Yes, I know its been forever and I'm really sorry. My BAcc Honours exams kept me busy. Hopefully the writing will go a lot faster now that I'm on holiday (reviews also help me write faster ;) ). I firstly want to thank my 2 betas tinyPyscho77and abeautifulmessofcontradictions, you're really the best a writer can ask for and you make my work worth reading. This chapter is a lot about the emotions and I hope you like it. Please be so kind to let me know what you think in a review. I want to thank each and every person who takes the time to write a review or leave a kudo, you make writing worth it. Disclaimer: No I don't own the BL but I certainly use the characters for better purposes than they do.

Chapter 4

She awoke feeling too warm, heat surging from something up against her back. She sleepily opened her eyes, wanting to throw the duvet down so that she could feel some cool wind over her hot limbs. That's when she felt the heat on her stomach as well, and the weight of something heavier than the duvet.

Oh dear, Red's hand was sneaked below her shirt, resting high on her stomach, keeping her back safely tugged to his chest. Their legs were entangled like those of lovers and he was certainly spooning her like one. This couldn't be happening. They couldn't be laying together like that and she should definitely not feel his body entangled with hers like that especially since she had almost lost control last night. She couldn't trust herself with this man because her body tended to make decisions that her mind never agreed to. How the hell was she going to get up without waking him and having yet another awkward morning situation?

Speaking of morning situations…oh, dear God. His morning erection was pressed against her backside. It was so wrong, but it felt so good. She tried to shift away from him unsuccessfully and ending up rubbing against him, making him tug her closer to his chest. She held her breath, listening for his even breathing. His head nuzzled at the gap between her shoulder and neck, his hot breath tickling the exposed flesh, making her hair stand on end. Was he awake? Did he know what he was doing or was he merely dreaming, imagining some other woman in his arms? She slowly tried to turn and look at him only to rub against his erection again; this time he gave a low moan.

She froze at the sound, not daring to move another inch; it was the sexiest thing she ever heard. It made her whole body light up. She was even more aware of him than she had been just moments before. The hand on her stomach tensed. She needed to escape this situation now before it was too late, before she decided to turn in his arms and kiss him senseless or, even better, put that morning erection to work. She really shouldn't be thinking all these dirty thoughts at the moment; she was just making it harder on herself, becoming more aware of every place their skin touched.

She tried to get out from under his grip, succeeding only in making his hand brush along the underside of her breast, heat pooled low in her stomach. She was tempted to shift again, wanting to feel that big strong hand of his cup her again.

"Lizzie, stop!" His voice was gruff from sleep but it had a slight edge of desperation to it. "…please just stop moving."

He was awake. What the hell was she going to do now? She felt him grow harder against her backside. Her head spiraling with desire. He was big. Even through the pajama pants she could feel that he was well- endowed. She imagined the things that he could do to her or she to him. She couldn't think clearly; her mind was clouded with desire.

"If you don't want this situation to get any harder," His voice was struggling for control she could hear it Then I suggest you stay still and let me get out of bed." . It sounded like he was biting down on his teeth.

She couldn't utter a single word. Her throat was all closed up, her mouth too dry to speak. She wanted to scream, "No, stay!" but she knew if he stayed that they would continue where they had left off last night on the dance floor and, although her body was certainly ready for that, her heart wasn't.

She couldn't simply sleep with Red for the sake of the job or because they got carried away during their morning cuddle session. No, she wouldn't be able to do that because if that was all it was for him, then she wouldn't survive it. She wouldn't be able to work side by side by him and not think about the morning of passion they shared, about how well she knew their bodies would fit together. No, she simply couldn't do that, her heart won't let her. She couldn't sleep with Red for just sex; she needed love. The way her panties were already damp suggested that she needed both.

Red tried to untangle himself from her but only ended up brushing over her now taunt nipple making a soft moan escape Lizzie's lips. She felt him stiffen at her back and draw in his breath. He moved his hand over her breast again this time slowly with intent. She tried her best to hide her reaction but all bets were off when their eyes met and she saw the fire burning in his. Then the thin thread of control within Red snapped. He moved over her till the weight of his body was pressing her into the mattress and he attacked her neck with passionate open mouth kisses. He trailed hot wet kisses over her collarbone while both of his hands were under her shirt touching every inch of skin within his reach. Lizzie raked her fingers through the fine short hair trying her best not to moan at the onslaught of pleasure as his hands and mouth moved over her skin.

