Loving Lies

By:  M. J. Cogburn and C. E. Krawiec

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At first, Allen thought that the brief ride down to his quarters would give him a few moments to think about the last hour spent on the winter wind-swept beach with Siren.  That thought was disproved when the elevator made three stops before it drew to a stop on the fifth level.  Two or three friends accosted him, asking about his day, one even ribbing, "For as red as your cheeks are, you must've really gotten outta line for her to slap your face.  Or did you deserve it and just stood and took what you had coming to you?"

Rolling his eyes, Allen gave Ty Gibbson a shove, sending the other man almost to the other side of the elevator car.  "Not that it's any of your business but my face is red because I took a walk on the beach.  So the only "she" that did anything to my face was "Lady Winter's" winds."  Just saying the words sent a trace shiver up his spine.

Ty and Sandy Leedum just pasted on "yeah...sure...whatever you say" looks, chuckling like hyenas.

Allen just shrugged and turned to face the elevator doors, having noticed that level five was the next stop.  Getting off the car, he headed purposefully down the hall toward his quarters, ignoring his aping friends trailing behind him until each reached his own front door.

Once in his quarters, Allen got out of his parka, tossing it  on the sofa.  At first, he did nothing, just standing there, rubbing his hands together and thinking, allowing one or two thoughts he had studiously ignored since parting ways with Siren a few moments before to venture to the foreground of his mind.

Of those two thoughts, the one he entertained most readily, and reviewed more than once, was how easy and relaxed things had been on the beach.  Two people...

"Friends," he said softly aloud to himself, unaware of the trace of firmness in his tone as he spoke.  "Just two friends...and, okay, co-workers, taking a walk on a beach.  People do it all the time."  The comment felt right, so Allen dismissed it.  A glance at the clock revealed that he had plenty of time for a leisurely shower, and to call the theater to check what movies were playing tonight.  Though not a movie palace by any stretch, the complex's movie theater boasted three screens, and more often than not, the limited show times were sold out.

"Right," he said, continuing to comment aloud to himself. "Standing here isn't getting me any closer to that shower." Grabbing his parka from the sofa, Allen started down the hall to replace the coat in his closet but as he entered his bedroom, an errant thought flaunted itself through his mind.

So it was just two *friends* walking on the beach, huh?  People do it all the time, huh? Tell me, pal, how many  people do you know who go for long walks on a  beach in the dead of winter?

Allen stopped, standing in the open closet doorway, parka in one hand while reaching for a hanger with the other.  He frowned, hissing under his breath back at his conscience, "It's not like that!"

Not like what? his conscience prodded him. That you didn't enjoy Siren's company?  Or, that you enjoyed the chance to put your arms around her and give her a good tight hug?  She did feel good...didn't she?

Allen's response was more reaction than anything else. "Yes...No!  It's not like that at all.  Siren and I are just co-workers and...and friends.  Nothing else." 

Yet for all of the vehemence in his voice as he argued with himself, there was that other thought that kept blocking his escape from the first thought.  It was one he was having a hard time getting past. Perhaps if he just said it aloud and...

"No!" he declared strongly, shoving the parka into the closet and slamming the door much harder than necessary.  Stubbornly Allen ignored his conscience's whispering as he stripped off his clothes and took a shower.

Forty-five minutes later, showered, dressed and his thoughts under a tight rein, Allen called the theater to check show times.  Jotting them down on the notepad he kept on his nightstand, he hung up the phone and stood up.  Tearing the sheet of paper from the pad, he tucked into his pocket then turned off the small lamp and crossed to his bedroom door.  Stepping into the hall, he stopped to reach in and turn out the overhead light, plunging the room into darkness. As luck would have it, a narrow shaft of light from the hallway cut through the darkened bedroom, cutting a swath across his rumpled bed.  It was all that the imp in his head needed to start it whispering again.  Allen ignored it, as best he could, as he left his quarters and headed for the elevators, turning his thoughts in any direction that didn't include Siren, at least until he had to think of her.

