Chapter 1...of a few already...please please feedback if you want more of this story - or if you don't! I just want to learn!

Finally breaking the kiss, Josh exhaled and rested his forehead against hers.

God she tasted good. She turned him on in ways he'd never felt before, but there was something else, something he couldn't really define. Not yet anyway.

"I'm glad," she whispered.

"Glad?"

"That me coming with you was your idea. Sam may have managed to convince someone to marry him, but I'm not ready to believe he's a relationship guru

just yet."

He laughed and leaned back into his chair as Donna twisted away from him to stow her luggage under her seat. He turned, gazing out the small window, and yawned. Exhaustion didn't even begin to cover what he was feeling. His head, his arms, God, his entire body felt like a leaden weight and he was desperate to not feel that way anymore.

Josh, startled out of his reverie, turned at the sound of Donna clicking her seatbelt. She lifted her eyes to him and smiled her crooked smile that warmed him instantly, lifting that weight just a little. She reached down and twined her fingers with his, lifting their hands to the armrest between them in an intimate gesture. Glancing at her face, he found she was looking at their hands. She rubbed the pad of her thumb over the back of his knuckle.

"This is nice," she sighed, looking up and meeting his gaze.

"Nice," he echoed.

"Nice, on a scale of niceness…."

He squeezed her hand. "I'm a man on the edge and you're mocking me!"

"Well, we'll have to see what we can do about that," she lowered her voice and lifted his hand to hers, gently pressing it to her lips.

His eyelids flickered shut at her touch; he drew a long breath and opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a stewardess, asking to look at their seatbelts. Lifting their hands he revealed their belts.

"This is new," he said, indicating their hands as he lowered them back between them, "nice and new."

"Yeah, we skipped some stuff," she replied, "you know, on the way."

"The way to where?" He asked, seriously looking at her, head to one side. She was the one who needed to do this, bring him answers to tricky questions, the

questions he didn't have the courage to answer for himself.

"Row 14 seats A and B," she deadpanned.

"Donna."

"Joshua."

He grinned and lightly shrugged. This was her way of telling him she wasn't going to be the one to lead this and define them at every turn. She'd done her bit for now. "Ok, I get it."

"First time for everything."

"Is this how it is going to be now?"

"Do you want it any other way?"

"No," and it was his turn to lift their hands to his lips. "No. This is exactly how

I want it."

They looked at each other and he leaned in to kiss her again but the movement of the plane as it rolled back from its stand broke her attention and she grinned sheepishly. "So, the Bahamas huh?"

"Short notice. Best I could do." He smiled wryly.

She laughed. "Sam's idea too?"

"Ronna's actually," he confessed. Once he'd left the congressman he'd practically sprinted the five steps to Ronna's desk and asked her, in barely hushed tones, to book him a five-night stay at any, expensive, resort in the Caribbean she could find, starting that evening. For two. He'd received a wide-eyed look, then a very knowing smile followed by a hand held out for his credit card. "Though not so much her idea as 'Whatever holiday she could book that leaves ASAP, is warm and is not DC.'"

"So we could be in a tent on the beach for all you know then?" She smiled.

"Hell no. I want a bath."

She raised just the one eyebrow this time.

He took a beat.

"You're going to make me have "The Talk" aren't you?" He said, emphasising the words.

"Yes Josh. I think it is pretty safe to say, the moment you pleaded with me to come on vacation with you, that you've locked yourself in to having the talk."

"Pleaded is a strong word."

"Ok, begged."

"I didn't beg!"

"No, you didn't. But it would have been nice."

"Then you should have played harder to get. Sam did, he actually got me to embarrass myself. "

"That I'd have paid money to see."

The plane turned a corner as it taxied to the runway.

"So the talk – later then?"

"Yes Josh, later will do. Right now, just keep holding my hand."

"But you're not afraid of flying."

"I know," she bit her lip. "I just like it when you hold my hand."

