Three days had passed since I last saw him, yet the answer for his sudden vanishing eluded me still. In his absence I had grown doubtful of the way I kissed him, regretful of the moment I asked him to stay. I felt like a naive fool, investing my trust in a stranger. I couldn't believe how easily I had let myself be seduced by charming words and sweet gestures. Yet there was something about him... Something I couldn't quite define, that greatly enticed me to seek him out at least one more time.

I dismissed these futile thoughts. My mud-stained jeans slipped off my legs, finally free of stiflingly hot fabric. I fell to my bed and forced myself to clear my mind, but it was humanly impossible to do so. The moment when we kissed crept into every thought I had. It was the best and biggest drug rush I had felt in a long time. It made me feel as if my mind was short-circuiting. It brought everything into complete focus; mainly my desire of the intimate contact I have denied myself for far too long. I couldn't tell myself love wasn't important anymore, because I had experienced it again. Like the moon pulling the tide from a beach, I realized I needed it. Before I didn't get another chance.

I was nearly asleep when a noise brought me back to full consciousness. I wasn't expecting anyone, not this late. Without hesitation I reached for the shotgun I kept next to my night table. My steps were quiet and fast. I slinked towards the noise coming from my front door. With my ear carefully placed against it, I could hear a pair of feet nervously shuffling on the stone tiles.

I swung open the door, thrusting my shotgun through the opening.

'Woah, not the face!'

It couldn't be. The shadowy figure took a step towards me, into the faint light coming from inside.

'Yeah. Hi, Sophie. Uh, quick question. Do you always point a shotgun at friendly visitors?'

Completely baffled I stood before him. I was nearly at loss for words.

'Depends.' I replied, my voice arrogant. 'You always run off after you kiss someone?' I sarcastically adjusted my aim to have a clear shot at his face.

'You might want to cover up... or not.' He teasingly remarked, reminding me of the way I stood in front of him, only wearing a top and panties. I couldn't tell what part of my semi-exposed body he was looking at. It made me tantalizingly nervous and bashful at the same time.

'Don't change the subject.' I snapped at him. I was done playing games.

'But I brought you something.' He dangled a large leather bag in front of my eyes and offered me a smile. 'Can I come in?'

Unable to hold back a grin, I felt single-handedly defeated by his unanticipated presence alone. I couldn't maintain my no-nonsense persona, no matter how hard I tried. Even if he deserved it, just a little. I lowered the barrel of the shotgun as my heart grew warm again. I watched him shift his posture before me as I contemplated the situation at hand. My toes wiggled on the wooden panels from pure enjoyment. I told him to wait and shut the door. Hastily I snatched the jeans from the sofa and wiggled myself into them.

'How did you know where to find me?' I continued as he passed me, entering my home. 'You ah- got trouble letting go of the spy business?'

'Now that would've been so much cooler.' he chuckled, 'But no, your friend told me. The merc who's bad at losing.' Goddamn it, MacCready. I knew the consequences of his loose lips would turn up sooner or later. I wondered what else he told him when I wasn't there to shut him up. I opened the bag Deacon left sitting on my dinner table.

'Where did you get these?' I gasped when I saw he brought me vinyl records, all of which were in mint condition.

'Mystery.' He innocently replied as he took a seat on my sofa.

I flipped through the records in the bag. This man brought me the classics, the songs I truly adored listening to. Music served as my most precious link to my past. Mac must've told him, there was no other explanation.

'They're all yours.'

'Thank you.' I breathed as I held the records close to my chest. Then I turned on the record player and listened to the crackling static sound of the needle hitting the record for the first time. I always loved that sound.

'What's your poison?' I asked him.

'Surprise me.'

With a spring in my step I disappeared into the room adjacent to the one I left him in. Having a moment to myself, I tried to get a grip on the situation. It was surreal, having him sit on my sofa in the middle of the night as if it was the most common thing in the world. I realized I had to be the person to address the elephant in the room. But the question remained as to what kind of approach I would use. As I poured our drinks, my thoughts wandered. I fantasized about feeling his lips on mine once more, leading his hands to all of the places I wanted to feel his touch. There was no point in denying anymore. I had fallen dangerously hard for him.

My breathing was staggered as I walked back in the room. But my nerves betrayed me once I faced him again, and I found myself lacking the guts to fulfill my own desire. Instead, we spent the next two hours discussing a wide range of topics, aside from the one I was interested in the most... himself. For every question I posed him, he seemed to have another one ready to fire back at me. And if he didn't, he had a convincing way of changing the subject entirely.

When he finally granted me a moment of silence, I decided it was a golden opportunity for me to get answers.

'So. Serious question.' I started while I poured him his third drink of the night, spilling a little on my top. After I handed him the glass, I returned to lay flat on my back in the sofa while he sat close to me on the wooden floor.

'What's with the sunglasses?'

'It's all about the sunglasses. I'm telling you, best ten caps investment you'll ever make.' He replied amusingly and continued to read a small text printed on the back of a record cover.

'Deacon,' I softly started, demanding his full attention by touching his shoulder briefly.

'Hm?' He craned his torso around to face me.

