Player 2 Has Entered The Game Pt. 01

Chapter 1 -- Player 2 has entered the game

Orientation day on campus was framed with the warmth of a late summer's day. The campus was alive, students lounging on the grass in their groups, others running from one end to the other, desperately hoping they were heading to the right building. The scent of freshly cut grass, freshly made coffee and anticipation filled the air.

Rich, however, preferred the shade and the tree he was resting against. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, trying to take it all in. He could see one group after another as he scanned the Quad, but there was one person he couldn't help but see.

Abi was walking across the grass, bag over one shoulder, books in one hand and coffee in another. She was beautiful. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders, her eyes and smile lit up everywhere she stood. Though petite, her body was both strong and beautifully curvaceous. She was stunning and confident.

But as she was heading in his direction she stumbled. A small shriek came from her and Rich was up in an instant, his long legs getting him to her quickly before her brand new books were ruined.

"Thank you hero."

Their eyes lingered a little. He handed her the coffee cup and she sat down next to the tree.

"So Mario..." she said.

"Mario?" Rich asked, confused.

Her eyes went to his Super Mario t-shirt. It was baggy across his broad shoulders and athletic frame. His long legs clad in denim.

"Rich."

"So Rich, you want your castle back?"

"It's a big castle, room for 2 in there," he said, grinning as he sat down beside her. He leaned back against the tree while she sat with her elbows resting on her knees, smiling into her coffee as she sipped it.

"So princess, what is your name?"

She shifted so she was sitting facing him.

"Peach." She joked, he chuckled. "Or Abi. Most call me Abi." Her smile made his heart skip a beat.

"It's nice to meet you."

"You too."

He wasn't expecting to make a friend today he thought to himself. Rich always struggled meeting new people. He would get nervous quickly and would worry constantly about saying the right thing. As for women, he had some experience but he would still be nervous and uncomfortable. But here he felt comfortable straight away and, to be honest, none of them compared to her in any way. Her confidence and beauty shined through in equal measure

"So what's your deal? Are you the mysterious type? Or the softy who cries at Pixar movies?" She asked, another teasing grin aimed in his direction.

"I will never tell," he teased, nudging her knee lightly. They spent the next hour or so getting to know each other - their shared love of video games, the different classes they were taking, their very different tastes in music, she made things feel so easy.

Sadly the vibration and noise coming from her bag meant it was time to head off.

"I'm afraid this princess is going to another castle." She said sadly.

"Now that is a shame." He responded. She grabbed his phone and put her number in it.

"Gaming night at yours, book it in." She told him.

"Looking forward to it already."

She stood up and Rich smiled as he stared at her while she walked away.

Almost everything felt so relaxed while he was with her, everything except part of him that wasn't relaxed at all. Oh yes, he was in trouble. Big trouble.

Chapter 2 -- From Pixels to Stars

From that first meeting the two of them were inseparable, a 2 player co-op in a massive open world filled with sidequests at every turn. Late night gaming marathons shouting instructions to each other, study sessions that ended up down YouTube rabbit holes, or just cosy movie nights relaxing together. Those nights always ended up with them camping under blankets on the floor, snacks and drinks to the side.

Early mornings sat in coffee houses talking about anything and everything. Breakfast would soon become brunch, then lunch and then dinner. Smiles, laughs and tears. All the highs and lows.

As much as these routines had become second nature, Abi craved a shake-up.

Over lunch she had suggested that night that they let their hair down a bit and go dancing. Richard's face showed what she wanted to see, but inside the butterflies had completely taken over his stomach.

It had been a long summer, the nights were still warm and dry, perfect for a few drinks and a nice walk. He greeted her in a light blue shirt, short sleeves, his trousers a little tighter than he first thought.

"Wow Rich, that shirt totally suits you!" It wasn't his usual colour but he had seen the way she looked at it when they had gone shopping together. Her eyes shifted lower. "Those trousers really draw attention to your thighs." He started to feel a little hot under the collar, his face turning a shade of crimson.

She took a peek around the back and grinned at him while nodding, "Speaking of drawing attention..." she chuckled, that now familiar teasing tone of hers taking over. He turned from one shade of crimson to a deeper one.

Thinking fast, he tried to turn the tables on her. After all, she had answered wearing only a towel.

