Title:                Moments In Time

Author:            The Dreamy One

Type:               Supernatural/Romance – TM/TMR –UC:Undercover Crossover

Rating:            R (rating for sexual content)

Summary:            Frank Donovan is haunted as his connection to Ardeth Bay is revealed to him in past life occurrences. 

Disclaimer:            TM/TMR is the property of Universal, Stephen Sommers, etc. UC:Undercover is the property of NBC, Shane Salerno, Don Wilson, etc.  Original characters are the property of the author.  No infringements intended.

A/N:                 Stick with me for appearances from Ardeth, Rick, Evie, etc... This is a sequel to the story "Written In Time", and believe me, they will make many appearances as the story unfolds.

~*~

"And this is?" Frank questioned, lifting the small gold toned picture frame from her dresser.

Amber's eyes fixed on the old photograph.  Her...no, Miranda's...beloved warrior.  He stood next to Miranda in his long, dark flowing robes and the couple appeared to be very happy.  With the exception of the tattoos on the man's face and the longer hair, he could have been the man who now stood in Amber's bedroom.  Just as the woman, Miranda, could have been Amber.

Amber took a few steps toward him, closing the distance that separated them, and reached out, taking the photograph from Frank's hand.  "It's a long story," she answered, her hazel eyes locking onto his intense brown ones.  "And I doubt very much if you would believe me."

He placed a finger under her chin and his thumb grazed her bottom lip enticingly.  "Let me be the judge of that," he responded, then motioned toward the dresser.  "And this picture, of you and your grandfather, it looks as though it has seen better days."

Amber smiled slightly, setting the photo of Ardeth and Miranda back on the dresser next to the wrinkled and worn photo of her and Em.  "It traveled a great distance and meant something very special to the robed man.  His name...was Ardeth."

Frank blinked and quickly stepped away from her as though he had been struck by lightning.  When he had first met her she had called him that name.  He had thought it eerie at the time, but it had also been as though she had been calling to his spirit and he had never given the strange feeling another thought.  Now that sensation had returned and he was not at all sure he liked it.

"I can see that this will not go well, Frank," she sighed.  "This was a mistake."  She shook her head sadly and made her way to the bedroom door.

He lifted a brow at her immediate dismissal of the situation.  "This was just supposed to be a tour of your home," he commented softly as he reached out and took hold of her upper arm.  "And seeing these photographs threw me off a bit.  I think you should explain things before you dismiss me." 

He pulled her into his embrace and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her fully against his body.  Three months had passed since that fateful meeting in the cemetery.  And for those three months they had spent as much time together as her studies and his job would permit. 

He had discovered, in that span of time, that as much as she was adventurous, she was just as shy.  He had never met a woman like her.  He was used to the self-assured beauties that he soon grew tired of, or vice versa, because he could not, or would not, lavish the attention on them that they felt they deserved.  Amber had been a refreshing change from those women.  She never insisted upon his time, she understood his job's odd and sometimes sudden demands, and she accepted all that he gave her at face value. 

His head lowered and his lips took hers in a tender, yet passionate kiss.  She sighed softly within the kiss and he used the opportunity to slip his tongue past her parted lips.  She tasted as sweet as the finest wine and he never tired of the feel of her in his arms.  One hand cupped the back of her neck and his fingers tangled in her silky chestnut hair.  His other hand trailed slowly down her back.  With each inch, he pressed her body flush against him, and when his hand reached her buttocks, he crushed her hips to him.  He moaned throatily when her abdomen contacted his growing hardness. 

Amber gasped when she felt his arousal.  She pulled back, breaking the kiss and putting the slightest distance between their bodies.  "Frank...I..." 

He nodded.  They had yet to make love, although he had ached for months with the need to have her.  Oddly enough, he felt no great need to rush into that part of their relationship.  The few hours they had here and there were spent getting to know each other.  Now, he felt as though he knew her and he trusted her with his heart, although she was not yet privy to that information.  But, surely she knew it, deep down in her heart.  This latest development, this photograph of a man who appeared as though he could be his double, disturbed him.  Should it bother him enough to shake his trust in Amber?  His heart told him no. 

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.  "It's okay, Amber.  We can stop; although I might suggest we leave your bedroom now.  It's a little too tempting, especially in my condition."  

His soft chuckle washed over her, causing goose bumps over every area of her body.  Hell, even her goose bumps had goose bumps.  He read it all wrong, of course.  She was ready, truly ready, to take their relationship to the physical level.  Should she tell him?  No, he might back off completely.  Her arms wound about his neck and her breasts crushed against his chest.  The contact elicited another gasp from her, but a gasp of erotic delight.  "I don't want to stop, Frank."

He closed his eyes for a moment, drinking in the sweet honeysuckle fragrance of her hair.  His lips took hers again, hungrily.  To him, she was Ambrosia, food from the gods, and he knew he would never get his fill of her. 

As he walked her over to the bed, he kissed her continuously until they both broke apart gasping for air.  Amber's inner voice was asking her how a potential argument and breakup had escalated into the need to make love.  The little voice was saying this was a wrong move, but her body screamed at it to shut up.  At this point, she needed to be in contact with his body, every inch of it.  Right or wrong, she felt possessed by him and she needed to exorcise her demon.  Silently, she prayed she would be possessed for eternity.

