He loved the way she screamed his name, the sudden raspiness catching each letter as it was called out. Kid was certain the neighboring businesses, had become very familiar with its sound as it would slip through the cracks in the mortar of the ancient brick that separated the spaces. Bringing her through her orgasm, the goosebumps that once flecked her frigid skin was now replaced with a thin layer of sweat. She was warming up but he wasn't through, not yet. Athina's legs begin to lose their grasp from his body as she leaned on the bookshelf behind her, still trying to steady her breathing.

"Rookie." He purred, eyebrows arching, his mouth opened in a teasing smile as he ran his tongue over his bottom teeth. She tried to regain some control, but her legs still slackened around his waist. Taking her in his arms he laid her on the floor, his coat splayed around them. Unlike before, his thrusts this time were slow, even. Drawing out almost every inch before he would plunge his length back inside.

Winding his hands inside the arms of the coat he grasped hers. Athina's fingers were dangerous, and he wanted to last. The way she touched him drove him crazy. The tenderness in each caress that fell over his skin, it was as if she were studying every curve. All her other lovers had been content with what she gave. Never pushing her body for more, and he found out very quickly she always had more. They were lazy, he wanted everything, each piece of her he could have. Wanting to etch his name in her walls, letting every lover that came after, know that he was there first.

"You're gonna make me..." She whined barely able to form her words. Her voice high and uneven as her breath would catch quickly, trying desperately to find some control, but she couldn't

"Yes." He replied roughly a with swift grunt following after.

"But your," A moan interrupted her speech, as he thrust further into her. "coat."

"Fuck, the coat." He grunted. She had always loved his mouth for many different reasons. But the way that particular four letter word left his lips often in a guttural growl immediately brought a tightness to her stomach and a slickness between her legs. It didn't matter if it was said in anger or passion, the reaction still the same.

Feeling her release, the once tightness she held faltered, and a small puddle of warm liquid soaked into the lining of the coat beneath them. She whimpered, her fingers clutched firmly in his, chest rising and falling rapidly against him. He was done, he had reached his breaking point. With a grunt, he gave one last aggressive thrust, her hips lifting from the ground. He wanted to find himself as far as he could inside her. With the pull of their limbs, the sleeves of his coat finally gave way, threads separating as his pelvis bucked rapidly. Swallowing his moan as it tried to escape him. The loud sound reverberated against the back of his throat making him seem wild and animalistic as he filled her.

Moist hair brushed softly against her shoulders as his tongue slowly lapped up the sweat that pooled in the hollow of her collarbone. He marveled in the red glow he created that now took over of her body.

Breathing deeply trying desperately to steady her racing heart, small puffs of smoke left her lips as her heated breath hit the cold air of the bookstore.

He could still feel the slightest spasms as she surrounded him, he wanted to take in every subtlety. "You warm enough, yet?" He asked eyes lidded heavily knowing very well she couldn't yet form her words.

"Uhhh uhhh." She feebly smiled through a mass of loosened curls, barely able to even nod her head no, before she consumed his lips.

They spent the rest of the day reshelving all the books that had been shaken free of their cases, listening to Donny Hathaway, and desperately trying to keep each other warm. Once again so busy they never found the time to open the doors to her store.

Shaking his head lightly at the memory, instinctively Kid tugged at one of the strings that had loosened from the coat. As he pulled the seam across the shoulder began to buckle widening the gap of the hole. He couldn't believe he could still remember the feel of the tiniest movements she made, the sensation of her flesh against his. He thought he had forgotten everything, or at least hoped. Her memory was invasive, bringing back with her all the mistakes he had made. At the time she was one piece that fell among many others, yet somehow she was the one he couldn't seem to handle.

Sliding his hand over the coat he tucked it into a pocket falling upon a crumpled piece of paper. Pulling it out he recognized the receipt instantly, a list of nine or so of the most random book titles. Athina's cheerful 'Thank You!' scribbled at the bottom. Those fucking books...

"Are you leaving?" She asked a thin finger reaching out to gently stroke the bridge of his nose. All day they had struggled to leave her mattress, just like every other. Lying quietly as the afternoon sun finally peeked in her windows and spilled through the apartment, catching spaces that had been shadowed for days. They huddled together under the softness of a blue sheet whispering between each other as if their secrets would be found out.

