Rating: PG-13
Codes: C/P. Davis, others
Category: Het/Romance
Summary: Five Glorious days between two Major birthdays in May. With Dog.

Impatiently Paul glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall near his desk, his eyes straying to the third week in May. So close. So tauntingly close. The faint pencil mark brackets surrounding the week in question made his pulse run just a bit faster.

Birthday week. A nice little stretch from his to Sam’s. A week carefully noted, discussed and agreed upon. A week as ripe with promise as a summer peach.

It had taken a lot of planning to get around Connie’s offer of a party, Paul sighed. His sister had been understanding, supportive even. The boys had not, particularly Wilson who felt the rejection keenly.

“But mom was going to let us make ice cream and stay up until after eleven!” he’d protested.

“Tell her I said you can even though I’m not there—“ he’d assured his youngest nephew, which seemed to mollify hurt feelings. Connie further assured him that everyone would be fine with waiting another weekend for the party, and Paul was grateful for his sister’s tact.

A week. On his desk sat the printout confirmation of reservations for the Blue Ranch B & B—five glorious days in the late spring away from DC and the ambitious rat race of politics and budgets and military mindset. A chance to unwind one set of tensions and tighten up another, more intimate set.

Paul smiled to himself. Being nearly thirty-four didn’t stop him from wanting to bounce around his office, smiling like an idiot. He hadn’t felt this way about a vacation since elementary school—slightly dazed at the wondrous potential before him. Mornings, afternoons, nights—oh especially nights in the company of the one person he felt he could never spent too much time with.

Thank God Sam seemed to feel the same way.

***   ***   ***

Sam checked the clock hanging over her lab door for the tenth time in as many minutes and then chided herself for her impatience. She was ready to go:  her bags were already up at the main gate, she was in her civvies and yet time was taking its own sweet in passing. It wasn’t quite three o’clock, the glorious, long-awaited hour—

“Little anxious, Sam?” Daniel asked, leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed. She shot him a bright smile.

“No I’m fine—“

“—I only ask because your manual’s upside down—“ he pointed out with a grin. Sam looked at the volume in her hands and made a face, righting it quickly.

“Oops.”

“Still not going to tell us anything about your vacation, are you?”

She shook her head, the smile shifting to a smirk that brought out her dimples. Daniel gave a mock sigh and pushed himself up from his lean.

“Have a great time, Sam—you deserve the break.”

“Thanks.”

When the moment finally came, FINALLY, Sam took the elevator up and looked around cautiously. The security lobby was empty except for the assigned SF, and Sam breathed a sigh of relief.

It was short lived however, as almost immediately one of the other elevators dinged open, and Sam cringed a little, hearing Jack's voice.

"Carter.  Not gone yet?"

Sam turned to see Jack shaking his wrist, holding his watch up to his ear, followed by, oh God, was it?  Yes-- Rose, Joanna, and Teal'c. 

"No, sir, not yet."  Plastering a smile on her face, Sam fervently prayed for them to keep walking, but Jack slowed, seemingly having nowhere to go.

"Car trouble?  Need a lift?"  Jack stuffed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, while Rose rolled her eyes at him.

Sam's smile got tighter.  "No, sir, I'm fine."

"Come on, flyboy, we've got a reservation to meet."  Tugging on his arm, Rose tried to lead Jack away, but he wasn't budging.  

"We've got three hours.  Even Teal'c doesn't need that long."

Joanna bit her lip trying not to laugh as Teal'c leveled a gaze at Jack that would have emasculated a lesser man, but Jack merely gave his 'Who, me?' look back.

The ringing phone caught all their attention; the group watched the SF answer it and nod in understanding.  Covering the mouthpiece he turned to Sam.

"Your ride is here, Ma'am."

Before Sam could move, Jack was next to her.  "We'll walk you out."  All she could do was trail helplessly behind him, a sympathetic Rose and Joanna, along with Teal'c, following them.

She made her way toward the dark green Land Rover waiting at the gate, it's hatch already up, an indistinct figure loading her bags into the back.

"We could have taken you to the airport… " Jack commented, his voice trailing off as the hatch closed and he saw who had come to pick Sam up.

Putting the colonel and whatever he was thinking out of her mind, Sam smiled at Paul as he came around the vehicle.  Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him in the tight jeans and shirt, wearing the leather jacket she remembered from her visit in early April.

"Hey babe, ready to go?"  Paul smiled back, coming to stand before her and linking their out of sight hands.

"You have no idea."  Feeling reckless and not caring who saw what, Sam leaned forward and decidedly kissed him, lingering slightly at the feel of his warm mouth on hers.  She drew back to see an amused gleam in his eye, and he touched her cheek lightly with a finger before opening the car door for her.

Settling herself in and buckling the seat belt, Sam vaguely heard Paul greeting Jack and the rest of her farewell band.  She looked up to catch sight of Jack with a look of mixed surprise and bother running across his face before Joanna and Rose came up to the window.

"Have fun," Rose whispered.

"Lots of it," emphasized Joanna, squeezing Sam's shoulder gently in a half hug.

They both gave Paul a smile, then stepped back as he started the engine.  The four SG members silently watched Sam be driven off, her hand waving out the window, before Jack turned to face the other three.

"Alright, who knew about this?" 

"Which 'this' do you mean, O'Neill?" Teal'c rumbled as Joanna and Rose stayed silent.  

Jack glared at him.  "This this!  Those two!  Going off together for a week."

Glancing at each other, Rose and Joanna slowly raised their hands, Teal'c serenely following a second later.

"Don't tell me Daniel knew too."  Jack's voice was petulant.  Rose took pity on him and patted his arm.

"I don't think he knew about this trip, but he knew they were seeing each other, so he probably had his suspicions."

"Seeing each other?  Dating?  Since when?"

"I would have to say the beginning of their courtship began when Major Carter was sent the box of pornographic motion pictures.  It has progressed over time, most notably at the gathering to watch football that we did not attend, and over the Christmas holiday when he came to see her unexpectedly.  They spent considerable time together during the Tikmati quarantine; last month she went to an Astrophysics conference in Washington D.C., where she presumably saw him again."

Jack just gaped as Teal'c highlighted the advancement of Paul and Sam's relationship.

"Ah, she didn't see him in D.C.," Joanna added.  "He was out of town."

"But she did stay at his place," commented Rose.  The woman nodded at each other in the secret way all women have.  It pissed Jack off to no end.

"Aw, fer cryin out loud… I AM her commanding officer, someone could have let me in on it."

"Did you not say you saw Major Carter in Major Davis' arms late last year?"

"Yeah, well, she had skinned her knee.  I thought that had blown over." 

Rose patted his arm again.  "They've been very discrete.  And you've been busy.  Let it go."  She gave him a sultry grin.  "Come on, I'm sure we can think of something to do until six."

Jack perked up.  "Oh, hey, yeah.  See you guys then?" he tossed out to Joanna and Teal'c.

"Meet you there."  They waited as Jack and Rose went to their respective cars, then Joanna tuned her face to Teal'c. 

"Think we can find something to do for a few hours?"  The tip of her tongue came out, licking over her very red lower lip.

A low rumble came up from Teal'c, his eyes locked on her mouth.  "Five possibilities have occurred to me already."

***   ***   ***

By the time the Land Rover had reached the unmarked turnoff, the sunlight was stretching out over the land in a last golden stretch of brilliance. Colorado in late spring was a glorious sight, and Sam sighed in appreciation of it. Paul pushed his sunglasses up and pointed.

