"Happy Holidays!" Andrew called as the last guest got into their car. He shivered as he waited in the driveway, waving as they drove away. When they were gone, he closed the gate and went back inside. "Jesus, its colder than a witch's tit out there," he exclaimed, kicking his shoes off at the door.

"I will never understand how the Irish can drink so much," Molly remarked, picking up several empty wine bottles and adding them to the bin.

"Its in our blood," Alex said proudly, adding two plates into the dishwasher. "If you can't drink, you're not Irish."

She rolled her eyes. "That's bullshit," she laughed.

"I, too, am intrigued by your insane alcohol consumption," Oscar remarked. "I was in fucking Delta Kappa Epsilon at Yale. You drink those asshats under the fucking table."

"I never pictured you for the Greek life, Oscar," Luke remarked.

"You'd be wrong, my friend," Oscar replied. "Every man in my family for the past four generations has attended Yale and been in Delta Kappa Epsilon. I'm what they'd call a legacy."

Molly rolled her eyes. "Oscar's family has more money than God," she told the guitarist. "He's the sole inheritor."

"Only after Rob and Cheryl die," Oscar corrected her. "Mommy's doing alright, but Daddy just had his third heart attack, so here's hoping he goes first," he said with mock glee, crossing his fingers.

"Jesus Christ, that's dark," Alex scoffed, opening another beer.

Oscar spun on his bar stool and looked directly at Alex. "The man sent me to conversion therapy for four straight summers after I came out. I was ten. Trust me when I say there is no love lost between the two of us. The old shit bag could be on fucking fire and I'd pour lighter fluid on him so he'd burn faster."

"Fuck," Alex said.

"Hey, Andy, thanks for letting us stay here," Desi said, coming downstairs. "Its nice to not have to be in a hotel." Kate was right behind her.

Andrew smiled at them. "No problem. I'm glad to see you guys again."

"Alright, this is just fucking depressing," Oscar said standing. "Its only ten and we're already clearing up? Are we eighty?"

Molly smiled. "I don't think they can handle the Los Angeles party mindset, love," she said to him.

"Jesus, you've turned thirty and become grandmothers," he sighed. "Hell even my grandmother would stay at the club until eleven."

"Whoa, your gran went clubbing?" Kate asked.

"Country clubbing," Oscar chuckled, winking at Kate.

"Technically, I'm not thirty yet," Molly corrected him. "Not for about ten days."

"Just because we're in our thirties, it doesn't mean we don't know how to have a good time," Andrew insisted, coming up behind her.

"Oh? Prove it," Oscar countered, draining the last of the whiskey from his glass.

Andrew could remember quite a few wild evenings on tour, especially during the first album cycle. He looked at Oscar, sizing the man up. "Alright. Strip poker," he suggested the first thing that came to his mind.

A wide grin spread across Oscar's face. "Well alright then!" he exclaimed, letting out a whoop that bounced off the high ceiling. "Who's in?"

"Hang on, if we're playing strip poker, we need some rules," Andrew remarked.

"I know you're not a prude, Andy," Oscar jeered. "Molly's told me all about you."

"What?" Andrew yelped, looking over at Molly as he rifled through the drawers for a deck of playing cards. Molly shrugged with a smile.

"Girls talk," Oscar shrugged. He and Luke set to clearing off the large dining table.

"You and I are going to have a conversation about that later," Andrew warned her, producing the box and tossing it to Oscar.

"Ooh, are you gonna punish me?" she asked in mock innocence.

"Only if you're bad," he winked, sticking his tongue out.

"Alright," Oscar said, shuffling the cards with as much finesse as a card dealer in a Vegas casino. "Simple rules: each article of clothing represents a single chip. We won't go too crazy here." He dealt out seven hands.

"Wait, some of us are wearing more clothing than others!" Desi remarked, noting her thigh-length dress.

"Fine, everyone should have on ten pieces of clothing. Jewelry counts," Oscar sighed. "You people are impossible," he teased.

Everyone went to their respective rooms to add clothing. As Molly pulled a hooded sweatshirt over her t-shirt, Andrew cornered her, kissing her roughly. She let out a surprised sigh as he pressed her against the wall.

"What-what is this?" she asked, laughing.

"Just wanted you to know what I'm thinking," he purred against her ear.

She felt her core twitch slightly. "You'll have to wait until later, I guess," she replied, looking up at him. "You'd better put some clothes on."

He reached around her and grabbed a long scarf from a hook, draping it around his neck. "I've got ten things on."

