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Morning came swiftly, to find Paul and Trynia tucked behind the breakfast table. Cutting off a small piece of cinnamon bun, she held it up to Paul's lips. His tongue flickered over her finger as she fed him.

"Hmmm," Paul hummed. "Sweet..."

"So, any plans for today?" she asked. "It is Christmas Day after all..."

"That reminds me..." Paul suddenly straightened up. "I know I mentioned having Gene and Terri over for New Year's... but I must have had my head up my wazoo when I said it... because we already made plans..."

"Oh..." Trynia laughed. "What could conflict with having them here?"

"Well Gene and I were gonna throw a band party for New Years, to thank all the road crew and staff for an awesome tour ... damn I can't believe I forgot it!" Paul laughed, slapping his forehead playfully.

"Have some more Folgers Mr. Speed, and see if you can remember more," she teased back, lifting the coffeepot to recharge his cup.

"Thanks sweetheart," Paul smiled. "Don't forget the cream and sugar..."

"Do I ever?" she asked, tipping a steamy brown stream into his china cup. "And besides, the best part of waking up is having Paul Stanley in my cup... oops I mean having Paul with my cup..."

"Very cute," he laughed. "Your Freudian slip's showing baby..."

"Oh that bad?" she asked. "Say, would Gene mind coming over today?"

"Great minds do think alike, Tryn hunny," he nodded eagerly. "That was just what I had in my head just now..."

"Cool! Then we can make dinner, and relax around a fire... and some games... or is that lame?"

"Nope, not lame, sweetheart," Paul scolded her, and rose from the table. "Want some more orange juice?"

"Sure."

"Well this is terrific," Paul muttered, staring into the fridge. "I must be freaking dense! I have all the fixings for it..."

"You did?" she asked, and joined him by the fridge. Paul pointed to the roast he had placed in a pan of water in the fridge, slowly thawing out, next to a bag of baby carrots, organic.

"I ought to have known you'd have planned it out in advance, you stinker," she smacked his thigh. Paul yelped and tickled her back.

"We've got a lot to do if people are coming over," he reminded her, catching her in his arms and hugging her close to his bathrobe clad body.

"So... where do we start..."

"Well, we clean this house from top to bottom, and then figure the rest out..." he murmured, tapping his chin.

By the time mid afternoon arrived with Gene and Terri, they were ready. Trynia leapt up from polishing the table at the sound of Paul's door buzzer, yelling, "I'll get it!"

"Great! I've just put the steaks in for Gene and Terri, and I'm ready to grill the chicken for us," Paul shouted back.

"Cool," Trynia nodded, and raced to the door. Unlatching the brass deadbolts, she tugged the door open. Framed in the doorway were Gene and Terri, the former holding a wrapped foil objected that resembled a champagne bottle, the latter carrying a box in silver and blue foil.

"Merry Christmas and all that!" Terri called.

"How the hell are you doing?" Gene asked, leaning over and catching Trynia in a firm hug.

"Great! C'mon in people and get ready to have a great dinner..."

"Aww man it's been less then a week and he's polluted your vocab!" Gene groaned, parting from his hug with her. Trynia pressed a greeting kiss to Terri's cheek, and Terri hugged her as well as a six-month pregnant woman could.

"Ignore him, I left the leash in the car," Terri laughed.

"Well I have one upstairs..." Trynia joked back.

"Gene stop futzing around and get in here!" Paul laughed, striding out as he tugged the apron off.

"Is that steak?" Gene asked, sniffing the aroma wafting in from the kitchen as Trynia took their coats, and closed the door behind them. Paul took the wrapped bottle from Terri, and pressed a kiss to his friend's cheek.

"Aw what is this?"

"Well its not sparkling cider," Terri whispered.

"I have a bottle of that for Gene and you," Paul nodded, leading them in to the dining room. "Care to have some salad before dinner?"

"Damn it not the twigs and leaves again," Gene groaned.

"Behave! Or no lemon meringue or cheesecake for you later!" Trynia nudged him.

"Now you're speaking my lingo!" Gene grinned.

"Right this way..." Paul conducted them to the oak table, set with lace tablecloth and fine china. He had pulled out the silver, and linen napkins, with champagne flutes set at each place. Even a bucket full of ice and a bottle of sparkling grape juice slowly chilled.

"Wow, you went all out," Terri commented. Trynia unwrapped the wine bottle from its sheath of gold foil, and admired the expensive brand.

"Damn this is Moselle wine," Trynia shook her head. "Go figure! You went all out too!"

"What's a little money between friends?" Terri chuckled.

"Hey Paul, get a load of this!" Trynia called, and held up the bottle for him to see. "Ein Deutsches Wein! Sehr Teuer!"

"Richtig," Gene shot out from the side.

Paul handed Trynia another bucket of ice, and she plunged the bottle inside. Taking the bucket from her he set it to the side next to the grape juice.

"I'll get the salad," Paul told Trynia. "And you can pour the wine for our guests..."

"You trust her with a corkscrew, Mr. Wine snob?" Gene laughed.

"What is it the same as letting her use my credit card, Gene?" Paul cracked back. "Now shut up and sit down! I've got a dinner to serve!"

"Okay..." Trynia said.

"This is interesting," Gene muttered to Terri, as he settled beside her in the place Trynia indicated. "Looks like they planned this together..."

"Behave," Terri whispered fiercely back, nudging him sharply.

"I will..." Gene laughed. "As well as I can baby..."

"Oh no," Terri groaned. "We're doomed..."

After a fine dinner of roast beef, baked potatoes and baby carrots, Gene was eager for desert. Yet, Paul suggested board games while the cheesecake was chilling to the proper temperature.

"Are you sure you're not the chemist?" Terri asked Paul.

"Hey, it has to be right," Paul retorted, leading the way into the sitting room.

"What shall we play?" Gene asked Trynia.

"I have just the game," Trynia laughed, pulling a box out of the cabinet to one side of the sofa.