"Sure, I can manage that." He said. They turned to face the front as the plane accelerated for take off

………………………..

They walked out of the terminal side by side and the heat swarmed round them like a blanket, drawing their breath.

Donna could feel the persistent flutter of excitement in her belly, the kind she always got when getting off a plane Feeling the change in temperature always made her realise that a long awaited vacation was finally here.

Given this was her first vacation in goodness knows how long, it made the flutter all the more insistent. Or maybe that was just the knot of adrenalin she'd had ever since Josh appeared, leaning against her doorway, characteristically nonchalant, a few hours before. The minute she saw him in her doorway she knew everything was going to change.

He walked ahead and caught the eye of a waiting cab driver that had been leaning against the door of his car. The driver walked to Donna taking her luggage. She smiled gratefully, suddenly exhausted and opened the door to sit in the back of the taxi. She fought the undignified urge to slump across the whole of the seat as Josh slid in next to her and immediately took her hand again. Her stomach flipped again. He'd barely stopped holding her hand since she'd asked him at take off. He'd held it even while she had slept fitfully on his shoulder.

Josh leaned forward and whispered the name of the hotel to the driver.

Pulling away from the terminal she wound the window half down and was soothed by the warm air flooding across her face. She settled back into the leather seat and gazed out of the window, the stream of salty breeze blowing across her damp brow and moving her hair. Through tired eyes, she watched the blur of exquisite scenery as they moved quickly along a coast road, wishing she had the energy to be delighted about this new and foreign land.

She could feel him focus on her again and was pleasantly surprised at what he did next. He pressed lips to her bare shoulder, lightly and quickly kissing her. She laid her cheek against his soft hair, sighing audibly into the darkness, and felt him rub his gently stubbled chin against her shoulder. A moment before she'd been fighting to stay awake, but now the insistent buzz, an almost childish excitement bought her back to wakefulness. Turning her head, she pressed her lips to his damp brow and dropped her shoulder, his head dropping into the crook of her neck, his breath on her skin adding to the butterflies in the very pit of her. She gazed across him, out of the opposite window of the cab, and felt his breathing grow steady as he slept on her shoulder. Still holding her hand.

…………………………….

Half an hour later, the cab drew to a halt, bringing them back to their surroundings. Donna lifted her head and arched her back stretching sore muscles. Josh woke quickly after months of practice and they climbed out of the cab.

The Grand Hotel was a three-story white washed building, seemingly as close to the beach as was possible without actually being on it. To the side of the hotel, the beach rolled away and about a kilometre round a bay, a town rose up, its speckled lights reflecting in the water. Two rows of palm trees flanked a cobbled path leading to the reception, strung with tiny white lights bathing everything in a warm glow.

"Good evening Mr. Lyman, Miss Moss, welcome to the Bahamas," the night manager came forward to greet his guests.

Josh raised an eyebrow and Donna smiled.

"We had a call sir, from Washington." The manager answered the unasked question and shook them both by the hand. "We are honoured to have you here. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible."

"Thank you Mr…?"

"Please call me Jacob. Your room is prepared, if you'd follow me," he said, turning and gesturing towards the stairs, an unseen person having already vanished the luggage.

Josh turned to Donna, half bowing and gesturing for her to lead. Donna smiled back and walked across his path, grasping his hand in hers as she passed him, tugging him close behind her.

The door to the corner apartment, on the highest floor was swung open for them and Donna fought to keep her jaw from dropping. The apartment was an open plan, with wooden floors and windows that took up two walls. Shutters had been left open but mosquito blinds were drawn down, allowing moonlight to flood in. She could see roller blinds for privacy but imagined that because of the height no one would be able to see in. A small kitchen area occupied one corner where she could see a table, upon which a silver bucket stood, she assumed containing a bottle of champagne. Against the wall to her left, a king size bed, which made her stomach knot twist sharply and exquisitely.

