A Deal Twice Made

She wasn't sure what the time was and she didn't care, but her body and mind told her she was exhausted. She stretched, flipped the file closed and then logged out of her computer. She yawned and reached for the coffee mug, hoping there was something in it, satisfied when there was. She downed the now cold coffee in a single swallow and grimaced at the bitterness she never seemed to notice when it was hot. Up from the chair, her bag from the bottom drawer and then she was moving. She just had to go, keep some kind of momentum or she'd stop, crash and end up curled up on the horrible pleather couch that was shoved in the corner of the break room for the third night in a row.

Hallway, elevator, parking garage and then her car, step by careful step toward home. She smirked wryly, felt the loss in her gut as she chided herself about what she was calling home. The cheap motel room was far from homey, but it was clean, well cleanish anyway. She sort of giggled, overly tired and feeling almost punchy as she hit the unlock button on the key fob, but the door didn't click and the lights didn't flash. She frowned, glanced down at her hand in confusion. She hit the button again, and again nothing happened.

"What the hell." She blew hair out of her eyes and slid the key between her fingers and then into the slot in the door. She pressed the key right and the lock disengaged. She glanced around the garage then for some reason feeling nervous and exposed. She was the only person there, but there were other cars, cameras and the area was well lit. She pulled the door handle and then she was inside. A quick press of a button on the door panel and all four doors locked with a soft thud.

She jumped when her phone rang and her purse bounced from her hand and slid to the floor. She cursed, held a hand to her chest and bent to reach for the bag so she could get the phone. Her heart was still pounding when she answered it, so flustered she didn't bother to check the number.

"Keen." She had no idea who would be calling at almost one in the morning, but she figured it was work related. She was really not expecting the richness of Reddington's voice purring in her ear.

"Lizzie. You're at the office late again."

She imagined the disapproving look on his face while he sat at his desk, glass of wine or whiskey at hand as he talked to her. She pulled the phone from her ear and checked the number. She frowned because she didn't recognize it. "I'm not at my desk Red. You called my cell." She sat up, her head rested on the seatback.

"Semantics. You're in the parking garage, so that still qualifies as the office."

She lifted her head and looked around, somewhat shocked. "How do you know where I am? Are you here? How could you be?" The garage was secure. It required keyed access and was manned by armed guards around the clock. There was no way Red could have gotten in. Well, he could have, but then that would be a serious security breach...

There was a chuckle, "No, I'm close but not in the garage." He sighed. "It wasn't difficult to put a tracking device on your car. I know you stopped to get tacos at that truck before you came in today also."

"Of course you do." She relaxed back against the seat. "But just because my car is here doesn't mean I'm in it. How do you know I'm in the garage?"

"The key fob pings when you use it, though it appears your battery is dead." He said something she didn't quite hear and then, "I instructed Dembe to get you a new one."

"Is there anything you don't know about me?" She almost instantly regretted her words, more thoughts spoken out loud, when his chuckle sounded in her ear.

"There are a few, but I have a much longer list of things I'd like to show you about yourself..." He didn't finish his thought, just ended his sentence with a satisfied purr.

She snorted. "I'm sure I don't want to know what you're talking about."

There was a pause and then she heard his voice low, thick and full of sin in her ear. "Don't lie to yourself Lizzie. Right now you're trying to imagine what I might have meant. Does it involve you doing something for me? Or maybe it's showing you exactly what you'd be willing to beg me for? How about me watching? Maybe watching you with someone else as they show you what I like and how I like it. Have them teach you what I expect from you as you learn exactly what pleasure is as I sit back and watch as you realize you've lost control? Mmm, maybe there's a sound I'm hoping you make, or maybe I'm hoping you'll move a particular way? Maybe I want to show you exactly what it is you do want and particularly, what it is that you need Elizabeth." He took a heavy breath. "And right now I can hear the way your breathing changed. I know your pulse is racing, your breasts are tingling and there's a heavy wetness between your legs." She could hear the smile in his next words. "That's something I already know, but sweetheart I have so much more to show you about yourself."

