The One That Got Away

'Come on, Liz, don't tease me like this. Just one kiss, come on. One kiss, that's all.'

Liz looks uncomfortable. A single kiss from Rocco. That's a contradiction in terms.

She knows that if she gives in, it won't stop at just one kiss; she's heard plenty of stories about girls who ended up in his bed after a single kiss. The guy is irresistible, a true heartbreaker. A velvet tongue, eyes full of promises. Except for one: a future together. Rocco doesn't do "forever", relationships, or even dating; if she gives in, it'll just be a one-night stand.

But is that really so bad? Losing your virginity on your eighteenth birthday to a hunk like this? And it's not just that he's incredibly attractive, with his shoulder-length black hair, dark eyes, and those pearly-white teeth framed by a sexy mouth with the corners curled just right, not to mention his well-built body and all those provocative "bad-boy" tattoos. He clearly knows exactly what he's doing, unlike the clumsy fumbling of the boys her own age. Not that Rocco is all that much older - only three years - but he has so much more experience!

'Come on, Liz,' Rocco murmurs into her ear, his voice sultry and barely audible over the loud music, 'you're just so incredibly sexy. Come on, one little kiss. Or more, if you want.' Liz lets out a low moan; more, hmmm, that sounds so tempting. She looks up at him and lets out a deep, internal sigh. If only she weren't so crazy about him.

'Okay...'

Rocco grins. He pulls her close and cups her face in his hands. Hands with long, flexible fingers, perfect for a guitarist. She idly wonders if they're just as flexible in other areas. Then, Rocco's lips close over hers, and her entire body ignites; she's instantly, soaking wet. His nimble fingers tangle in her long, light-brown hair, massaging her scalp, while his tongue seeks entry, which she eagerly grants. The kiss is everything she'd hoped for, and more. She lets out another moan, pressing her body even more firmly against his.

No one here will bat an eye; far more intimate things happen on the dance floor at Club Sunset.

She feels his erection pressing against her stomach, and another surge of moisture instantly drenches her panties. Shit! If she's not careful, she's a goner!

Then, Rocco pulls away. He strokes her cheek tenderly, takes one of her silky-soft curls, and presses a kiss to it.

'Mmm, Liz, you kiss like a dream, and you're so...'

So what? she thinks, frustrated that he doesn't finish the sentence right away. So easy? So naive?

'So sweet, so sexy, so perfect.' Rocco pulls her back against him; this time, the kiss is wilder, more intense, and Liz feels her resistance ebbing away. Rocco's hands begin to explore her backside, and one hand slides beneath the hem of her ultra-short skirt. She gasps, holding her breath in shock. Surely he wouldn't- Here, right in the middle of-

Then she feels a finger slide along the edge of her panties; she lacks the will to stop him, it feels just too good.

'Sweet Lizzie, you're so wet,' Rocco murmurs against her swollen lips; his honeyed voice makes her knees go weak. It's no wonder he's the guitarist and lead singer of the Doomed Souls, a rock band on the verge of a major breakthrough.

'Rocco, don't,' she hisses, 'all these people!'

But Rocco either doesn't hear her over the loud, pulsing beat of the music, or he's choosing to ignore her protests. His finger has already found her clitoris - which instantly hardens - and he begins to massage it.

Liz moans with pleasure; Rocco is just too good. His fingers dance over her clit with exactly the right amount of pressure, occasionally teasing their way between her labia, and she can feel an orgasm building at breakneck speed. Her nipples have gone rock-hard, too; she'd give anything to feel his lips against those stiff peaks. It's as if he's read her mind, because he shifts one hand from her buttocks to her breasts, beginning to massage a nipple right through the thin fabric of her top. That's the final straw. Her toes and fingertips start to tingle, a sure sign that she's on the verge of climaxing.

'Oh, Rocco,' she moans hoarsely against his lips, 'I- I- Oh! Oooh!' Her entire body begins to convulse as an incredibly intense orgasm washes over her, wave after blissful wave. Rocco effortlessly keeps her upright, muffling her excited cries with his lips and tongue, all the while continuing to massage her clit. This causes her initial orgasm to be followed by a second - perhaps even more intense - climax, leaving Liz a quivering heap in Rocco's strong arms.

'Jesus!' she gasps. 'That was intense. Did anyone-'

'Nope,' Rocco quickly reassures her, planting another kiss on her lips. 'Hey, sexy, that left me wanting more. Shall we head outside? I know a spot where no one will see or hear us.' He gives her such an alluring look that she agrees without a moment's hesitation. The double climax she just experienced surely has something to do with that, too.

Once outside, in a deserted alley behind the club, Rocco presses her back against the wall, grabs her hand, and places it on his crotch.

'Can you feel what you're doing to me?' he whispers, his eyes gleaming. She nearly chokes; the thing is enormous!

Then he begins kissing her again, his hands exploring her body. But this time, it doesn't feel quite right, and with a frustrated sigh, Liz pushes him away.

'What's wrong, babe? Are you scared that- I've got a condom on me, you know.'

Of course he does, she thinks grimly, that's exactly the problem. Always prepared for a little fling, and nothing more.