“A few miles down this road and we’ll reach the main building. We’re a little later than their normal check-in time but I called ahead so it should be fine.”

“You’re driving me crazy here, Do-Right,” Sam grumbled good-naturedly, reaching back to stick her fingers into Max’s traveling crate. He licked them enthusiastically and Paul laughed.

“Yes, yes, but all questions will be answered in a few minutes,” he assured her, turning the vehicle. He tried to maintain a sense of calm, but it wasn’t easy, and Paul couldn’t stop smiling. He shot a sideways glance at Sam only to see her doing the same to him, mirroring the same wobbly grin.

“Nervous?“ he asked softly. Sam dipped her head and gave a tiny nod.

“Of course—“ she admitted in a shy tone. “I mean, here I am finally getting a chance to spend time with you and it has nothing to do with budgets or alien technology or the fate of the world—“

“—Thank God,” Paul broke in with a wider smile. Sam nodded.

“And to be honest, I don’t want to—disappoint you. I haven’t been—intimate in a long time, Paul. A very long time.”

“Sam—“ Reaching out, he took a hold of her hand and squeezed it firmly,  “First of all, no pressure. We’ve talked about this and you have to BELIEVE me when I tell you this trip is all about us getting to know each other at our own pace, okay? You’re getting your own set of keys to the place AND the car—“

“—You don’t have to—“

“Babe, I want you to feel completely at ease. Short of making me sleep in the car, I’m pretty amenable to whatever you want,” Paul murmured as the Range Rover pulled up to a country ranch style building. Sam pulled her hand free of his and lightly punched his bicep; Paul rolled his eyes.

“Tell me now--you’re into abuse, aren’t you, Nell baby?”

It was the right thing to say and Sam relaxed, unbuckling her seatbelt and following Paul as he freed Max from his doggy detention cell. Delighted to be loose, the terrier darted around the gravel drive, sniffing and inspecting everything. After a quick piddle against a border hedge he sauntered back to Sam, begging to be petted; she scooped him up.

“Took your adorable pill today, didn’t you?” she teased the dog, who wagged his tail furiously. Paul handed her the leash and she hooked it onto Max’s body harness. All three of them ascended the stairs together.

The furniture and style of the main salon was Southwestern ranch complete with bright Navajo rugs and polished pine in honey tones. A thin older man with a demin work shirt was leaning on the front counter reading a paperback; he looked up at them when they approached.

“The Davis party?” he asked in a low drawl, his eyes moving from the two humans to the dog. Paul and Sam nodded in unison; Max chuffed. The man smiled, his dark eyes glinting with good humor; with his iron-grey curly hair and heavy mustache he looked like a sunburned Kurt Vonnegut.

“Finally made it! Augusta finished setting up the Cottage around noon, so everything’s ready for you. I assume this VID is Maximillian AKA Max?”

“VID?” Sam giggled. The man nodded.

“Very Important Dog of course. Here at the Blue Ranch we understand that the world revolves around dogs and humans only exist to open cans and scratch behind ears. We have HIS reservation at the Dog Spa all set too. My name’s Truman Cassidy and technically I’m the concierge, but here in the USA we’re really just the hired help. Let me get you folks checked in and squared away.”

Sam shivered at the first glimpse of their cottage. It sat off on its own about half a mile from the main ranch house of the Blue Lake property, and as she and Paul brought in the suitcases in she glanced around.

The cottage consisted of one big room with pine walls and floors, green floral drapes, a small kitchen off to one side, and a large king sized bed dominating the room. The bed was done in the same feminine décor as the drapes; Sam bit her lip. Paul sighed.

“Daisies. God, I can feel the testosterone draining right out of me—“ he grumbled, hauling a suitcase to the low dresser under a windowsill.

“Oh come on, it’s not that bad—“

“Yes it is—it looks like the Olsen Twin’s bedroom,” Paul grumbled to himself.  Sam laughed, feeling a bit less anxious as she moved her own suitcase to the closet. Both she and Paul worked quickly to unpack, and she was struck by their similar efficient styles, legacy of their military careers. Once she finished, Sam opened an adjoining door and looked around in the bathroom, noting the sunken marble tub and the wall length mirror with dual freestanding sinks. The pale green carpet underfoot looked thick and new.

Paul came up behind her, spooning a gentle hug around Sam’s back.

“Think you can rough it here for a week?”

Sam turned her head, feeling him nuzzle her ear, and the sudden flush of heat down the length of her stomach made her dizzy. She nodded, pressing against him, relishing Paul’s solid chest. He sighed with pleasure.

“Sun’s going down and I have an idea. I’ll open a nice Pinot Noir and we can sit in the Jacuzzi to watch the sunset. Sound decadent and indulgent?”

“Completely.”

Twenty minutes later Sam found herself chest deep in bubbling hot water, breathing in the warm scent of the pine trees that surrounded the back of the cabin. She looked at the doorway and called impatiently.

“You’re going to miss it, Paul, and there’s no rewind!”

“On my way—“ he replied, carefully making his way onto the back porch carrying two wineglasses. Sam stared at him, trying not look too startled, but the sight of him bare-chested with only a small towel wrapped around his lean hips was damned compelling. As he handed her the glass he did a little staring of his own.

“Here—“ his voice was a little breathless, giving Sam a thrill in knowing she was affecting him as much as he was her. She flashed a dimpled smile, watching Paul carefully drape the towel and slowly climb in, his swim trunks a bright blue, his long thighs and legs slowly sinking into the water. Cautiously he settled back against the fiberglass curve of the tub and sighed.

“Pretty Californian for Colorado,” he observed, sipping his wine. Sam nodded, looking out over the woods, seeing the streaming gold of the setting sun filtering through the trees as the pale blue of twilight began to touch the edges of the horizon.

“It’s beautiful, Paul. Like nothing I’ve ever enjoyed before.” It came out as a whisper, and overhead a mockingbird called. Paul locked gazes with her, his glance meltingly tender.

“Me either. I’m not used to having the girl, the sunset AND the setting all at the same time.”

At the same time they shifted towards each other, sliding into a comfortable cuddle through the bubbles as they contemplated the view across the woods and meadow. Sam sighed happily, sipping her wine.

“This is good.”

“Cold Duck,” Paul muttered absently. Sam set her glass down on the rim of the tub and shifted to face him, her eyes wide and full of mischief.

“Nervous?”

“No.”

“No? Well I am.”

“I’m not nervous, I’m exhilarated. Big difference,” Paul told her as he leaned closer to her. His mouth hovered over hers, barely brushing her soft lips, closing in the focus of the moment down to that maddening almost kiss. Sam quivered, loving the tilt of Paul’s face, the tickle of his mouth lingering over hers.

With a moan she surged up, eager and hungry for the taste of him.

Paul’s mouth was soft, his kiss firm. The tang of wine on his tongue as it slid around hers made Sam a little giddy; she clung to him overwhelmed for a moment. Tickling bubbles washed over her body at the same time Paul’s kiss flooded her senses, bringing her generalized restlessness to sharp, immediate focus centered just under her navel. Paul pulled away from her lips and sighed, his eyes half-closed, his breathing loud.

“Sam—“ came his husky voice, rolling her name in an intimate caress. She cupped Paul’s face in her hands, feeling the faint stubble of his beard against her palms. Carefully Sam straddled his lap, thrilled to nestle against his erection as she nipped his lower lip.

