Redemption

Chapter Eighty-Five

Applause rang through the dining room as Jack pulled Sue to him in a tender embrace, placing kisses upon her cheeks and forehead as he told her how much he loved her. She'd said yes to his proposal. As he'd knelt down to place the garter on her leg, he'd tossed it away, producing a simple, yet very beautiful diamond engagement ring from his pocket. The love in his eyes had been evident as he looked up into her eyes and proclaimed his love for her.

He'd kissed her hand before he popped the question, their joined fingers shaking in tune as each one's nerves lost control and had begun to shake. "Sue Thomas," he began, signing as he spoke because of the tears in her eyes, "will you marry me?"

The entire room had become eerily silent as everyone in attendance waited with bated breath for her response. When she'd said yes, there was uproarious applause, Bobby and Danni jumping triumphantly in the air before hugging one another and sharing a kiss. They'd been able to pull it off and now, the FBI's favorite couple was engaged.

Hugs an congratulations were shared throughout the close-knit group of friends, tears streaming down Lucy and Tara's faces as they hugged the analyst at the same time. Sue had tried to follow what both of them were saying at the same time, yet it was hard to decipher through her own tears. She wouldn't ask them to repeat it, though. She knew how they felt.

Myles had surprised both of them when they saw the tears in his eyes and gave his most heart-felt congratulations. Sue felt like she was going to cry from the sincerity she'd seen spread across his face when he'd held out his hand for Jack to shake and her fiancée pulled the Bostonian into a brotherly hug.

D's simple pat on the back for Jack and kiss on the cheek for Sue was something neither of them would forget, because a compliment about marriage from a man who'd been married as long as D and was still happy was like a blessing sent by God. Marital bliss was a new adventure the couple was about to face, yet no one deserved it more than Jack and Sue.

After Danni had congratulated the happy couple and Bobby got in his hugs, they were both pulled aside by her father who was beaming with happiness. His daughter could have made this day all about her, but instead she'd decided to share the joy with another couple who was just as deserving as she. He'd always wondered if he'd raised her right and this was one of those times that he was sure he had.

"I think this is the perfect distraction," he said with a wink. "You two should skedaddle before anyone notices that you're gone." Smiling widely when he was met with matching confused expressions, he reached into his pocket and produced a keycard which he presented to the happy couple.

"What's this?" Bobby asked, fingering the card, turning it over and over as if it would show him the answer he was looking for.

"It's a gift from Charlene and me," he said, sounding ever more like the proud father he was. "We know that you two didn't have time to book anything for your wedding night, so we took the liberty and booked one for you." His smile turned sly and his wink was even more mischievous which only made the young couple blush.

"Daddy," Danni said softly after she got over the initial reaction to the gift, "we can't accept this." It just didn't feel right to accept such a wonderful gift from them when they had so little to offer in return.

Nicholas held up his hands in protest. "Now, we aren't taking no for an answer, young lady. You deserve a wedding night that you've always dreamed about and you're not going to find that in your apartment." The couple had opted to spend their first night as husband and wife in their own home, because of time constraints and the fact that they weren't sure if they'd be able to book the honeymoon suite so close to the day. It was surprising that her parents had been able to do that, but, of course, they'd always been a convincing duo and if they couldn't do it, no one could.

"What about all of our luggage?" Bobby asked as he pocketed the keycard. If they weren't going to take no for an answer, he wasn't going to try to convince them. "We left it at home because we were planning on leaving from there."

"It's all taken care of. All of your luggage is up in the room and a car will be sent to take you two to the airport tomorrow morning." His gaze solely set on his daughter who had tears in her eyes. "After all, nothing's too good for my little girl."

"Oh, Daddy," she exclaimed as he wrapped him up in a hug. She tried not to sob into his shoulder, but she was finding it more than a little difficult. It was one of the greatest gifts she could ever ask for.

"Thank you," Bobby added, shaking Nicholas' hand before giving him a hug as well. He was so speechless that it was the only thing he could think of saying. He wished he could find the right words, but the older man seemed to know how he felt.

