Fumbling to keep his balance as he slid her heavy sweater back to  reveal  her purple turtleneck, holding her tightly, he couldn't believe  he  finally had her as his hand moved under her shirt.

 "I've wanted you since we met. I can't stop thinking about you."  he  whispered, running his hand through her newly shortened hair. The  layers of gold only added to her sex appeal.

Alexander winced as he was flung backwards and he hit the table.  Auren was staring at him in horror. The lovely cheeks were flushed, the  gray  eyes shocked, chest heaving. She began to tuck her shirt back in.

 "What was that for?" he demanded, brushing his dark bangs from  his eyes. The girl had slammed her hand against his chest; who knew she had such a punch?

"This is wrong." she ran her hands over her hair. The barrettes  were  still in place. Hopefully she didn't look too disheveled.  

"No, it isn't. I want you. And from your reaction, you want me." Alex tried to slip his arms around her waist but she pulled away, angry.

 "It was a moment between colleagues." she snapped, slipping her  sweater  back on. "I apologize. It won't happen again."

 Alexander's mouth dropped open.

 "I want it to happen again! So do you!"

"I don't believe you're an expert on my feelings. Let's get back  to  work." the ice princess was back, in control of the situation.

 "What is it? Cause I'm younger than you?" he demanded. Auren  turned her  back to him as she returned to straightening out the sheets.

 "It has nothing to do with age."

 "Well, everyone knows you get it on with Damian so it can't be a co‑worker thing."

 Auren turned to face him, eyes blazing.

 "My relationship with Damian is none of your business. Now, you  can  either leave or help me finish this."

 Biting his tongue, Alexander moved to the other table to continue  the  layout, holding his comments. It wasn't in him to force himself  on a  woman. So it would take a little more time to seduce her. Her  desire for  him was there, it just needed to be fueled a little more.

 ***

 Nicky waited in line with Em at the liquor store.

 "What is this stuff anyway?" the younger twin asked, picking up  the  black bottle Em had selected.

 "Tequila Rose. It's strawberry flavored tequila."

 "Ew." Nicky wrinkled her nose.

 "It's good. It kinda looks like pepto bismol because it's thick  and  pink, but it's really good."

 "Ew." Nicky repeated, setting the bottle down.  "You can have it. What does it go in?"

 "Nothing. You drink it straight or over ice. Auren knows a couple  drink  recipes for it." Em handed the cashier her id and money.

 "Yuck." Nicky shuddered. "I'll stick to my beer."

 "Speaking of yuck . . ." Emily laughed. Neither saw Kenny enter  the  store. "How can you drink that?"

 "It's cider based, not hops." Nicky replied, handing her money  and id  over.

 As they conversed, neither saw Kenny lurking. 

 "Hey, you haven't mentioned your girl for a couple days. How's  she  doing?"

 Emily laughed. "Oh, she's great. We're going out tonight. I'm  hoping she  likes this."

 "If she likes pepto bismol." Nicky snickered.

 The girls left the store and headed to Em's Explorer. Em got in  first as  Nicky set their packages in the backseat. The Explorer started.   "Nicky."

 Turning, she glared at Kenny.

 "What do you want?"

 "To talk to you. Please. Just for a few minutes."

 "So you can lie to me some more? I don't think so." Nicky shut the door and opened her own.

 "Please, Nick, I want to work things out. I want another chance."

 "You have about as much chance as a snowball in hell." she  snapped.  "Leave me alone, you coward."

 With that, she got into the Explorer and slammed the door. Em  drove  away.

***

 Shivering in the cold, Damian's boots crunched over the ice as  he  hurried toward Benil Hall, where the office to the newspaper was.

  ***

  "Ok, hold that one down." Auren leaned over the table, holding  the ruler  against it. "Good. One more flat."

 Alexander handed her the last sheet silently, but both felt the  electric  surge when their hands touched. Auren looked him in the eyes.

 "Get over it, whatever it is."

"I can't. You're an incredible woman, Auren. You don't understand  that."

