Chapter 4

As he pulled around the corner and into the driveway he noticed the house was completely dark. His eyes darted to the garage where he could distinctly make out the shape of her car through the side window. Good, she is home, he thought before climbing from his driver's side door. He closed it, ensuring he made no sound other than the soft beep as he keyed the doors locked, the flash of the lights briefly illuminating his face, causing him to squint. He made his way down the path, to the rear of her house and the discreet door she had for her office, for her patients. He chose that one for a reason. He needed privacy to do what he was about to do.

Once he arrived at the door, he pulled his lock picking equipment from his coat pocket. He lined up the tension tool and was about to insert the pick when suddenly he chuckled to himself. He remove the tools and pocketed them again, before slipping his dog tags from his left trouser pocket, he spread them flat in his palm. He looked at the two identical black special-forces tags he had worn during his Sea Air & Land (SEALs) days. He knew they contained, like all military identifications tags, his last name, first name, and middle initial. He smiled, knowing she would have a field day if she ever discovered his full identity. He thought she would probably like Dominic, and he knew she would undoubtedly question what the A stood for. He smiled again as he realised, he wouldn't tell her immediately, and she would resort to threatening to torture him, and it would be such sweet torture, that unlike during his SEALs days he would cave and tell her anything and everything she wanted to know, possibly even more. He wasn't so sure of just exactly she would take to Ambrosio, most likely she would tease him about it being the nectar of the gods from her Italian heritage. She would be close in that it was Spanish for immortal, and it was immortality that ambrosia gave to the gods, but to him, it was simply a link to his paternal grandfather. Nothing more, nothing less. He wondered what the therapist part of her would make of his dismissal of his ancestry.

Under his name was listed his Social Security number with no dashes or spaces followed immediately by "USN", United States Navy. Only the black color of his tags identified him as special forces. His tags also contained his blood group, which had proved extremely useful, even in his current line of work. And they stated that his religion was Catholic. Not that he practiced. The closest he got to worship was using Jesus' name in vain, to curse and berate, or the not so holy use of the word God when she touched him a certain way, the feel of her tongue, the heat from her mouth, the bite of her fingers nails drew the proclamation from his lips, in worship of her, not some higher power.

Of course, it wasn't his tags he was interested in. It was the key that hung between them.

The one she had given him when she had grown tired of having the breaking and entering discussion. He remembered the day she had given it to him, or rather, let him earn it. T had cost him dinner, dancing a night of intense passion and the answer to five questions she had obviously thought long and hard about. She had worded them in such a way he had no choice but to answer in complete and total honesty. He had found the key when he had removed her bra. It had fallen to the floor with a clatter. It wasn't until he had retrieved it that he had realized exactly what she had given him, the key to her house and to her heart.

He let himself quietly into the darkened house and took a moment to pause by the door, listening for any indication of where he might find her. He heard the shower running, directly overhead and decided to surprise her by waiting in her bedroom, as clearly she as in the ensuite off her bedroom. He climbed the stairs, walked down the hallway, entered the bedroom and seated himself on the bed, resting his back against the pillows near the frame. He closed his eyes and waited for her to emerge. His wait was brought to an end when he heard the water shut off, and moments later saw her step through the doorway and enter the room. He remained concealed in the darkness.

Dani crossed the room, and as she reached the head of the bed she felt around, located the light switch and flicked it on. She was stopped in her tracks as she saw a bearded man seated on her bed, is face inches from her own, his dark brown eyes looking intensely at her. 'Nico?' she whispered, recognizing him, her disbelief evident in her voice. He shook his head in agreement. 'Nico.' She sat down next to him on the bed and touched his chest. He smiled. She leant forward and kissed him passionately. She then withdrew, reeling back and slapped him hard across the face. It was only the second time he had let anyone slap him. I have let her slap me twice, he thought, knowing both times he had deserved it and she had earned the right. 'How could you do that to me?' she stated, angrily, turning away and covering her face with her hands. 'How could you?'

