Golden Ecstasy

ECST

Golden Ecstasy 4

Kat came back out to the porch, handing Tanya a cold soda before she
settled back into her own deck chair. Sipping slowly at the fizzing liquid,
she stretched out her long legs, sighing with contentment. Both girls were
soaking up the last rays of afternoon sun, dozing on and off, sometimes
talking desultorily while they waited for Jason to wake up again. After
his last ‘session’ with Kat, he’d fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep --
small wonder after all the exertion he’d gone through over the last forty
hours or so. During the course of the day, the second the three of them
had spent together at the cabin, the rest periods between his ‘Ecstasy’-induced
craving for sex had gradually lengthened as the potion slowly worked its
way out of his system.
Tanya squinted at the sun.
"What time is it?"
Her friend lazily reached for her watch, which lay on a small table
next to her.
"Shortly after five."
"That means it’s about forty-eight hours since Jase drank that soda,
right? You think he’s over it yet?"
Katherine thought for a moment.
"Maybe. He’s never slept so long before. Anyway, isn’t this the time
frame Billy gave us?"
"Yeah."
Both girls fell silent again. They didn’t need to talk; both knew that
the other was thinking back on the weekend, on what they’d been through
together. Tanya smiled to herself. She never would have believed it, after
the way things had started, that it hadn’t been all that unpleasant to
make love to the former Gold Ranger. If she were honest with herself, she
would have to admit that she actually had enjoyed herself -- a lot at times.
A quick peek at Kat showed that the Pink Ranger was having similar thoughts
herself -- if the sensual smile around her mouth was any indication. Tanya
let her own smile become more pronounced, as the blue eyes wandered over
to her.
"What?"
"You look like a cat that got into the cream."
Kat laughed softly.
"Well, who’d have thought that Jason would be such a good lover?" A
faint blush stained the porcelain face, but her eyes danced merrily. Tanya
joined in her laughter. With a slightly wicked smile, she propped herself
up on one elbow.
"You must admit, he got in an awful lot of practice this weekend!"
"Tanya!" Kat tried hard to sound shocked, but couldn’t pull it o As As they’d gotten more comfortable, the girls had slipped slowly back into
the easy banter they had often enjoyed when they spent time together away
from the guys. Of course, they’d never dreamed that it could have come
to this, but in all, they were at peace with their decision and the things
they’d done to help their former teammate. Kat’s smile took on the same
devilish slant as Tanya’s as a deliciously naughty thought occurred to
her.
"Just think .... what if we had tied Jason up again at some point? Would
it have been possible that he’d gotten over this sooner if, say, we’d both
had taken care of him while he was restrained, like in the beginning?"
Tanya blushed hotly all over as she tried to picture the scene. It had
a strange, almost forbidden appeal to think of herself and Kat together
moving slowly over the sculpted body of their friend, writhing in sensual
abandon as the two girls caressed and touched him intimately. Her dark
eyes sparkled with a momentary rush of excitement and Tanya could feel
a low heat coil in her belly as she stared at Kat.
The blue eyes deepened in colour and Kat started to breathe just a tad
faster as she tried to hold her best friend’s gaze. She could follow her
friend’s thoughts with startling clarity -- almost as if they were telepathically
linked. Before she could answer, though, a deep, sleepy voice, made all
the more sensuous by the tinge of weariness, sounded fthe the sliding glass
door.
"If the two of you keep on talking like that, I just might have to take
you up on thi Two Two lovely faces flamed with embarrassment as the girls jerked up from
their comfortable lounges to face the third member of their party. Jason
leaned against the doorframe, smiling devilishly at both. His midnight
eyes gleamed with a tiny flame that both Kat and Tanya had learned to recognize,
but he made no attempt to call on either of them. Instead, he made his
way over and dropped down into a third deck chair, favouring both with
an amused chuckle.
"I’m certainly not into bondage or anything, but I have to admit, the
thought of both of you having your wicked way with me like that has a certain
... appeal."
"Jason!"
The young man started to laugh as he heard the mortified chorus.
"Don’t worry. I don’t think I could get it up, anyway." He blushed slightly
as he said that, but the girls accepted his words without protest. Yet
another sign of how close they’d become that such statements were taken
in stride.
Tanya sat up, hardly daring to hope.
"You ... you think it might be over?"
