Warning: Rated T/M for sexual content.

A/N: Probably MY favorite chapter to have written so far. Includes my favorite scene (not just b/c it's Slexie) but favorite scene of all time in GA. I just decided to take away the sad domino's that followed afterwards in the show. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 8 – Burnin' for You

Lexie laid there in her bed—her old bed—just staring at the ceiling. How the hell did she end up here? This is not how she expected their conversation going or even the result.

She turned to her side, liquid that had collected at the back of her eyes dripping down her nose and onto the sheet of the bed. She closed them and squeezed them shut. She was unable to sleep even a wink last night. She was haunted by Addison's confession to still loving Mark, Mark telling her that he wanted her—but couldn't bring himself to tell Addie because her feelings mattered more—and the look on his face when she walked out of their apartment.

She would never be able to get the haunted look out of his eyes as she turned the corner after telling him that she couldn't look or be near him. Was she overreacting? He had told Addison that they weren't going to happen and that he as happy with her, but why couldn't he just tell Addison right then and there, that his relationship with Lexie was more important than whatever their past had been?

When she had showed up at her sister's last night, she had expected that she would just blurt out everything to her sister and Derek, and surprised herself when she had just said they had a fight and wanted some space. She could tell that her sister believed it was more than just that, but gave her the space she needed. Derek and Mark had recently patched up their tenuous last months of fighting, ever since Derek and come to Seattle, and the last thing she wanted to do was put another rift between them.

Her alarm when off and she hit the button before throwing the sheets off and getting up. She thought about calling in—that way she wouldn't have to face him—but then that would mean her decision—her reaction—had been the wrong one, and that she couldn't do. Not now. The thought of being on Derek's rotation today while he was working hand in hand with Mark and Addison made her chest ache and her stomach twist. It would be like someone digging the knife in and just twisting and twisting until she bled out.

She grabbed her towel and went to the shower. Maybe a warm shower would wash away all the pain and tell her what she needed to do.

"Mark?"

Callie stood at her front door in a long t-shirt that covered to her thighs and a pair of panties.

"Hi Torres. Can I come in?"

She took one look at his distraught face, and opened the door wider. "Uh, sure," she said.

He stepped in and at the same moment, the bathroom door opened to reveal Arizona Robbins standing in the doorway. She had least had a shirt and a pair of short shorts on. Any other day, he would have been so happy for his friend, probably make some witty comment about her scoring and giving her a high five, and then proceed to tease her until she threw him back out. He wasn't up for any of it…not when the sunshine in his life had gone away and dark and stormy clouds seemed to be staying.

"Dr. Sloan," Arizona greeted coming into the room.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, plopping on the oversized chair in Torres's apartment. "I can leave if you want me too."

Unlike his apartment, she chose a smaller studio like space. Her smaller kitchen was off to the left and she only had one master bedroom and bathroom. Her living space was a tad smaller, using a good portion of her living room as a makeshift office. She could've afforded a place as large as his—thanks to her family's money—but refused to touch it after a very heated argument with her father after she had come out to him.

"No offense, but you look like crap," Arizona said, walking toward the kitchen and opening the fridge to take out the orange juice.

"Arizona." Callie cried, shooting her a look.

"It's ok," Mark said wearily. "Might as well, since I feel like crap."

"I am assuming by the way you look, sound, and feel that this has to do with Lexie?" Callie asked. He nodded. "What did you do?"

His eyes snapped up. "Why do you assume I am the one that did anything wrong?"

She laughed a humorless laugh, dipped her chin and arched her eyebrow at him. "Well, because you're here instead of her, and I can literally see the wheels spinning in the back of your head as you replay whatever it was that happened between the two of you."

He sighed. Arizona brought them both a glass of orange juice, and then sat down next to Callie on the couch beside her, her hand resting on her thigh like it was the most natural thing. Something that he and Lexie would do all the time before this big fight. The thought sobered him, causing the pain to hit him again like a punch to the solar plex.