They travelled hundreds of times together, but this was one room, one bed, first time.

Hearing a loud click, she realised Jacob was still talking. He was demonstrating to Josh how to lock the door and pointing down the hallway to show the exits.

"Is there anything else I can get you Mr. Lyman?"

"No thanks Jacob, and it's Josh."

"And Donna," she quickly added.

"Goodnight then," Jacob said, backing out of the room and drawing the door shut. Josh's hand pushed it that final inch until it clicked and he turned the key twice in the lock.

…………………………

Josh turned into the room, leaning his back against the door to pause and take in his surroundings – but really he couldn't take his eyes off Donna. He'd watched her survey the room; she took it all in with barely contained glee and it made him happy. Simple happiness.

Slipping off her shoes, Donna moved gracefully barefoot to the table. Moonlight filled the room with a diffuse pale glow, framing her beautifully. He watched her delicate, elegant arms and hands as she twisted the bottle in the silver bucket so she could read a label tied around its neck. She picked it up, the icy water dripping down the side and faced him – holding the bottle up in a "you want some?" gesture.

He shook his head and walked purposefully towards her, closing the gap between them. He reached up closing his hand over hers on the neck of the bottle and lowered their hands, settling the bottle back into the bucket. He didn't want anything to delay what he wanted to do, needed to do.

She looked straight into his eyes, as if she were regarding his soul. He stared back and could find no hint of a question, no sign of nerves. He was feeling both but seeing the certainty in her cerulean blue eyes he found he had the courage to continue.

Moulding his hand to the small of her back he pulled her body, warm and firm to his and kissed her. He felt the vibration of her moan, and he shivered as she moved her tongue to meet his. The kiss, deep and passionate quickly, wasn't enough. Her hands cradled his face as he raised a hand, tangling it in her hair, the other pulling her as tightly to him as he could.

"Josh," she murmured, breaking the kiss and gasping for air, her longing evident.

"Donna," he growled, the necessity to have her skin against his hurtling towards unbearable. He spun her round, and they stumbled across the room towards the bed, tearing at each other's clothes and kissing each other fiercely. A button from his shirt skittered across the floor as she forced it down over his broad shoulders. His fingers tugged at her waist, drawing her silk top from her pants, pushing it up and over her breasts. He would worship her all night if he could, but now he just wanted to feel her against him.

………………………

Donna was nearly crying she needed him so badly. They needed each other in ways too numerous to ever count but at this minute only one way mattered. She had had him before but this was something else altogether. They were here with each other for the right reasons this time and she couldn't wait another second.

The back of her knees bumped against the end of the bed and she steadied herself, not wanting to fall back just yet. She pulled at his vest, yanking it over his head and was forced to break their increasingly forceful kisses. His hands ran round her waist, around the band of her pants, desperately trying to find the zipper. She giggled against his lips and he pulled his head back, smiling too.

They stood there, both in a state of semi-undress, grinning at each other.

"What are you waiting for?" She challenged playfully, lifting her chin, her hands paused at the top button of his fly. His hands were at the small of her back, having located the tiny zipper they'd been searching for.

"This." He replied, slowly lowering the zip, his hands trailing back to her hips and slowly, achingly, pushing her pants down to the floor. She stepped out of them as he stood back up, meeting her gaze.

As she saw his eyes trail up her body, she fleetingly remembered telling him that there had been a build up to them, how she had tactically acknowledged this long held attraction without actually acknowledging it. As they stood there, her in nothing but underwear, him in his pants, she realised the urgency had left and she needed this to be slow.

She echoed his movements of a few seconds before, slowly unbuttoning his pants and unzipping his fly, enjoying the groan that escaped his lips as her hands brushed excruciatingly slowly down the front of his groin.

"Donna?"

"Josh."

