Paris was breathtaking in the summer. There wasn't a single soul that could deny that; but with the sun came noise, something Arthur hated immensely. The park two blocks from their home was constantly flooding with children and tourists enjoying the rare breeze that the country had to offer. By nine every morning, kids flocked down the block, with their scooters and soccer balls in hand as they loudly made their way to their playgrounds and fields. That enthusiasm and careless buzz was his wake up. Every single morning of summer.

Groaning, he turned over and blindly patted the spot on the bed next to him. Ariadne was up. That was all the encouragement he needed. Despite working together, the two rarely got any time to be truly alone. The small moments they had at home as a married couple made up what Arthur called the basis of their relationship. It was what kept them standing together as a couple. Those small moments when they would wrap themselves around one another without a care. Where they would forget their worries and responsibilities and solemnly focus on one another. It was his favourite moments.

It took more effort than expected to roll out of bed and jump in the shower. His tense muscles relished under the hot water as he scrubbed down and allowed the liquid to cascade down his body. Despite the heat outside, hot showers were a must if he wanted to get through the day with wide and focused eyes. He would usually stand in there for ten to fifteen minutes. That morning, he was in there for twenty. A brush through his teeth and a usual attire of a 3 piece suit and Arthur was out of the room. Today was the practice run, it was time to experience what their talented architect had created and hopefully have all the details laid out for their extraction tomorrow. Walking towards the kitchen, he couldn't ignore the thick smell of freshly cooked pancakes along with the heavy scent of coffee. His mouth watered eagerly as he turned the corner and caught sight of his wife. Her back was towards him, which he was instantly thankful for because he couldn't remember ever being this out of control with his body. She was wearing a dress. Something she rarely did. And not just any dress, a damn summer dress. A dress that stopped a few inches above her knee and complimented her body deliciously.

Following the colourful design of the fabric, he allowed his eyes to trail upwards, taking the curves of her thighs and hips, up along her slender waist and stopped at her maze of brown hair. Sensing someone looking at her, she turned around and greeted him with a peculiar but still bright smile. "Good morning."

Good morning, indeed.

It took every ounce of self control he had not to gaze down at the front of her body. He was desperate to take in every detail. To see how well the material complimented her chest or how it swayed as she took steps towards him.

"Are you alright?"

She obviously had no clue about the affect she so discreetly had on him. She had no idea her husband was about to embark on a journey of impure thoughts from the way she was pressing herself to him a tight bearing hug. No, Ariadne had no clue and it would remain that way. Wrapping his arms around her frame, he picked her up off the ground slightly and returned her hug.

"You made pancakes. What's the special occasion?"

It was a Wednesday. The two of them rarely resorted to cooking full breakfast meals until the weekend. He had quickly learned from Eames, of all people, that when a woman pulled together a full meal, it was never done randomly. She had a hidden agenda.

"I woke up early and had some time to spare. I figured why not?" Turning around, she piled him a plate with the golden cakes and handed it to him. "Fruits on the table."

Confused but not willing to show it, he thanked her and sat down at their table. True to her word, a plate of fruit lay right where she said alongside a wide assertion of food. "You certainly had a lot of time on your hands this morning."

"There's nothing wrong with being in the kitchen, Arthur." Sitting next to him, she grabbed her own plate and began filling it up.

"I didn't say there was. You should have woke me up to help you though." A hot cup of coffee in his hand, he gave her a glance as she dug into her food.

"I'll wake you up next time."

Arthur chuckled internally and shook his head. There was no way she was, but who was he to argue? If she wanted to cook for him, than so be it. It just made him luckier than he already was.

"So. I've started planning our vacation..." she started off almost awkwardly. "I'm thinking Cannes, two weeks, right by the water." She bit her lip, watching him, no doubt anticipating his reaction.

"That sounds nice. Do you need help planning? I could probably find us a really good hotel."

She merely blinked at him. "Wait. You have no complaints?"

"Am I suppose to?"

"Well...er...no. I didn't think you'd go along with the idea so easily, though."

