Author's Notes:

I think the title of this chapter pretty much says it all. I rewrote this time and again, and I'm really sorry if this chapter isn't really moving the story along but I felt the need to give them one more steamy night together at their beach. So, I hope you enjoy it, even if it is basically just good old smut.

Sawyer woke up with a start but sighed in relief when he realized that he was still in his tent on their beach and Kate was still safe and sound in his arms.

It was still dark and he found himself trying to remember what the last thing was that they'd talked about before they both had drifted off to sleep, it might've been Clem and Aaron but he wasn't entirely sure. But he did remember the night ended on a good note before they both couldn't keep their eyes open any longer.

And even though it wasn't morning just yet and they'd stayed up late talking and the floor of this tent wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep anymore, he had to admit that he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept this good.

After blinking a few times Sawyer's eyes had adjusted again to the darkness surrounding him. His gaze traveled along Kate's sleeping form beside him. From her long scrawny bare feet to her jean clad legs that were intertwined with his, over the shapely round of her behind and the round of her breasts that were pressed against him.

At first he tried not to move too much, 'cause he didn't want to wake her up just yet, so he had to strain his neck to get a good look at her face. She looked so peaceful sleeping ... she didn't always look that way when she slept, but he was glad that she did right now. Apparently she had no nightmares tonight which somewhat surprised him considering everything they'd discussed earlier that night. He'd almost anticipated for her to have nightmares after talking about Wayne, but he was grateful that she seemed to be sleeping as peaceful as he'd been.

Even in the darkness he could see that her cheeks were a little flushed from the heat and her forehead glistened with perspiration, but he'd be damned if she wasn't the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on.

So he just lay there, holding her and watching her sleep. Her chest was rising and falling steadily against him with every breath that she took. He slowly moved just a little onto his side so that he could face her, just watching her in silence. Taking in the beautiful sight of her until ... until he just couldn't hold back anymore. Wishing she would just wake up.

His hand which had been casually resting on her hip was now traveling upwards. He slowly followed the seductive slope of her waist and then sensually caressed the swell of her breasts while he whispered to her, "Freckles? ... You awake?"

His hand kept on moving, caressing her shoulder first, and then cupping her cheek before he leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. Those lips that seemed to pull him towards her like a magnet every time he looked at them.

Kate stirred in her sleep but didn't open her eyes yet when Sawyer began kissing a trail down her jaw-line. He went on to let his tongue and kisses linger in the crook of her neck. Sucking skillfully where her heartbeat was pulsating underneath her delicate skin when she suddenly let out a soft moan that couldn't be missed.

A smirk spread over his face now because that moan was his cue to move back up to her lips now, so he did just that. And when she parted her lips and kissed him back this time he couldn't suppress the animalistic groan that escaped his throat in the process.

Kate pressed her lips to his with so much passion behind it. He loved how within seconds she could go from looking like a shy freckled-faced girl-next-door, flushed cheeks and innocent batting of her eyelashes to this ... this firecracker that he'd come to know and love. Her kiss and hands demanding, pulling him closer to her with all her strength.

Yeah, shy went out the window and sparks started flying when Kate got turned on.

She only got like this when they were alone, just the two of them. She'd never show that side of her around other people. This side of her that she didn't acknowledge into existence, like it was a dirty little secret that a woman could enjoy sex just as much as a man would.

Sawyer relished in the fact that he could bring that side out in her ... make the prim and proper Sunday school girl disappear and bring the naughty girl out to play. It gave him a high knowing she let him in on her 'dirty little secret'.

How her tongue danced with his, so hungry for more and he was more than willing to give her more. Hell, she can have it all if all is what she wants. So as it was to be expected hands started roaming and tucking on clothing in an almost frenzied manner.

And somewhere between his shirt hitting the ground next to her and her bra flying across the tent they both had to chuckle in between kisses, because stripping each other like this in his tent brought back memories. Warm and fuzzy memories, when the world was still alright ... for the most part.

