"Before I start running, I need a rest. Even if it's just for one night. Will you let me do that?" She searched his eyes, afraid they might tell her no. But to her relief, he stepped back and opened the door wider to let her pass through.

She stood just inside the door debating on whether or not to break the silence between them. Truth be told, she didn't even really know what to say. She felt she said all she could a moment ago. And really, what more could she say to make the situation better? He was right. She nearly killed him. The bomb meant for Reddington almost took out the only man in her life that mattered to her. She could never make it up to him. Didn't even want to think about the consequences of her actions in terms of her career. She plain didn't want to think about anything right now. She just wanted to spend her last free night with the one person she cared about the most.

Liz walked to the couch and sat down to face him while Ressler remained standing near the door. "Ressler, I...was scared. When Esi told me she didn't think anyone in the room with Reddington made it, and she mentioned that you were in there...I was scared. I thought I'd never see you again. When I called Aram to find out what was going on with you, he made it sound like your situation was dire. I had to come over and see you. I had to make sure you were here. Alive. I had to come over and tell you how I feel…or what I felt when I thought you were…" She slowly rose from the couch and made her way over to him. She touched his face and he instinctively leaned into her. She could hear him sigh and that made her heart rate quicken. "I had to come over and show you how I feel."

Those words were all the invitation he needed as he leaned down to kiss her. Slow and steady at first as he wanted to savor this moment of exploration. He parted her lips with his tongue and entered her mouth as a tiny moan escaped from the back of her throat. He echoed her moan and she could feel his smile on her lips.

She broke away first, instantly missing their connection. Catching her breath, she struggled to pull his shirt from his pants. She looked up and smiled as he tried to help her lift his shirt up over his arms. He winced in pain. "No...let me do it," she whispered as she pushed his hands gently away from the hem of his shirt. She got the shirt up over his head and threw it on the floor next to the couch. "There. That's better," she sighed and bit her lip as she took in the beautiful view in front of her. But almost instantly her brow furrowed as she caught sight of all the cuts, scrapes and bruises on his body courtesy of the explosive she was responsible for detonating. "God, Ress. Look what I did to you." She traced over the cuts with her fingers and leaned in to pepper kisses all over them. Willing her lips to heal every bad thing she'd ever done to him.

"It's okay, Liz. I'm okay. I'm here. I'm not hurt. It's okay." He whispered reassurances as she continued to kiss down one side of his chest and over to the other. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Her voice trembled against his skin. He cupped her face and lifted it so they were at eye level. "Liz, I'm okay. This is the only thing that matters," he replied while leaning in to kiss her again.

She melted into him as he trailed kisses down her cheek, jawbone and her neck. He settled into the crook of her neck and sucked and licked there until another moan escaped from her lips. "Mmm. Ressler, please…" is all she managed to get out as she threw her head back to give him better access.

"Liz tell me what you want," he breathed into her ear. "Please. I want to hear you say it." His voice was hoarse and the low rumble of it vibrated through to her core.

She pulled away from him so she could look into his eyes. "I want you to make love to me." It was both the easiest and most terrifying thing she'd ever said. But she'd never been more

sure of anything in that moment. Her and him - together like this. It was a primal want and need. It felt right. It felt natural. She caught the glint in his eye as he took her hand in his and led her to his bedroom.

They were barely inside the room before Liz started desperately grabbing at her shirt to take it off. "No, Liz. Let me do it," his words echoing hers from earlier. She obliged and lifted her arms as he removed her shirt and tossed it to the floor. He reached around her back with his left hand to unhook her bra while she lowered the straps. She let the bra drop with a light thud as it made company next to the crumpled shirt on the floor. His breath hitched as he took her in. "Liz," he murmured. "You are absolutely breathtaking." She smiled and took a deep, ragged breath in as the realization of them being half naked in front of each other was not lost on her. Her co-worker, partner, friend and now they were embarking on a journey to so much more.

