Josh squinted against the late morning sun and shifted from one foot to the other as he waited for Donna to answer the door to her apartment. "Are you okay in there?" he yelled, wondering what was taking so long.

"I'm coming!" came her voice, faint but determined. Finally the lock clicked and the door swung inward, revealing Donna in her wheelchair, wearing black biker shorts and a tight red workout tank. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her face was devoid of makeup, and Josh thought she looked beautiful. Weeks had passed since her accident, and still, every single time Josh saw Donna he thought she was just about the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life.

Not that he was about to tell her that. "How's it goin', hot rod?"

"Great!" she said, too brightly, then slumped back in her chair. "Yeah, this sucks," she grumbled.

"I know. Um," he gestured to the long brown box he was holding, "can I come in?"

She rolled back slightly and threw out her arm. "Please. Welcome to the House of the Handicapped."

"Ouch," he said as he stepped into the living room.

"I know, I know," she said. "But some days I feel like politically incorrect humor is the only thing that keeps me going."

"We should get Toby over here, then," he cracked. He made to help her close the door, but she stopped him before he could get to it.

"I have to do it myself," she explained.

"Okay." He leaned the long box against the wall and watched as she shut the door, then maneuvered the chair around so that she could re-enter the apartment. The entire process was painstakingly slow. "You're doing great," he lied.

"Please don't coddle me, Josh."

He nodded. "Okay. You really suck at that thing, Donna."

"Oh, that's much better," she snapped, but he could see she was appeased that he was at least telling the truth.

"I, uh, brought the thing," he said obviously.

Her expression softened. "I appreciate it, Josh. I know it must be a hassle to have to come over here on your day off."

He opened his mouth to tell her that actually, he couldn't think of anything he'd rather do, but then shut it. Ever since she'd returned to the States the two of them had been dancing around each other, dipping their toes in the water of new territory between them, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to be the one to take the first leap into the pool. "No problem," he said instead. "Where do you want it?"

"I guess the bedroom doorway," she said.

"You got it." He opened the box and took out the long silver bar. "I still don't understand why you think you need this. The wheelchair's electric."

"Yes, but a lot of the time, especially when I'm at home, in small spaces, it's easier to use it manually," she said. "And after this I'm going to be on crutches for a while, so..."

"Yeah," he said uncomfortably, not wanting to dwell on the long road ahead of her. "Then let's get you all set up, GI Jane."

"Like you even saw that movie," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Movie about a bald chick? Yeah, I passed." He walked with the bar over to her bedroom doorway. "I got you a tension bar, I figured that way you wouldn't have to tear up the wood."

"Plus you knew you'd be able to install it," she said dryly.

"Well, yeah." He slipped the bar into place near the top of the doorjamb. "Voila," he said, inordinately pleased with himself.

"Thanks, Bob Vila." She rolled closer and peered up at the bar determinedly. "Okay, I'm gonna give it a go."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She shrugged. "No time like the present. Will you spot me?"

"Uhhh..." He'd only ever worked out by himself at the gym.

"Just stand next to me in case I fall," she said.

"Yeah, okay," he said, feeling like a putz.

He helped her up out of the wheelchair and over to the bar. She reached up and gripped the bar for support, and Josh stood in front of her, hands out, terrified that at any moment she would crumple to the floor. He was going to have to get over that, he realized. Most women -- all the women he knew, anyway -- would kill a man for treating them like a fragile thing. Donna was strong, probably stronger than she even knew, and he was determined to respect that, no matter how much he wanted to lock her up in a plastic bubble and never let her out.

And she'd really kill me for even considering something that stupid, he thought ruefully.

Donna extended both arms, let her weight drop, then pulled herself up with a small grunt. Her chin cleared the bar and she dropped back down again, her legs out in front of her to keep the weight on her arms. "Wow," she said. "This is harder than I thought it would be."

"Don't push yourself," Josh advised.

"I'm okay," she protested. She pulled herself up again, said, "Two," and dropped back down. "Piece of cake."