At the elevator, he was grateful that there wasn't anyone else around as he waited.  A car soon arrived,  he got in and pressed the button for the seventh level.

"I hope she's ready," he murmured under his breath, more to drown out the whispering than anything else. The ploy worked, at least until he presented himself at the door of Siren and Xavier's quarters and rang the bell.  A moment passed before the door was opened  Siren.  That's all it took to break the short leash he had his thoughts on.

It's going to be a long night, he thought with a silent sigh.

Could be you might have company to pass all those long hours?

Siren smiled at her co-worker standing before her.  He looked rather introspective at the moment, but she quickly opened the door wider to let him in.  "I still need to get my shoes.  Come on in," she beckoned him in with her hand as she moved back in through the door.  She watched as Allen came in before she moved back to her room.

When she had gotten home, she had immediately stripped out of her clothes and took a shower.  She had wanted to at least look decent on her "date" with Allen.  She had picked out one of her nicer dresses and had continued to argue with herself over anything happening down at the beach with Allen McAllister.  Even as she went to her closet to get her shoes, she was still berating herself. 

"No," she said softly.  "Nothing happened out there.  It was just..."

Yeah, right.  He would have kissed you if you had let him.  If you had...

Siren shook her head.  "No.  There's nothing there.  Nothing."

Pushing the little voice aside, Siren grabbed her purse from the edge of the bed and started back out into the living room to see her father and Allen talking quietly to the side.  She frowned, not quite sure what was going on, but she'd find out. 

"So, is this the fatherly meeting before we can go out for dinner and a movie?" Siren asked carefully with a grin, making sure that they knew that she was kidding.

At the sound of his daughter's playful question, Xavier turned his head toward her, a genuine smile on his lips.  "Should it be?" he asked lightly.  Displaying for a moment a side of his personality rarely seen by the other complex occupants, Xavier's blue eyes twinkled as he glanced sidelong at Allen.  "Mr. McAllister...do you have designs upon my daughter other than dinner and movie?"

Though he still felt a certain sense of watchfulness about who Siren's father was, nonetheless, Allen was surprised at how deftly the older man put him at his ease.  The two or three minutes of chatting was light and even interesting.  Still, he watched what he said and how he said it.  A father was a father in any language, but when a young woman's father was the Supreme Torture Master for Lothos, a smart man stayed on his toes all the time, even during a relaxing moment.  Now, he followed Xavier's lead, responding, a grin appearing, "No, sir.  The only designs I have are for whatever I wind up choosing to have for dinner."  Glancing at Siren, and appreciating very much how pretty she looked at the moment, he added, "This is just what your daughter indicated, sir.  Just dinner and a movie."

Xavier nodded, his eyes still twinkling.  "Well, in that case, I'll wish you two a nice evening.  I've got some paperwork to finish and then I'm going turn in early." With the obvious intent that Allen McAllister should see the action, Xavier dropped a broad wink at Siren. He chuckled lightly when she took the bait, swooping forward to brush a kiss on his cheek before moving toward the door, saying as she went, "Dad, I'll bet you lunch at your favorite restaurant that you'll be sitting right there in your chair, reading when I come through the door later."

Xavier affected a "how could you think that" expression, chuckling  when Siren's only response was to roll her eyes as she grabbed Allen by one arm even as she opened the front door and started out.  Staying with the mood of the moment, Xavier went to stand in the open doorway.  Watching  as the couple started off down the hall, he called out, "Siren...what should I be reading when you come in?" An impish fatherly smirk appeared on his lips as he watched his daughter stop and turn back to look pointedly at him, waiting for her reply.

Siren smiled at her father.  "The Three Little Pigs?" she said before she glanced at Allen.  "And don't forget to do the huffing and puffing!"  She then brought her hand up to her mouth and blew him a kiss.  "Be back in a little bit, Dad."

Siren saw the smile that her words brought to her father's face.  Looking at Allen then back to her father, she waved a goodbye then shut the door before anything else could be said.  Turning back to Allen, she smiled at him.  "I hope that little fatherly talk didn't make you nervous."

