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"Four," he said.

"That's terrible. I lost my sister this year. I can appreciate what you're going through."

"What happened to her?"

"She was murdered by gang members."

"Wow. I guess you have seen a lot more real life." "It's not real life, Corbette; it's real low life."

"It must be hard for you living without family," he said. He leaned toward me and twirled some strands of my hair in his fingers. "It's hard for me even though I pretend it isn't. You think I have everything because I drive a fancy car and live in a big house and my parents are rich, right? You even resent me because of it. Right?"

"That's why you're so ...cold to me."

"No, that's ridiculous," I said. "I don't resent you and I'm not cold to you."

He smiled.

"Good. I really do like you, Rain. You're an exciting girl," he said. He held my hair firmly so I couldn't back away as he brought his lips closer and closer until he touched mine. I didn't resist and he kissed me harder.

"You're right. It's so lonely here for me," he whispered. He kissed my cheek and then my neck. "Everyone is jealous because I have my own little place, but it's really lonely, just as lonely as it is for you. But neither of us really have to stay lonely."

His lips moved around my neck, to the other side and then up my cheek to my lips. This kiss was longer, harder, his body pressing against me until I fell back. He kissed the base of my throat and undid a button to kiss me lower until he was at my collar bone and then he undid another button and another. His lips nudged one breast and then the other and his tongue dipped into my cleavage. I felt my heart pounding. I wanted to turn away and yet, I felt as if my body was in rebellion, demanding I stay.

"Corbette," I pleaded. "Please, don't ..."

"Rain, oh Rain. How warm and exciting you are," he whispered.

Another button went undone. His hands were inside my blouse and around to unfasten my bra. He undid it with expertise and then lifted the material away from my breasts. His lips were on one nipple and then the other and his body was down on me so that I couldn't get my hands around to stop him.

I tried to protest, but he filled my lips with another long passionate kiss and managed at the same time to unzip my pants. In seconds, his fingers were under my panties, exploring. I thought I would explode with excitement. I was surprised at the part of me that didn't want to resist.

"I knew you would be more mature than the other girls. I knew it," he muttered in my ear.

"Corbette, wait," I said weakly. "I'm not who you think I am."

"I want you. I want to know you so much," h

e said. I felt his fingers fumbling with his own pants. Panic began to do battle with the waves of erotic pleasure that rose from my loins into my stomach to meet the tingling coming from my breasts. I felt as if I was sinking into the sofa and every attempt to bring it to a stop was blocked by a darker side of my own self.

He started to jerk my pants down and when I pulled up to get away, I only aided his efforts. They were down to my knees and his hands were tugging at the rear of my panties. I felt his penis hardening between my legs.

I shook my head. This can't be happening so fast. It can't, I thought.

"Wait, no, wait," I pleaded. "This is too fast." My head was actually spinning.

"Not for you," he said. "Come on."

With one final burst of strength, putting all my resistence into it, I shoved him far enough to the left to have him roll off the sofa. The moment he was off me, I pulled up my panties and my pants and sat up, buttoning my blouse. He lay stunned on the floor.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I told you I don't just jump into bed with someone," I said. "I'm not saying I don't like you, Corbette, or I couldn't get to like you a lot, but I can't just do this the first time we're together. I just can't."

He stared at me and then he smiled.

"Okay," he said. "We'll take our time, get to know each other a little better. See?" He said buttoning himself, "I'm easy to get along with."

"Let's do some of the lines," I said, "or take me back."