Morticia couldn't take her eyes off Gomez's profile as they walked up to the house. His grin was spread wide across his face, a lit cigar dangled dangerously between his teeth. Never had she seen him so overcome with joy, it made her want to pounce on him, devouring his very essence until she felt his joy melt into her. Gomez held her hand tightly, leading the way to share their news with her mother and Lurch. Just as they reached the door, Morticia stopped causing Gomez to be pulled back at her sudden lack of motion.

"Cara Mia?"

Her pupils were dark, as she offered him a sly little smile. For a moment, Gomez felt terrified, prey found by its predator. He waited, his heart racing with the possibilities of what she was going to do. Like claws, her hands grabbed at the lapels of his jacket and pulled him against her. Their bodies pushed closer together, wanting to feel the flesh that lay temptingly beneath their clothes. Gomez's hot breath mixed with the heat coming from the smoke of his cigar as it moved across Morticia's cheeks. The sapphire of her eyes was replaced by a dark abyss of hungry lust. Her slender fingers wrapped around his cigar, tossing it carelessly to the ground. As soon as it was removed, her lips went to claim their rightful spot.

Gomez was powerless, succumbing to Morticia's every desire. It was she who placed his hands on her waist, demanding he hold her against him. The feel of her sharp nails pressing slightly into his back cemented her dominate position. It thrilled Gomez to be vulnerable to Morticia's sudden whim of passion. Not a move was made that she did not elicit, either she nonverbally stated her wishes, or he simply reacted to her lead.

Morticia left his lips, her head lowering to the collar of his shirt. As her hands worked on the buttons of his jacket, her teeth tore at the ones resting on his shirt. Gomez couldn't resist his urge to clutch a few locks of her silken tresses in his hands, needing to feel like he could still control a small piece of her. He let the strands slide over the sweating flesh of his palms, memorizing how it felt to have them glide seamlessly over every nerve.

"Tish" he groaned. Her eyes lifted to look into his face, a devilish grin creating a sparkle in the dark orbs. Cold hands shocked his nervous system as they explored his newly exposed chest. Slowly, she moved up his body, her breasts pressing desperately against his strong torso. Every slight motion she made was driving him mad. All he wanted was to grab hold of her and make her his. Surprisingly, he managed to control himself, allowing Morticia to continue her uninterrupted exploration of his form.

Before he knew it, Morticia had pulled him into the shadow of the house discarding his shirt and jacket as she did so. There he stood, half naked before her hungry admiration. As delicately as a sigh, she reached behind herself and pulled open the metal teeth that kept the fabric protectively around her figure despite the pain in her ribs. In the faint light of the new darkness that was shrouding their surroundings, Gomez had to strain to watch as her gown gently slinked down her shoulders. Instinctively he took a couple steps towards her, desperate to see the flesh he desired as it was exposed. At the sight of his eagerness, Morticia tortuously let the dress fall a few more inches stopping on the fullness of her breasts.

Salivating, Gomez waited for more. He knew she was teasing, driving him to the brink of insanity before giving him any mercy. His heart raced when she smiled, but made no other movement. Testing his limits, he took another step towards her. Slowly, he watched as the dress dropped to her hips. As his eyes roamed over her body, a pang of heartache overcame him. There on her glowing flesh were the remnants of her misery. Healing bruises covered her ribs and abdomen, their colors starkly contrasted on her pale skin even in the cover of night.

Suddenly, their game was over. Morticia was staring at him as he stared at her. She could see that lust had been replaced with pity as he studied her. Frantically, she pulled at her gown averting her gaze from Gomez.

"Tish?"

She didn't say anything, only struggled to reach behind her, the continuous pain in her ribs raging with her new anxiety. Once again, her breath was stolen by her broken ribs. Wrapping around herself, her arms tried to offer a resemblance of comfort to the muscles. Just as she began to hyperventilate, warmth surrounded her. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck, as he stroked her hair. Each breath he took was unnecessarily deep, urging her to follow his lead. It was how she survived all those days pent up at her mother's, and now her savior was rescuing her again. With each breath, she felt a calm wash over her endless pain. In his arms, her hurt became manageable. As she regained control of her breath, Morticia pulled away searching for Gomez's eyes. Before he could ask what was wrong, she whispered.

"Waltz with me, Gomez?"

"Until the end of time, Cara Mia."

They moved gently, listening to the steady rhythm of the other's breath. Gomez's hand was on Morticia's bare back, her dress still unzipped from her earlier seduction. He grinned when she encouraged his hand lower until it rested on the small of her back. Leaning down, he captured her lips with his. As they broke apart, his grin widened.

"Marry me, Tish."

She laughed. "Darling, I…"

"No, Tonight!" he interrupted.

Her hand caressed the side of his face as she smiled and kissed him.