"Who wants to be a millionaire?" Gene groaned when he saw the blue box with the yellow lettering. "Are you shitting me?"

"It's perfect, Mr. Know it all," Terri nudged him. "Now that you know what pachyderm means..."

"C'mon be a good sport Gene," Paul urged, and grabbed his shoulders. Gene let himself be guided to a chair and forced to sit down into it as Trynia brought out the box.

"You'll be good at this," Terri reminded him.

"Now to make it more interesting, why don't we do teams..." Paul suggested. "Battle of the sexes..."

"Why didn't you say so?" Gene laughed, rubbing his hands together and sitting up as Trynia unpacked the game and spread it out over Paul's coffee table.

Paul lowered himself onto the floor beside Trynia, and helped to shuffle the trivia cards. Gene and Terri sorted out the money and they settled down to play.

"Okay, the first question is about art history," Gene read the cue. "What well known French painter started the impressionist movement..."

"Hmm," Trynia muttered. "That's easy. Claude Monet..."

"Too easy," Paul chuckled. "Now..."

Questions ranged all across the spectrum, from music lyrics to world history to chemistry. Clearly, Terri and Trynia had the advantage at science, while Gene was the pro at movie trivia. Paul knew many of the opera questions, while Trynia surprised them all by knowing all about early SF.

"What was the phrase spoken by the alien in the Day the earth stood still?" Gene asked Trynia.

"Klatuu Barta Nicto..." Trynia announced, after a moment's thought.

"Damn, that's good," Terri muttered in appreciation.

"I remember totally worthless stuff," Trynia blushed.

"Hey, you and Gene have a lot in common then," Terri joked.

"You see Paul," Gene laughed.

"This next question is about cars..." Terri muttered, reading the trivial pursuit card.

"Fire away," Paul said.

"All right, here we go..." Terri said, clearing her throat. "Now... what make of car was considered a lemon for a certain pioneer of the assembly line..."

"Hmm I wonder," Gene grinned.

"That's easy... the Edsel," Paul answered automatically. "Are you sure that this is the senior edition?"

"It says ages 12 and up," Terri said.

"Knowing Gene's emotional maturity that's about right," Paul joked.

"Well what can I say?" Gene asked. "Anyway, I think that question was rigged, because there are a lot of lemons that Ford has produced..."

"Including my Ford Tempo," Trynia groaned. "Ford means found on road dead!"

"Like your car," Terri laughed.

"That would be it. It died two months ago..."

"I took care of that..." Paul winked at her.

Gene laughed, "Oh, YEAHHH! I like when your car breaks down, Trynia. Especially before one of our concerts... "

Suddenly silence predominated in the room, Gene and Trynia's laughter echoing. Paul's eyes darkened, and he bit his lip. Terri thumped Gene on the arm, rolling her eyes.

Trynia met her gaze with Gene's; "Oh you love rescuing damsels in distress huh? Especially ones walking along the side of the road when your limo passes by eh?"

"Wouldn't you know it! Hell, the three of us had so much fun, Paul and I should send a thank you note to your car dealer," Gene laughed, his eyes sparkling with a familiar hunger. A similar intensity crackled in Trynia's eyes, the air charged with their flirtatious stares.

"Oh boy, look out," Terri chuckled. Her blood froze suddenly when she noticed the smoldering stare arising in Paul's mahogany eyes. Trynia heard the silence, and absence of Paul's reaction, feeling his gaze piercing into her.

"What?" Gene asked, recognizing Paul's glare, burning holes into his shirt.

"Excuse me, I think I left something burning in the kitchen," Paul said coldly.

"Now what the hell..." Gene started to say, but broke off in mid sentence at Terri's acid glare.

Trynia quickly followed Paul into the kitchen. Fear twisted her stomach, pounding her heart to twice its pace. She had heard from Chris the stories of Paul's temper, and she sensed she now observed direct evidence of it before her now.

"Paul, what did I do wrong?" she asked, catching hold of his arm as he stood in front of the stove. He braced his hands against the counter, back toward her.

"Why did you joke about that?" he asked, not facing her. He separated her hand from his arm, and strode away from her when he backed away from the counter. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he whirled around. Dark eyes bored into hers, demanding an explanation.

"About what? It was just a stupid crack Gene made..."

"He talks too damn much," Paul snapped. "I wish he'd shut the hell up! There are some things that are private damn it!"

"Why are yelling at me then?" Trynia asked, feeling tears sting her eyes. Paul said nothing, but continued to stare at her, chest heaving up and down. It killed her to see the hurt surfacing, yet angered her simultaneously. What could she have possibly done to make him so angry?

"All right Mr. Stanley, out with it, what's got you so pissed?" Trynia demanded. Resting hands on her hips, she pushed her face mere inches from his. Paul backed away, at the intensity in her own stare.

"I don't like him making comments like that about you, that's all," he grumbled.

"Well he is Gene for crying out loud!" Trynia cried, hands out at her sides. "You should know him by now!"

"I still can't believe you'd take a ride from two men you've never met!" Paul gritted back.

"As I recall, you and Gene offered me a ride," Trynia snapped. "Don't' even try that with me!"

"Damn it, what if..."

"I almost got hurt, thank you very much!" she shouted, knotting her hands into fists. "I thought we all wanted what happened that night!"

"You're better then that!" Paul yelled back.

"Oh you were enjoying it right enough by where I was lying!" Trynia retorted. "Are you implying I'm some tramp who was desperate?"

"Hell no! Don't put words into my mouth baby... I'm not saying that at all, damn it!"

"And don't you shake your finger at me, pal, like I'm some stupid idiot!"

"Why did you want both of us then?" Paul asked. "Answer me that!"

"Damn it Paul! I love and admire both of you!"

"If it had been Peter and Ace, would you have done the same?" Paul asked hastily.