 "I understand I have a job to do, and a boyfriend that I love  dearly.  You need to accept that." Auren's steely eyes didn't stop him  from  moving closer.

 "I can accept it. But you felt the passion earlier. When I kissed  you, I  felt you come alive."

 "You're dreaming." Auren replied, hoping he wouldn't hear the  pounding  of her speeding heart.

 "Then why do you look so scared?"

 "You're seeing things." Auren fought for control of her mind and  pounding heart.

 "I'm seeing you wanting me and fighting it. We have magic, Auren.  You and me. We always have." he was so close and touched her face  gently,  whispering as he kissed her, "Give us a chance."

 Damian stood at the door, frozen. Auren was leaning against the  table,  Alexander standing over her, holding her face with one hand, the  pair  held together in a steamy kiss.

 Choking, Damian backed away from the door. Gasping for air,  tears ran  down his face as he headed for the door to the outside. So that's  why  she spent so much time in the office. The younger man had snared  her  into his trap after all.

 A loud crash stopped him at the door, followed by a cry of pain. Tears  forgotten, he ran back to the room, to see Alexander lying on the  floor,  Auren standing over him. Slowly, the boy got to  his feet,  stunned, and  said something to her. There was a cold reply. When he grabbed

 for her  arm, she belted him in the face and executed a spin kick that  sent him  backwards over the desks.

 "What's going on?" Damian demanded, throwing the door open.  Auren  didn't turn towards him, watching her opponent. Groaning,  Alexander got  up.

 "I get the point." he whispered, blood leaking from the corner of  his  mouth.

 "You're off this paper. You can pick up your shit tomorrow. And  you can  forget about next semester." Auren snapped. Alexander glared at  Damian.

"She's all yours, man. Fucking psycho."

 Holding his neck, Alexander grabbed his jacket and limped towards  the  door. When he was gone, Damian turned and walked to Auren.

 "What happened?" he asked, touching her shoulders. Sighing, she  turned  to him and wrapped her arms around his neck fiercely.

 "He just . . . got out of line." she whispered, grateful for his  loving  embrace. Damian's heart plunged. She wasn't going to tell him.

 "Are you almost done?" he asked thickly, holding back his pain as  he  enveloped her in his muscled arms. 

 "Yes. I just need to finish one flat."

 "Ok. I'll wait."

 She slipped out of his arms and returned to the table. Damian set about  righting the desks.

 Watching her, he realized her sweater looked wrong. Then he  realized  why. It was on inside out. As if . . . she had dressed in a  hurry. No.   Surely not. But Auren didn't randomly dress herself and forget to  turn  her sweater the right way. For that Damianer, Auren didn't do

 anything  randomly or haphazardly.

 Quickly, Auren sprayed the glue over the flat and laid the paper  down. Shaking, she took a deep breath to gather herself as she  straightened it  out. Looking at the wrist of her sweater, she was alarmed to see  it was  inside out. Praying Damian hadn't noticed, she shrugged it off  and  threw it on the table casually, as if she was too hot.

 "Last ad." she smiled at him. He was leaning against the table,  watching  her.

 "Ok." he replied, watching.

 The tremble in her hands was almost non‑existent, but by now he  knew her well enough to see it. Removing her sweater. She had realized it  was on  backwards.

 "That's it. Done." she breathed out with relief.  "Nick'll take it in the morning. You ready?"

 "Very." he answered, watching her.

 Turning around, she grabbed her sweater and slipped it on  correctly,  then bundled up in her jacket and gloves. Playfully, Damian  pulled her  green knit hat over her eyes. Giggling, she looked up at him as  he  kissed her.

 "What was that for?" she murmured, wrapping her arms around his  neck.

 "Just because." he traced her jawline with his finger.

 "Good enough." she laughed. "Let's go."

 *** 

Kenny hurried through the post office towards the student union building, where he was supposed to be meeting Damian.

With a sigh, he couldn't help but notice the twins on the other side. Looking for an empty table, his eyes locked on Emily. What the hell was Marie doing with her? To his even bigger shock, Marie leaned over and kissed Emily on the lips passionately. No. It couldn't be. Marie had ditched him for Emily? Auren had mentioned to them one night that Em had a new girlfriend. Marie!