Pushing his now empty plate away from him, Arthur turned to face his wife. "I took your words into consideration. You were right. We are in need of a vacation and if you want, I'm putting the ball in your court. Since it was your idea, you've got the freedom to drag me wherever you want."

The beam on her face nearly caused his heart to stop. God, how he loved it when she smiled. "Will you do whatever I want as well?"

"Don't I always?"

Her laughter filled the dining room and instantly became the highlight of his morning.

-x-

Concentration was deemed just about impossible that day. It was almost brutal. Arthur could barely remember actually accomplishing anything. His mind was else where, in a land where it was just him and his wife. Alone. Doing things married couples did. It was wrong, completely wrong for her to have worn that dress today. Despite how hot the weather was, it was just agonizing to see her move around in the free flowing fabric. What was worse though was that he wasn't the only one to notice.

"My, she looks ravishing." Eames came over to join him as he pulled open his silver case and began preparing for their trip under.

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped gawking at my wife."

"I would, dear friend. But she looks far too tempting for me to do so."

He instantly stiffened, glowering at Eames as he stood in front of him. The Brit was easily amused, as he backed away with his hands up as if to signal surrender. The subject of their conversation, who was a few feet away with Yusuf, turned to face them for a moment and raised her elegant eyebrow slowly. Shrugging in response, Arthur turned away and took a deep breath.

It had been a while since they had last been intimate. A full week and two days to be exact. He was sure that was why he was having such an out of body experience. Pounding heart, erratic pulse and an oncoming erection that refused to remain under control. He could only hope that he made it through the day peacefully without having to resort to taking his wife in his office.

He groaned under his breath. The idea had splurged a fantasy in his mind and Arthur was filled with an raunchy image. Closing his eyes, he tried to shake the thought away. It refused to fade though. Instead, it grew more vivid. He could see himself on his chair, his body comfortable rested against it as Ariadne straddled his waist. Her dark locks bounced freely as her body moved and ground feverishly against his. Heated desire rested in between them as he would push her back slowly to exposed her front to him. Hungry laps from his tongue would cause her to cry out his name, something he so desperately wanted to hear, as he devoured her pert breasts. His hands would lose themselves in her hair, holding her head in place as he tasted and feasted on her body. The movements rough and fast, as they both came closer and closer to-

"Arthur?" Shit.

"Yes, love?"

"Are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine, thanks."

She glanced at him oddly as her hand reached and stroked his cheek lightly. "You look flushed, should I turn the AC on higher?"

"No, that's alright. I'll survive." Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he led her over to their seats and motioned for her to sit. Eames took the seat next to her as Arthur settled himself in front of them. Yusuf towered over them, awaiting the signal to send them into the dream. A nod was all he needed and what he received. Closing his eyes, Arthur gave into the sleep and lost himself in the unconsciousness.

"Not bad, darling. I dare say this is far better than any club I've ever been to." Eames pushed his hands into his pockets as he walked around observing the scene in front of him.

Ariadne stood behind him, leaning against the bar as she examined and admired her work. Arthur was in the same boat as them. He had seen the module she created based off this very club but this was far more exhilarating than he thought. The building was dark, with a red glow that bounced off the walls. Tall chairs curved around the bar, and individual tables not far from there. The large dance floor took up most of the space but his attention was up top. That was where the mark had to be. Ariadne had created it perfectly. Any spot on the top floor gave their target an impeccable view of the club. He had to see what himself and Eames were going to do. He had to be angered by their actions and come after them. It was the only way they could grasp him and get the info out of him.

He didn't bother asking to see the casino she had created. With enough information on the conman, it was best to assume that he would be more familiar with a nightclub scene than a casino. Backup never hurt though, and with the gambling center resting somewhere in her mind, Arthur knew they could just as easily use it as the setting instead of the club.

"Let's review." Putting his hands into his pockets, Arthur paced around the bar to the stairway entrance. "Sean Creston, our mark, will obviously be up in the VIP. Ariadne, your going to be stationed where?"

"Upstairs as well, stationed in the VIP. I'll keep my eyes on him and warn you when he's in the position you need."

"Eames, what about you?"

