Hey, guys. Thank you for your reviews of the last chapter. I really was scared that it'd get me in trouble cuz it was graphical and not Jane and Maura. To be honest, it scared the shit out of me when I published me. I am also really happy that you like this story even though it's more about Adam Laverty and Elizabeth Rizzoli. I promise that there will be more of Jane and Maura, cross my heart.

Anyway, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I hope you'll like this update as much as I enjoyed it writing. And as always, you're welcome to share your thoughts.

Have fun,

T73.

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Adam was sitting in his rental some days later and watched the old Ford Mustang of Danielson, he wasn't sure what he was waiting for, but he had the feeling that this guy would lead him to the person who was behind all of this, and his gut told him that it wasn't only Payton and Hanley. He closed his eyes and tried to forget the fight he had with Liz after he told her, Jane and Maura about his plan, that he was moving in a grey zone because he didn't have power in San Diego if Frankie didn't agree that he'd be on duty here as he would be in Boston. And at the same time, he was glad about it because leaving Frankie out of all that cut them some slack. He grabbed the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white and clenched his jaw. He hadn't talked to Liz for real since he got to know that she knew who was after her but kept it for herself and that she didn't tell him that the ex-husband of Maura was the new lawyer of Hanley. He looked up the work of Payton and was impressed and was almost sure that Payton would find a way to get Hanley out of jail by just talking and playing his charm, which would mean that all of them would be at risk. "Over my dead body," he mumbled to himself and got out of the car the second Danielson stumbled out of a shady restaurant and followed him until Danielson rounded the corner. He needed to jog a little before he draped his arm around the shoulders of the older man and smiled tightly when Danielson looked puzzled at him. "Remember me, old man?"

Danielson looked nervously at him but let Adam led the direction. "You're the cop from Boston, Rizzoli's husband."

Adam laughed Harley and looked at a woman who was watching them carefully, patting Danielson's shoulder hard, ignoring that the other man winced. "Oh, my. That's my boy. You really remember me." He led Danielson into an alley of a construction site and looked over his shoulder before he punched the older man in the belly. "I'm really glad about it." He growled through gritted teeth and Danielson went down on his knees with a groan. Adam grabbed him at his shoulders and stared him dead in the eye. "If you don't leave my wife or my family alone, I am coming after you, and I will hunt you, and I will kill you. And if that's the last thing I'll do in my life." He pushed Danielson against the site fence and pressed his forearm to his throat until Danielson started to struggle to breathe. Adam whispered angrily into Danielson's ear. He opened his mouth but slammed his fist into Danielson's face, glaring him. "And you can tell your fucking boss that I'm coming for him. No one threatens the people I love, especially not my son. Tell him that this was his mistake." He heard Danielson gurgling and pressed his arm harder against his throat. "Fight, Danielson. Fight like Elizabeth fought three of you sick bastards." He watched the panic rising in the older man but kept on pushing until his brain kicked in again and released the older man. Danielson stumbled forward and coughed. Adam didn't make the attempt to help him. "You remember what I told you?" He waited until the older man nodded. "You'll bring my word to Payton and Hanley?"

"I will." Danielson coughed.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

The older man stumbled forward the moment Adam let go of him and watched the taller man walk away slowly. "It's not like I'd have another choice." He mumbled under his breath and got his phone out of the pocket of his shorts.

Adam didn't look back to check if Danielson might point a gun, that he hadn't checked for, at him. He was sure that the other man would be sneaky enough to shoot him in the back without a second thought, or in the back of his head to make sure that he wouldn't make it and had the chance to tell someone that Adam knew about his connection to Payton and Hanley. Adam held his breath and swallowed hard, he had to force himself to stay calm and not to run out of the alley, not to show any signs of weakness. He was sure if he'd show his fear and uncertainty, Danielson wouldn't hesitate to grab a steel pipe or the next two-by-four he'd grab and cleaved his head open. Adam closed his eyes for a second and prepared himself for the impact, tried to think of the good things in his before he took his last breath. Adam was surprised that the first thought that came to his mind was about the woman who put him in this situation. He knew that not everything was bad and that they had their good moments together, great moments. If his friends hadn't forced him years ago to go and talk to her, he probably wouldn't have a son he loved from the bottom of his heart and who made him even more proud every day, let alone mothers-in-law who didn't blame him for Liz' disappearance, not all the time. He had worked on cases in which a spouse disappeared and turned up dead after some time. Either the parents of the victim cast the blame on the partner by claiming that he or she was the murderer or casting the blame on them because they were the deciding reason why the victim ran away.

