FOR HER PLEASURE by Ruth D. Kerce (Copyright © 1999, all rights reserved)       Alen tapped on the bathroom door. "Frannie, can I come in?" He needed to see for himself that she was all right.       "Umm ... yeah, okay."       Slowly he opened the door and peeked inside. Frannie sat in the tub, up to her chin in bubbles. "You sure it's all right?"       He had met Frannie his junior year in college and they eventually moved in together ... just as friends. He'd always had a secret crush on her, but never acted on it, afraid to ruin their friendship. Besides, she already had a boyfriend. He clenched his fist. After last night, he hoped never to see that son of a bitch around her again.       "It's all right. Come on in."       Alen stepped in and closed the door. He sat down on the floor beside the tub. Frannie's red nose and watery eyes pulled at his heart. "How do you feel?"       "Like someone beat me up."       He clenched his fist again and winced at the pain. Hopefully, she didn't notice. He covered his bruised knuckles.       "Where'd you disappear to last night?"       "I had an errand." His throat tightened as he spied a new bruise on her arm. Last night he'd made sure that bastard would never touch her again. "You're not going to try to see him, are you?"       "Of course not. I have no intentions of being anyone's punching bag. I'm not stupid."       He sighed in frustration. "I didn't say you were, Frannie. I just wanted to make sure." He'd been scared to death that she would make up some excuse for that sorry excuse of a man.       She cringed as she shifted positions. "Sorry, I'm a little on edge. Can you get me a towel?"       "Sure." He stood and reached into the cabinet under the sink. "I'll set it by the tub." Coming in here had been a bad idea. He couldn't think of anything but holding her in his arms, until all her pain faded away.       "I think I'm going to need some help getting out of here. I can hardly move. Do you mind?"       His heart kicked up a beat as he looked into her eyes. He certainly couldn't refuse her. "What do you want me to do?"       She stretched out her arms. "Pull."       Alen gripped her hands. His emotions warred between protectiveness and a deep desire for something more intimate.       "Close your eyes."       His heart sank. Oh, well. He closed his eyes and gently pulled her up. He felt her step from the tub. Her groan stabbed at him. He wished he could take away her pain. "Can I open my eyes?" he asked, feeling lightheaded from all the conflicting emotions he'd experienced in the last 12 hours.       She pulled out of his grip. "Just a sec. Let me get the towel wrapped around me."       "How about a massage?" he blurted, then his throat constricted. Why had he asked that? It was nothing more than out of concern. Yes, that was it. He gave good, therapeutic massages. Well, at least that sounded like a good reason.       "You can open your eyes."       Alen's gaze skimmed over her towel-clad body. She was in no condition to deal with his urges. He'd just change the subject, pretend he never asked.       "A massage, huh?" she asked, before he spoke. She rolled her shoulders. "That sounds good. Are you sure you don't mind?"       Mind giving a beautiful, sexy woman a massage? Was she kidding? "No. It's no problem."       "Okay."       He followed her into her bedroom, and stood just inside the door until she laid down on the bed. She didn't remove the towel, but then he didn't expect her to. He stepped over to the bed. "Let me know if I hurt you."       "You won't. I trust you, Alen."       Her trust in him touched his heart. But it also caused guilt to run through him, because his massage offer wasn't completely unselfish. His fingers curled around her bare shoulders, and he squeezed her tight muscles. "Try to relax."       "You're a good friend, Alen."       His palms slid down her upper back, to the skin just above the towel. She felt so soft -- he could touch her forever. His hands slid back up, then glided down her arms, rubbing gently. "You're tight."       "I can't seem to get what happened out of my head. I never knew he could be so violent -- not toward me."       Alen sat down beside her. "Sit up, Frannie. Look at me."       She turned over and sat up, holding the towel in place.       The tears in her eyes broke her heart. "Frannie," he whispered, and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again. I'll protect you from now on."       She leaned against his chest, rubbing her cheek along his shoulder. "Do you promise?"       He pulled back and raised her chin with his finger until their gazes locked. "I promise."       Lightly, she grazed her lips along his, lingering longer than he expected her to. A jolt of desire shot through him. His hand tangled in her hair, holding her in place while he leisurely explored her mouth. Her tender response fueled the fire burning inside him. Alen broke the kiss. "Lie back."       Clutching his shirt, Frannie studied him curiously. "I--I don't want to be alone tonight, Alen."       When she seemed reluctant to let him go, he smiled and traced the bare skin just above the towel wrapped around her. "Go on, Frannie. Lie back. I'm not leaving."       She laid back against the pillows. "Make me forget what happened, Alen. Please." She squeezed his thigh, and her eyes reflected need and desire.       Without hesitation, he tugged at her towel until it fell open.       Alen's breath caught in his throat. "You're beautiful, Frannie," he choked out. Pale skin, which would be flawless once her bruises faded, except for a small mole between her breasts, which he longed to kiss. Breasts full, but not too large -- a perfect fit for a man's hands.       As he gazed at her body, her pink nipples hardened, darkening to a rosey shade. He licked his lips, imagining what they'd taste like.       His eyes traveled down her body to the dark blond curls at the juncture between her thighs. He itched to run his fingers through that hair, wondering if it felt as silky as it looked.       "Touch me, Alen," Frannie whispered, her voice hoarse with desire.       Alen grazed his fingers over her ribs and along the side of one breast. His hand cupped the soft mound.       On a contented sigh, Frannie closed her eyes. "Love me."       "I don't want to hurt you." His gaze skimmed over the bruises dotting her skin. He held his anger in check. Frannie's comfort and pleasure was the important thing right now.       "Just be gentle."       Always. He dipped his head to kiss the mole between her breasts. His lips moved across her breast and latched onto the hardened nipple.       Frannie moaned as he began to suck gently. Her sighs of pleasure sent hot desire shooting through him. He caressed her sides with long, sweeping motions of his hands. Her body trembled at his touch -- revealing her need.       Alen released her nipple and grazed his lips across her ribs and down her stomach. Her body had to hurt from the bruises. He rose up and whispered his desire in Frannie's ear. Tonight was all for her, in the gentlest, but most powerful, way he could think of.       Her eyes popped open, but then she smiled. She lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. "Do it."       Alen moved down the bed, trailing his finges along her legs. His palms gripped her thighs and he spread them apart. "I love you, Frannie."       He dipped his head to pleasure her with the most intimate of kisses. This was one night he never wanted Frannie to forget. THE END