When the group returned to the table, the mood shifted. A nervous, but excited energy filled the room as everyone settled in to their seats and placed their first bets. Kate took off an earring, earning a few disappointed jeers, while Molly happily discarded the sweatshirt she'd just put on as Alex and Luke let out wolf whistles.

The game went by quickly enough, with Desi proving to be far more adept at it than people realized. By the end of the fifth round, she and Oscar were the only ones with most of their clothing on. Andrew was down to both of his socks, his boxers, and his t-shirt, but he didn't care. Between Molly sitting next to him in her bra, underwear, and knee-length stockings and the alcohol flowing freely though his system, he couldn't tell if he was turned on or drunk, but it didn't matter.

"Alright, in an effort to maintain some mystery, I'm bowing out," Alex said, putting his cards on the table and crossing his arms over his bare chest. A good chunk of his clothing was in the pile on the floor next to him, save for his boxers and socks.

"Boo," Luke jeered, dropping his jeans and sitting back down.

"Me, too," Kate said, tugging the hem of her camisole down over her underwear.

"Party poopers," Oscar sighed, collecting their cards.

Alex went to grab another beer while Kate watched Oscar deal everyone in again.

"Desi I had no idea you were so good at poker," Andrew remarked, picking up his cards.

"My dad's a professional player," she remarked, placing her hat in the center of the table. "He taught me all I know."

"That's not fair!" Molly exclaimed as she dropped a stocking on top of it.

Desi shrugged. "I don't see how. I'm still at the mercy of the deck, just like the rest of you."

"Yeah right," Luke grumbled. He was down to a single sock and his boxers, but he didn't seem to mind. Molly noticed the way he kept looking at Oscar and she smiled.

"Alright, last game," Oscar said.

It took all of three minutes for Andrew to lose his t-shirt, Molly to lose her last stocking, Luke to be left with his boxers, and Oscar to lose his belt. Desi won, in no surprise to the others.

"Its still not fair that you have a professional's experience," Oscar grumbled as he collected the cards.

"Aww, sore loser, Alpha Kappa Douchebag?" she jibed, sticking her tongue out at him.

Andrew burst into laughter, nearly spitting out his beer. Oscar held a hand over his chest in mock insult.

"Its Delta Kappa Douchebag, if you must know," he joked. "If you're going to insult the institution at least do it right." She yelped as he swatted her ass playfully.

"So, what does a normal party in Los Angeles look like, Oscar?" Kate asked.

"Depends where you are," he replied casually. "If you're at a standard party, you'll probably find at least three drug dealers, several models, and twenty fucking influencers. If its a rave, it'll be more underground. If you're at the types of parties that one used to work," he gestured to Molly with the card deck. "You're looking at Hollywood's elite. The best booze, the purest drugs, and most likely lots of sex."

"Wait, you used to work sex parties?" Alex asked, looking at Molly in surprise.

"No," she insisted, glaring at Oscar. "I'd be hired out to these parties as a dancer. I never slept with guests."

"She does give pretty fucking incredible lap dances though," Oscar said.

Molly shifted, uncomfortable with the focus on her past. Though Andrew never explicitly said so, she could tell it bothered him slightly.

"Really?" Luke asked, looking to Andrew for confirmation.

"I've never been on the receiving end of one, unfortunately," he admitted, his eyes glittering.

"Well you never give me the chance," Molly said pointedly. He blushed at her revelation.

"Show us your skills, then," Luke said eagerly.

She shook her head and looked over at Andrew. "I don't think so," she laughed nervously.

To her surprise, Andrew seemed very keen on the idea. "Oh, I definitely think you should," he smirked. The image of Molly giving him a lap dance made his cock twitch, and the idea of people watching made it more erotic. For some reason, he was in an exhibitionist mood.

"Don't think so," she said, crossing her arms firmly.

Oscar nudged her. "Come on...give the boys - and girls - a show."

She turned to him. "You want a show? I can show you the fucking door if you'd like," she said, arching an eyebrow.

"Alright, keep your undies on," he said. "Or don't, I don't care. I've already seen it all."

Molly sighed heavily, turning her eyes to the ceiling. She poured herself another glass of wine and leaned against the counter. "Anyone up for a swim?" she asked.

Ten minutes later, the entire group was in the pool leaning on neon colored pool noodles, their drinks sitting on the concrete edge. The water was warm, like bathwater, and their voices echoed off the high ceiling as they chatted.

"So, Oscar, have you ever actually been with a girl?" Andrew asked, his tongue slightly loosened from the alcohol.

