*Ghosts are spirits of passions; be it regret, love, or anger and sometimes they are made up of all three*

We stride into the noisy press of bodies. We are equal parts confident and docile. To me it is another party, but it appears to be a major step for Carmen. She clasps my hand in a grip of iron as I maneuver through the crowded narrow hallway. We fight our way to the kitchen where I get Carmen a beer and myself bourbon. Some people come up talk and I introduce Carmen around.

I see Steve and my female buddy Ashe making it over to me.

"Carmen, I think you know Steve and this is one of my best friends Ashe. She's like a brother to me," I tell my companion. Ashe looks like, and is a volleyball player; tanned blonde and nearly as tall as I am. She and Steve are fuck-buddies but I know they will never be serious.

Ashe is a motivated woman and Steve's inherently lazy. If it wasn't for the sex, and me, I don't think they could stand to be in the same room together. I find Steve yanking on my arm and pulling me away from Carmen. I stretch out as far as I can, but Carmen isn't letting go.

"Bro," Steve whispers, "that's that chick."

"Which chick would that be?" I whisper back over the music and the human babble.

"Remember a few months back – your birthday; she's the chick your rescued from that guy."

Chick – birthday – guy; Steve's descriptions aren't all that helpful but I finally figure out what he's saying. This was the girl that nearly got raped at my party. Oh fuck. That explains some things.

"And?" I respond.

"She's smoking. Did you hook up here, or did you bring her?" he wonders.

"I've seen her around," I try not to lie. Carmen pulls her way to my side, Ashe in tow.

"Hey little girl," Steve leers, "you're looking good," he tells me date.

"Her name is Carmen," I inform my buddy.

"And her eyes are a little higher up," grouses Ashe. Carmen pulls close to me.

"Fine, Carmen, if you ever want to step up to the big leagues," he hints, "I'm right down the hall from Romeo here."

"I'm with Robert," Carmen states intently. Ashe gives me a curious look to which I shrug.

"So Carmen, what year are you and what are you majoring in?" Ashe asks.

"I'm in Material Science as a freshman," Carmen grins. Ashe has a way of being able to get people to open up.

"Wow," Ashe grins suspiciously, "Rob is a Material Science major too. How weird." I have nothing to say since this is the longest conversation I've had with Carmen since I've known her. "Has Rob told you he's going to start his Masters here next year?"

"Really," Carmen brightens up, "that's great news," Carmen gushes as she hugs my arm extra tight.

"Trouble at twelve o'clock," Steve warns us. He's lousy at telling directions but I can spot the target of his worry. It is Lindsey and two of her pals. Lindsey is looking like dynamite and I feel myself stirring in response.

"Hey Lindsey," I respond dryly. Lindsey glares at Carmen but lets her gaze softens when she sees me.

"Rob, can I talk to you for a moment – alone?" Lindsey purrs. I'm thinking of the nicest way to say no when Carmen slips past me like a blur and slaps Lindsey so hard I feel the impact. Lindsey is a much bigger girl, but the blow knocks her back into her friends. She barely has time to react before Carmen backhands her.

"Get away from him you savage bitch! He's with me now! Me!" Carmen screams like a wild woman. I grab Carmen around the waist and yank her away because Carmen is following the drooping form of Lindsey to the floor screeching and clawing at her. I have to lift her bodily off the ground and back us to the nearby laundry room. She is still clawing and flailing about.

Ashe and Steve cover our retreat. The attack was so sudden that most of the people in the kitchen don't know what's happen. I think you can add me and my friends to that number.

"Carmen," I say in a soothing tone as I set her down, "what just happened?" Carmen is shaking and vacant eyed, tear streaming down her face. She doesn't respond.

"Rob, what is going on? Do Carmen and Lindsey have a history?" Ashe inquires.

"None that I know of," I reply. Steve chuckles; which is standard operating procedure for him.

"Carmen," I start to kiss away her tears. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here with you. I'm not leaving." That earns me a reaction. She folds her arms around me and starts crying into my shoulder.

"Dude, your bitch 'be crazy'," Steven comments. Ashe elbows him in the ribs. I shoot Steve a dirty look as well.

"Come on Carmen, let's get you home," I say softly. She nods and we head for the back door.

"Watch yourself," Ashe cautions as I head around the house with Carmen. I'm not sure what she means.

Back at my car, I settle her into the passenger seat then get in my side and head toward campus. All freshmen have to live on campus their first year. I ask her what her dorm is and she tells me in a leaden voice. We get there, I park and help her out hers side. On the steps up she finally speaks.

