Thank you, SusieCues, PiscesChickk, SleepyGirl and katiac-you have inspired me!
And thank you everyone who is reading this story, you know who you are!
I hope this floats our little fandom's boat :)

A/N:

This is a TENTATIVE ending to this story. I did not want to remove it for the folks who have read and liked the whole thing. However, my plot bunnies returned and the alternate ending is in the works. I finished plotting it out today and hopefully will soon be able to post. The story is called Damage. I promise some surprises. Please PM me if anything looks confusing.

Thank God both of them want the same thing at the same time.

Her fingertips land at his collar and work at the buttons, down and fast. She wants more-more of him to make up for the days she had none. The shirt comes off and underneath he is perfectly solid, the planes of his abdomen, ribs pale and hard. He is holding himself back letting her explore but her lips touch him and his control quickly erodes.

He smoothes his palms up her arms catching the straps on the way down.

"I've been waiting for this," he whispers and devotedly kisses her nipple then drags his tongue to envelope the other. When he leans back the air is cool on her skin. He smoothes his palms up her ribs and squeezes gently. She stops breathing, he kneads and she cannot contain a moan. She wants to abandon his lap and kneel but he does not let her.

Screw patience, screw everything. There is a whirlwind of pressure and, suddenly, he is above her. She opens her knees to let him in.

And then his hands are all over her and his fingers...oh Jesus...

Her nerve endings are screaming for him and she tells him where she wants him. There is a soft clink of metal and sound of whoosh and his belt thumps on the carpet. She reaches beneath and he...he has been ready since she walked in.

"Robert, do...do what you need to me".

He exhales.

"That's insane."

"I am asking".

Yes, she is asking, asking that of him ... and yes, he will submit to his Queen.

With every heartbeat that passes she wants to scream, to will him inside her. But, right now, he is stronger, if only a few notches more. Torment is his element, too, to tease and fracture until both of them are broken.

The weeks of hunger, frustration, rejection, all of it comes pouring forth.

At first, she grows angry and wants to repay him for what he has done to her. But he holds her so close, as if she is the most precious thing in the world, and she doesn't know anything anymore. He is so good to her, answers every need and desire, whatever, how ever she wants. She wants petals-he gives her roses, she wants pain-he gives her sweet hurt. Irrevocably, they are here and the gifts keep coming, hers to him, his to her...

As they are falling asleep she curls up against him and the way he wraps himself around her couldn't be any closer. His hand finds the edge of the throw on the couch and he drags it down and over to protect her. This solace is so strong, so vital that, expectedly, fear whispers at them of waking up and finding all of this gone.

He is the unlucky one. He feels he is drowning as tiny bubbles swirl above. He sits up with a jolt and his throat is burning. Something is digging into his palm. He already knows. He sends the earrings flying across the carpet and is about to flop back down when he hears her voice.

"Got you scared?"

"No, it is fucking delightful to wake up alone".

"Cranky. Good to know you have feelings." There is a bit of an edge to her voice.

Damn it, he is not dealing with this from the floor. He gets up and ushers her up the stairs, finds his bed and falls into it first.

She lays down beside him and she is smiling for he no longer terrifies her. In fact, she likes to see him a bit burned. But she is also merciful and doesn't let him suffer too long. She pecks at his cheek and reaches to play with his hair.

"Harlee, cut it out."

"Don't talk".

Her lips travel down his body and he grunts,

"Har..."

"I said don't talk" and a pillow bumps into him.

He gives up and lets her pull at his waistband. She kisses along the strip of blond hair between his hips and finds him enraged down below. Thankfully, she is all bliss and softness and knows just the way of soothing his hurt...

Afterwards, he holds her like he is afraid to lose her.

"Harlee...",his voice breaks.

"What? I'll be the death of you?" Her eyes are dancing and she buries her face in his shoulder.

"How about my life?" He feels her smile against him and he knows he got so damn lucky to live through his perfect storm.