Give Me A Break

I don't like to point fingers but it's my mom's fault that I was left so fucking frustrated that morning. I was so close, Sara was actually removing clothes - hers and mine - and I had just got my hands on her bra covered tits when I heard my mom call out my name.

"Tanner, come here please."

Sara, who had gone stiff when she first heard my mom's voice, looked back over her shoulder at my closed door. She groaned and then said something that sounded like, 'tell her you are getting busy.'

"Tanner?"

I dragged my eyes from my door, glanced up at Sara briefly before my gaze slid down to my hands cupping her tits. "I can ignore her," I tried to chuckle but I really wasn't in the mood. I was horny.

"Tanner!"

"You should see what your mom wants," Sara told me as she slipped her hands over mine. "And then maybe, come back and get a little of what you want."

"Tanner Win-"

The second mom started to say my middle name, I pushed Sara off of me and jumped off my bed, yelling, "I'm coming mom!" On my way to the door, I grabbed my shirt and yanked it down over my head. "I'll be right back," I threw over my shoulder as I opened the door and walked out into the hallway.

"Hey mom, what's up?" I tried to sound normal as I leaned over the half wall partition by the stairs. Fuck! My mom looked royally pissed off as she stood there with her hands on her hips and that 'you're in trouble young man' look on her face.

"You promised your father you would shovel the sidewalk and the driveway this morning so he didn't have to do it when he got home tonight."

"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath; my mom heard and told me that wasn't appropriate language for a respectable young man. Respectable? I almost laughed when the image of my hands on Sara moments before flashed in my mind. "I'll do it after supper mom."

"No Tanner," mom shook her head. "You've told us you would shovel three days ago but every day you come up with a reason not too. I know you rather spend time in your room with Sara this morning dear but I don't want your father to come home and get it in his head that he's fit enough to shovel - something you promised you'd take care of for us." She crossed her arms, "I don't think we are being unreasonable," she told me. "We don't ask you to do much around here, just help at the store occasionally and now shovel snow." She looked up at me, "Are we being unreasonable dear?"

I had to say no, what else could I say? Even if they were being unreasonable, I knew damn well I couldn't tell her that, I would never hear the end of it. I told her I'll get right on it as soon as I told Sara what was going on and changed.

"Sara I...I...whoa." I stopped dead in my tracks in the doorway, my eyes widen as I spotted Sara still shirtless on my bed where I tossed her when I went to see what mom wanted.

She raised a brow, "Yes?" She asked innocently as her fingers skimmed along the top of the lace covering her tits.

"Oh baby..." I crossed the room quickly, falling to the bed when I reached it. "Come here," I grabbed her by the ankles, she started to giggle and she wiggled a little. I pretended she threw me off balance and I 'fell' face first against her belly. I glanced up to find her biting her bottom lip as she watched me, her fingers trailed over her chest. "Sara..."

"Yes?" She grinned at me as she rubbed her foot against my thigh.

I kissed her warm skin, she closed her eyes, purring softly. "You like that?" I asked, kissing her again.

"Mmmhmm," she squirmed under my mouth. "Give me more," she commanded.

She did not have to tell me twice, I quickly kissed my way up over her belly over the band of her bra to rest my head on her chest. "Sara," I sighed happily as she brought her arms up to my head, squeezing her tits together, smothering me a little. Yes, yes, YES!

"Are you comfortable?"

"Oh God, Yes!" I brought my hands up and squeezed her tits, she slapped me. "Hey! You asked," I smiled against her skin.

Sara giggled, wrapping her legs around my hips, she moaned softly. "Damn, you feel good," she murmured.

"Yeah?" I lifted my head from her chest, she nodded. "Yeah?" I smiled, moving upwards until I could look down into her eyes. Pressing my hips against hers, I asked how I felt now.

"You feel like you want me as much as I want you," she said against my neck.

"Well then..." I looked down at her bra, my fingers itching to tug the lacy material from her body.

She arched her back, "yes please."

My hands slipped down around her sides, my fingers just brushed the closure of her bra when my mom called out to me, telling me to get my butt outside and shovel the driveway now.

"Driveway?" Sara squeaked, looking so crushed. "You can't..." Her hands gripped my shoulders, "Please tell you don't have to go right now!"

"Sorry baby," I kissed her lips. "I have to do this now, I promised my parents days ago. If I don't go, my dad will do it when he gets home - he has a bad back, I don't want him to hurt himself."

"Okay..." she sighed but smiled at me. "You'll be quick, right?"

I grinned, "With the snow or with...?" I cupped her breast.

Sara slipped her hand over mine, "No," she murmured, "You can go slow with me."

"Tanner!"

"I'm coming mom!" I yelled over my shoulder before groaning. "I have to go sweetheart, I'll be quick, I promise." Reluctantly I pulled away from her and crawled off my bed.

Before I left my room, I went to my closet to grab my sweats to change into. I was standing naked in front of my dresser, about to pull on my pants when Sara came up behind me. Her arms wrapped around my waist, her hands resting just above the waistband of my boxers, 'Mmmm," her mouth pressed against my bare shoulder, I felt her teeth graze my skin.

I laughed, "Some one's a little hot for me this morning."

"A little?" She peeked around my shoulder, "I'm more than a little hot for you Tanner," she kissed my arm. "I'm so hot," she gazed up at me as her hand slipped under the ban of my boxers.

"Sara!" I squeaked as her hand closed around my cock. "Baby I...." her teeth grazed my skin once again. "You're killing me," I hissed.

"I'm not," she smiled up at me and then, as I looked down at her, her tongue poked out and, without taking her eyes from me, she flicked her tongue against my arm as her hand moved on my cock.

"Fuck me!"

"If you insist," she released me and came around to face me. I thought she was going to say something but she didn't, she wrapped her free hand around my neck and pulled my head down to hers, "I can't wait to be with you."

"Tanner!" My mom was now knocking on my door.

"I'm just changing mom!"

Sara pouted, "I guess we'll have to wait."

"I'll be quick!" I promised as I tugged on my pants and then my shirt. "Very quick," I gave her a kiss on the lips and then looked down at her body. "Just don't..." I outlined her chested with my hands, "...get dressed."

She smiled, "I won't."

I tried to go as fast as I should but it still took me close to two hours to finish. After the last shovel of snow was tossed, I dropped the shovel by the door and ran into the house. My mom was sitting in the kitchen looking at the day's flyers, when I burst through the door, she looked up at me. "What's the hurry dear?"

"Nothing," I yanked down the zipper on my jacket and kicked off my boots.

"Did you want some hot chocolate Tanner?"

"No, no."

My mom turned backed to her flyers when I went to hang up my jacket. "Sara was down here for a while," she told me. "She started to yawn a lot, so I told her to head upstairs to bed."

"What? No!" I threw my jacket in the closet before taking off upstairs; my mom's laughter followed me all the way.

I went running into my room, skidding to a stop when I spotted Sara curled up under my blankets. "No!" I groaned as I crawled onto my bed behind her. I checked to see if she was awake but there was no luck, she was sound asleep.

"Just great," I sighed as I rolled off the bed, stripped down to my boxers and then, lifting the blankets, I started to get into bed when my jaw dropped - Sara was dressed in just panties and a cami - her panties had ridden up her ass. "Oh hell yes!" I crawled into bed and wrapped myself around her near naked body.

Sleep didn't come easy but I must've fallen asleep because the next thing I know my alarm clock was buzzing and Sara was squirming in my arms.

Finally?

It took her all of two seconds to agree to come home with me. I thought about asking her if she wanted to take another second to think about it but I didn't think she would get the joke. Before she could change her mind, I led her to her car. "My house, five minutes, don't be late."

Ten minutes later, Sara joined me in the driveway. "Hello honey," she purred as she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Wanna go inside, or did you want to freeze our bums off out here?"

"I'll protect this one," I grabbed her ass and she squealed. "Let's go inside." When she grabbed my hands, I started to protest. "Come on Sara, we don't have too-" She pressed her lips against my throat. "Mmm, we can do that."

"Then let's go inside," she tugged on my hands. She didn't have to tell me a second time, I pulled her up the steps and into the house before she could even say my name.

We were kissing, I was tugging impatiently at her zipper as I held her against the front door. "Damn zipper," I growled against her neck. "I'm getting the scissors!"