Her response didn't come immediately as she worked to clear her thoughts enough to focus. She tried to keep her breath steady, but found it wasn't working. He'd found his way past the defense she'd put up. Her free hand gripped the wheel as she exhaled slowly. Her eyes were forward, but unfocused and she blinked. She wet her lips with her tongue as she struggled to choose between what she wanted and what she knew she should do.

She almost crumbled, but managed to answer him. "I'm tired. Why are you calling?"

"Because I want you Elizabeth." He didn't say anything else, he simply waited.

"This is a booty call?" She was almost amused, but she couldn't deny the arousal she was sure his words were meant to cause.

He snorted. "No, but it's definitely a statement of intent. Dembe is texting you an address. You will be there in an hour."

"If I'm not?"

"I trust you will be Elizabeth. I doubt you want to spend another night alone trying to relieve the ache between your legs. Also, if you're late know that I won't be pleased."

She was about to tell him to fuck off when the line went dead. She pulled the phone from her ear and glared at it. "You fucking asshole." She threw it into her purse with another curse and jabbed the key into the ignition. The car started and she pulled out of the parking garage carefully. She heard the text chime, knew it was the address from Dembe, but she ignored it. She was driving after all.

She turned left, without really knowing why, but realizing that it was the opposite direction of her motel. She didn't know where she was heading or what she was planning to do. She had no intention of following Red's order but his words kept echoing through her head. He was right, she'd been unable to make the burn in her blood die back for more than a few minutes. Something was constantly reminding her, sending hot tendrils of desire down her spine and it was exponentially worse at night. By the time she braked, slowing to stop the car at the red lighted intersection, her stomach was in a knot and her palms were sweaty with a mix of indecision and desire. She cursed herself and reached for her phone.

She wasn't exactly sure of the address, but the city was about forty minutes from where she was and she needed to head into Maryland. She sighed and when the light turned she took the exit to I-95 N.

He had instructions and he followed them as he always did. The car was parked, lights out, beside the building and he waited. He had no doubt that she'd arrive soon and when she did, he'd do as he'd been asked, without hesitation. He watched as a set of lights on the main road slowed and turned down the side road toward his location. The vehicle approached cautiously and pulled into the empty lot. His car was hidden, so he continued to watch as the lone occupant parked and looked warily around.

He smiled and texted her phone. He saw the bluish green light from the screen illuminate her face and he could imagine her frown just before she cut the engine and returned the lot to its previous quiet. She ducked to grab something from the floor and then she was out of the car. He exited his own and moved toward her.

"Agent Keen." He met her about twenty feet from the Mercedes.

She looked up at him, and he saw her hide the surprise quickly. "Dembe," she glanced around the lot and up at the building. "Where are we?"

He shrugged. "A convenient place to meet. Come." He held his arm toward the side of the building and waited until she started in that direction.

Liz glanced at Dembe and let him lead her. "So, where are we going then?"

He smiled, showed his teeth. "Some place safe."

"Where's Red?"

"Where we are going." He opened the rear passenger door, but she refused.

"If Red's not in the back I'd rather ride up front."

He inclined his head, shut one door and opened the other. "By all means." After she was seated he closed the door and moved around to the driver's side. He felt Liz's eyes on him the entire time.

By the time he was seated, belted and the car was running she'd turned to continue her perusal. He put the car in drive and pulled from the lot, merged with traffic on the main road and then glanced over at her. "There is water if you would like."

"No thanks." She continued to watch him.

He shrugged and drove.

Eventually she gave a frustrated sigh. "It's not bothering you."

"What?" He glanced over and then back to the road. "You staring?" He shook his head when she nodded. "I'm used to it. Besides, you're doing it to bother me, so why give you the satisfaction? Though if you'd like me to strip..." He winked and smiled when she blushed.

"Why didn't Red come with you?"

He noticed she still had her eyes on him. "I didn't question him."

"Do you ever question him?"

His eyes caught hers for a second. He tried to read them, but they were in the shadows. "I offer advice when asked, rarely when it's not requested and only question him if I am worried for his safety."

"Is there a reason you're so loyal then?"

He almost laughed. "Many." He slowed the car as traffic began to build in front of them.

She rolled her eyes. "You could elaborate." They were behind a long line of traffic stopped at a railroad crossing. She glanced ahead and noticed the train cars moving slowly on tracks across the road. The red lights flared and faded along with a slightly distant clanging sound.