Adam knew he wasn't perfect, that he had his flaws and that those would make some women run away without hesitance after they figured his flaws out, and he'd understand that. He wouldn't do it differently. He rounded the corner and exhaled loudly because he doubted that Danielson would shoot him in broad daylight. He unlocked the rental and got inside of it but didn't start the engine right away. He heaved a sigh and frowned a little. Of course, Jane and Maura had asked him if Liz and he would have had marital problems that made her run, but after he answered in the negative several times, both women understood that there had to be another reason why their daughter disappeared. Now he understood, too.

He closed his eyes for a moment before he started the engine and tried to block his upcoming anger out. He was mad at Liz for not telling them that her ex-boyfriend wanted her dead, and not telling them that the ex-husband of Maura, who happened to be a former DA, wanted to get his revenge, too.

Two birds with one stone, he thought to himself and clenched his jaw. He was sure that any other person would run as fast as possible from the Rizzoli family and would never look back at them, but he had obligations and would never think of keeping Maura's and Jane's only grandson from them. His parents asked him to pull up stakes and to move back in their closer area, but he told him that they hadn't raised that kind of person who'd run as soon as problems turned up and that he would never deny his mothers-in-law the contact with his son, no matter what Liz had done. He also told his parents that they taught him that there is nothing more important than family, no matter what, that family would stand up for each. That made his parents stop to ask him to leave Boston and they arranged their visiting time with Maura and Jane.

That also was the reason why he was here right now even though he had enough work to do in Boston. Here, in San Diego, with Jane and Maura, and Liz, who got them into hot water. Because of the breeding of his parents. He could have been looking for another house or even an apartment in the close area of Zane's grandmothers, but he didn't, he wasn't really sure why. Maybe he was hoping that his wife would come back home one say and explain everything. She came back, and everything became worse.

He took a deep breath and nodded to himself like he was trying to convince himself that he was doing the right thing, but then he slammed his right hand against the steering wheel, growling through clenched teeth, "Damn it!"

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Liz still smiled when she closed the lid of her laptop. Before she left for San Diego again she had to promise her son to give him a video call every single day and she tried to keep that promise because before she called Zane, Leslie sent her a message and asked if she'd had to explain to the boy why his mother wouldn't be able to get in touch for the day. Liz started to understand that the redhead had a great part in Zane's life too and it hurt her that he had to turn to women who weren't her. It surprised her that he didn't quarrel with her being back in his life, and it surprised her how easy it was for Zane to call her mom. It seemed like that he was waiting for this chance his whole life and that he wouldn't let her go so easily again, and if she was true to herself, she wasn't planning on hiding anymore. But if I have to keep him safe? If I have to keep my mothers safe, Adam? She closed her eyes and ran the fingers of her left hand over her brow the moment she felt a headache coming up. Her eyes snapped open again the moment she heard someone clearing their throat. She glanced at Maura who was sitting on the couch and was reading in a medical magazine, frowning. "I'm not going anywhere, Mom."

The former ME glanced at her for a brief moment and nodded. "I know."

"I don't need a watchdog."

"I know."

The younger woman got up to her feet and stretched her back. "You are very talkative."

Maura still didn't look at her daughter. "It would be very rude to disturb your conversation with your son."

Maura's clinical tone didn't pass Liz unnoticed and the brunette took a deep breath. "You are mad at me."

The statement made Maura look up and she patted the empty spot next to her. "Sit with me."

Liz hesitated and worried her bottom lip before she did as her mother asked and sat down next to Maura. A light frown was on her forehead.

Maura studied her daughter for a moment and wanted to tuck a strand behind Liz's ear, she lifted her hand, paused and gave the need in. She ran her hand over Liz' shoulder when her daughter closed her eyes instead of pulling back. "Yes, I am mad. I am mad because your mother and I taught you better."

Liz leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees, frowning deeply. "I was just trying to protect you."

"By facing this whole mess on your own? By getting yourself killed? Do you know what your death would have done to your mother and me?" Maura paused and watched Liz closing her eyes. "You knew that Ben and William flocked together and yet you wanted to solve the problem all by yourself instead of confiding to your family the moment you got to know about it. You are getting killed doesn't solve the problem, Elizabeth."