"They are in the top drawer by the fridge Tanner!"

I froze. "Oh God! Please tell me that wasn't my mom."

Sara looked around my shoulder, "Sorry honey, it is your mom and she's standing right behind you."

"No, no, no!" I groaned. "This can't be happening."

"Why do you want the scissors dear?" My mom looked up at me and then at Sara. "Is your zipper stuck Sara? I could help with that."

"No," Sara blushed as she tried to look my mom in the eye but she just couldn't do it.

"Mom Sara's zipper is fine," I moved away from Sara reluctantly. "What are you doing home?"

"I wasn't feeling that good this morning when I woke up Tanner," my mom said as she headed to the table to sit down. "Your father thought it would be a good idea for me to stay home."

"Today?" I squeaked. "But...but...you look good mom."

"Oh Tanner," mom waved her hand at me. "I felt lightheaded and nauseous this morning."

Sara, who had taken off her jacket while mom and I were talking, straightened her shirt as she walked over to the table. "Do you have a cough? Fever? Did you need us to get you something? A blanket? Soup? Want me to make you some tea?"

"No, no dear, it's ok. I'm just going to go lie down on the couch again."

"Are you sure you don't want to go into the shop?" I asked hopefully.

"Tanner!" Sara slapped my arm. "Your mom says she's not feeling well, of course she doesn't want to go into the store."

"But I..." I motioned towards the stairs and gave her a look.

"Oh don't worry about me Tanner, you and Sara can go do what you planned on before you found out I was home."

"We weren't going to do anything mom, just talk and watch TV. Yeah...that's it."

My mom gave me a knowing look and shook her head. "I'm not that blind Tanner, I saw the way you were manhandling Sara just a few minutes ago."

"Mom!"

"No, honey, it's ok. You are young and Sara is a pretty girl." Sara lowered her head and mumbled something like she wasn't by my mom scoffed at that idea. "Sara you are a beautiful young woman and my son is very lucky to have you in his life."

"Thank you," Sara brushed her hand against her cheek but her voice cracked a little.

"That's right mom, you tell her!" I wrapped my arms around her waist. "Sara is really special and it's time she was told that." I kissed her cheek as I held her against me. "I love you."

My mom's eyes lit up as she looked back and forth between Sara and me. It wasn't until she did that, that I realized what I said.

Oh fuck!

Sara slowly turned her head back to glance at me, "Do you think we can go upstairs?"

"Yes," mom jumped in. "You two should be alone right now." She hugged us and said she would be in the living room if we needed her.

Sara led me upstairs as quickly as she could. My 'what's wrong' seemed to fall on deaf ears, she didn't say anything until we were in my room and she had the door closed.

"Sara?" I went up behind her as she stood facing the door. I rubbed my hands over her arms, "Is there something wrong?"

"No," she shook her head as she turned to me. "I'm great," she grabbed my shirt in her hands as she pushed me backwards until we both tumbled onto my bed; she landed solidly on top of me. Fuck! It felt so hot having her pressed against me. "I figured you needed to get out of there before you tell your mom something else you don't mean."

"Sara it's not that I didn't mean it..."

"Tanner," she kissed me. "It's way too early to feel that way but I'll admit, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy to hear you say it."

"So? You aren't mad?" I asked her between the kisses.

"Nope," she grinned. She leaned down until her lips were against my ear. In between her tongue flicking against my neck and her lips nipping my ear, she whispered, "I'm so hot for you Tanner."

Taking Every Chance I Get

"Hey Tanner." I looked up from the skid of bulk food to see Sara standing nervously at the end of the aisle. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" She ran a hand through her hair, parting her bangs, some strands sticking off in funny places. I straightened up, she looked so cute. I wanted to take her in my arms and...

She shifted from foot to foot, she attempted a smile but it was really shaky. She gestured self consciously with her hands. "I.." she walked towards me, raising her hands up to my chest when she stopped in front of me. She gazed up at me, "Maybe I'm being silly but I just wanted to know -"

I pulled her into my arms and backed her up against the skid I was working on. "You are so hot right now."

"Tanner," Sara blushed. "We can't do this here," she looked around shyly.

I let out a huge dramatic sigh but smiled at her. "I know that but can we do this sometime?" I nuzzled her neck, "It doesn't even have to be the full course, just a little taste. That's all I ask, a little nibble, suck, lick - anything!"

"You promised me we would take it slow," she whispered softly against my shoulder.

"There's a difference in going slow and never leaving the starting line Sara."

She lowered her head as she moved her hands from me to nervously play twist them together between us. "I know," she glanced up at me. "I haven't been the greatest girl...I mean, it's not like I don't want too..." Sara quickly turned her head to the side as we heard customers approach. "Maybe we can talk about this after work?"

I released her and turned back to my skid, "Sure whatever."

By the time the shift was over, I just wanted to get out of there. I was waiting in the staff room for five minutes but Sara didn't show up. Just when I was about to go look for her, Billy came in to grab his jacket and bag. "Hey man," I started to ask him if he saw Sara but he ignored me. He just pulled on his jacket and walked out. "Thanks for the help!" I called after him.

He responded, he flipped me off and kept going. Fucker!

I waited a couple more minutes, getting more and more pissed off with each passing second. Soon I had enough, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the staffroom and onto the floor. I had just passed the main aisle into Infants when I heard Sara call out my name. I debated pretending I didn't hear her but I turned instead.

She jogged towards me, her hand on her chest as she held her name badge down. She was smiling. "Hey," she said cheerfully when she stopped in front of me. "I just have to clock out and grab my stuff," she told me as she briefly touched my forearm. "Do you mind waiting a minute longer?"

I stared at her, actually I was glaring at her, and I did so until she started to lose the cheeriness in her expression. "Hurry up."

"Ok," she said hesitantly as she scooted by me to head to the back.

Once Sara was gone, I noticed someone watching me curiously. Dressed in black pants, white shirt and the telltale blue smock, her name badge proudly stated her name and position - Anna, Department Manager. She was very pretty, her dark curly hair loose around her face along with those big brown eyes made her seem almost angelic but the look in her eyes and the smile on her face led me to believe she wasn't as innocent as she seemed.

"You must be Tanner," she said as she made her way over to me. Leaning back against the cheap stroller bin, she crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly to the left as she smiled up at me. "I've heard a lot about you."

Hiking my bag's strap up on my shoulder further, I crossed my arms and stared down at her. "And what have you heard about me...?" I glanced down, supposedly to check out the name but I was really just checking out her rack - she has a nice rack. "...Anna."

She chuckled, "Well I hear that you are doing a great job in pets and you are thought off as some kind of knight in shining armor."

"I don't think my armor is all that shiny," I laughed.

"Maybe not," she dropped her arms. "But Sara seems to think you are pretty special." She pushed off the bin, "It was nice to meet you," she said as Sara's hand touched my arm. We both looked at Sara, she wasn't smiling anymore. "Have a good day," Anna said as she walked away.

I turned to Sara, she motioned forward. I knew something was on her mind as we walked towards the front of the store. It wasn't until we were out of earshot of Infants that she asked me if I thought Anna was pretty.

"Yes," I told her honestly. "She's very pretty."

"Oh." I peeked at her, she was frowning. "Did you..." she glanced up at me but turned back again quickly. Clearing her throat, she asked if I checked Anna out.

Again, I answered honestly. "Yes, I did."

"Oh," she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I see."

We continued on in silence, it wasn't until we exited the store that she spoke again. "I guess I'll see you tonight," she threw over her shoulder as she hurried to her car.

I continued to my car like nothing had happened, I started it and let it warm up a little, even scraped the frost from the windows. All the time I was watching Sara out of the corner of my eye as she did the same thing I did. When she got into her car to drive away, I got into mine. Normally Sara waits for me to pull out first, even if she wasn't going to my place with me, so I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about her hitting me when I pulled out of my parking spot and stopped right in front of her car, blocking her between me and the car parked behind her. I got out of my car and waited.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked as she hopped out. "Would you just get out of my way so I can go home?"

I pretended to think about it, even made the 'this is a hard decision' face but in the end I just shook my head.

"Tanner," she came closer. "Please don't do this here," she glanced around quickly before turning her gaze back to me. "I understand," she told me. "We don't have to do this."

