Virtual Love Pt. 02

"Right...h-here?" Fern panted, even as her fingers unfastened his jeans.

"I can't wait," Heath murmured, his teeth nipping at her earlobe.

Fern moaned. "But...if...if someone...ahh..."

His teeth grazed her shoulder. He used one hand to pull down the straps of her dress, bringing it down it bare her breasts. The cold air made her nipples stiffen, and she cried out softly as he closed his mouth around one. Heath slid his other hand beneath her panties, tugging them down. Fern lifted her leg up enough for him to pull her panties half off. He caught hold of her thigh, keeping her legs open.

"Damnit," Heath growled.

Fern giggled. "Want help?"

His teeth nipped at her breast in reply. She shrieked softly. Laughing, she helped him pull his pants open just enough. Heath braced her hips firmly up against the wall and pressed inside her. Fern moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck, and hung onto him as he began to moved inside her.

It was freezing, but neither of them noticed the cold. Her body was hot and tight around him, distracting him from all else. Heath nipped at her breasts and at her neck, which was bared for him completely when she tilted her head back against the wall. Fern had to stifled the cries she made, fearful that they might wake someone in one of the adjacent apartments. But that just excited Heath more, and judging by how wet she was, it did the same for her.

Fern brought her head down. Hot breath brushed against his ear as she spoke, "Harder..."

He wasn't going to argue with that. Heath pushed into her hard and fast. He had to press his mouth against hers to stifle the sounds she was making...not to mention his own. This time he wasn't at all able to hold back. When he felt her shuddering around him he let go, moaning against her mouth as he came. Never in his life had passion taken him over so thoroughly.

"Oh, my," Fern panted.

Heath pulled back enough to see her cheeks were red. "What?"

"We...we...it's...out here..." Fern stammered. "Oh, I can't believe I did that!"

He laughed as she pressed her face against his chest. She was so adorable. Reluctantly he pulled out of her and quickly helped her pull her clothes back into place. Heath closed his pants; now there was a part of his body he definitely didn't want to get frost bite on!

"I uh...I should get cleaned up," Fern said softly, looking away.

"Right...right," Heath agreed. "I um...I need to go to my parents' house..."

But even after she had disappeared into her apartment, he couldn't make himself move. It wasn't just that he was attracted to her. Now that he knew she was real, Heath didn't want to leave her side. He'd talked to her a lot over the last week, and gotten to know a lot about her, but he wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything. The box of the game was right, he thought. I feel like I've found my other half.

"You're still here?" Fern asked, as she stepped back outside. There was no disappointment in her voice; she sounded excited.

Heath nodded. "Yeah. I uh...come with me, Fern. I don't want to leave you right now..."

Fern hesitated. "But...my parents..."

"Then I'll go with you," Heath said, grabbing her hands. "Unless...unless you don't want me to..."

"Don't be silly," Fern murmured, stepping closer to him. "Of course I want to be with you. I'd much rather be with you than with my family...oh, that sounds bad."

Heath laughed. "I completely understand. Why don't you come meet my family? I want to introduce you."

"Don't you usually wait until there's been a few dates?" Fern asked, grinning.

"I think staying up all night talking for a week can substitute for dates," Heath replied.

Fern's hand closed around his. He looked down into her eyes, for a moment unable to tear himself away. At last Heath headed down to his car, bringing her with him. He kept an arm around her, unwilling to break contact. Of course, a few minutes later they were forced to separate as they raced back to their apartments to retrieve the presents they'd forgotten. It seemed they were so wrapped up in each other that everything else disappeared.

*****

It was the day after Christmas and Fern had insisted they go out. She wanted to return to that store in the mall where she had bought the game. Heath told her that his had been sent to him, so she was curious. The place was pretty crowded; people were rushing about returning gifts, and in the middle of the mall people were busy clearing up the North Pole display, now that Christmas was over. Fern even spotted an old, jolly looking man who could have played Santa helping to pack up fake snow.

"This place is way too crowded," Heath commented, pulling her closer. "I hate crowded places."

"I just want to show you this store," Fern said. "It's right down...here..."

She stopped in her tracks, confused. Fern had been absolutely positive that Virtual Love was at this end of the mall, near the J.C. Penny. Except that there was no store there. There wasn't even a closed store; it was just a wall. Perplexed, she glanced around, but there was no sign of Virtual Love. How can this be? Fern wondered. I know what I saw. It was here!

"There's no store, Fern," Heath said.

"But it was here!" Fern insisted. "It was! You believe me...don't

you?"

Heath sighed. "When you look at me like that, of course I do."

Fern pouted. This was not at all a good way to start their first

date. She continued looking around, and finally spotted something she did recognize...or more precisely, someone. The tall, slender, androgynous figure could not be mistaken. She grabbed Heath's hand and tugged him along.

"Icelos!" Fern called. "Icelos, wait up!"

"Hey!" Heath exclaimed. "It is Icelos!"

Icelos didn't turn around, however. It wasn't until Fern got in

front of him that he even acknowledged them. It was definitely Icelos, but there was no recognition in his pale eyes. Even Heath seemed disturbed by this, because she felt his hand tighten around hers. Icelos blinked at them in confusion.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

Fern frowned. "Icelos, where's the store?"

"What?" he blinked again. "Who's Icelos? And what store?"

"You're Icelos!" Fern growled, frustrated. "And the store...the...you gave me the game..."

She was feeling faint and Icelos was looking irritated. Fern fell back against Heath, letting the man pass. Her head was beginning to ache with confusion. Really, she didn't want to think about this. It was too big a mystery. And besides, she had Heath now; what more did she need? Fern leaned back against him and smiled up at him.

"You still owe me a Christmas present," Fern teased.

Heath's eyebrows lifted. "I thought I already did that..."

"Yeah," Fern giggled, her cheeks heating. "Tell you what...let's go back to your place and you can give me another one..."

"Say no more," Heath said, grabbing her hand. "Let's go."

Both of them were laughing as they raced hand in hand through the mall. People they rushed passed look annoyed and scandalized, but they paid no attention. In just one day they had grown even closer than before, and it no longer seemed to matter how they'd met.

Icelos sighed and headed over to the North Pole display. He leaned against the wooden cut-out sled and smiled brightly at the old, jolly-looking man who was rolling fake snow up.

"I love my job," he said, grinning. "No ungrateful brats to bring presents too, just two souls who belong together."

"Icelos, huh?" the old man said gruffly, straightening. "That's a

new one, Cu."

Cupid shrugged. "I know. But you know humans...if I tell them my real name it'll be 'But it's not Valentine's Day!' Honestly, they have

no imagination sometimes, these mortals. Besides, Ice doesn't mind me

borrowing his name."

"And yet you love your job," Santa said. "Don't we all. Go away, Cupid. I've got work to do."

"Sure thing, old man," Cupid laughed. "I've got to get read for V-Day, anyhow. Later."

And without another word Cupid sprouted wings. He gave them one strong flap, but instead of flying away, he just disappeared. Santa shook his head and, grumbling, went back to the work of cleaning up the North Pole display.

End notes: Sometimes an idea is too fun to pass up. Wheeee!

A couple of facts that may (or may not, most likely) interest you. Heath looks like this guy who was, up until two weeks ago, in my Japanese class. I still love Japanese class, but a little less than I did two weeks ago. Plus I was watching A Knight's Tale the other night.

And since someone is bound to gripe, Fern is nineteen because it was the first number that came into my head. No, really, that's it. Ages are all picked at random, sort of like picking them out of a hat.

...just imagine, folks, I've had to live in my head for nearly nineteen years. Scary, no?