May 6
Elizabeth Keen tossed about aimlessly in her sleep, the dream she was having a disturbing one. Her eyes popped open, fully awake finally, her mind filled with vivid, crystal sharp images.
She searched about, finding her bed partner peacefully asleep and unaware which upset her all the more. She reached out instinctively, slapping the man's bare chest angrily.
Red Reddington jerked awake, his mind a little fuzzy.
"You idiot!" Liz raised her hand again, her intention quite clear.
Reacting without thought, Red reached out, grasping the hand coming at him. He pushed at the hand and the person attached, easing his bulk over the unsuspecting foe. The man blinked the sleep from his brain, finding Lizzy under him and fuming.
"What the hell!" he released her only to have the woman attack him immediately once again. He caught the attempt easily, his brow furrowing darkly.
"I know I'm on drugs," he hissed his annoyance, "what's your problem?"
"You actually think I fucked Ressler!?" she snapped peevishly.
"What?" he drew back, startled at the accusation. Was she even awake? Was she dreaming?
"How can you think I'd sleep with Ressler!" it boggled the mind.
"What the hell are you talki–"
"In New York, when Francis caught you fooling around." she began the explanation. "I bailed us out, told him I slept with Donald and you got pissed." she admonished heatedly. "You think I slep–"
"Did you?" Red had caught up now, the anger resurfacing post haste.
"No!" she pulled against her restraints for he had yet to release her captured wrists. "I told you I don't think of him like that!"
"Then why did you chose him!" he snapped right back.
"Because I thought you would remember it, if need be." she bit out the retort. "And maybe find it amusing."
Red let her know in no uncertain terms, "Well, I didn't."
"Of all the asinine things for you to..." she shook her head, the aggravation she felt coloring her judgement. "You didn't hear me bitching about your little fling!" The fact still rubbed her raw, were she honest with herself.
"How many times do I have to tell you," he released her abruptly, sighing heavily. "I didn't have sex with Ariana!"
"I wasn't talking about her!" she disgusted. "I was taking about the one in Italy!"
"Lizzy, we weren't even involved then."
"It doesn't negate the fact that you were pissed off at me," she was only too happy to point out, "for supposedly having sex with Ressler."
Red knew what he had said would come back to bite him in the ass, he just didn't know it would be completely out of the blue and at three o'clock in the morning. And while completely naked.
But then, he should always expect the unexpected when it came to this woman.
"Francis..." she was unable to believe that accusation. "You accused me of sleeping with your best friend."
"He isn't my best friend." Red disdained, although admittedly the younger man was in the top five of what he considered his most trusted allies, but she did not have to be made aware of that fact at the moment. "He's at the house all the time, and I mean... all the time!" Red was happy to air his grievances. "What else could I think?"
Once said, the words sounded petty, even to the man's own ears.
For heavens sake Reddington, the man chastised himself. Why can't you learn to keep your mouth shut?
"You think I–" she gasped audibly.
"Have you?" His jealousy outweighed his common sense in this situation, however. "You two seem taken with each other all of a sudden, to my way of thinking."
She struggled under him, fighting his grasp. "If I were a man, I'd punch your lights out!"
All right, so he was escalating the incident, but then, she hadn't answered the question either.
"Why won't you answer me?" He baited artfully. "Because you have? Did you fuck Francis?"
"He's your friend! He's my friend!" the woman was aghast. "I can't believe you would think I–"
"You've had ample opportunity to sleep with him." It was debated moodily.
"I wouldn't do that, for a host of reasons!"
"Name one." Red could name fifty to the opposite direction.
"I-I..." she stammered, trying to filter through the hundreds of reasons why she wouldn't, before blurting out, "I wouldn't abuse your hospitality."
Of all the reasons she could have picked, that's the one that she blurts out? What the hell?
"Nice to know you wouldn't fuck my friend in my bed." Red was at his best when he was being sarcastic. "So where did you do it? The entertainment room?"
Liz fell back into the sheets, rolling her eyes expressively. "I liked you, you moron!" she snapped, averting her eyes. "Past tense!"
The room fell suddenly quiet as the man processed the words. He had arisen in the bed, turning to face his foe but now, relaxed slightly, as he contemplated her mood...but more importantly, his own.
She refused to look directly at him, focusing on the Seascape painting on the opposite wall.
"You are so incredibly stupid." she sighed, deflating a little, "How could you not know that I was attracted to you? That I was hoping for..."
"What?" he questioned yet again, looping it over and over in his mind, trying to make sense of it. She wanted...what? Him...okay, in what capacity?
