Red's Plane - July 4th, 1999
Raymond and Dembe were up to something, Rosalie was certain of it.
The entire flight to Athens, the pair were sequestered in the corner of the jet, unusually distant from the rest of the group.
Rosalie sat in her usual seat across from Horace, with Stratos sitting beside him. The latter man laughed knowingly as the young woman's eyes shifted yet again to her romantic interest and his bodyguard.
"What are they up to over there?" She asked, narrowing her eyes as Raymond glanced up, winking cheekily at her before returning to the folio lying open between himself and the younger man.
"Whatever it is, you won't get Dembe to rat him out, so I suggest you let it go." Suggested Horace, shuffling a deck of cards.
Rosalie pursed her lips, trying to come up with a good reason why the two were so secretive all of a sudden.
"Let Red have his secrets, Piccola." Chided Stratos, taking the proffered cards from her bodyguard. "The odds are he is planning something related to you. Let him surprise you."
Horace winced. If there had been a wrong thing to say, this was it.
His charge's head swiveled slowly toward the boyish Greek, batting her dark grey eyes at him. "Stratos, darling, I think you know something." She cooed, seeming to look into the man's very soul.
"You have lovely eyes, my dear, but I'm much more concerned about what your lover would do to me if I spoil his fun." The man replied honestly, shifting the cards in his hand.
The innkeeper's face immediately dropped to one of definite annoyance. "Well you're no fun at all." She grumbled, picking up her book and rifling through it. "Honestly, Stratos, I expected a greater sense of adventure from you."
Her scolding earned her a booming laugh from both men.
"Oh Piccola," Stratos sighed, throwing a card down to pick up another, "There is adventure and then there is stupidity. Getting in the way of Reddington's plans falls distinctly in the latter category."
The dulcet tones of the man in question resonated over the group. "Now, who's getting in the way of my plans?"
Rosalie squirmed slightly at the sound, glancing coyly up at him. The man watched the exchange in open amusement, taking his seat beside the little innkeeper.
"It couldn't be you trying to derail my dastardly deeds, could it?" He questioned, leaning to place a kiss on her neck.
"No," she insisted innocently. "I was merely curious. It's unlike you to be tucked in the back corner the whole flight."
"Missed me, did you?" Red flirted, an all too confident smirk crossing his features.
"I was just amazed at how much elbow room I had." She quipped, nudging his arm playfully with her own, attempting to pilfer the armrest.
The action made the man laugh. He lifted the item so it was no longer separating them.
"And now he takes my arm rest." Rosalie sighed exasperatedly, raising her eyes to the heavens and holding out her hands in mock supplication.
Raymond shook his head at her dramatics before rotating and lying back so his head was in the woman's lap.
It seemed the move assuaged the loss of her armrest. Rosalie allowed him to lounge serenely against her thighs. Her slender fingers instinctively carded through his short locks, issuing a trail of goosebumps along his neck and scalp.
It had been a habit of hers from the very beginning of their acquaintance, and the man now found he couldn't go a day without those little fingers stroking him like this.
The low rumble of contentment issuing from his broad chest amused Rosalie, who happily continued her ministrations for the remainder of the flight.
The Hillside House - Athens, Greece
Upon arriving in Greece, their merry band piled into the waiting towncar and headed south for their next abode.
The safehouse resided in the municipality of Vouliagmeni, a quiet suburb of Athens. The little sea-side cottage looked quiet and unsuspecting as the group pulled into the drive. Like most homes in the area, it was carved of natural volcanic rock with small square windows and a vibrant red terracotta roof.
The gravel driveway was bordered in rosemary and Grecian wildflowers hodgepodged together in a colorful array. A veritable forest of olive and cypress trees covered the remainder of the property, hiding the car port and edges of the home from sight.
Red's brows quirked in mild surprise. The quaint home was darling, but it seemed unlikely to fit them all.
An irresistible smirk tugged at the man's lips. If they ran out of bedrooms, Rosalie would just have to bunk with him.
'What a crying shame.' He thought, instantly thrilled with the small abode.
Rosalie caught his expression, confused as to what he could be so pleased about.
The man responded by dropping his eyes and trekking them ever so slowly up the feminine form.
Rosalie blushed and attempted to cast him an admonishing glance, but she was truthfully quite amused. The resulting half-smirk, half-scowl caused Stratos to laugh out loud.
The booming laugh startled their other companions, making Horace nearly run into the side of the car port.
The man's beetle black eyes glanced in the rear view mirror to see three rather guilty culprits. Rosalie was looking anywhere but the front seat, the Greek was chortling like mad, and Reddington simply stared blithely back at him.
"Alright, everybody out." The bodyguard groused, throwing the vehicle in park.
Their group disembarked, bags in tow as they followed Rosalie to the entrance. The heavy poplar door swung open to reveal a long, dark hallway through which the young innkeeper lead her guests.
Just when the group thought they might be staying in an actual cave, the hallway reached a set of double doors which Rosalie threw wide, revealing the main living space.
Compared to the entrance, the lounge was positively ablaze with natural light. The interior walls were made of the same volcanic rock as the exterior, white washed in the classic Greek style.
The floors were made of thick, heavy planks stained a deep honey color to add warmth and texture to the room. The gleaming hardwoods led to a quaint kitchen accentuated by a darker stone wall and a glass-topped island long enough to seat the five of them comfortably.
Red could see the innkeeper's nomadic sense of style in the space. There were touches of quintessential Cycladic design everywhere he looked, marrying effortlessly with the woman's sense of luxurious minimalism. The overall effect reminded one of the palatial abodes found nestled in the Greek Isles.
The southern wall of the living space wasn't so much a wall as a massive portico. The vaulted stone arches stood ten feet tall and six feet wide, making the only boundary between the interior living space and the sprawling sunlit balcony outside.
Raymond strode through the main arch, taking in the view. A vibrant slip of azure sea was framed by monolithic bluffs, stretching before him in an expansive valley before connecting to the sprawling ocean beyond.
The minute size of the home was merely an illusion. Though the first floor stood level with the top of the cliff, an entire second floor resided below, carved deep into the rocky face, with a similar veranda attached. The man looked down, seeing the open space dotted with outdoor seating and the sea churning further below.
A healthy breeze whipped across the man's skin, bearing the rumbling echo and salty scent of crashing waves. It mixed with the warm sun and the wild rosemary speckling the landscape to create a refreshing cocktail for the senses.
"She's a perfect mix of land and sea." Rosalie called warmly, stepping out into the golden sunlight. "I could have placed us closer to the city center, but I thought this location had a touch more charm."
Red turned to peer fondly at her through his rose colored sunglasses. "You never fail to amaze, my dear." He reached to cup her cheek, bringing her forehead within reach of his lips. "The place is incredible."
She beamed at his praise, glancing up at the Grecian beauty with pride and affection.
Stratos could be heard within, deploring this was his new home, he would be sending for his things post haste, and Rosalie would need to find a new locale to house her bumbling band of ne'er do wells.
His bellowing made the fugitives on the balcony snort with laughter.
"I'm far too attached to this one to let him have it." Chuckled Rosalie, shaking her head.
"Good luck telling him that." Red advised as the man loped onto the balcony.
"Piccolina, this is a gem ." Stratos insisted, leaning conspiratorially toward her. "How much would it take for you to part with it?"
Rosalie laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Stratos dear, she's not for sale. You are, of course, more than welcome to stay whenever you like."
The man sighed his disapproval, shaking a finger at her. "Careful, little mogul, I might take you up on that offer and just claim squatters rights."
Rosalie's eyes narrowed impishly. "You do that. My bouncers are utterly charming."
The retort made the men chortle, both rather interested in testing her conviction on the matter.
Seeing her threats did little to dissuade, the woman rolled her eyes and shooed them back inside. "Come along you deviants, let's get you settled in."
Stratos and Horace were staying in the bedrooms on the first floor while Dembe, Raymond, and Rosalie took the lower level. As the others were unpacking, latter the two walked lazily toward their rooms, conveniently located in the same hall.
Red felt her warm hand slip into his. He gripped it gently, chuckling sensually as the sprite of an innkeeper tugged him into his room.
The master suite was spacious, yet incredibly cozy. Like the rest of the house, it was carved of stone and had a tall, arching ceiling. It looked much like a cave, though the plush bed and striking white and blue linens made the cavern feel bright and luxurious. The ensuite bath was natural and yet modern. Clean lines in the cabinetry and crisp glass counters complemented the robust river rock shower beautifully.
As with most of Rosalie's master suites, the bank of rooms had a subtle sensual undertone. Red had noticed this design trait from the very first safehouse she had set for him. The linens, the artwork, the miscellanea found on the shelves, it all combined to make the master suite inviting and alluring.
"Considering your cardinal rule about ladies of the night in your homes, I'm surprised the master suites are always so sensuous." Raymond voiced his thoughts, finding the irony rather funny.
Rosalie stepped into his sphere, her deep grey eyes enjoying the trek up his broad frame. "What do you mean?"
