Quick Note: I just added a few new phrases - if you read the chapter already, it's basically the same - only slightly more sensual - Enjoy ~ TLD

Ok kids, here it is. Now remember, this fanfic is rated ~M~, so head the warning. This chapter is overtly sexual and somewhat graphic. But, I happen to be of the opinion that if you're going to write a love scene, you better do it right - so it's beautiful, romantic, and, of course, oh so slightly tinged with the Addams' morbidity we so love.

So, that said. Please Review and Enjoy!

~TLD

Part Nineteen: Stolen Moments


The world was crumbling around him. He could feel it.

All of his restraint, all of his anger and fear, his self-loathing and his thirst for vengeance – all of it crumbled around him and he felt a new sensation washing over him.

Contentment.

He knew his burdens weren't gone permanently, and he marveled at the power of this moment to push them aside completely.

He breathed in deeply, savoring his stolen moment of bliss.

And then dove in.

Their kisses burned with a fiery intensity that sent chills down Wednesday's spine. She shuddered delicately as Joel's hands moved along her skin, displacing clothing and awakening hungers she'd never felt before.

Her eyes lingered on his beautiful face and his sculpted chest, refusing to close despite the overwhelming ecstasy that was building in her. His faint white scars stood out in the pale light and his staggered breathing rippled the muscles in his chest. Whenever she caught his eyes, the force of his gaze ripped the breath out of her. His eyes burned with untamed passion and an awe-struck amazement that put her to mind of a blind man seeing the world for the first time.

And indeed, that is how he felt. For he'd never seen a more beautiful face than Wednesday's as she watched him, as she practically purred under his touch, as she tried to hide the depth of her pleasure from him.

He smiled, that cocky, lazy smile, curling his lips.

He curled his body closer to Wednesday's, kissed her forehead, and then followed her gaze as she watched his hand caress slowly down her body.

She almost cried out in shock and pleasure as his hand claimed her. Her eyes rolled back into her head completely against her will. She scolded herself internally for losing control, but the quenching sensation that coursed through her, the feeling that something that had been missing, something that she'd be hungering for - had finally returned, caught her by surprise.

She opened her eyes to find Joel staring intently at her, his own enjoyment of her pleasure staggering his breathing. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and suddenly realized; he wasn't close enough.

They tumbled out of clothing, lavishing in the feel of each other's skin, trading kisses and caresses, until Joel found himself hovering above Wednesday's body, Wednesday beckoning – closer.

He paused for a moment, the war within him flaring up slightly. He desired her – but the thought of causing her pain stung his heart.

She raised an eyebrow at his still form.

Suddenly, Joel spoke. "Do you trust me?"

Wednesday sat up. Confusion contorted her face. Her answer came out begrudgingly, "Obviously."

Joel smiled slightly, and pulled Wednesday back into bed.

He brought his face inches from Wednesday's and whispered. "Wednesday, my love, my heart, look at me, look into my eyes."

Her eyes locked into the fiery hazel of Joel's gaze, and suddenly, she felt herself falling into them. The green and gold and brown flames of his eyes carried her away and a lightness filled her chest, her limbs.

And so, when he plunged into her, she felt only the pressure and the heat and the skin-tingling pleasure. They gasped as one, and for a split second, the sensation became too much for Joel and he shut his eyes, losing his hold over the thrall. A quick stab of pain broke through Wednesday's consciousness before Joel could regain the thrall and give her only the pleasure.

He looked into her eyes again, a worried expression contorting his face. To his amazement, Wednesday smiled – a little pain to sweeten the pleasure – he should have known.

He moved slowly, luxuriating in the feel of Wednesday's body, and the tingling shock waves that coursed through him with each movement. Wednesday's eyes remained unfocused, but small moans rumbled out of her, sounding like the purr of sleek, deadly cat. She trembled, and clutched Joel's body closer to hers, feeling her pleasure deepen and grow.

Joel felt Wednesday's body relaxing and sensed her growing need, and as their tempo accelerated, he released her from the thrall. Her eyes fluttered and her body trembled as the sensations returned in startling clarity, and a desperate cry tumbled out. She dug her nails into Joel's skin, the pleasure becoming almost painful, her body reaching for the top. He bowed his head in determination, fighting his own mounting pleasure. They soared with reckless abandon, battling with ferocious and sensual intensity, but it wasn't until he heard her cry out in ecstasy and felt her body melting around him that he let himself topple off the edge with her.

