Snow Day

A yawn, followed by a stretching, and a hand slamming down on the clock to stop its incessant buzzing then eyes opening to glance out at a white washed window. Sara awoke that morning, bleary eyed and tired as usual, the visions from the Witchblade coming as they usually did in the middle of the night, keeping her up for hours on end before she fell into a restless sleep. But now, as the daylight registered in her mind, as did the rest of the world, she realized it was snowing outside. It wasn’t small little flakes gently falling to the ground. No, it was tiny wind whipped icicles that gathered in clumps at a time, and if left untouched, would wreak havoc all over the city. She could only guess what her morning commute would be like. There were maybe five inches outside on the fire escape, enough to get her thinking about taking public transportation just to stay out of it, but that wasn’t going to happen either.

The phone rang a few moments later, prompting Sara to lean over her warm sheets and grab it off the nightstand beside the bed. “Pezzini, go,” she grumbled.

“Consider yourself one of the luckiest people on earth,” Danny replied from the other end.

“Why?” Sara sleepily questioned, still glancing at the snow.

“We don’t have to go to work today,” he answered. That got her attention and what sounded like a “huh” from her throat. Danny continued, “The precinct is snowed in. The only people there are the night crew, and from what I’ve heard, they’re gonna have one hell of a time trying to dig themselves out of that foot and a half of snow on their doorstep.”

“Foot and a half?” Sara nearly shrieked as she sat up, throwing her feet over the side of the bed to slip on her slippers then walking over to the window to see that the five inches she saw in her narrow field of vision nearly tripled as she looked past the overhang. “Holy shit…”

“I hope you have enough food to get you through the next couple of days. It’s not supposed to let up until Friday,” he said.

Sara glanced at her calendar to see it was Wednesday, “hump day” as she affectionately called it even though it the last of days she’d be seeing any action. That was usually reserved for the weekend, but she didn’t need to be thinking about her sex life at the moment. Right now it was about surviving through this blizzard. She walked out of her room and made her way to the kitchen to make sure the fridge was fully stocked. When she glanced through the double paned glass, the thing was stocked to the brim with food. “Holy shit...” Sara said again, unable to believe her eyes. Just the night before it had been empty, where the hell had all this come from? She could only think of a single tall, dark, and spooky stalker that occasionally loaded her fridge when she didn’t have the time or the money to do so by herself.

“What?” Danny asked from the other end. “You don’t have any food?”

“No, I got plenty,” she answered.

“Alright, then, I’ll leave you alone. Get some sleep, you sound tired,” he replied.

“Like you have no idea.” Sara said as she headed back to her bedroom. “I’ll call you if I need anything.”

“Okay, bye,” Danny hung up.

“Bye,” she told the dead line as her eyes caught a hint of black in her window. Sara made her way back towards the fire escape and looked out to find nothing, but she knew. She knew he was out there, standing in the cold, watching her as he usually did. Putting her fingers on the glass, she continued to stare at the sea of white, wondering where he had gone, and noting the boot prints in the snow on the steps. He was still out there, his eyes fixed on her.

Sara turned around and made her way back to the bed, depositing the phone on top of the nightstand before she slipped beneath the covers and made herself comfortable. She had to admit, it was nice not having to go to work that day, but the fact that her stalker in black was probably sitting outside in the cold, watching her like a hawk, was unsettling. Sighing, she closed her eyes once more, hoping to get back some of her lost sleep. But the Witchblade was having none of it, throwing Sara into a vision almost immediately after her head hit the pillow.

Ian sat outside on the cold metal steps as he usually did, but this time he shivered uncontrollably. No matter how many layers of clothing he had beneath his trench coat, they still weren’t enough, not for the amount of time he had already spent there, watching her as she twisted about in her bed, her dreams yanking her in different directions as she struggled to keep them under control. It was now mid morning, and she was in bed again after hearing news that she didn’t need to go to work today, that it was overrun by snow as deep as that on the fire escape.

Again, Ian shivered, wrapping his arms around his cold body in hopes of saving what little energy he had before passing out. No, he wouldn’t let it come to that. He’d leave before he got too cold or hypothermia set it. But chances were he was already at that state. The wind continued to blow hard, the snow whipping around his body, slapping him in the face like a cold hand, and clinging to him like a magnet. The only thing going through his mind at the moment was of Sara. He only wanted to make sure she’d eat lunch, and then he’d leave. At least that’s what he told himself. He sat forward on the step, leaning in until his head touched his knees.

Sara bolted out of bed. It wasn’t right letting him sit out there, freezing his ass off, she thought, quickly hopping into her slippers and grabbing a towel from the bathroom. She threw it on the floor just beneath the window sill just before she opened it, letting a cold breeze hit her dead on. The air made her shiver uncontrollably, but it was nothing compared to the poor guy sitting out there, wishing he had on warmer clothes.

