~~ XXI ~~

"Lee, what are you doing?" Amanda paused just inside the Plaza's elegant Fifth Avenue lobby and looked back at her husband.

"Jotting down the number of our cab. That driver should be reported." He tucked the small notebook back into his inside jacket pocket and caught up with her.

"It's hardly his fault the cab got a flat tire. Now where are you going?" she asked in exasperation as he headed off towards a side alcove.

"The stairs are over here." He motioned over his shoulder.

"The elevators are over there," she countered.

"Not a chance," he said, shaking his head. "After everything that's happened to us so far, I am not trusting those elevators."

"And I am not climbing ten flights of stairs wearing heels. Lee, you're being ridiculous." She blew out an exasperated breath and tapped her foot against the marble floor.

"Am I?" He walked over to her and leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a dramatic whisper. "Need I remind you that the cloakroom at the theater managed to misplace your ticket? It took them over twenty minutes to find your coat."

She rolled her eyes. "I think all your years in espionage have made you paranoid."

"Trust me, Amanda, those elevators are just waiting to break down with us on board. I'm certain of it."

"Then we'll find some way to keep ourselves occupied until someone rescues us." She tugged on his tie and pulled him across the lobby. "Come on, I thought you were the one who was so anxious to get back to our suite."

"I still say there's a conspiracy against us," Lee muttered as they stepped into the waiting elevator.

"See, nothing bad is going to happen," Amanda said as the doors shut them in. "In fact, this actually gives us a bit of privacy." She reached up and kissed him, slowly and leisurely.

"Hmm . . . you may have a point." Lee stroked his hands down her neck and under her coat collar. As their lips meshed together again, he eased her coat over her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

Amanda smiled. "I bet you wouldn't mind if the elevator broke down right now." She ran her fingers over his shirtfront and undid the knot on his tie.

"Ahem." They both looked up, startled, as the elevator doors slid open and an elderly couple entered. The woman seemed to be particularly affronted, sniffing loudly and gazing at them coldly through her spectacles.

Lee quickly snatched up Amanda's coat from the floor, holding it nonchalantly in front of him.

"I guess it would have helped if we'd actually pressed the button for our floor," Amanda whispered, trying to stifle her laughter by burrowing her face into his shoulder. Lee scowled down at her, before reaching out and punching the button marked '10'.

Maybe Lee did have a point about a conspiracy, she reflected as the other couple turned out to be staying several floors above them. The silence in the elevator was deafening as they slowly rode up.

"I swear, we're taking the stairs from now on," Lee said as they finally exited on their floor.

Amanda was thankful that they didn't run into any more hotel guests as they made their way down the hallway. She took out their room key from her purse and opened the door as quickly as she could.

"Wait just one second," she said to Lee. "I'm beginning to think you might have a point about all these interruptions." Unhooking the 'Do Not Disturb' sign, she leaned around the door and hung it on the outside doorknob.

"It's actually a little late for that," Lee said as he closed the door and snapped the deadbolt into place. "You've been disturbing my thoughts for quite some time."

Amanda stood in the foyer watching as he dropped her coat on a heap on the floor. His eyes never left hers as he covered the short distance between them, slipping off his own jacket and tossing it off to the side.

"Alone at last," he murmured, kissing her lightly on the lips.

A shiver of anticipation swept through her. Alone. No family or work requiring their attention. No more interruptions to distract them.

Short and sweet at first, their kisses grew in intensity. The pressure of his lips became demanding, his hands cupping her face and holding her firmly to him. Her seeking fingers found the ends of his tie, slowly pulling it out from between them. Slipping her arms around him, she traced the strong lines of his muscles through his shirt.

Their eyes met again as Lee reached around and grasped the tab at the top of her zipper. She bit her bottom lip as he tantalizingly drew it down the back of her dress. Slipping his right hand inside her dress and around her waist, he pulled her to him. She could feel the cool smoothness of his wedding band brushing against her skin as he slowly trailed his other hand back up her naked spine, pausing only to unhook her bra with one deft movement.