"The master suite is always so…decadent." He intoned, pulling her close to him and brushing his nose against her temple.
A warm smile plumped Rosalie's cheeks as she leaned into the gesture. "I set the home to suit the client." She reminded him.
Raymond pulled back to look at her. "All the homes?" He questioned, the surprise evident in his voice.
The little woman sing-songed her head, the affection in her gaze warming the man holding her.
"Every client is different, I do what I can to make them comfortable. However, this room and every home you've stayed in has been catered just for you."
Red found himself surprised. Of course, he could remember the incident with the maid in Bulgaria, but it hadn't occurred to him the woman would still be stocking the safehouses to his specifications.
The young innkeeper let out a tinkling laugh, enjoying his shock. She pointed at the sheets, "The 100% Belgian Linen is your favorite, the fabric stays cool all night long. You like earth tones as well as soothing blues, but just a touch, the rest should be light and neutral."
Her eyes wandered to the bathroom. "You enjoy the aromatherapy bath products, the ones with basil and eucalyptus. You prefer them laid out in the order they're in now."
The man's eyebrows raised. Red hadn't realized the bath products had been the same for months, and the woman was absolutely right about the sheets.
Rosalie continued, her eyes flitting up to the ceiling in the direction of the kitchen. "You like the small batch, mid-roast coffee from Ecuador, and on occasion, the lemon darjeeling tea from that one shop we found in London. You've a taste for wildflower honey, and I always have your preferred vintage front and center on the bar cart, along with those heavy crystal glasses you seem to enjoy so much."
Raymond's smile broadened as he listened to her rattle off his favorite things. He couldn't say why it warmed him to hear her confidently and accurately list his every preference.
It felt terribly nice to have someone know these seemingly unimportant things.
"I don't set the homes for other clients the way I do for you." Rosalie confessed, feeling somewhat sheepish. Raymond was different from her other clientele, he had been from the very beginning. The man became her most important client in a matter of days, and once Rosalie and Horace began traveling with him, the homes became theirs as well.
She set the whole house for their use. To her, it only seemed natural to make the spaces as inviting and enjoyable as possible. Horace's preferred bacon was in the refrigerator, Dembe's favorite books were always waiting on his nightstand, each and every room had details for the four of them, but none so much as Raymond.
The man before her grinned. "Careful, little dove, a man could get used to this sort of treatment." His tone was teasing, though he was truthfully touched by the level of care and detail she had quietly been putting into their accommodations.
She made this room sensual and warm and inviting because she knew Raymond would appreciate such surroundings.
He certainly did. The man realized he had thoroughly enjoyed every single home she had brought him to.
Typically, one was bound to encounter an unpleasant safehouse on occasion. It was simply part of being on the run. However, the man now realized he hadn't been in one single bad location since partnering with the innkeeper.
"Are we still on for tonight?" Asked Rosalie, diverting the conversation from her entirely too thorough knowledge of the man's preferences.
Red chuckled, allowing the tactic for now. "Most definitely. Though," he grumbled at the thought, "We won't be able to stay out till all hours like we usually do. There's a spot of business I need to take care of with Stratos later tonight." The man was obviously discontented with the matter, considering there were much more preferable ways to spend the evening.
Rosalie nodded thoughtfully. "Why don't you have your meeting here?" she suggested, "If you feel you can trust the other party, that is."
The man considered the thought for a moment. "They are certainly amicable, I've been doing business with them for some time. It's merely a change to one of the shipping routes they want to go over before releasing any product."
The woman leaned to wrap her arms around his middle, batting her long lashes at him. "Have them over for drinks and desserts, soothe their ruffled feathers. I'll keep while you play criminal tycoon."
The statement had Raymond issuing a low, sultry laugh. "You'll keep, will you?.. and if I won't?" He asked, pulling her to his solid frame and kissing her soundly.
"I'm afraid you'll have to." She murmured against his lips. "Just long enough for you to guarantee their cooperation and for the others to be so inebriated they won't notice your absence." She grinned, grey eyes flitting over him restlessly.
"And after they're all drunk and distracted?" questioned Raymond, enjoying the sensation of her eyes raking him. "Tell me your plans. Are we sneaking off into the night?"
"There's no need for that." Purred Rosalie, taking a few steps back from him. "There are hidden delights in this very home we can spend hours exploring."
"Oh?" Raymond asked. Her demeanor had him intrigued. The man prowled toward her mischievous form, intent on learning her secrets.
A feminine little giggle reached his ears as the woman rapped two knuckles on the wall behind her.
Raymond stopped as he saw the wall spring open at a break in the wainscoting. It moved aside to reveal yet another heavy poplar door.
"My God, woman, you have more secret compartments-"
Rosalie placed her index finger against Red's lips, quieting his incredulous comment. "This compartment is ours alone ." She murmured, brushing her lips against the corner of his mouth.
The man stiffened, alternating between gazing heatedly at his companion and eyeing the heavy wooden door with interest.
Rosalie reached out and turned the iron handle to reveal a short set of stone steps. She grasped his waiting hand and pulled him through.
Closing the door behind them, they made their way down to a small landing with an archway on one side. The woman smiled excitedly back at Red as she led him into what could only be described as an unmitigated and utterly decadent delight.
The walls and floor of the hidden room were carved from volcanic rock like the rest of the home, with pristine white walls and floors giving it a bright and airy feel. Polished brass hooks were placed on one side of the arch, while a brightly tiled shower was etched in a cozy alcove on the other.
A luxurious plunge pool decorated in iridescent blue glass tiles took up most of the remaining space. The secluded grotto led out to another vaulted arch through which the sun shone bright.
"Quiet, relaxing," whispered Rosalie, "Not a bad spot to play hooky from the others."
Raymond's gaze roamed the room, terribly pleased with the turn of events. "Whatever could we get up to in here?" He joked, trying to stem the sudden influx of erotic and debauched images flooding his mind.
The woman turned, a sly expression flirting with her features. "I was thinking a rousing game of water wiggle."
Red's tongue prodded the inside of his cheek at the saucy remark, turning to find the woman's expression perfectly deadpan. He tugged the minx back into his sphere, a deep, genuine laugh leaping from his mouth.
The sound ricocheted throughout the vaulted space, making Rosalie's nose scrunch in smug amusement.
"Oh, I like you," he crooned, capturing those lips again. Red's tongue took her hot mouth with abandon, demanding she submit to his ravenous exploration.
Rosalie whimpered her arousal, gripping his lapels tightly. "You like me, huh?" She asked, deepening the contact and relinquishing control to the man's pleasurable demands.
Raymond growled his agreement, grasping her feminine frame tightly to his. A stifling heat was settling between them, making them both want to bypass their evening plans in favor of christening every inch of the cavernous room.
Rosalie moaned as warm, masculine hands moved sensually up her back. "I like you too." She conceded, nuzzling his neck before reluctantly settling down.
They were both breathing heavily, eyes hooded with lust as they worked to key down their arousal.
"Yes," managed Raymond after a long moment. "You and I are coming down here the moment I'm done with the riff-raff."
Later that evening - The Hillside House - Vouliagmeni, Greece
" I call it Kotys." Came a slightly tipsy voice from the bar.
Raymond and Rosalie had just returned from their date in insufferably good spirits. The pair had gone to dinner at one of Rosalie's hidden gems with a stunning view of Acropolis. Aside from the excellent company, the two had enjoyed a wide array of Mediterranean staples as well as a few new-age gastronomy experiments courtesy of the head chef, of whom both fugitives were acquaintances.
They capped the night at an outdoor art gallery, which Raymond had secured via the owner. The two had the place to themselves, and spent a leisurely hour just strolling the grounds and discussing the various sculptures and tapestries displayed. Just as their first date, the evening passed pleasantly and all too quickly.
The pair had returned well before midnight, and were just raiding the safehouse bar in preparation for Red's associates, when Stratos had brought up the subject of the house's name.
"The goddess Kotys was known for the rather lascivious parties her worshipers engaged in." Intoned Stratos, inclining his head at the two. The man had noticed they were readying enough drinks to put down an army.
"I believe those parties were called orgies." Raymond quipped dryly, eyes swivelling toward his romantic interest. She had just settled onto the chaise lounge with a book and a glass of gin.
Rosalie met his gaze with one of utmost innocence. "Were they now?" She murmured, turning her page. "How very interesting ."
"Had no idea, did you?" The man needled, completely unconvinced.
"None." Agreed Rosalie, staring resolutely at her page.
"None at all?" He continued, determined to jostle her cool facade.
"Nary a clue." She insisted, still avoiding his gaze.
"I think she might have known something about this story." Red turned, involving the Greek in his tomfoolery.
"I would say by the way she is avoiding us, she might have known quite a bit, which begs the question… Whatever could you have been planning for this delightful abode, Piccola?" Goaded Stratos, happy to partake in teasing the young woman.
Rosalie stuck her tongue out at him, still firmly ensconced behind her book.