Slowly it sunk in that he had been dumped by a girl for another girl. Him, Kenny Nelson, the player.

Turning in despair, he saw the twins heading for the table, when they paused and stared. Surely they had met Marie by now. No, apparently not, by the looks on their faces. Nicky had turned pale. Slowly, the twins approached the table.

Kenny turned and left the café before any of the girls spotted him.

"Hey, guys, this is Marie." Em greeted her cousins with a big smile. "What's wrong?"

Marie nervously watched the twin sisters. They looked very familiar to her.

"Em ‑ she's who Kenny was cheating on me with!" Nicky blurted out.

Marie frowned and looked at Emily, then spoke in a rapid stream of French to her shocked girlfriend. Em turned and responded. Marie's eyes widened.

No wonder the brunette twin looked so shocked! Emily turned to Nicky.

"Nick, she says she's sorry, she had no idea. Kenny had told her only that he was seeing someone, but that it wasn't serious." Nicky's jaw  tightened. "She's really sorry, Nick, she never saw you."

"It's not her fault." Nicky managed to say. Marie said something else in French. Em burst into laughter.

"Nick ‑ he got his payback . . . she was seeing me when she was with him!"

The twins started laughing, slowly at first, then building up into hysterical laughter. People looked at the table curiously, watching the four girls. Damian strolled over.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked, confused. Em whispered to Marie who he was and the laughter grew louder. Damian just shook his head, smiling.

***

"It's still crooked." Auren said. Nicky sighed.

"Then you get your ass up here and straighten it up."

"I'm telling you, Em cut the trunk crookedly."

Auren walked around the tree.

"Hey, you picked out the saw." their cousin stuck her tongue out.

"Ok, Em, unscrew it. Nick, tilt it to the left just a little. No, your left."

"Hurry up already! I'm getting stuck by the needles!" Em hollered, muffled through the branches.

"No comment." Nicky snickered.

"That's as good as it's gonna get, I think." Auren decided. "Ok, Em."

A minute later, Em crawled out from the tree.

"Why do I always get that part?"

"Cause you're smaller." Auren grinned. Em rolled her eyes as Nicky jumped down from the step stool.

"Looks good. Where are the decorations?" 

"Behind the couch. I hauled them out of the attic this morning."

"I'll check the lights."

Em found the labeled box and hauled out the strings. To her delight, each string was wrapped neatly.

"I forgot I was in charge of the lights last year." she smirked.

Nicky chuckled. "Hey, I packed them up just fine the year before."

"Yeah, that's why we had to replace them all last year." Auren laughed, getting comfy on the floor with a box of ornaments.

"Hey, when is Damian coming over? He's a guy, we should have made him do the tree." Nicky laughed. Auren smiled, but her twin saw the hidden sadness. Something was wrong.

"Probably later. He has three exams today."

"Poor guy."

"Yeah. He was still studying last night."

Auren picked through the ornaments and burst out laughing as she held up a glazed, lopsided, baked dough ornament.

"Em, remember this? You made it in kindergarten. Said it was for Santa cause it was a cookie." Auren laughed. Em stuck out her tongue.

"That's ok. I remember the Christmas you wrapped yourself in nothing but gold tinsel and ran around the house screaming you were a star." Em smirked. Auren blushed.

"Ya know, I think we have pictures still from that. Bet Damian would love to see them." Nicky snickered. Auren shook her head.

"Uh uh. Don't even think about it."

As the oldest of the trio continued to unearth memories and ornaments, she thought about Damian. Ever since the other night, he had been withdrawn and moody. Had he seen Alexander kiss her? If he had, he wasn't telling her.

Guilt seeped through Auren. Why hadn't she told him? Because she was afraid he would be hurt if he had any inkling there had been a brief  attraction to the younger man. It hadn't been planned, there was just something about him that drew her to him. Damian was the one she wanted, the one whose arms she loved being in, snuggled against his powerful chest, his woodsy cologne clinging to his sweaters. So why hadn't she told him what really happened?

