could do was watch and wonder what the hell Allen had up his sleeve.

Siren smiled up at Allen as he apologized again and how he was going to kick someone's butt because of it. Siren let him lead her into his bedroom. He took her over to the bed and let her sit down while he went to his closet to look for something for her to wear.

"No robe. I'd feel to....ahm..." Siren began.

"Understood," Allen said as he glanced at his closet and pulled out a white short-sleeved button up shirt. "How's this for a start?"

Tilting her head to the side and placing her index finger on her lips she asked with a grin, "Ya got anything in light blue?" Seeing the look on Allen's face - the roll of his eyes and how he tossed the shirt at her, she laughed lightly. "Thank you. But… ahm… what about bottoms?"

Allen thought about where all of his clothes were and he bit his bottom lip. They were all dirty… at least all his shorts were. "Ah… well…. the only thing that I have here that you could wear are boxer shorts and well… they…"

When she heard Allen mention boxer's shorts, Siren knew that at least it was something to cover up with, so she said as she shrug her shoulder, “Well, they'll do then. Do you mind?"

Smiling at her, Allen said, "Nope." Going over to his dresser, he pulled open the drawer and looked down and rubbed his forehead embarrassed. The only boxers that were clean were the ones that he wore only when he had to, and he rubbed his forehead embarrassed. "Ah… you have a choice here, Siren. You can wear the ones with the red hearts that glow in the dark or the ones with the smiley face on them." Allen hung his head knowing that he was about to get it and when he turned around, he couldn't have been more right.

As Allen began to go through his dresser, Siren began to undress. Sliding off her shoes, she unclasped the small hook from under her hair and pulled the dress off her body. Standing there only in her bra and underwear, she turned to pick up the shirt that Allen had thrown at her. As she slid her arm into one of the sleeves, she looked up to see that Allen had turned around and was staring openly at her. Grinning, she told him as she put her arm in the other sleeve, “The heart ones will be fine, I suppose.”

Upon seeing the auburn haired beauty almost naked in his bedroom was enough to do it for Allen. Only glancing down to grab the shorts, Allen made his way over to her and gazed intently into her eyes as he handed her the shorts. "You are really exquisite, Siren."

When he saw her duck her head and blush, he stepped forward and raised his hand to her chin. Raising her face to where he could look into her eyes once more, he lightly brushed his fingers against her cheek with his right hand, and then ran his left hand between the still open shirt and ran his hand back along her side. She hadn’t stopped him, so he moved a tad closer to her and asked, “May I kiss you?” he asked huskily, the desire already in his eyes. Seeing her nod to his question, he kissed her softly then more intensely savoring the taste of her tongue.

Breaking the kiss, he looked at her, letting her see the look in his eyes, then turned around to try to calm myself. He had to go back outside to host his party… and he didn't need some overload like this to disrupt it. "Get dressed, Cute, we have a party to attend to."

"Cute?"

“Yeah. I call all the girl's Cute. It's like a nickname from me to you."

Siren dressed rather quickly and then walked over to the mirror to look at her reflection. She looked ridiculous. “Oh Allen, I can’t go out there like this,” she told him.

“Sure you can. You’re wearing one of my favorite outfits,” he grinned at her. “And…well… if you want to have another tea, you can.” He wanted to go back out there and dance with this beauty in front of Trevor and show him just what he was really missing.

Hearing him mention another tea, Siren nodded to him. “I’d like another one, or maybe just some coke. But… I… oh boy!” she said as she stared at the outfit and swayed lightly as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Allen saw her sway and immediately went to her and took her into his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.

“Yes, let’s go back outside.”

Allen nodded in agreement. Opening the door, everyone in the room eventually looked at them, grinned, and then glanced back away. As he turned to Siren, he saw that her face was beet red.

Allen started to walk her back toward the couch, but when she instead turned and headed toward the bartender, Allen went along with her.

“Another tea,” Siren said as she looked at the bartender with a grin. Once she had the concoction in her hand, she turned back around as she sipped at it to see Allen watching her. “What?” she asked as she even took another sip of it and enjoyed the taste of it as it slid down her throat.

"Would you care to dance?" Allen asked softly as he took the tea from her and sat it on the table. "Come on, dance with me."

Siren looked around the room and saw the few people dancing and leaned toward him as he took her to an open part of the room. “Allen, I don’t… I don’t know how to dance. At all. None.” She moved her thumb across her neck. “I’ll fall on my butt out here.”

Grinning at her, he told her, “No… no you won’t Cute.”

Walking her out to the area that he had cleared specifically for dancing, he glanced around and saw Trevor standing beside Kayla and Maria again...and looking at him and Siren...and glaring at him. Getting behind Siren, Allen moved her hair toward her left shoulder and then slowly stood against her and deliberately put his chin on her shoulder. So it was that when she turned her head toward him their mouths were only a few inches apart, as he softly instructed her. "I'm going to put my hands on your hips, and you cross your arms and put your hands on mine. We're just going to do a basic sway, okay?"

Siren couldn't help but grin at Allen as he told her what he was going to do and what she should do also. As another song on the player came on, a slow song, Allen's hands found their way to her hips and, doing as he had told her, the couple began slowly swaying to the song. She found herself getting lost in Allen's embrace as his hands slowly slipped up from her hips to curl around her, his hands now rested lightly just below her breasts as he softly sang the song in her ear. Halfway through the song, she moved her hand from his to run it lightly against his cheek as she turned her head to look at him. She smiled at him right before he kissed her sweetly. Blushing, she moved her hand back to his and without warning, Allen twirled Siren out away from his body only to pull her back against him to finish out the song facing each other. The song ended but another slow song began and they continued on.

It was then that suddenly Allen stepped back away from Siren and handed her over to David - the guy that she had been talking to earlier. Smiling at David then back to Allen, she nodded to David and began dancing with him.

When the second song came on, Allen continued to dance with Siren, loving how sweet she smelled, and finding himself wanting the woman before him as she pressed so intimately against him and in his clothes, no less. But when he felt someone tapping on his shoulder… 'That's got to be Trevor horning in'... Allen was surprised when he turned to see David Faulkner. Handing Siren over to him, Allen meandered back over to his drink and watching her. Glancing around the room, he saw that he wasn't the only one -- more than a handful of guys were looking at Siren. But as he took a drink, he felt someone clap their hand onto his right shoulder... hard. He already knew who it was - Trevor. Turning his head toward him, Allen asked, "Having a good time, Trev?"

Kayla glanced in the direction that Trevor was looking and saw the woman that he came with - Siren - dancing provocatively with Allen. Nodding over to them she commented, "Looks like their lovers - almost. Allen only dances with someone like that when he wants them. I remember him trying that move on me. But... isn't she with you, Trev?"

PART TWO

It was heading for ten minutes when Trevor finally noticed Allen's bedroom door open. The irritation he had felt about what might have been happening behind that door was nothing compared to what started to simmer when he saw Siren wearing one of his best friend’s shirts and those damned 'glow-in-the-dark' valentine shorts that Cissy Maxwell had given him two years ago. Trevor had it on good authority...from Allen... that there were at least a half dozen girls who had worn those particular shorts in the past two years…usually the morning after. But Siren didn’t appear to be terribly upset and even headed for the bar... almost in a straight line. So, swallowing what little of his temper that he could, Trevor turned away, giving his attention to Maria. Seeing her eyes light up when a certain slow 'golden oldie' came on, he just grinned and let her pull him onto the dance floor. Taking her in his arms, he had to smile when she snuggled against him. "Comfy?" Trevor teased her softly as they moved to the slow, sensual rhythm.

As far as Maria was concerned it had been too damned long since she had been able to get Trevor Conroy within 'tummy rubbing' distance, so when "Ebb Tide" came on.... in spite of a bunch of the guys groaning and moaning about it... she grabbed her chance... and Trevor's hand... and wheedled him onto the dance area Allen had cleared for just this purpose on Friday nights.

Sliding into Trevor's arms, and putting hers around him, she sighed and laid her head on his chest and basically melted against him. To his question she nodded, her cheek rubbing lightly against his sweater.

"Umm, hmmm," she sighed. "It's been too long, Trev," she said softly, hoping. But he didn't say anything else for the rest of the song. It was a small consolation when he gave her a little squeeze before walking Maria back to the others. Sighing, she returned to Greg Henderson's side. Seeing the look on his face, she shook her head slightly. "Down boy," she told him regretfully. "Nothing happened...." she cast a wishful glance at Trevor who had just been cornered by Kayla. "...and it probably won't anytime in the next hundred years."