Allen shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly but the grin that appeared on his face as waited for her belied the casual action.  "Maybe just *this much*," he admitted, holding his index finger and thumb just barely apart. He, too, chuckled  at her reaction as he stepped back then moved to her side as they started toward the elevator. "Actually, he wasn't as bad as a couple of other fathers have been when I picked up their daughters for a first date."  He affected wiping sweat from his brow.  "One guy..." he shook his head as if the memory was still fresh.  "I thought she and I would NEVER get out the front door!"  Allen's grin broadened and inside he felt something good when Siren chided him, "Oh that didn't either happen! You're just saying that."

Reaching the elevator bank at that moment, Allen pressed the call button then turned to face Siren, holding his right hand up solemnly, his left pressed over his heart.  "Yes it did, too!  I swear!  If you don't believe me, you can ask her!"

Siren fixed her impromptu evening companion with a mock stern look, her gaze a bit narrowed.  It didn't, however, stop her blue eyes from twinkling as she demanded, "Alright, I will!  What's her name?"

Allen blinked a couple of times. "Her name?"

"Yes, her name," Siren repeated. She paused in her 'inquisition' just long enough to step into the elevator.  Turning, she watched Allen get on, waiting only until the doors closed and Allen had pressed the button for the second level. Then she got right up in his face, wagging a manicured finger at the end of his nose, demanding, "Name, please."

The easy relaxed bantering had come up between them as effortlessly as taking one breath then another and, if asked, Allen would have readily admitted that he was enjoying it.  What would another minute or so of it hurt?

"Name? Oh, oh, right. Name," he said, swallowed, licked his lips then smiled brightly, "Allen. Nice to meet you."

Siren couldn't help but laugh and pushed him slightly to the side of the elevator car.  "You are so full of it," she told him plainly.   She smiled as he came back over to her and chuckled.  She shook her head good-naturedly.  "It's a good thing that I have a good sense of humor."

"It sure is," Allen said as he placed a hand on the small of her back.  "Okay, so you got me," he admitted as caught a whiff of her perfume.

Oh... yeah... she's got you all right his conscience told him quite plainly.  She's got you more than you know.

Allen shook his head to rid himself of the nasty little voice that was coming back to him.  "Should we go pick up our tickets for the movie first and then go eat?"

Siren nodded.  "Sure, why not?  Easier to watch something when you're not trying to concentrate on eating something that's in your lap anyway."

The two of them went directly to the movie theatre once they got to the second level and were thoroughly disappointed when all the movies for the shows had been sold out.  Seeing the way that Allen seemed to be irritated, Siren poked him lightly in his ribs.   "No worries, Allen.  This just means that we can have a more relaxed dinner."

He conceded to that and decided that he would treat her to the best food that they had on the island.  He placed his hand back on the small of her back again, then told her plainly, "Then I pay for the meal.  It's already been set anyway."

"Allen.  I can't..."

"Oh yes, you can.  It's my treat, Siren." 

Seeing the look in his eyes, Siren nodded then thanked him.  She was more than surprised when she was led to The Island Room, the most exclusive restaurant on the island.  When her escort wrapped her arm around his she smiled, and just decided that she was going to enjoy herself for the evening.

The movie had been a wash-out, but on the other hand their impromptu evening together wasn’t a total loss.   In spite of the fact that Saturday evening was traditionally one of the two busiest nights of the week for The Island Room, Allen and Siren were shown to a table after a brief ten minute wait.

As the waiter held her chair for her, Siren looked across at Allen and said in a low voice, "Exactly what did you do to get reservations here?"  She smiled her thanks to the waiter as he continued about his duties, offering each of them a menu.  She didn't see the way the man  pursed his lips thoughtfully  to keep from chuckling when Allen's sense of humor maintained its level as he answered, "Crossed my fingers behind my back," causing  Siren to roll her eyes yet again. Her lips twitched a moment before she told him, “If  I wasn't a lady, I'd kick you under the table."