Poking her head out the window in his direction, she said, “Nottingham.” He shot up, his startled and tired chocolate brown eyes immediately locking onto emerald green while specks of snow flew in all directions from the sudden movement. A warm smile came across Sara’s lips as she continued, “What are you doing out here? How many times have I told you to use the door? Do you really wanna kill yourself today? Or do you wanna become a human Popsicle? Get up and come inside before you catch a cold.” She was met with a dumbfounded gaze from those pretty brown eyes before he stood up and inched his way to the window.

“Shoes off,” Sara ordered once he passed through the narrow opening. Ian followed her instructions, never once daring to disobey her. It was already strange enough for her to make him come inside; he didn’t want to piss her off as well. He took off his shoes and left them on the towel under the window, knowing her reasoning for putting it there. But even with his shoes off, he was still tracking snow into the apartment.

Sara turned around and saw the small patches of the lumpy white stuff on her hardwood floor. “Take off your pants,” she said, making her way to the closet. “Actually, take off anything wet and covered in snow, that includes the jacket, and leave it all by the window. I’ll pick it up and put it in the dryer later.”

Ian had to do a double take. Had she just asked him to take off his pants? Sara could see the questioning look in his eyes when she turned around, blanket in hand. She smiled, hoping the reassurance was all he needed. She really didn’t want to say that again because it sounded just as strange to her ears as it did his.

After having stood there for nearly two minutes looking at each other with him dripping all over her floor, Sara had to say something. “Well, come on. The longer you delay, the worse you’re gonna get,” she informed, turning around again to head into the bathroom for a towel as well.

Ian got the message. He stripped off the layers quickly until he was down to his boxers and tee shirt, and even those were slightly wet. When Sara returned, she couldn’t help but laugh when she saw what he was wearing. “Yellow smiley boxers…” she uttered between giggles. “I never would have thought.” Ian was positively mortified at his choice of underwear from the night before. Then again, he hadn’t expected the invitation into her home either, so how could he have known? He shivered again, this time bringing his arms around his chest, telling Sara it was time to stop admiring and get him bundled up in the blanket and towel before he caught a cold. She walked over to him and draped the blanket over his bear shoulders then placed the towel over his head.

“Come on,” she quietly said, taking his hand and leading him into the living room. God, he was so cold. She shivered just thinking about it. “Sit down on the couch and I’ll be right back.” Sara scurried back into the bathroom and grabbed the thermometer she kept just in case she ever got sick. In this case, it proved to be an invaluable tool. She was afraid that Ian had already succumbed to hypothermia and that he might need medical attention, but pushed the thought out of her head as soon as it popped into it. She returned to the living room couch a few minutes later and sat down beside him.

Ian was still shivering even now that he had a blanket wrapped around him. He felt like a total idiot, having brought this upon himself. Knowing when to leave and actually leaving had been his problem that morning. He knew he should have left when Sara went back to bed, but he remained at the fire escape thinking that she might need him. When she returned holding the thermometer, he knew he was in trouble. Was he really that cold? “Open up,” Sara told him. She placed the thermometer in his mouth and took on the task of toweling his hair dry. Her hands were gentle, just as he had expected, as she pulled the elastic band out of his hair, letting fall over his shoulders.

“You’re so cold,” Sara barely whispered, more to herself than to him as her hands rubbed the warm terry cloth towel all over his head. Ian closed his tired eyes, leaning into the sensation of her touch. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined anything like this happening. He sighed deeply, breathing in the scent of her lavender scented skin. It was calming, soothing to his unnerved soul. These days, he found himself more on the edge than ever. Nearly two years had passed his father had passed, and nearly a year since Sara had declared a truce between them. They had become friends, somewhat, but he remained in the shadows, watching over her instead of becoming a part of her life.

As for Sara, they might have been so called friends, but being so far away from each other was killing whatever chance they had of true friendship. She really wanted to get close, but for some reason he chose to stay away. Did he fear something, rejection maybe? But she had specifically promised him that she wasn’t going to yell at him like she used to. Why was he still shadowing her?

“Ian?” Sara asked. His chocolate brown eyes opened to reveal the depths of his scared and tired soul. He looked so vulnerable, something she never saw, unless you counted that time he took the arrow for her. It was the same look in his eyes, the same pain, the same longing, the same passion and disbelief, the same love and desire. There was something in those beautiful eyes that beckoned her to explore deeper, to get lost while she sat there, but she looked away, wanting to keep some of the sanity she had left. To keep herself from going crazy, she pointed to the thermometer and took it out of his mouth to read it.