After all the sex they'd had by now it was still strangely exciting every time ... almost as exciting as the first time when they'd made love, but only almost. Nothing could ever top their first time in the cage, not because of the act itself or the strange location, but because it was when they both finally acknowledged their deep feelings for one another. That night in the cage had meant everything to them, especially since they didn't know what the next day would bring and if they'd live to spend another moment in each other's arms.

While fiddling with the button and zipper of her jeans, Sawyer kissed down a trail from her nipple to her bellybutton. The zipper went down, and Kate arched her back and lifted her butt of the ground just enough to assist him in getting the denims down and past her hips.

He growled again and the sound made Kate chuckle as he yanked the jeans off of her legs and past her feet. Grabbing her ankle, lifting it, he began to kiss her again, but this time he started from the inside of her right knee working his way up the inside of her thigh.

The giggles stopped immediately as Kate lay back down in a surrendering notion and closed her eyes, letting the feel of his lips and his tongue on her skin do wonderful things to her. Even the scratching sensation of his stubble was anything but scratchy. Instead the sensation send shivers down her spine ... and right back up.

The way he eased his tongue over her skin, not really licking but barely touching, giving her goosebumps along the way. She felt her cheeks flush with heat again along with the rest of her body. Every kiss he'd placed left her with a tingling sensation that was beginning to drive her crazy. She didn't know how much more she could take of this kind of teasing.

But when his mouth was just about where she wanted him the most, something in her stirred and left her restless. Sawyer had managed to fill her with so much desire right now, the need for him was overwhelming and she wanted more than just that now.

She knew his lips were on their way but he'd already pushed her too far that just his lips wouldn't do anymore, so she braced herself on her elbows to look at him. His face so relaxed and he had his eyes closed as he kissed and caressed the inside of her thigh. He looked as if he enjoyed it just as much as she did, if that was even possible.

No longer able to hold back Kate sat up and startled him out of the trance he was in when she reached for him. Tugging and pulling on his upper arms. She needed things to move along ... she needed more. So she pulled him up on top of her with strength she didn't even know she had and framed his face to kiss him again. At first he was surprised at that but then let her tongue ease between their parted lips to play with his. The kiss seemed to go on forever, and was equally intoxicating as all the kisses before that.

God, the man knew how to kiss a woman right. Where did he learn how to kiss like that?

An involuntary mental image of a small town carnival popped into Kate's mind. With a kissing booth, but instead of a perky little blond there was broad-framed Sawyer sitting there with his trademark bad boy grin and dimples on display. And the big handwritten sign didn't read 'Kisses $1', no this one read 'Kisses $100' and there was a endless line of eagerly waiting women with wads of cash in hand.

Kate opened her eyes to shake the image, broke away from the kiss and stared up at him. He was surprised by her withdrawal and opened his eyes too, asking somewhat confused, "What's wrong, hon'?"

Uhhhhhhh, this could probably go bad but I just have to ask.

"Where did you learn how to kiss like that?"

He braced himself on his elbows to take some of the weight off of her while he hovering above her, his eyebrows raised with a clearly amused look on his face when he asked back, "What?" He'd been under the assumption that the Q & A session was over for the night.

Her hands flat on his chest as if she was trying to keep him from crashing back down on her, "You heard me. The way you kiss me. Where ..."

Sawyer cut her off as he forcefully pressed his lips to hers again, and she was helpless against the urge to let his tongue slip into her mouth. It was like the moment his lips touched hers, her mouth parted involuntarily. Just like her legs seemed to part involuntarily when his knees just nudged them gently into doing so. She couldn't help herself, he just had that power over her.

But then he broke off the kiss and stared back at her, and from the laugh lines crowning the side of his eyes and the wide bad-boyish grin on display, she could see that he was clearly amused when he said, "You talkin' 'bout that kiss?"

God, he knew exactly what he was doing to her, getting her all flustered and ... and why the hell wasn't he naked yet?