'N-no, that's not it,' she whispers, her voice catching, 'I- I can't do this.'

'Can't do what?' Rocco asks, sounding puzzled.

'This. With you. It's all happening too fast. We aren't even dating.'

'Sweet Liz, you know I don't do that, right? I'm not into relationships; I need to be free, no strings attached. I've always been clear about that, haven't I?'

Liz shrugs but says nothing.

'Oh, come on, Liz, don't pout. Babe, you're just incredibly sexy. You like me, I like you. I like you a lot, actually. Can't we just have a little fun, you and me?' He gazes at her seductively with those dangerous, smouldering brown eyes, and she almost gives in.

'N-no, well, I mean, sure, but that's not enough for me. I- I'm sorry. Could you take me home now?' 'Sure. Do you have all your stuff?'

She nods, and together they walk out of the alley. A short while later, they are standing in front of the door to Liz's parents' house.

'Are you sure you-' Rocco begins, just as Liz plants a goodbye kiss on his cheek, but she has already turned away. The next moment, the door clicks shut behind her, a final, definitive sound.

Fuck, Rocco thinks, feeling a surge of frustration, accompanied by a twinge of guilt. The look of disappointment in her eyes is something that will haunt him for years to come.

- Five years later -

'Rocco?' Liz turns around and stops dead in the middle of the sidewalk; she can hardly believe her eyes.

'Liz!'

The man who was almost a one-night stand looks at her with undisguised delight. He's just as sexy as he was back then, she notes, perhaps even more so, more masculine. His hair is a little shorter, though not by much, and a dark shadow of short, black stubble covers his chin and cheeks. It suits him.

'What are you doing here?' she asks. 'Weren't you in South America?'

'That's right, I was,' Rocco laughs. 'Just got back.'

'Oh. A big success, I take it? I own all your records,' she adds with a grin. 'Maybe, since you're already here, you could sign a few for me?'

'For you, always, it would be an honour,' Rocco replies with a laugh, then gestures toward the coffee shop across the street. 'Do you have time to catch up?'

Liz nods. 'It's my day off, so I've got all the time in the world.'

She has never truly regretted turning him down at the last minute; it would have broken her heart had she given in to his advances. Saying no was painful, of course, but it was still better than being used and then discarded, as had been the fate of so many of his other flings, she tells herself.

Together, they cross the street to the coffee shop. It's quiet, so they have their pick of tables.

'You look fantastic, Liz,' Rocco says appreciatively. 'You're absolutely glowing. Is there a special reason for that?'

Liz does her best to hide her surprise; it seems Rocco is fishing for something. Then, it suddenly dawns on her.

'A reason? Thanks, by the way, well, nothing specific, no. But I can't complain. A good job, a great boss, a steady relationship...' She glances at him, a challenge in her eyes. Rocco chuckles, touché, he thinks, as she continues, 'I'm healthy, my family's healthy. So, no complaints here!' She grins. 'What about you? Heading out on tour again soon?'

'Um, no. No touring for the time being. Maybe never again, actually.'

'Huh? How come?'

'The band has fallen apart. We've sort of grown in different directions, so we're moving forward individually.'

'Oh? That's a shame. And what does that mean for you?'

'I haven't quite figured that out yet, but I'll keep making music, of course, mostly writing new songs for now, and perhaps forming a new band down the line.' He pauses to think, taking a sip of the coffee that Louise, the owner of the shop, has just brought over. 'In any case, I'm staying here, back to my roots. The band has really paid off for me; in theory, I don't need to work for the next few years. I've managed to snap up a nice apartment, and now I'm looking for something else to go along with it.' He wants to have something to fall back on, eventually. The music business is a tricky one, after all, one moment you're immensely popular, and the next, you've been completely forgotten.

'Diversification,' Liz suggests, 'a second line of work?'

'Something like that,' Rocco confirms. It surprises him how easy it is to talk to Liz, even after all these years, and with what happened between them. As far as she's concerned, there's clearly no bad blood. She's no longer the sexy teenager she once was; she has matured into a real woman. Still incredibly sexy, too, he can barely take his eyes off her tempting curves.

'I might know of something you could invest in.'

Rocco looks at her suspiciously, is she teasing him? But no.

'You remember Hector, right?' Rocco nods. He knows the owner of the local bakery all too well; working there was his only steady source of income before the band hit it big. 'He wants to retire, and he doesn't have a successor. You worked at the bakery back in the day, didn't you? It would be a shame to lose it.'

'Liz, that's a fantastic idea!' He could take over the bakery, manage it, and even work a few shifts himself. He always got along great with Hector, and Hector was always extremely happy with his bread-making skills. 'I'll head over to see him later today, thanks for the tip!'

Liz beams. 'The first loaf is for me, promise?'

'Of course! You can have as much bread as you like, on the house. But hey, you mentioned you have a good job. Where do you work, and what do you do?'

Liz explains that she works for her uncle, who runs an import-export business; she handles pretty much everything related to the organization. Her uncle is absolutely delighted with her. Her father, however, is less pleased. He had hoped she would come to work for him at his hardware store. But given that their relationship is rather volatile - her father is a hot-headed man with quite rigid views - Liz didn't think that was such a good idea. It still frequently leads to heated arguments whenever she visits her parents.