“I want you, Paul Davis, and if you don’t make love to me really soon I’m going to DIE,” she announced against his mouth.

Paul laughed softly, his arms coming up around her back, pulling her up against him in the hot water.

“Old news, Sam. I died AGES ago from wanting you.”

“Liar.”

“I swear on my shiny new lunchbox, Nell baby—I died the minute you made it back from Thor’s ship. Seeing you on the monitor—you have incredible eyes, Sam. Bluer than the Caribbean ocean—“

His words ended in a little gurgle, dying in his throat as Sam slid her tongue over his cheekbone to his ear then breathed into it hotly. Her fingers were busy under the roiling water moving boldly along Paul’s hips. He grinned.

“Take your suit off—“ she ordered, her voice breathless and slightly strained.

“You first—“ came his challenge. “I’m the senior officer.”

Nonplussed for a second, Sam almost pouted but smiled instead, her dimples deep. She gave a wriggle, reaching back behind her and tugged; the spandex bikini top slid up over the back of her head and down her arms. Artistically she dropped it to the deck while Paul gave a long appreciative sigh, nuzzling the chest before him.

“Babe, it’s official—I died and went to heaven because my celestial afterlife is definitely composed of naked Samantha Carter.”

She grinned, motioning with her chin before sipping her wine again.

“I think you need to get with the program here, Major—“

With a playful roll of his neck, Paul shifted, fumbling his way under the water. Sam moved back enough to let him struggle with his suit.

“Having trouble?” she asked teasingly. He shot her a seriously smutty look.

“Seems to have snagged on something big—“

“Ooooohhh—maybe I’d better assist—“

With more giggles and fumbles she and Paul sloshed water on the deck as they managed a mutual underwater striptease. Sam’s soaked bikini bottom landed on Paul’s wet trunks, both outfits dripping and forgotten as the blue haze of twilight slowly stretched out across the horizon.

The weightlessness of the water kept Sam from pressing as closely as she wanted against Paul, and while the bubbles felt wonderful tickling her bare skin, she craved more. Paul did too by the grip he had on her hips.

“This is nice—“ he murmured against her chin, “but I want—“

“—Less carbonation, more traction,” she supplied with a moan. He smiled at that, a delighted expression of adoration and desire so strong Sam felt the tingle of it through her entire body. Sam dropped her head in a shy gesture, but Paul lifted her chin and kissed her gently.

“Let me love you—“ he asked softly over the hiss of the water, “Please—“

Not trusting her voice, Sam nodded tightly and let Paul help her out of the hot tub. The air was cooler, and only the gleam of the half moon shone down on them when he scooped her up and shouldered his way into the cottage.

Paul moved swiftly, carrying Sam the six long strides to the bed and tumbling with her onto the flowered eiderdown. The indistinct lighting and warm night air gave the moment a sweet otherworldly quality as he pinned Sam under him and slowly kissed her. The wet heat of their skin added sensual thrill to their nudity; Paul sucked Sam’s lower lip as she writhed on the satin spread.

“We’re getting the bedspread wet—“ she tried to protest ineffectively as one of her long legs snaked around Paul’s hip. He laughed deep in his throat as his fingers stroked the sides of her ribcage.

“Damp. It’ll dry—shhhhh---“” he sighed, rocking against her, marveling in the way their bodies slid and rubbed with shameless desire. Dipping his head he swiped his tongue over her hard nipples and a long low moan rose out of her throat.

“Ooohhhhhhhhhh—“ it was an earthy wild sound, completely unlike anything she’d done before and Paul sucked in breath, his cock throbbing against the front of her hip, responding to her cry. Lightly he nipped along the ruckered flesh then blew softly; Sam arched her long spine up helplessly, moaning again while her hands slid up the back of his neck.

“PaulohGod—“

“More?” he asked gruffly, stubble scraping very gently over the goose fleshed swell of her breasts. Sam nodded brokenly, her eyes half-closed with an almost drunken pleasure gleaming in them.

Gently he toyed and teased her chest, never too hard or too long in any one spot, slowly moving down her ribcage with tender concentration. By the time he reached her navel, Paul Davis had discovered a wonderful surprise about Samantha Carter.

She was ticklish. Squirming and giggling, she ineffectively tugged on his shoulders, begging him to stop as he sucked at her belly button, his hands molding to her hipbones.

“Paul, STOP! I’ll go CRAZY if you keep that up!” she warned in a splutter, her tone alternating between stern and silly. She tried to sit up, bracing her elbows behind her, blonde hair in a tousled crown of spiky strands as he kept her legs pinned under his body. Briefly he glanced up at her and smiled.

“Then I’ll just have to go elsewhere,” he replied. Sam frowned, looking to the door of the cottage, and the sight of that confused glance made Paul laugh. Adorable. She was adorable when she was in lust mode. Hell Sam was just damned adorable period.

“Elsewhere on your BODY—“ he clarified, following it up with a long wet tongue swipe down the flat of her abdomen to the top of the damp blonde curls between her thighs. She quivered.

“Right. I knew that—“ she blurted.

Paul didn’t answer her. Swiftly he rolled off the bed and stood at the end of it, wrapping his hands around her knees, tugging until Sam slid down towards him.

“Hey, wait—“ She protested in surprise. Paul loomed over her, bracing his knuckles on either side of her hips to look down at her naked body, sighing at the beautiful hollows and silvery curves of it in the dim moonlight.

“No. No more waiting, Sam. Both of us have waited enough, babe—“

Sam watched with wide blue eyes as he bent down and pressed a kiss to the thatch of fur between her legs. Moaning, Sam reached for Paul’s head, her hands fluttering through his short dark hair as he kissed again, this time his tongue snaking down with exquisite agility, flicking the hard little button hidden there. Sam shuddered and lolled back against the quilt; Paul pushed her thighs apart with warm gentle hands. He stroked the long muscles of her legs, caressing her hips, her stomach and inner thighs until Sam was digging her fingers into his strong shoulders.

“Ohhhh—“ She gasped, her hips arching up to meet every press of his touch. Paul sighed harshly, his thumbs tenderly parting her fur, sliding along the velvety slick folds of her sex now open and gleaming in the moonlight.

“God! So absolutely beautiful, my sexy Sam—“

Carefully he dropped his face once more and the sudden heat of his questing tongue against her exposed bud sent Sam into a quilt clawing frenzy. Her body tensed, every muscle clenching as the sharp sweetness of intense pleasure wracked her long frame and a long keening howl of delight escaped her lips.

After a moment of gasping for air and trying to recover, Sam raised her head, eyes wide and stunned. Paul was kissing the inside of her knee, smiling to himself, one hand tightly gripping the base of his shaft.

“God! I NEVER—not like THAT—“ Sam tried to talk, tried to explain the amazing, incredible, fantastic, unbelievable climax that had ripped through her and left her a melted puddle but the fierce heat in Paul’s eyes left her speechless. His chest heaved, and in the moonlight Sam could see the hard thrumming of his pulse at his throat.

“Let me LOVE you Sam—“ he demanded in a low, urgent voice, a slightly desperate wild sound. Moaning she reached for him, lifting her knees and wrapping her legs around his lean hips as her hand cradled his searingly hot shaft.

“Want to—be gentle—“ he groaned, dropping to his knees, mouth brushing hers.  Sam guided the weeping head of his cock with tender concentration.

