Doctor Benjamin Adams handed the girl child back to its mother. Then, almost as an afterthought, he put his hand behind the tiny neck, pulled her back, and kissed her tenderly on the forehead. The mother deserved one, too, he thought, but that might lead to other things and he had plans to make.

"Just be nice to her, Benny," Lady was saying. They were standing in her doorway and Doc was trying, unsuccessfully, to leave the penthouse apartment. "I thought you'd be the one guy that'd come easy for." Doc tilted his head, smiling at her confused sentence. "Oh, you know what I mean!" Lady hugged Tia closely, but the infant kept squirming in her arms, reaching for the man who was about to walk out the door. "You had me fooled for years."

Tia chirped, "Dah! Dah!" Wriggling more, her once happy expression was rapidly turning a pre-temper fit shade of scarlet. Doc reached out and chucked her chin.

"I must go now, Princess, but I'll be back."

"DAH!!"

Lady moved her daughter onto her shoulder. "Well, looks like she'll get your name down first," she said wryly. "Now, get a move on, before she loses it. Once you're out of sight I can get her interested in something else."

"Or someone else?" asked a familiar voice from down the hall. Lady looked out to see which one it was.

"My savior!" she cried, handing Tia off to the new SIM.

Doc laughed and finally made his escape as his long-haired, more modern self came up to take the baby.

"You're dam-uh, darn right," Adam grinned.

After leaving the penthouse, Doc went straight to the Clinic. There he could reach a computer without being distracted by Lady's children. The first thing he did was find some web sites for electronic postcards. It took him several sites to find one with a picture he found appropriate. Then, after sending Katherine a new-age missive with an invitation to dinner and directions how to get to the spot he chosen for the date, he called Horton's florist and ordered a dozen red roses. "Deliver them to Katherine Dixon,

care of Crystal MacLeod. Do you know the address, or shall I look it up?"

"I have the new yellow pages," Horton replied. "Comes in very handy for deliveries."

"How soon can you get it there?" asked Doc.

Horton laughed. "Well before your date, I assure you."

"No, that's not it. I wanted you to put on the card, ?Look at your email for further directions,' and I'm afraid she'll stumble across them on her own."

"That's the chance you have to take, then."

Doc agreed, but he thought it would be more exciting to have a mini treasure hunt to find the way to their rendezvous. There being not much he could do about it, he placed the order and then rushed over to Fitz to arrange the next step of the plan.

***

It was a nice balmy evening, so Katherine wore a thin cotton dress and then put one of the flowers he sent in her hair. She had, indeed, found the e-mail message before getting the roses, but that was because they had somehow gotten placed in her bedroom and she had not gotten them until later.

As Doc had instructed, Katherine crossed the bridge to the K'Immie side the river. She was nervous because she never carried a sword, but Lady had assured her that head hunting was only done for *fun* here in SIMs City, and a careful word would keep her safe on her journey. Upon reaching the other side of the river, she looked down to find her way laid out in a mixture of red, white and pink rose petals. Intrigued, and a little nervous, she walked along the beach following his directions as warm breeze blew gently. Should she trust him? Or was this a set up to another wrestling match?

Doc was on a blanket which was spread with delicacies. Katherine could see a fondue pot, various types of fresh fruit, a quiche, and a roasted chicken with all the trimmings. He was just sitting within this feast, staring out at the sea.

Katherine caught sight of him with his back to her, looking out to sea, and remembered the many times she had done the very same thing. Usually she was waiting for her Captain to return . . . No. She would NOT think of Connor tonight. Hesitating for a second to look over the scene before her, she took a deep breath and approached him.

Although Katherine knew Doc felt her presence as she neared him, he did not move or acknowledge the strange sensation all Immortals felt when sensing another of their kind. Her bare feet glided across the sand as she quietly approached. Walking up to his side, Katherine sat beside him on the beach, hugging her knees to her and still not saying anything. Doc turned, appeared surprised that she was there, and jumped to his feet to bow graciously. "My dear Katherine, you startled me," he said with sincerity. They both knew this was impossible because of the warning *buzz*, but he was very convincing. The bow was gentlemanly, as was his tone. He swept a hand down and took hers, lifting her to her feet. "I am so glad you came."

Katherine lowered her eyes and smiled shyly. She searched for the right words but they just did not come. She really wanted it to work, but she was nervous, and a little frightened. Fortunately, all she sensed from him was good - no trace of the Cain personality at all.

