DISCLAIMER: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE HOLLOWS AND ALL CHARACTERS THEREIN ARE OWNED BY THE LOVELY KIM HARRISON.

In the Bedroom

CHAPTER 4

"Tell me what you want," he whispered again. Al leaned into me and began playfully nibbling my ear. Without using any ley line energy at all, he elicited a primal response from my body and a sensual moan escaped my lips. I arched my back, bringing my body closer to his as he continued to focus his ministrations on my ear, working his way down to my neck. He never once played on my scar and I already felt like I was three seconds from climaxing.

I didn't want to tell him, didn't want to admit aloud how much I yearned to feel his lips on mine once more – this time invited and needed. I didn't want to admit how strongly my body craved his, somehow drawn to him like an oasis in a vast and barren desert.

No. I couldn't say those words to him. Instead, I would show him. I still held the energy he had flooded me with earlier, and it was potent and pure. Every part of my being yearned to slip it back into him, slowly driving him mad with desire beyond the point of ecstasy.

Pulling slightly against the restraint he still maintained on my wrists, I shifted my body to move his head away from my neck and I thrust my mouth toward his, capturing his lips in a kiss that was anything but gentle. Al's lips were soft and full and my mouth was demanding. The taste of him invaded my senses as I carefully drew his bottom lip into my mouth – a playful game of dominance. Beyond the burnt amber were subtle zests of sandalwood and licorice and what I could have sworn was the characteristic, familiar scent of redwood. Cautiously, I began slipping some line energy into him, pushing it down the paths of his synapses and driving it all the way down to his groin as I continued teasing his mouth with my own.

Al moaned with pleasure but pulled away, somehow keeping a firm grip on my hands which were still being held captive above my head.

He swallowed hard before speaking.

"God, Rachel," he sighed. "You are such a treasure."

"But," he amended, bringing his free hand up to gently stroke my cheek, "delightful though that was, that's not you telling me what you want."

"You know what I want," I countered, my voice threaded with desire. "Stop playing with me," I demanded, "and give me what I want." I took another deep breath before my mouth once again seized his. This time the kiss was long and passionate, gentler than before, and he let my tongue slip past his lips to taste him more fully. I sent another pulse of energy into him, pushing it down the entire length of his body. I recalled all the paths and synapses the line energy traveled through his body, the pathways somehow like well-worn trails I could navigate in the dark without a flashlight or a map. It was as if I had navigated those trails many times, even though I had only explored them once before. Maybe it was the demoness in me speaking, but this felt so right. Here… with him.

Another satisfied groan escaped from Al, but once again he broke the kiss and his lips retreated from mine. Damn. He had much more control than I gave him credit for.

His hungry eyes briefly focused on mine. "I need to hear you say it, Rachel," he whispered, closing his eyes in quiet concentration. "I want this," he admitted. This time Al initiated the kiss and his eager mouth found mine once more, sending back to me the energy I had spilled into him and more. When he broke the kiss we were both struggling to catch our breath.

"I want this more than you can possibly imagine," he said, his eyes now wandering down my body and pulling almost as much feeling from me as our energy exchange had. My hips moved with a rhythm of their own and I hooked my leg around Al's naked, muscled body, pushing my lower body against his and rubbing his erection against my groin as I continued writhing against him. In response, Al's free hand dropped to my leg, a desperate sigh escaping my lips as he kneaded and teased, running his hand up and down my thigh and grinding his hips into mine, letting me feel his excitement. I needed him inside me. Now. Why the hell was I still wearing clothes?

"But I need to hear it from you," Al continued, bringing me back to the present. "I won't have you accusing me of forcing myself on you. I need to know," he said, more tentative and vulnerable than I had ever heard Al be. "I need to hear you say that you want this as much as I do."

I was fearless when it came to so many things in my life, but admitting I wanted him scared me more than just about anything. He was right, godamnit. And I knew it. I had rejected his advances many times before, resentful when he tried to use power and manipulation to have his way with me. But this time it was different. I had come to him – ready, willing, hopeful… that this is where the path would lead us. There was only one thing left that concerned me.

"What… what about Newt?" I asked. "I don't want to endanger your life because of my decision."

"Don't worry about Newt. We will deal with that together when the time comes," he explained. "Right now, Rachel, there is only you and me and no one can touch us here. I promise you."

With those three words, I abandoned all remaining inhibitions. "I want you, Al," I confessed, meeting his eyes without blinking. "And I need you," I continued. "Let go of my hands and take me to your bed," I demanded.

A/N: Yes, I know I'm quite the tease... but lemons in Chapter 5... I PROMISE! Yummmmmm! ~Ell ;)