"I think we do," I told her calmly. "It seems to be the only way to really get your attention." I took a step towards her and for the first time ever, she didn't take a tentative step backwards, she stood her ground and that made me smile. "What do you think? That just because I think she's pretty, I'm going to drop you like you don't matter to me Sara?"

She lowered her head which spoke volumes, that was exactly what she thought. "I'm not that pretty," she stated. "I couldn't compete with her or anything else for that matter." She looked up at me, "I saw the way you were looking at her Tanner, don't tell me you didn't think about..."

"About what Sara?"

"Nothing," Sara turned away.

"Don't turn away from me. Tell me what you think I was going to do," I smiled and moved forward. "Some thing like this?" I asked as I twirled her around and planted a big kiss on her surprised lips.

At first she tried to push me away and just when I thought I should let her go, she whimpered and melted against me.

"Come home with me Sara," I pleaded when we broke apart panting for air.

Strange Night

"Tanner why won't you come home with me?"

Last night Sara, Billy and I were hiding out in the staffroom. Actually all the night crew was hiding out in the staff room. Some would say it was because it was lunch time but the majority were hiding from customers. Fucking store and it's stupid 'let's be opened for 24 hours for ten days' idea. Fucking bastards in head office.

I was in the middle of stirring my beef stew - I nuked it a little too long and was trying to cool it down or at least make it safe to eat - when Sara slipped her hand down my forearm and asked me that question. I glanced over my shoulder, frowning at the question.

She drew back her hand, "forget about it," she mumbled.

Normally I would've made her tell me what was up but I don't know - since she practically blew me off last week, I withdrew from her. All week I've been quite and less than...fuck, I've been ignoring her. Not checking her out and not touching her. It's been hell. I miss touching her.

"Excuse me," she pushed out her chair and jumped up, stumbling as she hurried out of the staffroom.

"Way to go dumbass," Billy muttered without looking up from his lunch.

I tried to ignore him but he kept muttering stuff as he ate.

"Fuck you," I snapped.

"No," Billy slapped down his fork. "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on you pretentious jack ass. Sara doesn't deserve to be treated like this, she's nothing but nice and loving towards you. You are..." he trailed off and then said the worse thing he could've said, "...why you are no better than Ken!"

I jumped up out of my chair, slamming it off the wall. "I'm nothing like that bastard!" I yelled at him. "I would never hurt her like he did."

"No?" Billy picked up his fork again with more calm than I felt. "Then why are you sitting here acting like a jerk while Sara is in the bathroom crying over you?"

That stopped me in my tracks, so to speak, I didn't bother to say anything to him, I went off in search of Sara. She was in the bathroom crying like Billy said. "Sara?" I called as I walked into the woman's bathroom.

"Go away!" She called out.

"Sara, honey-"

"Don't call me 'honey'!" The last stall door opened as she came flying out of it. "You don't get to be all sweet and call me pet names like that!" I asked her why not but she went to the sinks without looking at me again.

"Come on Sara don't be like -"

"Don't tell me how to be!" She snapped at me. "I can be mad if I want Tanner! I couldn't go over to your place that morning because my mom needed me to come home. I asked you to come with me but you wouldn't! Why wouldn't you go with me Tanner? Why do we always have to go to your parents house? Why can't you come home with me some time?" She splashed some water on her face. "Why don't anyone want to go to my house?" She mumbled.

I leaned against the wall, I felt like the world's biggest prick. There were so many things I wanted to say to her but when I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out as I watched her walk over to the paper towel machine. I figured she was going to ignore me but between dropping the damp towel into the garbage can and reaching for the door, she looked at me.

She was pissed, I thought she was about to tear a strip off me or yell. I was so sure she would hit me, that I flinched when she moved close. She kept coming. I closed my eyes, hey! I was letting her strike out at me, I didn't need to watch her do it! I was waiting...and waiting but the blow never came. "Sara?" Opening one eye, I peeked at her, she was giving me a funny look.

"How do you do that?" She asked before slipping out the door.

"How do I do what?" I followed her. "Sara?"

"Excuse me miss," a lady dragged Sara off towards the floor.

Fucking customers.

Bah Humbug!

Fuck do I hate Christmas! Ok, Ok. I don't hate Christmas but I'm this close to yelling 'bah humbug' and locking myself away in a windowless room until it's all over. Sara tells me that it's normal for people like us, people who deal with Christmas two months before it happens, to feel that way. "It takes a while to get in the mood," she told me last night when I walked her back to Infants after lunch break was over. "But come the 24th, you'll start to get excited -"

I stepped in front of her suddenly causing her to walk into me. She hated it when I did it but I loved it, she called me evil every single time. Having her bump into me, throwing her off balance a little so I have to take her in my arms? Why the hell wouldn't I love it? "You know baby, getting me excited isn't that difficult, I'm always in the mood for you."

"Tanner," she gasped as her cheeks took on a reddish tinge. She glanced around, "I wasn't talking about that mood," she hissed.

"I know," I chuckled. "Just making sure you did." I tipped my head to brush my lips against her cheek. "Come over after work."

The tiniest moan escaped from her lips. "I come over every morning," she smiled up at me, her eyes shining in the dim lighting.

"I was hoping you'd consider staying over this morning," I stated. "I really want...."

"Tanner..."

"...you, Sara." She started to lower her head, she always did that when I told her what I thought about her. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to stop from taking you in my arms here?" I felt her hands grip my shirt at my waist as she moved in to rest the top of her head against my chest. Her simple 'yes' was music to my ears. "God Sara!" She looked up at me, I moved into kiss her when the jingle of keys - a telltale sign that management was close by - stopped me.

"We should get to work," she glanced over her shoulder in time to see Judy whiz by.

"Yeah," I sighed. Reluctantly, I pulled away from her, making her promise that she would consider staying over in the morning.

"Hey Tanner?" She called after me as I headed out of the department. When I turned to her, she was walking towards me with a playful smile on her lips. "I was thinking," she took my hand in hers but instead of linking her fingers with mine as she always did, she drew my hand forward. "That would would like a preview."

I was confused - for the millisecond it took her to guide my hand to her ass and give me the hottest come hither look ever. My fingers dig into her butt as I urged her closer to me. I would've been able to control myself, believe it or not, but when I pulled her near, her eyes widened and she purred. All self control flew out the window. Before you could say 'at work', my other hand was on her ass, her arms circled my neck and I lifted her upwards as I crushed her lips with mine.

Sara let go of all inhibitions she had. I could tell when it happened too. She moan her surrender and melted against me as she kissed me with similar urgency as I kissed her. Fuck! Let me tell you, that was so fucking hot!

"Tanner!" She gasped breathlessly as she tore away from our kiss. "We have..." She trailed off as her eyes connected with mine. I'll be damned if a sexy little moan didn't come from her. "Don't look at me like that," she whispered.

"How am I looking at you?" I asked against one corner of her mouth as my thumb traced her bottom lip.

"Like you want to eat..." she turned her head towards me.

I chuckled. "There will be plenty time for that and more," I promised her.

Her arms tightened around my neck as she pressed her body against mine. The involuntary moans that escape her are so hot! She doesn't think so but I do. I told her just how hot as my hands returned to her ass. "And you think I'm evil," I held her tight, my mouth was on the warm skin of her neck creating goosebumps and little moans as I spoke.

I held her and whispered, against her neck, my thoughts on just how evil she was until a frustrated growl rose in her throat. "I know how you feel," I said as I pulled back to look at her. With a quick kiss on her lips, I set her back from me, creating enough space to bring me back to the reality that we were at work.

I swear she looked like she wanted to kill me as I took a step back. "Thanks for the preview," I flashed her a smile and turned. "It'll make the next four hours seem like an eternity."

The Greatest Gift

With Sara frozen as she stood in front of me at the entrance to the training room, I started to panic a little. Was she mad? I knew Billy said that she didn't want anyone to make a big deal out of her birthday but surly there was no fucking way she was pissed off that I cared enough. "Sara? Come on, it's not..." I reached out to touch her shoulder but she was gone.

"Oh my..." she gasped as she walked into the training room. "Oh..." her hand covered her mouth as she turned from side to side, looking around the room. "My...oh..." On that last 'oh' she turned quickly and came towards me -fast.

