Awake in His Arms

This story is about how Amanda is feeling one morning when she awakens in Lee's arms. This story goes with the Skiing Was Lousy, but you don't need to read that story to understand this one. The story is based on Billy's Lost Weekend and Promises to Keep, both from season four.

Thanks to my two amazing betas. Any errors, however, are entirely my doing. I hope you enjoy it.

Amanda's eyes slit open as she awakened to the feel of an arm draped across her chest, overnight stubble against her cheek, and the faint smell of sweat and cologne wafting in her nostrils. Amanda smiled at the memory of last night's passion and expression of love. Considering how long it took them to get to this point, she couldn't help but be thrilled now that she was finally in his arms. She'd awakened, half expecting to find out that she'd been dreaming all along, but the feel of Lee's arms proved that everything was real, very real. She snuggled closer to him, his arms drawing her closer. Her smile grew even wider at the thought of how excited and worried he'd been about their weekend away. She couldn't exactly blame him. After all, it'd only taken them a little over three years to get to this point. Who would've ever thought they'd end up this intimate?

After the little matter of the last few days trying to figure out what was going on with Billy, they deserved the time away. This was the first time she'd been away with Lee for the weekend where they weren't undercover, playing a part, yet she still had to tell her mother that she was away on business. She couldn't tell her mother or her children that there was a man, a special man in her life. Not yet. Her family didn't even know that soon they would have a son-in-law and a stepfather, but right now, none of that mattered. The only thing that concerned her was being in Lee's arms as she relished being a woman, his woman, as she exhilarated in the memory of last night's passion.

Last night was way past anything she'd ever experienced in her entire life. It was about much more than being physical. It was more about how well he completed her; body, heart, mind and soul. It was like they joined together as one. She was incredulous to understand it or even believe it, but something in Lee moved her, completed her. Even from the beginning, there was something there…nothing like what they have now, but she'd sensed it in his beautiful hazel eyes from the start.

Her cheeks were becoming warm just thinking about what the lovemaking represented—commitment-and that made her happier than she'd felt in a long, long time. This was a big step for the two of them; intimacy was something she didn't take lightly. She'd been married, and of course, she was intimate with her husband, and she'd had a few other lovers, but this was a massive step for herself and Lee.

For three years they've known each other; at first mere acquaintances; then best friends and now lovers. They hadn't really discussed the ski trip before they left; each other's expectations, but she'd been ready for just about anything, and she was prepared if the opportunity presented itself. In the past, being on cases with Lee had been awkward at best; one of the first times they went away, she was so nervous, Lee slept in a utility closet. After that, Lee was always sure to make certain he got her a separate room, like when they were on the ship of spies! But as their relationship continued to grow, she began to crave something more. She'd been surprised and annoyed during the Marvelous Marvin case where he got them separate rooms. "Come on! Really? Brother and sister? We don't even look alike." By then, they'd been going out regularly, lots of times of "no-shop talk."

During the Birol case, Lee proposed and gave her a ring later in the Q-bureau once she had returned to work, but she believed he'd planned to ask her before the case. She first suspected it when Mrs. Edna D'Angelo stopped by to bring Lee information he requested about his pension.

Now she was lying in Lee's arms and she couldn't be happier. As if reading her mind, Lee's grip around her waist tightened even more as he snuggled closer against her, his cheek rubbing against hers. As if on cue, Amanda's body came alive, fresh with renewed passion.

"Amanda?" He murmured, adjusting his tall frame.

"Yes, Lee?"

"Good morning, Beautiful." He whispered, his lips moving across her cheek to her ear. "I love you!"

"Morning, yourself, Big Fella," she replied, struggling to concentrate on what he was saying as his hands began to explore her body. "I love you…too!"

SMK SMK SMK

"Now, aren't you glad we didn't change our skiing trip?" Amanda asked sometime later as they sat at the dining room table.

"Uh-huh!" Lee replied, sipping from his cup of coffee his eyes upon Amanda's. "You?"

"Mmm! Yeah!" Amanda murmured back as she took a bite of her toast, her eyes shining bright as the morning sun as she relished in how wonderfully the day had begun.

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Please review! Very much appreciated!