A/N: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a warning in advance. This chapter contains matured scene all through,and by that I mean, detailed matured, and also very very emotional. You can decide to skip this chapter and go to the next, it's your choice.

With that being said, Enjoy.

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Jovon awakened slowly. He could smell the delicious aroma of coffee that pervaded his sleep and brought him up from the depths. Stretching, he felt a few twinges from the beatings he received last night, his face tender to the touch.

For the first time in years, Americus' death didn't haunt his dreams or waking moment. That was unexpected and wholly welcome.

"How did you sleep?"

Annie's voice pushed him up from his prone position and his eyes tracked to the door. She leaned against the jamb clad in a silky robe, looking so beautiful and exhausted at the same time. It was then the events of last night came rushing to him.

Jovon didn't feel sorry. Well, except for the fact that he made an utter fool of himself in front of Annie and his family. But his insides felt light and the burden that sat on his shoulders all those months seemed to have disappeared.

After seeing him like that last night, Jovon half expected her to runaway, because of his emotional baggage. Instead, she'd wrapped those strong arms around him and bolstered his strength, which he only held on out of sheer stubbornness. He dropped his head, a lock of his hair falling over his eyebrow. It didn't bother him that he had broken down. It was a long time coming.

"I didn't know you were still here." He brought the cup to his lips and sipped. "Either you're just brave or stupid. You know by now that I love my wife and I have a daughter,yet you still choose to stick around?"

He lifted his gaze and pushed back his unruly hair. Taking a quick glance at the pillow beside him, he didn't see the telltale impression, but he could feel it in every part of his body. She'd slept beside him, holding him. He owed his peaceful slumber to the strength of her arms, which had kept his dreams at bay, the warmth of her body warded lingering off the ghosts.

The emotion that played around her irises made his stomach knot. "I stayed so you wouldn't be alone," she said softly. "It's not a crime to admit that you need comfort, Jovon."

He'd spent almost two years totally and utterly alone with his guilt and pain. He knew instinctively that Annie could be someone he could care deeply about, already did. Blocking himself from this kind of entanglement was easier than giving everything that was inside you. When you lost that special someone, it was difficult to get pieces of ones self back. The loss of his wife had overshadowed everything and the fact that he watched her die was even worse. He never wanted to feel that kind of pain again.

He wasn't sure he could let go of his fears completely. And he didn't know how to handle the effect of her kindness and her gentleness had on his fractured heart, now in the process of being mended, slow bit by slow bit.

He got out of bed and when she got a full view of his face, she swore under her breath. She pushed off the jamb and was beside the bed in four long strides. Gently, she cupped his chin and he winced slightly. Not from discomfort, but from the sheer heat of Annie, that wonderful warmth that had chased away the ice in his limbs last night and calmed his raging nerves.

She turned his face so she could get a better look at his cheekbone. "Tell me your bruises look worse than they feel."

He reached up and covered her hand, his heart melting at the concern in her eyes and the care she took with him. He could have resisted her, he told himself, if she hadn't looked at him with tenderness that mingled with regret. He knew Annie, and she was beating herself up for what she didn't even know about.

It seemed so natural to touch his lips to hers. Her mouth moved gently on his, sweetly. Moving nearer he increased the pressure ignoring the sharp sting at the corner of his busted lips.

Annie was drowning in sensation, battling a need that rose swiftly, was banked ruthlessly. She didn't want thanks and she didn't want pity. She ignored the urge to crush him closer to her frame. She vowed to be careful with him, as if he was spun glass. Everything about him was beautiful to her.

His mouth moved to her jaw, and she clenched it hard, when his lips dragged over her cheekbones. Her lungs drank in the scent of him in a guilty, greedy swallow, and her body spawned with the force of her control.

He didn't need this. The thought hammered in her head, keeping rhythm with the pulse in her veins. She didn't know what drove him, but she knew he was vulnerable in a way he'd never allowed himself to be before.

"Jovon, are you sure about what you want? Because I need to be clear. I want you, now. But it's going to be me and you,no pretences. No teasing and no joking around."

"I'm sure,Annie."

She was positive that in time he would revert back to his cold, aloof self. He was still reeling from his breakdown last night. She tried to remember that as he caught her bottom lip between his teeth,and bit down gently. Butterflies unleashed in her lower belly when he traced her mouth with his the tip of his tongue. He needed time and distance to regroup.

Perhaps it would have been easier to withstand if this meant nothing to him but physical release. But there'd been an emotion in his answer. And it was apparent in his kiss. Each touch crumbled his control a bit further.

Her fingers skimmed over his chest. His muscles jumped beneath her touch, quivering with insatiable need. Her hand went to his waist, thinking she should set him away from her,unable to do it.