***

"Hey, mom wants to know what time we're leaving here." Kenny covered the phone receiver with his hand. Damian shrugged.

"Tell her we'll be there by dinner."

Sighing, he wrapped Auren's last gift. Maybe he had gone overboard buying her presents, but he couldn't help it. A deep urge to pamper her was always creeping up. Things had been tense since the other night at the office, and she still hadn't admitted she had kissed Alexander.

What was she afraid of? Maybe it wasn't as one‑sided as he had thought originally. Had something else been going on between the pair? Alexander had been around for a few weeks. Would Auren cheat on him?

Leaning back against the couch, he rested his head on the cushions. Stress from finals was building up at the base of his neck and giving him headaches. Auren worked magic with her fingers, kneading out his knots. The massage rarely stopped there and right now his skin was

burning for her.

Earlier, she had told him she'd be at home all day, helping her cousins get their tree ready. Though they didn't really celebrate Christmas, it was more of a way for them to honor their deceased parents. 

Wondering if he should call, he drummed his fingers on one of her packages. Seven o'clock. The trio rarely sat down to a meal, they ended up scattered around the living room, munching on whatever leftovers they could find.

And Damian had yet to tell Kenny about Marie. His twin would be crushed but it wouldn’t kill him.

Remembering his history exam for Ancient Chinese cultures at 8 am, he decided to study.

***

"I can't believe you waited so long to buy him something!" 

"Well, what the hell do you buy a guy?" Auren demanded. Nicky rolled her eyes.

"Ok, what do you have so far?"

"Well, I found a really gorgeous sweater last week."

"And?"

"And . . . that's it." Auren muttered. Nicky and Em exchanged glances as the trio stood in the crowded mall.

"Look, I gotta go grab something. Em, help the girl out. I'll meet you guys at the cookie booth in 20 minutes."

"Hey ‑ what do I know about buying men's stuff?" Em hollered after her. Sighing, she turned to Auren who shrugged.

"Let's just go get some cookies." she suggested. The cousins headed off towards the cookie booth.

***

Chuckling, Nicky scribbled on the credit card slip and grinned at the cashier.

"Thanks." grabbing her bag, she hurried out to get to the car.

Kenny was leaving the record store when he saw Nicky leaving Frederick's of Hollywood.  Did she have a new man?

Wistfully, he remembered some of her lingerie and how sexy it was on her. How sexy she was. And how much she had given him during their all too brief relationship. Why was he such an idiot? Watching her as she tossed her head back, that adorable, sexy, mischievous grin on her

face, he sighed heavily. Auren had admitted to him that she threw his flowers away. But Kenny Nelson wasn't one to give up on a challenge.

***

"Ok, so we've got a couple CDs and movies." Em glanced over the checklist she had scrawled down as she and Auren snacked on cookies. "Any particular kind of book he likes?"

Auren thought. "Um. Well."

"Does he read?"

"Yeah, I guess." she frowned. "I think I saw him reading a mystery one day."

"Ok, let's forget books." Em sighed.

"I'm not much help I realize. I just . . . don't know what guys like." Auren picked up another cookie. "Maybe we should have gotten a full dozen. Cause this is my fourth."

"Hey, I thought we were splitting them!"

"We did. I just got an extra one." Auren grinned, then stuck her tongue out. Neither saw Nicky walk up.

"Hey, where's mine?" she demanded. Auren quickly shoved the rest of her chocolate chip cookie in her mouth and grinned. Nicky sighed.

"Ok, next round on me."

Auren swallowed part of her cookie and took a sip of her coke. "I think they put something in those that's addictive."

"Probably." Em chuckled, eyeing the fresh half dozen of cookies Nicky brought over. "Hey, keep them away from Cookie Monster over here, will ya?" She reached over and took the top cookie. "We got cds and movies. What else, Nick?"

Nicky munched on her cookie thoughtfully, not seeing Auren's hand sneak towards the cookies and remove one.

"Cologne?"

"I don' t know what he wears."