"You're welcome," tears were now filling his eyes. "Now, get out of here before you're missed." He managed to give Danni a tender kiss upon her forehead before Bobby whisked her way, whispering "I love you" to her and gaining a matching response before Bobby took her hand and led her away from all of the hubbub.

The suite was immaculate! The colors were subdued compared to the room her parents had stayed in a few months ago, but it was still as beautiful as a picture. The beige colors gave the room a homey-feel and the complimentary fruit basket set upon the coffee table looked just delicious. Danni couldn't resist plucking a grape from within and bringing it to her lips. The sweet and tangy flavors blended together perfectly, making her taste buds dance with delight.

"Oh, Bobby, you have to taste this." she said bringing up the half she hadn't eaten yet to his lips so he could taste it. She couldn't miss the sparkle of humor in his eyes which blended into mischief as he lowered his head and let his warm tongue gently flick out across her tasty lips. She shivered as he gently licked and nipped at them, asking her for the access he so greatly craved.

Her lips parted on a sigh as she matched his slow rhythm, trying to meet his every movement. Her legs were weakening from his sensuous attack and she had to clutch to him for support, his jacket grasped tightly in her hands as she fought to stay standing.

He grinned as he eased away, hearing her whimper for more as she gazed up at him, her soft curves leaning upon the hardness of his chest. "Delicious, Luv," he whispered before licking his lips and taking the other half of the grape into his mouth with a triumphant smile.

She wanted to melt into a puddle upon the floor from the heat of his gaze and the longing that was mixed into the deep recesses of his eyes. She felt like she would get burned if she stared into his eyes for two long, but that was a punishment she was willing to take, especially when his lips brushed over the column of her throat and lower across her collarbone.

A shiver rose from deep within, making her tremble at the slightest touch. Her heart was racing faster than a hummingbird's wings and she felt all sanity being thrust from her mind as his strong hands joined in on the miraculous torture. "How do you feel, Mrs. Manning?" he asked as his lips brushed against her earlobe, his breath tickling the fine hairs at the base of her skull.

She managed to pull away from him for a moment, though once she glanced into his darkening pools, she wanted to crush herself back up against him and let him show her the true meaning of a wedding night. "I just can't believe it." she answered when she felt light tears brim her eyes.

His brow furrowed in confusion as he let his thumbs gently draw soft circles upon the bare, smoothness of her shoulders, wanting to take the soft flesh into his mouth, to taste her, to show her what it meant to truly be Bobby Manning's wife, to show her how much he loved her. "What can't you believe?"

She shook her head as if it didn't matter, but it obviously did, so he raised one hand to her chin to force her gaze back to his and told her that it did matter. "I just… can't believe we're married. I can't believe we're both here to share this… and I can't believe mom and dad did this for us."

The tears in her eyes were now more obvious and he wanted nothing more than to force them away and show her that this was a happy time. There was no more need for tears. The only problem was that he wasn't sure he could find the words.

"You deserve it." he replied, his voice soft as he gave into his urges and let his lips lightly brush against her smooth shoulder. He felt her shiver under his touch again and thought about how much she truly deserved. He wouldn't think about almost losing her anymore, because that was in the past. The only thing he would focus on was the future and what he had in store for the both of them.

She deserved so much happiness in her life after being stuck for years in her black hole of misery. The light was growing brighter at the edge of the darkness and this was just one more thing to help guide her through. She tried to turn away from him once again, but he kept his grip firm upon her chin and made sure she saw the sincerity in his eyes. "And I promise you that only good memories will come from now on. No more nightmares," he pledged.

He was surprised when she could no longer control her emotions and she let the tears flow freely.

She hadn't cried much in the three months since the incident, most likely because she hadn't had time to focus on what she was feeling and just kept her mind on the wedding planning.

He wasn't sure what to do. She was clutching tighter to him, now, and all he could think of doing was wrapping his arms around her and trying to shush the sobs that were muffled against his jacket. "Come on, Luv, the tux is rented," he tried to joke, though he wasn't sure how she would take it. Relief washed over it when he felt her shoulders shake and her soft chuckle when she raised her head to look at him.