"I would have said no to any other men!" Trynia shook her head, half-laughing at how ridiculous this was. "Like I did to those assholes in that truck!"

"But both of us? C'mon now, what were you thinking?"

"I don't feel about them the way I feel about you! For god's sakes it's you I care for!" she screamed at him, face flushing hot. "How can you presume that any different? You didn't say no as I recall!"

"I just don't understand why in God's name it had to be Gene. Guess I'm kicking myself for letting it happen."

"Why are you so hopped up about this? Why is it an issue?" Trynia asked. "If I was just another groupie you guys had an encore with..."

"You want to know why?" Paul asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Because you had sex with Gene and I can never take that back!"

"Oho I get it now..." Trynia realized, letting the slow breath course out through her tensed lips. A sudden tension unknotted itself and her body relaxed as well.

"What we have will never be truly mine."

"Say WHAT?" Trynia asked, raising a dark eyebrow.

"There's no taking it back. He's had sex with you, Trynia."

"That may be, but as I recall, you had sex with Terri right?" Trynia pointed out. "So Gene could say the same damn thing!"

"I want what we have to be mine.... Ours...NOT Gene's, to bring up in some smart-ass way during an evening with friends."

"No, that was different. I cared about Terri. Gene cares about sex!"

"Hmm, how is it different? As I recall Gene cared for Terri..."

"I could go in the other room and take Terri right now, and Gene would laugh it off. That's the difference between Gene and me."

"I don't think so... Gene would kick your ass," she chuckled with a shake of her dark haired head. "Especially since it's his child she's carrying!"

"Gene will never be totally faithful to Terri. It's not what he's about."

"And what are you about?" Trynia asked. "Can you deny you never turned down a groupie when I wasn't there?"

Paul bit his lip, and leaned against the counter. All he could offer for an answer was a deep sigh.

"I am a realist Paul. I know if presented with the opportunity you might have taken advantage of it! Paul Stanley, what are you reaching for? Are you asking me for an exclusive relationship? Or are you just mad that Gene once played with your toy?"

"Trynia... I..."

For a moment Trynia ignored him as she continued, "Paul, I've never asked you for a relationship. In your own words, you can't give that now. However, you are now trying to tell me I shouldn't be with other men, that I am your exclusive possession. What's up with that? What exactly are you asking for?"

"I don't know damn it!"

"I'm not some dress up doll you can play with and forget!" Trynia choked, eyes still burning with the tears that threatened to form. "I'm a living, breathing person with feelings, just like you are!"

"I'm beginning to regret that night and that's something I never thought I would feel," Paul admitted, staring down at his feet. He was unable to look her in the eyes at that moment.

"Shit Paul! It's not like we can go back and change the past..." Trynia groaned.

"But then again, that night brought you into my life, so how can it be bad?" Paul rubbed his chin.

"Exactly... so what are you saying?" she asked, hands on her hips. "And it's NOT like I love Gene like I love you...."

"I know baby, but..."

"But what? Paul, you have had thousands more sex partners than I could ever imagine. You have told me that what is important is you and I.... Now, in the present. You need to take your own advice. I can't go back and erase the night with Gene any more than you can erase 28 years of groupies."

"You've got me there," Paul said, olive complexion flushing with pink slightly.

"If I asked you to go back in time and erase all those one night stands, would you do it, even if they didn't mean anything to you?"

"No." Paul answered immediately.

"Exactly. You've made my point," Trynia nodded. "You cannot erase the past Paul, just put it behind you."

"I try to put that aside so I can be with you now," He weakly said, "But what would you do if Gene wanted you again?"

"Tell him I'm taken," Trynia answered quickly. "I'm not perfect, though, Paul. If it makes you feel better, that night when we had sex in the shower... Gene did try to have his way, but I turned him down. I wanted you."

"Man, you did, didn't you?" Paul chuckled, the ghost of a smile forming on his lips.

"For right now, you're the only man I want in my life."

Suddenly Terri popped her head in, peering around the kitchen doorframe, "Damn, you guys, this pregnancy makes me SOOO thirsty. Mind if I just sneak in here and get..."

"You have the worst timing, girl." Trynia laughed.

"Did I miss something?" Terri asked, entering the kitchen with a slight waddle to her step. "Are you all okay, I heard you all screaming in here..."

"We're OK. Just our first argument."

"Our first?" Trynia asked Paul.

"Our first major one," Paul corrected.

"You know what arguing means. You get to make up"

"Hokey, but true," Trynia flushes. "You could hear us in there?"

"Well, Gene's afraid he's caused a world war."

"Oh boy," Trynia groaned, hiding her face in her hand.

"So I guess I got nominated to come in here," Terri admitted.

"Uh well, that's nice of you... but I think it's kinda blown over?" Paul stammered.

"Well, Terri, in a way he has, but we won't get into that," Terri chuckled with a wink at Trynia.

"Let's get back to the games. I want to show Trynia that two 50 year old men CAN have on New Years Eve," Paul suggested, nodding toward the kitchen door.

"Uh you go ahead Paul. I'll just get us some tea or something..." Trynia suggested.

"Aww thanks..." Paul smiled, and leaned over to press a brief peck to her cheek. He strode out of the kitchen, standing a bit straighter this time.

Terri asked, "What was THAT all about? One minute we're playing a game and the next, it's War of the Roses. No pun intended."

"Well, Paul got jealous." Trynia sighed. "I think it's a Paul/Gene thing".

Terri rolled her eyes, "Oh, good Lord! For two men who are absolute best friends, those two sure go at each other! You should spend some time with them in the recording studio."

"Oh? Is it even more entertaining?"

"Well, let's say, it's 50% recording time, 50% complaining time." Terri laughed.

"Oh man just like brothers?" Trynia asked.

"It works for them, though. Don't ask me to explain it."

"Like you and me sometimes fight then?"

"And don't try to understand it. You'll go nuts," Terri recommended.

"Even though we haven't known each other as long as those two..." Trynia laughed. "I feel like we like to bust on each other just like they do!"