A third, and a fourth time, and sweat began to bead on her forehead. Josh did his best to watch her objectively, looking for signs of fatigue rather then concentrating on the fact that every time she pulled herself up her chest was level with his face. Her tight workout tank did amazing things for her breasts, which Josh privately thought were fairly spectacular to begin with. Her shorts had slipped down just a little around her hips and he could detect a small scar above her hipbone, tender-enough looking that it must have been one of her injuries from the accident. He had to fight not to stare at, to wonder how it would feel beneath his fingertips.

"Five," Donna muttered, and there was definitely strain in her voice.

"Donna..."

"I'm going to do ten if it kills me," she said.

"I'm worried it might."

Four more reps, and she was really sweating now, her face etched with grim determination. On the tenth pull-up, she just cleared the bar, then eased back down. She placed her one good foot on the floor, wobbled, and Josh put his hands out, thinking she was going to fall. But she kept her arms on the bar and stayed upright, and when he realized she was doing fine on her own, he pulled his hands back quickly, but otherwise stayed where he was.

She held onto the bar, breathing hard, and he couldn't seem to move his feet, to move away from her. They were standing extremely close, so close that he could feel her breath on his face, and he was suddenly acutely aware of how little clothing she was wearing, of how the smell and heat of her skin filled his senses completely. He looked down at his sneakers and wondered why he couldn't make his feet move.

"Josh?" Her voice was feather-light, the barest of caresses.

"Yeah?"

"You can touch me. If you want."

If? "I don't...I don't think I should." Now his own breathing sounded harsh, unnaturally loud, as if he were the one who'd just strained himself physically, instead of her.

"Why not?" she whispered. He could detect the faintest hint of -- was it pleading? -- in her voice. "What do you think would happen if you touched me?"

"If I touched you," he said, his eyes fixed on her shoulder, unable to meet her gaze, "I'm afraid I wouldn't ever be able to stop." Whoa. Had he said that out loud?

"Josh," she said, with an unfamiliar urgency. "Josh, I'm going to let go of the bar now, and you're going to catch me."

"Donna --"

"Catch me," she repeated, and let go.

He reacted on pure instinct, holding out his arms, and she fell into them full tilt. He leaned back under her weight, then re-centered himself, standing straight up and holding on to her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her face resting against his shoulder, then she lifted her head.

"I've got you," he said.

"I know." Her eyes were very blue as she looked at him. "You always have."

Her face was so close to his, their lips centimeters apart. "We shouldn't do this," he whispered. One hand rested on the exposed skin between her tank and shorts, and the feel of her abdomen against his fingers was making him dizzy.

"You keep saying that." She smoothed the hair at the back of his neck with her hand, then ran her thumb against the nape of his neck. He was finding it more and more difficult to breathe. "I used to believe that, too, but I've experienced a...shift in my priorities recently," she said.

"I think I know what you mean," he murmured. His hand traveled up slightly, resting just below her breast.

"Do you?" Her lips brushed against his cheek, then over his temple, and he swallowed a groan. He moved his face closer in to hers, his nose grazing her cheek bone.

"Yes," he breathed.

She pulled her head back just enough that her mouth was right next to his. "Then kiss me," she said. Her lips touched his for the barest of moments, then pulled away. The sound of rushing blood filled his ears. "Kiss me," she repeated.

As if in a trance he obeyed, moved his head the fraction of an inch it took to capture her lips with his own. Her mouth opened to him immediately, her tongue flickering out to meet his, and within seconds they were kissing as if their lives depended on it, as if they were breathing oxygen into each other's bodies. She tasted vaguely like coffee, hot and wet and earthy, and he wanted to swallow her whole, to pull her inside of him where he could keep her safe and meant for him alone.

Finally they had to break apart, both of them gulping air. Donna was still holding on to him for support, her hands at the back of his head. "Donna," he panted.

"Yeah?" She started to cover his face in kisses, soft little imprints from pouty lips.

"You're getting kinda heavy."

"We're two feet away from the bed, Josh," she said, not stopping what she was doing.

"Right." He shuffled backward until the edge of the bed hit the backs of his knees, then turned around and laid her down gently on the mattress, careful not to jostle her leg. She reached up for him and he lay down next to her, propping himself up on one elbow and placing his free hand flat on her stomach as he kissed her again. As the kiss deepened his hand started to roam her body, slow circles on her stomach, then up to her breasts, which seemed to swell beneath his touch.