Jason sobered at the question, but the smile never left his eyes.
"I think so. I’ve slept longer than before, and I sort of feel different.
Like you do once you get over a fever, or something."
Kat swung her long legs down from her recliner. She didn’t bother to
tug down the roomy t-shirt she wore, gh; gh; they’d all gone way
past such modesty during the weekend. She and Tanya wore tiny panties and
shirts, and Jason had just slipped on a pair of comfortable boxers, since
it was too hot in the afternoon to be wearing robes outside. His muscled
chest gleamed in the sunlight as he leaned back, sighing contentedly.
"Does that mean we can go home? I’ve been sort of wondering what the
others have told our families."
Tanya grinned slightly.
"It’s no problem for me; my parents are both gone ‘til Tuesday -- they’re
giving a presentation at the Smithsonian, on the Amazon dig they’re planning."
Jason closed his eyes and lifted his face towards the sun as he thought
briefly about his family.
"I’m sure Tommy covered for me; it’s not that unusual for either one
of us to spend the weekend with the other on short notice."
"That leaves only my folks," Kat said, a tiny frown creasing her smooth
forehead.
The former Ranger reached out and patted her arm reassuringly.
"Don’t worry, kitten. It wouldn’t be the first time that Billy used
the Power Chamber’s resources to recreate someone’s voice patterns and
make excuses for our absences. I’m pretty sure your parents were given
a reasonable explanation."
"Oh. Good." The Pink Ranger thought for a moment. "Speaking of the Power
Chamber .... shouldn’t Alpha and Zordon check you out, to make sure you’re
allright again?"
"In a while. Do you mind if we just relax a bit together?" Japleapleaded
softly with both girls. He was glad that he -- that they seemed
to have come through his ordeal so well, considering, but he was strangely
reluctant to let go of the easy intimacy they’d achieved with each other.
Both Tanya and Kat seemed to understand what he was asking for, and with
indulgent smiles, they leaned back in their seats. All three teens lost
themselves in their thoughts, memories of the past forty-eight hours wandering
slowly through their minds. Finally, though, the moment came to an end.
Imperceptibly, the mood changed, and they became a bit restive. Exchanging
glances, they rose almost simultaneously. An awkward silence threatened
to settle over them, when Jason suddenly reached out, gathering both girls
in his arms. Kat and Tanya didn’t resist as he drew them close, cuddling
them against his broad chest. His vowas was a bit hoarse and even deeper
as usual as he buried his face first in Kat’s sunny locks, then in Tanya’s
dark curls.
"You guys .... I don’t know how to thank you. If it hadn’t been for
you .... both of you ..." he choked, overcome with emotion.
Katherine smiled and gently touched his flushed cheek.
"It’s okay, Jason. We understand." She exchanged a look with Tanya,
and saw that for once the dark-skinned girl had let go of her slight reserve
and rested as easily as herself in Jason’s embrace, smiling just as understandingly.
"We’re friends. Friends are there for each other, no matter what it
takes. Tommy showed me that, when he told us he’d offered himself to you.
If he could do that, I knew I could, too. Besides, as I’ve said before,
you would’ve done the same for any and all of us."
Jason looked at her with serious eyes.
"I know I could have done it for you guys, and for Tommy, certainly.
Billy, probably, too. I just hope that I would have found the courage if
it had been Rocky, or Adam."
It was Tanya’s turn to offer her comfort. Turning Jason’s face towards
her with gentle fingers, she smiled reassuringly.
"I’m sure, if push had come to shove, you would have. Like all of us.
We’re Rangers, remember? We don’t abandon our own, no matter what it takes."
The young man’s eyes were suspiciously moist as he looked into the lovely
faces of his friends and temporary lovers. He hugged them both closer and
felt two pairs of soft yet strong arms slide around his waist. The three
stood for a long while in their warm embrace, reaffirming what had brought
them here together and saying good-bye at the same time. At last, Jason
felt that he could control his voice enough to speak again.
"If you say so. But still .... what the two of you did for me ... you’re
the best."
Giving in to an almost irresistible impulse, Jason bent his head first
to Tanya, then to Kat, kissing them with ale eme emotion he felt unable
to express otherwise. Both soft mouths opened readily under his for what
each knew would be the last time. An innocent kiss had brought them here,
and it was strangely appropriate that it should end with this loving exchange
among friends who had shared so much in such a short time. When it was
over, he gazed deeply into smiling dard bld blue eyes, not bothering to
hide the few tears he’d been unable to suppress. The dark voice shook slightly
as he told them what was in his heart.
