<div align="center"><strong>~* Mae Little aka "MeiMei"- Taking a Chance on Love!  –  The Gamble *~</strong></div><br/>Mae smiled as the soft tone of Vincent's voice washed over her, soothing her soul and caressing her heart. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, mirroring the soft love struck expression that warmed her eyes. The sigh that fell from her tongue danced around the room as the invitation to join him on the small bed sent butterflies dancing in her tummy. Without a moment's hesitation, Mae carefully climbed up to straddle him, extremely conscious of his injuries. The last thing she ever wanted to do was cause him pain. Vincent had burrowed his way into her heart like no other had ever done before, happily invading her thoughts and dreams, carving his name across it, laying claim to her without ever knowing it.<br/><br/><br/>Not a single word past Mae's lips, but a world of promises sparkled in her green eyes as she gazed upon the man that had captured her heart so effortlessly. Slowly, the soft pink tip of her tongue swept across her lips slicking them into an inviting gloss. Together their bodies moved towards each other, as if drawn together by a powerful magnet, forming a bond with an embrace that quickly grew in passion. The heated caress drew yet another soft sigh that tickled his lips transferred from tongue to tongue, tasting each other as her hands roamed his torso. Mae felt her body quiver as his encouraging response quickly consumed her until she couldn't think of anything or anyone but Vincent Kincaid. His scent filled her lungs as his touch burned his mark on her body, sending shivers along her spine and heightening the feverish response to a new and exciting level.<br/><br/><strong>“Wait…“I can’t... Not as we are now... Not yet…”</strong><br/><br/>As Vincent prematurely broke the embrace, seemingly pushing Mae from his touch, her eyes instantly filled with confusion. Rejection gripped her heart, squeezing it with a vice like grip causing her green eyes to shimmer with tears. It was hard to breath, and the throbbing in her head that had mercifully disappeared had returned with vengeance, equal only to the dull thud pounding in her heart. The voice in her head that had been silenced by his affection whispered spiteful warnings, reminding her she was unlovable. After all, who could love a girl like her? Even her parents had not been up to the task. So consumed with the nauseating sense of disappointment, Mae almost missed the shocking confession that accompanied the tender touch of his fingers that caressed her cheek.<br/><br/><strong>“Mae. I’ve had a crush on you from day one. But that was months ago and during that time those feelings have grown into something much, much greater. By now it should be no secret that I want you”  </strong><br/><br/><br/>Blinking repeatedly, Mae tried comprehending his meanings as his laughter filtered through the air, soothing her tender heart. His words didn’t make sense; they hinted of affection and were in direct contrast to what had been running through her mind. How could he claim to want her after pushing her away? More confused than ever, Mae opened her mouth to speak only to be silenced by his next statement.<br/><br/><br/><strong>“Our first kiss should have been more than enough evidence of that… But that isn’t enough for me. I cannot be your fling, one night stand, or friend with benefits. While I’m sure such moments would be beyond amazing, I will always be aware of just how fleeting they are. That is something that would eat me from the inside out until the pain becomes too much to bear.”</strong><br/><br/><br/>Shaking her head, Mae tried to form words in hopes to defend her feelings for him. Vincent wasn’t looking for a one night stand and to her shock, Mae found herself wanting more than the usual fling. His friendship warmed her soul, bringing a smile to her face. Surprisingly, he even managed to make her giggle first thing in the morning, when she wasn’t at her best. Everything just seemed brighter when he was around. Causing him an ounce of pain was something Mae would never knowingly do. Her heart swelled with a sudden rush of hope causing a soft gasp to catch in her throat as the usually bold young woman sat frozen, straddling the man that had become to mean the world to her.<br/><br/><br/><strong>“Mae. I cannot just be your lover. Not with these feelings I have for you. I want to be yours as much as I want you to be mine. If we are going to take our relationship to the next level, I need it to be the whole package. I want to be with you in every way possible and will desire nobody else as long as I have you. What I'm saying is, I want you to be my nü peng you more than anything in the verse."</strong><br/><br/><br/>At first she was sure she had heard wrong, but as she sat peering down at Vincent, his words replayed in her mind. What seemed like hours, but was in reality only a few minutes, passed between them as both searched each others eyes with a hope that mirrored each others expression perfectly.  Mae found her head moving, slowly nodding in an up and down motion as her lips curled into a wide bright smile. Her eyes danced as the excitement and pleasure of the moment took hold and she found herself squealing with joy. Lighter than air, that was how her heart felt. The voice in her head was instantly silenced and shunned to the back of her mind to wait for another opportunity to strike.<br/><br/><br/>“I don't know what to say… other than yes!” Mae replied. Her voice was as soft and tender holding a excited tone that grew with each passing second. Glittering green eyes captured the light and sparkled like emeralds as Mae looked down upon the handsome face of the man she had fallen deeply for, a face so handsome even the bruises couldn't disguise. Reaching out to stroke a gentle finger along his strong jaw, Mae continued with her part of the confession. “One night could never be enough for me. I'm not sure when it happened but you stuck.”<br/><br/><br/>Taking a deep breath, Mae tried to explain her feelings for Vincent. Normally she didn't care to get attached but she meant what she had said. Vincent had stuck the moment they met. “I’m not sure how to say this but what I do know is that I have fun with you, you make me laugh. I love just hanging with you, kicking back and relaxing or getting into trouble. God knows I want you, physically. I was very serious about sharing my shower with you, but you are right. I want to share so much more than a shower or a night of raging lust. I want to share a million little things. I want to go to sleep in your arms every night and wake up with you in the mornings. I want to build a million memories with you.”  A mischievous grin danced across her face as she added “I want to fight over stupid things that make us laugh later after we've enjoyed making up. I want to belong to you as you do to me. I want to shout it out so loud that all of the verse knows that you are mine. I want it all. I want you!”<br/>