Lou awoke in darkness and instantly her world was a war of two needs, light and water.  As she fought to remember what had happened, she could barely ignore the terrible thirst she felt.  As the room around her came into focus there was little she could piece together that made sense.  The pulsating pain in her head was more than she felt she could stand, but she had to focus.

She remembered the magician, tripping up the steps, and even the silly little wave she gave Jimmy.  Everything after that was as clear as mud.

The aching in her arms assured her that she still had feeling, and not even the rough-hewn boards behind her back, pressing into her arms could distract her from the itchy swell of her wrists.  Tugging at the ropes binding her wrists together, she felt a surging nausea overtake her body.  Coughing to clear her throat, she heard the voice that would haunt her dreams.

"Finally come to, eh?"

She sucked in a breath and willed herself to be silent.

He came around from the left and bent to the side to look into her eyes.  "Awake and feisty.  Good."

Anger burned hotter in her eyes and she gave another tug to the ropes, burning the hemp into her tender skin.  It wasn't her intent, but a tiny groan escaped her lips.

"Did I make those too tight?"

Lou didn't answer his question.  She kept her head down with her eyes cast to the floor.  "Where are we?"

"Ah... wouldn't you like to know?"

She sagged against the wall and looked through a gap in the boards.  The wood was warped with the age and the heat, leaving small cracks in the tiny wall beside her.  There was no noise around her except the constant pounding on the boards as her captor paced.  No voices from the fair, no sounds of the night.  There was little chance they were anywhere near town, it was just too quiet.  Trying to distract herself, Lou turned her thoughts to something that could give her comfort. She'd make it through this, because she knew that Jimmy was looking for her.

The townspeople had long ago retired, except for a few that still staggered from Saloon to Saloon.  Jimmy was alone on the street.  He stopped at the next door, jumping up the two wooden planks that served as steps and into the office of the Sheriff.

Glass shuddered as the door hit the wall, announcing his entrance.

With hardly a look, the Sheriff turned the page of his newspaper and sighed out a smoke ring.  "Took you long enough."

Jimmy stopped short at the comment.  His chest rising and falling with short panicked breaths, he waited for the man to continue.

"You've set my town on it's ear.  I've had complaints all night long.. I've been waiting for you to show yourself."

Jimmy didn't like his tone at all.  "I was here."

Raising a craggy eyebrow, the sheriff turned another page.  "Oh, really?" His eyes scanned the page with interest.  "Why don't you have a seat and tell me what's got you all fired up, boy?"

Reaching out, Jimmy grabbed the paper and yanked it out of the older man's hands.  Crumpling it into a little ball between his black gloved hands, Jimmy continued his answer.  "I was here over an hour ago.  You," the word sounded like an accusation, "were not here."

The sheriff looked at the agitated man standing before him, "Ahh...I see-"

"No, you don't!  If you'd just let me talk, this'll go faster!" He waited to see the sheriff close his lips and then he continued.  "I'm looking for my friend.  She disappeared at the magic show."

"Was that supposed to happen?"

"She never came back!"

"Yes.. yes..and the assistant was killed."

"She's still gone, and I want help finding her."

"So, you want my help... what about your young friend, can't he help you?"

"Who?" Jimmy pulled his hat of his head and pushed his fingers through his hair.  "Lou?  Oh.. well, he's gone."

"Gone?" The sheriff leaned over his desk with a shrewd look, "Him and the girl, perhaps-"

"Lou has nothing to do with this-"

"Then, who do you think?"

Jimmy took a step closer to the desk and leaned on his hands, "I have no idea!  If I knew who had her, I'd have her back already."

"No doubt with some gun play, Mr. Hickok?"

Hickok, that name and it's reputation would forever haunt him.  "I ain't here to start a fight.  I just want.."

"Her back.  Can't says I blame you.  I asked about her while I was at the fair, but no one saw anything."

"There were people, lots of people.  Most of them left after they found the assistant.  Did you talk to all of them?"

"Well-"

"The people at the hotel?"

"You see-" 

"You didn't ask them.. did you?" 

The sheriff was having a hard time following the rapid fire questions and Jimmy was wishing he was back in Sweetwater with Teaspoon and the boys.  Jimmy knew that this never would've happened in Sweetwater.  There would have been any number of prying eyes watching, keeping him away from Lou.  But maybe it would have been best, he'd brought her to the fair and then lost her.  What would the others say?