Her eyes widened as she said, “Damn, you’re temperature is 96.3.” She stood up, taking his hand again and practically dragging him into her bedroom. “I want you under the covers by the time I get back, got that,” Sara nearly barked as she headed for the kitchen. “I’m gonna make you some tea. Is that alright?” she called.

“Thank you,” Ian replied, his voice low and shaky as he buried himself beneath Sara’s comforter. Even with two blankets around him, he continued to shiver. He cursed himself for being so stupid. Why hadn’t he put on thicker clothes the night before when he knew this storm was coming? But the thoughts floated out of his mind when he became comfortable, his head resting on the soft pillow that smelled just like her. Ian closed his eyes again, this time actually falling asleep.

Sara returned to her bedroom with a cup of steaming hot tea in her hand to find him out cold, softly snoring. She smiled, setting the mug down beside her phone on the nightstand. “I guess this is for later, then,” she said softly as she sat down at the edge of the bed and gazed at his sleeping form. Her smile faded when her own eyes became heavy. She crawled in beside him, nestling herself beneath the part of the blanket he hadn’t taken up. Her arms wrapped around his cold body, hoping that the heat radiating off hers would keep them both warm, then she felt into a deep, restful sleep that would last the rest of the day.

It wasn’t until about nearly six that evening that Sara stirred from her sleep. She felt the warm body beside her and smiled, knowing exactly who it was. Her eyes opened slightly, wondering if Ian was awake as well, but soon finding that he was still sound asleep, his back turned towards her. Sara untangled herself from the sheets, giving him what he hadn’t taken over in his sleep. Ian unconsciously turned, settling on his back as she watched him for once.

“God, you’re beautiful,” she whispered, having wanted one of these private moments for the last year, one in which to gaze unbeknownst at him. Her hand hovered just above his bearded cheek, undecided whether to touch his face. And what a beautiful face it was, well proportioned, toned, strong, and kissably soft lips she was dying to try for herself. Sara pulled her hand back, thinking it was better to let him rest. Ian still looked tired even though they had both been out for more than eight hours. How long had he been at her window that morning? Had he been there all night? If so, there was that prospect of a tongue lashing, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that to him, not after he had fully stocked her fridge again to keep her from starving during the storm.

Sara sighed, snuggling closer to him, her cheek resting on his shoulder, her left hand on his chest, her eyes continuing to study his body. Ian had significantly warmed up during their “nap,” but he still wasn’t out of the woods yet. She’d have to check his temperature to make sure. Her mind drifted from that thought as she glanced him over. ‘What a body,” she thought, noticing his well toned muscles through his tight tee shirt. Her hand made a gentle pass over his abs, feeling their strength. A smile came across her face as visions of pulling that shirt over his head to reveal the true splendor of his body floated into her mind. Sara licked her lips unconsciously, giving in to the desires that filled her body.

For the first time, she admitted to herself that she wanted him, wanted to ravage him, wanted to love him like she had never loved anyone before, but she kept that a private thought, fearing that revealing such a revelation would only scare him at this point in their relationship. But Sara knew, Ian loved her just as much, if not more. He had revealed it once before, but kept it so vague that she didn’t understand the meaning until now.

“I love you… in unguarded moment,” he had said days after she had first killed Irons. She had been scared then, scared of him, scared of his father, scared of the thing on her wrist. Since then, everything had settled down, everything had become calm. There was much peace between her and the sentient bracelet, but it still unnerved her when visions came and she couldn’t understand them. But now, while he was around, there were no visions, no strange feelings, no problems with the Witchblade. It was the picture of tranquility, never once hinting at Its true nature. Was Ian the cause of all this sudden calm she felt? Sara could only guess, or she could ask the ‘Blade, but she didn’t feel like being sucked into another vision again. She wanted to be here now, with him lying next to her as if it had always been that way. Her bed was a warm place with him in it. There was more comfort being snuggled in his arms than she had ever felt before. It was something she could get used to, him being there, sleeping beside her. It’s all she ever wanted, someone to get close to, someone to love who would love her back.

“I love you, Ian,” Sara barely whispered as she placed a kiss on his shoulder. The feelings that filled her heart that moment overwhelmed her. She wanted to laugh, cry, shout at the top of her lungs. The years of pent up emotion were suddenly flooding her body. A single tear drop fell from her eyes as she stared at him. He was so peaceful, so perfect, so everything she desired. She wanted him now, more than ever, and only hoped that he’d wake up soon so she could tell him, so she could actually say the words without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.

Sara wiped the second tear that fell from her eyes with her hand. She couldn’t stand it anymore. He was so close, just inches away, yet she couldn’t bring herself to wake him. He had been through enough. The least she could do was let him sleep. But that desire that was building up in her heart and every other part of her body was something she couldn’t keep bottled up any longer. Her hand finally fell upon his cheek and gently stroked it, her fingers brushing up against his lips. Ian let out a contented sigh, a smile gracing his beautiful features. He turned again, this time to face her, and opened those bright chocolate colored eyes she so deeply loved.

