AN: I know, I just updated yesterday...but I try to write two chapters at a time, for the sake of continuity. Hopefully this will tide you over until next weekend, when I'll have some time to work on the next two chapters. Darn that RL.

As always, I own nothing of TBL but my annnnngst!

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Chapter Seven

Liz broke eye contact when one of the sisters, the unmenacing one, she thought, started tugging on her waistband.

"Lucky gal, we have a few dresses and suits left with us by a young lady who fell on some hard times. She could not afford them, and it appears that you are about the same size. They were all Etienne's creations, and are of the highest quality. This just ensures that you will have something soon, while your other garments are created. We have a legion of seamstresses that are here during the week, so we should be able to tailor this by Thursday. The rest will depend on the availability of fabric and the detail needed. Regardless, we need you to try on these garments to see what will work, so," she tugged again, "these have got to go."

Lizzie closed her eyes. Upon opening them, she caught Red's again. She could see him swallow, move his tongue to the side of his mouth and purse his lips. It was impossible to mistake his expression for anything but desire.

It was a catalyst for Lizzie. In the restaurant, after he stroked her wrist, she was unable to decide if the mood had changed to one of a predator stalking its prey, or to that of a duel. She had no doubts now. In that millisecond, that expression indicated that Lizzie held the reins. While Red would never be helpless, this situation, her, was out of his control. She had difficulty understanding her feelings about this shift, but she knew this was momentous.

But behind all the other emotions floating in the ether, she felt bold. Bold from her backbone, through the strong lines of her shoulders to her muscled runner's calves. Lizzie could give in to modesty, to convention...or she could make this man weak in the knees.

Her thoughts flicked to Tom for a moment, seeking out any feelings of regret or fear. She knew she loved Tom, but also was aware that the passionate love they had shared in the beginning of their romance had transitioned into "friendly roommates that sometimes had quality sex."

Liz had to admit that finding the "Box" and their field trip to the Post Office had done irreparable harm to their marriage. She couldn't answer honestly what bothered her more; her guilt for not believing him or her lingering suspicions that something was off.

It didn't help that their lives had taken such different paths. Tom stayed the course on the way to the "American Dream," while Liz's life was chaotic, to say the least.

Lizzie smiled, resolved. She promised herself that today, she would not do anything that would directly compromise her marriage contract. Red wasn't going to add her to his harem of women, just yet.

Liz owed it to herself to stay with Tom for the immediate future, if only to determine if her suspicions were correct. But in this moment, she was going to gain some motivation to see that relationship to its inevitable conclusion.

She pulled her tank top over her head and returned her eyes to Red. She could see him suck in his cheeks slightly and as his eyes hungrily traversed the curves of her figure...

OoooooooO

Red knew that knew that his expressions had betrayed him after he swallowed and Lizzie's eyes began to fill with something he had never seen before. He had no way of knowing what it was, exactly. It was all he could do to just sit there and share this moment of mutual regard.

Day after day, he endured her, her presence, even though it simultaneously filled him with joy and dread. It was easier to be the raconteur, the wit, the smug criminal bastard. But here, sitting prisoner to his feelings, naked to her gaze, his emotions were unbearable in their intensity.

He wanted her, every bit of her, for himself. He fought with the dark need to lock her away so that she'd be safe, she'd be his forever. This woman meant the whole world to him, and she didn't even really know who he was, nor his true feelings for her.

He couldn't help but appreciate the exquisite irony of all of it. Irony was a general theme in his existence.

Red watched, amazed when Lizzie removed her tank top at Genevieve's request, without asking him to leave. A detached part of his brain still managed to function while all others short circuited. It marveled at his overwhelming need to both worship and defile Elizabeth Keene completely. He felt desperate in his desire for her as he took in the perfect image of her dressed in the blue lace that he had chosen. Red clutched his hands together painfully, in a futile attempt to gain some clarity.

He knew she wasn't ready for this, to stop playing the delightful little games that they've indulged in these last few months. He could guess that she still had doubts about Tom, and that their relationship had changed, but Red was not willing to risk her doubting anything about his own intentions. She was Red's second chance, and he would wait as long as she needed to get her other affairs in order, before beginning any relationship with him.

But he would have this moment with her, an image to hold in his mind those mornings when he awakens in yet another safe house, in a bed too large and too cold for his liking. He will turn over and imagine the beautiful woman before him, waking up next to her, to her brilliant smile.

Lizzie went to remove her jeans, and Red felt himself standing suddenly, not recalling how he got there. He slowly took a few steps toward her, stopping within arms reach.

Red tipped his chin up slightly. In a voice barely audible, he said, "Oh, Lizzie, you have..." his voice caught suddenly, the space between them thick with emotion. He softly cleared his throat. "Lizzie, you have no idea how radiant you are...to me"

Red reached up into the air, and slowly traced the plane of her cheekbone with a finger, to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. He withdrew his hand and clasped them together again.

Stepping back, he stated, "I'm certain you all won't need me for a bit," his voice gaining some of its normal confidence, "So I'll step out to make a few calls."

And with that, Red retreated to the relative safety of a chair in the hallway. As one well versed in boundaries and limits, he knew that his fragile control couldn't take the sight of Lizzie...he inhaled, and laughed softly. Though, it would have been interesting to see how she would have responded had I kissed her in that moment. I wonder if she blushes all over that lovely skin of hers...

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