"So you see... I've asked everyone I can think of..." 

Jimmy cut off the sheriff as he searched for an answer, "If you've got nothin' better to do than talk me in circles, I'm goin' to look for her myself."

Stomping out of the office, Jimmy tossed the newspaper at the ground beneath his feet.

Moving to the next door down, Jimmy balled up his fist and pounded on the frame until it was opened by a sleepy-eyed old man with haphazard
spectacles.  "Wha...what is it?"

Jimmy leaned against the frame, "I'm looking for a girl."

Louise woke with a start.  Instantly the pain in her shoulders leapt back into her mind.  Her arms had been pinned behind her for what must have been hours by now.

The man continued to pace, only now... he was raving... ranting about the loss of his arm... the unfairness of life... and-

She couldn't believe her ears.  This was all to trap Jimmy.  The nausea she'd forgotten came back in spades, cramping up her stomach and pounding through her head.

The words 'note' and 'desk' pushed through the pain and Lou felt a bit of peace return.  He wasn't going to kill her, not yet at least.  She sighed out in relief.

"Enjoy it while you can, girl.  I only need to keep you alive long enough to bring him to his knees."

"No."

He knelt before her and grasped her hair in his hand.  Twisting it painfully, he bent her to the side and rasped in her ear, "I'll say what happens... 'cause I've got you...and that tips the scales in my favor, wouldn't you say?"

Lou refused to answer, choosing instead to stare straight into his eyes and ignore the pain he caused her.  "He'll kill you.  Just you wait!"

"That's all just a part of my plan.  He'll kill me and you'll die, too. Then he'll have to live with the pain for the rest of his days.  His woman, killed because of him!"

The anger he felt flared in his eyes and she could almost feel the heat of it rolling across her skin.  Maybe that was why tears gathered on her lashes and spilled onto her cheeks.  She wasn't Jimmy's woman, but that wouldn't matter to this man.  He was determined to hurt Jimmy and he was going to use her to do it.

Somewhere, during the continuing tirade, Lou held onto the belief that Jimmy would find a way out of it for both of them. 

Jimmy ran out into the street with the letter burning a hole in his jacket pocket.  He wanted to toss it into a fire, burn every last hateful word of it.  But he'd wait and drop it into the fires of hell when he caught up with the bastard.

Lou shivered in the cabin and wished she had her coat or even a blanket to throw over her legs.  Her captor continued to pace and she refused to talk to him.  His anger had only grown in the last hour and Lou worried that he wouldn't wait until morning to kill her.

His eyes were wild and unfocused, boring into everything he saw.  There were ghosts in his mind and painful memories that he relived again and again.

With each moment, Lou continued to pray that morning would hurry and just this once, come earlier than expected.  She didn't know if it was supreme confidence in Jimmy's quick hands or just a desire to end this slow torture, she wanted it over with.  Waiting around to die was not sitting well with her.

Jimmy saddled Sundance in the dark of night, with dawn winking on the horizon.  The livery was dark and empty of prying eyes and Jimmy was more thankful than he cared to admit.  He didn't want to talk to anyone, let alone explain what he was doing in the dead of night.

He knew he was less than gentle as he tightened the cinch around Sundance's belly, but she stood quietly and let him complete his work.

Jimmy's mind worked feverishly.  He knew what was at stake and there were so many things that could go wrong.  Setting aside some of his worry for a moment, he heard some of Teaspoon's  words in the back of his mind and listened.  He played the scene over and over in his mind, taking into account every possibility.  He wouldn't have the luxury of seeing the lay of the land before the confrontation, so he had to keep his mind clear, his thoughts unwavering.  Somehow he had to calm the overwhelming urge to kill Hopkins with his bare hands and feed him to the wolves piece by slimy piece.

A thin ribbon of light lay on the horizon as Sundance tossed her head, catching his attention.  Silently, Jimmy led her outside and swung into the saddle.  He rode off to the east, his mind on the moment at hand. 

The world was miles away.  Locked in the clearing, shrouded by trees.  There would be no Calvary riding into the rescue, no Express Riders appearing from thin air.  It was man against man with a very precious life in the balance.

