"Penelope?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you all right?"

The question didn't seem without merit, as the woman he was holding and kissing was gasping and sounded like she was possibly having trouble breathing.

"No."

"No?"

Cameron started to release her, concerned. Around them were the nighttime sounds of New York City, of people calling to each other, traffic, the clicking sounds of the subway, and, of course, the ubiquitous sound of a siren, dopplering away from them.

Penny shook her head. "No, I mean yes, I'm fine."

Cameron smiled and leaned in to kiss her once more, mouth open slightly with anticipation. His lips fastened hungrily onto hers and he grasped her hand, reaching to place it low around his hip and squeezing it before he let go, indicating that he wanted her to squeeze him, she assumed.

She did, and found herself firmly grasping one round cheek of his bottom, which was so sexy she nearly fainted on the spot. He reciprocated by doing the same thing, and she let out a moan. Just knowing that he wanted her to do that to him, and that he wanted to do it to her, was mind blowing.

"Wait just a second," she said, pulling back suddenly. "Why did you ask me that just now? Am I a bad kisser? Am I kissing you all wrong? I've only ever kissed Frederick--"

"Christ on a bike, no," Cam groaned, leaning his forehead against hers. "Now please, in the name of the baby Jesus and all of his cherubim and seraphim, please don't mention that wanker's name whilst we're fooling around, okay?"

And he pushed her backward, gently propelling her in a downward direction until she was lying on the chaise that was conveniently located on the terrace and had just been uncovered that day when they were getting things ready for the dinner party.

He lay down next to her while turning her, pulling her close, kissing her again, making sounds of urgency and relief through his nose, lifting his leg over her hip.

Penny could still taste the whiskey on his warm breath, and it made her want to devour him. This was strange, because Frederick's breath had frequently tasted of alcohol when they kissed, and all it had ever done was turn her stomach. And the feel of his wet, soft tongue in her mouth had sickened her, too. She'd just assumed she was one of those people who didn't like kissing.

How wrong she'd been.

Penny didn't know how long they lay there, wrapped up in each other, just kissing and touching. Because she was only wearing a nightgown, it would've been so easy for things to get out of hand, so easy, but Cameron never put his hand below her waist, and she knew it wasn't because he didn't want to.

Once, she thought she felt something and looked down. Cam's hand, long fingers spread over the sunflower fabric, was gently cupping her breast, not squeezing or rubbing or pinching or pulling, just holding it like it was important, like it was valuable.

He saw her looking and pressed slightly while smiling at her. "Do you mind this? I can move it." He lowered his hand to her waist and leaned in to kiss her once more.

Penny shook her head, grasped his hand by the wrist and moved it back to where it was. Cam gave a sigh of contentment when it settled back on the soft roundness of the cotton through which the pebble-like nipple could be felt under his palm.

Penny leaned back, pulling him with her, arching her back slightly into his hand, turning her head to kiss him, smiling as she did so.

"I think we should stop," Cam finally said, and Penny could hear the regret in his voice.

"Okay, but why?" Penny's voice was languid. She felt more relaxed than she ever had in her life.

"I'm starting to really, erm, ache," he responded with a chuckle. "And I'll probably need another shower before I can fall asleep tonight."

"Oh. Not me, I feel marvelous. I'm going to sleep like a baby."

"Bitch. Bitchy girl." Cam chucked her chin gently and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose.

Reluctantly, Cam sat up, shaking his head like a dog as he did so.

Penny sat up next to him so they were side by side on the chaise.

"Cameron? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, you can ask me anything."

"It is always nice and dreamy like that? Or was it like that just because we were drunk and it was the first time, or what?"

Cam looked at her in the light of the signs and buildings across the street. "What do you mean? You're not a virgin, you know what it's like, right?" He stared at her. "I mean, you're not a virgin, right? All those years with Frederick, you did have sex with him, didn't you?"

"Yes, of course I did." Penny nudged Cam with her shoulder. "But the first time I kissed him--well, to be honest, I don't even remember the first time I kissed him."

"You don't?" Cameron couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. "But he was your first kiss ever, right?"

Penny nodded. "You remember your first kiss?"

Cam grinned. "Princess Eleni Margaret Katerina, New Year's Eve when I was thirteen. She was fifteen, and absolutely stunning." He looked back at Penny. "But that is neither here nor there. Back to you and Mr. Wanker. He wasn't so hot in the sack, I take it?"

Penny shook her head, and the tears came unbidden, surprising her. Normally, she wasn't much of a crier. "I've seen love scenes in movies and things, you know? And I just assumed they were exaggerating, because it wasn't like that at all. It was very mechanical and strange. He would just--just grab me and tell me what to do and where to move and things like that. I felt like he was on an exercise machine when he was with me, it was weird." She put her hands on her face and continued to cry.

Cameron put an arm around her and pulled her into his lean frame, patting her, encouraging her to let it all out. "I'm so sorry, Penelope. It shouldn't have been like that, ever. God, what an arsehole he is. Even your first time? He was like that even your first time?"

Penny nodded miserably.

"Oh, Penguin, I'm so sorry, that must've been just awful for you." Cam leaned in and kissed her temple before drying her eyes with his sleeves.

"How many women have you been with?" Penny asked, sniffing.

Cam shook his head. "That's one question I've learned the hard way never to answer, love."

"Oh, come on. You know my number, why shouldn't I know yours?"

"Because your number's one!"

"Besides," Penny continued, "I'd expect yours to be high, anyway, living the life you do--" she stopped talking and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry."

Cam gave her a squeeze. "It's okay. You can't change your way of thinking overnight, can you?" He shrugged. "And you're right, anyway. Most people in the modeling industry do get around quite a bit. I happen to be the exception. But you know," and here he leaned over to look her in the eye, "People in college and people in theatre also sleep around quite a lot as well, Ms. Patrick. I think it has more to do with our age than our profession, frankly."

"So? Your number?"

Cam sighed. "Fine. My number is ten. But in my defense, none of them were one night stands. All were proper relationships."

Penny was shocked. "Ten? In this day and age? Ten is nothing, Cameron. Frederick's had more than ten," she teased.

"I'm sure he has," Cam responded. "Theatre has its own breed of groupies, and there must be tons of young women who'd love nothing more than to sleep with a legend like Frederick Berenson."

Penny shivered.

"Come on, let's get you inside," Cam suggested.

They rose and entered the loft.

"You tired?" he asked.

"No, I'm kind of relaxed, but wide awake," Penny answered with a smile.

"Me too," he said with a grin. "Movie? Popcorn?"

"Sounds like a plan."

So they popped some popcorn and watched a movie, though neither one of them could recall what it was the next day. They didn't make out or anything while watching it, but both were pleasantly aware of the presence of the other. They sat close, arm in arm, and Penny even turned once in a while and fed Cam some popcorn, knowing he'd be pleased, that he'd like the intimacy.

She kissed him once or twice as well, knowing it was allowed now, that it was expected, even. Her world had been changed, it had tilted in a new direction, and she'd tilted with it. This beautiful man was hers to kiss, whenever she wanted.

And Cam, too, knew that he'd set off on a new adventure with the fun and funny girl sitting next to him. He didn't know where it would lead, and he didn't know how fast or slow the journey would be, but he did know that he was really, really looking forward to it.

"Good night, Prince Cameron," Penny murmured, leaning in for a final kiss when the movie was over.

"Good night, Penguin," he responded, pulling her close by the back of her head for a more emphatic kiss. "See you in the morning."

She nodded and walked away in her sunflower nightie, knowing he was watching her go, knowing he liked what he saw.