"Lizzie. Darling Lizzie." his voice was husky and hot at her ear making her sensations intensified further.

His hands came to an abrupt stop at her hips and he looked at with a mixture of desire and was that panic.

"Lizzie, we can't…" he left sentence hanging in the charged air between them.

Just as quickly as it started she felt him quickly getting off her just like that left the room. Her whole body felt feverish and her heart was still beating fast. Did she really just wake up in his arms? It was just like she imagined how she would wake up after a night of lovemaking with him. Warmth spread through her body. She needed a cold shower; this man was driving her crazy.

They ordered room service, while they went over their plans for the day. Red managed to get them an invitation to a ball that was taking place that night. Their blacklister was going to be there and hopefully they could establish contact. The ball also gave them the perfect chance to get into Stefan's room undetected as he would be downstairs at the party.

The plan was for Lizzie to swipe his keycard from him so that they could search his room. Aram was going to tap into the security feed, ensuring they wouldn't be detected by the surveillance cameras. That left them with only the armed body guards that patrolled the top floor of the hotel. Red was already in possession of their patrol schedule, so they could easily avoid them.

They reviewed the plan a few times as well as their backstory for when they established contact. Red was going to be himself, which would enable him to make an investment in the Blacklister's business. She was going to be his lovely new wife, a normal uptown girl; they had met at a party and he had wooed her. Red told her to stick to the truth about herself as much as possible to make it feel more real, almost as if it wasn't all a charade.

The rest of the day passed went by without either of them bringing it up;they simply acted as if it didn't happen. She surely thought that Red would've teased her by now, but he hadn't. Could the reason be that the scene moved him as much as it did her? She knew it shouldn't but she couldn't help it. Being this close to him was making it difficult to not get her hopes up and keep her feelings a secret. She found her mind drifting to a fantasy land where all that could be possible.

Red had given her two hours to get ready for the ball and she had spent most of that time standing in front of the wardrobe unable to make up her mind. Showered, with her makeup and hair done, she tapped her foot in consternation: still she couldn't decide on which dress to wear. She had narrowed it down to three dresses. One was an elegant red gown, the next a more revealing black A-line, and the last a midnight blue sheath. All three were beautiful but they all gave different stories. The red one made her look classy and formidable, something a woman on Red's arm needed to be. The black one had a dangerously high slit with an exposed back that would surely get attention. The midnight blue one offered more exposure than she was comfortable with; it had a modest slit with straps that fell off the shoulders and a plugging cleavage line. The blue one definitely said classy but also sexy, and she liked the combination. She normally never gave this much thought to her wardrobe, but she was a woman nevertheless and she wanted to impress Red. It had been more than a year since he last saw her in a ball gown and she wanted to make an impression. She wanted to make him proud to have her on his arm; she wanted to have his undivided attention not because it was his job but simply because he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She pulled the midnight blue from the hanger with resolve.

She pumped out a spritz of perfume in time with the soft knock on the bedroom door.

"You may come in."

Red opened the door and caught his first glimpse of her reflection in mirror. He halted just inside the door, gazing at her. The sight of him staring slack-jawed made her smile, the stunned expression so out-of-place on his face. She turned and walked towards him. His eyes trailed down her body in appreciation and up again, the amazement soon shifting into desire that burned in his eyes.

"Elizabeth," His gravelly voice was huskier and deeper than normal. "You look absolutely stunning."

She took a moment to look him over. He was impeccably dressed in a tux that had definitely been designed for him. It made him look even more handsome than the usual suits he wore. His shoulders seemed broader and the dress pants hugged his hips snugly. Her mouth went dry as she stared at him. He was truly dashing and incredibly sexy.

"You don't look so bad yourself." Her voice came out shakier than she hoped.

He lifted a blue velvet box and opened it. "I've got something for you."

