Burning….

Gods she smells good Bill though to himself as he continued assaulting her neck with a combination of gentle kisses mixed with moments where his body's physical wants took over and he would apply more pressure so that he could almost feel the pulsing of her blood coursing through her veins.

First he worked the right side of her neck and the scent of her shampoo and the scent of her very essence only seemed to stimulate him that much more. Finally unable to resist he allowed himself the pleasure of a gentle nip on her ear followed by a rush of exhilaration at the fact that the act of that alone caused a quick intake of breath from Laura.

Bill then moved across to the left side of her neck repeating the same actions – gentle kisses, followed by more pressure, enjoying the way she felt and smelled and then a nip on her left ear causing again the same sharp intake of breath from Laura but this time, he received an extra treat. Instead of having to rely on how he was making her feel based on her breathing patterns, he was rewarded with that smooth silky voice that no one but Laura had whispering , "Oh Gods, Bill."

Reality came crashing down on him in that instance. What the hell was he doing? He had to be out of his fraking mind to be doing this…with her of all people. Suddenly he pulled back and struggled to find his voice.

"Laura…what are we doing?"

"Bill, if you have to ask that, then I would say it's definitely been too long."

She tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help the chuckle that followed. Unfortunately Bill didn't find it quite as amusing. Laura quickly regained her composure as she saw he was in fact quite serious.

"O.k., I'm sorry Bill – What's wrong exactly?"

"We can't do this."

"Of course we can."

"All right – we shouldn't do this."

"Says who?"

"Come on Laura – you're too smart for this"

"I beg your pardon? I'm too smart for what exactly?"

Bill just looked at her – wondering to himself why she didn't understand what he was talking about and then coming to the conclusion that she was not in fact a mind reader and he was going to have to spell it out for her.

"Bill?"

"Look Laura, I need to say something and I need you to just sit there and listen."

"O.k."

"No, I mean really listen – don't try to finish my sentences, don't try to anticipate what I'm going to say because knowing myself as I do, I'm probably going to screw this up and the last thing I want is for you to misunderstand."

"All right, I promise – no jumping to conclusions."

Bill sat there for a moment on the edge of the bed seemingly collecting his thoughts; which he was – but not like Laura thought. Instead of just collecting his thoughts, Bill was struggling through the haze of emotions – the feel of his lips on her neck, the feel of her silky hair and how much he wanted nothing more than to capture her lips with his own and do things to her that would eventually make them both cry out in a combination of pleasure and release – but those were not the thoughts he was supposed to be collecting. Finally, he took a deep breath and began as he looked over his shoulder at her.

"Laura – we shouldn't do this."

"You've already said that Bill."

"You are not supposed to be talking."

"Sorry."

"Gods, I can't even look at you without wanting to just…..but no, we shouldn't do this."

Bill was now pacing back and forth trying not to let his mind wander to what was hidden behind that blanket – what exactly couldn't he see…her breasts, he could almost feel them with his fingertips…soft, warm…oh to tease her nipples to make them taught and no…no…focus…focus.....

"There are complications we can't even begin to comprehend. The press, your Presidency I won't be the cause of any more grief for you than I already am given our respective responsibilities and the fact that no matter what, we will always clash over certain decisions that will affect this fleet. We have to look at what will happen a week, a month, a year from now and beyond because the reality of this situation Laura is that I can't do this with no strings attached."

Laura had been lying on the bed, propped back up on her elbow intently listening to Bill go on and on about how unwise this is. She thought to herself, 'He's right – I am too smart for this – he's making all the same points I've already made to myself and I decided to brush each and everyone of them under the carpet…after all…finally consummating this relationship that they had been dancing around for years now…it was definitely worth any risk.' And that is when he's words broke through her internal monologue…No strings attached. Her stomach was suddenly full of butterflies and he had her undivided attention.

"Laura – you need to understand something – for a long time – since before Kobol I knew I felt something for you but I didn't or rather didn't want to understand what it was. After Baltar's ground breaking ceremony on New Caprica, I knew what it was – you re-lit a passion in me. You made me feel and want things I haven't felt or wanted in many years…

… I also understand my place in this fleet and there are lines that cannot be crossed. If I cross this line, I cannot go back and I won't cross this line if I don't know for sure, without a doubt that I will be able to have you and hold you, touch and feel every part of you for the rest of our lives."

She waited for him to continue but he now stood completely silent.

"Bill?"

"Yeah"

"Are you done?"

"Yeah"

"Good, now it's my turn…..First, I would never want you to compromise you beliefs as Admiral of this fleet in regards to what is best for this fleet just as I wouldn't compromise mine as President. Second, there is not one argument you made that I didn't have with myself and I came here regardless. Third, I will admit you threw me for a loop with your strings attached statement because I hadn't thought about it in that way. The truth is, I know that I wouldn't be able to walk away from this after one night either. Fourth and make no mistake about this Bill – I want you to be able to hold me and touch me for the rest of our lives."

As she finished the end of her statement she lay back against the pillows and extended the right arm that had previously supported her to take his hand in her own. His fingers laced around hers and she gently pulled him back towards her. Their eyes were locked and Bill was now lying on his left side facing her – slowly leaning forward towards her feeling the heat between them when he suddenly stopped again.

"But what about the press?"

"Bill – frak the press – we deserve happiness too – this is no longer a traditional fleet and that allows for certain liberties as does the fact that the human race is excruciatingly close to extinction – we should all be allowed to do our part in rebuilding our civilization. Just because it was political suicide before the colonies were destroyed for the President and a Fleet Admiral to be….together….doesn't mean that is the case now."

"So what do you want to do about them?"

"Tell them the truth – it works almost every time. Then, we ask them to respect our positions and our allegiance to the fleet. And then we tell them that the office of the President does not comment on personal matters."

"Well, I think that just about covers everything…."

"Mmmmm, almost…Bill…"

"Laura…."

"Come here."

And with that Bill leaned those final few inches that separated them and at first it was a gentle brushing of the lips and then he went back in again, lingering longer this time, enjoying the softness and warmth as he gently took her bottom lip between his teeth and then, leaning over her captured her lips full on and allowed his right hand to make it's way down her shoulder, her arms, her fingertips to her hip and then as far down her thigh as he could reach. With each exploration of his hands, the kiss deepened and their internal temperatures rose. Their movements becoming more urgent and then his hand started the trek back up but when it reached the blanket at her chest, he tucked it underneath to the parts that couldn't be seen as he slowly and agonizingly moved the blanket down exposing her to the crisp air around them. Bill couldn't help but think to himself that this was going to be a very long night as deep inside him the flame of desire was burning stronger than ever and he wouldn't stop until it was satisfied.

TBC