"Kat, Tanya .... I love you. Both of you. I ...." he couldn’t go on.
Instead, he gathered both girls to him once more, trying to convey by his
touch what their friendship meant to him. At long last, he drew a deep
breath and slowly released them. The girls smiled at him once more, both
just as profoundly touched by what had just transpired between them. It
was Kat who, after a silent exchange with her best friend, gave their answer
to him.
"We love you, too, Jason. We’re glad we could be there for you."
Tanya just nodded. She gently disengaged herself from the three-way
hug and stepped back. Her own voice was slightly husky as she tried to
lower the charged atmosphere.
"Let’s pack up a bit and go the Power Chamber, okay? We’ll have to make
sure that Jason’s really allright."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Jason agreed readily. In the privacy of
his own mind, he was a bit reluctant to have this end. After all, he was
a healthy, normal young man, and what he’d told Tanya in the beginning
was certainly true -- it was a situation straight out of a favourite fantasy,
to be marooned (sort of) with two gorgeous girls in an isolated place,
doing nothing but making love to them all day and night. He fought down
his slightly guilty blush as Kat’s suggestion from earlier made another
appearance before his mind’s eye -- he lying on the bed, arms tied, and
both Kat and Tanya pleasuring him with soft hands and moist lips, helpless
to do anything but submit to their caresses.
*These are your friends -- the girlfriends of your friends -- you
have no business even thinking of them that way! Not even after what they
did for you!*
However, the images wouldn’t go away. Jason wasn’t totally surprised
to feel a fresh surge of arousal seep into his groin, but to his relief
it was easily controlled. Kat and Tanya were two of the most gorgeous girls
he knew, after all, and he’d experienced the touch of their skin, the taste
and feel of their mouths extensively over the last couple of days. He smiled
secretively to himself as he wandered off towards the bedroom to get dressed.
Although it made him feel somewhat guilty, he knew he was going to have
some ... interesting ... dreams in the near future.
Kat and Tanya watched Jason disappear through the bedroom door, admiring
once more the play of impressive muscles under his sleek, tanned skin,
and the way he moved in his dark shorts. Then they looked at each other.
Kat began to grin.
"Is it just me, or does this feel awfully familiar?"
Tanya started to grin as well.
"You mean, you’re wondering when he turned into such a hunk?"
"Yeah," the Pink Ranger laughed, remembering their conversation at the
lake, two days ago. Only this time, she didn’t feel embarrassed any more.
Tanya chuckled a bit wickedly as she gathered up the cushions from the
deck chairs. They weren’t going to do a lot of clean-up right now, but
they didn’t want to leave stuff outside, where it could be damaged or stolen.
"You’re right, it’s almost like déjà vu, isn’t it? Only
now we don’t have to wonder anymore ...."
"Most certainly not," Kat agreed as she helped her friend. Within a
few moments, the porch was cleared, and they shut and locked the door.
As they sorted out their clothes and began to get dressed a bit more decorously,
Kat shot a glance at Tanya.
"Tanya? Are you going to be okay with this?"
The Yellow Ranger didn’t pretend to misunderstand. Giving her best friend’s
question some serious thought, she slipped into a pair of shorts before
she answered.
"Yes, I think so. I’m pretty sure about myself, but I’m a bit worried
about Adam. He was taking it so hard ...."
"You’ll get through this." Kat spoke with conviction as shehanghanged
the oversize tee with a pale pink blouse. "After all, you two love each
other, right? I’m certain Adam will get over whatever it was that was bugging
him so much. Tommy and the rest of the gang will help him, I’m sure."
"That’s what I’m counting on," Tanya confided. "I think once Tommy told
him that you’ve been here as well, it’ll make it maybe a bit easier for
him."
The two girls regarded each other in silence for a moment. Just as Jason
opened the bedroom door, dressed in his customary black shirt and jeans,
Tanya quickly asked Kat before he joined them.
"What about you?"
"I don’t think it’s going to be all that hard for Tommy." She had confided
her boyfriend’s reaction to her decision to her friend during one of the
times when Jason had rested. Then, a slightly mischievous smile played
around the soft pinps. ps.
