In Your Eyes

Somehow, they made it up the stairs.

Somehow, they were still fully dressed.

Sid had Piper pressed against the wall in the hallway, their mouths now skillfully in tune with one another, hungrily continuing what had started on the dock. Once they made it upstairs, it was all haste and confusion.They hadn't bothered to turn any lights on; they hardly separated long enough to even make it upstairs.

Piper's hands worked the buckle of Sid's belt, sliding it free of its confines just as his hands slipped her tank top over her head. He watched as her hair tumbled down, the ends of her wavy hair falling upon the soft flesh that rose from her black satin bra. Sid gazed down at her taut body, his hands instinctively going to her breasts. Exactly a handful. Perfect.

They twisted together, moving across the hall but only slightly closer to his bedroom. Now Piper had Sid pinned against the wall, a position which she could finally remove the rest of his clothing. Sid helped her by yanking his shirt up over his head, letting it fall where it may. Piper looked down, feeling herself salivate. Sidney's body was even better than she'd expected; years and years of discipline, hard work, and talent had insured this.

She very lightly slid her hands upwards and outwards, inspecting by touch every inch of his wide torso...all the way up to his impressive chest and shoulders, the muscle like a finely chiseled piece of art. Slowly, methodically, she kissed along his bare chest, licking...tasting...wanting. She felt Sid's fingers go to her hair, caressing her gently.

"Bedroom."

Piper followed her command willingly. They made it through the doorway to the bed where Piper now gave the command. She pointed with one finger and smiled. "You. Sit."

He did, sliding back onto the edge of the bed. Piper stood before him, her eyes heavy with desire. His eyes never blinked as she very slowly unbuttoned the waist of her jeans. She hooked two thumbs on each side of the waistband and pulled the denim down her shapely hips, shimmying only slightly to help her jeans over her curves. A matching black lace thong now came into view, and Sid's breathing hitched.

How did I get so lucky? he wondered.

Piper never took her eyes off of him, not even as she stepped out of her jeans and walked slowly towards him. Without a sound, she knelt before Sid and pulled at his jeans this time. He helped slide them over his boxy frame, allowing the meat of his thick thighs come into Piper's view for the first time.

How did I get so lucky? she thought, sliding the jeans the rest of the way off.

Sid gently pulled Piper back up and onto his lap, spreading her legs so that she straddled him. "Much better."

Piper felt his hard dick beneath his boxers, wishing he'd remove those too. The thought came and went when Sid held on to both sides of her neck as they continued making out. Her tiny frame fit perfectly in his larger, more dominant frame. Even her lap fit perfectly on his.

Sid pulled Piper down and rolled so that he was on top; their mouths were in line but not touching. His eyes remained fixed on hers as his hand slid down her flat stomach, down beneath the fabric of her panties, and then down into the wetness he caused. A small smile appeared on his face when he felt just how wet Piper was.

Slowly but with some force, he pushed one of his large fingers into her, testing her readiness. Piper's hips bucked just slightly, a moan escaping from her mouth.

"Sid..."

He kept going, silencing her with his mouth. He pushed his finger in again, getting another positive response, brushing the pad of his rough thumb against her clit. Pretty soon, her hips and his hand fell into a rhythm.

Too much was overtaking Piper at that moment, her hips still moving with the force of his hand. He had her exactly where he wanted her, and she was ready to wave the white flag.

"I'm gonna go crazy if you don't fuck me pretty soon" she said with an exasperated laugh, which turned into yet another moan.

"Such a greedy girl."

Sid's voice low and hot against her skin. Piper opened her eyes as she felt Sid pull her panties the rest of the way down her legs. As he did so, she reached behind her back and unsnapped her bra, letting it fall from her fingers off the side of the bed. Hands were roaming while clothing was being tugged at and unsnapped. They bumped noses at one point, which sent them both into a fit of awkward laughter.

The last piece of pesky clothing to go was Sid's boxers. With a heavy tug of Piper's hands, the band of his boxers slipped down, exposing exactly what she was needing.

"Jesus" she uttered.

"Still greedy?" Sid smiled against her neck.

"Yes."

"Say it again."

"Yes."

Sid entered her at that moment, and Piper's entire lower half of her body bucked. He tried to go slowly, widening her inch by inch, letting her body become accustomed to his...but it was difficult. It was hard to keep a slow pace with a body like hers.

