AN: Thank you for your countless reviews, they make my day!

Disclaimer: Nothing has changed.

Chapter 4

After Red had finally calmed himself down again, it had taken a little longer than he would have imagined, he had settled their bill and led her outside again. It was already dark, and judging by the watch on his wrist, they had just enough time to get to the spot he wanted her to see.

They got back into the car and Liz let out a groan. "I don't think I can ever eat again."

He chuckled. "I'm glad you liked it. This is one of my favorite restaurants on the planet."

"I can totally relate." She squeezed his hand, that was lying on his thigh. "Thank you for taking me." He couldn't do anything but smile at her.

When they got to their destination, a secluded spot a little high up, so they could overlook the city of Reykjavik, Liz was surprised that there was no one but them around. She had thought that Red would be the kind of guy to spend a night like this at some party, but she really should have known better.

There was one single bar table on the highest spot and some bar stools. In the middle of the table was a glass sheltering a red candle and a champagne cooler with a couple of glasses. How he managed to do these things was a mystery, but she was glad he had decided for the three of them to have a private party.

He shot her a quick smile before getting out of the car. The three of them sat together and engaged in a pleasant conversation and Liz was amazed at how much Dembe could actually say in one go. As soon as he had warmed up, he was telling stories about his childhood and even about how he had met Red and the way he had helped him build a real life. She had thought it was impossible to love the handsome and smug bastard any more, and she had been wrong.

Time flew by quickly and soon the tall, dark man announced that it was almost midnight. Red held out his hand for her to take and then led her towards the edge of the hill. He stood to her right, with one arm around her shoulder, as they both watched the clock's hand making its way towards the twelve. As soon as it did, fireworks erupted around them, lightening up the sky in reds, greens, blues, pinks and speckles of gold and silver. It was beautiful. There were just no other words to describe it.

She felt Red wrap his other arm around her, pulling her into his chest. "Happy New Year, sweetheart," he said softly, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Liz swallowed hard and then turned her head, catching his lips with hers. She didn't put pressure against his mouth, just gently moved them over his and Red's arms tightened around her. "Happy New Year, Raymond," she whispered when she pulled back.

There was another loud bang and the sky was temporarily lit up. It was enough for her to see his enlarged pupils and the look he was giving her. Before she knew it he spun her around and cupped her cheeks in his hands, pulling her in for another kiss. This time he gladly deepened it, running his tongue over her bottom lip, gently coaxing her mouth open. She was more than happy to oblige as she parted her teeth to grant him access, while she threw her arms around his neck to pull him even closer. He took his sweet time tasting her, mapping her mouth as if this was the last time he would have the chance to kiss her.

When the need to breathe became too much, they parted with a smack, but Red was already busying himself kissing over her jaw, heading towards her neck. She craned her neck as he pushed the scarf he had given her away with his nose and then couldn't stop the moan, when he finally tasted the soft skin of her neck. She was right there with him, moaning with him as her nails gently scratched over the back of his head, while she ran one of her hands down his back. God, how she hated winter. There was just too many clothes involved. She wanted to feel him! Now! Finally finding the end of his thick coat, Liz slipped her hand beneath the several layers until she found his dress shirt. Tucking the cotton out of his pants, she let her fingers touch his side. Red hissed at the cold and then moved his mouth back to hers, obviously not ready to stop, not by far.

After long moments they reluctantly pulled apart, though they still had their arms wound around the other's body. Red gazed lovingly into her blue eyes as he caressed her cheekbone with his thumb. The intensity made her shiver involuntarily and Liz stepped closer again, tucking her face into his neck and breathing in his warm male scent, that was so very 'Red'. They didn't move or speak for several minutes, or maybe it was hours. She wasn't sure. She just never wanted to let go again. She had denied herself this feeling of happiness for far too long, even after she had finally realized why this man could irritate her like no one else and how jealous she would get whenever another woman was involved. Liz pursed her lips to touch them against the little scar she had given him years ago and Red made a content noise as he moved his head to give her more space.

He tightened his arms around her back for a moment as if he was afraid she would vanish, then, with another sweet kiss, he pulled away, grasping one of her hands in his to lead her back to their table, where Dembe was pretending to watch the fireworks in the sky. As soon as the two of them got closer, the tall man stood from his chair and Red pulled him into a hug. She could hear them exchanging New Year's wishes and then something was said in what seemed to be Dembe's mother tongue. A moment later the men parted and the younger one pulled her into a gentle hug as well.

"Happy New Year, Liz."

"Happy New Year," she replied.

"I am happy for you," he told her, low enough that only she would hear and she squeezed his arm to let him know that she appreciated his words.

Red had poured them all a glass of champagne and he handed her one, giving her a quick kiss, just because he could. The three of them clinked their glasses together, toasting each other, and then continued watching the fireworks over the city of Reykjavik.

Liz was shivering heavily soon after and Red was already shrugging out of his coat, but she wouldn't have that. Instead she put her arms around his middle and snuggled against him, her almost-frozen fingers curling into the material of his suit jacket. He put his heavy coat around her as well as possible and hugged her to him and then let Dembe know that they would be leaving now.

Once inside the vehicle, the bodyguard cranked up the heat and then started driving. It would take a while to get back to the hotel, but with his arm around his Lizzie, he was more than okay with that. He felt her press a kiss to his cheek and then turned his head to find her lips with his. He loved the little noises she made, and how she couldn't seem to get close enough. Her left hand was grabbing the back of his head to keep them connected, while the fingers of her right one were drawing small circles on his thigh. She could feel the spasm of his muscles under her touch and dared to trail her fingers up the inside of his thigh, getting awfully close to his crotch. His hot breath ghosted over her lips as he groaned, bucking into her hand when she finally cupped him through his pants.