For Allen, it was far too good of a line to let it slip by, and as he focused on his menu he murmured, "My ankles are most grateful that you are a lady."

"Would you care for a drink, ma'am?" David Tighman, the waiter, smoothly interjected.  From their  behavior and conversation, he  knew this was going to be a good table.  Couples that enjoyed each other's company as this couple clearly was, always tipped generously.  Thus, he gave the lady his most courteous and genuine smile as he waited for her answer.

Siren looked up at the waiter and said, "I'll have..."

Allen cleared his throat softly and placed his hand on Siren's arm.  "We'll both have a glass of Dom Perignon Rose' and some water, please." 

Siren just looked at Allen for a brief moment before the waiter tilted his head and said, "A fine champagne, sir.  A most excellent choice.  I'll be right back with that then I'll take your order for your meal."

Siren waited until the waiter was gone before she said, "Good grief, Allen, that's expensive.  Are you sure that you..."

"Siren, don't worry about it.  What good is money if you can't spend it here and there and enjoy the company that one is with?"  Allen smiled warmly at her as he placed his hand on top of hers.  "Please, indulge me."

Though the restaurant, as usual, was quickly filling up with other patrons, at that moment, as Siren sat there looking across into Allen's eyes it seemed for a moment that there was no one else in the room.  On the fringes of her thoughts, she vaguely admitted that she like the feel of his hand on hers.

"Alright," she said at last, her smile warming, "consider yourself indulged."

Allen didn't give Siren a chance to change her mind. "Good," he said softly, deciding it was time to rein in his sense of humor at least some. "And you have to promise to order whatever you want from the menu." Seeing her mouth open as if to speak, he lifted a hand, pointing his finger at her. "Ah, ah, ah.  Remember, you agreed to indulge, me, pretty lady, and I’m going to hold you to your promise."

It had been a while since the last time she had been so spoiled...in fact, it was Dad who spoiled me on my last birthday.  That thought was enough to make her realize that it had been too long a while since an attractive man had wanted to spend time with her for an evening.  It felt good.  It felt very good.

The waiter returned just then with the champagne.  As he deftly poured two flutes of the Dom Perignon, Siren simply looked across at Allen and smiled warmly at him.  Accepting the flute of champagne from the waiter, she waited for Allen to receive his the held her glass out to him.

"To good times spent with good friends," she said. 

"To very good friends," Allen reiterated. They clinked glasses gently and started to drink. Well, Allen did. Siren's glass got only as far as her lips.

"What's the matter?" Allen asked, immediately concerned when she didn't take even a small sip.

Siren studied the champagne with longing in her gaze as she set the glass on the table.  "I can't," she said softly. 

"Why..." Allen began then stopped when the proverbial light bulb came on and he offered her an understanding, if sheepish, look.  "I'm sorry," he apologized as he immediately signaled the waiter.

David Tighman just happened to glance in the direction of Siren and Allen, thus seeing the lady set her glass down.  He responded promptly to the gentleman's signal.  "Is there a problem, sir?"

"No, it's fine," Allen assured the man then added, "Would you bring her some...sparking cider..."  At the waiter's uncertain expression, Allen said softly, "She's pregnant."

Understanding lit up David Tighman's eyes as he smiled. "Yes, sir. I understand completely," he said smoothly then moved quickly away to get the requested beverage.

By the time that the waiter came back with the sparkling cider, Siren had decided on her meal.  They placed their order; both had a salad with Siren choosing filet mignon and Allen ordering a T-bone steak and, in due time their meals arrive.  As they enjoyed their food, they continued to banter back and forth and laughing at each other’s silliness.

After paying for the meal, Allen stood and helped Siren out of her chair before he wrapped his arm around her back.  He led her out into the open area of the second level and stopped outside of the restaurant to look at the lovely woman beside him.  "Do you want me to walk you home?" he asked softly.

Siren couldn't remember the last time she had spent such a pleasant evening with someone other than her father or her girlfriends. What about those nights with Trevor?