“No Paul, HARD—“ she insisted in a half-sob against his scratchy cheek. With a sigh, he thrust himself deep, a groan of wild pleasure erupting from his tense mouth. Sam gasped at the stretch of him, the sleek heated stroke of such a powerful cock opening her up. Paul sucked in a breath.

“Oh GOD—“ his hips thrust again, moving in a relentless rhythm, driving his shaft in powerful strokes through the sweet wet clench of Sam’s body around him. Her arms clung to his shoulders, hands gripping the moving muscles of his back as he rocked into her, his lips pressed to her wet cheek.

“OhGodSamSamloveyouloveyoufuckILOVE YOU!” he howled in a muffled confession against her skin as he came hard and slow, his stomach tensing on hers; clinging to him Sam began to cry, feeling the heat of Paul’s semen spurting deep within her.

***   ***   ***

He held her, stroked the side of her face, brushed her damp spiky bangs back, kissed her. Sam couldn’t stop touching him: the curve of his ear, the tickle of his long eyelashes, the gentle cleft in his chin. Her hands sought his shoulders and chest and sleek damp hip as they lay facing each other.

“We should get under the covers,” she told him. Paul thought about that a moment as he toyed with a lock of her bangs.

“Are you getting cold?” he asked, pulling her closer. Sam’s eyes fluttered as the heat of his body warmed her.

“A little. Paul—“

“Yes?” he murmured, draping a long leg over her, entwining it with hers. Sam smiled and sighed, an utterly contented sound.

“—It’s going to take a while for the quilt to dry out.”

Paul laughed in her ear.

Later in the early morning before dawn Sam woke up through a tiny jolt of joyous clarity, focusing in her immediate world. Paul was wrapped around her bare back, his warm chest against her shoulder blades, his breathing deep and even over the top of her head, stirring her hair.

Shifting slowly, Sam rolled towards him, moving gently enough that he didn’t stir. When she could look into his face she took a long moment to study Paul’s features, the soft wash of tenderness welling up within her spilling over.

He looked younger in sleep, less restrained. She noticed how full and sweet his mouth was, how the silky brush of his lashes lay against his cheekbones. Sam moved to kiss Paul’s lips and when she did so they formed her name sleepily against her own mouth.

“Saaaammmmmmm—“ Paul sighed, the corners of his lips turning up in a smile even though his eyes stayed closed.

“Hi—“ she replied, kissing his nose and cheekbones. Paul laughed, a warm sexy sound, and his arms around her tightened.

“Hi. You smell great.”

“I smell like sweat and YOU—“ Sam accused. Paul nodded smugly, finally opening his eyes.

“Which is exactly what I meant,” he sighed, pulling her closer. Sam molded to him easily, resting her chin on his chest, letting her hands scurry around his back. Paul laughed.

“Sore?”

“No,” came her giggle. Paul nudged closer and she felt the eager prod of his erection along her thigh, hot and thick. Moving with athletic grace, Sam swung a leg over his hip, pushing Paul on his back as she stretched out on top of him, trapping his shaft between their bodies. Paul made a pleased sound low in his throat as he throbbed against her belly.

“In fact, I was thinking about working up a little MORE—“ Sam insisted, giving a little shimmy of her hips. Paul pretended to think it over, but his eyes were twinkling in the growing light that filtered through the curtains.

“I brought my running gear---“

“No, not that—“ Sam gently slid her knees on either side of Paul’s bare hips, her palms sliding up his chest, stroking the strong flat muscles there. Paul sighed with pleasure, his stomach tightening in response to her weight, her touch. Sam reached for his hands, lacing her fingers with his and pinning his arms down over his head on the pale green pillow. His arms were still gorgeous Sam noted, strong and lean, the dark hair under his arms thick and silky.

“Better than running Do-Right, a LOT better—“ she sighed, lifting her bottom up. By sweet chance Paul flexed at the same moment; he thrust up perfectly into the waiting tight heat of her. He and Sam groaned together, his baritone to her alto. Her fingers clenched around his, and she brushed her mouth over his smile, loving the pleasured expression on his face.

“Make me sweat, Paul—“ came Sam’s breathless order.

He rocked his hips lazily, moving up against Sam in slow controlled thrusts, letting his stomach muscles flex with every push. Sam felt Paul’s playful strength under her, in her against her; with a sigh, she set about kissing his face from ear to ear, making detours along his jaw line and mouth, keeping his arms over his head. It was merely for show, they both knew that, just as they sensed the slow sweet buildup rising in the join of their bodies, the animal passion stoking with every creak of the bed.

“Niiiiice—“ Sam gloated, luxuriating in the shivers of pleasure coursing through her body. Paul nodded, moving under her with sensual strength, breathing evenly.

“Love the view—“ Paul agreed his voice rough as he fought for control, watching Sam undulate against him. She shifted, sitting up a bit more and glanced down at the sight of their bodies slick and moving, blatant in passion, her blonde fur meshing with his darker coarser curls. Sam felt the slow inevitable rush of heat flame up from between her thighs.

“PauloooooooohI’mgoing—“ she gasped, arching up, giving in to the wave of delicious pleasure. Paul thrust swiftly, groaning.

“---Me too---“

****   ***   ****

Sam woke up tangled in the sheets and alone. Sleepily she stretched, flexing her legs and feeling wonderful. She wondered if Paul was in the bathroom and rolled over to call out his name when the lovely scent of bacon and eggs drifted by her. Instantly her stomach rumbled appreciatively.

“The beauty in my bed awakes! Want some toast?” Paul asked cheerfully, walking from the kitchenette towards her. She goggled at the sight of his unselfconscious nudity as he carried the jam-covered bread towards her.

“Wow—“ she breathed, sitting up cross-legged on the bed. Good naturedly, Paul blushed a little.

“Sam—“ he warned. She took the toast as he reached for the sheet, and then slapped his hand, stopping him.

“Hey!”

“I want to SEE you—“ she asserted through a mouthful of toast. Paul rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his short hair.

“Are you sure you want to while you’re eating?”

“Holy Hanna—Paul, you’re GORGEOUS. Those arms, that chest—I LOVE your stomach—“ Sam murmured, motioning for him to turn around. With exasperated sarcasm he held his arms out triumphantly and spun slowly.

“There—totally naked for your viewing pleasure—“ came his grumble. Sam laughed sweetly.

“If I smear jam all over your butt can I lick it off?”

“SAM!”

“Seriously—“

Although her words were facetious, Sam drank in the lean grace of the man standing in front of her.

Paul’s slightly olive complexion carried through the rest of his lanky frame, highlighted by the calligraphy of silky dark hair along his arms and legs. The sensual swirls of glossy fur ran in a meandering vine down his stomach and over his small flat navel, connecting the soft expanse across his chest to the thick wiry nest framing his cock.

When she met his gaze again the heat radiating on her face matched his.

“Seen enough?” Paul asked in embarrassment. Sam stood up and let the sheet drop away from her as she did so, moving close, her head tilted up to lock glances with him.

“Never,” Sam insisted softly, slipping her arms around his waist.

***   ***   ***

Max raced back and forth, sniffing importantly at various bushes and rocks while Paul and Sam merely watched in awe. The enormous shadow stretched all around them in a nimbus almost twenty-five yards in diameter.

“Are we really—?“ she asked, a little breathlessly. Beside her Paul nodded, parking his sunglasses on top of his head.