He placed his hands on her breasts as his thumbs grazed the soft contour of her nipples. He slowly licked, sucked and nipped at each bud, careful to give equal attention to both.

She moaned and tipped her head back in pleasure. He placed a trail of kisses from her stomach to her breasts and up to her mouth. "God, Liz..." he whispered as his hands made their way down to her pants zipper. He looked up at her for the okay to remove them and was met with an enthusiastic nod. "Mmm, yes. Please," she hissed. It came out more like a desperate plea than she wanted but hell, she was a desperate woman in this moment.

In one swift motion her shoes, socks, pants and underwear were in a pile on the floor next to her already discarded shirt and bra. Ressler sucked in a breath and marveled at his naked partner before him. "God damn, Liz. I want you so bad." He sat her down on the bed and leaned in to dot kisses from her jawbone to her neck and then her breasts. "Lay back," he instructed. He kneeled on the floor in front of her as his hands traveled lower from her breasts to the outside of her thighs to gently cupping and squeezing her ass. Liz let out a low moan that signaled Ressler that he was in the clear to continue.

He nudged her legs open and pressed his mouth to her core. It drove him crazy how wet she was. And it was all for him. He licked and sucked her gently, feeling her tremble and shiver at his touch. He smiled against her as breathy moans escaped her lips. "Oh God, Ressler..." was all she managed to get out as he placed her right leg over his shoulder for better access. His tongue flicked over her clit as he slid in one finger, then another. She bucked against him as her fingers tangled in his hair - both to hang on for dear life and to urge him to bring her to total ecstasy.

Liz lifted Ressler's head away, breaking the connection of his tongue on her for only a moment. His fingers still inside of her as he looked into her eyes. "Make me come, Don," she panted. "I want to come for you." She tossed her head back in sheer euphoria as she moaned his name again. His mouth crashed into her clit again as he sucked and licked it with more intensity. He slid another finger in her as she jerked her hips up in response. He quickened his pace as Liz's breath came out in half moans and half cooing his name. "I'm coming," she managed to get out in a choked breath. She squeezed tightly around Ressler's fingers as her body shivered and writhed on the bed until she came down from the delirium of the high.

Ressler trailed kisses from her inner thigh, to her hip bone and to her stomach until he reached her mouth. He placed a few kisses on her temple before whispering in her ear, "You are so beautiful and amazing."

She turned her head to face him and smiled softly while cupping his face and tracing his jawbone. "Amazing, huh? You should save that for after." Confused, Ressler replied, "After...?" After I'm done with you. I believe it's your turn now, Agent Ressler."

Liz rose from the bed and held her hand out for him to take it. "C'mon," she said. "Stand up for me." He did as he was told and she licked her lips in anticipation as she looked him up and down. His erection was on full display through his pants and she got to work on undoing his belt buckle. She pulled his pants and boxers down in one motion while letting out an audible moan. He sucked in a breath as she took his hard length in her hand.

She carefully pushed Ressler back onto the bed as she continued stroking his cock. When he let out a gasp, she smirked at the reaction she gave him and asked barely above a whisper, "Do you like that?" He responded with the only thing he could in that moment - which was to nod.

Liz got on her knees and slowly took him into her mouth. He jerked forward as she swirled her tongue around his tip. First clockwise, then counter clockwise. Her free hand running circles across his abs then up to his chest. Ressler let out a soft moan as Liz switched up her hands by placing both at the base of his cock while her head bobbed up and down.

He reacted by gently grabbing at her hair and guiding her movements with his hands. She let out soft moans as she sucked and licked him from base to tip. She flattened her tongue on the underside of his cock before taking all of him in at once which earned her a moan and an out of breath but somewhat impatient "Liz" from him in response.

He was close. He knew it. And he knew that Liz was reveling in being able to completely bring him over the edge in just a few minutes. He also knew that she was damn well aware of the affect she had on him but knowing that turned him on even more.

He reached down to cup her face to bring it to his. Fully aware of how empty he felt without her contact on him. "Liz..." he panted against her cheek. "We have to slow down. Just slow down..." he pressed his lips to hers while she got on top of him to straddle him.