He held the glass of juice in his hand, but didn't dare take a sip. His stomach still wasn't quite right. "You know I went out for drinks with Derek and Addie last night."

Callie's mouth opened forming the perfect 'O'. "You didn't?" she gasped.

His brows creased together. "God, no," he said quickly. Callie let out a sigh of relief.

He continued on and told them both everything. From the bar, to Lexie overhearing it all, to the moment she got home and then walked out of their apartment. It poured all out of him like an exorcism, even the fears about losing her completely. When he looked up at them, Callie had a look of utter surprise on her face, while Arizona shook her head and winced.

"You're an idiot," Callie finally said.

"Gee, thanks," he muttered. "Tell me how you really feel."

"You're an idiot," Callie and Arizona said in unison.

He shot them a look of incomprehension. "I'm hurting over here."

"Yeah, because you're an idiot," she repeated.

"Torres…"

She huffed. "How the hell could you not tell Addison no?"

Mark put the glass of juice on the coffee table, feeling more and more agitated. "Do you hear the part where I told her no at least twice?"

"Not where it mattered," she replied.

Mark swiped a hand down his face. "Why is everyone stuck on that part. I had told her I was happy with Lexie. I told her us wasn't going to happen."

"And then she repeated that she loved you and asked you to think on it. She successfully used your past history to put doubt in your future," Arizona chimed in like she was speaking to a dissertation.

"No, that's not what it was. She has a lot going with Archer and were not sure if we can even save him. I'm just trying to be kind and not add anymore stress to her plate."

"Oh. My. God. Mark!" Callie admonished. "Lexie is right. You are putting the feelings of your ex over the feelings of her."

"I…" the words died in his throat.

Callie scooted forward and took his hand. "Let me ask you this. Right now, how your feeling, if I told you that you were getting a pay raise and the most prestigious medical award that could be given, how would you feel?"

He looked to her and Arizona and then thought on it. "It would be nice, but I wouldn't really be in the mood for celebrating. Not without Lexie."

She smacked his leg. "Right. Because it doesn't matter what is going on around you, when it comes to a broken heart there will never be a right time." She paused making sure he was getting her point. "Let's say that you and Derek pull off this surgery and everything goes great. If what Addison says about loving you is true, is you turning her down and not reciprocating her feelings going to make her hurt any less?"

"No," he admitted thickly.

"Then by waiting all you are doing is giving her hope for something that doesn't exist, and telling the woman you do care for that there is a chance you're going to break her heart by leaving her," she said.

"I…" his eyes snapped up; a new determination set in his features. "What do I do? How do I make this right? How do I get Lexie back?" he asked, his questions coming out in a flurry of panic.

"Whoa, slow down their pit bull. There is a couple of things you're going to have to do, but you're not going to particularly like the first," Callie said.

"What? I'll do anything?"

"Give her space," Callie answered.

He shook his head. "Nope. Not that."

"Mark—" –she said in that parent warning tone— "—this is an extremely delicate situation. You need to give her time to process through her feelings. She left because she needs time away to understand what she wants."

Mark stood and started pacing, unsure on how to release the energy building inside him. "She knows how she feels, Torres. We belong together."

"Maybe, but then you planted the seed that there could be doubt. She needs to work through that," she argued.

He turned back. "So, what…you want me to believe me leaving her alone is the best thing?"

"Yes," Callie and Arizona cried in unison.

"At least for today. If you push her too quickly before she is ready, you could make things worse—and potentially lose her forever," she said voicing the alternative.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ok, let's say I am on board with this idea. I give her space—for today—because that is all I am willing to give, what do I do next?"

"You fight for her," Callie said.

"Make sure it's a grand gesture too," Arizona added.

Callie turned to Arizona. "I didn't realize you were such a romantic," she mused. Arizona shrugged. "I think that is so sweet."

"Hello, back to me," Mark said, gathering their attention.