“Yep. It’s an amazing experience—I was at a regatta in Langley a year or two back and they must have had over two hundred of them, every color and style. My old instructor Kathy put in the word for me down here, so I was able to arrange this.“

Across the field, two men waved. One of them tightened a guide-line and the other one adjusted the burner, turning the flames down. Paul walked over to the gondola and unlatched the door. Max darted in immediately with a happy bark. Paul made a courtly ‘after you’ gesture to Sam, smiling.

“So, Nell Baby--want to go up with me?”

Sam gazed at the huge green and gold hot air balloon slowly billowing in the clear Colorado air and her grin flashed out, ear to ear. She strode forward and stepped into the gondola while Paul spoke to the groundsmen. The older one grinned at the major.

“Lou and I are in the chase vehicle on frequency three—the wind’s a mild three miles an hour to the southwest, so you’ll be drifting an almost perfect course, but you know the drill. Couldn’t have picked a better day myself.”

“I know, and thanks. I owe Karen big time for this one,” Paul murmured handing the other man a folded packet of bills and receiving a brilliant smile in return.

“Mighty kind, Major—you and the pretty lady enjoy the trip and we’ll see you two in a few hours—Frank, get ready to cast off—“

Within half an hour, Paul and Sam and Max were drifting lazily two hundred feet up in the clear sunny skies. Fascinated, Sam leaned against the edge of the basket, studying the landscape far below.

“I see part of the highway coming up, and wow! That’s a creek down there—it’s all so—quiet!”

“Just the hiss of the burner and the radio once in a while,” Paul agreed. He was lounging against one of the anchor lines, watching Sam enjoy herself. Max, supremely bored, was curled in a tight little ball, asleep on Paul’s leather jacket in a corner of the gondola. Sam turned her gaze reluctantly from the panorama under them and looked at her partner in aeronautics. He smiled.

“I have something for you—“ Fishing in his shirt pocket, he pulled out a pink rectangular jewel box. Sam hesitated, but he nodded.

“Birthday week—we can give presents any or all the days from my birthday to yours, right? Well I’m going first, so open up.”

Sam slowly peeled off the paper and opened the hinged box, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of the sterling silver charm bracelet. Paul moved closer, flicking a finger over the charms on it.

“Sort of a collection of moments so far--see if you remember them—“ he muttered, his voice embarrassed and low.

Sam looked at the one farthest on the left. A little gold wine bottle. She smiled.

“Glasses of wine in at your place—watching the sunset, right?”

“Right. I could have gone with little fishbones, but—“

“I remember the wine. And this one—“

She touched a replica of a movie camera and went pink. Paul laughed as well, shaking his head.

“Yes, that stands from those films from Maybourne. I thought I’d never stop blushing. And thank God the Colonel didn’t make us all watch them TOGETHER.”

Carter nodded with a shudder. She touched the little gold Ferris wheel, watching it spin under her fingertip.

“The fair of course. Where Bob the second was won.” Sam’s expression grew warmer, and Paul slipped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a half-hug.

“Where I first admitted to myself I liked you a lot more than you knew,” Paul told her lightly. Sam bit her lower lip, not saying anything, but smiling. Her finger moved to the gold sneaker.

“And THIS was when I decided I REALLY liked YOU with your shirt off, Do-Right. It was completely worth a skinned knee to take your shirt home with me.”

“My shirt?”

Sam blushed a little, lifting her chin.

“It—smelled like you. And I just sort of—liked that. STILL like that.”

Paul nodded as if this made perfect sense and somehow for the two of them it did. She glanced down at the next charm.

“A football of course—that Broncos Skins game. You kissed me,” Sam accused. Paul lifted her face in his hands and did it again, a lazy rub of his mouth to hers; shamelessly Sam slid her tongue against his and moaned a little. When Paul pulled back she gave a disappointed sound.

“Do people ever make love in balloons?” she demanded softly, a gleam in her blue eyes. Paul broke up at that and rested his hands on her shoulders.

“It has been known to happen,” came his laughing reply. Sam glanced down at the bracelet and spotted the last charm--a little Valentine’s heart. She touched it reverently, then asked,

“It’s beautiful Paul and I’ll treasure it, but I have a question—if the bracelet is in silver, why are the charms in gold?”

“The closest I could get to a fire and ice theme,” he admitted softly trying not to look sheepish. Sam shot him a puzzled look and he tried to clarify.

“I’ve always loved the dichotomy of you, Sam. Cool and competent in the field and on the job, but fueled by a passion pure and bright.  A core of fire tempered by a glacial clear clarity of purpose. Not that I’m poetic or anything but I just needed some way of acknowledging that incredible duality---what? Sam? Babe?”

Helplessly he watched as tears welled up in her blue eyes and spilled over down her cheeks. Paul pulled her up against him, cradling her face against his shoulder, enjoying the warmth of her closeness.

 Shhhh, it’s okay. Didn’t mean to get you upset—“

“I love you!” Sam shouted into his shirt, her words muffled but unmistakable. Paul gripped her shoulders and pulled her back, searching her face, his pulse accelerating. Sam met his gaze, blue eyes wide and soft with a vulnerability he’d never seen in them before; a tender window into her heart.

“I love you,” she repeated firmly, nodding. Paul took that in, swaying a little, sucking in a deep, deep breath.

“Thank God! Me too. I love YOU, Samantha Carter, my Nell baby. Very much you know.” He cupped her face, letting his thumbs wipe her tears from her smooth cheeks. She gave a wet giggle, slipping the bracelet on her left wrist and moving to kiss him, her hands gripping his shirtfront.

“We ought to celebrate.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s get naked and do it—“ Sam decided. Paul kissed her again, hard and hot, hands sliding up her back and under her shirt to cup her warm shoulder blades.

“Talked me into it---“

“Chalk it up to my clear clarity of purpose—“

“Ummmm hummm—“

***   ***   ***

The average hot air balloon gondola was roughly the size of an elevator car, but only waist-high. With floor space as limited as it was, Sam now had a new and far more sensual appreciation for Paul’s height.

And strength. She gripped the rim of the basket in her palms, leaning over, shuddering with pleasure, her bare feet braced far apart. Paul’s hands were flat, and damp with sweat, pressing down on the small of her back for leverage as he steadily thrust into Sam from behind, his soft groans mingling with hers in the still air all around them. Sam tensed, eyelids fluttering, knowing she was teetering on the edge of coming, her fingers gripping the rail more tightly. She groaned.

“Oohhhhh!” With a sigh and a surge Sam flexed her bare back, head high and proud; Paul thrust hard, fast, looming over her long spine as he erupted deep within her, his low baritone rumble of pleasure rolling out with immense satisfaction. He slumped forward, draping himself on that lovely back, his hand coming down on top of hers on the rail of the gondola as he happily licked the back of her neck.

“Ohhhh God! Not quite the Mile High Club—“

Sam giggled, turning her head to look over her shoulder into his bright green eyes. She sighed.

“Yeah, well it felt like it was going up a mile high—you’re killing me by inches here, Paul.”

He snorted, a flush of pink on his face; one hand moved from hers to slide along the back of her bare thigh, stroking with knowing tenderness.

“Matter of physics and leverage. A five foot eight woman bending over can accommodate a six-foot man very nicely. So far the theory had worked in one application but I’d be willing to put it to the test any damn place you’d like, Sam—your office, my office, Daniel’s office—“

“Paul! And what’s with all the offices?” Sam laughed, slowly shifting. Slickly Paul slid from her body and he sighed with regret. He reached down to the locker of the gondola and opened it, grabbing a roll of paper towels, then gently began to lightly dab Sam, wiping between her thighs. Startled, she turned around and her expression grew almost shy.