"Sorry," she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes with the palms of her hands, an action that reminded him of a little girl after her big brother was picking on her. She tried to smile and honest smile, but the pain she was feeling was too difficult to hide. A growl of frustration exited her as she pushed away from Bobby and walked to the window. "I'm ruining everything," she chided herself, which made her want to cry even more. This was supposed to be the perfect night, not a night where she collapsed into tears because of the things that still haunted her dreams.

He shook his head as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms securely around her midriff. Pulling her flush against his chest and slowly swaying the two of them to an unheard rhythm, he tried to comfort her. "You haven't ruined anything."

"Oh, please," she contradicted with a loud sniffle. "Bobby, it's our wedding night and I'm in tears because of something silly." She wanted to pull herself our of his hold, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. His hands felt good when they were wrapped around her, she concluded as they continued to gently sway.

"It's not silly," his voice was soft as he spoke, his chin resting comfortably upon her shoulder as they looked out at the DC skyline. "And I think our trip tomorrow is just what the both of us need. We haven't had the time to stop and clear our heads since Jessup and with Stern's death and Dessa," not to mention almost losing her, "I'd say that we deserve this time together." He let his lips lightly brush against her temple as he pulled her back to him.

"Would you be upset if I said I didn't feel very romantic, right now?" She was just as surprised as he was when the words exited her mouth, but it was obvious that she needed some time to just collect her thoughts and get rid of those that seemed to haunt her the most.

The truth was that he would be upset, but only at himself if he tried to force her into something he knew she wasn't in the mood for. They had the rest of their lives to be together; one night certainly wouldn't make a difference. "Whatever makes you happy, Luv."

She smiled as she turned in his embrace, a very visible blush upon her cheeks. She tried lowering her eyes away from the heat that remained in his pupils, but she found that she still couldn't pull away. "Can you help me out of my dress?"

He chuckled with a nod as he motioned for her to turn around so he could help her, but before she did, the kiss she placed on his lips showed her the deep love and devotion she felt for him at that very moment. "I love you, Bobby," she whispered, kissing him softly again.

"I love you too," he replied, accepting her loving kiss before she turned her back to him to allow him to attack the buttons that lined her back.

Bobby had been forced to swallow the large lump that had formed in his throat when Danni exited the bathroom after changing out of her dress. The soft, silky number she wore when she exited left very little to the imagination—the neckline plunging deeply, showing off the perfect swells of her breasts and the skirt resting just barely at the tops of her silky-smooth thighs—and she explained that it was the only sleeping attire she'd packed that covered enough of her body from prying eyes. He couldn't help but wonder what else she had packed and he couldn't wait to get to Hawaii so she could show him.

He'd discarded his tux, throwing the garments across a chair in the corner of the bedroom as he lay on what would normally be her side of the bed; a nice switch from the everyday sleeping arrangements. Laying there in only his boxers, he was beginning to think that they should probably have decided to sleep in different rooms for the night, but Danni had insisted that she couldn't sleep without him beside her and she'd cuddled under the covers and slid as close to him as possible so he could wrap his arms safely around her.

After a few minutes of lying securely in his arms, she'd drifted off to sleep, her head resting against his chest, one hand draped softly over his stomach. He felt every breath she took, the even movements of her chest almost lulling him into a sense of comfort, until she made the slightest of movements and made his blood run hotter.

Even an hour later she looked peaceful, her position only changing slightly as her leg draped itself over his, the new angle making him more than a little uncomfortable, but in a good way. Her face was soft and content as she hopefully dreamed about good things and not about what had haunted her all those months ago. He'd meant to keep the promise that he made about her nightmares. He would do whatever it took to keep them at bay, the only problem was how to do that.

He could think of a very successful way, but of course, she would have to be awake for that and he just didn't have the heart to wake her.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not nice to stare?" he heard her ask, her voice thick with sleep and her eyes only opening slightly to spare a glance at him.