“I heard you,” Ian whispered as her hand continued to stroke his face, her fingers brushing his lips again.

“I love you,” Sara said again, one more tear rolling form her eyes. He lifted his hand to wipe it away, his fingertips brushing up against the soft, supple skin of her cheek. Slowly, she leaned towards him, her eyes closing the closer she got to his lips until she was completely blind, hoping that he wouldn’t keep her waiting long. After a couple of seconds, she could feel his lips press against hers for a soft, delicate kiss. It was simple, unobtrusive, sweet, just like a first kiss should be.

They pulled away from each other for a moment and gazed into the other’s eyes. Both were amazed how one simple kiss could change things so dramatically. All emotional baggage and any inhibitions were thrown out the door and leaned into each other once more.

The second kiss was nothing like the first. Sara gave herself fully over to instinct, her tongue darting out of her mouth to lick those delectably sweet lips. Ian took it a step even further by nibbling on her bottom lip then running his tongue over it. He slowly moved towards her neck, kissing his way down the soft pale column of flesh until he reached the junction of her collarbone. At that point, he rolled them over, him on top, lips never moving away from her neck, her on the bottom, softly moaning in delight. Secret desires and forbidden passions pumped through their veins as he continued to gently nibble his way around her neck, kissing every inch of exposed flesh as her hand made a pass through his hair, grabbing a large chunk and holding tight as his own hand began creeping up her white cotton tank top.

Sara let out a gasp when his hand reached her right breast and gently stroked it through her bra. The sensation of his fingertips was more than she could bear. She pulled away, ready to rip the shirt off her body before he stopped her. “Let me,” Ian whispered, taking the hem up in his hands and slowly guiding it over her upper body. Sara raised her arms over her head, allowing it slip off her easily. Their eyes locked again, and this time, she did get lost in those chocolate pools, their depths truly amazing. Her heart raced the longer they stared until finally he leaned in and kissed her.

A moan escaped Sara’s throat as her arms wrapped around his neck, holding him close, not wanting to let him go. He licked her lips again, patiently waiting for allowance to go further. She gave him the permission he was seeking by parting her lips. His tongue slipped into her mouth, exploring its warm depths. Sara couldn’t remember a time where she enjoyed kissing more than sex. Ian was a quick study when it came to what she liked. He had already discovered ways of making her moan without even touching her. Before long, both had to break away for some air, panting as they nuzzled each other.

Sara took the opportunity to run her hands down his muscular back, her fingers trailing down the center of his spine until they found the hem of his shirt. They slipped beneath it finally making skin to skin contact. She slowly began to pull it up as his lips made contact with her shoulder. He pulled away, their eyes meeting again as her hands slipped around his sides and made a pass over his chest. She wanted more, yearned for more, the need to satisfy her hunger for love becoming agonizing. The shirt soon came off, tossed to the floor beside hers, their bodies finally pressing together so warm skin came into contact with warm skin. Her arms wrapped around his neck once more as his lips fell on her collarbone and picked up where they left off, trailing kisses down her towards her chest, his hand snaking around her back to unhook her bra and let it carelessly fall off her body.

When he reached her right breast, Ian kissed his way around it, getting her excited. How he knew what he was doing was beyond him since he had never been with a woman. Most of it was probably instinct, but how had he learned to tease her? He shook the annoying thoughts out of his mind, continuing his journey closer to her nipple. Having already reached it, his mouth latched on, tongue gently circling the areola, body feeling her convulsive reaction. Sara arched into him, breath hitching, hands tugging at his hair, desire filling every last molecule of her body. Her head rolled back on the pillow, eyes closed, savoring his touch. His wet tongue was absolute heaven against her sensitive skin, causing her nipple to harden faster than she had ever experienced.

“Ian,” she moaned his name as he switched to her left breast. Her fingers filtered through his hair, encouraging him to keep going, to never stop. How could she have let this wait so long? Sara cursed herself for not letting Ian into her life earlier. If only she had known it would be this wonderful, this beautiful, this magical, it would have happened much sooner. But she pushed those thoughts out of her head, focusing instead on the pleasure he was giving her as his lips trailed down her chest, over her abdomen, and stopping at the waistband of her green flannel pants.

Ian looked up at her, wanting the acknowledgment to proceed. Sara caught his eyes and gently nodded her permission. The slight gesture was all the encouragement he needed. His fingers hooked over the elastic and slowly began to pull it down over her supple thighs, trailing kisses down every inch of soft, creamy white flesh he revealed. He finally pulled the pants off and discarded them like her shirt. All that was left on her body now was a pair of white cotton panties, which he also pulled off and threw to the floor beside the growing pile of clothes.