Liz didn't turn her head to Maura but exhaled shakily. "I wish it would be that easy, Mom. Me getting killed to keep all of you safe, it would be a small sacrifice only to know that they leave you guys alone once and for all."

"Deep down you know that neither of them would have stopped after they got rid of you," Maura replied, and her daughter looked at her with furrowed brows. She knew that this wasn't a sign of confusion but a sign of certainty.

Liz looked long and determined at the older woman. "I would go through hell and high water for each of you, no matter what."

Maura sighed heavily and nodded slowly. She always thought that Liz looked like the younger vision of her wife, and she knew that she was as stubborn as Jane as well, and that probably would only get worse instead of better. Jane as the one who taught their daughter what family ties meant for the Rizzoli's. That it meant do or die. She sometimes hated for that attitude, and now even more because their daughter estimated this attitude for herself. She took a deep breath and nodded. "I know, honey. I know that very well because you are like your mother. You would sacrifice yourself for the greater good, just like …" she paused and licked her lips. "Your Ma understand it, and I understand it somehow, but what about the little boy you just talked with? Zane won't understand why you had to die to keep him safe, and he will be mad at you, maybe for the rest of his life because of you … had no real part in his life. Right now, he thinks he knows you because … he's still a … baby. But in the next five years, he's understanding that you had … no bigger part in his life and that you rather die instead of watching him growing up, or reached out to him, that all of the stories about you are just stories and no memories." She paused and smiled a little. "I can still remember how happy you were the evening when you told us that you are pregnant."

Liz scoffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I wasn't happy, I was scared of Ma. She looked at Adam like she was about to strangle him in the first place. And that you and I had to tell her that it always takes two to become pregnant."

Maura smiled broadly and skidded a little closer to the brunette. "Yes, that was scary, but then you and she agreed that the two of you would choose the interior fittings of the nursery."

"Ma decided that my child become a Red Sox fan, no matter the gender."

"And Adam had no say in it."

"Like he'd disagree."

Maura laughed heartily and caressed involuntarily the cheek of Liz with her thumb. "Neither did you."

Liz laughed out loud, and the older woman smiled broadly. She wiped a tear off her cheek and glanced at the blonde. "Do you have an idea how hard it is for a Red Soy and Patriots fan in San Diego?" She saw how Maura looked expectantly at her and chuckled with a shake of her head. "Okay, that's a question for my other mother."

Maura laughed and gave Liz a playful shove. "I've been to games of those teams."

"Yeah, because Ma forced you to after you forced her to attend some art exhibition."

"Are you telling me that you never enjoyed spending time with me at an art museum?"

Liz straightened up and raised her hands with a big grin. "Oh, I totally did because I am open-minded, you never had to force me. Ma on the other hand -" She squinted at the ceiling and smirked.

Maura rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You are impossible."

"Thank you." The younger woman laughed, the earnest forgotten already.

Maura, on the other hand, became serious again and couldn't resist the urge the need to run her hand up her daughter's back like she still couldn't believe that she was indeed with Liz and that Liz was still warm and breathing.

Liz noticed the gesture and leaned against the blond, placing her head on Maura's shoulder like in old days, when she was still a teenager. "I'm sorry for putting you through all of this. I know that I can never make it up to you."

Maura crossed her legs and took a deep breath. "Stay alive, I would be very happy with that."

Liz smiled and closed her eyes to enjoy the little peace that the moment gave her, but her eyes snapped open as soon as the door to her room got opened loudly and she frowned as soon as she looked into Adam's dead serious face. "What's wrong?"

"Get up." He commanded without looking at the blonde.

The brunette didn't waste time and did as she was told, looking like she was searching for something. "Okay, but what's the matter."

He looked at her and blinked a couple of times before he stepped into her personal space, took her face in his hands and didn't gave her the chance to protest. He kissed her long and gentle.

Liz needed a second to react but then she wrapped her arms around him. "My mom," she whispered with closed eyes after he pulled away.

"It's not like she has never seen us kissing." He replied and still didn't pay attention to Maura. "And I wouldn't care if she'd mind because I -" He took a deep breath and furrowed his brows. "Because I won't take off my damn wedding ring."

Maura smiled broadly and opened her magazine again.

Liz didn't step back but looked up at him. "Can you do me a favor?"

He tugged his head back and furled his brows. "Another one."