There was no way that Trevor could miss seeing Kayla Drysden of the long blonde hair and blue eyes waiting for him. ‘With this sweater on I'm starting to feel like the blue ribbon at a county fair! Every girl is eyeing me!’ he thought.

But when Kayla said, "Looks like they’re lovers -- almost. Allen only dances with someone like that when he wants them. I remember him trying that move on me. But... isn't she with you, Trev?" Trevor turned around and felt his temper head for the boiling point.

"Excuse me," he murmured with a quiet intensity that wasn't lost on any of them, then made his way amongst the couples. Seeing Siren... obviously drunk... in "Octopus" Faulkner's arms, and Allen standing on the side watching, a certain little grin on his lips... Trevor figured it was time he and Allen got something straight.

Coming up behind him, Trevor clapped his hand on his friend’s shoulder and squeezed... hard. When he gasped and turned around he told him, "In the kitchen or the hall. Or maybe you'd like to talk in the infirmary?" he hissed under his breath. "You choose. Now!"

Hearing the hiss and having the tight squeeze on my shoulder, Allen took another long swig of the rum and coke that he in his hand and said, "Ahm... I guess... well... I know that this can't be a hard answer. So... how about somewhere even more private, Trev...how about the bedroom?" He quickly downed the rest of the drink and rubbed his shoulder when Trevor released his grip on it.

Shooting a glance toward the dance floor to see Anthony Griggins now dancing with Siren, Allen shook his head as he headed toward the bedroom. The only thing that still remained on his mind when he entered the room was how Siren had felt in his arms just a little bit ago.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked when Trevor came into the room, shutting the door behind him.

"How about how you're getting Siren drunk with certain bare-faced intentions as the 'prize' later... after everyone else has left?" he snapped at him.

Allen opened and closed then opened his mouth in shock. "How could you think such a thing, Trevor? Why should I even try such a thing when I know that she wants to be with you?" he asked, giving him an innocent look. "Where are you getting your information, pal? Whoever it is... they’re wrong."

Walking across the small room, it didn’t take much to get Allen backed up against his closet door. Getting up in his face, Trevor made sure that he understood every single word he was saying.

"Wipe that innocent look off, buddy boy or I'll do it for you," he warned him plainly. "As for where I got my information... years of close observation of you in action. I've seen all your moves, Allen. But I've got to say it's a damned stinking thing to do to Siren. I heard her tell you that she doesn't drink," he went on, taking a handful of Allen’s shirt collar and pulling him close. "And in less than an hour she's had not one, but two Long Island Teas!"

Pushing him away with a warning glare, Trevor pointed a finger at the end of Allen’s nose. "Try anything, Allen..." he dropped his tone about forty degrees. "Anything at all, and I'll see you in the infirmary... or correction. Maybe both."

Straightening his shirt from the grasp that the other man had on it, Allen looked back up at him. "Sounds like someone is jealous. But... why would you be jealous, Trev?" he asked as, watching as the finger that had been pointing at him, drop. "I mean... hell... I'm sure that something has happened between the two of you... what... I'm not sure... but... what happens if it's Siren that starts something with me and not you? What then? Huh? Going to go on one of your rampant high horses again when she blows you off for someone better?" Allen started walking toward him, backing up the slightly taller man, seeing the look in his eye changing at his words. "Oh...so you aren't so sure of yourself now, are you buddy?"

Allen, somewhat irked at Trevor’s attitude, took a few more steps toward him. "Oh.. and the drinks... yeah... I persuaded her to have one drink... one. And she said that she wanted something sweet. So... yeah... I got her a drink. Big whoop. The second one... that was her idea. Not mine. So... back off!"

"Jealous?" Trevor echoed Allen's snide suggestion. "Of what? Making points with the boss by getting up her skirt isn't my style. However," he continued, meeting Allen's gaze squarely. "I can think of a couple of promotions that came your way...." he let the sentence trail off. Seeing the red come up in the other man’s face told him that he had just scored a bull's-eye.

"As for the drinks, you're not wiggling out on that one," Trevor added, letting Allen back him up; it didn't intimidate him. "You knew she can't handle it, and you didn't try too damned hard to convince her otherwise, now did you?" It had been a while... years...since he and Allen had rumbled, but it was getting damned close to a session now. He added one other thought.

"Trust me, pal," Trevor told him softly. "I've met her father." He gave Allen the smile that his friend had told him since they were kids, that made his skin crawl. "Trust me, you do NOT want to even think about getting on his wrong side. He'll turn you inside out and never break a sweat. What's more, he'll enjoy every second of it, too."

Allen glared at Trevor feeling the anger that was bubbling close to the surface, and, he took another step toward him. "You know Trevor, it seems to me that you just have an imagination that just won't quit. And... I can take care of myself." He clapped a hand on Trevor’s chest and turned away from him and headed toward the door. Putting his hand on the door, Allen turned back to him. "You do understand ... I have a party to throw... and if you don't like what goes on while at this party... leave."

Opening the door, he stomped out into the room then stopped suddenly when he saw Siren dancing with another person. Heading over toward her, Allen tapped her on the shoulder, catching her as she twirled around, literally falling into his arms. "Siren... can we talk for a minute?" he asked.

When she looked up at him with a seductive smile on her face, Allen couldn’t help but growl lowly at her. Not caring about anyone in the room, especially Trevor, he moved his hands up to cup her face and give her a passionate kiss. But when he heard her whisper, "Oh... Trevor..." on his lips, he cringed.

Trevor had to turn around not to laugh when he heard what Siren whispered to Allen when he grabbed her from Ted Smith's arms. It was sweet revenge, but only because it deflated his cocky friend like a pin in a balloon.

When Siren felt the tap on her shoulder, she quickly turned around and lost her balance and fell into someone's arms. Her vision was a little blurred now that she’d finished her second drink, as well as having danced with several different guys, all of them twirling her around adding to the problem. But when the person that caught her, cupped her face, and kissed her, running his tongue over hers so familiarly, Siren couldn’t help her thoughts. "Oh… Trevor," she whispered against the lips that were so close to hers.

As she was straightened up, Siren got her bearings again and turned to see Allen standing there -- looking like he's been punched in the stomach with a broom handle. Blinking, she turned to see Trevor standing behind him, just turning around trying to hide his smile. Giving both of them a glare that would light a match, she turned around and grabbed Ted Smith's hand and marched to the other side of the room -- right back over to the bar.

Looking at the man, she told him, "I want something but... I don't know any names of drinks." Turning to Ted, she demanded, "Name something sweet and strong."

Ted suggested the first thing that came to mind, "A Camikazi."

"Bartender, one Camikazi, please." Siren watched the man behind the bar make the drink then hand her the glass. Putting it up to her lips, she took a drink of it then turned back to Ted. "Would you care to dance again, Ted?"

He smiled at her warmly. He wasn’t exactly sure why this lovely woman chose him over the other two, but he was darned sure not going to ask. No, he was just going to enjoy it while it lasted. "Sure." Ted held out his hand and walked her back over to the dance area - far away from the two she wanted to get away from. Sure, Ted knew that he was her “escape-goat” but hell... he didn’t mind one damn bit.

Taking her back into his arms, Ted liked the way she snuggled against him, her head resting lightly on her hand, which was on his shoulder, her breath tantalizingly soft and warm on his neck. He couldn’t help but hold her a bit closer, glancing over at Allen and Trevor as Trevor motioned Allen back into the bedroom.

Hearing the half-laugh-half-cough from behind himself and Trevor, Allen turned around only to see Trevor motioning him back inside, his eyes narrowed. He turned back to see Siren drinking something different then go back over to the floor with Ted, pressing up against him. Swallowing, he turned to head back into his bedroom once more where Trevor waited.

Even before he could shut the door, Allen held up a hand to ward off any remarks, then said the first thing that came to mind and let it flow, not caring really where it went.

"Go ahead and gloat, Trev,” he said straight out. “I know you want to. But, I know you way to well, Trevor. You may have kissed Siren, and you may have even groped her a little,” Allen didn’t pull the verbal jab in the least. “But you aren't the kind that just goes to bed with someone without it meaning something. So... why don't you just take the chance? Why not just go out there, sweep Siren off her feet, whisk her away ... and oh... hell,.... you can even use my bed to f**ck her on." Reviewing his words almost as fast as they came out of his mouth, Allen knew not only by them but by the look on Trevor's eyes, that he had screwed up -- royally!

"That is so beneath contempt, Allen!" Trevor shot back icily. "Even for you that's a low blow." Crossing to him, he got in his face but never laid a hand on him. "Whatever feelings I may or may not have where Siren's concerned are none of your f*cking business! Just because she poured cold water on your obvious seduction attempt, don't unload it on me."