Being in punishment with Trevor isn't the same, Siren argued with her conscience even as she smiled at her companion.

You didn't seem to mind potluck with him instead of filet mignon and champagne.

Siren, however, displayed her inherited stubbornness as she argued with herself.  She ignored her conscience, deliberately pushing the annoying little whisper firmly out of her thoughts.

"Doesn't a gentleman always escort his companion home at the end of the evening?" she asked, moving to his side and linking one arm with his. Hearing his, "Of course," she nodded firmly.  "Then it's settled. You *will* walk me home."

"Okay," Allen agreed.  However, when he turned to guide her back in the direction of the elevators, he stopped when she added, "But not yet."

Siren's smile widened as she sighed, looking around the grand main walkway. "I'd like to just walk for a bit."  She met his gaze and held it. "Give our dinner a chance to settle."

Allen didn't need a lot of convincing.  Inwardly, he had admitted to himself that he wished the evening could last a little longer.  It was early yet--a bit past nine-thirty--and he wanted to spend a little more time with his lovely companion.

She's your boss.

*So what?  Employees sometimes spend time away from work with their boss.*

Yes, they do his conscience agreed, but even that agreement was ignored. Allen didn't like the snide manner in which it had been offered.  Instead, he gave Siren a warm smile and offered her his arm.

"Shall we stroll?" he asked.

"Yes," Siren agreed, slipping her arm through Allen's proffered crooked arm.

They strolled slowly the length and back again of the second level, their conversation as general yet light and fun as might be expected between friends.  Yet as the hour grew later ever so subtly, unrealized by either of the couple, the undertones of the conversation, and their body language, began to change.

It was only when perchance that the couple saw their waiter on his way toward the elevators, his jacket unbuttoned and his tie loosened a bit that they realized how late the hour truly was.  It was with unspoken reluctance between them that Siren and Allen made their way to the elevators.  A press of the call button brought an elevator quickly and they entered into the car.

Siren didn't think a thing wrong when Allen slipped one arm behind her waist, holding her lightly by his side.  As the elevator descended silently, she turned to him. "Thank you for a perfectly lovely evening, Allen.  I had such a good time."

As the elevator slowed then stopped, Allen reacted, not looking at the floor level indicator as he applied light pressure to Siren's back, urging her out of the elevator.  It was only a moment later and a few steps forward that both realized...

"Ah, geez," Allen murmured apologetically, turning to Siren. "This isn't your floor," he apologized. "I'm sorry, Siren." Immediately he started to turn to guide her back to the elevator, good manners dictating that he amend his error as quickly as possible.  However, at that moment, good manners were forced to step aside by other feelings as Allen stopped, taking Siren lightly by her arms and turning her to face him.

"No, I'm not," he murmured, gazing into her eyes.  Somewhere in his mind, Allen McAllister knew Siren was going to do something...say something.  When she did, he knew that he would have to honor whatever she said…but she hadn't spoken yet.  That, for him, was the “do or never think on it again” moment.

Not giving his own sense of chivalry a chance to step in, Allen took a step closer to Siren, lifting his hands to gently cup her face between them.  He saw the brightness in her startled eyes, felt the warmth of her blushing cheeks...the soft fullness of her lips.

"I'm not sorry at all," he whispered again then leaned forward and gently kissed Siren.

Siren was more than surprised; she was... enjoying the feeling of his lips on hers.  The soft kiss was something that she hadn't expected to receive from Allen, but it was nice nonetheless.  The soft pressure of his lips on hers increased only slightly and Siren stepped slightly toward Allen, placing a hand on his chest. 

His lips lightly parted and Siren allowed herself the pleasure of his kiss, his tongue meeting hers.  Siren moaned ever so lightly and felt Allen respond in kind.  She didn't want to pull away from him, didn't want to ruin the moment.  It was so nice, so what she wanted. 

