"Was my singing good? It was good right?" Paul panted as he tried to get some positive feedback from Gina as he pressed her harder against the wall of his dressing room, his kisses desperate.
          "You were ok," Gina mused breathlessly as her hands caressed the velvet that covered his back. "But Mark was fabulous."
          "Oh," Paul gasped in mock horror. "You're a wicked woman and if I were a stronger man I'd walk right our of that door and leave you."
          "But?" Gina smiled.
          "I'm a weak willed man, who is driven insane by your perfume and the overwhelming desire to get you naked," Paul grinned and teasingly nipped at her neck.
          "You want me to get naked right here?" Gina asked coyly as she dropped soft kisses on his cheek. Paul stopped working on her neck and pulled back to look at her.
          "Are you serious? Because two months ago I remember you blushing when I even looked at you?"
          "Yeah, but that was before I discovered I actually have complete control over you," Gina chided and brought her lips to his, they kissed slowly as she let one hand fall onto his rear. Paul let out something resembling a low growl and pressed her back against the wall.
          "McDermott you in there?" Ted's voice suddenly yelled from the other side of the door.
          "No!" Paul yelled back and went back to kissing Gina, ignoring Ted's grappling with the doorknob outside. Half a second later the door flew open and Ted tumbled in. He straightened himself up and glared at Paul and Gina who were still entangled with each other against the wall with expressions that made the whole scene reminiscent of students being caught by a teacher. Gina gingerly unwrapped herself from Paul who quickly tried to neaten his hair. "Hi Ted!"
          "We need to talk," Ted groused as Paul dug his hands deep into his pockets and Gina adjusted the buttons on her shirt.
          "Well, I'll leave you two to it then," she mumbled and hurried giggling from Paul's dressing room.
          "Am I gonna get detention?" Paul sighed and shrugged.

          Gina got bored of walking the corridors, being ignored and slightly worried Mikey might try a revenge attack so she went back to her car and decided to wait for Paul there. She switched on the radio and tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, a permanent smile fixed to her face. Gina had been the most miserable she could remember over the last two months. (Next to when she lost her favourite childhood pet and she wasn't sure if it was good to compare her feelings for Paul with family pets.) Still, if she hadn't been convinced before that they had something special, she certainly was now. Although, Paul was nothing like she'd planned her ultimate soul mate to be. He was short, stupidly aggressive, insecure, moody and drank like a man with an iron liver. Still, he was achingly funny, sincere, magnanimous, loyal and of course gorgeous, fuck it, the pros outweighed the cons when it came to him and only him.
          "I love this song!" Gina announced to the empty car park and turned up the stereo so she could sing along. "So I walked under a bus I got hit by a train keep falling in love which is kinda the same I've sunk out at sea crashed my car, gone insane And it felt so good I want to do it again…"
          "And we can see why I'm the entertainer and you're the journalist," Paul mused as he slid into the car next to her. Gina squealed and turned the music down; embarrassed she'd been sprung singing.
          "Ok, that was mildly humiliating on my behalf," she winced.
          "No, honey it was good but Tania Doko was fabulous," Paul teased and Gina slapped his arm.
          "So what took you so long? Ted berate you accordingly?"
          "I don't know, I tuned out and focussed my attention on an interesting pattern on the wall behind him," Paul shrugged. "Then I changed and went looking for you, which was an easier task than you might think."
          "Why was it easy?" Gina asked curiously.
          "You generally hate people so I didn't think you'd be socialising," Paul replied and patted her thigh.
          "Gee thanks," Gina pouted. "It's not my fault they chose to ignore me. I never realised that a journalist's closest relative is a contagious disease."
          "Hey, it’s good experience you might get the leprosy one day and if that should happen you'll be prepared," Paul countered.
          "That's not helping," Gina sighed as she started the engine and headed out of the car park. "I was surprised it was so quiet back there."
          "I'll let you in on a secret," Paul mused. "I used a fire escape to avoid the fans, the last thing I feel like is dealing with them tonight."
          "That's a bit mean isn't it. All those poor little obsessives waiting for you to grace them with your presence."
          "They see me twice a week," Paul shrugged. "Besides, I've got other things on my mind tonight," he breathed, his hand moving further up Gina's thigh.