She rolled her hips on him and he threw his head back. "God damn, Liz. Look at what you do to me." She trailed kisses from his chest to his neck, jawbone then his lips. She smiled into his kiss. "Yeah, but you like it." She was wrong. He didn't just like it. He craved it. He needed it.

He flipped them both over until he was on top as they looked in each other's eyes. Hers said so much. But beneath the layers of revenge she had for those in her life that have done nothing but lie to her or let her down, he saw something else. There was passion, desire and yes, even love. It was there. But neatly tucked away and hidden from view. Just under the surface, not yet ready to make an appearance.

She brought her lips to his softly and tenderly. He reciprocated and peppered kisses on her cheek and temple. He kissed the outer shell of her ear and whispered, "I love you, Elizabeth Keen." She softly cooed in response to his declaration. She reached up and traced the outline of his jaw. With desire in her eyes, she responded, "Ressler, please? I need you."

He rolled them over again so she was on top of him. She let out a tiny giggle as she felt how hard he was against her. She smiled and bit her lower lip as she ran her hands over his chest and shoulders. He let out a frustrated moan as if to say "Can we get on with it?" She placed her finger over his lips and responded with a low growl, "Not just yet, Ress."

She rocked her hips back and forth against his length as she straddled him. She bent over to lick her way up from his abdomen to his lips. She parted his lips with her tongue and kissed him deeply. He moaned into her mouth and she echoed the sound which reverberated right through to his soul.

He reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair before placing his left hand on the small of her back. Her breasts were now firmly against his chest as he desperately tried to pull her closer to him. She continued rocking back and forth against him as slight moans escaped her lips.

She opened her eyes and locked onto his. Both of them pleading with the other to bring them over the edge. He reached up to cup her face and she leaned into his touch. She let out a sigh that resembled the most beautiful melody he had ever heard. That sweet refrain as if it were on the tip of an arrow that went straight through his heart.

"Liz…," he managed to get out. It was an impatient and desperate plea. He needed to be inside her.

Permission granted. With one hand on his headboard for support, she lifted slightly off of him and used her other hand to gently guide him into her. She alternated between a slowed and quickened pace. She knew she was being somewhat of a tease but she was doing her best not to come immediately undone.

He placed his hands on her hips in an attempt to control the pace. She lurched forward as he sunk deeper into her. "Don…," she purred as she dug her fingers into his chest. The huskiness of her voice sent a wave of electricity through him.

She guided his right hand to the small of her back and leaned down until her breasts were flesh with his chest. She shifted her hips into him and bit back a moan as he thrust into her harder and faster. She sprinkled soft kisses on his chest and neck before running her hands over his chest and propping herself up. "She's so beautiful" he thought as he looked up at her. Flickering lights danced behind her closed eyes and she knew she was close to going over the edge.

"Don…," she whimpered as she bucked against him. "Tell me, Liz," he grunted in return. The pace was at a fever pitch now and he could feel her tightening around him. She grabbed at his arms, which were now at her sides, for support as she barely choked out, "I'm coming!"

Her knees dug into his sides and she trembled and spasmed against him as she climaxed. The tiny moans coming from her lips sent him over the edge as he joined her by crying out her name. She collapsed onto his chest as they both tried to catch their breaths. Not wanting to break their bond, she leaned down and passionately kissed him. He smiled against her lips and she sighed happily.

She lifted herself off of him and rolled over to his side. They laid in silence as she reached out to grab his hand. She entwined her fingers with his and brought his hand up to her lips. She kissed his hand gently and squeezed it softly before laying it across her chest near her heart.

"Hey, Ress?" she whispered softly into the dark room. "Yeah?" he answered.

"I love you too."

His heart leapt out of his chest at her words. A smile spread across his face as he squeezed her hand back.

He leaned down and softly kissed the top of her head as she nestled into the crook of his arm. Before long, she was fast asleep as he looked down on her wishing the night would never end.