Jimmy felt like his lungs had stopped working about the time that his heart had frozen in his chest.  After a quick look to Lou, he was satisfied that she didn't show any outward signs of abuse.  Jimmy took a long moment to assess the situation and his options.  There weren't many, and that was the problem.  It would take a miracle to get them out of this, but he was going to do it. For her.

Crazy words aside the next few minutes passed in a blur.  When Hopkins drew his gun, Jimmy felt his mind split into pieces.  He fired, how many shots, he didn't know, all he could think about was Lou at the end of the rope.  When Lou fell to the ground, the noose hanging loosely from her neck, Jimmy felt a savage sigh of relief shudder through him.  With Hopkins down Jimmy dropped his gun and left it behind in his haste to reach her side.

He cradled her in his arms, feeling every shiver, every desperate breath and all the while, he blamed himself.  "Oh God, Lou, I'm so sorry."

"Jimmy-"

He held her away from him for a long moment, his eyes going over every inch he could see.

"Really, Jimmy, I'm fine." Uncomfortable with his obvious concern and eager to get away from the horrible memories of the night before, Louise stood and started to walk toward Sundance before Jimmy could argue.

Her eyes lit on the face of the dead man.  His eyes open and staring, he seemed to gaze right at her.  Lou felt the breath escape her lungs and her legs buckled under her like a newborn foal.

Hot, angry tears welled up in her eyes.  "Damn it!"

"Lou?" She could hear the fear in Jimmy's voice and felt the tender touch of his hands on her arms as he knelt behind her.

"I'm fine."

"Let me help you up."

"No." She shook of his hands and stumbled to her feet.  "I just want to get away from here."

Jimmy footsteps echoed behind her, slipping through the loose dirt at their feet.  "Let's go."

Lou approached Sundance and held tight to the pommel of her saddle.  The mare didn't shy under the hand.  She knew this person well, regardless of what she looked like.

He swung up in the saddle and reached out a hand.  "Lou?"

Looking up into the blinding rays of the morning sun, Lou could see little but the top of his hat, black and square against the sky.

She took his hand and swung up behind him.  As Jimmy kicked his mount into a gallop, Lou slid her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back.  While the feel of his canvas jacket against her cheek was rough and dusty, she held on tight to the security it represented.

Jimmy felt her arms tighten around his ribs and he felt guilt wash over him in waves, again.  It was too easy to think that had anything gone wrong during the confrontation, Lou would have been another innocent forced to pay for his shortcomings and the rash behavior of his youth. The reality was harsh and sobering.  Sundance thundered through the dry brush and Jimmy felt each bump and dip.  Somewhere on the journey into town, the sensation of having Lou pressed tight against his back was driving him to distraction and Jimmy felt the need for a stiff shot of whiskey more than he needed his next breath.

Sitting side by side in the Saloon, Jimmy couldn't help stealing glances at Lou out of the corner of his eye and through the mirror mounted to the wall.  She was as silent and still as a statue and showed no emotions at all.  Jimmy wanted to scream and throw a chair, but that wasn't his style.  He continued to lock everything away inside of him. 

Lou let out a sigh and pushed her glass back and forth on the wood. Jimmy couldn't raise his eyes from the half empty glass of whiskey in front of him.  His reflection wavered and dipped in the watered down brew and he just couldn't bring himself to take the drink.  He had too many emotions battering against his insides that he was having trouble settling his thoughts and he didn't need anything else to cloud his thoughts right now.

"You gonna drink that?" Lou's voice pulled him out of his guilt-ridden reverie.

She held her hands in her lap, nearly obscured by the wrinkled skirt, but still, he could see the tender and scraped skin of her wrists. Anger welled up inside him again and the tempting swish of whiskey in his glass looked all the more inviting.  Jimmy looked up into the eyes of the bartender and met his tired gaze.  "No...not really."

"Then why did you order it?" Lou couldn't help the inane conversation and somehow it helped to calm her nerves.

Wetting his lips, Jimmy shrugged his shoulders, "Seemed like a good idea at the time.  Now..."

"Now?"

"Now... I just want to tell you, I'm sorry."

Lou squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long pent up breath.  "It's not your fault-"

Jimmy tossed back the shot.  "The hell it ain't!" Jimmy turned and noticed the dozens of eyes directed at them.  Lowering his voice he continued, "He grabbed you 'cause of me."