Amanda moved away just far enough to start undoing the top few buttons of his shirt. Her concentration on even such a simple undertaking wavered as Lee leaned in and nuzzled his way from her cheek to the nape of her neck. When he leisurely pushed her dress and bra strap over her right shoulder and started kissing his way across her newly exposed skin, she gave up the task as hopeless.

She leaned back and moaned lightly as he traced the neckline of her dress and slid his left hand beneath the thin fabric. His fingers moved with agonizing deliberation as he cupped the underside of her breast. Teasing her mercilessly, he circled his fingers over and around and under the curve of her flesh. She writhed against him in an agony of anticipation until finally he brushed his thumb over her taut nipple.

Lee raised his head and kissed her again, slow and deep and full of longing. "You are incredible," he murmured, his lips smiling against hers. He moved his other hand to her left shoulder and again began the tantalizing process of pushing back the fabric.

Amanda's breath caught in her throat, and she involuntarily took a step away from him. "No," she blurted out, hastily pulling her dress back over her collarbone.

Lee stood there, clearly bewildered. "Amanda, what's wrong?"

"It's just . . . I have a scar on my left side," she said hesitantly.

"From the seatbelt last week? I didn't realize you were hurt that badly."

"No, not from that. From before . . . from something else," she broke off awkwardly.

"Amanda." Lee shook his head and took her by both arms. "You don't really think something like that would change the way I feel about you?"

She tried to smile back, but somehow it didn't quite take. "Not really," she said, sounding only half-convinced even to her own ears. "But . . ."

"Look." He stepped away from her and quickly unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. "You've got one scar? I've got at least half a dozen." He indicated a small abrasion just under his ribcage. "This one's from a disagreement over a bar bill I had years ago in Tunisia."

She managed a genuine smile as he drew his shirt away from his right side and pointed out a long, smooth discoloration against his skin. "I don't even know where this one came from. I guess I just forgot to duck sometime in the last nine years."

Amanda slowly reached out and ran her fingers along the slight marking. Lee leaned in and brushed his lips against her hair. "So, tell me - does any of that make a difference to you?"

She gently ran her hands up over his chest, splaying her fingers out and brushing against his nipples.

"Amanda," he said, his voice quivering ever so slightly, "are you listening to me?"

She slid her hands down over his ribcage again, savoring the feel of his warm flesh beneath her fingers.

"Amanda," Lee repeated once more.

"Hmm . . . did you say something?" she asked, absorbed in the task of tugging his shirttails out of his pants.

"Hey, no fair," he protested. "I showed you mine, now you show me yours."

She leaned into him, capturing his mouth with hers. Slowly parting his lips with her tongue, she slid into him, meshing her mouth with his, sucking and tasting and wanting him so much that her body trembled against his.

He reached up with both hands and slowly peeled back her dress and bra. The small rustle of fabric as her clothing fell to the floor was almost drowned out by the aching moan from low in his throat.

"Amanda, I . . ." he muttered, as he kissed his way to the hollow at the base of her neck.

Using only the very tips of his fingers he touched the small pucker of flesh running vertically over the left side of her chest. His lips were warm and gentle as he slowly drew them along the imperfection. He looked up for a moment, catching her eye. "How did this happen?" he asked, a bewildered look flickering briefly across his face. He shook his head, as if trying to force an illusive memory to the surface. "Amanda, how bad was this?" he demanded in a low, intense voice.

"I'll tell you later," she whispered, not wanting to go into detail about what her mother had told her. That was all in the past, a past neither of them could remember and which had no part of this evening. As far as they were concerned, this was their first time, his body as new to her as hers was to him. Now that they were finally alone, together, she didn't want to wait even a minute longer than necessary.

She stepped out of her shoes, carelessly kicking aside her dress at the same time. Clad only in her panties and stockings, she licked her lips and asked in a low voice, "Of course we could sit around for awhile and talk, if you'd prefer."

