Sarah and Kevin 41

"That's OK." He said and leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets.

"OK. Me first, then?"

"Shoot."

"I know that you think I'm tainted goods..."

"Sarah, I never said that..."

She held her hand up to silence him. "I'm not. And since I didn't go to the hospital, I can't prove it to you. You'll have to trust me. Also, the honest truth is that Peter has kissed me with the intent of going farther, but I stopped him then, too." She took a deep breath and exhaled hard. "I'm in love with you Kevin. I..." She held her hands out, palms up, unable to find any more words.

Kevin felt his heart skip a beat. He swallowed hard and sat down next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. She raised her face to him and he kissed her lips. She held his hand in both of hers. He could feel her trembling. When they broke the kiss, he had to lower his head and catch his breath.

"Sarah. I'm sorry that I made you feel like you were 'tainted'. I don't feel that way at all. I love you." He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then her mouth again. She met him with her lips slightly parted and he answered her invitation.

He sat back to look at her. Her lashes were lowered and her face was red.

"You're blushing," he laughed.

She smiled a little, then raised her eyes to him. "You're laughing because you don't know what I'm thinking," she murmured.

"I'll bet I can guess," he said, the smile gone from his face.

She took a deep breath and stood up. She took his hand and led him to the french doors toward the front of the attic. She stopped before opening them.

"There's a dress code for this room," she said, grasping the waistband of his jeans. She unbuttoned and unzipped them, pushing them off so they fell around his ankles. "Off with the shirt," she ordered. He couldn't pull it over his head fast enough. He dropped it on the floor and stepped out of his shoes and jeans.

She turned to open the door. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. What about you?" Without turning around to face him, she untied her belt and let her robe slip from her shoulders. Then she opened the door and led him in.