"I should say so." Agreed Reddington, "What truly convinces me is the lovely little blush which seems to be encasing her from head to toe as we speak." He uttered the last phrase with a caress, staring unabashedly at the tantalizing form on the chaise.
Stratos took this as a cue to make himself scarce. Chuckling, he stood and quickly headed for the exit.
Rosalie glanced furtively over the edge of her book, only to find the confident form of Raymond Reddington poised over her. His proximity made her squeak, hiding behind the tome and giggling tipsily in spite of herself.
Raymond couldn't hold his amusement, finding her antics charming to say the least. He pressed his towering frame into hers, dipping his head below her book to place his lips at the shell of her ear. "Tell me, little dove, does this pretty pink hue extend everywhere?" He growled, sliding his hand up the tight skirt to fondle her hip.
"There's only one way to find out." She mewed, her tone belying a bravado Rosalie didn't know she possessed.
The man above her stilled, making her worry she had taken their game too far, too soon.
In the next moment, a noise erupted from his throat which told her he didn't mind her rascally quip. He didn't mind it one bit.
The woman's book was unceremoniously tossed aside as Red settled himself further within the valley of her thighs.
Her legs wrapped about his waist, drawing the man closer so she could nibble his neck.
The sensual touch teased a low moan from him. His deft fingers quickly sought out the buttons of her shirt, slipping the little pearls from their resting place and baring her for his viewing pleasure. A small smattering of freckles stole the man's heart as they speckled the newly bared expanse of warm, soft skin.
"So beautiful." Raymond groaned, taking in the gorgeous sight of Rosalie's heavy breasts wrapped in deep burgundy lace. They were perfect, just more than a handful, with pert nipples straining against the taught lace.
A grin ghosted across Red's features as he noted the blush did indeed cover her entire body.
Rosalie beamed for his mood, biting her bottom lip and watching his reaction hungrily.
His green eyes held hers, mouth dropping to the pristine mounds, peppering the satin skin with affection.
The woman beneath him sighed her approval, arching her body into his. When her pelvis met the front of his slacks, Red grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head with one of his large masculine hands.
Rosalie giggled, enjoying the new dynamic. The giggle quickly turned into a throaty moan as Red's other hand reached up to pinch her nipple. The man held her paralyzed as his unoccupied hand pulled aside the cup of her bra.
Rosalie gasped and arched into him again as the plump mound was exposed to him.
Raymond had just managed to flick his tongue over the delicious little peak, earning a wanton mew from his companion, when the doorbell rang.
" Dammit ." He growled, reluctantly releasing his lover.
The woman groaned and trembled beneath him. Her desire was so evident, Raymond felt like an absolute cad for not finishing what he'd started.
"I'll make it up to you, my dear." He promised, helping to set the dazed woman to rights.
" Just long enough to soothe their feathers ." She reiterated, kissing him once more as Stratos led Red's associates noisily down the hall.
The boyish Greek strode into the lounge, glad to see the amorous couple looking the very definition of put together.
In truth, the way Raymond was looking at the woman earlier, Stratos had expected to find them en flagrante.
Red silently communicated with his companion, who helped serve several rounds of rather stout drinks to the group as they settled in on the issue of the shipping routes.
A couple hours later, Rosalie had managed to sneak out onto the balcony as Stratos and the shipping associates were drunkenly singing a compilation of local ballads in the lounge.
Raymond stopped en route to her location to lean into Dembe's ear. "Tell me we are ready for tomorrow."
The younger man nodded quietly. "Yes, everything is prepared."
"Thank God." Sighed Raymond, gripping his shoulder in thanks. "And her black book?"
Dembe's soulful eyes shone bright with mischief. "It's back in her suitcase, safe and sound."
"Excellent." The fugitive, beamed gratefully at his friend. "Don't feel obligated to stay up too late, Horace and Stratos can deal with this bunch just fine. We're going to finish our date away from prying eyes."
Dembe shook his head and laughed softly to himself, wishing the other man a pleasant evening.
Red joined Rosalie out on the balcony. They bided their time, waiting for a solid ten minutes before tiptoeing back inside, making a beeline for the door to the lower level.
The pair sniggered as they descended the stone steps, making their way into the warm hallway leading to their rooms.
"My God, it's hotter'n hell and half of Georgia." Rosalie sighed wiping the tears of mirth from the corners of her eyes. "I'm definitely going to take a dip before bed." Her gaze swiveled casually toward her date. "Are you still up to joining me?"
Raymond's face lit with amusement. They were both still tipsy, though they blessedly avoided drinking the concoction Rosalie had macgyvered to inebriate the others. He still fully intended to enjoy the remainder of their evening in the secluded grotto below.
"Sounds like a delectable nightcap, my dear."
Rosalie beamed at his agreement, kissing the hand holding hers before releasing him and scurrying to her room. "Meet you down in 15?"
Red nodded, chuckling softly to himself as he entered his room, doffing his jacket, waistcoat and tie.
It wasn't until the man was removing his shirt that a realization came and slapped him in the face.
When the garment fell to the floor, he stared at the tall mirror by the foot of the bed, the truth glinting at him from the tops of his shoulders and the sides of his arms.
His scars.
How could he have possibly forgotten about them?
There would be no hiding them from Rosalie if he went down there. The woman had no idea what he kept hidden beneath his suits.
The mottled flesh didn't necessarily bother Raymond; he confidently occupied his skin regardless. It was, however, rather telling of his past. It wouldn't take much digging for someone to draw conclusions on who he might have been based on those scars.
Would Rosalie go looking into his identity after seeing them?
She had said his name was of no consequence to her. Did he believe her?
The man had trouble trusting anyone's motives, but he believed he could trust Rosalie's implicitly. She had proven herself time and again over the past year. The woman was unflinchingly loyal, a friend, and a confidant. Hell, Red was pursuing a relationship with her, which denoted a certain level of trust and confidence. He told himself she would not go looking.
But what would he tell her?
He certainly couldn't tell the whole story of that night. It would be too damning, too revealing, she would know too much. It would put them both at risk.
Yet the man knew he would have to provide some kind of explanation. Though Rosalie would be understanding about the secret of his name, Raymond had the distinct feeling she wouldn't stand for him keeping anything else from her.
He had promised he wouldn't, as a matter of fact.
'The best falsehoods are built on truths.' His mind supplied readily. Raymond would simply tell her there was a fire, a disagreement amongst business associates. There was no need for her to know about Katarina and the others.
The tale would have to do for now. Red's stomach pitched unpleasantly. The vague story felt unpalatable. In any other circumstance, he wouldn't hesitate to spin the yarn in whatever direction he required, but knowing the story would be fed to Rosalie left the man feeling a distinct wave of discontent.
'It's for the best.' He reminded himself, thinking of her safety. She could never know, he simply needed to get over the fact that Rosalie would not know this aspect of him.
Red removed the rest of his clothing rather moodily, flinging the articles over the nearby chair in a careless fashion.
A few rare insecurities came flooding to the fore at the thought of being bared to the beautiful woman down the hall.
He had lived with the scarring for years, and the rest of his body he felt quite confident with. However, this would be the first time she saw the man in such a state of undress.
Would the scars bother her?
A corner of Raymond's mind chastised him for thinking such a thing.
"She's not shallow." Red grumbled aloud, shaking his head when he realized he was talking to himself.
The man strode swiftly toward the closet, taking out a pair of deep navy blue trunks with a sigh. Rosalie was bound to see his scars sooner or later, he just hadn't been prepared for her to see them tonight. A fact he would need to reconcile with in the next five minutes.
Once changed, he strode slowly down the hidden stairs, one of the thick fluffy towels draped over his shoulders. His heart was thudding steadily in his chest, a stifling nervousness coursing through his veins. Red rounded the corner at the base of the stairs, eyeing the grotto warily. He inhaled deeply through his nose, exhaling when he heard the soft sound of pattering feet behind him.
He looked up to see Rosalie's warm smile. She was clad in a similar fluffy towel and holding a pair of ice cold blackberry brambles.
He was adjusting the tie on his trunks when he turned, revealing his bare chest to her wide-eyed gaze.
The sight of him nonchalantly fiddling with the drawstring at his waist stopped Rosalie in her tracks. Her dark eyes burned white-hot as they raked his stocky build, admiring the wealth of light hair which covered his chest and trailed down his stomach before disappearing beneath the waistband of his trunks.
"Well hello there." Rosalie purred realizing this was the first time she had seen the man sans a shirt.
The woman had caught glimpses, certainly, but the minuscule triangle exposed when he had those first few buttons popped did not do justice to the arousing sight before her.
Raymond was positively virile in look and stature. He stood half a head taller than her, and his broad, powerful frame still managed to look relaxed and debonair in a pair of swim trunks and a towel. The dark shorts framed his waist and encased his defined thighs nicely. Her eyes trekked downward, noting his legs were toned and proportionate to the rest of him, bearing the same light colored hair as his chest.
Rosalie found the whole package more than a little enticing.
Her flirtatious banter and blatant interest soothed Raymond minutely, and the little peck she gave the underside of his chin as she reached the landing all but wiped the scars from his mind. Red reached out, ushering her into the room with a heated stare.