"Is this the place where we split up?" she asks. I'm not sure there was ever an 'us', but ...

"I was thinking we could pick up a change of clothes for you, since you shouldn't be tracking across campus in your little black dress come sunrise. That is if you want to crash at my place tonight," I add. She slowly wraps an arm in mine. Once we are outside of her room she makes me wait while she goes in. Carmen tells me she has a roommate and tells me she doesn't want me to see her naked. I grin at that.

Carmen comes out and we are heading down to the car when I finally break down and ask.

"Carmen, was that a thong you were wearing tonight?" She stops and smiles. Carmen turns away, unzips and lowers her jeans so that I can see more than half an ass cheek.

"I've been going commando," she grins shyly yet sexy at the same time. I still don't think I'm getting any action tonight.

When she cuddles up to me we are both totally naked and I'm totally rock hard. I obey the rules of our game. I'm silent and still, while she runs her hands over most of my body while she kisses my nipples and my chest. After a while, she moves my free arm (she's resting her head on the other) and places it on her lower back. Right before we drift off, she moves the hand farther down until it rests on her ass. I go to sleep happier than if I'd have a bonus round of sex.

I wake up to the normal round of face kisses. She goes a little farther by biting my nose then lower lip. Her hands never touch my groin, but she's getting closer than normal this morning. Carmen even goes so far as to reach around and grab my ass. I roll on my side to give her freer access. She smoothly caresses it.

"Carmen," I groan, "I can't hold back much longer." Carmen gives a cautious and frightened little smile and slips off. She gets off the bed then sits back down abruptly and kisses me again. No tongue, but passionate none the less. She hops back up and starts getting dressed. I can't think of many things sexier than a girl putting on a tight pair of jeans when you know she's got no underwear on. She put on an electric blue tank top that highlighted her large nipples and her delightfully curved breasts.

I struggle into some jeans that had only been worn once before and hand in hand we go down to the kitchen. It turns out that she is leading me. I pull her around to me and tap my lips. She nods.

"Have you wandered around the place much?" I inquire. She startles a bit then nods, taking in my reaction out of the corner of her eye.

"You know that is a little spooky, right?" I respond. She takes a tighter hold of my arm. "I'm okay with it though. You didn't hurt anybody." She turns and hugs me around my waist.

"Thank you," she says.

"What for?"

"For being you," she replies. I laugh it off and lead her to the kitchen for breakfast. We are finishing up when a bleary-eyed Steve in a bathrobe, and a far more alert Ashe show up. She's in his football jersey so I know what happened between them last night.

"Hey Rob; hey ya little psycho," Steve mumbles as he heads for the bowls.

I catch Carmen giving Steve a hard, measured look. Ashe seems a bit more cautious.

"Hey Carmen," Ashe says. "Can we expect more of you around here?

"That is up to Robert," Carmen replies quietly. Ashe looks to me warily. I try a dodge.

"If Carmen wants to hang around here I'm good with that," I offer.

"I want to be here very much, and good morning Ashe ... Steve," Carmen smiles for most of that. Ashe and I do our level best to keep Steve and Carmen going in different directions for the rest of the meal. After that I have to take Carmen back to her dorm, which Steve finds hilarious, and then I'm off to the labs for project work.

I don't get home until a bit past nine. I've grabbed some fast food and I wolf it down before going up to bed. I figure Carmen won't come padding around until later so I can plan to drift off to sleep unimpeded. She's waiting for me naked in bed. I groan. She lets me climb over her, which seems to scare the fuck out of her, and I lay down on my side of the bed against the wall.

Carmen wraps her naked body around me and I am centimeters from pressing up and penetrating the girl who has already started nodding off. Inwardly I scream in frustration. I slip over her, which scares the crap out of her again, grab some hand lotion and storm off to the bathroom for a little personal attention. Visualizing Carmen's naked body is all it takes. I'm back in ten minutes.

Those big brown soulful eyes are boring into me when I return. I go put the lotion back on the nightstand, but when I go over her for the third time tonight, she grabs me by the hips and slows my progress until I'm nearly hovering over her between her legs. She lets me pass and I come to rest beside her once more. She lies on top of me and glides off to sleep. This time I join her.

The next few next few nights follow the same routine. I'm jacking-off every night at bedtime and again after she leaves me in the morning. The third morning after she gets dressed but before she leaves she comes over and kisses me,

"Thank you for being so patient," then she gave an unforgettable French kiss.