"What did you want, Lizzy?" He exasperated.
"Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you." She was relatively sure.
The man fell back into the mattress, his hands lifting in mid-air to signify... women!
"I wanted you to touch me..." She yelled at him, having arisen to her knees, and once again, lashed out, hitting his shoulder...hard. "Intimately! As in, slip tab A into tab B...insert repeatedly! Do I have to draw pictures?"
Holy hell...
"Is that why you didn't?" Liz had her own point of view on the matter. "Because you thought I was having sex with Ressler and Francis!"
"No!" he grated brusquely. "I didn't think–"
"Why Francis of all people!" she interrupted, not giving him time or opportunity to answer the question posed.
"I was jealous dammit!" Red exploded furiously.
Liz was taken aback by the statement and emotion involved. "Jealous? Of Francis!" she squeaked. "Whatever for?"
"Because, you accepted him!" Red was on a roll. "You enjoyed his company. You laughed with him. You touched him. You snuggled up to him." Bitterness edged his tone. "Two years I tried to get a genuine smile from you. And Francis got it in two days." He held up the fingers to prove as much. "I try to help you and get the third degree and distrust. Francis gets your gratitude and a hug." He disdained. "I get scorn, hatred, and coldness. Francis gets playfulness, teasing and affection." He slowed his diatribe. "...You tolerate me. You love Francis."
Red squeezed his eyes shut, turning sharply away, pushing off the bed putting distance between them.
The quiet of the room was deafening. The man felt the alienation he had caused. He stared briefly at the same wall with the Seascape, not seeing anything but his lack of finesse. Falling back into his pillow, he cupped his forehead, scratching at an non-existent itch, sighing more than heavily.
Fuck! Good job, Red. The man ran his hands over his face. Less than one day in and he'd already fucked up the thing he wanted most in this world.
He had been making love to her and now, she sat quietly beside him.
Stone silent.
And it had taken him less than a few hours. He was efficient if nothing else.
First the anger. And after that, the scorn would follow. The hatred. The distrust would return, in spades.
The usual emotions she had held for him would be back in place.
He hastily sat, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, hiding his face.
His pain.
He thought he knew what it felt like to hurt before, in regards to Elizabeth Keen.
But he hadn't, not fully.
This was gut wrenching.
To have been so close to having more with her. Loving her, in every way conceivable to him.
His whole body ached with the loss. His throat felt like it was closing off, leaving him without oxygen, choking the life from him. Though his heart beat rapidly, it felt empty and cold.
He felt her move on the bed behind him and wondered where she'd go tonight? Would she find another room? Or was she putting distance between them before telling him to leave?
"Francis was easy." she whispered. He turned his head slightly, surprised to find her on her knees just behind him. He could only see a sliver of her silhouette, but she was there.
"There was no past, no hidden agenda. No secrets." she explained quietly. "He was the only one who didn't want anything from me, but to know me."
"I didn't want anything from you, Lizzy." he replied just as quietly.
"You wanted the Fulcrum."
"I don't want the Fulcrum." he gripped the mattress, leaning into his rigid arms. "They do." he snarled softly. "And in turn, you." he shook his head, "And that is not going to happen." his face fell into his hands, exhaling heavily. This was going nowhere fast.
"Personally, I wish I never heard of the fucking thing!" his fingers pushed into his temples, easing the sudden tension headache.
"There were so many secrets, Red." the woman wanted to reach out, touch him... but she didn't. "I didn't know who I was or who you were. I thought you and my mother had...I thought what I felt was... wrong. I couldn't get close because..."
"If I had made love to your mother, been in love with your mother." he followed the train of thought. "Could I really be in love with you, or was I transferring how I felt about her onto you."
What had he just said? Was he in love with her? Focus! One thing at a time.
"Yes..."
"Well, you know the answer to that question."
"Yes, for all of five days." it was reminded. "God Red, if you had just told me..."
"If it wasn't for Kate threatening me that she would do it herself." he lifted his head, staring off into nothing. "I don't think I would have."
"Don't you get it!" she moved slightly, needing to be near him. "Learning about the scars, brought us closer. You telling me about my mother, brought us closer."
"And what if it had done the opposite? What if it had hurt you?" he turned his head. "If it had gone the other way."
"Red, you can't protect me from everything."
"Maybe not, but I'll still try." he vowed sacredly.
"What the hell happened to her that makes you carry this overwhelming guilt?" she had to ask the question.
"Elizabeth..." his tone warned, "don't."