“You don’t have to do that—“

“I want to. Loving you is caring for you and this is part of that too. Besides—“ he added with a crooked grin, “—Any opportunity to touch you is a good one. Carpe Diem, Nell baby.”

She let him clean and dress her slowly and lovingly, planting kisses along her thighs and stomach as he did so. Sam felt humbled by his attention, cared for, cherished. On her wrist the bracelet caught the light, sending speckles of light up over the underside of the balloon. Paul tugged on his jeans again and pulled on his shirt, laughing softly to himself.

“Talk about timing—do you see the hangar, over at eight o’clock?”

Sam did. The bright red building with RED VALLEY BALLOONS INC painted in white on the side. Paul reached up for the burner line and the chain next to it.

“Time to lose some altitude—“

Slowly Paul tugged open the release valve and the balloon majestically began to drop a bit. Sam followed his directions and fairly soon the gondola was hovering a mere twenty feet over the hard packed scrub canyon floor. Max was awake and whining.

“I know, I know—soon, buddy—“ Paul reassured him, keeping an eye on the burner. Sam tossed ropes to the groundsmen and they tugged the balloon down.

“Impressive landing, Major—“ called one of them. Paul gave a shrug, but Sam could tell the compliment pleased him. He helped her out, and let Max go racing off.

“Thanks.”

***   ***   ***

The phone rang, a low insistent chime cutting through the Cottage. It rang round the sound of giggles and slurps and furniture creaking. Sam’s hand reached for the phone amid a growl from behind her.

“I HAVE to, Paul—it could be an emergency!”

“A convenient emergency that happens to fit into your calling plan—“ came the derisive snort. This grumble was ameliorated by kisses across her bare shoulders. Sam giggled, pulling her phone to her ear, trying to fend Paul off with her other hand.

"Umm—Carter here—“

“Sam, honey—just calling to see how things are going—“ came Rose’s cheery voice. At the sound, Paul grinned and renewed his assault on Sam’s shoulder, teeth nipping. She squealed louder than she meant to even though it didn’t hurt at all. Rose’s tinny voice rang out.

“Sam?”

“Sorry—I ah, stubbed my toe. And dropped the phone. To answer your question we’re fine. Paul. And me, that is—fine—“

Paul had disappeared under the quilt, moving with evil intentions and Sam watched the lump that was him with genuine trepidation.

“Joanna wants to know if you’ve tried the hot tub—she and Teal’c stayed in the Sage Room and had a wonderful time—“

Sam tried to concentrate on sounding normal, which was a difficult job. Paul had started to stroke his hands up her thighs under the quilt, long lazy strokes that fired her blood. She rolled over on her stomach in an attempt to stop him.

“Yes, the hot tub was pretty nice. I didn’t realize the two of them had been here before—“ Sam tried desperately to make her voice sound normal. She wasn’t feeling anything LIKE normal, not with Paul’s fingers sliding up the insides of her thighs, his hot breath across the small of her bare back.

“It was a few weeks ago—Teal’c had been looking on the Internet for a nice getaway and that was the one they chose—“ Rose rattled on merrily while Sam bit her lips and fought the urge to moan. Paul’s tongue was moving just under where her thigh curved up into her ass, and the heat of his mouth made her jumpy and achy. She tried to swat him, ineffectively but Paul laughed against her skin and dodged the hand.

For a few seconds Sam tensed, waiting for—well, for anything. Paul wasn’t touching her but she sensed him hovering over her backside and her nipples were aching with anticipation as Rose prattled on and on in her ear.

“—But Jack doesn’t think fishing in Colorado seems to count for anything so we’re here in Minnesota, STUCK really if I’m being honest. Things going well with Paul, honey?”

Right as Rose said his name, Sam felt two large strong hands seize her hips and lift them high, arching her up. Three thick pillows suddenly piled under them, leaving her in a totally undignified position of being ass end up and barely hanging onto the phone.

“Paul’s—hard to describe,” Sam admitted honestly, leaning on her elbows, trying to wiggle her hips off the top of Mt. Pillow. She shimmied, stubbornly continuing the call, knowing that it was enough of a challenge to the man behind her to keep going. Warm hands tugged her knees apart and Sam sucked in a gasp, trying to sound normal.

“Well Joanna and I are going to pump you for ALL the details once you get back—where is the man now?”

Sam’s fingers clenched around the body of the phone and she bit her lips hard. Paul was softly leisurely licking the inside of her thighs and moving inward, his tongue teasing the soft cleft of fur of her sex and probing deeper, rumbling happily as he did so.

“Rose I have to GO, really okay?” Sam blurted desperately. “Love chatting but this is costing moneyandI’llseeyoubackattheMountain BYE—“ in a rush she snapped the phone closed and dropped it as her fingers clutched the sheets. She gave into the urge to groan loudly.

“Pauuulllll!”

***   ***   ***

Sam sighed contentedly. She meandered barefoot around the side of the cottage, picking a few flowers and watching Max zoom around the clearing in his doggy quest to make all of the great outdoors his turf. Paul had gone on a run almost an hour ago and was due back at any moment. The sunshine and gentle breeze made the late afternoon nearly perfect, and Sam was thinking about the presents waiting in the cottage.

There were several, she was tickled to note, and the sense of anticipation was sweet in her stomach. Not so much for receiving, but for the pleasure of seeing Paul’s expression when he opened HIS gifts. She’d worked hard to find a few perfect things, and spending time at his place had helped in the selection process. As she reached for a daisy, Max dashed up and barked.

“What NOW, big boy?” Sam demanded lazily, adding the flower to the bouquet in her hands. ”First it was a mockingbird, then it was a rabbit—“

 Max barked again, this time sharper, and bounced against her shin. Sam looked down and froze. Slithering through the flowerbed straight towards her was a long thick snake of brown and black. She dropped the bouquet and the unexpected action startled the reptile who immediately coiled and hissed.

Sam hated snakes. She’d done all the survival training and understood the procedures for avoiding and treating snakebites, but out of all the creatures she’d encountered both on earth and other worlds, snakes still gave her a moment of unconquerable panic. It was easy to understand, she felt: spiders were squishable, snakes weren’t. Max barked again, and darted forward; the snake coiled tighter and a nasty buzzing filled the air. Slowly Sam tried to inch back, bumping against the railing of the back porch. The rattle sounded louder now.

“Hey Sam---“ Paul’s cheerful voice rang out from the front of the cottage. Fearfully Sam turned her head, trying to keep calm.

“God—Paul, stay back—“ she called in a low warning tone just as he rounded the cottage, sweaty and smiling, his tanktop soaked, muscles gleaming.

Max growled. Startled, Paul pulled up and caught everything all at once. He was within arm’s reach of Sam, but the railing stood between them.

“Shit!”

“I know—Max, come here—“ Sam called, but the little dog lowered his head and darted forward again. Both Sam and Paul gasped. In a marvelous move almost faster than they could credit, Max dodged the snake’s strike and clamped his jaws around the snake’s throat, just under its head. He growled and shook it viciously, making the rattler’s body whip back and forth along the flowerbed. Blood spattered, and Sam bit back a scream as Paul lunged over the railing.

“MAX!”