He felt his cheeks heat up as a blush formed; he'd been caught. "I didn't mean to wake you," he apologized as he felt her shift against him, his nerve-endings brought instantly to attention once again. How she always managed to make his blood run degrees hotter by a simple movement he would never understand, nor did he ever want to.

She shook her head upon his chest as she fought against the sleep that was still threatening to overtake her. "You didn't. I was thinking," she reassured him as she let her fingers gently play with the small tuft of hair upon his chest. She felt him shiver underneath him from the simple action and his hand instantly covered hers to get her to stop.

"That tickles," he whined softly before shifting underneath her so he could see her still sleepy eyes. "What were you thinking about?" Her leg moved slightly, causing the thin fabric of her nightgown to bright against his bare leg and sending a tremor coursing through him as his breathing turned shallow.

"Did you really mean what you said earlier?" she asked and was greeted with his puzzled expression. The question was vague; he'd said a lot of things earlier, though right now he was trying to remember what he'd been thinking about five minutes ago. If she continued her movements, he could probably forget his own name. "About there only being good memories?"

Her lower lip had been caught between her teeth as she raised herself up into a sitting position before him, one leg folded underneath her while the other remained around his as she stared expectantly at him. Those few simple actions had drawn all thought from his addled brain as he watched the sultry-vixen that was his wife, make a sudden appearance. He hadn't noticed it at first, but as she sat before him, it became more obvious as she tilted her head to the side while she gazed at him.

Her dark waves, still with flowers weaved inside, lay softly against her practically bare shoulders, looking just as soft and beautiful as it had always been. Her ice-blue eyes stared at him expectantly, a familiar hint of desire lying beneath every other back-breaking weight she'd tossed upon her shoulders. Adding the worrying of the lower lip was the icing on the cake that made his nerve endings stand on end as his body reacted to her possibly faux coyness.

Dumbly, he nodded, searching for the voice he knew was in him, somewhere. "Yeah," he said, his voice just as thick as hers was when she'd awoken. He cleared his throat as he watched the fire come to life in her eyes. It had started off with a simple flicker of a flame, until it turned into the raging inferno he knew well. "Of course I did."

"Good." Her smile was timid as she brushed her lips against his, eager to see his reaction to her sudden turnaround. When she'd closed her eyes, she'd pretended to fall asleep so she could gather her thoughts, only to discover what she really wanted was lying beside her, holding her tight and trying to protect her from her own subconscious—and probably losing.

She'd drawn the conclusion that it didn't matter if she was able to escape her inner demons or not. Bobby would always be there for her through thick and thin and she for him. After that, she'd given into sleep, dreams about what her wedding night should have been like racing through her brain. She couldn't hide the heat that rose to her cheeks as she thought back to it, wanting it to become a reality.

The soft groan that rumbled in his chest was just a start as her lips searched for access, her teeth joining in the fight as they gently nipped and scored the tender flesh of his lips, eagerly searching for his tongue to caress hers. She leaned more into him, the soft swells of her breasts lightly brushing against his arm and chest as she leaned over to straddle his hips while their lips remained joined.

Bobby wondered about the sudden alteration, but couldn't find the words to ask or the will to part from her delicious lips. His senses ran wild whenever she kissed him and her taste was certainly unique. No other woman had ever tasted like her and he knew there would be another to ever taste the same. His nose tingled as the scent of her flowery shampoo entered his nostrils, the scent slowly driving him insane as it meshed together with the faint scent of her perfume.

Not only was she driving him to the point of insanity with her essence, but with her touch as well. While their lips continued to be entwined, the gentle touch of her fingers dancing upon his bare chest made numerous trails of fire as she knew the exact spots to touch to turn him into a hormone-crazed beast. Yet, he was still able to remain in control, forcing their passion to rise slowly.

Following her line of torture, he let his hands slowly slide up her smooth, bare legs until he reached the hem of the white, satin nightgown. Braving the terrain, he let his hands wander further, moving them over the soft curves of her buttocks and giving them a gentle squeeze. He was greeted by a plaint of pleasure emitting from deep within her as he slowly removed his hands from underneath the skirt and letting them rise higher.