"Oh!" I grunted as she threw herself at me, her arms snaking around my neck as she pressed her face against my chest.

And then she started to shake. But what affected me was how close and tight she held me. Her body snug against mine, her tits squished against my chest, her...fuck me, this wasn't the place to get horny. "Sara...baby..." I tried to push her away from me but she held tight. "If we were in my room baby..."

There was a soft chuckle and a sniffle before she lifted her head upward. She was crying, the tears left streaks as they rolled down her cheeks. "Oh..." she wiped a hand over her cheeks. "I...I'm sorry...it's just...I..." she motioned back towards the room. "You did this?"

I nodded, "With the help of my mom, yeah."

Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Your mom was here? She..." Sara covered her mouth once again as her eyes welled up with tears again. "Oh Tanner..." She came to me again, her hands gripped my shirt but this time, instead of closing herself around me, she pulled me to her. "I can't believe you did this...for me."

"Of course it's for you Sara, who else would -"

"Oh shush!" She kissed me. Her lips moved against mine as her hands slid over my chest. My hands roamed over her body until they came to rest on her ass. A groan came from somewhere deep inside me as I held her firm - fuck I was firm! She had me wanting her so badly that one kiss was all it took to drive me over the edge. I needed her. I didn't even care that we were at work, that thought didn't even cross my mind as I walked her backwards, kicking the door closed with my foot, until we were standing in the middle of the room.

There were two tables in the room, one mom had used spread a tablecloth out over and arranged the meat/cheese platter and the trays of fruits and vegetables out on - she insisted that I go with them instead of cooking something special for Sara because we were at work and something heavy wouldn't be good for productivity. The other table was empty, pushed into the one corner, it was that one I backed Sara up too. It was that table I wanted to get her naked on.

She was just as horny as I was, she was tugging on my clothes as we kissed. Hotly whispered words sent shivers of anticipation down my spine - words that caused my aching cock to twitch. My hands had found their way under her shirt, my fingers were itching to release her tits from their confines to feel their weight. My mouth watered from thinking about her nipples - how they would pebble under my fingers, how she would gasp when my lips closed on them.

I was close. Oh so close to tasting her skin when the stores' PA system cut off the music that was playing and Judy's voice came over the speakers for one of our co-workers to call her.

Sara froze.

"No!" I groaned in frustration. I wanted to kill Judy at that moment.

A moment had passed before I looked down at Sara again. She hadn't moved but she did have an amused look in her eyes - under the passion that clouded them, that is.

I thought she was going to move away, to pretend that nothing had just happened between us but she just sat there on the table, gazing up at me. "What?" I nipped at her lips. "What's with that 'come get me' look in your eyes?" I grinned when she blushed. "Do you want some of this?"

"That?" She raised a brow as her eyes skimmed my body but stopping to jump back to my face before she went below the belt.

"Yes, this." I nuzzled her neck. "You don't want this?"

"Mmmmm," her hands curled at my waist. "I want it alright." And then she did something that not only shocked me but it feel so damn good. She lowered a shaky hand. Lower and lower until her fingers brushed hesitantly against my hard on before settling firmly over me, cupping me. Caressing me.

"Baby..."

"Yes?"

"Feels goood," I hissed.

There was more kissing, caressing. Fuck I was spinning. The knock that was a signal to let me know that break was drawing to an end, came too quickly for my liking.

"We have to go?" Sara pouted, her arms wrapped around my waist. "I don't want to go back to work, I wanna stay with you, here. Can we stay?"

"Mmm, baby I wish we could. But -"

"Tanner dear you and Sara need to get back to work," my mom's voice travelled through the door.

"See?" I needed towards the door. "Mom thinks we had enough time together."

She groaned as she hugged me. "But we haven't..." she glanced over her shoulder at the food still sitting, untouched, on the other table. "I'm hungry Tanner"

But we had to go back. While we were gone, my mom cleaned up the training room. She left the food for us, she put it in the lunch room for us.

On last break, I asked her to join me in the training room for a few minutes.

"Did you want to continue where we left off?" She asked coyly, her fingers trailing over my chest.

"I wish," I pulled her into my arms. "Well we could..." I nodded towards the table.

"Mmmm," she chuckled. "I don't think this is the best place to..."

"No," I agreed. "When we make love Sara, it won't be in some place where I'll have to hurry. I'm going to enjoy tasting every inch of your body." She squirmed in my arms. "Oh you'll do a fair bit of that too."

"Such promises," she laughed.

"Oh trust me Sara, you'll love every second of it." I swear she turned every shade of red in the color spectrum. "But that's not why I wanted you to come here," I released her and grabbed the bag that mom left on the table for me. "I have something for you."

"Something for me?" She frowned. "But why? The food, the candles. Tanner you don't need to give me anything else. Just being with you is more than enough for me." She came to me, took the bag from my hands and returned it to the table. "I just want to be with you Tanner."

"Yeah?"

"Mmhmm!" She grinned up at me.

I held out the bag to her again.

"Ok," she laughed as she took the bag and pulled out my terribly wrapped present. "It's perfect," she giggled.

"Open it," I urged her. She slowly peeled back the paper, as if she was savouring the experience. "Come on, rip it open!"

"No," she shook her head softly. "I want to..." she sighed as she gazed up at me. "It's been a long time since someone gave me a present Tanner..."

"Surely your mom...Billy..."

"Yeah," she nodded. "I meant a guy..."

"Billy?"

"...who liked me."

I wanted to tell her that I wasn't the Bastard, that I would never take her for granted like he did but I just held her close as she turned her attention back to the present. "Oh Tanner this is great," she stared into the box I had put everything into, down at the front cover of the latest Grisham book I saw her debating the other day. She promised herself that she would buy it on payday. "Thank you!" She hugged and kissed me. "You didn't have too -"

"There's more," I nodded to the present, she hadn't removed the book from the box so she didn't see the rest of the stuff underneath it.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as she lifted the book to find the 3 Classic Romance movie collection that I saw her eyeing as well. "Have you been spying on me?"

I shrugged and pointed to the box again.

"There's more?" Her eyes went wide when I told her yes. "This is too much Tanner!" She said as she lifted the movies from the box to reveal the last item, another box. "You didn't have to get me anything.." she watched me as she lifted the lid on the smaller box.

"I did."

"Well the book was e....oh my..." she glanced down, her hands stilled. "Oh...."

"Do you like it?"

"It's..." her voice cracked.

"Come on baby don't get all sad now, it's a happy time."

"Oh Tanner," a shaky hand carefully slipped under the delicate silver chain that rested in a bed of cotton. "This is too much." She stared, in awe, at the blue sapphire heart that hung from the chain.

She didn't want to accept the necklace at first. In fact, it took me a while to convince her that she deserved to be giving beautiful things. And that I wanted to be the one to give them too her.

In the end she let me put the necklace on her. "How does it look?"

I leaned down at kissed the area beside where the little heart rested. "It looks beautiful baby."

Setting Up

"And that's how you do it!" Mom clapped her hands together and smiled proudly up at me as I stared down at the counter in front of me. It hadn't been as difficult as I thought to complete the item we had been working on for about an hour. No the difficult part was standing there in the kitchen with my mom, doing everything she told me to do and have to listen to Travis' comments as he sat at the table with Shelly and watched me.

"Fuck you!" I snapped at him once but my mom didn't like that too much, she slapped me across the back of the head with her dishtowel.

"I can still wash your mouth out with soap!" She told me.

"Did you hear what he said?" I asked her as I rubbed the back of my head. Travis had made the comment of how mom always wanted a daughter and how pretty-ish I would look in pink frills.

"I heard what he said," mom had told me but she didn't say anything to him about it! I couldn't believe it, it ticked me off that he could get away with something like that. Fucker!

Once I finished cleaning up, I headed over to the table as mom sat down with the scissors and tape that I requested moments before.

"You got her a present too?" Shelly seemed a little surprised when I started to pull from the bag on the table - the first thing was birthday wrapping paper. "And you are actually going to wrap it?" She turned to Travis, "Why can't you be more like Tanner?" She asked before telling me that Travis' idea of wrapping gifts was to wrap the bag that he carried the present home from the store it, around it and then hand it to her. "He would never do what you are doing for Sara."

