Chapter 23: That Little Game Called Love

It wasn't lustful- passionate, yes, oh God yes, but it wasn't one of the occasions where the only thing pure was the depth of need and almost animalistic hunger, and the only game they were playing was for dominance. It wasn't simple either, oh no. They both showed shy glimpses of the teasing and playful nature of their personalities, never forgetting the through-line of forgiveness and love that sewed its way through to the early hours of the morning. It had been earth shattering; soul destroying; heart consuming, but above all things filled with love and tenderness, whispers and pretty whimpers replacing loud guttural groans, and high pitch moans being eclipsed with soft words of love and gentle caresses. It was an amalgamation of softness and adoration, the saddest and most contented day of their lives creating a new plane to their endless love and mending their ageing souls.

He almost blushed at the memory as his back relaxed into the soft back of the green couch. He lay on his side, his elbow bent and his head propped up with his hand, as his other arm lay curved around her warm stomach. The contours of his body fit into hers perfectly as his thumb slowly caressed the soft skin that hid coyly under her tank top. They were watching something, she was sure of it, as to what it was, she was clueless, her extremely pleasantly shuddering body only aware of his unintentionally teasing moments, his pleasurable assault on her still sensitive body preventing her from seeing or hearing anything. She could feel the slow and steady warmth of his breath on her neck from where her head lay cradled in the crook made by his bent elbow. Sometimes his movements were so soft it was nearly unbearable and she momentarily in reflex squeezed her eyes closed, her body convulsing much to her annoyance at his more than satisfying movements. She prayed he couldn't feel her body quiver against his and that the loud masculine shouts from the television drowned out her tiny moans and whimpers.

He did of course know what affect his actions were having on her body, the seductive manner she had pressed her body into his as she lay infront of him allowing him to feel every miniscule quake or her delectable figure. As the minutes casually went by he slowly made the movements more drawn out, his hand moving subtly higher and closer to the softness of her breasts. His thumb made small circular patterns, the pad sometimes barely touching her. Feeling her shiver violently once again, he lowered his lips to her neck, seductive and tender kisses combining with almost untraceable circles of his tongue on her skin. She hummed in satisfaction and he bent his leg slightly, slipping the knee in between her thighs, his contact with her suddenly becoming more hungry and intimate. She leant her body into him, thirsty for his skin on hers, the memory of the heat of his flesh on hers sending cool whispers up her spine. She bit her lip and arched her back as his fingers caressed her skin, the gentle and inevitable caresses and teasing he languished on her chest calling for her to moan out his name in a desperate and fragile whisper. She clawed as his t-shirt as his hand at an agonising pace moved lower, the backs of his fingers dusting their way down her stomach. She reached her other arm backwards, her almost convulsing fingers tangling in his dark blond her. He nibbled at her jaw as she continued to moan for him, his knee pressed more firmly against her and his hand moved slowly lower and lower until

"You want something to eat?" he asked casually, neatly slipping out from behind her and quickly standing beside the couch with a hidden grin. He looked down at her through cheeky and gently amused eyes at where she had had fallen onto her back, her hair ever so slightly dishevelled and her cheeks tinted pink with her arousal. Her eyes oozed dark angry chocolate into the air around them, its warmth and fiery but adoring fury scolding him ever so slightly. The depth of the green she saw surrounding his pupils extinguished her flame ever so slightly until she replied with an unintentionally husky voice

"I'll get you back for that" she burned at the sardonic look in his eyes

"So I'll take that as a no?" he half smirked

"Seriously, you're going to regret that"

"Promises, promises," he tutted with a sigh as he moved towards the kitchen. It was a game they played; they took it in turns to tease the other, pushing them to an edge that almost hurt them both. They never knew when the game was going to be played, innocent touches and barely there kisses continuing and sometimes progressing until the remembrance of their unspoken folly seeped into their minds. Even though there was no official tally, it was nearly always Vaughn that won, the gentle and passionate man taking great enjoyment in the teasing of his love.

"Sometimes I hate you"

"That's what makes the sex so fun" he quipped earning a stale strip of toast to be hurled in his direction. It hit him crisply in the back of his neck and he laughed turning to face her and her own no longer suppressed smile. He bit his lip and smiled deeply, overwhelmed by the beauty he saw in her. He took two small steps towards her, his body gently coming into contact with hers as he kissed her sweetly and deeply, his hands pressing slightly against her blushing cheeks. He hummed slightly as she once again clutched at his cotton t-shirt. The kiss deepened slowly turning dark and electric until she broke it off with a slight pop. He groaned at the loss and the realisation of her slow victory and spontaneous trickery. It was never something they planned; it depended on the moment and their moods. Their game was never something they planned- the couple never sought out to trick each other, it just turned out that way sometimes. She giggled softly as he saw her impulsively lean towards her as she pulled away from their kiss, and she bit her lip and took a few steps backwards towards the kitchen wall. On any other occasion he would heave pinned her up against it roughly, pressing heated kisses to her lips and perhaps taken her against the counter, but he knew they needed to have a long and overdue discussion- it was partly why he had left her in the living room, unsure they would be able to finally clear the air, physical distractions once more getting in the way.