Callie rolled her eyes. "It will all work out, Mark. You will see. Lexie Grey is just as crazy about you as you are with her."

That gave him the little bit of hope to grasp to get her back. "Anything else?" he asked.

"One more thing," Callie said. "Stay the hell away from Addison Montgomery. After you tell her no, of course."

He winced. "That's going to be a little hard since I am on her brother's case."

"Then make sure you are never alone and keep it extremely platonic. No Mark Sloan flirting," she said.

Arizona snorted. "We should put a shock collar on him. Anytime he even thinks about doing something stupid—wham!" she said, mimicking a controller in her hand as if she was pressing a button.

"Not a bad idea," Callie agreed. "Your track record when it comes to Addison Montgomery is not a good one."

He groaned. "Are you two about done having fun at my expense?"

Callie got up and pulled her friend into a hug. "No. But I love you anyway. It will work out, you'll see."

"It better," he breathed. "It better."

"So, you want to talk about what happened?" Derek asked Mark as they were both practicing on their perspective test dummies.

"Not really," he answered, picking up the tweezers and scalpel and practicing the exact maneuver that Derek had showed him they would use in the procedure.

"Your brooding is messing with my concentration," he pushed.

"Derek…"

"I'm just saying, I can see you could use a friend. I'm here," he added.

"I appreciate it."

Derek abandoned his dummy and looked up at his best friend. "Well, that, and I could really use my intern back on this case."

Mark looked up and sighed. "I promise, I am going to fix it."

"I know," Derek said automatically. "What?" he asked after his friend gave him a peculiar glance.

"That's it? You're not going to push for more? Tell me I'm an idiot and if I don't fix it, you will kill me?"

Derek chuckled. "No, I'll still tell you all those things, but I've got faith in you. In you and Lexie. Lord knows, if Mer and I can work through all of our shit, whatever happened between you two can be fixed too."

"Thanks, man."

The door to their practice space opened and Addison Montgomery walked into the room. Mark could feel the strain in the room expand. Addison looked at him first, before looking to Derek and then her gaze landing on the dummies. Mark could feel Derek's weight on him, his head tilting to the side asking the silent question. Mark nodded his head. He gestured for the door, and Derek pursed his lips before standing up.

"I need to go check on a patient. I'll be right back," he said, before leaving the office."

"He knows, doesn't he?" Addison asked, once the door shut to break the silence.

"I didn't say anything to him, but I'm sure he suspects something considering the awkwardness in here," he replied.

"Mark…"

He held his hand up, and turned his stool so he could face her. "Addie, I know you asked me to take what you said and think on it, but that's not going to happen. I don't need the time to think about it."

"You don't love me that way anymore, do you?" she guessed.

He looked down at his lap, and shook his head. "No, Addie, I don't," he declared.

She crossed her arms, and leaned against the table. "Did you…did you ever at one time?"

He didn't want to hurt her, but he remembered his conversation with Callie and Arizona this morning and that the truth would never be easier to hear, but he owed that to her. She was being honest with her feelings and he needed to do the same.

"I think at one time I believed it to be so," he said. "I think I loved the idea more than anything."

She nodded, pressing her lips together. "It was worth a shot. Lexie Grey is a lucky girl," she said, wiping a tear from underneath her eye.

"I'm the lucky one," he clarified.

Her eyes snapped to him. She saw it there; she saw what Lexie meant to him without even needing to put it into words.

"I promise I will stay out of your way. Can we…can we at least stay friends?" she asked.

His head bobbled up and down. "I like that."

By the time Lexie got off shift and changed in the locker room, she was on her way out of the hospital when she heard her name. She turned, and saw the man who had plagued her thoughts all day standing in front of her, looking breathtaking as ever, even in his dark blue scrubs and white coat. He wore it everyday and yet it was one of the sexiest things he wore.