'And you're in a relationship? For long? Do I know him?' Rocco asks. Liz smiles to herself; she has already realized that the mutual attraction between them hasn't lost any of its intensity. Rocco's fishing expedition doesn't surprise her at all. In fact, he managed to restrain himself for quite a long time.

'Almost a year and a half.' She sees Rocco swallow hard. 'His name is Kevin, Kevin de Vries.' From his neutral expression, she can tell he doesn't recognize the name. That doesn't surprise her; he and Kevin certainly didn't move in the same circles, even though they're the same age.

'Any plans to get married?' He says it casually, but she recognizes his tell: whenever he finds something nerve-wracking or feels anxious, he touches the small ring in his left ear.

'Ha, yeah, marriage plans. Kevin has it all mapped out: get engaged, get married, buy a house, pop out some kids. And I'm supposed to stop working, become a housewife and take care of the children.'

'S-seriously?'

'He is, anyway. I'm not. The thought of giving up my job, let alone bearing and raising a whole brood of children is completely out of the question for me.'

'So, you're not exactly on the same page?' He sounds hopeful, she thinks a bit amused. The roles have suddenly reversed; who would have thought!

Her relationship with Kevin can hardly be called a passionate affair; Kevin is, above all, steady. He knows what he wants. He's reliable. He's also quite boring, though she's generally managed to successfully sweep that under the rug. Lately, however, that's becoming increasingly difficult, especially since they moved in together. Now, with Rocco sitting across from her, she finds herself involuntarily making comparisons. Just looking at his face - those sexy eyes, that smile - the way he hangs on her every word, the humour they share, the spark that's still there, a spark that is, frankly, entirely absent with Kevin...

And then there's the sexual attraction, which clearly hasn't faded a bit, even after five years. Fuck.

She shakes her head. 'Kevin's a great guy, don't get me wrong, he's reliable, caring, and, well, he's good at planning; he never forgets my birthday,' she laughs briefly, 'but he's not exactly adventurous. And I-' She stops. Damn it. Rocco always had a way of dragging out the uncomfortable truths she didn't want to face.

'You want more out of life. Remember how we used to make plans to travel the world, once we were-'

'Filthy rich?' Liz interrupts, laughing. 'Well, you certainly managed that. And the traveling the world part, too.'

'Filthy rich might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest...' Rocco gazes somewhat wistfully at his now-empty cup. 'Well, it was fun while it lasted, but I think I've reached a different phase in my life, whether I like it or not.' He grins. 'The wild days are over. Maybe it's time I settled down into a committed relationship.'

'Hahaha!' Liz laughs. 'Did you have an aneurysm or something?'

'Who knows?' Rocco chuckles. 'Tell me, is that club still around? Club Sunset, I think it was called?'

'Oh, yeah! I still go there quite often, with Angelica and Poppy. Remember them?'

Rocco nods. Her friends through thick and thin, great girls, all of them, but they never quite measured up to Liz in his opinion.

'Hey, as a matter of fact, we're going dancing this coming Saturday night. Feel like coming along?'

'Really?' Rocco responds, surprised. 'Me? With you guys? Won't Kevin mind?'

'Kevin hates dancing. And clubs. And loud music, and big crowds of sweaty people.'

Hmm, Rocco thinks, doesn't sound great. What on earth is the exuberant Liz doing with a guy like that?

'I don't think he'll want to come along,' Liz continues, oblivious to Rocco's thoughts.

She'll ask him again, but mostly just as a formality. She just hopes that this time, he won't try to make her feel guilty for going out without him. It always casts a bit of a shadow over the evening, no matter how hard she tries to ignore it. If he had his way, she'd hardly ever see her best friends. But sitting on the couch every single evening of the week, watching mindless TV shows and heading to bed at ten o'clock sharp? That's just not her thing. And things haven't exactly improved since they started living together.

Kevin moved in with her a few weeks ago, not that it was planned. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, due to a leak in his own apartment, but he's taken over to such an extent that Liz wonders if he even intends to go back to his own place. She's not exactly thrilled about it; he disrupts her routine and has turned out to be a total control freak, everything has to be in its designated spot, and there can't be a speck of mess. Liz, on the other hand, is much more laid-back in her free time; she doesn't see any issue with leaving a dirty coffee cup in the sink for more than ten minutes.

She clearly isn't ready to live with someone, she realizes as the thought sinks in. Certainly not with Kevin, anyway, ha!

'As long as he lets you have your fun,' Rocco remarks, immediately catching a familiar expression flitting across Liz's face. He has clearly touched a sore spot with that comment. Shit. The more she shares about Kevin, the more red flags Rocco sees popping up.

But Liz seems to have shaken it off already, so he decides not to press the point.

'Shall I pick you up?' she asks; she feels it's better if Rocco doesn't pick her up, that only makes Kevin even more difficult. 'Or is that not practical?'

'Depends on where you live,' Rocco laughs.

They exchange contact details and decide that, given the locations of his place and the club, it actually makes more sense for Rocco to pick her up.