Sara now lay naked, her body spread out before him like a priceless canvas. He took his time admiring every line, every curve, memorizing every inch until he knew it by heart. God, she was so beautiful, a goddess in the flesh. She smiled up at him, her right hand falling on her abdomen, fingers spreading out, as her left stretched over her head. She knew his little secret, why he was still staring when all other men would have gone down on her. This was Ian’s first time with the woman of his dreams, and she wanted to let him take everything in at his own pace. Rushing it would only ensure disaster. She wanted everything to be perfect for him, as perfect as he could dream, if not more.

“You’re so beautiful,” Ian finally said, his eyes falling upon hers.

“So are you,” Sara replied, her right hand reaching up to cup his cheek and gently stroke it with her thumb.

“I love you,” he whispered, closing his eyes and turning his head to kiss the palm of her hand. He thought nothing could get more perfect at that moment until her heard her voice again.

“I love you, too,” Sara whispered back, the tears filling her eyes again as her smiled turned into a full out grin.

It was Ian’s moment of bliss. He fell into Sara’s arms, his lips taking hers in for a deep, searing kiss until both found it hard to breathe and had to let go out of lack of oxygen. She hooked her leg over his waist and pushed slightly, effectively putting him on his back as she straddled him. Giggling, she leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was better to keep an easy, happy-go-lucky pace than the faster one he was getting ready to set. She didn’t want to rush it. She wanted slow and easy, something to ease him into the act of love. Going fast would only ruin it.

“Are you ready to do this?” Sara asked as she placed her hand on his bare chest, feeling his rapid heart beat beneath her palm. She knew he was ready. His straining erection was noticeable through his boxers as she leaned back, feeling it on her bottom.

The panther like grin on Ian’s face was the only reassurance she needed. Sara leaned into him again, her kiss hungry as she reached back with her right hand and began to pull his boxers down. His hips rose, picking her up along with him, as she slid the fabric over them, freeing him once and for all. He wiggled them off once they passed his knees and wrapped his arms around her, changing their position once more so that he stared down at her, able to watch her reaction to the pleasure he gave her.

Without a word ever being uttered, Ian sank into her. Sara’s eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head as her back arched upwards. Never in her life had she experienced such a sensation as this. He was massive, at least twice the size of any guy she had slept with, but so much gentler, careful not to hurt her in any way as she adjusted to his fullness. After a few moments, her leg wrapped around his waist while his hand found its place on her ass, holding her up so the strain would be equal on both of them.

Not much time had passed before Ian began finding his rhythm. He effortlessly moved within Sara, his hips thrusting gently at first until she, too, matched his achingly slow pace. With his free hand, Ian took hold of her breast, his finger stroking the nipple, feeling it harden beneath his touch as she grabbed her other breast and began doing the same thing all the while they watched each other, their eyes locked, their bodies moving as one.

Sara found herself lost in those chocolate brown pools, her body enveloped in pleasure through each strong thrust of his pelvis. With every touch, every move, every kiss, she fell deeper into his soul, finding his undying love for her to be true, real, something she wanted to have in her life. As her pleasure increased, so did her love for him, and when she finally reached her climax, it was the point where she had become completely entangled in it, never ever wanting to stray away. Her body withered beneath his, her muscles convulsing to the point of incapacitation as a deep moan escaped her parted lips. Ian came soon after, his body falling into her gentle embrace as he breathed heavily against her chest.

They laid that way for hours, never speaking a word, never making a sound, only listening to the beat of each other’s hearts until Ian finally rolled off her and made himself comfortable at her side, his arm remaining snaked over her waist. Sara snuggled into him, her back against his chest, exhausted. She closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep as he watched her, this time from inside the window and in her bed, as he had always dreamed. Ian had to pinch himself several times to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, and when he realized that this was his reality, he sighed contently and closed his eyes to fall asleep beside her.

Sara awoke the next morning, her heart racing, her mind spinning. Was last night just a vivid dream, or had she really just slept with Ian Nottingham and enjoyed it? She could only hope that it was true, except the facts all but supported it. Her arm stretched out to the side of the bed he would have occupied to find it cold and empty. Looking over towards her window, she found that his clothes were gone, as was the towel. She threw the sheets off her body and was relieved to see that she was naked, well, somewhat relieved. Making her way to the bathroom door, she grabbed her robe off the hook and stepped inside. That was where she found him.

Ian lay in the tub, the water drawn up to his chin, his arms stretched out over the rim as he stared out the small window at the lightly falling snow. His eyes wandered in Sara’s direction as she walked over to him, her robe open exposing the naked flesh beneath. After letting it slip to the floor, she sat down on the edge of the sturdy porcelain, her thigh barely brushing up against his cool fingertips as he continued to gaze at her with those dark chocolate eyes. She smiled as he stroked her warm flesh with his index finger, tracing absent circles around it until she put her hand over his and made him stop, the pleasure becoming a little too intense for her to handle.

