a/n: Just so you know I haven't forgotten y'all...

She was adorable when she was angry.

Granted, he wasn't too thrilled that her anger was directed at him, but it was still adorable.

He had moved past the hurt and the shame in record time. If he was going to continue on with his plans he was going to have to develop a thicker skin when it came to Elizabeth Keen.

It wasn't as easy as he made it seem.

He thought he could reason with her like an adult... The silent treatment he received proved otherwise.

So, he tried another approach. He followed her. He followed her down the hall and into the elevator, intent on conversation... intent on teasing and cajoling her into some sort of acceptance.

He truly underestimated her incredible stubborn streak.

She stood, steadfastly ignoring his teasing, eyes trained on the elevator doors, legs spread and feet planted firmly on the floor.

He could have used this small window of opportunity to explain himself... to explain Tom... but another -more appealing- opportunity presented itself.

He was offered a pleasant view of her shapely ass, and he took it.

What man wouldn't?

Red had never considered himself a truly dominant being in the bedroom. He was more than happy to let the woman take the reigns and spur him on in whatever kinky direction she preferred.

Kept him on his toes.

However, Lizzie stood with her legs spread and her back ramrod straight and oh the things he could do with that...

He caught her sideways glance and smirked.

What would she say if she knew what he was thinking? Would it disgust her to know that in his wicked mind she was no longer standing in front of him, waiting impatiently for the elevator doors to open, but bent obediently over, hands planted on the door while he pressed into her luscious bottom, his fingers unbuttoning and unzipping even as his hips thrust instinctively against her?

Could she ignore him then?

He longed to tell her.

It was almost painful, keeping these fantasies to himself.

What would she do if he whispered in her ear? Told her that in his mind, she wanted it as badly as he did? That she almost cried out in relief when he worked her pants and white cotton panties down her legs and dropped to his knees behind her, relentlessly plunging his tongue into her wet heat? That she scraped her nails down the door and moaned his name over and over again while he worked her clit between two fingers? That she screamed when he thrust inside her, hauling her up to his chest to slide his hand under her shirt to find her hardened nipples?

What would she do if she knew she wanted him?

He had to tell her.

"Lizzie..."

The elevator doors opened and his chance was gone.

He flew out after her, but in the end he kept his mouth shut and retreated to the safety of his car, to the shoulder of a friend.

He was teetering on the edge of something dangerous. He had to stop.

He couldn't stop.