She moved the strap of her purse up on her shoulder, and shoved her hands in her pockets of her jacket. She swallowed slowly, counting to ten in her head and when she was done, she did it again. She missed him. She really missed him, and as she looked at him now, she fought to keep the liquid from pooling in the back of her eyes.

Her chest rose and fell frantically as his eyes took her in from her head to her toes. His eyes blazed with an intensity that she had seen several times when they were in bed together, and she suddenly forgot what it felt like to breathe normal.

"Lex, I was hoping we could talk," he said so tentatively and unsure. It was so the non-Mark Sloan way it made her chest ache.

She went to open her mouth to speak, when she saw the glint of red hair approach behind him.

"Mark?"

Of course. Addison Montgomery was there once again.

"Derek said he needs you," she said.

He half-turned to look over his shoulder. "Tell him I'll be right there," he said.

She knew when he turned back, and saw that she was already walking to the door, that he had her answer about if she was willing to talk. So, when he didn't race out to come after her…the tears flowed freely anyway.

Lexie was already nursing her drink when the door to Meredith's house opened and Meredith, Izzie, Cristina, and Alex walked in in full conversation. They were chatting, laughing, and talking about their day. When they stepped into the kitchen and saw her face…she hated how awkward everything got.

"How you doing?" Meredith asked, after grabbing the bottle of tequila and coming to stand next to her.

"I don't really want to talk about it," she said.

The group grabbed glasses and some beers and moved toward the family room.

"Do you want to hang out with us?" she asked. "We're going to drink lots of booze," she said wiggling the bottle in front of her.

"Sure. Why not."

She didn't feel like hanging out or partying, but she did feel like getting completely wasted until she no longer felt anything at all. She followed her sister into the other room, where Cristina sat on the chair, Alex and Izzie shared part of the couch, and Meredith plopped down next to the other side of Izzie. While they had all tolerated her presence because she was Meredith's sister, she didn't have the same camaraderie like they had together. She decided to sit on the opposite side of them on the floor.

"I thought you would be with Sloan or something," Alex said, as she sat down and took a seat.

"No," she said abruptly.

"Damn, it's over already," he added.

"Alex, shut up," Meredith spoke up, before looking back to her sister.

"I've got a surprise for you all," Izzie said, breaking the tension. "George sent us a letter!" she squealed.

Lexie looked up in surprise. She hadn't heard George's name in some time. Not since he had decided that after working with Dr. Hunt that his skills and abilities would be better suited in the Army. He had only thought about it for a day, before he enlisted as an Army trauma surgeon and left Seattle Grace Hospital.

She had remember being devastated when he had left. He had been the one intern—second time intern—that she had been closest too and even had a humongous crush—had been in love with him—and he hadn't even noticed she had existed. Come to find out, that he mostly liked hanging out with her because of what she could do in helping him with studying to retake the exam.

It was actually what made her first really take notice of Mark. Lexie had always thought Mark was extremely attractive and gorgeous—like every hot-blooded female on the planet—but it was through his teasing of her crush on George, that she got to see more about his character and personality then she had ever had before.

The memory hit her like a wave. The time she begged Mark to be nicer to George while he was restudying for his exams.

He shook his head. "You're Pathetic."

She sighed. "Yes, I know, I'm pathetic."

The time she had signal handily helped diagnose a rare condition by sticking to her guns and going to Mark, who in returned listened to her and helped avoid Derek and Cristina from chopping out a portion of the patient's brain, because they were looking at the wrong thing in the first place.

"Despite your unfortunate taste in men, you aren't entirely useless. You nailed it on the consult today. You get to scrub in with me," he said, starting to walk away.

She ran after him. "Now? You're doing it now?"

"Yes. The flood has been contained and our patient has been in pain for years. I'll see you in surgery," he replied, turning away from her again.

"I…I can't. I'm sorry. I want too…but I am helping the chief with his intern. I'm helping him study."

Mark looked down and then lifted it shaking his head. "No lassie, there won't be a next time. Pathetic."