It was Allen who finally pulled away from her and met her eyes.  "Come with me?" he questioned, his eyes searching her reaction to the kiss.  Seeing her nod her head slightly with a soft blink of her eyes, Allen wrapped his arm again around her body, and walked her the rest of the way to his quarters.

Opening the door, he held the door open for her before he too entered and shut the door.  He knew exactly what had spurred him into the action - the soft moan he had heard from her that he had so wanted to hear again.  He moved quickly to her, pulled her to him and moved in to kiss her with a passion, only to kiss her as softly as he could. 

*

Responding as she had to Allen's soft, "Come with me?" had felt right to Siren.  There was no getting snagged by her conscience to make her hesitate.  Or was it that she didn't want to hesitate to go with Allen?  That thought, too, had been swept aside as they continued to his quarters.  Stepping inside, and as she heard the door shutting behind her, Siren chose to be in the moment, turning and watching Allen moving toward her.  Unresisting, she went into his arms, his lips on hers all that mattered now.

From the look in his eyes, Siren had expected Allen's kiss to be intense but it wasn't.  Rather, it was tender, his embrace, though definite, not demanding.  All of that, swirling and melding together in a flurry in her mind, was considered and answered.  Answered when the kiss was broken, her breath catching softly in her throat, tilting her head to one side to allow Allen's lips to explore the line of her jaw, the warmth of his breath on her skin sending a quiver throughout her body.

Allen couldn't just keep his hands on just one spot of her back.  They roamed over her back as he kissed her jaw and down onto her neck.  "Siren," he whispered her name softly, as his hands dipped as low as he dared at the moment.  He could smell the soft scent of her perfume, the smell of her shampoo and of the soap she had used.  All of it mixed within his senses, becoming a heady fragrance that wouldn’t let him resist.  As he slowly made his way back up to her jaw then to her lips once again, this Allen’s his kiss had become demanding, wanton.  He was surprised that her response was just as demanding.

From the first time he had kissed Siren in his quarters in front of everyone at the party, Allen had wanted to be with her then.  Pulling away from her, he leaned down slightly and scooped her into his arms before his lips found hers again as he carried her carefully into his bedroom.  Feeling her hand on his face, her arm around his neck, all he knew was that he needed her.  After he gingerly set her down on his bed, he kissed her yet again.  He moaned slightly in anticipation when her hands came up to unbutton his shirt. 

He let his hands roam lightly over her frame, down her shoulders, arms and back up again before his hands began to unbutton her blouse as well.  Even after he had unbuttoned them all, he slightly waited knowing that she'd stop him if he was going to far.

Siren must have felt his resistance in going any farther.  Keeping her lips on his, their tongues dancing with each other, she stripped out of her blouse and her bra before their lips parted.  Their eyes met and before either could say anything else, they worked together on getting out of the clothes they had so carefully picked for their evening together.

Up until Siren's fingers had reached to release the first button on his shirt, Allen hadn't allowed his thoughts to wander into the tantalizing landscape of "what if" where Siren was concerned.  Yet as the evening had progressed, that landscape had steadily if most subtly advanced toward him.  When he felt a tingle on his chest where Siren's fingers lightly brushed in loosening the button, only then did Allen permit himself to reach for what, or rather, who he wanted.  Siren.

Even then, he hesitated, searching Siren's face as he unbuttoned her blouse. He wanted to be certain this wasn't a game his companion was playing.  It was the insistence of Siren's kiss, as well as her removing her upper garments. that sealed it for Allen.  He followed her lead without another thought...and then they were naked.

For only an instant, the electric tension of the moment seemed almost surreal, as the couple looked at each other. Then that fraction of time disappeared; it was Siren who reached out first to Allen.

In the soft low light cast only by the small bedside lamp, Allen looked into Siren's luminous blue eyes that were transfixing him. There was nothing to hide any more yet...

"Siren," he whispered softly, vaguely aware of his heart thumping madly, his own passions growing as he gazed into her eyes.  The longing in those blue depths was plain.

"Turn out the light, Allen," Siren whispered.  His unfinished question had been answered.

Allen turned out the light.