"No, not yet, but soon." He gave an exasperated breath knowing each day he stayed made it worse for him. This fantasy they were creating had begun to feel more real than any life that awaited him outside, and he strained trying to keep the inevitable at bay.

"You'll tell me goodbye won't you... before you go?" He watched as her eyes grew wide and she bit her lip trying to stop the words from tumbling out but it was too late. Betrayed by her own vulnerability she turned from him refusing to meet his gaze.

"No." He whispered trying to draw back her attention.

Athina's head whipped around quickly, curls bouncing across their shoulders. Her once large eyes began to narrow as she met him, she said nothing but as her jaw clenched he was able to read every emotion that poured out of her.

Slowly a wicked grin crept across his lips. "Because... it won't be goodbye." Reveling as the anger quickly drained from her face. Cheeks flushing slightly, she was embarrassed that once again her emotions were so easily manipulated by him.

Taking her into his arms, his fingers tussled through her ringlets. Feeling her warmth against his skin, 'goodbye' was something he wasn't sure he'd be ready for.

Burying her face in his shoulder, he felt her smile, lips parting over him. "You are an ass." She gave a slight chuckle as he gripped his arms tighter around her.

"But a nice one." Whispering softly into her ear he let his mouth linger over her flesh.

"No, see you're mistaken. Just because you have one... doesn't mean you are one."

"Oh, so you think I have a nice ass." He teased already knowing the truth. Grasping her hand in his he moved her fingers over his exaggerated curve.

Her breath caught in her chest as she smoothly ran over his perfect skin. Gripping firmly she smiled, "It's ok." The lies that left her lips were sometimes so entertaining.

Turning, he lifted her on all fours, knees pressing into the softness of her bare mattress. Rimming the crevasse of her lower back with his tongue before leaving small kisses up her spine, as he moved to crouch over her. The taut muscles of his arms flexed supplely against hers as he positioned himself. The sheet covering them like a tent as he gently rocked their bodies together.

Athina let out a sigh, the weight of his body as it pressed upon her, the warmth he radiated, the rose color of his lips as they would pass over her skin, she longed for them all, even as he lay right next to her. She found herself caught, reminding herself often that he was only temporary, but the small voice inside her that said 'maybe', grew louder with each day he stayed.

Kid's arm snaked around her waist trailing between her breast as the peaks nudged lightly against a pillow. His palm gliding over the delicate skin of her neck, stroking her throat, he loved the feel of the vibrations of her moans as they left her. Breathy mewls began to escape her as she excitedly felt the growing thickness of his dick thumping impatiently against her.

"God, I l...." Suddenly her voice stopped, refusing to go any farther.

"What?" Replacing his arm back to her side, pushing forward his voice boomed, echoing in the small cavelike space between them. The forcefulness made her jump slightly.

"Nothing." She whispered afraid her words had already exposed too much.

"Athina." His moan resonated richly, making her shiver as she felt her name dance across her skin.

"Nothing." Again she tried to quietly cover her tracks.

"No, I want you to finish." He pressed against her deeper, hand leaving her side trailing between her thighs, his fingers began to tease her pearl expertly with light swift strokes, he wanted to hear those words first, no matter how he had to draw them out.

"I.... I.... I..." She stammered softly, voice breaking after each syllable. Moving underneath the power of his body she was getting lost in the feel, the sound of his hand within her. It had been two weeks and she had gotten too comfortable. Sucking in a deep breath she found some level of composure. "I... I... I think we need to get the fuck outta here."

With those words, his body became still and he knew she would never admit to the words that he had come so close to hearing.

Slipping from his loosened grasp she rolled to lay beneath him. "We've gotta get outta here." She smiled taking his square jaw in her palms, as he gently swayed above.

"A walk?"

"No." Kid had found contentment in their solitude. He was afraid if the world outside was let in everything would be over.

"A ride?"

His eyes dipped flirtatiously, a grin beginning to peek from the corner of his lips. Bringing his hips lower the tip of his throbbing member knocked against her, like a lust filled pendulum.

"Nope, I've had plenty of those rides." She laughed tugging in the dark thick hair on his face that had grown without care over the past two weeks. She would have taken him in any form, but this one had become her favorite. His features softened, playfulness no longer hidden by control or uncertainty. And though the deep creases that formed when he smiled or laughed were now covered by his beard, she still knew they were there. He had become the embodiment of the freedom she had dreamed for, so long ago.