But it was the final time when he had comforted her when she was having a break down about George that changed everything.

She slammed a binder full of medical journals on the desk next to Mark who was writing something in a patient's chart.

"He doesn't even know I even exist. I sit here, day after day, and I study material for him—and he can't even bother to notice me? To look at me? To actually see me?"

He looked over at her, his brow raised. "What?"

"George!" She cried. "He doesn't even notice me," she repeated sadly, bringing her thumb to her lip and biting her nail. Something she did when she was nervous.

Mark closed the file, putting his pen back in his pocket and looked at her. "Little Grey, he'd be an idiot not to notice you. If he doesn't, that's his loss," he said, giving her a long look, before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

It was then in that moment, she had seen Mark Sloan in a different way, and had fully realized with George it was time to start letting go. In truth, George had already pulled away after he passed his exam for the second time because he didn't need her anymore.

"Open it, open it," Meredith said, as she poured glasses of Tequila and started passing them out.

Lexie tucked her legs primly underneath her, and held her glass of alcohol to her chest. Izzie's ripped out the letter and began to read it to the group.

Hey guys.

I am writing you from over here in Afghanistan where it is hot, sunny, and miserable—like all the time. The work is hard, but it's unbelievably rewarding. I wish I had time to sit here and write you all of the things I've seen and be able to do here. As I sit here right now and write to you, I am more at peace then I ever was about my decision to leave Seattle Grace and enlist in the Army. Tell Alex to shut up—that out here I am revered as a god and not some runt of the intern pack like he says I was. I've read about a couple of the cases he's done in Peds. I am glad he is doing well.

Mer, I heard the news about you and Derek and your engagement. I am so happy for you. Next to Cristina, he was and always has been your person. Cristina I still suspect is kicking ass when it comes to Cardio, and having no problem keeping the new interns in line. Iz, you will never know how much your support and help over the years has helped make me as successful as I am today. They are already talking about medals and accommodations and I really owe it to all of you.

I miss you all…and I hope your doing great. I will have a break from deployment in the next six months. I hope I can make it back to Seattle and we can all get together and catch up. Until then…keep saving lives.

Love,

O'Malley.

Izzie finished reading the letter, tears coming down her eyes. "I really miss him," she said.

"Pfft, who would give him a medal," Alex said, even though his face betrayed that he was in fact proud of his former colleague and daresay friend.

"Well, he was right about one thing, I am still kicking ass and keeping these nitwit interns inline," Cristina said. She turned to Lexie. "No offense."

"Yeah, none," Lexie responded automatically, but her head was elsewhere.

The whole time that Izzie was reading the letter, she couldn't help think of a couple of things that went through her mind. That George had never even had the decency to say good-bye or tell her that he was leaving for the army. He never even thanked her for all that she had done to help him be this successful surgeon he was over there.

More importantly, that even thinking about all of this, knowing all of this, she didn't care. She felt nothing for George O'Malley. What she thought she felt for him back then was nothing compared to what she felt for Mark Sloan. Not even a blip. George didn't make her pulse race, or her heart beat faster at the sight of him. George—even then—never stayed on her mind, and never challenged her to be better. To stick up for herself and speak up when she had something to say.

It was like a blub went off in her head. All this time…all this time she had been wasting and worrying about what she was feeling inside for Mark, too afraid to speak it out in the open. Bottling it up, so that it would be easier to run away then stay and fight for it.

"Oh my god," she muttered to herself, jolting to her feet in an instant.

"Lexie?" Meredith asked.

"I have to go," she said.

Everyone in the room looked at her puzzlingly, but she just smiled and ran from the room and towards the front door.

"Hey, everything ok?" Meredith asked, following her to the door.

Lexie turned and smiled at her sister. "Yeah, everything is going to be just fine."

Meredith grinned as she watched her sister run off into the night.