Nico sat upright, turned her back to face him, and took her in his arms. He could see the silent tears that coursed down her cheeks. He reached out his hands, gently wiping them, his fingers wrapping around her face, his thumbs brushing the tears from her cheeks. He kissed her gently on the forehead, before holding her tighter. 'I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I tried to, but once it happened, it all happened so quickly. There wasn't another opportunity. I needed them not to know about you. It was the only way I knew how to protect you. I needed to know you were safe to achieve what I did. I will tell you everything I promise. I am sorry.' He whispered, against her hair. He lay back, taking her with him. He stroked her back as he held her.

For a moment, Dani lay content in his arms, but then she grew restless. She straightened and looked deep into his eyes. 'Please' her eyes searched his, silently imploring him, pulling at his heart. 'Don't do that again.' She said softly.

'What?' he asked, his eyes twinkling. 'Stroke your back?'

'Leave me.' She squinted at him before she quickly straddled his legs in one movement, and wrapped her arms about his neck.

He ran his hands up and down her sides. 'Never again. I promise.' He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She didn't draw away, so he deepened his assault on her mouth. She parted her lips under his mouth, and let his tongue probe hers. Suddenly she pulled away, pushing on his chest. 'What?' He was confused and concerned by her sudden withdrawal. He directed his gaze at hers, afraid of what he might find there. Afraid he would see doubt, sadness, anger. He was shocked to see her amused gaze levelled at him.

'I haven't kissed you with a beard before.' She laughed.

'You don't like it?' No sooner had she shook her head, she found herself flat on her back, beside him. Nico held her wrists down beside her head, and rubbed his bearded chin over her shoulders, up her neck, and down her chest. She squirmed, laughing under his attack. 'You like it now?' he said tickling her neck with it. He felt her shake her head again, and sat up. 'Alright. You win. I'll shave it off.' He climbed off her and stood up. She sat upright and watched him. He leant down and kissed her quickly.

'Miss me?' he asked.

'No.' Dani smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes again.

He gently rubbed his thumb over her jaw. 'Figures.' He turned and walked into the bathroom.

After a moment Dani followed, not wanting to have him out of her sight. She leant on the doorframe and watched as he shaved. She willed the towel he had wrapped around his hips to fall to the floor. He looked up and caught her eye in the mirror. He smiled, and Dani's heart melted. 'I love you' she whispered, before the urge to cry overcame her composure and she retreated into the bedroom.

When Nico entered the bedroom, dressed in his black pants and belt, he had been intending to suggest he take Dani out to dinner, to tell her everything that knew she needed, that she wanted to know. Instead as he entered the room she took him in her arms and kissed him. All thoughts of his dinner abandoned him as she turned him around and manoeuvred him backwards until his legs hit the edge of the bed, and he fell unceremoniously onto it. She remained standing, keeping her eyes focused on his. She slid her hands over her shoulders, taking the straps of her silk negligee down her arms. She dropped the garment onto the floor, and stepped out of the pool of silk it made at her feet. She walked slowly towards Nico, kneeling on the bed in front of him. He reached out to touch her, but she pushed his hands away. She pushed him backwards on the bed, until he was lying down and straddled him. 'Don't move your hands.' She said, pushing them down next to his body. She rested her knees over them, attempting to trap them between herself and his body. She drew her finger down the centre of his chest, before she leant forward and kissed him passionately. He couldn't remain passive, so he pulled her closer to him, her knees resting in his armpits, his hands on her thighs. His thumbs stroked at the insides of her legs, and her hair, where it fell over her shoulder, tickled his skin as Dani set about nibbling his throat. She moved across to his ear, and began sucking on his earlobe. He laughed softly under her ministrations, wondering how he could ever have let her believe he had left her, forgotten about her.

Nico felt all the blood in his body rush to his penis as Dani began licking at his nipples, and kissing his stomach. He tried to reach in front of her to undo his belt. She moved her body and sat on his hands, preventing him from removing his trousers, but allowing him to see that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. It was a ploy she used to tell him to be patient, without having to say the words. It worked, and he released his grip on his belt.