Donna clawed at his t-shirt, trying to lift it up over his head from her awkward position, so he stopped kissing her long enough to pull the shirt over his head and throw it to the side. She reached up and ran her palm over his chest, down between his pecs, lingering just for a moment on his scar, then down to the waistband of his jeans. He sucked in a ragged breath. Her fingertips seemed to give off sparks against his skin.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

Her eyes were darkened with desire as she gazed up at him. "No," she said simply. "But I don't want to wait anymore, either."

"Yeah," he said, understanding. "Me neither." He lowered his head to hers again, kissing her more gently this time, taking his time about it, getting to know her taste, the way she moved her tongue, the feel of her teeth, the friction of her lips working beneath his. He thought about all the times he'd wanted to kiss her over the years, thought about everything he'd never said to her, and how he would never stop being pissed at himself for having to almost lose her before he realized what she meant to him.

He planned on spending the rest of his life making it up to her, if she'd let him.

And then Donna's thumb brushed over his nipple and all coherent thought fled his brain.

He cupped her breast and she arched up against his touch encouragingly, so he took the opportunity to pull her tank up over her head and toss it to the side. It took him a minute to figure out her bra -- he'd never been good with those things, dammit, it was like they were designed by the Pentagon -- but soon he was able to discard that as well, and he savored the sight of her for a moment, soft white curves with pale pink nipples, just like he'd always imagined, only better.

"Stop staring," she muttered, embarrassment in her voice.

"Okay," he said, and took one of her nipples into his mouth.

She let out a hiss of surprise, then something that sounded an awful lot like a whimper, which he would have to tease her about later. He swirled his tongue around her nipple, then took the hardened bud between his teeth and nibbled gently, reveling in the quiet sounds of pleasure coming from somewhere above his head. He captured her other nipple between thumb and forefinger and pinched it delicately, and she bucked her hips up against him, so he figured he must be doing something right. He lingered there for a while, eventually moving his mouth from one breast to the other, until she was grinding her hips up against him in a steady rhythm.

He started to tug at the waistband of her shorts, then realized he had no idea how he was supposed to get them off over her cast. He raised his head to look at her pleadingly.

"They're lycra, Josh," she said, her amusement evident. "They stretch."

"Oh. Right." He carefully slipped the shorts down over her legs, over her cast, then repeated the process with her underwear. When he was finished, he moved down near the end of the bed and positioned himself between her thighs, raising her non-injured leg up and crooking it over his shoulder to give him access to her sex. He heard her breathe his name when his tongue first touched her flesh, and he couldn't help but smile. He explored her folds with tongue and lips, her taste heavy and tangy against the roof of his mouth. He nuzzled her clit with his nose before taking that swollen nub into his mouth and sucking on it intently, then teasing it methodically with his tongue. She wrapped her hands in his hair and clenched her fists. Her hips worked up and down against his mouth.

"Oh my god, Josh," she said, her voice thready. "Oh my god..."

He reached up with both hands to squeeze her nipples in time with his oral ministrations, and after only a few moments of that double assault she came in a series of high-pitched cries and frenzied contractions, her hands pulling at his hair.

When she finally subsided Josh lifted his head and kissed his way up her body. His erection grazed against her stomach and he sucked in a breath, wanting desperately to be inside her. Inside Donna. He gazed at her in wonderment as she gasped for air, trying to regain control of herself. A tear slipped from the corner of one eye, and he wiped it away with his thumb. "You okay?" he whispered.

She nodded and pulled him to her, kissing him fervently. "Thank you," she said when their lips parted, and he fought back a smirk. "And stop smirking," she added.

He wiped the grin off his face and kissed her forehead. "You're welcome," he said sincerely. He leapt off the bed to quickly wriggle out of his sneakers, jeans and boxers, then rejoined her on the bed, practically jumping onto the mattress, feeling younger than he had in years. Especially when he realized he didn't have a condom with him.

"Umm, Donna," he said, then gasped when she reached down to grasp his erection. "I don't have any -- Jesus -- any protection."

"I do," she said, her gaze focused on what her hand was doing to his cock. "Top drawer." She gestured with her head toward the nightstand.