In the meantime, Liz has received a text from her uncle about an emergency, so she needs to swing by the office. Even though it's her day off, her uncle is always very flexible, so she doesn't mind at all that he's asked her to come in to deal with an unexpected complication regarding a delivery.

Then they part ways, and Rocco watches her go with a mix of appreciation and wistfulness: the one that got away.

Hmm.

A good title for a song, he decides, he'll flesh that out later. And, in due time, dedicate it to Liz.

Feeling content, he heads toward the bakery. He'll see Liz again on Saturday night, and he's already looking forward to it. It's just a shame about that guy, Kevin. But then again, that's his own stupid fault, what with his "no strings attached" attitude and his inflated ego back in the day. Let's just call it youthful overconfidence...

***

When Liz arrives home, Kevin is already there. In response to her surprise, he explains that there was a power outage at his workplace, everything shut down, and most of the staff were sent home.

Liz notices that Kevin doesn't look happy, even though he's ended up with a few unexpected hours of free time.

After some prodding, the truth comes out: he heard from Louise, the owner of the coffee corner, that Rocco is back and that he and Liz had coffee together.

Kevin always makes her squirm when she's done something he doesn't like; he never says what's wrong right away, a trait of his that she detests.

Kevin certainly knows Rocco from the past; he was always jealous of him, of the ease with which Rocco made friends, charmed girls, and his musical talent. He also knows that Liz was head over heels in love with Rocco back then, and he is convinced that Rocco was the one who took her virginity, another reason to hate him.

Liz assures him that it was purely a matter of catching up, nothing more. Hoping to be as open as possible and avoid giving him any ammunition to start another argument, she mentions - though it proves to be in vain - that she's going out dancing with her friends this Saturday and that Rocco will be there too. She invites Kevin to join them.

The news does not go over well. Accusations are hurled her way, and he even demands her mobile phone, hoping to catch her in some sort of improper text exchange with Rocco. Liz dutifully hands it over; naturally, he finds nothing, only Rocco's address and phone number. But the mere sight of those is enough to make his blood boil. Next, he tries to force her to stay home using all sorts of arguments and excuses, but she couldn't care less. Dancing and having fun with her friends is one of the few pleasures she has. He's not taking that away from her, Rocco or no Rocco.

***

It's ten o'clock on Saturday evening, and the doorbell rings just as Liz is putting the finishing touches on her hair.

Kevin - unsurprisingly - has decided to stay home, now sitting on the sofa and sulking. He's acting just like a small child, she thinks with disapproval; it's incredibly unattractive.

He casts a disparaging look at her outfit: a form-fitting, bright blue dress with glitter and spaghetti straps, one that accentuates her long legs without revealing too much skin. It irritates her that Kevin has managed to pressure her into dressing more conservatively than she'd actually like.

They'd had a massive argument just before this; all week, Kevin had tried various ways to stop her from going out, but she'd stood her ground. He'd spent the last few hours giving her the silent treatment, which suited her just fine.

Ever since her unexpected encounter with Rocco, she had been giving serious thought to her relationship with Kevin, wondering, in fact, why they were still together. They were so different, and not in a good way. And as for Kevin's manipulative tactics, the more she reflected on them, the more she realized that he always - well, almost always - managed to get his own way. Usually, she just didn't think the energy required to bicker was worth it, so she'd simply given in. On top of that, he was incredibly dull, something that had become painfully clear to her lately. No dinners out, no trips - let alone traveling abroad - because Kevin wanted to save for the future rather than spend money on "frivolities". But Liz was living in the present, and she wanted to enjoy her life.

Her conversation with Rocco had stirred something inside her. Rocco was different; he grabbed life, and every opportunity that came his way, with both hands. And it had certainly paid off for him. And her suggestion about the bakery - he'd jumped on that with such enthusiasm - had made her reflect on what she herself still wanted to achieve, or experience. And to what extent Kevin might stand in her way. Not just fail to encourage her, no, actually hinder her.

With a sigh, she turns her back on her boyfriend, pushes any thoughts of him and their relationship aside for the moment, and walks toward the front door. It's time to unwind.

'Hey, Liz, wow!' Rocco looks at the woman standing before him with genuine appreciation. The dress isn't overly revealing, but it suits her perfectly, somehow accentuating all her best features - and she has plenty of those! Unable to help himself, he pulls her into his arms.

'Oh!' she exclaims, surprised, then smiles and lets him plant a chaste kiss on her cheek.

Rocco, too, looks absolutely irresistible, she thinks; he certainly won't be short of attention at the club.

She quickly pulls the front door shut behind her, and Rocco takes her by the hand, leading her toward his sports car parked in front of the apartment building. Glancing back, she catches a fleeting glimpse of Kevin standing at the window, looking absolutely furious. Well, too bad, he could have come along, she thinks, feeling entirely indifferent.

The drive is short, but the sexual tension is instant. There's no escaping it. It's as if she's eighteen again, head over heels in love with the lead singer of the Doomed Souls. This is going to be an interesting evening...