"You've been in his bathroom, Auren, you didn't notice?"

"Nope."

"Sheesh. Some journalist you are."

"It's a sexy, strong, wood type scent." Auren offered. Nicky sighed.

"Maybe you better stick to sweaters."

"Just stick a red bow on your head." Em laughed. Auren blushed.

"I don't think so."

"So, what are you guys doing Christmas Eve? Aren't they going to Santa Fe?"

"Yeah. Well, they're driving down that day, then Damian is coming back up to spend Christmas with me. You didn't think I'd break our tradition did you?"

"Any plans?" Nicky asked. Auren shrugged.

"Not that I know of."

"I bet he's got something romantic planned." Nicky started in on another cookie, enjoying her sister's blushing.

"I don't know."

"Is he taking you to the cabin?"

"No, he said it's totally snowed in right now."

"I wouldn't mind being snowed in with a man like that." Nicky laughed. Auren rolled her eyes.

"Can we finish this shopping excursion already?"

Giggling, the three stood and headed for another store.

***

Auren lay snuggled half against, half on top of Damian, eyes half‑open watching the movie. Lying on the couch at his apartment, legs intertwined, Auren was very comfortable but aware of something being amiss.

Absently, his hand stroked her hair, but he didn't really seem to be watching the movie either. His head was propped up against the arm of the couch, Auren lying mostly on top of him, a warm blanket pulled over them. The scent of her skin was driving him crazy.

Kenny glanced into the living room, smiling sadly at the couple. So content and comfortable with each other. Sometimes he could hardly believe it was the same Auren they had met only a few months before. His brother was a great man to have softened the woman. Four months ago, he

never could have imagined seeing Auren so relaxed. 

"You asleep?" Damian asked softly. The answer was a mumble. "You sure?"

"Mmmhmm. I'm just comfy." she murmured sleepily. Lightly, he kissed the top of her head.

Carefully, Auren rearranged herself, moving her head closer to his neck.

"Auren, honey, I need to ask you something."

"Hmm." she answered drowsily.

"Are you keeping something from me?"

The change in her breathing gave him the answer. Awake now, she raised her head and looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I just feel . . . like there's something you're not telling me. About the other night at the newspaper office."

Frowning, Auren shifted herself so she was half sitting up.

"I'm not following you." she stalled.

"You didn't tell me what Alexander did to provoke such a reaction out of you."

"I told you, he got fresh with me."

"How?" Damian asked. Auren sat up.

"What's this about Damian?"

"Something's not right with us, Auren. And it hasn't been since the other night."

"He wanted to kiss me." Auren said uncomfortably. Damian tried  to phrase his words carefully.

"What did you want?"

"I belted him. Then you came in."

"That's not what I asked." his pale blue eyes were solemn and hurting. Auren swallowed. He knew all right.

"He kissed me. I didn't resist for a second. Then I slugged him."

"Why?"

"It just . . . a reflex."

"But you let him kiss you."

"Only for a second, Damian. It just happened. It was just. . .a moment." she brushed her bangs

from her face. "What's with the inquisition?"

"I'm just trying to figure things out." he replied

Her eyes darkened.

"Figure what things out?" she demanded.

Damian knew he had said too much.

"If you really want to be with me. Alexander seemed to invade things pretty easily. It just makes me wonder if I'm the one you really want." 

Auren opened her mouth and bit her tongue.

Choose wisely, she thought.

"It was a moment, Damian. Nothing more. He had a crush on me. I squelched it."

"Has it happened before?" Damian asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. Auren's eyes widened.

"What the hell is this? What are you so paranoid for?"

"I'm not paranoid, Auren, I just want some answers."

"Well, maybe I don't feel like answering your questions." she snapped, getting to her feet. Damian stood as well and tried to draw her to him.

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Well, you did. Why is this so important to you? You're my boyfriend. You're the one I want."

Damian sighed. "Auren, I'm sorry, I really am."

"Forget it." She shook her head and walked over to her jacket. "I'll talk to you later."

Damian flinched as the door slammed. The walls were up.