Josh reached above his head to pull open the nightstand drawer, then groped inside until his hand closed around a small square packet. He quickly ripped the package open and was pleased when Donna took the condom from him and slipped it over his cock for him. When she was done she cupped his balls in her hand and he let out a noise that sounded, to his own ears, suspiciously like a whimper, so he was probably going to have to give up on teasing Donna about her own interesting noises earlier. Damn.

Donna lay back on the pillows, her breasts high and her chest flushed, and he centered himself over her, his sheathed cock brushing against her wet sex. His eyelids fluttered closed for a moment and he had to fight to re-open them. He really did feel like a teenager again, overwhelmed by the sight and feel of a naked woman in bed with him. He'd be disgusted with himself if he wasn't so deliriously happy.

Donna shifted beneath him, suddenly uncomfortable. "I can't -- I'm not sure how this is going to work," she admitted. She moved her right leg over as far as she could, but it still lay there, dead weight, mostly encased in the heavy cast.

"Not to worry. I am a man of ingenuity and resourcefulness," Josh quipped. He lifted her left leg and placed the back of her knee against his shoulder, then pushed himself inside her as he leaned across her, supporting his weight on his forearms on either side of her body. Donna lifted her hips as far as she was able without moving her right leg, and with a little patience and cautious maneuvering he was soon all the way inside of her.

He lay there like that for a moment, giving her a chance to grow accustomed to his girth, then pulled out, slowly, and pushed in again. God, she felt good. So tight... "That okay?" he whispered.

Donna pulled her left leg back just a little and lay her palm against his cheek. "That's great," she whispered back. He smiled at her, then thrust in and out again, and she made a satisfied sound in the back of her throat.

Her head fell back onto the pillows and she closed her eyes. "Just like that..." she muttered. "Oh god, Josh."

"Donna," he panted, and started to thrust faster. This was going to be over quickly, but there wasn't much he could do about that at this point. Donna was still sweaty from her workout, her skin slick beneath his fingers, drops of perspiration beading tantalizingly on her heaving breasts, and that combined with the moist heat between her legs was setting him on fire. He dipped his mouth down to her shoulder, drawing the skin between his teeth and sucking delicately, tasting salt. She groaned and the sound drove him even closer to the edge. He started pumping into her frantically, moaning in tandem with Donna, with the woman who was clenching her muscles around him and then

--christohgodshitdamnfuckdonna--

he was coming, pumping spastically into her, his mind like shattered glass. With a strangled moan he collapsed on top of her, breathing hard, and after a few desperate gulps of air he had the presence of mind to reach down between her legs and find her clit. She gasped and clutched his shoulders. He stroked her steadily, still sheathed inside of her, and watched her face as her arousal increased. Her lips were parted, her eyelids fluttered, and one of her arms fell back to sprawl over her forehead, pulling her breast up enticingly.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, and with that she came again, softer this time, gentle steady contractions rolling over her in waves. He slipped out of her and carefully lowered her left leg back down onto the bed, then scuttled up to lie beside her. He grasped her waist with his arm and buried his face in the crook of her neck. She stroked his arm possessively and kissed the top of his head.

"That was amazing," she said dreamily. "Even if my leg was starting to cramp up a bit at the end, there."

"Mmmm. Why the hell did we wait so long to do that?" he wondered.

"I don't know," she said. "My natural inclination is to blame you, but I suppose it did take the both of us to prolong the agony."

"That's very generous of you," he said as he nuzzled her neck.

"I am a generous person," she said solemnly.

"So you're saying you'll let me do that again?"

"I'm saying that could be arranged, yes."

He propped up on one elbow so he could kiss her. She reached up to touch his face as her tongue darted out to meet his. "I'm kinda sleepy," she said when their lips parted.

"Then how about we take a nap," he said. "You need your rest."

"Okay," she said faintly, sleep already starting to overtake her.

He crept out of bed to dispose of the condom, then carefully eased himself back onto the bed. He curled up beside her and encircled her hips with his arm, holding her close as he too drifted off into slumber.

*****

When Josh awoke, late afternoon sun was streaming through the windows. "Damn," he muttered. Most of the day gone already. He peered over at Donna, who was still sleeping peacefully, and decided that all in all, napping away most of the afternoon was worth the trade-off.