Later that day in the afternoon Ashe flags me down. She looks concerned.

"Robert," she says. Calling me 'Robert' and not 'Rob' is never a good thing. "I know where I've seen Carmen before. Do you remember Freshman Orientation back in early July? She was one of our kids." Steve, Ashe, Vince, and I had done the orientation for several groups, I sort of lost track of the faces.

"I can't remember," I admit.

"Well, she was one of the quiet ones, but you took her and one other on a trip through Physical Sciences buildings," Ashe informs me. She has a way with faces, but she plans to be a MD one day so I can see how that works for her. I plan to work on nanotechnology where the faces are too small to be seen.

"If you say so Ashe, but is it really relevant? So we crossed paths before. We must have run through two hundred students," I respond.

"I agree, but don't you think that her reaction to Lindsey was a bit off?" Ashe asks

"I think it was totally off, but I haven't been able to talk with her about it. She's very shy."

"Rob, has she done anything that's weirded you out, besides Lindsey," Ashe inquires.

"We haven't had sex yet, if that is what you mean," I offer up as proof.

"That is a bit weird. You normally never go past the third date without her giving it up."

"It is complicated," I confess.

"Well, you be careful with that one. There is something about her I don't like," Ashe informs me.

"Jealous much," I grin.

"Rob, why would I fuck up a perfectly good friendship?" she grins back and she is right.

I'm laying down trying hard not to think about being hard and my little ghost-ninja is dry-humping my thigh and hip while she kisses and licking my nipples. When she got here I asked for three more sentences tonight, but I have yet to receive a reply.

"Do you like this?" she whispers. She looks with those liquid earthen pools she has for eyes. I nod repeatedly and smile. She pulls herself up my body and kisses me on the lips.

"Soon, I promise you. Please be patient a little longer. I am really trying to not be afraid anymore," she continues in that soft desperate but sexy voice. I nod. "What do you want to ask me?"

"Do you remember me from Orientation?" I begin. She stops moving her hands around my body and they slowly recede until they are huddled between us.

"Yes," she sighs.

"Did you come to my birthday party to see me?"

"Yes," she barely manages to get out.

"So I'm the reason you got attacked by that guy," I reason.

"No," she insists, "I was ... I was ... trying ... I'm sorry," she starts sobbing. "It was never your fault." I'm powerless. I can't touch her and I've run out of words. She is shaking against me. She keeps weeping forever then she whispers something.

"You can hold me if you still want to."

I wrap her up in my arms and rock her from side to side.

"I'll do whatever you want me to do," she sobs. I hold her to me and rest my head on hers. We drift off to sleep that way which suits me just fine.

Ashe flags me down coming out of the labs the next day.

"Rob! Hang on a second," she pants. She has apparently run across campus to catch up with me.

"What's up Ashe; problems with Steve?" I ask.

"Forget Steve; I looked into your girlfriend, Carmen Santos" she starts. I audibly groan, but she continues. "Do you know that she started out in Geology but started the transfer process into Material Science during registration?"

"Maybe I gave a good tour; Jesus Ashe, so she likes the same stuff that I do. Does that make her weird?" I counter.

"Rob, sometimes you're dense. If she's not putting out, what is about this girl that has you with blinders on?" she teases. I blush which causes her to arch an eyebrow in curiosity. "That good eh? Some day you are going to have to tell me about her techniques."

"Ashe, I talked to her about it. She came to my birthday party to see me, but things didn't work out. She ran into that asshole first. I just happened to show up in time," I said. Ashe gives me another curious look. We part ways yet are looping around on a collision course.

Carmen is snuggling with her back to me. She wrapped my arm around in front of her and was sucking on my forefinger and thumb. Being naked and pressing my dick against her ass is driving me nearly insane with lust. I can't even speak to her.

"You ... you make me very happy Robert. You make me trust again," she murmurs.

I start to wonder if this is the end of the waiting and now we can get down to business when she figuratively slams me upside the head.

"It makes me feel so safe knowing you are willing to wait," she moans. I moan but for a different reason.

I growl and climb over her. She no longer flinches when I do so which I count as a huge step forward.

"You have to go back again?" she giggles. I shower her with malicious mischief in my glare. My hand lotion and I go back to the bathroom. I hear her sigh sensually as I leave; she really likes my ass.

She gives me a guilty look when I came back in. It doesn't stop her from pressing herself back against me when I climb back in. I'm grateful to my fatigue that leads me off to sleep. As my eyes shut, I feel her turn over so that we are face to face.

