"Passion is the source of our finest moments; the joy of love, the clarity of hatred, and the ecstasy of grief."

~Joss Whedon

Aaline didn't return to work. She couldn't.

The fire blooming in her belly prevented her from thinking about anything else except Ivar's fingers buried between her legs. If she thought hard enough she could still feel him there, curling inside her, pressing against her clitoris, making her throb.

She was soaking by the time she returned home.

She made her way to her room on shaking legs, pushing the door open and pressed her back against it. She could hear her breath, loud in the small room. Her blood was pumping fast through her veins making her hands shake.

She moved forward, kicking her heels off as she did. She made to sit on the bed but a sudden image of Ivar pounding into her aching pussy almost sent her to her knees.

She settled down on the floor at the end of the bed, leaning against the frame. She brought her knees up and pushed her hands beneath her dress. Lifting her hips, she tugged her panties down her legs. She tossed the ruined cotton to the side and dropped a hand between her legs.

She moaned at the wetness she felt there.

She was almost dripping, her slick coating her pussy lips and spreading down to her thighs. She spread her fingers, stroking over the heated flesh and collecting her juices, circling up to her clit. Shivers spread across her arms and legs. Her back arched and her hips rocked as she continued to stroke her aching need.

She imagined his head buried between her thighs, his tongue licking deep inside her. His hands would hold her thighs open, forcing her to feel everything he did, keeping her from rutting against his face like a dog in heat. His nails would dig in just enough to be painful, leaving crescent moon scars for days.

He would suck her clit into his mouth, his teeth nipping just enough to make her jump and arch against him. The sounds that would come from his mouth as he ate her would be obscene, filling the room and pushing her higher to her release.

She could feel him there already.

She jerked her hand away, her heart pounding and her clit throbbing. She was so close but she didn't want to come yet.

She wanted Ivar to do it.

She stood and adjusted the skirt of her dress and rose on trembling legs. She pulled her door open and somehow managed to make it across to his room and open the door.

She was immediately enveloped in his scent. She moaned and clenched her eyes shut. He overwhelmed her and he wasn't even there.

She straightened and smoothed her hands down her hips. Her palms were sweaty with anticipation as she headed towards his bed. She stared down at the end of his bed, contemplating her next move.

She made it simple and just sat on the edge of the bed.

She couldn't imagine Ivar would stay too much longer at work.

.

Ivar didn't spend much more time at the office after Aaline left. He concluded his meeting with aggressive rapidity, ushering the two gentlemen out a mere ten minutes after his wife had departed.

As soon as the elevator closed behind them, Ivar rounded on Idunn and told her to cancel the rest of his meetings for the day. He was out of his office and in his town car in five minutes.

Ivar closed his eyes and brought his fingers up to his nose. He could still smell her. The smell of her alone made him ache for her. He was impossible hard in his pants, pushing painfully against the confines of his zipper.

He brought his fingers down to his lips and tasted them, sucking whatever was left of her into his mouth, savoring her.

She burst across his tongue like sparks on pavement, erupting in his mouth, sending fire down his spine. She was like ambrosia raining down from the heavens to touch his mortal soul. A gift from the gods to quench his gluttonous appetite.

The ride to the estate was a blur. He was lost in fantasies of Aaline.

He could feel her beautiful legs wrapped around his waist as he thrust inside her. Her walls would clench around him like a vice, milking him of everything he had. Her nails would score welts down his back from his shoulders to his ass. He would feel them for days after, he knew.

He could feel her fingers tangling in his hair as he hovered over her. Her hair would be splayed out across the pillow, her face twisted in a mask of pleasure. A gentle blush would cover her face and extend down her throat to her nipples. Her breasts would bounce as he ground into her, swaying like forbidden fruit ripe for his tasting.

And taste them he would.

He would wrap his hand around her throat, never enough to hurt her but just enough to heighten their pleasure.

He could see his fingers flexing around her throat, her pulse beating a hummingbird rhythm against his palm. Her breath would be hot against his face and her body would be arched up against him, pressing every curve and crevice against him in rapture. Her pelvic muscles would flex around his cock as she came.

He opened his eyes when the car came to a stop.

He pressed the heel of his palm against the rod of steel enclosed in his trousers. It offered little relief.

He stepped out of the car and slammed the door harder than necessary. He stalked up the front steps and into the house, conflicted on where he should go.

He wanted to go to Aaline's room and wait for her there. But the temptation of relieving the pressure between his legs was overpowering. On the other hand, pleasuring himself in Aaline's room was a thought all too titillating. Although he wasn't keen on relieving this pressure alone.

A cold shower would do him good.

He stalked to his room and pushed the door open, stopping dead in the doorway.

Aaline sat perched on the end of his bed looking as thoroughly as debauched as he felt.

Her face was flushed and sweat moistened her skin. Her lips were red and swollen like she'd been chewing on them.

Without looking away from her, he closed the door and turned the lock. He could see her body shudder from across the room.

Never taking his eyes off of her, he began to undress. He pushed his blazer off his shoulder, tossing it over a chair. He unclasped his cufflinks and dropped them soundlessly to the carpet. He stopped just long enough to toe-off his shoes.