"I'll be taking the form of the lovely Lily, Mr. Creston's lady friend. I'll be at the bar, alone and vulnerable."

Ariadne's lips twitched in a chuckle but Arthur was too focused to find any amusement in the conversation.

"Perfect. I'll approach Mrs. Lily when Ariadne gives me the signal. Hopefully, when Creston sees her being roughed up and dragged out against her will, he'll react and follow us out."

"And from there, we hold him to gunpoint and threaten him with Lily's life until we can retrieve the secrets." Eames finished it off and the three glanced at each with small smiles. It sounded simple enough, but nothing was truly simple in the dream world. They could only hope that there weren't any hidden secrets to their mark that they weren't prepared for.

-x-

"How about we call it a day? We've got a conman to corner tomorrow." Awake and eager to get this assignment out of the way, Arthur pulled the straps from his veins and stood up. "Creston is scheduled for wisdom teeth removal tomorrow morning. By afternoon, he should be back at his hotel and under deep sleep. We strike than."

With only an understanding murmur from the team, they parted, cleaning up their stations and heading out. Before long only he and his wife remained, as she placed sheets in her bag and zipped it up. Hand in hand they exited and locked up the warehouse. It wouldn't be needed anymore, not for a while. With his promise to Ariadne hanging in the air, Arthur knew that even if another client came up, his job would have to be put on hold. They were things that came before all that.

"Are you hungry? I can pull together a sandwich or two." Dropping her bag, Ariadne lead the way into their home and directly into the kitchen. Or at least she tried. He managed to grasp her hand before she could and guided her towards their bedroom instead.

Forget food. He was hungry for something else.

Ariadne stood confused in front of her husband as his hand lightly stroked her neck. Small tingles of excitement trickled across her skin as his light touch refused to decrease or halt.

"Do you have any idea what you've done to me today?" His head leaned into join his hand, lightly brushing against her hair until his lips pressed against her throat. "This dress is…" he paused for a moment. "…sinister. I've never felt such a love/hate emotions towards an item so much."

If he thought she was comprehending the words that left his mouth, he was wrong. She had a habit of shutting down her mind when ever he was this close to her. How was a woman suppose to think when a pair of lips were teasing her neck with pecks and sprinkled kisses? Expelling a sigh, she reached with her own hands wrapped them around his neck. Their bodies pressed against each other tightly, nearly moulding them into one as Arthur detached himself from her neck and instead soldered onto her lips. His kisses were weapons of mass seduction. With the right pressure and angle, which her husband was the master of, he had weak in the knees and putty in his arms. Unfortunately, he felt the need to tease and pulled away from the kiss. Instead, he tugged on her bottom lick, sucking gently before releasing it.

He gazed down at her and she just about melted from the scorching heat in his eyes. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she took his hand and lead him to the bed. Her back came in contact with the soft mattress as Arthur placed his arms on either side of her body. This was position she didn't mind being locked in. With his warm breath falling onto her face, she gripped his shirt and fumbled to unbutton it. He merely watched, melting her every instinct with his captivating stare. Oh how she wanted him. Below her, on top of her, inside her. It didn't matter. She just needed him. He exuded temptation, even more now that she had finally rid him of his top. Her palms rested against the bare skin, caressing the smooth surface with shaky fingers as his breathing deepened. She liked the effect she had on him, especially the one she could feel pressing against her leg. His prominent excitement transferred to her, drenching her panties with anticipation as her hands worked downward to unbuckle his belt. She quickly the threw it to the ground, allowing his pants and boxers to briskly join it. Naked, and still pinning her to the bed, Arthur gave a slow, sly grin. It happened so quickly, she was sure to have missed if she blinked. With his hands under her body, he picked her up and placed in the center of the bed. His fingers clasped around the hook of her light dress, peeling it down slowly as he exposed her familiar body to his hungry eyes.

Ariadne had never felt so loved, so wanted. Every movement he made, every action, every look told her he was on edge and restless. That he couldn't wait to claim her as his and bring them both to the brick of ecstasy. He was capable of doing so. Over and over again; and she was sure that was just what would happen.

