“It's in your eyes, really. The intensity of your stare when you look at us with such... heat."

I started to look at her with heat in my eyes, thinking about all the things I'd done to her last night... Thinking of all the things I could be doing to her right now. But I took a deep breath and forced myself to once again be patient, to think rationally instead of hormonally.

“But what changed?" I asked.

“You've been attracted to me for a long time, you say. What was different about last night?"

Sam sighed and stared back into her lap. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said quietly, “Maybe I should just go home.”

“Sam...”

“This wasn't a good idea."

"You can't dodge this forever. And you don't have an excuse that you need to beat your parents home." I blinked, realized I didn't actually know that, and added, “Do you?"

She shrugged.

“They think I'm visiting Zofi. She'll cover for me if they call for any reason. She knows I'm here."

I arched an eyebrow.

“Does she know what we did last night?"

Sam shook her head in the negative. "But I don't know how long I can keep that under wraps. I don't like lying to her. And I can't lie to the BTC for very Long."

I raised both eyebrows.

“But you intend to lie to them for a little bit?"

Sam bit her lip and started to hug herself.

“Just... Just until I can figure out what I'm gonna say to them. I never meant... You and I weren't... Ugh, I'm being so STUPID!" She buried her face in her hands.

"Sam..." I intoned soothingly as I hugged her with both arms.

“You're not being stupid.”

“Mounting myself on you last night was pretty stupid," she muttered while picking her head back up.

“Best night of my life," I commented sincerely.

She managed to smile at that, and quickly leaned over to give me a peck on the lips. She sighed, stared into my eyes for a little while, and mumbled again, “I'm not in Love with you. But..."

I waited patiently when her voice trailed off.

Eventually, she found the words. Sitting up straight, she narrowed her eyes and asked rather interrogatively, “Who's your favorite in the

BTC?"