"Besides, I think Tommy is in for a few surprises the next time we have
some time alone."
Tanya stared at her friend, barely able to close her suddenly gaping
mouth. Kat couldn’t be serious, could she? Then, a few memories rose in
her mind. While she sincerely felt that she was not going to be
in the mood for intimacy for some time, she couldn’t help but remember
at least some of the things she’d shared with Jason. The thought
of doing these same things with Adam, out of love rather than lust, was
... rather exciting. With an effort, she recalled herself to the present.
"You’re ... sure about this?"
"Oh, definitely," Kat all but purred, but turned serious as Jason approached
them a bit hesitantly, duffel bag in hand.
"Why don’t you leave this here with our stuff? Just in case we need
to come back once more."
Jason felt his cheeks colour up slightly, but met Kat’s blue eyes openly.
"I really don’t think it’ll be necessary, but you’re right." Depositing
his bag next to the couch, he inhaled deeply and squared his shoulders.
"Let’s go home."
Kat and Tanya each laid a hand on his arm and touched their communicators.
In a stream of pink, yellow and gold-tinged white, the three disappeared
from the cosy cabin, to rematerialize in a hidden structure somewhere in
the desert.

***

Tommy was running up to the basket, lining up for a hook shot, when
his communicator chimed a familiar six-tone signal. The Red Ranger dropped
the ball, unheeded, as the other three gathered round him. Raising his
wrist to his lips, he spoke into the small device.
"Yes, Zordon? What’s up?"
"Rangers, please come to the Power Chamber." Alpha’s tinny voice sounded
quite normal, lacking the customary urgency whenever their planet was under
attack from evil forces. The four young men exchanged puzzled glances.
Shrugging, Tommy answered the summons.
"We’ll be right there, Alpha."
They left the basketball t qut quickly for a more secluded spot, then
teleported away. Once they rematerialized in the dimly-lit Power Chamber,
the first thing Adam and Tommy saw were Katherine and Tanya. Both girls
looked somewhat exhausted, but cheerful as they greeted their friends.
With a muffled exclamation, Adam fairly flew over to Tanya and drew
the Yellow Ranger into his arms. He hugged her for all he was worth, burying
his face in her curly hair, as he revelled in the touch and feel of her.
Tanya returned his embrace with equal fervour.
Tommy, too, drew Kat into his arms, kissing her briefly but soundly.
However, he almost instantly looked around. If the girls were back, then
where ....
"Where’s Jason? Is he allright?" He gazed into the azure eyes of his
girlfriend. "Are you allright?"
Kat smiled indulgently; she couldn’t begrudge Tommy his concern for
his best friend. She squeezed his waist gently.
"He’s fine. Alpha has already checked him out -- the potion’s out of
his system."
Tommy’s shoulders sagged with relief. He hadn’t wanted to alarm anyone,
but the last two days hadn’t been as easy for him as he’d pretended. Hearing
that Kat and Tanya had indeed succeeded in helping Jason rid him of a lot
of tension he’d refused to acknowledge, even to himself. Now he too buried
his face in the sweet-smelling locks of his girlfriend, drawing her closer
in gratitude.
Billy and Rocky exchanged delighted glances. The Blue Ranger pumped
his fist in the air once, triumphantly.
"Yes! We did it!"
"We, Rocky?" Billy couldn’t keep his amusement out of his voice
as he took the readouts of Jason’s examination from Alpha. "I wasn’t aware
that you, or any of us male Rangers, had anything to do with curing Jason."
Rocky blushed, and aepisepish grin spread over his face. He scowled
playfully at the young genius.
"Aw, c’mon, Billy, you know what I meant!"
The former Blue Ranger just favoured him with a knowing grin as he immersed
himself in the test results. To his joy and relief, it appeared that whatever
the girls and Jason had done while at the cabin, had in fact succeeded
in negating the alien potion’s influence on his old friend’s hormones.
As far as the sophisticated machinery could determine, Jason was completely
recovered, if exhausted. Billy smiled in the privacy of his mind.