“Am I dreaming, or is this real?” Ian asked as her hand ran up his arm until it reached his shoulder.

“It looks real,” Sara replied. “It feels real.” She leaned over to kiss him. “It must be real.” She smiled, lifting her legs and placing them into the cool water. How long had he been there? “When did you wake up?” she questioned, slipping into the tub opposite him, her feet resting on either side of his hips.

Come to me now
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be all right
And I shall believe

“A while ago,” he answered. In reality, Ian had been sitting there for nearly an hour, contemplating the drastic change in his life. The happy undertone of their coupling was quickly fading as reality set in. As much as he had always wanted this to happen, he knew it had to be too good to be true, that it would disappear as quickly as it happened. It might have been a year since Sara put an end to her hatred of him, since she had invited him into her apartment, then into her heart, but was this all real, or was she going to regret it now that she had an evening to think about it? What she going to pull the ultimate form of cruelty and reject him now after all she had done? He thought not, but braced himself anyway.

I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe

“No wonder the water’s cold,” Sara said as she shifted slightly, making herself more comfortable. “Should I drain the tub, or should we just find a more creative way of warming it up again?” She began to make her way towards him when he held up his hand and stopped her.

“We’ll think of a creative way to warm the water, but you have to answer me one question,” Ian replied, holding her darkening gaze as she glared at him.

“What?” Sara sank back to her side of the tub, her eyes still fixed on his. What on earth was he talking about?

“Did you really mean it when you said you loved me?” A simple, straightforward question, something she had always wanted from him, but it was the question that she didn’t want to answer. Sara had told him that she loved him the night before, and she had meant it, but having to say it again felt… awkward to her. Yeah, she loved him, she always had, but did he really need her saying it again? She merely stared at him, her eyebrow furrowed in the trademark Pezzini scowl, even though she really didn’t mean it that way.

That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say
Honestly
You won't give up on me
And I shall believe
And I shall believe

Ian immediately took it as a bad sign and began to rise out of the tub before she put her hand on his arm to stop him. Their eyes locked again, and this time Sara bit down on her lip, not knowing what she was going to say, just hoping it was enough to make him stay. “Ian, yes,” she finally answered, the longing and desire returning to her emerald green eyes. “I… I do… love you.”

Chocolate brown eyes softened to an almost amber color as Ian sat down again, her hand still on his arm, as he gazed at her, the love he found swirling in that sea of green overwhelming him. Sara spoke the truth. She had never lied to him. Her love was there all along, waiting to be released. At that moment, he couldn’t have been a happier man, and the warm smile on his face was enough to let her know that he was satisfied with her answer. It was infectious, and she smiled along with him as she leaned over and placed a kiss on his soft lips.

There was a slight hesitation on Ian’s behalf to let it linger as they absorbed each other’s warmth, but Sara wasn’t going to let the moment fade. Her tongue darted across his bottom lip, turning something innocent into a lusty, passionate kiss. They pulled away, breathless, elated, but didn’t go any further. Instead, Ian lay his head on Sara’s chest, listening to the beat of her heart, the sound of it thumping in his ear as he closed his eyes and placed a delicate kiss on her neck. She sighed contently, her arms wrapping around him for warmth in the cool water.

Open the door
And show me your face tonight
I know it’s true
No one heals me like you
And you hold the key

“God, I love you,” Sara whispered then kissed the top of his head as her hands ran through the tangled tresses of his hair.

Never again
Will I turn away from you
I'm so happy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe

“Mmm… I love you too,” Ian whispered into her ear as his lips made a pass along her jaw line. He continued to kiss down her neck until he reached the water’s edge just below her collarbone, where he stopped, his lips hovering just above her heated flesh.

“Oh… Ian,” Sara moaned, closing her eyes. In that one single act, she had released him to do whatever he pleased with her body. His hands slowly crept behind her back, pulling her up from the porcelain tub and holding her close to his chest as his lips continued their journey down her body. They made a pass along her sternum and detoured at her left breast, taking the nipple between his teeth and gently sucking on it until it turned into a hard little pebble. He turned his attention to the other breast, giving it the same treatment as his fingers gently fondled the first.

Sara’s hands continued their death grip on his hair. She would hold for a little while as his tongue ravaged parts of her body she didn’t even knew she had, then release when he pulled away to ponder his next move. Ian was a quick study when it came to finding just the right places to kiss. He had discovered her every pleasure zone within minutes through her grunts and moans, mentally drawing a map so he knew where to find them the next time around. His lips had already traveled down her abdomen, paving their way with kisses until he reached her navel. Her back arched as his tongue explored the tiny crevice, making her groan as her hands gripped his hair again, begging him to go lower.