She continued, trying with so much effort not to let herself get wrapped up in him. "Maybe there is still time to open the store. If we make a little money, we could get take out." Over the course of their stay they had emptied her fridge, emptied her pantry, and with the last box of cereal they shared, there was barely enough left for a bowl. "Let's see, what are you in the mood for?" She cooed, her hands quietly following the line of fur that edged the center of his lithe frame, as he arched over her. With each word, she inched closer and closer.

"Pizza? Chinese? Indian?" Stopping briefly before each word she drew lazy circles over his skin, lower and lower she would taunt. He began to grunt impatiently, his eyes softly closed, chin tilting forward waiting to feel her firm grasp around him. "Thai?" Finally reaching her destination her finger delicately traced over his flesh. Feeling the weight in her palm, she heard him exhale as she wrapped around him, the bottom of his lip twitching at her grasp. "Oh, I think that's the one." Suddenly letting go she slinked her body down the bed taking him between lips, but just the tip. Rolling her tongue over the curve, taking in the velvet of his golden skin, the slight saltiness of the liquid that began to form as she sucked. Bucking his hips be pushed against her wanting her mouth to envelop him completely. But the pressure she held was unrelenting.

With a slick and sloppy pop, she released him from her lips. Slipping the rest of her body off the bed she walked casually to her closet listening as his breathing began to steady. "It's getting late, let's go downstairs." she yelled to him trying to stifle her laughter as she grabbed a dress quickly. Athina hadn't worn her own clothes since they made it back from the studio weeks ago. It had either been his shirt, his coat... but more often than not, nothing at all.

"You can't leave me like this." Kid's voice called back to her heavy with aggravation.

"Why not?"

"Your an ass, you know that." Letting out a frustrated huff he grinned watching her sashay out of the closet in a gauzy summer dress. The light fabric that surrounded her was comical. It was early November and the weather had begun to change rapidly, it was as if she could pretend long enough, hold out, maybe the truth of the coming winter wasn't a reality. Then again he was doing the same thing, but instead of summer, he was trying to hold on to her.

"But a nice one." She mimicked his words playfully. "You and that bed are a damn trap, like fucking quicksand. We're outta milk and I don't want to eat dry cereal... again. Don't you want something warm to eat?"

"I definitely haven't needed delivery for that." Tongue coating his bottom lip he drew it into his mouth, the taste of her still lingering there.

She rolled her eyes at his comment, with his smug tone he would always find something amusing about the words she spoke."I'm going downstairs to open the store."

"Come on." His voice lowered seductively, enticing her to join him. Sitting on the edge of the bed his feet planted firmly on the wooden planks beneath. Kid's eyes met hers through a curtain of dark hair, as he dabbed his finger over the remnants of saliva she left behind just moments before.

"Shit." She moaned under her breath in surrender. What she perceived to be willpower crumbled almost instantly at the sight of him, he was the flame and she was nothing but a moth.

Athina straddled his frame gruffly, her knees firmly pressing against his thighs. This spot on the bed had been one of her favorites. The top half of her body cascading to the floor as he grasped her hips tightly against him. It also held the memory of the first place they had fucked. He held her wrist tightly above her, sweat mingling with water as it dripped onto her moist skin. She needed so badly just to touch him be he wouldn't let her, with the pounding of each frantic thrust she felt his frustration, his anger subsiding, and she wanted to be his release.

Feeling the heated wetness between her thighs sliding against him as she rocked gently, he kissed her. The way she felt, tasted, smelled, he wanted all his senses to be consumed by her. Adjusting himself to slip inside, he reached up and whispered, "I knew I could get you over here." As the cocky phrase dripped from his lips, she swung around her legs and hopped off.

"Ugggghhhhh, I hate you." He groaned in desperation.

"No, you don't." She winked and slipped through the door.

"You can't leave a black man in this state." Kid screamed as she made her way down the flight of stairs.

"I just did." She replied smiling as she turned the once constant closed sign to open. Busying herself within the stacks she waited patiently to see if he would actually join her downstairs.

"You and this fucking coat."He whispered creeping up behind her, brushing her hair to the side he left a small kiss on her neck.

"What I'm cold." She tightened the damaged coat around her tighter.