Because she was projecting a little, Doc could feel her uncertainty. He ran his hand up her arm. "May I say how nice you look tonight? I hope you won't be too chilly in that, but it does look fetching. Perhaps a little wine will warm you?"

She laughed softly, her eyes glittering in the moonlight. "You do remember I told you about what happened the last time I had any wine!"

There was something about the quirk of his gentle smile that seemed slightly

mysterious. "You caught me. I am trying to seduce you, Katherine. Just not the way I've tried in the past."

Shrugging slightly, she said: "Maybe a little bit would help relax me".

"And we do want you relaxed," he noted in a deep, smooth tone. Indicating the blanket, he gently pushed her back until she was seated again. Then he went to a silver Champagne bucket and removed a bottle of Cristale. "I wasn't sure what you preferred. I also have Dom, if you like."

"I don't know what either tastes like, so you will have to be the judge."

Doc smiled, hefting the bottle in his hand. "I'm not choosy. Both are excellent." He popped the cork and smiled at her as the foam ran over his hands. There were candles surrounding the blanket and the candlelight picked up the sparkles in the wine as he managed to get some into two long, thin wine glasses. Doc passed her one before putting the bottle back in the ice and joining her on the blanket. Katherine very cautiously took a sip. "Hmmm, very nice". She was acutely aware of his physical nearness. As she took another sip, she looked carefully at his face, reaching up to run her fingertips down his nose. "I'm sorry about the way I overreacted that day in your office."

"It's quite all right. I was a beast. I want to thank you for . . . for giving me another chance."

Her eyes were glistening. She still felt badly about that day. "I was there to get things straight between us," she explained. "I still want that."

"As do I." Doc paused. "I know Lady told you why I've been such a cad. I'm not normally like that, Katherine. Really I'm not. I've lived in this town for over a year and have never been overly forward to a woman before. I need to resolve what happened between us."

Katherine sighed, then went on thoughtfully, "Lady told me about this Cain fellow. I'm still don't quite understand the how and why of it all. Why would he be so obsessed with me? Its not as if I'm some beautiful voluptuous woman or something."

"But you were mine. And all the time you were with me I had hoped . . . when you were . . . better . . . that you'd come to love me. Silly isn't it?" He turned away, as if embarrassed, and stirred the chocolate in the fondue pot. The sweet aroma wafted up, was caught by the gentle breeze, and caressed her nostrils. "Then I realized that could never happen. . . Your heart belonged to Connor."

A sad look crossed her face. "No Benjamin, if anyone is being silly it is me. After all this time still I've been foolishly holding onto something that was just not meant to be." One tear rolled down her cheek as she shook her head. "You would think that after over 400 years I would have grown up beyond this adolescent fantasy by now."

"Love is no fantasy. And the notion that you owed me your body because I *bought* you is a very Cain notion indeed." He raised his knees so he could lean his long arms across them. "My dear, 400 years is a blink of an eye. You are, in my eyes, a teenager. But what is my excuse? Only that I have seen so much that it is impossible to overcome it all. As Ben Adams I tried to remember my days as a slave . . . but it then I could not forget my days as a marauder, either. It's all in here," he said, pointing to his chest. "And it has to go somewhere. Ben Adams understood what you'd been through, but Cain did not."

Katherine laughed softly "It looks like we a both a mess then, aren't we?" She leaned over to snag a strawberry, giving him a nice view down the front of her dress in the process.

He moistened his lips sensuously. "Do you think me quite a fool for still wanting you?"

"I've been going without for over a hundred years wanting someone who apparently has no interest in me anymore," she shrugged. "So I'm a fool then, too."

"How do you know he has no interest? He has been busy, too." He smiled gently. "Our lives are like circles, Dear Katherine. When they swing away from each other we live apart. But there will always be a time when the two circles will join, and we'll go along together before parting again."

She leaned over again and dipped another strawberry in the chocolate - this time popping it in his mouth and giggling, "Maybe when I've lived a long as you have I might be full of such wisdom too!"

Doc accepted the fruit and then slowly licked off the chocolate that hadn't quite made it into his mouth. It was a very sensuous motion. "I wish you as many years as myself, and more, dear Katherine."

