Jackson had to stop to take a breath and gather up some strength; otherwise he would have given into the temptation of kissing her again, and he might never stop if he did. Every fiber in his being yearned to take Lisa in his arms and make endless love to her, but he knew that he owed her the same honesty with which she had revealed herself. Since baring the body is much easier than baring the soul, Jackson would have to muster all the courage he was capable of. He had to take this last chance to let Lisa see his true colors, far less dark than she'd pictured them to be. It's now or never

"When we met in Texas, I had already spent some time watching you"

Remembering how they had met still made shivers run down her spine so she had to blink the tears away, hoping she could hide how much the memory of that ordeal still affected her. However, Lisa didn't leave his embrace. Encouraged by this fact, Jackson sighed and went on

"I had never followed a target for so long. I… " Lisa winced at his choice of words looking at Jackson with a wounded expression "Don't get me wrong please, what I mean is… I had never let a job become so personal…"

Shit, isn't there another way to put it? What the fuck is wrong with me?

On the other hand, Lisa was absolutely puzzled. A few moments earlier they had been fighting, and then he'd left her speechless with a kiss that had her craving for more. Everything was too damn confusing. Yet, there she was, absolutely compelled to listen to what he had to say. But the awkward silence had just started to become too long for her to bear.

"Am I still … Am I still a target Jackson?"

"God no Leese, what I mean is that I felt completely drawn to you. There was something about you and I couldn't quite put my finger on it, and trust me on this, that never happened" Her stare made him increasingly nervous as he stammered over words "I tried to convince myself that what just physical attraction I mean… there you were… a vision of sheer perfection in every way. And still…you insisted on living in utter solitude. I found it intriguing, but mostly enthralling beyond words"

Lisa regarded him, transfixed. She had convinced herself that Jackson's mind didn't work that way, he had told her himself. But there was no fact-based logic in this man before her eyes; this man who was visibly struggling with emotions was someone else.

"You were so isolated from the world, so much like me. Perhaps, I felt related to you in that way. It's the reason I told you my real name. I..." his voice was barely a whisper then "I wanted to get as close to you as I could before everything ended… well you know… the way it did"

"I do know Jackson" she bit her lip nervously, hurt by the memories that unveiled in the back of her mind "You let your guard down, it messed things up and you've regretted it ever since" this time Lisa struggled to get free, but he held her firmly

"Of course I haven't, will hear me out Leese?" he pleaded, his voice once again rising "Listen, to hell with the mission, the company, everyone, they can just fuck off! For all I care! All I care about right now is you!"

Both of them froze like startled deers at his words. Once realization dawned on him, Jackson reached to cup her cheek with one hand as he wiped a tear away.

"It's true Leese. You've become far more important to me than any job. You brought out a will in me to live again! And now I know I'm not the only one who feels this way" His hands moved to delicately take hold of hers. "Although I've got to say, I have one regret; but it's not what you think"

He stopped to gaze at her once again with a deadly serious expression "I do regret not having met you under different circumstances" bringing her hands to his lips he placed gentle kisses on them. "I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through. But, I'll never forgive myself if I don't ask you to give us a chance"

Lisa's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open as she listened to him, not in disbelief but in surprise. There was truth in his words; she could see it in his eyes. They were no longer those gelid pools she remembered from that night on the flight. Instead, they glittered with pent up emotion, she could once again see the same warmth that had melted her heart while they shared drinks together. It felt as though he had stripped himself from some sort of armor, slowly letting her see him under a different light. Nevertheless, while she could sense Jackson's remorse, Lisa didn't know whether she felt safe enough.

"Jack… I honestly don't know. You and I…"

Before she could continue, his hands let go of hers and reached for the back of her head to pull her into a sweet, gentle kiss; one rather long kiss in case it was their last. Jackson understood her hesitation and he was willing to give Lisa some space if that was what she needed. He would grant her anything she asked from him, even if it meant leaving for good.

"I swear I'll never hurt you again. Whatever your answer is…" He pressed his cheek into hers, inhaling her scent "You will have nothing to fear from me anymore, and if you want me to, I'll be gone from life forever" Please, don't let me go, I beg you, please don't

Jackson closed his eyes again, bracing himself, while he silently pleaded for her to let him stay. He'd barely noticed when Lisa tentatively splayed her hand across his cheek. He turned his face into her palm, kissing it lightly.