As Terri and Trynia conferred in the kitchen, Paul paced angrily around the sofa while Gene looked tensely up at him. Finally Gene grew sick of Paul's orbiting the couch, and demanded, "What the hell was that about Stanley? You and the missus having a world war?"

"Gene, you are a pain in the ass... what were you thinking?" Paul exploded at him, finger poking his friend right in the chest. "In case you haven't noticed, we're NOT married. Perhaps if we had been, you wouldn't have been involved in our sex life."

"Well I'm not either, man... but if you can't have a sense of humor... shit!" Gene shook his head.

"I'm just pissed to hell that your ugly mug is right in the middle of our sex life!"

"Aww right!" Gene challenged, knocking Paul's hand away. "And yours isn't with me and my lady sometimes? I know you have had the occasional wet dream about her, so don't' even start with me!"

"Damn it, Gene, it's not the same..."

"How isn't it?" Gene asked.

"Trynia is the one woman in my life who I might have a chance with, and I'll have to spend the rest of my life knowing that she was caught up in one of your little sex games. You have to have your hand in everything I do, Gene, and that includes my lady."

"Look out, now here it comes..." Gene laughed. "You blaming me for everything..."

"Now wait a damn minute, Gene!" Paul cried, spinning around on him again. "That's not what this is about!"

"Really mature Paul. Blaming me for every little problem you have with your women!" Gene growled, folding his arms across his chest and shaking his head.

"I'm just saying that surely there was someone else for you to f**ck that night, Gene. Like TERRI, perhaps?"

"Yeah, and you could have said back off any time Paul..." Gene reminded him. "And I would have. Why didn't you?"

"I don't know, Gene. I really don't."

"You see? You were consenting to it as much as me." Gene nodded. "Just think about this, Stanley... she chose you over me the next day."

"But it's not like I WANTED it that way. It was cheap and dirty, and why is it that everyone in this little charade thinks it was just in fun except me?"

"Oh please! You hide from that part of you. I don't." Gene snorted.

"I made LOVE to her that next morning, Gene, the way it should have been. The way I WISH it would have been."

"Dammit Paul, get the hell over it! Why do you think I left you alone?" Gene asked him. "She wanted us both that night. I only was there cause she asked me to STAY!"

"And what am I going to say when she comes to me some day and asks me why I let it happen? Why I let us use her?"

"She hasn't, has she?" Gene asked him. "She wanted us both there, as I remember."

Paul hesitated, turning back to Gene for a moment, "But what if she does?"

"Well then, you worry about it when and if it happens. But you can't live your goddamn life saying what if, Paul," Gene snapped. "You only just got over the what if with Terri, and the what if with Linda."

"So why is it I keep messing up again and again?"

"Because... you worry too much, Paul."

"Why the hell wasn't this little threesome of yours with Linda? Why did it have to be Trynia?"

"Shit Paul, there you go again!" Gene groaned, and pushed himself up off the couch. "Can't you stop living in the goddamn past?"

"I'm making this too complicated, aren't I, Gene? This whole thing scares the hell out of me."

"I know pal. That's why I've been so patient with you till now," Gene said, patting him on the arm. "Paul, the reason you screw up is because you make it too complicated. You're so worried about hurting others you hurt yourself."

"I shouldn't have done it. I've screwed it up."

"Bullsh**t Paul."

"Tell me, Gene. Do you regret it? If the chance happened again, what would you do?"

"I dunno. I loved the sex, but if I'd known how psycho you'd be over it I would have butted out," Gene shrugged.

"Well, if that's your twisted way of saying, "No, Paul, I would not have sex with the woman you love", I appreciate it."

"Hey, take it for what it's worth Paul."

"So, what the hell do I do? About Trynia, that is."

"Go kiss and make up, what else? Do you need a road map, for crying out loud?" Gene shook his head in disbelief. "Damn it, you're Mr. Romance, not me!"

"Gene, I'm asking you as my best friend. How do I keep her?"

"Stop being so hard on yourself...for starters..."

"Maybe I just need to f**cking apologize for my role in the whole mess. I can tell her, no matter what, that I love her and I regret taking advantage of her."

"That's a good start, Stanley." Gene nodded.

"And maybe some day she'll forgive me."

"Paul, have you asked her if she is mad at you first?" Gene asked. "You're assuming a LOT here... and I mean a LOT!"

"Gene..."

"How do you even KNOW she regrets it? Aren't you projecting that onto her?" Gene chuckled. "You're starting to worry like a Jewish mother and you're not even female, buddy."

Back in the kitchen, Trynia and Terri continued their own conversation. Trynia extracted four china teacups and set them on a tray neatly next to the china teapot. She covered it with a quilted tea cozy, placing the sugar bowl and cream pitcher nearby.

"You were saying about Gene and Paul recording... what's it like?" Trynia asked. "And I said it was like you and me... Even though we haven't known each other as long as those 2."

"Yes, absolutely, except multiply that by 30-some years," Terri added, setting the coffeepot next to the teapot, shining steel next to sleek shiny china. It was a strange contrast.

"I feel like we sorta have that friction/attraction thing going... in a female bonding way," Trynia laughed.

"Yeah totally. I mean look at them, they're totally different people but they do have some resemblance... the tall dark and handsome thing going."

"And as my friend Shannon would say it's a crime what they do to leather..." Trynia put in. "Oh man... but I'm thinking... do you have any advice as to what to do about Paul... in case this happens again?"

"My advice to you about Paul is that he likes to babied every so often. He needs that pat on the shoulder that he is needed and appreciated."

"Ah... so he needs to be spoiled?" Trynia wondered, picking up the tray and setting it on the table nearby.

"In a word...yes...."

"He's always trying to do that to me!" Trynia groaned. "It's maddening and sweet at the same time..."

"Paul has some insecurities, even though he struggles not to show them."

"I can imagine..."