Ian looked up to find Sara’s eyes closed, her right hand gently rubbing her breast, her left holding on to the side of the tub for dear life. He couldn’t help the wicked grin that appeared on his face as his hands found their way to her ass and lifted the lower half of her body out of the water. Droplets glistened in the morning sunlight rolling down towards the triangle of curls between her legs where they stopped. With one hand, he continued to hold her up while the other ran over it until his fingers reached the swollen nether lips.

Sara took in a sharp breath as his hand moved away and was replaced by his tongue. “Oh, God!” she cried when he started licking his way up and over until he reached her over sensitized clit. His tongue rolled around it slowly, never touching it. By now, the orgasm that had built up in her loins was at its peak. Just one single, delicious touch and she’d go overboard. Ian knew, but continued his slow circling, feeling her body tighten, begging for release. Finally, he decided to stop playing and gave in, his tongue flicking across her throbbing clit.

A cry escaped Sara’s lips as her hips arched up, a powerful orgasm ripping through her. She withered under his grasp until it was finally over, and only short waves of pleasure radiated throughout her body. Ian released her, letting her body slide back into the water as her breathing stabilized. But Sara was far from spent. Once she had regained her strength, she sat up, her eyes twinkling in the sunlight as she moved over to his side of the tub, her arms settling to either side of his head as she straddled him.

“Is this your idea of a creative way of warming this water, or should I think of a better one?” Sara asked, her face inches from his, a devious smile playing on the corners of her lips.

Ian’s arms snaked around her back and pulled her closer as he replied, “Dare I ask?”

The sexy laugh that escaped her throat was enough to send a shiver down his spine. He knew what he was in for, especially after what he had done to her. “You may,” she said, “but I’d shut up if I were you and enjoy the surprise.” Before Ian had time to reply, Sara had already captured his lips for a deep, sensual kiss, taking his breath away long before her own. He moaned into her mouth as her hand slowly made its way down his chest. He had a sinking feeling about where it was going, but with his lungs burning and his brain finding it hard to thinking without oxygen, he let the thought go. He broke the kiss instead, deciding that oxygen was much more important at the moment.

Their eyes locked for a couple of seconds, the hint of what was to come shining in hers, and the apprehension of it showing in his. Ian didn’t know what to expect, but he took Sara for her word and decided to let go of anything that would hinder his experience from that point on. With all his inhibitions gone at that moment, he was free to enjoy the soft touch of her hand down his chest, her fingers stopping every so often to trace the lines of his muscles then continuing on their journey downwards over his abdomen. Her lips captured his once again, a little more softly this time, allowing him to enjoy it.

Sara knew he was new to this kind of intimate touch. But Ian Nottingham was proving to be quite the eager pupil. He had relaxed significantly when her hand had stopped its slow decent to trace over his abdomen, the muscles quivering slightly at her touch. His lips were as soft as ever as she leaned in to kiss him, hoping to take more of the edge off of what she was about to do. The hitch in his breath was no surprise to her when her hand finally reached its destination.

Beneath the water, her fingers brushed up against the length of his hardened shaft. Ian sucked in a ragged breath as she stroked him gently. Her fingernails were torture against his skin as he tried to remain calm, though it was proving nearly impossible with ever part of his body screaming for release. Sara’s hand ran upwards again to circle the tip as their lips made contact for an ever hungry kiss. His mind had turned into Jell-O, blindly following her every move, desperate for the release he now craved. It was hard to believe that a touch such as this could elicit such a strong, primal desire.

Her hand continued to circle down his length, squeezing ever so lightly as she deepened the kiss. Sara knew the power she had over him, she knew what would happen if she abused it as well. Premature release always spoiled the mood, so she decided to take it a little slower. When her hand had reached the head of his penis, she lightly ran a finger over it, causing Ian to draw in a deep, ragged breath, breaking their kiss. Sara smiled, having witnessed the desired effect.

Her nails trailed down his length again. Time to extract a little revenge, she thought, her mind not forgetting what he had put her through before her own release just moments earlier. The smile on her lips combined with scraping of her nails against his sensitive skin set Ian’s mind on fire with thoughts of what he’d do as soon as her little game was over. But firs and foremost, he pulled Sara in for a deep, hungry kiss, desperately wanting more as his hands made their way to her ample breasts, fondling the tight, hard nipples until they throbbed with a delicious pain that heightened her own arousal.