No, she couldn't let him go. He was where he belonged, with her. As big a risk as she was taking, she couldn't handle an entire life of wondering 'what if?'. She wouldn't live with herself unless she found out where this could go. This time it was Lisa who very tenderly pressed her lips into his as she wrapped her arms around him.

His lips were hot and moist. She cooled them with the tip of her tongue before her kiss gradually became frenzier and more demanding. Lisa kissed Jackson thoroughly, hoping to consume him, to make him part of herself. She longed to leave her loneliness behind, to be parted from the farce she had been living, the farce that they had both been living. Trusting each other was more than an option; it was their only way out of hell.

When they finally parted, Lisa remained pressed against Jackson, hugging him with all her might. She had her answer

"Jack please... don't go" - Her green orbs wide and desperate as she turned to face him. "Don't leave me!" She begged as she kept kissing his lips, nose, and eyes, everywhere she could reach "I… we both need this. I know it and so do you. Please stay!"

This woman will never cease to amaze me. Jackson could barely believe what was happening. He had just been so close to saying goodbye and leaving her once and for all. He had been scared beyond words of her answer, terrified at the possibility of needing her and losing her without even getting the slightest opportunity to make things right. He would have never imagined that Lisa would hold onto him, with every intention of keeping him there.

Jackson soothed her with soft kisses as well, as he held her face between his hands again. He was absolutely touched, not just by the desperation in Lisa's voice, but by her acceptance of him. Nothing else mattered anymore. But, paranoid as he was he had to make sure.

"Lisa. You know what this means, right?"

"I do. But just once, I want to get carried away. Let's get carried away, you and me" she begged raggedly "I don't know where this might take us" she kissed his right cheek and whispered in his ear "But I need to find out, and I can't deny us any longer" Lisa reached for his face again and looked into his eyes "Don't you want to find out too?"

Jackson could see it clearly in her eyes; this woman wanted him as much as he wanted her. She would be his and his alone, on her own will. And in return, she had accepted him for who he was; although he knew he had been hers from the very first moment he laid eyes on her.

Jackson started kissing Lisa again and before either of them knew it, he had her up against the wall. It almost felt like that time in the plane's lavatory but the new circumstances were much more pleasant. His tongue explored her slowly. Lisa's tongue joined his and together they searched. She moaned against Jackson's lips as she started nibbling on his lower lip again. He couldn't help but pause when he felt the metallic taste of his own blood coating his tongue.

"Well, well, well" he whispered sultrily "looks like someone has a vampire kink, am I right Leese?"

"Mhm… I'm sorry Jack... I've craved for those lips of yours way too long"

"Shhh, it's ok. I'm glad to know you want this as much as I do" Jackson chose that moment to lean forward and capture her earlobe between his teeth. Lisa felt herself melting against him; she had forgotten how sensitive her ears were. She gasped as he pressed his body close, hips digging into hers, his arousal nestled against the heat between her legs. She could feel him through their clothes and Jackson almost released her for fear she had felt frightened by his passion.

"No, please!" Lisa tightened her arms around her lover, holding onto him for support while she moved to kiss him "I'm fine, it's just… been a while" her eyes locked with his. "I really do want you Jackson, will you stay?" Lisa bit her lip as she looked at Jackson with pleading eyes before he nodded reassuringly "Besides, you're the only thing holding me standing right now" he grinned at her comment "No, seriously, my legs feel like jelly"

Now both of them were openly laughing until Jackson leaned down to nuzzle her neck again "You know we can stop at any time you want, right Leese?

"I know. But I don't want to stop Jackson, I want to be with you" she replied as she ran her hands down his back to clutch his ass over the jeans, both of them letting go strangled moans in unison "I'm yours"

Feeling impossibly aroused at her words, Jackson melded his mouth to Lisa's once again, growing more and more passionate, knowing there was no way back.

Hello again my dear readers. It's a safe guess that the end is near, so stay tuned

And again, a special thank you to those wonderful readers who have left such kind and thoughtful reviews. You're the best