Trevor backed up a step, still not remotely interested in belting the other man who was clearly smarting from being rejected, though gawd knew he deserved it.

"If.." Trevor emphasized the word as he moved toward Allen. “Anything ever happens between me and Siren, you can bet your ass that it will be based on clear thinking, and not alcohol encouraged lust." He raked him with a cold look. "Maybe you need the help of fuzzy thinking from a girl to get her to bed, pal," he knifed him deliberately, "but I never have. And when a girl kisses me... even drunk... it's always been _my_ name on her lips, not somebody else's!"

Allen glared at Trevor hotly, raising a finger up to point at his nose. "I…ohhh… low blow. Listen, Mr. High and Mighty,” he snapped. “We'd both be better off if you would just drop it, and leave me alone. So… now you have your precious Siren, why even bother with me, hmmm?" he asked hotly, giving him a shove backward to get him out of his face. Trevor was driving him past a point that Allen honestly didn’t want to go to. He hadn’t fought with Trevor in a long time, but if he had to fight him tonight, he would fight him.

In spite of itching to pin his ears behind his head, Allen was still Trevor’s friend, even when he behaved like a teenager with hormones on high. Even considering the fact that his attitude, plus his bruised ego, hinted that he was just spoiling for a fight.

"Siren's not my precious 'anything'," Trevor made clear to him, not letting the push distract him. "But she's obviously hit a nerve with you. What's the matter, Allen? Got the hots for her and she won't give you the time of day? Or any attention, like the others do?" ‘Since you’re dishing it out, pal, so am I.’

Hearing him say that Siren wasn't anything to him, Allen snapped back, "Bullshit," Trevor kept talking. But when he started in on his ego again, Allen couldn’t take much more bruising before he hit the top. "If you want to spout off, Trevor... go ahead. But... it must be so horrible for you to have a punishment where you have to bed with her.... huh? Such a damn hard thing. And... you probably want her too... don't you?" Seeing a slight change in Trevor’s eyes at that, Allen knew... _knew_ that his friend wanted her. "And... she said no to you too.... didn't she? Huh... the mighty one has fallen. Too bad. I’d be willing to bet she'd be one of the best, eh?" Tossing a smirk at Trevor, Allen turned away from him and headed toward the door.

Trevor wasn’t a saint; never pretended to be. So when Allen started in on the business about correction, Senior Logistics Technician, Trevor Conroy was in a situation that he had no choice but to endure because…he had to. He felt his temper start to rise, and Allen seeing something in his eyes didn’t help either.

Grabbing his arm, he jerked Allen back to face him. "If you want to trade places with me... and take on everything this punishment entails, say the word and I'll see about swapping," he growled at him. "I may have to sleep with her but that's all. Sleeping." He saw the smirk starting across Allen’s lips.

"Don't," he warned him. "Siren's not worth coming to blows over," he added. But where Allen's male pride was concerned, Trevor knew how thin-skinned he could be at times. And right now he figured his friend was probably smarting, because he could hardly believe what he wisecracked next.

"You know, Trevor,” Allen began. “I don't want to be in your shoes.... or have your punishment." He raised his hands and actually “quoted” the word he said next... "Sleeping with an exquisite woman and not being able to get it up as it were is something that I don't want to share in. So, if you'll excuse me..." He yanked his arm away from him and glared at him. "I'll just go back to my measly party that you were invited to, and try my best to keep the company there lively... even with you there. But for the moment, I've had enough of your," and again Allen quoted... "charm."

"Don't go there, pal," Trevor growled at him. But Allen did anyway. Allen no sooner jerked his arm free of Trevor’s hand than Trevor grabbed him again. This time when the slightly taller man jerked Allen around to face him, Trevor didn’t let go of his arm. Seeing his friend wincing and glancing at his arm told Trevor that Allen was beginning to realize just how hot he really was.

"Getting it up, as you so delicately phrased it," Trevor stated icily, staring into his eyes. "Is the least of my problems, if you must know. But with the very real truth of having my back laid open if I so much as look at her cross-eyed would dampen any male's libido, mine included." He eased his grip slightly. "You're my friend, Allen," he said, trying to speak in a calmer tone. "Don't let something a drunken girl said, that injured your pride a little, come between us."

"We'll see now, won't we?" he said hotly. "You know, Trev... I thought that I knew you better... someone with your background. I could have sworn someone back in high school that acted the same way as I did... but I guess that friendships that began so long ago don't come into play now, do they? I mean..." Allen tilted his head to the side as he swallowed. " .. we once were the team that was unseparable... but now... now here we are... and... you think .. you honestly think that I got my job promotions by screwing my way up to the top.... well excuse the hell out of me. I ..."

"And letting the very thing we swore would never come between us, do just that," he said over him.

Allen heard his words but he didn’t care.

"I worked just as hard as you did ... but I have fun... and you know it. So... if this is what you honestly think about me... then perhaps I just need to find someone else to pal around with, huh?"

Not wanting to hear another word from him, Allen quickly walked to the door, opened it, and slammed it shut behind him. Heading directly over to the bar, he didn’t bother to ask the bartender. He just grabbed the bottle of Crown Royal from the cabinet and poured himself a tumbler full. To his way of thinking just then was that if he was going to go down, he might as well go down in a ball of fury.

Almost as soon as Allen was out the door, slamming it so hard he felt a slight vibration, Trevor was ready to spit bullets. "Damn your thin-skinned ass to hell, Allen!" he all but shouted in the room. He knew nobody heard him... not with the music at it's usual level.

Pacing around the room, kicking at anything in his way, muttering to himself, he realized that by staying in the bedroom, regardless of how hot Allen was, he was just playing into friend’s hands.

Taking a couple of deep breathes, and putting his still boiling temper on a six-inch leash, Trevor opened the door and returned to the party. Glancing around, he saw him standing at the bar, a half full tumbler in his hand.

"Just what you need, pal," he muttered very softly to himself. "Get an early start on a hangover that's going to make you sick for two days." But he didn’t make a move toward him, turning instead and returning to the little group he'd been with before Allen hit the fan.

David Atchensen had been watching everything since Allen and Trevor left to have a chat now... twice. All he could think was...Oh boy! what you guys missed! Man, it was absolutely something!’ And when Trevor approached him, David couldn't help it... he had to tell him.

Tapping Trevor’s elbow, he nodded, indicating for Trevor to follow him away from the girls for their own little gossip session then when they were a safe distance away, said, "Man...you missed it. That girl you came with... she's really something."

Hearing David Atchensen saying something about the girl he had come with, and that he had "missed it" gave Trevor a sick feeling in his stomach. Swallowing, he asked, hoping the hesitancy didn’t show, "What did I miss?" Trevor steeled myself for...gawd only knew what. The light in Dave's eyes told him that there was a chance he might be joining Allen at the bar, though he was really hoping that he didn’t have to.

Dave’s eyes lit up as he looked at Trevor, and I shook his head. "Well, when you guys went into the bedroom... she was dancing with Ted, right?" He saw Trevor nod. Licking his lips, he went on. "Well, that stupid song... The Macarena came on and she wanted to do the dance with the other girls. And... well... she really did a good job... but... well... look for yourself." He nodded in the direction of the kitchenette and grinned at the vision.

In the kitchenette, Siren was standing with her hand on her hip, Allen's shirt tied up just below her breasts showing her flat stomach, and the glow in the dark boxers with the hearts on them only added to the picture. Several of the guys were standing around her, talking with her, and she had her arm around Ted, chatting lightly with all of them.

"She's quite a vision... where did you meet her?"

Trevor felt his guts twisting as he turned toward where David nodded.

Whether it was anger, or embarrassment for Siren or whatever, he wasn’t sure. But it was plain by the sound of her silly giggling and her voice that was easily as loud as the music, that Siren was well and truly on her way to being about three sheets in the wind. For someone who never drank, she seemed to be holding it okay... ‘Gawd knows I'm glad I won't have your head tomorrow’ he thought.

But then Siren’s partner-in-punishment saw one of the guys talking to her, cop a feel when she was laughing and making eyes at another guy in front of her. That's all Trevor needed to see. Heading for the kitchenette, the only thought on his mind was to get to Siren before Xavier got names of those guys and taught them a lesson in manners where Siren was concerned that they would, he had no doubt, remember well into their old age.

"Excuse me," he said clearly, pushing past Mark Danner and Harry Stillson. None to gently he took hold of Siren's arm and turned her to face him, and told her like it was, plain and simple. He seriously doubted that s would remember even that much by morning.

"You're drunk as a skunk," he tried not to bite the words off. "It's time I got you back to your quarters." But, drunk or not, he saw the now familiar defiance find it's way through the alcohol to light up her eyes. Siren was slurring her words, but she got her point across.

