CHAPTER 4

REUNION

V entered the security code and waited for the door to the Shadow Gallery to unlock. The gallery was dark—except for a few candles that warmly lit the way for him to the master bedroom. The antique jukebox filled the air with a soft melody that V had never heard before, and he wondered where Evey had gotten it . He layed his gloves and hat, along with his cape on the piano top, and made his way silently down the hallway. Upon reaching the bedroom doorway, he caught his breath and held it--Evey stood before the floor length mirror, the long, black silk negligee molded to the very essence of her body. He let his breath out slowly, taking in every curve--my god, how he had missed her! Crossing his arms, he leaned up against the doorway, and just watched as she brushed the long blondish-brown hair. Evey's eyes finally caught his reflection in the mirror watching her.

" How long have you been standing there?" She asked softly.

" Long enough..." V answered as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his chest. She savored the heat that was radiating through his body, then turned in his arms facing him. Her hands went to his waist and unfastened the knives, letting them slip to the floor, removing the mask to the nearby table, her arms went around his neck, and she kissed him with a wanting that brought a moan from V's lips. " Evey... I have missed you so much--there wasn't a day that didn't go by that I didn't found myself thinking of you."

" Then why didn't you come to me, V? Do you know the pain and guilt that I carried with me those first months after the fifth?" She looked into the blue eyes, searching. " My world had ended--I didn't know if I could continue or not--then I found out I was pregnant with Victoria, and everything changed for me--I had a part of you, that I would never let go."

" Evey, I am so sorry," He paused as his lips traced soft kisses over her neck, " I am so sorry I put you through such pain." He looked into the soft brown eyes that held his heart in their depths. " Can you ever forgive me?"

Evey smiled as she took his face in her hands. " I did that the minute you walked out of the shadows on the roof." She kissed him softly as he scooped her up in his arms and slammed the door shut with his boot.

V layed her down gently, and began to undress as Evey watched him in the soft glow of the nearby lamp. This was the first time she had ever seen the actual man, and not the idea, that she could remember--the first time they were together was more of a dream than reality because

of the alcohol induced fog that blanketed her mind that night.. She smiled taking in every inch of the semi-nude body before her. Most of the scarring that had covered his body (from what she could remember) was barely noticeable since the series of surgeries V had undergone. His muscles were still hard and lean , and the animal magnetism that had drawn her to him was more powerful than she had remembered. He pulled the black leather boots off and placed them on the floor next to the table. Evey licked her lips as she watched him roll onto the bed next to her.

" I take it, that you see something you like?" He smiled at her.

" Definitely..." She whispered as she pulled his face to her, her tongue tracing his lower lip. Her fingers trailed soft patterns on the solid planes of his stomach--her hand beginning to reach lower until she finally cupped him. He was huge under her touch, and she heard a low growl escape his lips as her fingers worked the buttons of the breeches he wore. It was only a matter of seconds before he felt her hand grasp him, and he closed his eyes as sensations he had not felt in so long overpowered his mind. She stroked him gently as his breathing started to come in short gasps. Suddenly, his hand stilled hers, his eyes looking into hers. He took her shoulders gently in his hands and pulled her up and away. Evey stared, her mind racing. Oh, god, what had she done to make him stop her? Didn't he want her after all the years they had been separated? He had said that he was not going to leave her again... She felt his hands gently take the ends of her nightgown and pull it over her head, leaving her body open to his sultry eyes as a low sigh escaped his lips, and he pulled her to him once again, his lips catching hers in a hard, passionate kiss, then to her neck, teasing her as he moved one hand down her breasts, gently caressing the soft mound.

" My god, Evey..." V spoke softly , he felt her body shake, as she moaned weakly into his ear, making his erection grow more. He broke from her momentarily as the black breeches he wore dropped to the floor beside the boots. Evey snuggled into his waiting arms, her hand gently wrapping around him once again. He was quickly building to a point of loosing control, and he wasn't ready for that to happen yet. He took Evey's hand from his pulsating member, and rolled her onto her back, quickly moving above her, his knee pushing her legs open to him.

He looked down at her, his eyes cloudy with passion. " Are you sure?"

Evey took his face in her hands as an answer, and V gently slid into her, her tight wetness welcoming him as he slowly began to deepen himself. Evey's nails dug deeper into his back as he increased his thrusts, and she moaned softly, closing her eyes. In V's mind, all his dreams had finally become a reality. For ten years, he had hoped that he could see a glimpse of her on November fifth of every year he had returned to London, and now, she lay beneath him, and he was loving her the way he had always dreamed of. He had found her again, and not even death would break them apart.

" I love you..." She whispered into his ear as her legs went around his waist, allowing him

more entrance into her depths.

" All days are nights to see till I see thee; And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me." (2) V spoke softly, the fire erupting deep in his loins as he took Evey's hands and pulled them gently above her head, his fingers entwining with hers as he brought his lips down to catch her soft, swollen ones. She was getting close, he could tell as she moaned beneath him, and he felt his body begin to loose control. He slowed his thrusts, as Evey's moans increased in intensity, her hands breaking from his, drawing him closer to her as her body withered under him. V's breathing increased as he felt her muscles clench tightly around his member, her body shaking as she cried out his name in estacy. He held her until the spasms passed, then he increased his rhythm, pushing into her deeply until he felt himself explode inside of her, her name ripped from his lips as he shuddered against her body. Afterwards, he gathered her into his arms, and she snuggled deeper against him, sighing

" I love you." She whispered into his neck as her lips touched the chilled flesh.

. ' To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven' (3) V spoke softly.

' Such is my love, to thee I so belong, that for that right, myself will bear all wrong.' (4) Evey answered, rising up on her arm, and pressing her lips to her mate's.

" I will swear this on my last breath, I will never leave you again, for you are my home, my life and my heart." V held Evey's eyes with his own. " I love you, Evey."

" I know." She answered as her leg curled over his abdomen.

V reached down and pulled the cover over them both. He would sleep with his love pulled close to him from this night forward. He closed his eyes, and drifted off into the first peaceful sleep he had had in years.

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