"I see you went for the minimalist look," he teased while grinning. She always brought out the side of him that wasn't afraid to give back. She smiled at him, but she wasn't going to let him win and merely stepped aside to let him in. Their eyes didn't leave each other as he made his way in. The door clicked shut behind him and she followed, her eyes burning a hole through him as he headed to the couch.

His gaze followed her as she headed to her bedroom, admiring the thighs that weren't really hidden underneath. His lips curled and his breath hitched. Then she walked into her bedroom.

"NOW IT'S THE MINIMALIST LOOK!" her voice boomed, her towel discarded and tossed towards him through the doorway. A million thoughts ran through his head; was she teasing him? Was she wanting him to join her, admire and make love to her? Was she just messing around? He forgot how to breathe and was desperate for a cold glass of water.

She wondered what he was thinking out there; she knew he wasn't much of a dancer really and hoped that their little interplay with the towel took his mind off it. Though her wardrobe was full of dresses, she knew straight away what to wear. She hoped he would like her choice. He had suggested this one soon into their friendship, telling her it was "totally her."

She did her makeup, "not too much," as she put on a bit of mascara and pink lipstick. A short pink shirt with a sequined collar and a matching skirt that fell to just below her knees. It fit her form perfectly and she could see his eyes light up when she came out. That warmed her inside.

"You look beautiful," he said, his eyes gazing into hers. That response took her aback. "Do you think so?" "Yeah." His reply was instant and confident. It was the confidence in his reply that made her melt. There was a silence, almost a shift that they both felt. She looked at him as more than just her best friend. Just for a moment. Her cheeks started to hurt from her smile. "Let's go Rich." She put on her shoes, grabbed her purse and off they went into the night together.

The air was a little warmer than usual, and the sky a combination of orange and a grey blue with few clouds. It was a lovely night for a walk. For the first time since they met, they walked in silence. Rich was a little fidgety, nerves getting the better of him. He really didn't want to look silly in front of Abi. Normally it didn't bother him, but tonight it really felt different. She could see it weighing on his mind and shifted her hand into his. Just that one movement seemed to reassure him -- it didn't matter to her how he looked, all that mattered was he was there with her.

The streets were quieter than usual, fewer people walking around and not much traffic either. As they walked towards the club, that quiet was replaced by the loud, thumping music coming from inside. People drunkenly laughing outside, couples kissing passionately against the walls, and a bouncer removing someone for being just a little too rowdy.

Rich hesitated at the door, but a gentle tug of his hand by Abi reminded him that no matter what happened, he wasn't going in alone.

This was the first time he had gone to a club and actually enjoyed himself. They had a few drinks and the longer the night went on, the more fun he had. She complimented him, made him smile, laugh, bought him some drinks and just put him at ease. Then the teasing started, and everything was back to normal.

When she hit the dancefloor, he sat back and watched for a bit. She motioned to him to come up and dance, but he was comfortable where he was. A couple of times she got hit on, guys seeing a beautiful woman dancing by herself and thinking they were in for an easy good time. She refused them both instantly, referring to Rich as her boyfriend.

Neither had thought about that. Well, not out loud anyway. Abi really loved the shirt he wore. She felt it fit him perfectly and it brought out his firm and welcoming features. It meant a lot that he could've picked anything but chose what she thought looked great on him, and it was starting to stir up feelings inside her.

Of course he pictured her in her bedroom getting dressed earlier. Abi was a lot of amazing things - smart, kind, loving and funny. And she was also very, very sexy which Rich noticed about her just as much.

Then she wanted to dance. This was the ultimate test for Rich, could he fake it enough to impress her with his moves?

No. No he couldn't.

Abi was in her element, like she was born for this. She was effortless rhythm and wild energy, twirling round the dance floor with her arms in the air like she was in heaven. Rich? Rich was in hell.

"Oh my god!" She teased. "How can you be so bad at this?" Laughter burst from her mouth, her cheeks red with how hard she was laughing. Rich's cheeks were bright red too, but not in the same way.

"I don't get it," she continued with the teasing, "you have the agility of a platformer but move like a glitchy NPC!"

The laughter didn't stop, she was almost doubled over.

"I don't see you trying to teach me," he protested.

"Oh babe you are way past saving." She laughed back.

'Babe' he thought, that was new. He didn't get chance to dwell on it though as she interrupted.