This time Maura was the one who said warningly, "Adam."

Liz turned her attention back to her mom. "No, he's right."

Adam ran his hands down her arms. "What do you want me to do?"

Liz looked long at her and understood that he really was willed to do everything for her even though if it would cost his life and she felt … bad and that she also would die for him, and she kissed him again before she wrote something down on a sheet. "This is the address of my apartment. Could you … get my damn wedding band? It's in the top drawer of the right nightstand."

Adam opened his mouth, but Maura was faster and asked, "You have an apartment here, in San Diego?"

Liz furrowed her brows when she looked at the other woman. "I lived the last couple of years here, of course, I do have an apartment."

"Why didn't you mention it?"

"You didn't ask, and this place is so much nicer than my shabby apartment."

Adam scoffed, and Maura rolled annoyed her eyes.

"I can get your damn wedding band, Liz." He laughed, and Liz grinned in return.

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Jane opened the drawer of the sideboard that stood at a wall in Liz apartment and grumbled, "The hotel's a nicer place, my ass." It was a three-room apartment, meticulously furnished and kept clean, the older Italian suspected that her daughter cleaned the apartment at least two or three times a week. The apartment was modern and stylish yet lacked a personal touch. As if Liz didn't care if she had to flee the apartment and never return here. On the walls hung occasional landscape photographs, and pictures of local sights, but no pictures of her or of people who were close to her. As if she would avoid as far as possible that her invisible opponents got a visual target, and that thought filled Jane with sadness.

"You know that we are not here to rifle through Liz' stuff, right?" Adam stated but hardly moved away from the entrance door.

Jane furrowed her brows and looked at him, closing the drawer again. "And you know that I am actually retired and yet I am a working a case to clean my daughter's name, just like my wife." She frowned and blinked a couple of times. "Tell me again, why we are here?"

He rolled his eyes and started to move. "To get something Liz asked for."

"Like a good idea how to bring down Hanley and Payton?"

The blond man glared at her the moment she mentioned the names and clenched his fists. "No."

"Don't tell me that you're not mad at her."

"I don't have enough time to be mad at anything right now, Jane. I just want to get this done and that -"

Jane nodded slowly. "You're still hoping that Liz is coming back, aren't you?"

Adam opened carefully a door that probably led to the bedroom and stuck his head inside the room as if he wanted to make sure that there wasn't any kind of surprise in it. He exhaled loudly when he found the bedroom empty. "Aren't you?"

The brunette started to look through the drawers of the desk and huffed. "I learned the hard way that my daughter is too complicated. So, I stopped to keep my hopes high when she didn't show up after two years."

"That's why you kept looking out for her?"

"I'm her mother, it's my job to look out for her, no matter where she is."

"She's my wife, it's my job, too."

Jane straightened up at his words and turned in his direction. "Are you sure that she's still your wife?"

"I never signed divorce papers," he answered but clenched his jaw.

"And even if she'd have asked for a divorce, would you have signed them?"

He looked long at her and disappeared in the bedroom without an answer.

I take that as a no, the former detective thought to herself and took a manila folder out of the bottom drawer. "Let's see what we got here." She mumbled and sat down on the desk chair.

Adam closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. Jane's question made him angry and at the same time, it saddened him because he knew that the answer to her question was no. Even though he'd received divorce papers, he wouldn't have signed them, he knew that he didn't have the heart to do so. He shut his eyes for a brief moment and then he took a look around in the bedroom. It hardly looked like a room regularly used by Liz, it was cold and impersonal, as was the rest of the apartment. It more felt like a show flat to him, a place you didn't want to spend time in but would if you had to. He sat down on the mattress of the neatly made king-size bed and wondered with how many men she had shared it. He pushed the thought to the side and opened the top drawer of the nightstand that stood left to the bed. He held his breath the second he laid eyes on the framed picture in the drawer that showed Liz and him on their wedding day and the little black velvet box that was beyond worn. He took it out of the drawer and placed it on the nightstand before he took the photo out of it as well. It showed them happy-go-lucky like nothing in this world could ever change that, at least someone could think so because they were beaming at the wedding photographer that moment. He held the picture tightly in his hands and recalled the memory of the wedding, how he almost freaked out because of Leslie's expression when she came out of the brunette's dressing room and the thought that Liz was going to cancel the whole thing, how it took his breath away the moment he saw walking her down the aisle and that his brain stopped to work during the entire ceremony because he was staring at her like no one else in the world would exist. He ran his thumb over her carefree face and his heart became heavy.