          "Yeah, about that babe," Gina breathed, pulling up at a set of traffic lights. Paul's face fell and his hand shot back. "I think we should take things slower, I mean we rushed the first time and look where it got us."
          "I was hoping we could just cuddle," Paul mumbled playing with his fingers. "Naked," he added looking at her doe-eyed.
          "Don't give me that look," Gina mused. "Just because you're cute doesn't mean I'm going to tear off my underwear."
          "It usually works," Paul huffed. "It's green."
          "Huh?" Gina breathed. "Oh yeah." She added looking back at the lights, before the car behind could toot its horn. "Look, if we spend tonight together and believe me I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I'll never get to work tomorrow and I know you think it doesn't matter but my job matters to me ok."
          "I know," Paul groused and leaned his head against the window in a sulk. By the time they reached his apartment Paul hadn't cheered up and Gina was repeating a mantra in her head of "I will not give in, I will not give in."
          "You have to get out of my car sometime," Gina mused killing the engine.
          "You won't reconsider?" Paul sighed, unclipping his seat belt.
          "Don't tempt me," Gina smiled.
          "I can tempt you?" Paul grinned and leaned across to kiss her.
          "No," Gina giggled and gently pushed him away. She opened up the small storage compartment between the seats and pulled something out. "If you wait until tomorrow night we can spend all weekend making up yeah?"
          "You're cruel," Paul breathed and then smiled and she grabbed his hand.
          "And to prove I'm serious, here's a key to my apartment and you better be there when I get home tomorrow," she chided and slid the key into his hand and then closed his fingers around it.
          "You trust me with a key," Paul gasped.
          "Yeah, what's the worst you can do? Soil my robe and use all the fruity shower gel," Gina giggled.
          "Nah, both those things and better done with you," Paul grinned and they shared one more kiss before he reluctantly pulled away and slid out of the car. Gina started the engine and watched in the rear vision mirror as Paul blew her kisses and drew over exaggerated hearts in the air.
          "Idiot," Gina laughed.

          "Wait, wait, wait, WAIT!" Danny yelled as he flew into the elevator, tripped over his own feet and pinned Gina to a small woman in a pink shirt. "Good morning!" he panted.
          "Yes, morning Daniel," Gina gasped, pushing him back and apologising on his behalf to the small woman who escaped at the next floor.
          "Sorry, I'm kinda…" Danny stopped to catch his breath. "Do I look ok?"
          Gina studied him for a moment. "Hmm, ironed shirt, non-comical tie, gelled hair. You're either stalking one of the poor girls who work in accounts or you have an important interview."
          "Guess!"
          "Well you never get laid so I'll go for the interview," Gina chided. "Who is it?"
          "The Spice Girls!" Danny grinned. "Well, I'm one of a group of journalists who are going to talk to them."
          "Oh the honour," Gina sarced. "No really."
          "You're awfully happy?" Danny declared as they stepped out of the elevator. "Considering you're never happy. Slaughter some puppies last night did you?"
          "Don't be a wanker," Gina scorned. "Even though I know it's your preferred career choice."
          "No, seriously. You've been a wallflower for ages," Danny persisted. "What's changed."
          "He begged me to take him back," Gina smiled. "That's what's changed."
          Danny looked confused for a moment. "Wait, Paul, you're back with Paul?"
          "Yeah. Who were you thinking?" Gina asked as she stopped at her desk.
          "Well, Chris," Danny shrugged. "Although that would explain why he told me to tell you he's heading back to the States."
          "Good," Gina huffed. "Sorry, I know he's your friend and all."
          "Don't worry about it," Danny smiled. "It's Paul that makes you happy."
          "Is it that obvious?" Gina blushed.
          "Couldn't be more obvious if you stamped it across your forehead," Danny chided. "Actually…" he added, grabbing a pen.
          "No!" Gina giggled as he grabbed her and tried to scrawl on her forehead. They were laughing hysterically when a voice boomed.
          "COLEMAN!"
          "Oh shit," Gina breathed.
          "MY OFFICE NOW!" the Chief Of Staff snapped. Danny let go of Gina and started humming the 'Death March' as she plodded off toward Max's office.

