Disclaimer:Nope still don't own any characters or Warehouse 13 show.

Rating: UHm, M in this chapter just because I'm paranoid. So Don't say I didn't warn ya.

Truth

"That's not true Angel," he states firmly, holding her gaze. "I know for a fact nice guys find you irresistible."

Claudia sniffs, her eyes imploring as she said, "Yeah right, Jinksy. Name one nice, normal guy that finds me, ME, irresistible."

"The truth shall set you free".

Steve had always taken this phrase rather literally throughout his life, now he was learning that the truth can free more than just your body. If you have the courage, the truth can release the bindings around your heart and the fetters around your soul. If only he has the courage. Dearest God, how he hopes he has the courage! "Tell her Now or Not At All, Steve" he commands himself.

Steve had to concentrate, hard, to draw in enough breath to allow him say anything and then of course, fear of rejection, the likes of which he's never encountered, strangles his voice, rendering him speechless.

Claudia, mistaking his silence for an answer, nods her head and begins to extricate herself from his embrace.

"Like I said, I should know better." Claudia murmurs sadly, as she slowly steps away from the only true solace she's found in longer than she cares to recall.

Dejected and hurt more than she would ever admit by what appears to her as another rejection, Claudia can't stop the words from spilling forth.

"I guess I got too used to you, an' Pete and even Artie, treating me like I'm actually someone special. When all you really see me as is the semi-useful e-geek that dresses like an 80's flashback, which you keep around because you don't quite know how to get rid of me."

Momentarily stunned by her words, Steve blurts out the first thing that flashes through his mind.

"That's a lie."

"Please Jinks, I can't deal with the human lie detector right now." Claudia says as she scrubs the tears from her cheeks. "I really just want to be alone for a while."

The human lie detector. Its part of who he is and part of the way the others think of him. All his life this strange ability has, at best, been useful and at worst, brought him the worst heartache and pain he's ever known. Now, in this second, for once in his life, Steve decides to use his ability for his own personal fulfillment.

"That's a lie too." Steve replies, as he takes slow, deliberate strides toward her, his heart hammering so loud his pulse is ringing in his ears. "Being alone is the last thing you want or need right now."

He can see the flash of irritation in her eyes at his comment; good, irritated is far better than the misery he's just been witness to. Determined not to let her shut him out, Steve closes the distance between them. He stops in front of her, mere centimeters separating their bodies, nearly more than he can stand to have between them.

Steve stares intently at her face as he demands, "Go ahead Claudia, tell me another."

Unnerved by his proximity and the intensity in his eyes, Claudia stammers, "I-I r-really hate you right n-now, Steve."

"Lie." He responds, his voice low and gravelly as he continues, "I'm tired of lies. Tired of lying, to myself, to you, to everyone here."

"Lying about what?" Claudia whispers, as her face flushes, her breathing becomes irregular and a familiar, yet unnamed burning slid through her veins.

To answer, Steve slides his arm around her waist, pulling her body ardently to his and twines the fingers of his other hand in her hair. He leans down until his lips are so close to hers that he can feel the heat radiating from them.

"Now or Not At All", he thinks to himself.

Now, absolutely now!

"About this," he growls before pressing his mouth hungrily against hers, savoring the sweet taste of her lips.

Slowly, he drags the tip of his tongue against her full, luscious mouth and rumbles with long repressed desire when he feels the softness of her tongue glide around his. Steve loses himself in the feel and scent of her, he revels in every sigh and moan that escapes the silken suppleness of her lips, willingly drowns in the deep pools of her eyes.

Lust grips him tightly as he takes full advantage of his height, bending Claudia backward until they topple onto her bed. Bodies press together as clothes are torn away, until the only feeling is skin sliding on burning skin. Hands slip along, gently caressing; each young lover wanting to be touched and needing to touch in return. Mouths feast on passionate cries and sweat slicked bodies, until the inferno raging inside can be denied no longer and he plunges inside the warmth of her softly yielding body.

Sensations blend together seamlessly, causing time to warp around them. As her hips roll upwards to meet his thrusts and her velvety smooth walls contract around him, Steve surrenders the last shred of restraint he possesses and calls Claudia's name desperately before he releases a hot flood inside her. Claudia arches wantonly into him, wrapping her legs around his hips, urging him to drive his pulsating hardness farther into her. She screams his name, as her muscles seize around him spasmodically, until they collapse together, too exhausted and content to move further.

Sometime later, their limbs still tangled together, Claudia gently brushes her fingertips across Steve's cheek. She smiles as his eyes drift open lazily and he stares in wonderment at the sight of her.

Staring into his adoring gaze, Claudia can't help but ask, "Why, Steve?"

He drops tender kisses on her neck before he answers, "Because the heart wants what the heart wants."

As he pulls Claudia astride his waist he says, "And the truth is, my heart wants you."

Settling herself against the proof of that want, Claudia whispers, "My heart has always wanted you."

Smiling as he slides gently into her, Steve replies, "I believe that's the truest thing you've said all night."

Groaning in pleasure, Claudia kisses him eagerly, commanding, "Enough talk, prove it!"

Steve Jinks spent the rest of that night and the rest of his life proving to Claudia Donovan-Jinks how much his heart (and the rest of him) wanted her.

Finis

At last, sorry for the wait. Holidays kinda got in the way. Have had the chapter done for a few days, just got the chance to post it. Hope you like it. Reviews please. And if you're interested I might be persuaded to write another story in this line. So drop me a line and let me know, one way or the other. Warehouse 13 Rules!