"And you're one of them, Trynia. It killed him to let you go, even for a short time".

"REALLY?" Trynia wondered, turning to face Terri. Terri pulled up a chair from the breakfast table, and settled down into it.

"But he's still scared to death because of what happened with Linda."

"So he's hurting... because of her..." Trynia muttered, rubbing her chin and settling into a chair across from her.

"He's hurting, because I really and truly feel that he wants to be with you, heart and soul, but he is so afraid of what has happened before," Terri continued. "You will need to be very patient with him."

"Man that sucks. I just... wish I could assure him I'm not like that..." Trynia sighed. "I haven't felt this way about anyone before... I never thought love would happen to me..."

"I see Paul growing deeply in love with you, then he pulls back, then he goes a bit deeper, then he pulls back. You just have to make sure to catch him every time he tries to retreat."

"How, without breaking my own heart?" Trynia asked.

"Don't let him retreat on you, girl, and if he does, make sure he knows he can come right back."

"How do you and Gene keep it together?"

"I guess that's the chance you too have to take".

"You and him... and now you're having his child..." Trynia started, pointing to Terri's gently curving stomach. "And you know he's banging other women... how does it not bother you?"

"Gene's the opposite. You really have to chisel away at his exterior to find his insecurities. People could go years knowing Gene and still swear he has no heart," Terri laughed, then leaned close to whisper to her. "He does, you know, he just has it so closely protected."

"I wondered about the woman who won Gene's heart... I saw your pictures in magazines, and I was like... wow... You're so normal!"

"When I think of other women having sex with him, I picture The Demon. It's not Gene," Terri continued.

"Ohhhhh."

"If you're with Gene, you'll get your 15 minutes, then you'll be on the elevator so fast, your head will spin."

"It's just sex to him then?" Trynia confirmed.

"Those women have no idea who Gene is," Terri nodded.

"I had a taste of that... it was weird..." Trynia admitted. "I guess he must have told you about me... and him and Paul?"

"Well, yes he did. I actually laughed about it a bit with him. He knew from the beginning you had eyes for Paul."

"Oh god how embarrassing... what did he say about me?"

Terri paused and looked toward the ceiling as if reading the answer there, "Oh let me see how he put it... Very passionate, and surprising. She's shy, but damn, she can kiss."

"Oh c'mon he said that?" Trynia waved a hand as she hid her face behind her other. "Get real... really? What else did he say?"

"And she rides incredibly hard," Terri added. Trynia flushed and laughed nervously.

"Whoa, that's Gene all right... oh my god this is... weird!"

"Well he said something else... less sexual, strangely enough. He knew when Paul chose to spend the night with you, that the feeling was mutual...."

"Ooh how could I be so damn dense. Was that why Gene left me alone with him?"

"Absolutely. I remember him coming back to the room that night and telling me that Paulie had a new woman."

"Oho? So he was with you when he left the room then?" Trynia asked, then groaned. "Duh on me!"

"As I said, Gene won't stay long. He might stray, but he comes back to me at the end of the evening."

"No wonder he left so quickly," Trynia giggles. "He wanted you."

"He was all over Paul the night day at rehearsals, teasing him about you".

"When I was out shopping?" Trynia asked. "With Andora?"

"Yes. He kept calling you "Paulie's Girl".

"Oh lord that's worse then Lady Starchild!" Trynia blushed.

"And 'damn it, Starchild, haven't you ever heard of AAA? Guess you decided to give her a ride of your own'".

"Oh man," Trynia laughed. "But I didn't have a cell phone to call AAA. And even if I did, I would have been stuck without a ride..."

"Don't let them fool you, girl friend. They were both more than willing to go through with it," Terri added, dark eyes fixing sincerely into Trynia's.

"I guess they couldn't let a devoted fan just walk home..." Trynia chuckled. "They didn't have to be so nice though..."

"No, they couldn't," Terri nodded, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs as best as she could. "Well, Paul told Gene he immediately saw something in you."

"Oh?" Trynia asked.

"That's why you were invited back to the room, and not just deposited at a gas station."

"Gene was the one who invited me in... To the limo," Trynia recounted.

"Paul's the shy one, don't forget," Terri chuckled.

"It's hard to imagine Paul being shy..."

"But that's the Stanley Eisen part of him, remember. The Paul the fans know is Paul Stanley. But you and I know the other side of the starchild."

"Oh... but let me ask you something else..."

"You have to remember, Trynia, those two could pick up ANY woman in the crowd or in the parking lot for quick sex. There was a reason for what happened. Paul may regret the fact that Gene was involved now, but it was meant to happen like it did".

"Was it a room t hat they got for me, or was it Paul's room that I slept in that night?" Trynia asked.

"It was Paul's room."

"OMG I thought so!" Trynia breathed, her heart pounding in that instant at the revelation. "That explains why his stuff was there..."

"This may seem strange for a rock star, but Paul really needs to have a spiritual connection of some sort before he picks a sex partner."

"And he 'connected' with me is that it?"

"That's not to say that he's never had 20 minutes of sloppy sex with some stranger, but for the most part, he seeks someone he can connect with."

"Well the morning after... we made love again... and it was different..." Trynia nodded slowly.

"And WHY do you think he was sitting in this kitchen, pouting about it months down the road? He loves you, girl. Just be patient with him."

"I'm so damn dense." Trynia groaned. "Here I am all worried about finding his trophies..."

"It takes a woman to notice this kind of stuff."

"Thank God Gene's got you!" Trynia chuckled. "He'd be totally clueless then!"

"Well, Gene's probably out there now, telling Paul to quit being such a damn baby or he'll be sleeping on the couch tonight. One track mind, that man has".

"Women, women, women and more women, right?"

"Yep. That about sums it up, Hun."

"Thanks for the talk Terri... it helps a lot."

"Trynia, I really think you and Paul have a chance to make the ultimate commitment. I've seen Paul with women before and I really think you two may be the couple to make it happen. Just remember what I said. Be patient."