"It's still not-"

"You just don't see it... or you won't.  I never should have taken you out... danced with you... then the fair!  I can't believe I was so stupid.  Everyone saw us together!  I was just damn stupid!"

Louise leaned closer and held his chin in her hand.  "No, you were bein' nice.  You took me out and made me feel better.  If you can't see that .. then you're the one who's blind!"

She stood up so fast the stool she was sitting on clattered to the floor and drew more attention.  The looks of pity and curiosity were too much to take.  She stepped closer and dipped her head down.  "I'm sorry, Jimmy.. I'm just makin' a bigger mess of this.  "I'm going to go upstairs.. and take a bath."

"Lou-"

"I just need to get clean, alright?"

Jimmy nodded and watched her walk up the steps.  He resisted the urge to follow her, maybe even stand guard outside their room.  Instead he gave her some space and watched her ascend without him.  As her feet disappeared from view, he signaled the bartender.  "Another one."

The bartender walked over as he cleaned a glass.  Wringing the smudged
towel inside the wide mouthed glass, he eyed the young man.  "You gonna
drink it.. or stare at it?"

Jimmy tossed a coin on the bar, "Just pour.  You're gettin' paid, ain't ya?"

Nonplussed, the bartender set the glass down, picked up a  bottle from its shelf and poured Jimmy another shot.

"Jimmy?" Lou's voice reached his ears from behind the dressing screen in the room.

He winced at the slight hint of fear in her voice and was glad that the man responsible had paid dearly.  "Yeah.  Lou?  You want me to wait outside?"

He heard the smile in her voice, "Come on in, I'm just getting dressed."

Jimmy moved into the room, tossed his hat on a nearby chair and shrugged out of his coat.  Dropping it on the back of a chair, he walked over to the window and looked out at the crowd gathering in front of the hotel.

He watched as musicians gathered and arranged chairs together on a make-shift stand.  Cheerful voices called out greetings to unseen folk and Jimmy found himself gripping the edge of the window until his knuckles turned white as his thoughts continued to torture his conscience. 

Lou was alive, no thanks to him.  The scene in his head wouldn't stop, continuing to replay the terrifying events of the morning time after time.  Lou, her neck ringed by a noose, standing atop the rickety dead branch.  His heart pumped blood through his body, fear driving it through his veins.  "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." 

He hadn't heard her approach.  He'd been so lost in his own thoughts, he hadn't heard her step up beside him.  "You weren't supposed to hear that."

She leaned her head against the frame of the window and sighed, "I know.. but it happened.  Things happen."  More voices called up from the street and Lou sighed out a tired breath, "You can't control everything, so why bother tryin'?"

Jimmy shook his head and was about to protest.  "What I can do is make sure that people I - people I care about stay as far away from me as possible."

She smiled and nearly felt a laugh escape her lips.  "How are you gonna do that, huh, Jimmy?" The light sounds of a reel reached her ears.  "You gonna lock us away?  Throw away the key?"  Unconsciously, Lou fingered the raw scrape at her wrist, running her fingers along the angry red skin damaged by the ropes she'd been bound with.

Jimmy noticed the movement and wished with every ounce of guilt burning
within him that he could bring Hopkins back to life again, just so he could kill him in the most painful way he could think of.

"You've got that look again."

Her tone was light and playful, pulling him out of his own thoughts.  "What look?"

"That 'weight of the world' look."

He hung his head and smiled.  "That was-"

"Honest?" Lou didn't wait for him to answer.  "I did a lot of thinking last night.  When you think you're gonna die, you can finally be honest with yourself... about a lot of things.  Things that you want to tell the people you love...if it wasn't already too late-"

"Lou-"

"Jimmy, let me talk."

He clamped his lips together and stared out into the night.

"It wasn't fair of me, the other night, cryin' over Kid and putting you in the middle of it all."

Jimmy took in a deep breath.  "It wasn't that bad, Lou.  You know I'm - you know we're all here for you."

The reel below was ending and infectious laughter reached their ears. "I know, but it seems like you forgot the same thing."

"You didn't choose for him to grab you."

"No," she agreed, "but I don't blame you either."

He couldn't do anything but nod.  He didn't have the strength to argue with her, the strain of the day was crushing down on his shoulders, bending his back with its weight.  Turning away from the window he look at the small rickety couch as he started to unbutton his shirt, "I'm gonna get cleaned up and turn in, we've got a long day ahead of us-"

"Jimmy?"