She made soft sounds of pleasure, her eyes closed just as Sid opened his. He wanted her comfort and her pleasure to come before his, no matter how ravenous he was for her. He slid inside her tortuously slow, pulling back and diving in again, working her slowly...building it up to some unknown crescendo.

No matter how much self control Sidney possessed, his strength was a hard thing for him to keep in check. Piper learned very quickly that was a good thing. Every ripple of muscle and tendon shifted as he thrusted harder, taking charge of her body. He felt her fingernails rake across his back as he worked her, feeling every inch of her body as it took every inch of his.

"Fuck, Piper."

All she could do was bite her lip and hang on. Sid was more than any of the guys she'd been with, and it'd been a while since her last. In fact, everything about Sid was more than what she was used to with any man: physically and emotionally. Even the way he held her, her head in his large hands, his body ensuring he didn't go too hard or too fast...or even too slow. He was reading her the entire time, adjusting to her needs and wants.

When their eyes met, Sid smiled through his heavy breathing. He shook his head as an embarrassed smile crept over his face. "I don't know how long I can--"

Piper kissed him, her hands slipping into his dark hair at the nape of his neck. "Switch me."

Sid rolled onto his back, carrying Piper with him so that their bodies never disconnected. She let out the cutest little squeal as she was lifted into a straddled position on top of him, smiling even as she began to take charge.

It would be like this, Sid thought as he gazed up at her. An exchange of power; one letting the other take control before taking it back. It was an arrangement he was more than okay with.

Piper ground her hips against his as expertly as any, her hair bouncing in time with her breasts as she rocked hard over him. Sid's two hands on her back pulled her towards his hungry mouth, yearning for a taste of her breasts. Stilling her movements, Sid held her in place on his lap while his mouth closed over a nipple, his arms now wrapped about her tiny waste and holding her captive against him. Piper leaned into him, hands holding his head, holding on to herself. If he thought he was close - she was even closer. She never wanted this to end, and she wasn't sure if she'd ever get to have Sid again this way. No one really knew once the light of day came up and the dust settled.

Sid released his vice hold on her waist and instead, dug his fingers into the flesh of her hips, taking charge and setting the pace. Again, it was the exchange of power, and he needed to end this with him in charge. He moved her hips along with his, pulling out, pushing in, his breathing deepening.

He felt Piper kiss his forehead and he looked up. He smiled at the same time she did, both of them feeling the pleasure and the closeness of the moment. Sid sat up then so that they were eye level, keeping Piper in his lap and never missing a beat. He wasn't thinking much anymore, too consumed by pleasure. One thing was certain to Sid, though...

"You're beautiful" he breathed against her temple.

Piper's exhausted smile appeared as they looked at one another. She moved a single damp curl from Sid's forehead, kissing him again.

Their need for one another caused Sid to increase his pace, thrusting upwards as she matched his pace. He used his grip on her ass to pound her down onto his cock with increasing force.

"Piper" he groaned, his voice muffled against a soft breast. It was only a matter of time now. For who, he didn't know. He was dangerously close to the edge and barely hanging on, but from the tensing of Piper's body, he knew she was close as well.

He delivered every thrust with purpose now, and Piper's chest heaved hard, her moans getting more frantic and rapid as he gave her every last bit of him. When Sid felt her body finally shudder, triumph mixed with soaring pleasure overtook him. Every muscle of her pussy squeezed tight around his cock, throbbing for its own release. He could finally let himself go now, and he did. With a few final powerful thrusts he buried himself in Piper to the hilt as his cock lurched violently. A moan tore through his chest as he emptied inside her, their bodies coming to a halt but their breathing still ragged.

Sid blinked and looked up just as Piper lifted her head off of his. She looked down and laughed.

"Fuuuuck."

Sid exhaled happily, his arms still wrapped around her, not letting her go. He lifted one hand to push aside the hair that had fallen in her face. "Next time" he murmured, "I'm not going to behave."

Piper's eyes widened. "Next time?"

He chuckled. "That's what you took from that?"

Piper rested her head back on his, kissing him through his hair. "You do whatever you want...as long as there is a next time."

* * *

Once showered and back in bed, Sid pulled Piper against him. Her tinier frame was cradled perfectly against his larger frame. The warmth of their freshly showered and naked bodies calmed them both into an easy slumber.