A beautiful diamond necklace gleamed back at her. It was simple but radiant and would perfectly complete her outfit for the evening.

"It's beautiful." She touched the edges of the diamonds.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you." Red spoke softly and took the necklace from the box.

"May I?" He lifted the necklace, leaving her with the empty box in her hand, still a little dumbfounded by his admission. She understood what he was asking of her and slowly turned around. She lifted her hair and waited for him.

He stepped closer to her, she could feel the heat radiating from his from his chest against her back. He draped the necklace around her neck and she felt the cool metal settle against her skin in high contrast to his warm fingertips that fastened the clasp at the back of her neck. He traced along the edges of the beautiful piece, letting his fingers linger on her skin. His touch was soft and her body felt wrapped in his heat. He placed his hand on her bare shoulder, urging her to turn towards him.

"Thank you, Red." She spoke softly, looking up into his eyes.

"You're most welcome, Lizzie."

The way her name rolled over his tongue sounded like a caress. There was something much more intimate about him using her given name rather than pet names. It made this more real.

The moment stretched with them standing there staring deeply into each other's eyes. The air crackled with electricity and she was finding it hard to breath. The hand on her shoulder moved to her exposed back and then he pulled her closer. She was standing against his chest, her heartbeat irregular. Her eyes struggled to not drift down to his lips. Was he going to kiss her, here, where no one was watching, were it would mean something else entirely? His eyes didn't betray his feelings but she saw the moment that they fell to her lips and how they darkened. Their heads moved closer together, like two magnets being pulled together by a force far greater than them. She let all her inhibitions go and closed her eyes waiting for the moment when his lips would find hers.

A shrill ring filled the air and suddenly cool air filled the space between them. She opened her eyes, confused. Dimly, realization dawned that it was the cellphone in her clutch making the noise. She fumbled for her phone and answered it.

Her eyes found Red's across the room where he waited as Aram gave her the go-ahead to proceed with the signal when they were ready. She was almost certain she spied a sadness there at their broken moment.

"I'm going to get us drinks." He gave her hand a light squeeze before he turned and walked towards the bar.

She studied the room and its guests, searching for Stefan. "Tell me, why is a beautiful woman like you standing here, all alone?" a rich, unknown voice asked behind her.

She turned to find Stefan smiling charmingly at her. He was more attractive in person than in the few photos they had.

"Well, my husband just went to the bar to get us our drinks." she answered in a friendly tone.

"Risky man," he mused thoughtfully. "If I had the most beautiful woman here tonight on my arm I wouldn't leave her side for a moment. You never know what man might steal her from you." His voice was rife with a flirtatious tone.

"Some things can't be stolen, Mr…?"

"Forgive me, where are my manners."He stretched out her hand as if to shake in greeting. "My name is Stefan Black, and I can't help but to disagree with you; there is always a way."

Liz regarded him with a carefully guarded smile. It was almost as if he accepted her words as a challenge. Loathe as she was to encourage him, he was their blacklister and if he was intrigued by her that could help them find out more about him and allow her to get close enough to get the information they needed.

Giggling girlishly, she took the man's hand.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth Reddington." She hid her disgust as he lifted her hand up to his lips and kissed it.

She smiled politely, fighting the instinct to jerk her hand back. At that precise moment, she felt a big hand encircle her waist. He drew her flush into his side so that her hand slipped from Stefan's.

"Sorry, darling, for the wait. Here you go." He handed her a glass of champagne. His voice was personal and private with her, as if Stefan wasn't even there.

She tried to regain her balance, unable to resist noting how his palm at her waist burned hotly through the silky material of her dress. His cologne filled her nostrils and his eyes were dark, dangerous even as they bored deeply into hers.

"Red, this is Stefan. Stefan, this is my husband, Red." Liz smiled sweetly as she introduced the two men.

Red reacted first, removing his hand from her waist to shake the other man's hand.

If Stefan was taken aback by Red's presence, he didn't show it. In fact, he held himself even straighter.

"Please to meet you, Mr. Reddington. I was just getting to know this lovely wife of yours." He shook Red's hand and smiled gallantly.