She could feel her cheek flush with heat all over again, good thing it was still dark out. She tried to answer him, failed and just nodded instead.

He actually chuckled out loud not even trying to hide his amusement from her, then bend down to kiss her again. A breathtaking, mind-blowing, put his whole soul behind it kind of kiss, then pulled back after several moments and said huskily, "Only you can bring that kind of kiss out of me, Lollipop."

Good answer, Kate thought to herself as she tried to normalize her breathing again. Even though it was probably a big fat lie, but she appreciated the effort. And as his head dipped further down her body and he let his skillful tongue trace the outline of her nipple again teasingly, she really didn't care anymore where he'd learned any of it, as long as he'd only kiss her like that from here on out.

He came back up and found her lips once again, grinding his pelvis into her in the process. The fabric of his jeans was rough as he knowingly rubbed it against her sensitive flesh. It sent shivers down her spine once more. The sensation almost too much. He was trying to drive her insane and she really had no control over the moan that escaped her lips despite his lips covering hers.

She just wanted more ... more, more, and right now. With the growing need for more, Kate tried to reach between them to undo his belt but to no avail. He wasn't even trying to help her by easing his weight off of her anymore. He seemed in no rush at all, while she was burning up inside from the need to have him.

Oh she knew exactly what he was trying to do here ... he'd done it time and again to her at home. Prolonging the process, prolonging the pleasure ... but she didn't want to prolong anything anymore, she just wanted him already.

So she broke off the kiss and pushed him up. He wasn't complying at first, mumbling a few protest while trying to keep her pinned down to keep kissing her. But eventually he let up, while Kate still pushed and shoved. With the same strength she'd used to pull him down she'd now forced him to sit back on his haunches between her naked parted legs. Thank god it was still dark out, she thought again.

Then she sat up too, her attention and her eyes focused on the big bulge underneath the denim and she quickly began undoing his belt buckle. Sawyers gaze followed her hands and he just watched her slender little fingers work that belt open. A chuckle escaped his lips again, "You in a hurry, Sweetheart?"

"Maybe I am." She mumbled back against his lips when she kissed him again while she started undoing the buttons on his fly rather quickly too.

"Wouldn't wanna get in the way of a woman on a mission." came his husky response as he then wordlessly got up on his knees so that Kate could push the jeans past his hips now. Exposing his dark blue boxers that were sitting dangerously low on him, the bulge even more noticeably now as his dick lifted without the restriction of the denims.

Time suddenly stopped and so did Kate. Now it was her turn to let her eyes wander over him. Starting at his glistening shoulders, then down to his biceps, over his muscular chest, his ripped abs which seemed more evident now after he worked on that raft all week. Then her eyes stop at the bulge that seemed to have her mesmerized. Her hands stilled as if they were glued to the waistband of his boxers.

His own hands trembled by his side and it took all the self control he had to not grab her with those trembling hands and push her back down onto the sand to devour her. He wanted her badly ... even more so now with her looking at him like that.

But Sawyer for once didn't say anything at the sudden change in her pace when she didn't jump him but instead reached out and let her hands slowly and seductively travel down the path her eyes had just traveled.

Her fingers started at his shoulders, caressing them downward to his bulky arms. Goosebumps formed on him now everywhere her fingers touched. She moved equally slowly over his Pecs, surprised him when she leaned in to tease his nipples with her tongue by tracing an invisible 'O' around them. And it was him who let out a moan in response now.

Then her fingers gently followed every single indentation of his six-pack and traced the outline of the 'V' that disappeared into his boxers, but she stilled right where her fingers met the fabric.

For once Sawyer was the one that seemed at the mercy of her touch, enjoying her hands on him instead of the other way around. And he had to admit that it had been a while since she'd done that with such detail as she did right now.

He'd kept his eyes on her eyes the entire time, watching her expression when she touched him and he liked what he saw reflecting back at him in her eyes and what he felt due to her touch.