She looked down at her arm, and then to her watch, having to blink at few times to finally find the hands on it. It read: 10:30.  "Its no sway near midnight, Trev." She yanked her arm back from him and in the process hit Ted in the chest. Turning to him, she said, "’Scuze me...sorry." When she saw him just smile at her, Siren took an unsteady step back away from Trevor, then turned and leaned her back against Ted's chest then took his hands and wrapped them around herself, letting them lay on her stomach. "Ted and I were about to... dance... right, Ted?" she asked, turning her head back up toward him only to see him grin and nod.

Trevor saw Ted nod and grin at Siren, but she didn’t see the way Ted's grin faded when he saw Trevor’s now unsmiling eyes as the tipsy young woman turned to back to look up at him again. She was surprised as hell when her ‘escort’ for the evening reached for her again, and this time, Trevor wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Before she could make a sound, Trevor pulled her sharply toward himself then leaned forward and down a little and draped her over his shoulder neat as you please. Clamping his arms around her legs, he backed up a step then turned and headed for the door.

Some of the guys complained.

"Aw come on, Trev. Things were just getting fun..."

"You can't take her away now, not till she at least...." The last guy thought better when David swatted him. Trevor just kept heading for the door.

When she felt herself get slung over Trevor's shoulders like a sack of potatoes, Siren heard the guys complaining and pushed up on Trevor's back and looked up at them. Anger finally got through the alcohol and kicked in when she saw Ted wave at her. She began to hit Trevor hard on the small of his back, and near his kidneys. That was one thing that Xavier had taught her when she was young... go for what you can reach and hit as hard as you can.

"Gawd damn you... let me down!" she yelled at him.

Friend or no, Allen had seen what was happening over in the kitchenette, and as he crossed over toward the stereo to change the CD, he saw Trevor actually sweep Siren off of her feet. And when he saw Trevor heading toward the door with her yelling at him to let her down... well... there was no way Allen McAllister was going to let a damsel in distress leave when she didn’t want to.

He met Trevor at the door and hear Siren yell at him once more to put her down now or suffer the consequences. Stifling the grin that wanted to come across his face, Allen said, "I believe that the lady said to put her down...now."
         ‘Dammit! When does the plague of locusts hit?!’ he thought frustratedly. Seeing the way his friend’s lips were twitching, Trevor knew it meant that Allen was enjoying the situation to the max. ‘Well, if he thinks his 'knight in shining armor' routine is going to get him what he wants, he's had one Crown too many.’

         "Allen," he said as patiently as he knew how. "Get out of the way and let us leave." Trevor didn't even give Allen’s lofty demand to 'put the lady down' the dignity of an answer, and matching him stare for stare. Siren still beating on his back... if you call hit or miss swats, beating... only added to the delights of the three ring, Chinese circus at midnight that the party was turning into.

Siren continued to hit on Trevor's back but when she heard Allen's voice, it just made her madder. From her point of view at the moment, that was the last thing she needed right now - for Allen to try and help her. Or didn't she?

Finally, she quit hitting Trevor to think for a minute. Sighing heavily, she grimaced, deciding that she was getting out of his embrace come hell or high water. Pushing up on his back, she began to walk her hands up his back. When she at last had her hands on his shoulders, and saying a quick prayer that she was limber, she pushed hard against his shoulder, surprising him.

Feeling his hold loosen on my legs, Siren slid halfway down in his embrace. Her feet weren’t quite touching the floor but at least she could see his face, and taking careful aim this time, she slapped his face as hard as she could.

"I said, let me down dammit."

The instant Trevor felt the sting of Siren's hand on his cheek, he give her what she wanted and let go of her, watching her fold down on the floor like a deflated balloon. She wobbled and fell over, then tried to get up on her knees, but by now the alcohol was starting to call the shots. And when she grabbed hold of his legs and pulled herself onto her knees beside him and reaching up a hand, demanding, "Help me up," he stared down at her.

"You wanted down, you're down," he flatly, his gaze as cool as his words. "You got down there on your own. Get up on your own," and stepped away from her. As far as Trevor was concerned at that moment, Siren needed to learn a lesson. Thus, he cut off her next avenue of assistance, glancing around the circle of people gathered around them.

"The first one to offer her help in getting up, I'll knock you down," he warned them letting his eyes rest on Allen. "Anybody."

Hearing his words, Siren sat for a minute, fairly certain that she could get up on her own.

‘I…can't even get up on my knees and he wants me to stand up by myself? Is he nuts?’ As her mind sorted mixed around, the look on Trevor’s face made her want to just find a corner and cry… but she wasn’t going to do that. She refused. Instead, she leaned her elbows on her knees and held her head in her hands. She wasn’t about to admit it to Trevor, but Siren knew needed someone to help her... knew she couldn’t do…this by herself. She couldn't.

Even though this evening he was someone's scapegoat, Ted Smith didn’t care about what Trevor said. In the little time that he had been able to get acquainted with Siren, he knew she was nothing but nice... if a little drunk. The sight of her on the floor shaking her head softly and knowing that she couldn't do it herself; Ted squared his shoulders, and headed toward her. He knew, could see in Trevor’s face that his stepping up to him surprised him.

"Knock me down... go ahead,” Ted told Trevor, lifting his chin a little, meeting the other’s bluish-green gaze defiantly. “I'll just get back up and help her up anyway. Or you can be a gentleman and move and I'll take her home. Either way... I'm helping her up."

Taking a step closer, Ted held out a hand toward Siren and immediately felt Trevor Conroy's hand plant firmly against his shoulder. Without hesitation, and without waiting for the push to come, Ted shoved the other man as hard as he could into David.

"Like I said Trevor... I'm helping her up, dammit. Leave me alone."

Kneeling down, Ted grabbed hold of Siren's arms and helped her to stand up then walked her into the kitchenette to get her away from the crowd that had gathered around her.

By the time that Ted got her into the kitchenette and sat her down at the table, Siren nodded softly to his words of kindness, and thanked him. Hearing Trevor's voice in the kitchenette in the next moment, she looked up, and then was shocked at what happened.

‘So the mouse can roar?’ Trevor thought, determination and a couple of other attitudes mixing with it. ‘Well that mouse isn't going to roar for long.’

Regaining his feet, Trevor shook loose of David's grip and followed “the mouse that roared” into the kitchenette. If Ted could have talked to Trevor Conroy’s younger brother about then, he'd have known that he was staring into the oncoming lights of a runaway locomotive... and he was tied to the tracks.

Seeing him at the table, bending down to talk softly to Siren, Trevor took two steps into the kitchenette, and then called the other man’s name.

"Ted?"

When Ted straightened and started to turn toward whomever had spoken to him, Trevor cocked his arm back and landed his fist on Ted’s his jaw as hard as he could swing. The gallant “Sir Galahad” also known as Ted Smith folded like a house of cards.

When Siren saw Trevor rear back and hit Ted squarely sending him back against the wall of the kitchenette, she sat there stunned. Looking back up to Trevor she glared at him, then moved to Ted. "Ohhhh, really classy, Mr. Conroy. Really classy."

Looking down at Ted, she saw that he was unconscious, and shook her head. She just hoped that he didn't regret what he had just done when he woke up to find a shiner on his right eye.

Trevor rubbed his knuckles a bit, watching Siren sit a second before going for his throat. "You wanna talk class?" he snapped at her, his temper frayed damn near to non-existence. "I'm not the one two sheets in the wind and wearing some guy’s shirt and his boxer shorts...at a party."

Siren glare at him but when she ran to Ted, Trevor was so close to lighting into her that it was a struggle not to give in to that idea. So he opted for stepping over to her and grabbing her arm and hauling her to her feet and starting for the door. That lasted about ten seconds.
        Trevor didn’t like getting his face slapped either!
        When Trevor came over to her and roughly grabbed her arm and began to haul her toward the door again, at least this time giving her the decency of letting her walk – Siren hauled back and slapped him again saying, "Just what do you think you're doing?"

They were just in the middle of the room, and she glanced around at his friends and just at that moment, didn’t give a damn about what they thought about her right about then. She yanked her arm away from him and pointed at him. "I don't particularly care to go anywhere with you right now, Mr. Conroy." The glare that she gave him must have somehow reminded him of her father, because he stepped back from her. "Just leave me alone right now."

Stalking away from him, Siren saw Allen standing a few feet way with a grin on his face. She couldn't help herself as she walked up to him. She slapped him just as hard as she had Trevor then stomped into his bedroom; Trevor was about ten seconds behind her, slamming the bedroom door behind him so hard that one of Allen’s favorite pictures of the dogs playing poker, fell off the wall.