"After two years, I know better than to ask for what I want to know." Liz slipped into her profile mode. "So let me take an educated guess instead."
Red cradled his head in his hands, just wishing it would all stop.
"You promised her that you'd help her get out, and you did." she began. "But the government didn't hold up their end of the bargain and sent her back." Liz watched his reaction and got nothing.
"You promised to help my mother hide, but they found her." He tensed slightly, making her heart hammer in her chest. She was close to something.
"You worked together, maybe even defeated who they sent, but she knew they'd keep coming no matter what you two did. They wanted the Fulcrum."
Red's fist curled painfully into the bed, the color draining from his fingers. "Did she run away from you? Hide where you couldn't find her? Turn herself into them and accept her fate?"
He kept the same pose, not moving one iota.
"Did they kill her?" she tried again.
Still nothing.
That left... oh God...
"She knew they'd never stop looking for her." it was the only logical explanation. "I'd always be in danger..."
"No more." he stated succinctly.
"She killed herself." the horrible realization had dawned on the woman.
Red curled his fingers so tight, she swore she heard them pop under the pressure, confirming her hypothesis.
"She thought her death would throw the scent off. Freeing you. Freeing me." she laughed humorlessly. "...She thought wrong."
Red stared off into the hardwood floor sightlessly, his mind's eye too full of visions... painful memories.
"And so do you." Liz stated quietly.
He looked over his shoulder slightly, silent. Waiting.
"When you trust me. Open up to me." the woman placed her hand on his shoulder, the warm fingers lightly touching his flesh. "I think we've proven time and again, we work better as a team." She inched even closer.
"I don't expect you to start spilling your guts, Red. But as you can see," at least she hoped he did, "I found out about my mother and didn't wilt." she slid up behind him, pressing her bare breasts into his back, wrapping her arms around him. "I found out that you saved me, not my father and it didn't crush me." She lay her head on his shoulder.
"And if the next revelation does crush you?" he dreaded, knowing secrets he wished he could keep forever.
"Then you'll be there to help pick up the pieces." she lifted her head, studying his profile. "Won't you?"
"Do you want me to be there?" his eyes finally met hers, a depth of pain so deep contained within, it took her breath away.
"Will you stop thinking I'm sleeping with everything in sight?" she smiled softly at him.
"Yes." he stated so simplistically, it served to nullify any and all former animosity.
She crawled beside him, slipping into his lap, facing him. "Will you start talking to me more, being more open to me?" she read the hesitation on his face. "Not everything, Red. I just need you to–"
"I'll try, Lizzy." he negotiated.
Well, it was better than what he normally said which was either nothing or a complete change of subject.
Red felt her soft lips press to his, then her breasts tickle his chest hair before flattening against his pectoral muscles.
She still wanted to try. Still wanted him...
They had their first real disagreement and had come through it, nothing but a little worse for wear.
He still hurt inside, determined to get past the feelings. But he had to wonder, if next time, he would be so fortunate.
He'd give anything to just go away with her, leave it all behind and whisk her off to a secluded island. Hide her away.
She'd be alive at the end of it all, at least.
Or better yet, just use the Fulcrum, get the ball rolling and end all of this shit. Once and for all.
And while he technically could do that, he really wanted more allies to make sure no harm came to her when the shit hit the fan.
But he needed this time with her before he could face what his gut was telling him to do.
"What started all this shit anyway?" he tightened his arms around her, enjoying the embrace they shared.
"I had a dream." she sounded like Martin Luther King Jr., even in her own mind. She shook the notion, continuing. "I guess I was replaying what you said in New York, though it actually made sense this time."
Red chuckled softly, "You had a dream, woke up and hit me?" he reaffirmed his hold, his palm resting on her thigh. The woman shrugged, slightly embarrassed now. "What if what you had been dreaming didn't really happen?"
"But it did." she countered quickly.
"I'm asking if it didn't." he persisted.
"Then I'd have to make it up to you." a soft smile highlighted her face. "Wouldn't I?
"Well, I should hope so." He stood, letting her slide to the floor before heading for the bottled water. "Given that I had just been minding my own business, peacefully asleep."
She playfully rolled her eyes, disappearing into the master bath.
It was only three thirty, but he was pretty much awake now. Maybe if he laid back down for a little bit, he might get lucky and gain an hour or two of sleep. If not, he could always read upstairs. He was no stranger to a sleepless night.
He always enjoyed the quiet of the ocean, it calmed his soul.
Though, he wished his sleepless nights had more to do with the naked woman who now walked towards him and not because his mind wouldn't shut down.