When he reached her he was standing in front of her knees. They were parted just enough for him to be able to tell that she wanted him but not enough for him to stand between.

He gazed down at her, taking in the wanton lust on her face. Her eyes were wide and wet, staring up at him with a mixture of hope and desire. He cheated heaved with each breath that she took. He could see her nipples pressing hard against the fabric of her dress. She was shifting her thighs together beneath her dress.

He smirked and leaned down, pressing his fists to the bed on either side of her. He brought his face down to hers, his lips brushing over hers just enough to get a taste but not to satisfy. She whimpered as he pulled back.

He settled his mouth by her neck, his breath ghosting across the tender flesh, raising goosebumps. His tongue mouthed at her earlobe and he whispered, "Ask me."

Her breath left her on a tremble. "What?" She licked her lips to dampen them. Her mouth was so dry she feared she'd never be able to quench this thirst that Ivar arose inside of her.

Ivar switched sides, nosing along the column of her throat when he spoke again."On our wedding night, I told you that when I fucked you, it would be because you asked me. So ask me." He traced the tip of his tongue down her throat, coming around to her collarbone.

"Ivar…" Aaline whimpered. Her body arched forward trying in vain to find some relief for this raging inferno inside her. Ivar kept himself just out of reach, his nose and mouth the only parts of himself he let touch her.

"Ask me." He breathed against her pulse.

She tightened her grip on the bedspread, her fingers aching. She widened her knees, expecting Ivar to step between them but he didn't. He simply held his position above her. She arched her back, pressing her breasts towards him but he didn't move from his position against her throat.

She ached for him to touch her. She needed to feel his hands around her waist, her thighs, her back. She needed his hands around her throat.

She needed to feel him inside her, soothing the flames that licked in her belly. She needed his hands on her.

For the first time in her life, she begged.

"Please…fuck me."

He growled against her throat before bringing a hand up to her jaw. He gripped it in his hands and turned her face away, sliding the flat of his tongue from her clavicle to her ear. She gave a full-body shiver as Ivar tongued her ear.

He shoved a knee between her legs, widening them. He pushed against her chest and she laid back, bringing her hands up his back and gripping his shoulders.

He trailed a hand up the inside of her thigh and growled at the bare flesh he found. She was already soaked and his fingers slid easily inside her, his thumb landing on her clit. She gasped and arched up against him, her breasts pressing firm against his chest.

She jerked her hands around to his front and ripped at his shirt buttons. Ivar leaned back and tugged his shirt from his pants. He reached back and tugged the whole thing, still buttoned, over his head.

Aaline licked her lips and stroked her palms down his chiseled abdomen. She traced the black lines spanning his chest and shoulders. She leaned up and tongued the markings around his nipple. Ivar groaned and brought a hand to the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her hair.

She looked up at him under her lashes and waited until his eyes met hers. When they did, she bit his nipple hard. Ivar jerked against her and roughly pulled her hair, wrenching her away. She gasped at the sting in her scalp, the heat in her center increasing.

Ivar slammed his lips down to hers, biting at her lips and tongue. Aaline reached between them and began working on the fastenings of his belt and pants, pushing his last remaining clothing down and off. Ivar crawled up the bed, leaving his clothes behind and pushing her up with him.

He sat back, naked, and looked down at her.

Her hair was spread across the bed, her eyes blown wide and clouded with lust. Her cheeks were flushed a pretty pink and he was delighted to find that the color extended beneath her dress. He wanted to see how far it went so he reached forward and gripped the collar of her dress above both breasts.

Aaline knew what he was going to do just before he did it and she opened her mouth to protest but Ivar was too fast. He ripped her dress down the front. She was almost angry at him but the action alone sent fire straight to her center and she thought she would come right then.

Ivar drank in the sight of her bare before him for the first time. Her nipples stood up towards him, begging for his mouth. Her blush did extend to her breasts and was rapidly making its way down her belly. He could see her arousal glistening in the light and he wanted to taste it almost as much as he wanted to be inside her.

He decided he could wait.

He tugged on her hips and brought her up off the bed, pushing her dress off her shoulders. She never broke eye contact as he removed her ruined dress. She found a surprising amount of pure emotion in his gaze. Lust was the dominating one but she could see devotion and tenderness there as well. He drank her in like a starving man at an overflowing table. It seemed almost as he was memorizing her.

Ivar lowered her back to the bed and kept his eyes on her face as he settled his hand between her legs. He stroked her slowly, testing her wetness and measuring her pleasure. He circled his thumb over her clit a few times to see her tremble.

He moved his fingers and wrapped them around his cock, stroking himself with her juices coating his fingers. Her mouth dropped open and she widened her legs, stroking her foot up the outside of his thigh. Ivar hooked a hand around her calf and brought it up to his shoulder. He kissed the bone of her ankle, the flat of his tongue circling in long strokes. Aaline pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and arched her back.

Ivar dropped her leg back to the bed. He pushed his hands underneath her knees and pushed them down and up, opening her up for him.