"Now Shelly that's not right," mom jumped in. "You knew how romantically inept Travis was when you married him, there's no point in complaining or comparing him to Tanner."

"Yeah!" Travis grinned and slapped his hand down against the table. "Thank you mom."

Mom nodded, "But it wouldn't hurt you to show a little love either Travis, Shelly is your wife, don't you think she deserves to be loved?"

Shelly turned to him. "Yeah!" She exclaimed with a smile on her face. "I deserve some lovin'!"

Travis raised a brow, he glanced at me, then mom and finally he looked at Shelly again. "I'll show you lovin' woman!" He grabbed her around the waist as he leaned in and buried his face against her neck.

I did my best to ignore them, it was difficult to watch them together when everything Travis got to do - every touch, every kiss - made me ache for the moment Sara finally lets me touch her. I was hoping it was soon - my wrist has been very sore lately!

Soon I had Sara's present wrapped - it looked like my nephews wrapped it but hey! at least it was real wrapping paper not the bag I carried it home in - and I headed upstairs to lie down for a while before showering and getting ready for work.

Ten twenty I had returned to the kitchen, Travis and Shelly had long since taken the boys home, mom just happened to be in there getting something to drink. "Are you sure you don't mind helping me out with this?" I asked her for probably the millionth time since the day before when I told her about my plans.

"Of course not," she replied. "I told you I wanted to help, I think it's really sweet the trouble you are going through to make this birthday a special one for Sara, she'll love it."

"I sure hope so," I gave mom a hug. "Thank you so much."

On my way to work Sunday night, I stopped into Tim Horton's to pick up hot chocolate and doughnuts for Sara, Billy and I. It wasn't for her birthday, it was a 'tradition' of sorts for the two of them, whenever it started to get cold, they would take turns buying hot chocolate and doughnuts to have at work. I've been lucky enough to be included in their 'traditions', it was my turn to buy. Plus it was -21 outside, I needed something to warm me up until I saw Sara.

Normally when I get to work, I head straight to the staffroom but Sunday night I waited at the front for them to come in. Sara was the first to come in, she was in her 'going places' stride mode, she almost walked right pass me without stopping.

"Hey," she gave me a confused look as she walked over to where I sat down to drink some hot chocolate and eat my doughnut while I waited. "What are you doing up here?"

"Waiting for you and Billy," I told her. "Hot chocolate?"

She nodded eagerly as she removed her gloves from her hands. "Yes! I'm freezing! It's way too cold out there night!" She reached for the paper cup but I pulled it back. "Hey!"

"Hey what?" I stood before her, took her hands in mine and tried to tug her to me. "You said you were freezing, I can warm you up quicker than a cup of hot chocolate." She let me pull her into my arms which surprised me, she had been avoiding any touching at work. "Feeling any warmer?"

"Hmm," she pulled back a little, her hand slipped up over the front of my jacket until her fingers closed around the zipper pull. "I will in a minute," she told me as she unzipped the zipper. She let out a contented sigh as she settled her cheek against my tshirt covered chest. "It's really warm here."

Any thought I had disappeared the moment she started to unzip my jacket. With her face planted against my chest, her ear able to hear the thumping of my heart, I wished I could take her home. "We don't need to work tonight, do we?" I asked hopefully.

Sara softly laughed as she gazed up at me. "I wish we didn't have too."

"Oh really?" I raised a brow. "What would you rather be doing tonight?"

She gave me a naughty grin, "Well I -"

"Oh thank God!" Billy came over to us, his gaze focused on the beverage tray on the counter beside us and the lone cup sitting there. "I worried that you forgot but you didn't!" He grabbed the cup and held it in his gloved hands, "It's so damn cold -" his voice trailed off as he turned to see Sara locked in my arms. "Oh!" He turned away again, "I could take this to the back," he said. "Yeah, I'll just go..."

"We were just going back too," Sara pulled away from me causing my to groan my displeasure. "We have to clock in and start Tanner."

"I don't wanna," I reached for her again but she moved too quickly for me.

"Too bad," she told me with a grin. "You have too."

"Your timing really sucks Billy!" I yelled after him as he walked away.

"Sorry!" He yelled back but he didn't sound all that sorry. I went to tell Sara that I didn't think he actually was but she slipped her hand in mine and I forgot what I was going to say.

As we walked towards the back hand in hand, I kept glancing at her - I couldn't believe it was really happening, we were actually making progress. Ok, so it may not sound like a big deal but it was, like I said, she never touched me at work since that night, I don't think she wanted anyone to know that there was something between us. Not that everyone didn't already know, there was talk, I heard it. People knew and they weren't sure about us because they weren't sure I was good enough for her. Bastards! Like I care what they think!

The first part of the night passed by rather quickly. In fact I was a little surprised when Judy - our manager - paged me to go to the front office, which was my signal to head to the back.

Normally when I headed to the back, I walked right by Infants where Sara was working but on Sunday, I took a detour, I headed back through Furniture and from there I made my way to the training room where Judy was standing, waiting for me.

"So do I get to see?" She asked as the door to the training room started to open.

Peeking through the small opening, my mom grinned when she saw me. "It's all set up Tanner," she said as she swing the door opened to reveal the room she had spent the last half hour getting ready for me. "Sara is going to love it!"

"Oh my!" Judy gasped before turning to tell me that her birthday was in March. "I won't complain if you want to do something like this for me."

"Aha," I chuckled uncomfortably before telling her I couldn't say because that would ruin the surprise for her. Turning to my mom, I gave her a hug. "Thank you so much for doing this. It's looks great!"

"I only did what you asked Tanner," mom gave the room a quick glance before saying she'll leave me to do the rest. "I'll clean everything up once you are gone back to work."

"Mom you don't have to do that, I can clean it up. You should go home and get some rest."

"Nonsense," mom waved my concern off. "I'm happy to help." She smiled, "Besides, I want to know what Sara's reaction is, I can't stand to wait until you get home to find out!" Mom told me Judy had asked her to keep her company during lunch so she wouldn't be bored. "Have a good time," she told me. "Just keep it PG, you are at work you know."

I promised mom I would be good - well as good as I could be and still be alone with Sara. Judy called lunch as mom and her headed off in the direction I came.

The time between the moment Judy called break and the moment Sara turned the corner with Billy to clock out for lunch had to be the longest time period the whole night.

"Hey," Sara shot me a questioning look when she saw me. "What are you doing back here? I thought you were called to the office?"

"I was," I told her.

"Oh? Was everything ok?"

I hesitated, it was all part of the plan to get Sara to go down the hall towards the training room without thinking something birthday related was up. "Can I..." I glanced down the hall and then back at her. "Can I talk to you down there?"

"Sure," she looked worried. Part of me felt like an ass for worrying her but the other part of me was enjoying it because soon she would see that there is nothing to worry about. "I just..." she turned to Billy, who was standing off to the side waiting for us to move towards the staffroom. "We'll be right in Billy," she told him. He studied us for a moment before turning towards the lunchroom.

I took Sara's hand and lead her towards the training room. "So what's going on Tanner?" She asked as we walked.

"I just needed..." my words paused as I stopped in front of the training room, the door was wide open. I could see the flickering light from the candles mom had lit, I waited for her to notice.

"You needed what?" She glanced towards the training room briefly before turning her attention back to me. "What did Judy want?" She asked and then added as she pointed towards the room. "Am I seeing things or are there candles burning in there?" She didn't wait for me to answer, she took a step towards the door and froze.

Up To Some Good

"If anyone asks, this call never took place."

"What?"

"You heard me Tanner, if anyone asks this call never happened, I value my life too much."

"Billy what the hell have you been drinking?"

"Nothing, I'm completely sober."

"You sound drunk. Why would anyone ask? And why did this conversation never take place?"

"Sara will ask, and she will kill me if you tell her I told you, she told me not too."

"Oh? What doesn't she want me to know?"

"That tomorrow night is her birthday, she doesn't want anyone to make a big deal out of it."

"WHAT? She doesn't want me to know it's her birthday?"

"Fuck Tanner, that's what I just said!"

"Why not? What's wrong with making a big deal out of her birthday?"

"Nothing."

"But...?"

"She has had nothing but crappy birthdays for the past couple years, Ken -"

"The Bastard! I told you I don't want to hear his name."