He rolled to his side, watching her come closer until she was at the end of the bed. She stood silently, her eyes staring into his openly. She turned, heading for her side of the bed.
"I want to touch you." he rumbled, stilling her in her tracks.
If they were really okay, she'd let him.
He extended his hand in open invitation to come to him, giving her the option. And she did.
The woman crawled up the bed, sliding under his arm, her nipples grazing his skin. Red dropped the appendage about the feminine indentation of her waist, drawing her closer.
He grasped a handful of fragrant tresses, dragging her mouth gently forward. He kissed the soft full mouth fleetingly, as she tilted her head to better feel the sensation of his lips.
Her small hand crept in between them, touching his rib cage, her slim fingers curling into his flesh. His hand kneaded her cooler one suggestively, his eyes staring into hers boldly, his free fingers caressing the soft skin of her bottom.
"Have I told you how attractive I find this?" his expression was as innocent as the driven snow, as those deft fingers elicited a decided wetness from her center.
The woman slid her hand over the round perfection of his own derriere. "Back at ya..." she lifted stylish brows, enjoying Red's sensual chuckle to the fullest.
"You hussy." the chuckle died a natural death. "I like my women brazen and bold." those eyes deepened in intensity. "I find myself hoping your intentions are less than honorable."
"Quid pro quo..." she murmured seductively.
"You're really turning me on." he advised readily.
"Oh, I can do better than that." she lifted slightly, bracing her hands against his shoulders. The beautiful full mounds were presented for his pleasure. Liz's head fell back as the heat of his mouth engulfed her nipple. She moaned melodiously as he suckled the tiny nub.
His palm spread over the small of her back, gently pushing her closer. She felt his hardness fall between her thighs as she shifted, her leg hooking over the depression of his waistline as she lay her weight upon his body.
Her clit rubbed along his length increasing the strength of her arousal. A rush of heated fluid wet her center.
Red could smell the delicious aroma of her excitement. He reached around, inserting his fingers into the sodden cavern.
His length slid along the fine hair of her lips, the bulbous head bumping against his wet fingers as they played.
He parted her mouth eagerly, his tongue slipping into the hot hollow, melting erotically.
Flames leaped to vivid life inside Elizabeth's body. She whimpered in distressed anguish, pressing ardently to his warmth, feeling the hard muscles of his thighs against her velvet ones.
Red flicked his tongue leisurely about the sweet mouth, his stomach reacting to the erotic stimuli.
Blindly rolling the sheath in place, the man wasted no time, pushing against her opening, sliding easily into the molten depths.
He watched her face as he connected fully with her, getting lost in the hazy blue eyes blinking languidly back up at him as he completed their union. He moaned his pleasure.
Elizabeth returned his kisses wantonly, her senses straining. She was not thinking at all, just feeling. She was drowning in the sensual delight of his touch, his nearness... the very essence of the man.
Red growled his appreciation of her efforts, his hands running about the soft curves and delightful plains of her form whenever the mood struck him.
"Fuck, you smell so good..." He grunted, settling into the heated valley he so loved, his strokes strong and vital.
Liz's mouth connected ferally with his neck line as she marked him repeatedly. The man closed his eyes, savoring her antics.
He unhurriedly made love to the woman. Taking his time, enjoying the rhythmic sway of her hips meeting his lunging ones.
She was still his and it amazed him that he could share this intimacy just because he could.
Because she allowed it. Because she wanted it just as much as he.
He hadn't felt this unwavering devotion to someone since he had been with his first wife. And regardless of what anyone said or his reputation as a ladies man...
All he ever wanted... was this.
Commitment. One man, one woman. And the devotion they shared.
His deepened breath mingled with her own as their bodies connected once more. It became difficult to articulate anything but a deep gratifying sound of his eternal contentment.
The man rolled artfully, settling atop the slight form, taking control of the situation. He sank deep inside, moving this way and that in a sedate tempo. The hot moist surface of her pouty pink lips colored his judgement.
"This is how matters should be." he voiced almost gruffly, continuing his deep even strokes. "And so seldom are." he knew as much. Arguments sometimes cleared the air and paved a way for a better understanding. Communication was the key. "It's my hope that we can always find a way to bridge the gap."
"Find a way to bridge it now..." Elizabeth panted, "right now." It was strongly suggested.
He chuckled, appreciating her wit, even though at this moment, she did not know she possessed any. He kissed her swollen mouth, nudging her nose adoringly, "I just want you to be happy..."