"You hungry?" he asked seriously with a happy smile, continuing to watch her as he she beamed gently in return

"I'm fine," she said appreciatively with a small cock of her head as she took the cool glass of chilled water he handed her. They looked at each other as they slowly gulped down the liquids and he placed his glass on the sink, leaning back against it slightly with folded arms as she finished hers soon afterwards. He outstretched his hand, offering to take her glass from her. Sydney leant in and stepped up towards him, placing the cool and thin glass in his hand, watching as with the other he reached into his sweat pants pocket for the phone that had began to ring.

"Vaughn" he greeted as she brushed passed him in a move to return back to living room. He caught her hand as she moved past him, lifting it to kisses her knuckles tenderly. She smiled at the romantic and genuine gesture knowing it was part apology for his earlier teasing but mostly a spontaneous sign of adoration and intimacy. She blushed slightly and she leant in to press a kiss to his jaw, nuzzling her nose against his cheek briefly. He was facing away from her and towards the sink as their hands slipped apart from the distance that grew as she moved out of the kitchen. She half listened to his conversation as she turned off what she now knew to be a baseball game and tidied the magazines and papers on the coffee table. She flopped back onto the sofa, sighing appreciatively as her back gratefully moulded into the spongy green wall.

"I have, yes. I'll send them in via email today" she heard him say, his voice slightly muffled from the distance they shared. She closed her eyes as he continued to talk

"Yes can you tell him sorry about that?" he said with a slight cough "I haven't been feeling well recently... Mmhmm... Yes..." He said as he moved through the living room towards her "Yes that was why I wasn't in yesterday... yes. Mmhmm. I'm very sorry, yes... Uh Agent Bristow?" he said as he sat down beside Syd, sliding his body down behind hers. "No, I haven't seen her today." He grabbed her waist with soft hands giving her her cue to swivel her legs up onto the couch and indicating for her to lie down with him. She contentedly complied. "Yeah" he coughed "I think she may have come down with it too." He lied as she placed herself along side him "Yes." He affirmed wrapping his arms around her stomach and innately swiping his thumb twice against her skin. "Ok I will." Vaughn pressed a silent kiss to her neck "Yes I'll be in tomorrow. I think we both will- I'll call her later and let her know." She lay her head back into his firm chest, feeling his little white lies reverberate against her. She closed her eyes. "Mmhmm" he half whispered with a tiny nod as he brushed her fringe from her eyes with the back of his fingers, the tips redefining the journey several seconds later just because they could. "Yes I'll tell her," he said watching her smile at their beautiful deceit. "Ok. Thanks Nancy. Tell Dixon we're sorry and that we will be in tomorrow. Thank you. I will...bye."

She felt him turn off his phone in slight annoyance and toss it on the nearby coffee table with a clunk. "Was that work?" she quipped in fake ignorance and pressed naivety.

"Mmhmm" he answered. She smiled and nuzzled her head into him slightly as he pressed a kiss to her crown, the soft strands of her hair tickling his tender lips. "Did I ever tell you I liked your haircut?" he asked looking down at her from his spooned position. He once again brushed the glossy bangs from her forehead, his fingers toying with the gentle and shiny texture. He felt her shake her head uncertainly. "Well I do." He whispered. "I'm sorry I never told you." He pressed a chaste kiss to her neck "I'm sorry I never told you a lot of things," he said in a half whisper, once against pressing a kiss to her head.

"Its okay" she replied "It wasn't your place to tell me... you couldn't even if you wanted to" he knew regardless of her gentle tone she wasn't berating him, and it gave them the perfect opportunity to have the conversation they needed though didn't necessarily want.

"Plus you're a boy so I didn't hold your apparent inobservance with a grudge" he laughed gently, watching her close her eyes for a second. They sobered quickly, their happier expression falling

"I'm sorry Sydney"

"Don't ever be sorry." She said without hesitation and a small shake of her head. "Don't ever be sorry." she repeated in a fierce whisper "Not now- we've come too far for sorrys now." There was a small pause "Don't ever be sorry for her"

His arms tightened slightly around her as he placed another kiss to her; she pressed herself into further him in an uncorrupted and chaste need for comfort and reassurance. And so it began.

Guys, I am so sorry I left you for so long. I feel terrible for my neglect and I will update soon I promise; please forgive me. Please review if you can- Much love and many thanks as always, Danielle xxx