He found her laying naked in bed, and his heart filled with love. Something he hasn't felt since Karen, actually not even for Karen, and suddenly it was like a film falling from his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was really in love. Was that even possible? Could love hit someone so quickly?

God, he needed his mom. Sneaking back out of the room, he found a quiet corner of the house and gave his mom a call.

"I was so worried. Are you guys okay?" his mom asked. "We heard about everything on the news."

"We're fine. We're staying at Maria's roommate's boyfriend's place...geez, trying saying that one ten times fast."

"I'm sorry to hear about Julie."

"Thanks, Mom. I still can't believe she's gone."

"Have the police found any leads?"

"No, but that isn't the reason I called," he said, suddenly unsure of himself. "You and dad have been together 30 years."

"30 and counting, yes."

"How did you know he was the one?"

"Oh my gosh. Could my dream be coming true?" she said excitedly, her hands clapping in the background. When he remained silent, he heard her take a deep breath and relax. "Sorry, I just never thought I'd ever hear that question."

"Just an innocent question, Mom. Don't read too much into it yet."

"I'm taking this is about Maria."

"Maybe."

"You're gonna hate my answer, son."

Sylvester sighed. "Why?"

"You will just know. When I met your father, I instantly knew in my heart that he was the one."

Sylvester ran a hand through his hair as he sat on a wicker bucket chair. She was right. That was the most aggravating answer that he's ever heard. "That doesn't help."

"It's that almost instant connection. The pull towards them, one that is almost impossible to ignore. Honey, when you meet the right person, you'll know it...Maybe not right away, but you will. Your dad took a bit longer finding it out then I did. But it's not an answer anyone can give you. It's one that only you can discover."

"Thanks, Mom."

Just as he was about to hang up, a hand came to rest on his shoulder from behind, and he knew it was Maria. Placing his hand on hers, he said good bye to his mom and then guided Maria around the couch to sit on his lap.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I didn't think I was going to be. Julie's death hit me pretty hard, but having you here really helps," he said, kissing the back of her hand.

"Why don't you come to bed? I have some other ways that may help."

"I like the way you think, woman!" He gathered her in his arms and stood up.

Maria wrapped her arms around him and brushed her lips against his neck, sucking gently. There was something about Sylvester that touched Maria's heart in ways that no other had touched. And the pain in his eyes made her want to help him, be there for him, draw him away from all the hurt and the tragedies that had befallen his life as of late.

Today, she would focus solely on him. She was going to push him down on the bed and take him in her mouth, learn how to pleasure him. He deserved to just lay back and let someone lavish love on him for a change. It was usually him doing it to her and while she loved the attention, he needed it, too...needed to feel cared for.

When they reached the bedroom, he went to walk to the bed, but she asked him to put her down in the middle of the room.

"Why?" he asked.

"It's my turn to lead," she said, her lips curling mischievously as he allowed her legs to slide down his body.

"Okay, I'm game," he said, grinning.

Grabbing the hem of his shirt, she gently pulled it over his head and then let her fingers run over his chest, feeling his muscles tremble beneath her fingers. "You are so sexy," she murmured as she leaned in to kiss the areas her fingers had touched.

And he stood there, letting her explore. When she licked his nipple, she heard his sharp intake of breath and she giggled. She loved his response to her touch. Stepping back, she reached down and undid his pants, pulling both his boxers and his pants down in one go, his cock springing to attention already.

Maria reached for him, but he grabbed her wrist. Stopping momentarily, she looked up at him, curiosity looking back at her.

"Let me do this," she whispered. "I want to."

Studying her intently for a moment, his eyes grew dark with desire, and he released her hand. Maria kneeled in front of him, his shaft level with her mouth. Lifting her hand, she ran her finger along the tip. He was soft, like silk. She traced the head of his cock and then let her finger run along the underside, towards his balls.

"So this is what you guys feel like," she said and with that she leaned forward, taking him into her mouth while her hand wrapped around him, moving up and down gently with the movement of her mouth.

The first time he hit the back of her mouth, she gagged and had to pull back slightly, deciding then to focus mostly on his tip, letting her tongue become intimately familiar with him. When she sucked him hard, he groaned and his hands came to rest on her head, helping her with the motion of going back and forth.

"Oh my god, baby," he cried, his legs trembling. She smiled against him when his balls tightened in her grip. "If you keep doing that, I'm going to come."

She looked up at him, her smile wide. "Then come."

She wanted him to come, wanted to see what it felt like to have him squirt into her mouth. Having this power in the palm of her hands made her feel incredible. Her own parts clenched of their own accord even without direct attention.

Taking him back into her mouth, she took him as deep as she could go, moving back and forth as she sucked, twirling her tongue like a twister, letting his moans and his groans be her guide. His breathing quickened and his fingers gripped her hair like handlebars. His knees were slightly bent like he was trying to force himself to stay standing. Oh, she loved doing this to him, having him at her mercy, giving him pleasure as he gave her pleasure.

