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I was relaxing in the passenger seat of my boyfriend Max’s jeep, when I realized that I was finally getting everything I wanted in life. My new life is just beginning and its perfect. Well almost perfect. The situation with Liz hadn’t improved all that much in the last two months, but I’m not going to let that get me down.

It’s the middle of February and Max and I have been together for almost seven months and it’s time to take our relationship to the next level. It might seem a bit cliché but this Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Our first and I’m going to make sure it’s one that Max will never forget. I’m a little nervous about it too. I mean it’s not as though we haven’t experimented the last couple of months. We’re defiantly gone beyond the handholding, cuddling and kissing stage of our relationship, but we’ve always stopped ourselves from going too far. I’m ready for more. I’m not really sure how to go about upgrading our sex life, but ironically I’m approaching his sister Isabelle for advice. She just doesn’t know it yet.

“I come bearing make-up and lots of hair products,” Isabelle Evans announces as she walks into my bedroom Saturday afternoon. “So which dress did you decide on for tonight?”

I pulled the red silk dress out of my closet. It’s totally decadent with spaghetti straps and a hem that doesn’t come close to my knees.

“Wow, my brothers not going to know what hit him.” Isabelle says with a laugh. “I hope not. I think it’s just what I need,”

“Need for what?”

“Well, we’ve been a couple for seven months and he still hasn’t made an effort to go beyond groping and I want that to change.” I tell her with a sigh.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but have you tried to seduce him?”

I laugh, “I don’t know the first thing about seduction.”

“If that dress is any indication, you’ve got a grasp on the basics. Besides I live with him and if the sounds that come from his room after he gets home from your dates are any basis, you won’t need to try very hard.” She finishes with a grimace.

“I hope you’re right because there’s only so far I can go myself.” I think about how far that is as Isabelle starts on my hair.

Three hours later I opened the door to Max and I think he actually stopped breathing.

“You are breathtaking Maria Deluca.”

The dress did indeed fit like a glove. The red silk clung to the curves of my body like a second skin. Isabelle has swept my hair up in loose curls and wisps of hair framed my face. I felt as though I was glowing.

“You’re not so bad yourself Max Evans.” And indeed he looked good enough to eat. The black suit and crisp white shirt showed off his tan skin and his amber eyes seemed even more amazing than usual, if that was possible. He handed me a single red rose that had been lightly dusted with silvery glitter. “Oh Max, it’s beautiful.”

“It doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

“Shall we go?” he asked as he raised my hand to his lips and gently brushed them against my palm. “Yes” I breathed. I knew that this was just the start to an absolutely perfect evening.