Well here it is, the chapter some of you have been waiting so patiently for! Hope it meets your expectations and apologies for taking so long to get here! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and follows and favorites - Its very validating as I write this to know that my story is being enjoyed.

If you haven't heard the song "Timber", by Ke$ha and Pitbull, check it out on YouTube. Its a fun, wild, crazy song that inspired me while I wrote this chapter.

Chapter 7

"Everything has been prepared?" Red questioned the man standing in the door frame of his private study.

Jacob nodded and entered the room closing the door behind him. "You know I'm reluctant for you to do this with only Dembe for backup. You will be in great danger once the final stage has been set. I can have a team put together in less than twelve hours."

Red shrugged his lack of concern, his mind already working through the logistics of the meeting ahead in Bangladesh. His bait was being nibbled on and if this next part of the plan was successful, it would led him even closer to the man he had spent months chasing. "I have the utmost confidence in the arrangements you've made."

"You say that Raymond, but what if you don't come out on the other side? What happens to her then?" Jacob asked, recognizing perhaps better than his employer who was blinded by the need for revenge, of how great the risk was.

"She has been provided for Jacob. You're aware of that. Both Dembe and Grey have assured me that they will remain with her." Dismissing his objections with the wave of his hand.

"It's not the physical or the financial well being I'm referring to if you happen to end up dead." Jacob reminded him bluntly.

Red's eyes narrowed at his words. "Its a chance that I'm going to take. Have some faith in me."

"Let it go Raymond. Enjoy what you have now. Keep your hands clean." He urged, unwilling to give up the argument so easily.

"Becoming soft in your old age?" Red sneered, the remark deliberately cruel. Wanting, no needing to have his own way in the matter of Tom Keen and not tolerating having his decision questioned.

"No, just reminding you of how fragile life is and how everything can change in just a heartbeat. You have the girl, she is alive. It's much more than what the alternative could have been. Let me go, I'll take care of the matter for you." Jacob pushed back, not the least offended or reprimanded by his remark, they had been together far to long for that to be.

Red puffed a sigh, an apology of sorts and met his concerned eyes. "Out of the question. As you are well aware, there's a reason I won't permit you in the field any longer." As head of his security and intelligence Red had pulled Jacob from any actual "hands on" work after the death of his ex-wife, relocating him and Peter to the island where the child could grow up with a semblance of normalcy and the risk of being an orphan reduced.

"Be careful, you know I have never liked Schmidt." Jacob reminded him, knowing he had lost the battle.

"Understood." Red acknowledged his concern.

xxxx

Red knocked on the door to Lizzie's bedroom. It was to early for her to have risen, but he wanted to tell her personally that he was leaving the island Some tasks he refused to entrust to others and that included most of the things related to the woman behind the door.

She didn't answer his knock and he rapped again, sharper this time. "Lizzie? Are you decent?" Hearing no sounds of movement he cautiously opened the door, not wanting to catch her in the midst of showering or dressing.

A frown furrowed his forehead, the room was empty. Bed already neatly made up. He glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist, 8:30 a.m., strange, as far as he knew, Lizzie never awaken before 10:00 a.m. and then her schedule would be to shower, dress and join him promptly at 11:30 a.m. on the terrace.

He found Grey in the kitchen, just retreating out the door.

"Do you know where Elizabeth is?" Red immediately noticed the mans military posture straighten even more.

Grey turned and looked at him, face schooled into a bland expression, a bottle of imported water in one hand and pair of woman's sandals in the other. "I believe she is in the lower garden, Sir."

"and just what would she be doing down there?" The even monotone of his voice chilling the room, the unasked question of why he hadn't been informed of the change in her daily routine hanging in the air.

"Perhaps cutting some flowers for the house, Sir."

Red relaxed slightly, distracted by the answer. He could easily picture her in a sundress, looking feminine and beautiful, filling a basket with the fresh flowers that she knew he enjoyed. It was a delightful picture that he envisioned in his mind and one he had every intention of giving himself the satisfaction of seeing before he left.

"Would you care for me to give her a message?" Grey interrupted his thoughts.

"No, I'll do it myself. The lower garden you said?"

"Are you certain Sir? It's no problem." Grey's body still blocking the doorway.

Red shook his head no, eyes speculative, "That won't be necessary." Holding his hand out, the request unspoken as he waited for Grey to hand him the items he held. He arched an eyebrow in question as he took the sandals and dangled them from his fingertips.

"She forgot her shoes." Grey explained, not quite meeting his eyes.

Red searched the man's face closely. Grey had been in his employ since almost the beginning, he knew the man well. He wondered how and when he had missed his shifting loyalties.

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"Boump boump, boump." Red could hear the faint drum beat, his eyes scanning but not finding Lizzie. With the heavy pounding of the bass to guide him he followed the downward sloping path to the lower garden and then beyond.

The salty ocean winds tormented this portion of the island, the surf not far. Scrub trees were bent and twisted from the constant pounding. Only the hardiest of wild flowers, clinging to the rocks that littered the area were able to survive. He had been the one to make the decision to abandon this part of the property, determining that it was best to let nature reclaim what it wanted.