"Let's head back hero."

He nodded. They had one more drink and walked back to hers, arms interlocked, smiling in unison. At one point he had to carry her, her ankles surrendering to her heels. Her powerful thighs wrapped round him, and he could feel her bouncing against his upper back. Carrying her was a huge turn on. When they got back to hers they grabbed one more drink and sat outside on the grass, the night air still warm and the stars looking down on them.

Richard lay back, arms behind his head and a relaxed smile on his face. Abi looked over at him, the same smile on hers.

"God I love this." He said

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I could gaze at these stars forever. They shine so bright but look so still. Makes everything feel so small y'know, like none of the stupid stuff matters. Just this." He glanced over at her. "Just us. Here. Now."

Something caught in her throat as lay there smiling across at him. She did get it. Not just it, him. Abi's past few months had almost been a blur; Rich, study sessions, Rich, late night gaming, Rich, University work, Rich. Now she felt at peace inside. Everything had slowed down inside but that one constant, Rich, was still there.

"You've gone quiet," he murmured.

He turned to face her and she rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her hand. She blinked, realizing how long she had just been staring into space. "Just thinking."

He smiled sleepily. "Dangerous," he teased.

She nudge him in the ribs, laughter filled the air. Then they just laid back down alongside each other, the occasional small talk broke up long pauses but they just stared at the sky together for hours. The world shifted around them, deep navy sky softened to indigo, then to pale violet. Before they knew it, the golden warmth of dawn was upon them.

Abi sat up slowly, her lips parting. "Holy shit."

Richard sat up too, his gaze followed hers. The horizon glowing in front of them.

"The sunrise." She whispered.

It was the way she said it that made his chest tighten. That softening tone that echoed through him. He looked at her, and then really looked at her.

Her golden hair was messy, falling over her shoulders. Her pale skin shone in the soft light of the early morning. Her eyes reflected the fiery tones of the sky. And that was when it happened, everything changed.

She could see it in his eyes, like he was in awe of her. Like he was looking at her anew and was trying to memorize her face all over again. Her lips curled.

"I love that we watched the sunrise together." She whispered.

And that was when she realised this was where she was meant to be all along. Now she realised just why she loved the sunrise so much -- it meant that she got to share another day with him.

He tried to whisper "me too," but the words never came.

At this moment, the quiet was enough.

Chapter 3 -- The Shift

In the following months since the night in Abi's garden, the two of them just kept getting closer, and their world simply became them.

They practically orbited each other now. Each morning would start with a mad dash to the phone to see if the other had texted. The moment they saw the other's name on their phone, hearts would beat quicker and lips would curl further into a beaming smile.

Rich always said he needed to know where to meet up for whatever the day would bring, but of course it was really just an excuse to hear Abi's voice. Eventually they made those plans, but that was at the end of an hour of laughter and conversation about the dreams they couldn't shake or things they had forgotten to say the day before.

Even after the sun dipped below the horizon, long gaming sessions were how they would wind down. They would play co-op games featuring a lot of bossing each other about while laughing. Or when things got really "heated," competitive games overrun by ruthless teasing or blatant cheating, punctuated by shoulder nudges or playfully stealing the other's controller.

If they weren't gaming, they were sitting on the floor surrounded by laptops and papers, working through their latest assignments. Abi was a combination of high intelligence and street smarts while Rich was purely logical. Their different styles helped them find solutions the other couldn't, and it felt like two people hanging out rather than a study session.

Then they both started to notice the change between them.

Neither of them said it aloud, but there was a spark now. Their eyes would linger a little longer, or her hand would stay on his arm more than it had before. They went from looking forward to spending the next day together to being unable to wait. Early morning texts soon became middle of the night texts, and "goodbye" at the door soon turned into being on the phone from door to door. Any time they spent apart went from missing each other to aching.

They were heading into the unspoken, and neither of them knew what to do about it.

Then life - real life - got in the way. For Rich, this was a shock to his system. He knew how he truly felt about her, and this distance that was forming just made him miss her more. And he wanted to be with her always. He would lie awake at night wondering what she thought of it all.

Abi hated it, the one constant in her life was disappearing, and it made her wonder what she wanted from this friendship.