"Talk?" Lee choked out, his voice strained. He drew in a sharp breath, his gaze roaming down the length of her body and back up again. "No, I think that can wait until later."

"Good." She stepped closer and took hold of his collar, roughly pushing his shirt over his shoulders. Lee pulled his arms out of the sleeves, pausing in frustration as the material bunched up around his wrists. There was a sound of ripping fabric as he tore his hands free of the sleeves. "Cufflinks," he muttered, drawing her to him again.

"You've still got your watch on, too," she said. She undid the clasp and set it on the side table. Still holding his hand, she brought it up to her mouth, licking and sucking on the inside of his wrist.

She felt Lee gather her in his arms, crushing her mouth to his. Through a haze of fervid kisses, she was vaguely aware that he carried her into the next room and set her down onto the bed.

Taking a seat on a nearby chair, he began to take off his shoes and socks. Amanda switched one of the bedside lamps to its lowest setting. She removed the foil wrapped chocolates from the pillows then pulled the sheet and blankets to the foot of the bed. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she quickly peeled off her stockings and tossed them to the side.

She looked up to find Lee staring at her, his eyes dark and intense as they followed her closely. "What?" she asked. She got up and crossed the short distance over to him. "You weren't watching me, were you?"

"Every move." He reached out and pulled her down onto his lap. "You're just too damned distracting. How I'm ever supposed to get anything done at work after this, I'll never know."

She stroked her hand over his face, the late night stubble on his cheeks rough against her palm. "So how do you know this isn't all some elaborate plot to eliminate the great Scarecrow?"

"Then I'll die a happy man." He took her left hand in his, his fingers trembling as he undid the catch on her bracelet. He set it down on the nightstand next to the chocolates before slowly bringing her hand to his lips. Pressing a feverish kiss against her palm, he proceeded to run his tongue up the length of her index finger. She pulled down on his lower lip and shivered as he slowly sucked on her finger.

"Lee," she moaned, pulling her hand away and drawing it down his neck. She rested both her hands on his shoulders, gripping him tightly as he ran his tongue down her neck and over the slope of her breast. His breath burnt against her skin, searing her nipple as he pulled it into his mouth. Waves of desire, slow and hot, built up from her core and flowed through her body as he slowly nipped and sucked at her flesh.

He slipped one hand between her legs, caressing the soft flesh of her inner thighs. Reaching up with his thumb, he hooked it into the lace of her panties and pulled them down to her knees.

She pushed his hand back to the base of her legs, crying out his name as his fingers brushed over her curls and pressed into her. Twisting in his lap, she tried desperately to open herself up further to him. His body responded instantly, his heightened arousal pressing firmly against her buttocks.

Gasping for breath, she stood up and swiftly slipped her panties off with shaking fingers. "Stand up," she commanded, grasping his hands in hers and tugging him to his feet.

Their eyes locked as she reached for his belt, undoing the buckle and slowing pulling the thin strip of leather out of the loops. He closed his eyes and shuddered as she unbuttoned his pants and ever so slowly eased the metal tab down the length of his zipper. "Amanda," he ground out, moaning deep in his throat as she slipped her hand inside his boxers.

She touched him over and over, stroking and exploring his contours, feeling the heat of his hardened flesh against her hand. He moaned again, a feral sound from deep within. She smiled and planted a kiss on his heaving chest as he gasped for breath. It was a heady feeling, knowing that she could elicit this response from him, that he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him. She slid her hands back over his hips and up to the waistband of his pants.

"Oh, Amanda."

There was the barest tinge of desperation in his voice, and Amanda smiled.

"Just give me a minute," she said, pressing her mouth against the slick skin of his chest again. "You're still slightly over dressed for this party, you know." She pushed down on his pants, drawing them down the length of his thighs along with his boxers.

Lee hurriedly stepped out of the last of his clothing and pushed it aside. She bent her head, tasting the salt on his skin, feeling the tremor in his muscles as her mouth glided down the taut smoothness of his chest to linger at his waist. She wanted him so much . . . wanted to give him so much . . .