Then without a warning Kate leaned into him again, her fingers raking through his long hair and began to trace kisses down his neck and chest. Making him grunt as he wrapped his arms around her, cupping her ass, one big hand on each cheek to pull her even closer, he wanted her skin on his.

But she pressed back, away from him, but before he even had a chance to protest he quickly came to realize why she was leaving a gap between their bodies when both her hands slipped down into his boxers and she began stroking him.

She looked down and even in the darkness she could see her hand encircling his thick shaft. Her fingers not long enough to reach all the way around him. The pre-come easing the up and down motion for her while Sawyer suddenly held perfectly still for her as his head dipped back and he closed his eyes.

She wondered in amusement for a moment if this is the only way to shut him up and keep him from moving, but that thought was interrupted quickly when he couldn't hold back anymore either. His head snapped back in place and his hands flew up so quickly it made her flinch before he framed her face and pulled her lips to his. Devouring her mouth with his, groaning and gasping while she kept stroking him.

She had to admit that she loved how he reacted to her touch; it was a huge turn on to know he enjoyed it which made her enjoy doing it to him. Maybe the whole foreplay thing that Sawyer was an expert in wasn't so bad after all. Being the seducer instead of being seduced somehow made her feel powerful ... but as always, Sawyer couldn't just leave things be. If there's always been a place where he had control over her, it was the bedroom ... or in this case his tent.

His hands left her face. Grunting he grabbed her hips a little roughly and pulled her naked form to him. Leaving no more room for her to continue with her teasing, so Kate's hands left his throbbing erection rather involuntary. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, clinging to him, eager to feel him. Eager for what she hoped was coming next.

He let go of her hips, wrapped one arm firmly around her waist to hold her in place when he got back up on his knees, working his free hand to push his boxers down. He lowered back on his haunches, his hands clutched her hips again quickly now and before she even knew what happened he was sliding her slowly up and down against the full length of him. The wetness from her covering him now and making the movement even more sensitive as they both moaned at the close contact.

But it just wasn't close enough yet, at least that's what Kate thought when she practically moaned into his ear, "James please." Her words so full of desire and need, she almost didn't recognize her own voice.

The pleading sound in her voice had his heart pumping even faster. He knew exactly what she was pleading for but just doing as she asked ... Now where would be the fun in that? So when her hot and wet folds reached the broad head of his shaft he gave it a slight trust of his hip, but didn't enter her, just slid her trembling body along the full length down again and asked her, "Please what, Lollipop?"

Her nails dug into his shoulders, probably drawing blood. Was she trying to punish him back?

"You know what." Came her breathless reply as she clenched her thighs and tried to get control over her own movement, but Sawyers big hands had a strong hold on her hips, leaving her completely at his mercy.

He knew he was torturing her and himself with this, and he also knew that he probably couldn't hold back much longer himself. But he also knew that this was probably the last time. The last time in his tent. Hell, maybe even the last time altogether.

For all he knew someone could show up here any minute, hauling them both back to Dharmaville to put her on that god damn sub and out of his life ... maybe even forever. So yeah, he was teasing her, he was trying to stall, he was trying to make this last since he hadn't even tried earlier out there by the campfire. It had been rushed, great but rushed none the less and he didn't want to rush things now. He wanted to savor it, draw it out.

His voice was husky and horse when he whispered in her ear, "I wanna hear you say it, Freckles." He knew he was pushing her limits with this. Kate barely ever voiced her wants when it came to sex.

There was silence as he continued to move her up and down again, and her nails in his back and shoulders seemed to be digging even deeper now. But she remained quiet, burying her head into the crook of his neck, biting her bottom lip when he said, "Damn Freckles, you're so wet."

She hated to be this weak. She hated to be at his mercy. She hated how arrogant he could be when it came to sex.

Another excruciatingly slow down and up movement, then he turned the heat up a notch when he just rubbed her against his pulsating broad head instead. Slowly with controlled rhythm to it, gasping himself at the feel of it.

