It was dark when Donavan reached the tall tower that housed H-Tech. Most of the employees had already headed home for the evening. He got into the elevator and traveled up to the top floor. There held the office of Mr. Harrison, CEO, and owner.

He shared the floor with no one. Donavan guessed because the man had so many secrets, he couldn't afford to have anyone get close. He opened the door to the inner office and Harrison's secretary scrambled to right her skirt when she jumped up from Harrison's lap at the sudden interruption.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Mr. Harrison complained, taking a moment to right himself.

"I didn't expect you to be... busy," Donavan said as he entered the room.

Mr. Harrison gave the woman a look and with that one look, she left the office without saying a word.

"Must be nice," Donavan said, watching how quickly the woman clicked her heels to do Harrison's bidding.

"Power gives you certain liberties," Harrison said. "Did you give her the book?"

"She tried to cancel on me but yes," Donavan told him.

"You better be right and my sacrifice worth it," Mr. Harrison said looking up at a bare spot on his display case that once held the first edition of Gwendolyn's book.

"It's given me an in, Mr. Harrison. I went out with her. The photographers were in play both times as you requested, but things have gotten complicated," Donavan said a bit nervously.

"Complicated?" Harrison repeated.

"Things have escalated over the weekend. Your son has moved in with her and whatever he's doing he's damn good at it because she believes herself in love with him," Donavan said finding it hard to keep the contempt out of his voice.

Harrison's jaw clenched upon hearing this news. "Then I suggest you do better."

Donavan tried not to cower at the ominous way Mr. Harrison spoke. "I already have a plan in mind," Donavan informed him.

"See to it, it doesn't fail," Mr. Harrison told him. "You may go."

Upon being dismissed, Donavan turned on his heel and headed back for the door. As he reached for the handle. Mr. Harrison spoke, "Send my secretary back in on your way out."

Donavan's hand paused, his fingers strangling the knob as he turned it. Harrison's secretary was standing patiently waiting outside of the office, though he knew her office was on the next floor. She knew Mr. Harrison would want her so didn't go far.

Donavan snapped his fingers at her to get her attention and pointed to the door he just exited through. The woman walked past him without even giving him a passing glance. "Lucky, bastard," Donavan grumbled as he made his way to the elevator. Soon he was out on the street.

He said he had a plan, but that was only a half-truth. Donavan knew he had to work on getting the happy couple apart. He needed them both alone to begin to plant the seeds of doubt about their relationship. It would take some doing, but he was all about planning and he refused to fail.

***

Billie and Quentin returned home after an enjoyable evening out. It amazed Billie at how comfortable she felt around Quentin. He was so open that it was hard to believe he wasn't being honest about his feelings for her. Still, she had wondered what prevented her from saying it back.

Several times Billie thought to say it during dinner, but it never seemed like that right time. Then there was the drive home, although they were alone, she couldn't bring the words to her lips. By the time they reached home, Billie was in a bit of a mood.

"Are you alright?" Quentin asked.

"Fine. I'm fine," Billie said a bit terse.

"Yeah, you sound it. Did something happen at work today? You've been tense since I picked you up for dinner."

"I don't like being in the dark. I don't know if what we are doing here is even working. How close my Dad may be to sealing a deal? I feel like a clock is ticking down the minutes but the time when the bomb explodes is left to mystery."

Quentin knew his father was close but he didn't want to say anything. He needed more time with her. He needed to solidify the deal. There were too many loopholes, too many ways she could walk.

"I'm sorry you're so stressed," Quentin said, "but think I can help with that."

"You can?" Billie looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Come here," Quentin moved a chair over from the dining area and led her over to it. "Have a seat."

She sat down wondering what Quentin was up to. Billie didn't have to wait long as she felt Quentin's hands masterfully begin to massage out the tension from her shoulders.

"Is there anything you're not good at?" Billie asked melting under his administration.

"I suck at crossword puzzles and sudoku," Quentin admitted and was rewarded with a giggle from Billie.

"Whatever will you do to keep your mind sharp in your golden years," Billie mused.

"My plan is sex, dark chocolate, and coffee? You?" 

This time Billie really laughed. "Your retirement plan is sex, dark chocolate, and coffee?"

"Yes, there was a British Medical Journal entitled "Sex and Death: Are they Related?" that found men who reported having orgasms at least twice a week had less than half the risk of dying from various causes over 10 years of follow-ups than those with a lower frequency of orgasms."

"No wonder you're so healthy," Billie teased and Quentin chuckled. 

"And Dark Chocolate?"

