JR and Katherine strolled back to her apartment from the exclusive yet discreet restaurant where they had eaten dinner on their last night together. She had refused the offer of a cab notwithstanding the vertiginous heels she was wearing together with the closely fitting black shift dress that was designed to accentuate her every curve but, at the same time, had the effect of restricting her movement.

She wanted to talk but knew that a quick return journey to her apartment by taxi was hardly likely to permit the same to occur. Once back inside there was no chance of any discussion between them, she calculated. JR would have her in bed in no time flat and she realised that she wouldn't have the first chance of resisting him.

She shivered slightly in the cool early autumn air. JR pulled her in to him for warmth, his arm around her shoulder, their hips joined as they walked. "Have you had a good time?" she asked, breaking the silence between them. "I sure have, honey" he answered although she detected a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Tomorrow you go home, to Southfork, to Sue Ellen and John Ross" she continued, determined to continue what she had started. "Let's not talk about that now, Katherine" he responded quickly. "Let's just enjoy the rest of the evening and the night together." Part of her was tempted to heed his advice, live in the present and allow the future to wait. However, she appreciated that would only be prolonging the agony for her. She had to know if he had reached a decision, if their time together had supplied him with the answer that she craved to hear.

"No, JR, I'm sorry I can't. These last few days have been wonderful but tomorrow they come to an end and I think I deserve to know where I stand." JR sighed. "I know but it's complicated isn't it?" He stopped walking causing her to do the same before placing his hands on her shoulders. "I do love you, honey. I'm more confident about that than ever now, but it's complicated. I need time to figure out a plan for us to be together and that involves a number of considerations. I'm working on it. You just have to trust me."

"I wonder how many mistresses in my position have heard those words?" she countered. Her tone was resigned, however, not angry. JR grasped her hands in his. "Katherine, I mean it! I've never felt this way about any other woman and, believe me, there have been plenty. I wish I were you- unattached and free to do whatever you like, but I'm not. If I tell Sue Ellen it's over, and one of these days I will, I have to be certain, for example, that she will be strong enough to accept it. I can't have her turn to the drink again. My family would never forgive me but, more important than that, there's John Ross to think of. He adores his mama and he needs her."

Katherine instantaneously felt guilty. "I'm sorry. I should have thought about that. I wouldn't want that either…" JR pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "It's alright darlin. We are going to be together, I promise. You are going to be my wife and I'm going to give you a baby, more than one perhaps, that's if you want to."

His words took her breath away, hope once more triumphing over reality, the thought of them living together, creating a family, an empire even, too wonderful a prospect for her to reject. "Yes, JR!" she exclaimed before kissing him back, this time even more deeply than before, desperate to believe that what he had said would come true.

Almost falling through the door of her apartment, they made straight for the bedroom, their cares temporarily banished in the heat of their passion for each other. JR threw his jacket over the back of the chair before deftly unzipping Katherine's dress and easing it down to the floor. In turn she hastily undid his tie and ripped at his shirt causing several buttons to fly before setting to work on his pants.

Conscious that in their lust for each other she might leave her mark on him, JR threw her roughly down on the bed and restrained her with the weight of his body before removing her silk stockings and using them to tie her wrists to the bed. Katherine's eyes sparkled with excitement in the lamplight. "Is that what you want?" she asked, breathless and flushed with arousal. JR nodded and smiled wickedly. "You always give me what I want, don't you, darlin? That's one of the reasons that I love you."

When she woke the following morning, she found him already dressed and packing his bag. She sat up stiffly, recalling the things they had done together before they had fallen asleep in each other's arms, exhausted yet satisfied. She inspected her wrists noting the slender red wheals around their circumference, evidencing his dominance and her all too willing submissiveness.

She watched as he finished what he was doing. He looked up and smiled awkwardly at her, knowing what was to come next. "I have to go, Katherine. I need to check out of the hotel and get to the airport. I'm sorry honey." She pushed her hair away from her face and shrugged her shoulders. "Of course you do, JR. When can I expect to see you again?" she asked despondently. "Next week some time. I'll call you from the office on Monday."

He stooped to kiss her. "You're amazing. You do know that, don't you?" She nodded. "Yes I do" she replied, attempting to sound bright and to hold back her tears at the same time. "Do you want a quick coffee?" JR shook his head. The truth was that he could have taken another ten minutes to be with her but he knew that would almost certainly make matters more difficult for them both. "I'm sorry. I have to go. I have had the most marvellous time. Thank you, Katherine" he responded before bending to kiss her for a final time. "JR?" she asked as he made for the door. "I love you." "I love you too. There's a little thank you gift in the living room for you. I hope you like it."

As she heard the front door open and then close behind him Katherine buried her face in the pillow and wept.

Tbc