AN: This is the first chapter of a co-written fic with my friend and gutterbug, redisthenewblackington. We hope you'll like it! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I'd only share the Spades with my gutterbug!

Chapter 1

They'd had dinner at one of his safe houses that night. The conversation was light, and both were comfortable in the presence of the other. As it was getting rather late, Dembe had turned in, leaving them alone. Liz sat on the corner of Red's overstuffed sofa, and he was right next to her, but closer than usual. His arm stretched out behind her, resting on the back of the couch, and his eyes were fixed solely on hers. Liz could feel herself starting to blush.

"I should go," she said.

"No," he replied immediately. "Stay."

Her blush deepened and the tone of his voice didn't do anything to ease her nervousness. What was going on with him tonight? He had been touchy feely ever since she had stepped over the threshold.

"Why?" She got out.

The fingers of his hand gently touched her back, the tips running lightly over her shoulder. "Because I want you to."

"Uhm…" She started fidgeting, and she knew it. Drawing in a deep breath, she pressed herself against the arm of the couch and turned to face him. "Look, I'm a federal agent and you're a wanted criminal. We work together. You're an asset. Nothing else."

Liz could see something crumbling in his eyes, but his face stayed expressionless as he dropped his hand and leaned away from her. He nodded to himself and stood from the couch, putting some space between them. "It's getting rather late, and you should go. Goodnight." With that he turned and left her sitting in the living room of his borrowed home.

She was confused to say at last. Had he just dismissed her? He had never thrown her out of his house before, not once. This was new and she didn't like it at all. He was probably just fed up with her, because she had told him off. But really, what could she have done? She could've gone a little easier on him though, because a man with a bruised ego could be anything but pleasurable to be around.

Shaking her head at his unusual behavior, Liz got up and pulled on her coat, before she exited the mansion and drove back to her motel.

She hadn't heard from Reddington in two days, ever since that dinner at his place, but she didn't get why he was making such a big deal out of this. He must have known, even before she had told him, that she wouldn't want to have a more… defined relationship with him. She didn't want him, that was what she kept telling herself, though every time she did, her heart would constrict painfully in her chest. It was the right thing to do though. Everything she had said had been true… well, no, not everything. But she knew that a relationship with him could never happen. It would only end badly, and then it would ruin everything they had accomplished so far, all of their work. She couldn't let that happen, especially for something carnal, because that was all that he wanted anyway, right?

Sex. The idea of having sex with this man had been stuck in her head for what seemed like the moment she had met him, when he was strapped to that chair like a wild animal. Of course she found him attractive. Anyone in their right mind would. There was something about him that just pulled you in, and you couldn't escape once he got you. She was pretty sure that he wouldn't say no to a night together, no strings attached, of course, but she also knew that she wouldn't be able to do that. Casual sex wasn't something she did. She wasn't like him.

The ringing of her cell violently pulled her out of her thoughts. She took the device in her hand and looked at the caller ID, feeling her heart rate picking up. Taking a breath to calm herself, she pressed the green button and held it to her ear.

"Yes, Red?"

"Hello, Agent Keen," the voice on the other end greeted.

She almost groaned out loud. "Hello, Dembe. Does he have something for us?"

"There's some new information for you, yes."

Liz was already walking towards the elevator. "I'll be at the safe house in 15," she told the man.

"You don't have to," Dembe started. "I can drop it off at the post office."

"No, that's okay. I need to get out of here anyway. I'll see you soon." With that she hung up and made her way over.

When Liz arrived at the safe house, the tall bodyguard opened the front door for her and lead her through to the living room. Red was sitting at the dining room table, dressed in his trademark three-piece suit, minus fedora. He looked way too appealing for his own good... or rather, for hers. When he finally looked up, the FBI agent was taken aback by the indifferent look in his eyes, and the fake smile he shot her.

"Agent Keen, please sit." So, they were back to formal.

"Red," she greeted back, refraining from using his last name as well. Liz sat in a chair diagonally from him. "You have something for us?"

"Why, yes," he replied. "Dembe." The tall man walked up to them and handed his employer and friend a manila folder. "Everything you need to know is in there."

Liz took the folder from his hand and was about to flip through it, when a woman walked up to them. She wore a short dress, barely reaching her knees, which was hugging her form tightly. Red stood immediately, shooting her a brilliant smile.

"I'm sorry, am I late?" She asked as she stepped up to him.

"You're right on time, dear," he replied, before he pulled her to him, kissing her on the lips.

Liz could feel the green monster rising up and her heart clenched tightly at what she was witnessing. She watched as the pair settled down next to each other, with Red's arm wrapped around the woman's shoulder, while the blonde's hand was somewhere under the table, and she didn't even want to know where.

"Who's your friend, darling?" She asked with a smile.

"Where are my manners? Catherine, this is Elizabeth Keen, my insurance agent. Miss Keen, this is Catherine."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Keen."

Liz gave her a strained smile. "You, too," she answered shortly. "I'll get going then."

"Why don't you stay for lunch?" The blonde asked.

She would rather throw herself off a cliff. "No, thank you. I've got a lot to do." Liz wanted to scream and throw things, preferably at the man sitting in front of her, who was already kissing over 'Catherine's' neck. Liz could feel the heat creeping up her face. She had to get out of there and fast. "Enjoy your meal," she said and started making her way out of the room, while trying hard to blank out the sucking noises and the groan that escaped Red's throat. She did not need to see this.