As soon as Allen came back to her side, Siren opened her arms and closed her eyes as Allen began placing kisses over her face, neck and slowly down her body, tantalizing her.  Her breathing increased as he touched her tenderly, carefully and lovingly.  Even as he felt her body responding to his touch, her back arching, her nails slightly digging into his arms, he whispered softly against her skin words that he hadn't uttered to anyone.

Tell her, his conscience chided him.  Tell her that you love her.  That you only want to be with her. 

Allen ignored the words that kept taunting him as he continued to kiss his way down Siren's body, liking how her body shivered in response when he kissed a spot on her abdomen.  He heard her gasp and even felt the way that she grabbed at the sheets.

Tell her. 

Again, he ignored the words as he kissed his way back up her body.  His hands roamed over her, never staying in one place too long, tantalizing her and causing her to gasp and respond to his touch.  If only she had known what it was doing to him, how he wanted her to experience more than he. 

"Allen, please..." she whimpered softly as he came back up to her mouth, pausing long enough to kiss her passionately. 

*TELL HER! his conscience screamed during the kiss as he let his hands roam once more down her sides and up once more. 

He placed his hand on her left cheek then broke the kiss.  He looked into her face, the darkness hiding her twinkling eyes.  He felt her hand come up and gently touch his face ever so tenderly.

"Allen?" she called to him.

Without warning, Allen slowly pulled away from her and sat on the edge of the bed, his head hanging. 

Frowning, Siren scrambled slightly to the side and turned on the light before moving over to where Allen was sitting, now shaking his head.

"I can't," he said softly, miserably.

Siren put her hand on his back and lightly kissed his shoulder before laying her head against his arm. 

Allen turned to her and their gazes locked.  "I want to be with you, Siren.  I want to tell you that..." his voice faltered slightly and he shook his head -- he couldn't say those three words.  "As much as I want to, I can't do this to you or to Trevor."

"...I can't do this to you...or to Trevor."  That handful of words was the bittersweet sting of reality that faded the subtle blurring of passion from Siren's vision. As the words echoed in her ears, she realized what had almost happened, realized it even as she felt shame strip away the last of the quickly fading passion.  Bowing her head a moment to hide behind the veil of her loosened dark red hair, Siren pulled the sheet modestly around her torso even as she edged away from Allen. She wanted, needed to say something but the words just weren't there.

Without looking at her, Allen felt the change insinuate itself between them; he didn't fight it.  After a moment, without looking at her, he stood up from the bed and went to pick up Siren's clothes then placed them on the bed near her.  Returning to pick up his own clothes, his back to her, he said, "I'll leave you alone so you can dress."  Not another word passed between them as he exited the bedroom, closing the door softly.

In the living room, Allen pulled his clothes on, making himself presentable.  Several minutes later he paused in his pacing about the silent room, his gaze going toward the hallway at the sound of his bedroom door opening.  Only when Siren appeared in the doorway, once more dressed, did Allen move.  Going to her, he started to reach for her, to hug her just to reassure her.  It was the look in Siren's eyes--not anger or accusation, more...regret than anything else--that prevented him.

"I'll take you home, now," was all he murmured quietly, gesturing with a gentle wave of one hand for her to precede him.

The brief trip from Allen's quarters to Siren's front door was accomplished in a mutual painful silence. Neither said anything as Siren unlocked the door.  Only when she stepped across the threshold and turned to face him did words come to Allen.

"I'm sorry, Siren," Allen said quietly.

Siren closed her eyes a moment at the soft apology, her head bowing slightly before lifting it again.  Opening her eyes, she offered him a sad, regretful smile. "So am I," she said softly.

An awkward moment hung between them but only for a moment.  The longer it existed the more painful this was going to be.

"Good night, Siren," Allen finally said, his tone quiet. Turning away, he headed for the elevators, not once looking behind him.  However, as he reached the corner at the end of the hall, he hesitated for a second at the sound of a door being closed.  Only for a second did he dwell on that sound before completing his journey back to his quarters...alone.