Giggling again, she said, "After I became immortal, Connor tried to teach me to use a sword. When I refused he told me I probably wouldn't last a decade. That was over 400 years ago." She reached up and wiped some chocolate that he'd missed with her finger.

"Clever girl," he said softly, moving his mouth slightly to capture her finger and suck, very gently, before letting it loose.

Katherine's eyes opened wide in surprise and delight at his action. "He did teach me some tricks like I used on you the other day. If push comes to shove I act fast and then vacate the premises as quickly as possible." She took another strawberry for herself, dipping it generously. It dripped down her chin and onto her chest.

Head tilted, Doc watched the chocolate drip. "And can I expect more tricks of the same tonight?" he asked as he looked pointedly at her chest. "I'm getting rather hungry, Katherine, but do not want to make the same mistakes I've made in the past."

She glanced down, blushed, and giggled in a silly way that made him smile. The wine was starting to go to her head. Then she reached across for some chicken and offered it to him. "Would you care for a little bit of breast then?" Although she tried to look serious and seductive, she immediately gave that up as hopeless and collapsed on the blanket in a fit of helpless laughter.

Doc moved over onto his side, just barely covering her. Katherine stopped laughing and looked up seriously as he moved the chicken out of her hand before brushing away a stray lock of hair from her face. "Yes," he whispered, kissing her ever so gently.

Her eyes were luminous as she gazed intently into his face. "Are you sure this Cain fellow will stay away?"

"He usually does not bother me unless he doesn't get his way. Or thinks he won't."

Katherine reached up to gently caress his face. "You will have to be patient with me - I'm woefully out of practice at this. Its been a long time. Too bloody long." She stopped him from kissing her again by placing her hand over his mouth. "But I should warn you about something."

"Umn?" he asked, trying not to show even the *slightest* irritation at being "stopped."

"You know I can read your feelings, don't you?"

"Umn," he repeated. "Then you know what Cain is like. But that I have him under control." He smiled. "At least for now.

Giggling, she explained, "I do know that. But there is something else". Her blue eyes had a mischievous glint to them. "Connor told me once that when I get ?excited' he could read mine as well. Everything!"

Doc turned his head to the side again, and a smile slowly spread across his handsome face. "Well, well," he said thoughtfully. "You know, Giles can do that, because he can connect to a person to rid them of their pain. He only does it with Lady because he is afraid the feeling will be so intense with someone else it will prove he doesn't love he the way he thinks he does. From what he's said, it is quite an experience."

"Believe me, Ben my old friend, it is! I just didn't want you to be surprised if it happens between us as well. I don't exactly have that much control over it."

He smiled. "I shall look forward to it. Although, it might be different than what Giles has told me about, if it entails a more empathic than physical connection. Giles cannot understand what she is thinking, but he can feel what she is feeling, physically."

Reaching up, Katherine pulled Doc's head toward her, accepting his kiss without any reservation. He pressed in slowly, but then with more ardor as the kiss deepened. Like all SIMs, he had a very strong kiss, and once started an embrace could quickly ignite both parties. He was already hard and firm beneath his 19th-century breeches. She felt his need for her, not to mention his passion, and surrendered completely to it as they lay entwined together on the sand. She responded quickly as their tongues met and played in her mouth.

Moaning softly, Doc moved her dress so he could work his way down to the area she has previously offered. His tongue lapped gently at the remnants of chocolate and she arched her back into him. This inflamed him more, and his roving tongue became more insistent. His long fingers carefully moved off clothing until one nipple was bared. Her eyes closed and she groaned softly, her breath coming quicker. She shivered slightly as the nipple on her small, firm breast tightened in response to the cool air. Doc's mouth closed over it, his tongue teasing as his mouth gently warmed her. His hands slowly moved off the rest of her clothing, finding her other, now ? taught nipple with his long, tender fingertips. She pressed his head tighter to her breast as she arched up under him. He was starting to feel the faint touch of her emotions and pleasure as he played with her sensitive nipple.

Groaning, he let his hands splay down her body, freeing her of the dress. Although loath to separate, he backed off long enough to loosen his cravat and to kick off his high boots, which he did with ease. Katherine rose up to help him strip off his clothing, caressing his body with her hands and lips as she did so. When he was nude, he pushed her back gently onto the blanket, covering her body with his. "Are you cold?" he asks. "I will warm you."