Damn it Freckles, say it already.

She was shivering. Literally shivering from pleasure under the tight grasp of his fingers digging into her hips. Sawyer was near the brink of just giving into her already, even if she didn't answer him ... ever.

But just then she moved. Her lips kissing his neck again, her tongue moving over his stubble again like it was something worth tasting. And maybe it was, he thought, when she moaned again as if she liked what she tasted, but who knows, it could've been his member pulsating right between her thighs too that caused the moan. He wasn't about to elaborate on what caused it.

Then her tongue swiped across his ear, making him shiver for a brief second, before she whispered, "I want you, James. All of you."

He swallowed hard. It wasn't what he had hoped to hear. He'd hoped to get a bit more detail ... more of the naughty-girl in her response, but hell, that was the last straw for him ... he couldn't have held back any longer anyhow.

His voice was hoarse with desire surging through his veins, "I want you too." As if his cock throbbing hot between them wasn't evidence of that enough.

He wrapped his right arm around her waist one last time, pulling her up and Kate had to gasp again at the feel of it. She'd never ever in a million years admit this out loud, but it did do something to her when he manhandled her like this. But only him, no other man ever got her turned on by overpowering her physically. Her arms wrapped around his neck while he held her still, his left hand somewhere between them aligning himself against her opening, before he lowered her down slowly.

His hands let go and she lowered onto him, both gasping and moaning as their bodies joined slowly but completely. He filled her all the way, as they grinded against one another slow and easy.

Her thighs spread as far as they'd go, her legs around him, her arms around his neck, the side of her face against his unshaven cheek. One hand on each butt-cheek, grabbing her hard and needy, holding on tight as he's setting the pace for her while she grinded against him. It was good, but it wasn't quite enough.

His hands moved over, away from her ass and he grabbed her hips again. His strong fingers digging into her flesh as he moved her hips up and down on him. All the way up ... far enough that he almost slipped out of her, but then he pushed her down again. All the way until her body touched his again.

The sensation was too much that Kate thought she might pass out from the pleasure. Her voice startled him because he hadn't expected her to talk at all, "I don't think I'll survive this pace."

His voice against her ear, sending more shivers down her spine, "But I like slow. Slow and tight, feeling every sweet muscle in that body of yours gripping me. You ain't got a clue how good you make me feel, Freckles."

She shivered at his words, fighting the urge to argue with that statement. He was in control here, controlling her in every sense of the way. Her body completely surrendering to his touch, she only had words to fight with, so she did, "Not this slow."

He startled her out of that thought, "Look at me."

She lifted her head and opened her eyes, looking right at him as he moved her up and down again. "I want to make you feel good, Freckles. I want to do that slowly and I want you to look at me when I do that. I want to remember this image for later when we can't be together like this."

She hadn't expected that. Her chin began to quiver and he thought she might start crying again, but she didn't. Instead she just nodded, leaned forward and kissed him. Her lips so soft on his ... and it just struck him then, like he hadn't noticed before, just how fragile she is when it comes to love.

He kissed her back, equally soft, regretting every bad decision he'd ever made, regretting not being the man she needs him to be, regretting so much and pouring all of that regret into that kiss, hoping that through the caresses of his lips and tongue he could somehow get the message across.

They made love like this, until both of them reached their limit.

Sawyer was holding back best he could, waiting rather patiently for her to get there. When her moans increased and her nails dug deeper into him again, he knew she was close.

And then it happened, he could feel her tighten and spasm around him, one arm firmly around her again, getting up on his knees, he pushed into her as deep as he could while he lowered her down to the ground in front of him. Spread out in front of him on the ground with nothing but the moonlight shinning through the airplane window, she suddenly reminds him of an angel with a halo of hair. God, will he ever stop feeling this much for her. Will he ever stop loving her like he does?

Lips are finding each other as he lowers himself on top of her now. Pulling her thighs up to the left and right of him, giving him more moving range as his hips began to trust into her.

