"What do you think of this one?" Erin asked as she stepped out in the mint green djellaba. He motioned for her to turn around and she did a slow spin, letting him take in the entire garment. The soft cotton felt lovely against her skin, and she was so glad that Spencer had purchased these beautiful outfits for her.

"I think this one is my favorite. That is the perfect color for you." She blushed lightly and smoothed out some imaginary wrinkles in the dress. "Are you ready to head down to supper?"

She nodded and held out her hand, wanting to be in contact with him. Spencer led her out to the elevator and they rode down in silence. She felt exposed, wary, even though she knew that he wouldn't reject her or treat her unkindly, and that unsettled her a little.

Once they were stepping out of the elevator, Spencer let his hand come to rest on the small of her back, guiding her over to the restaurant. Penelope and Derek were already eating and the woman waved at her as the waitress led them past. "Spencer, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

"I thought that we could take the train down to Fez. I really want to get there before our time together is over, and if we don't go now, we could lose our opportunity."

She blushed a little as she nodded. "I would really like that, Spencer. And it would be nice to be away from the eyes of the others."

"There is that, too. I think we need a little space to explore where we're heading." She heard the double meaning in his words, and she nodded once more, certain her blush was more pronounced. "It's been wonderful, you know, seeing you this open, this trusting, on the trip. Rossi told each of us, well, each of us men, that if we ended up rooming with you, we had to protect you. I think some part of him still cares for you deeply."

"Just as some part of me still cares for him, too. We were in love, fleeting though it was, and I will never regret that time spent together. Just as you will never regret the time you spent with Maeve." She reached across the table and clasped his hand, smiling gently at him.

Their supper was a quiet affair, though they kept sharing poignant looks as they ate. After Spencer had settled the bill, he got up and held his hand out to her. Erin accepted it, letting him tug her close to his side, wrap his arm around her waist. "Garcia's looking at us," he whispered in her ear, and she shrugged a little. "She's an incorrigible matchmaker."

"I know." And she found that she didn't really mind the idea of Penelope trying to set her up with Spencer. He was considerate of every feeling she had, and he knew how tender her heart was, since his was also so very tender. "I hope you don't mind that it will be an early night for me tonight. All the walking we did tired me more than I thought it would."

"That's fine, I can pack an overnight bag for us before crawling in with you," he said lowly as he pressed the up button. Once they were ensconced in the elevator, she turned to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she listened to his heartbeat. "Did you know that it only takes half a second for a person to fall in love?"

She smiled slightly, tightening her grip on him. "I can believe that. Sometimes, when your eye lands on someone, you just know that you want to be with them for the rest of your life. Whether it's as a friend, a confidante, or a lover."

"I'd like a confidante."

"So would I, Spencer. And a lover, in time." His hand tightened around her waist, and she felt her breathing hitch a little as his thumb bumped against the swell of her breast. A soft moan escaped her lips when that same thumb swept across her breast, causing her nipples to tighten in reaction. "Spencer."

"Erin. Do you trust me?"

All she could do was nod, desire pooling in the pit of her stomach. He made a low sound of approval as he kissed the top of her head, tugging her closer to him. The thin cotton of her dress did little to block out the heat that radiated from him and she groaned lowly, automatically fitting her body to his, welcoming that searing warmth.

Somehow, they managed to stumble out of the elevator and over to their room. Her hand shook as she unlocked their door, and then he was guiding her inside, leading her over to the bed and helping her to sit. Erin whimpered a little when he stepped away from her, and then sighed with pleasure as he knelt down and slipped her sandals off, slowly massaging her feet. When that was finished, he began to run his hands up her legs, nudging the dress along with them. Instinctively, she stood, letting him continue up her body, trying not to groan in frustration as he bypassed touching her breasts in favor of tugging the djellaba over her head.

"You are so lovely," he murmured tenderly, bring her arms to her side as he bent to kiss her. Erin wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close as the kiss lingered on. Somehow it felt so right and she closed her eyes, focusing on the way his hands splayed out on her back, how he played with the band of her bra before slipping his hands down to cup her ass, fitting his body between her legs.

And then, he was lifting her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her core against his erection. He broke the kiss to nip at her lips as he navigated them onto the bed, his hands making short work of his clothing. "Spencer," she breathed out, running her hands over his shoulders and down his back as he shimmied out of his pants.

"Erin," he replied before kissing her once more. She sighed lightly as he reached around to unclasp her bra, drawing it off her body. She arched into him, relishing the way her over-sensitive nipples grazed against his chest. "Oh, god, you'll undo me before we even get started, Erin. Please."

She nodded and fell back against the bed, staring up at him. She had never seen his eyes like that, so intense, so focused on her, and she began to feel a little self-conscious, knowing that she was so much older than him, that he should be with someone younger, more beautiful, than her. When the first tear rolled down her cheek, he reached up and cradled her cheek, letting his thumb wipe away the ones that followed it. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, tears are healing. But you shouldn't be sad. I won't hurt you."

"I know. It's just, Maeve would have been…"

"Shh, Erin. The people we are when we come together are the people right for that situation." He lowered himself down onto her body, cocooning her in warmth, and she let herself cry as he comforted her. His embrace felt so right, and she blindly sought out his lips as she opened her legs, welcoming him closer to her.

He seemed to understand what she wanted, as he entered her with one smooth stroke. Whimpering a little at the way he filled her, so completely, so wonderfully, Erin then captured his lips once more in a warm kiss, trying to tell him just how lovely he made her feel.

Erin wasn't expecting to have an orgasm, she rarely had them with Alan, and while David had been attentive to her needs, she rarely got off. But from the moment she felt that sweet, heady, tight, feeling sweep over her body, she let herself go with it, marveling at how treasured Spencer made her feel.