"Are you sure," he questioned in a husky whisper.  His fingers slid under the tiny straps of her flimsy dress.  Slowly he rolled the material from her shoulder, awaiting her response.

His words floated into her ear causing her to shiver.  He was giving her one last chance to change her mind.  He wanted her; there was little he could do to hide that fact.  She felt the evidence of his desire pressed firmly against her hip.  Even if she had wanted to, she felt helpless to deny him.  Every ounce of her screamed out for his touch and she was certain she needed him as much as he needed her.  "Very sure," she assured as her fingers deftly worked at the buttons on his shirt. 

In their haste, it took little time to rid the other of their clothing.  Within moments, their limbs were as tangled as their clothing that lay in a pile at the foot of the bed.

They slowly explored every inch of each other's body, learning every curve, every contour.  They discovered unexpected sensitive areas as well as the expected ones. 

Frank found that running his tongue over just the right area between Amber's shoulder blades, kissing or nibbling her silky flesh, nearly brought her to orgasm.  He tucked that bit of information away to use as often as possible. 

Amber's discovery was a bit more odd.  When she kissed and nibbled the flesh just above his right knee, he had come unglued.  Growling, he had literally lifted her off him and pinned her beneath him.  It hadn't really frightened her, just shocked her with the sudden force in which he had executed the change in positions.

Nearly an hour's worth of touching, teasing, and tasting had taken its toll on his inner resolve.  He delighted in every touch, every kiss, every moan, but he needed to be inside her.  It was more than just a need for release; it was a need to connect, to become one with her.  He wanted that more than anything he had ever wanted before.  No woman had ever made him feel such intensity during sex.  This isn't sex, idiot.  This is, oh so much more.

He did not wait, did not hesitate.  Upon moving her beneath him, his hardness sought her out as though it had a mind of its own.  Probing, almost insistently, there was little doubt she was ready for him.  Swiftly, greedily, he thrust into her, moaning loudly at the tight feel of her as she drew him inside, enveloping him with her moist heat.

Amber gasped with the sudden pain, clamped her eyes closed, and gripped his shoulders, her fingers digging into his flesh.

He almost missed it, almost, but not quite.  His loud moan had been forced from his throat at the exact moment that she had cried out softly in pain.  He stopped his movements abruptly and gazed down at her.  Her eyes were closed and a tear slid from the corner.  Her teeth were fastened down onto her bottom lip and she had a vice-like grip on his shoulders.  He buried his face against her neck and kissed her tenderly.  "You should have told me, Baby."

Amber's voice hitched slightly as she regained her composure.  The pain was easing away and she felt like a fool.  "I...thought...if you knew...you wouldn't..."

He began pressing light kisses to her shoulder, nipping and teasing the silky flesh.  "I've wanted to for months," he whispered.  He cupped her breast and teased the rosy nub with his thumb before following suit with his tongue and lips.  Slowly, very slowly, he began moving within her.  "I would have taken more care," he assured her as his lips came down upon hers.

As his movements increased, the pain disappeared all together.  What remained was exquisite pleasure and the need for more.  Amber marveled at the feel of him inside her and met each thrust with eagerness.  Wrapping her legs around his waist, she accommodated him, begging and pleading him for something she had no words to describe. 

He smiled against the flesh of her shoulder.  He knew what she begged for and he was more than happy to help her attain it.  His hand moved over her, sliding deliciously over every curve until he met the point where they were joined.  His rhythmic thrusts grew more rapid, and in time with each thrust, his fingers massaged the hardened button at her core.  Her moans and passionate cries were forcing him over the edge and as much as she wanted released, he craved his own.  When he heard her intense cry, felt her fingers dig into his shoulders again, and felt her body buck wildly beneath him, he gave way.  Tensing, he cried out and let go, ramming forcefully into her again and again until he had nothing left. 

Amber caught him within her arms as he collapsed on top of her.  His face was buried against her neck again.  She tenderly stroked his back, slick with perspiration, while they each gasped for air.  She could feel his heart beating rapidly against her chest.  Was it possible that lovemaking was always like this?  Not likely, she assured herself.  Only with him.  She had no desire to find out what it was like with anyone else.  In her heart, she knew he was her destiny.  Only he could stir such feelings within her, and he was the only man she wished to share them with.

When he could finally move, he propped himself up on his elbows, removing the bulk of his weight from her.  He almost laughed.  His former lover's normal response would have been, "get off me, you weigh a ton," and yet, his Amber happily bore his weight until he regained his senses.  He cradled her head in his hands and kissed her breathless.  "Okay?"

"More than okay," she assured, smiling.  "That was amazing."  When he chuckled and shook his head, she gasped slightly, taking note that he was still harbored inside her.  She placed a gentle hand to his cheek.  "It was, between us, amazing."

"You're amazing," he replied and kissed her again.  "Time to get off you and let you breathe."

When he made a move to roll off her, she gripped him tightly with her legs.  "Um...no.  I rather like you just where you are at the moment."

His eyebrow lifted in mock surprise.  "Are you trying to tell me you'd like to have another go at this?"

Amber's eyes flashed and a wicked grin spread across her mouth.  "I'm kinda new at this...I think I need the practice."

He lowered his lips to hers slowly.  "Then, best we get to practicing, my jewel."

***