          After what was being classed as one of the top ten worst days of her life Gina was glad to be heading home. Max had yelled at her for various things, most of which she'd ignored and tried not to giggle at a cartoon pinned to the wall. She was then forced to attend interviews on either side of town, spent six hours trying to talk to someone about uranium mining. She was leered at by a police sergeant who seemed more interested in her breasts than a man who was found skinned in his own home. To top it off she'd missed lunch because her car decided to die and the mechanic took two and a half-hours to show. Now she was eagerly awaiting her bus stop as a strange woman talked animatedly to her about crochet tablecloths and pulmonary heart disease in cats.
          "Oh thank god," Gina breathed as the bus finally came to a stop and she hurried out into the street. A few minutes later she could barely bring herself to unlock the front door, wondering what disaster was going to be waiting for her. Instead the only noise was the soft hum of the television and a feeling of relief washed over her when she saw Paul sprawled on the couch watching the news.
          "Did you hear about that guy that got skun?" he asked excitedly.
          "You know I work in the State's biggest newspaper office and that never came up," Gina sarced.
          "Bad day?" Paul queried
          "Up there with the worst yeah," Gina sighed dropping into a chair. "My boss yelled at me, all the people I interviewed are evil and my car is in intensive care."
          "Could be worse," Paul nodded. "You could have been the guy who got skun."
          Gina shook her head and giggled. "How was your day?"
          "The breakfast show was its usual disaster and Jen threw things at me, nearly had my eye out with a pen. I had lunch with Mikey and he asked what happened to you last night."
          "What did you tell him?"
          "That you felt left out," Paul replied. "He apologises and wants us to go for dinner one night."
          "You mean I'm not devil woman anymore?" Gina mused.
          "No, I think he's warming to you," Paul nodded. "Then I came here and fell asleep for a bit and just waited for you to come walking in that door."
          "Aww," Gina cooed as Paul sat up. "I'd go over and hug you but I don't have the energy."
          "I can tell," Paul breathed. "How about I go run you a nice bath."
          "That's so sweet," Gina yawned. "Something else the fans must never know."
          "No, as far as they know I tore your clothes off and did you on the floor," Paul chided disappearing into the bathroom. He returned minutes later and fell back onto the couch. "All yours beautiful."
          "I like this side of you," Gina mused. "Don't suppose you're making dinner as well?" she added, making her way into the bathroom. A smile spread across Gina's face as she found it lit by small candles and the sweet smell of the bubble bath filled the air. She stripped eagerly and slid beneath the warm water, it was heaven and she closed her eyes and let it all wash over her. She was brought back to earth a few minutes later when there was a knock on the door and Paul poked his head around. "What's the point of knocking if you're just gonna come in anyway?" she mused.
          "I was being polite then the desire to see you wet and naked took over," Paul mused and wandered in sitting himself on the edge of the bath.
          "So, did you come for the view or was there something you wanted to ask?"
          "Huh?" Paul breathed, his eyes studying her body. "Oh," he added looking up. "What did you want for dinner?"
          "I don't know," Gina sighed taking a handful of bubbles. "It can wait," she added slipping her hand on top of his. "Why don't you join me?"
          "But I don't need a bath," Paul pouted.
          "Aw go on, just for a couple of minutes," Gina pleaded.
          "You want me to get naked for a couple of minutes?"
          "You know, like when we have sex," Gina chided and Paul narrowed his eyes and then laughed.
          "I suppose if you insist I get naked with you…" he muttered as he stood up to strip. Gina sat back watching every movement of his body in the candlelight. He slipped beneath the bubbles at the opposite end to her.
          "I think I just got half the fucking bubbles up my arse," he declared and shifted uncomfortably for a moment.
          "You're a hairy man," Gina giggled cheekily toying with one of his hairy legs that was poking out of the water.
          "I'm a bit like a otter," Paul nodded. "If I shake when I get out my skin stays dry."
          "There's a mental image," Gina smiled as she crawled up the bath between his legs and kissed him.
          "I have the distinct feeling dinner is going to take a while," Paul breathed, running his fingers through her hair.