"Can I touch it?" she whispers. My eyes fly open.

She's looking at me expectantly so I give her a little toss of the head. I follow her gaze down my body. I'm pretty sure that I can't get it up right until the electric pulse that passes between us when she takes a single finger and touches my cockhead.

"Oh," she gasps. I gasp too. "It's ..." I think the word she is looking for is 'growing'.

Carmen starts using to fingers on the head as it expands and pushes up toward her. She traces slow lines along my slit then draws out her touch to surround the edges of the head.

"I've never done for this before," she states softly but doesn't look up to see my response. Carmen surrounds my head with her fingertips and slowly moves her hand up and down until her palm touches the top of my penis.

The feeling becomes so intense that I have to lean my head back and groan. Carmen isn't done with me yet. As she increases her tempo I feel her take a deep breathe. I look back down.

"Robert ... I'm a virgin," she cringes. I'm not sure what she's cringing about. I clearly don't understand her at all.

"I'm sorry I'm not Lindsey," she sighs and the light comes on. I tap myself loudly on the chest. She looks up uncertain to what I want. I look into her eyes. She squints her eyes. "Yes?"

"Big damn deal; I'm not with Lindsey now am I? I'm here with you. Now I'll shut up again," I tell her. She kisses my chest and strokes me harder.

I'm caught up in one of the hard and painful realities of our game. I can't touch her to let her know I'm in pain from her vigorous ministrations. I can't tell her that, or that I'm about to cum. Next thing I know she squawks as my semen splashes her hand and arm. The look she gives me is one of 'Oh my God, I didn't know this would happen!'

It makes me wonder what she expected the results to be. She looks helpless and confused. I take a deep breath and reach for some Kleenex. She takes the tissues from my hand and gets ready to clean up.

"Should I taste it?" she asks. I give a long suffering groan.

She looks expectantly at me for an answer so I figure I might as well nod. Carmen tentatively licks her forefinger. She seems to mull it over and much to my glee starts sucking her other fingers. I can barely contain myself when she starts licking her arm clean then starts licking my cock, which is valiantly trying to make yet another comeback. Suddenly Carmen giggles. I look at her curiously.

"Now you don't have to rush to the bathroom anymore," she beams at me. I flop back on the bed and sob. It has taken us how many months to get here? Carmen goes back to cleaning me up. I begin realizing how tough going to class is going to be tomorrow. I'll live with being bone-tired if it means making progress with Carmen like this. When I wake up she's kissing me and whispering 'thank you' with this huge grin on her face.

I struggle through the day, but I'm happy. I'm so happy that I almost forget that I've agreed to earn benny points with my Course Councilor by starting to tutor junior classmen in some of the Physical Science classes that I've already passed. She tells me that it will help me when my application for my Master's degree comes up for final review in the spring.

My day goes downhill when I walk into the Library and I see the 'Oh Fuck' look on Ashe's face. For starters, I have to wonder why Ashe is here; she's Pre-Med then I remember the whole thing about her being a good person with people skills and who she actually cares that people learn something in college. I join the circle of about a dozen other tutors.

"Hi Rob," Lindsey says and Ashe give me an 'I told you so' shrug.

"Hey Lindsey, you are a tutor too?" I lamely say. What the hell else would she be doing here?

"Yeah, I'm starting to look to the future and being a tutor helps you get into Master's programs," she grins.

"Who told you that?" I ask.

"You did ... you know ... when we were dating," she smiles. Everyone else finds something else to look at.

"If you need anything, let me know," I stammer. I feel like an idiot, but I claim to be dazzled by her impressive rack.

"I'll do that," she promises. I retreat to Ashe who thankfully shields me. The look on her face is grim and devilish at the same time.

"It gets worse," she tells me. She hands me my list of my students to tutor. The second name hits me: Carmen Santos. I look at her with confusion.

"Rob, you have a stalker," Ashe informs me. I shake my head. "Rob, do you think she needs a tutor? You know her; is she smart or stupid?"

"She's sort of smart," I admit.

"She's a stalker, Rob. Save yourself and show that lunatic the door," she commands.

"Robert?" Carmen says pleasantly as she comes up. I note that she's thirty minutes early. That's strange.

"I'm here for extra help. Do you know who my tutor might be for Chemistry?" Carmen asks.

"Ah, it is me," I tell her. Lindsey looks down at her list then over to me. Lindsey walks over beside me and looks at the list in my hands.