The young woman squeaked softly as his large hand squeezed her towel-clad bottom, goosing her into the cool alcove and ensuring the door to his room was locked behind them.
The cavern was an incredibly sensual setting at night.
The light of the mid-day sun no longer poured in through the arch at the far end of the pool, having been replaced with periodic flashes of pearly moonlight.
Rosalie meandered about, setting their drinks on a little tray beside the water's edge before dropping her towel carelessly alongside it.
It was Raymond's turn to stop and stare.
A moan of longing erupted from the man as he took in the delectable sight of the young innkeeper in a swimsuit. The strappy number was a deep, dark green, and gave him an unrivaled view of every one of her feminine assets.
Rosalie was a curvaceous woman with ample breasts and luscious hips which tapered into a pronounced hourglass at her waist. Her flat tummy was cute and toned, and there was even a lovely little birthmark which looked to be the size of his thumb on her ribcage.
The scar from their ambush in Munich was still quite visible, though Kate's impeccable handiwork had reduced it to a slim red line.
The lithe form bent to pick up a candle lighter from the tray, the view of her smooth legs and peachy backside beckoned another grunt from Red. His large hands gripped his towel tightly, barely restraining himself from striding across the room and sheathing his rampant erection in that smoldering valley.
The little hellion had the nerve to giggle at the noise, carrying on as if she didn't know she was tormenting him as always. Her pert derrière wiggled enticingly, the outline of her sex just visible against the taut fabric of her bottoms.
Raymond was uncomfortably hot, his predicament made worse by the little flush gracing the woman's skin when she felt his eyes continue to roam her hungrily.
Truthfully, Rosalie loved the way Raymond looked at her. When he was hot and bothered, the predatory side of him came to the fore. It made her feel like he was going to pin her down and ravish her at any moment. The suspense was positively to die for.
The green orbs tracked her across the room as she lit the candles on the walls to give them a bit more light.
The soft yellow flicker only served to cast tantalizing shadows over her nearly naked form. From his place by the arch, Red could see the shadow of two dimples situated adorably at the base of her spine.
He idly wondered, if he ran his tongue over them, would she squirm?
Setting the lighter aside, Rosalie lifted a slender leg, prodding the pool with her toe. She hummed her enjoyment, finding the temperature to be perfect.
A warm expression plucked at her lips as she took a step into the cool, dark water. "Are you going to join me, or are you planning to just watch me strut about in a bikini all night?"
Her teasing pulled Red from his distracted state, and he hitched a reluctant smile onto his mouth. He took a step toward the pool, hesitating at the water's edge.
Rosalie noted his trepidation. "Is there something wrong?" She asked, looking about the room for the source of his discomfort.
"No." He took a cleansing breath, there was no point in sugar coating it. "I have quite a bit of scarring, and I am rather hesitant to broach the subject with you."
The confession was met with a look of quiet understanding from his counterpart. She ascended the steps of the pool, taking his hand in hers. "We all have scars," she murmured, "But if you aren't ready for me to see them, it's okay. The last thing I would want is to push you into divulging something you're not ready for me to know."
The grey eyes were gentle as she brushed her thumb comfortingly back and forth over his palm. Raymond felt the sincerity behind the gesture, and it soothed him greatly. He realized he needn't have been concerned, Rosalie was going to be as kind and caring as always.
The desire to be bared to this woman intensified, pressing Red to grip her hand and bring it up to his lips. "I'm ready." He nodded, allowing her to painstakingly pull the towel from his shoulders.
Rosalie went and hung the fluffy item from one of the nearby hooks, turning to see Raymond with his back to her, taking a step into the pool.
Her hand flew up to her mouth, feeling as though she had swallowed a gallon of ice water in one gulp.
The skin of Red's back shone silver in the low light.
The scarring was extensive, cascading from the tops of his shoulders, fanning out onto his arms and rippling down his back in a cacophony of dimples and valleys.
A flood of sympathy coursed through the young woman at the sight. Something or someone had hurt him terribly. She thanked every deity she knew that she hadn't gasped, not wanting Red to feel as though there was anything wrong with the way he looked. Her hand dropped immediately back to her side, and she crossed the room to stand behind his rigid form.
"There was a fire," he explained in a terse tone. The man was unsure as of yet what the woman thought.
"Was it an accident?" Rosalie asked, hoping this wasn't something done to him out of vindictiveness.
"Yes and no."
Her head tilted at the non committal answer. "This has something to do with your name?" She deduced.
Red nodded stiffly.
"Understood." She said softly, much to the man's surprise. Her small hand reached out in a tentative gesture. "May I?"
Raymond's back tightened, thinking she was merely feeling sorry for him. "You don't have to-" he began, but she shook her head.
"This isn't pity." She interrupted, her tone firm. "We're dating, Raymond. I won't tolerate being barred from showing affection for every last inch of you."
The remark held her usual warmth mixed with a potent possessiveness which lessened Red's dour mood considerably.
The man turned and scanned her expression. Her dark eyes were set, unyielding and yet still the very definition of kindness. A slender hand sat mid-air, awaiting his permission. The man memorized those features for a moment before giving her a curt nod.
Rosalie's hand moved to rest like the weight of a feather between Red's shoulder blades. The damaged flesh contracted beneath her fingertips, the gentle touch feeling foreign after all these years.
"Does it hurt?" She asked, her voice resonating with concern. Her palm traced carefully along the rough, reddened river flowing from his shoulders down his back.
"Not anymore." Red hummed, deeply enjoying the sweet caress.
Rosalie leaned forward, her eyes holding his over his shoulder as she placed petal soft lips to his arm.
Red relaxed a few more degrees at the action. She obviously wasn't repulsed by what she saw.
Her mouth trailed from one shoulder to another, dropping warm, affectionate kisses every few inches until she reached the other side.
Her hands snaked around his torso, hugging him tightly to her, drawing circles through his chest hair.
Raymond was pleasantly surprised.
Other than her initial shock, the woman hadn't balked or gasped in any way. As a matter of fact, she was going out of her way to show his scars were nothing more than a point of concern for her, worried the damage still ailed him.
She had asked him if it hurt, nothing else.
"Let's talk about something more enjoyable," suggested Raymond, turning to kiss her forehead.
The blonde nodded softly, releasing his torso and allowing him to step into the refreshing water.
The man let out a relieved sigh as he was engulfed by the cool depths. It had been too long since he'd enjoyed this particular sensation.
Rosalie couldn't help the watery smile which graced her features. It seemed Raymond quite enjoyed swimming. She made a mental note to choose more safe houses with pools, or at the least, very large bathtubs.
She joined him, plucking their drinks from the tray beside the water's edge and passing one to Raymond.
He took the beverage gratefully, the refreshing taste of blackberries and Rosalie's preferred gin flowing pleasantly over his tongue. The man settled into the corner bench, setting his glass on a nearby stone shelf.
Rosalie wriggled into the small space behind him, wrapping her toned legs about his waist and tugging him so he lay back against her.
Red laughed softly at her antics, resting his head against her shoulder and dropping his hands to stroke along the backs of her thighs.
Her breasts were pressed against his back, brushing the sensitive skin periodically as the water bobbed them about.
"You're doing a darling impression of a koala." He teased, earning a scoff from his counterpart.
"I'm a cuddler, get used to it." She retorted, her hands caressing his chest and arms lazily.
Raymond felt Rosalie's lips brush his earlobe before she suckled the sensitive flesh between her teeth.
The man grunted his approval, shifting to expose more of his neck to her pleasurable attention.
She took the offering, peppering the sensitive expanse of skin with affectionate nips and kisses until Red all but purred in her arms. This was how he had wanted to spend the remainder of the evening.
They relaxed against the stone bench for several long minutes, talking about everything and nothing. The woman continued to shower her partner in affection, thrilled each time she made his breath hitch.
"You're turning me on." He rumbled, rotating to his knees and pulling the little innkeeper to him.
Rosalie's legs wrapped back around him, bringing her feminine frame flush with his.
Raymond carried her toward the center of the pool, enjoying the sensation of her scantily clad body pressed tightly to his.
They met in a tangle of lips and tongues, drawing a sigh of relief from them both. They had spent all day waiting to be alone in the sensual space.
With a sly smirk, Red plucked at the strings holding her bottoms in place, rejoicing internally as the miniscule bows came undone. He tugged the garment, earning a surprised squeal from Rosalie as the soft material snaked out from between her thighs.
"Raymond!" She chastised, somehow now a modest maiden. Her previous pursuits all but flung from her mind.
Red reached down to grip her ass, pulling her nice and close. "This outfit has been driving me crazy, little dove." He growled, "I need to satisfy one of my more primal urges."
"Oh?" She whimpered, arching into him as his fingertips skirted along her sensitive flesh.
"Yes," said Raymond, lifting her with him and making his way to the edge of the pool. He laid out a large, fluffy towel and perched her on the edge, pressing her to lay back on the warm surface.