Dani then lifted herself up and moved further down his body, to sit just below his knees. She leaned forward unfastened the buckle and slowly removed his belt, pulling it through the tabs of his trousers, before dropping it on the floor beside the bed. Next she unbuckled his trousers. Tugging gently at the leg of them, she eased them down his body and off over his feet, manoeuvring under herself as well as over his body. He heard the thud as they hit the floor at the end of the bed. His tags, he knew had made the sound. She looked at his erect organ and smiled, one eyebrow raised. 'I take it you missed me.' She stated, her voice teasing and soothing at the same time. He nodded.

'Good.' She said as she made her way slowly up his body again to take him into her. The sensation brought the word God gasping from his lips, his eyes closing in exquisite agony as she began to move up and down on him, so slowly that he thought he might die from the most pleasurable torture he had ever experienced. She rotated her hips slowly and clenched her internal muscles about him. He knew if she kept this up, if he remained passive as she had directed it would be the death of him. He could think of far worse ways to die, he decided as he watched her face, she was chewing her bottom lip in concentration, her eyes the color of liquid chocolate that he loved so very much. His hands found their way to her breasts and he began to stroke each one, working around and over the nipple with his thumb, in an attempt to further stimulate her.

Dani moaned softly as he lifted himself up and took her left breast into his mouth, pulling the nipple between his teethe to both tease and suck. He laughed against her flesh, the sensation causing her to shiver violently. He slid his hand up her back and held her neck, his fingers wrapping around the base of her head, and entangling in her mahogany hair. He could feel the hair at her nape beginning to dampen. He rolled their bodies, to change positions. He shifted his arms so that they were under her shoulders, and cupping her head. He kissed her tenderly, keeping the soft, gentle, loving pace she had initiated. More than anything he wanted to make this reunion as long and wonderful as humanly possible. He placed feather-light kisses on her forehead, across her nose, down her jaw, and back to her lips. He lifted himself up, and looked at her, his eyes glowing with adoration, and love. Dani smiled at him, as her eyes filled with tears again. They overflowed, and ran down her cheeks. He leant down and kissed them away, before straightening to look at her again. 'Are you always going to cry when you see me?' he whispered softly.

She smiled again, and lowered her eyes so as not to meet his. He pulled his right hand from under her head, and gently lifted her chin with his finger, directing her eyes back to his. 'Tears are nothing to be ashamed of.' he said, getting her to look at him again. 'I like that I mean this much to you. I was just thinking that if you do cry every time you see me, it's going to be difficult keeping this relationship secret.' He leant down and kissed her again.

'Nico,' she stated when he withdrew again, her voice beginning to choke with tears. 'I… her voice faltered.

'I know.' he said, softly, leaning in and nuzzling against her throat.

'No. You don't. I've said the words, but I haven't really told you how I feel about you.' He straightened at her words, and rolled again to pull her onto him. She rested her hands on his chest. She moved her fingertips against his skin where they were just touching his collarbone, and the base of his throat. 'I need you. I thought I'd finally worked out how to go it on my own, take care of myself and my kids and not depend on anyone. Not need anyone. I'm supposed to be this strong, independent woman. But I'm not. It scares me that I need you and care about you so much. But I do. I can't deny that anymore. Do you know what I did last night? I slept wrapped in your bathrobe, and cried my eyes out.'

'You also spilled my aftershave.' He said.

'What? How?' Dani shook her head, her eyes widened.

'I saw you. Last night. I came home and saw you.'

Dani stopped, tensing against him. 'What? Why didn't you wake me?'

'I almost did. It broke my heart to see you like that. The hardest thing I've ever had to do was walk out of that room last night.'

'I always thought I'd regret the things I've said and done. But it's what I haven't that's…' her sentence was interrupted as Dani fought to hold back her tears again. Nico lifted his head from the pillow and kissed her tenderly. She ran her hands through his hair, catching the dark strands in her fingers. She began to move her hips against his again speeding up what they had begun earlier.