"Yes, the Bastard. He never did anything for her, he never even remembered."

"Fucker."

"Yeah, so she doesn't like to make a big deal out of her birthday now because of him."

"Screw that, she's with me now and I happen to like birthdays."

"That's what I thought, got to go Tanner, see you at work tomorrow."

It was Saturday afternoon when Billy called me and we had that conversation. I hung up wondering what the hell I was going to do for Sara, there was no way I was going to let her birthday pass without doing something. Sure we aren't officially together - this damn taking it slow was really killing me - but she deserved something.

I called her up.

"Did Billy just call you?" She asked the moment she picked up the phone.

"Umm, no," I laughed. "Why? Was he supposed too?"

"No, I told him...nevermind."

"Yes, I tell him that all the time too."

She laughed, "So what are you calling for Tanner?"

"Just calling to talk to you. I was wondering what you were doing tomorrow afternoon?"

"HA!" She exclaimed. "Billy did call you!"

"Sara really? Since when does Billy have to call for me to want to know if you are free to do something with me?"

"Well, I...umm..." she sighed. "Sorry, I just thought that he...well..."

"Sara you know I want to see you, and not just at work." In fact I've been trying to get her to come over or go somewhere with me after work and on our days off since the night at karaoke. Not that we haven't gone out together, we have, she just has been avoiding being completely alone with me. I like to think it's because she can't keep her hands off me!

"I know you do Tanner and I want to see you too but..."

"But what?"

"Well tomorrow isn't a good day, my mom has stuff she wants me to do with her."

"Anything I can tag along on?" I knew she would say no but I figured I'd ask anyway.

"She kind of wants to spend some time with just me Tanner." I couldn't really tell if she was disappointed or relieved, either way it didn't matter.

"Oh ok, I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to see you."

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"It's ok," I told her. "I think you are worth the wait."

"Oh Tanner." I believe if I were along side her at that moment, she would've either blushed and turned away or hugged me tight.

Once I hung up from talking to Sara, I called Billy back.

"Is her birthday tomorrow? You said 'tomorrow night' when you called earlier."

"It's the 26th, so technically tomorrow night since we'll be working into the morning of the 26th."

"Ok good." I thought I would only have an hour with her on her birthday but it being on Monday really helped, it gave me more time to show her how her birthday should go. "Are you doing anything for her? Getting her something?"

"I always get her something," he told me. "She pretends to get all upset but secretly I know she loves the fact that I remember." He paused and then asked me what I was planning on getting her. "You know you don't have to get her anything, that's why she didn't want me to tell you, she didn't want you to think you had to do or get her anything."

"I have an idea," I told him. He tried to get more info out of me than that but I wouldn't give it up. "You'll have to wait and hear all about it later."

"Well if you need any help or suggestions..."

"I know how to get hold of you."

But I knew that I wouldn't need his help with what I had planned, I would just need the help of one person - my mom - and the cooperation of my manager to pull off the plan.

By Saturday night, I had everything I needed. I couldn't wait to go to work the next night.

One Promise Leads To Turtle Pace!

"Hey Billy," Sara's voice dropped to a whisper as her hand slipped up over Billy's chest.

"Yes?" Billy raised a brow in her direction.

"You know," she bat her eyes as her fingers played on his chest. "If you ever want to...you know...I'd gladly help you out." She captured her bottom lip between her teeth while she waited for Billy to work out what she was saying.

I knew right away what she was saying, I wasn't impressed at all. Mine, I tell you! I want her to look at me like that, say that to me! I'll guarantee you, I wouldn't need to think about it! Little Miss Sara would quickly know just what those 'model' dreams I have around her were really all about!

Claire purred as she cuddled up to Billy. "Oh me too! I'd help you out too!"

"What the fuck!" Luke looked to me for answers but I was too deep in the red I was seeing.

Billy finally clued in, he turned bright red. "Girls..." he chuckled nervously as he too looked towards me, as if I was going to help the fucker handle two women! Lucky fucker! I know, he's gay but still! Lucky fucker I'd do just about anything to have Sara looking at me like that, not too interested in Claire but hey, if they were offering!

HA! I'm kidding!

"Back off," Sara laughed as she tried to glare at Claire. "I'm Billy's best girl friend, I call dibs!"

"No way," Claire giggled. "Besides, don't you have other options?" She glanced over her shoulder at me. "Leave Billy to me, I'll show him a night he'd never forget."

"Ahh," Billy looked like a deer staring down the barrel of a shotgun. He tried to untangle himself from both Sara and Claire but they didn't let him go that easily. If I wasn't so bloody jealous, I would've been laughing along with Travis, who stood off to the side with his arms around Shelly.

"Ok girls," Cal moved up behind Billy, grabbing both of the girls' wrists as he spoke. "I'm sure if Billy were inclined, he'd seek you out."

"Oh...poo!" Sara pouted, kicked the ground and sighed dramatically. Claire did something similar to Sara as she wandered back over to where Luke stood. Billy on the other hand looked really relived as Cal's arms slipped around his waist and....

I couldn't tell you what else, I looked away.

Yeah, so maybe I'm not totally comfortable seeing Billy and Cal touching or kissing but that doesn't make me a homophobe. I'm not! I really don't care, it just takes a while to get use to it.

Besides, I had other things to focus my attention on, mainly Sara. She was crossing over to me when Luke grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him and Claire. "I'll gladly take his place if you two really want to team up on someone!"

"Ewww!" Sara jumped away from Luke. "I don't think so!"

Travis was laughing his ass off now. "I was just thinking the same thing man!" His admission earned him a punch in the chest from Shelly. "God woman!" He rubbed his chest. "I was joking!"

Shelly glared at him, "Sure you were!" Spinning on her heel, she stomped away.

"Fuck!" Travis cursed as he watched her walk away. "For fucksakes woman! Stop being so fucking touchy! I was kidding! I don't want to be with anyone but you!"

Shelly gave him the finger without stopping.

"Fuck, fuck, FUCK!" Travis took off after Shelly, yelling for her to wait for him.

Silence had settled over the group as we tried not to watch my brother fuck up his relationship once again.

Billy and Cal excused themselves, they headed off some where, I didn't pay much attention.

"Yeah..." Luke looked at me. "It was good to see you man, give me a call some time, we'll go for a drink or something."

"Yeah sure," I said absently, I was trying to see what was going on with Travis and Shelly - he caught up to her. I wished I knew what they were saying but we were too far away.

"Hey," I felt a tug on my jacket. I glanced down to see Sara staring up at me, her eyes wide with sadness. "I'm sorry," she whispered as her bottom lip trembled. "I didn't mean for my joking around with Billy to lead to..." she lowered her head. "I'm so sorry Tanner."

"It's not your fault," I reached for her, my hands found her waist. "They have been having problems," I told her as she wrapped her arms around me. God she felt so good pressed against me like that, I almost forgot everything else that was going on.

"That makes me sad," she said softly. "I really like your brother and his wife, I wish there was something we could do to help them."

"Sara," I sighed. "I wish there was something too but this is something they have to work out for themselves."

Sara nodded as she buried her face against my chest. "Oh Tanner..." she sighed contently.

"Oh Tanner what?" The second I asked, I wanted to take it back, I didn't want her to think I was pressing her for anything.

She didn't move for a few moments.

"Sara?" I moved back as I could see her face, her eyes were closed. "Baby I didn't mean to -" She slapped her hands on my cheeks and pulled me down until her lips were pressed against mine - I forgot what I was supposed to do for a moment, it was like my mind went into shock.

"Tanner," she giggled against my mouth.

"Mmmm?" I could've stayed like that forever, just having her lips against mine was stirring things up down below.

"I need to take my time," she told me. "I don't want too," she laughed. "But I need too."

All I heard was 'I want you'. "Mmmm," I groaned.

"Do you have anything to say?" She pulled back a little and stared into my eyes.

"I want you too."

"Tanner!" Sara laughed out loud.

I shook my head, "I mean...yeah! Sure, whatever you need to do baby, I'm all for it."

"Are you sure?" She played with the zipper on my jacket.

"Mmmhmm."

"Oh ok," she smiled as my zipper lowered until my jacket hung open. "Right now though," she slipped her hands around me, pressing her body against mine. "I just want to feel you."