"Andrew!" Molly admonished.

"What? Its a valid question. How does he know he's into guys if he's never been with a girl?" Andrew asked.

Oscar let his eyes wander over the others in the pool before settling them on Molly. She blushed and looked away. This was one part of her relationship with Oscar she hadn't told Andrew about.

"I've been with a girl," Oscar replied cryptically.

"Wait - were you with Molly?" Luke asked, his accent stronger with drink.

Andrew sat up a little straighter on his neon purple pool noodle, looking between Molly and her best friend. She'd never told him about this. Oscar shared a look with Molly and she sighed.

"I'm not completely gay," he explained. "I'm mostly gay. I've been with several women and thoroughly enjoyed myself. But I enjoy myself with men more."

"Was Molly one of those women you enjoyed yourself with?" Andrew asked.

"We slept together twice, well before we ever lived together," Molly said. "I was his beard for a good year," she added. "Since we've lived together, we've only ever been friends."

Andrew was too drunk to care at that moment. "Right. Cool."

Oscar looked at him across the water. "Same question to you, Andy. How do you know you're straight? Have you ever even kissed a guy?"

Andrew shifted in the water. "N-no, I haven't," he replied, aware of everyone's gazes on him.

"Aren't you a little bit curious?" Oscar asked, tilting his head with an easy grin.

The two men exchanged a long stare before Andrew spoke. "Sure. Why not?" he replied with a shrug. "Kiss me, then," he said.

Oscar chuckled and the others cheered as he slid his pool noodle out from under his arms before slipping under the water. Andrew saw him under the surface, gliding along. The harsh pool lights reflected off of his chiseled torso and when he came up for air, he pushed his blond curls back from his forehead. He treaded water as he considered Andrew for a second, as though he were calculating the best angle of attack.

Andrew focused on the other man's face and the beauty of it. The way his hair curled back at his temples. His long eyelashes. His slightly turned-up nose. His eyes, flecked with gold. Oscar pressed his lips to Andrew's softly at first, and then with a bit more purpose. He rolled his tongue along Andrew's bottom lip slowly and he briefly wondered if Oscar had some sort of secret skill in bed, as a man pleasuring a man, that would make it different. But it wasn't the kiss that sent electricity down his spine, but rather the five pairs of eyes watching them. Oscar pulled away and Andrew smiled at him.

"Sorry, mate. Straight as a board," he chuckled.

Oscar sighed in defeat. "Well, I did my best," he said, making everyone laugh.

"It must have been weird for you to go to an all boys boarding school, then?" Kate asked. She was floating next to Alex on the end of the same hot pink noodle.

Oscar shrugged and glided back to the other side of the pool. "It certainly made showering after sports practice fun. My favorite times were the nights when my dorm mates would beat me with socks full of quarters," he said with mock happiness. "It was the best."

"Jesus, and I thought going to Catholic school here was hard," Alex remarked, shaking his head.

"There was a certain feeling of pride when you graduated, as though if you could survive sock beatings and forced games of Ookie Cookie, you'd do well in the world," Oscar said, a nostalgic look on his face.

"Ookie Cookie?" Andrew asked.

"A group of guys stands around a cookie - usually an Oreo - and jerks one off. Last one to finish has to eat it," Oscar explained, casually sipping his Gin and Tonic.

"Oh that's disgusting!" Kate said, gagging.

"Why are men so gross?" Desi asked, shaking her head.

"Boys, honey," Oscar said. "Men don't do that shit. Its always teenage boys."

Molly wrinkled her nose. "That's just...eugh."

"The funny part is that its far more homoerotic than they realize," Oscar laughed. "Every one of them is looking at the other's dicks. Compare, contrast."

"Did you ever...have to...eat it?" Luke asked, his face slightly green.

"Fuck no! I've never had performance issues. I think that's one situation where liking guys actually helped me in school," Oscar laughed.

"I'd rather take the beatings from the nuns, all the same," Alex said.

"Alright, enough about my sordid deeds at boarding school," Oscar said. "Alex, of the people here right now, kiss the person you're most attracted to."

Molly saw Alex's eyes widen and his cheeks blush.

"Come on, no judgement," Oscar said. "We're all drunk. We're mostly naked. We're all probably a little bit horny. Just go with it."

Alex pushed off the wall and glided over to Molly, cradling her face his hands before kissing her deeply. Andrew watched in a mixture of shock and surprise, but he did little to stop their interaction. Molly felt Alex push her up against the edge of the pool and she tilted her head to deepen the kiss as the others howled in approval.

