Sophia sat with her feet resting on Dean's dashboard, head back and eyes closed, waiting for him to get off from his shift. The fundraiser had come and gone, and apparently raised a ton of money for art and sports programs in the local schools.

"Sorry I'm late."

Sophia opened her eyes as Dean got into the car, freshly changed and all smiles. He leaned over to kiss her before starting the car.

"It's okay," she reassured him. "Long call?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Stupid call, let's leave it at that."

Sophia chuckled. She knew what that was like.

"I'm sorry I was gone for so much of today," Dean continued. "I was been hoping it wouldn't be too busy."

"Hey, it's okay," Sophia told him, resting her hand on his thigh with a reassuring squeeze. "You were working, that can't be helped. And besides, it was cool hanging out with the guys you work with. Carson told me plenty of stories to keep me occupied."

Dean groaned at Sophia's teasing voice. "Dear lord," he complained. "Do I even want to know what he told you?"

"Probably not," Sophia confirmed. "But I can confirm that they were mostly heroic for him and embarrassing for you."

"Fantastic."

"But I really liked that I could just hang out with your friends, Dean. I know how much they all mean to you. Even Carson."

Dean glanced over at her. "That's really important to you, isn't it?"

She nodded.

"Well, then, that's just another reason why it's a good thing Raina and I got along so well."

"What was the first reason?" Sophia asked, amusement clipping at the edges of her voice.

"She's scary as hell," Dean said, his face and voice completely serious. "I would not want to be on her bad side. Ever. And besides," Dean's free hand wound its way into Sophia's, "she's one of the most important people in your life. I'd hate to think what would happen if she didn't like me."

Sophia squeezed his hand. "Well, hey, we're never going to have to find out."

"Thank God." Dean paused. "And you? How are you?"

She gave him a smile. "Good. Really. No bad thoughts."

When Sophia had met with Dr. Alvarez, she had expressed her desire to be able to let Dean know when she was having Graham's comments come up for her without the pressure of going into details if she didn't want to. The therapist had suggested coming up with a phrase they both understood to represent the thoughts that didn't require additional explanation. When Sophia brought the idea up to Dean, he had immediately been receptive to it.

'Bad thoughts' might not be the most original phrase in the world, but it worked.

Dean raised their joined hands and pressed his lips to the back of hers. "I'm glad."

This must be what love felt like.

The realization knocked the wind out of Sophia for a few moments. She sat back in her chair, silent, but her mind buzzing. She loved that they were friends with each other's friends. She loved that he was mindful of what she had been through but didn't treat her like glass. She loved the way he looked at her, the way he touched her.

She loved him, and in that moment, she couldn't even bring herself to worry about what he would say when she eventually told him. Bliss kept that anxiety at bay, at least for now.

"You're quiet over there."

The side of Sophia's mouth lifted. "Just looking forward to getting home."

"Me too."

When they finally did, Sophia noticed, not for the first time, how relaxed she felt entering Dean's apartment. It really did feel like home.

Dean flipped on the lights and Sophia's eyes followed his every move. How his shoulders relaxed as the door clicked behind them. He always ran his hand through his hair, making it even messier, a look reserved only for her. Him throwing his keys into the bowl by the door, only sometimes making it and usually missing, resulting in lighthearted cursing.

"You're staring."

Instead of blushing, Sophia met his eyes, her stomach flipping at the spark of amusement in them. "Dean?"

"Hmm?"

"Kiss me."

The amusement turned dark in an instant, and Dean wasted little time in fulfilling her request. A moment later, his hands cupped her face, his eyes briefly searing into hers before their lips met.

The air conditioning in Dean's apartment ran at full blast, but every inch of Sophia's skin that Dean was touching was aflame. His hands ran down her arms and to her waist, leaving a trail of electricity. The rest of her body screamed to be against his.

It was as if he could read her mind. One moment, his hands were around her waist, and the next, he had them under her thighs, gripping the bare skin under her dress, and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he moved them backward, his firm chest trapping her against the wall.

