Liz's breath was as shallow as it was futile as she looked at Ressler kneeling between her legs, straightening up slightly. Disappointment was the sharp air she sucked in as his hands moved on down her legs and he cocked one brow at her with a smirk she had never seen on him before. This whole expression was new and it made her blush like a schoolgirl seeing a man's bare chest for the first time. And then she really had to chuckle and bite down her lips, because he was pulling off her shoes, something she hadn't thought of. Just like that the situation had changed into something more delightful and though she loved it, being able to feel like that around him, Liz definitely wanted that heat back again. So she sat up quickly, bringing down one of her leg to support her and enfolded his face with her hands: "There's no way you're getting out of this", she said lowly with her eyelids just as low, before she kissed him, denying him a chance to answer.

But yet again Donald found a way to comment, just like always; and it was something that usually annoyed her just like Red being right. This time however sensing his hands on her back, trailing up her spine created languorous goose bumps on her skin. And he actually made her stop when he undid her bra on the first try. Liz opened her mouth just to be literally hushed by him, which made her indeed speechless. How could one simple sound like that be so electrifying? There was no chance for her brain to answer that question, because she including her mouth was pulled against him again and the missed heat was back, like he had just flipped his fingers.

If she had known that kissing him would feel like fireworks beneath her skin, Liz definitely done that sooner. If she had known how safe she felt in his arms, she probably would have let her guard down earlier. It was strange to not feel like the stronger one, the tougher one, just like she had felt with Tom, who had always be the one to talk her out of her worries, but not taking them. Now she didn't worry at all, she couldn't think of one thing right now. There wasn't a real difference when it came to the appearance either. Tom hat been athletic and lean, like a young tree leaning against a storm moving with it to survive. She had always felt like he was giving her roots, but not enough to shelter her in that storm, because he was always twisting and turning out of her grasp. And as how true this had been. Donald however was a rock: solid, honest, strong and immovable. The latter however seemed to change thanks to her or maybe just for her. And that thought made her smile against his lips when her back touched his couch again, making her ask herself how she hadn't noticed that he had stripped her from another piece of clothing.

Donald had no idea what was more agonizing: the pain in his side or her soft skin against his. It wasn't easy to lean on his arms like that when one side seemed to consist of burning metal, eating away his bones. But he didn't want to stop, he just couldn't. His body didn't even need to convince his mind anymore, because he had no idea, no real explanation why they hadn't ended up like this weeks ago, or maybe even months ago. Probably because he had never imagined that Liz would actually want this as well, imagine something like this even. The piercing pain in his side stopped his thinking and he was unable to take up the lost string because of her hands brushing up his chest. He needed to close his eyes, to savor and to bear this.

Liz knew that he was in pain, simply because she had had a cracked rib herself not so long ago. Yet this wasn't the only reason she pushed him up, while he opened his eyes in confusion because he thought that she was trying to push him away. As he sat and wanted to say something, Liz silenced him with a kiss, while undoing her jeans and she didn't need to look down at his tracking pants because she already had felt the result of her actions against her body. Apart from that the expression on his face was speaking for itself. And that his hands were rather cool when they touched her skin again, making her breath in quickly.

Ressler surprised her once more. Even though she hadn't expected him to do the opposite, she definitely hadn't anticipated that he would pull her closer, gently, letting his hands run up her back to gently force her body against his as soon as she kneeled on his couch straddling his lap. He didn't pull her down, he didn't go for it at all, the only thing he did seem to want was digging his hands in her long dark hair and made it fall across his face when his mouth found hers again. And just like that he turned her into complete chaos, like he was rebuilding her skin with every touch of his fingers that slid down, slowly, followed by his lips which were exploring her neck. Now his hands' being cool was a sensation that drove her insane. So much for taking the lead. Liz was paralyzed, only being able to lean back her head and hold on to the back of his while he was kissing his way down. She hadn't had any idea that her skin could be that sensitive.