Both their breathing ragged, completely losing control, forgetting where they were when they both moaned loudly as they reached climax together. Kates hips bucking and shuddering underneath him while she feels him finally stilling his hips, yet pumping and pulsing deep inside of her. It feels like her insides are on fire - in a good way - every movement intensified and she feels the quick and sudden rise of a second orgasm when his own release finally spills inside of her.

And the world stood still for a brief moment, when he slummed down onto her. Too physically exhausted, his arms shaky and weak and he can't hold himself above her anymore.

She loves it, welcomed his full weight on her while he's still deep inside of her. It's familiar; it's what he does ever since they got off the island. The first time was right before he'd asked her to marry him ... and ever since then he sometimes liked to linger for a little while ... and she liked that he did that. She loved it actually. Loved that he wanted to be that close to her, even after the sexual need had been filled and sated.

Her arms and legs still wrapped around him, she kissed his shoulder that was glistening with sweat. Treasuring the salty taste of his skin on her lips and tongue, while the aftershocks of her orgasm still send shivers throughout her body. Who knows how many more times she'd get to feel him like this or taste his skin like that? Her heart clenched in her chest. Wondering how she'd survive leaving him again, after all this, after everything that happened.

Is she doomed - like her mother - to be in constant pain for loving the wrong man? Yeah, Sawyer had never hurt her physically, but right now with him still inside of her it sure felt like he had. Because the pain she felt at the mere thought of losing him again was so real, it felt every bit as real as the black eyes, busted lips and broken bones her mother had endured by loving the wrong man.

An involuntary tear rolled down her cheek. His lips kissing the crook of her neck, stirring and she sees him brace himself on his hand to push up and off of her. But she stops him, pulling him back down and into her, "No, don't leave me yet." Her voice strained.

Lifting his head enough to get a look at her, "Ain't I getting too heavy for you?"

She tugs at him again, both her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. "I like you right here with me."

After seeing that look in her eyes and the red rims from crying, he was just speechless. He couldn't even think of anything to say after that. Those simple words affected him more then he'd like to admit, mainly because he doesn't want to leave her or her body just yet either.

Being with her, being inside of her feels like being home. As fucking corny as that may sound, but it was true. Freckles was the only real home he'd ever known, she was it. She was the one.

So he remained still, on top of her. His left hand gently pushing the sweat-damped hair out of her face, getting a hold of her chin to keep her in place for a kiss.

A gentle kiss. A loving kiss. His soft lips brushing over her soft lips, it was just supposed to be like that. But the kiss slowly but surely intensified, turning into something else again and before they both know what happened, his hips are moving again.

First slowly but then picking up some speed, keeping a nice and steady pace as he growls into her ear, "See what you're doing to me? I just can't ever get enough of ya'!"

Her response just about knocks him dead. A strong thrust of her hips from beneath him and her whispered declaration in his ear, "I can't get enough of you either, James."

Hell, if she wasn't his wife already, he'd marry her all over again ... right here right now, after that admission she'd just made. She'd been braver then she'd ever been tonight, with her words that is. Opening up to him about the past earlier last night and opening up to him right here and now, saying things, sexual things that the old Kate would maybe think of but never actually say out loud.

They made love again, and afterwards he turned them both over, leaving her on top of him, yet he was still inside of her. He reached for his shirt and draped it over the lower half of their intertwined bodies, apologizing to her that he didn't have a blanket to cover her with like he used to.

She rested her head on his sweat-damped skin and he kissed her forehead one last time before both of them drifted off to sleep again. Exhausted and happy.

A noise.

His eyes flew open because he just heard a noise. Sawyer remained completely still, trying to adjust his eyes to the sun that was shining in his eyes through the airplane window. He looked down, and there was Kate. Still on top of him, sleeping soundly and still sprawled across him, with his shirt covering her backside from the waist down. Her naked chest pressed to his torso and he could just feel the dampness of sweat that had formed between them, while he was still inside of her.