Piper didn't think it was possible to feel so comfortable against a body so hard. Sid was the epitome of protection; the way he laid with her, his head resting in the curve of her neck, his breathing slow and steady. She knew this was where she always wanted to be: in his arms. And what arms they were. It boggled her mind at the controlled power within them; the way he'd managed to direct her while they were intimate, the way he turned it up when he needed to and slowed when she needed him to.

No wonder he plays hockey so well. Or is it the hockey that makes him fuck so well?

She smiled to herself, sinking back against his chest. Subconsciously, Sid gave her a feather light peck on her shoulder before settling back into her neck.

The minute Piper closed her eyes, it was nothing but sweet darkness until morning.

*

Sid woke up first. Years of early skates and morning practices made it difficult for him not to rise before the sun did, and even with the workout he had last night - he still woke before sunrise.

Beside him, Piper still slept with her head cradled against his shoulder and chest. Her naked body was only half covered by the bed sheets, leaving some of her beautiful chest and waist exposed. Afraid there might be too much of a chill in the air, Sid tugged at the sheets to cover more of her so that she wouldn't become cold.

He stared at her tenderly, memories of their first night together still fresh in his mind. The way the whole thing happened...he wondered if he'd made a mistake by sleeping with her so soon. She seemed to want it as badly as him, and with great results. He smiled, and very gently lifted a hand to her mussed-up hair. He pulled up a wavy strand and curled it around his index finger, his thoughts still heavily steeped in their intimacy.

A rush of emotions were clouding his good judgement at the moment; what he wanted to do was wake her up and go for another round...to show her he had more in him, and that drawing one orgasm wasn't enough to him. His successes in life came because he never settled; there was always more to learn and more goals to reach. He wanted to learn every angle of Piper's body, and then bring it to ecstasy. Good wasn't good enough. He wanted to be her greatest.

But....as Sidney knew....it wouldn't all be accomplished in bed, nor did he want it to be.

So as gently as he could, he slid his arm from beneath Piper's neck and slipped to the edge of the bed. She moved only once to adjust her head on his pillow, letting out a content sigh in her sleep. Sid grabbed his boxers from the floor where they'd been since Piper took them off of him, grabbed a t-shirt from his closet, and then headed downstairs.

He flicked the lights on in his kitchen and got to work. First, he made a fresh pot of coffee and set it to brew for when Piper awoke and joined him downstairs. Next, he dug in his cupboards for the special groceries he'd picked up, just in case she stayed the night. He had a plan, and it was about to go into effect.

* * *

Ali opened her eyes. It was still dark in the bedroom, but she could sense the sun was starting to come up outside the window.

Wondering what time it was, she reached for her phone on the bedside table. Blinking hard, getting her eyes to adjust to the brighter light of her iphone, she noticed she had a text from Piper......sent at 6:04 am.

P: Waking up in Sid's bed right now. :)

"HOLY SHIT."

Ali shot straight up in bed, mouth open. Next to her, a still-sleeping James shifted but didn't wake. He was sleeping on his stomach, his face turned away from her. Ali patted one of his bare shoulders, giving him a slight shake. "James, wake up, this is huge."

"Hmm."

"Look at this text!" She rolled onto her stomach next to him.

James lifted his head, eyes still closed. "What time is it, babe?"

"I don't know, but look." She handed him the phone, which he took reluctantly. His drowsy eyes scanned the text, and his face changed a little. He read it a second time, and then he looked at Ali.

"When was this--"

"This morning." Ali was grinning from ear to ear.

"So they...."

"Yes!" She clapped excitedly. "I mean...I don't really know...she didn't exactly say, but...."

"Holy shit, do you know what this means, if they did?" James sat up a little more, the bed sheets exposing more of his lanky frame. "Sid's got a girlfriend."

Ali snatched the phone from him and smirked. "It does nooottt."

"No. Ali. Listen to me." James now faced her, just as Ali was sitting up. "Sid just doesn't, you know...have girls stay with him. I don't care if he's back home or not, it just doesn't happen. It's Crosby."

She nodded, looking down at Piper's text again. "She did include a smiley face."

"You always write with smiley faces, babe." He smiled, petting her messy bed hair. "I thought it was a chick thing?"

Ali rolled her eyes. "What do you think I should say back?"

"How about just a smiley face?" That earned him a smack and he laughed. "Sorry."

"For real though." Ali fell back onto the pillows with a sigh. She read the text again. "Should I just ask her?"

"What? If they fucked?"

"Yes!"

James thought about it for a minute. "Sure, just be out with it."