When his mouth returned to hers, her arms snaked around his waist, and she kissed him back with a bruising passion that should have alarmed him. Should have him pulling away. Instead it inflamed them both.

His fingers glided through her mass of hair,cupping her scalp. He held her still and devoured her mouth. There was no barrier between them now. The certainty shimmered between them,beckoned promisingly. And the knowledge was sweet,perhaps made more so because she knew how precious the moment was.

His heart was racing, keeping pace with hers. His tongue stabbed at her lips, and they parted in a seductive welcome. He brought her closer, one hand sweeping under her robe, smoothing over her silky back. She arched against him, and the last vestige of his control gave way under the weight of his need for her.

The freedom to touch her was a sinful pleasure, not that he didn't have the freedom before, but he felt that she was giving him more than her body, which made no sense since they agreed to limit their private relationship to sex. He reached for the belt of her robe and pulled it apart until it fell open to reveal her creamy skin. Flesh pressed against flesh,and the sensation of her breasts flattened against his clothed chest whipped his blood into a frenzy. He skimmed his lips over the curve of her shoulder, his muscles tense, waiting for the rage of desire to subside again.

The bed was right behind him. He could ease her back just a matter of inches and they'd fall together, every inch of their bodies touching. They could give their passion free rein, and forget all thoughts, all doubts. It would be easy and gloriously satisfying. He knew she'd welcome it, return it. Instead, he gave her more.

He bent to scoop her in his arms and laid her on the bed. When he followed her down, it was in passion held in check, and something more dangerous rising to the surface. He loomed half over her, combed her hair back from her face with his fingers.

Annie stared up at him, an aching path of tenderness etched through her. It was an alarming emotion and gave her a momentary sense of fear at the power of it,but it was soon gone. His injuries had bloomed over the hours, ugly reminders of what he'd endured. Her lips brushed over his bruised jaw and then found another beneath his eye.

In the bright sunlight from the open window, his skin glowed. Annie reached for his shirt,and he almost pulled away but she stopped him with a shook of her head. He stilled as she drew his shirt over his head and tossed them aside. Her eyes glided over his tanned skin. Over his ripped stomach,nipples and well-defined chest. But then her eyes travelled to his right shoulder where she could see the beginning of the damage the fire had done to him.

He felt her gaze and stilled, his eyes meeting hers and she immediately felt withdrawal. His fear.

She touched his scar and he flinched. Such devastation the touch of fire could work. She couldn't stand it.

"It's so ugly," He whispered. "It'd be easier just not to look at it."

"No, Jovon." She said softly. "Every inch of you is beautiful, so beautiful," she muttered, hurting for him.

Jovon felt the even pressure of his fingers tracing his scar,all the way to it's end. In time the scar would flatten and thin out. Below him, the bones of her cheeks were hard.

"This?" She traced the scar again and said, "This shows how strong you are."

Jovon remained perfectly still, uncertain of his response. Then Annie managed to flip them over,so his back faced her. She lowered her head and he felt her mouth move over his scarred shoulder. Her gentleness undid him. Again she was offering him something he didn't know how to accept or return. He only knew that the foreign experience tangled his emotions. Wrecked havoc in his system. The seconds stretched, lined with gold.

Annie lifted off his back so he could turn over then met his eyes. They were glazed but wart. And comprehension slammed into her, so sudden and violent she was nearly bowled over by it. Defenses worked both ways. Walls were built as much to protect what was inside as to keep others out. She wondered is he knew which reason kept him solid.

Their lips met,tongue entwined. The desire was still there, but contained for the moment. She gave him long stirring kisses; languid caresses. And when she felt his member stir beneath her and his melting against her,heard his breath hitch slightly, she knew this was what she wanted. What she'd always wanted. To feel him go pliant with pleasure. To feel her hands on his flesh. To know that with every gasp and moan he made, he thought of her.

Nothing but her.

Again they flipped over, with Jovon at the top this time around. He stared down at her, his hazel eyes bright with desire. She traced his mouth, then smiled when he bit down her finger.

"I want you," he told her. "You're sexy as hell."

"I find you mildly interesting too," she said with a quirk of her lips.

He grinned. "Mildly,huh. So I have some work to do."

"Absolutely." Brave words from a woman on the edge,she thought happily.

How they went from smoldering-desire-kind of hot to playful-kind-of-hot surprised her,but she wasn't complaining. Anything to get Jovon off his self-consciousness about his scars was welcomed at the moment.

"I don't mind getting down and dirty now and then." He shifted so that he was next to her, on his side, hand supporting her head. "Where should I start? Here?" He put his hand on her belly.

While that felt nice and all, it wasn't exactly what she wanted. "Um,no."

"Here?" He ran his fingers from her wrist to her elbow.

She shifted slightly. "Not what I had in mind."