At the entrance to the club, they run into her friends, and Rocco is mercilessly teased about his status as a famous rockstar. He takes it all in stride, smiling. Once inside, he's quickly recognized, leading to the inevitable requests for selfies and autographs, though he does his best to keep Liz close by. When the attention finally dies down, he pulls her onto the dance floor, and once again, Liz feels like an infatuated, insecure teenager.

They dance close together, without actually touching. It feels intimate and sensual nonetheless, and Liz realizes that this is a feeling she misses with Kevin, even during sex. If Rocco were to ask her to go home with him at the end of the night, she wouldn't say no; she's already decided to end things with Kevin. After his childish, manipulative behaviour over the past week, she's completely done with him. It might not be the most decent way to handle it, but frankly, she couldn't care less.

Just as they decide to take a break for a drink, Kevin suddenly walks into the club. He turns beet-red with rage the moment he sees Rocco and Liz walking toward the bar, hand in hand.

'See!' he roars. 'I knew it!'

Liz's jaw drops in shock. She has never seen her partner like this; it's as if a mask has fallen away, leaving no trace of the calm, composed Kevin she once knew. His head looks like it's about to explode, it's almost as if steam is pouring from his ears. He suddenly charges toward them, and, startled, Liz takes a step back, only to trip over the legs of a bar stool. But fortunately, Rocco is there; he catches her effortlessly and pushes her behind him.

'I'll smash your face in, you asshole!' Kevin shouts, lashing out at Rocco. But before he can carry out that threat, two bouncers have already grabbed him in a firm hold, and a furiously struggling Kevin is being dragged toward the exit.

'Shit,' Liz mutters. 'Rocco, I have to take care of something,' she calls out over the music, then sets off after the group of men, looking determined.

'Liz, wait! Where are you going? You're not-' Rocco asks, sounding concerned. 'Should I-'

'No, no need. Don't worry, I'll be right back, okay?' She gives him an imploring look; this is something she has to handle herself, preferably without an audience.

Once outside, she sees Kevin standing on the sidewalk, staring down at the ground, looking lost.

'Kevin!' she calls out, walking toward him. She sees him look up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. This is going to come as a harsh blow, she thinks grimly. Oh well.

'Kevin, you and I, we're done.'

'What?!'

'And make no mistake: this has absolutely nothing to do with Rocco's return.'

'You can't be-' Kevin protests, looking at her as if she'd suddenly grown a second head. Perhaps she should have stood up for herself more often during their relationship.

'Let me finish. I've had enough. I haven't felt right in this relationship for a long time. You're constantly trying to force me into a mold. To fit the image you have of our relationship, and of how a woman - your woman - should behave. I'm always expected to bend to your demands and your plans for the future, and I'm completely done with it. I want to be able to be myself.'

'But couldn't we-' Kevin stammers, his tone desperate, but Liz cuts him off with a simple gesture of her hand.

'Just to be clear,' she continues, undeterred, 'once again, this has nothing to do with Rocco, though it is true that with Rocco, I can at least just be myself. So, I'm going to keep seeing him. And I couldn't care less what you think about that; it's over between us. Oh, and I want my key back.'

'Liz, please, you-'

'Right now. And I'll let you know when you can come pick up your things.' Reluctantly, he unhooks the front-door key from his keyring and hands it to her.

'But I've still got all sorts of stuff-' he stammers, but Liz has already turned her back on him and is walking back toward the club entrance.

'Discussion closed!' she calls out over her shoulder, not breaking her stride.

'Liz!' he cries out, 'please, can't we-'

It's no use; she's already out of earshot.

Deflated, he sinks to his knees and sits down on the curb.

'Fuck,' he mutters, 'fuck, fuck, fuck!'

***

'Back again, and what a lovely blush you've got,' Rocco teases as she appears beside him a moment later. 'Everything okay? Is your boyfriend still alive? Need help burying the body?'

'Better than ever. And he's an ex-boyfriend now. Kevin is out of the picture, thank goodness. You have no idea how relieved I feel, how free,' she chuckles.

Rocco nods; he understands all too well. Time for a distraction, he decides.

'Good to hear. Another round on the dance floor, or would you prefer a stiff drink?'

She doesn't really have to think about it; she takes Rocco's outstretched hand and pulls him unapologetically onto the dance floor.

'Remember back then? Right here, on the dance floor?' Rocco asks with a mischievous grin, as a slow, jazzy track plays. Does she ever! She blushes instantly, though, fortunately, it's impossible to tell under the fluorescent lights.

'I've thought about it so many times,' he continues. 'It was incredible, watching you, feeling you climax.' He chuckles. 'I've had quite a few wet dreams about it over the years.'

'Me too,' she sighs, giving him a playful look, 'though I don't think I'd have the nerve to do that now.'

'Are you sure?' Rocco moves his hands - which had been resting on her hips - down the front of her dress, coming to rest on her mound. Liz glances around nervously. She catches a few curious stares, though that's likely just because it's Rocco. Still...

'Better not,' she laughs, trying to mask her arousal. 'It's too public.' She's not entirely averse to a bit of exhibitionism, but this is a step too far.

'How about one of the alcoves?' Rocco suggests, having noticed the hesitation in her eyes.