He froze and felt the skin on his back tingle with the sensation of her voice.  "Yeah, Lou?"

The fluid notes of a ballad slipped in through the window.  "One dance?"

Jimmy looked from her robe to his wrinkled clothes and shook his head.  "Down there? It's late and -"

"Right here, no one has to see." The quiet plea in her voice was impossible to ignore, as was the soft look in her eyes.

He stepped closer and took the hand she offered in his left slid his right hand over her hip and flattened it against her back.  "You sure?"

Looking up into his eyes she gazed through the inky comb of her lashes.  "Very sure."

The sway of the music drawn from the strings of the violin showed them the way and soon they stepped closer as Jimmy guided them in a slow circle around the available space on the floor.

Soon, the soft and melodic music was swept beyond the realm of their conscious minds and their thoughts began to stray.  Jimmy tried to stop the errant path of his thoughts but found his mind wandering where it may... and in this case, it wandered over Lou.

The feel of his hand, separated from the smooth flesh of her back by only a few layers of thin cotton, was slowly driving him to distraction.  As her feet moved in time to the song, the fabric would slide beneath his hand and he could feel the distinct difference between the hard curve of her ribs and the softer swell near her hips.

She took a step closer and Jimmy drew his arm in to cut the circle smaller until the wavering line of her robe was covering the tips of his boots.

"I don't want to step on your toes-"

"Quiet, Jimmy," she admonished as she leaned closer.  Before he could think of a reason to stop her, Lou leaned her cheek against his chest.  "You talk too much."

At that moment, Jimmy couldn't talk... hell, he couldn't even breathe. The gentle sway of their bodies pulled and tugged at the fabric of his shirt as the delicate heat of her skin burned through the cotton threads.  Her hair, freshly washed, had the light fragrance of lilacs and filled his indrawn breath with the feminine scent of the woman he held in his arms.

Jimmy pushed aside guilt for the moment and savored the feel of her hand in his.  It was a pleasure to hold her and not knowing the next time he might be able to repeat this moment, Jimmy pulled her another scant inch closer.  It was as far as he dared, for if he drew her any closer in his arms, he didn't know if he would be satisfied until he held her against him.  He'd already tempted fate today and Jimmy didn't think he'd survive the experience.

Looking out the window at the soft glow of the paper lanterns strung between the trees, Lou whispered a question.  "What are you thinkin' about?"

His hand tightened, squeezing her own between his fingers.  He smiled at his lack of control and leaned his head down toward her ear.  "I thought you said I talk too much."

He could feel her body tense with laughter and the blood in his body picked up its pace through his veins.  The feel of her beneath his hand was downright maddening. 

She pressed on, her curiosity getting the better of her.  "Tell me."

"Not much to tell," he began.  Lou could feel the warmth of his breath against her neck, soothing her with its deep rumbling tones, "Just livin' the moment."

"Is that all?" The gaily colored lanterns swung in the light winds outside, but neither of them paid much attention to anything outside the circle of each other's arms.  Louise wanted to push for more, but was almost afraid the break the spell they were under.  The night before.... before everything really,  they had shared a dance, but it had been in the middle of the street and in full view of the town and all its residents.

Now, as they turned again, moving further into the room, Lou knew that away from prying eyes she was in real danger of indulging the thoughts that had plagued her before.

"Lou?"

"Mmmm?"

Jimmy leaned further down and his hand tightened over hers.  "They're starting a new song.. you wanna stop?"

She hesitated a moment before she answered.  "No, do you?"

Warring emotions fought for control over his thoughts, but every argument in his mind stopped when she turned to hear his answer.  Her lips, open and warm with life, brushed against the the skin directly over his heart.

It would have hurt less if she'd put a bullet through him.  The simple touch of her skin against his seared him with a longing like he'd never felt before.  Even the very air surrounding them felt warm and heavy with unspoken words and possibilities.

Lou looked up at Jimmy, weighing his reaction against the pounding of her heart.  Lou leaned closer and pressed her lips against him for a second time and felt the shudder pass through his body and his flesh tremble at her touch.

He stared into her eyes with a mixture of disbelief and an awakening hunger that he couldn't deny.  "Lou?"

"MmmHmm?" She waited for him to continue, her body still swaying slightly with his.

