A/N: This story is a little more ... involved. Nothing overly graphic. There's a large age gap. Get over it, the characters did.

Barely There

Mackenzie had always pined for him and one night, Seth responded. Her wildest dreams had come true but they had not unfolded the way she expected. It was far from unpleasant, but sometimes she wished they had never happened. His flirting began when she turned 16 although she was too naïve to recognise it for what it was. She thought that because she had just gone through puberty he was just beginning to see her as more of an adult, but never like this. She had, of course, continued her chase of him, but only recently had he been responding. Shamelessly, she threw herself at him and after seven months, they had finally ended up here - in his apartment, half naked and kissing.

His experienced lips led her untouched ones in a silent dance to music that was being played by their attraction to one another. Their tongues swirled in a tango, dancing to the beat of lust. All rationality had left his mind as he pushed the slim 18 year old body against the wall and explored her bare stomach with his hand. Her arms were slung across his neck while she drew unconscious patterns on his shoulder blades with her fingers. Their shirts had been discarded long ago and his other hand was unbuttoning her jeans while their lips were being rubbed raw in the passion of their kiss. Seth's 31 year old fingers slipped into her jeans and pulled them down, releasing her lips, kissing every part of her inner thigh as it was exposed to the air.

Her head fell back against the wall as her eyes stayed closed, her entire body leaning against the support behind her. If it wasn't for the man holding her up and the wall she would have collapsed long ago, her legs feeling shaky as tingles flowed up her spine with every touch. Once he had taken her pants off completely he placed his hands on her thighs and lifted her, pushing his mouth over hers. Her legs wrapped around his waist tightly, pushing the bulge in his pants against her before she fumbled with his belt as he began to kiss her neck roughly. When she had finally got it undone, she continued to undo his pants before he placed her back on the ground. He stepped out of the trousers around his ankles and pinned her wrists against the wall above her head before ravishing her neck with his lips while his other hand explored the rest of her body.

His fingers slipped into the waistband of her underwear before she moaned audibly before biting her lip. Her eyes scrunched tightly as she tried to keep herself from moaning too loudly. She had never been touched like this before. Her walls contracted before Seth covered her mouth with his own again, allowing her to whimper into his mouth as her whole body exploded with pleasure. Her body relaxed as she explored his mouth with her tongue, sucking his own as though she was trying to breathe deeply in an attempt to calm her quivering body. Their hearts beat against each other nearly as strongly as their lips battled, the obvious arousal in his briefs pressing against her stomach almost painfully.

Seth released her wrists before he felt them pressed against his naked chest, pushing him towards the bed behind him. The edge pushed against the back of his knees making him fall onto the bed, pulling her body on top of him. Slowly, sensually, she began to move against his body as her arms moved behind her body to unlatch her bra before she threw it to the ground. Pressing her breasts against his chest, her hand snaked across his firm but not too muscular stomach towards his underwear. A groan vibrated against her tongue as her hand brushed over his arousal before she began to stroke it softly.

His rough, firm hand explored her back as the muscles tensed and relaxed in time with her movements over his body. The softness of her hair made him moan as it brushed against his shoulders, falling from behind her head. All thoughts of age had disappeared the moment their lips had touched but right now, as she realised what might eventuate, her heart skipped a beat before it remembered who it had always beat for – him.

Before she knew what was happening, he grabbed her hand away and pulled her body to his. Fastening his lips to her neck, he flipped them over so that he was on top of her and soon they were both naked. She could feel him pressing into her while they kissed. He stopped before entering, waiting for her protest. When none came, she began to feel something she had never felt before. The feeling was strange. It was uncomfortable but not as painful as she imagined. There was no pleasure, she just felt full. He remained still. His eyes stared into her own, silently asking how she was feeling. She nodded and he began to move inside of her. The uncomfortable feeling fading as he moved extremely slowly inside of her. Soon, she began to enjoy the sensation of the moment, his expertise allowing her the greatest pleasure. His body moved against her – inside her – as she began to move in a rhythm that the two shared. They moaned in unison into each others' mouths before she twisted their bodies so that she was on top once again. Her extroverted nature allowed her the confidence to take control of the situation as she rocked her hips back and forth, grinding their pelvises together erotically.

It wasn't heaven but she didn't think that she would be able to tell the difference. Her whole body shivered with pleasure as she felt his muscles tighten. Instinctively, she knew that he was close. He grunted and pulled her down on top of his chest, crushing her breasts painfully against his torso as he orgasmed within her. Pushing her off of his body, she felt somewhat unsatisfied, but content at the same time. Their panting, sweaty bodies lay next to each other on the bed as he pulled the thin sheet over their naked bodies. Mackenzie rolled over to face the wall, pulling the sheet over her exposed breasts in a subconscious attempt to retain some modesty. Seth lay on his back, the sheet covering him only from the waist down, his eyes drooping before he fell asleep comfortably.

Mackenzie's eyes stayed wide awake as she heard the deep breathing and quiet snores resonating through the room which indicated his unconscious state. Once she was sure he was fast asleep, she got out of the bed and began to get dressed, not regretting the act that had just happened in the room with a man 13 years her elder. It wasn't something that she would shout to the whole world, but it was something that she was satisfied with. A little secret that she would keep close to her heart.

Looking back at the naked man on the bed her heart didn't twinge the way it used to. Nor did her stomach's butterflies fly around tickling her insides. She felt happy. A happiness that she hadn't felt in a while but with a hint of confusion. She was confused because no longer did she feel as though she couldn't have him. He had always been a figure that she could pine over but never really touch. Now, her entire world had been obscured. Everything she thought she knew seemed wrong. If she could have him, the untouchable, then who's to say she can't have anything she wanted?

After that night the feeling that she was so sure was love was missing. Her heart didn't flutter when she looked at him, nor did her breathing become heavier. It was love, but not the love she thought it was. Mackenzie smiled as she looked back into the room from the doorway. The smell of last night still lingered. Her eyes drifted shut as she remembered before she left the room, knowing that she'd never return and happy of the fact.

Seth awoke to an empty bed. His lips formed into a smile, knowing that last night meant the entire world, yet it meant nothing. He rolled over to the other side of the bed and smelled the pillow, still fresh with her scent. Last night would always mean the world, yet it would always be a secret. That was before the guilt set in.

fin