"Alright, I said kiss her, not suck her face off, Jesus," Oscar said, nudging Alex's leg with his foot.

Alex pulled back, still cradling Molly's face. She looked up at him slightly dazed. He winked at her and glided back across the pool. She glanced over at Andrew next to her and was surprised to see him looking at her with lust in his eyes over the top of his drink.

"Okay, things just got interesting," Luke remarked with a grin.

Molly looked at Alex across the water and felt a slight heat rise in her. That wasn't a kiss meant as a joke. He'd made sure she felt his body against hers and the yearning from his mouth. She shook her head to clear it. Alcohol makes people bold, especially whenever Oscar was around.

"Let's play truth or drink," Desi suggested.

"As long as it doesn't turn into a repeat of that night in Omaha, I'm down," Kate said.

"Fuck, yeah. That was rough," Andrew laughed.

"Wait- what happened in Omaha?" Molly asked, suddenly aware that Andrew shared a different relationship with four of their guests.

"Don't ask," Luke laughed. "It got weird and let's just say, there's a reason why Jess left the tour so suddenly." Molly vaguely remembered Jess as one of the band assistants from the last two legs of the tour.

"She made a pass at Andy," Kate explained, refilling her glass with red wine. "He kissed her back."

Molly's gaze turned to Andrew and he sucked air between his teeth. "Huh," she remarked with a smirk. "Is that so?"

He smiled at her and ran his hand through his wet hair, looking at her like a child that had been caught in the act of doing something wrong. The idea of anyone else kissing Andrew used to make her jealous. But now, after living with him for a year and knowing how he felt about her, it didn't bother her at all. It was probably a night just like this one, where everyone was drunk and sex was in the air.

"Nothing else happened, I promise," he told her softly, coming up behind her.

"I believe you," she said, kissing him. "Its okay."

"Fine, let's play it, but keep it PG-13," Desi said. "I'll start us off. Oscar: what's the hardest drug you've ever done?"

"Easy. I sat the bar on coke," he replied.

Andrew choked on his drink. "I'm sorry, do you mean to tell us that you took the California Bar Exam high on cocaine?" he asked in astonishment.

Oscar nodded as if he was agreeing to go to the grocery store.

"What the fuck?" Alex laughed.

"The privilege of being a rich, white man in America," Molly remarked wryly.

Everyone laughed and Oscar looked at Molly. "What's the most scandalous location you've ever had sex in?"

Molly barely had to think. "Church parking lot," she said with a shrug. "Seemed like a good way to say 'fuck you' to them."

Andrew looked at her with surprise. "Darling, that might be the sexiest thing you've ever told me."

She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She could feel his cock pushed against her ass. "Luke, you're going skinny dipping. Drop trou," she said, half expecting him to take a swig from his drink.

To everyone's surprise, Luke's Calvin Klein boxers floated on the surface a second later, causing cheers to erupt.

"Hang on, I thought we said keep it PG-13?" Kate asked, pushing Luke's boxers away from her in disgust as they floated by.

"It is," Luke said. "Can you see anything?" he asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

Oscar looked over, playfully peering into the water. "I can. Its glorious," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Andy, what is the best sexual encounter you and Molly have ever had?" Luke asked.

Andrew blinked, lifted his drink, took a sip, and put it back down. His lack of answer brought another round of cheers and laughter. "A gentleman never tells," he replied, smirking. He wrapped his arm around Molly and looked to Alex. "Who in the room do you think has slept with the most people?"

Alex scoffed. "C'mon, Andy. Give me a hard one. Its obviously Oscar."

"I would have said myself, too," Oscar said, laughing. "To be fair."

"Kate, what is the worst sexual experience you've ever had?" Alex asked.

"Oh, Jesus," she sighed, looking up. "There have been so many, unfortunately."

"Tell them about the time with the guy from Reno," Desi urged, laughing.

"Oh fuck, how could I forget about that?" Kate exclaimed. "Okay, so there was a guy I met when I was touring with Haim. We stopped in Vegas for a few days on a break. Anyway, he takes me out, we go back to his place, we get things started and I notice he's acting a little weird. But we both had been drinking, so I assumed that was why. He kept reaching for something under the pillow - like under my head. We...you know...finish and while he's getting cleaned up, I get curious and look under the pillow. The creep had a picture of his mother under the pillow!," she shrieked, laughing.

"Oh, gross!" Andrew exclaimed.