"Maria, stop," he begged. "I want to be inside you."

"Later. I wanna watch," she murmured against the head of his cock, licking him as pre-cum slipped out. "It's my turn to do this."

"God, girl, you're going to kill me," he cried, bucking into her mouth. After a few more licks and tugs, he lost all control. "I'm coming, pull out if you don't want me to come in your mouth."

"I want you to. I want to taste more of you," she said, glancing up at him as she took him in deeply. One more suck and he squirted, hitting the back of her throat, surprising her. Maria fought her gag reflux, not quite successfully, but managed to finish doing what she set out to do, licking and sucking him clean.

Over and over his body trembled as more leaked out, so she continued to move her hands along his base until his hand stopped her. "Sensitive," he gasped, out of breath. "Oh god, I can't believe how hot you looked doing that. When you looked up at me, I lost it."

Maria smiled shyly as she stood up, her underwear wet. She wasn't quite sure if she should mention something or just go to the bathroom and do something about it, but before she had a chance to decide, he was lifting her off the floor and walking her over to the bed.

"My turn to show my love to you," he said, and her eyes widened. Love? Since when did that word come into play?

"Wait, what?" she asked, unsure whether she heard him correctly.

He didn't speak again until all her clothes were removed and he laid her back on the bed. "You heard me."

"Say it again."

"I think I love you."

Maria laid there, dazed. Shocked. Her life since they got together has been a world wind of activity, and she hasn't even had a moment to really think about where their lives were going. It all started out as a research project, but then it turned into so much more.

"You love me?"

"I don't really have much experience in that area, but it would appear so," he said, a goofy grin spreading across his face.

She didn't have much experience in that area either. Was what they felt love? Or was it just the excitement of something new and fresh in their lives? She's never been in love, never really had much to do with that department, other than the books that she liked to read. But it was something she wanted to explore. And with the way her heart was pounding, she knew that her heart was crossing the ocean to blend with his.

"I think I might love you, too," she replied softly.

Brushing the hair from her face, he cupped her face with his palms. "You are an amazing woman, Maria Delsante."

"Kiss me, you ole sentimental fool."

"Gladly."

The moment his lips touched hers, they were lost in their own world again; a world of passion, of touch, of feeling. Every sense in her body awakened to new heights, intertwining with his as only love could allow. She never wanted to lose that feeling, never wanted to lose him.

As he dipped down between her thighs, she curled her fingers in his hair, focusing only on how his tongue felt against her clit, against her folds, his fingers dipping inside her again and again. This was her man and only hers. Her spirit knew it and her body welcomed him like no other.

"I want you do to something for me," he said, lifting his head to look at her.

"Hmm," she said, gripping the sheets as his fingers still moved inside her.

"When you come, cry out my real name?"

"What?"

"Say Caleb."

At this point she could only nod as his tongue found her bud again, licking and sucking, his fingers working their magic in ways she never thought possible, making her squirm beneath him as he drove her closer and closer to the edge. And as her body dove off the edge, she yelled out his name again and again and again, until her body stopped trembling.

"What do you want, Maria."

"I want you, Caleb."

And as he took her as his, they became one flesh in heart, mind, and body. She knew it. He knew it. And as Caleb made love to her over and over that night, his heart was pulling further away from the world in which they met.

Maybe it was time to hand the reigns of the BDSM meeting over to another. He had a feeling that life for him was about to get a lot more interesting than anything that lifestyle could provide.

With bodies finally spent, he held her close to him in the wee hours of the morning. "Marry me," he whispered against her hair.

"Are you sure that's not just the fear talking?" she asked him. "You just lost one of your best friends yesterday."

"I just realized how short life could be and I'm not willing to waste another minute without you by my side."

"I don't want you to rush anything because of what's been going on. Why don't we revisit the topic after the killer is caught?"

His eyes fell. Sitting up, he turned away from her. "If you don't want to marry me, then just say so."

Kneeling behind him, she pressed up against his back, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm just afraid that you are asking for the wrong reasons."

"I just told you I loved you. Isn't that why people normally get married?"

"Yes."

Turning to face her again, he took her hands in his. "I swear that my decision is never going to change. I want to marry you. I want to be with you. And even when all this is over I'm going to still feel the same."

"If you still feel the same after the killer is caught, then my answer will be yes. Can you accept that answer for now?"

"It's as good as a yes for me," he said smiling as he laid her back on the bed again, finding the energy to take her one more time.

As he drifted off to sleep he couldn't help but think about how quickly he could extricate himself from his BDSM group. Maybe he should call an emergency meeting and discuss it with them instead of waiting for their monthly meeting.

Hopefully it would go smoothly.