His deft fingers immediately sought her glistening folds. The satin softness parted for him as he coaxed a lone digit between her lips.
"I haven't stopped thinking about this since last night." Red hummed, "Every waking moment has been torture, knowing what lay waiting for me, just beneath your skirt."
The thought made Rosalie's dark eyes widen, her arousal sparkling clearly in their depths.
He petted her lazily, enjoying each squirm and tremor which wracked her body. His fingertips traced her with a light, teasing touch, coaxing her arousal to a steady burn.
The man leaned forward, his lips traversing her in a languid, patternless path, following the plane of her tummy up to the swell of her breasts. He could see the tiny outline of her pert nipples perked against the swimsuit's cups.
"Raymond," she mewed, arching into his touch. The feel of his warm, wet mouth combined with the soft prickle of his five o'clock shadow, creating an incredibly erotic mix of sensations along her skin. Rosalie bit her lip and grinned as she wondered how his stubble would feel between her thighs.
The thought burned her from the inside out.
Red's finger circled her entrance, pleased to feel the slick arousal pooling there. "Look at you, so wet and ready for my attention."
The statement made the woman wriggle, eager to feel more of him.
"Mmm...yes." He growled, enjoying her impatience. "I've been waiting to feel this tight little pussy stretched around my fingers for so long."
Red pressed against the silky passage, urging the little alcove to relent.
Rosalie could feel her body fluttering to accommodate the thick digit. A moan echoed off the walls as her searing heat gripped him, hindering his progress.
The man chuckled darkly, the incredible tightness a delightful surprise.
Raymond pulled back slightly, coating his finger further in her arousal before pressing deeper into the trembling slit. He wriggled, swirled and nudged against her sensitive walls insistently, ensuring the little hole would give in.
Rosalie mewled, the twisting and thrusting causing her desire to build rapidly. Her tight heat started to give way to his assault, allowing the writhing appendage deeper and deeper until the man's large palm sat snugly against her, pressing and grinding against her clit.
The woman panted as his middle finger settled deep inside her. "Raymond " She mewed, arching into the feeling of fullness.
"That's it," he purred, thrilled when her little hips rut against his palm. Red loved seeing a woman lose herself to her body's demands, and Rosalie was proving particularly enchanting to watch.
The slender fingers of one hand were buried in her blonde tresses, gripping the strands in a tight fist. The other hand cradled her breast, kneading the pert mound as her body bowed in response, dragging that little clit against the heel of his hand.
Raymond's head swam with arousal, realizing he held this gorgeous creature's pleasure literally in the palm of his hand. It was a heady thought, making him feel powerful and more than a mite possessive.
The wet little hole relaxed under Red's diligent care, taking the large finger greedily as Rosalie rocked into each thrust.
Raymond smiled serenely over her, taking in every nuance of her writhing form. He learned her every whim,; which strokes made her breath hitch, what caresses had her legs trembling around him, and that one particular moan which told him he'd found the sweet spot which would make her come undone.
The view was making him incredibly hard, wanting desperately to partake in the shivering woman's excruciating pastime.
Instead, he slowly began working his ring finger into the tight passage.
" Sh- oh, Shit." Rosalie panted heavily, her toes curling into the towel. The added digit spread her deliciously, making her thighs quake helplessly on either side of her lover.
"I like it when this sweet little mouth says such naughty words." He teased, kissing her in a slow, sensual rhythm. She mewed throatily when his tongue took hers, teasing it in concert with his fingers.
He worked both digits into her snug heat, swirling and pressing into the slick space until she gave in to his invasion. Red growled his arousal with each centimeter she took, fantasizing about burying his throbbing cock deep in the clenching heat.
"That's my girl." He praised her as his fingers were once again accepted up to the hilt.
The woman let out a gasp of surprise at the sudden thrust, sighing her pleasure when the thick digits kept rocking into her, easing the tight passage open relentlessly.
" Yes, oh…like that ," She sighed, enjoying every touch.
"Tell me Rosalie, tell me how it feels, knowing it's my fingers stroking you just right." His delicious baritone washed over her senses, luring her deeper into the wilds of passion he was creating.
Rosalie's hands were fisting the towel above her as she ground herself on the pumping digits. "God...Raymond it's so good ." She whimpered, her body crackling with pleasure. She could feel the coiling sensation beginning deep inside, signaling where Raymond was rapidly taking her.
"Please," she groaned, lurching when the man added his talented thumb to the mix.
Red chuckled darkly, "God, I love how responsive you are." He murmured intimately, stroking her clit in time with his tireless fingers. Rosalie was shaking beneath him, edging closer and closer to release. He could actually feel her heat start to throb and clench.
"You're going to come for me, aren't you Rosalie?" He crooned, maintaining the same steady tempo, watching her face religiously.
The little blonde moaned in response, a vibrant blush burning on her chest and cheeks. She was clutching the towel beneath her in a death grip, watching memorized as Red's thick, wet digits pumped in and out of her.
"More," she pleaded, those lovely hips rocking against his hand with abandon, desperately seeking her climax.
"That's it," He growled, increasing his tempo, the sound of his hand stroking her sodden folds filling the air. "Come for me. I want to feel this beautiful body shatter. "
Raymond watched in unmitigated delight as Rosalie's body bowed off the ground. Her back moved in an arc following the curl of his fingertips against her g spot.
The woman cried out, the pleasure too much to bear as he beckoned her to meet his demands. "There…Oh please…right there!" she begged, her hips bucking without rhythm.
Rosalie couldn't believe how good Red made her feel. She was happily at his mercy, her every nerve ending alight with pleasure.
The man rumbled his approval as he felt her arousal soak his hand.
She reached and gripped his shoulders, bringing him close to her as she gave into the ecstasy he was evoking.
He brushed his mouth against hers, grinning at the feel of her sweet panting and whimpering ghosting across his lips. Red had waited so long to hear those desperate sounds.
The coil winding inside Rosalie snapped violently, sending her hurtling over the edge with a desperate cry of pleasure.
Raymond felt the tight, hot tunnel convulse around him almost painfully. A husky growl escaped his throat as he kept his fingers writhing inside, drawing out her pleasure for as long as possible.
The feel of her pulsating around him made his dick throb, a drop of precum dripping from the tip as the heavy appendage brushed against her thigh.
"So tight… So tight and so damn wet for me." Red praised, fingertips still coaxing her g spot.
Those lovely hips bucked as she came, her body shattering with her pleasure as he'd promised. It was a show of which Raymond was certain he could never tire.
Rosalie shivered and moaned her release, her tight sex drawing endlessly on the man's thick digits.
The sensation was incredible, if he could bring her to such heights with only his hand, dear god, what would it be like with his cock?
Red's lips kissed a soothing path up her trembling form, coaxing her down from her high. Each sound she made seemed to travel to his rock hard length, increasing the tension in his body as the last of hers ebbed away.
"Oh, Ray-," she sighed shakily, her hips jerking as he slowly pulled the soaking digits from her pulsating slit. She was so incredibly relaxed, Rosalie couldn't bring herself to move for several moments.
Red grinned smugly at her, peppering her flushed skin with affection, basking in the sated glow for which he alone was responsible. The man had wanted to feel her orgasm first hand for a terribly long time. He could honestly say his wildest imagination paled spectacularly in comparison to the real thing. She was so responsive, so open with her arousal and her affection. It made his insides burn pleasantly.
"Why don't we shower together tonight?" He suggested evenly, tilting his head in the direction of the tiled alcove across the room.
Rosalie nodded dazedly, allowing the man's every whim.
They slowly made their way to the stall, where Rosalie reached in to start the water.
Her companion admired the bend of her bare backside as it stuck out of the stall. The missing piece of her suit was still somewhere in the depths of the pool. The desire to deliver a playful little swat to the pert little cheeks was rather difficult for Red to suppress.
The man settled for tugging on the remaining bow, causing the top of her bikini to cascade to the floor.
Rosalie shivered, realizing she was completely naked and bent quite provocatively in front of one very aroused Raymond Reddington.
A broad, masculine hand settled on the small of her back, easing a scorching path up her spine.
Another moan crawled its way out of her, echoing into the small shower. Rosalie stood, turning so her naked body was presented to his hungry gaze.
Raymond simply stared at the beauty afforded him for a moment, memorizing every last inch of her.
The sweet little triangle of her sex drew his eye first, the soft curls he had been playing in moments earlier coaxed a grunt of desire from his throat. Newfound territory commanded his attention, however, and the man found himself gazing ardently at her voluptuous breasts. He reached out, silently asking her permission. Rosalie gave him a feverish nod before Raymond cupped both mounds in his large hands. He marveled at the way the pristine flesh contrasted with his slightly darker skin. Her pert nipples were straining in the chilled night air, beckoning Red's mouth to their quivering pink peaks. His calloused thumbs swiped over the stiff pebbles, earning a sharp hiss of pleasure from his lover.
"In." He growled inarticulately, guiding her back toward the shower. Raymond kissed her languidly, enjoying the simple pleasure of showering with the woman.