"When I say that I have never run faster in my life," Kate laughed. "I'm pretty sure I left my underwear there."

"He's probably got them preserved in a shadow box in his closet," Alex joked. "He sniffs them anytime he needs to get off," he said, nudging her playfully.

"Ew, don't be disgusting!" she laughed.

Molly noticed that the distance between the two of them had closed completely. She could see Alex's hand on her stomach, holding her against his body.

"My turn, right?" Kate asked. "Luke, do a naked lap around the pool."

"Gladly," Luke grinned, hoisting himself up on the concrete barrier.

The group whooped and cheered as Luke ran around the pool deck, cheering. He ended his run with a large cannon ball into the pool, soaking everyone with his splash. He came back to the surface of the water and found his pool noodle.

"Molly, tell us the sexiest thing Andy has ever done to you," Luke said, sniffling and wiping his dripping face.

Molly shook her head. "Sorry. Gotta drink on that one." She brought her glass to her lips and took a swig. "You're not getting fodder for your spank bank from our bedroom." She looked at the group in front of her. "Oscar, if you had to sleep with two people in this room, who would they be."

"At the same time or just in general?" Oscar asked.

"Whatever you want," Molly said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, I've already done you, and you're boring, so -," he started, smirking.

"Hey!" she replied indignantly as the others laughed.

"I can categorically deny that," Andrew said, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I'd probably say Luke and Desi," he remarked. "Separately. But together could be fun, too," he added, wagging his eyebrows.

"Kinky," Desi replied with a smile.

"Since we're going down that road, Andrew, kiss your favorite body part of Molly's - below her face. None of this 'oh I love her eyes' bullshit," Oscar said.

Molly expected Andrew to take a drink, but to her surprise, he moved in front of her, slid her bra straps down and peeled the fabric away from her breasts before leaning down and dragging his tongue across her skin. She didn't even care that he gave everyone a clear view of her breasts. Her heart raced and she inhaled sharply. He didn't replace her bra when he moved behind her.

"Well alright then," Oscar said. "I honestly did not expect that," he added in surprise. "Taking things up a notch."

"Desi, what is the dirtiest text you've ever sent?" Andrew asked as he wrapped his arms around Molly, pinning hers at her sides and keeping her breasts partially exposed.

The heat was back in Molly's body and she could see Luke and Alex's eyes darting to her breasts every few seconds.

Desi smirked, shook her head, and emptied her drink. "Even if I could remember it, I wouldn't tell you," she laughed. "Oscar, do your best attempt to turn one of us on, keeping your hands above the waist."

Oscar grinned devilishly and surveyed his options, his eyes eventually settling on Luke next to him. He turned to face the other man and ran his hand over his chest before caressing his cheek. Oscar pressed his body against Luke's as he kissed him slowly, pushing him back against the edge of the pool. Luke brought his hands up to Oscar's head and sighed softly against his lips.

Andrew watched, pressing himself against Molly's back. The atmosphere in the pool changed considerably, moving from playful and flirtatious to sensual and erotic. He saw Alex nuzzling Kate's neck, his hands visible on her hips underneath the water. It was obvious where the night was heading for all of them and everyone's inhibitions had disappeared.

Oscar stopped kissing Luke, leaving him with a dazed expression. "My turn, right?" he asked, settling between Luke and Desi. "What's your biggest turn on, Alex?"

Alex cleared his throat. "Kissing my neck," he replied, looking over at Kate.

"Like this?" she asked, surprising everyone by leaning over and kissing his neck. The group cheered.

He hissed and tightened his arm around her waist, biting his bottom lip. "Fuck it," he muttered, kissing her heavily. "Come on," he said, hoisting himself from the water and helping her out.

Molly was impressed at his erection through his boxers, but was even more surprised at Kate following him. The two of them grabbed towels and ran back into the house.

"And then there were five," Oscar remarked, draping his arm around Desi's shoulders.

The mood had gone more erotic and Andrew felt his cock twitch at the possibility of what could happen next. Molly dipped her hand into the water and caressed him over his boxers. He nipped her ear softly, his breath hot against her neck. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Now there are three" he said, swimming over to the stairs and climbing out, leading Molly after him. "Have fun," he added over his shoulder as he grabbed two towels, wrapping Molly first and himself immediately after.

He all but forced her ahead of him through the door and across the courtyard. He kissed her hungrily against the glass door for several seconds before the chill of the December air caught up to them. Molly sighed as he pushed her against the island, his hands unhooking her bra and flinging it across the room.

