Chapter Four:

Clarice bit back a moan as he lightly nipped at her neck, still facing the wall rather than Dr Lecter; she spoke softly "What are you doing in my bedroom Doctor?"

He smiled into her skin. "I was awaiting your return my little Starling, nothing more."

His hands worked their way up her arms; he could feel the sparse hairs as they stood on end when he touched her, her skin was still moist from her shower and her hair was releasing droplets of water that trailed down her back.

"Stand up Clarice." He whispered into her ear.

Clarice did as she was asked purely because he was doing wonderful things to her body and she'd been without that feeling for far too long.

Dr Lecter stood behind her and ran his hands over her towel clad figure, then when he reached the top of the towel he swiftly pulled it away from her and let it drop to the floor.
Clarice vaguely felt the cool air hit her body as the towel was pulled away; she was presuming that Dr Lecter was still behind her as she had shut her eyes.

The Doctor was watching again as another droplet of water fell from her hair to trail down her back, he bent and followed the trail with his tongue; his hands trailing over her hips until he reached her backside. He straightened slowly and placed his hands on her upper arms.

"Turn around Clarice."

She bit her lip and shook her head slightly; her eyes were still squeezed shut.

"Clarice." He warned, growling. "Turn around."

He nipped her shoulder between his sentences to enforce his warning. She straightened her shoulders opened her eyes; whilst still completely aware of her state of undress she turned to face him. His eyes stayed focused on hers even though the body he had been fantasizing about for over a decade was deliciously bare before him.

"Do you want this Clarice, Hmm? There will be no going back after, and you will always be mine, I have your mind, once you give me that luscious body you will never forget. You know that don't you?"

She only nodded.

"Say it, Clarice."

"I want you to take me, Hannibal."

The ease in which his name spilled from her lips shattered any hope he had of containing his passion and remaining in control. He moved to her so quickly she was sure she would have missed it had she blinked.

Anger, lust, hope, fear and love spilled forth from both during their lovemaking and neither was left unmarked. Clarice adorned several love bites to her neck, stomach and inner thighs whilst Hannibal had scratches along his back and arms and a few bite marks on his shoulders.

Clarice awoke at 6.00am with a warm body holding her close. She smiled into his broad chest as she recalled last night's events. God, what had she become? That had been the best night of her life but her lover was a very powerful, very dangerous man. Clarice realised that she felt no guilt at sleeping with a killer, in fact she felt amazing.

Her eyes widened as a hazy memory came back to her, just as she had been losing the grip she had been trying to maintain on consciousness, she had felt his arms encircle her, his thumb stroking her skin and he had whispered into her hair.

"I am in love with you, Clarice Starling." And she had buried herself closer to his warmth and lost her battle with exhaustion.

Oh shit. As the ghost of her memory whispered those words to her again she lost any shred of loyalty she had left to the FBI, he loved her.

Clarice had always maintained a strict amount of self control, hell she needed it to work with Krendler everyday and not kill the bastard, but Hannibal had taken care of that problem for her. But at that moment in time she wanted to laugh outright and walk around wearing the stupid grin she had seen many a woman with at work.

She was after all a just like any other woman, she wanted to be swept away by her handsome, intelligent, sophisticated gentleman; she just never thought it would actually happen. He had asked her when she was trapped in the fridge if she'd ever ask him to stop; did that mean that he would if she asked? She hoped so; after all she still had some morality left. But she wasn't going to demand it of him, if he didn't then so what? Just as long as she didn't have to indulge in his different culinary preferences.

Clarice turned in Hannibal's arms to see him fast asleep, she smiled softly. Outside the sun was throwing a pink-gold colour across the sky, and for once Clarice Starling had slept soundly without the screaming of the lambs.