"She still loves you," Jane said from the door and he jumped, putting the picture back in the drawer and closing it. He got up from the bed and stuffed the black box into the pocket of his jeans, clearing his throat before he turned to the older woman. "I'm not so sure of that." He thought back at the previous noon and that Liz appeared absentminded when they were together in the shower like he was some kind of relief for her.

Jane looked sympathetically at him but shrugged. "I know it, I can see it in her eyes every time she looks at you. And I don't have to mention that I know that you still love her. I know that she's the love of your life, otherwise, you wouldn't still wear your wedding ring … or be here right now."

Adam clenched his jaw and looked down at his feet for a moment, then he thrust his chin at Jane after he regained his composure. "What do you get there," he asked and cleared his throat.

Jane took a moment and licked her lips. "Some notes that could be interesting and photo albums you were missing since Liz left." She paused for a second. "It's okay to cry, even for a man."

He nodded slowly and got the framed picture out of the drawer again and heaved a sigh. He knew exactly which photo albums meant, the ones that held the memory of Liz pregnancy, those after she gave birth to Zane and those before she left their lives. He placed his hand on the pocket of his jeans and ran a hand over his beard. "I think we're good to go."

"What's in your pocket?"

"The reason why we're here."

"Okay," she whispered and turned to leave, knowing not to ask any further questions unless he was willed to talk to her.

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Maura stepped onto the balcony and watched her daughter who looked absentmindedly into the distance. "Adam was suffering, is still suffering."

The younger woman blinked a couple of times. "I'm sorry?"

"When he found out that you left him Adam was devastated, he was hurt and couldn't trust any women anymore because he … couldn't understand what happened, and why you left without a note." She paused and frowned, also looking into the distance. "Do you think it's fair to use him now?"

Finally, Liz looked at her and frowned deeply. "I am not using Adam."

Maura took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. "You might fool Ma, but I know that you have been with Adam, sexually."

Liz inhaled shakily and pressed her lips together. She was aware of the fact that she could fool neither Maura nor Jane, but it never crossed her mind that her parents would think that she'd use Adam in any way, or that even he would think so. But now, when she looked at the situation, she felt like an idiot. She was glad that she wasn't like Jane when it came to the topic of sex and tried to change the topic dowdily. "Not that it would be your business, because he and I are adults, and no one got forced, but yes, we have been together."

"Did it mean anything for you or was it just sex?"

"Mom!" The younger woman said louder and walked back into the hotel room. "It is none of your business."

"You are my business, and Adam is too. Just like Zane."

Liz' eyes grew huge. She hadn't been thinking about her son when she asked Adam to join her under the shower. And didn't think about it if she'd leave his life again. She knew that a small boy like Zane wouldn't understand why she could not be around him day and night and that he would hate her when he got older. It didn't even cross her mind that her husband could reach the point to hate her. The thought hurt her like a dull knife that was dragged into her heart. The numbing feeling of the night when Winters called her and told her that there was a bounty on her head and on those who meant the world to her and that it would be better for each of them if she got away from them as far as possible came back. The feeling that she couldn't breathe while she made the decision to kiss her sleeping husband goodbye for one last time with silent tears before she left him behind. The feeling when she watched Zane in his bed before she left him, too. For the greater good. The greater good. What is the greater good, she asked herself and closed her eyes. "I'm not using Adam, Mom. I -" she stopped and frowned. "I never stopped to love him. That's why I couldn't be with another man, in a long term."

"But you've been with other men."