"Remember your birthday, Mol?" he asked, his voice raspy against her ear. "Maybe I should fuck you right here, just like I did then," he said.

She moaned and leaned forward over the granite as he assaulted her back with his teeth. Another moan from upstairs caught her attention and she sat up, her lust-clouded mind suddenly aware that they weren't alone.

"Let's give them something to compete with," he growled against her neck. "C'mon."

Molly walked up the spiral staircase on wobbly legs. Their game and copious amounts of alcohol had rendered her brain slow to respond and she stumbled slightly on her way up. Andrew was right behind her, practically body-checking her down the hallway to their bedroom. He kicked the door shut with a snap as more moans came from the other side of the house.

"Alex and Kate must be having fun," he chuckled, sliding his boxers off and tossing them toward the bathroom.

Molly smiled back, dropping her towel and sitting on the end of the bed, not caring if her underwear was wet or not. Andrew stalked toward her, like a wild animal hunting its prey. "What brought this on?" she asked in surprise. "This isn't like you at all."

He yanked her underwear off, throwing them over his shoulder. "Its sexy as fuck," he replied, pulling her toward him. "Seeing you stripping naked during the game and then watching you kiss Alex. It was so fucking hot," he growled against her ear.

She gasped loudly as he forced her knees apart and slid into her in one smooth movement. He groaned, bringing his hands to her hips. As he moved, each stroke brought a moan from Molly's lips and his fingers dug into her skin, leaving half-moon marks behind. Still slick from the pool, her legs slid around his waist, pulling him closer.

Andrew watched as her breasts moved with each stroke and he felt himself twitch inside of her. Molly brought one of his hands to her lips, drawing his finger into her mouth. He cursed and pulled out.

"On your knees," he ordered, flipping her to her stomach roughly.

She smiled as she got on her hands and knees, arching her back just as he liked it. There was something so primal about the act, flesh meeting flesh loudly. She didn't care if everyone else in the house could hear her moans or Andrew's cursing as he slapped her ass.

For weeks, tensions had been high between them. Andrew's declaration that he was retiring still hung in the air, even though he hadn't actually announced it yet. His hands had been slower to heal than expected, but even then he wasn't interested in playing. Until Alex arrived for the holiday party, the studio sat empty and silent, the door closed. Andrew's main focus had been finding anything possible beyond music to occupy his time with, much to Molly's annoyance.

She'd been busy revising for final exams and working on her dissertation at the same time. She was frustrated by his ambivalence about his career and it had led to several arguments between them until finally, they had to agree to disagree.

Andrew sighed as Molly came around him, letting his head fall back and his hands grip her hips. Her moans bounced off the ceiling and she gripped the sheets until her knuckles turned white.

"Fuck, Andrew," she groaned, burying her face against the bed. "Please don't stop."

He didn't intend on it. "Christ, a chroi, I love you," he exclaimed.

He felt like he was flying, ecstasy running through his veins. She was the best drug he'd ever tried and the easiest high to reach. Her soft skin under his fingers. Her moans in his ears. The sight of her naked body underneath him. The scent of her sex, pheromones drawing him in. The taste of wine on her tongue. His senses were overloaded every single time he was inside of her and each time, it felt better than the last. She was the only high that got better with time.

Molly cried out again and he felt her clench around him, driving him closer to the edge. He cursed under his breath. He didn't want this to end yet. He slowed, hoping to prolong his release. She stopped shuddering under him and he pulled out. He rolled her over, moved her further up the bed and pushed into her again, slower this time as he breathed heavily.

"Andrew..." she whispered, her gaze fuzzy with alcohol and lust.

He entwined his fingers with hers as he assaulted her neck with his mouth. She hummed, the vibrations running down her throat. Andrew smiled and laid on top of her and rested his weight on his forearms. He stared into her eyes and sighed. She brought her legs around his waist again and kissed him deeply.

Her lips on his and her body yielding underneath him were enough to send him over the edge in his highly intoxicated state. With several loud curses and moans, he emptied himself into her and collapsed, breathing heavily.

"That was..." he started, rolling off of her.

"Fast," she finished, staring at the ceiling.

"Oh shit, were you not..."he asked, sitting up on his elbow. "Because I can -," he stammered.

Molly chuckled and looked over at him. "I'm probably too drunk right now to actually participate," she said, patting his scruffy cheek. "Its just as well."

A small twinge of guilt rolled into Andrew's mind. Had he taken advantage of her? He opened his mouth to speak several times before closing it abruptly, unsure of what to say. Molly was laying in front of him, her head lolling to the side, eyes drifting closed.