Sophia couldn't pinpoint why this kiss felt different. Maybe it was because, despite both of their obvious desire, they kept it at a kiss, exploring each other's mouths but nowhere else. Maybe it was because, after the bliss of the entire day, she got to end it like this. Or maybe it was because she was kissing someone she loved, something she had never experienced before.

But regardless, all of this combined made desire once again build up in her body, her legs clenching tighter around Dean as she tried to release herself of some of it. She knew, however, only one thing would satisfy her.

"Dean," Sophia breathed against his lips.

"Soph." He didn't seem too keen on pausing, his lips hovering barely an inch above hers, his fingers digging into her hips.

"Dean, I want you to undress me."

He pulled back at her words, his eyes wide and dark with lust, lips parted. He swallowed hard. "Are you sure?" His voice was deep and hoarse.

His asking only made her more sure. Sophia nodded.

"What else do you want, Sophia?"

"You." The answer was automatic, a reflex. "I want you to undress me, Dean. I want to feel your body, your hands, your mouth, on me. I want to feel you inside me."

His hands tightened.

"If you want to," Sophia added, her voice soft.

Dean's eyes flared. "If I want to?" he repeated. "God, Soph."

He pressed his mouth against hers again, this time hungry and desperate, as he readjusted his hands to steady her as he moved them away from the wall.

He set her down when they got to his bedroom, Sophia letting out a small gasp as she felt his erection press between them. Not letting him get time to question her decision again, Sophia grabbed Dean's hands and guided them down to the hem of her dress. In a fluid movement, Dean had it over her head and tossed it to the side on the floor.

Now, there were no fast hands or desperate mouths. They had all the time in the world, and Dean made good use of that time.

His eyes wandered Sophia's body before pulling her against him again, his mouth going to her neck this time, leaving a trail of kisses down her skin as his hands went up her back, toying with the clasp of her bra.

Sophia let out a small whimper, a plea for him to keep going, and a moment later her bra joined her dress on the ground.

Now, Dean's head dipped lower, slowly kissing down her chest. Her body trembled as he moved closer and closer to her already firm nipples, and she groaned in protest when he denied her desire, instead working his way down to her stomach, getting down on his knees. His eyes flicked back up when he reached her panties.

Sophia nodded.

Dean hooked two fingers into the sides of the fabric and slowly, painfully, dragged them down, his mouth following the descent down her leg and once again missing all of the parts that screamed for him. By the time he stood back up, Sophia's eyes were closed, her entire body trembling with desire, a primal need for him.

"Now it's your turn," Dean said.

She opened her eyes back up to see him staring down at her naked body, the lust and wonder in his eyes making her feel like the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the world. With far less control than he had, she got him out of his shirt and pants, not realizing she was licking her lips when she saw his tented underwear.

Breathing hard, she slid his boxer briefs down his legs and watched him step out of them and kick them aside. As she stood back up, she dragged her gaze away from his erection up his body, eventually meeting his eyes.

They stood a few inches apart for a moment, taking in each other's bodies, vulnerable and empowered all at the same time.

"Sophia, do you trust me?" Dean asked, just when she felt she couldn't take the anticipation any longer.

"Always." Another question she didn't have to think about.

"Lie down."

Sophia did as he asked, feeling the slickness between her legs and on the inside of her thighs. She lay down, resisting the urge to run her hands down her breasts and to her already swollen clit. It wasn't her hands that she wanted to feel.

A moment later, Dean was on top of her, his weight pressing down on her, his erection teasing her by settling between her legs.

Sophia arched her body up as he kissed her again, desperate for more. But Dean didn't seem in a huge hurry to give her more.

"Dean," Sophia said in a half-moan. "I meant what I said. I want you. I want you inside me."

"Oh, baby, I want you, too," Dean groaned. "And we'll get there. But I want to take my time, tonight."

Sophia moaned into his mouth as his hand finally moved from its tame position on her waist, down, down, down.

Her eyes rolled back as his finger grazed her clit and then pressed into her. It was almost enough to make her come.