          "Well now that depends," Gina cooed dropping a kiss on his neck.
          "On what?" Paul swallowed the feel of her lips against his damp skin making his whole body tingle.
          "You," she said softly as she started to trail kisses down his chest.

          "You do realise you'll have to make dinner now," Paul sighed as he lay on Gina's bed in his boxers and t-shirt.
          "I can't think why," Gina smiled as she combed her hair, the ends still wet from the bath.
          "You still hungry?" Paul asked.
          "Famished," Gina replied.
          "We could recreate 9 1/2 Weeks."
          "Actually, I have a real craving for grease, let's walk to the chip shop," Gina suggested.
          "What? No, I'm spent," Paul groaned and sat up, leaned forward and grabbed her pulling her back down onto the bed. "Besides after what you did to me in the bath I think I owe you."
          "Oh come on, I missed lunch," Gina whined as Paul pushed her top up to kiss her stomach.
          "I can tell you're rumbling," he mused.
          "Yes, so before my stomach acids take to eating my internal organs I've gotta have dinner," she declared squirming.
          "Oh no," Paul announced running a finger around the waistband of her panties. "You're not going anywhere until you're too sore to walk."
          "That could take some time," Gina mused, trying not to enjoy the sensation of his warm kisses on her cool flesh.
          "I've got all weekend," Paul breathed.
          "I think I might die if I don't eat all weekend," Gina sighed as the phone rang. She stretched out her hand and managed to grab it from the bedside table. "Hello? Mandy! What? Oh he was just in one of his moods; you know what Max is like? My car, god knows? I think it needs a new something or rather, as long as it goes and the radio works I don’t…" She let out a squeak and Paul took to kissing her inner thighs. "What? Oh I think I'm getting a…cold…No, I'm fine I don't need soup…Jesus…Hey? No, I'm busy this weekend. Doing what? I'll explain Monday…Yes, Monday…oh god…" she hung up the phone and dropped it on the floor, it started to ring again but she was too far gone to care.

          "Home made chips are just as good as any shop bought ones," Paul declared with a pleased grin as he and Gina finished the last of the chips she'd made.
          "Yes, well," Gina scorned. "The shop's closed now anyway."
          "And we're too shagged out to walk," Paul giggled, placing the empty bowl onto the coffee table.
          "I wonder what Amanda thought?" Gina mused.
          "Who cares," Paul breathed as he took to nibbling on her already tender neck.
          "Oh god don't" Gina groaned. "I'm full, bloaty and disgusting."
          "So we have fat, bloaty sex," Paul shrugged. "I don't care."
          "Oh yeah, that sounds attractive," Gina giggled as his fingers tickled her full stomach.
          "It goes with that belief all women have that they don't burp, fart or swear and they all fucking do."
          "Yes but we don't feel the need to announce our bodily functions to the entire room."
          "Even if you did I'd find it sexy," Paul grinned and caught her lips with his.
          "Mmm salt, vinegar and pig fat," Gina mused.
          "You're even sexy saying pig fat," Paul chided.
          "Pig fat," Gina replied as sultry as she could without giggling.
          "Oh baby," Paul breathed and leaned in to kiss her but she lost it and cracked up. "I give up," he laughed and staggered into the kitchen to hunt out another beer.

          "The phone's ringing," Paul groaned, turning over to mumble into Gina's shoulder. "Genie."
          "Let it ring," Gina breathed as she felt one of his arms sloppily drape around her waist.
          "If you don't answer it I lob it out of the window," Paul muttered.
          "Shh," Gina whispered but the phone persisted and eventually she sleepily dropped her hand over the side of the bed and picked up the phone from the floor.
          "Hello," she announced wearily as the voice on the other end replied she went ridged and sat bolt upright. "Oh my god, I'm so, so sorry. I'll be there soon, bye."
          "Who was that?" Paul yawned rolling onto his back.
          "My Mum," Gina gasped. "I invited her to stay and she's the airport," she babbled scrambling out of bed. "I COMPLETLEY FORGOT!"
          Paul started sniggering. "And you call yourself a daughter."
          "Oh, shut up and sleep," Gina huffed as she stumbled around the room pulling on her clothes and trying to call a taxi.