"I - you did want...this, right?" he asked uncertainly.

Her eyes snapped open. "Of course I did!" she insisted. "I fully consented, Andrew. Can we just go to sleep, please?" she asked, exhaustion in her voice.

He leaned over and kissed her before pulling the blankets around them. Within seconds, they were both sound asleep, oblivious to the other hedonistic activities in the rest of the house.

***SEVERAL DAYS LATER***

Molly rested her head against Andrew's bare chest as they lay in bed after waking up several days later. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Morning," she yawned. 

He smiled and reached into his night stand drawer and pulled something out. She balked when she caught sight of the little back box.

"Andrew that better not be an engagement ring," she said warily, sitting up and crossing her legs.

"It - its not," he said quickly. "I mean, technically I guess it is, but it could be whatever you want it to be. I know how you feel about marriage, so I was hoping this would be more like a promise."

"A promise?" Molly asked, looking at him in confusion.

"A promise from me that I will spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to make you happy and be the man you deserve," he said softly. "That I will never stray. That I will always be truthful. That I will always treat you as my equal and partner in everything."

He opened the box and a beautiful deep red garnet shined up at her. The round cut stone was set into white gold with small diamonds running along the band on either side. Simple, but elegant. It glittered in the morning light. Despite her initial wariness, she couldn't help but examine it closer.

"I'm hoping that regardless of what significance you decide to assign to it, you'll still wear it," he said. "For me."

"Are you marking your territory, Andrew?" she asked, taking the box from him.

He ducked his head and grinned. "I know its archaic and patriarchal, but yes. Yes I am."

Molly sighed and bit her lip. The idea of marriage terrified her and he knew that. She never wanted to give another person any type of power over her in a legal capacity.

A promise. That's what he'd called it. A promise of his devotion and love, things she never doubted to begin with. If she never doubted his devotion or love, what was the point in her wearing a ring other than showing other people she was taken?

"Is this about me kissing Alex at the party?" she asked, looking at him.

He shook his head. "No. I've had this for a couple months," he said, gesturing to the ring.

"Are you worried I'll leave you?"

He clenched his jaw and swallowed. "Sometimes. I thought you'd had enough after the attack."

"And you think a ring will keep me from leaving you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

He sighed and looked away for a second. She could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "Maybe? I don't know." He ran his fingers through his unruly hair. "You left me twice already. I guess I'm hoping that if you wear this, it means you're here to stay," he said.

Molly bit her lip and took the ring from the box, sliding it onto her left ring finger. "If its between the ring and you peeing on me, I'll take the ring. I'm not into golden showers," she quipped, smiling. "I will wear it as a symbol of the promise it represents. To remind me of you. But if I have to wear something symbolizing I'm 'yours', you have to do the same."

Andrew bit his lip and considered her for a moment. "What would you have me wear?" he asked.

"A ring," she said, a challenging look in her eye.

He inhaled sharply. "Mol, its not the same for me. If I go around wearing a ring, then people will assume we're married."

"So?" she countered. "You already pledged your devotion to me with this," she held up her hand. "People know about us now. How is it any different from being married, really?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I guess I should have expected this." He ran his fingers through his hair again. "Alright, sure. But can I wear it on my right hand? It'll get in the way on my left when I play."

"When you play? Does this mean your ill-conceived hiatus from music is over?" she asked, closing the ring box and moving closer to him.

Andrew chuckled. "I've actually been thinking about writing lately," he admitted.

"Andrew, I don't care if you wear a ring or not. That's up to you," she sighed. "I just don't like the idea of this meaning I'm 'taken' while you appear free to do whatever you want."

He laughed again. "Molly, I haven't been free to do whatever I want since you walked back into my life." He kissed her softly. "I have no intention of it in the future, either."

Molly ran her thumb over the ring, adjusting to the foreign object on her finger. It was beautiful and unconventional, she'd give him that.

"Do you like it?" he asked. "Its not too much? I figured you'd want something subtle."

"Yes. Its beautiful," she replied. "I love it. Why did you go with a garnet over a diamond?"

He shrugged. "Diamonds are what everyone has, right? I knew you'd want something unique. Plus it doesn't scream 'engagement ring' right away."

Molly looked at it again, admiring the way it looked on her finger. There are worst things in the world than wearing a ring to make him feel better, she thought.