University had a habit of sneaking up on even the best students, and before she knew it the work was piling up with deadlines looming. Lectures bombarded her with endless new concepts. Her free time disappeared into an overwhelming cycle of stress, coursework and more stress.

It wasn't the pressure she hated, but the way she and Rich started to drift apart.

Late night gaming sessions stopped completely. Instead of spending all day together, now they passed each other in corridors, or shared long-held glances across hallways.

"Maybe tomorrow" became the response to most plans.

This evening, they thought there may be hope after all. She finally had some time free and they could actually spend it together. It wouldn't matter what they did, just that they were doing it together.

But as evening came, it felt like she was nowhere near the end of her current assignment. She resigned herself to the fact that it wasn't going to happen. Her eyes started to fill with tears, and she reluctantly reached for her phone.

The second Rich's phone buzzed, his heart skipped a beat as he saw Abi's name. "Hey! What's up?"

Abi exhaled sharply and she wasn't bubbly like usual, as she tried to hide how upset she was feeling. She hung her head and wiped her eye. "I'm so sorry, but we can't do tonight."

There was a beat of silence as Rich's heart sank.

"I've still got so much to do," she continued, trying so hard to hold back her emotions.

Then, casually, "It's okay."

Normally Rich would be crushed, but he knew she needed his help. He missed her so much and just wanted to see her. His brain was starting to formulate a plan, which was always one of his strengths.

She squeezed her eyes shut and her hand tensed around her phone. "We will see each other soon, I promise."

"Look, Abi..."

She interrupted him, "It's my birthday soon." She knew he wouldn't miss the party, they had talked about it a lot before.

"I know," he said immediately. He knew he needed to get round there and surprise her, so he tried to keep the conversation brief.

"I promise Rich."

She meant it.

She really wanted to mean it.

The weight of everything pressed down on her and she had no idea if she could keep the promise.

But she had to try.

"We'll talk soon," he said as he started to hang up.

She started to say, "I miss...", but he'd already hung up. "you."

And then the floodgates opened.

20 minutes later there was a knock at the door. It surprised her and she tried to compose herself. "Be there in a sec." Her golden hair was messy, what little makeup she was wearing ruined. She didn't want to look like she had been crying, but her fluffy jumper and pants had wet patches from her tears. She threw her tissues away and slowly headed to the door.

It was all a waste though, because she opened that door and Rich was standing at the other side. He wore a big grin and had their usual "study session snacks". That was all it took for her to burst out crying again, but this time happy tears.

"Let's save this kingdom Peach," he said with a smile.

And that was when she knew. He wasn't the one constant in her life, he was simply the one.

The All-Nighter

And into the early hours of the morning, Rich did what only he could. He kept her going. She was smiling within minutes just from seeing his face. Later, she was laughing when he stood to get more coffee, even when she wasn't yawning.

He wasn't just there for moral support, he helped when she needed it and even when she thought she didn't. She would laugh at him organising her notes, even though he was infamous for being disorganised when studying. And if she thought she had missed something, he'd go hunting for it.

As for the coffee, no matter how hard she tried to convince him, he refused to drink it.

His brain worked fast without it, breaking down complex structures and explaining them in a way that made her look at him in awe.

Also he thought coffee was horrible.

"My God!" she exclaimed. "How do you do it? It's like you're treating it as a logic puzzle."

He could only shrug. "It kind of is."

She chuckled, too exhausted to give any other reply.

Having him there made things so much easier and the tension disappeared altogether. Maybe it was the caffeine fuelled brainstorming, or the sugar rush from all those snacks. Whatever it was, it made them both realise how much they had missed each other.

As they finished the assignment, Abi stretched, lifting her arms above her head. She slumped back against the couch and let out a groan of relief. "Oh my God, I could actually cry."

Rich gave her leg a nudge. "Told you we could get it done."

Abi grinned sleepily at him. She knew they were both exhausted and leaned towards him, her hand resting on Rich's knee. Her heart was beating fast and she gave him an inviting smile. Normally Rich wouldn't have missed that twinkle in her eyes, however he was just too tired to figure it out and stood. "Be right back." She chuckled to herself almost sarcastically, then leaned back and let out a yawn.

By the time he had returned from the bathroom, Abi was curled up on the couch bed. The lights had been dimmed and only a hint of moonlight shone through the window. Rich smiled to himself, happy that she finally seemed peaceful.