"Those guys I've been using. I am not proud of it and maybe I am a big disappointment for you, but it's true. You taught me to be honest when it comes to feelings. I could never … I could never use Adam because … Even if I'd try, I can't stop to have feelings for him, to give myself to him." The brunette paused and swallowed down her tears, turning to face her mother. "I died, Mom. The night Eddie gave me the call and told me that I was busted, a part of me died the second I walked out of my house and left my husband and my son behind. I left my happiness behind the moment the front door closed behind me and I got into my car. I died because I thought that night Adam and I had been together and -" she closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "One moment we loved us and the next I had to break Adam's heart, my own heart. I knew I had to because I wouldn't survive it when something'd have happened to Adam and Zane. Or you and Ma. If something would've happened to you, I wouldn't have had any reason to keep on living. And that's why I left because you would be even more disappointed of me if I'd take my own life. And I was close to it, Mom. I was so close to commit suicide that it scared myself. You don't know how many times I was sitting in my living room and thought about swallowing my gun because I knew that I hurt you, and Ma, and Adam. Not only because I hurt you, but also because I was lonely. I had no friends in San Diego, and those of whom I thought would be my friends, turned their back on me after they saw me together with Eddie, having a coffee. And after the incident at the pub. My colleagues had the opinion that I was overreacting and destroyed promising careers, Ruiz included. After the attack, I really thought about going back to Boston and leaving everything that happened in San Diego behind me. I started to get my things packed while I -" The younger woman closed her eyes and walked back into the room, Maura followed her. "While I got wasted. The next day, I got back to my senses and stayed anyway, even though I had no one in San Diego."

"Now you are not alone anymore." A deep voice stated, and she whirled around to look into her husband's serious face and pressed her lips together. "Now you have them, all of them. Even Chaz and Leslie."

Adam cleared his throat and placed the framed wedding picture on the small table, getting the little black box out of his pocket. He opened the lid of it and stared at the wedding band he knew by heart, turning the corners of his mouth downward. He took a deep breath and looked at the younger woman. "And you have me." He said and she closed her eyes and ignored the tear that ran down her cheek.

Jane was the one who cleared her throat now and glanced at her wife. "I … think we should give you some space."

Maura looked surprised at the Italian and started to move when Jane's eyes grew big. "Yes, we give you some privacy."

Adam didn't move until he heard the door open and close again. He took the ring from its box and slipped it back on Liz' finger with a little hesitation, pulling her into a hug. "You always had me." He mumbled into her hair and held her close.

Liz didn't need to think twice and wrapped her arms around him. Her heart was beating wildly and held onto him like he was her lifeline. Another tear ran down her cheek and she closed her eyes, inhaling his scent.

"There is no way that you'll get rid of me, no matter what you are doing."

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She took a deep breath. Now she only had his scent in mind. And all her doubts seemed to have vanished. She felt like the first time. You can do it.

You can do it, man, he thought, craning his chin and walking over to the bed. He had already gotten over Liz for one night, feeling her body at his side without touching her too indecently - and survived. He would do it a second time. In a few hours, he was able to wake her up for breakfast. Yeah, he could do that. And in a couple of weeks, she'd maybe trust him enough - Maybe …. Yeah, maybe. This uncertainty …

He got into bed next to her and Liz pressed herself against him instantly. She's naked, Adam! Each of his brain cells gave up their function. She kissed him on the chin. "Liz, what are you doing?"

"I leave the past behind me." Her voice was seductive but calm and firm. Calm ... The opposite of him. He put his arm around her, his fingers brushing her bare shoulders. Involuntarily, he began stroking her soft, supple skin. "The past?" He repeated thoughtfully.

"Yes, the past is over. And this night isn't all that bad. Besides, I don't feel helpless or vulnerable …. I only feel you. And I want to be with you."

"Liz -" HE and she was looking for the right words. He had to say something at this moment, or at least do something. He wanted to take his time, to take it slow after what had happened in the shower, so give her time after what had happened in the shower. But then she pressed herself closer to him, so he could feel her bare breasts and suddenly the last bit of reason had disappeared, and the gentleman within him had made his escape. Groaning, he stroked her back and enjoyed her silky skin, before he pulled her onto him and moved his hands to her bare bottom.

She hummed and pressed her lips to his, she tasted like toothpaste and Liz. He shivered as she parted her lips. Then he grabbed her at her hair gently and tucked her head back, kissing her neck. "Do you really want that," he asked against her skin and at the same time the voice in his head yelled at him, Are you crazy? Of course, she wants this. She's naked as a jaybird on top of you. She wants this!

No, he was not crazy at all, but close to despair. And if Liz would change her mind again, he would probably go completely crazy.

"Oh, yeah … " she breathed and bit her bottom lip. "For a long time, I hadn't felt this way."

He sat up and kissed her bare shoulder, turning the light of the nightstand lamp on. "I want to see you. I have to -"

He didn't need to finish the sentence. Liz could see it in his eyes, I have to make sure that this is happening, that you are real. That you are here with me. That this isn't another dream.