I have no idea how long we stood like that - me leaning back against my car, my arms around her as she stood between my legs, pressed up against me with her hands up under the back of my shirt - but that night was one of the best nights I've had since I've come home. Sure there were other nights where Sara and I actually did a little more stuff but having her say that she wanted a relationship with me - that was...fucking awesome!

Now, if only I could convince her that she wants to put me out of my misery and get naked with me!

Beginnings Of Change

Life since the night at karaoke has taken a turn for the better. And by better I mean that Sara has finally loosened up enough to really be a lot of fun to be around. She laughs, she jokes - it's like the cover has been taken off of her true self and she's...well fuck! She's driving me completely insane! I swear that woman can't even look at me anymore without getting a rise out of me. I salute her more often than not these days!

Fuck me, she's a flirt. A tease. She says all these seemingly innocent things but her eyes tell what she's really thinking. She's a pervert and I want to tap that ass so badly. But I can't. I made the stupid mistake of promising her that we'll take things slow.

What the fuck was I thinking?!?!?! Take it slow? I've been waiting for her to get to this point for months!

It's my own fault, I didn't even argue that night when we stood outside the bar with Billy, Cal, Travis and Shelly. I don't really remember why we were all standing around outside, all I remember is Sara's energy level - she was literally bouncing. I blame that for distracting me and making me make that stupid promise.

"I'm so happy!" She giggled as she stood by my side as I leaned back against my car.

"Really?" I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, "I didn't notice." Sara laughed, turning to me, her hand coming to rest on my chest.

"You have no idea how wond - "

"Hey Tanner!" Sara stiffened in my arms as Luke appeared in front of us.

With Claire in tow. "Hey," Claire said shyly, she didn't look at any of us, she seemed a little uncomfortable.

Sara started to pull away from me, "Where are you going?"

"No where," she gave me a weak smile.

At that moment Luke decided to be an ass. "Still hanging out with the faggots Tanner?"

"LUKE!" Both Sara and Claire moved at the same time, both striking Luke as they shot him dirty looks.

"Hey!" Luke frowned, rubbing his arm where the girls hit him but they had withdrawn to Billy's side where they wrapped their hands around Billy's arm. "What are you doing Claire?"

Billy wrapped his arms around both of the girls' waist. "Don't you know?" He chuckled. "These women love me, being gay always gets me the hottest chicks."

"Yeah?" Luke laughed, "Too bad they want real men!"

"Billy is a real man," Sara smiled up at him - giving him a look that made me want to wring his bloody neck. How dare she look at him like that! I've been waiting for that look for ever! That was my look! And the kiss his planted on his jaw was mine too!

"How...? What...?" Luke sputtered as Claire followed Sara's lead and stared adoringly up at Billy as well. His jaw dropped when she kissed Billy as well - I knew exactly how he felt.

And fuck, it's late...

Let The White Dove Sing

I had started after Sara before the Bastard had finished his song but the crowd was almost impossible to get through, we ended up meeting at the door.

"Hey!" He grabbed me by the shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. "Get lost asshole, Sara is my girl, she has no interest in you."

"Get off!" I yanked my shoulder back from his grip. "Sara isn't stupid enough to fall for that sad stunt you just pulled."

He laughed, "That's where you are wrong asshole, Sara loves it when I sing to her." He shoved me out of the way and headed out the door.

I was not that far behind him, I wasn't going to let him get to her. She had to be strong for her own sake.

As the cool air hit my body, making me shiver, I quickly scanned the area looking for Sara, she was not that far from the front door, in the middle of the parking lot pacing and by the looks of it, talking to herself.

She must have been lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice us come up behind her. The Bastard got to her before I did, "Hey babygirl."

Sara froze, I could literally see all the muscles in her back go stiff. Slowly she turned around to face the man who damn near killed her a few months ago. "Ken."

"Oh come on baby," Ken moved closer to her. "Surely you can do better than that." His hand reached out to touch her and that's when I had enough, I leapt forward, grabbing his wrist.

I applied as much pressure as I could to his wrist. "Don't you dare touch her."

"Tanner, please don't." I glanced at Sara, meeting her eyes which were pleading with me.

"Yeah Tanner, don't." The bastard sneered. "I will hurt you."

"Oh?" I rolled my eyes. "I thought it was only women you liked to use as a punching bag."

Sara gasped, "Tanner!"

But the Bastard just smirked, "I'd be more than willing to kick your ass you faggot."

"KEN!" Sara slapped him across the arm, he didn't even flinch.

"Try it," I knew I was calling him out and he could probably kick my ass no problem but there was no way I was going to let him any closer to Sara than he was right now.

"Oh for the love of God!" Sara threw her hands up in the air, before coming up to both of us. "Stop this right now," she demanded as she grabbed my wrist and pulled my arm back, trying to get me to let go of the Bastard's wrist.

"I'm not doing anything," the Bastard said as he looked down at her as he opened his hand as if to say he was innocent. "Babygirl I need to talk to you -

"Fuck that!" I cut in.

He pulled his wrist out of my grasp but other wise he ignored me. "Sara, baby, I'm sorry for everything. We really need to talk."

"Yeah right," I scoffed. "Sara doesn't want -"

"You are right, we do need to talk Ken."

"What?" I stared down at her but she was looking at him. "You can't be serious Sara! What if he -"

"Tanner," she turned her face upwards, a smile on her face. "I think you should go back inside. Ken is right, we do need to talk, there's so much that needs to be said but I don't want you here for it. I need you to go back inside and let me have a moment alone with him."

"WHAT?" I was dumbfounded. How the hell could she want to be around him after all he did to her? Was Billy right? Would Sara go back to the Bastard? Just because he got up and sang a stupid song?

"Please Tanner? I need this."

"Why?" I asked her.

"I can't explain it Tanner, I just know that I need this. Please go back inside."

"Yeah," the Bastard but it. "Get lost jackass."

"Ken!" Sara shot him a dirty look before turning back to me. "Tanner would you please do this for me?"

"This is fucked up! He beat the crap out of you and you want to be alone with him?" She nodded. "Are you fucking crazy?"

"Don't talk to me like that Tanner!" She crossed her arms over her chest, a stubborn look on her pretty face as she glared at me. "I don't like it and I don't deserve it!"

"You heard her," the bastard came up behind Sara, grinning over her shoulder as he slipped his hands onto her hips. "Run along."

My hands were clenched in fists of rage, I wanted to punch the Bastard out for touching her and I wanted to shake Sara for being stupid enough to give him the time of day, he didn't deserve any of her attention. "Fine," I snapped. "But don't come crying to me when he hurts you again."

"Tanner!" Sara tried to stop me but I turned and stomped away.

I was fuming when I entered the bar. I wanted to hit something. Who in their right mind voluntarily agrees to be alone with a man like the Bastard?

"Where's Sara?" Billy asked when I plopped down moodily onto my bar stool.

"Fuck Sara," I snapped.

"No thanks," Billy laughed. I shot him a dirty look. "Oh-kay!" He glanced at Cal for a brief second. "Seriously," he looked at me. "Where is Sara?"

"Out being a fucking moron," I told him. "She wanted to talk to the Bastard. What the hell could she be thinking? Talk to him? She should be running as far from him as she can!"

"You left her out there with Ken?" Billy jumped up. "Are you completely dense?"

"Fuck you!" I pushed away from the table. "Fuck you and fuck her! I'm tired of her bullshit! If she wants to be with him, then I'm done."

"She doesn't," Billy protested but I didn't care to hear it, I needed something to drink. Many some things to drink. I headed off in search of a stiff drink.

"Hey bro!" Travis found me a couple minutes later, drowning my second shot of mind numbing whiskey. "What are you doing?" He eyed the two empty and the two full shot glasses. "Since when do you do shots?"

"Fuck off," I picked up the third shot. "To stupid women," I toasted before pouring the vile liquid down my throat - I wanted to gag, I hated whiskey with a passion.

"Ah women problems," Travis pulled up a stool and sat down, stealing my last shot. "I can understand that one."

"Fucking women," I muttered. "Where is the waitress?" I looked around for her, she wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"She'll be around," Travis dropped the now empty shot glass down on the table. "What's going on with you? What did Sara do to make you start doing shots?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I told him.