He laid back down, this time on his side. Snuggling against Ali's bare chest, he closed his eyes again while he felt one of her hands caress his head. Glancing up, he saw her still staring at the text, her brow furrowed. "Babe?"

"Hang on." She began to type out a response, and then set the phone down on the table with a smile. "Okay, done."

"What'd you say?"

"I asked if they fucked, and if so, how many times."

"Ew. You're a perv" James teased, but Ali pushed his head back down onto her chest.

"Whatever, you want to know, too" she said, fingers running through his dark hair. "Right?"

"Correct."

Ali's thoughts were running. What was Piper thinking right now? What was Sid thinking? Did they actually just start a relationship, or did they simply work out some pent up tension that's been building since the reception?

Those were the questions she really wanted to ask Piper, but those would have to wait. She was jumping the gun in assuming her former roommate and Sid had sex, when really....

Ali smiled. Nah. They totally fucked.

She lowered her head and kissed the top of James' head.

Good for you, Crosby, she thought.

* * *

Piper stretched her arms over her head and her toes as far as they could go towards the edge of the bed. The bed was huge, and yet…she and Sid had stayed linked together the entire night.

Outside, the new day had begun. Fresh light spilled through evergreens to the east, casting new angled shadows over the water. Even from the bed where she lay, Piper could still see the two wine glasses and the bottle they had left on the dock.

Where it all started.

She sighed happily.

Did last night really happen?

Now she giggled.

No shit it did. Every muscle in your body is giving you evidence that it did.

And she could feel it. When she stood up, her inner thighs were tight and sore. It was the place Piper would've guessed might hurt the most; Sid's body was wide, and her hips had hinted early on as she straddled him that it might make for a sore morning.

And then there was how her girly parts felt.

Judging by what still remained in the room, clothing wise - Sidney was still in the house. Piper stood and grabbed the first thing she found on the floor: her panties and Sid's baseball-style shirt. Pulling it on over her head, she decided it was good enough for now since it was practically a short dress on her. Not only that, but it smelled like him: warm, inviting, masculine. It made her want to see him immediately...no time for worrying about how she looked.

Padding downstairs, the aroma of something cooking made her stomach grumble. As she crossed the hall and the dining room, she found Sid standing in front of the counter. He must've heard her coming, because he turned just as she stepped into the kitchen.

The minute Sid saw Piper dressed in his shirt from the day before, the parts of him that weren't awake yet now were. "Hey, gorgeous."

Piper smiled as she walked towards him. "Good morning, stud." She wrapped her arms around his bare back and pressed her cheek against his chest.

"You look better in that shirt than I do" he said with a smile.

"False." She winked at him. "And whatever you're making smells amazing."

Sid chuckled. "It's special...just for you." He lifted her chin with one finger and pressed his lips against hers. "I think you'll like it."

She folded her arms over her chest as Sid went back to whatever he was constructing on the stove. She tried to peek around his shoulder, but he playfully denied her every advance, shielding whatever he was making with his broad shoulders and chest.

Reluctantly, Piper went and took at seat at one of the bar stools near his kitchen island. Sid glanced over his shoulder, still not allowing her to see what he was doing. It may have been obvious, given the scent in the kitchen, but he at least wanted her to see the final product with an element of surprise.

Piper watched with intrigue, crossing her legs as they came into view beneath the short hem of her makeshift dress. She met Sid's little smirk with one of her own. "Whatchya keeping from me over there, anyways?"

Lifting two plates, Sid turned and Piper's eyes dropped to what was on them. On them were two perfectly constructed waffles, complete with powdered sugar, strawberries, and slices bananas.

You're kidding me.... Piper thought.

He came forward, watching as her face transformed from surprise to bewilderment.

"A little birdy told me you liked waffles." He handed Piper one of the dishes. "I wanted to make sure I did it right....you know....incase you stayed--"

He was silenced by her mouth; her lips connecting with his unexpectedly. When they parted, it was Sid who wore an expression of shock.

"Thank you" Piper said, holding each side of his face. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She took the plate happily and slid off the stool. She clasped her hand in Sid's. "Want to eat outside?"

"Definitely." He followed behind her leading stride as she took them out onto the veranda beyond the living room area. Still in his worn t-shirt and nothing else, Piper didn't seem to mind the chill in the air about them. Sid did his absolute best to not stare at her hardening nipples beneath the fabric.