She drizzled his favored body wash over them both, enjoying the raw sensuality of such an act.
Red couldn't help but map the edges of her curves, outlining the hourglass as he covered it with fragrant lather. The man was painfully hard, a state which his current pastime did nothing to alleviate.
As he threaded his fingers through her long locks, helping to rinse away the conditioner, he felt her little hands playing with the catch on his trunks.
"What are you up to, little dove?" Red questioned, hoping like hell this was going where he thought.
"Mmm…" Rosalie mewed against his mouth, finally undoing the knot blocking her path. Her soft hand snuck beneath the material of his trunks, wrapping around the twitching member she found within.
"Oh," she gasped at her discovery, stroking the appendage experimentally. "This is what I've been wanting."
A guttural groan echoed loudly off the walls when she grasped him. Red had been aching for her touch. Her hand was delightfully slick from the bath products, gliding over his heated flesh with ease.
"God damn " he gritted, gripping the wall behind her for support.
Rosalie hummed her arousal at the action, holding his green eyes heatedly as she teased his shaft. She gripped him tightly and slid down in slow, painstaking trek, allowing him to feel every nuance of her small fingers engulfing his length. The action made his broad frame tense, a growl rumbling from his chest.
Red voiced his discontent when she unexpectedly released him.
"I'm just getting rid of one final obstacle," she assured, tugging the waistband of his trunks so the garment slid down his defined legs.
Rosalie moaned as the object of her desire came into view.
Raymond's thick, throbbing erection bobbed heavily before her. The sight made her mouth water and the valley of her thighs ache deliciously. Her hands trailed down the smattering of hair leading from his chest down to his pelvis, thrilling at how the soft down framed his cock.
He was cut, just above average in length and girth, and impossibly hard. Reaching out to hold the appendage, Rosalie whimpered her arousal. Her thumb and middle finger couldn't quite touch when wrapped around him.
The young woman's mind was filled with erotic fantasies of what the twitching shaft would feel like dragging along her sensitive sex. Her intrigue and arousal showed plainly on her face, driving the owner of said shaft absolutely spare.
When her dark grey eyes flitted innocently up to her lover, the man actually quivered.
Her curiosity and desire to please shone bright in her gaze. Rosalie was going to learn him every bit as thoroughly as he had just learned her.
Raymond and Rosalie found they were both expressive lovers. They purred, praised, and echoed their enjoyment at every available interval, but the real differences between the two lay in their dirty talk.
Where Raymond had a delicious, rumbling drawl which demanded a response, Rosalie liked to whisper and croon softly in a melodic tone for the man's ears alone.
She spoke so quietly in those moments, Raymond had to lean in, his ear hovering next to her sinful mouth.
This was exactly where she wanted him.
From such a vantage point, she purred an endlessly erotic refrain, her lips brushing the sensitive skin of his neck, her hot breath sending goosebumps to every corner of his aroused and aching body. The sensations were intoxicating, but dear God, the words which came from her perfect little mouth were what sent the man into a frenzy.
Rosalie had chosen to tell him of the night of the Palio, after he had left her room. She told him how aroused she had been, unable to sleep for the wicked fantasies which had plagued her in the night. She confessed her desire had sent her mind scurrying down the hall more than once. She had wanted him so badly, she just couldn't help but take matters in hand.
Raymond rocked greedily into the aforementioned appendage, moaning his involvement at the decadent tale. He listened intently, his body inching closer and closer to its peak while she used him as a confessional for her late night sins.
Red's eyes rolled back when her breath tickled his ear and her soft hand swirled about his cock head, the dual sensations almost too much to bear. His hips jerked into the wonderful feeling, wanting more of her particular brand of penance.
" Fuck ." He husked, gasping as her small palm focused on the throbbing crown, spreading the pre-cum all over his aching head.
"I couldn't stand it anymore," she murmured intimately. "I touched myself until I came on the little fingers currently stroking your thick, perfect cock."
" Jesus, Rosalie ." He rumbled, nuzzling against her desperately. He was so close, her words were painting such a sinful picture in his mind's eye, setting him up for an incredible climax. He could feel her smaller digits spread with every pass of his large cock.
"But… it wasn't enough." Rosalie bemoaned, the dark eyes turning innocently up to him.
"No?" He groaned, his toes gripping against the tiled floor.
She grinned for his expression. The man's brow was furrowed in concentration, his tantalizing lips were parted in a gasp, and his body was wound so tight Rosalie was certain he would snap. It was an incredible sight, seeing the formidable man bowed in pleasure, knowing it was she who brought him to such heights.
Her lips brushed against his, open and beckoning, just out of reach.
The teasing gesture made Raymond moan plaintively, wanting to taste her sweet mouth again.
She readily appeased, her hot little tongue slipping into the waiting cavern and undulating in time with her hand's strokes.
Raymond sighed against her, sucking the little pink muscle gently before breaking the kiss, a deeper craving making itself known.
His large hand reached down and palmed one of her full breasts. The man leaned forward, nuzzling her fragrant skin, earning a sigh from the woman before he drew the chilled pebble of her nipple into his scorching mouth.
The wanton sound which escaped Rosalie told Raymond she enjoyed having her breasts suckled almost as much as he enjoyed having the delectable flesh in his mouth.
Rosalie gasped her surprise then let out a squeal of delight as Red's teeth nibbled the aching bud. "Oh God… " She hissed, arching into his attentions. Her hand grasped his turgid member tighter without thought, pulling a deep growl from her lover.
"Why wasn't it enough?" Red demanded, thrusting into her strokes with abandon. He needed to hear the end of this erotic interlude.
"Because nothing soothes the ache." She confided, her tone honest even in her lusty state. "It's never enough. I'm always left wanting you."
A deep tingling sensation was beginning in Raymond's spine, her confession conjuring every fantasy he'd had of them making love.
He had thought he was out of his mind, when his need for her began occupying his every waking moment. To know she felt the same desire, that same ache which made his body burn from the inside out, nearly took the man to his knees.
Rosalie goaded Red further by reaching to stroke his testicles with her other hand, making his knees buckle.
She mewed as she felt his cock expand and harden even further, his climax imminent. His breath was coming in sharp gasps against her breast as Rosalie continued to stroke him, tightening her little fist and shortening her strokes to tease just past his aching head.
"Do you know what else I've been longing for?" She cooed in his ear, smiling at the tremor which shook his frame.
" N-no ," he swallowed, inching ever closer to euphoria, dying to hear her next statement, somehow knowing it would take him over the edge.
The woman went silent, waiting for the ideal moment.
"Dammit, Rosalie, fucking tell me. " He demanded thrusting into her grip and grazing his teeth over her nipple as he teetered right on the edge.
"I've been dying to feel you come ." She growled soulfully against the shell of his ear.
It was as though she had said the magic word.
A deep, husky snarl leapt from Raymond's mouth, sending goosebumps down her spine.
"Oh…Yes , God, yes." He groaned brokenly as his slit pulsed hard. A thick rope of cum shot onto Rosalie's torso, followed by another and another.
Her hot little hands continued teasing his crown and massaging his balls, urging every last drop of release from his pulsing shaft. The sight of his cum covering her from sternum to thighs was both comforting and arousing, making the woman mew her contentment.
Red gasped and moaned, watching the sinful show of his orgasm coating her satin skin. It was an arousing sight, making his hips jerk, easing him through the last vestiges of the incredible high she had taken him to.
Rosalie watched enraptured as the last of his orgasm dripped from the throbbing head. She couldn't stop thinking about what he would feel like inside her. The thick, hot shaft made her ache so perfectly.
The deep grey orbs traveled up his heaving form, meeting the sated green eyes with a warm smile.
"I have never enjoyed watching a man come so much in my life." She giggled, sliding her hand back up the softening member.
Raymond inhaled a shuddering gasp as her soft fingers traversed his over-sensitized flesh.
He kissed her sensually, stepping them back under the shower's spray. His large hands rubbed her with more of the rich lather, cleansing her of his essence as they settled into a sleepy, sated, and comforting quiet.
Rosalie reluctantly headed for her room after they ascended the stairs and she kissed Red goodnight.
He had wanted to ask her to stay with him, but wasn't sure if she needed her space. After such an intense sexual encounter, Raymond would have preferred to spend the rest of the night curled up naked in his bed with Rosalie's feminine frame pressed tightly against him. They could have slept, talked, perhaps engaged in a repeat of their activities in the grotto…
He recalled, however, that Dembe was ready with their little plan, so he supposed he could wait one more day to have that time with her.
The man tried to shake the slight feeling of disappointment as he climbed into the empty bed, falling into an uneasy sleep.
Down the hall, Rosalie couldn't rid herself of the desire to go back to the master suite. She hadn't been able to tell if Raymond wanted to be alone or if he wanted her to stay. She knew which she preferred, but had instead kissed him and headed for her own room.