"You want to fight, Siren?" he snapped at her. "Come on," he jutted his chin at her. "Give it your best shot. But make sure you're ready for the consequences before you think you're gonna cow me into a toady like Ted Smith."

The door opened to reveal a curious cat in the form of Allen McCallister and he shut the door just as easily and waited for his time with her.

"I don't want to fight you, Trevor,” Siren shouted at him. “I never have... but this picking me up and dropping me on my tush as well as whacking up on Ted isn't the best way to win friends and influence people!" She said giving him a once over. "And you..." she shot a finger out at Allen causing Trevor to turn back to him. "What the hell is all this about anyway?" She moved past Trevor barely on her feet, and headed over to Allen. "You ... you had an agenda tonight... didn't you?"

Allen huffed and blustered a little when Siren pinned him about the drinks and the dancing. "I... I just wanted you to have a good time," he offered in defense of himself. "It was your first time at the party and...." he glanced at Trevor. "And I wanted to be sure it would be one you'd remember."  ‘Way to go, Allen!’ he kicked myself.

Siren just stared at him. "One to remember?" she quoted his words. "One to remember, eh? Well, I'm so glad that that's it." She started to turn around back to Trevor but instead reared back, her fist balled up, her nails biting into my hand, and hit him with everything that she had in her. As soon as her hand came in contact with his eye, she corrected herself and looked down at him on the floor. "But if you think that I'm going to believe that lame excuse, you're quite mistaken. Don't lie, Allen... just tell me the truth."

Siren's fist connecting with his right eye sent Allen sprawling, and for a minute he just lay there, staring up at her. And as she was getting on her high horse, a nasty surge of anger ripped through him. No woman had ever hit him.... and this one wasn't gonna get away with it now!

Getting to his feet, Allen took a step toward her, his temper simmering. "You want the truth, Siren?" he snapped nastily. "Okay...here it is," then hauled back and slapped her back, knocking her onto the bed.

"Don't ever do that again!" he growled at her, moving to the bed and glaring at her. "And yes, I had other things in mind. But you're a big girl now. You should have figured on something like 'that' happening."

But Allen’s troubles were just beginning. Trevor all but throwing him bodily across his own bedroom must have given him that idea.
 

PART THREE

Siren wasn't sure how Allen would react by being hit and being struck down by a woman but she had her answer quickly enough. The force of the back of his hand twirled her head (in 180 degrees or so it felt) and she fell back onto the bed. Gasping at the pain, she put a hand on her cheek and turned back to Allen - looking up at him through her hair. Hearing him say, "Don't ever do that again," she already knew that she wouldn’t, but she glared at him when he continued on saying that yes, he did have an agenda, that the whole time he had been just trying to get her into bed.

Before she had a chance to respond, Siren saw Trevor literally pick Allen off the floor and threw him across the room, Allen lying in a heap by the dresser.

Slowly, she picked herself up off the bed and stood up only to fall to the floor, hard. Gasping again in pain, she looked up to see Trevor leaning down to pick Allen off the floor then rear back to deck him. Although she honestly wanted Allen to be hit, Siren called out, "Don't Trevor. It's not worth it."

When Trevor roughly picked him up and Allen saw his hand rear back, he didn't even flinch, telling him, "She deserved it. She should be able to take what she dishes out," but when he heard her call out to Trevor that he wasn’t worth it, Allen lightly grinned at him when he hesitated. "See, Trev… even she knows that she deserved it." But as he spoke, he couldn’t help wondering who would win out…. Siren or him.

Trevor held onto Allen just long enough to hear what Siren said then wavered about putting him into orbit. But seeing that cocksure grin and hearing him comment that, "See, even she knew she deserved it," decided for him. So fast was the decision made, that the tall, angry man didn’t even have time for the realization to filter through his thoughts before his fist connected with his friend’s jaw, the force of the hit slamming him against the wall.

Breathing hard, Trevor moved to stand over Allen where he lay, half-dazed and sagging against the side of his dresser. "No...woman," he panted slightly, "deserves what you had in mind. Especially not when she doesn't know about it." As Allen moaned and moved slightly, Trevor growled at him, "You didn't ask, Allen, you were taking. And any way you slice it, that's rape." He stepped back a couple of steps but still close enough to intimidate him into staying put when he made a move to get up.

"Just stay there," he snapped, watching him use the side of his hand to wipe the blood from his mouth. "You get up now, and I just might loosen the teeth in the other side of your mouth." Seeing him slowly nod, Trevor turned to Siren.

"Get your dress on," he told her sharply. "We're leaving. Unless..." he cocked an eyebrow at her, "you want to stay here and literally fight to protect your...virtue."

Shaking her head, she slowly made it back up to the bed where my dress was lying. When Trevor turned back and barked at her, she immediately began to undress from Allen's shirt then pulled her dress back on before shedding Allen's shorts. Leaning down to pick up her shoes, she blinked before running the back of her hand over her cheek. Then, standing up, she slightly moved to Trevor's side. "I... I'm ready when you are," she said softly looking down at the floor.

Trevor cast a perfunctory glance at her, watching Siren for a moment. Even looking at the floor, he could already see the first faint shades of purple coming up on her right cheek.

"That's gonna hurt like hell by morning," he commented, then stepped back and took her by the arm and headed for the door. Opening it, he paused to look back at Allen.

"I still consider you my friend, Allen," he told the man still on the floor. "And from one friend to another ...if you still are... that was, without question, the most stupid and egotistical stunt you have ever pulled. See you Monday," he added almost as an afterthought then turned and followed Siren out.

In the outer room, the other guests sort of quieted down when the bedroom door opened. A couple of people gasped at the sight of Siren’s face but nobody said anything or made a move toward them.

To Ted Smith, now sitting on the couch with an ice pack on the left side of his face and Marcie Simons fussing over him, Trevor just said, "Sorry, Ted. You had your reasons, I had mine."

Kayla was still playing door lady and Trevor saw the gleam in her eyes as he followed Siren out. ‘Great! By dawn every living being in this complex is going to know everything that was said or done in the last two hours!’

As they started toward the door, Siren saw Ted sitting on the couch and heard Trevor apologize to some degree to him. However, when Trevor grabbed her arm again she walked with him to the door, but at the door, she stopped. When Trevor looked down at her, she turned back around to everyone in the room, scanning everyone's face as she did so. "I'm sorry ..." Catching Ted's eye, her expression softened a bit more as she whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Lowering her head, she turned around with Trevor at the door, and then walked out. Right outside the door, she leaned against the wall, and tried to gain her balance as the world took on a tilt-a-whirl effect. When Trevor just shook his head when she at last looked up at him, Siren said quietly, “If it's okay with you... I would like some help. If not... I can crawl back home."

Trevor just shook his head at her again, not saying anything as he stepped forward, and in a single smooth move, scooped her gently up into his arms. Shifting his arms a bit to settle her more comfortably; he glanced into her eyes a moment. In spite of the tempers that were just flaring... and were still settling... something that Allen liked to do came unbidden to his mind. He couldn’t help but bite his lip to keep the grin from wrapping around his head. Looking into her eyes again, he asked lightly, "Home, m'lady?"

‘Damn you and your knights in shining armor fixation, Allen!’

Siren was relieved when Trevor picked her up. Settling her arms around him, she looked up into his eyes when he said, "Home, m'lady?" and blinked up at him and couldn't help but grin. "Please..." she said softly. "A smooth trot... if you don't mind, sir knight."  Trevor walked down the hallway as smoothly as 'm'lady' had requested, and she very grateful when they finally got into the elevator. At least there... no one was around to gawk at her or the rapidly darkening bruise on her face.

Leaning her head onto her arm, she breathed in Trevor's cologne and moaned lightly. "You smell wonderful. I meant to tell you earlier but ... " she let the sentence fade as the elevator doors open.  Right now she just wanted to get home... and lay down.

Trevor just smiled to himself. Turning his head slightly, he caught a breath of the scent of her hair. "So do you...m'lady." There was no way, he figured - unless she was more plastered than she appeared - that she could have mistaken his tone, something he hadn't meant to let slip out. There was also no way she couldn't have missed the way he was holding her a little closer.

But the moment passed when the elevator doors opened and Trevor stepped carefully out. Approaching the last door on the left, he looked into her eyes. "I hope you've got asbestos underpants on, because if your father's anything like my dad was, he's gonna blister your butt…with words." When she giggled at that, he added more or less seriously, "Don't laugh. A father's tongue-lashing can sting worse than any belt."

At the door, Trevor set Siren on her feet and turned her to face the door then knocked. When she said, "Thanks...brave knight," he told her, "Better to pay the piper now, than in the morning. You don't want his temper to ferment overnight."