*** 

"You're home early."

Nicky looked up when Auren stormed in. Curled up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and buried under a heavy blanket, the younger twin had her hair pulled up and wore her fuzzy socks.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Auren headed for the kitchen as Nicky continued to watch Grease. Even though it was a painful reminder of Kenny, it was still her favorite movie.

Carrying a large margarita, Auren kicked off her shoes and crawled under the blanket with her sister.

"Men suck." she growled, taking a handful of popcorn. Nicky raised one eyebrow.

"What did Damian do to get that?"

"He's just stupid, like all men." Auren scowled at John Travolta, singing his heart out at the drive‑in.

"Did you tell him about Alexander yet?"

"No. That's what we fought about. He got all pissy and was demanding to know everything about Alexander."

"Um, Auren, he's your boyfriend, and you kissed another guy. Twice. I think he has a right to get a little pissed."

"He just started asking if Alexander had ever kissed me before and getting all crazy." Auren grumbled. Nicky eyed her sister.

"If I were you I would call him right now, apologize for being so bitchy, and tell him the truth."

"You're taking his side?" Auren demanded.

"There are no sides, Auren. But come on, you're the one who's always going on about honesty."

Auren slunk lower on the couch, shoveling popcorn in her mouth.

"Imihjfdff jefhfewf." she muttered.

Nicky grinned.  "What was that?"

"I hate it when you're right." Auren growled.

***

Damian spent a restless night, torn between calling her and not calling her. First, he was upset that she left. Then, he punched his mattress in fury that she hadn't been honest with him. At the same time, he just wanted to hold her.

Still awake at 3 am, he heard the car pull in near his window. Crawling out of bed, he peeked out to see her green Explorer. Hopping out of the SUV, she was heading to the door. So as not to disturb Kenny, he intercepted her before she could ring the bell.

"I know it's late. I'm sorry." she said, shivering.

Damian felt the cold quickly through his thin pajama pants and no shirt. Happy to see her, he quickly pulled her inside and shut the door.

"It's freezing out there. What are you doing?" he asked, removing her hat.

"I didn't want to call."

Violently she shivered, and he realized she wasn't wearing a coat. Eagerly, he pulled her into his arms, wincing at the physical coldness of her turtleneck against his bare chest.

"I wanted to apologize for being such a bitch." she whispered, snuggling next to his bare chest.

"I didn't meant to upset you." he whispered into her hair. Swallowing hard, she pulled back and tilted her head to look at him.

"I got defensive because you were right." she murmured.

Sighing, he ran one hand through his hair. The flames were dying in the fireplace, but he built it back up again. Soon the room was warm and they were sitting on the couch. Her now curly blonde hair hung over one shoulder, glinting in the firelight against her black turtleneck.

"Tell me what happened." he finally said.

"The night we went for coffee . . . it was just a flash ‑ but he almost kissed me then. The other night . . . before you came I, he did kiss me. I told him no, that it wasn't right. Later, he got mad and did it again. That's when I slugged him and you came in."

"He kissed you." Damian repeated. Sighing, she looked at the fire.

"It was just a passing moment, Damian. Coworkers caught up in a moment. That's all."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" he asked, his hurt showing. Auren swallowed.

"I didn't think it was important." she retreated quickly, "I mean, it wasn't important to me. I don't want Alexander. He's a boy, trying to find his place. On a professional level, yes there was some attraction. He has the same passion for journalism that I do, that I don't think you really understand. On that level, and that level only, I was attracted to him." Her hand touched his face lightly, "You're the one I connect with on all levels. You're the one I love, and the one I want."

"I just want you to be sure." he said softly.

Sliding over the cushion, she snuggled closely to him.

"I am. Trust me. There's no one else I want to be with." she kissed him eagerly.

"Are you going to go back home?" he asked.

The twinkle in her eyes made him smile.

"It's awfully cold out there."

"I know how to remedy that. I'll loan you my jacket." he said, deadpan. At her expression of shock, he burst into laughter. "I'm teasing. I'm teasing. Come on. I'll warm you up."