"I'll take care of her, Rob. You have two more students than I have," Lindsey says sweetly. The smile vanishes from Carmen's face to be replaced by ill-disguised anger – directed at Lindsey.

"No, I've got this," I say. Carmen does an emotional one-eighty and beams at me so swiftly that my head spins. Oh fuck, I have a stalker!

Carmen stands close to me and waits patiently. When she thinks no one is looking, she puts her forefinger to lips and sucks on it. I groan inwardly. I'm still trying to figure what to do when my other students arrive and I start up the game plan to helping them pass their Finals. Occasionally Ashe and Lindsey shoot me looks. Carmen behaves herself and is surprisingly helpful with another Chemistry student I have. It makes me wonder why she needs a tutor at all.

Carmen snuggles against me, allowing me to wrap my right arm underneath her and the left along her hip. I am at a loss for what to say. She's been quiet the little bit of the night she's been here. As usual she's slipping in while I am asleep and slides in next to me while I am waking up. Tonight I feel her breathing against me. She's awake but her head is nestled underneath my chin so I can't make eye contact.

It takes me a little bit figure out what her mood it. She finally starts kissing my chest and making little circles with her tongue.

"Carmen, can I ask three questions?" I ask. She pauses for a bit.

"Okay," she allows with real affection.

"Carmen, do you need a tutor in Chemistry?" I start.

"No," she says immediately, without hesitation.

"Did you choose me as your tutor?" I ask next.

"Yes," she says a little softer.

"You do know this sounds a little weird, right?" Now that gives her pause.

"I ... please, I feel safe around you," she says in a small voice. I can't help myself; I hug her. She nearly squeezes the air out of me she hugs me so tightly.

"I knew you would understand," she exults quietly into my chest. What the hell am I going to do now?

I'm a guy, it is late, I'm tired and I'm in bed with a highly-unstable woman – I go to sleep. When she wakes me up Carmen tells me she would really like it if we can do something tonight, being Friday. I can feel Ashe slapping me silly for saying 'sure'.

When I get back in the afternoon, Ashe is dressed up waiting on Steve. I am beginning to think Steve is missing most of his classes now he's at home so much. Ashe is a different matter.

"Hey Ashe, what's up?" I greet her. "Is Steve upstairs getting ready for tonight?"

"He is, and where are you taking her tonight?" she responds with wicked smile.

"Who?" I evade.

"Psycho-Carmen, you idiot; I caught sight of her on campus today. Normally she skulks around like some Goth-wannabe. Today she was actually smiling. You either fucked her last night, or you are going out tonight. Since you're evading my question, and are starting to sweat, I think you are going out with her," she smirks triumphantly.

"She is coming over tonight at seven. We are going to hit a few clubs," I give in. Ashe comes up and puts a hand on my shoulder and I stare into her hazel eyes.

"Rob," Ashe sighs, "what part about the girl being insane have you failed to grasp? You can't win this: she's a nut. All she can do is hurt you." Ashe is a really good friend.

I go up and get dressed because right now I don't have a relationship exit plan. I am looking for my good shoes when I realize I've left them in the living room (under a pizza box). I pad down the stairs and hear Carmen's voice.

"I don't appreciate you telling Robert that I'm crazy," Carmen is telling someone.

"Carmen, what are you talking about?" Ashe responds cautiously.

"I heard you call me Psycho-Carmen," she says in a high-strung voice. I have to do something. I have no idea how long Carmen has been in the house. Any second now Ashe will be putting that together too and maybe she'll freak. That can't be good. I climb back up the last stair-step and jump down hard.

"Carmen, did I hear you?" I call out. I do a sox-skid along the hardwood floors in the hall. By the time I see Carmen she's smiling in my direction and she looks radiant and very sexy in her plaid skirt and silky blue blouse. I tell her so. At the same time Ashe looks over Carmen's shoulder at me. She's got that 'Oh fuck' expression on.

"I like your look very much," Carmen tells me.

"Thanks Carmen," I answer then, "Ashe, why don't you see what's keeping Steve?"

"Yes, I'll go do that right now," Ashe hurriedly agrees and eases out of the room. When she's gone I walk up to Carmen and open my arms.

She steps in and hugs me, putting her ear against my chest and sighing deeply.

"May I?" I request. She looks at me then nods. I weave her into my embrace pull her waist to me. She gets a little tense but put her head back to my chest.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

She thinks about it then nods. I pick her up by the waist and take her feet off the ground. Carmen gasps and becomes stiff as a board. I hold her there. She slowly unwinds then she starts making a little gargled noise. It takes me a second to realize what she's doing. She's giggling.

