Author's Notes: Things in this chapter get considerably more heated, just so you know ahead of time. Also, please review and let me know if you enjoyed this. :) I really appreciate the feedback.

"You're smoldering at me again."

Wordlessly he encompassed her smallish form in his thick arms, dragging his lips, teeth, tongue, along her flushed collarbone and up her slender neck. He pulled away for a brief moment to look her in the eye, as if to silently reassure her that everything was going to be okay. Nothing to fear. His hands trailed down then, wandering to the base of her spine where her dress was laced up into a complex knot. Ladies wardrobes were rarely designed with the intention of easy undress, much to Flynn's chagrin. Distracting his prey with a deep kiss, the thief set to work, wrestling with eager fingers as Rapunzel began to realize his intentions. With a giggle she shouldered his hands away and promptly unlaced the back, the fabric relaxing around her thin torso.

She was all innocence and he was all corruption as he grinned wolfishly, shimmying out of his vest and tossing it vigorously into the corner.

Your turn, Blondie.

She kicked off her shoes with a wry smile but then began to take off her gown, staring at the floor in a nervous manner. Flynn held her chin and tipped her gaze up, his dark eyes warm and comforting, silently reassuring her that she was safe here. The fabric slipped from her shoulders then, catching just above her breasts, causing Flynn's eyes to glaze over in a way that made Rapunzel's heart skip a beat. He tugged at her sleeves earnestly, pushing the fabric off, down, away, so he could see and touch and feel what was hidden underneath. The ornate silk and satin fell to the floor with a small thump. Rapunzel shivered as she was suddenly left wearing nothing but a thin slip and her scarce undergarments. She didn't shy away this time though; instead she stood with a sort of pride in her semi-nakedness. Her breasts were partially visible through the chemise, her thin silhouette darkened against the fading light of the window. To Flynn she was an unparalleled vision of perfection, of beauty. Untouchable. Infallible.

Surprising him, the princess strode forward and seized the front of his shirt. Quick and nimble, she had him unbuttoned in no time, biting her lip and blushing furiously as she peeled the white fabric to reveal his toned chest underneath.

"This... This is so neat...!" she whispered, running her hands up and down his torso curiously, taking in the sight of pectoral and abdominal muscles outside of an illustrated dictionary for the first time was more exhilarating than you would suspect. Her dainty fingers lingered on the line of hair descending from his navel. Dipping below the line of his trousers lay a foreboding mystery that she dared not explore - not just yet.

Flynn leaned into her, scooping her slender form against his bare chest, easily picking her up and carrying her to the corner where pillows were strewn across the floor. As Rapunzel was laid down, she grabbed at Flynn's shoulders, pulling him forward with enough strength that he was forced - hardly unwillingly - to lay on top of her. The bulk of his body nestled between her thighs. Her mouth was suddenly warm and fervent on his, her hands so firm and eager as they explored the contours of his torso, he could not help but give in to his own desire to touch and hold.

A breathless gasp left Rapunzel's lips as his fingertips grazed her hipbones, a shiver running up her spine at the sensation. Flynn's other hand found a handhold at the back of her neck, her chestnut hair knotted within his fingers. Pulling her close, he ground his hips into hers, his face buried within the small of her neck. Everything felt unreal somehow, the passionate flush in the Princesses' cheeks, nose, and chest. And her eyes, wide and wondrous in a way that made him want to throw caution to the wind.

Her kisses were more self-assured now, more seductive as she took control of his hands, dragging rough palms down her sides, her breasts, her waist. The contact elicited a muffled moan and the sound, outlandish and new, startled the Princess. "Eugene!" she hissed excitedly. The thief paused for a moment, catching her eye to see if he had done something wrong or had gone too far. Seeing no sign of disapproval, he grabbed the hem of her chemise slip and pushed it up, revealing her bare stomach and breasts. She gasped and made to cover herself but Flynn was swift with an onslaught of kisses, rendering her submissive with his mouth. Rapunzel giggled and playfully tried to push him away, though her laughter soon turned to a shallow sort of pant as his mouth found her breast. His teeth, his lips, teasing, tantalizing.

"You're so beautiful..." he whispered, his face pressed to her warm skin, trailing nips and kisses down her taut stomach. Rapunzel couldn't help but draw shallow, raspy breaths as his mouth traveled south. She felt drunk with passion, overwhelmed by the masterful way he handled her body, dangerously close to crossing the line. The Princess watched as he marked her body with his mouth, the stubble of his cheek scraping against her soft skin. He seemed sure of where to go and exactly how to make her melt in his arms.

In truth, Flynn was not as blissfully naive as the Princess. He had loved before, perhaps in a shallow, self-indulgent way, but it was love nonetheless. His innocence was long gone thanks to a widowed bar-maid and a drunken roll in the hay, as anticlimactic and unglamorous as it would sound. There were others too, beautiful and young, though always brief and inconstant in his life - they loved the idea of him, but not the reality of a disheveled thief on the run. Women were attracted to his brashness and natural good looks, but never was he as attracted to them as he was to the Princess now pinned beneath him. Never had he felt such an obsession for someone, his entire body a North pole to her South. He coveted her with every fibre of his being and knew, deep down, that he would give anything to make her happy and keep her safe.

At the moment Rapunzel lay shivering on the floor, her face flushed, her eyes not really seeing... Flynn, feeling guilty, scooped her up, and held her to his chest in a loving embrace - stroking her hair and rubbing her back.

But then... Footsteps.

The sounds echoed from beneath the large door, increasing in volume at a startling rate. Rapunzel's eyes snapped open, a look of horror blanching her features. Someone was climbing the staircase. "Oh no..."

Flynn - while startled - was somewhat accustomed to being caught at inopportune moments, and was quick to act. He stood up, pulling the Princess to her feet with him.

"Get dressed as fast as you can!" he hissed, a small smile breaking through his serious expression at the ridiculousness of the situation.

Scrambling, the two threw on clothes at a fevered pace, giggling through their own nervousness. The real challenge was lacing up Rapunzel's dress, which Flynn tried to accomplish as quickly as possible, tying the final knot just as an impatient knock shook the door. Smoothing his hair and donning a suave smile, Flynn waltzed over to the door and opened it casually.

Beyond the threshold stood Maximus, the tiny chameleon Pascal perched upon his head. Both seemed quite grumpy and unimpressed. A palace guard stood awkwardly beside them, though he looked relieved to find Flynn.

The guard dipped his head in a polite bow, "Good evening, sir! I am searching for the Princess. Is she with you?"

Flynn raised his eyebrows, "The Princess? Oh yeah... Yeah she's here. We were just looking at the stars. Have you seen the telescope in here? Wonderful. Woooonderful technology." Not entirely convinced, the guard, horse, and lizard peered around the door. Rapunzel smiled nervously and waved.

Clearing his throat, the guard nodded, "Very well. May I suggest her Majesty and her consort make their way down to the festivities soon, then? She is dearly missed," he smiled a little at that comment, "That is all. A pleasant evening to you both."

Turning on his heel, he led the animals back down the stairs, though Pascal turned around to give Flynn one last look. A knowing narrowing of the eyes, to be specific, that seemed to say 'I know what you're up to...'

Flynn tried to maintain a stoic expression but burst out laughing once the trio turned the corner.

"Blondie? I think your newt is onto us..."