His palms smoothed from the small of her back, sliding up and across the expanse of soft skin finally and curling his fingers over her shoulders. The warmth and firmness of his touch created a delicious friction and she arched her back in response, pushing forward against him, pressing as much of her body against his as possible. He lowered his lips to her collarbone and licked and nibbled along her neck and shoulder. She dropped her head back, gasping as if her breath was being tugged from her. Pressing her hips forward, she could feel his hardness pressed against her thigh, could feel his restraint as if he were willing himself not to grind back into her. She drew her fingers up his sides, along the sensitive flesh along his flanks, and grasped his arms, digging her fingernails every so slightly in. His lips trailed down along the edge of her lace bra, his tongue wet against her already damp skin.

This time when she spoke his name all teasing was gone.

He hummed gently against her breast and reached his right hand round, cupping her breast. His thumb traced gently over the lace and her nipple and she nearly lost herself. The sound of her moan made him look up and she gazed back through heavy eyelids.

He lowered his fingers and traced the underside of her bra, both hands now meeting at the front clasp. Pulling the delicate material down he let it drop to the floor. She crushed herself to him again, naked chests together.

……………..

Josh couldn't quite comprehend how he was still standing. Just having her pressed so close was nearly enough to send him plummeting over the edge. He could feel the heat radiating from her centre intoxicating him. Lowering his head to her shoulder he inhaled the scent that had tormented him for years and she responded, tightening her grip on his arms, spurring him back to motion. He gently lowered her to the bed his eyes roving over her long, lithe legs as she slowly pushed herself toward the headboard. He openly stared, rejoicing in the sight of her, bathed in moonlight, pale and ethereal. He was scared that if he blinked she might dissipate into the still, humid.

Responding to his stare, she beckoned to him. Even in the dark he could se the aroused flush of her skin and wanting nothing more than to be touching her he reached out and took hold of her delicate hand, binging it to his lips and kissing the palm.

The times they'd done this before were fast and furious, both of them wanting fulfilment and wanting it immediately, needing closeness but not having the energy to do much more than ensure gratification for themselves.

This was not of that mould. He'd watched her for years; watched her with other men, watched her drag herself out of a pit of despair, watched her follow him around like a puppy dog, but he had never truly seen her until now, as she offered herself to him again, renewed. This time was going to be different.

He knelt down beside her and reached out, his fingers meeting her smooth ankles and saw her eyelids flutter shut at the contact. He took his time, massaging her, smoothing his palms along her calves to the sides of her knees and firmly up the front of her thighs, increasing the pressure of his touch as he got closer to her waist. He lowered his head and kissed what evidently appeared to be sensitive skin just below her navel. Smiling into her belly at the wondrous sound of her sighs, he continued to lick and kiss and inhale as he moved further up. Her hands were on his shoulders now, kneading and pressing his skin, a movement he mimicked on her breasts, causing her to writhe on the bed. Her hips ground downwards as he gently sucked the softest skin around the dark areoles and he suppressed a growl low in his throat. When he gently skimmed her nipple with his teeth Donna actually whimpered. He stared up at her face, fascinated as she tossed her head from side to side.

He leaned over her and dragged his hands, tantalisingly slow, down her sides until his fingers caught in the lace edge of her panties. He gripped the edges between his thumb and forefingers and looked up again seeking permission, locking his eyes with hers and she lifted her chin, almost imperceptibly, but definitely impatiently, and he smiled as he pulled them down and off her.

There she was, naked, stunning, and just for him. He berated himself for never taking the time to really look at her before when they'd slept together. What the hell had he been doing to almost lose this, to take it for granted when he had it?

Her breasts rose and fell as she panted in her desire. He lowered his head to her knees and began to kiss them as she squirmed again, mewing a soft sound that balanced precariously between pleasure and pain. He caressed the inside of her thighs with his tongue and gently pushed them apart with his hands.

He shifted them both and laid down between her legs, his face barely above her centre as he breathed in her scent.

"Josh, please," she barely managed to force out and he dipped his head as she raised her hips to meet his prying tongue.

…………………….