"Oh ok," he shrugged.

"How stupid can she be?" I asked him and before too long I told him what was going on. "I just don't understand it," I told him. "He treated her like crap and she's out there talking to him? What about me? I've been here for her."

"You think that entitles you to something?"

"Fuck yeah!"

"Fuck no," Travis laughed. "Tanman one thing I've learnt in my marriage is that you never expect anything because you damn well aren't going to get it."

"What ever," I scoffed. "Shelly would jump through rings of fire, naked, to get you to pay attention to her like I have with Sara."

"I pay attention to my wife."

I laughed, "Like hell you do! You are very lucky, yet you treat Shelly like crap. Is that what I have to do? Treat a woman like crap to keep her interest? Because being nice and helpful and a friend just isn't cutting it."

"Hey," Shelly came over to us, she looked like she was having a good time. I was glad that someone was. "Come dance with me," she tugged on Travis' arm. Reluctantly, he allowed her to pull him out onto the dance floor. I watched them for a minute.

"Fuck this," I pushed away from the table and made my way over to where Billy and Cal were. "I'm going out there," I told Billy.

"Tanner don't," he called after me but I ignored him. "Wait for me then!"

By the time I stepped through the front doors, Billy had exhausted every excuse he had not to go check on them.

They weren't where I left them, they had moved further down the parking lot, down to here the Bastard's truck was parked. Billy and I made our way over there, hiding the best we could behind cars so they didn't see us.

"This is wrong," Billy hissed.

"Go back inside if you think that," I told him.

"Like I'm going to leave you out here by yourself, someone needs to talk sense into you if you go to do something stupid!"

"Whatever," I snapped. "Shut up, I'm trying to listen here!"

"Why don't we get out of here?" I heard the Bastard ask Sara.

"Fuck that," I whispered and went to get up.

"Tanner!" Billy grabbed my shirt, pulling me down again. "Just stay where you are, let Sara handle this."

"Fine," I snapped."

"No," Sara's voice was calm, which surprised me. "I'm not going anywhere with you Ken, I meant what I said, it's over between us. I don't want you to call me, I don't want you to come over unannounced, and I sure as hell don't want you to sing songs to me. Like that's going to change my mind!"

"Baby why are you being so damn difficult? I told you that I'm sorry and I won't do it again." I rolled my eyes, 'yeah right,' I whispered; Billy shh'ed me.

"You've said that a million times before too Ken but it still happened. I can't do that anymore, being with you isn't good for me, I need to put as much distance between us as possible."

"But I changed!" He exclaimed. "Sara I went to that anger management course that you've been bugging me about and I've even been seeing a shrink! I know what I did was wrong, I don't want to hurt you anymore. Please baby, just give me one more chance to show you how much you mean to me."

There was silence, not being able to see them was torture, I was imaging them kissing. Yes, the green eyed monster reared it's ugly head. "I'm looking," I told Billy.

"No," he pointed to himself. "I'll do it." I started to protest but he was already moving upward to look over the car we were hiding behind.

"No Ken," I grabbed Billy as Sara spoke again. "I've given you enough chances, too many in fact. I need to get on with my life and I'm sorry but you can't be a part of that life."

"Why not?" He demanded. "You said there would always be room in your life for me."

"That was a long time ago Ken!" Her patience sounded like it had reached its limit. "That was after the second time you hit me, I was stupid then, I'm not now. I don't deserve to be treated the way you treated me, I've finally realized that."

"Come on Sara, you know that you miss me. Who could love you like I do?"

I wanted to run over and kick him in the nuts - love? He didn't know what the hell love was.

Sara chuckled, "Thankfully no one will ever love me like you did. Your love damn near killed me Ken! I was to the point that I thought it would be better if I just let you finish the job too. You made me not want to live! That's not love, Ken, it's not."

"But I don't feel that way anymore, I have a lot to live for and even though my life isn't perfect I wouldn't miss a moment of it. I want to live Ken."

"You can still live," Ken insisted. "And you can do it with me baby. We could get married like you talked about -"

"YOU AREN'T LISTENING TO ME!" Sara yelled at him. "I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU!"

"Calm down!" Ken ordered.

"Let me go," Sara cried out. I went to jump up but fucking Billy stopped me again.

"Fuck off!" I hissed.

"I said let me go Ken!" The level of panic in her voice rose.

"Fucking bastard, let her go!" I yelled out, shoving Billy away as I finally made it to a fully standing position. "Let her go!"

"Tanner what are you doing out here? I asked you to go inside!"

"What?" I was shocked. "You are mad at me? What the hell for? I'm not the one gripping your arm at the moment!"

"Just go inside!" She cried. "I need to do this myself! Just go inside!"

"No," I started for them but Billy caught my attention, he was motioning for me to leave. Sara didn't know that he was there.

"Just go Tanner please," she pleaded.

I didn't want too. I didn't know if Billy could handle the Bastard if he got violent but what else could I do?

It was the hardest decision I ever made in my life, leaving her out there in the bastard's grip. I was a nervous wreak as I sat staring at the door, waiting for someone to come in but for the longest time, no one did.

"Just go and see what's going on," I begged Cal after a half hour of waiting. "If the Bastard flips, Billy is going to get hurt," I tried to appeal to his attraction to Billy. "You wouldn't want anything to happen to him, would you?"

"No," Cal admitted. "But I don't think we have to worry about it, Billy is stronger than you think he is."

"Fuck, you suck!" I pushed away from the table, scanning the bar, wondering what the hell I was going to do.

I spotted Travis. "Excuse me," I damn near ran over to where my brother and his wife were sitting with a group of people that Shelly knew. "I need your help."

Travis didn't have any problems going out to see what was up, and that's why my brother is cool, he doesn't think, he reacts.

But ten minutes later, I was worried that he reacted too much. "I'm going out," I told Cal and left without waiting for him to say anything. I was halfway across the bar when Sara appeared at the entrance without Billy or my brother. Our eyes met, she looked terribly upset. I started to push through the crowd, not caring when I almost knocked one woman on her ass.

Sara though headed off in another direction. She headed for the stage. I paused, watching her, wondering what the hell she was doing.

Up on stage, Frankie was talking to the crowd, the band had just come back from a break so they were getting ready for the next person to go up but when Sara walked up onto the stage Frankie stopped to talk to her. When she turned back to the crowd, Frankie was grinning. "Well hell guys, it looks like it's our lucky night. Without any prompting, begging or pleading Sara has asked to do another song. What do you say?" She paused, "Do you all want to hear a little something from Sara?"

The whole room started cheering and hollering their excitement.

"I take that as a yes," Frankie laughed, turning to Sara who now held a mic in her hand - while Frankie was talking to the crowd, she had talked to the band. "I'm sure everyone would love to know how this miracle happened."

"Well Frankie...everyone," she smiled out over the crowd. "I feel happy and I want to celebrate."

When she said celebrate, I felt my heart sink, the Bastard had mentioned marriage...I didn't even want to think about it. I needed to get out of there.

I was on my way back to the table, to get my jacket and tell Cal I was leaving. Only Cal wasn't the only one at the table, Billy, Travis and Shelly were all there too. "Where the hell were you?"

"Shhhhh," Shelly pointed to the stage where Frankie had just asked Sara what it was that she was celebrating.

I turned to stage as Sara said, "The feeling of freedom..." she trailed off and then looked out over the crowd as the band started to play. "I guess you can say this is my Independence day!"

I shot Billy a questioning look when the crowd roared and Sara launched into the song.

"Well she seemed all right by dawn’s early light though she looked a little
Worried and weak she tried to pretend he wasn’t drinkin’ again but daddy left
The proof on her cheek and I was only eight years old that summer and I always
Seemed to be in the way so I took myself down to the fair in town on Independence day"

"Independence Day by Martina McBride," he told me and then added. "The crowd loves it when she sings Martina, she really gets into it."

I turned back to watch her, he was right, she did get into the song. Especially the chorus...

"Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it’s independence day"

More than the one she sang before, it was like she was...

"What happened outside?" I asked Billy.

"Just like she said, today was a day of reckoning, the weak was strong."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Billy smiled, "It means that she is free, she's finally out from under his spell. And from what I heard, I don't think he'll be bothering her again - she totally emasculated him."