*Small wonder; he hadn’t completely overcome the effects of losing
the Gold Powers yet, and now this .... even without any potion, I should
think that engaging in sexual intercourse for two days straight would exhaust
even someone with Jason’s great stamina!*
However, such idle speculation on the three’s activities would lead
nowhere. Billy turned away from Rocky and his printouts to watch the two
couples. Adam and Tanya were still locked in each other’s arms, just holding
on and apparently reaffirming their relationship in silent communion. Tommy
held Kat no less closely, but even as the remaining two looked on, the
Red Ranger disentangled himself from his girlfriend’s embrace. Taking a
small step away from her, he was about to speak, when Kat kissed him lightly
on the lips and smiled understnglyngly. Nodding her head towards the Power
Chamber’s exit, she released Tommy completely.
"He’s outside. Go to him."
Tommy blushed slightly; he hadn’t thought he’d been that obvious.
But then, Kat knew him fairly well. Smiling his thanks, he trailed gentle
fingers down her soft cheek in gratitude, then turned and hurried after
his best friend.

***

Jason was sitting in the same spot he’d occupied two days ago; only
now he felt immeasurably better. The nagging pressure of arousal was gone
-- instead, all he felt was a pervasive weariness of body and yes, spirit.
His emotions were rather in a turmoil and he knew it would take him some
time to put everything in perspective again -- not least his feelings for
the Pink Ranger. He couldn’t help indulging in some wishful thinking ....
while he would never want to intrude on Kat’s and Tommy’s relationship,
it was harder than he’d thought it would be to let go of half-formed dreams
and fantasies. The memories he carried of how it had felt to hold the lovely
blonde in his arms, of kissing her sweet mouth and exploring her soft,
creamy skin didn’t exactly help matters. While Jason certainly did not
dismiss Tanya and her darker, more subdued charms -- after all, the Yellow
Ranger had been the firs off offer her help to him so generously -- he
felt nothing more than deep gratitude and a very profound friendship for
this special girl.
*It certainly would be easier if Kat weren’t the exact image of my
Dream Girl!*
With an effort, he wrenched his thoughts into another direction. Deliberately,
he called up images of Emily: her more vibrant colouring, her slightly
stubborn streak which could be equally exciting and exasperating, her fierce
independence ... and the soft glow in her eyes when he’d kissed her for
the first time, her mischievous smile when she teased him or badgered him
into something he’d sworn he’d never do ....
The ex-Ranger had to laugh under his breath as he recalled the Fashion
Show. He couldn’t recall when he’d ever felt this ridiculous in
his life, as he marched down the catwalk in a silver lamé shirt,
of all things. But it had been worth the delight in Emily’s warm blue eyes.
So what if they didn’t turn a deep azure when he kissed her, but stayed
the same colour no matter what she felt at any given moment? What did it
matter that her hair wasn’t quite as silky, or caught the moonlight
in silver reflexes? She was in love with him, she’d said so once, and Jason
knew that he cared deeply for her, as well. He couldn’t say if it was love
he was feeling, but after all, they were still teenagers, still in school.
*I’d better get used to it; I’m going to have to learn to trust and
love without the immediacy shared danger brings. I won’t have to trust
my life to her, or fear for hers ... and I’m not sure I could do that, way.way. How in the world do Tommy and Adam manage? It was bad enough being
afraid for my friends, for Tommy. How asuppsupposed to handle sending the
girl I care for against cogs, monsters or worse?*
His musings were interrupted as he heard the soft ‘whoosh’ of the Power
Chamber’s sliding doors opening behind him. Jason didn’t need to turn to
know it was Tommy, but did so, anyway. He smiled a welcome at his best
friend.
Tommy paused for a moment, his chocolate eyes taking in Jason’s relaxed
posture. He was sitting much as he had Friday night, but the tension was
gone from the broad shoulders. Instead, his best friend offered him a warm
if weary smile, as open as always, and it was then that Tommy finally was
able to relax completely. He’d seen that smile before, after he’d joined
the Rangers for the first time and the ‘old’ team forged their friendship;
after he’d come back as the White Ranger and Jason assured him that he
didn’t hate him for having been appointed the new leader, and lately after
Jason had lost the Golden Powers and with them his last chance of ever
being a Ranger again. True, there was a bit of sadness in that smile, but
Tommy had every intention of cheering Jason up, once everything and everybody
had been sorted out. For now, there was one thing he just had to
do.