Giving a final defiant clamp of his jaws, the little dog dropped the limp snake and sat down, wagging his tail and sneezing. Paul cautiously looked at it as Sam edged closer.

“Jesus, the damn thing’s dead! I think he snapped its neck. We’ve got to call the vet at the spa—“ he ordered tersely. Max, justifiably proud of himself, moved to lick Paul’s hand. Paul scooped him up, fingers moving through the bloody fur of the dog’s chest. Sam swung herself over the rail and grabbed the cottage phone, dialing.

***   ***   ***

Bouncing his knee as he sat waiting in one of the chairs, Paul let his eyes run over the lurid daisy covered living room before they fell on Max’s toy Bobo.

"Sam?"  He called out to her, worry eating at him.  "Maybe we should stay in, just in case…"

"The vet said he couldn't find any puncture wounds, and they gave him some antivenin, I'm sure he'll be fine.  He and that Basset Hound were getting along great."  The bathroom door opened and Sam came out, walking toward Paul.

"But we can certainly stay in if you want."

Uncharacteristic indecision made Paul hesitate; that is until he looked up to see Sam right in front of him.  She was stunning.

The midnight blue dress swirled around her, offering tantalizing glimpses of her knees.  The neckline was a low scoop that revealed just a hint of the swell of her breasts, the sleeves were long and tight, molding to the sleek muscles of her arms.  Her hair was a nimbus around her head; Paul felt a stirring low in him as he saw the luscious deep pink of her lips and seriously considered canceling their reservation and staying in to have Samantha Carter as the main dish.

He felt the warmth of her hand in his as Sam reached for him, smiling.  "You look nice."

"That's my line," Paul corrected, standing up.  "Although nice doesn't even come close.  Stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, spectacular, lovely— "

Sam laughed, untangling their fingers to place hers against his mouth.  "You're biased."

Kissing each finger, Paul lowered her hand to hold it in both of his.  "Love does that."  The pair stood together, the desire palpably growing, feeding off the other.

Paul gave her a crooked grin, remembering Max.  "I just feel callous going out while he's under supervision."

Sam nodded, repeating herself.  "We can stay in if you want.  Order a pizza or something."

"They have my cell number if anything happens… The restaurant isn't that far away… Let's go."  Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out the door before he could change his mind.

~~~~~

"May I get you anything else?  Dessert, perhaps?"

Sam glanced at Paul as the waiter stood respectfully by.  "I'm not sure I could eat another bite…"

"I hear a 'however' in your voice."  Paul gave her an encouraging look.

"The flourless waffle sounds good," she admitted ruefully.

Paul turned to the young man.  "We'll get that to go."

"Certainly, sir."  He refilled their wineglasses, the busboy moving in right behind to take their plates away and sweep up the crumbs.  Sam bit back a giggle at the pomposity of it all.

"I didn't think a place like this would have doggie bags," she whispered to Paul, looking around at the small, intimate dining room, the muted lighting glinting off silver and crystal.

"It's all in how you say it," Paul assured her with a twinkle in his eye.

Sam did giggle at that, taking a sip of wine to cover the noise. 

"Speaking of which, we should bring something back for Max, as a reward."

Nodding, Paul caught the waiter's eye, and the youth came directly over.

"At home," Paul began, "we have a terrier who saved this lady's life by almost biting off the head of a rattlesnake that was about to bite her."  He continued over Sam's embarrassed admonitions.  "We were hoping there might be a steak bone or two left over from a dinner that we could take back to him."

The waiter smiled, murmuring an 'I'll see what I can do, sir' before he slipped away to the kitchen.

For his part Paul just turned back to Sam like this was an everyday occurrence for him.  

Sooner than she would have thought, the waiter brought a small ruby red cardboard box, placing it next to Sam, and a rather large foil wrapped bundle, placing it next to Paul with a wink.  He left a slim leather case; opening it Paul ran an eye over the bill and gave it back along with a credit card.

"Are you ready, or would you like to stay longer?"

Nibbling her lower lip, Sam stared at the box the warm chocolate waffle was in, and remembered something she had said to Paul their first morning in the cabin.

Her voice low and intense, she answered him.  "I want to go back."

~~~~~

Paul tried to keep to the speed limit, but the memory of Sam's husky voice saying she wanted to go home kept urging him to go faster.  Add to that her hand resting high on his leg, and the tantalizing glimpses of silk clad thigh he would catch as they passed under streetlamps—was that?  Oh God, it was.  The lacy top edge of a stocking.  And stockings meant a garter belt.

It was all he could do not to bodily pull Sam from the Land Rover and carry her into the cabin; instead he unlocked the door, ushering her inside, and plotted how to get that dammed dress of her as soon as possible.

"I'll be right there," Sam called over her shoulder as she walked over to the kitchen.  Paul sat down at the foot of the bed and kicked of his shoes, tugging at his tie impatiently.

"Let me."

 The soft command stopped him, standing up he let Sam finish the job, the feel of her fingers plucking at the cloth going straight to his growing erection.

"Unzip me, will you?"  Paul reached for the fastener as Sam turned around; the growl of the lowering tab was loud in the still room.

Holding his breath, Paul watched as Sam clasped the dress to her chest, turning back around before letting it slip to the floor.

"Sam," his pent up breath came out on a sigh.  A black demi-bra with embroidered blue flowers barely held her breasts in check, and the promised garter belt circled her slim hips.  A grin spread over Paul's face as he realized what she wasn't wearing, and his hand boldly cupped her mound.

"No panties?  Sam, you naughty girl."  He smiled more as a delicate blush stole over her cheeks.

"You're overdressed," she retorted; sliding her hands across Paul's chest Sam slipped them over his shoulders, pushing the suit coat down his arms.  One by one she undid the buttons to his shirt, dropping hot little kisses on the emerging skin, finally pulling the shirttails free and running her nails over his chest.

Paul groaned.  "Sam…"  He reached for her, but his hands were batted away.

"My turn," she whispered, moving her kisses to the underside of his jaw.

His eyes half closed in pleasure, Paul let his head drop back and gave himself over to Sam undressing him, the rasping feel of his clothes slithering off him and the unexpected touches of her hands and mouth and tongue making him grow achingly hard.

"Christ almighty, Sam, please."

Her only answer was a gentle bite on his nipple, pushing him backward to fall on the bed she grinned mischievously down at him.

"Move up."

Paul scrambled back, propping his shoulders up on the headboard and watching Sam avidly.  The sweet mixture of shyness and coquetry was an incredible turn on.  He waited as she moved to the side table, picking up the box from the restaurant and the fork she had gotten from the kitchen.  Coming back to the foot of the bed, Sam gave him that smile again as she knelt on the mattress.

She worked her way between his legs and lay down with her chest on his hips, his straining erection nestled in the valley of her breasts.  Closing his eyes, Paul gasped for breath, fighting the urge to thrust up against the smooth silk and soft skin.

Warmth spreading over his abdomen made his eyes pop open to the sight of the waffle on his stomach, Sam's tongue licking with little cat laps at the chocolate sauce as it threatened to run down his side.

"It's not jelly, and it's not your ass, but that might come later."

"Saaaaam…"  Desperation and longing colored his moan, but she only laughed, taking a bite of the waffle and letting the fork slide out from between her pink lips.

"Mmm, so good… "

She held a piece out to Paul as he automatically took it, barely registering the warm taste of bittersweet chocolate, his entire attention focused on the way Sam's mouth opened to let the next bit of the dessert in, how it closed over the fork and cleaned it of sauce.