"There's something else, too," he said as he opened his iPad. He navigated across the screen several times before flipping it around. A fawn greyhound looked back at her with large brown eyes, ears peeled back against its head. "This is Clementine," he explained. "I know we talked about getting a dog and we've sort of been putting it off. But I came across her and thought she'd be perfect for us."

"A greyhound? Really?" she asked. "Don't they have a lot of energy?"

"Actually, no," he replied. "They're apparently really lazy dogs except for a few bursts of energy. She's two. The rescue took her in from the racetrack. They say she's really quiet and calm. Its not like we don't have the space for her."

Molly watched his face light up as he talked about the dog. As long as he was home, it didn't bother her if they had one. He could handle it. But it was inevitable that he would release more music and go back on tour, which ultimately meant she'd be stuck with the dog. Still, the happiness on his face made her smile.

"What's the deal with her?" she asked, taking the iPad from him to look closer.

"Since its Christmas, they aren't doing any appointments right now. But I've already made one for when they reopen," he replied.

There was no arguing this one. She could tell he was already making plans for the dog in the house. "We're getting the dog, aren't we?" she asked in defeat.

He grinned at her. "Yes. If you like her. The rescue said we're a good match, assuming everything goes well."

"Is she at least house trained?" she asked, sighing. "Because when you inevitably go back on tour, I'll be the one responsible for her. She'll need to be fully trained before you go anywhere."

A loud clatter in the kitchen caught their attention and they both hurried out of bed. Andrew pulled a sweater on over his t-shirt as he rushed down he hallway. He looked down into the kitchen and sighed.

"Oscar, what the fuck?" he asked.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you guys," Oscar replied. "I thought I'd try to make breakfast as a thank you for letting me stay here."

"Yeah, well, I'd be more grateful if you didn't break my entire kitchen," Andrew said, trotting down the stairs and replacing several upended appliances.

Molly followed him and replaced a wayward orange in the fruit bowl. "What were you trying to make? You literally know how to cook three things."

Oscar looked over at her hand and let out a scream that was a cross between a banshee wail and a pterodactyl shriek.

"The fuck?!" Andrew exclaimed, covering his ears.

"Did you just propose to her?!" Oscar asked excitedly, yanking Molly's hand over the counter toward him to examine the ring.

Molly winced as the sharp edge of the counter bit into her ribcage. "No. Its not an engagement ring," she said, tugging her hand free.

"Sure looks like one to me," Oscar remarked.

"Its not," Molly insisted, rubbing her wrist. "What are you trying to make?" she asked, eager to get the attention off of her.

"Waffles," he replied.

"I don't have a waffle iron," Andrew said, putting several pans back into a cabinet.

"Well that explains why I couldn't find it," Oscar said matter-of-factly.

Andrew smiled patiently. "Would you like some help or shall I just get the fire extinguisher?"

"Help, please," he said, a sheepish grin on his face.

Andrew set to work, washing his hands. "How about I teach you how to make eggs," he suggested. "Pretty difficult to fuck up."

Molly sat on a bar stool, watching as Andrew showed Oscar how to cook. "Andrew, when is this appointment? For the dog?" she asked over the hum of the vent hood.

"Tuesday at three," he answered, whisking several eggs in a small bowl.

"Dog? You don't have a dog," Oscar said, in confusion.

"We're looking at getting one," Andrew explained. "Through a rescue."

"Well isn't this idyllic," Oscar commented. "Dog, engagement ring. What's next, a baby?"

Molly glared at her best friend, unimpressed. "I will stab you."

Andrew broke into laughter. "Its not an engagement ring, Oscar. Its sort of a promise and a symbol. Marriage is not in the cards for us," he said.

"I get it. You're marking your territory," Oscar said in understanding. "I'm just surprised you agreed to wear it, Molly."

Molly caught Andrew's gaze. "I want to wear it," she insisted, though he could tell her response wasn't wholehearted.

A small pang of sadness hit Andrew and he turned back to the stove. He knew she was cautious about commitments. Asking her to physically show her commitment to him was a risk. But to his surprise, she'd accepted.

You just gave it to her. Give it a minute to sink in, he told himself.

Molly was always slow to commit and he understood her fears of marriage. He had his own reservations and he certainly didn't want to force her into it if it wasn't something she explicitly wanted or needed from him. Maybe he'd been too hasty in asking her or giving her the ring.

His possessive nature had pushed him to do it. The idea of her leaving him again was hard to even consider. He hoped that him requesting her to wear the ring would be enough for him, to show him that she was completely serious. But now he worried that he'd overplayed his hand in thinking she was okay with his request.