"She's a marvelous creature, isn't she?" Red's voice was full of pride and it made her look at him. He quickly planted a soft kiss on her lips and then turned to Stefan again.

"Yes, that she is." He nodded with a smile. "I was just about to ask her if you were here for business or pleasure."

"Well, hopefully it will be a little of both." Red took a sip.

Acting her part, Lizzie twined her arm through Red's and pressed her body into his side.

"Red, darling, you promised." She turned to him with a pout and her voice full of disappointment.

"My dear, I know, but a businessman like me always needs to have a hand over his investments." He smiled apologetically.

Red turned his attention to Stefan once more. "My wife and I are on our honeymoon, but I hoped that I could take care of some business while we're here."

"What type of business are you in?" Stefan asked, intrigue coating his voice.

Red leaned in conspiratorially. "Let's just say that I'm an investor in wide variety of business deals."

Liz held her breath. They only needed to establish contact and let Stefan get the idea that Red could potentially be a future investor. She silently willed him to remain vague with his explanation.

"I see. I'm a businessman myself. I'm in the hotel business; in fact, this is hotel is mine." The band began a new ballad and Stefan saw an opportunity to ask Red for permission to dance with his lovely wife.

Red turned to her, tightening the grip on her waist for a mere second asking silently if she was ok with it. She merely gave a small nod.

"Go ahead, sweetheart." Red placed a soft kiss at her cheek and stepped away, letting Stefan take her hand and lead her to the dance floor.

She looked over her shoulder at Red watching them walk away. He had a smile on his face but she knew that smile;hat was his fake smile, the one he smiled seconds before killing a man.

The next moment, she was in Stefan's arms dancing to soft song. He wasn't a bad dancer at all but he was holding her a little too closely for her comfort.

"So, Elizabeth, are you enjoying your honeymoon?"

"Yes, the island is lovely." She smiled brightly to stay in character..

"Does your husband tend to work a lot?" Stefan asked just as he made her turn to the music.

"Yes, but I knew that when we met. You don't stay wealthy by doing nothing."

"Why, yes, off course, but I mean... I hope he doesn't neglect this beautiful woman in my arms."

Lizzie didn't really know what to say to the compliment that was also aninsult to Red. She wanted to defend him and tell Stefan that Red made her feel like she was the only woman in the world, but being defensive would bring her relationship with the Blacklister nowhere. So, she just smiled..

Stefan's hand glided lower and lower on her back.

"You know, if you feel you're in the need of company, I would gladly be of service." His mouth was close to her ear, breathing hotly on her skin.

She tensed, the hair on her arms standing on end at his lurid implication.

As if Red felt her discomfort from across the room, suddenly he was there next to them clearing his throat.

"Mind if I cut in?" Red asked nonchalantly.

"Certainly." Stefan smiled benignly as if he wasn't bothered at all and gave her a wink before he turned and left.

Red took her hand in his and pulled her closer, they fell in step with the music.

He placed his hand on her lower back just where Stefan's was moments earlier. She could feel the heat of him palm through the thin silk of her dress. She had almost forgotten how good he was at this.

Her mind wandered to thoughts of whether or not they would be this good at the dance that really mattered. She imagined Red to be a generous lover. Before her thoughts could go any further down a path they should probably not go, he whispered to her.

"I don't like Stefan. I mean the man was ogling you in front of me, your husband. Boys these days don't know to keep their hands off someone else's woman."

She couldn't help but grin as her heart soared; he sounded way too much like a jealous manprotecting what was his. But she wasn't his. Not really. It was just pretend, or was it? The way his hand was touching her back and his breath hot at her ear made her feel like he was trying to wash away the memory of the other man's touch.

"Red, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you were jealous." She tried to say it with as much amusement as she could master, disguising the fragile hope that slithered through her words.

"Elizabeth, you should know that I protect what is mine, at all cost." His voice was low and dangerous.

The way he said her name made a shiver run down her back. Being this close to him, in his arms, his confession, and their almost kiss earlier was taking its toll on her. It took her mind places it shouldn't go; it her body ache with want and the wall she built around her heart slowly crumbled down.