"I can... but I wonder if it can last... but seeing you and Gene... I guess anything is possible." Trynia sighed. She fingered the promise ring absently.

"There's no way of telling for sure, but you guys are off to a good start". Terri told her. "And you know Gene thinks the world of you, even though he teases, so he's in your corner".

"Really?" Trynia perked up. "But may I ask why didn't it work for you and him? You and Paul that is..."

"I don't have the patience that you have, Trynia. Plus, Paul was still dealing with the mess that turned out to be Linda."

"Oh crap... that is right... but do you still have feelings for him? I'm just curious," Trynia asked.

"Well I was angry at him for a long time. But in time I realized what was going on from his perspective..." Terri admitted. "And I love Paul as a person. I understand now who he is and what makes him tick, but I just couldn't be the woman in his life. I guess once I looked in Gene's eyes, there was no going back".

"Wow. I guess you still care for him, but in a different way now."

"Most definitely. He's a good friend. It's hard to let go of the past, but I have to. Otherwise how can I get on with me and Gene?"

"True," Trynia nodded. She rose from the table, and picked up the tea tray laden with its cargo. "What do you say we go in there and serve desert?"

"Sounds good. By now they're probably best friends again..."

Later that night in bed, Paul rolled over and said, "Trynia, for what I did to you the night I met you, I want to sincerely apologize".

"Paul, I'm OK with it," Trynia responded. "Paul what on Earth made you think I was pissed about that?"

"Well...umm..."

"I wanted both of you that night, but I was really tired..."

"And you realize I was thinking like a groupie... and I wouldn't have in a million years ever done anything like that with anyone else..."

"I guess I just wish I could erase it from my mind."

"I thought you might have thought I was cheap or something for wanting both of you..." Trynia sighed and turned over.

"No, never." Paul cried. A sinking feeling arose within Paul, and he thought of a quick response, which tumbled out as, "You're right, baby. You're right. You were thinking like a groupie, and I was thinking like a horny rock star. We weren't thinking like lovers yet."

"Very true..." Trynia nodded.

"Because we weren't." Paul said.

"I saw it as an encore." Trynia responded. "I knew that was what it was, but I hardly dared hope to wake up next to one of you."

"Tryn, let me ask you something...."

"What?"

"Do you find Gene more attractive than me?"

"What?" Trynia asked, Paul hearing the laughter in her voice. "How can you seriously ask that?"

"Gene is, well GENE. Women love him."

"Women LOVE you, too, Paul!" Trynia countered. "For crying out loud, half the female KISS fandom wants to screw you!"

"I guess I just regret that he had a part of you." Paul sighed, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. "And that I was a part of that."

"They would KILL for a night with you." Trynia told him.

"Those women don't mean anything to me. It's like those old telephone numbers in my collection. That's all they are. Old pieces of paper".

"I know... like Gene's pictures..."

"Yes."

"He's up front and in your face about it. I would hate to deal with that shit..." Trynia muttered.

"Trynia, I know it's crazy, but I've lost women to Gene before...." Paul said.

"You're not like that at all. And that's part of what I love about you."

"And I'm scared to death to lose you."

"I think the same thing about you..."

"Gene's everything I'm not..." Paul began but was interrupted by her next sentence.

"That I'll lose you to some woman who's tall and blond and thin..."

"Wait.... Did you say you were scared to lose me too?" he asked, stopping her for a moment when it registered what she had just said.

"Yes."

"I'm not blond, I'm not tall and thin... that's everything I'm not!"

"Well...it's probably sick and twisted, but I love to hear you don't want to lose me. I could hear that all day, baby".

"You love that? That's weird..." Trynia laughed. "Here I am scared to death that I'll lose you and you're afraid you'll lose me to GENE?"

"I don't go for people in committed relationships... I mean I didn't know about him and Terri... when I slept with him and you..."

"I know it's nuts the way I feel, but I just want to make sure I don't screw up this time."

"You won't."

"Could I have done something to not turn Linda away? Could I have done something to make Terri not hate me? I've asked those questions to myself repeatedly. I don't want to have these "what ifs" with you, Trynia. I don't want to watch you walking away and wonder why".

"Well I'm not either of them."

"And wonder how I managed to f**ck up a good thing yet again? I am who I am... And you are who you are... I can't change that."

"Yes, thank God." Trynia nodded.

"Yes thank God indeed!" Paul agreed. "I just want to make sure I do this the right way, Trynia."

"For that I love you even more. But do me a favor..."

"It would break my heart to have you look at me one day and say, "How could you cheapen me that night?"

"Paul... do me a favor and don't put words into my mouth."

"Ok..." Paul relented. "I just need to know that you are OK with it. I must know that."

"I am. I am responsible for my actions Paul." Trynia said. "You didn't drag me into that threesome kicking and screaming as I recall. I asked Gene to stay..."

"No." Paul mused. "But what if Gene HAD stayed?"

"Paul..." Trynia warned.

"Damn it, I'm doing it again. Sorry".

"Yeah you are."

"If you are OK with it, then I guess I am too." He sighed. "Even though every time I touch you, I will regret that night..."

"Please try to let it go..." Trynia pleaded, leaning over to press a soft kiss to his shoulder. "For my sake. Is there something else behind this? Surely, one evening's lovemaking when we were but total strangers isn't worth this much anxiety. Has there been someone else?"

"Tryn..."

"Paul, if there has been, you can tell me..." she urged.

"Baby, I missed you so much," he quickly said, pulling the sheet away from her chest and sideling up to her in the bed.

"And I missed you too, Paul," she said. "Now don't try to change the subject, mister."

"I guess I couldn't turn the occasional groupie away..." he admitted.

"I see...." Trynia said dully.

"It meant nothing," he sighed, turning away from her for a moment in the darkness. "All I saw was your face... in my mind..."