A few quick stribroubrought the Red Ranger across the remaining distance
between him and Jason, who had risen at his approach. Without a single
word, Tommy did what he’d desperately wanted to do two days ago -- he reached
out and drew his best friend into a fierce hug. Jason never hesitated,
but returned the embrace in equal measure. Tommy’s words to him echoed
once more in his mind, and in that instant, the former Red and Gold Ranger
let go of his lingering feelings for Kat, locking them up in the farthest
corner of his mind and throwing away the keys. Not without a measure of
genuine regret, true, but in the knowledge that Tommy and Kat’s peace of
mind and their happiness was more important to him than his own. He
would
not, could not repay their caring and friendship by intruding on
their relationship in any way.
*I’ll just have to believe -- and deep down, I do -- that someday
I’ll find someone to love this deeply. Maybe it’ll be Emily, maybe even
Kat, but then it might be someone else altogether. There’s time to find
out .... now, when I’m out of the direct line of fire, when I don’t ever
have to worry about getting killed or worse by Space Aliens anymore, I
finally have all the time in the world to look for love!*
The two young men released each other at last. Both were blushing slightlbut but they cared about each other too much to let something as small as embarrassment
stand in their way. If nothing else, Mondo’s attempt to disrupt the team
of active and former Rangers had stripped them of the necessity to pretend.
Both Jason and Tommy knew that the words they’d spoken to each other the
other night could never be taken back -- nor would they want that.
Tommy held Jason at arm’s length as he inhaled shakily. He looked his
best friend over critically, but knew deep down that he needn’t worry anymore.
Still, he just had to ask.
"Are you allright, bro?"
Jason gripped the strong hands in his own as he stepped back. Smi
hi
his understanding at his friend, he nodded once.
"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Thanks to Tanya and Kat ..." the husky voice trailed
off. Jason knew that they all needed to talk, especially him with Adam
and Tommy, but it was rather difficult to find the necessary detachment
right Eve Everything was still too fresh in his mind. Consequently, he
limited himself to telling Tommy the foremost thing in his mind.
"Do you and Adam have any idea how special Kat and Tanya are?
If it hadn’t been for them, their trust and courage ... I don’t even want
to think about where I’d be now!"
Tommy laughed softly, delighted that his best friend was fine, that
he had his girlfriend back safe and sound, that the whole ordeal was finally
over, even if it had only taken two days. It had been the longest forty-eight
hours of Tommy’s life, barring the time Lord Zedd had held Kimberly captive
while he was slowly draining her of her Powers.
"Forget it, Jase. It’s over, that’s all that counts." Tommy shook his
head as he settled next to his friend. He could see Jason wanted to contradict,
but this was not the time for a prolonged heart-to-heart talk. The signs
of exhaustion in Jason’s and the girls’ faces were all too obvious. Still,
it wouldn’t hurt to take a few more minutes for each other.
"I .... I’m not sure I can forget. Or even if I want to," Jason
confessed hesitantly. He glanced sideways at Tommy, not sure if he’d understand.
He needn’t have worried.
"I hear you, bro. I think, if I were in your shoes, I’d feel the same.
Don’t worry -- Kat and I will be fine." Tommy deliberately addressed one
of the things he knew must be on Jason’s mind. "And Adam and Tanya will,
too -- in a while, at least. And yes, we both know how special the
giare.are." Tommy grinned reassuringly at his friend. "Why do you think
we fell in love with them in the first place?"

***

Two weeks had passed, and life had gone on for past and present Rangers;
the teens were slowly regaining their former ease with each other, although
there had been many awkward moments between the two couples, Jason and
the girls and most of all between Jason, Adam and Tommy. However, they
hadn’t found the right time yet to talk it out and resolve the situation
to their mutual satisfaction. It was as if each was waiting for the other
to make an overture, but none seemed able to take that necessary first
step. As a result, the group was not as tightly-knit as usual. Billy and
Rocky, the onles nes not directly affected, could do nothing but stand
back and wait, willing to lend an ear if needed, but essentially unable
to help their friends directly. It was a thoroughly frustrating situation
for the former and the current Blue Ranger, but they both agreed not to
step in ... yet.
It was Tuesday afternoon; school was over, and all of the Rangers and
their former teammates were rested and ready to resume their lives as they
had been before That Weekend. Somehow, without talking about it, they all
tended to think about it in capitals.