"So let me guess" Piper said, taking a seat next to Sid. "The little birdy's name is Ali?"

He chuckled. "It is, but I suppose that was an easy guess."

Piper wondered how her weird penchant for waffles had ever come up in conversation, but she would handle that later. She texted Ali earlier that morning, so it wasn't like they wouldn't be talking about this trip at some point.

She took her first bite and nearly swooned. And of course he can fucking cook well. Her eyes connected with Sid's, who looked desperate to know how he'd done. Smiling as she chewed, she gave him a thumbs up. "Amazing" she said, covering her mouth. "Really."

Feeling his shoulders relax, Sid picked up his fork. "Glad you approve" he said in a joking manner.

"When did you wake up?" Piper lifted a single strawberry to her lips and took a bite.

"Before the sun came up...not sure when." Sid watched her lips, remembering where they licked him, where they kissed him, where they sent shivers up his spine just the night before.

Piper noticed that he halted, so she smiled back at him. "So you just happened to have all these ingredients? Just lying around?"

He smirked. "Noooo."

"Especially since you told me yesterday this is the room you use least." She flicked an eyebrow upwards.

"Are you always this fiesty this early in the morning?" Sid asked with a laugh. He hoped her answer was yes.

It was. "Do you always buy girls you sleep with their favorite breakfast ingredients?"

He took a bite and thought about the question. When he looked up, Piper's expression had changed a little.

"I'm sorry..." She shook her head. "That came out sounding--"

"--No, it didn't. Don't worry." He slid his hand over her thigh, which was cool to the touch. "Are you cold?" He rubbed her a little, warming the smooth skin beneath his hand.

She smiled. "Not now." With a bit of playful flare, she took a bite of the waffle sexily.

Sid had to laugh. Piper was definitely unlike most girls he knew; someone with more personality and spunk than he'd met in a long time. It's why he'd purchased the ingredients to make her her favorite breakfast; it's also why he felt a little bad about the question she asked earlier.

"Can I tell you something?" he asked her.

"Only if I can keep eating." She smiled, mouth full again. "Does this have cinnammon in it?"

"And apples." He shrugged unassumingly. "It's a recipe of my mom's."

"Do you always make girls you sleep your mother's recipes?"

Sid squeezed her thigh. "That's what I wanted to tell you....The answer is no, because you're not just any girl I've slept with."

The way her breath almost stopped in her chest made her nearly choke on her waffle. She swallowed, hoping to also swallow the knot of nerves creeping up her throat. He was staring at her, with those eyes that made her feel nervous and turned on and protected, waiting for a response.

She cleared her throat. "Not just any girl, huh?"

Sid shook his head.

Piper still didn't have a response because she still felt like she was in one of those weird, realistic dreams. The kind that even after you wake up, it follows you for the rest of the day.

Except she was awake, and this wasn't a dream.

She set down her fork and tried to gather her thoughts, which were swirling around in her still-drowsy head. With her hand on Sid's, she met his intense stare. "So are we giving this a go?"

"I want to."

"But we just met--"

"That's the reason" Sid said, stopping her. "I don't normally....I don't know, feel this strongly....not right away." He chuckled at himself, his eyes leaving Piper's and going to his bare feet and the stone beneath them. "I don't date a lot."

"I know." Piper gave him a guilty smile. "I noticed that when I googled you."

He let out a louder laugh. "Really? What exactly did you google?"

"Oh you know, the standard....Girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, party--"

"Party?"

His giggle came out and had Piper still been chewing, she would've definitely choked this time. It was such a ridiculous laugh, but so damn endearing.

"I mean, how can I not date someone with a laugh like that?" Piper asked, laughing as well.

He lifted his hands and shrugged. "Well if that's all I had to do to win you over..."

Piper reached towards his waffle with her fork, stabbing at the remaining three strawberries on his plate. She ate them happily, giving him a wink. "Your cooking did, Crosby."

* * *

James saw Ali's cell phone light up first.

"BABE."

He glanced down and saw it was Piper calling, so he hurried over to the bottom of their stairway. "ALI. Piper's calling you!"

"What?!?"

"Three rings!" He went back into the kitchen and stared at the phone. "Four rings!"

He heard Ali bounding down the stairs. She came into the kitchen in a flurry, wrapped in a towel with her hair still dripping wet. James tossed her the phone, hitting "Answer" for her as he did so.