His head jerked up, because there it was again. That noise.

His eyes roamed the floor of the tent, looking for his gun. Hell, or her gun ... any gun would do, just in case. And as he flexed his abs to reach for her gun that lay in the sand next to them, she stirred in her sleep. He hadn't reached it yet.

She rubbed at her eyes and was just about to say something when Sawyer covered her mouth with one hand, his index finger from the other hand by his lips, signaling her to be quit and she immediately complied.

Removing his hand from her mouth, he quietly sat up while Kate still straddled him. They both looked out of the window but weren't able to see anything suspicious.

She was just about to pull herself off of him, when the noise came closer and within a matter of seconds the flap of his tent was pushed aside the same moment Sawyer reached for the gun and lifted it towards the makeshift door. Ready to fire at whoever was entering their tent unannounced.

Hurley instantly rose his hands up in a surrendering motion, "Dude, it's just me. Don't shoot."

Sawyer sighed in relief as he lowered the gun again, "Fuck Mongo, ever heard of knocking? You almost got your damn head blown off just now."

Hurley turned his face away from them now, facing the door, flustered himself at what he presumed he'd just walked in on and shielding the side of his face with his hand, "Yeah, I ... I guess you guys made up then."

With crimson red cheeks Kate tried to hide her face in the crook of Sawyers neck. She was just mortified, even though Sawyer had pressed her bare chest against his and had wrapped her into his arms to shield her. And even with her backside and Sawyers hips still covered by his shirt, she felt very much naked right now.

From the way they were positioned and with one of Sawyers legs still halfway in his jeans, it was clear as day what they had been doing.

Sensing her feelings he scolded Hurley again, his tone anything but amused at the way Hurley had just busted in on them. "Yeah, we made up. Now do you mind getting the hell out so the lady and I can get dressed, Jethro?"

"You've got it." And Hurley practically bolted out of the tent.

Kate raised her head and their eyes met. Her cheeks were still flushed when he said, "He didn't see anythin' sugar. Just your back, that's all." Trying his best to calm her nerves, 'cause he knew her well enough by now.

He lifted her off of him and they both got dressed rather quickly. She sat down again to pull her socks and boots on and he did the same, watching her. Then both of them began to pack their few belongings into their packs.

The sudden awkward silence that hung between them was eating away at him with every passing second. He didn't want that new found openness from the day before to end the moment they left this tent.

So when she got up, he got up too. Standing face to face, staring at each other, until he broke the gaze by pulling her into his arms again. His wide hand pressing her face against his shirt, just holding her and she let him.

After several moments, he finally let up and she backed away just enough to look up at him, smiled and said, "Ready to go?"

"Not really." He answered truthfully and their eyes locked again.

She could read the look in his eyes like an open book. He didn't want this to be over. He wanted a rerun ... go back in time and have last night happen all over again. Love her again, kiss her again, move inside of her again ... and again.

Kate leaned in, on her tiptoes, her hands grasping at the collar of his shirt to kiss him. And when she pulled away she smiled again all flustered, "You smell like sex!"

Sawyer chuckled at that, "Yeah, well, I ain't the only one Cupcake." His eyes scanning her suggestively, "Maybe we can wash up together when we get back to the barracks."

"Maybe." She said, her chin held high as if she wasn't that easily seduced by him, but that twinkle in her eyes told him that her 'maybe' was a definite 'Yes' with an exclamation point behind it.

She swung her back pack over her shoulder and so did he, and as she pushed the flap of the tent aside to step out, he followed right behind her. And he was already envisioning how he'd take her against the wall of his shower. And how afterwards they'd soak their sore muscles in his tub filled with hot bubbles up to their chins.

Yes, Sawyer definitely couldn't wait to get back to the barracks with her now.

End Notes:

Thank you so much for still reading and keeping with my story. If you have any input, good or bad, please leave a review, I'd really appreciate it so much. Thank you!