As Rosalie settled in the annoyingly spacious bed, her mind wandered to the man's scars. She had the distinct feeling something terrible had happened, and secretly wished he could confide the truth in her. An unpleasant melancholy settled over the woman as she lay awake in the dark, her mind roaring with thoughts of the man down the hall.
Red was dreaming of the fire. He supposed it was to be expected, after having to address the subject with Rosalie.
His unconscious mind went hurtling back to that night and pulled together the hazy images of what happened. He felt the pain, the unbelievable, searing pain. The fear. The betrayal. It all came roaring back.
He had been so certain he would die that night. He had felt death closing in on him, not knowing he'd be outwitting it every day afterward. He had felt so angry and betrayed.
A flash of red and a dark, smoky closet. An adult voice… They needed to be heard, or they would both die. They would never be found, and Rosalie would never know…
"You have to scream. Do you hear me? As loud as you can, you have to scream!"
A piercing cry, like that of a small child, echoed in his skull, the man sat up sharply.
All the blood came rushing to Raymond's head, making his brain swim as he gasped, a prickling sensation rippling over his sweat-soaked back. He took in heaving lungfuls of air, working to try and calm his hammering heart rate.
" Aw, hell." He groused, looking at the clock to find it had only been thirty minutes since he had laid down.
Once calmed, the man stood and reluctantly headed for the shower. It was going to be a long night.
He stood under the pounding spray, attempting to rinse off the filth and nastiness of the dream.
It had been years since he'd had a nightmare about that night. They were always so real, Red typically remained shaken for a couple days.
The water swirled at his feet, circling the drain lazily as the man tried to reconcile the feelings of vulnerability the dream had awoken.
Stepping out of the steamy en-suite, the man again considered seeking out his lover. He deeply desired the comfort of her embrace. The insecurities of a new relationship washed over him, not wanting to push too far, too soon. Rosalie was likely already asleep, he shouldn't bother her with this. And yet…
Raymond looked wearily in the mirror, suddenly realizing how terribly tired he was of hiding himself. Secrets were exhausting, and he already had enough to last him a lifetime.
His decision cast, the man strode quietly into the hall in naught but his sleep pants. He could already hear Rosalie tossing and turning in the alcove of her bedroom. The man rounded the corner of the arched doorway to see her sprawled on her stomach, honey tresses in a riot of curls down her back. The very sight of her somehow calmed him.
The woman was as restless as he, letting out a huff of frustration and kicking the blankets toward the foot of the bed. She didn't realize Red was there. "Get over it, Rosalie." She grumbled to herself, tugging a pillow and prodding it aggressively before curling up again.
Red's expression softened, a wave of empathy consuming him. The sexual release they had enjoyed in the grotto had been spectacular, but had left them both wanting for something deeper. Separating to their respective rooms afterward only exacerbated the problem. They had been foolish not to discuss their needs.
He reached out to touch her, wanting to pull her close.
Rosalie jumped at the sensation of a hand on her leg, only to recognize the warm, gentle grasp seconds later. Raymond's weight indented the bed as he crawled up her splayed form. The scent which was uniquely him permeated the air around her, replacing her agitation with a mix of comfort and desire.
Raymond watched her body relax into his encompassing warmth as he settled over her. He dropped featherlight kisses up her spine, smiling softly when Rosalie arched like a graceful feline, seeking more of his attention. His large hands were pinned on either side of her golden head, creating a loving cocoon around her.
The woman's soft hands covered his, threading the slender fingers through his masculine ones. Both let out a sigh of appreciation at the connection, and the feel of Red's weight settling on top of her.
"Just for tonight?" He asked, dipping to trace her shoulder with the tip of his nose.
Rosalie breathed a sigh of relief, turning on her side and cupping Raymond's cheek. "Please." She whispered, stroking his stubble, with her thumb.
Raymond reached to open the window beside the bed, allowing the cool ocean breeze into the warm space. He settled on his side, drawing his companion tightly against him.
The young innkeeper hitched her leg over his hip, wriggling closer to his comforting embrace.
Red leaned in, brushing his nose against hers as he ran his fingers through her damp curls.
Rosalie leaned into his touch, brushing her lips gently against his.
They settled into a companionable silence, but Rosalie could feel something hanging in the air, waiting for Raymond to give it voice.
"It was a frigid night." He murmured, green eyes turning cold and distant. "The kind of night where the wind howled and the fire in the hearth felt as comforting as a mother's embrace."
Red remembered the dream as it played out in his mind. "The Cabal was searching for an item which could destroy them, believing it to be in the hands of Raymond Reddington."
A little red night dress could be seen scurrying behind a white door. "There was a little girl in the house. She was hiding so she wouldn't be found."
He saw dark figures barging into the house, the woman had brought them with her, the men recognized each other. "There was a fight," whispered Raymond, his body tensing unconsciously.
Rosalie reached to grasp his hand in hers, stroking her thumb over his palm in a comforting manner. The deep grey eyes watched him, spellbound as she hung on his every word.
The gesture soothed Red, his own eyes tilted to hers. "It all happened so fast, she couldn't have known. There should never have been a gun within her reach."
A warm hand reached up to stroke his cheek. Rosalie nodded her understanding, beckoning him to continue.
"Elizabeth," he murmured, hanging his head dejectedly.
"Elizabeth?" Rosalie asked, having never heard him mention the name before.
Raymond nodded painfully, eyes squeezed tightly shut. "She was so small, so young. She didn't know, but her mother…" The man's breathing sped up, a snarl just barely visible on his upper lip.
His lover leaned in, gently kissing the angry expression from his lips.
Red brushed his nose with hers, needing the warmth of her affection.
"I was wounded, dying." His voice grew soft, stilted as his own recollections grew fuzzy.
"A fire started, the Cabal was sure the item they sought was in the home, likely thought if it burned to the ground, there would no longer be a threat."
A grimace took over the man's features. "But Elizabeth was still in the house, hiding. I crawled over to where she was. I called through the door. Told her she had to scream, had to let them know she was still there."
The piercing scream echoed through the intervening years, along with the sound of heeled boots meeting a wooden floor.
"I watched as her mother gathered her in her arms and walked out. I called for her… called for help. Then the world went black."
Rosalie held him tightly, horror struck at the tale. Her stomach plummeted, her empathetic nature screamed at her to do something, anything to comfort the man in her arms.
They both lay there several long moments, Raymond soothing the raw corners of his soul with Rosalie's embrace, Rosalie attempting to put together the pieces of what Raymond had told her.
The man could sense the question in the air, waiting for her to inevitably ask it, and for her inevitable disappointment when he could not answer.
When Rosalie finally spoke, it was not at all the question Red had expected.
"Who helped you?" She asked softly, her heart aching for the man cradled in her arms.
"What?" He asked, obviously taken aback.
"Who helped you recover after all of this?" She questioned, her brow furrowed in concern.
"...I was a newly minted fugitive at the time, I didn't have a place to go. I certainly didn't have the resources I have now. Someone dragged my body from the fire, but that's all I really know." He shrugged it off, but Rosalie was deeply distraught.
"There was no one to take care of you?" She questioned incredulously, a pang of compassion gripping her insides.
"No." Raymond murmured, the truth coming to him reluctantly, "There was no one. An acquaintance took me and dropped me at a hospital in the underground, after that, I was on my own."
He felt the little frame tighten around him. He rested his cheek on her golden curls, taking comfort in her proximity. Rosalie lay holding him gently, and the man understood it wasn't pity she was feeling for him.
This was the gentle caress of a lover, someone who realized how lonely he must have been, how much pain he must have endured. The woman wanted to understand this side of him and how it had made him who he is. She was kissing him, cradling him close because she wanted to comfort him. She wanted desperately to soothe the part of him which was still that man, broken, burned, and abandoned on a frigid night.
Red had never truly spoken to anyone about the night Raymond Reddington died.
Dembe knew as far as what happened and why, and there was certainly a great level of care and compassion there, but Raymond had never had someone of his own to truly give a damn about what had happened to him.
Yet here was Rosalie, adamant on talking it through with him.
The man nuzzled her affectionately, basking in the comfort she willingly gave.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that alone." She whispered, placing a soft kiss to his cheek. She couldn't imagine leaving an innocent man to die in front of her. Especially someone like Raymond, who was kind and thoughtful and affectionate. How could those people do such a thing? The thought did not sit well with her at all.
A cloud above moved, bathing them in moonlight, and Raymond could make out a dark, cold look in the woman's eyes.
Rosalie was angry.
"You asked me if I trusted you to do anything you felt necessary to keep me safe." she recalled, "Do you trust me to do the same for you?" Her tone was firm and demanding, endearingly impassioned.
"Rosalie you don't have to-"
"I know damn well I don't have to." She retorted heatedly, "But this isn't going to be a one-sided relationship, Raymond."
His eyebrows rose at her conviction, it seemed the tale had struck a nerve.
Rosalie shifted so she was astride his hips. Her small hands traced his torso, searching for her target in the faint moonlight.
She found the small bullet wound hidden in his chest hair, the raised scar bringing a snarl to her mouth.