"I never thought I would feel this way," she tells me, "about anyone or myself." She kicks her feet in joy.

Somehow I'm trying to reconcile my actions with my intentions, but I can't. I put her down.

"Carmen, have you been here long?" I ask.

"Not too long. I have to admit I'm looking forward to going out with you again; really looking forward to it," she emphasizes to me. It is more social desire than sexual. She's still keeping a tight rein on our sex life.

I'm also doing a little strategic thinking. Her dorm is a mile and a half away. She has a runner's body and regularly runs to my place and back to hers I'm willing to bet. I'm in good shape, but I make the walk to campus because parking is never reliable. Even if we get free at the same time, she could get here before me and I've never found out how she is sneaking in. I am so totally screwed.

"You realize that a bunch of other guys will want to dance with you," I suggest.

"No!" she insists, "I only want to be with you. Don't let them take me away," she pleads.

"Then you have to accept the fact that I like to hold my dates close when I dance," I assure her.

"I can deal with that," she sighs. "You are the one." And the alarm bells go off in my head.

"What do you mean by 'the one? It is the first you've said that." I ask.

"I want you to be the one who takes me – the first time," she begs with so much honesty and need. I know this is where I show her the door and end this relationship.

"When you are ready," I say instead. She melts into me.

"I knew you would understand," she murmurs. I wish I understood her.

"Carmen, do you think we will ever be a normal couple?" I question.

"What do you mean Robert? Aren't you happy with me?" she whispers.

"Of course I'm happy; it is just that ..." I trail off. How can I tell her that she needs to sneak up on me every night?

"I would never, ever hurt you," Carmen insists fiercely out of the blue. I'm not sure what to say.

"What would you do if we could no longer be together?" I whisper fearfully. Carmen digs her fingers in painfully.

"I would die," is her piteous reply. I notice she's holding her breath.

"I guess it is lucky we found one another then," I tell her while stroking her back.

"I found you and I'm never letting anyone take you from me," she sighs happily. We hear footfalls coming down the stairs. I turned so that I was side by side with Carmen. I kept my arm around her waist.

"Hey, your little psycho is here," Steve teases. Carmen trembled slightly.

"Don't be a dick," chides Ashe. She did eye both Carmen and I warily, but I think for different reasons.

"Carmen, this is Steve's way of saying you look smoking hot," I assure her.

"That's right Carmen. How about you convince Rob here to stay at home and we can have a four-way," he laughs. Ashe smacks him on the shoulder. Carmen shrinks up against me and I can visualize the look of horror on her face. I tackle the problem head on.

"Carmen and I haven't had sex yet. She's a virgin," I say evenly. Carmen trembles.

"Damn! (Slap by Ashe) Ow," Steve snickers. "I'm just saying that after all that noise he made with Lindsey I can't imagine Rob going blue-balls for so long."

"I think that's nice," Ashe smiles. "It helps explain Rob's attitude of ... devotion."

"Thank you," Carmen responds softly. "Maybe I've been wrong about you." I get the feeling that Ashe is dodging a bullet.

"Let's go out," Steve declares, "I want to get Carmen on the dance floor and slap that sweet ass." I groan.

"We are going out with them?" Ashe and Carmen say at the same time.

"I didn't think so," I say.

"Sure we are," grins Steve. "We can take turns buying Carmen drinks. We'll get her legs spread (Smack!) Ow! ... before the nights over. Stop hitting me Ashe."

"Robert?" Carmen says in a trembling voice. Ashe steps forward and Carmen presses against me.

"Robert will look after you," Ashe insists. "I'll keep an eye on you too."

"I have you Carmen. Do you trust me?" I ask.

"Yes, I trust you; I trust you; I really do," she says as much to convince herself as me.

"Then you have to know that I won't let anything bad happen to you," I conclude. Carmen looks up at me and there is a burning light in these deep, dark brown eyes.

"Then you know I'll never let anyone hurt you," I promise.

"I'll never let anyone hurt you either. I'll make sure of it," she promises as well.

"Well, that's lovely," Steve chuckles, "but I'm thirsty. Let's roll."

"Steve, how about we hit a restaurant first. It isn't even seven yet," I counter.

"Dinner sounds good," Ashe agrees. "Carmen?"

"I would like to go out to eat very much," Carmen tells us. I start moving her to the door.

"I'll drive," Steve announces, "but that means I choose the place." Ashe brushes against me as I head out the door. She gives me a worried look.