He looked down at her sopping entrance, his mouth watering. He brought his hand back around to his cock and held it at the base, pressing the head to her entrance. Aaline threw her head back and closed her eyes, her mouth dropping wide at the stretch he inflicted.

She moaned low in her throat as he broke her open on his cock, every ridge and line of him brushing deliciously against the throbbing walls of her pussy. She could feel her muscles clenching rhythmically around him.

He pushed forward until he was seated all the way in, her walls wrapped around him like silk. She was warm and wet around him, engulfing him in her heat. He groaned and dropped his forehead to her shoulder. She stroked up his back and curled her fingers in his hair, tugging. He grunted and thrust his hips forward, pressing himself impossibly closer.

She cried out and locked her ankles at the base of his spine. Ivar lifted his head and gazed down at her, the glazed look in his eyes matching hers. She rocked up into him, shivering at the stretch. He saw tears in her eyes and stroked a thumb under her eye.

She sighed at the tenderness of his touch. Tears gathered in her eyes not only at the naked emotion in his eyes but at how the feeling of his cock buried inside her made her feel whole. She'd never felt like this with any of her other partners. Ivar made her feel like a missing piece had settled into place and it frightened her. She knew he could see the tears in her eyes. She didn't want him to stop.

"Ivar…" She whispered. He met her eyes. She stretched her neck up and pressed her lips to his. She didn't move, only held steady there. Ivar breathed her in, trembling.

"Fuck me."

He snarled against her lips and pulled out before pounding back in. Aaline cried out and arched back, her nails leaving bloody welts down Ivar's back.

Ivar rutted into her like a beast, pounding his hips against hers, the sound filling her ears and sending shivers down her spine. She brought her hand up beneath his jaw and pushed his head back.

He grunted and arched his neck, slowing his pace as the position forced him away from her. She unlocked her ankles and planted her feet, pushing with her hips. She shoved him to his back and stared down at him. He growled and gripped her waist, sure to leave bruises. She could feel his nails digging into her skin and she rocked her hips. Ivar hissed and jerked her forward.

She planted her hands in his chest and began to ride him. She arched her back, presenting her breasts to him. She rolled her hips hard, the ridges of his cock rubbing just right against her walls. She could feel the wetness settling against Ivar's skin as she twisted around him.

Ivar sat up suddenly, a hand wrapping around her neck. Her breath left her in a sharp exhale. She met his hooded eyes with her own. He was sneering at her and, if he hadn't been inside her, she would've thought him angry. His eyes were wild with lust, his pupils blown.

He tilted her head down, his thumb digging in just enough to catch her attention but not to choke her. She scraped her nails hard down his back, drawing more blood. He grunted and she smirked in victory when he twitched inside her. He growled low in his throat before slamming his lips to hers, tangling their tongues and clashing their teeth. She could taste blood and she moaned.

Her world shifted then and she felt Ivar slip out of her as she was planted on her belly. She cried out in protest but was quickly shushed. Ivar settled one hand on the bed beside her and the other wrapped back around her throat. She gasped when he filled her in one stroke, resuming his rapid pace. She pulled her legs up enough to settle on her knees, her thighs shaking with the effort. Ivar groaned.

She pushed herself up on her elbows and pushed into him. Ivar's thumb stroked down the column of her throat before his hand disappeared. She nearly cried out at its absence but was quickly appeased when it settled between her legs. She arched back sharply when Ivar began circling her clit in furious circles, pressing hard and fast.

She tried to buck against him but he was a solid mass of muscle behind her. He hooked his chin over her shoulder and bit at her ear, tonguing the curve. She whimpered as shivers overtook her body.

"Wait for me, my love." He whispered. She brought her hand back and tangled her fingers in his hair. He hissed when she pulled and stroked hard over her clit. She moaned and her body shook against him as she came. He groaned as she tightened like a vice around him, milking him.

He thrust against her and circled her clit until she brought a hand down to push him away. He obliged and released her, watching her face plant into the bed. He stepped back off the bed and smoothed a hand down his face, disappearing into the bathroom.

He took a washcloth and rinsed it under warm water, rubbing it across his face and chest before dropping it between his legs. He tossed the soiled rag onto the counter before reaching for another one. He turned back to head into the bedroom.

Aaline had rearranged herself on her side. She was watching him. He smiled and knelt on the bed, pushing her to lie on her back. She did so, her eyes following his movements with rapt attention.

He pushed her legs apart and pressed the warm cloth between them, just resting it there. He looked up at her as he began to stroke over her swollen flesh, cleaning her.

Aaline felt her heart swell with sudden emotion. She blinked the tears away as Ivar pressed his lips gently to her hip bone, standing.

He looked down at her, the washcloth passing from one hand to another. "Bathroom's all yours love." His voice was soft in the space between them.

She sat up and rose up to her knees. She stepped towards him and planted her hands on his shoulders. She searched his eyes and, finding what she was looking for, kissed him. "Keep the bed warm for me." She said.

Ivar grinned as she stepped around him and closed the bathroom door behind her.