His hands paused at her hips when he felt them shift above him. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to hold his own plaint at bay, but when she did it again, he had no excuse but to let it be swallowed up by her soft mouth.

When oxygen became lax, she gently eased away, feeling her heart pound rapidly in her chest as she rested her forehead against his. "I don't know what came over me," she tried to explain as he let her tongue gently flick out across her swollen lips. She tried to sound sorry, but the giggle that erupted from deep within her and his expression of lust contradicted her whole plot and making her feel weak in the knees. Luckily, she had him to keep her upright.

He shook his head as he reached up to move a stray tendril of hair out of her face. His cheeks were flushed and he was craving air, but no matter what, he couldn't keep the smile from his lips. "I don't think I want to know and if we continue, I don't think I'll be able to stop, Luv." The familiar ache in his belly had returned and if he was to pull away at any time tonight, this would be it, because that imprinted carnal appetite that she'd discovered within him would have to be satiated if she made one more move.

She shook her head as she brushed her lips against his forehead, savoring the slight, intimate contact. "I don't want to stop, Bobby," she admitted, her breath catching in her throat as he raised one hand to her collarbone and let his knuckle trail against the tender flesh and downward to the swells of her breasts that were visible to him while they remained in this position. She could tell he'd been thinking about doing that for a few minutes, his eyes clouding over with heated determination. A chill ran down her spine as she wished he would do it again. He instantly complied, the rest of his fingers joining in. "I just want you to love me," her voice suddenly turned thick as a tremor wracked through her. The more he touched her, the more willing she was becoming. There was no turning back, now.

"Too late, Luv," he whispered, his lips finding hers for an all too short kiss that had to be broken for lack of self-control on both theirs parts. She'd bitten down rather hard on his lower lip, but not hard enough to draw blood. That action turned the temperature of the room up, making sweat form on his almost naked body and his blood roll to a boil.

He let his eyes trail a path from those delectable lips downward across her collar bone and even lower until he met the hindrance of her nightie. He wanted to lean up and let his lips explore her décolletage, but he knew he couldn't do that with her hovering above him as she was now. If he did, it would be just cause to put her on her back and make the fear in her eyes disappear with his own brand of therapy. "You're sure?" he asked as he leaned up, braving the attack on the senses he would get as she fit perfectly against him as his lips met the smoothness of her neck. He groaned softly when her hips lightly ground into his and he looked up to meet the mischievous glint in her eyes.

He didn't need her to reply at that point, her actions were speaking much louder than her words ever could. Taking advantage of her leaning against him, he placed a hand upon the small of her back and swiftly rolled them over until he was lying on top hovering above her. Her giggle was music to his ears as their foreheads remained connected, their eyes forever locked in an embrace that would always reassure them of their love for one another.

"You mean more to me than my own life, Luv," he whispered softly as one strong hand wandered her soft curves. Her back arched underneath his ministrations, allowing him to let his mouth to take the place of his hand.

"I know," she gasped in response as she felt his lips slowly glide over her chest and his hand begin to lift the hem of her nightie. Their eyes connected for a second, halting everything as they shared a silent message passed through them by what they saw in the other's eyes. "I feel the same," she replied when her hands found their way to either side of his face and she could kiss him.

They made love; their first time as husband and wife. It had started off slow and sensual, the passion only increasing until it was satisfied in the crashing waves of pleasure that washed over them.

It was only after their hearts returned to their normal rhythms and the slick film of sweat that had formed had dried that they were allowed to reflect together about their life together. In the beginning, her deception was what had brought them together and what had showed them each a similar soul who'd been left to wander the world. Her redemption came soon after, along with that of her friends and colleagues, but with that came a closer bond between Danni and Bobby, showing them that they weren't really two lost souls, but soul mates who'd found each other.

Now, as he held her securely to him, all that was left for them was to look to the future and the devotion they would embrace as the next step in their lives began. Marriage was a big leap for the two people who'd lost their trust in others and their faith of ever finding anyone to truly love them. They'd found both in each other and they were looking forward to what lie ahead.

The End…

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story. I hope you come back for the third installment... Devotion.