Her eyes opened as he watched her. "Hey," she murmured, and yawned.

"Hey. How you doin'?"

"Good." She snuggled closer to him. "What time is it?"

He squinted at his watch. "About 5."

"Hmm. No wonder I'm hungry."

"Food would be good. But I thought maybe we could work up even more of an appetite, first," he said, his fingers tracing the outline of her breasts.

"My good leg still hurts from the last time," Donna said, but he could tell that wasn't really a protest.

"It's okay, I thought of a way to take care of that," he said. He straddled her left leg and placed his arms on either side of her chest, then took one of her nipples into his mouth.

Donna sighed happily. "It doesn't involve, you know, swings or anything like that, does it?"

He grinned as he swirled his tongue around the hardened peak occupying his attention, and didn't answer. He suckled her leisurely for long moments, then reached up to knead her unattended breast, until she was cooing contentedly beneath him. He moved his hand away from her breast to reach down and slip a finger inside of her, then slid it in and out in time with his nibbling at her breast, and soon enough she was wet and welcoming. He pulled away from her to retrieve another condom from the night stand drawer.

"Okay," he said when she'd helped him put the condom on, "now sit up."

She eyed him warily but did as she was told, sitting up with her legs straight out in front of her on the bed. Josh took her by the waist and pushed her forward just a little, then sat behind her, his back against the headboard, his legs on either side of her, his erection straining against the top of her buttocks. Donna sensed what he was going for and placed her hands on his thighs to raise herself up enough for him to position himself at her opening. He scooted down slightly and took hold of her waist, then carefully eased himself inside of her. Donna leaned forward, making a sound of surprised pleasure.

"How's that?" he asked. He gripped her hips and lifted her up an inch, then down again to completely sheathe his cock. He desperately wanted to start thrusting into her like a madman, but wanted to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable first.

"G...good," she said. "I just need to..." She put her hands palm down on the bed in front of her. "Okay."

He took her assent as a cue to start pumping into her with a regular rhythm, lifting her hips again and again so her ass was slapping down on his stomach as he entered her over and over, building up the sweet, delicious friction he was quickly becoming addicted to. Making love to Donna Moss was better than any drug.

"Oh Josh," she said. "Yes..." She slipped one hand between her legs to touch herself, and Josh groaned in arousal at the realization.

"Donna," he breathed, his arms straining as he helped her plunge down on his cock, faster and faster. "Donna, you feel so good..."

"So do you," she whispered. "Harder, Josh..."

He obeyed mindlessly, jutting up into her, his eyes focused on the smooth expanse of her ivory back, his entire body enveloped in a sensation that was quickly overtaking any last semblance of control. "Oh god," he muttered. Not already. "Oh god...I'm gonna..."

"I'm coming," she whispered, beating him to the punch, and then she was crying out, her body shaking in his arms, her head thrashing back and forth, and he followed right after, pumping into her with a groan of release.

"Holy shit," he said, flopping back down on the bed. Donna disengaged from him and managed to roll herself onto her stomach, her chin resting on his chest. "I am a genius."

"For once, I won't argue with you," Donna murmured.

Yes, he thought smugly. I am da man!

"You know..." Donna said, stirring him from his self-absorbed reverie, "...we should probably talk about this."

"By 'this' you mean us?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah." He sighed, then smoothed her hair with his hand. "Okay. But can we eat first?"

"God yes," she said. "Let's get a pizza."

"Half pepperoni, half mushrooms?"

"Of course."

Damn, I love you, he thought, but didn't say it. He just couldn't, not yet. Instead, he said, "I'll call Gino's."

"Excellent. And..."

"What?"

"I may need you to help me up," she said sheepishly. "I'm in kind of a weird position, here."

"Are we going to talk some more about how resourceful I am?" he asked cockily.

"Josh."

"Yeah. Right." He eased out from under her, ran to the bathroom to dispose of the condom, then returned to the bedroom and helped Donna sit up. He started gathering her scattered clothes for her, but she stopped him.

"I'll be okay," she said. "Go call Gino's."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure," she said firmly.

"Okay." He slipped on his boxers, then hesitated. "I'm right here if you need me."

She looked up and gave him a bright, sunny smile. "I know," she said. "I'm counting on it."

End.