Lexie's sudden determination had started to falter by the time she had reached the hospital. She had been back to their apartment, Callie's place, and even Joe's, but still had no luck in being able to locate Mark. She rushed into the hospital and into the room that Derek and Mark were using for practicing on the dummies. She was disappointed but glad at the same time when Derek had been the only one in the room.

"Lexie?"

She was panting. "Mark. Wh—where's Mark?"

"Everything ok?" he asked. She nodded adding a smile. He nodded his eyes lighting up. "He just left. You still might be able to catch him if he hasn't left the attending's locker room."

"Thanks," she called, turning and running out of the door.

She raced down the hospital corridors faster than she ever had before, and barreled through the attending locker room standing in the doorway.

"Mark!"

He turned his brows shooting up. She could see that she was the last person he expected to see come through the door. She took in his jeans, dark blue sweater that showed off the hard planes of his chest and toned abs. It made the blue in his eyes pop even more. She had to fight the whimper in her throat from wanting to reach out to him.

"Lex." His mouth was slightly agape, but she watched his throat working as if he wanted to say something more. "Wh—what—"

"I love you," she blurted out. "Whoa—oh my, god…that just came flying out," she said, her hand coming to her mouth. She looked up to him and his eyes were opened wide, flashing with astonishment. "I love you…I just did it again," she laughed her hands on her cheeks. She licked her lips, and smiled. "I love you...I just do," she breathed.

It was like saying it had just lifted an entire weight off her chest. Like it was the easiest thing she had ever needed to do and she didn't know why she hadn't done it beforehand.

"I was trying to mash it down. I was trying to tell myself that I shouldn't tell you, that you wouldn't want me to say it…but tonight…it just exploded out of me," she cried. "George. God, George…you remember George…you teased me because you knew I liked him…and here all this time, I thought all those feelings I was carrying around was because I thought those feelings were love."

His face was still frozen in a state of shock. She was wondering if he was actually hearing anything that she was saying to him in this moment, but she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't stop the pouring of all her emotions now that the flood gates were open.

"But they weren't. They never were. They couldn't be, because George was never the person that I needed. Never the person that I truly wanted. He was nice, and he talked to me when Meredith wouldn't…and I think I latched onto that…but it was never going to work. It couldn't ever work…because at the end of the day…the person I needed, the person who knows me best, the person that was waiting for me…was you," she said gesturing in his direction.

His brows knitted together; his eyes focused directly on her. She didn't even think he had blinked since she started her massive confession, his lips parted like he wanted to say something, but she had to finish and get everything out in the open between them.

She stepped forward. "I am so in love with you. I think I tried to myself not to be—worried that you could break me—but then I realized that was an excuse to hold back. And I don't want to hold back anymore." Her voice quivered, and her eyes started to fill with water. "Without you last night, without talking with you at all day today…it was like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't think of anything other than I miss you. I. Love. You."

She let her hands fall to her sides. She took another step forward the silence between them killing her with every second passing them by.

"Mark? Say something…"

He moved the rest of the way, stopping just in front of her. His eyes looked down as her face angled up to meet his. His left hand reached out to cup her left cheek. She leaned into his touch, her brown eyes searching his blue ones.

He leaned in so slowly, his lips barely grazing hers. She opened her mouth, a whimper catching in the back of her throat. Her heart was beating faster, her pulse quickening with each second that passed. Was he trying to kill her?

"I love you, too, Little Grey," he replied.

His lips captured hers, his other hand coming up to capture her head to his. Her arms came up wrapping around his neck and pulling him towards her. After a minute, they both came up for air.

"Mark, take me home."

"Welcome home," he said, as he opened the door to their apartment.

She walked in, and waited long enough to hear the click of the door behind her, to turn and launch herself into his arms. Their relationship started with just the action of sex, then grew to more intimate as their feelings progressed, but tonight…would be different. Tonight, she wanted him to make love to her.