He moved forward and laid her back down on the mattress to see her face, not to mention the spark in her eyes. Her cheeks were a little pink and she looked shyly away but Adam sure as hell wouldn't stop looking at her. "Jesus, you are beautiful." He suddenly whispered.

"I am not."

He kissed gently her right nipple. "I am the one who's looking at you right now and I think that you are beautiful." He smiled when she started to blush as she had never heard saying that to her. "Absolutely breathtaking."

And the way Adam was looking at her, Liz believed it. She swallowed down the lump in her throat. She smiled uncertainly at him. "With you, I feel beautiful."

He looked passionately at her, and in his fascinating blue eyes was burning a fire. "You are beautiful … and you are mine again." He put a hand on her knee and slowly stroked her leg up to the hip, then up to the waist and along her side, until he finally gently cupped one of her breasts with his hand.

Liz' breath hitched when he sucked her nipple into his mouth, licking and releasing it,

She grabbed his neck and pulled him closer, arching her back and releasing her breath shakily. This wasn't just a relief, this wasn't just sex, it was reconnecting again. And was a long time ago she felt this way, the last time it was with the man she shared a bed right now. Adam changed her, he booted her. With every single word, with every single small smile. But this …

He let his mouth wander over her belly and she inhaled sharply, burying her fingers into his hair. "Adam -"

"Ssh."

Her eyes grew huge when he went further down on her and stopped between her thighs. She wanted to close them immediately, but she couldn't with his broad shoulders between her legs. She squirmed. "Adam -"

He looked up at her. "Yes?"

"I -" But the embarrassment paralyzed her tongue. How on earth was she supposed to tell him ... He lowered his head and rubbed his nose against her thigh. And when she raised her pelvis in response, he took the opportunity to slip his hands under her bottom.

"I don't think -"

"Liz, do us both a favor …" He rasped and kissed her belly. "and stop thinking." Then he kissed her inner thigh to make sure that she really would stop thinking.

She caught her breath the moment he started to lick her, to run his tongue over her clit and she dug her nails into the sheets of the hotel bed. He did it a second time, and a third and started to suck carefully. Liz felt like she was about to explore and moaned loudly. And her orgasm ran through her unexpectedly, it finally broke over her and as she came, she felt his lips on her. Every time she started to calm down he touched her, nibbled at her sensitive skin, which made the whole thing endlessly. Quavering and breathless she calmed down again, she had no idea who long this took, and her head was buzzing. She stared at Adam, unable to move, her heart was jumping out of her chest. Every time she looked in his face a new wave of bliss ran through her and she bit her bottom lip.

He growled against her inner thigh, "Fuck, you're driving me crazy, Elizabeth." Then he pressed his lips to hers. He tasted different, he tasted like her and she moaned.

She was shaking, her whole body was trembling. He cupped her face with his hands the moment he pulled away and ran his thumb along her bottom lip. Too fast, too predatory … Keep calm … Adam looked into her sparkling brown eyes. "You okay?"

Instead of answering, she wrapped her arms around his neck and purred throatily.

That seductive sound made him shiver. Good god, she's really driving me crazy. With each of her smile. But this … He leaned upward and kissed her hungrily, almost desperate and then he lost the last bit of his self-composure. As long as he was able to think, he got himself out of her embrace. "Just a second." His eyes rolled in the back of his head the moment she dragged her nails over his neck. "Jesus," he breathed and stared at her and wondered if she always had this kind of bedroom eyes. "What the hell have you done to me and my life?" He whispered.

"Hmm?"

"You turned everything upside down. Everything, Liz."

Liz ran her finger along his mouth. "Likewise."

Adam smiled a little and turned her carefully onto her back, and she held her breath, and he noticed how the look in her eyes changed. Fear and panic were mirrored in them now. "We can stop. You just have to say it."

Stop?

No, stopping was no option right now. For one, because she would go crazy with desire when they stopped now-and this time, for real. And second, because she didn't know if she would ever regain the courage to try it again. She was so scared, even if she desired him so much. But then she gathered her courage, put her arms around his neck, kissed him, and snuggled close to him. She was unable to do more. In no case would she express her feelings in words. She just couldn't.

Adam stroked her cheek, straightened and kissed her on the chin, cheek, eyelids before kneeling between her splayed thighs and took off his shorts, though Liz didn't take her eyes off his face.

Once again, the air was gone from her lungs. Breathe, breathe, breathe ...