Dembe looked over at her and shook his head. "He trusts you much more than I do." He sighed and reached over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm still afraid you'll break his heart." His eyebrow rose and his thumb stroked her cheek bone as he frowned. "Don't hurt him."

He watched her swallow and heard her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes met his almost hesitantly before darting away "I...shit, I wouldn't know how and I'm not planning on it." She didn't move her head when his thumb moved to her chin and then brushed her lower lip. "I'm just afraid."

He watched her eyes darken and didn't miss the touch of her tongue across the tip of his thumb. He nodded and gripped her chin to tilt her head up so he could see her eyes again. "As you should be tani. You act like some swit yai sometimes, but I think you might be pretending."

She gave him a puzzled look and shook her head. "No pretense except his..." She pointed to the road ahead of them. "Traffic is moving."

His hand left her face and then he was back to driving. He said nothing else until she spoke again.

"What is it you owe him?"

He laughed at that and shook his head. "Only my life, but he doesn't ask for anything for that in return, which makes the gifts I give him more precious." He watched her for a second and tried to figure out what she was thinking.

She snorted and rolled her eyes. "You think you're free, but you aren't. It's just another way he controls the people around him."

Dembe gave her a sad smile. "Why did you come then Elizabeth Keen? Is he controlling you?" He waited a beat and then added. "If it helps you sleep to believe the lie that you are forced, then so be it, but I know your truth."

She gasped and turned to stare out the window.

Elizabeth decided to ignore Dembe for the rest of the trip. She cursed herself for letting him get to her. Now she had him and Red inside her head and her own doubts were bad enough. She glanced over at him and then back out the window. She really wished she understood why he was with Red, what exactly the connection they had was. Dembe had been willing to lay down his life for Red. He obviously considered him a brother and she knew after the time she'd spent with Red, he was even more, but she wasn't sure how deep that went.

She'd seen Dembe's scars, she saw the brand and she knew what it meant. She'd sort of assumed that Red found him in some brothel and redeemed him for his skills; fighting or otherwise, but she really wasn't sure anymore. Freeing the man from servitude could have brought his undying loyalty, but she doubted it and Dembe was obviously cultured, well read and traveled. He'd been with Red for some time according to most of the files she'd read. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, she liked Dembe and if pressed she'd admit he was attractive, though broody and silent wasn't really her type.

She glanced up when the car slowed before Dembe turned into a garage. She sat up, she knew where they were. It was the same apartment she'd been in before and she waited until the car was parked and Dembe was out before she exited. He met her by her door and then lead her to the private elevator. She watched as he used his key and then when the elevator doors opened he followed her in.

Liz waited, she couldn't do much else. She stared at the floor and then up at the numbers as they slid higher. The doors chimed, slid open and then they were out and once again she stood before Red's door. This time it was Dembe with a key and she stood to the side waiting so she wouldn't be in the way of the lock.

Dembe opened the door, held it until she was inside and then locked it behind them. Liz watched as he pulled out his phone and keyed in a passcode to set the alarm.

"You're staying?" She looked over at him from her spot in the foyer, unsure where she should go. "Is Red here?"

Dembe smiled. "Yes and yes."

It was then that she heard his voice, coming up the hall and moving toward them. "Dembe, you're back." He met the man first and pulled him into an intimate hug. One hand slid around the larger man's waist and the other to the back of Dembe's neck. He pressed close, pulled the taller man's ear down to his mouth and said something low that Liz couldn't hear. She didn't miss the quick slide of lips over Dembe's cheek as he pulled back or the way his other hand slid to Dembe's hip and lingered just a bit longer than appropriate.

Dembe's deep bass laugh suddenly filled the room and Red smiled as he looked over at Liz. He faced her and held out both hands as he stepped toward her. "Mmm Lizzie." She caught the predatory glint in his eyes, the way his tongue slid over his lips just before his smile turned almost feral. "I'm glad you came."

"You made it sound like I had a choice." It took all of her strength to stay where she was and not step into his arms.