He could see her jumper and bra on the floor, and leaned down to give her a goodnight kiss. Just as his lips pressed gently against her forehead...

"Stay," she whispered sleepily.

That was the first time she had suggested he stay over and he was a little shocked. He was too tired to argue and climbed in next to her. He lay down and looked up at the ceiling, trying to make patterns from it. Her arm instinctively reached back for his, and she pulled it across her. He turned onto his side and they spooned.

She locked her fingers in his and rested them across her, just above her stomach. He felt her strong hand holding him there, but it wasn't the only thing he could feel. Her full yet tender breasts were also pressing against his arm.

He froze. "Oh shit!" was one of a million thoughts that ran through his head.

His body was getting warmer and she snuggled up closer to him, sighing softly in her sleep. They held each other as they fell asleep together for the first time.

Abi was the first to stir late that morning, her hand still pressing down on Rich's. Through the night their hands had made their way lower down her stomach, resting just above the blonde triangle of hair hiding the most intimate part of her. She felt the butterflies in her stomach, the thought of leading him just that little bit lower was tempting.

It wasn't the only thing tempting her though.

There was also the unmistakable pressure of him pushing against her lower back, hard and insistent. She could feel the wet warmth slowly pooling between her thighs, their mutual desire without question. She pushed back against him with a long grind and sexy smile that said, "not there baby, but you're getting warm."

The noise of her flatmates bustling in the kitchen snapped her back to reality, and she felt like the moment had passed. She eased out of bed and got dressed, a smile on her face as she looked down on him. Her mind went back to the night before, remembering how it felt seeing him in the doorway, and the smiling and laughter she hadn't experienced without him these past few weeks. And she knew it wasn't a knee-jerk reaction. She was deeply in love.

About an hour later, she returned to the couch, sitting back alongside him, a cup of tea in hand. Rich stirred from the smell and his eyes fluttered open, his mouth still smiling from his dream. Abi watched him with a soft, amused smile.

"Hey sleepyhead," she murmured.

"Morning," was his tired reply.

She chuckled and shook her head. He sighed. "Really?"

"It's about half 12, Rich," she said, laughing while gently stroking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Rich blinked, still groggy. The warmth of her body against his may have disappeared but the memory hadn't. He sat up while she leaned across to set the cup down beside him. Her eyes never left his face but his gaze lowered, admiring the full curves which her cream halter top displayed. His heart raced and she smiled at him as she returned to her spot.

"Thank you so much for last night," she said, as her eyes welled up. Her head slumped and she tried to compose herself, but it was no use. She fell into his arms and he held her tight.

"It's alright, babe," he said, his voice comforting her.

There was a long pause between them as she tried to steady herself.

A smile finally broke through. He still had that effect.

"Did you sleep well Rich?"

He nodded.

A cheeky grin emerged on her face, "I could tell."

He frowned, confused, then it hit him. Oh shit. He tried to hide his reddening cheeks.

"Was it me you were dreaming about?" she teased.

It was about her every night. All of his dreams about her getting filthier each night. And they would finish the same -- "I love you" -- regardless of how dirty they had been. But normally he slept alone and not with his erection pushing against her back asking to be let in. He had been dying to say those words for weeks now.

"Abi..." his face burned.

She knew really.

Yes. Yes it was.

Chapter 4: Dressing the Part.

Abi stood in the changing room trying to get into her dress. The excitement of finding the perfect dress was quickly eroding. She tugged furiously at the top of the zipper.

"C'mon you stubborn little..."

Just before she turned the air blue her phone rang. A quick glance at it and her smile returned.

Rich.

She leaned to pick it up and her frustration returned, praying her boobs wouldn't fall out. "Stay in, will you!" she muttered under her breath. Her attention quickly shifted to Rich as she tried to hide her frustration. "Hey Hero."

"Hey you!" She could hear his excitement at speaking to her. "What you up to?"

She managed to hide her frustration for just a second. "At the moment? Trying to keep my boobs in this dress."

His concentration wavered considerably. She cheekily smiled to herself, revelling in her success at flustering him.

"I, umm, I didn't realise it was that kind of phone call," he stuttered.

"Oh please, we both know where your mind went," she said, pushing him playfully.