"Don't..." the word came out in a rush as he fumbled for a thought to hang onto.  "Don't do that unless you..." 

His momentary silence gave way to a wavering hope.  She wanted to push him farther.  "Unless?"

His thumb caressed the valley between her fingers as he held her hand aloft in the air.  The calluses on the pad of his finger dragged along her skin, filling her with the most delicious sensations that slid down her arm as he pulled her closer.

"Unless you...  Unless..." 

Time seemed to slow as Lou leaned against him, fitting her body to his, inch by precious inch.  "I told you I did a lot of thinking last night."  Her knee slipped between his legs.  "What I realized was that I'd been turning myself inside and out, tryin' to be somethin' or someone I wasn't." 

She took a step back and pulled lightly on his hand, walking back toward the opposite wall and the bed standing against it.

"Lou-"

"Jimmy, you talk too much." Her smile was full and utterly enchanting.  He let her pull him along with little resistance, following behind her with a burning curiosity.

He couldn't look away from her eyes.  He'd never seen them this bright before or felt a gnawing hunger so deep inside of himself.  She wouldn't let go of his hand, lightly holding his fingers captive as she continued to draw his along with her.  There was a playful quality in her manner that reminded him of the giddy smiles from the wine they'd had with dinner.

He'd seen a different side of her that night, felt the change in her as she set aside her pain and frustration.  Even as they'd fallen into comfortable conversation, he'd felt his body tense with some unnamed emotion.  Watching every gesture and change in her expression, it didn't matter how small or how subtle.  He'd soaked it in through every pore of his body and held it captive inside his heart.  He'd taken every second as a gift, the boon of honeyed wine and the soft amber light from fine oil lamps.

It all came back to him, the fledgling emotions warring within him, afraid that the moment was all they would ever have when her mind had cleared the intoxicating effects of the liquor.  Now, as he looked at her, aglow in the soft lantern light from the street, he knew how wrong he'd been. It wasn't the wine that drugged him that night, it was the sheer heady sensation he drew from her eyes.  Hiding behind the dusky curves of her lashes, her gaze dipped down to her hands and rose again to meet his curious gaze.  While her hands were busy untangling his shirt buttons he reached a single hand up to push her hair back from her face.

His fingers curved behind her ear and sent a shiver through her skin, all the way to her finger tips.  "Cold?" he asked and felt her hands still their movements.

She slid her hands up the wall of his chest and pressed up against him with her cheek flattened against his heart.  "What do you think?"

He knew there was no disguising her affect on him and something inside him ached with anticipation when she didn't shy away.  "I think you feel just fine, Lou... just fine."

She leaned closer, listening to his heart change its quickening beat. Her hands, tucked under the opened halves of his shirt, slid out to his shoulders and as the shirt fell from his shoulders she turned her head and nipped at the bronzed skin of his chest.  She followed the bite with a kiss to assuage the harsh sound of Jimmy's indrawn breath. "Sorry."

Jimmy groaned out some unintelligible sounds as she repeated the teasing sensation on another tender patch of skin.  Her hands slid back down his arms and came to rest on his wrists. 

She smiled against his chest and couldn't help the giggle that slid across her lips. "You're gonna have to help me."

With no small measure of impatience, Jimmy tried to free his hands. Moments later he tugged the shirt over his wrists, pulling buttons loose from their mended threads, and dropped it to the floor beside the bed.  She took a step back as he reached for the top button of his pants.

He looked up into her eyes and watched her reaction carefully.  "You sure 'bout this?" He looked past her shoulder to the tiny couch along the wall.

Lou stepped back until her legs touched the bed behind her.  "The man downstairs said it was big enough for both of us."  Moving slowing, like a hunter loathe to scare her prey, she sat down on the edge of the bed and nodded.  "Just come to bed, Jimmy."

Jimmy peeled off his pants and dropped them with the rest of his clothes into a small pile on the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.

She drew her legs up underneath her body and reached for the ribbon tied between her breasts.  A single pull and the bow unraveled and hung from the thin cotton fabric of her robe.  With a gentle shrug of her shoulders the robe slipped down to lay on the mattress behind her.

Jimmy's eyes closed for a second as his breath cut short, trapping a puff of air in his throat.  Leaning back against the wall, Jimmy motioned for her to come closer.