A long held breath escaped them both on contact. Donna gripped the sheets in her hands, desperate in an attempt not to grab him and push him deeper into her. His tongue and lips danced across her, exquisite in their torture and she cried out, cried his name. His hands massaged her thighs and she pushed her body towards him again and he understood, moving a hand up and slipping a finger inside her warmth.

Her breath started to come in deep, ragged pants as she neared the edge; her vision became tunnelled and every nerve on her body seemed to be inexplicably joined to where his lips were gently sucking and teasing. She was close….so close…so close….and then as he drew his teeth across her she was spiralling. He slipped another finger in her as she fell over the edge and she keened his name into the darkness.

………………..

Josh soothed her spasming centre with his tongue, not pushing her again but gently prolonging the moment with wide, slow strokes.

He raised himself up, moved and stretched his body alongside hers, sliding a hand across her smooth stomach as her breathing returned to a steady rhythm. His hardness was straining at his boxers but he held still, trapped in realisation beyond the bear inkling he'd had before. He was in love with her and it overwhelmed him.

He reeled at the realisation only stirred back to consciousness as he felt her grin against his shoulder and he gently rolled her away so he could see her.

"760 verbal? Are you sure that wasn't oral?"

Josh felt his jaw dropping, and gathered her up, rocking her body to him, grabbing her close in an effort to stop her saying anything else, because while the fact she could still tease him was comforting, it certainly hadn't matched with where his head had been. Time to banter back he supposed.

"Well if I'd known that particular method of distraction worked so well I'd have started a long time ago."

He cursed himself silently, as she laughed and muttered something about basic humour, for not doing a lot of things sooner.

As her laughter faded, her hands moved across his chest, pausing for a second over the scars, as if she were considering them, but apparently deciding to come back to them later.

Instead, she stopped using the soft pads of her fingers to touch him and began to trail her fingernails unbearably slowly across his stomach. He tried desperately to lie still, but groaned as her hands slipped inside the waistband of his boxers. It was her turn to push the cloth down, manoeuvring the fabric over his hardness. She pulled them down over his feet then crawled back up to where he lay on his side She straddled him, placing her hand on his hip forcing him over obediently onto his back.

He watched as she positioned herself above him, his hand went to rest on her hips and she looked down at him. Never breaking eye contact, she dipped her hand between them and gathered her wetness on her fingertips, and then slid her hands over him. He moaned loudly as she lubricated him with their moisture.

Her next move almost finished him before he even entered her. She lifted her fingers to her lips and tasted them.

"Oh God," he moaned, hoarse with desire.

"Ssshhh." She lifted her hands towards him and he grasped them, twining their fingers together and she lowered herself on to him.

And then began to move.

It was his turn to crush his eyelids closed and swipe his head from side to side as she slowly tortured him. He raised his hips up to meet her and she massaged him from within, moving up and down at a pace that would inevitably drive him insane. She rode him slowly, milking him with every upstroke; it was turning him inside out and he felt himself skimming swiftly, too quickly towards his own edge.

"Joshua."

His eyes snapped open and locked with hers. She was close again, her skin flushed, her breasts rising and falling. He unlinked one hand and moved his fingers back to her centre and began to circle her clit. She spoke almost as soon as he touched her.

"I'm there Josh, come for me."

He needed no more invitation as he yelled her name and emptied himself into her, straining to keep his eyes open to watch her fling her head back and cry out with him. Shockwaves jolted through him as her spasm drew out their combined exquisite pleasures.

As their cries subsided, she lowered herself to his damp chest. Her hair splayed across him and they grasped each other tightly, his fingers curled around her calf, her leg slung around his thigh, holding him close to her. He felt the tension diminishing as he slipped regrettably towards sleep. He lifted her chin with his thumb and sought permission from her. Pressing a kiss to his lips and settling herself into his arms she whispered to him.

"Sleep, Josh. I'm not going anywhere."

…………………………..

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