It seemed to dawn on them both that they were standing in the shower, fully clothed. Which was not exactly conducive to anything either of them had in mind. She moved without thinking, lifting her dripping hands to gently unbutton his vest.

How long had her fingers itched to do this? and now that it was happening she could hardly keep her fingers from trembling as she carefully slipped each button free. He was utterly still, like a bird locked in the eyes of a snake. Almost as if he was poised to take flight. And she realised, as she did this. as her fingers neatly undid his vest and started working on the business shirt, she was taking away the last of the barriers between them.

The business shirt clung to him, sticking to his skin and giving her an idea of exactly what lay beneath his usually pristine clothes. She was still giving him a chance, she realised. A chance to suddenly decide that no, this wasn't what he wanted. that he wasn't up to the task.

As the last buttons of his shirt came free she pulled, letting it hang open as she was treated to the sight of his chest. He looked like a wet dream come to life. Shirt hanging open, dripping with water. eyes burning with barely constrained lust. She placed her hands gently on his chest, and they both let out a shaky breathy laugh. She was caught off guard by how vulnerable he seemed. As if that cocky demeanour had faded and she was finally seeing through his barriers to him.

Ever so slowly she slid her hands upwards, pushing at the now open shirt and vest, peeling them away from his skin. Teresa moved forward, operating purely on instinct now. Her head came to rest against his chest, nuzzling the fine lines gently. His arms came up and wrapped around her, holding her close to him.

For a moment they just stood. Just felt the life from the other. She drank in some of his warmth, and in return he took some of her peace.

But she couldn't be this close to him, this close to getting what she wanted and remain still for very long. Her fingers slid down to his waist. Then gently across the skin just above the belt of his pants. He sucked in a breath and his arms tightened briefly. But he seemed content to let her direct this. it's a heady thing, having power over him. and she loves it.

With surprising deft fingers, she blindly undoes his shiny silver buckle. It makes a curious metallic sound as she slides it free and tosses it to the side of her shower. Her fingers sought out the zipper of his pants. As she brushed her hand against him, he jerked against her. and already she was eager to find out exactly what the infuriating man kept hidden beneath his clothes. She undid the zipper and something pressed against her abdomen. It was then that she figured out he'd gone commando today. What a wonderfully lucky day for her. she thought to herself, a wicked smile crossing her lips.

Patrick shifted his hips restlessly, as if to help the slacks fall to the ground. with them as waterlogged as they are, they stuck to his skin. with that wicked grin still on her lips she looked up at him and hooked her fingers into the waistband of his pants. If it's possible his eyes practically ignite as she slid his pants down his legs. Bypassing the part of him that seemed so very eager for her attention seemed cruel to her, but she figured he could stand a little cruelty. After all he had just drenched her in icy water.

He steps out of the slacks, and she places her hands on either side of his waist as she stands, flexing her fingers at the illicit contact. he swallows, a simple contraction of muscles in his throat. But she knows she's gotten to him. she knows that he isn't hiding now, because she's broken through that ironclad control.

His eyes were wide, almost too wide, but not with fear. They were clouded with arousal, yet somehow sharp. As if he was committing all of this to memory. All of her.

She murmured softly, "I used to dream that you'd look at me like that."

He shivered, but a good kind of shiver.

She realised that those were the first words to be said since she'd started undressing him. his hands settled on her shoulders, sliding up to her neck and cupping her face with such gentle reverence that she couldn't help but shiver. He kissed her, and it was a slow devouring. A languorous dance of tongue against tongue. He was mapping her mouth, exploring her.

She pulled back, breaking the kiss with a brilliant smile. She saw his confusion flicker across his face before she all but whispered, "I think it's time we introduced ourselves. Your little friend and I."

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and his gaze instantly focused on her mouth. Shock, awe and instant heat crossed his face as she slowly cupped him in her hands. He was large enough that she couldn't quite fit her fingers all the way around it. Curious, she let her hand slide back and forth, learning the texture of him. he was heavy in her hands, silky soft and incredibly hot. She kept her eyes on his face however, learning every reaction. Absorbing every breathy pant through those pretty lips.

"I guess a good old fashioned handshake will have to do." she purred. He ended up backed against the cool tile wall, head thrown back in agonised ecstasy. His hands flexed, opening and closing as he fought to stay still under her touch, to give her the control she wanted. But what she really wanted was for that finely honed control to snap.

His body suddenly tenses, his hands darting up to grip her head and crush his mouth to hers. Her other hand automatically goes to the back of his neck, so when the touch of her tongue against his, her little moan is swallowed by his mouth. it starts a chain reaction, and she can feel it. the muscles in his neck tense, and she knows that his back has done the same as his hips thrust into her hand. he cannot stay still now. He cannot remain impartial to her any longer. She wont let him.

Patrick almost growls into her mouth, breaking the kiss, the feral sound precluding his release. She milks him, slowing her gestures enough that it didn't amp him up again. she cannot, and she does not want to, help the small self satisfied smile that crosses her lips at his hoarsely muttered, "Lisbon."

He leans into her. Resting his head in the crook of her shoulder, letting her shoulder his weight until he can gather the strength to stand on his own again.

Teresa is happy to hold him up. In a way she always has been.

Authors note: Exams are not fun. especially when people practically demand for you to tutor them in between trying to study for yourself. it's a bitch.

anyway, i hope you guys enjoy this chapter. i'm not finished yet :D

keep those reviews coming, they always make me smile, and i could use some reasons to smile in this mess of a time lol.

~Madam Red.