"Boump, boump, boump." The beat of the music growing louder with each step.

"Boump, boump, boump," What on earth was she listening to?

He rounded the final curve of what was now only a beaten path and stopped short, inhaling sharply at the sight that greeted him. There was Lizzie, his Lizzie, her back to him, her hips moving in uninhibited rhythm to the beat of the music. Singing along enthusiastically to the words of a song he had never heard before, blissfully unaware that she was being watched.

It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget.

He would have thought it impossible for anyone to move their hips the way she was. Would have bet hard cold money on it and he would have been wrong. Rake in hand, those slim hips kept perfect time to the beat of the song. Left, right, left, left, right, right ... She bent from the waist, her ass on full display, still rocking back and forth as she reached for a clump of grass and tossed it aside. Red was only vaguely aware of the song changing to rap, he was to engrossed in watching the frenzied movement of her hips.

Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down

She was wearing a pair of the shortest shorts possible, Ragged, faded blue jean shorts that barely hung on her slender hips. Shorts that he knew perfectly well he had never selected for her wardrobe. Beads of perspiration broke out above his lip and his eyes narrowed and grew dark as he locked onto the top she wore. A mans or boys, mostly likely Peters, white wife beater tee shirt, the thin ribbed fabric clinging to her like a second skin, her lack of bra evident. Arms and shoulders glistening as she continued to rock her hips back and forth to the blaring music. Rocking against him he imagined, legs wrapped around him as he pounded into her.

It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget.

Within seconds he was fully aroused, engorged, thick and throbbing, his breathing shallow. Right now the only thing he wanted to do was slip behind her, flick her shorts down and bury himself into the wet warmth that he knew was there. He was a fool for ever thinking that he would be able to contain his more carnal desires for her.

LIzzie abruptly spun around, the sensation of being watched startling her. Her stomach plummeted with vertigo. She felt that frightening sense of standing at a great height and the uncontrollable sensation that she was about to fall. The expression of raw hunger on his face made her gasp and take a step backwards. In the midst of her confusion it suddenly occurred to her that he was a dangerous man. That realization shocked her as much as the desire she saw on his face.

She had never seen him look at her like this before, skin stretched taunt, eyes narrowed to slits and his mouth a thin tight line. A tremor of fear shot through her as his eyes locked on hers and she noticed the slight muscle twitch below his cheekbone. The rush of sexual awareness followed the fear, tightening her nipples, shocking her with its intensity.

She blinked once and when she looked at him again his face had changed back into the face she knew and trusted. The face of the man that had stood by her all these long months, who had provided for her and anticipated her every need or want. The danger, the desire she thought she had seen so clearly, gone. Only the shaking of her knees and the need she still felt, told her she hadn't imagined it. Or had she, she questioned herself.

"Lizzie, what are you doing down here? You're to far from the house." His voice sounding harsher than he intended, but he was still trying to push back the arousal that could only be described as savage and base.

"Ahhh" Was the best she could do, her mind still trying to comprehend whatever it was that had just happened.

Lets make a night you won't remember
'll be the one you won't forget

He bent down and turned off the music, "I need to leave. I'll be back in a day or two." He searched her face, trying to gauge her reaction to his momentarily lapse of control, almost certain that she had seen it.

"Ah huh." This time she managed a nod, as she swallowed the lump that was lodged in her throat.

"We'll discuss this," He waved his arm at her obvious attempts to restore the garden, "When I return."

This time she didn't even bother to try and answer, just nodded, her blue eyes wide.

He closed the few feet between them, handed her the bottle of water and dropped the sandals onto the ground. "Put them on." He ordered briskly. Turning away, he left the way he came, needing to put distance between them quickly, unable to trust himself to control the urge to push her down into the grass and take her then and there, consequences be damned. He was shaken by the thought of what would have amounted to rape.

When he was out of sight, she exhaled, her shoulder slumping. Legs buckling, she sunk to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, heart still pounding. The expression on his face had shaken her to her very core. She didn't know how long she sat there replaying over and over again in her mind that moment when she had realized she was being watched and seeing the raw lust in his face. This was a man she didn't know, had never seen before. What more was there to their relationship that Raymond had not told her? She vaguely heard the noise of the helicopter as it left the island

She became aware of someone saying her name, touching her shoulder. She looked up and saw Grey standing above her. "Come along. I think you've done enough work for the day." He bent down and slipped her sandals on, grasping her elbow and carefully tugging her to her feet. He continued to keep his hand on her elbow as he led her towards the villa.

"The garden is looking lovely. In particular the Butterfly Jasmine and Anthuriums are flourishing," He commented as they walked. "Sophia has prepared some freshly brewed iced tea. I believe she has flavored it with fresh peaches and I'm certain I smelled something baking in the oven." He continued on with his trivial comments, not expecting a reply from the young woman who walked beside him. He could see the dazed expression on her face. Was familiar with how she would retreat when she was struggling with her thoughts. Knew from his employers angry stance before he departed what the cause of her distress was. She really was a thorn in his side, disrupting his nice, orderly schedule, but she was his thorn.