"I suppose it's like Terri says about Gene. The groupies were not making love with YOU... the man I know. They were having cheap sex with the Starchild. You put any other rich rock star behind that makeup and it wouldn't matter to them. I realize that."

"Yes... that is what it's like," Paul nodded soberly.

"I'm not going to sit here and say this is good news...that I am thrilled beyond all belief, but I understand it. But I do want you to know that if we ever do commit, I want you fully mine, body and soul."

"If it makes you feel any better..." Paul began. "I quit the encores after the first week..."

"I'm glad."

"I'm sorry about that too..." Paul apologized.

"I have to admit, I hate to think of anyone else enjoying your body," Trynia sighed.

"I guess the same here. That's why I got pissed at Gene."

"Our relationship is built on trust, and I do trust you, Paul. I trust you to do the right thing. If that involves an occasional one-night stand, I will accept that. Not LOVE it, but accept it."

"Baby... I'm glad you trust me... and I'm glad we're talking about this," Paul said slowly.

"Damn, I guess Terri is rubbing off on me," Trynia laughed suddenly.

"I think that's a good thing..." Paul chuckled, slipping his arm around her as he moved closer.

"But like I said, there's one major difference with us. When we commit fully, it must all stop," she said, grasping his hand between hers. "If that day never comes, I can live with the memories we had together."

"I don't' want to have it come to that... I mean..." Paul stammered.

"I'm not pressuring you right now, Paul. I know you've giving all you can to the relationship and I am too."

"Perhaps I should be giving more." Paul muttered.

"I just don't want to lead you down a path, then change the rules on you," Trynia said. "I mean for now I can give myself to you fully, but only because that's who I am."

"Nor do I baby..." Paul nodded through the darkness.

"Do you feel better?" Trynia asked.

"Yes... very... I couldn't sleep with this on my chest..." He sighed with relief, and then twisted into a slow lascivious grin. "Whereas I could sleep a lot better with something ELSE on my chest..."

"Bad boy!" Trynia reproved him, smacking his arm playfully. "Are you trying to turn our conversation around to sex, Mr. Stanley?"

"Guilty as charged."

"Well, as long as you're feeling that way, allow me to give you something to REALLY make you feel guilty." Trynia laughed, and lifted the sheets. Paul chuckled at the feel of her hair tickling down his belly and dancing over the growing desire. Warm lips closed over him, sliding him over her soft warm tongue to coax him to full hardness.

"Wait baby," he whispered, pulling her off for a moment. "Lie down on top of me... and let me get in on the action... hmmm?"

"Sounds intriguing and delicious to me..."

"I'll make you feel just as guilty as I do now," Paul purred, helping to steady her as she lay down across him, and he positioned her legs on either side of his shoulders. Bracing her hands on either side of his hips, she lowered herself to him again. Simultaneously he leaned between her legs and gently kissed the inside of her thigh. It was hard to keep from chuckling and crying out at the warm wiggling sensation teasing inside her already moist interior while she feasted on his delicious hardness. This time she enclosed her mouth over him nearly halfway, almost choking in her push to please him as much as he was pleasuring her. Strong fingers clamped down on her thigh, pinching tightly and signaling to her to relax and slow.

Warm hot bitterness spurted quickly in a fast rush over her tongue at his final thrust upward. Wet sweetness flooded his tongue, and they both shuddered at the electrical jolt slamming into both of them. Moaning, they disengaged, and Trynia pushed herself up off him to roll onto her side as Paul stretched in the bed.

"C'mere baby, I want a little more of that good loving..." he whispered.

"That sounds very cheesy, but what the hell. You're worth a deuce..."

"Now that was cheesy! Quoting our songs in bed, for shame baby!" Paul burst out laughing.

"Sorry I know it's lame..." she groaned, and sat up in bed. Only the silver dimness of moonlight peeped through the slats of the blinds.

"No it's sweet, Tryn baby," he chuckled, pulling her down next to him and tossing the sheets over her.

With a grunt of satisfaction he pulled her hips to his muscular ones and eased himself inside her. Around his waist, he wrapped her thighs, rolling her under himself.

"You sure it's not lame... I sometimes blurt out the weirdest things in the heat... ooh of passion..."

"Don't worry about that," Paul whispered in her ear, tongue dancing over the sensitive curves to brush over her multiple piercing. She leaned up to softly kiss his ear as well, her own tongue finding the cool end of the stud backing in his earlobe. Under her thighs his own pushed, his hands slipping under her back to pull her as close as he could into his arms. Her sensitive breasts rubbed against the soft silky hair of his chest, sending shivers all over her skin.

Paul's tongue flickered over her lips, almost reminding her of Gene for a moment before coaxing her mouth open. Between them, something metallic slipped down its chain, tangling with her own locket. A few soft pushes worked him deeper inside, then followed by a firm thrust that made her whimper through their fused lips. The force of her sudden first orgasm twisted her whole body, taking Paul with her. Over and over they rolled, to the edge of the bed. Behind his neck Paul felt the edge of the mattress and broke his kiss for a moment.

"Oops, I think I'm getting carried away, don't you?" he joked.

"Sorry, don't know my own strength..."

"Don't be sorry, I love it when a sexy lady transports me to another place..."

"Well I don't want to plunge you to new depths, considering this bed is pretty high off the floor..." she laughed, pursing her lips. "Besides the floor is awfully hard..."

Paul twisted his body to the center of the bed, taking her back with him to a less precarious position at the right side where he normally slept. Sighing she felt him push into her again with slow deliberate thrusts, pushing her into the soft depths of the bed.

"And this is the only hardness I want you to feel now baby," he cooed.

Paul slipped into the shower that afternoon, humming to himself. Already things seemed much better since that night, but he knew that eventually he would pay another visit to Aaron. He'd already had his son over for part of Chanukah, but Linda insisted that Aaron had to stay Christmas with "her side" of the family. Disappointment filled him, realizing he couldn't see his own son during this time, but he felt he had to be fair to Linda and Aaron. It was the first Christmas Aaron would have had to miss, and right now, that didn't seem as important as keeping things clear with Linda for his son's sake.