'Oh.' That hadn't occurred to her. She'd spent plenty of time making out with boyfriends in those alcoves. 'Okay!'

'Seriously?'

'Mm-hmm.'

'Great, what are we waiting for?'

Seconds later, they slip into a dimly lit, empty alcove and settle onto a tufted bench, tucked away from the sight of the other club-goers. Rocco immediately pulls her onto his lap, her back pressed against his chest.

'Ooh,' she moans in surprise; through the thin fabric of her dress, she can feel a massive erection pressing against her buttocks. She shifts back and forth a few times, teasing him, until Rocco, letting out a deep groan, grabs her and pulls her tightly against him.

'Girl, stop. Otherwise, I'm going to lose my load right now,' he whispers into her ear. Oh, that voice! Still just as sultry, like velvet, and she feels herself becoming even wetter than she already was. Then, Rocco's hand slides beneath the hem of her dress, and memories from five years ago flash through her mind. She holds her breath. A finger slips under the fabric of her thong.

She - suddenly glad she chose her sexiest lingerie, heaven knows why - feels it slide between her labia. Rocco's warm, soft lips kiss her neck, then tug at her earlobe; it feels incredibly erotic, she had no idea that would turn her on so much.

'Jesus, you're so wet, Liz,' Rocco groans, it feels like déjà vu.

'Mmm, yeah,' she murmurs. She can feel that Rocco's erection has grown even more; he must be packing something substantial! Could she... She tries to reach behind her back, and Rocco, immediately grasping her intent, shifts to give her more room.

'Oh god,' he moans, 'what are you doing to me?'

'Look who's talking,' she giggles. Rocco's nimble fingers have found her clit, circling it teasingly. Then, he slides two fingers into her deliciously wet pussy and begins to fuck her with his hand, his thumb expertly massaging her clit all the while, as he whispers dirty, arousing things into her ear.

'Oh, yeah,' she moans, savouring the sensation. She can already feel that familiar tingling in her fingers and toes, 'that's perfect, keep going...' Meanwhile, she strokes his cock through his jeans; it's a damn shame there's a thick layer of denim in the way.

'Easy now, Liz,' Rocco murmurs, running his other hand over her breasts. The effect is instantaneous; her nipples go hard as steel.

'Oh, Rocco, I- oh, I'm almost there...' At that exact moment, he gently bites her earlobe while simultaneously giving her nipple a firm squeeze.

'Fuck!' she gasps. 'I- I- oooh!' The orgasm hits her; electricity pulses through her body, and she begins to convulse, struggling to keep her balance. Fortunately, Rocco has a firm grip on her. He turns her face toward his and presses his lips against hers, trying to muffle her excited cries. She can feel his grin stretching from ear to ear.

And just like before, Rocco doesn't pull away; instead, he continues to massage her nub, triggering another orgasm, this one accompanied by a passionate, deep kiss.

'Oh God,' she moans a moment later, a blissful smile on her lips. 'That was incredible, how do you even do that?'

'Practice makes perfect,' Rocco explains with a teasing grin.

'Jesus, well, you must have had plenty of practice.' It's stated as an observation rather than an accusation, much to Rocco's relief. He's been quite the "man-whore" over the last few years, something he isn't exactly proud of.

Liz slides gracefully off his lap and adjusts her clothing. She glances around quickly; thank God, there are no curious or disapproving stares.

'Hey,' she whispers, 'do you want me to-' pointing toward the impressive bulge beneath his jeans. She starts to slip into the space between the sofa and the table, but Rocco stops her.

'This one was for you, Lizzie,' he says, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. 'Think of it as a sort of apology for how I treated you five years ago, on your birthday, no less.' Before she can protest, he continues, 'What do you want to do? Dance, have another drink?'

'Actually, I'd like to go home.' Liz gives him an apologetic look. 'It's getting pretty late, and-'

'No problem,' Rocco interrupts, 'let's do that. I've had enough, too, we aren't teenagers anymore, after all,' he chuckles.

After saying goodbye to Angelica and Poppy - who seem to be having a great time with a group of guys on a bachelor party - they leave the club. Not long after, Rocco pulls his sports car up in front of Liz's place.

'Hey, Liz,' he says, switching off the engine, his tone sounding a bit uncertain, she notes with amusement, 'when can I see you again?'

'Huh? What do you mean? Aren't you coming inside?'

'I-inside? You want me to-'

'Of course I do, you idiot! I've waited long enough for this. And after that little preview earlier...' she chuckles. Rocco's entire face lights up.

'Oh... well, in that case, absolutely!'

Liz has barely pulled the front door shut and locked it before Rocco has her pinned against the wall.

'Oh, Liz,' he growls, 'I can't believe it. I've thought about you so many times!'

Liz throws her arms around his neck and silences him with a passionate kiss. He grabs her by the buttocks and pulls her firmly against him; an impressive erection presses into her stomach, nearly taking her breath away. Their tongues entwine in an erotic dance as Rocco's hands move from her buttocks to her breasts. She, too, is far from passive; she explores his muscular torso with obvious pleasure, then lets her hand glide over his erection, cursing, once again, the inconvenient denim. But, of course, that is something that can be remedied.

