AN: Thank you for the reviews...on with the show...

Chapter 4

She could do this. She could seduce David Rossi and not freeze with every ghost of the past. With every last ounce of courage, Erin closed her eyes, reached for his shoulders, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his.

His answering peck was not what she expected.

She opened her eyes and leaned back to meet his lazy, coffee dark eyes.

"Come on, Strauss. You can do better than that," he said, the challenge in his voice obvious.

Throwing the gauntlet back at him, she arched her body against his this time, slow and sensuous. She brushed her breasts against his chest, feeling and ignoring the beginning tingles she could feel there, and looped her arms around his neck.

Her heart was pounding hard and her breath was coming faster as she kissed the side of his jaw, the smooth, freshly shaved skin near the edge of his beard. She nipped and nibbled, the occasional brush of his goatee tickling her nose, her upper lip.

In an attempt regain her balance, she took a deep and was immediately greeted with his spicy scent. No one smelled like David; a rich cologne made for him, along with clean skin, a hint of leather from his jacket, and something purely male that made a shiver run down her spine.

Lord, their lips hadn't even connected, she thought with dismay, and she felt passion sluicing in her veins. She was warm and dizzy with desire. Her tingling nipples grew harder, and she pressed herself against his chest, before bringing her mouth to his.

That thundering passion that had always been between them exploded like wildfire on a dry prairie. Erin slid her tongue past the barrier of his teeth, stroking against his tongue, before he returned strokes, velvety and tender.

David's hands had been resting on her waist, occasionally brushing up her back in a soft and sweet massage. Now, they were gripping her, clinging onto her, digging just slightly into her soft muscles. He pressed her forward against him, silently urging her to continue. Erin hadn't needed any encouragement; she was glorying in this kiss that could go on and on forever.

Deep down inside her body, she felt as if she were melting. Feelings that had been long suppressed were coming alive. Now she felt as if she were on fire, burning with molten heat. The thick lava flowing in her body crept into her bones, and she felt languid, relaxed, easy. Two glasses of wine hadn't made her this mellow, but one dosage of David Rossi had done the trick.

She shifted just slightly, and felt the heat and hardness of David's erection pressing against her. He moaned deep in his chest at the gentle friction, and a surge of womanly triumph heated her blood even more. He'd said she was beautiful; now she knew he truly desired her, too. The knowledge in itself was heady.

Any amount of superiority she might have felt was undermined a moment later, when David slid a hand under the edge of her robe to cup her breast. It was her turn to moan, sucking in her breath when he flicked his thumb over the lace of her bra. There was no ice water, no sinking fear, only pure, unadulterated feeling as she melted even more onto his lap.

Her head fell back as he began to knead her breast, slowly drawing her diamond hard nipple between his fingers in a methodical, squeezing motion. She felt like her breasts were swelling, aching, dying for more of his contact. At the same time, he kissed the side of her exposed neck, her jaw, whatever he could reach.

When he reached her ear, he whispered, "Erin...baby...you're supposed to be in control...not me."

She opened her eyes and saw his teasing grin, along with no small amount of passion in his nearly obsidian eyes. She hadn't even noticed that she now lay splayed on his lap, cradled in his arms. She smiled back, and placed her hand on his, stilling his movements, and then she stood on her somewhat shaky legs.

His teasing, yet arrogant smile was well deserved...but she couldn't let that last for long.

"Control, hmmm?" she whispered, summoning her strength and what was woman in her, and then undid her robe and dropped it in front of him. "What did that do to your control, David?"

Dave knew his wicked smile told her everything she'd asked, but he still said, "Come, dolcezza...sit on my lap and find out."

To emphasize, he patted his knee unnecessarily.

Erin gave a rather uncharacteristic giggle, and went to sit back in her spot, but Dave reached for her waist and halted her. With a firm movement, he turned her to face him and guided her to straddle his thighs.

Frantically, their mouths met again, each moment driving the heat inside them higher and higher, until Dave broke his mouth away. It was time for him to take a little more control back from his hot and sweet woman. His patience was nearing an end. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't get laid as often as was rumored, and he needed more to keep him grounded.

He reached for the rear closure of her bra, released it, and freed her breasts. He stared for a moment, looking at their beauty. Her breasts were not overtly large; a little more than a handful, with creamy skin and delicious pale pinkish brown nipples that made him salivate. He was hungry, and he needed a taste of her, now.

Dipping his head, he felt her silky soft skin caress his cheek before he suckled her nipple into the interior of his mouth. Her cry of pleasure, the rock of her hips against his erection, and the squeezing of her thighs told him she was receiving almost as much pleasure as he was. Circling her nipple with his tongue, he released it with a soft sound from breaking suction, and then pleasured the other breast.

Erin had thrust her fingers in his thick hair, gripping tightly as he loved her breasts. She was moaning, shivering like she were cold, and yet her body felt scalding hot to him. She was beautifully responsive; he could smell her essence, the warm, intoxicating scent of willing and wanting female overtaking his senses.

At the same time, his erection was finding a life of it's own, pulsing and begging for completion. He could barely control himself. What began as a teasing foray into her controlling world showed him the truth; she had the power. It was like he was a fifteen year old virgin again; it was humbling how much he wanted this woman.

He cupped his hands on her breasts, buried his face in the sweet scented valley in between. He kissed each sweet swell, rested his face against her breastbone, and whispered hoarsely, "Erin...I have to have you. I-"

And then she said the sweetest words he'd ever heard.

"Make love to me, David."