They lay, gasping, clutching each other as if clinging onto life itself.

After what felt like an eternity, Wednesday shivered with cold. Too tired and spent to move, she burrowed deeper into Joel's chest. He smiled to himself, but then shifted so he could wrap the bedcovers around them. As Wednesday drifted off to sleep, Joel listened to the soft whisper of her breath and the steady beating of her heart. He ran his fingers through her hair, watching her sleep – determined to stay awake and savor the moment. But after a while, his own fatigue claimed him, and he fell into oblivion, his face nuzzled into Wednesday's hair.

"Shit," she spat, suddenly struggling to disentangle herself from Joel's arms.

"Huh?" he groaned, still very much asleep.

"Shit, shit, shit," she chanted, "let me up, Joel," Wednesday replied, irritation heavy in her voice.

"Huh?" Joel repeated, but her anxious tone had wakened him, "What's wrong?"

"What time is it?" Wednesday asked, groping for her clothing and hastily getting dressed.

Joel scanned her face, she wasn't frightened, just annoyed. He relaxed fractionally. "Um," he searched the bedside clock. "10 am," he said. He face betrayed his confusion. "What's wrong?" he repeated.

"How I am supposed to break in to my mother's poison cabinet to get her arsenic blend at 10 am with the whole family up and about?" she replied, as if it were obvious.

Joel's forehead crumbled, "Um, Try again. I'm lost. Don't you have your own poison cabinet?" he smiled slightly.

She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Of course I do, but I don't have the arsenic blend my mother uses for the prevention of…" she stopped. Sighed again, and finished begrudgingly – "pregnancy."

"Oh!" Joel exclaimed, relieved to finally understand. But his relief was short lived.

He sat up and rubbed the heel of his hand on his forehead. Finally he spoke, "Well, unless you'd enjoy the challenge of trying to break into her cabinet while your family is awake, I'd say the endeavor is – well – on the whole, unnecessary."

Wednesday stopped, and now her face betrayed confusion. "Unnecessary?"

Joel sighed. "Yea. You're completely safe from any unwanted spawn taking root inside of you," he answered, self-disgust heavy in his voice. He moved to get up, but Wednesday suddenly sat on the bed next to him, grabbing his wrist.

"You're… infertile?" she attempted to be delicate, but as it was not her forte, Joel winced subtly and his face grew red.

"Not just me," he said, slightly defensively, "we all are. I'm not sure why, but that's why we reproduce through… through the exchange of blood," his scowl deepened as he spoke.

"And that angers you?" Wednesday asked, genuinely confused.

Joel looked up, the scowl fading only slightly. "Well, on one hand, I'm glad – Lord knows I don't want any more of my kind running around. But, on the other, it's just another part of my life that Lilith stole from me, that I'll never get back…" his voice trailed off and he couldn't hold Wednesday's gaze any longer. He turned his back on her, moving to get out of bed.

A small hand on his arm stopped him.

"Stay," she said simply.

He rolled back into bed and Wednesday curled up in his arms, her right hand absently tracing the white scars across Joel's chest and the long thick scar down his left arm.

"Do they pain you?" Wednesday asked.

Joel noticed that her pupils dilated at the mention of his pain. He smiled.

"No, not anymore."

She reached up and caressed the now completely healed gash in his neck. "Even this one?"

In truth, it did sting slightly, but the soft warmth of Wednesday's hand erased any pain he felt. He covered her hand with his own, brought it to his lips, and kissed her palm.

Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he kissed the inside of her wrist, and slowly pulled her closer to him, kissing along the inside of her arm, deepening the kisses until she shuddered. When he reached her shoulder, he kissed along her neck, letting the tiniest bit of teeth graze her skin.

She was breathing heavily now. Despite her ironclad self-control, she couldn't stop the gasping that was escaping from her lips. When Joel kissed her neck she practically collapsed into a shaking, panting heap. Her skin burst into flames and shivers so strong she felt as if every nerve-ending in her body had come alive racked her body. When his kisses finally reached her mouth, she felt a feral intensity overcome her, and she gripped his face and tangled her fingers in his hair with such ferocity that a low growl slipped through Joel's teeth.

She glanced at him, suddenly worried she'd awakened the monster, but Joel smiled, the fire in his eyes purely passion, and the two tangled and toppled away, savoring yet another stolen moment of bliss – not knowing if it might be their last.