She pulls away from him and drops to her knees.

'What are you doing?' Rocco asks, surprised, trying to pull her back up.

'What do you think? I'd really like to see it now, the suspense is killing me,' she giggles, while undoing the fastening of his jeans. 'Oh my god!' she exclaims, 'it's unbelievable!'

Rocco bursts out laughing. 'Unbelievable as in "enormous", or as in "I'm going to need a magnifying glass for this"?'

'None of that false modesty, Rocco,' she chides, teasingly running her tongue over the head of his cock. Rocco groans and closes his eyes, only to open them again immediately; he doesn't want to miss a single second of the sight of this sexy goddess on her knees before him.

'Mmm,' she murmurs, lapping up a drop of pre-cum, 'yummy!' In one fluid motion, she closes her lips around his cockhead, teasing the ridge just below it. The euphoric sensation nearly brings Rocco to his knees. After a few quick, sucking motions, Liz takes almost his entire cock into her warm, wet mouth, not quite all of it, but close enough. Rocco is, nonetheless, thoroughly impressed.

'Mmm, Lizzie, you- oh my god!' Liz's mouth moves rhythmically up and down his now painfully hard cock; she sucks on the upward stroke and delivers quick, light licks on the way down. It feels so good that an orgasm begins to build at an alarming rate. 'Liz,' he warns, 'if you don't want-' He can't suppress a deep groan; he's right on the edge.

But Liz clearly senses this too, as she lets his cock slide out of her mouth with an audible 'pop.' She grins. 'We'll save that for later,' she says. 'You don't have to be anywhere, do you?'

'Not me. Where's your bedroom?'

'That way,' she says, pointing toward a door left slightly ajar a little further down. 'I'll be right there; I just need to check a few things.' She walks off to secure the windows and doors, she's not exactly keen on any uninvited nighttime visitors. And given that Kevin had left her apartment in quite an agitated state earlier that evening...

Curious, Rocco walks into the bedroom and looks around. There's not a trace of any masculine influence, not even any clothes. Could she and Kevin have-

'We slept in separate rooms,' he suddenly hears from behind him. 'This is my room. Because of his snoring. Besides, it was only supposed to be temporary. Though Kevin seemed to have forgotten that pretty quickly.' She grins again.

'And we haven't had sex in ages,' she adds casually, 'in case you were wondering. Or is that too much information?'

Rocco chuckles and pulls her into his arms. 'Why are you so damn sexy, Liz?' he murmurs into her hair.

'Is that a problem?' she asks coquettishly.

'Haha,' he laughs, then gently pushes her back onto the bed. 'I'd like to get a taste of you, too,' he mutters, his voice husky. Before she knows it, he's hiked her dress up to her waist and - after a lingering, appreciative look - pulled her thong down past her knees.

'Mmm, that looks delicious,' he says, pressing a kiss to her mound. 'You smell amazing, by the way.' He runs a finger through her labia and, glistening with moisture, slips it between his own sexy lips, Liz's mouth falls open. Wow; Rocco has very few inhibitions, if any at all. This is going to be fun. No more boring sex, she resolves; from now on, she's setting her standards as high as they can go!

'Yep, delicious,' Rocco declares, and the next moment she feels his lips against hers - her labia, that is - eliciting a delighted little squeal. And oh, he really knows what he's doing! His tongue is every bit as nimble as his fingers. Soft licks, interspersed with his warm breath against her nub, he sucks, he rubs, and just as she reaches the brink of an orgasm, he pulls back, planting warm kisses on the insides of her thighs or on her labia. Meanwhile, he has slid two supple fingers into her pussy, moving them in and out at the perfect rhythm. She's almost overwhelmed; it's all so incredibly arousing, she's never been this horny in her life.

'Rocco,' she gasps. He looks up, as if in a trance, and the expression in those velvety brown eyes completely undoes her. 'I- I- I'm coming!' she cries out. Her whole body vibrates, and wave after wave of a blissful, intensely powerful orgasm sends her soaring, as if she's momentarily left her own body. She actually lifts off the mattress; Rocco has his work cut out for him just to keep her in place. But he doesn't stop; his tongue continues to tease her clit until she begs him to desist, the contractions are starting to take their toll. He lets her go, licks his lips once more in a deliberate, demonstrative gesture, then quickly crawls further up the bed to lie down beside her.

'There, that was two.'

'Two? Or three? Does a double orgasm count as one or two?'

'Two, without a doubt. Those are the rules.'

'Ah. Do you have any other rules?' She looks at him, amused; Rocco nods.

'Yep. In the bedroom, you're supposed to be naked.'

'Oh, good rule,' she laughs, 'let's get right on that.' She quickly pulls the dress over her head; meanwhile, Rocco slides the thong down over her ankles and feet, and it lands on the floor with a soft thud.

'Your turn,' she says, tugging impatiently at his T-shirt.

'Hahaha,' Rocco laughs, 'not so impatient, no need to tear it!'

Together, they make quick work of the rest of his clothes, and Liz's bra comes off, too.

