Speed snuck quietly into Sparky's apartment, several hours after Trixie had already left. She needed a shower and she needed one bad. She could still smell the scent of sex lingering on her body and it made her stomach turn.

'What have I become?' Speed thought miserably, making her way towards the bathroom. 'I never would have sold myself like that. Never!'

In more ways than one, she felt filthy, cheap, even though she'd consented to having sex with that creep. And she still ached from his rough treatment.

'Definitely never again,' she vowed to herself. 'I'm not some cheap whore. I'm someone that any guy can randomly have sex with and not think twice about it! I have more self-respect than that!'

"Speed? Is that you?"

She cringed at hearing Sparky's voice. Speed had thought for certain the mechanic would have been asleep by now. The last thing she really wanted to do was face him after everything she'd just done.

Still, she simply couldn't slip away from him. Sparky had covered for her when Trixie had shown up unannounced. The poor guy had probably received more than an ear full from the fiery brunette. The least she could do was answer him and find out what had happened after she'd left.

"Yeah, Sparky, it's me," she replied, fighting back a sigh. The mechanic's bedroom light switched on and the red-haired youth appeared in the doorframe. Relief washed over his form when he saw her.

"Oh, thank god," he breathed, "you're all right. I was afraid something had happened to you while you were out."

"I'm fine," Speed smiled. "Just peachy, in fact. It felt good to get out of the apartment for a while."

"That's good," Sparky replied. "Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself."

"Yeah . . . Trixie give you a hard time?"

"As usual," he shrugged. "It wasn't anything that I couldn't handle. She was quite upset that she missed you, though."

"Not as upset as she'd be to see me like this," Speed grumped, finding a chair to sit in then she sighed. "This just isn't fair, Sparky. Why did George have to do this to me?"

"I don't know," the mechanic shook his head. "I really don't. If I'd have known he was going to do this, I wouldn't have taken you to that party."

"I know . . . I guess I just have to find a way to live with this . . . and I need a shower. Is the hot water working yet?"

"No," Sparky shook his head. "Landlord called while you were out and said he'd finally gotten a chance to look at the water heater for the building. Said he had to order a new one and it'd be at least a week before we have hot water again."

"Great," Speed sighed. "Just great."

A comfortable silence once more ensued, permeating the tiny apartment. Speed knew what she wanted to do, which was hop into the shower and wash the sex right off of her. However, she also remembered what she and Sparky had been in the middle of, before Trixie had arrived and interrupted them. What surprised her even more than her remembering what they'd been attempting to do was the desire to continue that had flooded her. Speed shifted her gaze so that it landed on her best friend.

"Hey . . . Sparky . . ."

"Yeah?"

"Do you . . . still want to . . . you know . . . do what we were doing? Before Trixie arrived?"

The mechanic's eyes widened to the size of saucers and his jaw dropped, as if he hadn't been expecting that from her. Then he slowly nodded.

"Yeah but I didn't want to bring it up. Why? Do you?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I do."

For a moment, they didn't say anything more to each other. The silence had gone from comfortable to awkward. Speed wasn't even sure that she'd be able to pick up where she'd left off. Then she shook her head, instantly chastising herself. She'd had sex with a complete stranger. She should be able to at least offer her best friend the same damn thing. Her jaw setting in determination, Speed rose to her feet and approached Sparky. She grabbed his hand then led him down the hall to her bedroom. She'd be damned if she did this for a complete stranger and not her best friend.

Once they were in the back bedroom, Speed closed the door then went to the window to draw the curtains. She exuded confidence. Speed felt as much. She then turned to face Sparky, who just stood there, slack-jawed. The moment her gaze landed on him, he recovered . . . somewhat. He was still quite nervous. Speed couldn't really blame it. This would be Sparky's first sexual encounter, after all.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this, Speed?" he whispered. "I don't want to do anything that could ruin our friendship . . ."

"I'm sure," she nodded. "I want to do this."

'It's bound to make me feel better than what I have since I woke up in George's bed.'

Sparky's hands on her breasts once more brought her musings away from the dark turn they'd taken and helped her to focus. There was something that she wanted to and she intended to go through with it.

Slowly, the fabric covering her chest moved away . . .

888888888

"Did you find her?"

"Sure did, George," the man grinned. "She's staying with some geek named Sparky Jones. Watched her sneak in and out of the apartment. And you were right. Talk about one hot fuck!"

"So you got into her pants then?" George raised an eyebrow at the man, more than a bit impressed. He had figured Speed might be desperate for money but not quite that desperate!

"Oh yeah," he smirked. "Sure did. Fucked her good, too. That's one hot little dish, George. I envy you."

"Thanks," George replied, wearing a smirk of his own.

'Now it's time to make my next move.'