"Piper?" Ali was out of breath as she said her friend's name. "Please please PLEASE tell me you're still at Sid's."

"I am!"

James was staring at Ali, waiting for a sign. When Ali's mouth dropped, he knew Piper's answer. He stood closer to her, trying to listen as the girls talked.

"Well what the hell happened? Did you guys fuck?"

"As if you have to ask!"

Ali and James looked at another with a knowing glance. "Tell me everything!"

"Is James there? I'm not on speaker am I?'

"No, he went to the gym" Ali lied, glancing over and biting her lip guiltily at him. "Now spill it!"

"He's a challenge, like you said...but holy FUCK."

Ali was nearly beside herself. "Was it great? Was he any good? You know how first times with someone new are."

James frowned, his brow furrowing hard as he looked at her. She rolled her eyes and waved him off.

"Is there anything he doesn't do well?" Piper replied with a healthy giggle. "I think he wants to seriously try dating. Like for real, this wasn't just a one time thing--"

"Well no shit it wasn't" James said out loud, then winced when he realized how loud he was. "Sorry" he whispered to Ali.

"He's not that kind of guy, Piper. Not for as long as I've known him...and based on all things James has told me, too."

"I didn't think so either" she replied.

"Where are you now?" Ali asked her, leaning back against the counter. "Can you talk for a while?"

"Not long, no. In the bedroom...Sid's downstairs; he thinks I'm taking a shower."

"Good - I want as many details as you want to give."

Doing her best, Piper filled Ali (and James, though she didn't know it) on the build-up and then the main even of her night. Ali and James were so close to dying of laughter, James had to step away for a second or two so he wouldn't laugh out loud. Ali at least laughed and made it sound like it was all part of the story being told. But really, to her and James, this was such a huge moment for Sid and their happiness for the both of them was spilling over.

"But that's it for now, because I actually really do need to shower." Piper was trying to sound more serious now, but it wasn't working. "Sorry, I don't even know why, because I'm just going to pounce on him the next chance I get anyways."

Ali clapped. "Well you do that and let me know if he "behaves" this time" she said, quoting what Piper had told her Sid said. Even James rolled his eyes at that line.

"I will. Bye hun. And THANK YOU."

"Have fuuuunnnn!" With that, Ali hung up and her and James burst into a fit of laughter.

"Are you kidding me?" James slapped his thigh beneath his mesh shorts. "SID is macking on this girl SO HARD right now, I can't even take it!"

Ali felt bad, but she couldn't stop laughing either. "That was a hell of a line he layed on her, though. Good GOD, if YOU told me that the first time we had sex--"

"--I didn't need to. I gave you the goods the first time...there was no waiting for a second time." He flashed a cocky grin at her, then yanked on a piece of her wet hair. "Isn't that right?"

"Maybe."

"MAYBE?" James' jaw dropped. "You're joking, right?"

"YES, of course I'm joking, babe!" She hooked one of her fingers under the band of his shorts. "In fact, I remember that night perfectly. I believe you gave...what'd you call it?....the goods?....three times."

James stood poudly. "Damn right I did."

"Well why don't we go replay one of those times?" Ali tugged on the elastic band a little harder, a twinkle in her eye.

"But you just showered." James was clearly playing with her, and it made her laugh.

"Shut up, babe." She stood on her tip toes and kissed him. "Now come get back in the shower with me."

* * *

Piper glanced over at the small clock on the table near the couch. "3:45."

Sid smiled down at her, smoothing her now-unruly hair back away from her face. "When does the last ferry leave?"

Slowly kissing up his bare torso to the center of his chest, Piper landed her mouth on his, still swollen from the amount of work they'd just completed. "Five o'clock."

"Uh oh." Sid smirked, cupping the back of Piper's head and pulling her into him again. Their mouths moved slowly and skillfully, free from the need they'd had just a half hour ago. When they parted, Piper let her fingers play over the gold chain that circled his neck.

"I like this." She ran a single finger beneath the chain, rolling it along the metal slowly. It was noticeably cooler to the touch than Sid's body was, but his temp was coming down now just like hers. "When did you get this?"

"I've had it for a while now." His eyes stayed on her, moving from her face and down the curve of her spine, all the way to the perfect heart shape of her ass. Even with her laying on him, Sid hardly felt her weight at all.

Piper kissed the tiny charm that sat at the center of the chain, then set it back on the muscle that made up his impressively large chest. She rested her head against him, hearing his racing heartbeat slowing minute by minute. Its beat was strong, steady, powerful; the way their sex had just been. Piper never felt more satisfied in her life.

