Honey (Shooting Stars 4)

- C'mon," he said eagerly after we had entered. He took my hand and rushed me along past the large dining room, in which I glimpsd the longest table I had ever seen, dressed with place settings and silver dishes as if a gala evening was about to commence.

He brought me to what he called their media room. There was a television set so big it nearly rivaled some of the smaller-screen movie theaters.

"Dad's always competing with his friends when it comes to state-of- the-art equipment," he explained. 'Wait until you hear the sound system.-

He opened a dark mahogany wood closet to reveal a collection of movies that looked like it contained anything and everything ever made. "Choose," he commanded.

I shook my head.

"I don't know where to begin."

"Whatever you want," he said. -Don't worry

about the ratings either," he said. winking. I glanced at him and then at the titles. I really didn't know which one to pick.

"You choose," I said.

"Okay. This is one of my favorites," he said. "Sit on the settee," he added, nodding toward it.

I sat and waited for him to get it started. Everything was on a remote, even the room's lights. He dimmed them and sat beside me. The movie began, and it was everything he had described. I did feel as if we were in a theater.

"Incredible. huh?"

"Yes,'" I said.

"We can even have popcorn, if you want."

"I'm still stuffed with pizza."

"Me. too. Want to drink something?

Anything?" he said impishly. "I'm fine." I said.

He nodded and we sat back to watch the movie. I felt his arm move around my shoulders and then his hand against my side, pulling me closer to him. His lips were on my cheek, soon moving up to kiss my hair.

"We're not going to see much of this movie if you do that," I said. When I turned to him, he was only an inch or so from me.

His response was to kiss me on the lips and hold me tighter. "Pretend we're in an old drive-in movie," he whispered.

"I've never been in one." I said.

"Me neither, but we can pretend, can't we?"

"I don't know."

"I do," he said. He kissed me again, moving his lips down to my neck. "I really like you. Honey. No one makes me feel as comfortable and happy as you do."

I said nothing. His words, his warm touch, the power of his eyes were quickly sweeping away any tenseness I had. I felt myself soften in his arms and wanted to kiss him as hard and as passionately as he was kissing me. When his hand grazed my breast. I tightened.

"It's all right," he said. "If you like me as much as I like you, it's all right."

My heart was pounding. The tingle that traveled up and down my spine and swirled in around my heart was delightful, warm, welcome. His fingers went under my sweater and moved quickly up to my breast. When he touched me, he brought his lips down on mine harder. His tongue moved between my lips. We were sliding down on the leather settee and he was moving over me. He had lifted the edge of my bra cup and touched my naked breast. It seemed like thunder in my head, my blood was rushing so fast around my body,

"I think I love you. Honey. I can't imagine liking someone as much as I like you without it being love," he continued, whispering in my ear.

"Like the serpent whispered into Eve's ear." I heard Grandad say.

Chandler's right hand moved down behind my shoulder and under my sweater. His fingers and palm traveled like a hungry spider up to my bra clip, which he squeezed and undid so quickly. I barely had a chance to shake my head. My bra lifted and a moment later, his left hand was over my breast. I was breathing so hard and fast, I thought I would faint.