His hands started at her waist, roaming up her sides, before they rested on each side of her face. He tipped her head back, his tongue brushed over her lips until she opened. When she opened to him, he rewarded her by his tongue sweeping in, and possessing her mouth fully. The sexy, breathy, moan made him strain against his jeans.

He pulled back, his hands still cradling her face so he could look at her. He waited until her eyes fluttered open. "I missed you. God, I missed you."

His thumb traced her lower lip, the tip of her tongue swiping against the tip of his finger. Her hands gripped either side of his waist, her fingers tracing the warm skin of his toned abdomen just above the hem of his jeans.

"I love you," she said, the corners of her mouth turning upwards at how easily the words came out.

"I love you," he replied.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You make me happier than anything I've ever known."

"Mark…"

He silenced her with another kiss. He kissed her with the same fierceness as when she watched him saving a patient's life. The kiss was still sweet, but spoke of his burning desire for her. His hands raked down her body until they reached her bottom, lifting her with ease until they wrapped around his waist. He didn't break the contact as he marched into their bedroom.

He stopped just before reaching the bed. Lexie unhooked her legs, sliding down his body, a growl low and throaty escaping him when she grazed against his hard on.

His hands reached for her sweater, yanking it over her head, followed by her tank. He loved the feel and look of her soft and creamy skin exposed to him. He groaned, seeing her in a black lacy bra. He wondered if under her jeans she was wearing a set of matching underwear.

It didn't take him long to find out. He unbuttoned her jeans and shucked them down her thighs and legs the fabric making a thunk as it fell to the floor. He thought he had died and gone to heaven when he not only confirmed she was wearing a matching set, but that she was wearing a thong too. There was only so much a man could take.

She grinned, loving the reaction she was getting from him. No one had ever made her feel as desirable as the way Mark Sloan made her. He worshiped her body like it was a temple. Every time he was around her, she found it near impossible to get her breathing under control, her heart functioning without feeling like it was not going to jump out of her chest.

"One of us is still wearing too many clothes," she murmured.

"I agree. We should rectify that," he said, his voice rough and raspy.

Her hands reached for his belt, unbuckling before removing it slowly from each of the loopholes, before letting it clink to the floor with her already discarded clothes. Her hands shook in anticipation—as if this was their first time—when she unbuttoned his jeans and slowly slid them down to his ankles. When he stepped out, he loved watching as she pushed up from her calves and molded her body to his, her fingers grabbing at the hem of his shirt. Her palms were flat against his stomach, sliding upwards to his chest until she lifted it past his shoulders and up over his head leaving him in his boxers.

She swallowed seeing his arousal grow just be looking at her. His eyes darkened—reminding her of the blue from the deepest, darkest, depths of the ocean, his jaw tightening to keep from losing control. He wanted this to last just as long as she did. To etch this moment and night into her memory. She smiled wistfully to herself, thinking this time together—this night—would be one she would treasure always.

His hand lifted, until he cupped her through her bra. Her head dipped back, moaning his name as he squeezed her with just the right amount of pressure, his thumb tracing over the fabric causing her nipple to harden. She bit her lip, which only enlisted another rumble from his throat.

"Your so beautiful Lexie, it hurts me sometimes," he confessed.

She couldn't understand that he could feel so strongly about her like that. No one had ever thought of her that way. Sometimes when he would stare at her during a surgery, or would take her into an on-call room, she couldn't quite understand her own stirrings that would rise within her. She could feel deep in her core that all he wanted, was to be with her, protect her. That feeling alone of being safe wasn't something she had experience in years. Especially by a man—because that was really the only way to describe him—as striking and handsome as he was.

She rewarded him with a kiss, opening for him so he could once again take possession of her mouth. His hand reached behind her back and unclasping the strap of her bra so it fell from her arms and down to the floor. He pulled back to look at her intently. In the past, she would have had an urge to want to cover herself up from his view, but seeing the lust and love in his eyes, made her bold and daring.