With her dress in a puddle on the floor, she lay back, confident and eager as her husband feasted on her nearly naked body. His lips brushed against her collar bone, working downward until they reached her erect nipples. Her back arched off the bed when his mouth closed around them, sending a wildfire through her veins. With one mouth on one breast, his free hand grasped the other, moulding and tweaking her nipple between his fingers. Consumed by desire so strong it shook her, Ariadne forced her eyes open and watched the erotic scene in front of her. She wasn't sure what she appreciated more. Being able to feel the effect of his actions or watching him.

Releasing her breasts, he worked downwards as his talented fingers hooked around her panties. Edging them down, he focused his mouth on her stomach. Lower and lower he went, pressing open mouth kisses below her belly button as the fabric of her underwear ended up at her feet. With a fling it was off her, and her breathing increased. Legs spread, her husband nibbled on her inner thigh, edging closer to center of heat. She was wet, aching and in dire need of his touch. But all he seemed to be doing was taking his dear time on her thighs. Switching between thighs, Arthur kissed, licked and lightly bit the skin.

"Arthur." Her head fell back against the pillow, frustration building as the ache in her moist center increased. "Please."

"Please what?" His movements halted, as he stared up at her from his position. "Say it, Ariadne."

"Touch me," she breathed, her teeth coming over her lip.

"Where?"

Blood rushed to her face, pooling around her cheeks as fumbled to get her words out. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead, she took his hand and placed it right over her clit, as she moaned at the contact. Thankfully, he took the bait and began rubbing the sensitive flesh. Ariadne was floating, unable to keep still as a single finger slid deep into her depth and his tongue replaced the rubbing process. She had to bit down on her lips intensely to hold back her cries of pleasure. A fire was burning within her; a fire she so desperately wanted turned out. A fire only her husband could tame.

He hummed against her clit, sending vibrations through her as his lips took over and sucked gently on her most sensitive place. There was no holding back her cries. Not when things were this intense. Breathing with difficulty but still yearning for more, she propped herself onto her elbows to watch. The show itself made her more aroused than she could imagine.

Unfortunately, it ended early. Arthur pulled himself up and laid her back down on her head. Getting on his knees in front of her, she watched with dire fascination as his body moved around the bed. She wasn't sure what he was doing, she was more focused on his chest and hips. "Your so beautiful." The words left her lips before she could even comprehend it.

He chuckled deeply, gripping her legs as he did so. "You're the beautiful one here, love. I swear on it." Spreading her legs, he rested in between and before she knew it, they were one.

He didn't bother starting off slow, which she loved. He went straight into shaking her core, thrusting so deep and fast that she resorted to grabbing the sheets. His mouth pressed hot kisses to her neck as his bottom half penetrated her so deep she felt it in her soul. She couldn't think, couldn't focus. All she did was feel. Oh, did she feel a lot. He increased his tempo, amplifying the pace as vocal declarations of love and pleasure echoed through their room. His were more quiet, more passionate as he grunted and groaned against her ear. Each sound sent another wave of sheer excitement through her, notifying her that he was enjoying himself just as much as he was.

The quiet, polite Arthur was gone. Carefree and hungry Arthur replaced him as he whispered deeply against her ear. "Your mine. God, your all mine, love." His tongue swept across her ear lobe. "I'll be damned if I don't make love to you like this every damn night."

He pumped into her non-stop, possessively and deliberately as he brought her to a cliff of pleasure. Her body tightened and clenched itself in preparation before she jumped into the sea of bliss and cried out his name one last time. She knew he wouldn't be far now; not after she had just come. She could see it in his eyes, his determination and need. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling his lips down as she pressed her against him eagerly. "Come for me," she whispered, as the kiss broke. "Let me feel you."

His eyes squeezed shut and his forehead fell against her gently as he bit his bottom lip. He gave two more thrusts, shoving his entire length into her depths before he let go and freed himself. His breathing, much like hers, was irregular and out of balance, but somehow amidst all that they managed to smile at one another as their arms wound around their frames.

Their job couldn't end any sooner. Ariadne found herself anticipating their little getaway more than ever.