"I told you, I'd keep you warm."

"Not for much longer." She mused nonchalantly, but inside it was tearing her apart. It was a soft spot she couldn't help but pick at, hoping to alleviate the pain, but she knew it would only leave a scar.

For the first time, it seemed in days his face darkened at her words. "Awww come on... I'm sorry. I just..." Her words trailed off and she hoped he would understand. "Let me make it up to you. What's it going to take?" Kid caged her body against the bookshelf, and she wondered just how much more they could handle before they started to crack. Slipping her hand below the thick waistband of his pants she counted slowly. "1... 2..." Gliding her hand over the slight tackiness on his spent shaft. He had left it there on purpose, a reminder that he had to finish a job that she refused to. Running her finger over the once warm liquid that still pooled at the center of his tip. He closed his eyes in concentration above her, still refusing to smile. Bringing the moisture to her lips she sucked off the remnants and counted "3." His focus slipped watching her and he slid easily into a smile before he realized it.

"So three then?" She reached up to kiss him.

"Could be four, five, six." He grinned hiding behind the lapel of his coat as he nipped at the exposed skin of her collarbone. With the sound and feel of her giggling beneath him, he was lost once again in their world.

The bell on the door rang and her eyes grew wide as she tried to calm her laughter. "Shhhh... it's our first customer. We have to be professional." Licking her neck, he loved the sound of those two simple words, our... and we.

Walking around the corner of the shelf his gait stopped instantly. Athina bumping into him from behind. Looking up she watched his once soft smile fade, perfect lips setting in a line as if they were stone. Cheeks drawing in slightly, jaw clenching, his features more angular as he let out a low growl. "Shit."

"The fuck is this , Grizzly Adams?" Bosco smiled giving a nod in his boss's direction.

"Shut up, man." Kid shook his head, within seconds his whole demeanor had changed. Slipping back so quickly, Athina wondered if the man she had come to know these past two weeks had really existed at all.

"Where you been, boss?" The large man took off his hat and nervously shifted it within his hands.

"Busy."

"I can see that." He gave a nod to Athina, his lips slipping into a knowing smile. "Lil Miss Hotpants."

"Mr. Bodyguard." She squeezed her hand over Kid's and slipped by to find work to do behind the cash register. The small space was thick with a nervous quiet she found stifling.

"You left everything man, even your wallet. We were a little concerned." Tossing Kid his wallet, he caught it quickly. "You know they going crazy." Bosco stepped in closer his voice quieting.

"That's not my problem." The stoic tone of Kid's responses was killing Athina.

"Kid that's not what they said..."

Pulling the much larger man to a corner of the shop they whispered quietly between themselves. Though he spoke often, Kid's gaze never left Athina as she shuffled behind the counter, trying to find something to take her attention.

"Hey, I gotta go."

"I know."

"I'll ummmm... I'll call you." He slipped on his leather jacket that had been thrown carelessly across a chair as they entered her store weeks before. Finding one glove in his pocket he began to scan the room.

"OK." Athina said coolly pointing to the top of a cabinet, where its mate lay. Pointing out his keys as they were kicked across the floor and his sunglasses. He now had everything he came with, leaving nothing behind, except her.

"Thanks." Putting on his sunglasses he stepped out the door. The bells not making a sound as he passed through the frame.

"Athina?"

"Yeah?" She watched as Kid walked back in and her heart dropped. She wasn't sure what she was hoping for, but he had come back. As he pointed to the small stack of books they had picked out for him a few days ago, she realized he hadn't come back for her. She refused to meet his shaded gaze as she rung up his purchases.

"What I don't get a discount?" He asked with a small laugh.

"A girl's gotta eat." She smiled giving a feeble chuckle before handing him the bag of books. Reaching over the counter he brushed his lips across her cheek, closing her eyes she pressed her face against his gloved hand wanting to remember.

Handing her two hundreds, he whispered, "Turn on your heat, baby. I need you to stay warm." Before she could object he was through the door.

As the rumble of his motorcycle trailed off in the distance, the inevitable had finally happened, he was gone, but true to his word he never said goodbye...

Bread and Music

Your hands once touched this table and this silver,

And I have seen your fingers hold this glass.

These things do not remember you, belovèd,

And yet your touch upon them will not pass.

Conrad Potter Aiken