The desperate hope that maybe his aching cock could do the same made it jerk against her; looking down Sam seemed to be surprised to see it there.

Taking the last bite, she wriggled her way down his legs until her head rested on Paul's upper thigh.  He waited with baited breath as she scooped up a bit of the chocolate sauce, and nodded when she glanced up at him inquiringly.

The warm sauce felt good on his shaft, and Sam indulged in a little fun, drizzling chocolate all over the length and over his sacs. The cat laps were back, quick little ones and long lazy swipes; Paul thought he would go insane from the feel.

"Sam, please . . . don't tease anymore."  Paul tried not to beg but it was hard to keep the pleading note out of his voice.

She glanced up at him, and he read puzzlement on her face.

"Your mouth, Sam.  I want that sweet mouth of yours wrapped around me."

"You do?" she blurted in surprise.

"Hell yes."  They looked at each other a second before Paul understood.  "If you don't want to—"

"No!  I mean, yes, I want to, but… are you sure?"

"Of course."  Somehow Paul managed to speak calmly.  "Sam?  Why do you think I wouldn't?"

She had looked away.  "Jonas never wanted to.  He said it gave up too much control."

For the umpteenth time Paul cursed Sam's ex-fiancé and was glad she had escaped out of that madman's domination.

"The last time I tried it was… years ago," she continued softly.  "I'm not sure I'd be very good."

"Let me be the judge of that, babe."

Sam gave him a half smile, then propped herself up and opened her mouth, sliding his cock in and closing around it.

"Oh God," whimpered Paul, his head swimming at the hot, wet feel of her.  That was nothing, though, compared to when her tongue joined in and Sam took him in deeper.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight of his cock disappearing between those pink, pink lips, and when Sam sighed in delight his hips jerked in response, bumping the tip of his erection against the back of her throat, making her cough.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Paul panted.

Sam slid him out, chuckling.  "I'm fine," she assured him.  Taking just the spongy head in her mouth she sucked on it, while her hand pumped the shaft.

"Sam, Jesus!"  Paul writhed against her as she refused to let up, and he threw a wild glance down at her to see the devilish gleam in her eye again.

"Gonna come Sam . . . gonna come hard," he warned.

Suddenly her hot little mouth was gone and Paul cried out at the loss, hissing in relief as Sam straddled his hips and guided his hard length along her wet sex, sinking down over him with a moan of her own.

Leaning forward as Sam gripped the headboard behind him; Paul eased her breasts out of the black bra, latching on to one nipple as his hand covered the other.  He was lost in the feel of her, so deep and so tight; her low sobs as she rode him driving him on.

"Sam!"  He buried his head in her chest as the fire running through him coalesced in his belly, then ripped though him ten times as hot.  Paul could feel Sam spasm around him as she came, her nails raking across his back, calling his name in return.

The lovers clung to each other, Paul nuzzling Sam, nipping gently at her shoulder.  "I seem to have chocolate sauce all over me.  Care to join me in a bath?"

~~~~~

“—Autographed Tom Clancy novel and the briefcase, and those open-ended airline tickets! I LOVED my birthday presents, Sam, really. This has been one of the best I’ve ever HAD.”

“God Paul, everything about this week has been—perfect. Except the snake and Lily’s phone call of course, but other than those—“ Sam mused happily. The soft flicker of candlelight reflected in the huge bathroom mirrors gave a soft glow all around. Paul sighed with pleasure.

“Oh God is right. Not to be crude about it Samantha sweetheart, but I’ve come more this week alone than I have in the past three YEARS.”

His contented voice echoed on the tile around them. They sat in the foam-filled sunken bathtub, Sam behind Paul, wrapped around him tightly, arms and legs locked in a love grip he was making NO attempt to escape.

“Does that include coming by yourself?” Sam teased, knowing perfectly well it didn’t. Paul dropped his head back and laughed while Sam took the opportunity to nibble his neck.

“No of course not—jacking off is NOT sex, Nell baby. It’s—creative stress relief. Opiate of the individual,” he moaned. Sam giggled.

“That sounded to me like an intellectual justification for firing your surgeon general, Paul Dominic Davis—“

Sam’s hands slid down Paul’s firm stomach under the waterline, caressing him, making him shudder.

“Sue me for being the king of runaway hormones, but I can’t think that a triweekly session of self-love is all that weird. Every guy out there does it, from the colonel right on down to that technician who dials the Gate, Sam.”

“Ah-ah—the colonel does NOT spank his monkey, Paul. He’s got a threat assessor to do that,” came the smirking response. Paul reached back, his hands playing over her bare thighs.

“Yeah sure, NOW. Prior to that he was playing just as much pocket pool as the next guy. And I’ve got a question to ask YOU, babe—“

“Umm hummm?”

“When you stayed over for your conference, my sexy Sam, did you by chance sleep someplace OTHER than the guest room?”

Paul waited, a smile on his face as he FELT the embarrassment radiating off of the woman behind him.

Sam shifted a bit, grinding against his back and managed an embarrassed laugh.

“Actually—“

“Actually I found your panties in the sheets. Talk about a sweet homecoming---“ Paul growled, turning and pulling Sam into his lap. He fished around on the edge of the tub for the towel he’d put there to cover the little gift underneath.

Sam settled herself on his lap, cuddling close, sighing happily.

“Yes well—I just wanted to be—close to you, and it was nice.”

“Would have been nicer if I was there—“

“Yes it would. But still—“

Paul cleared his throat and nuzzled her wet cheek, nervous and excited. He rubbed her wet back as he spoke up again.

“Sam, I’ve got a lot of faults. I’m a workaholic, I can have a pretty bad temper, and I’m not the most exciting man in the world—“

“Beg to differ, Do-Right. I think you’re pretty damn amazing, and you’re not alone on the workaholic thing either,” Sam argued softly, pulling herself against his wet chest.

“Shhhh—let me get through this, okay babe? My point is, I’m not perfect in any way but I want you to know I’m--yours.”

“Mine?”  Before Sam could ask more, she felt Paul pick up her right hand and gently slide something on her ring finger. She stiffened, but Paul braced his other hand along her back.

“A gift—if that’s okay—just to remind you of this week, and that whatever else happens, I love you.”

Sam lifted her hand to stare at the ring, which sparkled in the candlelight; the big square stone made her hand look feminine, even covered with soap fluff. For a moment she didn’t say anything, stunned. Paul cleared his throat.

“Blue topaz. Blue like your eyes. I looked around and figured out that sapphire’s too dark. The jeweler also had some tourmaline, but the stone was too damn small, and—“

Sam cut off his rambling with a long sweet kiss, her arms wrapping around his bare wet torso, throwing her all into the kiss as he responded with love and vigor. The water sloshed, and when Sam finally pulled away to breathe, she gave a sobbing chuckle and rested her forehead on his chin.

“Oh GOD, Paul, I, I don’t know what to say! It’s beautiful!”

“It’s like you—and, fair warning right now, Nell Baby, you might want to start thinking about the one for your left hand. Not yet, it’s too early I know, but keep it in mind,” he whispered huskily to her.

Through tears Sam smiled at him, moving to kiss him once more.

“I think we need to make Birthday week a tradition—“ she decided, mouth pressing wetly to his. Paul would have nodded, but he was too busy and too happy to worry about it.

*****