"Shit," Paul sighed. Just then he heard the sound of the shower door sliding open, and smiled. Feminine fingers traced down his back, rubbing as strong arms embraced him from behind.

"Got room for one more?" she chuckled over the dull roar of the powerful cascade hammering against his body.

"Always for you," he answered, turning around in her arms to face her. Laying a kiss on his slick wet chest, she pressed her cheek to him.

"You're brooding, aren't you?" she asked.

"Jeez, is it that obvious?"

"Uh huh. You've been in here for nearly a half-hour. I was beginning to think you were getting lonely... so I thought I'd come in and check on you..."

"I'm not gonna drown," he laughed.

"I know, but I was worried..."

"Sweet of you, baby," he sighed, stroking her back as he hugged her close. How well she was getting to know him, he reflected inwardly.

"Please tell me, unless you want to keep it private, I'll understand..."

"It's about Aaron, sweetie," he sighed.

"I had meant to ask you about why he wasn't here, but I didn't think it was any of my business," she sighed. "He's with his mom, right?"

"I had him here for Chanukah, since it was a little early this year... but after that Linda showed up to take him for Christmas..."

"Oh man, I'm sorry," Trynia groaned.

"Hey it's okay. Linda insisted that it was less traumatic for Aaron if he didn't miss Christmas at home... with the folks. And she said it would be better if I spent Christmas with you... since I mentioned I was inviting you..."

"Aww Paul... I don't want to be trouble!!!"

"No it's nothing to do with you. Even if you weren't here she'd insisted Aaron be with her during Christmas..."

"I was just making sure," she said, glancing up at him. Paul groaned with satisfaction when he felt the soapy sponge tracing over his back and parts south of it.

"Thanks, Tryn," he whispered into her ear, reaching around her to grasp the shampoo bottle. He squeezed blue gel into his hands and rubbed the substance into her hair with soothing strokes.

"Well I worry about you... you know..."

"I wouldn't have guessed... hmmm just a little bit lower baby... I didn't wash there yet..."

"I love how you wash my hair," she chuckled when he continued to scrub her scalp.

"Your turn next baby."

Over the next few minutes they soaped each other down and took silent delight in the feel of each other's hands over their moist skin. Around them the steam coalesced and hid total view of their nude forms, provocative and tingling with electricity.

"Sleep well last night?" he joked.

"Silly, you should ask me how I slept this morning..."

"Well we were a little busy last night," Paul laughed, smoothing conditioner in her hair now.

"I love your hair, it's so... soo wonderful to run my hands through, wet as well as dry..."

"Same here baby. Say... would it make you too upset if I... cut it off?"

"Aww, and I was just getting used to it!"

"Well I was considering it for a long time baby... and well..."

"Well it's not like you need my permission Paul," she laughed. "But...."

"I was just thinking since you're the one running your hands through it all the time..." he purred.

"How short are we talking..."

"Uh... short enough to pull back, but no so short..."

"Damn," she laughed. "That will be a dramatic change..."

"Well I did have it cut short last time on tour," he chuckled. "It's not like I haven't ever done it before..."

"I know... I guess I just think men with long hair are sexy," she admitted. "Or that is long hair on a man is sexy..."

"I know what you mean baby..." Paul shushed her with a finger on her lips. "Stop worrying so much about hurting my feelings ok?"

"But..." she began before Paul silenced her again, this time with a soft kiss that burned her lips with its fire.

"I'll bet you a whole lot that they're probably going at it again," Gene laughed as he strode out of the master bathroom.

"How much is a lot?" Terri asked, turning over in bed. She was loath to get up as of late, feeling the weight of the baby pressing down on her bladder and up against her stomach. Gene sat on his side of the bed, wrapped only in a towel. Laying down on his side, he faced her, fingering her cheek lightly.

"Well, that is a good question.... Considering I have a lot invested in you already sweetheart...."

"I'll say... I mean all I have to do is mention something and you're already asking what size and what make! Damn you make it too easy!"

"That's my job, sweetie, to spoil you... in case you've forgotten..."

"How can I? When you constantly remind me?"

"That's also my job, remember?" Gene chuckled, sidling closer to her. "You know how you get to me baby... and I can't help but give you what you want..."

"It's not fair of me to have such control over you," she laughed.

"I gave you that control over me, remember?" he growled softly into her ear.

"Gene I feel so bloated... do I look fat?"

"Do I, baby?" Gene asked, turning a dangerous question back on her. "And you really should watch how you answer that one..."

"Oh shut up you're teasing me..."

"And you have every right to tease me," Gene whispered, folding her in his arms. "I think you're damn sexy now...."

"Aww shit Gene," she got out, feeling the wave of hormonal mood reach its peak. She couldn't even get angry at him he was so good to her these last few months, hell this last year and a half even. Softly he kissed her lips, and enveloped her with strong arms and legs.

"Baby, you're carrying the baby, so how are you supposed to look? I'm glad to see that you are pregnant, and I'm proud, so please do me a favor..."

"What?"

"Don't ask me that again... I don't want to fuck up my chance to sleep in this bed... next to my woman... after all the sofa's really hard..."

"Well after that little comment the other night... I was about ready to confine you there, buster!"

"I am sorry about that," Gene apologized, giving his best, wounded-dog look.

"Get rid of that towel and I might not be pissed...."

"Hmmm," Gene growled softly, rumbling into her ear. Nestling her into his body he teased her lips with his tongue, and teased her with his arousal.

"Damn you always know what makes me feel good... how do you do it?"

"Years of practice... and you're reaping every benefit..."

"For that I'm glad... ohhhhhhh...."

"That's it baby... take some of it... perfect.... Uh-huh..." Gene's voice encouraged before trailing off into a low growl of pleasure.