His hand found her breast again, working her nipple to a harden peak with his thumb and forefinger. The sensation made her heady, her pelvis grinding against him, needing the friction. He released her breast and dipped his head lower, so he could take it into her mouth, his other hand moving to cup her right breast and provide the same lavish attention. Her hands smoothed through his hair.

"Mark…" she moaned.

Before she knew it, he stripped her of her thong, and lifted her again until he laid her down gently on the bed, her back pressing into the mattress. He slid up her body slowly, leaving kisses in his wake up her calves, thighs, abdomen, chest, and finally her neck. He bit down on the spot of her neck right where it met her collarbone and she cried out. He also knew it was her sweet spot—because Mark Sloan was always an ardent lover when it came to her.

"Mark, please," she begged.

He kissed up her neck, sucking on her lower earlobe. "What do you want, Lexie?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

"You," she rasped.

"You have me," he replied, trailing kisses up the other side of her neck and repeating his slow torture.

"Not enough," she panted, wiggling underneath him.

He pressed her further into the mattress to keep her still. His body was flesh against hers. He held her so tight, she thought she would burst from happiness.

"Tell me what you want, Lexie?" he repeated again.

Her eyes snapped open and she met his gaze head on. "I want you inside me, with nothing between us," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

He grunted, and kissed her with a hunger she never felt before. Her hands moved down his body, wrapping around his lower back, pushing at the elastic of his boxers. He reached down and helped her shove them down her legs. Her hand cupped his shaft and squeezed and he thought he had died and gone to heaven.

"Lex…"

His head dipped into her neck, as he placed a kiss there, his breath making her body trembled. She never wanted anything as badly as she wanted Mark Sloan. Right here, right now.

He raised his body up, using his knees to nudge her thighs apart and paused at her entrance. "Tell me again. Tell me your mine," he said his control slipping.

Her hands moved from his lower back up to the hard plans of his back and shoulders, pulling him towards her. She waited until his eyes were focused directly onto hers. "I love you, Mark Sloan. I'm yours. Only yours," she affirmed.

His lips pressed against hers, as he entered her, giving her what she asked for, and stretching her to the hilt. In that kiss she gave him everything she had and everything she ever felt for him. His hands moved her hands above her head, his fingers interlocking with hers as he began to move.

The hard planes of Mark's body against the soft contours of her own body were a perfect fit. Mark Sloan was made for her and she was made for him. His thrusts were slow at first, building until she could no longer take the sweet torture.

"Mark…"

"I know," he growled, his lips resting above her ear.

She could feel his breath in her hair and on her neck, a shudder running through her, as his paced increase. She could feel every muscle in her body tense and coil as he withdrew and stretched her further each time. Tears started to fall from her eyes, the combination of pleasure and pain overwhelming her to her very core. She was close and he knew it.

"Come for me, Lex," he said, his voice strained.

She couldn't deny him even if she tried. Her hands squeezed his back tighter, her nails digging into him, angling her hips up to meet his last thrust. She shattered around him, bringing his own release with hers. He collapsed down on top of her, both of them spent from the emotional and physical release. When he tried to ease off her, she protested, and held him in place.

He obliged, shifting his weight so he wasn't completely crushing her, but keeping the contact between them. For the first few minutes after, they laid in silence as each of them fought to get their breathing back under control.

"You really are a sex god," she chuckled, her hand resting on his chest, her fingers trailing up and down his left peck.

He grinned. "That was something different. That…that was something I've never felt before," he admitted honestly.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. "Me neither," she whispered against his skin.

He shifted so he was lying beside her now, and pulled her to his side. He kissed the top of her forehead, his arm around her waist, and fingers tracing up and down her back.

"So, you love me, huh?" he asked.

She yawned, and curled up to him. "I do. Very much."

He pressed another kiss to her again. "You're my whole world, Lex. My whole world," he said into her hair.

She sighed, a smile on her lips before her eyes closed and she drifted off into a blissful sleep.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for the continued support and encouraging reviews. Y'all make it worth writing every word.