Her mouth dropped open, not just because she could feel how aroused he was, but because of his size. Even in the tight space of his pants, Liz knew he was bigger than any of her former lovers, not that there had been many.

She felt his teeth biting her lip. "Lizzie…." He barely got out. His hands were everywhere at once, basically ripping her coat open so that he could touch her.

In the front, Dembe closed his eyes as they stopped at a red light, leaning his head against the window. He did not want to watch his friend squeezing the FBI agent's breasts, not that he wasn't happy the two of them finally found each other, but he didn't want to be present. He didn't want to hear the noises they made. It wasn't as if he hadn't witnessed heavy make-out sessions in the backseat before. This was Raymond Reddington, after all, but the kind of noises he was now making were new, whatever that meant…

He was thankful when they finally got back to the hotel. He shut off the engine and got out of the car, waiting for his employer and friend to leave the car alongside Liz, but they didn't. Groaning, Dembe knocked loudly against the car window.

"Raymond. We are here," he said gruffly.

Some rustling later, the door opened and Red got out, wearing a sheepish smile and some lipstick, but Dembe wouldn't tell his friend. Instead, he gave him a look, clearly not pleased to sit through this. He was sure that if the ride had taken any longer, the two of them would have christened the backseat and he really did NOT need to see that.

"I'm sorry, my friend." Red put a hand to his arm. "We got a little carried away."

The other man rolled his eyes. "I am happy for you, my brother, but do not make me sit through this ever again."

The concierge of crime chuckled as he helped Liz out of the vehicle and the three of them made their way up to their suite.

Once inside, Dembe excused himself, he hoped to be asleep before any noise could reach him.

Red and Liz slowly made their way towards Liz's bedroom, her hand clasped in his. "Thank you for a wonderful night, sweetheart."

"Thank you," she replied. "For all of this. Everything you've done for me… Thank you." She swallowed and willed the tears not to come.

He wasn't fooled. With a gentle smile he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Everything for you, Lizzie." When he pulled back, he placed a sweet kiss on her cheek, close to her mouth. "Goodnight, sweetheart," he said, opting to be a gentleman.

Her hand closed around his wrist before he could turn away. "Red…"

"Mhm?" Her fingers danced up his front, her eyes glued to the knot of his tie. Then she laced her fingers with his and opened the door to her bedroom, pulling him along. "Lizzie… are you sure?" He asked, but as soon as her lips covered his, he was lost, and his eyes closed on their own.

The tie was loosened and taken from around his neck and carelessly thrown away. He would have to reprimand her about that later, but for now he just wanted her to keep going. He put his arms around her and let his hands wander down her back, cupping her butt and pulling her flush with him, letting her feel what she did to him.

She moaned into his mouth as she worked on the buttons of his vest. His scent was overwhelming, it was everywhere and still she couldn't seem to get enough. His lips moved over her jaw, nibbling on her skin, as he moved towards he neck. How she wanted him, it was almost surreal. Her hands shoved his suit jacket and vest down his shoulders and he only let go long enough to shrug the items off completely. He was busy marking her as his, when he felt her tugging on his belt.

"Lizzie." His breath was hot against the shell of her ear. "Let go." She was surprised by his request and did as he was told, taking one step back to look at him. He could see a hint of worry in her eyes and tried to smile reassuringly. Red gently placed his hands on either side of her face and quickly pecked her on the mouth. "Sweetheart, are you really sure this is what you want?"

Liz groaned. "Can you stop asking me this?"

He gave her a small smile. "I need you to be sure, because there's no going back. I can't only have you for one night. I simply can't. So, if this isn't what you want, if all you want is this one time… I can't do it, Lizzie, not with you."

For a moment she couldn't reply, the lump in her throat too big to even swallow. "Red, you talk too damn much," she said, trying to ease the mood, as her fingers started unbuttoning his dress-shirt, but his hands caught hers, stopping her from going further. "I want you, for as long as you'll have me."

His eyes glazed over at her words. "There's something you should know before this goes any further –"

"I know." He looked at her in surprise. They couldn't possibly be talking about the same thing here. But then her hands went to his back and she traced the uneven pattern over the thin fabric of his shirt. "I know."

"How?"

"The day I came to you, after I thought you were leaving for good. I couldn't sleep that night and was wandering through the house. Your door was cracked open. I didn't mean to pry," she hurried on. "I… you were taking your shirt off and I couldn't get my legs to move." She bit her lip in a nervous manner. "It didn't take me long to know just what these are, and things started to make sense. I just didn't know what to do. That's why I was such a bitch."

When he finally found his breath again, he wound one of his arms around her frame and threaded the fingers of his free hand through her hair. "You could never be a bitch," he said softly, afraid that if he talked normally, his voice would break with the emotions running through his body.

"I was and we both know it." She nuzzled her nose against his cheek. "Thank you for saving me."

"Lizzie –"

"Don't," she interrupted. "Not tonight.

His arm tightened around her. "I don't know how you could ever forgive me."

"Because I love you."

His breath caught in his throat at her confession and his heart soared. "Lizzie, sweetheart…" He shook his head, at a loss for words right now.

"It's okay, you don't need to say it. I… I just need you to know that I'm serious about this. I love you. And I want you, no matter wh -." Before she had even finished the sentences, Liz was pulled against his chest, his lips crushing against hers as he backed them up towards the bed, pushing her onto the mattress and covering her body with his, careful not to put his full weight on her.