He slipped his fingers between her legs and rubbed her swollen flesh. "How's that?" He asked, his voice low and husky.

It took every ounce of self-control to keep her eyes open. She desperately wanted to fall into a passionate trance and get lost in her orgasm, but not just yet.

"That works," she breathed

Tension rose up inside of her. Muscles tensed. She let her legs fall open in a blatant and time-honoured tradition of invitation.

"Good. What about this?"

He leaned toward her and stroked her nipple with the tip of his tongue.
It was an amazingly perfect combination. It was exquisite. It was magic, it was more than enough to make her lose control.

She did her best to hang on, to at least three minutes to come. But he began to move his fingers faster and faster, with the perfect amount of pleasure. Then he sucked on her breast.

It was incredible. She pulled her knees up and dug her heels into the bed. Not yet, she told herself. Not yet. Not...

It was too late.

She fell into her release, caught in the waves of sensual pleasure that swept through her. Every part of her sighed in relief as he continued to touch her, easing her onward until her muscles gave out in sheer exhaustion.

Lethargy stole through her. She had to force herself to open her eyes and when she did, she found Jovon staring at her. She'd expected a satisfied smile,one that more than hinted at his expertise and how everything had felt so good because he was so darned talented in bed. Instead he looked serious and intense and instead of smiling, he leaned in and kissed her.

She parted her lips for him and felt the lethargy fade. As his tongue teased hers, passion returned and she found herself eager to have him inside her.

He was hard... she could feel him pressing into her leg. She reached between their bodies and lightly stroked his cock. But instead of reaching for a condom and entering her, he slid down her body, kissing first her neck, then between her breasts, along the center of her right thigh. He parted her swollen flesh with his fingers.

While she appreciated the gesture, it wasn't required. "I've already..."

Then he did smile. "I know. I was there."

Her mouth curved in response. "It was great."

"I'm glad. Now let's do it this way."

A man on mission, she thought as she let her eyes slowly close. Far be it from her to tell him his attention wasn't welcomed. Her stomach clenched in anticipation of his touch. She felt a faint breath of air, then a warm tongue began to explore her. She groaned as he circles around her still swollen clit. A quick,light brush and then he was gone, caressing the rest of her, getting close,but not actually touching her there. It was exquisite torture. It was incredible.

She parted her legs even more and drew back her knees. Heat burned through her as he kissed and licked and sucked everywhere but that one place she wanted the most. There it was again. One brief moment of contact,then nothing. One hint of what she could be feeling, then only anticipation.

She began to squirm. She got closer and closer, but she knew she couldn't find her release until he focused on that one place. Until he finally-

His tongue brushed her again. She nearly screamed from the glory of the contact, then prepared herself for him to move away. She was an adult and she wouldn't whimper. Only this time he didn't stop. He stayed in that one spot,licking and circling, teasing,arousing, pushing her closer and closer until her climax became inevitable as the night.

He intensified his attention and she was a goner.

The shuddering began deep inside her midsection and worked its way out. Her thighs trembled, her hands shook and then she was launched into a release so powerful, she truly thought she might never experience anything like it again.

He continued to kiss her, teasing her into coming and coming. She gave herself over to him, letting him take all of her, until the tension finally eased and she was still.

Jovon sat up and looked at Annie. A flush stole across her chest and climbed to her cheeks. She was limp, but if the smile was anything to go by,also thoroughly satisfied.

Her dark hair spilled across his pillow in sexy disarray and when she opened her eyes, her pupils were so dilated, he could barely see any of the colour.

"Wow," she said, her voice thick and husky. "I don't even know what to say."

He'd been complimented before. Most women he had been with made a gush and while he appreciated the praise, he'd sometimes wondered how much of it was earned and how much of it had to do with his money. Annie wasn't like that. Somewhere between the process of planning the anniversary, they'd become friends. He liked her. He thought she was funny and smart and sincere. How often could he say that about women in his bed? Americus had been a silent lover and while she was nice, she didn't do crazy things or go out of her way to make him laugh like Annie.

Which made this experience different. He couldn't remember the last time he'd made love with a friend. Not that they weren't lovers already, but still.

She put her hand on his arm and urged him closer. "So far this had been a pretty one-sided show."

At her words, he once again became aware of the pressure of his arousal.

He knelt between her thighs. She reached for and guided him inside her. Immediately he got lost in the sensation of tight, wet heat. She surrounded him, drawing him in, letting him fill her.

Her scent teased him. He could hear her breathing, feeling the light stroke of her hands on his back and sides. For once he was thinking of how quickly he going to have to get away once this was over. For once he was just enjoying the experience and let the rest of it go.

He pumped harder,faster, in and out, losing himself in the growing pressure. She wrapped her legs around his hips urging him closer.

Her body tightened around him and he was lost.