Sara moaned against his mouth, but didn’t stop her caresses. With her right hand, she reached for his balls while the left continued to encircle his penis. She began to pump him slowly while lightly squeezing his balls, feeling him begin to ooze with the amount of pleasure she was giving him. Ian responded with a low groan, her teasing putting him as close to the edge as physically possible. Sara leaned over and lightly nipped his neck, her hand stopping the pleasure it had been giving his penis, but not before giving his balls one last squeeze. She knew he was ready when he hissed her name in that pleading tone that drove her mad.

The twinkle in Sara’s eyes and the wily smile on her face practically gave away what she was about to do. She leaned into Ian again, this time capturing his lips for a passionate kiss, waiting for that perfect moment where he was too consumed in what he was doing to strike. He continued to deepen the kiss, and ever deepen his concentration in trying to make her feel his desires until he finally became too absorbed in what he was doing to notice anything. It was at that moment that Sara maneuvered her body and sank onto him, moaning against his mouth as she felt him fill her completely.

Ian pulled away, breathless and surprised by what she had done, but not all that angry. He had been waiting for that opportunity himself; Sara just beat him to it. His hands made their way to her hips, trying to steady her as she slightly tilted herself in a better position to get the maximum penetration. Her seductive laugh echoed through the bathroom when she felt his hands run down her sides, fingers trailing, feeling along her soft, silken sink until they reached their destination. She kissed him again, her lips making their own trail down his cheek, finding that spot on his neck just behind his ear that made him tighten his grip, digging his fingers into her pelvis, and making him moan her name.

Sara began rocking her hips slowly, establishing her momentum at an agonizing pace as he had the night before. Her hands spread out to either side of the tub for more support, grabbing the porcelain edges as if to strangle them with her grip. This position had always been one of her favorites because she had all the control, being able to move the way she wanted to, being able to set the pace.

Moving slowly at first, Sara knew to increase the pace when Ian’s hips matched that of hers. Their rhythm was quickly established, their bodies moving together as one, eyes locked on each other in a trance like state as waves of pleasure passed through both of them. The water swirled around their bodies as they moved, but neither one seemed to notice. Sara placed a hand on his chest when she felt her climax build to that delicious pre-release that heightened her senses and made her head roll back in anticipation. A deep moan escaped her lips as they continued to increase their pace until both were frantically hanging on to their last threads of sanity.

It was Sara who fell first. She screamed when her orgasm ripped through her body causing her to wither and fall forward. Ian soon followed, his arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace. The water pooled around them, dripping off the sides of the tub and down onto the floor. They breathed heavily for the first few minutes, and when that subsided, Sara sat up and looked at him again. “That was incredible,” she whispered, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

“A very creative way to warm water, I might say,” Ian replied when she pulled away, a smile playing on his lips.

“I’d think of several more, but that just wore me out. How about we clean up this mess and get some breakfast?” Sara suggested as she slowly began to rise out of the tub.

“As you wish, my Lady,” he said, following her.

Breakfast went by at a slower pace that everything else had in the last couple of days. Sara was actually glad for the break in activity. Her body could feel the full effects of having too little food and too much sex. She needed a break, and for all she could tell, so did Ian. But that didn’t take the act off their minds. Both were fully submerged in thoughts about what they’d do next, or even if there would be a next time, speaking little, if ever. The snow outside still hadn’t let up, and Sara could tell they were in for more. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all, being cooped up in a small apartment with a guy she had known for years and was just finding out his finer points. Maybe now was the perfect time to start a somewhat meaningful conversation.

“So,” Sara started off, wondering where to being, “How’d you like it?” Taking a bite of her plain bagel with cream cheese, she playfully looked up at him, the smile wide on her face.

“What, breakfast?” Ian asked, not understanding what she was hinting at.

“No, last night… today,” she replied.

A wily grin made its way to his lips as he gazed at her, robe slightly open as she leaned over the table waiting for his answer, breasts peaking out. “It was incredible,” he finally answered after a moment of admiring her.

“You know, we could do it again, and again… and again… if you wish.” Sara paused to grin. ‘Meaningful conversation, my ass,’ she thought, realizing now that the thought was on her mind, it’d probably never go away unless they did something about it. “I know you wish,” she added, that sparkle returning to her eyes with the ideas that now floated around in her mind. ‘Great, this is definitely going to last all day.’

“How could I not?” Ian replied, noticing that gleam in her eye, “Especially when you’re sitting there in barely anything. Temptation is inevitable.”

Sara stood up and made her way into his lap. “Then maybe we should indulge before the temptation becomes too great.” Her hands slowly made their way up his chest until they reached his shoulders. She leaned in, taking his lips in for another deep, searing kiss. ‘This is the best snow day, EVER!’ she thought as he picked her up and began to carry her back into the bedroom. Looking down at the Witchblade to see It softly glowing red, she gave It a silent thank you, realizing It had a little something to do with all this after all.

Fin!

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