In silence, I raised my hand towards his face and placed my fingers on the frame of his glasses. He reached for my wrist. It looked like he wanted to pull my hand away, to stop me from what I was about to do. But he didn't, instead he held me in a weak grasp.

Hesitantly I pulled them away, until I held them in my hands. For the first time since we met, my eyes locked with his. A set of dark blue eyes stared right through me. I imagined this moment to be a lot easier.

'What made you run?' My voice was low and careful as I studied his eyes. I could tell he disliked my question, because he broke eye-contact and turned away from me.

'Look, I'm not the kind of person you think I am.'

'You're wrong.' I immediately replied, the handful of moments we shared appearing before my eyes, serving as the evidence behind my conviction.

'You intrigue me, Sophie.' He confessed with difficulty in his voice, as if the way he felt about me was a burden to bear.

'Truth is,' he continued, placing his glass on my coffee table. 'This is highly unusual for me.'

'What do you mean?' I knew I was dangerously close to the answer I searched for. As a distraction for myself, I picked up his sunglasses and twirled them around in my hands, acting as if I was busy studying them. He turned around and placed his elbow on the sofa, against my hip. That small amount of contact between us was enough to rile me up. I held my breath.

'Meeting someone as beautiful as you,' He came closer, placing his hand on my shoulder. The warmth of his hand emanated through my skin the moment he removed it, only to place it on my cheek. It felt like sitting in a rollercoaster, nervously listening to the menacing ratcheting sound as I went up the first and biggest hill, ready to face the tipping point.

'Shut up, you fool.' My voice stuttered, dazed by his careless words. Afraid I'd lose myself entirely in the boldness of his words and the addictiveness of his touch, I backed away a little. He shook his head and without flinching, he removed a stray lock of hair out of my face with his fingers.

'Thinking of you...' he spoke as a smirk formed on his lips. His voice was rugged and almost painfully honest. He ran his thumb over my bottom lip, his intentions clearly visible in his eyes.

Slowly he crawled on top of me planting his elbows next to my shoulders as his hands were framing my face. He towered above me, his shoulders broad and solid to the touch as I placed my hands on them. He paused, his face hovering close to mine, studying me with his eyes. Overwhelmed by his intrusive gaze, I closed mine.

Our breaths mingled as I enjoyed the fullness of his lips sliding over mine. His teasingly slow pace was unbearable. He tasted me passionately with his tongue while I had a firm grip on the back of his neck, his black hair tangled between my fingers. Shamelessly we continued to act out the scenario I had concocted in my mind.

I pulled him closer, completely against me. His heartbeat was pounding with deep, fast thuds against my chest. I tilted my head back, inviting him to move on to another sensitive part of my sexually starved body. He took my cue, sensually redirecting his kiss towards my neck. His three-day stubble scoured against my soft skin. As I inhaled his scent, I clenched his t-shirt and moved it up a little. He let out a sultry, short chuckle. His skin was scorching hot when I placed my longing hands on it.

My stiffened legs shuffled against his sides feverishly, I wanted to do nothing else as wrap them around his waist. I let out a short, quiet moan as his warm breath traveled down my chest. His hands ran across my sides when I opened my eyes again, his fingers gently brushing across the side of my breast. He made it seem like an accident, a playful mistake. He looked up at me with a ravenous look in his eyes, desire in its purest form displayed before me. It was almost threatening, as if nothing could stop him from his actions.

A knock on the door, as loud as the heartbeat in my ears. We looked up at each other as if we were caught, both our breathing shaky.

'You've got to be kidding me.' He mumbled, pressing one last kiss on my shoulder as he exhaled nervously through his nose.

'Whoever it is, I'll get rid of them.' I assured him.

'General.'

Preston greeted me formally as I stood there. A cold wind flew inside against my hot skin. It made me shiver.

'I've come baring devastating news. You are needed at The Castle. Immediately.'

'What? Right now?' I exclaimed.

'Yes, is there a problem? I absolutely require your presence there.' Frustration washed over me, my brain unwilling to accept this unlucky, abrupt ending of our intimate moment.

'Give me ten.' I told Preston, the harsh reality painfully clear to me. 'I'll join you shortly.'

I leaned against the closed door as the aftermath of our short, steamy moment still lingered all over my body.

'What, Uncle Sam come knocking often?' He asked me curtly, now sitting back up straight. His t-shirt wasn't properly rolled down, exposing the skin of his side. I gave him a exasperated nod as he walked up to me.

'Your thoughts?' He asked me as he slides his hands over my arms, closing in around my wrists.

'You.' I grinned, biting my lip. He placed his hands on the door. I stood between his arms, completely drunk on his nearness, savoring his dominant pose.

'When will I see you again?' He asked me, while his thirsty lips reached for my neck.

'Stay.' I whispered as the kiss he planted on me drove me into a high, nearly bursting into flames. 'I want you to stay.'

'When will you return?' He asked, as he came back into my view.

'I won't be long.' I assured him, placing one last kiss on his lips.

With the brightest smirk on my face I grabbed my bag hanging over the chair and stormed out the door, a whirlwind of emotions blasting through my mind. The sooner I left here, the sooner I would return. Nothing else mattered anymore.