The lace trimmed neckline shifted on her shoulders as she shifted forward.  She looked straight into his eyes and let out a slow deliberate breath.  The hypnotic sight of the rise and fall of his chest was as intoxicating as the wine they'd shared the night before.

The hem of her chemise caught under her knee and its neckline dipped low, offering Jimmy a tempting view.  He slid one foot to the floor and bent the other leg to the side to make  some room and waited for her to come closer. 

Just a few inches away, she set her hands on his thighs, bracing against him as she knelt between his legs.  Dropping her gaze from his face she set her palms against the warm skin of his chest and smoothed her hands down over his ribs.

His skin felt like fire.  Her hands, sliding over his skin was driving away any thoughts of control.  He watched her face, each delicate change in her expression.  It was a wonder to watch her emotions as they smoothed away the tired lines left by their ordeal.  Lou drew a figure across the surface of his stomach and he groaned in reaction.

She offered him a coy smile.  "What's the matter?"

"That...hurts."

Again, she slid her finger back over his skin, feeling the involuntary flinch of his muscles beneath her touch.  With a smug smile she wondered aloud, "Hungry?  I know I didn't have breakfast and you certainly didn't have-"

Jimmy reached out and fit her face in his hands.  He pulled her hard against him and brushed his lips against hers.  When he loosened his hold and let her lean back a bit she felt the absence of his lips and the gentle sting of skin, scraped by the invisible stubble on his face.  She reached up and touched her lips with the tips of her fingers as she stared into his eyes.  It had seemed like only a moment, but the tender discomfort of her lips and the rasp of a scrape on her face made her wonder how long he had held her closer before he'd released her
from the kiss.

Lou looked at Jimmy, trying to gauge his reaction and saw the shine of moisture on his lips.  She breathed a question into the silence.  "How do you do that?"

He reached out a hand and slid it over the curve of her shoulder and watched as the neckline of her chemise slipped from the graceful curve.  "Do what?"

She leaned against him, reveling in the feel of his chest pressing against her wildly beating heart, and touched her quivering lips to his.  When she pulled back a few moments later, his smug smile had given way to the heated look in his eyes.  She took in a breath and fell into his welcoming embrace.

Her searching lips placed kiss after kiss along his jaw, trailing up toward his ear.  Lou took the lobe between her teeth and nipped at it gently.

Jimmy groaned and his hands moved over her back, pulling her closer.  He repeated his question, "Do what?"

She smiled and whispered into his ear, "Make time stand still."

He settled her against his chest and held her close.  The ends of her hair, soft and silken, slipped over his shoulder and teased his skin.  Over her head, where she couldn't see him, he leaned back against the wall and tightly shut his eyes.

Lou slid her foot along the mattress and against the smooth cotton sheets.  Her toes wriggled against his leg and she felt a savage pleasure at the low growling tone of his voice.  "Don't tickle."  Her hand reached up to investigate the contours of his  chest.  Lou's eyes focused on the contrast of her fingers against his tanned skin.  She flexed her fingers and felt the hard press of bone and muscle against her hand.

 Jimmy felt the sensations from her soft caress and fought for control over his exhausted body. 

Lack of sleep over the last two days was putting a terrible strain on his control.

His fingers traced a line over the swell of her shoulder and across her back.  Slowly, as if drawing the line over and over would set the memory in his mind, he turned to the wall and caught sight of their reflection in the mirror.

The sight of Lou draped over his body was almost as erotic as the feel of her skin against his.  His mind warred with his senses, telling him that even though her skin must surely feel like silk and her hair smell of lilacs, it was unbelievable if not unthinkable that he would be the one to hold her.

Lou placed a kiss over his heart and tried to read the look in his eyes.  "Where are you?"

He shook off the troubling thoughts and placed a kiss on the top of her head.  "Right here."

"Jimmy?" 

He could hear the question in her voice.  "Mmm?  What is it?"

"You tired?"

Jimmy tried not to laugh as every muscle in his body tightened in response to her near ridiculous question.  "No, why?"

"I'm not." 

She slipped her arm around his waist and Jimmy sucked in a breath. "Then what do you want to do?"  There was a part of him that wondered if he should have let well enough alone and another, more insistent part of him that was desperate to hear her answer.

She shifted her body and looked straight into his eyes. "Let me touch you for a while."