Siren didn't have a chance to respond to that comment because just then the door opened, and she swallowed hard as she looked up into Xavier's face... his eyes fixing on the bruise on her face. She cringed at the look that was speaking volumes then moved past him when he opened the door wider. Knowing that they were going to talk about it right then and there, she headed to the couch, but didn't sit down. She waited nervously, biting at the inside of her bottom lip.

"Care to explain the new makeup you're wearing?" he asked, his tone as frosty as the look in his blue eyes. Glancing at her dress and seeing the way one of the straps had slipped down on her shoulder, Xavier felt his jaw tighten. "Turn around," he ordered. Siren obeyed. Seeing that the zipper of her dress was about a quarter of the way down, he asked, "What kind of party was this?"

Siren slowly turned to face her father squarely. Swallowing hard, and without looking at Trevor for any help what so ever, she licked her lips and began to stammer under his intense gaze.

"It… It was like any other party, I suppose." She blinked at him and swallowed again. She knew what he was waiting for; a full report as usual when something…anything occurred that concerned her.  So she blinked at him, took a deep breath and started from the beginning.

"To the best of my recollection, sir," Siren started carefully.  "What happened was this: and please excuse any jumbled up parts -- I'm a little tipsy." Seeing the look of disdain on his face at that, she hurried on.

"When we arrived, Allen brought me in to meet the troops, so to speak, then offered me a drink. I told him that I didn't drink but he said not to be a party pooper… and I didn't want to be one and oh… he gave me the face… that cute puppy dog face so… I told him that one wouldn't hurt. I didn't see why. Trevor already had a beer and so did everyone else… especially his girlfriend… the blonde bitch." Siren paused for a moment, then reached up to push her hair back over her shoulder then continued.

 "Anyway… I…. Is it hot in here? Must be me. To get back to what was going on, I sat down to talk with D… Dave… David Something or Other, and Allen spilled his drink on my dress as you can plainly see." She motioned to stained, damp dress and picked up at the skirt as she looked down at the spill and sighed. "Boy… was it cold!"

Siren started to pace lightly in front of her father and shook her head. "Oh… then… then Allen said something about wearing some of his clothes so that my dress could dry. And, I told Trevor that that was fine with me. So I went to Allen's bedroom with him…so he could get me some clothes… a shirt and some shorts to wear. Oh, those shorts were so cute too… hearts all over them… and really dad, they were quite comfy. I may have to get some of those,” she said, waggling a finger up in the air.  Siren glanced up at Xavier just then.

Xavier was standing with his right arm crossed across his chest, his left elbow resting on his right hand, his left hand on his cheek as he watched and listened to Siren. His expression had changed somewhat as she talked, and she rattled on, he curled his finger over his lips, his thumb under his chin, an almost thoughtful expression on his face. That hard expression that she had seen earlier was barely there, but Siren didn't notice.

Pausing again, Siren scratched her head, lightly biting on the end of her left index fingernail before beginning again.

 "Anyway, yea… Allen… he kissed me. It… it wasn't as nice as the ones that I've had before… but it was okay. And we went back out into the party. We danced and then I got to dance with a couple of other guys. By this time, I was sipping on my second… something or other tea… when… is that right? Yeah. That's right… when Allen and Trevor went to talk. I danced some sort of dance called the Macaroni… McGuyver… Mac-Something… and I was fairly good at it. But when Trev came back in the room, he came over and put me on his shoulders like a bag of potatoes… in front of everyone!"

At that memory, she threw her hands in the air and started to pace again. "Talk about humiliating. So I did exactly what you told me to do -- remember -- try to break free."

She stopped pacing rather quickly, swaying a little as she looked at her father. "I managed to slap him… and I honestly didn't want to do it. I mean… Trevor is a nice guy and all, but I did tell him to put me down and he did… right on my tush! I… I had a hard time getting up and he was upset at me… I would be too if I had just been slapped by someone…. " Siren paused to touch my cheek lightly, knowing now how being slapped felt.   "….And he told everyone not to help me or he'd hit them."

Siren shrugged her shoulders lightly. "I guess Ted didn't care… and he came and helped me up but he pushed Trev before Trev could do anything to him. He… Ted that is… helped me back to the kitchenette… a nice little alcove by the way, and sat me down at the table. He's a really nice guy once you get to know him. But Trevor wouldn't have it… he was hot… and he knocked Ted out." The clearly inebriated young woman put her hands on her head and turned to start pacing yet again. "I couldn't believe it… and he … Trevor that is… grabbed my hand and started to take me back out of the party again. But I slapped him again." She paused to look up at Xavier and tell him, "I really ought to not do that anymore… I really care for Trevor and I don't want him mad at me… but he ought to know not to try to pull me somewhere when I don't want to go… you know?"

Throwing her arms up again and letting them fall down to her sides with a clap, Siren resumed pacing. "Anyway… I yelled at Trevor in front of everyone and stomped back to Allen's bedroom. If we were going to leave… I wanted my dress back on. But no… he … Trevor.. comes bounding in the room wanting me to fight with him again… he actually stuck out his chin for me to hit. It was tempting… but I can't fight with him, daddy… I just couldn't do it. The cad…and I was about to get dressed, when Allen came in the room.  I confronted him. I knew that something was going on between the three of us… and he would know. So I asked him if he had a hidden agenda…. And he did!"

She balled up her fists and held them out before her. "And I popped him as hard as I could…" She turned to look at Xavier and said, "And it felt so good to hit him when he was trying to get me drunk and use me. Oooo…I'd do it again if I ever get the chance." She relaxed her hand then gently felt her cheek once more.

"This makeup that you mentioned earlier is his response to that pop."  She tipped her head to the side and began to grin lightly and even giggle. "But… it wasn't funny… but it is now… I mean looking back and seeing Allen being thrown across the room by Trevor and then getting popped again… even after I told him it wasn't worth it… I mean… well... it wasn't…" Glancing at Xavier, Siren cleared her throat and stopped giggling, shrugging her shoulders once more. "This time though, we … Trevor and myself, that is… went out into the party once more, and I apologized to everyone before we left… especially Ted since he really shouldn't have gotten hit."

Taking another deep breath, Siren looked at her father and shrugged again. "I guess what happened with the dress is that I wasn't able to zip it up all the way the last time. Nothing happened, other than that, Daddy... I promise. But.. ah... I'm really sticky from the drink that was spilled on me and if it's okay with you, I'd like to take my normal Friday night bath... unless that's too unreasonable."

The longer Siren went on, the more Xavier wanted to laugh... at some parts. If it were any other girl than Siren, her father would likely already be scolding or reprimanding. But now, in spite of being tipsy from her first encounter with alcohol, as rambling as her recitation of the facts was, he knew she was telling the truth.  And when at long breathless last she finally finished, ending with the observation about needing a bath, he fixed her with a look for a long moment, then nod. "After that, get to bed," he told her firmly. "Come morning, you're going to wish you'd stayed home tonight."

Trevor was surprised at how calmly Xavier had taken Siren's rambling explanation, far better than he recalled his own father's reaction and the couple of times as a teenager when he, himself, had stood in his parents living room at two in the morning trying to explain why he couldn't quite see straight.  But Xavier's last statement to Siren made Trevor's lips twitch and he put his hand over his mouth, glancing away as he mumbled softly, "You aren't kidding."

Nodding to her father, Siren headed, in a more or less straight line, toward the bathroom.  Normally she took a long bubblebath on Friday evening, but she wasn't in the mood for one now. Within a few minutes she finished her shower and came back out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around her...and went into her bedroom feeling extremely warm all over. Changing into a nightgown, she turned around just as Trevor entered the room.  She smiled at him as she sat down leisurely on the bed then maneuvered until she was lying on her stomach, her feet in the air and her head laying on her folded arms. "That wasn't so bad..." she told him softly.

Trevor opened the bedroom door to see Siren settling her nightgown down, then drop down on the bed and roll over on her stomach, feet in the air, her head on her arms. The way she looked at him sent his thoughts in another direction.

Pulling his sweater over his head, he tossed it on the dresser.  Kicking off his shoes, he turned toward the bed then stopped, his hands on the catch of his trousers at the look on Siren's face.  "What?" he asked softly.

'Why did I just lick my lips when she looked up at me? '

When Siren saw Trevor taking off his clothes, she bit at the inside of her lip and smiled at him. When he asked why, she rolled back over and stood up, moving toward him. She hadn't missed the way that he licked at his lips, and now lightly licked her own lips as she finally reached him. Standing before him, she asked softly back, gazing intently up into his eyes. "Why did you defend my honor tonight, Trevor?"

"No woman should be treated that way," he answered softly, looking steadily into her eyes. Not looking away, he sniffed lightly. "You smell good," he told her. 'She ought to. She's standing barely a foot away from me. If I were to reach out...'  Quickly he scrabbled for the question she'd asked.... and an answer.

"No woman... and especially not you, Siren," Trevor couldn't for the life of him keep his voice from slipping to a husky whisper. "Especially not you."

Siren took a tiny step toward Trevor, standing less than a foot away from him. "Why... especially me, Trevor... why am I so different from everyone else?" she asked softly, looking at his lips when he licked his lips again. Glancing back up into his eyes, she lightly placed her hands on his hips. "Why?"

'Back's against the wall, Trev' he told himself. And it wasn't where he would have ever thought he would be...especially with Siren after their initial encounter in the cafeteria a few days ago. But, in spite of everything from that moment on, he had been fighting himself. Looking down into Siren's eyes as he felt her hands on his hips, Trevor knew there was no way out but the truth.

"Because..." he hesitated then went on before the dash of uncertainty in him could take over. Licking my lips again, he glanced at her mouth then up to her eyes.   "Because I think I'm falling in love with you," he told her softly. "And that is the plain, unvarnished truth, Siren." Taking a slight breath, he reached to draw her closer then lowered his head to kiss her full, warm...willing lips gently.

Hearing Trevor's words, Siren blinked up at him just before his lips met hers ever so softly. She didn't know what to say... hearing such words from him should have been something that she wanted... but she couldn't help but think of…her.  Lightly she pushed him back... only a little bit and say, "What about her?"

Siren ending the kiss - albeit, gently- almost as soon as their lips met, followed instantly by her question, confused Trevor. "What do you mean?" he asked, a slight frown creasing his forehead, his eyes searching her face. "Who are you talking about?"

'How could he forget his own girlfriend?''

"Her... that girl that was just about hanging all over you tonight... the blonde.... I can't... can't remember her name." Trevor was so… so close, his lips so inviting, but siren was determined to get this out in the open. "How could you forget your girlfriend?"

Siren's description alone told Trevor exactly who she was talking about, but when she adds the word 'girlfriend' at the end one thought went through his mind: Allen! 'You are gonna pay for this one, buddy boy!'

"If you'd prefer not to take my word for what I'm about to say," he began, looking into her eyes directly.  But Siren stepping back from him even more....

'No, this deliberate misdirection from Mr. McAllister stops here.'   Putting a hand on her shoulder, Trevor halted her backward retreat.

"You don't have to look at me, Siren," he told her quietly. "But you will listen." He took a deep breath. "Kayla.... that's her name... is not my girlfriend. Yes, she and I have dated. But then, I've dated any number of girls. That doesn't make each of them my girlfriend. As for the way Kayla...also known as 'Arms' to her friends…she does that with any guy she's with."

Trevor could see in her eyes that she was wavering. "You want her phone number? Talk to her yourself. Talk to Maria or Ann or Karen..." he paused, letting her think on that a second. "I've dated all of them and, I hope this doesn't sound pompous, but all of them hoped for that title, but it never happened." Releasing his hand from her shoulder, he waited. It was up to her now.

Hearing his first words, Siren reluctantly stepped back from him, but when he stopped her with his hand on her shoulder, she just looked away.   Hearing his words, she thought about what he had just told her and she  knew that she didn't want to call any of those girls. That would be ridiculous on her end … to call and ask. Rolling her eyes, she finally looked back up at him.

"But.. Allen..." It was at that point that she realized what she had been thinking and basing her thoughts on... someone who was just trying to get her into bed. Pursing her lips, Siren closed her eyes and took a hesitant step up to him again.

"I would like to kiss you again," she whispered softly. Gazing intently into his mesmerizing aquamarine blue eyes, Siren moved her hands around his waist to the small of his back, lightly running her teeth over her bottom lip.

Before she could finish her sentence, before her hands met behind his back, Trevor slid his arms around Siren and drew her against him, holding her tightly as he bent his head and this time, kissed her deep and hard. This time he tasted the sweetness of her longing on her lips.   It seemed forever before the kiss ended. Lifting his head, Trevor watched Siren's face until she opened her eyes. No words were spoken, but he knew she could see the question in his eyes.

'If this is how it feels to be in his arms forever… I don't want to move.' Siren thought herself as Trevor's mouth met hers.

The way that his tongue touched hers, his lips so soft yet demanding, his strong arms around her… it made chills run up and down her back. When his kiss ended, she stood there a moment with her eyes still closed, not wanting to open them for fear that he'd be gone…that it was just a dream. But when she did at last open her eyes, Trevor was still standing there looking down at her, and Siren saw the question in his eye. It was the same question that she was certain he had asked been asking her the other day.  And as soon as she saw it, the same feelings of insecurity came flooding back over her again along with something else… a want… a desire.

Searching his eyes, she softly asked, "You know what I want?"

When she heard Trevor's voice soft and low with that husky timbre in it, asking, "What is it that you want, Siren?" she lightly grinned up at him as she licked her lips once more. "Ice cream. Chocolate ice cream."   Seeing him blink, and before he could respond, she popped up on her toes and kissed him softly. "I'll be right back."

Glancing back over her shoulder at him, Siren walked out of the room and a few minutes later returned with a rather large bowl of chocolate ice cream. Xavier had looked at her oddly as she had walked back through the living room, but knew he understood when she had these midnight cravings.

Going back to sit on the bed, Siren scooted over to her side of the bed and lightly patted the bed beside her. "I won't bite," she said lightly, picking up the spoon and taking a lingering lick from it.

When he heard that it was chocolate ice cream she wanted, all Trevor could do at that moment was just stand, rooted to the spot, as she kissed him again then almost skipped out of the room. He was still in the same spot when she returned a few minutes later with a large bowl of chocolate ice cream in hand. And he continued to stand there when she got in bed then patted the place beside her, inviting him to join her.

He just looked at her, licking that spoonful of ice cream then shook his head disbelievingly

'Great ... I get my first experience at a girl's slumber party... a party of two' he thought as he took off his pants and draped them over the dresser. Yet again he paused to look at her, seeing that by now, she was focused on that ice cream like it was.... he didn't know.

Getting in bed, Trevor pulled the covers up to his waist, turned on his side away from her, and said patiently, "You and your ice cream need some sleep, too." Turning out the light on nightstand on his side of the bed, he sighed closed his eyes, rubbing his cheek against the pillow a couple of times before becoming still. It had been a damned long day.

When she looked up from her bowl of ice cream to see Trevor shedding his pants, Siren dug into the ice cream. She'd had her fill…so to speak…the other day of his anatomy; enough was enough. But when he got into bed and lay on his side facing away from her, she licked at her lips wiping at the chocolate there and said, "Oh, come on Trevor. I know you want some... just one bite... please... for me?"   When he groaned, she put her hand on his side and traced a small circle there on his ribs.  "Please?"

Trevor ignored Siren's first wheedling attempt to draw him into her private ice cream fest. But feeling her finger lightly tracing circles on his ribs and hearing that mischievous "Please?" … and considering her tipsy state of mind at the moment, he knew that the only way to get some sleep would be to do as she asked. With a muffled groan, he shifted onto his back, propped up on his elbows and gave her a narrow-eyed look. "One spoonful... one small spoonful," he conceded. "And then *I* am going to sleep." When she didn't make a move to offer him a spoonful of the ice cream, he patiently asked, "Well?"

Once Trevor conceded to having a spoonful of ice cream, Siren grinned at him lightly. Taking the spoon and dipping it into the bowl, she licked her lips. Lifting the spoon toward his chest, several cold drips of melted chocolate ice cream landed on his chest causing him to gasp before taking the small spoonful that he said he would take.

Looking around at the nightstand where she usually kept some napkins available, Siren didn't see any, she turned back to him and looking at his ice cream spattered chest, said, "Uhm... I'll clean up my mess."  Before her unsuspecting punishment partner could say anything, she leaned down and began to lightly kiss and lick at the drops ice cream on his chest.

"Geezus!" Trevor gasped, jerking like he was having a spasm when several cold, sticky drops of the ice cream landed on his chest. In spite of that, he accepted the spoonful of ice cream, watching her look around for something. Then...

It was a good thing he had swallowed that bite of ice cream, because when he caught his breath again when she said, "I'll clean up my mess," then proceeded to kiss and lick up the ice cream drips on his chest… Well, the feeling of her lips and tongue on his chest wasn't making sleep come any closer.

"Thanks a lot," he muttered under his breath, sliding a sort of exasperated look at her then shook his head lightly when …wouldn't you know it….she started giggling. Fixing her with a look, he told her, "You are one spacey chick when you've got alcohol in you, you know that?" But his skin was still tingling where she had just licked so lightly. Again, he turned away from her and attempted to coax sleep to take him over. Not a chance!

Putting her hand over her mouth, she tried to stop herself from the giggling, watching as he turned away again. She wasn't sure why, but Siren didn't want to go to sleep...she wanted to play. Placing the bowl of ice cream on the bedside table, she turned back to Trevor, already seeing him again re-arranging his head on the pillow once more. Lying down beside him, she wiggled over to him and looked at his back for a moment.

Smiling, she took her hands and pressed them lightly against his shoulders and slowly moved them down his back. She saw the slight movement that he made when she reached the small of his back, and slowly moved her hands up again, letting her fingernails lightly trace their way back up the smooth, muscular contours again.

"Damn!" Trevor swore softly under his breath when he felt Siren lightly raking her nails down his back and up again. At that moment, he figured that she was due for a warning.

"Siren," he said with the patient tone one might use with a child who's not ready to go to sleep. "I'm only going to warn you once. What you're doing is known, among other things, as playing with fire." He paused, waiting to see if he would get a response. When he didn't, he in a softer though still warning tone, "I'm in the mood, all right, Siren. But not to play." With those words it got quiet and still behind him.

When Trevor told her that he was in a mood, but not to play, Siren pouted for a minute, pursing her lips and became still behind him for a brief moment. But it wasn't enough to make her stop completely.

Sighing heavily and turning away from him, she reached for the ice cream bowl again.  But she wasn't paying attention as she should have been, and the bowl tipped, and the melted ice cream hit her chest as well as the rest of her nightgown. Jumping, startled at the coldness, she gasped, "Ooooo ... that's cold!"   She had barely moved the bowl back to the table when she felt the bed move beside her, and glanced over at Trevor then down at her self then turned to him once more. "It's okay... go to sleep... I just have to change... that's all."

Feeling Siren start suddenly behind him as well as hearing her gasp, "Oooo...that was cold!" was more enticing than Trevor could stand. So in spite of himself, he rolled over, looked at her...chocolate ice cream splattered over her chest and dripping down the front of nightgown... and roared.  Trevor was laughing so hard he literally fell off the bed, vaguely hearing over his own laughter, Siren saying something. It was considerate at first. But when he couldn't stop laughing, he quickly got the idea that she wasn't finding it nearly as funny as it was to him.

"There is justice!" he gasped, lying on the floor by the bed, still laughing like a demented hyena. And her crawling over and kneeling on the bed and scowling down at him just pushed him closer to hysterics.

"This is too much!" he howled.

When Trevor start laughing at her, Siren glared at him not thinking that it was very damned funny. It was cold and now she was sticky.... again.

Getting off the bed, she carefully held her nightgown away from her body to stop the coolness that was still sliding down it. Not knowing what else to do, she sighed and begin to reel it up over her body. Taking it off, she pulled her hair from it and with her back to Trevor, shook her hair back out of my face letting it cascade back down her back.

"Dammit..." she said softly. Looking at the balled up nightgown in her hand, she tossed it across the room and headed slowly toward her dresser to get another nightgown.... if one was clean.

Standing at the dresser, she look down at the drawer that she had pulled open and glanced down at the contents. All of the other nightgowns were dirty. Picking her head back up, she turn back around and head toward the bed. Without looking at Trevor, she sat down on the bed and look at the bowl on the table. Leaning back against the bed, she dipped her finger in the bowl. Bringing her finger back up to her mouth, she placed it in her mouth then finally remembered Trevor in the room, and glance over at him, her finger still in her mouth.

Seeing Siren pull her nightgown over her head, and then that beautiful mane of thick, dark auburn hair cascading over her shoulders erased the laughter from Trevor's mind and replaced it with something else. It took a second for him to realize it, but she had apparently forgotten he in the room.

'How can anyone miss a six foot four inch tall man wearing boxer shorts laying on the floor beside a bed?"

For a couple of minutes, he lay there on the floor, watching Siren... naked... moving around the room, going to the dresser. Trevor Conroy would have been a bald-faced liar if he had said it wasn't a very pleasant way to spend two minutes on the floor. Siren was beautiful, and her confidence in herself, even drunk, was evident in the way she moved.

When she went around to her side of the bed, he carefully sat up and peeked over the bed, watching her. Seeing her dip her finger in the bowl of ice cream and then put it in her mouth...

"Whoa!  Easy Trev' he warned himself.... just about the time Siren remembered he was there and her eyes found his.

Seeing how Trevor was peeking over the bed, Siren lightly began to smile at him. Dipping her finger back into the chocolate, she moved lightly over the bed to him, and with a seductive smile on her lips, traced his lips with her chocolate-coated index finger. Leaning forward, she lightly kissed him, licking at his lips, savoring the chocolate and his tongue at the same time... enjoying the kiss as she lay down on her stomach.

This time when Siren came toward him, crawling across the bed with that bowl of ice cream, this time Trevor was definitely interested. And when she traced his lips with her finger, he parted his lips to softly suck her finger when she slid it into his mouth for a moment. But her lips were even better, and after a moment, he broke the kiss and gently sucked her lower lip, tasting the chocolate, but even more, tasting her.

"Now that," he whispered against her lips, "is good ice cream."

Hearing his words against her lips, Siren lightly grinned and hummed at him in agreement. "Want some more?"  Leaning back only a bit and glancing down at the bowl, she dipped another finger in it again.  But this time traced her finger over her own mouth then lightly trailed it down her chin onto her neck, glancing back into Trevor's eyes wondering if he wanted more or not.

"It would be impolite to refuse such a gracious offer," he said softly, his eyes following wherever her finger touched as it left a thin, sticky line of ice cream. Glancing up into her eyes, watching as her finger lingered on a spot on her throat, he let her see the gleam in his eyes. "Like I said," Trevor said, his voice still soft, "it's good ice cream," then leaned forward to nuzzle under her chin, licking delicately at the ice cream trail.

Following the trail back up her throat, up her chin, he began to touch small, licking kisses around her mouth, not missing a single drop of the delectable chocolate. When the chocolate was gone, he sat back, licking his lips, a half smile on his lips. "That was good."

Feeling Trevor's lips and tongue licking at the ice cream, it took everything she had not to giggle when his tongue touched a very ticklish part on her throat. But at the same time, it ignited something inside of her. When he sat back, she just gazed at him for a moment as she bit at her lower lip.  Finally glancing away, she slowly rose from the bed and backed away from him.  Glancing down at the bowl and seeing that it was now empty, she pursed my lips. "Too bad we ran out."   Swallowing, she got back on her side of the bed and tilted my head to the side. "Why are you on the floor?" she asked, honestly not remembering how he'd gotten there.

Though Siren was, whether or not she realized it, being a very seductive tease right now, her eyes revealed that the alcohol had well and truly 'fuzzed' some of her memory. And, much as other ideas were clamoring at him, Trevor couldn't… wouldn't take advantage of her in her tipsy condition. So he said the first thing to pop into his mind....
        "The better to see you, my dear," he quoted, more or less, from a child's fairy tale, and grinned at her. It was hard not to let his eyes stray.  'I wonder if she knows she doesn't have anything on?' He stayed where he was, watching her. If anything else was going to happen, she would be the one to initiate it.

Siren grinned at him but she blinked at his direction and rubbed at her right eye tiredly. Wiggling down on the bed, she lay on her side then laid her head down on her folded arm. "Well... my dear wolf... I'm sleepy... so if you want to sleep on the floor you may... but if I remember correctly," she said stifling a yawn behind her hand. "... I think that the wolf was in the bed waiting for little red to come in."

She smiled at him softly then closed her eyes. It was only when she felt the bed move beside her that she knew that he had gotten back in bed.

Trevor watched as Siren stifled a yawn then lay down on her side, facing him, her head pillowed on her arm. When she started going on about where the wolf was waiting for "Red", he forced himself to close his eyes and take a long, slow breath. Opening his eyes again, he saw that hers were now closed.

"Damn," he muttered so softly he almost didn't hear it, "What a roller coaster ride."  But as he got on the bed and drew the covers over himself again, Trevor glanced over at Siren's now quiet face, and couldn't stop the smile. "But I wouldn't want to take this ride with anyone else," he whispered. Hoping he didn't get belted for it, Trevor braced on one hand and leaned over and gently kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Red," he whispered, then turn over and settled down, and again waited for sleep.

Siren felt the slight pressure on her forehead and moaned lightly as sleep slowly took control over her.  But even before sleep completely overtook her she murmured one last thing... "I... I love you, Trev."        

rate