Jackie: WARNING LEMON-LIME, SERIOUS CITRUS! You have been warned so no flames!

Hope-is-4ever: Hehehe, you have NO idea. If you're sad, that makes two of us. Ultimately, I chose Vash. Just look at my husband. 'waves a picture' Oh, yeah, you can't see that… Well, he's 6'7", skinny, has spikey hair, aqua eyes, and he's a big lovable goof. 'smooches the picture' That's my broom head!

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Chapter 17;

The car came to a halt outside of Mira's house. Before she could move Knives was opening the car door for her. They went inside and Mira shivered. The cloak was not protecting her for the night's deadly cold. Knives, ever aware of her condition said, "Go ahead and take a nice, long, hot bath. I will start a fire and cook you something to eat."

"But the bullet," Mira said motioning to his side, "We need to get that out."

"I'll take care of it," He said and touched her cheek lightly, "You take care of you."

Mira was mesmerized by him. She stared at him for a few moments and then shook her head numbly. She walked into the bathroom and drew a bubble bath. Knives undid his bandages and went to the large storage closet for fresh bandages and anything he could dig the bullet out with.

He had actually been quite lucky. The bullet passed through his arm without hitting any major blood vessels, and that slowed it down considerably. When it contacted one of his ribs it at been stopped from entering his lungs and had been so slowed by his arm that it didn't break the rib. He smiled at his luck while he ripped the bullet from his side. He grimaced a bit and then wrapped himself back up. When he was done he was cleanly wrapped in good surgical bandages.

He immediately started a fire. Even he was getting cold. When he was satisfied by the size of the fire and the warmth it was putting off, he set about making food. Knives smiled as he worked. This domestic stuff was new to Knives Millions, but he quite enjoyed it. Not because of the labor itself, but because he was doing it for Mira.

Knives made up two plates and two mugs of hot cocoa. He sat down with them by the fire as Mira came out on the bathroom. Mira stopped at the entrance of the living room and gaped at him. His skin glowed in the soft light of the fire. His eyes became dark and bottomless. He was still shirtless and the definition of his hard male body was too much for Mira's senses. Mira had to fight not the throw herself into his arms.

Knives looked at her and saw her heated expression. He smiled and said, "Later, love. Right now you need some food."

What did he mean later? Mira looked him over again and blinked. Oh… I get it. She sat down and they enjoyed their meal. When it came time to sip hot chocolate, Knives pulled a blanket around both of their shoulders. He leaned close to her, and they watched the fire. This close Knives could smell her clean scent. He breathed in deeply and sighed. They both put their empty glasses down.

Mira stared at the fire, trying to block out the heat swelling in her gut. The flames sputtered and flicked in the brick fireplace. She was well aware of the cold night around them, the warm fire in front of them, and the man, dangerously close to her left side. She didn't even need to look to feel his head dropping close to her ear.

"We don't have to, tonight," Knives said, "You've been through a lot."

Knives wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into his lap. He looked down into her crystalline gray eyes, which held a bewildered and drugged look. He brushed her hair back tenderly as he said, "I can just hold you. I'm happy with that, for as long as you'll let me."

His blue eyes shimmered with warmth. He was in love, so in love. He kissed her forehead lightly and she shivered in his arms. When he looked down into her eyes again it was her turn to stare at him like he was a stupid child.

"You are full of nonsense," She mocked, as she brushed her lips across his, "Let me make myself clear."

She was not as forceful though. Her mouth brushed lightly against his. When his mouth opened slightly she traced his lips with her tongue. Knives groaned and his grip on her tightened. He felt her smile against his lips and that was all the encouragement he needed.

He shifted and laid her on the carpet in front of the fire. He kissed her back just as gently, stopping only to lower his lips to her neck and collar bones. She moaned softly and balled her right hand in his hair as her left slid down his back. Knives shivered lightly and his hands found the tie of her robe. As he untied it, Mira pulled his head back and nipped the juncture of his neck and shoulder.

He flung open the robe and grasped both her hands. He held them over her head and growled lightly. His eyes met hers with equal amounts of animalistic lust and tender love. She purred up at him. He smiled and said, "I was going to be gentle, but if you keep it up I might just have to--"

He deliberately let the sentence trail off as his eyes made an equally deliberate appraisal of her silky feminine frame. Her eyes flashed and she smirked mischievously. She lifted her leg up and wrapped it around his hips. The cold metal and leather of one of his guns and holster caused her to quiver. She couldn't reach his mouth, held down like this, so she turned her head and bit his forearm lightly.

Knives growled, and lowered his mouth to her breasts as he said, "As you wish."

He nipped quite a bit harder and suckled feverishly. She threw her head back and moaned with pleasure, arching her back up to him and tightening her leg around his hip. She could feel the swell of his manhood straining against his pants and rubbing her in the most sensitive of spots. She pushed her hips up against his and ground them against him.

Knives nearly howled. He broke away from her and stripped away his remaining clothing tossing them in different directions. His hostler landed somewhere on the couch, he couldn't have told you where he threw the rest. He immediately settled between her thighs. She nipped he earlobe and rubbed her hips against him suggestively as she said, "Oh, Knives, I want you so badly."

He smile against her throat and said, "Evil woman. You know I really don't need that much encouragement."

He slipped into her harshly and she hissed, "Yesssss."

They made love several times, all night long.

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Jackie: Anyone need a cigarette?