She laughed sweetly. "I'm feeling plenty warm right now." Then her mouth attacked his with a fervor that matched his own.

Surprised, but delightedly so, he chuckled warmly as he said, "Umn!" His kiss was hard, but with passion, not force. They rolled on the blanket, chuckling when they could get breath and when the need to kiss subsided for a moment, giving them the opportunity to do so. It was a passionate yet playful embrace.

Doc could feel her response to his hard kiss and knew he was not pushing her too fast. Especially when her hand started to roam further down his body. He moved into her grasp, his warm organ pulsing with need as it flipped of its own accord. Katherine moved him onto his back so she could be on top. Her eyes were glowing in the moon light as she grinned wickedly at him before working her way down his lean body with a series of playful kisses and gentle nips. He could not help but wonder at the change in her normal quiet, almost inhibited manner. Apparently her friend had Connor taught her some rather enjoyable tricks as well.

He had waited a long time for this, and who was he to complain? "Do you like being on top, my dear?" he asked softly. "I think I can oblige you."

She responded by tickling him in the ribs and telling him to behave. "Now where was I?" she asked, showering his hard belly with a series of kisses before playfully sticking her tongue into his belly button.

He bowed up to meet her, groaning, "You a're going to make me pay for this, aren't you, Dear One?"

"You betcha!" Katherine giggled as she lowered even further, tenderly kissing the inner part of his thighs.

Another groan escaped his lips, but he parted his legs to allow her access anyway. "Do I get ample time for retribution?"

"Be quiet, you!" she scolded sternly. Then she rose up so she could study his erect member with interest. "Now what shall I do about this?" Her fingertip ever so gently grazed the tip.

"I can tell you, if you want me to . . ." But her stern glance cut off his words.

"Shall it do this?" Her hand ran up and down in with a touch so soft and gentle he could barely feel it. "Or this?" A tender kiss on the end. "Or maybe even this?" Her tongue ran up and down the shaft. "Or would it be better to do this?" This time she took him into her mouth, sucking gently.

Doc groaned, pushing further into her mouth. Then his knees gently disengaged her and, pushing her up, met her face to face. "After all this time, milady, I should rather have your body about me when I feel the ultimate pleasure. I am ready for you . . . are you ready for me?" And again she was on her back as he made his way down *her* body. When he got to her hip he lay his head on her belly and asked, "Shall I go slow, Dear One? I shouldn't like to invoke any bad memories."

He could feel her need for him so intently that it was almost overpowering. "Take me Ben, take me now!" she whispered hoarsely, spreading her legs in a welcome invitation.

Slowly he moved up her body, sliding into her warmth as if he had always been meant to be there. And he had. Groaning softly at the moment of penetration, he paused a moment to get his head on straight, then found her waiting mouth again with his own before starting a mutually satisfying rhythm.

Doc was finding it difficult to differentiate at first between the pleasure he was feeling and the pleasure she was feeling. She groaned and arched up under him, hooking her slim legs around him as she surrendered totally. He pushed in deeper, whispering, "Thank you, Dear one," as he entered her up to the hilt before withdrawing, but only far enough to give him leverage to thrust back. "Thank you for making it worth the wait."

She gasped in pleasure as his thrusts filled her completely, lowering her head to tenderly bite his shoulder his shoulder and neck. A strange warm feeling spread over him as he plunged in and out, her orgasm steadily building. "Yes, precious," he coaxed, "let me please you!" He could feel just what movements caused her the most pleasure as she moaned and rocked under him, and it was a heady feeling, knowing for sure that he was pleasing to a woman. And not just any woman; one he'd waited so long to possess! It was becoming difficult to contain his own climax until she was ready.

Katherine arched up hard under him, crying out in delicious agony as she hovered near the edge. "Now, darling, come with me," he urged. As if in response to his urging, she raised up under him again and cried out as her orgasm totally consumed her whole being. Finally allowing himself release, Doc cried into her tender throat as his sterile seed filled her. The longing that had followed him for so long was finally appeased. He sensed in her a satisfaction, too, although he assumed hers was more a need to finally have some physical release after a very long time. Any cock'll do. But it was nice to know she had let his be the one to do it.

As if catching that thought, Katherine nudged him hard in the ribs and flipped him over. "You're in big trouble now, Benny my love! Any cock indeed!" Then she kissed him hard. Somehow he got the feeling that this night was far from over!