"Besides being an aphrodisiac, which helps with the first part of my plan, it's known to have antioxidants that neutralize free radicals that prevent oxidative stress, which contributes to the natural aging process," Quentin supplied as he continued to knead the tension from her body.

"How is that you know all of this?" Billie asked.

"I've always had an interest in medicine, well the research end of things. I think there is so much more to discover, and since coffee has been said to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, you can keep your puzzles, and Sudoku. I'm sticking to my own plan."

"Does this plan work for women too?" Billie inquired.

"Sex is a mental and physical stress reliever. Why? What are you suggesting?" Quentin said moving his fingers along her back in a way that felt glorious.

"Suggesting? What I would love to suggest we can't participate in," Billie said with a sigh as Quentin really was a miracle worker with his hands.

"I think I know what you need," Quentin said.

"You do?" Billie asked and he pulled her up from the chair with his outstretched hand.

He led her to the bathroom and turned the shower on to warm up the water. He took his time as he undressed her. Billie's eyes did not leave his face as he removed his own clothes and then took her by the hand, pulling her into the steamy shower with him.

He turned her so the water could beat on her back, her neck. The tension in her body melted away and was replaced by anticipation as Quentin's hands took to caressing her.

Quentin turned her in his arms and with a dollop of shampoo in his hands he began to lather and wash her hair. His fingertips massaging her scalp felt like heaven as did his wet body pressed at her back.

Billie sighed. Quentin turned her back towards the water and Billie lifted her arms to wash the suds from her hair. Her eyes were closed as her head tilted back in the water causing it to cascade over her. She gasped as she felt Quentin's hands exploring her body once more. She responded to his touch, only to have his hands replaced by his mouth.

Billie's hands grasped hold of him to hold him in place, her breathing was labored as Quentin's lips and tongue worked their magic. She was so close but felt him pulling away, obviously wanting to prolong her pleasure but Billie would not allow it. She needed this, she needed him.

"Don't...stop," Billie got out between pants. "Please." He complied with her wishes and instead of slowing down, he became intent on bringing her to her knees as she cried out with desire. Still, he did not relent. She squirmed and soon he stopped only to capture her lips. Billie could barely breathe. Her body was wracked with spasms as wave after wave of rapture cascaded through her.

Quentin pressed her against the wall his hands intertwined with hers as he kissed her. He nuzzled the side of her neck and Billie moaned. Her entire body felt turned on, electrified by his touch, his lips, his mouth on hers.

He stepped back from her the look in his eyes caused her heart to clench. Quentin never hid his feelings from her. He laid them out before her to take what she wanted, without demand or regret.

Every time he touched her, he made love to her body, her mind, her very soul. He smiled at her and soaped up his hands fondling her again as he washed her body and then watched as she rinsed the soap from her skin. Devouring her with his eyes as she did so.

When Billie was finished, Quentin reached past her to shut off the water. He stepped out of the shower returning with a towel around his waist and another for her to step into. Quentin took a moment to dry her skin and towel dry her hair.

Billie never had someone take care of her in this way since she was a child and the thought made her smile.

"What?" Quentin asked.

"Nothing," Billie said, not knowing how to express how she was feeling to him at the moment.

He led her to bed and they climbed in under the covers. Neither of them bothered to dress. Billie snuggled into Quentin's embrace.

Quentin had fallen asleep having Billie cuddled up in his arms. She felt loved. Cherished. Billie turned in his arms and he only held on to her tighter which made her want to giggle but she did not wish to wake him.

Billie's hand lightly played with the hair on Quentin's forearm and her cheek nuzzled into the crook of his arm. She laid a light kiss upon it, before whispering...

"Sweet Dreams, Quentin. I love you."

***

When Billie had turned in his arms it had woken Quentin. He waited until she settled in again.

When she said she loved him, he willed his body not to react. He wanted her to feel safe in her declaration, believing he was still asleep however he couldn't possibly sleep now.

Billie finally confessed that she loved him. Quentin knew it was a confession he was not meant to hear but now he knew for certain, she returned his affections for her. He felt so happy he wanted to scream. Instead, he held on to her while she drifted off into sleep in his arms.

This was his favorite part of the day. Quentin loved holding her at night. It felt so good, so right. He never wished to be parted from her ever. In these moments he would pray she would return his feelings. That she would love him and they could grasp together their happily ever after.

Then he remembered his mother saying how close his father was to signing the deal with Mr. Dupree. Quentin's body went cold with fear. Not yet. He was so close to Billie realizing, how much she means to him and him to her. He needed more time and hoped and prayed, he'd have it.