Stephen looked on as Alice collapsed against the cool marble countertop in the bathroon, her back rising and falling at a fast, but slowing, pace as her skin began to get cooler to the touch. He felt his pulse racing even as he bent over and pressed his lips against her neck and nuzzled the back of it softly, as gently as possible, before she stirred beneath him. "Alice..." he whispered, nipping playfully at her shoulder as she giggled and turned her head to the side and looked at him askance. "...that was..."

"I know..." she whispered, pressing her body firmly back against his and let out a soft gentle sigh. "Listen, about earlier...what I said..."