His mind did go there, and it went back to that night on the couch where he felt them for the first time. She could tell by his lack of a response that his cheeks were dark red and that he was getting uncomfortable.

"Abi..."

"Speaking of which," she interrupted, "are you ever going to tell me what that dream was about?"

He let out a sigh, part of him wishing she would drop it and part of him needing to breathe.

"Tell me at the party tomorrow yeah?" her tone softening, she'd had her fun.

"Never," he said, chuckling.

"Promise me you will be there babe." The joking had finished and she was deadly serious now.

"I promise."

The atmosphere was tense, he was desperately hoping it would lighten.

"What dress should I wear?" she teased again. "Short or obscenely short?"

"You're being cruel now," he said, laughing while picturing her in the dress.

"Can't wait to see you."

He took a little time to respond as he regained his composure.

"I can't wait either."

He hung up, his heart and head racing.

She brushed her hand down the fabric of her dress. With a click of the zipper it was fitting perfectly now. A whisper left her as she looked in the mirror, "I hope he likes it."

Later that day Rich leaned against the counter at the Jewelry store, a little overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. He wasn't just looking for beautiful though, he was looking for the perfect present. One that showed her how much she meant to him, and that showed her how perfect they were together.

"Do you see anything you like sir?" asked the cashier.

Rich rubbed his forehead, struggling to find the right one was starting to get to him and it showed.

"Looking for something personal."

The cashier showed him rings, necklaces, chains, bracelets, but when Rich saw the heart shaped pendant, his eyes lit up. Then when he saw the locket opened up, he knew that was it.

"Would you like it engraved sir?"

Then it hit him. He rushed for his phone and found the perfect photo of the two of them -- him kissing her on the cheek while she wrapped her arms around him at the theme park. They had never smiled as much as they did that day. He asked for it printing out and split it in two, one for each half. No one else would see it but they would know.

The cashier wrapped it and handed the box to Rich. Rich was quite giddy and sent her a text, "bringing champagne for you tomorrow. Got another present for you too."

He headed out of the store and his phone buzzed. It was Abi.

"Thinking... of... you."

Rich stared at the screen. Abi, on the other hand, was doing something else entirely...

When she sent that, she already had one hand between her thighs, the other trembling as she struggled to hit the correct letters. She ached for him now.

She had lain there wishing she didn't have to wait until her birthday party. It was only 24 hours away, but 24 hours felt like an eternity. She needed to satiate that desire now. Even if it was just a stolen climax to tide her over before seeing him again.

She tossed her phone to the side and fell back, her head sinking into her pillow and her breath already shallow. Her hair was tousled and her skin flushed and damp under her hairline. As her body arched, her fingers pushed her thighs wider still, opening her further.

Then her imagination shifted lower, picturing what effect she was having on him. "Was it stiff like that night? And would he have been able to hide it?" She wondered.

She remembered feeling it against her back as they slept, wishing it was in several other places instead. She could feel the heat between her legs build, and her fingers brushed upwards until they desperately circled her clit.

"Fuck Rich..." she gasped.

The pace of her rubbing intensified while the other hand groped her breast hungrily. She wished it was his hands instead of hers -- his fingers teasing her perky pink nipples and starting to slide into the lush wetness between her thighs. But instead they were hers, her arousal guiding them in with a slick ease.

She pictured him laying on top of her, thrusting hard into her and making her his. "Would he be gentle? Or rough? Make love to me or would he take me like an animal?" She hoped the answer was "all of them". Her arousal deepening with every filthy thought made it easier for her fingers to slide in.

The fingers inside her curled up as they hit that spot, her thumb pushing on her clit and her motions inside became more deliberate. Then she could feel it start to happen. Her back arched further, her fingers pressing against her walls as they contracted and her moans getting louder.

"Rich you're making me... oh Rich I'm gonna... gonna... OOOOOHHHH YES RICH!"

Then it hit her hard. Her thighs shook violently, her top hand grabbed the sheets and her back arched, the pleasure escaping her onto the palm of her hand. She moaned loudly before slowly she sank back down into the sheets. Luckily, no one else was in at the house. She placed her hand on her chest, feeling that racing heartbeat.

"Oh Rich!" she said, chuckling to herself over the intensity of it all.

She lay there a while longer -- heart racing, her hand drenched with her juices, her face dripping with sweat -- tasting him even though he wasn't there.