"I am happy..." she rasped, moaning when the man slid in deep, bumping the peak of her sex.
Red's lips quivered gently, "Are you now." he questioned lightly.
"So very..." her voice quivered as the man sped up, "very happy."
"Are you even listening to me?" his mouth pulled at the corner, his finger tracing her pursed brows.
"Yes..." her lips pursed, accepting the kiss bestowed upon them, "fill the hole, make me happy..." she moaned appreciatively.
"Well, we got that hole filling thing down pat." he glanced downward. "I believe I said..."
"Yeah, yeah..." she waved a dismissing hand about, "I'm hanging on every word. Could you go a little to the right." It was not a request.
Red gave the matter up for lost, concentrating his efforts where they would most be appreciated.
He quickened his strokes, filling the room with the sounds he had quickly become addicted to hearing when making love with this woman.
The soft impact of his body against hers and those panted whimpers as he pleasured her, pushing her to the brink of climax.
"I'll always give you what you need." his thickness convulsed sharply, the electrifying response he received, most gratifying.
Liz's fingers curved tightly into the sheets at his words, as he pumped faster into her, pushing the sound from her throat in sharp bursts that tickled his neckline.
Red's eyes glazed over, her lust filled cries echoed softly in the room, releasing a measure of the frustration he was experiencing.
"Only I can give you this, Elizabeth." he thrust heavily into her, fucking that little body just how she wanted... just how he needed.
His muscles strained from the exertion of the act they preformed and he knew he would regret it in the morning. But he had no regrets at this particular moment in time.
"You're mine." he stated simplistically, grunting hoarsely as an overpowering urge to possess her became too much to assimilate. "I'll do whatever I feel is necessary to ensure that end."
Normally Liz would not have enjoyed such a proprietorial attitude, but coming from a man like Red Reddington, it only made her feel more confident in their relationship. But at this moment, the need to release the forces converging in her body was overwhelming.
His own release came upon him unexpectedly, his body trembling over her writhing one, both lost in the throes of passion.
Liz felt the expansion of his girth as he gave into the ecstasy. The pulsing heat and sudden spread of his shaft opened her invitingly and the woman was able to finally experience the exquisite rush of completion.
The quiet of the room was somehow reassuring. It was beginning to feel comfortable and familiar to be held in Red's arms.
Red returned his attention to Elizabeth, his thoughts very private as his eyes took in the visual beauty afforded him.
She stretched her leg into a more comfortable position, jostling his penis in the process.
He sighed more than heavily, reminded of the duty he had yet to preform. He slowly slid his length out of her warmth, maintaining eye contact with her the entire time.
Elizabeth watched the proceedings, a small smile gracing her lips. "You aren't gonna bitch this time?"
The man disposed of the offending object returning his attention post haste.
"I'm living for the day that you seriously ask to have nothing what-so-ever between us." he tilted his head ever so slightly, his gaze almost making her blush.
"You want to be with me like... that?" She had so many questions she wanted to ask him about... that. When was the last time and with whom? How long had they been dating? What were the circumstances that led to it happening?
At the height of orgasm, what would it be like to feel Red's warmth fill her?
"More than anything in the world." he confessed. He was of the Old School Way of thinking on the matter. "It is the most intimate moment a man and woman can share, in my opinion."
"I agree." she was excited at the prospect.
"When you are ready to share that with me," he stated, "I'll answer the questions rolling around in your head." he grinned at her startled expression. "Yes, I'm psychic." he teased. "You didn't know?"
Liz looked at him askew for he always did seem to know what she was thinking, but in a larger sense, how much really did anyone know about the man. He was a very mysterious individual.
Red was very pleased that she seemed so intrigued by sharing that particular intimacy with him.
Damned intrigued.
He couldn't wait to play with her a little, get a reading to see if what he hoped was correct, was in fact a reality. If he happened to have his cock buried in her while performing his research, it would be all the more fun.
It had been a hell of a wonderful day in retrospect.
He and Lizzy were still together and they had made love repeatedly.
And it had been really good sex. Damn good. He loved how uninhibited she was becoming. How she got lost in the moment.
But more importantly, there was a lot of emotions running beneath the surface as yet to explore.
While he had not told her his true feelings for her, because that would put way too much pressure on the woman. He had been able to convey those emotions for her physically.
"I love how this day turned out." Liz smiled, snuggling closer to him, lacing her fingers through his, settling his arm back around her waist.
"For a moment, I had my doubts." He confessed. "But let me tell you something...I will always do my damnedest to ensure that every day we spend together... will turn out just fine."