How was she supposed to sleep with him when she got a panic attack? She tried to suppress this thought and instead focus only on Adam, looked at him spellbound. Truth be told, by now she was glad he had turned on the light. In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, she saw his shapely, slender body, and if she had not become wax in his extremely talented hands anyway, that sight would surely have had the same effect. Involuntarily, Liz looked down - but then jerked her head up again when she noticed it.

Geez … Geez … Geez …

She gasped and swallowed hard, but this time she couldn't regain control again.

But then Adam was already over her, embraced Liz's face and kissed her hard and passionately ... almost roughly. "Everything okay."

Liz let out a shuddering sigh, and she groaned as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and began to breathe heavily. Little by little, she relaxed, feeling his entire body. Every detail.

He lifted his head and looked at her. "Still here?"

"Yes." She placed a hand on his neck. "I'm still here. Right with you."

"Nice … because I like you being here, with me." He linked his fingers with hers and pressed his body closer to hers. "Please stay with me …" Forever … Adam wanted to keep her with him forever. But for the time being, he was content to just watch her face as he entered her. He clenched his teeth and tried not to lose control. Liz stared at him with those dark eyes ... but in her eyes was not only lust but also ...

Slow ... just go slow, for God's sake ...

He raised her chin, gently turned her head to the side and buried his face in her neck, caressing her sweaty skin. "Talk to me, Liz," he whispered into her ear.

"Adam -" Liz paused and took a deep breath, and only the light touch of her breasts that was caused by it was enough to drive him crazy. Groaning, he stroked over her upper body, finally cupped a breast and ran his thumb over the nipple. Then he shifted his weight to the other arm and watched as the nipple grew hard.

Liz shuddered, and that shy, nervous smile returned to her lips.

He slipped deeper into her and was firmly grabbed by her. "Damn -" Adam cursed, moaning.

She got glassy eyes.

He buried his fingers in her hair and tugged her head gently back. "You are killing me, Liz."

She shivered and groaning, he slipped even deeper into her. Then he pulled back and started over, moving very slowly to challenge her. When he was finally filling Liz, there was only both of them, trembling, sweating, so that Adam was convinced they had lost each in other, completely lost.

She dug her nails in his back and moaned, "Adam -" and, before she could go any further, he pressed his lips to hers, forgetting that he had actually intended to take it easy and be gentle. His rhythm became increasingly faster and more hard. Liz adjusted to his movement, clinging to his shoulders with her fingernails and pressing herself against him.

When she finally came close to her climax, she seemed to grab him even more tightly, so that Adam had to gather all his strength to just penetrate her. "Jesus, Liz."

Although she stared at him, she had that a strange look. She moaned his name, passionately pushed her pelvis against him. "Please."

"Shhh." He gave her a kiss. But Liz bit his lower lip, gripped his hips and pulled him closer as she pressed herself against him. "Please, oh, please -"

Cursing, Adam let his hand wander down. As he rubbed her clit, Liz froze, made big eyes, and released a deep, throaty sound. She cramped, grabbing him so warm and tight. Adam could feel the contraction, shivers of sweet pain and lust chased through his body. Still, he tried to control himself as he entered her ... And then it finally happened - she came, shouting his name and sank trembling under him back onto the mattress. He felt her digging her nails into his arms and involuntarily thrust into her. She screamed. "Liz ...?"

"Please …!"

Adam leaned down and kissed her before he again increased the pace and thrust deep, deep, deep into her ... to get lost in her. No. He had been lost for years already.

Her heart was still beating wildly, and she was breathing so hard it was almost a wonder that she hadn't fainted. But she felt so alive from head to toe. A pleasant shudder passed through her as Adam straightened up, rubbed his cheek against hers and whispering her name. Liz turned her head to look at him.

Adam grabbed her hand and kissed Liz on the wrist. She winced as his lips brushed the scars. "I just wanted to make sure you are really here. That the whole thing is not a dream."

She chuckled - and was so surprised by herself that she clapped her hand over her mouth.

Smiling, Adam ran a hand through her hair. "You are beautiful." Then he quirked an eyebrow. "No back talk."

"When you're looking at me like that, I believe it." She replied and blushed a little.

He smiled broadly. "Then I won't stop looking at you." He stated and pulled her against him. "Never."

"And how are you supposed to catch the bad guys?"

He looked down at her and kissed her again. "I find a way, believe me."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes.