Page 80 of His Virgin Vessel

Dad shot a look at Asa, who said again, "I will."

Dad nodded. "And for the love of God, son, try to keep her out of trouble."

Asa threw up his hands. "Damn it, Brian, I'm only one man. And you know what happens when you try to keep Corinne out of trouble."

"Hey!"

Dad ignored me and nodded. "Yes, I do. But, sometimes, it all works itself out for the best. Eventually. By the way, what are you planning on doing now?"

Asa shrugged. "Hadn't really had much of a chance to think about it. I didn't like to make plans before everything was..."

"Sure," Dad nodded, thoughtfully. "You and I need to sit down and talk sometime. Not today, but sometime."

He nodded a goodbye to us both and strode off. Asa turned to look at me. "Where to?"

"How about home?"

He shook his head. "'Home.’ I don't know when I'll get used to that word, but I'm looking forward to trying."

The drive back to Fiona's passed in a whirl of conversation and plan-making, none of which either of us would be able to recall afterwards, but which seemed very important at the time. At the side door to the bar, which led up to my - I should say our - apartment, Asa stopped me.

"Aren't I supposed to carry you over the threshold?"

"I think that's just married couples."

"Does it have to be?"

"I can't imagine why."

Asa swept me up off my feet, into his arms. I reached down to unlock the door, and we headed in and up the narrow staircase. In all honesty, that narrow staircase did diminish the romance somewhat, as I clonked my head twice, and Asa had to go very carefully. But I don't think either of us cared as we made it through the next door and kissed. It was a kiss that kept on going, neither of us ever wanting it to end and not seeing any real reason that it should. Except one...

"Let me show you the bedroom," I gasped, as we finally broke.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Asa said.

I pointed at the bedroom door, and Asa, still carrying me, hurried on, kicking off shoes as he went. Once in, we fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, groping at each other, fingers urgently seeking out buttons.

"Do you know what's directly underneath this bedroom?" I asked, as Asa kissed his way down my neck and towards my chest.

"To be honest," Asa said, slightly muffled. "I don't much care. I have got things on my mind other than a tour of the building."

"It's Fiona's storage closet," I said.

Asa stopped what he was doing and looked down at me. "Fiona's storage closet?"

"Yep."

"The one where you and I....?"

"Yep."

"Where we, for the first time..."

"Yep."

"And where you lost your..."

"Right downstairs."

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