He situated her in one of rattan chairs on the terrace returning a few minutes later with a tall chilled glass of tea. He held it to her lips and she instinctively drank from it. The last thing he needed was for her to become dehydrated on his watch. He placed the glass on the table along with several fresh bake muffins.

She lost all track of time as she sat on the terrace, searching her mind for clues that should have warned her that their relationship was not at all as it seemed. She stirred from her thoughts. "Grey." she said, not looking at the man who still stood military "at ease" a few feet behind her.

"Yes?"

"I think I'm in over my head." She finally stated.

He had no doubt at all that she was indeed over her head. Raymond Reddington played to win, no matter how long it took or what the final price to be paid was. The woman near him didn't stand a chance. "I wouldn't concern myself about it, I'm sure everything will work out just fine." It was the best he could muster.

xxxxx

A storm rolled in the distance, the occasional shots of lightening casting a faint flash in the room, the cracking of thunder echoing against the walls. The ocean breeze coming through the open french door a cool welcome relief. She stretched her legs, curling her toes and kicking off the bed linens, her nightgown bunching and twisting around her waist. She relished the sensation of the cool sheets against her bare skin as the air brushed against her thighs and she stirred, her sleep restless.

She caught the faint aroma of his cologne as he bent over her, even in sleep, she had been waiting for him to come to her. Knew he would visit her in the darkness, a faint smile curled her lips. "Red" she murmured. He bent over her, his kiss just brushing the nape of her neck. Her nipples became hard as he rumbled softly with pleasure at her response to him and she felt the rush of desire pulse through her body. Her skin became overly sensitive as his breath stroked her breasts, her stomach, her thighs, goose bumps following him as he moved towards the heat that was building in her. She needed to feel the heavy weight of him on top of her, his legs entwined with hers, his knee pressing against her center, urging her to open for him. She moaned again, louder this time, back arching, seeking to bring him closer.

Her eyes suddenly flew open as she gasped for air and sat up in bed. Her eyes wild as she searched the dark corners of the room for the object of her dream.

She was alone!

She exhaled deeply with disbelief and laid back down, her head sinking into the pillows, tears starting to fill her eyes as disappointment flooded her. It had been so real! Had felt so natural. Slowly she tried to catch her breath, heart still racing. She exhaled again. It had only been a dream. She became aware of the pulsating arousement of her body, the unfulfilled desire that was a remnant of her sleep. All she had to do was move her hand down her stomach, to the moistness between her legs and she would shatter into a climax. One touch was all it would take to send her spinning over the edge. Instead, she clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms until the hot flush of desire began to ebb and fade.

Had it been a dream or was this the reality? Had they been lovers before? Was this a memory from her past, slipping in when she was most vulnerable? Her eyes widened at the possibility as she tried to remember. She sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes against another shiver of desire, even now she could still smell the scent of him...,her eyes opened...could still smell the scent of him...

Her feet suddenly propelled her from the bedroom and she ran down the long hallway towards Raymonds rooms. She stopped, paused outside of his doorway, gathering courage before slowly pushing the door open. She half expected him to be inside even though she knew he wouldn't have returned yet. With a deep breath she stepped in.

Her heart was pounding as she slowly moved through each room. Only the desperate need for confirmation of what she suspected was the only thing that kept her from turning and running.

Her eyes searched the contents of his dressing room, his clothing neatly hanging, the row of fedoras that was a constant adornment when he stepped outside, none of this was what she was searching for. She stepped towards the cherry cabinets and cautiously opened the doors, her eyes taking in the contents. She noticed the picture of the two of them, holding the framed picture in her hands, she stared at it. Washington D.C., the Potomac river she was certain, just as she was certain she couldn't remember the day or time or even the year of the picture. She returned it to its resting place. Her eyes fixating on her goal, the six small crystal decanters, the expensive cut glass twinkling as it refracted in the dim light.

One by one she worked her way though the bottles. Each scent unique, sensual, beautiful, She recognized several of the colognes that Raymond wore, but none were what she was searching for. Until she reached the last decanter. As soon as she removed its stopper she could smell the aroma gently wafting out. Her eyes closed as she lifted it to her face and inhaled. Yes. This was what she had been searching for, the scent in her dream. This was the essence of Red, this was what she remembered. Pine and citrus and exotic spices she couldn't identify. Again she inhaled it and her body quivered in response.

She moistened her fingertips and stroked the cologne onto her skin. Her lobe, her throat, her breasts which ached from her unfulfilled arousal. Flashes from her past appeared behind her closed lids. The golden room she could see it clearly now. The light shimmering in from the windows, bathing him with its glow as he faced its warmth. She heard the notes of a song, felt his kiss, saw the depth of his need for her...desperately she tried to absorb their meanings. It was like trying to guess the final picture of puzzle with only a handful of pieces.

She left the room as silently as she entered it. Her throat constricting, becoming thick and tight as the panic started to grow. She needed air, needed to clear her head. The anxiety increased, wrapping around her, threatening to smother her. She ran down the hallway, flying down the staircase.

xxxxxx

Spoiler Alert - Just want to let everyone know that she DOES NOT fall down the staircase! Hope you enjoyed it!