Jason went home right away; his exertions while under the influence
of the Ecstasy potion had set his recovery time back a bit, and he still
needed his rest. He’d decided not to mention to the others that
the muscles in his lower back had been aching rather fiercely, and that
he had seriously considered looking for a therapist to massage the kinks
away. A careful exercise program and judicious use of hot baths had taken
care of the problem, though, and he was feeling more like his usual self
with every passing day. Emily had returned after her one-week stay had
turned into two, and he had a date with her as soon as her shift at the
Beachb wab was over. Somewhat to his surprise, Jason was experiencing almost
the same kind of nervousness as just before the first time he’d ever asked
her out, and his heartbeat accelerated when he thought of having time to
hold her and kiss her tonight.
Adam and Tanya had gone back almost to the early stages of their relationship,
just spending time together. Although, there was a marked difference --
they knew each other intimately after all, and it was very easy
to slip an arm around the other, to kiss and cuddle before the awkwardness
left in the wake of That Weekend returned. Tanya was rapidly revising her
first estimation on wanting and needing intimacy any time soon; she loved
Adam, and the distance between them was grating on her nerves. If something
didn’t happen soon, she was going to have to take the initiative. Observing
her boyfriend out of the corner of her eyes as he walked her home from
school, a careful two steps beside her, she came to a decision.
"Adam?"
"Yeah?" The slim teen looked at her with a mixture of dread and hopefulness.
Tanya thought that the latter definitely was something to build upon.
"Adam .... sweetie, I think we need to talk."
The Green Ranger paled. He stopped right where he stood and fixed stricken
black eyes on the yellow-clad girl.
"W-what about?"
Tanya couldn’t help herself; although they’d never been overly demonstrative
about their feelings in public before, she simply slid her arms around
his waist and kissed him on the cheek.
"About us. About how much you mean to me, and how I’ve wished all during
That Weekend that it could’ve been you with me up at the cabin."
Adam automatically drew Tanya closer to him. He’d wanted so much to
hold her, kiss her during these last couple of weeks, but after their initial
long
embrace, he’d been reluctant to do so, thinking that she’d prefer to be
left alone rather thanforcforced into a closeness she might no longer be
comfortable with. It was also the reason he’d held back and retreated every
time he’d been tempted to show her how much he still wanted her. Tanya’s
words, though, removed some of his anxiety. And yet, he wanted to be very
sure.
"Y-you did?"
"Of course. Jason is a good friend, and he was quite ... gentle, as
much as he was able, but I don’t love him. Not the way I love you." There
was no sense in pussyfooting around the issue Tan Tanya came directly to
the point.
Adam’s smile could have lit up half of Angel Grove at night. Not caring
that they were in the middle of the sidewalk, he hugged Tanya for all he
was worth, burying his face in her hair.
"Oh God, Tanya .... I ... I thought you might not want me anymore .."
"Not want you anymore?! Adam, what on Earth are you talking about?"
Tanya could hardly believe her ears as she returned Adam’s fervent embrace.
The Asian teen blushed crimson as he peeked at his girlfriend.
"I ... I just thought that ... Jason is so good-looking, and a better
athlete, and ... and probably more experienced than me ..." his voice trailed
off as he saw the thoroughly exasperated Look the Yellow Ranger gave him.
Tanya was very good at giving a person a Look. Adam ed sed somewhat tentatively;
it had been a while since he’d been the recipient of one of her Looks.
His blush intensified as Tanya just shook her head. Her lips were twitg
sg
slightly, as if she were trying very hard not to laugh at him, and the
Green Ranger suddenly felt like a five-year-old caught with his hand in
the cookie jar. He hung his head.
"Oh Adam," Tanya sighed and cupped the bowed head in both her hands,
tilting it up until she could meet her boyfriend’s eyes. She’d known that,
because of his shyness, Adam had the lowest self-esteem of all the Rangers,
but she’d honestly never imagined that he could think for even a minute
that she’d prefer Jason -- or anyone else, for that matter -- over him.
"How could you even think that? Don’t you trust me at all?"
The mild reproof in her voice sent yet another rush of blood into Adam’s
cheeks. He desperately wanted to turn away from the loving eyes, but Tanya’s
grip on both sides of his face wouldn’t let him. Having no choice, he finally
met her questioning gaze.