"Are you going to be on that ferry?" Sid asked quietly. He continued to caress Piper's head, waiting for her to come down from her orgasm as well.

She sighed. "I suppose I should." Her eyes shifted upwards. "But do I have to?"

He chuckled. "If I had my way? No." He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up and holding her close. "But I guess reality awaits, eh?"

"Eh, it does" Piper teased.

Sidney shook his head. "You can't use it at the beginning of a sentence."

"Oh I can't, huh?"

"If you're going to date a Canadian, you need to learn how it's done" Sid said with a playful tone.

"Date?" Piper's mind went from lighthearted to heavy in one second flat. "So, are we…?"

Sid slid both hands along her neck up to her cheeks. "Do you want to?"

"Try dating?"

"Yes. At least try."

Piper considered it, but knew the answer without having to pretend she needed to think about it any longer. "Yes, Sidney. I'd like to try dating."

"Okay, Piper. Me too" he mocked. His crooked grin flashed at her and she melted. She melted right into his arms and her lips melted against his.

Sid dipped his tongue inside the mouth he wished he could kiss every day, multiple times a day. But their weekend was over; their weekend of amazing food, amazing sex, amazing conversation...over, and Sid didn't know when he'd get to see her again. He had a flight to Vail, Colorado for training, then he'd be back in Pittsburgh, and all while training in between.

"Hey." Sid lifted Piper's chin. "I know we're just trying this whole thing, but you know how my life is, right? At least a little more clearly?"

She patted him on the chest. "Yes, and if you're busy, we'll make it work, okay?"

The reassurance in her voice made him relax a little, but it wasn't just that easy. Or maybe it was; Sid didn't know. He'd never had to do this before....not this seriously, anyway. And his feeling was real; real enough for him to risk what lay ahead for them.

* * *

Before Piper boarded the ferry, Sid said he had something for her. He went back to his car, grabbing the plain shirt box he'd been saving for this moment. Piper stood outside the main terminal, off to the side and away from the main crowd of people. Sid was impressed. She's learning.

"Here. And no arguments." He handed her the box, watching the soft features of her face change into a look of delight.

"What's this?"

Sid shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Just a little something I picked up for you. It's not big, but I think you'll like it - And!" He lifted a finger and grinned. "You're not allowed to open it until you're out to sea."

Piper was amazed. "You think of everything, don't you?" She didn't give Sid a chance to answer because she immediately took him into her arms. There it was again: the spanse of shoulder muscle, the feeling of his face against hers, the smell of his cologne and the softness of his hair. It was the reception all over again, and yet so much different now.

"Thanks for everything" she said, giving one of his hands a squeeze.

"Thank you." He squeezed her hand back.

Piper glanced over her shoulder and let out a heavy, groaning sigh. "Do I REALLY have to leave?" she said with a laugh. "I guess if I don't, I won't be able to open my special gift, eeehhh?"

Sid nodded proudly. "MUCH better."

"See?" Piper was grinning wildly. "I learn fast."

"I do see that."

With one hand, Sid pulled her in one last time so they could have the final kiss of the weekend. He held her in his arms, trying to be in the moment and have every sense of what he was feeling, seeing and smelling burned into his memory.

With a final wave, Piper walked away from him. Her hair shook in the breezy air; and was the last thing Sid saw before she disappeared into the terminal.

*

She couldn't see a lick of land anywhere from her seat by the window. For all she could tell, it was halfway....or close enough.

When Piper chose the seat, she chose one that wasn't near anyone. She wanted to feel like it was just her and Sid, even though he wasn't there.

Carefully she opened the lid to the rectangular box. Inside was a single piece of white tissue paper covering what was beneath. As Piper fished through the paper and the contents came into view, she busted out laughing.

Holding up the Pens t-shirt, she continued to giggle. She flipped it over and saw what she was hoping to see: the nameCROSBY across the back, and the number 87 beneath it.

Next, Piper lifted out a plain black Penguins hat....the same hat Sid had worn to drop her off at the terminal just an hour ago.

Feeling special beyond words...feeling butterflies fluttering out of control inside her tummy....feeling like she was the luckiest girl on the planet - Piper slipped the hat on over her hair and smiled.

* * *

Notes

A nice way to start the day, yes? ;) Hope you enjoyed the early update today!