Red watched as she leaned, to place a loving kiss to the circular wound, her warm fingertips settling on top of it as she sat up.
"You don't get to give endlessly of yourself for the sake of someone's affection." She murmured angrily, "You should know they are in your corner, willing to give just as much, to be there when you need them."
The dark gaze met his. "I'm not just some lovebird who will hang on your arm and make you care about me only to bail when our life becomes complicated."
The woman had garnered much more from Red's confession than he had anticipated. Rosalie deduced there were others involved, and she was livid with them for leaving him behind.
"I just don't understand how someone could do such a thing. To you, of all people." She huffed, the bemused scowl on her features amusing the man beneath her.
He chuckled indelicately, caressing her thighs in languid strokes. "Rosalie, I'm far from a saint, I can think of at least a dozen hardened criminals who would gladly have my head."
She dropped her gaze, her tone apologetic.
"Raymond, it wasn't one of your rivals who did this. I can tell by the way you spoke, this was someone whom you loved, or at the very least deeply admired."
His amusement faltered slightly as she cut to the quick of the matter.
Red had long since come to terms with what happened to him that night, the betrayal he had suffered. Rosalie, however, was new to the entire altercation, and the tale made her absolutely furious.
The criminal in him snarled his pride, delighting in the fury which was cradled in the loving grey eyes, seeing a confidant, a partner, so much more than a lover in the woman before him.
Raymond rolled, taking Rosalie and pinning her beneath him as he memorized her fiery features.
He understood the anger, the darkness which flooded her, because it was the same darkness which resided in him.
Rosalie attempted to pull herself from his grasp, her temper getting the better of her. She needed a moment to cool down.
Raymond recognized the towering fury to which Florian and Horace had always referred. He was determined not to let her walk out as she had in Munich. He wanted to see the depths of the criminal prowling beneath her surface.
"I need a minute," she grumbled, attempting to wriggle free.
"No," Red stated simply, his strong arms pinning her even more tightly.
"Raymond," She gritted, the emotions licking at her insides like an open flame, "I don't want to fight with you."
A deep, soothing drawl filled her ears. "You're not fighting with me, Rosalie. You're telling me all about what kind of lover you will be, and I, for one, am dying to hear every last word."
"W-what?" She sputtered, trying like hell to squelch her internal seething.
"You're angry, little dove, let it out. Let me see her ." He murmured, thrilling in the tremor of emotion which skirted her small frame.
Red's eyes were dark as he stared down his little lover. "Tell me how you're going to be better than her, better than the person who betrayed me and left me for dead. I know that's what you're thinking."
A vicious and discontented corner of Red's soul flared to vivid life, recalling a petite frame and long red hair.
His mind readily supplied the image of the vibrant blonde standing toe to toe with the woman from his past. Raymond saw the all-encompassing warmth of Rosalie Øllegaard clash with the cool frigidity of Katarina Rostova. The differences between the two were startling.
Rosalie actually growled beneath him. The little hellcat was stronger than she looked, somehow managing to twist and pin Raymond beneath her.
He felt somewhat guilty for being as pleased as he was.
Was it really so bad, for her to care? It was a selfish thought, yet Raymond found himself basking in the comfort and empathy as well as the outrage and anger which radiated from his lover. For once he had someone furious on his behalf.
The man's towering build pitched forward, taking Rosalie to her back, wedging himself firmly between her thighs.
"You promised I'd have the hidden parts of you." Red reminded, dipping to nuzzle her neck, his lips trailing a burning path from her shoulder to her jaw before resting against the shell of her ear. " Let her out , I want to meet this hellcat I've heard so much about." He purred, "I've only gotten glimpses of her, little dove, but I want to revel in her fire."
Rosalie trembled in his arms, the feel of his hot breath against her ear, murmuring so ardently to her, using that favored endearment, it shook her to her foundations. She had encountered very few people who could tolerate her temper, let alone find any redeeming qualities in it. She was hesitant to show Red this side of her, afraid he would not like what he saw.
Her mind pushed at her. Rosalie had promised he would have her, in her entirety. She promised.
"I hate whomever did this to you." She ground out, trying to drop her carefully constructed walls for him. It was difficult, her body felt like it was fighting her mind, refusing to give in. She tightened around him, needing his stability.
Raymond settled more of his weight on her slender frame, providing her the comfort and solidity she desired. His fingertips dragged gently along her skin, sending goosebumps down her body. "Keep going, sweetheart." He coaxed, ears pricked to hear what she had to say.
Rosalie didn't know why, but she desperately needed him to know, to understand. If there was anything of which he could be absolutely certain in regards to her, it was that she would never, ever allow something like this to happen to him again.
She also needed him to understand that he should never, ever tell her who was responsible for it.
Rosalie was certain she wouldn't rest until they were dead.
Her mind's own conviction frightened her a little. The murderous temper for which she was quietly known crackled in the far-flung corners of her mind. The criminal within her was already analyzing every word he said, looking for the holes through which to garner the culprits' names.
Rosalie grimaced, shaking the notion from her mind. She told him his name didn't matter. She wasn't going to go looking into his past simply for the sake of tearing apart those responsible.
Raymond saw the emotions play out on her face, watching enchanted as her clever mind sifted through the information he had given her. She needed a distraction, or the criminal side of her was going to go hunting. He knew the signs all too well.
"Tell me what you'll be, darling, tell me what kind of lover I've taken." He crooned, dropping his hand to the hem of her silk shorts, stroking the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.
The touch derailed Rosalie's criminal thoughts, forcing her to focus on Red alone.
"I'll be loving," she whispered, placing a hand on his chest. "I'll trust you, in all things. I'll put your needs before my own, because I know damn well you'll do the same for me."
Red nodded his agreement, taking the hand on his chest and kissing the appendage affectionately.
"I'll be your friend and your secret keeper." She murmured, sitting up so she could be closer to him.
"I'll be your lover in more than just the physical sense. You'll have my affection, my playfulness, my pleasure."
The criminal within Raymond listened intently, waiting for what he needed to hear
"I will be yours, Raymond." The dark eyes swam with her conviction, not looking away from the man towering over her. "You're right, I won't be like her, whomever she was. I'll never allow such a thing to happen to you. You'll know you have my protection, just as I know I have yours."
Rosalie implored him to understand. "I'm pursuing a relationship with you, Raymond. Do you have any idea what that means to me? I don't date because men are fickle and unkind, and they don't…" She hesitated, the truth hitting far too close to home.
Raymond stroked her encouragingly, recognizing she was gifting him with something deeply personal.
"Ray-" Her voice shook tremulously, trying to quell the inferno of emotions which had been stirred by their discussion. "They don't like the dark spots in my soul. They try to tame me or change me and I can't let them have me. I'm so tired of hiding myself away. I've wanted someone as dark and wild as I am, someone who understands."
Oh, he understood. Red knew exactly what she meant. The fathoms deep fury in her beckoned to him, speaking lovingly to the parts of Raymond which were forged in that fire. If she sought someone to understand her duality, Rosalie need look no further than the man kneeling before her.
"I like to think I've found that someone in you." She continued, "Knowing the way I see you, the way I feel for you, it makes me vulnerable. Because if I am to be your lover, then you will have the very best of me."
Her soft, warm hands reached to cradle Red's face. "Unlike the woman who left you in that fire, I don't have it in me to take the best of myself from you. I don't have it in me to leave someone I loved to die before my very eyes."
Raymond's eyes closed serenely at hearing everything he had desperately needed to hear, working to memorize it down to the last detail. He had known what kind of lover she would be, but to hear the words from her mouth, it was a reassurance which Red would remember until his dying day.
The comfort of her honesty created a deep, burning need within her lover.
The hand stroking her thigh slipped deftly beneath the hem of her shorts, tugging them away from what he needed in one swift movement.
Rosalie gasped her surprise, the noise turning to an astonished moan as Red's fingers immediately set to teasing her already aching sex.
The man couldn't explain why he so desperately needed to touch her. All he knew was the sensation of her body bowing in ecstasy was the only thing which might soothe the ache in his soul.
His coaxing brought her to the edge rapidly, demanding the trembling form give in to the onslaught.
Raymond was rewarded seconds later as her tight heat gripped his digits and his lover nearly screamed her pleasure.
Rosalie grasped his biceps as she rode out the intense orgasm, her hips bucking into each stroke of her g spot.
The man found his body rumbling with a delectable ache. A savagely pleasurable thought occurred to him as the woman keened beneath him, her nails biting into the mottled flesh of his shoulders.
This was how Raymond would rid himself of that night.
He would take this woman, love her so damn well, so damn often, the only marks left on him would be the evidence of their lovemaking.
He would gather the remnants of that horrid memory and replace each and every second with memories of her. Memories of nights spent in wild passion and trembling lust.
She was his.
His pain would be replaced by her pleasure.
His fear would give way to her comforting embrace.
Her affection and understanding would wipe away the loneliness.
The betrayal would find no purchase in her love.
Raymond made no mistakes, she would love him.
Just as he was certain he was already falling in love with her.