The sound in the back of his throat was almost disapproval. "You always have a choice, but you knew there was a risk in not coming didn't you?" He cocked his head to the side and took her right hand. She shook her head so he continued. "I told you I wouldn't be pleased if you weren't here. You obviously didn't want to risk my displeasure." His smile was disarming this time. "That makes me very happy." He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the backs of her fingers.

She felt as if his eyes were burrowing into her soul and she wanted to pull away, to close her eyes and run, but there wasn't any way she could do that. She watched as he bent and then his lips pressed to her wrist and his tongue traced a path across the scar to her palm. She shivered and shook her head. Her eyes fell half closed as heat shot from her wrist up her arm and outward. "Mmm...no."

"No what Lizzie?" He waited for her to answer and when she didn't, he lifted his head from her hand. His eyebrow arched. "You know since you aren't sure what that word means..." He smiled and something else slid through her along side the heat. "While you're here, you don't get to use that word." His took her other hand and then his hands moved to the lapels of her coat. He slid the buttons free and nodded at Dembe, who took it from her shoulders. "If you say no at any time from here on out, you will be reminded that it is not acceptable. Do you understand Elizabeth?"

She shook her head, brows furrowed. "No, not really...so I can't..."

He took Liz by the arm gently and pulled her against his chest. He smiled down at her. "I just told you the rules Lizzie." His right hand cupped her cheek and he gave her a tender look as he stroked a thumb across her cheek. "You are so beautiful." He sighed and bent, his lips bushed hers and she responded immediately.

She pressed against him, her hands pulled at his shoulders and she whimpered. God she needed him so much it felt like a physical force pushing against her. She let his tongue guide and take and she followed. His teeth nipped and she moaned.

Just as suddenly as the kiss started, it ended. He pulled back and sighed. "The word no is not to be used. If you need to tell me you don't want something or disagree, find another way." He brushed her hair from her face. "Do you understand?" When she nodded he smiled and looked over her shoulder to Dembe who was still standing behind them. He held his hand out, "Dembe, your belt please."

Startled, she moved to look behind her. She saw Dembe's eyes on her as he undid his belt and pulled it through the loops of his pants. When he stepped forward, the looped belt held to Red she panicked. Her eyes followed, watched him take the belt and then her hand was pressed to his chest. "Wait. What are you going to do with that? I didn't understand. I was answering your question. Red, I..."

He stepped back, his face calm, but she saw a glint of something dangerous in his eye. Something different than just a moment ago. He shook his head. "When this started I only asked one thing of you." He held the length of belt stretched between to hands. Liz took a step back, but found herself pressed against the solidness of Dembe's chest. "I thought you'd leaned that lesson last time." He sighed, "I was obviously mistaken." His head jerked slightly and then Dembe's arms were around her he watched her struggle for a few seconds and when she calmed, he smiled at the fire in her eyes. "You can choose again sweetheart. Same choice you made last time." His hands slid down the leather of the belt and he watched her eyes follow. She swallowed and then her eyes were back on his face. "You can leave now, but you'll never see me again, or you can stay and accept what comes."

Liz lifted her chin and leaned back against Dembe, knowing that fighting would get her nowhere. "I'm staying and you know it, damn you Raymond." She glared. "I'm sorry I forgot, but for the record this is not agreeable and I'd much rather you do something else."

He nodded with a chuckle. "That wasn't so hard, was it? And, you don't have to answer that one Lizzie." He released her chin and let his hand slide to her shoulder and his fingers grazed the skin above her blouse. He smiled at the goose flesh he raised as his fingertips dipped lower to pause above the first closed button. His eyes returned to hers and he inhaled, cocked his head to the side and spoke. "Now, will you do as I ask or does Dembe need to keep holding you?"

NOTE: I haven't abandoned the story, it's just been crazy around here. Though I wouldn't mind hearing from you if you're still interested in the story. No, I'm not begging for reviews. I'll still write, but hey let's be honest it's nice to hear what people have to say about your work and I'm open to the good and the bad. And I will say that knowing people are "waiting" does help kick my butt.

For EVERYONE who has sent a message or added a review. A really big thanks! I do appreciate it and I'm sorry I didn't return any PMs. For some reason I was having some issues with the site, but it seems to be working now. Oddly, messages were going to the wrong people so I stopped replying. I will again attempt to return PMs.