"Fuck, Soph, you're so wet," Dean breathed. "It's so fucking hot."

Sophia could only moan in response.

Dean chuckled, and added another finger in her, making her hips buck up, and his lips went back to hers, his tongue sweeping through her mouth. Sophia lost track of time as they lay together like that, Dean's fingers fucking her and teasing her clit so that her entire low body shook, all while he slowly and deeply kissed her, each of them drinking the other in until it wasn't oxygen that sustained them, but each other.

Sophia figured she was about thirty seconds away from coming when Dean took his hand away. She whined in protest, but then let out a gasp in surprise as Dean sat up, pulling her with him.

He didn't say anything, but shifted them around so that when they lay back down, his back was on the bed and she was on top of him.

"Will you ride me, Sophia?"

Another shuddered breath at his words, the request awakening a side of Sophia's sexuality that she didn't know existed. "You want me to?" she asked once she found her voice.

"I want to come together," Dean told her, his hands massaging her hips and thighs. "And I want the sexiest woman I've ever seen to be on top of me."

Sophia knew he was vocal in bed, but this was something else entirely. "I've never..." she said, her voice faltering.

"You think I care?"

She stared down at him, and then bent forward, her breasts brushing his skin as she took charge of the kiss. "Okay," she whispered the response.

Dean took one of his hands away and felt for something on his bedside table. He pressed the condom into her hand.

With trembling fingers, Sophia tore open the foil and then shifted back so Dean's arousal was in front of her.

He took in a deep, controlled breath when Sophia's fingers brushed against him. "What, I turn you on that much?" she teased him as she rolled the condom on.

Dean cracked a smile. "Fuck yeah."

His hands went back to her hips as she shifted forward, positioning him at her entrance. Not allowing herself time to second guess what she was doing, she guided him into her, and sank down, taking in all of his length at once in an attempt to fulfill the greed of her lust.

For a few moments, their combined moans filled the room. Sophia spread her legs slightly wider so she could fit more of him. He was perfect for her, filling her in just the right way.

Dean's eyes were closed, his face contorted with pleasure. "Fuck, Sophia," he groaned, his eyes still tightly shut. "You feel so fucking good. So fucking smooth. So fucking hot."

Well, if that wasn't empowering. She leaned down and caught his mouth with hers. "How does this feel?" she growled.

She started to move her hips back and forth, her movements small at first but rapidly growing in size. With the movement, it took Dean longer to regain even a small amount of his composure, but when he did, his hand gripped her hip and he helped steady her, guiding her in and out.

His other hand, however, snaked between them, and Sophia almost collapsed as his thumb pressed up against her clit, sending bolts of pleasure up her body. She also realized why he had spent so much time bringing her to the edge: he wasn't going to last long. Not long at all.

As Sophia edged closer and closer to her climax, her hips moved faster and faster along Dean's length. At some point, his hips started jerking upward, pressing in and out of her from below. The time for words was gone. All Sophia could think about was the pleasure they got from being with each other.

"Dean," Sophia gasped, feeling herself teetering just on the edge.

"Let go, baby," Dean said, his voice nothing more but a primal growl.

With a cry, Sophia let her orgasm surge through her body, her head tipping back and her eyes rolling back. Her lower body tightened and pulsed, which was apparently all Dean needed, because a moment later she felt him jerk up, his own cries mixing with hers as they fell into bliss alongside each other.

Sophia fell to his chest as she came down, and the moment she did, his arms went around her, pulling her tightly against him. Neither of them said anything for several minutes. Their hearts beating in synch said everything that they could have needed to say.

It was almost as in a dreamlike state that Sophia finally got off of Dean and the two of them cleaned themselves up, taking care of the condom and their own health before climbing back into bed with each other. They lay facing each other, staring at their swollen lips and flushed faces. Then Sophia leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his.

"Come here, baby," Dean said, and Sophia turned around to let him wrap his arms around her without hesitation. How lucky she was, to be able to love this man.