"Amanda."

Lee's voice sounded rough to her ear, deep and low, almost a growl. She tilted her head to look at him. "You don't want me to?" she asked, suddenly embarrassed by the extent of her need.

"Oh, God," he moaned, as if the mere suggestion was more than he could take. "It's not that. I'm going to . . ." He reached down and took her by the arms, pulling her up against him. "I just need a minute."

"Then can I offer you a rain check?" she said, smiling at him with a wicked grin.

"Now there's an offer I can't refuse." He lowered the two of them to the bed and stretched out beside her. "Besides, I believe I have some unfinished business to take care of."

She closed her eyes, blocking out everything but the feeling of his hands as they crept down the length of her body. He lingered for a few moments over her breasts, her nipples growing hard and taut again beneath his touch. The ache between her legs became almost unbearable, and she reached down to encircle one of his wrists. Tugging his hand away, she insistently directed him lower. His fingers slid over the smoothness of her stomach until at last she felt him enter her wetness.

This time she was able to open her legs fully, to push back against him, to draw him further into her. The feeling was so good, so delicious, as if his body at least remembered hers, as if it knew exactly where to touch her to coax the most intense responses. He slowed the tempo for a moment, letting her catch her breath before pressing even harder into her. She gasped and raked her hands down his back. It was almost too much, when he touched her . . . there . . . and there . . . and oh, yes, right there . . .

Too suddenly, he withdrew his hand and rested it for a moment on her stomach. "No, don't stop," she pleaded, before realizing what he wanted.

Wordlessly she reached down and took him in her hand. Their eyes met, his pupils wide and unfocussed as she slipped her legs around his hips, straining against him and taking him into her body. Their legs tangled together as they sought to move even closer.

Lee rolled the two of them over, covering her body with his. Leaning on his elbows, he ground his hips against her. Her breasts flattened beneath the solid bulk of his chest as he thrust into her body

He began to move inside her, slowly, almost as if he were afraid to let himself go or that he might somehow hurt her. She arched against him, twisting her hands in his soft hair and pulling his face to hers. Meshing her tongue with his, she drew him into her mouth, sucking and pulling him deep into her throat. His pulse beat frantically beneath her fingers as she slid her hands over his neck, letting her fingernails just scrape along the surface of his skin.

She felt his control slip away as his body responded to her every move. Suddenly it was his hands that tore at her flesh, his mouth that rained rough kisses against her skin, his hips driving down into hers, rocking the two of them together in a mindless, heedless rhythm of need.

Waves of pleasure crashed into her, washing over and through her body, building to such an intense crescendo that for an instant she was afraid they would sweep her away entirely. "Lee," she cried out, clutching at his shoulders. The touch of his arms was the only stable thing in her world for the moment. She gripped him fiercely, holding him to her as he called out her name in his own release a moment later.

Lee slowly drew back from her, resting a hand lightly on the curve of her hip. He slid his other hand around her shoulders, cradling her to him. His voice, soothing and intense, was an anchor she clung to as her breathing slowly returned to normal.

Cuddling against him, she breathed in the musty scent of his skin. She reached out and ran her hand over his chest, slick and sweaty beneath her fingers. Lee leaned down and kissed her lightly.

"You know what?" he asked in a low tone.

"What?" she murmured back. She smiled, feeling silly to be whispering when they were the only ones in the room, but the moment was so intense that she was afraid to speak normally, as if it might shatter.

He gestured at the clock-radio sitting on the nightstand. "It's been February 13th for almost two hours now."

She smiled. "Happy anniversary, Lee."

"Happy anniversary, Amanda."

She lay back in his arms, content to simply be held for a time, to feel his breath brushing through her hair, his fingers gently stroking along her upper arm.

A sudden thought occurred to her, though, and she abruptly sat up. "Lee! I forgot to buy you a present," she said apologetically.

He leaned up on one elbow and grinned, pulling her close to him again. "That's okay. I believe you were saying something a little while ago about a rain check . . ."

TBC