"I ... I do, really; it ... it’s just ...."
Tanya decided there and then to put things right between them. Not caring
that they were in public, she threaded her arms around his neck and pressed
herself against his leanly muscled body. Adam’s arms closed instinctively
around her waist. She shook her head in fond exasperation and let her smile
show in her voice as she earnestly looked into the black eyes.
"Adam ... oh Adam, honey, you’re an idiot. And a fool. And a sweetheart,
and handsome, and brave, and any number of other things I can’t remember
right now, and I couldn’t love you more if I tried."
With that, she drew the dark head with the longish locks down and fitted
her full mouth against his, kissing him with a passion and tenderness she
had shown him before only when they had been making love. The Green Ranger
stiffened for a moment, then gave himself up to the kiss with a tiny, needy
moan. He’d wanted to do this ever since Tanya came back from the cabin,
but hadn’t dared; now, he couldn’t care less that they were right out in
the open, in full view of Tanya’s neighbours. The two stood in a close
embrace for long moments, even after their kiss had ended for lack of air,
swaying slightly against each other. Finally, Adam lifted his head and
the first genuine smile in days quirked his mobile mouth in a familiar
expression.
"You ... you think you can forgive me for being such an idiot?" he asked,
gently brushing a strand of hair out of Tanya’s eyes.
"Only if you promise never to do it again," Tanya demanded, a relieved
grin slowly spreading across her face.
"I don’t know if I can promise you that. But I’ll try, okay?"
The light tenor was hopeful.
Tanya pretended to think for a moment, then snuggled closer into Adam’s
arms. He nuzzled briefly at her throat as he waited for her answer. Tanya
chuckled slightly.
"That’s good enough for now, I guess." To her absolute delight, Adam
then proceeded to kiss her almost senseless, only stopping when wolf-whistles
from a passing car penetrated their absorption with each other. Breathless
and giddy, they resumed their walk to the Sloanes’ house, their arms firmly
around each other as their blushes slowly subsided.
When they reached their destination, Tanya ushered Adam inside, into
the large kitchen. She automatically checked the answering machine; she
made notes of a few routine calls for her parents who were in San Francisco
on business for the day, when suddenly her mother’s voice sounded from
the tiny tape.
"Tanya darling, there’s been a slight
change in plans -- Professor Henderson wants to take us to a special fundraiser
tonight where we can meet directly with some officials from Brazil who
are in town just until tomorrow. This might actually smooth our way on
the next dig. Anyway, don’t wait for us at the airport tonight -- we’ll
catch the early flight tomorrow morning and be at Angel Grove International
around lunchtime. We love you, sweetie -- see you tomorrow after school!"
With a click, the tape shut off and started to rewind. While the tiny
apparatus whirred happily to itself, Tanya kept her back towards Adam,
her mind and emotions in sudden turmoil. Her parents weren’t coming home
tonight....that meant she had the house to herself .... she was all alone
in the comfortable structure with Adam .... her heart started beating like
a triphammer as she slowly turned around. She felt the blood rise hotly
in her cheeks as she finally faced Adam.
The Green Ranger stood next to the kitchen table, having difficulties
breathing. He’d heard Mrs. Sloane’s message, and suddenly he felt a desperate
need to tug at the collar of his tee. His dark eyes fastened on the lovely
features of his girlfriend as she slowly raised her eyes to his. With a
voice he hardly recognized as his own, he whispered the one thing that
was suddenly paramount in his mind.
"My folks are at a reunion back in Stone Canyon; they won’t be home
‘til late tonight."
Tanya swallowed once. All of a sudden, her nerve endings seemed almost
electrified as she continued to stare into Adam’s black eyes .... which
seemed to get hotter every second. She recognized the flame lighting them
all too well; after all, she’d observed it a lot over That Weekend in another
pair of eyes quitquite as dark. But then, it hadn’t been quite
as welcome, either. A slow smile began to play around her lips as her muscles
began to relax. The expression on the beautiful dark face made Adam catch
his breath as he felt other articles of his clothing become severely restrictive.
Barely able to breathe, he was only capable of uttering a single word.
"T-tanya?"
She heard the hope and need in the way he almost-sighed her name. It
was a perfect match for her own feelings. Thus, the Yellow Ranger gave
the only possible answer to her teammate and lover’s unspoken question.
"Yes."