'Oh, man,' Rocco growls as his eyes land on her breasts. 'Are they- are they-'

'Bigger?' Liz finishes for him. 'Yep. A little growth spurt after I turned eighteen. Unexpected, but very welcome.' Her small breasts back then had made her quite insecure as a teenager, so she's thrilled with her current, full C-cup.

'You can say that again, very welcome. Though I thought you were gorgeous back then, too,' he assures her. 'You've always been perfect.' He playfully plants a kiss on her nose, 'freckles and all.'

He cups both her breasts in his hands, savouring their weight, lets out an appreciative sound, and then rubs his thumbs over her hardened nipples. 'Perfect,' he murmurs, taking one nipple into his mouth, then the other; she feels a jolt of sensation in her clit. He begins to massage her breasts with great devotion, and Liz closes her eyes, savouring the feeling. Rocco truly has magic fingers.

'Kneading, you've always been really good at that,' she laughs. 'By the way, did you manage to stop by and see Hector?'

'Not that I want to talk about that right now, but yeah. He was definitely interested.'

'Awesome. And sorry... Now, where were we?' she asks, reaching down to grab his cock. 'Mmm, that feels good. Maybe you should do something with that.'

'Like what?'

Liz doesn't answer; instead, she pushes herself up and nudges Rocco onto his back. She then straddles him, positioning his rigid cock at her entrance. God, she's so wet, she expects it to slide in effortlessly, all at once, despite its size.

'Liz, wait. Don't you want to use a condom?'

'What about you? I was just tested, and I'm on the pill.' And what she said about Kevin... He's actually surprised she trusts him; he doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a saint. But then again, that was a long time ago.

'I'm clean too,' he says. 'Are you sure?'

'One hundred percent. Come on, let's put that massive thing to use,' she says, and without waiting for a reply, she slides down onto his cock in one fluid motion. Rocco lets out a growl that seems to come from the very tips of his toes, or perhaps from a rather different part of his anatomy...

'Mmm,' she moans, savouring the sensation, 'fuck me with everything you've got, rock star.'

From that moment on, there's no holding back. Liz gasps and moans; Rocco's cock hits spots inside her she never knew could feel so good. Rocco unleashes his inner beast, Liz feels divine, and he's blown away by her flexibility and stamina. One moment Rocco is on top, the next it's Liz; the bed creaks in protest, and the neighbours have likely put in earplugs by now, but neither of them cares. They are completely consumed by passion. Rocco fucks her so hard that her vision begins to blur. He finds himself on the verge of climaxing several times, but manages to hold back by shifting them into a different position. Then, Liz suddenly tightens her pelvic floor muscles, and combined with the way her phenomenal breasts bounce up and down, it proves to be Rocco's undoing; he loses all control. He feels an unmistakable tingling in his balls, and his cock becomes impossibly hard.

'Liz,' he groans hoarsely, 'I'm going to fill you up, you sexy vixen...'

'God, yes! I'm coming too! Harder, Rocco!' she cries out, completely enraptured.

Rocco makes a final push, driving himself in as deep as he can; he sees Liz's cleavage flush a deep, dark red with excitement, the nipples on those magnificent breasts standing hard and swollen. That's the final blow. Spurred on by the tightening of Liz's pussy as she reaches her own climax, he lets out a loud roar and ejaculates, pumping jet after jet of hot semen into her tight, wet pussy.

With a contented sigh, Liz slides off her lover.

'Wow,' she breathes.

'No kidding.'

'Would you be surprised if I told you that Kevin is mind-numbingly boring in the sack?'

'Um, no. Honestly, not at all,' Rocco chuckles, brushing a damp strand of hair from her sweaty forehead.

'But anyway, that was the best sex of my life, hands down.'

'Same here.' Liz pulls herself up halfway and looks at him, incredulous.

'Seriously? You?'

'You might not believe it, but the best sex happens with someone for whom you actually have feelings.'

'Are you serious? Do you have feelings for me?' she asks, half-earnest, half-teasing.

'I do. I always have. Though I only realized it when I saw you again the other day.'

'Oh.'

'But I understand that's hard to believe, given how I treated you on your eighteenth birthday. I was an asshole.'

'No, you weren't. You were always honest. You were clear about your intentions and left the choice up to me. A choice you accepted.'

With some difficulty, he recalls. But she's right.

'I think I was still far too immature for a relationship five years ago. And I needed to get my wild phase out of my system.'

'It seems like you've grown quite a bit since then,' Liz remarks, tracing some of Rocco's many tattoos with her finger, 'or am I wrong?'

'No, you're spot on. Working with the band and dealing with all the shit that came with it taught me a lot in that regard. I'm certainly not sorry the band broke up, either. I'm ready to settle down. I can hardly believe I'm saying this,' he chuckles, 'and, if possible, with you.' He looks at her, full of hope.

'We'll see,' she laughs. 'By the way, I hope you haven't gotten rid of all your wild side yet? I've still got a bucket list, and I've barely managed to cross anything off it...'

'We'll see,' Rocco echoes with a playful wink, pulling her to her feet in one fluid motion. 'How do you feel about shower sex?'

'The wetter, the better,' she giggles.

THE END