Jack drove around aimlessly, wondering what had prompted him to behave that way. She'd had the guts to make a move, and he'd been happy to go along with it. Yet when it moved out of his comfort zone he'd rebuffed her in a heartbeat.

He thought about what courage it must have taken -stickler for the rules that she was - for her to make that move, to go against every rule they'd hidden behind for - there … he'd admitted it … he hid behind those frat regs. Because he was scared.

Scared?

He was scared to give in to his need for her because it would take him into unchartered territory, where he would be … what?

Vulnerable.

He was afraid of being vulnerable – of becoming too attached to another human being. It was a question of security over risk, he concluded. Better to leave things unexplored and live in limbo, then risk her walking away from him when she came into contact with his darker side and decided she couldn't live with it.

His thoughts drifted back to all the times he had felt aroused by just being in her presence - and he felt his body react immediately.

He didn't know if he could keep his feelings for her at bay any longer. So far his military mask had served him well. He had always managed to keep his libido in check around her, taking care of raging hard-ons in private on base or in seclusion when they'd been off-world.

Now she'd felt the evidence of his desire for her and she had seemed turned on by it; and that excited him.

Tonight the goal posts had shifted. His body had had a small taste of Samantha Carter and it craved her.

He looked up and wasn't surprised to find that his truck had driven itself to her neighbourhood. He was halfway up the path before he could analyse his behaviour and turn back.

On the inside Sam lay in bed thinking about the events of the evening.

She couldn't believe she'd been so brazen with him … and that he'd turned her down. She wondered whether she ought to ask for a transfer.

Was that a tap on the door?

She looked at the clock.

Rather late for anyone to be calling. She pulled on a robe and padded out to the front door. She looked out through the peep hole and her heart went out to the man standing there looking … determined.

"Sir?" she opened the door wide enough to stick her head through.

"What happened to Pete?" he wanted to know, his hands stuck deep in his pockets.

She opened the door wider and he walked right into the living room.

"Couldn't go through with it Sir."

He nodded.

"Sir … what happened outside Daniel's apartment … I'm sorry … I .."

"Come 'ere .." he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, his face dipping into her neck.

"Sir?"

"Ssshhhhhhhh …" he placed a finger on her lips, his gaze locked with hers. "We communicate better when we don't talk."

His mouth brushed hers with unexpected gentleness, almost as though he was waiting for her to protest or pull away. She did neither, merely tightened her grip on him.

She felt him melt into her, drawing her against his body as his heart slammed in his chest.

He was trembling with need for her in a way that he had never felt - not even when he had been young and green. He slipped his hand under her robe and cupped a breast, lifting it until she arched against his palmandshe gasped. He lowered his lips to it. The soft pressure of his mouth suckling on her breast sent aching frissons of raw pleasure radiating through her body, centering low in her belly, a deep hungry clenching beginning to grow there. She dug her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer to her.

"You wanna do this standing up against the wall … because that's where this is heading …" he whispered hoarsely as he nuzzled his face between her breasts.

Sam led him to the bedroom. They watched each other undress in the dark.

Sam suddenly felt vulnerable. He had never seen her naked before. Would he find her too thin? Not padded out enough? When he finally touched her again, his hand running up and down her arm, the warmth of his touch reassured her.

They lay on the bed. He looked so intense that it disorientated her.

Sam tensed and he sensed it immediately.

"Sam?"

"I've never had anyone look at me quite this way" she admitted shakily.

"Does it make you nervous?"

"I don't know …"

Jack smiled, leaning over to kiss her.

She whimpered and arched against him, tension still radiating from her like a beacon.

Jack moved onto his side and turned her face towards him.

"Touch me" he commanded softly.

When she hesitated he took her hand and placed it on his thigh. Then he moved her hand upward and wrapped it around his member.

She watched him clench his jaw and throw his head back.

"Did I hurt you?" she tried to pull her hand away.

"No …" he smiled, not releasing her hand. He slid their hands up and down rhythmically, until he was sure she would not let go. Then he leaned back and basked in the pleasure of her touch until he felt himself approach the edge.

"I need to be inside you Sam …" his breathing was ragged.

She swallowed nervously and nodded her assent.

He could feel the tension in her as he moved over her and claimed her mouth, trying to soothe her. When his knees separated their thighs, opening her to his touch,he was way past coherent thought.

He touched her.

She was ready and he was more than ready. He was pleased that she was so responsive and forced himself not to think about how many other men had been where, irrationally, he felt that only he had ever possessed the right to be. He slid the tip of his engorged member into her and was gratified when she spread her legs wider and arched off the bed involuntarily.

He plunged deep within her and froze.

She was incredibly tight, almost as though there were a barrier. He felt her body stiffen as he tore into her.

Sam looked up into his face and saw the exact moment when realisation dawned on him. She turned her head away, unable to meet the shocked surprise and guilt in his eyes. He immediately stopped, lying still within her, struggling to regain control.

He looked down at her, her face pressed against the pillow, a tear escaping from behind her eyelashes.

"Why didn't you tell me Sam?" he murmured softly, as he placed kisses across her cheek, nose, temples until he came back down to her mouth.

"I didn't know how … and I didn't want it to hold you back."

"What about … Pete? Jonas?"

"There are many ways to make love … I was just never comfortable with penetration."

"Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head and started to move beneath him as he kissed and caressed her.

"Easy Sam …"

She could feel the tightening begin to ease; the ache of wanting him did not however.

Jack felt her respond to his kisses and started to burn again. When her thighs tightened around his hips he knew he didn't need to hold back any longer. He picked up tempo, watching her closely for signs of discomfort.

She touched the tip of her tongue to Jack's skin and found it salty. She bit down on the bunched muscles where his neck and shoulder met as the coiling tension in her lower body spiralled out of her control.

Jack felt her body contract around him and let go, shuddering his release, holding her tightly and pressing hot kisses to her head.

"Oh dear God …" he collapsed to the side, still holding her tightly, stroking and kissing her hair. "You ok?"

Sam nodded. She was … really. She just didn't trust herself to speak.

Jack didn't either – so they lay there and drifted into sleep, wrapped in each other, content to put off the inevitable decision-making till morning.

Author's Note:

As originally written this story stops here, because I wanted to leave an opening for a sequel, should I decideto write one in the future. Hope you enjoyed it. I toned it down as much as I could xxx