Nico rolled Dani onto her back and pressed his head into her chest. His face rested between her breasts and he could smell her perfume. He ran his tongue across her skin and up her throat to her mouth. He kissed her and pounded within her, trying to comfort her with his actions, as well as his presence. His mind was reeling at the knowledge that she truly loved him, enough to lose herself in endless hours of sobbing, to let herself into his house to be near his possessions. He felt tears well in his own eyes as he realized she loved him as much as he loved her. That he too would be lost without her. They complemented each other perfectly. He felt his own tears run down his cheeks, and disappear into her hair. He laughed softly, causing her to look up at him. She smiled seeing his tears.

'Don't tell me you've gone soft? I need you to be strong. Especially when I can't be.' She whispered.

'Quite a pair, aren't we?'

Dani nodded before sliding her hands down his back to clutch his behind. 'Enough of this feeling sorry for ourselves. Move it.'

Nico laughed, his breath tickling her throat, his hands gently running down her sides, and over her breasts. He was glad that some things never changed. Her readiness to order him to action for one. To comply he began to increase the momentum. He pushed himself deeper into her, his hands stroked at her breasts, and his lips kissed hers. He could feel her breath quickening, her chest rising and falling against his as they worked closer and closer to achieving release. He felt himself reach his peak, and could not control his own orgasm. He shuddered, his body convulsing. As his own tremors subsided he felt Dani coming out of hers. He knew that she had achieved the same desired result as he, while he had his. Knowing she had climaxed also, gave him great satisfaction. He rolled them over, and she rested her head on his chest, as their breathing began to slow.

'Nico. I know there are lots of things you can't tell me, but can you tell me if it's over?' She asked softly, stroking her hand through the soft hair that lightly covered his well-muscled chest.

'I will tell you everything tomorrow. But for right now, just know I took care of it. It's done. I had to be certain that there were no lose ends. I didn't want anything endangering you. If something ever happened to you, because of me…' he paused, 'well, I couldn't live with that.' Nico responded, holding her tighter to him.

Dani sighed contentedly against his chest, snuggling deeper into his embrace. 'Promise me you won't leave again.' She whispered.

'I promise.' He said before kissing the top of her head. 'I have an idea. I have to go to Pittsburgh for my father's birthday. You should come.'

'I can't. After my less than all performance over the last few weeks, and how I insulted Connor, I'm pretty sure I have exhausted all favors owing fromV3. ' Dani stated.

'I talked to him this morning.' Nico rolled over, to lie looking down at her, still holding her tightly in his arms. 'Pittsburgh. You can and you will.' He ordered.

'No, really…'

Nico interrupted her. 'I already organised it. I even cleared it with McLaine. We'll catch the late flight, stay the weekend, and be back Sunday night. You'll only miss a few hours. Surely you can spare that, for me.' Nico stressed for me, trying to guilt her into agreeing. He saw her eyes well up with tears, and he pulled her closer. 'I'm sorry.'

'No. I'm sorry.' She whispered against his throat, as she buried her face into his neck. 'You're right. I will come with you.' She looked back up at him and he saw her eyes now held an expression he was familiar with, the one that told him she was thinking, thinking about something that would end in trouble for him. 'I would love to meet your family.' She continued, one eyebrow raised. 'Just think of all the things I can learn about you.' She smiled widely at him.

'Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.' He smiled back. 'I changed my mind.'

'Too late Mister, I'm definitely coming with you.' She gently poked his chest as if to emphasize her decision.

'I'm glad.' Nico kissed her again, softly. 'When we come back, and I go back to V3, let's pretend we've always been together, that our relationship has never been secret. No more acting or sneaking around.' He felt Dani nod, against him, in agreement. He smiled. 'No more secrets.'

'I'm holding you to the no more sneaking around statement.' She smiled up at him.

'I never said no more sneaking up and surprising my girlfriend.' His eyes twinkled, amusement shining in his eyes as she glared at him.

'Semantics.' She stated, hoping her squint wasn't giving away her true feelings.

'You love it.' He placed a kiss against her lips.

She pulled away slight, giving herself just enough room to whisper against his lips 'No, I love you' before she pressed more firmly against him, letting her kiss speak all the words she wanted to say.

TBC…